Inspired training for dogs and their families
Jill Bowers
Dog Training and Behavior Specialist

Thank Blog!
is written by Jill and Jamie Bowers.

Jill is a private, in-home dog trainer based in greater LA.

We believe that dogs offer companionship that adds unique and valuable richness to human lives. We help dogs and people realize the fullest potential of their relationship.

Should you have any questions about dogs or our services you can contact us or feel free to use the comments.

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Friday, December 29, 2006

Please help this pup...


I'M JUST A HAPPY SENIOR GIRL! WHO IS READY TO SPEND A HAPPY NEW YEAR WITH YOU!

Impound 842181, 15 year old female, Lab mix

(Please Forward and Cross Post)

Poor smiling Queen has no idea that her life will soon to end if she is not adopted or rescues. She needs a foster home to save her life.

Many of you remember and have been asking about Queen. She was dumped at the South Los Angeles shelter with her friend, a BIG 2 year Rottie/Shep mix. Their owners could not have cared less if their dogs were put down. They completed the intake forms saying that BOTH dogs growled at people, growled at other dogs, growled at cats and were basically not nice dogs. From reading their intake form, you would have thought these were the two worst dogs.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Both dogs are sweet, gentle, great with people and great with other dogs. The Rott/Shep and is rescued and in a foster home where he gets along with kids and small dogs. But poor Queen is still stuck at the shelter with her life very much in danger. When she was first put in the kennel, she sat smiling at the front of the cage, looking at everyone who passed. You could tell she was waiting for her people to come and get her. This gentle, trusting girl could not even fathom that her human family would betray her and not come back. So there she sits with her life very much in danger. She shares her kennel with 3 other wonderful old gals who are in the same predicament. It is so sad, it seems that holidays inspires people to dump their old dog. Out with the old, in with the new?

I took Queen out and she was so happy to be out in the fresh air and be able to walk around. She smiled as she explored her surroundings. She is very gentle, naturally happy and just a really lovable old gal. I pet her and she just there smiling, happy to be getting some attention. She is a really good dog who doesn't seem to need or expect much. She does like her treats though!

Does anyone have room in their home for a sweet old dog to live out her life? It is just too sad, the idea of her being taken to the back room for her life to be ended with nobody to even know or care that she is gone.

Please email yep6cats@aol.com if you can help.

Create Karma...It's a Dogs Life

Karma Rescue: http://www.karmarescue.org

South LA City Shelter 3612 11th Ave

LA, CA 90018

213 485-0117 or 213 485-0119

She needs a foster home and medical sponsor or donations to get her into a rescue group.

Impound 842181, 15 year female, Black Lab mix

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Monday, December 25, 2006

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas!

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Friday, December 22, 2006

A Heart felt story about a stray dog in my neighborhood, Glassell Park.

Merry Christmas, Gramps

Sometimes, just reading the newspaper can make you feel discouraged about our world.

But there are times you see in the mix of stories something that can rekindle your faith and put everything in balance.

Gramps' story is a perfect example of this.

Remember him? The senior German shepherd mix had been wandering the streets of Los Angeles near Weemes Elementary School when school teacher and animal rescue volunteer Ryoko Matsui of Glassell Park found him and decided to take him home.

He was in bad shape: skinny, as if he's been homeless for awhile, and deaf.

He could hardly stand up and looked anywhere between 12 and 15 years old.

Matsui figured he wasn't long for this world.

That was back in September.

Gramps fooled everyone. A little love, some medical attention and medication helped this old guy start acting and looking like a pup half his age.

Rebound doesn't begin to describe it. Miraculous does.

A profile of Matsui and her rescue efforts appeared in these pages on Oct. 19, and Gramps got his picture taken for the story, too.

Matsui said she had tried to find a home for him, but most were put off by the dog's age.

Rae Syms of Altadena read the story and mentioned it to her husband, Chris
Advertisement
Garcia. They already had three dogs, but somehow it seemed right to add Gramps to the family. After all, Gramps was deserving of a happy life, they figured.

The fact that Gramps might be as old as 15 didn't bother them. Syms is a nurse and Garcia owns a small business.

They said they were touched by Gramps' drive to survive.

"He was in such bad shape, but he had such a will to live," Syms said. "I didn't think of (adopting him) as taking a chance. It didn't even occur to me the age was a problem.

The dog needed a home. We have a home. We felt very privileged to get him."

When they contacted Matsui about adoption, they figured they'd have to get in a long line of potential owners. Instead, they were the first to call.

