Who are you?



Finally; for those of you who have breeds of questionable heritage you can now find out just what's in the mix.  DNA testing is becoming much more popular now that it is being offered to people who really need to know what they dogs heritage is. When you see a litter of mixed breed puppies they can look similar or each and every puppy can look entirely different. And yet those puppies have the same identical dna as one another so guessing as to parentage can be difficult.

Even if two purebred dogs have been bred their puppies can look very different; take the doodles for instance. You can have what looks to be almost pure labs all the way up to almost pure poodles and everything in between. So what if you add a third or forth breed? The results can number into the hundreds of different looking dogs. So if you really want to know what breeds were mixed together to create your dog you can now find that out through canine DNA testing.



You can have this test done with only a cheek swab although after I have researched the subject; it seems that a blood sample renders a quicker and more reliable end result. While you may be able to take a good guess at what breeds are in your dog; you could be way off. Some mixed breeds are simply the mixing of two purebred dogs while others can have 25 or more breeds in the mix. Dogs can come from a long line of mixed breeds adding more and more dna to the mix over the years.

But do you really need to know? I think it is more for interest sake; your dog may exhibit some behaviors that you want explained. Why do they chase everyone? Why does your dog seem so guarding? Some answers may be revealed by a DNA test but some may just be your dog being a dog. Remember all dog breeds are mixes; over the years humans picked and mixed what they preferred in a dog resulting in the breeds we have today.

Breeders of purebred dogs have been using DNA testing for a longtime. It is used to ensure lineage, coat color and type as well as health issues. Many canine disorders and diseases can be located by a DNA test before breeding.

So if you really need to know what may be in your mixed breed dog's lineage; you can now find that out for a small fee.

Training



Training methods are a controversial subject; most trainers are stead fast in what they believe.  I don't know how many discussions I've been in with trainers of the "other" kind over the years but it's been a lot.  I know of several big conventional trainers in my area; people often ask if I've heard of them and what do I think?

 Conventional vs positive. Conventional training being that which uses collar corrections to stop an uwanted behavior..............been there done that.  I am not proud of giving collar corrections but I sure am glad that I have that experience to back up my choice of being a positive trainer now.  I've been attacked for saying that I do not and will not collar corrections; but these folks don't know where I come from and don't have the knowledge to attack so they should just stick to their training and mind their own business. 



There are many conventional trainers out there and when and if they are ever ready to come over to the "light" side then we will welcome them with open arms. I have to say that I have met many a crossover trainer. I am a crossover trainer; someone who started out using conventional methods and crossed over to the positive methods of training. But I have never in all my years met someone who started out training positive and crossed over to the dark side.

Being a positive trainer takes more thought; time spent looking at the big picture and not just the immediate instant gratification of conventional training. Timing is important in conventional training but it all comes down to that correction. Often when I am working with a dog they may become confused which can lead to frustration, frustration often leads to shutdown. So to avoid confusion you break a behavior down into baby steps, thus allowing a dog to achieve at much smaller intervals. By breaking a behavior down there is much less chance of a complete shutdown.

I am proud to say I am a positive trainer; positive meaning I will not use pain or fear to elicite a certain behavior from a dog. I should perhaps say that I am a feedback trainer; I believe that feedback is the biggest and most important tool in training or behavior modification. Training and working with dogs is not always a bed of roses; and this is where patience plays a huge part. Being patient and working through the hard times and the bad times is where the evolution stems.

The more one learns about true canine natural behavior; the easier it is to understand and modify it. Body language plays a huge role in behavior modification; both in the canine and the human. Ignoring the importance of using your body in behavior modification is like taking an olympic runners NIKE's from him. Dogs use infinitesimal movements to portray a message; we can do the same if we take the time to learn. Real behavior modification using positive methods of training takes a great deal of education to achieve; but once you have accomplished the education it is amazingly clear. Once you've got it; you've got it. Our dogs are totally worth the effort.

A happy place



I remember an amazing shoot I had several years ago, dog and horses. Deep in the canyon surrounded by nature and animals; what could be better. Well for this photographer with a passion for animals, nothing. Standing still, quietly taking in the surroundings and watching; it was beautiful. The animals were happy and I certainly was happy.

When I get the priviledge to shoot horses, I am thrilled. With my busy schedule shooting dogs it can be hard to fit all the animals in. But horses is something I'm hoping to change in the near future. In my opinion horses are one of the most beautiful animals you can photograph. They stand alone in an image and they are true natural beauty. They are very different from dogs to photograph; but a flawless subject to shoot.

So far all the dogs I have shot for my book have been very happy and content. You can see the bond they have with their guardian; being able to view this from the sidelines has been pretty impactful. When an animal; be it a dog, cat, pig or horse is in a good and happy place, the result is great photos.

