Tail amputation (docking) time to evolve.

Oh those beautiful tails.  Elsa dropped her ball in this shot and needed to do a very fast maneuver to recover it.  You can see the tails part in the move.  

This is a re-post.  This blog was originally written in December 2013 but covers such an important topic that I think re-posting is necessary.  The subject of amputating tails has become a very hot topic among breeders but for me there is but one simple question, why?  

When I see a new litter just a day or two old, I shudder knowing that in another day or two they will have their tails removed simply for fashion.  It should make you shudder as well.  There is no reason for it and someone down the road made the choice which breeds got to keep their tails and which looked better via amputation.  Time evolve folks.  Read on.  

I am a non docking advocate.  Elsa is our first non docked dog; my first dog was an Airedale (docked), we have had several other poodles and a Jack Russell (all docked) until Elsa.  Elsa has changed everything.  

When I talk to people about docking; many just want to know "why?"

Some "reasons" for docking include; balance, injury risk and standard (conformation show ring) requirements.  Common sense and ethical treatment of dogs should outweigh any of the so called "reasons," in my opinion.  Just because something has been done in the past; does not mean that we should continue the procedure without question.  Many customs performed ritualistically throughout history have since been modified or completely eradicated.  Often owners of docked dog breeds do not even realize that their dog's tails has been amputated; it has been going on that long.  People just think that they come out with short tails; that it is just how they look.

The term "docking" itself, may be a part of the problem.  Doesn't docking just sound like a harmless word?  Call it what it is, amputation of the tail and you get some attention.  Amputation?  Yes, docking means to amputate a portion of tail.  Depending on the breed specification or current fashion will factor in on how much is amputated.  Anything from the tip to the whole tail can be removed.

There are those of you out there reading this blog and shaking your head at all the fuss being made over the simple docking of tails.  I have read many articles from docking advocates promoting the procedure as nothing; a simple procedure that doesn't even hurt.  Times are changing, things are moving to more ethical treatment of animals and that my friends should also include our dogs.  We should not be chopping tails off for fashion.  The only reason that tails are amputated is so that the dog looks like what the book says.  There is absolutely no reason to remove tails, in fact it is barbaric in my opinion.

As a dog trainer who specializes in behavior I can say that dogs need their tails.  Having had docked dogs before Elsa has opened my eyes.  I never liked the fact that my dogs were docked but I had no choice; they had been done way before I met them all.  Now that I have had a dog with a full tail; I will never have another without.  (Unless of course I rescue one with a docked tail.)  Elsa moves her tail completely different from any of our dogs before her.  Her tail is gloriously fluid. 

I am much more aware of tails than I have ever been.  I have seen huge "mixed messages" from dogs who have little or no tail to communicate with.  Witnessing a mis-communication due to a lack of tail is just sad.  What a mess we've made for these poor dogs.  Humans have convinced other humans that it is best to chop them off.  But we have gone through the breeds and singled out who loses their tail and who gets to keep them with no rhyme or reason.  Sad, just sad.

Wolves have long tails and wolves live in the forest.  They hunt, kill and fight without damage to their tails.  How could we possibly use the "working dog" card to support chopping tails off?   Dogs are much more capable of hunting maneuvers when they have  their tail for balance.  Many of the new "hunting line" breeders are leaving tails intact because they understand the physical need for the tail.   They breed for structure and workability, not fashion.   But shouldn't the fact that dogs are born with tails be enough of an argument for them to keep them?  You would think right?

I am seeing a shift, it is slow but it is happening.  Elsa has actually helped.   She has educated many on the attributes of having a tail.  She not only is perfectly normal with an intact tail but shines even brighter with it.  Watching her use her tail as another appendage is truly fascinating.  Plus her athletic ability is no doubt far superior because she has the use of her full tail.

If you get nothing other than something to ponder from this blog then I have at least offered that.  If we keep going through our life just doing and never thinking; then nothing will ever change. Change requires actions, which requires thought.  Some people had no idea dogs had their tails amputated; others know and turn a blind eye.  But there are many people who just never think about it, time to stop and think.  Dogs are born with tails for a reason; who are we to amputate them as unnecessary?
  
When I decided to do a blog about tail amputation I contacted a Veterinarian who I follow and respect, Dr. Karen Becker. I asked if she would offer a statement with regards to canine tail amputation. The following paragraph is her statement. Thank you Dr. Becker.
The only time I believe any body part should be cut off is if it's causing an animal's quality of life to be impinged. Removing parts because they may be a problem in the future is presumptuous, in my opinion. Removing ears and tails means we are cutting off part of the dog's sensory input system unnecessarily, in the name of vanity, to meet a "breed standard." All vets have seen animals have anesthetic complications, infections and long term neuropathic pain associated with these procedures. It's a matter of whether we're willing to acknowledge the importance of our profession spearheading an ethical reform on the issue, or not.

This shot is a bit tough to figure out.  It is shot from behind Luke with Elsa in front of him.  Her tail is still around his neck as she moves away.  

Constant physical contact is achieved with a full tail.  Even as Elsa moves away from Luke she is still touching him.  

The following interviews are from breeders who do not dock tails.  

One of Helen's dogs (Pankins) using her tail for some intense herding.  

Helen Grinnell King - author, agility competitor and structure specialist.

Helen's website, Recipe to win.  

When did you decide to stop amputating tails?

In the 1970s I bred harlequin Great Danes. I hated the ear cropping. Not only did I hate the blood bath and what we did to those puppies, we lost several very nice puppies due to the anesthetic. I hated that. It was then that I decided mutilating puppies for the sake of a ribbon or fashion was selfish and barbaric. I am so proud to say that my last harlequin Dane stud dog produced the first uncropped AKC breed champion harlequin Great Dane. I did not breed him but am still very proud of the decision of the breeder to not crop.

Fast forward to 2000. I bought my first Poodle as a pet. She was docked. After watching how limited her tail was, I decided that I never wanted another docked or mutilated dog again. I inherited two docked standards when a good friend died. Their tails were docked and dew claws had been removed. I vowed my next Poodle would have all of her body parts. In 2004 we purchased a Poodle that was indeed blessed to have all her body parts in place. The difference was incredible.

I also attended a seminar by Dr. Chris Zink in 2002 or 2003. She showed videos of dogs landing over jumps and explained how harmful it was to remove dew claws. I became a believer. It just made sense. I also hated the idea of putting little puppies through having their body parts amputated and the pain they must feel.

So, when I bred my own litter of standard Poodles in 2009, there was no question when it came to leaving on all their body parts. I am so glad I did. The owners LOVE the full tails and so do the dogs. I will never own another mutilated dog again! They USE their body parts and need them! I find it disgusting to remove their tails or dew claws to make buyers happy, win ribbons or for fashion.

What sort of response have you received from prospective puppy buyers?

I only sell to people who really want a dog with all of its body parts. I am afraid to sell to somebody who might try to dock when the dog is older because they like the look.

Have you shared your experiences with other breeders in an attempt to stop others from amputating?

Ad nauseam.I am happy and proud to say I have turned some away from docking and removing dew claws, but others refuse to budge in their practice of mutilating puppies.

What major differences have you seen in docked vs. intact tails?

Wagging is very different. The docked tails wag faster. I have three undocked dogs and I have never had an issue of them hitting their tails on anything. Poodle tails are very high so they don’t whack things when they wag. They use their tails as rudders in agility, running free and swimming. I also find that one of mine is actually afraid of docked dogs (the shorter the tail the more she fears them). Without a tail, it is difficult for other dogs to read their body language.

Is there any information you would like to pass on to others that might change their mind about amputating?

Full tails are not only functional, they are beautiful! There is new evidence that docking tails, cropping ears and removing dew claws sets up an immune response that can cause autoimmune issues as the dogs gets older. That alone should be enough to stop people from removing body parts on puppies!

Any comments you’d like to add? 

PLEASE give your puppies a break and STOP THE MUTILATIONS!!!! They deserve their body parts!

Both tails are very active in this shot but Elsa's is very obvious.  She is trying to catch Penny on a run by; her tail is helping to do a sharp turn.  

Laura Bernier 

When did you decide to stop amputating tails?
We stopped docking tails and removing dew claws 6 years ago.

Why did you decide to leave tails on your puppies?

One time, when I was at the vet have a litter docked, I heard the babies crying. It was terrible. It was at that time I noticed that it took them a few hours and a couple of feedings in order to get their vigor back. Around this time I was reading articles about docking and watching videos on how dogs used their tails. I was amazed at how much the tail was a participant in their locomotion. I came to the conclusion that the poodle community couldn't give me a valid reason why docking was done. The lore is that dogs were docked for hunting, so their tales didn't tangle in the reeds. I came to the conclusion that the risk of reed tangle was small and the need for the tail was immense.

What sort of response have you received from prospective puppy buyers?

I have found buyers are very accepting of natural tails. It's a changing world, all natural, organic, unaltered. Most of my pup buyers are working dog people or agility folks, they prefer a natural tail.

Have you shared your experiences with other breeders in an attempt to stop others from amputating?

Some breeders say only backyard breeders leave tails natural. They have tried to convince me to continue to dock, but I decided the dog world is changing and I believe a natural tail is better for the dog. When a body is insulted, whether by vaccine, amputation or injury, there is an immune system response. No one can convince me that is a good thing.

What major differences have you seen in docked vs. intact tails?

Puppies suffer from no human induced stress. They walk earlier and enjoy steady locomotion at an earlier age. The natural tails are so expressive.

Is there any information you would like to pass on to others that might change their mind about amputating?

Yes, why amputate something that is so lovely. For every reason one can give about the benefits of docking, there are 5 reasons not to. One of my pups just received his Thai championship. He has a natural tail. Docking for the conformation ring is old school. It's time the community comes full circle to see the whole dog.
Rebecca Buchanan 

When did you decide to stop amputating tails?

A better question is why did I ever amputate tails, and the answer is, I didn't.  I fostered dogs for a breeder who did.  If he finds people he likes and trusts, he allows them to foster his breeders for him.  The dogs get to live in a family, rather than a kennel, and when the time comes for them to retire, they remain in the home free of charge.  The first 3 litters are his, the 4th, we split, and the last, if I wish to breed again, is mine.  He knew I was opposed to tail docking from the beginning, but the puppies were his, and I had no say in the matter.  I did make him come personally and take the puppies to the vet because I refused.  We discussed the matter several times, but he is old-school, and adamant, and has never changed.  Of course, once I had a choice, I did not get it done.

Why did you decide to leave tails on your puppies?

I admit, my initial objection to docking was primarily emotional.  I knew that the process was painful and unnecessary, and I suspected it had consequences, but really couldn't present a coherent argument for my case, so I started researching the matter.  I read statements from a lot of veterinarians who were opposed to it.  Usually, they spoke of issues with urinary and fecal incontinence, or of problems communicating with other dogs, or of diminished physical ability.  Oddly enough, the communication problem was not one that I observed to be an issue.  Communication in dogs is full-body language, and the tail is only one part.  I never observed intent misunderstood between my Rotties and other dogs.  

Typically, the method used to dock tails is to cut, without anesthesia, through muscle, bone and spinal cord (which extends further down the tail in a neonatal puppy, and recedes as they mature).  Also, the immature nervous system of a neonatal puppy is lacking some of the protections that are acquired as the puppy grows and matures, so that if anything, a neonatal puppy feels more pain than an older dog, not less. 

What sort of response have you received from prospective puppy buyers?

The response I have received from puppy buyers is overwhelmingly, "Why do they do that anyway?  Fashion?  That's stupid.  I like her tail!  I think cutting it is cruel and unnecessary."  I do write into the contract an agreement that the tail will never be cut, and I provide information on why it is not beneficial to the dog. 

Have you shared your experiences with other breeders in an attempt to stop others from amputating?

 I have tried.  Those who are not open to change shut me down without actually listening.  Mostly I concentrate on educating the general populace, and giving the information to anyone who will listen.  I believe that tail docking is a barbaric practice, and will eventually be abolished.  I find that veterinarians are increasingly reluctant to carry out the operation, and my own vet was thoroughly delighted to see an entire litter of Rotties with tails intact.  I believe that the veterinary community is most qualified and has the most influence to make the change, so I have concentrated my efforts there.

What major differences have you seen in docked vs. intact tails?

Wow.  Advocates of tail docking tell you that puppies are not affected by it.  They cry, and then go back to normal living almost immediately.  What I have experienced is that when you pick up a neonatal puppy, they wriggle and fuss and want mamma.  This is normal behavior.  If they are awake, they crawl toward mamma and milk.  But puppies who have had their tails docked react very differently.  When picked up, they panic and scream in terror.  My friend who docks tails views this as normal, but I can tell you it is NOT normal.  It does not normally occur in undocked puppies.  My question is, if they are not affected by it, and if they don't remember it, why do they panic when picked up by a human?  They do not react that way to being touched by their mother, or each other, only when being handled by humans.  I am sick to death of teaching neonatal puppies that it is OK to be picked up by a human.  
    

Is there any information you would like to pass on to others that might change their mind about amputating?

Please consider the benefits of not amputating!  Once the operation is done, it cannot be undone, and the benefits of a tail and the lack of trauma cannot be overstated.  To remove a tail has no benefit, and many negative affects.  Incidentally, I do not even remove dewclaws.  Some puppies do not have them at all.  For some they are the same as other breeds, closely connected to the leg and not a problem.  If they must be removed, they can be removed later as needed.  In my opinion, there is no good to be achieved, and no need to traumatize a three day old puppy, even for that.

Any comments you’d like to add? 

Overwhelmingly, the arguments I have seen in defense of tail-docking come in the form of assertions that have no documentation to back them up, and most of which I have, in my own observation, seen to be false or groundless, for example:  "Docking the tail gives them better balance and agility."  Well, no.  Medical science says otherwise, and the experience of other breeders and myself indicates the opposite.  

"If a Rottie wags its tail around a toddler that club will knock the child right over!  Have you ever seen a child knocked down by a Rottweiler tail?"  My answer:  No, but I've seen them knocked down by collie tails and lab tails, and Great Dane tails, and I don't see those being cut.  My toddlers fell on their butts, got back up (sometimes using collie fur as a handhold) and went on with life.  A Rottie tail is no more dangerous than a Dane tail.  And Bella's is less dangerous than our German Shepherds' tails.

"What about working dogs, who might be injured in the course of searching through rubble for earthquake victims?"  Well, legs and paws also can be injured, but we don't cut those off as preventative measures.  The purpose of the tail is to balance and stabilize the back.  I take my dogs into the back country.  We climb mountains, navigate rushing rivers, climbing rocks and deadfalls.  In fifty years, I've never seen a debilitating injury to the tail as a result, but I have seen the difference a tail can make in situations where strength and balance are paramount.  Personally, I will give my working dog the benefit of the improved balance, strength and agility that a tail affords.

Those who argue against tail-docking overwhelmingly either come from the veterinary community or have documented research to back their position.  I will take documented medical and scientific research over un-proven and easily refutable assertions any day.
    

In my opinion, the sooner this barbaric practice is a thing of the past, the better!  I believe future generations will look back on this one and be appalled at the cruelty we have perpetrated in the name of fashion.  May eyes be opened to see and hearts be drawn to compassion toward all these creatures that we are responsible for!

Jasmine Hale

When did you decide to stop amputating tails?

The first time I realized how painful and life changing tail docking is was when I bred my first litter of Corgis. 3 of the new owners had requested the tails to be docked. The other 3 asked if theirs could be left natural.  I took the puppies to the vet at 5 days old and assisted the vet in the procedure. The vet shaved the fur of the tail, sterilized the area, and cut the tail off with scissors.  All the while as the puppy was screaming and trying to escape the pain. No anesthetic is used. The pup can feel everything.  Depending on the vet they may or may not stitch up the tail. The vet then placed the bleeding puppy in a box and it stopped screaming.  It just lay there shivering and bleeding, going into shock. Whoever tells you that the puppy can't feel anything is obviously lying.  As the weeks went on and the puppies started walking.  The 3 with docked tails were weak and could barely stand.  While the ones left naturally were running and playing already. The docked puppies fell over often from loss of balance and grew slower as well; their bodies having to use extra energy to mend their mutilated tails. All the while I felt terrible for allowing this to happen. After seeing and experiencing all of this I swore never to let my puppy's tails be docked.

What sort of response have you received from prospective puppy buyers?

After I explain to people what the process is they are normally very happy to leave the tail on. However there are always a few that refuse to purchase a puppy because it is not "cute" with out a mutilated tail.
 
Have you shared your experiences with other breeders in an attempt to stop others from amputating?

I have shared my experience with other breeders.  Though most are scared to change because they think they won't be able to find the pups homes. A few have switched over and it is growing and they are very happy they have stopped docking. 

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The following links are articles on the subject of tail docking.

Top Two Painful Procedures Your Puppy Should Never Have To Endure - Healthy Pets with Dr. Karen Becker. 

Cutting off a dog's tail can lead to aggression.  - Canada.com

Welfare complications of tail docking dogs - AVMA 

Concerning tail docking - RSPCA

Canine tail docking - AVMA

The link below is for the Council of docked breeds; I didn't even know of it's existence until I started researching for this blog. 

Council of docked breeds

Taken from Dog Language by Roger Abrantes.

Dogs with docked tails find it more difficult to maintain balance under speed and they are obviously inhibited in their tail expression.  A German Shepherd or Siberian Husky with a full length tail finds it easier to perform tight turns at high speed than, for example, breeds with are traditionally docked, such as the Rottweiller or Old English Sheepdog, which appear clumsy.
______________________________________

In conclusion, I leave you with this.  I am not trying to ban docking; stopping it at the top will not stop the procedure from being done by those who are determined.  Change is required to save our dog's tail.  A wave of change is coming; will you be on that wave?

New babies and dogs, the juggling act.

Elsa on her never ending baby watch.  If I leave the room for a second, so does Elsa.  

Most of you know that I am a new Grandma; a new Grandma twice in just over a week to the most gorgeous little boys.  One of my daughters, her husband and little boy have been staying with us.  Before this Elsa had never met a baby up close and personal.  Oh, she's seen them around,  heard them a bit but never had one in her home.  Socializing with tiny babies can be tough to do if you aren't around any.  There is also the fact that most Moms are highly protective so asking if your puppy can get use to babies with theirs doesn't always go over so great.  Babies are a completely different thing for dogs; who knows what they think they are.  They smell, move, sound and look very different from adults.

Each and every dog is very different but a blanket statement of safety needs to be instilled with the addition of a baby to a dog home.  Even if you don't have a dog; you will run into dogs and the utmost of safety is required with interactions.  I am a Safety CEO; not in actuality but in my own behavior.  I have and always will be on high alert when it comes to dogs and children.  The next statement from me may come as a huge surprise to many.  Dogs are dogs.  There I said it.  :)  As much as I ADORE dogs, heck my life revolves around them; they are dogs and our babies must be protected from them.

This does not mean that I think that dogs are bad, far from it.  What I mean is that we cannot have a "they'll be fine" casual attitude around babies and dogs.  You must always be on high alert, watching every single behavior between a human baby and dog.  Too many babies are bitten by dogs every year and it is due to a lack of safety precautions instilled by parents and caregivers.  This makes me crazy.

Each dog will react very different to the presence of a tiny baby.  It is our job as adult humans to watch and know.  If we do not know a dog as in a strange dog then just keep your baby away.

So what does Elsa think?  She is at this point, obsessed.  Elsa adores humans, I mean crazy type adores.  She comes unglued when someone talks to her; and visitors?  Yes please.  So when this little man came on the scene squeaking, groaning and crying; her interest was peaked to say the least.  At first she was over excited by the smell and sound.  Her pupils dilated in her desire to acquire the baby.  She wanted us to put him down for her; basically she wanted him much like she wants a brand new toy.  So, much care was taken to allow her to be with us the entire time but at a distance.  Once her excitement lessened she was allowed to smell feet.

Yesterday my second daughter arrived at our home with her baby as well; so Elsa is in full baby immersion.  She has now smelled them both over, all but their face and head; and sits watching them for hours.  She is still very excited by their presence but their squeaks are becoming acclimated.  She's pretty exhausted with her new baby watch.  As she becomes more use to their presence she is now allowed to sit beside the person holding the baby but not on the head side.  These precautions should be instilled with all babies and dogs.

It is extremely important to implement boundaries without instilling anger.  Dogs should not be banished and need to learn how to respect boundaries.  The more a positive time a dog spends with a baby the better.  If you simply yell at your dog and offer up negative association then what are you saying about the new baby?  Adults can teach a dog to hate the presence of a new baby; so offering safe, positive interactions which give the new baby a positive association is needed.

As the babies grow and become mobile, I have no doubt that Elsa will have two very adorable playmates.  She loves humans.  She loves children. These little beings are very funny sounding, smelling and looking humans.   She is learning very quickly to life with live squeaky toys.  

Pet sitters who get it.

Not just anyone gets to care for my babies.  

Looking for a Pet Sitter?  It is not an easy task, that is unless you are willing to settle.  Settling for mediocre is not something that I am willing to do with the care of Elsa when I need to be away.  

I am a Grandma again, yep.  Two Grandsons a week apart so needless to say I needed someone to watch over Elsa for several days and I have that.  I feel extremely lucky to have found a wonderful woman whom Elsa adores.  

When I knew that my daughters would be having babies close together; I worried about a sitter.  You can't book a time slot for a baby arrival; they come when they want to come and you hope that you can get someone.  Of course the better the sitter the more booked up they are so I hoped and crossed my fingers and anything else I could do that she'd be available, and she was.  

Having my sitter available for the births of my first and second Grandson was HUGE.  It allowed me to focus on the task at hand and leave the care and love of Elsa with my sitter.  Being able to take that worry out of the equation is priceless.  When my sitter arrives and Elsa comes unglued, I know that she is in good hands.  

When you are away, the last thing you need to be doing is worrying.  I don't know about you all, but I worry a great deal if I'm not happy with where my dogs are or who they are with.  If I'm worrying, I'm not focusing on what I should be focusing on; whether that is babies, a conference, business or just plain fun.  

I try to tell and show my sitter just how much we appreciate her.  It means the world to me to have someone that I trust to leave Elsa with.  If I did not have her I could not relax when I am away.  Stepping out of my daily roll as caregiver and allowing her to step in is a big statement in itself.  I'm sure you can all imagine.  

I have interviewed handfuls of sitters who have not made it past the interview process.  I have had to say "thank you but no," to many.  It does not take me long to decide through the interview process if I trust the person to put Elsa first.  I am always looking for new sitters.  Like I said when someone is good they are busy and not always available.  So having a couple of great sitters to call on is essential.

There are sitters and then there are sitters out there.  Finding the ones who mesh with you and your dog/dogs is not easy.  I am looking for the ones that are the elite caregivers; basically myself in a sitter.  Not an easy task but doable if you do your research and go through the process.  

If you have an amazing sitter, let them know just how much you appreciate them.  It truly is wonderful to have someone who cares as much as you do.    

Canine structure - repost

Tilley could turn on a dime and fly with ease.  She had amazing structure.

Yesterday Elsa and I were stopped by a woman at the park.  She called out to me "beautiful" from afar and as she got close she asked "was she ever a show dog?"  I smiled because I have been asked this many times and as always the answer given was "nope."  Then the woman continued "I use to show and breed Dobies, she has an amazing gait."  "Really?" I asked and told her "I started my dog life in the ring with Dobies," and her interest was peaked.  "Really?" she asked.  We were both on our morning exercise walk so we were sort of talking and moving past each other.  She said again before we went our separate ways "beautiful gait."

Gait - a manner of walking, stepping, or running.

I'm all about movement; it is something that I find myself watching always.  I don't care what breed or mix a dog is, I like to see nice movement.  Nice movement to me means that a dog moves easily with structural soundness.  No it has nothing to do with a fancy pedigree.  It has to do with structure and if a breeder cares about it, then their puppies will likely be one of the lucky ones. 

It is truly mind boggling what has happened to many dogs at the hands of humans.  We have tweaked some breeds and mixes beyond recognition and continue to do so.  There are breeders who care more about a big winning ribbon than proper structure so a big show wins mean nothing to me.  Give me a dog that is built, one that moves much like the canine ancestor, the wolf. 

Why do we think that we can do better?  Let's take a big dog and give them 2" legs, or angle their back legs so much that they are no longer able to walk properly. Build a dog so that it looks like it is floating when it moves.  It is all very sad. 

No, Elsa is not a show dog but she is an amazing athlete.  She would not win a ribbon in the show ring but she's got structure, great structure for movement and I know this from simply watching her.  She is strong, she cannot jump like Tilley could but she could probably have out distanced her.  Tilley was more compact than Elsa.  Each is an individual.  Like us. 

A litter of wolf pups are not all identical.  There will be stronger pups, faster pups and pups that are more agile, but they will have proper structure.  If not, then they may not survive. 

Too many dogs today have poor structure.  Does it make them any less of a wonderful dog?  No.  What it does is make life more difficult for them in many ways.  Perhaps they cannot run like they should be able to.  Maybe they hurt from joint issues.  Or their body is failing them far before it's time.  It is all very sad.  What the hell are we doing?

Humans are breeding dogs and doing whatever they want.  The cute face with tiny legs, the sloped back (for what reason I don't know), the mixing of breeds to produce super puppies; and the lies to prospective buyers of perfection.  Taller, shorter, more coat, new rare colors, more angle, floating movement and more.  More and less and far from structurally sound. 

For each breed of dog there is a standard.  Show dogs are to come as close to that standard as possible.  But who writes all the standards?  Funny isn't it?  We humans are all very different and we are fine with that.  Fundamentally the same yet very different.  I am 5' 1" and I have a twin brother who is 6' tall.  But within a breed of dogs they are meant to all be the same or as close to what has been written as possible.  Hmmmmm?

I saw a photo of a dog yesterday; the dog's neck was so long that I was having a hard time getting my head around the logistics.  How could the neck be so long?  More is not better, not always.  Sometimes less is more.  Perhaps we should all take a good hard look at the wolf and see how far we have gone wrong.

No, Elsa is not a show dog.  Yes she does move beautifully; I could watch her move all day.  It is easy for her and I am happy for that.  She is structurally sound and that is what we should be giving our dogs. 

Licking and dog kisses

The snuggler

I opened my eyes and looked outside; it was still really dark but it felt like time to get up.  I rolled over to have a look at the clock, 1:15?  What?  Weird how it can feel like you've slept all night when you haven't.  I rolled back over and threw my arm over Elsa; she's a great snuggly sleeping companion.  She turned her head up high and upside down to reach me; giving me some kisses.  She is constant with her kisses at night; if she can reach skin, she's kissing.  She has a need to tend; she use to do it to Luke but now that he is gone she tends to us.  

I've never minded licking and I don't quite understand it when people freak out about being licked.  Of course there is licking and then there is licking.  Elsa's licking is very purposeful.  She does not just dish out absent minded licks.  Some are delivered for affection; but much of her licking are close pack bonding licks.  The kind of connection licking saved for the close inner circle members, like me.  :)

Elsa does give kisses to others who are outside of the pack but those are very different.  Dogs lick for all kinds of reasons and if you watch and know your dog you will be able to differentiate between them.  Like any other behavior, licking can become obsessive where we need to step in and help our dogs to stop.  From my own experiences dealing with client dogs; many puppy mill dogs have excessive licking issues.  They come from very questionable and sad places; having gone through much turmoil as young puppies.  Licking excessively can stem from the bad. 

Licking is often a self soothing behavior.  Just about all of our poodles over the years have gone into the "licking zone" when we are close and they are heading off to the land of nod.  Watching television dog pile style at night; they often licked the leather couch several times before falling asleep.  The licking is slow and often accompanied by head rubbing.  They have all done this, it doesn't last long and then they are asleep.  Elsa does this but to a lesser degree. She is a busy girl during the day; people to see and things to do so much of her licking happens at night, in bed. 

I fell back asleep and awoke again in the dark.  This time when I rolled over to check the time; I got a kiss smack dab on the face.  It was 5:55, time to get up and get the day going.    

Just Dogs with Sherri update

Good Monday morning.  Last week was a very busy one with lots of great things happening.

#1 - I'm a Grandma; which is about the most exciting news ever.  Yep, a new Grandma to an adorable little man.

#2 - I got to visit with my sister and brother in law which is always a highlight in my life.

#3 - My dog related bohemian bracelets at Sherri Lynne Designs are really making a splash, and

#4 - I'm working on an exciting new project.

Oh and I got a new washer and dryer, woooohooooo.  :)

A busy week also brought with it some horribly hot weather.  That has meant out in the early hours of the morning and then hunkering down inside for the rest of the day.  I'm hoping that the horrid weather will break this week.   As a northerner I am not a fan of temps in the high 90s and into the 100s.  Give me a 65 degree day with a breeze, and I'm a happy camper thank you very much.

Elsa and I have been checking out some new, cool dog products that I hope to share over the next couple of months.  We love to try innovative dog products that make the whole dog/human relationship even greater than it already is.

I cannot believe how many puppies are out there right now.  With all of my FB groups I'm seeing a whole lot of new babies.  If you are one of the lucky ones who have a new canine family member, my book is a great addition.  Feedback for you and your dog is just for you.  It is also available on Amazon in both paper and ebook version.  As for us, we are hoping for a new canine addition in the new year, I can barely wait.

Just a short update for this morning, many, many, many things to get done today.  Have a great week.





 

How much does a dog cost? I don't want a show dog.

All the hours of research can pay off.  

How many times have I heard the phrase "I don't want a show dog?" What this statement actually means is... I don't want to pay a lot of money for a dog.  When you are looking for a specific breed; you have a lot of work to do.  It's research time.  

No, I don't want a show dog myself; but I do want a dog that is structurally correct, healthy with a good temperament.  I want a puppy from someone who cares about their dogs and the offspring that they have.  I want a puppy who has been well socialized and given the best opportunity to flourish in life.   That is a lot and it does not come cheap.  That said I will also not pay an unrealistic amount for a puppy.  There are lots of breeders who overprice their dogs because they can.  People will pay it and many breeders rake in the dough even though they say they don't breed for they money. 

I have a price range in my head that is fair.  I know what good breeders do, what tests they have to pay for etc etc.  I know what I will pay and I know where I draw the line.  But, hoping to get a great puppy who comes from health tested parents, fed properly, socialized and temperament tested on the cheap?  No.  If money is an issue for you; if you simply cannot afford 1,000.00 - 1,500.00 and up then you need to rethink your puppy acquisition.    

Doing it right costs money, bottom line.  So where does this leave you if you can't afford what you want?  You need to start considering health costs.  What if your puppy gets sick?  Can you afford that?  Sadly I know many people who have had to turn their dog over because they cannot afford to get them well.  This is something that you really need to consider.  

You can rescue a dog that will be less up front cost; far less expensive but then again you will need to care for that dog.  The money put out in the beginning is just a fraction of what it costs to keep a dog healthy throughout their life.  When you consider the range of 1,000.00-2,000.00 dollars over 10-15 years; it is not a lot to pay a breeder for all of their hard work.

You can go the cheap route.  Search through the newspaper ads and find a puppy.  You might even get lucky and find a wonderful puppy who ends up being healthy and happy, it happens.  But you might not.  That person selling their puppies for 400.00 may have just set your life on a downward spiral.  Your new adorable puppy might come with a whole bucket load of health and behavior issues.  And that breeder does not care; they only care that you handed over the money.

What about the "show dog?"  Having a  "show dog" is a choice.  Not too many average Joe's want to show their dog; it's a ton of work and a lot of money.  It means that they attend conformation shows and attempt to get Championship titles on their dogs.  A Champion dog can offer status and legitimacy to a breeder.  But, just because someone shows their dog; acquires points and ribbons does not mean that they produce healthy puppies.  Research, research.   

There is a set standard for each individual breed; but each breeder has a plan of their own.  What one breeder likes in a dog, another may not.  There can be a huge variance even within one breed.  Over the years breeds can evolve; and not always in a good way.  So, research, research.  

Finding a breeder who is producing what you are looking for can take a great deal of work and time.  I pride myself in shopping for a deal in inanimate objects; but that does not mean that I look for cheap.  I look for quality at a bargain cost.  But when it comes to a life companion, I look for what I want.  If I like what I see but feel that a breeder is overpricing their dogs because they can, I will continue looking.  I believe a good breeder deserves to be paid for doing it right.  But I do not think that they should be gouging a new puppy buyer. 

There is no guarantee in life.  Even dogs from really great breeders can get sick.  That said, why not give your money to someone who is trying to produce healthy, happy and well socialized dogs?  You can most definitely find a dog for cheap; but do you really want to hand over any money to someone who doesn't care about their dogs or yours?   

When to start puppy training

Elsa as a baby, ready to learn.  

When do you start puppy training?  Ah, that is the question.  Well, in the olden days, wayyyyy back when I was a young'n; the start date for training was around the six month mark.  Why six month?  Because that is when the trainers thought that a puppy had enough neck muscle to withstand collar corrections.  Ugh, it makes me shudder just writing that statement.  It is sad but true.  

Now that we are into 2015, exactly 40 years from when I started my training, I have an entirely different perspective on it all.  First let's talk about the word "train."  Training is the word we use when talking about educating our canines.  To teach is to train.  To train can mean to practice for a sport as well but when humans use it in regards to dogs it usually means to educate or teach. 

Training should not mean that you are planning to inflict collar corrections.  It should mean that you are going to educate your new little fluff ball on the ins and outs of living in a human world.  After all they are dogs and not humans so living in a human world takes an education to do it well.   

Training a new puppy should begin as soon as you bring your puppy home.  Maybe give your new baby the first day to sleep off the excitement of the big transition but then it's at it.  You may be thinking "really? so young?"  Yep.  But let me say this, learning about the world that your little canine addition lives in requires that we teach them about it.  

Training does not just imply sit, stay and come.  Training means learning about everything.  What to touch, not to touch; where to pee and poop and where not to.  Training means learning to sleep in a crate; how to go up and down the stairs.  It will incorporate bite inhibition; playing and interactions.

Sit is the very first behavior that you can teach.  It is easy and can be taught in a matter of minutes.  Once you have that you can use it for many different things.  Training should be a constant, not a five minute session each morning and afternoon.  There will be times when you teach a new behavior and put it on verbal cue but that is just a fraction of what training incorporates with puppies.  

Life changes drastically when a puppy joins your family.  Their life as they have known it, living as a member of a litter with Mom is gone.  Everything from that removal moment is new.  So when your puppy seems like they are being naughty; just stop and think how new it all is for them.   Just imagine how much they have to learn.  So when someone asks "when do I start training?"  The answer is easy, right now.  You have a big job ahead of you, so get to it.     

Teaching the MARK

My favorite clicker with attached wristband.  

Ready, set, action.  Just kidding.  Teaching the "go to your MARK" is easy and it is what movie stars dogs learn and understand.  They are required to go to a MARK and do a particular behavior.  Watching a video last week had me wanting to extend my MARK training.  Elsa has a couple of "place" type behaviors which are another version of the MARK.  

First I got out my click and Trader Joe's O cereal.  The clicker is a great way to work away from your dog.  It is used to mark a correct behavior at the precise moment that it occurs.  When paired with a reward, it is a fast way to teach.  But if you are planning on using a clicker or verbal "yes" as I do as well; you must learn how before trying to implement it.  I have seen many people using the clicker incorrectly. 

To the MARK, notice her tail movement?  Elsa loves learning. 

On her way into a down and having fun. 

Next, I placed the X on the carpet with painters mask and thought about what I wanted Elsa to do.  She already has her "bed" behavior where she must go to any blanket, bed or pillow when asked and lie down.  It is a casual behavior which we use mostly for when we are eating.  She also has her "chill" which is used for when someone comes to the door.  She has a very specific little rug that she needs to go to and stay there until told that she can move.  Being that Elsa comes unglued when visitors come over; we are still working on that one.  

So for this "MARK" exercise I wanted her to go to the MARK and sit.  Sounds simple?  Getting her to the MARK was easy peasy; having her sit was not.  Elsa's go to behavior is a "down" so having her stop short of going down took some work.

Elsa is use to offering new behaviors so as soon as I put the tape on the floor she got started.  She was going to the spot almost immediately although she had a good look around to see if there was something else that she was to incorporate into a new behavior.  She had a quick look at Dad's guitar and a random paper on the floor.  I picked the paper up and gave her a "error marker" when she looked at the guitar again.  My error marker is a low non verbal sound, mmm mmm.  I didn't want her scratching the guitar in attempts of figuring out what I wanted.  

First she got a click for simply going to the tape; which she achieved quickly.  Then we moved to the "sit, not down" part which was not easy.  Catching her before she went down required timing.  I used error markers for when she went down before I could catch her.  This lets her know that she has made an error right away so that she is not left hanging.

I also moved her from a down to a sit several times, to correct the error.  It didn't take her long to figure it out once I got an error marker in as she was on her way down.  Catching the mistake before it happened helped her immensely.  Once I have the "sit" solidified, I will work on other behaviors on her MARK.  

As far as training at home for fun, the sky is the limit.  Elsa learns so quickly that I'm always trying to think up something to teach her.  She is a very enthusiastic learner and often bold.  If she doesn't think that I am working up to par, she lets me know.  What a girl.  

For some reason I was unable to post her video here today.  If you'd like to see her in action, please visit my FB page.  Just dogs with Sherri.  You will see in the video that I am using "yes" instead of clicks which is easier when trying to video.  

Categorizing temperament traits

They are all different.  

Why is temperament testing so important?  Many people or breeders don't think that it is; they allow their new puppy buyers to pick, first come first choose.  But most people have no idea what they are looking for.  Sure, they have an idea of the perfect Lassie soon to be in their life; but sadly that doesn't often end up as planned.  What they want and how to choose it comes from experience and new puppy buyers don't tend to have that.  Choosing the wrong breed and/or the wrong dog within a litter happens a lot. 

Within a litter of puppies there are many different temperaments; there in-lies the problem.   Which puppy would best suit your family and lifestyle?  If you have one or more dogs already; then choosing a good match is more difficult.  You have personalities to match up.  That said you are the leader, the boss of the pack and you have to live with each one.  So choose wisely and if you can, go with a breeder who does temperament testing and knows their litter extensively.  Each puppy is very different from the other.  Even in a very "even" litter there are differences.  

I was looking at Elsa yesterday as she stood watching out the living room window.  She was watching for lizards; which has paid off for her several times this summer.  Luke use to do the same, as did Tilley but they were all very different.  Tilley was very high drive; crazy style, high drive.  This high drive created an issue with shadow chasing.  Once I realized this OCD issue I very quickly moved it to an outlet that I could control; and Tilley became an amazing Frisbee dog.   Tilley was a high energy dog that was very happy to lay on the couch as well.  A nice combination.  She had a very accessible "off" switch.  But even with her high energy and high drive she was not highly interested in playing.  She played a bit but she was much more interested in her chase activities.  If she was involved in a chase she would completely ignore anything around her.  

Comparing Elsa's drive to Tilley's, they are very different.  Elsa has extremely high drive but is much more controllable.  She has a high drive to chase but does not zone out.  Her energy level is probably higher than Tilley's was.  She can go all day without batting an eyelash; and if there is anything going on as far as action, she's in the mix.  She loves to play more than any dog that I have known and adores her friends.  So you see, even though Tilley and Elsa may have scored very similar in the drive section of a temperament test, they were and are very different. 

Luke had drive but not crazy drive.  He was an amazing retriever but did not want to participate in the activity all day long like the girls did and do.  He was reactive, meaning that every emotion he had was bigger than most in outward behavior.  Whatever Luke was feeling, you knew it.  Not much got past him; but nothing gets past Elsa.  She is hyper sensitive to anything and everything going on around her.  She is a need to know type of gal; much like I am.  :)

When I temperament test, I read between the lines as well as the score the actual tests.  This of course is where breeder knowledge of a litter comes in as well.  I often chat about my "between the lines" thoughts with the breeder and we discuss each puppy as an individual.  A puppy may be the most active in a litter; which to the average puppy buyer looks like fun.  But, that puppy may have a whole agenda of their own.  It may involve activity but not with you or other dogs.  They may have a tough time settling once they are wound, maybe not.  Just like the puppy sitting in the corner may not be the shy one that he looks like.  Many puppies who sit back and watch are highly intelligent, thinkers.  

This is why it is extremely important for breeders to interact with their puppies on many different levels.  Interact with and watch, watch them interact with other puppies, people, inanimate objects and on their own; how do they deal with the world around them when they don't have their posse?

Letting puppy buyers pick their own puppy is like putting a blindfold on and saying "okay, choose."    

Pay for performance

Don't you hate when you pay a lot of money for something and are let down by lack of performance.  It could be a great meal that you were expecting, a grand performance on screen or stage or even service somewhere or at your home.  It sucks when you have high standards; pay for it, and are let down.  No one likes to pay good money for a job poorly done.  There are of course those who don't like to pay for a job well done either; it's their money and they don't want to part with it.   Great service or performance should be paid for.  

I say, pay for performance.  In the canine world, that means rewarding a job well done.  That said, you don't want to become a human pez dispenser who just pops out treats for anything and everything.  What happens when you reward everything is that you create a "show me the money," scenario.   Got nothing to bribe a behavior with?  Forget asking.  This is not the way it is suppose to work.  Once a dog understands a behavior and is reliable at offering it, you wean the treats.  When a behavior is more difficult to perform; say in a high distraction area, save the treats for then. 

Not everything has to be rewarded by food.  The other day as Elsa and I walked down a shopping area; we stumbled upon a nice big plate of Mexican food that someone had dumped.  Elsa's nose is always going so she knew it was there far before I ever saw it.  She nosed over towards it and I told her to "leave it."  She immediately turned away and we continued our walk.  I did not food reward her but gushed at how amazing she was.  Had this been a couple of years ago, I would have rewarded with food.  Leave the food, get a food reward.  But leaving it is expected of her now.

When you expect above and beyond performance; meaning something that is really tough, grueling or requiring expertise, you need to pay for it.  That means either with a really great food reward or acknowledgment in a big way.  The more difficult something is, I like to resort to real pay, like food.  Leaving the food on the sidewalk was easy for Elsa.  The leave it behavior was ingrained in her at a very young age.  

Paying for performance is essential.  But even the little things should always get a "thank you."  Every single thing that I ask for is acknowledged when obliged.  Throughout my day you can hear me say "thank you," over and over and over again.  I do not like to see guardians ask for a behavior; have it performed by their dog and that's it, nothing said.  Our dogs don't have to listen to us; but if you have worked hard at creating a relationship and educated your dog; then you should thank them for obliging you.  

Thank you, always.  Pay, for high performance.    

Much being said but is anyone watching?

I sat on the leg machine watching.  Between sets I rest; not for long, just enough time to go again.  I was in my zone, listening to my rock'n "The boys are back in town,"  where I don't usually see much of anything because I'm in my workout zone.  But yesterday during my rest, I watched the human behavior unfold before me.  It was right in front of me.  When you remove the sound from an interaction, all you have left is body language. 

The two men were at an arm curl machine.  They were pretty far from me but straight in front.  One of the men was very buff; he obviously worked out a lot.  While the other one, not so much.  What was interesting was that only one wanted to be in the conversation.  Through body language I could see that the buff guy was done talking and wanted to workout.  He even made an attempt at ending the conversation by resting his hand on the other guys shoulder and then turning away.  A period to end it, so to speak.  

Well, the chatty Cathy didn't get it.  He continued to talk while the guy got back to his workout.  Even moving around in front of the guy on the arm machine when he felt as though he wasn't being listened to.  This was a one way conversation, common.  You know the type of people who only speak but never listen?  Even when they are trying to look like they are listening they are just waiting for you to stop talking so that they can speak.  These are not true conversations.  

The gym is a funny place.  So much is said with just body language.  There are those who go for the social aspect; while others (like myself) are there to workout.  Aside from the chatty Cathy's at the gym, much can be heard even in silence.  Body language is fascinating if you turn off the sound of communication; which is what I do as I enter the gym.  I very purposefully turn up my music to drown out the chatter.  I usually put my head down and workout.  I'm in my zone. 

Just last week as I sat doing some tricep dips; an elderly and very out of shape man stood in front of me.  After a minute of ignoring him (as that wasn't working to remove him) I took my ear piece out and said "yes?"  My body language spoke volumes, but he wasn't listening.  He proceeded to tell me what I was doing wrong and how I should be doing my exercise.  Clearly he doesn't read body language because even though I held my tongue I had a lot to say.  Before he finished his speech I calmly put my ear piece in and smiled.  He stood there not getting it.  Geesh. 

The interaction that I watched during my rest yesterday made me realize how much is said when you take away the sound.  Humans tend to use their voice far more than body language.  Our dogs use their body before voice; but if and when it is used, we tend to focus on sound.  Watching is far more important than listening in dogs.  

While the guy on the curl machine continued to workout; the talking man never stopped talking.  He didn't get the signal that the conversation was over; and that he was just spewing for his own need.  He wasn't watching any body language.  If he was he would have seen that the other guy was not interested in further conversation.  

As you all know, I am a watcher.  Yesterday's interaction gave a clear and precise message to me of just how important watching is.  Have we lost the art of visual communication understanding?  Maybe.  

Autumnal Equinox

Happy Fall!!!

It's here already, the first day of fall or Autumnal Equinox .  Many of you will celebrate the change of season; while others dread what the fall brings with it.  In just a few short months fall will turn to the dreaded, winter.  I for one love the fall season; although here is Socal the only change is light.  The shadows are longer, and the days are shorter; but the temperatures still remain at the top of the thermometer.  I long for the fresh bite in the air that lives now only in my memory.  Having grown up and lived much of my adult life in Canada; fall means cooler temps, cleaning up the yard, getting the house ready for winter and enjoying the color of Mother Nature.  

Fall was always my favorite season; a time when you could go for long walks without sweating.  When the dogs displayed an added bounce in their step and the pesky bugs were ending.  I love Fall.  Here in Socal it means that cooler nights will be coming.  They aren't here yet but I was able to turn the A/C off last night.  We are expecting temperatures up in the 90s again this weekend, ugh!  There will be cooler daytime temperatures coming but we have to wait for them for a while.

The ingrained sense of wrapping up is still with me and  I cannot shake it.  Chopping down the flowers that were once amazing blooms.  Cutting the wilted plants that have been stung by the impending pre-winter frost.  Storing bikes, wheel barrows, garden tools and summer toys away for hibernation.   Summer was fleeting back then.  Now it is almost like a never ending summer but I still go through the motions, I have to.  

I remember my dogs following me around the yard.  We spent hours upon hours outside, cleaning up.  They loved it as much as I did.  While I burned broken branches in the bonfire pit; they grabbed fallen sticks here and there.  Preparation for winter was big but enjoyable.  There were a few years that we even got our Christmas lights up before the frigid temperatures and snow were upon us.  

Yesterday I started  my yard clean up.  Something I prepare for now, is rain.  We are suppose to get a lot of it this winter and I sure hope that we do.   We need it desperately.  So I was up on the ladder cleaning gutters.  What a messy, messy job but I love it.  Elsa brought her ball to me and lay it by the bottom of the ladder.  I smiled and told her that I couldn't reach it.  Of course I'd climb down every once in a while to toss it for her.  

After a couple of hours of gutter cleaning, I needed cleaning.  Elsa and I will be spending a great deal of time in the yard for the next couple of weeks.  The yard will be tended to; wrapped up for the winter.  Even if the winter is not really coming here to us; in my head and heart it is still time to wrap up for hibernation.  

Blah!!!

Cupcakes for dogs, you bet I tasted them. 

The nice woman handed Elsa a treat from behind the counter which she very promptly spit out, blah!!!  I said "oh she just needs to check it out first."  Elsa reached down and had a sniff at the item she had seen cause to remove quickly from her mouth.  She looked at me as if to say "you expect me to eat that?"  I laughed inside while handing the once bitten and spit out bakery item to the woman.  "Sorry, she's not eating it," I explained.  "Oh, let's try this" she said handing Elsa a freeze dried piece of liver.  I had no doubt that she would gobble that down, and she did.

As a longtime baker of human baked goods and foodie; I love good tasting food.  This love of food flavor has seeped into my dog's bowls.  I make dog cookies and my dog cookies have to taste good.  Yes, I eat taste them and they have to be good.  So many times I open a box of dog cookies and shudder at the smell.  "Does anyone ever taste these things?" I often ask myself and the dogs.  Even fancy "dog bakery" items may look very fancy and adorable but if they don't taste good, a dog may not eat them.    

Some dogs will eat anything, true.  But, from personal experience, the more they are offered a varied diet; the more fine tuned a dog's pallet becomes, like our own.  If a dog is only offered one type of food throughout their life; then yes, they will be stunted as far as food experience.   I'm sure that much of the dog food out there does not taste great so if they are offered an alternate food at some point; then most would likely gobble it down.  But, if a dog is offered a wide variety of foods so that they develop a preference for one item over another; then they can begin to differentiate between what they will eat, like to eat, eat if nothing else is available or not eat at all.

Luke optimized fussy; never have we ever had a dog like him.  I don't know how many times we would say "what dog turns down meat?"  Luke, that's who.  Luke knew what he liked; but it went further than that for him.  Luke knew when and where he liked to eat particular foods; he was a fussy guy in general which added a tad of craziness to his food fussiness.  If you tried to offer him what he would classify as a "nighttime snack" in the afternoon, well... he just had to leave the scene.  It still makes me smile. 

Most dogs like food.  That said, if they have never been offered a variety of food items then they will not have expanded their food pallet. Most dogs like this just wolf back and don't think about taste.  Sort of the opposite of those humans who are fussy as far as food.  They don't like "different" food because they don't know different tastes.  Although dogs who have not been given the opportunity to expand their food experience, they may seem to like anything.  Many dogs who eat cardboard like kibble may gobble anything that resembles real food compared to their dry option in the bowl each day.  

Each and every one of my dogs have had different likes and dislikes.  Jessie liked just about everything except citrus; she was a very typical Jack Russell in that she LOVED food.  Tilley liked most everything except for fruit, eggs and fish.  She would eat eggs and fish but did not prefer them.   Luke, well, it was always hit and miss with Mr. Fussy pants but he almost always loved beef, liver and anything with a very strong meaty taste.  Although as many of you know he loved butter, chips and smoked turkey cold meat (nitrate free).  :)  

Now as far as Elsa is concerned, she likes good food.  She has changed over the years and the more variety she is offered the finer tuned her pallet has become.  It is very easy to see what she likes and doesn't.  She loves fish, the fishier the better, YUCK.  She loves sardines and smelt.  There have been very few things that she has turned her nose up.  The occasional almond can be seen lying on the floor beside her bed, she is not a fan. Luke loved almonds so I tend to forget that Elsa doesn't like them until I see it on the ground.   She will not eat fruit unless it is smuggled into something that she does like; which is fortunately quite easy to do with her.  She is not a fan of raw meat but is learning to like it if it is flash seared.  I have recently discovered that she ADORES feta, the girl has taste.   

It always amazes me what we expect our dogs to eat.  Delicious is always better than simply edible.  Yep, even for our dogs.    

Growling

The dog growled as the woman approached.  The woman was the canine owner's friend; but as she got closer the growling got more serious.  This is when the owner said "stop it" in a very harsh manner, pushing him several inches.  I heard her explain then "oh he's fine, he just like to talk."  Hmmmmm.   Let's have a look at this.

The dog was sitting with it's owner at an outdoor cafe.  They were sitting enjoying the day until the woman's friend arrived.  This other woman had on a very large brimmed hat and had a leg brace.  Nothing strange, right?  For us maybe but the dog saw things quite differently.  As the growling started the owner had gotten mad, scolding and even pushing her dog; a clear sign to the dog that all was not well.  Having lost his ability to communicate he was then on pins and needles.  I watched him watching the hat wearing lady.  His eyes were wary and ready for anything weird that she might do. Not a good scenario.  

"We don't allow growling at our house."  "My dog is not allowed to growl."

How many times have I heard this?  Too many times.  

When a dog growls and we quickly stop it by scolding our dogs; we ultimately cut the lines of communication.  We remove the "heads up" that a growl gives us.  A dog learns to not to growl; which in turn can be a very dangerous situation.  

Dogs are not allowed to communicate?  Too many humans don't want any type of growling.  Why?  Because they think that growling is aggression.  Growling is not aggression, growling is a means to avoid aggression.  It is a communication given by a dog to express their feelings.  It can have many meanings but if you don't allow it then you basically silence your dog.  If you don't know how to read body language; then you, my friend, are up sh&ts creek without a paddle.

Of course there are times when growling should not be allowed.  My JRT Jessie loved to bully Luke when he was younger.  She loved to growl and snap at him for nothing, that was stopped.  But even growling within a pack is important; it is that "heads up" that you need before any problems arise.  

If your dog growls, listen.  Stopping a growl should be done by addressing why the growl is being used.  Sometimes a dog just needs space.  In the above scenario, the woman with the hat could have simply taken it off.  It was very clear that the dog saw it as a threat.  Helping our dogs does not happen by shutting them up and not listening to them.  Yes they do have opinions, emotions and feelings.  

Don't silence your dog from communicating; it's not fair and can be very dangerous.   

Betsy's Law

A new law has passed for dog owners in New Jersey.  Betsy's Law will help to protect pets from unsupervised night visits.

Betsy's Law - Sadly like many laws, it takes a death to make it happen.

After reading the law, I of course wondered about the rest of the States.  I'm still looking into that.  I do know that most of the Veterinarians that I have visited in the past have not disclosed this fact to me.  Not only did they not tell me but when asked; they didn't seem to think it was an issue once we got to that fact.

When Elsa was spayed I asked.  I know that it is customary these days to keep dogs overnight when spayed.  But if no one is there to see if anything goes wrong, then what is the reason.  It makes no sense at all if a dog is ill enough to be at the vet that no one be there to watch them.  Far better that your dog be at home, being supervised.  So when they told me that Elsa would likely have to stay overnight, I strongly objected.  There was NO WAY I was leaving her overnight, alone in a crate.  No she was coming home where I could watch her.

If your dog has to be at a Vets overnight, make sure that there are attendants present.  If not take your dog to an emergency facility that has overnight staff.  Our little Jack Russell was moved to a facility that had around the clock staff when she hit with auto-immune disorder.  When Luke had a strange bout last year I rushed him to the ER where they took him back and started on his vitals immediately.  Even if it had been 5:00 I would have still gone to the ER in case he had to stay overnight. 

If all State Veterinarians are not legally forced to disclose this, ask.  Ask in a way that there is no way around getting to the truth.  Always ask, knowledge is power.  Power can you the choice of making the right decision. 

Conquering fear

"He should just get over it," she said.  I looked at her and asked "what are you afraid of?"  She thought for a second as I looked at the young dog on the end of the woman's leash.  "I'm claustrophobic" she said.  Okay, lets meet at the building on the corner and we'll hang out in the elevator for a while.  Her face turned pale, "what?" she said, and so I explained.  That horrible feeling you have at the mere mention of going in an elevator, that is a fear of yours; it is very real and your body goes through a plethora of fight/flight responses in reaction to it.  The exact same thing happens to your dog when a child approaches.   I could see the light bulb turn on. 

Fear is fear and whether it is rational or not, it is a real fear.  Our dogs have fears and to brush them off as being silly is to fail our dogs.  If your dog has a fear, they need your help.  Not in the form of CODDLING, do not try to soothe your dog's fears away.  But show them that there is nothing to fear.  In other words, being an example for your dog. 

Yesterday as Elsa and I arrived at our walk destination; a man got out of his car with two Briards.  One of the dogs was calm; the other was out of control and going off on Elsa.  Both dogs were black, hairy and large.  She snorted her stress about the situation and I very quickly slipped into my example mode.  I chatted happily "that's a crazy dog, let's go this way."  Getting into my "we don't care about that" zone happens very quickly.  I can call upon it at moment; but it takes time and practice to get there. 

The first thing I do is to loosen the leash; that is if I have enough distance to do this.  That is a big secret to it all, distance.  Elsa kept her eye on the dog but never said a word, except for her snorts which are a cue to me how she is feeling about a situation.  When Elsa snorts, I listen.  

Fear is best conquered by baby steps.  I remember watching an episode of the now famous television "dog trainer."  He was working with a dog who was fearful of a shiny floor.  Instead of slowly helping the dog to conquer his fear; he grabbed the leash and dragged him across.  It was horrific to watch.  I am not a fan of this trainer and his methods.  

Working through fears takes time.  Often our dog will give us an infinitesimal step forward; but if we don't see it as progress due to the size of it, we can miss opportunity.  Every tiny little progress is just that.  No matter how small, it is a step in the right direction.  When you get a whole lot of baby steps it comes together as a large progression to a bigger success.  This is how we help our dog. 

Dogs have fears, just like ours.  Just imagine if someone expected you to "just get over it."  



     

Collars, yes again.

Elsa and I were stopped the other day by a man who said, "I'm glad you have a harness on your dog instead of one of those bad collars."  I smiled and told him "yes, me too."  

Elsa is wearing the Ruffwear Front Range Harness

I want to talk about collars again today.  Yes, again.  I know, I talk about collars a lot but when I head out into the public it is brought to me once again.  This morning as I sat in my Xterra at a set of lights, a couple of folks walked by with a herd of dogs.  Each and every dog had a pinch collar on.  I thought to myself "perhaps they have too many dogs."  

I hate pinch collars and here is why.  They inflict pain.  Don't think so?  Then tell me how they work?  That is the big question isn't it; if they don't hurt then where in lies the magic?  The whole idea around a pinch collar is that they, well... pinch!   Right? right!  Oh you can call them a prong collar but they are still pinching.  

Pinch collars can do a great deal of mental damage.  They can cause a dog to form negative associations to things that cause pain.  A dog coming near and your dogs gets excited, pain infliction = negative association to dogs coming near.  Yank a pinch collar and you could be on the receiving end of redirected aggression.  

Now if you are a little old frail lady or gentleman with a giant dog who is out of control when walking; then may need to rely on a painful device.  My suggestion would be to not have an out of control monster dog; or hire someone who can control your dog, but hey, that's me. 

I remember the first time I was introduced to a prong/pinch collar.  It was sold to me as "power steering."  Yep, throw it on and it's like magic.  After my dog screamed having it on, that was that.  This was a long time ago; way before I was ever introduced to positive reinforcement training.  Pinch collars?  Nope.  

Dog necks are just that, their neck.  We should not be yanking them around by them.  Choke collars choke, so please throw all choke collars in the garbage.  The only time a choke collar should ever be used is when capturing and containing rescue dogs.  If you have a dog who can slip their collar easily then invest in a martingale type collar.  They tighten but do not keep tightening around the neck.  

Even a flat buckle collar can cause neck damage if you yank your dog around by one.  I rarely use collars for anything except to hang id tags on but if I hook a leash to one, it is most likely a 2" wide one.  Those rolled leather collars look snazzing but being so thin they put a great deal of pressure on the neck.  The wider the better.  
My dogs do not wear collars in our home.  Take great care if you leave collars on your dog and you have more than one dog.  Dogs can easily get caught up in each other's collar when they are playing.  Watching dogs play with collars on makes me shudder.  It happened to two of my males many years ago.  They were outside playing in the yard and got tangled together.  It was an awful scenario; one thinking that the other was attacking them.  It was not easily rectified by I finally managed to untangle them.  The two were quite shaken. 

If you do have to leave a collar on your dog; make sure that it is loose enough to come off if it got snagged.   NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER leave a martingale, choke or pinch collar on your dog, EVER!!!!  So many dogs have died from hanging by their own collar.  

In my opinion, a body harness is the way to go.  Yes, you will have to train your dog to walk nicely but shouldn't we be doing that and not relying on yanking them around by their neck anyway?  
     

Yep, still hot.

Fresh out of the shower.  

This  morning when I went down to get my coffee; I reached for the door handled and held my breath.  I was hoping that when I opened the door and stepped into the backyard; that I would be hit by a wonderful coolness in the air, nope.  Not happening, not yet.  Yep, it's still hot.  "Really?" I thought to myself; then calculated when this started.  It's been over a week now straight, not cool, not cool at all.  So it will be another indoor day.  

Elsa and I will get out for a walk early.  Then I plan on giving her a haircut before it heats up too much.  She had a bath yesterday and had her feet and face shaved.  I don't shave her face and feet too often because I think that hair protects both her feet and face from injury and perhaps bee stings.  But every once in a while it needs doing for sanitary reasons.  So off it came.  A poodles coat never stops growing so it has to be done; that or she might look like a Komondor dog.  Of course when I searched for the link of a Komondor I had to keep looking.  I can't imagine keeping a dog in a coat like that and wondered what they look like with a haircut.  Well here is a link, not quite like a poodle but a whole lot better than a matted mass of monster hair.    In my opinion they should be shaved; and I don't care what tradition says about it.  Why torture a dog to carry around that amount of matted coat?  

So Elsa will get her haircut today.  She does not get shaved bald, she is left with about 3/4 " of hair.  Enough to protect her from the sun and keep her warm if it ever does cool off at night.  Hopefully we will soon be seeing nice 50 degree nights.  For over a week now we have been using an extra portable air conditioning unit in the bedroom.  It is either that or no sleep with the temperatures barely leaving the 80s.  

Have a great day, and wherever you are, stay cool.  :)

Leave me a comment, I LOVE to hear from you!!!!!

PTSD

I reached for the door handle and froze; hearing the shrieking tires of a car that could not stop in time.  Then came the all too familiar thud and crashing sound of two vehicles that have collided.  Shivers ran down my spine and I took a big breath.  It wasn't me, I'd missed the crash by only moments; but the remnants of my previous crashes are still with me.  After being involved in 4 rear end crashes; 3 within a few years of each other, I'm shaken.  

I continued into the gym; where I'd been headed when I heard the first sound of the crash.  I realized that I had a bit of adrenaline in my body; I hate the feel of adrenaline, it's like a caffeine buzz.  This of course led me to Elsa and her distrust of strange dogs.  Isn't it funny what some people expect from our dogs; but yet we deal with the exact same issues.  Just get over it, right?  Wrong.  Everyone is different and every dog is different.  I know that there are some people who could not get in a car again after being rear ended so many times.  None of the accidents I was in were ever my fault.  The last one left me with the biggest issue; that whole screeching brakes sound behind you.  I heard it and then they hit me, hard.  

Elsa has had several incidents where she was very scared.  One was when a huge Bouvier came out of nowhere and chased her; I hadn't even seen it coming.  Elsa ran for her life; having not seen it or been able to read any body language.  Next was the horrible Bulldog incident; when a very stupid lady walking her two out of control Bulldogs let one attack and latch onto Elsa.  It knocked her to the ground and remained attached to her loin area.  So yes, she does not trust strange dogs out of the shoot; and I do not blame her.  I am very careful who we say "hi" to and have as many "friends" over to play for her.  She ADORES other dogs who she knows and trusts.  In fact I've never seen a dog love her friends more, it is who she is.  But sadly life has taken away her trust of the unknown. 

Given life issues that can be thrown at us and our dogs, we deal.  I have worked with many dogs over the years who act aggressive due to being attacked.  Of course they act aggressive; wouldn't we if someone attacked us out of the blue?  What we do for our dogs after an incident is help them to move on.  Elsa and I walk lots of different places where there are lots of dogs.  I try to find the places with the least chance of loose dogs.  I don't trust people, far more than I don't trust dogs.  People don't know when their dogs should and should not be off leash. 

Our dogs learn from us.  If your dogs has had a fright of some sort; maybe a garbage can fell down right beside them on their daily walk.  Now they can't walk past a garbage can without freaking out.  Well, you bring a ton of treats with you and walk by, over and over and over and over again.  You work at showing your dog that it is a non issue, how?  By making it a non issue.  No coddling, no stopping, no nothing.  Swing your arms like you do normally as you walk and keep up the pace.  You can talk happy talk along with it.  But understand that your dog is indeed dealing with a fear; a real fear and we are here to help them.