Don't group the bad with the good

There is a big turn around these days for rescuing dogs. It is wonderful to see so many people rescuing, fostering and adopting second hand dogs. What I don't like is the turn against breeders; all breeders. Many people are uneducated about the whole breeding process grouping the millers and the good breeders into one group. That is a horrible thing to do; there is a huge difference between a good ethical breeder and a miller and never should the two be made as one. Millers are horrible people; they have no concern once so ever for the dogs they breed. They don't care about the people that they are selling dogs to; they care only for themselves and the almighty dollar.

Whereas a good breeder is concerned with health, temperament, happiness of all their dogs and the puppies that they breed. It is difficult to get a puppy from a good breeder; they only want whats best for their dog's offspring and if anything should ever go wrong their puppies are always welcome back home. A good breeder spares no expense when caring for their dogs and do all the extensive research to ensure good genes are passed down to their puppies. These are the people who should be supported for all of their hard work and in no way should they be protested against because they breed dogs.

Many groups these days shun a person for wanting a specific breed or going to a breeder at all. I was at a shelter when I overheard a volunteer telling someone who was looking at the dogs that they didn't deserve a dog. This after hearing that the person was looking for a specific breed. I was appalled by this; how dare this woman tell another that they didn't deserve a dog. There are many wonderful dog loving people who only give the best to their dogs who are purebreds. Just because you rescue a dog does not make you a better dog guardian. No matter what is on the end of your leash, in your bed or on your couch; if you love it, care for it and make it a part of your family then you are a great canine guardian.

"I love dogs." That is a blanket statement; I love the species as a whole from the tiniest to the giants. Whether they are purebred, designer dogs, street dogs, rescued dogs.........whatever, I love dogs. I have often walked into a new training session only to discover that the dog I'm going to be working with over the next 7 weeks is from a Petstore. Should I turn away and not help this person because they bought their dog from a place that I am trying to close down? No; it's not the dogs fault, but what I will do is to gently educate the guardian. Often to my amazement; the person is an innocent victim, they had no idea and vow to never give their money to these places again. If the person did know but purchased from a petstore anyway then my educating is not so gentle.

I spread the word when I can; educating people about the whole Puppy Mill issue. From the ones who pump out puppies, never giving proper health care and feeling nothing for the animals who bring in their profits. The subject of shelters, rescue groups and foster homes is a complicated one. I have fostered dogs myself and the dogs went onto wonderful families. If you feel strongly about rescuing a dog then do so, it is a wonderful thing to do. And as we all know there are many dogs in need. But if you are like some people who have a specific breed in mind; you know yourself and your family and know what you would like in regards to a new family member if you've done your research and found a great breeder who is willing to place a puppy with you, then that is a wonderful thing as well.

Do not judge people because they want a certain breed of dog. The shelters are not filling up with unwanted puppies from great breeders. A great breeder takes back puppies when it doesn't work out. The shelter is filling up with dogs from Puppy Mills; the one that you buy in a petstoreor online. And petstores rely on the "awwwww" factor, hoping that even when you weren't thinking of getting a puppy that an impulse buy is not far off. These are the dogs that fill the shelters; and the puppies who are born and offered off free for the taking.

It is a sad state for dogs these days; great dog guardians are a good thing. Don't shun the ones who love dogs just because they don't have the same ideology as you do.

Aggression fuels aggression

A clear message from Tilley; don't touch my ball.

Aggression fuels aggression. This phrase has been forever ingrained in my brain.

Aggression: the action of a state in violating by force the rights of another state.

We've all heard the term "dog aggression." But many confuse or intermingled the terms aggression and dominance. Simply; dominance is a state of mind, aggression is an act. Often a dog may be very dominant but not aggressive at all; as well as a very aggressive dog may be a very submissive dog so I am talking about aggression here, not dominance.

Several years back I was in a sticky situation; I was on a business trip with my husband up in British Columbia. While he was at a work meeting; I took my camera and went off to explore. The scenery was spectacular and I was snapping images like crazy. I ended up on a beautiful beach; there was no one around, just me and the great outdoors. That is until a black chow mix charged down the beach after me. This was sheer aggression; I was obviously on this dogs beach and he didn't like it. I tried ignoring the dog and he charged to within a foot from me; I turned to defend myself. The only thing I had on me was my camera and it was new so I had no intention of using it as a weapon. I quickly scanned the beach; of course no sticks, this place was immaculately clean.

Our whole interaction took probably 5 min. it was like a choreographed dance. He would charge; I would face him down and he'd back off. As soon as I turned to walk away he was on me again. He was a very menacing looking beast; large, black and displaying everyone of his pearly whites to me. My mind was racing; charging this dog could really be a bad thing although he had shown some signs that he was not confident enough to follow through with a bite. When I turned to face him he backed off; but not much. There I was stuck in a game of cat and mouse. Standing there watching this dog spitting and growling with his eyes fixed on me; every bit of his hair raised on his back and his tail held high with just the tip wagging, not good.

After what seemed like an eternity his owner road by on her bike; she called to him and he went running. I had a few choice words for her and let her know that I saw this dog bite a jogger who was up further. She yelled and swung at the dog but did not put a leash on him. There are so many types of aggression that you can never simply look at teeth, or a growl, it is the whole picture that tells you what is going on and how to diffuse it if possible.

The problem with using aggressive techniques to "fix" an aggressive dog is that you the human may end up on the loosing side. A dog that has a real aggression problem will not simply give in. This is where positive behavior work is so important. We humans are (allegedly) much smarter than dogs; with the correct use of our gray matter we can outsmart the dog. On the other hand; those who use physical aggression against an aggressive dog risk the possibility of a battle that they may not win.

One of the worst case scenarios is a conventional trainer subduing a dog with the use of violence which puts the dog in a further state of stress. This stress can then reappear to an innocent bystander; perhaps a child. Example; a food guarding dog is violently shown that they are not allowed to growl around the food bowl, with either alpha rolls or scruffing. The dog learns that growling is a no go with this one very dominant aggressive human. This is a stressful situation for the dog; a dog who naturally wants to guard his food is now blocked with aggression against him. Then one day one of the kids in the family walks too close to the bowl; the dogs sees that it is not the dominant one and has an aggressive outburst far worse than any warning had been before. There may be irreparable damage done to the child and most likely the dog will be euthanized.

