Diamonds in the Ruff

Behavior FAQ's
Free articles & links on just about any topic!
1. Manage the situation to prevent what you don't want rehearsed
2. Train for what you do want
3. Be consistent and reinforce, reinforce, reinforce
4. Gradually relax management bits, testing to see if training is taking over
You have to grit your teeth and establish new habits for yourself during this process. And that might mean inconvenience on your part.
.............................................................................-- Helix Fairweather
*Have a question? Is there a topic you wish was listed here? Let us know!*
PUPPY STUFF
Resources for New Puppy Owners
How Early? AVSAB Position Statement
Introducing a Puppy to Your Adult Dogs
Socialization
What Socialization IS and IS NOT
Socialization by Denise Fenzi, Oct 24, 2016
The Puppy Socialization Plan website
How to Socialize a Puppy With Other Dogs, Humans, Sounds and Places - The Dog Clinic
Suddenly Spooked -Secondary Fear Phase
Socialization and Coping with Distractions
Helping Your Under-Socialized Dog
Is it all "how they are raised?" - Genetics and Socialization
Car Sickness & Anxiety - help your puppy enjoy car rides
What To Do If Your Dog Gets Motion Sickness - Whole Dog Journal
Motion Sickness in Dogs - VCA
Adaptil - Dog Appeasing Pheromone
Puppy Biting, Mouthing, Teething
He eats EVERYTHING!
Teach a Willing Trade
House Training
House Training
House Training the Small & Sensitive Dog
Another great article about House Training
Crate Training
Crate Games with Susan Garrett
Crate Games with Zelda how-to video
Another great article about Crate Training
TRAINING YOUR NEW PUPPY
How Early Can My Puppy Begin?
Why Start Early? Is it Safe?
FREE downloads: Ian Dunbar's books:
"Before You Get Your Puppy" & "After You Get Your Puppy"
Puppy raising links for breeders
Avidog - raising great puppies
Puppy Culture
BODY LANGUAGE
Petting Consent Test - should you pet this dog? Video
Helping Your Fearful Dog Navigate the World - Video
Dog-Dog Interactions
All played out: Social Maturity in Dogs
LIVING WITH MORE THAN ONE DOG
Inter-dog Aggression - Lisa Lucas
You and Your Teenage Dog
Bossy Demands and Attention Seeking
DOGS IN THE FAMILY
Is Your Dog Good with Kids?
Preparing for New Baby - Toddlers
Living with Kids and Dogs - Coleen Pelar
Kids and Dogs: How Kids Should and Should Not Interact with Dogs - Sophia Yin
Great books for parents:
"Please Don't Bite the Baby (and please don't chase the dog)"
"Living With Kids & Dogs
IMPULSE CONTROL
Permission - wait for the release!
Over-stimulated, Overly-Friendly Dogs
"Dominance" is a flawed concept
Why Not Dominance?
A True Story About My A**hole Dog and Why “Dominance Theory” is Bullsh*t!
Why Calm, Assertive Energy is Bullsh*t
From Dr. David Mech regarding wolf studies
Alpha Status, Dominance, & Division of Labor in Wolf Packs, Mech
Dominance and Dog Training - APDT
Using Dominance to Explain Behavior is Old Hat
The Social Organization of the Domestic Dog
Why do so few dog trainers hold up to Cesar Millan's standard?
Debunking Dominance - the Dominance Fallacy & Our Obsession with Pack Leadership
STRESSED DOGS
The Complete Guide to Stress in Dogs (And How to Relieve It)
GROWLING, SNAPPING, BITING
If your dog is doing any of these things,
seek professional help! In-home consults
"While you may be able to suddenly reach out for your own dog and pet him roughly or put your face in his face, if you do the same thing to another dog, even one who knows you well, it may make the dog uncomfortable, even to the point where he snaps or bites.
