Crying foul

Today I went to work with the prison dog and handlers. While there I was told about a visitor that had brought a service dog, wearing a marked service dog vest, during visitation. Because the woman handling the dog did not have a visable disability, my primary handler asked her husband what the dog was used for. He was curious. Was it a hearing dog? A seizure alert dog? Or perhaps a diabetic alert dog? It turns out it didn't really matter because that she doesn't use the dog for herself. It belonged to a family member that passed away.

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Wait a minute. Whaaa???
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My question is, why is this dog wearing the vest and using it's priviledges as a service dog if it isn't in service of a handler or being trained? Pet's aren't allowed on the premises or at visits after all.
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Is it me, or does anyone else see this as an abuse of priviledge?
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It's not bad enough that I field calls from people who want to get service dog training for their pet just so they can take their dog where ever they want. "Um that's not what a service dog is for, sorry I can't help you." Unfortunatly I have had more than a couple of those calls and get them regularly. It always boggles my mind what people think they can do.
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Now I hear this example of blatant misuse(?) of a service dog. If there is a problem that crops up it has the potential to become a black mark against service dogs. Is this dog keeping current with training with the new person handling? Does the new person know all the commands and signals for the dog? The list goes on. I forgot to ask what kind of dog it was as I was so angry about the situation in general. So the details escaped me.
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I ask you though, "What is wrong with people?" It makes my head want to explode.
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Note: Dog in photo above not the dog in question. Cute though isn't he? Oh yeah, and because he looks like a pitbull he could be confiscated and killed in parts of Canada.
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Onto the second thing that makes my head want to explode. Check out this blog: http://savemunchie.blogspot.com
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For the record even french bulldogs are at risk in Canada due their idiocy about pitbulls. Unfortunatly it isn't just Canada we need to worry about, there are places here in the states enacting similar stupid laws as well. If you think breed bans don't affect you, think again. As you can see in the munchie case, ANY breed is at risk. It is about the people making decisions as to what dogs are pit bulls (or pit mixes) that is the problem. Not trained professionals by the way, just whoever they find to take the job. Scary if you ask me.
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Now a quote about the media I found both fitting and profoundly sad by Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert.

"Reporters are faced with the daily choice of painstakingly researching stories or writing whatever people tell them. Both approaches pay the same."
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Makes it all that much clearer don't you think?

Great expectations

This is Jenny sunning herself on the back of the couch in the window. Not a bad idea on this chilly winter day.

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I was at a kennel club meeting last night and I mentioned that our newest member of the family had been labeled our problem child. (lovingly of course) I went on to talk a little about our struggles with house training*, resource guarding, and some redirected aggression thrown in for good measure. The RG and aggression is thankfully easily managed and we are working on future prevention and treatment with a program. *Interesting note: Her "accidents" have all happened when I am not home which leads me to believe I may have a husband training issue on my hands.*

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Not all trainers would admit they have a dog that wasn't a perfect angel all of the time. Trainers should be able to handle every problem easily, quickly, and have dogs that are above and beyond a regular pet owners dog right?

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Some trainers would have you believe that but I'm here to tell you that is a complete load of heifer dung. Dogs are dogs. Living breathing beings. Each is a unique individual with their own issues. Our challenge is finding how best to address those issues and create a life that is as comfortable (harmonious?) for everyone as possible. Even in our own homes. That takes time. We all have different rules and expectations for our dogs. As much as we love them, they are not going to be perfect, tho some may come closer than others in our sometimes biased opinions. Our expectations are an important part of how we perceive the dogs we have.

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I think having a dog with issues to work through actually makes us better trainers. Better because we can now more readily identify with the clients we seek to help. Being more likely to have lived through it personally, we will have also gleaned experience that we can then share. Here's what worked for me, here's what didn't - can be a great resource for others. It saves them time by getting to learn from your trial and error.

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I can also tell you that having had big dogs for years and then adding small dogs to the household, with their squishy faces and different body types, has helped my training skills immensely. Living with various breeds has taught me so much more than just working with them on a regular basis did. (in my case) In part for me because reading dog body language is a huge part of my job. It helps me know the dogs state of mind as I am teaching them. Reading body language is a must for doing any sort of behavioral work as well. Having different breeds has taught me some different accents of that language in a sense. An akitas facial expressions and a frenchies face are quite different after all. (floppy ears, upright ears, tail, no tail also play in)

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The conversation about problems, when I mulled it over in my head later, made me start to think more about the expectations we have of our dogs. Remember they are all individuals and can't be painted with the same brush.

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Here is one example:

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People want their dog to not only not soil in the house, but to come tell them when they need to go out.

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I wonder if this may be unrealistic for some. One example: Dogs have a different perception of the area they live in and will soil the areas outside their own perceived important living area. That might just be down the hall. But it's part of our house and home you say? Well to the dog it isn't an important part and is therefore fair game. They aren't sneaking off, they are just going to the place they haven't claimed as important. (important enough not to soil that is) This is why we can employ crate training during the housetraining phase so effectively. That is a space they do not want to soil. So getting them to learn we prefer them to soil outside, and then having them make the extra leap to asking to go out an be a difficult bridge to find for some dogs.

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I take my dogs out on a pretty regular schedule, plus whenever they have been crated and I return home. (and after the big 3 of course - eating, sleeping and playing) Regardless of where we are in training or management I have never expected any of my dogs, past or present, to come get me to remind me to take them out.

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Am I asking to little of them, or am I meeting their needs in a timely manner?

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This is only one example of expections.

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Each of my dogs has their own issues. Missy likes to scream her hello when we walk back in the house like she is being flayed alive. Jack can be to pushy with some other dogs. And we have discussed our dear Jenny. Who I forgot to mention is also a notorious teddy bear thief.

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Everyone has different perceptions of what they feel is important for their dogs to learn as well. For my dogs I teach them what works for me and our family situation. Those include:

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No biting.

No running out the door.

No jumping on people. (unless given permission)

No dragging me around on the leash.

No hard chew toys on the couch. (drool, ick!)

No soiling in the house. (a work in progress for one)

Sit stay for meals until permission given.

