The Science of Canine Nutrition

Courses, Webinars, & Quizzes with The Science Dog Courses Revised for 2024 - Basics of Canine Nutrition. Updated video lectures, readings, and inclusive webinars! Our Most Popular Multiple Course Program Let's Not Forget Our Other Best Friend - A Certificate Nutrition Course about Cats Tell Us What You Know About Nutrition! (Take a Look at … Continue reading The Science of Canine Nutrition

Errorless Learning vs. Trial-and-Error

Which Works Better for Dogs? This winter, my training partner Amanda and I decided to teach our dogs "toy identification". We lead a small weekly training class at my training center and one of the behaviors that the class expressed interest in was training their dogs to retrieve toys by name. Amanda and I selected … Continue reading Errorless Learning vs. Trial-and-Error

Getting the Facts Straight

About Chocolate and Dogs In recent weeks, there has been a popular meme circulating on social media that states: "Chocolate is toxic to dogs. It doesn't just poison them once but is repeatedly reabsorbed into their body and poisons them many times. This is why it is so dangerous" A Science Dog reader brought the … Continue reading Getting the Facts Straight

How Do Dogs Prefer to be Fed?

(It Depends on Who You Ask) Feeding dogs using food-delivery devices has become increasingly popular. Some owners use these gadgets as a supplement or occasional treat for their dogs, while others use them to provide all of their dogs' meals. The general intent of providing food in this way, as opposed to a bowl, is … Continue reading How Do Dogs Prefer to be Fed?

Understanding Canine Play

And Then the Dog Said...LOL! New Webinar presented by Dr. Shelly Volsche Can you hear that? Are you listening? The Science Dog's newest webinar examines the basics of animal bioacoustics, with a focus on the domestic dog. Dr. Volsche, who teaches canine behavior and training at the University of WI at River Falls, reviews past … Continue reading Understanding Canine Play

Is there a Best Safety Cue Toy?

Like many trainers and dog owners, Mike and I teach our pups early in life that quiet time and short periods of separation are associated with the offering of a special chew. This toy appears at the start of quiet time and is taken away once the separation is over (for specific details about this … Continue reading Is there a Best Safety Cue Toy?

10 Years of Dog Science

The Science Dog just turned 10-years-old! With the holiday season upon us, this seems to be a good time to reflect on what the blog has accomplished over the last decade, where it is now, and where I hope to take in the future. A Bit of History I started The Science Dog blog in … Continue reading 10 Years of Dog Science

The Stress-Reducing Effects of……

A Dog's Friend Providing a Good Life I think it is safe to say that most of us strive to provide our dogs with a good life. Typically, we think of this as a life that includes love, companionship, security, proper nutrition and health care, and opportunities for exercise, play, and relaxation. An additional (and … Continue reading The Stress-Reducing Effects of……

New Science Dog Webinars!

Diet-Related DCM Current Research & Remaining Questions Presented by Dr. Stephanie Clark Board Certified Companion Animal Nutritionist Join us for an eye-opening webinar that delves into canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and its possible connection to diet. In the wake of the FDA's alert in 2018, this talk cuts through the hype and hysteria and offers … Continue reading New Science Dog Webinars!

Raw Evidence

I have been writing about research studies of the nutritional value, safety, preservation and possible benefits of feeding a raw diet for more than 5 years. This research, conducted by multiple academic groups, has led to improved understanding of raw foods, to the development of safer and more nutritious products, and has increased our appreciation … Continue reading Raw Evidence

Would Your Dog See the Gorilla?

Inattentional Blindness Inattentional blindness (IB) is a cognitive phenomenon that occurs when we experience a reduction in attention to extraneous stimuli (even novel ones) when we are tasked with focusing our attention on something else. In extreme cases, the novel stimulus will not even be perceived. A classic experiment that demonstrates IB was conducted by … Continue reading Would Your Dog See the Gorilla?

Are You Feeding Smart?

Description: In The Science Dog’s latest myth-busting book, Linda Case takes on canine nutrition and feeding practices. It seems that almost everyone has an opinion about how our dogs should be fed and what diet is healthiest for them. In this timely book, Linda Case takes a look at the evidence and what answers science … Continue reading Are You Feeding Smart?

What Do You Know…..

About Cat Nutrition? TAKE THE NEW SCIENCE DOG QUIZ! NEW!! Cat-Centered Offerings from The Science Dog Courses! Feeding Felines: An Evidence-Based Feline Nutrition Course A Science Dog CORE course that focuses on our other best friend, the domestic cat. Learn why cats cannot be treated or fed as if they are "small dogs'! Students who … Continue reading What Do You Know…..

Does Your Dog Think that You Throw Like a Girl?

The Joy of a Well-Thrown Ball It is summertime and pool season is in full swing at our house. This means daily swimming and retrieving for our dogs. They love nothing better than an afternoon at the pool with friends and lots (and lots) of toy-throwing into the water. (Our dogs seem to view human … Continue reading Does Your Dog Think that You Throw Like a Girl?

What is an Omega-3 Index?

And, Should You Measure it in Your Dog? About Those Omegas First, a bit of background. The term "omega" refers to a way in which dietary fatty acids are classified. Two important classes are the omega-6 fatty acids and the omega-3 fatty acids. Both types are important in a dog’s diet, but dog foods (like … Continue reading What is an Omega-3 Index?