FIRST, A RULE OF THUMB Out here in the desert heat we’re reaching highs of 110° and it’s not even June yet. There’s a good rule of thumb when thinking about what your dog can withstand, whether it’s in terms of hot or cold. If it’s too hot/cold for you, then it’s too hot/cold for…
Tag: #dogtraining
Are You Responsible for Your Dog’s Etiquette? (Spoiler Alert: Yes!)
I find myself constantly apologizing for my dogs. Tango barks at you? “Sorry”. He growls at your dog? “So sorry!”. He barrels into you out of pure excitement because you said hello to him? Yep…”OMG! I’m SO sorry!” I’m responsible for his behavior. I’m not barking at you. I’m not jumping up on your shoulders…
Learning to Swim
I think it’s safe to say a good many if not most dogs love playing in some form of water: Swimming in it, splashing around in it, rolling in a puddle (especially muddy ones). How many times have I taken Tango and Cash on a walk after the rain and they invariably steer us towards…
Darby: Grief, Gratefulness, and One Last Swim
All dog lovers know dogs are family. They’re our babies. We raise them. We care for their every need. But Darby was never my “baby”. He was on this earth for a different purpose. I found him at a Hollywood, Florida animal hospital when he was 13 weeks old. He looked like a big brown…
What does life look like here after vacation?
While I sometimes wish we could always travel with our fur crew it’s just not possible with three labs. Road trips and dog friendly hotels aside, not every type of travel works with this bunch. I imagine trying to keep Tango in a sit-stay on a plane while he barks non-stop at the person seated…
Dogs, Decorations, and Frankenstein’s Monster
I love/am obsessed with Halloween. The movies, the decorations, the fall season. All of it. In this house it is a full on holiday and we celebrate it the entire month of October. As anyone with pets knows decorations can be problematic. I don’t know how or why, but Tango has never disturbed a single…
That Time Tango Went Bar Hopping
Have you ever taken your dog bar hopping? If not I highly recommend it. Taking Tango pretty much anywhere provides its own set of anxieties for me: Will there be other dogs or animals that he may not like? Maybe several small children he’ll want to tackle. Or my personal favorite, that one person that…
That Time Tango Went Tubing (and it did not go well)
I have a bucket list of sorts for Tango. Exposure to a variety of people and places for a dog with Tango’s reactivity and particular behavior problems is therapeutic for him. It has helped him adjust quickly to any environment. He’s a master adapter. But, having nothing to do with his behavioral issues, Tango is…
Tango’s Story
Sometimes I’m afraid to share Tango’s story. I often feel the need to defend him even when there is no judgement. It’s a preemptive measure on my part. But more often than not his story is received with love, understanding, and support. Tango is a reactive dog. He has fear aggression, food aggression, and other various…
Barking Mad Lab 