Trainers often say that they don’t need to know why a problem exists in order to fix it; they simply look at the behavior and address it. I disagree. I find that identifying the underlying source of the problem is critically important, otherwise the trainer is...
Along with Lyra’s adult teeth came a brain. A very nice combination. Her worries disappeared – almost overnight. Everywhere I’ve taken her this week she’s been a rock. With people, she’s even more social than she was as a very small...
Lyra is the wierdest puppy I’ve ever raised. Certainly she is helping me understand what is meant by a “fear period,” because her ups and downs are much more pronounced than what I’ve seen in my other dogs. In a two week span, she’s gone...
Right now, Lyra has about one great session for every three mediocre ones. There seem to be several things going on. For starters, she’s teething. I think that makes her feel a little off. She is also in something of a fear period. I can’t work her in...
Today’s blog post was supposed to be a video illustration on teaching a dog to “out” (let go) of a toy. Lyra had other ideas. She decided that my video assistant, Katie, was a potentially scary person, and playing with me and my silly toys was not as important as...
My son’s school has begun preparations for their their annual holiday pageant. Each year, dozens of smiling children sing a variety of holiday tunes for their adoring parents. Except for my son. He stands, frozen, no movement visible in his lips. Each year I...
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