It has been a few days sense the passing of a small mixed breed 4 month old Hudson. One of the worst things one can encounter in the pet industry is dealing with the loss of a pet to a customer. It is even worse to have to talk to them about how it wasn't there fault. It has taken me a while to write this due to my mix feelings on the situation... After suffering the decision was made to euthanize him an autopsy found Hudson was suffering from a liver shunt.
Now for a background on liver shunts. In utero its the mothers that provides the function of the liver because the puppy's has yet to become fully functional. Towards the end of gestation ductus venosus is supposed to close so that the puppies liver is fully functional. If it fails to close its refereed to as a intra-hepatic shunt, a extra-hepatic liver shunt is when the blood flow to the liver is rerouted by an abnormal blood vessel outside of the liver. There is much debate as to them being genetic or nurture. Personally I think it is a little bit of both a dog is predisposed to a disease or condition malpractice causes the condition to develop sooner or with more vigor. This little guys undoing was due to his nonfunctional liver, a build up of ammonia poisoned his little body.
I can say with absolute faith that this woman was doing everything for her dog. Not only did she take advice well and did her own research but everything from this dogs diet to toys was well thought out and planned. He was one of those dogs who you could tell could have become a candidate for the best of canine species. However over the course of a few weeks his condition rapidly deteriorated till after he was finally diagnosed, put to sleep.
I have two deep underlying problems with his story, the first was that he was found online via a craigslist ad. Now I am all for rehoming dogs and craigslist is a wonderful tool for people however when you get a puppy and the breeder/owner has no wish to remain in contact with you its a huge red flag. Liver shunts commonly affect multiple puppies if not genetic from the parents, if this was an intentional breeding chances are one or the other of the dogs is going to be bred again. Meaning more suffering for many more dogs and for the owners of these puppies. The second was the lack of interest the veterinarians had. I know she had gone to the vet on multiple occasions, one because he was peeing a lot without much control, another a distended stomach, then for a rash down his body. A blood pannel would have shown many indicators of a deeper underlying issue. It deeply upsets me that simple bloodwork tests werent done and much of this dogs suffering could have been avoided. He was given plenty of antibiotics some seemed to help, then ended up being told it was an inner ear problem do to a development of wabbling and falling. Multiple seizures proved it wrong. The owner was told to wait... the dog suffered. I cannot express in words how this makes me feel. She was a one in a million owner any dog would have been blessed to have and I do not say that often. The whole system failed her. All I can say to fault her was she should have requested the breeder information and developed a huge knowledge of dog diseases ( the last bit was sarcasm). I am deeply ashamed that the pet industry as a whole failed this woman. Me a part of it, as I take this dogs passing as a personal shame.
~Happy Tails~
Monday, December 9, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Cabela
I like to think of myself as a dog lover, I also like to think of my friends as such. I have always been a firm believer of knowing when you get a dog that you will able to care for it for its majority of its life. I recently turned down I very good opportunity both financially and career wise because it would have required me to rehome my dog. I would like to say that I didn't think about it one bit but I did take my time looked at my options for places for my dog to go but at the end of the day I realized that there is to much I want to have Doodles around for. I have for that reason been surrounded with similar believing friends, and when my girl fiend made a very sudden decision to get a puppy I was hesitant at agreeing to the situation but believed that in the end everything would work out.
Well I hated to ever think she would be one to put her puppy up on craigslist only a month after getting her. I agree for the reasons she did, those being medical, but she knew that she was going to be in out of the hospital but still went ahead with it... and for the first time I didn't open my home to a dog in need. Its a sweet pup, tiny cute, etc... however if I said I wasn't worried I would be lying. In the end I just have to quietly make a point that you cant do something like that. I am supportive of people needed to rehome dogs especially if they hold onto them and find a home on your own. Following the same logic as one of my favorite quotes:
“The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.” ~ George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
At the end of the day I understand why but I wish that she had given it a little more thought then indulging in getting a dog. A puppy is sensitive to change and different owners, although at least at the end of the day she will be comfortable having plenty of people handling her.
