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Feline Fastidious Foodies
By Patience Fisher
From cat food commercials to cartoons and internet cats, it is something of a running joke that cats are picky eaters. But is this common assumption correct?
According to C.A. Tony Buffington, a leading researcher in the field of feline ...
Cat Sitter or Cattery?
Andrea Carne highlights ways feline behavior professionals can help cat owners decide on the best pet care option when they’re away from home
Ask the Experts: A Little Bit of Magic
Veronica Boutelle of PPG corporate partner dogbiz talks cancellation policies and how to make them stick
Latest Articles
An Allegory: What Happens if a Dog is Punished for Having a Phobia?
By Sandra Machado
Johnny is five years old and he is a great kid. He is loving, does very well in school and absolutely adores his mom.
One day he was playing in the park and was badly bitten by a spider. He was never afraid of them before until he got bitten. He became so fearful ...
Treat Value: What Should You Use?
By Yvette Van Veen
Which Treat Value Is BEST? It depends. There’s so much variation in how food reinforcements are used that we have to look at the objective of the training.
Generally there are two styles of training. We can primarily work in classical conditioning or we can primarily ...
BARKS Podcast with Dr. Nathan Hall: February 7, 2019.
Guest: Dr. Nathan Hall, assistant professor of companion animal science at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and the director of the canine olfaction research and education laboratory in the department of animal science.
Topic: Understanding Gene-Behavior Relationships in Domestic ...
Tips for Working with Clients with Mobility Impairments
By Veronica Sanchez
A large and rambunctious dog can pull an owner off their feet, even if they do not have any physical limitations. However, people who have mobility impairments are at a higher risk. Additionally, the consequences of an injury may be more serious. Fortunately, there are a ...
Portland Blog Competition: May I Speak to the Manager?
By Tina Ferner
Last week, I received a voicemail that a trainer NEVER wants to hear. It went like this, “Tina, this is Eileen. Dolly just killed Miley.” Dolly was a rescued mixed breed dog that weighed approximately 65 pounds while Miley was a Maltese mix that weighed 8 pounds.
There had ...
The What, Where and When of Rewards
By Lily Mickleburgh
The use of rewards in dog training is becoming increasingly popular as an effective way of encouraging desired behaviours. However, subtle differences in what you use as a reward, where and when you reward them, can all change depending on your end goal. This may ...
Dogs and Marshmallows
I've been interested in dogs and self-restraint for as long as I have trained dogs. So, several years ago, a friend and I applied an adapted version of the Marshmallow Test to her guide dog. Alberta passed with flying colors. Her current guide, Koala, also aced the test.
For decades, the ...
Dog Owner Confidence Crash!
There's so much written about emotions of our dogs, how they're thinking and what they're feeling in various provocative situations and scenarios, but sometimes I think we, the dog owners, may end up being a little neglected! You can't successfully help dogs with behavioral or training ...
Winter Hiking Tips for You and Your Dog
Winter is here, but that doesn't mean you and your dog need to stay inside. A dog needs both physical and mental daily exercise. Hiking with your dog in the winter can be a lot of fun. But, before you walk out the front door with your dog in tow, you and your dog need to be prepared for your ...