Friday, October 21, 2011

Various Clients of 2011:)


So this little muffin is Spencer a 10-11 month old Yorkie puppy with way too much energy.  We are starting to channel that into his beginning obedience work.

Diesel's owner has expressed an interest in actually competing with Diesel (yeah!).  He is about the most perfect dog to do this with (actually he is a puppy right now of 8 months old). 
Virgule did a mini board & train this summer for a short period of time.   She looks cute and sweet, but she is pretty fiesty.  She likes to play, but totally on her terms.

This is Virgule's companion, Jujube.   He is sweet, but quite a bully when it comes to other dogs.   He also likes to take away from any fun Virgule might try to have with other dogs.   He is quite the handful LOL.

Here is Boy playing with Virgule.   Boy is super smart, but has been here for training and socialization.   He is coming along, and just went for his first plane ride recently (not in cargo).

OLD friend, Gus, has been boarding here while his owners have a new venture they are starting.

Crosby is a rare non training daycare attendee, because I have known him previously.

Got reaquainted with Milo and Mary, while there owners went on a European trip:)

Gator, possibly the cutest and most mild mannered Airedale puppy that I have come in contact with (excepting Marley of course---old family friend's dog).  So much so, that next year the family will probably not need a special place to board him:(

Beauty and The Beast:)   Very nice dogs (well they all are if you know me LOL).   Beauty is a bit reactive, but with the proper work her owners should be able to get her in line.  Beast is just mainly a love bug.

Bogey, adorable nine year old Shitz tzu girl, who came so she could learn how to walk on a leash, and now is a daycare attendee.

Rocket, six month old puppy Chihuahua male, and his new bestee, Bella.   Bella, who is an old client and daycare attendee, thinks Rocket is her baby.   Rocket is in the beginning stages of learning his obedience.

Crosby, Tommy, Bogey, and Leon pose for a picture outside of Crosby's house.

Radley, a nine year old girl cattle dog, is here to learn some manners and not pull on her owner while she recovers.

Radley having a good time with Tommy and Gang.

Poor Monzo is a good boy, despite what the muzzle would suggest.   He is just 4 years old and not been exposed to strange dogs at large.  He had also learned to leave some marks on his sister previously, and scares easily at other dogs.   Mostly he is here because the family got a new puppy, and he will need to learn never to put his mouth on the puppy and not play with him too roughly:)

Leon showing Monzo that he is a calm and nice dog, and that there is nothing to be afraid of.   (Monzo is a work in progress, but a super sweet boy that just is unaware of his own strength).

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Questions from potential clients--Old Post Updated on Aggression Success

Updates in red when you scroll down:)

Before the question, there was a lot more detail regarding the specifics of the dog owner's situation.  This is a dog owned by the same family since puppy hood.   The dog has just bitten someone, while be pack walked as part of their rehabilitation or an attempt to get a less fearful dog (not with the owner but with a dog walker or trainer).   The standard type of obedience sounds like it was done before, perhaps without an eye towards results or knowledge passed on that results and goals are a good thing to have in training.

I am just going for the meat of the question here, because in general, this would be a question that owner's of a particular temperament of dog would have:

"if you have had any luck in curing “fear aggression” with dogs using your residency training program or in any other way?"

My answer follows.   You may note that if my goal is sales it is not the best response:)   My goal is to help dogs and owners who want to improve their relations with their dogs.   I want to do this without putting pressure on dog owner's to impulsively throw money at the situation.  Why?   Because throwing money at the situation will absolutely 100% fail if that is the only thing done.

With that in mind, here was my response:

"Improvement in the dog can be made. The owner always needs to be aware and know who their dog is in the long term however. Some dogs get over it, and some dogs do not. Basic obedience trained to a standard gives the owner a way to communicate other things to do rather than to rush at a stranger, if they are consistent, responsible, and able to get over the learning curve.

As far as "curing", it's not like getting a car fixed where something just is replaced with a brand new part. Dogs take variable amounts of time for improvement, and it really depends 1) how damaged the dog is 2) how able the owners are to understand and implement a training program and 3) the ability to work as a partnership in the future by knowing each other and having a level of trust.



