What are your feelings about puppies winning Winners Dog or Winners Bitch at a major pointed specialty show? How would it make you feel if your dog took a reserve to this puppy and your dog could have finished his championship that day with that win? Would you have felt robbed? Would you think that that was fair losing to a puppy?
Do you think that a puppy should go winners bitch at a show the size of a National Specialty show? Do you really think that an adult bitch can’t be found in all those entries that are better than the puppy? How would you feel if that same puppy went on to a Select title that very same year? You mean to tell me that with all those beautiful champions in the Best of breed competition at a National Specialty that a puppy should beat them for this special title? Do you consider it fair or are you of the belief that a puppy can fall apart as they have not had the time to fully mature yet?
I mean we all know that the winners from each of the classes will go back to compete for the Winners Bitch and Winners Male at these shows and that includes the winners from the puppy classes. But just think if you get to the National level with your top winning bitch or male and then he or she is beat by the winning puppy for a Select title. How would that make you feel?
If any of you reading this has had a puppy take major points at a Specialty show, you know the thrill and excitement that this brings to you. Many standing ringside are feeling the same thrill and excitement as you are and some are in downright disbelief. My very own BIM Ch Arbar’s Xanadu ROM took two five point majors from the puppy class and deserved to do so. She was a star right from the beginning. It doesn’t happen a lot, but when it does, it can be the thrill of a life time. I wonder how many of these puppies fall apart and never do finish their championships! Is it fair then to the older, more mature dog that was ready to take those points and has already realized his earlier potential?
The judge has to judge the quality of his winners on the day that he is judging them. He can’t think that the puppy may not fill the potential of what he is now. He can’t look to the future. He must judge them the day that they set foot in his ring.
Let’s face it, if truth be told, no one wants to lose to a puppy! Worst yet when you own a champion, you don’t want to lose the breed to a puppy. It happens. Not often, but it happens. Worst yet is if it happens from a puppy from the youngest of all classes…..the 6 – 9 puppy class!
So what do you think? Should puppies win the major points and should they be awarded a Select title at a National specialty show? Or are you of the belief like some that the puppy still has time to mature and because of this, the more mature dog that has realized his full potential should be the one that receives the points? Can you be happy for the person whose puppy just won it all? It takes a good sport to congratulate the owner of this puppy!
From the book: "HAPPINESS: UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WEALTH"...."This book is absolutely a delight to read. [The authors] have made the science very accessible and practical. You will love the stories they weave into the text. The Dieners take us along on their adventures around the world. We tag along as they unlock the mysteries of happiness. As you read the book you come to understand why Diener is known as the ‘Jedi Master of Happiness’ and why Biswas-Diener has been called the ‘Indiana Jones of Psychology.’ Get the book, settle into a comfortable chair, buckle your seat belt, and enjoy the ride." (Positive Psychology News Daily)
My ratings: Puppies being awarded the major points at a dog show: (2 - 4)!
Showing posts with label dog training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog training. Show all posts
Friday, February 18, 2011
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
WORRY FREE!
I heard this sentence on a program the other day, “We’re the only species that worries!” Animals, birds, insects and all other living creatures never worry. They just go about their business each and every day never carrying the burdens of the world on their shoulders. They leave that “good stuff” to us humans.
We worry and fret and worry some more and most of what we worry about never happens anyway. We prepare for a show, and many of us are a nervous wreck. Some of us can’t eat, some of us spend half of the day in the bathroom and then there are those of us that snaps at the first person that says good morning to us. The dog isn’t worrying. He doesn’t care if he wins or loses. He’s not up all night the evening before the show. He’s passed out on the rug while you’re walking around the house talking to yourself.
The dog is not worried about what kind of food you’re going to be feeding him today. He just wants his dinner, plain and simple. He doesn’t care if it’s a holistic brand or a store bought brand. The only time it matters to him is if you have given him a choice. That’s when he may become fussy, but he’s not worrying about it all day. Oh sure he knows when its time for him to be fed, but he’s not worried about if he’s going to be fed all day long. He just assumes that he is!
