Dear PetCo, Thank you! And...
I have to be honest, I avoid going to PetCo. This has little to do with the company - I think they are continually trying to support dogs...
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- a blog about canine behavior science, empathy, and guardianship -
Erika Lessa
- Feb 2
- 1 min
HEAL: MY ORIGIN STORY
So many people ask me how I found my way in this work. I definitely did not start out with the goal of helping aggressive and other...
65 views
Erika Lessa
- Aug 9, 2021
- 3 min
An Unregulated Industry: Navigating the world of dog training and its many providers.
Because the training and behavior industry is unregulated, there are no restrictions around who can call themselves trainers,...
97 views
Erika Lessa
- Aug 5, 2021
- 3 min
EMOTION DOESN'T CAUSE BEHAVIOR. IT IS A BEHAVIOR.
Treated as such, it can be examined, measured, and it can be changed. A behavior is caused by some change in the environment. There are...
57 views
Erika Lessa, dip. CBST, CDBT, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified
- Apr 4, 2021
- 9 min
Aversive Stimulation and Confrontational Training Methods: Know more. Do better.
Aversive stimulation and confrontational training are defined as any stimulation used in response to a behavior that instigates avoidance...
159 views
Erika Lessa, dip. CBST, CDBT, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified
- Jan 11, 2021
- 3 min
Weeeeee're baaaaaaaack.
Happy New Year, Friends. We have been on a little social media break and using it to do some personal and professional development. We...
109 views
Erika Lessa, dip. CBST, CDBT, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified
- Feb 14, 2020
- 4 min
I know how to punish a dog.
I know how to apply punishment to reduce or lessen any given behavior. I know how to hit, kick, and yell. We all do, actually. I also...
374 views
Erika Lessa, dip. CBST, CDBT, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified
- Dec 4, 2019
- 4 min
Assault
I saw a video of a man who calls himself a dog trainer (I can not be that generous as to assign him that title). He walked up from behind...
1,238 views
Erika Lessa
- Nov 5, 2019
- 3 min
1999 called. They would like their structured walks back.
A well-trained dog should walk by our side, right? Well, it’s 2019 and I am here to tell you that we know a lot more about walking our...
538 views
Erika Lessa, dip. CBST, CDBT, CDBC, CPDT-KA, Fear-Free Certified
- Aug 7, 2019
- 4 min
WHY
I am sitting across from a woman. She is propped up toward the edge of the couch, slightly hunched, leaning forward, seemingly defeated....
101 views