Blog

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 within just a few weeks of each other. Other times separation anxiety or difficult house soiling problems show up in groups of 3 or more in short order. Recently though, the trending issue was with clients who want or need their dog’s behavior to change in a hurry. I guess it’s not surprising. As I write this, the winter holidays are still close ... continue reading...

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 your dog.” Among the most frequently repeated bits of advice I offer is to avoid using aversive punishment as a training method. It causes more problems than it solves, and doesn’t teach your dog any desirable behaviors. ... continue reading...

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 interested in applying behavior science to enhance our relationships with animals and improve their well-being - our own pets as well as those of our clients and neighbors and friends. It is exquisitely well organized and presented. It’s fun and interesting and inspiring, and thoroughly scientific. And... it’s dedicated to teaching our animals (and one another) ... continue reading...

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. Indulge me in an over-simplification; pet behavior falls into 2 categories: behaviors we like (or at least tolerate), and behaviors we don’t like / won’t tolerate. The more skillful the trainer, the better they become at rewarding (reinforcing) desirable behaviors, and preventing undesirable behaviors from being rewarded (reinforced). It’s that ... continue reading...

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,” as in “we had a positive experience.” It suggests something we’d be glad to have more of; something we’d look forward to doing again. It’s quite correct to think of positive training that way. Positive trainers use games to help a dog (or cat, bird, rabbit, rat, lizard…) have fun while learning new activities like ... continue reading...

Can I Change My Dog’s Name?

Recently on WGLT’s “Animal House,” Laura Kennedy and I talked about naming pets. One of the things we discussed is a question I am often asked by clients who have rescued a dog that came with a name. “Is it is okay to change the dog’s name to something else?” You will be happy to hear that the answer is YES, absolutely, your pet can adjust to a new name, and it’s easier than most people think. Now for humans, our whole identity is wrapped up in our name – Bob Ryder – it’s been my name for ... continue reading...

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. Why is my dog barking? ... continue reading...

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 to check out the counter (or our guests), etc. Our usual response is to get frustrated and tell our dog “NO!” in order to get her to stop. But there is a better way to reduce unwanted activities for both you and your best friend. First, resist the inclination to scold and reprimand by shouting, “No, no, no! Stop it!” Instead, we suggest you begin by gently ... continue reading...