You're not gonna believe this

I wish I had some photos. I will definitely try to get some soon to add to the post so you can see.

She is real and she is at our local shelter. I swear I couldn't make this up if I tried. A sweet, smallish, mostly brindle with some white markings pittie type. She looks and acts just like the girl in my dream. I have to admit it freaked me out seeing her there in the flesh. Her head has an interesting shape though that makes me think she has some bull terrier in her, right around her eyes. She ignored all the cats we tested her with and loves to be touched. Very submissive but loves to jump up high. (a great agility prospect for someone) Horrible on a leash, (strong!) but responds to attention well. Her name is Angelica. (unsure if she has been tested with other dogs yet) Could definitely use some training.

What I would love to do next, since my adopting her is out of the question, (I have spacial issues) is to put her in our prison program. Unfortunately they do not allow us to send pitbulls there. I have the wardens ok, but some of the other guards are resistant. Because of that we decided not to send any until people are more comfortable with the idea. The last thing we need is for someone to do something to a dog and jeopardize the whole program because they are ignorantly prejudiced. One person in particular threw quite a fit when he thought we were bringing those "vicious dogs" in to the facility. He found a bunch of myths off the Internet to prove his position. Yeah I know. I took a copy of "The Pitbull Placebo" by Karen Delise over to them in hopes he will open his mind enough to let us accept them on the program. He did see some video of a pit I was allowed to bring over to play with another dog we had there. He wasn't working that day and I was allowed to bring her because I was supervising/handling her and not leaving her there. (I figure every little bit helps!) He did admit that she seemed like a great dog. So maybe there is hope for him yet.

We will be starting a new dog soon. Please feel free to send good thoughts our way in hopes we will be allowed to train pitbulls there someday too.

Check out Zena and Zora. They are also available for adoption on Petfinder.com

Perchance to dream

Last night I had one of the most vivid dreams. It involved me winning a pit bull at a baseball game. (Hey you know dreams.) She was a cute and super sweet smallish female. Lots of tail wagging and smootching was going on. I remember feeling very pleased. She looked sort of like the photo above. (of a female named Pita from www.petfinder.org that needs a home BTW) My girl had less white though and was a lighter brindle. It was realistic enough that I was figuring out logistics of introducing her to my 3 already in residence. For the record I have no intentions of adding a 4th canine to my motley crew. Heaven help me if during one of my shelter trips she is actually there. (shall I admit I checked for her photo on a bunch of pit rescue websites?) Perhaps it was simply induced by the Animal Witness story I watched last night I had previously taped off Animal Planet. (which had far to much dog fighting footage if you ask me) Being a fan of the pit bull (type of dog, it isn't technically a breed) it probably brought up my desire to have one of these wonderful and much maligned creatures.

Someday.

Until then, I shall wonder where my dream girl is.

Pug-a-licious and toy safety

First a safety warning about ball toys with only one hole. Some of the photos are graphic:

http://thechaistory.blogspot.com/

(Thanks Hannah)

Today DS and I went to Augusta for a pug meetup with an area pug group, www.pugusta.org. It is about a 45 minute drive for us. It was my first time. I tasked DS to take some photos and unfortunatly he was in a shy mood and didn't get as many as I would have liked. He said he had a great time though and it was much more fun than he anticipated. (we also did Wendys for lunch which is a treat since we no longer have one near us) Here are all of the better ones for your viewing pleasure.


This is Grumpy, also a rescue.

Missy in pink and Shadow in camo.

Another of Missy.

This is Lilly, a 5 month old puppy.

Roscoe doing a play bow to Jenny. He is 8 months old.

And Jenny deciding to play back. Pugs in attendance were:

Lilly, Missy, Lacey, Shadow, Thunder, Grumpy, Zach, Roscoe, Blue, Precious and Jenny. (I hope I didn't forget anyone.) With 11 pugs all running around playing it was tons of fun to watch.

I wish I had more and better pics but since it was Jenny's first time I was doing the eagle eye to be sure she was ok. We were in a shady spot which is great for the dogs but makes photos dark unless you use your flash. (which we didn't know how to turn on since it was the husbands camera) I would have loved to let her off leash but just didn't dare to in case she had one of her episodes. It was a beautiful park but unfenced. I'm not sure how far she would run if she had a spell. Call me a nervous Nellie. I do think it was most likely due to her ear infection but it is to soon for me to relax about it just yet. I want her to go longer without a spell before I try anything off leash for her safety. Yes I felt like the over protective mother today. It was still alot of fun and I'm sure we will do it again.

