Just some photos

Here are a few photos of my poodles from the beach today I wanted to share.

More than a touch

Again my morning outing has offered me up a subject to blog about. On the way out of my neighborhood I came across a couple and their American bulldog. The dog was young; the couple obviously a little in over their heads. This was a big boy; buff and strong, although still young. They had stopped at the cross walk and wanted their dog to sit; a couple of yanks on the choke collar did not produce the desired result so the woman commenced slapping his rear. He still did not sit and I was on my way to the park; so after rounding the corner I did wonder how long he would tolerate being hit.

Once I got to the park with Jessie and Tilley we made our way around; nice and slow. As we came around the corner we met a woman who was obviously a big "Ceasar" fan because she was yanking, "chcch"ing and kicking her dog from the rear. This resulted in agitating the dog; who was already aroused by the sight of my girls. He didn't looked to be aggressive just overly aroused and becoming worse. She continued to yank and kick until we passed; it did nothing but make matters worse.

Hitting is just never good. Violence fuels aggression; both in humans and in dogs. Often harsh touch can trigger an aggressive response that may not have resulted otherwise. Using positive methods requires thinking and planning but the end result is much more desirable.

Don't hit.

Educating

I have taught new behaviors to dogs as young as 6 weeks old. I wish I had a litter of my own so that I could see just how young you can start educating. I'm thinking as soon as puppies are up on their feet and moving around is when they can learn to perform specific behaviors. There is no need to wait on training; if you have a puppy now, get started. The longer you wait the harder it gets although I do not believe that there is ever a "too old or too late" time. Dogs like us get more set in their ways as they age but they can definitely learn new behaviors.

The most important factors when training any dog is to be clear and consistent. Dogs don't do gray very well; it should be black and white. Also if you are not consistent it is going to be much harder to teach new behaviors. Even once a behavior is taught; you need to keep up with consistency. My dogs are very well trained for front door boundaries; but if SOMEONE should allow them to come out on their own or with a word other than their release word then there is fallout behaviors that need a refresher course. Let a bad behavior slide once and you'll get it again.

Educating dogs is all about letting them know what is and is not acceptable. They must learn to respect and listen to you; I see dogs all the time who are wonderful and friendly but do not listen to their guardian. Luke likes to try on the ignore behavior; but he knows it doesn't fly with Mom so he only gives it a go a couple times a year with me. I've seen dogs who literally give no reaction to their guardian; they wander around like no one is talking to them. These are dogs are given too much freedom; to do as they please even if they are pleased to not listen.

It is extremely important to follow through on verbal cues. If you ask your dog to do something you should not just shrug your shoulders and walk away if they don't want to do it. This educates your dog to the fact that they don't have to listen to anything you say. I use please and thank you a lot; but that does not mean there is an option to "not" do what I ask. Training is all about teaching your dog to want to do behaviors, it has to be fun. You can't make a dog do something they don't want to do without physically forcing them and that has nothing to do with educating; only force.

I am always asked about length of time for training and how often? Training should be a never ending process; if you work it into your daily routine then it becomes a way of life. This is much better than having a training session when your dog obeys you and then the rest of the time they do what they please. Of course if you are training for something specific and not just manners then you need sessions for that. If you plan on competing in some canine performance then there will be a lot of extra training just like we would have to do for a competitive sport. But as far as generic manner training; just implement it into your every day. Dogs can do a lot more than we ask of them.

The last puppy left

What would you think if you visited a breeder and they had one puppy left for you to take or not. Chances are you would wonder "what's wrong with this one?" Most people would; it is in our nature to dwell on what we missed out on. "Why did no one want this puppy?" The first thing you have to find out is how a breeder places puppies; do they let every family come in and choose their very own puppy from the whole litter? Does the breeder assess their own puppies and give their prospective puppy guardians a choice of a couple that would best suit their home? Or do they choose and place each puppy specifically to the correct guardian?

"Pick of litter;" is a misleading term for the general public. When I was very involved in conformation showing and handling this was the big thing; "I got pick of litter." What it meant back then and in that context was that this specific dog was deemed to be the best conformational specimen representing the breed standard. And still today if you are getting a puppy from someone who is showing in conformation then there is normally at least one or two chosen from a litter for that and they are chosen first from the litter. But what about if you just want a pet? Normally the rest are up for grabs as pets unless some of the guardians have specific requirements in mind.

Some people may want a dog who will be a future agility star; they are going to need a puppy who is active, listens well and is extremely structurally sound. Another person may really want to have a therapy dog; then their choice must be in the puppy who is calm and most interested in being with people. And then there are the less stringent requirements like a family with 5 boys; a family who has 4 dogs already or a family who has never had a dog before. A good breeder can choose the right puppy for these families as well. And then there may be one puppy left; why has this puppy not been placed yet?

