So You Want A Dog, Really?

I have loved animals since childhood.   In my adult life, I enjoy my time spent with dogs.  I love doing things with them that they love doing.   My motivation comes from a place that wants to provide my dogs with the most enjoyment possible.   I am the rare person that has not, in fact, met the dog she wouldn't like.   Professional dog trainers told me that when I worked enough dogs, I would find some that I did not like (dogs that is).   This has not happened, though I will admit to liking some dogs less than others.  This usually just has to do with more time spent with a dog/owner team over another.   I like them all, and I appreciate them all.   I like the ones who are bomb proof to the most behaviorally challenged dogs that I have had the pleasure of meeting.

Many people want the dog to fill up a spot of incompleteness in their lives.  People may feel their child needs a companion or responsibility.   Some people think that getting a dog will make them exercise more, as those dusty machines in the corner have not motivated them to do.   For some a dog is a replacement for children they can't have or adult children that have left.   Sometimes people think too much about what they dog will do for them, and do not consider what must be done for the dog OR the spirit in which care should be done.
Some are in love with idea of rescue.   That is fine, just remember there is no rescue unless the story ends with the dog living happily ever after with the family.   There is more not only to rescuing a dog, but to purchasing a dog in general than paying the fee or providing food and shelter.  All of the same questions need to be considered and gone over thoughtfully before seeking a or another dog.

Before getting a dog, please ask yourself the following questions:

1. The very first question, is do YOU really want a dog and why?   The answer should not be all about you, the human, and what you need. 
2. The next question is do you have the time, finances and commitment to have a dog?   Even were you to acquire a dog for free, as a client once said "there is no such thing as a free dog".   Food, bedding, toys, veterinary care, flea and tick medicine, grooming supplies, leashes, collars, training ET are all with a cost.   A potential owner should be sure that they have the means to meet that cost to the best of their ability.   The purchase price of the dog is going to be the least of your financial concerns.
3. Is now the right time to get a dog?  Is there stress going on, pregnancy, divorce, ET that may not make this an ideal time to care for a dog properly?   The best time to bring in another dog is when there are no extraordinary stresses around for both the canine and the human.
4. Is it possible that you have a medical condition or allergies that would make all or some types of dogs not healthy for you to own?
5. Have you owned dogs in your adult life?   How experienced are you in bringing up a dog to date?  If you feel you have limited experience, you can get that experience either before you get a dog or after to some degree.   Volunteering at a shelter or fostering a dog with the support of a shelter is a great way to start learning about dogs and some of their needs.   Professionals of many sorts are there to support you once you have a dog or puppy.   Know what support is available to you.
6. How prepared is your house, yard, and overall living environment for an incoming dog?
7. Will you be upset when the accidents happen due to non supervision or just as a result of life?   By accidents, I am not just talking about housebreaking accidents, but damage to personal possessions and things.
8. What sorts of personality traits will you be looking for in a dog?   Do you want a dog that will follow you all the time be social and enjoy hugs and kisses?   Do you prefer an independent dog?
9. How committed are you to really training your dog?   By training I mean to a real standard to respond to you 90% of the time on the first command, and to be trained to be able to (whether you choose to do this a lot or not) be unleashed and responsive to you.   You should know that there is a high failure rate in those that get a dog, and can not do this.   Not everyone is lucky enough to pick out the most "bomb proof" dog.
10. Are all adult family members up to interacting, training, and taking the necessary care of a dog?
11. Are there additional considerations that should be considered for other family members in the house (young and old or special needs)?
12. How much research are you willing to spend on finding a responsible rescue or breeder to adopt your dog from?
13. Are you willing to let the breeder and rescue give you input OR choose the appropriate dog or puppy for your family?   Many responsible breeders and rescues do this.

These are just some questions that one should consider before adopting a dog.   Even if you have had a dog before, it's important to truthfully assess your skill level, and what you will be willing to put into your next dog.

New Hampshire and Maine Dog Trainer
Mannerly Mutts Dog Training Blog
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Xmas Impulse Purchased Puppies by Robert Rubin

Here at Mannerly Mutts-we love our clients and we love our business. We also like to be able to continue what we love by being paid. That being said, right now is always are least favorite time of the year. This is the time of the year that the impulse purchases made as an Xmas suprise for the family start their training.

