The human language

Humans and communication; we use words and a lot of them don't we? We actually do use body language but most of the time we rely on our words to get a point across. Each and every word has a meaning but when we use words to communicate to our dogs; they meaning is lost in translation. In fact the meaning was never there unless we gave the words a meaning. When we talk to our dogs; they listen for words that have a meaning to them. If we say "Luke; would you like to go to the park and have a walk today?" He hears "Luke; would you *&*&^&^%%$%$#%%&**^!)_*&%$$#@@#$%%^ walk &&^%$##@@@$?" First; he knows that "Luke" has something to do with him; and "would you" has a great association because it always means something good as well. The rest of the words have no meaning; he listens until he hears the word he is anticipating "WALK," and then the excitement begins.

I often see people using words with their dog; and it seems quite clear that the dog has no understanding of the words. Even some of the most basic words have little value if they hold no meaning to a dog. "Stay;" this is a very commonly used word and one that many never enlighten their dog to the true meaning. I have asked some of my clients as they tell their dog to stay, "have you taught your dog what stay means?" They look at me with a sudden realization; "no not really." So many owners think that dogs just understand certain dog words like STAY, HEEL or COME.

Many dogs that I see also don't know their name; it has been another word simply thrown around with not a whole lot of value put onto it. Name training is the very first word association that should be taught; and until you get a response when you call out their name, you still have work to do. I have met many dogs that upon hearing their name react like no one is speaking. No response; absolutely nothing. I then ask the owner to call the dogs name; still nothing. Then I ask the owner to say "cookie or walk;" presto a response.

I try to teach my dogs the meaning to many words; it is work creating an association. Some words are easy to explain; words that are used on a daily basis or very common like "cookie, walk, car etc." Repetition is the key; but along with echoing a word you must create an association to the word itself. "Lizard," was quickly learned in my house; so much so that I now have to say "there is an L outside." Luke is my big listener; he never misses a thing and is constantly learning new words. If I say to my husband "look at this;" Luke will fly over with his giant ears held high to see what we are "looking" at.

As we use words to try to communicate to our dogs; they listen to tone of voice and watch our body language. This is how dogs communicate; so if you want to teach them the meaning of a word you need to make it very clear and give the word a definitive meaning. When you are trying to teach your dog a behavior associated with a word; you must use repetition as well as consistency. If you ask your dog to stay and they baulk at the idea which leads you to frustration causing you to give up; you have then failed to teach your dog the true meaning of "stay." You have taught your dog that it only means "stay" if you really want to "stay." "STAY" should mean; "stay" until I tell you to un-stay.

Dogs deal in black and white; it is how they learn best. Gray areas are a place where we all; both humans and dogs get lost.

The art of recalling your dog

ecall? Recall? - To call back; summon to return. Quite simply "come." Does your dog come when called? If your dog is like many dogs they do not; but they do come when you belt out "COOKIE, CAR or maybe WALK." I can't tell you how many dogs I've seen running in the opposite direction when their guardian calls them; that or they stand staring at them with not a glimmer of hope that they are going to come. Everyone wants their dog to come; not all dogs want to come. Some do, others do sometimes or if they are in the mood and a good majority of them never come. Why is this? Well; first let's look at why they come to you when you yell "COOKIE." It is quite simple.

You are in a panic; you've tried everything and your dog is not coming, so you pull out the one word that is guaranteed to get your dog running and you blast "cookie; who wants a cookie?" Even though your dog is running full blast; she jams on her brakes and high tails it back to you. What just happened? Why did all else fail but that one word brings her home every time? It is all in the association; this word alone "cookie" means that they are indeed going to get a cookie, at least most of the time correct? Dogs are opportunists; they do what works for them naturally. Training can intervene in that process and can completely turn a behavior around if done correctly.

Having created the association between "cookie" and receiving food you have actually taught your dog to come; but only for the word "cookie." I have had so many people baulk at the idea of rewarding a dog for coming; "they should come because I said so." Well yes; they should but that takes a great deal of training. First you need to implement the reward system for coming; then you proof the behavior, then you add consequences for not coming. It is a very long process to set a "come" into stone. But the beginning is all done by rewarding; I mean what is better than having your dog come to you right?

Think for a moment; when you call your dog, you are actually asking them to stop doing what they are doing and do what you want them to do. They may be involved in some very exciting play; an extravagant digging session or even some much needed grooming. Why then should they stop and listen to you? Just because? You may receive the "huh? no I'm busy," look. Or more than often you are completely ignored. Let's face it; when our dog comes to us it is the best thing in the world; so make it seem like it is. Gone are the days (or at least they should be gone) of yanking our dogs to us on the end of a long leash; and expecting them to come the next time. I remember clearly dragging my dogs in while they pulled away; this is the way it was done years ago. The dog quickly learned that "come" had nothing to do with a happy association.

The most important thing about teaching a dog to come is that it must be positive. If you slip in a couple of negative results for coming you are dooming yourself and your dog to a life of running the opposite direction. Negatives need to be viewed from the dog's perspective, not yours. You need to choose a word that will be your call word; the word that replaces "cookie." Use it sparingly and only for positive things. i.e. Don't call your dog to you and then put them in their crate; then go to work. Don't use your good word to end a play session at the park. Never call your dog to punish them; that's a sure fire way to see Fido's butt when you call them.

Along with the consistent training; you must create a joyous relation to coming to you. It must be associated to either really great food or a really wonderful activity. There may come a day when you need your dog to come to you very quickly; and having that few moments of hesitation can be detrimental. So think before you belt out "COME;" is it a positive, don't use your word willy nilly. Come is the most over used and under trained word there is; that, stay and heel. (more on those in later blogs)

Coming to you should be a great event; because it is, not because you say it is.

Posturing

Well here we are back at another Monday with a week ahead of us; good morning. I was doing a shoot yesterday; and as strange as it may sound it was a human shoot, my daughter and one of her best friends. Having thought out a nice scenic area to shoot we visited some of the paths where we walk the dogs. It is very dog friendly and there were indeed friendly dogs there. At one point I was crouched down preparing to get the shot when a couple came by with a Doberman off leash; I immediately repositioned myself. I stood up and took on a casual posture; the dobie had seen me before I changed posture and her ears had shot up. Of course they did.

