Rudy has lived with us for 18 months now, the length of time I hoped would take for his rehabilitation. I don’t really put much credence in the idea of “normal” for humans or dogs, but I guess that was my goal: to help Rudy become “normal”. I don’t think he ever will be quite … Continue reading Rudy the Rottweiler’s Story, Pt. 3
Author: The Dog Guy
Professional Dog Trainer in Bellingham, WA USA
“What is fundamentally beautiful is compassion.” –Lupita Nyong’o
I highly recommend watching the now-viral speech by Lupita Nyong’o given the week before she won her Oscar. In it, she discusses her own self-doubt and loathing, brought on because she did not believe she was beautiful. Her interpretation of her own beauty, or lack thereof, was not just influenced by, it was created by, … Continue reading “What is fundamentally beautiful is compassion.” –Lupita Nyong’o
Rudy the Rottweiler’s Story, pt. 2
Rudy lived at the shelter from July 5th until October 2nd, three months altogether. The staff there did a remarkable job of working with him, comforting him, and getting him used to being touched. The people at the shelter didn’t just let him languish in his run – when time and circumstances allowed, they … Continue reading Rudy the Rottweiler’s Story, pt. 2
Rudy the Rottweiler’s Story, part 1.
Without a plan or a particular goal, I stopped by the shelter one afternoon and asked to meet the big Rottweiler I knew they had there. He had been there for months, and I was curious, not really interested – it was too soon after my dog Iggy had died, and Rottweilers, while certainly wonderful, … Continue reading Rudy the Rottweiler’s Story, part 1.
Eulogy for Iggy Pup
Iggy Pup died today. We found out he had bone cancer in his jaw about three weeks ago, and that it had metastasized into his lungs. We have been hand-feeding him little pieces of roast beef, stewed chicken, hot dogs, apple fritters, mashed potatoes, and cheeseburgers, but he was losing weight rapidly, and yesterday he … Continue reading Eulogy for Iggy Pup
petStop Natural Pet Pantry Yardbird Chicken Training Video
petStop is a local pet shop owned and staffed by animal lovers. They do not sell animals. Not puppies, not kittens, and not ferrets, hamsters, or birds. The people who work there take an interest in the pets people are shopping for, and they are always cheerful and happy to help find the right product … Continue reading petStop Natural Pet Pantry Yardbird Chicken Training Video
Managing our Canine Friends with Crates and Kongs
Management is an important part of dog stewardship. It comes up a lot in puppy class, in particular, but management is an essential topic for dogs of all ages. Two excellent management tools are the crate, and the frozen Kong. Crates, when used constructively and lovingly, are a place of peace and refuge for our … Continue reading Managing our Canine Friends with Crates and Kongs
Bicycling with Dogs: Safety First
http://youtu.be/m43DXF1Vzck Safety is a very important consideration when biking with dogs. While many dogs have the ability to run fast for long periods, it isn't necessarily good for them. A brisk walk is a much more reasonable pace -- just a little faster than is comfortable for most humans; this is my approach to biking -- it … Continue reading Bicycling with Dogs: Safety First
Courage! Teaching Interactive Tricks for Two Dogs.
This trick, as so many do, relies on, for the bottom dog, a reliable stay; and, for the jumping dog, following lures. When we teach our dogs these skills, we prepare them for a countless number of new possibilities. http://youtu.be/Z39ot9QbLc8
Very Excited to be Featured in the AKC CGC Blog Today!
CGC Blog Post featuring Michael and Tails-A-Wagging
The Dog Guy 