What's your favorite?

I love my mornings; sitting here as the sun peeks over the trees as I blog.  Luke and Elsa deep in sleep and dreams.  It is one of my favorite times of the day; the part before my day actually starts.  Sometimes Elsa is watching the yard for anything that might need her attention; like doves who think that they can land here.  Another of  my favorite times is our t.v. time.  I enjoy sitting on the couch with the dogs; relaxing at the end of the day.  But what makes it even more special is that it is Luke's absolutely favorite time of the day.  Each  night after dinner he waits for the smallest of signals that we are heading down to the family room.  He spins at the top of the stairs, spins at the bottom and spins until he is situated in "his" spot beside Mom. 

What is your favorite?  Of course almost every moment with our dogs are great but there are favorite times that you spend together.  Perhaps it is on a cool morning walk.  Up and out before the rest of the world; enjoying the peace before the day gets under way.  Maybe hitting the dog park or beach is your favorite?  Yesterday afternoon I was spent from the heat; I am not a fan of the heat we've been having and I plunked down on the couch.  Both Luke and Elsa stood looking at me.  It is rare that I sit there in the middle of the day.  They watched for a moment to see if I was going to stay there or move.  Once they saw that I was there for a bit they both joined me, nice. 

I truly love so much time spent with my dogs that it is hard to decide what is my favorites are.  Although I think that hiking is at the top of the list.  Meandering through the forest watching them rip and tear in all directions is about as good as it gets for me.  It has been my favorite since I had my very first dog, Mandy.  My Airedale Terrier who was an amazing dog and my constant companion.  We went everywhere together and our favorite activity was walking in the woods.  Back then we could walk for hours without ever seeing anyone else.  That is pretty special.  Every so often I'd sit and just watch her; there is much joy to be had in watching a dog have fun. 

The more time that I spend with dogs and the older that I get; I realize that just time is joy itself.  Sure there are good times, great times and not so great times together.  But some of the best are just time and nothing else.  Like this very moment; we are all piled together just enjoying. 

Great joy can be got from giving to our dogs.  Preparing for an outing strictly for them turns a moment into a great one.  Those moments are the ones that would not happen were it not for your dog and I have to say that many of those turn into the most memorable.  Taking a trip to the beach early in the morning for Luke and Elsa is never a bad idea.  If it were just me here; I'd hit the gym and then get to work.  But instead I opt for the beach walk because Luke loves the beach and of course so does Elsa. 

So what is your favorite time with your dog?  Do you have a favorite or is every moment with your canine as great as the next? 

Whatever it is,  have a great day today. 

What are you teaching?

It's going to be another scorcher today.  Thankfully I spent much of yesterday in San Diego where it was at least 8-10 degrees cooler.  Still hot but not scorching hot.  When it is as hot as it's going to be today we spend much of our time indoors.  We will head out nice and early before the searing heat hits for a bit of exercise but then we'll be in the AC.  Because today will be another "inside" day I've decided to teach Elsa to go through my legs.  She already knows how to go through; but it is sort of willy nilly style.  She runs through getting all excited but now I want to fine tune the act. 

The other day as I was putting both Luke and Elsa's harnesses on when I thought about the lesson.  Hmmmmmm, I'd like Elsa to come through my legs from the back and slip into her harness.  She already does the very cute and adorable 'latch on' exercise before we leave; which is much like a seeing eye dog does for their owner.  I go to the place where the open button for the garage door is;  she pushes under my hand until I grab her harness.  Then the button is pushed and we can leave, but not until then.  I love it, she is so cute pushing under my hand trying to get me to grab a hold of her harness. 

So now I'm going to teach her to go through my legs and into her harness.  Luke and Elsa both where the Easy Walk Harness by Premier.  This harness is perfect for the exercise because the action required to get it on is exactly what is needed.  She will have to come from behind me; go through my legs, putting her head into the harness.  From that point she will be asked to continue moving forward while I do it up under her chest. 

Elsa gets very silly and overly excited when we are learning new behaviors.  She wants to cut to the chase and get the treat.  Being treat motivated is wonderful for learning new stuff.  Dealing with her over zealous behavior takes calm and cool behavior on my part.  I need to create a black and white scenario, no gray tones for this girl.  If she is on the wrong path I will mark that with a vocal error marker and stop.  Then we start again.  (More detailed instructions on working with over enthusiasm on my website soon).

So while the sun is at it's fullest and the heat is on; we'll be working hard on learning a new behavior.  It doesn't matter what you teach your dog; any new behavior or exercise is a good one.  Many dogs who have never been given the chance to learn have a difficult time with the concept.  Once a dog understands the premise behind learning; they are typically on board for more.  What are you teaching today? 

Designer dogs, the imfamous doodle.

Standing in the park; watching Elsa charge after her ball again and again, a man shouts over to me.  Is that a "doodle?"  I am very use to the question and call back "nope, a poodle, just a poodle."  He stood for a long while watching.  He said he had two doodles at home and continued to watch.  I know he was thinking "this is a poodle?"  Most people have an skewed image of a poodle.  That of a fluffed up, pampered pooch eating bon bons on the couch all day; the type of dog that doesn't get dirty.  This of course is completely wrong, but it is what people think due to the "dog show" poodles that they have seen. 

Doodles are very popular and it seems that they are getting even more so.  There are everything from maltipoos, schnoodles, labradoodles, goldendoodles, aussiedoodles, bernoodle, boodles and the list goes on and on.  So when someone asks if my dogs are doodles, it is because there are so many doodles out there.  With the absence of Luke and Elsa's typical poodle pom poms; people don't recognize them as a poodle.  Does it bother me that people think that my dogs are doodles?  Not in the least, I don't care what people think they are.  To me they are amazing, curly coated retrievers who happen to love doing anything as long as it's with a family member.  I'm sort of smitten with the breed I'd have to say.  

So what is my take on the whole "doodle" thing?  It is not a yes or no type answer, there is much to consider.   First off there are probably less than a handful of good doodle breeders.  Good, meaning that they do all the health tests on their breeding dogs, socialize the puppies, have only a litter or two a year and temperament test.  The rest?  Greed, sheer greed.  With the misconception that the doodle dog is somehow enhanced with a sort of super amazingness, it became the dog to have.  People were scrambling to get one of these amazing dogs.  They believed all the hype and as people
do, they desired one. 

