I'm leading another safari in Kenya and Botswana this August. Wanna come? It probably will be my last. The first time I went to Africa to lead an animal-behavior-focused safari, I cautioned the participants the day we arrived that we weren't going to see what we usually see on a nature special on television. "What you see on a nature special is the result of hours and hours and hours of long, boring observations, while waiting to capture the excitement and beauty and drama that eventually will be edited down to a series of amazing sequences. We'd be wise to have our expectations be realistic: we'll see some wonderful animals and some interesting behavior, but it will be far cry from what you see on TV." Boy was I wrong. I mean, totally wrong. I mean, totally, completely and utterly Read More
What are You Grateful For? and… House Training Dogs
Every morning I start my day writing a list of things that I am grateful for. Sometimes they are big things (Jim, my dogs, opportunities to learn, grow and improve relationships between people and animals) and sometimes they are small (the plaintive Wooo Heee song of courting Chickadees, the deep, purple blue of the first spring flowers). This morning I surprised myself, by adding: I am grateful that none of my dogs potty in the house. House training and elimination control is like health, isn't it? If everything is fine, you don't really think about it much. But when it's not, it can be overwhelming. I went through two years living with old dogs who simply couldn't control themselves. Pippy Tay lost control of her anus in her last year of life (at age 15) and I picked up poop at least Read More
Dogs of Sweden and Norway
I'm still thinking about all the wonderful dogs I met in Sweden and Norway (not to mention their humans!). I paid a lot of attention to breeds--it seems that the mix of breeds here in the states is changing, although that's just a perception, not a fact. I have seen so many 'rare' breeds lately, it seems it's in fashion to get a dog that no one has ever heard of (or can pronounce the name of). People in Sweden told me that the most popular breed by far was the German Shepherd, followed by the Labrador Retriever. My 10 days in Scandanavia were hardly an accurate sample, but what struck me most was that I saw a little bit of so many breeds in the two countries we visited. Here's a breakdown, from my notes: GSD 1 Labrador Retriever, 3 Corgi 1 Swedish Valhund 1 (the Swedes were very Read More
Positive Reinforcement is Defined by the Receiver!
Home. Ummmm, feels so good. Even though the trip was wonderful in so many ways, it is SO good to be home. As I wrote earlier, I greatly enjoyed presenting a seminar in Sweden---the people were so kind and interesting, and our vacation in the fjord country of Norway was heavenly. (see the photos attached). And yet... Dorothy was right. There's no place like home. I wonder how many dog lovers are as ambivalent as I. I love to travel. I love seeing new places, eating new food, learning about new cultures, eating new food, seeing the world from new perspectives, eating new food. Did I mention eating new food? (If you go to southern Sweden, you really, really want to try Äggakaka. It's an eggy, creamy, quichey, omelettey thing, covered with Ligonberry sauce. Yummy) And yet, as much as I Read More
Sweden and Norway
I'm sitting in the lobby of the old Fredheim Hotel in Flam, Norway. It's at the base of an endless fjord on the west coast of Norway. Gorgeous. I'm here because last weekend I presented a two day seminar in Tomalilla, Sweden (toe-ma-lee-lah... it's really lovely to say!), hosted by Natasja and Daniel Atterbom. (eeeps, I may have spelled their name wrong. apologies if so.) Natasja and her friend Malvini could not have been more gracious hosts, and the people who attended were an absolute delight. It was truly a joy to speak there, and to meet so many people in Sweden who love their dogs so much. I've learned Sweden is much like the states, in that "getting dominance" over your dog is still terribly popular. But the people who attended the seminar were knowledgeable and delightful. I Read More
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