#Phoenix Dog Behaviorist

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Expert Dog Training and Obedience Programs in Phoenix, AZ 

At Phoenix Dog Training, we have a specialty in changing dog behavior with real, effective compassionate training techniques. As one of the top Dog Trainers in Phoenix, AZ, we believe that every dog can be well-behaved and obedient if only they had some really good help. Our experienced trainers can assist your dog to overcome challenges posed by various behavioral problems and become happier, more balanced companions.

Our tailored Phoenix Dog Obedience Training  programs are carefully crafted to address the specific needs of the dog you're working with, whether that is regarding excessive barking or jumping and more and less notably aggression or just wanting your dog to learn its proper manners. Use positive reinforcement techniques, so your dog doesn't come to be frightened of it, but instead, you'll find an even deeper tie with your puppy. We work at building trust and communication between you and your pet so that interactions in everyday life are harmonious and enjoyable.

As a company, Phoenix Dog Trainers works with dogs of all ages, breeds, and temperaments. Whether it is a young puppy needing early socialization or an adult dog with firmly set habits, our team will develop for you a customized training plan directed at your specific goals. This is why we stress patience, consistency, and clear communication: so that the training process is rewarding not only to dogs but also to their owners.

We cater to a variety of training options, ranging from personal one-on-one sessions to group classes - and we are structured to fit your schedule as well as the best learning style for your dog. Your agenda may include advance obedience preparation for your dog, or perhaps you want them to continue keeping their manners about guests; our trainers are here and ready to help you get lasting results.

A great trainer for a dog in Phoenix will be a determinant factor in case your dog is soon to thrive. At Phoenix Dog Training, we are enthusiastic about delivering the best-grade training for your dog to thrive in all scenarios. Contact us today at 602-769-1411 to learn more about our services and visit our website at https://phoenixdogtraining.com  to find out how we can make your dog an excellent well-behaved companion.

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8 reasons you should adopt a cat

July is National Adopt a Cat Month and let’s face it: We love to watch cats whether they’re being silly, adorable, regal, or cranky. Cats are the reason we need the internet. Cat videos on YouTube have been going viral for years and can be just the way to put a smile on your face. Even though many of us are fairly convinced cats are secretly plotting to take over the world, they’re more than happy to live with you and let you be their servant…I mean owner. But regardless of their world domination propensities, here are ten really good reasons to stop watching those cat videos long enough to go get a cat of your own. And who knows, maybe your cat can be the next YouTube sensation!

  1. You can save more than one life by adopting a cat

Not only do you save the life of the kitty you adopted, but you can clear a space for more cats to be rescued and sheltered. Unfortunately, shelters have a limited capacity and many pets are euthanized before they are able to be re-homed due to lack of space or resources. According to the ASPCA over 3.2 million cats enter American pet shelters every year. Approximately 1.6 million of those cats are adopted. That means there are plenty who still need to be housed and cared for until they find their forever home! Consider the adage “the more the merrier!” When adopting a cat, consider getting a bonded pair or two cats (provided you give them time to get comfortable with each other). You can save two lives and your kitty will always have a playmate or snuggle companion when you aren’t home.

Cat fact: Often older cats, special needs cats and kittens, or black cats are considered “unadoptable” and are the first to be euthanized. Consider adopting one of these kitties when you are looking for a new pet.

2. Adopting a cat is a sound financial choice.

When you adopt from a shelter, your new kitty has already been spayed or neutered, given necessary vaccinations, and microchipped. Some shelters will even include a bag of food, collar and id, or pet insurance in the adoption fee. This will help you save in the upfront costs of a new pet. When you purchase a cat from a breeder you must pay for these expenses on your own. Depending on the cat and what type of lifestyle you have, you may also save on any training or house/litter training expenses.

3. There are a wide variety of cats available and their personality is already known.

At most shelters you can find almost any type of cat: young or old, long haired or short haired, in all colors and sizes. If you have your heart set on a specific breed, like a Siamese or Persian, you can also check for breed rescue or cat-specific organizations. These manifold felines spend their days with volunteers, behaviorists, and trainers. Each cat’s needs and personality is studied carefully so that you know what kind of kitty you’ll get. You may want an active playful cat who will entertain you for hours or all you need is a couch potato to join your Netflix binges. Either way, the shelter personnel will be able to help you find your match. Many pets wind up at shelters due to a change in family circumstances, such as a divorce or a move, rather than through any fault of their own. These pets are happy, healthy cats who are already house trained and accustomed to living with a family. No need to train them yourself, they come ready and happy to fit into your home!

Cat fact: Young cats and kittens can go through personality changes until they are fully grown. A snuggly kitten may not be a snuggly adult. If you want a specific activity level or personality, consider getting an adult cat. If they sit in your lap today, very likely they will be a lap cat for the rest of their lives. Since cats can live upwards of 18 years, you’ll still have plenty of time to love an adult cat.

