Nicole Wilde, CPDT

Having a new dog has gotten me out to the park mostly every day, rain or shine. This has been a good thing for both of us. I enjoy being outdoors and socializing, and Sierra loves to run, play, and wrestle with the other dogs. Many trainers are not fans of dog parks; I am, as long as they’re well planned and people are vigilant about controlling their dogs. The park we frequent is large and completely enclosed, has a double-gated entry system, dispenser with free poop bags (along with plenty of shovels and garbage cans), and a separate area (also double-gated) for small dogs. What it also has from time to time, unfortunately, are owners who believe their dog-reactive dog will become less so simply by letting him romp with other dogs.

As a dog trainer, I chat with owners on a daily basis. But with the recent addition of a new dog to our family, I’m now in contact with more folks at local parks, pet supply stores, and other places. And everyone’s got stories, advice, and opinions.

A recent standout is the man I spoke with about wolves. Turns out his friend who lives in Oregon has a pure wolf. The friend “has to get down on all fours and bite the wolf on the ear every day, just to remind him who’s boss.” Wow. Sounds like a lot of work, not to mention that it’s pure baloney! As someone who lived with a pure wolf (and two wolfdogs) for ten years, I can tell you that would be the last thing I’d do. My guys knew who was in charge, and that status certainly wasn’t achieved by physically asserting my “dominance.”

      Is Sierra Wilde:

           1. the name of an explorer’s club
           2. the name of an adult film star
           3. Nicole Wilde's new dog

If you guessed c, you’re right! (Well, b might be right too, I couldn’t say for sure.)

Adopting Sierra was a great way to start the new year, and we couldn’t be happier. To read all about our new fur-kid and see more photos, click here!

It’s almost Thanksgiving Day, which kicks off that frenzy of shopping and gift-giving known as the holiday season. While we all like to give thoughtful, heartfelt presents, sometimes even the most well-intentioned gift isn't the best choice. Have you guessed yet what I’m talking about? Yep, it’s the Christmas Puppy.

Regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or another holiday, proceed with caution. Click here for the full blog “Thinking of Gifting Someone with a Christmas Puppy?” http://bit.ly/6jP9yA Feel free to share the information with anyone you think might find it useful, as puppies are one gift we do not want to be returned!

Having had chronic lower back pain for longer than I care to remember, I’ve developed a friendly relationship with my chiropractor. He’s excellent at what he does, and along with adjustments, he dispenses advice aimed at lessening pain through lifestyle changes. One of his tenets is that for each minute spent sitting, one should be spent moving, preferably by walking. While this may be sound advice that produces good results, it’s unrealistic for me; some days I’d have to spend five hours or more walking to balance out my time at the computer. Who has that luxury?

It’s been a year since Mojo passed, and my search for a furry companion has officially begun. Websites like Petfinder.com and Adoptapet.com have brought the world of adoptable dogs to our fingertips, as they allow potential adopters to view a variety of pets in rescue groups and shelters. The vast majority of the listings include photographs, and, where available, a bit more information about the dog.

The 2009 APDT conference has come to a close, and dog trainers everywhere have gone back to their homes and businesses with new techniques to try, along with fond memories of seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

Dog trainers look forward to the annual Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) conference the way many people look forward to Christmas. It’s easy to understand why: there are fascinating presentations given by speakers from all over the world, all in one location over the course of five days. In fact, there are so many interesting choices that the challenging part can be choosing which one of three or four seminars given in the same time block to attend.

As I sit working at the computer, the quiet of our peaceful rural road is broken by the roar of a Harley Davidson. The motorcycle belongs to my neighbor—let’s call him Mike—a large, bearded, tattooed man. Now, this sound could easily irritate me and engender negative thoughts but, in fact, I find it comforting. How, you wonder, could this sound possibly be comforting? Because Mike is the neighbor who, during the near-apocalyptic fires we had not too long ago, came and alerted us to evacuate (the winds were so high we missed the police driving through yelling through a bullhorn). Mike is also the man who appeared like an angel out of nowhere to transport my wolf Phantom in his crate off the fiery road when things had gone awry and we weren’t able to. Oh, and when it was Phantom’s time for that final drive to the vet, Mike is the one who helped my husband to lift him in a makeshift stretcher into the back of my Jeep.

Big Black Dog Syndrome

My husband and I recently attended a local pet fair (read: I dragged him). There were a slew of dogs up for adoption from a variety of local shelters and rescue groups. We walked around for quite a while, my husband asking here and there what my guess was as to a dog’s breed or whether I thought a particular one would be adopted.

When we passed a young, large white Lab mix, my husband asked whether I thought anyone would adopt such a big dog with all those little ones around. I said, “Sure, he’s white.” My husband looked at me as though I was a few kibbles short of a bag, but I wasn't. Just as many people find little dogs more adorable than large ones, there is a definite prevalence of people attracted to light-colored dogs over their darker cousins.