Greyhounds and new stuff

Today I watched a very good video about the Maine Greyhound Placement Service. http://www.greyhoundplacement.com/ It is a rescue group located here in Maine for retired racing greys. Retired really just means they stopped winning at the track and had been scheduled for euthanization. I have been facinated by Greyhounds for years after watching a documentary about the breed. They are georgous and sweet with an interesting history and are in great need of being rescued. Once again a great example of man at it's best and worst. When are we going to stop using animals as entertainment and then disgarding/destroying them when they can't produce anymore?

Thankfully there are people like Scott Bruns, and all of his amazing volunteers, stepping up and doing what they can to help the castoffs in this case. The documentary I saw had some tough footage of racers being put down and their multiple bodies stacked in wheelbarrows being dumped into trucks for disposal. That is imagery that I will never forget. (and share here to point out that it happens EVERY WEEK somewhere to these beautiful animals) I think one day I may have one of these amazing animals of my own. Until then I will keep spreading their story to other potential adopters. They make wonderful companions. And because they have been used in racing they are already good on leash, crate trained and used to being around other dogs. They also have many good years left in them to share with you.

I know many people think they need a lot of exercise because of their racing background, but they are very content to spend their days sunbathing and snuggling on the couch. (They are sprinters and not built for endurance like other high energy breeds.)

So spread the word or consider a retired greyhound as your next best friend. Unfortunatly there will always be some in need of rescue. Can't adopt but want to help the cause? Check out their website and buy something. They raise money and you get cool new stuff. http://www.greyhoundplacement.com/

Speaking of helping rescues, check out my new t-shirt from PRoNE. http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/ (I think I am going to make a habit out of buying new shirts from rescue groups. I get clothes and support good causes. It's a win, win!) Here is the front,

and the back. Jenny is also sporting a new collar from http://www.ifitbarks.com/ that we picked up at The Loyal Biscuit Co.

My son said he would prefer she have a camo collar but I didn't think that camo was girly enough for her. He got a PRoNE shirt in Kahki. And a new pug book also from the PRoNE site.

It has some great info and pics.

This years Boatyard dog shirt. This was last years winner, a border collie named Kylie. Hopefully next year Trumans photo will be featured.

Here is a pic of Jenny cuddling with Jack on DS's bed. If you look close you can see his hot spot near his tail. Let's just say my vet saw alot of us this week. He also got a bit of a new hairdo I will share photos of later.

And Missy doing what she loves, hoarding all the chewies and taking turns with them.

P.S. To Caveat. I still can't leave a comment on your site for some reason. And yes you talk about politics but it is DOG related so it passes muster. LOVE your stuff! VBG :)

We are the champions

We won!!! Truman the shelter dog is the official 2008 Boatyard dog winner. Check out this photo of him in action during the competition. (photo by Daniel O'Connell)
Youthlinks Hound Wins Boatyard Dog
By Broadreach Family & Community Services Dan Bookham

ROCKLAND (Aug 11, 08): Two weeks ago, none of the teens on the Youthlinks Boatyard dog team had ever trained an animal. Two weeks ago, Truman the hound had never been trained beyond basic commands. Today thanks to his Youthlinks handlers, their advisors, and his intelligence and sweet nature Truman is the 2008 Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors Boatyard Dog champion.

Youthlinks exists to help connect local adolescents with the volunteer needs in their communities, so when the opportunity arose to raise awareness about animals in need of a home at the Humane Society of Knox County (HSKC) the teens and staff naturally jumped at the chance. It didn't hurt of course that the awareness project promised to be a lot of fun.

At the end of July a group of Youthlinks participants taking part in the program's free community service summer camp teamed up with the HSKC, professional dog behavioralist Marie Finnegan, (**Oops slightly wrong info. I am a dog trainer, not a behaviorist.**) Rockland's Loyal Biscuit Co., and a hound named Truman and began training to take part in the Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors Boatyard Dog competition. The contest has become an attendee favorite, and consists of obstacle courses, jumping in and out of dinghies, a "freestyle" performance piece by dog and handlers, and at least half the team finding themselves jumping into Rockland harbor.

Under the guidance of Finnegan, Youthlinks Program Manager Caitlin Schick, and staff at the HSKC the teens transformed themselves and Truman within two weeks into a confident, disciplined and fun-loving team with a kid/canine secret agent skit that ended up stealing the show.

