Category Archives: Uncategorized

This author suggests — yes. This UK dog behaviorist presents some steps one can take to help dogs be less anxious over thunderstorms, fireworks and similar loud, seemingly threatening sounds.  Her advice includes playing recorded versions of the sounds at, over time, increasing volume levels while you play/work with the dog.  If you appear unconcerned, you dog may adopt a similar approach.

The author of this blog post argues — often. Set goals for the behavior you want when you begin training.  Be ready to settle for somewhat else than full achievement – that’s the argument presented in this blog post.  I think the author is wrong. The other way of looking at this is to learn to accept and celebrate small successes on the way to the big goal.  The blog fails to recognize that learning is a life-long journey.  The implication here is that training is an event that begins and in this case – ends in less than hoped for behavior.

Like Lewis and Clark, Sheldon finds lots to explore on his West Coast trip. Here — the beach at Lake Coeur d’Alene

In this brief video Sheldon encounters waves for the first time. Sheldon and his Columbia family are spending the summer on the West Coast.   Lots of stops along the way to check out the new sights and smells.  Here in Idaho.

One of the major objectives of our training is teaching your dog to keep on task.  All dogs can sit, down, stand, walk — but it is essential to have them do that when you tell them and have them remain at work even among distractions.  Here members of our drill team take the group photo in Marshall after performing at the Jim the Wonder Dog celebration.  The photo is fun, and it demonstrates time on task — the stay.

Amazon.com has produced a list of most pampered pet cities (those with over 400,000 population) in the United States.  Neither of Missouri’s big cities appear on the top 20 list.  The list is based on the number of pet-related items Amazon sold in 2013 based on a per-capita basis. The story appeared in the Wall Street Journal yesterday.

Keep in shape – herders need it too.
Every athlete knows the importance of off-season practice. Here Moss, Sr., has a practice session with the family rooster. Dog and rooster put on this demonstration for us during our first trip to see the parents of our Border Collins at Sheena Kerr’s farm in Dalguise, Scotland. See for yourself.

It appeared to us as a game in which the rooster and dog both took pleasure. Moss, Senior, and the family rooster in the front yard of their farm home with Sheena Kerr in Dalguise, Scotland

Get your dogs busy.  Here’s a story about the family that won $1 million on the “America’s Got Talent” TV show.  The lesson to draw from it is the importance of giving dogs work to engage them.  They will enjoy it. This story describes the family duo of Richard Olate, 56, son Nicholas, 21, and 10 poodle-mix dogs.

The members of our training group report unexpected service benefits from visits to hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, schools, etc.  Here is a similar story from a resident of Newton, MA.  What are the odds of this kind of encounter?  Our folks will say low – it happens often.  Join us if you’ve been thinking about dog therapy service work.

Those of us who have worked with dogs are well aware that the benefit flows both ways.  Here’s additional evidence – a report of a two-year old training program at a women’s prison in Lowell, MA.

We know the remarkable impact dogs have on the lives of people they encounter. Here is such a story from High Point, NC.  Interestingly, the story is similar to the backstory of how Miste came to live with us from her first home in rural Scotland.