Who Can You Believe?

I was recently checking out some web sites where I could publish articles and was astounded by what I found. Pages and pages of articles written by so-called “experts” on topics such as “How to Train Your Dog with a Shock Collar,” “The Benefits of Anti-Bark Collars,” “How to Use a Choke Collar” and more. Whoa!  This web site was promoting self-growth and spiritual issues, and showed noted celebrities such as Oprah and Anthony Robbins as contributors. Any “expert” who understands dogs, spirituality and self-growth would never advocate shock collars!  In these days where anyone can publish on the Internet, who can you believe?

There are literally thousands and thousands of places where people can submit articles on the web, mainly for purposes of driving traffic to advertising and for search engine optimization. There is little-to-no screening process for who can write and publish the articles. Obviously. But that leaves the public to fend for themselves to decide who is credible and who isn’t.

I, personally, never seek out information from sites that pump out articles. You can just tell that the articles have been quickly thrown together. Instead, I look for web sites of individuals with credentials – those who have been published and who are sought after as references – and academic sources.

In the world of dog training, there are as many opinions as there are “experts.” Sadly, novice trainers and those uneducated in animal behavior may use methods such as shock collars and obtain results. Then they write about it…and proliferate the information to the unsuspecting public. They appear credible and can give convincing arguments.

After seeing all of these disturbing articles, I may not publish articles anywhere else on the web. I’ll probably stick to my web site and this blog. And hope that you who are reading this know that I do have the credentials and experience to convey only information in the best interests of the animals.

A Summer Project – Preparing for Groom Expo

You’ve heard the expression, “be careful what you wish for, you might get it.” Ever since I started working with animals, I have wished for the opportunity to educate a large number of people about animals and their issues, specifically dogs and how to understand them. Well, my wish came true a couple of months ago when I received an invitation to be the sole speaker at a two-day conference on dog behavior at the Groom Expo in September in Hershey, PA. Although I have given my share of presentations in my career – many during my 25 years in telecommunications and quite a few in the decade since I’ve been a pet behavior consultant -  never have I been asked to speak for ten hours, as I will be doing at Groom Expo. Yikes! Ten hours! Six hours one day; four hours the following day. Here’s a link to the Groom Expo program: Learning to Speak Dog  

That’s a lot of material to prepare. I have a slew of information in my brain and in other presentations I’ve given. But every venue is different.  The audience at Groom Expo will consist of groomers, doggie daycare staff, boarding kennel operators, staff from animal shelters and rescues, and possibly veterinary professionals. I need to customize my presentations to their specific needs.

I have one month to finalize my presentations. That may sound like a lot of time but I still need add the finishing touches. The last thing I want to do is bore people, so now I’m working on adding fun activities, videos and other ways to entertain the audience. There’s nothing worse than a boring, endless Powerpoint presentation.

Because I am now so focused on my Groom Expo conference preparations, I may not be posting as frequently until after this is through.  So I am opening up the blog to your questions. Please feel free to post your questions in the comments of this post. Beginning in September, I will address the questions in a series of posts.

Thanks for continuing to visit my blog and I hope you will hang in there with me while I “slow down” this August.  Can’t wait to read your questions!

Book Review: New Moon Rising by Walt Trizna

I’m sure my regular readers are confused by this diversion from my usual animal-related topics or my whiney insights about life in general. But I have a very good reason for posting this review. Author Walt Trizna is a very good friend and member of my writers group called Wordwrights. Walt and his wife Joanie are animal lovers, and they supported me tremendously throughout my publishing process of Puppy Mill Dogs SPEAK!  They have an amazing dog named Millie; just the mention of her name makes Walt’s face light up with happiness. “What a good pup,” he always says with a smile. I was so excited to read Walt’s recently published sci-fi novel, New Moon Rising, and couldn’t wait to share it with you.

How would it feel to be a geologist who learns that the Earth is about to undergo a catastrophic change? Wade Randall works in a lab at Caltech and is part of a team studying the Pacific Plate, one of the most geologically active areas on the planet. The Hawaiian Islands are at the center of the activity and Wade’s brother, Foster, just moved there with his new wife and soon-to-be born child.

The scientists predict that the Ring of Fire, the string of volcanoes extending around the Pacific, are about to come alive. The shifts in the Pacific Plate will cause the Earth to shake like nobody has seen before. And one theory speculates that the force of energy building up under the Pacific may even cause a piece of the Earth to be ejected into space – forming a new moon.  Cool!

Will the Hawaiian Islands be jetted into space? Should Wade tell his brother and alert the residents of Hawaii to evacuate?

Walt’s imagination is a thing of wonder. This novel is creative yet explained so it’s believable as Walt presents the evidence. His characters come to life as you feel their personal struggles and victories.

