People skills in dog training

I was very sad to read on another blog about a bad experience a dog owner had the first night at a new agility class. It seems her "trainer" was not very nice to her nor very helpful. Here is her post: "What I need in a trainer"

How disheartening that anyone has to go through such an experience. Training is supposed to be fun for both you and your dog, especially a class like agility. In a worst case scenario it should at least be informative and useful. The point is that a dog trainer needs to be good with people too, not just dogs. The two go hand in hand and unless you want to lose clients you need to have those people skills to be able to effectively communicate. If you turn off a client with condescending behavior it is going to drastically effect how you communicate with each other. This is a critical component when you are trying to teach new skills.

If you end up with a trainer you don't feel comfortable with feel free to leave the class, seperate from the group, or end the session. Speak to your trainer and let them know your dissatisfaction so they have the opportunity to fix the issue if possible. Perhaps they are unaware. You are paying for a service after all. Time is money and if they are wasting your time, they are wasting your money as well.

Remember, you are the only voice your dog has. Never let a trainer do something you are uncomfortable with to your dog. Trainers are not all created equal and some don't know as much as they should about dog behavior. (some stick to training only and don't bother learning about behavior information believe it or not)

Even with a great trainer there can be personality conflicts. Keep that in mind as well. If your options for training are limited you may have to tolerate a personality you don't particularly mesh well with. However that shouldn't mean you need to tolerate rudeness. If that happens to you do not hesitate to point out you are paying for their services and can look elsewhere. Not everyone who gets into dog training has the people skills needed to do well in the field long term.

Check out another post on the subject of people skills in training here: Dog Trainer...A Misleading Job Description by Cindy Bruckart

It is my sincere hope that the majority of training is a pleasant experience for all involved. Regardless of the methods taught or the type of class or trainer you see, it should always be a fun and rewarding event you share with your dog. Anything less is just plain unacceptable.

Try Tracking!

Watch this blog for information about tracking classes and seminars to start up in the Red Deer Alberta area!

It has been a BIG move, and I can hardly wait to meet new tracking friends in Alberta.

If you are in the Red Deer area, please pick up a flyer at the Red Deer Kennel Club dogshow this weekend or visit Tail Waggers, 4 Paws Doggie Daycare or Global Pets to pick up a flyer with my contact information.

And take a minute to look through the blog! The menu items in the sidebar to your right will give you labels to click on, so you can read about tracking classes, urban tracking and beginners tracking.

Dogs love to track, and hey, we people have fun too.

Photo note: The last seminar I hosted in Thunder Bay was with US AKC tracking judge and author Steve Ripley. This is a picture of me holding my Border Collie Jet after doing a demo urban track during which Steve critiqued my handling (gulp, nothing like the instructor being critiqued to a hometown crowd! but seriously, it was fun!).

Urban tracking is growing in popularity and now, beginners are starting puppies on all surfaces. Interested in more? Contact me about Spiritdance Tracking!

Thanks,

Donna

My favorite thing

There is nothing I love more than watching dogs play. With each other, with their toys or joining in with me. The joyous jumping around and racing of the dogs, the twinkle in their eye when you play the chase game, the relaxed look of pleasure on their faces during a pause. It is all just so much fun. You can even learn things about individual personalities by watching groups of dogs or puppies playing among themselves. And it is also interesting to see different dogs or breeds with different play styles. Play is an important part of our lives with our dogs. It is even the reason some people have dogs, to have fun with them.

For a more in depth look at play in dogs check out Patricia McConnells blog with details on some studies being done on the subject. http://theotherendoftheleash.com/

And for fun check out the video of Jack playing with Dash a couple of winters ago.

http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f42/Akitamom2/?action=view&current=HPIM1017.flv

Now go play with your dogs!

Can't we all just get along?

The answer sadly is apparently not.

Some of you may have noticed I have removed some comments from this blog and set my comments to moderated status. I have inadvertently become the target of another dog trainer that didn't like some comments I posted to her public blog. (by public I mean owned by a newspaper)

It was never my intention to irk anyone with my opinion but it is clear that is what happened. The original post was about how to become a dog trainer and I added more info for prospective trainers to her post. She disagreed with my response. Strongly. I have since been accused of "drinking the kool-aid of the positive training cult" among other things. It became a bit of a mess from there and after an attempt at a normal dialogue I tried to back away. In response I seem to have been followed. (and linked to as an example of a member of the fanatical positive trainer cult)

Now I dislike strife, in any form. I grew up in a home that had far to much of it for me to want to continue the cycle. Plus I just don't understand WHY dog trainers feel the need for infighting!? We are on the same team!!! Regardless of methods, or personality conflicts, we are all in this for the love of dogs and to help both them and their people. Aren't we? So WHY do we feel the need to beat each other up? It is incredibly unprofessional and I am so tired of it. It takes to much energy to be negative if you ask me.

So I have had enough. Lets each stay in our respective corners and continue to do what we love and help dogs. We can agree to disagree on methods and ideology. It really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things if dogs are being humanely and effectively trained. (by both sides) I was accused of having an agenda, I guess that is true. If I had to define it my agenda is to promote dog training to keep dogs in their homes.

Yes I have chosen positive reinforcement for the majority of my clients and for my own dogs. I am unsure why that can be so irksome to others. Every trainer has a choice. If you are happy with your own choice why feel the need to attack anothers choice? Why resort to name calling? I just don't get it.

