We live in a culture of symptom-chasing. Our medical professionals are highly skilled symptom-evaders*, our medicine cabinets are packed with symptom-easers, and mental health is discussed even less often than mental illness, which is saying a lot. It makes sense; it’s easier to highlight what is wrong, to make a bullet list of things we’d … More Chasing Symptoms and Bypassing Cures

If I told you there’s a very important concept that you may not have been taught about, one that is essential to both your dog’s care and your own personal wellbeing,  and actually the wellbeing of everyone around you, would you hear me out? I hope so. Here it goes. The concept is consent. Defined … More Matters of Consent

“Drive” is a term dog trainers and dog sport people throw around a lot. When seeking a puppy for agility, folks seek a “high drive” dog. Some people even vocalize their desire for a “medium” drive dog, and no one in sports seems to go for a “low drive” companion. But I’ve cautioned people against … More What We Talk About When We Talk About “Drive”

  The Humane Hierarchy is a ranking of the innate intrusiveness of behavior intervention. If you’ve not heard of it before I recommend reading Dr. Susan Friedman‘s paper on it here. Simply stated, when addressing a behavior of concern we should follow these steps: First address any of what Friedman calls “distant” antecedents that might be at … More Sport Dogs and The Humane Hierarchy