Say What? Whale Eye

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.

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Trainers Need Training Too!

Synergy Trainer Amber With Dogs

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.

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When can I stop using the…

Rr Sb Banner

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…

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Why does my pet do that?

Yawningpuppyinbowl

Have you ever wondered how your dog or cat figures out how to do what? It is because of two types of learning that they are especially good at: associative learning, and learning by consequence.

When working with companion animals, regardless of whether you are teaching obedience cues, working on tricks, or addressing complex behavior problems, understanding the way they learn will make the process easier and more successful.

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Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on my Head

Raindrops

At my house, neither of my dogs are big fans of the rain, but it has never really been that big of an issue. That is, until the last major rain storm. For whatever reason, Ferrous took one look at the downpour and refused to leave the shelter of our tiny patio.

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Vacuum Your Dog

Vaccum Chloe

As the owner of two German Shepherds, affectionately known as German Shedders, I have become a bit of a fanatic about vacuuming. During the last big shed, it occurred to me that maybe I was attacking the problem from the wrong end. Instead of vacuuming the floors and furniture so often, maybe I should be vacuuming the dogs!

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Happy Howl-o-Ween! Halloween Pet Safety

When I was young, Halloween was one of my favorite celebrations. Not so much because of the candy (although it was definitely a bonus) but because of the chance to be someone (or something) completely different from my usual everyday self.  It’s a great time to play with costume make-up, wear funky clothing, and put…

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