I think it is possible to have a dialogue with and between trainers of different methodologies. (I have had some great debates with other trainers of different methods.) As long as there is mutual respect. Respect doesn't always equal agreement after all. When one side lacks that it seems to quickly become a war. There really is no need of it. If we can't get along and meet in the middle to some degree we might all stagnate in our journey. Is that what we really want for our future? NONE OF US KNOWS EVERYTHING after all. Both sides have things they can learn, if they are open to it.

OK enough venting. As my grandmother always says, what doesn't vent will eventually explode. I should be good for a couple more years now. VBG.

So my plea is this, if we can't declare a truce, how about we each walk just away? I'll go first.

Wag more, bark less.

Fear in dogs

Last night for supper my husband cooked us some french toast and bacon. (MMmm it was good.) We noticed part way through his cooking that Jenny was acting weird. Her tail was down and she was in the hallway sitting, looking towards the kitchen. She would not be called back into the living room area that is next to the kitchen. Then we remembered, she always acts scared when we cook bacon on the stove. Since we don't cook it that frequently it isn't something we automaticly think of as a trigger for her. She doesn't seem to have the same reaction to the kind we microwave, just when it's cooked on the stovetop. I'm thinking it is about the sound possibly coupled with the smell. She sure has no problem eating some of it if offered. (she is a huge chow hound, a typical pug trait)

So we employed some classical conditioning by pairing something really good (I usually use extra yummy treats) with the scary thing. In her case the scary thing is bacon cooking. Remember, it is about what the DOG perceives as a scary event that is important. Not our perception of what they should be scared of.

Dogs being scared of something can stem from an event that happened in a fear period during their puppyhood, a normal developmental phase. All dogs go through them. Some more than one. What is important to know about fear periods is that anything that happens to a puppy (a dog under a year old) during that phase has a more lasting effect than if it happens at another time in their life. Example: a puppy is meeting new people and a man in a baseball hat swoops down just a little to quickly and startles the puppy. This could mean forever after the puppy is leery of man in baseball hats. Did the person abuse the dog? No, but to the puppy it was a very scary event that made a lasting impression. If the same event happened while the puppy wasn't in that specific developmental phase it might be scared for a few minutes, but have no issues with men in hats in the future.

The hard part of dealing with fear periods is knowing when they are happening. All breeds mature slightly differently so the age for the fear period can vary. One clue can be if the puppy suddenly acts afraid of something they previously didn't act afraid of. It may be something as benign as an end table, or boot rack. Something they may have seen and walked by every day until then. Or if they seem extra nervous about things in general suddenly.

What is also important to know is how to handle a puppy in a fear period. Do not force the puppy towards the scary thing. If possible throw tidbits near the item and act normal, see if they will approach on their own and figure out it isn't scary. (this is all going to depend on what it is the puppy is afraid of) You can praise them for any forward movement towards it. If it is about an item that can move make sure the item will stay stationary while they check it out, remember we don't want to add to the puppies fear. Once they are more comfortable with the item we can add the movement later.

If we force a puppy to confront the scary thing we are only stressing them out causing them to shut down. A dog that is to stressed is incapable of learning because it has gone into fight or flight mode, instinct vs rational thought. Forcing a dog to confront something is called flooding. While there may be times it is necessary, in most cases you'll end up with a dog that goes into something called learned helplessness. The dog acts like it accepts it but it has in fact learned it has no options. It doesn't take away it's fear, it only changes its reaction to it. (at least for that moment) Flooding MAY be used in a treatment plan, however it should only be done by a professional that is familiar with canine behavior (like a certified canine behaviorist) to avoid the learned helplessness response.

Is all fear in dogs related to fear periods? No, it is just one facet to fearful behavior in dogs. And it may be an explanation for Jennys reaction but I have no way of knowing for sure. Dogs can be scared of specific things at any age depending on how traumatic the event is. (again, to the dog) Luckily for us she will work for food, even when the bacon is cooking, so classical conditioning with her should be pretty easy in this case. I just need to put a note on the bacon to remind me for next time.

*Want to know if a dog is to stressed? Try offering a really good tidbit they normally would love. A dog that is to stressed to eat may be to stressed to learn. Fight or flight causes a physiological response in the body to shut down as self protection. (and they may also evacuate their bladder and bowels, part of the F or F response as well) This means it is physically impossible for them to eat as a result.

*Got a fearful dog? For more in depth info check out the books and DVD's available at http://www.dogwise.com/ (simply type the word fear into the search area)

Splash learned to say 'No'!

Speaking of Halloween

I got an update e-mail from Dash's owners tonight. Dash was the french bulldog we fostered for the French Bulldog Rescue Network. They attend a dog related Halloweeen event every year. Last year some of you may remember Dash was the scarecrow from the wizard of oz. http://k-9solutionsdogtraininginc.blogspot.com/2007/11/bad-blogger-update-pics.html#links
This year he went as a bumble bee. Isn't he adorable? (the answer is yes of course)


Here he is with his brother Ivan.

And here they are with their cousin Duncan.

We are thrilled he has such a great family. His mom Jess works at a vet clinic and also sent along this photo because she thought I might like it. (I do) A pug puppy with an irish wolfhound. Quite the size difference.

It is amazing the variety we have in dogs. Literally something for everyone.

Function in fashion with a dash of fun

Jenny and I went for a walk today and stopped by The Loyal Biscuit Company to look for something to keep her warm during potty breaks. It is getting pretty cold here in Maine. She is lacking of her own coat in a big way so she needs a little help in that department. Since I had my camera with me it became a bit of a fashion show.

I like this one but they didn't have her size in red.