This is the reason I love shooting where dogs are happiest; environmentally speaking that is. Right now my three dogs are very happy curled up together on my bed. Actually I have shot several dogs on their guardians beds and those were amazing photos. So having animals in their happy place produces wonderful images. The type of image that when you look at there is no denying that this is a happy dog.

The moments do arise rarely when a dog is just not comfortable having a giant black eye staring at them and that is when my behavior experience kicks in. At the first sign of uncomfortable I switch gears, take a break, put down my camera and sit on the ground with the dog.

A true passion.

More



You have a dog but you'd like to have another dog for both your family and as a companion for your #1 dog. Great idea! I am a big fan of having two or more dogs that is if that is what you and/or your family want and not just to keep #1 out of your hair. I believe dogs deserve a great human family and a great canine family.

One of the most common reasons I deal with when people want a second dog is that their first dog has some form of separation anxiety. Very few anxious dogs are "fixed" by adding another dog to the family. Typically a dog suffering from some form of separation anxiety is suffering because of your absence so adding another dog to the scenario isn't going to fix anything. Seek professional help in this case before you contemplate adding #2.

So let's say your #1 dog is well adjusted and you just want another dog to come into the family, you have a big heart and more than enough love to go around. The first thing you need to consider when thinking about adding a second dog is who exactly is your #1 dog? What sort of temperament do they have? Where do they fit in amongst your family? It is imperative that you choose the second dog to mesh with the first dogs personality.

Generally I advise going with the opposite sex, it is usually a safe bet and even if they do have their differences things run smoother with a male/female pair. Some breeds are very dominant by nature and adding another of the same breed, even the opposite sex might be more than you want to deal with.

Matching physical size is something to think about as well. If you have a huge beast of a dog who is high energy and loves to play rough you don't want to bring home a fragile type who breaks easily. But you also may not want to go with another beast sized dog when picturing two beasts running around your home.

And hair, are you happy with the amount of hair you deal with on a daily basis? Could you handle double the hair or would you prefer to not add anymore additional hair? These are all things that you should think about.

Age of #2? Do you think your dog gets along well enough with other dogs that bringing home an adult dog would work? Or should you consider a puppy who is less threatening than and adult? Many dogs get along great with other dogs but have a difficult time with puppies, especially if they are up in their senior years and cannot enforce rules with the new little rascal.

No matter who you bring home as an addition to your family think first about your #1 dog or existing pack. You do not need to go to extreme opposites when choosing an additional dog as that can backfire as well. Adding a very dominant dog to a home with a very submissive dog can ruin the first dogs life as they know it.  Just like bringing home a calm sedate type dog into the life of a high energy, super powered dog that can't stop. That can cause too much stress for the second quite dogs life.

But when you do bring home another dog, don't expect it to be love at first sight. If it is then you are truly lucky. Often it can take up to several months for dogs to mesh. When I brought home Luke almost 7 years ago Tilley did not approve and wanted nothing to do with him. She set things straight right off and let him know she hated him and didn't want him around. But with enough supervision and feedback from us she slowly grew to tolerate him, accept him to now although she'd never admit it, love him. This all took over two months, two very rough months.

Dogs in our past


White's Mocha Supreme
1987-2000


This is Clyde; one of the greatest loves of my life. This photo is old;  my husband came home with it lastnight. He had found a bunch of old dog photos on his laptop and thought he better put them on a cd before they were gone.

So here he is; Clyde. This is one of my favorite photos of him. He is about 11 in this photo, the same age that Luke is now. Just looking at the photo brings tears to my eyes; not sad tears but tears of recognition. This dog had such an impact on my life, he lived through alot of change.

Clyde was an amazing dog; and he really was the one who sealed the deal with males and me. I love male dogs; there is just something special about them and the relationship they have with their female guardians. Well, maybe not all dogs or guardians but my boys and me so far. He is the reason I carry a special spot in my heart for the boys.

When I think back to my life with Clyde I cannot remember a time when he wasn't right there by my side. He was a constant companion; no matter where I was or what I was doing. When a dog touches your life like this; with so much influence on your past, you hold that memory inside for a lifetime. I have often mistakenly call Luke; Clyde. Not that they are alike in anyway; infact they could not be more different in personality.

Clyde was one of the cutest puppies I've ever seen; but of course he was.  We were inseparable for thirteen years.  As a young stay at home Mom, Clyde was my constant companion, guardian and best friend.  We lived on several acres surrounded by farm land so we had a good time with lots of room to stretch our legs.  Clyde was one of 13 puppies, all brown and all adorable.  I brought him home at 6 weeks of age and it took but moments to wriggle into my heart and there he stays.  

No one can truly understand what a dog means or meant to you. Your relationship is a personal one, one to be cherished and stored away in your memory. These memories can be drawn upon at a moments notice; when you most need them to help you to move on.

Clyde is quietly with me still; he was, is and always will be a part of me. I miss him dearly.

