This is for people who have started to train their dogs with food. First, good for you! Food is a primary reinforcer, dogs usually love to work for it, it’s handy, and you get a lot of bang for your buck! If your dog responds only when you have food, nothing is wrong with her. […] The post What If My Dog Responds Only When I Have Treats? appeared first on eileenanddogs ..read more

How can I tell if there is high-frequency sound in my house or yard that could bother my dog? To detect possible ultrasound in your home, you need two things: Concerns about Ultrasound I get asked about ultrasound a lot. We guardians with dogs who seem to get scared “out of nowhere” often consider the […] The post How to Check a Dog’s Environment for Ultrasound appeared first on eileenanddogs ..read more

Please read Part 1 of this two-part series before this one, Part 2! Part 2 recounts an informal case study I did when I applied the concepts I discussed in Part 1. To desensitize and countercondition my dog Zani to electronic beeps, I started with a low frequency that didn’t scare her and worked up […] The post Desensitizing a Dog to High-Pitched Beeps: Part 2 of 2 appeared first on eileenanddogs ..read more

I am long overdue to write about this. I successfully desensitized and counterconditioned my clinically sound phobic dog, Zani, to electronic beeps. Here are some concepts and practices that could be helpful to others who are working with such dogs. It’s Not Always about Volume If I could convey one thing to people who want […] The post Desensitizing a Dog to High-Pitched Beeps—Part 1 of 2 appeared first on eileenanddogs ..read more

I remember how magical it was, the first time I saw someone’s dog come running and happily thrust their head into their harness, then stand still for the buckling up. I was astonished that a dog could learn to do that. Yeah, it was a long time ago. Since then, I’ve taught a good handful […] The post Putting a Dog’s Harness on without Getting Bloody Arms: Adjusting Antecedents appeared first on eileenanddogs ..read more

Get Ready Is your dog scared of fireworks? Don’t wait until the holiday hits. Even with just a couple days’ lead time, you can make a plan and act now to help your dog be less afraid of the unpredictable scary sounds of fireworks, firecrackers, whistles, and even guns. Here are some things you can do […] The post 6 Ways to Prepare Your Sound Sensitive Dog for New Year’s Fireworks appeared first on eileenanddogs ..read more

Clara has never barked much. She rarely joins into social barking with other dogs, partly because I taught her when young to come to me instead. She doesn’t bark for my attention or from excitement. She doesn’t demand bark for meals or toys. She doesn’t even bark to be let in or out doors. The […] The post Senior Dog Clara Is Barking at (Apparently) Nothing appeared first on eileenanddogs ..read more

This is a revival of a post from March 2020, considerably rewritten. I wanted to play the included video in my recent webinar, but had to cut it for time. So here it is in the blog instead! Why do dogs seem to be OK with some sounds and smells that are awful to us? […] The post Why Do Dogs Tolerate Some Awful Sounds (and Smells)? appeared first on eileenanddogs ..read more

Two years ago, I was working on Do More with Your Dog tricks with Clara. We earned three titles: Novice Trick Dog, Novice Masters Trick Dog, and Intermediate Trick Dog. We both enjoyed it so much. I had no plans to stop. Then I brought Lewis home. I am still embarrassed, and yes, ashamed, that […] The post Clara’s Advanced Trick Title: We’re Baaaack! first appeared on eileenanddogs. The post Clara’s Advanced Trick Title: We’re Baaaack! appeared first on eileenanddogs ..read more

• Do “ultrasonic” squeaker toys really produce ultrasound?• Now that dogs and music studies have been going on for more than a decade, what do the review articles say?• Which is better for sound masking, a fan or brown noise, and why?• What kind of sound might harm your dog’s hearing?• Why does music for […] The post Listen Up: I’m Giving a Webinar on Sound Products for Dogs! appeared first on eileenanddogs ..read more