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Good morning to everyone- except for people who don’t let their dogs sniff on walks! But seriously, folks- give your dog the gift of sniff. Why? We are so glad you asked… People often say that dogs see the world with their noses. But it is far more than that! Dogs’ noses are incredibly powerful.....

Compliance might look fancy and impressive on social media and in advertising, but it can come at a hefty cost to both our relationship with the animal and to the animal’s welfare. At Synergy, our methods are always evolving to keep up with the findings of science and ethical discourse in the world of behavior.....

Desensitization is a process that diminishes emotional responsiveness to a negative, aversive, or positive stimulus after repeated exposure to it. Many people use this process with our animals, both intentionally and by accident. It often occurs naturally by virtue of daily life; for example, perhaps you live near train tracks, and your cat used to....

  Muzzled dogs have a bit of a bad reputation. Some people assume that a muzzled dog will bite people and is a dangerous dog. Other people think that are muzzles are cruel and restrictive. But guess what?? Muzzles are actually magic!  Dogs wear muzzles out and about, or even in the house, for a....

Recall is an essential skill for every dog (and other pets, too!). It is also a very expensive behavior- that is, it is hard work for your dog. Leaving behind something exciting- like a good smell, a swimming hole, a squirrel chase, or a new friend at the park- and coming aaaaaaaall the way back....

  Hesitant Hounds Attendees: Limited to 5 dogs Length: 6 weekly sessions Time: 40 min. per class Tuition: $195 (per 6-week class) Prereqs:  Prescreen via registration Special Notes: This class is for shy but not overly reactive dogs. Do you have a shy, timid or wallflower of a dog? Then come join us in Hesitant Hounds for....

When you are working on helping your dog become less reactive towards other dogs, a factor that often comes about is having difficulty even having them focus on you rather than the environment. One reason this can happen is a dog’s distress about being in outdoor locations where many of their triggers (stressors) have been in the past. Another reason....

In our modern densely-populated and noisy urban society, dogs can often live much of their lives outdoors in a state of high visual stimulation. Surprising encounters at close distances and limited opportunities to escape are part of this picture also. The ThunderCap™ is a tool that can be used to reduce the stimulation of these environments. They can also be....

Have you ever looked at your dog and thought that she looks “fine”? Have you described your own or another person’s pet as “fine” when you describe them to your friends? Beware, the word “fine” is often not so fine! What is “fine”? One of the most common statements that I hear when I am....

When working with clients, I am often asked about the body language of the dogs that we are working with. One question that comes up, particularly with those who have some background in behavior and training, is about whether the behaviors (yawning, licking lips, turning away, sniffing the ground, panting, full body shake-offs, etc.) we....

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.  However it is a dog whose....

After reading even more 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 have learned....

Happy New Year everyone! Lana touching a target As customary this time of the year, new resolutions are made. As such, we have made a resolution to kick off the new year with a renewed vigor by writing new articles about animal behavior, and behavior-related topics, for all of you to read and enjoy. A....

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....

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....