I grew up with a calm dog - except around fireworks/gunshots -always she found the smallest place she could fit to feel safe. A crate is a good idea

Would ita mind being compared to this fluffy bunny?

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Another really important principle of good primate/canine communication is this:

Give the dog a chance to do something you want vs. responding to what you don't want. Their minds simply can't grasp abstract thought so doing natural things (like peeing or chewing or digging or fillintheblank annoyance) can't ever really be wrong to them.

Accommodating our 'civilized' needs is not even remotely natural, no matter how much a dog wishes to please you. Fido can't really nut out...'hey, if I don't get on the couch, or pee on the rug or chew on the shoes, I'll get fed.' Instead it's...'SHOES, my favorite thing. Whoa! Food just appeared here. Party!'

Think up some 'games' or a series of behaviors that you can string together consistently. Do them over and over, about 10 minutes per session, no more than 2 or 3 sessions per day. Once you get these behaviors down, you can ask for them in times of stress or when you want a distraction to avoid a problem.

For instance, my clients love Bartleby, and make a fuss over him when they come in my house. He gets excited and barks. This is bad. I have trained him to go 'in your basket' and put the doggy bed called basket near where the client sits. I require him to stay there until he is calm and the client is settled on the couch. Once Bboy is calm, he has earned the pleasure of greeting the guest. The 'say hi' command means he can move in front of the person and sit for them to pet him. This also works when we are out in the street. "Say hi" is a GREAT one. I highly recommend it.

Interesting verdict. Home schooling in California limited to credentialed teachers.

I heard that, David, and went huh. I mean, I don't think this threatens all 160,000 kids being homeschooled in CA as the lawyer asserts. In reality, the Longs could have (not speaking fiscally) hired a credentialed teacher to tutor and that would suffice. Or Mama Long could get a teaching credential.

I could homeschool and I have thought about it. But I am a dual credentialed teacher. I can't afford to homeschool, but that's a whole 'nother thing.

Rescue Remedy is a great option. It can, in no way, harm the dog and I've seen it work wonders. You can put 4 drops in her water at the beginning of the day and during particularly stressful times, rub a couple drops directly into the underside of her ears. (this is a richly veined area, which increases the absorption rate)

I need to get some of that for my neighbor to give the incredibly high-pitched yappy terrier he has staying with him for the next couple of weeks.

OMG, that is one INSANE fluffy bunny!!

It's the Vorple (Vorpul?) Bunny!

You know, if Clovis hasn't recruited that Bun yet - he really, really should.

Am I the only person on earth who finds her iPod insufferable?

Its a shuffle. I'm trying to put the play list on the device in a particular order. Every time I move a song the fucking thing syncs again.

Am I the only person on earth who finds her iPod insufferable?

I love my iPod, but there are a few things that drive me crazy. I have a hard time being precise with the touch wheel. And I would kill for a normal volume button so I didn't have to wait for it to "go back" to the song to access the volume.