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I expect others to do the same, find and use what works for them in their home. Just because I let my dogs on the couch doesn't mean I expect my clients to be the same way. If they want to let their dogs chew bones on the couch, that is fine by me. They are the ones living with them after all. Unless it encrouches on safety issues, it is all good.

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In training we hear unrealistic expectations frequently. "I want my dog to not get in the garbage when I am gone. I want my puppy to stop chewing on me when I roughhouse with him. I want my puppy to not soil it's crate when I am gone to work for 8 hours". I want I want I want. This is why I consider so much of my job to be translating. Explaining why dogs do what they do, and what can be considered a realistic expectation from them. Thankfully, once explained to most clients, there is what Oprah calls "The lightbulb moment" and the road to a peaceful co-existence is stepped upon. Bridging the gap to clear communication between dog and owner is the most important lesson I can teach.

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Once communication is established, the quality of life improves for both the dog and owner dramatically. And that is why I continue to love my job.

The three musketeers on a crime spree. (Who said you can get on the bed?)

My nephew

This is my sisters dog Zeus.


She adopted Zeus after Katrina from our local shelter who worked to get some of those dogs shipped up here. As you will see he is quite small for a bulldog. He needed to have a vet visit and she had to work so I took him for her.

**Note: Before you rush out to get a bulldog because they are cute be aware many are walking vet bills. Zeus is no exception. Being a bulldog, and most likely a back yard bred dog, he is at the vet ALOT for skin issues and needs constant bathing. He could also use a surgery to help his breathing in the future. Note his tongue doesn't quite fit his mouth.**

When she came to pick him up I had her show off his paw trick and in general be cute to catch some video of him.

The video below might not show an opening photo but if you hit play at the left it should work just fine.

He also snores and throws up alot. (food regurge) But we love him anyways. :-)

You can't please them all

Jake has been at the prison for less that a full day and I already have someone irritated with me. That was fast. Or more accurately my decision to put him in the program. An unhappy gentleman called me at home and left a message on my machine wondering why I would send him to the program if he already had someone interested in adopting him. (That person being him.)

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I have one very good answer for that. It isn't about getting him into a home, it is about him getting into a home so that he KEEPS it. Sure a handsome boxer will garner lots of interest, but his inappropriate behavior and lack of training might just get him a revolving door adoption once his behavior pushes the new adopters past his cute threshold.

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So I'm here to say, it isn't about you Mr. Adopter, but the dog that matters most here. I'm sorry you are annoyed that you missed out on him when his adoption fee would have been lower as you complained about on my machine. If you really are interested in him, than you may put in a new application once he is finished with his basic training. Trust me, the higher adoption fee doesn't begin to cover the cost of training if you were to get the same on the outside once he has been adopted. If you are a good match, and if your current dog gets along with him, then you might be his next home. Until then, he will be at the prison learning manners and lessons to help make that transition easier for everyone in his next home.

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In the meantime you are welcome to check out the FIVE boxer rescue groups that cover our area that have more than a few handsome dogs available for adoption if you are dead set on getting another boxer. But know that they work to match dogs into the right home as well. It's not like ordering fast food. It's adding a family member that will be with you for years to come. Our goal is to make those years happy ones that last in that home.

http://www.boxerrescue.com/

http://www.boxerbuddies.org/

http://boxersinneed.org/

http://boxerangelsrescue.com/

http://www.secondchanceboxer.com/

There is nothing wrong with having patience when looking to add a dog to your home. Good things come to those who wait after all.

***P.S. The cutie in the photo above is Tyson who is available through Second Chance Boxer Rescue***

New prison dog

First meet Woodrow. How cute is he? I got to meet Woody the other day along with his big brother and big sister. They just needed some tips to keep the family on track towards good manners.

Here is the new K-9 Corrections program dog Jake. He is a boxer that came to the shelter as a stray. Hard to believe this beauty was not claimed by an owner. He just needs a little polishing of his manners along with some obedience work and he will be a great pet for someone.

And oh yeah, his tongue doesn't always fit into his mouth. You can see why below. This makes for some interesting expressions at times.

Yikes!

And a bit of him on video settling in.

He is going to be alot of fun to work with. The handlers were very happy to get a outgoing social dog this time around. I am also VERY pleased to report that Grizz has been adopted into a home with two dogs that he plays well with. All progress reports have been positive. Yay for Grizz! I love it when a plan comes together.

Tracking Journal - two Golden Retrievers, a German Shepherd and a Border Collie work beginners and advanced tracks on a beautiful winter's day

Katie and I went tracking today. It was a beautiful, warm sunny winter day. We met at Lakehead University, by the education building. The snow is still crusty enough that you can walk on top. Mind you Katie found the ONE spot where she went in over her knees - she backed up, making a great dead end on Dawson's track. We each laid tracks for Dawson and River - both about 350 - 400 meters long, and both aged about 1.5 hours. In the meantime, we laid shorter tracks - about 250 meters - for Ted and Henley and aged them close to 30 minutes.

PHOTO ONE: Henley (pictured above) has been tracking since he was about 10 weeks old and it sure shows! At 9 months of age, he is getting pretty track sure, not deviating much from the primary track. Photo by Karen Boyes

Dawson sits at his articles, but Katie is teaching Henley to lie down now. At the beginning of his track, Henley took awhile to warm up to things. There was a westerly wind, and it was quite warm. I think the warmth in particular caused both Ted and Henley to lose focus a little as new and exciting smells are starting to emerge from the cold winter snow. Today, Henley definitely outdid Ted in the focus department though. That's what you get when you start a pup at such a young age.

Ted started tracking last fall, at 2.5 years old. He learned quickly but is still at this stage where he thinks it is a great GAME. I am starting to work on convincing him that it is business. After working Ted today, I have a new game plan in mind. The next time we go out, I will make his track longer, as I notice he settles in and gets more business-like as the track goes on. I will also lay a short, straight line track to run him on prior to doing the main track, to let him get his sillies overwith before we move on to the main track.

Today, Ted was over-excited and so he kept losing focus with all the other great smells out there. The last time we were out, I noticed that Ted did a nice job on his corners, but he was checking to make sure I was following before committing fully.

Since Ted is the second Border Collie I have taught to track now, I am developing a theory about how they are

a) fast learners and a bit too smart sometimes

b) very visually aware of their surroundings and movement, easily connecting it to related activity and

c) very pressure sensitive, reacting to your body language so easily.

