Hoof Care Options for Fearful Equids
by Michelle Martiya When people adopt or rescue fearful and feral equids, one of the most pressing issues the new owners face is the need to trim their feet. These animals often come with feet that are too long, which can be painful and cause long-term musculoskeletal problems. Much like dogs accepting nail trims, hoof trims can be one of the most challenging procedures for an equid to accept, and the need for care will frequently happen before training for this procedure is complete. Fortunately, there are a few things… Continued
Identifying Positive Reinforcers for the Individual
Anna Bradley explains why using food as a positive reinforcer in training is not bribery and examines alternative options for dogs who may not always be so food driven. While I would say there is, in general, a much wider appreciation of the role of rewards in animal training and behavior these days, I also believe—and it is certainly my experience—that pet guardians do not always fully understand the power of positive-reinforcement training. For example, I have had clients who consider the use of rewards to be “bribery.” There may… Continued
Working With Undersocialized Kittens and Cats
by the PPG Cat Committee The period between 2 and 7 weeks, often referred to as the sensitive period for socialization, is a crucial time in a kitten’s social development. During these weeks, kittens are particularly open to new experiences, which makes it the ideal time for them to learn about their environment, build trust with humans, and interact positively with other animals. Kittens who experience positive interactions during this period are more likely to adapt well to new situations later in life. Although this early window is an especially… Continued
Do’s and Don’ts: A Guide for Assistance Dog Trainers
by the Pet Professional Guild Assistance Animal Division Do Not Touch Someone’s Assistance/Service Dog Without Prior Consent You could distract the dog performing an alert or monitoring task. The dog could also become distracted and miss cues from the handler. You wouldn’t handle someone’s medical equipment, so please respect that an assistance dog is also a medical aid. Do Not Offer to Handle the Dog During Times of Training We need the handler to be confident and skilled in their handling. To work in tandem for the individual’s health is… Continued
Effective Desensitization
by Anna Bradley Desensitization is a tool used routinely in the behavioral rehabilitation of animals with many varied emotional responses, but primarily those centered around anxiety and fear. Several terms have in recent years become almost “bandied” about—used in regular discourse in doggy chat rooms, forums, social boards, social media groups and the like, and desensitization is just one of them. The result is that, while professionals use the technique as it should be applied, it can be less well understood, so its effectiveness “watered down” or even completely incorrectly… Continued
Variations Within Disabilities
Never be afraid to ask a client how you can best support them! by the Pet Professional Guild Assistance Animal Division When working with someone who has a disability, it’s important to acknowledge their limits within that disability. Those limits will vastly vary, even with individuals with the same diagnosis, so it’s imperative to have a conversation with that person to understand exactly what their limits may be. But what about when those limits seem to change? What if they were able to do something two days ago during your… Continued
Riff Raff: From Reactive to Relaxed
This article is the runner-up entry in the BARKS 2023 Summit Writing Competition! by Tasha Attwood Riff Raff is a 7-year-old entire (intact) male Leonberger who lives in a bungalow with his owners, Claire and Paul. They have had him since he was 8 weeks old, and he is the only pet in the household. Claire’s parents live in the house next door and have three Briards, two males named Bruce and Billy, and a female named Annie. The houses are separate but adjoined via a door in Claire and… Continued
Stubby’s Story: From Crossroads to Heart Dog
This article is the winning entry in the BARKS 2023 Summit Writing Competition! by Hannah Blumenfeld Stubby was born in western Texas in February 2020. He and his four littermates ended up in a small shelter and then spent three weeks in a foster home before being transported to a rescue in Portland, Oregon, in May 2020. His fosters in Portland had a full house—two adults, two teenagers, a 4-year-old male neutered English Mastiff, and a 4-year-old female spayed cat. They adopted Stubby as soon as his litter was cleared… Continued
Creating Calm? Why Context Is Key!
