Busy Days and Lazy Days
We lead human lives in a human world, and nowadays that means computers, phones, etc.
Dogs don’t get that.
Happy Halloween! Tricks & Treats for You
In the spirit of the holiday, I’d like to present you, Dear Reader, with a trick, a tag, and a treat.
What, you’re not familiar with the middle part of that phrase? It’s a new Halloween tradition. Trust me on this.
Want to know what that undead-Michael Jackson has to do with all this? Read on. (Hint: he’s part of the tag bit.)
It Doesn’t Have To Be Hard
Sometimes we think, “Oh, man, I’d really like to fix this annoying behavior thing, but I just don’t have the time to put into it.”
Oh, you don’t think that? Just me? Well, it’s my blog, so I’m going to talk about it anyway.
Storm Watch & Success, Part 5 – Drugs & Alternative Therapies
You’ve tried everything — desensitization, counter-conditioning, safe places, and more — and it’s not enough? Or you know your panicked dog needs relief now while you start other protocols. Here are some more tools to consider.
Storm Watch & Success, Part 4 – Safe Places & the Mental Continuum
As I write this post, thunder is rolling overhead with enough resonance to shake the house. As I write this post, a Doberman is curled up at the foot of my bed. That’s our only storm coping tactic at the moment. How does this work?
Storm Watch & Storm Success, Part 1
It’s been a very stormy year across the country, and in the Midwest in particular. Since I have three dogs with three variants of sound/storm phobia or sensitivity, my former love and thrill for dramatic weather has degraded to a dejected, “Oh, more storms?!”
But storm fear or sound phobia doesn’t have to be the end of the world for your pets or the end of sanity for you. There are many options now to help fearful or sensitive dogs (and cats!), and no reason to tolerate unnecessary suffering in animals or humans. In the next few posts, I will share what is working well for us and for others, and you can be the hero in your own household!
This candy is not for eating! — Part 2
Remember that fantastically foul candy which made a better punisher than reinforcer? Pretty aversive stuff, would have wrecked a good training plan. But have you seen a highly-desired treat fail to reinforce as well?
Bitework doesn’t reduce bite inhibition — how annoying!
Have you ever tried to train against a taboo?
There are some who oppose all forms of trained protection sport and protection work, citing variously that the training is inherently abusive (it’s not), or that the dogs dislike it (obviously untrue!). Occasionally a protester will suggest that biting a person in a sleeve or suit must of course reduce a dog’s bite inhibition, making it more likely that the dog will mouth or bite a person not in protective gear.
I’ve argued logically against this before, but now I have empirical proof — I can’t even pay my dogs to bite!
Clever Dog?
So tonight I sent Shakespeare to fetch a dinner bucket, as I often do. We feed the dogs in steel pails. Both Shakespeare and Laev will retrieve buckets when asked; Inky will happily carry her bucket full of food to a more private dining area, but she as yet has no idea that it can also travel empty. That’s Inky….