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we're not kids anymore.
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Product Placement
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One Nice Bug Per Day
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Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
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@franklywrite
“The library is a safe place.”
Everyone should read this. Thank Wil Wheaton for saying what I couldn’t and doing it so elegantly. This morning, I gave a keynote at the Southern Kentucky Book Festival. Here are my prepared remarks. Good morning. My name is Wil Wheaton. I am the … “The library is a safe place.”
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When Dog Meets Dog
This post of local interest, but Dog Law is similar in most places. And dog behavior does not change.
I know I’m not suppose to let my dogs off the leash anywhere in the City of Riverview and I’m not supposed to have them on school grounds. The school grounds across the street from my house are special. I played there as a kid with my dogs. I think of it as mine, after all me and my sister discovered it. It’s about 2 square miles total with a marsh and woods adjacent to it adding 2 more square…
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Dogged Curiosity
A short piece responding to the daily question, "What is one word that describes you?
Daily writing promptWhat is one word that describes you?View all responses This is a hard one. I’m a lot things; stubborn, angry, impatient, self-centered, insecure. But I’m also kind, giving, compassionate, dependable, confident in my writing, and smart. I thought about the word eclectic which means deriving ideas, style or taste from a broad range of sources. But that doesn’t cover it. It…
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A Story Twice Told
Responding to prompts like this is great way to showcase your ability to research quickly and spell names correctly.
What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times? I wasn’t going to do this prompt, but it occurred to me it is a great way to practice quick research and getting facts, dates and spelling of names correct. As I got into it, it was fun. Especially watching “Chuckles Bites the Dust,” again. I needed a good laugh. I don’t watch as many movies as I used. But there are few I will watch…
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Diane Kirda's Pool
I wrote this for my practice blog, but it is a good writing lesson. This was the first time I wrote this story, I have referred to it many times, but this was the first I went back and stood in front of my Grandmother. Hearing her, seeing her. The fear, the shame I felt as a kid. Who tells an 8-year old they are disgusting and you can’t look at them. This is the truth you seeking as a writer. In…
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A Whole Lotta White People Just Don't Get it.
Thank you! Read some of the comments on "A White Woman, Racism and a Poodle.
When I pushed publish over a year ago, I had no idea I was starting a process of self-reflection that would prevent me from blogging for more than a year. It was scary to write and publish the story. When it went in a completely different direction than I intended, I did not know how to follow it up. I still don’t. It has been a journey. My up-bringing of “every one is equal, end of story,” is…
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A White Woman, Racism and a Poodle
A White Woman, Racism and a Poodle
I have not told this story before. I worry how it will be received. I don’t know the right language to express it other than my own thoughts and feelings. No offense is intended in anyway to anyone.
Before moving to New York City, I drove every where. I got pulled over 3 times in 15 years; two speeding tickets and an illegal left hand turn.
The first year I was back in Michigan, I got…
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Walk Away--Don't Get Dog Scammed
Puppy scams are on the rise, don't fall for them.
Puppy scams are on the rise. It is so bad that searching for puppies online brings up more scam sites than real ones. And it’s not only sales; adoption and re-homing scams are also on the rise.
It’s understandable. People are home, isolated and seeking companionship. People who have never shopped online are now doing so and may not know how to spot a scam. Unfortunately, the scammers are ready.
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Why I use WordPress
Why I use WordPress
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People say to me all the time, “Why do you pay for a WordPress site when you could do a free blog anywhere?” And I say, “Even the New York Times uses WordPress.”
WordPress a very stable platform. I can access it from my desktop, phone, and iPad. If I need to expand, I can without moving content to a different platform.
Most important, though, is their help features. They offer email…
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Stop people from being scammed.
Speed Racer
Speed Racer and an easy guide to creating character.
Speed Racer banner 1970s
We moved to the new house in 1970, so I must have fell head-over-heels for Speed in 1973-74 when I was seven and in the third grade. That year our local TV station WJBK Channel 50 UHF Detroit began running the cartoon at 3 pm about the time school got out for the summer. (more…)
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My Poodle is a Bully
My Poodle is a Bully
The hard part about having Standard Poodles is people don’t think they are real dogs. They think they are stuffed animals.
All breeds have their PR challenges, but imagine walking down the street and people suddenly run out and hug your dog. Or if they play rough people say, “She’s like a real dog.” People think all Poodles are girls.
Poodles are real dogs.
