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Preventing Behavior Problems, One Puppy at a Time: An Interview with Debbie Martin

Behavior problems are the biggest threat to the human-animal bond, and the number-one reason dogs are relinquished. So what’s the key to preventing problems before they start? Debbie Martin, Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member and ClickerExpo faculty member, says, “Get them while they’re young!” One of the few veterinary technicians in the country to specialize in behavior modification, Debbie has always had an interest in animal behavior. She has dedicated her career to helping pet owners resolve their pets’ behavior problems. Recognizing that prevention is easier than treatment, Debbie believes that many behavior problems can be averted with early socialization and foundation training.

Through her book, Puppy Start Right: Foundation Training for the Companion Dog, and now with her Karen Pryor Academy course, Puppy Start Right for Instructors, Debbie continues to give pet owners, veterinary professionals, and trainers the information and support they need to improve the welfare of dogs—one puppy at a time!

The 10 Laws of Shaping Revisited

The quest for greatness

The End-of-Session Signal

Is the end-of-session signal beneficial or harmful?

Are You Clicker Training, or Training with a Clicker?

I began teaching people how to clicker train their dogs in 1996. At that time, most pet owners had never heard of clicker training and few class instructors took it seriously. Mine was the only advertisement in the local Yellow Pages that mentioned the word "clicker." I had to persuade students to even try this novel gadget.

A decade later, clickers are now common in dog training classes. But, I suggest, clicker training still is not.