Dogs and Mental Stress

Is your dog stressed out?  First let's discuss stress and what it actually is.  

Mental Stress - A form of stress that occurs because of how events in one's external or internal environment are perceived, resulting in the psychological experience of distress and anxiety (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Mental stress is often accompanied by physiological responses (Cacioppo, 1994)

Stress can be caused by anything that we or our dogs perceive as an issue that is difficult to deal with.  Stress is a bad thing; it is seriously tasking on the body.  If you have dealt with stress in a big way then you understand what it can do; not only to your mental state but your physical capacity as well.  

So what can cause stress in our dogs?  Anything.  Each and everyone of our dogs is different.  How they deal with the world around them is just as individual as they are.  My man Luke who is now gone was a stress monkey.  Meaning that there was a great deal that he stressed about.  Stress can be triggered by monumental events in life or tiny day to day things.  The important thing is to keep stress away as far as you can.  

I have heard many owners tell me about their dogs and how they have to live separate lives.  Each dog in a different room; alone all day because they don't get a long.   That is most definitely a stressful environment for a dog.  This is a choice that some humans make for their dog but it may not be the best situation for any of these dogs.  Sometimes placing a dog is a much kinder thing to do.

Dogs that are under socialized can lead a very stressful life.  Those who are left alone all day for hours and hours at a time can be stressed.  But like ourselves, each deals with it in their own way.  So what one dog can deal with does not mean that another can.  It is important that we know our dogs and understand what they can deal with.  

Stress was a trigger for Luke's epileptic seizures; I tried very hard to keep stress out of his life as much as possible.  Elsa does not stress about too much although she is a very serious caregiver with a watchful eye over me; so she does worry about my well being and whereabouts.  Any sign of emotional turmoil from me and she kicks into gear.  Once she feels that I am okay then she relaxes once again. She can also become stressful when dogs that she perceives as scary or a threat to her are near; because she was seriously attacked out of nowhere. 

Stress is serious.  We hear this all the time don't we?  

5 Signs that your dog is stressed

10 Human behaviors that stress out dogs

Know your dog and what they can deal with.  Actually as I finish this blog, Elsa and I are now heading to the harbor for a walk.  There will be feathers there and they most definitely stress you out, yep feathers.  

Are you strangling your dog?

I was driving down the street today when I noticed a large but young Siberian Husky out of the corner of my eye.  I stopped at the red light and had a better look at the big boy.  He was with a young girl and he was very literally dragging her down the street.  They got to a section where there was some construction on the sidewalk and had to veer around it.  

The Siberian had other plans; he wanted to visit with the guys working on the sidewalk.  The young girl yanked and pulled until he finally followed along unhappily.  He was being strangled while on his walk.  I could see the chain and how tight it was around his neck.  Why do we strangled dogs and think nothing of it?  

I've stopped people to try to educate them on strangling and choking their dog and all but a few have been very angry with me.  "Mind your own business," is what I am usually told.  Isn't it the strangest thing?  If we put a chain around our neck and someone pulled on it we would most definitely freak out; yet people to it all the time without a second thought.  

Dogs are being strangled; some slowly, other very abruptly.  But if you throw a chain, nylon or leather choke collar on your dog and apply pressure, strangling.  

Strangulation - to compress or constrict

This needs to be stopped.  Almost all dogs should wear a harness in my opinion.  Why not?  It's comfortable and there is little chance of injury from it.  

Putting a thin choke collar on your dog and then putting pressure on it is damaging.  There is no question.  Why do we continue?  Because we tend to be a society of non thinkers.  

What is your dog afraid of?

I captured this image shortly after the first feather incident.  She is clearly not herself and very concerned and other feathers in the area.  Poor girl.  

The other day I was discussing fears with my husband.  I thought long and hard about what I'm afraid of and came up with sharks, bears and alligators.  Other than that, there aren't a whole lot of things that would send me running the other way like Fred Flintstone.  

Fear - a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil pain, etc.  

Our dogs have fears as well.  Like us they are all different and what one might fear another will not.  Elsa has a very strange fear; although when I dissect it I can figure it out.  Nonetheless it is a fear and it is most definitely real to her.  Elsa is afraid of feathers, but not just any old feathers.  She is afraid of ones that have recently come off of birds that are lying around outside.

Today I tried to capture a video of her when she first sees or scents a feather, but I missed it.  Just about a week ago when we were out walking at the harbor, she had the biggest reaction that I have ever seen.  The height and distance that she jumped after locating the feather had me laughing, I couldn't help it.  She had to jump 3.5 feet in the air and about 7 feet in distance.  All in her attempt to get away from the feather.  

