Videos
Bringing out the best in a cat or dog is a hands-on task. Seeing it in a video is often better than reading it. My goal with these videos is to make behavior management easier to understand and implement.
Dogs who are told to get off the furniture repeat their crimes when the boss is out of sight. Consistency and kindness matter.
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Cats aren’t hard-wired to be couch potatoes. They are meant to hunt and pull the guts out of the helpless creatures that keep them alive. It’s not pretty but it’s nature’s way. You can import a dozen lab mice to turn loose in your living room (not a good idea, really) or you can provide all of your cat’s food from food-dispensing toys like the Twist ‘n Treat that Gaston is scavenging from. He expends energy and stays busy doing work that is similar to his innate survival skills. And he’s taken off a bit of that holiday weight gain.…
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Training gives pets purpose and it’s good for our bond with them. This Asian elephant is happy to work and earn interactions and food rewards. It was great fun to be up close for this performance but I’ll stick with teaching skills to my own dog. His food is cheaper and the clean-up is a bit less labor intensive.
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Do your pets crack under holiday pressure? Together we’ll reach peace on earth.
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A dog will believe that any response from its person is an earned reinforcer. That’s why reprimands and punishments fail. To stop digging the hole even deeper you’ll need to ignore everything you don’t want. But sometimes the nipping, mouthing, and body slamming continue anyway.
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Severe reactions, nightmares, escape attempts; even aggression can indicate PTSD in dogs. Harsh training methods or physical trauma can provoke this lifelong disorder. There is help for this tough problem.
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My dog “Mick” loves to play fetch with a ball but then he holds onto it. I’ve tried pulling it loose so I could kick it for him again. Rather than tug-of-war, I squat and hold a tasty treat at his nostril and then put it near his mouth. When he releases the ball to take the snack I “capture” the behavior by saying, “Give”. He now earns the food by taking the treat when hearing the “Give” command. We love playing together. There’s something in this game for each of us.
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Adopting a puppy is good fun until the chewing starts. You have to take action. So what do you do? You’ll teach good behavior using innate canine learning principles. Share with your friends. Dogs of all ages can learn to earn.
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Grooming or petting a cat can be dangerous. Watch for dilated pupils and rippling skin. Physical problems can underlie serious aggression.
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