Monthly Archives: April 2014

It’s Not Painful. It’s Not Scary. It Just Gets the Dog’s Attention!

Posted on April 28, 2014 by eileenanddogs

Some dog trainers who use tools such as shock, prong, or slip collars, or startle the dog with thrown objects or loud noises, claim that these things are done only to “get the dog’s attention.” They may further insist that the dog … Continue reading →

Posted in Cues, Human and dog misunderstandings, Operant conditioning, Punishment culture, Reinforcement, Terminology | Tagged , , , , | 25 Comments

“Respect” Is SO Last Year

Posted on April 13, 2014 by eileenanddogs

Shhh, don’t tell anyone!! I don’t know for sure, but I kind of think my dogs don’t “respect” me. But that’s OK.  Dogs probably don’t do “respect” anyway. It’s a human concept, and it depends on human cognition and social mores. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Dog training hints, Human and dog misunderstandings, Multiple dogs, Positive Reinforcement, Toys and Play, Treats | Tagged , , | 47 Comments

Bark Busters: Promoting Facts or Myths?

Posted on April 7, 2014 by eileenanddogs

A friend recently shared a flyer from Bark Busters, a dog training franchise business. It is called “Barking: The Facts” and can be seen at this link. (This is a special link to avoid raising their incoming click stats and you … Continue reading →

Posted in Human and dog misunderstandings, Punishment, Punishment culture, Reactivity, Stress Signals | Tagged , , , , , , | 89 Comments

What Happened to Summer’s Thunderstorm Phobia?

Posted on April 3, 2014 by eileenanddogs

Is it weird to write a post saying that something really shouldn’t have worked, but look, it kind of did? Is it irresponsible even? I keep pondering why I feel the need to explain all the strikes I had against me … Continue reading →

Posted in Classical conditioning, Desensitization and Counterconditioning, Fear, Stress Signals | Tagged , , | 7 Comments