Catching up

Here's Mac-my new puppy. A puppy was not in my future but I was in the right place at the right time and so was he. He's 4 and 1/2 months old and a Shar Pei mix. We lost our Shar Pei mix-Baby Girl in August at 11 years old. We miss her so. It was a combination of missing her and adopting out Louisa my foster dog of 6 months. Mac has met tons of people and kids and dogs. Been to tons of classes and is the best little dog ever. Except for jumping in the Explorer. Hates it. I have to lift him and he gets heavier every day. Time to bring out the hot dog training.

Summer Update

Park classes going great. I love working outdoors. Got a rain cancel for Level 3. Long time since that happened. Lots of loss-my cousin's dog passed, a receptionist at the Animal Ark's dog passed, couple of long timers in Doggie Day Care at the Ark passed (Snickers and Trixie). So sad.

Level 2 class is grown to HUGE. I'm offering a free tutoring class from 5-6 at the Park for the next 3 Mondays to help out. I want to make sure everyone gets all the help they need. I hate to see owners give up. Or switch to a punishment type training because they've lost patience. There are many things we can try if you are running into difficulty but punishment is not it.

I'm incorporating some of the principles from Natural Dog Training into many of my classes. You can check them out at www.naturaldogtraining.com Very interesting. Works with our dog's drives and emotions. And ours. Check them out.

Need more puppies in class-tell all your friends and neighbors. Especially if you are a puppy class alumni. You know how much it helped you so tell all your new puppy owner friends and send them on over. Have a great rest of the summer, I can't believe it's almost over. Enjoy...

It's so hot!

Wow is it ever hot! If there is a heat emergency during the time of our park classes-consider the class cancelled. If it is just hot-no heat emergency-use your best judgement. I don't want dogs or people getting heat strokes. Seriously. There is always next week. We will be in the park probably till Labor Day. As long as the light holds out.

Odds and Ends

Lots of stuff happening-my mom had a heart attack and is recovering, my kitchen flooded, toilet runs constantly (I'm learning way more about toilets than I ever wanted to know), electrical circuit blew, daughter home from vacation in Jersey. Whew! Makes me tired to just list it all.

Training with Louisa going great (picture above). She's ready for a new home. She goes with me to client's sometimes, attends lots of classes and is friend to all at Animal Ark. Thanks Darlene for the brushout. Thanks Steven for the walks and playtime.

Still can't believe the reports I hear about trainers still using pain to train. One account was a prong collar jerk till the dog yelps. Another is an adolescent dog that the owners have to go out and buy a shock collar for the trainer. We ask dogs into our homes-they don't ask to live with us. Would you invite a guest to your home then slap them around when they don't know where your bathroom is? Makes no sense to me. Then months down the road I get the call to undo the harm the painful trainer did. Sometimes I can. Sometimes not. Sometimes they are so shut down from the pain and stress it takes them years to recover. All in the name of training.......

Waiting for the sun

Rain, rain, more rain, drizzle, more rain, cloudy, rainy. I can't stand much more and I bet neither can you and your dog. The last time I said that it soared up to 86degrees and then I was sorry. 70's would be good and lots of sun, although I have to wear 50 spf forever because I had melanoma last year. But that's okay. It just needs to dry up so we can get our yards in order and our dogs can enjoy the outside without getting wet each and every time. Is there a sun dance like there is a rain dance? If so, me and my dogs are doing the sun dance. Come on sun, stay out longer than 1 minute every couple days!

Quick and easy way to train-GUARANTEED!

Time to post again. Seems like time goes by and I haven't posted in a while. Way busy with Therapy Dog classes and STAF classes and regular classes. I also have to say I got some interesting posts and comments on my No Shock Collars rant. I knew I'd lose a few clients over it but I'm passionate about dogs and their training. I'm passionate about the bond between dog and owner. And shock collar users need to know that it can cause long term problems down the road. THEY don't tell you about that. But I say shock away if that's what you want to do. Go unleashed about town if that's what you want. But know we have leash laws in our city and counties and townships and even in the parks. The rangers at Otto Armleder park are all to eager to pass out their $170 tickets for unleashed dogs. The only place you are allowed to have dogs unleashed is in your yard (under voice control) or in a dog park within the fences. Period.

