Stepping in

I am inspired by many humans on a regular basis; being a member of so many dog groups and witnessing rescue after rescue it is truly uplifting. It is a crazy world that we live in; one that needs a lot of work and much of that work is with regards to how we treat animals and the people that abuse them. I was having a conversation on the weekend about abuse and when you should step in. What exactly is abuse and where do you draw the line and say enough?

Abuse: to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way.

There are many levels to abuse; some acts are so horrific that is unfathomable that a human could perpetrate them. And then there are the ones that may leave people on the sidelines asking themselves; "should I say something?" Some people treat their dogs very harshly; it can be confusing as to when you should intervene. I believe that if you feel like a dog is being hurt; then you step in. Of course there are times when you need to simply contact the authorities as it may be too dangerous for you to personally step in alone.

I remember an incident several years ago; I was at a dog park shooting dogs having fun when I heard some sort of commotion going on near the entrance of the park. I put my camera down and watched; a man had his yellow lab flipped onto his back and was hitting him. My blood began to boil; I turned and headed right for them. Seeing how angry this man was at his dog I knew what I was in for when I confronted him; but I did it anyhow. Some things you just cannot leave unsaid. I told him to stop hitting his dog; he told me to mind my own business. He said the dog was his and said I should go back to what I was doing before something happened to me. Oh yes; he threatened me loud and clear. My adrenaline was rushing and I stood my ground. He told me the dog was running too much; he had just had surgery not long ago. ?????????? So he brought his dog to the park; to not run around????????????? We had some heated words; feeling like I'd made my point and the fact that the dog was now up and on his feet I went to the other side of the park.

The others who were in the park had been sideline spectators; they knew this guy and obviously did not want to get involved. Now the guy knew that everyone was watching him and the tension in the park was thick. About 20 min. after the incident the man came over and apologized; I was floored. In the heat of it all he was not backing down; throwing stupid facts around to support his behavior. Things were different now; had I got through his thick head, even just a tiny bit? Perhaps; and this is why you should say something. Sometimes all it takes is a few words to make people see the err in their ways. Of course sometimes what you say will have no effect but you will not have stood by and not said or done anything.

Abuse can take many forms; from direct hitting, yanking around on a collar, chaining or tying in a yard, not feeding or housing a dog. Another recent incident has opened my eyes to another form of abuse, not offering medical attention. People who have dogs that are physically injured, ill or just have something not right need to take them to a veterinarian. If they choose not to repair the dog; this is abuse. There is no excuse not to take a sick or injured dog to the vet. There are so many groups out there now willing to help out; that money is simply not an excuse. And when you take a dog into your home as part of your family it is your obligation to keep that dog safe and healthy.

Tact is always the best approach when dealing with an abuser. As in my case the man was already in an angry violent state when I approached him. It can go very wrong; but if you go in for the right reasons, to help the dog you must remain level headed. Sometimes that is not easy; it took everything in me to stay level headed. But the bottom line is to help the dog. And if an ounce of what you have said sinks in even the smallest amount you may have saved a dog from further abuse. Dogs deserve this much from us.

A boy and his dog

Is there anything cuter than a boy and his dog. (A girl and her dog of course but this particular blog is about a boy and his dog; girls later.) Watching a little boy play with his dog or just sit and enjoy the company of a dog is pretty amazing. Witnessing a dog and his kid reap the exact same benefits of an interaction is as natural as is it gets, it is awe inspiring. Often as a boy grows they lose interest in their canine companion; the dog of course never does but this is a natural human evolution. There are some that do not loose interest but most do through the teen years. It is after these fleeting teenage absent years that many return; back to the days of a boy and his dog, some never return.

Where do those men who don't make it back go? A sterile apartment; a corporate executive job with no room for the likes of a dog? Perhaps in that short span of teenagerdom they just get lost and have difficulty finding their way back. They may not realize what they are missing out on until one day they take inventory of their life. Often the addition of a wife and children of their own helps them to rediscover "a boy and his dog." We know that almost every child wants a dog; sometimes this is the catalyst.

But then there are the ones who made it back quickly after those missing years. As soon as they are up and on their feet again they add a dog to their life. They spend their time when not at work with their dog; they are frequent dog park visitors and look for exciting things to do with their dog on the weekend. If you happen upon one of these guys; chances are, the prerequisite to a relationship is that you too must encompass the boy.............and his dog.

In all honesty ladies; is there anything hotter than a guy who loves dogs? I mean really loves dogs; takes part or complete care of their canine companion? Not the guys that walk around with a big dog on the end of the leash trying to look very much like the macho man. I'm talking about the guys who love their dog unconditionally; the ones who have truly come back to the "boy and his dog." When I see a guy out enjoying his dogs and his dog enjoying him it makes me smile; it makes me really happy.

As a long time private dog trainer I typically work with the Mom of the family. Dad is off at work; and I completely understand that coming home for training can be difficult to fit in. But; on a rare occasion a couple of Dads take time from work and make it home for the training session. For these guys; there was simply no way they were missing out on the training with their dog, nice.

Recently I was at a huge pet adoption day; there was literally wall to wall dogs and people. As I wandered around I noticed a lot of men; one in particular had a puppy in his arms, he was obviously comforting the young dog. **That's it** It is compassion; it comes down to that, we woman are impressed by a man with compassion. A man who puts an animal before themselves, now that is a keeper. Compassion is at the root of greatness.

If you are married to a man like this; congratulations. I am; and when I see my husband tucking the dogs in on a chilly night, giving them his last bite of shortbread or trying to get comfortable on a sliver of space left in the bed because the dogs are hogging the prime space? Bonus points for sure. If you know a guy who takes a genuine interest in your dog and their well being; congratulations. Many men have it in them; it has just not been tapped into yet. But there is hope, once tapped into compassion for animals has a tendency to flourish.

If you are single and looking for a man; find a guy with a dog. It makes no difference what type of dog a man has; it is the compassion towards that dog that is appealing. And ladies; if you find one, hold on tight.

And for all you guys out there; you go up the hot scale tenfold when you love your dogs unconditionally.

