Karen Pryor's Blog, page 3

5 Steps to Train Your Dog to “Go to Place”

What if instead of jumping around when the doorbell rings, your dog waits politely in a down position? Or, instead of circling the dinner table like a shark, your dog lies quietly in the other room? Training a dog to go to a specific place is one of the most useful behaviors. In the following exercise from her bestselling book, Control Unleashed, Leslie McDevitt explains how you can teach your dog the cue “Go to Place.”

Training Go to Place

1. Get a mat, blanket, dog bed, or towel – one th...

How to Stop Unwanted Barking

Your barking dog

Dogs bark for a number of reasons, some acceptable, some not. Common types of barking include the following:

Alert barking. Dog barks to let you know he has seen or heard something out of the ordinary.Defensive barking. Dog barks to make something he is afraid of or doesn’t like go away.Attention barking. Dog wants attention.Frustration barking. Dog is confused, frustrated, or stressed.Boredom barking. Dog barks to amuse himself.Evaluate the situation...

How to Put an End to Counter-Surfing

A new trick

Many dog guardians complain that their dogs steal food from kitchen counters or even the dinner table. A term was even coined to describe this behavior: counter-surfing. If you’re tired of losing your dinner to a sneaky pooch every time you turn your back, here’s what you can do about it.

“Stop” strategies

Counter-surfing is unwanted behavior. In operant conditioning, there are three basic approaches to stopping unwanted behavior:

Punishment through a consequence that...

Overly Excited Greetings: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Howdy

When someone mentions a “spaghetti western,” the mental picture is of an actor’s lips moving out of sync with the words coming from the film’s audio sound. Watching dogs go crazy on the end of a leash while they are trying to greet other dogs or people is akin to watching an old spaghetti western. The dog and the handler are clearly out of sync with one another.

When this crazy greeting behavior ensues, it is clear that the dog and hander have different agendas. It doesn’t matter if ...

Tips for Surviving the Dog Days of Summer

With heat and humidity on the rise, it seems that the “dog days of summer” are upon us. The ASPCA recommends the following tips to keep your pet safe during the hot weeks ahead!

Made in the Shade. Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise, and keep pets indoors when it’s extremely hot.Know the Warning Signs. Symptoms of overheating in pets...

Muzzles—Not Just for Aggression!

Times are changing

For many people, the idea of a muzzle evokes a long-standing association with aggressive dogs. That impression can create feelings of fear and worry when people hear about or witness a dog in a muzzle. There is no denying that when many people see a muzzled dog, they envision the likes of a Hannibal Lecter character (a monster, but in fur)!

But, muzzles are not just for aggression anymore. It’s high time to dispel those negative mental images. Rather than vilifying muzzl...

How to Prevent Door-Dashing

Run toward the sun

In busy families, the front door seems to be in perpetual motion, constantly revolving and providing myriad opportunities for escape. Friends and clients who have dealt with the stress and worry of a lost dog due to an open-door accident utter a common refrain: “It was only open for a second.”

Once a dog has dashed through an open door, the possibility of the dog being harmed increases. Recently, I heard about a friend’s dog that bolted out the door (apparently a well-es...

New Puppy? What to Focus on First!

What a difference a day makes

You and your little four-legged bundle of joy arrive home. 24 hours later you begin to question your sanity, wondering what has happened to the furry little angel you fell in love with the day before. The honeymoon is over before it began!

What you want is a puppy that loves everybody, comes immediately when you call, chews only on dog toys, walks nicely beside you on leash at all times, goes potty outside, greets your guests politely, and sleeps quietly in...

Are We There Yet? How to Ease Your Pet’s Travel Anxiety

Travel trouble

With many pet-friendly resorts, parks, and other destinations available, you may consider fun outings with your furry friend. But what can you do if your pooch loves being at the park but hates getting there? Luckily, there are several ways to help ease a dog’s discomfort in the car.

Travel anxiety is common in dogs and occurs for many different reasons. Some dogs have had no experience riding in a car and are unfamiliar with what is happening to them. Many dogs associate...

Summer Sounds: How to Help Your Dog Cope with Loud Noises

Boom!

Summer brings longer days, garden-fresh produce, ice cream treats, vacations, and “staycations.” For the most part, it is a time of fun and relaxation. But summer also brings an increased chance of thunderstorms and fireworks—events that can be scary for your dog.

While some breeds of dogs may be more prone to fear of loud noises than others, it is more likely that temperament and past experience will influence a dog’s sensitivity and reactivity. Dogs that have not been exposed to a ...