The reward system

I almost always have some sort of food on me.  Yesterday as I prepared to file Elsa's nails I grabbed a handful of new food I got and tucked it into my bra.  As soon as I did it I knew that I shouldn't have. It smells very fishy being mostly salmon so I quickly removed it and placed it on the shelf outside.  I wear yoga pants a lot so that means that I don't have pockets which means that I have no where to put treats, except my bra.  This is the reason that I got poison ivy across my chest while in CT.  I am always putting treats in and taking them out.

Having treats on you is very very important.  Of course not all dogs are rewarded by treats, some prefer a ball, a tug toy or perhaps a soft stuffed toy.  Because Elsa is young still I like to be ready at all times.  Rewarding a behavior when they offer something good, anything good is essential to fast learning.  Linking something that they do not like to something they do like is association and it is how dogs learn.

Even if Luke who is now 12 years old makes a great decision on his own while we are out, I will reward him with a treat.  For example a while back we were at the beach.   We were just standing watching the goings on when a lady walked by with her dog who was going off.  I was with my poodle group of friends so the dog was barking at all the poodles.  Luke watched the dog as it lunged at all the dogs.  Many of the dogs in our group were returning the same behavior.  Luke decided it wasn't worth it and just sat down, he got a treat and a kiss and a hug for that.

I mostly carry organic chicken and rice sticks that I get at Trader Joe's.  They are great to hold in your hand while on a walk and don't smell bad when you carry them in your clothing.  ;)  I buy them 4 bags at a time with each trip to the store.  I also use cheese strings, kibble and anything else that the dogs enjoy.
Many of the treats are pumped into Luke on our walks just because he needs extra calories.  He's such a meek eater than any food I can get in is good.

But for Elsa they are used as treats for good behavior or the association link.  By adding a reward, and by that I mean real reward; not a pat on the head which many dogs do not consider rewarding at all you speed the learning process.  "You mean if I don't lunge at other dogs I get a treat?"  Wow.  We used treats a great deal when Elsa was very early for many scary things in the park.  Statues that she thought were real, put treats on it until she is walking by without batting a lash.  When she could do a down in a crowded strip mall, treats, treats.

Of course once you start with treats and a lesson is learned and solidified you then must wean off.  Not completely, but to a minimum.  Choosing the most difficult behaviors, in the most highly distracted areas is where you keep them coming the longest.  If you continue to use treats for too long on the easy stuff then you will be left with a dog that "only does it for treats" like I hear so often.

Not every behavior is treat rewarded, some activities are rewarding in themselves.  When we get to the park Elsa MUST sit before I release her out of the back of my Xterra.  The release is her reward and until she sits she will not get it.  There is no food involved with this behavior.  If your dog wants something badly, say to get off leash and run with other dogs then you can use that as the reward itself.  But having treats on you when they offer up something great is optimal.

Timing is everything with rewarding, if you have bad timing then you might just be offering up rewards for nothing, in your dogs head.  If you are using a bridge word then rewarding is easy and the timing is put upon your bridge word (Bridge word blog tomorrow) .  If not then it can be very tricky and timing is of the utmost importance.  The treat must be given so that your dog links the reward to the behavior that you are trying to link it with.  If not then you are not teaching anything but the free food lesson.  

Don't be afraid to reward with treats but also don't use them as a crutch.  Do not bribe with food, keep them away until the behavior is offered.  I highly recommend wearing jeans or a treat pouch if you are in a poison ivy area and sensitive to it's charms.  :)  My wonderful poison ivy adventures will be in be explained in detail in book # 2, And Back Again.

Barking dogs

Thank you for this mornings topic Bonnie.

Barking dogs; don't ya just love when the neighbors dog starts barking at 5:00 am in the morning?  You are sound asleep, enjoying the fact that you can have the windows open and suddenly you are awake.  There is no way you are getting back to sleep because not only is the neighbors dog barking but now your dog is barking too.  I am always amazed when I hear dogs barking in the middle of the night.  There are regulars who bark throughout the night so I know that these are the guys that are left out.  This is a horrible idea, especially for your neighbors.

We have a very large patio door off of our bedroom and I often wake up to see Elsa watching.  She is getting better about just watching and listening and not barking.  In humans, being a good listener is a wonderful thing, in dogs too.  Some people never shut up and some dogs just never shut up.  Elsa tends to bark when she is excited or a little afraid.  If we run into a new object she will often give a sound off  alarm bark but she doesn't go on and on.  She is learning.  Dogs need a great deal of guidance to learn not to bark their faces off.  We can help or hinder in that department.

Many dogs receive frustrated yelling, yanking, waving arms or perhaps a slap for barking.  All of this only fuels the barking.  Our behavior is a tip off to our dogs about how they should act.  So when your dog starts barking it is essential that you go into "surfer dude chill mode."  I am constantly telling  Elsa"we don't care about that," as we work through all the new things in life to bark at.  Thankfully she also has Luke to learn from, he is not a barker, never has been.  If Luke barks we listen because he does not bark for nothing.  Although he is now enjoying a good puff your chest up "this is my yard" bark every so often.  Just on the weekend he did one of these little displays.  Of course Steve and I smile as we watch, he has a senior muffled type bark now; still tough enough but not annoying.  He gets on his toes, makes sure that Elsa is watching and lets the neighborhood know that there is a tough guy on guard.  It slowly dwindles to a closed mouth grumbling as he wanders the perimeter of his domain.  I love it.

When you have dogs in your neighborhood that bark there is not a whole lot you can do.  Of course you can let them know politely that their dog is barking a lot.  Maybe they don't know, but then again maybe they do and feel like they can't do anything about it.  So you must teach your dog to ignore.  Your own ignoring behavior shows them what they need to worry about and not worry about as far as barking.

Leaving your dog outside while you are not around is a very bad idea.  They can get into some horribly bad habits.   Feedback is by far the most important thing in training.  If you are not around to give feedback then you cannot control a behavior.  If a behavior continues it can become problematic.  Often bored dogs bark, there is nothing else to do, why not?  No one ever told them not to bark or gave them an alternative behavior so they bark away.

Barking is a behavior that is fairly easy to get rid of or control but we humans tend to just yell and show our dogs that we will join in with their barking.  "Ah Mom is freaking out and barking too, must be something we should be barking at."  The next time your dog starts barking, take a moment and think about what your next step should be.  Will you be barking out orders or slipping into the "chill out dude mode?"

Just dogs

Just dogs; that's it.  I am a dog trainer, dog photographer, dog writer and dog Mom.  I often think about what job I like best.  Of course the Mom/guardian one is by far the best but as far as actual paying jobs go I am really not sure which one I like the best.  After all they are all working with dogs but in extremely different facets of a dog life.

Dog trainer - this was my first dog job.  I have been a positive dog trainer for a very long time.  I am extremely fascinated by dog behavior, I love it.  I am not a dog trainer that simply teaches sit and stay; no I delve into day to day behaviors that are caused by our behaviors and other dog's behaviors.  I thoroughly enjoy meeting new dogs and helping their owners how best to live happily side by side.  There are so many little tidbits that I can give to owners that can make huge differences in their life with their dogs so it is very rewarding.  I love dog behavior.

One part of dog training that I don't like is when people don't follow through.  This can be frustrating as a dog trainer, watching from the outside.  Seeing behaviors that can be changed easily but the owner is not willing.  I can never turn the trainer in me off, that is a problem sometimes.

Photographer - Love this too.  This job is much different than the trainer in me.  I have had to learn to turn the trainer in me off because it is not my job to fix the bad behaviors that I see at a shoot.  Over the years I have been able to slip into the "I don't care" mode which is actually nice.  I get to shoot the bad behavior instead of try to fix it.

No dog gives me a bad shot.  To me, dogs are art all on their own.  I don't often add anything in the shape of clothing or accessories to dogs, I think it takes away from their natural beauty and amazingness.  I believe they can more than stand on their own and whether they are standing looking, sniffing, sleeping, in full action or by our side they are gorgeous.  Each and everyone has such an individual charm and beauty about them.  Much can be seen in the eyes of a dog if the shot is done correctly.  Capturing the dog as an individual should be done by allowing a dog to do what they do.  I love nothing more when an owner says to me "you completely captured my dog."

I do look at dogs as something to put on the wall.  I could sit and watch them all day long, why not put them on my wall?  I love watching them interact with their humans and other dogs.  Capturing those moments is awe inspiring for me.  The gray muzzle and cloudy eyes of a senior all the way to the crazy antics of a puppy; I love it all.