The same case could be completely turned around by teaching the dog that humans around the food bowl is a great and beneficial event. By using food rewards and positive association you can create a dog who is safe with whoever walks by the bowl. Humans = good stuff. Aggression from a dog towards a human is a message; this lets you know how a dog is feeling about a certain situation. By taking this information and changing a dogs perspective on it; you can rehabilitate a dog safely and positively. It is not a quick fix but it is also not an aggressive attack on the dogs causing a more "on edge" dog.

Of course there are going to be times when we must use physical force; humans always have a natural response. But when it comes to rehabilitation; aggression is never the answer. Aggression fuels aggression.

Children and Dogs

"She's going to bite you." "If you keep doing that he's going to bite you." How often have I heard these words and shuddered. I just finished reading about two dog attacks on children so I feel the need to discuss the whole children and dogs issue. Shooting (photographing) children and dogs is my specialty; there is nothing more adorable than the connection between a dog and a child. It is as pure and natural as it gets; and when I see a dog that loves their kid it makes me smile.

But not all dog/child interactions are great ones. Often a lack of supervision and guidance can cause some serious issues regarding child safety. Let me say here "DOGS AND CHILDREN SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT UNATTENDED." I am a Mother; and as a Mother my warning comes from the instinctive maternal hovering. Okay; so what does never leave your child alone with your dog really mean? It means that every interaction is supervised; yes every interaction. So if you have to run upstairs to get something, you either bring the dog or the child with you.

I remember two such cases that I was called on to help "fix." One of these visits was strictly to repair the child/dog issue; the other I was just there to work with a newly rescued dog in the family. The first case I sat watching the interactions; I like to see how life goes on in a family before I step in and offer solutions. As I sat watching a very large dog relax on the floor the baby crawled towards the dog. The dog remained calm until the baby laid a hand on him; immediately his ears went back and his face tensed. As I watched I assumed Mom was going to step in; nope. The baby crawled further onto the dog and the sound of a deep warning came from within the dog; I stood up and stepped in immediately moving the baby away. It amazes me when people don't see warnings; especially towards their children.

I sat down and laid it on the table for the couple; all while keeping a close eye on the baby and the dog. I don't pull any punches in situations like this; at a time when the possibility is a child being bitten is no time to be subtle. Often; the tears come when the realization hits a parent. It is so important for parents to understand the magnitude of a dog bite. If a child is bitten; it means that someone wasn't doing their job, bottom line.

The second case with a child and dog gone wrong was for a new member dog; a rescue dog that came from a rescue group that I think is appauling. Anyhow; they wanted the dog trained, it was a big dog; a "Gentle Giant" so to speak. I sat with Mom at the kitchen table discussing issues that she wanted covered when I heard the unmistakable warning growl. I turned to see the toddler crawling over top of this new "giant" dog. And the dog was growling; I jumped out of my seat and had the child back at the table in the blink of an eye. I'd scared the child but forced Mom to see how bad things can happen in an instant. She hadn't heard the growl.

Dogs are dogs; they are not humans and therefore do not act like humans. If they feel threatened they will protect themselves. There are huge variances in dogs; there are dogs that will allow a child to crawl all over them without batting a eye. Then there are dogs who love their kids; they just don't want them all over them and the dogs who want nothing to do with children. It is your job to know where your dog falls; and you must be in control of interactions always.

I was at a vets a while back and one of the assistants there was telling me how she didn't believe in this "supervision" thing with dogs and kids. She said that if she couldn't trust her dog to be alone with her child; she wouldn't have the dog. That's all well and good to say but bad things can happen in an instant and let's be honest; children don't always do the smartest things. A child can trustingly try to take a dogs toy away just to see what it is; or have a look at that big tongue hanging out or any number of strange things.

As a parent it is your job to protect your child and protect your dog. It is extremely important to let your dog know that you will protect them. This is the biggest and most common problem with dogs and children; allowing the dog to discipline the child. If you do not set boundaries and teach your child what is appropriate behavior and not appropriate behavior then your dog will be forced to teach your child. Having a dog teach a child is never an option you want. Dogs teach using dog methods, growling, nipping and if forced; biting. A dog wants to know that you are controlling that little crawling human.

Many dogs are fine with babies until they start to crawl around; all of a sudden they are something the dog has to live with. This is typically when I get the call. Dogs and children can live together quite happily; I've always had dogs and children together; but I also had a lot of baby gates in my house. Until your child is of age that you know sure that they are mature enough to understand how to treat a dog; what to do and not to do then it just isn't worth the risk, even with the best of dogs.

The beginning

I have often talked about where it all started; this dog life of mine. My clearest memory is of Jake; the amazing red Doberman that I walked into the show ring with on that fateful day. But in actuality it had started much before that day or most likely that one day probably would have never happened. I have other dog memories; some good, some bad but it is hindsight that helps me to see that it started way, way back when I was just a young'n.

I'm sure most of you remember the movie "Big Red?" Coincidently the movie came out the year I was born; but I don't remember how old I was the first time I saw it. The Disney movie about a boy and his life taking care of a beautiful Irish Setter; the dog was a big show dog and I clearly remember every Sunday evening while my Mother was in the kitchen making dinner; I was watching Disney. After seeing Big Red for the first time I wished each Sunday that it would be on again. I was smitten by the canine species way back then; but I didn't know it at the time.

Then there came "Where the red fern grows;" remember that one? Again the movie was about a young boy and his dogs; dogs that he saved for and the life that they had together. Unfortunately this movie had a sad ending but that didn't stop me from watching it every time it came on. I would sit glued to the television; imagining that boy was me and those were my dogs. The movie came out in 1974 which means that I was 12 the first time I saw it.

I'm sure that many children saw these movies; they watched them, were entertained and that was that. There was no "that was that" for me; I was transfixed, these movies held me and pulled me into them, deep into them. After watching one the effects lasted sometime, I was good for several months of dog obsessing after the fact. Often it would be off to the books to stare and dream.

Even long before these movies; I'd already purchased my "Know your Doberman." Followed shortly by "Know your Saluki." What kid even knows what the heck a Saluki is unless their parents are into showing dogs? These books were mere copies of one another with a few changes made per breed but it was all I could afford and I would stare at them for hours. My poor parents would be tormented by my longings until they finally gave in. After the begging and pleading from 5 children they could take no more, we got our one and only family dog. With the arrival of our dog; a toy poodle named Strawberry, I remember feeling a sense of relief like "okay I'm good now."