Well I hated to ever think she would be one to put her puppy up on craigslist only a month after getting her. I agree for the reasons she did, those being medical, but she knew that she was going to be in out of the hospital but still went ahead with it... and for the first time I didn't open my home to a dog in need. Its a sweet pup, tiny cute, etc... however if I said I wasn't worried I would be lying. In the end I just have to quietly make a point that you cant do something like that. I am supportive of people needed to rehome dogs especially if they hold onto them and find a home on your own. Following the same logic as one of my favorite quotes:
“The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.” ~ George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
At the end of the day I understand why but I wish that she had given it a little more thought then indulging in getting a dog. A puppy is sensitive to change and different owners, although at least at the end of the day she will be comfortable having plenty of people handling her.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Indulging in the Terrier
One of the most difficult things I have come to realize with Doodles is the fact he has an incredibly low drive to want to hunt. Or maybe I just don't know what I am looking at. He is very protective and will puff out his little chest and warn me of something whether it be a rabbit or a human. But chase down a tunnel is another story. He also might just be a late bloomer in that respect as a few months ago getting him interested in things like that was near impossible. Like before stated I have come to terms with not knowing exactly how to achieve this goal of hunting with him. Faced with political challenges, bans on dog hunting and such, it causes me great difficulty getting facts that I need to train a dog fit for earth work. Normally my job is to remove "bad" behaviors like barking chasing and digging. Not to mention the "crazy" intense that terriers can get.
Doodles is a great dog, comes when called, walks off leash, I can call him off a chase but I think all these things are piling up into a very well mannered dog. Call me crazy but I hope for the day Doodles disobeys me into a tunnel and I am forced to dig my little dog out.
Doodles is a great dog, comes when called, walks off leash, I can call him off a chase but I think all these things are piling up into a very well mannered dog. Call me crazy but I hope for the day Doodles disobeys me into a tunnel and I am forced to dig my little dog out.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Satisfying photos
So I now am working with the shy pup. Only a day in and it been a real challenge he is very sensitive to anything that I do. So far though I feel like I am learning a lot from this little man.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
When you loose it...
Today a friend mentioned I had lost my touch with dogs recently. I wanted to spit out that I had felt detached and push button for months. Its not just dogs I work with its mine too. There is a problem becoming push button too. Every person, every trainer has their faults knowing what yours are is the key growth. Mine is I tend to be harsh. I can admit it I will default into telling a dog to deal with what ever is going on. Not necessarily aggressive but not friendly either. So when I go to a push button, day after day mode, there is no growth for the dog nor me. I do not know why I have recently been like this (therapist call it depression) but I dont really want to know why either I just want to fix it. Unfortunalty I would usually give advice to walk away to an owner. When you cant control your emotions its not fair to the dog. But I cant walk away and some how I need to learn how to deal with it.
On a similar note there is this puppy who is very shy and sensitive... I am afraid to work with him because I know in this state I might be to firm with him. But I want to try its the only thing that feels like the right thing to do. Out of all the things its not my dogs who are calling to me but this quiet little puppy.... a first for me. Sometimes its just a feeling of what we need.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Why to BUY and Not Adopt
Warning Rant... I'm getting real tired of the hype of adopting a dog versus buying one. First off let me say I am very pro active about helping dogs in need and rescuing, however shelters are playing a very dirty game against breeders. There are good breeders like there are good shelters but there are bad breeders like there are bad shelters (I have seen some horrid shelters). First off shelters like to tell you buying a dog supports breeding and denies a homeless dog a home. This is plain rude. When I went looking for my next dog I looked in general, I wanted a terrier and I wanted a younger dog (6 months to a year). I couldn't find a single one... why they were all adopted! (This is a lie I found one terrier mix, took one look at it and said it
would be perfect for someone I knew and to this day that dog lives with
her and is spoiled ridiculously) But I wasn't about to take in a dog I didn't want. Second buying a dog with a good record of lineage provides you with background information on health and wellness. Most people think mixes are healthier in reality no its a lie. But mixing say a bulldog with say a lab leads to reduced breathing problems (not rocket science) in turn a "healthier" dog. Most breeders arent willing to fight what shelters say because most decent breeders I notice don't want to cause an issue. And also most of them are active in rescue and helping dogs in general. Breeding dogs correctly isn't profitable unless you are one of the top foremost winning dogs (such as Sky the fox terrier) even then winnings may cover what it cost the dog to get to that point and doesn't cover the humans cost of living. In short shelters need to get off their high horse and stop beating down good breeders or else all that will be left are puppy mills and people who don't care about a dogs well being.
Note: Designer dogs "labradoodles matlipoo's etc. " I do not consider breeds bred by reputable breeders. However reputable people might be breeding healthy mixes.
Note: Designer dogs "labradoodles matlipoo's etc. " I do not consider breeds bred by reputable breeders. However reputable people might be breeding healthy mixes.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Pit Bulls ARE Predisposed to Aggression
Now that I got your attention let me explain.. and to explain you need a little history.
The word Pit Bull does not specify a breed. Today we have the APBT (American Pitbull Terrier ) AST (American Stafordshire Terrier) or AmStaff, the Staffy (Stafordshire Bull Terrier), the Dogo Argentino and there are red nose and blue nose pits. Red nose and Blue nose pits other then they obvious color of their nose have no known decisive history. I hear some people claiming it based on where the dogs originated (where one family bred specifically dogs with red noses, Old Family Reds) to red noses being fighting dogs where blue noses were cool dogs.