Writing - Love this as well, of course.  I love to share my love of dogs through writing.  Of course I have this blog which is actually a lot of writing.  I've been doing this for years now and will not be stopping anytime soon.  It amazes me that there is always something to write about but when you love dogs so much they are definitely topic worthy on a daily basis.

 Sometimes my writing is about life, just life with dogs.  Other times it is about 'stuff' that can make our life with dogs better.  Behavior, training, more behavior, life, experiences, human interference and much more.  So much to write about.  My writing is rough, you see from my grammar that these sort of things are not on my important list.   When I write I am trying to get a message across, tell a story or share something that I feel is important.  I am not a editor type writer (that's what editors are for) but a writer with a passion waiting to get out.  That passion is dogs and my eye is always on or on the look out for a dog and their behavior.  Whether it be to fix a certain behavior, capturing it in a photo or write about it; I am always watching dogs.

Scared little girl

Last night I took the dogs out into the yard before heading to bed.  Elsa was sniffing around trying to scrounge up a critter to chase when she made a quick lunge towards her foot.  She looked at me and then crossed the yard and did it again.  I told her to come to me so that I could see what the problem was.  She came right away and lunged for her foot again.  I bent over and grabbed her back left foot and couldn't see much because it was dark.  I did see something dark on the side so flicked it off not knowing what it was until it hit the ground, a bee.  She then gave me the hardest donkey kick to the stomach.  She'd been stung.

I took her inside and we headed to bed.  She let me check it once more in the kitchen before we went upstairs.  She is very good about letting me see things and if it hurts she's even better.  It just so happens that I'd bought a new bottle of Bactine with pain reliever a few days ago when Luke started licking his foot so I pulled it out and sprayed his front right and her back left foot.  She continued to be bothered by her foot, constantly donkey kicking.  When she does her high powered back kicks it is amazing the power that is in them. She has huge back leg muscles, much like Tilley did and when she kicks, she kicks.

We went to bed hoping that her foot would feel better in the morning.  As I lay reading she came to my side with the saddest face, she was very upset by her foot.  She is a very emotional girl I'm discovering and the fact that she needs me when she is in pain is a good thing.  Many dogs just want to keep you away when something hurts so this was good.  She lay her head on the bed and looked at me with huge "poor me" eyes.  She reached out and grabbed by arm with her paw and held on.  She was very, very upset, something I have yet to see.  There was no way I could not have her up beside me now.  

She is not allowed to sleep with us normally, not until the clock strikes 5:00 am.  She is the worst bed buddy, she feels like she weighs 500 lbs and that 500 lbs likes to lay right across me.  But she was just too upset to send to her own bed so up she came and settled in quickly.  Not us though.  Draped across me I found it hard to get comfortable.  She was also making me quite hot.  "The things we do for our dogs" I thought as I lay there very much awake.  She gave several kicks which from the groans that came from Steve I knew had landed on him.

Around 2:30 after not getting a whole lot of sleep I got up and tossed a few treats onto her bed.  She happily hopped down and gobbled them up.  She came to the side of my bed to get up again.  "Nope, off" I told her.  She lay down and went to sleep until around 5:00 when Steve surprisingly called her up again.  She immediately draped her 500 lb body over mine and was twitching and snoring in no time.  Me?  No, I lay there thinking "honestly how can she feel this heavy?"  But I finally fell asleep and woke up very warm with a very happy girl's face pressed up against mine.

She is feeling fine now and I am very glad she joined us in bed when she was needed some support for her bee sting.  She didn't know what had happened and was quite upset about it all.  Poor girl.

Medical supplies

First let me thank Supriya for today's blog idea.  This is a good idea which I have never thought of, thank you.

I have over the years done a great deal of tending for my dogs.  Whether it is cleaning out a wound, keeping a wound covered, administering medication or keeping them hydrated it seems like there is always a need for medical supplies.  I've collected a lot over the years and when something happens I like to know that I have the things that I will need without having to run out.  I am very lucky to have a great medical supply store just up the street from me where everything is much cheaper than a drug store.  Plus I can get really great stuff that I'd never find at a regular pharmacy.

I know that a lot of owners want nothing to do with anything gross concerning medical care with their dog.  But even if you'd rather leave it to the vet there may be times when you have an emergency and need something until you can get to the vet.   So I came up with a list of supplies that you should have in your kit at home.  Of course there will be specific things that you may need that you won't have on hand.   Like the body suit I made Elsa when she got spayed.  I used a piece of 6" stockinet which is the stuff that they put on a leg before a plaster cast.  It worked like a charm and she is all healed.

I have a human kit and a dog kit at home and an emergency kit in my Xterra that came with it and is stored neatly in the back hatch.

Here is the list of what I keep at home.

Gauze, rolls and patches - gauze is great for cleaning as well as covering wounds.

Tape for the gauze - even when you cover wrap with another wrap, sometimes you need tape to hold it.

self adhering wrap - I love this stuff and use it a lot.  It sticks to itself and you can hind the end so your dog can't find it to pick at it.

rubber or latex gloves - sometimes things are just too gross, these are great just to have around the house for anything yucky.

bactine or other antibacterial wash - this is something you will use often

Syringe 35-60 cc, 5cc, 2.5 cc - When both Tilley and Jessie were seriously ill I used the large syringe to get watered down baby food and water itself into them.  The smaller syringes are used to administer medication and castor oil to Luke's eyes.

cold pressed castor oil - fabulous cure for mildly irritated eyes due to allergies.

clean cloths

polysporin/neosporin - can't live without this stuff.

thermometer - I have the dog thermometers marks very clearly.  My kids always asked "did you use that on the dogs?" when they were little.

peroxide - only to induce vomiting, do not use on wounds.

scissors

There are probably a few more things that I have in my kit but I can't think of them.  Supplies are important, these are the ones that I use the most.  Anything else is additional and probably more specific.

Differences

We all know that there are huge differences in dog breeds and mixes.  Size, shape, temperament, personality, coat and color.  From the tiniest chihuahua all the way up to the giant Irish Wolfhounds; there is a plethora of differences from one to another.  But are they really different?  They make look different to the human eye but they are all dogs.  Each and everyone holds the awe inspiring heart that is canine to the core.  When I see the tiny guys wrapped up in human clothing, being carried around like an accessory it makes me shudder.  There is a dog in there just dying to get out and be a dog.

Much the same are the big buff dogs treated as big block heads, given little tenderness because of their outward appearance.  The big and the small are one.  I know many people who have big and small dogs.  The small dogs live in the house and are treated like royalty, the big dogs stay outside where, well big dogs belong right?  Wrong.  I don't get it.    As I sat watching television last night with Elsa curled up on my lap, it made me smile.  Yes she's most definitely a lap full but what a lap full of heart.

Over the years I have met so, so many dogs.  Crazy amounts of dogs actually and each one has given me something.  The most influential commodity that I take away from a meeting is the size of heart in each one.  A canine heart is an amazing thing and a very sad thing to waste.  Seeing the amazing connection between owner and dog is priceless.  To see the soft heart of a big buff dog is a wonderful thing.  Watching them connect with their owner in a way that they exterior does not portray is a wonder.  Just as watching a little guy romp around doing dog things with their owner is a just as special.

There is a man that runs his chihuahua's at our park each day.  Those little dogs could show a Border Collie a thing or two.  It makes me so happy just to watch as him running his dogs.  When I see a big tough image type dog wrapped in the arms of their owner enjoying a tender moment, it makes me smile. Some of the sweetest dogs that I have ever met have come in the form of a very scary looking dog.  Many of the least friendly have been the cutest looking.  We humans have given dogs their shape and size.  We have altered them to suit our fancy.  But in each, beats the same heart; no matter what size the exterior portrays.

Sure their are traits that make each of our dogs very different.  But each dog should be given the chance to be the dog that they can be.  Too much emphasis is put on exterior, it is a human thing that we do.  I remember leaving the beach one day with a very wet and sandy Tilley by my side.  A guy walked by us and said "boy I bet she wishes that she was at the beauty parlor instead of here," making it all too clear.  He couldn't have been more wrong and idiotic in my opinion but it was how many of us look at things.    Yes Tilley was a beautiful poodle but prissy and above getting dirty?  Are you kidding me?  I have also heard many people say to me "I didn't know poodle could catch frisbees."  Really?  I also remember waking up beside a very buff red Doberman who was completely upside down in my bed and snuggled close.  At that very moment I thought to myself "a lot of people would never do this;" let down their guard and snuggle up with a Doberman.  Jake was as sweet as they come and to think of him as simply a big dog and not get into his heart would have been such a loss.