Its a worry

Sitting in the vets office; I was worried. I'm not a worrier; ask any of my friends and family, I don't worry unless I have to. I learned a long time ago that you can worry yourself silly for absolutely nothing; my strategy is worry when you have to and not before. Ya I know; easier said than done. So there I sat; unusually worrying. It all started Saturday morning at 5:00 am; the sound of heaving and slosh. A noise no dog guardian wants to hear. I was up and moving Tilley out onto the deck while still asleep. She finished out there. Nothing weird; dogs just sometimes vomit.

The rest of the day was pretty normal; she went for a walk, ate her breakfast and lounged the rest of the day. All until 12:00am Sunday morning; again the heaving and slosh, now I'm starting to worry. She ate a completely different dinner than the night before; it didn't make sense. Back to bed and try to drift back while trying not to let those thoughts twirl around in my head. At 13 years of age I'm worried; it's not like a young'n puking. But I finally slipped back into sleep; and awoke worrying.

Yesterday morning; Tilley didn't want cheese at breakfast. She pushed it around on her bed and finally ate it. Highly unusual; she then turned her nose up at her breakfast, this has happened only once before when she was struck by Vestibular disease. Not in all of her 13 years has she not eaten; this was definitely a worry. I called the vet and tried not to worry. It could be nothing; dogs always puke and they always get better.

I already had the plan set in place before I got to the vet. At 13 years of age I wanted a full diagnostic x-ray done and full blood panel. The vet gave Tilley a thorough physical and concurred with what should be the steps we take. And he agreed that it is a worry at 13; I was right to worry. They took Tilley to the back; being separated at the vet is not something I often allow but knowing I'd be up against a good fight about the whole x-ray thing I let it go this once. Sitting in the room my mind started to wander; not to a good place. I tried to shake it off; "it's probably nothing."

I could hear the vet and techs talking in the back; I tried using my best bionic ears to get a heads up, I couldn't. I did hear them say what a great dog Tilley was though. The vet finally came back into the room after what seemed to be an eternity. I braced myself for the news; nothing, no tumors, obstructions or anything to write home about. I let out a huge sigh of relief; wow, I felt like I had been holding my breath that whole time. He did see that Tilley has some pretty good sized bone spurs at two spots on her spine; very painful he explained. That made sense.

I packed Tilley into the suv and we headed home; glad to have her coming home with me. When we opened the door there was Luke and Jessie so happy to see her that it made me smile. They gave her the once over; Luke smelled every inch of her body, lingering on her blood draw spot and wherever the vet had laid hands on her. He never stopped wagging and Tilley seemed to enjoy all the attention.

So I am waiting for the blood results; hopefully they will be good and it was all just one of those things that dogs get, again. And I am not worrying this morning; ya right.

Afternoon addition: Tilley's bloodwork came back with nothing out of the ordinary. Nice. Just a bug or something but she is feeling much better and sleeping away in the kitchen while I bake up a storm.

Possession

Possession is nine-tenths of the law; right? Possession not only relates to humans but dogs as well. I love watching dogs play; especially when there are toys of some sort involved. No matter how many toys you fill your house with; it is the one in someone's mouth that is the object of desire. Last week I did a shoot with two beautiful Weimaraners; I did some individual shots and then we moved onto the fun. When they get to just run together; play and have fun and I not only get to watch but capture it as well.

One of the dogs had a stick momentarily; she was having some great chew fun with it when she put it down for just a split second. The other saw her chance; she had been watching out of the corner of her eye and swooped in and snagged the stick. Now it was hers and she was not letting go. Of course the girl who had now lost her stick did everything she could to cause a diversion which she hoped would result in her gaining possession of her stick back. She made her ball look as exciting as she could; didn't even get a glimpse from the stick chewer. The girl with the stick made an Oscar winning performance with this stick. This stick was the best stick in the world and there was nothing more fun than having this particular stick. The dog who lost her stick made one last attempt at a mock charge in hopes that the now owner of the stick might drop it, nope. She got a final communication on her last trip by and came to terms with the fact that she was not getting her stick back.

Dogs are amazingly smart and when they want something they can pretty much figure out how to get it. We have two two toy baskets in our home; both are spilling over with toys and yet when someone has a certain toy, Luke has to have it. He cannot stand that someone has something and he may be missing out on a great thing. But he is a smart boy and he has figured it out. When one of the other dogs has a toy he wants he simply goes to the front door and barks; he turns to see if they are coming and barks again. Of course the girls come running and barking to the front door to see who's there. Luke then turns on a dime and swoops in on the toy, mission accomplished.

The hierarchy of the dogs involved will factor in on how the toy is stolen or attempted to be stolen. There may the diversion tactics like Luke uses; he wouldn't dare try to just grab a toy from Jessie, he'd get his face chomped. There are the cute and innocent maneuvers where a dog crawls in so slowly and low that the dog with the toys doesn't see it as a threat. That is until the very last moment when the pirate gets their teeth on the toy. There are the ones who take toys by force; there is usually a scuffle where brute strength is used but it is not always the strongest who wins.

When we bring home new toys into our house we have rules; everyone gets a toy and must stay away from the others, works great. That is until the toys aren't new anymore and it is a free for all. This is when the robbery tactics begin. Of course there are times when we as the human leaders must step in and keep dogs from constantly stealing toys from each other but in general it is a wonderful time to watch the cunning mind of a dog at work.

Positive reinforcement

I said on Friday that I would blog about rewarding behaviors on Saturday; well it's Sunday and here it is.

Taken from Wikipedia:

Reinforcement is a term in operant conditioning and behavior analysis for the delivery of a stimulus, (immediately or shortly) after a response, that results in an increase in the future rate or probability of that response.

In layman terms it means to offer a treat or reward for a particular behavior. This reward system raises the chance of a dog repeating the behavior.

So what is a reward? A reward is anything that the particular dog involved would consider to be worth working for. Often as a behavior becomes tougher or involves distractions you must up the value of your reward if you want the dog to continue to work. All dogs learn at different rates; and throughout their learning curve each will have stumbling blocks. This is when it is important to break a behavior down into small enough steps to ensure the dog achieve success which means; reward.

Frustration is something to watch for in training; it leads to failure. If a dog becomes frustrated; meaning that they are trying and trying and not being rewarded for anything over a period of time they may shutdown. This is something that many people don't see and accuse a dog of being stubborn. Breaking a behavior down into baby steps helps to eliminate frustration. Of course there are dogs who never need baby steps and fly right through, they are all different.

