Greer's been itchy lately, and she's also shown more anxious behaviors. I knew something was up, and the things I considered weren't anywhere close to the real problem.

Fleas.

We had a flea explosion at home and because Greer's on flea control I didn't think it could be that. Sigh. I make mistakes.

Anyway, it reminded me of the influence of itchiness when it comes to behavior and how that's something that is often overlooked. Behaviors humans don't like are labeled as problematic and in need of modification, and sometimes it's a quality of life issue regarding physical discomfort.

This episode talks more about our experience as well as a study that compared the behavior of itchy and non-itchy dogs. If you like science, this is a good one for you.

This question comes up frequently, probably because I work with autistic families: How do I know if I'm using applied behavior analysis (ABA) for dog training?People ask because they have unpleasant experience with ABA personally or through the autistic community, and they absolutely do not want that to be a part of their relationships with their dogs. It's tough because a lot of the methods that are central to ABA are also central to modern, science-based dog training.

In this episode I talk about what ABA is and what makes it concerning, and I compare that with different styles of dog training. Toward the end of the episode are three things to look for when finding a class, trainer, or program that doesn't rely on ABA methods.Greer works in a few barks and a short whining session because she needed to go outside to poop.

Greer and I work with families virtually anywhere in the world, and I work with families in person in the South Puget Sound. If you'd like to chat about your situation, please send me a message (shannon@slobberedlens.com) and we'll arrange a time to get to know each other a bit. I'll let you know if I think I can help, or if I know someone who can do better.

The job of the leader isn't to be in charge. The job of the leader is welfare. Different members of the team or partnership are better able to serve in that role at different times, and it's absolutely right for them to switch places and mix things up.In this episode I talk through a conversation I had with a family I'm supporting and harkened back on my days in corporate life and as a dance teacher for inspiration, all with a few examples of me and Greer doing the best we can.Greer and I switch leadership roles many times a day. Sometimes she's the obvious choice for leader and sometimes it's me, and neither one of us minds when the other leads. We know leadership isn't about dominance, so it's all good stuff.