This blog is a tribute to Belle, and all the dogs who have come before and after. They are my friends, my companions, my teachers and my students. They bring me both joy and heartache, laughter and tears. There is nothing as sweet as the smell of puppy breathe, and nothing as sad as the final goodbye.


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Doggie Manners

Happens to me often, I'm out working a nervous dog and an unleashed dog comes barreling over and immediately tries to get into the space of the dog I'm working with. Sometimes an owner can be seen heading in our direction yelling "it's ok, he/she is friendly". Sometimes, there is no owner in sight. In either case, what these owners do not understand is that MY DOG, (my clients' dog), cannot handle the intrusion of their high-energy dog and it is a set-up for a dog fight. Never assume that the strange dog your dog is running to welcomes the encounter!

Friday, January 11, 2013

How Not To Greet A Dog

This can never be posted often enough. Some folks just don't get it.

Friday, January 4, 2013



Plus je vois l'homme,
plus j'aimie mon chien


--- Pascal

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

I just love this...

While this has nothing to do with dogs or training, 
it has everything to do with people, 
and how we choose to live our life. 
And…the more I read it, 
the more it absolutely has to do with dogs. 
Think about it!