4. Cats are good for your health, both mental and physical.

orange tabby snoozing on its back with one paw resting up by her faceAccording to a study performed by Deborah Wells, owning a cat (or any pet you adopt) can improve your sense of happiness and well-being and can help reduce the strain of stress, anxiety, depression, or loneliness. Cats can provide a quiet, soothing presence when we need it most, during times of strain or grief. Other studies have found that having a cat may reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease or stroke. One such study in 2008 showed that having a cat can reduce your risk of heart attack by up to 40% by reducing stress and anxiety! We’ve also found that a cat’s purr can help lower your blood pressure, promote bone health, heal ligaments and muscles with minor injuries, and decrease dyspnea. A study by the Journal of Pediatrics published in the National Library of Medicine states that having a cat in the home with children can expose those children to allergens at a very young age, making them less likely to develop allergies or respiratory issues later.

5. Cats are the perfect apartment roommate.

If you live in a small space, like an apartment or condo or even a dorm room (if the school allows it), a cat can be the perfect companion. Most cats instinctively know to use the litter box and scratching posts. They are less likely to track mud through the house or tear up the garbage than dogs. Cats tend to be neat and tidy animals although many do shed so invest in a good vacuum! Cats, with the exception of some long haired cats, require less grooming than dogs. Most cats take care of their own bathing and brushing without any help! Cats often don’t need as much playtime as dogs and will value their time lounging around the house or just being with you since they sleep up to 16-20 hours per day. They don’t require a lot of space and lengthy walks like dogs do. They can be fairly low maintenance, just make sure of give them plenty of toys and places to climb, like cat trees or window seats. Most cats are independent creatures and can frequently choose to keep to themselves. And when they do want to snuggle, they’re warm, fuzzy, and the perfect size for your lap. While cats are happy to be around their humans, they are able to stay home alone all day unlike dogs. Cats do not require as much constant care as dogs, making them a preferred pet of many busy professionals.

6. Cats are good for your home and the environment.

Mostly white calico cat sitting in a window reaching a paw out to a mouse standing on its back feet at the corner of the windowCats are good pest deterrents. They help keep control of any mice, rat, or bug populations. While some cats decide they’d rather befriend small animals, most are very good hunters. If it moves, they pounce! Many farms keep barn cats just for that purpose. The Working Cats program helps re-home otherwise “unadoptable” feral cats to work on farms and in businesses as pest control. Cats also leave a smaller carbon footprint on the planet than dogs do. The biggest factor in a pet’s carbon footprint is the amount of food they eat, and since cats eat far less than dogs, they leave a smaller footprint. In this way they are better for the environment than dogs. Just don’t let your house cat outside to attack the local birds!

7. Cats are wonderful companions, particularly for the elderly or other pets.

Calmer cats, particularly those that are older, can make wonderful friends for older adults. Their easy care and peaceful dispositions can be a blessing and stave off loneliness. Cats can also keep other pets company during the day. If you have a cat or a cat-friendly dog you may want to consider getting a playmate or sidekick to enjoy. Just make sure to temperament test both pets and give them time to adjust to each other.

Cat fact: Often cats are more reserved and stressed about their shelter environment. They need routine and a safe environment to flourish. It’s easy to see your future best friend in those cute dogs ready to wag their tail and lick your hand. But consider taking the time to get to know some of the cats in the shelter. They can be just as loving as a dog and lower maintenance!

8. You’ll change a cat’s life forever.

Not only can you be proud that you’ve helped a pet in need and created space for more pets to be helped, but you’ll get a new best friend out of the deal. Cats may be selective with their affection, but once you’ve earned their trust, you’ll have a loyal friend fur-ever. The quote about rescuing a dog can be applied to cats as well: “Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.” So are you ready to head out to the shelter to find your forever friend? According to Indiana University Media School, people who watch cat videos were “more energetic, felt more positive and had fewer negative emotions, such as anxiety, annoyance and sadness after watching cat videos online.” If that can happen while watching cats, what do you think would happen if you owned one? And if you are unable to, then head on over to YouTube to get your kitty fix and lower your stress levels!

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[biofunmy]

Dogs Can’t Help Falling in Love

TEMPE, Ariz. — Xephos is not the author of “Dog Is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You,” one of the latest books to plumb the nature of dogs, but she helped inspire it. And as I scratched behind her ears, it was easy to see why.

First, she fixed on me with imploring doggy eyes, asking for my attention. Then, every time I stopped scratching she nudged her nose under my hand and flipped it up. I speak a little dog, but the message would have been clear even if I didn’t: Don’t stop.

We were in the home office of Clive Wynne, a psychologist at Arizona State University who specializes in dog behavior. He belongs to Xephos, a mixed breed that the Wynne family found in a shelter in 2012.

