Issue 26 | June 2023 — Dog
A Framework for Behavior Modification and Training Plans to Help Build and Maintain Resilience: The Resilience Rainbow
Summary: Resilience is an individual’s ability to recover from and resist the negative effects of stress. Understanding the physiological and behavioral bases for higher levels of resilience can help animal trainers and behavior consultants develop interventions...
By Bobbie Bhambree, CDBC, CPDT-KA, and Dr. Kathy Murphy, BVetMed, DPhil, CVA, CLAS, MRCVS
Teaching Polite Play
Summary: Most people who add a dog to their family are excited to see their dog play with canine friends. Not every dog is a paragon of social skills, however, so it is important for trainers to be able to show their clients how to recognize signs of impolite play....
By Christina Young, BSc, CDBC, PCBC-A, KPA-CTP, LFDM-WIssue 25 | February 2023 — Dog
Dogs Who Witness Trauma
Summary: Experiencing trauma is known to be a cause of stress and associated behavior problems in dogs, but what about witnessing the trauma of others? This article reviews what we know about behavioral responses to witnessing trauma in other animals, and discusses...
By Dr. Teresa Tyler PhDLiving and Learning with a Blind Dog
Summary: Blind dogs can live full and happy lives, but they need some special attention to their training and behavior. Whether they were born without sight or lost their vision later in life, blind dogs can respond well to behavior modification protocols that were...
By Micaela Frank, CDBC, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTPCase Study: Luna — Reactivity to Other Dogs Part 2
Summary: A case of dog-dog reactivity in an energetic older dog, is made more complicated by the client’s specific situation and set of needs, and then turns into human-directed aggression as their living situation becomes more stressful. Working within Luna’s...
By Jen Gumas, CDBC, CPDT-KA, CBATIBang! Boom! Developing Training Plans for Dogs with Noise Aversion
Summary: Developing an effective training plan for dogs suffering from noise aversion is complicated by the co-morbidity of other behavior challenges, the inherent unpredictability of the stimulus, and the tendency of clients to minimize their dog’s distress....
By Rachel Lane, CPDT-KAUsing Innate Stress Coping Styles to Inform Behavior Management Strategies
Summary: Individual animals cope with stress in different ways. This article looks at neurobiological models for different styles of coping with stress, and how understanding an individual’s stress coping style could factor into the development of a behavioral...
By Gavin FraserIssue 24 | October 2022 — Dog
Who Keeps the Dog? Divorce Advice from a Pet Custody Expert
Anyone who works with family pets is likely to end up with clients in the heartbreaking situation of getting a divorce and needing to decide who keeps the dog. For those of you who have had this experience already, or will in the future, this article is designed to...
By Karis Bryen, CDBC, Accredited Family Law MediatorContinuing the Virtual Classroom at SPCA Monterey County
In November 2020, the IAABC Foundation Journal published our article on switching to online dog training classes due to COVID. We wanted to present a follow-up article to show the progress of our program and some of our observations. Client stats Clients have enjoyed...
By Wendi Newman and Bonnie LogueCase Study: Luna — Reactivity to Other Dogs Part 1
Summary: A case of dog-dog reactivity in an energetic older dog, is made more complicated by the client’s specific situation and set of needs, and then turns into human-directed aggression as their living situation becomes more stressful. Working within...
By Jen Gumas, CDBC, CPDT-KA, CBATIWorking with Shy Dogs in a Class Setting
Summary: Not all shy dogs need one-on-one work, and not all caregivers are capable of finding that environment. A class for shy dogs can work, if the environment is properly set up and a skeleton lesson plan is thoughtfully prepared. This article gives some tips and...
By Alicia L. Harantschuk, CPDT-KA, CDBC, ADTIssue 23 | June 2022 — Dog
The Importance of Consent Behaviors for Veterinary Procedures
Summary: Visiting the veterinarian is likely to be among the most stressful things a dog is regularly asked to do. With stress comes risk, not only of aggression towards staff and caregivers, but also of developing behaviors related to trauma. This article is an...
By Natalie Rogers, PhDIssue 22 | February 2022 — Dog
All the Worst Puppy Problems: Housetraining Hang-Ups
Summary: Housetraining is often one of the first encounters a new dog guardian will have with the realities of animal training. It can also be one of the more stressful. This article explores and offers insights about how a behavior consultant might successfully...
By Jess Erace LVT CPDT-KA CTDIIssue 21 | December 2021 — Dog
Pushing ALL My Buttons: Dogs Using Communication Buttons
Summary: Communication buttons are becoming popular among dog trainers, especially on social media. This article looks at what these buttons can be successfully used for, and where they might be less useful. It focuses on one story of how the author’s clients...
