On Nov. 10, an immeasurably large crowd gathered at the gates of Heaven to meet someone special. There were dogs, horses, cats, goats, birds, snakes, lizards, ponies, sheep and more, animals of many descriptions, all bright eyed, tail wagging, prancing in glorious bodies. There were people too, smiles on their faces, arms open in greeting.  All had their gaze turned on the gates as a bright, shining figure approached.  The murmur rippled through the vast crowd, "Dr. Sharon is here... she's here!!"

For those of us still here on earth, we know that the world has lost a true champion, a bold pioneer, a brave spirit and a gifted healer.  Dr. Sharon Willoughby-Blake DVM died Nov. 10 at her home in Alaska.

Many take for granted that their animals can receive chiropractice care, unaware that this is in no small part Dr. Sharon's legacy shining on for the countless animals and the people who love them. What went unnoticed except by those close enough to her was the long and often frustrating battle Dr. Sharon waged as a veterinarian, as a chiropractic doctor to clear the hurdles of regulation. There is no point in recounting the struggles except to note that her ultimate success was just that: a success, and that it came at a personal price that was clear in her tired, kind eyes when I last saw her in Alaska.

While her fight should be honored and remembered, above all what we should pause to remember are Dr. Sharon's passion for her work, her compassion and gentleness, her sure & knowledgeable hands, her willingness to share her knowledge and her sense of humor. 

Pioneers often go unremarked. Champions of a cause are sometimes taken for granted, their battles waged on fields far from the public view or understanding.  But in the case of Dr. Sharon, there are signs everywhere to remind us of her life's work.  Listen carefully tonight, and perhaps you can hear the wagging tails, the purrs, the contented nickers, the sighs of relief, the chirp of pleasure, or even see a gleam of mischief and well being creeping into the eyes of animals. It is no exaggeration to say that wherever you may be, chances are very good you know or live with animals who have benefitted and continue to benefit from the path blazed by Dr. Sharon Willoughby-Blake, aided by all who fought alongside her, and by all who continue on with the work she began.

The Alaskan sky is magnificent at any time. The stars gleam with fierce brilliance, piercing the dark velvet cloak of infinity.  It shines a bit brighter now... another star has been called home.

Thank you, Dr. Sharon . . .

A recent article in Science News simply blew me away:  for rats who had strokes induced, the simple stimulation of a single whisker proved sufficient to completely prevent the damage in the brain typical of strokes.  The touch of a whisker was done at intervals during the 2 hour window from onset of the stroke. Total "whisker" time? Less than 5 minutes within that 2 hour time frame.

One whisker. A simple touch.

So much prevented.

The implications for human stroke victims are enormous. Treatment that is free. Easily provided. So much potential for good.  

Read more here at Science News.

A potent reminder of how much good we can do with just a fingertip.  Amazing...

Life being the ultimate rollercoaster, it's never dull around here. As noted in the last post, 2010 has been a year where the winds of change are blowing hard.

Here's some of the changes that are in place or scheduled:

• Conclusion of my consultant work for Guiding Eyes for the Blind as of June 1, 2010. It was an amazing 3.5 years, and a tremendous opportunity to learn much and help GEB move their program forward. Results are already showing up, with more to come as new approaches & programs & facilities are put into place.
• Continued development of CARAT - The Clothier Animal Response Assessment Tool. Literally years in the making, in fall 2010 the first dedicated CARAT trainings open to the public are set for Chicago and St. Johnsville NY. In 2011, there will also be CARAT trainings in CA and elsewhere in the US and in Belgium & Italy. This is very exciting, as this powerful & revolutionary tool for assessing behavior has changed forever how you will see animal behavior, and assess the individual dog.
• In-Person Consultations return to my life! Until I stopped my work for GEB, I didn't realize how much energy & time was going into that huge project. Now, I have more time for in-person consultations to help folks sort out everything from structural/gait analysis to behavior problems, training challenges, performance issues, aggression, and relationship building.
• Several new projects planned. More materials - articles, books & video - to come!
  
• Complete website overhaul -- Karen Shanley & team at Imagine That in Saratoga Springs, and Jeanine Dunn of Graphify have combined their considerable talents to create a beautiful website for me. It will feature quite a few of my photos (and no, not *all* are German Shepherds!)
• I'll be working on new books, one of which follows in the path blazed by BONES.
  