Jessie ran our house of dogs.  She ran it with the heart of a Rottweiler and the body of a whopping 15 pounder.  It is all about heart.  To many outsiders she was a tough, intense and very alpha female.  To me she was that and much more.   Along with her tough exterior was a very soft heart.  She loved nothing more than to snuggle close and under the covers.  I share those same covers with Luke and Elsa now and I shared my covers with a big scary Doberman too.  They all deserve the same, to be allowed to be dogs and granted a space in our heart.  Each and everyone of our dogs should be wrapped in our hearts as they give us theirs.

A dog diet

Diet; food and drink considered in terms of its qualities, composition and its effects on health.  A particular selection of food, especially as designed or prescribed to improve a person's physical condition or to prevent or treat a disease.

The term diet is often referred to as weight loss terminology but it is in fact describing what we eat.  The words accompanying the term diet itself are the more descriptive terms.  Weight loss, weight gain, low carb, low salt, good and bad.  The world is filled with idealistic diets these days for people and for dogs.  As I sat and watched 'Chopped' last night, a commercial came on for Beneful.  The advertisement showed a bag filled with amazing vegetable shaped nutrition flying out of the bag and a very happy dog; no doubt from eating Beneful, right?  WRONG.  With just a small amount of research you can find a lot of 'real' information about the product.

I have to say that it amazes me that so few people are really concerned about what goes into their dog.  I admit that when I was young I didn't give it a whole lot of thought, nor did I give what I ate much consideration.  That and being told from a vet that food was food, that there was no difference between generic or any other food.  Of course this was a very long time ago so that was probably a correct assumption being that Purina was the most available food so a generic brand was probably as good.

I am now hugely concerned with diet, both for us and our dogs.  What you put into a body really plays the most important part of health.   Dogs are carnivores, they should eat a diet that consists mostly of good quality meat.  So when I share a chicken sausage in the morning with my dogs I feel good about it.  No it's not raw and it has more flavor than most dogs need but they sure love it.

As food enters the body it goes through many stages; pulling nutrition out of the food to fuel your dog's daily activity and sustaining life.  If what you put in their body has little nutrition then your dog will be of course lacking fuel to function and be pooping a lot.  I know I talk about food a lot on here but I would like for people to know.  The more people who learn about how bad many of the dog foods out there are, the more will tell their friends.

As a society we have been brainwashed into believing that companies who make dog food are producing a product that is best for our dogs.  WRONG.  Many of us have been told by Veterinarians to feed only dog food, never snacks and heavy forbid never people food.  (You know how I feel about the term "people food")  Many of the very low grade foods, foods?  What?  I feel weird even calling some of these products food, it's more like waste product.  Anyway many of these so called foods are just filler with the most minimum amount of dried, over processed protein source available.  This is added of course because the food has to have some sort of protein but is there anything that our dog's bodies can actual use it in?  Not much if anything can be pulled from these products in the form of nutrients.

Our dogs are getting sicker, living shorter lives and suffering.  What has happened?  The big guys have taken over, the money makers who pump out products and don't care about results or quality.  I am saying right here and right now, do not buy any packaged dry dog food that you can purchase at a big box store, grocery store or discount store.  Of course if you only shop at a health food store then that is different.  Most of these big stores only carry the big guy products.  You will find Iams, Purina, Pedigree etc. etc.

I feel good when I eat good food.  That does not mean that it has to be fancy gourmet food, it is often very simple food.  Maybe an apple and piece of cheese, a few pieces of turkey or a salad.  Real food, real nutrition that my body can use and distribute as needed.  To think that our dog's bodies need less quality food than us is absurd.  They are typically more active than us, needing for really great nutrition.  Their lives here on this earth are much shorter than ours, don't they deserve to be fed the best while they are here?  Shouldn't we do our best for our dogs?

The best for dogs does not mean the best cuts of meat.  What it means is the highest nutritional value.  You can buy the tough cheap cuts of meat which contain the same nutrition as the expensive cuts that we like because they are tender.  If I drop meat on the floor while cooking, it immediately goes into the 'dog' meal area.  Do they care that it got a crumb or dirt on it?  Are you kidding me?  They are happy as a clam to pick up a crust from a sandwich out of the sand at the beach and eat it.

Beneful - rating on Dog Food Advisor

Dog Food Scoop  - Top worst food list

As we all go through life we can listen, learn and share what we learn or we can simply push the auto pilot button and continue on not learning anything.  I love to learn new things about dogs.  Whether it is about a new dog food product that is available, a new disease or affliction that I have never heard about or a new product that makes living with dogs even greater I love it all.  No one knows everything; although some people like to think that they know most everything but you can learn a new tidbit everyday.  Keep an open mind and listen, take what you hear and process it.  Do not just cast it off as a 'they don't know anything' remark.

Mistakes are often useful, trial and error teach us a lot.  But you don't have to make mistakes to do your best.  Sometimes just an effort to do better for your dog is all it takes.

Pit bulls

This morning I want to discuss Pit Bulls.  Yes, a controversial subject indeed but I want to share my feelings on the whole 'Pit Bull' hype.  Many people have a fear and hatred for the breed and or mixes.  Others adore the breed and stand proud to show the world what a wonderful breed the Pit Bull is.  Then there are those in between, not wanting to judge or jump to conclusions.  The people who meet each dog as an individual.

In my opinion, deciding to add a Pit Bull to your family is a big decision.  Because of this decision you are often automatically shunned from society.  This is what has come from all of the Pit Bull hype, so you must know this going in.  Once you make the decision to call a Pit Bull your family then it is up to you to go above and beyond to prove people wrong.   Obviously the media has had a hay day with all the Pit Bull incidents, they make front page news.

The actual problem with Pit Bulls lies solely with humans in many aspects.  Those who do not take owning a Pit Bull seriously; they provide no energy outlets, no training, no guidance.  The people who get a Pit Bull to make a point and no matter what their dog's behavior is they consciously let it run free or do whatever it likes just to show people that they are just like any other dog. There are those who fight Pit Bulls and breed the winners to produce even tougher and more intense dogs.  There are also breeders do not fully educate their puppy buyers.  They do not instill the seriousness of owning a Pit Bull.

Pit Bulls are large, strong and intense dogs.  Sadly there are people out there who consider fighting dogs to be a sport.  They also breed dogs who are very dog aggressive to partake in these sports and of course some of these dogs end up in the general public.  The outcast, dogs that don't make it or are cast off; often breeding with other stray dogs.  As hard as good breeders are working to better the temperament of Pit Bulls; there are those constantly working the other way.  It is a sad fact.

There are many, many Pit Bull rescues; not all are alike.  Some of them defend the Pit Bull as completely misunderstood and happily adopt their dogs out to anyone and everyone.  My daughter ran into one of these uneducated type people.  She was out on a walk with our Jessie a couple of years ago, it was well into the evening.  They came across a couple with a four month old Pit Bull who upon seeing Jessie attacked immediately.  The dog latched onto her neck and started shaking her; the dog was four months of age.  Upon my daughters return she told me what happened and I jumped into my car and sped off to find these people and I did.  They got a very loud lesson that they should not forget too soon.

These people had just adopted the dog; they'd had it for only a few days.  Yet there they were walking down the street in the dark with it off leash and on the street no less.  Every human in the chain of placing this dog had failed it and now it's owners had failed it as well.  No dog at four months of age should be attacking another like this.  This was an obvious issue that had been missed or ignored by the rescue folks.  That aside these inadequate owners didn't understand the magnitude of owning a Pit Bull. They let the dog down big time.

Do I think that Pit Bulls are bad dogs?  No.  Do I think that there are bad Pit Bulls?  Yes, just like there are bad Dachshunds and poodles.  The old saying "no bad dogs," is a stupid one.  There are bad dogs just like there are bad people.  But there are far more problem dogs because of stupid people.  Pit Bulls are large, strong, active, intelligent, utility type dogs.  They are pretty much are up for anything sport wise.  They are crazy strong and excel at strong dog activities.  They love to run and burn off steam and are amazing at obedience and agility.  Of course not all will excel at everything but they are a wonderfully utility breed; meaning they love to participate in lots of different activities.