The Staffy and APBT had been known as the all american family dog and was regarded very highly in society. What caused its downfall was it was an easy to train dog that fell into the wrong hands. All pits I have known have been easy to train, willing dogs making them perfect for the bad guys to use them in fighting. No man who is out to make a buck would put effort into a harder to train dog.
Now for the history somewhere between 1860ish and 1880ish the first group of Mexican workers moved up to work for cheap labor in America (before it has been the Chinese) then again in 1890's as the railroads started to grow. Then after the Mexican Revolution (around 1910) there was a dramatic decline in living and opportunity for those living in Mexico World War I provided that opportunity and a rush of workers moved into America somewhere around 1930. This population has only increased over time many of which are illegal.
At the same time the now extinct Cordoba Fighting dog was developing in Argentina. A mix of the fighting breeds of the day (Mastiff, Boxer, Bull Terrier, etc.) this dog was noted to have incredibly high pain tolerance and strong aggression to other dogs. This dog was the main foundation to the Dogo Argentino a dog breed developed around 1920 for large game hunting and fighting in Argentina. Very few dogs actually developed in South America however all were variations on the same theme like the Dogo Cubano, a mastiff type fighting dog from Cuba that went extinct in the 20th century (There are some exceptions like the Rastreador Brasileiro a tracking dog developed in Brazil).
The APBT and Staffy is from England the staffy being the one developed for fighting purposes. And where the Staffy developed in England they share roots with the Amstaff which developed in America.
Now its no coincidence that the dog that was the all american family dog, loving guardian and protector was bred to a similar looking dog from south of the border. Breeders will swear by their lines being clean but the popularity of these dogs is their downfall. Pits where popular before the WWI and the influx of workers only increased their popularity. Unless you know you are getting clean lines from over seas I wouldn't trust the lines in the Americas being "clean."
Now for the nitty gritty why these dogs are predisposed. Now all dogs have a threshold for what they will tolerate. Dogs with fighting lines closer in their background have a slightly different threshold and when a dog snaps you see what it is made of, shall we say. Now most pits in America today have been crossed with one of their similar southern counterparts introducing this "fighting dog threshold." I believe that the "Pit Bulls" in America once were dogs without this problem (this ability to snap to fighting like its life depends on it) and now it is everywhere. Pit bull owners need to come to terms with this, and you cannot say that these dogs are perfect, what needs to be done is people need to realize it and start to breed away from it again. The Staffy, English Bulldog, Mastiff and many other breeds were once fighting dogs but because of dedicated fanciers who wanted to save the breed are now with out the "fighting dog threshold." The same thing can happen to the pits in America. But no one is testing for this I see to many people breeding for color and looks with out testing and pushing the dogs limits to see where its threshold lies.
I would enjoy seeing the Pit Bulls be the all american dog again but with out people willing to do what it takes, this dog will forever have this fight still in them and will forever be predisposed to true fighting aggression.
The word Pit Bull does not specify a breed. Today we have the APBT (American Pitbull Terrier ) AST (American Stafordshire Terrier) or AmStaff, the Staffy (Stafordshire Bull Terrier), the Dogo Argentino and there are red nose and blue nose pits. Red nose and Blue nose pits other then they obvious color of their nose have no known decisive history. I hear some people claiming it based on where the dogs originated (where one family bred specifically dogs with red noses, Old Family Reds) to red noses being fighting dogs where blue noses were cool dogs.
The Staffy and APBT had been known as the all american family dog and was regarded very highly in society. What caused its downfall was it was an easy to train dog that fell into the wrong hands. All pits I have known have been easy to train, willing dogs making them perfect for the bad guys to use them in fighting. No man who is out to make a buck would put effort into a harder to train dog.
Now for the history somewhere between 1860ish and 1880ish the first group of Mexican workers moved up to work for cheap labor in America (before it has been the Chinese) then again in 1890's as the railroads started to grow. Then after the Mexican Revolution (around 1910) there was a dramatic decline in living and opportunity for those living in Mexico World War I provided that opportunity and a rush of workers moved into America somewhere around 1930. This population has only increased over time many of which are illegal.
