Long ago, my mother taught me that if you see something you really want during your travels, buy it. Don’t wait. Because you might not see it again, and then you spend the rest of your trip searching in vain for the clear umbrella with matryoshka dolls on it. Oh, sure you’ll see lots ofContinue reading “Airport security and a missed opportunity”
Category Archives: doggies
I like dogs better than communists anyway
One of the highlights of my last trip to Moscow was seeing Lenin’s embalmed corpse. When I told my guide (a friend of a friend) that I wanted to see it, he scoffed. “That is not the real Moscow,” he said. I’m still wondering what the real Moscow is. This morning, we woke early toContinue reading “I like dogs better than communists anyway”
Home security system
My take on the Dog Whisperer vs. Food Aggressive Dog
I’m not a dog behaviorist. I’m not even a very good trainer of my own dogs, but I’ve read a lot about different methods and over the past six years, I’ve learned a lot about dog behavior and body language. Early on in my education, I watched The Dog Whisperer and tried to follow hisContinue reading “My take on the Dog Whisperer vs. Food Aggressive Dog”
Neighborhood nemesis
I’ve written before about the golden retriever who sometimes sits sentry in front of her house on our block. This house is smack in the middle of the most convenient dog-walking route. To avoid her, we’d have to cut through a community garden and some weeds that this time of year would soak through myContinue reading “Neighborhood nemesis”
Another aggressive dog memoir
When pitching a memoir, authors are advised to name competitive titles. Easy enough to do with a dog memoir; there are so many. I thought Smiley Bird was unique because it’s a love letter to an aggressive dog. Until recently, the most similar memoir I had read was Part Wild: One Woman’s Journey with a CreatureContinue reading “Another aggressive dog memoir”
A prolific writer of dog books
I have a fantasy that after my memoir about Isis is published and hugely successful — or even just a modest success — that I will write Rescuing Mia. Maybe Leo will get his own book. I will write memoirs about every dog I ever have for the rest of my life. I also willContinue reading “A prolific writer of dog books”
Pack of Two: Someone else’s dog book
I’m making the transition to an e-reader, and planned not to buy any hard copies of books for a while. I have so many on my shelf I still need to read, after all. I couldn’t help myself during my most recent visit to Half-Price Books in Seattle, though, because in the dog section, IContinue reading “Pack of Two: Someone else’s dog book”
Leo Pride
Much to my great shame, we have another dog in a reactive dog class. I thought we were past this, but Leo lashes out at bicycles and joggers and other dogs when we’re on walks. I’ve been reassuring myself that he’s not really reactive. Not like Isis. Leo’s problems are leash specific. Of course, thisContinue reading “Leo Pride”
Find strength in what remains behind
Last night, after a very inspirational writers conference, I watched an episode of It’s Me or the Dog that left me rather emotional. Not that the family in question underwent any moving transformation or anything. This crazy woman had rescued four dogs. One was “aggressive” and fought with another. Trainer Victoria Stilwell helped by havingContinue reading “Find strength in what remains behind”
Kari Neumeyer 