Things are moving along, slowly but surely. In my spare time, to help stay abreast of current information, I've been listening to a lot of podcasts. I thought I'd mention a few here.
First, Patricia McConnell. She used to have a radio show on Wisconsin Public Radio. I would listen every week when we lived in Wisconsin. After moving back to Missouri I had to download it. Oh, the disappointment one Monday morning when I discovered that the show had been cancelled. However, WPR has graciously left her last several episodes on their website and they are still available for download at... Well, in my attempt to grab the link, I discovered the WPR has now taken down the audio archives of the show. Fortunately I have them on my computer, but that doesn't help you, the reader. I'll keep digging around to see if I can find them somewhere else.
Second, Victoria Stilwell Positively Podcast. I love this woman because, looking at her television shows in particular, you can see how much she has changed over the years. She is constantly educating herself to keep up with new research and information and adjusting her training to incorporate the new information. The scheduling and runs of her podcasts are a bit odd and unpredictable, but they are always informative. All the episodes, through season three, are available at http://positively.com/podcasts/
Finally (for now), my new favorite is In the Dog House with Nando Brown and Donna Saunders. This is a weekly radio show out of Spain. Not to worry, it's in English. Each week this two hour show has three or four of the top people in the field from all over the world as guests. My favorite part is each episode, they try to have member from the Pet Professional Guild on. Being a member of the PPG, it's nice to be able to put voice with the faces I constantly communicate with on forums and Facebook. Always an interesting show, even if the banter gets a little sophomoric sometimes, although not to the point of distraction. This is a radio show though, so be prepared to listen to or fast forward through unrelated commercials and some songs, if you don't like the music. An extensive archive is available at http://inthedoghousedtc.com/category/pet-radio
These are excellent for listening to while walking your dog, doing house work, or while at work, if time allows. Enjoy.
Hopefully by next week, I'll have finally finished the book I'm reading and will have a review and/or comments on it. I'm finally getting to the meat of the book and hate having to step away from it.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Back on track
Well, a lot has been going on. I closed the business and had to find a new job. I at least have a paycheck coming in, but it's time to get things back on track.
Then the birth of my second daughter. There were a few complications. Nothing major, but time consuming. We're finally settling into a routine, and now it's time to get things back on track.
I'm still looking for a career, not just a job. By trade, I'm a graphic artist/desktop publisher. I can do the job and do it well, but the market here is very competitive, and with the journalism school at the university, companies can get cheap, temporary labor. They don't see the benefit of a long-term employee who knows the business and knows it well or just want to succeed, but not excel... so is my viewpoint. I won't go any deeper into that as this blog is about dogs and not the economic state of my city. However, it is time to look at my priorities and find a balance between my career and my passion. Not just from an fiscal standpoint, but for my sanity as well.
So, to that end, I'm getting back to my original plan. First, my book. I've had my sketchpad sitting on my end table for a year or more now. I think it's time to get that done. Most of the reference art is done. I just need to scan it and set it up for printing.
With that, I need to go through the text and make sure it is still up to date. So many new studies have come out, I need to make sure all the information is current. This means reading the studies and making sure I understand them to the point that I can explain it to my daughter, who the book is written for.
Next, my whole intention when I became a trainer was to train. I enjoy the group classes I do at CCSC and plan on being there for a while yet, but I want to do private lessons where I can tailor the class to the individual needs, one at a time. This will also lead, as has been my plan, into behavior modification (aggression, fear, etc.). I have an understanding of the theory and practice, but no formal education and minimal hands on experience.
Finally, this blog. I have so much information I'd like to share and really need to get back to consistently posting. I truly believe that I am standing on the shoulders of giants. I have made so many connections with people who have been doing this longer than me and, truth be told, better than me, I want to help get their information out there. This entails reading the books, studies, and conversations, putting that information in layman's terms, and providing access to the original information so people can make their own inferences.
So there's my plan. Not only to share with others, but to hopefully give me the kick in the pants I need to get these things done. I'll keep you posted on how things are progressing and hopefully provide some useful information to boot. I haven't been totally complacent and will have some things to share in the coming days and weeks, including a letter to a local shelter and a review of a book about trainer/people interactions.
Then the birth of my second daughter. There were a few complications. Nothing major, but time consuming. We're finally settling into a routine, and now it's time to get things back on track.
I'm still looking for a career, not just a job. By trade, I'm a graphic artist/desktop publisher. I can do the job and do it well, but the market here is very competitive, and with the journalism school at the university, companies can get cheap, temporary labor. They don't see the benefit of a long-term employee who knows the business and knows it well or just want to succeed, but not excel... so is my viewpoint. I won't go any deeper into that as this blog is about dogs and not the economic state of my city. However, it is time to look at my priorities and find a balance between my career and my passion. Not just from an fiscal standpoint, but for my sanity as well.
So, to that end, I'm getting back to my original plan. First, my book. I've had my sketchpad sitting on my end table for a year or more now. I think it's time to get that done. Most of the reference art is done. I just need to scan it and set it up for printing.
With that, I need to go through the text and make sure it is still up to date. So many new studies have come out, I need to make sure all the information is current. This means reading the studies and making sure I understand them to the point that I can explain it to my daughter, who the book is written for.
Next, my whole intention when I became a trainer was to train. I enjoy the group classes I do at CCSC and plan on being there for a while yet, but I want to do private lessons where I can tailor the class to the individual needs, one at a time. This will also lead, as has been my plan, into behavior modification (aggression, fear, etc.). I have an understanding of the theory and practice, but no formal education and minimal hands on experience.
Finally, this blog. I have so much information I'd like to share and really need to get back to consistently posting. I truly believe that I am standing on the shoulders of giants. I have made so many connections with people who have been doing this longer than me and, truth be told, better than me, I want to help get their information out there. This entails reading the books, studies, and conversations, putting that information in layman's terms, and providing access to the original information so people can make their own inferences.
So there's my plan. Not only to share with others, but to hopefully give me the kick in the pants I need to get these things done. I'll keep you posted on how things are progressing and hopefully provide some useful information to boot. I haven't been totally complacent and will have some things to share in the coming days and weeks, including a letter to a local shelter and a review of a book about trainer/people interactions.
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