Dr. Wynne’s book is an extended argument about what makes dogs special — not how smart they are, but how friendly they are. Xephos’ shameless and undiscriminating affection affected both his heart and his thinking.

As Xephos nose-nudged me again, Dr. Wynne was describing genetic changes that occurred at some point in dog evolution that he says explain why dogs are so sociable with members of other species.

“Hey,” Dr. Wynne said to her as she tilted her head to get the maximum payoff from my efforts, “how long have you had these genes?”

No one disputes the sociability of dogs. But Dr. Wynne doesn’t agree with the scientific point of view that dogs have a unique ability to understand and communicate with humans. He thinks they have a unique capacity for interspecies love, a word that he has decided to use, throwing aside decades of immersion in scientific jargon.

“Dog Is Love” is one of several new books on dogs out this year, and one of a flood of such books over the last decade or so. Brian Hare, an evolutionary anthropologist and researcher of dog behavior at Duke University, who founded the Duke Canine Cognition Center, recently wrote that there are 70,000 dog books listed on Amazon.

Since 2000, around the time dog research had a resurgence, a small but significant number of those books are written by scientists for a general audience. Like Dr. Hare’s “The Genius of Dogs,” published in 2013, the books address what is going on in a dog’s heart and mind. Most emphasize the mind.

Dr. Wynne’s book runs counter to Dr. Hare’s when it comes to the importance of dog’s thinking ability, which Dr. Hare sees as central to their bond with humans. By using the L word, Dr. Wynne may well appeal to the many besotted dog owners. But he may also disappoint. The reason dogs are such “an amazing success story” is because of their ability to bond with other species, he said. Not just humans.

Raise a dog with sheep and it will love sheep. Raise a dog with goats and it will love goats. Raise a dog with people … you know the rest.

Some now extinct wolves attached themselves to humans 15,000 years ago or longer because we had good leftovers, or so the dominant theory goes, although what actually happened is lost to time. Apparently, humans liked the renegade wolves quite a bit and eventually started controlling their breeding and letting them sleep on down coverlets.

Now, as Dr. Wynne said in a talk at the International Canine Science conference in Phoenix in October, dogs are an astonishing evolutionary success. Wolves, not so much. “For every one surviving wolf on this planet, there are at least 3,000 dogs.” On the other hand, nobody puts a silly Halloween costume on a wolf.

In the early 2000s, when Dr. Wynne began research on dogs, one of his experiments was a follow-up on the work of Dr. Hare who had concluded that dogs were better than wolves or other animals at following human directions. In particular, dogs followed human pointing better than other animals. Dr. Wynne and Monique Udell, an animal behaviorist at Oregon State University, expected to confirm Dr. Hare’s findings.

The wolves they chose to work with were hand-raised and socialized at Wolf Park, in Lafayette, Ind. Dr. Wynne said he found the wolves were as good at following human pointing as the best pet dogs.

Dr. Hare and his colleagues responded by questioning whether the experiments were really comparable, maintaining that dogs have an innate ability to follow human pointing without the special attention the wolves were given. The debate continues.

The second part of Dr. Wynne’s argument has to do with how social dogs are. There is no question that they bond with people in a way that other canines do not. Dr. Wynne recounted an experiment showing that as long as puppies spend 90 minutes a day, for one week, with a human any time before they are 14 weeks old, they will become socialized and comfortable with humans.

Interestingly, the experiment found no genetic absolutism about the connection between dogs and humans. Without contact with humans when they are young, dogs can become as wary of humans as wild animals. Wolves are not so easily socialized. They require 24-hour-a-day involvement with humans for many weeks when they are puppies to become more tolerant of human beings. They never turn into Xephos.

Admittedly, Xephos is at the tail-wagging, face-licking, cozy-cuddling end of dog friendliness. Anyone who knows dogs can call to mind some that are not friendly at all, or are friendly to only one person. But in general there is no comparison in friendliness between dogs and wolves.

“O.K., she’s not every dog, but she’s not radically atypical,” Dr. Wynne said of Xephos as she snuggled up to me. “Are you sweetie — you’re not completely untypical of your kind?”

The evidence of dog affection for humans goes beyond the observable actions of Xephos and those like her. Gregory Berns, a neuroeconomist at Emory University, who himself was drawn into animal study by wanting to understand what his own dog, Callie, was thinking, used magnetic resonance imaging machines to watch what was going on in their brains.

Among his findings is that the part of dogs’ brains that light up when they hear their owners’ voices is the same part of the human brain that lights up when we are fond of someone or something. His first book was “How Dogs Love Us.”

By looking at the lemon-sized dog brain, he has shown, for instance, that, based on how the reward center lights up, a dog likes praise as much as it likes hot dogs. In testing outside of the M.R.I., Dr. Berns has also found that, given a choice, some dogs prefer their owners to food.

