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Showing posts with label Dr. McConnell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr. McConnell. Show all posts
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Anger & Anger Management
Anger & Anger Management
CAN DOGS GET ANGRY? Yup, I’m here to say that they can. Do
they get angry as often as humans? Nope, and thank heavens for that. If they
did, I doubt we’d live with them, given that they have carpet knives in their
mouths. Just like people, they vary tremendously in how often they experience
or express anger. I’ve known some dogs who appeared not to have an angry moment
their entire lives. More commonly, I’ve worked with dogs who, on occasion, are
clearly frustrated at not getting what they wanted or expected. And rarely,
I’ve worked with a small number of dogs who appeared to live in a state of
‘road rage’ for weeks, months or years on end. So even though I would never say
that anger in dogs is an exact replica of anger in people, both in its
frequency and how we experience it, it is a basic biological fact that dogs are
capable of experiencing anger. Here’s why:
Anger is as primal an emotion as fear, and if an animal can
experience fear, then one is wise to assume it is capable of experiencing
anger. The two, it turns out, go hand in hand. Both are mediated primarily in
the amygdala and both evolved to protect us. Fear is the emotion that signals
the body that it is in danger, and motivates us to take some kind of action to
protect ourselves. Anger is the emotion that backs up fear when being on
defense is not enough. Roger Abrantes tells a compelling story of when he was
about to be in hand-to-hand combat as a young soldier. As he stood in a trench,
watching the enemy soldiers run toward him with bayonets drawn, he was
initially terrified. But at the last minute, just as the soldiers were within a
few feet of him, he was overwhelmed with a burst of rage. That’s the emotion
that poured energy into his body and allowed him to move forward to fight for
his life.
That’s what anger does: it floods the body with energy,
increases the heart rate, pumps blood into our muscles in preparation for
action. Anger demands action; that’s why it can be so problematic. Have you
ever done something you wish you hadn’t when you were angry? If not, please
consider either offering life coaching sessions for the rest of us, or ask your
parents if you actually are an alien. Anger, at varying intensities, compels us
to do SOMETHING, anything, and thus… we sometimes do something we shouldn’t and
get ourselves in hot water until we learn to take a breath and let our emotions
settle. The same thing can happen to dogs. If you’re interested in following
this thread, I write more about the biology of emotion in For
the Love of a Dog.
Dogs have all the same wiring (and external expressions)
related to anger as people. They just, as I said, don’t seem to experience it
as often as we easily-angered primates do. (Ever seen chimps lose their
tempers? It’s common, and it’s not pretty.) Of course, like all emotions, dogs
exhibit a vast range of intensities of experiencing anger, from being slightly
irritated, to being truly frustrated, to downright mad to being in an
out-of-control rage. All of those are manifestations of anger, just at
different levels, and all are within a dog’s capability. Of course, dogs don’t
have the same complexity of cognitive overlays as we do; their experience of
anger has got to be different in many ways than ours. But that doesn’t mean
that we don’t share the basic, fundamental emotion of anger. As I’ve said
before, glass half empty or glass half full, both are equally accurate.
Here’s a photo of a dog illustrating what I claim is an
angry emotion. Note the furrowed brow, the offensive pucker and the hard stare.
Any one of those things by themselves would not be enough to suggest an
internal emotion of anger, but without the fur and black nose, this is exactly
the face of an angry person.
ANGER MANAGEMENT? Here’s something else we share: a need to
learn how to handle being frustrated or angry. Many of the behavioral problems
I’ve seen in my practice relate to either dogs who have never learned how to
handle being frustrated and lose their tempers when they don’t get what they
want, or owners who, uh, have the same problem.
Dogs need to be taught to be patient and polite (the basis
of the Feeling
Outnumbered program), and we need to learn to take a breath, or two or
twenty, before expressing anger or frustration at our dogs. I needed this
advice just recently: until recently Willie had stopped harassing Sushi with
his obsessive indoor herding, but after his long, long period of inactivity and
Sushi now being inside more because of the weather, the problem cropped up
again. I found myself starting to get truly frustrated about it, until I put on
my beh’ist/trainer hat, took a breath and put Willie in his crate when I found
myself unable to do anything constructive. (Things are improving again, whew.)
I’d love to hear your thoughts: How do you interpret the
dog above? What are your best coping strategies for dealing with your own
frustrations, and helping your dog through his or hers? Never happens at your
house? Ever? Really? Wow. Can I come over?
