Puppy Socialization

Socialization Defined Socialization isn’t what we think it is. Can you take a high energy puppy and introduce them to enough people, places, and things that they become socialized to and familiar with… everything? Can they become accepting of the world? Better...

“What Does It Mean” and its Improved Form

What does it mean when… Luckily, dog owners and non-dog owners ask that question. Fortunately my moment of clarity happened when I realized that someone asking “What does it mean when…” limits the answer to a single answer, to a linear process, and that’s not the way...

Board and Train

An elephant-in-the-room, open request to all trainers: Address and remove the use of all forms of barbarism from all training. Address the need to use, the promise of use, the hinting of use, or the idea of the need for use of all forms of barbarism in all training —...

Dog Training Myths

  Question: What’s one myth about dog training or behavior that you’ve found to be completely false? Many owners think they have to be gruff with their dogs. They think they have to yell and shout at their dogs. They believe they have to berate their dogs. So...

Addressing Dogs Reacting to Dogs

The Question [High energy, reacting dogs.] I am bringing high value treats, I have a young 13 month old Goldendoodle. It is very difficult to avoid any Dogs. since I live in San Francisco, a very highly dense, dog friendly city. So I have to walk him out during the...

Looking Downstream, Looking Upstream

Looking Downstream, Looking Upstream Question: I read somewhere that dogs naturally sleep 18 hours a day. Is it cause for concern if your dog sleeps a lot but is energetic when she’s awake? Answer: Look Upstream THIMKING caps on. Introducing upstream views and...

Dog’s Radar, and Dogs as Radar

You can think of a dog as a radar, and you can think of them as a radar indicator. First of all, identify if the dog is in a high energy state where it’s paying attention to things that Nature is commanding. Otherwise figure out if it’s paying attention to...

What Is Anthropomorphism?

In my model, anthropomorphism is the creating of a label or narrative to explain an animal’s behavior. This definition makes anthropomorphism measurable. Without its measurability, its occurrence is vague, vaguely defined, and inaccurately detected and identified. If...

Going Upstream Defeats the Reliance on Opinions

Someone asked: Why is my dog getting into moods where he’s unsettled, pacing, and whining? BNBR, being nice and being respectful, don’t ask “why.”  What dogs do is what they’re saying. (Ask me about this!) So instead of their unsettledness, pacing, and whining being a...

Common Sense

The best, common sense explanation for common sense is its shortest. “Experts” don’t do the determination—each person’s assessment does the determination. In that sense, experts don’t exist. Common sense involves moments of patient waiting—the dismissing of one’s own...