I like to think I’m okay at getting rid of old, broken items, but this time it was a training tool. Getting rid of it for some reason felt like letting go of the dogs that were often at the other end, the lessons I learned while using it. I know it’s weird.

When it comes to our animal companions, we often say things like “if only I knew what he was trying to say” or “if she could only talk”. Well, dogs are great communicators! The problem is a language barrier.

If you are reading this and wondering what my chickens have to do with dog training, I don't blame you. I do have a point, I promise!

There are various ways to go about selecting a new furry family member. But when I think back on the last four dogs that entered my life I don’t think I actually chose them as much as I accepted that they were a part of my life and clearly there to stay.

While I have recently purchased a few items from a pet store that sells small animals, exotics and fish, I still hold firm to the belief that until people stop purchasing animals from stores, animals will still be produced out of animal factories to be sold as products. If you want to add a animal to your household, check the paper, Craig's list, rescues, they are out there needing a place to go. Don't buy any animal from a store.

But don’t write off a dog because you aren’t finding ways to communicate with them, keep trying. I promise, once you find the answer, the reward is greater than a dairy queen ice cream cake!

Truth be told, while I liked dogs, Chihuahuas were just not a breed I was drawn to, no reason really. I had grown up around large, working breed dogs (Dobermans, German Shepard’s, Rottweilers and an Afghan Hound). Tiny dogs were just not something I was familiar with really.

We bring our new furry buddy home and can’t wait to teach her fun things, take her on road trips and just hang out watching Netflix together. If you have adopted an adult dog, you might even get out a toy or treat and ask her to do a sit or lay down. She does those quickly, so you tell her she is a good girl, give her the prize and head out for a walk. She has obviously had some training, right?

With the arrival of fall, I start thinking of the cold weather that will be coming. If you're like me, the last thing I want to do is go for a walk in the cold weather. However, our dogs still need to do something even if we can't get them out of the house.

Not that long ago, if a Veterinarian or Dog Trainer would have asked “what method do you use to feed your dog? We would have scratched our heads in confusion. However, now there are a few different ways of feeding our furry companions, but how do we know which is the right one? Let’s have a look at the options there are to choose from.