To breed or not to breed

To breed or not to breed; that is the question for many canine guardians. Over the years I have pulled out my soapbox more than a dozen times; climbed upon it, gave my schpeel and put it away for the next. "We think it would be great to have a puppy from her," "we'd like the kids to see puppies being born," "my neighbor wants a puppy." These are some of what I've heard over the years which then causes me to pull out the box. Breeding is serious business; or at least it should be. With so many unwanted dogs in this world we surely don't need anymore.

I understand that you love your dog; what I wouldn't give to have a couple of Luke's running around. BUT; and this is a big BUT,there is alot to consider before you take the plunge. Alot more than those cute little puppies to think about. The list of considerations should be:

1. Is your dog structurally sound? By this I mean is everything where it should be? Or is their structure compromised in some way? I've met many dogs who should not be bred simply by structure alone. And this has nothing to do with a beauty pageant; structure is about correct physical elements in place creating ease of movement.
2. Is there temperament stellar? Would anyone want to live with your dog? Is she friendly and steady in temperament? Or would you be passing on traits that are not so desirable. You need to look deeper and past a pretty face.
3. Are you willing to pay the hundreds into the thousand dollars to have health testing done? Afterall you owe it to the perspective puppy owners to give them the healthiest puppy you can.
4. There is always the risk of complications; c-section, eclampsia (or milk fever), compromised puppies or even death. And there is always the risk of more serious complications; even death for the dam.
5. Do you have the time, money and patience to raise a litter of puppies until they are at least 8 weeks old.
6. Do you have a list of people who will take these puppies? Often breeders are left with one or more puppies; especially in this economy. Can you keep them until you find a home down the road?
7. Are you willing to take a puppy back into your home for any reason? Things happen in life; often things that were unforseen. Many puppies need to come back; and if you are not willing to take them back they may end up in a shelter.
8. Are you willing to take the time and energy to learn about proper nutrition and health in puppies, pregnant dogs and nursing dogs?
9. Vet bills can easily reach into the thousands; you got that covered?

I could go on for a longtime but you get the drift. Someday I would like to have a litter of puppies; this will only happen if I have an amazing specimen with an wonderful temperament. And even then; I don't know if I could ever hand them over to people, I may just end up with a poodle emporium of my very own.

So if you are dying for a new puppy; skip the breeding idea and find a good ethical breeder. Or visit the local shelter or rescue group. Your dog will definitely thank you for this one.

Old dogs

Old dogs are wonderful; I've never had so many old dogs at once before. There have been alot of life changes and this last year has seen the most drastic. My dogs are all seniors; even though Luke seems very distant from that designation, he is nine years old. I believe it is the 8th year that makes a canine an official senior. But if you have a giant breed then 8 is an old dog. If you have a small dog then 8 is nothing. My Jack Russell is 13.5 and although this year has brought many changes to her, she can still jump and rip around like a 4 year old.

Quiet; that is probably the biggest change in my daily life. There is a peaceful silence throughout the day. As I wander from room to room trying to locate each dog; doing the regular head count I cannot help but notice the lull. I hit the favorite spots first; where there are sunbeams there will be a Jack Russell. I regularly find Jessie curled up, tongue hanging out soaking up the warmth. She has always loved the sun; being that she is short coated and white. But now more than ever she seems to need it. And I think it must feel pretty good on an old little body.

Once I've located the small one I then search for the dark one. I often overlook Tilley because she can blend in to almost any shadow. I regularly call and call her only to finally realize she is in the same room where I am standing. And at night she virtually disappears into the darkness. Old dogs seek comfort and deservingly so; it is the comfort spots where I can usually find Miss Tilley. She has taken to sleeping on the leather couch in the family room and always with a blanket and pillow.

Looking for Luke is never an issue; where I am Luke is and if he happens to drift off and not hear me leaving a room he comes charging in a panicked mission to find me. Jessie too was a follower but now her sleep pulls her into a deep coma like state, one that with her loss of hearing causes her to miss much of the daily comings and goings. Jessie is loosing her sight and her hearing; although it is her hearing that is worse than her sight and I find my self resorting back to sign language; something I haven't used so much since my Clyde passed.

These are their years; this is their time to be spoiled and pampered. It makes me happy to give them their favorite meals, tuck them in with the fluffiest of blankets while they rest and take our slower than a snail pace walk. Life with old dogs is very very different and although Luke is not old in my mind; we are already starting to see the signs of creeping years. Next year my gang will be 10, 13 and 14................... that's alot of old dogs, my first time ever and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Environmental stimulus

Environmental stimuli are everywhere; they are everything in the environment that surrounds us, anything that we perceive.

Perceive: to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses.

So basically; if your dog is aware of their surroundings then everything has an impact on their brain. Some dogs are much more aware than others; some sort of go through life whistling and wagging, perhaps not taking much in as far as sensory information goes. Then there are the average guys who notice material objects and actions going on around; they take in the information, process it and act accordingly. Accordingly meaning that it will be in accordance to their life experience; how much environmental stimulus they have been subjected to.

