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,...
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I first heard this oft-quoted saying from a dear friend and fellow dog lover and trainer and writer, Bill Tarrant. Turns out it was originally written by Sir Walter Scott and goes as follows: “I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied that...
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What you’ll learn in this episode: What are Sonoran Desert Toads? Where are they found and when do you see them? How they can be dangerous to dogs and how quickly a dog can die without intervention What to look for in your dog if you suspect it encountered a Sonoran Desert Toad What...
READ MORE What you’ll learn in this episode: Dogs can be trained to avoid porcupines Differentiating between deadly wildlife encounters for your dog, versus others that are costly and/or annoying but not life-threatening Anticipating possible threats, including traps, and preparing for them makes time with your dog on the trail more enjoyable Deadly dog threats include...
READ MORE What you’ll learn in this episode: The total number of dogs to expect in group training. How long the training will take. Why cooler temperatures are essential to dogs learning the scent of a rattlesnake during training. What you will need to bring to the training. Why you won’t need to schedule an annual...
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“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...
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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 MORE What you’ll learn in this episode: Rattlesnake bites can happen in a fenced backyard. Snake-proofing your backyard isn’t a guarantee you won’t have a rattlesnake in your backyard. Rattlesnake aversion training, properly done, will protect your dogs and by extension, will also protect you. Rattlesnake bites can vary in intensity based on several factors,...
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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...
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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...
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