The last puppy left means that this specific puppy's family has not come yet. This puppy may need a special family; maybe with all the other families the breeder felt that this puppy needed someone different; special. Or maybe when families visited the litter this puppy was the most quiet; not an in your face kind of guy. Often the quiet ones are the ones who are left; people overlook them because they tend to sit at the back and watch. So don't let the "last puppy" scenario freak you out; this could be the pick of the litter and has been waiting for you all along.

Ummmm hello?

Okay; I am just back from the parks. First I took the girls out for their ever so slow walk; then Luke and I went on our speed walk. Sometimes life gives me blog topics on a daily basis; nice. So today's topic is where to train aggressive dogs. When I was at the park with the old ladies this morning I heard some yellling; nosey that I am I watched to see what was up. There was a woman maybe in her late 50s sitting watching a dog leap up and nip a jogger. As I continued to watch my immediate concern was Jessie; if that dog comes my way it is not going to be good.

Then the lady sitting on the bench called to the leaping dog; it was her dog? Then some people who were playing out in the field yelled at the lady on the bench and she yelled back that she was training her dog. Hmmmmmmmmm. He then responded by "take your dog somewhere else." And I had to agree with the guy in the field. Okay; so you have a dog that chases and nips at strangers and you bring it to the park to practice? No, you do not.

Throughout my training career I have regularly been contacted with aggression cases; all sorts of aggression. And my typical response to the guardian is a referral. If your dog has issues with strangers; you most definitely need to work on that issue. But; you cannot use the general public as your guinea pigs, you just can't. You need volunteer guinea pigs for the job. That is why I always referred issues like this to trainers who had a large facility with lots of employee guinea pigs. They know that they are used for and are fine with it; plus they get paid.

You all know I am all about "off-leash" but if you have a dog that is, let's say nippy, aggressive, obnoxious or annoying then keep that leash on. Do your training and behavior modification in a facility where there are people who raise their hand to be your guinea pig. In the long run it will save you a crap load of money because the risk of being sued is pretty huge.

The myths of dog kibble

We have all heard that kibble is good for your dog's teeth. I grew up believing this; even my vet from years ago told me not to feed canned or real food because it was bad for my dogs teeth. So what is the myth (any invented story, idea, or concept:) then? The fact is that dog food is very bad for your dogs teeth; don't believe me? I want you to see for yourself; after your dog eats this morning or this evening lift their lip at the back of their mouth and have a good look at their molars. Now unless your dog does not chew like my little Jessie who literally inhales her food you will find mushed up kibble sitting on their back teeth. There it will sit until eventually dissolving away which can take a very long while.

It happens to us as well but we can use our tongue to get it off our teeth and of course we brush. I don't know how many times people have brought up the "hard food is better for their teeth" issue. I am not saying that all dog food is bad; you all know that I occasionally feed it to my dogs but what I have noticed is that the better foods don't collect quite as badly. I'm not sure why this is; it could be the process in which the food is prepared or the ingredients in the food. So what are you to do about this lump of mushy destruction in your dogs mouth? My girl Tilley came up with her own solution; she uses her nylabone. When my three use to eat dog food more frequently she would always go and get a bone after a meal; I never put the two together until I watched her closely one night. She chews the bone with her back teeth; pulls it out of her mouth and cleans off the food and then she proceeds again with chewing. She uses the bone as a tool to get the food off of her teeth; pretty cool eh?

But for the other not so highly evolved dogs; what are they to do? You have to help them somehow; either washing it off their teeth for them, making sure you brush regularly or giving them raw bones regularly to clean those back teeth. In the wild wolves and coyotes don't have a pet food store where they can purchase their dinner, they must hunt and eat raw meat. And I'm pretty sure that they don't make regular trips to the dentist out there in the woods either. Undoubtedly they have occasional tooth issues like anyone can but they live out their natural lives without having someone clean their teeth for them. They eat raw food; including bones which are dandy tools for cleaning teeth.

If you are not interested in feeding raw food to your dog then you must clean the mushy mass of destruction that dog food leaves in its path.

Zoned out vs. zoned in

Dogs do it; people do it, get into a zoned out mode. For the past few days Luke has been zoned out; the lizards are taunting him. He is obsessive and is continually running in and out the dog door throughout the day. He would like to stay out and hunt the baby lizards that are all over my yard but it's hot, really too hot to stay out. So he is out, get's hot and comes in to cool off. Tilley use to get into a Frisbee zoned out state; even though she is a meek mild mannered girl show her a Frisbee and she transforms both state and mind.

To me being zoned out is a state of mind that is difficult to interrupt; needing a good slap in the face to bring you around. You know the movies you see when a someone who is hysterical and it is the slap in the face that brings them around? You don't want your dog in this state of mind; it is a dangerous state because there is a lack of ability to communicate with your dog when they are zoned out. If your dog has a trigger to becoming "zoned out;" you must be very diligent in your watching. You must watch for the first sign and stop it there. Once a dog is in full zoned out mode it can be nearly impossible to stop the behavior.

