Welcome in 2014 with more----Fun!

What does your dog LOVE to do? Do more of it this new year. Does he sniff alot? Play scent games with him. Does he dig alot? Give him his own dig spot or let him help you garden. Does he bark alot? Teach him to bark on command. Does he like to run? Get out there with him and run or bike. Does he love people? Certify him as a Therapy dog and bring folks joy. Does he love to play tug? Tug away, every day. Does he love fetch? Explore the great sport of flyball.Does he love to howl (mine do)? Howl a duet with him and amaze folks. There are just endless things you and your dog can do.You're not getting any younger and neither is your dog. The years fly by so fast.  Find out what he LOVES and run with it. You will have an awesome 2014 and so will your dog!

What to do with those teenage dogs

Before you lose your mind-here's some tips-less freedom, more supervision (don't let them out of your sight for a minute), tighter boundaries, more training (shorter sessions, focus on impulse control), more exercise (physical and mental), naps (dogs need to sleep 14-16 hours a day-really!),  a good quality food (possibly time to change to adult food). These are just a few things to help you. A good place to read up on more adolescent topics is www.dogstardaily.com Type adolescent dogs in the search bar and a number of good articles should pop up. One last thing you need-tons of patience. They will grow up. All too soon.

Oh Those Adolescent Dogs!

It's as if aliens came and took your sweet, adorable puppy and left a big wild animal in its place. I know the feeling. My leather couch took a hit. As well as my grass cutting shoes. And Mac had attended more training classes with me than most of your dogs ever will. What happened? In a word-adolescense. It hits some dogs more than others. No rhyme or reason. Around 6 mos then possibly again at 18 mos. A puppy brain with an adult body. Just like humans. What can you do before you totally lose your mind and patience? Stay tuned here and I will share my thoughts and tips with you. In the meantime, put him down for a nap and take one yourself. Naps, I love them.

Don't do it.

There is never a good reason to hit your dog. Let me repeat-there is never a good reason to hit your dog. Ever. Never. There is always a better way to get what you what to accomplish without hitting your dog. You want your relationship built on trust, respect, love and communication. Not fear. Not ever. Dogs do not communicate with each other by hitting. It's all about body language, tone, sometimes teeth if necessary. Of course they know we're not dogs. But if you want to communicate better with your canine, you need to know the language. My classes can help bridge that gap between human and canine. I talk dog.

Daily Practice is Key

Practicing every day with your dog doesn't have to be boring or time consuming. But it is so very necessary. It's true with dogs too-use it or lose it. I remember very little spanish from college because I never use it. So here's how to keep your dog in practice. As soon as you and your dog learn a command-incorporate it into every day life as soon as you can. Then every day-Wait at the door,  Leave the roadkill you found on our walk, Sit/Stay while kids pet your dog, Walk Nice every time we step out the door. So life becomes practice and practice makes perfect!

Thinking about the New Year

With New Year's Eve almost upon us, it's time to think about resolutions, changes or improvements to our lives in the new year. Make a goal this year to do more with your dog. Try new games, sports or training. Pick out something that's been a struggle for you and your dog and determine to conquer it this year. Let me know if I can help. I teach in home as well as group classes and when it gets warmer-park classes! Yay! I'm going to change them up this year. I'm going to have some pay by the week park classes focused on Manners, Leash Walking and Canine Good Citizen/Community Canine practice and testing. Can't wait. Always looking to meet you and your dog's needs. I'm also open to ideas from you. Leave me a comment if you have any ideas of training you'd like to see me offer.

Sent from my mobile. Enjoy.
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   My wolf blanket from my daughter that I use to make a wolf burrito. Nothing you eat but it keeps you warm. Ever see "The New Adventures of Old Christine"?   

Sent from my mobile. Enjoy.
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   Lucy my brother`s dog and graduate of my classes. Isn`t she a beauty?  

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   3D pic of a wolf my sis gave me. Wow.   

Christmas Past Time Machine

We all go there, Christmas Past Time Machine. I remember when Tyler (only dog at the time) would find his rawhide under the tree and run outside and bury it only to dig it up and chew it in the spring, all soggy and nasty. And the time my daughter told Santa on Christmas Eve that all she wanted for Christmas was a pair of pink ballet sklippers. (a true Christmas miracle that there was a pair at McAlpins just her size. Whew!) or the time my ex-fiancee' wanted to get back together at the holidays and was able to get back my same engagement ring from the jewelers at the last moment. Or our first Christmas without dad. Very hard. He had passed away just after Thanksgiving so it was still so very new. Or last Christmas without Mo (brother and sister Pyrenees)and only Mary.Now Mary is gone too. Most Christmas Eve Mom and I would go to Jungle Jim's knowing full well it would nbe very crowded but enjoyed it none the less. And then on to Christmas Eve Mass. The many Christmases when I was young-Christmas Time Machine!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you! Scroll down and read about what your dog really wants for Christmas. It might surprise you but you can do it. For your dog.