When you have a Pit Bull you must allow them to have early socializing.  Lots of positive training is required and energy outlets.  If you have a Pit Bull you must understand that they cannot come off leash. You owe it to your dog not to let accidents happen.  It is because of all the accidents that stupid people have allowed that the breed has such a bad name.  That includes the people who get a Pit Bull because they are cool, tough looking dogs.  The ones that think that it's great when their under socialized dog lunges at people and other dogs.  People like the owners of the puppy who allow accidents like this to happen, who don't understand what it means to own a Pit Bull in today's society.

Sadly Pit Bulls come from all walks of life, from the very good conscientiousness breeder all the way down to the Pit Bull fighting breeder.  Somewhere a long the line the two can merge so all the good that one breeder is doing is being undone by another.  All the amazing work that one rescue group does is undone by another.  There are those who rescue Pit Bulls solely on the "I'll show everyone," reasoning.   Showing society that they are not a bad breed takes a great deal of work, not just owning one.

Acknowledging that a breed has specific traits is the first step to becoming truly educated.  Border Collies very often have chase issues and nipping problems.  German Shepherds can be an overly guarding breed, Rottweilers as well.  Chihuahuas can be very nasty unless largely socialized.  Pit Bulls have a natural tendency to be dog aggressive as do Akita's.  It is not a horrible thing to say, it is an acknowledgement and with this understanding comes the ability to appropriately live with a Pit Bull.  They are a powerful breed, much more so than any other breed and their head alone is awesome.

Pit Bulls are a very different breed, as are Italian Greyhounds.  They are about as opposite as you can get.  Living with Italian Greyhounds, one must take great care as they are so fragile.  Much of their tiny breakable frame is due to over breeding of bad breeders.  Just like the bad traits of a Pit Bull are from the bad breeders and until the bad guys can be stopped the aggressive traits will remain for many years to come.  People who want to live with Pit Bull must acknowledge this.  Just stating that "Pit Bulls are misunderstood," does nothing positive for the breed.  People must take their dogs and show society that they are not all bad dogs.  But like I said this means that you must go above and beyond what other people are required to do with their dogs.  Having a slip up is not an option.

Pit Bulls have had a lot of bad done to them.  It will have to be the people that turn it around.   The genes have been bred in there for a very long time, it may be possible to change over a very long time, maybe not.   Understanding is the first step, working, training, socializing and involving them in extracurricular activities is a big step forward.  They are a dog that have been wronged by humans as are many others.  Used to be vicious and attack other animals has been their job for far too long.  In the wrong hands they can be a very dangerous animal, so sad.  If it does go wrong they can do a great deal of damage; owning one takes a huge commitment.  Just be sure that you are ready to take on the baggage before blindly trying to make a statement.  Do it right or don't do it.  100% or nothing.

The Pit Bull is NOT A BREED FOR NEW OWNERS OR EVERYONE.  They are like I said, intense, powerful and need an experienced owner.  Sadly for the dog they end up in the wrong hands far too often.

Some great info on Pit Bulls.

Pit Bull Lovers

Pit Bull 411

Labor of love

Happy Labor Day everyone; I hope you all have a wonderful non laboring day.  :)  Relax and enjoy the day with your pooch.

This morning I want to discuss the art of teaching our dogs.  Specifically I would like to talk about leash aggression, walking past other dogs and manners in general while on a walk and coming across other dogs.  This blog is the result of seeing things that I didn't like while on a walk yesterday.  After my husband got back from his walk with Luke we discussed our walks in detail, this is why I am writing the blog.

I got out of my car with Elsa and we immediately head to a fenced in open field.  She has been running somewhat but not with the chuck it yet (due to her spaying).  She needs to get her ya yas out, she's got a lot of them pent up.  So she ran and ran and ran.  We got hooked up and head out to the park area where we do more walking on leash and this is where we hope to run into other dogs to say hi to.  I have been working with Elsa on the fact that you don't say hi to everyone.  I always err on the side of safety when deciding to approach or not.  I don't want her to have any negative experiences.

We first saw a woman coming our way with her very large, buff guy.  It was apparent immediately that we didn't want to say hi to these folks.  She yanked on his neck hard at every glance he gave Elsa and he was giving her a lot.  He was honed in with his laser beam eyes as the woman continued to yank and yell at him.  No this was just a recipe for a disaster and we calmly but quickly took a left turn.  Elsa had  been looking at the dog coming our way as it unfolded.  She had a lot of interest but apprehension as well, she is a master reader of body language.  I never changed my pace and continued to talk about the nice day we were having when I gave her the 'this way' cue.  We happily continued our walk.

The big buff dog was learning that the approach of other people and dogs was very negative.  The woman obviously thought she was teaching him but what she was teaching him was putting fuel on the fire.  He was learning that he should be on guard and tense at the approach and likely aggressive if he gets close enough.

Then we ran into a couple walking a medium to small sized little dog.  The woman was continually yanking on the dog and as we approached Elsa added to the yanking.  She was jumping around and really wanted to meet this dog but we used this as more training.  That poor little dog withstood a great deal of impact on his little neck.  During the process he was undaunted in his pulling and just succeeded to anger his leash holder.  She finally shouted out "HEEL" to the little dog who was not listening at all. The whole scene was just a mess and very negative for both the little dog and the owner.

This scene had caused some damage to the dogs neck, I have no doubt.  The woman was growing angry as the dog ignored her attempts at training.  At one point the woman let out a sound that gave me a whole clue into the situation.  Ahhhhh the sound of the infamous Cesar Milan.  She was trying to be the Alpha in her little pack.  CM has systematically brought our relationship with dogs back to the old days, like when I was a kid.  It is a shame.

Once we got home and discussed our walks Steve told me about two woman he'd passed with very large dogs that got the same treatment.  One woman had made her dog down while yanking and pushing on him as they passed.  The dog had been fixed on Luke as he was forced to the ground to wait.  No doubt she learned somewhere that he should be in a submissive down while other dogs go by.  This, or she could not control her dog and needed him down which is always scary for everyone involved. Another woman had been a carbon copy of the first pair we saw.  Yanking, yelling and the laser beam eyes.

Each time that Elsa and I pass a dog who we are not going to talk to I make good and sure that I do not change my pace.  I continue to chat away and use my 'catch' cue for rewarding.  It is always a good experience and if she wants to bounce around a bit, fine with me.  She is having fun and that is what it is all about. I want her to think that it is all good, walking by other dogs is great.

In all the dogs we saw yesterday and heard about, none were given any reward for anything.  It is like a battle that cannot be won.  By adding positive association to walking by other dogs it can quickly be turned around.  By adding the negative like yanks on a collar, yelling, pushing and being made to down it just adds to the negative causing worse fallout effects.  Getting throw to a dog and rehabilitating is all about the brain, not the braun.

Tell me what you know

How much do you know about your dogs?  Many people go through life with their dog, never truly knowing them.  I believe that dogs are extremely simple, yet complicated.  They are simple in that they deal in black and white; there are no maybe's, only yes and no.  Complicated is their personality, temperament and quirks; but once you understand 'dog' that too can be simple.  How much do you really know about your dog?

'Living in the moment' is such a popular and important phrase. When I see people chatting on their cell phone the entire time they are walking their dog, they are not living in the moment.  Living in the moment means to be there, be present and be experiencing it that very moment.  Moments pass quickly and you cannot get them back.  'Seize the moment' is another one that we really should follow.  Sit and watch every moment; seize it and don't lose it.

Get to know your dog. I mean really know dog.  Do you know your dogs likes and dislikes?  Do you know where they love walk most?  What is their favorite food vs. food that they enjoy?  Do you know each and every little quirk?  Do you know the reasoning behind the quirks?  Knowing your dog, truly knowing your dog is enriching.  To truly know the heart of a dog is so uplifting; seeing things through a dogs eyes gives us a grounding.  They can teach us what happiness truly means, the simple things.

Do you know what things your dog hates?  It's not always the bath, nail trimming and grooming time.  It could be when they have to lay on a certain type of flooring, being in a room with weird window reflections or just the cold or heat.  There are so many things that dogs like and don't like; getting to know them all catapults your relationship to the next level.  Like I said, they are simple yet complicated.  

Last night we sat by our little kiddie pool with the dogs; enjoying watching Elsa indulge in her water retrieving.  We also savored a special moment watching Luke watch Elsa in the pool.  He lay contently on his bed by the pool as she dove in and out and in and out again.  Each time a few drops of water would hit his leg he would lick them dry.  What a guy.  After pool time we moved inside to watch a movie; this is Luke's absolute favorite time ever.  He loves when we sit to watch TV; he loves together time.  As we all settled in Steve said "this is great, comfy couch, good movie and dogs by my side."   Nice.    We watched Battle ships, great movie.

