#1000

From my pack to yours.

I don't believe it; I really don't, this is my 1000th blog. That's a whole whack of writing if you think about it. My very first blog was almost three years ago in June 2007. At that time I had no idea that I'd love it; thinking only that I'd give this blogging thing a try. And here I am still loving it and very much as passionate about the dogs that I write about.

I thought long and hard yesterday about what this 1000th blog should be about; I got lots of good ideas. But then my daughter offered that maybe I should write about some of my favorite blogs and what I've learned over the years of blogging. I thought that was the most fitting for the 1000th. So this 1000th blog will be a bit of reminising; a bit of what drives me to blog and what I've learned in the time it has taken to write 999 blogs. I have alot to say; I guess that's why you start a blog, correct?

Sharing knowledge has always been something I've felt very strongly about. When I find out something new, an interesting fact, have a new experience I like to share it. So blogging helps me to do that. Obviously the subject of dogs is what makes me tick; always has been. I love researching dogs; whether the subject has to do with genetics, a new twist on training, discovering the ins and outs of behavior, nutritional facts or new activities for dogs, I'm in. If one person reads my blog; learns something new about life with dogs, then I've achieved what I set out to do.

I regularly hear; "you have the greatest job." And yes I have to agree; my day job allows me to chill with dogs. From modifying behavior as a trainer, writing about dogs to capturing the their individuality through photography I am always watching dogs, heck I watch dogs when I'm not working. And if you are a loyal reader you know how much emphasis I put on watching your own dog and the body language they display in attempts to communicate. Canine behavior is fascinating and how humans react to it can make all the difference in the world; as in this past blog.

The world of dogs is ever changing; positive training is becoming more in the forefront; although we have taken a step back with the popularity of the conventional trainer on television. Hopefully we will get back on the positive train soon and move on to bigger and better things with regards to modifying dogs through positive techniques. More compassion is being shown the species in general with rescue groups popping up everywhere and more emphasis being put on saving dogs. A subject that use to be taboo is now out there for all to know about; Puppy Mills and the real hard facts. No one can honestly say at this point; that they didn't know about the whole Puppy Mill thing. I would hope now; after all the shows on tv exposing these places to not see people frequenting the petstores that have puppies for sale; but there are still people in there and still buying dogs. This is a subject that I will continue to put out there.

And you; the readers, I love getting feedback I'm a feedback nut. As my husband always says "feedback is a gift." This is so true; it may not be a gift that is always desirable but it gives so much. When I receive feedback on a blog it lets me know what you the readers are thinking; what you want to hear or just that what I'm writing seems to have touched a nerve. In the almost 3 years that I have been writing this blog I have only had one very negative response. That was a gentleman who wanted to remain anonymous (typical) and attack my positive approach to training. He was rude and offensive; but instead of letting it bother me it simply fueled me to keep on going.

Through all of these blogs I have met some amazing people and learned that there are so many huge dog lovers in this world of ours. The love and compassion that humans feel towards dogs truly brings everyone together with a similar purpose. And through the amazing world of the web we are all like one huge dog loving family. Information is passed quickly around the dog world; spreading news and information for all.

I try to write what I know; sharing the good and the bad. Not all of my blogs are happy and many days I write through the tears; this so that we can all learn the depth and dedication of a canine. With so little they give us so much; in so many ways. But we are all learning; and learning is a win win for all involved. Many of my blogs are intense in nature; in order to drive a message home I cut to the chase, the tough love type writings. In sharp contrast are the simple love of dogs blogs; sightings of "the raw connection."

I want to thank you all for hanging with me and talking dogs. I will hopefully be writing for a longtime to come; it brings me much happiness. So I raise my virtual glass of champagne to all the dogs; the dogs in our past, present and future. And to all of the humans who love them and work selflessly to make a better life for our dogs. With the passing of each dog that has touched our life; we learn and we grow making life an evolution of oneself; are you evolving into the person your dog thinks you are?

Git'r done

Good morning; todays blog is #999 so that means tomorrow is the big day. I cannot believe that I have blogged this much; I enjoy it so much in the morning that it never feels like a chore. I should have a party or something; I'll ponder on it today. But for now I want to discuss my book; my training book that has been in the works for several years. It is a process and at times it definitely feels like a chore but I have now decided that it must be completed. NO more pushing it aside for the photo books; I have to git'r done.

My book is at the re-read stage; this is my obstacle. Being that I wrote it I find that it is a task to read it over and over until it is exactly the way I want it. But I am not doing any other books until it is printed and out there. It is a positive behavior book more so than a training book; the training books will come later. Having been an inhome trainer for so many years there is alot that goes on behavior wise before you even get to training. Of course when I say training I am referring to the official stuff like sit, down, stay and come etc. But it is all training.

When a dog joins your family there is so much to learn; both for you and for your new dog. I like to call this the education rather than training. Learning how to live the day to day with the new family. Adding a new dog to the family requires you to step into a zone; an educator zone. What is an educator zone you ask? The educator zone is a state of awareness; the ever watchful eye that a new dog guardian must keep about themselves. It is very easy for dogs to train us very quickly and before you know it; you can be trying to undo a behavior.

Often guardians set aside time to train but other than that the dogs does what they want. This can lead to a not so harmonious existance which in turn can result in the "outside dog." It is best to tackle living together head on; and right from the start. Nipping behaviors in the bud is far easier than trying to get rid of a behavior that is well set in. So staying in your educator zone helps you to see things before they grow.

So I must get at it; I will let you all know when it's done. And tomorrow will undoubtedly be a big blog; hey it will be #1000.

Compassion

Compassion: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. So what happens when this is at a low level or missing in a human? The complete lack of compassion is a scary thing; but as in most human emotions there are degrees of compassions, levels so to speak.

Because this is a dog blog I am speaking about compassion with regards to dogs or animals in general. When you read an article that deals with a lack of compassion in another human it often triggers another emotion; anger. The human is indeed a complicated concoction of emotions which in its complete form is not always a great recipe. The concern for animal rights are growing; with the help of many great groups. Abuse on animals are no longer going unnoticed and unpunished. Do we really want people who would purposely injure and cause pain to an animal wandering around in society; I think not. There are many cases of animal abuse being a prerequisite to human abuse. This article lists a few (not for children).