Today with Ted I tried to do what I had done with Jet back in the winter and spring of 2006 (was it really two years ago?) At each corner I tried to face direction we had been going, with no clues for him. After a few circles without getting anywhere, he would put his head down and get to work. I laid a track with lots of corners. Once he chose his own direction, he only had to go about 20 metres to a glove and a treat. Like last time, I took each intermediate glove away, encouraging him to get back to business, only playing with the last one.

MAP #1 (above) Shows Ted's track (top) and River's (below). Picture these areas blanketed with crusty, white snow! The roadways and parking lots were bare today. As you can see by Ted's path in yellow, he was quartering a lot, with me trying my best to keep a shorter, tighter line. The wind affected him a little, but he was also very interested in the fresh spring-like smells. The hardest time he had was emerging FROM the treeline back onto the open field, fanning back and forth. When he finally got past the treeline, he was fine and right on track.

I laid a track with 6 corners, and by the 4th corner, he stopped trying to see which way I would follow, and more or less buckled down. On the last corner, he had the scent of the glove as the wind was coming from that direction, and he cut a corner, pulled to a clump of bushes where he was clearly finding scent, then lunged forward to intersect the track again. He nailed the last article, which I put out on parking lot. This was a pretty advanced move for him, so I was pretty proud! I think I will do a longer track tomorrow for him, because the longer he is on track, the more business-like he gets. I was not happy with my line handling today (with my new line, too!) Ted was very busy but needed a lot more focus and flow. All I can do is keep working at it, and I know it will come.

I remember Jet in her early stages of tracking training. She was such a brat, and too smart for her own good. At corners, she watched for my body language cues. I am sure she thought she could just train me, of course. Instead of me learning to read my dog, my dog was learning to read me!! In her early days of training, Jet would get to a corner, lose scent and try every direction, watching to see which one I would follow. I have never seen this behaviour in my German Shepherds, who tend to lunge into the line early on in their training. With my Rough Collies, I have been very hesitant to ask for too much pull, always just following right away, as I have found them much more sensitive to my hesitation, and also sensitive to too much drag on the tracking line. They like a lighter touch (at least mine have.)

In tracking, you want your dog to HAUL you along and take charge, and in tests of course, you need this because you won't know where the track goes. It is difficult in training when you lay your own tracks, because you have to find that line between rewarding your dog for finding a corner by following right away - and asking for more pull from your dog at a corner (and pretending you don't know where it goes.) Bear in mind that not every dog has the same style, and what "haul" means to one dog, is different to another. Mainly you want them to take charge and pull ahead expecting you to follow.

MAP #2 (ABOVE) I think Dawson is destined to be the next UTDX dog in Thunder Bay. A bunch of us had him pegged as our next local Tracking Champion when we saw him pass his UTD so easily last fall. He loves to track. And little Henley is the up and comer! As you can see, Dawson barely deviated from the primary track today. Dawson and Henley's tracks were adjacent to River and Ted's. The four maps can be pieced together and comprise the entire front grounds of Lakehead University. We parked in the centre, and barely had to walk 20 steps to each scent pad.

PHOTO #2 BELOW - This is a photo of Dawson doing a demo track for the Winter Class, on February 2nd. It was a warm, snowy day. Check out how similar Dawson and Henley look (Henley's photo is above). Photo by Karen Boyes.

When first training a dog to track, you have to spend most of your time at corners just following the moment they take the turn. The more you do this, the more your dog will believe in himself and realize you trust him. If you build in too much hesitation at a corner, even artificially, you will create a corner dance, where your dog doesn't take off on the new leg because you have created a behaviour pattern of hesitation and not following. So I only ask for more pull strategically and rarely.


River and Katie's UTD dog Dawson were all business! Their tracks were both 1.5 hours old. Dawson literally nailed his track, which was half on snow (which would have been veg) and half on non-veg. Since it was so warm today, the non-veg was truly non-veg and non-snow! He checked Katie's deadend, and came back in seconds, to confidently make his way down a little gravel road to the main road to find an article. He then turned into the parking lot, and turned again to the last article, which was a great rubber squeaky toy! Dawson was so delighted he played with his toy in the snow for awhile. Finding a toy instead of a glove clearly impressed him. Katie did this, because he is getting in the habit of 'eating' his gloves when he finds them!




River (pictured above) did a nice job too. As you can see in her map (Map one, above), there are two areas where she went off track (marked in yellow). Going down the sidewalk, she kept leaping on and over a snowbank, following the scent drift in the direction of the wind. She overshot her turn on the parking lot near the end, but easily came back on track as she winded the glove. I was especially happy with how deep River's nose was again today.

Julie and I have been working using more articles and lots of food rewards at the articles. I can see the results. Today River had 5 gloves - I am keeping the articles simple for her right now as I WANT her to be rewarded for having her nose down - I am not making it an article exercise. It is working so well, that she practically looked like a schutzhund dog, going from step to step in the snow.

Goodbye, Mr. Chip

Our sincere condolences go out to Jenny Glen on the loss of her dog Chip. You can read about it here: http://altapetestockdogs.blogspot.com/

I didn't know Chip well even though I did meet him a few times. But I do know that he meant a lot to Jenny. Thinking about him tonight, made me think about the main character in the old movie Goodbye Mr. Chips. I Googled the movie and found this description of Arthur Chipping, the main character, who was nicknamed Chips as a schoolboy:

Mr. Chips is the much-loved schoolmaster who devotes his life to Brookfield school and its generations of schoolboys in this poignant, classic story of a man who becomes a truly inspirational teacher.

I was trying to think of a connection, and realized it was right there in front of me. Each one of our dogs is a teacher, placed in our lives for a reason. Jenny's Chip devoted his life to her. Chip has gone on ahead and I am sure he got a great welcome from some great dogs, all inspirational teachers!

Ted’s Beans (How Ted lost his Groove)

Dogs and food. Foods they want. Foods they love. Foods that are good for them. Foods they won’t eat. It can make me crazy!

Yesterday was my father’s birthday. The dogs thought that his plate of goodies was for THEM! Shaman actually made an impolite grab for some cake. River was game at first, but didn’t like the flames on the candles, so I had a hard time convincing her to stay in this photo.

