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The Pitfalls of Flooding as a Dog Behavioural Modification Technique

Flooding is a controversial dog behavioural modification technique that involves exposing a dog to an overwhelming amount of a feared stimulus in an attempt to eliminate its fear or anxiety response. This approach aims to achieve quick results by forcing…

Why do dogs eat grass?

Dogs have long been known to have a penchant for eating grass. This behaviour is common among many dog breeds,…

How does…? The series that answers your animal-related questions

The latest episode in my “How does…?” series looks at how cats drink water compared to dogs. The series is…

What pets need – the 5 welfare needs

Pets rely on us to look after them, so it is a big responsibility to care for animals.  It is…

Introducing your puppy to your cat

Nurturing appropriate cat-dog relationships is something I’m passionate about and that’s because bringing a new puppy into your home can…

What is counterconditioning in animal training?

Counterconditioning is a form of behavioural therapy that involves changing an animal’s emotional response to a specific stimulus. This is…

What is desensitisation in animal training?

Desensitisation is a behaviour therapy technique used to reduce a person’s or animal’s fear, anxiety, or other negative emotional response…

Why pet owners should focus on using positive reinforcement methods

Positive reinforcement is a widely accepted and effective method for addressing behaviour problems in pets. What is positive reinforcement? Positive…

Stress and burnout

With the ever-increasing financial challenges faced by pet owners, demands on time which may impact work/life balance, as well as…

Pet parenting style influences dog behaviour

A new paper from Brubaker and Udell (2022) has found that the parenting style of the owner[s] can predict certain…