Trainers vs. Behaviorists

What’s the difference between dog trainers and animal behaviorists?

sophiavonhexen asks…

Hello! I’m Sophie, 16 & I wanna be a dog trainer. Uhm, I just wanted to ask if an Animal…

Can Playing Tug-of-War Make a Dog Dominant? A Scientific Study Dispels the Myth

Research is often at odds with commonly accepted beliefs about tug-of-war. Not only is tug okay, it’s a fun and positive…

Do dogs view humans as members of the pack? Part 1: Play

As disappointing as it may be to some, a dog will never view a human the same way it does another dog.

More Differences Between Dog-Dog vs. Dog-Human Play

Research contradicts the popular opinion that dogs treat humans like conspecifics incorporated into a hierarchical pack.

A Fresh Look at Comparing the Social Conflict Behavior of Domesticated Dogs to that of ‘Wolf-Packs’

Can dog behavior be compared to wolf behavior? (Hint: it can’t)

Behaviors to Consider When Selecting a Dog to Adopt From a Shelter

Adopting a dog can be a very rewarding experience for a dog lover. What is there not to feel good about? There is an animal in need, a wonderful home, and more than enough love to go around. Most soon-to-be new dog…

Pack of Lies

Regarding the Dog Whisperer

I found this article on the New York Times opinion page from 2006 on how Cesar Millan has set dog training back 40 years. While my policy is to never criticize any individual, I do view the ‘Dog Whisperer’ as a detriment to the field…

Video: Creating a New Behavior with Shaping by Successive Approximation

The end result of trick training is a behavior put on cue, useful or for show, the animal would typically not display naturally. Examples of these tricks can be seen all over the place: in amusement parks…

DIY: Non-Slip Calming Cap

The Calming Cap is a great tool for easing a dog’s anxiety or fear of visual stimuli. The idea is genius, a shear piece of fabric stretched comfortably over a dog’s eyes reducing visual stimuli, in turn lowering your dog’s emotional arousal. The tricky part is keeping it in place!