Cog-dog Radio

Can we obedience our way out of behavior problems? Yes, and no. Therapy for behavior problems requires that we are able to avoid repetition of the problem we are trying to solve, and skills training might be one way to do that. But it isn’t the only way, and there is more to the story. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Dog trainers LOVE to talk about errorless learning. They either worship at the feet of the concept of an error-free life OR they claim learning free of error is a fallacy. But this isn’t an either-or conversation, and we must be careful not to project our own personal feelings about failure onto our dogs. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Strange behavior in an agility lesson and a frightened dog on trails. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Should you approach your young dog’s reactions to an unknown inanimate object the same as a dog or person? If your dog overreacts to a kid on a bike, is that the same thing as trying to chase a rabbit? The way you respond to each type of trigger varies, and is important to keep in mind as you enter the world with your puppy or adolescent (or even newly adopted adult) dog. Social, prey, inanimate, and non-social animate are the four trigger types Sarah covers in this episode. Learn how they are different and how your responses to them should be too. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Sit down this week with Sarah and Tara Stiwell, a licensed family dog mediator of the working division who co-owns Glimmer Dog where the innovative Forrest School operates. Forrest School integrates natural environments, stable social groups, and support and skill development to solve all manner of behavioral concerns in dogs. Join Tara June 16 for her webinar all about Forrest School, and use the link below or the discount code COGDOG20. https://glimmer.dog/forrest-school-webinar?promo=COGDOG20 Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Opinions abound in both professional and guardian spaces regarding the suite of behaviors we label “reactivity.” Barky, lunge-y, screamy, shouty behaviors, usually directed at social triggers, are some of the biggest reasons guardians seek help for their dogs. Because of this, protocols and programs are not hard to find, but real help sometimes is. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

In the final installment of The False Dichotomy Sarah and Lisa wrap up their conversation about the “balanced vs force free” falsehood in dog training. Find Lisa Mullinax at www.serenitycanine.com

In the second (of three!) parts on The False Dichotomy in dog training, Sarah and Lisa get into the weeds regarding what effectiveness looks like, what it truly means to manipulate aversive or appetitive stimuli, and all the nuances involved. Stay tuned for the final installment in two weeks! Two podcasts on reinforcement: Sarah-stremming – Reinforcement-misunderstandings Sarah-stremming – Coercion-with-adam-skandarani A blog concerning the coercion of R+: thecognitivecanine.com/high-value-vs…einforcement/ Find Lisa at serenitycanine.com and shelterbehavior.com Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

In response to the “trainer wars” between the balanced and force-free communities Sarah and past podcast guest (and friend) Lisa Mullinax sit down to talk about the place where ethics meet efficacy. Lisa and Sarah do not claim a label as trainers (neither balanced nor force-free), and have both undergone an evolution in the behavior field that has helped them to arrive at a place free of dogma and full of compassion. Know the opinions expressed here are vulnerable and honest, and there can’t be enough time for all nuance to be present in all conversations. Neither Sarah nor Lisa represent anything other than themselves in their thoughts expressed herein. Two podcasts on reinforcement: Sarah-stremming – Reinforcement-misunderstandings Sarah-stremming – Coercion-with-adam-skandarani A blog concerning the coercion of R+: thecognitivecanine.com/high-value-vs…einforcement/ Find Lisa at serenitycanine.com and shelterbehavior.com https://sarahstremming.com/tennis-racquets-and-doubles-partners/ Sign up for cour

Conceptually, approaching behavior cases with a welfare-first approach makes sense. But what should we do when the dog’s welfare is being affected by multiple factors? Is there a “right” place to start when the behavior bingo card is basically blacked out? https://sarahstremming.com/tennis-racquets-and-doubles-partners/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Is it a phase? Will they grow out of it? Is my young dog cursed for life with reactivity? The good news is that adolescence passes. The bad news is the lessons learned there do not. Learn the four most important things to do while your dog is a teenager do be sure they grow into a balanced adult. https://sarahstremming.com/tennis-racquets-and-doubles-partners/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

In dog sports the dog can’t be an equal teammate because the human is fully in charge. But a dog can be treated like a partner or they can be treated like a tool, and it is important in either case to know what your values are and stick to them. https://sarahstremming.com/tennis-racquets-and-doubles-partners/ Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Reinforcement confusion in sports, a friendly dog gone wrong, and how to decide what to start with when the dog has a lot of training needs. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Dogs don’t get jet-lagged. GI distress is normal during trial weekends. It’s ok if your dog goes off food during travel. These myths and more, and the truth about the welfare of our competition dogs. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

“But Sarah, my dog needs to go fast!” Yes, your dog probably does need to go fast. And striking the balance between fast and slow schools, and curating your program to the individual dog you are working with, is key. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

What do gentle parenting, emotional down-regulation, and dog training all have in common? They’re all part of slow schooling your dog. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

Ok, what is slow school? It’s a little bit somatic therapy, a little bit self-regulation, and a lot of skill building. It is vital for the dogs who find it hard to access decompression, and their guardians benefit too. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

How do dogs make friends? How do we even begin to find dogs for our dogs to be friends with? And, does protective aggression actually exist? Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

If you stopped doing your sport tomorrow, would your dog’s life still be good? How much do you pay attention to the behavioral diversity in your dog’s life? This episode is for all folks who participate in dogs sports. Sign up for courses and join the membership here: sarahstremming.com Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cogdogradio Music by AlexGrohl from Pixabay

A recent paper (The Prevalence of Behavior Problems in Dogs in the United States) claimed that over 99% of pet dogs have behavior problems. That number is staggering! But what does the data really say? In this crossover episode with the Functional Breeding Podcast Dr Perry Hekman and Sarah Stremming break down this spin on the data and what we might actually gleam from the numbers. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S155878782400090X?fbclid=IwY2xjawInPzlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcN5aqgAU3VxnSfQ9zu0eaChX-3Xgq8c-ziu6Zood32n19XHF09IINVAyA_aem_03njisr3yKUuPBrduLaE2A www.functionalbreeding.org https://vetapps.vet.upenn.edu/cbarq/ https://functionalbreeding.org/events/