What your dog really wants for Christmas

You might be thinking-a nice bone, big new comfy bed, tennis balls, new tug, yummy dog treats. They deserve that and more. But look what Patricia McConnell has to say about what your dog wants. I read it and thought-Oh yeah. She is so right. See if it strikes a cord with you. And guess what? You don't have to rush out on the busiest shopping day of the year to go get them. You already have them at your disposal right now. Go get them. And if you need help, I'm just a phone call, email, pm, or comment away. Go check out www.patriciamcconnell.com/theotherendoftheleash The Five Things Our Dogs Want For Christmas. Merry Christmas Eve All!

My Wise Sage

It was December 2006 when I went looking for a german shepherd for my training dog. And found Sage. Runt of the litter, last of the litter. Cutest black pup ever. Part something else too, that is the challenge. He did well in puppy classes. And has turned out to be mostly calm now at 7 and a half yrs. He's also a good watchdog. From his vantage point he can see out the front, back, up the stairs and down the stairs. Any thing amiss and Sage is right on top of it. He has a special bark and circle dance for any thing amiss. I know it well and pay attention when I see and hear it. He has let me know when Rocky escaped out of his crate. And Mac. And strangers at the door. He's great and still does all his commands which we still practice. He loves, loves, loves to find biscuits thrown in the yard. He has an excellent nose and can find them even in deep snow. Love that dog.

Every Day is Christmas Day

Mac wakes up everyday like a young kid on Christmas morning. He watches for your eyes to open or for you to stretch and he's over the top excited. He dances around on the bed as if to say" Can we get up now? Can we get up now? Can we get up now?" As soon as I give the go ahead, he races at top speed off the bed and down the stairs and waits by the back door. I know he just has to go potty but he races back in and races around some more till he gets his biscuits. We should all have that much enthusiasim upon waking each day. I hope he nevers loses it as he is inspriation to me. Especially on those hard to get up days.

Winter Solstice

Here it comes, blowing in. The Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. Light some candles, set some intentions for the coming year, get a long night's sleep. For the daylight is slowly coming back, a lttle each day. A few minutes each day. Sometimes that's how we grow. A little each day.

Here's when I'll be closed for the Holidays

Here are my closed dates for the Holidays-Mon Dec 23, Tues Dec 24, Wed Dec 25 and Thur Dec 26. Also Mon Dec 30, Tues Dec 31, and Wed Jan 1. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thanks for a wonderful year. I appreciate each and every one of you. And your dog.

My Puppy Classes

My Puppy Classes
Off to puppy classes! I can't stress enough how important this is for early development and socialization. I get called to folks homes all the time to try to help shy or aggressive or bad behavior when the dog is already a year old. Did your dog have puppy classes when he was young? Usually the answer is no. Or he had negative type training classes as a pup or we just didn't keep up with them. Puppyhood is the BEST time to build that great relationship built on respect, trust and communication and of course LOVE.  Tell all you know with puppies-start niow!

Oops, messed that up!

I tried to blog as a message on my phone. Oops! That didn't work. Told you I'm not techy. Ignore those wierd looking blog entries. I'll try to delete them. I'm still learnin all this. But so enjoy blogging.

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   Here is Lexie in her Christmas dress. So cute!  

Testing blogging from email

Hope this works as I can blog more. Cross your fingers because I'm not techy at all.

Here is a pic of me and Mac. Yes he does sleep with me. But he obeys rules of the bed. 1-no continuous moving about. Settle down in one spot and go to sleep. 2-no sleeping on my feet or legs. Move it or move off. 3-no hogging the blankets. And that's pretty much it. We are a close team and he constantly is near me or paying attention to me. We train a lot and we play a lot. He's a great dog. And a funny dog. Has many funny noises and facial expressions. He's a chow-pei. Never would have thought I would like a dog like that but love him. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Stay tuned for more dog stories!

This is Mary from last Christmas. We lost her May 31st this year. She was 12 yrs old. I really miss my Pyrs. Hopefully another in my future. Stay turned. Hope to post here more often as I think I can do it from my phone. Yay.