Canine Nation
Latest Episodes
Choosy Dogs Choose
We don’t want our dogs deciding for themselves. Or do we? Maybe it’s actually not up to us humans. Our dogs make choices all the time whether we want to admit it or not. It can be a problem if we try to control something we can’t control.
The Shock and Prong Collar War – An Opinion
Dog training is evolving rapidly. Some in the dog community feel that we need to actively prohibit the use of training equipment like electronic and prong collars. There are generations of habits and methods built up around these tools.
How to Motivate Your Dog
Motivation is not something people associate with dogs. After all, there are no doggy motivational speakers. We just assume that our dogs want to do what we ask of them without considering things from their perspective. But what’s in it for them?
Functional Dog Trainers
The science of dogs and training can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. There are things that we need to know about our dogs and how to train them and there are things that are just nice to know. As science provides us new insights into our do...
Why I Write About Dogs
It's been almost 20 years since our dog Vince showed me how much I didn't understand about dogs. Oh, I THOUGHT I knew all I needed to know. But Vince's low growl and bared teeth said otherwise. That began a marvelous journey of learning that has mad...
Is Kindness Enough for Effective Dog Training?
There is a trend in modern dog training toward kinder, more dog-friendly training methods. Training that seeks to remove everything unpleasant for the dog and to make learning more enjoyable. But is kindness enough to teach our dogs?
Dancing At High Speed – Dog Agility
The sport of Dog Agility has been an unexpected delight for both my dog and me. In the beginning, it was a reason to teach my dog a number of novel behaviours using Mark and Reward training and behavioural science.
Socializing for Success: Raising a Happy, Confident Dog
How social is your dog? Different dogs will want more or less social engagement. But what is most important is that we teach our dogs how to cope with the lifestyle we bring them into. Socialization is not just about giving your dog play time with o...
Adventures in Puppyhood: Nature and Nurture in Dogs
Is a new puppy’s personality all down to genetics and breeding or does the way they are raised determine who they will become? How much of a role does the environment a puppy grows up in play in who that puppy will become?
There is no DOG in HUMAN
The greatest difficulty I have always had in improving how I live and work with my dogs has been my own attitudes and beliefs about dogs. It can be difficult to keep an open mind and admit that Im w