by Anna Francesca Bradley When I first started my journey in training and behavioral therapy (with dogs), I must admit that initially my focus was quite narrow. I looked at what was right in front of me—the dog’s dislike of being touched, the fear of being left, the response to unfamiliar dogs in the park—and addressed it according to that behavior right there and then. Of course, I looked at antecedents of the behavior, possible inadvertent reinforcements, adverse events, and so on. However, although the notion fleetingly crossed my… Continued
Malena DeMartini: A Beacon of Light for Dogs Who Suffer When Left Home Alone
Malena DeMartini shares her personal and professional journey to creating her company that provides educational programs for dog professionals and guardians to help dogs with separation anxiety. Who are you, and what makes you passionate about animal behavior? I have been a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant for over two decades and had a beautiful introduction to animal behavior via my education through the Academy for Dog Trainers. Initially, I worked with all manner of dog behavior, from jumpy puppies to human-directed aggression. However, I developed an… Continued
Cooperative Care with Cora: A Case Study
by Jennifer Van Valkenburg Cooperative care is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I have come to appreciate how important body autonomy and choice can be, especially when experiencing a painful and difficult medical diagnosis. Having some control over even small things can make a huge difference in our emotional state and comfort level. The same is true of our pets. The more they can participate in their own healthcare, the better for everyone involved. I started down the road of learning about cooperative care… Continued
Daily Dog Training Conversations
by Michelle Martiya “He knows you’re the treat person.” Do you know the easiest and fastest way to get your dog to respond to you like they respond to me? BECOME THE TREAT PERSON, TOO! Do you know how I know if you’ve been stingy with the treats or tried bribing your dog instead of reinforcing your dog? Your dog ignores you when I’m there and only pays attention to me! I know when you’ve been doing your homework and generously offering your dog treats because your dog either pays attention to… Continued
20 Problems With Punishment in Animal Training
by Dr. Karolina Westlund Recently there was a video post in my Facebook feed that caught my attention. Typically, on Facebook, I’m a bit of a lurker. I’m not very active, and when I do watch videos I often don’t share, like or comment – even when perhaps I should. This time, I watched, feeling my jaw gradually dropping in disbelief, and then I actually left a comment. I wrote: “I’m speechless”. And that was it. I know, kinda lame. But I didn’t have time for an essay, and then… Continued
Common Stumbling Blocks to Behavioral Recovery for Dogs and How to Overcome Them
by Diane Garrod In response to a survey of more than 1,000 pet parents in the United States by Kinship Partners (2021), 62% said their top priority is their pets’ happiness, and 80% said their pets deserve more of their time. Seventy-one percent said they could not have survived the pandemic without their pets. (A link to the full results of the survey and infographics can be found in the references.) Even so, pet parents often have unrealistic expectations of their dogs, and when addressing a behavior problem, these… Continued
Canine Enrichment with Scent Detection
By Emily Coleman In early November 2022, my dog Deja and I journeyed off to the sunny climes of Crystal River, Florida, in search of adventure! And odor … By this I mean we attended the Pet Professional Guild’s three-day Scent and Scentability workshop. Expert detection-dog handlers Dr. Robert and Karen Hewings, both retired professional police dog handlers, provided loads of valuable insight. Robert and Karen now run the UK College of Scent Dogs and were kicking off an international tour. In total, they presented five days of quality… Continued
Chat & Chuckle with Irith Bloom of The Sophisticated Dog
Join Niki Tudge and PPG Canine Division Chair Judy Luther to Chat & Chuckle with Irith Bloom. Irith is the owner of The Sophisticated Dog and offers virtual, online training for dogs and other pets. Listen to the Podcast with Irith Bloom here on your choice of platforms. Or just stay on this page and click on the “Play” icon below. Recorded on August 12, 2022 Irith (“ee-reet”) Bloom CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CSAT, KPA CTP, VSPDT, CBATI, FFCP (Trainer), VSDTA Faculty, DWA Faculty, Co-founder of Porter Labs… Continued
The Harness Is Coming – Run for the Hills!