Posture is a huge part of communication for dogs; how are you holding yourself says a lot. Being hunched down in a frozen posture is not a warm and fuzzy stance; it is taken as highly suspicious. At this same park there are three statues of bears along the pathways. All of my dogs have communicated with them and I think most dogs that pass the statues have had a few words. The statues were made to the size of large dogs; I believe a mother and two cubs but it's been a while. The mother has her head slung low and is of course frozen; it is the frozen posture that is the most disturbing to dogs. As the dog communicates to the bear statues it stands it's ground and does not alter position; worrisome to say the least. Depending on the individual dog will be how they counter communicate; they can be dominant or submissive to this frozen bear family.

The freeze is an amazing communication tool for dogs and for us as well. I am always experimenting with communications and have tossed in a freeze myself; it has great impact. It speaks volumes compared to our human words and waving arms. For example: Your dog is begging at the table; perhaps even so far as she has her head under your arm and on the table, so you freeze. This gives a clear warning message "best to move away." This is how dogs speak to each other; just watch the communications thrown around when one dog has what another wants. It is simple amazing to watch.

At only 15 pounds and 14 years old Jessie is a very experienced professional posture dog. She postures all the time; she is very intimidating to other dogs. She has an air of confidence about her and this frozen posture can illicit many varying reactions all depending on who she is posturing to. For the young and insecure dog it will typically have them getting lower and lower to the ground; eyes squinting and perhaps even a raised paw. Some dogs who are more neutral just steer clear of her; they get her message loud and clear. For the more dominant type dog who sees Jessie's posture; they will typically posture back which is my cue to get moving.
I remember being at a park once when a very young and foolish Labrador came running in a straight b-line towards Jessie. It wasn't paying any attention to her body language until he got very close; I wish I had it on tape. As he ran full speed he suddenly raised his ears taking note of what she was saying; he immediately went into retreat mode, jamming on his brakes. He had been coming in too quickly to avoid a confrontation and knew by the time he got to her that he'd scoped out the wrong dog. He skidded to a stop and hit the ground squinting, flopping and pawing the best he could submissively. Jessie gave him a what for and we moved on; leaving the young and foolish lab to ponder his lesson for the day.

Luke and I were out the other day for a walk when he received a serious warning. This was warning was more than posture; it was a very deep growl accompanied with a hard stare, not good. This dog meant business and Luke did what he should have done and turned his head ignoring the dog. He sniffed the grass around and pretended he did not see this other dog let alone care about it. The dog was laying down; his owner had her foot over him ensuring that he stayed there. This act from the owner may have been why the threat was so escalated but whatever the reason we kept moving.

Often a posture is missed by our human eye and we jumped to the conclusion that there was no warning. There is almost always a warning and in our less that perfect ability to read the signs we simply miss them. Often owners halt communications and reprimand; this is one of the worst things you can do. Take away a dogs communications and you have a dangerous situation. Without a communication display they are left disabled. And we are left in the dark. We all need to be able to communicate.

A day in the life

As a dog trainer and dog photographer I've had some memorable days. They often pop back into my head having been tweaked by a certain event. I was just thinking about one of those memories yesterday. I'd been working with a woman and her German Shepherd; everything was going great when we discussed a dog from her past. It seemed that her past dog had had hugging issues. The dog was fine when people visited but if they hugged the owner the dog kicked into guarding mode. "Ok; let's hug," thinking that it was indeed a good thing to check out. And sure enough this gal had hug issues as well; not huge but they were there. So from that point on hugging was implemented at each training session where a guarding issue might arise.

I like to cover as much ground as possible when training. In another one of my in-home sessions the dog was coming along amazingly so it was time to put all the work to the test. I hopped into the Jaguar with the guardian and student and we were off, making our way to the dog bakery; we worked outside the store and inside the store. Next destination was the beach where there were lots of people and lots of dogs; plus she'd never been to the beach so this was a great place to work. I know what you're thinking; yep rough.

But there are plenty of times when it is not wonderful; there is stress, and a lot of it. I clearly remember one day while trying to work with two recently rescued girls. The first thing I tried to convey was how important it was to spend alone time with each dog; they were sisters so they'd already been together for their whole life. If dogs become to attached to one another it can be very difficult to do anything with them while separated. This was the case here; they were not being taken out separately so it was a case of unrelenting whining, pawing and general stress. As the sessions went on it got no better; the girls were together 100% of the time which made training a huge challenge. Not only could we not separate them on training day but they had to be continually touching or connecting in some way; we were definitely the outsiders. In the end they received enough training to get by in the life they would lead; a frustrating case indeed.

There was another case where I visited owners and their brand new adopted puppy. I was told on the phone that they had an Akita mix; which are very large dogs. As soon as I arrived I realized that not only was it clearly not an Akita; it was an ACD or Australian Cattle dog. The new owners were skeptical when I told them what they had; and I'm not sure that they believed me until of course they would have seen as the dog grew to maturity. The little puppy was not only a completely different breed from what they had thought they had; it was in fact deaf. After several attempts to get the puppies attention; I decided to test this theory. There was nothing; not one response; not an ear turn, nothing. I dropped things, slammed doors, screamed, still nothing. This was a lot for the new owners; one that they seemed willing to tackle.

Photography can bring out some different behaviors as well. Even the friendliest of dogs can be spooked by "the camera." It is after all a giant eye starring at the dog; pretty unnerving. I often resort to the "big" lens; my savior when it comes to working with dogs who are not keen on the starring eye. I've gotten some of my best images crawling around the ground to create a much less threatening presence; it works well. And while I was down there on the ground being less threatening I realized that you can get some very cool images from down there. I can often be seen laying on my stomach on the ground; simply to get the shot.

Never a dull moment. ;)

Have a watch

Dedication to all those who help dogs.

Friday this and that

TGIF; wow I'm up late this morning. We were awaken by a super loud bang last night; so loud that Luke shot straight up looking at me for reassurance. Even half asleep I know how important my reaction is so I just lay back down without saying a thing. Then my husband and I calmly discussed what the heck it could have been; and Luke went back to sleep.