Waste not



I hate waste; I never mind buying food if it doesn't go to waste. Throwing perfectly good food in the garbage is a huge issue for me so it rarely gets thrown out in this house. If we don't eat it; chances are I'll feed it to the dogs. Don't get me wrong; my dogs don't eat garbage, no cut offs  for them.  The only thing I will give my dogs that I won't eat is gristle or tough pieces of meat. Everything else is exactly what I would eat; I just ran out of room in my stomach so into theirs it goes. Just this morning I only ate 1/2 my banana and 1/2 my yogurt so yes; they are getting it for breakfast.

Especially in a world that is quickly shrinking; with places where food is scarce it truly is an awful thing to throw good food in the garbage. Let's say I cooked chicken, spinach, squash and rice for dinner. My eyes were bigger than my stomach; I though I was starving. Once halfway into dinner I realize I took too much food; no big deal. The dogs eat it for dinner.

I have a basic food that is prepared for my dogs; but! If one of us can't eat all the food we had on our plate I don't stress over it; the dogs get it. They eat as well as we do, I try to buy as much organic food as I can so what is good for us is just as good for our dogs.


There are foods that I don't give the dogs; the typical things like onion, chocolate, saucy dishes etc. But if it is  fresh homemade food with not a ton of butter or spices on it; their getting it for dinner.  What is that old saying that I've heard a zillion times?  Oh ya "my dogs don't eat table scraps."  Scraps has a bad association; the food that is left over that is not worth eating, the yucky stuff.  Well I agree with that; a dinner of cut offs is no food for a dog.  

I remember being out for dinner onetime; a very high end place. I ordered Lobster; very indulgent but a rare treat. I couldn't eat all of my lobster and there was no way I could see it go in the garbage. I ordered a doggie bag (a real doggie bag)  and brought it home for my very appreciative pups for dinner.

So the next time you are scrapping good food into the garbage; look at those eyes staring at you and think twice. Especially if it's meat; put it aside for your four legged kids for dinner.  

Thunder shirt


First let me say that I hope all of your dogs are safe and sound at home where they belong.  No doubt there will be dogs who were freaked out by the fireworks and are now wandering the streets looking for home.  The shelters will have them in their hands more than likely today but it never fails that there will be lost dogs, so very sad. 

We sat out on our balcony last night to watch the fireworks; we had'nt realized how much growth had gone on over a year as we watch the amazing explosion just over the peaks of the trees.  There is nothing really close to us so everything is in the distance.  Last year we did the same thing and Tilley never flinched; with her hearing leaving she didn't hear the big booms.  This year seemed like a boomer year and she indeed flinched.  With one exceptionally loud boom and flash of light she started to dig.  I took that cue to run and get my Thunder shirt.  I've had it since right after last years July 4th and only got the chance to give it a whirl.

I knew exactly where it was; I'd seen it earlier in the day when I was looking for a specific collar.  At first glance the Thunder shirt looks complicated but once you get it; it's easy.  I wrapped it around my digging, panting girl and she calmed somewhat.  Not sure that I'd wrapped it tightly enough I rewrapped her like a burrito.  Once wrapped she was most definitely less frantic.

The Thunder shirt did not stop her fear but it surely made a dent in the degree.  I have to say that was surprised that Tilley was bothered with the fireworks with her hearing even worse than ever.  No matter she started her digging which is her typical response to fireworks.  Where she thinks she is going is away, just away from the sound and lights.  But with the Thunder shirt she was able to lie down and once down stairs away from the light show she quickly fell asleep with her snazzy wrap tightly hugging her body.

Safety first



I am a safety nut; and I can proudly say that I am my Father's daughter.  Born and raised under the ever watchful eye of a "what if'r."  And now I am a "what if'r."  We have recently been doing a few renovations in the house; one was to remove some horrendous shag carpet which we replaced with laminate flooring.  It looks great but it is really slippy for the dogs.  They are accustom to non carpet floors but in this room they are use to having big time traction so it seems more slippy.

I've been out to a discount store several times and scored some great throw mats.  I cannot believe that I found four that match and they all look great on the floor.  They blend in so that you barely see them.  Yesterday I head out to the store again for some runners for a couple of the spots in the house that seem to be slipped on more often.  With older dogs slipping is a biggy; it is not a fall down and bounce back up thing like with young dogs.  If they go down it's a bad thing so for my tall, long legged poodles we got runners and throw rugs galore.

Now we are fixing the railing in the house, I'm very excited.  When we bought this present house which was only about 4 years ago there were several spindles missing.  As a safety conscious Mom it was one of the first things that I noticed.  Who takes spindles out of a rail?  It is not longer to code and well......................dangerous.  As Tilley becomes more frail and teetering it has become a big worry.  Just the other day I was sure that Jessie was going to take a flying leap off the side of the stairs; with her dementia I worry what is going or not going on in that little head of hers.  So we getting that fixed as well.

