The benefits of appropriate challenge We talk about enrichment in the dog world all the time. How important is it, really? It turns out that it’s very important! In fact, the very definition of enrichment states that it improves animal … [Read more...]
Owner attitudes regarding behavioral medications
A heartfelt thank you to two of the researchers—Karen van Haaften, DVM, DACVB and Emma Grigg, PhD, CAAB —for sharing their feedback for this blog article! Behavioral— or psychoactive— medication can be an important aspect of treatment … [Read more...]
Impulsivity in Dogs – What Do We Know?
Impulse control. It’s a hot topic in dog training right now. There are many opinions about what impulse control is, how to improve it, and how it impacts behavior. Many people associate unwanted behavior with poor impulse control in dogs. … [Read more...]
Three common misunderstandings about science
With the entire world being in the midst of a pandemic right now, many people are turning to scientists for answers. Now seems like a good time to address some common misunderstandings about science. This applies just as much to dog … [Read more...]
How does past stress impact fear today?
Does stress impact learning and memory? You bet it does! Stress impacts these processes in several different ways. Today I am going to focus on the impact of stress on fear. First, we need to define some terms. Basic Definitions Stress … [Read more...]
Lost in Translation: Sorting through commonly confused learning terms
Leena barks, lunges and generally loses her mind when she sees other dogs on a walk. Her owner and I are walking in the park so I can teach the owner how to change Leena’s behavior. When we see another dog at a distance, Leena freezes and … [Read more...]
Research Bites – Coming in January!
Hello everyone! It's been quite some time since I've posted, but I have been busily working on a new project behind the scenes. I am thrilled to announce the launch of Research Bites this coming January 2020! What is Research … [Read more...]
How do your emotions affect your dog?
You may have heard that dogs "lip lick" or "tongue flick" when they are stressed. A recent study by Albuquerque et al. (2018) used lip licking in dogs to assess their ability to respond to emotional cues in humans and dogs. Previous … [Read more...]
Not just testosterone? Hormones and aggression
Usually, I try to focus my blog posts on applied research. But a study came out recently that has gotten enough press that some of my clients have asked me about it, so I decided to focus on that study for this post. I hope it will help … [Read more...]
Read My Mind – What is Theory of Mind and Why Should You Care?
"He pees in the house every time we leave. I know why he's doing it. He's angry with us and wants to punish us for leaving him alone. I know he knows it's wrong too, because he looks guilty when we come home." (Looking for Finn? Don't … [Read more...]