What Came First, the Behaviorist Or The Certified Veterinary Behaviorist?
What is the origin of the “certified veterinary behaviorist”? Who should be using the title, “Behaviorist”? The first veterinarians “certified” by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in 1995. People were studying and teaching animal behavior long before this. Much of the focus was, and still is, the application of using pharmaceuticals in the treatment […]
Dogs And Bad Habits, Such As Jumping
Many dog problems are a result of the owner intentionally, or accidentally, practicing and rewarding bad habits over a very long time. Then, when they decide they don’t like the bad habit anymore, they crack down on the dog, often in some harsh manner they found on the internet or from friends. How unfair. And […]
My Dog Is Growling At Me
I encounter a lot of dog owners that are concerned that their dogs are growling and snapping at them. In some cases, the dogs are biting. Not good. So, I will ask them to make up a list of every situation that provokes this kind of response. From there I can ask questions about each […]
Dog Fights And Training Foundation
An observation. Most times when I work with students that have dogs fighting in the home… the dogs have had no formal training. In other words, the owner has few tools to communicate with their dogs. Everything is being managed nonverbally and using the physical layout of the home. With all dogs, it is a […]
Searching Dog Problems On The Internet
For a very long time, I’ve watched internet forums on dog issues and behavior. One concerning pattern is for people to ask complete strangers (with little knowledge of dog training or behavior modification) for free advice on how to fix their dogs. I get that some people don’t feel they have the funds to pay […]
Dog Behavior And Experience
I have studied dog behavior for many years. But study alone doesn’t give you enough knowledge or wisdom to diagnose or treat many dog behavior issues. You must have experience with a lot of situations and have seen a lot of things. Many of the concepts and solutions I have developed have gone beyond whatever […]
Dogs And Athletes
I overheard a conversation the other day about the difference between good and great athletes. The assertion was that aggression was something that wasn’t inherent but was learned. The other part was a discussion of how much better the aggressive athletes performed. I didn’t interject because they weren’t soliciting my opinion, and I wasn’t a […]
Dogs And The Bark And Hold
A familiar exercise in sport protection events is the Bark and Hold. A dog is sent to “find” a “hidden” bad guy behind a blind. The dog “finds” him, starts barking and so long as the man doesn’t move, the dog is “holding” him there. There is no practical use for this exercise. First, if […]
Dog Training Feedback
When I am training a dog, I like the owner’s feedback along the way and later after the lessons are over. Every lesson, and then the application of that lesson, even indirectly, affects the dog’s future responses. By monitoring any significant changes, I can fine tune what we do each time we meet. Furthermore, getting […]
No Little Dog Training Glory
I work with a lot of small timid doggies. Many are so timid they won’t let you put on a collar, pick them up, sometimes you can’t pet them, often having house training problems, run away from family and guests, and sometimes just vibrate. All the normal stuff you do when working with the average […]