Category: Positive Dog Training
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Leash Walking – Training vs. Exploration
Leash walks serve different purposes depending on whether the focus is learning and control or sensory exploration and choice, and owners can structure outings to meet both needs. Training vs. Exploration Defined Training mode emphasizes skill acquisition, predictable cues, and reinforced responses during on-leash work; sessions are typically short and focused to support learning, often…
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Is My Dog Depressed? How to Tell if Your Dog is Unhappy
Dogs can show long-term changes in mood and behavior that concern their owners, and understanding those changes helps decide whether they need medical or behavioral attention. What Is Canine Depression? Canine depression is a nonuniform cluster of behavioral and emotional changes that veterinarians and behaviorists describe when a dog shows persistent low mood, reduced interest…
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You Should Constantly Rotate Your Dog’s Toys
Rotating a dog’s toys means cycling items in and out of availability so the dog interacts with a smaller set at any one time instead of an owner leaving every toy out constantly. Why Rotate Your Dog’s Toys Rotation preserves novelty so individual toys remain interesting rather than becoming background objects. Aim to rotate toys…
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What is Reactivity in Dogs?
Reactivity in dogs is a pattern of over-threshold arousal and intense behavioral responses to specific stimuli, distinct from routine alertness or play. The term describes observable episodes when a dog’s internal arousal level crosses a threshold and produces outsized vocal, postural, or locomotor reactions. Definition of Reactivity in Dogs Operationally, reactivity refers to a rapid…
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Puppy Training Schedule
Establishing a consistent, age-appropriate training schedule helps puppies learn reliable habits and reduces household stress. Age-based training milestones Key developmental windows commonly referenced are 8–16 weeks, 4–6 months, and the adolescent period, and training should align expectations to those stages rather than treating all young dogs the same[1]. Typical skill targets include beginning reliable potty…
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Training a Blind Dog – Is It Possible?
Dogs can lose sight in a variety of ways and many adapt with support, learning to rely on other senses and routines to stay safe and engaged. What Blindness Means for Dogs — Types, Causes, and Behavior Blindness in dogs can be congenital or acquired, and it may be partial or total depending on whether…
