What most trainers tend to call “obedience” training, I prefer to think of as cooperability instead. Cooperability is kind of a weird word, and one that I don’t really hear used in the context of dog and cat training, so let’s dig into it a bit. Cooperability is defined as the “quality or state of …
Dominance and submission, as it pertains to dog training, is a concept that dates back to the 40’s and seems to have really taken off in popular culture during the heyday of certain popular dog training shows on TV. Somehow, this dominance and submission paradigm still holds sway over the minds of many people who …
What is Enrichment? The concept of enrichment first arose as a method to help make the lives of captive animals more like what they would normally experience in nature. So, for example, animals that would normally forage for their food would have their meals hidden around their enclosures in areas that would be similar to …
What is Enrichment and How is it Useful in Training? Read More »
Play is an essential part of an animal’s learning process. By learning through play, young animals get a feel for their body and what they’re capable of. They also learn social skills through play—such as how to appropriately set boundaries for themselves and respect the boundaries of others. Play is also something that many animals …
Since the weather is warming up and more pets are spending extra time outside—and since I just recently found a lost dog roaming my neighborhood streets—I figured that it might be good to discuss what to do if you lose a pet. A lot of this will be about preparation. Of course, nobody plans on …
Training your dog is a must! Not only is it an important way to teach them about your expectations and boundaries so that they behave appropriately, but it’s also a great way to provide them with enjoyable stimulation and build a bond with them—provided that you do it properly. Know Your Dog Step one before …
Luring is an essential technique when training dogs and cats. It’s deceptively simple and is exactly what it sounds like it would be, but getting good at it can really take your training up a notch! So luring a dog or cat is pretty much just like luring a fish when fishing. We put out …
Cats can be picky about their bathroom options—and rightfully so! Unsatisfactory litter box conditions can lead to problematic behaviors; following these cat litter box basics when setting up your cats’ bathroom areas that can help you avoid litter box problems. But first, if your cat (or any other pet, really) has had a sudden change …
There are many things that can lead to behavioral problems in cats—stress, anxiety, boredom, etc. But there are a few behavioral changes that may suggest that something is happening to your cat internally, and these should be taken very seriously. You should always have good baseline measurements of your cat’s day-to-day behaviors so that you’ll …
Behavioral Problems In Cats That May Suggest Medical Issues Read More »
Alright, so our animal can do some certain behavior. Let’s say it’s “sit”, for simplicity’s sake. We can get our animal to sit on cue when we’re at home with them. But what comes after a solid, reliable “sit”? That’s where proofing behaviors comes in to make it reliable in everyday types of situations. And …