This was Ted’s first experience with birthdays and birthday cake. Usually he is a very happy-go-lucky guy, and in this photo you can tell he expects good things. For his part, my poor Dad was just trying to guard his cake...he loves the dogs, but lives with one very polite cat and forgets what a bunch of dogs can be like gathered around your dish!

Fast forward to today. After a long day at work, I got into my PJs early today and spent some time putting a hook on my NEW TRACKING LINE! (More to come on that later). As usual, the dogs started to mill around. The clock in their tummies told them I should be making their dinners. That’s when I realized…

I FORGOT TO BUY DOGFOOD!

I had to set all of my tracking gear aside and start scrounging through the fridge and cupboards. I just switched all of the dogs to Orijen, which is a great holistic food and meets my requirements with respect to cancer prevention feeding theories. This was after tons of research over the years, so I knew I could make something from what I had in the house.

I managed to cook them up a really good, gourmet meal:

4 pork chops
Rice
6 eggs
Canola oil
Dried apricots
Green beans
Turmeric
Mustard
Ginger
Garlic
Coconut oil
Chicken broth



I tasted it before I dished it out. Yummy! And a beautiful yellow from the spices and egg yolks. It reminded me of the days when I made homemade food for my old boy, our German Shepherd Hawk. In his old age he had lots of aches and pains from sore joints and a sore back from Degenerative Myelopathy. I researched a diet of supplements for him, mostly from Dr. Richard Clemmons’s website dedicated to this condition in dogs.

I remembered that green beans were specifically recommended, and was patting myself on the back for my good memory and for my dedication – to whip this meal up for the dogs tonight! (Sidebar comment - what an exciting Friday night…I just realized that I am cooking for my dogs, and writing about it, while other people are going to the show and out for dinner!)

As I dished out this dinner, the dogs were literally dancing around with round eyes, excited that this food really was for them! As I cleaned the kitchen I heard the happy sounds of dogs eating.

But something was wrong. Usually, Ted inhales his food and runs to the kitchen within seconds to announce that he is finished!

What was wrong? Where was Ted?























I peeked around the counter to see a very unhappy Ted look up at me from his dish. On closer inspection, all that was left in his dish was a pile of green beans!

Ted, who inhales everything, doesn’t like beans!

He TRIED to eat one, and spit it out. He TRIED another. Yuck. River came over to see what the hold-up was. Ted got desperate – could he let her have his beans? After posturing over them for a few seconds, he thought better of it and just turned his back on the beans and walked away.

River had eaten her whole dinner, beans and all. But without the yummy food to go with them, beans on their own lost their appeal. She tried to eat them, but couldn’t do it either. I called Ted back to his beans – and look at the look on his face. Compare it to the happy look in the birthday photo above!

Ted lost his groove over beans! This is the FIRST TIME since having Ted (9 months) that I have seen him walk away from food! I knew it had to be blogged.

No worries. I knew Shaman would eat them. If you knew what else Shaman ate, you would know that beans must seem like a great delicacy (enough said).

Good boy Shaman.

Cloning and it's idiocy

I wasn't planning on another post quite so soon but I read something over at itchmo that annoyed me greatly and thinking about it made my head want to explode.

http://www.itchmo.com/ It seems that for a mere $150,000 you can get your pet cloned by a company. Put your order in now.

The flaws as I see them?

First, you are only getting a genetic duplicate of your previous pet. NOT the same behaviors or temperment.

Second, there are pets DYING in shelters EVERY FREAKING DAY and you want to spend ridculous gobs of money to bring another into the world because you can't let go of the past?

Third, imagine what that amount of money could do for your local shelter or rescue ON TOP of that fact that you could adopt a pet, and perhaps be saving that life, at the same time.

It is ridculous on so many levels that I find it obscene. Yet another example of our "I want it now." society being idioticly shortsighted. Selfish on a grand scale in my opinion.

Here's a better idea for your excess money, (because if you can afford the cost of cloning in my book, it's excess) how about you support a cause like My Wonderful Dog or other similar programs. Or share the wealth and improve our planet in some way. Build a shelter and name it after your past pet, a much more honorable memorial to their memory. Don't waste it reach it for a goal that is unattainable.

***The dog in the top photo are my first two akitas, Shimo and Kuma. I love and miss them dearly but would never clone them because I would still not have the essence of THEM back.***

Closing doors

I got an e-mail today from Elsa Larsen of My Wonderful Dog. http://www.wonderfuldogs.org/ For those that don't already know, they train service dogs for the disabled in Portland Maine. It seems they are closing their doors due to lack of funding. How I wish I were independently wealthy and in a position to help.

Here is the letter with details on a sale they are having THIS WEEKEND of dog related equiptment. (I hope this helps get the word out for them.)

Goodbye...



Dear friends,



I am saddened to tell you that after 8 years, My Wonderful Dog will be closing its doors at the end of the month. We have quite simply, run out of money and cannot continue to operate.



It has been a bittersweet, wild ride. Thank you all for your support, your love, and well wishes. I see so many problems in the world today and I am grateful that you have allowed me the opportunity to see the enormous amount of good in people. Thank you Maine, and a special thanks to those of you in the greater Portland area, for the opportunity, even for a short while, to pursue my dream. It has been an honor to work with you, both human and canine alike, and it has touched me deeply. Here's to the dogs that enrich our lives with their unbridled joy and enthusiasm. They certainly do make our lives whole.

Elsa LarsenMy Wonderful Dog

Assistance Dogs for People with Disabilities



"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown

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Inventory Sale this Weekend



This Saturday Feb. 23rd and Sunday the 24th from 9-3, My Wonderful Dog will hold an inventory sale at our Portland Training center at 54 Cove Street off Marginal Way. Open to the public. Cash and checks preferred, credit cards accepted.



To pay off our debt, we must sell all of the contents of our facility. Included in the inventory are dog crates, office supplies and furniture, training equipment, books and DVD's. There are framed dog photos and a beautiful 5' x 5' painting by local artist Toni Wolf. There is a washer/dryer, refrigerator, microwave, dog bowls, leashes, pig's ears, bully sticks and more.



