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Author: jsummerfield8

Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Vet Visits For Aggressive Dogs

Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Vet Visits For Aggressive Dogs

Hi all! A quick announcement – I will be hosting a webinar this evening (Thursday, 3/12) through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy about making veterinary visits easier for dogs with aggression issues, or who might otherwise have behavioral “special needs” at the vet’s office. Full description and registration link are below. **Note: you DO NOT have to attend the webinar live, if it doesn’t fit with your schedule.  As long as you’re registered, a recording will be available for you…

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Why “Sit” Happens: Cues Vs. Consequences

Why “Sit” Happens: Cues Vs. Consequences

Today’s topic is one that you might not have ever given much thought to, but it has more impact on your training than you might think!  What makes behavior happen?  Or to put it another way… why does your dog sit, when you say “sit!”? (Or if he doesn’t sit… why not?) That might seem like a rather esoteric, theoretical question at first – but actually, it has some pretty significant implications for how we train our dogs in the…

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Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Anxiety Disorders in Dogs

Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Anxiety Disorders in Dogs

Hi all! A quick announcement – I will be hosting a webinar this evening (Thursday, 10/31) through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy about anxiety issues in dogs. Full description and registration link are below. Note that FDSA is doing an anxiety webinar “double header” this evening! Dr. Jessica Hekman, a veterinarian and PhD who works as a researcher studying how genetics and environmental factors affect behavior, will also be presenting on this topic from a research perspective – which should…

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From “STOP IT!” to “Good pup!” – Problem Solving With Alternative Behaviors

From “STOP IT!” to “Good pup!” – Problem Solving With Alternative Behaviors

Hey there, gang.  Today, it’s time for another installment of “problem solving at Dr. Jen’s house.”  (For another example of this, see my previous post about my dog Clint, and his habit of launching himself at the TV.  Still doing great with that, by the way!) Note that today’s post is not going to be especially profound or poetic.  It may not change your life.  Sometimes dog training *can* be profound and poetic, but sometimes it’s just finding a user-friendly…

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Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Dealing With Veterinary Emergencies

Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Dealing With Veterinary Emergencies

Hi all! I’m excited to announce that I will be doing another webinar through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy this Thursday, June 27th! The topic this time around will be handling veterinary emergencies – we’ll talk about how to manage relatively minor issues like limping, vomiting and diarrhea, and minor injuries. We’ll also discuss how to know when you need a vet visit, what’s an emergency vs. “it can wait,” and how to do first aid procedures like CPR and…

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Keep It Simple, If You Want To!

Keep It Simple, If You Want To!

A couple of years ago, I did a behavior consultation for a young hound mix I’ll call “Tilly.”  As behavior issues go, her main problem was fairly benign.  She didn’t bite family members, lunge at other dogs, or destroy the house when her owner was gone.  Rather, she had a tendency to get excited – very, VERY excited – whenever the doorbell rang, or someone new entered the house.  Putting on her leash for a walk or car ride, or…

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Why It’s Hard Being Tiny And Cute

Why It’s Hard Being Tiny And Cute

Today, I want to talk about little dogs.  I was at a client’s home a few weeks ago, doing a behavior consultation for their adorable two-year-old Maltese mix.  “Chloe” had a tendency to get over-aroused and begin barking, jumping, and nipping over seemingly benign activities like family members putting on their coats, loading the dishwasher, or using their exercise equipment.  Chloe was a friendly dog who hopped happily onto the couch to greet me as soon as I sat down,…

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Show Me The Money: Why Your Dog Doesn’t Listen, Unless You’re Holding Food

Show Me The Money: Why Your Dog Doesn’t Listen, Unless You’re Holding Food

Today, I want to talk about one of the most common struggles I see with my behavior clients and their dogs.  Often, they’ve been through a basic obedience class or two, and their pup has learned a few skills.  But when they try to apply them in real life, they quickly run into a road block: “Buster is so stubborn!  He only listens if I have a treat.” Or, more broadly in casual conversations or online discussions: “You know, that’s…

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Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Medical Issues and Behavior

Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Medical Issues and Behavior

Hi all, I’m excited to announce that I will be doing another webinar through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy this Thursday, March 21st! This time, the topic will be medical issues and behavior – how physical problems can impact your dog’s behavior, and when to be suspicious of an underlying medical problem when you’re dealing with anxiety or aggression. The webinar is open to anyone who wants to sign up, so feel free to join me if you’re interested! **Note:…

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Mean Dogs Wear Muzzles! (And Other Misconceptions)

Mean Dogs Wear Muzzles! (And Other Misconceptions)

All right, gang.  Today, we’re going to be talking about muzzles. This is a topic that’s been on my mind a lot lately.  As a veterinarian in general practice, I often need to briefly muzzle dogs for medical procedures – which can occasionally be upsetting for owners.  And with my behavior clients, I often suggest using muzzles as a management tool for certain situations that might otherwise be risky for the humans or other dogs involved in our training plan. …

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