Crackerjack Canines

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

Dogs need regular care, but administering that care is often stressful for everyone involved. Cooperative care offers a better way by reducing the stress of husbandry behaviors and strengthening the relationship between you and your dog(s). Did we mention that cooperative care can be fun?

In our virtual class, Cooperative Care: Husbandry at Home with Laura Monaco Torelli - Animal Behavior Training Concepts, you will learn how to make ear drops a breeze, eye drops routine, weighing a fun activity, and even make nail trims voluntary.

Limited spots are available; enrollment ends on June 16.
https://bit.ly/4f79jvn

05/29/2026

"Take time to better understand how to speak dog, because dogs are communicating with us all the time." That's radio host Steve Dale talking about how to keep children safe around dogs and prevent bites. This is one of the messages of his delightful new children's book, Ask The Dog. Listen to the full conversation--which is about cats as well as dogs--on The Pawsitive Post wherever you get your podcasts, watch on Youtube, or listen/watch and read a transcript on my blog (link in bio).

05/24/2026

Let’s talk about the “magica hand.”

Well meaning people reach out their hand so a dog can sniff and make friends. For some dogs, that is fine. For others, it is the fastest way to get bitten.

A reaching hand can:
• Feel invasive
• Reduce distance
• Corner the dog
• Predict restraint

Some dogs have learned that biting makes the hand go away quickly.

A better option:
Allow the dog to approach if they choose.
Ignore them until they initiate affiliative behavior.
Watch body language carefully.

And if:
🚫 You are unsure about what you are seeing
🚫 There is a bite history
🚫 Handling is not necessary

Walking away is the safest choice.

Preventing bites is often about reducing unnecessary pressure.


Dog Illustrations by The Drawables, Owned By: Liz V.

05/24/2026

If you can teach a polar bear…. 😊🐾

Check out Polar Bear Keeper Amy working on "open mouth" training wi...

05/10/2026

MYTH: If the dog didn’t bite hard, it’s not serious.

The bite inhibition a dog has is important. But risk assessment is not based on one incident.

It is based on:
➡ History
➡ Frequency
➡ Escalation
➡ Context
➡ Target

A Level 2 bite today can become a Level 4 bite next month if the underlying pattern is intensifying.

📊 Near misses are data.
📊 Air snaps are data.
📊 Growls are data.
📊 Repetition is data.

If the behavior is repeating, intensifying, or generalizing to new contexts, the risk profile is changing. Waiting for a “serious” bite before intervening is not a strategy.

Early intervention protects:
1️⃣ The dog
2️⃣ The people
3️⃣ The professional
4️⃣ The outcome

Understanding bite levels is important. But also understanding trajectory is critical.