Association of Pet Dog Trainers/APDT

APDT is an association that has 4000 plus members of the canine professional community. I am member 67306. In first joining my professional memberships, there was the excitement of belonging. Little did I know the political issues that lurked below the surface. Actually, you didn't need to belong too long to other lists and professional organizations before the issues were clear.

However, if you are a member of the APDT, or Association of Pet Dog Trainers, you and your opinions will be censored on their training list. You will not be allowed to talk online to the membership of the APDT about policies and procedures. The board will make those decisions for you, without a membership vote.

I will not go into the TDF movement http://www.trulydogfriendly.com/blog/?page_id=15, but I as a member is against it. I am especially against an organization outside of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers trying to control policies without membership control. That is the five current BOD members make all decisions on policy without any kind of unanimous vote needed. 2 of these BOD members are currently in the TDF movement. 3 of the BOD nominees have aligned themselves witht he TDF movement. There has been unauthorized spam promoting TDF from a current BOD member using APDT's listing of trainers.

There are no attempts to even hide their high handed treatment and disregard for their membership. TDF membership is only 50 people, not all of which (by their own admission) are APDT members.

Stop the madness. http://mannerlymutts.typepad.com/mannerly_mutts/2006/07/apdt_petition.html

You can also join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstcensorshipintheAssocofPetDogTrainer/

York Library Sale

So excited.   York Public Library had it's annual book sale starting yesterday.   I missed yesterday, and I am pretty sure I could have probably found the dog breed books I was looking for.   Well, kay sara sara.


I did however get the following for $2.50 in change in my purse:


1)   Betty White's "Pet Love"


2)  Miller's "How to Raise and Train a Cocker Spaniel"


3)  "Know Your Scottish Terrier"


4)  "Basset Hounds"


5)  Evelyn Miller's "Airedale Terriers"


6) "The Essential Yorkshire Terrier" Consulting Editor Ian Dunbar Ph. D., MRCVS


7)  Carol Lea Benjamin's "The Chosen Puppy"


8)  Rachel Page Elliot's "Dogsteps, A new Look"  A better understadning of dog gait through cinderadiography----"moving X-rays"

Complaint to York Maine Police

Hello,

I am a dog trainer and owner in York Beach Maine.   I was out with my dogs this morning before 8am off leash.   A Sergeant walked up to me & my husband and stated that the dogs were supposed to be leashed.

When we first said, the ordinance clearly states between 6am and 8am dogs can be off leash, he belligerently stated otherwise.  By the way, my dogs were seated and are viewed by many on many mornings during training sessions where they are in voice control.  And so that was not in issue.

Finally, after suggesting he take a walk with me and read the ordinance, he relented and made a "somewhat" apology.   Then claimed he got the times of day mixed up.  This is after belligerently saying otherwise to us a few times.   

Being that I obey the leash laws to the letter (if after 6pm I am on the beach with my dogs, they are leashed) and I see many a tourist out there with their unleashed dog, this is very distressing to me.   There seem to be no officers out there enforcing the law, and because I am obeying the leash law (as I was this morning) my dogs and I are enjoying the beach less than non-tax paying tourists.

Additionally, the beach is disgusting with cigarette butts, juice containers and condoms, which I am forced to look out for so my dogs can be told to "leave it" so they don't digest such trash on the beach.

As a law abiding citizen, please allow me to enjoy the few minutes of lawful off leash time with my dogs in the morning without harassment.  Please see that police officers are dispatched and know the laws in the area so that those not obeying the leash laws can be fined.

Thank you,

Robin

Busy and Fun Weekend

There have been a rash  of perfectly normal puppies lately.   That has been fun, of course.   And it can be challenging getting owners through these difficult waters of consitency, repetition, and proper leash handling.  I love the challenge in that.

Very excited though, that this week is a dog named, Zeke, that just may have some real aggression issues.   I love working with dogs like this because it is a challenge, he is already owned by a loving owner (so therefore no worries that he is going to be passed on to some poor dog adopter that has no real understanding of the issues involved), and you can make a huge difference in these cases.   

In puppy cases, you make a huge difference in the future of their lives as well, but you don't get to see the "what they could have become" and change to a greatly improved dog.   Yeah, it would be nice if dogs just got the proper training they needed early on, but some have more complex personalities, and their dog owners do the best they can in the meantime to manage it.

Zeke is one such dog.  Can't wait till he is dropped off this Saturday.   Will add link to his blog soon.

Stopped Raining, The Accidents Should Stop!

Well, for the moment we are done with the torrential down pouring of rain.  Leon took not one but two craps in the house!!   Causing him to be crated part of last night for the first time in a long while.  A bit of whining, and then he just knew to fall asleep.

Leon hates the rain, and I should no better than to just believe he "doesn't have to go" when he takes a quick pee and wants to come right inside.   Every dog owner should keep this in mind once they notice that something the dog does not like outside is going to keep them from going.  If they don't do as expected, put them in the crate (less likely to go in there, more likely to alert you, and easier to clean up if they do go in there---assuming they are supervised so the spin and twirl doesn't happen).   Or you could also tether them to you as you do a puppy, so they can't sneak across the room to do their business, but must alert you.

