Monday, 5:16 pm. Well, I had planned to write something wise and witty about dogs, people and play. I was inspired by the closing ceremonies of the Olympics (finally I can get some sleep, but I'm going to miss them, darn!), and found myself thinking more about how important play is between people and dogs. But that was then (this morning) and this is now (this evening). I've spent most of the day on machines and technology... dealing with issues related to the new website, creating an ad for the new play booklet to send out electronically, learning new software, etc. etc. I've been riding this computer almost all day, and am ready to rip every hair out of my head. Why, oh why, can't we use operant and classical conditioning on machines? If only I could click and treat when the new Read More
Archives for 2008
Playing with Dogs & the Olympics
I'm a little behind today, because yet again I stayed up too late watching the Olympics. Addicting, aren't they? And I'm not even that interested in sports... I was the girl who stood in right field in enforced elementary school softball games saying "Please don't hit the ball to me, please don't hit the ball to me." But I can't resist the drama of watching other people turning purposeless games into lifetime commitments and prime time excitement for the rest of us. How fitting that today our new booklet about playing with our dogs just arrived from the printer. I co-wrote it with Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Karen London, and there is nothing like writing about how to play (and how not to play) with your dog to get you thinking about WHY we play with our dogs, HOW we play and Read More
Visual Signals before Acoustic?
"Puppy nerd" asked a great question in his or her comment: Given how visual dogs are, should one start an exercise with visual signals to help the dog get it right, and then switch to acoustic ones, or avoid visual signals altogether if you want your dog to pay attention to your voice? Well, this could keep us all busy for the next few months. I know this is a loaded issue, with people strongly advocating one or the other (mostly the latter in my experience.) There's no 'right' answer, at least not in my opinion. But then, I'm not a big advocate for there being one way to train. There are many roads, as they say, to the top of the mountain. I think what's most important is to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of starting with visual signals. The first obvious advantage is Read More
Visual Signals Don’t Have to be Big if they are Relevant
I got back recently from doing a seminar in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club. What a wonderful audience; we had a fantastic time together. At least, I did, so thanks to Tammy and everyone at the club for having me. One of my favorite parts of this seminar (Both Ends of the Leash) is its focus on signals, or cues. The question we looked at in depth was: what sound or movement is actually the one that is salient to your dog? You may say "Sit," and think your dog is responding to it, but so often it's the tightening of the leash or the nod of the head to which your dog is responding. (okay, "to which" is grammatically correct, but good grief it sounds awkward!) We had a great example of that in Ann Arbor. A lovely Golden (perhaps the most perfect example of "Life Read More
Us, Our Dogs and Sound Pollution
Well, no more storms, thank heavens, but I did read more of Through a Dog's Ear. In it the authors talk about the effects of sound on the health of humans, as well as that of dogs. I'm as sound sensitive as a stereotypical sheltie, so I pricked up my metaphorical ears. Here I am, some one who can't stand noisy restaurants (take me to a noisy one and watch me start to tongue flick), is exhausted at loud parties and craves a quiet country morning with nothing but bird song in the air. (Excuse the digression, but I am reminded of a dear city friend, who was visiting me and friends at our places in the country years ago. We all sat on a hill, overlooking a tangerine sky at sunset when somene commented how peaceful it was. Royce, as urban as they come, said "Peaceful? It's a racket out here. Read More
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