The bow is not only an impressive trick, but is also one of the critical skills in canine freestyle routines. In this video, multiple International Freestyle Champion Michele Pouliot demonstrates how to teach the bow when starting in the down position.
Many people feel guilty about crate training their dogs, as they think that confinement is cruel. However, when crate training is introduced positively, it can be extremely beneficial for both you and your dog. The crate can become a place where your dog feels safe and calm.
When her first dog passed away, Reanna Ali, KPA CTP, was heartbroken. Around that time, she left the corporate world and moved into the dog-training industry, first offering dog-walking services. When Amelia, a 4-month-old rescue dog from Texas, entered Reanna’s life in 2018, Reanna began to think of training as a career. A friend had completed the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA) Dog Trainer Professional (DTP) program several years earlier. Reanna completed the DTP program herself in 2019, in Ottawa, Ontario, with Carolyn Clark. She has not looked back since then! The name of Reanna’s business, Trizane, is combination of her first dog Trina’s name and the name of her bird, Zane.
One of the most useful (and easy) behaviors that you can teach your cat is to sit on cue. Not only will the sit behavior impress your friends, but teaching a sit helps manage unwanted behaviors, like being underfoot when you are preparing dinner (his or yours!) or begging at the dinner table.
Friday, June 25, marks Pet Sitter International’s (PSI) 23rd annual Take Your Dog to Work Day, a day to celebrate dogs as companions and promote adoptions. If you plan to bring your dog to your office or job site, or if you will be working from home, here are a few tips to ensure that working with your dog is a happy, healthy experience for you both.
When they think about adding a new dog to the family, many people dream of long, leisurely strolls with their dogs walking beside them nicely. However, leash pulling is one of the most common complaints that pet parents have; it is one reason dogs are surrendered to shelters. By teaching shelter dogs to walk nicely on a leash, shelters can increase adoptions as well as decrease the chances that adopted dogs will be returned.
Shaping is the process of breaking down a behavior into small steps and reinforcing each small step as you work toward the final goal behavior. It is a great tool for teaching complex behaviors, as well as for increasing confidence in dogs that are hesitant to try new things.
Puppy socialization is not just about playing with other puppies or being petted by humans. Practicing body handling, introducing novel objects, and desensitizing puppies to sounds are all key steps for ensuring that puppies are comfortable in all situations. The goal is to create fun and positive experiences, not just any ordinary exposures! In this video, KPA CTP Holly Ovington demonstrates how to expose your puppy to a multitude of situations and environments.
Cindy Benson, KPA CTP, offers positive training for working livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) and their owners at Benson Ranch, and online through training videos and Zoom. She has raised and trained livestock for the last fifty years, including several hundred Miniature Donkeys over thirty years. Cindy has been raising and training Maremma livestock guardian dogs for six years. In that time, she has owned, or trained, more than 250 Maremmas.
Is your dog fearful of loud noises or events, such as thunderstorms, fireworks, or even the vacuum cleaner? Or is your dog fearful of certain people, like children or strangers? Creating a safe place where your dog can escape as needed can help reduce your dog’s anxiety during stressful situations. It also helps establish clear boundaries—if the dog is in the safe space, the dog needs alone time and does not want to be pet or played with.
