Separation Anxiety

Constantly checking in on Mom for reassurance.

 

     Elsa has been an imperative essential for Luke in dealing with the loss of his lifelong companions. 

Well, I thought that I was going to be writing about dog washes this morning but it turns out that I'll be addressing separation anxiety.  I'd researched dog washes in the area; finding a good one and was about to head out with Elsa to give it a try when things changed.  We got to the bottom of the stairs and I was tying up my shoes when I heard it.  At first I wasn't sure if what I was hearing was in fact what I thought I was hearing.  A tiny whimper squeak sound; then a louder one as I listened closely.  It quickly turned into a heart wrenching, soulful howl.  I stopped mid shoe tie and looked at Elsa.  She was head turning at the sound and quite concerned.   I told her "we can't go, let's go see Luke." 

I unhooked her and we went back up the steps to the living room.  By the time we were at the top of the stairs Luke was full on howling; he was most definitely upset.  So, given this information from him I decided that it was best for him to stay home.  I had suspected that something like this might happen but I was still shocked by the immediacy of it.  We hadn't even left the door; Elsa and I were just at the bottom of the stairs but as far as Luke was concerned, we were gone.  We'd passed the baby gate which has been in place so that he does not fall down the stairs.  Once past there, we were gone in his head. 

The only other time that Luke has displayed this type of behavior was in Connecticut; after the loss of his lifelong companions.  Back then it was very sad indeed; as it was directly attributed to his sense of aloneness.  At that time Elsa was still in her ex-pen when we went anywhere so that quickly changed.  If she was out he was okay, not great but not suffering.  Then once we moved back to California he had a brief period of grieving; when he did not find Jessie or Tilley in the house on our return.  Since then he has been fine.  He is not happy when Elsa and I go out without him but he is fine.  He lays down in his spot and goes to sleep.  It is his house and he is comfortable there.  Where we are now is not home, not for Luke. 

As I ascended the steps to where my howling boy was; I quickly considered by approach.  I pushed the gate open and walked past him and into the kitchen.  He followed me quickly; pushing his muzzle against my leg over and over again.  He wanted eye contact but I did not give it to him.  I was doing my best job at making the moment a "non issue."  When a dog offers information like this; you must address where it comes from.  "Don't shoot the messenger," as they say.  The message is delivered via canine behavior display; take from that the information you need to work where the issue comes from.  For Luke it is aloneness is a strange place; sad, yes.  But I cannot relay that fact to him.

If he was a young dog, I would be addressing the situation in a much different manner.  Luke is now over thirteen and becoming more and more attached and needy.  It can happen as a natural aging process.  I have always been there for him and as time passes he needs me even more; he often just wants to know that I am there.  That said I will not indulge or fuel this anxiety by coddling him.  If he was younger, Elsa and I would have left and quickly returned.  We would have done it several times, showing him that we were not leaving forever. 

Separation anxiety is very real and needs to be addressed.  Creating a non issue about your leaving and returning is the first step to helping your dog.  If every time you return home; you create a welcome home party celebration because your dog is soooo happy to see you, you are fueling the fire.  Many times when I come home; I walk right past Luke and Elsa and into the kitchen where I precede to putter around. 

When dealing with separation anxiety you must repeat, over and over again.  Depending on the severity, tiny baby steps may need to be broken down into more baby steps.  In really bad cases, progress must be measured in the lack of getting worse.  Creating a 'no big deal' sense of your leaving is an absolute must.  This can often be enough to change it all for the better.

When a dog displays a behavior, we must look at that behavior as a message into how your dog is feeling and dealing.  Like I said before "don't shoot the messenger;" it brings us the information needed to help our dogs. 

A gift of time, giving yourself.

Yesterday Luke, Elsa and I hit a favorite park of mine here in OR.  It is very rural and quiet; and sits on the edge of the Willamette River.  As I pulled in and glanced toward "our spot," I noticed a car.  "Nuts."  There is a great open space to run the dogs there but it was already taken.  I pulled into a parking spot to wait it out.  After several antsy minutes of checking my rear view mirror I realized that it was going to be a while.  I pulled out of my spot and headed for a more treed area; not the greatest for the chuck it, but doable.  As we passed by the prime grass spot I had a better look at the dog who had taken up "our spot."  He was old, his face grizzled by time and his body degraded by many years.  His owner, who was an elderly man; sat in a small truck beside the dog.  He was sunning his old dog. 

I drove at a snails pace past the two and could not help but "awwwwwwww" to myself.  This man was giving his very old dog time; just time to spend soaking up the glorious sun that had appeared on a very chilly morning.  We pulled up to our destination which was not so far from the old dog and his man.  I kept a close eye on the dog as we were going off leash.  The old dog did notice us and seemed to have some great interest.  He struggled to his feet and positioned himself where he could watch Elsa and her antics.  After watching him move to a better place I realized that he was not going to be coming any closer.  It seemed to take everything he had just to turn around so he could watch us. 

I watched him watching us for a long while.  Both Luke and Elsa had noticed him but gave him no mind as he just lay there.  Elsa was too interested in her ball and Luke himself, is in that glorious "golden years" stage; when all he cares about are the good things in life.  The old dog that lay watching Luke and Elsa seemed to be maybe a hunting type mix.  He was mostly white with black splotches; perhaps he had been much darker in his younger years.  I thought about those younger years; him spending hours there at the park running, maybe swimming and chasing a ball.  But now the years had caught up with him and he had only enough energy to switch positions a couple of times. 

Not long after we started our fun in the forest; I saw the dog get up and move towards the truck that sat literally three feet away.  He moved slower than I've seen a dog move in a long time.  The man got out of the truck and stroked his dog's head and they shared a moment.  Seeing that they were leaving, I called to Luke and Elsa that we were moving on.  As I hoisted Luke into the car I watch the man and his old dog pull away.  He was rubbing his dog's head as if to say "there you go, how was that?"  The bond between the two was quite obvious and without ever speaking to him I could tell how much he loved his dog.  He was there for his dog; not for himself, no, just his dog.  But in giving this sunning moment to his dog; he most definitely gave to himself.  He awarded himself with the very special gift of giving.  Giving to someone else for the very selfless act of just giving. 

I had my camera with me and wanted so badly to go and talk to the man and his dog.  But I knew if I went over that I would be interrupting a very special moment.  Witnessing their time spent together from afar was enough and surely made me smile.  It truly is the little things, isn't it?  At this time of year, giving is the general theme.  It is so heartwarming to see people give of themselves; not a material gift, not money or anything that cost money; a gift of time itself, their time.  Not only did that man share a gift with his dog; but it was unknowingly shared with me as well.  A very nice gift indeed. 

