Welcome to Dawson’s Corner
Observations from the Dog Side
People say they wonder what their dogs are up to while they’re away and I’m no different. Granted, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it but just the other day I came across some information that surprised me.
Many of you know I train my dogs to compete in agility. Grady has been competing for a few years now and Dawson is continuing to learn stuff so he can eventually compete. Both of them love training and have a good work ethic. And both of them hate to miss out on any fun that the other one might be having. Dawson, in particular, really hates to miss anything.
How do I know this? Because there was a long, long, long period of time when Dawson would bark in his crate while I trained Grady (or some other dog). And not just your average, run-of-the-mill barking. Oh no. What good would that do? Dawson’s bark is L-O-U-D loud with a pitch that is as irritating as nails on a chalkboard. Insistent and impossible to ignore, Dawson’s bark could make a grown man cry. For the longest time nothing could silence him although I am pleased to report that lately he has been very good in his crate. Perhaps Dawson has accepted his fate, I thought.
I was wrong.
Apparently, Dawson has started a movement. It’s called Abolish the Crate Federation and it is very popular among our canine companions.
I knew Dawson wasn’t thrilled about being crated during agility training but I really had no idea how strongly he felt about it. I found organizational documents, personal correspondence, fund raising ideas, minutes from board meetings, and so forth. Since Dawson has such strong opinions, I’ve decided to give him his own blog to express himself.
Welcome to, “Dawson’s Corner, observations from the dog-side.”
Dawson’s Corner
Making the Case for Freestyle Agility
February 23, 2017 Subject: A Case for Freestyle Agility Dear Abolish the Crate Federation Members, Today I am deviating from my “Trust Me Series” to present something that is very important to me and which I believe can change the agility world. Your attention to...
Trust Me Series: The Importance of a Fast Recall
February 8, 2017 Dear Abolish the Crate Federation Members, Today’s topic is considered by many humans to be the gold standard in good dog behavior. It is, “coming when called” (hereafter referred to as the recall). Now you may be wondering what the...
Squirrel vs. Tennis Ball
January 20, 2017 Dear Abolish the Crate Federation Members, Today I have a special treat for you! Not that kind of treat (sorry, poor choice of words). Grady requested to be a guest blogger and he has chosen a topic that is thought provoking if not...
Trust Me Series: The Art of Tugging
Tugging is one of those opportunities to show our person we can be trusted, no matter how excited we get. Almost everyone I know loves to tug but very few humans seem to understand what makes a good tugger. Today, I’ll cover the basics of tugging and hopefully the...
AtCF Open Letter to Members
January 4, 2017 Dear Abolish the Crate Federation Members, It has come to my attention that many members are having a difficult time convincing their persons that there is no need to be crated. As you well know, crates have existed for many, many years and have...
Dawson’s Personal Correspondence
Dear Dawson, Please consider adding the list below to the Abolish the Crate Federation Manifesto. Thanks, Susan Director of Compliance and Enforcement leap recklessly after anything that moves lick everything pee on fire hydrants, fence posts, trees, etc. fart like...
Dawson’s Personal Correspondence
Dear Susan, Below is the Abolish the Crate Federation manifesto. I hope this will solidify your commitment to our cause. Sincerely, Dawson Earnest Huntley President and CEO Abolish the Crate Federation Abolish the Crate Federation Manifesto by: Dawson Earnest Huntley...
Dawson’s Personal Correspondence
Dear Susan, First, I’m very impressed with your dogs’ expertise in the field of “redecorating” and I’m extending a personal invitation for them to join Abolish the Crate Federation. If they agree to act as “redecorating” consultants for AtCF, then I should have no...
Dawson’s Personal Correspondence
Dear Dawson, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Abolish the Crate Federation, I know 2 PLABS (Pitt bull/Labs) who fully support it and the Black Panther Organization. In fact, they could probably give you a few good tips about vandalism. The only issue I would...
Dawson’s Personal Correspondence
Dear Susan, I was so pleased to hear that you agree with me about crating. It is hard to find like minded humans, and, in fact, they often don’t even try to understand my feelings about the woes of crating. That said, I want to invite you to participate in a fund...
