Dogue Academy

We're the only professional dog trainer certification school that offers a homestay option for international students because our students come from all over the world.

Directed brain games (dog puzzles) serves to stimulate the dog's cognitive ability, which in turn promotes social bonding (secure attachment), the result is the capacity to imitate. Social cognitive animal training is by default consent-based; the ultimate dog training revolution.

Don't forget to go read this week's blog. Here's an excerpt.

"Neurobiologically, the function and reinforcement of voluntary behaviours are heavily influenced by the limbic system, a complex of brain regions including the amygdala and hippocampus, central to emotional learning, memory encoding, and behavioural motivation (Sokolowski & Corbin, 2012; Rajmohan & Mohandas, 2007). The amygdala, in particular, plays a pivotal role in attributing emotional significance to stimuli and consolidating them into lasting memory representations (LeDoux, 1993). When a voluntary check-in is reinforced with positive outcomes, such as safety, attention, or decreased stress, the behaviour becomes emotionally encoded, making it more likely to be offered under duress than a behaviour that relies solely on conscious recall."

This week's blog is about puppy socialization and why the presence of an adult dog is vital to their development. Here's an excerpt. You can read the rest on our site.

"Puppy-only play sessions often escalate into overstimulation, reinforcing reactive rather than adaptive behaviours. The presence of adult dogs shifts reinforcement contingencies: puppies who self-inhibit and approach politely are rewarded with interaction, while pushy or inappropriate behaviours are consistently ignored or corrected (Howell, King, & Bennett, 2015). This naturalistic system fosters adaptive decision-making and emotional regulation."

There is a difference between training domestic and exotic animals. This week's blog explores what happens when trainers treat dogs and other animals equaliy. Spoiler, it creates frustration and aggression.

Here's an excerpt: A growing body of research shows that slowing training down, giving animals time to process information, and offering them greater choice and control can reduce aggression in exotic species. Rather than relying on rapid-fire, high-rate reinforcement, trainers who structure sessions with pauses and clear contingencies support both learning and welfare.

Think outside the box so far from it that you become undeniable!

Back by popular demand: Dogue Academy workshops and seminars on behaviour (dog language), social cognitive animal training, cooperative care, and aggression. Visit our vitual home address under the workshop tab to join.