Dogs And Today's Feelings

If you work enough dogs for long enough, you'll notice that they don't perform exactly the same every day. Just like some days you feel better than others, same thing happens with dogs.

I read dogs, I don't just plow ahead without observing them.

I recommend you do the same.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Bad Play

I’m all in favor of playing with your dog. It is good. But… 

What I’m not in favor of is play that escalates into more than play. For example, rough play that escalates to a contest of win-lose where someone or another dog gets hurt. I have had students that thought it was fun to get their dog to do this or that. Until it wasn’t so fun or safe anymore. It wasn’t play anymore. In some cases, the fun becomes too rough and someone gets hurt in the competition. In other cases, the fun becomes scary and the dog now doesn’t trust some individuals or types of people (such as new guests), and then the dog becomes scared or scary.

Then I am asked to come in and try and unravel all of that.

Don’t mess with dogs beyond normal play. Don’t let others mess with your dog and take your dog to levels that can easily backfire. 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs From Top To Bottom

Behavioral disturbances can occur within any of the behavioral systems of a dog.

You must study the entirety of the dog to find, diagnose, treat or prevent them in individual dogs.

What is within a normal range of behavior within that system?

The body of required knowledge is vast, well beyond just training a dog to Sit instead of jumping on guests coming in the front door. 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Dopamine Gimmicks

Ooh… a dog trainer just told you about their dopamine dog training method or tool. Must be some kind of Jedi Master dog training guru stuff, right? (MORE)

Dogs And The Cult Of Positive Reinforcement

Do I think there is anything wrong with using clickers and positive reinforcement? No way. I probably have a clicker in my pocket right now. However, there is a lot more to training a real-world dog than just this. You’ve got to understand dogs. Positive reinforcement is easy to learn. Understanding dogs takes a lifetime, and that is hard to learn... (MORE)

Dogs, Egypt, And Anubis

Archeological studies indicate there were at least 12 dog breeds in ancient Egypt. 

Much of the history of dogs isn’t written down, and we can only surmise how dogs were domesticated. There are various theories, but no way to prove them one way or another. 

Dogs and people fit together. That is clear. Across the world, humans have had some kind of relationship with dogs. You even find buried pets, sometimes alongside a human. 

Dogs are intensely interested in what we do, what we do with them, and any opportunities to learn. A good portion of the wolf has been taken out of our dogs. That isn’t a bad thing. You wouldn’t want to own a wolf. 

I’m reminded of something my grandfather taught me. He had a pet raccoon as a kid. He said they made great pets, until they got about a year old. Then they became nasty. Having a wild animal as a pet isn’t the same as owning a domesticated animal for any purpose. 

I also am now thinking of the ongoing Russian domestication experiment on foxes. They interbred the most social foxes over decades. They now mostly look like a Border Collie and act mostly like a pet dog. Unfortunately, all that inbreeding has resulted in numerous health problems, something that isn’t talked about all that much. It is worth reading the National Geographic magazine article. 

To me, dogs are endlessly fascinating. And in many ways, there is nothing new under the sun. Ancient Egyptians liked and used their dogs, and even worshipped Anubis, a man with the head of a Jackal. Just 60 years ago, before genetic testing, scientists were speculating the origin of the dog, whether it was from a wolf or jackal heritage, or a combination of both. It is possible that jackals were interbred along the way to create the domestic dog. 

We like dogs. Hopefully no one worships them. 

Do you like to read? Go down the rabbit hole that is about the history of dogs. You’ll find it an interesting adventure. 

Dogs: What's The Beef With Doodles?

What is the beef with Doodles?

The main arguments are:

1. They aren't "purebred". Well every breed at one point wasn't "purebred". Someone mixed two or more dogs, over and over again, until a type of dog was created and standardized.

2. Adopt Don't Shop. I get the idea that animal shelters are overflowing with dogs and many are killing for space. But most of the dogs in shelters are a.) not Doodles; and b.) are not purebred dogs. Breeders are not the problem. The problem is that municipal shelters are poorly managed and are not meeting the needs of the public. They have no business being in business. We all knew the economy was in trouble. How many reports do you need to know that? There are lots of things that could be done. Slamming Doodles isn't going to make a hill of beans difference. 

3. They are crazy dogs. No, they aren't. Raise and train any dog correctly and a magical thing happens: they turn out well.

4. They are medical basket cases. No, they aren't. 

Squeaky wheels always get the grease. For some reason, the anti-Doodle trolls have become visible critics. In the meantime, shelters need reforming. That would be a better cause to pursue. 

Plan accordingly. 

Is Your Dog Bored?

I feel sorry for most dogs. They live boring lives. Some worse than others.

They are loved. Good health. Nice home. 

Bored.

Dogs are intelligent animals. They love to learn and love to figure you out. The limited activities of daily life are not a challenge. Give a dog some novelty, you'll see their head tilt, and they will be compelled to check it out.

I think training is much more than teaching fundamental life saving skills. It is a healthy activity for an intelligent animal like a dog. 

Most people will never enter some kind of competition with their dog. Besides, a lot of that work is a grind. Most people neither have the time or the inclination to get a ribbon of some sort. Most won't want to turn their dog into some kind of working dog either. But, they still want to do something with their dog.

I've had students who took their dogs from the very basics to advanced, for no other reason than to give their dog an enriched life. Enrichment isn't licking peanut butter out of a Kong toy. It isn't giving them a food puzzle. It is the provision of a full life for a dog. Dogs in shelters are especially bored; no wonder they break after several weeks.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Training Guardrails

If you have worked with me, you know I use a light touch on all dogs. I try to be smarter, not harsher. I’ve spent over 25 years coming up with and testing more non-aversive tools than you could probably ever dream up. Yet, as every good highway has guardrails against danger, sometimes you need to install some guardrails, in the form of course corrections, for the safety of your dog and others. Having guardrails isn’t the same as condoning animal abuse... (MORE)

What Is Wrong With Dog Competitions?