This one would be great for being in the woods during hunting season, not enough coverage underneath I am afraid for what I wanted.

I like the ease of getting this one on and off but it is more of a lightweight spring coat.

Same coat as above, it was reversible. Two styles in one. Very cute!

Not a great shot of this one, it has cute curlies on the sides. It is also a step in that Velcros down the back, much easier to put on that a normal sweater. This is the one we took home today. Jenny was cooperative tho not very thrilled with the whole process. While we were there this cutie came in to get a new coat too. She is a 3 month old Chihuahua named Roxy.

Jenny says hello.

Here they are with Roxys big sister Lou Lou. It was little dog day at the shop I guess.

Here is Missy in Jennys new coat. It is amazing that it fit her too. Frenchies are so chesty. (Fido Fleece brand, size 14 for those that are curious) I left the neck open a bit because it was snug thru that area.

She does not look impressed does she? I took some video of Missy and Jack playing but it was horribly dark and you could barely see there were dogs in it. I'll try to get some of them in better light to share.

Tomorrow I am off in search of a dremel to use on their nails. (after some cc to acclimate them to it of course) Jennys get long fast and Missys grow so close to the pads they are very hard to trim with clippers. I'm sure Home Depot will have something suitable. (I never had these problems with akitas! VBG)

Poor Jenny

Some raw feeding humor.

So friday morning I ended up having to get Jenny into the vet because she was itchy. Bye bye sleeping time. I saw it coming on and had given her an oatmeal bath on thursday morning. Friday morning when I let her out of her crate the previously pink areas were worse and she had scratched herself raw in a couple of places. She is so naked under her belly and legs as it is so any little skin thing shows up easily. It was my fault because I tried to switch her to a different kibble for her breakfast. I thought if I could get her on the same stuff Jack and Missy were eating it would make life easier. No dice. The vet agreed with me that it was proabably a reaction to the food switch. She gave her a vetalog injection to calm the itchness down and gave me a topical to use as well. I was sleep deprived just coming off a shift and didn't think to try benedryl first. (she told me the proper dose while I was there for next time)

In light of this I decided to put Jenny on full raw. It's a little more work but since she has the food issues I think it is the best option for her. On the off chance it was a reaction to a new supplement I started adding called Missing Link I am not giving her that for awhile either. I will slowly add that back after a week or so and watch her closely.

Poor miss Jenny.

Danno Graduates

Danno graduated from K-9 Corrections and went home with his new person today. She fell in love with his photo from the website because he looks like a dog she grew up with. Upon meeting him she knew he was the dog destined for her. I hope they have a wonderful life together. We will miss him.

He was a very quick study and knew how to relax during break time.
A very handsome dog. Would you believe he was left tied to the shelter doorstep one morning?

Here are a couple of videos of him during training. (excuse the poor quality) The first is him heeling. He was lagging a bit more than I would like. Not to bad for new off leash work though. Just needs more practice and polish. The second is him doing a sit, down, sit recall routine. (some call that push ups, sit, down, sit, down) I was trying to show how happily he works. My handler was new and is doing a fantastic job learning everything I am throwing at him. He can't wait to start the next dog.

Have a great life Danno!!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Jack.

Graduation, adoption, and the great food debate

Here is Danno. He graduates the program Friday. He has an adopter already interested in him and he will go home for a slumber party on Saturday. He and his handler have both done fabulous. He knows all the basics, can heel on and off leash, is crate trained and has a few tricks he can show off. He is also a very sociable boy and loves to make new friends. He will make a wonderful dog for his new family. I will miss him.

This is Chloie. She is an akita that is under consideration to be our next prison dog. (one of many) I thought she would get adopted quickly but the person interested in an akita came in and said "that isn't what he wanted". I have a suspicion he wanted something a bit larger and more macho. It's to bad because she is very friendly and has a great personality. His loss.

So the new raw diet is going well. With hunting season in full swing, I have access to LOTS of meat scraps that my wonderful husband is saving and grinding for me at the shop. Here it is all packaged as I get it. Fresh and ready for the freezer or fridge. (labels on the underside) I rented space at the shop in one of the extra freezers for the season because I can't fit it all in the two freezers we have.

This is a bag of liver he ground for me even though he hates working with it at all. I can't say I blame him. It is pretty gross. Next time I think I'll have him just cut it into pieces and freeze those, it will be easier. For now I have the liver bagged into smaller bags so I can mix it into the ground meat along with the calcium supplement I use. (Only because at the moment I am feeding no bones, calcium isn't needed if you feed actual bones.) Tip: when mixing meat use rubber gloves so the smell doesn't linger on your skin.

Check out my awesome B-day present. A scale is a must if you want to feed raw so you can keep an eye on proper amounts. I tried using a cheap food scale and it was way to inaccurate so be careful. Digital is the way to go. Thankfully I have a raw friend who is overseeing my progress. VBG (Thanks Lauren!)



I found this book to be excellent and highly recommend it. It will take much of the stress out of figuring out how to feed raw. It will also explain things simply in a way that makes sense. Just one of the many books out there on the subject.


I'm still giving Wellness Super 5 with whitefish for breakfast. I did switch Jenny over to that too and so far she is doing fine on it. Is raw for everyone? No, but for some of us it is a great way to know we are feeding our dogs a healthy diet more appropriate for their species. Think about it, what did dogs live on before kibble became popular? And I know I am not a nutritionist, but chances are neither is your vet. Think general practicioner vs specialist. Only my family doctor isn't selling a brand of food to us. Hmmm Food for thought?