And once I met Jake I was again in the needing more mode. One of my most fond memories was that of sitting watching The Doberman gang; surrounded by a gang of Dobermans the night before a big show. I sat there alone; completely amazed by the movie and the turn my life had taken, sitting amongst all these dogs and Dobermans at that. I was in a good place; one that felt like home. And here I sit today; surrounded by dogs, not Dobermans but dogs. It's all about the dogs; it always has been.

A shower

It is actually a shower right? Not too many dogs take a bath anymore; I mean honestly can you imagine soaking your dog in the tub? Having two poodles I cannot imagine it; they are like giant sponges and they get the squeegee routine before being allowed to exit. Of course the squeegee is my hands; not a real squeegee (weird word eh?). Always starting at the top; the first run is down the back, then down the sides, each leg gets the squeeze and finally the feet. After squishing all the water out of their body and legs it is amazing how much remains in their feet. After all of this they are allowed out; which is out the side door to the outdoors. This is where they do their shaking and sprinting around; then they get towel dried.

Yesterday I gave Jessie and Tilley a shower; for Tilley it was the first since she was struck by Vestibular disease. I thought it was going to a rough go; she is still so unstable on her feet; but she did great. After her shower she went outside (it was over 80 here) and did her shaking. Her shaking started off shaky to say the least; not a great thing to do when you are in a continual state of crooked. But soon she got the hang of it and did short shakes; not like the normal full body shakes that dogs do after a bath but it did the trick.

Typically the dogs dive onto the lawn and flop around like a fish out of water; this didn't happen with Tilley yesterday. But she did hit one of the dog beds that are outside and flipped around rolling all over. She then had a burst; you know the burst that all dogs get after they have a bath? She looked like she was going to have a run and she did; albeit sized down, but she did. It was great to see her so happy; she even did a couple of spins and came out nicely at the end of them. She looked so great that I ran and got the video camera; so I will try to get some of the videos up here soon.

Then the big decision was to blow dry her or let her drip dry. It was plenty warm enough to drip dry; the big difference in the two is for a future groom or not. If I blow her out she is all fluffy, straight hair, and soft. If she drips dry she is covered with tight curls; still soft. I opted for the drip dry; poodles don't get matted when they drip dry into tight curls and she was loving her time out in the warm sun.

Shower time can be a great time for bonding; it can be used as a time to build trust. It is also a time when you can go over your dog's body really closely. It is important that you make sure everything is feeling and looking good on your dog and many are so coated that you simply can't see them properly unless they are wet. I've also discovered that using my forced air dryer is a great chance to have a look at their skin. Any other time it's nearly impossible to see it all.

I try to make shower time as enjoyable as possible; heck who wouldn't want a full body massage while warm water pours over you? Hmmmmmmmmm.

Collars

Yep; I'm talking about collars again, I just have to. But before I get down to the information on different collars and neck damage; a few words about collar usage in general. Please do no leave any collar on your dog when not on a walk. Many dogs have died getting snagged up on their collar. If you feel a loss of control when your dog does not have a collar on; time to train. Okay onward.

I think about dogs and the fallout of using different collars on them. These are my views; I've done alot of research on the subject although it is not easy to find facts on neck damage caused by collars. First off you have to consider the anatomy of a dog's neck; most breeds have a substantially long neck, much longer than ours. Like ours the dogs spine runs from their body through their neck into their head. The most sensitive area of a dogs neck is where the spine connects to the brain. This sadly is the area that many trainers and owners use to place their collars. By placing a collar at this exact position; directly behind a dogs ears it is easy to control them.

A dogs neck is made up of 7 vertebrae; the function of the vertebrae is to stabilize and protect the spinal cord, along with other muscles and tendons. When you place a collar around a dog's neck and yank or the dog itself pulls and tugs there can be damage. Not all damage is caused by choke collars; but much of the damage to the canine neck is caused by choke collar training and the whole philosopy that surround it.

Damage can be caused to many different parts within a dogs neck not only the spinal cord. All collars can damage if used incorrectly; the thin collars that tighten when pulled are the worst. But even flat buckle type collars can severely damage a dogs neck if tugged on; resulting in whiplash type injuries. And head collars; even though they are a good option must be used with great care. The owner must not jerk on it or allow the dog to flail around while on a head collar. So what is the best thing to attach to your dog?

Okay; let's talk about choke collars and pinch or prong collars. Choke collars belong in the dark ages and the history books alone. Slip collars; the same as a choke collar but made of a different material are the same. They are softer and may not inflict the same harsh correction but they still tighten on a dogs neck. Pinch or prong collars; are most definitely better than a choke but they can deliver severe fallout behaviors because they work by inflicting pain. Just the other day I saw a woman walking her lab mix on a pinch; each time it lunged at another dog she gave a harsh correction which in turn caused the dog to lash back at her with an open mouth. She actually seemed oblivious to what was going on.

I see people walking dogs on choke collars all the time; even puppies who have very little muscle strength in their neck. The damage can be most severe to a young dog. So no choke chains, if you have one toss it.

So what about flat collars? They are okay if your dog doesn't pull or tug and you should NEVER, EVER yank or tug on them either. If you are going to use a buckle type collar the wider the better. These rolled type leather or 1/2" collars put alot of pressure on a small area of the neck. Best to get a 1 1/2" or 2" width to spread out the pressure on the neck.

The head halter is good but as I said already; great care must be taken when using them. No yanking or tugging on them; you have complete control of your dogs neck when using these so calm controlled walking is a must. And NEVER EVER use an extension leash with these. Now speaking of extension leashes; I do like them but only when you are not in a public crowded area. They can give your dog the sense of being "off leash" when they are on leash. Many people hook them up to choke, slip or flat collars and yank away. It doesn't seem as bad because your dog is so far away; these should be used sparingly and please only when there is no one else around to become entangled with.

The body harness; although they are not invincible, I believe they are the best option. You can still damage a dogs neck on a body harness, although it is more difficult but yanking a dog around on anything can be damaging. There are many type of body harnesses and some of the best are the non pull type like the Easy Walker by Premier which is what I use. Using a body harness keeps your dogs neck free of damaging collars which is good.

