Dog Behavior Update – On Not Asking for Much

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Adverse Vaccine Reaction - Recovery from Meningoencephalomyelitis, Dog Life, Dog Training, Dog Training Update, Dog Whine, Dogs on Drugs | Posted on 18-01-2013

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When Lilly became so dangerously ill nearly a year ago, we abandoned her anxiety meds because of their dampening effect on her now troubled brain. And, we essentially stopped working on dog training issues. These days, I ask her for very little, and the results are these.

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Crappy, Crappy Monday

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Adverse Vaccine Reaction - Recovery from Meningoencephalomyelitis, Dog Life, Dog Whine | Posted on 15-01-2013

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A blaring alarm jolted me out of bed Monday morning. I squeezed our morning dog-care routine into as little time as possible, before putting on many layers to brave the extreme cold. Alas, I ended up cancelling Lilly’s neurology exam. Here is our frustrating tale.

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Dog Behavior Changes, Adverse Vaccine Reaction

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Adverse Vaccine Reaction - Recovery from Meningoencephalomyelitis, Dog Brag, Dog Life, Dog Training, Dog Training Update, Dog Whine, Dogs on Drugs, Hot News | Posted on 12-06-2012

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Deep inside Lilly remains Lilly — despite the brain and nervous system trauma caused by her adverse reaction to a rabies vaccine earlier this year. Her emergency treatment and ongoing treatment for meningoencephalomyelitis / meningoencephalitis, however, required she go off (cold turkey) the meds we gave her for years to treat her fears / anxieties. So, how has that turned out?

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Dog Training Regrets, Not Resolutions

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Life, Dog Training, Dog Training Update, Dog Whine, Dogs on Drugs | Posted on 12-01-2012

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best dog blog, champion of my heart, new year's eve graphicThe whole New Year thing bugs me. I’m not big on resolutions because the truth is that every day could be considered an important threshold — not just December 31. So, this little reflection takes root in one dramatic realization that came with the onset of truly cold temperatures.

Here’s how it went down.

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Anxious Dog Update

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Life, Dog Musings, Dog Training, Dog Training Resources, Dog Training Update, Dogs on Drugs | Posted on 06-01-2012

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I could use some help establishing expectations about Lilly’s ongoing struggle with anxiety. Living with a fearful dog can be a day-to-day, minute-by-minute thing, and I’m used to that. However, I’m trying to get a grip on what I can and cannot expect going forward as well as what shifts in dog behavior matter at this point.

Come May, Lilly will be 8 years old. That means we’re 7 1/2 years into her fearful dog reality as a member of our family and a good 5 years since we saw a major shift in her fearful behavior as she reached social maturity (around age 2 – 2 1/2).

In summer 2008, 8ur dog behavior modification work (combined with dog anxiety medications) got underway in earnest (after a couple of years of trying herbal and other scent-based remedies). This includes the Dog Relaxation Protocol MP3 files for which we are now famous for recording and providing FREE downloads.

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Dog Training, Fearful Dogs, and Acceptance

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Back Story, Dog Life, Dog Musings, Dog Training, Dog Training Update, Dogs on Drugs | Posted on 16-12-2011

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After our one and only dog training class in public this year (over Thanksgiving), Amy from GoPetFriendly.com, pet travel made easy, asked an important question: “As long as we can navigate our daily lives without outbursts, I don’t really need to push [Buster's] boundaries. Have I just lost my motivation or gotten lazy? Have you ever felt the same way about Lilly?”

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Dog Training Update: Lilly Goes to 29th Street Mall

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Brag, Dog Life, Dog Training, Dog Training Update, Dogs on Drugs, Hot News, Info-Share | Posted on 02-12-2011

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My silly schedule in 2011 precluded Lilly going to dog training classes with our dog trainer in Boulder, Gigi Moss. Since I took last week “off” for Thanksgiving, we finally had time to attend a level-2, drop-in class. Alas, it was at a busy outdoor mall the day before Thanksgiving. Lilly had a little trouble. These photos tell the story of her comfort and her worry.

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Does Your Dog Love Dog Training This Much?