So how does "zoned out" and "in the zone" differ? To be in the zone is a good thing; you are focused on a goal and are heading that way. You can be in the zone with your dog; when you are a communication team, two working as one . This can be achieved through bonding, trust, leadership and reward. But you must be in sync with every nuance of your dogs behavior, ears, body, tail and vocal sounds. The other night I was eating dinner when I heard a high pitched yelp from the backyard. Luke had been zoned out on lizards throughout the day and was obsessing over one that had crawled under the umbrella stand. The yelp let me know he had gone too far and was becoming frantic; I calmly went out and escorted him in, closed the dog door and continued my dinner.

People who become entranced at a casino; mindlessly pulling the handle on the money machines, these people are zoned out. Someone who is out jogging may be in the zone; become obsessive and you are zoned out. I actually have several zoned out people at my gym; and like in dogs it is not a good thing. Some breeds tend to zone out more than others; border collies are one. Obsessively retrieving or herding can be a huge problem; keep it under control and you have a dog in the zone. Let it get away from you and your dog enters the zoned out zone.

A happy heart

Most people don't start out having an intense love for dogs; it is something that grows. It can come on quickly or take years in the making. I know people who would never give a dog the time of day; others who's world revolves around the canine species, like me. Even having a dog live with you in your house is not a surefire relationship builder, it still may or may not happen. I think the very first sign that a true bond is occurring is time spent with "the dog." Sadly for many dogs this never happens and they spend their lives as simply that; the dog.

Many dogs spend their days hanging out; they aren't mistreated but their guardian has just never connected with them the way that some do. To know a dog on a very personal level is very different than any other relationship you will ever have. Some of the most intense human/canine relationships are the creation between a "never had a dog before" type person and a new dog. You know the ones who don't get what all the fuss about dogs is about. All your time and hard earned money spent on a dog? It is often these types who are hit the hardest when it happens.

I love to talk to my dogs and they in return are great listeners. As a reactive dog Luke is my most visual listener; with those giant ears of his he stands listening to every word. Although he is a fabulous listener and understands a huge list of words he does not understand all that I am saying. The important part is that he wants to hear what I have to say and I have the same interest in him. My listening to the dogs comes in the form of watching more than listening; their every motion tells me what they are thinking. Although some of the most intense times spent with each other are the quiet times; when my dogs are completely relaxed and laying by my side. The trust that has been forged over years of interactions adds to an amazing bond.

I have often been telling stories of how my dogs communicate to me; when a person will say "how did you know what they were saying?" "How did you know what they wanted?" It is all in the intense bond that we have; and understanding of each other. The slightest variation in behavior let's me know that something is up and may need my attention. Unless dogs are in a deep sleep they are typically communicating in some form. Watch and see.

There is nothing like the trust of an animal; this alone can fill your heart with happiness. As they wriggle their way into your heart, there they stay for the rest of your life. When you open your heart to a dog it is only then that you will know the true greatness. I love all animals; but there is nothing like a dog.

Hair in the eyes

Yesterday we went out with all the dogs before it heat up. Typically my husband takes Luke and I take the girls. Tilley walks so extremely slow now that no one really gets any exercise; it's basically an outing. Outings are good and the girls are old enough that an outing does them well. But Luke needs to run bigtime. Anyway while we were at the park a couple walked by us with an OES (Old english sheepdog). This is one breed that you don't see around too often and this one had his coat intact. Most OES's that you see around are shaved but this guy was sporting his full coat and he could not see; that is what I want to discuss.

Anyone with a full face coated breed who has been one of my clients knows that I am extremely fussy about hair in eyes. My thing is that if you can't see your dogs eyes; they can't see. I have never understood the concept behind these breeds who have hair in their eyes to standard being able to see through a wall of hair. The fact is that a dog cannot see if they have hair covering their eyes; and such a sad way for any dog to live. The hair over their eyes can also cause constant eye infection occurance and should be kept out of their eyes. But be cautioned: Vets state that a dog who has had a constant covering of the eyes will be extremely sensitive to light if the hair is removed so you should discuss the process first with your own veterinarian.

The best thing to do with any dog who has a full face of hair is to keep the hair clipped short around the eyes from a young age. This will ensure that they do not become light sensitive and give them the whole view of the world around them. I am constantly holding up my poodles heads so that I can look clearly down their muzzle into their eyes. This lets me know if there is any hair impairing their vision and if so it is quickly removed. I have been told many times that a guardians dog can see just fine through all that hair; when the fact is that there is no miracle dog who can see through a solid wall of hair. They simply cannot see.