Many states are now making animal abuse crimes a Felony. Its about time. Of course this is a slow process and a difficult one. There are many people in charge who do not think that an abuse inflicted on an animal should be punishable by prison time. In my opinion; anyone caught abusing an animal is someone we need off the streets and out of the general public.

This link will bring you to an Animal abuse statutes across the US.

We need to put more emphasis on compassion; as well as punish the abusers. There needs to be strict rules and regulations implemented on breeding dogs. Some of the millers are the worst offenders with regards to abuse. And justice needs to be dealt to those who abuse and hold no compassion for animals.

Fussy, fussy, fussy

What do you do when you have a dog that just won't eat? I've never had a dog like this before and I hope to never have one again; one with this fussy food issue. I think that over the last 9.5 years I've only lost it twice; over the food issue that is. And losing it means whapping myself in the the head and saying a few choice words under my breath. It is tough when you spend time making something that you think that he'll love only to have him come in; look at the food and leave. "Oh no you don't, get back in here and eat." Unfortunately forcing doesn't work; especially with a boy as sensitive as this.

So he is catered to; that's right I said it, he is spoiled. But then again who doesn't like to be waited on? Who doesn't like having a warm apple fritter and a keg of coffee delivered to you in bed on a rainy Sunday morning? I sure do. Back to Luke; he is on a weight gain diet, must be nice. I am trying to put just a few pounds on his skinny little body in the event that something should happen and he wouldn't eat for a couple of days. This alone could be very dangerous with such a lean guy.

There are things that Luke loves; but even when he loves them he does not eat with gusto. He is a dainty eater; don't even try offer him a large sized piece of anything, he'll just drop it on the floor for our Jack Russell (piranha) to devour. He likes small pieces; and then and only then will he even think about he eating a more substantial sized piece of food. For a week he has been on an eating role; very nice indeed. And amazingly enough he already put on a pound or two.

He is simply not normal; even my son can often be heard saying "what kind of dog doesn't eat meat?" This after offering Luke a piece of chicken or steak. Nope; he has to be in the mood and when he is, I keep the ball rolling. If he is in a mood to eat then eat is what we do; it is a very small window that I take full advantage of.

One of Luke's favorite foods is buttered toast; just like his Mom ;) So in the morning when I get breakfast and bring it up to bed I make extra. This morning I made two pieces of toast just for the dogs. Is buttered toast the best thing for him to be eating? No. Is warm apple fritters the best thing that I could be eating? No. But some things are just good for your soul; and if Luke loves buttered toast, buttered toast it is. And luckily buttered toast will put on the pounds. We eat organic whole grain bread so it's not so bad; much better than an apple fritter. ;)

In a perfect world Luke would eat like his house siblings; the girls here chow down anything you put in front of them. Jessie of course will eat just about anything at lightening speed and Tilley is the same but slower; choosing to enjoy her food a tad. So you do what you have to; I never thought I'd be down on the my knees trying to conjure up something that I can say to get my dog to eat, but alas here I am.

Time away

I'm a home body; I love nothing more than an evening when we are all snuggled on the couch watching a good movie and of course the dogs love this too. I have a great job; I make my own hours which means I'm home alot. But there are times when I need to go out; or want to go out without the dogs and the dogs have to accept this as part of life with humans. So it is important to start teaching them how to be okay with it right from the start. Many people try not to go out when they have a new dog; often having someone sit with the new addition if they are required to go out. Not good. If your dog is never alone; then they will not handle being alone well.

This is the same whether you have one dog or six, they should all be okay being alone. I have three dogs and I often take two out leaving one at home; it is good for them. Dogs need to be able to deal with things on their own; just like people. If you are always with your dog offering no experience with being alone; it can be a very frightening situation for them when the time comes and they must be alone. All dogs would prefer to be with us all the time; but in our world that just doesn't happen.

I have worked with dogs who have never been separated from one another; it was not an easy task. The two dogs were so preoccupied by the fact that the other dog was missing that we got no where. I left the family with homework for several weeks; they had to take each dog out separately for a walk for a month before we could even start obedience. This did two things; allowed the dog on the walk to learn how to deal with life outside of the home on their own and the one left at home learned that they could survive being alone at home. This made for two much more adaptable dogs.

The more varied experiences you give your dog when they are young the better. And that includes being alone; teaching them that being alone is okay. You will return and you will again leave. Never leaving can actually cause a very serious issue; separation anxiety. A dog with true separation anxiety is a very stressed out dog and no dog should live with this amount of upset.

If you have a dog with separation anxiety already then you have alot of work to do. You will need to start with baby steps and work up to longer absences and may run into obstacles along the way. The most important thing to remember is that dogs do not act in malice; a stressed dog simply reacts to stress. All behaviors are attempts to relieve their stress. That can be displayed in many forms; some dogs actually try to leave the home to find you, others deficate in the home or crate and others bark or howl. I have worked with alot of separation cases; one was so bad that the dog hurled itself at windows until he finally broke through to get out.

The common solution for separation anxiety is to get another dog; this does not always work. The problem is you; the dog that displays separation anxiety has problems with YOU leaving. The addition of another dog can leave the guardian with more work and the original dog still anxious. You need to start working with the dog that is exhibiting the anxiety and get it under control before adding another dog to the equation.

When you start working on an issue or need to leave; entrances and exits should always be low key, yes easier said than done. Remember the bigger the theatric's the more attention is put onto these events. So slip out and slip in creating a "no big deal" scenario. Find an experienced positive trainer who deals with behavior modifiction to get you onto the right track.

How often do you see dogs sitting in parking lots in their owners cars? I see it alot and no matter what the temperature is outside I shake my head. "Do you really think your dog enjoys this?" Typically the dogs look very stressed or bored beyond belief. A quick errand is one thing but shopping or working all day with your dog left in the car? Please, leave them at home in your nice comfy house.

Spending as much time with your dog as possible is a great thing; but never leaving them alone is not. So; go out and have some fun alone. You and your dog will be much happier if you do.

