Micro-steps with Rewards Work Best for Dogs and Horses

The weather is warming. Snow is disappearing. And like riding season, herd dog training season is back! My dogs and I are fortunate to resume our training with Ann Chernoff Allan, a remarkable local trainer. Read more here. Last year, we trained faithfully for six […]

The Most Fun You Can Have With Dogs in the Dark and Cold

I’m servant to three, highly energetic, mixed-breed-but-mostly herding dogs: Peeko, a heeler mutt; Kip, a mostly Aussie girl; and Monty, a mostly border collie boy. Together, we trek between two and ten miles every day. Especially during the winter, many of those outings happen in […]

Stretch That Dog makes us better dog owners

Dr. Petra Sullwold, a Best Horse Practices Summit sponsor and owner of six equines, dedicates her days to serving horses, dogs, and humans with her chiropractic services. She has worked on me as well as my mule, Jolene. We are better off for her attentive, […]

Herd Improvements

Dog work is like horse work. The more you learn, the more you realize there is so much to learn. Dogs, horses, and humans all benefit from Dwell Time. Read more here. Over the past few months, I’ve been working with an accomplished herding dog […]

Quick End for Beloved Belle

Since many of us count animals as companions and friends, and since many of us have dogs, please Dear Reader, allow me to remember Belle and recount how she died this week. You may recall her in another piece here. The Basset hound mutt with […]

Progress in strange places

Progress comes in all shapes and sizes. It can be planned or spontaneous, pretty or pretty ugly. Over the past few weeks, we’ve worked with Jolene at all of the above. Read more about deliberate tips for working with a spooky horse. Meanwhile, we had […]

Kurgo gives us reason to smile during Mud Season

Mud, mud, glorious mud Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood So follow me follow, down to the hollow And there let me wallow in glorious mud — Flanders and Swann Mud Season’s around the corner. How will your back seat look? Is it […]

Welcome Peeko!

We welcome sweet Peeko to the NickerNews family. She may not be great at writing or marketing, but she’s certainly livening up the place. Peeko came from the wonderful folks at Ruff Patch Rescue, a foster-home centered rescue organization in Riverton, Utah. Led by Stacy […]

Trouble on the trail reveals holes in training

All rides can’t be golden. When things go sideways, the goal may be simply getting everyone home safe and sound, with nothing too traumatic to remember. If you look at those rides with a big lens, you’ll see they are blessings in disguise, for they […]

Water, water, nowhere

As summer winds down, I’m giving thanks to a spectacular season; one that gave me a crash course in riding and hiking essentials here in Utah. Watch new video Sure, there’s the need for carrying a cell phone, a good knife, and for wearing sunscreen. […]