He agreed that the hypersociality of dogs is what makes them special rather than particular cognitive abilities. “It’s hard to demonstrate any cognitive task that dogs are superior in,” he said. But he pointed out that “ultimately the difficulty is in saying what is a cognitive function and an emotional function.”

Alexandra Horowitz, head of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College, and a prolific writer on dogs, also addressed the question of love briefly in her new book, “Our Dogs, Ourselves.”

Without doubt, dogs have feelings, she wrote, but she cautioned that just as certainly, those feelings were not the same as human feelings. Nor, she argued, should we assume that dogs are in between robot and homo sapiens on an emotional spectrum. She wrote in her book, “For all we know, dogs’ emotional experience is far more elaborate than ours.”

Central to that experience, although unknown in its complexity, is the pleasure a dog experiences in the presence of humans. The intensity of that pleasure and the ease of triggering it, Dr. Wynne said, is built into the dog genome.

He found this in his research with Bridgett vonHoldt, a molecular biologist at Princeton University. She and a team of researchers identified genes in dogs that in humans are associated with Williams-Beuren syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. One of the many symptoms of the syndrome is indiscriminate friendliness. Dr. Wynne and Ms. Udell worked with Dr. vonHoldt on a subsequent study of wolves and dogs that tied behavior and genetics together. They concluded that the genes associated with Williams-Bueren syndrome in humans underlie the friendless of dogs compared to wolves.

Humans, they suggested, may have selected friendly dogs over thousands of years of domestication and the Williams-Beuren genes may be one of the results. Other scientists have been cautious about the results, seeing the work as presenting an intriguing hypothesis that requires more research.

Whether these are the genes involved, humans appear to have molded dogs to be friendly to other species beyond humans. Apparently, puppies introduced to any other species when they are young enough, form a strong bond with that species.

This hasn’t been tested with all species, of course. But consider the sheep and goats. Ray Coppinger of Hampshire College, who died in 2017, had documented that puppies of certain breeds kept with sheep bond to the sheep. They stay with the flock and guard it. The same thing happens when puppies are kept with goats and other less likely creatures, like penguins.

Dogs have “an abnormal willingness to form strong emotional bonds with almost anything that crosses their path,” Dr. Wynne said. “And they maintain this throughout life. Above and beyond that they have a willingness and an interest to interact with strangers.”

How and when this free love, or hypersociality evolved in dogs is up for debate. Dr. Wynne is betting that after some ancient wolves began to associate with humans 15,000 or more years ago and became dogs, and humans began to live in settlements and farming took off about 8,000 years ago, humans began to breed dogs for friendliness, causing the genetic differences that Dr. vonHoldt found. With luck, future research on modern and ancient dog DNA will show if he is right.

For now, we humans can at least enjoy the amiability of dogs. Looking at Xephos as we wrapped up our conversation, he said, “It’s not strange that she wants to interact with me. What’s strange is that she wants to be friends with you. Right?”

Well, I don’t know about that. I’m a pretty good ear scratcher. “Right, Xephos?”

Sahred From Source link Science

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Is This Dog Dangerous? Shelters Struggle With Live-or-Die Tests

Dr. Sara Bennett administered a behavior test to a pit bull mix named Elsey at Indianapolis Animal Care Services in May.

Jan Hoffman

July 31, 2017

Bacon, a cream-colored retriever mix, took a behavior test recently at an animal shelter here. He flunked.

Bounding into the evaluation room, Bacon seemed like an affable goofball, ready for adoption. But as he gulped down food, Dr. Sara Bennett, a veterinary behaviorist, stuck a fake plastic hand attached to a pole into his bowl and tugged it away. Instantly, Bacon lunged at the hand, chomping down on it hard.

Shelters have used this exercise and others for some 20 years to assess whether a dog is safe enough to be placed with a family. For dogs, the results can mean life or death.

“If you failed aggression testing, you did not pass go,” said Mary Martin, the new director of Maricopa County animal shelter in Phoenix, which takes in 34,000 dogs annually. Between January and June 2016, 536 dogs were euthanized for behavior, most because of test results.

But now researchers, including some developers of the tests, are concluding that they are unreliable predictors of whether a dog will be aggressive in a home. Shelters are wrestling with whether to abandon behavior testing altogether in their work to match dogs with adopters and determine which may be too dangerous to be released.

In January, Ms. Martin stopped the testing. By late June, only 31 dogs had been euthanized for aggression, based on owner reports and staff observations.

“The tests are artificial and contrived,” said Dr. Gary J. Patronek, an adjunct professor at the veterinary medicine school at Tufts, who roiled the shelter world last summer when he published an analysis concluding that the tests have no more positive predictive value for aggression than a coin toss.