After an initial meeting at the Rose Bowl and then a home visit, Gramps meshed with the family as if he'd never been anywhere else.

Since he moved in with them, there have been no chewed-up shoes nor housebreaking problems.

Gramps proved to be an ideal family member.

Syms initially wanted Gramps to be "her" dog, but Gramps worships Garcia. When Garcia walks around the house, Gramps follows him.

If a door is shut with Garcia behind it, Gramps barks until he can once again be with his new best friend.

"He absolutely adores Chris," said Syms. "I just love watching Chris interact with Gramps because you can tell Chris really loves him.

It's the sweetest thing."

Matsui isn't surprised by Gramps' behavior.

"Do you know that I respect you as a leader' look, the look ("The Dog Whisperer") Cesar Millan's dogs give him?" Matsui asked.

"I saw Gramps look at Chris that way."

There were a few ranking issues among all the dogs in the beginning, but Gramps settled in well. He is a new pal for Lily, a shepherd mix who used to jump the fence and then couldn't find her way back.

She stays at home now that Gramps is there.

Despite Gramps' age, he continues to thrive with love and attention he gets from Syms and Garcia. They actually forget that Gramps is deaf; he behaves and responds almost like any hearing-capable dog, they said.

"He has more energy than anyone in the family even me and Chris," Syms laughed. "Now he's so alive. It's inspiring to see someone with so much spirit."

Gramps eats like a champ, Syms said, and has gained weight. He runs up and down the stairs and enjoys a good walk.

While Gramps' past remains a mystery, Syms doesn't want to believe he was beaten or abused. She says he has a loving soul.

"There isn't a mean bone in his body," she said.

"There's such a sweetness to him. There's just such a kindness to him."

After a pause, she added: "I think I like him the best of all the dogs.

I really do."

Matsui has seen her share of homeless dogs find happy endings, yet in true Gramps magic, this one in particular etched its way into her heart.

"It was so rewarding not only to see his health improve remarkably, but to see him blossom into a playful, affectionate guy each day," Matsui said.

"He showed me how to slow down and smell the roses. He taught me to stop worrying and enjoy the small things in life. I miss him terribly, but I am so happy for him."

Senior dogs often are overlooked by families who are afraid an older dog might not be with them for very long.

It's more difficult to place a senior dog than one who is less than 5 years old.

But in passing these dogs up, a wealth of love is missed, and that's tragic.

"Tomorrow is promised to no one," Syms said. "You don't know how much time anyone has."

Her advice is to look at a dog not his teeth or coat or birthdate. Enjoy your dog as completely as you can, for as long as you're given.

Senior dogs, with all of their wisdom and life experience, know this already and are just waiting for us to figure it out and give them that happy ending they've waited long enough to find.

Just ask Gramps how good it can be.

Source

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Thursday, December 21, 2006

Another little tip

Sweet Lowdown

'Tis the season for sweets, but avoid giving these treats to your dog -- especially chocolate, which can be deadly.

Chocolate smells tasty and edible to most dogs, but poses a major poisoning risk because it contains theobromine, a substance that is toxic to dogs. It can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, and even death. If you think your dog has eaten chocolate, call your vet or an animal poison control center immediately.

www.dogage.com

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Tuesday, December 19, 2006

A follow up - She just can't seem to catch a break

Britney Spears Booed By Dog Owners Too

Pop princess is dropping in tops all over the media, including in people’s choice for favorite pet-owners where Britney placed last while Oprah is the favorite.

The New York Dog and The Hollywood Dog magazines decided it was time they raised awareness on Britney’s dog-parenting skills and gave her the prize for the World's Worst Celebrity Dog Owner following a three-month online poll organized by the two for the magazines’ readers.

"Britney was the overwhelming choice," said editor Hilary O'Hagan.

"She once had three Chihuahuas (Lacy, Lucky and Bit-Bit) and never left home without at least one of them on her arm. As soon as she met K-Fed and had kids they disappeared."

The 25-year-old mother of two overran her friend Paris Hilton, last year’s pick for treating her dog as it were just one of her accessories, and Serena Williams who lied about owning her pit-bull, Bambi, after it bit a security guard earlier this month.

According to Ms. O’Hagan, one of the dogs was instantly irritated by Kevin Federline’s presence, Britney’s former hubby.

“It was either Mr. Federline or Lucky," added Ms. O'Hagan. "Unfortunately Britney chose the wrong dog and the rest is history."

