Will boot camp help my aggressive dog?
Will boot camp help my aggressive dog? In a word - NO! We hear time and time again that when dogs have bitten, growled, or otherwise threatened to bite someone, or are fighting with other dogs, people reach for board and train or boot camp for help. We understand the public perception that a boot camp or board and train for a troubled dog is the most effective way to stop problem behaviors, but that approach is not supported by peer reviewed evidence. And punishment may suppress behaviors in the short term, but ultimately makes things worse. Here’s why boot camp is not the best choice for your dog.
Grief
Working in behavioral dog training, we encounter grief often. We see our clients grieve for the dog they wanted and compare it to the dog they got. We put our dogs down when they’re sick. We see our co-workers' beloved best friends be put to sleep, and it crushes them. We of course are sometimes a part of discussions about behavioral euthanasia. We hear from veterinarians about the responsibility, the guilt, the conflicted feelings and pain they feel about euthanasia. Shelter workers bravely endure the pain of ending the lives of animals they care for deeply - and yet, we rarely talk about these issues or the experiences we encounter. When we do, we joke about the trauma, and we press on.
Grizzly Learns to Love Fear Free Grooming!
We know grooming can be stressful for pups especially when past experiences haven’t been so positive. When I first met Grizzly, a 12 year old lab mix, he was so nervous for his bath and nails, he was panting and trying to run away. He couldn’t eat treats from me, and would not let me touch him. The first time he came here, he was not having a good time, so we sent him home with just a little meet and greet in the groom room, and no touching or grooming at all.
Peer Reviewed Research
Does your dog trainer contribute to their field through peer reviewed research? A Pleasant Dog was recently honored to be invited to present our research at the annual American College of Veterinary Behaviorists Veterinary Behavior Symposium (“VBS”!) in Minneapolis, Minnesota!
Help! I can’t leave my dog!I think my dog has separation anxiety! What can I do?
Does your dog whine, cry, bark, chew, destroy items, or attempt to escape its crate or surroundings when separated from you or alone? Do you feel like a prisoner in your own home? Have you read all the books, spent thousands of dollars on desensitization training and find yourself still only able leave your dog for a few seconds or minutes? You are not alone.
Where do I get a good dog? How do you find a reputable rescue or breeder?
So often we help families with dogs with severe behavior problems like anxiety, aggression, and hyperarousal, and over and over again, we hear, “I did my research.” “I tried to find a reputable breeder or rescue.” “I just don’t know how this happened.” Our heart goes out to you, and we want to help.
how do you know when your own dog (or puppy) isn’t safe
For Fitzwilliam Trigger warning: this article discusses aggression and behavioral euthanasia. Much has been said lately about the risks of placing shelter and rescue
fear in dogs
It’s dusk. The foggy, chilly kind of early fall dusk that chills your bones as the newly bare trees sway and crackle around you. You smell dry leaves, faint traces o
know the signs your dog is uncomfortable
We hear it every day, “My dog is unpredictable”; “If I could only tell when he’s going to bite”; and “It happened out of the blue.” Dog bites never happen out of
camping with your dogs
Love camping? Love dogs? Afraid to combine the two? Don’t be! With a little planning, most dogs (even reactive or fearful ones) can enjoy camping right along side you. A
gr triple crown™
“Once upon a time in a land not far away…” We are OVER THE MOON to announce our new collaboration with Nature of the Dog and Shaggy Pines Dog Park. We’ve long admired the
a pleasant shop
Hey there, Pleasant Dogs. Long time no write. That’s because we’ve been so busy growing! This year we’ve already added a new trainer (and rumor has it another is
say, “hello.”
My dog, Snarky, is fine at the dog park, but he barks at other dogs when he’s on leash.” This is more common a problem than you might think. There are a lof of reasons