Unfriendly Canine Legislation Trends

Above is Tommy (admiring blond Bella), who needed to get out of Switzerland due to the current climate in canine law design and breed specific legislation. Ah, for the days of blissful ignorance as a child running through the fields and woods with my Labrador/Beagle mix, Major.  Life was a simple pleasure then not weighed down with worries about the declining rights of dog owners.  Legislation is not discriminating these days regarding the rights of responsible dog owners vs. the rights of irresponsible dog owners.   They are the same with the laws banning breeds, muzzling breeds, limits on number of dogs owned, eliminating parks for leashed dogs, and making off leash access almost non existent. In 2003 professional dog enthusiast Internet boards were talking about the legislation trend sweeping many nations, including our own states.  Many thought the alarmists were Henny Penny types.   Many dog enthusiasts could not believe the sky was actually falling or to continue would continue it's fall.   Instead it was believed that these isolated trends would soon go away.   Unfortunately, the fallout from this has not stabilized into more reasoned actions or stopped altogether the way many hoped it would. Some examples of this: ·       September 2010 Worcester Massachusetts City Council members approve legislation requiring the so-called "pit bull" breed to be muzzled outside of their homes and/or property.  The specifics are to general to list, and the actual new ordinance is not out there in public yet.   April 1st of 2011 is when this new rule will take affect. ·       Worcester Massachusetts does not allow dogs in parks leashed or not.  (Paragraph 14 and unless a service dog) ·       The infamous HEART legislation of Albuquerque New Mexico.  Your dog must be on an eight-foot leash in this city any time you are not in your house OR in your own fenced in yard.   Yard doesn't have a fence?  Dog gets to enjoy time on 8' leash in your own yard.   Not a long line or flexi, but at the most 8'of fun. ·       Pawtucket Rhode Island has banned the so-called "pit bull" breed. ·       Ontario Canada not only bans breeds, but it is totally okay for the dog warden on his authority alone to confiscate and kill dogs. ·       No dogs on many if not all New Hampshire State parks leashed or not. Here is the bottom line, the hysteria and continued deluge of animal legislation and banning of breeds is not slowing down nor will it in the near future.   That is, unless dog owners, citizens, victims of irresponsible dog owners, and legislators really start to get a clue.   The individuals following the example of Henny Penny were NOT wrong.  Sky still continues to rain down on the rights of responsible dog owners.  The warnings went largely unheeded and still are not paid attention to by the dog owning contingent, unless it crops up in their community or affects their breed.   The trick would be to be proactive and block this kind of legislation and make the legislation seem very silly to introduce in the first place.  A proactive approach has been started but needs to be encouraged in the dog community to expand beyond the professionals in the dog field.   Here are some contributors to the current climate in dog law legislation: ·       Dog owners who do not really want dogs, and do not care for their dogs and the surrounding environment properly. o      Do not pick up their dog's waste. o      Allow their dog to roam the neighborhood freely. o      Do not properly train or socialize their dog. o      Neglect their dog. o      Excuse or deny issues that they are having with their dogs until something happens.  Sometimes not even then. o      Allow their dog to indiscriminately run up to humans or dogs that may not want their attentions. o      Allows their dog to create noise pollution in the neighborhood. o      Do not spend time with and/or exercise their dog on a regular basis. o      Does not allow their dogs to be mentally challenged. ·       A climate of "science" (not so much, and not what general public would assume it to be) in dog training, veterinarian practice, and animal behavior professionals that no longer recognizes dogs as individual in temperament, size, strength, age, and prior experience.  The art of dog training to a reliable standard where a shared communication develops the relationship of trust and partnership is slowly and surely being lost, when it is needed the most. ·       Irresponsible dog ownership that threatens the safety and well being of the public as well as family members. ·       The diminishing of areas where dogs can go to socialize makes it guaranteed that fewer dogs would be socialized.   Keep in mind what correct socialization really is. ·       Dog owners, who own large "power breeds", who do not recognize their duty and responsibility to be the best ambassador possible for their pure or mixed breed. Here are some actions that may help protect our rights if implemented in a careful and knowledgeable way: ·       Dangerous dog legislation needs to put management steps for the handling or disposal of the dog and keeping them safe within the environment.   However irresponsible dog owners or custodians need to be fined, penalized, or jailed as well.  So many irresponsible people could either care less that their dog may be put to death or may be a danger unchecked to others alive, untrained, and unsupervised.   Real consequences to the owner would, hopefully, in the place and reduce the likelihood of an irresponsible owner choosing to get a canine in the first place. ·       An irresponsible dog owner liable under legislative fines, penalties, or jail time needs to be defined thoroughly but carefully. ·       Off leash access should be given to responsible dog owners who can demonstrate their training work with their dog to a certain standard.   Also, the dog and owner should be able to pass temperament tests before off leash access is given.   Perhaps also a written exam to test whether owners know when off leash would be acceptable in a common sense way and not acceptable by use of common sense.  In this way, dog owners who are want to or are responsible can regain their right and privilege back. ·       Related to above, insist on standards being able to be demonstrated and proven in the dog training industry.   If certification and licensing is later needed, insist that the traditional obedience (off lead) tests that have been available through the AKC for very many years are the measure to which a professional dog trainer is held.   Dog trainers should be held to a higher standard than a simple Canine Good Citizen, Rally, or Therapy Dog Certificate.   ·       As a dog owner, always take the responsible and right action.   Keep in mind of the surrounding people, and give them no real reason to fear your dog.  The less ammunition out there the better. Prepare and train your dog to be calm and sure of themselves in all public areas. There are probably more points I could make on the causes and possible solutions of the not-dog-friendly legislation that is sweeping the world like wildfire.   Hopefully, this is enough for dog owners present and future to consider. MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE DOG TRAINER MANNERLY MUTTS DOG TRAINING BLOG E-MAIL MANNERLY MUTTS

