My clients

I have been dog training for awhile and like all work places, you will deal with clients that are hard. Some don't follow through, some don't show up for lessons, some will argue just to argue and some will think they know more than I do and will do their own thing and when it doesnt work, I get bitched at. It's annoying. However...

I love my clients. All of them. They are all quality people and are making my job really fun. Just like most people, if I have problems with someone (it's never the dog that I have problems with), I start to dread the lesson. So, I want to put out a nice THANK YOU to several of my clients...

Just to name a few:

Nitchie and Hark
Carrae and Lou Ann
Marc and Tara
Guylaine
Viviana and Jeff
Ken and Bobbie
Sara
Saletta and Mike
Elizabeth
John
Tyndra

These are my current A+ clients...good job guys! I am proud of you! If you are one of my clients and you are not on this list...it only means you have some work to do ;)

Tags: Clients, dog training routine, bootcamp, obedience

Quick Tip!

Want to teach the drop it command?

1. Put a toy or bone in your dogs mouth.
2. Show him a really smelly treat and say drop it.
3. Once he chooses the treat over his toy, he will drop it
4. Do this over and over again and eventually he will drop everything on command.

Tags: drop it, commands, fetch

Memorial Day thoughts for you and your dog

Jeff Munshar dog works column

Hey, it's another day off work for some of us. School is winding down or over. The sun's getting hotter and beaches are crowding. Memorial Day is the start of summer.

But the reasons for this holiday should not be forgotten. It shouldn't be taken for granted. The importance or impact of Memorial Day is different for each person. The bottom line, however, is that Memorial Day is about remembering -- remembering fallen veterans, fallen civil servants, lost family members and our history. OK, enough preaching. This is a dog column.

How about we add some memories of dogs to the list. Yes, I know it may sound silly to some, but think about how much dogs have affected many of our lives, whether professionally or personally. Dogs provide companionship for young and old with equal enthusiasm. I honestly believe that time well-spent with a good dog will give you a better outlook on the world. We all know that dogs don't lie; honesty and devotion is what they give us. These are the same things we like to remember about the humans we honor on this day. Now let's look at some of the dogs.

The military canines come to mind immediately. They have served in combat since time immemorial. American forces used them in our country's infancy and are using them today in the distant sands. The countless lives they've saved as messengers, aid dogs, sentries and detection dogs have often gone unnoticed. After all, they were just dogs doing their jobs.

Some of that has changed, though. On Guam, the U.S. Marine Corp erected a statue of a Doberman to pay tribute to the "war dogs" that fought throughout the pacific campaign of World War II. It was dedicated in 1994, which marked the 50th anniversary of the Guam beachhead.

Sentry dogs of the Vietnam era are rapidly gaining the respect they earned. Several documentaries and movies have been released highlighting their achievements. Numerous veteran handler organizations are going to great lengths to ensure their dogs their rightful place in military history.

Last month, a bill was introduced that would establish a National War Dog Monument in the nation's capital. If, and when, the monument will be built and maintained with private funds. A fitting tribute to the canines that served.

The Oklahoma City bomb blast and Sept. 11 tragedies brought light to service dogs here at home. I've talked with several of the people involved and I was even surprised at the amount of difference the dogs made. And some of those dogs "gave their all." Certainly they made a difference to those directly involved but they showed a country what they had to offer.

I have received several e-mails requesting information about sending "goodies" to the service dogs in Iraq. I don't know how to accomplish this, so I pointed them toward the appropriate authorities and told them to write to the troops. The moral, though, was that some people were worried enough to want to help the dogs in combat. It impressed me that in the day of so-called "high tech" warfare, some people still remembered that there were fighting men and dogs in harm's way. Refreshing.

I'm almost at the six-month mark in Iraq. I've seen the dogs in action and they are impressive. As always, they do what they're trained to do, and it can be costly.

Certainly, I take nothing from the men and women who should be honored on this day. I only add that dogs have often been part of an honorable team and deserve a kind thought as well.

