I often begin my day writing about what I am thankful for, but this time of year I like to put that gratitude out into the universe. However, this time I'm going to take a page from one of my favorite local columnists, John Roach, who writes for Madison Magazine. Recently he wrote about what he is NOT thankful for, and I laughed so hard reading it I was inspired to create a dog lover's version. WHAT I'M NOT THANKFUL FOR: I'm not thankful for the moment when I hear that distinctive gagging sound and look up to see my dog hunched up like a Halloween cat about to regurgitate last night's dinner onto the bedspread. I'm not thankful for the white hairs all over the black pants that I put on before going out to dinner which only need five seconds to gather dog hairs like a black hole Read More
Archives for 2016
Photo Shoot, Fall 2016
Best photographer ever, Nick Berard, came to the farm to take photos for the new memoir website (stay tuned, working on it) and our new, mobile-responsive website. (Yay!) Here are a few of my favorite photos, which you'll no doubt see in times to come on the website and in PR releases closer to when the memoir comes out. They are all on the farm, so, MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Thank heaven for dogs. May you and all who you love be well. Read More
Dogs, Dog Food and Dogma: A Review
Would keeping your dog thin decrease his or her chance of dying from cancer? The author of this book says yes, in a set of arguments that correlates obesity and risk of mortality in Dogs, Dog Food and Dogma. I'll summarize now by saying that the author Daniel Scholof is a good researcher and writer, and makes a compelling case for keeping our dogs thin. I'll also remind all of us not to oversimplify the connection between fat and cancer, and add some thoughtful comments from canine nutritionist, Linda Case. I should start by saying that something usually happens, and not in a good way, when I begin reading about canine nutrition. Once we start talking about kcals and the specific amount of protein/vitamins/minerals required in home diets, I want to write MEGO in the margin. (MEGO is Read More
Fall Book Review 2016
Being a Dog: Following the dog Into a World of Smell, by Alexandra Horowitz. You want to read this book. You need to read this book. Your dog wants you to read this book. It is, simply, fantastic. Here's why: First, the information about olfaction is riveting. There has been a lot written about the dog and his or her sense of smell, especially in two of my favorite books, What the Dog Knows by Cat Warren and Scent of the Missing by Susannah Charleson. Being a Dog enriches our understanding about the world of smell, in innumerable ways. She does that, in part, by comparing the ways dogs and people use their nose to navigate their environment. Those of you who have read The Other End of the Leash and For the Love of a Dog know that I love comparative ethology, so you won't be surprised Read More
Keeping “Retired” Dogs Busy
Mr. Willie is ten years old now, in spite of my incantations to the spirits to keep him eternally young. I've retired him from sheepdog competitions, which I'm sure was a good decision. But it also means that every day I walk back to the house after Maggie and I have a long training session, and see Willie's big-eyed face looking at me by the door. "My turn? Is it my turn now?" If you have a "retired" dog, you know exactly what happens in my heart when I see his face looking at me as I begin to leave. Sometimes it IS his turn, because there is always work to do on the farm. Perhaps Willie and I will go back up the hill and move the sheep down to the barn for their evening meal, or to sort out a limping ewe. But sometimes there are no farm chores left for him to do. Granted, Read More
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