Dog Training!
My dog Blue doesnât like to trot. Iâve written about this before. He uses the pacing gait instead of trotting. Iâve been at my witâs end because he has to trot at dog shows. I finally decided that I would see what an expert could do about the problem. Yesterday we had an appointment with a dog trainer. What an interesting experience!
Now Blue has never had any formal training. My training experiences have been in group obedience classes. Iâve read a lot about training and applied what I needed to apply to my own dogs but Iâve never used clicker training. So, I was very interested to see what was going to happen.
We arrived at the trainerâs place. She boards dogs, too, but she has a separate building for training. However, itâs not air conditioned and it was very hot. Itâs built a little like a huge garage and she had one side opened so there was air moving around. It was still hot, especially for a longhaired dog like Blue.
The trainer had another trainer there with her. They asked me to show them what Blue does so I put his show lead on and moved him around â he paced for them. Their first thought was that maybe I wasnât tall enough to move fast enough for Blue (Iâm 5â7â) so they had the male trainer move Blue â he still paced. Next they decided to see how Blue would move on his own so they told me to let go of his lead and let him move freely. They started tossing toys for him, which he was very happy to chase for them. He moved from one side of the building to the other, always pacing.
Then they decided to see how he would respond to treats. HAHAHA My boy likes treats. They got some Vienna sausages. One trainer stood at one end of the building and the other trainer stood at the other end. They would call him to them and give him treats when he came. But he always paced. So then they decided to see if they could start using the clicker to get some trotting behavior. The male trainer picked up his lead and started moving with him. Whenever he trotted, even for a second or two, I was supposed to say, âYes!â and the other trainer would click the clicker so Blue could get a treat. Well, he did trot 2-3 times, just for a few seconds, but it wasnât enough for him to figure out why he was getting clicks and treats.
Altogether this went on for about 20 minutes â tossing the toys, letting him run around, then clicking and treating. By this time Blue had enough. He was panting and he just stopped. He said no more. He ran over behind me and plopped down and wouldnât get up again. I donât blame him, really. Iâm sure he didnât see the point in what they were trying to do, even if there were treats involved. Thatâs why English Setters donât make the greatest obedience dogs. They tend to think for themselves. The last time I took a dog to obedience classes he was bored out of his mind when we were doing the heeling exercises where we practiced walking in circles and stopping.
However, I did sign us up for classes with these trainers. I think they will help us. We donât have to repeat the same things over and over. I think weâll have to be more creative to figure out a way to get him to trot. For one thing, they want me to bring one of my other dogs â one that trots! â to our first class, along with Blue. Now I donât know how thatâs going to help Blue learn to trot but I think it should be interesting. I think Iâll take Pearl. She always has a fit when we leave her behind. This way she can be part of things.
The trainer said that Blue was very smart. While we were there a woman was teaching a puppy to ring a bell when she wanted to go outside. Blue was watching everything they did. The puppy would ring the bell with her nose, then the owner would click the clicker and give the puppy a treat. Blue watched that for 10-15 minutes. When we were leaving we had to go out through the door that had the bell hanging on it. He used his nose to ring the bell! It was so cute. I wish Iâd had a treat to give him. Itâs amazing how smart dogs are. We forget that they learn by watching others.
So, weâll see how we do in our classes. Can they teach him how to trot? Weâll see. Our first class is Thursday night.
Bo the Beanie Baby
I guess a lot of us have things that we collect. I collect English Setter things. I have figurines, calendars, paintings, prints, a few t-shirts, an umbrella somewhere. A keychain that I use everyday with not one but TWO ES figure heads on it. Afterall, you can never have too many beautiful English Setter faces looking at you when you drive, right? Before English Setters I used to collect horse things â especially racehorse things. When I was growing up my bedroom was lined with pictures of Secretariat and other great horses. My brothers had photos of football players and rock bands. So, I suppose we all identify with things and collect stuff. It seems to be part of human nature.
I came across a story the other day that made me laugh. The Ty people â the folks who make Beanie Babies â have created a Beanie Baby of Bo, the Obamasâ White House dog. Hereâs the article from a few weeks ago:
Bo the Obama dog makes Beanie Baby debut
By CARYN ROUSSEAU
Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO â
The presidential popularity of the Obamasâ new puppy Bo is complete. The company that makes Beanie Babies has released a shaggy black and white version of the dog named âBoâ â and heâs selling fast.
