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Service Dog 2.0: the upgrade is here
Seattle is progressive. It is filled with creative individuals constantly pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and practices to find new paths. We have seen this in music, coffee, clothes, and even...
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Rain + dirt + dog = one heck of a mess
What is one of Seattle's most consistent "behaviors"? Rain, which mixed with dirt and dogs is not always a wonderful combination (at least for the humans). My dog loves the rain. It'...
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Hiking with dogs: being prepared (Photos)
Washington is home to some of the most beautiful mountains in the world, and so it comes as no surprise that Seattleites sojourn to their majestic slopes. I am an avid hiker with my dog and find few...
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Don't chew on my Jimmy Choos! (part 1 of 5)
When it comes to the lives of our dogs, perhaps the most crucial concept to understand is their need for activity. While working with a client on a problematic behavior, I first have to ask, “What do...
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Don't chew on my Jimmy Choos! (part 2 of 5)
Dogs are filled with all sorts of behaviors. Some dogs are quiet, others boisterous, while some are downright goofy clowns. However, despite these differences in temperament, all dogs display common...
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Don't chew on my Jimmy Choos! (part 3 of 5)
In the previous article I talked about one of the biggest doggie-drives: chewing. If any drive behavior could battle the desire to chew, it is the desire to scavenge.Scavenging is a very strong drive...
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Don't chew on my Jimmy Choos! (part 4 of 5)
We have now discussed the chewing and scavenging drives—next we come to digging, and dissecting. While digging is not a strong drive in all dogs, others find their favorite hobby rearranging the...
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Don't chew on my Jimmy Choos! (part 5 of 5)
The last two drives are the hunting drive and the barking (or herding) drive. Hunting is not as scary as it sounds; however, every dog is equipped with a drive to hunt (whether they know it or...
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What your dog food manufacturer doesn't want you to know
Whenever I walk into a behavior consultation with a client, one of the many things that I have to examine is the dog’s diet. While dog food manufacturers would love to have you believe that their...
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Stop, smell the roses, then eat: plant-eating behavior in dogs
My dog chows on grass in such a bovine-like fashion that I find myself thinking, “must be some tasty grass.” He digests it great and he never throws it up. He’s happy to...
View ArticleDog bites: dangerous animals or human error?
Dog bites are a funny thing. While typically they do not do anyone any favors, a dog’s jaws—and in turn their bites—are the only mechanism a dog has to protect itself. As...
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Dogma of dominance: social hierarchy behavior in the human-canine bond
Perhaps the most commonly used adjective from dog owners when describing canine behavior is the word ‘dominant.’ Traditional understandings teach that the most primary motivator for a dog is to...
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Control versus communication: the pitfalls of coercion with our dogs (Photos)
It is simply fascinating to me when I hear my friends and clients insist that they feel their dog is in control of them. From attention seeking behavior such as jumping, barking, pawing, and nudging...
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Dog training in Seattle: what to look for in a good dog trainer
Dogs are everywhere. It seems like nearly every family in the United States has one, and in Seattle there is approximately one dog for every five residents and dogs outrank children in town by...
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A review of the AVMA's proposed policy against raw food
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has been encouraged by Pet Partners (formerly the Delta Society) and the Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine (CPHRVM) to make...
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Dog whispering in the 21st century (Photos)
Cesar Millan, the “Dog Whisperer,” is undeniably popular and commercially successful, however his methods that rely on provocation and dominance have been controversial in the world of dog training...
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The slaughtering of pit bulls
You’re sleeping. The night is calm with the sound of crickets echoing through the open window. Suddenly you hear it. Soldiers break down your door and what was the sound of quiet night is now...
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AVMA vote on anti-homeopathic treatments
(Updated) The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is proposing a policy to discourage the use of homeopathy with pets. Resolution 3, submitted by the Connecticut Veterinary Medical...
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You cannot punish love
Humans love dogs, but for some reason we often have a hard time coping with their love in return. They like to lick us, lean against us, lie on our feet, jump on us, and generally play with us...
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An interview with Marc Bekoff (Photos)
Few names are as synonymous with “pioneer” as Marc Bekoff. An authority on behavior, sociality, and play in mammals (first through canids and then more broadly), Dr. Bekoff has a truly large and...
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