If you groomed your dog with a shampoo you bought at the dollar store, it wouldn’t matter to him. He’s accepting of everything that comes his way. Only the human owner frets that it’s not an all natural product, or it doesn’t have the specific fragrance that the human prefers. The dog doesn’t care if he smells like fresh coconut or French vanilla.
So one can see if they are really honest with themselves that we do things for our dog not because the dog will like it, but because we like it. It’s pleasing to us……not necessarily the dog.
The dog is not worried about whether or not it’s going to be too hot or cold outside for him to go in the backyard. We worry about the temperatures. Of course, he’ll complain if the weather does bother him by howling, barking or holding an icy paw up off the ground. But he’s never worried about it ahead of time. He’s just reacting to his circumstances.
If worrying hasn’t changed the fact that we can’t afford a more expensive handler, a holistic dog food, a fragrant shampoo, a bigger van to hold more dog crates, why do we do it? Wouldn’t we enjoy the dog shows better, accept what we can afford and sleep a heck of a lot better if we didn’t worry so much? I don’t know anyone that worries all the time that is a happy person. They may be a sicker person, but not a happier person!
We worry if our new litter will produce a new “star.” We worry about our dog’s health problems. We worry that we’re not doing enough for them. We worry about them getting older. Some of us do not feel “normal” unless we’re worrying about something.
If we have financial problems or health problems, then truly this would give most people something to worry about. But truth be told, all the worrying in the world doesn’t change anything. It is totally out of our hands whether or not a judge is going to put up our dog. It’s out of our hands whether or not a puppy will amount to anything great. It’s out of our hands whether someone is going to buy a dog from us or not. It’s out of our hands if our dog gets sick. We can only do our best to take care of something that comes our way, but we can’t do anything about it by worrying. We need to take action and give worry a back
seat!
Just think if we didn’t worry, we could laugh off our losses to an inferior dog. We could shrug our shoulders when we hire a third rate handler that trips and falls over our dog thereby leaving our animal limping and costing him the class win. We could feed our dog’s bag after bag of “road kill” and never give it a second thought. We could wish a potential puppy buyer that didn’t buy our puppy best wishes when he buys someone else’s puppy. Yes being worry free would mean we could take our losses with a smile on our faces, empty wallets and a fellow competitor patting us on the back saying “Better luck next time old fella!” Yes, worry free……that’s the way for me!
From the book: "THE MINDFULNESS AND ACCEPTANCE WORKBOOK FOR ANXIETY"....Anxiety happens. It's not a choice. And attempts to manage your thoughts or get rid of worry, fear, and panic can leave you feeling frustrated and powerless. But you can take back your life from anxiety without controlling anxious thoughts and feelings. You can stop avoiding anxiety and start showing up to your life. The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety will get you started, using a revolutionary new approach called acceptance and commitment therapy, or ACT.
The book has one purpose: to help you live better, more fully, more richly. Your life is calling on you to make that choice, and the skills in this workbook can help you make it happen. Find out how your mind can trap you, keeping you stuck and struggling in anxiety and fear. Learn to nurture your capacity for acceptance, mindfulness, kindness, and compassion. Use these qualities to shift your focus away from anxiety and onto what you really want your life to be about. As you do, your life will get bigger as your anxious suffering gets smaller. No matter what kind of anxiety problem you're struggling with, this workbook can guide you toward a more vibrant and purposeful life. Includes a CD with bonus worksheets, self-assessments, and guided mindfulness meditations.
My rating: Worrying: (1)
We worry and fret and worry some more and most of what we worry about never happens anyway. We prepare for a show, and many of us are a nervous wreck. Some of us can’t eat, some of us spend half of the day in the bathroom and then there are those of us that snaps at the first person that says good morning to us. The dog isn’t worrying. He doesn’t care if he wins or loses. He’s not up all night the evening before the show. He’s passed out on the rug while you’re walking around the house talking to yourself.