There are so many places to be injured in a typical home.  Electrical wires are a big dangers with young dogs and puppies, anything that a puppy can grab that might fall on top of them is a big danger.  Just the other day we were hanging a mirror in our newly renovated family room.  It is a freaking heavy mirror which we had decided to relocate.  One spot was a spot right over a dog bed which was a big NO, I said "what if it fell?"  So it was placed in a spot where there is nothing below; just in case.

For me you can never be safe enough; there is always some sort of danger lurking around a corner.  Take a good look around; you too might just be a "what if'r."  ;)

Coyotes



I've heard a lot of coyote stories lately and over the years.  Here in Southern California we have coyotes, many coyotes.  It is common knowledge that the cats that go "missing" are not simply missing.  It amazes me that so many have outdoor cats in a place where outdoor cats become midnight snacks.  But it is not only cats that lose their life to coyotes, dogs do as well.  I've heard of many small dogs being taken out of their backyard, never to be seen again.  Very sad.

Through the years I've heard story after story of single coyotes and coyote packs taking dogs.  One story was about a Jack Russell on an extension leash that the owner saved only because of the leash.  A coyote grabbed to dog as it crested a hill; the owner tugged and tugged, the coyote finally released the dog.  He was rushed to the ER and stitched up, lucky.  The largest dog that I personally  know of was a Brittany Spaniel, a big dog for a coyote.

Just this morning when Luke and my husband were out on a walk; several people warned my husband about a coyote up on the hill.  It was up on the hill where they were headed and as they had been warned, there it was.  It was a young coyote, mangy looking and bold, too bold.  It hid behind some bushes in ambush position.  Seeing this my husband made a quick U-turn and head back.  Even though a young coyote is not a threat to Luke, you never know what their posse looks like or if they are learning to hunt.

They coyotes here are small; probably a bit smaller than Tilley.  But they are very dangerous and extremely experienced killers.  Any animal that eats cats has got to get the job done quickly before becoming injured themselves.  Often when I am at the park I see the remnants of the nights hunt.  Tufts of hair, bones and other pieces strewn around drawing the crows to feed on the less than prime morsels.

Today I was out getting a new ID tag for Jessie; I also picked up a cat bell for her collar.  With her hearing gone I like to know where she is and because she cannot hear me calling her at least I can hear her if she is moving around.  As I was in the kitchen working on their dinner I heard her jingle into the family room when I stopped chopping and thought, "she sounds like a cat."  I've never seen a coyote in my yard but I have seen them several streets over and I do not want them thinking that we have a cat in our yard.  Nor do I want them thinking that Jessie is a cat.  So the cat bell will be tossed and we continue to be vigilant; no dogs out at night and the dog door shut tight.

The booming weekend




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.

The lizard game



Larry the lizard


Many of you know about Luke and his love for the "lizard game."  It's not much of a game for the lizards; they run in fear as they should because Luke is not kidding around.  I have to say that it is a rare lizard that loses their life to Luke; they are very fast and I will only allow a chase if I know the little guy can get away.  That is if I am witness to the chase; many times I come out to find the game already having commenced.  Yesterday my hubby and I were out in the garage when I spotted the giant lizard, Larry.  It was used as a prank on my husband from a very good friend of his but I had other plans for it.


I planted it outside where the lizards typically hang out.  Unfortunately I didn't think of my camera until after the initial meeting so I'll do my best to explain what happened.  After placing the pretend lizard I went in and asked Luke if he'd seen any lizards today.  Right away his ears went up and he headed outside.  He hit the spot by the hose and found nothing so he turned to see if we knew where one was when it caught his eye.  He charged at it and immediately jammed on his brakes.  This lizard is the size of a large Iguana; so the drive to chase a lizard kicked in but the smarts of a poodle stopped the attack.  He made a huge arch around the lizard; huffing and puffing but staying far enough away should the creature attack him.  He sniffed and sniffed trying to figure this guy out while he kept his body respectfully sideways.  He was very nervous and remained ready to take off.  We watched through the living room window.

We then went outside and joined Luke.  He pretended that the lizard didn't exist and quite clearly marked his yard only feet away from the creature.  It was at that moment  "duh..........." I thought of my camera.  We picked up the lizard and I ran to get my camera hoping to capture the continuation of the interactions.

Once we went out and dragged the thing around Luke realized that this thing was fake; although he still had the same reaction to it as if it was real.  The body language from Luke was identical to the behavior he would display if this lizard was alive.  Larger than a typical lizard Luke was not being stupid, he kept his distance.  But when I put it directly in front of him and it continued to stare so he got uncomfortable and averted his stare.

A frozen staring posture is quite clearly a threat.  Even though Luke knew that this was not real he still reacted to it's posturing.  When I moved it closer he seemed a little shocked; and then it followed him to his double lounge.  He looked at it as if to say "really?"  And that was that, off with the head.   