This is courtesy of Dr. Patricia McConnell from her site theotherendoftheleash.com
Courtesy of Dr. McConnell
CAN DOGS GET ANGRY? Yup, I’m here to say that they can. Do
they get angry as often as humans? Nope, and thank heavens for that. If they
did, I doubt we’d live with them, given that they have carpet knives in their
mouths. Just like people, they vary tremendously in how often they experience
or express anger. I’ve known some dogs who appeared not to have an angry moment
their entire lives. More commonly, I’ve worked with dogs who, on occasion, are
clearly frustrated at not getting what they wanted or expected. And rarely,
I’ve worked with a small number of dogs who appeared to live in a state of
‘road rage’ for weeks, months or years on end. So even though I would never say
that anger in dogs is an exact replica of anger in people, both in its
frequency and how we experience it, it is a basic biological fact that dogs are
capable of experiencing anger. Here’s why:
Anger is as primal an emotion as fear, and if an animal can
experience fear, then one is wise to assume it is capable of experiencing
anger. The two, it turns out, go hand in hand. Both are mediated primarily in
the amygdala and both evolved to protect us. Fear is the emotion that signals
the body that it is in danger, and motivates us to take some kind of action to
protect ourselves. Anger is the emotion that backs up fear when being on
defense is not enough. Roger Abrantes tells a compelling story of when he was
about to be in hand-to-hand combat as a young soldier. As he stood in a trench,
watching the enemy soldiers run toward him with bayonets drawn, he was
initially terrified. But at the last minute, just as the soldiers were within a
few feet of him, he was overwhelmed with a burst of rage. That’s the emotion
that poured energy into his body and allowed him to move forward to fight for
his life.
That’s what anger does: it floods the body with energy,
increases the heart rate, pumps blood into our muscles in preparation for
action. Anger demands action; that’s why it can be so problematic. Have you
ever done something you wish you hadn’t when you were angry? If not, please
consider either offering life coaching sessions for the rest of us, or ask your
parents if you actually are an alien. Anger, at varying intensities, compels us
to do SOMETHING, anything, and thus… we sometimes do something we shouldn’t and
get ourselves in hot water until we learn to take a breath and let our emotions
settle. The same thing can happen to dogs. If you’re interested in following
this thread, I write more about the biology of emotion in For
the Love of a Dog.
Dogs have all the same wiring (and external expressions)
related to anger as people. They just, as I said, don’t seem to experience it
as often as we easily-angered primates do. (Ever seen chimps lose their
tempers? It’s common, and it’s not pretty.) Of course, like all emotions, dogs
exhibit a vast range of intensities of experiencing anger, from being slightly
irritated, to being truly frustrated, to downright mad to being in an
out-of-control rage. All of those are manifestations of anger, just at
different levels, and all are within a dog’s capability. Of course, dogs don’t
have the same complexity of cognitive overlays as we do; their experience of
anger has got to be different in many ways than ours. But that doesn’t mean
that we don’t share the basic, fundamental emotion of anger. As I’ve said
before, glass half empty or glass half full, both are equally accurate.
Here’s a photo of a dog illustrating what I claim is an
angry emotion. Note the furrowed brow, the offensive pucker and the hard stare.
Any one of those things by themselves would not be enough to suggest an
internal emotion of anger, but without the fur and black nose, this is exactly
the face of an angry person.
learn how to handle being frustrated or angry. Many of the behavioral problems
I’ve seen in my practice relate to either dogs who have never learned how to
handle being frustrated and lose their tempers when they don’t get what they
want, or owners who, uh, have the same problem.
Dogs need to be taught to be patient and polite (the basis
of the Feeling
Outnumbered program), and we need to learn to take a breath, or two or
twenty, before expressing anger or frustration at our dogs. I needed this
advice just recently: until recently Willie had stopped harassing Sushi with
his obsessive indoor herding, but after his long, long period of inactivity and
Sushi now being inside more because of the weather, the problem cropped up
again. I found myself starting to get truly frustrated about it, until I put on
my beh’ist/trainer hat, took a breath and put Willie in his crate when I found
myself unable to do anything constructive. (Things are improving again, whew.)
I’d love to hear your thoughts: How do you interpret the
dog above? What are your best coping strategies for dealing with your own
frustrations, and helping your dog through his or hers? Never happens at your
house? Ever? Really? Wow. Can I come over?