The dog is not worried about what kind of food you’re going to be feeding him today. He just wants his dinner, plain and simple. He doesn’t care if it’s a holistic brand or a store bought brand. The only time it matters to him is if you have given him a choice. That’s when he may become fussy, but he’s not worrying about it all day. Oh sure he knows when its time for him to be fed, but he’s not worried about if he’s going to be fed all day long. He just assumes that he is!
If you groomed your dog with a shampoo you bought at the dollar store, it wouldn’t matter to him. He’s accepting of everything that comes his way. Only the human owner frets that it’s not an all natural product, or it doesn’t have the specific fragrance that the human prefers. The dog doesn’t care if he smells like fresh coconut or French vanilla.
So one can see if they are really honest with themselves that we do things for our dog not because the dog will like it, but because we like it. It’s pleasing to us……not necessarily the dog.
The dog is not worried about whether or not it’s going to be too hot or cold outside for him to go in the backyard. We worry about the temperatures. Of course, he’ll complain if the weather does bother him by howling, barking or holding an icy paw up off the ground. But he’s never worried about it ahead of time. He’s just reacting to his circumstances.
If worrying hasn’t changed the fact that we can’t afford a more expensive handler, a holistic dog food, a fragrant shampoo, a bigger van to hold more dog crates, why do we do it? Wouldn’t we enjoy the dog shows better, accept what we can afford and sleep a heck of a lot better if we didn’t worry so much? I don’t know anyone that worries all the time that is a happy person. They may be a sicker person, but not a happier person!
We worry if our new litter will produce a new “star.” We worry about our dog’s health problems. We worry that we’re not doing enough for them. We worry about them getting older. Some of us do not feel “normal” unless we’re worrying about something.
If we have financial problems or health problems, then truly this would give most people something to worry about. But truth be told, all the worrying in the world doesn’t change anything. It is totally out of our hands whether or not a judge is going to put up our dog. It’s out of our hands whether or not a puppy will amount to anything great. It’s out of our hands whether someone is going to buy a dog from us or not. It’s out of our hands if our dog gets sick. We can only do our best to take care of something that comes our way, but we can’t do anything about it by worrying. We need to take action and give worry a back
seat!
Just think if we didn’t worry, we could laugh off our losses to an inferior dog. We could shrug our shoulders when we hire a third rate handler that trips and falls over our dog thereby leaving our animal limping and costing him the class win. We could feed our dog’s bag after bag of “road kill” and never give it a second thought. We could wish a potential puppy buyer that didn’t buy our puppy best wishes when he buys someone else’s puppy. Yes being worry free would mean we could take our losses with a smile on our faces, empty wallets and a fellow competitor patting us on the back saying “Better luck next time old fella!” Yes, worry free……that’s the way for me!
From the book: "THE MINDFULNESS AND ACCEPTANCE WORKBOOK FOR ANXIETY"....Anxiety happens. It's not a choice. And attempts to manage your thoughts or get rid of worry, fear, and panic can leave you feeling frustrated and powerless. But you can take back your life from anxiety without controlling anxious thoughts and feelings. You can stop avoiding anxiety and start showing up to your life. The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety will get you started, using a revolutionary new approach called acceptance and commitment therapy, or ACT.
The book has one purpose: to help you live better, more fully, more richly. Your life is calling on you to make that choice, and the skills in this workbook can help you make it happen. Find out how your mind can trap you, keeping you stuck and struggling in anxiety and fear. Learn to nurture your capacity for acceptance, mindfulness, kindness, and compassion. Use these qualities to shift your focus away from anxiety and onto what you really want your life to be about. As you do, your life will get bigger as your anxious suffering gets smaller. No matter what kind of anxiety problem you're struggling with, this workbook can guide you toward a more vibrant and purposeful life. Includes a CD with bonus worksheets, self-assessments, and guided mindfulness meditations.
My rating: Worrying: (1)
Monday, October 25, 2010
WOULD YOU, SHOULD YOU?