Sadly much of the labradoodle and goldendoodle hype; comes from a misconception of the poodle which was also created by humans.  Many people, especially men do not want to be seen walking own the street with a poodle; it's an image thing.  But throw a Labrador or Golden Retriever in there and they never have to admit that they have a poodle.  Whatever floats your boat.  But sadly it is the dogs that are suffering.  My issue with doodles is not the mixing of breeds, I LOVE DOGS, ALL DOGS.   What I do not love are the horrible beings who breed for profit.  The people who pump out puppies so that they can have their piece of the pie without any regard for the health or well being of the dogs. 

I was on a doodle site just last night.  The site was filled with poodle mixes of all kinds.  The list and number of puppies available was mind numbing.  This is the problem.  A miller, most doodles come from millers; big and small but they are millers.  With the big thing being doodles, of course they all jumped in; they all want a piece of the action.  It is all marketing and hype and yes we humans tend to buy into that stuff.  Stupid?  Yep.  If it's new we want it.  If they say that it's great, we want that too. 

Let me just say that doodles are not super dogs; they are not healthier than a purebred dog.  It is all false advertising.  Just because you take two different breeds and breed them together does not give you a healthy dog.  Far from it.  You could be breeding two non healthy dogs of different breeds together and sadly with the doodles; this is typically what is happening.  Unfortunately many of these supposedly healthy doodles are plagued with serious health issues.   The general public does not understand the depth of what goes into producing healthy dogs.  They've been told that the simple act of mixing a Lab and a Poodle will produce stellar health.    Wrong. 

I have worked with several people who desperately wanted a doodle because of the hypoallergenic aspect of their hair.  Two families had their hearts broken after discovering that their children were indeed allergic to them.  When you breed a Labrador to a Poodle you lose the non allergic factor of the poodle coat.  Sad.  What is even more sad is that the shelters and rescues are filling up with these very same doodle dogs.  People get them thinking they are wonder dogs; only to find out that they are dogs, just dogs who poop, pee and puke on the carpet.  They chew things and jump on you just like normal dogs. 

There are many different opinions on the whole "doodle" thing.  My opinion lies with the dogs.  Bad people breeding bad dogs; it is very sad.  These bad people dupe prospective puppy buyers into thinking that they are getting a miracle dog.  When all they are getting is a dog from a puppy miller.  Someone who cares far more about lining their pocket than a puppy or puppy buyer. 

It all started 22 years ago and if Wally Conron had known then what he knows now; the doodle would never have existed. 

Creator regrets ever creating the doodle

Do I shun a doodle when I see it?  Do I think that it is an abomination of nature?  No of course not.  I probably bend down and tell it how adorable it is.  It is after all a dog who is the product of the greedy, heartless person that bred it.  It is the not the fault of the dog at all.  Would I shake the hand of the miller who pumped out the puppy and lied to get a few bucks from a nice family?  HELL NO.  I am appalled by anyone who pumps dogs out whether they are mixes or purebreds.  Those who breed dogs several times a year; using them simply as a puppy machine.  People who keep their dogs in kennels and have a breed facility whether it is clean or filthy.  Millers, they are all millers and deserve to be thrown in prison like the dogs that they keep.

The "doodle" dilemma runs far deeper than mixing two breeds.  It is all about life; disrespecting it, cheating, robbing and the cruel treatment of.  The doodle millers would not succeed if it were not for the humans always seeking the new and improved.   

Giving negativity the boot.

I gave up negative dog training a long time ago.  I try very hard to keep positive in my day to day with Luke and Elsa.  Finding the positive way around an issue is not always easy but it is always best.  Being positive builds strong bonds and makes us look at things differently.  Negativity is all around us and I am quite frankly giving it the boot. 

I have a few Facebook groups; I love them and I take great enjoyment in meeting and hearing from all the members.  But like anything else; there is always one in every crowd.  As my groups grow I am running into some negative nellies; and I'm not a fan of any of them.  In the beginning I tried to explain my stand, what I meant etc. etc.  But now, they get the boot.  Just yesterday a member threatened to "UNLIKE" my page because I said I'd seen oodles of doodles on our walk.  I was shocked at how many I'd seen in one place and they were all the color of Elsa.  A doodle is anything mixed with a poodle.  The negative person stated that if I agreed to the mixing of poodles and other dogs that she was going to have to 'unlike' my page.   At first I got angry but then after some consideration, she got the boot.  (More on designer dogs in another blog)

Managing all my groups takes a good amount of time to do it right.  My time is valuable like anyone else's.  The more I weed out the negative the better everything is.  This person who threatened to 'unlike' my page (like I care) knew nothing about me and yet still found it to be her prerogative to accuse.  I have very few rules on my pages but one is that it must remain positive.  So that old saying that your Mother told you a million times as you were growing up has been instilled.  "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."  Mean, rude or disrespectful comments are deleted immediately.  If I think that comments are too disrespectful then that negative person is given the boot. 

Thankfully I have had to only boot 3-4 negatives so far.  But as my groups grow my patience diminishes.  I don't have time to let negativity hang around.  So I am much more free with my delete button.  Being positive not only makes you feel better but creates a positive atmosphere around you.  Dishing out negativity creates more negativity. 

When I am faced with a new canine behavior to deal with I look at solving it with positivity.  If you look at the same problem and try to fix it through negative actions the impact with be vastly different.   Positive versus negative; there is no comparison.  My act of deleting negativity from my groups is a positive one; removing the negative to make room for the positive.  It is a stand I take and one that I will not waver on.  Really, if you cannot play nice with others, then don't. 

I work very diligently to keep my canine interactions positive.   Keeping my human interactions as positive can take more work but with a bit of weeding I keep pretty much on top of things. 

Have a wonderful positive day.  :)

Dirty dog?

Yesterday I uploaded this video of Elsa to several of my FB sites.  Most people loved it; they thought Elsa was a great baking assistant, and of course she is.   But a few folks commented that they hoped that the knife she was licking was just a dog knife; or that it was going in the garbage afterwards.  Of course this left me pondering on how different we all are.  I never gave Elsa's knife licking another thought after she had enjoyed the almond butter.  I did what I always do and rinsed the knife and placed it into the dishwasher with all the other dirty dishes. 

