Posts by itpcadmin
The Misunderstood Muzzle
Muzzles are some of the most misunderstood, but most important, tools in dog training. It is a way to keep your dog and others around her safe while providing opportunities for training. A muzzled dog is not a bad dog, and may not even be a dog that bites. It is however, a dog whose people are being proactive and safe.
Read MorePet Prep – Part 2 – Prepping to Be Away
In this article, I will be talking about how to plan for the possibility that you won’t be there to help your pet after a disaster. What will they do? How will they survive? Read on to see what my plans are for my pet.
Read MoreA Note from Dr. Valli – Synergy Snapshot
A lot has changed with our practice since our last blog article. Previously, we were doing house call consultations only, and running classes out of dog daycares and boutique pet stores. While we enjoyed doing that, we really wanted a place that we could call “home”. After almost a year and a half of searching, we found a location in NW Portland that worked very well for us, and we named it the Synergy Behavior Center.
Read MoreBlog Post – Large Image Top
Since hearing about the potential dangers of a major earthquake in the Pacific Northwest and Portland in particular, I have decided that I would like to find ways to teach people how to help their pets in a disaster. I want to share with you some of the things that I am learning from my…
Read MoreSay What? Whale Eye
Whale eye occurs when a dog’s head is pointed one way but their eyes are looking at something in a different direction. The whites of the eyes can be seen as an arc. It can be thought of as looking out of the corner of the eye. Dogs who show this behavior are typically concerned about something that is going on around them.
Read MorePet Prep – Part 1 – Shelter and Sustenance
Since hearing about the potential dangers of a major earthquake in the Pacific Northwest and Portland in particular, I have decided that I would like to find ways to teach people how to help their pets in a disaster. I want to share with you some of the things that I am learning from my own research and from the NET (Neighborhood Emergency Team) classes I am taking.
Read MoreTrainers Need Training Too!
I have been assisting with our Reactive Rover classes for several years, but recently I had the opportunity to join the class as a student with my own dog, Ferrous. I love being a student. Not only do I get to spend time with my dogs, which can be in short supply as a trainer, but it gives me a chance to fine tune my techniques and get feedback from my peers.
Read MoreSay What? Bunting
Bunting, head-butting or face-rubbing, is something anyone who has been around cats will recognize. Cats will rub against inanimate objects, as well as people or other animals that they feel comfortable with. The term “allorubbing” is also used when bunting is done in a social context.
Read MoreWhen can I stop using the…
Today I thought I’d address a question that we occasionally get asked by clients…
“At what point can I stop using (the clicker/treats) with my dog for the behavior I am working on improving?”
This is actually a really interesting question to answer since it brings to light several aspects of dog learning and helps everyone understand better why dogs are motivated to do certain behaviors. In the example below (jumping up on the person when exiting the crate) here’s how I answered…
Read MoreFront-Clip Dog Harnesses
There are many training tools that help people get better control with their pulling dogs. One that we have recommended to hundreds of our clients is the front-clip harness. Their feedback has predominantly been good.
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