Listening to your dog

I don't know how many times I've been at a dog park to photograph and seen dogs who wish they were not there. The owner is sitting having a lovely chat while the dog watches the clock tick away until the time when she can leave. The dog in its entirety is saying "I don't want to be here." Every dog is an individual and not all dogs want to socialize. I'm not talking about the ones that are dog aggressive; the ones who simple are not interested in romping around with strange dogs everyday; or any day for that matter. Tilley is one of these dogs; she has always drawn people with their dogs wanting to play with her. Especially when she was at her flying peak; people would stand and watch her "get air" going for her Frisbee and then ask if their dog could play with her. I was always apologizing; "she doesn't play with other dogs, sorry."

Tilley and Luke both love the beach; swimming and running through the shallow water and basically getting good and dirty. Not Jessie; she wants nothing to do with the beach, although she does love to catch frogs at the edge of a pond. So when we visit the beach; Jessie stays home. It is important to know what your dog enjoys doing and what they do not enjoy doing. Each and everyone has a different criteria for fun; something very personal that makes them tick. For Jessie it has got to be digging for critters; she was bred to do this and loves it.

I've worked with people who desperately wanted their dog to be a therapy dog; one that visits hospitals and brightens the patients day just by a touch. Unfortunately some of these dogs would have hated the job and I had to let the guardian know this. Having a therapy dog is a wonderful thing; if the dog enjoys being touched by strangers on a daily basis that is. Some dogs love it; you can just see the immense pleasure they get from it as everyone gushes over them. For many dogs this would not be what they called fun, or even enjoyable in the least.

Life is short; unfortunately even shorter for our dogs so spending it doing things you hate is not ideal. Some dogs love to run; run for the sheer joy of running. Perhaps you hate running; as I do, I'm a walker but Luke LOVES running so I find a field where he can be off leash and he runs like the wind. He runs and runs until he's spent; there is nothing more amazing to watch. Maybe your dog is a couch potato and you are a runner; some dogs are just not meant to run so you go run, get those endorphins going so you are happy. Then come home and snuggle up on the couch with your dog. It's not an either or; it's an everyone is happy thing.

But chances are; in time you will love whatever it is that your dog loves. I've met so many people who are involved in activities that they never thought they'd find themselves in. "My dog loves this;" as they beam with a smile from ear to ear. I met a guy at the park the other day hooking his Siberian up to a harness and a skateboard; the dog was frenzy barking just like a typical sled dog. We talked about Urban mushing which he was involved in and I've had the honor of photographing. He said when he can't get out to mush he pops on the harness and skateboards with his dog. He said "it's the best thing I've ever done."

More often than not you can find common ground with your dog. All of my dogs love to walk; off leash in a big open space. This is pretty common ground for all dogs and dog lovers. Watching your dog be free; smelling, exploring and running without a care in the world. It's probably my favorite thing to do; watching them have fun is my fun.

Dealing with pain

Dealing with pain is very individual in humans and just as individual in canines. Dogs typically hide their pain; or at least they try very hard to hide their pain. Showing pain displays a weakness and in a pack, weakness within a pack is undesirable. Evolution has taught dogs to conceal their pain; even severe pain may only be barely visible and only to the dogs guardian. Often it is in the form of odd behavior that we realize that our dogs are in pain. Over all my years of living with dogs; all have been very different and that goes for how they display their pain as well.

Tilley has got to be by far my hardest read; she is a master at concealing pain. My male Clyde who lived with us before Luke was the worst; he was a screamer. He had no problem letting everyone know he was in pain and it was a prolonged agony he liked to portray. If you stepped on Clyde's foot he let out a blood curdling scream that went on for a solid minute or two, it was horrible. Tilley on the other hand will quietly pull her foot away and simply give you a brief eye contact.

In the wild; weakness can get you killed. You are a target for predators if for some reason you are physically handicapped and even within your own pack; the other members may cull you to protect themselves. So you don't let anyone know if you are in pain. With our own dogs; this can leave a canine guardian in the dark until the pain is so severe that the symptoms start to show. And at that point it can be past the point of return. This is one of the reasons that watching and knowing your dog and their behavior so well is highly important.

The signs can be so small; a tiny limp can result from a year long of hiding a sore leg. Less robust excitement about food, a walk or ride in the car can mean big trouble. Many dogs resort to aggression when dealing with pain which can be read as a sign that a dog is going bad. Any abrupt change, ever so slight; some form of behavior out of the ordinary for an individual dog can be a result of pain. This should always be addressed; it may not be the cause but it may be.

Dogs are truly masters of smoke and mirrors. It is up to us to see through it all.

A place to rest

Dogs love to sleep don't they? They sure do a lot of it; much more than we do. Where they choose to sleep is very interesting and as they age it can change drastically. If you are a longtime reader then you know that I am a big fan of dog beds; you simply cannot have enough. I like to have dog beds in each room; if they don't want to use them that is fine but it is there if they choose to sleep on it.

