Developing an ability to successfully communicate with you is the highest need your dog has. If you are tuned in, your dog’s desire to communicate with you should be palpable. Your dog depends on you and has no alternative to trying to get through to you. It is up to you to help your dog communicate with you. Building your… read more →
It is amazing to me that your dog will happily trot in the rain and mud, but if you bring a hose around or spritz your dog with water, it will object. Most dogs, at least the medium and large varieties have no problem at the beach or jumping in a lake. Unless there has been a bad water experience… read more →
Nobody knows when the domestication of gray wolves began. The contributions of these proto-dogs to human survival is clear though. Their tracking skills helped hunters, while their ability to sense predators alerted the community to nearby dangers. Native Americans even used dogs as pack animals before the introduction of horses. Through selective breeding, special skills like herding and pointing enhanced… read more →
In my book The Heart of Your Dog I have a chapter about housebreaking. I mention that I prefer the crate method. After Chimo was housebroken the crate has remained as a permanent fixture in our house. It is out of the way and kind of hidden. The purpose isn’t to confine her. It’s always left open. It’s there as… read more →