A Great New Book!

Lisa and Valerie have recently read a great new book that they highly recommend to anyone. 

“Reaching the Animal Mind - Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals”, by Karen Pryor.

We can’t say enough good things about this book - it’s perfect for dog owners and dog trainers alike - lots of good information there.

Valerie and Lisa use clicker training in all classes - they’re big fans.  Karen Pryor is widely recognized as the guru of clicker training beginning back in the 1960s when she was working with marine mammals.  The book has a website of it’s own with further information and video clips

- www.reachingtheanimalmind.com.

Karen’s own website  - www.clickertraining.com - is also a fabulous resource and well worth checking out.  You can join her site for free and access tons of articles, videos and much more.

Constructional Aggression Treatment (CAT)

C.A.T. is a functional approach to changing aggressive behavior. It acknowledges that the dog is already receiving reinforcement for aggression, and sets up a procedure in which the same reinforcement that currently supports the aggression is arranged to follow only desirable, safe behaviors. As the procedure progresses, the ultimate goal is a once-aggressive dog that is now more friendly and tolerant.

Research done by University of North Texas associate professor Jesus Rosales-Ruiz, PH.D. with researcher Kellie Snider, M.S. demonstrates that classical treatments for aggression have us barking up the wrong tree. C.A.T. is a positive improvement over desensitization, counter conditioning and distraction procedures. C.A.T. is an operant approach to treating aggression, not in a laboratory, but in the real world where aggression occurs. It typically produces long-lasting results in far less time than any positive treatment available until now, and without the undesirable side-effects that are common with punishment procedures. This new treatment addresses issues of generalization and stimulus control.

Jesus Rosales-Ruiz, PhD is a behavior analyst who earned his doctorate at the University of Kansas. He is an Associate Professor of Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas, and the advisor for the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals (ORCA) which conducts behavior and training research with animals in natural settings outside the laboratory.

He mentors students who conduct research in animal behavior and training. He is a popular instructor at Karen Pryor's ClickerEXPO.

Kellie Snider, MS is the Manager of Animal Behavior Programs at the SPCA of Texas, an organization that consists of two large shelters, two wellness clinics, a rescue and investigation team, and numerous other programs. She designs, teaches and manages training and behavior classes and seminars for the public, volunteers, and staff, manages animal enrichment practices, conducts behavior evaluations for individual animals living in the Animal Care Centers, and oversees aggression assessments. The Constructional Aggression Treatment was the subject of her thesis project, conducted under the direction of Dr. Rosales-Ruiz at the University of North Texas.

Help Mexi Find His Forever Home

Mexi Casa is a neutered, male Doberman/Greyhound mix - 2 to 3 years old.  He is an excellent family dog - very social with people, dogs and children.  He needs a family who is active outdoors as he is high energy and needs a lot of physical and mental activity each day.  Mexi would do best in a home without cats.

Both and Lisa and Valerie have met and spent time with Mexi during his adolescence and he is a favorite!  He’s a lovely dog with a fun and loving personality.

If you would like to meet Mexi or get more information about him, please contact Valley Calderoni at 604-250-5097.