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We writers often find inspiration from unusual places… strangers at the post office, people we know a bit better than that, and so on. When I was writing “Unexpecting,” one of the characters I had a lot of fun with … Read More

As a writer, I’ve always enjoyed writing in the first-person more than third-person. (I bent over to tie my shoe, rather than she bent over to tie her shoe). I find that telling the story from the point of view … Read More

Holiday hoopla… so very joyous. No, seriously! Of course, before now there were all of the Christmas preparation setbacks along the way: One of my cats becoming terribly ill, thus requiring numerous expensive and traumatic vet visits and needing to … Read More

I think it’s safe to say that most of us are quite thankful for many things, and when our turn comes around at the Thanksgiving table, it is likely that we’ll share them aloud: food, clothing, our homes, our family … Read More

1. Clubbing, which begins no earlier than 11 pm, was a lot more fun when I didn’t get up at 6 am every day because my kids’ school days start so early. And when I had friends who wanted to … Read More

I’d really rather not visit my husband’s family in Michigan during winter, I thought to myself. We’ll catch pneumonia! My wheels started spinning as I tried to figure a way to go and visit family, (who we’d like to see … Read More

Between preschool, elementary school, and now middle school, suffice it to say that I have plenty of experience with the need for marble notebooks. More specifically, I am accustomed to the annual deficit of marble notebooks–right when you need them–at … Read More

Women and friendship, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Close-knit girlfriends who are there for you always, through thick and thin, bringing bottles of wine in your time of need? Who you can call at 3am just because … Read More

I wish I were a dog. No, really! If I were a dog, I could lie around and sleep all day, have several meals served to me by doting people who love me, play when I’m in the mood, and… … Read More

We just returned from a five-day vacation at the lake house with anywhere from four and six kids at any given time. I know, I know, I can hear you gasp. Just like my husband and I gasped at the … Read More

Cleaning. Sometimes it seems so pointless. Other times it seems so mandatory. I mean really, for whom are we cleaning, anyway? The kids? Surely they not only don’t care, but would actually prefer if things were left messy, thereby disguising … Read More

I’m a writer. I’m also a mom, a homemaker, and oh yeah… a small business consultant. Having been a writer for more than 15 years now, I’ve tried a variety of daily schedules, none of which seem to be perfect. … Read More

Is it possible to have a successful career and a good family life, both at the same time? That is today’s question, and I’m here to attest that it is. And it isn’t. Both. Obviously, many of us manage to … Read More

As many of you know, I’ve been preparing to teach at the AMTA Educational Conference in Hickory, NC, and yesterday was the day! It was a beautiful day for driving and I was very fortunate to have a close girlfriend … Read More

Should you encourage your dog to bark at repairmen, visitors, or passers-by? People often think that’s good, but it can become a real problem. Read the article to learn why!… Read More

When it comes to our beloved pets, many people don’t like to set too many limits, while even the most strict of pet owners will usually admit that they like to spoil their pet sometimes. Of course, a little spoiling … Read More

Socializing your dog is a very important aspect toward having a well-adjusted, well-behaved pet. Of course, it’s also usually fun to take your dog for walks, to the park, or even for a ride in the car. But even if … Read More

One of the fun parts of getting a pet is picking out a name. I have seen some trends come and go during 15 years as a dog trainer, while others seem to be consistently popular. For example, in the … Read More

Although to many of us, the “rules” are common sense, there are of course people who either don’t realize or choose not to follow the etiquette of dog walking. In order to clear up any potential confusion, I thought I … Read More

Once upon a time, there was a Grandma. She has always loved golden retrievers and has enjoyed their exuberant, loving personalities throughout her lifetime. Unfortunately, Grandma’s latest golden retriever passed away at the age of 14. She loved that dog … Read More

With all the holiday festivities during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, it’s important to remember your pet when you do your holiday shopping. Not only will your dog enjoy a nice new toy or two from Santa on Christmas morning, … Read More

“Ahh… the Christmas tree… a giant stick! And it even has balls hanging on it! It’s the dog toy of my dreams!” This is likely how your puppy or young dog views this central holiday decoration that graces your home. … Read More

It’s the first week of October and as the air begins to cool also comes the reality that there are many holidays coming just around the corner. And holidays mean candy in bowls, food on counters, doors opening, guests arriving, … Read More

After a lifetime of being self-employed, I’ve gotten used to the seasonal fluctuations of owning a business, many of which are completely unforeseeable even after all this time. However, there are some things that are always predictable, and one of … Read More

Halloween can be a fun time of year. With all sorts of fall festivals, costumes, trick-or-treating, and candy, most households, both with and without children, will join in the festivities to some extent. While this can be a fun time … Read More

One of the most misunderstood commands in dog training is the “come” command. For some reason, we humans realize that we have to teach our dogs how to “sit” and “stay,” but somehow we expect them to automatically know what … Read More

One of the most difficult housebreaking problems that can occur with a puppy or adult dog is when they don’t want to “make” in front of you outside. This can be a huge problem for pet owners who walk and … Read More

Chewing is one of the most common problems we come across as dog trainers. In some households, the damage is vast, involving things such as sofas, carpeting, moulding, and more. But in many households, particularly ones with puppies, there is … Read More

When the weather starts getting cold, I often start receiving calls and emails from folks wanting to know how to get their “outside dog” to behave inside. Some people say that they had been doing their dog a favor by … Read More

Getting a puppy is a very exciting time. Perhaps you’ve been waiting for the time to be “right,” or maybe you just fell in love with a puppy at an adopt-a-thon. Either way, once you get the puppy home, the … Read More

Having a baby is one of the most exciting times of life and will involve a big adjustment for everyone in the household, even your pets. Just as you make lots of preparations for your baby to arrive, it is … Read More

Most people who have a dog want to make sure he’s properly trained and well-behaved. Some things that are of top priority include being reliably housebroken (no accidents in the house), and behaving nicely both indoors and out. One of … Read More

Most people who get a young puppy are told not to expose their dog to outdoor areas until vaccines are finished. There are lots of airborne viruses that can be contracted as well as a multitude of worms and illnesses … Read More

With holiday festivities coming to a close and a new year beginning, this is a very common time of year to set new goals and resolve to accomplish them. With cooler temperatures outdoors, no big events on the horizon, and … Read More

Getting a new pet can be an exciting and confusing time for both the humans and the animal/s. While dog training is my specialty, being a trainer has also led to numerous opportunities to work with other pets too, particularly … Read More

Imagine you just finished grilling a beautiful filet mignon steak. You realize that you forgot the steak sauce, so you walk away from the table to go to the refrigerator and get it. Out of the corner of your eye, … Read More

Dog toys are a very important part of owning a dog or puppy. Since dogs enjoy chewing, the purpose of dog toys is to provide your pet with appropriate items to chew so he doesn’t chew other things around your … Read More

When it comes to dog training, there are many aspects that contribute to the success of working with your dog. Things such as supervision, practice, and providing leadership are all necessary in order to obtain your goals. However, another factor … Read More

Getting a new puppy is such an exciting time… and also a big project for humans! Young puppies in particular need to learn every single thing “from scratch,” ranging from housebreaking to obedience to even simple things such as wearing … Read More

“What kind of dog is the easiest to train?” This is one of the most common questions asked of a dog trainer. Most of the time, people are wanting to hear about a certain breed that is more malleable, expecting … Read More