Almost all the handlers I see, from beginning to advanced, regardless of the type of event, look like toy soldiers out on the field.

That is the current culture and tradition. 

It never seems like they’re just enjoying working with their dog and vice versa. 

It never seems loose in a good way and teamwork.

It looks insincere, artificial, unnatural, uncomfortable, insecure.

The dogs all look the same: it reminds me of all those fake, filtered, enhanced models on social media these days.

I often don’t like watching.

It is also not a good guide as to how to relate to your dog in the real world.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs, E-Collars And Opponent- Process Theory

Can a dog trainer “addict” a dog to an e-collar, meaning causing a dog to want to repeatedly receive an aversive stimulus (of any kind)?

Those making those claims are most likely trying to apply Opponent- Processing Theory, postulated by Solomon and Corbit (1974), which generally makes the following argument... (MORE)

Dog Training Or The School Of Hard Knocks

Every species on the planet is corrected in some form throughout its life. Those corrections don't harm the species. Adults correct the young. Physical obstacles are always out there to correct mistakes, often painfully. Others in their species, as well as encounters with other species, will involve corrections. Those corrections assist proper learning for the survival of that species. Even amoeba avoid some stimuli in various concentrations (pH, gravity, heat, cold, vibration, electricity, sound, etc.), and if they don't avoid those stimuli, they might perish and not reproduce. It isn't abuse for an animal to live in the real world. Our job as dog owners might be, at times, providing substitute corrections to prevent the dog from experiencing the real thing, thus saving their lives.

There is a cult of internet dog warrior trolls who are all into saying that dogs never need corrections in order to be trained. They also don't prepare their dogs for the real world. The weird thing about cults... they all seem to feel entitled to correct YOU if you don't join up. Hmm... What's that all about? This is especially an important topic when it comes to rescuing dogs in shelters. This cult has infected these institutions, and it has become accepted that it is better to kill a dog with problems rather than properly correcting those problems instead. Is that humane?

Plan accordingly.

Disrespectful Dogs

Is it disrespectful for a dog to follow you around the house or lean on you? No. Who gave you that dumb idea? 

STOP with all these dumb rules. Do social wild animals fret about these things? No.

Plan accordingly.  

Happy, Animated Dogs

There is nothing wrong with a happy, animated dog, regardless of size, age or breed. 

I don’t condone the idea of forcing “calmness” on all dogs or diagnosing the above as some kind of behavioral problem and calling it “anxiety”. 

Ever see a group of small kids playing, running around, having a good time? Do we force “calmness” on them? Is all that fun a sign of a behavioral disturbance, such as “anxiety”? 

And what of the parent that forces immobility on a child, or a forced run, every time that child is happy and excited? 

No wild animal does to their offspring what some advocate for your puppies or dogs. The problem isn’t a problem with the dogs, that is for sure.

No one needs you to be the Fun Police.

Re-think all this stuff.

Why would a trainer promote a program that emphasized "calmness"? BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO OTHER THAN SHUT THE DOG DOWN.

Plan accordingly. 

Tired Of The Positive Reinforcement Arguments?

How many boring and harmful trolling posts do we need to see, from internet warrior dog experts, proclaiming to the world that the only necessary tool for training dogs is positive reinforcement? The Breland and Breland study (1961) on raccoons proved the invalidity of these of these claims about training animals. It is like they can’t see or do or accept what the Kwisatz Haderachs, the high-level real-world dog trainers, are doing every day. (If you haven’t read “Dune” by Herbert, then you won’t understand this reference.)

They have no clue about dog behavior. More is going on when working with a dog than what was written about in the positive reinforcement experiments on rats and pigeons in cages and boxes, pushing or pecking on levers. No one puts a rat or pigeon in the same kinds of social and physical situations and dangers as we do with our dogs. Dogs are not rats or pigeons, so they train differently, as well. They are also moved by forces that have nothing to do with positive reinforcement. 

The trolls are novices, stirring up dust clouds to gain your attention and make money, regardless of the effects on dogs and owners. Novices shouldn’t be teaching others. White belts don’t teach the black belts. 

The trolls are still clinging onto the 4 Quadrants terminology (1. positive reinforcement; 2. negative reinforcement, 3. positive punishment, 4. negative punishment) with their cold dead fingers. They are stuck there. Despite ample proof to the contrary, the 4 Quadrants were never proven to be a tool, as claimed by others, to control human society or the “be all and end all” for training dogs. In fact, the raccoon experiments proved that.

I’m not ranting here against positive reinforcement. I heavily use it every day with every dog. 

That’s not the point. I’m talking about the indispensable understanding of the mechanisms of behavior that make a dog a dog. Dogs are complex, higher order mammals. It’s better to not be about 65 years out of date.

Riddle Me This Batman: What are the mechanisms of training dogs other than the 4 Quadrants?

Figure that out. Stop following novices.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Gooey Cakes

Have you ever baked a cake? Pulled it out of the oven thinking it was done. Only to find out later as you see the center of the cake has slumped, and the inner core is still gooey? Either you took it out at the wrong time, or you mixed the ingredients in the wrong proportion.

You rushed it along. Now it is impossible to fix it.

When I train a dog, I don't want to end up with a gooey cake. But many training programs are out there selling gooey cakes. 

Good performance takes time for a dog to master. Same with a handler. Unfortunately, some think they can rush the process by punishing the dog. It might look like properly baked cake on the outside, but when you look closely, it has slumped, and it is gooey on the inside. Sometimes that can be fixed with a dog or handler. Sometimes the dog will never quite be as good as it could have been, or the handler still is doing things wrong and perpetuating the problems with that dog and all future dogs. 