Rescue gone wrong

We moved to California from Canada approx. 11 years ago. On the day of the move it was a hectic one; a plane ride with two stops from Montreal to Orange County, CA. Me; the three kids and three dog, it was a highly stressful day. Skipping to a year later; I lost my beloved Clyde, my heart dog. He was 13 and at the end of his time here on earth. After a very short mourning period I was ready to add another member to the family; I searched for a rescue dog. I first contacted the local poodle rescue; I believe it was in LA. "We don't adopted dogs out to renters!" Yes we were renting; we wanted to live here a bit before choosing where we were going to buy. So I was not getting a dog from this woman. Imagine; I still can't believe she wouldnt' adopt a dog to me; Sherri of Just dogs with Sherri. ;)

My point here is that I had a magnificent home to offer; I work my own hours, had two other dogs, had standard poodles for 25 years and I was not good enough. So instead of placing a dog into a great home she kept them hoarded in her house; afterall no one was as good as she was for these dogs. This is a sad but all to common path that some rescues can take. I have heard of many rescue people turned hoarders; they have the best intention but something just goes wrong. Now I am not talking about all rescues; I have the greatest respect for the ones who do it right. The people who rescue a few at a time and do their utmost to get these dogs placed into forever homes.

There are other rescue groups; one in particular who again started out wanting to do right by the dogs, hbut she grew and grew and grew. Unfortunately money can be a very evil thing when you get a taste of it and it takes over. This rescue who use to take in only Great Danes and find homes for them now takes in anything and everything that is large; some not even large breeds. And unfortunately the dogs that she supposedly rescues are bred; she lists just about every breed on her page and available puppies. Anyone with the slightest bit of common sense knows what's going on; but she denies this.

This same rescue demands big bucks for her "rescue" dogs and it is a CASH ONLY transaction. And what happens if it doesn't work out? Most reputible rescues will take the dog back with open arms; afterall they want it to work for the dog. This alleged rescue group gives you a credit; that's right, no money back. She keeps the money and you hopefully can get a dog sometime down the road. Sadly I have worked with several dogs from this rescue and they come with alot of behavior issues due to the large amount of dogs that are held there and the way they are kept quiet.

Rescuing dogs is an admirable thing to do; if it is done right, if it is done for the dogs and money has nothing to do with it. Yes it can be expensive; and the rescuers should get some of the money that they put into it back. Typically that is around a couple hundreds; often they ask nothing. There are some amazing people in this world; I've met many who open their homes, take in needy dogs and work around the clock to find new homes for these dogs. It is a selfless job and I give them huge kudos.

But when it does go wrong; it can go wrong in a big way. From hoarding to breeding for money; it is sad indeed. Rescuing, fostering and adopting out takes a huge commitment from dedicated people. And sadly now there are rescuers needed for some of the rescuers. So again; do your research, visit the facility and if somethings seems not right, you are probably right.

The iditarod starts today

All eyes will be on Alaska; funny I was just talking about the Iditarod yesterday. The Iditarod has been around for many years; 43 to be exact. The first race which was run in 1969; was a shortened version of approximately 27 miles compared to todays race which consists of over 1150 miles. The Iditarod starts from Anchorage and ends in Nome, Alaska. And as much as I am a Northerner; I love the cold, you would never catch me out there in that cold.

There is much controversy surrounding the Iditarod; many of the animal rights groups feel that it is cruel and inhumane to ask these dogs to do this. Each year dogs die running the iditarod; last year 5 dogs were lost. In the history of the Iditarod over 146 dogs have died. Something needs to be changed; why can the race not be sized down? It makes no sense to run these type of distances in the harsh elements of Alaska.

The dogs that do run the Iditarod are not regular dogs. They are bred to run and running is all they know. But running in these extreme conditions; never knowing what lays ahead weather wise is simply throwing caution to the wind. There are alot of sports out there that are dangerous and there are those who love nothing more than to participate in these sports but when it involves an animal who has no choice in the matter; that is another thing all together.

As the sport grows and becomes more popular to the general public; there will be more eyes upon the sport. This can only be a good thing with regards to the dogs safety. You can only hide so much with the whole world watching.

The Iditarod

USA Today 2009 Iditarod article

Standard Poodle mush team

There are lots of pulling fun you can have with your dog. And you don't need snow to mush; I had the opportunity to shoot some of these dogs and wonderful mushers. What fun. Urban mushing

Skijoring; yes you need snow for this one but what a blast. I have done this with my guys and we all loved it. Skijoring

Stupid? I think not.

Good Friday morning; the sun is just coming up here in SoCal, my three dogs are nice and snug in bed and I have my coffee, nice. I wanted to discuss the concept of stupid dogs today. There are a lot of people out there who think that they are living with a stupid dog; I often hear this and the delivery sounds something like "well he's a bulldog," or "you know; she is a sight hound." First let me state the obvious; ALL DOGS ARE INDIVIDUALS. Okay; some breeds are predisposed to certain hardwired behaviors and particular lines can carry behavior genetic material but other than that, they are all different.

I say that there are no stupid dogs; only people who haven't found the right button to push as of yet. And for many that means that they may always feel like they have a stupid dog for the simple reason that it can often take a very experienced dog trainer to find the button. But experience is the only thing that is needed; flexibility is a more viable trait when looking for the magic button. I've worked with more bulldogs than you can imagine; most people consider the breed to be doomed in the obedience department. But I am here to tell you that they are so smart that they have us all convinced that they are not. We all know humans who play the "stupid" card when it suits their needs, right?

When I get a call for a new training session or behavior issue; I try not to let the breed or mix of breeds interfere. I meet the dog and am often surprised by the combination of a certain behavior and a breed. Aggressive Golden retriever? Fearful Rottweiller? Problem child Standard Poodle? What?????? That's right; dogs do not come out of cookie cutters, although many look like they do. You must look at the inside of a dog; the heart and the brain to work strategically with the individual. I repeatedly see behaviors that could be interpreted as stupid; but more often than not it is a lack of understanding or the unwillingness of a trainer to venture further.

