Gorgeous Day

I forgot to bring my camera.........of course. Leon had to be left behind during the beach and play portion of our walk. He was plenty perturbed when I left with Moose and Jack. He did have his dad and Jazz to keep him company though. We did the loose leash walking all the way to the beach. It's a cool but sunny spring day, and you can feel a briskness in the air combined with the warmth of the sun. Birds are chirping from the shadowy pines looming overhead. And just as you are thinking, does life get any better than this, you see the beach approaching down the road. We had plenty of playmates on the beach today. There was Lilly, who hasn't warmed up to Jack yet, as he is a bit too familiar for her. Jackson was there, interesting tri-color hair pattern, a collie who has lupus but still likes to have a bit of fun with his ball. Blaze and Sophia, both very sweet dogs. Blaze is very much like his name and likes to race around after his ball and other dogs. Elvis, one of my favorites, a incredibly sweet golden retreiver who barks for attention and nudges me when I am neglecting him. He also allows the other dogs to roll on him or step on him. He is a very maternal male dog. An akita mix was there, and I still haven't learned her name, but she is a lot of fun. Showing her teeth at other dogs makes them hit the ground fast LOL. Wish I could learn that technique myself, because for her it works each and every time Ed, the wild boy German shepard, chasing his balls that his owner throws to him repeatedly. . Two beautiful golden retrievers hung out by the stone wall, and I let Jack and Moose periodically go up and play with them, then I would call them back. Poor Moose is beginning to confuse many a pony tailed girl for me though. I usually have to make it fairly obvious where I am or her starts following other people thinking it's me LOL. Such a Great Dane puppy. Jack found a seaweed ball down there, and I realized he was going to try and swallow the thing whole, so we got to do the out command, which I need a level three on the old tri-tronics sport 50 model. Then he was much more obliging in the future. He's very fast. Faster than Brie the stafforshire that lives at our tenants house. Faster than Ed, the German Shepard, running after his own balls. I think we may have actually tired Jack out today. That's the beginning of many a dog training day here. Horrid, I know. With the e-collars, this really helps the dogs understand the freedom that's allowed them. Not having to be tied to a long line when playing with other dogs is so huge. And realizing that as long as they obey the command, there are no dire consequences, and there really aren't if they just don't come on the first time either.

Affects of Training in a Multi Dog Household

Now that my house is infested with dogs of my clients, and my own dogs. It has become clear to me what other trainers have reported as the affects of having dogs, especially dogs who get along really well, and the affects on training with their humans (in my case both owner human and surugate owner ie trainer human). My dog, Leon, for instance, while he still seeks me out, he seeks me out less during the day. It erodes our bond a bit. It also strangely helps in training. It has helped him in the training process to be still while I am training client dogs and to not get involved in the action unless asked. Course he's less likely now to be as obnoxious as he can be when asked and I really want a distraction. It makes him more interested in the other dogs, and less interested in me. It's hard to explain this concept to owners, and why a certain amount of alone time needs to be given to each dog in their household when they are multiple ones. I, myself, had thought trainers might be overemphasizing this point myself, but I see it in action in my household now. You want to be your dog's pack and pack leader. To maintain that, you need to have interactions with your dogs exclusively sometimes. However, if you are a trainer like me, there are advantages to it, like practicing with your dog to be quiet and in a place during the lesson. That being said, me and my neglected husband are going to be sure to have some "alone time" with our dogs this evening. Training or not, just to reaffirm the bond that we have which is very special to us.

Training Logs

When you are training a client's dog or a competition dog, I find training logs great. I hate the class books though, because there is no possible way to document the results of repetitions and adding in duration, distance, and distraction. Way too little room. Blogs have no way of allowing you to run a comparison. I actually do my comparison in spreadsheet for, by date, and by distraction level. I have columns on particular days as to whether still treating, still giving corrections, and length of time command was performed. This way you can see documented progress on your dog. It also really helps with the next day lesson plan, and if you are doing private coaching or board & train, individualizes the lessons to the dogs needs and pace. Shame on me, just starting to do this on my dog today. I like to wing it a little too much on my dog, and there really is no room in that for the competitions we are doing. Also going to set Jack up on one.

