This blog post explores the concept of classical conditioning and how it influences dog behavior. Classical conditioning, first studied by Ivan Pavlov, explains how dogs (and all animals) can learn to associate neutral stimuli, like sounds or objects, with meaningful outcomes, such as rewards or discomfort…

This blog post explores how emotional arousal, commonly referred to as "reactivity," in dogs can often be linked to underlying pain or discomfort. Emotional arousal is characterized by heightened responses to stimuli, such as excessive barking, lunging, or hypervigilance, which can interfere with a dog’s ability to calm down…

We explore the challenges of managing dog training responsibilities when one person in the household carries the majority of the "mental load"; the invisible burden of managing tasks like feeding, walking, and training, as well as tracking progress and implementing solutions. We discuss the importance of involving all family members in training, highlighting the risks of inconsistent messaging, increased stress for the dog, and burnout for the primary caregiver.

This blog post explores the concept of the "October Slide" and its impact on dogs with chronic pain conditions. The "October Slide" refers to the worsening of chronic pain symptoms during colder months, often starting in October, due to environmental factors such as cooler temperatures, damp weather, and reduced daylight. These changes can lead to increased pain sensitivity, decreased activity levels, and behavioral shifts like irritability or avoidance.

This blog post encourages dog owners to shift their mindset from “fixing” their dog’s behavior to focusing on gradual progress through achievable goals. Addressing behavior issues, especially complex ones like aggression or reactivity, requires patience and realistic expectations. Attempting to resolve long-term behaviors quickly can lead to frustration and setbacks, as deep-rooted habits can take months or even years to change…

This blog post offers guidance for autistic dog owners on navigating the challenges of dog care during autistic burnout. Autistic burnout is a state of chronic exhaustion and decreased function due to prolonged stress, often resulting from masking autistic traits, sensory overload, and social expectations​. Burnout affects various aspects of dog ownership, including physical energy, tolerance for interruptions, and sensory sensitivity, making routine tasks like feeding, walking, and training difficult to manage…

We explore how a dog’s discomfort during car rides may not just be anxiety but a sign of physical pain or discomfort. Dogs experiencing stress during car travel often undergo subtle strain from the vehicle’s movement, needing to make constant balancing adjustments that can exacerbate any underlying pain, particularly in dogs with joint or muscular issues…

The case study of A, a 2.5-year-old Feist mix, illustrates how persistent behavior issues often have deeper, underlying causes. Despite extensive training, A continued to struggle with aggression, pulling on walks, and inconsistent eating. A key observation of A's unusual hind-leg skipping led to further investigation. This was when a Dynamic Dog Assessment, an approach that considers the whole dog's physical health, behavior, and environment, revealed subtle discomfort signals that changed A’s life.

We explore the often-overlooked connection between pain and undesirable behaviors in dogs. It provides a comprehensive guide on recognizing the subtle signs of pain, such as changes in sleep patterns, mobility, and social interactions. By understanding how pain can impact a dog's behavior, owners can take proactive steps to improve their dog's well-being. The article includes practical advice on tracking symptoms, consulting with veterinarians and Dynamic Dog Practitioners, and managing pain effectively…

Just like any other professional, dog trainers need to have a solid plan in place in order to be successful. This means having a clear understanding of your goals, what you and your student need to do to achieve them, and how you will measure progress along the way. While every trainer's approach will be slightly different, there are some essential elements that should be included in every dog training plan. In this blog post, I'll share some tips on how to write an organized and successful training plan that your students can stick to. By following these guidelines, you can set yourself up for success and ensure that you're providing the best possible experience for your students and their dogs.

When it comes to training our furry friends, using high-value reinforcers can make all the difference. These reinforcers, which can come in the form of treats, toys, verbal praise, or even physical affection, provide a clear signal to the dog that they have accomplished the desired behavior. (Check out our big list of reinforcers if you need help thinking of possible reinforcers to try out!) On the other hand, low-value reinforcers, or things you may believe are reinforcing, but aren't, can actually confuse and slow down training progress. So what makes a reinforcer high-value? It varies from dog to dog - for some pooches, it might be a crispy bacon treat, for others, it could be a game of fetch with their favorite toy. The key is to observe your dog's body language and reactions during training sessions and determine which reinforcer gets them the most engaged and increases and strengthens the targeted behavior. Using high-value reinforcers appropriately can not only help keep training sessions fun and engaging for both you and your pup but also increase efficiency and speed in learning behaviors and cues.