The dogs and I had a great walk day yesterday; first Jessie and I met a good friend of mine and her Golden puppy at the park. Jessie did amazing with her; the puppy is an excellent communicator and let Jessie know right off that she was nothing but a lowly puppy. She conveyed to Jessie that she understood that she was the supreme reigning, most highest canine Queen and from that point everything went smashingly. Jessie only had to quickly posture twice along the walk to remind the young'n just who she was and they were good again.

After Jessie's walk I grabbed the poodles, my video camera and off we went. I was so happy to see another good friend and Luke's best friend at another park. I got my camera ready and let'm rip; they did a quick greeting, not what I had wanted to capture of course. Then I proceeded to video tape; at least I thought that I was video taping until I got home. I had inadvertently pushed a button too many times so when I thought I was taping I wasn't. When I thought I wasn't; I was, oh well. This was a lesson on video taping so next time should be much better. This is probably why I always grab my camera instead.

Tilley did wonderfully and I did get a small shot of her and Luke running in the park which I will try to get on here today. It is a joy to see her running and having fun after her ordeal with Vestibular. She still has disease but has learned to live with it amazingly. So I'm off to a late start this morning but so far it's been pretty good. Sharing breakfast with the chow hounds; the cool morning breeze coming through the patio door and now they are all asleep again as I blog..........life is pretty good from where I'm sitting.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend; don't know what's on my agenda as of yet. If you haven't had a chance to watch this youtube; it is what I put together after shooting last weekends adoption day here in the OC.

Canine intelligence

I'm in awe almost daily. When the level of canine intelligence is visualized it can be quite inspirational. I've recently written about my old girl; the one shown below in yesterday's blog; and her change in feeding routine. Being that her hearing and her sight are nearly gone she is no longer able to hear or see communications directed at her. This has become a dangerous situation because she cannot heed a warning; which is what happened at feeding time with her tendency to hover around other's bowls. So she is now required to go directly to the corner bed and await my release after eating. It amazes me at this age that she was able to easily switch her routine. And just the other day as I really put it to the test. I fed the dogs outside; this is the first time since the change of rules and I wondered if she would make her way into the kitchen after she finished or stand there pondering what to do. She had a quick look around and headed into the kitchen. I waited for a minute and then went to see if she had indeed made it to the bed; there she was waiting for her treat.

All dogs are smart; but being that they are very different they often need to learn in different ways. Generally the clearer you make the lesson the easier it is for the dog to understand. Some dogs have more work drive; others may need a little push to get working and obtain an education. Finding out what makes your dog tick or absorb training easily can be a task. My Jessie is not so much a thinker; she simply reacts so, clicker training is an excellent path to her success. Luke on the other hand thinks; there is an moment of hesitation before he proceeds. He is also very touch sensitive; which in itself can lead to failure if I am not careful with my touch. Touch can be a road block for many dogs; and often owners do realize that this is indeed the obstacle leading to frustration for both.

Recently I was trying out the Clicker Leash with Luke. I only used a clicker for Luke's training in the very beginning; it wasn't the best method for him at the time. So when I decided to try the clicker leash for his pulling I didn't know if he would indeed catch on. I first tackled the click = treats at home in the living room which he caught onto quite quickly. This is a very important part of clicker training. (more on clicker training in another blog)

Off to the park; I allowed Luke to first run free and get his ya ya's out before hooking him up and doing the trial run. After years of leash training he pulls at only a fraction of the power that he once did; but he still does. So Clicker Leash on; treats in hand and away we go. As soon as I got some slack on the leash; click/treat. Within minutes he was not pulling; he was still scanning the park but he was paying attention to me without eye contact. By the end of the first time round the park he was heeling and giving me fabulous eye contact; I was impressed.

A dog's intelligence is there; we simply need to tap into it. Once you discover the key that opens up the brain; there are no limits to what you can teach your dog. If you watch dogs closely you will see that they use their intelligence to teach themselves all the time. Luke often goes to the front door and barks; he knows that this will get the girls up and moving. He then swoops in and either grabs the toy that they had or the bed he wanted to lay on and the girls are left barking at the door. Dogs train us extremely well and without our knowledge.

We humans do not naturally think like dogs; this fact alone can create a mystery effect around the canine brain. "What the heck is he thinking?" Sometimes our dogs do things that we simply cannot understand or explain; but, if you take the time to watch closely many unanswered questions can be answered. Typically you must think like a dog to solve a canine issue; break it down, keep it simple. The core is simple; the individuality in each dog adds the complication.

The dog's brain is simple yet complicated; find the key and you're off and running.

Product testing

This morning I switched up the regular breakfast that we share and gave the dogs some new treats I'm trying out. After shooting for several hours at the OC Super Pet Adoption event I wandered around the vendors to see if there was anything new. I found these new treats I hadn't seen Lauren's Poochie snacks before; we discussed the treats and they gave me a couple of bags to try. At Just dogs with Sherri we product test everything from goodies, toys, bowls to leashes.

We don't just try anything here; it has to first go through me before it ever reaches my pooches. The product has to interest me; be safe, positive and or healthy. We reserve the right "not to test." I have turned down many products; if right off the bat it is something I wouldn't use on my dogs, I'm not going to tell you guys to give it a whirl. If we; as in the dogs and I try a product that we do not like, we'll say so. And I will never put a product on my site that I deem dangerous or unfit for dog use or consumption. And of course just because my dogs or I like a product does not mean that you or your dogs will like it; it is simply our opinion.

When I got home on Sunday I offered the peanut butter flavored treats to the dogs which they all loved. This morning I offered them Lauren's Ocean brown rice flavor poochie snacks; which are gluten free. You can see from the image above that they were enjoyed. Even Luke ate them first thing in the morning and as you all know; he is one fussy pants. The cookies are hard which I like to see in a bagged treat and this is the reason for the teeth display from our little Jack Russell Jessie. The dogs really seem to like them; even Luke only hesitated a moment before giving one a try.

With the sea of dog treats out there it is nice to find a good homegrown business. And with the recent dog food recalls buying products that you can trust gets more difficult by the day. I really love trying new products and being able to spread the word to other canine guardians. But it is not just my dogs and myself who test products; we have a two additional testers so that we can best test a product. We have the rough and tumble Bentley on our team as well as Hogan; the tiny chihuahua helping us out. The simple act of buying dog treats can be a daunting task as you go from isle to isle trying to purchase something that your dog will like. So if a dog like Luke will eat them; I'm pretty sure any dog will eat like them.

