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Context matters.
Human beings are story tellers. It’s in our nature. We tell stories about ourselves, other people, our animals, events, you name it. Some...
Mar 224 min read


Prioritising
I don't remember being taught how to prioritise. I assume a lot of the time, we just absorb how to do it, assuming we are around people...
Dec 8, 20242 min read


We ask for more than our dog is currently capable of doing.
This is my last post in this series about training issues. Example: your dog doesn't come when called. It can be an environmental issue....
Nov 30, 20242 min read


Our rewards aren't motivating enough.
Another training issue is that our rewards aren't motivating enough for the dog at this time. (When writing this, I thought a lot about...
Nov 30, 20242 min read


We miss or misinterpret feedback
This is another common issue when we're working with our dogs. Feedback is anything the dog does to tell us that what we're doing is or...
Nov 30, 20241 min read


Our communication is unclear.
(We can't get our message across.) Another common training error is that our communication is unclear. (We can't get our message across.)...
Nov 22, 20242 min read


Clarify your agenda
Your dog is learning ALL the time, even when you aren't deliberately training. They're learning FROM you and ABOUT you. They're learning...
Nov 22, 20242 min read


Drive or arousal?
There are many theories of motivation. Arousal theory is one. Drive reduction theory is another. Although now seldom used in human...
Jul 7, 20242 min read


Arousal theory of motivation
This article is about people, but there are many crossovers to animals too. https://www.verywellmind.com/the-arousal-theory-of-motivation...
Jul 7, 20242 min read


Consequences and feelings
A huge amount of training relies upon learners responding to consequences. Some consequences strengthen behaviours (we call these...
Apr 21, 20241 min read


Understand the learning process.
Most people who get a dog know the basics of teaching some skills. Pretty much the first thing people teach a puppy is 'sit' (product),...
Apr 15, 20243 min read


Become a better dog trainer/human coach.
If we all work to become better coaches and use those skills widely, the world will be a better place. Here's an overview. Coaching...
Apr 13, 20242 min read


Is dog training a chore for you?
It doesn't have to be. If you and your dog could use more fun in training and in life; it is possible! How? 1. Play training games and...
Mar 31, 20241 min read


Dog training – simple but not easy.
I’ve owned and trained dogs for a long time now. I’ve spent years studying training and behaviour, changing my methods and improving my...
Mar 31, 20242 min read


Don’t keep making learning harder…
I train in short sessions. Sometimes I want to achieve something and it’s REALLY DIFFICULT for me to stop, or to do something easy for my...
Feb 27, 20241 min read


Come when called
Taking a dog to an off leash park or some other exciting place and expecting them to come away from dog play is like giving a teenager...
Feb 27, 20243 min read


Training is a mechanical skill
You don’t have to love or even like an animal to be able to train it, although most of us involved in animal training have a passing...
Feb 27, 20242 min read


The Name Game
Does your dog know their name? Not just at home but everywhere? If you want your dog to pay attention to their name in all circumstances,...
Feb 18, 20242 min read


Prioritise Prevention
It can be really hard to take prevention of behaviour problems seriously, because prevention focuses on the invisible. You can't see a...
Feb 14, 20241 min read
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