“During the most stressful time of a dog’s life, you’re exposing it to deliberate attempts to provoke a reaction,” Dr. Patronek said. “And then the dog does something it wouldn’t do in a family situation. So you euthanize it?”

Dr. Bennett, left, with Bacon, a retriever mix, during one of several behavior tests to evaluate whether a dog is safe for adoption.

The debate over how dogs should be evaluated arrives as efforts to generally improve outcomes for shelter animals are on an upswing. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, annual adoption rates have risen nearly 20 percent since 2011 — a period during which owning a “rescue dog” acquired something of a righteous hipness. Euthanasia rates are down, although the A.S.P.C.A. said 670,000 dogs are put to death each year. Some veterinary schools even offer shelter-medicine specializations.

Shelters are helped by a burgeoning network of rescue groups. They shuttle dogs from high-kill shelters, usually in the South and Southern California, often to foster homes and adopters in the Northeast and Northwest, where spaying and neutering campaigns have reduced puppy availability. (What Times readers had to say about the tests.)

It is impossible to know how many euthanized dogs scored false positives on behavior testing. Though rare, false negatives also can occur and have proved tragic. In December, workers at Animal Care Centers of New York City saw nothing remarkable on a standard behavior test of a dog named Blue, but noted that he had been surrendered for biting a child. A rescue group retrieved him. Blue eventually wound up in a retraining center in Virginia. On May 31, he was finally adopted; hours later, he attacked and killed a 90-year-old woman.

Some high-volume shelters cannot afford time for evaluations, much less daily walks for dogs; others have begun de-emphasizing their significance. Even Emily Weiss, the A.S.P.C.A. researcher whose behavior assessment is one of the best-known, has stepped away from food-bowl tests, saying that 2016 research showed that programs that omit them “do not experience an increase in bites in the shelter or in adoptive homes.”

Still, Jennifer Abrams, head of the behavior and enrichment staff at Animal Care Centers of New York City, which sees 8,900 dogs a year, said that anxious adopters needed assurances. “People want to know what they’re getting — that a dog won’t bite, yell and scream at other dogs on a leash,” she said.

But predicting an animal’s behavior belies the nature of dogs, Ms. Abrams said: “A dog’s behavior is based on stimuli in the moment.” Ms. Abrams’s team conducts assessments, considering them snapshots, while gathering information throughout the animal’s stay.

In the surge to modernize shelters, tests were an attempt to standardize measurements of a dog’s behavior. But evaluations often became culling tools. With overcrowding a severe problem and euthanasia the starkest solution, shelter workers saw testing as an objective way to make heartbreaking decisions. Testing seemed to offer shelters both a shield from liability and a cloak of moral responsibility.

“We thought we had the magic bullet,” said Aimee Sadler, a shelter consultant. “‘Let’s let Lassie live and let Cujo go.’ From a human perspective, what a relief.”

Dr. Bennett inspected the kennel area at Indianapolis Animal Care Services. The transition to a shelter can be traumatizing, with its cacophony of howls and barking, smells and isolating steel cages.

The 10- to 20-minute tests, developed by behaviorists and tweaked by practitioners, ask two basic questions: Will the dog attack humans? What about other dogs?

Evaluators may observe the dog react to a large doll (a toddler surrogate); a hooded human, shaking a cane; an unfamiliar leashed dog or a plush toy dog.

But these tests have never been rigorously validated.

Dr. Bennett’s 2012 study of 67 pet dogs, which compared results of two behavior tests with owners’ own reporting, found that in the areas of aggression and fearfulness, the tests showed high percentages of false positives and false negatives. A 2015 study of dog-on-dog aggression testing showed that shelter dogs responded more aggressively to a fake dog than a real one.

Janis Bradley of the National Canine Research Council, co-author with Dr. Patronek of the analysis published last fall, suggested that shelters should instead devote limited resources to “observing the many interactions that happen between dogs and people in the daily routine of the shelter.”

But Kelley Bollen, a behaviorist and shelter consultant in Northampton, Mass., maintained that a careful evaluation can identify potentially problematic behaviors. Much depends on the assessor’s skill, she added.

In fact, no qualifications exist for administering evaluations. Interpreting dogs, with their diverse dialects and complex body language — wiggling butts, lip-licking, semaphoric ears and tails — often becomes subjective.

Indianapolis Animal Care Services, which admitted 8,380 dogs to its municipal shelter in 2016, is often overcrowded and understaffed, yet faces intense scrutiny to save dogs while protecting the public. Last year it euthanized 718 dogs for behavior, based on testing and employee interactions. The agency consulted Dr. Bennett, a shelter specialist, to better manage that difficult balance.

Even as she demonstrated assessments for staff members, Dr. Bennett noted another factor that renders results suspect: the unquantifiable impact of shelter life on dogs.