By Elizabeth H. "Kizz" Robinson, CDBC, CPDT-KADoes Clicker Training Lead to Faster Acquisition of Behavior for Dog Owners? It Depends on the Behavior
Summary: A report on a research study conducted into the relative efficacy of using a clicker paired with a food reward, compared to using food alone. The hypothesis was that the clicker would lead to faster acquisition and that this would be more pronounced on a...
By Brian Burton CDBCIssue 20 | September 2021 — Dog
Building Resilience Through Rapport with Recovery Markers
Summary: Behavior professionals and their clients can help animals recover more quickly after a stressful or startling event with intentionally trained “recovery markers.” These cues communicate to an animal that something they find unpleasant, like a...
By Jess Erace LVT CPDT-KA CTDIApplying a Social Justice and Trauma-informed Lens to Animal Welfare Considerations
Summary: A deeper understanding of the role of trauma, and the way that experiences of marginalization contribute to trauma, has lead to some paradigmatic shifts in human psychology. Trauma-informed thinking and social justice principles can also inform the way we...
By Heather White, LMSWDeaf dogs: A Unique Communication
Summary: Training deaf dogs can be accomplished with the use of gestures and some creativity. Hand signals as well as facial gestures can be successfully used to train a deaf dog. This article showcases a variety of cued behaviors displayed by a deaf Dalmatian, using...
By Carolina JardimIssue 19 | May 2021 — Dog
Creating a Just and Joyful World for Dogs
Summary: Framing debates about how we should relate to companion animals as “rights vs welfare” is misleading and potentially harmful. Far from being the sole territory of abolitionists, many working behavior consultants today are using concepts that come...
By Tiro Miller PhDWhat Can “Streeties” Teach Us About Companion Dogs?
Summary: For most of human history, and indeed in much of the world today, dogs are not subjected to anywhere near as much restriction of movement as they are in the global North. This article argues that looking at how free-roaming dogs lie now, as well as how...
By Erin Jones, MSPuppy Pandemic – Facing Socialization Challenges Amidst COVID-19
Summary: What’s the one thing we couldn’t do during lockdown? Socialize. What’s the single most important thing a new puppy needs to do? Socialize! COVID-19 brought some unique challenges for people bringing home new puppies, many of whom were...
By Jenna HallIssue 18 | February 2021 — Dog
Defining and Refining the “Cortisol Vacation”
Summary: There’s no clear evidence that dogs need a “cortisol vacation” of 24-72 hours. The existing scientific literature does point to high cortisol levels impacting learning and stress, but the way that stress is processed by a dog’s body is...
By Luisa DeptaWorking With Dogs and Children
Summary: Working with clients’ children as well as their dogs introduces an additional level of challenge. Involving children in a dog’s behavior intervention can be beneficial for both, but comes with risks. Understanding more about the developmental...
By Mel Ritterman“Til Death Do Us Part”: The Realities of COVID-19 and Your Dog
In April of this year, my sister died during the COVID-19 pandemic. The four of us sisters had a pact, and typically we coffee klatsched by conference call on weekend mornings from different parts of the country. We would belly laugh at the zaniest things –...
By Camille KingMaking the Switch to Online Dog Training Classes
Our County of Monterey, California went into shelter in place on March 17, 2020, and we had no choice but to cancel all classes and refund clients any money for remaining classes. Our once-robust training and behavior program was at a crossroads. I have worked for my...
By Wendi NewmanLessons from my Dogs: Reflections on Animal Rights and Dog Training
Summary: Critical self-reflection is an important part of being an ethical and effective animal behavior consultant. Animal rights is one framework for thinking about the practice of animal training and behavior modification, and noticing how what we do expresses what...
By Dr. Andrea V. BreenIssue 17 | November 2020 — Dog
A Different and Artistic Angle on the Intellect of Dogs
However well you navigate the endless rabbit hole of social media, you’ll no doubt notice that pet photography in all its forms has blossomed there. Pet selfies, pet portraits, funny moments, model pup poses, and all the loving candid moments in between — our pets...
By Maya Friedberg, VSA-CDTThe Importance of Collaboration and Mentoring in Dog Training
I am new to the dog training world. I, like many of us in this industry, have always had a passion for dogs and how they learn. As a certified dog trainer, however, I am new. This is not my first career, which definitely affects my perspective on this issue. My first...