My advice? Don't take the cake out of the oven until it is finished. Don't think you can make shortcuts by leaving out important steps along the way.

Plan accordingly. 

Rescued Dog Training

What is the difference when choosing a training program for a rescued dog versus a dog that you purchased from a breeder? (MORE)

What To Do When A Bonded Dog Dies?

There are times when the passing away of one bonded dog causes the other dog so much distress that it can cause the second dog to pass away. I have heard of these cases, and believe them to be true.

 

I understand the grief when a pet passes away. It is heartbreaking, and many times people aren’t ready to welcome a new pet into the home. However, if the second dog is truly suffering, I believe it is wise to introduce a younger, opposite sex, social dog into your home right away. 

 

Plan accordingly.

Smart Dogs

Sometimes smart dogs can be problem dogs.

The good thing is that if you know how to work with smart dogs, the problems go away even faster.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Teaching The Place Command With A Clicker

Here is an example of using a clicker to teach the Place command (or some would say "cue"). This is just a first step (MORE) 

There is a lot more to be learned from clicker training than what you see. I can use this task, as demonstrated, as an object lesson to teach my students much bigger and more profound concepts. Can you guess the bigger picture? 

Clicker training advocates have typically overpromised and underdelivered. They refer to laboratory experiments since that is most of what is written on these topics. They are missing the bigger picture. While the above exercise is interesting, to get to advanced level handling, and high level performance from dogs, students need to master many concepts and be able to apply them with their dogs. It isn't just a rat or pigeon in a box.

Teaching individual tasks with a clicker is small potatoes. If that is where you are at, that is a good beginning, but there is more for you to figure out. Mechanical understanding of Operant Conditioning is for beginners, but is not a demonstration of your mastery of the bigger concepts.

Homework for this week: puzzle and ruminate upon all I explained and what you saw today with your dog. Watch that video about 100 times. Can you figure out more than the obvious of the dog being clicked for being on the dog bed?

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Weightlifting

What is more important when lifting weights, the volume (weight X repetitions) or proper form? 

What is more important when training a dog, the volume of work, or proper form?

For both, proper form is most important. Best results follow proper form.

I work with owners and dogs to establish proper form. While that can sometimes be a grind, the clarity over time actually speeds up the ultimate results. 

Plan accordingly.

Bully Kutta... The New Scapegoat Dog of the UK?

Well, now another dog breed ban on the way for the UK? The Bully Kutta. Look it up yourself. 

What a pathetic country it has become. Can't field an army, can't tolerate free speech, can't handle a dog, either. 

(MORE)

Navigating Puppyhood

It is normal for puppies to be puppies. 

You wouldn’t think that I would need to say that, but I do. 

I sometimes hear from people who have a very young puppy, under 16 weeks of age, that are frustrated with their puppy’s “neediness”, persistent and annoying ways of getting into everything. Over the years, and sometimes to make peace in the family, they ship the young puppy off to a “bootcamp” … to take the puppy out of the puppy and turn it into a carpet that they only have to feed. 

Don’t play (except on your own with some dirty old toy), don’t be curious, no sniffing, no happy greeting, don’t run around, no barking, no whining, don’t be afraid of anything, don’t be too close to me, don’t follow me around the house, don’t make mistakes, don’t make me have to train you, don’t make me supervise you, don’t complain while you are behind a baby gate or barrier, don’t pull on a leash, don’t be the breed you were created to be, don’t make me angry, don’t do ANYTHING. Be. A. Drone. AND STOP BEING A PUPPY!

Is that fair? Is that humane? 

Puppies do best when puppies are allowed to be puppies. You should encourage all their talents, build their confidence, engage their brains, develop a close relationship, engage in play, and guide them along the way to grow up and be a great adult dog.

Plan accordingly. 

Cookbook Dog Training Programs

An alarming trend in the dog training industry is the marketing of these online “become a dog trainer” franchises and systems. The dogs are going to suffer the consequences... (MORE)

Should I Crate Train My Dog?

Games People Play (With Their Dogs)

Play is an essential part of being a dog. No one needs to create a dog that plays. It is already in them. Some dogs don’t play... (MORE) 

Are Dog Beds Or Crates “Dens”? (Part 2)

Putting a puppy or dog in a crate and “letting them cry it out” is the wrong approach. It is cruel and unnecessary... (MORE)

Should All Dogs Be Friendly To All People And Other Dogs?

The big internet topic these days is dog “reactivity”, primarily regarding dogs that aren’t friendly with other dogs or people.

Not all dogs were created to be friendly with strangers or strange dogs. You know that.

Forcing such a dog to interact in a way that goes against what they are is going to require some kind of cruelty to that dog. Are there some training and management things that can and should be done? Yes. Will that magically change your current breed into a different breed? No.

If you didn't properly socialize your dog as a puppy, then expect the blowback that strange people and strange dogs aren't going to be trusted. If you allowed your dog to be traumatized by someone or some animal, then they also might not be trusting of strangers and strange dogs going forward. You know that, right? Are there some training, behavior modification, and management things that can and should be done? Yes. 

Programs that promise otherwise… well… I’d stay away from those.

Plan accordingly. 

Dog Dominance Theory Debunked?

Has “dominance theory”, extrapolated from the study of wolves, been debunked for both wolves and dogs? (MORE)

Dogs And Treats For Training Purposes

The Typical Claims About Using Dog Treats For Training... (MORE)

Dogs And The Gym

Are Dog Beds Or Crates “Dens”?