This is courtesy of Dr. Patricia McConnell from her site theotherendoftheleash.com
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saga of Pupper vs. Kitty
Our home is never boring. Bailey makes certain of that.
Bailey is my three-year old Golden Retriever-Great Pyrenees mix. And from the moment he arrived at three months of age he has been a handful (more on that later).
Bailey is my three-year old Golden Retriever-Great Pyrenees mix. And from the moment he arrived at three months of age he has been a handful (more on that later).
If you will permit me the privilege of anthropomorphism the Saga of Pupper vs. Kitty will be
easier told.
easier told.
We have a new behavioral problem in our home. Bailey has decided he no longer likes our two
cats, especially our four-year old tripawd, Jack-Jack.
cats, especially our four-year old tripawd, Jack-Jack.
While Bailey’s sudden dislike of the cats is new, his temperamental attitude is not—we have worked with Bailey on anger management, resource guarding and impulse control since the age of nine months when his first outburst occurred. So we are not new to this behavior, its trails, struggles or dangers. We’ve also witnessed improvements along the way that we are thankful for.
Life in a multi-pet household is all about management. I was told that I could never have four adult
male (neutered) Great Pyrenees living in harmony. They were too stubborn, independent and territorial. And while we’ve had our challenges; especially as our two youngest puppies matured and hit those all important growth markers at 9, 12, 18 and 24 months of age, we have all survived declaws intact.
male (neutered) Great Pyrenees living in harmony. They were too stubborn, independent and territorial. And while we’ve had our challenges; especially as our two youngest puppies matured and hit those all important growth markers at 9, 12, 18 and 24 months of age, we have all survived declaws intact.
After Bailey’s first outburst at nine months of age, I immersed myself in animal behavior.
Already friends with a wonderful positive trainer, Jan Casey, I
surrounded myself with every book, website and recommendation she offered. Jan successfully lives with a reactive dog so I knew she not only had the training to offer advice but that she knew first
hand what life would be like for Bailey & I.
Already friends with a wonderful positive trainer, Jan Casey, I
surrounded myself with every book, website and recommendation she offered. Jan successfully lives with a reactive dog so I knew she not only had the training to offer advice but that she knew first
hand what life would be like for Bailey & I.
I would estimate that half of all multi-pet households have some sort of relationship issue at one time or another. Human-Dog, Dog-Dog, Cat-Cat, Dog-Cat. So how do we maintain safety and work through the “problem behaviors” to live a happy life together? I don’t have all the answers but as Bailey, Jack-Jack & I work through our issue we’ll share what we are trying, what is
working and what isn’t.
working and what isn’t.
Hopefully, it will give you some ideas to help your pets get along better with their housemates. As
always, I’m not an expert, professional, animal behaviorist or trainer. Just an owner looking for answers.
always, I’m not an expert, professional, animal behaviorist or trainer. Just an owner looking for answers.
As we begin the Saga of Pupper vs. Kitty, our first requirement is to maintain safety in our
homes for all involved. If you have severe behavioral issues—growling, lunging, chasing, biting, or guarding—please separate your animals so they cannot reach one another. It may be an inconvenience to fill your home with baby gates and crates, or leave Spike in his fenced backyard but safety comes first. Second, schedule an appointment with your animal’s vet for a checkup. If the issue is an animal-animal issue it may be best to take both pets to the doctor (separately) for a physical. Discuss all behaviors and issues you are concerned about. Health problems can
lead to a pet acting out in a physical manner. And just as we have to maintain safety first, we must rule out any health issues second.
homes for all involved. If you have severe behavioral issues—growling, lunging, chasing, biting, or guarding—please separate your animals so they cannot reach one another. It may be an inconvenience to fill your home with baby gates and crates, or leave Spike in his fenced backyard but safety comes first. Second, schedule an appointment with your animal’s vet for a checkup. If the issue is an animal-animal issue it may be best to take both pets to the doctor (separately) for a physical. Discuss all behaviors and issues you are concerned about. Health problems can
lead to a pet acting out in a physical manner. And just as we have to maintain safety first, we must rule out any health issues second.
There’s homework involved in this journey. Lesson #1—Pick up a few books to get you
started.
The Other End Of the Leash, For The Love of a Dogstarted.
and Feeling Outnumbered? All by Dr. Patricia McConnell and available at http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/category/dog-training-books
Once we’ve accomplished those three things we’ll meet back here for the next installment of the Saga of Pupper vs. Kitty.