Lauren's poochie snacks also makes horse treats which is something I've never even considered. I guess horses like treats just like the rest of us eh?

Comparisons

Good Tuesday morning everyone; I'm up early today, too early. I truly believe that we are not meant to get up in the dark; obviously Luke agrees because he didn't want his cheese this morning, too early for cheese. He snubbed the cheese when offered it and curled into a tight ball and went back to sleep. I apologize for my blog being late yesterday; the whole system was down and all the bloggers were in a panic.

I have a very busy day ahead of me; don't days seem to be just too darned short? Each and everyday I seem to need just a few more hours to get everything I wanted to do; done. At least I've added another hour this morning by being up so early; not that I'm happy about it at this very moment. Jessie on the other hand didn't mind getting up at all. I heard her race down the stairs with my husband; run out and do her business and speed back upstairs so as not to miss breakfast in bed. She is unbelievable at 14; a true dynamo. She can go from zero to a hundred in less than a second. Luke on the other hand loves his mornings; but he loves the sleeping part of them, he is not into getting up until he is done sleeping.

All dogs are so different; they are as different as we are. The more dogs you meet; you realize how true this is. Even amongst the same breed they are all so very, very different. Many people don't realize how different dogs can be; as they set out to get another just like the one they have. I've talked to a lot of people who have the dog of their dreams at home; as well as the dog not of their dreams. They thought that having this "best dog" ever; lets say a spaniel, they should get another wonderful spaniel. Imagine a pair of dogs so wonderful?

A couple of months into their second dog they realize that something is just not right with their new dream dog. He is doing things that the #1 wonderful dog never did; creating havoc and generally being a pain in the butt. What happened? Where is the dream dog you thought you were getting? Well; the dream dog image has you stuck on number one, the second dog may be just as much a dream; but different. No two dogs are alike; they may look like they come out of the same mold but be assured they can be as different as night and day. So now the comparisons start; comparing is such a human thing to do, isn't it? Comparing in itself is fine; I often note the differences in my three dogs, they are a diverse group.

But noting differences is where it should remain; that and taking into account that you may need to interact differently with your new and contrasting canine. Far too often we humans set a standard in our mind of worth; "this dog is the greatest." We then hold each new dog up to that standard and they just can't live up to the classic. When we get stuck on a standard so to speak we do an unjust to the dogs that are new or have yet to enter our life. We often compare a new canine family member to a dog that has since passed; this can be the most difficult to overcome. This is why when someone loses a heart dog; their equivalent to a human soul mate it is often a good idea to go with something that is visually completely different. I have discussed this very subject with many people as it always saddens me when the new dog is just not making the grades and the only reason is that they are not like the first dog.

When we open our heart and our mind to difference; we make it easier to adapt to change. It can be difficult to not put expectations onto a dog; but we must not. They should be allowed to form and develop into the individual that they are; like us. I am different than you; you may consider things that I enjoy to be very boring or strange. We are all individuals; so too are our dogs, embrace each one as the distinct beings that they are.

Big time adoption day

Okay; we’re up and running again.

I had a great weekend; you? It was warmer than I like but at least it was cool in the morning and quickly cooled again in the late afternoon with a heavy marine layer. We are in the thick of what is popularly known here as June gloom. It is a very odd weather cycle; hot and sunny only minutes away from the beach but thick and heavy fog right at the beach. So it is this marine layer that came in yesterday around 4:00 that I was happy to see. Earlier in the day I spent several hours volunteering at the OC Super Pet adoption day. I’d never been to this event so I had no idea how large it would be; I was truly amazed.

It was a huge event; I wandered through the vendor area for quite a while before even venturing near the entrance to the rescue groups display area. Once in; there was a sea a rescue dogs, so many dogs it was mind boggling. I was able to capture the first adoptee and her/his new family. Just on their way out; smiles on both their faces and a tiny bundle in the gentleman’s arms. “Did you just adopt that little one,” I asked. They were beaming “yes first dog adopted today.” So of course I captured the moment.

Then it was onto the rest of the dogs; I could have shot for hours upon hours, but as I said it was really hot. There were puppies everywhere; and yes they were all adorable. In attendance were many of the breed specific rescues as well as small dog and big dog rescues of all kinds. It didn’t take long to discover what the “in” dogs are at the moment; a sad revelation indeed. The “in” dogs are the ones you see filling the shelters and rescues up and from what I saw at the event yesterday it is Chihuahuas, pugs, puggles and small poodle mixes.

I stopped and talked to many of the groups; everyone was very happy to share information about their individual group and the dogs they had up for adoption. As I wandered through the sea of hopefuls there were many happy faces with a new dog in their arms. One little boy sat quietly in the shade; he held a small puppy in his arms and radiated happy contentment on his face. I asked him if he was adopting this puppy and he to lit up; “yes we just got him.” It made me smile and I asked his Dad if I could capture the moment; is there anything better than a kid and their dog?

I have to admit that even knowing there are so many homeless dogs looking for homes; it was mind boggling to see so many in one place. It sort of brings the whole picture into focus; so, so many dogs. But with all the dogs; there were so many people helping, people who work tirelessly to find homes for all these dogs. Caring people who share their life and heart with these helpless dogs; rescuing, tending and re-homing. It is a daunting task; but from where I was standing these dogs had ended up in good hands, hands that were there to care and protect them until they found their new forever homes.

As I wandered through the crowds of people and dogs I could hear the stories of the dogs and the people looking for a new dog. I talked to some of the rescuers about dogs that had been given little hope of being rescued; the ones they were told to pass by. An ex-pen held a handful of handicapped dogs; saved by a very loving and caring volunteer who looked past the broken exterior and saw what was deep inside, very inspiring. Another woman held a dog with neurological issues; she too was told to leave this one, she did not.

With all of the negative in the world right; even the fact that all of these dogs were homeless, yet still there was a sense of goodness there. Everyone coming together for the good of the animals. That’s a positive.