By Dawn JacquesUsing Dog Training Tools for Myself During a Pandemic
It’s 10 p.m. on a Sunday night. I’m out on our block in Brooklyn with my dog, Eddie, for a final pee before bed. The fireworks started a few moments after we got to the sidewalk. They’re farther away than they were the night before but the booms are big and coming at...
By Elizabeth H. "Kizz" Robinson, CDBC, CPDT-KAWhy Animals Need Trainers Who Adhere to the Least Intrusive Principle: Improving Animal Welfare and Honing Trainers’ Skills
A typical debate about negative reinforcement is something like a train wreck — you don’t want to stare but you can’t look away. Some trainers argue negative reinforcement has a place in animal training; others say it does not. With some recent interest in the animal...
By Susan G. Friedman, Ph. D.Creating a Better Law to Protect People From Potentially Dangerous Dogs
In 1993, all dogs with a pit bull-like appearance were banned overnight in the Netherlands by a law called the “pitbullwet.” In 2009, the law was repealed, and since then the Dutch government has been faced with a dilemma: How to maintain the public’s feeling of...
By Wendy Las van BennekomResearch Report: Dog-Dog Aggression in the Household
Canine housemate aggression is a serious behavior problem in many dog households. Accurate reporting of the incidence of housemate aggression is challenging. Few owners report fights between housemates to the veterinarian. Presentation for bite wound care is often the...
By Sally Foote, DVMSeparation-Related Problems: Anxiety Is Not the Only Cause
Separation anxiety (SA) is the term commonly used to describe the collection of behaviors exhibited by a dog who is significantly distressed when left alone. It is one of the most well-studied behavioral disorders in dogs, and yet there is still no consensus of...
By Sharon Carroll CDBC, CHBCIssue 16 | July 2020 — Dog
Case Study: “Remy” – Aversion to Towels
Case information: Name: Remy Age: Approximately 7 years old Breed: Texas heeler (Australian cattle dog/border collie/Australian shepherd mix) Sex: Female, spayed History Presenting complaint: Human-directed aggression while being toweled off. Acquired from and age at...
By Lauren RubinShould Play Be Part of a Puppy Kindergarten Class?
Early puppy socialization classes can have the most beneficial effect on the future success of a dog’s life. Good classes teach owners how to better understand their puppy, while introducing the puppy during their most critical learning period to all the things they...
By Shelley DoanWhen Academic Life Meets Dog Life
Having a desire for balance between life and work is something that most people can easily relate to. Being in academics can be challenging in and of itself. Add in work and your own dogs, and it can feel pretty daunting at times. This is my story as a PhD candidate,...
By Erin Jones, MSc., CPDT-KA, CDBCBehind the Scenes with Chaser, the “World’s Smartest Dog”
In a world where human beings claim to be the superior thinking creature, some of us are convinced that dogs, our lifetime partners, possess cognitive capabilities far more sophisticated than we ever imagined, abilities that we, for thousands of years underestimated....
By Pierinna Isis TenchioIssue 15 | April 2020 — Dog
The Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Dog Behaviour
Environmental enrichment (EE) is a technique designed to enhance the quality of life of captive and domestic animals, by providing environmental stimuli to promote psychological and physiological well-being (Kogan et al., 2012; Tarou and Bashaw, 2007). In dogs, EE can...
By Rebecca Hunt and Dr Helen Vaterlaws-WhitesideHow to talk about….
Everyone has different strengths in how they communicate with clients, and one way to approach a situation won’t work for everyone. In our “How to Talk About…” series, IAABC members talk about the strategies they use to approach tricky situations in their behavior...
[SPONSORED] BabelBark’s BizBark Program: An Integrated Approach to Solving Canine Behavior Problems
Canine training and behavior problems don’t always come with a single, easy answer. These are frequently complex issues that can be impacted by a number of things. Genetics, health, diet, exercise, and the environment, for example, can positively and negatively...
By Erica Boling, PhDWorking from a Distance: Online and Remote Consults
My animal training and behavior clients are often surprised to hear that I’ll be working with them from my home in Puerto Rico. At first this might seem like a complicated proposition. However, the more I’ve worked remotely the easier, smoother, and more comfortable...
By Terrie Hayward, MEd, CDBCA Spoonful of Sugar: The Trials and Tribulations of Medicating Your Pet
“Give one and a half tablets twice daily for 2 weeks” I’ve lost count of the number of times I have said this to my clients across my consult room table and simply moved on to see my next patient, thinking no more of it. Well, the boot was recently on the other foot,...