Sheila Rinks is the editor of Finding Fuzzybutt Four, producer of the Raising Indiana podcast and shares her home with her husband, 4 Great Pyrenees and 2 very well-fed kitties.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Welcoming An Adopted Dog into Your Home?
Welcoming an Adopted Dog into
Your Home?
Your Home?
Love Has No
Age Limit the latest from Patricia McConnell
and Karen London should be attached to the collar of every newly adopted dog,
five months and older!
Age Limit the latest from Patricia McConnell
and Karen London should be attached to the collar of every newly adopted dog,
five months and older!
ATTENTION RESCUES & SHELTERS; Deeply
discounted for shelters and rescue organizations, Love Has No
Age Limit is affordable, accessible and destined to help
more dogs find and stay in their forever homes.
discounted for shelters and rescue organizations, Love Has No
Age Limit is affordable, accessible and destined to help
more dogs find and stay in their forever homes.
Read
an excerpt from the book:
an excerpt from the book:
Meeka is our 1 year old Border Collie. She was found in southern Illinois
she was only 3 months old. She was rescued by Midwest
Border Collie Rescue where she stayed with a foster family for a little
over a month. A friend told me about her, so I looked her up online. When my
husband and I saw her and read about her online, we just had to meet her. We
loved her from the first time we met her. She did come with a small handful of
issues, including resource guarding, some fear issues, & car chasing/motion
sensitivity. We've worked through almost everything now. Most people we meet
can’t believe she’s a rescue dog. She enjoys playing with her little brother,
Ralphie the Papillon, even though it took about a month to convince him it
might be fun to play. She also loves walks, hiking, running in the fields,
swimming, learning new tricks, training for agility & obedience, and is
always up for a good cuddle. She is a blast and we couldn't have found a better
pup! -Shannon Baade
she was only 3 months old. She was rescued by Midwest
Border Collie Rescue where she stayed with a foster family for a little
over a month. A friend told me about her, so I looked her up online. When my
husband and I saw her and read about her online, we just had to meet her. We
loved her from the first time we met her. She did come with a small handful of
issues, including resource guarding, some fear issues, & car chasing/motion
sensitivity. We've worked through almost everything now. Most people we meet
can’t believe she’s a rescue dog. She enjoys playing with her little brother,
Ralphie the Papillon, even though it took about a month to convince him it
might be fun to play. She also loves walks, hiking, running in the fields,
swimming, learning new tricks, training for agility & obedience, and is
always up for a good cuddle. She is a blast and we couldn't have found a better
pup! -Shannon Baade
This post is courtesy of Dr. McConnells' website theotherendoftheleash.com. Please visit for more information on animal behavior and training.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Did Someone Say Play?
Playing With Your Dog
Author, Jan Casey
It was really the
highlight of my weekend. We decided to have a little recreation time, something
that is too rare lately. Jim and I packed up the picnic supplies, my mom, some
towels, and Buzz, our adolescent golden retriever. It was time for Buzz to
experience the open water atBurgess
Falls
comes from a long line of hunting dogs who love to swim. He had been showing
interest in swimming every time we walked atCane Creek Park
environment was just the thing Buzz needed. He had a great time playing
“splish-splash,” learning about slippery moss on rocks, and swimming when the
bottom disappeared. He slept most of the way home. It was great, but not the
highlight to which I refer.
highlight of my weekend. We decided to have a little recreation time, something
that is too rare lately. Jim and I packed up the picnic supplies, my mom, some
towels, and Buzz, our adolescent golden retriever. It was time for Buzz to
experience the open water at
comes from a long line of hunting dogs who love to swim. He had been showing
interest in swimming every time we walked at
environment was just the thing Buzz needed. He had a great time playing
“splish-splash,” learning about slippery moss on rocks, and swimming when the
bottom disappeared. He slept most of the way home. It was great, but not the
highlight to which I refer.
No, the highlight came
after we got home. Buzz’s two favorite young people, Brian and Winston, came to
visit after we unpacked the car. My first thought was “Buzz will be way too
tired to play anymore today.” I could not have been more wrong. Jim and I, too
worn out from the earlier exercise, sat down to watch the threesome play.
