It is Memorial Day in the United States; a day for remembering those who have lost their lives in war. It is only fitting that National Geographic just came out with an article on "The Dogs of War." I read with it the same mixed feelings I always have on the topic of young, healthy lives lost because of our inability to solve conflicts without violence--admiration and respect for those in the military, and deep sadness for all the loss that war creates. It seems only right then to take a moment to thank all of the dogs that have been enlisted into our battles; for their commitment to a job, to their moments of bravery, and to the comfort that they give to the men and women caught in conflicts, far away from home. I admit to feeling a great sense of sadness that they are there at all, Read More
Archives for May 2014
How to Talk to Other Dog Owners
When I was seeing a lot of clients I could always tell when I was tired because I started working with the dog, rather than training the owners. Perhaps that's the irony of language: It makes communication easier in one sense, and harder in another. Things were so simple and clear when I was working with someone else's dog. Trying to influence the behavior of the people felt much more complicated. It is not that I didn't enjoy it--I love people, they are one of my two favorite species. It's just that it was harder to work with them than the dogs. It's no surprise then that talking to someone you've never met about their dog's behavior is especially fraught. Whether it's at the dog park, in the neighborhood, or at a dog class, we've all struggled with what to say to the person whose dog is Read More
2014 Spring Book Review
As always, there are piles of books on my desk, my bedside table, the dining room table, and Willie's crate. Books are one of my greatest joys in life, but like gardening, I never feel caught up. However, that never seems to stop me from buying more books, so here are some thoughts about some of the books I've been reading and reviewing. I love hearing from you about the books you have enjoyed (or not), so consider this an invitation to have a "Book Club" evening together. The Dog Trainer's Resource 3: The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Collection. This is the third in a series of articles written for APDT's magazine, Chronicle of the Dog. As a result, it has an eclectic set of topics, from "The Emotional Life of Dogs" (an article I wrote) to "Teaching Group Classes" to "Business Development Read More
When to Intervene in Dog-Dog Interactions
This is one of the questions I am most frequently asked, and with good reason. It's a tough one. It's also relevant to my own life right now, after having just introduced a new dog into the household, and having to make split-second decisions several times in the first few weeks. I should say first off that there is no ultimate truth here. No research, no data, just my opinion based on experience with thousands of client dogs and plenty of my own. Certainly there is no dearth of opinions about when to intervene when dogs "get into it," from the extremes of "I never intervene, I just let them work it out" to the opposite attitude of calling a dog off instantly, or correcting her, for a hard eye or a quiet growl. You won't be surprised to learn that I live in the middle ground, not being Read More