Our very own Dog Blog for training and the State of the Trade in The Age of Wingnuts and Zealots.
A collection of articles written by Linda Kaim on the State of Dog.
All comments are moderated, but open, intelligent discourse is welcome. Posts MUST be signed with a real name. Anonymous, unsigned comments will not be published. Inflammatory, troll-like behavior will not be rewarded by inclusion, nor will profanity, threats to my person or other nonsense. Spam is welcome in some parts of the world, I guess, but not here.
If you are still with me, read on…
When Good Intentions Becomes Counter-Productive
When Good Intentions become Counter Productive. This is about folks that are more than willing to support mythical nonsense about dogs
SLO Down! A Conversation on Ethics in Dog Training
Ethics aren’t just what we shouldn’t do to dogs, it’s also what we shouldn’t do to people. Owners, clients, other trainers, even ourselves
Understanding the Use of Pressure in Dog Training
We employ pressure in a variety of ways, using a variety of devices through a variety of applications. Dog trainers can create too much pressure, not enough pressure, oppositional pressure and directional pressure. Pressure can be delivered socially, environmentally, using our hands, or through withholding things the dog wants.
Failure
Failure, distilled down to its bare definition, is to prove unsuccessful. By that definition, all we really have to do is prevent success.
Positive Reinforcement
People equate positive reinforcement to treat training or clicker training. ‘Catching’ a behavior with a conditioned marker and then rewarding the dog ensures the likelihood the behavior will occur again
How to stop puppy barking
How to stop puppy barking is probably one of the top 25 search terms for frustrated owners on their first night after bringing their new puppy home.
Dog Training Methods
Folks have a tendency to conflate dog training methods and equipment. I frequently get inquiries from people who have never trained a dog and want to know what ‘methods’ I use.
The Anxious Dog
I work with many anxious dogs and the one thing they have in common are first-time owners who have no real experience with dogs.
“My dog hates…”
My dog hates the car. My dog hates the vet. My dog doesn’t like other dogs. I can’t cut my dog’s nails. Sound familiar?
‘Quiet Hands’
I have written about quiet hands a lot. Our primary communication with a dog is transmitted through the leash and it’s important to understand the mechanics of leash handling.