Then there are the dogs that don't miss a thing; these are the guys that can be more challenging. They see things that other dogs may pass by. This is all very interesting but the big factor in the level of perception is the end result which is action or reaction. How a dog reacts to stimulus is what we are given as feedback. This is our heads up so to speak. Nothing in life is truly scarey unless you perceive it to be so. Same goes for everything else; this is where fears, likes, dislikes and phobias come from; a basic perception.

So a stimulus is pretty much anything that our dog can hear or see; auditory or visual. Dogs who already have a perception of a certain stimuli can be reprogrammed to change their perception. This is done using counter conditioning which is done by creating a new association to a stimulus. And generally counter conditioning is done slowly to achieve the best results. Flooding is not recommended for canines as it can have negative results.

So by systematically breaking down a reaction by the introduction of a new associated response you can achieve great results. Everything is done by positive application; there is no anger or lack of patience involved. Because both; a lack of patience and growing anger lead to a crack in the building blocks you are stacking towards a new goal. No success can go unrewarded; each and every miniscule step forward is a success and needs to be marked with reward.

Dogs are so much more complicated than many think. Ah; canine psychology, I could go on forever but I must make dinner for the hounds. ;)

Busy busy

Man what a busy time of year; it never fails every year we are doing some home renovation project around the holiday season. This year is no exception and hopefully will be done this coming weekend. So with that there are lots of things to work around plus all the regular stuff. I have a good start of my shopping, baking is underway, got my December Newsletter out on time, photos submitted to the publications, decorations just about complete and the list goes on and on.

The dogs are in need of maintenance; first they all need a bath which may possibly happen today. Then they need some teeth scraping, poodles need ear hair pulling, nails need doing and poodles need a bit of a trim. Tilley has her annual check up next Thursday which is something I implement for seniors. Typically I visit the vets if something is wrong but now that she will be turning 13 its time for annual check ups. Tilley hates going to the vet; she pretty much shuts down and afterwards will be exhausted.

Yesterday I made a quick stop at the grocers on the way home from the gym. I was looking for some beef on special and found giblets and gizzards mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I had completely forgot that this is the time to stock up; so I gathered up about 10 packages, grabbed a turkey, a package of stewing beef and headed home. It took about 2 seconds for the dogs to make their way to the kitchen; they love organ meat and I'm guessing the strong smell has something to do with it. The dogs enjoyed beef for breakfast and gizzards with quinoa for dinner.

Today has just started and the list is already growing; have a great one everyone.

differences

This morning everyone was up early with us. I was very lucky to have a delicious breakfast brought to me and as I do every morning I shared. The dogs were all lined up nice and close; each awaiting their morsel of bread and butter. Both Jessie and Tilley scarf their food down without so much as giving it a sniff; after all they already know what I'm eating. Luke on the other hand must be given the tiniest of morsel; and then he breaks each of those down even smaller. Once he is going on the eating then you can offer him larger pieces but not until then or they are just dropped.

When he does drop pieces that are too big Tilley is right there to scoop them up. She is allowed to snarfle around eating what he drops. Every so often he will posture ever so slightly but that's it. Now; if Jessie even considers sniffing around for dropped morsels she receives the full display of Luke's pearly whites. So what's the diff? Why is Tilley allowed and not Jessie? First; it is obvious that Tilley and Luke are a pair; a couple so to speak. And second there is a constant battle for status between Jessie and Luke. It is with my leadership that this only goes as far as the occasional teeth display or growl; I will not allow anything else.

It is very interesting to watch dogs following pack rules that they have created. Jessie can discipline Luke but not Tilley; they have an understanding. Luke can hassle Tilley to the point of going crazy but not Jessie; if he does he get's a face snap. And there are rules about sleeping arrangements which they all know and understand. Pretty much Tilley get's away with murder; she can do just about anything. This is probably due to her neutral status; neutral is a great way to be. She is happy doing whatever; she is flexible and a peace maker. You can only have so many dominants before something goes sideways.

Picking and choosing

Boy; I have a houseful of exhausted dogs. The weekend started early; Wednesday afternoon and the dogs had their usually weekend runs Thurs, Fri., Sat. and Sunday so there pooped. Today is their usual day off but they need it more than normal this morning. I've been to the gym; now back home and preparing a yummy high calorie breakfast for the hounds.

This morning I wanted to talk about temperament again; I know I talk about it alot but with all the puppies around it's been on my mind more than normal. First let me say that I am highly impressed with breeders who wait until their puppies are 7 weeks old; and after the temperament test to place them. It doesn't mean that the puppies are going to their home at 7 weeks; just that they are assigned their very own family at that age.

Temperament is one of the most important factors when choosing a puppy. And even more so if you already have a dog or two at home. Lots of people have lots of dogs that get along great; it is wonderful when dogs mesh in a home. But often they don't mesh and perhaps a better look into temperament could have achieved a better outcome. Typically I like a puppy who is very people oriented; I love to see a waggy puppy when they approach a human and I like to see a bit of submission; a small ear drop or slight tail being lowered as well.

