Byrdhouse

The Spectrum Diet*

We are talking about a seven-day eating regime like no other that has marched across America, passed from mother to daughter, and is currently being tested by a large group of mildly overweight people. We are talking about the spectrum diet.

On Monday, we eat in red. Tomatoes, apples, tuna tartar, red peppers, pepperoni and raspberries. Tuesday is orange like cantaloupe and salmon. And well, oranges. Wednesday is yellow. Thursday, green. Friday is nothing but blueberries! Eggplant, plums and grapes are for Saturday. Sunday you fast. But maybe you do pink. (Florrie interjected and said to put in pink.) The real spectrum diet purest fasts though. I mean, come on, pink grapefruit and shrimp? Sheez.

*Working title, results may vary.

Happy Holidays

I do declare nothing says "Happy Holidays" quite like a puppy.

Check out the Armchair Media's 2006 Holiday Card.

Why We Use the Clicker

The clicker is a tool that signals when a reward has been earned, it is not the reward iteself. Many people like to praise their dogs as a reward. If you then use praise to signal when a reward has been earned and use praise as the reward, things can become confusing. Praise loses its impact because dogs hear their owners talking all the time, and much of that talk has nothing to do with the dog. She learns to tune it out.

An advantage of using the clicker is that it is very distinct and easy to hear. Verbal praise is not always distinctive. The clicker is clear, precise, unambiguous, and free of emotion.

Welcome to puppy training school, lads.