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Wabi-sabi
No, not something you eat with sushi. Wabi-sabi - the Japanese concept of accepting and appreciating transience and imperfection. Admittedly, this is something that's usually spoken about in terms of aesthetics, but I like this. I like it a lot. Why? Because my Chihuahua has just grumbled...
Keep It Simple, Savvy?!
Dog training and behaviour is a fascinating and complex subject, constantly combining both science and ‘art’. A good trainer learns to use both knowledge and instinct, and should be proud of the fact. However, even when presented with the most ingrained and difficult behaviour problems,...
Theory V Practice
Thought for the day – theory versus practice The Theory Behaviours that have been taught have been brought under the owner’s control simply by putting them on cue. What this means is that in the initial stages of training, the handler refrains from putting a command on...
Games Day
How often do you play with your dog? Is it part of your routine together, or something that gets sidelined depending on your mood and motivation after a hard day? Do you prioritise training or physical exercise over games with your dog? Perhaps now’s the...
The worst things you ever taught your dog?
Ever regretted training your dog to perform a specific task or trick? Now, before you say it, I know that in theory the dog should never offer the behaviour once it’s under ‘stimulus control’ unless you ask for it, but real life and theory don’t...
He Just Won’t Do It!
Reasons for your dog not complying with your training are many and varied. Of course, not putting the time in is probably the biggest single human factor, but there are many other reasons apart from disobedience that may mean a dog won’t (or cannot) obey. So,...
It’s not OK
For the last four days, I have been in some inner turmoil. Admittedly it’s not about world peace, and no doubt many people will think that I'm getting my underwear in a twist over nothing… but to me, the way in which we treat dogs...
Stress In Perspective
The credit crunch, global recession, bad news on the TV, too much work, not enough time… we all experience stress, don’t we? As humans, we know all too well what the symptoms can feel like – and how it can make us behave. What causes dogs...
Social ‘Networking’ or ‘Not Working’?
No, this isn't a reference to the fact that when most of us are on Facebook there are a hundred other things we ought to be doing instead… it’s my thoughts on dogs that are frequently and regularly walked in a group…. Social dogs enjoy interacting with other...
The Wonders of The Baby Gate
The baby gate. Does anyone apart from dog owners buy these? Baby gates are wonderful because they allow access, whilst offering a physical barrier to give safety or simply restriction. OK, I appreciate that these contraptions may be slightly annoying for humans because they often require...