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The Dreaded Tick Check - Part II (or… grooming?)
Using a constructional approach allowed me to identify where the behavior was already occurring, and to transfer stimulus control to new contexts. AND that when I did that, I got a lot more than I had planned for, in a good way. I taught a tick check procedure and a new grooming one was developed. In addition to this lovely new grooming routine, I have expanded my training repertoire beyond the use of some of my go-to strategies in a way that I think has substantially increased the joy in our training interactions (and peace - I mean did you watch those grooming videos?!).

Book Review: “Puppy Brain” by Kerry Nichols
By and large, I loved this book. Nichols masterfully weaved anecdotes with advice and recommendations for puppy rearing. She began with her personal history and transition to becoming a breeder, addressing the ethics of dog breeding and how it fits into a world where there are so many homeless dogs out there in need of a safe place to land. The book included descriptions of a puppy’s developmental milestones from conception through day 56 of their furry lives; how to prepare for bringing a puppy home, and how to promote the development of those happy, healthy, resilient dogs described on the book jacket. I’ll tackle my impressions of each of these sections in turn and highlight areas that, as a dog lover, guardian, and professional, I was delighted and relieved to see included. I’ll also point out areas where my own practice and philosophy differ from the author.

Interview with Erika Fields of Brown Dog Coalition
I (Stephanie) had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Erika Fields from Brown Dog Coalition. Brown Dog Coalition (BDC), as you'll learn below, is an incredible foster-based rescue organization based in Massachusetts. Last year, Ran and I began to partner with BDC to provide free office hours once a month for the organization's foster and adoptive guardians. We just love everything that BDC does and are excited to share more about them with you this week!