By Judy Puddifoot, MRCVSSkateboarding, or, What I Learned from the Chickens
It was December of 1999. A few of us were sitting around complaining about how hard it was to get our students to let go of food – luring. Someone came up with the idea that we might introduce skateboard training, since it would be very hard to train that...
By Dani Weinberg, PhDIssue 14 | January 2020 — Dog
Managing Canine Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease commonly seen in pet dogs. It has been found that 80% of dogs over the age of 8, and 20% of dogs over the age of 1 have osteoarthritis to some degree, with complications of arthritis being one of the leading causes of euthanasia in...
By Rebecca Barr, BVMS MRCVS MScCueing our Learners: Giving Feedback in Dog Training Classes
Dog trainers and behavior consultants tend to spend a lot of time helping our learners – the clients, not their dogs – develop new skills to help manage their canines. Yet early in my career I had observed that the majority of our professional development tends to be...
By Helen Prinold, M.Sc, CDBCEvery Tale Tells a Story
Winner of the 2019 Rebecca Park Scholarship It is my slogan to help people understand animals mindfully and sympathise with their needs and feelings based on scientific knowledge. Our companion animals have their own needs and feelings. All animals are unique and...
By June KimUsing Mat Work Training in Behavior Modification
The concept of mat work or place training is nothing new in dog training. However, it remains one of my favorite behaviors to teach because it is very useful for pet owners and extremely versatile in behavior modification work. This involves teaching a dog to go to a...
By Sarah Dixon, CDBCIssue 13 | October 2019 — Dog
Funda Nenja: A One Welfare approach to human and animal welfare in South Africa
Their name intrigued me. Funda Nenja translates to “Learning with a dog” in isiZulu. Their mission inspired me: “Our aim is to improve the quality of life for both township children and their dogs. The concept of ‘learning with a dog’ incorporates animal welfare and...
By Melissa YankDanger at the Door
City life is not easy for all dogs. For the outgoing canine “extrovert” it’s a walk in the park — new friends and adventures around every corner. For the more reserved or fearful dogs, however, it can be a nightmare. One of the unique challenges for dogs in...
By Sarah Dixon, CDBCIn a Human World: Consent, Autonomy, and the Emotional Wellness of Companion Dogs
The human-dog interspecies relationship is unique: dogs and humans have evolved alongside one another, sharing the same environmental niche for thousands of years. Dogs have the ability to interpret our slightest gestures, read our facial expressions, and respond to...
By Erin Jones, MSCooperative Care for Canine Cataracts
Bilateral cataracts are a condition that many dogs face as they age. While most do not see a reduction in their quality of life, this was not the case for Jeter, a 9-year-old terrier mix. After observing that he had low contrast sensitivity causing him to walk into...
By Tori Ganino, CDBC, CPDT-KAIssue 12 | July 2019 — Dog
Sit Does Not Mean Sit: Giving Puppies a Voice with Mand Behaviors
Puppies are not tiny dogs. While they are subject to all the same rules of learning theory, they are neurologically wired differently than adult dogs, and also have different physical abilities (Fox, 1964; Gross et al., 2010; Mychasiuk et al., 2012). My use of the,...
By Jane Messineo LindquistCase Studies: Creating the Cooperative Canine for Veterinary Care
As a licensed veterinary technician by trade, training cooperative veterinary care is a practice that is near and dear to my heart. I have worked in environments where animals have been restrained against their will, and admittedly have even participated in this...
By Jessica FritschiTime Management Skills for Teaching Group Dog Training Classes
Running a group dog training class is an inherently different challenge than working individually with owners and their dogs. The behaviors you teach may of course be very different, but there are also the management questions. What sequence of behaviors will you...
By Adria Karlsson, CDBCA Personal History of Dog Training
I would like to introduce myself so that you can better understand the basis of this article. I became a professional dog trainer by 1961, at the age of 15. Prior to that I had studied dog training as best as one could in those days. I learned by training my own and...
By Susan BulandaIssue 11 | April 2019 — Dog
The Most Successful Case I Ever Lost
We are teacher and trainers. We are also learners. Our animal clients have lessons for us, it seems, each time we meet. When is it time to observe? When is it time to step back, adjust our plan? When do we push forward? We are familiar with these lessons, we trainers...
By Michael Baugh, CDBCBreed Differences in Canine Behavior Are Heritable. Why the Fuss?
On January 1, a research article titled “Highly Heritable and Functionally Relevant Breed Differences in Dog Behavior” became publicly available as a preprint. The authors were Evan MacLean (University of Arizona), Noah Snyder-Mackler (University of Washington),...