I tend to skip over the more independant dogs; but that does not mean they aren't or won't be wonderful. Many people want a more independant type. Some puppies have higher drive than others; and if you are going to be doing any sort of performance activities then these are the pups you want to look at. If you are interested in doing therapy work then again you will want the people dog; not fearful, a bit adventurous but definitely loves to be touched, turned over and snuggled.

Now as far as bringing home a second, third or fourth dog; this is where it gets tougher. You are going to be looking for a puzzle piece. Now if you are lucky and have a very neutral typical dog at home then choosing isn't as hard. But, if you have a dominant type dog at home you want to steer as far away from dominant or pushy as you can get. Putting the pieces of your family puzzle together is not always easy but with patience; you'll find them all. :)

A nip in air

Yesterday was glorious; we made our way down to the beach at sunset to capture some big surf images. It wasn't as big as I had hoped but it was heaven walking in the cold air and ocean breeze. I was surprised to see so many dogs; there were more dogs there than I've ever seen. We came across two standards which if I hadn't been in such a hurry to get to the beach I would have talked to. Both were beautiful reds; a color I love. But there was everything enjoying the chilly sunset from tiny chihuahuas dressed in their little coats, medium mixed breeds and the big guys like Shepherds and mastiffs.

By the time I had finished shooting it had pretty much cleared out; making me think that this is the time I'm planning another trip down with the dogs. The poodles love the nip in the air; it's nice to go for a walk when you don't break out in a sweat. And being that it gets so cool at night now it's hard to take off more of their coat. They need a short coat in the day and longer at night which is obviously impossible so it's either they get warm in the day and perfect at night or perfect in the day and cold at night. Right now they are in a little bit of longer coat so they are comfortable at night.

It was obvious that the dogs and their guardians (oh, there's that terminology again) were enjoying the nip in the air. Even if you are a native of southern California; a chill is nice once in a while eh? Once we returned home we got our customary excited greeting and it was time to eat and snuggle. I prepared our dinner which we ate watching Elf and generously shared with the pooches. They had their dinner and it was snuggle time; something all enjoy. ;)

Three muskateers

I love having three dogs; I'd like to have five, five has always been my goal. I'm working on that but for now I love having three. My pack is not a touchy feely one; they mostly sleep apart except when in the kitchen as I only have one bed in there. The floor is hard and Tilley is the only one that will lay on the tile floor in the kitchen.

Lastnight with the threat of rain we brought the big double lounge cushion in; so that's where they all decided to lay this morning. How cute? I love when they all lay together; probably because it doesn't happen very often. Although where I go the whole pack goes; but once at our destination they usually split up.

Also shown above is my pack in my xterra; this was taken yesterday at the end of our walk. The park is literally 5 min. away and a spot we frequent alot. Luke has a very expressive face; you can always tell his mood just by looking at him. Obviously here he's pretty happy. I try very hard to make sure everyone get's their own time; I think it builds a much stronger bond when you aren't always a pack. This may be why they all rely on me and only rely on one another if I am nowhere to be had.

Having a pack is a great thing; but you have to work hard to keep them mannerly and individual. All dogs are different and each has their own special needs. If a pack is always a pack then individuals tend to melt into the pack and not become all that they can be. That is unless you make sure to spend one on one with each member. Some dogs do not do well in a pack and as odd as it seems; do better alone as an only dog or one of two dogs. Although I think most dogs do well in a pack if their individual needs are met; if not they simply become a number, which is sad.

Black Friday this and that

Good Black Friday morning; I'm sure the stores are packed by now but I will not be one of the hoards visiting the malls. I don't do crowds; I hate them and do my best to get out and hit the stores before the rest of the people. What I have found to be great this time of year is online shopping; even for your pooches. There are many deals to be had but unfortunately there are bad deals as well.

When looking up deals for dogs I found some disturbing ads. Many of the puppy millers use today to sell a pile of dogs; so please beware. STAY OUT OF PET STORES THAT SELL ANIMALS AND DON'T BUY ONLINE DOGS; where you pick and choose from an image. Like I've said so often; good breeders don't sell their dogs to pet stores and they don't sell their puppies from an image online.

So as far as good deals? There are deals to be had everywhere right now and not just today; with a little time and effort you can spend alot less money than had anticipated. When I find great deals I will post them. Have a great day today and if you aren't hitting the malls then have a great day with your dog.

Owner vs. Guardian

In the past years I have switched from using the term owner to guardian. I have never in all my years of writing been questioned about my terminology use but feel that perhaps an explanation is required. Why do I use the term guardian in lieu of owner? There is no legal reason; there is no deep seeded subliminal message, the reason is simple. First; let's look at the definition of both terms.

Owner: a person who owns; possessor; proprietor.

