Karen Pryor Clickertraining - Dogs

New on CBS: Greatest American Dog

Miranda Hersey Helin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:13:34 -0500

We knew reality TV was going to the dogs, but now it's really lying down with the fleas. On July 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, CBS will unveil its most canine reality series: Greatest American Dog. We learned about the show when its producers called us asking for "a bag" of 50 clickers and wrist coils, which we happily provided. From the CBS site:

Twelve extraordinary teams of dogs and owners from across the nation from "pageant dogs" to those simply trained at home, will live together and compete against each other in challenges that put the owners' ability to train their dogs to the test. Each week, the judges will eliminate one dog and their owner. The last remaining team will walk away with a $250,000 cash prize and the title of GREATEST AMERICAN DOG. Distinguished canine critics Wendy Diamond, Allan Reznik and Victoria Stilwell are the three judges with Jarod Miller hosting.

Visit the Great American Dog website for show info and video clips. Will our clickers feature predominantly on a future episode? Stay tuned!

Take your dog to work on Friday 6/20!

Miranda Hersey Helin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:54:42 -0500

What could make the work day better than bringing your favorite friend along? First celebrated in 1999, Take Your Dog To Work Day (TYDTWD) was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs. This annual event encourages employers to experience the value of pets in their workplace for this one special day to promote pet adoptions.

On June 20, 2008, businesses, animal shelters and pet-care professionals from around the world will work together to better the lives of shelter dogs everywhere. Thousands of businesses will open their doors to employees' pets on this day in celebration of the great companions dogs make.

More details available at Take Your Dog.

Student scholarships now available for Karen Pryor Academy

Aaron Clayton — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:07:23 -0600

If you've been waiting for scholarship money to be available for the professional Dog Trainer Program through Karen Pryor Academy, then here's some great news!

Seeing How to Teach Those Who Can't See

Aaron Clayton — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:05:03 -0600

How does a sightless person teach a guide dog to help locate a wall switch or crosswalk button or find an empty chair to sit in? Those were just three of the fascinating training puzzles worked through at ClickerExpo this year.

How to Raise a Puppy: A School Project

Aidan Bindoff — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:09:49 -0600

A young High School student, Caitlin, from Australia is doing a class project on "How To Raise a Puppy." Caitlin chose this topic because she is extremely passionate about animals and is raising a Labrador pup of her own.

Caitlin has these questions for us. I have done my best to answer her, but you might like to add your own comments below, please be sure to reference the question you are answering when you do.

Facilitating shelter adoptions with clicker training

Miranda Hersey Helin — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:21:16 -0600

The Washington Humane Society is the only the only "open-access shelter" in Washington, DC, meaning that no animal is ever turned away. The shelter now relies on clicker training to help their animals become more adoptable.

"Over the past 3 years, a growing group of volunteers have learned to clicker-train rescued dogs for obedience, agility and other skills. The goal is to make them better candidates for adoption, as well as reduce stress by providing much-needed stimulation."

Is Your Dog the Next "Indiana Bones?"

Aidan Bindoff — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 01:17:15 -0600

A dog untrained in cadaver search has made an astonishing find on a beach in Suffolk, UK—the remains of a Woolly Mammoth, more than 11,000 years old!

Golden retriever nurses stray kitten

Miranda Hersey Helin — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:12:19 -0500

A golden retriever has stepped up to the plate as surrogate nursing mother to a stray kitten, according to an Associated Press report.

The hungry kitten, found in an old tire at a concrete plant, refused to drink from a bottle and her rescuers feared she would die. That's when Honey, the family dog who hadn't given birth in 18 months, stepped in with her motherly instincts.

"She started licking her and loving her. Within a couple of days, Honey started naturally lactating," said Kathy Martin, whose husband, Jimmy, brought the kitten home six weeks ago. "The kitten took right to her."

Clicking for Credit: Video of ClickerExpo Cleveland, 2007

Aaron Clayton — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:53:58 -0500

Don't miss this great video from the 2007 Cleveland ClickerExpo. Entertaining and informative. If you've never been to ClickerExpo, this clip provides a great feel for the event—and if you've been before, see if you recognize anyone! Click here to watch!

Ready, set, BOO!