Understanding k9 behavior

Having a dog is one of those things that pretty much everyone does once they grow up. Whether you get one as soon as you have your own place, wait until you are married with kids or get one once the kids are older you like most others have a dog. The unfortunate thing is that humans do not come with a built in understanding of canine behavior. Even people who have had dogs for years may still not really understand them. I've run into many people who really consider dogs to be human. Not as little humans on four legs but they read their behavior and actions with the same meaning as ours.

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about canine behavior is that they are spiteful. Many of my clients have told me that their dog was mad so when they went out they destroyed the place. Dog's don't do spite; they are not constantly planning how they can ruin your prize possessions on a daily basis. What dogs do do is to display their emotions; a destroyed home can mean one of many things. First the dog was plain bored; the dog has some separation issues or the dog has pent up energy that needs releasing.

Dogs are simple yet complex; they tell it like it is. But; if you really want to know what is going on with your dog or dogs you must learn about canine behavior. And like I am always preaching; you must watch your dog because dogs are constantly communicating even when you think that they are not. Your reactions to your dogs actions have a huge impact on their future behavior. If you are a calm leader your dog will follow by example. If you get flustered and upset by unwanted behaviors like barking, jumping or chewing then you will end up with a dog who becomes even more excitable.

A great example of this is door barking; we all have dogs that bark at the door. But what do you do when the dogs charge the door at the first sound of the doorbell? If you scream and yell and run after your dog for all the barking; guess what? You are creating more problems. What you should do is calmly ask for quiet; reward it if you get it. If you don't; then calmly approach the door and ask the dogs to move away and you will take it from there. This does two things; it shows your dog that the door is not something we get worked up over and gives you the chance to "be the one in charge."

Growling is another behavior that is often misunderstood. I have heard people say "I don't allow growling in this house." Growling is one way that a dog communicates; it is a very clear message on how they are feeling. When a dog growls it is giving you information; you may need to work on a guarding issue, perhaps your dog needs more socializing or your dog may need some "you are not the boss," work. Depending on who is being growled at; what environment the growl the growl took place in and what was going on that caused a growl. Never ignore a growl; and never ever stop a growl without knowing where it is coming from. Once you know why your dog is growling then you can work on the issue that causes the growl. Stopping a growl by punishment takes away your "heads up." Without a warning; you are left with an unpredictable dog, not good for anyone. And definitely not fair for your dog.

Training methods

I wasn't sure what I was going to blog about today but I have been given an idea from an anonymous reader. Someone who didn't have the guts to say who they were but took it upon himself to attack my method of training. So here I am with lots to write about. Conventional vs positive. Conventional training being that which uses collar corrections to stop an uwanted behavior..............been there done that. And I am not proud of giving collar corrections but I sure am glad that I have that experience to back up my choice of being a positive trainer.

There are many conventional trainers out there and when and if they are ever ready to come over to the "light" side then we will welcome them with open arms. I have to say that I have met many a crossover trainer. I am a crossover trainer; someone who started out using conventional methods and crossed over to the positive methods of training. But I have never in all my years met someone who started out training positive and crossed over to the dark side.

Being a positive trainer takes more thought; time spent looking at the big picture and not just the immediate instant gratification of conventional training. Timing is important in conventional training but it all comes down to that correction. Often when I am working with a dog they may become confused which can lead to frustration, frustration often leads to shutdown. So to avoid confusion you break a behavior down into baby steps, thus allowing a dog to achieve at much smaller intervals. By breaking a behavior down there is much less chance of a complete shutdown.

I am proud to say I am a positive trainer; positive meaning I will not use pain or fear to elicite a certain behavior from a dog. I should perhaps say that I am a feedback trainer; I believe that feedback is the biggest and most important tool in training or behavior modification. Training and working with dogs is not always a bed of roses; and this is where patience plays a huge part. Being patient and working through the hard times and the bad times is where the evolution stems.

The more one learns about true canine natural behavior; the easier it is to understand and modify it. Body language plays a huge role in behavior modification; both in the canine and the human. Ignoring the importance of using your body in behavior modification is like taking an olympic runners NIKE's from him. Dogs use infinitesimal movements to portray a message; we can do the same if we take the time to learn. Real behavior modification using positive methods of training takes a great deal of education to achieve; but once you have accomplished the education it is amazingly clear. Once you've got it; you've got it. Our dogs are totally worth the effort.

Meeting in the park

Luke and I met a puppy in the park yesterday. She was with her very sweaty Dad who I'd seen running blocks away as I made my way to the park. Luke and I were playing fetch with the Chuck it when they came up behind me. Luke was in the middle of a retrieve when those big ears of his went up; this is my "heads up." I quickly turned to see who was coming up from behind and saw the guy, I didn't notice the dog at first. Luke's ears got even higher and I glanced behind again; ah a dog.