• Webinars, podcasts & more in conjunction with the great folks at For Your K9 in Chicago. Stay tuned for details.
• Several European workshops in 2011 (along with Italy this fall)
• BONES will be published in Croatia!
  

It's been a year for the winds of changes to blow hard and long. On every level, the winds are blowing, and I keep trying to trim my sails accordingly. Some days, I don't feel like a particularly skilled sailor, and yet on other days, my metaphorical sails fill with a snap, and I revel in the exhilirating sensations of soaring along propelled by forces outside myself.

A few weeks ago, some straight line winds brought some big physical changes to the farm. When we moved in more than 12 year ago, there was a small willow near an old garage. We were quick to admire the nearly 100 year old maples that shaded the farmhouse, but with some carelessness, thought that perhaps that small oddly placed willow should be removed. For that willow, our ongoing overload of demands and basic tendencies to procrastinate plus our dislike of killing things purely for the "look" of the yard or farm -- well, they all added up to more than a decade in which that little willow became a lovely, grand tree.

This summer, that willow provided both play and shade for the litter of Spider puppies. Hanging from its limbs were various sights and sounds, and even a few tug toys that the puppies enjoyed. More hours than I can count were spent under its limbs, puppies all around me, the cool leafy shelter above us most welcome. In those hours, brought to a fuller awareness of life with fresh eyes - a gift that puppies always bring - I looked with surprise at the new found grandness of what we still referred to as the "little willow." 

No longer little, this was now a splendid willow. I was deeply grateful to this tree for the gentle reminder that time changes everything, and sometimes in the most unexpected and lovely ways. Both John and I found ourselves talking with the tree, admiring it, and speaking with each other about the willow.

On July 15, when those straight line winds hit the farm, half of an elderly maple was ripped away. A beautiful poplar snapped in half. A hickory among the hemlocks uprooted, held upright now only by its evergreen companions. Other trees destroyed or broken badly. But the one tree that made me cry was the willow. It uprooted gracefully. It did not snap or break, but bent away from the earth, towards the house. And yet there was no damage done, just the willow branches resting lightly on the roof and walls.

Just after it all went bad and the power pole and transformed exploded and the wires lay on the lawn, with power gone and pounding rain and dangerous lightning all around, just after that, I walked into the kitchen. I was dazed by the sight of the willow now covering the entire front door, and could not make sense of the odd light in the kitchen. I panicked for a moment, thinking that the weird bluish light was some kind of gas or smoke or fog, but there was no odor, no heat. And then it hit me: I was seeing things in a literally new light, the light that the willow had absorbed all those years, helping to keep our kitchen cool in the summer. Here came the light unimpeded.

The main carcass remains for now on the lawn, a task for a chainsaw and some strong arms. We've saved some cuttings so that we can start again with some "little willows." This time, I promise not to take them for granted. And I am grateful that with the new eyes granted me by the puppies, I was able to really see the big willow in its beauty before the shocking end. I will be looking for what the new light helps me see, even as I mourn the loss necessary for the light to pour through in new ways.

Life is short. Talk to your favorite trees today. And then go hug some people & animals too...

There is something interesting and wonderful that happens when people really make the paradigm shift to seeing the dog, really seeing the dog, and to working with the relationship, autonomy, respect & trust truly uppermost as the guiding principles. First, the dogs respond, and respond well and quickly. Second, the handlers become sensitized to how people interact with dogs -- and they are surprised and dismayed to see that in some situations, the dog is being somewhat left out of the equation by trainers, vets, behaviorists and others.

A new question arises from this: people want to know which book, which DVD, which trainer/school or vet behaviorist will line up with the Relationship Centered Training approach that I use. Having found something that suits them and satisfies them on a deep level, liking what they see in their dogs' eyes, they want more.

I've long thought of Relationship Centered Training as a philosophical framework against which anyone can examine techniques or theories and see if it suits them and their dogs. It is not enough to say "I don't like this" or "I wouldn't do it that way" when evaluating information on training. More is needed. Mere naysaying does not refine a trainer's skills. First, where is the mismatch between their philosophy and yours, and then in philosophy vs. application of that theory? If your own philosophy is not clearly articulated, you will have trouble defining precisely where the mismatch is. Put in writing for yourself what it is you believe and what your philosophy is.? Second, what alternatives in approach, attitude, technique and/or equipment could we bring to the situation to get similar or (hopefully) even better results? Why use or not use x, y or z?

