Search results

@step_by_step I strongly recommend staying away. The alpha (or, "alfa" as used by this person) theme is rampant - the person says it 4 times in one paragraph. That alone would have me walking away. Also, in the same sentence this person says "weather [sic] your dog needs... behavior...

@faithpeace Treat scattering is a fantastic tool. You want to be sure to put it on a cue (I use "find it" but you could use literally any term). You'll need to acclimate your pup to the game, by using it at times when there's no need for it, but over time your pup should come to understand the...

@wuodnyawasi I'm really sorry you had to go through that, but I can speak from personal experience that the "aha" moment is really transformative, will improve your relationship with your dog, and will help you help him better. For me, it wasn't until we visited at veterinary behaviorist that...

@faithpeace I can't say with any certainty because obviously I'm not familiar with all the details of your situation, but you may need to take a few steps back and really baby step your way through things. Working through distractions is hard, and just being outside, not confined within 4...

@faithpeace First, you have a young, adolescent dog. There are certain things that go along with that, including having a dog that has not yet mastered impulse control. So, much of what you are seeing is age related, and as the dog matures, some of that will likely abate. Which isn't to say...

@karmel While that was suspected at one point, the causation was never established. There is still no clear understanding of the role of food in cases of DCM in non-genetically pre-disposed dogs, but it has not been established that it is due to lack of grains or feeding grain-free foods.

@elizabeda777 Oh geez. 🤢

@elizabeda777 I have smelled tripe and all I can say is... I'm so sorry.

@cathya I think this is a really unfair conclusion. One instance of a dog getting out of it's harness does not mean the brand/style of harness is no good. I walk both my reactive dog and my well-balanced dog in an Easy Walk harness, and have had no issues. Without question, they require very...

@calso First of all, huge kudos to you for recognizing that the trainer you hired wasn't suitable and for making changes for the benefit of your pup. I am training my reactive dog on my own, but I also have many years of experience with training and have a fearful (albeit non-reactive) dog...

@applefaceee So, similar to how there are single family restrooms at some locations where there are also shared M/W's restrooms, I'd love to see places that have self-serve dog wash stations have a single tub room near a private entrance to get reactive dogs into the one-tub bathing area and out...

@christopherb Sure. Both are in the Chicagoland area. The in-home option (depending on specifics of the dog) is KinDog Behavior and Training and the more kennel-type option is with I Got This Sit (it's their Live In and Learn program). I'm familiar with both and can vouch for them both being...

@surendered12345678 Have you looked into training facilities that offer agility? Most of them will offer ring rentals where you can use the agility ring privately (typically it's an hourly rental). The idea is for people to come work on agility with their dog, but there's no reason you...

@christopherb Just FYI, the one you’ve mentioned isn’t the sole exception - there are two strictly force-free/R+ board and trains in my area, one is an accredited trainer who does B&T out of his home (obviously one dog at a time) and another who has a more traditional kennel set up and multiple...

@jk100991 Thank you for sharing your experience. I am so sorry you went through all of that, but so glad to hear that you have moved to humane and effective training techniques. I frequently comment on this sub about the problems associated with aversive training methods, particularly as they...

@catherinenosleep OMG that "analogy" is impressive both in terms of how ridiculous is, and how inapplicable it is. It never fails to amaze me the depths to which people who use aversives go to rationalize their use, despite scientific evidence that doesn't support it (plus there's that "pesky"...

@brothersnook Slip leads are generally considered aversive tools, since they are often used in the same manner as a choke chain (cue auto mod message lol). However, there are those who consider them less aversive than choke chains, because they are generally made of fabric and not metal, but...

@catherinenosleep OMG that trainer is a moron. Sorry, not gonna mince words here. Good for you for recognizing that you should not use her. The whole "alpha" theory of dog training has long since been debunked. You are NOT rewarding aggression, you are rewarding the calm behavior when your...

@lilith_eve There is one piece of information you didn't mention that you will need to make a fully informed review of the responses, which is how far into training with aversives the handler is. As in, you need to consider both short term and long term results. Full disclosure - I have never...

@joshuawithmartin Oh fascinating. I love a good scientific analysis/assessment. Thanks so much for posting, I am looking forward to watching the video and checking out the colloquium page. As a side note, I often find myself - for right or for wrong - thinking "oh, that must be a man" when I...