Shaping is commonly defined as: The differential reinforcement of successive approximations toward a target behavior. Now, that’s a mouthful! In plain English, this basically means that you start by reinforcing (rewarding) little pieces of the behavior, and gradually build up the behavior until you reach your final goal. However, let’s break this down and look […]
O Christmas Tree, Don’t Hurt My Pet Keeping your furry family members safe during the holidays can be a difficult task. There are the ornaments, plants, presents, lights — oh, and who could forget the Christmas tree (if do you decide to put one up this year)? Let’s take a look at some simple steps […]
Dog dandruff can be distressing—it’s not only unsightly, but it usually means something’s not quite right with your pup’s skin. In fact, dandruff could be caused by a variety of things, including allergies, parasites, an illness, or food sensitivities, says Dr. Danel Grimmett of Sunset Veterinary Clinic in Oklahoma. “There are so many causes, but […]
Many of you may have been alarmed by the recent blogs and articles that have been circulating the web, as things that are alarming often do, that warns you to NEVER give your dog ice or ice water as it may cause serious injury even death. There are various accounts of the article, with different […]
It’s time for our twice-yearly clock adjustment to save energy and eliminate excuses to wake up earlier. Everyone in U.S., with the exception of Arizona and Hawaii, sets clocks forward one hour at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of each March. This inevitably causes millions of Americans to miss worship the following morning and […]
Every day, all over the world, dogs repeat the same ritual: Nose to the ground, they sniff along a dotted line of an invisible treasure map, stopping at that “X” marks the spot where they can finally get down to business. What’s with all this sniffing, anyway? The simple answer: It’s the way dogs have […]
You need to wait a while before putting the miles on that pup or risk permanent damage to her developing body. Assuming she’s in good overall health (your vet can help determine that), eight months of age is about the earliest you should start letting her run with you, and even then, you should figure […]
Having trouble sticking to an exercise program? Research shows that dogs are actually Nature’s perfect personal trainers—loyal, hardworking, energetic and enthusiastic. And, unlike your friends, who may skip an exercise session because of appointments, extra chores or bad weather, dogs never give you an excuse to forego exercising. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor […]
When your dog is approached by a dog that looks like it may be aggressive YOU (not your dog) needs to take the aggressors role.When your dog is approached by a dog that looks like it may be aggressive YOU (not your dog) needs to take the aggressors role. Dogs that have the potential to […]
THE TRACKING PHASE includes a temperament test by the overseeing judge to assure the dog’s mental soundness. When approached closely on a loose leash, the dog should not act shyly or aggressively. The track is laid earlier by a person walking normally on a natural surface such as dirt or grass. The track includes a […]