Talkfest Blog

Featured image for “Interview with Dr. Merrie Meyers, Second Chance Award Sponsor”
Anne Marie Duquette

Interview with Dr. Merrie Meyers, Second Chance Award Sponsor

The Second Chance Award should reflect the lives of older dogs that receive a chance for a new fur-ever home. Submissions are open to articles, books, blogs, TV segments, radio spots, videos, columns or other…

Spotlight | May 30, 2024

Featured image for “Contest Winner Spotlights Others’ Accomplishments”
Anne Marie Duquette

Contest Winner Spotlights Others’ Accomplishments

I’ve been companions with canines for 50 years. Two of them were my mobility service dogs as I’m a disabled veteran, and I’ve had others as pets. Since 1988, I’ve worked at home as a…

Spotlight | May 24, 2024

Featured image for “Tom Lonsdale, BVetMed MRCVS, Challenging the Status Quo”
Anne Marie Duquette

Tom Lonsdale, BVetMed MRCVS, Challenging the Status Quo

Thank you to all at DWAA for staging the competition and then providing generous peer group recognition for www.ThePetFoodCon.com and Multi-Billion-Dollar Pet Food Fraud. Dogs have been telling us for long enough, but mostly trivialized…

Spotlight | May 20, 2024

Featured image for “Neil S. Plakcy, Serial Mystery Writer”
Anne Marie Duquette

Neil S. Plakcy, Serial Mystery Writer

I have been a dog lover since I was a little boy, and a dog dad for the last 25 years. I like to tell people that I spend hours every day researching my books—walking…

Spotlight | May 16, 2024

Featured image for “Kay Stevens and Beth Kerber, Cross Country Collaboration”
Anne Marie Duquette

Kay Stevens and Beth Kerber, Cross Country Collaboration

I’d been herding with Border collies for about 10 years when Kay Stephens approached me about writing a book. I said “Yes.” I saw a need for a book that looked at sheepdog training through…

Spotlight | May 13, 2024

Featured image for “Barbara Buchmayer, Positive Herding Techniques”
Anne Marie Duquette

Barbara Buchmayer, Positive Herding Techniques

Thanks to DWAA and all the members and judges who donated their time to make this contest happen. I have a farm background and my main dog sport addiction is herding. My first two books…

Spotlight | May 9, 2024

Featured image for “Jen Reeder, Celebrating Freelance Success”
Anne Marie Duquette

Jen Reeder, Celebrating Freelance Success

I was extra excited since it’s the first year this award has been offered. I love watching the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving with my dogs, and I love therapy dogs. In fact, the reason…

Spotlight | May 6, 2024

Featured image for “Pam Atherstone, Rescue Advocate”
Anne Marie Duquette

Pam Atherstone, Rescue Advocate

Rescue groups are a cause close to my heart, and I wanted to give back in a unique way to educate youngsters about them. Except for my horse, who was born in my pasture, all…

Spotlight | May 2, 2024

Featured image for “Paula Piatt, Lab Lover”
Anne Marie Duquette

Paula Piatt, Lab Lover

Labrador retrievers have been part of our family for almost 40 years, and we’ve seen their health issues, their quirks, and their unconditional love. Having been through so much with them and having the ability…

Spotlight | April 29, 2024

Featured image for “Angela Schneider, Capturing Emotion through the Camera’s Lens”
Anne Marie Duquette

Angela Schneider, Capturing Emotion through the Camera’s Lens

A camera has been a part of my hand since I was 12 years old. Among the first photos I ever took were of my rough collie Princess. As a young sports reporter in Canada,…

Spotlight | April 25, 2024

Featured image for “Stephanie Keesey-Phelan, Ph.D., BCBA, CSAT, CCUI, FFCP, Canine Behavior Analyst”
Anne Marie Duquette

Stephanie Keesey-Phelan, Ph.D., BCBA, CSAT, CCUI, FFCP, Canine Behavior Analyst

I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and have a doctoral degree in Behavior Analysis. At The Dog Behavior Institute (DBI), I work with my colleague and co-founder Ran Courant-Morgan to provide dog behavior consultation…

Spotlight | April 22, 2024

Featured image for “Susan Bulanda, M.A., C.A.B.C., Dog Lover and History Buff”
Anne Marie Duquette

Susan Bulanda, M.A., C.A.B.C., Dog Lover and History Buff

I wrote my book for a general audience, especially dog lovers and history buffs. I am a certified animal (dog and cat) behavior consultant with the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. I also have…

Spotlight | April 18, 2024