on the birds' path

On the other hand, dropping out the conditional out of the question turns the tone into a passive-aggressive threat. If someone tells you "stop that" as an imperative, "lopeta", that's a command. Asking in conditional, could you stop that, "voisitko lopettaa" is a polite request. "Haluaisitko lopettaa", would you like to stop that, is so polite that depending on the tone it might be sarcastic politeness that indicates hostility.

But asking someone "do you want to stop that", "haluatko lopettaa tuon" is a matter of "do you want to stop doing that voluntarily, or do you want me to stop you." By physical force, if necessary.

Cold, crystal clear groundwater bubbling up through the sand. This is Uhrilähde (”sacrifice spring”) in Jämijärvi, Finland. These natural springs create an almost hypnotic movement beneath the surface. The water remains remarkably clear and cool year round as it filters through layers of sand and gravel left behind by the Ice Age. 

fox with the northern lights in Finland. 2026.

“In Finnish folklore, the northern lights are created when a mythical fox races across the Arctic tundra, its tail sweeping snow into the sky and setting it ablaze. Those glowing sparks, the story goes, become auroras — a legend reflected in the Finnish word revontulet, which literally translates to ‘fox fires.’”

SILMÄT

KIINNI

MINÄ KATSELIN PARVEKKEELTA

MÄ OON RIKKI, MÄ OON PIENI

ON HYVÄ OLO SYDÄN HELLÄ

NYT MIELI LENTÄÄ KORKEALLA

TAJUSIN EI OO OLEMASSAKAAN

ANNA MULLE AAMURUSKO, ANNA USKO ELÄMÄÄN

ANNA MULLE ROHKEUTTA, ETTÄ JAKSAN HUOMISEEN

ANNA EDES VÄHÄN, RAKKAUTTA TÄHÄN

PUM-PUM

OLI ILTA IHANIN

JUNA JYSKYTTÄÄ, ENKÄ YSTÄVÄÄ NYT MÄ NÄÄ

VIRKAMIEHIÄ, VÄÄPELEITÄ

JA TÄNÄÄN VOIDAAN HETKI OLLA

ON RAKKAUTENI RAJATON

PANE MINUT PUOLIKSI

TAIVAS SALAMOI

TIEDTHÄN MILTÄ TUNTUU

LÄMMITTÄÄ KÄSIÄÄN

JA AUTO RÄJÄHTI

Wisptober Day 11 - Friendly ''...At least he looks friendly?...'' Slasher dog! His name is probably Buddy!

1. People forget that dogs aren't humans.

And

2. People forget that dogs are still mammals**.

No, your dog (outside of niche situations like hairless dogs in cold winter climates) does not need a jacket, a dozen different toys, or to sleep in your bed.

Yes, your dog does need plenty of physical exercise, social interactions***, and mental simulation.

*and then going on to get degrees in biology and teaching, interspersed with reading actual research on such topics such as training, nutrition, mental health, etc

**people also forget that they're mammals, and they also need plenty of physical exercise, social interactions, and mental stimulation.

But you can also just reward the behavior you like.

A reward can be food, but it can also be verbal, or pets, or what ever thing your dog wants.

For example, one of my dogs is from a breed that was used as an alarm dog. And he sure does alarm! At first he'd bark at everything with wheels- and I do mean everything, from baby carriages to busses. But, I did not want him to bark at those things. He also didn't care too much for treats.

So how did I get him to stop? Well, when ever I saw a thing with wheels, I'd look at him and notice when he noticed it, which was usually half a second before he started barking. As soon as I noticed him noticing, I'd stop the walk and give him such good scritches that he was too occupied with that to bark. While I was doing that, I'd be saying "good quiet, good quiet Fido", until the object de barking had passed.

After a while of that I transitioned to waiting a bit longer, while saying "quiet", and keeping an eye on his body language so I knew when he was about to start barking, and again interrupt him with scritches.

Eventually, this progressed to saying "quiet" when he noticed a wheeled object, and getting scritches after it passed, and then finally to him just getting scritches and praise after a thing with wheels passed without barking. Soon I'll transition to random rewards, so he's not getting praise every time, but the habit is still getting reinforced.

With Fido (which is definitely not his real name), he also felt the need to tell me when children were existing in the general vicinity. He might notice a hundred feet (30ish m) out, but wouldn't start barking until 80 feet out (24m). So I wouldn't get closer than 90 feet (27m) to any children, and I would praise him for being quiet and give him scritches.

Over time, that distance has reduced to about 5 feet (1.5m), which is a much more reasonable distance. I'm still working on it and my goal is to be able to be right next to children without him feeling the need to tell me there's children around.

WHAT I DIDN'T DO was take him near children and let him fail (start barking) and then tell him off for it.

This applies to all skills- don't set your dog up for failure by putting them in a situation where you know they won't meet your expectations.

Don't go to a field and let your dog off leash until you've practiced recalling in smaller, more confined areas. Don't try to recall your dog when they're in the middle of smelling the most interesting smell until you've worked up to that with smaller challenges. That would be like teaching a 16 year old how to drive by pulling off to the side of the highway one day and switching seats.

expectations. Help your dog

succeed. That’s your job.