Tommy, Mannerly Mutt's Maine Dog of the Week

Tommy by the heater this winter.

Tommy by the gas stove his first winter at our house.

Tommy stuffed behind me on my office chair.

Tommy find a sunshine spot by the window.

Tommy on his favorite chair and under his favorite fluffy blanket!

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Tommy is NOT our dog!   However, Tommy is a large part of our family, being that he boarded with us for over two years, and he boards here at least once a month these days.   We got to know and love Tommy very much.

From the pictures, you can probably guess that Tommy loves to be warm.  He is always seeking out sun spots or warm places to cuddle including the back of my chair when I am on it!  

How did we meet Tommy?   A friend of the owner's spotted our truck at the library one day.   This friend called Tommy's owner, who was in Switzerland at the time.   The family had moved their temporarily because they work for one of those large corporations that like to ship their workers off to far and wide places.   Tommy had been flow, as well, to Switzerland.   Turns out, this is not the place to have a dog whose breed falls under the designation of "pit bull breed" even if they are a mix.   So the family wanted to get Tommy out of the country ASAP!   They also wanted him to still be here, if possible, upon their return.

And so Tommy came to be with us for two plus years.   his family came home four or five times a year to visit with him during that time.  The first day that Tommy came here, he was so shell shocked.   First he was flown to Switzerland, then flown back and at a stranger's house!   We needed to do three weeks of board & train with him, so that we could have a dog that would get along with human and dog guests at our place (or at least obey a command quickly). Tommy was smart and quick friends with my dogs, and our various client's dogs.

He has many nicknames here.   "Timmy Tommy Jimmy Jomdy" for one.   We frequently refer to him as "round and brown" LOL.   And if you need Tommy to be protective of you, he will be ready for that job.   Likewise, if you tell him to cut it out, he will cut it out.   Tommy is the dog I most want in the house if my husband is travelling!  

Also despite his "seeking warmth photos" Tommy is a very active guy.   I taught him to do jumps, and he loves performing these in the woods.  He can jump quite high even as he is aging.   He also loves to race in the woods, especially with friends Ollie and Boris.  Tommy is probably seven or eight now.

   

Tommy is like family here.   We always refer to him as our fourth dog.  That is why Tommy is the dog of the week this week.

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Various dogs in action or asleep at Mannerly Mutts Dog Training in York Maine

Robert, Boris, and Ziggy check out the horse and carriage, while I snap a picture
with Shana Madela by my side.

Magoo, Jet (Black Shepherd) and Trooper (barely seen behind Jet).

Lucey, she is no lady.   She can get filthy in five seconds flat, and not just because
she is white.

Teddy, we call him Teddy Bear.

Our little Munchkin, Ziggy, not enjoying the flash so much.

Boris contemplates how to best get the ball away from Jet.

Boris trying to divest Shana Madela of her toy, as any pesky big brother would do.

Clooney, Shaman, and Boris are all very sleepy!

Shana Madela curled up to Boone's bum and looking ribby (she is growing fast).  We
feed her a ton, and I just put her food up more.   Building lots of puppy muscle and organs.

Tommy loves his sunny spots!

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I Am Not a Mother, but This Was My Mother's Day

Leon and I in Portsmouth NH.  

Boris, Leon and I posing for Robert in Portsmouth NH.

Leon and I practicing our sit stays in Portsmouth NH.

Alyssa (Husky), Boris (Our Black Dobie), and Tommy (Brown Pit/Lab X) hanging in the front yard.

Boris and Alyssa hanging out in the front yard.

Boris, Alyssa, and Tommy hanging out in the front yard.

Boris keeping me warm as I read "The Face" by Dean Koontz.

Boris and Leon Playing tug on Long Sands Beach.

More tug of war with Boris and Leon on Long Sands Beach.

Trying to balance the kong on Tommy's head (his head was too round to balance on LOL).

Leon is very excited for me to throw him the acqua kong on the beach.

A mother and her daughters out with their dogs!

Close up on the Boxers in this family affair.

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Spencer Pyrenes X Old Training Footage of Day 2 and 3 Electronic Collar

This was taken in the beginning of December 2011.   Where is Spencer now?   Enjoying a full life with his family, not attacking dogs that come near his family, and being able to enjoy expanded and freedom due to this:)


It is important to train dogs in different areas.  This is why Day 2 is on the beach, and day 3 is in the woods off lead with other dogs.  The beach was a particularly calm day with no one else around, so it was a bit easier for Spencer.   The woods was full of new smells and friends, so it's not that it was really harder for Spencer so much as his adrenaline levels were elevated so he did not feel what was the working stim the day before.   When the dogs do feel it, they are usually trying to figure out what kind of bug is on them at first that is pestering them LOL.   Sometimes being in a different environment makes generalizing harder for a dog as well.  

