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The Lighter Side of Dogs and Positive Training Mar 21, 2013

Show notes

While debates rage on whether or not using positive training with your dog is a good idea or not, those of us who use it every day are enjoying what it brings to our lives. Many of our dogs have developed very clever and creative ways to get our attention or to earn their rewards. Some have even learned to outfox us and make us laugh. And there is nothing wrong with a little playfulness and joy. Dog training is not all about serious obedience and performance, after all!

The Tyranny of Small Dogs Mar 13, 2013

Show notes

Could it be that there is a Tyranny of Small Dogs? Tyranny not because the dogs themselves are doing anything wrong. Quite the opposite; small dogs seem to have a tremendous capacity to lull us humans into thinking that we don’t have to work with them like we would a larger breed. Somehow we expect them to be “great little dogs” just because they are small and cute and we get to cuddle them. And that could be working against them if we are not giving them the training and structure they need.

The Quest for the Magical Dog Mar 04, 2013

Show notes

Our culture is full of images of courageous, loyal, smart, and lovable dogs. Many of those dogs are just fictional ideals, the sort of perfect dog we all wish we could have. Perhaps our idealism goes even further than that if we also attribute the best in human qualities to our dogs. And that's where we need to be careful. If we put too much expectation on our dogs, do we lose sight of their own qualities that make them so remarkable? Perhaps we should love our dogs for who and what they are and not risk being disappointed if they do not live up to our unrealistic expectations.

Dog Training and Distracting Rewards Feb 21, 2013

Show notes

I used to think that people should use whatever their dog is wild about as a reinforcer in training. I'm not so sure about that now. It's easy to think that because it's motivating, it's the best reward ever. Sometimes, it can be TOO stimulating! It can even be distracting. And if that distraction takes away from learning, are we really doing the best thing for our dog? There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

Dear Dog – Please Excuse My Miscues Feb 06, 2013

Show notes

Cues or Commands are the signals we give to our dogs when we want them to perform a behaviour for us. How we teach them and how we use them will have a great influence on whether our dog understands and does what we ask. Teaching a cue seems like a simple thing, but it's more complex than you might imagine. Your dog wants to do it right, you just have to give him the right cue!

Outwitting Dogs – A Rant Jan 24, 2013

Show notes

How can dogs be stupid and smart at the same time? How can they have less intelligence than humans and still control our households? For all our intelligence, we humans certainly find our reasons to claim to be both inferior and superior to our canine companions when it suits us.

Dumbing Down Dog Training Jan 17, 2013

Show notes

Owning a dog is wonderful and rewarding but it is also a big responsibility. Training and management are not simple tasks as some would have us believe. But with the right teachers, it isn't all that difficult to learn to do it well. Could we be doing a better job of teaching people about training their dogs?

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie But Tell Them The Truth Jan 01, 2013

Show notes

Ever stick your hand in your empty pocket as if you had a cookie in hopes your dog would run over to you? Have you ever taken a menacing step toward your dog in hopes they would sit more quickly? Both of these clever tricks really amount to lies you tell your dog. You don't have a cookie and you aren't going to hit them. But if they THINK those things are true, it could be to the owner's advantage. And taking advantage of our oh-so-honest dogs might not be the best idea. In the long run, it could lead to being ignored more, mistrust, or worse. Being honest with your dogs might be a better idea.

Teaching A Dog Is A Question Of Balance Dec 29, 2012

Show notes

There is a lot of talk about "balance" in dog training these days. But balance might not be as easy as just mixing equal parts of rewards and punishment. A lesson from high school science class shows that equal numbers do not mean equal value. Sometimes balance means finding the right proportions of what your dog values. Balance means a healthy, happy dog and a good relationship with their owner.

Getting The Dog You Deserve Dec 28, 2012

Show notes

Dogs are, in many ways, a reflection of their owner. They live with us and they learn from us. Sometimes they learn a little more than we would like about us. They can use what they learn to get what they want from us. If our dogs are always learning, are we always teaching? If we're not teaching, what are they learning? We all do our best and in the end, we all get the dog we deserve.

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