Pawsitive Reactions: Positive Dog Training and More

29/11/2025

🤷‍♀️

29/11/2025

From the archives, please leave your dog at home when you attend events for humans. Very few dogs enjoy such. For dog professionals, it's agony to attend something like described here and see the emotional trauma that a dog is experiencing and not being able to do anything about it.

Public service announcement:

If you are going to a festival, fair, or event designed for humans, ask yourself if your dog really wants to come and if it’s in your dog’s best interest to bring them.

I attended our town’s tree lighting ceremony this past Friday, and saw probably a dozen dogs there who were terrified out of their mind.

One dog’s tail was tucked so far underneath him that it looked like his tail was glued to his stomach.

Another dog was repeatedly pushed into a sit every time he started to get up and pull away from the crowd, obviously uncomfortable.

Another dog was panting heavily in the 38 degree weather with his ears pulled back against his head, darting back and forth and rearing up.

To be honest, it was completely heartbreaking. These dogs were truly distressed, and no one was listening to them.

There were probably over a thousand people at this event, loud music, kids running and screaming and laughing, and the worst part for all the dogs: fireworks. Once the fireworks started one of the dogs slipped it’s collar and ran away from it’s owner (the dog was found the next morning, thank goodness).

Even if your dog loves other people, bringing them to an unfamiliar place where the volume of strangers is so great, where the environment is SO unpredictable, and where their senses are going to be flooded, is absolutely setting them up to fail.

There may be truly unflappable dogs out there who can handle this environment, but I have yet to see one, and I think lots of folks expect way too much of their dogs in an environment like this.

And if you bring your dog to an event like this, and they ARE uncomfortable, you owe it to your dog to take them home and miss out on the event.

Please believe me, your dog doesn’t think fireworks are fun. Your dog doesn’t think enormous crowds are fun. These events were not designed for dogs, they were designed for humans, and your dog would prefer to stay home.

28/11/2025

From the archives. Always and forever important information until this industry gets some regulation.

TL:dr? Please don't put this in that category. For your dog's sake! ⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

It feels like I endlessly write either posts or articles about the lack of regulation in my industry. Unfortunately, that happens because it seems like every week and sometimes several times a week, I get texts or PM's linking me to some new hack company claiming to be the next big thing in dog training. The problem is that the majority of these newbies are inevitably using very outdated methods that include tools that literally are designed to intimidate/cause pain to your dog. Their claims of both education and knowledge of dog behavior are both invalid and inaccurate. Myself and my colleagues who utilize modern rewards based methodology care about your dogs. We care that your dogs may suffer trauma from your choice to use someone who should not have the privilege of "peddling their wares" . We desperately wish that our field was regulated so that the decision on who to use to get your dog's behavior issues addressed was not riddled with such "buyer beware" scenarios. It's not even remotely an issue of competition. Why? Because most of the time, we get to meet with you *after* your dog's issues have worsened to varying degrees when the ineffective and emotionally harmful methods that those who should not be permitted to practice have wreaked havoc. My own schedule is filled with such clients. I long for the opportunity to see these humans and their beloved dogs *before* the additional damage is done. But until regulation that should be happening, is a requisite in this industry, it will remain buyer beware. Until then, try and think of this in the same terms that you would if this were your human child. What would you permit to happen with such when wanting a behavior change? A lot could be solved if the field of dog behavior professionals were modeled after the human mental health professional field. So until then, ask questions and be vigilant. You ARE your dog’s only voice. Keep the subject matters below in mind when choosing who you want to help you with your dog's issues.

⚠️Guarantees: NO ONE CAN GUARANTEE THE FUTURE BEHAVIOR OF A SENTIENT BEING! No one! So steer clear of anyone offering a guarantee. The major dog behavior organizations forbid the use of such for that reason.

⚠️Initials indicating some sort of certification: See one of the below links for more on that. Even initials from a quality organization are suspect if the person possessing them has any of the red flags in this list. Report them to that organization because their Code of Ethics forbids such.

⚠️The use of outdated tools that include: choke/check chains, prong collars, shock/stim/e-collars, shake cans, bonkers, etc. These are completely unnecessary to effect behavior change and will cause emotional and sometimes physical harm to your dog. And most are literally designed to cause pain as that is how they work.