I personally would not take the risk of having it fail and my dog getting hit by a car or attacked by a not so friendly dog on leash. They GUARANTEE it. Really? Any trainer that guarantees your dog will do this or that or will not do this or that is setting themselves up for a lawsuit. And any trainer that guarantees like that you should run fast AWAY from. Check out Association for Pet Dog Trainers. They say that also.

You have to speak for those who can't speak for themselves. We asked them into our homes.They did not ask to live with us. It is our responsibility and our moral duty to do right by them. I've been training for over 10 years. There are many methods to train dogs. Some take the high road and some the low road. Some take the easy road and some the hard road. Do what's right for your dog. Find out what your dog is good at and go from there. Don't try to fit a square peg into a round hole. Go with what is right in your heart for your companion, your friend, your best buddy.

An update and some comments

Sometimes when it gets busy, I don't get to blog as much as I'd like. And the newsletter is another way for me to get info out. Classes are busy and life is good. What I don't like (or get)is that I hear more and more people that are training using the "shock" collar. I don't mean invisible fence "shock" collars. I mean like regular training. The ONLY time I would EVER consider the "shock" collar outside of invisible fencing is if I lived out west and my dogs were in danger of getting bit by a rattlesnake. Other than that, all other training is very possible only using non-punishment type training. I've seen it, I do it. It is possible and successful but it does not depend on "shock" collars or other people ("shock" collar trainers) to do that for you. If you are too lazy to train your dog, you get what you get. Dogs learn quickly but need consistant training. Not just when you have time. In every thing you do, you can put in a little training.

I'm working with a rescue dog with fear issues. Right now I'm concerned with her getting past that. But I'm not ignoring the basics. In everything we do, we do a little training. Yesterday, putting away chairs, I made her stay while I went to another room to put the chairs away. I never trained her with stay yet but it was a life lesson and each time she tried to come out of the big room, I put her back in and told her to stay while I left to put chairs away. Did it take longer? Yes. Did she learn stay? Yes, in a life lesson that will "stay" with her a long time.

For those interested in "shock" collars, you should wear one at work and everytime you make a mistake, your employer should "shock" you. See how long it takes you to develop a fear, an anger, or resentment. Wouldn't you love it better if ever time you did something good, your employer would toss you a $20 bill? How long would it take you to do many good things? And love it?

I just can't say enough about how much I hate the "shock" collars. They are inhumane and not training at all. Training is all about teamwork and working with your team mate to succeed in whatever you attempt. It's about a bond, a trust and never breaking that bond and trust by hurting your dog intentionaly. I'll get off my soapbox for now. Unless I see you use that "shock" collar on your dog around me.

Friday!

I love what I do. Who could ask for a better job? I get to work with fantastic dog owners and their awesome dogs. Weekends are my busiest. My feet hit the ground running on Friday morning and don't stop till Sunday evening. But I love it. Spring is just about here and that means more time outside (lots of sunscreen this year-boo) and cutting grass and lots of walks. There's something rejuvanating about spring. There's buds in my garden and buds on the trees. Due to the generosity of some wonderful people (like my last car) I have a new ride-a 1999 Explorer. And no, my daughter will not be driving this one.

Remembering Jamaican

It's this time of year I think about Jamaican. He came to me as a puppy two years ago this month and his owner wanted me to train him. Board and train. I usually don't like to do that especially with a puppy but he wanted to pay someone so it may as well be me. He was so cute and delightful. I spent 7-8 weeks with him everyday teaching him, taking him places, including him in my classes and my private in homes. He was a fast learner, loved tricks and playing "where's Jamaican?". He heeled at my side like nobody's business. And fetch-like a fiend. I'd have kept him in a heartbeat if they had decided they didn't want him for some reason. I wished it had turned out that way. Instead he jumped their fence when he returned home to them and was hit and killed by a car. Totally devastated me for a long, long time. And I so regret I never took any pictures of him. The one above looks just like him but not him. One day I hope to have a puppy of mine as wonderful as he was. Jamaican, I still miss you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! Cutest picture ever. Not exactly a valentine pic but cute none the less. Warmer weather is the bestest gift ever. Walked outside today and just breathed in the warm air. Now to pick up all the dog poop that has been frozen for weeks. Yeck.