The guy did the customary "your dog friendly?" And I shouted back "yep." Luke wasn't approaching; he was being a very good boy and waiting for my okay. The small dog froze and I asked how old? "Going on 4 months;" the guy told me and I immediately thought he was over doing it with the running for this little thing. I told Luke he could go see her but was ready to stop any bully behavior if he started. You see Luke loves to be the big tough guy often, not in a mean way but it does seem to fuel his ego if he get's to push someone around who is intimidated by him. He made a straight line towards the pup; not good. She shrunk down and her hair rose; she was very intimidated and as she tried to make her way back to Dad Luke followed causing her to scream in fear.

The guy then shared with me that she had been attacked at 8 weeks old; not good either. A neighbors dog bit her in the face but he said she was fine after it. She had obviously been left with some fear; although in all fairness Luke did tower over the approx. 10 lb pup. When something like this happens in a Fear Stage it can impact the rest of the dogs life. It is hard to avoid all bad things in life but at an early age "safety" and avoiding any real scarey situation should be the main goal.

After their initial meeting I asked Luke to laydown; this makes his very tall presence just a little less threatening. But by now the little puppy was between her Dad's legs where she felt safe and had no intention of coming out to see Luke. Now Luke had lost interest and wanted to play ball again; we let them head out and as they rounded the corner we commenced our retrieve game. Luke had a great 1/2 hour of full out running and then we headed home for a day of snoozing (for Luke that is).

Waiting

The count down begins; there are only a few weeks between your life as you know it now and your new life with your new puppy. You've done your research, talked to goodness knows how many breeders and found the one. Once you found the one you paid to be one of the many in line for these precious little bundles which may or may not have already been born. Once they are born there is a new excitement in the adventure and the wait begins. Those who have acquired a puppy from an ethical breeder know far too well the what the wait is like.

Some people are lucky and stumble upon a litter that is already ready to go. But for many; the road to adding a new puppy to their home is a long one. There are obstacles that can add or reduce the length of your search. If you are trying to match personalities with other dogs in your existing pack then your search will be much longer. If you are stuck on one color and your breed has a multitude of colors then you'll be a while. If this is a first dog then you will have a much shorter search. But now the question arises; are you ready?

What do you have to do to prepare for your new puppy? Much of it is psychological; resetting your mind to a different station. One where you are the supervisor for several months; checking your watch while you are out and getting back in time for the baby. Listening; always listening for the tiniest little whimper that lets you know it's go time again. Are you ready?

There are things you need to purchase; a crate, toys and lots of them, a new bowl maybe two, leash and collar. You'll need old blankets or towels for the puppy to sleep on and perhaps some paper towels. You will need to decide if you haven't already; what food this new addition will be eating. If you don't have a vet that you really like; you'll have to find one. I suggest going and talking to all the possibilities. Are you a conventional thinker when it comes to medicine or do you lean more to the alternative healing side? These difference are important to consider when choosing a vet.

Oh yes; things are going to be different but as I sit here blogging I am surrounded by three senior dogs. How time flies; it seems like just yesterday that I was bringing my blonde bundle home to meet the girls. My baby is now 9 years old; enjoy the puppy months they are fleeting.

Sense of smell

Dogs love the wind don't they? Although we should not allow it; dogs love to hang their heads out the car window taking in all the scents that they can. It is dangerous to do this because they could get something lodged in their eye, hurt their throat or all sorts of things. Anytime the breeze comes up my dogs all face the wind and let their ears flap. They love it; it is a transportation device for smells.

The other day Luke was standing out at the top of the yard, ears flying in the wind, eyes squinted and nose working overtime. He was catching the scent; who knows what he was getting in it but he was definitely enjoying himself. Dogs have the ability to smell some 100,000 times better than we do. Hard to wrap your head around that number eh? Watching them follow a scent is very interesting and if you watch closely you will see them use their sense of smell often.

Many times my own dogs loose sight of someone they have been following; say my husband or myself. They immediately drop their head to the ground and start the scenting process of finding that person. They know the difference between a fresh and old scent and can follow the most recent one. This is very clear when Jessie (my Jack Russell) is hunting for critters. She sticks her head into each hole in the ground but only digs the holes where there is someone home presently. No doubt all of the holes smell like critters but she knows which ones have tenants who are home.

As dogs age they tend to loose some of their scent ability. One reason why I now can find food on the floor in the kitchen, not only has Jessie not seen it she has not smelled it either. Click on this article on a dogs sense of smell for a great read.

Feeding dogs

You've all seen the big advertisements on the tv. "Your dog will thank you, your dogs coat will glissen." They even make the little kibbles into bone shaped pieces to convince us it is healthy. Well what these big dog food companies are doing is exactly the same thing that all the other big commercial companies are doing; advertising. They are advertising a product as an amazingly nutritious food source for your dogs when in fact "real food," is a much healthier alternative. There are very few actual "dog foods" that I would ever give my dogs and the ones you can buy in the big box stores or grocery stores would not be any of them.

