Tag: dog training

“Don’ts” When Training Recall (“Come!”)

In my last post I explained why what I call "Leading" is a more helpful obedience ritual to have mastered than recall ("Come") when taking your dog offleash. Still, "Come" can be a very useful command, particularly in various [...]

Why Is My Dog Racist?

It's a phenomenon that people try to sweep under the rug, laugh off, or simply pretend isn't happening; then it gets whispered about in embarrassed tones afterward.  Namely: your dog gets along just fine with other dogs, mailmen, skateboarders...then [...]

Fight or Flight? Neither Please!

This past few weeks I've had several experiences involving the combination of dogs and fear. Most of those experiences have involved fearful dogs ...   ... and some have involved fear OF dogs.   Somewhat unsettlingly, a portion of [...]

Are Fearful Fido’s Faculties Fatigued?

The New York Times recently published a fascinating article on a phenomenon called "decision fatigue". Scientific studies repeatedly back up the fairly commonsensical idea that being forced to make decisions - in particular when the chosen options demand exerting [...]

Giving Thanks For Your Inner Dog

Over thanksgiving with lots of young'ns and furry'ns running about - the former creating messes in the kitchen, the latter lapping them up - I found myself pondering the two most thankful creatures I know: kids and dogs. Sure, [...]

Leash Laws: A Better Version!

"All Dogs Must Be Kept On Leash" Most towns in the U.S. have "leash laws", restricting the places and times that dogs and other pets can be off-leash in public areas such as parks and sidewalks. The other day [...]

Revenge Peeing: Fact Or Fiction?

I've heard this a lot recently: My dog pees/poos in the house just to get back at me! He knows he's supposed to do it outside. He knows I hate it. He does it purposely, out of revenge! What [...]