I often wonder why some of us expect our dogs to miraculously accept collars, harnesses, leashes, and the like. After all, dogs are not born with these alien contraptions attached to their person! But some of this gear must feel restrictive, worrying, anxiety-provoking, or even potentially painful. Especially without careful prior desensitization. Which Dog Gear and Why? There are many different bits of paraphernalia available out there right now, so think seriously about what you need and why you need it. Most importantly, think how it benefits your… Continued
Sniff for Calm and So Much More!
Congratulations to Kris Whipple! This post won first prize in the 2022 Canine Scent Writing Competition. Of all the canine behaviors that I teach, calm is the most valuable. Calm dogs are less likely to bark, jump, mouth, lunge, pull or engage in other challenging behaviors that come with overexcitement. For me and my dog Sprig, an exuberant adolescent Cardigan Welsh corgi who thinks every day (and experience, dogand person) is his best day EVER, sniffing has become a positive and powerful tool I use daily to promote calm behaviors… Continued
Dog Speak: The Language of Barking
At a recent public event I attended, the question asked most by companion dog owners was, “How do I get my dog to stop barking?” As professionals, of course, the first thing we want to do is ask more questions. “When does the dog bark?”, “What time of day?”, “What are they barking at?”, “What are they getting out of it?”, “What do you do when they bark?”, “What do you want them to do instead?” and so on. We can all think of people who talk too much yet no… Continued
Socializing Puppies to Other Animals
Dog guardians these days tend to be fairly aware of the crucial importance of socialization. These include the interactions a young puppy will have with people in his/her immediate family, people outside the family, and people of all different ages and appearances, wearing all sorts of strange outfits, carrying various novel objects (such as umbrellas or suitcases) etc. Guardians are often also aware of habituation. This means ensuring that the puppy begins to experience all sorts of adventures in her formative weeks and months that she will encounter in adult… Continued
The Impact of Canine DNA Testing: Mapping the Future
In May 2016, Embark launched its comprehensive pet genetic test in partnership with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. According to Embark’s website, the test will track “over 200,000 genetic markers, offering ancestry analysis as well as an extensive overview of both genetic disease risk and heritable traits, allowing users to understand their dog’s health, plan for his future and provide the best personalized care possible.” Embark further states that “four out of 10 dogs will suffer from inherited diseases,” and that the test, more than just a breed… Continued
Naughty Dog Syndrome? Say What?!
This article discusses reasons why owners may think that their dog is being ‘naughty’ when, in fact, a better understanding of the dog’s emotional state, breed instincts, and motivation is required By Anna Bradley I’m sure there are lots of dog training professionals have heard the phrase ‘Naughty Dog Syndrome’ many times, only to take a deep breath before calmly explaining the inaccuracies of such a statement. The word ‘naughty’ suggests that behavior is negative, inappropriate, willfully disobedient, bad, certainly undesirable, or noncompliant. It’s a label that is very easily… Continued
Why Do Deaf Dogs Bark?
By Morag Heirs Barking is a form of communication for all dogs so it is important that we spend some time thinking about why our dogs might be barking. Are they anxious, over-excited, upset, fearful, thrilled, frustrated? Something else? Avoid concentrating on stopping the barking (particularly through the use of ‘aversives,’ e.g. telling off, harsh signals, water spray or air sprays, exclusion from the room or crating on a regular basis) as this gets in the way of understanding why the barking is happening. Without understanding why our dog is… Continued
The Value of Non-Verbal Communication
By Angelica Steinker Consent testing is an informal experiment which allows a dog to offer consent regarding a specific situation. Via her body language the dog communicates a yes or no response. This information is used to: • Improve the quality of life of the dog. • Improve a training plan. • Make behavior modification more effective. • Generally improve communication. The yes or no is determined by assessing the dog’s body language and observing for distance increasing or distance decreasing behaviors. Distance increasing behaviors are considered a “no” and… Continued
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