Once she has seen and labelled it a rogue feather then she is skittish on the rest of her walk. Luke had the same huge recoil when he saw or scented a snake skin which was also something I had not seen before in any of my dogs.

So what can or should you do about a fear?  React the way that you want your dog to react.  In other words, pretend like it is no big deal at all.  Our dogs watch us to see how we respond to things; so if you coddle your dog when they are fearful, the fear grows.  If you ignore the fearful trigger then you will be helping them to conquer their fear.  

The feather fear of Elsa's is a strange one.  I assume it is because it smells like a real creature yet just sits there frozen.  Frozen posture is a bad thing.  Feathers from a pillow or craft bag do not instill the fear, only fresh from a bird feathers do it.  So when it happens I just keep walking as if nothing happened.  Although I am probably snickering, which is a good thing as far as vocal feedback.  

Show your dog how you want them to react by reacting calmly in response.  Even if you have to fake it big time.     

Moving Through the Loss of your Canine Companion

This is my newest book.  It was published in August of last year and was a work from my heart.  This little book covers so many things in it; far more than just the actual loss.  My hope is that every dog lover will read it; no matter where you are in your relationship with your dog.  

We all know only too well that our dogs do not live nearly as long as we would like them to.  So, at some point everyone is going to have to go through loss.  I wish that all dogs who leave us are old and have had a great life but sadly that is not reality.  

The book is a step by step through the entire process.  It begins with the very first and most important question of "when?"  It explains everything from the very start of the end, through to the healing of grief and everything that it brings.  

I will be holding a FREE Webinar on February 02-2017 to discuss the subject of losing a canine and the book itself.  

Click here to register for the Webinar - Moving Through the Loss of your Canine Companion

If you are the guardian of a canine now, have lost a heart dog or want to know how to deal when the time comes, join us.  

My greatest wish is that this book and now the Webinar will help even just a few.  Join us and share your stories; as I will be sharing mine.  

If you are interested in reading the book before the Webinar you can find it here.  

Moving Through the Loss of your Canine Companion

If you would like to join the email list at Just Dogs with Sherri to find out what's new, up and coming and exciting, fill out the form below.  

Your Best Friend has the Answers

Ever wonder what's going on in your relationship?  That relationship you have with your canine?  If you really want to know, ask your best friend.  Typically our best friend can tell us what is really going on.  

Are you in a strong relationship?  Or are there holes that need filling or fixing?  

Trust - reliance on the integrity, strength, ability etc., of a person.  Trust is a huge part of a strong relationship.  Are you a trustworthy guardian?  Trust for a dog is huge; your dog should trust that they can lean on you in times of need.  

Reliability - the ability to be relied on or depended on, for accuracy, honesty. Are you reliable?  A guardian who does not fly off the handle?  Someone who is there when your dog needs you, without a doubt?

Honesty - the quality or face of being honest; uprightness and fairness.  Are you honest about your relationship?  Does it need work?  Is one member more of a giver than the other?  Do you meet in the middle with a pure respect for one another. 

Canine/human relationships can be wonderful; but they can also be awful.  In this New Year, take a hard look at your relationship.  Ask your best friend how things are going.  Be honest with yourself when you sit down to dissect your relationship.  

Make 2017 the year to turn any negatives into positives.  Here's to a magical relationship in your future.  

Join our Just Dogs with Sherri - Cookie Club

Dog Cookies Anyone?

I've been baking cookies for years, somewhere around 35 to be exact.  I started out making cookies for my family and then grew to selling at a local Farmers Market.  I loved the whole market scene each weekend and had a large list of regulars wanting their favorite.  

I had made dog cookies over the years as well but when my boy Luke seemed to have a problem keeping weight on I looked into making some really healthy and substantial cookies that he could eat on a regular basis.  So the Dog Cookie mission began.  I've now been  making dog/human cookies for years.  These cookies are not only good for your dog but you as well.  No wheat products or refined sugar go into my cookies.  They are high in protein and the dogs and people LOVE them.  

The birth of the Cookie Club.  So many people ask for my recipes all the time so I am working on a Cookie Book.  But once I was well into the book I thought about a fun and interactive Cookie Club.  Ta Daaaaa.  Just Dogs with Sherri - Cookie Club.  

A new and healthy dog/human cookie recipe each month; along with video, baking tips and training tips with each recipe.  Interactions about the cookies will be done on my Just Dogs with Sherri FB group.  You will receive a favorite recipe instantly after signing up and the Cookie Club itself will begin January 14th.  