Dogs thrive on routine and social interaction. The transition to a shelter can be traumatizing, with its cacophony of howls and barking, smells and isolating steel cages. A dog afflicted with kennel stress can swiftly deteriorate: spinning; pacing; jumping like a pogo stick; drooling; and showing a loss of appetite. It may charge barriers, appearing aggressive.

Conversely, some dogs shut down in self-protective, submissive mode, masking what may even be aggressive behavior that only emerges in a safe setting, like a home.

Little dogs can become more snippy. But no matter what evaluations may show, they always seem to get a pass. “I’ll warn, ‘He nips and snarls,’” recounted Laura Waddell, a seasoned trainer who does volunteer evaluations for Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City, N.J. “And I get back: ‘I don’t care! I’m in love!’”

One way to reduce kennel stress, Ms. Sadler, the shelter consultant, said, is through programs like hers, Dogs Playing for Life, which matches dogs for outside playgroups. Shelter directors say it is a more revealing and humane way to evaluate behavior. The approach is used at many large shelters, including in New York City, Phoenix and Los Angeles.

The most disputed of the assessments is the food test. Research has shown that shelter dogs who guard their food bowls, as Bacon did, do not necessarily do so at home.

The exercise purports to evaluate “resource guarding” — how viciously a dog will protect a possession, such as food, toys, people. Common-sense owners wouldn’t grab a dog’s food while it is eating. But shelters worry about children.

Dr. Bennett suggested that Bacon’s bite of the fake hand didn’t necessitate a draconian outcome. With counseling, she said, a household without youngsters would be fine.

The shelter workers dearly wanted to save Bacon. But they were so overwhelmed that they did not have the capability to match him appropriately and counsel new owners.

So Bacon remained at the shelter for several weeks, waiting. Finally, Linda’s Camp K9, an Indiana pet-boarding business that also rescues dogs, took him on. He settled right down and recently was adopted. Linda Candler, the director, placed him in a home without young children, teaching the owners how to feed him so he wouldn’t be set up to fail.

“His potential made him stand out,” Ms. Candler said. “Bacon is amazing.”

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Even The Most Severe Dog Behavioral Issues Are No Match For Trainer Bill Glatzel And Tlc K9 Academy#DogTraining

There are few names as celebrated in the world of dog obedience training as that of Bill Glatzel. While the industry is home to many amateurs masquerading as dog trainers, Glatzel has made the study of dog behavior and the development of a unique and proven canine training philosophy his lifetime’s work. Harvard-trained and world-renowned as an Applied Animal Behaviorist, Bill Glatzel and his team at TLC K9 Academy have made a career of consistently rehabilitating dogs suffering from the most severe of behavioral problems. Issues such as severe aggression, fear-based behavior, anxiety and phobias often get the best of pet owners and even experienced dog trainers, but for Glatzel, an Applied Animal Behaviorist, they are par for the course. Bill is a committed student of the true science of canine learning theory, and a true understanding of the science behind learning theory has allowed him to develop his patented TLC Magic Touch™ method of training. Based upon the principles of Operant and Classical Conditioning in order to deal with issues including: * Aggression * Fear * Anxiety * Phobias * Not listening * Potty training * Digging and chewing * Jumping on people * Defecating in improper areas * Jumping on furniture * Pulling on the leash * Dominance * Running away * Stealing things * Scratching doors * Begging and whining * Aggression in dogs * Fighting with other dogs * Crotch sniffing * Bad car behavior * Separation anxiety * Fearfulness and shyness * Marking * Chasing cars * Chasing kids * Chasing cats TLC K9 Academy believes that in-home private dog training is the most effective and fastest way to train your dog: after all, the problems that are occurring with your dog occur at home, so what better place to address these issues than where they take place? Another important aspect of the training Bill Glatzel and his team provide is that you are being trained along with your dog. The goal is for your dog to work as effectively with you as he/she does when working with an animal behaviorist. You’ll learn how to communicate your intentions to your dog in a way that engenders understanding and results. Canine training and puppy training need not be stressful or confusing for the dog involved: to the contrary, even when dealing with severe behavioral issues it can be a positive experience when based on a true understanding of dog behavior theory. Discover the true essence of proper dog training from acclaimed Animal Behaviorist Bill Glatzel and TLC K9 Academy.

TLC K9 Academy is the Phoenix dog training academy owned and operated by Harvard-trained Applied Animal Behaviorist Bill Glatzel. An internationally renowned expert on severe dog aggression, fears, phobias and anxieties and a committed student of dog behavior, Bill’s years of study and hands-on experience training dogs of all sizes, breeds and ages led him to develop the TLC Magic Touch approach to dog obedience training. His dog training courses are based on the true science of canine learning theory, and promise rapid results in a fraction of the time and effort required by most other Phoenix dog trainers.