When you are rewarding behaviors you must be very aware of your timing. If you are not using a bridge word (YES, RIGHT) or sound (clicker) to mark the behavior that you like then you must deliver the reward at the exact moment of the desired behavior. This is why a marker like a clicker is useful; it gives you the opportunity to associate a reward with the marker. So that when you "click" or say "YES" your dog understands that a reward is now coming for the behavior they were doing when they heard their bridge sound or word. It may sound complicated if you've never practiced this type of system but it is very easy; it's all in the timing.

I will often reward new behaviors that my dogs offer. I will not use any words or sounds and simply reward. Take for instance; I'm in the park with Luke, he is preoccupied by all the other dogs but if he comes to me to check in and gives me eye contact, he gets a treat. Now Luke is not big on treats; he far prefers to gallivant around but he is getting the message that it is a good thing to come and check in. Once he has been rewarded enough times for doing this behavior I will then add a verbal cue to it; something like "check." This is now a new behavior which we will work on and then proof it.

Proof: able to withstand; successful in not being overcome: proof against temptation.

When you reward a behavior it must be done with something great that your dog will work for. In the beginning this is typically not a pat on the head; that comes with time, connection and bonding. Just think; you would not work for a pat on the head, would you?

Blood banks for dogs

Good Saturday morning; I'd like to share with you my newest book out. It was a work from the heart and I love the end result. The book titled Greyhound Rescue is a compilation of beautiful black and white images of rescued racing Greyhounds. I will be giving 100% of the profits from the sale of the book to Hemopet and Pet Life-line. Founded by Dr. Jean Dodds; Hemopet was the first private non-profit animal blood bank established in 1991.

If your dog has ever needed a blood transfusion; chances are it came from Hemopet. My own little JRT Jessie nearly died back 8 years ago. She was in rough shape and failing fast; it was decided that she needed a plasma transfusion to keep her alive. That transfusion gave her the strength to carry on. And as you all know; Jessie is a very robust 14 year old Jack Russell who rules the roost here.

As I met each dog that is in the book; I was struck by the friendly demeanor of all. Each and everyone was an individual; both in personality and appearance but they were all sweet. Some were more outgoing than others; a few of the more timid dogs called for my "invisible photographer" routine. It was an honor to meet all of these wonderful and amazingly beautiful dogs who all come from a rough life as a racing track dog. But that behind them they move on as dogs do; living the life that all dogs should lead.

I loved listening to each personal story; the length of the dog's racing career, when they were rescued and how they have adapted. There were very few only Greyhound homes; most lived with other Greyhounds. And after seeing how wonderful they all were it is not surprising to me.

Hemopet helps dogs Nationwide; of all breeds, maybe even your own dog. I would like to thank Dr. Jean Dodds and everyone who works and volunteers at Hemopet and Pet Life-line for everything they do; for my dogs, your dogs, and all the rescue dogs.

I hope that you purchase one of these books; you too can give back.

Can your dog catch?

Good Friday morning; as you can see we have a new look, hope you like it. It was time for a change, every so often you just gotta switch things up and I love this particular photo. Luke and Jessie were having words after a play session. If you look closely you can see that Luke is smelling Jessie; his nose is actually veering her way but not too close, she has a tendency to snap if he gets too close. What a pair.

I've been going through my computer lately; uploading a lot of photos onto discs, I have so many. Yesterday I was weeding through a shoot I did with my two playing catch when I thought that catch would be a good thing to discuss. Dogs love to catch; at least most do, the ones who have a degree of drive that is. Of course there are those that never catch let alone catch on cue; like my poor old boy Clyde. As hard as I tried to teach that boy to catch he just never got it; even the floating popcorn would hit him in the head every time.

Catching is a natural behavior; much like chasing, but teaching a dog to catch is where it differs. First you have to teach your dog what catch means; not simply the act of catching, this takes time. There is no chasing involved; the goal is the catch, that's it. When you hold up a ball and make like you are going to throw it; but you don't, you shout out "catch" and your dog changes turns around to catch it. Then you know your dog knows what catch means. I use the catch behavior for many different purposes; it is one that I typically teach all of my training clients as well. Most dogs love this behavior; especially when it can be put on a verbal cue.

It is a great way to add some fun to "heel" training; attention redirection work and just about anytime you want immediate attention. "Catch" quickly becomes a very positive word; especially when you throw it in with chase and retrieving fun. Switch it up, throw the ball for your dog then tell them to catch it. This also helps with listening work; your dog must learn to listen to what you are saying or perhaps catch a ball in the head a few times.

Training starts with a light and fluffy toss item; I use unbuttered, unsalted popcorn. Okay a bit of butter for those who don't like it plain, like Luke. Have your dog sit in front of you and say catch as you make the tossing motion. In the beginning you want to try your very best to throw it right into your dogs mouth, or at least in the vicinity. Do not let them pick it up off the ground should it fall there. If they want it; they have to catch it. When they do catch one; immediate celebrations are required and continue the catch work. You have to make it a really big deal; have fun with it.

Once your dog is catching popcorn you can move onto a little heavier treats and then the sky is the limit. Tilley is a catching maniac; for her the catch is where it is at although now with her Vestibular disease she has a difficult time with her precision. And it is more luck if she catches the item. Once a dog understands what catch means then you can use it at different times and with different items. Different items may take a little practice; I taught Tilley to scarves for a photo shoot. It was a lot of work on her part; they float and change directions in the air but she was amazing at it.

I will often send my guys out on a fake throw; they run out into the middle of the field to chase the ball when I yell "CATCH." They jam on their brakes and turn on a dime ready to catch the incoming ball; very cool.

Just yesterday I was using catch to deliver treats to Luke as we did some heeling practice; he loves it. More on the act of rewarding behaviors in tomorrows blog. Have a great Friday; now go play catch with your dog.

Missing it all

Don't you want a dog? Ewww, no thank you. They drool, puke, poop, shed and make your life a general mess. She turns her head in disgust as the overjoyed Golden approaches for a nice big kiss. "Get her away;" she yells to her best friend of over 20 years. As she heads off a full on Golden assault she recoils spewing obscenities directed at both the dog and it's owner. "Why on earth would you ever want this in your life?" Her friend simply smiles knowing that she just doesn't get it. Many people don't "get it;" but when and if they do, they get it tenfold.