Volunteer help is needed both days to help with the sale! Please email Jess at jessicahart31@gmail.com if you can lend a hand.

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Van for Sale



My Wonderful Dog will be selling our 2006 Chevy Express cargo van. This vehicle has 30,000 miles, is an automatic with power brakes, power windows and locks. The van is also equipped with all wheel drive making it exceptionally safe to drive in winter.



If you are interested in finding out more, please call Elsa at 329-2925.

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Head Trainer will Continue to Train Dogs



CEO and head trainer, Elsa Larsen, will continue to work with pet dogs and their owners in the greater Portland area. "Dogs have been my life for the past 10 years and I can't imagine not working with them in some capacity", says Larsen. Although she is still trying to find a suitable space to rent for group classes, Elsa will be doing in-home consults and will continue to work with aggressive dogs.

For rates and more information call Elsa at 329-2925. If you would like to subscribe to her newsletter for upcoming events, training advice and class details and schedules, click here to send her an email. (elarsen@maine.rr.com)

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Do You Have Space for Rent?



Head trainer Elsa Larsen needs a home. While she will continue to do in-home training for pet dogs and their owners; she is without a space to continue her very popular group classes. "Ideally what I need is 1500 to 1800 sf. to rent from week to week" says Larsen. If you have information about a possible home for Elsa please call her at 329-2925.

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I for one am very VERY saddened by the news of the closing. They were a fabulous facility working for a really great cause. I really admired the work they did. I am glad to know she will still be training in the area and hosting those fabulous behavior and training seminars with guest speakers. The next will be with Jean Donaldson on July 13th. (I'll be sure to post details once it gets closer.)

I wish Elsa much success in her new journey. For her, an Irish Blessing:

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

The rains fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again

May God hold you In the palm of His hand.

*****

A Woman's Best Friend - her dog

I ran across this today and thought I would share it...

A Woman's Best Friend

By Erica Jong - please see website credit below...
from Cigar Aficionado, June 2000

Man's best friend is also a woman's. A strong woman can accomplish anything with a loyal dog at her side. Men may come and go, but dogs walk (and sniff) on forever. Like men, dogs think with their noses.

Unlike men, dogs are fiercely loyal. I could tell you the story of my life through the dogs I have loved. I could tell you the story of the losses in my life through their deaths. Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love and loyalty. They depart to teach us about loss. We try to replace them but never quite succeed.

A new dog never replaces an old dog; it merely expands the heart. If you have loved many dogs, your heart is very big.

The article continues, as she describes the dogs in her life... it is worth the read - very compassionate and funny -http://www.ericajong.com/womansbestfriend.htm

Ted the Border Collie's Excellent Tracking Adventure in the Snow

This afternoon I laid a track on the snow of a field out in the country. It had a nice crust and was not deep, although it was icy in spots and there are some skidoo trails criss-crossing the field. I laid a big square track on the little centre field for Ted. I used 12 gloves and put a piece of sausage between each one.

In the photo above, Ted is seen lying in the snow at home. We have had a LOT of snow this winter!

My training goals for Ted today were:

1. Teach him that tracking is a job, not just all play;

2. Get a more consistent article indication;

3. Reward him in a low-key manner at all articles and have a big party at the last glove, and

4. Get his nose down more, and prevent too much quartering on the track...Ted gets very excited when he tracks and runs it with his head up more than I would like.

Ted is a son of Scott Glen's Pleat. He is two years old, but only learned to track last Fall. This winter, I’ve been working on his article indications with toys in the house. I ask him to lie down though he often picks the toy up and flips it in the air as well. He should not lunge at the toy when I try to pick it up (it is in play, but he is very possessive) so I say “steady now” (which is a herding command Scott Glen taught him) . He is learning to wait and be patient.

Today I used the "steady now" command on the track at articles. He would come to a glove and leap on it, toss it in the air and then lie down. When I tried to pick it up, if he lunged I said “steady now." Ted realized right away what we were doing. I told him in a very calm voice - good boy, let’s go find more.

At first he stared in disbelief while I looked up at the sky. I had a little piece of sausage for him just after each glove, so he would get a reward for getting back to work. After about 4 gloves, he started to whirl around right away when I took his glove away.

It is so apparent to me that Ted has had such a good training foundation from Scott Glen, who owned him until I was lucky enough to buy him last spring. He is very open to training suggestions from me, and amenable to going with them in a very trusting manner until he gets the big picture and adopts the behaviour. Although we often say dogs without a lot of training do better in tracking, I find that some dogs "learn how to learn" and become more open to working with their handler as a team. I also find tracking and herding are very compatible, as tracking does not require any looking back or "watch me" behaviours, and actually encourages a dog to take charge and let's them think for themselves and sort out problems using their natural talent and instinct.

At the LAST glove – he got to play and run and be goofy and I tossed it for him for about 10 minutes. The only thing I am thinking about now, is to make sure that he stays motivated and that I don’t “Un-motivate” him by accident, since this is new to me.

Ted is the most toy / play focused dog I have ever trained to track and he doesn’t really need so much food – he is the first dog I have ever trained (Jet included) where I can actually use play as a reward! Imagine after all these years of tracking having a dog with such different behaviours that I am still learning new stuff. I love it.

By the way, I did a track for River today too, with lots of articles as well. She had her nose right down, and nailed her turns! She always make me feel very proud. River has never been much into play, despite many early attempts to interest her in toys when she first learned to track. She is more into stealing and hording toys from the other dogs. Tracking with River helped me to get a picture in my mind of what I am aiming for with Ted...a steady and consistent track, with a lot of flow. River put up quite a fuss when it was Ted's turn to track...after all, shouldn't it be all about River?

This photo of River was taken during a Christmas tree hunting expedition last year. She is a long-coated German Shepherd. Despite her funny "attitude" ear, I find her very charming and pretty.

