Breaking News: C.M. Does Something Good for Dogs!

Good news. I just hope all the pups that will be rescued as a result don't end up in his training program.

Why I Hate Retracable Leashes

Most of these things have very thin material for the leash part (see the picture). It fine for walking because it's lightweight yet strong.

However, this leash becomes a hazard when a dog who is on the retractable meets another dog. Basic doggie instinct tells them to sniff each other's.....errr....ass ends to get the information needed to form a social opinion. When dogs do that, they tend to circle each other. When they circle each other and one or both have retractables attached to them, it's a nightmare of a tangled situation. The thinness of the leash makes it really easy for the dogs to get wound up, but very difficult to get the leashes unwound. When dogs get stuck together like this, they begin to get upset, then frightened, then they fight.

Franklin and I have a few doggie friends in the neighborhood and many of them use these types of retracables. I hate that I can't let Franklin sniff & jump & play like he wants to because the tangle will be horrible to undo. He has gotten tangled with one of these in the past and I had to undo his collar in order to extricate him before a fight started.

How about just a nice, normal, wide leash, huh?

Since I Was Here Last...

There's way too much to tell, but some highlights:

-I now teach sections of the class when Lloyd is there, and whole classes when he's off on vacation! I'd say I'm getting close to me 225 hours of required lead teaching for my CPDT.

-I've been to a ton of seminars by such luminaries as Ian Dunbar, Pat Miller and Patricia McConnell - all fabulous. Read their books!

-Franklin is as bratty as ever, but my one-and-only baby boy (the cat is my "Best Boy").

-Please watch & support Animal Planet's POSITIVE trainer, Victoria Stilwell (It's Me or the Dog). It's nice to see a network promoting gentle methods, instead of quakerous and dangerous techniques. You know who you are. (Cesar).

-I've lost a ton of weight due to no longer driving to work.

I'm Baaaaaaack

jj has inspired me to start this thing up again.

Visit jj and many others at The Village Hall to discuss your favorite Brit reality TV shows.