Animal Behavior
Halloween Can Be Scary For Dogs
Some dogs are comfortable with all sorts of people and are not put out by people in weird getups or strange makeup. But those dogs are the exception. Most dogs, even very people-sociable dogs, can become worried about seeing people in costumes. From strange makeup to full-face masks, and costumes that change our shape from…
Read MorePlaying Tug of War: Good Exercise, Great Bond-Building
There is a school of thought that suggests we shouldn’t play Tug of War with our pups because it can create aggression. That same school of thought will say that if you do play Tug, make sure you always win so that the dog knows you’re the boss. I could not disagree with that…
Read MoreThe Power of Happy Visits
Is your dog afraid to go to the vet’s office or grooming salon? Do you find resistance when going through the door? Does she pant, pace, or drool? Do you find she suddenly starts shedding while waiting in the lobby? You and your dog are not alone, and when one dog is fearful, it exudes…
Read MoreThe Myth of Reinforcing Fear
The Myth of Reinforcing Fear There is a school of thought in the training world that says you shouldn’t comfort or give treats to a frightened dog because you are reinforcing fear. For example, if your dog is frightened while getting groomed, you should not stroke them or distract them with treats because this could…
Read MoreActive Disengagement
We’re Not Just Ignoring “Bad” Behavior, We’re Using Active Disengagement There are two main philosophies when it comes to dog training. One (often considered ‘old school’) is compulsion training. This is a style of training that uses tools such as choke chains, prong collars, or electronic training collars to correct the dog whenever they do…
Read MoreThe Benefits of Using a Dog Muzzle
At The Academy of Pet Careers, all students (both grooming and training) learn to acclimate dogs to wearing a muzzle because it’s such an important skill to have. And as a professional trainer and behavior consultant, I believe that every dog should learn to be comfortable wearing a muzzle. Many people cringe at the…
Read MoreCoping With Leash Reactivity
Does your dog walk beautifully with you until he sees another dog or strange person or cat or car or skateboard or . . . anything else that suddenly appears? Those things that prompt your dog to over react are collectively called ‘triggers’. Does your dog start barking, growling, lunging and otherwise acting like they’ve…
Read MoreHow to Help Your Dog Overcome A Fear of Nail Trims
Nail trimming is often one of the scariest parts of the dog grooming process for the dog, but it’s also a part that is critical for the health of any pet, whether they have long hair or short hair. If you have a dog that is scared of having his nails trimmed, there are several…
Read MoreThe Humane Hierarchy in Training and Behavior Modification
The Humane Hierarchy was developed by Dr. Susan Friedman, PhD, and adopted by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) as the preferred order of interventions. We use this framework in both obedience training and behavior modification. The aim is to ensure that we’re tending to all of the dog’s needs while using the…
Read MoreMeet Our Newest Dog Training Instructor
The Academy of Pet Careers is excited to welcome the newest addition to our team, Jody Epstein! Jody will be taking over the role of head dog training instructor for our dog training school. In addition, she will be the new animal behavior instructor for our Pet Empowerment Program. We are excited to have Jody…
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