The reactive dog

The reactive dog.  Many of you will have never heard the term, it is one commonly used in the training world to describe a dog triggered to overreact to particular stimulus.  Some breeds tend to be reactive, often it is just one dog out of a litter but it can most definitely get worse by numbers if you breed reactive dogs.  Reaction is a common behavior associated with an action.  A reactive dog displays behaviors that are not desirable to one or more stimulus.  Over the top type behaviors.

I had a reactive dog; Luke.  He was at the low end of reactive and my first.  He was not like the many highly reactive dogs that I have met and worked with.  Luke taught me more in the twelve years that we have spent together than any of my dogs or client dogs that I've worked with.  Luke's reactive behaviors were triggered by many things and the more I learned the easier I could spot a trigger.  I am always talking about action/reaction in dogs so the term reactive itself does not really explain the scenario very well.  Hyper-reactive would be a better term I think because that explains it without a huge explanation following.

A hyper-reactive dog reacts to stimulus with over the top behaviors.  For example; you are walking down the street and spot a dog coming the other way; your dog barks and jumps around a bit and then you carry on.  A hyper-reactive dog spots the other dog and is immediately in a frenzy.  The reaction starts much further away than a typical dog reacting as well.  Not all reactive dogs act aggressively, they can display many different behaviors from fear, over excited, aggressive or others.  Like I always say, they are all different; so too are the hyper-reactive dogs.

Some of Luke's obvious reactive responses were when someone would appear as if from no where.  He had an extremely high startle reaction, mostly barking and lunging.  He became CUJO in poodle clothing at the veterinarians to keep everyone away from him.  He over reacted to a direct approach from a stranger whether we were on a walk or he was in a car.  Typically a hyper-reactive dog is highly alert, nothing goes unnoticed so you could say that they are intensely aware dogs.

Having had a reactive dog I am much more aware myself of other reactive dogs.   Reactivity requires patience, calm, chill and above all work.  It will not go away by itself, it will get worse if you do not address the situation.  Luke was highly exposed, taken everywhere and introduced to a great deal of things.  The work with a reactive dog begins with the owner, it is essential to get a grip so to speak.  Hyper reactive dogs can send the average dog owner into a state of panic at the mere sight of a trigger.  Many hyper-reactive dog owner feels very alone, not knowing what to do they feel as though they have failed their dog.  They may feel like their dream of the perfect dog/owner scenario has passed them by. Their life is nothing like what they had imagined it might be like to have a dog.

There is hope; of course as vastly different as each dog is there is just as much difference in success rates.  It all rides on an owners dedication and the degree of reactivity.    Luke slowly overcame his over reactive responses as he was positively introduced on how to behave around his triggers.  With age has come a great sense of calm; mostly because he has had so many life experiences and so much feedback.  He is now the perfect boy (of course) and I never worry about anyone or dog approaching him in a polite manner.  There are still moments of leash aggression which is a common behavior with many dogs and has nothing to do with the hyper-reactive boy of the past.

Did the fact that Luke came to me at 12 weeks of age have anything to do with it?  Perhaps.  He basically lived in a yard with his brothers and sisters.  Much socializing time was wasted; but not all dogs will become hyper reactive by the same situation.  Luke was very much an over exuberant puppy when I met him at 7 weeks of age.  Perhaps the 5 weeks in the yard simply pushed him into the negative reaction instead of positive.  No matter the reason I had a hyper-reactive dog to deal with.  I would not change one second of the experience for anything.  I have never met such an amazing dog as Luke and I would have never learned as much as I have over the years of living with him.

Is it a challenge, living with a hyper reactive dog?  Most definitely, but you will be amazed at what you will learn during the life you will share.  Once you become knowledgeable about hyper-reactivity and learn how to deal, you are going to soar.

Rules

Even when Luke had some serious barking to do in the yard, Elsa left the ball.  

Wow; sorry about the late blog this morning.  I was up early packing up goodies for my hubby to take to work and then hit the gym right after that.  Then it was out with the pooches, a quick snack and here I am.  With the heat rising quickly during the day it is essential to get the dogs out early.  I think today will be a pool day; Elsa is feeling great and I need to play in the pool.  :)  I thought this morning that I'd discuss implementing rules, ahhhh...........rules.

I know lots of people who have no rules for their dogs; they basically do what they want and annoy lots of visitors and friends who are not use to dogs ruling the house.  Rules are an important part of life, we have to live with tons of rules and so should our dogs.  So what rules are important?  It will vary hugely depending on  the family, your home and you; there will be things that you cannot tolerate that other people will tolerate.  We have a lot of rules and although I'm pretty strict; life becomes very easy when you implement rules early on in your relationship.

Elsa knows that begging at the table will get her nothing (that is unless her Dad gives it to her).  She also knows that if she goes and lays down on a bed that she will be rewarded for staying away from the table.  It is very funny to watch her as we sit down to eat.  She frantically searches for the nearest bed to hit and then gives us the laser beam eyes.  As she is getting older the treats come further apart but it is a well ingrained rule that I really like.

We also have a very serious "no bolting out doors" rule.  This is enforced constantly (of course mostly with me) and not others members of the family as much.  For me, it is of the utmost importance to have a dog who understands this rule and will obey it.  That little dog running around the street that I blogged about the other day could most definitely have used this rule.

Yesterday afternoon was spent baking; I made cupcakes and cake.  They were all out on my kitchen table which is well within eating reach for the dogs.  Luke of course would never in a million years consider it (well maybe just one lick of the cream cheese frosting) he knows all too well what would happen.  Elsa also knows that she is not allowed to take things off of the table or the counter for the matter.  Counter surfing is something that I cannot tolerate.  I remember walking into a clients home to see their very large German Shepherd surfing the whole counter.  I was shocked and very abruptly said "is this okay with you?"  The owner calmly said "ya, he does that."  He does that?  Well he should not do that.

Then her young son wanted some ice cream so as she attempted to get a bowl and fill it with ice cream for him she was bombarded, pushed and shoved by her German Shepherd who was trying to take it from her.  Not okay, not even close.  The counter and table are great places to implement rules and I believe everyone should implement these ones.  It is a very easy way to say "hey I own this place; this is mine, don't touch it."

Dogs do that sort of implementing of rules.  Luke kept a ball away from Elsa the other day with the rule that he'd been playing with it.  He lay claim and she begged and grovelled until he finally relented.  Even though he did not have physical ownership of the ball he had in no uncertain terms laid claim to it as it sat out in front of him.  We should be able to do the same.

When trying to decide what rules should be implemented in your household; think of the things that make you say "I hate it when they do that."  Make it a rule that they don't do it.

A full on dog day

Chill'n in the coolest room in the house

Yesterday morning I was up at the crack of dawn and at the gym before 6:00 am which is early even in my books.  I'm usually there by 7 so I was an hour ahead of the game.  Before I returned from the gym I decided that instead of walking the dogs in the morning that I would give them a bath.  After a bath there is always the imminent zoom around the yard.  With Elsa still on the mend I knew that this would be more than enough exercise and it was.  For Luke the bath itself would be enough plus he would also be zooming.  But the first task at hand was a clip for Elsa.  Her hair was getting a bit long and the temperatures are just going up here in SoCal so I had to take some off.

Play time with Mom

Luke grabbed the ball after Elsa rolled it accidentally off of the bed.   Here she is trying to figure out how to get it back.

I've been trying to groom Elsa in a sort of modified trim.  Her Dad misses her beautiful hair that she had before I took it all off.  I miss the look but not the work.  She has a very thick coat that mats if you look at it.  So she has been given a new do that is much less work and cooler for her.  She is excellent while being groomed; I put hours of positive reinforcement association training into the whole grooming thing when she was little.  She didn't come liking it, in fact she hated it.  So to see her standing on the table as good as gold now makes me very happy.

After her trim it was bath time.  It was a perfect day for a bath and after the suds up and rinse off they were set free in the yard.  Dripping wet they ran around like two crazy dogs.  Elsa goes berserk, she does circles around Luke, literally.  She must have done a dozen tiny circles around Luke while he just stood and watched her go around.  Then she spun in place for a bit and the whole time she was growling and barking.  Ah a bath can do a lot for their and our moods.  There is no way that you can't smile while watching the antics of a dog fresh out of the tub.