*

So here is my speil: There are lots of options out there for our pets so they can eat healthy. Learning how to read labels and choosing wisely is up to us since they can't do it for themselves. The book "Food pets die for" by Ann Martin is a great start on learning what is really in pet foods. Ironicly she is against raw diets (she listens to vets) but it is still a good book about the industry. (I sound like a broken record about the book but it was SO eye opening for me!) For those that want to try raw but don't want to do the prep work or find it to gross there are some great companies out there doing raw diets. I use Primal myself when I don't get meat from hunting season. So far I am very pleased with the results I am getting and the satisfaction I have from knowing I am providing healthy meals to ALL my family members, not just the human ones. Actually considering all the additives in people food I think my dogs are eating better than the rest of us at present. For me it works, though I will try not to become the dog food nazi for others. Do what works for you and your dog. Just know there are many options out there. Don't take ANYONES word for it, even mine, do your own research and see for yourself. Good luck and good health.

Keeks continues struggling along...

This morning I woke up to find Kikos right eye black and cloudy. So I rushed to the ER.  I am hoping that its temporary and that its just from bumping into something and not the beginning of blindness.  Poor little girl.  Just recently I found out that her back legs have no joints at the ankle and I am in the process of making her braces.  *Sigh* What next?  Hehe, no mater what happens nothing will change her attitude for life! and for food!  My little crippled toothless Keeks! If she can survive Distemper she's got the will power to pull herself through ANYTHING!  Below is a video I made when I was feeling glum today, of the last time she ran a lure course. I will no longer be able to let her run like that.  Gosh she used to love chasing the lure! She gave the big dogs a run for their money. 

Playdate with Jack-Fiesta Island

Jack strikes a nobel pose. 

Haha! Splashed ya!

 Splash does her imitation of a Golden Retriever. 

Chihuahua beach adventure

'No swimming today thank you very much!'

'Now that's more like it!' 

'We are determined not to have fun at the beach.'

'WTF just happened to us!'

Thank you for voting for Splash! She is one of the two semi-finalists picked to go to New York to compete for Starpet 2008 with host Montel Williams.  The event will be a fund raiser for Bideawee- an animal welfare group. 

Amazing Discovery to Eliminate Cynophobia - Fear of Dogs

Well, I have seen very little - too little section of the population, suffering from cynophobia. Yes, its true that almost each fine morning I come across at least one person who fears dogs. But I can't call them Cynophobic. The basic difference between the normal fear of dogs and cynophobia is that a cynophobic person tries to do his best to steer clear of a passing dog, even to an extent that he may loath to get out of his apartment or car if he finds Mr. Wilson strolling with his cute little pug!

Cynophobia is the clinical name for an irrational and abnormal fear of dogs - irrespective of breed, gender and size. I have seen a couple of people who have an irrational and unsual fear of dogs - be it a mongrel, or a spitz or a giant size mastiff! I talked to them and tried to find out the root of their fear for such extraordinarily lovable creatures of the planet. Both of them told me their stories - rather facts about their traumatic experiences of dog attacks, back in the times when they were both little heroes. Researchers have the similar explanations: According to them the cause of Cynophobia is a traumatic experience of being chased or bitten severely by a dog when being a kid. Moreover, the occasional media coverages of dog attacks and killer dogs act as the contributing factors for developing this mental condition. People are usually susciptable to cynophobia during early ages. According to many pediatric psychologists children should be gradually exposed to dogs to prevent the development of cynophobia.


An Amazing Discovery of Eleminating Cynophobia

Some years ago an amazing technique of eleminating cynophobia was dicovered by an expert psychologist, who specialized in phobias. The cure rate before this discovery wasn't more than only 5%, while after his new technique was discovered the success rate straightly soared as high as about 85% or so and that too in not more than 1 or 2 sessions! Rarely he would have to sit for 5 or 6 sessions to treat a cynophobic patient. We dog lovers are grateful to Jan Heering - the discoverer of the amazing technique of eleminating cynophobia that involves no painful therapies, no medicines and no gambling with mental health!

Jan Heering is the Founder and President of Amsterdam’s Morpheus Institute. Plus he is a phobia treatment expert + mental coach + psychological trainer + author + a living guarantee card for cure of cynophobia. Yes, that's what he is. And he is, thus, so beloved to the dog lovers worldwide. As his key statement, Jan says, "self-help NLP techniques help you to change your “metal constructs” and prevent you from behaving irrationally. After your state of mind is reprogrammed your condition of fear of dogs is gone". According to him, "The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system". He considered this "energy system" as the root, and he remained focused on the root... not on the factors or branches like patients' beliefs, habbits, thoughts and the way they think of dogs.

The concept of "Energy Psychology" came into being. Energy Psychology (EP) in a broad sense is a kind of psychological treatments that utilize the human energy system that offers a potent solution to mental disorder like cynophobia.


Is Jan Heering 100% successful?

Nah. The success rate is only 85%, which means Jan's technique couldn't help 15% of the cynophobic population. The reason is some people are affraid to get rid of Cynophobia, thinking that they might be attacked by dogs if they give up "fear of dogs" and come close to them. Cynophobia responds greatly to Energy Psychology, which states: "self help is the best solution".

Sometimes I just have to say no

I hate not being able to do everything I want. I also hate disappointing people. Sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day though. I have reached a point in my life where I accept my own limitations. Even if I don't want to. The new job means less free time for fun and sometimes even training. Reality sucks.