Miranda Hersey Helin — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:23:44 -0500

Halloween is fast approaching! And why shouldn't your pet get in on the haunting fun too? For inspiration (and a few laughs) see our photo album of pets in costume from 2006 and the latest from 2007.

Don't forget to e-mail us a photo of your pet dressed for the big night. We'll post the photos for everyone's enjoyment, and we'll pick a prize winner, to be announced next month!

October groaner: What do positive trainers say when they go door-to-door on Halloween night? "CLICK OR TREAT!"—of course!

Register by 9/30 for ClickerExpo Los Angeles and save $50

KPCT — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Only a few days Left to save $50 on ClickerExpo!

Guide Dogs for the Blind: Puppy Raising Clicker Trial

Miranda Hersey Helin — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:04:35 -0500

Guide Dogs for the Blind, serving individuals across the US and Canada, has just announced that preparation is underway to launch a puppy raising trial program using clicker training techniques. The first Puppy Program Clicker Trial will commence in early 2008 using approximately 25 new puppies entering the program.

Over the past four years, the Training Department at Guide for the Blind (GDB) has skillfully utilized clicker techniques and fully appreciates the exceptional outcomes of using this powerful training tool. In the past year, GDB has successfully expanded the use of clicker training with students and alumni, and continues to assess other program areas that may benefit from clicker techniques. (Post continues....click "read more" below.)

Clicker trainer takes first place and special honors at International Freestyle Competition

Miranda Hersey Helin — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 12:31:20 -0500

Our hearty congratulations to Michele Pouliot and her Australian shepherd "Listo" (pronounced "Lee stow") for winning first place and both of the special Attila and Fly awards for High Technical and High Artistic merit at the 2007 International Freestyle competition, held in Greeley, Colorado. The performing duo even received a perfect 10 from one of the judges. Michele's 8-year-old English springer spaniel "Cabo" wasn't far behind, taking fourth place. Want to learn how Michele does it? She'll be teaching sessions on freestyle and guide dog training at ClickerExpo 2008.

Way to go, Michele!

Earn CEUs from Karen Pryor Academy!

Tia Guest — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 10:08:01 -0500

Great news! You can now earn CEUs for IAABC and CPDT by enrolling in the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Program! Along with all the other benefits — a great education, business training, marketing support and more — you can add CEUs (22 for CPDT and 20 for IAABC)!

Learn more about Karen Pryor Academy:

Pet Strollers: Good idea? Bad idea?

Bill Peña — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:27:43 -0500

I came across this today and was dumbfounded. Strollers, like baby strollers, for dogs and cats up to 165 lbs. I'm not sure whether this is a great idea, or a really terrible idea. What do you think?

Just Pet Strollers

Best cities for dogs

Bill Peña — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 22:42:25 -0500

Men's Health has just put out their ranking of the best cities for dogs, based on things like per capita dog ownership, # of veterinarians and dog parks, and rate of heartworm.

Here's the top 5:

Colorado Springs, CO
Portland, OR
Albuquerque, NM
Tucson, AZ
Seattle, WA

Want to see where your city ranks? Click here for the complete rankings and breakdowns.

Volunteer Honored For Keeping Maine Police Dogs Safe In the Line of Duty

Aidan Bindoff — Mon, 21 May 2007 07:00:08 -0500

An 18 year old from Maine has been honored for her work in raising money to outfit police dogs with bullet-proof vests, winning a Prudential Spirit of Community award. Kelly Davis started her charity work when she was just 11 years old, and even had a law changed to enable her to continue this work! At the time, Maine had a law preventing anyone from raising public funds for the benefit of a law enforcement agency.

Why Do Dogs Have a Tendency to Chase Moving Objects?

Aidan Bindoff — Mon, 14 May 2007 04:35:28 -0500

NEW: Karen Pryor Academy and Dog Trainer Certification Program

Tia Guest — Thu, 03 May 2007 15:23:22 -0500

We're thrilled to announce Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior, an innovative approach to teaching created by the best minds in clicker training today, and available across and the United States and Canada.

What Separates the Little Guys from the Big Guys in the Canine Kingdom?

Aidan Bindoff — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:28:35 -0500

- the gene IGF-1 and the DNA that sits next to it, according to a team of researchers lead by K Gordon Lark and his team of researchers at the University of Utah.