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Why Phoenix Dog Training is the Best Choice for Your Pet's Obedience

Phoenix Dog Training is the most accomplished dog training service in Phoenix. We want to help you establish a good, happy, and continuous relationship with your four-legged companion through proper training methods. Our expertise, given over a decade of experience in this field, will be able to address every aspect of your needs regarding dog training. Our services include dog obedience training, in-home dog training, and consultations with a dog behaviorist. Read on for more information on how we can help you and your companion dog.

Perhaps one of the most important things you want your dog to do is to obey. Not only does that help in keeping your dog good and decent, but a well-mannered dog even is an added asset. Phoenix Dog Training uses positive reinforcements to train your dogs on sit, stay, and come instructions. Our trainers take immense pride in their dog's behavioral knowledge and employ all such effective techniques and strategies that ensure your dog not only learns but also remembers these commands. A sound foundation in obedience lays the building blocks for a healthy and loving relationship between you and your dog.

If owners can find better comfort and convenience In-Home Dog Training within their homes, it is a great solution. Our trainers come right to your home and work with you and your dog one-on-one to help resolve any particular behavioral issues you may be dealing with. This enables us to tailor our training to fit your dog's and your family's needs. From hyperactive puppies to stubborn adult dogs, our trainers can help you create a peaceful, well-behaved household.

As a dog behaviorist in Phoenix, we understand your dog may have unique needs for behavior modification or training. Our behaviorist consults are personalized toward one or a few specific behavioral issues that your dog has. These can include aggression, separation anxiety, or fearfulness. Our experienced behaviorist works one-on-one with you and your dog to come up with the cause of this behavior, hence designing proper training concepts that would enable him to change these unwanted behaviors.

At Phoenix Dog Training, we are committed to making your experience with training positive and enjoyable-not only for you but also your dog. We feel that your dog should have fun training, and be rewarding without stress for you, and as such, we incorporate positive reinforcement techniques into our training and never use harsh methods. We also will be happy to extend more support and advice so that you may follow through on the training at home.

At Phoenix Dog Training, select a professional, dependable service that will work in the training of your dog. Our company consists of highly qualified trainers and behaviorists who hold great passion and commitment to ensuring that you and your dog get a fulfilling outcome in reaching your aims regarding training. Be it help with basic obedience, in-home training, or in-depth behavioral issues, we are here to help.

Book a session of training with us today at 602-769-1411 and see the real difference that Phoenix Dog Training can make in the life of your dog. Remember, a well-trained dog is a happy dog! Visit our website at https://phoenixdogtraining.com

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Experienced And Knowledgeable Professionals For Dog Training In Phoenix

Are you a dog owner? Are you struggling with obedience issues or behavioral problems with your furry friend? Look no further than Phoenix Dog Training! Our team of dedicated and experienced dog trainers in Phoenix, AZ is here to help you and your four-legged companion. We understand that every dog is unique and has their own needs and personality. That's why we personalize our training programs to cater to each dog's specific needs. Our trainers use positive reinforcement techniques to build a strong and trusting relationship with your dog, making the learning process enjoyable and effective.

One common issue that many dog owners in Phoenix face is dealing with reactive dogs. Reactive Dog Training is a specialized program designed to help dogs that show signs of aggression or reactivity towards other dogs, people, or certain stimuli. This can be a challenging and overwhelming issue for both the dog and their owner. Our trainers are skilled in working with reactive dogs and can help you understand the root cause of your dog's reactive behavior and provide the necessary training to overcome it.

Another common issue that dog owners experience is separation anxiety. Dogs are social animals and tend to become attached to their owners. When left alone, they can exhibit destructive behavior, such as chewing, digging, or excessive barking. This can be a source of stress and anxiety for both the dog and their owner. However, with proper training and guidance, separation anxiety can be managed and even overcome. Our Dog Separation Anxiety Training program focuses on helping your dog feel more comfortable when left alone, reducing their anxiety, and preventing destructive behavior.

Why choose Phoenix Dog Training for your furry friend? Our trainers are not only experienced and knowledgeable but also passionate about helping dogs and their owners. We believe that a well-trained dog leads to a happy and harmonious relationship between the dog and their owner. That's why we strive to provide the best training programs and support to our clients.

In addition to our specialized programs, we also offer basic obedience training for dogs of all ages and breeds. This includes teaching essential commands such as sit, stay, come, and leash walking. Our trainers also work on correcting any behavioral issues, such as jumping, barking, or chewing. We use a positive and reward-based approach to training, making it a fun experience for your dog.

At Phoenix Dog Training, we not only train dogs but also educate dog owners. We believe that understanding your dog's behavior and how to communicate effectively with them is crucial in maintaining a healthy and happy relationship. That's why we provide ongoing support and guidance to our clients even after the training is completed.

