What to Look for in a Pet Care Professional–Part 1
This post is the first in a series of articles designed to assist pet care consumers with selecting an appropriate professional to care for and help them with their pets. In this article, I will answer the question, “What is a professional?” I will also discuss the importance of working under a Code of Technical and Ethical Standards developed by acknowledged experts in pet care. What is a Professional? Almost all professions follow the attributes listed under the heading “A Professional Will:” Many different professionals work in pet care. They… Continued
Am I a Pack Leader…or a Human?
I was a dog lover long before becoming a professional dog trainer, and when a television program first aired about dog training and behavior, on a major network that I trusted, I began watching episodes with the intent of learning more about dogs. Conflict and Competition The essence of the TV program seemed to be founded on something called “dominance theory” and the personal charm of the star. What I heard throughout each episode were references to humans having to be the dominant pack leader to offset a dog’s inclination… Continued
Without Eyes to See: Adventures with My Blind Puppy
Dogs and humans are both very visual species. We rely on body language so much to understand the context and communication of the world around us. I can’t even begin to imagine what it would feel like not to have any sight, and for my other senses to be heightened to compensate for it. For my dog Jellyfish, that’s exactly how it is, and yet he is the happiest, most excited little man that I have ever met. Jellyfish loves life. Puppy Basics When I adopted him from the nearby… Continued
How to Train Your Dog to Play Frisbee
A Fun and Furry Guide This blog post earned Honorable Mention in the Pet Professional Guild’s Pets and Their People Celebrating Life Together community outreach competition in the ‘Pet Professional – Write a Blog Post’ category. Ready to turn your four-legged friend into a frisbee-catching superstar? Training your dog to play frisbee is not only a blast, but it’s also a fantastic way to enhance your bond and keep your pup fit and happy. Here’s your ultimate guide to turning your dog into a frisbee fanatic! 1. Pick the Perfect Frisbee First things… Continued
What Role Does Your Dog Play in Your Life?
Last summer, I read a market research report that reported that 76% of people in the US with pets strongly agree that pets are part of the family and that 17% agree that pets are family members. That is a total of 93%, which is something to be excited about as it suggests that most of us who share our lives with pets believe they should be treated as family. I am now in my 30th year as a pet care professional and feel fortunate to have entered this career… Continued
Your Brain Is Hardwired to Generalize Fear…And So Is Your Dog’s
This story is an illustration of something Kristina Spaulding, Pd.D., CAAB explained so clearly in her blog on The Development of Fear, published on April 1, 2021. Dr. Spaulding is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist who has worked with dogs, and now focuses on education. To read her excellent blog, follow this link. Barking and Lunging at Cars Recently, I worked with a three-year old Sheltie who had no training beyond performing “shake” on cue and following a food lure into a down position. For this article, I will call… Continued
A Professional Dog Trainer Does So Much More Than Train Dogs
I became a pet care professional in the fall of 1995 when my wife and I became the new owners of Green Acres Kennel Shop. I am fortunate to have entered the profession then because of the many advances in our knowledge of pet behavior, training, and nutrition. Obedience Class Disaster In the Spring of 1991, my wife Paula and I brought home our first puppy as a couple, a cairn terrier we named Gus. We wanted to do everything right, so we immediately enrolled ourselves and twelve-week-old Gus in… Continued
The Off-Leash Adventures of Tina
Recently, I worked with a prior client, a very intelligent college instructor whose previous dog I trained. She adopted a sweet little dog she named Tina, because the adoption date was that of Tina Turner’s death. Tina was destined to live an exciting life. The Chipmunk Kingdom Living in the countryside, the family wanted Tina to enjoy her new surroundings off leash. Her previous one year of life had not been a rural existence, so the farm-like environment was full of stimuli that she had not experienced. The chipmunks who lived in several wood… Continued
Behavioral Changes in Cats: Could It Be Pain?
