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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...
read moreRecall 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....
read moreA 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...
read moreShayne, 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...
read moreShayne 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...
read moreReliable 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...
read moreShameless Self Promotion–for Dexter
Well, it's been almost two weeks since Dex came into my home and I feel like I've finally gotten to know him well enough to write his description, make an adoption video, and post him on various websites as available for adoption. So, I'm going to take a moment and...
read moreOn my bookshelf… or I wish!
I am frequently asked for book suggestions or other resources for further information. There is a growing list of books that are either on my shelves, have been on my shelf (from a library), or are on my "desperate to read, but need money!" list. I figured now is as...
read moreLife skills … are skills for life
Have you ever been in a new situation where you simply didn't know how to act or present yourself and are unfamiliar with the schedule or processes? Do you remember what it was like the first day you went to a new school? Or your first day at a new summer camp? How...
read moreI'm cooler than cars…sometimes
As promised, though admittedly delayed (apparently I forgot to schedule the blog to publish and I didn't notice until now LOL!)... Car chasing is a dangerous and compulsive behavior for Dex. We suspect he may have been on a tie-out and I'd guess one of his main forms...
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