Negative Reinforcement means removing something a dog dislikes or causes pain (example:pressure on it’s neck) to increase a behavior (example the dog sits to get the pressure to stop). Positive punishment means adding something a dog dislikes (a leash correction or a startling noise) to decrease a behavior. In the US where I live dog […]
Tag: training
#99. Understanding Dog Training Methods #2 in Series (Positive Reinforcement)
Dog training is a way to communicate with another species. Just as we learn to understand a dog’s body language, so can a dog learn to understand the signals we give. We speak different languages than dogs, so please remember it takes time to learn each other’s language. Dogs mostly speak with body signals & […]
#97. Understanding Dog Training Methods, 1st in Series
There are a variety of trainers out there who use a variety of training methods. In The US where I live there is no licencing or school/college/training programs required to set up a training place & label yourself a dog trainer. Now some dog training facilities or places do require you train under them for […]
#96. Can I Change My New Pet’s Name?
The simple answer is yes, you can change a pet’s name. Now depending on how long they had the name it could take longer for the pet to answer to the new name. I fostered for 20+ years & honestly I would say there probably was under 15 pets out of close to 175+ that […]
#79. Choke Collars, Slip Leashes, Rolled Collars & their Potential Risks
Choke collars are appropriately named, they cause a dog to be choked as a means of teaching them to do what the owner wants. I have heard people say I have used these for training for years without issues, but my reply would be Do the ends justify the means? Meaning is it worth hurting […]
#75. Are Retractable/Flexi Leashes Safe???
I often get an idea of what to write about while going through life. Yesterday I took my dog Echo out to a forest preserve to walk. It was a weekday & he is not dog friendly so figured midday not many people or dogs. This is not usually a busy place as it is […]
#67. Teaching a Dog to Potty in one Area of Your Yard.
If you have a fenced in yard it is nice because you can let your dog out to do their business, but not so nice if they go out 3 feet & poop where you might walk. My dog Echo is pretty good about using the far side of the yard to do his business, […]
#66. Look who’s about to turn 5 Years old
This Sunday the 27th of July 2025, we will celebrate Hunter’s 5th Birthday, I don’t know his exact birthday, but I estimated it when he stopped growing any taller. Most medium to large breed dogs gain height till about a year old & Hunter joined my family at about 9 months of age. Hunter was […]
#64. What is Your Dog Trying to Say? (Body Language)
Dogs can’t communicate with words like we do, but they are speaking all the time, but in a different way. They communicate through body language, using their eyes, tails, mouth, muscles, their full body & sometimes with sound. They are sometimes very subtle that humans don’t even notice. Most dogs can pick up on other […]
#61. My Dog is Digging in My Yard, What Can I Do??
Some dogs are instinctively more prone to dig, especially those bred to chase vermin such as Rat Terriers, Jack Russell Terriers, Yorkshire Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Miniature Schnauzer & others. These breeds dig to get to the vermin they smell or see, but some other breeds dig for other reasons such as: 1. Boredom: Not enough […]
Echoing Great Pet Care 