I had to pass up an opportunity to work on a movie. Shooting right here in the area. They need a handler of a dog in one small scene. A pretty easy gig from the sound of it. But the new second job schedule and my own already busy training schedule just isn't giving me the time I would need to do it. (not if I want to get any sleep that is)

I know how movie sets work, they rarely keep to a set schedule and I don't have the leeway I used to with my time. It sucks but I'll live. I console myself by saying there are no guarantees. It is always possible the scene ends up on the cutting room floor anyhow.

I sent the casting person info of other dog people and trainers in the area that might be able to help. The script calls for a chow but they are more interested in the dog being able to do what the scene calls for than the breed when push comes to shove. Fortunatly I know a fabulous Chow Chow breeder that I sent her to as well. (Zola at Red Cloud Chow Chows)

So even though I may have missed my shot in the movies, I hope someone else appreciates and enjoys the opportunity. May it go smoothly for everyone involved. I look forward to seeing the finished movie.

APDT 2008 VIDEO CONTEST WINNER- all 4 categories!

Four of my videos won the 2008 Video Contest of  The Association of Pet Dog Trainers.  Check out their home page (www.apdt.com) to see my Loose Leash Walking Video and click on 'more training videos' under that video to see my other winning entries. 

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire,
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon's sphere;
And I serve the fairy queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green.
-william shakespeare

From Seattle to Chicago to Dayton, OH

I spent today flying across the country in preparation for judging a dog show. I do this a lot and to keep myself from getting bored and cranky, I've developed a mental outlook that keeps me occupied.

First I always view each trip as an opportunity. Maybe it's an opportunity to finally read those magazines that have been stacking up at my house, or it's time I can spend brainstorming and writing down the dog training items I want to work on or exercises for my students, or it's a moment I can finally draft specific steps to a problem or project I'd like to tackle and it's always an opportunity to buy the latest and greatest books to read.

Even with all of that, my absolute favorite is to look at each trip as a mini-adventure and I try to find moments that I can relay back to my friends and family upon my return. The fun and humorous are what I try the hardest to find (because everyone likes a good laugh), but whatever comes my way, I take it.

For example, on one trip I sat next to a group of people who were flying to Seattle to try out for the TV show, American Idol. One person had flown in from Australia, another from the East Coast and so on. They were from different walks of life and some were humble, some were arrogant and some were...well...just weird! Regardless, here were people actively going out to pursue a dream and were brave (and/or stupid) enough to want to go SING in front of lots & lots of people.

Most folks won't leave their own neighborhoods to pursue a hobby, let alone a life long dream. It got me thinking about what my dreams were/are...and so you see how my "mini-adventure" not only kept me occupied, but allowed me to reflect on my own accomplishments and more importantly, to plan a few more for the future as well.

So back to my current trip....

As is typical fashion in flying these days, 3 of us are cramped into a row on one side of the plane. The guy in the middle was by far the pushiest, least considerate space hog I've sat next to during any of my travels so far. He leans over into our space, puts his coffee cup on our trays (nope, he didn't ask), plops his feet next to ours, elbows us, pushes our arm off the arm rest and at one point, tried to climb over my seat mate without notice so he could exit the row.

After he leaves, my seatmate and I make a pact that we're going to buy each other a glass of wine to ease our bruises . Eventually our middle guy comes back and for some unknown reason, I strike up a conversation with him. Maybe it was out of curiosity, I mean is he really that much of a jerk? Is he having a bad day? There's got to be a story of "why" that is lurking behind the actions.

So as we're talking, the "why" soon becomes clear to me. First, my new pal is raised and born in Boston. I've grown accustomed to the easy going ways of the Western side of the country and my Eastern friend is a product of his environment. I can appreciate the cultural differences and admire them. Next, it comes out that he was an attorney. Not the fancy Wall Street kind, but the kind that works for an organized labor Police Union. Talk about a non-nonsense type of career!

As midi-guy talks, it's clear he's very intelligent and speaks in such a way as you can't help but be pulled into the conversation. I won't bore you with all of the details, but we were daring and talked politics, the economy, society, world religions, about other countries and much more. I left that plan feeling quite a bit more educated, with lots of ideas and even more questions.

Turns out once midi-guy settled in, he wasn't so fidgety and he really was a neat guy to talk with. Not someone I think I would have picked out on the street to talk with, but well worth the time once I looked past the outward appearances.

Another successful trip where I didn't try to gauge my eyeballs out due to boredom...

Today's Quote is on Friendship

I'm always picking up nuggets of information that springboard my thoughts down a path I hadn't expected. Today's quote did just that:

To the soul, there is hardly anything more healing than friendship.
-- Thomas Moore

I'm sure you've had 'em - bad days. I'm sure you've met 'em - mean people. I'm sure you've received it - bad news. Whatever reason, I personally don't know anyone who can honestly say they haven't had at least one day where they felt like a bug who just smashed into a windshield. But there is a bright side to this scenario - friendship.

My friends have helped me to laugh at myself (of course I like the part where we get to laugh at them too!), were a ray of sunshine when all looked bleak, who made it clear they weren't going anywhere, who still liked me when I less than stellar and who shared their energy when it felt like I had none.

True friendship is worth far more than any gem stone you can buy and it certainly is a whole lot more stable!

So the call to action in this message is to be the best friend to those around you. Especially since you never know when that act of kindness will be the event that heals a part of someone's soul.

Going Green In The Dog World

Originally posted on July 8, 2008:

Going Green in the Dog World - It's Easy

Overall, they say that the United States is doing the least to "go green", although we're apparently the biggest offender when it comes to destructive behavior toward Mother Nature. Keeping that in mind, I've been on a personal mission to make my dog life/business as green as it can be!