Young puppies don't go so much for comfort; it is more like wherever they happen to drop. They can be found in the strangest places; fast asleep without a care in the world. But if they are awake and looking for a place to sleep; chances are that they will choose a tiny spot under a chair, table or couch. This is why crates are a fairly easy transition for a puppy, they like small places. Somewhere with a roof makes them feel safe and secure. I've seen many puppies try to continue to squeeze their constantly growing body into a favorite tiny spot. It is not long before they start falling asleep with their head under their tiny replacement cave but their body no longer fits.

So as they grow and mature their sleeping spots change. Many youngster dogs will sleep anywhere; not giving comfort a second thought. Temperature often plays a big role in sleeping; I know in the hot summer months that many of my dogs have opted for the kitchen floor. Comfortable it is not but tile is very cool and they will regularly sleep so that their whole stomach is touching the tile. Many Northern type breeds prefer to sleep where it is cool; some even choose a tub. A bathtub is nice and cool plus it is like a small cave type bed as well.

Body type can play a large role in where dogs sleep; just like the Northern breeds may like cool, the less coated breeds search for the warm spot. A choice position where the sun beams in warming their body; a spot outside under the strong sun, near a heat register or under the covers. Jessie use to love to sleep with us when she was young. She would wriggle her way down to my feet where I was sure she couldn't breath. There she slept for the whole evening; she loved it.

Many dogs like to sleep where you are; these are the shadow dogs. Luke is a shadow dog and where I am is where he sleeps. His most common sleeping spot is right behind my computer chair. It is not a good spot for him because he jumps out of his skin each time I move. I try to get him to lay on the bed beside me so he doesn't have to move every time I move but he doesn't like that spot. Jessie likes to sleep where she can see me but comfort now plays a huge role in resting spots for her so she uses the bed beside the computer.

As dogs age; comfort starts to factor into where they sleep. A sore body needs a soft place to lie down. Tilley really goes for comfort and she can be found mostly on the leather couch downstairs. Once she is down for the afternoon; she's good for hours without a stir. If you have ever slept a night out in the yard on the ground with your kids on a "camp out," you know that comfort is very important. A dog needs a comfy place to sleep; if they choose the floor or ground over the bed you have offered on occasion then fine but they should be offered the comfort.

Seeing my three old dogs change over the years; it is obvious that as a senior, comfort plays the biggest part in a place to rest, and like I said "puppies, not so much."

Nutrition - eggshells

Well; I was some excited on Friday when the dogs charged the door; guarding their home from the silent dark shape filling the window in our front door. As I quieted the pack and reached the door he was gone but I knew he had left me a package. They never ring anymore; just drop and run, ah the UPS guy. It was my coffee grinder or in my case my egg shell grinder. Up until now I've been using a mortar and pestle but I've grown tired of manually grinding the shells and there was a backlog of shells on my window sill. So after hearing that many people use a coffee grinder to do the job I got on Amazon and started my review search. I never purchase without reading reviews now; and the grinder was going through the same procedure.

So I bought the Toastmaster one which received a rating of 4 1/2 stars; a must for my purchase. And at 9.68; a deal.
I immediately unwrapped it; viewed the very short instructions and got to work grinding the huge bowl of eggshells I'd collected. It works like a dream and in minutes that large bowl was ground down to a small sized container; nicely tucked away now in the cupboard. Nice. A good long supply of ground eggshells for the dogs calcium supplement.

Calcium is extremely important if you are not feeding feeding raw bones and you feed your dog a real food diet without bones. Eggshell should NOT be given to dogs that eat commercial dog food or kibble. I give my guys bones to chew all time but the amount they get from them is small as far as calcium consumption. Their bones are more for teeth cleaning. Because my guys are old and Jessie simply doesn't chew food; even huge food I don't like the idea of feeding her bones. If I give her a chicken wing she will just swallow it; 100% guaranteed. So they must have a calcium supplement; eggshells, simple, cheap and plentiful.

Calcium link

Having sunny side up this morning; don't toss the shells!!!!

Car sick dogs

As I said yesterday I will discuss car sickness and dogs this morning; it is a common problem and an easy fix. Almost all dogs are car sick as youngsters; but if a breeder has made a point of getting their puppies out in a car from a very early stage you may be one of the lucky ones and dodged a bullet. I remember bringing home Jessie; a tiny white bundle of adorable she rode on my daughters lap, my daughter was 9 years old at the time. The kids were all smitten; oooooing and awwwing and trying to pick a name when SPLOSH. Jessie puked on my daughters lap; of course there was a commotion, lots of GROOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSS so we pulled over and cleaned it up. She rode the rest of the way down the country roads on my lap.