Unfortunately, many of these problems can be avoided entirely by starting training, boundaries, and rules early, unless one has a dog that is really not wired right. The lack of training (to a standard, which is important, many trainers do not bother to try to do this with their human clients), rules, and boundaries can influence an otherwise mentally healthy dog to grow up not so mentally healthy.


Good luck. Let me know if you want to investigate further. If you do, please fill out the client information form."

Honestly that is my answer.   Improvement is always possible, but is it going to be the improvement that owners' are looking for?   Getting an owner into the learning curve regarding trainer and behavior modification is hard enough with a dog that has not yet bitten or shown signs of aggression.   It could be totally possible to have this dog enjoying humans some time in the future, but convincing everyone the need for steps to be in place to ensure safety...that is the hard part.  

Often, after awhile, clients forget how bad it was, or they remain in denial about their dog.   A protocol slips, is forgotten, or just disregarded as the dog "does not need that anymore".   Yet the dog still is not prepared for some scenarios, and no real work has been done to prepare them for that particular scenario.   BAM!  Predictably for those of us who train but not so much for owners, the undesired action is performed by the dog.

This is why much caution is taken before accepting a case like this.   There are some screen out things that I have in place, which are designed to off put those who really already know that they may not want to live the lifestyle required to save their dog.  I am not pointing fingers here, I totally understand having lived with a couple of dogs that were behaviorally challenged.   This is something that I decided to do, and do not expect that others will decide to live the same way.

It is impossible and unethical to re home a dangerous dog.   So options in these type of situations are limited.   It's a tough situation, and as always, I completely sympathize and support any necessary decisions made in circumstances like this.

Please see these related articles:
Work With The Dog You Have Not With The Dog You Wished You Had
The Resource Guarders
Aggression, Why You Need Help
Selecting A Trainer

So how many dogs I have personally helped through something *like* this?   How successful were those cases?

Of the hoods listed, in July of 2008, totalling 14 dogs:

  • My own two were successful on that list (Jackie and Neptune).
  • Three were re homed.   One after partners slit up, and the one left with him re homed in while in a different state.    One a family who did not want to train the other dog in the family very much (not the client dog but dog family member who did not really have a behavioral problem so much as she wanted to correct new puppy all the time.   New puppy did have behavioral problems, but did a lot less damage than the older resident dog.   Tuff situation, but dog found excellent home).  One owner fed the dog with the "new puppy" (that they were not supposed to get) right upon returning home without crates or anything.
  • One was euthanized.   Unfortunately suggested by me, and we did try and find another home for him.   He did not have a serious bite history YET, but lived with three toddlers, and had really major aggression problems since he was a puppy.  Would have probably turned into a nice obedience or sports dog with the right family.
  • One on there, who is a friends dog NOT a training client, is still in the wait and see.  We have talked about him a lot, and I have given a lot of advice.  Dog has severe joint problems, and was in the vets a lot during early and very critical periods of his life.
  • 7 left have been successful plus my two being 9 out of 14 successful on that list.  64% success rate per my definition.   Arguably the rehomes could be considered successful, but if the dog comes in for training from their home, my personal goal is to keep that dog in their home.   Obviously if that is not the right thing to do, I don't do it, but I do not consider it a successful case if they are re homed.
Since then there have been some more:
  • Dog A-Good for a year and three months, and just did a backslide.   Was allowed to start hanging out on the bed. (S)  update tumors were found in the intestines, and treated.   he has been a loving part of the family since this was discovered, and has a new dog friend in the house that he loves.   this is a dog that has always had serious medical problems.
  • Dog B-Two dog family, one was beating up on the other and aggressive to dogs in general.  So far very successful for the last thirteen months. (S)
  • Dog C-Adopted from shelter who rescued her after she had been tied to a garage for the first two years of her life.   She had a litter of pups during this time due to not being able to get away from males (or fixed for that matter).   She was abandoned when the rescue was able to step in.   Very traumatized as far as interactions with other dogs went, and was pretty aggressive to other dogs.  So far very successful for the last thirteen months. (S)
  • Dog D-Owned by pregnant lady that gave birth in the middle of the sessions.   She had owned for a number of years, and was just now considering training the dog for safety.  I am assuming this was unsuccessful, as not all lessons were done, and homework was hardly ever done.   It could have been a success as far as she was concerned.  I haven't heard from her, so I have no idea. (U)  I have heard that this dog is doing great with the baby, and they have not been able to continue training for the dog aggression.
  • Dog E-Young puppy displaying aggressive tendencies towards other dogs.   Was successful for awhile, but recently owner let dog out of command to greet another dog.   Dog was bitten.   This is a dog where an introduction protcol is needed, and for those dogs to be serious long time future friends before even considering this.   (R) dog was rehomed
  • Dog F-Loved his small children.   Family not prepared for a large possibly aggressive dog, though he could have been controlled by a more knowledgable family.   He was unfortunately returned to the shelter. (R)
  • Dog G-Very frightened of other dogs, and likes to get the first aggressive move out of the way.   However, does not  do this by actually biting or breaking skin.   Has been successful, although owner still has trouble reading his dog or implementing training strategy.   She improves with both people and dogs every time I see her. (S)
  • Dog H-Very large black dog owned as a puppy.   Family became afraid of his more mediocre interactions, and then the dog figured this out an progressed.   The family was not interested in prolonged training, and the dog was sent to a no kill shelter. (R)
So these are eight dogs who I would call moderate to seriously behaviorally challenged.   There are no "just reactive" dogs in here or dogs that just need to learn basic obedience without a strict management protocol of some sort.  4 Solid successes.   1 waiting to see.  3 re homed.  1 did not take all lessons, and have not heard from.