So there you have it; my opinion on collars and harnesses. All this said; dogs must be taught how to walk nicely on a leash, no one piece of equipment is going to do it all. Time, patience and understanding is needed. But most importantly "do no harm," a saying that many professions pledge toward their charges, we should do the same.

A very good read on collars and neck damage.

A quick overview from the UK Apdt

Happy Valentines day

To all my dog loving readers; Happy Valentines Day. Although this is very much a human celebration; many will be spending it with their significant canines. As I was shopping yesterday I noted all the heart stuff you can buy for your pooch and from the look of the meager amount left on the shelf; there are alot of dogs getting a new heart collar, coat or bowl today. Cute. It's a typical day here at our house; Luke is gone on his run with Dad and the oldies are still in bed with me. We will be up and at it shortly.

Speaking of hearts; there is a common phrase in the dogworld "heart dog." What exactly does heart dog mean? In my opinion; the term heart dog explains a dog who has made an intense impact on your life. One who would be best described as the canine version of a sole mate. Many dogs may come and go; passing through your life, each leaving an impression of their own. But there are some dogs who just stand out; who leave a deep trench upon your heart. These are the heart dogs.

I often find it difficult to say one or two of my past dogs were heart dogs and not all of them. It is that human "guilt" issue that we have. But just like with humans; there is a difference in us all. I most definitely loved each dog deeply but differently. The relationship you have with one dog is never the same with another. This is one of the reasons that we humans should never compare dogs. Dogs are individuals; each fills your life with their own individualism. My own three could not be more different; and this is one reason that they are such a wonderful pack.

I've had a couple of heart dogs in my life; and they are heart dogs for very different reasons. My first heart dog was Jake; the doberman who was never mine, he was the dog that started it all. He was the catalyst to my life in dogs. Jake has a special place in my heart that no other dog will ever replace; it cannot be done. With each stage of our human life; our dogs fit into their own little compartment in our heart. There are lots of compartments and lots of room for more. If you love dogs; there is always room for more.

A dog is

Just pondering; A dog is.


Canis lupus familiaris – our dog. History has put us together; kindred hearts keep us there. The dog has the unique opportunity to educate humans; not all humans will open up to this exclusive event; this loss is theirs alone. But for those who are willing; those who allow another species to participate in their constant evolution, these are the humans who will be forever changed. The culmination of canine and human creates a more compassionate human when the human truly connects with the dog concerned.

The canine life starts quickly; at the early age of 8-12 weeks they are whisked away from their litter and placed into a new and strange environment. There is a lot of pressure on us as guardians to get it right; it’s not always easy but we find a way to make it work. Those tiny minds come to us looking for guidance, leadership, trust, companionship and patience. It often boggles my mind as I work with a new puppy; just how much that fresh new mind can absorb. We take an animal of an entirely different species and we mold it to fit into our human world; pretty amazing when you think about it. They quickly learn life lessons; how to reside in a home, how to get along with humans and how to basically behave appropriately in a human world. I will often sit back and think to myself as I am working with a new puppy “man this dog has only be alive for 2 months or 3 months.” How can such a young creature learn so much in such a short time frame?

Dogs pretty much fit it anywhere they are needed or wanted. You have the high performance competitors; the therapy dogs that have guardians who want to help others and people who cannot see who rely on a canine. There are dogs work long hard days keeping other animals in line for their guardians, dogs who fight alongside with police and military personnel, dogs that help people with their day to day life. Whether it is a seizure alert dog, a hearing dog, a Seeing Eye dog or a service dog; they are always there to help.

We go back along way with our dogs. Since the very beginning of man and dog, man has been manipulating the genetic make-up of the Canis lupus familiaris to better suit their needs. Breeding specific dogs in the beginning to enhance certain behavior traits, dogs that showed superior hunting abilities, dogs that were more human friendly etc. But the manipulation quickly changed to one of exterior as well as interior; and there arose the different “breeds” fledge. Many of today’s biggest fans are on a constant quest to find perfection. Humans delve in the mystery of the visually perfect canine; the never ending manipulation of genetic DNA; trying to perfect perfection itself. Many are now at a point of repair.

From the humble beginnings; our dogs are the direct ancestor of the gray wolf. Very few resemble the amazingly beautiful wolf now; all but a few have been transformed and mutated into dogs that have no similar appearance to the wolf from where they once came. Desirable traits were pulled and these dogs bred to create more suitable dogs to live with. With different classes of humans came the vast varieties of desirable canine traits both behavioral and aesthetically. And so with human intervention we are left with some dogs that are smaller than cats; dogs that have pushed in faces who have respiratory problems, dogs with so many wrinkles that they have skin health issues, long dogs with back problems, stout dogs who can barely move, huge dogs with short life spans and dogs who can barely reproduce themselves.

It is sad to see the state of some breeds now; perhaps we should look to the ancestor of our canines for guidance.

The reward system

I first started volunteering at the shelter back in 1998; it didn't take long to become disenchanted. Before I moved to California I was already very into positive reinforcement training; it was the new wave, the way things were heading in the training world. What a difference and long overdue; no more yanking, no more yelling, no more anger. Sadly not everyone has evolved; many are still in the dark ages and even more of the "average Joe" types are stuck there too. After much research about training and shelter dogs I discovered that most shelters had taken on the "positive reinforcement" training ONLY. These modern facilities were keeping up with the times and moving forwards.

Not where I was volunteering; nope, they were die-hard choke collar people and were not about to change for any newbie. It didn't take long to be known as the "cookie lady." Funny because I had actually been the cookie lady back in Canada where I baked cookies for humans. But as the longtime volunteers saw it; I wasn't a real trainer, I didn't use brute force, I didn't yank on anyone so I was one of those new cookie trainers they'd heard about.

So where did this cookie training come from and why has it changed everything for the ones who use the philosophy? Let's take a look at some wild animals for a second; take the Killer whale, an amazing creature but very wild. In their man made homes at aquariums they are taught many different behaviors; are the trainers using force? Are they using some sort of physical punishment if they do not do as asked? No. Can you imagine trying to choke a Killer whale? Not wise I would think. The trainers who work with whales, dolphins and seals use positive reinforcement. They mark the behavior they like and reward the animal with a fish for doing it. The animals soon learn that it is a good thing to do these tricks; and very rewarding.