Guardian: a person who guards, protects, or preserves. A person who is entrusted by law with the care of the person or property, or both, of another, as a minor or someone legally incapable of managing his or her own affairs.

Now that you have read both definitions; which would you fit into? Do you only own your dog? Yes I know you paid for your dog and you pay the bills but is that as far as it goes? If so; I'm sad for you as you are missing out on so much. But if you are like most people who would read a blog about dogs; you love your dog and maybe all dogs. I for one love just about all dogs; size, shape or color makes no difference to me.

And as far as my dogs are concerned I am there guardian. I chose to add them to our family; and it is my chosen duty to care for them. I will do the best I can to ensure their health, safety and happiness. I am far more than an owner in my opinion and frankly; I am very proud to be considered my dogs guardian. I take the role very seriously.

Terminology is a funny thing; I like to use words that are descriptive and usually veer away from generic type terminology. I think as we have evolved into wonderful canine caretakers so should our title. The term Owner is such a simplistic meaning that it essentially negates the true meaning of living with, nurturing and bonding with our dogs. I would use Mom but that has already been taken by my furless children. ;)

But in the end it is a word and that is all it is. Actions speaks volumes more than words.

You know you're a doggoner when!

Doggoner? Dog - a domesticated canid, Canis familiaris, bred in many varieties.

Goner - One that is ruined or doomed.

So if you are a Doggoner; then you have been sucked into the canine vortex, never to return to a dogless life. You know you are a Doggoner when:

- you head right to the meat counter at the grocers and you are a vegetarian.

- you need to go shopping for a new dog toy box.

- the topic of poop is a regular day conversation.

- you save every old towel; now deemed dog towels.

- you want to slap people in the head who throw out leftovers.

- you ask for an actual "doggie bag," at the restaurant.

- you have a larger selection of collars and leashes than your own clothes.

- your car was chosen around your dogs travelling comfort.

Oh there are many more; this is just the tip of the iceberg. If any of these pertain to your life; congratulations. ;)

New York New York

As the temperatures rise here in Southern California my thoughts are heading North East. How I long for a nip in the air and some snow; well......I can dream. My body may be in SoCal but I can shop in New York, sort of. The New York Dog Shop is an online shopping spot for those looking for something special for their pooch. If you love to shop for your dog; this is the place. I LOVE the little playpen for dogs on the People and Home page and the Mardi Gras collar is a must for anyone who loves some bling for their dog; especially for the Holiday season.

When in New York check out the Westminster Kennel Club; the big show is only 82 days away. Held in February this show will mark the 134th Annual show for the Kennel Club. And this year they add 3 new breeds; the Irish Red and White Setter, which I have had the honor of photographing. The Norwegian Buhund and the Pyrenean Shepherd; both of which I have yet to meet. You've all heard of the Westminster dog show; even non dog people have heard of it, it's a biggy. So mark your calendars; February 15-16 at Madison Square Garden.

So pour yourself a nice cup of hot tea or maybe a holiday coffee and take a trip to New York this afternoon. That's where I'm headed. ;)

Intelligence

Intelligence - capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc.

Intelligence in canines is a fascinating subject; firstly here is a compilation done by Dr. Stanley Coren listing in order dog breeds of intelligence.

Rank Breed

1. Border Collies
2. Poodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Doberman Pincher
6. Shetland Sheepdog
7. Labrador Retriever
8. Papillon
9. Rottwieler
10. Australian Cattle Dog
11. Pembrook Welsh Corgi
12. Miniature Schnauzer


At the low end of the intelligence rankings are:

106. Borzoi
107. Chow Chow
108. Bull dog
109. Basenji
110. Afghan Hound

Intelligence is a very complicated subject; for me no dog is stupid but what they have been given with regards to interacting or working for humans may be lacking somewhat. That said; by no means should everyone have a very intelligent dog. Often when I am working with a new client I will see a dog outsmarting their new guardian. This is when I will tell them that the easy dogs are usually not the sharpest. The really smart dogs can easily manipulate their owners and the humans don't even know whats going on.

Being that I work with all breeds and mixes of dogs I see a big variation in intelligence. But; often when a breed is labeled as stupid, guardians of this breed never give them a fair shake. The English Bulldog is one such breed; almost everyone I've worked with the guardian has said "well they are a bulldog." Bulldogs are extremely intelligent, so much so that they have convinced most owners that they just can't do this obedience stuff. The breed makes me smile. They may be at the bottom of the intelligence list but it is not because they aren't intelligent. These dogs simply do not have the desire to jump hoops for us.

At the top of the list is my breed and the Border Collie. For years there has been a serious competition between the two, but there is a big difference between a Border Collie and a Standard poodle. So much so that I really don't think you can compare them. Border collies need very little human intervention; sort of like people who blurt out "I know, I know," the minute you try to tell them something. Border Collies are over achievers and often have no "off" switch. If you like a dog constantly on the go; one you constantly need to sharpen your gray matter to work with daily then this is the dog for you.