When you think about it this makes sense. You can joke around with and even run up to and hug friends on the street, but with strangers and even with co-workers or acquaintances, those same behaviors can been seen as a threat, insult, or just plain rude. If you randomly tried to perform these behaviors with people around you, many would put up with it, but eventually someone might attack you." - Sophia Yin
Click HERE for a great article. Don't miss the PSA!
Resource Guarding
Resource Guarding
The Truth About Resource Guarding
Video: resource guarding - WSU vet behavior dept.
Resource Guarding - Patricia McConnell, PhD
REACTIVITY
Behavioral Adjustment Training (BAT)
BAT - Handouts & Translations to share
DVDs and articles on BAT)
"Look at That" game - video by Donna Hill
Look at that! Making the Trigger the Target - clickertraining.com
Muzzles for safety
.....Baskerville muzzle
.....Italian basket muzzle
Custom fitted muzzles
.....How to Fit a Muzzle
....
.....How to accustom your dog to a muzzle - Chirag Patel
Best Muzzle Training Video - Positive Reinforcement
WORRIED DOGS
Fear and Reactivity in Adolescence
Suddenly Spooked -Secondary Fear Phase
Thresholds - Recognize & Respect Them
Growling & Barking - important communication
Treat & Retreat
What Socialization IS and IS NOT
Respect the Fear, Change the Perception
Helping Your Fearful Dog Navigate the World - Video
FEARS & PHOBIAS
Fearful Dogs - seeing the world in detail - Nancy Tanner
Healing the Profoundly Fearful Dog - Nickala Squire
Fearfuldogs.com - a great resource!
The MYTH of "reinforcing fear" - great article by Patricia McConnell
Can You Reinforce Fear?
SOUND SENSITIVITY/NOISE PHOBIA
Canine Thunder Phobia - the Bunker Protocol
Noise Reactivities & Phobias - Karen Overall
Fireworks! - Grisha Stewart
Desensitization and Counter Conditioning
Counter-Conditioning - How This Concept is So Misunderstood
Calming Products for Anxious/Stressed dogs:
Calming Products for Fearful Dogs - by Debbie Jacobs
Adaptil - Dog Appeasing Pheromone
Solliquin
Anxiety Medications for Dogs - see your veterinary behaviorist
Thundershirts
SEPARATION ANXIETY
Separation Anxiety
Helping Dogs with Separation Anxiety - Malena DeMartini
The Separation Anxiety Top Ten List - Malena DeMartini
Behavior Modification for Canine Separation Anxiety - IAABC Journal
ONLINE COURSE: Mission Possible - Malena DeMartini
BOOKS on SA:
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Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs by Malena DeMartini-Price
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Canine Separation Anxiety Workbook - Training Dogs to Be Alone by James O’Heare
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Separation Distress and Dogs by James O’Heare
-
Don’t Leave Me - Step by Step Help for Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety by Nicole Wilde
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I’ll Be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell
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Conditioning the CANINE RETREAT - Dee Ganley
MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS
Traveling by Car or Truck with Pets
(thanks to Caroline from the P2E Youth Club and Beth Pawlicki for recommending this page!)
Safe Driving with Dogs Thanks to Andrew and Teens for Safety for suggesting this link!
How to Keep You and Your Pet Safe in an Auto Emergency
Legislation and Breed Ban links
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN ADOPTING A DOG
I Need to Return This Dog
Are You Ready for a Dog in Your Life?
How Not to Pick a Rescue Dog - an excellent article by Grisha Stewart, Ahimsa Dog Training, Seattle, WA
Dangerous Dogs! – What Shelters, Rescues, Prospective Adopters, and Owners Need to Know
Download "Before and After You Get Your Puppy" books by Ian Dunbar! FREE!