I saw a guy walking his Great Dane mix yesterday at the park. When the dog stopped to smell something the guy gave him an almighty yank; a two handed yank to get him to get moving. I shuddered as I watched; and this was from the other side of the park. I thought to myself; "why not teach the dog the "let's go" command?" This is teaching a dog to come along with you by rewarding them for stopping doing what they want to do and doing what you want them to do; very simple.

Reward training takes more gray matter; you have to think about what you are doing. Timing is important if you want to make it as clear as possible for the dog but it is scarily simple in concept. Take my old gal Jessie who will be 14 in May this year; she has adapted to a change in rules for mealtime and she has caught on very quickly. I have her go to a certain area after she eats; I did this by treating her for going there. This goes against everything in her bones as she likes to hover and try to take the other dogs food. After guiding her to the spot and treating her I have now raised the bar by only rewarding her if she goes there on her own. If I have to ask her to go there she is only praised. And remarkably she is going there on her own now. It makes me smile to see her finish up her meal; have a look around then head to the spot. She sits there with her ears up awaiting her reward.

Treating a dog for a job well done is the fastest way to the brain; much like ours. Once a dog really "gets" a behavior you then wean off the treats and replace with praise. I always praise my dogs when they do good things; even now with them all being seniors. Just yesterday I told Luke to "leave it" as we passed a Labrador who was giving him the stink eye. Once we passed Luke received the mushy stuff; "oh you are so good, what a gooooooooooooooooooood boy." And he loves it; he beams when you get mushy with him. And hey; what human doesn't like a reward or praise for the job well done?

RAW Rib day

These are RAW bones; NEVER, EVER give cooked bones to your dog. (thanks Dale ;))
Yesterday was bone day again; although I woke up to the rain thinking that bone day would be cancelled. Luckily the rain stopped and the sun peeked out just long enough for the hounds to have a good chew. At our house bones means supervision; the easiest way to fight is to allow a free for all with high value items so that means either yard duty or kitchen puttering for me while the dogs chew. Typically I buy the big leg bones for them; they work wonderfully and everyone enjoys them but this time I bought ribs. I was hoping that with the smaller size that they might reach the far back teeth on Jessie.

I was in luck on Monday when I got to the grocers; ribs were on sale. So I bought a pack of two racks for something like 8.00; that's a lot of chews. And being that they are actually for humans consumption; they had lots of meat on them which is again really great for the dogs teeth as they try to pull it off the bone. First I took the ribs and cut them into individual pieces; I left them then on the counter to warm up from being in the fridge. There was a lot of canine mingling going on the kitchen; they know what's up.

Jessie got the largest rib; strange being that she is the smallest but she tends to try to swallow everything and a rib is not something I wanted her to swallow. She is placed in the far corner on a towel; I give her a towel hoping that she will lay down and chew, this usually results in better back teeth cleaning. She didn't lay down though; she prefers to stand and chew.

Next is Tilley; even Miss crooked was very excited for bone day. I gave her a towel to lay on as well but she opted for the lawn, even though it was still wet from the rain. She always lies on the lawn with her bones and so her bone is always covered in grass; mmmmmmmm. Luke get's his last and he is chomping at the bit; aside from shortbread this is probably his favorite. So he took up Tilley's towel and commenced.

It does not take long for all the meat to be gone and these had a lot of meat on them. Soon everyone was chewing on the bone; they had a good hour long chew as I wandered amongst the pack shooting chew images. I'm often asked about all the details of bones so I thought pictures would show how it all comes down. Tilley displays the best chew form for teeth cleaning; Luke second and Jessie last. Jessie tends to be a nibbler so I grabbed her bone and held it so that she could have a good chew; she was not impressed and stopped chewing until I told her knock it off and just chew.

Halfway through the chew I do the swap routine. I never want anyone thinking that they are missing out on something better than what they have. You know "the grass is always greener thing?" So I start with Tilley who is my least posessive dog and I grab her bone, give it to Jessie. As I'm giving Jessie, Tilley's bone I grab hers and swap out Luke's then give Luke's to Tilley. Everyone is very happy to have a new bone and it helps in the whole "we share," aspect. As well if someone is chewing a bone a certain it helps to give them a different bone which will perhaps hit some new teeth.

After an hour and a half Luke was done; he simply came in the kitchen and found me. So I decided to give him a hard chew as well; Luke loves it when you hold a bone for him, it gives him the opportunity to chew like he otherwise cannot. He puts his hold heart into it when you are holding the bone and those back teeth get a great work out. The only caution for holding the bone is DO NOT get your fingers in there. When they are chewing with this much gusto that sheer crushing power is pretty awesome and scary.

So now everyone has much cleaner teeth and fresher breath. Next week we will do it again; Jessie's still need a bit of work. Enjoy the chew images and your day!!!!

The scoop on poop

As a dog person I'm sure the subject of poop is a regular one with you and your friends. It is for me and the people I hang with; not so much in this house. But if you are the one picking up you tend to pay more attention to the solidity of the matter. Hey; if you are trying to pick the stuff up, there is indeed good and bad texture. And we have all known a time or two when we are watching; watching very closely for a certain item that we suspect may have been consumed to make a reappearance. If you have a puppy or adolescent at the moment; that time may have come more often in these early months.

It is as the saying goes "you are what you eat" and so are our dogs. What goes in must come out so keeping a close eye on the subject at hand let's you know that things are running smoothly so to speak. And speaking of smoothly; we all deal with the pick up issue; some guardians are steadfast in their obligatory status, some avoid and some simply pick it up and can't think about it, I know a few of these. For these "can't think about it types" it's okay to pick up the substance; but you must be quick and not hesitate for a moment, thinking about what you are doing for a split second and things could go very bad, very quickly.

Consistency is a big issue; those diehard low quality kibble feeders rely on the solid dry mass. The easy pick up, no residue, no mush to try to scoop, just a dry solid mass, nice. When you feed a more real diet you get more variation and it is definitely not a solid rock hard pebble texture. There is much more work in picking up after these guys and yes there is residue. And if you have a fussy pants like my Luke; there is no telling what's going to go in day by day so you never know what's going to come out.

I have a iron stomach; nothing bothers me, I'm not a gagger so when I pick up I just do it. But when I am out on my walks I inevitably see someone who is "not a pick up" type. Nothing makes me more angry than someone attempting to not notice their dog taking a crap. As I walk through the park and see the ones that didn't get picked up; I immediately notice the age of it and if it's fresh I do the culprit scan. Oh yes; I have been known many times to ask someone who is trying not to notice there dog dumping in the park "you're going to pick that up right?" It takes only a couple of these people to ruin it for all of the other dog people who do pick up after their dog. I mean honestly; man up and get the job done, or let your dog crap at your house and leave it sitting there to fester in the sun.