I'm very excited about this and look forward to talking Cookies with you all.  Let me know what your dog's favorite flavor is and I will try to work it into the 2017 roster.  Each recipe has been developed by me, and of course my taste testers.   

Exciting new stuff at Just Dogs

Things have been quiet on here for a while; but that's because there is lots of exciting stuff happening at Just Dogs with Sherri for 2017.  My new website was started and got up and running this year, we got a Poodle Grooming at Home with Sherri video course done and released for purchase, published my eighth and favorite of all of my books - Moving Through The Loss Of Your Canine Companion.  

We added skype consultations to the email consults which were already available on the old site.  I love the skype consults because it is so much more personal.  Plus there is a new click and get help immediately video on House training.  

So even though it's been quiet, I've been busy behind the scenes getting stuff ready for more releases.  I don't want to let the cat (or I should say "dog") out of the bag yet but there is lots coming in 2017.

If you'd like to know what's new and coming up for the near future at Just Dogs with Sherri, please feel free to join my email list to be one of the first to know by clicking here.  Go to the bottom of the page to join the email list.  

As always I love to hear from you all.  Please feel free to leave comments and/or email me.  

Holiday Gifts for Your Dog

While surfing through Amazon this morning (the joy of shopping in bed) I stumbled upon Oprah's favorite list.  Curious, I scrolled down the list; stopping on a few things that caught my eye.  Honestly, what sort of list is this?  I stopped on a cute dog blanket that was a whopping 395.00.  A list made for the the folks who have excess in the lives.  Who buys this stuff?  Not me.  

I (Sherri from Just dogs with Sherri) am a minimalist.  I admit that I LOVE new cool stuff to make life with Elsa more fun, easy or enjoyable but excessive stuff?  No thank you.  I much prefer to spend time rather than money on our relationship.  So what is Elsa getting for Christmas?  

Sherri's Best Gift List

Toys that I use and/or recommend

Beds and comfy stuff

Elsa will be receiving a new plush toy and package of her favorite toy in the entire world, large sized tennis balls and a new batch of Mom's homemade cookies made especially for her.  She will also enjoy extra time spent with the family as we will as well.  Sitting here in bed, with Elsa by my side we have enjoyed our morning snack.  We've kissed and snuggled and now her head is bobbling as she drifts back to dream land.  This is what it is about.

I'm not saying that gifts aren't wonderful; who doesn't love getting gifts?  But the best gift you can ever give anyone is your time and that includes our dogs.  Putting time spent together first and foremost is never, ever a bad idea.  

Have a wonderful Holiday Season and put time together up there on the top of your list.  

Dogs and the Holiday Season

It's that time of year again.  Time for gift giving, food preparation and consumption, lots of family and visitors coming and going and everything that makes the holidays wonderful.  All of the things that we love about the holidays can stress out our dogs and cause dangerous situations.  You may be all Holly Jolly and ready for the holidays, but is your dog ready?  

Got a counter surfer?  This could lead to all sorts of troubles over the holidays.  Extra precautions need to be taken so that your dog does not consume something that they shouldn't.  Many counter surfers are not picky about where they steal from; it doesn't always have to be a counter.  A coffee table, dresser, shelf, Christmas tree or purse are can be fair game.  Always be aware.  When in doubt, opt for safety.  Keep anything and everything that could be dangerous to your dog, away.

Got a dog who is not a social butterfly?  Save them the stress of having to deal with your loud and obnoxious neighbor who is sure that every dog loves him.  Keep grabby and wild children away from your dog if your dog is not comfortable around them.  Too many people put their dog in harms way as far as having to tolerate inappropriate behavior from other people and/or children.  It is mind boggling how many people just expect their dogs to deal with everything.  This often leads to owners being outraged and shocked that their dog snapped or bit someone who crossed a line.  

Take charge of each and every situation that your dog will be immersed into.  If you know they are not going to be comfortable then put them into a safe and quiet area for their own good.  Just because you want to make Merry does not mean that your dog does.

Got a high energy dog?  Make sure that your dog has a normal outlet for their energy.  We often overlook our dog's needs during the holidays and then are dismayed their unusually bad behavior.  Elsa is a very high energy dog; she needs a daily outlet for her need to run and retrieve.  So even during this magical time of year, Missy Elsa must run.  I love that I can now run her morning, noon or night because of the cooler temps so we head and run.  Keep up the normal energy release routine.  