The company has previously run into trouble taking inspiration from the Obama family. The company released two dolls resembling the Obama children as part of its Ty Girlz collection but retired the names âMarvelous Maliaâ and âSweet Sashaâ after Michelle Obama said using her daughtersâ names was inappropriate.
The dolls were renamed âMarvelous Mariahâ and âSweet Sydney.â
â¦Oak Brook-based Ty Inc. introduced the stuffed animal on April 16, two days after Bo the Portuguese Water Dog made his White House debut in a photo session with President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha.
âWe are very proud of the First Family and wanted to join in celebrating their choice of a family pet,â Ty chief executive officer Ty Warner said in a statement.
The âBoâ dollâs suggested price is $ 4.99. It auctioned Wednesday on eBay for between $ 5 and $ 139.95. Ty said the company will donate a portion of its profits from the âBoâ doll to local animal shelters.
Well, I just checked eBay and you can still find Bo for around $ 6-7 but, there are also collectors selling him for much more. If you want the deluxe package, for example, that includes Bo and the two Ty Beanie Baby Obama girls (which have been discontinued and renamed), then you will have to pay around $ 1500.
Iâve never been a Beanie Baby collector myself but I know some people really love them â or see them as a way to make a lot of money.
You can see Boâs Beanie Baby introduction on the Ty web site.
Bo must have settled into his White House role as First Dog without much trouble. We havenât heard much news about him lately. If heâs creating any problems theyâre not making the news. Weâre still wishing him all the best.
Old Dogs and Mobility
Youâve all heard me mention by old guy, Taylor. Taylorâs my special boy. He was the first-born of my very much beloved girl Sami. Heâll be 13-years-old next month and heâs been doing great. Never a health problem of any kind. Weâve been blessed. But he is slowing down. This week, for the first time, he had one of those episodes where he couldnât get up when he tried to stand. I was right there with him but even when I tried to help him get up he kept sliding back down. We finally got him on his feet again but it was scary.
Older dogs can start to have their rear legs get weaker on them. Sometimes the problem is spondylosis. Or it can be osteoarthritis. Or it may be degenerative myelopathy. It may simply be that an older dog is losing muscle tone in his rear legs because he doesnât get as much exercise as he once did. An older dog may be very healthy, overall, but lack of mobility can cause him to suffer the indignities of old age because he canât get around very well. He may need help going outside, for instance. He may fall in the house. He may be unsteady when he walks, so he walks less and less which can cause his muscles to lose even more muscle tone.
There are some things you can do to help your older dog combat this weakness. It helps to have a good diagnosis. Depending on your dogâs breed or size, you should start getting elder dog check-ups when heâs 7-9 years old. This will include a thorough blood panel and your vet will be looking for signs that your dog is developing any problems common to older dogs. If your dog begins to show signs of slowing down or having problems walking you should ask your vet to try to find out why. If you get a good diagnosis youâll be able to give your older dog the treatment he needs.
If your older dog is slowing down and your vet doesnât find anything in particular wrong with him there are still some things you can do to help your dog. Many people recommend giving older dogs glucosamine-chondroitin tablets to help their joints. MSM is also recommended. Products containing shark cartilage are also said to help older dogs with joint problems. Fish oil, such as salmon oil, and vitamin C, such as Ester C, are also said to help dogs with joint problems.
You should make sure that you keep your dog at a good weight. If your dog is overweight heâll be putting unnecessary stress on his joints and causing himself more pain. Feed a good, balanced diet. Avoid products that could aggravate arthritis or joint problems. In humans milk, eggs, pork and fish aggravate arthritis. Tomatoes are also known to make arthritis pain worse. You should also make sure that your dog gets some regular exercise, even if it is only a shambling slow walk every day. If your dog enjoys exercise and is able to do more, then you should try to do more with him. The more exercise he is able to do, the better for his muscles.
You can also help your older dog keep his footing in the house by putting down extra throw rugs and area rugs, especially if you have hardwood floors. Â Anything that helps him get more traction on the floor is good.
There are also some products that have been recommended for elderly dogs. I donât often recommend products but these have been used by friends of mine and I will be trying some of them myself for Taylor so Iâm going to mention them. People have suggested Young At Heart, Joint Strong and Dog Gone Pain to me. Theyâre all a little expensive but if they do what they say then theyâre worth it.