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Brag for a Friend, Dog Life, Dog Musings, Dog Photo, Dog Training, Dog Training Resources, Dog Training Update, Dog Training Video, Dog Trick Video, Dog Video, Dog Video Gallery, Dogs on Drugs, How To, Info-Share | Posted on 01-12-2011

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Taking a week “off” is relative, of course, meaning mostly not owing drafts to clients. Other demands of life continue. HOWEVER, Lilly and I ventured to Boulder for dog training class with our dog trainer Gigi Moss … for the first time this year. I’ll tell you how it went tomorrow. Today? A video showing just how much Lilly loves her dog trainer.

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Champion of My Heart Backstory Video – Putting Away Dog Toys

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Back Story, Dog Brag, Dog Life, Dog Training, Dog Training Update, Dog Training Video, Dog Trick Video, Dog Video, Dog Video Gallery, Dogs on Drugs | Posted on 25-11-2011

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The day after Thanksgiving, when many still have pots and pans soaking, is a good time to share this video of Lilly putting away her dog toys. You’ll notice that she holds them down with her foot. That’s because she often puts her toys away with such enthusiasm that they fly out of the basket. No reward for that, so Lilly learned to make sure they stay put. Therefore, the foot bonus action became part of the dog trick.

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Champion of My Heart Backstory Video – Agility

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Brag, Dog Life, Dog Training, Dog Training Update, Dog Training Video, Dog Trick Video, Dog Video, Dog Video Gallery, Dogs on Drugs | Posted on 22-11-2011

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As a special Thanksgiving week event, we’ll be posting a few of our favorite videos of Lilly, our canine heroine, each day. Whether you’re seeing them for the first time (welcome, new readers) or get the chance to enjoy these reruns, we send our best holiday wishes. Today, Lilly on her home agility course.

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Dog Training Update: Cutting Back on Chlomipramine

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Brag, Dog Life, Dog Supplements, Dog Training, Dog Training Update, Dogs on Drugs, Hot News | Posted on 11-11-2011

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It started out as a necessity. Swamped with deadlines and a work trip on the docket, I didn’t realize Lilly was getting low on her medicine. To stretch it a bit longer, I skipped her evening dose of clomipramine (antidepressant that targets her generalized fears) for a few days. I kept it up, however, even after her prescription refill arrived.

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Top 10 Things I Miss Since Life Got Complicated

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Back Story, Dog Life, Dog Musings, Dog Training, Dog Whine, Entirely Off Topic, Musings | Posted on 10-11-2011

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Starting in spring 2009, life around here got increasingly complicated with medical / health worries and looming grief on several fronts. The changes to my daily reality often feel beyond grim. I wade through life with a conscious bubble of gratitude around me. Yet, while tossing and turning the other night, I compiled a list of things I miss.

best dog blog, champion of my heart, maze graphic

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Keep Kids and Pets Safe This Holiday Season

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Musings | Posted on 20-10-2011

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I’ve been lucky enough to interview Dr. Sophia Yin several times for dog behavior and dog training articles. If you’re looking for detailed, science-based information on dog training and dog behavior, her site is a great place to look … especially if your dog interacts with kids at all … and you want to prevent accidental dog bites.

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Homage to @DoggieZen – Praise Dog

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Life, Dog Photo, Dog Product Review, Dog Training, Hot News | Posted on 20-10-2011

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My apologies in advance to those who might think this sacrilege, but my new fav t-shirt says “Praise Dog.” It goes into the pantheon that includes my “Dog is my co-pilot” t-shirt. I think dogs embody the divine, so maybe it’s OK.

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Newsworthy! Good Dogs of America

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Posted by Roxanne Hawn | Posted in Dog Life, Dog Product Review, Dog Training, Dog Training Resources, Hot News, How To, Info-Share | Posted on 26-09-2011

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So, the question is this: If your dog could earn merit badges for training accomplishments as simple as SIT or DOWN or being housetrained, would you take part?

That’s the idea behind Good Dogs of America. Your dog could indeed earn 19 different dog training merit badges … from a local dog trainer who offers the program as an add-on to their current dog training curriculum.

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