When a dog doesn't "get it;" it does not mean that they are being dominant or stupid. It simply means that you have been unsuccessful in your attempt to create a positive reaction to your action. Dogs who are soft; the ones that are not comfortable offering up a new behavior when they are not quite sure, these dogs are not stupid they just lack confidence. Once you can tap into that then you're off to the races. Some dogs shut down easily; this is behavior is often lost on guardians. Shutting down is caused by stress; stress itself can be caused by a plethora of situations, so finding the cause can be like finding a missing piece of a puzzle.

Of course there are dogs who are so smart that they can and have outwitted their guardian. I've seen this one often; the owner thinks that they are in charge and in reality it is the dog running the show. And these are not all the "smart" breeds. What makes me tick is entirely different from what makes the next person tick. The approach, delivery and response to training has to be thought out for each individual. I've worked with sight hounds who stood stone faced while their owner attempted to teach a simple behavior............stood and stood. Even with a rabbit like lure, nothing. You must sit back and watch; watch all the signs and in this particular instance it was the smallest lack of boldness that held the secret. The cure to this problem was a simple touch. The slightest touch on the side of the dogs face held the secret to success.

Another case was frustration; this is something I see often and a fallout behavior that I watch for like a hawk. The dog kept walking out of the room "yep a bulldog." After each attempt at a new behavior he simply got up and left. He was frustrated; why sit here and try and try without success was his mindset. So we pulled out the big guns, chicken and he never left again. He needed a ton of feedback and praise to reassure him that he was on the right track. Even once weaned off the treats he fully enjoyed his education sessions as did his guardian.

Just like a child who does not succeed in a tradition school setting who is in fact amazingly intelligent; it takes an open minded teacher and a bit of work to discover what makes that individual mind tick. The same is true for our canines; they are all different and amazing in their own special way. What makes your dog tick?

When it's not your dog; a touchy, feely situation

It should be mandatory; required reading of a written protocol on how to approach and interact with dogs that you do not live with. There is infact much information on the subject but unfortunately most of the general public do not read it; nor would they adhere to the knowledge once found. When speaking about strange dogs; meaning dogs that you do not live with, this fact alone is the most important to consider. Dogs allow a great deal more touchy feely from their pack members (those humans who live with the dog). In this blog I am strictly speaking about interactions with dogs that you do not live with.

When you approach a dog; you should remain neutral and non threatening. I am often called out on submissive peeing, displays of aggression or general fear behavior. When we sit down and start the discussion about these unwanted behaviors it is often with strangers. Strangers are strangers; people who the dog does not live with. There are degrees of strangers; some are placed in the friends category, some are acquaintances and then there are the real strangers. It is the dog who will display the differences towards these humans; the humans should stick to the protocol. Once in (the dog's circle); the dog will then set down the rules of what is wanted or unwanted. The humans cannot make advances without first considering the dogs wishes. And those wishes can be clearly seen in body language.

Let's face it; for many humans, dog language is completely foreign. They don't watch it and even if they did they cannot deceifer it. My basic protocl is as follows.

- Do not engage with a dog when you first approach. Volumes of information will be received (if you are watching) simply by your approach.

- Let the dog sniff you; watch the interaction closely but do not give direct eye contact.

- If the dog seems comfortable with your presence then a touch under the head or neck is where to start. After that there is no need of any further touching.

- If the dog backs away then leave it at that; do not approach the dog. The dog who moves away is not comfortable with your presence and surely does not want you closer.

- Never hug a strange dog. If you have made it into the friend category, then you are more than likely going to be accepted for a greater degree of touch, but don't push it.

- Never, ever pick up a strange dog. I have only once ever picked up a strange dog and that was because I was protecting this particular dog from a very large aggressive dog. Even though it was for a very specific reason and in an emergency; it was still not at all appreciated from the little dog and as a result I was given alot of dirty looks after it.

Usually even very fearful dogs can tolerate presence if there is no eye contact.
Just the other day I had an amazing example of proper and improper approach to a strange dog. I met someone with a large breed dog; I approached making an imaginary semi-circle, not a direct line. As I got closer I sort of walked up to the side of them without looking at the dog. Later a man approached the same dog; he made direct eye contact and was coming straight at the dog. What happened next was textbook; the dog growled, it was very low and deep, but clear. The dog meant no harm, he was not being aggressive; he was simply stating "that's far enough, I don't know you." The dog then moved away.

The back-off or move away are clear messages of a dog's comfort level. This is often where it all goes wrong and it is no way the dogs fault. It is completely a human blunder; our nature is to convince, right? "It's okay; I won't hurt you" as we get even closer. Or the people who will not be swayed in their belief that all dogs love them. Typically these are the people who are growled at or bitten; the ones that push. Dogs are not humans, they cannot be persuaded that they want to meet you in an up close and personal type manner.

Another great example is from a dog that I'd been working with. This dog was a large scent hound type; he was a rescue and not long in his new home and a bit sketchy about my presence. We had worked together for probably 3 weeks before the incident. On this day I walked into the home; we had a very casual greeting, nothing direct. I sat down in a chair to talk to the owner when the dog felt sure enough to come and smell me. The fact that I was sitting in a chair made me less threatening and I was directing my attention to the owner, not the dog. But because I was in a chair I was lower when he approached and he smelled the side of my face; that's close. I talked to him as he continued to check me out at close range when I turned to say something to him. Everything changed in a instant; by the turning of my head ever so slightly I was now looking at him. His ears went up; his pupils dilated and all the skin around his mouth moved forward just before he gave a huge warning bark right in my face. Instantly I turned my head in a calm manner and completely defused the situation.

Dogs say so much before ever needing to vocalize. In our human world many are accused of not listening; in the dog world you must watch first and listen second.

A photo shoot

I've been wanting some photos of me and the dogs; of course I'm never in any pics, I'm the photographer. So as a shoot was cancelled yesterday I thought I'd give my timer a try. I got out my tripod and my camera; got everything set up. Then I called the dogs and got everyone situated on the couch; making sure to leave room in the corner for me. I set up Luke first; he is the easiest to adjust so I get him set. Next is Tilley; once set she is difficult to move around, especially now with her whole crooked state. And then I plunk the boss in; being only 15 pounds she fits into the mix nicely. But like Tilley once she is placed she doesn't like to move.

