Dog Talk Training MN

10/11/2025

This is an excellent read and worth your time!

A new study links stressful puppyhood events to adult dog behavior, such as fear and aggression. Early care and training are crucial.

10/01/2025

Thankfully this isn't forever! But, how you work with your dog through this developmental stage does play a role in the shaping the dog you'll have at the end of this development stage.

09/29/2025

Susan reminds us to look at the whole picture, not just the reactive behavior.

09/29/2025

All of this!!

If you want drama, stream Netflix. 🍿
If you want to help your learner, start observing behavior and the environment, then analyse the contingencies.”

09/29/2025

A strong bond with a pet can teach kids empathy, responsibility, and even patience. But it all starts with safe, age-appropriate involvement. Here are some ideas to help you guide them and ways they can all have fun together! 🧒🐶

🌟 Get your kiddos involved with meal and enrichment preparation - mealtimes, scatter feeding, and making puzzle feeders or other frozen enrichment activities.

🌟 Involve your kids in training sessions and bring them along on walks! Kids can and do train dogs, with the right guidance. (Children should not be the sole leash-holder. If they want to help walk the dog, attach a second leash to your pup for you to hold.)

🌟 Teach your children what games are appropriate to play with dogs, and how to play! Hide and seek and recall games are great fun, without teaching your child to chase the dog or vice versa. Scent games, like nosework, and other "find it" games can also be a blast!

Of course, all of these activities should be done with active adult supervision and participation. Children should not be left unattended with dogs (or any pet). Not all of these activities will be suitable for every household, but get your kids involved where you can! 🙂

For more resources and support for those of you with kids and pets, check out Family Paws Parent Education https://www.familypaws.com/

09/25/2025

Follow the Science!

09/14/2025

Check out this recording!

Bark! Fest revisited!! This time last year we had the incredible privilege of speaking to Patricia McConnell, Ph.D. about her amazing books, in particular The Education of Will, which is such an important memoir about dealing with trauma in both dogs and people. And we also heard about her upcoming book, which is now available for pre-order! This event at Bark! Fest was full and I know you will absolutely love it. Watch the recording via the link in bio or:
Watch: https://youtu.be/mJyQ7S2XCm4?list=PLpSYLIfogtXpG9CNrZ8Z3pgHx8EPV0zHp&t=17
Listen: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/16149739
Watch, listen, and read a transcript: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2024/10/bark-fest-recording-dogs-trauma-and.html

Pre-order Patricia McConnell's upcoming novel Away to Me: https://amzn.to/48drT19

09/01/2025

09/01/2025

"If you are listening to this and you do actually use shock or prong collars or leash corrections, or you yell at your dog, don't do those things. Stop." In the most recent episode of our podcast, we made the assumption that people listening don't use aversive methods with their dog. We said that because there are some truly amazing pet guardians and pet professionals who follow this page. Don't you wish everyone knew this?!

Here are all the links to listen, watch, or read the transcript:
Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2183505/episodes/17695165
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/how-to-help-your-reactive-or-fearful-dog/id1685998335?i=1000722651589
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1mpy2QgJgBGyMg3flyTAAF
Youtube: https://youtu.be/Ju-Id_vg5lA
Website to listen, watch, and read a transcript: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2025/08/how-to-help-your-reactive-or-fearful-dog.html

Get Bark!: https://amzn.to/4oHPL2S

06/17/2025

Lil' Miss and Pixie.

06/17/2025

Pixie's first Dog "girl friend", Tig!

06/09/2025

Teach you kids to see IF the dog wants to interact or not and they should be taught to respect the dogs choice. Doing this will increase their bond and the dog will learn to trust your child.

Just because your dog doesn't growl or bite when your child handles them roughly, it doesn't mean they should have to tolerate it. There are fallout effects to rough handling, whether it's from adults or kids. Dogs will tolerate things, until they don't.

People come to me after a dog bite and almost always say something to the effect of "we were doing XYZ and we've done that a million times before and he's always been "fine.""

But "fine" doesn't mean comfortable. Tolerating something isn't the same as actively enjoying something.

The onus is on the parent to teach children age-appropriate ways to interact with dogs.

The responsibility of safety is NOT on the dog. It is on the adults to supervise and to teach the kids, about safe interactions, about how to ask the dog for consent and to use management and barriers when an adult is not 100% actively awake and supervising. And to be clear, 100% active supervision means eyes on the dog and child, not just physically in the same room but on your phone or making dinner and distracted.

Let's reduce dog bites and increase safety for the sake of our kids and our dogs.
And as adults we need to model safe, appropriate interactions for children with our dogs.

Read more here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2024/06/03/setting-good-example-for-children