While casting about for something new to teach Lilly, I threw together a quick and easy scent discrimination training session. One word, my friends. HA! What seemed logical to me made ZERO sense to Lilly. But, first, here’s why I thought Lilly might be good at smells. …
Our big-picture trainer (Gigi Moss) often says that true pack-leader dogs seem completely normal. They don’t seem bossy or dominant or whatever term you use. They just appear like well-adjusted, normal dogs. If a dog does seem otherwise, then he or she is likely concerned about “status.” As Gigi likes to joke — It’s similar to people. All the posturing happens in middle management. In other words, most visible actions comes from a wanna-be, not the one with actual control. Lately, I’ve noticed some funny interactions between Ginko and Lilly that might shed light on things.
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We used our one remaining group class (advanced pet dog obedience) from a punch card purchased over the summer for an outing on New Year’s Eve. Typically, we pay $90 for 6 classes, and get one free. So, that comes to $12.86 per class instead of the $15 per class cash rate. To keep our training accounting tidy, I wanted to use up our last class I’d already purchased. Lucky for us that the weather was decent and the location was a spot where Lilly sometimes does well. Plus, the usual Wednesday classes are typically smaller than the Sunday classes …
I’ve added a new category called “Foodie Tangent” since it seems I’m in the mood more and more to give you insights into my food obsessions and cooking methods. Today’s entry is all about holiday breakfasts. Growing up, as I’ve mentioned, in a big Italian family, I learned early that food and holidays go hand in hand. So, for New Year’s Day, I present the holiday frittata that I ate every Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Easter as a kid. …
Longtime readers know I’m not big on New Year’s Resolutions. Yet, 2008, I think will stand as a turning point. You very well may have witnessed the year I gave up the dream of ever truly doing agility with Lilly. I’m not sure, since I tend to be terribly persistent with a cautious optimism, but I do kinda feel like the dream is dead. …
The nice thing about any season other than summer is that it’s pretty safe to take Lilly in the car with me. Sometimes that means popping by Tom’s mom’s house, where Lilly is learning to be a good girl in a new place. I’m even brave enough (for short spans) to let her run around off leash. …
News reports tout the Prevent Injury and Enhance Performance (PEP) warm-up program that researchers tested on women soccer players. This routine, which takes about 20 minutes 3 times per week, greatly reduced ACL injuries in these women athletes. While an agility run with your dog takes less time than a soccer game, I suspect the routine makes sense canine agility handlers too. In fact, it seems quite similar to the Human Agility Training classes that Lori Hansen teaches. Her DVD is available from Clean Run and on Amazon. Lori focuses on running …
I originally wrote this essay for a charity holiday book that never got off the ground. I might be able to sell it somewhere, sometime … if the way-ahead-of-schedule life of holiday pieces ever sinks in. But, for now, I’ll take a break from our usual Friday training updates and do my best to entertain you with my own brand of holiday charm. This essay is based on actual events from a couple years ago. …
I really do NOT mean to be an off-topic Magoo, but I wanted to share these items to give you (my loyal readers) some insight into my career. And, be sure to watch for the Border Collie on the cover of National Lampoon in the music video by Bill Dyszel. The second item explains 5 Myths of Freelancing. It’s written by a writer I “know” through an online community. Her name is Jen Miller. …
Lilly’s wintertime routine includes sacking out on the bed upstairs after dinner. Over the weekend, this is what I found. I give you Lilly Elizabeth, the crowned princess of pillow mountain. God save the border collies. …
