Way To Behave

25/04/2025

Sir Maximus (Max for short) proved that behavioral training is always worth a try -- especially with motivated owners willing to put in the effort! In 2022, Max unfortunately killed one of the family cats, so his owners contacted me to see if his prey drive could be controlled or reduced to ensure their second cat would be safe. I cautioned that, in general, the prognosis is poor for resolving aggression or predation that has escalated to the level of a fatality. Well, long story short, after we worked hard on Max's training and on gradual, controlled reintroductions, Max and Action (the second cat) became friends and lived happily together for 3 years, until Max's recent passing. "Thank you for all your knowledge," his owners wrote me last week after Max passed away. "He was an incredible boy, and you helped us make him that way."

11/03/2025

Thanks to Public Vet for keeping cat owners informed!

23/01/2025

This series of tricks earned Mojo his second tricks title from Do More With Your Dog! When people say Chihuahuas are stupid, show them this! 😊

08/01/2025

Did you know that small dogs lose heat faster than large dogs and are more susceptible to cold and rain? Sweaters and coats aren’t just cute on them, they’re necessary in cold weather to help maintain their body temperature!

It's because small animals have a larger surface-area-to-volume ratio, meaning they have more exposed surface area relative to their body volume. So they don't conserve heat or maintain a stable body temperature as well as larger animals.

So go ahead, don't be embarrassed. Bundle them up and enjoy your winter walks together in style and comfort 😊

25/12/2024

Merry Christmas!

21/11/2024

"Mojo and the Turtle Band" 🎶
I think he found his people 😉😆

23/10/2024

5 Key Tips for Kids & Dogs on Halloween!

5 key tips for preventing behavior incidents, keeping kids safe, and having fun on Halloween with your dog and cat!

25/09/2024

My name is Marlin. I'm learning to "place"... half-on, half-off. 😄
I'm not perfect yet, but you gotta admit, I sure am handsome. That's gotta count for something.

31/07/2024

Top 10 advantages to private, in-home dog and cat training...

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10/07/2024

Hand Targeting -- dogs bopping their nose on people's palms -- is such a versatile skill. We use it to teach polite greetings, to move over, to walk at your side, for tricks like closing doors, and to redirect a reactive dog.

It's also an excellent low-stress technique for teaching fearful and even aggressive dogs polite greetings while building their comfort with strangers.

The skill teaches them what to do (instead or over-reacting or aggressing) and the rewards gradually condition more pleasant feelings toward strangers.

12/06/2024

Here you have it -- the best tips for a Happy Independence Day with your furry companions!

29/05/2024

A handy angle with "Place" training is to teach your dog to go there himself without your having to es**rt him every time.

That allows you to send him to his spot (bed or mat) from a distance. Tofu, Odin & Ollie show it off for you here...

20/03/2024

We don't give reindeer to children at Christmas, so please don't give rabbits at Easter!

This is Phoebe. Her ears were cut off with scissors by children. The bunny living with her had his toes cut off with scissors :(

Rabbits are NOT suitable pets for young children. Please don't give them as gifts this Easter.

*This is a repost from Eddy & Rambo Bunny

13/03/2024

A serious short story about cat behavior.

15/02/2024

Do you know what Station Training is, and its benefits for you? If not, you can watch here and learn!

25/01/2024

Whether you're facing ice storms or rain squalls, here's a fun way to give your dog exercise indoors -- with relatively cheap or homemade agility equipment!