By Robin L. Foster, PhDShaping Service Dogs to Overcome Fear of Unknown Surfaces
A central tenet of service dog training is fostering non-reactivity to various stimuli to ensure a resilient and reliable service dog for the client. Service dogs should remain relatively unfazed by dogs passing by, people talking to them, and other types of...
By Matthias LenzUnder Pressure: How Interspecific Synchrony Mediated by Spatial Pressure can Make or Break a Detection Team
Recently one of my scent class students, I’ll call her June, got me thinking a lot about pressure. This article on the application of spatial pressure, whether intentional or inadvertent, and how it affects dog behavior in the context of scent detection tasks is the...
By Kathryn E. GordonThere’s No Scientific Reason to Believe Littermate Syndrome Exists
Searching Google Scholar for “littermate syndrome” + “canines” yields no relevant results. If the scientific community is silent on the issue of “littermate syndrome,” why do behavior consultants keep preaching about it? I started to think more critically about...
By Kayla Fratt, CDBCCooperative Care: The How and the Why
Cooperative care involves training an animal to not only tolerate handling and husbandry procedures, but to be an active, willing participant in these experiences. In this column, we highlight some useful behaviors to teach clients to facilitate cooperative care, and...
Directional Control: Not Just for Working Dogs
Moses leaps into action, darting across the field and vaulting onto a platform located 25 yards away. Happily holding there, he waits for the next cue, then runs to the next target. A total stranger is directing him while I stand out of the picture. I spent two...
By Robin GruebelIssue 10 | February 2019 — Dog
Helping Dogs in High-Rise Living Situations: Beyond Skills Training
For the past decade, I have been training dogs in Chicago’s busy South Loop and the surrounding neighborhoods. Year after year, it seems like the city is growing—new construction, a larger population, and more dogs—all of which makes life increasingly tough for dogs...
By Judit ArroyoThe Relationship Between Feeding Routines of Dog Owners in the U.K. and Food-related Problem Behaviours in Dogs
Control over a dog’s diet and feeding routine is at the discretion and choice of the owner. There are many contributing factors and influences that will determine what, how, where, and when food is given to their pet. These include busy work schedules, other members...
By Kate Livesey and Stella Chapman, DVMWhat Can Street Dogs Teach Us About Socialization?
There are certain truths we all hold as self-evident. One is that basic training is essential for all dogs. A dog whose behavior is “civilized” is able to be a fully participating member of the family. Further, if a dog develops a behavior problem, the foundation of...
By Gail FisherWhat We Need to Learn About Missing Dogs
The Missing Animal Response Network is an international network of lost-pet recovery specialists (volunteers and professionals) who are interested in learning as much as we can about the behavioral patterns of lost pets. The foundation for our missing animal response...
By Kat Albrecht & IAABC Editing TeamFrom Foes to Friends: Using Positive Reinforcement to Teach a Cat and Dog to Happily Coexist
Background Si is an approximately 6-year-old domestic short haired tabby cat. He was found as a stray when he was about a year old. At the time, our home consisted of two dogs and two other cats. Si instantly snuggled with the cats but would only observe the dogs from...
By Tori Ganino, CDBC, CPDT-KAIssue 9 | October 2018 — Dog
Through Thick and Thin: Caring For and Training Companion Dogs with Disabilities
The relationship between companion dogs and their humans can be a deep and mutually supportive one. Our dogs give us so much: joy with their company, laughter at their antics, comfort by their presence. Yet sometimes we do not have the specialized knowledge and skills...
By Nee Kang, PhD, Jeffrey Lee, PhD, & Nan Arthur, CDBCGlucocorticoids, Stress, and Behavior Consulting
As behavior consultants, we often focus on classical conditioning and the four quadrants of operant learning, but there’s so much more to consider. We don’t necessarily think about what’s happening internally—especially beyond an animal’s immediate...
By Kayla Fratt and Jackie MaffucciFacilitating Client Compliance Using the Strategy of Comparisons of Dog to Child Behavior
Enlisting compliance and follow-up contact from veterinary behavior clients for behavior modification, with or without medical treatment, has often been tricky. Researchers (Lindsay, Posage, and Engel, 2002; Posage et. al, 2002) found that good compliance was likely...
By Joan M. Engel PhD, CDBCCaring for Dogs with Advanced Dementia
Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans; it is a “progressive age-related neurodegenerative condition that affects cognitive function”. The disease, both in dogs and in humans, affects many parts of the way an individual thinks,...