But for me the poodle is tops; they are great home dogs and one of the most utility dogs there is out there. I know what some of you are thinking "oh those foofoo dogs." Think again my friend; the foo foo image they have is completely man made.
I agree with the list mostly but what this little snippet of a list doesn't include is the guardians. Once again a dog can be all that they can be or they can simply be the dog at home. When you work with dogs; I mean really work with them, teaching them as much as you can it is amazing how smart they all are.

For me there are no dumb dogs; yes there is a huge range of motivating a dog, their natural desire to work and the teacher. Comparing dogs is like comparing people; some are driven to succeed some are not. Knowing how much drive a breed has is a good indication of what you will deal with living with a certain breed Choose accordingly or you will not have an easy time of it. For even the most difficult dog there is a motivator; the secret motivation switch that you just have to find.

The veterinarian

Good Sunday morning; it's chilly here in SoCal. All three dogs are covered up and sound asleep at 7:30. They've all been up; had a snack and are now back under their covers with no thoughts of moving anytime soon. I've been asked to blog about finding a good vet; so just how do you go about finding a good one? That's a loaded question and one that you really have to go with your gut on.

I have had dogs for 30 years; my first dog was an Airedale named Mandy (Ivywin's Mandeline.) Unfortunately for Mandy I was not as experienced guardian like I am today. I'm a big believer of making mistakes; without mistakes we often don't learn the things we need to for the future. So I made many mistakes; so let's talk about vets. Over the years I've been through a few; infact it was not until last year that I found a vet that I actually like and trust. I've jumped from vet to vet; leaving each vet dismayed and frustrated, that is until now.

With my first dog Mandy; I clearly remember asking the vet what to feed her. Should I buy the better food or is the generic stuff as good. "Oh; they're all the same, doesn't make a difference at all." Hmmmm. Another vet was a large animals vet; looking back now it was not the best choice for my dogs. He handled them like they were cattle and they didn't like it. Another was a newbie; oh ya gotta love the enthusiasm of a newbie. I went in with Tilley at the age of 12 weeks sure that she had a bladder infection; hey I'm a Mom, I know these things. I left with a hefty 450.00 vet bill after numerous tests and an xray. I was told it could be a liver shunt, complications from her tail being docked or a heart problem. Hmmmmmm, when my regular vet returned the following day she called to tell me that Tilley had a bladder infection and gave me the 12.00 prescription.

My first vet trip here in Southern California was horrific and a HUGE learning experience. It was this seemingly innocent trip to the vet that transformed me forever. The woman vet that I visited was very distant; she gave off no actual concern for Tilley and was going through her routine. Tilley had an ear problem and they wanted to flush her ears; to make a long story short they took Tilley back into the back, handed her over to a tech and he let her run away. After I threatened everyone with their life basically; I frantically searched for her. Amazingly she found her way home after only being here 2 weeks. So to this day; unless for some reason like surgery my dogs do not leave me.

One thing I don't like about visiting a new vet is that I have to go through Tilley's story; explaining why I must hold my dogs and why they can't take my dog in the back. But it is not just my story that causes my concern; why send my dog to the back, away from me for some stranger to wrap their arms around them and give them a shot or do some procedure? It makes no sense; especially if you understand canine behavior. If an owner is willing or wanting to do the holding, they should. I know my dogs are not comfortable with hugs from strangers as most dogs are not. The tighter they are held the more they panic; the more they panic the tighter they are held. It's a pretty simplistic problem with a simple solution.

I have been told by vets that Luke has a dominance problem. When they tried to turn him onto his back for an xray he baulked; "wow, really?" No s*&t!! I think it should be mandatory for people who work with animals to take behavior courses. Not all dogs are like Tilley; she basically shuts off and anyone can do anything to her, Luke not so much. So what is the biggest issue for finding a good vet? It really depends on what type of guardian you are. Do you just want someone to tell you what to do; putting blind faith in whatever they say? Then picking a vet will be easy.

There are people who are experienced dog owners but still really don't have an opinion with regards to health issues on their dog. These people will have an easy job finding a vet as well. But; if you are experienced and educated with regards to health and nutrition you will find it much more difficult to find a vet you like. I have strong opinions on canine issues "bet you'd never have guessed that." I have often told vets; "no, that's not what I found out when I researched." Or "no, I don't do that." How many times have I had to support my opinion on feeding "real food.?"

I think the most important thing is to first; ask around. For myself; I wanted a vet who believes in alternative as well as western medicine. A vet who believes in feeding real food and minimal vaccinations. One that I don't have to argue with each and every time I want to stay in the room with my dog. Many vets are accustom to dealing with guardians who pretty much come in and hand their dogs over. I think this can cause the "pushy" attitude that some have. They are use to just doing and not discussing with guardians.

