A Rose By Any Other Name?
Is this a dominance hierarchy or bunk bed? They say a rose by any other name is still a rose, unless if you're naming it 'tulip' I won't know what you are describing. We may both understand that you are talking about a flower, but if you are ordering a dozen roses and ...
Nibbles Makes A Friend
It's been awhile since I've given any updates on Nibbles, so here's a quickie. Nibs is doing great! He's still not 100% comfortable with people, and he likes to bark at them too much, but we continue to work on it, and he continues to improve. This week the dogs made a new friend, a ...
Think You’ve Tried Everything To Train Your Dog? Doubt it.
Looking for fish is rewarding to Annie. The fish reinforce this behavior. Dog trainers hear it all the time- pet owners who have 'tried everything' or declare that positive reinforcement training doesn't work because they've tried giving their dog treats and still have not been able to get the behavior they're after. I ...
Of Wolves and Women
Back in the early 1980's I was intent on finding ways to get university credits without actually sitting in a classroom. I discovered study programs which were taught 'in the field' and awarded credits toward graduation. I spent months hiking in the Sierra Nevada in California, weeks canoeing rivers in Montana and sweating in Death ...
Breed Specific Legislation & Alpha Dog Myths
As smart as we humans consider ourselves to be, we can be remarkably short-sighted or inconsiderate of the effects of our beliefs or actions. Antibiotics have saved countless lives and I consider myself among the lucky in history to have lived in an age during which we have access to them. But we have also ...
Sunny & Seaglass
Strolling a beach who can help but be pleased to find a piece of sanded smooth seaglass? With the sharp edges worn down to safety they are tiny treasures used to make jewelry. Bathrooms around the world contain baskets of the stuff gathered during vacations and holidays. Even with their shiny surface blurred by abrasion ...
Small, White Dogs
image: commons.wikimedia.org At the vet with Finn, who was having his second chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma, I chatted with one of the techs, who was also a dog walker. She mentioned a client's German Shepherd, I said how I always wanted one, but so many seem to have behavioral problems. Her reply was ...
Annie Finds Her Bliss
Years ago I attended seminars and conferences for small business owners. The inevitable inspirational speaker would invariably talk about how if you do what you love you will be successful. Last week Annie discovered fish. She has spent hours every day watching for and stalking fish. Of all my dogs she was the one most ...
Ooops. My Bad.
Give me a break. Cut me some slack. We learn from our mistakes. If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Four dogs practicing doing something that probably makes no sense to them. Despite the fact that our language is littered with phrases that attempt to make us ...