CHOOSING THE RIGHT TRAINER
Tips from the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Organizations, credentials and what to ask a dog trainer
RECOMMENDED READING
Bones Would Rain From the Sky - Suzanne Clothier
Reaching Animal Mind - Karen Pryor
Inside of a Dog - Alexandra Horowitz
Plenty in Life is Free - Kathy Sdao
The Other End of the Leash - Patricia McConnell
Dog Sense - John Bradshaw
Great Blogs:
Nicole Wilde
https://wildewmn.wordpress.com/
Patricia McConnell, PhD
https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash/
NORMAL DOG BEHAVIOR
Intelligent Diversions and Creative Play - preventing
Dogs in the Country (an article from the CAPPDT)
Coprophagia: The Scoop on Poop Eating in Dogs
What to do when your dog eats poo - Sophia Yin
Pica: Ingesting non-food items like rocks
How to Keep Dogs Out of Cat Litter Boxes
How to solve practically any annoying dog behavior problem - by 3LostDogs.com
TRAINING TIPS
Why is a Cue not a Command?
The Rule of Rewards
Does your dog pull on leash?
Coping with Distractions
What Squirrel? 10 Techniques for Training with Distractions
Equipment choices - what we recommend - and don't
......Video on fitting/using Gentle Leader headcollar
Why a No-pull harness? Freedom harness video
......Harness reviews
......Retractable Leash Warning
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TRAINING DEAF & BLIND DOGS
Deafdogs.org
Clicker training a deaf dog
But how do I get his attention? Tips for Training Deaf Dogs
Clicker for deaf dogs - the "Flicker"
Clicker training a blind dog
Halo vest for blind dogs
BOARD & TRAIN
Couldn't I just send my dog to you for training?
A Dozen Reasons to do Your Homework Before Sending Your Dog Away For Training
GAMES
NO LASER POINTER GAMES
DON'T play with laser pointers
WORKING DOGS
Service Dog Training Institute - ONLINE courses
SDTI - FREE course: "Choosing a Service Dog"
Public Access Standard for Working Service Dogs
ADA Access Regs Revised 2010: Service Animals
The Difference Between an Emotional Support Dog & Psychiatric Service Dog
Article about Fake Service dogs - from Anything Pawsable
Selecting an Adult Service Dog Candidate
Study: Assistance Dog -Beh Assessment & Standardized Eval
HUNTING
Positive Gundog Training
Blazing a New Trail: Training Gun Dogs
SHOW DOGS
Positive Training For Show Dogs
DOG SPEAK
What is My Dog Saying powerpoint presentation on CD!
Dog Park Etiquette from Petfinder
The Dog Park is Bad Actually - New York Times
HEALTH
The Connection Between Health & Behavior
Spay/Neuter risks and benefits:
Castration risks and benefits
Spay risks and benefits
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction - Dog Dementia
Over the counter medications that are safe - & not!
Interesting article on How & Why Different Animals Sleep
Doggy DNA testing from the comfort of home
EXERCISE - When & How
What is the Logic Behind Not Exercising Puppies Until the Growth Plates are Closed?
Too Much of a Good Thing: Over-excitement in Exercise
6 ways to Thwart an Off Leash Dog Rushing You or Your Dog
DOG PARK SAFETY
Why NOT the Dog Park?
I am NOT a Dog Park Advocate-AND HERE'S WHY
5 Health Risks Lurking at the Dog Park
15 things humans do wrong at dog parks
10 more things humans do wrong at dog parks
Dog Parks are Dangerous! - From Whole Dog Journal
The Dog Park is Bad Actually - New York Times
Dog Parks Can Be Great Places for Off-Leash Activity - Bark Magazine
FOODS & FEEDING
Fit - or Fat?
Choosing Good Foods - Whole Dog Journal
The Shocking Truth About Pet Food
www.dogfoodreviews.net - Find hundreds of online dog food reviews
Foiling the Finicky Fido
Diet & Heart Disease
FDA Investigating Potential Connection Between Diet and Cases of Canine Heart Disease - July 2018
Update - FDA Investigating Potential Connection Between Diet and Cases of Canine Heart Disease - February 2019
Interpreting the information in the initial FDA report - July 2018
Information about DCM and why some dogs eat "exotic" proteins - January 2019
Interpretation of FDA follow up report - February 2019
GROOMING
My dog has a TICK!