Got a puppy?  This can be a rough time with puppies and many people forget that their little ones are very little and inexperienced.  Watch for signs of stress.  Make sure that your little one has an ample amount of time to sleep.  Puppies need to sleep a lot and if they are not given the opportunity to do so they can run into problems.  Being overtired is never good for a puppy; especially around the holiday season.  

Introduce anything new in a positive manner and bit by bit.  Socializing is great, too much is not better.  Too much socializing can backfire and lead to behavior problems down the road for your puppy.  Baby steps to success.

Got an old dog?   Old dogs need and deserve "Peace on Earth," for Christmas.  Like puppies, they are easily overwhelmed, grow tired quickly and don't have the patience of a young dog.  There is nothing like living with an old dog.  Being given the gift of an old dog is something very special.  It is our time to care, tend and give to them.  I have cared for many old dogs over the years and it is always a wonderfully significant stage of the life that you share.  The holidays call for extra care, love, patience and vigilance for precious old ones.  

This is my favorite time of year.  I hope that you have a wonderful Holiday Season.  

Long haired Basset Hound, I never knew!

Last week I was away on a small vacation.  Picture beautiful rain forests, chilly weather, misting rain and a walk.  Everything was glorious in my books.  Having escaped the hot temperatures in Southern California we head up to British Columbia.  If you've never been, go.  This was our second trip back and it was even better this time.

As we were out on one of our many coastal walks we ran into a dog named Boomer, Boomer the Basset Hound to be precise.  As we stood chatting to the couple who belonged to Boomer I wondered; was he a mix Basset.  You see Boomer looked very much like a perfect specimen except that he had long hair and a gorgeous plumed tail, much like a Golden Retriever tail.  

We met Boomer and is Guardians several times during our walks and each time he sounded off a wonderful greeting.  :)

So I had to ask "is he a mix?"  "No, he's a long haired Basset" his Dad explained.  ?????? In all my years of shooting dogs, showing in the conformation ring and just day to day out there around dogs I'd never seen a long haired Basset.  Boomer's guardians explained that the long hair is produced by a recessive gene that can show up in a litter.  Although it is very rare. 

I thought that he was absolutely gorgeous.  I like different, I'm not a cookie cutter fan and Boomer most definitely did not fit the Basset mold that I knew.  His long hair was perfect, with the leg feathering and plumed tail; he couldn't look anymore handsome than he was.  

I love when nature takes over and gives us something different.  This was a "wow, I never knew" moment for me.  I've photographed dogs for big dog magazines for years.  I've even done several Basset Hound shoots and never met a single long hair.  Very cool and very handsome.  

Talking to your dog

Do you?  Do you talk to your dog?  I most certainly do.  If you were to spend a day in my home, hidden away so that you could just listen; you would hear a lot of one sided conversation. What you would not hear is Elsa's response to my words.

Hear - to perceive by the ear.

You would hear me speaking all day long but you would not hear Elsa say much of anything.  She will on occasion speak back to me in growls or barks but for the most part she is a quiet listener and communicates via body language.

I talk to her all day long.  Just yesterday as we prepared to head out back for a retrieve; we stood in the kitchen getting ready.  I poured a glass of wine and a bowl of water then looked at Elsa.  She was more than ready but there was no ball present.  I asked her where the ball was and she looked around her very close vicinity.  Then I spotted one in the dining room and said "there's one" to her as her excitement went up.  She looked at me when I spoke and followed my pointing hand.  Off she ran to get her ball.  She's a great listener and has a huge list of words that she fully understands.  

Dogs are amazing listeners, most are.  What they listen for when you speak is tone and familiarity.  But Elsa didn't need to hear words to know that we were heading out for ball.  She knew what time it was and watched as all the visual cues fell into place.  

I love that Elsa understands so many words.  She is an intense girl and doesn't miss a thing; so even if I wasn't talking she still knows whats going on.  The more you talk to your dog and repeat words, their capacity for learning grows.  I have worked with dogs who were never talked to, never guided or taught verbal cues.  These dogs do not look to humans for guidance but learn their own cues to pay attention to.  

I remember someone asking me a longtime ago if I was talking to my dog.  "Yes, of course" was my response.  Like children, the more you talk to your dog the smarter they are.  Of course your words need to have meaning for a good percentage; but even when you talk nonsense to a dog who is highly aware of verbal cues, they listen.  

I am always teaching Elsa new words; especially when it is something that is regularly in her world.  They are far smarter than we can even comprehend.  So talk to your dog and teach them as many words as you can and they will amaze you. 