By Melissa McMath Hatfield MS, CBCC-KA, CDBC & Sara Bartlett, MSW, LCSW, C-ASWCMSpotlight on Research: Dr. Tammie King
Dr. Tammie King works at the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition in the U.K., the fundamental science centre for Mars Petcare that is engaged in a variety of behavior-related projects, in addition to conducting research on pet health and nutrition. Tammie has published...
By IAABC Editing TeamIssue 8 | July 2018 — Dog
Online Behavior Advice: Help or Harm?
I founded the “Dog Training 101 Community Forum” on Facebook late in 2010. At the time, I was exhausted from working in rescue—having volunteered doing adoptions, transport, and even starting a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. With 10 “Godpuppies”, I knew I couldn’t...
By Caitlin Coberly, PhDLiterature Review: Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
Just like their human caretakers, pet dogs are reaping the benefits of medical advancements and are living longer than ever before (Katina et al., 2016; McGreevy & Bennett, 2010). While a longer lifespan is viewed as a positive by most owners, a dog’s golden years...
By Sarah Fraser CDBC, KPA-CTP, CPDT-KAWhen do you Fire a Client?
As a behavior consultant, there will likely come a time when it becomes obvious to you that a client is no longer the right fit to be working with you. This may be because of scheduling conflicts, cooperation of the owner, an irreconcilable difference in goals, or...
By Adria Karlsson, MAT, EdS, CDBCIssue 7 | April 2018 — Dog
Literature Review: Behavior Modification for Canine Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety (SA) and separation-related behavior (SRB) are significant welfare concerns for companion dogs (Cannas et al., 2014; Lund & Jorgensen, 1999). SA has been shown to be associated with negative affective states (Scaglia et al., 2013), raise...
By Brian J. BurtonReinforcing Change
“All done!” I cried. Amid applause and cheering, the retired police sergeant hopped up from his position prostrate on the folding table. We had accomplished our crowd-sourced training goal—using a clicker, I had shaped him to lie face down on this rickety table for...
By Ashby CoganEmbracing Anthropomorphism
As any animal behavior consultant can attest, one of the greatest challenges we face is dissuading owners from anthropomorphizing their pet’s behavior. In many respects, anthropomorphism is the proverbial gorilla in the room: It’s taboo, highly controversial, and most...
By Karen Fazio, CDBCIssue 6 | February 2018 — Dog
The Cognitive Revolution and Everyday Dog Training: Cognitively Modified Counterconditioning™
“If you love dogs and haven’t yet heard about the canine ‘cognitive revolution,’ you’ve been living in a bubble.” This is how I began my article, “The Cognitive Revolution and Everyday Dog Training: The Case of ‘Look at That’,” which explores how recent research on...
By Laura Donaldson, PhD, CDBC, KPA-CTPRiggins and Wallace – A Tale of Two Pitties
Background My intake form is pretty basic. I use it primarily for triage. Is the dog being an unruly adolescent in an adult-only home, or do we have a just-turned-adult snapping at toddlers? This intake rose to the top, not because there was imminent danger, but...
By Erika Lessa, CDBC, CPDT-KAIssue 5 | October 2017 — Dog
Three Leash Reactive Dog Cases
The way a behavior consultant approaches a case is dependent on their education and background. As an applied behavior analyst, I approach my work as a behavior consultant with a bias toward that science. I want to understand the antecedent-behavior-consequence...
By Adria Karlsson, CDBCPublic Safety First: Discussions with Animal Control Officers on Dangerous Dogs in the Community
Animal Control Officers (ACOs), first responders in dangerous dog situations, have a difficult role in maintaining safety in the community. The Colorado statute defines a “dangerous dog” as one that has Inflicted bodily or serious bodily injury upon or has...
By Camille King, EdD, RN, ACAAB, CDBCIssue 4 | July 2017 — Dog
The Cognitive Revolution and Everyday Dog Training: The Case of “Look at That”
If you love dogs and haven’t yet heard about the canine “cognitive revolution,” you’ve been living in a bubble. Sara Shettleworth broadly defines cognition as “an array of mechanisms by which animals acquire, process, store, and act on input (information) from the...
By Laura Donaldson, PhD, CDBC, KPA-CTPTraining Bite Inhibition in the Dark
The idea that, through certain socialization protocols, we can train a dog as a youngster to inhibit its bite as an adult is the foundation for many aspects of living with dogs: When we choose to take puppies from their mother, how we socialize them the first 16...
By Kama Brown, CPDT-KAWhy Is My Dog This Way, Does It Matter If We Know, and What Can We Do?