Contact Jeff Munshaur with your questions or comments through his Web site at www.jeffsdogworks.com.

Tags: Memorial Day, Iraq, dogs

Finding the Dog That Fits: Big, active ones work in some families; others are happier with quiet, little ones

The late spring and early summer are ideal times to expand the family - to include a new dog.

The weather allows the dog to explore the property and get a lot of its energy out. And children probably have more time to play with the pup.But families shouldn't rush out to get a dog, or simply pick the cutest one of the litter, advises Cheryl Peterson, the author of Please Oh Please Can We Get a Dog? (Howell Book House).

A new dog won't be "new" for long; it must fit into the family and the family's lifestyle for the long haul.

Read more...

Tags: Cheryl Peterson, family dog, choosing a dog

Ugly contest competition dog-eat-dog

I think it's hilarious that not only is there a pageant for ugly dogs...but it means so much to people that they actually tampered with it...

PETALUMA, Calif., May 27 (UPI) -- The World's Ugliest Dog competition at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in California became vicious when vote tampering eradicated tens of thousands of online votes.

Victoria -- an ugly, half-blind greyhound who had been popular with Internet voters -- lost all her votes in an unexplained Web site deletion, the Times of London reported Saturday.

Read more...

Tags: ugly dog contest, dog competition, vote tampering, dog pageant

I am sick

I literally laid down all day yesterday. I am really sick. Totally sucks. Now I owe you guys 4 decent entries. I am going to try to get one or two done today. I am still home sick, so I will literally be here sneezing, coughing and nursing my head ache and my runny nose. I need to be better tomorrow as I have lessons and am meeting an out of town friend that I haven't seen in like a year. So, stay tuned...

Tags: sick, flu, common cold

Leaving for the Madonna concert

I was getting ready for our friends to come over for a "pre-Madonna" party. That's why I wasn't around today. I owe you guys like 3 quality blog entries! You got it! Stay tuned...

Tags: Madonna, blog entries, friends, party

Quick Tip!

I had lessons all weekend and was quite tired when I finished yesterday so, getting to my blog was quite difficult. Here is a quick tip...

When teaching your dog not to jump, don't give a command like "OFF". The reason I don't do this is because your dog will always think he can jump until you command him not to. I always just say, "NO" with a pop on the leash so there is no question that jumping is unacceptable at ALL TIMES.

Tags: jumping, off, dog training

Congrats to Emmitt!

He was neutered yesterday, I just picked him up! Although it doesn't seem like a happy thing, it is...now he will be able to do daycares and will have more freedom because there is no worry that he will impregnate a pup! There are health benefits as well...

Health benefits for spaying and neutering are:

Spaying your female:

• Prevents your dog from having heat cycles; not only will you not have to worry about unwelcome male dogs arriving at your door, you won’t have to supervise or clean up after your female dog in heat
• Prevents unwanted litters from being born; with so many puppies in shelters already, finding good homes for new puppies involves a great deal of your time and money
• Prevents unwanted pregnancies which can often complicate the health of your dog
• Prevents Pyometra, an infection of the uterus which poses serious health risks to unspayed dogs
• Eliminates the risk of uterine and ovarian cancers, and can decrease the chance of mammary cancers

Neutering your male:

• Prevents the cause of unwanted litters
• Prevents the risk of prostate disease, perianal tumors and perineal hernias
• Prevents a variety of infections, cysts and abscesses
• Decreases your dog's tendency to roam in search of female dogs in heat
• Curbs aggressive and hyperactive behavior; this means less marking, biting and aggressive/dominant behavior with other dogs and people

Got the bullet points from Pedigree

Tags: spay, neuter, male dogs, female dogs

"I want to be a small dog"

The first year and a half that we had Quinn, Riley was alpha. She always let Quinn know who the boss was (things have changed in that regard in the last year). Quinn was always good about it too. Because of the way she grew up, she always prefers little dogs. She is SO GOOD with them. It's awesome to watch. I am so proud of her when we are around puppies or small dogs because she is so gentle and just wants to surround herself with them. It explains why she loves Emmitt so much.

