Best Pals Behavior and Training

01/31/2024

10/30/2023

...keep your dog inside and away from the door as your dog may not recognize that the ghost, vampire or witch at your door is a child or person they know.

06/30/2023

My dog growled at me today and that made me happy! Why, you ask? It is very simple actually...

06/03/2023

06/01/2023

You don't have to shock your dogs--and risk a lot of unintended consequences--to keep them safe.

04/04/2023

Research led by Newcastle University shows typical teenage behaviour doesn’t just occur in young humans – it happens in dogs too.

01/08/2023

Don't let the title fool you....

Why doesn’t force free training work?Force-free is taking over the dog training industry. It’s easy to understand why! People love their dogs, dominance or a...

12/11/2022

When we don’t pay attention to what our dogs are telling us, their communication gets bigger. Learning to read body language is critical for a deep and lasting bond with our dogs.

11/21/2022

07/03/2022

Puppies have an obvious appeal to many people, but raising one right requires most households to make serious adjustments

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/training/which-is-best-for-you-adopting-an-adult-dog-vs-puppy/

05/27/2022

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

04/09/2022

STOP! The ‘alpha roll’ is not a method of training dogs. It will create problems in the long run. You will break your trust account w your dog and I know this isn’t your end goal. Read my blog to learn more about this debunked myth by veterinary behaviorists across the board.

https://www.dogdecoder.com/alpha-roll-aggressive-puppy/

03/28/2022

Training your dog to not pull on the leash, or to get off the couch, or to sit still to harness him does not have to involve force. Learn more.

03/27/2022

02/25/2022

Whole Dog Journal‘s mission is to provide dog guardians with in-depth information on dog food, training, behavior, health, and more.

01/02/2022

The common mistakes many people make when training their dog.

12/31/2021

Muzzle training is a great idea for any dog. You never know when that skill might come in handy.

Are you unsure of how to start the muzzle training process? Do you want to start but don't have a muzzle yet? Teach your dog these 3 skills to get ahead of t...