You’ve probably heard the cute names — “cockapoo,” “labradoodle,” “peekapoo,” and so on. They’re “designer dogs” — purposely cross-bred dogs.

But, really, they’re still mutts.

Very expensive mutts.

And because designer dogs are all the rage and fashion, a lot of breeders I wouldn’t categorize as “responsible” and “good” and “reputable” are cashing in on the current popularity of “designer dogs.” The breeders who are in it for the money rarely put much thought into the breedings they do. They don’t carefully research the genetics and pedigree history of the dogs they’re breeding, and they aren’t really concerned with ensuring that their breedings will produce healthy pups with good temperaments. (more…)

Many people don’t realize that some common human foods can be harmful to dogs.

You probably have heard that chocolate’s bad for dogs, but did you know that onions and grapes can be deadly?

“Dangerous Foods: Are They Harmful to Your Dog?” lists foods that are known to be toxic to dogs. The level of toxicity varies, as do symptoms of toxicity.

This is a must-read for all dog owners.

The New York Times has recently run a couple of articles on dogs and dog training.

“C’mon, Pooch, Get With the Program” explores the rise of dog training classes as owners expect more from their dogs and as the dog’s role in human society changes from outdoor protector and hunter to indoor soul mates.

An earlier article, “Good Dog, But What About the Trainer?” explores the fact that there are no firm standards or regulations for dog trainers. Anyone who wants to can call themselves a professional dog trainer. It also discusses the differences between group classes and private in-home training.

Note: You’ll need to register with the New York Times website to access these articles. Registration is free.

“Caring Canines,” a Boston area pet therapy program, is looking for volunteers to join them!

If your dog is friendly with everyone (including other animals), please consider becoming a Therapy Dog volunteer! Registered therapy dogs are invited to visit nursing homes and other places where people don’t usually get a chance to be around animals.

Our dog Barney was a registered therapy dog (registered with Therapy Dogs International). While I didn’t do a lot with him so far as pet therapy was concerned (we mostly visited my mother and others in her nursing home), I saw what a tremendous difference pets can make in the lives of nursing home residents and others (in hospitals, assisted living arrangements, etc.). (more…)

Download a Free Copy of “Before You Get Your Puppy”

Buy “Before You Get Your Puppy” from Amazon.com

Buy “Before You Get Your Puppy” from Dogwise

Dr. Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and writer who has done a lot to shape dog training over the past couple of decades. He was the first to introduce “puppy classes” - in 1981 - with his “Sirius Puppy Training” in the San Francisco Bay area. The nonviolent, positive training methods shown on his “Sirus� Puppy Training Video” helped pave the way for positive reinforcement dog training methods as increasingly more trainers embraced the “new” methods of lure/reward, clicker training, and other training methods focusing on positive reinforcement. (more…)

This online game simulates a pigeon in a “Skinner Box.” There are four behaviors you can work with: Peck, Hop, Flap, and Turn. Reinforce a particular behavior by clicking on the feed box (the animated pigeon silhouette eats the food dispensed when you click and modifies its future behavior accordingly). The game charts your progress with a chart. A great way to practice your clicker training timing!

Play the Clicker Timing Game

Buy BLUE Adult Formula for Dogs from PetsMart

I’m always looking for pet food I can actually trust to feed my dogs and know they’re getting healthy, nutritional food, but usually I can only find it in specialty dog stores. They eat home-prepared meals for breakfast, but dinner is usually a quick bite of kibble and/or chopped up dog food logs.

So I was happy to find Blue Buffalo’s product lines of food for dogs and cats at my local PetSmart store. (more…)

Play the Sheep Dash game!

Here’s an online game that can test your observation skills and your reflexes — both necessary for good timing when clicker training! The game’s designed to measure your reflexes, which can be slowed when you’re tired. Watch for bolting sheep and hit your mouse button to tranquilize the sheep before it makes it out of the pasture. Then have some tea or coffee and try again! If you find you need the tea or coffee to make it to the “Bobbing Bobcat” level or higher, try getting more sleep!

This article by Donna Duford explores the shifts in perception that can accompany “crossing over” (shifting from traditional command- and correction-based training methods to positive reinforcement methods, including clicker-training). In my own experience as a crossover trainer, I’ve found that I’ve become much more sensitive to canine body language, especially to stress signals (something we try to avoid in positive training methods, although some stress is an inevitable part of learning). This article explains just why there’s “no going back” once you’ve “crossed over” to positive training methods. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand why clicker trainers and trainers using primarily positive reinforcement are often so adamant that their way is the only way they will ever train a dog.
Read the article “You Can Cross Over, But You Can’t Cross Back”

These leather leashes have a European design that offers a great deal of flexibility! Depending on which snap you attach to which ring, it can be a 4′ lead, a 6′ lead, a two-dog lead, or a temporary tie-out!

Buy Circle T Euro Leather Lead from Petco.com