I developed this checklist for thinking through whether a video or book, technique, seminar, philosophy or trainer may or may not align well with your own philosophical framework. These RCT basics form a good part of my own philosophical framework against which I assess other work, ideas, materials, teachings.

1. OBSERVATION SKILLS: importance of reading animals clearly, so that behavior is read accurately, and so that threshholds are accurately defined and thus used effectively.

2. PATIENCE: value of patience not just stated as a theory (i.e, "be patient" as an oft repeated maxim) but actually demonstrated by working on "animal time" where the animal's behavior drives the trainer's choices and actions, not the clock or other external pressures that have nothing at all to do with the animal's needs or ability to process information or emotional state.

3. AUTONOMY: the respect inherent in granting the animal autonomy to the highest degree permitted by the situation.

4. CLEAR THINKING: how critical it is to question the underlying assumptions or opening premise that informs how the problem is framed and thus be able to properly frame a solution. Cognitive errors can set us down the wrong path.

5. CLARITY IN COMMUNICATION: the intended & unintended effects of equipment (also frequently not questioned, such as automatic dispensing of the Gentle Leader or anything other equipment), and including the handlers' use of their own movements, expression, body language and equipment handling.

6. TRAINING OR MANAGEMENT: the distinction (or lack thereof) between management (which merely prevents or limits behavior) vs true training, whereby the animal develops new skills, new behaviors and new understanding. Also of interest is the use of prompted/cued behaviors vs. volitional behaviors. Volitional behavior permits the animal to learn and choose and be responsible for their own behavior; prompted/cued behaviors are handler dependent. Both have value in given situations, but a trainer should recognize management for what it is, and not mistake it for training.

With each training situation, each day, each animal, you are given more chances to refine your philosophy, to test it, to work it out in real life, to gather new information and embrace it or reject it. Knowing how to sort through the information and hold it against your own philsophical framework is helpful.

Our lovely girl Spider is clearly a dog who believes in efficiency. After a pleasant visit to the vet's this morning for x-rays, she came home and decided that today was the day for her first litter. She rested a few hours, and then set to work.

She delivered her first pup, a sable female, at 11:15 AM. Promptly worked her way effortlessly through the next 3 boys (also sables) by 12:33. Took a walk, had a drink, took care of her pups and had a nice nap. Had puppy #5 (sable female) at 3:15, delivered a sable male at 3:26, took a breath, and announced she was done. (The x-rays taken this morning showed 6 clear pups, maybe 1 hidden, but my hands and the dog herself seem to agree that she is indeed done.)

She's as calm and steady as any bitch I've ever seen in a whelping box, reminding me so much of her great-great-grandmother Carson that it is just flat out eerie. You think she had her first litter every day, she's so relaxed and efficient in removing the sacs, cutting the cords (precisely & well), disposing of the placentas and tidying up all around. Cheerfully went for a walk, stretched her legs with a happy bounce in her step and a smile in her eyes, emptied herself, ate some lunch and hopped back into her whelping pen to settle down with her babies.

The Sable Six are a sturdy bunch. The "runt" (ha!) weighs in at nearly 18 ounces, and the biggest boy is close to 21 ounces. Vigorous, vocal (already the singing begins! hums of contentment, complaints, the usual lot of newborn commentary including the inevitable "where the heck did everybody go?") and very welcome.

When life contains murmuring puppies and puppy breath, life is good indeed.

Welcome, little Spiderlings! We've been waiting on you...

Norman Mailer was a well known philanderer. He loved women, or at least loved loving them. He worked his way through five marriages and countless affairs by time he married Norris Church. According to her in her memoir, "A Ticket to the Circus" Mailer actually wished to give fidelity and monogamy a try, wanted to see what intimacy and depth might be possible in a faithful relationship. That lasted about six years before he had an affair. But he did try...When people asked Norris which wife she was, she answered, "The last one." Which she was. I love that answer.

What on earth does Norman Mailer and his lifelong series of affairs and his last wife Norris Church Mailer have to do with dog training? It's about behavior and expectations.