At the same time the now extinct Cordoba Fighting dog was developing in Argentina. A mix of the fighting breeds of the day (Mastiff, Boxer, Bull Terrier, etc.) this dog was noted to have incredibly high pain tolerance and strong aggression to other dogs. This dog was the main foundation to the Dogo Argentino a dog breed developed around 1920 for large game hunting and fighting in Argentina. Very few dogs actually developed in South America however all were variations on the same theme like the Dogo Cubano, a mastiff type fighting dog from Cuba that went extinct in the 20th century (There are some exceptions like the Rastreador Brasileiro a tracking dog developed in Brazil).
The APBT and Staffy is from England the staffy being the one developed for fighting purposes. And where the Staffy developed in England they share roots with the Amstaff which developed in America.
Now its no coincidence that the dog that was the all american family dog, loving guardian and protector was bred to a similar looking dog from south of the border. Breeders will swear by their lines being clean but the popularity of these dogs is their downfall. Pits where popular before the WWI and the influx of workers only increased their popularity. Unless you know you are getting clean lines from over seas I wouldn't trust the lines in the Americas being "clean."
Now for the nitty gritty why these dogs are predisposed. Now all dogs have a threshold for what they will tolerate. Dogs with fighting lines closer in their background have a slightly different threshold and when a dog snaps you see what it is made of, shall we say. Now most pits in America today have been crossed with one of their similar southern counterparts introducing this "fighting dog threshold." I believe that the "Pit Bulls" in America once were dogs without this problem (this ability to snap to fighting like its life depends on it) and now it is everywhere. Pit bull owners need to come to terms with this, and you cannot say that these dogs are perfect, what needs to be done is people need to realize it and start to breed away from it again. The Staffy, English Bulldog, Mastiff and many other breeds were once fighting dogs but because of dedicated fanciers who wanted to save the breed are now with out the "fighting dog threshold." The same thing can happen to the pits in America. But no one is testing for this I see to many people breeding for color and looks with out testing and pushing the dogs limits to see where its threshold lies.
I would enjoy seeing the Pit Bulls be the all american dog again but with out people willing to do what it takes, this dog will forever have this fight still in them and will forever be predisposed to true fighting aggression.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Spring and I am getting slower
So I missed this show season mostly becuase no one could answer how to register my dog. Ha ha oh well I am not to upset considering it wasnt my goal at all. Doodles is about 10 months old now well built and I think he would make a great impact in the genetics of terriers. I will have him covering rats and gophers and showing before putting him up to stud if I do.
I love my silly boys all they want to do is sleep in the sunshine by the window and have a new found love for shreding their toys again. Gabe left us to go live in a forever home in Washington we are wishing him the best!
I love my silly boys all they want to do is sleep in the sunshine by the window and have a new found love for shreding their toys again. Gabe left us to go live in a forever home in Washington we are wishing him the best!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Looking Good and Working with Animals
Might not sound like it goes hand in hand but let me show you my favorite products that work while your working hard...
First when it comes to hair either go long (enough to make a decent pony tail) or go short really short so it doesn't get in your face. Invest in a decent hair spray too if you tend to have unruly hair like mine. I love Bed Heads Hard Head (c) .
When it comes to makeup ladies, its about the same as you would for any professional setting. No crazy colors but a nice brown eyeliner never hurts (unless you have black hair ;) ) and a little blush is safe. Now getting wet and sweaty is the worst when wearing makeup and is the reason I tend to not like to wear it so much. However Maybelline's SuperStay (c) foundation takes almost everything I can think of. Water, mud, smearing (which is doesn't do much of at all). Plus it doesn't screw up my skin. I have rather sensitive skin so it becomes very important to not have anything to nasty on my face. I usually cover that with whatever powder was on sale that week :).
Invest in some nice pants that are blue jeans. really... really... if your work allows it nothing takes wear and tear better then a nice pair of jeans. I have tried kaki and black paints neither work very well. Make sure like any other clothing they have free range of movement I have blown out many pairs of pants that didn't fit well. Vanity makes some really nice jeans the local store dared me to break them in 90 days and I beat the living tarnation out of two pairs of jeans and they are still holding and haven't faded or torn. Great fit too.
Well thats about the few specifics I can think of right now. Might add more later..
~Happy Tails~
First when it comes to hair either go long (enough to make a decent pony tail) or go short really short so it doesn't get in your face. Invest in a decent hair spray too if you tend to have unruly hair like mine. I love Bed Heads Hard Head (c) .
When it comes to makeup ladies, its about the same as you would for any professional setting. No crazy colors but a nice brown eyeliner never hurts (unless you have black hair ;) ) and a little blush is safe. Now getting wet and sweaty is the worst when wearing makeup and is the reason I tend to not like to wear it so much. However Maybelline's SuperStay (c) foundation takes almost everything I can think of. Water, mud, smearing (which is doesn't do much of at all). Plus it doesn't screw up my skin. I have rather sensitive skin so it becomes very important to not have anything to nasty on my face. I usually cover that with whatever powder was on sale that week :).