Tennis Balls

Ah the simple tennis ball; a long time favorite for many dogs. All of my dogs have loved to either chase, retrieve or just play with a tennis ball. Yesterday I was at the park with Luke; I was trying to get him to play catch but he had just seen a lizard and was pretty much preoccupied. When we arrived at the park; we met one of his good friends there; a little submissive female who very much resembles a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog She decided to go and fetch the ball that Luke was not interested in. When she arrived at her destination.................... the tennis ball; she realized that it was someone else's ball. So she promptly threw herself on the ball and flailed around making it her own. I thought this behavior was very interesting; I know that Tilley will not pick up a ball that does not belong to her and does not make balls that are not hers; hers. This little gal then picked up the ball; realized it still wasn't completely hers; dropped it and commenced to smell it up some more. She got up; sniffed the ball and decided that it now smelled good enough to belong to her and brought it back to me. We continued on our walk with Luke out ahead scouting for lizards. And his little friend no longer wanted her own ball; she now wanted Luke's ball which she had made hers. Funny.

Tennis balls can be a lot of fun; the chuck it was made to toss them. They bounce, they float and are just great to toss around entertaining oneself. But with all the fun that they are there are dangers to be aware of. Choking; is the major danger of tennis balls. There are many stories of dogs who have gotten a tennis ball lodged in their throat; mostly the larger breeds where a ball would fit nicely into the mouth/throat transition. You must be very aware of tennis ball usage and make sure to supervise. Just yesterday when I had Tilley out doing her rehab; I kick the ball around the park so she can chase and retrieve it. On one kick she actually caught it; I hadn't meant for this but even with her handicap she caught it full speed, straight at her. It lodged in there pretty good; but luckily her mouth is just a bit small for it to have gotten stuck.

Dogs can also choke on pieces of tennis ball if they are the destructive type. Dogs that eat tennis balls should not have them. Pieces don't always pass and can become a real issue when they linger in the stomach or intestines. Just like with any toy; great care should be taken to removed anything that is in pieces and supervision is a must. I only allow a bit of mouthing on tennis balls; if these guys decide to give them a good chew I take them away. Always best to be safe than sorry.

The leash

The leash; what could you possibly write about something so simple? You would think that it is a clear cut; strap type device that goes from dog to guardian, right? There is so much more to a leash; that is nowadays with so many different types out there to choose from. So I will give you my opinion on some of the types out there and what I like to use when I am required to hook'm up. I have just about every leash there is; but my go to one is a simple device.

I want to discuss the extension leash first; I have big issues with these. On the homepage of the website there is an image of a woman walking a dog past a hotel at the end of the leash DON'T DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Too many people walk their dog in crowded areas with their dogs on these type leashes; extended. The dogs are too far out front; which can cause a tangle for their dog and the people around. Most of these leashes have a tiny string as the main body of the leash; and believe me when I say they can really leave a mark if wrapped around you. I feel very strongly that these leashes should only be used in a park or field type area when there are not others around. The extension leash is a great device for those dogs who should not be off leash like my little Jack Russell; but great care should be cautioned around other dogs and people. If you really love the extension; know when and how to quickly reign in your dog and when it is safe to have them extended.

The bungee leash; have one of these. I bought one at a trade show; I'd always seen them and wanted to give it a go on my standard poodle sled dog Luke. It actually did take some of the umpf out of Luke's pulling; I was pleasantly surprised. Of course teaching your dog not to pull is the most effective way to avoid sore arms but if you aren't going to do that then the bungee leash helps. The last time I visited the land of squirrels; this leash saved my shoulder.

The Clicker leash; I am in the process of product testing this leash. So far I really like it; it has a built in clicker in the handle which I love. Even if I am training; I only want to be carrying a leash in my hand as I walk my dog. It is a great leash for no pull training; my guinea pig is Luke. The concept is obviously "clicker training" made easy. The leash is shorter than normal which is good for training as well. It is pricey but a wonderful training aid to get you to a non pulling enjoyable walk. If everyone started out with this and taught their dogs not to pull; just imagine.

Chain leashes? What's there to say? I don't get these; don't waste your money. Who wants to carry around a heavy chain? Not me and I'm sure your dog's neck would object as well.

The WalkyDog Bike leash; this I have not tried. But; there is a guy at my regular park that uses two with two dogs on his bike and he does a great job of it. He rides around and around the park with a dog on either side; both dogs look like they enjoy it. The pole type device keeps the leash away from the bike and becoming tangled. Pretty cool I think.

Now onto the regular good ole leash. My preference is 6-10 foot 5/8" cotton webbing leash. I just recently bought some nice new red ones. I'm always putting my leashes down in the grass and loosing them so I figured with red I could see them better in the grass; and I do. Regular leashes come in many different materials; nylon is one that I'm not a fan of, if your dog pulls it can pull through your hand burning you. You can't get a good grip on a nylon leash although they do come in an array of colors (wooohooo).

Wider is better if you go with nylon but then coiling them in your hand when you want to shorten up is difficult. Leather is the same; hard to bunch up when you want the leash shorter. Of course leather lasts well and the styles and fashions are too many to even discuss. As a trainer I like a leash that I can roll up into my hand when I want to work on close training or simply have my dog near me, cotton is the best for this. And I like to have a long enough leash so that if the moment arises when my dogs can wander around; I have the length to allow them to do this without giving up my rolling ability. Wide nylon and leather are tough to bunch into your hand.

And as far as fashion leashes go; the skies the limit. I'm not into fashion leashes and go more for the best utility leash out there which happens to be about the cheapest as well. Now go walk your dog. ;)

A connection

I was out doing errands yesterday a woman saw the back of my car; she asked about what I do. I told her that I was a dog trainer and photographer and she said that she loved looking at photography; she loved when an image showed emotion and moved her. I agreed that a good photo should create a feeling. But; it's not always easy to achieve even when you are trying very hard to create just that. It is the connection that I look for; that inner meshing of human and canine.

For me a connection between human and canine is subtle; often something that is not visual but something you sense. I work around dogs all the time and I am lucky to connect with many; but definitely not all of them. Many new owners tell me about an instant connection; the one that was invisible but very strong as their puppy chose them. What was it about this one particular little dog that they felt so strongly about? Connections are a very personal thing; something that others may not even be aware of. But if you happen to get a glimpse of a true human/canine connection it is something to behold.

