Teaching a Dog to Settle
Settling is not a personality trait some dogs are born with. It is a skill, learned in dull little stages, and it is the most useful thing most dogs will ever be taught.
A life measured in walks
Notes on the ordinary work of living with a dog: the early round, the loose lead, the wet afternoon and the slow business of settling.
Dogs in Cafés and on Busy Streets
A dog can learn to be a good city companion, but not by being thrown into the deep end. The trick is choosing the right pavement, the right table and the right moment to leave.
Grooming at Home, Without the Drama
A dog does not have to enjoy being brushed. It helps enormously if they are not ambushed by it, and if the first sessions take less time than a kettle boil.
Rainy Days and Indoor Enrichment
A wet day does not have to mean a bored dog and a ruined carpet. Most of what a dog needs can be found in the recycling and the back of a cupboard.
Choosing a Dog From a Shelter
The dog who greets you at the kennel door is not always the dog you will live with. A slower, more careful choice gives you both a better chance.
Walking Without the Pull
A tight lead is not disobedience. It is a dog moving at the speed of her own curiosity while the person at the other end has forgotten to be interesting.
The Morning Walk, Before the Day Begins
The first walk is not really exercise. It is a conversation held at pavement level, and it sets the tone for everything that follows.