Blog
Thoughts on All The Dogs
This is where Suzanne tends to ramble about dogs, behavior, training, and gear.
What is Remedial Adaptation?
Haven't heard of remedial adaptation? That's ok. I made it up. Not without good reason though. I am a canine behavior specialist. My clients' dogs can chronically feel anxious, fearful, stressed, over-aroused, or any number of other unhealthy negative emotions. If...
From Puppy Socialization to Puppy Adaptation: Same Process, New Name
So, I'm just going to say it: "puppy socialization" is a horrible term. Either you know what dog trainers actually mean when they say this or you THINK you know what they mean but you really don't. If you're in that second group, I can't blame you. I propose we...
Working from Home & Dogs: Managing Undesirable Behaviors
Have you recently found yourself having to work from home because of COVID-19? Do you have one or more dogs? Your dogs probably love this. But, possibly, you're finding some aspects of this set up to be more difficult than you anticipated. Undesirable behaviors can...
THC Toxicity in Dogs
This is not one of my usual posts on dog training or behavior. With marijuana being legal in many states, including here in Oregon, I had my first, and with any luck only, experience with THC toxicity in dogs. What is THC? Without getting too science-y, cannabinoids...
Is Your Dog Trained?
A quick blog post on dog training as a general concept. It might have been motivated by a question that makes me grit my teeth: Is your dog trained? But that leads to another question: What is dog training? Is your dog trained? Have you ever gotten that question? How...
Fireworks and Reinforcing Fear: Truth & Myth
We are just days away from the scariest day of the year for some dogs: Independence Day. In some parts of the country, people are already setting off fireworks. In some places, the crackle, boom, bang of fireworks will continue for days or even a week. This is hell...
Overcoming Fear
I am recently took a bit of a vacation. Flying was involved. Are you afraid of anything? Spiders? Heights? Clowns? Well, I'm afraid of flying. Not complete terror kind of fear but lots of anxiety. In fact, I'm one bad turbulence incident away from a meltdown. One...
Classical Conditioning and Unintended Associations
In my previous posts, I have focused a fair bit on operant conditioning. But classical conditioning is important too. Operant conditioning is what we use when we teach our dogs new tricks. Classical conditioning is more related to behavior and emotional responses....
To Do Or Not To Do
As a dog trainer, the questions I am asked the most start with "How do I stop my dog from ________?" Fill in the blank. How do I stop my dog from chasing the cat? Pulling on the leash? Jumping to greet people? Charging at the door when the doorbell rings? The list...
Why Does My Dog Continue To Do That?
Pros and Cons of Intermittent Reinforcement Schedules Why does my dog counter-surf? Will my dog ever stop jumping on me when I come home? And does my dog always have to jump on strangers at the park? Why does my dog pull on the leash? And why does she continue to do...