Category Archives: doggies

Facing adversity with positive training and string cheese

Leo’s leash-reactivity has been so well controlled that I decided to increase the criteria with a more challenging walk. Just kidding. We accidentally encountered unexpected triggers because we went later than usual. We walk this route a couple of times a week, and it involves passing some sports stadiums. There are often games on theseContinue reading “Facing adversity with positive training and string cheese”

Why my senior dog is starting to hate me

I recently reported about the erosion of trust between me and Mia since I’ve had to give her eye medicine twice a day. She’ll still let me cuddle her in the mornings, but when I get out the tube of ointment, she runs under Rob’s desk, and other times, she’s super evasive when I askContinue reading “Why my senior dog is starting to hate me”

Does this dog have the best job ever?

Remember how you felt when you found out that someone actually gets paid to taste ice cream flavors? Or test video games? That’s how your dogs are going to feel when they find out that some dogs get paid to sniff poop! Meet Crush, a sewage sniffing dog from Environmental Canine Services. She and herContinue reading “Does this dog have the best job ever?”

Girls like flowers

After 14 springs in Washington state, I guess I don’t have to go to the tulip fields every April. Fortunately, Mia and I saw some color in the beds along Mount Vernon’s newish Skagit River Walk. Join the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop! Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view this Linky ToolsContinue reading “Girls like flowers”

Surf’s Up with the Pups

Just kidding. They don’t swim. A better title would have something to do with the dead crabs littering the rocky beach. We are so lucky to live in a place where we can regularly find safe places to play with our pups off leash, both in the snow, and on the beach! (But see Monday’s post aboutContinue reading “Surf’s Up with the Pups”

What happens at the dog park

I try not to write too many posts about the wacky and/or horrifying things that happen at the dog park. I know and trust lots of dog professionals who think off-leash parks are terrible places where bad behavior gets reinforced by clueless dog owners making the wrong choices for their dogs. I agree. But IContinue reading “What happens at the dog park”