To the sounds of the James Bond and Pink Panther themes Truman and his handlers cleared the obstacle course, leapt from a tippy dinghy, disarmed secret agents, kissed a femme fatale, responded to commands in a multitude of languages, knocked a villain off the dock, and resumed their cover as an everyday family and their dog. After a tie-break performance crowd acclaim lead to Truman and his Youthlinks team mates clinching the championship.

"Not many adults would feel comfortable standing in front of a huge crowd trying to lead a young dog through a complex routine while performing themselves" said Youthlinks Program Director Amie Hutchison, who added "To be able to do so with such confidence and showmanship that they won the whole competition speaks volumes about the quality of the teens who live in our communities."

Truman, the 2008 Boatyard Dog Trials champion and loving hound in search of a family, is awaiting adoption at the Humane Society of Knox County. Youthlinks' free summer camp continues for two more weeks; regular after-school programming resumes in September.

Youthlinks is a program of Broadreach Family & Community Services located in Rockland that provides community service, leadership and enrichment opportunities to all youth ages 11-17 from anywhere in mid-coast Maine. They are funded primarily by the generous donations of individuals, businesses, and foundations. All programs are free for participating youth. For more information on Youthlinks, visit www.youthlinksonline.org or call 594-2221.

Back row, from left to right: Youthlinks Program Director Amie Hutchison, K-9 Solutions' Marie Finnegan, Youthlinks Program Manager Caitlin Schick, Margo Arruda, Lexi Moody.Front row: Miles Swanson, Jordan Carpenter, Truman (not pictured: Emma Spencer). **Also not seen is his underdog cape made by my mom. It was fabulous.

Here is Truman showing off his beautiful lobster collar and leash set donated by the Loyal Biscuit Co. and made by http://www.bowchies.com/
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Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show bounces back after soggy start
By Daniel O'Connell and Emily Sapienza
**Snippet of longer article:
That excitement is not lost on the public who come from near and far to attend the event, the apex of which is the World Championship Boatyard Dog competition held Sunday morning.
Six teams of dogs and handlers competed in this year's event, though one team was made up of a pair of dogs.
After the event's obstacle course was completed, teams also performed free-style acts of both daring and obedience. In one such act, handler Kip Boetsch fired a toy lobster out of a mini cannon into the water, whereupon his dog, Captain Caleb, fetched it from the water.
Two teams were tied after round one. Kelvin and Cody, two Chesapeake Bay retrievers competing on the same team, were tied with Truman, a hound mix that is currently up for adoption at the Humane Society of Knox County.
Judges Dr. Bjorn Lee of Pen Bay Veterinary Associates, Lucinda Lang, a spaniel aficionado, and Holly Sherburne, editor of Downeast Dog News, scored the dogs on the first round of competition. The free-style tiebreaker round, however, was judged through audience applause.
Kelvin and Cody brought professional experience to the competition; they were trained as Chesapeake safe harbor rescue dogs. (**More wrong info-they are dogs adopted from the Safe Harbor Chesapeake Rescue Group. Perhaps they are trained rescue dogs but I think there was some miscommunication or assumptions made based on the groups name.**)
Truman, on the other hand, was the product of a home-town project: Students from Youthlinks, a youth enrichment program based in Rockland, had worked with Marie Finnegan, the resident trainer at the Humane Society of Knox County, to train Truman for the event.
After competing in the tie-breaking free-style round, Truman won the event with overwhelming applause from the audience. Truman is still available for adoption at the Humane Society of Knox County.
http://www.humanesocietyofknoxcounty.org/
End of Boatyard dog stories. :-) What a great ending to a very busy two weeks. The kids all did a fabulous job and much fun was had by all, including Truman who loved all the attention lavished upon him. Hopefully his new home can keep up with his rock star status. I only wish I had video to share.
Jenny is doing much better today and we haven't had any more episodes since Sunday. Our fingers are crossed that it was related to inner ear issues and not neurological after all.

A problem with Jenny

The boatyard dog show was fabulous. I will have photos and news soon I promise. Unfortunatly something else has cropped up that is foremost on my mind.

So last night around 6pm Jenny had a weird episode. She started screaming and running around trying to hide while evacuating her bladder and bowels. The only word to describe her was terrified. She came out of it after a few minutes and I figured she either heard a strange sound that triggered a bad memory or had a sharp pain from a current ear infection (that I was going to call about Monday morning) or maybe even snagged a nail on the heater vent while walking over it. I kept a close eye on her and took note of time and place and surroundings to try to figure out the trigger.