Who knows (or particularly cares) why Mailer lived his life as he did. Sufficient to note that he could be a poster child for past behavior being the best predictor of future behavior. Or, put more colloquially and offering a far more lovely visual, "a leopard cannot change its spots." Whether you prefer the OC lingo or the folk wisdom, both are true --- but also inaccurate. People (and animals) can and do change.

Not easily, perhaps not permanently, perhaps pressure causes a reversion (falling off the wagon, if you will), but altering behavior is possible and successful. Within limits. But what are the limits? How far can you push an animal (or anyone) to be something other than what they are? How malleable is "personality"? temperament? How ethical is it for us to decide what is "right" and what needs to be "fixed"?

For me, I'm interested in the animal being as functional and comfortable in their life as they can possibly be. That means minimizing or eliminating sources of fear, anxiety and/or pain/discomfort. That means giving them the skills as well as the limits and the freedom that help them achieve a sense of security in their world. That often means accepting that it's a big world out there, and for many dogs, they'd just as soon not have to deal with most of it -- a small, safe, predictable chunk of life is good for them, thanks.

WIsh I had a dollar for every person I've dealt with who asked me how to help a fearful, anxious, terrified, unsocialized and/or disinterested dog learn to "enjoy themselves more" or "be less afraid at agility trials" or "not shut down at the Rally ring because the judge is in there too" or "love car rides and be able go everywhere with me!" There is a part of me that understands for many people, the message they get from all around them is that really loving a dog means providing this class and that activity and "building confidence!" through this or that and pushing the dog to do more, more, more.

But there is another part of me that wonders in sad amazement, "Why are you doing this to this dog?" I know people who have spent years (no exaggeration - some as much as three to five years) getting a terrified dog to the point where the dog can actually move, breathe and eat in a class setting. Why? I try to imagine taking these people to some activity that terrified and gobsmacked them -- and doing it for years, every week, sometimes several times a week. Spider & Snake Hugging classes, anyone?

Sometimes, allowing an animal a safe, predictable life that is sized to suit his needs is the kindest approach, provided you've given him the skills to cope with that which cannot be avoided -- dealing with being kenneled, restrained, examined/handled by someone other than the main handler(s), treated by a vet.

Wish I had just a nickel for every person I've worked with who had wildly unrealistic expectations for their dogs. The bloodhound handler annoyed by her dog's constant sniffing. The countless retriever owners furious with their young Lab or Golden's insistence on putting everything in their mouth and carrying it around! The herding breed owners upset by their dog's nipping at people's heels, reactions to moving objects, bicycle and jogger chasing behavior. The Greyhound owner who called me in tears because her darling had grabbed and killed a rabbit while on leash walking down a park path. The Sheltie and Collie owners who inform me that they had "no choice" but to debark their barky dogs. The Old English owners who kept their dogs clipped in short coats. The German Shepherd and Dobe and Rottie owners exasperated by their dogs' alarm barking and sometimes suspicious nature towards strangers. And for owners of every stripe with dogs of every color, disbelief and impatience and frustration with dogs who are being, well, dogs.

Norris Church Mailer sums it all up in one lovely & memorable phrase: "I bought a ticket to the circus. I don't know why I was surprised to see elephants."

Some days, I think my work as a trainer is largely that of explaining the circus to the ticket holders. Circus peanuts, anyone?

I don't read a lot of blogs, but the few that I do are ones that offer food for thought. Dr. Alex Lickerman's Happiness in This World blog is one that satisfies deeply, over and over again.

His entry on "How To Be Great" should be required reading for dog trainers (whether practicing, wanna-be, hope to be), or anyone who is in pursuit of excellence.

While you're visiting Dr. Lickerman's blog, be sure to poke around and read many more of his posts. There's a beautiful resonance that hums through all of his writing, a song I look forward to hearing.

My friend Tom O'Dowd is not just a long time friend as well as a wonderful, kind, smart man and a talented videographer. He's also a singular source for cool information from every corner of the 'net. We share a fascination with animals and behavior, and so he's great about passing along to me all kinds of stuff.

Today's Tom-O-grams brought me this: the blog for Dr. Mark Johnson. This blog offers a wealth of information and thinking for those interested in animals, especially canids such as wolves, dogs. His particular expertise & passion are the humane handling of these animals when they must be captured, handled, transported, etc.

