Category: Dog Training
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I Was Wrong About Socialization
My recent post on socialization created quite a buzz. Among the many points that I made throughout the blog, one of the most controversial was that having your dog passively sit and watch other dogs and people from a distance is not socialization. Almost immediately I started receiving criticism on…
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No, Sitting and Watching is not Socialization
I have seen a few different trainers make some version of a decades-old claim lately: that socialization isn’t what people think it is, that it doesn’t need to be done in dog parks and daycares, and that just taking your dog out into public and letting them observe is socialization…
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(Part 2) Leash Reactivity: The Mistakes Even Good Trainers Make
The post discusses the common mistake of relying on obedience to manage a reactive dog’s behavior without addressing the underlying insecurities. The author emphasizes that while obedience can provide temporary control, it does not foster trust or lasting change. The goal should be helping the dog communicate their needs, thereby…
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Leash Reactivity: The Mistakes Even Good Trainers Make (Part 1)
The author reflects on the common issue of leash reactivity in dogs, emphasizing its impact on trainers’ reputations. They identify a crucial mistake trainers make by relying solely on counter-conditioning. Instead, they advocate for fostering trust with the dog, ensuring that handlers demonstrate competence in managing triggers, thus creating a…
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A Simpler Framework for Dog Aggression Cases
A trainer sits down with a dog owner whose two dogs are fighting over food. The conversation moves through management strategies, counterconditioning protocols, and desensitization timelines. The trainer builds a detailed plan: separate feeding stations, staged introductions, treat-based association work, maybe some medication consultation. It’s thorough. It feels professional. And…
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The Most Cited Document in Dog Training Debates Doesn’t Hold Up.
The AVSAB Wants to Talk About Welfare. So Do I. A well-known reward-based trainer recently said something on a podcast that many trainers have thought but rarely say out loud: that he doesn’t necessarily rule out tools like electronic collars for serious behavior cases. It was a measured, nuanced position.…
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The Two-Question Exercise That Improves Every Behavior Case
Learn the two-question exercise that helps dog trainers improve behavior cases, create clearer training plans, and communicate more effectively with challenging dogs.
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Understanding Dual Reliability in Dog Training
Dog trainer Tyler Muto explores the idea of “dual reliability” — the difference between what dogs can learn reliably and what humans can apply reliably — and why all trainers, regardless of ideology, should welcome innovation in positive reinforcement.
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Dog Trainer DEI
“If our goal is to raise the overall standard of life for dogs and families, no single ideology will get us there. It will take a broad spectrum of approaches.”
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The Builder and the Wind
A builder spent months designing an elaborate tower.It had curves, carvings, and a winding staircase that spiraled like art.But when the first strong wind came, the tower leaned. His neighbor, who built a small square house with nothing fancy about it, slept peacefully.When the builder complained that the storm was…