Watching him interact with this iguana was really interesting.  Once Luke realized that it was not real he still continued to respond to it's body language.  Luke's communications were clear that he understood this was not just a normal toy.  




Luke a little uncomfortable with the staring lizard so close.


Moved closer he's a bit shocked.


Averting his glance as Larry continues staring.  


Another greeting



Really?  This is my double lounge




Enough is enough.



The END

Looking for Mr./Ms. Great Vet



I had to take Tilley to the Veterinarians yesterday.  As you all know I am not one to rush off to the vets and before I do go I arm myself with as much information as I can.  I have a very long history with vets; lot's of vets, lot's of stories and experiences.  This is a new vet; I recently visited him with Luke and his sore toe.  Today was Tilley; she's had a few symptoms which I was watching so today I decided it was time to go in.  I wanted a full blood panel, a urineanalysis and a full check up.

This facility is great for getting me in; even if they are booked they squeezed me in if it's serious.  Being fourteen years old is serious in of itself, so we got in. 

Protocol:  the customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, precedence, and etiquette.

This word "Protocol," ya, not so much a fan of when discussing my dogs.  I had to sign a form which said that I understood that vaccines can be dangerous with a whole list of things that can happen even though Madame Tilley was not getting a vaccination.  I questioned this several times; I don't like signing things when they make no sense.  "It is protocol; I have to get you to sign it."  After much discussion I just signed the thing.

Next issue was the "doing it in the examining room thing."  I can't tell you how many times I done this.  If you are a long time reader you know that I always ask to have everything done in the room that can be done in the room.  So; the very nice RVT (Registered Veterinarian Technician) said that she was fine with drawing Tilley's blood in the room, cool.  But, when she brought in the price sheet for it all she told me that this was probably a one and only time.  Seems it was not allowed; and as we further discussed the situation it seemed that I was also not allowed to restrain Tilley myself.  Okie, dokie.  No way, no how was I going to restrain my girl........all 45 lbs and 14 years of her.  I explained my reasoning which is all canine behavior related.  Dogs do much better if they are restrained by their owner.  The RVT explained hers reasoning which was protocol, being bit, liability.................and we obviously did not agree.

This was afterall only the second time I'd visited; admittedly they do not know who Sherri of Just dogs with Sherri is, right?  Understandable but, I try very hard to give a condensed version of who I am, my experience ya da ya da...............................  Fine; at least I was in the room so that Tilley could see me.   But when the young tech grabbed Tilley's leash and pulled her almost causing her to fall I started to simmer and said "she's got Vestibular, dont' yank her."  She then put Tilley between her legs and pushed down on her rear tellling her to sit, THE PAINFUL REAR THE VET AND I HAD JUST BEEN DISCUSSING.  I immediately told her NOT to do that as she explained why she needed her to sit. 

I understand that some people may become callus after working with dogs day in and day out.  Grab the dog, wedge in between your legs, get the blood and move on.  Well I'm sorry they don't all work that way; I'm sure not all dogs have got the memo.  I know that she would have had a wrestling match had she tried that with Luke.

These are not bad techs, nor are they bad people, and in fact I really like the Veterinarian.  The staff are simply doing it by the book.  And that my friend is my problem.  I want a veterinarian who will take time to get to know me and my dogs.  I mean really know me and what I want and expect.  Do you think for one moment that I EVER allowed a Doctor to just take my kids in the back room and hope that it all worked out okay?  NO.  My dogs need me; they need my presence to help them through the ordeal.  It is bad enough for them that at some point they all will be left at the vets to be spayed or neutered, which seems to be the catalyst to the huge fear they display from that point on. 

The photo above shows many of my requirements; and believe me these are but a few base points.  I have found a wonderful Vet but she is very far and I need to have someone I can rush over to in a pinch with three senior dogs.  So I am still looking; looking for that Veterinarian facility that will listen and work with me and my dogs.  And that does not come out of a book. 

Frustration leads to failure



Frustration:  The feeling of being upset or annoyed, esp. because of inability to change or achieve something.  The prevention of the progress, success, or fulfillment of something.

No one likes the feeling of frustration; it can literally make you feel like pulling out your hair.  Dogs don't like to become frustrated either; it can lead to fall out behavior or a complete shut down.  

As a dog trainer frustration is something that you must be aware of;  for the untrained or inexperienced it may go unnoticed. Frustration comes in many forms and when it is a dog who is becoming frustrated it may present itself in a hidden form.



Frustration is typical in training; sometimes it is hard for our dogs to "get it."  If the training goes on too long without some sort of progress a dog may become frustrated.  If what you are doing is not working; you much switch gears or move on. A very good example is when you are teaching a new puppy, and you are using a food to reward behavior. Most puppies just want the treat; if they have to wait too long for the treat they will start to exhibit some unwanted behaviors like jumping, whining or biting. So what do you do if your dog becomes frustrated?