Fast forward to today. Same thing happens around 3 pm. Only this time it started while she was sitting right next to me on the couch. OK that was pretty weird so I call the vet. We decide to wait until morning to bring her in. Cut to 4 hours later and she has another episode. I call the vet and say I would rather bring her in now. She seems ok when we go in but a bit timid which is unusual for her. Normally she is a pretty confident girl. We talk about inner ear pain and decide to do bloodwork just in case. It isn't a typical presentation of a seizure in her opinion tho nothing is impossible. They take Jenny out back for the draw.

I hear her having another episode. The vet comes out and says that now she has seen it in person it does look like it might be neurological. By now my nerves are shot. I hate seeing her go through this and the neurological scenario doesn't sound good. They give her a shot of a steroid for the skin and the ears and medication for me to use. The bloodwork should be back tuesday. (thyroid test and full blood screen) Instructions to time all future episodes and keep a log. If it is epilepsy then we can try phenobarb after the bloodwork comes back. (Her glucose was normal)

She did eat her supper fine when we returned home. She has had two more episodes since we got back but the last was milder which makes me hopeful.

Best case scenario is it is inner ear pain from the infection and not neurological. Second best case is it will be something we can control with medication. I refuse to think about other case scenarios at this point. I have to admit part of me is freaking out. I love this dog so much and I haven't had her nearly long enough. (I should say we, she is technically my sons dog) She is 2 and a half and we have had her for almost a year.

I welcome any thoughts that might help if anyone has gone though anything similar. In the meantime I am asking for good thoughts sent our way.

Up to no good

That's what my mom used to say if us kids were quiet for to long. "They must be up to no good." Yes I admit I have been a very bad blogger. Not posting regularly is one of my pet peeves for other favorite blogs and here I am guilty of it myself. Well I do have a pretty good excuse, I am tuckered! Plus I have been undercover on a secret mission. You can check out the details here: (Reposted from the Village Soup website)


Boat Yard Dog Entrant Unmasked as Youthlinks Double Agent
By Broadreach Family & Community Services Amie Hutchison & Caitlin Schick

ROCKLAND (Aug 1, 08): In a breach in Youthlinks’ super-sensitive security system, the identity of secret canine operative Agent K-9 has leaked. The agent’s real name is Truman, and he is an adoptable two year old hound mix from the Humane Society of Knox County. His mission, which he chose to accept, is to be briefed by Youthlinks summer camp secret agents (under the direction of Marie Finnegan, a trainer with K-9 Solutions) to take part in the Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors’ Boatyard Dog Trials. To compete as Agent K-9 in the trials, Truman is being trained in cutting edge spy tactics: stealthy physical maneuvers, courage, patience, charming the ladies, and finesse in all things.

The recruiting of K-9 Solutions’ Marie Finnegan for the Boatyard Dog Trials mission was a strategic move by Youthlinks worthy of James Bond himself. Finnegan has volunteered her expertise as the Humane Society of Knox County’s resident trainer for years, helping dogs with their behavior and manners so they can become better candidates for adoption. Her skill under pressure makes her a natural mentor for Agent K-9, who will need to negotiate dangerous obstacle courses, treacherous dingy-hopping, and a secret freestyle event with panache.

Youthlinks campers have been working with Finnegan every day for two weeks on a crash course spy school, readying Truman for his debut. Because every good secret agent needs the right equipment, Rockland’s Loyal Biscuit Co. generously stepped up to outfit Truman.

For reinforcement, campers are also training a double agent, a one year old Walker hound mix named Brady, who will act as a stand-in if Truman is thwarted by enemy sabotage. This cunning move has ensured that an Agent K-9 will be ready for competition, campers will have gained training experience, and two adoptable dogs are ready for welcoming families.

On the day of the mission, campers will lead the canine super-spy through the gauntlet of events at the Boatyard Dogs Show with the hope that a lot of training, frequent socialization with children and other dogs, and a little press will grant Agent K-9 the ultimate finale to his extreme mission; a loving home.

To watch Truman and his team of spy trainers in action, attend the Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors’ Boatyard Dog Trials on August 10th, 2008 on the Public Landing in Rockland. The event will commence at 10:30 am.

Youthlinks is a program of Broadreach Family & Community Services located in Rockland that provides community service, leadership and enrichment opportunities to all youth ages 11-17 from anywhere in mid-coast Maine. These programs help youth learn skills, build self-esteem, cultivate social responsibility, develop leadership abilities and connect to their peers, to adult mentors, and to their communities. Youthlinks is funded primarily by the generous donations of individuals, businesses, and foundations. All programs are free for participating youth. Call 594-2221 or visit www.youthlinksonline.org for more information.