I'm talking about people who just don't get the whole dog thing. I know many people who are not dog people; of course when I say dog people I mean DOG people. Not just the average Joe with a dog. The people like you and me who incorporate their dogs into their lives. The ones who may be covered in dog hair; discussing canine nutrition, behavior or even the daily poop, those dog people. You know who you are. Believe it or not there are people out there who just don't like dogs; they may not have a hate for dogs but just don't understand having a creature in your life that messes everything up. Their life is just too safe and organized to involve a dog.

Dogs are work; yes, but work turns into caring for when you wrap your arms around it. Work for some is joy for many. Until you have the chance to feel the connection of a dog; you just can't get it. I've met many people who don't get it; and as hard as I try they just can't understand. But there is nothing to understand; you either have it naturally, it sneaks up on you slowly or it hits you when you least expect it. I have met those whom it hit when they weren't looking. One woman spoke to me about a blog I'd written about this same subject; non dog people. She said "Sherri I was one of those; I didn't get it." And there I was photographing her pride and joy; a tiny white and black recently adopted rescue.

She spoke of being one of "those" people who think their dog friends are crazy. Listening to all the talk about the dogs and not understanding it. She got it now; she'd been hit big time and was now one of us. I had to smile; this is how it happens, the work had turned into caring for. Outsiders may look and you and your life with dogs and shake their head; so much work. For me there is no work involved; it is all just a part of living with dogs and caring for them. Sure if you do not want to live with dogs then all of this might look like work, but not to the dog lover.

Some people will go through life and never know the love for a dog; sad. There is nothing like connecting with a dog, giving your entire heart and soul and getting even more in return. Dogs are simply wonderful; right?

Those of you dog people already know that life is far too short to stress about:

-dog hair on the sofa
-sand, dirt and grass in the car
-pee and poop on the grass in the yard
-having a less than perfect yard because you don't want chemicals harming your dog
-that "doggy" smell in your house
-a bed filled with crumbs from sharing breakfast
-nose prints on all the windows
-nose prints on your sunglasses
-poop bags in your purse and pockets of pants, jackets and shorts
-tennis balls rolling out of everywhere
-tripping on toys in the middle of the night
-stubbing your toe on the many Nylabones strewn around the house
-cleaning out the slimy backwash water bowl
-treats in everything you own
-a car filled with dog stuff
etc. etc. etc.

If you do think these things are worth stressing about; then you have not "got it" yet. Pass this onto all of your non dog friends as something to ponder in life.

Resistance is futile. ;)

Space

Space; the final frontier, well maybe but I'm just talking about space as in the distance between two items, places, people etc. Dogs need their space; each one is an individual and has their own "personal" space. Once you enter a dog's space their behavior becomes reactive; there is a reaction to the action that you have taken, entering their space. So simply yet most humans take a dogs space as an insignificant importance, we tend to enter without thought. And there are some dogs that have a bad sense of reading space signals from other dogs; these individuals tend to get in trouble a lot.

As a youngster Luke was a space invader; he tended to become over excited and forget the "rules," which lead him into trouble. I clearly remember one particular trip to the park; he was off leash and saw a dog on the other side of the park that he wanted to see. At that young foolish age; there was no calling him back, I simply waited for the obviously senior dog to give him his lesson. It was a very large female white GSD; she stood her ground and Luke came charging in a straight line (rude behavior indeed). She waited until he entered "her" space and charged back at him. She was not aggressive; but made it quite clear that she was not in the mood for his young shenanigans. He jammed his brakes on throwing it into reverse while trying to stop moving forward. She got her message across loud and clear and Luke came running back to the safety of Mom. Lesson learned.

Being that all dogs are individuals you MUST read what they are saying with their body language about their space. Some dogs don't have a space when it comes to humans; they are on top of you before you know it leaving a space void. Others need a small amount of space; they are not the touchy feely type and are just fine and dandy visiting at a distance. This is the part that people; we humans don't get, not every dog wants you wrapped around them. Nor does every dog even want a strange human touching them.

Tilley makes her feelings pretty clear; she is friendly but in no way wants strangers touching her. She gives off a leery message as she lowers her head to sniff the air around the person and if they continue their approach she backs up. She is very calm in her movements which seem to be understood as most people are apprehensive to touch her initially. She likes to meet people but slowly; she is not a Golden Retriever.

As far as dogs around other dogs; many need their space as well. They typical signal this very clearly which is usually just as clearly understood. But there are those who are the strong and silent type who don't quite get their message across quite as clear leaving the approacher a little in the dark. And then there are the approachers who are not reading signals from the other dog and get into deep trouble upon their approach. Many young dogs who become overly excited find themselves in this situation. Their excitement gets the better of them and they don't heed warnings.

Space is good; a lack of it can lead to a stressful situation. This is why when I see a dog park that is huge; one that consists of different areas and wide open space to roam I consider it to have been well thought out, at least the space part of it. If you pack too many dogs into a small space; problems arise. Dogs need to feel the space around them; it gives them a sense of not being trapped, of being able to move away if they should feel the need. This is why I tend to like dog beaches over dog parks as the ones in my area give a far larger sense of space between both humans and dogs.

A lack of space can cause tension; tension can lead to fights and when a fight starts in an area with a lack of space it is far worse. Space is a big consideration when you have dogs; everyone needs some space. Take away space and that act can alone initiate behavior issues. Think about this the next time you approach a strange dog; give them some space, read their signals about how they feel about their own personal space.

After-all; everyone needs a little space now and again. ;)

Sleeping dogs

Good Tuesday morning; I hope that all of you had a great Holiday weekend and your pups made it through all the booming. I spent a good part of the day photographing my dogs; it is one of those luxuries, having them there to shoot whenever the whim hits me. They are amazingly good sports and will do whatever I ask of them; but typically it is "be yourself." I love capturing dogs being dogs and yesterday after a long walk and spending much of their time outside they were very tired. They were all crashed in the living room so; yep, I got out my camera.

One of my favorite things to shoot is dogs in action; I love being able to freeze it and see what you would never see unless you indeed froze time. But I also love shooting sleeping dogs; when they are at their most relaxed state, the complete opposite of action. They are adorable aren't they? As a trainer I know that a tired dog is a good dog and a tired dog also makes a great model; especially when you want to capture them sleeping. Jessie was on the dog bed in the living room; Luke on the couch and Tilley at the front door on the floor. I have to be very calm and quiet; but even at my best I still cause a stir. Just a small one and they usually drift off back to dreamland.

