Got your attention, didn’t I? But while most people are resolving to lose weight, get fit, save money, quit smoking, and organize their homes, we know that January is Train Your Dog Month. So instead of eating kale chips and lifting weights, why not join the Train Your Dog Month Challenge and lose: 30 pounds […]
The Curse of the Perfect Dog
I know of three Golden Retrievers who live much of their lives in backyards within one block of my house. Why? They’re victims of the Perfect Dog Curse. It’s About the Dog, Not the Breed We all know that some breeds (notably pit bulls and pit mixes) pay a terrible price because people expect bad […]
Dogs Are Stupid; So Are People
Okay, maybe stupid is a little harsh. How about distactible? Or easily confused? The point is, if you want a dog to understand you, talk simply. And if you want a person to understand you, do the same thing. Dog Training Cues Look at any list of the most important behaviors to teach your dog. […]
My Dog Taught Me How To Train Her Not to Jump
I couldn’t figure out how to keep Honey from jumping. Until she showed me. Stop Jumping, You Darn Dog Training every person we knew to turn away from Honey if she jumped on them made her less likely to jump. But it didn’t stop the jumping completely. And besides jumping to greet strangers, Honey also […]
Why Neurotic People Should Not Be Allowed To Have Dogs
It was good to know people were pulling for us. Despite Honey having been abducted by aliens the day of her Canine Good Citizen test, I don’t have any complaints. The test evaluator and her helpers not only loved dogs but cared about people who loved dogs. So why did I feel like crap? Neurotic […]
Why Clicker Trainers Make Me Sad
Those darn people who talk on their cell phones while ignoring their dog at the end of a flexi-leash. The person who insists her dog will listen to her off leash as she yells “Buster, Buster, BUSTER. Get over here.” And how about that guy who yanks his dog away from every interesting smell? On […]
Is Honey a Canine Good Citizen?
The date is set. Honey will be evaluated as a Canine Good Citizen on Sunday, October 21. To pass, we must accomplish the ten CGC test items. Most mornings we take advantage of nearby high-distraction locales (the elementary school, coffee shop, park) to practice loose leash walking, stay, and calm behavior around strangers and their […]
The Curse of Having a “Good” Dog
Since Honey was a puppy, we’ve done regular training in busy, outdoor settings. Dozens of people have stopped to compliment me on what a good dog she is. But having a “good” dog carries a curse. Breedism Rears Its Ugly Head Honey and I were practicing calm behavior near children at the local playground. If […]
Dog Training Fail – A Comedy of Errors
Ignoring Good Advice Do you ever fail to listen to those little voices in your head? Not the voices that say the government is reading your thoughts and you need to protect yourself with an aluminum foil hat (although substitute Google for the government—I don’t think they’re smart enough to pull it off—and they might […]
Don’t Take Bad Dog Training Advice
Of course you would never rub your puppy’s nose in his poop when he has an accident. And what kind of craziness is it to swat a dog for getting into the trash? What about that dog training advice that might be good—for someone else? But it’s perfectly awful for you. And how do you […]