If you breed long enough, sooner or later you may breed a litter that has genetic health problems like mega, EPI, SIBO, etc. Many times you are very surprised by this because you were unaware of the bloodlines that you were breeding carried these problems. Truth be told many bloodlines carry some health problems. There is not a perfect bloodline free from any and all health problems. The trick is to find a bloodline that has as few of these problems as possible. Without honesty among breeders and especially stud dog owners, then “surprise” litters like this will pop up more and more.
Why do I say especially among stud dog owners? Well because most of the time a breeder should know (if she’s done her homework) the faults of her bitches line. When she chooses a stud dog, she is looking to correct those faults or stay away from them altogether! She’s not looking to double up on them. She should be able to go to the stud dog owner and ask him if his dog carries these health problems in his line. Sadly, many (not all) stud dog owners will say, “Not my dog!” Without this honest communication among the breeders, the bloodlines get corrupted and may take generations to weed out the genetic health problems.
This is the purpose of this article today. Most good breeders if they have a puppy or two in a litter that has mega esophagus for example, will not keep a brother or a sister that doesn’t have it and use them for their breeding program. They’re smart enough to know that although this puppy doesn’t have the fault, that the potential for him to carry it is great. So perhaps if they bred their unaffected puppy, her pups could be affected with this terrible health problem.
Now what I want to know is does the same thing hold true with the temperament of a litter? If you had a potential “star” in a litter, but a couple of his litter mates had bad temperament, would you keep or sell the star knowing that although he has wonderful temperament, the potential for him to produce bad temperament is there?
So your new litter seems to be healthy and strong with no obvious genetic health problems. BUT………a couple of the puppies don’t have ideal temperament. You know your bitch has a good temperament and the stud dog appears to have a good temperament as well. How much do you know about the temperament behind the two dogs you bred?
Why is it that breeders will keep a puppy from a litter that didn’t have 100% of the puppies with the ideal German Shepherd Dog temperament? How is this any different from keeping a puppy where litter mates had health problems? Is one more serious and important than the other? Should we not be as conscientious when it comes to keeping a puppy that comes from a litter that has bad temperament in it although he himself is fine?
I remember one time a litter that had two champion males. One of the males had the ideal temperament and the other one did not. Both of these dogs were utilized by breeders in their breeding program. I remember talking to breeders that had bred to the dog that had a good temperament. A few of these people told me that they were disappointed in the temperaments that they got from this dog even though he himself was fine. On the other hand the bad tempered male produced some dogs that had good temperament.
So do we do a disservice to the future genetics of the breed by including dogs that come from litters that are not 100% sound of mind? Would you, should you be breeding dogs that come from litters of unsound temperament? Are we fooling ourselves by thinking that because we kept the good tempered puppy that we don’t have to worry about bad temperament in our future litters? We should not treat temperament problems in a litter with any less seriousness than we do a health problem.
From the book - "CONTROL OF CANINE GENETIC DISEASES" - If you breed dogs for any reason, you must own this book. Genetic diseases are among the most serious hazards on the landscape of modern dog breeding and one of the most vexing challenges facing today's dog breeders. Is it appropriate to open the gene pool to unwanted conditions in the pursuit of physical perfection, or must breeding to the Standard take a back seat to producing healthy animals?
In Control of Canine Genetic Diseases, renowned authority George A. Padgett, DVM, provides an expert road map to help dog breeders everywhere avoid the pitfalls they are almost destined to encounter. For anyone whose goal is to produce healthy, functional and beautiful dogs, this is the book they need. Dr. Padgett provides clear explanations of modes of inheritance, how to conduct and analyze test matings and how to lower the chances of producing affected animals. Numerous tables, diagrams and graphs further enhance the text to facilitate the breeder's understanding.
My rating: Genetic faults: (1)
Why do I say especially among stud dog owners? Well because most of the time a breeder should know (if she’s done her homework) the faults of her bitches line. When she chooses a stud dog, she is looking to correct those faults or stay away from them altogether! She’s not looking to double up on them. She should be able to go to the stud dog owner and ask him if his dog carries these health problems in his line. Sadly, many (not all) stud dog owners will say, “Not my dog!” Without this honest communication among the breeders, the bloodlines get corrupted and may take generations to weed out the genetic health problems.
