Dogs’ tendency to behave like dogs has become frowned upon these days – it is not uncommon that their barking, chewing, chasing, digging, jumping, growling, snarling and biting is labeled “abnormal.” Dogs are suspected to have psychological problems when in fact their only problem is that we routinely assign thoughts and intentions to our dogs which exist in our imagination only. Australian dog Trainer Sylvie Martin of Crosspaws delivers another unflinchingly clear vision of how we humans can greatly increase our own happiness as well as our dogs’ by better understanding and respecting the nature of our furry friends rather than constantly projecting human intentions onto their behaviors, which only leads to conflict and stress for both parties.

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“My dog is stubborn!” “My dog has an attitude.” “My dog is needy.” “My dog is acting guilty.” Have you ever used one of these phrases? Heard someone else say it? We humans tend to project our human qualities onto other species, including dogs. Dogs aren’t stubborn, mean, brats, guilty-looking, out for revenge, or needy in the sense the word is usually used. When we let go of human-like labels and treat and train our dogs like the amazing, unique species that they are, it deepens our bond with them, sets up realistic expectations, and opens the door to a much happier and cozier existence. Dog trainer extraordinaire, Kristi Benson, discusses what our dogs’ behavior actually means when we label them things like “stubborn,” and how we can set them up for success when we stop anthropomorphizing them.

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Zac is a rescue dog from Tunisia, now living in the UK with his adoptive mom, Sam. In part 3 of Zac’s adventures, we learn that Zac’s dislike of the freezer/garden in the cold of March, keeps him holding his bladder for up to 18 hours! In this funny but touching story of a dog born to the streets of Tunisia, his fear of everything new in his adoptive home in Kent, England, and of his blossoming personality and confidence, we see this wonderful dog evolving to his happier self. But we also see every rescue dog everywhere, doing their best to acclimate to a world of newness and uncertainty, but one filled with love and promise.

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Dog-dog aggression is something many dog owners deal with. Dog trainer and trainer educator, Kristi Benson, has written an eye-opening and extremely informative blog post on how to approach dog-dog aggression, which often depends on the type of aggression. Sometimes, nothing needs to be done. In other contexts, dogs may need training and behavior modification using modern, humane methods. Fear is one common reason for dog-dog aggression, and Kristi explains why using techniques to scare or hurt dogs has no place in the training of dog-aggressive dogs. We have effective, humane methods for modifying dog behavior in the 21st Century. There is no place for yelling, shock collars, prong collars, choke collars, swatting, leash jerks, or collar pops. These outdated aggressive techniques can actually make dog-aggressive dogs more aggressive.

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