I’d Like A Dog With Power Steering, Please

 How much training does your dog need? Well, that’s really up to you. Some just want a dog that they can live with, will Sit, and can go for a walk. Others take their dogs lots of places, or live a busy lifestyle that might include multiple people, places and animals. Then there are those who need even more, maybe because they need their dog to do a job, or to hunt or hike off leash or be a therapy dog.

What I want is a dog with “power steering.” That’s a dog that is now so easy to live with, able to go anywhere, and do anything I need them to do. I want to get to a level where living with them is effortless. I remember years ago driving an old 1950’s pickup truck, we called it “Old Red”, that had been painted with red house paint, had worn out seats, worn out brakes, had a 2 speed stick shift and manual steering. Man, that was a fun truck. It wasn’t safe beyond about 50 mph, and even then it wasn’t really that safe. It was OK for a teenager to drive around neighborhoods, but it wasn’t something you’d really want to rely on. Without power steering, it was almost impossible to turn the front wheels without using a lot of muscle unless the vehicle was rolling. My “real” car was a new Honda. It had power steering. Big difference... [MORE] 

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Dog Training Lessons

 There are many approaches to puppy and dog training. Some are very mechanical and impersonal. That’s not how I work or what I recommend. My approach is care based and family centered.

Dog Training And Being The Grey Man

 In the self defense community, there is the concept of being the “grey man”. What is a grey man and how might that apply to you and your dog? Being a grey man is acting and looking in a manner that tends to make you unnoticed. It means to go about in public such that you don’t draw attention to yourself or your dog. How might that be of benefit to you and your dog?

Dog Training To Remove Uncertainty

I am sometimes asked, “how much training does my dog need?” Here’s my answer in a nutshell: as much as it takes for the situations you anticipate your dog will encounter, until you and your dog can do those skills even under stress, to a level of automaticity. Until you’re at that level, then you and your dog need more lessons, or more practice, or both.

Good Dog Handling Is A Craft

 What does it mean to be a good dog handler/ owner? You are someone who is skilled at managing your dog in any environment that you might reasonably find yourself. You have developed a useful craft, you are skilled at managing your own dog...