Fearful Dogs Logo
Fearful Dogs Logo

Skip the dress rehearsal

By |2012-02-11T18:57:11-05:00February 11th, 2012|Categories: Dog training, Helping fearful dogs|

I am a 'directional dyslexic'. My thinking is that if our culture found knowing which way was north was important enough they would have provided me with remedial classes in school. As it is, that didn't happen and lacking specific instructions, when given a choice of going right or left to get somewhere, will choose the wrong way. It happens to me when I'm driving, ...

Shortcuts to Enlightenment

By |2012-02-06T08:27:27-05:00February 6th, 2012|Categories: Dog training, Helping fearful dogs|

Sorry there aren't any. Thought I'd get that out of the way. When you find yourself living with a dog who has fear based behavior challenges (one way of saying 'fearful dog' for those who eschew labels) it's not unusual to think, hope, believe, that there's something, anything, that is going to turn them into a dog who doesn't have fear based behavior challenges (is ...

Minimum daily requirements

By |2012-01-31T09:53:14-05:00January 31st, 2012|Categories: Dog training, Helping fearful dogs|

When my fearful dog Sunny, or if you are troubled by the labeling of dogs, my dog with extreme fear based behavior challenges Sunny, first came to live with us I had dreams for him. In the summer we'd go to South Pond and people would toss frisbees and balls for him to swim after, we'd take long hikes in the woods with friends, anywhere ...

Begging your pardon

By |2012-01-26T09:01:06-05:00January 26th, 2012|Categories: Dog training, Helping fearful dogs|Tags: , , , , , |

How often do you apologize for your dog's behavior? I am surprised at how often people, pet owners and trainers alike will beg forgiveness for their dog's behavior. We apologize for our dogs when they bark, greet someone enthusiastically or stare at someone's steak and cheese sandwich with unrelenting intensity. I am not taking a stand for allowing rude behaviors in dogs when they are ...

Dancing is NOT allowed

By |2012-01-17T21:49:58-05:00January 17th, 2012|Categories: Dog training, Helping fearful dogs|

Early in our relationship my husband, an avid tennis player, hoped that I too might learn to enjoy the game. I knew that the chances of that were slim to none, but needed to at least give it a try. My attitude is that if someone really wants to play with me they'd hit the balls to me, rather than try to make me miss ...

Transforming dogs

By |2012-01-10T09:43:23-05:00January 10th, 2012|Categories: Dog training, Helping fearful dogs|

Among the mail order catalogs offering sales on winter apparel and spring seeds was a brochure of workshops being offered at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health located in the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. It's a lovely place and I wouldn't mind spending time there attending workshops, eating wholesome food and having so much body work that I couldn't get off the table. I am ...

Creating well behaved monsters

By |2011-12-26T10:36:30-05:00December 26th, 2011|Categories: Dog training, Helping fearful dogs|

Years ago I suggested my sister let her two min pins off leash as we headed off for a walk in the woods near her home. Ooops, my bad. I'd been walking dogs off leash since I was kid. It never occurred to me that someone's dogs would not just go for a short walkabout on their own, but would not come home at all! ...

Go to Top