Runaway Dogs

"Is she a bolter?" the sitter that I was interviewing asked.  I probably turned my head much like Elsa does at the question, what?  "Will she take off out an open door?" she asked, rephrasing her question.  "Oh no, no" I replied.  "But you'd want to be careful anyway," I said.  The whole idea of dogs that run away is so strange to me.  I've never had one that would, just take off.  Jessie was probably the closest thing to a runaway but it was just her terrier trigger that got the best of her sometimes.  

My dogs have always seemed to have a magnetic pull to our home.  Let out of the car and the door is where they head.  I remember a very long time ago someone left a gate open at the side of the house.  Luke was a youngster at the time so he went out and around to the front door.  My neighbor saw him standing at the front door and rang the bell for him.  I opened it up and there he was, wagging to come in.  What a guy.

There are things that will draw a dog away, a distraction, something interesting to go see; but taking off and running away is entirely different.  Why do dogs run away?  There are many reasons that a dog will runaway.  Being scared is a big one; they are often not even in a normal state of mind when this happens, they are just running.  A lack of exercise.  It feels good to run free and let out all your ya ya's.  A positive reinforcement can fuel your dog to run.  If they get out, have a great run around, maybe meet someone else or find some food along the way, presto...you have the desire to run.  

A lack of bonding can also cause a runaway.  Is everything out there better than you?  Does your dog think that the grass is greener elsewhere?  Maybe it is, you need to look at your relationship if you have a runaway.  You should be the most important thing in your dog's life.  This takes time, commitment, trust building and fun.  Even if you have a couple or more dogs; you should still be the most important thing to all of them individually.  

How do you become the most important thing in your dog's life?  Bonding.  Time spent together, training, feeding, grooming and trust building.  All of these things make you important.  In the beginning it is food, treat rewards that are worth hanging around you for.  Then with time comes the connection that grows.  You need to be present in your dog's life to become that special someone.  The one that your dog turns to for everything.  

Runaway dogs are no fun.  If you have one you need to figure out why they are running and fix it. 

Puppy training

I love training puppies.  There is nothing better than starting with a nice clean slate.  That said, each and every puppy is an individual.  Plus, where and how they were raised will factor into how they behave at a young age.  

Training puppies can seem very easy but we humans can also get it very wrong if we don't know what we are doing.  I LOVE PUPPY APPOINTMENTS.  Being able to get in and educate new puppy guardians so that they better understand their puppy and how to communicate with them is amazing.  I love it.  

Puppies are not little people; in fact they are much further away from us in the beginning of their life than they will be.  They have yet to learn the ins and outs of living in our human world.  Hopefully they had lots of time with Mom to learn the ropes on how to be a dog.  They may have been given great life experience from their breeder, maybe not.  

What you have standing there before you is a baby dog, not a baby human.  One that has maybe only been on this earth of ours for 8 weeks.  Crazy.  So you need to learn to speak dog, or at least understand how they communicate, learn and understand.  

No one way of training works for all.  Of course it should be positive training but there are many techniques to get a message across under the blanket of positive training.  If you have a new puppy and are just venturing into the world of education with them, do your research.  Buy books, read, research and find out how best to communicate with that little furry bundle.  

Find a positive trainer, one that doesn't use the yank and choke method of training.  I have had to rehabilitate many dogs after being abused by yank and choke trainers.  It is a very sad thing to see a puppy wince in fear from experience.  If you ever feel like you shouldn't do something that a trainer tells you to do with your puppy, don't.  

Puppies know nothing about our human world; we need to take the time, patience and tenderness to show them what it's all about.  

Dog problems - asking for help

One of my many covers over the years. 

Imagine for a second...your dog is chasing cars, you hang on tight and hope not to be taken for a ride as you brace yourself.  Maybe your dog is systematically clearing off the counter each and every time you turn your back.  You sit with your head in your hands wondering "how am I suppose to fix this?"  

So many people go so long living with issues before asking for help.  Humans are not born with the ins and outs of the canine brain.  Yet somehow we think that we should know how to fix it; after all it is our dog who we live with day to day.  I have been called for help with so many "canine problems" that are actually easy fixes.  But if you don't know the solution to a problem then it is not easy.  

Dog brains do not work the way that our brains do.  The ideology that we can fix it with our human specific remedy is part of the problem.  We often see a canine "issue" as very human, we put it into human terms and human reasoning; this is call anthropomorphism.  

Anthropomorphism - the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to an animal or object.  

When our dogs act out we  understand it in human terms unless we are experience in canine behavior.  It has to be talked about in human vocabulary but the actions that they are displaying are far from human.