So far I've made two large changes and I thought I'd share them since it's something that you too can easily do to have a positive impact.

ELIMINATING WATER BOTTLES (AN IDEA TO SHARE):

First, as a member of the Lab Club and a Committee Member of their June trial held a few weeks ago I was allowed the opportunity to try a new concept to eliminate water bottles at trials. As I'm sure you know, water bottles are a huge problem in our landfills, they're often wasted, there's a big clean-up issue as they're strewn all over the trial grounds and of course they lead to full garbage cans which go straight to the landfills.

That's where the "Go Green" water concept came in. At the trial, the only water bottles purchased were for the judges. For everyone else (workers and exhibitors), we provided 2 huge water coolers (picture the kind that get dumped on coaches after a big game) filled with ice and water (store bought) from filtered, fresh water in 5 gallon jugs. We did provided paper cups, but ultimately, the idea is to encourage everyone to bring their own reusable water bottle to each trial.

I'm sharing this idea because I'm hoping you'll each go back to your clubs and encourage them to do the same. All that is needed is

2 - 10 gallon water coolers (on sale now at Home Depot)

4 - 5 gallon plastic/refillable water jugs ($11 each)

water to fill the jugs was a mere $1.75 to fill each 5 gallon water jug (found at the grocery store entry)

ice was less than $15 for a 3 day show

The Lab Club received an overwhelming positive response to this idea and it has already been adopted for other other Agility Trials. Additionally, the Lab Club Board liked the idea so much, they're going to be using this concept in the future.

POOP BAGS

The next idea I've been looking into is biodegradable poop bags. Like most of us, I'm currently using plastic, but with 5 dogs, plus caring for client dogs, it's time to change my ways to be more earth friendly.

Now keep in mind that just like you, I don't want "stuff" on my hands or leaky bags so this concept has to meet the reality test. That's where PoopBags.com comes into play (no, I'm not receiving any kickback for this product ), there is a link on the front of my webpage (bottom right). They're biodegradable and I'm told will meet my cleanliness expectations. So I've taken the plunge and ordered a mass amount of the product so when you next see me, ask to see a bag and inquire how it's going. I suspect all will be fine and so I'm encouraging you to make the "green" change as well.

I've shared a few ideas on how to "Go Green" in the dog world, does anyone else have any they would like to share?

The Truth on Cat Population - Article

Originally posted on July 10, 2008:

Occassionally I come across some interesting animal information and this was one of them. The short story is below and a link to the full story from the Wall Street Journal is below.

Lisa

*************************

Short Description:

Can a single female cat and her offspring really produce 420,000 cats over just seven years? This article examines the validity and origin of this commonly cited statistic, concluding that this statistic is likely an urban myth. A lower estimate is provided and substantiated by research by biologist Michael Stoskopf, who documented six kittens per year with a 75% kitten mortality.

Abstract:

Hundreds of media reports have used the statistic that a single female cat and her offspring produce 420,000 cats over seven years. However, research by reporter Carl Bialik failed to produce the origin of this statistic. It is believed that the statistic may have been derived from "assuming that each female cat survives into adulthood, and along the way begins reproducing herself at around six months, then continues creating litters every half year. That means 14 cycles of exponential growth over seven years." However, this fails to take into account kitten mortality, which could skew the estimate significantly.

Instead, The Feral Cat Times published a number closer to 100, citing research by Michael Stoskopf of North Carolina State, which showed that three quarters of feral cats' kittens die before reaching reproductive age.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116058075161889442.html

Is Your Pet Prepared for an Emergency - Article

Sent on July 10, 2008:

Article on the SPCA Website:

Summer has proven to be a very busy season for natural and manmade disasters from wildland fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and the ever unpredictable earthquake. With the first official day of summer being Saturday, June 21st it is a good time to prepare yourself and your animals for the unexpected.

Animals depend on people for their survival during a disaster, but planning for your pet doesn't have to be an overwhelming task. There are two critical steps to ensure the safety of your animals if you must evacuate with them in the event of a disaster:

1. Prepare – Have a safe way to transport your animals and have supplies gathered in one location that can be easily accessible.

2. Plan – Know where you can take your animals if you had to be away from your house for any given amount of time. And appoint someone to evacuate your animals if you are not home when a disaster strikes.

To prepare for a disaster you should put together an animal disaster supply kit with everything you'd need to care for your animals for at least 72 hours. The contents will vary depending on the type and number of animals in your care, but every kit should include the following basic items:

1. Food and Water. Keep a 3-day supply in an airtight container and be sure to rotate this supply periodically to ensure freshness.

2. Containment and control supplies. Pack a leash, carrier or crate to safely control and confine your pet.

3. Current photos of your animals. Include a photo of yourself with your animals if case you need to prove ownership.

4. Collar and ID. Make sure you have a secure collar and up-to-date ID tag on your animals.

5. Sanitation Items. Include litter, litter box, newspapers, plastic bags, disinfectant, and basic first aid supplies.

6. Vet records and medications. Copy vaccination records and set aside a supply of daily medicines.

It takes less than a day's effort to put together a plan for you and your animals in the event of a disaster, a day's effort that could potentially save you and your animals' lives. If you found this information helpful, please support SPCA International so that we can education more people about disaster preparedness for their pets and save more animals' lives this disaster season.