Next was drier time; I have a forced air dryer because I have poodles.  This allows me to dry the dogs  much faster and without heat.  It is a powerful dryer and I love it.  I let them air dry for quite a while and then before they are completely dry I use the dryer to fluff.  Once they were both dry it was time for breakfast and then a nap after all the craziness.

That was the time I head out to the pet food store.  I have a favorite local pet store where they sell only good dog products and food.  They stand strong in their belief to offer only the best and have not wavered.  They are highly knowledgeable about nutrition and what is new on the market.  I grabbed a bag of what I keep on hand and then asked her about the new stuff.  This is a far different experience from asking someone at a regular pet store.  Typically at a pet food store other than the one I was at, they tell you what the dog food companies tell them.  The employees don't really know anything about their products.  So this is the only pet food store that I would ask about dog food.

She gave me lots of insight about some new stuff that was out and some of the old good stuff that is changing.    I grabbed a bag of something different to try.  After reading through many of the shelves I also got a sample size package of a dry food that you can feed as wet.  So I'll read about it all today and see what I think.  As you all know I feed my dogs real food most of the time.  I offer cooked and raw; Elsa is not much of a raw fan but I'm working on it.  Last night they had meatloaf for dinner.  But it is always good to have kibble on hand in case.  If I am going to offer kibble for a snack, treats or the occasional meal if I run out of the real stuff; it is going to be one of the best brands that there is, offering as much nutritional value as possible.

Saved the best for the last.  This may look scary but it is Elsa's typical play face. 

Back home from the pet store I immediately turned on the A/C, it was another hot one as it will be today as well.  I spent the later part of the afternoon working on book #2 while the dogs snoozed away in the office.  Mid writing I took a break to photograph both Luke and Elsa which is a good way to keep my creative juices flowing.  I find that if I write too long at one sitting I can run out of enthusiasm so a quick recess to indulge in another dog activity is all I need to be recharged.

A full day of dog, that's what I like

Socializing

I'm going to nag on you all this morning; socializing.............again.  Throughout my years of training and being around dogs in general I have to say that the biggest problem with dog owners is the lack of socializing that they offer their dogs.  So many problems arise from a lack of socializing; some that can be undone, others not. It is funny that many behaviors that dogs exhibit from a lack of socialization are often mistaken as abuse. I hear the "abuse" accusation so much from rescue folks and people in general.  A lack of socialization can be catastrophic.

When I see dogs who are fearful, perhaps aggressive or freaked out by life in general it makes me really sad.  Many of those dogs would have been well adjusted dogs given some early socializing.  Because all dogs are different, each individual will deal with socializing in their own way.  Some need a ton while others just need one introduction to everything and their good to go.  I do feel that the more intensely intelligent a dog is the more socializing they will need.  Some dogs just sail through life not really noticing much of anything and they are perfectly happy.

Having just been through the puppy stage, I am reminded of just how important it is.  You need to socialize and you need to get it done early.  There is a rule of thumb that the best and most effective socializing is done before a dog is 16 weeks old.  Then the door shuts and any work done after that age is much more difficult.  I agree, the earlier you do it the better; but, I feel that the window closes slowly and that you can get a great deal done in before 6 months of age.  That said, it is important to start before 16 weeks of age.  Basically you should start as soon as you get your puppy, preferably 8-10 weeks of age.

Of course this is all made much easier if you got your puppy from someone who has done a great deal of work with the puppies.  Fosters or breeders can do a whole lot of socializing while the puppies are with them.  It doesn't take much to give puppies a couple of new experiences every day.  But some fosters and breeders do not take the time.  If the puppies remain in their "box" which is an all too familiar surrounding until they go to there new home they will be lacking.

They should be outside, introduced to new things, water, boxes, dirt, sand and obstacles.  Lots of people should visit, young and old alike.  It is very obvious when a breeder or foster has done their job correctly, the puppies are so much more well adjusted.  Seeing a puppy that is thrown into society with no prior socializing is a sad sight.  They seem to be shell shocked by every movement, new person, dog or object.  Often when this happens an owner opts to keep them at home to protect them from the scary stuff.  This is when it goes very wrong.

I know many people who never take their dogs anywhere because they can't deal.  They were not socialized when they were young so they have no clue how to act in public.  They become an unpredictable dog, dangerous to themselves or others.  SOCIALIZE, SOCIALIZE, SOCIALIZE.  I cannot preach this enough.  All the training can wait, socializing cannot.

When I started socializing Elsa it was apparent that she already had a good start.  The day she arrived at our house she strut around the backyard like she owned the place.  She had not been fazed by the trip in the plane or meeting the gang at our house.  It was the day after that we started on getting her out.  We hit Starbucks and the frozen yogurt place.  She stayed on my lap and met everyone that would meet her.  I got her into puppy classes a couple of weeks later where she met everything from a tiny Papillon to an adult Great Dane.  She met and loved all the trainers there and the feeling was obviously mutual.  We hit the strip malls, visited a bowling alley and worked on going through automatic doors.

Our cross country road trip (PBJ and me) was great for her.  She slept in a different hotel room every night, met lots of different folks and was brought to a new State, house and life.  There we were very lucky to have an off leash beach very close to so that she could socialize with other dogs.  All of these things were so good for her to deal with at such a young age.  But even at 13 months old we are still socializing.  For me anything that she has not seen or done before is a lesson.  She is one of those intensely intelligent dogs who is very aware of everything around her.  There is no trying to swoosh by things unnoticed with this girl so we are constantly experiencing.

Basically you want to introduce your dog to as many different things as you can.  You should focus on important things that might arise in your life first.  Will you be doing a lot of boating?  Then get out in the boat early.  Will you be visiting shopping malls with your pooch?  Get out and go shopping.  Introduce them to strollers, wheel chairs, kids running with huge back packs on, screaming kids, barking dogs, people who stare, dark buildings, loud streets, whizzing cars........you name it.  Having a girl with high drive I focused on street walking so that she learned right off that cars are nothing, especially not for chasing.  So you are doing all of this plus making sure that it is all positive.  Avoiding any negative things as much as possible, a negative experience can do a lot of damage.  (More on that in a later blog.)

If you don't have time for anything else in the beginning, SOCIALIZE.  You cannot get this extremely important time back and once that door shuts it makes the job much more difficult.  If it seems like a tough job in the beginning I can guarantee to you that it only gets harder if you wait.

                             SOCIALIZE, SOCIALIZE, SOCIALIZE.  

Jealousy

The photos from this shoot are some of my all time favorite.  This big boy was a street dog and one of the most calmly, confident dogs I've ever met.  Watching his behavior was fascinating.  Here a simple touch connects human and dog.

Jealousy is a common human emotion, we see it often and it can get very ugly.  But, is it the same with dogs?  Do they get jealous in the same way that we do?  No.  Although the term 'jealous' is the best way to describe the behavior that they display in certain situations.  Let's say I just got home from the mall; I go into the house and start petting Luke.  Elsa is there immediately pushing her way between Luke and I.  Is she jealous that I am petting Luke?  Does she want me to stop petting Luke?

Anthropomorphise; to place human attributes onto animals, plants or material.

Scientists hate when humans place our own emotions onto animals.  But it is the easiest way to describe and understand what is going on.  To fully explain the act that we see as jealousy in dogs takes a long time.  There are many aspects that go into it, different levels and intricate sequences of behavior.  Status has a great deal to do with dogs and their day to day.  As pack animals it is all about where they fit in and not crossing lines.  Status does not always mean that they are trying to obtain more, it simply means where they are accepted and their acceptable state in a pack.

Your family is your dog's pack.  Where they fit in has much to do with your own behavior, the other dogs in the pack and that specific dogs temperament.  As we humans fulfill our role as leader or head of the household we obtain status through our behavior.  Our day to day guidance shows that we are the ones to follow, we make the rules so to speak.  We are their leader and they lay claim to us as such.  If you notice that your dog gets 'jealous' when other dogs approach, it is this "hey this is my leader," influence that plays in this specific behavior.

Dogs are also very social creatures, even amongst themselves they share touching as a special privilege between pack members.  This is why we can kiss our dog in the face but a stranger should never do this.  We can hug our dog but a stranger should not hug our dog.  It is that close and intimate bond that we share.  So when someone, be it a human or another dog tries to have a piece of this pack bond, your dog will most likely object.

Three dogs and one human make up this pack.  They perfectly intune, a well defined oneness.  