Football, soccer, and water retrieval from the kiddie pool, all seem to be an
element of the game with each player taking a role – Buzz was running back,
Winston was place kicker, Brian was tackle. Yet there was no official structure
to any of the play, no rules, no penalties, just fun. The games ended when no
one could run any longer.
after we got home. Buzz’s two favorite young people, Brian and Winston, came to
visit after we unpacked the car. My first thought was “Buzz will be way too
tired to play anymore today.” I could not have been more wrong. Jim and I, too
worn out from the earlier exercise, sat down to watch the threesome play.
Football, soccer, and water retrieval from the kiddie pool, all seem to be an
element of the game with each player taking a role – Buzz was running back,
Winston was place kicker, Brian was tackle. Yet there was no official structure
to any of the play, no rules, no penalties, just fun. The games ended when no
one could run any longer.
I felt more relaxed
watching them than I had in a while. It dawned on me that we dog owners who are
saddled with responsibilities and aging spend a great deal of time training our
dogs, worrying about whether they will impress our friends with their sits and
downs and tricks. Some of us participate in organized sports, where the
challenge to perform and bring home the ribbons and titles can take away a
great deal of the pleasure of just partnering with our canines. Maybe with all
the stresses of the current times – gas shortages, politics, and economic
crises – maybe it’s time to stop and just play. Including the furry,
four-legged family members adds an exciting new dimension.
watching them than I had in a while. It dawned on me that we dog owners who are
saddled with responsibilities and aging spend a great deal of time training our
dogs, worrying about whether they will impress our friends with their sits and
downs and tricks. Some of us participate in organized sports, where the
challenge to perform and bring home the ribbons and titles can take away a
great deal of the pleasure of just partnering with our canines. Maybe with all
the stresses of the current times – gas shortages, politics, and economic
crises – maybe it’s time to stop and just play. Including the furry,
four-legged family members adds an exciting new dimension.
For some, it’s hard to
think like a kid when you have passed that age chronologically. So, like me,
some of you may need some ideas to get you started. Several recent books have
been published by several of my favorite authors: Dr. Patricia McConnell/Karen
London and Pat Miller. The McConnell/London book is titled Play Together,
Stay together. As stated in the description at Dogwise.com, this booklet
emphasizes the importance of play in maintaining a healthy relationship with
your pooch. Both physical and mental games are included to help those of us
lacking that creative gene, which obviously must have gone to other members of
our family. Pat Miller’s book, Play With Your Dog, establishes the
benefits, both behavioral and physical, of playing games with your dog. The
games in her book are a compilation of games submitted by trainers around the
country. I’ve got both books on my Christmas wish list.
think like a kid when you have passed that age chronologically. So, like me,
some of you may need some ideas to get you started. Several recent books have
been published by several of my favorite authors: Dr. Patricia McConnell/Karen
London and Pat Miller. The McConnell/London book is titled Play Together,
Stay together. As stated in the description at Dogwise.com, this booklet
emphasizes the importance of play in maintaining a healthy relationship with
your pooch. Both physical and mental games are included to help those of us
lacking that creative gene, which obviously must have gone to other members of
our family. Pat Miller’s book, Play With Your Dog, establishes the
benefits, both behavioral and physical, of playing games with your dog. The
games in her book are a compilation of games submitted by trainers around the
country. I’ve got both books on my Christmas wish list.
So what games can we
play while we wait for Santa? There are plenty of standard games available. I
love to play hide and seek with my pups. Once they are occupied with other dog
interests, I go out of sight, then call them using an urgent, but happy “Pup,
Pup, Pup!” More often than not, I get a thundering herd of dogs seeking me out.
They have learned that finding Mom will be rewarded, either with a treat or a
game of ball or Frisbee. This is a great game indoors or out (well, maybe not
with a Frisbee as the reward inside). It not only puts their tracking skills to
work, it enhances any recall work you may be doing.
play while we wait for Santa? There are plenty of standard games available. I
love to play hide and seek with my pups. Once they are occupied with other dog
interests, I go out of sight, then call them using an urgent, but happy “Pup,
Pup, Pup!” More often than not, I get a thundering herd of dogs seeking me out.
They have learned that finding Mom will be rewarded, either with a treat or a
game of ball or Frisbee. This is a great game indoors or out (well, maybe not
with a Frisbee as the reward inside). It not only puts their tracking skills to
work, it enhances any recall work you may be doing.
