Use Dog Puzzles to Your Advantage!
I went thrift store shopping today because I have a themed birthday party coming up I needed some decor and costume clothes. While I was there I took a minute to check out the pet section, of course! I found this Aikiou dog puzzle for $1.99 (regular price is $24.95) and here is my dog’s…
5 Ways to Integrate Positive Reinforcement into Your Lifestyle
I want to expand outside the world of dogs for a minute. Since I crossed over just about a year ago this month, I have learned how to use positive reinforcement with my dog, but also with the people around me. I find that I am a much happier person, in general, when I integrate…
It’s Playtime!!!
There isn’t a better reason to play with your dog than for research! Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, author of Inside of a dog: What dogs see, smell, and know is doing research on humans playing with their dogs. Let’s show’em what we’ve got! Play with your dog (on video) for 60 seconds. You can play anyway you’d like –…
Positive Reinforcement Isn’t Reliable Enough for Performance Sports
Recently while browsing the internet, I came across several comments that stated that positive reinforcement doesn’t create reliable behaviors for performance sports. One comment in particular shocked me: “Anyone who wants a dog in Schutzhund to get top points tends to have switched to marker training. This is because of the need for expression. However…
Can Your Dog “Leave It”?
Have you taken the time to teach your dog to “leave it”? If not, here’s your chance! [Just in time for the holidays! ;)] “Leave it” can be a lifesaving cue for your dog. It can prevent the dog from eating fractured, cooked chicken bones, moldy hamburger on the side of the road, or even…
No One Can Train Without Pressure
After a recent post by Denise Fenzi called “Pressure“, I decided it was a good idea to make a post about pressure as well. Truth is, you can’t train without pressure. Pressure is an “attempt to persuade or coerce (someone) into doing something” according to Google. Pressure to perform is natural – it’s asking your…
Dogs Don’t Just “Live in the Moment”
To say that dogs only “live in the moment” is to insult their intelligence. It is scientifically proven that dogs are at least as intelligent as a 2 year old child and can learn as many as 250 words (1). A certain TV Dog Trainer, claims that dogs “live in the moment” and forget their past and…
Self Reinforcing Behaviors
Ignore the behaviors you don’t like and reinforce the behaviors you do like, right? Well, it’s not quite that simple. Many times you can just ignore something and it will go away. However, some behaviors are self-reinforcing, which means the behavior reinforces itself by providing the dog with some sort of satisfaction. For example, counter…