If you have more than one dog in your home you more than likely will have seen the jealous type behavior often.  They want their share, that's it.  Dogs learn that the delivery of affection is a most pleasurable event.  It is a bond ratification and important within a pack.  The sharing of affection is a constant assurance that you are a part of a big family.  So yes, each member will want their share.  A dog shunned and not given an allotment of affection will be an unsettled and unsure dog.  They will be constantly seeking approval from the other members of the pack.

Possession and guarding is commonly seen as jealousy.  When a dog bares it's teeth as another dog approaches it's owner, this is guarding of a possession.  This is a form of jealousy as we understand it but fully explained it is possession.   "My owner, don't touch."  Dogs can form very bad behaviors from our misunderstanding of situations.  Small dogs are notorious for guarding their owners.  Humans see it as a jealous type behavior and coddle the dog.  This only reinforces the growling and snapping behaviors as the dog tries to keep everyone away from their prize possession, you.

It is very important when you have a pack of dogs that you ration your attention appropriately.  Anyone getting snarky about their share needs to be reprimanded so as to nip a bad behavior in the bud.  They must wait their turn and understand that you control the day to day.  More insecure type dogs will be the more jealous type.  Watching a pack of dogs is huge enlightening.  Although if you do not fully understand dog behavior much of it will be seen incorrectly through our human eyes.

Temperament plays a huge part in the whole 'jealous' thing.  Many dogs may seem to be the non jealous type; but this is because they are very confident in their placement and do not seek the constant reassurance from attention.  As dogs age and mature the insecurities that can cause a jealous type behaviors often weaken.  A dog's personality can make it seem worse or less as well.  Elsa is a very exuberant girl and being that she is young she is constantly seeking approval.  So she does seem like a very jealous girl at this point in her life.  Is she actually jealous?  No.  She seeks approval, reassurance and constant touch to know that she is one of our pack.

There is a great deal of behaviors from dogs that go into the term that we understand as jealousy.  It is far different and much less damaging than jealousy in humans.

The effort in the life of a canine

The day I picked Tilley up from the breeder, I had great expectations for this little girl.  

So much excitement; the day finally arrives when you have your new puppy in your arms.  Whether that puppy is going to be a tiny 3 lb dog or a 150 whopper, the day has finally arrived and you couldn't be happier.  This means that the next 10-18 you will be building your relationship, growing your connection.  The beginning of your life together can be a challenge.  Depending on what puppy you added to your life; the amount of your canine experience and the time and effort that you put in.  There is much to do at first, training, educating, guiding, watching and much more.

As the months pass and the lessons become more sporadic you slip into a wonderful harmony.  Things are easier, life gets good again.  That is if you have put in the essential work in the beginning.  If you did not put in all the work that you should have then life will not get more simple.  In fact if you do not implement all the building blocks in the beginning of your relationship then it may become worse or break down completely.  This is a sad event.

Going through the day to day with your dog; there will be issues that arise that need dealing with.  Leaving them to another day in the hopes that they will just go away is a bad move.  When dogs have behavior concerns arise they need tending to so that they do not fester.  This is the moment that many dogs are given up or dumped.  The owner has given up, it's too much, they can't do it anymore.  The behaviors have become so bad that it is now far more than they can deal with.  Perhaps even dangerous, the dog has become a liability.  Now what?

Yesterday I got through a tough day of writing; I finished the day that we lost Tilley.  Having been in the thick of it for hours; with tears flowing down my face I pushed away from the computer.  "Let's go outside," I said to Luke and Elsa who were keeping me company in the office.  Elsa charged down the stairs and outside at my command.  I sat there for a long while with them, just watching and enjoying them enjoy the outdoors.  Elsa found some crickets to chase and Luke lay in the sun to warm his old bones.  These are the good times.

Writing about Tilley yesterday got me to thinking about how much work goes into great dogs.  Sure Tilley came to me pretty amazing but she had issues, some huge.  I worked through them, redirected some onto other more positive activities and committed to helping her through some of her fears.  After several years of constant work she was finally the Tilley that we knew she could be. She was the picture of perfection, but it took a great deal of work to get there.  Dogs have a tough job learning to live in our world.  Heck look how long it can take us to get it right.

Putting the work into a dog from the get go makes all the years that you will share together in the future, amazing ones.  I don't know how many of my students in training class said to me "I just want our dog to be like Tilley."  They didn't realize that Tilley started out as a fearful girl with way too much drive.  Those early days Tilley was not the Tilley that they saw at class.  She needed work, much like we need work ourselves.  Putting that work in at the beginning can and does make for an amazing relationship.  A connection like no other, the canine/human connection.    

Protein

Luke sampling the dried Flank steak from Just food for dogs. 

These eyes are cloudy now but in this photo they are saying one thing "more of that please."  He  LOVED the flank steak.  I knew he would.

Protein, let's talk about the good stuff today.  Protein should make up the bulk of your dogs diet.  Not any protein, quality protein.  Quality protein consists of easily digestible product compared to the low grade stuff found in many dog foods.  Yesterday I visited Just food for dogs to give them my books that I donated and to get some dried flank steak.  It resembles the dried chicken that is available for dogs (not made in China) but it is beef.  I knew that Luke would love it being that his absolute favorite food is beef.   It also makes me feel good to give him just meat.  Dogs need protein.

With the dawning of the dog food industry we were brainwashed into thinking that too much protein is a bad thing.  I never bought this; I always refer back to what wolves eat in the wild to guide me.  Yes I realize that our dogs are not wolves but they are not far off.  A dog needs meat, good quality, highly digestible meat and most dogs are not getting it.  "I never give my dogs people food," many owners boast.  This is what they've heard over the years from the pet food companies and perhaps their vet.

I hate the term "people food."  I use the term real food and our dogs deserve real food.  To call it people food makes it seem like it is all for us and the dogs get the crap that we don't want.  No that is not how it should be.  For me "people food" are things like lasagna, pizza, sausage, tacos etc.  You know, the stuff that we whip up for ourselves or buy frozen from the grocery store.  Real food is food, real and healthy.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a baker, I love to cook but my passion lies in baking.  I used to bake for a farmers market and made cheesecakes for a local restaurant.  I love baking, it makes me happy.  Well, as much as baking is wonderfully delicious it is not great for us.  I happen to suffer from hypoglycemia so I have to be very careful with my carb and sugar intact.  Protein plays a huge role in my day to day eating.  I feel best when I stick to protein and veggies.  So what I eat is not far from what my dogs eat but in different portions.  If I am having a turkey salad for lunch I will always share the turkey with them.  They just finished some cheese and turkey for our breakfast in bed.

When I read the ingredient lists on many of the dog foods out there I shudder.  This is what we give our meat eating companions?  Dogs need meat, they need the essential amino acids in it to thrive.  Yes of course a dog can survive on low grade food but imagine how they would feel on a really great food.  Whether you offer your dog raw or cooked meat it is a great addition to their diet.  Having dried meat as a treat throughout the day for my dogs is a good alternative.

I make cookies and cupcakes for my dogs but they have been exclusively designed by myself to offer as much protein as possible.  They also contain no sugar.

Along with offering quality protein to your dog as a high percentage of their diet you should also consider variety.  Good protein can come in many different forms.  Just think how differently most of us eat from day to day.  Variety is the best way to ensure good nutrition, of course if you and your dog are eating good quality foods.  Eggs, beef, fish, chicken, buffalo, lamb, pork, cheese, yogurt, variety is the spice of life.

So even if you are feeding your dog a diet of dog food, switch it up.  Buy several different protein source types and rotate them.  Many dogs who are fed one food all the time and that is it suffer badly if they are offered anything else.  Think of your dog's body as a machine, the higher quality fuel you put into it the better it will perform.

I could go on and on just about quality protein but there are some great articles out there with great meaty facts.  Dig in and research, it isn't what we've been led to believe by the big dog food companies.

Lots of great articles on protein for your reading pleasure.

Lew Olson - Protein, kidneys and senior dogs

The Dog Food Project - Is too much protein harmful?

Dog Food Advisor - Biological value of protein

Pet MD - Focusing on protein in the diet

This and that

Good Thursday morning everyone, it's almost Friday.  I thought this morning that I'd talk a bit about what's up here at my house.  The biggest news is that Elsa was spayed last Tuesday; she is doing amazing and feeling back to normal.  The last few days have been a challenge, keeping her from running and jumping now that she feels fit as a fiddle.  Today she is going to the vets for her check up.  She does not have have exterior sutures, they were all on the inside so it's just a look see to make sure everything is okay.  Her incision looks wonderful, a skinny 3.5" line that in no time will not be visible.