Jessie was looking totally adorable sleeping; I snapped away and she woke up. She had a little grooming session and went off again. Luke was asleep but sort of with one eye open; things were going on and he hates to miss anything so I have some with eyes open and caught a couple as he drifted off. Tilley was out; completely out and never stirred as I shot her, she had a long day for a 13 year old and was completely exhausted.

There is something very serene about watching a dog sleep; it is at that very moment when they are at their most relaxed. A dog that is asleep is in a safe zone; a place where they feel they can close their eyes and rest, I love it. I often see Tilley out in the yard asleep in the sun and I love that she feels secure enough in her yard to drift off. Luke has a more difficult time sleeping in the yard; if he does it is on her lounge and it is not a sound sleep. He is a much more nervous dog so closing his eyes doesn't come quite as easy.

Creating an environment where our dogs can feel safe enough to let down their guard; throw all their cares to the wind and close their eyes is our job. Once you have achieved this and your dog feels at home as much you; you can smile at a job well done. And enjoy one of the simple things in life; watching your dog sleep.

This and that

I was stopped twice yesterday on our walk; "what kind of dog is that?" They were asking about Tilley; who is a blue standard poodle. Both of my poodles are unrecognizable to the average Joe; they have no telltale pompoms. The simple fact that they have no puffs leaves people mystified; pondering as to what the heck they are. A couple of days ago while walking Luke; a Mother and her children were heading my way. I heard her loud and clear as she approached; "look guys a labradoodle, it's a labradoodle." When she got within talking distance I said "nope not a labradoodle; a poodle." "Really; just a poodle?" she said and then apologized for saying just. She said she didn't mean just.

This is something I've grown accustom to hearing after so many years having very different looking poodles. I have had poofless poodles for a long time; ever since I shaved them off because of a comment. I was at the beach with Tilley who at the time was in her prime and a super athlete; she'd had a great time swimming and retrieving. She was wet and covered in sand as we left the beach; a guy passed us and said "bet she'd rather be at the beauty parlor." Are you kidding me? Did he really just say that?

After countless conversations about Tilley being a frisbee dog and hearing "poodles can catch frisbees?" Another great one was "poodles can run?" I decided to take it off; all off. And that was that; no more poofs anywhere. Poodles have a bad rap; I'd had enough. I remember taking much heat from some of the members of a poodle group I was on. "Why would you have poodles if you don't want a poodle to look like a poodle?" was the comment. Newsflash; poodles don't look like poodles, it is the humans that make them look like poodles. Poodles are just curly coated retrievers; that's it. They are an amazingly utility breed; not like the prissy type dogs that most people think that they are.

The pompoms were originally adorned on the poodle to protect vital organs and joints from the cold water that they were retrieving in. Bred originally as a water retriever the poodle kept their pompoms and which have since been made even more elaborate.

But the poodle is a dog like any other dog. And like the other dogs; I adore them for who they are, not for the fancy hairdos that people put upon them.

Truck bed dogs

Happy 4th everyone; have a wonderful, fun and safe day. A reminder to keep all of your dogs locked up in the house safe and sound.

I am often at a loss for words; sometimes I just don't know what to write about as ponder my morning blog. But all it takes is a visual; just one and I've got my blog theme for the following day. Yesterday I was driving down to San Diego; it was moving day for my girls so we headed down to help out. We were driving along and there in front of us in the back of an SUV was a Great Dane with the window completely down. I gasped as I noticed that the dogs body filled the window; his entire body and half down his legs were there at the open window. If anything happened; a bump in the road, a sudden acceleration that dog would go flying out of the car and onto the freeway. I yelled through my car window "close that window;" and oddly enough they did. When I shouted out of anger they were several cars ahead; perhaps they realized how dangerous this was for their dog just at that moment?

The traffic was heavy; not bumper to bumper, we were moving and about 1/2 hour later a guy pulls in front of me with a big German Shepherd in the bed of his truck. The dog stood well over the edge of the truck in height; and was attached by a thin leash which was tucked into the truck bed tool box. The leash was in no way going to save this dog's life if an accident occurred or the dog lost his balance. I don't how many articles that I have read where a "truck dog" lost their life. They sped up ahead of me; leaving me shaking my head yet again.

As the owner drives in the comfort of the truck cab the "truck dog" hangs on for their life in the bed. It may look like a great ride for the dog; their head in the air, ears flapping in the wind. But this is a dangerous situation for the dog; a life threatening situation. Many dogs have slipped out the back of a truck; unnoticed by their owner they are dragged to their death. Others fly out from a sudden stop or acceleration. Dogs should accompany their owner in the cab and preferably in the back seat of the truck.

A little further down the freeway a car whizzed by with a very large Golden retriever hanging out the window. This was not just a head hanging out but 3/4 of the dogs body. One wrong move and that dog was going to end up on the freeway. Again I was left shaking my head; hence my need to blog about this issue today. Below are several articles I found on the subject.

Pets in pick-ups

Dogs riding in pick-ups

Dog days of summer

Our job is to protect and care for our dogs; keep'm safe and inside the truck.

Old dogs; what do they eat?

I'm up early; getting a head start on the day. Jessie followed me down to the kitchen and had her piece of toast; tiny but she looks forward to her early morning snack. I've been wondering as of late what the really old dogs eat. I mean really old; the ones that make the Guinness World book of records. So I've been surfing around for these old pooch facts. And I found what I thought I would find; no dog food. Before dog food was around; way back when our dogs ate food, real food. I do not like to use the term "people food;" it's just food, food for all.

Walking my girls yesterday morning and see them charge around made me wonder if my feeding them real food will actually extend their life. Jessie is 14 and doesn't look it; Tilley is 13 with Vestibular disease but is doing amazing. So this is what got me to thinking and surfing the net for some other old dog diets. These are a few that I discovered while looking around for old dogs and what they eat.

Bella 29 years old

Uno 22 years old

Old dog secrets

So I'm hoping that my three dogs who eat real food will have the same results as far as longevity. I do know that when Jessie was 6 years old and nearly died that she was left with lingering issues. She was loosing hair; she had not grown her hair back from her surgery and was generally not doing well. This is when I switched completely to real food and she made a complete turn around before our eyes. This is one fact that I can state about eating real food.

