Dog Training….Unraveled

What kind of dog trainer are you?

Someone asked me this on the phone today while “interviewing” me. I had to reach for an answer because, yes, I can lead you the whole way through with nothing but treats and praise, but since I had only a couple hours earlier sent home a pup that I had spent two weeks introducing the […]

View from the couch and some inspired training advice

I have finally succumbed to this year’s version of the crud. I was so proud of myself for managing to go to school amongst hordes of snotty, coughing, phlegm spewing humans, and not getting sick. But, I spoke just a touch too soon. I’ve been decommissioned since Saturday, and I am unendingly grateful for my […]

Dog trainer or marriage counselor?

The longer I am married, the more grateful I am for my husband. Often, in my work as a dog trainer, somewhere in the course of a private lesson with just about any couple I get asked to “Just tell HIM that, he won’t listen to me anyway” or “See honey, I TOLD you so” […]

Josh and Karma herd sheep!!

Today Josh and Karma had their first herding lesson with the wonderful Robin Penland Elliott out in Jamul. Karma had already done her first instinct test, so this was her first “for real” lesson. How completely awesome to be part of! When we got her out of the car she just tootled along and […]

I don’t mean to be rude…

but if you own a fluffy dog of any sort - please make sure it’s butt is clean. It’s not hard to check. Seriously, how can you have a fluffy white dog in an immaculate home running around with poo chunks just hanging out for everyone to see!??! Baffles me that people either don’t notice […]

The Realities of Rescue

I foster dogs. I foster lots of dogs - labs, pugs, bichons, several creatures of as yet to be determined heritage. For the most part, they are perfectly agreeable dogs who have gotten lost in the system, and through no fault of their own, ended up without humans of their own to tend to them.
I […]

*Urgent*

I, as your dog trainer, am obliged to tell you that the ONLY reason you have to send me an *urgent* voicemail is MAYBE that you won’t be home for our appointment in 20 minutes because your kid just broke his arm and you are headed to Emergency Room, RIGHT NOW! Ok, I’ll give you […]

Teaching recalls with hugs

At dog training this weekend a 5 month old pup decided it was much more important to romp around, poo, and act silly that to actually come back to his mommy. His mom called him, went and got him, and carried him back to training. Held him on his back like a baby and made […]

Fido, Come Back!!

Someone recently asked a question about working with a high energy dog on coming when she is called at the dog park - here is my reply:

There are lots of things you can do with this. My special children all go 100 miles an hour all the time, so I practice, practice, practice. There is […]