The season for giving, reflection, thanks and celebration is upon us, and you’ll find these themes reflected in many of the pieces selected for this issue. In “Gratitude,” the author muses on dog-inspired wonderment, while in “Guiding Miss Ellie,” lessons are learned in the course of raising a guide dog puppy; in the endpiece, a dog’s happiness is placed above his family’s preference. We go outdoors to the ski slopes with the canine heroes of winter, those intrepid rescue dogs who leap into action during avalanche season. Our cover dog, Riley, is also a hardworking wonder dog—assisting in rehabilitating exotic wildlife, tending to a young family and doing therapy work “on the side.” In the realm of science, Jane Brackman explains recent research into the genetic connections between physical traits and behavior, while Martha Connors investigates wolf-dog hybrids. And if you’re thinking about a new career and have an itch to train dogs for a living, we have the inside scoop on how to get started. If you are one of the millions who enjoyed last holiday’s YouTube sensation showing a group of amazingly well-trained dogs busy with holiday decorating, we have the trainer behind that as an exclusive interview!

We have DIY fun for the whole family! Make one-of-a-kind gifts from papier-maché or pebbles! Or whip up treats from holiday leftovers. Plus don’t miss our newest charming book, Photobooth Dogs—ideal for holiday gift giving!

FEATURES
Powder Hounds: Avalanche rescue dogs take to the slopes. By Alf Alderson
Gratitude: A meditation on a late-night dog walk. By John Zeaman
Form, Function & Behavior: Researchers map genetic relationships between physical traits in purebred dogs. By Jane Brackman, PhD
Small Change: Bark’s fiction contest finalist. By Katerina Lorenzatos Makris

The Visit: My dog tried to pee on Baby Jesus. By Tammy Tanner
Guiding Miss Ellie: Learning to let go of a guide dog in training. By Ellen Kaye Talk to Me About My Dog: How to score points with a dog parent. By Mat Zucker Endpiece:
Winter Dog: How could I deprive Kiki of snow? By Rob McKenzie
Poetry: Percy. By Mary Oliver

DEPARTMENTS
[Q&A] with Sara Paretsky. By Susan Tasaki
[Living with Dogs] Living with the Four, Two and One-Legged. By Katherine S. O’Donnell
[Training] The YouTube Sensation: A trainer behind Hungary’s viral dog videos explains their “mirror” methods. By Lisa Wogan
[Second Opinion] An Ounce of Prevention. By Nick Trout, DVM
[Talking Training] Scent Marking at Home. By Victoria Stilwell
[Careers] How to Become a Dog Trainer. By Kay Elliott
[Behavior] If your dog could talk, what would she talk about? By Patricia B. McConnell, PhD [Nature] The Wolf in the Living Room: Should wolfdogs be pets? By Martha Schindler Connors
[Training] Nine Ways to a Better Relationship with Your Dog. By Karen London, PhD
[Book Reviews] The Lost Dogs, Orphans of Katrina, Brain Games for Dogs, Last Dog on the Hill, Man in the Woods, A Pack of Dogs

DogPatch
Cover Dog Riley
Holiday: Paper Dogs
Holiday: Rock Dogs; Poetry
Holiday: Papier-Maché Dogs From Left to Loved; Stocking Stuffers
Editor’s Lit Picks (expanded web version)
Smiling Dogs
Show+Tell; Family Dog
Kit’s Corner
Cleaning Confidential by Tom McNulty; The Giving Effect; Toys
Camel Milk; Fur-Ever Home; Wine