Kevin Federline admitted in an interview with Teen People magazine in September this year that they gave away their dogs because they could no longer take care of them.

"We gave all the dogs to friends of ours. It's just too much with the kids and all these dogs running around all over the place. It just wasn't really working," he added.

Single mom Spears filed for divorce from K-Fed earlier last month. They have two children together, 1-year-old Sean Preston and a 3-month-old Jayden James.

If Britney hadn’t gave her dogs away and hire a nanny for each instead, she would have had a chance on the first spot since talk show host Oprah Winfrey, a champion of shelters, took the first place in part because she supposedly provides each of her five dogs with its own nanny. She also popularized the revolutionary canine training methods of Cesar Milan, known as “The Dog Whisperer,” on her show.

Oprah beat off competition from Tori Spelling, Nicollette Sheridan and Beth Ostrosky, Howard Stern's girlfriend and a national spokesperson for the North Shore Animal League.

This weekend, Spears received a frosty reception when she showed up at a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game. She was accompanied by her sister Jamie Lynn and her agent. When her face popped up on the Jumbotron, the entire crowd booed lustily, making the pop tart so mad that she left before halftime.

Source

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Monday, December 18, 2006

Thought this was funny...

Britney Spears Named Worst Celeb Dog Owner

Ever since her Laundromat lost that entire load of panties, pundits have been insisting that Britney Spears' career is going to the dogs. Well, now it's starting to look like the pop diva isn't even welcome in the canine community.

Readers of sister publications New York Dog and Hollywood Dog voted Brit the World's Worst Celebrity Dog Owner in a poll that found her easily outdistancing silver medallist Paris Hilton. Readers were apparently incensed over the singer's decision to rid her home of her supposedly beloved Chihuahuas -- Lacy, Lucky and Bit-Bit, for those keeping score at home -- after then-hubby Kevin Federline allegedly objected to their presence.

While we can understand not wanting to have four dogs around the house -- particularly when the biggest one is prone to rutting with strangers who're in heat -- we think Spears would've been better off keeping the pocketbook-sized mutts rather than the other one.

Source

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Brandy, the Chihuahua, the Smallest Dog in the World

Brandy the Chihuahua is 6 inches long and weighs less that two pounds. She's not allowed on the furniture because if she jumped off, she'd break. She's also, according the Guinness, officially the Smallest Dog in the World.

Brandy's owner, Paulette Keller, carries her around in a sheepskin-lined purse. For fun, she dresses her in a pink Hawaiian dress. You don't pet Brandy so much as rub her with a thumb and forefinger.

Brandy made the transformation from Keller's lap ornament to the Smallest Dog in the World over a year ago. The breeder told Keller she thought Brandy was smaller than the smallest dog in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Keller took Brandy to the vet, who signed papers listing her vital statistics.

So in the 2006 Guinness book, there is bug-eyed Brandy, on the same page with the dog who can fit five tennis balls in its mouth.

The perks so far have been few. Last year, the Pedigree dog food company paid to fly Ron and Paulette Keller to Reno, where Brandy was paired with one of the largest dogs in the world for a three-day exhibit at a casino.

Keller says she doesn't care about the attention.

"I just love her," she told the St. Petersburg Times. "It wouldn't matter if she's the smallest. She's just a really sweet dog."

http://www.forbes.com/business/energy/feeds/ap/2006/12/13/ap3252970.html

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Why do dogs bark and what do they mean?

One problem I deal with on occasion is excess barking. People generally think their dog is annoying for doing so, however, a lot of the time, the dog is trying to send a message. Because they can't talk, it's good to understand what a bark is and why they do it. I mean, barking is a dogs natural way of communicating and if we expect them to understand our communication, unfortunately, they need us to understand theirs.

Barking is basically a series of short, sharp sounds, that tend to vary little in tone or pitch. A dog's bark can signify territorial protection (Quinn, my Doberman, is a prime example of this), exertion of dominance, or expression of some need (i.e. alerting when having to go potty, wanting to play, expressing anxiety, etc...you get the idea) Typically, barking is "a means of communication triggered by a state of excitement." Being a natural trait, barking is not considered a behavioural problem, unless, as I stated above, it's done excessively.

