Mandy Hedderwick

"...we must use aversives and consequences in our training to raise resilient dogs." We have all heard this sentiment or something akin to it. I have very strong feelings about this. I am going to get a little personal and vulnerable with the hope that it resonates and changes at least one heart or mind. When I was a small child, my father used to take great pleasure in making me scared. If I was walking close to the edge of a pool, or a road, or a drop, he would push me and then grab my arm...

As it is with humans, dogs that have social support are more resilient. For those of us who have anxious pups, building their resilience...

For those of us who care for dogs with very low adversity quotients, building resilience is important for helping them navigate the world...