Pawsitive Reactions: Positive Dog Training and More

25/01/2025

From the archives. Far many people get these 3 different categories confused.

If you have seen the "alligator ESA" articles or video, you should read this and share.

Because of the overwhelming publicity regarding the man who claims he "has permission" to use an alligator as an ESA, we feel that we have the responsibility to set the record straight with actual facts on this subject.

Below is a wonderful chart created by the Canine Connection, LLC. As you can see, there are 3 categories of dogs that are often confused.

Service dogs are the ONLY category of animal that has all access. All access doesn't mean what you think it means. What it does mean is that if an individual needs a service animal to help mitigate their disability, they are permitted to take their well behaved and well trained animal (99% of the time a dog, but also can be a mini horse or pony when appropriate for the task), into a public place that anyone else would be permitted in without such an animal. This would include stores, restaurants, hospitals, trains, buses, etc. anywhere that someone may need to conduct business. The animal in question is required to be specifically task trained to mitigate the person's disability. The animal in question cannot simply be a pet that provides emotional support. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ACA) governs this subject, aside from airplanes. The laws concerning animals traveling with humans in the passenger area of a plane are overseen by the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The rules are different and not governed by the ADA.

Business owners are permitted to ask 2 questions of someone who has what they are claiming is a service dog with them.
https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html
(1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
If said dogs/animal is disruptive, then business owners are permitted to ask the person to remove the dog. Service animals are not required to be certified and anyone claiming that their dog is legally certified has been scammed.
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Now we come to the important part of this particular equation with regards to the alligator. ESA's, also called emotional support animals do NOT have all access. The only place that they are permitted where animals/dogs normally are not permitted is in housing that typically doesn't permit pets and *some* airlines. One must have a letter from either a mental health professional or a medical doctor suggesting that the person would benefit from an ESA. Quite a few airlines have modified their rules recently to exclude either certain types of ESA's or exclude ESA's at all due to the misuse and misrepresentation of such. Now you see why this is so important to understand that the publicity surrounding this allegation that an alligator is permitted to go to places such as ballparks and nursing homes is dangerous and false. ESA's need not be trained outside of not being destructive or dangerous to others on an airplane when they are permitted. They are pets. This is why they do NOT have all access like service animals. Additionally, the online availability of such designations are scams and shame on you if you bypass the actual true process to have a dog designated an ESA.
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The 3rd category is therapy dogs. This is the only category where the dog in question should be certified by a credentialed therapy dog organization. The dog must be specifically trained to give comfort to *others* rather than the handler. This is the category of dogs that travels into nursing homes and hospitals and other places to give comfort to the residents. You will often see these type of dogs at some airports and these are the dogs that might travel to the location that suffered a mass casualty, to assist in emotional recovery.
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In order that dogs can continue to assist humans in these categories, it's important that we don't misrepresent any of them. Some day there will be some federal regulation on this subject but until then, it behooves those of us in the dog professional industry to speak up and educate.

24/01/2025

Good information for stranger danger dogs.

Using food is great ✅
However it can also be used incorrectly and cause confliction ❌
If you really want to make progress with a nervous dog, these tips can make a huge difference.
✅Be mindful of where they are. Are you are backing them into a corner or attempting this in an area where they feel they have no escape? That can cause confliction and more stress.
✅Watch your eye contact 👀. You need to keep a careful watch of their position but not actually stare at them. Eye contact can frighten some dogs and can make them react aggressively if they feel threatened.
✅Don't insist on a sit or a down, it may not be helpful at all as for many nervy dogs it is just a change of position, they are still just as nervous and we can misread a sit as "Oh good they are ok now".
✅Be mindful of your body. Keep your movements limited and when you do move be thoughtful. Slapping your thighs or clapping to get a nervous dogs attention can be intimidating.
✅Keep your voice natural and light. Some dogs may respond better when there is silence especially if they feel they have been "tricked" before by someone coaxing them and then doing something they viewed as unpleasant.
✅Do you have an escape route planned, that may sound extreme but some dogs can behave unpredictably when stressed and your safety is a priority.
✅Personally I never crouch in front of a dog to do this, crouching can put your centre of gravity off balance and there is an extra few seconds involved if you have to stand and retreat.
✅Are you nervous to even attempt this ? The time to do this may be later when you do see a better opportunity or when your nerves have lessened. Dogs easily pick up on our own emotions

Take your time.
You may need to repeat this multiple times until you see that little glimmer of trust.
It is much better for everyone not to rush this.

This dog training handout is available through https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-nz-increasing-trust-adult-visitors?srsltid=AfmBOooTuRsoPDkDbdYPpFD-qbbtIJ2jtVkQUiRZKtDBAT9QQ7gAa1ai

23/01/2025

There's so much truth in this post. There are levels of development in puppies just like there are levels of development in humans. That is both physical and mental. I currently have a teenager. You may want to scream during these levels of development. Just be patient and this too shall pass. Consistency and patience though you are gritting your teeth sometimes, will get you through this.

22/01/2025

Such important info, especially for multiple dog households.

"Awwww they're having SUCH a good time"✅
Nope, only one dog is.❌

Play is one of the MOST misread of all dog to dog interactions.
ALL dogs have their unique play style.
The difficulties with this though, is we may not recognise when another dog is "playing" inappropriately...simply because it can be completely different to our dogs play style.
We may know our own dogs play style and ways they may show they need a break, are frustrated, tired...or are indeed having a great time.
Do we really have an understanding of the other dog?

