Have the lymph nodes…shrunk?!
Update on my beloved Chip... and the rest of the pack.
Last night was not a good night of sleep. Chip woke me up a number of times with intense hacking, coughing, and wheezing.
Dog training is not about “fixing” your dog.
A phenomenon that's often astounded me is folks waiting until major problems arise before "getting dog training". And, when they do, it's often coupled with the mindsets that : it's the dog with the problem, it's the dog who needs "fixing", and it's only the dog who needs "training".
To treat or not to treat…that is the question.
Food is one of the most misused dog training tools out there.
Unfortunately, the general public has been conditioned to use food for practically everything when it comes to their dogs; leaving many feeling frustrated, confused, stressed, etc. when things don't go as intended (on both ends of the leash).
The 4 Quadrants of Operant Conditioning. Revised and simplified.
So, here we go. The 4 quadrants of "operant conditioning" ... revised and simplified.
The negative side of “positive reinforcement.”
Those who've been in the dog world long enough have likely been exposed to the extreme divisiveness between the "positive reinforcement" / "purely positive" camp on the training side of things... and everyone else outside of it.
It is our job and our responsibility as professionals to educate, equip, coach, help, and serve to the best of our ability….*for* the best of those we’re working with’s ability; and to do so honestly, ethically, respectfully, and authentically.
While I really don't like labels, as I don't draw a box around what I do or put any limitations upon options to dip into when addressing something as complex as "behavior", I've always called my approach "holistic" as I'm looking at (and speaking to) all contributing ingredients to behavior. I specialize in behavior. I'm not an "obedience" trainer, though obedience is an element, of course, of what we teach (N.B. "compliance" is connected to different things that need to be spoken to and developed beyond the dogs’ understanding of an obedience directive).
Unpacking “aggression.”
"Aggression" is one of the most misunderstood behavioral phenomenons in dogs and one of the most mishandled (even by a number of trainers). It’s also one of the most misinterpreted...
Dog training needs to be redefined, and trainers need to train in their lanes.
Bold statements, but hear me out. This information is shared with concern and respect.
Being the bridge.
....not to be confused with the bridge *signal*, which is used as a "marker" to indicate to a dog expectations have been met and a job was well done. When conditioned properly, bridge signals essentially translate to: "Amazing, Dog...great work! Bravo! Your paycheck is on its way!"
Medicating behavior.
....now, before everyone grabs their cyber pitchforks and starts blowing up the comments section, hear me out (...and any negativity will be deleted, anyway *blink, blink*).
Relationship is everything.
Relationships (of all types) are some of life's most beautiful teachers. Within the container of relationship lies the opportunity for immense growth, healing, and connection.
We get what we condition.
There's a popular saying in the dog training world, "we get what we reinforce." And this is a truth! Whatever is marked and rewarded will continue to occur. This is far more difficult than most realize, as we're oftentimes completely unaware of what our bodies may be doing in connection with the reinforcement, our criteria may be a bit vague, and the process tends to be a bit sloppy overall.
Start small to go big.
Dog training and behavior modification is a big job with a ton of smaller moving parts, and often comes with a big expectations. There's usually a deep sense of urgency in play (due to the fact most wait until behaviors get so bad, so risky, and so intolerable before they invest in help), as well as a mindset that throwing money at a problem will make it go away and dog trainers are "fairy dog-mothers" (or fathers) with magic wands. There's an expectation for big results...without taking the smaller, necessary steps to reach them or any level of involvement.
Punishment and abuse are two entirely different things.
This is a post about punishment.
That’s right. BIG. BAD. UGLY PUNISHMENT… or is it?
This one little word has been misconstrued, misunderstood, misrepresented, and misinterpreted for years now, thanks to the heavy-handed, forceful style of some “trainers” and their far right-wing counterpart, the “purely positive” un-caped crusaders.
Sadly, there’s a stigma now attached to this word. One based on total untruth and continues to get perpetuated… and I’m done with it.
The Win Board.
Behavior conditioning, modification, and rehabilitation can feel like a never-ending effort. It requires learning (for both ends of the leash), patience, consistency, and also modification of our own behavior (more often than not, it's our behavior- what we're doing and/or not doing- that's conditioning their behavior).
The detriment of “busy” in our dogs.
Busyness.
There's a hyper focus and fixation on "busyness"(in this country, especially); so much so that it's bleeding into our dogs and their behavior.
"Busyness" is being used to emotionally regulate, distract, numb, avoid, and suppress. We practice this in our own lives, and this has trickled down into how we're raising our dogs, as well.
“Compliance” in dog training.
The difference between "obedience" training and that of compliance often leads to frustration.
It's so important for the general public to understand that all "obedience" training is, is subscribing meaning to verbal cues and directives. That. Is. It. It's "brain training", and speaks only to the mental aspect of the dog.
*Compliance* to these directives is connected to other things that must be spoken to and developed, which goes beyond "obedience" training.
The benefits of “earthing” for dogs.
Bring a dog (or human) who is struggling with anxiety or emotionally / mentally in some way into the woods, and watch the burden and weight of it start to fall off. We begin to see a return to a sense of peace, balance, and ease. In returning to a more natural, instinctual world, we also return to a more natural, instinctual way of being. Senses reawaken and (re)connection happens. Humans return to who they are as "beings" (not "doings"), and dogs return to who they are as dogs.