Barley and I spend a lot of time hiking, trail running, and generally having the times of our lives on the trails of North and Central America. Since he’s a long-haired border collie, that also means that he gets covered in burrs and stickers, and often has baby dreadlocks forming. Although I’m no groomer, I … Read more
Canine Conversations discusses the four steps that they take every day with their dogs to prevent reactivity. Many trainers consider reactivity (dogs that bark and lunge) to be a contagious problem. Marissa Martino and Kayla Fratt break down how they help keep their dogs relaxed around other dogs. #1: We Avoid On-Leash Greetings With Other … Read more
Dog training using successive approximations, commonly called shaping, is my favorite way to teach dogs a new behavior. This training method was pioneered by B.F. Skinner, and it’s one of the go-to ways for training animals today. When I worked at Denver Dumb Friends League, shaping was our main method for training dogs that couldn’t … Read more
I think dog training is a blast – and that means I’m often bad about doing it systematically. Since my goal for 2019 is to be more deliberate about everything I do, I also decided that I’ll create an online dog training journal for my work with Barley. This journal is really made to work … Read more
Canine Conversations discusses the tricks dog trainers use to get good behavior from their own dogs – so that you can use them too! Trainers have the benefit of behavior knowledge and perspective on what works and what doesn’t, as well as some “shortcuts” to good behavior. Trainers Ursa Acree, Marissa Martino, and Kayla Fratt … Read more
Meet the crew of Canine Conversations Podcast. Hear about the crew’s childhoods, how they get into dog training, where their businesses are now, and why they are positively obsessed with dog behavior. Kayla Fratt, CDBC First started training homing pigeons in 2007 Started Journey Dog Training in 2012, focusing on private day training Got really … Read more
My dog and I love Kongs. He gets one almost every single time that I leave the house. He eats his dinner out of his Kong some days. And when I’m recording podcast episodes, you bet I use a Kong to keep him occupied! You can use a variety of other puzzle toys as well, … Read more
Potty training can be surprisingly tricky business. What do you do when your pup seems to be potty trained in your house, but has accidents everywhere else? In today’s “Ask a Behavior Consultant,” we cover this exact question. Our reader writes, My female won’t poop inside at home but every time I take her to … Read more
Energetic dogs can be a lot of work. I get it – I live with a Border Collie and I’ve fostered German Shepherds, Huskies, and American Bulldogs. Even though I am a big-time hiker and trail runner, I can’t get outside every day. Sometimes, I’m fostering a dog who can’t run due to injury, heartworm … Read more
