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Learning As We Go / Growl Article

Marie Finnegan | Sun, 07/13/2008 - 10:32

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar given by Jean Donaldson. It was titled "Stop Whispering and Speak Up for Your Dogs: Debunking the Dominance Myth in Dog Training."

Continuing education is very important to trainers because new things about dogs and behavior are being learned all the time. This helps us as trainers know what we can do to make and keep training humane and effective for our dogs. I think I have said this before but I personally believe behavior seminars should be mandatory for ALL trainers. To many get focused on specific sports or methods and ignore behavior info thinking they already know the material. I would counter their arguments by saying I have ALWAYS learned something useful at every seminar I have attended. Whatever the topic, behavior or otherwise. This one was no different.

Poised to Rant

Nicole Wilde | Fri, 07/11/2008 - 08:36

I enjoy listening to the radio when I drive, thanks to the wonderfully commercial-free music on XM. But one station I like does carry ads, and I happened across a new one recently. It begins with a woman confessing how out of control her dog used to be. This manic mutt barked relentlessly, jumped on people, and showed all manner of, well, being ill mannered. But he was a puppy, after all, and how can anyone control a puppy? She then confided that they’d tried training, doggy daycare, and even a shock collar, all to no avail.

I'm not getting any younger, are you?

Marie Finnegan | Fri, 07/11/2008 - 08:12

I seem to be getting more "seasoned" clients these days. There is no age limit on the love for dogs. My current veteran client is 92 years young. She has a lovely Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that she wants to be able to walk without him pulling. I admit that when I got her call I did an inner cringe at her age. However upon meeting her and the dog we had a wonderful session. She had everything in place to make life with her dog as easy and comfortable as possible for both of them. A large fenced in yard, family nearby to help when needed, crate training established, a lovely well tempered dog from a reputable breeder, and a willingness to try new things. She had owned many dogs through the years as well so it wasn't her first rodeo.

Poor, Poor Pie Boy

Cindy Bruckart | Wed, 07/09/2008 - 20:33

I recently read about a woman who was on the Dr. Phil show discussing her relationship with her little dog, Pie Boy, whom she seriously considers her son, not her dog (seriously!). My jaw dropped as I read the description of a dog whose feet have never touched the ground outside, who wears desinger clothes, who sleeps in the bed while his owner sleeps on the floor, who is sheltered from violent TV shows and even has his dog treats chewed for him by his “mom”.

The woman’s ex-roommate was also on the show to explain that he finally got fed up with Pie Boy’s aggression toward him and had to move out. Everyone involved used the word spoiled, even the owner who defended her right to spoil the dog.

Never Say Never

Laurel Scarioni | Wed, 07/09/2008 - 18:09

A few years ago during a casual conversation with a group of fellow dog trainers, I made the mistake of saying that I would never have a Jack Russell Terrier. What was I thinking?! I know how these things work… the minute those words passed my lips I knew I was destined to share my home with a JRT. I didn’t know when, but I knew a rowdy little terrier would grace my doorstep.

At the time I’d said those fateful words, I had never lived with a terrier. I had worked with many terriers and found them to be fun to train, but I just didn’t feel that they would fit well into my rather laid back but occasionally active lifestyle.

A Different Kind of Fireworks

Kelly Gorman Dunbar | Mon, 07/07/2008 - 14:42

On the 4th of July we celebrated a friend’s birthday by going over to her house to make her dinner and hang out and watch fireworks over the San Francisco Bay from her veranda. Our friend only lives two doors down from us and after the meal I went to our house to pick up Hugo, our youngest dog, so he could hang out with us at our friend’s house during the fireworks. I didn’t anticipate a problem, he is a little over a year old and was born before last 4th of July, but he was so young last year and this would be his first year hearing fireworks while in his adolescent-mildly-reactive phase. I wanted to keep an eye on him just in case he got spooked.

Hugo did just fine with the noise and commotion; in fact it didn’t faze him at all. After the display we went home to settle down with a movie for the remainder of the evening.

Week In Review

Rachel Friedman | Sun, 07/06/2008 - 12:57

As I get older my vices become less risky and more sinful in my eyes only. I used to hitchhike and mountain bike on real mountain crags and rock climb and parasail and other stuff but then I wanted to survive and become a mother and not just give birth to them but one who could watch her daughters grow up and develop independent living skills. People who think they know me are surprised that I’m an admitted reader of PEOPLE magazine. I argue it’s a way to keep my finger on the pulse of America. I also not so secretly fantasize being featured in an article in that magazine as the pinnacle of success, preferably in the do gooder section having something to do with increasing the human animal bond in positive ways.

Mind Your (Trail) Manners

Laurel Scarioni | Sat, 07/05/2008 - 19:06

Last week I was walking two of my clients’ dogs at a local park to practice their trail manners. When I saw people coming, I would call the dogs to whichever side was further from the approaching people and cue them to walk there. Many people smiled and commented on how well behaved these two dogs were, despite the fact that the younger one often made at least one attempt to sneak around to greet the people or dogs that were passing by. Compared to the behavior that most people are used to seeing from dogs these days, I think that these two looked like saints.

Rocket & Reginald

Dr. Jon Klingborg | Wed, 07/02/2008 - 11:47

A constant “whoom-whoom-whoom” could be heard outside the exam room. It sounded like a racecar hurtling around a track. Slowly opening the door, I saw the yellow comet called Rocket, a four-month old Labrador, as he completed another lap. His owner, Ray Tyred looked at me with a helpless expression on his face.

“He has a lot of energy,” he explained. Ray slumped in the chair and seemed depressed. “Too much energy. Running, digging holes---I should have named him Trencher.” Rocket slowed down long enough to give his owner’s hand a quick lick and then accelerated again.
“Where did you find Rocket?”

“A guy named Joe Hunter breeds them. I heard he has the best dogs. I got pick of the litter.”

“And how did you pick Rocket?”

Breeds in a Box

Marie Finnegan | Sun, 06/29/2008 - 14:33

I was fortunate enough to attend a great pit bull education seminar given by Drayton Michaels recently. He is working on a documentary called "Judging the Innocent" that will be a wonderful resource for educating the general public about the breed. We got to see clips of some of his work in progress and it is fabulous. It made me start thinking about other breed issues I have experienced both lately and in the past.

I was working with a client recently who had done some work under another trainer. He told me this trainer said that HIS was the best breed to own. While I am always happy to hear of any owner that loves his dogs, it was somewhat disturbing that a trainer would tell any client that their breed was better than the one they are trying to help. Even if they do believe that. The owner was quite offended. (And he let me know it!) Add to that the trainers breed in question is (normally) a high energy herding breed, not suited to just any home.