Mindy-Penny and the Return to Ordinary Life

young puppy lying down beside table with cheese and crackers
This entry is part 25 of 25 in the series Service Dog Training

So Penny, née Mindy, is a pet dog now. Aside from the obvious things like no longer accompanying us into restaurants, church, grocery stores, etc., her life has changed in other subtle ways. Like, I can feed her what I want now, instead of sticking to a national brand available at… Continue reading

The Training Game and What It Teaches: The Rat Is Always Right

Many clicker trainers are familiar with what is almost universally known by the ridiculously simple name of The Training Game. It’s a shaping game played among humans, and most often a learner is sent from the room while the group determines a (physically and socially safe) behavior to shape, and… Continue reading

Puppy’s First Tornado – Preparedness for Pets

This entry is part 7 of 7 in the series Storm Watch

Spring came very late to Indiana this year, and I got complacent. With a lot fewer spring storms, I didn’t prep for tornados like I should have. So when the warning sirens went off a few minutes ago and I saw that a tornado had been sighted, I was unprepared.… Continue reading

Clicker Expo and After

black lab puppy seated at edge of cliff, looking over river gorge
This entry is part 12 of 25 in the series Service Dog Training

What a week! Mindy and I traveled to Clicker Expo in Norfolk, Virginia, and because I didn’t want to fly her, we drove. It wasn’t a bad drive, about 12 hours, and I broke it up into two days with a bit of hiking each way. “Not a Real Service… Continue reading

The First Day is a Big Day

Yes, your face WILL stick like that.
This entry is part 3 of 25 in the series Service Dog Training

A California puppy haiku: Snow is weird and cold. OMG! You can eat it! Ow-wow-wow brain freeze. Due to a lucky “break” in our cold snap, Mindy experienced only a 70-degree drop in temperature when we arrived home late Monday night. I took her out to urinate on the new… Continue reading

The Importance of Precise Feedback – or, “Stupid Human, You’re Doing It Wrong”

Is your dog smarter than a hermit crab?

I experienced a little reminder today of why we try to practice “clean” training – clicking without extraneous movements, words or signals that distract the dog or telegraph that a treat is coming. It’s important that the clicker be the most salient signal that reinforcement is on its way; otherwise,… Continue reading

When You Should NOT Socialize Your Dog — Part 2

Social, Civil, and Savvy: Training & Socializing Puppies to Become the Best Possible Dogs
This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series When You Should NOT Socialize

People attending a community event did not sign up to help your rehabilitate a troubled dog; they came to enjoy a social outing. Putting a stressed dog in their midst does not help the dog nor enhance their enjoyment. Continue reading