Talking to dogs

Do you talk to your dogs?  I do, all the time.  All day long I talk to them and they listen very well; better than most humans I might add.  There are times when I just chat away knowing full well that they are only picking out a few specific words that mean something to them.  Then there are times when there is great meaning in my words.  When dogs understand a wide range of words or verbal cues, they tend to listen more.  I have always taught my dogs the meaning of many words and try to teach them new ones all the time. 

Over the years I have seen dogs that have a blank stare when they are talked to.  Nothing except the rare "cookie" or "walk" word means anything to them.  No one talks to them; at least not like they are expected to understand.  Repetition is the key to teaching new words.  I am in the process right now of teaching Elsa the names of her stuffed toys.  I say their name over and over and over again.  Why?  For the same reason that we teach children, it makes them smart and capable of learning more. 

Elsa has recently learned the joy of not destroying her stuffed animals.  For a while nothing was lasting more than a few fleeting moments.  Once Luke got a hold of the softy, made a hole and started to de-stuff; then Elsa would finish it off covering the entire living room in fluff.  Hmmmmmmm.  But after the arrival of Jeffrey, things changed, Elsa loves Jeffrey.  I have to make sure that Luke does not get a hold of them though and create the initial hole.  Elsa fully enjoys her stuffed guys now and is learning who is who. 

Along with teaching more words, switching the words up and using them in new ways helps the learning process.  Having been away from home for a while now; everything we are doing is new.  New, in that the environment is new.  We are still walking, sleeping and eating but the surrounding environment is entirely different from what they are use to.  Being able to communicate with Luke and Elsa with words that they understand really helps them to acclimate to it all very easily. 

We have a lot of steps here in OR which is a challenge with Luke.  Many times when I take them out to pee; it is easier to take one at a time.  So after taking Speedy Gonzalez Elsa out, it is Luke's turn.  I tell Elsa at the top of the stairs "just Luke," and her ears drop.  She clearly knows what that means.  She is not happy about it but waits patiently for us to return.   Once we get back into the house she gives Luke his greeting and all is good again. 

Elsa is an intense listener; Luke was also but his hearing is bad now and he misses a lot of what I say.  This is why signal communication is so important (past blog).  In his younger days, Luke was an amazing listener.  As you all know he is a fussy pants when it comes to eating.  But one word alone would get those giant ears of his up and interested.  That word is "butter,"  oh yes, he loves him some butter as does his Mom.  :)  He would turn his nose up at his meal until I said "do you want some butter on it?"  He would immediately change his tune "okay, I'll eat it if there is butter on it."  What a guy.

I am constantly searching for new words to teach Elsa.  It is all about repetition and association.  Association must be there for a dog to "get it."  That is our job; create the association that our dogs will understand.  The association must be meaningful and useful for a dog.  Elsa's favorite stuffed guy right now is Jeffrey, she adores him; although I started the naming with her pink monkey which was her favorite before Jeffrey arrived.  I would cheer each time she had her pink "monkey" in her mouth; repeating "monkey" over and over.  Before too long I could say "go find monkey" and she would. 

"Find" is another word that is very useful.  It is a word I used with Tilley all the time.  Being an intensely driven retriever; we often lost whatever it was she was retrieving.  She may have missed the throw or it landed somewhere that it shouldn't have.  I would tell her to "find" it and her whole body changed.  She would put her nose to the ground and begin the "finding" process.  Elsa has now learned what "find" means as well.  I love it.  The other day we were out doing some retrieving and she missed the throw because she was watching some dogs in the distance.  I told Luke to find the ball as he had been watching and he ran and got it; much to Elsa's displeasure.  She had begin to look for it as well but Luke already knew where it was when I asked.

Talking to your dogs is never a waste of time.  Not only is it nice as far as having a great listening companion but they learn.  Sometimes it may seem that they are not getting it; but if you watch closely you will see some signal letting you know that they understand.  Of course there are times when they will simply ignore; just like we tend to do.  I love those sideways eyes they give us that let you know they are actually listening.  Luke is the King of sideways eyes.  Talk, teach and use verbal cues; the more the merrier.   

Poop bags

This is the sign and dispenser just outside my door.  Obviously not enough.  

Poop, crap, feces, dung, excrement or shit; no matter what you call it, it's poop.  Frankly I'm sick of it; tired of it laying on the ground that is.  Left by the inconsiderate idiots who don't pick up after their dogs.  I have written about these humans before and I'm sure that I will write about them many times into the future.  I just don't get it; I truly don't.  I understand that some people have a difficult time with it but if you have a dog and walk them in public places; then you pick up poop, bottom line.  Luke, Elsa and I are in OR for a couple of weeks.  We are staying at a very nice townhome in a nice development.  The place is surrounded by green space and it is very dog friendly.  BUT, and this is a big BUT; it is very shitty, in that there is shit everywhere.  Not cool, not cool at all.

I'm appalled by all the people who turn a blind eye to their pooping dogs.  They let them poop and then walk away as if nothing just happened.  What I don't get is that they will be returning to the very same spot, day after day after day.  So, this means that their dog will very likely step in their own poop from the previous days; then track it into their home, nice right?  When we first looked at this place; the green space in close proximity was something I saw as a bonus.  Now I'm not so sure.  We can't use it, that is unless we want to walk through shit. 

All dogs crap, fact.  If you live with dogs you must pick up crap; it is as simple as that.  Of course you might have hired a service to pick it up at your home but if you go anywhere in public with your dog you are going to have to pick it up at some point.  Don't want to?   Well, no one wants to pick up poop.  After all the bags are thin and you can feel that shit right through the bag but it has to be done.  Fact.  Get the drift of this blog?  Pick up after your dog.

Hey, you people who don't pick up after your dog; think you are too busy?  Think you're too important to stoop and scoop, wrongo.  You got a dog?  Then you scoop.  What is so hard to understand about that?   This is not an exclusive club; no these non scoopers are everywhere, everywhere I've been anyway.  Anywhere there are dogs; there are not scoopers.  But for every non scooper, there are scoopers.  But we need to spread the word and call out those non picker uppers.

Here in OR, it rains; much more so than Southern California.  The great thing about that is that rain washes stuff away.  Of course it can only wash so much away; it cannot wash a full sized dog crap away.  No, the rain just turns a firm poop into a pile of mush.  If the poops are picked up as soon as they drop then the rain can do it's job and wash away the residue.  Residue is easy to get rid of; a bit of rain and it's gone and forgotten about.  But leave a big old crap on the ground and it just gets worse.  What are these non scoopers thinking?  Other than not thinking; maybe they are under the assumption that a magical poop fairy will appear and pick up after their dog?  The only poop fairy I know is named Sherri; and she only picks up after other dogs when she's about to fling it at someone.

