Using a constructional approach allowed me to identify where the behavior was already occurring, and to transfer stimulus control to new contexts. AND that when I did that, I got a lot more than I had planned for, in a good way. I taught a tick check procedure and a new grooming one was developed. In addition to this lovely new grooming routine, I have expanded my training repertoire beyond the use of some of my go-to strategies in a way that I think has substantially increased the joy in our training interactions (and peace - I mean did you watch those grooming videos?!).

If you are someone who lives in an area where there are ticks at certain (read: all but frozen) times of the year, you know the importance of checking your dog for ticks after coming in from time spent outside. Tick-borne illnesses can be devastating for humans and dogs alike, so this is really a critical part of the care and wellbeing of your dog. And, if you’re a dog-loving human and you’re really into dog training, you probably already have lots of things both fun and important to work on with your dog. Tick checking may be something that you fumble your way through - I know I did. At least until Kerby.

A monocular has been such a lovely addition to our walks that I wanted to share… which also made me think about what else is in my treat pouch, making my life better. So here’s the list...

I’m sure it will come as no surprise that Ran and I (Stephanie) are animal lovers. Of course we love dogs, but we are also fond of basically all the animals out there, including one of our dogs’ closest relatives: the wolf. So you can imagine our excitement when we met Ryan Talbot at a behavior analysis conference last year. Ryan is the Behavioral Enrichment and Training Manager at Wolf Park: a leading center for research, conservation, and education of wolves and other canid species in Battleground, Indiana. Ran and I were familiar with Wolf Park, as the animals there frequently participate in published research, and we were delighted to learn more about the work that Ryan and his colleagues do. Ryan kindly extended an invitation for us to come visit.

By and large, I loved this book. Nichols masterfully weaved anecdotes with advice and recommendations for puppy rearing. She began with her personal history and transition to becoming a breeder, addressing the ethics of dog breeding and how it fits into a world where there are so many homeless dogs out there in need of a safe place to land. The book included descriptions of a puppy’s developmental milestones from conception through day 56 of their furry lives; how to prepare for bringing a puppy home, and how to promote the development of those happy, healthy, resilient dogs described on the book jacket. I’ll tackle my impressions of each of these sections in turn and highlight areas that, as a dog lover, guardian, and professional, I was delighted and relieved to see included. I’ll also point out areas where my own practice and philosophy differ from the author.