Anyway, from day one we started to see Quinn mimick things that Riley does. Riley likes to sit on the top of the couch. Quinn now makes Riley get up from those spots and tries to sit on top of it. It's hilarious. It ruins the couch cushions because she is so big, but man, it's really funny. She will even fall asleep up there.

She demands to go under the covers whenever we go to bed. Riley started the trend and Quinn kind of followed her under there and can't sleep any other way now.

Anytime Riley got a bed, Quinn would try to sleep in it. Case in point...the picture above. Now, this is actually Emmitt's bed, but it doesn't really matter to Quinn. A small bed is a small bed.

Now, I am totally going to call myself out. I know I am putting human emotion on her, I know she really isn't thinking "I want to be a small dog"...but it's one of those things that owners do and even though I am dog trainer, I am still an owner and like to pretend I know what my dog is thinking. My thinking Quinn wants to be small dog is harmless because it doesn't build any kind of unreasonable expectation. So, yeah, Quinn wants to be a small dog and I love her even more for it.

Tags: dog bed, Humanizing, couch, smalldogcomplex

A Dog's Diary vs. a Cat's Diary

The dog's diary:

7 am - Oh boy! A walk! My favorite!
8 am - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9 am - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
Noon - Oh boy! The yard! My favorite!
2 pm - Oh boy! A car ride! My favorite!
3 pm - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
4 pm - Oh boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Mom! My favorite!
7 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Dad! My favorite!
8 pm - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9 pm - Oh boy! Tummy rubs on the couch! My favorite!
11 pm - Oh boy! Sleeping in my people's bed! My favorite!


The cat's diary:

Day 683 of my captivity... My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from clawing the furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another house plant.

Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded. Must try this at the top of the stairs.

In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair - must try this on their bed.

Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear in their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was. Hmmm, not working according to plan.

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More important, I overheard that my confinement was due to my powers of inducing "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.

I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured.

But, I can wait; it is only a matter of time.



Tags: Dog, diary, routine, cat

Separation Anxiety

When dogs have this, they literally panic right before you leave, or panic right after you've left. Separation axiety is a serious emotional problem. They literally fear being left alone.

A couple of things to look for:

• Whining or pacing before or after you have left
• Panting or drooling
• Shaking
• Sweaty pads
• barking or howling
• Soiling in the house (if they are supposedly potty trained of course)
• lack of eating or loss in appetite
• Chewing or digging, especially around doors (entrances and exits)
• Dilated pupils
• Aggressive behavior

Once you establish that your dog has this, it's your job to teach them that they can be by themselves safely. A couple of ways to do this:

• Crate training. Use the crate when you are at home at first. Don't only use it when you leave and don't ever use it for punishment...they will never learn to like it if you do. Use it when you are cleaning, eating, or have guests over. Use it as a babysitter when you can't be around them. This will allow them to see that even though you are around, you don't necessarily need to be together. Also use it for sleeping so they associate the crate with sleep. Eventually you will be able to use it for when you are not home. Always have something for them to do in it as well.
• Don't punish the dog upon your return. If you come home and find things chewed up or soil on the floor, don't punish them, they won't remember what they did. If you continue to do this, you will make them afraid for you to come home. They don't "know" that they did anything wrong, they just know that you were mad the last time this happened. You literally need to be taught EVERYTHING.
• Ignore before and after you leave. Always remember to keep your comings and goings as low key as possible. Dogs always feed off of your energy, if you make it a big deal that you are leaving, they will too. If you immediately get excited when you come home, they will only read your tone which will only reinforce their insecurities the next time you leave.
• Change your routine and make your departure a good thing. Dogs are very observent, they will pick up your routine before you leave very quickly. This causes the dog to start fearing being left alone once you start the same routine the next time. Do him a favor and change it up. Also, make sure you do something that could get the dog excited for you to leave. You could always give them their favorite treats, bones or toys. I would do this in small frequent intervols before actually leaving for good.

Make sense? If not, email me!

