Information on living with, training, and loving Dogs
Okay, I have to say it. I don’t like Cesar Millan’s training methods. He’s set dog training back about 20 years.
The Alpha Roll?! Come on, really. And I don’t know of any good trainer who would EVER say, “Don’t try this at home.” Then what’s the point, I ask you? Showmanship, ego, and money. That’s the point.
It’s not that Millan is wholly without merit. There are some training techniques that even Millan doesn’t have to turn into an … Read More
How it is possible that I’ve wound up with three very opinionated animals?
Andrew tells me to go look in the mirror.
Ha ha, I tell him in return.
Really, it must be something in the drinking water. Because, truth be told, everyone in this household has something to say.
Graidy, my BC mix, says, while balancing on the back of the couch, circus-dog style, There’s somebody going by out front! Sound the alarm! Where’s Kiera?! Kiera, come on, let’s … Read More
As I try to make my way from one place in the house to another, I now have three animals (instead of the usual two) swirling about my feet. I am reminded of Pig-Pen’s dust clouds (of Charlie Brown fame). Only, while Pig-Pen could move nonchalantly along, unimpeded by his clouds, I must take every step with care so as not to trip over my living eddies.
I’ve learned to shuffle my feet since Finnegan has arrived, because he likes … Read More
I’ve been following Marc Bekoff’s work on Ethology (the scientific study of animal behavior) for years. He’s written and edited a number of books on the subject, including The Smile of a Dolphin: Remarkable Accounts of Animal Emotions, a collection of short essays on animal behavior.
One of his recent articles asks the question of animal research scientists, “Would you do it to your dog?”, in an attempt to address the question of animal experimentation in general, while highlighting … Read More
Kiera sits as sentry, while Cait and I get ready for a little stargazing before shut-eye. No amount of coaxing will get her to join us in the tent. Her self-appointed job is to periodically patrol the perimeters of our property.
Good thing she’s safely fenced in and other critters fenced out, because we live on a little corner of the wild kingdom. Cait and I sleep well knowing that she’s on the job.… Read More
When I’m training, I’m always thinking about why Kiera does or doesn’t do what she does. I’m always trying to see if I can understand it from where she is and go from there. For example, once upon a time, I wasn’t having any luck getting Kiera to remain calm when people came over to our house. Whenever someone would arrive, Kiera would go into overdrive to make sure everyone in the house was safe for posterity. I’d tried the … Read More
This is my beloved Kiera. The original. She was tall and lanky for a Sheltie, and was often mistaken for a Miniature Collie. She had a grace, intelligence, and serenity about her that drew people to her like a magnet.… 