Emma Spencer of Rockland works with Truman, aka Agent K-9 (Photo by Caitlin Schick)

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Unfortunatly being in secret ops means a lack of free time usually spent doing other things like keeping up with e-mail and blogs. I just can't do it all! (Not if I want to sleep that is. Trust me, you don't want to see me with out any sleep.)

* And here are some cute pics of Jenny in her new winter outfit courtesy of Lauren and The Loyal Biscuit. (To keep her warm of course, I lack fashion sense of my own let alone for my dogs.)

To bad we don't have touch-o-vision. It is so soft!

"Hey who turned out the lights?" (Yes file this under stupid things people do to their pets. I couldn't help myself. And yes I think it is cute. No animals were harmed in the taking of this photo.)

Now my ears can stay toasty too.

You can almost see her thinking "Are we done yet? I have things to do." She is such a diva. Thanks Lauren!!

Amazing video

*Don't try this at home!*

This is an amazing video of a lion that was bought from a store to be a pet. Thankfully the new owners realized he should be in his own habitat and did what was best for him. This is their story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiGKWoJi5qM

Wild animals should NEVER be family pets in my opinion. Taking them from their natual environment is cruel. (not to mention what some people do to get those young animals from their natural wild mothers so they can sell them)

I know it isn't specificly dog related but the video is an excellent example of animals remembering the people they love. (or their memory in general)

I admit it made me cry like a baby.

The Blog Roll

Some of you may or may not have noticed but I try to routinely update my blog roll. This includes taking blogs off my list that either don't update often enough, stray far off topic regularly, or are to graphic heavy to load in a reasonable amount of time. (If it takes forever for me to load it with DSL I don't want those with dial up to get stuck. Some of my favorites have been deleted for this reason alone. Tip: Set your front blog page to only hold a set amount of posts if this is an issue.)

I also try to only include those blogs I like for some reason. It may be the writing, the photos, the info presented or the stories they have to share. I also try to stay away from blogs with alot of political views. I like reading about dogs not politics. (or should I say I reserve that as a seperate activity)

If you have a blog to recommend with a 4 paws up, (sorry I couldn't resist) feel free to share it with me for consideration in my comments section. (If you add a link to a site for business purposes or to sell something I will more then likely delete it. Please e-mail me to ask permission regarding sales of products. Unless it is something I believe in it will not be considered. )

So check out the new additions to the blogroll and feel free to provide feedback. Thank you!

Debunking the Dominance Myth in Training

or "Stop 'whispering' and speak up for your dog."

It isn't my title but the tile of a seminar I attended yesterday given by Jean Donaldson. It was excellent and I learned a lot. I did take a photo but it came out dark and horrible. So here is this one instead.

I really liked this quote:

"Hey you 'whisperers', pinning, jerking, shocking and harassing animals - we want our word back." Susan G. Friedman, PhD University of Utah.

whisper

Verb
1. to speak or say (something) very softly, using the breath instead of the vocal cords
2. to make a low soft rustling sound: the leaves whispered
Noun
1. a low soft voice: her voice sank to a whisper
2. Informal a rumour: I just picked up a whisper on this killing
3. a low soft rustling sound: a whisper of breeze in the shrubbery [Old English hwisprian]

There isn't much "soft" about that type of whispering is there?

She had a great insight that our society is watching a "trainer" manhandling 80 to 100+lb predators in homes with children present. This is called modeling which children immitate because that's how THEY learn. A scary thought.

She also brought up the point that no training OR learning theory is required for anyone to hang a shingle and call themselves a trainer. Unfortunatly most of the general public doesn't know this and is trusting their dogs with people who are many times unqualified. Add to that these unqualified people are many times making things worse under the guise of training. They don't need to live with the dog after all so why do they care about fallout or failure?

The following is just a few great tidbits from the seminar:

On the biggest divide in training philosophies ~ There are trainers to elect to train without aversives-to not hurt, scare, or startle dogs to train them. (called positive trainers or "cookie pushers")

There are trainers who elect to use aversives-some call a spade a spade, some use less clear language. (called force or traditional trainers)

EVERYONE believes their way of training is the best way.

On dog social organization: There is little agreement and virtually no research regarding dog social organization. Researchers studying wild wolves disagree with researchers studying captive wolves about wolf social organization. Conventional wisdom on dogs seems to have been extrapolated captive wolf interpretations.