Actually what happens most times is when the first lesson fails to deliver a stuffed animal that rarely comes to life (and only when it's wanted to come to life), and normal puppy behavior is the order of the day....
The once joyously greeted puppy is sent uncerimonously back to the rescue. When ideas of having their three year old do all the training with the puppy is not feasible, when it becomes clear that puppies need to be pottied and fed regularly, when it is realized that the five children and two jobs does not provide enough time for puppy care---puppies start re-entering the institutions that they were formerly "rescued" from.

I say every year from February to May it's a fifty fifty shot for first time owned and impulse purchased puppies. It actually takes quite an emotional toll on us, as we would like to save them all. We have a duty to our own dogs and ongoing clients to remain focused and attentive to our responsibilities though. We also lack the financial resources to self fund a non profit venture, though we are considering it to turn out trained and adoptable dogs whose owners fail them.

This time of year is worse than any other time of year due to the shear volume of impulse purchases. Normally, we would screen out these clients right away for our own emotional health. The economy right now though...it doesn't seem wise to turn away business even if there is a slim chance that the owners are going to step up to the plate.

I know my wife would just prefer to take this time off from training rather than try to get through to the impulse purchasing public.

A bad decision made is not one that may affect only your family, which I find extremely sad for the children's and dog's sakes. Your bad decision can affect all sorts of people all the way down the line. Don't purchase living things by impulse.



Maine and New Hampshire Dog Training

Mannerly Mutts Blog

LEON THE BOXER

Leon started his lessons the other day. Still seems like a very nice, sweet, and possibly the mellowest boxer that I have ever met. He seems to love everybody and everything, which is a bit of a problem because he likes to pull his owner over to potential canine playmates!!

The first lesson (basically longe line and sit on the dog) done correctly should begin to cut down on this quite a bit, and then heeling around distractions will further it for Leon. He is not adverse to doing what you want him to do:) He just needs to be taught exactly what that is.

Every new client has access to a blog with the training plans. Also, they can feel free to call me should they have any problems during the week. Each session when coaching a client takes an hour or more. If I feel a client needs additional help during the session, I don't charge them more for the additional time.

It's hard to imagine that someone left him in a shelter, but it seems that it may have been very lucky on Leon's part. No one was home with him very much according to the shelter, and so he took care of his needs for activity and elimination himself. Then a family found him, and immediately looked after his needs including training. It is such a pleasure when this happens!! Hopefully the transition into his new family keeps going smoothly.

And of course, I freaking forgot to take a picture of him, yet again, while I was enjoying him. Sigh next time, and if it should not be raining out, perhaps a video.


Mannerly Mutts Dog Training
Mannerly Mutts Blog
mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com

Behavioral Bends

Every shelter, rescuer, trainer, and adopter of an adult shelter dog should know about behavioral bends. The article attached is by Julia McDonough (posted under her old married name). The basic message is that dogs are not always WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). Dogs may show unexpected behaviors weeks or months after you adopt them. This does not always mean that the owner has done something terribly wrong!! In fact, what it may mean is that the dog is only now comfortable showing you this part of themselves. Dogs need to scope out the situation first. For trainers, this is especially important because a problem can not always be diagnosed over the phone or from even a day one consult.

For instance, our resident guest, Mr Hoobie, who I have been talking regularly about. Thankfully, I have a detailed history of Mr Hobbinators behaviors. So from day one, I have known what to look for. Now some of these behaviors have not surfaced until week 6. Those specifically being aggression from a distance on moving body parts (like if you are moving the computer mouse with your hands or even reaching for another dog to be petted 20' away). This first showed up three days ago, when my husband went to pet Jack, and Hoobie let out a low growl and stare. Then this morning, he growled at me when I moved my hand from the keyboard to the mouse. These are things that I had wished might NEVER show their face again, but I am well aware of behavioral bends. It's not that common or uncommon. It's not always negative. It's like when six weeks later a dog just starts to show you that they are a playing fool. Hannah, another Springer, didn't make it clear that she loved to play with other dogs for six months (she boarded with us after training, and showed absolutely no interest in playing until six months later---that is except with her sister Katie). That's a positive behavioral bend, she needed to feel comfortable enough around the packs that developed here to show that side.

Just ends up being another thing about Hoobie that is tough. I have been brushing off my clothes, using my mouse liberally, petting my dogs, and petting him for five plus weeks now, and on week 6 he chooses to show me it on his own. I don't know how much of a stink he is going to put up regarding not being allowed to do it. I am glad it's here now where we still have week 7, and perhaps week 8 to go. The owner is coming down this Monday to start being trained on handling Hoobie, and continuing his training and maintenance once home. He may actually give his owners less of a problem OR he may try to get things "back to his normality" as much as possible.

Any way, it's going to be important information for me. When I get a dog like Hoobie in, I pretend this is MY dog. I have just adopted him from the shelter. The unfair thing is that I do have background info on this dog, unless he has been adopted just days ago and the owner does not know that much about the dog. That's just one of the many things I love about Hoobie's owners, they have been very thorough and thoughtful of telling me what to be aware of.


Mannerly Mutts Dog Training
Mannerly Mutts Blog
mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com

Ignorance is Not Bliss, It's Stupidity

http://doxienews.com/2009/05/27/the-queen-and-her-dorgis/comment-page-1/#comment-325

Oh, don't make me say anymore, this rubbish just gives me a headache. You can't say the animal rights movement doesn't know what they are doing, and catch the attention of the niave simpletons who follow.

Good Lord.

Sorry about that, I have managed to remain non political lately, but this just fried my fanny. This twerp wants to limit rights of responsible breeders so that the numb nutts can keep irresponsibly breeding dogs. Excellent.

Mannerly Mutts Dog Training
Mannerly Mutts Blog
mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com

Shelter Systems Run As Profit Shelters

In my area, and in some personal knowledge about someone in the area who purchased a shelter, I believe and I think it may be common knowledge among those in the shelter industry, that there is a trend going on to make profit on the non-profit industries. Shelters these days have basically, in my opinion, replaced pet stores. This is where the worse than puppy mill puppies go to these days. And I am not saying I don't like shelter dogs, I do. I wish I could go in and adopt a mixed breed, but my husbands allergies do prevent this for me. And now I have fallen in love with the Doberman, and don't think I will be able to break the cycle. Sorry digressed there. I know that I have seen actual internet advertisements that suggest ways to make your shelter a "profit" business. Now some shelters do this in a better way, as I believe Sue Engel's shelter may, by providing training to adult dogs. That being said, I have never met Sue or gone to her shelter. But the things that she seems to be doing and have started are more in line with what I would support at a shelter. That being said a shelter that is providing a trained dog, with fees added on for this service, is probably providing for itself. While these new profitable "non-profits" are making enough with their fees, and still targeting the community for "donations". I have requested the tax records on non-profits in the area this year, as with reduced income, I need to consider my contributions more carefully. I was astounded to see the cash in the bank, and payroll some of these places had. (I am actually not just talking animal shelters here, but other types of non-profits as well). I think there, and believe I remember from my education, that non- profits that do not accept money from the government, do not necessarily have strict stipulations on how much can be accumulated. Or how it can be disbursed (salaries et---and I am not saying shelter workers should not be paid a fair wage). The Red Cross or Human Shelter Organizations, for instance, have very strict regulations that include mandatory audits (annually at least) of how and where and how much and in what ratio their money goes. Why are puppies producing more revenue when they are not purebreds? Everyone (thinks they) want a puppy. Few people want to actually research what they are doing. Shelter is a simple place to go. Now plenty of puppies available there from 150-300. One day spur of the moment shopping. Puppies end up being untrained dogs, go to different shelter, fate is later decided there. This is something that I haven't seen discussed too much. And so I did want to share my opinions on it, because I think it's important. And I am not saying I don't want to save the poor puppies from Virigina or Georgia that make it too Massachusetts. I am just pointing out something that is happening in our shelter systems, that I don't think is talked about too much. A good thing that I think is happening, is with networking, the computer, and pet finder, dogs and puppies that are found in areas where they might be likely to be euthanized, are being picked up and transported (sometimes) to areas where they are more likely to find the appropriate home. As with anything, it's six of one, and a half dozen of another.