Now location is a factor when picking up poop as well. Many dogs are very specific about where they go; of course there are just as many that are happy to dump right in front of you. My boys have always preferred to go on top of tiny seedling trees; small bushes or weeds, this of course makes our job of retrieving the mass a bit more adventurous. When off leash many dogs like to eliminate on the perimeter; very nice, clean but often hard to locate after the fact.

Then you have the travelers; I have one of those as well. There is no telling how far she will travel while in the process of pooping. So when you pick up you follow the trail until it looks like the trail has probably ended. Not a fan of travelers. Hunch positioning is also a factor but this factors more on the after wiping than the picking up. Luke is probably my best hunch ever; the idea of the possibility of remnants remaining on him is simply mortifying so when he hunches there is all but one place for it to fall and that is down. All my guys are great hunchers and I am rarely required to do the after wipe except on the rare chocolate pudding days. And don't tell me you don't know what I mean.

Have a great day all you dedicated dog people ;)

Just dogs

Just Dogs; I've heard the phrase "he's just a dog often," it makes me shudder so why then did I choose Just Dogs as my company name? When I started in photography; I wasn't focused (pardon the pun) I loved to shoot just about anything, especially if it was moving. Just yesterday I dug out a DVD of Capistrano Valley H.S. Varsity football that I made. It made me smile; those were the days, after a shoot I couldn't wait to get home and view the images. Guys flying in the air; determination written on their face, I loved it. And during this time I actually learned a bit about football; and I mean a bit.

Those beginning years I shot sports, flowers, landscapes, people, kids...........you name it. But there came a time when I was being spread too thin; with training, writing, photography, taking care of my own dogs etc. So I had to make a decision and it was an easy one "Just Dogs." This is where my name came from; it was a simple one Dogs and only dogs was what it would be and it is an all encompassing title. As is what I do; from photographing them, training them, cooking for, writing about, grooming, it's all dogs.

But even though my focus is dogs I do love to photograph dogs and their people; capturing that connection that these two species have together. When there is a true connection; human/canine the images are intense. So even though I say Just dogs; I will shoot humans, but only if they are in the company of a dog.

I have a new section on my website that I will be filling up today; these are just the few that have made it on there so far.

Dogs and their people

The brain; a funny thing

Tilley shown here making it look easy.


Funny how the brain works; psychology is fascinating and it relates to many actions reactions exhibited by a dog. Today I had an excellent example of this and it was of course the inspiration for my blog this morning. I took the girls to a High School to have a walk; we typically walk the perimeter of the parking lots and then make our way around the school; so many new smells. It was beautiful out this morning; a cool breeze, the birds were chirping making it sound very much like spring had sprung and it was quiet; there was no one around.

We finished two parking lots and made our way to the steps; I hadn't thought about the steps. As we approached them my brain went into overdrive; Tilley did not have a negative association with these stairs, she had tripped down the ones at home and now was apprehensive about even trying. I knew that if there was any way that Tilley was going down these stairs it had to be before she had a chance to think about it. I picked up my speed; slipped a my hand gently into her collar and we did it. It was as simple as that; although I was astonished I didn't display that until the very bottom. It was a little difficult as Tilley goes left; and if her head is down she goes left even more. So with a gentle right guidance she just did it.

Once we hit the bottom we had a celebration; she loves it. With each obstacle conquered her confidence grows. We finished our walk around the school and made our way to the steps again; it was up this time. She baulked a bit and I just told her "let's go," and she did. I again gave her the right side support she needed and up we went and made our way to the car. One small step for k9s; one monumental step for Tilley.

Once home we tackled the steps there; she has a problem with the steps at home, they have a negative association. So I figured we'd hit them immediately to keep the positive momentum going. It worked; she made her way downstairs which she had yet to even attempt. It wasn't pretty; she basically slid down the wall on the left side, luckily there is a wall on the left side for her. We will be working on stairs alot this week building up the muscles that she needs to do the stairs, these muscles have atrofied over the past weeks so we have work to do.

Just not that into food

Good morning; it's really stormy out today, nice. Today's blog will be a slight bit less intense as yesterday. I'm going to talk about the rare occurrence when a dog is just not that into food. My inspiration for the this blog came only moments ago; we are eating our breakfast in bed, normal and the dogs are joining us, typical. Luke usually is not that interested in anything unless it is buttered toast. On the other hand the girls are both ready to pull up their pants legs and jump into the trough.

Luke is in his regular spot; head facing away from us at the end of the bed. When offered a piece of toast he made a lame attempt at getting up and decided it was too much work. For most dogs there is never too much work to get food; but Luke just went back to sleep. So Luke is not that into food; never has been, never will be. And it is because of this lack of interest in food that he is a mere 45 pounds (very skinny).

Although Luke is not a chow hound he does love some foods; but they must come at the correct time. He likes shortbread but only if it comes on a tray at tea time (when we are having tea). He likes most of our dinners; he loves food with flavor but he loves it more if Dad is handing it to him from the table even when he knows that he shouldn't. If you put it in his bowl after our dinner for him; not so much. What a funny dog he is; this can certainly try ones patience.

But what I have found is that if I trigger Luke's prey drive; if I throw his food he is much more likely to eat. Being direct descendants of the wolf; having your food placed right in front of you is not normal. For most dogs they have evolved their eating strategy to coming into the kitchen, it's that easy. But for dogs like Luke; he can't just come in and eat, it's not normal for him. I'm lucky actually because right outside of our kitchen is a very large concrete patio so when Luke is in his "not eating mood," I toss his food. That's correct, right out the door and if once doesn't do it I pick it up and throw it across the yard. He loves this game and it gets him to work for his food. After a few morsels are sent flying around the yard he is usually ready to eat what he hunted and brought down and it is right in his bowl.

Yes; strange but true ;)

The warning signs

I am always surfing the web; I like to see who is having puppies and who are some up and coming GREAT breeders. While I am on my quest to find the "good" ones I inevitably come across the bad. And when I talk about the bad breeders; there is no one "bad breeder" mold. Of course there are the big ones; the millers, the ones who are the focus of many tv investigations. I've talked about this often but it seems you can never say enough; if I reach just one new reader each time I read I will be happy.