I fussed with the focus; got all the settings right for my photo and pushed the shutter button. I flew across the livingroom and jumped onto the couch; trying to look calm and natural. I'm not sure how many times I did this but I'll tell you I felt like I got a good workout. The dogs were great sports; they watched me intently as I fussed around. Being that Jessie was placed on a pillow on the couch she took advantage of her comfy spot and fell asleep. Tilley was the most awake out of the bunch and watched as I moved about. Several times through the shoot I decided to change outfits; the dogs even stayed in position for that.

I wish I had a remote; I'll be looking into getting one of those fairly soon. For each photo I had to wiggle out from the dog pack and go focus and push the shutter again. The dogs were amazing; I thought my up and down might get Luke fired up, he is easily charged but he just watched. He's a pro at having his photo taken now; after 8 years on constant photo shoots he should be. Tilley sat like a statue and Jessie just fell asleep. Keeping her awake was a job it itself; being nearly deaf I was yelling just to get her to hear a little. Running, jumping, yelling and setting up, geeesh.

I got one half decent shot of me and the gang. I've decided to do this all again but with my daughter as my photographer. She has taken the best shots of me and the dogs over the years so hopefully we can do that in the next couple of weeks. After my shoot I removed the difficult part of the shoot (me) and got some shots just with my guys. They are so good; shows how easy a shoot can be if the dogs are well trained and use to being close. It wasn't always as easy as it is now; many dogs don't like to sit quite so close and my guys are no exception. It's been alot of repetition, that paired with a calm state from me and now they are use to the touchy feely shoots.

It takes a relaxed state to get a good shot of dogs; you have to know how to spot stress. Even though it is not asking alot of a dog to just sit there; many dogs who are not accustom to being asked to do anything have a difficult time with it. Many dogs becomes quickly stressed when asked to just sit and stay in a certain position. They immediately think something is up "Mom has never asked me to do this before." So; obviously the more different situations you put your dog into and the ore you ask of them the more at ease they are each time. But throw a human into the mix and again you need a bucket of patience.

The seniors

I was watching a rescue video the other day; these videos do the job that they were meant to, they pull on your heart strings. Images of dogs who are in need of a forever home set to great music. At the end of video they had a section saved for the seniors; senior dogs looking for a home. This is especially hard to see; old dogs who have spent their young lives with someone only to be dumped in their golden years. When you see a senior dog in a cage; their eyes longingly looking through the chain link, it is simply heart wrenching.

I always wonder about the lives of these old dogs; where did they spend their early years? Did they have a happy carefree life spent with children? Or was it a lonely life from the start? As a dog grows into their senior years they often require more care; and sadly sometimes the people who are meant to do the caring are not willing. How can you not care for your dog? I just don't get it. A dog gives us so much and the golden years are our turn to really give back.

As I watch my two old girls sleeping; soaking up the warmth of a sunbeam, leisurely rolling around in the grass of the backyard or snuggled up tightly on the couch with the family I just cannot imagine old dogs who are void of a family. To see my girls with such a sense of security and contentment; they haven't a care in the world and that is how it should be. I've heard many a story of a family getting a new puppy; the resident old dog has some complaints about a young'n coming into the mix and the family "gets rid" of the senior dog. What????????????? Sometimes a mix doesn't work; sometimes a new puppy just doesn't fit; BUT YOU DON'T GET RID OF YOUR OLD DOG. You either call a professional who can help work through the small issues or you find a great home for the puppy. A puppy has their whole life ahead of them; a change in the very beginning of it is not catastrophic but for an old dog it surely is.

Imagine living with someone your whole life and just when you need to rest your head; the time when you most need someone to step up and give you a little extra care, they ship you off. Now in your senior years; you are vulnerable and tired, learning a new is possible but not desirable. Old dogs deserve our best; this is the time when we humans need to shine. Of course dogs deserve our best all the time; right from birth they have earned out commitment of care.

Think about adopting a senior dog; it can be a life altering decision. Taking on a dog at the end of their life takes a strong heart. You already know that a senior will not be with you for long; but the impact on your life may be tenfold. I do know of a woman in our area who scoops the old ones from the shelter; simply to give them a home in their last years. For many people this is just too difficult; and I completely understand, it can be extremely sad. But by looking past our needs and only to theirs; we grow as a person. Often the requirements for adopting a senior dog is a soft bed, a bucket of patience and a gentle hand; the rest falls into place on its own.

Dogs are a giving creature; they don't ask a lot of us. Food, shelter and companionship is meager compared to what they give us. And what does a dog give us? Everything they've got.

Its over for another 4 years

Well; the Olympics are over, and boy did it end with a bang. A great bang I have to add; being that I am Canadian. It has left me thinking of all the mess that now has to be cleaned up by someone, oh well glad it's not me. Anyway; this has lead me to ponder on the world of competitive games with our dogs. You name it; it's out there to compete for gold. There is agility, obedience, frisbee, dock diving, hunting, go to ground, lure coursing, skijoring, which I have done with two of my standard poodles back in Canada, what a blast. There is surfing, weight pulling, sledding, and if you don't have snow there is urban mushing. I had the opportunity to photograph some Urban Mushing dogs in action; very cool. There is water work and drafting events; there are the extreme obedience events like shutzhund. There is something for everyone and every dog.

But not all dogs that were bred to a specific type activity like the Border Collie, the husky type dogs or the beefy bully breeds will want to or thrive at their designated activity. Most breeds do have tendencies towards certain things like retrieving, herding or water but it isn't always a sure thing. Many new golden retriever or labrador owners have complained that their dogs don't like the water or don't retrieve, oh well. All dogs love to do something specific and if it's not what you think they would normally enjoy you just have to give several things a try.

If you are looking to get into a specific sport like mushing or frisbee then you need to get a dog which has been bred for that. Or who displays those type of traits; high drive for example, or strong retrieving instincts. Many breeders of particular breeds start training very early; pretty much as soon as the pups can walk. The training is not official but they start to instill a sense of work ethic and drive towards that specific activity.