The solution to this problem is to break a behavior down into baby steps. For some dogs the whole picture may be too much to undertake; so breaking it up into understandable steps will allow for success and progress.   Say you were trying to teach a "down" and your dog was just not getting it leaving you both frustrated.  Although the goal may be to have your dog do a lay down, you start rewarding them for lowering their head, then their neck and head, then for putting one foot out, then slightly lowering their body until they are in a down position. Once you get to the final goal your dog will more than likely have an "ah ha moment."

Again patience plays a huge factor in the learning curve.  If you lose your cool; stop and walk away.   Never train in an angry state; it is just not good for either of you.  Learning should be fun so when it stops being fun, stop.  When you see that your dog is not understanding what you are asking; ask for less and reward both of your success.  

Loyalty



Is there anything on this earth more loyal than a dog?  My answer would have to be no; there is no other creature on this earth more loyal than a dog.  Dogs are loyal to their owner, the family members within their home, although it does not stop there.  Dogs are as a species loyal to us, even when we humans are far from loyal to the dog.  

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."
Josh Billings.

Loyal:  faithful to any leader, party, or cause, or to any person or thing conceived as deserving fidelity: a loyal friend.  

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A dog is by far much more superior in the loyalty department than we are.  Funny how that works; as a more intelligent species we should be the ones who show more devotion towards our friends, family, acquaintances or co-workers but sadly many of us fail.  

With a serious disadvantage they still come out winning for loyalty.  No matter what mix, purebred, size, color or shape they all start with a canine Mother from which they are swooped away at a young age, some far younger than others.  Starting at this point the dog who was either chosen, gifted or fated somehow to this life, must learn to live in our human world.   We have evolved to a life as we coexist, humans and dogs living side by side.  Although our dogs do far more than coexist; they have perfected loyalty along the way.  

Gained a few pounds, maybe more than a few?  What about that crazy haircut you got the other day; it'll grow right?  Don't forget that dud of a boyfriend you brought home last week, the one who made your dog get off the couch.  Remember when you were so busy with a special project for a week that you didn't have time to go for a single walk?  What about when you had to leave town for a job interview and you left your dog at the kennel; remember that?  Or when you lost your job and had to buy the cheap food for a month or two, remember?  None of this matters to your dog, none of it.


Life is filled with ups and downs; at many of the down points you will find humans dropping off.  And oddly enough when the good times roll around the humans start to gather once again.  Not dogs; they stick around for the long haul, for better or for worse.  A dog is a simple creature; simple in their needs yet mentally complex.  As we finished up dinner last night; I rounded up the girls and got them situation each on a bed.  Luke was spinning with delight as I was about to sit down.  He get's very excited when I'm parking it; whether it is in the living room, family room or at the computer he loves when I sit down.  He gives me a contented poke as if to say "okay good, we're chill'n here for a bit," and finds a place to rest.  He loves together time and is very demonstrative about it.  Simple.  

When you live with a dog or a pack of dogs you quickly learn what dogs want; and that is us.  Whether you are sleeping, eating, watching t.v., swimming, running or boating, they want to do it to.  Good food, a soft place to lay their head and you.  That's it; simple and yet unobtainable by many.  We have dropped the ball as far as loyalty goes.  It is time for change and that change starts with us, humans.  We have a far way to go but if we all head in the same direction we may just become the humans that our dogs sure think we are.        

The basics



"I don't need my dog to do fancy stuff." "I don't care if they know obedience." "We want her to be happy, to do whatever she wants." Believe me; I've probably heard just about all the excuses. When I go to someone's house for an obedience session we sit down and I ask "what do you want from your dog?" We discuss specifics; things that they don't care about, things that they really care about and then the things that they hadn't thought of. There truly is no reason not to train a dog; they do much better when they know what is expected of them.

A dog that has never had any training; no guidance once so ever has a difficult time maneuvering through our world without incident.   It is funny how some people are offended by the idea of us telling dogs what to do; when in actuality a dog with no guidance truly is at a disadvantage in our human world.  So as much as you may think that your dog doesn’t need training; all dogs deserve an education.   A little help to make their life in a human world a smooth one.

“The basics” is a common phrase in training; but what does “the basics,” really mean.  In my training “the basics” includes a few extremely important behaviors, rules, regulations and manners.  The basics includes, name training, house training, sit, down, stay, not bolting out of an open door, walking nicely on a leash, not eating food off the counter, not destroying things that do not belong to you and coming when you are called.  This may seem like a lot but it is really what every dog should know “the basics.” 


Of course as a dog trainer I love “beyond the basics” stuff.  The sky is the limit when educating a canine; they are so smart it can be tough to think things up to teach them.  With my basic training I always include a trick; a trick can be the doorway to more training especially with children.  Funny, trick training and regular training are the same thing to a dog but not to us.  For us a dog sitting or lying down is nothing; but shake a paw and wow, that’s cool.  The fact is that it is just as easy for a dog to learn to shake as the sit and down, maybe easier. 