Great Expectations

It's important to have some goals and expectations of your dog. Things like good manners, house training and the like are crucial. Beyond that it is up to you and your dog. You should keep in mind your dog's personality and temperment as well as your dog's breed and size. The things dogs can do are endless from agility to obedience to therapy dogs, search and rescue, cadaver work, cancer detention, flyball, the list goes on and on. I encourage all my owners to explore every avenue of activity with their dog to find what they love and are good at. That's the key: what they love and are good at. You can't make a dog love agility. You can't make a dog search and rescue. They have to love it and so do you or it's a chore and a hardship for one or both of you. Find out what makes your dog happy and do it. Find your dog a job.

Ice, ice, Doggie!

Too slick out there for me and all of you and your dogs. The roads aren't bad but getting to and from the car can be dangerous. Cancelling classes tonight at the Animal Ark. I don't want anyone hurting themselves trying to come to class. My own dogs were slipping and sliding in the backyard today. Looked like Bambi but scary because I could see trouble like acl's torn or legs broken. And most of mine are old and it's all the more scary. Garcia my 12 yr old almost slid off the deck and would have fell a few feet and would not have been able to get his footing again in the ice. So better be safe than sorry. See you guys next week.

Like this better

Here is a better pic. Not of Sage but Sensa. She is on my website too. Getting ready for another batch of snow tonight. Have you ever seen so much snow for so long? Where is spring? March 21 can't come soon enough. I can't wait for my classes in the park. I'm going to the park 2 nights this year-Mondays at Otto Armleder and Tuesdays at Triple Creek Park. Should be fun. I could even walk to Triple Creek. That is if the snow ever melts. Grey and cold does not do alot for my creativity. Maybe I need a vacation to someplace warm. Anyplace.

New Look

I changed my blog a little. Not real happy with that pic of Sage. He doesn't look happy and looks a little stressed. It was a couple years ago and now he never looks like that. He must have been an adolescent then. You know how they are. Looking for a better pic. Stay tuned....

No class tonight

No class tonight in Anderson. The little puppies will have to wait till Saturday or next Thursday. Too much snow! I have another post coming on loss. I started it the other day and got interrupted so you will see it soon. Take your dog out and play in the snow. Mine love it!

On Losing Your Friend

Lots of loss recently. Ruby Rodrigez from my classes a few years ago, only 5 or so years old, beautiful Shar-Pei died from cancer a few weeks ago. Bennie Norman the boxer from my classes a few years ago from Rosa's Rescue died last week after a long bout with cancer. Another client just lost her blind Pekinese. She's very upset over the loss. My daughter's dog died unexpectedly last week. It's really hard to recover from a loss of a canine (or feline) friend. I think it's because they love us so freely and unconditionally. They are always there for us unlike some humans in our lives. They never complain (unless whining counts), they take life as it comes and each moment at a time. I don't know about you but a loss of a dog takes a long time for me to recover. Even though I have other dogs, it's not the same. The pack changes forever. Even if it's client's dogs that pass, I take it pretty hard. When I got the news about Jamaican's passing (a board and train dog of mine), I couldn't even talk about it for weeks. Maybe months.

I guess I hold to the hope that I will see them again, in another place and time. Heaven couldn't be complete without these beautiful creatures that God places in our lives. Having their pictures around me helps. Also remembering the funny things they did or songs I used to sing to them. I will always remember them. I'm sure you will always remember yours too.

Welcome 2011!

It's always fun to welcome a new year. It has so much potential and promise. It can be anything you want it to be. Resolve this year to be a better dog owner, this will help your dog be a better dog. Practice training, take lots of walks, play, play, play with your dog. Then relax together and watch a good movie. Or a episode of Seinfeld which is what I do. Laugh, play and train together. Click, yes, good dog owner!