Often we hear that dogs love routine.  We are told to feed them at the same time, walk them at a set time, and not vary their routine.  Dogs are really good at learning routines; sometimes they are too good.  How do you find the balance between giving dogs stability and keeping them adaptable?

Today is the SECOND birthday of Good Dogs Abound!  (Does that mean we are fourteen in dog years?) We can't believe how fast the year has gone and we are very excited to enter our third year!

As with any new venture, there are a lot of lessons to learn as the years unfold.  For us, we are still very passionate about enriching the canine-human relationship.  The more we learn, the more we realize that there is a lot of work to be done!  Sadly, a lot of misinformation still exists regarding dogs, but we are happy to report that more and more people are asking for proven answers to their questions about animal behavior.

Good Dogs Abound wishes fathers everywhere a Happy Father's Day.  My father passed away seven and a half years ago.  He was, by far, the most influential person in my life.  I miss him every day.

I learned many valuable lessons from Dad.  He taught mainly by being a good example and living within his values.  From him, I learned to love and respect animals.  I also learned to think through a situation and consider the impact of actions.  I remember him saying, "Before you act, think about all the possible consequences.  If you aren't willing to accept them, don't take the action."

That lesson has served me well over the years, and it is one I called upon recently.  After many months of increasing illegal off leash activity at a nearby park, I decided to take action.  I thought it through, and took a series of steps to help decrease the number of off leash dogs.

If you have researched training options for your dog, you have likely come across trainers who say, "We don't just use one training method.  We choose what is best for the dog."  While this may sound good, it's important to understand what lies beneath that statement.

There can be no argument regarding what is best for the dog.  What is best for the dog means training methods that keep the dog safe, do not introduce fear, and do not increase the potential for adverse fallout behaviors that may result in injury or death to the dog or nearby animals or humans.  What lies beneath the training jargon of "what is best for the dog" is often the subtext of "we will do whatever is necessary to achieve compliance."  This can be a slippery slope with potential for a dangerous outcome.

This week we celebrate National Animal Control Appreciation Week.  We honor the men and women who are dedicated to helping keep our animals safe.  At Good Dogs Abound, we want to recognize Boulder's Animal Care and Control officers.  They are hard working professionals who are truly interested in the safety of the community and our pets.  We want to extend a special thank you to all of the officers who respond quickly and efficiently to calls for assistance.

In the last few weeks, a friend of mine has gone through what all pet owners dread - a serious threat to the life of her dog.  Through circumstances totally unrelated, the vet found a tumor.  After several days of waiting for the surgery, the lovely Labrador fought her way through a very intense period and is on the mend.

My friend said she was anxious to just get back to enjoying every precious moment with her beloved dog.  What a wonderful thought! I wish them both many, many more wonderful years together!

The process of selecting a show puppy and attending a show event can be a confusing experience for the new hobbyist.  When you first step onto the show grounds, you may feel like you have entered a world alien from your own.

Good Dogs Abound is excited to announce the addition of a new topic:  Dog Showing 101!  Karen Hawn, an expert breeder/shower with over 14 years of experience, has agreed to provide articles based on her extensive experience.  We couldn't be more excited!  I met Karen at the Rocky Mountain Cluster Show in February where she was showing her lovely American Eskimo -- and winning!

On our morning walk today, I saw a woman and a dog coming our direction.  The dog saw us and started lunging.  Both the dog and her guardian were obviously stressed.  We moved off the sidewalk to give the dog a comfort zone.  Yukon seemed to sense the stress and became stressed as well.  As the woman walked by, she thanked us for moving away.  I could sense her feelings of anguish, and I took the opportunity to speak with her about options for her dog.