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Just Dogs

 

Information on living with, training, and loving Dogs

Talking With Your Dog Using Button Boards

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m betting you’ve seen these button boards. Even mainstream media is on the bandwagon.

This new communication technique, developed by speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger, has opened new ways of understanding our dogs using structured, intentional communication methods.

How Do Button Boards Work: The Fundamentals 

Button boards consist of programmable sound devices that, when pressed, play pre-recorded words or phrases. These “buttons” give dogs a concrete way to express their needs, desires, and … Read More

Tug of War – The Great Divide in Dog Training

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small dog dressed in a training outfit with training gearThere’s been a bit of a war going on in the dog training world.

Have you chosen your side? The side between the alpha wanna-be’s group (the old-fashioned punitive types) and the your dog is never bad, you are just a bad trainer group (the violently positive types)?

The Great Divide in Dog Training: Finding Balance in a World of Extremes

In the world of dog training, a heated debate has been raging for years, known as the “Training … Read More

Understanding Small Dog Syndrome: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

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cavalier & aussieSee that cute little Cavalier there… safely tucked under her big Aussie brother’s belly. She’s there seeking cover because she just finished barking her head off at the postman stopped in front of our house. But then, when he actually walked up to the front door… Well, not so tough anymore.

Yup, she’s got  a touch of the case of “Small Dog Syndrome.” Since I’m working it through with her, I thought I’d share what it is, what causes it, … Read More

I Understand…

/ Just Dogs, Life, spirituality / By / 2 Comments

I’ve never been one to turn away from the raw and real, and nitty gritty about life. I don’t seek it out, but if it comes looking for me, I’ve tried to equip myself to the best of my ability to meet it. Hence my training as an EMT, my training in psychology, and my involvement with dog training and rescue. I figure that pretty much covers most of the bases.

As life often has a tendency to bunch up, … Read More

What Are the Best Grooming Brushes for Australian Shepherds and Dogs with Double Coats

/ My Dogs and Me / By / Leave a Comment

Arrow australian shepherd with 2 cavaliersArrow has a gorgeous coat! Soft as silk! We can’t go anywhere without people remarking. Even people driving by in cars will stop in the middle of the road to tell us! It’s really something.

But, like all Australian Shepherds, his coat didn’t get that way on its own. So what’s the secret? Regular brushing.

My Favorite Grooming Brushes for Australian Shepherds and Dogs with Double Coats

Australian Shepherds and other dogs with double coats require specific grooming tools to … Read More

How to Find the Right Dog Breed for Your Family

/ Dogs in General / By / 12 Comments

You’re thinking about adding a loving addition to your family. No, not another kid; you either have enough of those or you’re not quite ready to start down that path. So what’s the perfect choice? Yep, dogs.

sdogs.gifThere are more than 400 breeds of dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC) and the National Kennel Club (NKC). That’s without including all the combinations of mixed breeds, which can push the selection options up into the … Read More

How to Train a Reactive Dog Not to Jump on People

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Arrow is a happy, excited boy! He loves to greet people as enthusiastically as he likes to play.  Not necessarily typical Aussie behavior, but I’ll take it over shyness or aggression. Much easier to train!

So we’ve had to jump back into some remedial training. Here are some quick tips to help you if you are facing similar challenges.

Understanding Reactive Behavior

Before diving into training techniques, it’s important to understand why your dog is jumping. Dogs may jump for … Read More

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