Saturday, Lilly and I hosted a special guest for a dog-friendly restaurant patio lunch and hike. This gave Lilly the chance to practice her many social graces. She did terrific in many “scary” situations, but Lilly did lollygag like you would not believe. It kind of freaked me out.
Since we have no herding news of our own, after a long lapse in lessons due to non-stop work and family demands, today Champion of of My Heart looks at how someone else uses some clicker training in a herding context.
Last summer, Lilly’s entire flat-buckle collar, tags and all, went missing … right off her neck. The dogs wear collars 24/7, so when Lilly came up from the creek bed muddy from nose to armpits with a naked neck, that’s something a girl like me notices.
I bond. I bond with people, pets, places … you name it. It’s a loyalty and monogamy, if you want to use that word, rooted deeply in who I am. I know this about myself, and I understand how it plays out in my life.
Fair warning once again, delicate friends. Even our veterinarian found Lilly’s latest wildlife adventure pretty gross, so proceed with caution. (No worries … I didn’t post photos.)
Oh, it’s Monday alright. I made a few decisions these last 3 days (you know, like spending time with my hubby, pups, and family) that sends me into a new week behind on pretty much everything. Yes, I had some coffee (rare for me), but I thought we’d share a little Lilly-style mojo.
After more than four years blogging about real life with a fearful dog, I’ve learned a lot and made oodles of mistakes. When Caring 4 Creatures, a rescue group based in Atlanta, Georgia, asked me to write a guest post, I summed up several important lessons for anyone who adopts a fearful dog. I hope…
I’ve collected a handful of go-to experts on a variety of topics. Jodi R. R. Smith from Mannersmith is one such guru for all my etiquette soundbite needs. Her newest book includes pet etiquette advice.
Friday, Lilly had a rough day for no particular reason I could find. But, when it came time for her to load up for her third (and we hoped final) spider bite recheck, she threw herself to the ground and had a full-on anxiety attack.
best dog blog, champion of my heart, dog trainingOur crazy-cold spring means finding our pond somewhat frozen many mornings. That’s a real risk. One of our neighbors lost a new Lab puppy, after he fell through ice on their pond. So, I’m super careful to supervise Lilly and Ginko. But, a few weeks ago, Lilly flung her ball at me, and it skidded onto the ice. She went after it.
