Dog Training wisdom & More
Teach a Paw Target
Training a dog to target an object with his paw is easy and fun. A paw target is a foundation behavior that has many practical applications, including closing doors, wiping paws, ringing bells,...
Help Puppies Get Started on the Right Paw… for Life
Most people understand the importance of socializing puppies, and there are numerous puppy classes available. However, many classes are not true socialization classes. Instead, they focus...
Karen Pryor Academy Welcomes New Application & Enrollment Coordinator Annie Chastain
Waltham, MA, June 18, 2019— Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) is pleased to announce the selection of KPA Certified Training Partner (CTP) Annie Chastain as KPA’s new Application & Enrollment...
Teach Your Cat to Spin
Everyone knows that you can teach tricks to dogs, but did you know that cats can be trained easily, too? Since many cats live their entire lives confined indoors, clicker training can provide...
Cat Pawsitive National High-Five Day Contest Winner Clicks to $5,000 Prize
In early June, the Oshkosh Area Humane Society (OAHS) was awarded the $5,000 first prize in the Jackson Galaxy Project’s National High-Five Day contest. Voters selected the video of OAHS cats...
Teach Your Old Dog New Tricks
Chances are that when your dog was younger, you spent many hours training new behaviors like spinning, jumping, bowing, and more. Now that your dog is a senior and slowing down physically, he may...
Simple Strategy for a Stress-Free Vet Visit
Visiting the veterinarian's office can be a stressful experience, for both pet owners and their pets. Teaching a dog simple behaviors, such as hand targeting, ahead of time gives the dog a job to...
Teach Your Dog to Wait at a Boundary
Do you have a dog that barrels out doorways or from the crate? What about from the car? This can be a dangerous behavior, but boundary training can help. Anything can be used as a boundary. In...
Stationing for Concept Training
Stationing—training an animal to go to a designated area and stay there until cued otherwise—is an essential tool for most training. In this video, Ken Ramirez demonstrates how good, solid...
Shaping a Head Turn
Teaching your dog to turn his head is a fun exercise, and the skill is handier than it seems. A head turn can be used as the start of teaching “left” and “right,” a directional skill that is...
Teach a Puppy to Enjoy a Muzzle
Being very comfortable wearing an appropriate and well-fitted muzzle is a good training goal for any dog—particularly in situations where the dog may become worried or uncomfortable (think vet...
KPA CTP Places High in World’s Most Amazing Dog Competition
In spring 2019, Maddisen-Leigh Phelan, KPA CTP, and her border collie Rev were finalists in Facebook’s World’s Most Amazing Dog competition. The only Canadians in the nine-episode series,...
How to Capture a Sit
One of the fastest and easiest ways to train a new behavior on cue is to capture the behavior. “Sit” is a simple behaviors to teach your dog, because it’s a behavior that your dog already offers...
Interview with Laura VanArendonk Baugh
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member Laura VanArendonk Baugh will lead upcoming KPA Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) programs in Washington, DC (application deadline July 8, 2019) and in...
How to Teach a Chin Rest
Teaching your dog a chin-rest behavior is useful for training shy, overly excited, or reactive dogs. It is also helpful building cooperation during medical procedures (vaccinations, medication...
Teach Your Dog to Go Around an Object
Are you looking for a fun training exercise this spring? Teaching your dog to go around an object, such as a cone, is a useful skill and the foundation for many dog sports. Learn how to teach...
Teach Your Cat to Target
Targeting, where an animal touches an object with her nose or paw, is not just a useful behavior for dogs—it can be a very useful and fun behavior for cats, too! A target can be used to lead a...
Shaping Success: Strategic Treat Placement
Strategic treat placement is a key part of dog training, yet it is often overlooked. The placement of reinforcement during and after a behavior can make a difference as to the dog’s understanding...
How to Transfer a Cue
Cues should always be clear and consistent. However, cues do allow for some flexibility and can be transferred. Are two cues too similar, so similar that your dog confuses them (for example,...
Teach Settle on a Mat
Teaching your dog to settle on a mat is very useful—for both practical and safety reasons. Dogs need a safe place to settle down. When you teach your dog to settle on a portable mat, your dog...
Dog Saves Valentine’s Day
Dogs make the best Valentines—today and every day! They love unconditionally, are faithful and unselfishly devoted, and can always make you smile! In this video, Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty...
What it Means to Be a KPA CTP: Michelle Mullins
Michelle Mullins is the owner of and Director of Training at Honest To Dog, LLC. She provides private, in-home training, focusing on vet/grooming tasks as well as on reactive and aggressive dogs....
Chin Rest Behavior for Veterinary Care
Teaching your dog a chin rest is useful for building cooperation during medical, such as vaccinations, administration of medications, and eye and ear care. Watch as Karen Pryor faculty member...
Make Your Shelter a Bark-Free Zone
Constant barking is stressful for shelter dogs, staff, and visitors. A small shift in routine management can reduce the noise level to zero. Watch as Karen Pryor Academy faculty member Steve...
The Shaping Game
Does your dog know how to pay attention to you? When your dog is focused on listening to you, training will be more successful! In this video, Karen Pryor Academy faculty member Debbie Martin...
Teach Your Dog Directionals
Does your dog know how to pay attention to you? When your dog is focused on listening to you, training will be more successful! In this video, Karen Pryor Academy faculty member Debbie Martin...