This dog training handout (and many more) are available https://www.abcdogsnz.com/product-page/abc-dogs-playing-or-pushy?srsltid=AfmBOordk0WFsSjaHQK0bMGbKxTbuAhzehRWOeNgXFYfoC-ERjB37aNG

21/01/2025

From the archives, fitting once again given these temps.

Your Sunday funny. Seems fitting for this past week's temperatures!!

20/01/2025

Finally, the article that I was interviewed for like 6 months ago on dogs coming to work with their humans is published. FYI, I did not call myself a behaviorist and did not know she would. I am a behavior consultant.

Take a look at both the pros and cons of bringing your dog to work with you. Up until the last century or so, most dogs were bred and trained for specific jobs, such as hunting, herding, or guard…

20/01/2025

In honor of this great man, please don't ever hesitate to stand up for what's right even if it's not the popular opinion.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"The time is always right to do what is right."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

20/01/2025

My newest article for the WDJ. Crate training a puppy.

Crate training a puppy can give your dog a safe space of their own that they feel comfortable in for their entire life.

19/01/2025

It is going to be extremely cold in the Pittsburgh area for the next several days. Please be mindful of your dog's needs. I have floofy dogs that love to be outside in the cold but even my floofy dogs are not going to spend much time outside tomorrow through Wednesday. The article mentions that dogs 20 lb and under need coats when it's cold. I think any short-haired dog needs a coat on when it's under 35 degrees fahrenheit. My floofy dogs don't wear coats but my short-haired dogs always have. However, I am going to put a coat on one of my floofy dogs for short sniffaris down the alley on at least one of the next few days.

Of course, some dogs were born to romp in the snow. They appear as resistant to frigid temperatures as polar bears. Malamutes, Great Pyrenees, Huskies and many other large dogs actually appear friskier in weather that chills us to the bone. On the other paw, Toy Poodles and Chihuahuas and all diminu...

19/01/2025

And quite frankly, it's not even breed in many cases. So many breeds have overlap on supposed breed traits. Every dog is an individual, just like every human. The Darwin's Ark study on breed specific behavior proved that. It's *parental* traits. So please don't dismiss behavior issues as a trait. Help your dog with their concerns.

"Terriers ARE reactive, it is part of their breed"
"Collies ARE velcro dogs, they will panic when you leave them"
"Greyhounds WILL fight other dogs, what did you expect"
Nope, no, nopeity NOPE ❗❌
There is a very big difference between breed traits and behavioural issues.
While breeds can absolutely have inclinations, behavioural issues shouldn't be dismissed as "just what their breed does".
It is completely unfair to let a dog live with serious behavioural issues because people are wrongly told it is "just the way they are".
Unfortunately confirmation bias and unhelpful comments in dog groups can further exacerbate a persons belief their dog is biting visitors because of their breed, is showing separation anxiousness because it is their breed trait and are showing serious behavioural issues because "it is what it is".

This dog training handout is available through abcdogsnz.com

18/01/2025

My latest article for the Whole Dog Journal.

A designer dog is the purposeful breeding of two dogs of different breeds to create a new mix that brings out the most desired features.

18/01/2025

Truth!

100% this! Never blame your dog for being a dog.

17/01/2025

So very true.

The first book I read by Karen Pryor was “Reaching the Animal Mind.” At the time, I was teaching university-level applied ethics. This book offered me a way to look at familiar problems in animal ethics in a new light and with attention to individual animal behavior. I began to learn how meaningful and impactful positive reinforcement could be. My copy of this book is crinkled and warped from multiple coffee spills, and so many corners of pages are folded that the book is swollen in its upper right.

Today, I am holding gratitude to the spirit and memory of Karen Pryor, who died on January 4th at the age of 92. Her legacy of kindness lives on in me, you, and your dogs. 💖

16/01/2025

From the archives. I touched on this the other day. No one has the right to subject another being to being touched against their will, aside from a medical emergency. Please understand that petting your dog (or any dog) should be a mutually agreeable experience.

Consent is a right of every living being. We, humans, expect to be asked prior to being touched. Yet we give consent to others, often strangers, to touch our dog, without asking the dog if he wants to be touched.

16/01/2025

There is a big difference. Learn about your dog's body language please.

Can you spot the difference in your dog? Knowing when our dogs are unsure, worried or stressed can tell us when they need more support in certain situations.
It’s their only way of communicating.

You can grab my body language bundle through the link in my bio and get access to all the latest communication videos. Or comment ‘speak dog’ below and I’ll DM you the link.

14/01/2025

From the archives. So very important. Many dogs also want to be able to choose when they are petted by loved ones and that is okay too. You get to choose when you are touched by loved ones, right? The number one statement that I hear from a client whose dog may have snapped at them is "I was just petting him/her". But are you sure that he or she wanted that to happen at all or for that long? Touch should be mutually enjoyable. Please make sure that it is.

We have a lot more in common with our dogs than we might think. While there are of course some dogs that seek contact from strangers. For many, they don’t enjoy it, actively avoid it or politely tolerate it.

I don’t interact with dogs I see out other than to just enjoying seeing them. I believe they have every right to exist without interference just as their owners do. Because even if they want to say hello, their owner might not.