Use Natural Rewards Strategically Click here for original post One often encounters the use of treats in dog training and behavior therapy, and treats are indeed a wonderful and powerful reinforcer to use for teaching new behavior, generalizing learned behavior in new contexts, or fostering calm and attentive behavior...
New Study Shows Dogs Trained with Rewards Only are More Optimistic Click Here for Original Post By Zazie Todd, PhD When dogs are trained with methods such as leash jerks, yelling, and shock collars, they have worse welfare than dogs trained solely with food rewards, according to new research....
Cat facial expressions are affected by breed: Why there are implications for cat welfare Click here for original post People often describe cats as a bit inscrutable and hard to read; in part, this is because cats have fewer facial muscles and fewer facial expressions. The expressions they do...
Problem-solving and “pawed-ness” in cats – is there a relationship? By: Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado Click Here for Original Post Most humans are right-handed (although as someone who lives with a lefty – DEFINITELY not all!); have you ever wondered if your cat also has a paw preference? I’ve previously...
Can We Keep Our Cats Warm Enough? Click Here for Original Post Reading the Wired story on cats and boxes last week I was introduced to the cat’s “thermoneutral zone.” This is the temperature range at which animals do not expend any additional energy trying to stay warm (or cool off)....
SCAREDY DOGS AND STRANGERS – PART 2 Click for Original Post Welcome back! Today, we’re going to plow ahead with our discussion about how to help fearful or aggressive dogs feel more comfortable with visitors. If you missed my previous post on this topic, you should probably go back and...
If Your Dog is Afraid, Avoid These Two Mistakes Click here for Original Post By Zazie Todd, PhD When working with fearful dogs, an effective and commonly-used technique is desensitization and counter-conditioning. It’s a very powerful technique, but there are some technical aspects that you need to get right in...
Scaredy Dogs and Strangers – Part 1 By Dr. Jen Summerfield Click for original post Today, I want to talk about dogs who are afraid of visitors. This is one of the more common behavior issues that I’m called to help out with – but fortunately, it’s also a...
By Zazie Todd, PhD Click here for original Post Every dog owner has probably had a situation where their dog has looked to them for help, perhaps when a coveted ball or treat has ended up out of reach under the sofa. Is this something special about dogs and...
The Benefits Of Fostering An Animal By Dr. Megan E. Maxwell, Ph.D. My first adventures in the world of observing and analyzing dog behavior occurred while I was an undergraduate in the mid-1990s. I was a psychology major and lifelong animal lover and knew I wanted to find a...
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