Invest in some nice pants that are blue jeans. really... really... if your work allows it nothing takes wear and tear better then a nice pair of jeans. I have tried kaki and black paints neither work very well. Make sure like any other clothing they have free range of movement I have blown out many pairs of pants that didn't fit well. Vanity makes some really nice jeans the local store dared me to break them in 90 days and I beat the living tarnation out of two pairs of jeans and they are still holding and haven't faded or torn. Great fit too.
Well thats about the few specifics I can think of right now. Might add more later..
~Happy Tails~
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Defining Neglect
I would like to post a little on this touchy subject... just some food for thought...
We all know what abuse looks like but when it comes to neglect there are many different definitions. The best definition online is this one here. It is is legal definition of animal neglect is "not provided with proper food, water, veterinary care, shelter and socialization." This may be intentional or non intentional.
Not a lot of people know what to look for in a neglected dog. Many times the dogs coat is long and matted hiding some of the deeper issues. Many times these dogs have no muscle mass being kept in confinement. You will be able to feel the front of their shoulder blade/ humerus and their back hip bone (ischium). Lots of times these dogs are fat so neglectful owners never really think that something is wrong. I have seen lots of dogs covered in fat with no muscle who can be classified as neglected. Many times these dogs have growths under their skin not to mention bacteria build up from lack of proper grooming care. Mats can reek havoc on a dog pulling their skin and bathing only makes it worse. The mats shrink like clothes in hot water pulling even worse.
Many of these dogs haven't had basic socialization. Even outside only dogs need puppy socialization. Its like keeping a child in a closet all its life once it tries to function outside with random strangers all sorts of trouble happens. I include no or little socialization as neglect. Social animals like dogs and humans require development of social skills or it can lead to deep developmental problems.
And what can you do? Well I can't make you do anything but hopefully be more aware. Sometimes these people don't know what their doing sometimes they do. And if you do something make sure your doing it for the dog not just to "put the owner to justice."
~Happy Tails~
We all know what abuse looks like but when it comes to neglect there are many different definitions. The best definition online is this one here. It is is legal definition of animal neglect is "not provided with proper food, water, veterinary care, shelter and socialization." This may be intentional or non intentional.
Not a lot of people know what to look for in a neglected dog. Many times the dogs coat is long and matted hiding some of the deeper issues. Many times these dogs have no muscle mass being kept in confinement. You will be able to feel the front of their shoulder blade/ humerus and their back hip bone (ischium). Lots of times these dogs are fat so neglectful owners never really think that something is wrong. I have seen lots of dogs covered in fat with no muscle who can be classified as neglected. Many times these dogs have growths under their skin not to mention bacteria build up from lack of proper grooming care. Mats can reek havoc on a dog pulling their skin and bathing only makes it worse. The mats shrink like clothes in hot water pulling even worse.
Many of these dogs haven't had basic socialization. Even outside only dogs need puppy socialization. Its like keeping a child in a closet all its life once it tries to function outside with random strangers all sorts of trouble happens. I include no or little socialization as neglect. Social animals like dogs and humans require development of social skills or it can lead to deep developmental problems.
And what can you do? Well I can't make you do anything but hopefully be more aware. Sometimes these people don't know what their doing sometimes they do. And if you do something make sure your doing it for the dog not just to "put the owner to justice."
~Happy Tails~
Monday, April 8, 2013
Time moves faster then you think....
Dont say that you will walk your dog tomorrow because tomorrow might not come slow enough. Dogs spend just enough time in our lives to make us grow attached then leave. They will love unconditionally and be willing to learn and explore with you in what ever it is you wish to do. Have adventures with your dog its why they exist. They evolved alongside us to help us and to be there when no one else was. Enjoy the tradition.
~Happy Tails~
~Happy Tails~
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The Next Big Thing: Do as I Do
Seminar Results:
For those of you who have not heard of this technique... here is a good article from her website.
Do as I Do is based off of social learning and is relatively new technique. I have to say that the science and studies were deeply fascinating however I was disappointed in how they tried to incorporate training. Let me elaborate...
The science behind the training, social training, was rock solid and deeply interesting and I appreciated the applied form of it. I do not think Claudia Fugazza has had much training experience with wolves or dogs. However she has been working with them for many years.... I did not understand how she could think some of the things she did. One example being how she showed a video of two wolf pups playing and, as she said, it was obvious they were practicing the throat grab that they use to kill prey. Those who have studied wolf behavior know that the first thing a wolf does is grab whatever part of the prey is closer and only when the prey is grounded can they kill it (if they do at all sometimes leaving it alive). However I will say in some wolf packs they work as a team to grab down the prey and some do go for the throat with that said it is a dangerous move that can kill a wolf. Personally I think it looked like, and to most in the audience, that they were practicing dominating pinning going back and forth.