The wolf literature: Packs consist of a breeding pair and their offspring up to age 3. (sexual maturity) By age 3, offspring disperse and attempt to mate with other dispersed wolves to form new packs.

If you breed, you're alpha: "Individual wolves do not have an inherent permanent social status....the alpha male or female are merely the breeding animals, the parents, and dominance contests with other wolves are rare, if they exist at all. During my 13 summers observing the Ellesmere Island packm I saw none." L. David Mech

....And your likely to breed: "Wolves in captivity breed readily and I know of no mature captive individuals that failed to breed when paired."

"In the wild...I know of no permenant dispersers that failed to breed if they lived long enough." L David Mech

Free -Ranging Dog Populations

* Pariah Dogs in India, village dogs in Africa, feral populations in South America and Mexico, Cook Island Dogs, dingoes, semi-feral populations in Romania and Moscow

* Often drawn into proximity by food sources, however none form packs but rather "loose, transitory associations" (Dunbar)

* Functions of estrous cycle

What need does it (dominance) serve among dog people?

* Projection of OUR concerns about status?

* Justifies a need to coerce and punish?

(Last remaining legal bastion of systematic corporal punishment? Imagine the same techniques in a school or daycare. We did away with rulers to hands and backside of kids at Catholic schools, why are we still heavy handed with dogs?)

* Supports our wish for magical motivation?

*Keeps us revelant: at least dog's behavior is in relation to us?

Motivation:

No properly functioning living organism will do something for nothing.

Dogs are properly functioning living organisims and so spend their behavioral dollar wisely most of the time.

And, when a dog exits a doorway ahead of you, it may not be directed at you.

A "problem" according to whom?

Dunbar has famously pointed out that peeing, defecating, digging, barking, chewing, jumping up etc. are not "problems" to dogs, so the onus is on us to teach them when they can act like dogs.

How dogs learn:

Dogs learn via operant and classical conditioning.

OC = Operant Conditioning manipulates behavior via consequences.

CC + Classical Conditioning manipulates emotional responses.

Do you want him to do more or less of the target behavior?

More = Capture, shape or prompt and reinforce what you want more of.

Less = Install a more likeable behavior in its place and/or punish it. (non-violently)

That is only a tip of the iceberg. Then we went into lots of training theory and demonstrations of behavior and training.

Check out the blog at http://www.dogstardaily.com/ for my updated article on Growling.

I love attending seminars to keep up with my continuing education. It gives me a change to re-charge my batteries, network, visit with friends and learn new techniques. I just wish behavior seminars were mandatory for ALL trainers. I know I always learn something regardless of the subject. It was a great day and afterwards I stopped by PlanetDog to look around. They have a great store that I rarely get to. Unfortunatly I didn't have alot of pocket money for extras so I only picked up a copy of Bark magazine and Animal Wellness. Fortunatly I do have a great local store to hang out at and get great doggy things. (The Loyal Biscuit on Main Street in Rockland. Stop by and say hi to Lauren. Tell her I sent you.)

The next seminar Happy Tails has on deck is Ray Coppinger and "The Evolution of Dogs and Their Behavior" September 6 and 7. FMI visit the website at: www.happytailsportland.com Hopefully I will get to that one as well.

A trainers Thursday 13

I don't normally do a Thursday 13 but after reading a truely disturbing blog by another "dog trainer" I need to share some good training information. I think this is a way to do just that. Here are my 13 tops picks for must read books to help you become a better trainer of dogs. (in no specific order)

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1) Kicked, Bitten and Scratched. Life and Lessons at the Worlds Premiere Exotic Animal Training School by Amy Sutherland. A great example of why you need to know basic behavior of the animal you are training to be effective and humane.

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2) The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell PhD. An ethologist who explains why human behavior and canine behavior sometimes just doesn't mesh well and how we can work to change that for the better.

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3) How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks by Ian Dunbar. Lure reward training and the theories behind it. A great dog's point of view look at training. For all age dogs. (with great photos) A must have for anyone working with deaf dogs.

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4) The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson. Positive training and canine behavior explained in great step by step detail with examples on how to train your own dog. Written specificly for clicker use but can be adapted. One of the best explainations of classical and operant conditioning I have found.

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5) Excel-erated Learning~ Explaining How Dogs Learn and How Best to Teach Them by Pamela Reid PhD. I found this a tough read (and needed notes) but worth it for the information. Great examples on canine behavior with studies referenced.

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6) Dog Friendly Dog Training by Andrea Arden. Includes one of the best examples (in chart form) of how and why positive training stacks up in favor for the dog over force methods. Great artwork.