Blog Fish

Blog Fish Dog Training 3/26/2006

http://community.livejournal.com/shihtzuluv/128696.html (one person’s experience with PetSmart dog training)

http://sheherazahde.livejournal.com/263215.html (a description of typical dog owner client’s non-compliance with instructions) http://puppy-king.blogspot.com/2006/03/training-shy-or-fearful-puppy-or-dog.html (good points on shy fearful dogs and training goals and common problems resulting from not building confidence)

http://dogfightatbankstown.blogspot.com/2006/03/dog-fights.html (tips on coping with and preventing a dog fight) http://perilousknits.livejournal.com/15495.html (a person and a dog on a day out---what having a dog is all about)

http://www.aboutdogs.info/2006/01/5-benefits-of-crate-training-your.html (advantages to crate training your puppy) http://www.dog-breeds-guide.net/51/keeping-your-dog-focused-while-dog-training/ (on dog anticipation and focus during obedience training)

Blog Fish

http://mcgibfried.blogspot.com/2006/03/dog-training.html (Adventures of an owner and her besenji)

http://matt.carter.name/blog/2006/03/why.html (Police Dog Handler Poem)

http://www.petlvr.com/blog/2005/09/dog-training-how-to-house-break-your-dog/ (Tips on Housebreaking)

http://www.fideliodogs.com/dogblog/?p=38 (On Clients and A Common Problem with Client Dog Training)

http://blogs.sun.com/roller/page/lskrocki?entry=dog_training_woes (cute story on child training dog) http://blog.dogdoright.com/?p=20 (Seniors and Preferring to Relate to Visiting Dogs One on One)

http://animalsuffering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=18580 (Police Dog Dies Chasing Man) http://judysworld.net/blog/index.php/2006/02/10/on-being-a-benevolent-leader/ (One Take on Benevolent Leader-Unfortunately PP Take---but still good philosphy)

http://www.petville.com/pet_community/2006/03/the_iditarod.html (Iditarod Article)

http://spadafori.typepad.com/woof/2006/03/bad_dog_does_go.html (Review of a Book on a "Bad" Dog Named Marley)

http://www.dog-college.com/2006/03/five-ways-to-tell-that-you-re-not.html (Five Ways to Tell You Are Not Ready to Own a Dog)

Proposed York Beach Maine Dog Ban

I recently moved from Worcester MA to York Maine, unwittingly unaware of a huge issue that has come about here. First of all, York Maine is a community that does not have a leash law per say (outside public parks and beaches), but does require dogs to be under voice command. So that means an owner is required to be somewhere nearby, and their dogs under control. I happen to live on four acres, near 30 acres of woods that while owned by individuals, is pretty much used as public ways. Especially the stretch down the power lines that goes on for miles near picturesque streams. I happen to live on a dead end. So my dogs get tons more freedom and fun, beyond being on the beach too, than they used to. Dirt roads are all around us, so most of the time there are no cars there, and I walk my dogs unleashed around the neighborhood. Course one of the reasons we moved here, is proximity to the beach, and the excellent dog community that meets at the beach. Also, I happened to know that there are no other balanced trainers in the area. Long Sands Beach, where I walk and one of three public beaches and more than a few public parks, where people enjoy taking their dogs, is two miles long at low tide, and probably a quarter of a mile in. During the winter, people and their off leash dogs (same voice command rule applies but apparently hasn't been enforced) are allowed 24/7 on the beaches. During the summer the rule has been, off leash dogs are allowed on the beaches from 6PM to 8AM (the summer being defined as from May 1 to October 1). Unknown to me before I moved here, the selectmen having been trying to get the dogs banned during the summer, and thought to be banned from all beaches eventually.It is thought that the grass roots organization, which I have been sure to support, ARF, has convinced the selectmen that a ban is not going to be passed at all, and the newest revision gives off lead time at one beach from sunrise to 8AM only. Then at 6PM, on lead dogs would be allowed. The position of ARF is not to give up any rights. Dog waste has been an issue. I should say that someone dug up last years figures during the summer, and out of 700 incidents reported only 40 citations were handed out. While I would bet not all the 700 incidents were tourists, I would bet the majority are tourists, and the animal control officers certaintly did not do their jobs by letting 640 go. 640*250 (citiation new amount) would be 160,000; certaintly insuring some money for the monitoring of a couple hours in the morning of compliance with the statutes. In addition to this, there have been incidents of (from what I can gather) mostly friendly but untrained dogs running up to people, who do not want to see their dogs, and knocking them over or just scaring them. This is understandable too. And even with the dog group I hang out with, great wonderful dogs, but under voice control? I don't think so. Dogs have run up to mine, with the owner saying twenty "come Fifi" in a row. So that's a problem. On the other hand, the two incidents that were talked about in the meeting were a wife attacked by a dog on lead, not at the beach, and a man claiming that if a spec of dog hair gets near him, he needs to go and shower off. In addition, he made front page news, claiming a dog had jumped on him from behind. Then publically in the meeting said, I don't know whether the dog licked me or what, but I was startled and could have fallen. Course this same guy is "unable" to walk the beaches at any other time other than 6am to 8am. And wouldn't be satisfied with perfectly trained dogs, he wants no dogs ever, and I am sure once they are banned from the beach, he will want them banned from the streets. This being said though, there is definate room for improvement. These are also good people here, who are trying to get a handle on how to turn this around, and what voice control means. If any of you live in my area, and would like to be involved in this, please contact http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2h7gi/arfofyorkmaine/ Even if you are a tourist that comes, it's important to know that the selectmen are not considering that this is a vacation destination for dog owners. It used to be my vacation destination, and now I live here. Who knew that small towns have way more time on their hand for these issues than big cities LOL!!! Never had these kind of brew hahas in Worcester MA. I have been steering them towards training info, and tool info. Course my dogs make an impression, and I am seeing an increase in business sooner than I was expecting (I was expecting May and have had several training inquiries these first weeks in March). I think any seminars that could be extended to ARF may be invaluable to them. Just some food for thought. Awhile ago, I know there was a discussion on dog park models (rules for allowing or testing for off leash reliability). If anyone wanted to send them or me that info, that would be great as well.

