Recently, I had three phone calls within a 10-day period from three different families who were looking for immediate help because their dog bit their infant. All of these people were good parents both to their two-legged and four-legged children. They were devastated and frightened and needed help now. None of these folks were bad […]
Read MoreCategory Archive for: ‘News’
Compassion Fatigue in Dog Trainers 1
Five years ago today I euthanized my dog Pualani. Her story is heartbreaking and complicated and I still think of her, and what I could have done differently, everyday. It has also been a rough week for a couple of my Difficult Dog students and so, a rough week for me as well. Sometimes our […]
Read MoreAll About Cats! 0
Those of you who know me well know that my first love was not actually dogs but cats, and even though I now make my living working with dogs, that’s right, your dog trainer lady is also a bonafide “cat person.” I am currently teaching a six week enrichment class about pets for 2nd – […]
Read MorePlease don’t be one of “those people.” 1
I read this fantastic article last week so, while we are on the subject of rants from a dog professional, I have something I need to get off my chest. I was walking with my dog Rufus this morning through our neighborhood farmer’s market. Lot’s of dogs there, most doing fabulously. Except for these two […]
Read MoreHow Will I Know When To Let Go? 0
Clients and friends often ask me “how will I know when to let my dog go?” Physical aspects we look for to help us make that decision include loss of mobility and cessation of appetite but my answer almost always includes “you will know.” I watched this beautiful short film last night and it hit […]
Read MoreTips For Boarding Your Dog 4
As much as we would like to take our dogs everywhere we go, sometimes we must leave them home. There are a few things I would suggest you take into consideration when boarding your precious pal… For starters, in what type of boarding environment would YOUR dog be most comfortable? Your co-worker may have raved […]
Read MoreDiscipline, Football and Dogs 0
This morning was a good morning but yesterday was pretty bad, for me the dog trainer and the human. I spend a good amount of my working time trying to convince people that they do not need to use punishment or physical force to train their dog. It often feels like an uphill battle. Sometimes […]
Read MoreDon’t Walk Your Dog 1
Wait? What? Isn’t this that pesky trainer-lady who keeps telling us to walk our dog more? Well, you heard me, I don’t want you to walk your dog anymore, I want you to walk with your dog. Over the past few years I have changed some things about how I train and live with my […]
Read MoreWhy I Don’t Want Your Dog on a Prong/Pinch Collar 2
OK – I need to vent. Spring has begun and I find myself (as with the rest of Seattle’s population) thankfully outside. In these neck o’ the woods we have to cram all of the outdoor dog events in a short period of time because the rest of the year is crap. So, it’s that […]
Read MoreK9 Nose Work – Guest blog by Erica Wells, CNWI 1
Four years ago a scrappy little spaniel puppy showed up on the Seattle Animal Shelter foster list. I wasn’t a foster parent, but I was a case manager for foster parents so I got the email. I don’t know what it was about this little pup that made me suddenly want to pick her up […]
Read More