Author: Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related. I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

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Useful tool: command log

We’ve all seen people do it. And, let’s be honest … We’ve all done it. Repeat commands, hoping it’ll work. Generally, it just erodes the word’s power. So much so that Patricia McConnell included a section subhead in one of the chapters of her books called something like … “Don’t repeat commands. Don’t repeat commands. Don’t repeat commands.” That still cracks me up. But, it is important to know what words we use with our dogs and what we expect them to mean. Enter the Command Log.

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Musings

On being flawed

The divorce rate and existence of on-again/off-again relationships says a lot about our collective intolerance of flaws in those we try to love. People like to talk about unconditional
love with pets, but I sometimes wonder just how unconditionally we return the favor. …

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Brag for a Friend

More puppy awww factor (with photos)

I got another photo of Dash and Keen’s pups. Here, they are 6 weeks old. All 7 are doing well. …

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Dog Gripe

Since when is everywhere a zoom zone?

Since when is every public place a zoom zone for kids? Not to date myself, but back in my day we played in our neighborhood, and outings to malls, farmer’s markets and the like were
something altogether different. My mom would have never allowed errands to be playtime. Clearly, I notice it more because Lilly reacts to fast-moving objects, but it seems like everywhere we go there
are kids zooming by on skateboards, scooters and those wheelie shoes. It’s enough to put an anxious dog over the edge. …

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Dogs on Drugs

Week Five: Anti-depressant update

Lilly had another nearly perfect week. Does that mean the meds are helping? I’d like to hope so. Here are the details. …

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Dog Gripe

The downside of animal communication

Last week, I posted all the intimate details of Lilly’s work with an animal communicator. And, while I love the idea of knowing what Lilly thinks, what she feels, etc., I also wonder if
it might have a downside. …

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Dogs on Drugs

“She’s lucky to have you.”

People often tell me that Lilly is lucky to have me. They believe that the average dog owner would have given up on her after just a few panic attacks. They also believe (dare I say,
know) that experienced handlers would have rehomed or retired her and began again with another dog. And, at least, one handler teased me this week that perhaps I’m the one in need of drugs (as in,
you crazy lady for still trying to get this nutty dog back to performance status). Maybe they’re all right. …

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Dog Photo

Hey, buddy, are you LOOKING at me?

I often find myself at my desk, working away, until a commotion outside gets my attention. It usually starts with catching a black streak out the window in my peripheral vision. Then,
the noise hits me. Oh, is there barking? Indeed there is. So, I stop what I’m doing and go see what exactly has Lilly’s attention this time. Last week, it was cows. …

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Brag for a Friend

Agility pups in the making (with photos)

I mentioned a few weeks ago the birth of a litter of sheltie pups. They’re being raised by my friend and trainer Joy Bishop, who bred her boy Keen to a sweetie named Dash. I promised
photos, so here they are. All of them already have families, with handlers anxiously awaiting their arrival home. If you are one of them and want to tell us about your pack and your plans for baby,
please feel free to post a comment. …

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Dogs on Drugs

Week Four: Anti-depressant update

I’m trying to keep my hopes up that the meds will help. I’m testing Lilly in different settings to see if she seems any different. Here’s what happened this week.
…

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