Tags: separation anxiety, routine, crate training, crate

There is a reason for microchipping. This is an amazing story.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12835017/

Welcome home Daisy! She traveled from Ventura, CA to Columbus , OH! She was gone for 3 months and the owners have no clue how she got there. Amazing.

Tags: lost dog, Daisy, Columbus, microchip

This is my twin sister, Jamie and her puppy, Emmitt. Emmitt is 9 months old and has been a real pleasure to train. We have him doing basic commands and still have more to teach, but now we are going to take it to the next level with clicker training.

Remember the preschool that I am going to do a presentation for? Yeah, well, he is going to be my little star. I would use Quinn, but most people are afraid of her because she is a Doberman, little 3-6 year olds would probably run screaming. So, anyway, Emmitt will be accompanying me.

This means I have a lot of work to do. Let me rephrase that, WE have a lot of work to do. He is great now, but could be so much better and I will need him to be very reliable. So, hopefully I will get my video camera back soon so I can film our progress, otherwise, I will update you like this!

Tags: clicker training, training, Border Terrier, preschool

what pets do when you are not home...

http://www.linkydinky.com/PetOwnersAway.shtml

I thought this was funny.

Looking for a small dog?

I had a woman call me to help her find a home for her puppy that she just adopted. She has cats and they don' t like to be around him and they don't have the time to spend training him. So, I am posting this picture and hopefully someone will want him or he will be going back to the shelter.

I actually met him and he is just a typical puppy. He is very cute and spunky. I really liked him, so, if anyone out there wants him, I will give you a free lesson to get you started. This dog is too special to go back to the shelter.

I will get back to you on the details like age, weight, temperament...etc...

Update:

Name: Bobo

Age: 7 months

Weight: 19 lbs.

Temperment: He has a very sweet and loving personality and is very loyal as well as playful. Like most puppies, he tends to be hyper because of his puppy energy and has a tendency to mouth/nip. He needs a home that has time for training.

Tags: adoption, rescue dog, puppy, shelter

Quick Tip!

Don't use pee pads. They allow your dog to go potty on the floor - with or without the pad. If you have to use something because you are gone all day, then make a litter box...it has to look different than the floor so they can atleast differentiate the two. Seriously, pee pads pro long accidents on the floor.

Tags: potty training, pee wee pads, dog litter box, litter trained

Happy Mother's Day!

I am writing to honor all dog mommies!

Quinn, the protector

Well, today was interesting. After I got home from my lessons (around 5), I decided to take the dogs to Runyan for a little hike.

We got down to the beginning of the hard hike and began walking up the trail. All of a sudden, I see this guy ahead of me, just standing there staring. He was dressed in clothes that were clearly not hiking attire. He had on jeans and a nice shirt that was really wrinkled (he probably slept in it or something). His hair was all messed up and his face looked like he was a bit cracked out, like he was on something. I mean, if anything, it was weird he chose to wander up the hardest hike there! This is exactly why I felt like he didn't really know where he was.

I had on my ear phones (I was listening to Pink's new cd - so good!) so I tried to mind my business and decided to try and quickly run past him to avoid any kind of situation - being that we were all alone on this small mountain and all. As I pass him, he starts to do all of these erratic movements with his arms and starts to swear and say things under his breath. He was talking to himself and was clearly agitated. At this point, I got a little scared and turned off my music so I could hear everything around me.

At this point, I look around and Quinn is gone. I got really nervous because a.) I am just a little lady alone on the trail b.) Quinn NEVER wonders off and c.) I have no clue where this guys is or what he is capable of. SO, after yelling for Quinn, I turn and can't find her so of course I am scared and totally freaking out. Finally, out of nowhwere I hear Quinn barking. I get my knife out (I have one for safety when I hike) and walk back towards where the guy was. He is very agitated and swearing like crazy. I look over and low and behold, Quinn is literally guarding...I have never seen her do this before. She wasn't backing up, it was almost like she was making sure he stayed put. I quickly grabbed her and screamed, "LET'S GO!" This broke her focus and off she went with me. I felt very safe with her.

