Category: Rants
In decades past, a dogs freedom to roam was more widely accepted. Mindset about that has changed, even though some haven’t caught up. These two showed up at my place recently. They weren’t accompanied by any humans; they came in from the west. Friendly, tails wagging, happy for a meal and a drink of water. I didn’t know they had even been on the property until one of the construction workers building our new home asked about them. He told […]
This past weekend, I had the chance to check out the Des Moines Art Festival. It’s a free, three-day event held downtown that showcases visual art, live music, and interactive art activities. It is a popular event with an estimated 200,000 attendees each year, and something I’d wanted to experience for a while. I’m glad I finally made time for it. But one thing ruined it for me: the people who brought their dogs. For the dogs in Des Moines […]
I recently returned from 9-day excursion along the Rhine River. My husband and I had a wonderful time exploring some beautiful cities. But the best part of the adventure was the opportunity to observe the European dog culture I’d often heard about. I appreciate my husband’s tolerance of my dog obsession. He indulged the turning away from historic buildings or interrupting meals to watch dog-owner interactions. 😅 On past vacations, I was equally distracted when observing stray populations in Caribbean […]
“Cutting edge.” “New.” “Innovative.” “Modern.” “Science based.” “Humane.” Force free.” “Balanced.”… The list of attributes dog trainer’s use to describe themselves is overwhelming. Almost as overwhelming as walking through the dog food isle trying to pick the best food for a new puppy. It’s hard to keep pace with which rendition is trending and which has become So yesterday. 🤢 There does seem to be one commonality amongst the influencers today though, and it isn’t a description that is aspired […]
You can see it coming. The child rushing toward you, hand outstretched, a caregiver lagging behind while reminding; “remember to ask”… The gleeful woman broadcasting, “he just wants to say hi”…as she desperately clings to a retractable leash while her pooch digs in, determined to come pounce on your pup. All those feelings that are bubbling up inside of you. If you’re lucky, and have a dog that can tolerate the intrusion, you may only feel a slight annoyance. But […]
Keep them safe when you travel with dogs.
Pet dog trainer, field dog trainer, working k9 handler, service dog trainer, competitive bite sports decoy, competition obedience master. The list of areas of expertise is long. Many areas overlap and intersect – but sometimes important nuances don’t.
The upcoming inauguration of President Elect, Donald Trump, has me thinking about many things, including dogs (I’ll get to that in a moment). For the record, I did not vote for Trump. He doesn’t impress me as possessing the character traits I value in a leader. That said, I’m not one to assert the “Not my president” message. I value our collective history, those who fought to build our country and the rights I often take for granted too much […]
Electronic collars are great tools, but I want to make sure that we all understand that training and successfully solving behavioral issues is a complex process. There are a myriad of tools and techniques that are helpful in providing solutions, but IF there are underlying health issues that are unresolved or other foundational issues, no amount of work and practice is going to make a significant difference. There are so many considerations to take into account when you are trying […]
5 Ways to Mess Up Your Dog Most of the time, dog trainers invest effort trying to teach dog owners what to do to have a well- mannered, well-adjusted companion. But sometimes it is helpful to look at things from another angle so let me share a few thoughts on how you can wreak havoc with your dog’s mental health and have a negative impact on their behavior. These are some of the top ways that you can mess up […]