For many years, I always walked my dogs on flat collars. It's just what you do right? It's the conventional wisdom that few of us rarely stop to question as to whether it might be the best thing for our dog's wellbeing. As a professional dog trainer, I've often discouraged people using harnesses on their dogs, as many are actually designed to trigger a dog's opposition reflex, promoting further pulling and lunging. The exception has...
In more than 10 years as a professional dog trainer, I have continued to evolve my approach and thinking on what makes a 'good dog' and importantly, what this actually means for me, my dogs and the community in which we live. Of course the foundation of learning theory and animal behaviour is crucial to my practice and I love nothing more than building on my knowledge of this fascinating topic from behavioural researchers, other trainers and of...
Here is Part II of my two part interview series with the amazing and inspiring Dr Isla Fishburn (see part 1 here if you missed it!), where Isla reveals how her work with wolves has enhanced her understanding of dogs, how she has dealt with fear of criticism when integrating the worlds of holism and science, and the amazing world of plant healing and what it offers for our dog's wellness.
How has your work with wolves informed your understanding...
As an advocate of positive reinforcement training (R+) and wholesome species-appropriate nutrition, I have somewhat of an unhealthy obsession with searching out the best doggie treats for rewards!
Here's my tips on the top things to consider when selecting healthy training treats for your pooch. Selecting training treats
1. Find treats your dog really wants to work for
You're hardly going to get far with your (R+) training if your dog is not...
