Tree of Life
Home Sweet Home!! Florida was great is so many ways (thank you everyone!), but I have to admit I am sooo happy to be home. Willie and Tootsie are great, Sushi and the sheep too, the snow (finally!) didn’t delay our planes and it is heaven to be back in Wisconsin. I’m planning on 2 blogs next week on 1) the results of our survey in Orlando about the emotional state of the dog in Michelle Wan’s video and 2) what kind of dog is most qualified to do AAA and AAT work. And then there’s so much I want to talk about from Kathy Sdao’s seminar on Sunday on Orlando… And then there’s talking about my BFF from graduate school, Disney World’s Sr Conservation Biologist Anne Savage, who is doing kick ass research/economic enrichment in Columbia as well as other places… so many topics, so little time!
But for now I need to get my paws back on the ground, play with the dogs, and get a bit of rest. I’m a tad tuckered from doing 2 new seminars and a fund raising speech in Naples (accompanied by music from the wedding reception beside us… talking about the human/animal bond with the song YMCA blasting in the background is an interesting experience).
Here, though, is one of my favorite parts of Disney World: The Tree of Life. It’s a constructed “tree” that is 14 stories high and 50 feet wide, with animals sculpted into the bark. This is the whole tree:
And here’s a close up of just a part of it: how many animals can you find in the bark? (Okay, I know, it’s sort of goofy, but Jim and I had a ball trying to find them all.) And I’d love to hear from others about their favorite parts of the Animal Kingdom park at Disney World. I have a few… I’ll tell you about them next week, but I’d love to hear yours!
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About the Author
Patricia B. McConnell, PhD, CAAB Emeritus is an applied animal behaviorist who has been working with, studying, and writing about dogs for over twenty-five years. She encourages your participation, believing that your voice adds greatly to its value. She enjoys reading every comment, and adds her own responses when she can.
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Patricia is known the world over for her clear and engaging books and DVDs on dog training and canine behavior problems. You can also “meet” Patricia in person on her seminar DVDs, from The Art & Science of Canine Behavior to Treating Dog-Dog Reactivity.
I’m not a big Disneyland/Disneyworld fan, but that tree is magnificent! I really appreciate how they kept the texture of the bark and bare wood and incorporated the animals into it.
I’ll be very interested to read your thoughts on what makes a good therapy dog. I run a program that uses certified therapy dogs, and while they are all good dogs, and I’ve never had a problem I sometimes wonder what the best criteria are to evaluate/test them (less on their temperament, and more if they are enjoying the work).
I envy you your behind the scenes tour at the Animal Kingdom. And I also loved the Tree of Life. It’s an incredible artwork.
And, rather off topic but I want to thank you for all posts and conversations about reactive dogs. Yesterday, Finna and I had just entered the home stretch on our way back from a walk when we heard a child yelling. Turned out she was trying to get her dog back. The reactive dog that lives down the street from us had bolted out the door and and was heading for Finna barking ferociously. Finna, being a reactive little bitch herself, set up her own racket and I was thinking “Oh, Crap!” but then I remembered “throw treats” and I had a handful of treats already in hand so I threw them as hard as I could at the other little bitch (Finna and the other dog are about the same size). Things falling around her startled her enough that she shied back and stopped barking for a little bit then started coming on again as I’m calling to her eat the treats, eat them. Finally she noticed it was food and stopped to have a few bites before coming on more. By now though both dogs have gone from “You are dead meat” threats to “I’m bigger and more important than you” posturing. I seriously considered letting Finna go so they could work it out since the tone of things had lightened so much but we were in the middle of the street, I wasn’t positive they wouldn’t end up fighting, and I wasn’t certain I Finna would come when called (clearly the other dog would not come when called since her people had been fruitlessly calling her while they huffed down the street to collect her). All of which leads me to thank you, thank you, thank you. If it weren’t for what I’ve learned from your books and blog things might not have turned out so well. Other dog went home and Finna and I went back to our house.
I saw this on your facebook page and posted there. My friends and I went to Animal Kingdom Park on Friday before your seminar. I love “It’s Tough To Be A Bug” (in the tree of life), the Nemo musical (especially the sharks’ number), Festival of the Lion King, and of course, I love to watch the gorillas and tigers.
I was actually down in Disney the week before Christmas also (a quick trip with my grown daughter and her friend – we all wanted to see the decorations). Anyway, while we were on the safari a giraffe stopped in the middle of the road and refused to move out of the way of the truck. We stopped the truck and the giraffe came right to the side of the vehicle, stuck her head in, and checked us out. I could have reached out and touched her nose, she was that close. Very cool.
I absolutely loved your seminar and got so much out of it. My dogs are probably feeling a little bit like a zoo exhibit themselves at this point, as I’m following them around observing them incessantly. Thanks so much for coming down south. I live in Charleston, SC – you should consider coming here sometime if you’ve never been. It’s especially beautiful in the Spring, and the restaurants are to die for.
Yeah Kat! Looks to me like you made a whole lot of great decisions. Finna’s a lucky girl.
I’m glad you had a good and busy time ! I missed the blog this week and can’t wait for your posts on the topics you propose. The last time I was at Disney World the African Safari in the Animal Kingdom had just opened.
I’m wondering how Willie is doing around strange men during and after your absence. Any chnages from how he was doing when you left?
Willie loved the sitter’s boyfriend, so it looks like things are going well. Willie is super happy today, we’ve been playing most of the night and it’s such a joy to see him be able to play again!
I was at the seminar in Orlando, too, and got SO much out of your and Kathy Sdao’s seminars (in fact, my head still feels full). I also second what Susan B. said about Charleston – it would be a fabulous place for a seminar. 🙂
My husband and I went to Disney last month. My favorite part of Animal Kingdom was the bird show, not because of the beautiful birds and the great tricks they’d taught them, but because of the trainer’s commentary! She demonstrated how one bird would preform the same behavior for any word that sounded like “four” because it is a cue the bird knows. Then at one point a young bird few out of the arena. The trainer genuinely laughed and commented to the audience that she “obviously needs to use some higher value treats!” My husband, who has learned about dog training from me over the past few years, nudged me and smiled at this, whispering “she sounds like you!”
I really enjoyed the roller coster, Expedition Everst, at Animal Kingdom.
Will your new seminars be available on DVD?
Is the Michelle Wan video posted anywhere online?