The Dog Blog

I was sitting having brunch with my family last Sunday when my cell rang. On the other end of the line was a producer from ABC’s Good Morning America. She told me excitedly about a hot-off-the-press AP article claiming that microchips were potentially cancer-causing and asked me if I would be prepared to comment on camera. I tried to pass the buck this time because oncology is not my area of expertise, but she insisted. (I don’t think anyone else was available at the weekend). I was to be the token vet.  I agreed to comment if she sent me the AP article and, if possible, the original research articles that led to the contention. She agreed and I had all of 3 hours to get home, read up on the subject, and set up my living room for the arrival of the film crew.

As a dog trainer and canine behavior specialist, I am well aware of how much work it takes to train a dog to reliability on certain behaviors, and the amount of time and effort involved in modifying serious behavior problems. The average dog owner, understandably, is not. It’s easy to see how pet owners could easily be dazzled by a well-crafted television show or in-person demonstration of training prowess without realizing all that goes into that seemingly effortless display.

This blog just might offend some people. As a trainer, I am often not called until whatever issue an owner is having with their dog(s) reaches the point of crisis. I realize that this is often also the case with human therapists, doctors, mechanics and other helping/service professionals. People try to help themselves, live in denial or simply can’t see the problem clearly until they are shown some glaring, undeniable and often terrible evidence that something is wrong. 

I have two simultaneous and conflicting reactions to this. One is that I want to help if I can. I am empathetic, often hopeful and in many situations I can see that the issue is not what the owner thinks it is and is often quite normal. On the other hand, I am sometimes angry and frustrated that something wasn’t done to prevent the problem or that the issue wasn’t addressed earlier when it would have been much easier to resolve.

The game is over. Animalin’s delicious 4th Annual Summer Camp in Aurimont, France came to an end on August 3rd. What is left? A lot. Dogs in my memory, around 60: males, females, big, small, all different but all happy to be here and to be trained. Dogs’ owners, happy to find a place to train their dogs in a different way… and friends, professional dog trainers and competitors happy to meet each other once a year to share their passion: teaching/sharing with others how to build a strong relationship and how to partner with their dog on a daily basis.