Tug is a favorite game
for all my dogs. Just be sure to follow the rules that are found at http://www.clickerlessons.com/tug.htm
. Maybe you can play a shell game with your dog by hiding a treat under one of
three cups, then shuffling them. Got an old neglected radio controlled car? The
terrier breeds will think they are in Heaven chasing one of these. How about
putting a toy under a box or behind a door?
for all my dogs. Just be sure to follow the rules that are found at http://www.clickerlessons.com/tug.htm
. Maybe you can play a shell game with your dog by hiding a treat under one of
three cups, then shuffling them. Got an old neglected radio controlled car? The
terrier breeds will think they are in Heaven chasing one of these. How about
putting a toy under a box or behind a door?
The games you play will
only be limited by your ability to think and act like a child again. If that’s
a problem, take a moment to watch kids and dogs playing. You might be inspired.
Most of all, you might find yourself relaxed and smiling at a time when the
rest of the world is not.
only be limited by your ability to think and act like a child again. If that’s
a problem, take a moment to watch kids and dogs playing. You might be inspired.
Most of all, you might find yourself relaxed and smiling at a time when the
rest of the world is not.
Jan Casey is a
reward-based trainer inFlorida
at Courteous Canine, Inc. www.courteouscanine.com
and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services
www.smilesandwags.com. Mrs.
Casey is a member of the Association of Animal
Behavior Professionals. Mrs.
Casey is a columnist for theCookeville ,
Tennessee
Pages and Kid's Korner . This column was originally written for the Herald-Citizen www.herald-citizen.com.
reward-based trainer in
at Courteous Canine, Inc. www.courteouscanine.com
and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services
www.smilesandwags.com. Mrs.
Casey is a member of the Association of Animal
Behavior Professionals. Mrs.
Casey is a columnist for the
Pages and Kid's Korner . This column was originally written for the Herald-Citizen www.herald-citizen.com.
Monday, October 10, 2011
The Other End of The Leash...
...should be a place of positivity and continous learning, which is also what you will always find here at FFBF.
One of my favorite blogs is written by Dr. Patricia McConnell, Applied Animal
THE OTHER END OF THE LEASH
Welcome to an ongoing inquiry about the behavior of people and dogs. I would
like this to be a forum for people who are both intellectually and emotionally
fascinated by the behavior of the animals at both ends of the leash. My hope is
that it will become a place for an informed and thoughtful consideration of the
amazing relationship between people and dogs—my two favorite species.
Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, (CAAB) has made a lifelong
commitment to improving the relationship between people and animals. She is
known worldwide as an expert on canine and feline behavior and dog training,
and for her engaging and knowledgeable dog training books, DVDs and seminars.
Patricia has seen clients for serious behavioral problems since 1988, and is an
Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,
teaching "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships."
For fourteen years she dispensed advice about behavior problems, and
information about animal behavior research, on Wisconsin Public Radio's Calling
All Pets, which was heard in over 90 cities around the country.
A highly-sought after speaker on
dog behavior and training, McConnell has presented seminars all over theUnited States , and in Canada ,
Germany , Australia , Sweden ,
Belgium and New Zealand
2011 she'll be speaking inTexas , Colorado , Pennsylvania , Scotland and Madison , WI
(see
Events).
She is the author of
the much-acclaimed books The Other End of
the Leash (which is now published in 13 languages), For the Love of A Dog: Understanding Emotions in
You and Your Best Friend and Tales
of Two Species. Her self-published book and booklets on dog
training and dog and cat behavior problems continually receive rave reviews
from professional trainers, veterinarians and dog and cat lovers from all over
the world. Dr. McConnell is also the behavior columnist for the Bark magazine (www.thebark.com) "the New Yorker of Dog
Magazines") and writes for many other publications, including APDT's
Chronicle of the Dog and Natural History. She has made numerous television
appearances, including spots with Anderson Cooper on CNN, Martha Stewart and
Wayne Brady.
Patricia received her Ph.D. in
Zoology in 1988 from theUniversity
ofWisconsin-Madison
researching dog behavior and communication between professional trainers and
working domestic animals. Her dissertation received the prestigious Allee Award
from the Animal Behavior Society in that same year. Patricia and Nancy Raffetto
founded Dog's Best Friend, Ltd in 1988. Dogs Best Friend Training, LLC is now
owned and operated by the very capable Aimee Moore of Madison, WI. For more
information about dog training classes and behavior consultation in theMadison , WI
area, go to www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com.
