Train the Dog in Front of You
We can only train the dog in front of us. Pay attention, because the dog in front of you can change rapidly! This is true whether you have multiple dogs or just one dog with many moods. You have multiple dogs in one skin and you can’t always be sure which dog is going to […]
Permission to Pet
We all love to pet the pets, but should they be allowed to give permission? Petting dogs and cats lowers our blood pressure, increases oxytocin levels, and relieves our stress. It can do the same for pets, but only if participating is their own choice. Compare your own needs: even if you enjoy hugging and […]
Holidays With Pets
My favorite funny dialog/meme about the holidays: Q: “Are you ready for the holidays?” A: “No, Susan, I’m not even ready for today.” It seems like constant planning is required for us to achieve our desires and meet our obligations. On top of that, our pets still need exercise, play, enrichment, and training. Plus, we have […]
Behavior Boundaries Light a Fire Under Training
When I’m burning sticks in my fire pit in the yard, I have a goal of continually keeping the pile symmetrical. It occurs to me that this goal runs parallel to training goals in my training sessions with animals. We humans use a similar approach when creating new habits for ourselves that make our lives […]
Chester, The Mannerly Dog’s Logo
The Mannerly Dog’s unobtrusive logo seems like just a black outline of a dog but it has quite a backstory! The dog’s name is Chester. I started professionally training dogs and their owners a long time ago, just using my own name. In time, my husband suggested “The Mannerly Dog” because it describes my highest […]
Outings With Your Dog: More Than a Walk
I love to take my dog on outings. Together, we travel, visit dog-friendly restaurants and stores, and visit Sniffspots and parks because we have mad skills! We got those skills by playing “Pretend Games.” In The Mannerly Dog’s blog, you’ll find several articles that explain how to use Pretend Games to build various skills. “Life […]
Medication for a Parrot: Cooperative Care
This post is a follow-up to a previous article, “Pets, Medications and Pills – Oh My!” which teaches how to train dogs and cats to accept oral medications. When we found out that Jane, our African Grey Parrot, would need to take liquid medications by mouth for the rest of her life, we knew we […]
Pets, Medications and Pills – Oh My!
OMG! My cat/dog has a medical issue and needs to take medicine daily! What to do? I’ve never given him medications and pills. Teach Your Pet About Medications and Pills Now! There are so many things that your pet needs to learn! You begin as soon as you bring your new pet home; in fact, […]
Behavior Analysis: Why Does My Dog Do That?
Behavior analysis involves considering what the behavior is doing for the dog. Simply put, the dog is performing the behavior because of the results that behavior brings. He achieves a goal, solves a problem, or gets something he wants, by doing this particular behavior. When we understand this, we can give the dog something else […]
Mealtime Training
Are you the exemplary busy pet owner? Between work, family, and home care, it seems weekdays only allow time for feeding your dog and letting her out for potty breaks. We all fall into that category at times. (Thank goodness for weekends!) Mealtime training is the answer to building the behaviors you and your dog […]