Goal Set for What You CAN Control - Article

Originally sent on July 10, 2008:

The below is a portion of a Lanny Basham newsletter that is relevant to Agility and so I thought I'd share.

While the main topic was about the Miss Texas Competition, the points are relevant to any competition. Enjoy!

Lisa

******************************

...Our clients were all told before the competition the same thing: Goal set ONLY for what you can control! You cannot control the outcome of a competition. You cannot control who the judges will chose in the end. But you CAN control your attitude about your performance. You CAN control your actions during the week and your performance in each phase of competition. Most importantly you CAN control your training.

Competitors in most sports seems to train easy and compete hard or they train hard and compete hard causing them to over-try. They have it backwards. You need to train HARD, put in the hours, the effort, the sweat to know that you did all you could before the competition to be the best you can be. When the competition arrives - RELAX, HAVE FUN and just enjoy the ride. Trust that all of your hard work in training was enough to carry you to your goal.

If you compete in a subjective sport or you are in a competitive business environment that is subjective remember that what matters most is did you give a performance that lives up to your potential? If so you cannot ask for more, if not, why not? Did you truly train hard enough to excel - did you out train your competition? Did you really relax and trust your training? Did you have a mental program in advance and did you follow it? Did you write in your Performance Analysis daily? Were your circles in balance?...

Dog Theft on the Rise - Article

Originally posted August 6, 2008:

We've certainly noticed this in our area. Interesting that this is happening across the country.

FYI - From the SPCA

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We have heard some disturbing news related to the slowing economy and your pets' safety. Reports of pet theft have dramatically increased this year - in fact, reports have quadrupled since 2007.

SPCA International cannot explain this rise, but we do recognize that people get desperate in hard times. It is extremely unfortunate that the victims in this case are our pets.

Thieves see our animals as helpless victims for their gain in a number of ways. Purebred dogs and cats can often sell for thousands of dollars. On Web sites like Ebay.com and CraigsList.com the thief can remain relatively anonymous while selling your missing animal for a retail price. Thieves may also scheme to take advantage of your desperation by stealing your pet and waiting for you to post a reward. Returning your dog or cat a few days later as a hero and collecting profit with little suspicion.

Reports indicate that animals are stolen from backyards while parents are out, from cars while parents run a quick errand and from dog parks while old friends chat. I urge you to take extra precaution for your pets' safety this year, especially if your best friend may be viewed as an expensive breed. You being aware of this rising problem may be just the protection your companion needs.

I hope you and your family have a safe and fun August. If you can spare a small donation, we greatly appreciate and need your continued support – click here. With these summer months and a tough economy, we need all the help we can get from each one of you to continue building our efforts and supporting our companion animals in all that we do. We thank you.

Humanely,

JD Winston
Executive Director
SPCA International

Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) in Dogs

Below is a link to a very interesting article on a genetic condition in Labs called EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse). It hadn't been well known before, but the breed is doing a good job of educating folks. Since we have canine athletes (Labs or not), this is good information for all of us to be aware of.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080921162044.htm

Bioengineered Animals - Article

Bioengineered Animals is the latest advancement which could significantly effect our food source, our health and our medical testing. As with all items, there are pros and cons, but I think it's time we started to educate ourselves on the terminology and potential effects (both good and bad) of the future of our food source.

Below is an article on FDA Rules on Bioengeneered Animals. Animals are being used 1) for our food source and 2) medical purposes.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/17/AR2008091703518_pf.html

Beth's Famous Corn Salsa

For those of us watching our figures so we can run better with our dogs in Agility, here is a great recipe I thought I'd share.

Very easy to make Corn Salsa

2 cans of shoepeg corn
2 cans black beans
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped

feta cheese
1/2 c apple cider vinegar
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c vegetable oil

Drain the corn and the beans. Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
Enjoy!

A Clicker Challenge

Written May 2, 2008

Ok, want a good clicker challenge? I've got it!

I decided that I'd like my dog to lick their lips on cue.

How does one accomplish this you ask? Well, it's not like I can pull their tongue out of their mouth to get the trick and lord forbid I try to lure the behavior because then I'll have a dog who thinks licking at my hand is what I want, so shaping/clicker training is going to be my means of eliciting the lip licking behavior (say that fast 3 times!).

Sounds easy enough, but holy cow that tongue is FAST! I had more missed opportunities before I finally got a few clicks in. I can also say with authority that licking my lips didn't elicit the wanted behavior either . Any way, once I got the timing down, it went quick after that, but timing was a challenge!

I encourage you guys to give this a try, it's fun! It does require a lot of waiting while the dog goes through it's toolbox of behaviors, but at some point they ARE going to lick their lips and you've got to be ready. Also another hint I wish I would have known inadvance - when you feed the their treat, be ready to click as they're swallowing. I noticed at least 1-2 licks would happen millimoments after the dog received the treat. This is another opportunity to click & treat to mark and reward the new wanted behavior.

Report back to the list and let me know how it went.

Next I may try blinking...