I am not one who spends hours and hours scrubbing an disinfecting, let's say a cleaning fanatic.  No I  prefer to spend time doing things that I love. I for one think that my home is pretty darned clean; not spotless but perfectly livable and I've had a lot to compare it to.  I've been inside a lot of dog houses and I could tell you some stories of what I've seen.

As far as those who feel the need to live in a perfectly disinfected world?  Well, I believe that those disinfecting spray and wipe things are actually bad for you.  Not only do they add a bucket load of chemicals to your life but they also take away good germs and bacteria.  Our contact with common germs on a daily basis is how we build a great immunity.    There are many studies being done on babies, immunity and animals.  Just being around dogs is good for your health in  more ways than one.  Dirt and germs from our dogs help to keep us healthy.  Of course I'm not talking about filth; just good old normal dirt that is life with dogs. 

Everyone is different, we all do in life what we see fit as correct for us.  I've been in dog owners yards which were filled with poop from fence to fence and yet they see  nothing wrong with this.  I for one am mortified that it is not picked up and clean but hey, it's their house right?  Other homes allow their dog or dogs to constantly counter surf; helping themselves to whatever they like.  Again, not in my house.  I have also seen people soak up a pee accident with a paper towel and then walk away.  That is their way of cleaning it, just soaking it up.  Not me, I'm down scrubbing.  But to each his own. 

I love gardening in the dirt; it makes me happy.  But I know lots of people who hate getting dirty; dirt on their hands if far from enjoyable.  Everyone's idea of clean is as different as each individual.  The fact that Elsa licked my knife was just fine with me.  I was licking it after her; it was going in the dishwasher where it would be thoroughly cleaned after I rinsed the remaining almond butter off.  I take a very common sense stand as far as life with dogs and cleanliness.  But of course this is my own opinion and there are as many differing opinions as there are dogs and people. 

But don't forget that there is good dirt and in the long run it could boost your immunity.  :) 

Just Luke

"Just Luke" I said and her ears dropped.  Yay, she completely understands now.  I was going through my normal morning routine which Elsa has known for eons.  She figures out routine way too fast for her own good.  But this morning was one of the "different" mornings.  I really wanted to take Luke out on his own.  He is slowing down and taking his time; making it more difficult to walk both Elsa and Luke together.  It is good for both of them and me as well.  I get to enjoy everything about each one as an individual; not that I don't enjoy them as a pair.  They are after all a pretty adorable pair.  Any hoo, it was one of those "just Luke," days.

Every second of the day Elsa watches me like a hawk; morning time is walk time, especially in the summer.  She watches my every move; constantly anticipating the sock move.  She knows whats coming and doesn't leave my side.  When I reach the top of the stairs, her eyes are glued on mine.  As I take the first step down the steps she is already at the bottom spinning.  So I tell her then; before she gets too excited "just Luke."  Every molecule of her being sinks.  Her ears go down and she gets her "did I hear you correctly?" face on.  I tell her again so that she is perfectly clear, "just Luke."  The degree of her understanding is amazing.  Her whole reaction is complete realization.

Luke also understands and his ears perk up.  I've been using the "just" term for years and years.  It always precedes someone's name.  I use to use it much more often when there were three and then four dogs in the house.  Now that there are only two I don't use it quite as often.  But even using it very infrequently; Elsa has got it like everything else she gets.  She clearly knew what I said this morning and when I went to the garage door she was not chomping at the bit.  She knew she wasn't going and stood to the side; allowing Luke to go out the door without any hindrance.

Not only does she understand what "just Luke," means; she is much better with the whole idea of "just Luke."  She use to come quite unglued being left at home.  Of course she'd rather not be left but she is fine with it which is so very important.  We had a few life issues in her first year with us that sort of put the, being left at home alone on the back burner.  With the loss of Jessie and then Tilley just three weeks later Luke suffered from some separation issues in Connecticut and then again when we returned to California.  When we arrived back home in Southern California and to our old house; I am sure that Luke thought they'd be here.  When they were nowhere in sight he had a few issues to deal with once again.  Sad but part of life and we got through it.

So not only is Elsa good with being left alone; Luke can also be left alone now.  It is so very important.  If you have multiple dogs and are not doing alone time, you need to start.

Coyotes, a real threat.

Coyotes are a real threat; if you have small dogs then you need to be aware.    The species lives just about everywhere throughout North America, Central America and Mexico.  It is an opportunistic hunter and will eat anything from vegetation and nuts to larger animals such as chicken, sheep, cats and dogs.  They have been very successful with the integration of their species into populated areas and are commonly seen running down streets.   I have seen many here in Southern California; while out at parks or driving around.  Just yesterday morning one ran down the street in front of me on my way back from the gym.  I had been to the gym later so it was surprising for me to see at around 9:00 am.  I first thought that it was a German Shepherd mix running off leash with it's boys.  But when it turned to look over it's shoulder at them I realized that it was a coyote; and a big, well fed coyote at that.  I followed it for a bit and then headed home to make sure that Luke was not out.

I have heard many stories of dogs being taken by coyotes.  I can't imagine, it was one of my greatest fears and a constant worry when I had Jessie.  I have heard of more Jack Russell's being taken than any other dog.  Perhaps it is the tough attitude that a JRT has the gives owners a false sense of security.  Whereas most people who have tiny Chihuahua type dogs know that they are vulnerable.  But it is not just the tiny ones who are taken.  The largest dog that I know taken was a Brittany Spaniel; they are a substantial sized dog.  This dog was taken out of it's own backyard by a pack of coyotes.  She was old and didn't stand a chance against a healthy young coyote pack.  Such a sad way to go. 

Am I an alarmist?  No, not at all.  I love all wildlife and have great respect for it.   Yesterday's spotting was simply a reminder to me that they are around.  Sometimes I forget now that I don't have any small ones around.  Of course Penny visits often but I'd like to see them try to take her.  One snap of that powerful jaw of hers would have them realizing that they were after the wrong dog and head for the hills.  If they are in your area you should be aware.  While photographing a couple of Kuvasz several years back we were graced by a coyote on the scene.  It was perfect timing and gave me the shot I needed to make the cover of the magazine.  Kuvasz are bred to protect their heard and when the coyote showed up they kicked into gear.  It was very interesting.

