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Teaching "Stay" at the Front Door
By: Eileen Koval, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, MSc It is imperative that companion dogs living in homes in the United States are taught to remain inside their property boundaries due to high rates of failure with physical boundaries such as fences, doors, and gates. Roaming outside the home or property boundaries is unfortunately common, with 26.5% of dogs in Starinsky et al.’s (2017) study reportedly escaping the boundaries of the owners’ properties. In modern Westernized socie
Eileen Koval
Dec 16, 202513 min read


When Training Alone Just Doesn’t Work…Stress Can Alter Physiology
In some dogs, training approaches repeatedly fail to yield emotional and behavioral changes. It is well-known that neuroendocrine responses can become dysregulated due to past stress. They may not function properly for the individual, rendering the animal incapable of coping and responding appropriately in certain environments or around stressors. This can lead to excessive fear or even aggression. Learn what this looks like and how integrative approaches can help this.
Eileen Koval
Oct 24, 202514 min read


Does Your Dog Have a Sense of Humor? Exploring Canine Playfulness
Understanding Canine Humor and Playfulness By: Eileen Koval, CDBC, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, MSc Does your dog play jokes on you, laugh, or have a sense of humor? Mine undoubtedly do. Two of my dogs have had very witty personalities, playing different jokes on me and my husband over the years. Dogs undoubtedly have distinct personalities, but they are often discounted for their abilities to experience deep emotions. Research by Jaak Panksepp and others shows that all mammals experien
Eileen Koval
Sep 14, 20256 min read


Understanding Dog Sterilization: A Deep Dive into Legislation and Welfare
Cultural attitudes toward animal welfare affect veterinarian and owner perceptions of their dogs' pain levels with spay and neuter. There are no federal or state law covering sterilization or pet welfare in these procedures. Messaging has focused heavily on the idea of spay and neuter solving unwanted behavior issues. Yet, shelters overflow with surplus pets, and the top reason cited by owners is "behavior issues". How do other countries compare? How can these issues be
Eileen Koval
Aug 27, 202516 min read
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