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When the human takes over the dog trainer I am...
I am a consultant in dog behaviors, specialized in behaviors motivated by fear and anxiety. I have learned and keep learning as to how dogs function, their brain, their emotions, and the influence of various factors, such as their health and environment, as to how they learn. I have learned and keep learning how to improve my communication with their owners: motivating them to put my advice into practice and sometimes change some habits of theirs, sharing my knowledge to give
Jul 264 min read
Generalizing in dog training
According to the Larousse, generalizing is : 1 – « Action of generalizing » Like you can do anything with that to train your dog ! 2 – « Action of extending the results of observing a few cases to all possible cases » It is a bit more precise. In concrete terms, here is what generalizing for and by your dog means : Familiarization Whether s/he is a puppy, a teenager, an adult, or a senior, your dog is constantly analyzing and trying to understand the world around him. If s/he
Jul 192 min read
Your puppy, a tiny soft toy for his whole life ?
Some of you are going to be disappointed : no ! Your puppy won’t necessarily stay an adorable little teddy bear forever. The gestation When your puppy is born, he is not a blank sheet. The food his mother consumed, her emotional states, her health, everything she has experienced, influenced his development in utero. If his mother is relaxed during her pregnancy, eats well, and is in good health, your puppy is already more likely to be born with a solid foundation (especially
Jul 102 min read
Surprise Versus Fear
Yes, both of them are emotions. Yes, both of them are hence spontaneous and short. Yes, both of them bring about hence physiological reactions. But no ! They are not alike. Too often I keep noticing they are mixed up. A startle, a scream, and at once one thinks Fear. The poor one is blamed for many reactions that should not be attributed to it. 😳 Surprise It gets the body ready for what comes after an unexpected event. The following reactions are linked to the experiences. I
May 184 min read
What kind of human are you to your dog?
A teacher A teacher passes his knowledge on to an individual, assesses it, and helps it develop; s/he prepares the individual for his/her future. A police officer A police officer verifies the information s/he is given according to established societal rules, ensures their enforcement through education or law enforcement; s/he guarantee that individuals do not pose a threat to one another. A lawyer A lawyer advises and defends the interests of the individual s/he represents.
May 62 min read
The reactivity in dogs
Reactivity in dogs is quite already a complex and burdensome problem for humans, partly because of glares and judgments, without adding superlatives: hyper-, super-, supra-, etc- reactivity. The truth is that the word itself is a catch-all. This term is merely "practical" for visualizing how a dog behaves. It facilitates conversations and limits explanations based on subjective perceptions of the dog's attitude. However, it masks several realities: there isn't just one type o
Apr 172 min read
The frustration, regulate it without suppressing it
What is frustration ? It is an emotion. It is a spontaneous short-lived physiological and uncontrollable reaction, in response to the impossibility to get or access an element. Examples : - your dog barks for his ball has gone under the couch - your dog pinches you for you stop him from passing Your dog is not commanding you, he does not regulate his patience, or rather his impatience, or his powerlessness. Case : J. J. has learned to open a door with his nose when he sees hi
Mar 262 min read
The right to disconnect
Slowing down. This word sounds as much as if I was told to wax my pubic area with lime. I live in a very stimulating environment for the senses, whether it is the auditory, visual, or emotional ones. Doing nothing. You'd make some of my colleagues and clients smile, even laugh. The last time I went on vacation, the only two reasons that led me to "do nothing" were: I was tired after a six-hour hike in the mountains, and I was having a lunch on a beach while listening to the w
Mar 252 min read
People are nice, why does my dog react like they all are a threat ?
Kindness is a moral perception by the human beings. It is subjective. Your dog perceives the world differently. What he was meant for Breeds were created and developed to meet human needs and desires. Some of them are close to humans, while others are more wary. Some will be vigilant towards strangers, while others will act as if everyone were their best friend. Behaviors from discomfort to fear To bear it out that your dog perceives all people as a threat, observing his/her
Feb 202 min read
Play tug-of-war with your dog
How to play The rule is basically you pull on a toy : you are on one side, your dog on the other. At times, you are the strongest ; at others, you dog is. Two dogs may also play together. Generally, the most practical toys to play with are those that dogs can easily grab in their mouth, and, that humans can hold in hand with no difficulties. It can be a rope, a tick, a soft toy, hollow-shaped ones. The ideal is that the size enable each play mate to grab it and play with no i
Feb 83 min read
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