By My Side Dog Training, LLC

30/06/2024

Back in 2018, a review paper in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior outlined the reasons why, in their words, "there is no credible scientific evidence to justify e-collar use and the use of spray collars or electronic fences for dogs. On the contrary, there are many reasons to never use these devices. Better training options exist, with proven efficacy and low risk.” If you want to know more, you can read about the study on my blog: https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2018/06/study-outlines-reasons-to-ban.html in a post from the archives.

12/04/2024

ADOLESCENCE:
As dogs go through adolescence, it’s safe to say things turn a little topsy-turvy! 🙃

If you’re currently at this stage and feeling like you’ve taken one step forward and two steps back, don’t panic! During this stage of life, there’s a lot going on in their busy little brains.

Here are three facts about the adolescent brain 🧠👇

1. The inhibitory neurons of the amygdala that help to dampen down emotional responses don’t fully mature until the END of adolescence.

2. Communication between the frontal cortex and amygdala, which is essential for skills training, decreases during adolescence.

3. Extinction memory is impaired during adolescence, so if your dog has a bad experience it’s much more likely to lead to a ‘hard wired’ fear memory.

Have patience and compassion as you support and guide your dog through this vulnerable period of brain development.

13/03/2024

I just finished reading Linda Scroggins’ second book, I Know Your Dog Is a Good Dog. I highly recommend it! As Linda intended, it is an excellent source of information for those living with a dog with serious behavior issues. Also, anyone interested in doing a deep dive into what that experience can entail, and the professional help that is available will also find this book quite interesting. It is also a great resource for professional trainers who are considering or have started to move beyond skills training to work with behavior issues. Even seasoned behavior professionals should find helpful reminders in Linda’s book. Finally, and as a heads up for those intending to read the book, I couldn’t help but shed a few tears reading the stories about the people and dogs she has helped.

The best selection of dog training books, dog nutrition books, and dog competition books anywhere!

15/12/2023

Our goal is to prevent, treat and effectively manage behavior problems in companion animals to enhanc

07/12/2023

State Masson et al. (2018): “E-collars are not recommended for the treatment of behavior problems because they do not take into consideration the root cause of the problems. Such lack of redress can result in problems worsening, being masked or expressed in other ways (e.g., in the case of e-collar use to stop barking in separation-related problems, if barking is suppressed, dogs can develop other behaviors such as destructiveness or compulsive/obsessive-compulsive disorders)…Pain directly triggers aggression (Polsky, 1994), but additionally, the use of aversive techniques can worsen any negative associations (e.g., the trainer) by which a dog already feels threatened. Finally, using shocks to punish warning signals of aggression, such as growling or baring teeth, can lead to a suppression of these, so the dog in the future may attack without overt warning, resulting in apparent unpredictability and increasing the risk of injury (Overall, 2013).”

Masson, S., La Vega, S., Gazzano, A., Mariti, C., Da Graça Pereira, G., Halsberghe, C.,…Schoening, B. (2018). Electronic training devices: Discussion on the pros and cons of their use in dogs as a basis for the position statement of the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 25 71-75. Retrieved May 28, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787818300108?fbclid=IwAR0rsVM-689ZbE2CFDUuMAmatkmEKiIk9id15xbJrTiLac9Nj5UGtPZW9ho

Polsky, R.H. (1994). Electronic shock collars: Are they worth the risks? Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 30 (5) 463-468

Overall, K.L. (2017, November). Why Balanced Training Can Unbalance Dogs. Pet Professional Guild Summit Keynote Presentation, Orlando, FL. In S. Nilson. (2018, January). A Time to Revitalize, Re-energize and Rejuvenate. BARKS from the Guild (28) 10-11. Retrieved January 4, 2019

12/10/2023

I just finished a delightfully entertaining, inspiring, beautifully illustrated, and informative book - For The Love of Dog by Pilley Bianchi and Calum Heath. Pilley is the daughter of the late John Pilley who was made famous by his dog Chaser learning the names of over 1,000 objects and incorporating those names into meaningful communication. I highly recommend this book to all dog lovers! There are just a couple topics in the book that caused a few wrinkles in my forehead - one being the non-use of food as a behavior reinforcer. One of my favorite quotes from the book: “Somewhere along the way, as humans, we lost the plot and roamed off the path. We came up with faulty conclusions about who dogs are and why they do what they do, and then clung with all our might to fallacious reasoning. This sort of reasoning is understandable because it appears to be simple, concise, and sensible. The danger of clinging to incorrect or outdated mindsets is that they can have detrimental consequences to dogs and their relationships with humans.”

05/10/2023

As a certified professional dog trainer, and simply as a dog parent, I appreciate well-designed equipment to use with our dogs, such as leashes and harnesses. I also get concerned when a legitimate piece of equipment is used in an aversive manner for which it was not designed. I’m speaking of the martingale collar, sometimes referred to as a limited slip collar. The purpose of a martingale collar is to prevent a dog from backing out of the collar if the dog becomes frightened by something, for example. When properly sized and the two “D” rings touch when there is tension on the collar, the collar should NOT choke the dog but still allow one or two fingers underneath. Unfortunately, I have seen too many instances, including involving other self-designated “trainers”, when the collar has not been properly sized and it's been used it as a “training” collar to choke the dog. If someone suggests that you use a “training” collar on your dog, find someone who is committed to fear free training to help you with your dog.