This is the purpose of this article today. Most good breeders if they have a puppy or two in a litter that has mega esophagus for example, will not keep a brother or a sister that doesn’t have it and use them for their breeding program. They’re smart enough to know that although this puppy doesn’t have the fault, that the potential for him to carry it is great. So perhaps if they bred their unaffected puppy, her pups could be affected with this terrible health problem.
Now what I want to know is does the same thing hold true with the temperament of a litter? If you had a potential “star” in a litter, but a couple of his litter mates had bad temperament, would you keep or sell the star knowing that although he has wonderful temperament, the potential for him to produce bad temperament is there?
So your new litter seems to be healthy and strong with no obvious genetic health problems. BUT………a couple of the puppies don’t have ideal temperament. You know your bitch has a good temperament and the stud dog appears to have a good temperament as well. How much do you know about the temperament behind the two dogs you bred?
Why is it that breeders will keep a puppy from a litter that didn’t have 100% of the puppies with the ideal German Shepherd Dog temperament? How is this any different from keeping a puppy where litter mates had health problems? Is one more serious and important than the other? Should we not be as conscientious when it comes to keeping a puppy that comes from a litter that has bad temperament in it although he himself is fine?
I remember one time a litter that had two champion males. One of the males had the ideal temperament and the other one did not. Both of these dogs were utilized by breeders in their breeding program. I remember talking to breeders that had bred to the dog that had a good temperament. A few of these people told me that they were disappointed in the temperaments that they got from this dog even though he himself was fine. On the other hand the bad tempered male produced some dogs that had good temperament.
So do we do a disservice to the future genetics of the breed by including dogs that come from litters that are not 100% sound of mind? Would you, should you be breeding dogs that come from litters of unsound temperament? Are we fooling ourselves by thinking that because we kept the good tempered puppy that we don’t have to worry about bad temperament in our future litters? We should not treat temperament problems in a litter with any less seriousness than we do a health problem.
From the book - "CONTROL OF CANINE GENETIC DISEASES" - If you breed dogs for any reason, you must own this book. Genetic diseases are among the most serious hazards on the landscape of modern dog breeding and one of the most vexing challenges facing today's dog breeders. Is it appropriate to open the gene pool to unwanted conditions in the pursuit of physical perfection, or must breeding to the Standard take a back seat to producing healthy animals?
In Control of Canine Genetic Diseases, renowned authority George A. Padgett, DVM, provides an expert road map to help dog breeders everywhere avoid the pitfalls they are almost destined to encounter. For anyone whose goal is to produce healthy, functional and beautiful dogs, this is the book they need. Dr. Padgett provides clear explanations of modes of inheritance, how to conduct and analyze test matings and how to lower the chances of producing affected animals. Numerous tables, diagrams and graphs further enhance the text to facilitate the breeder's understanding.
My rating: Genetic faults: (1)
Friday, October 1, 2010
ONCE UPON A TIME, WE USED TO BE FRIENDS!
I believe one of the benefits of the sport of showing and breeding dogs is all the friends that you get to make along the way. And like in anything else in life, many are acquaintances, some stay for a short while, some a little longer and then there are those few that stay with you forever. But rest assured you will learn something from all of them, for the one thing that remains a constant in this breed is that everyone has an opinion and they are always willing to share it with you whether you want to her it or not! So listen, pick their brains, take a little of this and some of that and discard the rest. Don’t ever miss an opportunity to learn even from the most challenging of people.