⚠️Franchises: there are no dog training franchises in the general Pittsburgh Metropolitan area that utilize modern rewards-based science supported dog friendly methods. None. Additionally, franchises looking to get a foothold in this market hire those with *marketing* skills/backgrounds, NOT a quality education in dog behavior. EDITED TO ADD in 2023: there are now 2 but their base offering is daycare/classes, not in-home offerings. And still quality of information is still a concern.

⚠️Outdated terms such as alpha, pack, dominance. These are the sign of someone who hasn't kept up with modern science and is only looking for control, not cooperation.

⚠️Outdated information such as forcing your dog to walk in a "heel" position, not allowing your dog to sniff on walks, not allowing your dog on furniture/beds, telling you to remove all toys, crating your dog without cause, forcing a "place" behavior for every situation. I could go on and on. See the pinned post on this page for more details on what trainers should never ask/tell you to do for/to your dog.

⚠️Board and train: there are NO LOCAL businesses that offer this service who use modern rewards-based methods (outside of already being your positive trainer). None. This is more common with those who offer guarantees and use electronic devices that do not train your dog. They "control" your dog. That is NOT training and again, the dog still has a choice and if they choose to object to such treatment, what happens is that the behavior issues will increase, NOT decrease. You must be involved with your dog's training or their behavior with *you* will never improve. Just like with children.

⚠️Flashy videos are just that. True behavior change is like watching paint dry. B.O.R.I.N.G. don't fall for flashy videos/promos. The number of followers does not equate quality information.

Below are some links that touch on various things mentioned here. And also below is my dog Meridiana, learning to be comfortable with her environment with modern rewards-based science supported dog friendly methods.



Why certification is not enough in this field. And what do those initials mean exactly?

https://www.howmanydogs.com/2018/05/false-positive-certification-for-dog-trainers/

Why you should not hire anyone who uses most of these word in relation to dogs.

http://www.howmanydogs.com/2016/01/pack-them-up-leaving-old-fashioned-dog-world-words-behind/

Red flags in dog training.

https://www.fox26medford.com/red-flags-watch-out-for-these-claims-in-dog-training-ads/

and

https://www.fox28spokane.com/red-flags-in-ads-for-dog-training-services/

How to better choose a dog trainer.

http://www.howmanydogs.com/2020/04/the-bait-switch-how-to-better-choose-a-dog-trainerbehavior-consultant/

Making sure that even that modern methods trainer has the right skillset for *your* dog's issues.

https://www.howmanydogs.com/2020/01/proficiency-error-do-your-research-when-choosing-a-professional/

BE YOUR DOG'S VOICE PLEASE! And those of you who already understand the difference in methods and quality, help your dog parenting friends to do the same. Thank you to those who choose kindness over pain. Feel free to share to better educate!

27/11/2025

OMG, I almost forgot to post this one. Better late than never!

27/11/2025

This is an excellent article about what your dog can and can't eat that may be served for a Thanksgiving meal.

There are many Thanksgiving foods dogs can eat. The key is to let them indulge in moderation to avoid pancreatitis, vomiting, and diarrhea.

27/11/2025

Happy Thanksgiving to the US followers! Keep your dogs safe today please!

26/11/2025

Truth? 🤷‍♀️

26/11/2025

From the archives, still solid info for tomorrow's holiday in the US.

If you plan on gathering with friends and/or family this week for US Thanksgiving, there are a number of things you can do to keep your dog (and your visitors) safe.

Remember, there is nothing "wrong" with your dog if you need to manage amid all the chaos; that is 100% normal. Many dogs don't do well with large gatherings, changes to their routine and all the tempting food readily available.

Download your copy here: https://rescuedbytraining.com/safe-holiday-gatherings/

And, check out this blog post for more info on how you can implement each of these strategies: https://rescuedbytraining.com/2022/11/14/holiday-gathering-tips/

26/11/2025

From the archives, still important.

I'll go beyond this and say that most dogs actually don't like the dog park. When you were younger, the more friends, the merrier. As you age, it's quality over quantity. Dogs are similar.

Not every dog loves to be social and not every dog loves the dog park.

Just like other mammals you have some that love to be social butterflies and others are very selective when it comes to friends.

It is normal to be friend selective. It’s unusual to enjoy and be friendly with every single dog.
Thank you Every Dog Behavior and Training and Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin for this brilliant infographic

25/11/2025

Your Tuesday funny. 😂