Is the end-of-session signal beneficial or harmful? Should trainers use it or not? At a conference, I got into a debate with a group of search-and-rescue trainers about

Scents, in many scenarios Scent-detection training has been receiving more attention in recent years. The use of dogs to alert on explosives has become increasingly critical in our

I’ve always been fascinated by the cognitive abilities of animals. I used to teach a graduate course on animal intelligence. The popularity of the course was indicative of

Free shape—or not? Free shaping is a type of animal training where you teach the behaviors in gradual steps using a marker, like a clicker, and rewards. Shaping can be a great

Spooked? It’s autumn—the season of shorter nights, crackling leaves, the hunter’s moon, and, of course, Halloween. Costumed creatures come to your door and scary monsters parade across your

I’m not over the top—I’m just training my dog My two dogs and I were out for a walk one morning, enjoying the fresh air and the exercise.

Why all the barking? Barking happens for a reason. Sounds obvious, right? It didn’t always, according to applied ethologist Julie Hecht, writing in the spring 2013 issue of The

Times are changing For many people, the idea of a muzzle evokes a long-standing association with aggressive dogs. That impression can create feelings of fear and worry when

Really? That title is a typo, right? A professional dog trainer would never advocate against socialization, would she? Well, maybe! The problem isn’t with socialization itself, but with

Remember when? Do you remember when you learned to tie your shoes? Maybe that’s too far back and the details are fuzzy. How about when you learned to

Travel trouble With many pet-friendly resorts, parks, and other destinations available, you may consider fun outings with your furry friend. But what can you do if your pooch

What if instead of jumping around when the doorbell rings, your dog waits politely in a down position? Or, instead of circling the dinner table like a shark,