The whole idea of it being bad to leave poop on the ground is not the only issue here.  Those non scoopers give us scoopers a bad name.  They ruin it for many of us when they fail to clean up after their dog.  Many events and facilities do not allow dogs at all because of this very reason.  I don't care who you are, where you live or what you do; if you have a dog, you pick up after them.

Having bags available everywhere is wonderful.  The fact that cities and facilities need to posts signs telling people to pick up after their dog is surprising.  Imagine having the bags right there in front of your face not being enough?  No, they need to ask us "please pick up after your dog."  Then those non scoopers don't.  Imagine.  They walk around the signs, around the bag dispenser and simply walk away.  Idiots.  Harsh?  Yep, and sad.  Honestly!!!!!

In search of the green

I remember when I first moved to California; that was a longtime ago now.  Way back then, there wasn't google maps like there is now.  I remember opening my Thomas Guide map book to find some green; green as in green space.  First I look for the green, then I look for the park symbol.  Well, that's what I'm doing now but with Google maps.  Each morning and afternoon I google my location and look for the green. 

As most of you know I'm not a big 'dog park' fan.  Too many dogs in too small an area; added with dogs that should not be there in the first place.  But I have to say that the dog parks here in OR seem to be much better than the ones in CA.  Many are larger which is always a bonus; but I still don't trust humans enough to supervise accordingly and know when they shouldn't be at the dog park.  That and the fact that Luke is old now; he cannot take a hit, not even a small one.  So we search for the elusive private green space.  Of course here in OR, there is a whole lot more green than there is in CA.  Not only in color but quantity. 

Over the last week Luke, Elsa and I have hit a great number of parks.  We have a wonderful open field right behind the townhouse here; but, I've also discovered that many of the dogs here are very unfriendly.  (more on that topic in another blog)  So we search, drive, explore and discover.  Getting out and about is essential; no matter where you are located.  It has been a tad difficult with Luke having a hard time with distance and Elsa needing a great deal of exercise.  It is nice when we are home in CA for that reason alone.  We can leave Luke in the comfort of his own couch and head out for some intense exercise.  But here we all go together so the search is on.

We met a very nice woman and her adorable Golden Retriever (Penny) the other day.  Elsa and her just wanted to tear it up while Luke was happy to just hang with Mom.  Reading body language is so important when you want to find the friendly dogs to play with.  As soon as I spot the signs I call out, friendly?  We then make a b-line to the owner and their friendly dog.  Looking over our shoulder we can then unhook and let the fun begin.  It doesn't have to be long and drawn out; a short rip with a new friend brings a plethora of good things with it.

Over the weekend we found some wonderful places to take Luke and Elsa.  Having Dad with us sure makes the whole age difference thing much easier.  We also found a great farm/feed store called Wilco, where Luke and Elsa tried on a bunch of very cool raincoats.  Sadly I forgot my cell phone in the car so no pics but Luke looked smashing in the camo design.  We may go back today just to enjoy wandering around in the store and maybe get a raincoat or two.

So the search continues; where will we be today?  Not sure but I do know it will be green and it will be an open space.  Of course being in the middle of wine country; it could be a vineyard which is never a bad thing. 

Luke and Elsa hit the Wineries

 

Yesterday Luke, Elsa and I headed out to sight see.  We drove south to the next town and wandered around looking for a great park.  I actually found a park but didn't want to make yet another U turn so we kept going onto the next town.  What we did come across was a favorite winery of mine.  On my visit back in the summer we hit a lot of wineries (dogless).  Duck Pond had left an impression with me as a warm and friendly place and I wondered as I pulled off the main road if Luke and Elsa would be welcome. 

I remembered seeing some really great dog items in their store and photos of dogs in the entrance so I thought that they might be.  Sure enough, they were more than welcome on the patio.    With my wine tucked away in the car I leashed up Luke and Elsa.  The walk to the entrance is beautiful with the vines hanging through the trellis from above.  Along with the few lingering fall leaves; it looked much like a postcard.  Being that it is not exactly prime outdoor weather; the place was quiet and we had outside to ourselves.

There is something amazing about being in a vineyard.  There was a chill in the air; hinting of the colder and wetter weather to come.  The rows of grape vines made me think just how much fun Elsa would have charging up and down them.  Oh how I would have loved to bring my chuck it along and entertain her in the vineyard, while Luke watched the Koi in the pond.  As soon as we approached the pond Luke spotted the fish, but not Elsa.  I don't know if it was the glare or what but she did not see them as they all charged over with their mouth open wide.  Luke surely did and I think he would have loved to go into the pond for a while with them, imagine. 

 

After touring the grounds we head back to the car while Elsa took in the sights of the vines overhead. 

 

Being in OR we are thoroughly enjoying the green.  Lots and lots of green, even in November.

 

 

Back home, time for a nap and a glass.  If you're ever in the area, check out Duck Pond Cellars and tell them Luke and Elsa sent you.  :)

 

National Adopt A Senior Month

November is National Adopt A Senior Month.  Would you consider adopting a senior?  Honestly, how sad is the fact that senior dogs need adopting?   There are many different ways that a senior dog can end up in need of a new home. 

1.  Owner has died and no family member steps up to give the senior a home.

- This is extremely sad.  Of course just because we want a dog or dogs; does not mean that any of our family members want them.  Yes, it is amazing when a family member steps up to give a family members dog a home but it does not always happen.  I have heard of many stories where family members have told an owner that they would take their dog if anything happened; but when the times comes, they do not.  That my friends is one of the saddest acts. 

2.  Owner decides that a senior is too much work.  I cannot imagine this; my mind just cannot grasp the idea.  Dogs give us so much throughout their lives and as they start to slow and need more care we dump them?  Yes there is more to caring for an old dog but when you love a dog, it is not work but the loving act of care. 

3.  Medical costs.  This is a sad one.  Many people when faced with a big vet bill of an old dog; opt to rehome a dog.  There are options and ways to pay for the high cost of medical treatment.

4.  Moving...sometimes people move and feel that they cannot take their old dog with them.  Of course this happens with young dogs as well.  Look harder and find a place that will take your canine family member. 

Old dogs have a very difficult time being rehomed.  There are not many people that want to take on the task of caring for a dog in their senior years.  Having lost two very old girls a year and a half ago, I know all too well how much extra care they need.  But never for a moment did I consider it to be work; it was just what you do when they need you.  Now Luke needs more care; his body is slowing down and he needs time, an extra hoist now and again and patience. 

Patience, this is what old dogs need.  There is nothing more important than understanding when an old dog is slowing down and incapable of doing what they use to do.  Old dogs are easy in the sense that they don't need a ton of exercise or training.  They simply need a comfy spot to rest their head and body (very important, just try lying on the floor for a night), good food and a loving caregiver. 

Caring for an older dog, whether it is your older dog or a newly adopted one is all about giving back.  I remember watching Tilley sleep so soundly that I could come and go unnoticed.  It made me happy that she felt comfortable and safe enough to do this with no concern. 

Some great senior links below.

Sanctuary for Seniors

Old dog haven

The senior dog project

Of course there needs to be care when placing an old dog.  If a perspective adopter has other dogs, they must be matched for everyone to be happy.  Most old dogs mellow with age, I know all of my dogs have. 

Consider opening your home and heart to a forgotten senior?

Communicating with old dogs - signals

There is no end to how much dogs communicate with each other.  Likewise their communication with us is as much, if not more.  When they communicate with one another; their signals are noticed much more quickly.  We on the other hand can take forever to "get" a message; even miss them completely.  But if you take the time to learn how your dog communicates with you; the whole world of canine communication will open up. 

Communications between dogs and humans is done through vocal sounds, words, body posture and signals.  Signals are very easy for dogs to learn; this is because they are all about visual body language.  Implementing hand or body signals when your dog is young will prepare them for their senior years.  Almost all dogs loose their keen sense of hearing to some degree as they age.  Some lose it early, others may keep their hearing long into their old years.  When a dog starts to lose their hearing; signals are a wonderful option to be able to fall back on.  I'm there with Luke right now. 

I remember signaling to my old boy Clyde (the man in my life before Luke) like it was yesterday.  When his hearing got so bad that I could no longer use sounds or words I resorted to hand signals.  They quickly learn to adapt and look to you for signals, rather than listen.  Just this morning Luke and Elsa were out with their Dad.  I leaned over the balcony to say hi and Elsa wagged like crazy at the sight of Mom.  Luke on the other hand had no idea I was even there.  I whistled and he did hear that but could not locate it's origin.  Then I clapped which he also heard but it was my waving arms that told him where I was. 

Signaling can be difficult if you don't already use it at least partially.  If you start teaching hand signals when your dog is young and has their hearing; the transition as they age is much easier.  You can use whatever signal that you'd like, just keep it consistent.  I use a lot of signaling when my guys are young so that move to more and more signals is easy.  It is also much more pleasant than yelling; I hate yelling but often there is no option.  Teach signals and you won't have to yell quite as much. 

Physical boundaries

                                                 Greeting Mom after a grocery shopping trip.  

      As I go back and forth from the car to get the groceries, Luke and Elsa wait calmly and patiently. 

Boundary training is one of the best things that you can ever teach your dog.  No matter where the boundaries are, you can use them to help teach more.  Once a dog "gets" the idea of not crossing an invisible boundary; their capacity to learn other boundaries goes us.  This type of boundary training that I am talking about is about not going into certain rooms, going out doors and gates or whole areas. 

Teaching a boundary like the door above will NEVER, EVER be a waste of time.  Once your dog is solid on a door boundary it is very easy to move to other doors.  Many dogs generalize well and will hesitate before going out any door.  Some need a tiny reminder of an error marker; a simple ahhhh as they consider going through. 

Door boundaries can take time to teach; especially if you have a guaranteed bolter.  But by simple rewarding them for NOT going out the door the learning curve can be achieved quickly.  When you start teaching a boundary you must leash your dog, in case. 

Learning boundaries does not mean that your dog will never be able to go a particular area but that they must wait for a release word.  Your release word can be anything; something that comes to mind, you can remember and is saved for that specific reason.  You can use the same release for feeding, stay and many other things where a release is needed.

Just yesterday, I needed to use a boundary as we have come to a new house for a couple of weeks.  Elsa quickly realized that running out is not an option and she must wait until told that she can.  I only needed one ahhh for her to understand that this too was a boundary. 

You will NEVER, EVER regret boundary training. 

A dog problem

There is a dog problem; without a doubt there are too many dogs.  The other night my son and I had a very in-depth conversation about the problem of too many dogs, rescuing and breeders.  It all started over Elsa's tail; as a extremely compassionate person with regards to animal welfare he just cannot understand why?  Why would anyone cut off a dog's tail.  "Why do they do it?" He asked me and I tried to explain where the practice all began.  He then asked "why do people still do it then," and I tried to answer that one. 

We then moved onto breeders, being that we were talking about those who do and those who do not amputate tails.  He took issue with people breeding dogs in general; it was an across the board statement so we discussed breeders across the board.  This is a common opinion for many people; I have been told before that I don't deserve a dog because I want a particular kind.  So I explained to him my point of view on the whole 'dog problem.'

There are too many dogs; the shelters and rescues are filled to the brim and then some.  But where do these dogs come from?  Breeders, yes, but not good breeders.  I explained to him what my list entails to be considered a good breeder. 

Breeder - has one or two litters a year, not a page long list of available puppies at any time.
  -dogs and puppies live in the house as family.
 - rescues when they can.
 - will take back a puppy or adult dog at any time to replace. (Things happen in life)
 - only breeds dogs who have been completely health screened.
 - breeds only dogs with sound temperaments.
 - breeds to build a sound dog, doesn't follow a trend.
 - breeds with a passion for their dogs; is not driven by the lure of greed.  (This shows up in  many different ways)
 - temperament tests puppies and places them in homes accordingly.  (Not picked at 2 weeks of age by the prospective owner)
 - offers the puppies external stimulus and socialization early on.
 - does not breed for what is "in."
 - will never breed an iffy dog either in temperament or structure due to anticipation, time and effort.

I could go on and on but this is my base list.  He then asked "how do you make breeders do these things?"  The answer is, you don't.  If you have to make people do all of these things then they aren't doing it for the right reasons.  I want someone who wants to do all of these things. 

We then moved onto Millers.  There lies the problem, right there.  Millers are the problem, they rely on quantity not quality to fill their pockets.  They let impulse buyers buy their goods and don't care who takes the dog as long as they pay.  Millers are the problem and that is where animal lovers should direct their attention for attack.  Shut the mills down and we will be almost there. 

I then explained about random people who want to have a litter of puppies.  They too will sell to whoever will buy.  They don't want all these puppies; they maybe wanted just one or to turn a quick buck.  They have no idea of what they are selling; there were no health tests, no temperament tests and they will give one to whoever will pay. 

Support the good breeders and go after the bad; it is that simple.  There are very, very few amazing breeders out there.  The solution to finding those is to educate the public.  But then again many of the public are not listening; they don't care as long as they get the puppy they want.  Even if it means that 2 months down the road they don't want it anymore and just dump it down a long and abandoned road. 

The topic is vast; there are many things to talk about.  But if for one minute you think that all breeders are bad, think again.   Out of all of the dogs in rescue and or shelters; a very low percentage are from the people who care, the good breeders.  It can happen but the problem is the mass producers and those who will sell a dog to anyone for money. 

The conversation will continue.....

The sock monster

I was being sarcastic when I said that Elsa was not excited.  She'd been spinning right before she stopped to have an scratch.  

How many times have you chased your dog around the house after a sock?  Found your socks on the floor half eaten or pulled one on to see your toes stick out the end of it after your dog is done with them?  Socks are a big draw for many dogs; puppies can't seem to stay away from them.  Why?  First, the used ones smell like us; even after a good washing they still hold our scent on them.  Dogs like stuff that smell the most like us.  Plus they are a great size to wing around and destroy, right?  But socks can be very dangerous, deadly even; so getting rid of a sock monster can be a challenge. 

I live with Standard Poodles and that means that I pretty reliably have  very intense retrievers.  Many retriever type puppies are mouthy and love to pick up stuff and yes, wreck it.  Tilley was my first to display very intense retrieving or drive which showed up in her sock behavior.  It was also Tilley who taught me how to turn it around quickly. 

The first rule of teaching a dog not to pick up things that they should not pick up is to NEVER, EVER, chase.  The turn around starts with bribery.  That's right, bribery; which means that you must be armed and ready, always.  Food, good food, good enough to make your dog drop whatever it is in their mouth that they have picked up.  Depending on the type of dog you have, their drive and their smarts will factor in on how long the transition takes.  With Tilley it was a matter of a day or two. 

Teaching drop is essential.  If you yank whatever your dog has in their mouth and yell at them I can guarantee they are going to do grab something else.  That grabbing and prying to get the item away is attention.  Dogs love attention, even if it's not so great attention.  The problem with picking things up and simply reefing them out of their mouth is the swallow potential.  Some dogs swallow objects when faced with the potential loss of that item.  Teaching them that they will be rewarded if they give it up is key.  If you give me that I'll give you this, scenario.  Of course a puppy mind is easily pliable so the sooner you start the better. 

Rewarding your dog for giving you items creates a higher degree of them picking stuff up, at first.  But as they get older so does the constant retrieving of items that they should not have.  Seeing that you have a retriever, you should then move to retrieving "legal" items to fill that need.  You will also need to supervise so that you can stop the picking up of "illegal" items before they happen.  This helps to refine the retriever instinct to only retrieving "legal" things. 

The day that solidified the lesson for Tilley made me smile.  I was doing the dishes when she came into the kitchen with a sock hanging out of her mouth.  She stood looking at me waiting; waiting for her treat.  She'd brought  me another sock.  She had no intention of destroying it or eating it; she had quickly learned that it was most beneficial for her to bring it to me.  Never have I met a dog with more retriever drive. 

Luke was an underwear guy, not socks.  His problem lasted a bit longer; but he finally got it at well.  Even though Elsa has amazing and intense drive she has never been one to pick up stuff that she shouldn't.  Even still I have driven the message home that socks are not for eating.  For her, socks mean that we are going for a walk and she is happy to make sure that they get on my feet. 

Maintenance

Today is maintenance day.  With the cooler weather upon us both Luke and Elsa will be keeping a bit more coat than they do throughout much of the year.  But they will still have their feet shaved clean regularly and their adorable faces.  I like a clean face, I like the cleanliness of it; having had an Airedale for years who sported the typical furry terrier face. (Messy, messy)  Luke grows a goatee now and again but gets it removed if it starts getting too dirty.  Not only is a clean shaven face easier to keep clean but it keeps all the hair away from their line of vision.  I cannot stand when dogs have hair in front of their eyes; just imagine how they feel when they cannot move it? 

My rule of thumb for hair in front of eyes is; if you cannot see your dogs entire eye by holding up their face right in front of your at eye level, trim it.  Not just the hair right in their eyes but over the top of their muzzle too.  It all gets in the way of seeing.  I have seen dogs who have full furry faces who are easily startled due to their lack of vision.  There have been times when I have held a client dogs face up and shown them where to cut after their dog didn't see the treat in front of him.  A full furry face might be cute but you need to create a clear path of vision for your dog.  Do not handicap them by limiting their visibility, either out front or peripherally. 

Feet will be next.  Clean feet is also done for several reasons.  First and most obviously to keep the dirt down.  It helps to limit the amount of dirt, mud and other crap that they collect on their feet and bring into the house.  It also helps to keep nasty pickies or stickers out of their feet.  If you have a dog with big furry feet; be sure to check the bottom of their feet and between toes daily.  A picky thing can get lodged between toes and work itself into the dogs foot causing a great deal of pain and problems.  Next, keeping the underfoot nice and trim helps with traction.  Luke slips easily with his loss of muscle mass so keeping the bottom of his feet clean is essential.  After the foot is nice and clean I will give it a good going over visually; making sure that there are no injuries or foreign bodies in there. 

While I am there I'll do nails.  Nails are done about every two weeks here.  A dogs nails should be short enough that they do not touch the ground when the dog is standing still.  But not so short that they cannot use them efficiently.  If you keep them up it is easy to see the little point that grows and either cut it or dremel it off.  Letting nails grow too long can create an altered gate on a dog as well as causing a dog pain just by walking.  Some nails may need trimming while others don't.  Elsa rarely needs her back nails trimmed as she has such power in that rear of hers that she wears them down on her own.  Typically her front two middle toes need more attention as they don't get as much impact. 

I will check their teeth and scrape any tartar that needs addressing.  With their constant access to chewing raw bones; tartar is not a huge problem.  But old dogs build up tartar much more quickly so need more attention.  After teeth will be ears which were just done a couple of weeks ago.  I pluck a small amount of hair out of their ears; enough to let the air in there.  If you pluck too much you open up the ear leaving it raw and ripe for infection.  Not enough plucking and you can create a problem as air cannot get into the ear.  So just enough to let the air in.  (This is obviously only for dogs who grow hair in their ears.)  Ears need more than plucking; even dogs with no hair in their need ear cleaning so have a look and clean out any muck in there.  Only clean as far as you can see, never dig further down in your dogs ear than you can see.  Be careful. 

Then comes the full body physical.  Everything is checked and noted for things to keep an eye on.  With Elsa, anything found is address more quickly as she is young and should not have any growth type things on her.  Luke on the other hand is old and has tons of bumps and lumps everywhere.  Any new ones are checked and we watch carefully.  Bumps of concerned are checked out by the vet. 

Maintenance is important; have you had a look lately?  So many people just leave it up to the groomer and never look or concern themselves with any of their dog's parts.  But you should know every inch of your dog, do you?








I have one of these Li'l pal brushes and it was a great puppy brush for Elsa.

Here and now

With the sound of Elsa flapping her ears I was sort of awake; awake enough to look at the clock, 5:00am.  Feeling the chill in the air I whispered, barely audible... "Elsa."  It always amazes me how well she can hear; after having old dogs for so long and Luke losing his hearing now.  But it is what she is waiting to hear so she is all ears.  She's up and snuggled down in a heartbeat.  After a few good morning kisses she settles down with her full weight across my back.  As I struggle to get comfortable under her weight she does her typical dead dog routine; seeming to quadruple her actual weight.  She doesn't care how much I wriggle around trying to get comfy; she's where she wants to be and very much in the here and now. 

It didn't take long to feel the twitching as she fell deeper into her dreamland once again.  In a matter of moments she was back to sleep; "must be nice I" I thought to myself.  To be able to fall asleep so quickly is something that can be allusive to we humans.  As I tried to keep the thoughts of the day to come out of my head; I was losing the battle and they were flooding in.  I was going to be at the gym early today, where would we walk, what photo work lay ahead of me?  All of these were seeping in as I heard Elsa start to dream.

This blog started in my head long before I was even up.  I was writing it while trying to not think about my blog or anything else.  Well, sleep was not happening so I figured that I may as well get up.  Throwing my robe on, I head downstairs to get a much needed cup of coffee.  I was up early enough to see Brad head off to work.  With a hot cup of coffee and bowl of chilli (my favorite breakfast is left over dinner) left over from last nights dinner in hand I head back to bed to blog.  So here we are.

As much as dogs can drop and be asleep at a rate that is almost unbelievable; they can also be awake and ready to rumble as quickly.  If I put my running shoes on at this very moment; Elsa would be more than ready to go.  Me on the other hand, I need time to wake up before I hit the gym.  I like to go in the morning but I need wake up time.  Elsa does not, she is very much in the here and now.  Whatever is happening, she's on it.  Both Elsa and Luke follow me constantly throughout the day.  Luke in his younger years was a foot watcher; constantly gaging my every move with a slight turn of my foot.  He of course has slowed now and follows more as I leave room to room.

Some dogs like Elsa who are highly intelligent and very aware of their surroundings are more obvious in their here and now.  While others seem a little oblivious to the here and now which surrounds them; their behavior suggests a sort of plodding through life obliviously.  But even these guys who don't show that they are aware of the changes around them are aware and living very much in the here and now.  When we are out on a walk, Luke and Elsa are very much 'on a walk.'  They are not letting yesterday, next Thursday or the thought of daily errands seep into their here and now.  They are on a walk and a walk is what they are doing. 

As I headed off to a photo shoot on the weekend I passed a woman walking her dog down the street.  The dog was very much into their walk with his head buried deep in the bushes.  The woman on the other hand was somewhere else; she walked far ahead with her arm stretched back as she came to a halt.  She never even looked backed to see what was going on with her dog and gave an almighty yank on the leash.   The dogs head dropped almost hitting the ground before being dragged along with his owner. 

We need to learn to be in the here and now from our dogs.   I bring my phone on walks in case something happened and I needed to call someone for help.  Or of course to capture a cute photo of something that Luke or Elsa is doing.  But I do not carry on a conversation with someone while I am on a walk with my dogs.  When on a walk, I am on a walk and we are walking together as one.  Much of the rest of the day is mine and I am doing errands, working out of the house or on my computer so when we are out together that is where I try to be.  Of course things can slip in and try to get my attention but I try hard to leave them to think about later.

We have busy lives, some busier than others and there is much to think about.  But being in the here and now is one of the best lessons our dogs can give us.  Living each moment in that moment is so very important; because once it has passed, it is gone forever.  Waking in the night or early morning is probably one of the most difficult things to keep clear.  Just laying there inactive lends itself to stuff getting in and leaving you sleepless.  Yes I wish that I could have got a few more zzzzs this morning; but I'm also happy to be up nice and early.  When I am blogging before the sun comes up; it is Luke, Elsa, me and a cup of joe and I love it.  Nothing gets in our morning time, nothing. 

A wolf in poodle clothing-face biting.

I spent much of the weekend researching wolf behavior.  As a huge dog lover I am also a lover of wolves and their behavior.  Watching dog behavior can keep me transfixed for hours and hours at a time; so can wolf behavior.  But when I watch wolf behavior I am constantly comparing; they are very, very similar, dogs and wolves.

Recently I was away for several days.  When I returned I received my customary greeting from Luke and Elsa.  It is much more exuberant than a day to day greeting; often accompanied with whining and face biting.  My face, yes, Luke has always been a face biter when I have been gone for several days or more.  He also whines and carries on for an elongated time span.  This face biting is reserved for me and me alone.  Oh, and my very good friend Theresa; she also gets face bites.  I know it is coming and I prepare for it.  It is very respectful and heartfelt when I receive it.  Luke and I have a very special bond; the kind that you can only hope for when you add a dog to your family.

My absence is felt when I am away and there is much celebration when I return.  Face biting is something that both wolves and dogs do.  The biting is gentle and delivered to my mouth area; the chin or side of chin but never above my mouth.  His tail is slung low and wagging madly; his ears flat back in submission.  Luke is very emotionally demonstrative with his mouth in other ways as well.  When he is happy his mouth will open.  If he is very happy he will huff as well.  His mouth says many things but it is used frequently when he is showing joy.

Face bite greetings are typically reserved for pack members or friends.  You should of course never, ever put your face in a dogs face.  It is a human behavior that makes me shudder.  So many people have no idea of dog behavior when they lean into kiss a strange dog.  Real face bites that result from crossing boundaries are nothing like a face bite for greeting purposes.  DO NOT PUT YOUR FACE IN A DOGS FACE, unless that dog is your dog. 

Elsa face bites also but her bites are more like nibbles rather than full open mouth.  She is even more submissive in her greetings.  Her eyes are always squinted, with her whole body posture slung low along with her tail.  She wags madly which creates much whipping that both Luke and I must watch out for.  She is a ferocious wagger; so much so that it gives her a hinged in the middle illusion.
When she face bites it is a more closed mouth nibble compared to Luke's full open mouth one.  It is accompanied with much licking as well.

Watching Elsa and Penny play is entertaining and fascinating.  As the more dominant dog in the relationship; Elsa is often face biting Penny.  There are many meanings behind the face biting; anything from greeting, affectionate nurturing bites to more serious discipline face bites.  All are clearly understood by Penny.  Before Penny is even in the door Elsa has her mouth over Penny's very large muzzle.  It is a greeting and wonderful to watch. 