-All Poodle owners ever
Charmi…
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Peloton Ad is Disgraceful and Warped
Peloton Ad is Disgraceful and Warped
If you’ve not seen it, heres a link to the new Peloton commercial. Or the best I could find since they have re-edited it due to the backlash.
I’m not sure what they were going for with this ad, but this is how I see it.
A husband buys his Yoga instructor wife a Peloton bike for Christmas. Maybe she wanted one, it’s hard to tell,…
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Evolve
The word change has many meanings–make different, stop and start new, what’s left in your pocket. Evolve is a better word for the flow of life because change is often viewed as abrupt. This blog is evolving.
I am a writer. Have been since I was a kid. Writing is an active escape. You can solve any problem on the page. Writing about writing, well, it’s helpful to new writers but does nothing for…
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It’s scary—you let your dogs out, you go to let them in and they are not there. What do you do?
Or you’re out walking and suddenly a firework goes off; your dog takes-off in fear. What do you do?
Prevention
Prevention is worth a pound of cure. The best way to minimize losing your dog is by teaching them you are their safe-haven and source of all fun.
The very first thing you must, must, MUST do is train a solid recall. The best way to do this is NEVER, ever, no matter what, punish your dog in any way for coming to you. No matter what they did or how mad you are, always reward them. From day one, puppy or adult, if your dog comes to you, reward them. Pet them, give them food, whatever you can do in that moment.
Dogs live in the present. They have no idea you are mad at them because they ran way from you 5 minutes ago no matter how many times you explain it to them or how loud you yell. They only know they came to you and got smacked on the nose or their collar pulled or it seemed to agitate you.
Work on recall from day one using fabulous rewards. Use a word other than their name, humans tend to say a dog’s name to often for it to be an effective command. Start by teaching them to sit. Then teach them to stay moving farther away each time. Practice this in 10 minute sessions a few times a day.
You can train weeks old puppies; keep in mind they have short attention spans and need lots of repetition. Teaching at 9 weeks; the puppy learns how to learn, “Oh, that word means I do this and I get a treat.” There are many training systems out there, find one you like and stick with it.
If you adopted an older dog, a great way to bond and develop trust is to take a basic obedience class. I cannot stress enough the importance of this in preventing the loss of a dog. They may still take off at times, but training increases the chance of the them returning on their own by 80% or more.
Walk your dog
This is as important as training your dog and the most important factor in you being the source of all fun. Dogs who escape often do so because they are bored and have excess energy. Walking and playing with your dog drains that excess energy and removes the need to find other outlets for it like escaping the yard.
Teaching your dog to walk properly on a leash makes walking fun for both of you. The more often you walk your dog, the easier it is. If you only walk occasionally, it is much harder. I walk my dogs 2 times a day every day, but I know not every one can do this. Short walks every day are great, three times a week is better than once. Running the dog along a bicycle is a great energy drainer for very energetic dogs. A tired dog is a good dog.
Walking is not just for exercise. Leash walks are mental exercise for your dog; smelling and catching up on neighborhood critter news, is great mental stimulation and can tire a dog faster than a run. Also, it satisfies the dogs urge to smell whats outside of the yard; the dog learns the neighborhood and the neighborhood gets to know your dog.
Very often a dog is found and only weeks later the finder learns the dog lives down the street. It’s also a great way to socialize your dog. Introduce him to any neighbors interested. Knowing the people around you helps if you should lose your dog, find a dog or have a dog issue with a neighbor.
Off the Leash
Find places to walk your dog off-leash. Walking off-leash teaches a dog to be with you without a leash and makes it less likely they will take-off at any opportunity. I drop my leashes all the time, but my dogs don’t run off for two reasons; I don’t panic and they are used to walking with me off-leash.
Yes, you are taking a chance when you walk off-leash, but if you have done your basic training, you should be fine. With puppies there is a period of time where they won’t go far from you. This is the ideal time to teach off-leash ettiequte and recall. Carry treats and very calmly call them to you every so often or call them back if they go to far. It is important you are calm when doing this type training so pick a place your feel comfortable. I like to train mine in a Marsh because it’s surrounded on all sides by water; not every one is comfortable in a Marsh. Find what works for you. Reward, reward, reward.
There are some dogs that can never be walked off-leash, you need to be able to read your dog. The bottom line here is if you are not comfortable, if it’s going to make you anxious, don’t do it.
