Sorry, all — the blog database was eaten by a hairy hungry beast, and this is what remains after recovery. I know we lost a few comments, and I’m sorry. We’ll try to keep it healthy in the future!
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Author Archives: Laura VanArendonk Baugh CPDT-KA KPACTP
Yellow Journalism & Breed Bias — Again
A friend told me about a dog attack story just released by the Indianapolis Star. “Four pit bulls attacked a fifth dog,” he said. “But, you know, it’s the Star, so they could have been anything at all and if they bit something, they’re pit bulls.” He doesn’t even own dogs, but he’s aware of the paper’s bias.
When I first read the published news story, I was irritated, ranted on Facebook, and wrote a rational-but-angry letter to the editor. Alena has written up our complaints in her own blog, and I am copying her post here. — Laura… Continue reading
TAG! I’m It! (self TAGteach for skiing)
I mentioned in a recent post that I should share again the story of my learning to ski. It’s a great example of contrasting traditional instruction versus TAGteach and the resulting… results. It’s also kinda humorous, because it features me tumbling tail over teakettle down a snowy slope more than a few times, and that’s never not funny. Enjoy! Continue reading
Professional Teamwork – Trainers & Vets Together! And more pet professionals
There are a lot of professionals who might come into your dog’s life — your veterinarian, certainly, and possibly a trainer, and perhaps a groomer, a pet-sitter, a dog-walker, and others.
That’s a lot of professional advice which could come your way. And some of it might — in fact, probably will — conflict. How is a pet owner to sort and filter the many pieces of information and misinformation coming her way?
And, most importantly for us professionals, how do we work together to give our clients the best information and therefore the best combined care?
(I don’t mean this to be controversial or insulting to any profession or professional — it’s really, honestly about playing to everyone’s individual strengths!)
TAGteach for Firearm Safety and Shooting
Stock image. (My target's at the bottom of the post.)
It took me a long, long time of deciding first to actually buy a handgun and then to choose a model. The entire year and a half was filled with behavioral self-assessment and training plans — this was one area where my professional skills have been put to good use! Continue reading
Advertisement Photoshoot — or, Faking a Naughty Dog
I had a great idea for a training advertisement, all seasonal and humorous. And I had a great photographer to hand. To shoot it, however, we’d need to take a crazy, fractious dog who had been trained to polite house manners and make her look again like a stereotypical “bad dog.”
It was a ton of fun. Continue reading
Sound OC for Firearm Safety
In mid-October, I embarked upon a new learning experience — handling and shooting a firearm. I spent nearly a year and a half researching this prospect, deciding if it were a path I wanted to start down, and I’d decided firmly that if I were to have a gun, I would train to a high level of fluency and competency.
Imagine my delight, then, when among the usual trash advice dispensed to newbies in any sport or hobby, I encountered some truly fantastic, behaviorally-sound recommendations for learning to shoot and handle safely. Continue reading
Angry Birds and Behavior — Or, How To Train Your Pet Like An Addictive Casual Video Game
Do you want reliable trained behaviors? Do you want your learner to enjoy the experience and crave more learning? Borrow some ideas from the best. Continue reading
How Do I Socialize My New Dog?
Aw, Doberman puppies!
Whether it’s a new puppy or a newly adopted adult dog, many new pet owners want to immediately start showing off their new dog, and with justifiable pride. But sometimes their approach can make the transition more difficult than it needs to be. Continue reading
Shaping for Shape
I am continuing to find more help in my professional life for my personal life, such as for increasing my physical fitness. There are all kinds of behavioral principles at work here! What’s working for me right now? Continue reading