Randi-Dog trainer/ Behaviour Consultant/ Personalized Dog Walker

09/05/2025

09/05/2025

Controversial? Yes! Don't forget to go read this week's article.

"If you’ve ever watched a dog training show, flipped through an old book, or scrolled on social media, chances are you’ve heard the advice that you need to be the pack leader or alpha in your relationship with your dog. The idea is simple: dogs descend from wolves, wolves live in packs, and packs are run by a dominant leader. Logic states, if you want a well-behaved dog, you need to take charge, right? Not exactly. Modern science tells us a very different story about both wolves and dogs, and it turns out that the pack leader idea is more myth than fact; actually, it’s mostly myth."

09/04/2025

09/04/2025

09/02/2025

I NEED TO FEEL SAFE!

Like all living creatures, ourselves included, dogs need to feel safe – it’s a basic need for survival.

It’s hard wired into our brains to keep asking and checking – “Am I safe?” or “Is this safe?”

When we think about feeling safe it’s natural to just think about not being harmed or being in danger, but it’s not just about physical safety - feeling emotionally or psychologically safe is just as important.

While physical safety may be obvious and simpler to address, emotional safety is far more complex and not always easy to recognise or identify.

The same applies to our dogs – they are sentient beings whose behaviour is triggered and driven by emotions.

So many behaviour problems that we see in dogs stem from the brain saying– “I don’t feel safe!”

A dog that lunges and barks or behaves aggressively with another dog or person is very likely doing so because they feel unsafe. They are trying to make the scary thing go away.

A dog that is guarding resources is doing so because they are afraid that the resource will be taken away – they don’t feel safe when another animal or person approaches that resource.

A dog that is reacting to fireworks or thunderstorms or other noises is doing so because they don’t feel safe.

The same can be said for separation distress – the feeling of intense panic when left alone – “I am not safe!”

Some dogs may never get over a specific fear, but doing all we can to help dogs feel safe in our world is one of the most important gifts we can give them.

Our first responsibility should not be about training, obedience or trying to change behaviour, but to focus first and foremost on building trust, self-confidence, resilience, creating a safe and secure base and being the person that our dogs can rely on and trust.

In the words of Dr. Gabor Maté - "Feeling safe is the treatment and creating safety is the work".

In my words (as it pertains to dogs) – It is our responsibility to put in the work to enable our dogs to feel safe and when they feel safe, this will be part of the treatment or the solution to the problem.

09/01/2025

If people are telling you they are an animal behaviourist then they better have the proof to back it up. Please read below for actual credentials.

Your welcome.

What are Applied Animal Behaviorists?
An applied animal behaviorist is a person with advanced college education (MS, MA, or PhD degree) and expertise in dog, cat, and other domestic animal behavior. Some Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAABs) are veterinarians who complete a residency in animal behavior after graduating from veterinary school. These individuals have a title that includes DVM. CAABs study animal behavior, biology, zoology, psychology, and learning theory, so they have lots of scientific, research, and medical knowledge. These highly educated individuals are an exclusive group that has a firm grasp on the normal behavior of animals, which helps them recognize the abnormal.

CAABs are kind of like pet psychologists. They teach the pet owner why the behavior is happening and make specific recommendations on how to change it. They are experts in behavior modification and know what techniques to employ to change undesirable behaviors. CAABs are also teachers; they can effectively counsel pet owners and educate pet owners on how to understand their pet’s behavior prior to changing it.

Moreover, they can possibly identify potential medical causes of abnormal behavior and know the medications that will enhance behavior modification. Depending on laws where you live, CAABs may be able to recommend or prescribe drugs that address emotional issues such as separation anxiety, phobias, and compulsive behaviors. However, CAABs do not treat physical problems like veterinarians do, so they work closely with veterinarians who refer cases to them.

08/30/2025

What are we gonna do❤️