As Eric Brad knows from teaching dog agility, good communication between handlers and dogs is everything. It’s not about forcing a dog to play the game, it’s about forming relationships that bring put the best in humans and dogs.
Canine Nation is a series of essays by Eric Brad CPDT-KA, a certified professional dog trainer. He writes about living with dogs. Canine Nation is about discovering what is TRUE about dogs and discarding centuries of myth and folklore about we train and work with our dogs. It’s about challenging what we think we know and asking the dogs to tell us what’s real. It’s about giving science, scientific method, and collected data more credibility than hearsay, anecdotes, and the authoritative assertions of self-proclaimed “experts” about dogs.
Canine Nation Podcasts are also available HERE!
Bribery or a Paycheck: Why Do We Resist Training Our Dogs with Food?
Why do so many dog trainers and dog fanciers so strongly resist the use of food in working with their dogs? Eric Brad stands in stark contrast to these traditional trainers. He uses food as part of a program of reinforcement and science-based training — and his happy, championship-winning dogs are testament to his methods.
Adventures in Puppyhood: Nature and Nurture in Dogs
Is your new puppy’s personality all do to genetics and breeding or does the way he is raised determine who he will become? Eric Brad — currently immersed in raising his own puppy Rizzo — explores the link between nature and nurture and how to help your puppy grow to be the best he can be.
The Little Dog Laughed: Dogs and Humour
Do dogs laugh? Do they even have a sense of humor? Most dog owners would say they do. And even science is beginning to uncover evidence that our dogs know what “funny” is, at least to them. Apparently our dogs do laugh!
Another Door Opens — Meeting Our New Puppy Rizzo
Eric Brad recently dealt with the death of his dear old dog Vince. Was he ready for a new puppy? But together Eric and his wife show that the heart is ever expandable, and they are already head over heels in love with their new puppy, Rizzo.
The Delicate Art of Saying Goodbye to Our Dogs
Our mentor has left us. Vincenzo Rudolfo Pooparetti, dog-father of the Belgian Mafia, has shuffled off this mortal coil. Elvis has left the building. That small brown dog who became such an important part of our lives has passed away.
Lessons from Our Dogs – Forgiveness
Dogs are wonderfully forgiving. Past wrongs are quickly forgotten; relationships are almost instantly restored. Humans have a great deal to learn from dogs.
Dog Aggression – Fear, Fact, Fiction and How To Cope
If we take precautions to understand our animals and give them what they need to be successful in our lives, we can reduce the chances of them ever acting out in an aggressive fashion.
Humanity and the Moral Imperative of Dog Training
The dog has been with us for centuries. But without humans, would the dog exist at all? It’s an interesting question. Having made our canine companions such an integral part of our societies and cultures, do we have a responsibility for their welfare? If so, how far does that responsibility extend?
Can Dogs Talk? Conversations with Tiramisu
Eric Brad says dogs do talk to us. The question is: are we listening? Read about Eric’s remarkable relationship with his dog Tiramisu and discover how the methods Eric has learned can improve your communication with the dogs in your life.