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Training crazy dogs from over-the-top to under-control book cover, dogs in action.

Please welcome the revised edition(s)!

    I am very pleased to announce that Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out has a new revised version!

    It has somehow been ten years since the first publication of Fired Up, and the book has gone further than I had ever dreamed. A lot can change in ten years, however–not the basic theory of reinforcing good behavior, and not the concepts for teaching coping skills before they’re needed under duress, no, but other things. Many links to resources were outdated, as organizations reorganized their websites or took materials offline, for example.

    Podcasts about Books & Training!

      Active woman training service dog outdoors, promoting canine training and assistance.

      I had the opportunity to chat with Melinda Schiller on her fantastic Elite Pets Podcast, in two episodes themed around my training books. We had some great questions about training and problem-solving and problem-prevention.

      (Also there’s a bit of news hidden in the Fired Up talk!)

      You can catch each of the episodes online:

      Social, Civil, and Savvy: Training & Socializing Puppies to Become the Best Possible Dogs

      A Little Announcement

        So I’ve been working very hard, and I’ve dropped a few hints, and I’m finally ready to reveal it.

        I have a new training and behavior book coming out soon!

        Better Together is Coming Soon

          Better Together: the Collected Wisdom of Modern Dog Trainers

          Hey, there’s a great new training book hitting the shelves!

          Better Together: The Collected Wisdom of Modern Dog Trainers is a comprehensive collection of both practical and inspirational advice from some of the best trainers in the world. Learn the methods of modern dog training through more than 60 articles from 28 experts, specially selected by world-renowned trainer Ken Ramirez.

          Doberman puppy on trampoline

          Puppy Socialization: the Physical

            I have been a terrible pet parent, and I have not been spamming the blog with puppy photos and puppy stories. I apologize, I’ve been crazy busy, and in the end it’s more important to spend those extra minutes with the puppy rather than writing about her.

            But today I’m going to officially spam about the puppy.

            Meet Undómiel, who is 12 weeks old now and already gi-normous. Her paws are dinner plates. She’s going to be bigger than Laev.

            I went to Denmark to pick her up, so she could fly home in the cabin with me.

            Puppy Toes.

              It’s been mentioned online, but not formally announced here: I’m getting a puppy.

              Yes, there will be the patter of puppy toes, as someone put it! And the chatter of puppy teeth. Lots of puppy teeth.

              This is a Doberman puppy, a near relative of Laevatein and from the same breeder (Ascomannis). I have a preference for black, but I don’t know yet if my puppy will be male or female. No wagering, please.

              Mindy: She’s Back!

                So, this is awkward.

                You may have followed the adventures of Mindy as she prepared to serve as a Guide Dog for the Blind, and her return to the GDB campus in early March. Then I stopped updating, at first because I was waiting for news and then because I had news and I was waiting for an outcome.

                Apparently she was doing well, acing pretty much all the weird stuff they threw at her — all that socialization and practice paid off! — but then there was some sort of weird episode. It was observed and reported by a single volunteer, and not any of the training staff, so without any disrespect intended to the volunteer, I just don’t have all the details I want. But it put Mindy’s career in jeopardy. There are obviously very high standards which must be maintained when placing a dog in literal life-or-death service work.

                Assistance Dog Blog Carnival

                Assistance Dog Blog Carnival deadline extended

                  Hey, everyone! I know it’s busy, between holidays, and I know I’m several blog posts behind myself (I want to share posts with you about ignoring the vacuum cleaner and driving 2600 miles with a puppy),…