When we are told by veterinarians not to give our dogs anything other than dog food; we obediently comply. I have been told by so many clients; no treats for my dog, the vet said so. I shake my head and over the next few weeks slowly turn over some true nutritional information. The biggest advertised foods Iams and Pedigree are some of the absolute worst foods to feed. Even after the biggest dog food recall ever people are buying this stuff. Do your research; and do your research on sites that look at all different dog foods.

The largest information facts that are smack dab in our faces about what our dogs should eat is the fact that they all are descendants of wolves. All of our dogs; big, small, short and long came from domesticating the wolf. There genes remain the same and their food requirements are the same. When was the last time you watched a documentary on wolves where they were eating kibble? Processing food kills essential nutrients so the best food for dogs is fresh and raw.

No variety is another big "lie" we are told. "Only feed one food, don't mix it up." The truth is far from this statement. Wolves in the wild eat whatever they can sink their teeth into, perhaps a deer one day, a rabbit the next and then a week full of mice if the pick'ns are slim. Can you imagine someone making you eat a big bowl of dry cereal day in and day out; the same cereal at that? I know lots of people who don't even like to eat leftovers because it is what they ate yesterday.

There is a plethora of information on feeding canines on the internet; how to's and how not to's. Before you pour that dry stuff into your dogs bowl; do some reading with your eyes very wide open and do not go blindly down the path that the big commercial dog food companies have laid for you.

Body language

The other evening I was enjoying the cooler weather after the sunset as the dogs were eating outside. I am always there when the dogs are eating no matter where they do their eating. Jessie typically moves in to a safe range and hovers; waiting to snatch what she can. Although Jessie is the alpha in our pack and a voracious food maniac she is not stupid, not entirely stupid that is. But often her drive for food does hamper her otherwise dog savvy behavior.

So there we were; everyone eating nicely, even Luke. Jessie was done in a heartbeat; she doesn't chew anything and simply inhales which takes next to no time. She then moves to Luke's bowl and inch by inch closes in. This is where I come in and keep her at a distance that doesn't bother Luke; he doesn't like when she moves in and will sometimes just walk away if it gets to him too much. This night he was very much enjoying his fresh chicken and was not moving away. As I watched closely Luke froze at Jessie's approach; she missed this signal and one second later she received an almighty growl which even startled me.

Jessie's head flew to face the opposite direction before the growl was complete and Luke continued to eat. This head turn let's Luke know that she has no intention of pushing the issue. The action/reaction is imperative for dogs, it is how they communicate. Had she meant to take the food from Luke she would not have turned her head and the interaction would have grown. This is where it is the most important to step in. Normally I don't allow Jessie to get close enough to receive a growl; I make her wait at a distance and then once Luke is done she must wait for me to give the okay or not.

Obviously on this night the normal range was too close for Luke. He had put a higher value on what he was eating and intended on not letting Jessie have even the tiniest of morsels. Not watching got Jessie into trouble on this night; the same thing goes for when guardians are not watching. You can miss alot in a heartbeat.

The heart of a k9

How many times has a human let you down? If you are like most people; your answer will be often. This morning I was having a bit of bloggers block; it happens now and again so off to the gym I went. On my return; I was welcomed with an exhuberant display from a tiny Jack Russell doing her best "wild stallion" display. She grabbed her toy and stomped her way through the house at top speed. She had seen me coming; she was looking out the front window as I pulled into the driveway so as soon as I came through the door the show began.

How great is it to be greeted by your dog? After my big JRT greeting Tilley came flying down the stairs with her tail wagging and her teeth giving me the biggest grin. Geesh; I'd only been gone maybe 35 min. but they were overjoyed to see me. This old lady was acting like she was just given a shot of super juice and charged around barking and growling up a storm. She did the best "huge" greeting that her old legs could muster. We ran out the back door to continue our big event as she latched onto my arm the way she use to many years ago.

I knew it was only a matter of time before all the excitement got Luke out of bed. He watched from the livingroom until he could stand it no more and charged out to join in the fun. I don't know what got into Tilley this morning but she was surely excited to see me. It is a bit sad to see her mind going through the process but her legs have a hard time keeping up. But no matter; this morning made me smile, her sheer happiness made me happy. It is contagious; watching dogs have fun and being happy just for sake of being happy makes you happy.

Although the elaborate greetings are wonderful ; sometimes it is in the quiet times that you come to the realization; just how wonderful dogs really are. They seldom talk back; never put you down, never lie (that's a biggy), never disappoint you, worship the ground you walk on, hang on your every word and are always, always there for you. Dogs are great listeners; something that I try very hard to be but they are naturals at it. You can tell them your deepest darkest secrets and they won't tell anyone........Mom's the word.