I have seen many connections between rescue workers and the dogs they are helping. A welcoming open spot lies waiting in the heart of a human who is driven to help dogs in need. This is where the scared and needy dog quickly gravitates to; you can almost see the instant connection. A connection is not always a touch; it is often a look, maybe only a simple sense of being connected but you can see it.

Both species are very aware of a connection; that is a part of the connection itself. A connection is a point in time; a moment when a dog and human are one. An instant; a millisecond or even in a passing, there has been something. A connection is not something you can measure; it's worth is immeasurable.

I often watch dogs and the human guardians; and I realize that the connection is what I'm looking for. Sadly some people never connect to even their own dog. For some reason the human has not opened themselves to the amazing human/canine connection. Once we humans have had a true connection you simply cannot return to a non connected life; you're usually a dog gonner. The old saying "gone to the dogs;" is a pretty great saying.

Food merger

I am merging; Just dogs with Sherri and Cook'n just for dogs with Sherri are now one. I find myself extremely busy these days so the two are now one. I haven't been getting around to writing the second blog since April so this is the best option for me. I will leave the Cook'n blog standing; it has a lot of information on feeding dogs on it for those who want to read some of it.

So this mornings blog is about eating and the differences in each dog's eating habits and tastes. Long ago when I fed my dogs generic dog food; and this is way back in the beginning I put the food on the floor and they ate; boy how times have changed. I clearly remember asking my vet at the time (I was in my early 20s) "is there a difference in foods?" He shook his head and claimed "they're all the same." So I bought the cheaper generic food. I wish I could go back in time and change things but you can't so you learn and push forwards.

Over the years I've learned a lot about nutrition; it is something I am very interested in. Having two long time vegetarian daughters and recently converted son and husband we do a lot of talking about food. So it makes sense that my interest in food crossed over to the dogs. I've been feeding home prepared food to my dogs for over 10 years. I have on occasion switched back to dog food but it was the best I could buy if I did. I now feed all "real food;" I do not use the term "people food" to describe.......well real food. People food is Pizza, chips, twinkies; you get the idea. With all the real food every so often I feed dog food that is agreeable with all three dogs both in digestion and taste; so that if I ever had to leave in a pinch they could eat Orijen or Stella and Chewys dog food.

I feed a wide variety of foods; I feel it is the optimal way to cover nutritional needs. Tastes are probably the biggest thing you see once you start feeding different foods and watching; who likes what? My three dogs are very different eaters; Jessie is a your basic Hoover, she will eat anything. Tilley is a great eater; there are a few things she is not a fan of. And then there is Luke; and I wish Luke's appetite on no one, he is by far the fussiest, most picky dog I have ever met. It is a constant challenge to keep meat on that boy; although as he nears 10 years of age his svelte body will do him good.

Along with Luke's fussiness; he also has eating issues. He often snubs foods that we think he loves; his appetite is just not peaked. So I go out into the yard and toss their food around; this kicks in his drive and he eats like a champ. The girls love this type of eating as well; it is after all much closer to how their ancestors ate. I also try to get lots of healthy snacks in throughout the day; Luke get's many and the girls get a bit not to be left out.

So with the merger I will be discussing food and feeding dogs here on Just dogs with "me."

Drive

Prey drive; we've all heard it, what exactly is it?

Prey drive - is the instinctive behavior of a carnivore to pursue and capture prey.

Okay so that's where it started; but it has gone in many varied directions. Hunting dogs have been bred to retrieve downed birds without destroying them. Herding dogs have been specifically bred to round up animals without attacking them but having a very tough persona so they can control animals many times larger than themselves and some dogs have been basically stripped of their prey drive.

Not all prey drive ends in killing; often the drive is simply to chase, which is common in many dogs nowadays. When I temperament test puppies; one of the tests is designed to test drive. A test designed to assess the natural desire to chase in a puppy. Most average pet owners will not want a dog with a high drive; it can be a bad thing if you work long days and don't have a lot of time to spend exercising and satisfying the drive in your dog.

My girl Tilley was not tested;had she been she would have no doubt scored off the charts. Just yesterday I had her and Jessie at the school near by. We wandered the different fields; slow and steady. On our way back to the car we passed through a parking lot when a rabbit darted out; ran in front of us and up a hill. Tilley immediately flew into action; I yelled LEAVE IT. Being that she is 13 years old with Vestibular disease I didn't want her hurting herself. She stopped in her tracks; thought for a moment and gave me the finger. This is very out of character for Tilley; the ignoring me part that is. As the parking lot was fully fenced I decided to let her go for it; she ran a crooked full speed after the rabbit and up the very steep hill. It was then that I worried she might just fall down the hill; but luckily she managed her way down and was one very happy old gal.

Over the years I have worked very hard at keeping Tilley's drive under control. And it was at times extremely difficult; her drive to chase is unbelievable. After successfully transferring some of that drive onto objects like balls and frisbees it was much easier to control. Many dogs find obsessive outlets for their extreme drive; Tilley found shadows. Other dogs obsess over squirrels, cars or even bicycles. If you have a high drive dog you must find an outlet for it.

Many breeds have been bred with high drive so you can weed those out if you are not looking for drive. A couple of high drive breeds are Labradors, Border Collies, Kelpies, Sight hounds, Malinois and German Shepherds. Over years of careful breeding; many dogs have almost lost their drive completely. These are the dogs bred more for companionship; the ones that won't leave your side because a rabbit just ran by. But as I said; each litter contains different drives in each puppy. Jessie also has a high drive but hers is driven by the catch and kill; she really isn't into the chase so much. It is almost like she has no control over it; no thinking involved. She sees movement and it triggers her to run. Now at 14 it is far less only because she cannot see movement like she use to.

Drive is not lowered by age; it can only be controlled by training and management. If you have a high drive dog then you need to find an activity to redirect that drive. Agility, flyball, herding, frisbee or field trials are just a few of the outlet activities. The higher the drive the more work it is to control. If you are interested in participating in many sports and activities with your canine then you will want a certain degree of drive. Some dogs have no drive at all; preferring to spend much of their time watching sports.

Many people who I have talked to purchased their dog from working lines; thinking that they didn't want a show dog. Working lines have drive; these dogs are bred with more drive than the average dog because they are meant to work. You should be very aware of this when you go looking at a litter who's Dam and Sire are field champions. Field champion = drive.

