Information on living with, training, and loving Dogs
…Make sure, with all future book contracts, to specify that if I write a book about my dogs, and the publisher is going to put a picture of a dog on the cover, then it’s my dog’s picture that will be used. Not a generic stock photo of a dog that not only is not one of the breeds I’m writing about, but has absolutely no connection to the story.
Dogs of Dreamtime is coming out in paperback in April. … Read More
For those who’ve read Dogs of Dreamtime, you remember Molly, my deaf Aussie and Kiera’s sister. You probably also remember that I had to rehome Molly because of a deadly sibling rivalry. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make for one of my dogs.
I hope you also remember that, with diligence, I was able to find the perfect home for her. Her new owner (of several years now) is legally deaf, and has … Read More
From the mail bag: Allie asks: Just wondering. What do you think of Jon Katz? As a person, a writer, and now a trainer?
Dear Allie, I can’t comment on Katz as a person; I’ve never met the man. And I know all too well how it can be hazardous to draw conclusions about someone who writes about pieces of his or her life. As a reader, it’s easy to think you know the whole person, when you really … Read More
Some dogs lend themselves to nicknames. Graidy is such a dog. He goes by The Graidster, Graidy-Gru (Cait came up with that one), Happy Boy, Circus Dog, Clown Boy, Barky Boy, Monkey Mon, Licky Boy, Dagger Paws (for as light as he is on his feet, when he stands on you, you’d think he weighs a ton), Funny Boy (he’s the funniest dog I’ve ever had)– and Frog Man, which is aptly descriptive, don’t you think?
Kiera, on the other … Read More
The integration of Finnegan, Cait’s kitten, into our home as gone better than my wildest dreams. Both Kiera and Graidy have pretty high prey drives, so there was no guarantee that it would work out, never mind work out smoothly.
Now, wherever you find one, you’ll find the other two. They’ve become inseparable.
The usual bedtime at the Shanley’s.… Read More
Last night the wolves called my name.
Not the name I now carry,
but the one I was known by,
a million winters ago.
How they knew it was me I am not sure,
for I knew it not myself,
but part of me knew,
and part of me answered,
“Come, my brothers, let us run together,
Let us weave the patches of moonlight
into a story, written on
the fresh fallen snow.
For the world in sunlight to know… Read More
New Year’s Resolutions are part and parcel of starting out the new year. As friends were talking about their lists, I started wondering what our pets’ New Year’s Resolutions might be.
Here’s a guess at my three fur balls’ resolutions:
Kiera, my Australian Shepherd’s resolution might be: “I will resolve to stop herding my people when they suddenly move too fast and make those herky-jerky motions. On second thought… Nah. Someone’s got to keep the order around here.”
Graidy, my … Read More
In the midst of the holiday season, with lots of cooking and entertaining going on, I thought I’d share some foods that can be potentially poisonous for your dogs. Perhaps you’re already aware of most or all of them. I found a few that surprised me.
Here’s to safe and happy Holidays for you and your pets.
Foods and Substances That Could be Deadly for Your Dog:
