Booming

First:  NEVER BRING YOUR DOG TO A FIREWORKS DISPLAY

With July 4th tomorrow, I thought I'd talk about this particular fear based behavior. Tilley was my most fearful fireworks dog; she was terrified of fireworks. She never use to be; back when we lived in Canada it was Clyde (my male before Luke) who was petrified of storms and fireworks. It happened around 6 years of age when

she first showed signs of fireworks fear. Up until that point she had been fine with storms and light up the sky celebrations. So what happened? Who knows but she it happened and then she was one of the many dogs fearful of fireworks.

All dogs display their fear differently; Tilley use to dig, I was lucky that she was not a runner. Clyde was a climber and runner; running is the worst. If they get out of the safety of their home they can end up anywhere as they mindless attempt to run from the explosions. But luckily Tilley didn't run; she hid and had been found in the bathroom; perhaps she felt safe in the small room. I located her once in our closet; she had tossed the entire contents in the small area everywhere. She'd dug and dug to no avail; there she lay at the top of the heap that she'd created. Tilley was obviously trying to hide; to somehow get away from the object of her fear by digging a hole.

Elsa had displayed a fear of the boomers in the sky.  Nothing ever happened to her as far as booming goes; she is just afraid of the unknown, as are many dogs.  Sadly we can't explain what is going on so we must display how we feel about it.  No coddling, no petting, no holding them tightly in our arms to protect them; no, we must just go about our business to show them that it is nothing to fear.  If they are not too far gone in their fear then we need to try to create a positive association.  This can be done by doing something that they absolutely love during the booms.  We did this with Tilley when she was older to try to help her and it really did help.  Elsa's fear is not as intense as Tilley's was so I think she'll get over it with her love of the retrieve.  She loves nothing else more than her ball; catching and retrieving.  So we'll be playing ball tomorrow night as we attempt to create a positive association to the loud noise.


For all dog owners with firework fearful dogs; even ones who do not have dogs that already show signs of fear during fireworks, pay extra attention to safety.

- Make sure that your dog is indoors safely confined; keep dog doors closed.
- Turn the tv or radio on loudly to add some constant noise.
- If your dog is fearful; best to stay home with them.
- Many dogs become injured trying to get out of a house when they are in such a state of fear; often a crate is the only safe place for these guy.
- Never respond to fear behaviors with petting and hugging.
- Put on your best "chill" face; inform the entire family to do the same.

Far too many dogs end up in shelters or worse on July 4th.  Those who are left in their yard can become frenzied and attempt to escape the noise. Once they are out they will just run. In this state they have no idea where they are running; they are just running. So lock up the dogs on July 4th and please

                           NEVER BRING YOUR DOGS TO A FIREWORKS DISPLAYS.

Don't push, it may backfire

Standing on the beautiful coast of Oregon, I wrapped my sweater around me tighter. It was chilly, really chilly and only a few other people were out at the early hour that we had hit the beach.  We wandered around looking at tide pools and stood in awe at the immense waves that were thunderously crashing on the shore.  As I turned away from the wind I caught a glimpse of a small dog barking at a man.  The man was bent over towards the dog and reaching out; the small dog was about 5 feet away barking but backing up.  A clear and all too familiar scene.   "A blog" I thought to myself, so here it is. 

This dog clearly does not want a friend to play ball with.  Elsa got it and is in the process of leaving.   Had she not moved away; she would have very likely, found herself on her back in the sand.  

I watched the dog and man interact.  The owner was a bit further down the beach and called to her dog who very happy and enthusiastically ran to her; leaping in the air with joy.  But then the dog turned and ran to bark at the man again; after all it had tried to touch the dog.  The woman owner caught up with the man and her dog and she took hold of her dog.  The man continued to reach out to the dog; the dog continued to bark while trying to back away.  Then the woman pushed her dog (who was basically kicking and screaming,) towards the man.  I shuddered, thinking that this is where a bite typically happens.  The dog luckily did not bite but it cringed as the woman forced it to be touched. 

The dog was clearly stating that it did not want to be touched.  But for some unknown reason, the woman decided that the dog should be touched by the man.  The dog had been spooked by the man's desire for contact in the first place.  Pushing the dog into an uncomfortable interaction is the worst thing she could have done.  But sadly it is what many people force their dogs into.  We should not choose a strange humans desires over our dogs need for space.   By doing this we are completely ignoring all the signs that our dog is giving us.  They said "I do not want to be touched by that man," with all the barking and backing up.  Yet we push them into the situation they don't want to be in. 

The woman could have used the situation as a training moment.  She could have called her dog to her, put it's leash on and approached the man; explaining that the dog was not comfortable and telling him to not look at it.  A little chatting time to allow the dog to relax and maybe toss a few treats to the ground if they are relaxed.  Maybe even give the gentleman a few treats to toss to the dog.  But by looking at the dogs reaction; that is as far as I would have taken it on that day.  Further work would be required to a point of giving the stranger a treat and offering to the dog in their hand.  That is WITHOUT looking at them. 

The whole scene that played out before me is far too common.  It is sad that humans ignore what our dogs tell us.  Would we tell our children "go over to that guy and let him touch you?"  I think not.  We cannot tell our dogs that a stranger is friendly and just wants to say hi by petting them.  They don't get that.  They are or are not comfortable with strangers and between those two states are a vast number of levels of comfort.  Why do we force our dogs to interact when they clearly don't want to? 

Please, if your dog says that they don't want to interact; listen, don't push.  Take the time to help them to be comfortable; but they will all have their levels, respect that. 

Using drive to your advantage

Elsa loves balls, that much most of you know.  But do you know that when you have a dog with such drive and focus on one object or activity; that you can use it to your advantage?  Control, it is all about control.  Having a ball in my hand when I am out and about with Elsa gives me amazing control.  Why?  Because she considers it to far more important than many other things.  I have worked with her in regards to always retrieving once we start.  I do not allow her to stop the game; (not like she ever would) or allow anything to interfere, it is always me who ends it.  There are many rules that go along with the whole game of retrieving.  One is that if I say "that's it," then it means that's it.  If she does not stop dropping the ball at me then the ball goes away; she is learning this.   You must be steadfast in your ending of the game; you cannot randomly toss the ball once you've said "that's it.". 

I have used a toss of the ball as a reward many times.  Although she is a state of heighten excitement she can control herself enough to function; this is a very important part of it all.  Dogs are all different and there are many different degrees of ball obsession; that being said there is much that can be done to heighten or lessen the effects.  A dog who become unable to function in the presence of a ball can be danger to themselves.  If they cannot even think in the presence of a ball then you need to teach them to think.  The ball needs to be used as a reward system and allotted appropriately and sparingly. 

Some dogs will become more obsessed if a ball is out of sight while other cannot have them lying around without ignoring them.  Each is an individual.  Elsa has a favorite ball but her drive to catch and retrieve outweighs the object requirements.  I found a small fabric Frisbee that use to be Tilley's the other day and gave it a toss.  Elsa ducked out of the way a couple of times before I saw her pupils start to dilate.  With only a couple of tosses she was hooked.  So very much like Tilley, it is not the material item as much as the act of catching and retrieving. 

When I am doing some retrieving with Elsa; I make sure that she follows instructions.  At such a heightened state of excitement, it can be difficult for a dog.  This is why training is so very important; it teaches a dog to listen even in that state.  She will often offer me things that I am not asking for; which is very common to get the reward.  But I remain very calm; another very important factor when dealing with a very driven dog, the zen factor.  If I get myself all wound up like Elsa over the game of retrieving; we are going to end up in quite a mess. 

Take that object of desire and use it.  Control it with structure and training and then put it away.  All dogs need to learn about their off switch. 

Frustration

Frustration - a feeling of dissatisfaction, often accompanied by anxiety or depression, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems.

Just the other day I was at the park with Luke and Elsa.  In the distance I could see a man walking two Miniature Australian Shepherds.  Both were on extension leashes which were extended to their fullest.  The dogs were running all around the guy and at one point he stopped;frantically trying to reel in one of his dog and untangle it.  Then as a lady passed by with her dog on a regular leash; he allowed his very out of control dogs to run to the end of the leashes once again and jump around at the end.  Yes, this is frustration in many forms.

Frustration by the woman who was running her under control Labrador.

Frustration for the two dogs lunging and barking at the end of their leash.

AND, frustration for me; not to the degree of the other three, but enough to leave me shaking my head.

Frustration is common in the world of dogs.  There is a great deal of it in the realm of training.  People who do not know what they are doing as far as training goes; often unknowingly cause a great deal of frustration.  People wing their arms around, belting out all sorts of commands leaving their dog very frustrated.  It is frustrating just to watch.  If you don't know what you are doing, ask someone who does.  Many people think that training dogs is easy; when in fact it is not, unless you know what you are doing.  Many trainers have experience but are still not good trainers.   I know many "trainers" who I would not allow to train my dogs.  They may have been training for years but still don't understand the basics of how a dog learns, which causes frustration.

Frustration leads to all sorts of problems.

Shut down - A dog can completely shutdown if they are frustrated enough.  That means you are done; the dog is done and nothing will be learned further. You may have also done enough damage to future training.

Obnoxious behavior - many dogs display obnoxious behaviors when they get frustrated.  Barking, biting, lunging at the person who is trying to train.  It is not true aggression but a form of it caused by frustration.

Offering inhibition - if a dog tries and tries during training and becomes frustrated due to a lack of experience in the trainer, they can cease trying.  When they stop trying you lose.

Being behind a fence with full view of the street where people walk can be a big cause of frustration.  Even a front window can lead to all sorts of frustration and fallout behaviors.  If you aren't around to train your dog to be calm while people walk by, take the view away.

Frustration is not exclusive to our dogs; we too can become frustrated if we don't know what we are doing.  The dog isn't getting it so we become frustrated, never good.  If our expectations are too high, we can become frustrated.  Or, if we expect our dogs to behave more like humans and less like dogs; that can lead to big time frustration.

These are just a few cases of frustration caused in us and our dogs.  Frustration is never good; not for us and not for our dogs.  So when in doubt, throw it out.  Take a big breath, go for a walk, read a book (preferably on positive training), get your dog's attention and interact.   Frustration is not inevitably, deal with it.

Label reading

                                 I know what is in these cookies because I made them. 

Yesterday I reached for a package of ground beef.  I put my glasses on to check the best before date when I saw the 'sourced' list.  Beef sourced from Australia, New Zealand and Nicaragua; I read it again, not believing my eyes on the first read.  Yep, that is what it said.  I put the meat back in it's spot and moved on.  My problem was two fold, first I wondered how you could even know where it was from; being that it stated three locations.  Two, was why it was brought in from one or all of these countries.  So I headed home to find out why?

After much reading and searching on the internet; it seems that beef from Australia, New Zealand and Nicaragua is better than from the US.   It is apparently more lean than our beef and of higher quality.   It makes you wonder if something was wrong with the meat; how easily or not they could track the source.  One side tidbit that I learned from all of my research was that the whole "kobe" thing is very clouded and the chance that you are actually eating it?  Low.  What it tells us is that we have to dig and dig deep if you want answers. 

Even when reaching for an ingredient that has yet to be used in anything; you need to read the fine print.  Imagine how much can be hidden from us in a food that is already processed?  Reading labels is very important and of course there are foods out there with no labels at all so we do our best.  Do not buy into advertising, marketing or fancy graphic gimmicks, read.  Dog food packaging is a nightmare.  The big companies make the bags so dynamic and appealing so that you have a sense of feeling good about what you are buying.  That is of course if you don't turn the bag over and read it.  Many of the really good foods have very boring, non descript packaging.

I like limited ingredients in what I buy.  In fact a bag of chocolates caught my eye while standing in the check out line yesterday.  "Three ingredients" it said.  So, of course I had to read it.  Chocolate, honey and mint, that's it.  Yes I bought and yes they are good.  They aren't a big whack of cake but are much better for me if I feel the need to have a sweet. 

I looked up Milkbones just to have a look at their ingredients.  A couple of things stood out immediately.  Please read labels before giving any food to your dog.  If the list of ingredients is hard to understand or as long as your arm, put it back on the shelf. 

Dicalcium phosphate

BHA

Spoiled

 

This was an image I took years ago of my little JRTs paw.  It was a special request for a grooming magazine.   Some would consider this to be a very spoiled dog.  Our dogs care nothing for things like this; that we label as important "for us."   No I don't paint my dog's toe nails or have them wear jewelry. 

 

 

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Spoiled, one of those terms that people use incorrectly all the time.  I hate when people say "wow, your dog is spoiled," when I am just treating them as they should be treated.  I buy a new bed for my dogs and people think that I am spoiling them?  Really?  To spoil a dog is to let them get away with things that will create undesirable behaviors.  I hate the term "spoiled" almost as much as I hate "people food."

Spoiled:  to impair, damage, or harm the character or nature of (someone) by unwise treatment, excessive indulgence. 

When you look at the dictionary meaning of the word, it doesn't look so wonderful does it?  Over indulgence of material goods does not spoil a dog; a child maybe but dogs could careless how many toys, collars or beds they have.  It does not go to their head and create a monster like it can with people.  Making sure that our dogs are comfortable is how we should treat them.  Buying a bed to match the couch is strictly for us; our dogs don't care about the color of the bed. 

For me, the term spoil means to over indulge a behavior.  Allowing a dog to get away with inappropriate or unwanted behaviors is spoiling.  Take a good dog and turn it bad or spoil it by lack of or incorrect response.  Feedback, we all need it.  If you never offer feedback to your dog, how will they learn?  No dogs don't come to us knowing the rules of our human world; we need to teach them and guide them along the way.  Very basic "do this, don't do that" rules can go a long way.  But eliminate any guidance and you spoil.  Allow or fuel an undesirable behavior and you are spoiling. 

I don't know how many dogs I've met over the years who have displayed obnoxious behaviors.  They have learned that they can get away with murder.  As a trainer I will ask "is this okay with you?" When a dog is counter surfing, bullying another dog, barking orders to their owner etc etc.  The owner usually looks at me like they don't understand the question.  That is until I break it down and explain what is going on.  But there are those owners who think that they are doing right by doing nothing at all.  They don't want to break their dog's spirit by telling them what to do. 

Many people think that they are showing their dog how much they love them by allowing really annoying behaviors to continue.  To them the idea of telling their dog what to do is a bad thing.  But with a lack of teaching, guiding and leading our canines, we are failing them.  Spoiling our dogs is a bad thing. 

Buying our dogs new toys is giving them things to play with so that they don't play with our shoes, not spoiling.  Buying them their own bed is not spoiling, it is giving them comfort to lay on.  Feeding them really nutritionally food is caring for our dogs, not spoiling.  Bringing our dogs on a trip with us is not spoiling.  Baking homemade cookies for them is not spoiling. 

Allowing them to push us around, bark orders at us that we follow and drag us down the street, that is spoiling.  When they receive no feedback for inappropriate behaviors, discipline us if we cross the line, tell us where we can and cannot sit or laydown, give us the finger when we ask them to come, growl at us and tell us what to do and when to do it...THAT IS SPOILING. 

Have you noticed that friends don't come over anymore?  Since you got your dog things have changed?  Maybe, just maybe there is a spoiling issue and it's not the new collar.  Would you allow your child to walk up to another child and push them down without consequence or feedback?  Would you allow your child to jump all over a guest without feedback?  Would you allow your child to take a whole loaf of bread off of the counter and eat it with no feedback?  Why then would you allow your dog? 

Vitals

Do you know the vital?

So, today is take your dog to work day.  Wow, one day; it's pretty silly if you ask me.  Some will work out great and have a wonderful day; while others will cause general havoc in the office and nothing will get done.  Hmmmm.  Anyhoo...I didn't think it was worth doing a whole blog on so we're talking vitals.  Health vitals of our dogs; do you know them?  I remember the first time I heard what a dog's temperature should be, which was a long time ago.  I was standing in the Veterinarians office and the Vet Tech had just taken Mandy's (my first dog) temperature.   She said like all other Vets and Tech say "good" and prepared to leave the room.  Whoa, what is good?  What is it suppose to be?  She turned and looked at me with surprise and told me "around 102."  Okay a dog's temperature should be around 102; more precisely 100-102.5.

Dog vitals chart

I have several thermometers around the house.  The dog thermometers are clearly marked DOG in big letters with indelible ink on the side.  You do not want to mix yours and theirs up.  No.  Have you taken your dog's temperature before?  No, you should start.  If someday you need to take it, you will be prepared.  Start now.  It's not as awful as it seems, you can do it. 

I also have a container with all my canine first aid supplies stored away separately.  I like that I can just grab one container and I have it all at hand. 

My medical supplies

Taking vitals on a regular basis gives you the information you need to know when there is something wrong.  If you have no idea what your dog's vitals are then you won't know when they aren't normal.  It is easy to take vitals and a good practice to do every so often.  As a dog ages, it is more important to keep a close eye on these.  Their ability to adapt to exercise, heat and cold lessens so it is essential to watch how they are coping.  Luke has a diminished ability to exercise; he starts having more strained breaths so we monitor.  But even a young and active dog can become over exhausted or heated so it is important to watch closely.

Be educated, know your dog and their vitals.  Be prepared.   

Nutrient density

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

What is nutrient density? 

Nutrient - any substance that nourishes an organism.

Density -  a measure of the compactness of a substance, expressed as its mass per unit volume.

A high nutrient dense food gives you more for less.  Meaning the more nutrient rich a food is, the less you have to eat of it.  Makes complete sense right?  Right.  So what are we feeding our dogs?  What are you feeding your dog?  Is it a nutrient packed food or not?  When we feed a low grade dog food, we need to feed a lot of it.  Ever notice how much food the low grade foods tell you to feed?  It is pretty astounding how much food has to be given to even reach the acceptable nutrient level. 

More is not better.  Obviously are many people feed their dog way too much food.  Perhaps they read the directions on the back of the bag and then round it up, so to speak.  If you feed really high quality food, you don't have to feed as much to get all the nutrients in.  Elsa eats about a cup of food, twice a day.  (Luke should eat the same but rarely does so he gets snacks whenever he wants or will eat one) That is not much for dogs this size; but as far as I am concerned, she is in perfect peak condition.

I am very food conscious as far as my human family is concerned.  That has flowed over into the world of canine nutrition.  I am always looking to learn more; both in the human and canine nutrition area.  Like any other topic that you research; you will find information from all walks of life.  That means that you must sift through it all and figure out how you feel about what you read.  When you settle on what you feel is good for you; then you have to consider your dog/s.  I do my best, it is all that we can do.  Dogs have very different food requirements than we do and I try to meet those to the best of my ability.

If you are still just grabbing a bag of dog food without reading labels or considering what is best for your dog then you could be doing better.  In my opinion, if there is an advertisement on television for the a dog food, DO NOT BUY IT.  Many of the big dog food companies are behind the push back against real food diets.  Of course they are; they don't want us to know that dogs can eat food, just real food.  But just like us, dogs should eat food that is processed as little as possible.   If you do want to feed a kibble based diet then read, read and read some more.  Find a food that is actually made for your dog and not just to put money in the pocket of the huge manufacturers.

Our dog's bodies need fuel; high quality fuel, not just filler so that we can say "there you're fed."  There is still a general consensus that dogs deserve less; which has been perpetuated over the years by feeding low grade dog food.  The idea that giving our dogs the same food that we eat is something awful to do.   "People food," is the term that most people use when in fact it is just food, food for all actually.  Who said we humans have dibs on all the food?  Funny isn't it?  It's all ours and we will dish it out according to your status.  Well, sadly the dog is still getting short changed in many homes today.

Don't give your money to those companies that don't care.  The big conglomerates that take your money in return for cast off waste to feed to your dogs.

Think carefully about where your money is going when you buy a bag of dog food.  Is it going into the people at the tops pockets?  The ones who are scraping the bottom of the barrel to create what they sell to you?

Expect quality, buy quality; wouldn't it be nice if you always got what you thought you were paying for?

Offering a sense of safety

After much retrieving Elsa gives into her body's requirements for rest. 

Sitting in bed blogging, a crazy canine ruckus is going on outside our patio door.  The neighborhood dogs are at it again.  It sounds like a full on attack; of course I can't be sure of what is going on but is sounds like maybe fence fighting.  (another blog)  The noise is horrible, intense but short lived like every other time.  I glance over at Elsa and see that she is very sound asleep, nice.  She has learned what to be and not to be concerned with. 

Elsa is sound aslseep knowing that she is safe.  Having a sense of security is very important to a good sleep.  Depending on the dog, it may be less or more important.  But all dogs need a sense of safety to close their eyes and drift off into a deep and restful sleep.  I love watching Luke and Elsa dose off; their face twitching and feet moving as they dream.  It means that they feel free from danger; a place where they can relax and lay their head down. 

Sleep is very important for us and for our dogs.  A dog will only truly sleep when they feel safe; or when they have no choice from complete exhaustion.  Each is an individual; as such their requirements to feel safe will be different.  Highly alert and intense type dogs like Elsa need more to shut their eyes and enter into a realm of deep sleep.  She is also very nosey which factors into the whole sleep thing.  When Elsa was a puppy it was very hard for her to fall asleep; I had to put her away somewhere quiet or it wasn't happening.  She was not one of those puppies that fall asleep in your arms.

Very mellow, low key and old dogs have an easier time drifting off into the land of nod.  I love watching Luke fall asleep wherever he lays his head these days; but it hasn't come just with the old factor.  He feels safe here in his home.  A sense of safety comes from a feeling of being guarded; an impervious cloak of protection that is given by the leader, you.  Do you make your dog feel safe and secure?  Is there a sense of calm in your home? 

Stress can cause a lack of sleep; a lack of sleep causes more stress.  A stressed dog is not a happy dog.  Dogs need their sleep; not just a shut eye sleep, but a deep and dreamy sleep.  They need to regenerate as we do and the only way to do that is to have a really great sleep.  Giving your dog the sense of security needed to achieve that depth of sleep is essential.  You need to be the type of leader who calmly says "don't worry, I got this."  Dogs need calm guidance and leadership; offering this can achieve peace and tranquility, even when there is ruckus around. 

It makes me happy to see them sleep while the outside world is fence fighting; knowing they are secure because "I got this." 

Who is Sherri?

Every once in a while I like to introduce myself.  Some of you may be new readers so I thought that I would say hi and tell you a bit about myself.  Give you  a little insight as to who is behind "Just dogs with Sherri."  I love everything about dogs and spend most of my time either writing about, training, photographing, cooking for or simply hanging out with them.  

It all started for me at the young age of 13; I was handed a leash, stepped into the show ring with a Doberman I'd just met and the rest is history.  My show handling was mostly self taught through trial and error; but I did have the privilege of receiving much knowledge from the renowned Martha Covington Thorne back in Canada. I clearly remember the day Martha said to me "young lady, never stop handling; the show world needs handlers like you," as she handed me my huge trophy. I started out in the conformation ring as a Junior handler and moved up to handling breeds of all kinds. I handled Dobermans, Airedales, Irish Deerhounds, Irish Terriers, Mastiffs, Bull Terriers, Great Pyrenees and of course Standard Poodles.

During my show years I was also active in obedience training. This was where I learned the old conventional choke collar methods of training. I am not proud of training dogs like this but when I was 13, way back then; there was no other way. I never had fun training my dogs with this method and as soon as I learned of positive reinforcement training everything changed. I never looked back but I am happy that I have the conventional experiences. This gives me an insight into this type of training, the mind set and reason why I never use it anymore.  It is all a part of the evolution; one of the pieces of who I am today.

I gave up the show ring shortly after the birth of my first daughter; putting all my energy into being a Mom in a small town. As my children grew into their pre-teen years I became a well known baker in the area. I attended a weekly farmers market where I was quickly dubbed the "cookie lady." I also supplied a local restaurant with an array of cheesecakes. 

From baking I went back to the dogs as a Pet sitter. I loved spending the time while my children were in school just chill'n with lots of dogs. It is very rewarding walking and playing with dogs who otherwise spend their long days alone because their guardians worked all day. This was not a long gig as we were soon to move to California; so I gave up the dog walking and focused on the move.  Once here in California I met and worked with another dog trainer and not long after that I became a private in-home dog trainer myself.  Having years of experience behind me it was an easy transition.  I loved it; for almost 16 years I have got to meet some amazing dogs and their guardians.   

My specialty in dog training is behavior modification through positive reinforcement.  This encompasses a focus on living with our dogs in the best way possible.  I love working with dogs and their guardians, helping them to come together; living life as smoothly as humans and dogs can.  I have worked with everything from the tiniest little pocket pooches up to the giant Irish Wolfhounds and Great Danes.  Each one was interesting and exciting in their own way and all play a part in life with dogs.  

Next I started dabbling in photography and quickly discovered that this was yet another branch about to evolve.  I am a freelance photographer with a preference for dogs.  I do love photography in general but my camera is never far from a dog.  I shoot for many of the big dog magazines and do a great deal of private work.  I love it all, capturing the very essence of a dog brings me great happiness.  Having the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and amazing dogs is truly a dream come true.

Throughout my years of training I have written and had many articles published. I am near completion of a second novel titled And Back Again; there is a third children's book in the works and a training book that needs attention to complete.  If you are in need of behavior help; please visit my email consultation page to receive help today.  There are also cookies in the mix; I am in recipe mode as I work to create a very healthy and tasty cookie for our companions.  If you'd like to see all what I do, please visit my main webpage at Just dogs with Sherri, that's me.  :) 
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Love to hear from you and please feel free to share this blog with your friends. 
 

Pet sitters (part #1) - the interview, for the pet sitters

So you want to be a pet sitter?  Perhaps you are a new pet sitter or a long time pet sitter?  Having just interviewed several pet sitters in the past weeks; I thought that I'd write a bit about what you should and should not, as a pet sitter be doing at your interview. 

When a new client calls, you are often asked to come and meet the prospective client.  This is different from many other interviews as it is all about you.  The canine owner needs to feel comfortable enough with you to have you take care of their one and only. 

The Interview

The interview - must love dogs, if you don't, do something else.

Show up on time, if you aren't on time for your interview then the dog owner will not think you will be on time for their dog. 

Wear appropriate attire.  Jeans, casual clothing, dog walking attire.  Do not show up looking like you just crawled out of bed, just came back from the gym or are going to a club.  People want to see you in your dog attire.

Listen, the owner will be telling you a lot, listen.  The owner will be asking you questions, listen. 

Ask questions about the dog and their daily routine.  All clients, dogs and homes are different, ask.

Connect with the dog.  If you aren't a dog lover, do something else. 

Connecting with the dog is never a waste of time.  Even if you don't get the job, who doesn't want to connect with a dog?

You are there for an interview.  You have to prove that you should be the one to care for this persons dog, why?

Bring any required certification, insurance, associations, extra training like cpr, etc.

Interact with the dog owner.  You must create a rapport, a comfortable feeling for the owner.

DO NOT be a know it all.  Believe it or not, you don't know everything about dogs; even if you've been doing this a long time.  Each is an individual and should be treated as such.

Be flexible, not all owners are the same and what one requires another may not.  If you are caring for dogs, it is all about the care of the dogs.  Listen and be able to bend.

Share your experience, offer your specialties; what sets you apart from the rest of the pet sitters?

Clearly explain any restrictions you have as far as pet sitting.  Outline your business protocols, pricing and cancellation policies, this is extremely important.  No one wants to find these out after the fact. 

If you have time restrictions for an interview, say so up front.  Do not cut the interview short midway.

Be professional, warm and fuzzy professional.

Do not act like you are doing the dog owner a big favor by being there for the interview.

Do not roll your eyes when you hear all the needs of an over anxious pet owner.  It is your job to make them feel comfortable enough to go away. 

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The above list could most definitely be longer but these are the important things that stood out for me.  I have interviewed a lot of sitters and it amazes me just how many don't pass the interview stage.  Gut feel is important when choosing a sitter; if a prospective client doesn't get a good feel from the interview, you won't get any further.

If you aren't a dog lover, and I mean DOG LOVER, then do something else.  Dog owners do not want or need someone who doesn't love dogs pretending to.

Taking care of dogs while people go away is a serious business.  Canine guardians put the lives of their dogs in your hands, NEVER TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. 

 

To all the amazing Dad's out there.

Happy Father's Day weekend to all the amazing dog Dads.  There is nothing more attractive than a man who loves his dog.  A Dad who gives his time, devotion, protection, loyalty and love to his one and only canine/s.   I happen to live with one of these amazing dog Dads.  Luke and Elsa hit the jackpot of Dad's with theirs.  He too is one lucky Dad to have the privilege of living with Luke and Elsa.  Theirs is a very special relationship.

To the all Dads who grab the leash and head out after a hard day of work.  The Dads that pick out special toys and treats for their dog.  To the Dads who choose to do what their dog/s wants to do because that is what they want to do.  The Dads who rent a movie instead of going out to a movie so that they can spend the night with their dog/s.  To the Dads who know when something just isn't right and to those who know when something is.  All the Dads who just sit, enjoying a moment with their best friend.  To those of you who have learned the intensity of the human/canine connection.  For the Dads who have learned that it truly is the little things in life that are important.  To all the Dads out there who have a special place in their heart for their one and only canine.  This is your weekend, you deserve it, celebrate. 

Why fat is important

Low fat, fat free, fat reduced, honestly.  We believe what we read, don't we?  Well some of us do and some of are never interested in reading and researching for ourselves.  So what is this whole fat free movement about?  It started a long time ago in humans and I see many people reaching for the "fat free" products in the grocery store.  Like many trends, once we humans catch on we move it to our dogs; but is fat free, low fat good for our dogs?  No.

Society as a whole has gone crazy with the no fat, low fat thing.  It has created many health related problems as it has with our dogs.  The number one issue that I hear from people is that their dog is always itchy, with dry skin.  This all too common and annoying problem can be helped and often alleviated with the addition of good fat into our dog's diet. 

When a food is processed, much of the nutrition is reduced.  When dog food companies take fat out of a diet they fill it with other things that our dogs don't need.  Of course not all fat is equal, much of the fat in the low grade dog foods is not good at all; this is why it is so important to find the best food that you can for your dog. 

Fat does not make us or our dogs fat.  Feeding our dogs food that they should not be eating like high carb diets and not offering them enough exercise outlet will make them fat.  Sadly many processed diets out there, made specifically for dogs are too low in good fats.  As you know I make most of Luke and Elsa's food and I do not make low fat food.  I make sure that they receive a good amount of fat by using olive oil, coconut oil, sardines and offering those little creepy fish.  I recently made some new dog cookies that are high fat for Luke and his skinniness.  He loves them and along with the added omega 3's he gets from his little daily fish, I am noticing a huge difference in him.

When considering what our dogs should eat; I like to look at the original natural diet of the wolf.  Processed foods offer little as a whole food source.  It is extremely important to switch it up, feed variety.  Look at our diet, do we eat the same bowl of food day in and day out?  Not me and I know that most don't.  If a wolf in the wild takes down a deer, they don't skim the fat off.  No, the fat is what gives them energy and the extra nutrition required to keep going.   

I have been researching fat for some time in humans and when I looked for facts about it with dogs, there is little.  The whole low fat thing in dogs is just being looked at so I have listed a couple of human related links as well. 

Dr. Becker - Mercola

Dog food adivsor

Authority Nutrition

Primal bliss nutrition

As in everything, there are exceptions.  Some dogs cannot tolerate fat for health reasons (I'm not talking about these guys).  But many dogs could be given extra fat and oils when introduced slowly.  Are you giving your dog enough fat?

Death to the stuffed guys.

Standing in line, you look down at what will be your purchase as soon as it is your turn at the cash, and you smile.  "Fido is going to love this toy" you think to yourself.  You put so much thought into picking out just the right one; the one that will be the most cherished by your one and only. 

      
 Note that the grey guy laying in the midst of the destruction is fully intact, at the moment.  He is not the carcass of destruction.   

Within minutes, your dreams are shattered.  The image you conjured of your dog lovingly carrying around their new toy for months, gone.  There it is, dead; death to the stuffed guy.   Looking at your dog you ask "why did you wreck that?"  "I just bought it."  Your dogs response?  Satisfaction. 

There are dogs who never destroy softies; they are the picture of cuteness as they carry their favorite stuffed guy around for months, if not years.  But they are the minority; which is why the canine soft toy industry is a huge one.  You can search and search for the seemingly illusive indestructible softy but they aren't out there.  Do you know how many indestructible soft toy carcasses I have lying around?  No, when a dog sets their mind to destruction, death to the stuffed guy will be the only thing that remains. 

Most people know full well that when they buy a soft toy, it will be gone in a matter of minutes, hours, maybe days.  Does the death of a stuff toy make it useless, no.  Death only changes the possibilities of the stuffed toy.  It goes from needing to be gutted to an object of chewing or tugging.  Like I said, I have a basket full of carcasses that are hauled out and played with until they are but a speck of what they use to be.  When they become bits and pieces of their former self; their life in our home is over and they are sent to their final resting spot. 

All dogs being different, they all have their individual drive; each one likes to destroy in different ways.  For Luke, there is no other reason to have a stuffed toy than to de-stuff it.  Even now as an old man, he loves nothing more than gutting softies.  Elsa is more selective in her destruction.  Oh, by the way, Elsa made the mess in the top photo.  She has toys that have been around for months and months.  For some reason they have immunity and are the ones she goes to get at night to sleep on while we watch t.v.  Jeffrey is the favorite and he is protected from destruction.  I make sure that he is never tugged with and is quickly removed if Luke should lay a paw on him. 

Killing stuffed toys is a common dog behavior.  It is a very natural activity for a dog; think wolf in dog camouflage.  Dogs like to rip and tear so when they de-stuff a softy they are going back to who they truly are.  Carrying around a soft toy or "rabbit" in wolf terms and not killing it is not a typical behavior.  With domestication has come the evolution of not killing prey; but don't kid yourself, it's still in there.  

Aside from the extra work of picking up stuffing, string, along with bits and pieces; de-stuffing is a good activity for our dogs.  They obviously enjoy it and can be entertained for hours if a toy has some substance to it.  Don't get mad when your dog destroys yet another toy that you have ever so carefully chosen just for them.  Be happy that they are enjoying themselves in an activity that makes THEM feel good.  Supervise the destruction and allow your dog to indulge in being a dog.  You done good bringing home a softy.   

Dangers

You must take great care when dogs are destroyers of softies.  I luckily do not have a dog that likes to destroy and eat their toys.  Luke does on occasion, enjoy ripping tiny pieces off now and again; only when he is in the mood will he eat a piece.  This always boggles my mind as he turns his nose up at steak, chicken and just about everything else regularly.  So if he gets into one of his eating of the toy moods, it is very abruptly taken away.  He does not eat stuffing as he is gutting his toys; only small pieces of carcass that he pull off after the death. 

Elsa is very good at not eating stuffing or carcass.  She takes great measures to make sure that everything is spit out once ripped off; which is a good thing.  But if you have a dog that eats toys, you must be VERY VERY careful.  Not only may the toy die but your dog could as well.  If you have a stuffed toy eater; never have them around when you are not supervising.  Only allow them if and when you have undivided attention on your dog. 

Death to the stuffed guys is a very natural thing. 
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Canines and kiddies interacting

 

Elsa is obviously happy about this interaction but I am still there to protect her and the child if need be. 

This video was passed by me via Facebook, (dog attack video) it should have never happened.   Yet these type of things happen often due to lack of supervision.  It makes me so mad that people allow this to happen.  The owner in this video even brought his dog to the vet to be euthanized before this happened.  He already knew that his dog was not good with his grandchild.  He cannot blame the vet for it, he did not supervise his dog and grandchild's interactions.  This never had to happen, it could have been completely avoided.

"Sherri, our dog has growled at the baby," is what the person on the phone is saying.  People who allow their dog full access to the baby, everything seems fine until the baby starts to move and everything changes.  I have got a lot of these exact calls.  When I go to the home to discuss the issue with the owners they are often dismayed by their dog's behavior.  Sometimes they have been coaxed to call by another family member.  I had just such a call a couple of years ago.  The Mother in law was extremely worried for her grandchild, the parents not so much.

When I got to the home I sat and chatted and watched.  Watching the typical interactions is a great way to know what is going on.  In an instant I stood up and asked them to pick up their baby.  Their very large Akita mix dog was growling as the baby crawled closer and closer to him. The parents watched and did not seem alarmed, that is when I started my warning seeing that no 'danger signs' were going off for them.  "Your child is going to get bit," was the first thing I said.  "Your dog is most definitely going to bite the baby."  They looked at me like "what?"  So I picked apart what was going on and more than likely going to happen.

When babies are little and new they cause no concern to a dog typically.  They don't move around, they are no threat except that they take some of our attention.  Once on the ground and mobile, everything changes.  Of course there are lots of dogs that are fine with crawling babies and never see them as a threat.  But this blog is still for all dog owners, I don't care how friendly and wonderful your dog is.  Once a baby starts to crawl it can be considered a pack member and if you (the owner) do not rule the pack, then your dog will.  Your job is to protect your child and to protect your dog.  If you do not, then your dog takes over the job.

I've sat at many first time meetings with dogs and children and shuddered as a parent.  I am an extremely protective parent and it boggles my mind to see how some people see no danger.  I believe it is the "my dog would never" attitude.  Which is indeed a very dangerous attitude to have.  Any dog will, all dogs have a breaking point. But the fact is that dogs and children should never be alone, NEVER.  I remember a vet tech telling me years ago that she didn't buy the whole supervision thing.  "If she couldn't trust her dogs alone with  her baby then she wouldn't have them," is what she told me.   Sadly this is not a good attitude.  Of course it is great to know that your dog loves your baby or child.  But even still you should never leave the two alone.

Things happen, children and/or babies can do some weird things.  They pull ears, bite, crawl on top of and any number of other things.  If you don't see what happened then you have no idea, you are blind as far as the situation at hand.  One client told me that she continually told her three year old son that their dog was going to bite him as he manhandled her.  She then told me that the same dog and three year old spend a great deal of time in his room with the door closed.  AHHHHHHHHHH   I have made many people cry on behavior calls, yep.  I bring reality to them so that things like the video don't happen.  A wake up call so to speak.  The crying comes as they have their ah ha moment; the instant that they realize that they were not protecting their child. 

It is can be a very dangerous situation, lack of supervision and there is simply no need for it.  Had the man in the video supervised his grandchild and dog appropriately this would have never happened.  Dogs often need a great deal of time getting used to a crawling baby. It is our job to make it clear that this is not someone that they can boss around.  Only we as parents/grandparents can do that.  Babies need to have a great start with a dog, that means making things when they are together positive.  Spending time with the dog and baby in a safe manner.  Both dog and baby need to learn how to interact with one another.  You cannot just leave it up to them to figure it all out.

By not offering appropriate supervision with dog/baby interactions you give your dog permission to deal with it.  Your lack of supervision lets your dog know that they need to punish and teach the baby on their own terms, not good.  You are the parent, it is your job, not your dogs.

NEVER , EVER LEAVE A DOG ALONE WITH A BABY OR CHILD.  It is just not worth the risk.

Got rugs?

The beach is a great place to run and play; there is lots of traction in sand. 


Wood floors, aren't they gorgeous?  Many people want wall to wall wood floors in their home but our dogs can suffer from this decision.  Real wood and laminate wood floors can be extremely slippery.  I know, we had one put in a couple of years ago and it's horribly slippery.  It was not my choice, I chose a rustic rough tile floor but lost the coin toss; so we have one very slippery floor.  It looks gorgeous but is now covered with rug which sort of defeats the purpose of getting rid of the carpet in the first place.  It is just too slippery for the dogs to move around on safely, especially old dogs.

Surface is something that we canine guardians need to pay close attention to.  From the moment a dog is born, there needs to be concern for the surface that they walk on.  I see lots of photos of puppies running around inside plastic pools, on the kitchen linoleum  floor and sliding across the living room wood floor and it makes me shudder.  One of the most important times for puppies to be on a non skid surface is when they are nursing.  Those little feet of theirs attempt to dig in and move them forward as they fight for placement at the milk bar.  Once they latch on the digging continues as they nurse; they need to be on a surface that gives them traction.

Whelping boxes and play areas should have non skid surfaces placed in them.  That can be small throw rugs, thick blankets or rubber matting.  But it needs to be put down in all areas of the box.  Having just one small piece for Mom to lay on in not sufficient.  When the puppies are little and crawling around, they need traction to help to build their little muscles.  Without the ability to build muscle the slippery surface does even more damage.  So the old newspaper lined box of the past should remain in the past. 

Slipping is not good, not for us and definitely not for our dogs.  As much as I hate carpet, it is essential in the form of a throw rug for safety.  If a floor is slippery then our dogs should not be playing on it.  Walking across a slippery floor in a calm manner is one thing but our dogs cannot be guaranteed to do that often, right?  Hearing nails clamor and skids across a slippery surface is a sound that causes me to cringe.  It may be only a matter of time until something is torn and the dog then requires surgery, plus an unbelievably long recovery time.   

I've got throw rugs everywhere in my home.  You can get throw rugs for next to nothing; making them easy to switch them out when needed.  A throw rug is only as good as it's non skid backing so as they wear, replace with new.  I actually need to get out and buy a few new ones to replace those that have been on the floor past their prime.  Place throw rugs in prime traffic areas and where corners can cause a wipeout.  We have two huge area rugs in the family room that cover the flooring and make for a great play place for Luke and Elsa. 

Slipping can cause all sorts of problems; from hip dysplasia to serious tendon, muscle and ligament tears.    When a dogs slips all their muscles cannot kick in to save the tendons, ligaments and joints.  They feel the full brunt of the slip and can suffer serious wear and tear.   Wear and tear can then cause a damage to tendons, ligaments and joints which then are susceptible to serious damage.  DO NOT play with your dog on slippery surfaces. 

Build muscle and offer traction.  This is the best way to avoid injury to tendons, ligaments and joints. 

The ball dog.

The moments between retrieving and catching for a ball dog.

 

Elsa and her ball,

are never very far apart.

An obsessive retriever must always know where her ball is.

Sometimes she plays with her ball by herself. 

She keeps it close.

Often feeling the need to touch.

A true ball dog is not concerned so much with acquisition as with the whereabouts of the ball in case a chance to catch or retrieve it should arise. 

It goes where she goes.

The ball is placed in optimum throwing positions.

Always within reach of the intended thrower.

If it doesn't quite make the mark, a little shove gets it there.

Strategic placement is optimal. 

One does not put the ball down willy nilly. 

Nonchalant attitude is often used to entice a throw. 

Or pretending that you don't even care.

But a ball dog is never far away from their ball.

As much as a ball dog wants to have their ball with them 24/7, it is important that a human be in control of the ball.  Allowing it to be played with in allotted time slots during the day is the structure that a ball dog needs.  Gotta love a ball dog. 

Training

 

An adorable puppy waiting to learn. 

What is training?

Training - intended for use during an introductory, learning, or transitional period.

So training is in the beginning; at the start of your relationship with your dog.  But many never even get started; they think that their dog will somehow learn from them without them ever actually taking the time to train.  Do you belt out commands to your dog that you have never officially trained them on?  I see it all the time; people shouting "sit, stay, heel" at their dog while their dog has no idea what these words mean.  No, dogs do not come equipped with the knowledge of these words.  Training takes time and if you want your dog to clearly understand what these words you throw around mean, you have to work hard to teach them. 

Training is repetition, reward and error markers.  As a positive reinforcement trainer, there is no forcing a behavior.  Each behavior is learned through the use of baby steps; rewarding each tiny progression until it's finality. At that point you can train the full behavior; adding  minor distractions next until you can then train it in public.  That is a lot of work.  Each and every behavior must go through the same rigors to be solid and useful.  Of course all dogs are not the same; some may fly through the stages while others linger or get stuck. 

Training for me is about far more than just individual behaviors.  It is about manners in life; the whole package of life, the day to day.  Many dogs that I meet know their sits, down and stay; but can they perform them in life?  Have they been asked to do anything other times of the day and not just training time?  Many people tell me "they are great when we are training."  Well, yes but that sucks.  I hate unruliness, I am not a fan of "out of control" dogs.  So we have rules, lots of them and everyone needs to abide by them, human and dog. 

Of course my dogs are not always perfect; there is no perfect dog like there are no perfect people.  They have times of unruly, crazies but if I say "enough" it means "enough."  Lack of training only causes confusion, stress, frustration and unhappiness for both the dog and the human involved.   Training is essential, our dogs come to us knowing how to be a dog.  Some dog behaviors are unwanted in our human world; that is where the training comes into our day to day.  Once we train the behaviors we then need to enforce, the workout stage. 

Training is in the beginning, continuing to enforce is after the fact.  That is the Sheriff's job and you my friend are the new Sheriff in town.  :)

Who's coming over?

Guess who's coming over to play?  So cute, I love that Elsa knows her friends by name.

 

A sea of gold.

Lucy peaking.

Kisses for Lucy.

Now it's WWF time.

A little leg chomp.

A fraction of a second of quiet time for Elsa. 

Game on again.

Lucy is loosening up.  

We don't call Elsa "The Crusher" for nothing.

Pinned.

Lucy, not impressed.

Just kidding. 

Pinned again.

Zoom time.

Fly by.

Elsa misses the mark.

There she goes.

Caught, another pin.

Quick rest.

Glowing Golden. 

Chill time. 

Seems that Lucy liked this ball almost as much as Elsa. 

Of course she caught it.

Love this sequence of shots.  The difference between fun retrieving and Elsa type retrieving.  

Eye has never left the ball.

Readying.

Of course. 

Very serious girl faces while Luke is just happy to be a part of the gang.  

Close, but no cigar.

Yep.

And she's spent.  

From fat to fit and fabulous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got an overweight dog?  From a few extra pounds to hugely obese; our dogs suffer the same when they carry around too much weight.  It makes me sad when I see dogs who are too heavy; it is not their fault but they suffer the consequences.  There are a few reasons why a dog will become overweight;  they eat too much food, they eat all the wrong foods or they don't get enough exercise.  So how do you get your pudgy out of shape dog back in the game?  The big secret to losing weight is this: eat less, move more.  Simple eh? 

First, have a look at what your dog is eating.  That means everything that your dog is eating. You need to look at their intake of calories; which includes everything that they eat, not just what goes into their bowl.  Are you feeding a high quality kibble or is it filled with empty calories that your dog doesn't need?  Sometimes it's not that you are feeding too much; it might just be what you are feeding.  My rule about dog food is this; if you can buy it in a big box store, DON'T.  If they have advertising on television, DON'T BUY IT.  Last as Luke, Elsa and I watched t.v. I was shocked to see how many ads were run from a new food that Purina has out.  Shocking how much money they spend in attempt to get us to buy a product that they cut every corner to produce. 

Research, research, research; but if you are not into research at least do a little.  There are lots of sites on the net where you can get ratings on the quality of dog food.  More quality, less quantity.  It always amazes me how little food a dog needs if it is really good food.  Elsa keeps a very girlish, athletic figure on not a whole lot of food.  But what she eats is nutrient rich; packed full of food that her body will utilize, that is what we should be feeding.  (Not talking about Luke here, he is the other end of the spectrum)  Don't skimp when it comes to your dog's food; don't just grab the stuff at the store because it's there and easy.

Quantity?  Do you cave at those big brown eyes staring at you?  Are you convinced that the way to your dog's heart is through their stomach?  Sorry to burst your bubble but most dogs are pigs and they will use you to get to the food.   If you love and care about your dog; don't over feed them.  Offering food as a show of love is all wrong; it is that offering that may end your relationship far too soon.  Caring for our dogs means doing what is best for them; what will make them thrive and have a great life.  It is not always easy to do; sometimes we have to make tough decision for the good of our dog. 

Don't like to exercise?  Well, it's good for us as well as our dogs.  You don't have to run 10 miles a day to give your dog exercise.  I'm all about quality over quantity.  That typically means that a dog has got to run, off leash.  To do that you can have a friend over to play (which is what we are doing today).  Teach your dog to retrieve a ball or hit a leash free area that is safe.  A walk around the block will not cut is as far as exercise and movement is concerned.  The biggest problem with overweight dogs is lack of movement.  We all have busy lives but there is always a way to move your dog. 

Make a plan, quality food in, more movement.  Start today.