If you're new to the world of dog training, you may be wondering what operant conditioning and classical conditioning are, how they differ from one another, and if you can use them separately from one another. Both operant conditioning and classical conditioning are important elements of dog training, and it's important to understand the difference between the two in order to be the best trainer possible. Here's a brief overview of each type of conditioning, as well as a history of their respective pioneers, Ivan Pavlov and B.F. Skinner.

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends, enjoy a delicious meal, and give thanks for all that we have. For many of us, our dogs are part of the family. However, the increased activity level and the number of people in the home during Thanksgiving can be overwhelming for even the calmest of dogs. If your dog is aggressive or reactive, it is important to take some extra precautions to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday. With some careful planning and management, you can make Thanksgiving a success for both you and your furry friend.

Dogs are trained using a variety of methods, some more effective than others. Aversive dog training methods (e.g. methods using primarily negative reinforcement and positive punishment) can actually do more harm than good. When training your dog, it is important to be aware of the consequences of using aversive training methods because the fallout from methods falling into their category can be difficult to reverse and take you further away from achieving your dog training goals. While aversive training methods might achieve the desired result in the short term, they can have long-term negative consequences for your dog's behavior. Read on to find out more about a few ways your dog can present fallout from these training methods and why they should be avoided.

Training a dog can be a rewarding experience for both you and your dog. If you are using positive reinforcement-based methods, puppies can begin learning simple cues such as “Sit” and “Down” as soon as they can eat solid foods. However, basic obedience training is just the beginning. Dogs of all ages can learn new tricks and behaviors. That saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, couldn’t be more wrong. The bond between you and your dog will only grow stronger as you continue to train together over the course of your lives together.

If your dog is fearful, you may be wondering what you can do to help them feel more confident. Some dogs may be more fearful or hesitant than others, which can make training more challenging due to past experiences, social learning from other fearful dogs in the household, or even genetics. Luckily, there are positive reinforcement-based training methods and behavioral modification techniques, like desensitization and counter-conditioning that you can use to help your dog gain the confidence he or she needs to thrive. Keep reading to learn more about how to help a fearful dog gain confidence by using positive reinforcement and behavior modification techniques.

It's happened to the best of us: you're minding your own business when you see your dog out of the corner of your eye, running away from you with something in their mouth that they definitely shouldn't have. Whether it's a pair of your favorite shoes or the remote control, it can be frustrating trying to get them to drop the item and come back to you. But why do they run away in the first place?

Owning an aggressive dog can be a life-changing experience. A dog owner can quickly go from being the central hub for their entire family at Thanksgiving to never having anyone enter their home because they fear what their dog might do. Oftentimes, when a dog exhibits aggression, dog owners start to think euthanasia might be their only option after training technique after training technique fails. Before making this difficult and painful choice, it is important to gather information from a professional dog behavior consultant (we are quite different from dog trainers!) about your dog's behavior.

If you're a dog owner, you know that there are a lot of different services out there purporting to help with your furry friend. But how do you know which one is right for you and your dog? In this blog post, we'll be discussing the difference between dog training and dog behavior consulting, and outlining when you might need each service.

Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows that they are capable of exhibiting a wide range of emotions, from happiness and excitement to fear and aggression. Unfortunately, even the best-behaved dog may exhibit aggression under certain circumstances. If your dog is exhibiting aggressive behavior, it is important to take steps to manage the aggression in order to keep both your dog and those around him safe. The best-laid training plans start with the management of the dog’s undesirable behaviors to prevent further reinforcement. In this blog post, we'll discuss three strategies for managing aggressive behavior in dogs: using training equipment like muzzles, rearranging the environment for success, and preventing your dog from practicing undesirable behaviors.