Dogs are wonderfully forgiving. Past wrongs are quickly forgotten; relationships are almost instantly restored. Humans have a great deal to learn from dogs.
Dog Aggression – Fear, Fact, Fiction and How To Cope
If we take precautions to understand our animals and give them what they need to be successful in our lives, we can reduce the chances of them ever acting out in an aggressive fashion.
Pal Jimmy: Six Toes, Endless Love
Up until this point I hadn’t realized what this cat meant to me. He is my companion while I sit at home, lost in the struggle of writing for a meager living. When the world beats me up pretty badly, which it does at times, Jimmy plunks his 14 pounds down on my chest looks me in the eye and lets me know he’s there for me as long as I keep opening the can.
Humanity and the Moral Imperative of Dog Training
The dog has been with us for centuries. But without humans, would the dog exist at all? It’s an interesting question. Having made our canine companions such an integral part of our societies and cultures, do we have a responsibility for their welfare? If so, how far does that responsibility extend?
The Pig Whisperer
As I sat feeding Billy the kid his last bottle of the day, I was reminded of my old friend, Pig. See, Pig was a piglet that one of my friends found wandering out on Interstate 29, so of course she picked him up and took him home. She named him Bacon (she was also very resourceful).
Can Dogs Talk? Conversations with Tiramisu
Eric Brad says dogs do talk to us. The question is: are we listening? Read about Eric’s remarkable relationship with his dog Tiramisu and discover how the methods Eric has learned can improve your communication with the dogs in your life.
Socializing for Success: Raising a Happy, Confident Dog
My wife and I happened to fall in love with a breed of dog that falls outside the mainstream. The Belgian Shepherd (in the United States – Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren and Belgian Malinois) is a herding/guarding breed developed in Europe to move flocks of sheep out to pastures and then spend the day guarding […]
Dancing At High Speed – Dog Agility
The sport of Dog Agility has been an unexpected delight for both my dog and me. In the beginning, it was a reason to teach my dog a number of novel behaviours using Clicker Training and operant conditioning. But my adventures with my dog in this wonderful sport have taught me a great many lessons about kindness, persistence, patience and trust.
How to Bring a Dog Back to Life: Part 2
This is second part of the story of Scruffy, a six-year-old Miniature Australian Shepherd who was rescued from the horrors of life in a puppy mill. It’s also the story of Gillian, the incredible woman who turned to modern dog training techniques and behavioural science to rehabilitate and bring this wonderful dog back to life. […]
How to Bring a Dog Back to Life: Part 1
This is Part I of the moving story of Scruffy, a miniature Australian Sheperd rescued from a puppy mill in Lind, Washington, and brought back to life by a very kind woman and plenty of love.