Patricia has one dog, one confident cat and a very spoiled flock of sheep on a
small farm inSouthwestern Wisconsin . Her two
Border Collie, Willie, keeps her outside and active, and the memories of her
beloved Great Pyrenees, Tulip, keep her humble. Trisha suffers from Separation
Anxiety each time she leaves her dogs at home when she leaves on her numerous
speaking engagements around the country.
One of my favorite blogs is written by Dr. Patricia McConnell, Applied Animal
Behaviorist, Trainer and compelling author and speaker. Sheila
THE OTHER END OF THE LEASHWelcome to an ongoing inquiry about the behavior of people and dogs. I would
like this to be a forum for people who are both intellectually and emotionally
fascinated by the behavior of the animals at both ends of the leash. My hope is
that it will become a place for an informed and thoughtful consideration of the
amazing relationship between people and dogs—my two favorite species.
Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, (CAAB) has made a lifelong
commitment to improving the relationship between people and animals. She is
known worldwide as an expert on canine and feline behavior and dog training,
and for her engaging and knowledgeable dog training books, DVDs and seminars.
Patricia has seen clients for serious behavioral problems since 1988, and is an
Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,
teaching "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships."
For fourteen years she dispensed advice about behavior problems, and
information about animal behavior research, on Wisconsin Public Radio's Calling
All Pets, which was heard in over 90 cities around the country.
A highly-sought after speaker on
dog behavior and training, McConnell has presented seminars all over the
2011 she'll be speaking in
(see
Events).
She is the author of
the much-acclaimed books The Other End of
the Leash (which is now published in 13 languages), For the Love of A Dog: Understanding Emotions in
You and Your Best Friend and Tales
of Two Species. Her self-published book and booklets on dog
training and dog and cat behavior problems continually receive rave reviews
from professional trainers, veterinarians and dog and cat lovers from all over
the world. Dr. McConnell is also the behavior columnist for the Bark magazine (www.thebark.com) "the New Yorker of Dog
Magazines") and writes for many other publications, including APDT's
Chronicle of the Dog and Natural History. She has made numerous television
appearances, including spots with Anderson Cooper on CNN, Martha Stewart and
Wayne Brady.
Patricia received her Ph.D. in
Zoology in 1988 from the
of
researching dog behavior and communication between professional trainers and
working domestic animals. Her dissertation received the prestigious Allee Award
from the Animal Behavior Society in that same year. Patricia and Nancy Raffetto
founded Dog's Best Friend, Ltd in 1988. Dogs Best Friend Training, LLC is now
owned and operated by the very capable Aimee Moore of Madison, WI. For more
information about dog training classes and behavior consultation in the
area, go to www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com.
Patricia has one dog, one confident cat and a very spoiled flock of sheep on a
small farm in
Border Collie, Willie, keeps her outside and active, and the memories of her
beloved Great Pyrenees, Tulip, keep her humble. Trisha suffers from Separation
Anxiety each time she leaves her dogs at home when she leaves on her numerous
speaking engagements around the country.
Courtesy of theotherendoftheleash.com
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The Puppy Primer
The NEW EDITION of The Puppy Primer is an updated and expanded version of our best-selling Puppy Primer, used by thousands of trainers across the country. New dog owners love it because it provides clear and concise information that makes training effective and fun.
Purchase The Puppy Primer at http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/product/the-puppy-primer
Almost twice the size of the original, The Puppy Primer covers basics like sit, down, stand, and come, as well as no jumping, walking by your side, the Puppy Pause, take/drop it, and games like fetch.
Expanded sections/special topics include:
~ Socialization
~ Positive Reinforcement
~ House Training
~ Crate Training
~ Handling/Collar Touch
~ How to Stop Unwanted Behavior
~ Helping Puppies Conquer Their Fears
~ How Play Teaches Obedience and
Emotional Control
~ How Not to Play!
~ Lots of New Tricks and Games
~ Adolescence
New Dog in the Household?
New Dog in the Household?
Author, Glenda Herrin
A Training Tip from Glenda Herrin, Owner of Heeling Hounds Dog Training, in El Paso, TX.