Beach Day With The Boys (Tommy, Leon, and Boris)

Boris, Me, Tommy, and Leon.

Tommy, Me, Boris & Leon

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What mornings and lazy afternoons look like here

Leon and Tommy snuggled up at night.

Boris and Tommy hang on the couch as Ollie looks on.

Boris and Tommy snuggled on the chair:)

Roxie (RIP 2011) somehow snuggled on the chair to sleep (she is a Great Dane)!



Boris starting to wake up.







Tommy sleeping in front of gas stove.



From Last Weekend Into This Week

Murphy, a petite Black Lab girl.   She has been coming here for a few years now, and is much fun.

Tomber Jomber, of course, our unofficial dog for the next year.   He's great.   Look at that button nose, those eyes, the pink lips and round face.   He's the entire package:)

The family set up at the local flea market again.   Here is some tea stuff.

Here are the collectibles.

Here is Robert pretending to have sold something, but we just got there and have not even unloaded yet .

Here are my many books that make a good summer read for cheap.

I don't know this little guys name, but I see him and his sister (Kiwi below) walking all the time with their owner.

And since Kiwi is walking all the time, I don't know what she is fed that she gets so chunky.  She is awfully cute though.

Our boys, of course, Leon and Boris.

We met this cutey, Rose.

Milo, our boarding guest, an awesome Great Pyrenes male.   So very sweet.

This is Newfie, Mary, who is getting older but still has a young and playful spirit.

Rocko and Boris hanging out.

Virgule decides I am not so scary, and hangs out under my desk while I type out some blogs.

Meanwhile, Vigule's brother, Jujube, passes out from a long day next to her.

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Gus Lovely German Shepherd Boy of About 3 Years +

Gus just hanging with Robert, Leon, and Boris.

Gus playing ball with the boys.

Leon discovers Gus is pretty fun after all.

Buddies, Gus and Leon.

Buddies, Gus and Boris.

Really quite fond of each other, Boy and Gus.  Boris has his side to the camera.  My hair needs color, I am thinking a violet purple...what do you think?