Impressed by his words at the Feral Dog blog, I skipped over to see a video of a wolf being humanely restrained using his techniques at Greater Wildlife Resources site.The 14 minute video is worth watching, as the wolf's behavior and expression tells the tale about how humane this approach is when done right. You also get a chance to watch Dr. Johnson in action - a study of clarity, confidence, centeredness, and intent.

From the GWR site, his own words:

I have found there is a huge craving for most professionals to bring heart and compassion into their work, especially as it relates to our connection with animals. This relationship with animals and all of life is a part of our very Being. Yet the wildlife and veterinary professional cultures do not help us address or explore this deep and longstanding connection.

In the field there are many ways to practice and demonstrate care, honor, and respect for each animal by our words, actions, equipment, and techniques. It is imperative that we get away from the 'good old boy' comedy and 'yucking it up' behavior and work with focus and calm and quiet mannerisms. This not only demonstrates a clear choice to be respectful, it reduces veterinary complications.

True respect is not selective and it is essential that we show care, honor, and respect for every colleague and organization as well.

Dr, Johnson is offering a number of courses in the US for animal professionals, teaching his humane approach to dealing with feral dogs, shelter/rescue/hoarding situations, wildlife handling and more. I am making plans to be there for the Massachusetts seminar in late May.

Please -- if you are interested in learning more about bringing respect and clear intent to all situations, however desperate or difficult they may be, I urge you to visit Dr. Johnson's blog and website. You may find a kindred spirit who has much to teach us all. After all, he learned a lot of what he knows from the animals.

This past weekend, I had the privilege of meeting Cindy Hickey while I was teaching in Minnesota. In every seminar, I have a deep conviction that there is at least one dog and one person that I am there to help in some way. Additionally, in each seminar I give, there are blessings and lessons that I take away from the dogs and people I work with and meet.

Cindy Hickey is one of those gifts that the Universe sees fit to bestow upon me. A talented canine sports massage therapist, she is sharp, with eyes that miss very little, see much, and a heart which can only be described as deeply compassionate. As I learned more about her, I became more and more impressed by her as a professional, as a person, and then I learned that through it all, she was carrying a heavy burden: her son Shane is one of the three hikers being held captive in an Iranian prison. 

Show me someone who is steady and clear in the best of times, and I know very little. Show me someone who is clear and steady in the worst of times, and I know a lot about who they are. Cindy has the rare gift of truly being in the moment, whether that's attending to the dog walking past for evaluation or participating in the seminar or working with the media by phone to arrange conferences regarding her son Shane and his friends, Josh and Sarah.

If animals teach us anything, it is that we are all connected. What happens to us happens to all. Though we may retreat fearfully into smaller worlds that ask less of us, the awareness we seek in our relationships with our dogs and other animals and people must also expand into a deep awareness of and connection to the bigger world. We also need to know what it is we can do to help in any situation. That may be saying a prayer as we drive past an accident scene, asking that all involved be guided and guarded, feeling the pain and fear and compassion radiating past the immediate scene and those involved to all who care for them, and in turn, all who care for them, and in turn, the ripples spreading through the world. It may mean picking up the phone and calling your Senator or representative (it doesn't take long, and it does make a difference). It may mean voting with your checkbook to support organizations doing the work every day that you might choose to turn away from, whether that's defending wildlife & wilderness or feeding the homeless or trying to bring order to the chaos of disaster. In whatever way you can, give a bit of yourself, because we are all in this together.

These three young people are in the middle of an uncertain situation. It is delicate, involving a government that is at odds with our own US government. It is a culturally uneasy balance, with perspectives and views not easily aligned from either side. And yet, larger political considerations aside (and they are many), these three - Shane, Josh, Sarah -- remain beloved family members, cherished friends, someone's son, someone's daughter.

I do not know Shane or the others. But I have looked into his mother's eyes, and what I see there has touched me as few people have ever done. Join me in joining Cindy and the other families in keeping prayers pouring towards the prison cells far away, supporting Josh, Shane and Sarah. Visit the website to learn more

Sign a petition - it takes just a minute of your time, and can make a difference. Make a donation. Spread the word. Most of all, pass it on ---- FREE THE HIKERS - www.freethehikers.org