I know a couple of people who have used dog boots for their older dogs. These boots have done a great job of allowing their dogs to get better traction and footing with their rear paws so they could walk more steadily â and even run around! They recommended these boots. Â
Finally, one of my close friends swears by acupuncture. Sheâs been taking her girls to an acupuncturist for years and her dogs have remained mobile and active well into old age. In fact, she just lost her dear girl, Violet, at age 15 this week. My heart goes out to her. Violet was the grandmother of my dogs Billie and Colin (Blue).
If your older dog is experiencing any of the problems discussed here he may also be having some pain. You should talk to your vet about what you may need to do for your dogâs joint-related pain. There are NSAIDS for dogs if your dog is having significant pain or your vet may advise you to give your dog an occasional buffered aspirin for dogs, depending upon the amount of pain that your dog may be dealing with. As with all of the things weâve been discussing here, you will have to pay close attention to your dog to see how heâs feeling and whether heâs improving or worsening.
Our old dogs are so very special. All of us want to keep them with us as long as possible. By following some of the suggestions here we can help our older dogs live longer and more comfortably.
Do Animals Have Feelings?
Iâve been working on some articles today and Iâve noticed a recurring theme. Iâve twice had the assignment to write on the subject of whether or not dogs have feelings. Now, believe it or not, this is something that people have not always agreed upon. In fact, even today there is disagreement. Iâll give you an example.
When you go home at night and your dog greets you at the door looking guilty as sin, if youâre a smart dog owner you know right away that something has happened, something that your dog thinks youâre not going to like. How do you know this guilty look? Well, your dog may hang his head. He may not want to look at you directly. He may slink. He may try to rub against you to get in your good graces. He may lick your hand. Or he may do the total opposite. Your dog may be nowhere to be seen. He may decide that heâs better off not being there when you come in the house. Some dogs will even bring you a toy or some favorite object to try to be friends again.
Wouldnât you say that this is evidence that your dog has feelings? Your dog knows that youâre not going to like whatâs happened and heâs feeling regret about it? Maybeâ¦or maybe not. It depends who you ask. As dog owners we usually put a human interpretation on these actions and say that the dog is feeling guilty for what heâs done. But is it possible that the dog is just covering his bases? Maybe he does associate some destruction in the house with your negative reaction and heâs trying to appease you. But is that the same as feeling guilty? Not necessarily. He could be just trying to avoid some negative consequences (yelling, spending time in his crate, a lecture, your bad mood). So, even though we interpret a dogâs look as âguiltâ doesnât mean thatâs what heâs feeling in human terms.
In ancient times philosophers were convinced that dogs did not have human feelings or emotions. A philosopher such as Aristotle, for instance, believed that dogs, like other animals, could feel sensations â if you hurt them they could feel pain â but didnât believe that they had the same kind of feelings that humans had. Remember, though, that in the ancient world emotions were not held in the same regard that we hold them today. People were encouraged to be much more stoic in general. For animals to have human feelings or for people to have feelings in common with animals would have been very insulting. Animals were literally and figuratively considered beast-like and humans were discouraged from sharing any of those traits in common. Instead, reason and more spiritual qualities were highly regarded â traits that philosophers believed animals did not and could not share.
It wasnât until about the 18th century that philosophers began to consider the possibility that animals had feelings of the same kind that humans had. Even then, humans were urged to be considerate of an animalâs feelings and welfare only because to be cruel to animals was believed to foster cruelty to other humans in general. It became a mark of refinement to be kinder to animals, not necessarily an indication that the person believed the animals had feelings or human emotions.
I think most of us today do believe that our animals have feelings that are very close to our own. Animals today are raised in a much kinder way than they once were. Itâs normal now for cats and dogs to be raised in peopleâs homes and socialized with people from the time theyâre born. Theyâre shown a degree of kindness and affection thatâs probably beyond what they were shown in times past. I think itâs possible that animals today are responding by being more affectionate and by showing more emotions than they formerly showed. That wouldnât be surprising since they live their lives more closely involved with people that ever before.
Anyway, I thought it was an interesting topic.
What are your thoughts? Do animals have feelings? Are they like ours or are they an animal version of human feelings?
Alien Pets Descend on Roswell
Dogs from space? Well, not quite. But there were dogs in Roswell, New Mexico, this weekend. They were there for the Roswell UFO Festival. Specifically, they were there for the Alien Pet Costume Contest. This is just too cute not to mention:
From the Roswell Daily Record:
Diane and Pete Ibarraâs four dogs â Smeg, Lil Man, Squishy and Binkys â worked as a team to win the contest. The Ibarras, of Roswell, left nothing to chance, even turning a baby carriage into a canine spacecraft.