She was knowledgeable about many of the studies done in behavior but many of her explanations were slightly skewed when it came to the training. One of the dogs was "shy" personally I never read shy off the dog he was rather scared yes but not shy at all. However she was very knowledgeable about training her Do as I Do technique and her method for teaching it made lots of sense but things like dogs not staying I don't think she understood very well... plus the seminar ended up being two days long when it could have easily only filled up one afternoon....
But lets move on to the positive....
The Next Big Thing In Dog Training
I think that social learning really is the next big thing in dog training. It is an unexplored realm of training that many people had recognized but never utilized. This new technique that Claudia is introducing involves teaching the dog to mimic behavioral actions. (I asked if any exploration into mimicking reactions had been done, none so far). This is more advanced level training that has to be used hand in hand with other kinds. But lets face it most training is deeply connected so being able to use many types of training is key. I will be attempting to teach Doodles and Kaz using her methods to mimic and will let you know the results...
All in all I think more should have been researched (like how can this be applied to dogs who are for example scared of people, to which there was no answer) before being turned into a seminar however I am glad she decided to come and spread this new knowledge
~Happy Tails~
For those of you who have not heard of this technique... here is a good article from her website.
Do as I Do is based off of social learning and is relatively new technique. I have to say that the science and studies were deeply fascinating however I was disappointed in how they tried to incorporate training. Let me elaborate...
The science behind the training, social training, was rock solid and deeply interesting and I appreciated the applied form of it. I do not think Claudia Fugazza has had much training experience with wolves or dogs. However she has been working with them for many years.... I did not understand how she could think some of the things she did. One example being how she showed a video of two wolf pups playing and, as she said, it was obvious they were practicing the throat grab that they use to kill prey. Those who have studied wolf behavior know that the first thing a wolf does is grab whatever part of the prey is closer and only when the prey is grounded can they kill it (if they do at all sometimes leaving it alive). However I will say in some wolf packs they work as a team to grab down the prey and some do go for the throat with that said it is a dangerous move that can kill a wolf. Personally I think it looked like, and to most in the audience, that they were practicing dominating pinning going back and forth.
She was knowledgeable about many of the studies done in behavior but many of her explanations were slightly skewed when it came to the training. One of the dogs was "shy" personally I never read shy off the dog he was rather scared yes but not shy at all. However she was very knowledgeable about training her Do as I Do technique and her method for teaching it made lots of sense but things like dogs not staying I don't think she understood very well... plus the seminar ended up being two days long when it could have easily only filled up one afternoon....
But lets move on to the positive....
The Next Big Thing In Dog Training
I think that social learning really is the next big thing in dog training. It is an unexplored realm of training that many people had recognized but never utilized. This new technique that Claudia is introducing involves teaching the dog to mimic behavioral actions. (I asked if any exploration into mimicking reactions had been done, none so far). This is more advanced level training that has to be used hand in hand with other kinds. But lets face it most training is deeply connected so being able to use many types of training is key. I will be attempting to teach Doodles and Kaz using her methods to mimic and will let you know the results...
All in all I think more should have been researched (like how can this be applied to dogs who are for example scared of people, to which there was no answer) before being turned into a seminar however I am glad she decided to come and spread this new knowledge
~Happy Tails~
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Do and I Do Seminar
Excited how it will turn out. It is going to Boise in 2 days and I will be there. I will let you know :)
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Deeply Upsetting...
*** http://www.diggingout.org/blood-sports/terrier-work/ ***
The website above made me gag. I cannot believe people will work hard ( terriers prone to fighting) terriers for days on end and thus ruin the sport for everyone. These people made horrid accusations how terriermen will never take their dog to the vet after an injury or how we are genetically deficient... I cannot believe that they would lump me in with these people. I do not use my dogs to shred game, their job is to hold or bolt not to pick a fight ever. Terriers should always be able to recall off of game... always no excuse...
I wish I could confront one of these people and have them explain to me what is wrong with using dogs for something other then show. It seems like all you can do nowadays is trot around the ring, there are even groups wanting to ban herding (beyond crazy).
I want them to know I do not hunt for sadistic pleasure I do it because my dogs find joy in it. I never force them to work they always have more then the recommended shots, I always have a first aid kit for them and I will always take them to the vet because they are my partner... not just a tool to use for the hunt...
