Dog Training and Behavior Articles

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These articles are posted for informational purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for training. If you are experiencing a serious behavior problem with your dog, no book or article is a substitute for working with a professional, who can observe your dog and customize a training program for you based on your dog's needs.

RECENTLY ADDED

How to Pet a Dog

Minds of Their Own: Animals are smarter than you think

Shock Collars: Quick Fix?

To Tug or Not to Tug: Seriously, That's Still a Question?

What Nobody Told You About Raising a Puppy

On-Leash Aggression

 

ARTICLES BY 4PAWS UNIVERSITY

Are All Trainers The Same? New!

Does Your Dog Bite? PDF

Dog Body Language

Dog Boot Camps

Dog Food Information

Dogs and Kids - A Guide for Parents

Dog Parks

Dog Safety Activity Book Free Download!

Dog Training Challenges

Dog Whisperer Controversy

Dog Whisperer Controversy Part II: Answering the Fans

Fetch Games as Exercise

Fireworks Preparation

How Dogs Learn

Leadership and Dominance

Loose Leash 101 PDF

Off Leash Considerations PDF

On-Leash Aggression New!

Post Holiday Stress PDF

Punishment

Retractable Leashes

Safety Tips For Children

Secrets of Dog Training

Separation Anxiety

Shock Collars: Quick Fix?

Spoiled Dogs

Stubborn Dogs

Taking Great Photos of Your Dog

The Pick of the Litter

To Tug or Not to Tug: Seriously, That's Still a Question?

Traditional Training Methods

Was Your Dog Abused?

What Nobody Told You About Raising a Puppy

Winter Housebreaking Headaches PDF

Working With Food - New!

Working with a Difficult Dog PDF


TRAINING TIPS

Dog Owner's Resolutions

Markers

Set Your Dog Up To Succeed

What Are You Paying Attention To?

Winter Activites For Your Dog PDF


RECOMMENDED ARTICLES

Additional article links are by other professional trainers, certified behaviorists, veterinarians, veterinary behaviorists and other pet professionals. These specific articles reflect the philosophies and methods used by 4Paws University. However, some of these websites might contain other articles that espouse methods and theories that are not.

Any website or article that recommends to "correct" or punish unwanted behavior does so without taking into consideration your individual dog's behavior and history. The use or misuse of aversive methods can make problems worse or create behavior problems not present. Before using any aversive methods with your dog, consult with a qualified behavior professional.


TRAINING

 

TRAINING EXERCISES

Note: Some training articles may reference the use of a clicker. You can also use your voice as a marker by saying "Yes!" or "Good!"

 

Brain Work Ideas

Canine Cabin Fever PDF

Chaos at the Door PDF

Crate Training PDF

Desensitizing to Squirrels

Desensitization and Counter-Conditioning to Vet Visits PDF

Emergency! Dog on the Loose!

Frequently Asked Training Questions PDF

Games Dogs Love

Introducing New Baby 1

Introducing New Baby 2

Jean Donaldson's Top 10 Training Tips PDF

Keep Your Dog Busy and Stimulated

Loose Leash 101 PDF

Loose Leash Walking - The Total Picture

Mouthing

My Dog Is Pulling My Arm Off!

Nail Trimming for Sensitive Dogs

Scent Games

Taking Treats Gently

Target Training

Teaching Self-Control

Training for Agility

To Tug or Not to Tug: Seriously, That's Still a Question?

Tug of War PDF

Tug of War Rules

Winter Housebreaking Headaches PDF

   
TRAINING TIPS

Rewarding Recipes

Secrets of Dog Training

Set Your Dog Up To Succeed

Training Reminders

What are You Paying Attention To?

 
CALMING EXERCISES

Any Dog Can Learn to Live Calmly

Lowering Arousal

Keep Me Calm

The Zen Down

Relaxation Protocol

Settle Down and Shush

 
TERMINOLOGY and METHODS

40 Rewards

Assessing the Alpha Roll PDF

Behavioral Terminology

Canine Training Methods

Clicker Training - Frequently Asked Questions

Defining Humane Dog Training PDF

Defining Humane Dog Training Part 2 PDF

Dog Boot Camps/Board Training

Dog Training Methods PDF

Dogs Trained With Food

Food in Training PDF

Good Dog Choices - Are they just in it for the cookie?

How You Get a Behavior Really Does Matter

It Takes a Pack to Raise a Puppy

Just Rewards - New!

Learning Dog Training From Television...Seriously?

Lures, Rewards and Bribes

Markers

Operant Conditioning

Talk Softly and Carry a Carrot or a Big Stick?

Training Methods - Operant Conditioning

What is a 'Behaviorist', anyway?