For me personally; I don't care what my dog wants to do. I've done many activites and find it difficult to commit to one; I tend to get bored with too much repetition. (sound familiar?) But I do love to learn, watch and shoot all sorts of activities. And with a little trial and error you too can find out what your dog would love to do in regards to a sport activity. If you are game; most dogs will give just about anything a go. Although there are those few that are happy as a clam on the couch with a good movie. Like the old saying goes; you can lead a horse to water................

Photo subjects

I love shooting dogs; they are my very favorite subject to capture. But recently I've had the opportunity to photograph dogs and their kids; and it is quickly becoming my choice focus (pardon the pun). I really enjoy the time of the shoot; especially when it is one where there is a natural connection; canine and human child. There is nothing more pleasing than watching a child who loves their dog. Vise versa; the option of possibilities for something to make you smile is void compared to a dog that loves their kid. Seeing the love coming from both; directed to the other is simply magical.

Many things can display a connection; although interaction is a must. Interaction can be seen in many ways; a simple ear or paw placement, a facial expression or even the slightest change in mouth position. A true connection can be seen.
I have to admit that after a dog and their kid shoot is complete; I cannot make it home fast enough. There I download the images and process as quickly as I can. When the images are converted to viewing files I commence the scrutinizing that only a photographer has for their own work. I am often mesmerized by the images; even when I was the one there, the one taking the shots. The images on my computer are spectacular; the natural connection between the two can only make me smile and smile is what I do. My gosh there is nothing cuter than a dog and their kid.

I feel so lucky to have a private viewing for many of these images. So many expressions; so many small canine human connections that can not be seen by the naked eye, except when captured digitally forever. Dogs and humans of any age connecting make for amazing images. Is there anything better than the canine human connection?

Saturday morning

Good rainy morning; I awoke this morning to thunderus rain coming down, nice. I love weather. It is 9:00 and we are all still in bed; none of the dogs are thinking about getting up anytime soon. Is there anything better than snuggling and listening to the rain? Nope. Yesterday I got the dogs out nice and early; I wanted to make sure that they all had their walks incase it started raining earlier than anticipated. But it did not and the rain held off until early this morning.

During our walk yesterday I was wondering how I can better communicate with Jessie other than touch. Her hearing is really bad and her vision is not far off; so when we are on our walks I tug on her harness to get her attention. At home she can be seen running here and there through the house in a panic looking for me. She runs right by and I yell out her name; if I yell loud enough she will stop and look around. But her hearing is not good enough to pinpoint my location and I literally have to come out into her path waving her down so that she sees me. It is difficult; especially because this is all new, she has never had to rely on other senses. And I have always relied on hand signaling as my dogs get older; but it doesn't work with Jessie.

Poor little girl; she is constantly startled now that her hearing is so bad. She was never a nervous type dog; solid as a rock like Tilley but now she is much more nervous as people and dogs seem to pop out of nowhere at her. I think I'm going to visit a few websites on training deaf and blind dogs; I should be able to get a few tips from them. I have worked with several deaf dogs; once you teach them to pay close attention the rest is fairly easy. But blind too?

Yesterday afternoon I had a photo shoot; fabulous Great Dane. I got some amazing shots and he could not have been more studly looking. After we wrapped up his photo shoot I grabbed a few shots of his little girl and him; this is quickly becoming my favorite subject to photograph. A kid and their dog; not much cuter.

What dogs love

Good Friday morning; here I am still in bed watching an amazing sunrise with my three in the bed. This is one of my favorite things; dogs in the bed, hot cup of coffee in hand and blogging. I know that this peaceful time is one of their favorite things as well. It is easy to tell by the lack of movement or signs of impending movement. This made me think about what dogs really love to do. Most dogs love to just chill with their person; some need to be pretty much on top of you while others are happy as long as you are in the same room or visible. So no matter what you are doing; most are happy to do it along with you.

Yesterday I was plucking dandelions from my lawn; the dogs love it when I work outside. Tilley was enjoying the sun; rolling around on the grass and collecting enough of the dead winter grass in her coat to look a complete wreck. Jessie can almost always be found on the patio; soaking up the sun on both sides. The heat coming from the concrete is much like those hot rocks they put on you at the fancy spas I would imagine. And no doubt if feels very soothing on her old little body. Luke is my gardening assistant and as usual; what I'm doing he wants to do. "Ah; we are digging today?" I caught him just in time; watching closely for the first dig attempt I shout out "stop." As much as I love having an assistant I don't want my yard dug up by his power shoveling paws. He has to be satisfied with simply sniffing the newly turned dirt.

Being pack animals; dogs love to hang with the pack. How excited do your dogs get when they realize that they are going to accompany you in the car? They don't care where you are going; they are ecstatic to be along for the ride. Dogs love to go out with us so much that many become crazed over the mere mention of a leash. Leash crazies is probably one of the most common problems that I've had to deal with as a trainer. Desensitizing the leash is actually quite easy and worth the effort. But if by chance they can't accompany you on your trip; then you are greeted with open arms on your return. Dogs love to be with us. But they love other things as well; they love retrieving, running, pulling, digging, chewing and exploring. The list goes on and on.

Tilley was an obsessive retriever; she loved nothing more than to chase. So much so that it turned into a very big problem. With training work her obsession was turned to balls and then the frisbee; making her an amazing frisbee dog. Jessie loves to dig; being a terrier she was bred to go to ground and get the critters. Throughout the years I have pulled her out of several holes; good thing she has a tail. We often head down to the open canyon where she is in digging heaven; critter holes abound. You can see the pure joy on her face when she is in full dig.

Luke loves a lot of things; he is a funny guy about many of these things as well. His absolute favorite thing in life is the after dinner family room time. Yes as odd as it seems; it is a time and the association in time that he cannot live without. Immediately after he eats he heads down to the family room. He does not want to be down there alone; he wants everyone down there. If I head up to the computer instead; he will stand staring at me. He runs to the door and then comes back again; this continues until I finally go with him. He keeps a close eye on me making sure that I am still coming as he frantically runs to the family room. Once I set foot into the room he spins with happiness; circles and lays down with a huge sigh of relief. Why does Luke love this room and this time of day so much? It has an association; one that means we are all together, resting as a pack, stationary for a good amount of time. Luke is an extreme follower so this means that he can just chill for a while with his peeps.

