What you’ll learn in this episode: Dogs can transform your life and help you through difficult times A dog’s resiliency and ability to adapt is amazing Connecting with your dog can heal both of you How dogs can bring people together in unexpected ways Love and attention are a huge factor in dog training...
READ MOREEP 26: A Sonoran Desert Javelina & Dog Thriller in Oracle, AZ
What you’ll learn in this episode: Dangers posed by wild javelina Keeping yourself and your dog safe How Javelina communicate with their group The story of a particularly dangerous encounter out in the field between a group of javelina and a dog and his owner How having a well-trained dog that comes immediately when...
READ MOREDog Years: Gifts of Old Age in Tucson, AZ
I had a moment of pause the other morning when I went to feed the dogs their breakfast. I rattled the dog kibble in their bowls. It was still early morning and Scout, the female wirehaired pointer, and her yellow lab confederate, Drake, were both Johnny on the spot. Our geriatric male Clumber spaniel,...
READ MOREPoisonous Sonoran Desert Toad Aversion Training for Dogs Upcoming in Tucson, Arizona
In reality, they are really very sweet animals and they don’t intend to harm anyone…but dogs truly need to avoid Sonoran Desert Toads. Dormant throughout most of the year, they emerge from the earth during the rainy monsoon season experienced by those of us living here in the desert Southwest. Typically, the monsoon season...
READ MORECanine Tax Entitlements and Making them Work for You in Tucson, AZ
“Nice leather sofa you got there…would be a shame if something happened to it.” Their eyes carry the intensity of a protection racket courier picking up the weekly envelope of cash. We have rituals at our house. The day starts with the making of the oatmeal, which includes adding blueberries to the mix. Frozen...
READ MOREQuality Rattlesnake Aversion Training is NOT on the Fast Food Menu in Phoenix, AZ
There are practical things to consider when scheduling a rattlesnake aversion training session. A common question I hear is, “Why does the training take so long?” In our highly scheduled and demanding world in which people have jobs and appointments to get to, scratching this essential dog training session off the list is more...
READ MOREBirds of Pray in a Universe of Hope- Hummingbirds at the Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson, AZ
My mother had a mantra that she would recite during times of collapse. It wasn’t as if she was speaking to anyone, but more of a communication with the universe. In a low voice, she would say, “I have given up hope and now I feel much better.” This always left me confused because...
READ MORETraining your dogs to Scent what they can’t See: Rattlesnake Aversion Training in Arizona and Utah
I open most of my Snake Safe (rattlesnake aversion) classes by telling my folks, “I’m going to tell you something and you won’t believe it until you watch it today. Rattlesnakes are invisible to dogs.” That is a simple declarative statement, yet people don’t really grasp that I mean that literally. A rattlesnake can be on the ground...
READ MOREPerimeter Report from the Big Yellow Dog in Oracle, AZ
Today Morning Perimeter Report Good morning, Big Yellow Dog here reporting for perimeter duty. Both the girl dog and I were ready at dawn, but the humans lingered in their sleeping chamber. I suspect they may have been feigning sleep in an attempt to stall the important work of property patrol. I can not...
READ MOREGus: a Small Dog with Big Dog Energy in Arizona
Many years ago, I joined Toastmaster’s International in order to improve my skills and gain confidence as a speaker and communicator. My very first assignment was to introduce myself to the group at our weekly meeting. As I have always suffered from a broad range of interests, skills and experiences, putting together a cohesive...
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