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Author: jsummerfield8

Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Medical Issues and Behavior

Announcement: Upcoming Webinar on Medical Issues and Behavior

Hi all, I’m excited to announce that I will be doing another webinar through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy this Thursday, March 21st! This time, the topic will be medical issues and behavior – how physical problems can impact your dog’s behavior, and when to be suspicious of an underlying medical problem when you’re dealing with anxiety or aggression. The webinar is open to anyone who wants to sign up, so feel free to join me if you’re interested! **Note:…

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Mean Dogs Wear Muzzles! (And Other Misconceptions)

Mean Dogs Wear Muzzles! (And Other Misconceptions)

All right, gang.  Today, we’re going to be talking about muzzles. This is a topic that’s been on my mind a lot lately.  As a veterinarian in general practice, I often need to briefly muzzle dogs for medical procedures – which can occasionally be upsetting for owners.  And with my behavior clients, I often suggest using muzzles as a management tool for certain situations that might otherwise be risky for the humans or other dogs involved in our training plan. …

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Announcement: Online Class on Canine Behavioral Disorders

Announcement: Online Class on Canine Behavioral Disorders

Hi all, Big news!  I’m excited to announce that starting on December 1st, I will be teaching a six-week online class through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy about behavioral disorders in dogs.  The class is open to anyone who wants to sign up, so feel free to join us if this is a topic that interests you! You can sign up for a silver-level spot if you want to participate in class by doing the homework assignments, taking part in…

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Getting Used To Things (Or Not): Habituation Vs. Sensitization

Getting Used To Things (Or Not): Habituation Vs. Sensitization

Not too long ago, one of my training clients told me about an unexpected problem she was having with her dog. She had recently moved from a rural area to a more suburban neighborhood, and had begun taking her dog for daily walks on-leash.  They both enjoyed their walks, apart from an issue they were having with a particular house along their route. There was a dog who lived in this house, and he barked at them through the window…

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If At First You Don’t Succeed, Do Something Different

If At First You Don’t Succeed, Do Something Different

When my dog Remy was a puppy, many years ago, I set about teaching him a sit-stay. As any trainer can attest, this is usually a fairly straightforward exercise.  I was still in veterinary school at that time, so I had less training experience than I do now – but as a student assistant in OSU’s puppy kindergarten classes twice a week, I had taught dozens of pups the basics of how to sit and stay without any difficulty. My…

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Why Ignoring Bad Behavior Doesn’t Work

Why Ignoring Bad Behavior Doesn’t Work

For today’s topic, we’re going to delve a little deeper into an oft-repeated myth about positive training.  Namely, the idea that in order to train a well-mannered companion, you need to do two things: Reward what you like, and ignore what you don’t. Seems easy, right? Chances are, if you’re a dog owner, you’ve heard some version of this mantra somewhere along the way – from a well-meaning friend or neighbor, perhaps, or in an online training group.  And really,…

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Will My Puppy Grow Out Of This? Early Intervention For Behavior Issues

Will My Puppy Grow Out Of This? Early Intervention For Behavior Issues

As a veterinarian in general practice, seeing a brand new puppy for a wellness check-up is one of my favorite parts of the job. (I’d wager this is true for most vets – ask anyone!) Puppies are cute, and obnoxious, and very, very busy.  They sniff all around the exam room, jump up to say hello, and try their best to eat my shoelaces.  They chew on my stethoscope while I auscult their hearts.  They eat treats eagerly when offered,…

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Announcement: Upcoming Webinars on Behavior Meds

Announcement: Upcoming Webinars on Behavior Meds

Hi all, I’m excited to announce that I will be doing a set of webinars on the topic of behavior medications in dogs on Thursday, August 9th through the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.  These are open to anyone who wants to sign up, so feel free to join me if you’re curious about behavior meds and how they work! **Note: you DO NOT have to attend the webinar live, if it doesn’t fit with your schedule.  As long as you’re…

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Accidental Behavior Chains, Part 2: How Do We Fix Them?

Accidental Behavior Chains, Part 2: How Do We Fix Them?

Last time, we talked about behavior chains – what they are, how they work, and why it’s so easy to accidentally train your dog to do something you don’t want. We had some great discussion in the comments section of that post, and several readers asked for some additional information about how to apply this concept on a practical level.  Namely, if we’ve inadvertently trained a behavior chain that includes unwanted “links” like jumping on visitors or pulling on the…

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Accidental Behavior Chains: Are You Training What You Think You Are?

Accidental Behavior Chains: Are You Training What You Think You Are?

My family got our first dog, a long-legged sable Sheltie named Duncan, when I was sixteen years old. As a brand-spanking-new trainer, I had lots of enthusiasm but very little actual skill.  We went to classes and dabbled in a few different dog sports – including, most notably for today’s topic, competitive obedience. In the novice obedience ring, one of the exercises that dogs are required to master is the formal recall.  This involves leaving your dog in a sit-stay,…

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