Why I Switched to Positive Training

 
PUNISHMENT IN TRAINING

Punishment: American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior

Punishment and Negative Reinforcement PDF

Problems and Principles for Effective Use

Learning About Punishment From Dogs Themselves

Punishment: How Not To Do It

 

TRAINING EQUIPMENT

Electronic Training Devices: A Review of Current Literature PDF

Choke and Shock Collars PDF

Shock Collar Study PDF

The Shocking Truth

Why I Hate Invisible Fences

Invisible Fence Information PDF

Acclimate Dog to Head Halter

The Problem With Head Halters

Training Tether

Selecting Training Equipment

Retractable Leashes

To Leash or Not to Leash PDF


BEHAVIOR
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Behavior Thresholds

Canine Adolescence

Developmental Stages of Puppies PDF

Ethology and Behavior

Evolution and Domestication of the Dog

Generalization

Guilty Dogs

He Just Wants to Say Hi

Lowering Arousal

Not So Funny Home Video

Puppy and The Young Dog

Science and Dog Training

Sleep and Dreams in Dogs and Cats PDF

The Trouble With Drives PDF

Was Your Adopted Dog Abused?

 
BODY LANGUAGE

Are You Fluent in Dog?

Behavior Signals Interpreted with Body Postures

Body Language Quiz

Calming Signals - The Art of Survival

Canine Calming Signals

Canine Stress Signs

Reading Your Dog's Body Language

 
LEARNING THEORY and
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
(DOG PSYCHOLOGY)

Training Methods - Operant Conditioning

Animal Trainer's Guide to Operant and Classical Conditioning

Behavioral Terminology

Classical Conditioning

Confusing Consequences - A Brief Introduction to Operant Conditioning

Definitions of Common Behavior Terms

Learned Helplessness

Learning

Operant Conditioning

Premack Principle

Reinforcement Theory

Using Operant vs Classical Conditioning

 
INTELLIGENCE

Animal Intelligence

How Animals Percieve the World

Thinking the Way Animals Do

 
HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR

Dog Food and Behavior Medications for Behavior Problems PDF

Stress and Disease in Animals

Striving for Puppy Wellness:  Are Early Socialization and Disease Prevention Incompatible? PDF


BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Barking PDF

Biting Legs/Ankles

Canine Juvenile Delinquents

Compulsive Canine Behaviors

Coprophagia - Stool Eating

Coprophagia

Digging

Fearful Dogs

Fear of Thunder/Fireworks

Medications for Behavior Problems PDF

Post Holiday Stress PDF

Separation Anxiety

Serene Homecoming - Separation Anxiety

COMMON PROBLEMS

 

AGGRESSION
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If you are experiencing a serious behavior problem with your dog, no book or article is a substitute for working with a professional, who can individually assess your dog and customize a training program based on your dog's needs.

If you are looking for a behavior consultant but live outside of the Sacramento area, 4Paws offers free referrals. Please contact us for more information.

 

 

99% Benji, 1% Cujo PDF

About Dog Aggression

Aggression Basics

Cujo on My Couch

Does Tug of War Cause Aggression? PDF

Does Your Dog Bite? PDF

Faith and the Human-Animal Bond

Management and the Aggressive Dog

On-Leash Aggression New!

On Lead Aggression

Reasons for Aggression

Resource Guarding/Possession PDF

Safety and Management

Tying Dogs Out PDF

TREATMENT OF AGGRESSION

 

Treatment Options

Punishing Aggressive Behavior

Medications for Behavior Problems PDF


LEADERSHIP/DOMINANCE

Pack Leader Myths PDF

Debunking The Dominance Myth PDF

Letting Go of the Dominance Paradigm in Dogs PDF

Moving Beyond the Dominance Myth Towards Training as a Partnership PDF

History and Misconceptions of Dominance Theory/Alpha Roll

Reconsidering Dominance PDF

Dominance in Dogs

Canine Dominance Revisited

Alpha Schmalpha

Assessing the Alpha Roll PDF

Beyond the Dominance Paradigm

Being the Alpha - The Truth About Dominance

Alpha Status, Dominance and Division of Labor in Wolf Packs Advanced

DOMINANCE THEORY

 

 
LEADERSHIP

Are You Really "The Alpha"?

Leader of the Pack

Leadership Basics

Leadership - Nothing in Life is Free

Serene Homecoming

Leadership vs. Dominance

Deference Protocol

Leadership vs. Dominance

 
DOMINANCE AND TELEVISION

Learning Dog Training From Television (Seriously?)

Dog Psychology 101

Divine...Or Disaster for Dog Owners

Talk Softly and Carry a Carrot or a Big Stick?

Dog Whisperer: An Alternative Approach

Beyond the Dominance Paradigm

The Anti-Cesar Millan

Pros and Cons of the Cesar Phenomenon

A. Leuscher, DVM letter to National Geographic


HEALTH
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These articles are provided for reference purposes only and are not intended as veterinary advice.