If you live near West Chester, PA, please come to Walt’s book signing on Wednesday, June 22 at 7:00pm at the Chester County Book and Music Company.

Well done, my writing buddy!

Herman Munster Shoes and a New Me

I’m having a birthday this month. Astrologically, our birthdays represent our own personal “new year” when the sun returns to our signs. So it’s only fitting that I make some new year’s resolutions now that the sun is in Taurus instead of on January 1. Maybe I’ll have better success! 

As a writer with lots of projects in the works with tight deadlines, I often neglect my exercise routine.  Well, routine isn’t the right word… Typing on the computer, pacing as I think through how to express an idea, and taking frequent walks to the cabinet where the chocolate is stored don’t qualify as cardio.  I made a resolution to get more exercise. Sound familiar?  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a total slacker. I get on the elliptical machine and walk the neighborhood a couple of times a week. But that’s not enough to counterbalance the intake of writer’s block-calories ingested when I just can’t find the right words.

So I decided to buy a pair of those cool sneakers that promise a better workout and a great ass. They were on sale, making them even more enticing. I was really excited to try on my new magical gear with hopes of a new me with just one excursion. I stood up, instantly becoming two inches taller – which probably made me look thinner. They were already working and I hadn’t even taken a step! Then I headed for the door – clomp, clomp, clomp. The shoes were heavy and clumsy.  All I needed were a couple of bolts in my neck and a kid named Eddie and I could be in a bad 60’s sit-com.

I quickly adjusted to the weight and feel of the shoes as I started to walk. They began to feel pretty good. I was inspired and convinced that my butt was lifting with every step and I would soon look like Brooke Burke in the Sketchers commercial. About 20 minutes into my walk, my knees started to complain. Then my arches were screaming.  Loudly.  Oh dear, this was more of a workout than I had counted on.  Every step began to feel like I was walking through sand.  The shoes got heavier and my thighs began to agree with my knees and arches.  There was no magic in these shoes!  What should I do? Stop and rest, or push on? I chose to continue and be a true athlete – work through the pain. I was glad I did because the aches subsided and I was able to finish the 4-mile walk made more difficult by these new workout shoes. Yeah, workout is right.

When I got home, I checked myself in the mirror. Did the shoes work yet?  Do I have a Brooke Burke ass and can I now wear skin-tight white pants?  Not yet.  But when I took the shoes off, I did notice some physical changes – I got a little dizzy coming down from the higher altitude.

Let’s see what happens tomorrow when I get out of bed. Will my thighs hate me for my new resolution, and will I be able to stick to it?  Stay tuned!

Anxious? Everyday Ways to Prevent or Overcome Anxiety

As every writer or creative person knows, you need to have mental focus in order to do your best work. I find with myself that if I’m scattered and in a tizzy (which is pretty frequent for me), my writing suffers. Sure, I can put words on paper but they’re not brilliant. They’re just passable. And the changing hormones of menopause also bring jolts of anxiety and sleeplessness (see Dawn at 3:00am) that drain creativity. I also think I’m an adrenaline junkie. I like the high from chocolate and tea!  But I’ve learned a few things that have helped me to stay calmer and more focused; maybe these will be of help to you too:

Stop rushing:

-          Leave early for appointments. The worry of not being on time creates major stress and anxiety.

-          Take your time with everyday activities. A slower pace can make you feel more relaxed. One example for me when I tend to rush is returning from the grocery store.  I hurry to get the perishables into the fridge/freezer.  A few extra seconds will not mean spoiled food!

-          Stop trying to race the clock – i.e., driving fast to see if you can break your record for getting somewhere (okay, I’m guilty).

-          Don’t multi-task. Yes, it was a popular notion several years ago but studies have now shown it creates stress and that most of us are actually more effective if we focus on getting one thing done at a time.

-          Okay, how do I say this delicately…take your time in the bathroom.  No, I don’t mean putting on makeup and drying your hair. I mean allow yourself time to sit and relax.  I’m often so much in a hurry that I do my business and I’m outta there.  But I remember my dad used to spend what seemed like hours in the john. And my ex-husband did too.  (Is that a man thing?)

-          And speaking of bathrooms, I also rush through my showers. And never take bubble baths anymore. Too much of a waste of time. I think there’s a pattern forming here…

 Driving creates anxiety:

-          Don’t speed when driving. Try driving closer to the speed limit and see if you feel any better.

-          Don’t let the gas tank go too low. Nothing creates anxiety more than running on fumes.

-          Let others pass you. If you’re like me, you get really mad when someone tailgates you (yes, I can be an aggressive driver – really?). Remember, driving isn’t a competition.  Nobody gets a trophy for getting somewhere first.

-          Don’t talk/text while driving. As noted above, multi-tasking is stressful  – and staying focused on driving is obviously safer.