Heat Stroke In Dogs - Article

Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook HEAT STROKE Heat stroke is an emergency that requires immediate recognition and prompt treatment. Dogs do not tolerate high temperatures as well as humans. They depend upon rapid breathing to exchange warm air for cool air. Accordingly when air temperature is close to body temperature, cooling by rapid breathing is not and efficient process. Dogs with airway disease also have difficulty with excess heat. Common situations that predispose to overheating or heat stroke in dogs are: 1. Being left in a car in hot weather. 2. Being confined on concrete runs; chained without shade in hot weather. 3. Being of a short-nosed breed, especially a Bulldog or Pug. 4. Being muzzled while put under a dryer (this can happen in a grooming parlor). 5. Suffering from airway disease or any condition that impairs breathing. Heat stroke begins with rapid, frantic, noisy breathing. The tongue and mucus membranes are bright red, the saliva is thick and tenacious and the dog frequently vomits. Its rectal temperature is high, sometimes over 106 degrees F. The cause of the problem usually is evident by the typical appearance of the dog; it can be confirmed by taking its temperature. If the condition is allowed to go unchecked, the dog becomes unsteady and staggers, has diarrhea that often is bloody and becomes progressively weaker. Coma and death ensue. Treatment: Emergency measures must begin at once. Mild cases respond to moving the dog to a cooler surrounding, such as an air-conditioned building or car. If the dog's temperature is over 104 degrees F, or if unsteady on its feet, the dog should be cooled by immersion in a tub of cold water. If this is impossible, hose your dog down with a garden hose. For a temperature over 106 degrees F, or if the dog is near collapse, give a cold water enema. A more rapid temperature drop is imperative. Cool to a rectal temperature of 103 degrees F. Heat stroke can be associated with swelling of the throat. This aggravates the problem. A cortisone injection by your veterinarian may be required to treat this. Prevention: 1. Do not expose dogs with airway disease or impaired breathing to prolonged heat. 2. Restrict exercise during the heat of the day in summer. 3. Breed dogs in air-conditioned quarters. 4. Crate a dog only in an open wire cage. 5. Provide shade and cool water to dogs living in outdoor runs. © Copyright 1998, Macmillan Publishing. All rights reserved.

© Copyright 1998, Macmillan Publishing. All rights reserved.

Dog Food Podcast by Natura

FYI Item

To get the inside scoop on pet food manufacturing, join Natura Pet Products beginning September 10th for a special podcast - How Pet Food is Made - available only on podcast.naturapet.com.

During this presentation, Natura's own Dr. Sean Delaney, vice president of Natura Pet Products, and Kari Liu, technical services and product development manager with Natura Manufacturing Inc., will give you an exclusive tour through our production process:

• Ingredient definitions - why we use - and don't use - many popular pet food ingredients
• Ingredient sources - where we get our high-quality raw ingredients
• Pet food recipes - how our healthful recipes are developed
• Cooking process - the difference between extrusion and baking
• Quality control - why Natura established the most rigorous testing process in the industry

To listen to this free podcast anytime, just visit podcast.naturapet.com and click on the presentation.

Agility Judging & Who Our Customers Are

As an AKC Agility Judge, I have the pleasure of traveling around the country and judging dogs of all shapes and sizes. Since I've been doing this for a decade now, I took a moment to share some of my thoughts on the AKC Judge's List. Here they are:
******************

Over the last several years, I've heard and seen quite a few "stories" from judges that made me proud to be a part of this group. I've also heard a few that had me shaking my head in disbelief too.

I know I'm from the old school where I see judging as a profession while others see judging as a hobby - that's okay. I think that we can all agree that the impact we have on a trial can either ease or add to the stress of those volunteers/clubs putting on the show. With that said, I would like to encourage all of us to take a moment to remember who our customers are (the one's who pay our fees, expenses & compensate us for our time) and that would be not only the exhibitors, but also the Club.

One example is that like it or not, we find ourselves in the role of helping Clubs keep costs down. Some of the things we can do is:

• Make our air reservations in a timely fashion. Presenting the club with a $1,200 airfare bill for a flight within the US is generally over the top (even for today's standards).
• Be realistic on rental cars. Sure you may drive a $45,000+ vehicle at home, but you can find reasonable cars/prices without having to revert to a Geo Metro. Folks, a $500 car rental bill for a 3 or 4-day show is excessive (unless it's Hawaii or Alaska which can reach the $175 a day range).

Also, Club members/volunteers are not our servants. Sure, they kindly help us out to keep the show going and most of us are very appreciative of the little things (like when they have lunch at our table at a specific time, get snacks we like, etc.), however, unless it's specifically written in your contract, all "extras" are above and beyond the call of duty. If your lunch or soda doesn't show up at exactly the time you specified or if your empty hotel-provided papercup ends up in the garbage by 2:00 p.m. - don't yell at those kind folks around you. Also, those putting on events are not our chauffers, laundry maidens, tourist guides or other service providers like we might expect on a personal vacation. Again, if they provide these items to you and it's not in your contract, it's an EXTRA, not a right. Lot's of people/clubs, love to do this and I've had some of the best times/experiences thanks to them. Rather, I'm talking about the expectation that this type of item be provided when the Club/volunteer hadn't planned on it or worse yet, volunteer it.

I truly believe the vast majority of us are reading this and thinking "Dah!" but I did want to throw it out there as a reminder.

Going "Live" To The World...

Blogs have often puzzled me. Why share your deepest secrets with the world? Why dish on people's privates lives, etc. Heck, I may never know the answers to those questions, but I do know this:

I've decided to blog in an effort to put all of those light-bulb moments down in one place. While most will be my light bulb moments, some will be the dogs & clientele I work with each day as well.
As is human nature, I suspect most of us can't be brilliant all of the time so I'm sure there will be some "not so brilliant" moments as well.

Oh heck, that's what's going to keep things interesting!

In the meantime, I am going to go back and pull some older content on articles & e-mails I've written to get things going.

A must share

Passing this on from the Pet Connection Blog from last week. Not to be missed.

http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/09/24/well-i-think-i-know-where-all-my-hate-mail-comes-from/