Just recently I heard of a family losing their small dog to a coyote.  This was more east of us and a known place for lots of coyotes.  It takes but a  moment for them to snatch a dog.  They grab and run; they do not stand and fight to the death there in front of you.  Another woman with a Jack Russell who I know had a tug-o-war with her dog and a coyote.  Lucky for her the dog was on a leash and she was able to fight back.  She got her dog back with huge punctures in it's rib cage.  She head straight to the Vet and the dog was saved. 

Coyotes are opportunists so if we humans fail to keep our dogs safe; they will take the opportunity.  As far as cats go?  Don't even get me started there.  I've been witness to cat deaths by coyotes far too often and do not understand cats at large with the threat of coyotes around.  I just don't get it.  But then again, this is about dogs.  Keep yours safe. 

Canines, amazing.

What came to mind as I opened my computer this morning and thought about blogging was dogs.  Hahaha, very funny, right?  No I mean just dogs; (another slip, oops) dogs in the simplest form.  Not their behavior, not problems, not a story or something I saw, simply dogs.  Laying across my legs is Elsa, her 600 lb body causing me to shift uncomfortably and beside her, closer to the end of the bed is Luke.  They are doing nothing; both are deep in sleep but even then they bring me such joy.  Just watching them as they twitch away in their dreams makes me happy. 

Much of our time together is spent just being; coexisting within a moment.   When given the chance they will always choose to follow me.  Where I lie or sit, they are by my side.  There are no words spoken but much is understood in the silence.  We are one. 

When you bring a dog into your family; there is much anticipation, sometimes expectation.  What does a dog consider when they are added to a new family?  Do they have hopes and dreams?  Doubtful, what they want is companionship; a being to chill with in their day to day.  Living with dogs is all about... living with dogs.  A redundant statement; yes, but one that can be missed by it's simplicity. 

Our job as a guardian of canines, is to care for and give our dogs a wonderful life.  That not only means offering great nutrition, socializing, exercise and comfort but a oneness that can only be achieved with a dog.  Many people live with dogs without ever truly knowing a dog.  There is nothing like it; when you finally connect with a dog the way that it should be, you will no doubt be changed forever.  It can be that one connection that moves you into the true dog person realm.  I remember having a discussion years ago with a woman who had four dogs.  When I spoke of knowing what my dogs were thinking she asked "how do you know what they are thinking?"  This question left me full of my own questions; one being "how do you not know?"  She did not know because although she had four dogs at her house; she did not truly live with her dogs, they were outside dogs. 

Exterior makes no difference to a connection.  From the largest, furriest giant dog to the hairless, tiny munchkins; there is a connection to be made with each and every one.  All are different just like we are all different.  But the difference is only in the image and personality; the canine amazingness is in each.  It is a connection that lets us see the amazing in a dog.  If you have never had a connection that has changed your very being then it is time to make one.  First contact, is a powerful one.  Allowing yourself to be swept away by the true awesomeness of a dog is so powerful that you cannot be left unchanged by it.  

Once you have made a true connection with a dog it will happen again and again.  This can happen with dogs who are strangers; not only your own dog or dogs.  I find myself quite smitten within moments of meeting other dogs.  I love the heart of a canine.  When I have the chance to meet and connect with other dogs I am always left with a sense of honor.  I may not get to live with them, but we had a fleeting connection.  It is the little things. 

Who dunnit?

                   I took this photo many years ago; but remember the moment like it was yesterday.  The big dogs rallied together, trying to intimidate the little one.  He was not intimidated and held his own.  Lucky for him the Labradors were impressed and welcomed him into their club. 


You know those you tube's where an owners is asking their dogs "who did this?"  The ones that everyone think are so funny?  Well I hate them, I do not think that they are funny.  Why you ask?  I'll tell ya.   When  dog's ears drop, their head lowers and their eyes squint; they are submitting.  When you continue to push the submit buttons, just imagine how a dog is feeling during the interaction?  I can get my dogs to look guilty easily; most people can but should we?  No. 

Dog communications are fleeting, very swiftly given and meant to be received and read as quickly.  Unless there is a huge turmoil between dogs; messages typically last seconds or fractions of seconds.  Continued submitting puts a dog in a very stressful situation.  It causes great anxiety.  Constantly asking "did you do this?" just to get a cute behavior out of a dog is really sad. 

So many people come to the conclusion that their dog knows they've done wrong just by their behavior when asked.  But try asking when they have done nothing wrong; you'll get the same guilty behavior.  We humans have a tendency to draw things out, don't we?  When we are mad we love to prolong the agony; trying to ingrain a message to the core.  But dogs don't work like that; their world revolves around the moment.  Instant feedback is how they learn and deal with issues in life..  It is by far the best way to deal with their behaviors; both desirable and unwanted.  Instantaneously. 

Playing with your dog's emotions is not a good idea.  They don't understand "I was just kidding," moments like we do.  You cannot tell them after asking them "did you do this?" that it was all just to show your friends how cute they look when they are guilty.  I don't think that it is cute or funny; canine communications are very serious.  By drawing out a submission, you put a great deal of stress and risk fallout behaviors from it.  When a dog is forced to submit for long periods of time; it may not last forever.  There may come a time when they say "enough is enough."  Submission can go bad when a dog has had enough.  Then what? 

Some trainers (like on television) think that constant submissive signals are required for a proper relationship.  They believe that dogs need to be consistently signaling submission to us.  That is a bunch of dog crap.  Life is filled with feedback moments but when life is good it should just be good.  There should be no constant requirement to submit.  Saving serious feedback for serious moments hold much more impact.  Even then a small communication is all that may be needed.  Take for instance when your dog is chewing on your favorite shoes.  That is a moment to offer feedback.  What I look for is the slightest ear drop of "ooops, wrong item."  The issue is dealt with; move on. 

Being in a submissive state is not healthy; nor is a good place for any dog to be in.  It should only be called upon when truly required for a communication.  Don't use it as entertainment.  Dogs would never do that to us.  Come on people. 

Breaking the chain of habit

Recently my husband and I ran into a whole bunch of Guide Dog puppy raisers and their puppies.  I have met many puppies wearing their yellow vests, out and about socializing.A Guide Dog puppy raiser's job is to socialize and teach basic obedience.  At around the age of 18 months of age the puppy then goes through intensive Guide dog training in hopes of being placed with a blind person in need.   It is a wonderful thing when it all comes together and a dog passes the test of being a certified Guide Dog.  I pulled out my phone and asked if I could snap some pictures.  I thought that these guys and their socializing would make for a nice blog piece, but it turned into something else. 

