Browsed by
Tag: dog behavior

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. …

Read More Read More

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…

Read More Read More

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,…

Read More Read More

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,…

Read More Read More

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…

Read More Read More

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…

Read More Read More

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,…

Read More Read More

Introducing… My New Podcast, “Dog Talk With Dr. Jen”

Introducing… My New Podcast, “Dog Talk With Dr. Jen”

Hi all, I’m excited to announce that my new podcast is officially up and running!  The first two episodes are up – show notes and download links can be found here.  It’s also available on iTunes (as well as most other major podcast directory sites), so feel free to search for it there if you prefer 🙂 Not to worry, the blog is still going strong!  I realize that some of my readers may not be interested in the podcast,…

Read More Read More

The “Quick Fix?”: Neutering As A Treatment For Aggression

The “Quick Fix?”: Neutering As A Treatment For Aggression

Today’s topic is a juicy one with lots of real-life relevance, so I hope you’re excited!  If you’re a dog owner, or someone who works with dogs, how often have you heard some variation of the following: “My girl has been growling at me over her food bowl lately!  She thinks she’s the queen of the house.  I really need to have her spayed and nip this in the bud.” “Oh, your dog is barking and lunging at other dogs…

Read More Read More

Stressed Or “Disobedient” – Can You Tell The Difference?

Stressed Or “Disobedient” – Can You Tell The Difference?

When my dog Remy was very young and just getting started in agility, we were enrolled in a weekly class at a local training center in Columbus.  (This was during my vet school years.) Every week, the dogs practiced jumping, running through tunnels, climbing over A-frames, and running basic sequences of obstacles so that we could practice our handling maneuvers.  Remy liked agility, and he was a fantastic worker – as long as there were treats involved, he was laser-focused…

Read More Read More