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My Puppy, My Self

How dogs make us human.

by Lee Charles Kelley

Lee Charles Kelley is a dog trainer and best-selling mystery author. See full bio

My Puppy, My Self

January 18, 2010

Siege at Druid Peak: Wolves, Social Networks, & Feedback Mechanisms

Dogs and wolves can't text each other; they don't have thumbs. But due to the way wolves evolved as social predators -- able to read each other's social signals instantly, in the heat of the moment -- and the way dogs expanded on those abilities when they began domesticating us, dogs give us a window into the most miraculous social network ever created. Read More

January 11, 2010

Why Do Dogs Mark Their Territory?

It doesn't make sense that a dog would have the intelligence necessary to use his urine to leave messages for other dogs. In order to do so he would have to be capable of hypothetical thinking, fantasy, mental time travel, not to mention a full-blown theory of mind. If that's true, is there a simpler, more logical explanation for this behavior? Read More

January 4, 2010

Of Mice and Mutts IV (Conclusion): All Dogs Are Good Dogs at Heart

Behavioral science techniques are known to be ineffective at resolving behavioral problems in dogs. Part of the problem is that behavior analysts believe all animals learn the same way. They don't. However, they do obey the same set of rules. The problem is they may not be the rules of Pavlov and Skinner, but of Newton, Joule, and Maxwell. Read More

December 4, 2009

Lessons in Fidelity: What Tiger Woods Could Learn From His Dogs

Most parents, when their kids are pleading with them to get a dog, will say, "If we do get a dog it'll be your responsibility to take care of him. You'll have to feed him and walk him and make sure he gets enough exercise." The more removed from those kinds of daily responsibilities we are, even as adults, the less a dog's innate stabilizing influence has on our lives. Read More

November 16, 2009

Of Mice and Mutts III: The Negative Effects of Positive Reinforcement

Somewhere in the back of every dog trainer's mind is the image of Pavlov's dogs, salivating at the sound of a bell ringing. That's the apex of conditioning. Yet no one seems to consider how unhappy those dogs must have been. At its core, positive reinforcement can actually be a very unpleasant experience for the animal being conditioned. Read More

October 29, 2009

Of Mice and Mutts: Is Behavioral Science Failing Our Dogs?

By seeing dogs as either sophisticated lab rats or as 4-legged mini-me's (or both), the behavioral science approach to dog training seems to be failing our furry friends. Is there a better way? One that's more dogthropomorphic? And what if instead of being "the one who controls the goodies," you could actually become the goodies for your dog? Read More

October 9, 2009

Of Mice and Mutts: Why Behavioral Science Is Losing the Training Wars

There's a quiet battle raging right now in the dog training world. Positive trainers, who use operant conditioning, say the "pack leader" approach is unscientific and harmful. But if operant conditioning is really based on scientific principles, why aren't positive trainers more successful? Read More

September 21, 2009

Why Do Dogs Like to "Kiss" Us?

My dog Freddie was punished for biting when he was a puppy. This created some behavioral problems later on (severe panic attacks) that took me a while to unravel. However, once I did, I observed a funny, and very sweet side-effect to the new emotional freedom he felt once his fears were gone. Read More

August 31, 2009

Bared Teeth, Raised Hackles, and the Myth of Aggressive Intent

Two behaviors, found in both dogs and wolves (among other species), are routinely explained by some scientists and scholars as if they were the result of complex layers of conscious thought. Could there be a simpler explanation? Shouldn't there be? Read More

August 27, 2009

How Outdoor Play Can Cure Depression in Dogs

While dogs may not be able to entertain gloomy thoughts or dwell on their past or present misfortunes, they are capable of feeling depressed. And the quickest, easiest way to cure depression in doggies is to get them to play outdoors. But what do you do with a dog who doesn't know how - or more correctly - who's forgotten how to play? Read More

Books by Lee Charles Kelley

A Nose for Murder

Murder Unleashed

To Collar a Killer

Twas the Bite Before Christmas

Dogged Pursuit

Like a Dog With a Bone

Bark M For Murder

Animal Behavior Basics

Pets are among life's greatest joys; they can also be our greatest teachers. The study of animal behavior is a cornerstone of experimental psychology, shedding light on complex human emotions. And pets have a unique therapaeutic hold over humans, especially people who are socially isolated or who are coping with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum.

Go to the Animal Behavior Basics page for more on Animal Behavior including:

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Books by Lee Charles Kelley

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