When I see a dog indulging in something that makes them so happy; whether that is playing with pals at the park, soaking up the sun, destroying a stick or whatever I cannot help but smile. It feels good to give back; dogs give us so much, making them happy is the least we can do.

Your dog

Your dog; you know them like the back of your hand right? Well not everyone does; I've often been asked when I tell a certain story to others "how did you know what they wanted?" Or "how did you know they wanted something?" I watch; I watch very closely, and I'm always writing about watching your dogs, correct? Dogs use mostly body language to communicate; and typically if that is not enough, then they get into the vocal communications. Although some dogs and breeds are much more apt to use vocalizations more quickly; the husky breeds are notorious talkers.

People who have dogs that live outside? No; they will never know their dog, never know the amazingly wonderful personality that they could if they actually "lived" with their dog. Once you've gotten to know a dog; I mean really connected, the kind of connection that gives you that very exclusive insight to your dog, you can never go back. It can be achieved in an instant; perhaps one day you have an ahha moment as Oprah would say. Or it can simply sneak up on you when you aren't paying attention; a slow culmination over months and years until one day you realize just how connected you really are.

Luke had a strange behavior the other night; one that I've just put in the "he's a nervous kind of guy drawer." My husband was going for a quick errand and I said "take Luke." So he called Luke and off they went; in a moment they were back, Luke was visually stressed. He ran downstairs to where I was; made 12 or so circles and lay down. He apparently had jumped into the car; then immediately darted out like a madman and when asked to come back became unglued. He ran to the front door and barked like crazy. This was very strange indeed; he loves going for outings with Dad. But on this night it was very windy; something that causes slamming doors and something that Luke hates. The more my husband pressed to come back the more he got stressed; until he simply needed Mom.

After my husband got home I put the pieces together. He is an extremely complex dog but I know him well. I figured it all out and shook my head; what a nervous ninny. It is so important to really know your dog; it can be the difference between helping your dog to overcome issues and not. Luke has a lot of issues but we've done amazingly well with them and he is a one in a million dog. I will often be heard saying "what is she/he doing?" The smallest changes in any of my dogs behavior always has be pondering. What's going on in that head?

But remember; as important as it is to watch your dog and get to know their every subtle behavior, they too are watching you. So even when you don't realize it; you are molding your dog, assisting in the creation of one of the worlds most amazing things. The canine/human connection.

Was she abused?

I was asked yesterday if my Jack Russell had been abused. A woman walking her dog in the park and hearing that Miss Jessie was not friendly she asked how old she was and if I'd had her from puppyhood. Upon hearing that she'd been with me since 12 weeks of age the woman said "oh; so she wasn't abused?" I must have cocked my head like a dog for this one; then quickly told the woman that being abused does not make a dog; dog aggressive. She seemed shocked by this statement; but said that this was good to know. I don't know how many people have stated "oh that dog must have been abused" when they see a shy, fearful or aggressive dog.

Dogs are resilient; if a dog is truly abused they tend to recover if rescued and placed into a great home. Many have lasting effects but many hold no grudge towards humans; amazingly. Of course there are degrees of abuse; as there are huge variations in recovery but as a whole dogs have an irrepressible zest for life. I have worked with many rescue dogs who have some behavior issues; fear is probably the most common. So if all these dogs that people think are abused are not; then what's wrong with them?

There are several reasons for dogs who display degrees of fearful or aggressive behavior. First off; they can be born that way. Genetic predisposition has a huge impact on future generations; in fact it is the most influential with regards to behaviors. I remember years ago speaking with a woman who had a very aggressive boxer; I mean as aggressive as they come. I met this dog at the age of 8 weeks old and knew then that something was up with this pup. The day that I was speaking to this woman about her dog; I believe that it was 2 years old and had just horribly attacked one of my dogs. She told me that when she went to buy this puppy that they were not allowed to see either the Mother or Father. That they were very aggressive and out back in the yard. Hmmmmmmm.

I know many lines of certain breeds which have been tainted by a few "bad seeds." Breeders now are trying very hard to eliminate certain bad traits that pop up every now and again. With the lack of genetic diversity in breed dogs it can be a difficult task to eradicate an unwanted behavior trait. Even with the most expert and dedicated breeding plan it will probably pop up every couple of generations. But with good breeding over time the bad trait may be seen less and less. Genetics is a huge factor in behavior; so having a look at Mom and Dad is a good idea to judge temperament in puppies, but not a complete one.

Another reason a dog will show unwanted behavior is lack of socialization and stimulus from birth. Puppies that are raised in a sheltered area; given no chance to socialize, climb, play, hear strange sounds, see and smell strange things, these puppies will be compromised mentally. I have seen alot of litters over the years; I've seen some of the best batches of puppies to some of the worst with regards to how they were raised. There is a huge difference in puppies who have extensive life experience; they are given the best opportunity to suceed in life.

Typically a dog that has been undersocialized as a puppy are the ones that everyone thinks must have been abused. They are not capable of dealing with everyday life situations, they cringe and dart away from things that may be quite normal for other dogs. Puppies need to be socialized well; handled and given the opportunity to explore. They must be introduced to many objects; noises, scents and surfaces. And they should be allowed to do it at their own time; never pushed into a situation that they are not comfortable with. Too much or too little socializing can be detrimental. Life at the breeders is extremely influential.

But these fearful and aggressive behaviors can and do happen to many dogs even after they are placed with a new family. The puppies who are well socialized can regress if the socializing does not continue. The whole vaccine/socializing debate is sadly the cause for many puppies lack of environmental confidence. (More on that in a later blog) When a puppy enters a new home; that in itself is a great learning experience but it must continue and puppies should be introduced to many people; animals, material objects, sounds, scents etc if they are to be ready for their life in their world.

These behaviors can also be caused by our human reactions to situations. Our dogs are constantly watching us; and when we freak out about something or react in a negative manner we can instill fear or aggression. "Calm as a cucumber" is what I always tell people. If your dog is overreacting to a situation then you need to "chill." No coddling; for fearful or aggressive behaviors. Just get on with it; keep moving and lead by example. One of the worst things you can do in an less than solid situation is to touch or pet your dog. Hands off and save the petting for relaxed and confident times; even if it is a split second of relaxation.