So less than half in 2009-2010.  Total of all time being 13 out of 22 = 60% success rate. Also less dogs seen or inquired about during this time.  OR it could be that I am screening out more clients.  I would say of above, that there are four-five clients that I could have probably screened out.  They would not pass my muster right now (though one of those has been a success to date). I have no idea the amount of clients that I have encouraged not to use my services for their problem OR to really think of other options.   I guess I should be tracking this as well.


Talking about strictly residency cases,   8 out of 10 have been successful in all time.   80 % or redidency cases from 2003-2010 have been successful.   Pre 2008, 67% of residency cases had been successful (per my definition) and from 2009-2010 80% of residency cases have been successful.  

Residency cases, especially for the behaviorally challenged, can have a bit more success, because the training starts with someone who knows what they are doing on a regular basis.   So much up front work can be done for the owner, who can step in once there is a standard built into the training.

Keep in mind we are a teeny tiny operation, who gets about 20 new private training clients a year, plus our returning training clients.  We do not do group classes at this point.  So we only work with so many dogs as it is.   I also suspect in this economy, more dogs who have issues are being PTS as families can not afford the liability or the training.  In other words, when the money is a problem, more families have to be really realistic as to what they will spend money on (and what they can realistically do).  I don't blame them, and I absolutely love dogs whether they are behaviorally challenged or not.

And it is NOT that I don't want to help these people.  It is that unless they are already used to at least working with a non behaviorally challenged dog, these dogs are going to challenge the learning curve for these owners.

It's like saying, you have three weeks to learn the flute (or even three months, or six months) and then I expect you to be good enough to play in the Boston Symphony Orchestra.  It sometimes takes many dogs before an owner learns about training, and how to use it effectively.   We are talking about dogs that are beyond the skills of an average dog owner.   Could they get there?   Yeah, they could, if they didn't assume that their dog was "cured" from everything later on.   However, without the experience of knowing that by having handled hundreds of dogs, is it likely that this passed on knowledge is going to stick?  No, it really is not.  It is too easy for owners to be lulled into this false sense of security, and not realize that they have had no incidents because they have been actively using training and safety protocols, and then the guard comes down.  Or winter comes, they stop training, and they totally expect everything to have been maintained to the same point.

I know what happens with these dogs, as I make every effort to track them until the dog dies.   A lot of the successes often come here for boarding, so I get to see one on one.  So my definition of success does not equate to months or years without incident or fall backs, it is forever into their future.  I know about these incidents, because I e-mail the owners four or five times during the year for updates.  Or I may be actively involved in the rehoming plans.  Some of these dogs have been able to bite a lot less or not at all....until the last incident (of the unsuccessful or wait and see cases).

