Lately I've been dealing with a lot of dysfunctional dogs: barking, biting and fighting. Getting a dog's behavior to turn around is always a source of satisfaction and often frustrating.
On any given day I enjoy the company of dogs, but today I'm thinking about a couple of dogs endowed with a special spirit.
The first that comes to mind is a lovely Rottie girl named Belle Star. She was a hero I wrote about in an earlier post, who saved a child from being kidnapped.
That night my first Rottie girl, Testie died; my heart ached. Our dogs are not allowed in the bed. Belle had never before or after gotten into our bed. As I laid in bed sobbing, she landed gingerly next to me. Her body was an inch from mine, only our energy fields touched. I started to tell her to get off the bed, but I was comforted by her presence. For the moment I didn't care, my grief was overwhelming. When my crying stopped, just before I fell asleep she lightly jumped off. Belle showed me an uncommon empathy.
The second special spirit was Mabeline,a Bullmastiff.
Mabel hit the front door to come in the house. This wasn't unusual. My husband, Kirt let her in then sat down. Mabel came over to Kirt and put her head in his lap. He stroked her head. She opened her mouth revealing a live baby bird, which he took.
She headed back to the door. Kirt followed her to where she found the baby bird. It wasn't ready to fly. The wind blew it out of the nest. Thanks to Mabel Kirt put the fledgling back in the nest. Her tender heart transcended anything that could be explained by drives.
I wonder what gift of spirit that allows a being this altruism, when others struggle with acceptable behavior.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Socializing Puppies With People
Raising the perfect dog takes planning.
The early weeks with a new puppy are consumed with socialization to this big world. If we want our dog to be comfortable with something, the pup must meet it.
Meet & greets with children of as many age groups as possible are important. When we go to the park with a puppy, it becomes a child magnet. The important part is supervising the activity. A child, who is afraid of dogs may put their hand out to pet the puppy only to pull it back triggering the pup to try to grab the child's hand in its mouth. After a few times of that you end up with a pup that grabs kids hands. This is important to my dog's future, so when I come across a child who is afraid; I think it is better to move on with my puppy.
It's a valuable lesson for puppies to learn to run with children, so they don't chase them later. This means running with one child and groups of kids.
Dogs need to be comfortable around people in wheel chairs or who walk with canes. Now is the time for meet & greets. I find that if we take the pup to the bicycle path, exposure to people on bikes covers the wheel chair situation rather well.
Our puppies go to greet people in the parking lots of super markets. The more types of people a puppy meets, the better. I don't want my dog to bark at men in hats because my puppy never met any. We don't smoke, so I've seen my dogs curl their lips when a smoker reaches out to pet them. Try explaining to someone that the dog wasn't growling at them, but just didn't like the smell of their hand.
Summer outdoor concerts, sports events, fourth of July fireworks are great places to go to get a puppy to learn that it can handle this great big world.
We like our dogs to be able to go with us as many places as they are allowed.
Well socialized puppies make well behaved dogs.
The early weeks with a new puppy are consumed with socialization to this big world. If we want our dog to be comfortable with something, the pup must meet it.
Meet & greets with children of as many age groups as possible are important. When we go to the park with a puppy, it becomes a child magnet. The important part is supervising the activity. A child, who is afraid of dogs may put their hand out to pet the puppy only to pull it back triggering the pup to try to grab the child's hand in its mouth. After a few times of that you end up with a pup that grabs kids hands. This is important to my dog's future, so when I come across a child who is afraid; I think it is better to move on with my puppy.
It's a valuable lesson for puppies to learn to run with children, so they don't chase them later. This means running with one child and groups of kids.
Dogs need to be comfortable around people in wheel chairs or who walk with canes. Now is the time for meet & greets. I find that if we take the pup to the bicycle path, exposure to people on bikes covers the wheel chair situation rather well.
Our puppies go to greet people in the parking lots of super markets. The more types of people a puppy meets, the better. I don't want my dog to bark at men in hats because my puppy never met any. We don't smoke, so I've seen my dogs curl their lips when a smoker reaches out to pet them. Try explaining to someone that the dog wasn't growling at them, but just didn't like the smell of their hand.
Summer outdoor concerts, sports events, fourth of July fireworks are great places to go to get a puppy to learn that it can handle this great big world.
We like our dogs to be able to go with us as many places as they are allowed.
Well socialized puppies make well behaved dogs.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Improving Our Relationship With Dogs
Dedicated to improving our relationship with dogs has been our motto at Carrvilla for more than twenty-five years.
So how do we do that? What single thing can we do to improve how we relate to our dogs?
Let them know when what they do pleases you, praise. It's so easy, just say, "Good dog."
If you have ever had your boss look over your shoulder at your work and then say nothing, you know how disconcerting silence can be. A simple, "That's good." makes all the difference in the world.
Old school task masters say stupid thinks like, "A dog must earn the praise." That is so much humbug.
Praise when given freely increases the chances of the dog wanting to do what pleases you. Think about it. Every time the dog gives us a wrong we correct by saying no. The dog gives a right answer. If silence is the only greeting a correct answer recieves, you have just decreased your chances of getting that answer again.
If we mark the behavior we want with praise, we teach the dog to recognize what we like.
Before we can get to that point, we need to get the dog to fall in love with the sound of our voice telling him how good he is. In this first falling in love stage we need to give praise often or else who the heck cares.
Not too long ago a woman said to me, " You don't expect me to say good dog every time the dog does what I say; do you?" I had to laugh because I'd been listening to her say no to the dog every few seconds for what seemed like forever.
When you praise the behaviors you like, the dog becomes confident that he is pleasing you. Now, who doesn't want a dog hooked on praise?
So how do we do that? What single thing can we do to improve how we relate to our dogs?
Let them know when what they do pleases you, praise. It's so easy, just say, "Good dog."
If you have ever had your boss look over your shoulder at your work and then say nothing, you know how disconcerting silence can be. A simple, "That's good." makes all the difference in the world.
Old school task masters say stupid thinks like, "A dog must earn the praise." That is so much humbug.
Praise when given freely increases the chances of the dog wanting to do what pleases you. Think about it. Every time the dog gives us a wrong we correct by saying no. The dog gives a right answer. If silence is the only greeting a correct answer recieves, you have just decreased your chances of getting that answer again.
If we mark the behavior we want with praise, we teach the dog to recognize what we like.
Before we can get to that point, we need to get the dog to fall in love with the sound of our voice telling him how good he is. In this first falling in love stage we need to give praise often or else who the heck cares.
Not too long ago a woman said to me, " You don't expect me to say good dog every time the dog does what I say; do you?" I had to laugh because I'd been listening to her say no to the dog every few seconds for what seemed like forever.
When you praise the behaviors you like, the dog becomes confident that he is pleasing you. Now, who doesn't want a dog hooked on praise?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Listen To The Dog
If dogs are able to communicate through barking in a meaningful way, not just intruder alert and I am so bored; how should we respond?
If I am yelling at the top of my lungs, "I am scared, somebody help me." and I get a face full of citronella; I 'll probably just get more upset even if I shut up. That's a devil of a predicament; isn't it? We are so very glad that we never did that here to quiet dogs.
The joyeous barking of the dogs when we turn them out to run has a different tonal quality. It makes me smile. People sometimes stop to watch the dogs run. Dogs barking in the kennel is a problem for me. The stress in their voices shreds my nerves.
When people other than staff come into the kennel, the dogs bark. That's normal and acceptable; scared lonely dog barking is not. So what do we do about it in a kennel situation?
What seems to work best is simply visiting with the dog when it first arrives. Often I've gone to visit with these stressed dogs. By spending a few minutes with them at the beginning of their stay we calm them. This sets them up to look around, to start to interact with our staff and the other dogs.
For a large percentage of barkers this is the answer. Our house is fifty feet from the kennel, so we are acutely aware of barking.
If a dog is allowed to languish in that sad state, the rest of their stay is impacted.When staff take the time to happy talk a dog through the fear they feel when they are away from the people they love most, they fall in love with being here.
It is surprising how few barkers we have. I thank my staff for the fine job they do making dogs feel at home here.
If I am yelling at the top of my lungs, "I am scared, somebody help me." and I get a face full of citronella; I 'll probably just get more upset even if I shut up. That's a devil of a predicament; isn't it? We are so very glad that we never did that here to quiet dogs.