Luke has also seen very few seizures (he is epileptic) since the complete change. I went back and forth for years; feeding real and dog food, now with only real food they are doing amazingly well and hopefully will into the far future. It is not science but it is something to ponder about.

Canine/human connection

What else is there? The canine/human connection is at the heart of our passion for dogs; there is nothing that stirs our heart more than seeing the amazing connection that some people have with their dog. Whether it is a child and a dog sharing a moment of quiet time, an elderly man walking his senior dog or a Dad throwing the frisbee for his dog............perfection. When it comes to a connection; there is no prerequisite, no previous experience required, it is simply a connection between two species that is mutually beneficial.

The connection is one of my favorite things to capture; that special moment when anyone looking at the image can see it. A connection isn't always a look; it may be visualized by a touch, a position of a hand, a head turn or expression. In fact their is no distance requirement for a connection; I have seen images of dogs where the space between the human and dog is great, yet the connection is surely there.

I feel so lucky to have the luxury of many daily connections. Often while out on a walk; one of my dogs will give me a quick glance over their shoulder, it makes me smile. While I am submersed in work I will regularly be the recipient of a head nudge; a need for a touch as I glance down to see those big brown eyes looking back at me. We share a moment; it may be a fleeting moment, often it evolves into a snugglefest, a connection either way.

One of my all time favorite connections is the check in glance; the reassurance that your dogs one and only is still within sight. Luke is always checking in; even when we watch television in the evening. He assumes his regular position; dead center in the family room facing the television (he watches with us) he will turn and look over his shoulder, we connect and he gets his "okay good face on" and continues his t.v. watching.

By watching a dogs body language you will often see a connection that has nothing to do with eye contact. Being a photographer I'm always watching; I'm actually a watcher by nature and love to witness a connection. A dog's ear posture, facial expression and body tells of a connection that is there. If I say the mere word "Daddy," to my girl Tilley her whole body changes, her ears lay as flat as possible and her eyes close in a slight squint. It is he alone; Dad who creates this connection without even being present.

If you watch for them; they are all around you, that is if you live with dogs. The amazing connection, the canine/human connection. A glance over a shoulder, a face rub, a wag from across the yard, a lean or a simple look that tells you that you are connected. You my friend are one of the lucky ones; as am I.

Behavior changes??

First let me say Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian Family and readers; party it up. Now onto dogs; over the years living with our dogs we get to know their ins and outs but your dog's behavior can change, age can bring on a change or they can simply start doing things they've never done before for no apparent reason. Often we cannot figure out what the change is all about. A couple of nights ago I came downstairs after dinner to watch some t.v. I noticed Tilley sniffing around the coffee table; something she has taken to in her age. I ran upstairs for a moment to grab a glass of water and came back down to see Tilley eating money. She had taken a dollar bill off of the table that I put there earlier in the day; I found it in the dryer. So not only did it have nothing good in it; it was really clean. She has always been one to eat wrappers; but those typically have residue of some sort in them, this was new. "HEY; DROP IT," I startled her. She dropped the money and lay her ears flat down; whooooops. I asked her "since when do you eat money?" Of course she didn't answer but she kept her ears flat realizing she had been caught doing something she shouldn't have been doing, a rare occurance.

The day before this incident Tilley had gotten into the garbage; very uncharacteristic. For anyone who knows Tilley personally or knows of her; she is.................well Lassie in poodle clothing. She normally would never think of doing anything rude; let alone bad. I remember my male poodle Clyde; now long gone but in his old age he resorted to eating lipgloss. Having two young teenage daughters at the time there was much conflict in the house. Bonnie Bell made a killing on all the replacements I bought that year.

If your dog is displaying a new and strange behavior it can be due to you having inadvertently trained it. You could have created an association that you were not aware that you'd even produced but presto a new behavior. Often if you sit and think about what your dog is doing; pick it apart, you will discover the cause. Jessie is displaying a new behavior; when I start making dinner, our dinner she wants to go outside. She goes out the kitchen door and just stands there. It is like clockwork now; and if I don't let her out she will just stand there staring outside. She doesn't need to go outside; she just wants to stand on the other side of the door. I've been trying to piece together this behavior; did I somehow create an association between going outside and food? She is a little pig so food is where I start. It could simply be that she is 14; but to do it day after day and only at dinner preparation time. Strange.

Many new behaviors start from a reaction; a reaction from us towards a needy dog. Luke is needy; he likes special treatment, he likes to be fussed over. He has recently taken to eating 3/4 of his food then hesitantly walking away. He is waiting for me to say "Luke finish your dinner or breakfast." He then turns around and comes back and finishes. Funny guy. This is a quirky behavior; one that he has made up to suit his need to be fussed over. Some behaviors can be worrisome and these may require immediate attention; you might just have to figure them out or at least counter condition the behavior whether you figure it out or not.

Canine behaviors are a reaction to an action; they are caused by an association of some sort. Most can be changed with just a little intervention; some need more work. But almost all behaviors can be counter conditioned; which means to teach a different association response, one that is incompatible with the current behavior. For example; your dog wants to stand outside the kitchen door while you make dinner. You teach your dog that it is beneficial to lay on the bed in the kitchen while you make dinner by rewarding this behavior. She can't do both at the same time and she will choose the behavior that is rewarded.

Dogs are amazingly smart and learn things we don't want them to learn. If I grab a towel and head to the downstairs bathroom; all the dogs run for the hills. Towel in Mom's hand in the downstairs bathroom can mean only one thing; bath time. If your dog is exhibiting a new a strange behavior; first look at yourself, have you taught your dog something you didn't know you were teaching them?

**Of course there are some instances where a dog will change their behavior due to illness. If you suspect this could be the cause; get your dog to the vet immediately. Illness or pain can be a cause for a change in behavior or exhibiting new behaviors.**

Life in a shelter

I'm up early this morning; actually even before the birds. We have several feeders in the yard and to wake to the sound of silence is strange; I'm just hearing the first chirps now; it's 5:30. Last evening I took Luke down to the beach for a walk; he loves the beach as do I and I enjoy it even more when it is nice and cool. I got a few great shots of the boy and we just sat and chilled. Luke is a reactive dog; which basically means that he never misses a thing and when he reacts it is bigger than a normal reaction. Although now almost 10 years of age his reactions are somewhat reduced. I wanted to talk about dogs in shelters this morning; and the reason I started with Luke is that I always think about Luke in a shelter situation.

