I recently saw a video of a trainer teaching relaxation, the dog was tethered to the ground, muzzled, and in both a prong and shock collar. The dog was trembling, any experienced dog person would recognize the tenseness, the stressed eyes, the trembling – it was the farthest thing from relaxed. Was the dog down? Yes. But was it relaxed? No.
Author Archives: Alissa Mosier, CPDT-KA
Giving Thanks for a Prepared Dog
Thanksgiving is coming – it is my favorite holiday! Mainly because of the stuffing, but also because we get to gather with family, friends, and relax and enjoy some great food. Thanksgiving for the dogs can be tricky for the same reasons though: lots of temptation and not a lot of supervision, and sometimes wellContinue reading “Giving Thanks for a Prepared Dog”
Preparing for Halloween and Dogs
I love Halloween! I currently live in the country and no longer get trick or treaters and I miss it, I love seeing the costumes and talking to the kids and prepping fun things to hand out (pencils, slime, candy, etc!). When I lived in Albany it used to be a steady stream of kidsContinue reading “Preparing for Halloween and Dogs”
My Position on The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s Training Position
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has strengthened their position statement on training methodology and has come out to say they recommend reward based training methods only for training. You can read that position statement here. What does that mean in English? No shocks, no prongs, no mother’s bites, no choke chains, no “stim”Continue reading “My Position on The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s Training Position”
Magdalina Conchetta Wrinkles
A few days before Halloween in 2019 a little hairless gremlin entered our lives. She was an emergency intake for a local rescue, and the only time I’ve brought home a dog without letting my husband know before hand. He should have known then he was in trouble. Hairless, smelling of yeast, bleeding, intact andContinue reading “Magdalina Conchetta Wrinkles”
“But e-collars aren’t shock collars!”
Petco announced they would no longer sell remote shock collars, a huge step forward for the dog training industry, and I join the many voices applauding that change and their #StopTheShock Movement. You can read more about it here. But as I read the posts what is jumping out is the amount of people inContinue reading ““But e-collars aren’t shock collars!””
Socialization and Social Distancing
With puppy classes on hold, and people practicing social distancing I have had a few clients reach out and ask what they can do to keep their puppy socialized, and to expose them to new things. I did my best to put together some things to do, this is not a definitive list, it isContinue reading “Socialization and Social Distancing”
Raising a Perfect Puppy
Each and every puppy class I teach I am surrounded with owners who want what is best for their dogs. Best food, best treats, best training, best play, best toys – and I get it. I also want what is best for their dog, and for them. I am right there with them determined toContinue reading “Raising a Perfect Puppy”
Compassionate Costumes and Clothes
With Halloween approaching I admit I am reveling in dog costumes! I love dressing up and as it is not socially acceptable for me to go out in costume as an adult, I indulge myself by dressing up the dogs . . . with some caveats. First, they have to like it. When I putContinue reading “Compassionate Costumes and Clothes”
My meatballs bring all the dogs to the yard.
More specifically the kitchen, but, that does not fit the song as well. Confession – as much as I love a cheese stick for high value treats, Jasper is a total meat dog. I am not a huge meat eater, and hot dogs have a lot of stuff in them, so, I have been experimentingContinue reading “My meatballs bring all the dogs to the yard.”
Old Dogs New Tricks Dog Training 