K-9 Solutions Dog Training, Inc.: Small dogs get into trouble too.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Small dogs get into trouble too.

Check out the two Dachshunds that came in a couple of weeks ago. They were in their own yard when they found a porcupine.

As you can see it didn't turn out so good for them. And even though they are small dogs it still took HOURS to get all the quills out.

Not to freak anyone out, but years ago when I worked for another vet we lost a dog to quills. He came in and had gotten them all over the front of him. We removed them and sent him home where he passed away that night. The owner wanted to know why so we did a necropsy. We found that one of the quills had worked its way through his chest and into his heart. It was very sad and very scary that something so small can cause so much damage. Now I always take quills very seriously.

Check out this cutie, his name is Toby and he is a 5 month old Alaskan Klee Kai. They are a rare breed that comes in 3 sizes.

He was having a blast checking out out the store and Orli's toybox. (Yes, The Loyal Biscuit is my second home.)

He was also Go! Go! Go! and very hard to get great pics of. (because my camera is to SLOW and needs an upgrade)

Speaking of small dogs we had two calls this week of people that were missing small dogs from their own yards. One was a 4 pound Yorkie and the other a 12 week old Pomeranian. I really hope they found them. Personally I would never let dogs that size outside unattended. Besides loose dogs that are potential problem there are other dangers to them as well like coyotes, fishers, raccoons and eagles. Heck I know some cats that would eat a yorkie given the opportunity. Small dogs are just to easy of a target for a hungry wild animal. Not to mention they are also very easy to steal by unscrupulous people. Supervision will keep them safe.

And here is today's Minos photo. Can we say sleepy time? It looks like his face is melting into the floor. And yes, sometimes he snores.

3 comments:

Katie said...: The last quill dog we had in was a pit who got it bad. Full anesthesia and a very very long time spent plucking hundreds of quills out of his face, his mouth, under his tongue, even back in his tonsils and soft palate. It was ugly and a little bit scary- I can see how those quills could migrate so easily.; June 19, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Jan said...: Ouch, I had no idea what porcupine quills actually looked like. i will keep this visual for a long time.; June 19, 2009 at 10:37 PM
tula monstah said...: Geesh- a beard of quills. That has got to be painful..poor guys. Hope everything turns out ok for them. We always run into little dogs loose in their front yards- who end up chasing us across the street & wishes people would watch their dogs more carefully. It happens more than you can count:(

That is a true sleeptime boy!

Kisses & wags to ya.
tula; June 20, 2009 at 1:14 AM

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My Story

In 1992, after serving for 6 years in the United States Marine Corps, I decided to settle down in my hometown in Mid-Coast Maine. I got my first dog, (as a bona-fide adult) an akita, and joined the local kennel club. I also joined akita rescue and learned alot about the breed. In turn I began helping educate others. This taught me how important training is for ALL dogs. Thus began my (unofficial) foray into the world of dog training.

I worked for a few years at a local veterinarians office and then began working at our local humane society. While there I saw many dogs being given up for simple training issues. About that time the kennel club began looking for a new trainer to teach group obedience classes. I decided I might be able to handle that challenge once I had more official training of my own.

MY TRAINING:

I found an excellent trainer to mentor with and in October of 2001 after a year of hands on training and study I completed my apprenticeship under Lloyd Williams of Bear Brook Kennels. During that apprenticeship, in addition to learning all the basics, I got to assist in the training of police dogs in narcotics, tracking and cadaver dogs with the medical examiners office.

Not only did I learn how to be a dog trainer, more importantly, I learned how to teach owners how they could communicate more effectively with their dogs. I consider that training just the beginning in my canine education. I continue to attend seminars and keep current through reading about recent advancements in dog training methods. I am a former member of The Association of Professional Dog Trainers.

My training was sponsored by The Humane Society of Knox County and The Mid-Coast Kennel Club of Maine.

MY METHODS:

I use positive reinforcement methods whenever possible during training sessions. Positive reinforcement helps make the training experience more enjoyable for both the dog and owner, producing a better learning environment. I also utilize hand signals in my training which is very useful with deaf dogs as well as hearing ones. My methods include lure/reward and marker training. (with or without a clicker depending on owner preference)

MY GOALS:

My goal in training is to help pet owners develop a better relationship with their dogs. Many times that includes teaching about canine communication and behavior. I also like to help dogs stay out of the shelters and in their homes whenever possible. Training for those unruly dogs can make that a reality for some families.

MY OTHER JOBS:

I am currently the trainer for the HSKC's K-9 Corrections program. I also work as a receptionist at a local veterinary hospital.

MY FAMILY:

I am happily married and the mother of two fabulous children.

Dog Training and Behavior Seminars Attended

11-09 Self Control and Focus Games with Dee Ganley CPDT/CABC/CDBC
6-09 Dog to Dog Aggression with Patricia McConnell PhD
7-08 Debunking the Dominance Myth in Training with Jean Donaldson
6-08 PitBull Education Seminar with Drayton Michaels
3-08 Aggression and Canine Compulsion Disorders with Dr. Nicholas Dodman
4-07 How to Talk Dog with Sarah Kalnajs
6-06 Understanding Canine Body Language with Trish King
4-06 Aggression in Dogs 2 Day Seminar with Brenda Aloff
10-05 Play with Me and Feisty Fidos with Pia Silvani CPDT,CABC
2005 Canine Communication, Meet your Match and and Intro to "Safer" Training with Emily Weiss PhD