Jackie and Me

Summer is coming here in the northwest, and that means long, gorgeous days. I'm lucky and blessed to live in an area that isn't too crowded and is within walking distance to the beach. So I took advantage of it and took Jackie with me to watch the sunset and the ferry.

Your Dog Is Your Mirror

In the late 80s, early 90s, Kevin Behan published the book Natural Dog Training. It was a complete and total paradigm shift in the world of dogs, as Kevin's theory was based on the notion that dogs are emotional beings. Almost 20 years later, and Kevin has released a follow up to his seminal work, Your Dog Is Your Mirror. It's a profound and provocative book that explores on a deep level the human dog connection.

Go to the Natural Dog Training website to learn more about it.

http://naturaldogtraining.com/

Heeling

A photo my wife took of me working with Jackie on some heeling.

Hessian Sees a Deer

Are you the emotional center of your dog's universe? How would your dog respond when seeing a deer, a rabbit, a squirrel, or any other prey like being? Would he bolt after it when it takes flight, or would he look to you for resolution.

Watch the linked video to see how Hessian, Kevin Behan's dog, reacts after seeing a deer on the Behan property.

If you are having trouble seeing the video here, click on this link to watch it on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzRqiGrh-nQ&feature=player_embedded

Rebirth of a Terrier

This is how Roxy looks nowadays. She used to be so stressed and anxious all the time. Things aren't perfect for her yet. But the transformation that's occurred has been amazing. Will she ever be a completely calm, relaxed, easy going dog? She's a terrier, so calm and relaxed are relative terms. But when I see how she can just lie around outside in the sun and hang out with me with this look on her face it makes me feel so good knowing how far she's come. Which of course means I've come pretty far too:)

I just wanted to add an update to this post by saying that Roxy is now SO much better about riding in the vehicle with me. She used to be incredibly wound up and anxious, vibrating like crazy. But I recently decided to see how she would do if I took her on a drive with me. And she did AMAZING. No whining....not even once! She just sat down in her seat, and then rode shotgun with me the whole time, even deciding to start sniffing around the truck instead of getting fixated on what was going on outside. We even drove by a dog, which did get her attention, but no whining or barking. In the past this would have sent her into a frenzy of whining, lunging, spinning around, barking, and possibly even biting whoever is closest to her. It's incredible to think that I was out with Roxy, just driving around like normal people do with their dogs every day. It's such a small thing, yet the implications are enormous. So now, not only can she just hang out with me calmly outside, but she can also ride shotgun with me too. And since I love driving around in my truck, that's a good thing:)

Gucci!

This is Gucci, the Cocker Spaniel, and he was available for adoption at the shelter. He is an absolute sweetheart, and would make anyone a perfect companion. Amazing how many dogs like Gucci we get at the shelter.

Happy Saturday

Happy Saturday everybody! From me and my trusty sidekick. :)