All dogs deserve an education; have you given your dog his fair share?

Most photographed


Baby Luke

 
He is funny, handsome, pushy, hugable, devoted, cute,  naughty, adorable, goofy and mine.  I'm sure he is the world's most photographed dog, Luke.  With all the dogs that have been a part of our family; dogs that I have worked with and met through my dog life, Luke has got to be one of the most fun to shoot.  Oh yes I know he is my dog but even more than Tilley and Jessie, Luke just calls out to be digitally captured.  His face and body reveal his inner most thoughts; he cannot hide them from me.  For me; Luke is a joy to capture each and every time I lift the camera to shoot him.

These images below were just a few that I had on my computer.  They are but a fraction of a percentage of the images that I have stored.  He is the most photographed dog.



Ready for the catch


Perfect


Tennis ball nibbling


Do we really need more pics Mom?



Luke's favorite spot



Watching the evil crows


He is so nosey; I can't do anything without him coming to see what I'm up to.


Underwater sports




Beach'n it with Mom


Listening to Dad


Pondering a retrieve


Doing a tough "leave it."


Luke is the most bowing dog; here I finally caught one.


Waiting for another throw




Climbing rocks at the beach


Sunset kissed


His happy face


Racing Dad




Lizard watching



The King's day off


Running with his Sis at the beach


Making a cookie mess in bed


A rare adorable moment with Jessie


The boy loves to catch balls


Exploring rocks


Stalking a shore bird


Not impressed


Filthy and sore; he took a bad wipeout at the park


"Don't bug me," face.


Being the most photographed dog is tough.


On the receiving end of Jessie's wrath.



Think he gets how adorable he is?  I think so. 

Are you sure?



Over the years I have met so many different types of people, dog people and non dog people that I sometimes sit back and think about it all.  I have helped many people choose a breed; find a breeder, choose a shelter or rescue dog or figure out if they really should have a dog at all. Lots of people think that they want a dog; some really want a dog even after weighing all the cons but some people figure out that they really don't want a dog. During a "get a dog" consultation I ask a lot of questions and I am very frank about my feedback for each individual.

Many prospective canine guardians feel sheepish about answering questions like "do you care about hair all over the house" or "do you want to spend alot of time training a dog?" These question may seem trivial and shallow to some but there is absolutely no point in getting a dog like a Golden Retriever or Labrador if you cannot tolerate a lot of hair. The same goes for activity and training compatibility. Are you a couch potato? Then you are not going to understand or want the type of drive that a Border Collie or or Cattledog are going to have.


It is most importance to know yourself and know what you cannot tolerate, can tolerate, learn to tolerate, absolutely love or look for in a canine companion. I remember walking through a shelter once when a volunteer asked me what I was looking for. I told her I was just looking to see if there was a certain breed in the shelter.   I was actually looking for a client and for a local rescue that I regularly scoured the shelters for. With my response the woman's kind face turned into a scowl as she blurted out that if I wanted a certain breed I didn't deserve to have a dog. I could have got into it with her right there but instead I decided not to lower myself to her level, smiled and moved away quickly.

Yes it would be nice if no one had any objections to living with any type of dog but the fact is that everyone is different. And a large part of the problem with dogs being dumped is that people do not "think" before acting.  I put the largest blame on pet stores (you know there will be more on pet stores later) as they rely on the impulse buyer which is the complete opposite of what should be done before adding a dog to your family. It is a huge responsibility and one that should not be taken lightly.

A dog deserves a family that has committed to raising and living with them for their entire life. They are not an item that should be returned like a garment of clothes you changed your mind about. So if people take the time to figure out what they really want in a dog "before" they get the dog and not after they get the dog there would be much fewer second hand dogs.

So when I ask the questions "do you like drool," "is your family active?" "do you want a pocket pooch?" and the answer is no, I say Good! These people are doing their research first, the way it should be done.  If after all the "do you" questions you come up with the answer no, then don't.  Having a dog is not a something that everyone should or wants to do.  I find it hard to get; for me life is dogs.  But there are people who love extreme sports like jumping out of a plane and they probably wouldn't get why I would never do that.  

I wrote this article years ago;   No Hasty Decisions; points to ponder

No one has the right to judge another on what type of dog that they choose to live with or where the dog comes from.  As long as the dog you choose is loved and a member of the family then you are doing it right. 




Pushy pushy


What a face.  Honestly he is such a doll; just a pushy doll and I ADORE him.  :)


Well here I lie in my bed and I've got bloggers block.  I've asked Luke several times to please give me a topic but he's ignoring me.  He chewed his nails for a bit but now he's gone to sleep; both Jessie and Tilley are long gone.  But; now that I think of it Luke has perhaps given me a topic, demanding behaviors.  When has a cute cookie asking behavior gone too far?  Well........tonight it went too far and I had to step in.  I made Luke a batch of his favorite cookies today; peanut butter.  He has recently decided that he really enjoys a cookie at bedtime.  He ever so cutely goes to the jar and stares at it, cute right?  Maybe, maybe not.

