The Mannerly Dog

09/14/2025

09/05/2025

I’m ready to get started on my next blog post. Thought I’d ask if y’all have any burning questions, earth-shattering ideas, or glorious concepts you’d like to read about, regarding dogs and their behavior! Ideas for posts about thought-provoking concepts as well as more down-to-earth training applications and exercises are welcome. Anyone?

08/26/2025

How are your dogs celebrating National Dog Day? It’s pretty hot here, but we’re enjoying the after-6 breeze we often get during these Dog Days of Summer!

07/14/2025

Whatever you’re doing, it’s easy to create a game for dogs! These two have the foundation skills to go inside the cabinet - another dog might be able to take a step toward it or even just look at it. These are the start of the behavior you want. Create training games to provide enrichment! behavior

06/22/2025

Any species. Any.

06/08/2025

How old is your dog? Imagine the two of you here…. You can book one of our Sniffspots for your dog’s next birthday party and request a photo booth to commemorate the event. Invite a few doggie and human friends, take us up on free party favors and decorations, and request a variety of fun add-ons through Sniffspot!

https://www.sniffspot.com/listings/alta-vista-acres-tx/the-back-40-345940

https://www.sniffspot.com/listings/pasadena-tx/the-mannerly-dog-private-dog-park-27618

06/01/2025

A positive reinforcement process taught this hawk to use the pedestrian crossing signal to increase his success rate at procuring food.

Dr Vladimir Dinets, a zoologist who studies animal behavior, ecology, and conservation, is the author of a recently published Frontiers in Ethology article that

05/29/2025

A product of training - and training continuing - always.

05/27/2025

On my mind today: Change happens in the most minute details.

Cognitive dissonance keeps you on auto-pilot, producing results you don't want. I learned who I wanted to be for my animals and so can you!

05/20/2025

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3357095/
Today is Richard Herrnstein's birthday! Herrnstein gave us The Matching Law, which describes choices of behavior based on the reinforcement available. It supports and augments the work of B.F. Skinner and is as valuable for understanding how animals learn as both operant and classical conditioning. Pavlov, Skinner, and Herrnstein provided what we need to train animals effectively and efficiently. This article explains the Matching Law in detail so you don't have to read the whole book!
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Richard Herrnstein!

04/29/2025

Our are African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei), but we like to call them ! They have a long lifespan, averaging 8+ years. Most rat species have a life expectancy of just 2-3 years.

Like most rodents, our rats have a highly developed sense of smell. They are native to sub-Saharan Africa and are easy to care for, train, and breed.

Although our rats are considered "giant", they're still too light to detonate . That means our rats are perfectly safe while searching for them. In fact, in the operational history of , not a single one of our rats has ever been injured by a landmine.