I recently lost my dear friend, Paco. He was a Black Labrador/Dachshund mix, who was rescued from “dead dog” beach in Puerto Rico in 2007. Paco had great longevity genes, reaching the ripe old age of 17. He was 5 years old when I adopted him. I am sharing my early journey with Paco because […]
Play between dogs and their humans creates a strong bond of companionship and trust. This includes games we play together as well as providing fun, independent activities. Boredom is a leading cause of behavior complaints. It is also a top-ranking source of stress for dogs. Toys vs. Chews Separate your dog’s playthings into two categories: […]
A new puppy means new “tricks”. No matter how many dogs have been part of your life, your new puppy is an individual. Puppy raising techniques have changed, because the body of knowledge in the animal science world is always evolving and improving. For many, family dynamics and lifestyles have also shifted. The current puppy […]
Guarding behaviors are complex and can be a puzzlement to dog owners. One moment, the dog can be very sweet and loving, and the next moment, she’s growling and snapping. What happened? The human moved too close to the guarding dog and an intense spike in arousal occurred. Dogs resource guard food, toys, chews, locations, […]
Learned cues, situations, people, and places become relevant to a dog, depending on their exposure and experience. Repeated experiences that are accompanied by gratifying outcomes are meaningful to the dog in a pleasant way. Experiences work in reverse, too, with aversive outcomes. Our dogs are learning all the time, preferably from us. Repetition Dogs require […]
Many dogs struggle with noise sensitivities and the resulting behaviors. These are among the most challenging to change. Typically, these dogs have difficulty finding a relaxed state of mind and remaining bodily – and often vocally – quiet. Triggers can be undetectable to us humans, which adds to the complexity of making changes. Some triggers […]
There are many components to successfully teaching a dog to calmly meet and greet people. Training plans vary depending on your dog’s temperament and in the house vs. outside contexts, among other factors. The plan for a fearful dog is different than that of a socially confident dog than that of a dog who likes […]
All dogs need exercise in various forms. Most owners think of physical activities when providing exercise to their dogs. Striking a balance of physical activities and mental stimulation is the optimal plan. Different breeds and individual animals require routines that work for them. It can be the mental exercise component that is lacking or missing. […]
Fear responses in dogs can range from mild discomfort to fear to profound fear to true anxiety. You and your dog are bound to encounter a person, an object, a place, or a situation where your dog tells you that he is no longer relaxed and happy. It’s wise to pay attention to these disturbing […]
Newbie dog owners are those who have never been the primary caregiver for a dog, or those who have a vague recollection of puppy experience. Learning to observe and understand your dog’s way of communicating is essential. Training practice develops handling skills to increase effectiveness. What are reasonable expectations for all phases of your dog’s […]