Category: Dog Language
The Failure Of Treat-Focused, “Purely Positive” Dog Training
So-called "purely positive" training is a huge new fad. It means you only reward your dog's good behavior; you never correct the bad. Most purely positive trainers are what I call "treat-focused", centering around giving the dog edible treats [...]
“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 [...]
Dog Training and Child Rearing (or Vice-Versa)
My wife and I recently became parents to a (human) baby boy. Many experienced parents whose dogs I've worked with - and even some kindergarten and grade-school teachers - after watching my methods have told me "Aha, that's just [...]
How To Say “No!” In Dog Language (Effectively)
It was only after several owners pointed out to me that I never say "No" to their dogs, that I even considered that fact. "Is it okay that I say 'No'?" they ask. "Does it work when you say [...]
Pain or Intimidation in Dog Training – Beware!
Everyone with any sense knows not to hit their dog. I recently contributed so-called "expert opinion" to an article explaining why. It ain't rocket science. Here's what I wrote. _________________ Hitting, or causing your dog pain or fear in [...]
Silly or Anxious? Dog Emotions and Viral Videos
Quite frequently, when someone shows me a "cute" animal video or photo on YouTube or Facebook, I don't react appropriately. Sometimes the clips or shots are funny, but often I interpret a sadder, more anxious, or more aggressive emotion [...]
The Difference Between Assertive and Aggressive
In New York Magazine's blurb about Calm Energy Dog Training - under "Best Dog Trainer" in their "Best Of New York 2013" issue - they write "Newman's approach [is to] reconcile being calm and aggressive at once." If you know something about dog [...]