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Boy Longe Line Day 1 of 3

This is Boy who started with us last week on 7/11/11.   This is the first day of training, which starts with "sit on the dog" and ends with "longe line".  The first week is all about quiet, peacefulness, and having the dog pay attention to you.  We are not getting the dog to pay attention by flashing treats at them, as this is more about calm and confidence with these exercises.   This happens to be especially good for Boy, who has never learned to  walk on leash with a collar attached   He belongs to a lady that is somewhat physically disabled, and she just can't chance the sudden lunging and fleeing for freedom.

Many things are slowly being changed up for him.   The very first thing was putting a training collar on that is designed to not allow for slippage over his head.  He has slipped other collars.  The next thing is calm confidence from his handler as we start the exercises.   This will begin to transfer to Boy as we get further into the week.   In fact, I plan on posting Day 5 tomorrow, which is the second set of days in the longe line exercises.

He is a short video of his first day.   While the video is only a little over a minute long, the first day included 1/2 hour sit on the dog, 1/2 hour walking between two points, then ending with dropped leash for 20 minutes.



Days 4-7 will deal with more distractions and movement on my part.  We have completed day four today (7/14/2011), and hope to post day five tomorrow.   Boy is already much improved.   He does have fear issues like going up stairs, going through small spaces, having dogs come right into his face or coming towards him in an enclosed area that he feels trapped in, e.t.

He is improving at a decent rate though, and so it's really important for him that the training is not rushed or short cut at all.

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Fun, Games, and Training for this Week (Video Summary)

This is a little summary of snippets of our week this week.  I forgot poor Ollie (Plott Hound X of 1 and 1/2 years) in my credits.   My apologies to Ollie and his owners .  

Here are some of the good times and a little work we have and do:



More of our training video backlog to follow.

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Busy Busy Busy, Guests and Students

I have a backlog of training videos and pictures to post.   However, I have many guests to entertain and train this week .   So I will take the easy way out for the moment, and post some pics and videos of these cuties having a good time.

Alyssa training on Ellis Park near Short Sands.

Alyssa keeping a down stay from a distance at Ellis Park on Short Sands Beach.

Alyssa keeping a place on a bench in Ellis Park on Short Sands Beach.

My dogs, Boris and Leon, attending the weekend flea market where we were set up.

Shot of Leon and Boris with the booth in the picture.

There is my husband selling things so we can feed the dogs this week .

Spartacus, nine month old client's male dobie, chewing on a nylabone.

Spartacus trying to cozy up to elder, Leon, in his crate.

Boris, Leon, and Tommy taking it easy on a hot day (airconditioned thank goodness).

Close up of nine month old puppy, Spartacus.

New training client, Boy.   He is being trained for a physically disabled woman so as to walk nicely on a leash and be a bit more confident around new things.

Spartacus and Boris share the old jeans that I use for a tug toy.

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Easter Bonnet Dogs Posted Late

Bella models a black velvet hat.

Bell is the picture of spring with her daisy headpiece.

Tommy models checkered red summer hat.

Tommy models checkered brown and black fall hat.

Leon models jaunty blue striped straw hat with bow.   Boris with red checked summer hat.

Leon models fall fabulous black and brown hat.   Bella allows red checkered sun hat to be on her head.  Alissa wonders how she got trapped into modeling black velvet hat, and refuses to look at the camera.

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A Bit of Daycare and Boarding Fun

Here are some previous (and one continuing) training clients who have become bored with the running and chasing games during the day.   They nap too here, do not fear.   I like to mix it up for them during the day either with some formal training or just doodling on jumps and so forth.

Leon is an old hat at jumping.   Tommy once he warms up, you can see he is quite taken with jumping as well.  Boris became scared of the noise the jump made when his foot went over it once, but you can see he is pretty much over that now.   Ollie is introduced for the first time, which is why I start walking him over the jump.  Jake is having his own fun with Boris, and Bailey is just enjoying the fact that he is outside and able to run, albeit on a long line.

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Baby Bella's Day Out

Leon, Bella, and Roxy

Bella investigates.

Tommy, Bella, Leon and Harley

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