Fortunately for us, the brain is plastic throughout life. This is true of our dogs, too. In working with dogs as old as 10-11 years of age, I love to observe how they seem to enjoy learning obedience cues (perhaps long forgotten) and engaging in new and cognitive activities. What a wonderful way to resolve […]
Frustrated owners of young dogs might be heard to say,” Why is he doing that? He knows better!” How? Has the dog been taught otherwise, and the situation went sideways? Has the dog been punished for engaging in an undesirable behavior and chooses it anyway? “Knowing better” implies that some moral thinking has influenced the […]
Boredom is stressful for dogs. Adolescents, especially, and young adults are often in a “seeking” mode. They are actively looking for something with which to engage themselves. Often their choices are not human-approved. Not Bad. Just Bored. Bored dogs can find lots to do when left on their own. Stealing objects is a popular choice: […]
Puppies who have yet to leave their moms and litter mates are capable of learning. That young, they respond to and interact with humans. Through puppyhood, adolescence, and into adulthood, a dog’s capacity to learn changes with maturity and life experience. The dog’s temperament impacts his capacity to learn, too. When introduced to training at […]
Even the most energetic and social among us benefit from quiet time. We all need an occasional escape from the barrage of demands on us. Dogs and especially, puppies, are no exception. It is a myth that dogs universally love petting. Sometimes, they do not welcome it. Being part of a group also means having […]
When dogs are fearful of a certain stimulus, their behaviors in the presence of that stimulus are driven by fear. With repeated exposure, fear-based behaviors become conditioned emotional responses (CER). Fear based behaviors develop into a pattern, because they come to “work” for the dog. Using food to reinforce incompatible behaviors is the most effective […]
Training can be fun for everyone and very productive if handlers work with their dogs’ duration, distance, and intensity thresholds. Working at threshold means that the dog is focused, thinking, and learning. Frustration can set in for both parties when human expectations get in the way. It’s easy to breach the dog’s thresholds. What is […]
Dogs approach people, including children, other dogs, objects, and situations in various ways as their emotional states determine. The shoe is on the other foot, so to speak, when people, including children, and other dogs approach your dog. A different set of behaviors is likely to be on display. These skills require a process; your […]
Every time the canine population in a home changes, the group dynamic shifts. The addition of a youngster brings an extra-large dose of energy to the mix. Some canine resident individuals may not be immediately thrilled. All relationships take time and many require guidance from the owner. Training and cognitive games as well as management […]
Much attention is given to the importance of early puppyhood. The first four-months imprinting period is widely accepted as critical time in a dog’s overall development. It is increasingly acknowledged by animal behavior science that the adolescent period is equally important on the dog’s journey to adulthood. Adolescence in dogs begins at about seven months […]