As we all know, clients almost always want to know why their dogs are having problems. Many hasten to blame themselves (often citing certain TV shows and their failure to be good pack leaders). Many have focused on a single event from which they are sure the problem...
By Greta KaplanIssue 3 | April 2017 — Dog
Lives of Streeties: A study on the activity budget of free-ranging dogs
Lives of Streeties is an ongoing study that I am conducting on the street dogs of Bangalore, India. Streeties is a term of endearment that Bangaloreans use to refer to the dogs that roam free on the streets of the city. I spent most of 2015 flying back and forth from...
By Sindhoor PangalGood Intentions Are Not Always Enough
I sat on the grassy hillside near a field, running the leash through my hands, trying to catch my breath in the fresh air. Feeling alone, frustrated, and lost, I had attempted unsuccessfully to run away from the hurt until my legs gave out and my heart pounded in my...
By Aubrey WilliamsAttachment Scales as a Tool for Behavior Consultants
Human-dog interactions have many of the same components of human-human interactions: They amount to a relationship based on trust with mutual physical, psychological, and social benefits. The history-taking part of a consultation isn’t just about finding out what the...
By Melissa McMath HatfieldThe Importance of Tracking Changes in Dog Behaviour
Over the many years of dog ownership, I have developed an extensive system of tracking behaviours in an effort to monitor progress (or the lack thereof) in the various interventions I try with my dogs. My background as a social worker encouraged this, as I’ve used...
By Blanche AxtonObesity in Dogs
Oh, how I dread the sight of an obese dog. I feel bad for the dog and have the usual quick scroll of all the medical complications run through my head, but I also wince in anticipation of the upcoming discussion with the client about their dog’s weight. The range of...
By Jess ElliottMultisensory Enrichment for Shelter Dogs
I have worked in the animal industry for over 18 years. I currently work at the Arizona Humane Society, where my original title was canine welfare specialist. My role is to provide mental and physical stimulation to the dogs in our care. We get a lot of medically...
By Mik MoellerCase Study: Cat Attacking Dog
Case information Cat’s name: Smudge Breed: Siamese/ Domestic Shorthair mix Sex: Neutered male Age: 7 years Other animals in home: 13-year-old spayed female Pomeranian dog named Bee History Smudge was found by his owner in a box full of kittens of mixed ages, which had...
By Emily StrongIssue 2 | January 2017 — Dog
A Circle of Friends Makes the Difference for Chiquita: A Video Case Study
Chiquita was living with two other under-socialized dogs in the previous home. Their owner was starting cancer treatment, and could no longer care for all three dogs. We ended up getting Chiquita and Ramon both surrendered to us. All dogs were fearful when we met...
By the Humane Society of Silicon ValleyCase Study: Raisin
Case Information Dog’s name: Raisin Sex: Spayed female Age: 1 year Breed: Terrier mix Other people involved: Cindy Lowrey, Megan Hewes, Sylvia Brink, Collin Stevens, and various volunteers. Location Animal shelters in Jacksonville, Florida. To help the community and...
By Amy SchindlerCase Study: Linda and Joe – Part Two
Case information Client’s name: Linda Dog’s name: Joe Breed: Dutch Shepherd Age: 3 years Additional animals in household: Two dogs The first part of this case study, covering Joe’s initial presentation, background, and history was presented in the June 2016 issue of...
By Renee HallDrama-free DRA for Barking
A dog barking and charging at the front door is by no means a new or unexplained phenomenon. Many of them do it with encouragement from their owners as “protectors,” and some breeds were specifically bred to be guard dogs. However, as a behavior consultant living in a...
By Adria Karlsson CDBCBest Practices in Husbandry and Handling
It has been a very busy and exciting time since the inaugural journal issue. Video submissions have been pouring into my email from talented trainers and veterinary professionals from around the world. Inspiring stories enhance each video, documenting the journey of...
By Laura Monaco Torelli — Husbandry Content EditorThe Ethics of Medicating Dogs with Behavior Issues in a Shelter Setting
Each year, millions of pets are surrendered to humane societies, county pounds, and private rescue groups. While a survey of the research shows broad variation nationally, it is fairly well accepted that somewhere between three and four million dogs per year are...
By Susan CullinanWhy Do We Train Sit? Should We Reconsider Its Relevance?
As far as I can tell, training a dog to sit originated in regulations formed for competition obedience around the 1920s. Before then, dogs were primarily used for sporting and herding, or were shown in conformation trials, and a sit was not often trained. Unlike our...
By Kama BrownService Dogs: Ethics and Education Part Two—Certification, or Common Sense?