Doberman's Rock!!!

Tags: Doberman Pinscher, Runyan Canyon, Protection, hiking, loyalty, Pink

Sorry for the inconvenience

My DSL was down for 2 days, it was really frustrating. I didn't get emails and wasn't able to update my blog. So, now I am back. Unfortunately I don't have time to write anything at the moment, but will be back later to write. Have a good day!

3 different methods of dog training

Methods of dog training is very controversial for some. My personal take on it is:

Use whatever method that works for the specific dog. I hate when other trainers knock other trainers methods or routines. All dogs are different, all approaches are different, whatever works is whatever works. All have been proven.

Here are the 3 different types of methods. All approaches fall under one of these categories.

1: Compulsion training (Negative) Training. Compulsion training is back when training was solely negative reinforcement. Dogs are pack animals; there is always an alpha dog. When the alpha doesn’t like what another dog in the pack is doing, he immediately goes to correct him. When dogs are left alone, that means he is doing right, therefore, positive is the absence of negative. This training is a communication that dogs already know and live by, it's a quick way to get your dog to learn. However, some of the punishments are really harsh. Dogs are mainly avoiding punishment like, helicopters where the trainer will swing their dog in the air with their collar, avoiding knees in the chest or a beating.

2: All Positive Training. All positive training came about because people started to have a real problem with the above method. It consists of a total opposite extreme. Basically, treats, praise and toys, or whatever motivates your dog is used. If a dog does something right, he gets his treat. If he doesn’t do it right, he gets nothing. Negative is the absence of positive. Negative reinforcement methods are used sometimes in this method, but they are extremely mild. For example, a lot of trainers use ignoring and/or walking away, spray bottles or pennies in a can. This method goes against the pack theory but revolves around the fact that dogs will do things when there is something in it for them. For example, he will sit for a treat.

3: Balanced Method.This method works both positive and negative reinforcement combined. When a dog does something right, he gets praise or treats, and when he does something wrong, he gets some form of punishment, like a leash pop/correction, or whatever the trainer uses to let him know he has done something wrong. Dogs work on consequence like children. If he does something that ended with a negative reaction, he won't do it again. If he does something that ended with a treat, he will do it again.

I am not opposed to any of the methods above as long as its suitable for the dog. I often use the balanced method because I feel that it communicates to the dog exactly what I want him to do. However, if I have a case where the dog is really aggressive, I will use the negative approach (but nothing like the examples I cited above- a more humane approach-I DO NOT condone beating or anything like that), or if I have a dog that is fearful, I will use the positive approach. If my clients prefer one method to the other, I will do that as well. I am open to them all, I have seen them all work.

Tags: training methods, corrections, treats, dog training, dog trainers

BACK!

I am back from my seminar, or forum rather. It wasn't about dogs, it was actually about me. It was one of those things where they give you a different point of view on life. It made me learn a lot about myself, some of it was hard to take, but it was really great for me. It's funny, I do bootcamps for dogs, this was like a bootcamp for my life, so I totally know how you feel doggies! Although it was quite emotional, I am way better for it.

I am writing about it in my blog because this seminar will have a major impact on my client relations and dog training. I am pretty much going to be unstoppable, so, you can rest assure that should you decide to do training with me, you will get the best service you can get from a dog trainer. How is that for confidence?!

Tags: Landmark, dog training, seminar, bootcamp

Quick Tip!

If you want your dog to come on command, there are a couple of rules to follow:

• Do not scream their name when they are in trouble.
• Always be very positive when they do randomly come to you when you asked them too.
• Don't get into the habit of saying "come" for everything. A common one is "come on" when you are trying to get them to walk. They will be used to hearing the word "come" so much that they will already be used to NOT doing it. Therefore, it will be harder to teach.
  
• ALWAYS reinforce the "come" command if they didn't come when you called. Never say it if you can't make them do it.