I remember a while back having a heated conversation with a group of dog people. I had called a certain breeder; a miller, in my opinion they fit all the criteria. And that is my criteria. I caught a lot of heat for tagging this breeder as a miller; no I don't care, I call it like I see it. It is a huge facility; dogs are bred in cages, whelped in cages, puppies are raised in cages and then shipped to you. You can pick your puppy from an image on the puppy page then pay with paypal THIS IS A WARNING SIGN.

This is one of the major contributors of pet overpopulation. The big assembly line breeders are pumping out puppies by the bucket full. Just the other day I ended up on another breeder site; I was appauled at what I found. This couple had decided to go into the dog breeding business; they had no idea of what they were doing which was obvious by the lack of health testing and knowledge on their website. Another I visited just yesterday had puppies available from litters that arrived Nov 16, Nov 17, Nov 23, Dec 12 and it just kept going. THIS IS A WARNING SIGN!!!!!!!

The economy is bad right now; and many of these big bad breeders are still pumping them out. And they are running clearance sales; yep puppies half price "today only." THIS IS A WARNING SIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Think any of these puppies had early stimulation or socialization? Think any of them have been snuggled and loved by the people who are pumping them out? Think again. This is business and only business; there is no heart in what they are doing; money is what drives these businesses and it is a sad business indeed.

There is a saying that has been around for years; there is no money in breeding dogs. I agree; if this statement is coming from what I would consider to be a good, ethical breeder. They spend money on health testing, over the top nutrition and medical care, temperament testing etc. Sure they are paid for their pups as they should be; there is a lot of hard work that goes into breeding and raising great puppies for you, the future puppy buyer. But those who pump out puppies; the people who breed their dogs at every season, sell their puppies online, have 10 or more breeding bitches at a time, supply the pet stores and sell to anyone who has the money; these breeders make money. They make money because it is a business; a cold hearted business.

Where do dogs belong? I can tell you that they do not belong in a cage; they do not belong in a breeding facility (if you prefer that term). But to me; not all millers are filthy facilities, many are clean, efficiently run businesses. But dogs ARE NOT a business. They are living, breathing creatures who deserve a whole lot better from the humans they have ended up with. It breaks my heart when I see how these dogs are treated; no one cares about them, the only care they get is to make sure they continue to pump out the goods.

And the puppies that these people are pumping out are not healthy and happy; these people don't spend their cash on making sure that you; the future puppy owner gets a healthy happy product. Oh it will be cute; on that you can be sure, they know how this business works. Although one site I was on didn't even take the time to wash the mud off the puppies for their "look how cute we are" pictures.

So when you stumble upon a website; one with adorable puppies set up in the cutest of poses. They probably have a teddy bear or flowers beside them; and they've even been given a name. When you scroll down and see puppy after puppy; when all you need to do is to email these people, go to the paypal page and purchase your puppy DON'T DO IT. If you give these people your money; you are helping to keep these people in business. The Mom and Dad who linger; the dogs left in cages with no one to hug them, no one to walk them, no one to climb into bed with; there is none of that for the ones left behind in the cages. When they fall ill; there is no one to care for them, no one to lay their head on until they get well again. They are often dumped, discarded or worse. Afterall they are no longer useful; they have no money making abilities once they are ill.

And after their puppy producing days are done; then what? Do they spend their golden years on a fluffy bed by a fire, cared for by their loving guardian? No; they too are cast aside; often dumped at a shelter. But if they are one of the lucky ones; they will be adopted by a loving family who will then give them the life that they deserve but have never known. It is truly mind boggling how many of these places there are; do your research.

Please pass this on to anyone who loves dogs; perhaps it will make it's way to one, just one who doesn't already know this. If you are that one; find a breeder who has a litter of puppies in their bedroom or living room. A breeder who has all the health testing done so that you; the next generation gets a healthy happy puppy. If you've found a good breeder; it should be difficult to get one of their puppies, they only want the best for their dogs and puppies. And that puppy has received everything that they deserve; including a healthy and very happy Mom.

Dogs deserve our best; you can make a difference.

The heart of a k9

A true heart; that is what dwells inside of a canine. Sure they are all different but they all have heart; whether it shows through drive to work, to keep going when we as humans would give up or to just be there for us when we need them, dogs have heart. As I watch my girl Tilley struggle to stay upright; she often turns to me for reassurance. Surely after three weeks of living in a body where your body has you off your level is trying and discouraging; but she keeps plodding along.

There are dog stories galore of individuals who just never gave up. Dogs who have been done wrong by humans over and over but yet they still trust a different type of human, one who holds the heart of a canine in their heart. The dogs who live to protect and serve; they never falter in their work. The strays that wander into our heart and home who give us undying love and devotion or the who lays still so that the sick or elderly can simply enjoy their company.

Many of you receive my monthly Newsletter. Along with the educational material in my Newsletter I would like to add stories from the heart; the canine heart that is. I know they are out there; I've heard so many now that they are all intertwined. There is nothing like The Heart of a Canine; tell me about your canine or one that you know or met briefly in passing, I'd love to hear it.

The nose knows

I have a poodle walk to attend this morning; it'll just be Luke and I. I have no choice but to leave Tilley at home; as heartbreaking as it is to leave her, coming home is worse. The last time that I left her at home for a poodle walk was months ago when it was going to be too long for her. On our arrival her nose went into overdrive; I know she smelled each and every dog that Luke had interactions with and she probably knew exactly where we had been as well. This is the part that kills me; the fact that she will know where and who we were with but why she wasn't with us is what she doesn't understand.

The dogs nose is an amazing apparatus; they have the ability to smell things that we could never even think of and it is all in how their nose is put together. The nose is made up of soft tissue, bones and nerves. Dog nostrils are constructed so that they can scent with an inhale of their frontal nostrils and their exhale leaves out the flexible side nostril section. This ensures that the item in which the dog is scenting is not disturbed. Once a scent is inside the nose it goes through a complicated process before making it's way to the brain. This is a great article on the subject of the nose.

My own dogs have solved several mysteries over the years. Things that were really causing me to be concerned were figured out by their scent ability and my ability to read their body language. I always wish I had the ability to scent like a dog but alas I nor you can. So we leave it to the professionals; our dogs. It is very important for our dogs to smell; scenting different things in a day is good for them. If you have habit of going on the same walk everyday; switch it up. Their nose needs new smells all the time; it's good for their brain.