Don’t over-romanticize dog beds and crates. Beds and crates have useful purposes, but they are not “dens”. They should be used as a place that you begin in a way to help them learn is a good place to rest. That is not the same as a wolf “den” (usually a dug out earthen tunnel system that is repeatedly used, seasonally, by wolves to care for their young) or a home dog “whelping box”, which a mother dog will need to care for the newly born pups. Momma dog won't be around to help you.

Crates and beds can BECOME a den substitute if you work with a dog's natural instinct for cozy spots to rest and sleep. It is up to you how the crate is perceived. It should be a place of comfort. A proper introduction will mean the dog loves the crate or bed, and their instinct for a cozy and safe place will facilitate that perception.

Plan accordingly. 

Puppies And Play Biting

Is puppy play biting a “learned”, in other words, acquired behavior through experience?

No.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs, Aggression And Motivation

Is it true that aggressive dogs

Don’t vocalize

Dogs that “want” to kill have become predators

No.

Do police dogs vocalize? Yes.

Is your dog protecting your home a predator? No.

Are police dogs human predators? No.

Plan accordingly. 

Dog Fear "Reactivity"

Is dog fear "reactivity" a result of... 

Lack of discipline

Lack of clarity

Owners haven’t given clear guidelines, especially on greetings

Owner appears to the dog to not know what they are doing

?

No. This is internet dog training gibberish.

What is fear? Fear is the emotional response to a real or perceived threat. 

"Reactivity" is not a behavioral term. It is meaningless in the real world of behavior science. It is a catch-all term, ranging from an aroused and happy puppy to dealing with Godzilla. 

Plan accordingly.

R+ Dog Training Explained And Demystified

Let’s say your requirement for hiring a dog trainer is that you only want to use positive reinforcement (R+) training. What does that mean for your dog? (MORE)

Giving Dogs Too Much Affection?

If your dog... 

Runs ahead of you down the stairs...

Doesn't come when called...

Gets on the bed and doesn't get off when you tell them...

Runs off when you say Come...

Avoids eye contact... 

Seeks your attention...

Is all that an indication that you are giving your dog too much affection? 

Seriously? You can't be that... uh... 

No. You are listening to too much internet dog training gibberish.

What to do? 

Train your dog. And keep giving your dog affection. Be nice to your untrained dog. 

Plan accordingly.

Unfair Dog Training

There are training programs that aren’t fair to dogs. 

For example, what would you say about a training program lesson series that made a dog do a Sit/ Stay for an hour and a Down / Stay for several hours?

To me, that is abusive. There is no purpose in that kind of program, and the result isn’t going to be good for the dog.

If you are uncertain regarding reasonable limits to what a dog can do, consider the standards of most competition sports (obedience, rally, agility, herding, hunting, Schutzhund, Ring Sport, KNPV, etc.)  rules for distance, speed, attitude, and such. While sports are just a show, the durations, types of exercises, distances, precision and such are more realistic as to what can reasonably be expected to demonstrate competence. Or consider the published standards of the nationally recognized disability or therapy dog organizations. None of them have a requirement like this.

Plan accordingly.

How Long Does It Take To Train A Dog? (Part 2)

 

How Long Does It Take To Train A Dog?

How many lessons does it take to train a dog?

I understand why this question comes up: budget, setting expectations, maybe shopping around for answers and programs, who can do it fastest, etc.

Here’s my viewpoint.

How long does it take to create a dog that does real work? (MORE) 

Collaborative Dog Training

“Collaboration” means to work together to produce or create something. 

 

I teach my students that the best method for training dogs is collaborative. Here’s what I mean. 

 

How can you collaborate to produce or create something? I show students how to work with their dogs, instead of working against them. Let’s start with the nature of dogs, then the breed you chose, then your dog. What talents does your dog have and how best can we work with them? Can you help your dog discover the right solutions?

 

Dog training should not be focused on how to stop a dog doing this or that. 

 

Dog training should not be something you do to a dog. It is better if it is done with a dog. That is the challenge I give all my students and dogs. It is a better way.

 

Plan accordingly.

Do You Have An Adventurous Dog?

Do You Have An Adventurous Dog?

Some dogs are just full of energy, very playful and inquisitive. They can either be fun or a serious hassle. Sometimes people think this type of dog needs more exercise, maybe more puzzles and toys. But that doesn't make it better. Your entire home has become a playground of puzzles and toys, except those toys are your things, your kids, you, every guest, and the other pets in the home. Non-stop. 

You don't want to crush these dogs. You already know that wouldn't be right. But many trainers are going to walk through the door trying to sell you their electric collar program. Please, don't do that.

Working dogs are just as playful, just as inquisitive, just as energetic, and just as adventurous. Maybe even more so. The good trainers work with all of this rather than trying to suppress it all. What seems like a hassle today is actually a very valuable asset if properly worked with. 

Plan accordingly. 

You Should Follow My Dog Blog On X

By the way, you should follow me on X... I also post unique dog posts there you will find interesting... @SamTheDogTrainr 

Puppy Lessons

Are you unhappy with how your dog is behaving? 

Dog Training And Brevity

Most dog trainers confuse dogs. Many repetitions cause some dogs to figure out a pattern but are not well trained: when the context changes, expected skills don't materialize.

Training by mistake isn't the same thing as intelligible communication.

Brevity is the soul of wit. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Fear

Should dogs ever be put in situations that might or do scare them?

Yes.

Should dogs purposely be terrorized?

No.

The Real World: There is no world or era that ever existed in which something wasn’t going to scare a dog. That is true for all higher animal species. We cannot, and should not, put dogs in a bubble to prevent all stress and fear: even putting them in a bubble would scare and stress them. If you are wanting to be a bubble-maker, then don’t get a dog. 

