As a child, I was very fortunate to have an older brother and sister willing to take me WAY across town to the public library. (Thanks, Jim Holmes and Maureen Kidd!) The wonderful librarians steered me first to the children's section and, after I'd gone through those shelves, allowed me to read whatever I wanted …
Year: 2017
Trick or Treat, Canine Style!
Our neighborhood has some serious Halloween fans and the yard decorations get bigger (and some might say scarier) every year. During our first year together, I discovered that Sasha was no fan of skeletons rising from the ground or ghostly wraiths swinging in the trees. She muttered past the tombstones propped in flower beds, skittered …
Continue reading Trick or Treat, Canine Style!
The Collar Challenge
From flat-buckle to martingale collars and beyond to harnesses of all sorts--choosing the right equipment for your dog can be a real challenge! Before you go shopping, it's a good idea to know that the dog's breed, temperament, and strength (think "pull power") should influence your decision. You'll find an ongoing debate in the dog …
Continue reading The Collar Challenge
Outsmarted by a Sheltie
We've been working on our own version of the 'engage-disengage' game. (If you want the longer explanation with examples of the engage-disengage game, read my post titled Look at her now! ) Today, Sasha added her own twist. Once Sasha disengages from barking at an approaching dog, I verbally "click" and treat. Ironically, we haven't encountered many …
Continue reading Outsmarted by a Sheltie
Look at her now!
When Sasha first came to us last year, she was terrified of loud noises (clickers at obedience class frightened her senseless), anxious around strangers (men in particular), had no leash skills to speak of, and tended to be very vocal around other dogs. And judging from the condition of her coat and skin, grooming was an unknown …
Continue reading Look at her now!