I’ve discussed dog emotions in other blogs. I’d like to discuss how our reaction to dog’s emotions can cause behavior problems. Our problem comes when we try to dismiss a dog’s emotions, stress, and fear, and put human emotions into the dog’s behavior and reactions: ·         My dog chewed my shoe because he was angry that I went away ·         My dog peed on the living room rug to punish me ·         My dog ‘looks’…   Continue

The brain activities, and how the nervous system response, are the same when any mammal feels stress or anxiety. When looking at the limbic system we are all the same (according to Panksepp et al) This is how researchers can draw conclusions about canine behaviour. Greg Berns has proven that canines have the brain functions (caudate nucleus) necessary for feeling emotions. This brought around major changes in how we deal with training and basic behavior…   Continue

The first thing most puppy owners want to teach their dog is to sit, stay, heel, stop chewing, and go potty at a convenient time. Unfortunately they are missing a great opportunity to make their dogs focused, easy to train, and calm – for the rest of the dog’s life. Exposure, good and bad, in the first 14 weeks of a dog’s life will affect the way your puppy processes sensory input. That’s right –…   Continue

  One of the most overlooked canine care issues in today’s lifestyle is kennel stress. We think because our dogs have free run of the house they do not suffer. With the introduction of home viewing cams, people are learning that their dog is not relaxing quietly while they are away. The dog is pacing, barking, panting, and exhibiting other signs of stress. This is not what we want for our dogs. When we think…   Continue

Can an aggressive or reactive dog be cured? The answer should be no. Even if your dog has been good for several years you need to realize that three things can cause your dog’s bad behavior to return (recover): Stress or fear Not practicing the prevention and control protocols Not practicing the exercises that increase oxytocin and serotonin, while decreasing cortisol Not teaching your dog a lifestyle of calm and control. If you are stressed…   Continue

“OHHH Live is Good!” Most people do not understand the benefits of dopamine in dog training. It is in truth, the chemical of feeling good. It is the chemical that gives you a natural high. With animals, feeling good means survival is easy. It is what they strive for. We call them emotions. We feel happy. But Dopamine is one of the chemical signals that pass information from one neuron to the next. This neurotransmitter…   Continue

There are a lot of positive dog training centers teaching people that if their dog reacts, shows aggression, or become over excited then all you need is to teach it to look, redirect its behavior and the problem will magically go away. There are people who say ‘teach an alternative behavior’, but if you’ve ever owned a hound who is ‘locked and loaded’ on a squirrel, or a herding dog who is over stimulated because…   Continue

Rose has been rather tense lately. There has been a lot going on in our home. I’ve noticed that she has started to react strongly when someone stares at her, something I do not allow my dogs to do. I teach my dogs that I am the only one that makes ‘action’ decisions. This is the first step in any behavior modification or dog training program. As Roxanne says (www.rawforpets.com) a long time German Shepherd…   Continue

We are always worried about fading treats and rewards. Very few dog handlers worry about fading corrections, but this is the one thing you should work hard to fade. We’ve talked before about the difference between teaching and learning. Teaching a task to a dog means that we are showing the dog the task, in various environments, with different distractions, and adding duration and distance to the equation. It can take 2 minutes to show…   Continue

A lot of obedience classes teach pattern training. You are asked to have your dog complete an exercise in a specific manner, repeatedly. The dog learns the routine and by the end of the obedience course your dog can do the exercise. At least, it can do it in your home, or at the dog training center. Your dog may even be the star pupil at the training center. The problem with pattern training isn’t…   Continue