Ruff Around the Edges Dog Training

01/05/2025

Honoring the Legacy of Karen Pryor

The IAABC Foundation joins the animal behavior community in mourning the loss of Karen Pryor, a true pioneer whose work transformed the way we understand and teach animals.

Through her groundbreaking book Don’t Shoot the Dog! and her dedication to positive reinforcement training, Karen’s wisdom and compassion paved the way for humane, science-based approaches to animal behavior and learning. Her influence will continue to inspire trainers, behavior consultants, and animal lovers for generations to come.

We are deeply grateful for Karen's contributions and the profound impact she’s had on countless lives—human and animal alike.

Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all who admired her during this time.

Karen, your legacy will live on. 🐾

05/18/2024

This can’t be shared enough

🐾 Keep those paws safe! 🐾

As the temperature rises, so does the asphalt heat! ☀️🔥 Remember, our pets are more vulnerable to hot surfaces than we are. 🐶🐱

Here's a handy guide to help you understand how hot it can get for your pets' delicate paws. Place your hand on the ground for 7 seconds at various air temperatures, and imagine how your pet's paws might feel on the scorching asphalt. If it's too hot for you, it's definitely too hot for them! 😓

It's crucial to protect our pets from potential burns and discomfort. During hot summer days, consider these tips:

1️⃣ Walk your pets during cooler times of the day (early morning or late evening).

2️⃣ Opt for grassy or shaded areas for your walks.

3️⃣ Test the pavement with your hand before letting your pet walk on it.

4️⃣ Outfit your pup with protective booties to shield their paws from the heat.

Let's all work together to ensure our pets stay cool and comfortable throughout the summer! 🌞

02/22/2024

The University of British Columbia and the BC SPCA are inviting professional dog trainers in Canada to participate in an online study titled “Survey of dog trainers in Canada” that aims to provide a better understanding of the dog training profession in Canada, including the services offered, training methods, and beliefs about dogs and dog training. The findings of the survey will be made available by publication in an open access peer-reviewed journal.

This research is carried out by Drs. Protopopova (PI) and Cavalli (Co-I), from the Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia; in collaboration with the BC SPCA (British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). If you have any questions about the study, you may contact Dr. Cavalli at [email protected].

The privacy and confidentiality of survey participants will be strictly protected, and identifying information (such names or emails) will not be collected.
If you are a dog trainer in Canada, we invite you to complete the survey and share the link with other trainers in your network. We ask organizations connected with dog trainers to share the link with trainers in their network.

https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3eix7c99vrlcY2q