Ask The Behaviorist
In these short articles Dr. Martinez, LOMA Behavior and Training’s Founder, offers insight to common questions from clients. She explores puppy socialization, dog training and dog behavior modification. Dig in to find the answers you need.
Why virtual consultations for dog behavior modification?
Potty training (aka house training) in some ways is one of the easiest behaviors to train. There are many resources available to help clients with this essential training task. Yet, it can also be one of the most difficult behavior issues when things go wrong or a client has stumbled on some inappropriate advice. When clients have tried all the recommended potty training suggestions and still seem to be struggling, we often find there are 3 myths that give people the most trouble and prevent their success.
Why is my dog not potty trained?
Potty training (aka house training) in some ways is one of the easiest behaviors to train. There are many resources available to help clients with this essential training task. Yet, it can also be one of the most difficult behavior issues when things go wrong or a client has stumbled on some inappropriate advice. When clients have tried all the recommended potty training suggestions and still seem to be struggling, we often find there are 3 myths that give people the most trouble and prevent their success.
Why is my dog so stubborn?
Whenever I meet someone’s “stubborn” dog, I consider the answers to the questions: Is the dog afraid? Is something more interesting to the dog? Is the dog confused? If the answer to any of these is “yes,” I can fix those problems. I can teach a clear cue, make a compelling argument and change a dog’s fear. I can train a “stubborn” dog.
How do I exercise my dog?
Walking is not the only way to exercise a dog. In fact, walking may not be the best option for high-energy dogs who need a good workout. Most of us walk far slower than our dogs for the walk to be considered high energy. And some dogs are too frightened to enjoy walking in unfamiliar places. For those dogs, walking is not a pleasant experience. Instead, create an exercise plan for your dog that takes into account your dog’s age, activity level, physical limitations and preferences.
I can’t take my dog on a walk?!
Don’t take your dog on a walk. This advice is usually surprising to our clients. All of us are flooded with the message that we have to take our dogs out for walks every day. That is generally great advice. We want dogs to get out and explore the world through walks. Most dogs love sniffing all the wonderful scents they come across on a walk. So why did we make this radical recommendation for this client?
Is my dog going to hurt someone?
Our clients often ask us this legitimate question... While there is no way to guarantee a dog will never bite, we provide clients with information to identify how safe a dog’s behavior is in their family home and in the community….
Which puppy is right for me?
Maybe you don’t know much about your puppy’s early life, before he came to your home, or he’s older and past the critical socialization period. That’s ok. You’re amazing for opening your home to a puppy in need.
E-collar series: Is an e-collar safe for my dog if it doesn't hurt me?
Is an e-collar safe for my dog if it doesn’t hurt me?
This is our second article in our E-collar series. We learned that some of LOMA's clients were convinced to use an e-collar on their dog by putting it on themselves first to see what their dog would experience.
This question seems to imply that if a dog's owner doesn't experience pain with the e-collar, then the dog will not experience pain and that then makes it "safe." The question also implies that the collar's only harmful effects are painful. We will explore both of these implications.
How can I snap my dog out of fear?
She said her puppy was often trembling and looked very scared so she was calling to ask if there was anything she could do to “snap him out of it.”
How do I get my dog to stop...?
… jumping, soiling in the house, barking at the kids, running out the front door? We get questions like these from clients every day… You might be surprised to know that when we start building a training plan for our clients, we focus first on what the dog can do instead.