Don't let obedience issues or behavioral problems stand in the way of a strong bond with your dog. Visit https://phoenixdogtraining.com or call us today at 602-769-1411 andlet our team of dedicated trainers help you and your furry friend achieve a happier and more harmonious relationship. Remember, a well-trained dog is a happy dog!

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Understanding Your Dog's Behavior With The Help Of Expert Behaviorists In Phoenix

Phoenix Dog Training is your trusted partner in fostering a harmonious relationship between you and your furry companions. We understand that every dog is unique, and that's why we offer tailored solutions to address your specific needs right in the comfort of your own home.

In-home dog training in Phoenix is the cornerstone of our approach. We recognize that familiar surroundings play a crucial role in a dog's learning process. By conducting our training sessions in your home environment, we can directly address the behaviors that matter most to you and your dog. Whether it's leash pulling, excessive barking, aggression, or any other behavior challenge, our experienced trainers will work with you and your dog to develop effective strategies for long-term success.

Our team includes skilled dog behaviorists in Phoenix who are dedicated to understanding the root causes behind your dog's actions. Through careful observation and analysis, our behaviorists can pinpoint underlying issues and implement targeted interventions to promote positive change. From addressing anxiety and fear to modifying ingrained behavioral patterns, our behaviorists are equipped with the knowledge and expertise to help your dog thrive.

At Phoenix Dog Training, we prioritize building strong bonds between dogs and their owners. We believe that effective communication and mutual trust form the foundation of a fulfilling relationship. That's why our training methods focus on positive reinforcement and reward-based techniques. By accentuating desired behaviors and redirecting unwanted ones, we empower both you and your dog to communicate more effectively and build a deeper connection.

Our commitment to excellence extends beyond the training sessions. We provide ongoing support and guidance to ensure continued progress and success. Whether you have questions, encounter new challenges, or simply want to celebrate milestones, our team is here for you every step of the way.

Experience the difference and embark on a journey towards a happier, healthier relationship with your canine companion. Contact us today at 602-769-1411 and visit our website athttps://phoenixdogtraining.com  to schedule your personalized in-home training sessions with our team of expert trainers and behaviorists in Phoenix. Together, we'll unleash your dog's full potential and create lasting harmony in your home.

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In Dog Training “Negative Reinforcement” Does Not Have To Be Negative At All!#DogTraining

As one of the foremost Applied Animal Behaviorists in the world, Bill Glatzel of TLC K9 Academy in Phoenix has passed his TLC Magic Touch™ dog training method on the principles of positive and negative reinforcement. There is no disputing the effectiveness of negative reinforcement in dog obedience training, yet the term itself tends to set off flashing red lights in the eyes of many pet owners. Worry not dog lovers, because in truth negative reinforcement does not have to be negative at all! It is in fact a low-stress, highly effective tool that experienced dog trainers count on in both adult dog and puppy training. Whoever coined the term “negative reinforcement” wasn’t doing the practice any favors, so for the sake of driving the message home let’s say it again. NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE NEGATIVE AT ALL! Bill Glatzel and the TLC K9 Academy team does not believe any dog should be trained with fear, pain or intimidation, and provide the following example to illustrate just how gentle and benign negative reinforcement can be: A) I am walking a dog and want to turn right B) The dog wants to continue going straight C) I tap the dog on the shoulder to get its attention so it can turn with me That is all there has to be with negative reinforcement, a tool that is simply used when a dog makes incorrect decisions for permanent, lasting and stable command reliability. And its gentle nature fits in well with the commitment to low-stress training at TLC K9 Academy. The value of negative reinforcement is obvious when you consider a training regimen that features only positive reinforcement. Using the same walking scenario provided above let’s say your dog wants to continue straight when you want to turn right. Using only positive reinforcement you would have to wait until the dog decides to turn on its own, if it ever does. Turn over the keys because now your dog is in charge of the training session, and you are simply along for the ride. Bill’s Whole Method approach is easy for puppies and dogs to understand because you will be clearly communicating your intentions at all times. Without such clarity puppies or dogs can become frustrated and confused, and dealing with their behavioral issues becomes a much more difficult task. The next time you hear the term “negative reinforcement” as it pertains to dog training, espouse its positive virtues to everyone you know!

TLC K9 Academy is the Phoenix dog training academy owned and operated by Harvard-trained Applied Animal Behaviorist Bill Glatzel. An internationally renowned expert on severe dog aggression, fears, phobias and anxieties and a committed student of dog behavior, Bill’s years of study and hands-on experience training dogs of all sizes, breeds and ages led him to develop the TLC Magic Touch approach to dog obedience training. His dog training courses are based on the true science of canine learning theory, and promise rapid results in a fraction of the time and effort required by most other Phoenix dog trainers.

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