Blog
(Mostly Archived)
Why it's hard living with cats, an ACD/WHIPPET, and a BC…
I won't lie to you all and say that I'm a perfect, mistake free, dog-owner. Sometimes I make mistakes... sometimes I leave the pantry door slightly less than latched and I end up coming home to bird seed, or flour, or mini-wheat cereal all over the floor (and...
Be clear, be consistent
When I was teaching, I remember being given advice at the beginning of the year that I should be really strict/clear with the rules to start. That if rules were broken or behavior was not what was expected that I needed to point out the mistakes and set very high...
She's SO well behaved
"Ruby, you need to look at that dog! Look at how good she is being! Why can't you be like her! You should take a lesson!" So says a lady at Petsmart yesterday. She had a young adult Border Collie who was pulling her, lunging forward, circling her wildly, pulling...
Dexter … the naughty side
Things with Dexter have been really great recently. He's improved in his car chasing, house manners, and even some obedience. Today was probably the first day that I've really seen his naughty side--and boy was it entertaining! Though, I suppose the right thing to...
Usurpers of Language–buyer beware
I am, by nature, a very cool-headed, laid back and understanding human being. I have quite a lot of patience--I mean I worked with toddlers, pre-teens, and teens for quite a while! One thing that has begun to make my skin crawl is the marketing of some trainers that...
Recall like a pro…
So, you know what not to do, you know what to do instead; what else should you do to build a really reliable recall? This is not an exhaustive list of recall tips or tricks--there are many fun games and exercises to do with your pup to improve their recall....
A paws in the action
Last night was the first night of my new round of classes and I was WAY more tired than expected when I got home. Both classes have great dogs and great handlers but the first class with dogs is always extra crazy. I didn't plan ahead and as much as I tried to get...
Shayne, COME! It's DIIINNERRR TIME!
Yesterday I talked a bit about what things may be happening to cause a breakdown in your recall. It really is often just a case of humans not thinking about the recall from the dog's perspective. So what can you do as alternatives to the mistakes you may have been...
Shayne COME! It's baaaattthhh time!
There are a lot of ways that we, as handlers, sabotage our ability to have an awesome recall. Although some may seem obvious, many people often don't see the big picture until it is pointed out. The number of "ah hah" moments I see when I talk about why someone's...
Reliable recall…
Okay, so I may not be able to teach a dog how to fly, but I can teach them how to fly back on a recall. This week (or part of it, I haven't yet figured that out) I want to talk about recalls. I find recalling, or lack there of, is one of the biggest complaints of...