So there are many many factors to consider before going forward with a mind to rehabbing a dog.   Take much time to think about all the considerations.   If you are just about to get a puppy, start training immediately with an eye towards real goals and standards in training no matter which method you use.   You and your puppy will then hopefully never have to come to such an impasse in your relationship.


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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Doberman Nationals 2011 Fitchburg Ma

Very last minute heard that the Doberman Nationals were going on in Fitchburg Ma from September 30th 2011 to October 8th 2011.   Because I will be purchasing a female Doberman in 2-3 years (and cause I love Dobermans and love to see a whole bunch of them in one area LOL), made a special effort to make sure we went.   I picked a day where some regional obedience events were being held, as I have an interest in obedience sports.

As it happened, I bumped into Terry Christie of Canine Magic.   We both apprenticed at Doberman Rescue many years back.  I met her dog, Cobey, when he was a puppy.   Recently, he needed to have a leg amputated, and was happy to hear there was some video of him on YouTube with updates.







So happy for Terry and Cobey! This is the other fun thing about going to dog events, volunteering ET, you get to meet great people and catch up with them. I had actually seen Terry at a previous DRU picnic, but had not put it together, as she was with a three legged dog (last time I saw Cobey he was four legged).

Please forgive me, as I did not think to take any pictures of the event. I left my pocketbook in the trunk of the car, which had my camera, and then just got to engaged to go and retrieve it later:( I really wish that I had taken some pictures.

I did watch the obedience events (Utility and Open were going on when we got there) for about a half an hour or so. Saw a dog named Isis doing some beautiful jumps. Also a very leggy blue male with natural ears doing his retrieves in our corner, doing his job even as he gave us a sideways glance and grin. Very nice work. Unfortunately, won't be able to show Boris of the three legs there (he needs to participate with the UKC ), BUT someday when my female princess comes we may do that trial. Years and years off...

The AKC hosts the trials at the Doberman Nationals, and so Boris would be considered "lame" there (Boris just has three legs, but he has no trouble walking, running OR jumping ).   I had a very nice time watching the exhibitors in Open and Utility.  It is a pretty quiet venue, although two rings were going side by side.  This was sectioned off from the conformations going on at the other side of the building.   Not a bad venue if one is looking for an indoor semi quiet trial.   Course this is different than the annual Fitchburg trials that are not specialty LOL (very busy and not at all quiet, and great if you are training for that--next one November 2011).   Saw my very first obedience dog trial there, and have been hooked and striving for the inspiring performance ever since!  (trainer was with a Boston Terrier, and I have no idea who she was, but she was great)

Sorry got off topic regarding the Doberman Nationals of 2011.  (Point was)  If I had a Doberman with four legs (physical legs of course) who was ready to trial, but perhaps not ready for the busier November trials, I would definitely sign up for these Doberman National trials in Fitchburg MA.   The Collie Club trials in Portland Maine are somewhat similar (and they have an all breed day) in the business factor.  I love those trials to for a dog just getting used to these venues.  I would recommend it.  If you get a chance to do this with your Doberman, I would go.   You will meet other enthusiastic Doberman owners, who love doing things with their dogs (course the day of the event they may be kinda tense LOL).

The vendors were great, and I only wish that I had known about it sooner.   I would have attended some seminars (though I probably would have to become a member, which I am doing now).   There were even online streamed seminars for those that could not attend on a certain day.

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Saturday, October 8, 2011

Halloween Movie and TV Series Recommendations

Halloween is my very favorite holiday.   Coincidentally, I am a bit of a nut about horror movies too.   I have actually spent a considerable amount of time amassing a list of movies that I can call upon each Halloween.  



Halloween is serious business, and this is no time to be watching crappy horror movies or sifting through the really bad ones hoping to find a gem.  I need sure things for my holiday month (yeah I said it, month NOT day).  My big escape over the years has been the good horror movie, and that is why I have seen so many of them.   Way more than a hundred, but these are the ones that I deem worthy of recommending based on orginality, a plot I like, a twist ending that I did not see coming, or because they are "quirky".



On the culmination of the month and on the day, I surround myself with all the candy I could want, and dive into a horror movie marathon.   The whole month though, I try and decorate each day and watch a horror movie to honor the holiday.



