Dear Readers,

To be honest, I thought our flight to Florida might be problematic but we kinda sailed through — no doors flew off and we arrived safe and sound. Things got off to a good start when, once through airport security, Momma spotted one of those people movers for the aged or mobility challenged (check both boxes here), and we quickly hopped on. Momma was quite pleased when the driver even motored us to a doggie relief station before heading to our gate. (And to my “relief,” it was appropriately not gender specific unlike those old-fashioned human relief stations.)

Upon boarding, a nice flight attendant, noticing Momma’s boot (I think she was exaggerating-limping), helped bring me to our seat and tucked me in place for the ride! Momma, who can’t get the picture out of her mind of the dog who suffocated in the overhead bin a few years ago, frequently interrupted my peaceful sleep to see if I was still breathing. I know, right? Here we are with our driver (note I am keeping a sharp eye on the goings on) and me startled with yet another breathing check during the flight.

At long last, doggie trainers go woke! 

And now, on to a topic near and dear to this Toy Aussie’s heart. A few weeks ago, Momma’s friend, Rita, emailed her a copy of an article from the New York Times (Rita being a fan, Momma not so much), about a dog trainer named Mr. George with some new, long overdue, ideas in dog training. Ideas which mostly put the dog in charge, if you get my drift.

Some right-wing extremists are accusing Mr. George, in advancing his theory that trainers should never cause a dog discomfort, of going woke and creating a cult with a radicalized agenda. They also pawntificate that it’s the people with gender neutral dogs that support these progressive ideas. As one who often lifts her/his back left leg to pee, I embrace that concept! (Momma: “Oh, please, Lina.”)

Mr. George’s program, which is called force-free training or positive reinforcement training (as opposed to those trainers who use corrections) has some aspects that I can really get behind: For example, advocates of positive training recommend that a dog sitting patiently watching his owners (I think caregivers might be a better term) eat dinner should be showered with treats, or that a caregiver should close the curtains to stop a dog from barking at passers-by rather than using corrections, and — this is my favorite — that dogs give consent before being petted, which Mr. George wisely connects to toxic masculinity. See what I mean? (“I don’t, Lina, what does that mean?”)

In closing, dear readers, I think Mr. George is a genius and that it’s about time I start exercising my rights as the alpha in this relationship! Thank you, Rita! I may even throw a bone to Momma and let her pet me once in awhile. 

Lina, Breaking the barriers of oppression!

WOOFDA!