Dog Sport Magazine article about blind dog earning her TDX "Hellon, the dog who sees with her heart"

As promised, here the full text of an article I wrote for Dog Sport magazine's July 2006 issue. For those of you unfamiliar with the magazine, it is a great performance -oriented magazine, you can check out their website by clicking here - www.dogsportmagazine.com

Hellon, the dog who sees with her heart

by Donna Smith

Last May, an eight-year old Flat-coated Retriever named Hellon made tracking history by overcoming the odds to earn her TDX. Hellon is the first blind dog in North America to earn this title. Formally known as Labrys High Spirits Extreme TDX, she was bred by Joey Farrell and Linda Roe of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

This achievement is even more remarkable because Hellon was diagnosed with cancer last fall. As she progressed along the three-hour old track, we held our breath knowing this would be the last tracking trial for Hellon. When she reached the final glove, Linda dropped to her knees, hugging her as the crowd surged forward with congratulations. It had been a long journey, worth every step.

The biggest barrier to Hellon’s tracking success is not her lack of vision. It was proving that blindness is not a disability in tracking. A dog’s primary faculty is scent, not sight, and tracking is a sport where the nose is the thing.

“The chief handicap of the blind is not blindness, but the attitude of seeing people towards them.” Helen Keller

People worried whether Hellon would be safe in the field. What if she bumped into a tree or fell over an embankment? Linda persevered. When Hellon was ready, permission was granted by the CKC to enter a trial. Hellon demonstrated that she was exceptionally able to do the job, earning her TD in 2002.

Hellon’s namesake, Helen Keller, was blind and deaf from childhood. A creative teacher named Ann Sullivan opened up a new world for Helen. Biographers have debated who had greater determination, Ann Sullivan or her student. Like Ann Sullivan, Linda Roe had faith in Hellon and was determined to enrich Hellon’s life from the time she was born.

Hellon was born dehydrated but she was a fighter, latching onto a nipple and rapidly recovering to become a boisterous, cheerful puppy. “Hellon’s life is good attitude gives her inner strength,” says Linda. “We knew she was special and always say she has “extra ability” not a disability.”

Linda took Hellon everywhere, teaching her verbal cues to help her cope with her surroundings. Hellon even learned to swim in their training pond, retrieving bumpers she found with her nose. “Courage has always been Hellon’s motto," says Linda. “We never held her back, always making sure she was safe. She forges ahead with the gusto of all Flat-coated Retrievers. Tracking seemed like a natural outlet for her energy.”

“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived.” Helen Keller

Studies in blind people show that the portion of the brain used for sight is reassigned to assist the brain with smell, taste, touch and hearing, making these faculties keener. When Hellon was enrolled in Spiritdance Tracking classes, I saw right away that she was a gifted tracking dog. Since she air-scented naturally, the challenge was to get her nose down.

CKC tracking involves having dogs follow the scent of crushed vegetation combined with human scent. In the beginning, most trackers use treats and toys along a track to reward the dog for following the scent left by the tracklayer. Handlers point to the ground to encourage the dog along. Linda had to think of creative ways to get started. She would lie Hellon down nose to nose with yummy pieces of bait and say, “Find it!”

“Hellon quickly learned this game, proudly carrying gloves around at home,” says Linda. “She became a dog with a new sense of purpose.”

Linda used a scented drag to motivate Hellon as tracks became more complex. Linda’s drag was an old sock filled with disgusting old limburger cheese and garlic sausage. As you can imagine, it left a strong scent on the ground. Hellon soon learned to put her nose down when asked to track.

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." Helen Keller

Linda’s challenges were keeping up with Hellon physically and learning to read Hellon’s body language. Hellon would spin in frustration if Linda was too slow.

“Tracking is a great game to Hellon,” says Linda. “She has a sense of humour. She would tease me by lifting her head and taking a few steps off the track. She would wag and giggle, then get going.” Linda would say, “Are you working?” to Hellon during her silly moments. When Hellon looked straight into Linda’s eyes, no one would ever have known she was blind. With a skip and a shrug, she would take off.

“Sometimes, she would race in a circle wrapping the line around my legs. I knew she was expressing the sheer joy she felt so I would let her get it out of her system,” Linda noted. “I could tell when she was on track because her whiskers curved forward and bristled. Hellon had a style all her own.”

Hellon never missed an article. On windy days, Hellon would sometimes follow scent drift, and then suddenly leap sideways to pounce on a glove. There was never any pointing or guiding with Hellon – only verbal encouragement and praise.

When Hellon earned her TD, test judge Dawn Sanderson said, “Hellon had a very committed start and was very track sure. During the test, a flock of geese flew overhead and Hellon looked up. Once the honking subsided, Hellon went back to work and tracked with confidence to the article.”

Linda set her sights on a Tracking Dog Excellent title. A more complex title, it would prove Hellon’s ability to track. In a TDX test, the dog must finish a track that is nearly one kilometer long, three to five hours old, find multiple articles and ignore crosstracks laid by people intersecting the primary track. There are vegetation changes along the way, including a road cross. The pass rate for TD is 50%, dropping significantly for TDX.

Two days before the 2005 tracking test, Linda learned that Hellon had cancer. Hellon tracked just within reach of the final article. She tried to pull Linda the right way, but Linda was nervous and unable to think clearly. Linda and Hellon practiced through winter, with Hellon climbing over snow banks to the glove. Hellon lost weight. Linda tightened her harness a few notches. By this spring, Hellon was visibly slower. The May trial would be her last chance.

Test day was perfect. Rain had made the vegetation green and lush. Linda drew the third TDX track, which ran at 10:00 in the morning. “It all felt so right,” recalls Linda. “Hellon’s tracklayer was Carolyn Homonko, our obedience instructor. I had a flashback to the obedience class remembering how surprised people were to find out Hellon was blind after sixteen weeks and two classes together. I was reminded of her strength and felt confident. It was good karma to see Carolyn waiting with Dawn Sanderson, who had judged Hellon’s successful TD.”

Hellon seemed to know this was an important day. She did not tease Linda with any goofy routines. Instead, she took off across the field and across a dirt road looking very business-like. We were hunkered behind trees, watching Dawn and Carolyn keep pace behind the team. The track turned toward the crowd and we knew Hellon was on her last leg. Suddenly, her head came up. She walked off the track to sniff the air, head pointed to the far horizon. When her usual grin was not there, we realized that Hellon was tired.

A judge will wait as long as the dog is working. This time, Linda was prepared and she unleashed her secret weapon. “Where are your Timbits, Hellon?” she asked. Hellon loves the little donuts from Tim Horton’s, passed to her through the window at the coffee shop drive-through. Hellon came back to the track, put her nose down, and pulled Linda the rest of the way to the glove.