Often these undesirable behaviors can be worked through; but as you see with the variance of causes, so are the degrees of rehabilitation. Many dogs can be easily "fixed." But often when a behavior is caused by dna; management is the only means of controlling an unwanted behavior. Rehabilitating any dog that has undesirable responses takes time and patience and a head on approach. New owners who are faced with either fear or aggressive reactions from a puppy may tend to stay home. Yep, it is easier to just stay home but that doesn't fix anything; infact it makes matters much worse.

So when you see a dog who either pulls back from your touch; lunges at you or seems very uncomfortable in a certain situation, it is more likely caused by a lack of socialization at some point in their early life or genetics rather than abuse.

Flexibility

Flexibility is one of the most essential ingredients when working with dogs. No two dogs are alike; and although you may see a common response to behavior work there are always subtle differences and occasionally a huge difference in reaction. I remember when I took Tilley for her CGC like 10 years ago; it was with one of the areas biggest trainers. She passed everything with flying colors of course; until we got to the: Accepting a friendly stranger. Having done alot of tests the very large guy was sitting on a chair and wanted the dogs brought to him; not good already. She didn't want to go see this guy sitting on a chair; he definitely didn't give off a friendly aura. Okay this guy is suppose to be a longtime trainer; and he's says to me "what's wrong with your dog?" Anyone who is suppose to be experienced with dogs; supposed to be up on canine behavior and then asks the owner this stupid question? Time to hang up the leash dude.

So; not all dogs react the sameway. I've been given some reactions over the years that really threw me. I then sit back and think; this is the big difference between conventional training and positive training. Okay so the dog has offered a strange new behavior to whatever we are doing; I consider the response, and try something new. There is a reason for everything; and if you only have one way of working with dogs; with no wiggle room then you are going to become frustrated along with the dogs you are working with very quickly.

Often with a little experimentation; trying different way of delivery you will given a little more insight into a response. Many times I have an; as Oprah would say "ah ha moment." The dog finally gets the message across to me clearly and it can be something very strange like the way I am moving my arm; the fact that we are standing near a food dish or there is a distracting toy in the room. I love these moments.

And being flexible means exactly that; you cannot get caught up in "this always works." Well I can guarantee that it's not always going to work; it can't. To start with; like I said dogs are all different. Then you have the life background; their reactions and their owners reaction which inturn makes the dogs that we are currently working with at any one time. I've had to do some many switch up things in my training years; from a simple change of leash, removal of certain collar, be as calm as a cucumber (a dead cucumber), be a social butterfly with a high pitch voice, lay on the floor or never look at a dog while speaking to them. It just goes with the territory; switching it up becomes a way of life. And many times a good safety measure.

It's fat time

Okay; I've decided to make it my mission in life to pudge up the skinny boy. With his recent haircut it's a bit shocking. He has always been a picky eater and it just seems to be getting worse and worse as time goes on. I don't want him to be heavy by any means; the older a dog gets the more important it is that they are very lean. It is amazing how a couple of extra pounds can make such a difference. Just recently with having to haul Tilley up and down the stairs; I realized how alot of extra weight feels on your joints. She is 45 lbs; and when I have to carry her downstairs I really feel it in my knees.

So onto skinny; I will be off tomorrow morning to the grocers to pick up the ingredients for these Satin Balls. I plan to start with the Betty Lewis satin ball recipe first and work my way through several of them. I think if I can get a couple of these into him a day in addition to the meager amount of food he eats he might just gain a pound or two. Oh how I would love Luke's problem of not easily gaining weight; honestly how wonderful would that be. The fact that he's not a big food lover boggles my mind; I love food.

It is great that he does not carry extra weight; because being heavy can damage their joints leading to early arthritis. But he needs a few extra pounds for those "just in case" days. A while back he had a horrible nose issue; he had to be at the vets several times and was really under the weather. His picky eater quickly turned to no eating; so these are times you'd like a little extra meat on that skinny body.

So there you have my agenda for the next while; fatten up the skinny boy.

Light Sunday

The last few days have seen pretty controversial and intense blogs. I have strong opinions on dogs; breeding dogs, training and basically living with dogs. Being that this is my blog these ideas and thoughts are all mine. I try to always keep an open mind and continue in my education; life is about learning, always learning more and better ways.

So moving onto a lighter blog today; a quick update on my pooches. First the amazing and beautiful girl Tilley. She is doing well; with no recent physical improvement with her Vestibular disease she is learning to deal each day. Life for her is a constant "off kilter" so she struggles to simply stand somedays. She goes from amazingly good to scarey bad daily. Her energy level seems to have a huge impact on her stability and mood plays a part as well. Most mornings are good; once she is up and warmed up her movement seems much more fluid. When she's down for a long while in a deep sleep and then arises; she has a difficult time walking in a straight line. Her left head tilt is a constant burden and leads her into many walls and areas she doesn't want to be in. She is in great spirits; eating like a champ and a wagging fool, all great news.

Luke; the man is starting to show signs of his age. He is in amazing shape; resembling an olympic athlete, but as athletes age so do our dogs and when Luke rests after a big run he is starting to limp. So as we have done with all our dogs; we will start to cut back on the length and intensity of his run. Free runs are the best solution to these type issues.

Jessie is contantly amazing me; she runs around the house like a young'n. Charging down the stairs; leaping into the air, she seems to have boundless energy. At nearly 14 she does sleep sound; so sound now that she rarely hears anything going on. Her sight and her hearing are slipping away from her but if the state of her body is any way to examine her health as she moves into her advanced senior years; she is doing amazing and no doubt be around for many many more years.

Life with dogs is an amazing one; at each step they teach us new things. Every stage is a learning curve for them and as they learn we learn. From puppyhood to becoming a well educated adult; dogs constantly enlighten the human mind. Watching them move on from adulthood into their senior years is just another stage of learning; it is a gentle and majestic time, a time spent at a slower pace. Take each stage as a gift; notice the small things each has to offer and stop to smell the roses.