So when you go out for your walk; be assured that your dog is getting a whole lot more out of the daily trek than just simply exercise.

About the cash

I know many people are confused about deposits when first talking to a breeder about getting a puppy. I am often contacted by people who ask "is this normal?" So I thought I'd discuss the whole deposit money part of getting a puppy from a reputible breeder.

The deposit

All breeders are different; even within the same breed and the ethical group you will find that they are all different. So deposits can be very different both in price and in the return policy. A deposit is just that; you are saying that you want a puppy from this breeder so you are basically putting your name down for one to ensure that you get one. Now if the breeding has not taken place yet; a breeder may still take deposits. Some breeders wait for the puppies to arrive before taking depositis. So if you have put money down on an expected litter; there may not be enough puppies to go around so what then? What some breeders will do then is to hold your deposit money for the next litter or give it back to you if you don't want to wait.

Most breeder state that a deposit is non-refundable; meaning if you put your money down for a pup and change your mind then you loose your money. Many breeders will not bend here and no matter what reason you come up with; you've lost your money. A deposit is a good thing; otherwise a breeder would never be sure than potential puppy buyers are serious. This also makes sure that the puppy buyers have seriously considered getting this puppy; heck they have to hand over cash so most think first.

Now in my opinion putting the word non-refundable in a contract is important. The breeder can be pretty sure that these puppy buyers have thought long and hard about getting a puppy then. But I too believe that things change and people change their mind. If it was up to me I would be very flexible in my deposit returns or non returns; but I would probably return most. I don't want someone's money when they are getting nothing; and you most definitely do not want to hand over a puppy that someone has changed their mind about.

I was recently in the same boat; I was looking at many puppies. And my situation was a bit different; I was looking for something very specific which I realized after much time and effort was just not going to happen. I placed a deposit on several puppies; or at least on a litter. When I did get a chance to look at the puppies and decided that none were what I was looking for my deposit was returned. I was very lucky.

It's called life; things happen in life and if a breeder has cast in stone that no deposit shall ever be returned then shame on them. Yes they have put their heart and sole into their dogs; breeding and caring for a litter but do they really want someone's money when they are not getting anything in return? Do they want to give a puppy over to potential puppy buyers who may have changed their mind but don't want to loose their deposit? Who knows where that puppy will end up?

Deposits can run from 100.00 to 2500.00. Recently I emailed a breeder about a litter; the deposit was 2500.00 and was completely non refundable. The money was kept litter after litter until you got the puppy you were looking for; can you say ripoff? I would expect you to pay between 100-500 for a reasonable deposit. It can be placed on an anticipated breeding; an awaited litter or a litter that is already on the ground. But think long and hard before handing over a deposit; because you might not get it back.

And for the breeders out there; as I said earlier, do you really want to keep someone's deposit who has simply changed their mind? This could lead them to taking the puppy; and once that is done you have lost all control. You may never know where that puppy ended up. Or what about a family who got wrapped up in the excitment of a new puppy but a couple weeks down the road they realized that now was not the right time; do you really want to keep their money?

As the saying goes *%it happens; and the most important thing is that puppies go to people who really really want them, no matter what the cost.

Monday Monday

Good morning; seems like I missed blogging yesterday but I was trying to finish up my Newsletter that goes out today so if anyone is interested just email me at sherri@justdogswithsherri.com and put Newsletter in the subject line.

Time to train; when is it really time to train your dog. Well right now is a good time and you should never wait for a rainy day; especially here in Southern California. In the old days it was recommended that you wait until a dog was at least 6 months old before training. Now when I think back; can you imagine? Six months of wasted time? The reasoning behind the 6 months was so that your dog could withstand collar corrections. It makes me shudder now just thinking about waiting until their neck can handle it.

Well today is a new day and you can start training and educating your puppy as soon as you get them. In fact puppies can learn behaviors way before you get them in your home at 8-12 weeks. I've taught a 6 week old puppy to sit and down easily and I'm sure they can probably as soon as they are physically capable of controlling their body. By starting right from the beginning it is easy to implement manners by just making it "the way it is." Of course puppies will be puppies but they don't have to be obnoxious all the time; only some of the time.

There is nothing like a little puppy showing just how amazing they are by easily doing what is asked of them. By the use of patience, kindness, understanding, reward and praise you can go along way. The enthusiasm in a puppy is inspiring and when they sit or go to their place with a "I did it" face on; you can help but smile when you see how amazing they truly are. The connection between canine and human is more than a leash and collar.

Do it; don't think about it.

This morning I was bringing breakfast upstairs; I was planning on bringing it up and then going to get Tilley next. Low and behold she followed me quickly upstairs; this gave me pause. Wow; no hesitation, no coaxing, no cheering her on to take that first step. Tilley just came up the stairs but how when I typically have to give a three minute speech about going up the stairs did she just run up the stairs no problem? She wasn't thinking; she was simply following the food.

How many times has someone asked you for direction and you stand there dumbfounded? I know I do it a lot; I can get to where they are asking no problem but when I have to think about how I get there it seems so much more difficult. Just do it; this is the famous slogan of the huge NIKE conglomerate but it is very fitting for this subject. Ah; the brain, a wonderfully intense and mystical thing it is. Often a dog gets caught up in a "thinking about it" scenario; much like we humans do. It can be difficult but if you can get them out of the "thinking" zone and get them into the doing zone you can help them alot.

Many dogs with fear issues need to be assisted past the "thinking" part. Great food is often the trick; but it has to be good enough food that they stop thinking about what they are afraid of. Tilley did that this morning and it was a process; she followed me out of the kitchen and up the stairs without thinking about it. Had I stopped at the bottom of the stairs; more than likely she would have entered into the thinking zone. Momentum is needed when you want to skip past the thinking zone; you must keep going while you can and don't stop.

This also works well with dogs who have issues walking past other dogs. Many trainers will recommend having your dog sit; not a good idea at all. This tells your dog a couple of things; 1. That there is an issue, 2. Gives them time to "think" about it, and 3. That you believe this to be an issue. So instead; bringing out the big guns with regards to food treats overrides the thinking part and keeping moving gets rid of even the slightest consideration of there being an issue.

So; just do it. Questions?