The Difference Husbandry Training Can Make to Vet Visits
I’ve never forgotten the time we took my late dog Bodger to the vet for a paw injury. We had recently adopted him, aged 2 and a half, and to say he had body handling issues was an understatement. If we looked at him he would growl out of fear that we might touch him, […]
Taking a Seat at the Table: Co-operative Veterinary Care, Professional Practices, and Dog Training
Recently, I started using the term care team with those clients who have dogs fearful enough to be referred to a veterinarian or veterinary behaviourist. These dogs often need an integrated approach: the veterinarian takes medical history from the client and tackles the discussion of behavioural medication or supplements, and, if appropriate, other medical rule-outs. […]
Skeletons (Quite Literally) in my Closet: Dog Training, Anthropology, and the Zeitgeist of “I’m Sorry”
Ah, those were the days! I remember the first few years of my university degree in anthropology (and my chosen sub-discipline, archaeology) back in the early holocene—I was purple-haired and fresh-faced, and felt like I was on the cutting edge of all things “ist”: we were feminist, we were anti-racist, and heck, our theory class […]
Introducing The Pet Rescue Resource
At The Academy for Dog Trainers, it is not lost on us that many dogs are relinquished to shelters for their behavior. In fact, one of our key missions is to help dogs stay in their homes. It’s unsurprising, then, that many Academy students found their way to the program via shelter and rescue work, […]
The Many Paths That Lead to Professional Dog Training
Recently, a client of mine was bitten…by the training bug. Her mastiff had been aggressive when he was eating or had a chew toy and was snarling, lunging, and even biting anyone who dared to approach. No small deal, considering his size and rather ferocious appearance! We were able to change the dog’s behaviour (and […]
Math, Nursing, and Academic Standards: Why the Academy for Dog Trainers Requires an 80% to Pass
Recently, I was having lunch with two friends. One—Robyn Rittmaster—is an Academy for Dog Trainers graduate who, in addition to training dogs at Carolark in Ottawa, teaches animal behaviour to students in the veterinary assistant program at a local college. The other—Benjamin Carroll—is a high school friend of mine. Ben is a nurse and MNSc […]
Overcoming Fear of Dog-Dog Play: An Interview With Suzanne Bryner
Many dogs enjoy dog-dog play. It’s enriching, it’s welfare-increasing, and it’s good exercise for dogs. But although many dogs enjoy it, the same can’t always be said for the people in the room. Standard, safe, and species-typical pet dog play can appear (to the human’s gaze, at least) alarming and aggressive, and it’s not unusual for dog […]
[Insert Shiny, Eye-catching Title Here]: New Dog Training Techniques as Marketing Ploy
Recently, some dog training colleagues and I were batting around the issue of popular dog trainers denouncing standard dog training technique as an advertising ploy. The rules and methods of changing an animal’s behaviour are pretty well-known, in the way that “tonsil removal surgery” is pretty well-known, or “building a frame wall” is pretty well-known. […]
In Defense of Puppy Socialization
Don’t hold back when socializing your young puppy. Create as many positive associations as possible before 14 weeks of age. If you’re a puppy parent searching for guidance on how to socialize your puppy, you risk coming across some concerning misinformation, even from professional trainers. The most worrisome recommendations include ‘Don’t use food during socialization,’ […]
Why We Need to Modify the Humane Hierarchy
Why we need to modify the Humane Hierarchy Our guest blogger is Tim Steele, a newly minted Academy graduate and owner of Behavior Matters Academy in Santa Clara CA. His post is part of Companion Animal Psychology’s Train For Rewards Blog Party 2018. I love the idea of the Humane Hierarchy. We’ve needed a simple-to-understand graphic which gives […]