Dogs in shelters are not themselves; depending on the individual dog will factor in on how they adjust or handle living in a shelter situation. A shelter is no place for a dog; even the best of shelters is a highly stressful environment. When a dog is put into a shelter; they are in a completely alien place with strange people, strange dogs and lots of noise. I know that Luke would not be a model citizen in a shelter situation; he would most likely be one of those dogs growling at everyone. Growling is what he does when he is scared; very different when he is happy. He loves just about everyone in a normal surrounding situation.

Even Tilley; Miss perfect would probably be at the back of the cage with terror in her eyes, not exactly looking like "adopt me." I have been called in many times to help with a dog that seems to have all of a sudden changed. The people adopted the dog from the shelter; up to this point she has been wonderful and then she changed, she is displaying odd behaviors. Dogs adapt to life changes and when put in a shelter situation they do the best they know how; often this is a mask. This mask can take up to 6 months or more to come off but once they start to feel at home you will then see the true dog.

Any second hand dog can throw you a curve ball; heck even first hand dogs can display behaviors that are hard to figure out. But being that a second hand dog has had a life previous to the one with you; there may be flashback behaviors. Behaviors that are a result of past situations; experiences or interactions. Most shelters do their best; but it still is no place for a dog, it is the equivalent of prison. A dog is put into a cage; surrounded by others in cages and subjected to constant barking. The big difference is that they do not know why they are there. So you must expect a wide spectrum of behaviors from this experience itself.

Some dogs are more resilient than others and just deal with what life throws them. Others turn inwards; their way of dealing is to shutdown. These are some of the most hard hit; as they often dwell at the back of the cage, their eyes filled with terror and "keep away from me." For a dog that has only known one life; perhaps a dog that has lived in a home and is now in a cage beside numbers of others who bark constantly, it's tough. There is no escaping the noise; you cannot hide from the lines of people passing the front of the cage, peering in staring at you. This is no place for a dog.

They are scared; and scared dogs react to the situation at hand. Some will try to keep everyone away by snarling and growling, these are not all bad dogs. These are dogs in a bad situation. Once removed from this situation; even taken into a larger space where they can run and move away you see a huge difference in behavior. A dog needs space; they need to feel that they can move away or approach, take that away and there are consequences. When a shelter has a number of large "play" areas where dogs can be more free to interact with other dogs and people they suffer less trauma. Life in a shelter can become a little more tolerable.

More and more shelters are changing; creating bigger living quarters for the dogs and making it less prison like. I visited a shelter in San Diego not too long ago that was wonderful. The dogs were not stressed; many lay on their couch or bed wagging their tail, and they had ample room to roam around. As well as shelters becoming better places; more and more Foster programs are popping up. Rescue groups with lists of foster families taking in one, two or three dogs at a time and giving them a more "family life" environment to spend their time while they wait for their forever home.

Dogs have emotions and if you think that a dog growling at a shelter is a bad or odd behavior think for a moment; what if you were snatched up and thrown into a small cage? What if you had no idea why or where you were; you'd be pretty freaked out. This is only a fraction of the terror a dog feels when they are in a shelter; we must expect behaviors that portray how they are feeling. If you are planning on visiting a shelter anytime soon; first off, good for you. Secondly; don't pass by the dog at the back of the cage; the one trying very hard to disappear, this could be the most wonderful dog in the world. This could be your next heart dog.

Fear and fireworks

NEVER BRING YOUR DOG TO A FIREWORKS DISPLAY

With July 4th just around the corner I thought I'd talk about this particular fear based behavior. Tilley is my fearful dog; she is terrified of fireworks. She never use to be; back when we lived in Canada it was Clyde (my male before Luke) who was petrified of storms and fireworks. It was about 6 years ago when she first showed signs of fireworks fear. Up until that point she had been fine with storms and light up the sky celebrations. So what happened? Who knows but she is now one of the many dogs fearful of fireworks.

All dogs display their fear differently; Tilley digs, she is luckily not a runner. Clyde was a climber and runner; running is the worst. If they get out of the safety of their home they can end up anywhere as they mindless attempt to run from the explosions. But luckily Tilley doesn't run; she hides and has been found in the bathroom; perhaps she feels safe in the small room. I located her once in our closet; she had tossed the entire contents in the small area everywhere. She'd dug and dug to no avail; there she lay at the top of the heap that she'd created. Tilley is obviously trying to hide; to somehow get away from the object of her fear by digging a hole.

Since the appearance of her fireworks fear have tried our best to ignore it and go about our business as usual. We rarely go out to watch the displays; opting to be at home just to be sure that she is fine. But last year we tried something new; we have a great balcony off of our bedroom where we sit and watch. The displays are pretty far away so there is no loud booming or huge explosions right near where we sit; it is all in the distance. We got chairs out and brought the three dogs out there to watch with us. Because they are so far away; I thought it might just help her to become accustom to the sound so that she may have a lesser fear response. (NEVER BRING YOUR DOG TO A FIREWORKS DISPLAY) We sat with a glass of wine and chatted; Luke and Jessie lay on their bed and Tilley paced. She paced and sat; then paced some more. So I asked her to come and sit by me; I did not touch her.

Soon she started to relax; everything around her was calm, I got my camera out with my big zoom lens and shot fireworks and she watched us intently. This is when it is EXTREMELY important to play "chill." You need to do your best and most relaxed display of behavior ever; sort of like "what fireworks?" She was soon relaxing; not completely but there was a marked improvement. I decided to get out her ball and see if we could even create a positive association; all is well when you are playing with a tennis ball. I tossed it around to see if there was any tiny interest; Luke snatched it up in a flash. This was good because it took Tilley's mind off of the noise and flashes and onto Luke stealing the tennis ball. And with Luke playing ball; this had a very calming affect on Tilley.

She is not cured of her fireworks fear but she sure got through it last year with flying colors. This year I am hoping to try out a product call the Thunder shirt; I am very excited to try it out and hope that it gets here in time for the fireworks display. And on Tilley's next visit to the vet I will give it a try as well; she comes unglued when there is a veterinarian visit required.

For all dog owners; even ones who do not have dogs that already show signs of fear during fireworks, pay extra attention to safety.

