Supervising Pets and Children

At a recent professional meeting, Jennifer Shryock, CPDT and Ellen Mahurin, M.A., ACAAB described Jennifer’s parent education programs for dog owners expecting a new baby (Dogs and Storks™) and those for toddlers and dogs (Dog & Baby Connection).  Elements of those programs are common to others, including Our own “Preparing Fido.”  One of the critical elements of…

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Are Dogs Ruled by Their Drives and Instincts?

It’s not uncommon to hear people talk about instincts and drives in animals. So you might hear statements like “Pit bulls are just instinctively aggressive” or “If you want a dog to really learn something well, you have to switch him out of prey drive and into pack drive.” The idea is that animals are…

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“Resource Guarding?” Really?

“Resource guarding” seems to be the latest term used to describe dogs that are threatening or aggressive when their owners attempt to take something away from them.  In the scientific behavior literature, this would likely be referred to as “possessive aggression” that in some sources is said to be part of “dominance aggression”. Typical scenarios…

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Can Dog Owners Recognize Distress in Their Dog?

If you are a dog owner, how good do you think you are at spotting distress in their dog?  Do you think you are fairly good at it – and better than anyone else, because you are more familiar with your dog’s behavior than anyone? A study recently published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior…

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Relationship Building Among Cats

Our client Tom adopts older cats from animal shelters.  This is not common, because most people want to adopt younger animals.  For his devotion to older cats, he is to be commended.  There are plenty of older cats that need homes but not many people willing to adopt them. Tom usually has two cats at…

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“Contrived” vs. “Natural” Reinforcers – A Critical Look

   We recently saw an article on a blog about the use of negative reinforcement (www.EileenAndDogs.com –   http://eileenanddogs.com/2015/07/30/natural-vs-contrived-negative-reinforcement/).  One of the main points of the article seemed to be that “natural” negative reinforcement was acceptable, and didn’t cause harm or problems for dogs, while “contrived” reinforcement was to be avoided. The article started by quoting…

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Preventing Re-Directed Aggression Among Cats

Redirected aggression problems between cats that have previously lived together amicably is a problem we see fairly often.  One case involved two female Siamese littermates who had been best friends and playmates for 2 ½ years.  Subsequent to a visit to the veterinarian, both cats began hissing and growling at one another, with one cat…

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Behavior Genetics, Breed Bans, and Getting the Facts Straight

We read an article in the Denver Post last winter, an Op-Ed piece by Krista Kafer, with a title of “End bans on specific dog breeds”.  In the article, she admonishes the town of Breckenridge, which was considering a breed ban at the time, to “keep a few facts in mind”.  She then goes on…

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Introducing CAAB Chats

Ever wished you could be a fly on the wall when behaviorists get together and talk shop? Wonder what they think of the latest research, the most current behavior modification or training protocol, or how they educate clients who’ve been exposed to too much behavior nonsense on the web and on TV? Have you been…

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What You Don’t Know About Pain in Animals Can Hurt

Consider the Following: An unpublished Banfield study revealed a large proportion of dog and cat owners surveyed (1000 each) aren’t aware that changes in elimination, exercise tolerance, or eating and drinking habits could be signs of disease (JAVMA 2013,  243 (7): 952). Pet owners don’t want their animals to suffer chronic pain, yet few recognize…

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