New Content
The Art, Science and Ethics of Using Decoy Dogs
By Yvette Van Veen
Learning to work with a reactive, anxious or fearful dog is a challenging process. Dog owners especially struggle. They must learn new skills and execute them correctly, while working with a difficult, if not dangerous, dog. In such situations, owners are often robbed of ...
BARKS Podcast with Dr. Karolina Westlund: April 9, 2021
Join Niki Tudge and Dr. Karolina Westlund of Illis Animal Behaviour Consulting as they discuss emotional learning.
Listen to the Podcast here on your preferred platform. Or simply click ‘Play’ ...
The Essence of a Dog: A Free Education from a Free Choice Walk
By Kristi Benson
One cold day last spring, snow still clinging to the ground and ceding to the warm sun only on the tips of south-facing hillocks, I decided to do something new.
I wouldn’t ...
Latest Articles
Five Ways to Survive the Holidays with your Dog
'Tis the season of family, laughter, fun and joy. Gift giving, good eating, and relaxing are just a few of the things we look forward to during the holidays. But, along with the holiday spirit, also comes a little stress and chaos. This stress and chaos not only affects us humans but our ...
Just an Ordinary Dog!
My dog Jambo is a Trick Dog Champion. In fact, he was the first Staffordshire Bull Terrier to be awarded the Title. Jambo is an adorable, loving pet dog. Jambo is not an exceptional dog. He isn’t particularly athletic. He isn’t unusually intelligent. He is a dog who has been set up for ...
Rio Goes to Tampa
I was so excited to attend the PPG Summit in Tampa, Florida last month. Tampa is just a bit more than a 2 hour drive for me. And for years I’ve wanted to take one of my dogs to a professional training conference. All the locations have been too far to drive and my dogs are too big to fit ...
Do No Harm!
That maxim is one of the fundamental principles that health care providers are taught in school which roughly means that given an existing problem, it may be better not to do something or do nothing than risk causing more harm than good.
I believe as positive reinforcement trainers and other ...
A Laser Light and OCD
It's really strange how it all started. My clients have had the little Bichon Frise for just a few weeks - he came over from Ireland with an unknown past - and the young lady quite unwittingly bought him a laser light thinking that he would enjoy chasing it.
Just a few seconds triggered ...
Listen To The Opening Address at The PPG Summit – Tampa, 2015
A few of the most important points I felt were covered in my opening address at PPG’s First Educational Summit in Tampa, FL.
Click here to listen to the full 19 minutes.
• I reflected on the sometimes rocky but never boring journey it has taken over the last four years to get PPG to where it ...
Learning from Real Dogs
I read a lot of academic studies of dogs. My students often enjoy dissecting these studies and figuring out better ways to investigate the same questions. Oftentimes, their ideas come from their extensive observation of real dogs doing real dog things — with other dogs.
Researcher and writer ...
Keeping Thanksgiving Fun and Safe for Your Dog
Thanksgiving can be such a special day, full of family, friends, and if you're like me, the family dog. It is a day to show gratitude for everything you have. For many, it's a time for large family gatherings, football, excitement, and loads of good food. Thanksgiving can also be a time of ...
The Shocking Truth
With recent events in Scotland regarding so called e-collars (the 'e' stands for electronic), the debate has been heating up. I thought I would take this opportunity to air a few suggestions to some of the statements that are being made.
There appears to be some serious misconceptions and ...