Did you know cats instinctively hide signs of pain, often leaving pet parents unaware of serious health issues? Unlike dogs, who might whimper or limp noticeably, cats tend to rely on quiet behavioral changes to communicate their discomfort. These changes can be easy to overlook but can provide crucial clues that something isn’t right. Recognizing these signals can make all the difference in ensuring your feline friends receive the care they need. The Link Between Behavior and Pain Understanding the connection between your cat’s behavior and their physical state is… Continued
Book Review – Bark!: The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog by Zazie Todd
Bark!: The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog by Dr. Zazie Todd is an excellent and, in my opinion, essential resource for pet parents or professionals who have or are thinking of bringing a dog who is anxious, fearful, or reactive into their homes. Early in the book, Dr. Todd notes that data indicates, “…up to 72.5 percent of dogs have some kind of fear or anxiety…” I have had four dogs in my life with some level of anxiety, and as a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant… Continued
Owner vs. Guardian
*Do you consider yourself a pet owner or a guardian? Blouin (2013) studied the variations in dog owners’ attitudes toward their pets in terms of interactions and their treatment. He concludes that the relationship pet owners have with their pets is one of three orientations: Blouin’s study reflects a wide variation in how owners consider and value their pets, ranging from having functional value to being seen as a companion who deserves to have his or her own interests protected. Indeed, if one were to ask pet owners how they… Continued
Getting the Trot with Positive Reinforcement
Getting their equids to move from a walk to a trot can be frustrating and elusive for many people. Most often, the equid is not offering the trot because the handler is not breaking down the behavior enough or being clear in what they’re asking. Jumping straight from a walk into a trot is a considerable jump in criteria (what you expect from your learner) when you’re in the early stages of training and developing movement. Mark and Reinforce for Clear Communication When you’re working on changing gaits, it isn’t… Continued
Taming the Dreaded Oreckosaurus Rex
Some dogs run and hide at first sight of the vacuum cleaner or unleash a barrage of barking, lunging and biting at the dreadful thing. Others quickly identify the vacuum cleaner’s lair and the fear response begins as soon as the person reaches to open the closet door. Cleaning house soon becomes stressful for dog and person alike. A Canine Perspective Imagine what a vacuum cleaner appears like from a canine perspective. Dogs are conscious of height, size and elevation as it relates to their sense of security. With more… Continued
Five Tips for Being the Best Guardian for Your Senior Dog
This blog post earned Honorable Mention in the Pet Professional Guild’s Pets and Their People Celebrating Life Together community outreach competition in the Pet Professional Activities- Write a Blog Post category. As our dogs get older, they start to change physically, emotionally, cognitively and behaviorally, and that change can impact us – more barking, restlessness at night, noise sensitivity, health issues that can be emotionally and financially challenging. Watching our beloved family member go from a bouncy happy dog to one who is slowing down is hard. But there are things you can… Continued
How Your Dog Can Tell How You’re Feeling
One of the most amazing things about dogs is how well they can read our emotions and know whether we’re happy, sad, anxious, or angry. I believe that many dogs may be able to “read” the people in their family, as well as (or better than) their closest friends can. Your Scent, Body Language, & Tone of Voice The date dogs started living with us is subject to continuing research, but it could be as much as 35,000 years ago. The most logical theory about domestication suggests that dogs domesticated… Continued
Free Treats for Better Behavior
This blog post earned Honorable Mention in the Pet Professional Guild’s Pets and Their People Celebrating Life Together community outreach competition in the Pet Professional Activities- Write a Blog Post category. You know that rewarding behaviors you like gets you more nice behavior, but did you know that consequences aren’t the only way our pets learn? By giving your pet “free” treats – no good behavior required – you can build powerful associations which influence behavior and emotion. If you’re used to consequence-based teaching, the hardest part of using this technique may be… Continued
Positive Reinforcement vs. Punishment: The Best Approach to Cat Training
This blog post is the Runner-up in the Pet Professional Guild’s Pets and Their People Celebrating Life Together community outreach competition in the Pet Professional Activities- Write a Blog Post category. When we think about correcting unwanted cat behavior, the first thing that often comes to mind is the outdated method of using a spray bottle. This approach, though common, is actually an example of positive punishment. In simple terms, positive punishment means adding an unpleasant stimulus—like a spray of water—to discourage a behavior. However, using punishment, in general, is not the answer… Continued
Best Life with Your Big Feeling Dog: How to love the dog you have
This blog post is the Winner in the Pet Professional Guild’s Pets and Their People Celebrating Life Together community outreach competition in the Pet Professional Activities- Write a Blog Post category. Happy dog lounging content on his bed. Social walks and play dates with other dogs. Public events with your four-legged friend. All situations I imagined when we brought home our tiny, adorable beagle puppy. Anxiety (genetic), fear, the pandemic and two dog attacks. My beagle is anxious and fear-reactive. He has really BIG feelings, and not to mention, a loud voice.… Continued
Celebrating Life Together – The Votes Are In!
