Things aren’t always as they seem. Sometimes what appears to be a serious behavioral problem may actually be a symptom of an underlying medical issue. When pets lose weight, limp, or vomit excessively, most pet lovers recognize these for what they are: health related symptoms worthy of a trip to the vet. This is likely because similar symptoms are recognizable within our own species and often indicate similar underlying issues. In short, it's more obvious what's going on because we can relate. However, pets also exhibit other behaviors that humans typically do not. These behaviors are often p ..read more

Shock collars, e-collars, stim collars, whatever you want to call them. Some are activated by noise such as when a dog barks, others when they meet a physical barrier such as with an invisible fence, others by a remote held in the trainer's hand. Regardless of how the shock is activated, these collars are all designed to deliver a pulse, like major static electricity, to a dog's throat. They work based on pain, startle, fear, or avoidance - pure and simple. Don't believe me? Sit tight, we'll get to that. As a dog trainer, I don't believe that there is one tool that is better than another. I l ..read more

Poop eating is a topic that comes up regularly from clients desperate to put an end to it. Coprophagy (pronounced ka-PROFF-ah-gee), or “the act of eating feces,” is quite normal and even sometimes necessary for many animals. So how should you deal with it? Well, that depends on what the root cause of the poop eating is. So put down your sandwich - it’s time to talk about eating poop. Dogs eat poop. They eat poop from cats, rabbits, deer, birds, horses, and many other animals. Warm or frozen, fresh or stale, poop appears to be a good time. So, in other words, your dog may be eating poop is bec ..read more

Paraphrased from a blog by Don Hanson. Many organizations positions and policies are based on the careful review of the growing number of peer-reviewed, scientific studies that demonstrate that shock is not only unnecessary but is harmful, both physically and psychologically. So, let’s look at some of the arguments in support of shock collars from a scientific perspective. Shock collars don't actually cause pain. They just get the dog's attention. E. Anderson explains “During the initial training period, [shock] must be painful, uncomfortable, or frightening, or it wouldn’t work. It has to ha ..read more

Have you ever trained a dog that seemed to be on the verge of psychic? They know exactly what you want, figure it out super quick, and advance through training like a cheetah on crack? I had a German shepherd I was working with on several things. It was like she was listening to us talk about the plan, and would then perform it correctly the very first time. Whenever we introduced a new skill or advanced in something, she’d look at us as if to say “That was too easy, what’s next!?” It became a running joke that she understood English. Suffice to say, she made us both look REALLY gooood. These ..read more

Lately I've been hearing more and more from people who are interested in adding a new pet to their existing family pet. Perhaps it's the nicer weather that is kindling thoughts of new beginnings, or maybe it's the increased activity of nature that inspires feelings of growth and a desire to care for something. Whatever the reason, there are several considerations that should be made if you or a loved one is thinking of adding a new pet.  Consider your family’s lifestyle It is important to have realistic expectations about yourself, your family, and your lifestyle. Look at yourself object ..read more

Originally written for Dogster.com. If you are like 40% of US pet owners, you have (or would like to have!) more than one dog. Before bringing a new dog home, there are a few things to think about. It is a common misconception that you will be fine as long as you get a dog that is the opposite sex of your dog. While this is often a factor, it’s not the only one and is certainly not the most important. The most important think to consider is personality. If your dog tends to be confident, assertive, controlling or pushy around other dogs, look for a laid back companion. Also, try to match ener ..read more

Originally written for Dogster.com. So many homes are fostering or adopting right now and that is amazing! But what are you supposed to do when bringing home a new cat or dog when you have the opposite species already at home? By planning ahead and setting everyone in your home up for success, your chances of a great interaction are much more likely. Before you even begin your search, determine the features you think would make a new pet well suited to your resident furry friend. If your current pet has already lived with the opposite species, you are at a great advantage! Sit down, and write ..read more

I love education - it's the best way to change the behavior of any species. Learning about the world around us, others, and ourselves allows us to better understand concepts and perspectives, exercise our minds, and contribute effectively to society. Conservation, civil rights, world issues, tolerance and acceptance and so much more rely on education as means of spreading. When we know better, we do better. The same concept applies to pretty much anything, though at a much smaller scale, including animal behavior. Having a better understanding of how pets behave and think, how to effectively ..read more

Paraphrased from this blog by Don Hanson. How can shock cause aggressive behavior? I believe most everyone understands that there are times when they have been anxious, reactive, rude, or outright aggressive when they were experiencing any type of pain or stress. Often, the target of that aggression will be whatever they are focusing on when they experience the pain. Here are two cases involving dogs that were brought to me for a behavior consultation due to aggressive behavior. In both cases, the owners believed the aggression had been caused by the use of a shock collar. Case #1: Jake “Jake ..read more