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Embedded thumbnail for Vet Visits Need Not Be Stressful.

Vet Visits Need Not Be Stressful.

Chirag Patel  |  Thu, 11/08/2012 - 13:22

This video shows a brief clip of teaching a dog to be comfortable with a nasal vaccine. 

 

Polish Tatra Rescue Saga

Rachel Friedman  |  Tue, 11/06/2012 - 13:20

 rescue |ˈreskyoō| verb ( -cues , -cued, -cuing ) [ trans. ] save (someone) from a dangerous or distressing situation

 

Advocacy Overdrive – Stop Verbal Violence Against Pit Bulls

Drayton Michaels  |  Wed, 10/17/2012 - 10:59

The blog has a corresponding video at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVRDrA8zuzw

The cheapest version of violence is verbal. It can be dispensed with out any consequences many times and furthermore in many social settings verbal violence is readily accepted as a “joke” or a slight on a group or individuals that everyone can gang up on.

In the media verbal violence against Pit Bulls is rampant. It lives on in the form of talk show hosts using the term “pit bull” as a conflated way to get attention, garner “phones” at radio stations and it has been long understood that headlines which create “monsters” and fear, especially fear of an “unknown” or “other” will sell the news like nothing else. This is programmed fear mongering.

 

Viewing training sessions on film

Drayton Michaels  |  Thu, 10/11/2012 - 10:06

These days’ people log in many hours on screens watching TV, YouTube, Video games, Phones and so forth. However how much time is spent watching videos of training dogs that we do with clients dog or even our own dogs? Viewing videos for the nostalgia or the cute moments are fine and we all need to do a fair amount of that. Viewing for the purposes of bettering the training process and accurately observing and assessing the environmental and behavioral aspects for both the humans and the dogs is crucial for improvements.

Trainers spend all sorts of time and money watching other trainer’s DVD’s and so forth and that is fine. That is a very good thing to have access to. The truth is most dog trainers spend very little time watching themselves on film and critiquing the process accurately.

 

The Indoor Dog Ideal

Cindy Bruckart  |  Mon, 09/24/2012 - 08:49

If I said to you that I worked with some dogs whose owner makes them live outside, what is your first thought?  I know mine is usually dirty, parasite laden dogs who bark at strangers and don’t care much for being petted.  That’s because those are the outdoor dogs I grew up around.

Some imagine that an outdoor dog is sad and lonely, constantly hoping for the chance to come inside.  Some imagine a dog on a chain whose world is small and unfulfilling.  Depending on where one lives, you might think of the shivering, wet dog who has no shelter while its owners are toasty warm inside.

 
Roger Abrantes and boxer.

Dog Training—Let's end the fighting!

Roger Abrantes  |  Mon, 09/10/2012 - 06:41

The dog trainers’ dispute about training methods blazes on unabated, with the erroneous and emotive use of terms such as dominance, punishment and leadership only adding fuel to the fire. There is no rational argumentation between the two main factions, one of which advocates a “naturalistic” approach and the other a “moralistic” stance. The term ‘dominance’ generates particular controversy and is often misinterpreted. We can detect, in the line of arguing about this topic, the same fundamental mistakes committed in many other discussions. By taking the controversy over dominant behavior as my example, I shall attempt to put an end to the feud by proving that neither side is right and by presenting a solution to the problem. Plus ratio quam vis—let reason prevail over force!

I shall demonstrate that the dispute is caused by:

 
Hazel lips her lick, a common expression of dogs getting their photo taken

Understanding Calming Signals in Dogs

Rachel Friedman  |  Sun, 09/09/2012 - 21:36

Calming Signals is a term coined by Turid Rugaas, a Norwegian ethologist and dog enthusiast. Her obvious love and long term devotion to observing dogs with their own kind has led to her ground breaking work in articulating these signals into written language (Norwegian, English and no doubt dozens of other written languages -- ironically, dogs speak the same language regardless of country of origin or the spoken language of their people).

 
Embedded thumbnail for Four Feet on the Floor: Jumping up behaviour in puppies and dogs

Four Feet on the Floor: Jumping up behaviour in puppies and dogs

Chirag Patel  |  Sun, 09/02/2012 - 11:57

Teaching dogs that four feet on the floor when they are around people pays. 

 
Embedded thumbnail for What the puppies learnt & why they learnt it! Week 5 Puppy Socialisation Class.

What the puppies learnt & why they learnt it! Week 5 Puppy Socialisation Class.

Sue McCabe  |  Fri, 08/31/2012 - 06:45

The aim of any puppy socialisation class should be to start puppies along the right road to becoming a well adjusted, happy adult dogs, using fun training & controlled play/interaction with other dogs. This means giving a wide variety of skills to both dogs & owners & hopefully giving them the thirst for continued learning & improvement.

In this video you'll see the foundations for loose leash walking-not relying on the lead for control, Bella the Bishon shows focus, heel position & a happy, willing disposition while walking beside her owner Clare.

 
Stoli laugh

Mental Health and Illness in Dogs: part II - PTSD Revisited

Rachel Friedman  |  Thu, 08/30/2012 - 12:45

Three weeks ago I wrote about the interesting case of Stoli the Rottie rescue who I diagnosed with a case of PTSD. You can read about her background and earlier experience HERE or HERE. Now, as promised, an update. Stoli came for a second DIP session on August 9, directly after which her owner and family went on a week long vacation. The original plan had been to kennel her, which was a concern. But in the end, and quite happily, Stoli remained in the home and a family friend (who had attended the 2nd DIP session and displayed a great intrigue with the world of dog training and behavior) took care of her in their absence.

 

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