Positively | Victoria Stilwell | Forum

the rescue wont be giving her the female (Maisie) back until shes been spayed. does the rescue have a written agreement for this? do they have the legal authority to take this step on their own? I don't know where you are, but you want to be careful about something like this. In the US government r...

As a rule it is more productive set things up so that the dog learns what it is you want rather than putting time into trying to teach the dog don't do X. The technical terms for this is Differential Reinforcement for Alternate behavior (DRA). The unwanted behavior is reinforced in many different wa...

extinction won't happen if the behavior is still being triggered and/or still serving a function for Bax. careful assuming there is no sound. dog's hearing is FAR more sensitive than ours. While we all know this, we also regularly forget because we have no perspective for their level of hearing sens...

have you tried teaching him to hunt for small bits of food hidden around a room at his nose level or lower? if you use something smelly, you can keep the size of the food bits small. if you play a lot you can deduct a bit from Bax's regular meal. to teach Bax to 'hunt' for the food, start by placing...

I'm hesitant to pay for one on one sessions as they are quite expensive and at that point, I would rather pay for a behaviorist. My logic with group classes is having a group of 'safe' people around, meaning people who follow the trainers instruction to ignore my pup and not approach him. You are t...

Okay! Hopefully this will answer most of your questions, Jacksdad. If not, please let me know. I'm hesitant to pay for one on one sessions as they are quite expensive and at that point, I would rather pay for a behaviorist. My logic with group classes is having a group of 'safe' people around, mean...

Does sound like you have a fearful pup. Let me see if I can't help you out a bit. will begin a 'Mind your manners' class on 11/7. given how you say the pup reacts to your spouse, take a moment and be very honest with your-self about how your pup is with strangers. same with how your pup is with othe...

I will try and check in more.

I don't currently do a lot of SA work, but I do spend a lot of time working other issues where anxiety/fear is a root cause. Emma's advice is spot on. He also is fairly attached to neighbor, following her just about everywhere. But I think that's the extent of his SA. Lot of people tunnel vision in ...

My IMDT trainer gave us loads of advice but none of it worked. I don't know anything about your trainer, and I am sure your trainer is a great person and a competent trainer. however, working with fear really is a specialty. Not ever trainer is cut out for it. it is possible your trainer isn't the ...

Hey so I’m trying to find ways to help Bax destress. Normally I’d take him on lots of walks but the area I live in is not really safe to be walking alone in. Theee is however a FANTASTIC hiking spot a mere fifteen minutes away from my house. We’re talking a big gorge with beautiful waterfalls and l...

Ah! I didnt know it could be harmful! Luckily i only ever did NILIF in regards to things he wants that are in human hands. This could be food, a toy or even some paper he likes the look of. He had to sit for it. I started it after being nipped when he tried a 'smash and grab' for various things, th...

We have had a full general health assessment and all her bloods / urine / heart / arthritis etc is fine. We have been in touch with a trainer and vetrinary behaviorist who both have said it is very difficult to help blind/deaf dogs due to the difficulties with communication - added to this her age ...

We found out a few months ago that we can't have kids and they know this so I may have taken that remark not quite as the throwaway comment it was meant to be. I'm sorry :( That was really quite a hurtful and tactless comment. no kidding that was tactless. I would also include inappropriate. I will...

while it would be awesome to be able to take the time to write up a well thought out and documented email why the methods of the trainer are unnecessary and actually put a dog's well being at risk.... you can also just take the option to say, I refuse to do that (what the trainer is saying you "...