The Pet Professional Guild has announced the results of the public voting portion of the Community Outreach Competition! Thank you to all who participated in the PPG Advocacy Event and Community Outreach Competition – Raising Awareness for Humane, Ethical, and Effective Pet Training and Care! Whether you presented at or attended the Celebrating Life Together Virtual Educational Event (or purchase the conference recordings package), entered into the outreach competition, or voted for your favorite entry, by joining forces to be part of the solution, you helped provide the antidote to… Continued
Learning – From a Dog’s Perspective
I suspect that human beings seldom consider how dogs may learn from us, and I suppose many assume dogs will learn just as we do. But what if dogs have different innate abilities and learning methodologies? Are we working together as a team, or at cross purposes? Do we set dogs up for success, or failure? After all, we are trying to impose a human-oriented world order upon dogs, who evolved for eons according to the rules of nature, not the rules of humankind. I propose that we look at the learning process… Continued
A Sheltered Life: How to Choose a Great Shelter Dog
I’m just an average middle-aged guy. I have a nondescript tannish brown coat, I’m carrying a few extra pounds, and going a little prematurely gray around the muzzle. I’ve lived here at the shelter for the past two weeks. It’s not so bad, the food is decent and the people are pretty nice. I know it’s only temporary until some nice family sees my inner beauty and decides to take me home to live with them. I can’t wait to be in a family again; I loved my last one.… Continued
Common Mistakes People Make When Training Their Animals
Have you ever thought, “Why aren’t they getting this?” You are not alone. Many people get stuck while training their animals. Whether it’s with clients or a post on social media asking for help, I see animal caretakers making the same mistakes over and over while training their animals. Professionals like us frequently make them too! In this multipart article, I’ll list mistakes I commonly see and how you can fix them. Mistake #1 –Training without a Plan Are you using a training plan to train your animal? If not,… Continued
Let’s Go on Sniffari!
Should people allow their dogs to sniff during walks, or is it all about marching forward in lockstep? I suppose the tone of the question predicts my response. I suggest that dogs not only be allowed to sniff but should be encouraged and empowered to do so…and here is why. As a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant, I enjoy educating the public about dogs. My motivation is to help others avoid the many mistakes I made with my puppy in 1983, when I knew nothing about raising a puppy. Note to… Continued
Need Before Breed: Assistance Animals Are Not Limited to the “Fab Four”
Not everyone wants or can handle one of the “Fab Four” (Lab, golden retriever, standard poodle, or German shepherd dog). Some people may need a smaller or larger dog. Some may have fears of specific breeds. The “Fab Four” in the Assistance Animal Community The Labrador retriever and the golden retriever are two of the most commonly seen breeds trained to be assistance animals. Generally speaking, it is because these two breeds have temperament traits that best fit with the requirements necessary for a working dog who will encounter a… Continued
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