I’m off in an hour to Virginia to do the For the Love of a Dog seminar on Saturday (about emotions in people and dogs) and a half day version of Both Ends of the Leash (focusing on how OUR behavior influences that of our dogs). Both seminars are fulfilling to do, I love doing them both. Spending a day on emotions—the basis of our bond with dogs if you think about it—is always wonderful for me. Every time I give the seminar I learn something new, and every time I end the day overwhelmed at the miracle of our relationship with a entirely different species. Think about it: two very different species with individuals who will risk their life for a member of the other species. That’s amazing, truly amazing.
On Sunday we’ll become field ethologists observing the always interesting behavior of people and dogs, focusing on communication. What signal does your dog respond to when you say “sit?” It well might not be the word… do you move your head? move your arms? Does your dog even notice the word, if he’s busy watching your body? And when you do talk, how do you use your voice? Can you use it like a singer, and make your voice model what you want your dog to do or feel? We practice in the seminar (okay, it gets a little noisy when everyone practices at once!) and leave even more conscious of how our voice and our movements are always ‘talking’ to our dogs, whether we know it or not!
I’ve gotta run, but here’s the words that end Saturday’s seminar, after a discussion of why we love dogs so much. It’s a testament to my soul mate dog, Luke, taken from the end of the book, For the Love of a Dog.
There’s a stone I had made for Luke at the top of the hill road, where the pasture opens wide and the setting sun highlights the words carved into its face. “That’ll do, Luke, that’ll do.” The words are said to working dogs all over the world when the chores are done and the flock is settled: “That’ll do dog, come home now, your work is done.” Luke’s work is done too. He took my heart and ran with it, and he’s running still, fast and strong, a piece of my heart bound up with his, forever.
Here’s me and Lassie up the hill, in a beautiful photo taken by Amanda Jones.
Kate says
I’m attending your seminar this weekend and am looking forward to it. I’m glad you travel and do these, because hearing someone talk is just another way to further the messages you put forth in your books. I’m very excited, especially after reading your synopsis here. Hope you get a chance to enjoy the area while you’re down here.
Kelly Ladouceur says
I really wish I could attend your seminars. I’ve read both books several times, and learn something new every time I read them. Have fun, and I look forward to hearing how it went!
Tara McLaughlin says
Thank you for such a wonderful seminar! I came home feeling very uplifted and positive – you just have a delightful ability to teach people and make them feel good about what they’re doing. I brought a past client (who has become a good friend) with me and this was her first dog-training seminar . . . she’s forever spoiled!!
I hope you had a safe trip home. I’ll look forward to hopefully seeing you again in the future when/if you come back to Virginia.
Susan McCullough says
I was at that seminar, and it was fabulous! I live with a challenging Golden Retriever (*very* different from Pippin) and your observations gave me new insight into her behavior and appreciation for her very special personality.
Incidentally, did you know that your article, “Canine Play,” for Animal Sheltering magazine is a finalist for a national award? Email me and I’ll be happy to send you the relevant info.
Laura says
Your seminar was GREAT!! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing and hearing you in person. Thank you for signing my books and taking a picture with me. As a trainer, instructor and animal behavior enthusiast, I have been completely inspired by your work. I also work in a vet office and whenever anybody asks me “is there a book I can get to help me teach my dog/puppy [fill in the blank]?” I point them directly to one of your books. Thank you again for the guidance and inspiration. 🙂
Sabine, VA says
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us. I truly enjoyed the seminar in Woodbridge and hope to attend another one of your seminars in the future.
You posed with my Shiloh Shepherd Tessa and I got a really great picture of the two of you panting in unison. I think it would be a great asset to your “people and dog faces” slide show.
Where can I send it to ?
Greetings from sunny VA !