Here is what I like in a good horror movie, so you might get an idea where my tastes reside:

  1. It's never about the gore with me, though there may be gore in horror movies that I like.  I usually do not like the gore, but it's something about the storyline that I like.
  2. I typically like a background story, though with some movies the mystery (the original The Fog for instance) does not need to be spelled out so much.  It's a tricky balance.
  3. Since I have seen so many, I like an unusual bent or angle to the horror movie.
  4. I like when the characters we have come to know live at the end.  In other words, the best happy ending that a horror movie can have.
  5. I prefer if no animals are killed (or tortured) in the horror movie (though can not promise that all my picks stick to this).
  6. I am not a zombie or werewolf fan, but am more of a Vampire or Serial Killer fan.   Not to say that some of my movies may not have these.
  7. It's rare that I like a remake OR a sequel, but it happens:)
  8. You may find it hard to believe from my list, but I do not like hardcore violence (ala Last House on The Left or Clock Work Orange---sorry that I ever saw those oringals).
  9. If I have seen a documentary on how a low budget horror movie was made (ala Texas Chainsaw Massacre), that may explain my fascination with it later LOL.  I never wanted to watch this movie until I watched the documentary on it.  Knowing what the actors were going through, and this was not made by a bunch of people that necessarily knew how to get a special effect (never mind safely).
  10. I love gothic movies with old creepy houses in them.  If I can check out the house in the movie, I am a happy camper.
  11. I love horror movies that can also add comedy.   However this is a tricky mix, and some movies try this but fail horribly.  It is the very rare movie that does this well.
  12. As in my horror books, I like when  everything looks innocent on the OUTSIDE but INSIDE it is NOT AT ALL.
  13. I grew up on "Creature Double Feature" so I like the good horror giant monster, but am more particular about the special effects LOL.


Without further ado, here are my Halloween recommendations for you (in no particular order-next year and to segment to descriptive tags next year):





