Barks Blog

This article examines the scientific data on aversive dog training methods, and discusses: Potential fallout such as habituation, learned helplessness, pain sensitivity, physical damage, emotional damage, and contact force; The stance on punishment in dog training taken by numerous professional organizations; Understanding basic behavioral science; Alternative, positive reinforcement training protocols for more optimal results.     By Susan Nilson and Niki Tudge The current scientific data, in addition to the moral and ethical concerns about mental and physical damage to animals subjected to methods using force, fear and/or pain, have… Continued

This article examines what prey drive means, identifying motivations, and adapting the Predatory Motor Sequence to ensure dogs still get the opportunity to perform innate behaviors By Tracey McLennan Prey drive is one of those areas of dog behavior that can generate a lot of discussion. It is also one of those things that can cause problems for dog owners. Yet the subject remains somewhat mysterious, with little data available that could help companion dogs and the people who care for them. I got into this fascinating subject when I… Continued

This article discusses the importance of ongoing training, learning, and enrichment for dogs, from puppyhood through to old age, and provides suggestions for fun games and activities By Anna Bradley I often wonder why so many of us train our dogs for a certain period of time and then just stop. For example, we get a puppy and train him to do a bunch of skills, maybe take him to puppy school and out to meet new friends, and practice our skills out and about. Maybe we engage the services… Continued

This article addresses some of pet owners’ common concerns and criticisms surrounding the use of treats in dog training     By Diane Garrod   In some circles, using treats in training has gotten something of a bad rap. But I have to ask myself, why is there even hesitation about this? Using food in positive reinforcement for results IS science. It is a proven, highly productive technique that involves pairing good things with triggers, or reinforcing behavior so it is repeated, or giving a “paycheck” for a job well… Continued

This article discusses how feline behavior consultants can help cats diagnosed with Feline Idiopathic Cystitis     By Andrea Carne Feline Idiopathic Cystitis – or FIC for short – is a complex name for an intriguing disease, but cat behavior consultants need to be well versed in all that it encompasses, and here’s why: FIC accounts for around two thirds of all cases of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) (International Cat Care, 2018). One of the first symptoms of FLUTD (and therefore FIC) is changes in toileting behavior. And… Continued

This article discusses the importance of spending time with our horses, getting to know and understand each other, and strengthening the mutual bond, in addition to the time we spend training and working with them     By Kathie Gregory   Many of us who share our lives with horses spend a lot of time and thought thinking about how to approach our training exercises and management practices. As such, our thoughts tend to focus on what we want to do and how we are going to achieve it. As… Continued

This article provides suggestions on how to address the situation with a dog trainer who isn’t getting good reviews from their class students     By Veronica Boutelle Ever had to deal with a good dog trainer who is knowledgeable but whose students are not enamored of their teaching skills? Our experts from dogbiz have the answer!   Bad Reviews Dear dogbiz, One of the trainers who teaches classes for me isn’t getting the greatest reviews from our students. A few have even complained. It’s nothing terrible. She’s a good… Continued

PPG Member Profile featuring Pet Professional Guild member Kim Jukes, owner of People & Pups, located in Waco, Texas, USA     Kim Jukes became a certified dog trainer when she couldn’t find the right trainer to help her reactive rescue dog.   Tell us a little bit about yourself, how you first got into animal behavior and training and what you are doing now…                                     There were a lot of things that brought me to becoming a trainer. About four years ago, I adopted a rescue dog that was highly… Continued

This article discusses learning to understand how a fear of dogs develops, and presents some strategies that will gradually help reduce that fear By Stefani M. Cohen LCSW  As dog trainers and pet industry professionals, you have most likely encountered someone who is afraid of dogs. You may even have received a call that the family just got a new puppy or dog and their child is afraid of him/her. I thought it would be helpful for you to have a general understanding of how the fear develops and then… Continued