I remember standing in a dog park hearing a woman say "oh look he's hugging that dog."  As I turn to see what is going on it is very clear that there is a fight just around the corner if a human does not intervene.  One paw up on the back of another strange male and there could be a problem.  The woman saw this as a loving hug, but dogs do not hug like humans do.  That is unless you have pack members that like to lay together so close that they appear to be hugging.  ;)  A hug in human terms is usually a nice thing, not in dog terms. (Which is why you should NEVER hug a strange dog)

Asking for help is not a weakness but a strength.  When you do not know the answer to something is always a great thing to ask.  How many people feel that by asking a question they are somehow lesser of a canine guardian.  I wish that there was a mandatory Canine Guardian course that everyone had to take before adding a dog to their family, but there is not.  

Anyone and everyone can get a dog.  Sadly a fraction of people who are canine guardians know nothing about dogs.  Even people who have had dogs for years can know little about them if they have not taken the time to learn how dogs work.  

Being a canine photographer I have been out to many "big breeder" homes.  I use to shoot for all of the big dog magazines out there (all of which are not gone); so I was always on the hunt for breeders.  When I put on my photographer hat in lieu of my trainer hat, it was hard work.  I had to turn all of the "trainer/behaviorist" in me, off.  Some of the moments I spent at these "breeder" houses were the most eye opening.  I assumed that if you've had many dogs over many years that you would understand dog, wrong. 

Learning dog takes time and if you aren't interested to understand then you will not learn.  If you do want to learn then do some research.  If you are having problems that you cannot figure out, ask.  Asking for help is always a good idea.  

Heart Dog - The Love Of Your Life

I love this image.  An senior Labrador surveying his vineyard.  

We all love our dogs, or most of us do; but over our lives there is usually "that one" or if you are lucky, two or three, who is or was the love of your life?  

When I sit and think about all of the dogs I have loved.  Each one holds a special place in my heart; one by one they have wriggled their way in.  Single moments stand out with each.  So many lessons learned over the years; essential lessons to get me to where I am today.  

Mandy, was my number one dog.  There is nothing like a first.  Over a lifetime there were more dogs who stand by our side, along with more lessons.  Life is all about experiences and each individual brings with them a plethora of them.  

I often sit quiet, just sit with Elsa and realize the power in sitting silent.  I love to watch her as she reacts to our "moments."  She is special, very, very special.  But they are all special aren't they?  "My dog is the best," literally thousand exclaim, as they should.  

Each and every dog is the best.  Relationships with all, without exception, are what make our up life our memories of them.

The stages of our lives are precisely different.  Each experience with a new dog is genuine.  No two are alike, just like us.  We are all different, life is ever changing and each of our dogs brings to our shared life, a newness. 

For me, a heart dog is one who has touched my life.  Every single dog I have shared my life with has done that.  

Intact Tail

When the shutter snapped on my cell phone, I hoped that I'd caught it, and I did.  I was so happy to see this shot as I filed through the images of Elsa, Yogi and Lucy on their play date.  Shooting with my cell phone is far different than using my big Canon Camera.  My Samsung is not fast, has a lag time and can't shoot at the speed of my big one; so when I actually capture something that I hoped that I had, I'm stoked.  

I am also stoked over the number of breeders leaving tails intact these days. 

Stoked - exhilarated; excited.

This was the shot I was hoping for.  Elsa using her tail to the max.  She scoops her friends in and keeps them close.  I have many photos of her doing the same thing to Luke over the years.  Below is just one.

It is happening.  Many breeders are stopping, thinking and choosing what is best for our dogs.  There really is no other option if you are honestly doing what is best for our dogs.  Amputating tails because someone in the dark ages said it should be done is...well, stupid.  

Years ago when I began my life with Standard Poodles, I hated the idea of their tails being amputated.  Back then there really was no option, they are chopped at three days old and there were no breeders not doing it.  But things are changing baby, big time.  I am so happy to see all the tails and nails being left intact.  That's right, they are keeping their parts.  More and more are seeing the light.  :)  

There are definitely options now; you can seek out breeders who leave tails intact.  This is not just about Standard Poodles either, all dogs, breeds and mixes need their tails.  

I often sit and ponder the idea of amputating tails these days.  I do not breed and I never intend on breeding dogs but if I did!  I cannot imagine seeing all those puppies with their little tails and then chopping them off; it truly is barbaric.  I can't stand seeing day old puppies and then the follow up day 3 or 4 with tails removed.  I can't even.  

I am seeing Rottweillers, Boxers and Springer Spaniels with full tails.  I LOVE IT.  Leave them the way they were meant to be.  They are popping up everywhere.  And if you've never seen a particular breed with it's tail left as it should be, simply google the breed in Europe.  You'll see lots of examples of breeds who have their tail left as they were born.  

