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Learning to Accept The Dog in Front of You
Every now and then, a post comes across my social media feed with an interesting message. “The dog of your dreams is not the dog
Victoria Stilwell Podcast about Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Bob was recently interviewed by world-renowned dog trainer and television personality (It’s Me or the Dog) Victoria Stilwell on the complexities of canine separation
How long will it take for my dog to recover from separation anxiety?
“How long will it take?” It’s one of the questions I get most often, and the one I’m least able to answer. What is
Enrichment for Senior Dogs
When Daisy was a young dog, we had trouble keeping up with the amount of exercise and enrichment she required. She had long daily bike
Can dogs recover from separation anxiety? YES!
People frequently ask me if a dog can recover from separation anxiety. They understandably want to know if success is possible before committing time, money,
Bob is a Victoria Stilwell Academy Faculty Advisor
Earlier this year, Bob became a faculty advisor for the esteemed Victoria Stilwell Dog Training Academy. What is the Victoria Stilwell Dog Training Academy (VSA)?
Suspending Absences During Separation Anxiety Training
An important part of separation anxiety training is not leaving your dog home alone longer than he/she is comfortable. During the height of the
Does my dog have separation anxiety? What are the signs?
Wondering if your dog has separation anxiety? Your veterinarian can make the clinical diagnosis, but there are some indicators you can look for based on
Why Virtual Works Best for Separation Anxiety Training
Working as a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) has taught me a lot about the condition. It has also helped me hone whole new set
Would Getting a Second Dog Help with Separation Anxiety?
Bob Ryder, CSAT, PMCT-4, CPDT-KA Your dog has separation anxiety. Maybe you brought home a brand new puppy full of energy and innocence from a
Separation Anxiety Training – Realistic Expectations
Bob Ryder, CSAT, PMCT-4, CPDT-KA Separation anxiety is a deeply ingrained fear-based behavior disorder. Helping a dog recover from it requires commitment and patience. This
Separation Anxiety – Can Dogs Tell Time?
A separation anxiety client client recently asked how it’s possible for dogs to have such problems being alone given that they can’t tell time.
How returning to work/school may impact your dog
As Covid vaccines become available and public health restrictions begin to ease, people are returning to work/school. I spoke with Dana Volmer of WGLT about
High Maintenance, and Highly Rewarding
It’s music to my ears when clients tell me, “It’s really we humans who need the training.” Of course we do train dogs for the
Take the Slow Train
For whatever reason, issues for which people ask my help seem to come in clusters. Sometimes I’ll have a handful of dogs struggling with OCD issues
Thou Shalt Not Punish
I recently made the following observation during a consultation with a new client. “The less you punish your dog, the less you’ll need to punish
Clicker Expo 2018
This installment comes to you from St. Louis. I’m at the front end of “Clicker Expo,” a 3 day conference for dog trainers and others
Pardon the Interruption
There’s a tool in the kit of most force-free trainers that deserves more attention than it gets. In terms of training, I’m talking about interruption.
Positive Begets Positive
The term “positive training” has a couple meanings, and it’s worth understanding the nuances. Most people understand it first in the sense that “positive” suggests “desirable,”
Can I Change My Dog’s Name?
Bob Ryder, CSAT, PMCT-2 CPDT-KA A few years ago on WGLT Laura Kennedy and I talked about naming pets. One of the things we discussed
Why is my dog barking?
Bob was on “Animal House” on WGLT with Laura Kennedy today – if you missed hearing it live, you can listen via the link below.
Less No, More Yes
We all get frustrated when our dog does something she isn’t supposed to do – like chasing the cat, raiding the trash, or jumping up
It’s ALL Tricks To Your Dog
Bob was recently on WGLT with Laura Kennedy on “Animal House” to talk about the best way to train your dog to do fun tricks and
Winter Exercise Tips
It’s Cold – Keep Moving! As I mention often to my clients, one of my favorite training proverbs says, “A tired dog is a well