This is the first in our series about conditioning. Counter-conditioning is an essential part of working with dogs with fear, anxiety and reactivity issues. Rather than suppressing a behavior such as fear biting through aversive methods, I work to remedy the fear itself. Let’s say you have an intense fear of snakes—so much so...
During a recent Saturday night downtown with friends, I noticed a couple walking their Bernese Mountain Dog. I watched as this couple was stopped over and over again so people could pet their dog. While I continually preach the importance of socialization, I could see this dog was clearly overwhelmed. As I watched, the...
A familiar scene: You step outside to start your grill so you can cook a steak you spent a good deal of time picking out, only to come back inside to see it has disappeared. Fido is in the corner of the room licking his lips. You’re furious, but what is the correct course of...