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Are Parisian Dogs Better Behaved?

Nicole Wilde | Sat, 09/26/2009 - 00:15

Bonjour! There are so many interesting things to see when walking around Paris, from the art nouveau signs on brasseries and cafes, to the lovely architecture and, annoyingly enough, those amazingly well put together, thin, chic French women. (How do they pull that off with all those baguettes and pastries around? But I digress…)

Although I’ve seen some amazing sites in Paris, one that has really struck me as a dog person is the sheer number of off-leash dogs walking calmly alongside their owners. Now, keep in mind these are Paris streets; narrow sidewalks wind sinuously through the city, as manic drivers fly around blind curves with the assumption that pedestrians have the reflexes to get out of the way fast enough. Yet at least a third of the dogs we’ve seen have been off-leash, from tiny Yorkies to the ubiquitous French bulldogs, all the way up to the many Labs and Goldens.

A Girl and Her Clicker

Laurie C Willia... | Thu, 09/24/2009 - 22:30

It's gone. I have hundreds of them, all different sizes, shapes and colors. Some are loud and some are soft. Some are attached to colorful wrist coils, others to lanyards. Some are plain, some are imprinted with Pup 'N Iron. But this one was special. It had history and was well seasoned. The moment I arrived in LA to tape Greatest American Dog, they came and took away most of our personal effects - laptops, cell phones, cameras, books, magazines, photographs, keys, and any training materials such as books, dvd's, etc. We were allowed to keep our clothes and toiletries, of course, and then, just like Survivor, they let us keep a couple more luxury items. I chose a clicker. This clicker. I'd used it when introducing scent discriminati

Nemo's Great Day

Michelle Douglas | Wed, 09/23/2009 - 14:08

I didn’t think it was possible to introduce Nemo to a new dog. However, the opportunity arose this weekend to see how far our training had come. You see, Nemo is my “problem dog.” He has had a habit of barking and jumping around in a frenzied flurry of anxiety when he meets new people or sees other dogs. I have been slowly making progress, and he had been doing very well with visitors to my home. So when my veterinarian called to ask for my help in placing a dog who had been dropped of by animal control (her time was up), I decided to evaluate Nemo, while checking out this “too-sweet” 6-year-old shar pei girl, who we’ve decided to call Emma.

How Dominance Can Make You Dumb

Eric Goebelbecker | Tue, 09/22/2009 - 19:37

"Words are all we have, really. We have thoughts but thoughts are fluid. then we assign a word to a thought and we're stuck with that word for that thought, so be careful with words." - George Carlin

Generally speaking I don't like quibbling over words. I tend to agree with Dr. Dunbar - stop talking and start training. But staying away from the word "dominance" and its variations when you are a dog trainer is almost as difficult as staying away from the Yankees when you live in the NYC area.

It's so frustrating that it leads me to be, as Tom Cruise would put it, glib. Glib enough that I recently twitted (twittered? tweeted? chirped? belched?) "Dominance makes you dumb."

First, there's what's on TV. Enough said.

Living With Multiple Dogs 101 – Part 2: Choose Wisely!

Liz Catalano | Tue, 09/22/2009 - 15:44

So you’ve decided to add to your canine family! Congratulations! Now that you have gotten this far, there are even more decisions to be made. You’ll need to choose your next dog very carefully. Hasty decisions can lead to heartbreak for everyone, so take your time. I don’t think you can go wrong with making a thoughtful decision, unless of course you are on a sinking ship!

Hopefully, after reading Part 1 of this series, you are getting the dog, not just as a buddy for your current dog, but also for yourself. So, you will need to consider the needs of your current dog as well as selecting a dog that will meet your needs and expectations.

Dynamics of dog owners...

Jill Marie O Brien | Thu, 09/17/2009 - 19:29

In my dog training life I have the opportunity to meet a variety of dog enthusiasts and pet owners. I have learned to adjust to the varying personalities that one comes across in the dog training world. There is one type of dog owner that still fascinates me… it is the person that selects a breed with a negative reputation in the public mind, not because the dog makes them feel tough, but because the dog is misunderstood and needs an advocate. They become a one person ACLU for their dog.

These folks are so entrenched in their need to have something to advocate for that they can no longer see their dog as the individual they are and become irate at any suggestion that they as the dog’s owner, may need to maintain a high level of training and management for their chosen breed.

“The Wheel—Now Rounder and Faster!”

Nicole Wilde | Thu, 09/17/2009 - 07:58

Sure, you’d snicker if you saw that claim, but what many dog training websites promise amount to the same thing. New, ingenious methods abound! Your manic mutt will stop misbehaving in a matter of days! Thousands have purchased our manual! Don’t miss out on these fabulous secrets only we can impart!

Okay, let’s get real. Just as there’s no diet that’s going to let you shed beaucoup pounds in a short amount of time healthfully—sorry, it still comes down to those nasty small portions, fruits, and veggies—there’s no magical “secret” to dog training. It takes time, patience, and commitment. But that’s not sexy or provocative; so in the spirit of attention-seeking behavior, allow me to share some of the more fabulous secrets:

Self-entertaining Dogs

Eric Goebelbecker | Wed, 09/16/2009 - 19:01

I'm having a pretty lousy week, so none of the sixteen or so (seriously) draft posts I have are going to get done tonight. In the finest tradition of the bloggers I've been reading for years I'm going to recycle some content and then beg for comments. Bare with me though, I think this could be kinda cool.

Consider this video that I posted over on my DSF blog:

First is Foremost

Gillian Ridgeway | Mon, 09/14/2009 - 10:52

Why do so many of us have difficulty with change? Just the thought of change can produce stress and anxiety in the best of us. Think about the last time you changed your job, or your address. While it might have been exciting thinking about it, when the day arrives it is often difficult to cope with the changes it makes to our daily routine. Over time, the new routine becomes the norm until the next change. The act or an instance of making change can put many people in a tailspin.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter (you should be very afraid)

Steve Dale | Mon, 09/14/2009 - 07:08

I am NOT a fan of mandated spay/nueter. Listen, i've worked for hears as hard as anyone to support the notion of spay/neuter. I think is important, and responsible. But the mandates have FAR too many unintented consequences. And as a result doing more harm than good. It's so interesting to me that a major advocate, the Humane Society of the United States backed off their support in California, where a vote for the statewide proposal was taken and FAILED!

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS213273+10-Sep-2009+PRN20090910

So, you're wondering why I don't like the idea of MSN, what the many unitendended consequences are, and new info on health risks to some dogs of ealy spay/neuter which would be mandated by law....

http://www.stevedalepetworld.com/gallery/?g2_itemId=1246