18/09/2023

I attended an excellent webinar this week on canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) syndrome, frequently referred to as doggie dementia. The recorded webinar was delivered by Dr. Lisa Radosta. https://flvetbehavior.com/dr-lisa-radosta/
Some of the signs of CCD in senior dogs can include disorientation, changes in interactions, changes in sleep / wake cycles, house training concerns, and signs of anxiety / aggression. Dr. Radosta has information about CCD on her web site. Pet parents should let their dog's veterinarian know of any of these signs!

Dr. Radosta graduated from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000.

22/05/2023

There is perhaps no greater experience than participating in an activity with your dog that satisfies you both. The bonding experience created is unparalleled.

06/05/2023

Safety Saturday. Reaching out your hand for a dog to 'sniff' is like someone waving your hand right in their face!

02/05/2023

As always, great advice from Dr. McConnell.

Watching dogs play well together is one life’s greatest joys. One of my essential criteria when looking for a dog to replace Willie was whether he played well with Maggie. We tried two dogs out before we found Skip, neither of whom had any interest in playing with Maggie. Maggie ignored one, and h...

30/04/2023

I really enjoy continuing education be it from a new book, webinar, live streaming presentation, podcast, or an in-person seminar, which is the best. I had the privilege this weekend to attend a live seminar by veterinary behaviorist Dr. Amy Pike. The seminar was titled Behavioral Medicine: It's Medical First, Behavior Second. This is a critical topic for anyone who helps others, or themselves, with their dog's behavior. A primary message was that medical causes must absolutely be ruled out first for any problem behavior that appears suddenly or was previously well controlled and now isn't. A majority of problem behaviors have a medical cause or contributing factor. And pain must be treated in conjunction with behavior modification. Dr. Pike was an awesome presenter! Here's a link to her business in VA (she was previously a STL resident):

Meet Your Fairfax Team!

28/04/2023

Dogs all over England are smiling today. As of Feb 1st 2024 remote electric (shock) collars will be banned in England. Thank you to everyone who campaigned for 10 years to get this done! The dogs thank you!
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media-centre/2023/april/cruel-electric-shock-collars-banned-in-england/

15/04/2023

I just attended an outstanding webinar titled: Identifying Discomfort in Dogs- How to Spot Pain Through Movement and Posture. The webinar was sponsored by https://www.behaviorvets.com
A primary takeaway is that a dog's even small discomfort can have a huge impact on behavior. And the presenter stated that for a number of reasons, it is almost impossible for veterinarians to diagnose pain only by examination in a consultation room. Posture and gait are key elements to identifying pain. A bottom line is to always pursue possible physical causes for behavior problems.

13/04/2023

Certainly, dogs will learn to avoid things that have frightened or harmed them in the past... But fear itself is not a learned behavior that the animal can choose to “perform” or not—it is a neurobiological and involuntary response.

09/02/2023

Great book!

23/09/2022

Great article for anyone who takes their dog to a dog park or are considering it.

There are some simple things you can do that will dramatically reduce the chances of your dog getting into an altercation at the dog park.

13/07/2022

06/07/2022

Just finished the book Wag-The Science of Making Your Dog Happy by Zazie Todd. Very briefly, it covers a wide range of topics about what it means for our dogs to be happy and how canine science contributes to our understanding of what pet dogs need. Recommend for any dog parent!
https://www.dogwise.com/wag-the-science-of-making-your-dog-happy/

The best selection of dog training books, dog nutrition books, and dog competition books anywhere!

24/06/2022

23/06/2022

Isn’t one night enough? Or even too much? I enjoy fireworks displays, but preventing the suffering of animals and veterans means more to me than a little pleasure does.

09/06/2022

It's that time of year when many people go on vacation and decide to board their dog while gone. I recommend the Whole Dog Journal to all my clients, and the current issue has a great article on how to find a boarding facility. Here's a link to the article: https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/care/how-to-prepare-your-dog-for-boarding/

Do you plan on boarding your dog for an upcoming trip? Make sure to tour the boarding facility and look out for these red flags.

08/06/2022

Training often fails because people expect too much of the dog and not enough of themselves. - Bob Bailey

27/05/2022

Please read if you have, are considering, or know someone who has an electric fence.

When you choose to use an in-ground fencing system, the emotional and safety cost to your dog can be high. Here's why.

18/05/2022

Science!!

TLDR: This article examines the scientific data on aversive dog training methods, and discusses: Potential fallout such as habituation, learned helplessness, pain sensitivity, physical damage, emotional damage, and contact force; The stance on punishment in dog training taken by numerous profess ...

17/05/2022

Important story about the tragedy of painful “training” methods. Article worth the read.

By Amanda Ballard Kobe’s owner had to work hard to gain back the trust of her pup after hisfrightening boot camp experience © Kobe's Guardian   Kobe is an 18-month-old terrier cross, who is loved madly by his person, Lizzie. My private consultation session with them is the only one in ...

12/04/2022

This is a good illustration of puppy socialization needs, shared from Good as Gold Training, but I would also add that all of the listed exposure and experience needs to feel *safe* for the puppy. If s/he is nervous, tentative, or fearful the fear should be handled by backing off a little and reintroducing very slowly and with lots of praise, food and patience. Sometimes, for the sake of "socialization", owners push their puppies too far and too fast, and it can backfire. Good socialization requires that we "read" our puppies and help them feel safe as they navigate the sounds, textures, people and animals in their new world.