I love all dogs.  If their tail has been removed then it it sad for them and has nothing to do with the dog.  It is the humans who do this, and this is what I am against.  Many people have asked "what if I was going to rescue and the rescue had it's tail docked?"  Well, that has nothing to do with what I stand for as long as intact tails.  A rescue is just that, a rescue.  Finding a breeder who believes in leaving dogs the way that they are meant to be is something entirely different.  

No dog should have it's tail removed unless there is a medical reason for it.  Bottom line.  

Listening Part #2

So much being said.

This is part #2 - a continuation from my previous Really Listening Part #1 blog.  

As far as we humans are concerned, listening (although few people actually listen) is what we rely on for communication.  There is a great deal that can be heard if you read between the lines of what is said and watch as well.  Even though we depend on verbal communications for our preferred way of communicating; there is more to communication than words.

Dogs, on the other hand use body language first so listening to your dog means watching.  Of course canines use vocal communication but it is not their prime means of getting a message across.  Do you listen to your dog?  Which means do you watch?  

I love watching dogs.  So much is said within a few seconds and if you are not watching intently and clearly understand what you are seeing, you'll either miss it or misinterpret the message.  When Elsa has a play date with a canine friend, I find it hard not to watch 100% of the time.  I find it fascinating, so much information is shared between our dogs that we never even know about if we aren't paying attention.

Isn't it funny that we think that our dogs are so amazing at knowing what is going on with us.  "How did she know we were having friends over?"  "How does your dog know when you aren't going out?"  They watch, it's what they do and they know.  They know when things are good and when things are bad, they just know. 

If I am out and about I love to watch dogs and their constant communication.  I have tripped many times while turning to watch an interaction on my own walk.  It is what I love. 

Humans tend to take what they see in canine content and turn it into a human behavior.  When dogs communicate it is not in the same way that we do at all.  We have to explain it in human terms so that we mere humans can understand it but they don't do human things unless they are trained and asked to do so.  

Understanding canine communications is completely alien to us; that is unless we take the time to learn about it.  

Humans misread canine interactions on a regular basis, I see and hear it all of the time.  I see videos where people think that dogs are playing so cute; but they are just on the verge of a fight.  Photos of people allowing children to hug or sit on a dog and think that the dog loves it, sends chills down my spine. 

An extremely relatable example is guilt.  Humans often, far too often see submission as guilt.  "He knows he should not poop on the floor," is a common statement as an owner is yelling at their dog.  "Look how guilty he is," they say as the dog hangs it's head, averts eye contact and shrinks in submission.  The dog is reacting to the human behavior, not the guilt from what they have done. 

If you live with a dog or dogs you really should learn how to understand them.  

TRUST

Trust - reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person; confidence.  

Does your dog trust you?  Is there a trust that is unbreakable within your relationship?  Trust is huge, in fact it is everything.  

Trust takes work and it can take a long time to truly trust, depending on the dog and of course the human.  Are you trustworthy?  Does your dog easily trust?  Many dogs do not naturally trust, they are suspicious by nature and to win their trust can be a great deal of work.  But it is well worth it because once your dog trusts you, the two of you move onto a higher connection.

Luke was a worry wart type of guy so it definitely took work to get to a point where he trusted everything that I did.  He never questioned what had to be done, although he occasionally had to check in to make sure that we were still good.  If I accidentally pulled his hair or bump into him he worried that perhaps we weren't good.  He'd reach his face up with a need to touch mine; once we connected physically he would stare into my eyes, just to be sure.   

If he got hurt while playing or messing around somewhere he'd immediately come to me to show me what happened.  Once I gave him some "you'll be okay" reassurance, off he went on his merry way.  He was quite the guy.  Earning his trust was not easy so when I did, it was something that was never broken.  Even when I had to do things that he didn't enjoy, he trusted me.  

Trust is everything.  I tried to explain the trust factor to someone the other day.  They were explaining to me how they attempted to house train their dog.  They would yell and scream when they found pee or poop on the floor.  What does trust have to do with this?  Everything.  Dogs don't associate pee or poop in the house with something wrong.  So when you start to yell and get mad you are actually breaking trust which means ruining the bond that you have been trying to build.  A trust filled bond is amazing.  

When I had to give Luke his Vitamin needle, I knew it might hurt, but he trusted me.  I did my best not to hurt him and he never even winced.  He did trust me fully.  