I prefer to use the term drive instead of the more historic term prey drive. With human intervention much of it has just become a desire to to chase; with no kill requirement. Drive can pop up in a litter of non drive type dogs; but in general it follows certain breeds and lines. Unlike color or ear set; drive is something that will influence your life, it is important to understand it.

Breeding dogs

Breeding dogs; have you ever considered breeding your dog? There are many reasons I hear why people want to breed their dogs;

- We love her so much we want a puppy from her.
- I want my kids to see puppies being born and raised.
- We could use the extra money.
- My neighbor wants a puppy from her.

Any of these sound like things you've considered yourself? Well there are other things to consider before breeding your dog.

- Are you willing to do all the necessary health tests? (Hips, elbows, eyes, skin disorders etc?) These are essential to producing the best physically healthy puppies you can for people.
- Have you studied your dogs pedigree; do they have a strong and healthy lineage? A dog can be healthy but if they have bad genes these can be passed onto puppies.
- When searching for a stud dog you must find a dog who has been tested as well.
- What about temperament? Is your dogs temperament stellar? Is the stud dog's temperament stellar? A good percentage of temperament is genetic, unless your dog has an amazing temperament you may be passing on problems to the puppies.
- Are you financially equipped to handle huge medical bills should something go wrong? Puppies may need to have medical treatment, the Mother may need a c-section etc.
- Veterinarian visits are essential; prenatal, postnatal, during and puppy visits. Can you afford these?
- Are you willing to risk the life of your dog for the sake of having puppies? Things can go wrong and dogs can die while giving birth.
- Are you up for screening possible puppy buyers with a fine tooth comb and potentially turn people down?
- Are you prepared emotionally to hand over your puppies to new owners? It's pretty heavy.
- If things simply don't work out with new puppies and owners are you ready to accept puppies back into your home and re-home them?
- Are you planning on having the litter in your home? Perhaps in the middle of your living room where they can be subject to daily life?
- Puppies need mental stimulation right from the start; they need constant socializing, this takes time. Do you have the time to do this?
- Are you going to temperament test each puppy to best match it with a future guardian?
- Nutrition is a big part of raising a litter; cost should not factor in when choosing foods.
- What if you cannot sell all the puppies? This is a common occurance; especially in these economic times. Can you keep a houseful of puppies?

I could go on and on with this list.

Oh yes this is a long and daunting list; but if you are not prepared to do all of this and more don't even let the idea of breeding cross your mind. I know many many dog breeders and if done right; breeding does not make you money. You are lucky to break even as things always arise that put big demands on your wallet. Breeding is not for the faint of heart; things go wrong all the time and you must be strong enough to deal with all of the issues that arise head on.

There are far too many unwanted dogs in this world already; this list is a tiny look at things to consider about breeding dogs. If everyone checked off at least these before breeding we would have a lot less people breeding dogs; which is a good thing. Spay and neuter your dogs please.

Chewing sticks

Dogs love sticks; give them a stick and they will be occupied for as long as the stick remains intact. For some that's not long; others like to toss sticks around and play along with their destruction tactics. Last night we had a bonfire; it was so nice sitting around the fire, a nice glass of red wine in hand just chill'n. It wasn't long before Luke discovered the sticks; there were two types. One pile was split longs chopped down to kindling the other was sticks from pruning the trees. He went over and tried a nibble on the kindling and was quickly told to leave it. That was the last attempt at that pile; dried wood that has been split is very dangerous, too many splinters.

He next went over beside Dad where the pruned sticks were kept in a box; he stuck his head in the box of twigs and asked for one. These sticks although dry were still bendable and not the splintering type. Dad obliged and Luke quickly destroyed the stick. The objective for Luke is destruction; that's it, rip the stick to pieces and move onto the next. He returned to the box and asked for another one; gone. He went through about 10 sticks in a row within a 10 min. time span. He then asked for a stick and brought it over to his bed that was beside the fire; he chewed it with less purpose although still destroying it. Once it was in tiny pieces he went and asked for another and brought it back to his bed; this went on through the entire bonfire.

I love seeing dogs chew and play with sticks; it is quite a natural behavior. Even wild wolves play and chew sticks. Each and everyone of my dogs over the years has loved sticks. But there are precautions you need to take with sticks. Watch out for sticks that are so dry that they will splinter. Dogs tend to get wood stuck between their front teeth if they are grabbing bark and ripping it off. They appear to be choking when in fact they are attempting to get rid of whats caught between their teeth and need human assitance. Be very careful when throwing sticks; we had a horrible stick accident years ago with my very first dog Mandy (an airedale). My boyfriend at the time (now my hubby) threw a stick and it landed and stuck into the ground; as Mandy ran at full speed to retrieve the stick it jabbed into her mouth piercing her soft palate. If you are going to throw sticks; throw them sideways, not end over end.

Sticks are great fun; they don't cost anything and dogs love to destroy them. Luke was thoroughly entertained for the entire evening last night by the ever humble stick. My job this morning will be to clean up the piles of stick pieces left behind from all the fun. ;)

Walking your dog

Most of my inspiration for writing comes from being out with my dogs. I frequent parks, beaches and open fields. Of course my favorite place to walk is somewhere quiet with my dogs off leash just running having fun but those places are becoming harder and harder to find; especially here. Although running off leash is wonderful; our dogs must learn how to walk nicely on leash, it's a fact of life. Yesterday when my husband and I had all three out having fun at the park a woman walked by with three little dogs on leash. She'd obviously been watching too much of a certain guy on television.

Our dogs were running everywhere; two were on leash (they have long leashes), Tilley was off leash doing her rehabilitation ball retrieving. The woman was far away but I could see her trying to get organized and then she proceeded. As she walked past us I watched; she bent down and gave one dog who was walking a bit out front a push to get back behind her. Okay so they looked happy enough; they were definitely cuties but were they having fun? Happy and fun are two different things.

We walk our dogs for our dogs; correct? Well; we actually walk them for us as well, a walk is always good for us but we mostly do it for our dogs. When I walk my dogs I like them to do what they enjoy; sniffing, lifting, wandering etc. I do not want my dogs dragging me down the street or across the park but I in no way want my dogs walking behind me like robots. If I head out on a power walk; meaning that I mean business and we are getting in some exercise, I allow sniffing for a good amount of time before we commence. Sniffing is what dogs do; they love it, so they get in a good amount of it before we start our non stop walking.

