The Treat Hierarchy Game We all have our favorite foods, including our dogs. While some dogs seem to want to eat everything, others can be very picky. What they both have in common is that there is at least one treat that they value above anything else. Why is this important? When working with a dog that cowers, growls, barks,…
To Tug or Not to Tug? Whether it is okay to play tug with your dog is one of the most common questions that owners ask me. They have two main concerns based on myths that we are going to dispel. They must always win, or else their dog will not see them as the alpha. The “alpha dog” concept…
Changing the Stigma of Muzzles Why dogs wear them and what owners want you to understand. As a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, I regularly work with clients whose dogs have acted aggressively towards, or severely bit, a person or another animal. Some of the animals have even died as a result of their injuries. While it is at first hard…
This article was published in the IAABC Fall Journal of 2018 and can also be found at https://fall2018.iaabcjournal.org/2018/10/25/from-foes-to-friends-si-jeter/ BACKGROUND Si is an approximately 6-year-old domestic short haired tabby cat. He was found as a stray when he was about a year old. At the time, our home consisted of two dogs and two other cats. Si instantly snuggled with the…