âI just thought it would be fun,â Diane said of winning.
The dogs â a standard poodle, teacup Chihuahua, teacup shih tzu and teacup Yorkshire terrier, respectively â were dressed as aliens from âPlanet Poop-a-lot.â
Diane, who was assisted by her father Tony Duran, said this was the first time sheâs entered her beloved companions in the contest. The decision to include them in this yearâs UFO Festival came naturally.
âI love them. My pets are my babies,â she said. âI take them wherever I go.â
Second place went to Meatball, a Harley-riding teacup Chihuahua from Arvada, Colo. Dee Dee and Kevin Morris dressed the 13-week-old dog in goggles, sneakers and a cape. Meatball seemed to enjoy the outfit, and the attention.
âHe likes dressing up,â Kevin said.
âWe start the Harley up and he knows itâs time to get dressed up,â Dee Dee added.
Third-place honors went to Sophie, a Chihuahua from Yukon, Okla. Sophieâs human, Desirae Martinez, dressed her in a âplatinum, inter-galactic jumpsuit, fashioned with the utmost precious gems from her planet.â
More than 100 spectators attended the Alien Pet Costume Contest, which is a typical turnout, according to Laurie Rufe, director of RMAC.
If that isnât the cutest story, I donât know what is. It must take some real creativity to come up with a good alien costume for your dog. Iâm not sure what I could put on one of my big dogs. I think, perhaps, these small dogs have a definite advantage when it comes to looking like an alien. LOL Wait a minute. That didnât come out sounding the way I intended. I meant to say that it is easier to make a costume for a small dog. If youâre trying to use tin foil to make a helmet, for instance, itâs easier if your dog has a tiny little head. I didnât mean to suggest that small dogs look more like aliens.  :))
I have to say that one of the funniest things I ever saw in the check-out line at the grocery store was the front page of one of the tabloid magazines. There was a huge headline that read âALIENS ARE STEALING OUR PETS!â Right below it was a picture of a cat and, by golly, that cat looked like an alien, with huge, globular eyes and a little nub of a nose. You could barely tell it was a cat at all. Well, when you think about it, maybe thatâs what happens to all of our missing pets. Maybe the aliens are taking them. Or not. Just a thought. Maybe theyâre all in Roswell.
Happy Independence Day!
Weâre coming up on the big Independence Day weekend. For many people that means cookouts, hot dogs, hamburgers â all things dogs love. It also usually means fireworks. You know the drill, especially if you have a dog whoâs sensitive to loud noises as I do. My boy Beau becomes a basket case every year at this time.
There are a number of things you can do to help your dog get through the noise from fireworks and the other hazards of a 4th of July celebration:
*It is safer to keep your pet at home during Fourth of July celebrations instead of bringing him to your neighborâs party. Keep your pet in the house rather than in your yard. He will be a lot happier indoors and not tempted to leap over a fence to find you.
*Dogs can be startled by the loud noise of fireworks. Once the festivities begin keep your pet in a safe room where he can feel comfortable. If he is crate-trained put him in his crate covered with a blanket to make him feel secure.
*Block outside sights and sounds by lowering the blinds and turning on the television. Play soothing music in the background to counteract the cacophony during the ârocketsâ red glare.â
*If your pet seems overly anxious, spend some time with your him, speaking soothingly to help them to relax.
*Avoid scraps from the grill. While tempting to our pets, any sudden change to your petâs diet can cause stomach upset. In addition, certain foods like onions, avocado, grapes and raisins can be toxic.
*Human products can be dangerous to animals. Avoid spraying your pet with insect repellent and only use special sunscreen that is intended for animal use. Keep your pets away from matches and lighter fluid. They can be extremely irritating to the stomach, lungs and central nervous system if ingested.
*Should your dog get scared, escape and run away, help find him with microchip identification. Collars and tags can fall off so consider permanent ID with a microchip. Keep contact information current with your recovery service provider. For more information and to enroll your pet in a 24 hour recovery service visit http://www.akccar.org.