Here is a list of different barks and what their meaning could be...
  • Continuous and fast barking, at a medium pitch: Alert. Problems. Some is entering our territory.
  • Continuous and slow barking, at a low pitch: The intruder or danger is close. Prepared to defend itself.
  • Fast barking with pauses every 3 or 4: Warning of a problem approaching. Asking you to investigate.
  • Long and drawn-out barks at a high pitch, with pauses between each one: I'm alone and need company.
  • One or two short high pitched barks: The most normal greeting.
  • One bark normal pitch: Curious, alert.
  • Short back in a high pitch: Shows surprise. If it's repeated twice it means "Look at this!" If it's longer then it calling. Many dogs use this when they want to go out.
  • Brief bark, at medium pitch: Happiness.
  • Faltering bark at medium pitch: Asking to play.
  • Howl or short bark at a high pitch: "Ouch!" Response to sudden pain.
  • Repeated howls and regular intervals: Suffering from extreme pain or something that scares them.
  • High pitch or urgent barks that sound desperate, without apparent reason: It is a way some dogs use to let out steam.
I found the above descriptions of dog barks here

Tags: barking, excessive barking

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Monday, December 11, 2006

The Holiday Season is coming up...

and there are a lot of untrained dogs and people going home for the holidays. Wouldn't you like to have an impressive pooch for the family this year? Give me a call and let's get started...once you leave for vacation, you can hire my sister to take over bootcamp over the holidays!

If anyone would like to purchase a gift certificate for dog training or petsitting, or both...email me!

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Saturday, December 09, 2006

My job this week.

I've been dog training since Monday in Culver City. This woman hired me for two weeks to train during the day and go home at night...it's nice. Maggie and Macy are two rescue dogs, both adorable and sweet. I wasn't sure if I was going to have success with them, not until Wednesday night anyway. Erica called to give me an update about what happened. Her dogs are territorial when it comes to her, their home, and won't stay in their place. I've been working with them, they've been good for me; however, I didn't know how they would be for Erica. She said someone knocked on the door and both dogs barked. She told them to go to their place, they went, and then stopped barking. She couldn't believe it and neither could I. I was thrilled, especially because it was only three days later when she called. I'm going to be with them for another week, I'll let you know how it goes...

Hi!


Well, hello there! I am the new addition to not only this blog, but to Thank Dog! Training. I'm Jill's twin sister, Jamie, and the dog sitter/trainer that the everyone wants to hire because I'm that good...hehe. No but seriously, my position is different from Jill's. She's the alpha dog of the company, she trains the owners how to train their dogs; while I come in and train the dogs if the owner needs more help or goes on vacation. Yep, you heard it right! I will literally live at your house and put your dog through boot camp. That way, you come home to a trained dog and I get to leave knowing I made a huge difference in your life. Having the ability to put a smile on one's face, by causing such a relief in the home, is something that keeps me motivated in every situation. I love my job and the results will prove it every time!

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Thursday, December 07, 2006

The Time Has Come...

I have added Jamie, my twin sister who is a fellow dog sitter/trainer to write in my blog. She basically pet sits, walks dogs and is also hired by many of my clients when they go on vacation to stay at their home and TRAIN their dogs. She is great and has many happy clients.

She is going to write about her experiences and anything else that comes to mind. Her threads/diaries will be in Dark Orange.

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Tuesday, December 05, 2006

A fun little story...

I went to Runyan a few weeks ago and I usually don't steer away from my usual hike. However, that day I decided to cut it short and went down to the pavement from the harder hike (that's right, I rock), as opposed to keep walking up the last hill down to the parking lot. Low and behold I saw Justin Timberlake coming up the pavement with both of his dogs, Brendon and Buckley. How do I know his dogs names? Yes, we actually had a conversation.

It wasn't because of me that we had one (although, I would like to think it was) I think it was because he didn't want to draw attention to himself so he talked to the nearest person to him... which happened to be me...YAY! We only talked about dogs (he told me his boxers think they are my dogs size...he was talking about my little Riley) and I actually told him I was a dog trainer, but I never gave him my name or card because I was too busy thinking, "oh my god, I am talking to Justin Timberlake". Of course I regret not doing so, but whatever, I was super excited.

We walked all the way back to our cars talking...he was very nice and very polite. It was a great experience. Well...I guess I won't stop going to Runyan!

Tags: Justin Timberlake, Runyan Canyon, dogs, Boxer

Jill Bowers, Behavior Specialist  Friday, December 01, 2006

Update

My sister got out of the hospital and everything is peachy. My parents are still in town but are leaving Sunday. Life has been a little hard and hectic but I am back on track now. I will start blogging again...k?

 



Top Pets blogs