Diet:

-          Cut out anything with caffeine or stimulants: coffee, tea, chocolate, RED BULL!

-          Watch how many high glycemic carbs you eat. Spikes in sugar levels can play havoc with anxiety. Examples of high carb foods are white flour (breads, cookies, cakes, pretzels), white rice, corn, potatoes (and any junk food made from these), alcohol, and sugar. I feel much better on a low glycemic diet but it can be difficult to stick to, especially if you’re feeling stressed.

Other suggestions:

-          Take along something to read wherever you go in case you need to wait (I take a notebook for one of my writing projects).

-          Get some exercise. It’s amazing how just a short walk will help create relaxation. An even longer period of exercise is tiring and burns off adrenaline.

-           Try meditation or some kind of relaxation ritual.  This is a tough one for me because I can’t sit still but it’s helpful for some people.

My work with dogs taught me a lot about anxiety. Keeping dogs calm is often the key to preventing or eliminating  problem behaviors. We can benefit from these lessons too.

So you get the idea that I need to slow down and enjoy, huh?  Well how about you? What are your best ideas to help alleviate anxiety?

Oh The Irony!

I’m a longtime reader of literary agent Rachelle Gardner’s blog.  She gives amazing advice to writers.  Today, she announced that she is accepting queries, after having been closed to them for quite a while. My heart leapt!  Maybe she’ll be the one to represent me!

I read further down her post to the list of genres she is looking for. Fiction – great! Memoir – cool!  I’m very hopeful!  Ooops, Bonnet fiction. Uh-uh.  Is everyone familiar with this newly popular genre of fiction? If not, it’s Amish romance. Hmm, I’m guessing that if Rachelle is representing Amish romance, she may not be too thrilled about my mystery novel involving intrique and deception at — an Amish puppy mill!  I guess it can’t hurt to query her and maybe she’ll see the irony but maybe I shouldn’t waste my time.  Onward!  Next agent??

Happy April, happy weekend everyone!

Too Many Ideas!

I need your help.  Now that my first book, Puppy Mill Dogs SPEAK!, has been published and is doing well, I’ve started another book. And another. And another.  Yes, I guess you could say that I have A. D. D. with three books in the works!  But I’m jazzed about all of them yet I know I need to focus my attention on only one.  Can you help me by giving me some input?

I’ve written about eight chapters of a mystery novel set in a locale where there are a lot of puppy mills. Intrigue involving breeders, shelter workers and law enforcement. Friends tell me that this book could be even more effective in teaching people about puppy mills than my other book.  I like that idea. My writers group has read it and said it was good. But writing a novel is a whole new genre for me and I’m finding it quite challenging.

I’ve also been working on a book to sell as a companion to my first DVD, Successful Dog Makeovers, which gives advice on typical problem behaviors of rescued dogs such as attention seeking, barking, leash pulling, counter-surfing, etc.  There are a few things in the DVD that I wish I had done differently and the book would give me the opportunity to clarify and do it better. I know that there are a lot of good dog training books on the market but mine targets shelters and rescues.  Do you think it would sell? After my experiences with trying to market Puppy Mill Dogs SPEAK! to various rescue groups, I found that some thought that they already knew all about how to rehabilitate mill dogs and didn’t need the information. Is that the prevailing attitude about all dog behavior?

And finally, I feel I’m being guided to write about the path that I’ve taken to help the animals. For those of you who know about how I came to work with the animals, they have been amazing teachers to me and I’d love to share this spiritual journey that I’m sure others who work with animals can relate to. This topic was the reason I started this blog in the first place. Although I’ve been posting a lot about dog behavior recently, I feel I need to be true to my original goal and share these insights.

The dilemma of being a writer is balancing staying true to what’s in your heart versus thinking about what will sell the best. I’m trying to go with my heart but it’s tough when your says “write all three!”

Will you be so kind to give me your feedback on what you would want to read?  I will write all three but hopefully one at a time! Thank you for your honest feedback.

A New Year – To Resolve or Not to Resolve?

Are you one of those people who feel the need to wipe the slate clean at the end of the year and resolve to produce a few changes in your life? If so, sorry to tell you but the odds are against your success. Health clubs make tons of money on new memberships in January, gambling that the majority of people will stop coming in a month or two. How depressing! When you think about it, New Year’s Day is just another day, so why do we set ourselves up for failure by creating resolutions? At the first slip-up, most of us will give up and wait until the beginning of the next cycle (year, month, week) to start again.

