For a very good guide to all sorts of dog training processes and dog behavior challenges, I use and recommend Clickertraining ...that link goes to the description of this terrific ebook you download immediately, wherever you are! -- Rosana

I’m using a lot of guest articles this year from dog trainer Aidan Bindoff because he is one trainer whose ideas I almost always agree with. I got a kick of out this article and hope you enjoy it too. Please note that he names no names. What he says does not only apply to the currently most famous TV dog trainer!

TV Dog Trainers Exposed!

By Aidan Bindoff

Who could fail to be impressed by the extraordinary results of TV celebrity dog trainers? In minutes they can turn anxious, aggressive, “dominant” mutts into angelic pooches who never set a paw wrong… or can they?

The wonderful thing about television is it’s value as an entertainment medium. TV producers (with some very limited exceptions) are not there to disseminate important information, they are there to sell advertising time or subscriptions. And nothing sells like a story of transformation that inspires hope, particularly if that story is about a beloved pet. It’s something any pet-lover can relate to. Particularly if you are like the majority of pet owners and struggle with training, obedience and doggy manners.

As a dog trainer I am often amazed at the remarkable success stories I see on TV programs about dog training. In minutes, these gifted individuals can turn a problem dog (or dog owner) around. Sure, I’ve had a few remarkable success stories myself, but I know they are the exception, not the rule. Big changes to serious problems tend to take more time than TV producers allow for. Read the rest of this entry

I’ve wriiten before about coprophagia. Here are a couple of my blog posts: Does Your Dog Eat Poop? was followed by Dogs Eating Poop: More on this Fascinating Topic.

But can I leave well enough alone? Not when I found a guest article by one of my favorite dog writers… and I like his point that the biggest problem with this habit is how disgusting we human find it.

Yuck! My Dog Eats His Own Poo!

By Aidan Bindoff

Coprophagia – that’s what vets and animal behaviorists call it when dogs eat their own faeces. To us, it’s possibly the most disgusting thing a dog can do. Is Coprophagia harmful? What can we do to stop it? Will it make our dogs sick? Does it mean that something is missing from their diet?

Unfortunately we don’t really know what causes Coprophagia. There could be many reasons. Some dog owners report that their dog is more likely to eat their own stool after a change in diet – usually to a processed food with preservatives. Owners of dogs who eat their own stool can find that dietary changes may end the habit, particularly changes to a higher quality or more biologically appropriate diet. Read the rest of this entry

Dog lovers may not understand how some people can be afraid of dogs, but for many adults and children, it’s a very real and distressing problem.

Most of us would agree that we are frightened of a snarling guard dog, but those with a true fear of dogs are terrified of even a small fluffy pup. Even the sound of a bark can cause anxiety and distress.

As with most fears and phobias, fear of dogs usually starts in childhood. It may stem from being bitten by a dog, or even just being knocked down by an exuberant puppy. Sometimes a child will become frightened of dogs if they see their parent is anxious or worried around dogs – they may think if their parent is concerned, there is a real reason to be afraid. Read the rest of this entry

When it comes to positive dog training, Aidan Bindoff is the real deal. I love his point here about always setting the dog up for success.

Dog Training With Distractions – Proofing for the Real World With Positive Reinforcement

By Aidan Bindoff

Dog training is easy when you discover the secrets of dog training professionals explained in this brief article. Once you leave your house, all your training will appear to go down the drain. How do you overcome these distractions? Find out right now!

What is reinforcement? Reinforcement is what happens when a behaviour is maintained or increased. Dog training is essentially a progression of reinforcements. Food, toys, play, attention and ‘life rewards’ such as being let inside or taken for a walk are all potential reinforcers. Read the rest of this entry