Pawsitive Pup Training

11/11/2025

A friendly reminder to reward the good! 💜🐾

11/11/2025

Classical conditioning is such a powerful technique to use in dog training, but many people find it confusing. Here are three ways in which we can use classical conditioning:
As part of desensitization and counter-conditioning
As ad-hoc counter-conditioning
As a preventive measure to stop fears from developing

You can learn more in the post on my blog about 3 ways to use classical conditioning in dog training--and if you really want to make sure you're getting it right, check out my book Bark! Details of both via the link in bio and below.

3 important ways to use classical conditioning: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2024/11/three-important-uses-for-classical.html
Bark!: https://amzn.to/3Xkk5nC

11/11/2025

Rethinking “Rank”: Understanding Dog Interactions Beyond Dominance

For a long time, people interpreted dog interactions through the idea of rank or dominance — assuming one dog is “alpha” and the other is “submissive.”
But modern behavioural science has shown that this way of thinking is outdated and oversimplified.

When dogs interact, they’re not trying to climb a social ladder — they’re navigating complex emotional and social dynamics. Their behaviour can reflect:
Confidence and emotional state – A dog that stands tall or uses stillness may be uncertain or anxious, not “in charge.”
Context – Is there a valuable resource around (like a toy or owner attention)? Are both dogs comfortable in this space?
Communication style – Just like people, dogs have different social skills. Some are more assertive or forward, others more subtle.
Learning history – Past experiences shape how a dog responds to others. A dog that’s been told off for greeting too eagerly may appear “submissive,” when it’s really showing caution.

It’s also vital to remember that how a dog feels physically and emotionally will influence their social behaviour.
Pain, discomfort, or underlying health issues can make dogs less tolerant or more avoidant.
Recent stress — such as changes at home, vet visits, loud noises, or multiple challenging experiences in a short period — can leave them with less capacity to cope calmly with other dogs.

When we focus only on rank, we risk missing the real message — how a dog feels. Understanding that behaviour is driven by emotion allows us to respond with empathy and to support both dogs in feeling safe and confident.

Next time you see two dogs interacting, try asking:
“Who’s feeling comfortable here?”
"Who’s managing space and movement?”
“Are both dogs enjoying this?”

These questions tell us far more than who’s “the boss.”

As a Clinical Animal Behaviourist (APBC, ABTC), my goal is always to help owners look beyond labels and understand the rich, subtle world of canine communication — where trust, safety, and emotion matter most.
www.paulinewhittaker.co.uk

11/07/2025

"Thousands of practitioners are already out there, daily, getting the job done, both in training, behavior modification, management of animals, the full gamut of case types, and they're doing so without aversives." That was Jean Donaldson back in 2016 when I interviewed her for my blog to celebrate the anniversary of her seminal book, Culture Clash. It makes you think about why some trainers still choose to use aversives, doesn't it?! Because it is a choice--reward-based methods work.

If you want to read the interview in full, you can find it on my blog (link in bio).

11/06/2025

11/06/2025

Reward-based methods aren't just for sunny days and easy dogs and puppies. They are for all dogs. And for all cats too, I might add.

10/28/2025

*Preventing unwanted litters is a goal we all share—but it's time to rethink the surgical approach. Hysterectomies and vasectomies, which preserve hormonal balance, can safely be performed as early as 8 weeks of age, making dogs sterile without disrupting their natural hormones.

New peer-reviewed study published in Nature:

How a dog’s lifetime exposure to his own hormones (before being neutered) affects how well he handles aging and frailty later in life.

Study Background

• Frailty = when older dogs (and people) become weaker, less resilient, and more prone to illness and death.
• Most research looks at how to prevent frailty — this study looked at what makes some dogs bounce back better after frailty sets in.
• The focus was on the HPG axis — the hormonal system that produces testosterone and controls reproduction.

Key Findings

• Dogs neutered very young (before 2 years old) had:

o A much higher risk of death once they became frail.
o About 16% higher mortality for every small increase in frailty.

• Dogs kept intact longer (more than ~10 years) showed:
o No increase in mortality linked to frailty.
o Their hormones seemed to “buffer” the negative effects of aging.

• Each extra year of natural hormone exposure reduced frailty-related death risk by ~1%.

What It Means

• Hormones from the te**es may protect against the worst effects of aging later in life.
• Removing them too early could make dogs less resilient to age-related decline.
• Frailty isn’t just about getting old — it’s also shaped by early-life events like the timing of neutering.
• This supports a “life course” view: what happens early in life affects health decades later.

Why It Matters

• The study suggests timing of neutering might influence how well dogs age.

10/24/2025

Just like humans, dogs can experience sensory processing sensitivity. These highly sensitive dogs often react strongly to everyday sounds, sights, and experiences that other dogs handle easily. If…

10/24/2025

The benefits of using food puzzle toys, how to choose them, and how to introduce them to your dog.

10/23/2025

🎃 As Halloween nears, we have a spOoOoky tale for you... 👻

This tale has been told hundreds of thousands of times over the years, and it never gets better, only worse!

The story of the purposefully scared pet! 🙀 The horror!

All jokes aside, stop intentionally scaring your pets.
It's not funny.
It's cruel.
It can ruin your pet's trust in you and increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior.

Halloween is best enjoyed when EVERYONE is having a good time. So if your pets dislike costumes, put your pets away for the Halloween party (or consider having a sitter take them for the night). If your pets dislike novel items like Halloween decorations, keep them out of sight. There are better times and ways to introduce them to potentially scary things, but Halloween parties and festivities are 👏 Not 👏 It.

10/20/2025

Canine behaviour isn’t random—it’s a response to internal states, environmental triggers, and past experiences.

Before we label a dog as “naughty” or “stubborn,” let’s ask: What are they trying to tell us?

Let’s shift the narrative from correction to connection.

10/20/2025

Wanting control from dogs is more about your convenience rather than about understanding what your dog is desperately trying to tell you.

Barking is communication. It’s up to you to be curious about why they are barking. Are they demanding your attention? Do they need to go out to potty? Are they seeking your attention because they are anxious or excited or frustrated?

Wanting to stop behaviors because it’s annoying, you don’t have time, or you just have no idea what to do is telling the dog they don’t matter.

Shifting your mindset is the most effective strategy for a deeper connection with dogs.

After all, you wanted a dog so you owe it to them to learn their language.