All of my dogs have been car sick dogs except for Luke; it is very common. Being someone who gets motion sick myself; I understand completely. And I feel for dogs as they start to drool; long strands of saliva hanging from their mouth, their eyes filled with "I don't feel well." It is a horrible feeling. Some dogs get over it quickly and on their own; others need help and if you don't step in and assist in their rehabilitation the issue can lodge in their brain and cause unnecessary prolonged vomiting in your car. Basically what happens is that your dog starts to relate the horrible feeling of motion sickness to the car.

Tilley was one of these associated vomiting dogs. I noticed very quickly that she would start drooling before we even got into the car. So it was all in her head; I hate this phrase but it was all in her head. So we had to re-associate; and that is what you must do to help your dog get over their car sickness. Just like most behaviors with dogs you need to go slow; baby steps. If your dog is like Tilley and started before even getting in the car you need to start there. I would put Tilley's collar and leash on and head towards the car. We would stop at the car; I'd ask her to sit and give treats, tons of praise and then we calmly walked away. And did it again and again until she was giving me a positive response to approaching the car.

Next we worked on just opening the car door and creating a positive response. It is important to give all the treats and praise while in the "bad" zone. This puts the focus on building positive right at the correct place. When you walk away from the car or get your dog out of the car you are to say nothing. You want to build the association that the car is a great and wonderful place, not getting out or moving away. So from there you move slowly to sitting in the car for treats a praise. Only do this for very short time span and only move onto the next step once you have complete success at the present step.

You then progress to you sitting in the drivers sit and tossing treats back to your dog. Make that a great place by simply chilling, chatting and getting treats. When you have success there you start the car; don't go anywhere as this is a big step and you must ensure a positive association to it here. Your next step is to simply back out your driveway and drive back in; always quit while you're ahead. Don't push it; be happy with small successes. The next step is down your street and back again and from that point in time you build on time.

Make sure not to feed your dog before any of your car sick training. A full stomach is detrimental to your hard work and dogs tend to vomit much quicker on a full stomach. Use special treats that are only given in the wonderful, amazing and glorious car. Of course with all this training there are a few dogs that will remain motion sick; it is sad because it is a horrible feeling, I know only too well.

Good Friday morning-heat

I'm sitting here answering emails before I start my blog when I hear a weird noise. One of those "what is that?" noises. I stop typing and listen trying to locate where the noise is coming from. It's Tilley, she's snoring. :)

Ah; love Fridays, after a week of being sick, I'm extremely sick and tired of coughing. I'm spent. The weather has been horrible; so hot that you can't make it out early enough to beat the heat. Here in Southern California the worst time for really hot weather is September...................it's not suppose to be July. Apparently the temps are suppose to be coming down by next week so with that and the fact that by then I will have passed this wonderful cold onto someone else, we should be good and back on track.

Speaking of heat; it is just getting hotter as the summer progresses, that is everywhere, hot just here. And it is every year that we hear of dogs becoming ill or dying in the heat. I don't know how many times I've written articles about the heat; and I know I've read even more but people still do stupid things with their dogs in the heat. Of course the car is the first issue; leave your dog at home in the summer. This is simply a good rule to follow. There are all sorts of temperatures thrown around that if reached dogs should not be in the car at; but just leave them at home where they are nice and safe.

What about walking? This is the one that makes me really crazy because so many people do it. It is 95 degrees out and at 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon guardians grab their dog and say "great day for a run." Now if our dogs could talk they would probably say something like "you are joking right?" "I'm not going out in this heat." And they would be right to baulk about jogging in extremely high temperatures. If you want to run in the heat; hey go for it but think twice before dragging your dog along. Dogs are much closer to the ground than we are; and there is a good chance you are running on pavement or concrete where the temps really sore.

My advice about running or walking for that matter is to take off your shoe and step on the surface where you are expecting your dog to join you. Can you easily leave your foot there for a solid 30 seconds without cringing? Even if the surface is just hot and not scorching hot; it radiates heat upwards making the temperature much hotter where your dog is located, especially the shorties.

Humans sweat to cool their body; dogs cool themselves by panting but it is not nearly as efficient as our sweating. It is imperative that you recognize your dogs regular panting versus frantic panting. Heat stroke can happen quickly in a dog; if a dog is unable to cool their body as fast as it is heating up, you can be in big trouble. Normal body temperature for a dog is between 100 and 102.5; going beyond this and rising needs immediate attention.

Heat stroke survival guide

Dogs that participate in performance activities in the summer are definitely more apt to run into problems. You must take great precautions to keep them cool. Often our dogs make better choices than we do; opting to lay in the shade on a hot day instead of jogging. Being that we are suppose to be a smarter than our dogs; we should know to take the lead from them and just chill in the heat. Get out before it gets hot or after the sun goes down in the evening. Last night we took the gang out at 7:30; it was still warm and the heat was still radiating from the path at the park. We opted for the grass, cut the walk short and walked at a snail pace. Then we all enjoyed a movie in the AC once we got back home.

Enjoy the summer but take great care in the heat.

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.