Elsa has been on two walks since her spaying; or perhaps I should say two bounces.  She has so much built up excess energy that she finds it hard to just walk on a leash.  I am really looking forward to a week from now when she can get off her leash and rip.  Allowing a dog like Elsa to run free is essential to a happy home and a contented dog.  :)

Luke got a haircut yesterday; with September just around the corner it will be heating up here.   I always hope that we might not get the heat but it always comes.  September is our hottest month here in SoCal.  It took no time at all to get through those lose curls.  Grooming Luke really brings home the difference in coats.  Luke has always had a curl lacking coat; the only really thick part is around his neck.  He does grow a gloriously thick and luxurious mane.  But down by his ankles there are no curls.  He is generally in a state of scruffiness unless freshly groomed which makes him beyond adorable.  The great thing about a thin coat is that it never mats, unlike Elsa who mats if you look at her.  Her coat is amazingly curly, thick and gorgeous; but much more work to keep up.

Later this morning, after Elsa's vet visit we will be heading down to Just food for dogs to deliver my two books that I am donating for a fund raising charity event that they are having this weekend.   I am donating a copy of my Dogs in the OC and my new book PBJ and me. While we are there we'll pick up some of their great dried chicken and flank steak which Luke will adore.  His all time favorite flavor is beef.

The afternoon will be taken up with book work.  I also plan on getting in touch with a training facility that offers Nose work for Elsa.  I'm really anxious to get her started and know that she will excel in it.  She uses her nose a lot, most dogs do but some like Elsa even more so.  She is constantly glued to the ground and only after a very long sniff session can she pry that nose of hers off of a scent.  She locates us in the house by scent and loves to follow behind other people and their dogs sniffing their every footstep.  Funny girl.

Elsa will also be having an introduction to dock diving in a few weeks hopefully.  Not sure how that will go as she has not actually been swimming.  When we were in Connecticut she did lots of tearing around in the water but never waded as far as having to swim.  The beaches here will allow dogs once again in a couple of weeks and I plan on donning my suit and trying to see if she might join me.  We'll see how that goes.

Next week I am heading out to photograph shelter dogs.  I'm going to be doing a blog on "The faces of shelter dogs."  Not an easy emotional task but one I feel strongly about.  Life in a shelter is tough, really tough.  I'd like to be able to get around as much as possible so that I can capture some of the amazing dogs needing to find their forever home.  I'm sure that there will be a few shed tears during the process.    But as they say "you will never be moved to do something if you always look away."

Anyhow, have a great day and give all those canines of yours a big smooch for me.

STTTTTOOOOOOOPPPPPPPP

A street scene in San Fran

STTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPP; I barely heard the shout as a woman jumped in front of my car.  We were scarcely up our street when I spotted her; luckily I had heard her as she was around a corner.  As soon as I heard and saw her I spotted the reason why she had screamed, a dog.  A small black fluff ball was running around the street.  I had no idea if it was hers or a stray; as it darted around my car.  But it quickly became clear that it was her dog.    The dog was charging around the street; running everywhere except into her arms.  She called and called to no avail.  The dog had no intention of going to her.

At one point the dog ran over to my car and bark at me through the window.  I'd started a dialogue with the owner and he didn't like it.  I thought that she was just going to pick him up; but that was not happening.   I said to her "I can help," and I pulled my xterra over.  I hopped out and the little dog let me have it.  Hopping to me while screaming that he didn't appreciate my presence I dropped to the ground.  I had been on my way to the park so I had my walking pouch on filled with treats.  I grabbed one of the chicken strips out of the pouch and tossed it to him.  He gobbled it down in a heartbeat.

Then his owner was screaming again, a car was coming down the road in the opposite direction.  The driver also stopped and then pulled over.  A young boy jumped out of the car and bent down immediately trying to coax the dog to him.  The little dog went to him right away, he was within arms reach.  Obviously the dog loved children, he had a way with the dog that as an adult I could not achieve.  As the boy reached the dog flew back avoiding his grasp.  The owner then said "my son is coming, he is the only one who can get the dog."  Ahhh, the boy and his dog connection.

Throwing more food at him he came closer and closer.  Using my best high and happy voice he came within grabbing range.  I got as low as I could go; thinking I might just get run over myself.  On my hands and knees bent down as small as I could in the middle of the road, hmmmmmmmmm.  As I moved my arm out he made a run for it.  His Mom tried to grab him on the way by and he deeked out of her way.  The young boy who was about 7 years old I'm guessing then said "why is he not coming to you?" to the owner.  "I don't know," she replied.  This is always perplexing to me as well.  He'd obviously had no training and the owner had a negative association to herself.    The dog stayed clearly out of her reach, knowing full well that being caught meant the end of his fun.

The woman had told me as I got out of my xterra that this chase was going on an hour.  "An hour?" I thought to myself.  So we all did our best to try to catch this little bugger without success.  At that point the little boy tried again, he got close and then made a grab for the dog.  I have to say that it was not a smart move but a very brave one.  He grabbed the dog by the waist and the dog lashed around to snap.  He didn't bite, he just let out a shriek and a snap and the boy let go.  I was surprised as this had not deterred the little boy from helping further.  

As this continued I went back to my xterra to grab a leash, perhaps this dog could be roped like a bull.  Before I even got to my vehicle the woman had him.  I hadn't seen how it happened but she'd grabbed him somehow.  Finally in her arms; she held tight and head for home immediately all the while shouting thanks to us.  "Thank you, thank you, thank you," she called out.  This could have been a much different scenario; she could have been carrying home a very seriously injured or dead dog.  It was a happy ending to a very stressful situation.

We both went back to our vehicles to continue on with our day.  I was impressed with that little boy; I wish that I had gotten him name and thanked him for his attempts to catch the dog.  The Dad and I just smiled at each other and got into our cars.  Heading up the street to the park the owner was waving and still thanking me.  I can only imagine the adrenaline she had rushing through her.  Time to call a trainer.

Oh look!!!! He's wagging.

Elsa is a confident girl, but a very smart one.  She was very young here, 6 mos. old maybe.  So her tail was probably a little higher than it would be today if she met this dog.  It quickly lowered as he delivered his message that he was not sharing his ball.  She ran off after their first meeting but was very intrigued by this grouchy male.  

"Oh look how happy she is."  I heard this I don't know how many times when Tilley was out in the middle of a field.  Happy?  Yes but she was not wagging out of happiness, she was excited by a trigger.  Shadows were a trigger for Tilley and when she saw one her tail would immediately go up and wag like crazy.  A wagging tail means just that; excitement.  You have to look beyond the tail to read more into what a dog is feeling.  Often a wagging tail is a bad thing.

Elsa has a full tail and because of this it is much more active.  Many times it is just the very tip that is wagging so for dogs with amputated tails you won't see any movement, only positioning of the tail. Tails are so very important, they should be left on dogs and not amputated for our viewing pleasure.  Often when Elsa is in the office with me for a long period of time; I will hear the thump of her tail.  I know what it means, she is bored and getting goofy.  If I look at her at this moment she will show her teeth to me and turn upside down hoping I'll join her on the floor; sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

So Elsa and Tilley's tails wagged in these situations but neither meant that they were happy.  An extremely aggressive dogs tail will wag as well, highly held with a stiff wag is not a good thing.  There are many ways to wag ones tail and it a nice window into a the dog's mind.  BUT; it is essentially important to watch the tail and the rest of the body.  Below is a great article on tail wagging.

Tail wagging article 

Watch your dog's tail, it will give you a great deal of information.  Elsa had a low slung tail for two days; this is highly unusual for her and let me know that she was most definitely not happy or feeling well after she was spayed.  Now at a full week after her spaying it is back up to full mast.  Just yesterday she did the tail thumping in my office, it made me smile to know that she was getting back to her old self.

Watching tails and understanding a dog's body language is very important.  Many people think they know but they don't.  I have often approached people with my dog who is wagging.  I know my dogs and for Jessie it was bad news; tail held high wagging stiffly.  Had the other person approaching understood body language they would have also seen her ears up, direct stare, hair up on her back and a very stiff little body.  But all they saw was that cute little face until they got too close; even with my warnings.

No a wagging tail does not mean happy, the tail is just a piece of the whole puzzle.