A wonderful pictorial from the Wolf Howl Animal Preserve

Face biting is very common in both dogs and wolves.  Some do it more than others; some never do.  How many images do I have of a very young Elsa with her whole face in Luke's mouth; loving every moment of it?  I cannot count how many.  Even though my dogs are far from the preconceived wolf; they are very much still under there, albeit in poodle clothing. 

 

Bug eyed and staring.

Yesterday I took Elsa to the harbor.  I was not feeling well and thought that some sunshine might just help; it was also our alone walk day.  Luke and I had a short walk at the park and then Elsa and I head out.  When we arrived but before getting out of the car; I could see that there were a lot of dogs present, nice.  I love when Elsa has a chance to do some on leash socializing and the dogs at the harbor tend to be a little more friendly than some places.  So out we got and hit the path to say hi to some folks and dogs.

 

Notice her tail is up and she is comfortable enough to look around when standing right beside the beast. 

Pulling into the harbor I had noticed an elephant statue that I hadn't seen before.  Once we were on our walk and had rounded a corner we came across another one.  These were new here; how new I didn't know.  But I did know that Elsa was not going to like it.  She'd been to this harbor many times and she had been where this elephant statue now stood.  I knew it was coming so I was ready; and as I had anticipated she barked at the intruder...it just stood staring at her.  It had big bug eyes and was frozen as most statues are.  With the staring eyes and frozen posture Elsa alarm barked once again.

I immediately loosened my posture and approached it.  I bent down and made like I was tying my shoe right beside the scary beast.  The elephant stood on a platform that was about a foot high so I tossed a treat onto it.  Elsa reached out as far as she could without getting any closer to grab the treat.  I knocked on the side of the statue and read the plaque.  These were from the Elephant Parade which aims to raise money to help Asian elephants.    I wondered then how many dogs had alarmed at this elephants presence. 

Many dogs would not even notice this big elephant with it's staring bug eyes; but dogs who are very aware would.  Elsa is dog that doesn't miss a thing so the large staring eyes got her attention immediately.  As I tossed treats onto the platform she started to relax; but she was not going to let her guard down completely.  After all this was a large ominous looking creature.  She trusted it enough to stand beside it alone as I snapped a photo. 

How you react to situations is all important to how your dog will react.  Helping your dog means taking a "no big deal" stance on the situation.  "We don't even care about these things," is how I like to put it.  Keeping the leash loose, your body relaxed and voice calm; you will be able to convince your dog that this scary thing (whatever it is) is not scary at all.  If Elsa would have been younger, needing more work with the elephant I would have stayed and sat there with it until she was good.  But being that she has had a ton of work on these type of things we moved along on our walk quickly after a quick photo. 

Never push, coax or cajole your dog into dealing with a scary situation.  Instead give off the "we don't even care about these things" attitude and you'll be on your way much quicker.   

Rimadyl - repost

This is a re-post as I think it is that important.  Please share.

First I want to say that I am not a Veterinarian; so this is in no way medical advice. I am a canine guardian and as such I do extensive research on new products, diseases or anything else that I haven't heard about having to do with dogs. Rimadyl is one such item that I have done a lot of research on and feel the need to pass on the information that I have found.  After hearing and reading about so many sad stories with regards to taking Rimadyl; I feel that it is my obligation to share.  I hope that you share as well.

I have heard of people receiving the product from their Veterinarian for many different symptoms.  It's a little scary how it is passed out as a remedy for so many different things.  When I hear of anyone using it I recommend that they look it up immediately to see if they want to continue the use on their dog.

This was a past post but I feel needs sharing again.  I have also added a few new links.  It is a short blog; there is no need for me to go on about it when you can read the information found at the links below.

These are only a few of the articles that I found; there are sadly many, many more.

The Senior Dog Project
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K9 obedience Co. UK
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Mar Vista Animal Medical Center
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Romi's website
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USA Today

I recommend researching any new medication or product extensively before even considering giving it to your dog.

Halloween

Halloween, so many things to be aware of when considering our dogs and this celebration of scariness and candy. 

1.  If you plan to dress your dog in a costume; make sure that they are comfortable.  Can they move around freely?  Sit?  Lay down?  Can they see?   Costumes can be large causing them to drag on the ground or stick out; be very aware of flames anywhere near your dog. 

2.  If you are staying at home and handing out candy; take all precautions that your dog does not slip out the door.  Have you done boundary training?  If not make sure that they are no where near the door when you are passing out the goods to the children.

3.  Even if your dog is very friendly be careful when the ghosts and goblins appear at the door.  Things can go very wrong if your dog gets a sudden fright.  Little people often don't look like people at all when they arrive at your door; causing dogs to freak out.  Keep a collar and leash on your dog for safety if they will be accompanying you for the goodie handouts.

4.  Constant door ringing or knocking can be unnerving.  Watch for signs of stress from your dog. If you have a door crazed dog you may want to head out for the night in lieu of handing out goodies.

5.  Humans should know better but I have had people walk up to my door with their dog for trick or treating.  Of course this is a horrible idea as you don't know who is going to answer the door.  Be aware.

6.  With the constant door bell ringing and/or knocking dogs can become over stimulated; make sure that you are remaining calm.  Chill is the word of the evening; give no signals that this is in any way a big deal.

7.  The candy, ahh the candy.  How many dogs are rushed to the emergency each Halloween?  I'm sure that the numbers are high.  Keep the goods out of reach.  Do not expect dogs who don't touch things not to get into the candy.  When we were children, the big thing was to dump everything on the floor and trade with our brothers and sisters.  Keep it up high and know where it is at all times.  Often the problem is that children are in charge of the candy and things can go wrong from there. 

Enjoy the day tomorrow; be careful, be aware and have fun. 

 

Cannon Beach, OR

 

This beach was spectacular.  The picture is taken at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, OR.  There were many dogs enjoying the beach which made me miss Luke and Elsa even more than I already was.  I will be back with them to enjoy this beach soon. 

 

I spent yesterday in Cannon Beach, OR.  All I can say is that it is breathtakingly beautiful; that and very, very dog friendly.  I am so impressed and excited when I find new dog friendly cities.  I had heard that it was very dog friendly but I always have to experience it for myself.  Dog friendly does not mean the same thing for everyone. 