The "come" command is one of the harder things to teach a dog because they work on instinct. You HAVE to be more appealing to them to make them stop what they were doing to actually come to you. It's dog nature to keep doing what HE wants to do. This command is one of the harder ones for a dog to learn reliably.

Hope that helps!

Tags: come, recall, dog training, off leash, basic obedience

I am leaving

for a seminar. I will be gone all weekend, but will try to come here and give a tip or something when I can. Thanks for reading!

What to look for when Adopting an adult dog

Too many dogs end up in the shelter due to "moving", or "my son is allergic" or "we are having a baby"...etc...you catch my drift.

The real reason is because they were too lazy to train or deal with the real problem. The easy way out is always to take your dog to the shelter. It's not only mutts, its pure breds as well. There are a lot of good quality dogs out there, you have to research the breeds you like and see which kinds would fit your lifestyle. Adult dogs are great to get as a first time dog owner or for one who doesn't want to deal with a puppy. It's also giving a dog a second chance...

Here are the questions you should ask before adopting an adult dog.

What is the dog's history?
It's important to know where the dog came from. Whether its a stray or has been in and out of shelters for years, you will need to know what you are dealing with as far as the behaviors that could possibly come with him.

Why is the dog available?
You will need to know the reason the owner gave for turning in their pup. Again, this will shed some light as to what behaviors you will be dealing with.

Does the dog have any behavior problems?
This goes along with the reasoning for the turn in, however, you will also want to know from the actual shelter if they have noticed any behaviors that could be troublesome. Things like, aggression, anxiety, barking...etc...

How is the dog with kids and other animals?
Obviously you will need to know how socialized this pup is. If you are a daycare owner, or you often visit dog friendly places, you will need to make sure your pup would be ok in those scenarios.

Does the dog have any health problems?
You definitely need to know what you could possibly be dealing with health wise. Vet bills are pretty expensive. Make sure he is really healthy, ask questions about hips, thyroids...etc...

Is the dog spayed or neutered already?
Oviously you need to get your dog fixed and they should be before taking them home. You don't ever want to risk your dog having puppies later, or even getting someone else's dog pregnant. Too many dogs need helped. It's also good for them and the shelters pay for it!

Tags: Adoption, adult dogs, rescue dogs, shelters

Meet the Chinchilla's...

This is Amanda, Brent and their two dogs Cali and Scarlette.

They called me because their dogs started to fight a lot. Their last resort was to get rid of one of the dogs, but they wanted to do everything they could to keep them both. They are very dedicated and loving owners and its important to know that their situation has nothing to do with how these dogs were brought up.

Cali is a 3 year old female American Bulldog and Scarlette is a 7 year old Shepard/pit mix. Two female dogs in a household always brings the risk of fighting. This doesn't mean they have temperament problems, they are only doing what their instinct tells them to do. Usually dogs will just duke it out until one submits and its over. However, Amanda didn't know if one would ever submit.

When 2 of the same sex dogs live under the same household, it's very common for them to fight over the dominant ranking at some point. Don't get me wrong, even if dogs aren't the same sex, its still common, but you can almost expect it with same sexes. When it starts, it is hard to stop it.

We set up a in home bootcamp and started to set boundaries, along with not allowing the dogs to interact until they were a bit more trained. The point was to establish Amanda and Brent as the leaders first and foremost.

They followed everything I said and the training went really well. When it was time to put them back together, we took precautions and bought muzzles, had the hose ready and even put on an electric collar just incase something were to happen. They had a really hard time prying them apart before we started the training, therefore, we had to prepare if that were to happen again.

At first there was some posturing so we were a little nervous. However, nothing happened. Every day, Brent and Amanda would put the dogs together for a short time (with their muzzles on) and would then bring them back inside. It was almost like reintroducing them.

Our last lesson went really well - Cali is a rockstar by the way. Anyway, we ended it by putting the dogs together with no muzzles and they did great. Of course, they will always have to be cautious and can never fully trust them. However, they set out to correct their problem, and so far, they have done it. I am proud of them, and they should be too.

Tags: dog aggression, female dogs, bootcamp, ,dominance, alpha leader

Dogs have weight problems too!

