Canine Nation

Learning about modern dog training methods based on behavioural science changed the way we work with our dogs.  Perhaps the most important change was in how we raise our dogs from puppies.  It seems that this way of training not only teaches them manners and interesting tricks, it also teaches them about life and living!

Dogs are wonderfully forgiving creatures. Past wrongs seem to be quickly forgotten; after an angry moment, relationships are almost instantly restored. I think that we humans have a great deal to learn from dogs regarding forgiveness and moving on.

Any good dog trainer knows that the consequences of a dog's actions will decide whether he wants to try to do a behaviour again or not.  But there may be more to training your dog than rewards or punishments.  The process we use when we teach our dogs matters too.  Being honest, consistent, and true to a good training process can make all the difference in the world!

Back in 2011, I noticed just how many dog trainers were claiming to offer “balanced dog training.” Remarkably that number only seems to have increased as time when on.  What I find most surprising is that these "balanced" dog trainers are just adding a new buzzword, "balanced",  to out-of-date traditional dog training techniques.  Don't be fooled by the hype!

What do you do when your puppy becomes a teenager? Our Belgian Shepherd Rizzo was a case study in dealing with an adolescent dog maturing out of puppy and into grown up.  It can take some patience and planning to deal with puppy shenanigans and to keep a young dog in this phase of life engaged in training.  It can be simple but it's not easy!

What I have learned about dogs through behavioural science and modern training methods has fundamentally changed the way I see them as beings. It has changed his life in so many wonderful ways.  But there are lots of ways to love a dog.  Some are very different from others.  But they are love all the same.  We should remember that.

There is an old saying that goes something like, “A good craftsman never blames his tools.” Likewise, it’s important that we never give credit to our tools for good work either. Dog training is an interactive process and as your dog’s trainer, you are responsible for creating a good relationship in which your dog can learn. Choose your tools wisely and learn to use them well!

Imagine being a dog and working with three different dog trainers. Each has their own style and agenda. Imagine that these three trainers could show up at any time and might change places abruptly. Now imagine that all three trainers are YOU and you must juggle your priorities and goals in real time. Amazingly, we do it every single day. Here’s hoping we can all do it well!

When it comes to dog training, myths abound, especially when you are talking about more modern techniques like Mark & Reward Training. With so much misinformation floating around, I thought it would be good to do a little myth busting and get to the truth behind some of the inaccurate claims dog people make about Mark & Reward Training.

There is a lot of myth and misinformation about modern dog training techniques, specifically positive reinforcement training.  Why are some people so resistant to changing the way they train their dog?  And what is the truth behind some of this myth and superstition about training with rewards?