Rubicon Phrase: The Writer's Process Blog Tour

I just started using this blog planner, a free printable I found on Pinterest.

The Writer's Process Blog Tour has been taking place in the pet blogosphere for a few weeks now, and I have loved reading everyone's posts about how and why they write what they do. If you are invited, you simply answer three questions related to writing and then pass the "pen" to the next blogger(s)! 

As a testament to my "process," I'm finally getting around to this after being invited by three of my favorite bloggers! Cathy of  Groovy Goldendoodles was the first, followed by Sarah of Lola the Pitty and finally Lauren from ZoePhee. Be sure to check out all of their awesome blogs! Lauren and I have a lot in common - she blogs about her adorable ginger rescue dogs and shares her experiences with force-free training. Zoe and Phoenix look so much alike that she has a special section in her FAQ about how to tell them apart! Aren't they the cutest?

Photo courtesy of ZoePhee

So, I'm not the best at writing assignments and deadlines, but I work best under pressure and I get it done even if it is at the last minute. Here are the Writer's Process Blog Tour questions:

1. What am I working on?

Right now I'm gearing up for my favorite season, and hope to have some hikes to write about as well as some fun Halloween-themed posts. Blog the Change for Animals, a quarterly blog hop focusing on animal welfare issues, is a perfect fit for me. Last time I featured the angel that rescued Ruby, and coming up in October I'll be featuring the shelter that Boca came from in The Bahamas and explaining the special plight of her fellow potcakes. 

2. Why do I write what I do?

I have always been a writer, am a published poet, and have been journaling online for ten years. I had been wanting to delve more into blogging but hadn't found my niche. When I adopted Ruby and her reactivity surfaced, I discovered some of the wonderful blogs like My Imperfect Dog, Doggerel and Rescued Insanity that provided resources, dialog and encouragement. I decided that I wanted to share my experiences in hopes of also helping others feel not so alone with complicated behavioral issues and training challenges. As I learned more about force-free training, clicker training and trick training, as well as adopting a second dog, I honed my blog's focus. Another aspect I love about blogging is simply having an ongoing chronicle of life with two delightful dogs. I regret not having more pictures and stories about my previous dogs Freya and Lasya to look back on, and know that I will treasure this ginger sister diary.

3. How does my writing process work? 

I wish I could say that I have a month or two of posts ready to go like the ambitious Kimberly of Keep the Tail Wagging, but I'm more a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of writer. Some of my best ideas come when I'm not in a position to write, such as at work or in the car, but I try to at least scribble down some notes when things occur to me, and then sit down with my laptop in the evenings or on the weekend to flesh out the posts with links and pictures. I usually have several drafts saved and an ongoing list of topic ideas. I try to post 3-5 times a week, nearly always posting a general update on 'Ruby Tuesday,' and participating in the Blog Paws Wordless Wednesday blog hop. 

Now that I've shared a little about my writing process, I'm going to point you in the direction of another blogger I admire, Amanda of Dog Mom Days. Amanda blogs about her adorable rescued Chihuahua, Wynston. She is a passionate voice against puppy mills and her life is entirely devoted to Wynston. She also shares fun ideas for pooch parties, canine crafts and dog-friendly road trips. There really is something for everyone at Amanda's darling blog, and who could get enough of this face?

Photo courtesy of Dog Mom Days

The Writer's Process Blog Tour has been a fun way to discover new blogs and gain insight into others' creative process. I hope you enjoyed this stop and will continue on to make some new friends.

Reading With Ruby: Bark and Lunge by Kari Neumeyer

I have been following Kari Neumeyer's blog since starting my own almost a year ago, and was honored to receive a copy of her new reactive dog memoir, Bark and Lunge, for review. The memoir's subtitle is 'Saving My Dog From Training Mistakes' and chronicles Kari's experience with her dog Isis, a German shepherd from protection/security dog lines.

As the guardian of a reactive dog, I could relate to Kari's struggles with Isis, and I appreciated the honesty with which she describes her journey through several different trainers and methods. Isis was an especially challenging case, exhibiting leash aggression toward dogs and a dangerously unpredictable reactivity toward people, resulting in several instances of biting. (I'm not giving anything away since the back cover asks "How do make sure the dog you love never bites anyone (again)?.") This is one of a dog owner's worse fears, one that often results in a dog being given up, and one that requires immediate attention

I applaud Kari for the lengths she went to in finding a training solution for Isis that did not exacerbate her stress and anxiety, evolving from an early start with an old-school trainer who pushed prong collars, to a positive reinforcement trainer who helped to rehabilitate her. I also appreciate the variety of training methods described, the assertion that force-free trainers make mistakes too, and that not only do you need to seek out the training method that works best for your dog, but the individual trainer. 

There were a few parts of the book that didn't hold my interest as much, such as the lengthy description of Isis's favorite toy, but as a pet blogger who photographs and documents every move the ginger sisters make I can understand the desire to remember every last detail in tribute to a beloved dog. The introduction of her second dog, Leo, was when the story became most riveting, as Kari makes admirable and creative accommodations to maintain their multi-dog household. 

Kari's love for and dedication to Isis are apparent on every page, and although she fully admits her early mistakes I think many of us stumbled through training and relationship with our first dog(s). I read this book in a weekend, cheering on Isis's progress and holding my breath in those tense moments of reactive outburst that I know all too well. The most affecting lesson of this book is one that Kari quotes from Maya Angelou: 

You did then what you knew how to do, and when you knew better, you did better.

I recommend this book to anyone who has loved a difficult dog, wants to read a heartfelt dog story, or is interested in the benefits of force-free training. Enter below to win a copy of your own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Open to U.S. residents only, winner must respond to notification by email within 72 hours)

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of Bark and Lunge in exchange for my honest review.

WW 8.27.14: Elegant Poses

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