Beetle Bailey is an old school comic strip and it shows! This strip may illicit a cynical laugh, but we know better. It’s humor is predicated on outdated notions about dog intelligence. “Dumb dog” is an uninformed invective. As pointed out in this blog, in The Heart of Your Dog, and elsewhere, dogs are surprisingly intelligent and perceptive animals. Now,… read more →
For as long as there have been people “training” dogs, the dog treat has been a tool box staple. Most dog’s will eagerly comply to earn the reward. Like mice in a lab experiment their behavior can be manipulated with a simple reward for the forced behavioral scheme. In the mind of the dog it is a simple transaction –… read more →
Trainers require discipline. The objective is behavior modification. Trainers demand obedience. The inner feelings of those being trained are of little concern. Compliance is assumed and original thought is discouraged. Training might be the best path for you and your dog, if your primary goals are obedience and submission. Why not consider teaching instead? Why not inspire your dog to… read more →
There’s lots of advice about walking your dog on a leash. If you use the “training” method to extreme, you can make your dog walk obediently by your right side and then immediately sit when you stop. All the while your dog will ignore every distraction. If that is what you want, go for it! To me it smacks of… read more →
It’s important to remember how closely related the family dog is to it’s wolf roots. Genetically speaking dogs are much more closely related to wolves than we are to chimps and gorillas. We adopt dogs and treat them as people. Yet, your dog’s inner wolf will not be denied. Dogs and wolves are territorial and need to explore their environment,… read more →
One of the most effective techniques for connecting with your dog is getting close and going eye-to-eye. When you have your dog’s complete attention with this technique your dog has no choice but to listen. Your dog looks (stares) into your face and eyes to interpret your thoughts. I’ve found this to be the best way to reach your dog’s… read more →
Teaching your dog to be a good car rider is important. You don’t want your dog to associate rides only with trips to the vet. On the other hand they shouldn’t be only play adventures. It’s fun to speculate about what your dog is thinking. Dogs that only travel to the vet can have extreme reactions to climbing aboard a… read more →
This video explains how brain scans were used to understand how dogs react to voice sounds, compared to humans. It is a good insight to how our dogs are tuned in to us.
Family dogs probably hear these exclamations more than any others. You probably agree that your dog should hear “Good Dog” much more than “Bad Dog”. It indicates a smooth relationship. You probably also realize that dogs don’t understand the literal meaning of words. To dogs words mean whatever you teach them to mean. “Good Dog” should always mean “Good Dog”… read more →
Practically everything we do is with our hands. We have long multi-joint fingers, flexible wrists, opposable thumbs, and sensitive touch. Dogs are stuck with claws at the end of their legs. Instead they rely on their mouths to do what we do with our hands. Dogs pick up and carry things with their mouths. They “manipulate” things with their teeth.… read more →