The website above made me gag. I cannot believe people will work hard ( terriers prone to fighting) terriers for days on end and thus ruin the sport for everyone. These people made horrid accusations how terriermen will never take their dog to the vet after an injury or how we are genetically deficient... I cannot believe that they would lump me in with these people. I do not use my dogs to shred game, their job is to hold or bolt not to pick a fight ever. Terriers should always be able to recall off of game... always no excuse...
I wish I could confront one of these people and have them explain to me what is wrong with using dogs for something other then show. It seems like all you can do nowadays is trot around the ring, there are even groups wanting to ban herding (beyond crazy).
I want them to know I do not hunt for sadistic pleasure I do it because my dogs find joy in it. I never force them to work they always have more then the recommended shots, I always have a first aid kit for them and I will always take them to the vet because they are my partner... not just a tool to use for the hunt...
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Mind of a Child
I am always fascinated by new developments in training, but I forget sometimes the most effective methods....
Children are a wonderful example of the state of mind you need to carry around animals. I have always been attracted to dog among other animals that developed to work with humans such as horses, and I feel that the connection is always there inside of everyone. Connecting with that instinctual knowledge is the first step in forming more then a training relationship. Children are fascinating to watch with animals they go in with a open mind, no lies or previous conceptions and animals respond.
When you go in to work with your dog you need to remove all conceptions and worries because they respond to that kind of energy. I forget what the important thing is when I go to work with my dogs its not always me helping them but us working together in a mutual relationship for the pleasure of just working together.
For those that enjoy horses this is a eye opening video if you go in with an open mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQUMAJCh1fA
Children are a wonderful example of the state of mind you need to carry around animals. I have always been attracted to dog among other animals that developed to work with humans such as horses, and I feel that the connection is always there inside of everyone. Connecting with that instinctual knowledge is the first step in forming more then a training relationship. Children are fascinating to watch with animals they go in with a open mind, no lies or previous conceptions and animals respond.
When you go in to work with your dog you need to remove all conceptions and worries because they respond to that kind of energy. I forget what the important thing is when I go to work with my dogs its not always me helping them but us working together in a mutual relationship for the pleasure of just working together.
For those that enjoy horses this is a eye opening video if you go in with an open mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQUMAJCh1fA
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
To Cut or Not to Cut?
As Doodles turns 7 months old I have to come to the big realization that I decided to leave him intact for show and work. This is a decision I did not take lightly and it was a lot of thinking. I do not understand why people leave dogs intact without serious thought as he is more of a risk with his junk then without it. Had I decided to keep him just for hunting I would have fixed him he is a liability in the field seeing as though he could decide to wander off if he smells a female, same for in town. A lot of people leave their male dogs intact because face it your dog wanders off gets a bitch pregnant and wanders off. You have to deal with the pups. There is also the fact that dogs see Doodles as different. He smells male and creates a new dynamic to any group of dogs he enters. If he does good in show he can remain intact till he is about 4-6 yrs. If not I might fix him early. Older intact dogs tend to live shorter lives on average and that was another big player in my decision. I like my little man I want to keep him around as long as possible.
I feel a lot of hate from people who realize the threat a intact male poses. I wish people wouldn't give such a bad rap to people who are actually trying to better a breed. This leads me to my other point. A lot of people want to continue their dogs genetic line. Males feel the urge to reproduce every 6 months and not breeding them can lead to behavior issues which I see a lot in unfixed males. The only ones that seem immune are the high end quality stud dogs. Also if your dog isn't physically or mentally stable creating more dogs like that isn't helping anyone. If your dog is a mutt and has a purpose a job, that they do well by all means go ahead. This is how dog breeds were originally created. Thats how lurchers are made. I wont be surprised if labradoodles stick around they make wonderful hunting dogs. However your little min pin shitzu fuzzy yappy dog should be fixed. I went over and over Doodles standard being very critical and asking others, being his owner I am automatically biased, but stepping back and saying yeah I love him but is he really a amazing example of his breed, does he do a job well, is he mentally stable, yes then I left him. Had I answered no to any of these I would have fixed him. There are plenty other better quality dogs to breed.
Word of advice I was told on owning a stud dog "Treat him like he is a regular dog make no exceptions for behavior, remember that he is a liability, but don't treat him different because of it." So far its worked for me and he has lived up to my high expectations.