Sabine
April Frye says
Dr. McConnell – I attended your seminar this weekend in Virginia. I’d like to say that although I’m not a professional dog trainer, I went with the intent of improving my relationship with my dog. I was profoundly touched by the messages you gave, and found your seminar to be extremely informative. I have read “For the love of a dog” and I am looking forward to reading “Other end of the leash”. You are inspiring and such an effective speaker. Thank you for making me feel less ignorant and welcomed by you. You are truly someone I admire and respect. Thank you for the opportunity. And Boxer Bronx thanks you too! (And now I apologize to him for kissing him) Many thanks and best wishes.
trisha says
Thanks so much for your kind comments about the seminar. It was my pleasure, truly. And it looks like I’ll be back in the DC area not once but twice in the next few weeks. I”m going back the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to speak at NIH (not on my website, cuz is only open to NIH employees, but I really should get it on there!) and now to appear on the Diane Rehm Show on public radio. She is a fantastic host, one of the best radio hosts I’ve ever worked with, and a dedicated lover of dogs, so it should be great fun.
Thanks again for your kind comments, and keep kissing those dogs (and keep apologizing…)
Trisha
Sabine from VA says
I love the Diane Rehm show ! She is such an amazing person and despite all the hardship she had to endure she is still going strong. Do you have any idea when/what time the show will be aired ? I wouldn’t want to miss it. (The one, where you are on.) If you feel the need to kiss a dog – I got three and I live close by. :)))
Crystal VanD. says
I spent the morning curled up with The Other End of the Leash. I have two border collie mixes and one purebred, all rescues. The purebred, Sage -age 4-, has many fear issues. Fear of storms, fear of strange people, children, and other dogs (outside of her adopted pack, with whom she was aggressive until the rankings were sorted out) which has driven me to educate myself on canine behavior, conditioning, and calming her with my own body language. She bit my ex-husband whom she had never seen before when he stepped in the house. At the time the other dogs were in a happy frenzy, my teenagers were rushing around trying to get their gear together for the weekend, and I was laughing and making jokes. She went right over the top and gripped his knee leaving deep bruises. (I swear I didn’t pay her to do that.) She’s in her crate now whenever he comes by.
That reminds me of a story about bite inhibition involving my other two dogs. A few months ago, my 70 pound lab/border collie mix, Plato, managed to wrap Juno’s flat nylon collar around his teeth. Juno weighs about 35 pounds. Even though it was a quick release collar it was so twisted by the two struggling dogs that I couldn’t get my hand around to the latch. Plato’s teeth were hard against Juno’s trachea and the collar strangled her to near unconsciousness. Her tongue was dark blue, and her anal glands released. As soon as she collapsed, Plato responded to my command to hold still, and I was able to release the collar. Juno staggered to her feet taking big gulps of air. There was blood everywhere, but it was from Plato’s gums and caused by the collar rubbing against them. Other than a raw area on Juno’s neck where Plato’s teeth scraped back and forth, neither dog had a mark on them. My kids and I had only minor and accidental tooth gashes on our hands from trying to release the collar. I was amazed because both dogs were terrified and in significant pain and distress and they were snarling and carrying on when they couldn’t break free. They were cautious around each other for about 24 hours, but it was business as usual after that. Incidentally, none wears a collar in the house or back yard anymore.
I enjoyed reading the stories about your dogs, and when I realized the book was published a few years ago, I knew some of them would be gone by now. The stories of Luke and Tulip were so alive and immediate that I found myself tearing up as I read about Tulip’s tulips and Luke’s marker. I look forward to reading some of your other writing as well.
Scott says
I tear up every time I read a mention of Luke’s passing. Having been a fan FOREVER: seeing Luke on Animal Planet and reading all the anecdotal stories about him in your books, I often feel I knew him very well.
I am replying to this old post in hopes of finding out where you had his stone made. A friend recently lost the first dog she ever owned as a grown-up. Sadie was a rescued mixed-breed that resembled a Pharaoh Hound (she was probably GSD and some other fun stuff) and started my friend’s love affair with PHs. She was a dedicated friend and mentor to several new generations of PH pups for the last thirteen years. I have offered to purchase the memorial stone to be placed in Sadie’s favorite resting spot under the enormous holly tree in the yard and think something similar to Luke’s would be perfect. Shockingly, I just cannot find anything I like online