The joyeous barking of the dogs when we turn them out to run has a different tonal quality. It makes me smile. People sometimes stop to watch the dogs run. Dogs barking in the kennel is a problem for me. The stress in their voices shreds my nerves.
When people other than staff come into the kennel, the dogs bark. That's normal and acceptable; scared lonely dog barking is not. So what do we do about it in a kennel situation?
What seems to work best is simply visiting with the dog when it first arrives. Often I've gone to visit with these stressed dogs. By spending a few minutes with them at the beginning of their stay we calm them. This sets them up to look around, to start to interact with our staff and the other dogs.
For a large percentage of barkers this is the answer. Our house is fifty feet from the kennel, so we are acutely aware of barking.
If a dog is allowed to languish in that sad state, the rest of their stay is impacted.When staff take the time to happy talk a dog through the fear they feel when they are away from the people they love most, they fall in love with being here.
It is surprising how few barkers we have. I thank my staff for the fine job they do making dogs feel at home here.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Breeding Dogs
Spring breeding season is here. Breeders planning litters have researched potential mates. They look for a dog whose conformation will compliment and improve that of their bitch. Health clearances are checked. When the time is right, supervised copulation occurs.
The breeding of pure bred dogs is planned parenthood. Breeders dedicated to improving their stock attend seminars to gain skills in this endeavor.
Educators like Dr. Carmen Battaglia will lead the way in breeding better dogs as he has for decades. His popular seminar always contains the latest advances in science. I remember how exciting it was to hear him speak about the genome project, when they didn't know anything more than the sequence. Now, scientests have learned so much about what trait is where on the DNA chain.
Lately, pure bred dogs have taken criticism. Breeding for popular features has created problems, no doubt. Breeders have advances in science to aid them as never before, so the outlook has hope.
Where is the hope for the millions of stray dogs procreating without any human intervention? I hear talk of mix breeds being healthier, more sound. Sure, why not with a mortality rate of maybe seventy per cent, the ones that make it should be plenty strong.
The stray dogs I am familiar with are the Puerto Rican island dogs, the Satos. I've seen bad bites, mismatched fronts and rears. These are things breeders try hard to prevent. The pups with more serious defects die alone after miserable suffering.
As we prepare to head back to Puerto Rico in time to watch dog behavior during breeding time, I think about how much I have learned from this spectacle. Dogs acting normally without our interference teach us so much.
I look forward to reporting on all that I see and hear, but make no mistake my great objective is a massive nueter campaign.
Dogs are our creation. I support the breeders of the planet, who love dogs enough to take the time and money to educate themselves to breed the best dogs they can. That is still no guarantee, but with the help of science we are getting there.
If any of you know about writing for grants, please, contact me. It's another one of those areas where I am going to need some help. Thanks.
The breeding of pure bred dogs is planned parenthood. Breeders dedicated to improving their stock attend seminars to gain skills in this endeavor.
Educators like Dr. Carmen Battaglia will lead the way in breeding better dogs as he has for decades. His popular seminar always contains the latest advances in science. I remember how exciting it was to hear him speak about the genome project, when they didn't know anything more than the sequence. Now, scientests have learned so much about what trait is where on the DNA chain.
Lately, pure bred dogs have taken criticism. Breeding for popular features has created problems, no doubt. Breeders have advances in science to aid them as never before, so the outlook has hope.
Where is the hope for the millions of stray dogs procreating without any human intervention? I hear talk of mix breeds being healthier, more sound. Sure, why not with a mortality rate of maybe seventy per cent, the ones that make it should be plenty strong.
The stray dogs I am familiar with are the Puerto Rican island dogs, the Satos. I've seen bad bites, mismatched fronts and rears. These are things breeders try hard to prevent. The pups with more serious defects die alone after miserable suffering.
As we prepare to head back to Puerto Rico in time to watch dog behavior during breeding time, I think about how much I have learned from this spectacle. Dogs acting normally without our interference teach us so much.
I look forward to reporting on all that I see and hear, but make no mistake my great objective is a massive nueter campaign.
Dogs are our creation. I support the breeders of the planet, who love dogs enough to take the time and money to educate themselves to breed the best dogs they can. That is still no guarantee, but with the help of science we are getting there.
If any of you know about writing for grants, please, contact me. It's another one of those areas where I am going to need some help. Thanks.
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