So, what have you been up to?

Breeder - Laurie Turner, Washington.  Amazing set up, toys, litter box, nonslip surface for puppies to move around and den.  Really nice.  What a great start to life for these little munchkins.

I always wonder what puppies are doing when I cannot see them.  Let's face it, these days it is hard to find an amazing breeder next door.  So, this means that you must rely on photos and videos if you want to know.  I WANT TO KNOW.  I do not like being kept in the dark about anything and that goes for my future puppy.  What are they doing all day?  What is the breeder offering the litter as far as enrichment?

A great example of enrichment, Youtube.  First day in their new big space.  Breeder is Laurie Turner in Washington.


Same litter, 5 weeks old.

Over the years I have seen many, many, many litters.  I have photographed, assessed and temperament tested them.  Some litters I've just been there visiting but still took the time to talk about what the breeder doing as far as enrichment.   Like everything else in this world there are those who do little with their litter; to breeders who offer a full on enrichment agenda.  

All breeders are also different as far as sharing images and videos.  Although many these days rely on FB and Youtube to share their little bundles of joy to the world.  But if you are getting a puppy from a breeder who is not into "sharing" then you will need to ask and ask you should.  A puppy who has had little enrichment and socializing will be extremely different than one who has already experienced a great deal.  

I love when I see a litter who is introduced to many different things.  Even if a future puppy of mine is not in that litter; I get excited with breeders who are giving their all.  Those breeders who are doing their best to give their puppies an amazing head start in life.  Puppies who have been given early enrichment, thrive.  Of course one must understand what is a good amount of enrichment. 

Enrichment is not hard to offer puppies.  Introduction to new things on a daily basis is easy peasy.  It doesn't take much to introduce new things to puppies who have only been alive for maybe two or three weeks.  Everything is new to them; but if they sit in a whelping box or cage all day and night then they are not being enriched.  A puppy with no experience at all will be at a disadvantage.   

You as the puppy buyer may have a great deal of work ahead of you when you get a puppy with a non enriched background.  I have seen many puppies who have been raised in a box and literally never set foot anywhere else until they are 8 weeks of age.  It is a sad thing to see puppies so scared of everything around them.  But when a breeder has given their puppies early enrichment and socializing, they are much more prepared to take on new things in their life.  It is not as scary when you've already dealt with different things.  

When you begin your search for a puppy, ask about early enrichment and socialization.  Along with health testing parents, proper nutrition and temperament testing; socialization and enrichment is up there with important things to consider when choosing a puppy.  Not only will it give your puppy a great start in life but you will be supporting a breeder who is doing their very best for their puppies.  That is important.  

The end of one story, onto the next.

                     Incredible to think that this was 2.5 years ago.  Seems like yesterday. 

It's gone, # 2 novel (And Back Again) is now in the hands of my editor.  Late Friday afternoon with memories in my heart and tears in my eyes I pushed away from my computer and hollered.  The story has been written and now needs the talents of an editor.  Of course it still has a while to go before it is on paper and available but the bulk of the work is done.  It has been a great deal of work putting some of my experiences, thoughts and life into a story.  The first book (PBJ and me) which is available to read now, was quite different than this one.  #2 is about twice as long and has a great deal more twists and turns.

PBJ and  me also available on Amazon in paperback and KINDLE versions. 

I love writing but after having a book in front of me asking attention for over two years; it is a great feeling to send it off and pull up a new one to work on.  And Back Again begins two and half years ago in actuality; the story plays out over a three and a half month time span.  I still cannot believe how much happened in such a short amount of time and reliving it over and over again until completion of the book has been therapeutic. 

As the first story (PBJ and me) began to unfold before me; I had no idea that a novel was underway.  For those of you who have read the book; you know that our story did not end up how we had planned at all.  Life has a way of doing that to us doesn't it?  We may have a plan but life has it's own plan for us.  Sometimes life plays out happy and wonderful; sometimes it does not.  But life is life and life itself holds countless experiences from the very tiniest of moments to the monumental ones. 

As you all know dogs are my life.  I am a long time dog trainer, professional dog photographer and writer; all of this fits nicely into And Back Again.  Its all in the book, every box checked; training, photography and writing all come together. 

So it is onto the next project; perhaps there will be a #3 novel, I do love a good story.  There is a training book waiting to be completed and a third children's book that needs attention.  In between the books are more shoots, both canine and human and training.  It's a crazy dog life, but it's mine. 

The world through our dog's eyes.

Have you ever taken the time to see the world through the eyes of your dog?  You should, because when you do it becomes easier to know your dog.  I love taking Luke and Elsa out and experiencing life through them.  They look at everything differently than I do.  Simple things that we overlook may become an object of mystery and intrigue for our dogs.  Just yesterday I watched Elsa as she mistook a little pile of dirt in the yard as a lizard.  I'd been watering the flowers when my hose shot some dirt out of a pot; beside the double lounge that we regularly sit on.  Elsa and Luke were inside when the dirt flew.

She is in the habit of checking out the closed patio door throughout the day.  You just never know when a lizard might be out and about.  She spotted the tiny pile of dirt immediately and her tail kicked into gear.  I got up to see what the excitement was about and spotted the reason.  She shot downstairs and out the dog door so fast that I didn't have time to open the patio door for her.  Needless to say she was extremely disappointed when she got to the pile; although it did give her a great charge for a few moments. 

Experiencing:  knowledge or practical wisdom gained from what one has observed, encountered, or undergone.

Learning your dog through their eyes is the best way to truly get to know your dog.  You become much more aware of how they feel about their surroundings.  You learn how they deal with everything and can be much more prepared to deal with their reactions.  Each dog is an individual and what one thinks nothing of; another may be hugely moved, freaked or bothered by.  Take other dogs for example; many people say "I just never know when they are going to go off," when discussing leash aggression.  Watch through your dogs eyes and you will soon discover what the trigger is.  For Luke it is direct eye contact or a tail held high.  He is not a fan of Husky type dogs or Golden retrievers for that fact alone.  When a dog walks by with their tail held high I can be pretty sure that Luke is going to object.  He is very social but the leash interferes with that in a very common display of leash aggression. 

As Luke ages his hearing is diminishing; not completely but it is far less than what it use to be.  But his nose is just fine and I love watching him sit out in the back when a good gust of wind blows by.  He always shoots his head straight up to take in the neighborhood.  Just the other night he did this and then followed up with some very scary growling.  He even got off of his lounge and patrolled the perimeter; there was something in the air that he didn't like.  Watching him protect his domain made me happy; not only to see that he still has it but that it made him feel good to do it.  What a guy.

Many people go through life, sort of oblivious.  "Wow, I didn't notice" is a common thing that I hear when I ask if an owner saw a behavior displayed by their dog.  Being aware is a good idea anytime; but you don't have to direct your attention 100% onto your dog.  Learning to see it all takes some practice and of course you can't always see everything.  Being in the moment, keeping a close eye on your dog at all times and paying attention are all key factors in seeing through your dog's eyes.  Being in tuned with the here and now is essential to seeing and learning from your dog. 

Have you ever asked someone to watch your dog; and discovered that people have many different degrees of watching?  I have seen people hand a leash to a friend and ask them "to watch their dog."  It is a great time to learn how people feel about the term "watch."  Many people consider just being in close proximity to be watching, uhhh, no, not even close.  You must watch and pay attention; it is amazing how many people can actually watch but not see.  To draw any information from watching you must experience. 

Don't just watch, experience; learn through your dog's eyes.