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Tag: management

Accidental Behavior Chains: Are You Training What You Think You Are?

Accidental Behavior Chains: Are You Training What You Think You Are?

My family got our first dog, a long-legged sable Sheltie named Duncan, when I was sixteen years old. As a brand-spanking-new trainer, I had lots of enthusiasm but very little actual skill.  We went to classes and dabbled in a few different dog sports – including, most notably for today’s topic, competitive obedience. In the novice obedience ring, one of the exercises that dogs are required to master is the formal recall.  This involves leaving your dog in a sit-stay,…

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On “Fixing” Behavior Problems: Reachable Goals and Wishful Thinking

On “Fixing” Behavior Problems: Reachable Goals and Wishful Thinking

As part of my job, I spend a fair amount of time talking on the phone with potential clients who are interested in scheduling a behavior consult.  We talk briefly about the dog’s issues, the owner’s main concerns, and how the consultation visit works. Most of these people are good owners who love their dogs, and genuinely want to know how to help them.  Not surprisingly, many of them are also somewhat desperate for a solution – a dog with…

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“Can I Pet Your Dog?” Why It’s Always Okay To Say No

“Can I Pet Your Dog?” Why It’s Always Okay To Say No

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely young border collie I’ll call “Sami.”  She was a beautiful example of a well-bred herding dog – quick, keenly intelligent, and fit and graceful at just over 12 months old. Her owner brought her in for a consultation with me because she was having, as she put it, “some issues with Sami around strangers.”  Things had seemed to be fine for the first few months after bringing Sami home…

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Living With “Jaws”: A Survival Guide For Puppy Mouthing

Living With “Jaws”: A Survival Guide For Puppy Mouthing

If you have a new puppy, or are expecting one this holiday season – congratulations!  You’re embarking on a life-changing adventure full of ups and downs, especially during those fragile first few months. If you’ve had a puppy before, or spent much time around one, you know exactly what I mean.  Snuggles on the couch, the first day home.  Soft puppy kisses, a tiny wagging tail. Hopping clumsily after a ball in her very first game of fetch.  Barking and…

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When “Avoiding The Problem” Is Okay: The Role Of Management In Dog Training

When “Avoiding The Problem” Is Okay: The Role Of Management In Dog Training

As a jumping off point for today’s discussion, I want to use a question I received in the comments section of a previous post.  The post was about changing our perspective in dog training to reflect the fact that dogs are dogs, and they do what comes naturally to them unless we give them a meaningful reason not to – you can read it here if you like. As an example of this, I mentioned that my 8-year-old competition dog…

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