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7) Teaching Dog Obedience Classes by Jocham Volhard and Gail Fisher. A must have for anyone teaching in groups. It also has fabulous info on canine behavior relating to fear periods in puppies. Originally written for force trainers, I include it in my list because the info on setting up classes and behavior info is so excellent. (I am also not against force training persay, IF used correctly is has it's place and can be effective. Unfortunatly many trainers have no idea how to use it fairly for the dog. Thank you Mr. Millan. Another great reason to find out about and CHECK your trainers references. There is also a big difference between a training issue and a behavior issue. Not all trainers have the behavior knowledge to solve behavior problems so keep that in mind when you are asking questions of your potential trainer. Suppression of behavior isn't the same as changing the behavior or emotion of the event causing the behavior in the first place. Long term suppression can have some serious fallout including catastrophic failure.)

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8) The Dog Who Loved to Much by Dr. Nicholas Dodman. Great examples of behavior problems and solutions. Some of the pharmacology may have changed since the first release. (*Note: Medication should only be used in conjunction with a behavior modification program in place to be properly effective. It is not a quick fix.) He has a new book out that probably replaces this one but admit I haven't read it yet.

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9) Canine Body Language ~ A Photographic Guide by Brenda Aloff. A fabulous book of body postures and facial expressions used by dogs. It even includes a test you can take on the info presented.

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10) Aggression in Dogs~Practical management, Prevention and Behavior Modification by Brenda Aloff. A must for anyone working with, or living with, aggressive dogs of any kind. Very in depth.

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11) Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor. I only read this recently and admit I was blown away by the information included. Even if you aren't a trainer this book has some fantastic tips on changing the environment around you though your relationships. Very interesting read and timeless.

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12) For the Love of a Dog by Patricia McConnell PhD. It sounds like it is all about emotions in dogs but it has great info on behavior included as well.

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13) The Idiots Guide to Dog Tricks by Liz Palika. I hate the title but it has great info presented in a simple style that is easy to follow. Breaks down the tricks in a step by step manner. Also includes basic obedience info. (you can't teach roll over until the dog knows down after all)

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There are many more great training books out there. It was hard to pick just 13 from the many I have read. This is just a good jumping off point for those looking for some good info for their continuing education or curiosity. I hope it helps.

Dog greetings and Trail Manners

While surfing my favorite blogs (listed at right) trying to catch up with my blog reading, I ran across such a well written post that I wholeheartedly agree with that I just had to share it. Check it out here: http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/mind-your-trail-manners



The above photo was found on this adorable blog: (by accident I swear I wasn't looking for a pug photo to use) http://www.hugpug.com/

And for more info on proper dog greetings, in case you missed my previous post on the subject, this tidbit:

When one dog meets another for the first time, canine protocol demands that he offer his butt to be sniffed, and that he sniff the other's butt in turn. Dogs who are well-known to each other generally don't do it, but all dogs, when they meet another one for the first time, will do so. Canine courtesy demands that the action be reciprocated. *This formality essentially introduces each dog to the other as a specific scent signature, which is then cataloged in memory much as we visually-oriented animals do with faces.

From the technical veterinary site here: http://education.vetmed.vt.edu/Curriculum/VM8054/Labs/Lab19/Lab19.htm
(note the photo THEY used! Scroll down near the bottom of the page. Again, a funny coincidence.)

*Hence the tangled leash issue when doing proper dog to dog greetings. *

Anyone else see the tense body language of the dogs in the photo? How about the avoiding direct eye contact? Photos are a great way to see an exact moment in time.

Check out DogStarDaily and the other blogs too. Boy there are some seriously talented writers and super passionate (and funny!) dog people out there. I am but a drop in the ocean of dog blog land.

A saga involving poop, collars and cuteness

For those with weak constitutionals, this post involves a somewhat unsavory subject. You may want to skip to the end and the other topics. (Or go to The Dog Ma blog, and comment to potentially win a $50 e-giftcard to Petsmart. Yay for free stuff!)