On Retail Training Experiences

George, In going to these stores, I have noticed that the sales associates are quite young, paid low, and probably overzealous. I am sure that the manager of these stores would not like to hear that products they are carrying are being maligned by their sales associates, or customers are being driven away and uncomfortable about going there now. The young kids there are probably working on a directive from their manager in the wrong direction either not knowing that they carry these additional products, or not understanding that a retail environment is a business environment, and if they are driving customers away from products they are carrying, they certaintly are not doing the job that was intended. Remember the sales associates are not trainers by any means, and because they are kids with limited experiences, they are likely to get it wrong much of the time. Because of the pressure that is on everyone to "perform"="$$$$$$", much like a Walmart, misinterpretations are bound to occur. If your client feels comfortable, or maybe even yourself, I would write a nicely worded letter to that store manager, just letting them know what happened. You or he/she will probably get all sorts of coupons at the least. Maybe ask them if they would like a demonstration of some of the uses of the other equipment they carry, and (for a fee of course) offer to at least explain these to the sales associates. And of course, offer your card up as THE trainer that can help their clients with these pieces of equipment. I bet many of them come back unreturned, because the PetSmart customer has no idea where to go or how to use the equiment.

Vacationing With Dogs

The only vacations our dogs don't go on are to Disney World which happens about once every three years or so. There is just no appropriate place, and they have never flown so I don't want to put them through the stress of that. Our other vacations are mainly skiing and to the beach, where it's ideal to bring the dogs. We usually tire them out thoroughly with early morning romps (now that they are seniors not too hard to do), and them for most of the afternoon while they are dozing, we go skiing or boogie boarding/sunbathing, and then late afternoon/early evening there is another dog walk, then they go with us in the car to dinner. If we go to town shopping, we sometimes bring them along as they do very well in city and shopping area situations. We once brought them on a RV vacation from hell thinking this would be ideal for our dogs. The only ones that hated it more than us, were our dogs LOL. So next cross country trip will just be in the Exterra staying at dog friendly hotels along the way. Much easier to manage getting around et, for those of you who are not used to driving an RV, it's pretty challenging to just turn around if you find you went the wrong way et et. And the stability factor for the dogs back there----not so good. Crates probably would have been a good idea, but they would most likely have been bouncing around in those. And the RV parks are not very spacious like the camping that I used to do with my parents where you might not be able to see the next tent. People right on top of you, and you are in the end paying more than you would for a nice private hotel room. I love vacations with my dogs. They are the best.

Apprenticeship in Dog Training

Apprenticeships, I have learned, can come with the understanding that someone owns you. Something that was not made clear up front, and something that I started distancing myself from in August 2004, apparently to the dismay of others there, who seem to have missed me and the "volume" I put out, and for reasons that I can not begin to understand seem threatened by instead of happy for. So here is the backlash towards me because I dared once to ask about matches, not from my mentor/owner, but from the group. Not that ny answers ever did come from mentor/owner. Also because I mentioned a method of getting a dog off you in a crisis that was misunderstood as being a training method. This was all well before the incident "a couple weeks ago" (read last week). The reason this was known, was because this list was scanned the whole time for those references, which I stopped making about that organization and individual per their request. So, beware, of situations you put yourself in, especially in this volatile field. If you pay for the apprenticeship in thousands of dollars, the rules most likely are the same. Be careful out there. That being said, I did get a lot out of my experience, but you may have to live with the fact, that if you are any good and are going out on your own, there may be jealousy that makes it impossible for you to continue the relationship with that mentor. Even if you aren't as good as them, they can hold it against you. Doesn't make any sense, but it's a smaller world in the dog world than it is in the corporate world. And I am not saying there's not crazy competition there!!! And backstabbing.