
COOPERATIVE CARE: THE HOW AND THE WHY
Originally published in the Winter 2019 IAABC Journal. Full Article Here Cooperative care involves training an animal to not only tolerate handling and husbandry procedures, but to be an active, willing participant in these experiences. In this column, we highlight some useful behaviors to teach clients to facilitate cooperative care,…

What is Cooperative Care?
Featured in the Fall 2018 IAABC journal. Click link to view full article. What is Cooperative Care? Cooperative care involves training an animal to not only tolerate handling and husbandry procedures, but to be an active, willing participant in these experiences. Cooperative care is quite common in zoos, where large…

“The Clicker Thing” Really Works!
A few weeks ago I met with a client for a private lesson with her reactive Border Collie, Fred. We’ve been doing lessons for a while now. At that lesson she confessed that for several weeks she had been thinking “this clicker thing” (AKA engage/disengage game) was not going to…

When Medication May Be The Right Choice
Sarah Fulcher, CDBC I recently began working with a very lovely little dog named Lily, a female mixed breed dog who weighs about 25 lbs. She is very affectionate, intelligent and cute, however, she had a very rough start in life. Before she came to her new owners she spent most…

It’s Not Shark Week…
It’s Not Shark Week… Tips and Trick for Nippy Pups By Sarah Fulcher You’ve just brought home your new furry bundle of joy. Everything is going swell for the first week – you’re impressed at how sweet and calm your puppy is. Then, out of nowhere you have a…

The Enlightened Dog Trainer
The Enlightened Dog Trainer By Sarah Fulcher, CDBC The enlightened dog trainer makes training fun. Instead of drudgery it becomes a game. They are connected, in tune, and invested in their canine partner. They are engaging, dynamic, using praise, movement, play, and other rewards to build desired behaviours. They know…

Shaping Success
Shaping Success By Sarah Fulcher, CDBC Free shape—or not? Free shaping is a type of animal training where you teach the behaviours in gradual steps using a marker, like a clicker, and rewards. Shaping can be a great way to teach some difficult behaviours, expand your animal’s capabilities, exercise your…

What Should I Do?
Hi Sarah, I recently started using more food and treats when training my dog. I am very happy with the results except I am concerned because my dog has started to become possessive of me. I work in a dog daycare and have been training at work (I figured…

To Crate or Not To Crate?
A bonus, not a penalty Many people refuse to crate or kennel-train their dogs because they feel the confinement is cruel. However, a crate or kennel can give dogs a sense of security. Crate training done properly is also a highly effective management system that can be a lifesaver for…