Leon of course, also had diarrhea.  Joy of joys.

Poor Leon is also breakfastless this morning (or now afternoon) as a result.   He is busy kissing his buddy Jackie right now.   Any way, this isn't the Leon training blog LOL.

Got a busy busy Saturday ahead, with a weeks worth of lessons packed into one day.   Should be interesting to see how I survive that!!!   LOL.  One being a dog aggressive American Bulldog that I have never met before, and a new English Sheepdog puppy client, and a new Great Dane puppy client.

Better be sure the house is cleaned from this week's disaster!!

Day Off-----Not!!!

You would think with no clients today, my dog related stuff would be at a minimum, but nooooo.

Jack started the day off, as I tried to relax with some coffee, by spitting up on the rugs because he was hungry.   Next, Leon took a dump, after taking a big dump outside today, in the family room.  It was firm and solid.   Leon began crying to come in while I was cleaning, or at least I thought he was crying because of that.

Nope, bit pile of diarrhea in the "living" room---the room with no furniture to date where we do not love!!!   LOL.   

So the spot bot has been busy, plus then you need to regular vac, and then today, I am definitely wet vacing.  But all of that means before the regular vac, the dogs all get groomed, the whole place gets dusted, and on and on.  Huge cleaning day today, which would have been a lot less immediate and huge if it weren't for my own bugga boos today.

Not the fun part of dog training LOL.  Unfortunately, that may just be the first part of my day today.  On the upside, the house will definitely be spic and span once I finish.

Great Day

I began today by taking the crew out to the beach (our in home crew that is).   Did think to bring the camera with me this morning, but it sooooo sucks and even though it said half the battery was there, it couldn't take pictures due to exhausted battery.   I HATE IT!!!

Any way, though back to the relaxing morning of York Beach Maine.   I will update Jack's specific blog seperately about any issues (such as bowling for tourists) that he has been exhibiting lately.   He does love to run though.  I got smart today, and had Robert bring Leon and Jazz down to the beach, while I handled Jack alone as he needs a few manners regarding rushing the beach stairs.

The crew was down there (*$#@ camera) and Nan, a petsitter in the area that has been most helpful) was down with her charge, Sam.   Sam was a very gorgeous and friendly Golden Retreiver who was obviously enjoying the crew.   In the crew today (dogs not owners names) were Lilly, Ed, Elvis, Maggie, Tinker, Roxie, Bongo, and Jackson.  Probably a few others that I don't know as well. 

Jazz was in rare form as well, bouncing along after Jack and Tinker.   Poor Jazz even absorbed an unintentional (yet I am sure painful) body slam from Jack.   Jack found himself a ball, and started bringing it into the ocea, which I stopped him from doing much to Diane's dismay.  However he had lost a non floating ball on me last week, and I didn't want him to loose her ball or become possessive of it for any reason.

Later, with dogs nestled in the back of the Exterra, we took a drive to Perkins Cove to look around a bit.   Nothing was opened as it was still 8am.  Coming back, I noticed a man taking pictures of Leon in the back.  We went over and introduced us, which also attracted a couple of families who wanted to also meet Leon and gang.   Everyone always thinks it's just our dogs that are that way LOL.   

People were kissing and rubbing Leon's face, and of course the big goof was in puppy heaven.   Leon is a lover, that is for sure.

Managed to get this weekend off (realize it's Monday morning now, and my day is starting at 11:00 am)  because hubby is going on a business trip this week, but he doesn't leave until 12:30 or so.   We took the opportunity to get a little alone time this weekend, and have a lovely morning this morning.

He doesn't want to be leaving here, especially for business, and I don't blame him!!!  Just a quiet lovely morning here at Mannerly Mutts.

APDT Petition

I am organizing a petition forwarded to the current board of the APDT to open up the APDT online training list on discussion of BOD nominations. I don't know if you have any members that would like to lend their name, e-mail, and APDT # to the following letter? I someone could forward this on to the group, all they need to do is contact me at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstcensorshipintheapdt/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstcensorshipintheapdt/">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstcensorshipintheapdt/<> href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/APDTMemberDiscussion/%22%3E%3C/a%3E&nbsp&nbsp; is a link to a list where heated discussion on this very debate is going on now.

To the Board of Directors of the APDT:

Nominations have been made for the open seats of the Board of Directors of the APDT. Much discussion has being going on regarding the political platforms of one party on non-APDT group sites. These sites represent less than a little over one hundred members of the 4,115 members of the APDT or the 1,050 members of the APDT training list. The following members would like this discussion to be opened up on the sanctioned APDT training list to reach a broader member audience.

Please take this under consideration, and if approved, allow the list moderator to open up the topic for discussion on the APDT training list.

The list of names

The sincerely afore mentioned members of the APDT

Sincerly,

Robin Rubin

Mannerly Mutts

York Beach Maine

APDT #67306