Clara’s beloved Goughnuts balls Clara left this world on September 28, 2024, four years to the day after Zani. I’m not ready to write a tribute to her yet. But maybe my thoughts about grief and remembrance can help others. This post is more raw and less edited than what I usually publish. I wrote … Read more
When eight-month-old Lewis joined my household, he was afraid of riding in the car. He also disliked being in a crate. So I put on my best trainer hat, did an assessment, made a plan, and performed a series of careful exposures paired with good food and fun destinations. Below, with some commentary, are the … Read more
Clara on a walk in September 2021 This is about an incident in October 2021 that I wrote about at the time but never published here. I’ve been walking Clara every day in my neighborhood now since April [2021]. Now, recall that as a feral puppy she was introduced to the presence of humans other … Read more
This post is about the tricky concept of the combination of negative and positive reinforcement. I’ve always wondered about behaviors having more than one consequence. I’ve recently learned more about the possibility, and I’ve found a good example of it with Lewis. So-called “synthesized reinforcement” occurs when more than one reinforcer is a consequence of … Read more
It did not turn out well to work on duration for “front paws on a platform” during Lewis’ breakfast period. Most of us know the harm that tools such as shock and prong collars can cause. But I worry that our focus on tools causes less dramatic aversive methods to go under the radar. We … Read more
Our happy times were many and long, but usually not dramatic I first learned of the “peak-end rule” when I read Daniel Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow. I thought it was interesting and could relate. Years later, when Clara died, the reality of it hit me. This post reflects my state of mind immediately … Read more
Is your dog scared of fireworks? Don’t wait until the holiday hits. Even with just a couple days’ lead time, you can make a plan and take action now to help your dog be less afraid of the unpredictable scary sounds of fireworks, firecrackers, whistles, and even guns. Get Ready Here are some things you can … Read more
In July 2019, I gave a live webinar on dogs and sound to a sold-out crowd through Linda Case’s The Science Dog. In June 2024, I presented an updated version, translated live to the German training organization IBH. Practicing the updated presentation gave me the opportunity to record it for future audiences. I am pleased … Read more
Four speeds, from slow to fast, of an Andis rotary tool for nail grinding People in the dog community are worried that sounds we can’t hear might be bothering our dogs. But we can’t check for ultrasound with consumer equipment, even smartphones, because consumer microphones don’t detect sound above 20,000 cycles per second (20,000 Hz). … Read more
If your dog is afraid of noises, please take that seriously. Sound reactivity can be debilitating, and the clinical, medical condition of sound phobia can be devastating. Neither is commonly “solved” by purchasing a product. Evidence supports the use of counterconditioning, relaxation training, and behavioral medications (Riemer, 2020). The Pet Shell Pet House I do … Read more