Some things are innately scary to a puppy. For example, going down or up stairs for the first time. That challenge is going to be scary. Puppies instinctively fear falling. Human babies do, as well. Experiments have been done with both. Put a glass plate over a “cliff” and let the puppy walk forward or baby crawl forward to the perceived “edge”. They will both stop before “falling”. They will experience a feeling of fear and appropriate learning and actions will take place. This is partly why it is hard to load a dog, or even a horse, in or out of a vehicle.

There are other stimuli in the environment that are prone to cause fear in animals. For rats, it can be the presence of cat hairs. For birds, something big and dark, shaped like a predatory bird,  “flying” overhead. For dogs, a bigger dog hovering over them is scary. You will see puppies get scared, for example, when first being socialized with other strange dogs. Even you sometimes will scare your own puppy such as standing over them, picking them up, trimming nails, baths, setting them down, familiarizing them with your home and yard, and doing normal household chores. 

Since you know some things can be scary, you need to know which scary experiences you want your dog to deal with, and others that would be a setback, and have a plan for both.

Collars are often scary the first time they are put on. Same with leashes. Same with the presentation of a new treat, food bowl, water bowl, brush, comb, scissors, new toy, crate, location, drive in a vehicle, meeting with your friends and family, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, air conditioners, and on and on. So, let’s stop with the no fear thing. It isn’t real.

When I train dogs and owners, I don’t prevent puppies from experiencing normal things that might appear scary at first. I help them familiarize and adapt to those animals, people, locations, objects and situations. That is your secondary job regarding fear. Your primary job is preventing fearful experiences that won’t improve your dog’s welfare. 

What about training? 

Well, puppies are going to be afraid of pottying the first time in your yard. I am not going to avoid helping a dog learn about their new territory, since I don’t want them to just potty in the home for the rest of their lives. 

Puppies are going to be afraid of all the tools and things we do in training. Just because you don’t think it should be scary, that doesn’t mean the puppy perceives it that way. Even with treats, they are typically suspicious of a new food until they have seen it isn’t going to grab them, is sniffed and tasted successfully. That is a natural defense from being poisoned. You would do the same if you lived off the land. Have you ever researched how to tell if it is safe to eat something in the wild in case you were lost? You don’t just eat a tasty looking berry or mushroom, or touch some plant or animal, like you would from the grocery or pet store.

Even older dogs are going to get scared of objects, animals and people. Look folks, they are living beings. They are going to protect themselves naturally regardless of your good intentions. Your job is to supervise these encounters to promote your dog’s welfare.

What about “dominance”? What is it and how is it established? Rank is taken by force in the animal world, either psychologically or by physical action. That’s why dogs are always alert to their relationship status and rank relative to other dogs and people.

“Top dog”, human or canine, is threatening by mood, physical size, scent and other natural factors. All dogs notice the mood of the other person or animal. Size of others is also factored into how they are going to perceive that other animal or person. Loud and low vocalizations by people, as well as other animals, convey a larger size. Raise your voice? You are adding threat to the situation. Lower your voice? Same thing. Posture and proximity matter: get closer and stand taller? Same thing, it is intimidating. Hate to tell you, while dogs aren’t wolves, and it is rare that a pet dog gets in a purely offensive violent fight with a human over status or rank as would a wild or tamed wolf, your dog still perceives your status and rank and responds accordingly. However, it isn’t so rare for dogs to perceive status and rank and fight with another dog in the home. Those are often those fights where people say they didn’t see it coming and they can’t figure out what the dogs were fighting over.

Some of what you perceive as affection are submissive gestures in response to your worrying presence, meant to convey that all is good, I’ll accept you, please accept me, and I don’t want a fight. 

What about training methods? There is this huge, stupid debate over R+ vs Balanced Training. It’s like two cults arguing about the best way to get to paradise. 

Yes, I find it best to use positive reinforcement (R+) to teach skills and then clean up the mistakes with either positive or negative punishment. 

Let’s talk real world: You can only go so far with positive reinforcement before you run up against naturally occurring, and sometimes biologically more important, positive reinforcements in the environment and situation that will successfully compete against all your dogs’ R+ trained actions. You then have the choice whether to never let your dog get near those things, animals, people or situations, or you must finish the job to cause them to avoid those encounters… walk away, keep them on leash, never leave the home, only be free in a fenced yard, etc. Basically make them a prisoner in a gilded cage.

Example: I have heard R+ trainers claim they can teach dogs to leave rattlesnake alone purely with R+ training. Smell/ See Rattlesnake => Run to Handler => Get a Treat.

That isn’t going to work. Even dogs that have been trained with e-collars to leave rattlesnakes, Kiwi, ungulates, crocodiles, alligators, rodents, and birds sometimes are still too tempted and will go after those animals. It is well established that skill learning from bad experiences is harder to forget than those learned by good experiences. The brain and body are hardwired to try and not repeat mistakes that were unpleasant. That is why I never sweat it if a student accidentally drops a treat during a lesson and the dog gets it. Food training is very forgiving. But I am very cautious before I instruct students on ideas about how to correct unwanted actions. For some novices, once you give them a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. I want the dog to know what to do before we clean up the part about what not to do. None of this is about instilling fear in the dog as a way of terrorizing them. But by the nature of corrections, the brain is going to process every known mistake and consequence as something emotionally unpleasant. 

What about R+ Only? Even if someone claims to be a purely R+ trainer, every time they withhold a reward, that is negative punishment and distressing to the dog. Otherwise it wouldn’t work. Even when free shaping, every mistake is not rewarded and is a negative punishment. So, let’s not say that “purely positive” trainers don’t use punishment. They do. Even studies on the physiological effects of negative punishment show increases in stress and hormone markers roughly equivalent as those found when using typical dog training corrections. So, we are more dealing with a marketing strategy than a discussion of animal welfare. 