Building trust means never lying to your dog.  It means always meaning what you say and never doing things out of anger.  This is one reason that positive reinforcement training is so very important.  The old yank and choke'm training is done through much anger, it is alpha ruler driven.  

Dogs deserve our best and trust is #1.

Dog Training - Interference in Learning

As I watched, I tried to remember it all.  The movements, the body language and the sound.  I was  at a training appointment to help fix some canine/human issues.  I watched the woman trying to hold her dog back when I entered the home.  I stood still, seemingly not watching but taking it all in.  "Let him go," I said.  He immediately calmed, not completely but much better than when he was in the trap of his guardian's arms.  

There are a lot of things that can interfere in the canine learning process.  Touch, sound and distractions can all factor in on learning.  But if we humans learn how a dog can learn, it works much better.  The woman with the problem dog who wanted to dive on everyone who came into the house was a prime example.  All she knew to do was restrain, but her restraining was backfiring.  Her touch, talk and body language just revved up the crazed behavior.

Another good example of too much interference was a German Shepherd and it's guardian trying to learn "stay."  I had been at an obedience class with another trainer for a photo shoot but the dog trainer in me was dying to step in as I watched.  It was not my place so I just surveyed from the sidelines.  The guardian repeated and repeated the "stay" while putting her hand up, then down, up then down.  She fidgeted with the leash and basically made it impossible for the dog to know what the heck was going on.  

Being quiet, listening and watching as our dogs learn is a big learning session for ourselves.  Learning how our dogs learn best is a win win for everyone involved.  But much frustration surrounds the act of teaching when we do not teach ourselves first.  How on earth can we teach our dogs if we don't understand how our dogs learn?

Most canine guardians do not understand how to teach their dogs.  There is much reliance put on the physical act; collar grabs, pushing, pulling, swinging arms and talking up a storm.   

Our dogs constantly watch us.  Their whole world revolves around watching and listening.  They rely on body language for the bulk of their communication so making our body communications clear and precise is extremely important in the learning curve.  The more we throw in the more complicated it gets, making it far more difficult for a dog to learn.

• Touch is a huge interference.  
• Sound is an interference.
• Body movement can be an interference.  
• Environmental stimulus can be an interference.  

If we as canine guardians take the time to learn to teach, we can accomplish so much more.  It is a win/win for the canine/human relationship.  

Shooting Hoops

The above photo was my shoot set up on Friday morning with Elsa. After a quick lesson on hoop jumping I wanted to capture Elsa going through.  I stood in my yard thinking how I could have the hoop held, get her to go through and take the image at the same time.  Then I remembered my shade stand.  This black stand is typically for set up or posed type photography, something that I rarely do as I much prefer, life, candid or action photography.  So the stand sits in the closest most of the time.  Out it came.  

As I had just taught Elsa about the joys of going through her hoop, I wasn't sure if she would do it on her own.  I wanted to be out front and have her come through toward me for the shot.  As I suspected, she balked when asked first.  She went around and under the hoop; after all it was attached to come creepy metal stand that she hadn't seen before.  This is why the little table is set up beside the hoop, to coax her through instead of going around.  

She stood there, not sure if she could do it on her own.  So I went back and pretended to hold the hula hoop, she went through.  Then I quickly got distance.  Elsa is a very fast learner so I only had to do this a couple more tries while getting further away and she was on her own.  

The lighting was perfect, sun and shade making it perfect when the sun caught her expression.  

During the shoot I was tossing Elsa treats to keep her interested.  One treat went flying into the grass and I told her to "find it."  "Find it" is a term I use for when something goes out of sight; a ball, frisbee or anything else.  But, I have also trained Elsa to "find phone" because I misplace my phone so often.  She spotted my phone sitting on a chair, ran over and knocked it to the ground.  I had to smile.  She's a thinker and thought maybe the "find it" meant we I needed my phone.  Smart, smart girl.  

Elsa had one "changed my mind" moment as she went to go through and then thought otherwise.  I'm glad I captured it because it shows the whole process.   (below)

I love her face at the end.  She looks like she is sort of laughing and sort of embarrassed.  The hula hoop was hanging on a string so hitting it would not hurt her at all.  

After our hula hoop session, I indulged Elsa in some ball retrieving and catching.  Although she is loving the hoop; a photo session with the hoop is slow moving, something she's not a fan of.  Elsa likes to work fast so setting up a shot, moving away, getting her through and capturing it is not Elsa's thing.  Her favorite fast catch and retrieve was her "thank you" from Mom.  :) What she does love is just jumping through the hoop fast, over and over again with no camera set up.

Love this Sporty Spice Girl.  :)