#behavior and training

NEW at The Science Dog Courses! On-demand webinars that address timely and important topics in canine nutrition, health, behavior/cognition, welfare and morePresented by the scientists who study dogs and who are sharing their latest findingsDesigned to provide dog professionals and owners with evidence-based information that can improve our relationships with dogs and help dogs to live healthier…

Does Your Dog Play with His Food?

Most people have heard the admonition “Stop playing with your food!” at some point during their childhood.

MODERN DAY VERSION 

It is rare to hear the dog version of this rebuke, however, especially if you live with Golden Retrievers (or Labs……). When the food is only in the bowl for 30 seconds, there is little time for playing with it.

NEVER TAKES TIME TO PLAY WITH FOOD

However, there isa version…

Nutrition, Training and Evidence-based Decision Making

New Podcast! Listen as Melissa Breau of Fenzi Dog Sports Academy interviews Linda Case (aka “The Science Dog”) about nutrition, training and evidence-based decision making.

For more, sign up for Linda’ upcoming FDSA webinar, “Canine Athlete or Couch Potato: Feeding Dogs to Meet Their Exercise Needs“!

CLICK THE TOLLER TO LEARN MORE AND REGISTER!

Which Works Better for Dogs? This winter, my training partner Amanda and I decided to teach our dogs “toy identification”. We lead a small weekly training class at my training center and one of the behaviors that the class expressed interest in was training their dogs to retrieve toys by name. Amanda and I selected an approach to teaching this behavior that is commonly referred to as Errorless…

(It Depends on Who You Ask) Feeding dogs using food-delivery devices has become increasingly popular. Some owners use these gadgets as a supplement or occasional treat for their dogs, while others use them to provide all of their dogs’ meals. The general intent of providing food in this way, as opposed to a bowl, is as some type of enrichment – usually to stimulate both mental and physical…

And Then the Dog Said…LOL! New Webinar presented by Dr. Shelly Volsche Can you hear that? Are you listening? The Science Dog’s newest webinar examines the basics of animal bioacoustics, with a focus on the domestic dog. Dr. Volsche, who teaches canine behavior and training at the University of WI at River Falls, reviews past and recent research regarding play signals and the sounds that our…

Like many trainers and dog owners, Mike and I teach our pups early in life that quiet time and short periods of separation are associated with the offering of a special chew. This toy appears at the start of quiet time and is taken away once the separation is over (for specific details about this approach, see my book “Dog Smart“). Years ago at a training seminar, Jean Donaldson referred to these…