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Your Brain Is Hardwired to Generalize Fear…And So Is Your Dog’s

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This story is an illustration of something Kristina Spaulding, Pd.D., CAAB explained so clearly in her blog on The Development of Fear, published on April 1, 2021. Dr. Spaulding is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist who has worked with dogs, and now focuses on education. To read her excellent blog, follow this link. Barking and Lunging at Cars Recently, I worked with a three-year old Sheltie who had no training beyond performing “shake” on cue and following a food lure into a down position. For this article, I will call… Continued

PPG Advocacy Panel: What People Skills Do Professionals Need in Order to Teach, Counsel, and Advocate?

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In this episode, the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses the people skills animal trainers and behavior consultants need to teach, counsel, and advocate.  Your host/moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don Hanson Your panelists: Kristi Benson, Dayle Pierce, Debbie Sheridan, and Sam Wike Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms.  Or, you can click on the play button below to listen to the episode now! Recorded January 15, 2025. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.

Chat & Chuckle with Melissa Millett About Getting Cats Ready to Perform

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Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle about performing cats and how to get them ready to do their thing! Melissa Millett is the founder and head trainer of ⁠In Dogs We Trust⁠ and ⁠The Ultimutts⁠, and ⁠Ultimutt Animal Actors⁠. She has trained thousands of family pets and is recognized globally as an animal expert. Melissa has been featured on major Canadian TV networks, including Breakfast Television (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary), CP24, Global News, CTV (Toronto, Vancouver), Animal Planet, The Pet Network, and more. She is the host of the popular television… Continued

The Off-Leash Adventures of Tina

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Recently, I worked with a prior client, a very intelligent college instructor whose previous dog I trained. She adopted a sweet little dog she named Tina, because the adoption date was that of Tina Turner’s death. Tina was destined to live an exciting life. The Chipmunk Kingdom Living in the countryside, the family wanted Tina to enjoy her new surroundings off leash. Her previous one year of life had not been a rural existence, so the farm-like environment was full of stimuli that she had not experienced. The chipmunks who lived in several wood… Continued

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Book Review – Bark!: The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog by Zazie Todd

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Bark!: The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog by Dr. Zazie Todd is an excellent and, in my opinion, essential resource for pet parents or professionals who have or are thinking of bringing a dog who is anxious, fearful, or reactive into their homes. Early in the book, Dr. Todd notes that data indicates, “…up to 72.5 percent of dogs have some kind of fear or anxiety…” I have had four dogs in my life with some level of anxiety, and as a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant… Continued

Getting the Trot with Positive Reinforcement

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Getting their equids to move from a walk to a trot can be frustrating and elusive for many people. Most often, the equid is not offering the trot because the handler is not breaking down the behavior enough or being clear in what they’re asking. Jumping straight from a walk into a trot is a considerable jump in criteria (what you expect from your learner) when you’re in the early stages of training and developing movement. Mark and Reinforce for Clear Communication When you’re working on changing gaits, it isn’t… Continued

PPG Advocacy Panel: Pet Obesity

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In this episode, the PPG Advocacy Panel discusses pet obesity.  Your Host: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don Hanson Your panelists: Beth Adelman, Daniel Antolec, Judy Luther, Debbie Sheridan, and Kim Silver Grab a healthy snack and enjoy the discussion! Listen to the podcast here on a choice of platforms.  Recorded November 20, 2024. Find out more about future Advocacy Panel topics and dates.

How Your Dog Can Tell How You’re Feeling

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One of the most amazing things about dogs is how well they can read our emotions and know whether we’re happy, sad, anxious, or angry. I believe that many dogs may be able to “read” the people in their family, as well as (or better than) their closest friends can. Your Scent, Body Language, & Tone of Voice The date dogs started living with us is subject to continuing research, but it could be as much as 35,000 years ago. The most logical theory about domestication suggests that dogs domesticated… Continued

Free Treats for Better Behavior

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This blog post earned Honorable Mention in the Pet Professional Guild’s Pets and Their People Celebrating Life Together  community outreach competition in the Pet Professional Activities- Write a Blog Post category. You know that rewarding behaviors you like gets you more nice behavior, but did you know that consequences aren’t the only way our pets learn? By giving your pet “free” treats – no good behavior required – you can build powerful associations which influence behavior and emotion. If you’re used to consequence-based teaching, the hardest part of using this technique may be… Continued

Six Ways a Newsletter Can Help You Bark Up the Right Tree

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by Veronica Boutelle As a dog trainer, you want a reliable way to connect with your clients, attract new ones, and promote your work. In our experience, there is no better marketing staple to achieve this than the humble newsletter. While social media platforms offer quick bursts of information, newsletters provide a unique opportunity to build deeper relationships, share expertise, and nurture a loyal client base. Here are six reasons to add a newsletter to your marketing toolkit: 1. The Personal Touch Most dog trainers today spend a lot of… Continued

Best Life with Your Big Feeling Dog: How to love the dog you have

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This blog post is the Winner in the Pet Professional Guild’s Pets and Their People Celebrating Life Together community outreach competition in the Pet Professional Activities- Write a Blog Post category. Happy dog lounging content on his bed. Social walks and play dates with other dogs. Public events with your four-legged friend. All situations I imagined when we brought home our tiny, adorable beagle puppy. Anxiety (genetic), fear, the pandemic and two dog attacks. My beagle is anxious and fear-reactive. He has really BIG feelings, and not to mention, a loud voice.… Continued