Competitors are trolling other dog trainers, purposely provoking fights, to gain attention to make money. How can you know? Many of the so-called “all positive” trainers will not debate, or demonstrate their skills, alongside the people who train dogs to do real things in the real world. Petulant trolling isn’t making it better for the dog world. 

What About The Abusers? There are dog owners, trainers and advocates that do want to make dogs afraid, crushing them on purpose. They glory in it like Caligula in ancient Rome. Normal dog training isn’t abuse. However, it would be easy for some so-called “balanced trainers” which are abusers hiding in the midst of others that are not abusers. 

Fear: Is fear a normal response in real life? Yes. Does it need to be managed when training dogs? Yes. Can it be avoided completely? No. Should it be avoided completely? No. 

Isolation experiments on animals always result in the emotional destruction of the test subjects. You should not train dogs like you are playing with some Hot Wheels in your living room, and then put them away in a cabinet when you want to do something else. It is just as abusive to purposely terrorize a dog as it is to do some kind of isolation experiment on your dog. There is a balance. Find that balance.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Pack Walks

Remember a few years ago there were all these dog trainers filming themselves doing “pack walks” with groups of dogs? The trainer was in the lead, and a group of off leash dogs were following them, as if the trainer was some kind of Pied Piper or “Alpha” wolf pack leader on a hunt... (MORE)

How Well Is Your Dog Trained?

How do you assess your dog’s level of training? Here’s how I do it... (MORE)

Aggressive Dogs And Money

I regularly see people get on social media platforms, join specific dog groups, and then ask them for advice regarding their aggressive dog. 

First mistake.

They also tend to say, I can’t afford a dog trainer, so can you give me any advice on this or that.

Second mistake.

You are not going to get good advice about safely dealing with dog aggression this way, for free, from novices, trolls, and well-meaning but unqualified people in social media dog groups. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Space/ Proximity

Is it wrong to allow a dog to be at your feet in the kitchen when you are preparing their food bowl?

Some trainers would say, “yes” … based upon… what exactly? 

(MORE)

Dogs And Squeaky Toys

Is it OK to let dogs play with squeaky toys? Do squeaky toys teach dogs to kill? You see a lot of weird made-up stuff on the internet about dogs. Every. Day. Let’s compare the facts vs. the made-up feces… (MORE)

My Dog Is Reactive Around Other Dogs

Really? Should you make your dog meet strange dogs? On walks? At dog parks? In your neighborhood? In your home? We can impose either reasonable or unreasonable expectations on our dogs. You should learn the difference... (MORE)

Dogs And Gambling With Your Life

If you have been around dogs long enough, you will see these “dominance” focused trainers, owners, and rescue volunteers end up seriously injured. These stories sometimes make the news. All it takes is one dog that decides it is time to do a rank attack, being from a lower status and deciding that it doesn’t want to be bullied. Especially dogs that have, or are developing, the canine version of PTSD. Then it is clobbering time... (MORE)

Gentle Dog Training

Do you have a gentle dog? I have worked with a lot of very gentle dogs. You better know what kind of dog you have before you implement a training program, otherwise your dog is going to fail, and you are going to fail...(MORE)

Is Your Dog Ahead Of You, On Or Off Leash?

If a dog is pulling ahead of you whether on leash or off leash, does that mean you are not your dog’s “leader”, that you aren’t the “alpha”, that you are doing something wrong?

Ok, riddle me this, Batman… (MORE)

Dogs, Muzzles And Nooses

I think if your plan to fix your fearful / reactive/ aggressive dog is to muzzle your dog, put on a leash, and hang your dog into helplessness... 

Well... you can figure out the rest.

Plan accordingly.

Dogs and Gas

Have you ever noticed whenever you are flatulent (the polite word), that it is a result of some type of carbohydrate you have eaten? (i.e. beans)

 

Here’s the way I see it… 

 

If your dog is gassy, then something isn’t digesting properly, and it is most likely one of the carbohydrates in the food. My belief is that dog food manufacturers have captured the organizations that test dog foods and have manipulated the labeling requirements of the government in ways to disguise poor quality ingredients. 

 

For example… let’s take a human example. Milk. What is the difference between skim, 2% and whole? You can’t really tell by the label. However, most milk is highly processed and manipulated in a factory, and the milk you drink isn’t really “milk” in many ways. They are extracting and manipulating the chemistry of the original milk to turn it into a product that isn’t really milk. 

 

Thus, dog food. Read the label. It may list these or those ingredients. But if your dog is gassy, then I think one of those ingredients isn’t settling with your dog. It is probably one of the carbohydrates, or some manufactured or artificial carbohydrate analog, that isn’t fermenting properly in your dog’s gut. You are paying for an ingredient that might technically contribute X amount of this or that nutrient, but the food isn’t highly digestible and a portion of that is either ending up on your beautiful yard or in the form of that wonderful aroma, instead of building new and good tissue in your dog’s body. 

 

Maybe I’m wrong. I’m not a dog nutritionist. I’d love to hear your opinion or any other evidence.

 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Thumping

I find it disturbing that I see so many posts by social media dog trainers advocating giving your dog some kind of thumping if your dog is doing something that you don't like.

 

I mean, seriously, that is your first suggestion for everything? 

Another one I hate... the trainers that suggest using a series of bared teeth displays, growls, hisses, grunts, glares and such to correct your dog to have good manners in the home. Or the one that thinks they need to do everything before the dog gets to do it... eat, sleep, go out a door, sit down, move about, play, give affection, etc. Do you think that any top trainer in the world uses that "method"? 

Plan accordingly.