This is the second part of Barbara Handelman’s series on the ethical issues around service dogs, which started in our Spring 2016 edition. A persistent myth exists that service dogs have been granted rights to access places where pets are not allowed. No government...
By Barbara HandelmanSit Means Play!
It was a second training session with an adorable Labradoodle puppy and his family. He lay patiently at their side while we began talking through solving the issues that come with bringing a young, energetic companion into their home, one with sharp teeth and an...
By Lisa DesatnikPanic and Pain as Complications of the Cat-Dog Relationship
You have—or your client has—a dog who is completely non-reactive to the household cats; in fact, she may even appear to love them. She might engage in mutual grooming and cuddling, and not mind the occasional cat-slap when she tries to sniff a butt. Does this mean...
By Jessica ElliottCase Study: Dog-directed Food Aggression
Dog’s Name: Benji Breed: Collie mix Sex: Neutered male Age: 3 years Other animals in the home: None Background A three-year-old neutered collie mix dog had recently aggressed to a level three bite onto two other dogs while in a home boarding facility. The family also...
By Sally FooteCanine Neurobics: A Curriculum to Improve Brain Health
Canine problem behavior can stem from issues related to anxiety, impulse control, and boredom. Applied animal behaviorists often prescribe mental stimulation exercises for dogs to treat some of these problems. A unique way to provide this level of treatment is...
By Camille KingHuman Centered Design as a Framework for Successful Canine Treatment Plan Implementation
As the applied animal behavior profession continues to grow and innovate, how can human-centered design methodologies be applied to increase the implementation of successful canine treatment plans? In the following article, I will show how the tenets of design...
By Luisa RugeCompliance and Manipulation in the Dog Training World
As behavior consultants, we know that it’s important that our clients get on board with the plans we make, and follow through with what we’re trying to teach them. Usually, we can’t teach their dog everything we’d like him to learn ourselves, so our job is to make...
By Nan ArthurIssue 1 | September 2016 — Dog
Case Study: Linda and Joe
Case Information Client name: Linda Dog’s name: Joe Breed: Dutch Shepherd Age: 3 years Additional animals in household: 2 dogs Background The client is a friend of mine, and the attack happened to me during a training session. There were no prior incidents of...
By Renee Hall, CDBCWorld Within a World – Changing Lives
Every Monday morning, when I enter the correctional facility, walk through the metal detector, scanner, and guardroom, put on a body alarm and walk across the yard where hundreds of felons comingle, I ask myself “What am I doing here, and why do I continue to serve...
By Heddie LegerThe Perils of Placing Marginal Dogs
(Originally published in Sheltering Magazine, 2003) Rosie was a loving, beautiful dog with doting owners, but in the end, her predatory instinct made her too dangerous for human society. Her attack on another dog was the last straw for her owners, who vowed never to...
By Trish McMillan LoehrBest Practices in Husbandry and Handling
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words. I’ll add that video is worth a million. As professional trainers, we offer our services in a time where modern technology can be our best friend. A baseline video here, a quick video of us working with our...
By Laura Monaco TorelliService Dogs: Ethics and Education
Most Americans are familiar with the presence of service animals.[1] From the standard-bearer guide dog for the blind to the much photographed but rare service mini-horse, their stories are more and more visible. Sometimes we tell those stories in order to laud an...
By Barbara HandelmanIssue 27 | June 2016 — Dog
Helping Dogs and Their People Be More Active, Together!
Summary: Exercise is important for dogs and humans, but the research on this topic can be confusing and seem contradictory. This article reviews the benefits of physical activity for dogs and humans, gives an overview of some of the most common challenges to...
By Dr. Jenny Bond, PhDUnrealistic Breed Expectations: Approaching Breed-Based Conversations with Clients amid Paradigm Shifts
Summary: The effect a dog’s breed has on their behavior is partially determined by their genes, partially by their early puppyhood environment, and partially by their owner’s expectations of how a dog with that breed label is “supposed” to act....
By Samantha Robinson-AdamsMentoring in Animal Behavior — What Makes a Successful Mentor-Mentee Relationship?
Over the years that I have been running Wagging School I have taken on instructors to assist me, and have taught them science-based principles along with my particular take on applying training methods to real world problems. Accordingly, while I love dogs and want to...
By Kaye HargreavesFormal Assessment Tools for Dog Behavior Consultants
Summary: A review of formal and semiformal tools that have been developed to quantify and assess dog behaviors. Some have been validated by academic research, others have not been studied formally, but are in regular use in shelters. Pros and cons are listed for each...
By Elisheba Fay