How a vet deals with guardians makes a big difference as well. Do they listen???????????????????????????????????? That's a biggy for me; if a vet does not listen well then they are not the vet for me. Most guardians know their dogs; at at least a little so a vet should listen to a guardian. I know what is the norm and not in my dogs; maybe not all dogs but definitely my own. If a vet does not listen to what I have to say and brushes everything off with a smirkish grin; ya, I won't be returning.

Don't think that you have to stay in your neighborhood. These days there is a Veterinarians office on every corner; much like Starbucks. My vet is over 30 min. away and well worth the drive. Convenient in no way equals "a good vet." You might luck out and get a great vet only minutes away from you but don't be afraid to drive to find one.

And finally ask questions; this is your dog, you have complete control of what happens to your dog. Do not be intimidated; this is a common effect with vets and guardians. Many guardians really don't know what to ask; so they don't. Get educated and ask a billion questions. If you feel unsure about anything; say "hold up a minute." If you don't agree with something; THAT IS YOUR RIGHT. I have been given very bad advise from many vets; in fact one vet not too long ago wanted to amputate Tilley's tail. I disagreed whole heartedly and I am happy to say that she still has it and it works just fine. Yes it took months of nursing around the clock but I saved it.

Before I go off to the vet for a specific reason I read, research and do it some more. If I am given a new medication; my dogs do not get it until I read and read some more on possible side effects. Go with your gut instinct; do you feel good about a decision being made with regards to your dog or dogs? If not; DON'T DO IT. You can always go back but once something is done you cannot undo it. There are all sorts of vets; just like there are all sorts of Doctors. I have found a vet I really like; I'm still looking for a dr. that I like, don't know if I'll ever find that.

Here are a few links:

AHVMA (American Hollistic Veterinary Medical Association)

Shirley's Wellness Cafe

Natural Rearing

Puppies and the big world-the beginning

I had a shoot yesterday with a young puppy; a 14 week old adorable pup. She is just starting her big world experiences but has been out and about in her neighborhood for a while. She did amazing for her first trip out to such a public place and it was a great place to take her. There are so many dog lovers there that just about everyone wants to touch; great socializing. We were at the Montage in Laguna Beach; a place I frequent often with the dogs. The scenery is spectacular and getting a bad photo is almost impossible.

So we meandered down the pathways letting the little one get a feel for the place; she had a few anxious moments near the construction and the ocean was pretty scarey. At one spot along the pathway where you can walk down to the beach the ocean crashes loudly on the rocks; this was much too loud and frightening spot for her introduction to the beach. So we headed back to the open beach area where the rocks were further away creating a much more calm introduction. She immediately knew she was on a different surface when she hit the sand; it was very cute watching her. She look at the sand for a while then moved onto digging it; she was quick to discover the joy of sand.

Next was the ocean; she had a look, got a bit closer and as the waves came in her tail dropped and she backed up a bit. She only moved away a bit; then came back for another look. When you consider that the ocean makes a huge growly sound it must be a little unnerving when you have never seen nor heard this before. All in all she did amazing and I got some adorable shots; the best were on the beach where she seemed much more relaxed. So what made this trip such a good one and not a frightening one? Her brain stimulation and socializing from birth.

I happen to know that this particular puppy received Early neurological stimulation from birth. Many breeders are now implementing this with their litters and are seeing the benefits. Of course it helps when you are dealing with good genes but bettering your odds for having better puppies is never a bad idea. Along with these stimulation steps there should be toys, noises, activities and scenery changes at the breeders home.

Once they have left the breeders home to live with their new family the socializing must continue. Gentle and slow is the best way to go always watching for reactions signals. And the way that each human reacts to situations will definitely impact on the puppies reaction.

So you are left with the same recommendation after this blog; do your research.

Stress

Stress; not good for humans, not good for dogs or anything for that matter.

The below definition was taken from Wikipedia.

Stress is a biological term for the consequences of the failure of a human or animal to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats to the organism, whether actual or imagined.[1] It includes a state of alarm and adrenaline production, short-term resistance as a coping mechanism, and exhaustion. Common stress symptoms include irritability, muscular tension, inability to concentrate and a variety of physical reactions, such as headaches and elevated heart rate.[2]

So what stresses out a dog? Anything and everything can stress a dog; just like in humans, they are all different. Dogs all react to external stimuli very differently so what may stress out the dog next door is probably entirely different from what stresses your pooch out. With regards to training and modifying behavior; it is of extreme importance to watch a dogs reaction. The slightest bad reaction can snowball into something very large requiring more modification.

Some dogs are much more prone to stress than others. My two females are not the type to stress; my boy on the other hand is a stress monkey. It doesn't take much to have him worried and stressing. Stress can be caused by something fearful; confusion, excitement and even anticipation. Even really great situations or animate objects can cause stress. If your dog is triggered into bouts of over excitement they can easily cross a functioning/nonfunctioning line. Again Luke can cross that line easily so I watch his excitement level alot.