“It was a privilege to judge Hellon again,” said Dawn Sanderson. “She tracked like a trooper and showed everyone she is capable of this advanced title.”

“She was exhausted,” says Linda, “But I knew we could do it. I have always had faith in her. I once read that a dog sees from the heart, and I know this is true after tracking with Hellon.”

Linda and Hellon demonstrate that the keys to tracking are motivation and a strong relationship. Through creative training, Linda gave Hellon a sense of purpose that enriched their time together. Hellon’s accomplishments have inspired others in Canada and the United States to start tracking with their blind dogs. Currently, the AKC does not permit blind dogs to enter tests but perhaps because of the CKC’s insight and Hellon’s achievements, they will review their policy.

As their instructor, I learned great lessons from Hellon. Like her namesake Helen Keller, Hellon has broken a barrier for the dogs that will follow. Her legacy will be countless dogs joyfully bounding through summer fields with their owners, pouncing on gloves.

Original article written by Donna Smith
Published in Dog Sport Magazine, July 2006
www.dogsportmagazine.com

Westminster fallout courtesy of the media

The media strikes again. Here is an article a semi-local paper did online after the show. I have comments and rebuttals from the interviewee at the end so hold your fury. Edited somewhat for space. Link to full story at end of post.

***

Beagle owners revel in Uno's triumph
Kennel owners brace for renewed interest in 'the poor man's dog'
Uno, a 15-inch beagle, poses with the trophy after winning Best in Show Tuesday at the 132nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York.

**

Dieter Bradbury is the online reporter for pressherald.com. Bradbury’s beat is designed to engage directly with readers and glean story ideas from your suggestions, Web postings and feedback. If you have comments, please post them here or send Bradbury an e-mail at dbradbury@pressherald.com

**

When a beagle won top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this week, Donna Cook couldn’t contain herself. “I was very excited about that,” said Cook, who breeds beagles and other dogs at Weskeag Labradors in South Thomaston. “I scared my 12-year-old labrador, jumping out of my chair.”
Such was the thrill that ran through the veins of Maine beagle owners when a dog named Uno was declared best in show at the prestigious competition on Tuesday. (photo-Donna with Becca at a show in Mass.)

The unpretentious breed, best known as the inspiration for cartoon characters like Snoopy and Underdog, had never won at Westminster. But this year a beagle from South Carolina defeated six other breeds in the final round, including a toy poodle, an Akita, a Sealyham terrier and an Australian shepherd.
Lori Abbott, who recently bred a litter of beagles in Farmingdale, was floored when Uno triumphed.
“I was like, ‘Oh my goodness that is amazing!’ – with all those other dogs,” she said.

***
The victory is sure to elevate the beagle’s popularity, and kennel owners are bracing for an onslaught of requests from families who want to take a puppy home.“The last time an English bulldog won that show, they were the number one selling breed in America,” said Patty Dubois, who raises beagles and other breeds at Superior Kennels in Arundel. Dubois said she fielded a call the day after the Westminster show from a Portland company that wants to use beagles in its next catalogue.

***BLOG OWNER NOTE http://www.superiorkennels.net/ looks like a PUPPYMILL to me!!!! Multiple breeds and credit cards accepted are some HUGE red flags here people. Great source here!***

**
Beagles have long been among the five most popular breeds listed by the American Kennel Club, and they generally are considered good family pets because of their tolerance for children. They are also a prized hunting dog, primarily for rabbits, and will follow their noses until they drop.
Abbott and her husband got their first beagle to hunt with four years ago.
“I kinda turned him into a baby,” she said. “So I bought a second one.”
The family now has 10 beagles and is raising their first litter for sale.

***
Cook, in South Thomaston, said beagles are highly trainable but need stimulation and exercise or they will bark out of boredom. She screens buyers to make sure they have a fenced exercise area and an understanding that the beagle needs attention from its owners.
Attention is no problem for Tony Cummings, a guide from Sidney who keeps 10 beagles for hunting and field trials. The beagle is a “poor man’s dog,” he said, because they are relatively inexpensive and common.“They were bred to run rabbits, that’s what they were bred for,” he said. Cummings feels lucky if he can sell a top beagle pup for $375 – a fraction of the cost of many other breeds. He said he didn’t watch the Westminster show and has little interest in show beagles because they are bred primarily for appearance and deportment rather than instinct, intelligence and hunting ability.
“They breed the hunting instinct right out of them, in a sense,” he said.

***BLOG OWNER NOTE ~ Brace yourselves people-here is the best part.****
Still, Cummings sees a benefit for beagle owners in Uno’s triumph.
“That’s going to bring the price of them up,” he said. “I told my cousin, if you’ve got one you want to breed, now is the time to do it.”
**
***Uugghhh!!! Makes me want to vomit. I'm sure beagle rescue is thrilled with that advice as much as I am.

**

** Note from Donna Cook the MISQUOTED beagle owner and breeder: This is the article that the Reporter Published . Guess I should have asked to read it before he associated me with it! I stressed OVER and OVER again the fact that Beagles would become popular and that they would end up in shelters in 6 months due to the popularity......and look what he quotes from another breeder in the last line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also did not say that they are easily trained, I said that they can be trained with some skill, patience and perseverance. They really are NOT an easy dog to train.

**

And here is her reply that they did NOT post online in their comments section.

