Past Scholarship Winners and Essays

2007 Dogwise John Fisher Essay Award

1st Place

Do You Hear What I Hear? by Dorothy Turley, CPDT
"The bumper sticker read, “I know I have the right to remain silent. I just don’t have the ability.” I laughed so hard I almost had to pull my car over as it so aptly described me for most of my life."
Full essay >

2006 Dogwise John Fisher Essay Award

1st Place

Tell Me You Love Me
by Paul Klein
There is little to no reason to think deaf dogs don't learn in the same way as hearing dogs - or for that matter, aardvarks and zebras - and every reason to think they do. The laws of classical and operant conditioning apply to all. Likewise, house, crate and chew training - the urgent essentials of blissful interspecies cohabitation - remain the same. Full essay >

2005 Dogwise John Fisher Essay Award

1st Place

All in a Day’s Work
by Meropes Pavlides
I am standing in the middle of a group of puppy owners, all of whom look just a little overwhelmed. You know that look-the "What have I done?" look. Full essay >

2nd Place

The Challenges of Reaching the Modern Day Pet Parent
by Laurie Williams, CPDT
Pup ‘N Iron Canine Fitness & Learning Center
Today’s pet owners are not who they used to be, and relationships between humans and dogs have greatly evolved. Full essay >

3rd Place

Talk to the Animals - Clicker Training as a Communication Tool
by Joan Orr M.Sc.
There are now more than 300,000 clicker trainers around the world and the movement is growing quickly. Full essay >

2004 Dogwise John Fisher Essay Award

1st Place

Safe at Home
by Becky Schultz, CPDT, CDBC
As a shelter trainer, I’ve certainly been warped by what I’ve seen and heard at work. Every day we see cases of neglect and abuse that would curl your hair and confirm your worst suspicions about humanity’s inhumanity to our most vulnerable companions. Full essay >

2nd Place

Persuading People
by Yvette Van Veen
As dog training evolves, it seems prudent to add another critical piece to the dog trainer’s toolbox. We can achieve far greater results if we address family and social dynamics.
Full essay >

3rd Place

Training Outside The Box
by Joan B. Guertin
Living in the "new age" of dog training, we have more tools at our fingertips than ever before. The one area, however, that was a major source of frustration for me, was the way we traditionally structured our classes. Full essay >

2003 Dogwise John Fisher Essay Award

1st Place

Selling Early Socialization
by Terry Long
It is very common for veterinarians to insist that dogs not leave their homes until close to four months of age. With such diametrically opposed perspectives, it is easy to see why dog owners are torn between following their veterinarian’s advice and their trainer’s advice.
Full essay >

2nd Place

So Close and Yet So Far Away
by Kim Brophey, CPDT
It seems that the increasing focus on learning theory—on an effort to rely only on the scientific facts about learning rather than the persistent myths about canine behavior—has resulted in a generally kinder and more enjoyable dog training world. Full essay >

3rd Place

Dog Teach Bliss
by Rachel Friedman, MSW LISW
Being a profession dog trainer is not just about communicating with dogs. It’s about being able to read and work with people – to understand their strengths, their weaknesses, their commitment, their experience or lack thereof, their motivation, their overall needs and what the dog trainer’s function is to them. Full essay >

2002 Dogwise John Fisher Essay Award

1st Place

Whelping and Weaning
by Jodi Binstead
I learned to train dogs using punishment-based methods, and then twelve years ago I discovered the wonderful power of positive based training. Full essay >

2nd Place

The Evolution of Dogs and Dog Training
by Emily Keegans
Knowledge regarding the evolution of dogs has played a large role in shaping the methods that dog trainers use. New information may affect us and cause us to reevaluate our current understanding of how to communicate with and train dogs. Full essay >

3rd Place

The New Leash on Life Connection
by Charleen Cardo
Why is it that humans own dogs? Consider the many sayings regarding what dogs mean to people: “ A dog is man’s best friend,” “A faithful companion.” Dogs have coexisted with humans for many years but how or why exactly does each benefit from the relationship? Full essay >

2001 Dogwise John Fisher Essay Award

1st Place

The K9 VIP Program... A New Way to 'Talk Dog'
by Terry Long
Every time we answer the phone and promote "obedience training" as the solution to prospective clients’ problems, we miss an opportunity to change the way the public views their relationship with their dog. Full essay >

2nd Place

Enriching the Life of Your Dog
by Emily Keegans
Is your dog is getting enough out of life? Are his physical, mental, and social needs being met? This is a question that more and more dog owners are asking themselves. Full essay >

3rd Place

Why I Clicker Train
by Melissa C. Alexander
Clicker training appealed to me from the beginning because it looks at the dog/human relationship from a totally different perspective. Clicker training focuses on what's right rather than what's wrong. It focuses on the solution, not the problem. Full essay >

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