Sadly what I witnessed just a few days ago were a bunch of puppies who were being yanked around  on chains.  Of course I stopped to talk to them as I had never seen so many in one place before.  When I stopped, I bent down to pet the beautiful yellow Labrador baby in front of me.  She squinted in submission and offered me a couple of licks; but the response from her raiser was some discipline for licking. "No lick, no lick,"  he said very sharply as he slapped her under the chin.  I stood immediately and just watched the rest who were all Labradors except for one German Shepherd puppy.  I realized then that they all had huge choke collars on.  I was surprised because the last bunch of Guide dogs I'd seen were wearing Gentle leaders and Easy Walk harnesses. 

Instead of a great social event with all the puppies being happy it was a very negative coming together from my point of view.  Yanking chains was all I could hear along with the multiple "NO's" from the puppy raisers.  As the puppies tried to interact with one another they were firmly yanked back.  I thought the whole idea was to interact with one another; the formal training comes later, no?  So now I'm curious as to how much guidance and education that puppy raisers are given as far as socializing their puppy.  Socializing is huge; you all know how much I preach about the socializing part of puppyhood.  It is the most important aspect of raising a puppy.  But socializing should be fun and positive; negative experiences at a young age can have lasting effects.

Now I am not coming down on Guide dogs as a whole; like I said I think it is wonderful.  But how much education is given to the puppy raisers on how to and not to socialize properly is offered?  Were these puppy raisers just guided by an over zealous puppy raiser?  One who thought his job was to whip these little wanna be Guide Dogs into shape?  Perhaps.   But this bunch of little perspective Guide dog's necks were suffering the brunt of some serious yanking.  My husband said "let's go" as he could not stand to see them yanked on further; he continued to voice his concerns about the treatment as we walked away.  It wasn't just me, the positive trainer who had seen the wrong.

I was very surprised and plan on contacting the Guide Dogs of America to find out how much guidance, puppy raisers are given.  It was definitely not a feel good moment. 

Luke turns 13

Today is the day, the big man turns 13 and I could not be more thrilled.  It seems like just yesterday he joined our family.  The story of how he joined us is one of fate; it was just meant to be.  At the time I was working with a breeder to have a puppy shipped to us but once I met Luke at a friends house I could not get that little blonde face out of my mind.  I met him at 7 weeks of age and 5 weeks later he came home with us.

Luke is one of the loves of my life; he is a very, very special guy.  Never has a dog taught me so much about dogs and loving them than he has.  Happy Birthday my amazing man.

Luke's companion for over 11 years.  Tilley on the left.

Enjoying a run with Brad.

My love, my life.  Luke. 

Really?

Oh yes, I've written about this person before but I ran into her again today.  Let me ask you this... "should you have your dogs off leash if they will not come to you?"  I know, silly question.  But alas, there she was with her not so warm and fuzzy dogs OFF LEASH, again.  Luckily I spotted her from afar.  She was clear on the other side of the park when one of her dogs caught my attention.  We were done and heading out when I saw him so I just picked up my pace.  With Luke being so frail now a run in with some cranky dogs is not on my things to do list; so I am beyond careful with him and Elsa as well.  We got back to the car when she rounded the corner with one of her dogs.  The other?  Well, he was doing what he darn well pleased.

Her dogs had been on the other side of the fence from her which in itself is really stupid.  One dog had joined her on her side of the fence while the other decided not to.  I watched in amazement for a while before pulling out of the parking lot.  She called and called her dog who pretty much flipped her off and continued on his merry way.  She shrugged and followed him down the fence; her on one side and him on the other.  This is not a good situation unless of course you are out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to worry about. 

It doesn't matter how many times I see this; it still leaves me shaking my head in astonishment.  Another time I was standing talking to someone when her dog bolted off.  He was after squirrels and no matter how much she called he was not coming back until he was completely done.  Again, a very dangerous situation; you need to have control of your dog.  If your dog takes off, ignoring you completely then your dog should not be off leash.  Training needs to be started and consequences implemented. 

Just yesterday Elsa stopped, dropped her ball and began to sniff.  I yelled across the field "HEY," which is usually suffice to get her moving.  It was not so I gave her one chance; I called to her "Elsa Come," which is used very sparingly.  She stopped sniffing immediately; picked up her ball and headed to me.  Nice.  We have only had a couple of times where consequences were needed but she learned the lesson well.  Consequences for me are simply getting mad; calm and very steady go get the dog who is not coming and send them to the spot where I called them from. 

One of the last things I want to hear from someone when I ask them to put their dog on leash is "oh she won't come."  Really?

Another hump day

                     
                   This photo was taken with my laptop camera.  Not great but it will do in a pinch.  They've come a long way with computer and phone cameras. 

Well I've officially been without my main computer for a week.  I pick it up today, so I'm hoping that they fixed the blue screen issue.  I feel very lost without it; even though just hours before the crash I got a new laptop.  My main PC is the hub of my life; it is where I write, upload photos and stay connected throughout the day.  I love my office as well, both Elsa and Luke love it too so it will be nice to put my computer back in its home and get back to work.  I really like this new laptop but it is not my computer.  For one thing it has Windows 8 on it which I'm trying to get a handle on.  It is pretty easy but getting use to it is something else.  But I'm getting there. 

This new laptop has no disc drive so that means no putting old software into it.  Hmmmmmmmm???  When I was looking at all the new ones without disc drives I sat staring and pondering; this was going to be some work to dig up codes for online software.  Either dig up the old or go with the flow and buy new.  For Photoshop I'm going to have to go with new; upgrading to the newest version.  That's fine, I was meaning to do it anyway.  This laptop is light weight, so it can be dragged along with me everywhere which will enable me to write on the fly.  Nice.

So I have a new phone, new laptop and hopefully repaired office computer.  I'll be all set as far as my technology needs go.  Now to make them work for me.  I'm nearing the end of my training book and will hopefully have it out before Christmas.  My second book about my trip from CA to CT and back again is also nearing completion.  That one is a tough write so it is taking much longer. 

My main website www.justdogswithsherri.com is getting a much needed facelift.  New and exciting additions are coming but it will be a while until everything is up and running smoothly.  I am working on a webinar as well.  The first one is well under way and ideas for future webinars are in the works.  So stay tuned for that. 