If you watch a pack of wolves move around in the wild; it is the Alpha who says where they are going. The top wolves decide which direction to go in but they don't have to be out front; that is a fallacy. The members of the pack watch the Alpha and go where he goes but the lower members are all about, even out in front. When I take my dogs for a walk in the woods and everyone is off leash they are following me; there is no doubt about it but they are like a pack of wolves, all around.

In my opinion having your dogs walk behind you is just not fun for me or my dogs. Now if they want to walk back there as my Tilley likes to; fine. But keeping them back there to show them who's boss defeats the purpose of why we are out for a walk.

Touch

I first want to say PLEASE NEVER HUG A STRANGE DOG. Although it is very tempting to give a cute dog a big squeeze; in dog terms it is very rude and may get you into a heap of trouble.

We all love to pet our dogs; it's actually good for us, lowering our blood pressure simply by touching them. But what if your dog doesn't like to be touched? A touchy situation for sure; you got a dog to keep you company and now you discover that they are not the touchy feely type, great. There are many different types of reactions to touch; some love it, like my Luke. Others thinks it's sort of nice; there are the dogs who accept it; only barely tolerating it. And then there are the dogs who do not want to be touched; some will move away while others may let you know with a growl that your touch is not welcome.

Most family pets that don't like to be touched simply pull away. If your dog growls at your touch you are probably dealing with leadership issues and need to have a professional have a look at your relationship. If your dog just doesn't like to hug and kiss; rest assured, there is hope. Tilley is not a touchy feely type gal; that is if we approach her and give her a big hug. But she loves to come up on the couch and snuggle up beside you; even lay in your lap.

It's all about what our body language means; and a hug in dog terms is a dominant gesture. It is the equivalent to being mounted. Never considered this before? And if we dissect the hug even further; a hug coming from below will be accepted far more easily than coming from above. If I hug Tilley from underneath her stomach she is fine with it; she doesn't lean into it like Luke but accepts it. If I hug her from above and around her neck or chest; I can feel her pull away.

Positive; positive, positive. This is the way to go to teach our dogs that touch is not only good; but great. Start slowly; and always "quit while you are ahead." A quick touch is much easier to accept than a half our petting session. So start small and work your way up. Add treats to the touch game. A hand on your dogs neck as you give them a yummy treat; a treat offered while you rub their chest.

Some dogs are over stimulated by touch; so for those types you want to keep it short and sweet. And touch can also be a status seeking behavior; bet you never thought of that before. With my boy Luke; it is often status seeking with strangers. When someone new comes into our house and lavishes attention and petting on Luke; "that's right; who's the boss?" When they think they are the best of friends; they go to move into the living room as Luke lunges at them barking. The person is left thinking "what the heck is wrong with this dog?" When this is normal procedure with Luke; he established who was the top dog as soon as the lowly human started the petting procedure. Now the human thinks that they can just simply walk about "his" house?

The best way to enter a home with a dog is to ignore the dog. Ignoring solves so many issues; over excitement, over submissiveness, fear and status seeking behaviors. Then once you are in the house; you can acknowledge the dog. But keep it simple and watch for acceptance of touch. Don't assume anything with dogs; they are all different and have their different needs for space.

For many dogs; learning to love our touch is a process. We cannot force it upon them; we must teach them that it is a wonderful and mutually beneficial activity. If after all your work they still aren't on board; then that is who your dog is, they need their space. We should respect that.

Dog park Etiquette

With all the dog parks popping up everywhere there are some good and bad things about these facilities. How many people have tried the dog park and didn't go back? Was there a bully in the park? Was your dog not happy to be there with so many strange dogs? Did your dog have a scare? When you put a bunch of dogs into a confined area; things can happen. The smaller the park with a high number of dogs can create a bad situation which was intended to be a good one.

I have heard many horror stories about dog parks but if you follow some simple rules they can be a great way to socialize and vent some excess energy.

Unfortunately not all the dogs that frequent the park should be there. But; the problem typically lies with the human guardian of that dog and not the dog itself. There are pushy type dogs who run around bullying every other dog in the park who receive no feedback once so ever from their human. Their human is happily chatting up a storm on the other side of the park without so much as a glance Mr. Bully's way. This is the biggest issue that I have dealt with and hear from other owners.

There are the folks who bring their dog kicking and screaming and sit there with their dog hiding under their legs. Do you really think that your dog is enjoying this? Obviously this is a traumatic experience and if this is not their first or second trip but a long term behavior; I suggest you skip the park all together. A dog like this needs a lot of work before being thrown into a dog park in close proximity to other canines.

So here are my list of rules for the parks;

Firstly; play nice, if your dog cannot play nice they need a time out. Give your dog another chance to play nice and if they still are not playing nice; leave.

Watch your dog; that means eyes on your dog at all times. Sure you can chit chat but watch your dog while you socialize.

Watch the other dogs; you need to know who is in the park. Keep your eyes out for any problems that may arise from other dogs.

Guarding behaviors are not conducive to playing at the park. If your dog guards their balls or frisbees then leave the toys at home.

If you have a dog that is extremely fearful; work on this at a less scary place before introducing the dog park setting. It is much easier for a fearful dog to handle a couple of dogs at a time before dealing with a mob.

Chill out; if you are uptight about going to the park your dog will sense this.

Dogs communicate via growling and body posturing; don't think every growl or pounce is aggression.

Don't coddle your fearful dog. If your dog is screaming behind your legs you have work to do before subjecting them to a park situation.

Short and sweet; dogs become over tired and cranky with too much in your face time with other dogs. Leave when your dog is still happy to be there.

If a negative incident arises at the park; wait and have some positive time before leaving. You don't want to abruptly leave on a negative creating a negative association to the park.

Do not allow your dog to bully other dogs.

Do not allow your dog to mount other dogs.

Do not allow your dog to pester other dogs; barking consistently in one's face is pretty annoying.

Pick up after your dog.

My motto in life is "quite while you're ahead." This is definitely good advice for a dog park.