 

 

 

As soon as we arrived it was obvious that this was somewhere that people bring their dogs; there were dogs everywhere.  We quickly found a spot to have a bite at the Local Grill & Scoop.  As we walked up onto the deck there were two families leaving with their dogs.  Another dog sat tied, looking anxious but quiet as he sat alone, waiting for his owner to return.  (Another blog in the future on this subject)

 

After we sat and dug into our lunch; three other dogs arrived with their owners.  The seating area was small and there were four dogs in attendance.  Not a peep was heard by any of the dogs.  I was so impressed by the manners of these dogs that I had to ask if I could grab a quick shot of two.  Sadly my good camera was in the car so these are just cell phone shots.  Plus it looks like maybe some of my lunch was on the lens.  :)   The above gal is Billy, an adorable Old English Sheepdog who was on her best behavior and sweet as can be.

 

 

This little lady sat in silence right behind my chair.  Had I not seen her arrive out of the corner of my eye I would have never known that she was there.  She was an adorable Miniature Australian Shepherd. 

 

You could have come in, sat and eaten lunch without ever knowing there were dogs there.  This is so wonderful to see; but how do you get your dog to be so well behaved?  Exposure and training.  It was quite obvious that all of the dogs who were sitting so quietly were accustom to accompanying their humans on their outings.   When a city is dog friendly it enables people to expose their dogs to much more; which creates more well adjusted dogs.  Teaching dogs to sit quietly while you have lunch takes time and experience.  The more outings you have the easier it gets. 

 

 

 

This excerpt was taken from the City of Cannon Beach, OR website. 

 

Dogs on the Beach

Dogs are allowed on the beach, as long as they are on a leash or under voice control of the owner. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that the dog is physically controlled.
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Nice, very nice.  All the dogs that were on the beach yesterday were either on a leash or very well behaved.  One little German Pinscher ran around the beach off leash totally ignoring all the other dogs.  Even when a young American Bulldog lunged at the end of his leash trying to play; the German Pinscher completely ignored him and continued on with his human. 

What a great beach; I cannot wait to bring Luke and Elsa here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feedback

 

They await guidance via feedback. 

Feedback.  It's all about feedback.

Feedback - a reaction or response to a particular process or activity. 


Living with dogs is all about feedback.  From the moment your dog joins your family and throughout your life together; feedback should be a part of it all..  "I don't like telling him what to do," is a common phrase heard when discussing training a dog.  Some people link obedience or training with cruel control.   The whole process of learning to live in our human world requires feedback, constant feedback.  Our dogs cannot learn how to act appropriately all on their own, they need assistance.   If you have offered appropriate feedback as your dog learns the ins and outs of living in our world; the need for feedback typically lessens over the years. 

Rules, regulations and living side by side in a human world all require feedback.  When a dog offers an unwanted behavior; it is our job to give feedback.  Yes, I like that; no, I don't like that.  Tweaking behaviors or altering them in a large way is our job.  Without feedback we leave our dog standing alone to try to figure it all out by themselves.  That is not a good thing for a dog; our dogs need guidance every step of the way. 

Feedback is not mean, cruel or bad.  Feedback is good; our dog's need help to maneuver through it all.  Do you offer your dog enough feedback?  Are you helping them to figure out this whole human world of ours?  When you offer your dog feedback on a regular basis; they will tend to look to you for more.   Feedback can come as vocal sounds or physically stepping in.  Once a dog understands a particular vocal sound that means "not acceptable" it can be very easy to share the knowledge.   It is simply a required reaction to an action which supplies important information. 

I have had to step in and give feedback myself when owners have not stepped up.  If it concerns my dogs and someone else's dog I will most definitely offer what is needed.  Like parents who offer no feedback to their misbehaved children; unruly dogs receiving no feedback are just as obnoxious.  Feedback, give it to your dog. 

When to start the training?

      I took this photo years ago.  An irresistibly adorable Havanese puppy in need of an education. 


"When should I start?" the woman asks me with an adorable bundle in her arms.  We started up a conversation while standing in line at the store.  She'd had her puppy for 4 weeks and he was a cutie for sure; what puppy isn't right?  She had gotten her puppy at the age of 12 weeks so that meant that he was now 16 weeks and she was just thinking about looking into training.  "Now, right away," was my response to her question.  Right now. 

Looking back at the beginning of my life with dogs; I cannot believe the change from then and now.  Back then there was no positive reinforcement training, no clickers, no treat training.  It was all done with extensive use of the yank and choke'm method of training.  Thankfully there is less of that now but with the fame of a television dog trainer; force training has reared it's ugly head once again.  It is sad when I see people following his guidance and even sadder to see evolution in dog training taking a step backwards.

Many people are just now venturing into the waters of life with dogs.  It is a good time to be coming in; at least there are choices where there were none before.  Of course maybe twenty years from now choke collar training will be a thing of the past and no one will consider throwing a chain around a dog's neck to educate them.   We can only hope.

Okay, back to when, when do you start all of this education?  Immediately, as soon as you get that little bundle in your hands, start.   I have taught 6 week old puppies to sit and down within a matter of minutes.  Those little brains are working on overtime at a very young age.  The longer you wait the harder it is to get started.  Learning to learn is the first step and when it is done very young; you set the ground work for a great learning future for your dog.  Teaching an adult dog who has never been taught anything can be a challenge.  Asking a dog to oblige you and perform some sort of task that is trained but completely out of the ordinary can raise flags.  This means a dog that has been taught but is never asked to do anything. 

During a photo shoot I will often ask if a dog can sit or stay.  As you all know I do not like posed images but sometimes I just need a dog to hover in a particular spot.  I don't want them to smile at the camera but just hold still for a moment.  I know the answer immediately by the owners hesitant response if that is doable or not.  Often I will forgo any sort of manipulation due to the dog's lack of education.  Asking a dog to do something that they are not familiar with or don't normally do can cause stress.  Stress does not make for good images.  The dog may have been taught how to sit or lay down but it is never, ever used so when we pull it out of nowhere, they grow suspicious. 

Educate your dog as soon as they join the family.  Now, right now.  The old school train of thought was to wait until 6 months.  I cannot even believe that 6 months use to be the age.  The reason behind that 6 months starting age was the puppy's ability to withstand neck yanks.  Just imagine.  I can't even, honestly.  It makes me shudder to think about it.  Puppies can learn pretty much as soon as they can walk; and when you are not using any physical force to teach, why not start then?

I often ask 7 week old puppies to do a sit for me during temperament testing. I like to see what sort of focus they have and their level of food motivation.  It always makes me smile when they plop that tiny rear on the ground within a split second.  Little smarties they are.   If you have a new puppy, get started.  Do not wait for bad behaviors to start.  It is much easier to teach good manners rather than try to undo bad ones and then teach the good. 

When you are looking for a dog trainer, go positive.  Any mention of a choke or prong collar, make a quick exit.  They may have lots of experience but negative experience in my mind means that they are stuck in the dark ages; no evolution going on there.