 

 

 

Dominance And Being Your Dog’s Leader

There is ongoing confusion regarding the idea of being a dog’s “leader”, being the “alpha”, and controlling a dog’s dominance. Thus… the “Dog Whisperer” phenomenon, or all those new social media trainers who are telling you that the beginning of fixing your dog’s dominance problems is to sign up for their e-collar program. Let me give you a simplified way of diagnosing if you are having a dominance problem with your dog... (MORE)

High Drive Service Breed Dog Ownership vs Pet Ownership

There is a fundamental difference between training pet service dog breeds (Malinois, German Shepherd, Giant Schnauzer, Airedale, Dutch Shepherd, etc.) versus those which have been selectively bred for competition or professional work. The top dogs look spectacular when they do the higher-level work. However, if you have a pet version of these dogs, don’t despair. You probably would find these high drive dogs too much to handle and not so much fun. You can get great performance out of pet bred dogs, I know because I do that kind of work every day... (MORE)

Should We Get A Dog?

Before you bring a dog into the home, it would be wise to observe or test to see if the dog will be welcomed by everyone in the family. If someone strongly objects, put it on hold until that is sorted out. 

There are several clues you can look for to predict whether things are going to work out or not. Let’s assume we are questioning whether one person in the family is going to reject the new dog. Go meet some dogs together observe the following:

Does that person

1. Want to keep the dogs out of their personal space?

2. Avoid touching the dogs?

3. Does the person perceive dogs as being “dirty” and “smelly”?

4. Are they suspicious or afraid of dogs?

5. Do they tolerate the behavior and presence of the dogs?

6. Do the dogs elicit affection and care taking behaviors from that person?

7. Do they act in a threatening manner?

8. Do they seek to play with the dogs?

9. Are they overly concerned about the mannerliness of all dogs in their presence?

10. Do the dogs stress them out?

11. Do they have past bad experiences with dogs that make them not want the dogs near them?

12. Are they actively asking “buying signal” questions from the people who own or are fostering those dogs?

13. Are they overly concerned about limiting and suppressing the freedom of movement and friendly gestures of the dogs, especially if the dogs are puppies which are jumping up, pulling on their shoelaces and biting at their hands?

14. Are all the comments of a negative variety? 

15. When you get home, do they show any signs of being allergic to those dogs?

16. Where do they expect the dogs to live in the home? Any rooms excluded? Are they to be banished to the back yard?

17. Do the dogs accept and like that person?

Try this out. It is better to not get a dog at all than to get a dog and then make that dog’s life miserable.

Plan accordingly.

URGENT: NJ Proposes Law To Regulate Dog Training Methods

On Monday, February 10, 2025, the New Jersey Senate Economic Growth Committee will hold a hearing on a bill to establish the “Dog Training Licensing Board” to license and regulate dog trainers.  In addition, the board will establish a training philosophy that must be used for every trainer in the state.

This type of legislation is dangerous. This will NOT turn out well. This has already been tried in Europe and is causing considerable damage. Politicians have NO idea how to train dogs, and the result will be the enforcement of the worst type of methods.

SHARE THIS WIDELY AND OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION. 

Fixing Problem Behaviors: Jumping Upon Greeting

Why do dogs tend to jump up on people during greetings? 

I get why people don't like it. But do you get why dogs do it? 

Before you try to fix a problem, it is best to understand why it happens. Otherwise your fix either won't work or you'll create a new problem.

I'll let you ponder on this one (I don't reward the dog trainers reading this for not putting in any effort and instead doing some research on their own). Hint: it isn't all learned.

There are plenty of suggested solutions, especially on the internet. Many will backfire. 

Plan accordingly.

Laboratory Grown Meat For Dogs?

World’s first lab-grown meat for pets goes on sale

No way. No. And no Soylent Green for my dogs, either, thank you.

I would not feed any Frankenstein food to my dog. 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Superbowl Sunday!

Super Bowl Sunday Is here… do you have a plan to keep your dogs safe? Here is a simple checklist... (MORE) 

Disturbing Dog News

I rarely partake in reading or publishing real, current news stories about dog abuse. While I will sometimes need to use a verbal illustration of a bad event or situation, I stay away from the gory stuff.

I see no benefit in wallowing in all the disgusting, horrible and illegal things that dogs experience. Sometimes you can know too much, and it becomes too much.

Besides, from a practical animal welfare standpoint, if the news is too gory, then people will turn away,  tune out, stop volunteering, and stop donating. Animal rescue groups and volunteers, take heed.

There is a way to learn about what not do with a dog without traumatizing yourself or others. 

Plan accordingly. 

Bad Training Methods Can Be Masked With High Drive Working Dogs

Working dogs, and I’m referring to the police service breeds, have very high prey drive. They will do just about anything for a toy, and don’t even perceive danger when in prey drive for a toy... (MORE)

When A Dog Makes A Mistake

If a dog makes a mistake, or doesn’t do what you wanted them to do, should they show signs of worry? (MORE) 

Real And Pretend Dog Trainers

There is a type of dog trainer I think you should be aware of. You can run across them in all formats, with programs and titles throughout the decades: books, magazines, seminars, events, social media, and/or TV. 

They all share a few basic traits:

1. They use various media to stimulate an interest in a promoting a narrow, gimmicky version of dog training. They are charismatic in their own way, whether by the way they can craft their words, to the media presentations they sell.

2. They don't have the commitment and knowledge to do the hands-on training to know what actually works. They don't grind it out with sufficient dogs to establish a true expertise.

3. The stuff they say sounds good in their heads, but that's as far as it really goes. The descriptions can sound plausible if you are not an animal-experienced person.

4.) They don’t really like training dogs. Instead, they prefer theorizing and pontificating. Thus, some of their stuff works and some doesn't; some might be good and some might be harmful or even dangerous. And that is why they never demonstrate any more than puppy training levels of performance with any dog, and many methods they use can result in only temporary fixes. Or if they are competitors, they can only excel in the ring, and we aren’t privy to the side effects on their dogs, inside or outside the ring. In some cases, they aren’t the ones who actually trained “their” dogs; someone else did it for them.