I have incorporated my consultation packages on my website now and am excited to hear from and help those of you out who need it. 

Lots of changes coming and only one direction to go, straight ahead.

No, I mean really individual

As many of you know I am always talking about how each dog is an individual.  Many breeds have specific traits which are commonly seen and can be seen in mixes of that breed.  But when you really breakdown a dog and their behavior; they can be radically different.  Through my  years of training I have seen this a great deal.  When I was doing group classes; they were small enough that I could take some one on one time for each dog and their family.  Listening to them as they explained specific issues with their individual dog allowed me to help that individual dog and the owners.

After many group classes I moved onto private in-home training which enabled me to really fine tune training and help each dog and their family more specifically.  It amazes me how many trainers have one way of doing things.  Once you start working with dogs you quickly realize that they are all very, very different.  Having one bag of training tricks is a handicap because as great as you might think that your one way is; it will not work on all.  Being flexible is essential in being a good dog trainer.  The next most important thing is to listen; if you aren't listening you won't understand the small differences that an owner is trying to describe. 

Dissecting behavior is what I do; not just when I'm on a training call but all the time.  Watching each and every move and breaking it down to fractional signals is huge.  When people find out that I am a trainer I often am tossed immediate questions.  "My dog does...."  I try to help but a really great answer could take a lot of time.  Each answer brings up more questions until I can get to the bottom of a problem.  Even then, if I am relying solely on the owner to give me the answers then I might not be able to help.  I often need to see a dog in action  myself or at least meet the dog in their home. 

What drives a dog can be so different.  Life experiences, genetic make up and environmental stimulus all play a huge role in making your dog, yours.  This past weekend I was once again reminded how different Penny is from Luke and Elsa.  Even though Elsa has very high drive she is not triggered by motion like Penny is.  A oscillating stream of water was coming through the back fence when Penny spotted it.  Luckily I spotted it right at the same time.  I ran and grabbed her just as she was slipping into her trance state.  She is very triggered by motion and if you don't catch her before she indulges, it is very difficult.  Elsa stood watching Penny, not understanding what she was after.

They are all so very different.  I cooked up some great food on the weekend, both for the dogs and the humans.  I made Luke and Elsa's food and threw some leftover shrimp into Elsa's bowl.  I was shocked to see her eat everything but the shrimp.  She'd eaten shrimp before and loved them; but they had been prepared deliciously, these were simple cold cocktail shrimp and she was not a fan of these rubbery, tasteless little things.  Oddly enough Luke was a fan and ate every one.  How funny. 

Each dog is so very individual; from their tastes, drive, motivation, triggers and fears.  Their exterior can be vastly different or very cookie cutter like but inside lies the heart of a very individual and special dog like no other. 

Meet and greets

 

As you all know I am big on socializing; it is one of the most important factors with having dogs.    At two years old now; Elsa has a great deal of it under her belt.  But the socializing doesn't stop there; I am constantly on the look out for nice dogs to say hi to.  We don't say hi to everyone and learning to calmly walk by some dogs is just as important as saying hi.  There are always dogs at the parks, beaches and fields that you just don't want to talk to.  They either give off clear "not friendly" vibes or their owner shares this information with you.  Too many bad interactions can cause a dog to react defensively more often.  So we are very choosey who we say hi to.

At thirteen years old, Luke is beyond needing socializing.  He has a list of dislikes that has grown over the years.  I know him so well that I can tell way in advance if an oncoming dog will be a match or not.  It can be a certain breed or body language that a dog is giving off.  If it's not a match we simply take some space.  As for Elsa, she is much more flexible yet she too has had some bad interactions so I do my best to minimize these.  Picking and choosing who to say hi to takes work.  You need to read the other dog and do it quickly.  Much has to do with an owner.  The other day we walked passed a guy with an older Labrador; Luke is not a big fan of Labs.  But the biggest factor in not talking to these two was the man who was barely holding the leash.  The dog was straining at the end and it looked like it was all the owner could do to hold on.  Not good. 

Leash aggression is a very common issue with dogs.  When you put a leash on a dog; several things happen.  One you have your dog within your personal circle making the guarding reaction kick into gear.  Then we add onto that the whole tension on the leash issue.  Humans typically do much too much pulling and tugging on a leash.  This in itself gives off lots of incorrect messages via the dog.  As the owner pulls back the dog pulls forward; which implies a lunging statement from the dog.  In turn the other dog seeing this gets defensive.  Then there is the whole relaying of our own emotions to the dog via the leash.  The leash also takes away the ability to move away for a dog.  Moving freely makes things much more relaxed. 

Sometimes I will walk very close to another dog so that I can see their body language a bit more clearly before making a decision.  Lots of people say "yes, very friendly" when asked but they are often incorrect in their response.  I make the decision for myself, whether they have said that their dog is friendly or not.  If it is just Luke with me then we don't bother; when I'm out with Luke I am out for simply the outing unless we run into a friend of his.  But for Elsa I am always looking for a nice dog to perhaps makes friends with. 

The other day Elsa and Luke stopped to talk to a nice little poodle mix.  He was a bit apprehensive but not enough to give off any aggressive responses.  We made it short and sweet which is always the best way to go and continued on our way.  Up ahead I saw a Golden and Siberian interacting; even though both dogs were wagging, it was clear that there was tension.  I opted to make a big arch around these two and to the other side of the park.  As we passed by them the little dog we had been talking to stopped to chat with the Siberian and they got into a scuffle.  I'd made the right decision as far as that one had been concerned.  If you are in doubt at all, don't.  It just is not worth the work of undoing the fallout behaviors that come from negative greetings. 

Socializing is wonderful but minimizing the negative is just as important.  Pick and choose.  Best to have two great interactions than a whole handful of bad ones; negative fuels negative. 

DON'T LEAVE YOUR DOGS IN THE CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leave them at home.  

I honestly cannot believe how many times I have had to hunt down owners who have left their dogs in a hot car.  Luke, Elsa and I were just at the park for a nice walk.  We pulled up beside a van as I saw the owner of the van walking towards the community center.  I got out and as soon as I lifted the hatch and Luke stuck out his head the dogs in the van beside us went off.  The whole van was shaking due to a large dog in the back having a fit.  I checked the windows to make sure that the dog was not going to come diving out at us and then got my own guys out.  I remained calm while the dogs were literally hurling themselves at the windows.  I wanted to relay to Luke and Elsa that this was a non issue.  The sun was just starting to peak out and I thought about the person who left these dogs here.