My husband commented earlier this week "dogs are way happier than people." This is so true; my dogs are rarely in a grump and the worst of it is usually that they don't feel like obliging to one of my requests. They are up and ready all the time; even at the age of 12 and 13 my old girls are up for fun. And now that it is there time in life for all the special tlc they are still giving. When your really need a hug they are there to give them out freely; they seem to draw away all the bad and fill you with peace and happiness once again. Amazing what one simple hug can do for a human. Canines have amazing healing power; simply by being a dog.

Progressive retinal atrophy

PRA - is a disease of the retina. Jessie has recently been diagnosed with Progressive retinal atrophy. We have not gone to a specialist as it is simply a diagnosis and nothing is to be done for dogs with this disease but when it is discovered in young dogs it should be reported to a breed related genetic data base so that breeders can follow and locate it's progress. There are many forms of PRA ranging from very early loss of eyesight to a loss of some eyesight over a longer length of time without loosing full sight.

Jessie is one of the lucky ones; she is not a high risk breed and is just recently loosing enough sight to trip up. At 13.5 it is sad to see many things failing in our dogs but sight especially. Just this weekend when I was away my husband had her out for a walk; he explained to me how she hit a curb infront of her that she never saw. There are things we must adjust to as well as our dogs adjusting. I see her loss of sight on a daily basis now; she will come into a room looking for me and not see me right off. One of the biggest signs of her loss of sight is the fact that there is food on my kitchen floor; something that is very new for me. Jessie has always been my little vacuum.

We are very fortunate that this disease did not affect Jessie until now and if we keep Jessie's surroundings fairly familiar to her she will do just fine. It is the young dogs who will suffer the most from this disease and like any other disease it is one that breeders must try their best to get on top of. There is no guarantee when you add a dog to your family but by purchasing from a very good breeder you definitely lower the risk of genetic diseases. When breeders research lines and outcross breed to heathly researched lines they give their puppies the best chance at a healthy life.

Pick'n it up

Most of us do it; and most of us have seen those who don't. And if you are like me you have probably glared at those who don't. Don't pick up poop that is; life with dogs involves picking up poop, fact. How you pick it up is a personal thing but YOU MUST pick it up. There are two areas where you need to pick it up; at home and away from home. Some people have different ways of picking up at home versus away. Many use the pooper scooper for home; I use to use one but find here in SoCal that it tends to attract far too many flies so I pick up using bags both at home and away.

I bought hundreds of biodegradeable bags for this purpose; I do not want to add to the whole "plastic bags" issue. When I pick up at home I tend to pack more in one bag; scouring the yard I try to get it all in. But there is a factor when you know that it is no longer safe to try to get more in. That is when you chance the poop on the hand and must weigh the risks of going for it or going and getting another bag. Many people find picking up poop in a bag to be gag causing; if you've got a weak stomach then the possibility is definitely there.

When I am out I'm more a one per bag type; even though once the dogs get started it seems to be a chain reaction and we have three within minutes to pick up. Once picked up you then have the "carry" issue. Carrying Jessie's poop is a non issue; it is small and compact, almost like there is nothing in the bag. But the poodles on the other hand is far more to handle and you pretty much want to get rid of it asap. I hate having more than one hand full when I am walking the dogs; I like a spare hand for the incase issues that might arise.

I have a strong stomach; nothing about dealing with dogs bothers me. At times others will be on the verge but not me. Don't know where I got my stomach of steel but after dealing with my skunk issue years ago, nothing gets to me. Ask me about my skunk story; but only if you have a strong stomach.

I'm back

I'm back; I was away for a week. I spent the major part of the time up at a cottage on a lake; the weather was amazing. When I returned lastnight my guys gave a quick sniff and flew into action. Luke nearly poked both my eyes out jumping and spinning with excitement. Tilley was smiling which she doesn't do near as often as she use to. And Jessie ran around like a little horse searching for a toy.

Once we went through the process all the dogs settled with one eye on Mom. They wanted to make sure if I left they were going to know about it. Good to be home.

Toys

Toys are an extremely important part of living with dogs. They may seem frivolous but don't be mistaken; they are very useful. The more toys and chew items you have for your dog to entertain themselves; the less likely your items are going to be chewed.

Toys are important right from the start; as soon as those little angels open their eyes they should have a plethora or toys to choose from. Big ones, little ones, hard, soft, textured, smooth and noisy. Toys are a great way to get started on environmental stimulus. I have talked to many people who have acquired rescue dogs that don't play. Many of these dogs may have lived an isolated life; they haven't a clue what a toy is or what to do with it, sad. You can still try to teach old dogs new tricks though through sheer enthusiasm. If you are excited; chances are they'll get excited.

