Editorial policy

This page explains the standards every guide on Leash Lore is held to. If you think a guide falls short of them, please tell us.

Who researches and writes the guides

Every guide is researched and written by Jose Weidson da Silva Soares, Editor & Researcher. The editor is not a professional dog trainer, behaviorist or veterinarian: the guides compile and explain what authoritative sources recommend, rather than reporting personal training cases. No guide is currently reviewed by an outside expert. If that changes, the reviewer's name will appear at the top of the guide they reviewed.

Training methods we recommend

We only recommend force-free, reward-based methods. We don't publish advice that relies on pain, fear, startle or intimidation, including shock, prong and choke collars, spray or noise punishers, "alpha rolls" or scruffing.

How sources are chosen and checked

• We prefer veterinary behavior organizations (such as the AVSAB), the American Kennel Club, established animal welfare organizations, veterinary hospital resources and peer-reviewed research. We don't use forums, social media posts or other blogs as sources.
• Before a guide is published, the editor opens every cited source and checks that it says what the guide attributes to it. Anything a source doesn't support is rewritten or removed.
• Every source we cite is listed at the end of the guide with a working link.
• We don't invent statistics, studies, quotes or testimonials, and we don't present opinion as research.
• When the evidence is limited or experts disagree, we say so.

Structure of every guide

• A short, direct answer to the main question at the top.
• Why the behavior happens, and a step-by-step plan you can test at home.
• Common mistakes, and how the approach changes by age or breed.
• Clear signs that it's time to involve a veterinarian or behavior professional.
• Frequently asked questions and a list of sources.

Safety and health

Behavior can have medical causes. Our guides recommend a veterinary check when behavior changes suddenly, and we don't give diagnoses or medication advice. For aggression that has caused injury, severe fear or panic, we point readers to veterinarians and qualified professionals such as board-certified veterinary behaviorists, certified applied animal behaviorists and certified trainers.

Promises we don't make

Dogs learn at different speeds. We don't promise results or timeframes, and we avoid claims like "fixed in a day".

Affiliate links and independence

We earn commissions from some links. Commercial relationships never decide which methods we recommend, and every guide can be followed without buying anything. Guides with affiliate links show a disclosure before the first link. Program recommendations appear after the answer and the free steps, never instead of them. See our affiliate disclosure.

Reviews

When we review a program or product, we judge it against the same force-free standard as our own guides, and we say who it isn't a good fit for. We only describe first-hand use when it actually happened.

Updates and corrections

Found an error, a broken link or an outdated source? Email contact@leashlore.com with the page and the problem. We check it against the sources and, if the guide is wrong, correct it and change its "Updated" date. Guides are also revisited when a source they rely on changes.

Use of AI tools

We may use software, including AI writing tools, to help research and draft. Every guide is checked by the editor against its sources before it's published, and the editor is responsible for what we publish.