Adapted from my original post on Facebook at #SOSResourceWednesday   I collect dog toys. Don't judge me.   It could be worse; some people collect creepy porcelain dolls.   There are times when I feel that my collection is more for my amusement than it is for the dogs’ amusement, but then, the dogs are also for my amusement and they are easily amused by dead leaves, so if I choose to amuse myself by purchasing brightly-colored plastic and rubber contraptions for them, then that is my own business.   Anyway.   When it comes to keeping dogs out of trouble, Kong is king.   It’s the original stuffable, durable chew toy.   Fill it will premade treats, peanut butter, wet or dry dog food, or get a recipe from Kong’s website to keep your dog entertained and out of trouble.   Other brands with similar toys include West Paw , Planet Dog , Bullymake and SodaPup .   Some people – usually clients, occasionally beleaguered friends and relatives – assure me that they have alread

  Click here for video! Nail trims do not have to be a nightmare! This is a demonstration with on-screen breakdown of how I handle my pup’s weekly pedicure.     For further reading: Cooperative Care: Seven Steps to Stress-Free Husbandry by Deborah A. Jones, PhD How Important Is Cutting Your Dog’s Nails Really? with Susan Garrett Millers Forge Nail Clippers

In the Before Times, I wasn’t the sort of person to go to conferences.   Dragon*Con, ClickerExpo, renaissance fairs, and similar conventions are inherently fascinating to my nerdy self, though my fascination was generally outweighed by the cost, crowds, and commute inherent in such events.   Then COIVD-19 struck, and all of those events struggled, floundered, and succumbed, only for a resourceful few to resurrect online.   I am a student of Fenzi Dog Sports Academy (FDSA) and have taken several online classes over the years.   FDSA has historically hosted annual bootcamps for students and instructors to meet up in person with their dogs over the course of several days.   But in 2020, that was not possible.   Similarly, the International Association of Applied Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) was unable to hold their own conference.   Their leaders commiserated to one another, then they brainstormed, then they actually made something workable.   Practically at the last minute, i