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Dog Speak: The Language of Barking
At a recent public event I attended, the question asked most by companion dog owners was, "How do I get my dog to stop barking?" As professionals, of course, the first thing we want to do is ask more questions. "When does the dog bark?", "What time of day?", "What are they ...
Compulsive Eating in Dogs
By Maureen Tay
Also known as compulsive eating disorder, compulsive eating is a disorder where a dog tends to eat everything - from food items to non-food items. The specific ...
Training a Blind Dog
By Miki Saito
Unfortunately, even knowledgeable and experienced trainers sometimes hesitate when it comes to working with a blind dog. It is as if they consider the dog’s ...
Latest Articles
Feline Behavior Unmasked: Why Cats Paw at Water
By Tabitha Kucera
Q: Why does my cat paw at the water in her bowl prior to drinking it?
A: Pawing at, playing with or even splashing in a water dish is not as strange for cats as you might think. There are multiple reasons that may be motivating your cat to do this.
Cats’ whiskers are ...
Icy Conditions Put People and Pets at Risk
My childhood winters were cold and snowy and I do not remember any freezing rain when I walked to school or played outside. Climate change has since warmed our region and I now find myself having to deal with winter rain, often creating unsafe icy conditions.
That makes daily animal care far ...
PPG Summit 2020 Sessions: Enrichment in the Shelter – Using Science to Guide Us to the Most Efficacious Practices
BARKS presents session details from PPG's 2020 Summit and Workshops in Phoenix, Arizona
*Early bird discount available if you register before January 31, 2020!
Session Details:
Presenter: Dr. Lisa Gunter
Session Title: Enrichment in the Shelter - Using Science to Guide Us to the Most ...
3 Reasons a Little Dog Might Not Lie Down on Cue
By Eileen Anderson
When I first started training dogs, things that didn’t work were a mystery to me. Why couldn’t I reward Summer with chasing squirrels like everybody said I could? Why couldn’t I find that slot in the layout of her teeth where the experienced trainers said she should hold ...
Feline Behavior Unmasked: Nighttime Wakefulness
By Paula Garber
Q: Why does my cat wake me up in the middle of the night? Is it because cats are nocturnal?
A: Cats are actually crepuscular, which means they tend to be most active at dawn and dusk when the animals they prey upon (e.g., rodents and birds) are most active. This activity ...
The Top Ten New Simple Solutions to Help You and Your Dog in the New Year
Helping Pet Dog Guardians Get It Right!
Did you know that good management is an essential part of any training or behavioral change plan? In fact, management is an important part of your dog's life, in the same way that it's important to manage your children's environment. If your dog is ...
Teaching Your Dog to Self-Interrupt
By Eileen Anderson
Here is something I taught with positive reinforcement that enhances Clara’s life and mine. I’ve taught her to respond positively to being interrupted, and even to interrupt herself. This trained behavior helps us get along smoothly from day to day, and also helps keep ...
A Little Doggy “Me Time” this Holiday Season!
Okay, you've unwrapped the pressies, eaten the turkey, spent time with the family, watched endless hours of TV....what next? If you've got the luxury of some time off, why not use the festive period to spend a little more time with your dog, building relationships or even future planning?
1 ...
A Cry for Attention
By Lara Joseph
Foraging is defined as searching for food. From my observations, however, much more is involved than the mere hunt for food when a parrot carries out this behavior. I am fascinated with watching birds forage because it has such a profound impact on their behavior in so many ...