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Running in Circles
By Jane Gerard
It is often stated that the relinquishment of dogs to animal shelters in Europe and the US is largely due to behavior issues (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, 2008; Miklósi, 2007).
I am saddened but not surprised by this. As a trainer I have witnessed it many ...
BARKS Podcast: Expert Panel Discusses Sales in the Pet Industry
Join pet industry experts (above, left to right) Niki Tudge, founder and president of the Pet Professional Guild and DogNostics Career Center, Gina Phairas, founder, consultant lead, ...
Life Beyond Leash Reactivity
As far as behavior consults go, it's fair to say that reactivity is probably my most commonly encountered issue.
The term 'reactivity' has become, I feel somewhat of a buzzword over recent ...
Latest Articles
Interpreting Feline Non-Verbal Communication
Jane Ehrlich examines the basics of feline body language. This article was first published in BARKS from the Guild, March 2015, page 26
Keep an eye on your cat's body language to know what he/she is thinking and feeling. To that end, here is a scenario. In fact, you probably already know ...
True Friends
It’s been a couple of years since Gregory Berns published his research that uses MRIs to show that dogs love their humans. Now, British and Brazilian researchers have published a paper showing that dogs recognize our emotions as well.
Sure, dog lovers have many stories about dogs showing ...
Cats in Conflict
Jane Ehrlich examines some of the many types of feline aggression, one of the most
common behavior problems in cats, and tries to shed some light on this complex issue. This article was first published in BARKS from the Guild, March 2015, pages 24-28.
Inter-cat aggression is one of ...
#PPGSummit 2015: The Future Is Now
At times, with all the cruelty and destruction in the world, it can seem disheartening for pet professionals who are trying to make a stand for animals, to be their voice and ensure they get the best care possible and are never subjected to pain and suffering along the way. While there is ...
Lives of Streeties – A Study on Free Ranging Dogs
This Christmas I gave myself a gift. I finally permitted myself to publish my study on street dogs in Bangalore, India. I have been working at it for a year and I am thrilled to present it finally.
The idea for the study was sparked when my colleagues and I were mulling over the question of ...
Training ‘Thoughtfully’
Many of you will know that I think all training should be fun but science-based. I teach all behaviors as ‘tricks’ because I believe that, in doing so, we set up both trainer and learner for success. Whether teaching a ‘stay’, a ‘recall’, a ‘spin’ or a fun routine, teaching behaviors as ...
What New Pet Owners May Not Know
I recently came across an article in which the author spoke about why people give up exotic birds…and it got me thinking.
According to the ASPCA, approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 ...
Happy New Year! Happy New Life!
First impressions are often lasting ones and so it was with my first behavior case involving a two-year old Australian Shepherd named Ranger. He was in the custody of a breed rescue and was deemed beyond hope. Ranger was destined for euthanasia due to behavior problems that were imposed upon ...
Empathy for Human Learners
As I develop as a teacher I’ve been revisiting some of my experiences as learner, empathically engaging with my human clients who might be struggling with new skills.
Being a good learner is something I last thought about seriously when I was a student (a long time ago!). I trained as a ...