Posts

Saying the Same Thing Over and Over in Dog Training

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Not “Sit, Sit, Sit” but “Rewards are the best way to train your dog…” Phot: Medenka Nera/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox. Do you ever feel like you are saying the same thing over and over again? Do you ever think about whether or not it’s useful? I’m not talking about those times when you see someone repeating a cue to their dog over and over while the dog keeps on doing something else. That’s not a good idea because the dog is simply learning to ignore you. (Instead, say the cue like “Sit” once, then wait, and the instant your dog sits give them a tasty treat as a reward). I’m talking about training methods. Repetition on dog training methods It’s important to use reward-based methods to train your dog because there are risks to aversive methods ( positive punishment and negative reinforcement ). Plus, reward-based training ca

Are scent work classes the new form of enrichment for your dog?

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Training your dog to search for a scent isn't as hard as you might think—and it's great enrichment for your dog. Photo: Barb Elkin/Shutterstock

Companion Animal Psychology Book Club October 2022

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“Equal parts science and doggy diary, [The Year of the Puppy] charts how our irresistible fur babies develop personality.”—People. 

The Resource Guarding Signs to Watch For in Dogs

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When people follow out-dated advice and fail to recognize signs of resource guarding in dogs, it's a recipe for trouble. Here's what to look out for--and what to do about it.  Photo: Mart Production/Pexels

Happy Cats and More Happy Cats with Radio New Zealand

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I spoke about cats with Jim Mora for Radio New Zealand's Sunday Morning --and then came back to answer listeners' questions.  Photo: Toma Stepunina/Shutterstock

Making Pets Happy Event with the IAABC Foundation

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On September 24th, I'll be presenting a live workshop on happy pets for the IAABC Foundation. By Zazie Todd PhD There are just a few days left to get your ticket to the upcoming event, Making Pets Happy: The Role of Positive Experiences in Good Animal Welfare. Whether you are more of a dog or cat person, this event will help you learn more about what pets need in order to be happy, and how thinking about their welfare can help to prevent and resolve behaviour issues. It's on Saturday 24th September from 1.00 - 4.10pm Pacific time, and it's a LIVE event with plenty of discussion time included. If you can't attend live, you'll get access to the recording for 12 months. CEUs are available and you can get more information and register on the IAABC Foundation website .  This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Get Companion Animal Psychology in your inbox. Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning aut

Fellow Creatures: 3 Things Dog and Cat Guardians Get Right

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I've got a new post on my Psych Today blog, Fellow Creatures , which takes a look at the positive side of the pet-guardian relationship. Photo: Valeria Boltneva/Pexels By Zazie Todd PhD

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