We went off on our walk; I knew that we would not be long, Luke can't walk that far anymore.  We met some nice dogs and had a short leisurely walk.  As we got close to the Xterra the dogs started again; they were going off on my guys and the sun was fully out.  I opened the hatch and gave Luke and Elsa a drink before getting in the car myself.  It was hot, too hot for those dogs to be in the car.  Yep, I had to do some more hunting.  I found a spot to park in the shade; an illegal parking spot but it was shadey.  I opened all the windows about 6 inches; locked the car and ran into the building.  I gave the girl at the front desk a run down and she said that the person could be anywhere.  Not wanting to leave my own guys in the car long; even in the shade I ran.  Down the hall, looking into every room; trying to find the woman I'd seen leaving the van.

Finally, as I peered through the glass of the last door I saw her.  It was an exercise class so she would be in there a while.  The door was locked so I banged on it. The teacher of the class cracked the door open; she was bothered by my presence so I cut to the chase.  "That lady"I said, pointing to a woman in the middle of the room "has left her dogs in the car and it's hot." She closed the door and delivered my message.  I had to calm myself; going off on people doesn't help in these type of situations, it just makes them mad.  So in a very serious tone I told her; "leave your dogs at home."

She followed close behind me as we head to the door; all the while I was lecturing.  She thanked me twice so I did get the message across.  I ran out ahead of her making a b-line to my own dogs.  Hopping in the car I was happy that it wasn't hot; having been in the shade it didn't have time to heat up the short time I was hunting for the owner of the not so lucky dogs.  The woman's friends will do doubt ask what happened; and she will hopefully be honest and tell them.  Each person who learns will hopefully tell one other person.

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOGS IN THE CAR!!!!!!!!!

Cars heat up quickly, even if it is only 70 degrees outside; the inside of a car can become sweltering.  Why risk it?  Leave your dogs at home; in the safety and comfort of their own surroundings.  Not only were these dogs subjected to heat that they should not have to endure; but they were stressed to boot.  They would have been much happier at home; waiting for their Mom to return.  Honestly.
 

Your dog's wasitline

                                             This Lab could definitely use to lose a few. 

Does your dog have a waistline?  They should.  All dogs, no matter what breed or mix of breeds should have a waistline.  It always amazes that people think certain breeds can carry around more weight than others.  A few of the regular pudgy breeds that I see are:  Labradors, Pugs, Dachshunds, Beagles, Bulldogs and Cocker Spaniels.  But it is not limited to these guys; I see all kinds of dogs carrying too much weight.  From a bit too much around the middle to morbidly obese.  No dog should be overweight, not even the ones mentioned above.  No matter how long or tall a dog is; they should have a waistline. 

Dogs are not tubes, they have shape and the waist should tuck in.  Of course it will tuck in differently on each dog; depending on the actual structure of that particular dog.  Take Dachshunds for example; these guys already have a tough time getting around with their tiny legs; but for some reason they are allowed to over indulge and carry extra weight.  A Dachshund who is lean and muscled is a beautiful thing. Sadly many of them resemble the "wiener dog" label they have been given.  Funny, if I see a Dachshund who is lean and fit I am surprised. 

Dogs don't get fat on their own, we do it to them.  They do not go to the cupboard and pour themselves too much food.  They do not choose to sit on the couch all day in lieu of running at the park.  No, that is our choice and a fat dog is a sick dog.  Being overweight can do a great deal of damage to a dog.  Vital organs can be effected by added weight as well as joints.  Carrying around extra weight causes a dog to move less which then leads to more weight gain.  If they do move around with extra weight they are more prone to serious injury. 

An easy way to see if your dog is carrying around a bit much is to look and feel.  Stand back and look from the side, do they tuck up?  Stand above and look down, do they have a waistline?   Now some dogs have extra skin that hangs down between the back leg and chest, take that into account.   Feel, can you feel your dogs ribs?  You should be able to.  It should feel like a thin layer of neoprene over the ribs.  If you can just feel ribs and skin then they are too thin.  If you can't feel the ribs at all...well, your dog is too fat.  If you have a deep chested dog then you should see a substantial waistline.  If not then you have work to do, yes you.

Depending on the size of a dog; a mere few pounds can make a big difference.  One day as I was carrying Tilley down the stairs and feeling the extra weight in my knees it hit me; if I was 45 lbs heavier this is how I would feel.  I struggle with weight constantly; what goes in my mouth is my choice.  What goes into Luke and Elsa's mouth is also my choice; it is much easier to keep them lean and healthy.   No dog wants to be fat, it is no fun at all.  They can run and play like they should be able to; they feel old before their time and their body suffers. 

Do the waistline check, look and feel.  The big secret to weight loss in dogs is the same for us; eat let, move more. 

It's bath day

It's bath day yet again.  Typically I bathe the dogs every couple of weeks;  more or less when needed.  In the summer months I try to get one in every week if I suspect fleas.  Fleas are easily killed by some water, suds and a 5-7 min. time span.  I also vacuum the house a lot eliminating the chance of fleas living in the house.  When I bathe the dogs, all their bedding is washed.  I have blankets on most of the beds which makes it much easier to do weekly washing.  I hate pulling those huge beds out of their casing; it is such a hassle.  So with blankets on top I just have to wash the blankets every couple of weeks and the actual bed cover less frequently. 

Luke is in need of a bath, even though he doesn't get dirty from tearing around he has become smellier in his age.  Ahhhh, the old dog smell.  He sleeps a lot which in itself causes him to get stinky.  He has always had more smell than the girls.  Tilley always smelled like a clean blanket; in fact we were just talking about her on the weekend.  My daughter asked my son if he remembered her smell and he said "ya, she smelled like a blanket."  We reminisced a bit about her and I remembered the day we lost her.  I held her tightly in my arms, breathing her smell into my core; there it would stay for the rest of my life.  I will never forget her smell. 