**

Although I was interviewed for this article, I do take exception to many of the comments and the omissions. I am a member of a local kennel club which sponsors AKC Dog Shows and we stress Responsible Breeders and responsible dog ownership. Several of my comments to Mr Bradbury expressed a concern for the breed with it's new found popularity. I explained to him that this would result in many Beagle pups being purchased on a whim due to all of the publicity and the end result will be lots of Beagles being surrendered to shelters, tied out to dog houses and abandoned.
*
I ask that each and every person who is now considering buying a Beagle pup really research the breed and decide if they are the right breed for you and your circumstances. Look for a responsible breeder...one that will do a careful interview, advise you on responsible dog ownership and MAYBE even refuse to sell you a pup if they think the pup will not work out for you and your living arrangements. Most of all a responsible breeder will have you sign a contract that states that the pup must be returned to them if you can no longer keep the dog....at any time in the dog's life! AND expect to pay way more than $375 for a quality puppy from a responsible breeder.
*
Beagles are really not the easiest dogs to train, simply because they are a hound and are bred to work independently of the owner. They can be trained to come when called with much time and patience and skill. However, if you want to keep your pet Beagle close to you, have a fenced yard and a leash handy at all times.
*
Beagles DO make great pets for the right family that is ready for the boisterous little dogs to come into their life. So give it plenty of careful consideration before you run out and buy a Beagle puppy. A Beagle should be a "merry little hound" and " a lot of dog in a small package". Beagles also like to do what Uno did when he won.....put that head back and let loose!!!! So be prepared or choose a different, quieter breed. ~Donna Cook~
*********

I just wanted to make sure that Donnas voice gets heard PROPERLY on the subject. This is also a great lesson on the media and their curious habit of only hearing what they want to hear in an interview. It doesn't just happen in pitbull circles people so be aware. Feel free to e-mail the reporter in regards to his mistakes. (link to his e-mail above)
***

For more info on beagles, here is a link to just one of many beagle rescue groups out there. http://www.bonesbeagles.org/ As with ANY breed, research before you buy is always recommended. I find rescue is a great place to get the good and BAD info on the breeds you are considering.

***Link to full online story here:

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=169744&ac=PHnws

A visitor and some video

Yesterday my sister came over with her dog Zeus. He is a rescued bulldog. A sweet boy with a few interesting idiosyncracies. Thankfully his owner is patient about dealing with them. He is also a bit of a walking vet bill with some reoccuring skin issues. No surprise considering his most likely being of the back yard bred variety. Isn't he cute? Usually his tongue doesn't fit all the way into his mouth poor guy.

This does not adequatly capture the chaos that 4 dogs together in a small space can produce.
Did someone say treat? (Once upon a time this would have been cause for Jenny to start a fight. Progress!)
Here are some last videos of Grizz playing with Jack at the prison. He has a potential adopter coming to see him Monday. If it isn't a good match then he will begin staying back at the shelter so we can begin a new dog on the program. (and make him more visible to the public) Wish him luck!

Hurray for Hellon! Originally published in Dogs in Canada magazine

I wrote this article, which was originally published in Dogs in Canada magazine. Since then, Hellon went on to pass her TDX test to become the first blind dog in North America with this accomplishment. I will check with Dog Sport magazine to see if I have the rights to share the article I wrote with everyone about Hellon's TDX test pass. The title of that article is "Hellon, the dog who sees with her Heart." In the meantime, please enjoy!

You can see pictures of her TDX pass here: http://spiritdancedogs.blogspot.com/2006/05/5-new-tdxs-4-new-tds-in-thunder-bay.html and don't forget to vote!

Hurray for Hellon!

In September 2002 a four-year-old Flat-Coated Retriever named "Hellon" earned her Tracking Dog title in Thunder Bay Ontario under CKC tracking judge Dawn Sanderson. What makes her special is that Hellon was born blind. She is probably the first blind dog in Canada, and likely North America, to earn a Tracking Dog title.

Born without vision, Hellon is outgoing and uninhibited, and uses her nose naturally as a way of sensing direction. Her owners and breeders Linda Roe and Joey Farrell have never treated Hellon as a dog with a disability, but as a dog with an extra ability. Hellon's inclination to use her nose didn't make it easy to teach her to track. Her tendency is to hold her head high and "air scent." Tracking involves teaching a dog to follow footsteps and crushed vegetation.

Linda learned to track with Hellon’s mother “Meaghan” - OTCh Ch Butterblac's Sudden Appearance WCI JH TD - earning her TD in September 2001 under CKC tracking Judge Mike Wood. The eleven-year-old Flat-Coat went on to earn her American TD at the Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America National Specialty. That experience, along with creative training and dedication resulted in this landmark test as Hellon indicated the glove, to the cheers of the crowd.

Linda reveals one of her training secrets: “I was cautious about making sure Hellon was on track but learned to trust her with more line and greater speed. At too slow a pace, Hellon spins in frustration, so I put my faith in her, and she leads me the right way with her great sense of smell. To her it is a great game!”

The Thunder Bay Kennel & Training Club checked with the CKCs Tracking Representative Thora Brown to ensure that Hellon could enter tracking tests. Thora Brown sent back a warm message wishing Hellon the best of luck. Dawn Sanderson commented on Hellon’s test: “Hellon had a very committed start and was very track sure. During the test, a flock of geese flew overhead and Hellon looked up. Once the honking subsided, Hellon went back to work and tracked with confidence to the article.”

A dog's nose is far more powerful than its ability to see. We live in a world of colour and vision and can barely imagine the world of scent that dogs live in. Hellon – Labrys My High Spirits Extreme TD – has shown that using her nose in more ways than one has enhanced her own quality of life, and has increased the joy and bond that she shares with her best friend, Linda Roe.

Donna Smith

Should Blind Dogs be allowed in tracking tests?

For those interested in reading Hellon's story please click here:

http://spiritdancedogs.blogspot.com/2006/05/5-new-tdxs-4-new-tds-in-thunder-bay.html

And don't forget to vote!

February 16 Tracking Class Location and details

To everyone signed up for the Winter Session, Spiritdance Tracking Classes

Here are the details about the next tracking class:


Saturday February 16
2:00 – 5:00 PM
Location – Innova Park – located at
the end of Central Avenue

Photo - Dawson UTD TDX - finds the final article! Katie Jaremey waves it at the glove. Whoo-hoo! This photo was taken by Julie Revell, during our tracking test last fall. Way to go team! The feeling of finding that last article in a test is something you will never forget.


The Lesson Plan – handling on starts and turns; motivation; rewards

Directions: From Golf Links Road, turn WEST on Central (away from the lake, towards the expressway).

Innova Park is a series of undeveloped roadways, with one big building owned by Buchanan in the centre.

I will be parked near the Buchanan Building. Please come park in this area, which is central to the area.

Dress for the weather!

Bring LOTS of treats and lots of articles.

If you have a harness, bring it. If you have a long line please bring it as well. If not, you can borrow one.

If you cannot make it, please let me know.


Thanks and see you Saturday!

Donna