Free shipping on all U.S. orders!

Hate Public Speaking? Practice On Your Dog

October 13, 2016

Hate Public Speaking? Practice On Your Dog

Effective public speaking is an incredibly useful and powerful skill, both in professional and personal settings. Yet the average person strongly dislikes speaking before an audience and would rather be anywhere else. Palms sweat, your heart races... and a sense of dread and nervousness kicks in.

And the worst part? The only way to get better at presenting for a large crowd was presenting before a large crowd - that is, until recently. American University discovered a less stressful and effective means of improving public speaking skills: practicing before a canine audience.

“Practicing with a dog serves a lot of functions: it decreases anxiety, forces you to hear yourself out loud, and allows you to spend time presenting in front of a non-judgmental living creature,” states Bonnie Auslander, founder of American University Kogod School of Business' Audience Dog Program.

Students in the Audience Dog Program practice presenting in front of neighborhood pups who are selected for their “calm and attentive” personalities. If the dog’s attention wanes, a student may speak more loudly and clearly to regain his focus.

In an article published in the New York Times, Auslander added, “a dog is no more distracted than your typical college student. You might even get a lick.”



Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


Also in DJANGO Dog Blog

The Best Rugs for Dogs That Pee
The Best Rugs for Dogs That Pee

November 23, 2023 1 Comment

Even if your dog is the most well-trained pup, pee accidents happen. Our dachshund Django, for instance, is well trained and housebroken. Every so often, however, Django will have a pee accident in our house. Usually this happens when we're distracted by work or busy with our toddlers and forget to take Django outside on time. Occasionally a pee accident will happen simply because Django gets super excited and can't control his bladder.

So, what are the best rugs for dogs? What types of rugs are best for families with small children? What rug fabric types are best for dog owners?

In this DJANGO Dog Blog article, we highlight the best types of rugs for dogs, families with kids, and pets. We consider durability, stain-resistance, and ease of cleaning. Are you looking for a dog-proof rug and pee-proof rug? Keep reading!

View full article →

15 Thoughtful Holiday Gift Ideas for Dog Lovers and Their Pups
15 Thoughtful Holiday Gift Ideas for Dog Lovers and Their Pups

November 16, 2023

Calling all dog lovers and four-legged family! Unleash happiness this holiday season with our thoughtful dog lovers gift guide that is sure to have tails wagging and hoomans grinning. From beautiful handcrafted cotton rope dog leashes to super stylish weatherproof boots to drool-worthy dog treats, we (DJANGO) have rounded up the crème de la crème of dog gifts for you and every devoted dog lover in your life.

One more thing? We have included incredible discounts for most of our best dog gift recommendations! We have a wide-reaching, dog loving audience, and almost all brands have given us exclusive promo codes for our pawsome readers. Happy shopping, furends!

View full article →

15 Best Small Pet Shops and Boutiques on Instagram for Dog Accessories - DJANGO Dog Blog - djangobrand.com
15 Best Small Pet Shops and Boutiques on Instagram for Dog Accessories

October 24, 2023 1 Comment

Since launching our Instagram account (@djangobrand) in 2016, we have made 42.6K dog (and cat) loving friends. Since then, other Instagram pet shops and boutiques on  that make dog accessories and apparel have caught our attention. From Bean Goods to Arya Sit!, we list our favorite small pet businesses on Instagram to support and shop from. Pet products range from novelty print dog bandannas to dog mom apparel.

View full article →