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FIELD LIBRARY
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Before the Dog Chooses, the Handler Has Already Decided
I told myself I was letting Maui decide. My eyes had already gone left.
This field lesson is about what a handler discloses before any cue is given — gaze, breath, weight shift, shoulder, and the tension in the leash hand — and why that half second matters most for fearful, reactive and anxious rescue dogs. It covers three kinds of disclosure every handler is making, an exercise you can film this week, and the difference between hiding your body language and choosing it.
Lorrie Harris
9 min read
The Walk Was Never the Beginning ~ Why Is My Dog Reactive on Walks?
Why is your dog reactive on walks? The barking or lunging may be where the struggle becomes visible—not where it begins. Learn what to notice before the walk.
Lorrie Harris
2 min read
How Do I Know If My Reactive Dog Is Getting Better?
Why does your dog look guilty? Learn how familiar dog body language can be mistaken for guilt — and what breathing, weight, eyes, softness and recovery may tell you instead.
Lorrie Harris
2 min read
How Do I Help a Rescue Dog When I Don’t Know Their History?
How do you help a rescue dog when you don't know their history? Learn why observing what your dog does today may tell you more than guessing what happened yesterday.
Lorrie Harris
2 min read
Why Does My Dog Look Guilty?
Why does your dog look guilty? Learn how familiar dog body language can be mistaken for guilt — and what breathing, weight, eyes, softness and recovery may tell you instead.
Lorrie Harris
2 min read
Using Systems for Loose Leash Dog Walking Instead of Goals
Loose Leash Walks; build a system. In The First Thirty Yards, we trade “no pulling” wishes for repeatable rituals: breath-link at the door, a 60–180 sec sniff reset, pattern games, and soft gear that make a slack leash the easy choice. Walking becomes a conversation, not a tug-of-war—steady cues, tiny wins, and calm that compounds. Start soft, stay connected, and let every outing teach your dog to choose loose lead.
Lorrie Harris
3 min read
The Dog Knows the Way ~ True Companion Dog Training
I thought I was raising a polite, perfect dog. Maui knew better. He mirrored the tension I carried—alert but never soft, obedient but never at ease. Science calls it stress synchronization. Jung called it blocked meaning. I called it normal… until a dream owl told me to stop training and start returning. This isn’t about commands. It’s about reunion—with your dog, and with yourself.
Lorrie Harris
3 min read
The Dog Knows the Way
It began with a sound I pray never to hear again. Blood pooled, her tongue too swollen to breathe, and all I could do was kneel and whisper, 'I’m here.' In that crisis, Aloha didn’t need my strength—she needed my stillness. Science calls it emotional resonance; Jung calls it the Self breaking through. I call it the moment my training stopped… and my true companionship began.
Lorrie Harris
4 min read
🎙️ Wag Wisdom Daily Brief — 11
Your dog’s not ignoring you—they’re overloaded. In this soul-stirring Wag Wisdom Brief, discover how cognitive overwhelm, training rhythm, mindful pauses, and oxytocin-rich touch unlock true connection. When you speak less, your dog hears more. When you pause, they process. When you soften, they come closer. Today’s insights blend science, story, and strategy to help you train less, connect more—and rediscover the sacred space between cues.
Lorrie Harris
3 min read
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