Behavior & Training Resources

These references listed below align with our training philosophy of positive reinforcement, force-free methods and provide more in-depth information on why it’s an important distinction when training your dog. We’ve also included handouts, a reading list, and dog training tips.

Puppy Handouts

Chewing

• Chew-Proof Your House and Other Tips 

Crate Training

• More Time in the Crate 
• Whining in the Crate at Night 

Enrichment

• Environmental Enrichment for Puppies and Dogs | PetMd
• Canine DIY Enrichment | ASPCA

Excited Urination

• Submissive or Excitement Urination | Dr. Sophia Yin

Nipping & Mouthing

• How to Survive Puppy Teething and Nipping | Karen Pryor

Potty Training

• A Foolproof Potty-Training Plan 
• Potty Training Success 
• What To Do When Your Potty-training Plan Fails 

The Importance of Socialization

• AVSAB Position Statement On Puppy Socialization
• Stop Fear Before It Starts
• Wild Puppy! 

Adult Handouts and Behavior Issues

Barking & Whining

• How to Identify Types of Barking

Jumping Up

• Quick Fixes

Pulling on the Leash

• Walked Dogs’ Sex, Age, Leash Affect Aggression – ABC News

Resource Guarding

• Treatment of Food Aggression is About Finesse
• Food Guarding

Separation Anxiety

• What Is Separation Anxiety?
• The Complete Plan for Separation Anxiety 
• Separation Anxiety Solutions

Pet Safety

• Pet Safety Handout by GSLTC

Ethology

• How Dogs Evolved Into ‘Our Best Friends’: NPR

Training

Punishment and Dominance Theory

• Can I train my dog just like they do on TV?
• Dominance and Dog Training
• Dominance Is Not a Personality Trait 
• The Dominance Controversy
• Position Statement on the Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals 
• Traditional vs Modern Training Handout by Lili Chin
• Traditional vs Modern Behavior Modification Handout by Lili Chin
• The Use of Punishment for Behavior Modification in Animals
• Using ‘Dominance’ To Explain Dog Behavior Is Old Hat

Training Tips

• Getting Ready for Life and Training
• How to Calm Your Dog by Playing Tug | Karen Pryor
• Learn to Earn Scavenger Hunt 
• Repeating Cues
• Training Beyond Sit, Down and Stay 
• Understanding Training Equipment Options Chart
• Why Use Food in Training?

Recommended Reading

• The Other End of Leash, by Patricia McConnell (how dogs may interpret human behavior, communicating with your dog)
• Love Has No Age Limit, by Patricia McConnell (welcoming an adopted dog into your family)
•  Way to Go! by Patricia McConnell (housetraining a puppy or adult dog)
• Social, Civil, and Savvy, by Laura Van Arendonk-Baugh (puppy training and socializing)
• Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out, by Laura Van Arendonk-Baugh (excitable, reactive, or fearful dogs)
• Perfect Puppy in 7 Days, Dr. Sophia Yin (puppy training)
• Reaching the Animal Mind, Karen Pryor (understanding and communicating with animals)
• Clicking with Your Dog, by Peggy Tillman  (clicker training, step-by-step)
• Dog Smart, by Linda Case (learn to separate fact from fiction about dog training, myth busting)