There has been a disappointing, even quite disturbing trend, on social media lately. Accounts have been posting videos of dogs in distress, as “funny” videos of dogs just “being dramatic”. The dogs in all cases are not in life threatening situations. In fact they are often in very normal situations such as having their nailsContinue reading “No, your dog is not just being dramatic”
Category Archives: Dog Science
Be a leader, not the alpha
The alpha myth still runs rampant in the k9 world. So if it comes to you as a surprise that “alpha” is a myth, you’re far from alone! The alpha myth, which says that dogs have similar social structure to wolves and that wolf packs operate with one alpha which must remain dominant over theContinue reading “Be a leader, not the alpha”
As seen on TV: Canine Intervention
Good dog training generally doesn’t make for good television. Television shows are about instant gratification. Magnificent makeovers done in 20 minutes. Full home builds and renovations in 55 minutes. It’s about showing one extreme to another. When it comes to good dog training (by this, I mean ethical, humane and science-based dog training) on television,Continue reading “As seen on TV: Canine Intervention”
Any dog can bite
Any dog can bite. Let me repeat that: any dog can bite. I don’t say this to alarm anyone, I say it so that everyone can look at their dog with the respect and understanding that biting is a part of their communication toolbox and if we treat any dog as if it would neverContinue reading “Any dog can bite”
Why are puppy classes important?
So you just got a puppy and everyone is asking you when you’re starting puppy class but you don’t know why you even need to do it. In this post, I’ll break down the important benefits of attending a puppy class. Learning how to socialize your puppy. Socializing your puppy is not just about gettingContinue reading “Why are puppy classes important?”
How do online dog training classes work?
Online dog training is not a thing of the future, it is here! Maybe you’re wondering, how this can work, don’t you have to be there in person? Thanks to the technology of today, you don’t! In this post, I’ll go over what online dog training looks like and what to look for and aContinue reading “How do online dog training classes work?”
Why letting your dog off leash can have unintended consequences
A lot of dog owners love letting their dogs off leash. Off leash time can provide opportunities for our dogs to run free, sniff, roll, dig, a.k.a: be dogs. It’s fun to watch your dog fully engaged in enjoying the moment. However, letting your dog off leash without a reliable recall, in an uncontrolled environment,Continue reading “Why letting your dog off leash can have unintended consequences”
The BEST thing you can do to improve your dog training and relationship
Someone recently asked, “what is the best thing I can do to become a better dog guardian?”. This was such a good question that I thought I would put together a post about it. So what is the answer? The best thing you can do to improve your dog training, improve your relationship with yourContinue reading “The BEST thing you can do to improve your dog training and relationship”
What is the Premack Principle and how can it help me?
The Premack Principle is one that all dog trainers are generally familiar with, and that some very savvy dog owner’s also know. So, what is it and how can it help you? The Premack Principle was discussed in a study by David Premack who discussed the principle in a paper of a study on CebusContinue reading “What is the Premack Principle and how can it help me?”
Five common training mistakes that might make you think positive reinforcement doesn’t work for your dog
I’ve recently had many conversations on social media with dog guardians who believe that positive reinforcement doesn’t work for their dog. This made me realize that there are many common training mistakes that can lead to people thinking exactly that. To be clear, positive reinforcement works, otherwise it’s not positive reinforcement. I don’t want toContinue reading “Five common training mistakes that might make you think positive reinforcement doesn’t work for your dog”
Stoked Dogs 