Choice, Control, Predictability and Stress
We hear more often these days about giving dogs, and other pets, choices. Should our critters have unlimited choices? When can choice be a good thing and a not so good thing? Here’s some food for thought. Here are the resources mentioned in the video: Webinar course from PetProWebinars.com: What Dogs and Cats Really…
Behavior Changes in Surviving Pets After the Death of Another Pet
Having lost our Coral a mere two months before this post, we thought this was a timely study to talk about. Evaluating how pets may grieve after the death of another pet is a difficult task because it’s hard to pin down what they are actually reacting to. Watch and listen as we describe what…
When Are Threats and Aggression “Not Normal”?
Aggression problems are serious business. Some dogs – even if they haven’t bitten – are much more dangerous than others. We talk about a few reasons why in this video. As professionals it’s important we be able to recognize when behavior is not normal, and this is especially true when it comes to threatening and aggressive…
Is “LitterMate Syndrome” Real?
OR – is it time to change the conversation? We talk about the recommendation that’s been around forever about not acquiring two puppies at the same time. Is there good evidence for that? And if not, what should we be talking about instead? Want to learn more about what science has to say about…
Can’t Convince Clients To See Things Your Way?
Are you frustrated because you can’t convince a client to stop using a particular tool or method? Are you close to “firing” them? Try these ideas instead. Behavior Education Network members have the full series on “How to Have A Productive Discussion When You Don’t See Eye to Eye”. Join us!
Do You Know What Your Clients Want?
I (Suzanne) was recently engaged in a thread in a training group on Facebook. My contribution was to suggest that the person who started the thread avoid using a shock collar on her dog. I referred her to several other trainers in her area. After reading one person’s website, she replied to me that she…
Is “Literary License” Costing Us Credibility?
Consider the following statements that we see frequently: Punishment causes aggression Punishment causes harm Fear results in aggression, no exceptions All aggression is fear motivated Dominance in dogs doesn’t exist Dogs never bite without warning We’ve probably all seen these claims in any number of places. And sometimes the authors go further, maintaining that all…
Do We Love Smarter Dogs More?
In recent weeks there have been several news pieces in the popular press addressing the intelligence of dogs. The great thing about both is that they presented the science of comparative intelligence and dog cognition very, very well. One was an article in the New York Times “To Rate How Smart Dogs Are, Humans Learn…
Comment on the Dog Attack in Tampa
A December 30th, 2016 news report tells of a pit bull mix that attacked his owner as she reportedly attempted to put a sweater on the dog. Two other family members were also injured trying to stop the attack. One began stabbing the dog to try to get him to stop. All three were finally…
When Saying Too Much, Is Just Too Much!
As some of you may know, we just experienced the devastating loss of our beloved Coral on December 15th, 2016. From when we first learned something was seriously wrong, to when we had to make the decision to say goodbye was a span of a brutal 2 ½ days. Needless to say our heads were…