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My Dogs and Me

Kiera, Graidy, Wink and Me

Supersonic Hearing

Graidy is 14ish now. He sleeps the sleep of the dead most of the day. That is, unless he hears a twig snap outside anywhere within a mile radius of the house.

Case in point. Out of a sound sleep, Graidy leaps up, rushes outside and commences barking. I go to check on what it is–because I know he doesn’t bark at nothing. It takes me a while to spot what woke him up…

There is a doe hiding in … Read More

If Only People Paid As Much Attention As Dogs

australian shepherd paying attentionAdmit it. You can’t even move toward your shoes without your dog(s) knowing that you are going out. And whether those shoes are hard-soled or sneakers tell them whether they’re going to get to go with you.

That’s because our dogs really pay attention. They notice every little action we take. Every little facial expression. Every little sigh or laugh. Every little everything. They. Pay. Attention.

And they know exactly what that action, expression, sound means.

I cannot move an … Read More

And Then There Were None

I have a dog friend who lives in another part of the country. We try to talk by phone at least once a year.

And how does one get a “dog friend,” you might be thinking.

Back when I first started experiencing dog aggression problems between Kiera and Molly, many years ago now, I researched, joined dog training lists, and read prolifically. In the course of one of my online travels, I met Heidi. She was a PhD Psychologist turned … Read More

Lyme Bulls-Eye on Dogs

Tick Bullseye Some vets will tell you that dogs don’t get the common bulls-eye rash that humans do when infected with Lyme disease. I’m here to tell you that dogs absolutely do.

Right now, Graidy’s got a beaut of a rash on his inner thigh. His fur is white and very fine, so it’s easy to see down to his skin. (That’s a photo of his bite. Sorry, I couldn’t get a better shot, Graidy wasn’t interested in staying still, but it … Read More

Housetraining Your Dog and Putting It on Cue

Border CollieThere are times in life when I just don’t feel like standing around while my dogs find the perfect spot on which to relieve themselves. Like when the temperature outside is in the minus digits. Or, when I’m in a hurry to go somewhere and I don’t have hours for them to decide to do the deed. Or, when it’s late and I’m so tired that I’m not sure what’s holding me upright any longer. I’m sure you could think … Read More

Why I Don’t Use a Flexi-Leash

What’s the matter with using a Flexi-leash?

Flexi-leashes require tension on the leash in order to keep the line pulled out and thus teach dogs to pull.

And if you already have a dog who pulls (because maybe you haven’t had the time to properly train him how to walk on a leash?) then a flexi-leash will ensure that you will always have a problem walking your dog. I know. Harsh, but true.

Here’s just one of the all-too-frequent occurrences … Read More

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