by Linda | Nov 27, 2025 | Dangerous Dogs, Dog Politics, Dog Trainers, Dog Training Anecdotes, Dogs, Rescue dogs
The Dog Trainers secret is the power to say “No.” Everybody wants the Majik Elixer that will transport them from whatever misery they are experiencing into a realm of … whatever they envision as being ideal. Samesies. I do too. I think we all do. Dog...
by Linda | Oct 26, 2025 | Care and custodianship, Dog Politics, Dog Trainers, Dogs, negative punishment, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, Positive reinforcement, Professional conduct
The Dog Trainer’s Trade On my trek to annoy people and plant the seeds of discontent- early morning ramblings brought to you by pre-coffee. A long dissertation on the state of the dog trainer’s trade. Oh yeah, and if you don’t like reading long...
by Linda | Jul 21, 2025 | Dog Politics, Dog Trainers, Dog Training Anecdotes, Maryland Dog Training
Pet ‘Parent’ or Pet ‘Owner’? I ran a single-question survey on my facebook page the other day. I asked folks to determine if they saw themselves as a pet parent or as a pet owner. I knew going in that the overwhelming answer would be biased...
by Linda | Jul 20, 2025 | Dog Behavior Training, Dog Politics, Dog Training Anecdotes, Dog Training Tools, How to train a dog, negative punishment, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, Positive reinforcement
Reinforcement and Punishment The internet is ablaze with opinions of what constitutes reinforcement and punishment in dog training; what is too much, why should punishment be used at all, etc. There are entire philosophies built on the theory that reinforcement is all...
by Linda | Jul 3, 2025 | Breeding Dogs, Buying a dog, designer dogs, Dog Genetics, Dog Politics, Purebred Dogs
What is a ‘well-bred’ dog? I know what a well-bred dog means to me. It means that the dog in question has been selectively bred for temperament, suitability for its breed-specific task, health, soundness, and longevity. Its producer (usually called a...
by Linda | Feb 22, 2025 | Dog Politics, Ethics in dog training, negative punishment, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, Positive reinforcement
The Language of Dog Training: Behavior Theory and the Four Quadrants of Reinforcement and Punishment In an era where language is being hijacked to further political agendas, it should come as no surprise that the Language of Dog Training is no longer exempt....
