Kari Neumeyer

What the “normal” dogs do

While on my walk with Mia last night on the lovely first evening of spring, I started mentally composing a post quite similar to this one. Shoot. Turns out I’ve already written it. But the question remains, what are we supposed to do when we pass another dog on a narrow path? I mean, ifContinue reading “What the “normal” dogs do”

New doggie friends

I am so impressed with the Humane Society of Skagit Valley. Lots of dog lovers like the idea of walking shelter dogs, but never do it because “it’s too depressing.” Well, yes, it is sad to think of all the dogs who don’t have families. It’s sadder to think of them never getting any freshContinue reading “New doggie friends”

WOOF! Management Is the Secret to Success

Welcome to the second WOOF Support Blog Hop. This month’s theme is Success, Frustration, and Everything In Between. Reactive dog trainers talk about “setting your dog up for success.” To me, that means careful management. Generally, I do not consider Leo a fearful dog, but he is extremely leash-reactive. After what we went through withContinue reading “WOOF! Management Is the Secret to Success”

Two shepherds in a hatchback

How to train a dog to do anything (and prevent bites)

I read Ian Dunbar’s Before and After Getting Your Puppy before and after we got Leo. Unfortunately, I had not yet heard about puppy socialization when we got Isis, whose story I tell in Bark and Lunge. That’s why, after reading an advance copy of my book, Ian Dunbar said: Prospective puppy/dog owners can save themselves aContinue reading “How to train a dog to do anything (and prevent bites)”

Modeling with my muses

I apologize that the backdrop is the same as my photo from last week’s shed shaming post. Leo and Mia were acting as my stand-ins for a little photo shoot we did over the weekend. The end goal was a new photo of me, which you can see on the About Me page, but aContinue reading “Modeling with my muses”

Christmas in February

It snowed ALL day yesterday. By the end of the day, we got about six inches, which will probably all be rained away by the time I get home tonight. We shot this video pretty early in the day, when there were only a couple of inches on the ground. We tried to make theContinue reading “Christmas in February”

Shed shaming

I have a phobia about inviting people in my home. Not because these two critters aren’t hospitable, it’s just that there’s no place for a person to sit without getting covered in dog hair. You know those signs, T-shirts, and dish towels that say “No outfit is complete without dog hair”? That pretty much describesContinue reading “Shed shaming”

The Good Dog Park v. The Bad Dog Park

There are lots of reasons not to take your dog to a dog park, and most of these have two legs and spend their time texting when they should be watching their dogs. But sometimes, especially when it’s cold and rainy and your dog barks and lunges when he’s on a leash, you really justContinue reading “The Good Dog Park v. The Bad Dog Park”

WOOF! Working Out Our Fears

Where were all the Fearful Dog support groups when I was struggling with Isis? Did they not exist, or did I not understand until way too late that fear was the root of her problem? Social media was still young then, way back in 2008. I’m part of two great Facebook communities where every day,Continue reading “WOOF! Working Out Our Fears”