LOW STRESS GROOMING AND VET CARE:
My Dog Struggles at the Vet or Groomer's
Less Stress at the Vet for Dogs and Cats - Companion Animal Psychology - includes many great links!
Teaching a dog to enjoy being handled, not just tolerate it
Crate Rest Activities for Dogs after Back, Hip, Leg Injuries, ACL or TPLO, Heartworm treatment, etc - video by Donna Hill
Vet care / grooming / handling VIDEOS:
.......Calm Collaborations: Chin Rest Tips
Accepting ear drops - Sarah Owings
Ready, Set for Groomer & Vet 1 - Laura Monaco Torelli
RSGV - Chin Rest for Ear Care 2 - Laura Monaco Torelli
Chin Rest: Vol Injection & Ear Care 3 - Laura Monaco Torelli
Cone of Shame - Nando Brown
Low stress jugular blood draw
Helping your dog love having his harness put on
How to Bathe Your Dog the Clicker Way
How do I trim my dogs toenails?
Video - Nail Trim - Chirag Patel's Bucket Game - step-by-step
Video - Nail Trim - The Bucket Game
Video - Teach Your Dog to LOVE toenail trims
Video - Nail trimming from WSU behavior dept
.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Learning Dog Training From Television?
The Damage of Dog Whispering by Rachel Garner
The Dominance Controversy and Cesar Millan
Dog Whisperer: Frequently Asked Questions
A career with animals
I want to become a professional dog trainer
I'd like to become a veterinarian / vet tech
What about shock collars?
Expert Dog Trainer Robert Milner says Heck No to Shock Collars
Simply Shocking - Electronic containment systems (aka fenceless fences) may be convenient for dog owners, but they are not safe for dogs. By Pat Miller - Whole Dog Journal
Invisible Fences: The Bad and The Ugly - an article by Kasey LaPlace
Considering an electronic fence system? - By Norma Bennett Woolf
Please fence me in! - fencing facts from
Shock Collars - the Ugly Truth - by Valarie Barry,
RESOURCES
Dogwise
ClickerTraining.com
Dog Star Daily
Pet Professional Guild - Puppy Training articles
Training your deaf dog: DeafDogs.org & Deaf Dogs Rock
Not in Spokane, but looking for a positive dog trainer? Click here!
Pet Partners-Pet Therapy evaluations in Spokane
Behavior videos courtesy of "Your Dog's Friend"
"Help, My Dog is Reactive!" with veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Leslie Sinn, DVM, DACVB, CPDT-KA of Behavior Solutions for Pets
"PTSD in Pets" with veterinary behaviorist, Dr. Amy Pike, DVM, DACVB of Animal Behavior Wellness Center
"Fun, Enriching Activities for Your Dog" with Eager Beagle trainer, Karen Baragona, CPDT-KA
"Helping Your Fearful Dog Navigate the World" with Dog Latin dog trainer, Juliana Willems, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA
"Training tip: Polite Greetings" with Jackie Moyano, PMCT, CPDT-KA; Behavior United.
Training tip: Capturing Behavior with Juliana Willems, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA; Dog Latin Dog Training
Training tip: Attention Games with Marnie Montgomery, PMCT3, CPDT-KA; Joyful Dog
Training tip: Leash Walking with Sarah Stoycos, KPA CTP; Laughing Dog Academy
Training tip: “Leave It” and “Drop It” with Lisa Arant, Small and Tall Dog Training
Training tip: Coming When Called with Susan Sanderson, PMCT
Training tip: Targeting (“Touch”) with Michelle Mange, Right Start Maryland

EMERGENCY!
Pet Emergency Clinic - 326-6670
E. 21 Mission (between Division & Ruby in Spokane)
Plants that are poisonous to dogs
Emergency & Disaster Preparedness
In case of emergency, volunteers are always needed! Contact
HEART - Humane Evacuation Animal Rescue Team

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