Posts tagged dog behaviour

Controversial advice - Reinforce unwanted behaviour

Many of the problem behaviours are a product of unintentional reinforcement that comes at the wrong time. It's better to reinforce quickly to keep the behaviour short and put more intention into all of the interactions with your dog. Remember, it's not just during a training session that your dog learns!

Dog training, behaviourAnna BartosikMay 14, 2021dog training, dog trainer, dog behavior, dog behaviour, behaviour analysis, behavior, behavior analysis, reinforcement, positive reinforcement, teachingComment

Dogs meeting children. How to do it safely?

It’s better to introduce your dog to a child slowly and safely. If your dog is avoiding the interaction be his voice and take him out of the situation. When your dog has choices and is asking for interaction, it can be the start of a great relationship. In any case, you always need to supervise and keep everyone safe. Not only the child but also your dog.

Dog, behaviourAnna BartosikApril 8, 2021dog training, dog behaviour, dog behavior, children, child, kid, kids, dogs and kids, dogs and children, dog and child, giving choiceComment

Challenge - Train yourself to look for the behaviours you like

Are you willing to take on the challenge of looking for the behaviours you like? Whether it's in your dogs' behaviour or in your own behaviour! Change can start from this simple (yet not easy!) exercise of noticing the behaviours you like instead of the ones you want to change.

behaviour, Dog training, LearningAnna BartosikFebruary 25, 2021habit, changing habits, changing behaviors, change, behaviour analysis, animal behaviour, dog behaviour, dog training, positive reinforcement, positive dog training, focus on what you want, challenge, habit formation, changing your own behaviourComment

Fear in dogs - how it looks like and what to do with it?

Fear in dogs is not always easy to recognise and many people misinterpret it. Dogs don’t come with the manual and it’s normal we don’t know everything. Learning to recognise the signs, sometimes very subtle can help you understand your dog better and give him a happier life. To see a change from a fearful dog to a confident companion, to me, is the most beautiful thing to observe.

Dog training, behaviourAnna BartosikJanuary 22, 2021dog training, dog, dogs body language, fear, fear in dog, fear in dogs, behavior, behaviour, dog behaviour, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcementComment

Taking a new dog or puppy home

Contemplating taking a new dog or puppy home? Let’s talk about adopting from a shelter, fostering or finding a good breeder - all worth considering.

Dog, Puppy, behaviourAnna BartosikJanuary 7, 2021don't shop adopt, beware of puppy mills, puppy, dog, taking home, dog behaviour, puppy behavior, new dog homeComment

Behaviour works across the species

Behaviour is behaviour and you can find the consequences that drive it for every species you encounter.

behaviourAnna BartosikDecember 11, 2020behaviour, behaviour analysis, dog behaviour, horse, animal, dog training, human behavior, human training, human, Learning, animal trainingComment

The truth about stress-free life and teaching

Is stress-free life about creating a life for dogs or people that will keep them in a bubble without any stress? Or is it about building skills ahead of time so when the stressful situation happens, they are equipped to cope with it?

behaviour, Learning, Dog trainingAnna BartosikDecember 5, 2020stress-free, learning, behavior, human, human training, human behavior, human behaviour, dog, dog training, dog behaviour, least intrusive most positive, shapingComment

Impulse control vs. trial and success learning

Instead of trying to develop an impulse control inside the animal, I much rather prefer to focus on teaching the essential skills that my dog needs. When you teach all of the skills step by step, you teach by adding successes not by eliminating errors.

Dog trainingAnna BartosikNovember 12, 2020dogs, dog training, positive dog training, least intrusive most positive, choice, learning, behavior, behaviour, dog behaviour, behavior analysis, trial and success, errorless learning, impulse control Comments

How to live a happy life with your pet?

Love your pet as he is. Accepting your pet doesn't mean that you can't try to change things if something doesn't work for both of you. It's about prioritising the most important things and letting go of the rest.

How to make your pet’s life more interesting?

When your dog or cat is entertained, you will have far less behavioural problems with them! Read more to get some ideas on how to make your pet's life more interesting.

behaviour, Cat behaviour, Dog trainingAnna BartosikSeptember 11, 2020cat behaviour, cat learning, cat training, cats, dog play, dogs, dog behaviour, dog training, positive dog training, enrichment, toys, chew toy, feeding, pet, entertainmentComment

Negative reinforcement – are you using it unknowingly?

How often do we stop and think about the way we interact with others (including animals)? We raise our voices when we talk with people who we think don’t listen to us. We pull the leash on our dogs’ collars to make them come the other way. We laugh at people, we grin, we give nasty comments without ever thinking what effect it has on them. Even if something works, it doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.

Dog training, behaviourAnna BartosikAugust 28, 2020negative reinforcement, behavior, behaviour analysis, behaviour, dog behaviour, communication, people, nagging, positive reinforcement, least intrusive most positiveComment

Why is my dog doing this?

Why is my dog doing this? A question most dog guardians/caregivers/owners ask. What’s the most common answer dog trainers give? It depends.

Dog trainingAnna BartosikAugust 20, 2020dogs, dog training, positive dog training, behaviour, behaviour analysis, behavior, dog behaviour, it depends, question, questioningComment

Jun 24, 2021

How to use trial and success learning to our own behaviour?

Many times we don’t even bother trying to learn a new skill. We convince ourselves that it’s not for us. When what we could do is to find the first successive approximation and start learning through a fun and successful process.

May 21, 2021

Tips on loose leash walking (video)

Loose leash walking has a lot of complexity to it. In reality, there are many behaviours that need to be taught but even more importantly every change in the environment can affect it! Here are a few tips and tricks that you can try while training your dog.

Nov 26, 2020

Dog training in animal shelter - dealing with mistakes (video)

We can have a training plan in mind but it's the dog who will tell us if the plan is good or not. Don’t be afraid to move back a few steps in your training plan and ask for less at any point. Work with whatever you have in front of you. Looking back at the video you've made, you might realise whose mistake that really was.

Jul 23, 2020

Are you walking your dog for yourself or your dog?

Walking your dog can be a frustrating experience. It comes from misunderstanding each other. The dog doesn’t get to read all of the news (or check his Facebook) through sniffing and you feel like he doesn’t listen to you or is disobedient. Changing the way you see the walks and lowering your expectations can be an easier and faster way to enjoy your walks again.