Animals are always learning. The animals we know today are the fruit of millions of years of evolution and have been learning by consequence all this time. They continuously put things together, draw conclusions and figure out how to avoid…
Blog Archives
Animal Emotions – the driving force behind our dog’s behaviors
As an animal lover it’s hard to imagine that, despite Darwin’s claims in 1872, it’s only until very recently that most people considered humans as the only emotional species on the planet. We’re living in very exciting times, an actual…
Tagged with: Behavior, Dog, dog cognition, Jaak Panksepp, Jennifer Cattet, Smart Animal
Posted in Dog behavior, emotions, Psychology, science
Posted in Dog behavior, emotions, Psychology, science
Surviving our dog’s adolescence
When we bring a new puppy home, we expect to teach her the basics of potty training, bite inhibition and general good manners around the house. We hopefully make sure to socialize her, and do our best to get her…
Tagged with: abandonment, animal shelters, Animal training, Dog, dog adolescence, dog teenager, Jennifer Cattet, Smart Animal
Posted in Adolescence, Dog behavior, Dog/human relationship, Fear, Psychology, Roughhousing
Posted in Adolescence, Dog behavior, Dog/human relationship, Fear, Psychology, Roughhousing
Walking the dog has big impact!
As Dr. Oz says, let’s go out for a half hour walk every day. It helps with our blood circulation, muscle development and general well being. Walking also produces endorphins, which help us feel good and alleviate stress. But instead…
Tagged with: Dog, Dog training, dog walk, dog walking, Jennifer Cattet, SMART
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Psychology
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Psychology
Impulse control – the 6 keys to teaching dogs calm and polite behavior
We all know dogs that jump on people, push them out of their way to get through doors, rush their way in and out of the car or the crate and up and down the stairs. Dogs can be impatient…
Tagged with: Animal training, Behavior, impulse control, Jennifer Cattet, reward based training, self-control, Smart Animal
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Dog/human relationship, Positive Animal Training
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Dog/human relationship, Positive Animal Training
What happens to fear if left untreated?
Barking, lunging, bolting, running away, tucking their tail, avoiding, etc. Dogs have many ways to express their fear. How we react in return will often determine whether they get over it or whether it gets worse. Some fears can be…
Tagged with: clicker training, desensitization, Dog, fear, flooding, habituation, Jennifer Cattet, reward based training
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Educational, Fear, Positive Animal Training, Psychology
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Educational, Fear, Positive Animal Training, Psychology
New findings on shock collars: why the UK wants to ban them
In the dog world, few subjects are as controversial as the debate on shock collars (electronic or e-collars). Advocates for their use claim that such devices don’t hurt but mostly emit an unpleasant vibration. They’re often the last resort for dogs…
Tagged with: Animal training, Dog, Dog training, e-collar, electronic collar, Jennifer Cattet, shock collar
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Misc, News, Technology, Training tools
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Misc, News, Technology, Training tools
Dogs and children: so similar, yet so different
Whether humans or animals we’re stuck in our own reality. How we experience the world is always through our own perspective. Because we’re curious beings or just trying to survive, we naturally put effort in trying to understand the world…
Dog crates dens or prisons?
Over the past decade or so, dog crates have become a must have piece of equipment for all dog owners. Trainers and pet stores have done a great job at promoting its use and most dog lovers today have adopted…
Tagged with: crate training, dog crate, Dog training, Jennifer Cattet, leaving dog alone, puppy crate, separation anxiety
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Educational, Positive Animal Training, Resource
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Educational, Positive Animal Training, Resource
Confidence – the key ingredient to successful training
When the dog pays attention, a walk in the park or a training exercise are easy, fun and rewarding. When the dog spends the majority of the time looking for anything else to do besides focusing on the human, the…
Tagged with: Animal training, clicker training, Dog, dog handling, Jennifer Cattet, leash walking, reward based training, Smart Animal
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Educational, Positive Animal Training, Resource
Posted in Dog behavior, Dog training, Educational, Positive Animal Training, Resource