Posts in Canine Behavior
What is impulse control in dogs?

Would YOU want all our pet dogs running amuck, with poor dog owners running behind their dogs everywhere as the dogs dragged them from one interesting thing to the next? Would YOU want dogs to jump on the table for your food while you're trying to eat, chase the cat, not know "Sit, Wait, Stay" in dangerous situations? None of us would take our dogs anywhere ever again. Our dogs, these deeply social creatures who want to spend lots of time with us, would be subjected to a lonely life separated from us while we go out to have fun.

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How Can We Prevent Fear? | Language of Dog Fear Part 3

In this three part series, I am discussing something that every dog owner struggles to understand: The Language of Dog Fear. Dogs can't decide what they're afraid of, fear is an inherent response, and sometimes things that we're totally cool with surprises us with how afraid it can make our beloved furry family members. What's more is that fear can have detrimental effects on our dogs' health if left unmanaged long-term. We're going to get a little science-y, but in laymen's terms, dig? Great, let's go!

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Biology of Fear: What It Does To A Dog | Language of Dog Fear Part 2

In this three part series, I am discussing something that every dog owner struggles to understand: The Language of Dog Fear. Dogs can't decide what they're afraid of, since fear is an inherent response, and sometimes things that we're totally cool with surprises us with how afraid it can make our beloved furry family members. What's more is that fear can have detrimental effects on our dogs' health if left unmanaged long-term.

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How Does A Dog Become Afraid? | Language of Dog Fear Part 1

In this three part series, I am discussing something that every dog owner struggles to understand: The Language of Dog Fear. Dogs can't decide what they're afraid of, fear is an inherent response, and sometimes things that we're totally cool with surprises us with how afraid it can make our beloved furry family members. What's more is that fear can have detrimental effects on our dogs' health if left unmanaged long-term. We're going to get a little science-y, but in laymen's terms, dig? Great, let's go!

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3 Reasons Why Dominance-based Dog Training Still Exists

Because science got it wrong at first.

In the 1930s into the 40s, Rudoph Schenkel, a Swiss Animal Behaviorist, studies a pack of captive wolves, and concludes that wolves in a pack fight to gain dominance, with the winner becoming the alpha. Other studies confirmed his findings: unrelated wolves in captive environments do fight for social hierarchy. However, Schenkel's theory was incorrectly applied to wolf packs in the wild for years and years, and was spread far and wide to the public as “fact.”

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The Importance of Basic Obedience Training for Your Dog

Walking your dog can either be an enjoyable, calm way to experience nature, or a constant ongoing struggle. Training a dog to walk nicely (without the use of uncomfortable aversives, like slip collars) takes patience and time, more so than most other dog tricks out there. Walking slowly beside a human, foregoing their desire to experience all of the scents nature has to offer, doesn’t come naturally.

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