Dog Training
Puppy Socialization Essentials
Socialization is one of the most important parts of raising a happy, confident, and well-adjusted dog — and Puppy Socialization Essentials is your complete guide to doing it right! This practical and positive handout from Courteous Canine, Inc. helps puppy parents understand how to introduce their pups to the world in safe, joyful, and rewarding ways. To a young [...]
Pitfalls of Punishment
Author’s Note: Positive punishment is when you add something unpleasant when an undesirable behavior is displayed to discourage that behavior. Negative punishment is when you take away something pleasant when [...]
Muzzle Training
Canine muzzle training games to play with your dog.
The Sharing Game
The image above is an advanced version of the game, your coach will help you find the ideal starting point. By Angelica Steinker, M.Ed., PCBC-A, AABP-DBCT, CDBC, CAP2 Please note [...]
Health & Safety
The Dangers of Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is toxic to dogs. It’s being used more frequently in foods, gum, and even in non-food products like lotions that dogs might eat so the danger to our pets [...]
Hidden Holiday Food Fiascos
By Brenna Fender Holiday season is here and the food is always delicious and abundant. Unfortunately, it is also potentially dangerous for dogs. Certain foods are fine for humans but toxic for dogs. Others can [...]
Hurricane Preparedness for Pets
Hurricane Preparedness for Pets By Brenna Fender We've had a peaceful hurricane season here in Florida so far but it's not over. How can you keep your pets safe in case the worst happens? If [...]
Dog Agility Training
Courteous Canine Articles
Don’t Punish Me!
A Look at Punishment in Dog Training By Brenna Fender Recently, I was at a competitive dog sport event. In the competition, each dog was supposed to retrieve an item and bring it back to [...]
Are You Really Performing Classical Counter conditioning?
Understanding Classical Counterconditioning in Dog Training Classical counterconditioning in dog training is often misunderstood. Many training plans described as counterconditioning actually depend on the dog performing a specific behavior before receiving a reward. That makes [...]
Trick or Treat?
Choosing the Right Food Rewards for Your Dog By Brenna Fender If you attend a dog training class, you are likely to be asked to bring treats with you so that you can reward your [...]
Microchip Maintenance
Dog Microchip Registration: Helping Your Lost Pet Get Home By Brenna Fender Your dog is microchipped and you feel confident that, if he or she was ever lost, that microchip would help get your dog [...]
Dock Jumper Has Impressive Debut
Dock Jumper Has Impressive Debut By Brenna Fender Photo by Hillary Fuentes Three-year-old Australian Labradoodle, Zac, made a big splash at a recent Courteous Canine North American Diving Dogs competition. On Saturday, he [...]
Deborah Steele and Dorie commented on our lure coursing class
The lure course is like crack for my dog, Dorie ! I am glad that I found a nice place to feed her "addiction ". Thank you ! Stars: 5 out of 5 Picture [...]
Things You Don’t Know About Dog Training
By Brenna Fender There are many myths and misconceptions about dog training, some of which are broadcast on TV or written in popular books. Do you know the truth? You don’t need to worry about [...]
Using Life Rewards in Dog Training to Build Better Behavior
Using Life Rewards in Dog Training to Build Better Behavior Using life rewards in dog training can help dogs learn manners through the everyday activities they already enjoy. A life reward is anything your dog [...]
AKC Offers a New Agility Program for Newcomers to the Sport
The American Kennel Club has begun offering a new program that makes agility more accessible to newcomers. According to the AKC’s website (https://www.akc.org/events/agility/act-program/), the ACT will be available in two levels. “ACT1 is designed [...]
Teaching Your Dog to Look at the Camera with Positive Training
Teaching Your Dog to Look at the Camera with Positive Training Teaching your dog to look at the camera can make photo sessions easier, more enjoyable, and less stressful. Instead of repeatedly trying to capture [...]
Trick Training Bloopers: What Mistakes Can Teach Us About Reinforcement
Trick Training Bloopers: What Mistakes Can Teach Us About Reinforcement Dog trick training mistakes can be surprisingly useful because they reveal exactly what a dog has learned along the way. In this article, Eileen Anderson [...]
Love Bomb Your Dog with Touch, Toys, and Treats
Love Bomb Your Dog with Touch, Toys, and Treats Showing your dog love can be even more meaningful when you focus on what your individual dog actually enjoys. This guide explores three fun ways to [...]
Lure Coursing Training for Stay, Leave It, and Self-Control
Lure Coursing Training for Stay, Leave It, and Self-Control Lure coursing training for dogs can be much more than a fast-paced chase game. It can also provide a fun way to practice impulse control, strengthen [...]
Managing a Reactive Dog on Walks with Positive Strategies
Managing a Reactive Dog on Walks with Positive Strategies Managing a reactive dog on walks can feel overwhelming, but thoughtful planning can make outings calmer and more successful. This guide shares practical ways to reduce [...]
The future of behavior medication?
A great blog by The Dog Zombie We don’t actually know how behavior medications work. We know how they change the operations of cells — for example, we know facts like “this medication makes cells [...]