This is where it becomes complicated.  Luke is a skinny minny so when we can get some food into him we do.  With this recent bedtime cookie thing he has been pushing it a bit.  Last night he got his cookie then got down off the bed and stared at the jar again.  So my husband gave him more which is where I said "no" and I was ignored.  Hmmmmmmmm.  I could tell that Luke was in a mood, a pushy mood.  Every so often he get's something in his little head that says "I should see how far I can push?"  No sooner had he finished his second round of cookies and he was down staring at the jar again; this time I said "no, he is getting to pushy."  So no cookie.

He got back on the bed and lay down; but I could see his little brain on overdrive.  I said out loud; "he's in a weird pushy mood tonight."  As soon as it was out of my mouth and he hopped off the bed and stood over Tilley.  Tail up, on his tip toes, neck arched stomping all over her while she was trying to sleep.  Idiot.  I yelled at him to knock it off and go lie down which he did immediately and showed obvious signs of "okay, too far."
With the wind taken out of his sails he went to sleep and we had no more.

So; this second round of cookies was just enough to pump him, get him pounding his chest sort of.  You know; the give'm an inch scenario.  Luke is a pushy type of dog so it is very important to watch and see what is going on in his head.  Given too much of a good thing turns into a bad thing.  Tilley on the other hand can ask for cookies and receive them forever without ever inflating her head.  She is simply not that type of dog.  Sure she may ask more often if it always works but it doesn't lead to other pushy behaviors as in Luke's case.

Knowing your dogs personality and temperament type is extremely important when you are setting boundaries and making rules.  Luke has a bucket load of rules that the girls have never had.   He is a very good boy and does not like to get into trouble ever; but it is in his nature to try to be the boss.  Being that the position is already filled; we keep him in check by not catering to his every whim.  So we are changing the new little bedtime ritual that he likes so much; he'll get his cookies but only when we decide he get's them.  With only a few days of asking and receiving it quickly got out of control with him.

Summertime



It's officially summer, day three.  And it's freaking hot here in SoCal; and as many of you know I am NOT a fan of freaking hot, not even mildly hot.  For one it's just too hot to do anything and two; it's just too hot.  Okay enough whining; time to get down to "how hot is too hot?"  It irks me to no end when I see people out at 3:00 in the afternoon; 95 degrees running along the sidewalk with their dog.  Typically the dog looks like it's about to keel over; have they not noticed this? 



My rule of thumb when taking a dog out for a run or walk for that matter is; first; feel the surface that the dog is going to walk on, take your shoe and sock off and stand barefoot for a solid minute.  Hot?  Freaking hot?  Even when the sun is out and it's not 95 degrees, the surface of asphalt can really heat up.  You should always do the barefoot test first.

So the surface may be sort of hot but seem okay to walk on.  What most people don't consider is the heat that rises from the asphalt or concrete or anything for that matter.  The little guys suffer the worst here, the closer they are to the ground the hotter it is.


The heat in general knocks me out; but it also knocks out my dogs. Yesterday I made sure that they went out for their run nice and early before the searing heat hit us. By the afternoon it was pretty warm and I really didn't know where everyone was, so I had a walk around the house.  There were dog bodies laying in three different rooms but all in the same position. They were on a bed of some sort either human or dog, flat out on their side with their heads hanging over the edge. It was pretty cool in the house with so they were all just chill'n. 

Many of my clients have asked me if dogs are bothered by the heat because their dog had seemed very low key. My answer is yes and to enjoy this short down time. As soon as the cooler air hits they will be back to their old energetic self. Having a little break from a high energy dog is sort of nice for a while.  Many dogs have lessened appetites during the hot months of summer; I've never noticed this with my guys but they definitely drink a lot more. It is very important on these days to make sure they have lots of nice fresh water to drink. 

Consider coat color as well; dark colored dogs suffer much more than light ones in the sun.  You must factor that in when taking them to enjoy the great outdoors.  My dark gray girl suffers from the heat much more than my blonde boy. So watch the dark colored dogs and make sure to keep them nice and cool in the shade, pool or AC on the hot days of summer.

Dogs are smart, give them the option of AC or no AC and they'll choose the cool indoors when given the chance. I feel bad for dogs that cannot get cool indoors when the temperatures soar up into the high 90s. Even the shade is hot when the temps are that high. Honestly I hate the idea of outside dogs at anytime of the year and try to educate as many people as I can about "outside dogs." 

So pour yourself a tall one, fill up the bowl with fresh spring water and relax on hot dog days of summer.