Our dear Jenny is a poop eater. I'm sure I have mentioned it before. It is not an uncommon problem in dogs. To them it is the ultimate in recycling. It even comes out heated and ready to go. To us disgusting, to them a tasty treat. Because I know this about Jenny I use alot of management. I don't add anything to her food as sometimes recommended because she has some food sensitivities. No sense feeding her the pricey stuff only to undo all the work with an additive to address something I can manage instead. So poop gets cleaned up quickly from the yard and she goes out for pottytime on leash only. After everyone has voided and it has been cleaned up do I allow her off leash play. Occasionally management fails because I am not close enough to stop her from getting some fresh unexpected pile, usually from our frenchie Missy. She had not previously partaken of any of Jacks obviously larger piles. That I knew of. Until today. While I was outside with the dogs I decided to rearrange a few of my birdfeeders. They are all pretty close together but a few are outside of the fenced area. As I was returning I see Jack in the position and Jenny standing right under him waiting. Not only did she partake but some fell ON her. Oh the joy of living with dogs. Thankfully I am not a squeemish person. If anything I found it somewhat funny. She has no shame that one. Of course that meant into the tub immediatly for miss Jenny. I am also going to get some doggy toothpaste to have on hand for the next time management slips. (Always my mistake, now I know, assume nothing!) Lord knows I don't want a kiss after that!

I hope everyone has (or had) a safe 4th of July. And for the dogs who run away may be they all be tagged and easily reunited with their owners. I am also a huge fan of microchipping in case they lose their collar or if you have a dog that might look like another dog. If you ever have to prove in court that a black lab (or insert breed here) in question is yours, photos just aren't going to do it. Tags are nice too because they can help facilitate an instant reunion not needing a trip to the vet to find a rabies tag number (usually on a day they are closed) or causing the dog to spend the night unnessasarily in the local pound. (hopefully to be found) I even have an extra tag for visiting dogs with my address and phone number. (which new family dogs can also wear until they get their permanent one) One of the biggest reasons we hear for dogs not having their collar on when they got loose is that they just had a bath. What better reason to have an extra collar and tag for bath day. (while their regular collar they wore in the bath dries) You can put a collar on a wet dog. Worries about coloring on the coat seem insignificant when your dog is missing and naked. (tip-buy the extra collar in white)

*Check out the cute pug blog I ran across the other night. Go Pug Yourself. As soon as I get permission I will add her to the blogroll.

*I know I haven't had any originals photos lately. I need to get new batteries for the camera. Bear with me.

*A note to the blogger Underdogged, I can't seem to leave a comment on your blog. Can you e-mail me?

A summertime warning & home needed

Today was one of the hotter days we have had. Of course it was also one of the first dry days we have had in awhile which meant it was time to mow the lawn. I usually wait until later in the day so the sun moves to the back of the house and leaves a shady area for the dogs to lay in while they are outside with me. (they like to watch me work) I keep a good eye on them because even though there is shade, dogs do not always chose to lay in it when hot. I learned this the hard way with my first akita, Kuma. (He is the brindle below on the right. My female Shimo is on the left. They were both so beautiful and I still miss them.)

While putting in some new flooring during a summer day I put him out in the yard with plenty of shade and water. Unfortunatly he did not chose to utilize the shade. When I went out to check on him (about 20 minutes later) I realized he was not acting right and staggering. Recognising it was a heat issue I immediately got the hose on him and cooled him down. (the quickest cooling is done under the belly and leg areas) He was fine after the incident but it taught be a very valuable lesson, dogs do not always make the logical choice for their own safety. PLEASE keep an eye on your dogs when outside on a sunny day. Heat problems can crop up fast and can be fatal.

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I also heard a story today about two dogs jumping out of their owners car through the open windows. Fortunatly they were close to the store with the open door the owners were in and went straight to them. Luckily they were not parked across the really busy street from the store. Just because your dog has never jumped out of your car before doesn't mean they never will. (Dogs make doggy decisions after all.) I also had an incident at the grocery store parking lot recently where when I went back to my vehicle there was a truck with a lab and a pug and open windows. The pug was so friendly he (or maybe she) almost fell out of the window trying to get to me to say hello. It was a very large tall truck too. I left quickly without engaging the dog so he wouldn't fall. It made me fear for the dogs safety AND from a would be dog thief. (I had an appointment and now feel guilty I left. Next time I will stay and wait for the owner to keep an eye on the dog.) Please leave your dog at home on a hot day and keep those dogs safely tethered or crated in your vehicle to keep your loved ones safe. It only takes seconds for things to go horribly wrong.

This handsome boy is Noah. He is a 3 year old black lab looking for a new home here in Maine. If you are interested please e-mail me directly at CanineHelp@aol.com and I will put you in touch with the party placing him. His owner is having health issues preventing him from keeping him. I am told he is a fabulous boy with a great temperment. Currently being fostered with 3 other dogs so he is very social.

This beautiful trio is a photo an akita person sent of her crew. I just thought it was to adorable not to share.