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 …
Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive Training
I try my very best to follow the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive training framework when working with my dog, the shelter dogs I worked with, and my foster dogs. I …
A Dog Walks Into a Shelter and Growls at the Staff – Why?
Jack was a big, black Shepherd/Husky mix (or at least that was our best guess). He growled when the intake staff at the shelter moved him from the overnight kennels …
Are Dog Treats Bribery? Do Treats Make My Dog Beg or Only Listen When I’ve Got Food?
There is a common misconception that if you use treats to train your dog, that you are just using bribery. Or, that your dog will ONLY do what is asked …
Why Trainers Hate Retractable Leashes (But I Own One Anyway)
Retractable leashes are one of those things that dog trainers love to hate. This is partially due to the fact that retractable leashes are made with convenience, not training, in …
My Dog Doesn’t Want to Please Me: How Do I Train Him?
“He’s not a people pleaser,” Will said as he looked at his dog, Buddy. “Not like your boy, Barley. How do I train him when my dog doesn’t want to …
The Best Dog Training Tips that Dog Trainers Have Ever Heard
When I was just starting out as a dog trainer, I felt like I was constantly jotting down dog training tips. The trainers at Canis Major Dog Training in Denver …
What You Do After You Say No to Your Dog is What Matters
Dog trainers love drawing lines in the sand: positive reinforcement, force-free, balanced, old-school. As much as we hate labeling dogs, many dog trainers seem to love to label other dog …
Be More Patient with Your Dog & Deal with Frustrating Dog Problems
As I reached for the door, Barley surged forward, wagging so hard that his tail hit his ears. I paused and glanced at him, and he struggled into a sit. …
Why Do I Stick (mostly) to 1 Operant Conditioning Quadrant?
I love operant conditioning and the science of behavior change. I love the jargon, the details, the studies. What researchers find in their studies really impacts what I think about …
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