Toys help you to interact; they serve a very useful purpose when teaching the drop exercise. They help when teaching a dog to be gentle and they can help you obtain leadership status through "he who owns the toys is the boss." So go ahead and splurge; your dog deserves it. Again I get alot of my toys at the good discount stores. Why pay more for something your dog may very well destroy in minutes?

Heat

Although it has cooled down somewhat here; it's still hot. The other day I was driving down the street and noticed a guy walking his FULL COATED pomeranian in the midday sun. The dogs was obviously way overheated and I wanted to pull over and give the guy a blast. Then as the guy was waiting to cross the street the dog was frantically pacing; lifting his feet from the heat radiating from the pavement. I almost lost it.

If it is hot out; please take off your shoes and stand in one spot on the surface where you plan to walk your dog. Then make your decision if your dog would rather stay home in the cool comforts of home; or join you on your heat walk. And don't forget to add 10 more degrees to how hot it is for your dog who is way down close to that radiating hard surface.

Puppy days

My husband was going through the garage the other day and found this image. A photo of me and Luke; Luke is 4 mos. old in this photo and looking at it today I see why I fell instantly in love with him. Even so many years later he still melts my heart. I mean look at those eyes and those giant ears. He can be doing nothing; simply laying on the floor with his paw beside his face and I'm sunk.

When I went to see Luke's litter I honestly had no intention of getting one of the puppies. I met him when he was 7 weeks old; the age I would normally do the temperament test. Trying to think back I don't know how Luke would have scored; probably not so great. He was crazy; jumping, jumping and jumping as his brothers and sisters lay quiet all resting. All but Luke.There was just something about his over exhuberance that got me. He definitely liked people; ALOT. And I had never seen such a "pick me" display before. After I left I could not stop thinking about the little butter colored puppy I'd met there. For 5 weeks our meeting muddle my everyday thoughts until an amazing friend intervened and the decision was made.

Luke and I were fate; I'm sure of it. I can't imagine Luke not in my life; it sure makes for excitement. Never a dull moment with my butter.

The startle factor

We all do it; we startle. But what startles one may not do a thing to the next person or dog. I have three dogs as you know; both girls are pretty rock solid and Luke....................well he is not. He is about the most nervous dog we've had. He is not the most nervous dog I've met; far from it. He is not constantly looking over his shoulder, is not afraid of people or dogs; he's just jumpy. Luke does not like things that move on their own, door that blow, bags that blow, broom that slide down the wall and smash on the floor etc.

For Luke there is something mighty creepy about things that simply move on their own. He also is not a big fan of being stepped over; just try it and see. He flies up and out of position nearly knocking you to the ground; I have learned to let him fly before I step. I have actually tried to startle Tilley just to see how much it would take; in 12 years I've only startled her once. Jessie is starting to startle alot lately but I know that is because she is loosing both her hearing and her eye sight. Just imagine. I will often reach out to pet her and she startles; telling me that she didn't see my and coming towards her.

You can help dogs that startle alot by introducing them to as many things that might startle them small increments and work up. And like most behaviors the biggest help is your reaction; don't apologize, coddle or otherwise treat your dog like a baby. If you knocked a book onto the floor and it really startled your dog; say nothing bend down calmly and pick it up. Then go on with what you were doing.

You can actually create problems and cause issues that are already ingrained to become larger just by reacting. "Oh my gosh I'm sorry; did that scare you poor little guy?" I often slam doors because Luke has a real fear of doors slamming. He once had a seizure when he was very suddenly awoken from a deep sleep by a slamming door. This has left him with a fear of doors that move or blow in the wind.

Lead by example; your dog is watching.

Hackles

Hackles; is the hair on your dogs back. It goes from right behind their ears all the way to the and on the tail. Usually just the hair on the shoulders goes up easily with the neck and tail end being reserved for really big things. The hair on our dogs back goes up in times of alertness. It could be caused by fear or dominance. Fearful dogs approaching another dog will raise their hair as will an aggressive dog.

Situations like would be intruders can raise a dogs hackles. I think lastnight my guys hair would have been up. I know Jessie's was but I never know if the poodles hair is up or not. Although they both shook when they came if after fearlessly advanced on the invisible intruder in the backyard which is a good sign that it was up. When Jessie is really ticked off it goes from her neck all the way down onto her tail. She is very fierce looking. Jessie's hair even goes up when she is having an intense dream; raising shackles is an involuntary behavior.

It is very similar to turning red in the face. Some people have a very quick trigger to the red face situation as some dogs have a quick hair up trigger. But to really know what is going on with raised hair you must look at the whole picture, not only the hair. What are the ears, tail, head and body saying with the raised hair?

Puppies normally have hair triggers so to speak. Their hair goes up easily because they are not yet completely confident. But no matter what the cause the result is a dog who is not in a calm relaxed state.