  1. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? 1962
  2. Portrait of Dorian Gray 1945
  3. Wicker Man 1973 (the remake 2006 was very good as well)
  4. Sixth Sense 1999
  5. Invisible Man 1958
  6. Diaboliques 1955
  7. Silence of the Lambs 1991 (also Thomas Harris book)
  8. Hannibal 2001
  9. Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte 1964
  10. Single White Female 1992
  11. Fatal Attraction 1987
  12. (Duh) Carrie 1976 (and great Stephen King book)
  13. The Ring 2002
  14. Poltergeist 1982 (the first one IMHO)
  15. Sleepy Hollow 1999
  16. Dead Zone 1983 (also great Stephen King book)
  17. The Fog 1980 (the original only IMHO)
  18. The People Under The Stairs 1981 (funny comedy horror)
  19. House of Wax 1953(remake 2005 is campy sort of crap, but I liked the back story that they gave to it, and it had nothing to do with the original Vincent Price House of Wax)
  20. Motel Hell 1980 (I don't know how I forgot this one)
  21. The Thing 1982 (sci fi horror)
  22. It 1990 (Stephen King)
  23. Alien 1979 (sci fi horror & great book)
  24. Jurassic Park 1993
  25. Black Christmas 1974(the orginal, not the remake)
  26. The Vanishing 1993
  27. The Bad Seed 1956
  28. The Good Son 1993
  29. Magic 1978
  30. Stranger in Our House or Summer of Fear 1978
  31. Secret Window 2004 (also great Stephen King book)
  32. (OMG) The Baby 1973-Talk about a twist ending!!!!
  33. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1978
  34. She Creature 2001
  35. Vacancy 2007
  36. Rebecca 1940
  37. Let's Scare Jessica to Death-classic [don't want to ruin the surprise] movie 1971.
  38. Original Halloween I and II (1978 & 1981), of course. II only thrown in there to continue the story, not as good as one. (I think of one and two as the same movie.)
  39.  H20 (1998) , which is Halloween 20 years later.
  40. Rob Zombie's Halloween (first one not the second one---second one was too much in line with the actual)
  41. The Audition, Japanese Horror Movie 1999. Quite a take on your submissive Japanese woman (NOT!!!!).
  42. Godzilla, the remake 1998. A totally American movie doing a fresh new (and sometimes funny) look at Godzilla and how he came to be here. I own this movie, I loved it so much.
  43. The whole Subspecies series. The production company that actually did filming in Romania went bankrupt and out of business, but I so loved these. Yet another different and twisted look at vampires. Subspecies came out in 1991, which I thought was the weakest of them and I actually saw it last. Bloodstone, Subspecies II, came out in 1993. Bloodlust, Subspecies III, came out in 1994. And finally the last (boo hoo) came out in 1998 Bloodstorm, Subspecies 4.
  44. Red Dragon, of course, because I have read the Thomas Harris books. The film came out very well in 2002, I thought.
  45. Blind Beast 1969 is a good Japanese horror film that I recently did a review on. Very, very creepy.
  46. The Burbs 1989. Comedy horror at it's best. Tom Hanks plays a neighbor, who is suspicious of the new neighbors in town.
  47. The Lost Boys 1987. A vampire movie that I always still enjoy when it's on. I like the plot of the younger brother helping out the older brother. Grandpa gets in on the act as well.
  48. Showtime Master of Horror Series. I didn't like them all. The very first one is probably my favorite due to the surprise ending, and just overall creepiness of it. Plus, you are never really sure where you are going......really.
  49. Ghost Story 1981, good book and I think good movie. Actually, if I remember correctly, I might have enjoyed the movie more than the book.
  50. Intensity 1997 (Dean Koontz book first, loved botht he movie and book)
  51. Hideaway 1995 (Dean Koontz book, but changed the story a little bit)
  52. Demon Seed 1977 (Dean Koontz book---can you guess one of my favorite authors LOL)
  53. Lady in White 1988 - this one might be okay for children, but there is a definate reference to a pedophile---be warned.   Good mystery ghost story that I think was targetted for children as well.
  54. Burnt Offerings 1976
  55. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer 2006 --Totally Gothic and creepy, not sure how I felt about the ending, but a terrifically creepy movie.
  56. Series of about 12 Dark Shadows The Revival (though it doesn't end there, but production was cancelled, so it's a bit frustrating after episode 12) 18) Hostel I 2005 and II 2007. II is even better, but I wouldn't discount I at all!!!
  57. Spider Babies 1968
  58. Quills 2000  Really, really gothic.  Strong sexual themes and some violence.  Really great adult horror movie though.
  59. The Omen 1976 (I HATED the remake)
  60. Damien: Omen II 1978
  61. Children of the Damned 1964
  62. Psycho 1960
  63. The Shining 1980 (not as true to the Stephen King book, but Jack Nicholson's role) 
  64. The Shining 1997 (true to the Stephen King book)
  65. Jeepers Creepers 2001
  66. Jeepers Creepers II 2003
  67. Joyride 2001
  68. The Other 1972 (also an excellent book, and the movie is pretty true to the book) 
  69. King Kong 2005 (one movie where I like the remake much more than all the others before it)
  70. Creep 2004
  71. Misery 1990 (also great Stephen King book)
  72. The Haunting 1963
  73. Changeling 1980
  74. Sweeney Todd 2007
  75. Prom Night 1980
  76. Frailty 2001
  77. Strangeland 1998
  78. American Psycho  2000
  79. Cloverfield 2008
  80. Day After Tomorrow 2004
  81. True Blood Series 2008
  82. Dexter Series  2006
  83. Reaper TV Show 2007
  84. Wolf Creek 2005
  85. The Blob (always loved this movie) 1958
  86. Godsend  2004
  87. Cape Fear (remake with DiNero) 1991
  88. Communion or Alice Sweet Alice 1976
  89. Rosemary's Baby 1968 
  90. Interview with A Vampire 1994
  91. House of Wax (Vincent Price) 1953
  92. House of Wax (Paris Hilton LOL) 2005  a beginning scene in this really did it for me!
  93. The Ring 2002
  94. Three Extremes 2004
  95. Yoga 2009
  96. What Lies Beneath 2000 (I like how the beginning starts, and helps with the twist ending)
  97. Scream I, II, & III (and looking forward to IV) 1996 1997 2000
  98. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1974
  99. Dream Home 2010
  100. The Burrowers 2008 ---very creepy old west meets horror