When a dog joins a new household, think of it as being his first week at a new job - - he doesn't know what the household rules are. We can help educate our dogs on what our 'policies' are by establishing consistent rules and making sure all family members follow the same routine. This lets our dogs know exactly what they are allowed and not allowed to do. Think back to when you last started a new job: you needed to learn such rules as whether business attire was mandatory, whether work hours were flexible, whether you were allowed to put your feet up on the desk, and whether you could wear flip flops and drink beer. You were no doubt informed of company policies in a calm, matter-of-fact way, with no anger, resentment, rancor or shouting (well, except for the beer and flip-flops situation!). That's how we need to educate our dogs - - calmly and without anger, resentment, or frustration - - because how can we be angry with them for not following our rules if they haven't been taught what the rules are?
Thanks for this fantastic tip, Glenda! Glenda's website is www.heelinghounds.com
Thanks for this fantastic tip, Glenda! Glenda's website is www.heelinghounds.com
This blog post is courtesy of http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/take-this-job-and-love-it-.html
Monday, August 29, 2011
Positive Based Trainers and Experts
A Few of My Favorite Trainers and Animal Experts.
There are many opinions and techniques used in the world of Animal Science and in the name of training but I prescribe to a purely-positive technique and thought process. I have seen the benefits of these beliefs as dogs learn and thrive. I have also seen the consequences of other training methods gone bad… I’d like to offer a few of my mentors and the experts I turn to when advice is needed. When looking for a trainer or behavioral expert please do your due diligence. Your dog will thank you for it!
Dr. Patricia McConnell
Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, (CAAB) has made a lifelong commitment to improving the relationship between people and animals. She is known worldwide as an expert on canine and feline behavior and dog training, and for her engaging and knowledgeable dog training books, DVDs and seminars. Patricia has seen clients for serious behavioral problems since 1988, and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teaching "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships." For fourteen years she dispensed advice about behavior problems, and information about animal behavior research, on Wisconsin Public Radio's Calling All Pets, which was heard in over 90 cities around the country.
A highly-sought after speaker on dog behavior and training, McConnell has presented seminars all over the
She is the author of the much-acclaimed books The Other End of the Leash (which is now published in 13 languages), For the Love of A Dog: Understanding Emotions in You and Your Best Friend and Tales of Two Species. Her self-published book and booklets on dog training and dog and cat behavior problems continually receive rave reviews from professional trainers, veterinarians and dog and cat lovers from all over the world. Dr. McConnell is also the behavior columnist for the Bark magazine (www.thebark.com) "the New Yorker of Dog Magazines") and writes for many other publications, including APDT's Chronicle of the Dog and Natural History. She has made numerous television appearances, including spots with Anderson Cooper on CNN, Martha Stewart and Wayne Brady.
Patricia received her Ph.D. in Zoology in 1988 from the
Dr. McConnell has many wonderfully insightful books about the love of dogs and dog behavior but my two top recommendations are: The Other End Of The Leash and For The Love Of A Dog.
Karen Pyror
Karen Pryor is the CEO of Karen Pryor Clickertraining and Karen Pryor Academy.
Karen is an active, leading spokesperson and teacher for effective force-free training across the globe. Her work with dolphins in the 1960's revolutionized animal training by pioneering and popularizing force-free training methods based on operant conditioning and the conditioned reinforcer.
Karen’s 40-year career working with and educating scientists, professional trainers, and pet owners has changed the lives of countless animals and their caretakers in zoos, oceanariums, and pet-owning households.
She is the author of six books, including Don’t Shoot the Dog!, the "bible" of training with positive reinforcement. Her most recent book, Reaching the Animal Mind, is about how to bring out the undiscovered creativity, intelligence, and personality of the animals in our lives. Karen lives outside
Jan Casey
http://www.smilesandwags.com/
Jan Casey is a reward-based trainer in Florida Cookeville , Tennessee
Casey is also a friend and has trained and worked closely with my four dogs throughout their lives. She is the reason I became interested in Animal Behavior and Positive Training.
Do you want to fully understand your dog, be able to clearly read his body language? Ever wonder what colors dogs see? The answer is not what you might think…
Stanley Coren’s books explore what it is truly like to be Canine.
"Science may never comprehend the full extent of what dogs know about language, problem solving, the past, the future, God, time or philosophy. In the end, we must content ourselves with the fact that dogs know enough to be dogs -- which is all that is really required of them." Stanley
Finally, the two books on my nightstand right now are Dog Sense by John Bradshaw and Inside of a Dog:What Dogs See, Smell and Know by Alexandra Horowitz. The best way to help our furry friends is to begin by understanding what it is like to be in their fur. It seems like an interesting place to be.
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