I've heard guardians often telling their dog to stop being silly when they show fear towards some object. It may be something like a troll on someones front lawn. But for some reason your dog does not understand that it is simply a plastic lawn ornament and is coming unglued the closer you get to it. Fear is the cause of the behavior; but the behavior is a stressful reaction to the fear. Stress is what happens to the body when we or your dog are not equipped to deal with an external stimuli.

Often a dog will exhibit a fearful response to a normal daily activity. You may have no idea what caused this odd fear and you may never know. The important thing is that you deal with the reaction, no matter what the cause is or was. It is nice to understand why your dog may be afraid of a certain cupboard in the kitchen or your ice dispencer but if you don't know why you can still help them get over it which then gets rid of the stress related response to the initiating factor.

Counter conditioning is used to create a different response when stress is the default application. Let's say your dog is afraid of the ice dispenser (I actually had a case like this,) your job is to create a positive association to the ice dispenser. Creating an entirely different association to a fearful trigger takes alot of patience and baby steps. You must look at the smallest of achievements as success; never moving on further until each step is achieved.

Stress is a very real internal response and it can be mild to extremely dangerous. Learning to see the signs in your dog takes time and takes close visual supervision. Just recently we were out at a park when a young child approached. Both dogs were fine at the approach but as the child came closer Tilley got uncomfortable; the child came up to her at the side and Tilley pulled away. But before the child was even 5 feet away from my dogs I was down and right there. I know toddlers and toddlers like to hug; which my dogs do not like to do with strangers. So as Tilley started ever so slightly to lean away I put my hand out stopping the child. The child was so involved with all the dogs around she didn't even realize I had moved her away, neither did Mom unfortunately.

**As a side note it is never a good idea to let children or anyone hug your dog. Even if you think it is a good idea and that your dog will be fine; a bite to the face cannot be undone.

No matter what the cause to a stressful reaction is; you must work to help your dog learn to deal with it. Typically stress grows on it's own but it doesn't go away on it's own. No body or dog wants to live day to day with stress; it is no way to live. So figuring out what is causing the stress is the first step; then working at creating another entirely different mental reaction to the trigger is the next step until it is gone.

One step at a time.

Leash etiquette

Good morning; what a great cool morning, love it. We all had toast for breakfast this morning; Luke and Jessie were on the bed with me and Tilley was still on her bed. I am perfecting my toast toss so that Tilley doesn't have to move from her bed to get it. At almost 13 it's getting tougher to get up so when I made a bad toss this morning I watched and laughed at her commando crawling across her bed and out onto the carpet. Obviously a much easier means of maneuvering.

Well onto leash etiquette. I'm a stickler for the proper use of a leash and when and where certain types of leashes are appropriate. I have tons of leashes but the ones I use almost all the time are my 8' 5/8s" cotton web leashes. They are long enough to give the dogs some distance and thin enough to wrap in my hand easily. I do not like the big thick 1" nylon leashes nor do I like nylon leashes in general as they can slide through your hand injuring you. I like the bungee cord type leashes; mostly when used with body harnesses though. And I like a nice short 6"-8" leash for walking through crowds.

Then there is the extension leash; most either hate or love them. I have one for Jessie and it is used ONLY when we are at the park and not around other people. If other people come around she is reigned into 5' length and locked in. Extension leashes can be dangerous and cause all sorts of problems; like cutting your leg. I've had my leg cut twice by the thin ones, clients let their dog out to the end to see me and then tried to haul them back while they were wrapped around my leg, smart. Dogs getting wrapped up in someone else's extension leash can be very dangerous indeed; fights start that way. When dogs feel trapped they swing into the fight of flight mode and being that they cannot move away they resort to aggression to get them out of the situation.

No matter what leash your dog is on when you meet someone else with a dog; do not allow them to become tangled. If they are becoming excited either move away and keep on your walk or drop your leash. But even if you drop your leash watch for tangled feet. If you have a dog that tends to be aggressive on leash, stay calm when you meet others with dogs and keep walking. Get a bit of distance by stepping off the path and calmly moving away but do not change your stride, do not have your dog stop and sit. When you do have to reel your leash in do it in a calm and smooth manner. Do not panic; the more calm you remain the calmer your dog will be.

Do not allow your dog to wander up to others without asking. Extension leashes are horrible for this although people do it on shorter leashes as well. When I walk Jessie I send clear messages that we do not want to meet with others. I get distance, step off the path and continue my walk. Sometimes the other people are so anxious to have their dog meet my dog that they don't register our message so then I must tell them that she is not social. But had they been paying attention they would already know that.

When walking with your dog on a leash have a look down at what is going on when you are walking. Does the clasp hit your dog in the face? Does the leash keep swinging and catching their ear? I see these type things all the time as the dog struggles to get away from the annoyance. Does your leash hang down to far and keep tangling your dogs feet? Is it too short so that your dog cannot do their much needed sniffing? These are all things to watch for.

No matter what leash you use; watch how you use it and hopefully it is not connected to a chain.