All dogs smell differently, Elsa also smells wonderful but not like Tilley.  Jessie, being that she was a smooth coated Jack Russell was much stinkier in general.  Shedding dogs tend to smell more than poodles; it is the difference in the coat.  Penny is a real stinker, but she has very sensitive skin too, so my daughter must be careful about too many baths.  Yes, a bath strips the natural oil from a dog's coat.  But it also takes the smell away.  There is a fine line between too many baths and not enough.  I have been in the presence of dogs who desperately needed a bath.  One woman who's dog I was shooting said she never bathed her dogs, like in the wild their coats cleaned themselves.  One whiff of her dog let me know that she wasn't kidding about never bathing her; and the feel was horrible leaving a greasing coating on my hand.  No thank you.

Elsa needs more baths when Penny has been visiting often.  The two of them roll in the dirt and mouth each other constantly creating bigtime smell and crunch.  After Penny leaves and Elsa has time to dry she is usually left with a crunchy collar and needs a bath.  So today will be that day.  Both Luke and Elsa will be lathered up, sit for 5-7 min. just in case there are any fleas hanging around and then rinsed, towel and forced air dried.  Then if I have a few extra moments, Elsa will get a quick trim. 

Bathing is a great time to have a really good look and feel of your dog.  I have seen several spots on Luke that we've gotten checked out after a bath.  It is also a bonding time; even though they aren't thrilled with the idea of going into the shower they get to spend one on one with Mom.  That goes for the rest of the process as well, towel drying, forced air drying, brushing and grooming.  It's all about them and building trust. 

Letting them duke it out

"Let them settle it."  This is the long standing way; let the dogs settle it on their own.  Many people still believe that this is the way to settle disputes among dogs.  But it is never a good idea; duking it out can have a snowball effect; once they start it just keeps growing.  I do not allow nonsense in my house.  That means that growls are fine but that is where I draw the line.  Of course I have no refereeing to do with Luke and Elsa as they are a match made in heaven but when I had Tilley, Jessie and Luke; there were a few times when I had to step in.  Jessie was a very dominant little dog and every once in a while she would like to throw her 15 lbs of weight around.  I allowed a little of her displays; most was directed at Luke when he was young.  He loved to push her buttons.

As far as Tilley and Jessie were concerned; they had an understanding.  Tilley was very happy just being, she had no desire for position within the pack.  Jessie was the boss, she wanted and needed to be the boss.  But if Jessie tried to discipline Tilley harshly; I could see that it was crossing an invisible line for Tilley.  She was fine with a little growl or communication but anything more in Tilley's eyes was uncalled for.   I never allowed anything more than an initial communication.  Dogs need to communicate and if you take that away, things can go very wrong.  I know many people who say "no growling allowed in my house."  This can leave the dogs frustrated and confused which then leads to aggression.  It also puts you in a handicapped position as far as knowing what's going on. 

I am often asked about letting them settle it.  No, do not let them settle it.  Once dogs fight to settle a conflict; it can become a more regular occurrence.  I have seen dogs who lived together for years without any issues until one fight.  Then the fighting came more often until one ended up in the emergency room.  At this point the dogs lived separately; and the owner did the juggling routine that I am not a fan of.  Each dog on opposite sides of the house.  The problem with this is that it is not a great way for a dog to live and there is going to be a slip up inevitably. 

Probably the biggest problem I see as far as stepping in is with the humans disciplining the wrong dog.  I cannot tell you how many times I see people disciplining an adult dog in the family when they bring home a new puppy.  The new puppy is testing the waters and pushing the adult; when the adult growls as it should, the humans discipline it for doing so.  So the puppy pushes more and the adult feels the need to speak louder which only results in more trouble from the humans.  The cycle continues until you end up with an obnoxious puppy and time bomb adult. 

When you bring home a new puppy, let your existing adult teach.  It is their job and right to show the new comer the ropes.  If the puppy is not listening to the older dog then you need to step in.  Some adults dogs won't appropriately discipline and need our assistance.  If you have a boisterous puppy that doesn't listen to your older dog then you need to step in.  When we brought Elsa into the house I had to be very careful with her and Tilley.  Tilley growled but that was not enough to reflect much of Elsa's enthusiasm.  With Tilley suffering from Vestibular disease I had to constantly be on my toes.  Elsa learned very quickly who she could rough house with and who was to be left alone.

Letting them duke it out to come to a hierarchy understanding is not the way to go.  We are the leaders of the pack and as such, we make the rules.  Enforce them. 

 

Who walks the dog?

Over the years I have been told time and time again that the family dog does not listen to someone in the family.  It is a common occurrence if one person does it all.  The same individual does the walking, feeding, grooming, training and anything else that needs doing.  Often a dog will attach itself to that one person and forget about anyone else in the family.  Even if someone else feeds or walks the dog; they still may not listen to and/or oblige if asked to do something by anyone other than the Chief hauncho.

Years ago I had a skiing accident which pretty much put me out of commission for a good long while.  I could get around but walking the dogs was tough due to a full leg brace that I had to wear.  So my husband took over that role and their relationship flourished.  He loved them and they loved him but as he stepped into more of a leader role their relationship changed.  They all benefit from the new arrangement and the rest as they say is history.

I have always been the one who does most of the dog stuff; it's just what I do.  But having to give up being the main exerciser and walker was a good thing.  I probably wouldn't have done it if I didn't have to; so for months it was just Steve and the dogs on their outdoor adventures.

I often tell owners that the main person needs to step back.  It is not always easy to step out of the limelight as far as your dogs are concerned.  You might be the one and only but you shouldn't be.  I have watched a great relationship between my husband and dogs turn into a amazing one.  He already spent a lot of time with them and did walk them on occasion but as he took over the walking role completely, everything started to grow.

Coaching the main caregiver to step out of the picture for a couple of months takes some work.  If you turn over as much as possible to the other person; things will change, there is no other option. Being the one to feed, walk, groom and most importantly lead is huge.  Of course some things are not possible, maybe  midday walk or feeding but do what you can to wriggle into your dog's life.  It might just be taking over the exercising for a while if you already have a great relationship.  Having to lead your dog while out in public has great impact.

As for you, the main caregiver; the one who your dog's always turn to.  Do it, step back and let go for the good of your dog.  No it is not easy but watching them connect the same way that they do with you is amazing.  Our dogs love everyone in our family; but of course I am the "go to" person.  I always have been and I always will be probably.  But it is nice to know that when I have to step out that they are just as happy with at home or out in the field with Dad.