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!