A Sheltered Life: How to Choose a Great Shelter Dog

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I’m just an average middle-aged guy. I have a nondescript tannish brown coat, I’m carrying a few extra pounds, and going a little prematurely gray around the muzzle. I’ve lived here at the shelter for the past two weeks. It’s not so bad, the food is decent and the people are pretty nice. I know it’s only temporary until some nice family sees my inner beauty and decides to take me home to live with them. I can’t wait to be in a family again; I loved my last one.… Continued

Common Mistakes People Make When Training Their Animals

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Have you ever thought, “Why aren’t they getting this?” You are not alone. Many people get stuck while training their animals. Whether it’s with clients or a post on social media asking for help, I see animal caretakers making the same mistakes over and over while training their animals. Professionals like us frequently make them too! In this multipart article, I’ll list mistakes I commonly see and how you can fix them. Mistake #1 –Training without a Plan Are you using a training plan to train your animal? If not,… Continued

Chat & Chuckle with Dr. Zazie Todd About the Five Pillars of Feline Wellness

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Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Dr. Zazie Todd, author of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy, about the five pillars of feline wellness! Zazie Todd PhD is an animal behaviour expert and award-winning author. She got the world talking about happiness for pets with her first two books Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. Her third book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, will be published in October 2024.… Continued

Let’s Go on Sniffari!

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Should people allow their dogs to sniff during walks, or is it all about marching forward in lockstep? I suppose the tone of the question predicts my response. I suggest that dogs not only be allowed to sniff but should be encouraged and empowered to do so…and here is why. As a professional dog trainer and behavior consultant, I enjoy educating the public about dogs. My motivation is to help others avoid the many mistakes I made with my puppy in 1983, when I knew nothing about raising a puppy. Note to… Continued

PPG Advocacy Panel: Conversations About Compassionate Care and Connection with Dr. Karolina Westlund

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Don’t miss this special episode from PPG’s Advocacy Task force in its series, Conversations About Compassionate Care and Connection. These special Advocacy Panels feature a special guest and two co-hosts.  The special guest for this Advocacy Panel is Dr. Karolina Westlund! Your Co-hosts: Judy Luther and Debbie Sheridan Your Moderator: ⁠PPG Advocacy Task Force⁠ Chair Don Hanson This discussion is based on Dr. Westlund’s blog post, Animal Welfare and Her Fairy Godmothers: https://illis.se/en/animal-welfare-fairy-godmothers/ Learn more about Dr. Westlund’s course, Animal Emotions, here: https://illis.se/education/courses/animal-emotions/ Enjoy listening to the Advocacy Panel’s informal, free-flowing discussion! Listen to… Continued

The Four Pillars of Powerful Dog Training Packages

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By Veronica Boutelle and Harriet Alexander As an R+ dog trainer, your role is so much more than teaching cues and marking behavior. You’re shaping lifelong relationships between dogs and their people. A key question we repeatedly hear at dogbiz is, “How can I motivate clients to keep going after the first training session?” One answer lies in revolutionizing your approach to training packages. If you haven’t already, it’s time to say goodbye to those quick consultations and scattered follow-ups. True behavior transformation comes from sustained, structured engagement. The more… Continued

Why is “Balanced” Dog Training Controversial?

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The term “balanced dog training” reflects a specific approach within the broader spectrum of dog training methodologies, aiming to strike a balance between reinforcement and correction techniques. However, “balanced” training has been a subject of debate and controversy. Critics argue that the use of aversive techniques can be harmful to a dog’s well-being and damage their trust in their owner or handler. Core Principles of “Balanced” Dog Training Types of Corrections Key Factors Contributing to “Balanced” Dog Training’s Popularity “Balanced” dog training remains in the public eye despite empirical evidence… Continued

Benefits of Force-Free Dog Training

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Dog training is essential to pet ownership, shaping your dog’s behavior, enhancing communication, and ensuring their well-being. Training without aversives (force-free) focuses on positive reinforcement and promotes trust, confidence, and consistent behavior without the risk of causing harm or distress to our dogs. Strengthened Trust and Bond Reduced Behavioral Issues Ethical Considerations Trainer Transparency Transparency about training methods often reveals a trainer’s commitment to force-free methods and is critical when hiring a dog trainer for several key reasons: ★Ensuring humane treatment: Knowing the training methods helps ensure that the techniques… Continued

Escape-Proof Crates: If They Sound Cruel, It’s Because They Are

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by Gwendy Williams Many of us have been taught to embrace the benefits provided by crating dogs. It is why many animal caregivers avoid reading articles like this one. We don’t want to question something that has become customary and acceptable, even when we know instinctively that it’s not. Crates for dogs are, indeed, needed. However, the times that they are truly necessary account for a tiny fraction of how pervasively crates are used. When we force our dogs into isolation for extended periods of time, the discomfort we cause them is clear. They let us know. Their scratching and howling are signs of emotional states that are difficult to misinterpret, even for first-time pet owners. Dogs crying and clawing at the walls of… Continued

Chat & Chuckle with Laura Monaco Torelli About Cooperative Care With Cats

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Join Laura Cassiday and Joanna Wachowiak-Finlaison as they chat and chuckle with Laura Monaco Torelli about cooperative care with cats. Laura Monaco Torelli is the founder of Animal Behavior Training Concepts in Chicago, Illinois. Her career began in 1991 with Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, where she was part of the animal care team for beluga whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, river otters, and penguins. After nearly a decade at the Shedd, she moved on to the San Diego Zoo and then Brookfield Zoo as a lead supervisory trainer. During her time in the… Continued

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