Shelter Systems Run As Profit Shelters

In my area, and in some personal knowledge about someone in the area who purchased a shelter, I believe and I think it may be common knowledge among those in the shelter industry, that there is a trend going on to make profit on the non-profit industries. Shelters these days have basically, in my opinion, replaced pet stores. This is where the worse than puppy mill puppies go to these days. And I am not saying I don't like shelter dogs, I do. I wish I could go in and adopt a mixed breed, but my husbands allergies do prevent this for me. And now I have fallen in love with the Doberman, and don't think I will be able to break the cycle. Sorry digressed there. I know that I have seen actual internet advertisements that suggest ways to make your shelter a "profit" business. Now some shelters do this in a better way, as I believe Sue Engel's shelter may, by providing training to adult dogs. That being said, I have never met Sue or gone to her shelter. But the things that she seems to be doing and have started are more in line with what I would support at a shelter. That being said a shelter that is providing a trained dog, with fees added on for this service, is probably providing for itself. While these new profitable "non-profits" are making enough with their fees, and still targeting the community for "donations". I have requested the tax records on non-profits in the area this year, as with reduced income, I need to consider my contributions more carefully. I was astounded to see the cash in the bank, and payroll some of these places had. (I am actually not just talking animal shelters here, but other types of non-profits as well). I think there, and believe I remember from my education, that non- profits that do not accept money from the government, do not necessarily have strict stipulations on how much can be accumulated. Or how it can be disbursed (salaries et---and I am not saying shelter workers should not be paid a fair wage). The Red Cross or Human Shelter Organizations, for instance, have very strict regulations that include mandatory audits (annually at least) of how and where and how much and in what ratio their money goes. Why are puppies producing more revenue when they are not purebreds? Everyone (thinks they) want a puppy. Few people want to actually research what they are doing. Shelter is a simple place to go. Now plenty of puppies available there from 150-300. One day spur of the moment shopping. Puppies end up being untrained dogs, go to different shelter, fate is later decided there. This is something that I haven't seen discussed too much. And so I did want to share my opinions on it, because I think it's important. And I am not saying I don't want to save the poor puppies from Virigina or Georgia that make it too Massachusetts. I am just pointing out something that is happening in our shelter systems, that I don't think is talked about too much. A good thing that I think is happening, is with networking, the computer, and pet finder, dogs and puppies that are found in areas where they might be likely to be euthanized, are being picked up and transported (sometimes) to areas where they are more likely to find the appropriate home. As with anything, it's six of one, and a half dozen of another.

Some People Give Me Nightmares

Oh yes you are!!!!---different that is than the general public. The range of people out there looking for dogs is staggering. Granted most are good hearted people. I used to work as a controller for a manufacturing plant that employed.....cheap labor. Okay, translation, people who were not incredibly bright or kind hearted. Now don't anyone get offended, some of these people were great hard working people who earned very little money because they didn't complete high school (but were still smart and hard working), but some of them deserved the low pay they got, in fact, in my opinion they were paid too much. One such employee lit himself on fire with gasoline one day just to see how quickly it would get out of control. Burnt himself pretty bad, and he wasn't fired. Anyway, another of his ilk went out one day looking for a dog. Imagine my horror when he said he went to Sterling Animal Shelter where I was currently volunteering. This is a shelter that does minimal screening, but they do require proof of house ownership or landlord approval. He was denied and pissed, and eventually gave up his quest. "Fire boy" was successful in his quest (went to a different shelter but he may have had landlord permission). Got a lovely pit bull. Thought it was funny when the dog got all protective of him with his friends, dog bit several of his friends (while "Fire Boy" laughed at the antics), and finally one bad enough to be put to sleep. I saw this person's (Fire Boy) interaction with the dog, and the dog only did what he was taught to do. You may mean something different then screening processes. In my opinion the local shelters around here do not have adequate screening processes. Some of these dogs come out of a bad situation just to land in worse. You can never guarantee that a rescue will get the right home, but shelters can do their best with the budgets and staff constraints as far as I am concerned. Even the good hearted people sometimes have not aquired enough knowledge to adopt certain breeds or temperments.