Paying Attention: A Training Exercise for Puppies and Dogs
Does your dog know how to pay attention to you? When your dog is focused on listening to you, training will be more successful! In this video, Karen Pryor Academy faculty member Debbie Martin...
Teach Your Dog to Target
January is National Train Your Dog Month, a time to celebrate the joy of training. Enjoy a healthy relationship with your dog in the new year! One of the most important foundation behaviors you...
Your Cat Can Do WHAT?
The cat: independent, strong-willed, often aloof. Not exactly training material, right? Surprise surprise: clicker training blows the roof off of many preconceptions—and the oxymoron of a trained...
The ABCs of Barking
Barking happens for a reason. Sounds obvious, right? It didn't always, according to applied ethologist Julie Hecht, writing in the spring 2013 issue of The Bark. At the turn of the century, barkin...
All Ears! How to Train Your Puppy to Listen
Do you find yourself repeating instructions to your dog or puppy? You can learn how to train a puppy or dog to listen to you the first time, and every time. Many dog or puppy owners blame the dog f...
Puppy Socialization: Exploring New Surfaces
The first four months a puppy’s life are the most influential. Most of what is learned during this early period becomes the foundation for adult behavior patterns. To decrease the possibility of...
How to Crate Train Your Dog
The holiday season is a joyous time for humans. It's full of festive parties, holiday décor, delicious treats, and visitors. However, while holidays are fun for people, this time of year can be...
Choosing the Paws-itively Perfect Toy for Your Dog
'Tis the season for finding that perfect gift for those we love, and for many of us that includes the special furry family member in our lives! There is nothing more joyous for dog owners than to...
Give Thanks for Pets
If you are hosting Thanksgiving this year, your focus is probably on the bird—not the dog. But to ensure a happy and stress-free day for both you and your pet, plan ahead for safety on...
Thanksgiving Feast—in a KONG!
Holidays are fun to celebrate with furry family members, but the abundance of guests, commotion, and food can be challenging for you and your dog. A KONG toy is a fantastic way to keep your dog...
Interview With KPA Faculty Member Shelly Brouwer
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member Shelly Brouwer will lead a KPA Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) National program in Boulder, Colorado (application deadline 11/28/18). Learn more about the...
Congratulations to the 2018 Zoe Shelter Scholarship Recipients
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) and Dr. Lisa White, DVM, founder of Veterinary Behavior Management Solutions in Cincinnati, Ohio, are pleased to announce and congratulate the winners of the 2018 Zoe...
Dos and Don’ts of Pet Halloween Costumes
According to an article in the New York Post, 31 million people will dress up their pets for Halloween. Will you be one of them? In a recent television interview on Chicago’s WGN9, Karen Pryor Ac...
2018 Zoe Shelter Scholarships Available
In honor of Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month, Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) is proud to announce the availability of four Zoe Shelter Scholarships to KPA’s Shelter Training & Enrichment course....
Define Positive for Me…
A recent article in the Psychology Today e-magazine discusses the challenge of finding true positive reinforcement animal training. Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) is cited as a reliable source of positi...
Interview With Lindsay Wood Brown
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member Lindsay Wood Brown will lead a KPA Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program in Richmond, Virginia (application deadline 8/23/18), and Murfreesboro,...
Interview With Helix Fairweather
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member Helix Fairweather will lead a KPA Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program in Portland, Oregon (application deadline 8/30/2018). Learn more about the DTP...
Interview with Sherrie Yuschak
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member Sherrie Yuschak will lead a KPA Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) National program in Columbus (Reynoldsburg), OH (application deadline 7/27/18)....
Interview with Laurie Luck
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member Laurie Luck will lead KPA Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program in St Louis, (application deadline 06/01/2018). Learn more about the DTP program or apply...
The Keep Going Signal
Ken Ramirez, EVP and Chief Training Office of KPCT, revisits the Keep Going Signal (KGS), a confusing training tool. Ken spoke about the KGS at ClickerExpo this year, and, at the recent Art & Sci...
KPA Welcomes Sam Haeussner
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) is pleased to welcome Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) Certified Training Partner (CTP) Sam Haeussner as Alumni Relations Coordinator, supporting a rapidly growing constituency...
How to Teach Loose-Leash Walking
Get your dog to walk without pulling! But how? We are masters at allowing our dogs to drag us down the street. The most asked question at obedience classes and private consultations is "how can I g...
Interview with Hannah Branigan
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member Hannah Branigan believes that clicker training is the perfect technology to teach new behaviors, especially for competitive performances. Here, she talks...
Interview with Shelly Brouwer
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member Shelly Brouwer , CTP, will lead a KPA Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program in Boulder, Colorado (application deadline 11/26/18). In this interview, She...
Interview with Laura Monaco Torelli
Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) faculty member Laura Monaco Torelli will lead KPA Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) programs in Chicago, Illinois, (application deadline 05/28/2018). Learn more about the...
Teach Settle on a Mat
Is your dog a little too excited? Too excitable? Is he a maniac when people come to the door? Does he bug you when you're trying to eat dinner? Would you love to have a place where your dog could j...
Interview with Nan Arthur
Karen Pryor Academy faculty member Nan Arthur will lead the KPA Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program in San Diego, California. Applications are being accepted for this program until May 21, 2018....