Happy Power Behavior and Training

04/05/2023

I am now offering a Small and Reactive class at the Oregon Humane Society. If your little dog struggles with reactivity, this is the class for you!

09/08/2021

Dog sociability is a spectrum! Each dog has different preferences on which dogs they like (or don’t), and that’s normal!!

After putting out the original post on this topic, we’ve gotten a lot of requests for a poster. So we reached out to the increeeedible Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin to make this for us.

Want a copy for your shelter, training facility, house, etc? Download it for free at link in bio or at:

everydogaustin.org/post/spectrum

Where is YOUR dog on the sociability spectrum?

08/25/2021

07/11/2021

Continuing to learn and not just settle into "this is how I've always done it" is something that I am passionate about. I want to further my knowledge and education so that I can help the animals and people under my guidance.

Something I've discovered in almost every profession, whether it's human-related or horse-related..is that there are those within the profession that are "out of date" or "behind the times". "Old school" so to speak. It could be a veterinarian, farrier/trimmer, horse trainer, riding instructor... It doesn't matter. Just because they have a title, have been doing it for a long time, or talk like they know what's up... doesn't mean they do.

I don't think this is intentional. Perhaps they are just comfortable with what they know and have always done and don't wish to be progressive or do things differently. Perhaps they don't know HOW to do "new" and so they only offer "old". Perhaps they are not accustomed to continuously updating their practice and researching for themselves, so they don't. But either way... "I've been doing this for a long time" or "this is the way it's always been done" is NOT a good enough answer.

Any professional you work with should be actively pursuing the very edges of the most modern research. They should be testing their theories and questioning the rules. This doesn't mean they HAVE to adopt everything new, because certainly there is much to be said for "tried and true" and sometimes the information is *too new* and not tested enough... But when I work with a professional of any industry I want to hear that they are attending conferences, seminars, and lectures. I want to know they are reading the newest information out there and learning from others in the industry. I want to see them actively pursuing both the science and the art of their profession... Not just sell me on what they do and have been doing for years and years. I want to know that they are learning, and not just "doing".

06/30/2021

Why Squirting is Hurting. Thank you again for the post, https://www.facebook.com/dogsdisclosed/

06/01/2021

First ride in our new bitless bridle. It went great and I feel like I'm listening more to the needs of the horse than to my own preconceived notions. This particular horse does chew her bit and there was no chewing at all in it's absence. Knowing that chewing is a sign of stress, not seeing it is a good step forward :)

04/30/2021

For DECADES we've known that the whole 'alpha' wolf/dog label has been disproven, and yet there are still those that insist that our dogs are trying to be 'alpha' or 'dominant' (I'm looking at YOU Ceasar Milan!). It's time to put these outdated thoughts in the garbage where they belong.

The researcher who introduced this term tried to clear the confusion up two decades ago, but the myth still lives on.

03/31/2021

I teach my clients to advocate for their dogs but how do we teach other people to be okay with our choice? If a person says no to you petting their dog, be cool about it. There's a reason why they and they don't have to explain it to you.

It’s called R E S P E C T

03/09/2021

Dog owners are even worse than non-dog owners at interpreting canine body language in interactions with children, according to research.

02/09/2021

Dave Mech, scientist and wolf researcher debunks the ‘alpha dog’ theory.

Link to David Mech: https://davemech.org/wolf-news-and-information/

Milan is not an expert, nor a behaviorist. He’s a reality tv personality.

12/24/2020

There are more than 1.3 million companion fish in NZ, and each one is a sentient being. Enrichment is one way to help fish enjoy a good life.

12/15/2020

Your pet isn't trying to be naughty!

Training Tuesday...
But WHY is my dog misbehaving?