Someday I am going to go on a walk with Spencer and family and show you all the finished product.   However, I do like to keep the beginning steps visible for clients and the interested parties.   So many times if you are showing the finished product, or training with an already trained dog as an example, a future dog trainer/owner (who will train) will think that they are experiencing something unusual when it does not go the same as the demo with the already trained dog .

I like to show where the learning begins, happens, and ends.   The full story if you will.  Spencer's owner reports that he is doing well, and it is much easier to walk him in public with their growing (human babies) family.

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Market Square Day Portsmouth NH with Dogs

Balloons balloons balloons!

Balloons closer up.

Nice Merle Great Dane meeting Boris.

Excellent way to travel with your favorite frisbee.

Adorable puppy with one blue eye and one brown eye.

Us just standing around meeting the Merle Great Dane.

Leon and I walking through Market Square Day in Portsmouth New Hampshire.




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Pet Blogger Challenge

1. When did you begin your blog?

In 2004 I began Mannerly Mutts Dog Training Blog as my Worcester Massachusetts dog training business began to take off. Soon, however, the business and family moved to York Beach Maine.

2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog?

Sharing adventures, trials, and tribulations of dog training with the general dog owning public.

3. Is your current purpose the same?

The original purpose is always in effect. However, I have increased the scope and content of the blog.

If not, what’s different?

It has grown to promote dog training or results orientated dog training to the general public, and how this can enhance a relationship between dog and owner. Our blog also serves to provide information on balanced dog training, and expose the myths and misrepresentations out there by others. It has also grown to become an informational resource to our clients and their continuing or beginning education.

If so, how do you feel you’ve met your goals?

I am less concerned with my blogging goals then my goals in business in general, but I do believe we have met these goals. Often times I come across people who read my blog, and it always surprises me:) in a good way.

4. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you?

I try to blog on a daily schedule. However, when my business is busy or I am training competition dogs, it is not always my priority. You will see there are some months where blogging might be missing all together.

If the latter, do you worry about… well, whatever you might worry about (e.g. losing traffic, losing momentum)?

No, if I am not blogging that means I am doing the important work of demonstrating dog training and working with owners training their dogs. As long as I keep blogging, it seems my audience always comes back and continues to grow.

5. Are you generating income from your blog?

Not directly, and it’s not really the purpose of the blog. My customers don’t really come from my blog; they go to my blog after they have found me. Sometimes in finding me they may check my blog first before contacting me, but my blog is not directly responsible for any income.

If so, how (e.g. sponsor ads, affiliate relationships, spokesperson opportunities)?

Not applicable.

6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular (bragging is good!)?

I like presenting information to dog owners that is hidden or misrepresented (intentionally) by other professionals in the dog business. There are also some incredible dog trainers out there doing excellent work (and can reliably demonstrate that work), and they should be known and sought after.

7. What do you like least?

It has not happened in awhile, but I hate when zealots come after me. I believe I have stopped this by addressing them in a direct way, and not allowing what they were doing to be unnoticed or uncommented upon.  I do not moderate my commentors other than to delete spam.

8. How do you see your blog changing/growing in 2011?

We are going to be having group classes for the first time. These will be new adventures in dog training to share. I will also be sharing on how my posted goals are going in the new year of 2011.

More video demonstrations on common dog training concepts.   I am going to start holiday photo shoots with my dogs, and show off their abilities.   Perhaps interactive discussions.  I don't plan for the changes to my blog much, they pretty much grow organically themselves.

So, there you have it. Don’t forget that there is still time to enter to win the SturdiProducts Car-Go giveaway – and be sure to follow the links below to read more blogger’s posts for the Pet Blogger Challenge!

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After Death Experiences

My dog, Jack, died on 12/23/2009.   I have not experienced anything unsual after his death.   I wish I did, but then again, I hope he's on to bigger and better things.   My sweet boy deserved everything life had to give him, and I can only hope he is back on his way to more adventures.

However, I do believe that I have had contact before.   My cat, Clyde, died many years ago.   He was very old, but it was especially taumatic for us because we needed to help him along via a vet.   I returned home with my husband sobbing, and then stopped suddenly.   I heard the distinct sound of his purring.  Clyde had an unbelievable ability to purr so loud it WOULD wake you up, even if he was in another room.   I believe I heard it distinctly that day, as if to say "don't worry, I am all right".

To leave the pet category for a moment, my Grandmother also died many years ago.   Although she died in a nursing home, her house was vacant without owners until her passing.   I felt the need to drive over, and sit on the stump of the boison berry tree that I climbed in my youth.   As I drove into the driveway of her house, I smelled her perfume, which was a rose type of perfume.   I can't conjure up that smell if I try, but I smelled it distinctly that day.  Also on a day of a big decision (which I can not remember now), a music box that had not been played in ages went off.   I attributed that to my Grandmother's approval or wish of good luck.

A few years before my Grandmother, my Grandfather died the day after Thanksgiving.   I felt someone distinctly tug on my pony tail after he died.   There was no one else in our house.

How about others?   Any after death experiences that you attributed to passed love ones?