Editorial policy
Accurate, humane, and useful in real life - here is how every guide is made.
Sources we use
We base our guides on, in order of weight:
- Peer-reviewed research in veterinary behavior, ethology and animal cognition.
- Position statements and guidelines from professional bodies such as the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB/DACVB).
- Recognised textbooks and works by credentialed behavior professionals.
Key sources are listed at the end of each guide under “Sources & further reading”. Where the science is unsettled, we say so.
Our training stance
We recommend only reward-based, force-free methods consistent with the least-intrusive, minimally-aversive (LIMA) principle. We do not recommend punishment, intimidation, “dominance” or “alpha” techniques, or tools designed to cause pain or fear. Read why in the alpha dog myth.
Medical and safety information
Behavior and health are linked. When a behavior may have a medical cause we tell you to see your veterinarian, and we never give medication doses. For aggression or bite risk, we recommend working with a qualified professional.
Updates and corrections
Every guide shows the date it was last updated. We review content regularly and whenever important new research is published. If you believe something is inaccurate, please contact us - verified corrections are made promptly.
Independence
Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers or partners. If we ever include affiliate links or sponsored content, it will be clearly labelled.
Images
Photos are sourced from public-domain and openly licensed collections and credited beneath each image, or are original photography.