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Guilty Or Not Guilty?

Dr. Nicholas H.... | Mon, 06/15/2009 - 14:15

A recent study purported to show that dogs do not feel guilt but that so-called guilt is a product of our anthropomorphic imaginations.The dogs were put in a room with their owners and told not to eat a tasty treat.The owners then left the room. Some of the dogs were then offered the treat by one of the researchersbefore the owner returned to the room. The owner was then misinformed as to whether their dog had committed theoffense. Apparently, there was verylittle connection between the dogs’ guilty look and the disappearance of thetreats. This study proves that dogowners (people in general) see what they believe to be true as opposed to whatis actually going on. It isanother example of the so-called placebo effect.

Dogs, Not Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

Kelly Gorman Dunbar | Mon, 06/15/2009 - 09:50

The good people at New World Library asked me to pass this contest along to Dog Star Daily readers:

Allen and Linda Anderson, best-selling Angel Animals series authors and
founders of the Angel Animals Network, are sponsoring a contest to gather
true stories of the unique relationships between women and dogs. They are
looking for experiences women have that show the benefits of finding
unconditional love, acceptance, protection, healing, and fulfillment with
dogs as partners in the dance of life. They welcome stories of remarkable
women and dog companions who give service in extraordinary ways and fulfill
their life's purpose. The Andersons consider each contest entry as a
possible story for publication in their next book, Dogs and the Women Who
Love Them, to be published by New World Library in Fall 2010.

Mulitple Dogs? Rember Each Member Of Your "Pack" Is An Individual

Dr. Ian Dunbar | Sun, 06/14/2009 - 08:07

We live with three dogs, Claude, Dune, and Hugo, and two cats, Uggs and Mayhem. Most activities are fairly routine and deviate very little from day to day. For example, each mealtime is a well-rehearsed three-dog, two-cat, three-human performance.

Similarly, the dogs' morning walks usually follow a prescribed schedule — but with one big difference. The dogs are sometimes walked together, but my wife Kelly tries her best to also walk each of the three dogs individually at least once a day. After all, each dog walks differently. The dogs walk at different speeds, for different distances, and have very different interests and abilities while walking.

American Bulldog Dune yearns for really long power walks with occasional short breaks for heavy-duty peeing. For Dune, the purpose of the walk is physical exercise — to move and to move quickly – and to leave reminders for those who come after that he was there first.

Cruel Intentions or Coward?

Kelly Gorman Dunbar | Fri, 06/12/2009 - 15:41

Yesterday I learned of a police officer shooting and killing a neighborhood dog in Danville, VA. When I first heard the news my mind immediately created the scene I predicted I’d read about: A tense situation, perhaps a chase on foot, running through somebody’s yard, adrenaline high, and the stakes too. Maybe the cop was chasing an armed assailant. Suddenly a large, intimidating dog (maybe a guard dog) was running towards the officer, full frontal attack imminent, or maybe someone set the dog on the man. It was self-defense.

Then I actually read the story and watched this video. I was very surprised by the actual scenario, it was nothing like I imagined. There was no tense situation, well, not by police standards anyway, the guy was serving two warrants to a neighbor of the dog owner.

The Honesty of Dog Owners

Rachel Friedman | Fri, 06/12/2009 - 07:53

I don't know if dogs are sending telepathic ethical or moral messages to us when we sleep or if it's just their joy of living in the moment, even if that moment is fraught with naughty behaviors, but I just have to say that dog owners are overall the most honest group of people I know.

Dog people come from all walks of life with varying family dynamics and sizes, at different life stages, from all cultures, ages, genders, number of dogs and sizes or breed/breed type. From my experience, the clients I have known over the past 10+ years of carving out a rich career in all things dog, I have never known a group that reminds me when I have forgotten to charge their credit card or returned things I forgot I let them borrow. Or just just more decent, more responsible, more mentshy.

Being in Denial About Your Dog

Drayton Michaels | Thu, 06/11/2009 - 14:35

Pondering this thought I came to the realization that this can go many many ways.
The unique aspect of owning a dog is that it is a conduit to the truth. The agenda of the dog is one that is unfettered with unnecessary desires, unless we're talking about dogs who over eat! However even there you'd find something more honest than gluttony.
I would be willing to wager that even dogs that appear gluttonous are somehow driven by a biological need to do it, or something associated with not getting enough food at some point.

As we progress in the humane dog behavior sciences we're finding more and more that dogs are at the mercy of our behaviors, our actions, inactions and our understanding of them.
The denial aspect of human behavior is prickly patch in deed. It can be disastrous or funny. The same can be said of our relationship with our dogs.

The Dog Training Ireland Internship - Our Interns

Tara Choules | Tue, 06/09/2009 - 09:25

We have an Internship running at Dog Training Ireland. We help those who are studying in the area of canine training and behaviour to gain practical experience handling and working with dogs. It is a voluntary position so commitment is required but we believe there is no better way to learn about dogs and training than the hand son approach!

The Interns work in the daycare, training classes and can sit in on private training sessions. We also ask them to get involved with various tasks and appreciate their creative input and ideas in all areas. We welcome them into the team and include them in everything from discussions on poop consistency to organising training demonstrations at fun days and competitions!

This current group of Interns are:

Joe Kelly
Emma Heely
Edel O'Meara
Nadine Fiebich
Shaun Quinn
Izaskun Arrietta
Lisa Jones
Andy Harold

Sleeping with Dogs?

Jennifer Merritt | Tue, 06/09/2009 - 08:43

I know how much people like to sleep with their dogs. The cuddling and the closeness of your canine companions can be especially comforting while you sleep. Many years ago, I enjoyed my dog Elvis sleeping at the bottom of my bed, until my husband moved into my life.

K9 Nose Work continues to grow….

Jill Marie O Brien | Mon, 06/08/2009 - 18:09

Well, another successful K9 Nose Work trial has come and gone. With each event I work on I am amazed by the people and dogs that are participating. Unlike so many other events nose work is an open field. Anyone can shine at any time. As with many other dog sports, there isn’t any one breed that the rest of the competitors dread competing against. Border collies, Golden Retrievers and even shepherds aren’t necessarily a shoe in.

Is It A Bribe & A Lure?

Kelly Gorman Dunbar | Mon, 06/08/2009 - 08:02

Some people still don't get it.

Bribes and lures are not the same thing. Not the same thing! Bribing is not a training method, but a weak management strategy and one I would generally not recommend because it can really become a crutch, and just as likely, the part of the antecedent cue of the training scenario.