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The Exploitation of the Mind

    Today’s riddle: How is a 5-year-old human like a spotted hyena? (Aside from eating habits and destructive potential!)

    Valenzia and groceries

    Why We Teach House Manners — Or, Good Training Should Be Idiot-Proof

      Like many dog owners, I’ve gotten spoiled by having a mature, well-trained dog in the house. Naturally, when we first bring home a new member of the family, we are obsessed with teaching all sorts of critical foundation skills (targeting, door and leash manners, handling exercises, and so on). But once those initial behaviors are in place, we give them little thought because we’re too busy focusing on performance behaviors, or working skills, or the next cute pet trick — whatever our particular venue may be.

      What this means is that once I’ve taught my dog the way I need her to comport herself in the house, I get lazy. I do things I would never think of doing with a novice dog. And fortunately, our style of training holds up brilliantly in real-life situations — which, as a matter of fact, is why I still have the load of groceries I bought tonight.

      Actually, I'm not really keen on mental math. That's why I developed ClickStats.

      Interaction During Training

        I have seen some criticize clicker training as impersonal and artificial — what do you mean, I’m not supposed to talk to my dog? He’s supposed to work for food instead of me? Hands-off? I’m not supposed to touch my own dog?!

        Of course this is a skewed view at best, and occasionally outright wrong, but it can be propagated by well-intentioned but confounding directions from some clicker trainers. Let’s clear this up!

        Interaction During Training — Pirate Edition

          International Talk Like a Pirate Day

          (In honor of Talk Like A Pirate Day, today’s post is in that vernacular. Tomorrow will show a translated edition.)

          I have seen some criticize clicker trainin’ as impersonal and artificial — what do you mean, I’m not ‘posed t’ talk t’ me dog? He’s s’posed t’ work for food instead o’ me? Hands-off? I’m not s’posed t’ touch me own dog?!

          Of course this be a skewed view at best, and occasionally out-starboard wrong, but it can be propagated by well-intentioned but confoundin’ directions from some clicker-ers. Let’s clear the decks!

          Storm Watch & Storm Success, Part 2 – Carry-on Allowances & Emotional Baggage

            This entry is part 2 of 7 in the series Storm Watch
            Figure 15 from Charles Darwin's The Expression...
            Figure 15 from Charles Darwin’s The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. Caption reads “FIG. 15.—Cat terrified at a dog. From life, by Mr. Wood.” Author’s signature is at bottom left. See also figures 9-14 and 18 by the same author. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

            Before we start with the nuts and bolts of helping pets with storm fear or phobia, we really have to discuss the emotional aspects of  fears and phobias. No matter how much has been written or described on this, I still encounter an amazing amount of misinformation which slows or counters owners’ best training efforts.

            our lovely gate, courtesy of Jezroc Metalworks

            What a Blind Dog Sees, Part 2

              This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series What A Blind Dog Sees

              Part 1 covered Inky’s uncertain backstory and roller coaster of health issues.  Today, we’ll talk about how we’ve trained through blindness, and what we’ve learned about obedience, perception, trust, and control.

              Do You Have a Double Standard?

                Where do we draw the line between acceptable variance and dangerous disobedience?  Where do we draw the line between an annoyance and real trouble?