- Make sure that your dog is indoors safely confined; keep dog doors closed.
- Turn the tv or radio on to add some constant noise.
- If your dog is fearful; best to stay home with them.
- Many dogs become injured trying to get out of a house when they are in such a state of fear; often a crate is the only safe place for these guy.
- Never respond to fear behaviors with petting and hugging.
- Put on your best "chill" face; inform the entire family to do the same.

Far too many dogs end up in shelters or worse on July 4th; left in their yard they become frenzied and attempt to escape the noise. Once they are out they will just run. In this state they have no idea where they are running; they are just running. So lock up the dogs on July 4th and NEVER BRING YOUR DOGS TO A FIREWORKS DISPLAYS.

Monday morning-temperament testing

Good Monday morning; we had a pretty busy weekend and it ended with three dogs in the shower and drying well into sunset. Because the dogs had a later day bath they were a bit damp come a very late dinner; Jessie was shivering. So my hubby went and got her a big down comforter; wrapped her up like a burrito and she slowly stopped shivering. Only her eyes were peeking out of the blanket; enough for her to watch us eating our dinner, she doesn't like to miss a thing. But she was very happy to be in there; snug as a bug in a rug.

I've been photographing a lot of puppies lately; love it. From little balls of fluff piled all over each other to 2 week old first attempts at walking up to little rowdies running around brawling. There is nothing like watching puppies; you never need a television if you have a puppy around. It is simply fascinating watching them learn; seeing them take in each new item, event and situation. How they react to everything is very individual; each has very distinct personality traits that make them the dog they are. So each puppy with it's particular temperament will best fit a certain type of family situation and it's human pack members.

This is where puppy temperament testing comes in. I am a huge fan of temperament testing; being a tester myself I witness first hand just how different a litter can be. It is amazing to see each individual reaction as I go through the tests. There are many tests that we do; it takes about 15 min. per puppy. Most good breeders who raise their litters in their home with them have a good read on their pups already. But having a stranger do a temperament sometimes brings out surprises.

When you have a litter of puppies; no matter what breed they are, they quickly establish a hierarchy. Size means nothing; it is all attitude so often the biggest looking puppy is the gentle giant and the tiny frail looking puppy may be the toughest in the litter. But take each of those puppies away from their litter; into an unfamiliar environment all alone with a stranger and see how they react, things can be very different outside the pack. So what does all these different temperament results mean exactly? What it gives the breeder is a look at where each puppy would be suited best to live; or who would be best suited for each puppy. Often a litter is very similar making placements much easier; but sometimes it is quite clear that a particular puppy is best suited to a certain type of home. Maybe a more experienced owner is required, perhaps someone who has time to work with a slightly unsure type of puppy or a person who really wants to train and work with an over achiever. Often prospective puppy owners have a definite something they are looking for; perhaps a therapy dog, a superstar agility performer or a best friend for the children. This is where you can fine tune placement with temperament testing.

Even after many litters I am still fascinated to see the difference within a litter. What a breeder does with puppies can effect a test; puppies who live a sheltered life who are not able to get out and explore different environments, people and items will be more apprehensive. The more they experience in their early weeks makes a huge impact in their later life; it sort of gives them an advantage in life so to speak.

Temperament testing is not the end story; it simply gives you a glimpse into where a puppy would be best placed. From that moment of placing it is up to the new family to move ahead and get the puppy socialized to their new life. Having the puppy that best suits your life and family makes things run a whole lot smoother for everyone involved.

Good morning

Good Sunday morning all; it is overcast here, June gloom and I love it. Yesterday was wonderfully overcast making it a joy to walk the dogs. My pooches have all had their early morning snack and have hunkered down and entered back into the deep sleep zone. No one is in a big hurry to get up and get going which is just fine with me. Taking your time and enjoying the moment is what weekends are for.

Last night I got into my new book; Raw & Natural Nutrition for Dogs by Lew Olson PhD. So far I'm loving it and have heard rave reviews. Its just out but if you want it you should probably get a copy now; they are going fast. I got mine on Amazon.com and it got to me in three days. This is going to be one of those "must have" books for all canine guardians. I'll let you know when I'm done and how I liked it.

So onto today; a trip to Long beach is in the works, should be a nice day for it. But first will be an outing for the dogs; once they've had their walk and a nice breakfast they will be out for the day. Then it'll be back at it on Monday with a full dog week ahead. All three are headed for the shower bath and sun dry first thing tomorrow morning. Have a great Sunday everyone.

Things have changed- reflections

Walking around the park with Tilley yesterday I realized how things have changed. I clearly remember being out with my poodles and having that sense of safety, with big dogs around you don't worry. They can handle themselves pretty well and made me feel that if anything came down that they would protect me too. But things have changed; as I scan the park to be sure that there are no young rowdies running around. I just cannot have a young energy packed dog barrel into Tilley; I hover around her like she is a toddler, ready to catch her if she falls.

I kick her ball around the park to get her running; she loves it but falls often now. With her added Vestibular disease she's also crooked at 13 so if she gets going too fast she tends to head dive every so often. When other dogs do come around I'm like a hired security guard standing between the other dog and Tilley; always ready to intervene when needed. One wrong move and she is down for the count; but I'm there to help her to her feet again.

Aging is a fact of life; change. Change as a dog ages is neither good nor bad; it just is. With my little Jack Russell the change has been that she doesn't see or hear like she use to. She is often running around the house in a panic because she cannot find me. She doesn't clean up the kitchen floor like she use to and she is startled by our touch constantly. But as far as her body aging; that doesn't seemed to have started yet, she is still the little tank she's always been.

Even Luke is now showing his age and although he is not frail like Tilley; he is much less able to take a hit from a younger dog. He will be 10 in August and he looks amazing for his age; everyone says so. As a big dog it is his body that is failing him first; his energy level is intact as are his eyes and ears. So with an energy level still going strong it is difficult for us to cut his walks shorter. Its been a process; slowly slowing down.

But things sure haved changed; from the days when miles and miles of running didn't phase any of the dogs to now knowing a stroll around the park is enough to put them out for the day. When they go down for a rest now; it's a much needed deep sleep. Tilley spends most of her day now on the couch in the family room sleeping. Jessie typically is on one of the beds in our bedroom and Luke rest but is still my constant shadow; even if getting up and moving is becoming a slower process.

If it were somehow in my power to control time I would leave us forever in 2005.