5.) They make more money talking about dogs than from working with dogs.

Are they real dog trainers? No.

Plan accordingly.

My Dog Doesn’t Like My Husband

Why is it that many dogs, especially new dogs introduced into the home, actively avoid or are hostile to the man of the home but tend to accept the wife? (MORE)

5 Best Dog Breeds For Families

There are innumerable articles and videos regarding what breeds are best for this or that... (MORE)

Dogs And Escalators

More social media video madness... showing people how to get dogs to use the escalator.

Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.

I would never let a dog go up or down an escalator. Too risky. Too dangerous. 

A paw could get caught, and then there is no toe or paw. 

Don't do it. 

Plan accordingly. 

Don’t Be Rough On Your Dog

Why do I feel the need to tell people to not be rough on their dogs? Because many people think that being rough on their dogs is the way to deal with a dog. That backfires, sometimes with disastrous results... (MORE)

 

Dogs And Social Media Videos

The latest trend is for dog training social media guru Jedi Masters to post their brilliant ideas about how you should train your dog. 

In my opinion, many of these are stupid, ineffective, harmful, or cruel. Some are ok, as well. 

My advice?

Don’t do any of that stuff with your dog. Especially the aversive stuff. Pick the wrong dog and give it the wrong treatment, and you’ll be the one in the ER needing treatment. 

The internet is not where you should be getting a plan to train your dog. Even if the person doing the video is 100% correct with the dog in the video, that isn’t your dog and that doesn’t mean it is right for your dog.

Plan accordingly.

 

Dogs And Movement

The primary advice most experts on human backs / spines recommend that walking is the very best exercise to keep your back in shape and to help heal injuries. 

Many dogs are susceptible to back injuries, either because of their anatomical structure, or because of age. While I am not a back expert nor veterinarian, I do believe that walks are good for your dog's back (and overall health). 

Many dogs are not walked. I don't think that is a good thing. If your dog needs training, then get it.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And “Kill” Shelters

The typical municipal animal shelter is broken.

Stop pretending otherwise. Tell the truth to motivate change.

It is a “kill” shelter. 

When you are killing adoptable dogs, that is not euthanasia. There is no nobility in doing so. 

Stop sacrificing to Moloch.

There are ways to reform these kill shelters. 

Plan accordingly.

Do You Train Sick Dogs?

I have a rule: I don’t train sick dogs. What I mean by “sick” is any dog that isn’t feeling well… infection, raging allergies, recovering from an injury, overly stressed, and such. I want owners to tip me off in advance, if possible, if their dogs aren’t their normal selves... (MORE)

My Dog Breed Blinded Me With Science

It's poetry in motion

She turned her tender eyes to me

As deep as any ocean

As sweet as any harmony

But she blinded me with science

(She blinded me with science!)

And failed me in biology, hey (huh, huh, huh)

-  [Song by Thomas Dolby]

Sometimes breeders, and breed lovers, have this entirely false story about the breed they so love. The history is wrong, what they say the breed is capable of is wrong, what they tell others about the potential of their breed is wrong. 

To them, their dogs are all poetry in motion.

As a result, the flaws in the breed aren’t noticed or fixed. Buyers get dogs for all the wrong reasons and get all the wrong results. Trainers fake the capabilities for the audience, and so do the competitors.

Sick dogs. Disabled dogs. Short-lived dogs. Medical dogs. Expensive dogs to own. Unstable dogs. Dysfunctional dogs. Miserable dogs. Outlaw dogs.

Rationality has gone out the door. 

Plan accordingly.

Do You Want A Calm And Submissive Dog? (Part 2)

What do you think it does to a dog to punish them for having a happy attitude? 

The outcome is not good.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Overcrowded Shelters (Part 2)

... In similar ways, a dog needs a territory to operate correctly. When a dog is brought into a shelter, and put into a cage, that place will never be home. It is in an unquestionably stressful situation they can’t handle and can’t resolve... (MORE)

Creation Of Neuroses In Dogs

I am very concerned by a video I saw on the internet this morning. This internet guru Jedi Master trainer was teaching the viewers a procedure that will ultimately cause the dog in question to have a breakdown. 

I will not specify here what was happening and why it would result in damaging the dog. I don’t want to give bad people more ideas on harming dogs. 

In general terms, putting dogs in impossible situations is cruel. It is also unnecessary. Imagine a human example: a prisoner is made to hit themselves with a hammer on a toe before being given a piece of food. 

Furthermore, you can stand out as a trainer without resorting to unique, outrageous, and harmful practices. What the viewer sees is what is presented in front of the camera. What isn’t seen are the longer-term side effects of acute and chronic stress. 

Animals can go completely haywire, both mentally and physically with such treatment, and develop a debilitating neurosis that will wreck the dog. 

Stay away from strange and unusual methods. 

Plan accordingly. 

I’m Afraid Of My Puppy

I have encountered numerous people who were afraid of their puppies... (MORE)

Dogs Barking In The Middle Of The Night (Part 1)

I was house sitting for a friend a number of years ago. It was a big property with a long private driveway.

I knew these dogs and I knew this property. Normally it was a quiet place with no surprises.

Well, the dogs woke me up with some explosive barking, leaving the room and running all around the house. That wasn't normal at all. I knew something was wrong.

Sure enough, someone had driven up the private driveway up to the front of the home. It must have been around 2 am. I started putting on my street clothes and got ready.

After a few seconds, they turned around and drove away. 

I don't know what that was about, but there had been some late night break ins over the past few years in surrounding neighborhoods. 

If your dog barks, it isn't always a nuisance bark. I always go check it out with them. It could be something that needs your attention.

Plan accordingly.