~Happy Tails~
I feel a lot of hate from people who realize the threat a intact male poses. I wish people wouldn't give such a bad rap to people who are actually trying to better a breed. This leads me to my other point. A lot of people want to continue their dogs genetic line. Males feel the urge to reproduce every 6 months and not breeding them can lead to behavior issues which I see a lot in unfixed males. The only ones that seem immune are the high end quality stud dogs. Also if your dog isn't physically or mentally stable creating more dogs like that isn't helping anyone. If your dog is a mutt and has a purpose a job, that they do well by all means go ahead. This is how dog breeds were originally created. Thats how lurchers are made. I wont be surprised if labradoodles stick around they make wonderful hunting dogs. However your little min pin shitzu fuzzy yappy dog should be fixed. I went over and over Doodles standard being very critical and asking others, being his owner I am automatically biased, but stepping back and saying yeah I love him but is he really a amazing example of his breed, does he do a job well, is he mentally stable, yes then I left him. Had I answered no to any of these I would have fixed him. There are plenty other better quality dogs to breed.
Word of advice I was told on owning a stud dog "Treat him like he is a regular dog make no exceptions for behavior, remember that he is a liability, but don't treat him different because of it." So far its worked for me and he has lived up to my high expectations.
~Happy Tails~
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Doodles has been doing well in his classes wish I had pictures he still needs work and some confidence. We have been going to classes and working on his other dog skills. Something that we cant get by ourselves ... its not that he is aggressive or anything he just gets well terrier... anyways working on that photos soon :)
~Happy Tails~
~Happy Tails~
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Lilly the Rat
They say once you name it you get attached to it. Well for training benefit I got my hands on a live feeder rat. Then I went and named her Lilly. Well Miss Lilly is a very mellow hooded rat a little scared out of her mind now of dogs but that will pass. When working game with a terrier the "bait" is left in a protective double cage. Rats are smart and will learn that the dog cannot do harm and that barking and cage rattling is just what happens. That and she gets peanut butter :)
Doodles reaction was less then expected very minimal growling or barking I do dare say I think he is scared of rats after his first encounter. But with Mr. Gibs being 6 years old my significant other thought he would have a worse reaction but a terrier is a terrier no matter how old. His first reaction was to ignore it but after Doodles let out a little growl and the rat a little squeak it was game on. Holding a 100lb dog back from its prey is hard. There was spit and drool and fur everywhere, I do think that he will be coming when I take Doodles out. He enjoyed working the game thoroughly after I showed him all I wanted was the barking which he did very enthusiastically.
Although I thought all hope was lost, we went to the pet store and lo and behold Doodles is barking and scratching at the guinea pigs he before ignored. I do think he is maturing into a good dog.
~Happy Tails~
Doodles reaction was less then expected very minimal growling or barking I do dare say I think he is scared of rats after his first encounter. But with Mr. Gibs being 6 years old my significant other thought he would have a worse reaction but a terrier is a terrier no matter how old. His first reaction was to ignore it but after Doodles let out a little growl and the rat a little squeak it was game on. Holding a 100lb dog back from its prey is hard. There was spit and drool and fur everywhere, I do think that he will be coming when I take Doodles out. He enjoyed working the game thoroughly after I showed him all I wanted was the barking which he did very enthusiastically.
Although I thought all hope was lost, we went to the pet store and lo and behold Doodles is barking and scratching at the guinea pigs he before ignored. I do think he is maturing into a good dog.
~Happy Tails~
Thursday, January 3, 2013
New Dog on the Block
Yeah once again there is another dog in my midst this one I manged to pawn off on my roommate ;) In any case his name is Gibs, he is a 6 year old intact male Airedale Terrier. I didn't want another dog in the house especially another male especially another terrier intact male... Two same sex terriers is a big no no and usually they can be at each others throats. 95% of the time they will be fine but... one day they wont agree... In any case he is also toy possessive and his first night he tried to get Doodles (cant blame him Doodles upsets me most of the time). First thing first when ever introducing a new dog take them both on a walk it helps establish cooperation. Dogs are hardwired for it so getting them to want to get along isn't hard at all. After a 30 min walk we entered the house on leash and went about our own business in a calm manner. Gibs was very nervous sense this was his first time away from his old owners. He was a bit jumpy and that always sets Kaz off. He likes to take advantage of dogs and poke and see if he really is on the bottom of the pack... Yes Kaz you really are on the bottom... Let me say this real fast if you want your dogs to be equal you are in for a horrible surprise, they are not. Dogs always always have a pecking order. You don't need to enforce it necessarily just realize it and don't try to make dogs play fair. If you don't you are asking for the dominant dog to try to fight the submissive dog back or to let the submissive dog think he needs to fight for a higher position. I have seen it before over and over... dont do this to your dogs usually they pick a position with little or no tussle involved. Remember they are creatures of cooperation. So far Gibs has done a good job of fitting in and finding his place, on top, as the oldest, calmest, most dominant male. Now we work on his other problems...
Till then
~Happy Tails~
Till then
~Happy Tails~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)