Blog - Doghouse

Aug 19

Raising Confident Puppies

I work a lot with anxious, fearful, and aggressive dogs. I typically tell owners that there are a few causes to that kind of behaviour - genetics/prenatal development, medical issues - whether mental health-related, pain, or otherwise physiological, and a history of trauma - as serious as abuse, or as... read more →

Jul 05

Positive Reinforcement Training: What Is It and Why Choose It?

Positive reinforcement training, often abbreviated as R+, is the belief that we can teach our pets by showing them what we want them to do, rather than telling them what not to do. Another way to put this is that we can teach our dogs through the use of something... read more →

Jun 15

Error Free-Living—Or The Role Of Natural Biological Rhythms In Daily Living

“Dogs love schedules,” they say. “Keep a consistent schedule for your dog,” they say. Is this true? Not exactly! Let’s talk about schedules—When regularity is preferred, healthy variation, and “errorless living”. We’ll talk a bit about biological rhythms, how to “ask” your dog, and body language as well! When are predictable schedules... read more →

Feb 17

Can You Reinforce Your Dog’s Fear?

You’re in the waiting room. You are sitting in one of those uncomfortable plastic chairs, trying to ignore the clinical smell and the beeping from machines. You look at the outdated tatty magazines strewn on the table, as nurses flurry past with clipboards. You swallow the lump in your throat... read more →

Feb 02

Do You Have A Reactive Dog?

Is the thought of your daily walk with your canine companion causing you anxiety? Does your furry friend bark at everything that goes by while out in the garden? Upon noticing another dog, are you worried your dog may become reactive and aggressive? An illustration of the Limbic System, the... read more →

Jan 07

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Smell No Evil.

Our dogs live in a sensory world entirely different from our own. We believe the world looks, tastes, feels, smells, sounds a certain way. But it's not the real world we see, it's our perception of it. How often have you argued with someone about what color something is? Or... read more →

Dec 31

Canine Adolescents

I often feel that the adolescent stage in a dog’s life is overlooked, while on the other hand there is a lot of information out there about puppies; some really good stuff, some not so good. People often do a lot of research about how to care for their new... read more →

Dec 21

It’s Not Just About Socialisation, It’s About The Right Socialization

Socialisation is not about exposure to new things and hoping it just works out. The realization from both professionals and the public that socialisation is crucial in supporting our dogs to be confident and happy is fantastic. But, just putting dogs into new situations and hoping for the best is... read more →

Dec 14

Change In The Tide

Sharing knowledge is the key to not only a better world, but also on a personal level, a more successful business. People often worry about sharing knowledge when they are running a dog training or canine behaviour business; "If I share too much, people won't need me". Personally I find... read more →

Dec 10

Rethinking Canine Communication

When I was young I was taught the basics, like I am sure many of us were. A wagging tail, a happy dog. Tail tucked is a scared dog. A growl, an unhappy dog, stay away. As I learned more about canine communication I soon realized a wagging tail doesn't... read more →