Posts Tagged ‘desensitization’

We really love good management! It has been on our minds recently, especially with so many pet guardians working and attending school from home. Now is a fantastic time to establish good management practices to help bring out the best in your pet! Managing the environment is often a matter of safety. We prioritize the…

The first and arguably most important part of a successful behavior modification plan is management. But what is management? What does it look like? And why is it so important? The concept of management in training is all about setting up the environment to help make the desired outcome more probable, while also limiting or…

Guess what?? Positive reinforcement is a procedural and behavioral outcome. This means that it works, by definition. That is, if a behavior occurs more frequently, then it has been reinforced. If that behavior is occurring more frequently because something pleasurable or appetitive has been added to the situation, then positive reinforcement has occurred. If you…

While researching various animal trainers who will gladly take your money to train your pet, you very likely have come across the professionals who advertise quick and guaranteed results; for example, a two-week board and train guaranteed to “fix” your aggressive dog; or a horse trainer promising to “break” your new horse in just one…

When athletes train for the big game, they run drills and condition on their home court or field; they don’t learn how to shoot the ball during the heat of the game. Sometimes, if a child is having a hard time socially, their family might sign them up for rock climbing lessons, or have them…

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.…

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…