A change of thinking is required if we really want to successfully create change in our lives. If you are still set on making New Year’s resolutions, a couple of web sites have some helpful hints: Time Magazine’s How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions: Advice from the Experts and The Happiness Project’s 13 Tips for Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolutions 

Then there’s the strategy that author Lisa Scottoline employs, the un-resolutions. Lisa writes a column called Chick Wit in the Philadelphia Inquirer. In one of her columns, she wrote that instead of resolving to make changes, she picks several things that she enjoys so much that she resolves NOT to change. I love this idea! For instance, she occasionally will sleep in her clothes.  Instead of resolving to stop doing this, Lisa un-resolves to keep on doing it.  She says that when she falls asleep in her sweats, she can just get right up in the morning already dressed.  Makes sense, that’s what writers do!

As for me, I think I need a combination of resolves and un-resolves. My diet is not always the best, especially my dark chocolate habit. Every year, I resolve to give it up and every year I fail. Instead, I’m going to change my resolution to allow eating a moderate amount of chocolate. And as most writers, I don’t get out of the house enough.  So I un-resolve to continue taking lots of walks with my dog or by myself because that’s when inspiration always hits me. I know this is true but I often deny myself of downtime because I feel guilty that I’m “not working.” I also un-resolve to continue socializing with people for the same reason – inspiration – plus a writer’s life can be lonely. Friends are very important for all of us.

This week tends to be a time of reflection for many of us; the Christmas rush is through and we may be off of work. I know I have lots of other resolutions and un-resolutions I’d like to make. One stands out: Go easy on myself, be less critical of not just me but others too. We’re all struggling in this world together and nobody’s perfect.  On that note, why am I going to make resolutions that will create stress?  Forget all of the other resolutions!  Just be happy.

Wishing all of you a happy, prosperous and healthy New Year.

Detail or Not to Detail

I’ve observed that most people fall into two categories – they either tell long, detailed stories or are very quick and to-the-point.  When you speak with someone who has a different style than yours, does it make you crazy? Just like my writing style, I’m  very succinct (which probably isn’t going to work to my advantage as I write my next book, a novel).

I don’t like to dominate conversations which seems to make me a target for prolific talkers. Take my ex-husband, the king of verbosity. When I would ask him what he did that day, the typical response was “I woke up. I got out of bed,” and at that point, I had to cut him off by singing the lyrics of A Day in the Life by The Beatles, “dragged a comb across my head…” But he never got my subtle hint and continued to tell me that he showered, shaved and had breakfast. Okay, okay, tell me what you did that was INTERESTING!

When someone asks me about my day, I give them the Cliff notes version, no details to bore my listeners. Or could it be that my friends who are more long-winded get annoyed by my brief synopsis? Come on, I can’t imagine that not boring people with unnecessary information would be as irritating as listening to stories about someone’s mother’s next door neighbor’s cousin’s girlfriend’s boss. Yes, I have friends who will talk endlessly about people I’ve never heard of. I feel like screaming “Who cares!” But I restrain myself so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings. And besides, if they don’t talk then I would be forced to fill in the lull in conversation that I so try to avoid. To me, that’s worse than speaking in public. Really.

I suppose that two people who ascribe to brevity would have difficulty sustaining a conversation, making the perfect match out of one who likes to talk a lot and another who doesn’t. But imagine if you get two big talkers together? You could be waiting for hours to get to the crux of the story.  No thanks.

Is there a happy medium when someone tells a story with just the right amount of detail not to bore someone but enough to hold interest? That’s the trick and skill of a good writer! How did I do?

Living Our Dreams

How many people can say that they had a dream, pursued it and actually achieved it? In the past three months, I’ve had two dreams come true.  It hasn’t been easy – it’s been downright scary and difficult – but definitely worth it. Do many people die with their dreams unfulfilled because they’re afraid of the trade-offs?

As I stood in front of the audience on Tuesday night at my first reading and signing at a book store, I was living a dream I had had for many years. When I attended other people’s book signings – Lisa Scottoline, Monty Roberts, John O’Hurley and others – I told myself that one day that would be me. And it happened! With a much smaller audience, however! But that’s another dream for another day, a packed house. My other dream was fulfilled, as you know, when Puppy Mill Dogs SPEAK! was published in July, and I’m still riding the high from that accomplishment. 

Going after our dreams may require a good deal of sacrifice.  But it may also be an amazing learning experience and growth opportunity.  The destination of the fulfilled dream isn’t nearly as important as what you may learn along the journey. One thing I learned is that I needed to depend on and trust others; I couldn’t and still can’t do it alone. So many times I wanted to give up but the encouragement of family and friends kept me going.  And two other things helped as well: my love for the animals and desire to help them, and a quote that I read about 15 years ago which I will never forget:

Twenty years from now you’ll probably be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do.

–Mark Twain

I still have a big dream I’d like to see fulfilled and I’m hoping that you will help: The realization by the public that buying dogs who come from puppy mills needs to stop, and by that recognition we put puppy mills out of business.

What are your dreams and if you aren’t pursuing them, what’s stopping you?