Krista Macpherson from the University of Western Ontario will be doing her research work at our facility!

We're delighted and honored to help advance the study of canine cognition by providing both a facility and volunteers to partake in a series of experiments that will be conducted in August and beyond.  Our beagles, Duke and Petey, are signed up.  

Would you like to help science and give your dog a great socialization and intellectual exercise?

Krista Macpherson has published a number of papers on dog cognition.  One you may recall (it was picked up by popular media a few years ago) was coined the Lassie experiment in popular press, where she tried to determine if dogs would seek assistance if their owners had a heart attack or became trapped under a bookshelf.  (Read more about it here)  That heart attack / bookshelf experiment was also referenced in Horowitz's book "Inside of a Dog".  A more recent study involved spatial memory in a radial maze.

For now - if you are interested in volunteering some time and enriching your dog's socialization history (and proudly being able to say he or she helped science!) please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll be in touch with more details soon!  Here is a bit more about Krista in a letter she wrote for us:

Why does my dog bark and lunge at other dogs on leash?

First, rest assured, you are not alone.  This behavioral issue is so common that there are volumes of books specifically written about the subject.  Dog trainers and behaviorists refer to this issue as "on-leash aggression" or "on-leash reactivity".  That being said, this is a serious issue that needs addressing as soon as possible - the longer you wait, and the more it happens, the harder it is to address.  A reactive dog can bite other dogs and even bite dog owners nearby.

What is it?

A dog with on-leash reactivity often gets along marvelously with other dogs when off-leash at the park, or in the yard, or even in home.  But the minute you put on a leash and go for a walk, he becomes interested, then agitated at the sight of a dog at a distance.  As you get closer, he expresses the frustration by barking, howling, lunging, and even biting.  He's so fired up that calling his name, luring him with food, or even applying leash corrections does nothing.

Photo courtesy of Päivi Reijonen (dog trainer and behaviorist) - view the entire set on Flickr:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/30096200@N08/sets/72157623555143141/

Click Read More to find out what causes it, and how to best treat it.

Why has my dog started getting into fights at the dog park?

Why has my dog, who used to love other dogs, started to get into fights at the dog park?  Is he dominant?

Dominant?  Usually not.  Few dogs are born wanting to get into fights.  Fighting behavior is evolutionary suicide.  So why has my dog started barking, lunging, and biting other dogs at the park?

There could be many reasons -

1. He's not feeling well.  Dogs are very stoic and hide discomfort very well.  Make sure he's been recently vetted and isn't suffering from pain or illness.  If he is ill, dealing with the medical condition can often make the behavioral issue go away.
2. He's been punished by or around dogs - One of the dangers of using punishment training (leash corrections) is that the punishment is often paired near or around other dogs (leash corrections for looking at dogs, "training" classes where leash corrections are done around other dogs in class). This can also happen at dog daycares/dog walking services that use punishment (spray bottles, physical corrections, bark collars, etc.). Pulling while on leash can also cause this (the dog sees a dog on the street, gets excited, pulls towards it, and experiences neck pain and frustration - in a dog's mind, the other dog is causing the pain).
3. He's been harassed by other dogs at the park - Look closely at the picture of the Beagle.  Does he look happy?  He's doing everything he can to get away from the pushy Ridgeback.  If the Ridgeback doesn't stop, the owner of the Ridgeback doesn't recall his dog, or the Beagle owner doesn't leave, how long would it take before the Beagle decides to bark and lunge to send the Ridgeback away?  How long would it take before the Beagle decides he hates the dog park, hates Ridgebacks, and hates all dogs? If the Beagle fights back, the Beagle owner collects his dog and leaves - reinforcing the very behavior of fighting back.

How to train your dog not to run away from you at the park!

Second to learning how to walk nicely on leash, new dog owners' second most requested call for help is a reliable recall while off leash.  In Toronto, the unfortunate thing is most dog owners are inadvertently training to teach their dogs to run away from them!  

What do knowledgeable dog owners do differently to train their dogs to stay nearby and come when called?