One of our early trainers required at least one trick during the final exam for the course. He used it as a matrix, I believe, for handler’s commitment to their dogs. Plus, he joked,
“If you teach your dogs tricks, I KNOW you’ll want to show off. And, if I can get you to train your dog when company is over, then I’ve done my job.” …
The Denver Post Business Section ran a story January 18 about the marketing science of naming new drugs. The idea amused me, so here’s how it works and how it might apply to naming
dogs. …
Recently, my county dog license renewal forms arrived in the mail. Much to my surprise the fees went up — WAY up. I kid you not. It now costs more to license my dogs than it does to
register my car each year. I’m pretty sure my dogs have less of an impact on the county than my car. …
Because I’m juggling about a dozen work deadlines right now, Lilly and I haven’t been training much … just playing. We even bundled up and took a walk or two this week on days that weren’t just miserably cold. She’s been feeling really cooped up, so I owe her some outings. BUT, we’re still working…
Here in Colorado, we’re lucky to host the National Western Stock Show each January. Sunday was the final day of this year’s 2-week event, so we popped down to watch some stock dogs
work. A friend was competing with her dog, and I’d never seen a herding competition. All I have to say is HO-LY COW! …
If Lilly is reluctant to do something, if she believes she’s in trouble, if she’s feeling exponentially submissive, she writhes on the ground. The closer you try to get, the more she
wriggles away. We call it “hover-crafting” because she scoots across the ground as if my magic. Well, it turns out other people call it “worming,” and I’m told it can run in border collie genetic
lines. Hmm. …
Last Sunday as a surprisingly nice day up here in the hills, so Lilly and I packed ourselves up and went to class. Sadly, it was actually kind of chilly in town, and things didn’t go particularly well. Even though Lilly did great at the location last time, the higher-than-usual number of dogs Lilly doesn’t…
I’m not sure how she does it, but Lilly can get her tongue way up my nose or deep in my ear in a flash during any of her many kissing fits. Out of the blue, she feels the need to
express her LOVE for me with a flurry of relentless kissing. I’m kind of a little person, so it’s not like my nose and ears are chasms, but she can still fire her tongue right in there.
Ready? Aim. Bloop! Recently, while watching her intently play with a narrow Kong that I’d stuffed with peanut butter and …
Lilly and I skipped class this week, but I did take her into town last Saturday to run errands with me. Her prize for being such a trooper was a nice walk down, even though it was
pretty chilly. Tom was also out running around and happened to drive by us while we were on our walk. He whipped into the lot where we always park and waited on a bench to surprise Lilly. And, boy,
was she surprised!
…
We may never know the full circumstances that led to Meredith Emerson’s death. She’s the young woman, originally from Colorado, who went missing while hiking alone with her dog (Ella)
in Georgia. What did that creepy man do to gain her confidence? Police have since arrested someone, charged him with her death, and found her body. Ella was found safe some 40-50 miles away from the
wilderness area they were hiking. I assume that a friend of family member will keep her, but I have not heard. HOWEVER, I suspect many of you go on outings alone with your dogs, …