Hey pet owners...just like your kids, you have to watch your dogs weight too. It isn't good for them! Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! Dogs don't enjoy being fat...one may think their dog is happy because "he gets to eat what he wants-he's a dog!", but the aftermath is terrible! They can't move around very well and their health deteriorates. So, please, watch what they eat, get on a schedule feed and EXERCISE your dog!

May 3, 2006 — America's weight control crisis is now affecting our pets.

About 50 percent of all pets are overweight, according to Marty Becker, a veterinarian who has written a book called "Fitness Unleashed" to help both pet and owner lose weight together and keep it off

Corpulent canines aren't cute. They are unhealthy and in danger of an early trip to pet purgatory, Becker said.

"If you keep your pets thin, studies show they'll live 15 percent longer — that's about two extra years on the average," Becker said. "I'm not exaggerating when I say that pets almost never come to the veterinarian's office too thin."...more...

Tags: dog obesity, weight, Fitness Unleashed, exercise

What can dogs really see?

Dogs are 10 times more receptive to peripheral movement than we are. They have poor vision up close and pretty good vision from far distances. This is why you see dogs having a hard time finding something right in front of them.

Their eyes are flatter than ours and although they can adjust the shape of their lenses and alter their focal length, they can't do it as well as we can. Their eyes are more sensitive to light and movement. They can actually see very well in the darker areas, whereas we can't.

The placement of dogs eyes has everything to do with how they see. Wolves have more lateral vision, meaning their eyes are further apart. Overtime, most dogs have been bred to have their eyes closer together, like humans. This allows them to see things more straight ahead, it also allows some to see the tv!

Also, they usually see in shades of gray, however, they have the capacity for seeing rudementary color, but its of little importance to them.

I got this information from "The Dog's Mind: Understanding Your Dog's Behavior"

Tags: dog vision, dog eyes, color, gray

Open thread...

Talk about dogs! I will be back later to write more!

Riley and her Leash Aggression

I must share this photo of my little fatty. She was able to do the entire hike...way to go Riley!

I used to not be able to take Riley on walks, she was really dog aggressive (barking and lunging) on the leash. When she wasn't on the leash, she would be fine with dogs so dog parks would be ok.

Anyway, it wasn't that I didn't walk her, I mean, we would always take her to friends houses with dogs, and would go to the dog park. It was more that I never corrected the problem when it started to be one. I mean, the first time she ever barked at a dog, I just let it go, which was laziness and ignorance on my part. It wasn't until I trained with john that I understood that this entire thing was my fault and not Riley's. She never felt secure on the leash, she actually felt more threatened because when they feel restrained, they feel they can't defend themselves and I wasn't acting like a leader at the time. Therefore, every single dog that would come around us, she would lash out. Sometimes I would even take her off of the leash to allow her to sniff the dog so she would stop. Things like that, along with avoiding taking her for walks made my situation with her worse day after day...she never learned to behave on the leash.

I finally decided to put Riley through my bootcamp (she was about 2 years old when I did it). Her day to day life was being my personal cuddly bear and although I was very happy with that, I am sure she would have liked to get out. So, I decided to take charge.

Guess what? Now she goes on dog hikes with me! I am so glad I get to enjoy her outdoors now. She loves walking...LOVES IT...she loves being put in the papoose when she gets tired too (I will dig up a picture of her in the papoose, people laugh hysterically when they pass us.). Don't get me wrong, she still has some things I would like to fix, but I got her to where I wanted her to be so she can enjoy the outdoors. It definitely took time and a lot of patience...I mean, she was already set in her ways at 2 years old.

Moral of the story is: You can choose to be leader at any point in time in your dogs life. Age doesn't matter. Because I stepped up and was willing to try to solve the problem, Riley gets to hike and be with her sister, Quinn and brother, Emmitt. Our lives are all better for it. Laziness and ignorance gets you no where. Human error got your dog to be that way...now its your turn to fix it!


Tags: leash aggression, dog aggression, heel, alpha dog