A recent study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that pups raised in the home were more confident and less likely to exhibit fear-related aggression than pups raised in kennels. No surprise there to any of us, given all we know about the importance of social interaction and a varied environment in the healthy development of canine cognition, physiology and behavior. Indeed, a study done in 2013, led by McMillan and co-authored by Serpell and Duffy, found that pet store puppies have more behavioral problems than those raised by private breeds, as did a 2011 study on puppies from commercial breeding facilities. (FYI, see Frank McMillan's new edition of his book, Mental Health and Well-Being in Animals, a truly excellent and important work.) Zazie Todd, PhD, who wrote about this Read More

  I recently found the video below of my dear, departed Misty, illustrating a classic canine expression of fear, the "whale eye". In the video she is being circled by a huge Great Dane, both on leash, both set up for me to get a video of facial expressions in dogs. (I should note that both dogs were safe, the session lasted seconds, and Misty shook it off and behaved as if relaxed afterwards. Second note: I still apologized to her afterward. She listened, play bowed and looked for a treat.) I show it here because it's such a great example of what Sue Sternberg labeled years ago as "whale eye," along with what I call "tongue flicks" or "lip licks". ("Whale eye" after an observation made by a friend of an actual whale moving its eyes and not its head to follow the people on a Read More

  Tragically, Jim and I finished up the stuffing (aka "nature's perfect food") last night. Honestly, if I had stuffing in the house all the time I would . . . Well, let's just say I would need a new wardrobe. I'm one of those people who has to watch what they eat to maintain a healthy weight, but I'm also aware that it's not that easy for some people, no matter how hard they try. We know now that it's not just "calories in, calories out". It's when you eat, what kind of bacteria are in your gut, how well you sleep, if you are stressed, and how your metabolism responds to different types of foods. And on and on and on. And now we know that it's not that simple for dogs either. For years we've heard that surely we should all be able to regulate our dog's weight, given that we Read More

Okay, the photo is of a chicken not a turkey, but still, it's a roasted poultry item. I love Thanksgiving. How could I not? The culture has collectively given all of us permission to over indulge and it is the beginning of a chance to slow down, reflect and . . . eat some more. But most of all, I love Thanksgiving because it is a holiday whose very title focuses on what is important: The giving of thanks. It's good for us. I do it every week in my journal, and sometimes, lucky me, I get to do it here. This year, it doesn't feel like enough to just give thanks. I am compelled to turn my thanks into action. I may have my complaints, but I am a very, very lucky person, and I am compelled to do what I can to help others. Here's my list of actions I am committed to taking before the Read More

Oh my. Jim and I just turned 71. Fittingly, Steve Dahlgren, a great photographer specializing in dogs and those who love them, came out to update some of the photos I use for the website and publicity. Like many people, I hate having my own photograph taken, but you really can't keep using photographs that show someone who is barely recognizable now. So, taking a breath, here are some of the photos that Steve got. I should mention that he also did a drone video of Maggie working sheep. I haven't seen that yet, it should be fun. I've shown this one before, but since I consider it the best of the bunch, I just had to lead with it. Maggie and Willie used to play "race horse" every day and it was an important part of her staying in condition. After Willie died, Maggie and I taught each Read More