Gearing Up And Getting Down To Business In 2010

Jamie got married this weekend. Whooooo Hooo! Kelly and I are so happy and we both had the most marvelous time. The wedding was simply wonderful. And so, why am I blogging about this? Well, aside from being happy, happy, happy …  the entire staff of Dog Star Daily was in attendance.  Yes, Kelly and I and of course, our very own VP for Media & Marketing — Jamie. The celebrations lasted for days — from Thursday until Monday and relatives stayed on for days. But now my sister has left for Wales my brother just flew back to England. So, we are utterly exhausted and it is reeeeally difficult to get back to work. But, get back to work we must. We have a two-year US Seminar Tour to plan.

Recently, there have been so many developments in dog training. However, for the past six years, I have almost exclusively been lecturing abroad and have only given a couple of multi-day seminars in the US presenting these issues.  Most important by far, the notion of non-aversive punishment — certainly the secret for response-reliability without fear or pain and without the continued need for training aids, such as, leashes, collars, lures, toys, clicks and treats. Additionally, after reflecting on 40-years of dog training, it has become very clear to me that there are still many basic aspects of husbandry and training that we continue to neglect. And this is holding back dog training. In particular, we continue to seriously waste the opportunities puppyhood.

This year, I still have just a few international trips scheduled to New Zealand, Japan and France (twice). In February, I shall be giving multi-day seminars in New Zealand  and England. I have been invited to Japan for the grand opening of Hotel Woof  (You might notice that I drew the logo — Eat your heart out Jamie!) Also check out my latest Japanese DVD. Coincidentally, the DVD was released on Jamie’s Wedding Day and has already sold 4000 copies! Soon, the DVD will be available in a variety of languages. Also, this year, I shall be giving a K9 GAMES Workshop at the Animalin Camp d'Été in Aurimont near Toulouse. Be there or be square. It’s going to be fun!

But for me, the most exciting prospect this year will be my 10-city US Seminar Tour. I really don’t know why I ever thought that I would give up lecturing. My pathetic attempts at repeatedly retiring from the US seminar circuit were just that — pathetic.  I just love lecturing so much and there are so many new things to talk about. So, I look forward to seeing lots of you at my US Seminars and maybe some of you will be able to attend the seminars and workshops in New Zealand, England and France.