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@joshuawithmartin Good article. I remember someone told me once that my dog would be a lot happier if he could come along with me to breweries/farmers markets/etc (they were implying that if I used more balanced methods he could do those things). It was interesting to me because 1) there is...

@pazuzil That was my first thought. My family had a couple of Shelties growing up that were similar in the way they loved to hear themselves talk. OP, I think you are doing everything right but I wonder if maybe you need to adjust expectations and figure out how you can best manage the...

@inneed1012 That advice is rooted in "alpha" mentality. Yes, there are times when access to furniture should be restricted as a management strategy. Not because disallowing them into those spaces will somehow fix the root of behavioral issues, but because if your dog resource guards those spaces...

@kyeshamblin My dog has anxiety/is reactive and he is also arthritic so pain is a factor too. He’s typically good as gold for vets and groomers - he just becomes really compliant and wants it done as quick as possible - but if they’re getting bad vibes or are concerned, by all means, muzzle...

@marissa777 I also feed Pro Plan, but I mix in some canned ONE for his midday meal as it helps him take his meds. I just feed the general beef Pro Plan since my guy is older and doesn't need high protein (unless your dogs are very active, high protein can apparently cause anxiety in some dogs)...

@jools1981 Chiming in as an owner, I always tell new salons if they feel like they need to muzzle him to do so (but please call me if he really is acting up and I can come get him). My dog is muzzle trained and I even offer to leave his muzzle there if they prefer to use it. So far, he’s never...

@tippymoondawg Merle cockers absolutely kill me. Yes, they look bad. Not just in coloring or the eyes but obviously they're poorly bred so their structure just looks really off too, most of the time. But cockers also come in roan, which is not the same as merle but to the layperson, IMO, it's...

@tippymoondawg There are so many merle Bernadoodles walking around, like where do you guys think that merle gene came from? Not a Berner or a Poodle! Berners in general have skyrocketed in popularity - I know a few people who have gotten them because there is a fairly local BYB who churns them...

@sarahtoo You don’t punish growling because it will probably be super effective in getting the dog to stop growling, but if the dog still feels uncomfortable they will then feel the need to escalate their behaviors. Growls are communication. They are a polite “I don’t like that, please stop”...

@anadascal A level 4 bite is a pretty high level bite. Most aggression experts will say that the prognosis is pretty poor for retraining (of which I have doubts about). I have a (dog) aggressive dog, I would never, ever trust that dog around a child again, no matter how much training it has gone...

@nauma I agree with you that withholding food can be aversive, especially if the dog has a really low tolerance for frustration. But, I would argue that if we are talking about tools needing to be properly fit, conditioned, and used, we should also be talking about proper use of rewards - like...

@ashiedu Having an aggressive dog myself, I understand the desperation and need to trust a professional. And there are a lot of less than ideal professionals out there - from both sides of the training coin - that I've run into and had to use my own research to determine if their methods would...

@jesussavedme2017 Merle dogs are everywhere. It’s a pretty pattern, but it’s out of control. My “favorite” is that they are now creating merle Cocker spaniels. Even though they already can be roan (less common in Am. Cockers but still possible). Roan is different than merle, but most people...

@beaudoiin Oh, same. I grew up on a farm and our dogs got no formal socialization at all. My reactive dog was a massive wakeup call, especially since he had a lot of issues at 8 weeks old and everyone around me told me he couldn't possibly be aggressive/anxious, I must be misreading puppy play...

@ruzou Yeah, it's hard. I walk to and from work, and there are a lot of dogs that come out of their houses barking (or just off leash) and it's really challenging to watch their owners handle them roughly or scream at them. It makes me want to give my guy an extra hug when I get back.

@stephen_nz This is really interesting, especially since a lot of the time when people are very pro-aversive they say it because it "increases communication". I've always wondered, what are you communicating and is it true communication if you aren't listening to your dog as well? Reactive...

@jyoooohs A lot of people have dogs that are reasonably well behaved and they give themselves a lot of credit for that. And they may have had some hand in it, but not nearly to the level they pat themselves on the back for. So they see reactive dogs and think "that could never happen to me, I...

@acfjanine I don't think your dog is really the problem, I think he's just an Aussie that has reached maturity. Aussies are bossy by nature and can be controlling, and they're usually pretty physical about it. It makes them great herding dogs, especially when they are working with larger...

@authormargaretrosefrancis That is hard - you may want to look into the FDSA “management for reactive dogs” course, as a lot of what she teaches is techniques that would be great for city dogs. The Toby Project on Instagram also has several reels where she demonstrates how she uses the...

@or19937 Honestly, I’m impressed by anyone who works with cats, groomers and vet staff alike. I have the sweetest male cat, he’s all cuddles and purrs, and he goes into the vet and charms everyone there as he’s such a ham. Until you want to make him do something he doesn’t want to do. He...