The "In" virus

Okay; I'm sure you are all up to your eyeballs with the talk of viruses but here's one you may not have heard of. I actually got wind of it about a month ago when someone on my one of my lists asked if anyone was getting the vaccine for their dogs. From there I did my research about this information that was new to me. Then this morning I got this great newsletter written by my veterinarian on the subject. Please read it.

I believe that with all the new information coming out about over vaccinating our dogs; the big pharmaceutical companies are scrambling. What can they produce that every dog owner will need? Well I think that this one; the H3N8 is the new hope for these companies. And what better time to introduce it than now when everyone is freaking out about the H1N1 virus? My dogs will not be getting it.

Luckily there are people for the dogs and not just people for the money. These are some great links to have a look at as well with regards to vaccinations.

The Rabies Challenge Fund

Is your Vet still over vaccinating?

As a trainer I am a big believer of educating our canines but first off; educate yourself. Your dog is worth it.

Musings on a Tuesday

Well; I'm off to Costco this morning, and I'm hoping to get a new dog bed. The favorite bed of the poodles is the couch type I got a couple years ago. It has now seen better days after suffering from the wrath of Luke's comfort driven digging. There is a big hole in one side and pills all over it; so it is time for a new one. Unfortunately every time I go they don't have them; maybe now that it is the season they will have them, I can hope right?

But first things first; walk time, but before that is gym time. When I get home from the gym in the morning the dogs are all still asleep on my bed or theirs. They know the routine; which is very loose. I don't like routine myself and try to not do the same ole all the time. Dogs learn routine very quickly and depending on the dog; can have difficultly veering from it or not. Tilley is very flexible with regards to routine; she doesn't care what we do and goes with the flow. Jessie can get stuck on routine sometimes like being the first one to go on a walk in the morning; so again, I try to switch it up.

But then there's Luke; the routine meister, that boy can get so stuck that he is unable to go left or right. He likes what he likes and he does not like change. He is by far the most complicated dog we have ever had; in a good way. If I am on the computer Luke is either on my bed or behind me on the floor. When I am in the kitchen he is on his lounge outside where he has the best seat for viewing me. And his most routine of routines is in the evening; after dinner he likes to go downstairs and watch tv. It's not so much the tv as it is the fact that we are stationary and he likes that.

Luke will wait at the kitchen door; watching me as I clean up the dishes and their meal. He waits patiently; watching my every move, he is waiting for the slightest sign that tells him I'm done and going downstairs. When that time comes and I head towards the door he starts wagging; he then charges ahead of me to the top of the stairs. With a big goofy face that says "we're goin down right Mom?" all over it his glance darts from me to downstairs and back again. And if that happens to be where I am going he runs down and proceeds to spin with excitement. He patiently waits to see where I will sit. Once I'm down he does his ritualistic 12 circles and lays at my feet, very content.

If it happens that I am not going downstairs and am going up instead; he charges up ahead and watches. He wants to know my every move; where I'm going and when. Luke is a foot watcher; many dogs are but it is done so subtly that you don't notice. Again with Luke; not subtle.

Have a good one.

Its nice to be missed

I went down to San Diego yesterday early in the morning; spent the day with my daughters. The drive down was sweet; 55 min from door to door. Now coming back was a different story; 2 hours crawling home. One thing you can be assured of traveling back and forth to San Diego; at some point you'll be snagged in traffic. I made a quick pit stop at the grocers to pick up some beef for the pooches and headed home. I always miss the dogs when I'm away for the day and I was looking forward to a nice greeting.

Well; I got it. I got crying, spinning, jumping, head sniffing and kisses. What's not to love about an over exuberant greeting. During dinner my husband and son told me that little Jessie had been looking for me all day. She sat at the top of the stairs crying; that's so sad. I feel so bad for her these days because she is loosing her sight and when she can't find me; her sniffer fails her as well. I'm sure she thinks that she just can't find me; not that I may not be there. But at least she has her canine buddies to keep her company.

The dogs had taken up position at the front door but I came in through the garage. There they were all facing the door barking; I watched for a few seconds and then announced myself. Everyone pounced; even Jessie but then she made her exit to do the usual routine, grab a toy and charge around with it. Luke and Tilley followed me into the kitchen continuing with their "welcome home Mom."

Being that everyone was a little excited I walked out into the cool evening air and chilled. Looking up to the stars the dogs started to relax and sat just looking at me; much calmer. Once calm we went in and had dinner; a raw beef quickie and everyone enjoyed it immensely. I had planned on kibble for dinner but the guilt of feeding them kibble for breakfast took over. Even though their kibble is a good one; Orijen, and I keep it on hand for days like this was I still wanted them to have fresh food. So I opted for fresh raw beef instead of kibble.

Once everyone ate it was then downstairs for a bit of National Geographic. The evenings are getting cooler and I was tired from the day; I curled up in my favorite chair with my big wolf blanket. Jessie jumped into my lap and curled up immediately; Luke lay at my feet in a big blanket and Tilley joined my son on the couch. With full stomachs and the boss safely home they were all happy; me too.