The book about Chaser by her trainer Dr. John Pilley is a must-read for any student of animal behavior--still a question of limits and detail. Anthropomorphism? LA Daily Post
Review of the book Chaser
Review of the book Chaser
Rediscovering Animals
More About Horses
February 6, 2017
Gizmo with student rider
More About Horses
The importance of respecting horses' herding needs is expanded to include their personality types, which suggests how they will react to training styles.
The importance of respecting horses' herding needs is expanded to include their personality types, which suggests how they will react to training styles.
Dogs at Christmas Time
December 31, 2016
Scooter and DeeDee
Dogs know it's a special time--at least that there will be something good to gnaw, something wrapped up in paper under the tree. LosAlamosdailypost
The Problem with Cats--Oscar Wasn't SoBad?!
December 4, 2016
The Atlantic magazine ran an article (by Brett Peterson, Dec.2016 p.40) about feral and free-running cats and the damage they can do, including killing lots of birds and spreading toxoplasmosis.
It's a hard call, for nearly a third of us humans rely on cats for companionship.
Latest Hen House story
Odd Pets and Questionable Ones
November 17, 2016
Los Alamos had a famous house goat, and we had a loving skunk for t least eight years, but turkeys---now they are a questionable pet, unless bonded to us at a very young age. Here's why...
LADailyPost-How the Hen House Turns
LADailyPost-How the Hen House Turns
Walking Sadie Sue on the San Andreas Fault
November 1, 2016
Sadie Sue likes to sniff where she wants to sniff. Her message is quite clear--a stiff pull at her leash. When we need to Not go that way, I pull back and explain. Thirty seconds later, the little Cuban Havanese gives up and trots on ahead in the direction I am pulling. LAdailypost
Horse Mysteries
October 13, 2016
A must-read for anyone raising or training horses. Details about how to avoid making basket-cases out of these prey-sensitive, herd-social animals that need to eat slowly many hours per day. Review on the Hen House blog in the
Los Alamos Daily Post
Los Alamos Daily Post
Jays Respond to Signature Whistle
September 24, 2016
It took only three times for the scrub jay to get it. I whistles three times then set out unsalted peanut behind the rock that we had used before the squirrels took over the bird feeder, emptying it at every visit. Now the jays get their treasures to bury on demand. Stories about animal interactions and smarts continues in the
LA Daily Post
How the Hen House Turns--Knowing Self
August 27, 2016
Ms. Khaki
Ms Kahaki knew were I left the trowel, knew that I couldn't refuse her gentle quacking request, knew where the wet mud full of worms was.LADailyPost
A Review of H Is For Hawk and Soul of An Octopus
August 7, 2016
My Painting from a photo (unknown origin)
The data keep rolling in--animals are conscious beings, more like us than we have admitted. So how do we adjust our behavior to account for their sentience, their emotions, even their rights? Is falconry too demanding. I find it amazing that aquarium octopuses were not thought to be interested in interacting as persons with us humans until the year 2000. Both books are easy, fascinating reads.
LADailyPost Link to the review.