If your dog is really scared by loud noises you may want to consider asking your vet for something safe to give your dog while fireworks are going off. I havenât had to do that for Beau but I do give him some valerian, an herbal remedy, from the drugstore. Itâs often used to help people relax or feel drowsy. It seems to help Beau. I have also been told that low doses of melatonin help some dogs. I have a friend who is trying a D.A.P. diffuser http://www.healthypets.com/dapdogappher.html this year for her German Shepherd. She has neighbors who enjoy fireworks (sheâs also afraid theyâre going to burn down her house). D.A.P. stands for dog appeasing pheromones. These products work by diffusing pheromones into the air that are supposed to be calming for the the dog. Theyâre being used in some animal shelters and places where dogs tend to be anxious. They have been recommended for dogs who have phobias about fireworks and loud noises.
Remember that if your dog is scared he may act erratically. If you have an outside door open, even for a moment, he could take off. Itâs best not to leave a frightened dog outside at all when fireworks are going off. Some dogs will climb fences or escape from backyards when theyâre scared. Make sure that your dog is wearing some kind of good identification this weekend, just in case he does get loose.
***
While we are celebrating the 4th letâs also remember that the United States is home to some wonderful breeds of dogs that originated here.
American Dog Breeds:
American Foxhound â One of Americaâs native breeds, the American Foxhound is also one of our rarest. This tall hound sports a close, hard coat that can be any color. The American Foxhoundâs origins date back to the early 1700â²s in Virginia and Maryland. George Washington is not only the Father of our country but the father of the American Foxhound. As a master breeder he often referenced his hounds in his journals.
American Eskimo Dog â Contrary to popular belief, the American Eskimo Dog is not descended from working sled dogs. The âEskie,â as it is nicknamed, originated in the Spitz family of dogs, also known as the Nordic breeds. In the past, it was called the American Spitz. During the 19th century, in this country, Eskieâs were most commonly found in communities with German immigrants. Later in that century, the Eskie became a popular dog for use in traveling circuses throughout the U.S. The AKC first registered this breed in 1995.
American Water Spaniel â The American Water Spaniel is the state dog of Wisconsin. The breed was developed primarily in the Great Lakes region of the United States in the mid 1800s. They were the first breed developed in this country as an all-around hunter that could retrieve from boats. The virtue of this sporting breed â its ability to swiftly, efficiently, and merrily retrieve game â has long been appreciated in the United States. This affectionate and easily trainable sporting breed was first registered with the AKC in 1940.
American Staffordshire Terrier â The American Staffordshire Terrier is considered an âall-Americanâ dog. It has been developed since the early 1800â²s and was instrumental in the success of farmers and settlers, and was used for general farm work, hunting wild pigs, bears, and other large game, guarding the homestead, and general companionship. Until the early 19th century, the Bulldog used for bullbaiting in England was more active and longer-legged than the breed as we know it today. It is thought that the cross of this older Bulldog and a game terrier breed created the Staffordshire Terrier. The breed was first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1936.
Boston Terrier â The state dog of Massachusetts, this breed is known as the âAmerican gentlemanâ because of his calm disposition and formal black and white âtuxedoâ markings. Developed in Boston, MA as his name suggests, he is a product of the English Bulldog and a white English Terrier. In 1889, a group of fanciers in Boston began showing the early ancestors of todayâs Boston Terrier. The Boston Terrier was first registered by the AKC in 1893.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever â The state dog of Maryland, this true American breed is thought to have originated from two puppies that were rescued from an English shipwreck in 1807 off the coast of Maryland. In the late 1800s, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was renowned for its ability to retrieve hundreds of waterfowl a day from the icy waters of the Chesapeake. The Chesapeake coat, which is very dense and has an oily texture, allows the dog to easily deal with extreme weather conditions. Its slightly wavy coat sheds profusely in the spring and requires daily brushing. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was first registered with the AKC in 1878.
Plott â The state dog of North Carolina, powerful and well-muscled, the Plott can bring big game such as bear or boar to bay or tree with its determination, endurance and courage. Today Plotts are also used for coonhunting. The breedâs smooth, glossy coat can be any shade of brindle (a streaked or striped pattern of dark hair imposed on a lighter background), solid black or have a saddle or markings. This breed joins five other Coonhound breeds â Black and Tan Coonhounds, Redbone Coonhounds, American English Coonhounds, Bluetick Coonhounds and Treeing Walker Coonhounds â developed for hunting raccoons throughout early American history. Today, AKC holds competitive Coonhound events in which dogs compete in hunts for titles and prizes. Coonhounds are judged on their abilities to strike, run, and tree wild raccoons. In keeping with AKC coonhound regulations, there is no contact permitted between the hounds and the raccoons.
Other American Breeds include the Australian Shepherd, Cocker Spaniel, and Toy Fox Terrier.
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