Blog

Is Dog Behavior Lawful?

Does dog behavior operate according to recognized rules or laws? I would say this. While dog behavior can be described and often predicted in a

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What is PoochMaster?

PoochMaster is my daily blog. I started this blog back in 2005 to write about current, daily topics on dogs. If you follow the link,

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Dogs And Photoperiodism

Do dogs have significant seasonal changes in behavior, especially in mood state, like people? I was asked this question recently, so I figured it was

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The “Science” Of Dog Training

I’m currently reading an article from the Journal Of Experimental Analysis Of Behavior regarding stimulus control experiments, especially those of Guttman and Kalish (1956). This

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A Dog Training Mess

Occasionally, a carefully planned dog training lesson… will turn out to be a mess. That is because every dog has a vote in terms of

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Test

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Dog Training Terminology

I had a lesson today with a new student. The appointment was to deal with his dog’s separation anxiety. However, it wasn’t that. This situation

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Real World Dog Obedience

What is the difference between classroom dog obedience and real-world dog obedience? Yesterday, I was working with a student who has a service dog puppy

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Dogs And Night Terrors

I have encountered and worked with dogs which exhibit abnormal behaviors at night. Here are some examples. 1.) Midsized dog, otherwise normal in every way.

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Dogs That Shut Down

I’m currently working with a dog that has been shutting down during lessons. This was one of the issues I was hired to address. Imagine

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Both Can’t Be True

A dog owner’s mindset can be a roadblock for making gains in training. I have heard many new students tell me that their dog “knows”

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Dogs And Collars

Hello, Sam I just had a question about your opinion on certain dog collars and methods to prevent dogs from pulling while on a leash.

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Three Parts Of Dog Lessons

Working with dogs typically involves changes in three areas: Behavior Modification, Changes in Owner Management, and Skill Development. Each part interacts with the other, but

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Bad Dog Ownership Habits

Many dog owners, too many, rely on luck instead of wisdom. In addition, they fool themselves by lying to themselves, and surrounding themselves with enablers

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A Picture Trained Dog?

Do you have a picture trained dog? How can you tell if your dog being trained appropriately? It is important to understand the answer. How

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Stoned Apes And Wolf Dogs

There is a theory that claims humans evolved from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens because of the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms. There are also several

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Rescue Dog Mysteries

I like a good mystery movie. I would classify the Harry Potter series as from a mystery genre. At the beginning, you know something is

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Companion Dogs

My specialty is working with companion dogs. My students get dogs to be companions. They are treated well and treated as family members. Most people

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Why Socialize Dogs?

What is the purpose of socializing dogs? Why is it important for a puppy to meet many friendly strangers, other friendly dogs, go in a

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Does Your Dog Play?

Play is governed by an essential emotional circuit in the mammalian brain. Play circuits may also exist in other animal classes, such as birds and

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Understanding Puppies

On one hand, puppy wants what it wants and can’t inhibit themselves very well. On the other hand, external influences limit a puppy’s actions. How

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Dogs, Pavlov, and Skinner

What are we, as dog owners and trainers, to make of the mechanistic learning science doctrines of Pavlov, Skinner, and others? The troublesome outcome of

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Dog Training Science

It is disturbing to read the scientific research we all use to train dogs. The most famous of researchers had to make a decision to

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Behavioral Disturbances In Dogs

Does your dog suffer from an emotional behavioral disturbance, such as chronic generalized anxieties, depression, compulsive behaviors, or phobias? These neuroses are maladaptive, distressing conditions

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Playing With Your Dog?

Play is essential for good behavioral development in your dog. It comprises 4 elements that should be balanced: search/chase, possession, letting go, and rules to

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Add Predictability To Your Dogs Life

Unpredictability makes dogs insecure and potentially destructive, neurotic, destructive, disobedient and/or aggressive. Events are either predictable or unpredictable, either controllable or uncontrollable. Anxiety happens when

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