If your dog runs to far
There may come a time when your dog tests you and runs farther away than they should. It’s hard, but do not chase them. This only encourages them to keep running. They may have done it for fun or because they saw a critter. Your state of worry will communicate there is danger and they need find it by running farther still. You should calmly turn around and walk the other direction calling the dog in a normal, cheerful voice. It would be a good idea to have treats on hand to reward them when they come to you. Yes, there could be cars and all that, but I have never had this not work. You will not catch them by chasing them.
When your dog goes Walkabout
First, do not panic. When you first discover the dog is missing, stay still and listen for other dogs in the neighborhood barking. Follow the barking. This is the best way to find a dog. If you are not sure how long the dog has been gone, still try this but listen further away. Walk the neighborhood and listen. The one time I did have a dog wander out of my yard, this is how a found him. I got on my bike and followed the barking dogs. There was Barney a few streets away running the fence with a barking dog.
Next, if you walk your dog and have a route you often take, walk that route. You are likely to find the dog somewhere along it. Make sure there is some one at home incase the dog returns on his own. I’ve only had two dogs run away in a lifetime of having dogs and I found both by these two methods. What follows is from my experience helping others find their dogs and returning lost dogs to their owners.
Do not think or say your dog was stolen. Although this does happen, it is less likely than the dog wandering off. Do not write this on social media or on any posters you make. It is the surest way to never find your dog. If the dog wasn’t stolen and someone found it, they may hesitate to contact you for fear of being accused of stealing. If the dog was taken, the thieves may not return it even if you offer a reward, if you start by accusing. Often people who take dogs do so for the reward money. Remember the goal is to get the dog back.
If you have searched the walking routes and followed the barking dogs and your dog has not returned home; call the local police and make a report that the dog is missing. Call any near-by cities and and make the report and leave your contact information. You do not need to speak to animal control or the shelter. If the police receive a call of a lost dog, they will call you. This is how I have returned 99% of the lost dogs I have found.
Don’t forget to call your vet and report the dog missing and your groomer, if you use one. Anyone who would know the dog, notify.
Post your dog’s picture on social media for your local area. Start close to home and then move further out. I like Next-door.com and neighborhood Facebook Groups for this. Most areas have a Facebook group for lost dogs.
As more time goes by, visit local shelters, don’t rely on photos because dogs can look very different after a few hours out on their own.
Make flyers and canvas the neighborhood and talk to neighbors, give them flyers, don’t just post them. It is better to do this on foot or bike than in a car. Always make sure there is some one at home incase the dog returns on it’s own.
Hopefully your dog will be found.
A few more tips
Microchipping is the best way to ensure your dog is returned if something weird happens like they get trapped inside a delivery truck and end-up half a state away. Keep your contact information attached to the chip up-to-date.
An ID tag on the collar is good, but when a dog runs away it is often at a time when it is not wearing it’s collar or the collar is lost on the walkabout.
Secure you fence and gate. Leaning something against the gate isn’t good enough. If you can move it, so can your dog.
Never walk your dog on a retractable leash. Despite the handle and the claims of the manufacturers, these leashes are hard to hold. Often dogs are lost by the owner dropping the leash and the leash chasing the dog. These stories usually do not have happy endings.
No matter how distraught you are, be nice to any one trying to help you find your dog no matter how annoying they are.
Keep calling local police and going to local shelters. It’s hard, but ask if any dead dogs where found when you call. It is better to know than not know.
Social media is a great tool for reuniting lost dogs with owners, but don’t rely on it only. Keep refreshing your social media posts.
Please leave your tips below. If you lost a dog and found it, I’d love the hear the story. Please post it in the comments. Have a favorite training method? I’d like to hear that to!
When Your Dog Goes Missing It’s scary—you let your dogs out, you go to let them in and they are not there.
A Writer's Gotta Eat: Spaghetti and Meatballs with Squash or Pasta
A Writer’s Gotta Eat: Spaghetti and Meatballs with Squash or Pasta
“Will you bring your homemade spaghetti meatballs?”
The Academy Award of home cooks everywhere. I get this all the time because this recipe is that good. People assume I make it from scratch and I don’t correct them. The meatballs are from scratch; the sauce is not, but it’s close. Here’s the recipe along with a few tips.
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A Tribute to Anthony Bourdain
A Tribute to Anthony Bourdain
When I first heard about Anthony Bourdain’s death, I didn’t believe it. Then it was all over the internet and news. It must true, he committed suicide. Over and over it was said, he didn’t seem like the type and the number for the suicide preventions hot line was given. I don’t know, it didn’t seem right for a life like his.
Suicide has no type was as far as I could articulate my feelings. Then I…
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