 

WHEN TO CONTACT YOUR VET

Bland Diet for Vomiting and Diarrhea

Information on Bloat in Dogs

Dog Food

Canine Influenza

Canine Vaccination Protocol 2006

Food Allergies and Intolerances in Dogs

Heartworm PreventativeRecall

Home First-Aid Kit

Household Dangers PDF

How Healthy is Your Dog's Weight?

How to Find a Vet

Life Span Study

Medications for Behavior Problems PDF

Signs of Canine Illness

Toxic Plants

Warning: Tennis Balls and Large Dogs!

West Nile Virus Information

What to Ask Your Vet

   

FOOD AND NUTRITION
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Dog Food by 4Paws University

Pet Food Labels

Dog Food Myths

Dog Food Cost

Probiotic Supplements

Information on Raw Diets


DOG PARKS/DAY CARE
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Dog Parks PDF

Is Your Dog a Dog Park Dog?

Proper Dog Park Etiquette

Puppy Play Groups

Doggy Daycare and Dog Parks

Choosing a Pet Sitter

Pit Bulls and Dog Parks


FOR FUTURE DOG OWNERS

Puppy Preparedness Information

What Nobody Told You About Raising a Puppy

Buying Puppies From the Internet

Developmental Stages of a Dog's Life

It Takes a Pack to Raise a Puppy

Everything You Wanted to Know About Puppies But Just Forgot to Ask

Puppy Vaccinations

ABOUT PUPPIES

 

 
ADULT DOGS

Bringing a Second Dog Into the Home

Getting a 'Used' Dog

 
CHOOSING A DOG/PUPPY

Buying a Puppy

Buying Puppies From the Internet

California Dog Lemon Law

Choosing a Dog

Choosing a Puppy

Finding the Perfect Dog

How Not to Buy a Puppy

Picking Out Your Puppy

The Pick of the Litter


BREEDING
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Note:  If you are considering breeding your pet in an effort to recreate his/her appearance and personality, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.  Genetics are not so easily controlled and, just as children are not exact replicas of their parents, puppies are equally unique.

Want to breed your dog?

Learn to Breed

Facts About Breeding

Whelping 101

Why Should I Have My Dog X-Rayed?

 
SPAY/NEUTER INFORMATION

Myths and Facts About Spay/Neuter

To Have or Not Have Testicles



SO YOU WANT TO GET A...
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Breed books and websites often extol the virtues of their selected breed. But what are those breeds really like to live with?

These websites outline the pros and cons of each breed. Many of these sites are breed rescues, who are overflowing with unwanted dogs - the result of owners unprepared for the breed's more difficult traits.

Our recommendation: Find the breed that has the most cons you would find easiest to live with and that has traits suited to your lifestyle.

Responsible Breeder Checklist

 

Akita

American Bulldog

Australian Shepherd

Basenji

Beagle

Border Collie

Boxer

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Dachshund

Dalmatian

Designer Breed #1

Designer Breed #2

English Bulldog

Jack Russell Terrier

German Shepherd Dog

Golden Retriever

Labradoodle

Labrador Retriever

Malamute

Pit Bull

Pug

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rottweiler

Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)

Siberian Husky

Weimaraner


BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION (BSL)

4Paws University is strongly opposed to BSL, which does nothing to make communities safer from dangerous dogs. 

"To state that a breed of dog is aggressive is scientifically impossible. Statistics do not support such a finding. Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years and within all breeds there can be dangerous dogs because of owner issues such as training the dog to attack, lack of training and socialization."

Glen Bui (ACF2004)

4Paws University Letter to Legislators

National Canine Research Foundation

A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention

Politics and Pit Bulls

Breed Specific Legislation in the United States

HSUS Statement on BSL

Pit Bull Rescue Central

Find the Pit Bull - Think you can identify what is a Pit Bull and what isn't? Take this test to see if your reporting skills would be accurate!


KIDS AND DOGS Return to top

LINKS FOR KIDS!

Safe and Sound

Learn With Dogs

Safety Tips For Children

Dog Safety Activity Book PDF

Meeting Milo

How to Love Your Dog

Kids Page!

   

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS

4 Paws University offers Dog Safety presentations for your child's school or organization.

For more information, please contact us.

KADIE

Living With Kids and Dogs

Family Paws

Safe Kids/Safe Dogs

EXPECTING PARENTS

Dogs & Storks

Dogs and Kids: A Common Sense Approach


OTHER ARTICLES
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Cesar's Way: Book Review

True Animal Rights

Rehoming a Toy Dog

Dogs and the Law

Sacramento City Code - Dangerous Animals

Important Phone Numbers for Pet Owners

Home for the Holidays PDF

 

 

 
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