From the book: "WHEN FRIENDSHIP HURTS" - Does anything hurt worse than betrayal by a close friend? Sociologist and friendship expert Jan Yager (Friendshifts: The Power of Friendship and How It Shapes Our Lives) explores failed, hurtful, and destructive friendships in When Friendship Hurts.The book describes 21 types of potentially negative friends. The "Rival," for example, is envious to the point of malice. The "Blood-sucker" expects you to be there every moment. The "Controller" must be in charge of everything, from where you meet for lunch to whom you date. Yager lays out strategies for dealing with the problems when you want to keep the friendship, while also warning about extreme behavior and discussing triggers that lead to friendship conflicts, such as jealousy, anger, and change (of marital status or job, for example). Yager also guides you to examine your own destructive or harmful traits and recognize patterns in your family background that affect your friendships. Overall, this book will help you learn how to deal with destructive friendships--when and how to save them, when and how to end them, and how to cope when a business friendship goes wrong. Yager, who has appeared on Oprah and other TV programs, also encourages you to celebrate the joys of positive friendships. --Joan Price
My rating: Using dogs as an excuse for the breakup of friendships: (1)
I cherish all the friends that I have made in this breed and love my long standing friendships and welcome my new ones as well. Some have come along with me on this journey, some have fallen away and others embrace the future with me. I’ve learned to stay away from those that wish ill will and lack integrity and chose those that walk in the light rather than the dark.
I can’t tell you how many times that I get private e-mails from people. They will tell me something that someone is trying to do to them to hurt their reputation and the lies that they are spreading about them. It’s hurtful to them as a person and to their business of breeding and selling puppies or offering dogs for stud services. And we’re left to wonder why this is.
It does sadden me when friends of mine tell me of long standing friendships that they have lost over incidences involving dogs. Co-ownerships that have gone bad, stud dog breeding rights that never happened, puppies that were owed to someone that never seen their new owners homes. I see this time and time again. People lose friendships over a misunderstanding about something to do with their dogs. How can this be?
Psychologically, I don’t believe it has anything to do with the dogs at all. The dogs just happen to be an excuse for one or both people to exercise their dissatisfaction with the other person. So it really has nothing to do with the dogs if someone breaks their contract with you or sells a puppy that should have been yours or doesn’t give you back puppies like your contract that says he should.
It’s never about the dogs. It never has been. It never will be. It’s ALWAYS about the people that own the dogs. It’s about jealousy. It’s about control. It’s about people wanting to knock you down a few pegs. It’s about people wanting your level of success. It’s about people wanting what you have. It’s about people wanting others to recognize them like you’re recognized. They really don’t hate you. They hate that they don’t have what you have. Gosh, the “green eyed monster” can cause some people such havoc. It causes havoc to the person that the venom is spewed on and it holds the jealous person captive to the person that they’re jealous of. And the end result? No one wins! I have seen friendships damaged and never the same again and ones that are lost forever…….all in the name of dogs!
Someone on another social group that I belong to just wrote to me and said that recently someone had asked her what she dislikes about people the most. She replied……”Human nature.” To which I replied…..just another name for “free will!” So we choose to like and dislike people. We choose to keep or discard friendships. And we choose to blame it on the dogs and our relationship with the people involved in the sport of dogs. The dogs are just an excuse for some of us to show our true colors!
From the book: "WHEN FRIENDSHIP HURTS" - Does anything hurt worse than betrayal by a close friend? Sociologist and friendship expert Jan Yager (Friendshifts: The Power of Friendship and How It Shapes Our Lives) explores failed, hurtful, and destructive friendships in When Friendship Hurts.
My rating: Using dogs as an excuse for the breakup of friendships: (1)
Friday, September 17, 2010
WHAT DO THEY MEAN BY THAT?
I own books of quotations and I save and treasure quotations that I find on the internet. Some people have the best imaginations and the wonderful thing is long after their gone, their words remain. So it’s Friday and the beginning of another week-end, so I’m keeping this blog light today. Here are some quotations I’ve found and how they can relate to dogs.
WHEN YOU JUDGE ANOTHER, YOU DO NOT DEFINE THEM; YOU DEFINE YOURSELF – Wayne Dyer..........
Oh this is a good one for all those gossip loving, finger pointing, and “I’m better than you” types of characters in the breed!
THERE’S ALWAYS A LITTLE TRUTH BEHIND EVERY “JUST KIDDING,” A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE BEHIND EVERY “I DON’T KNOW,” A LITTLE EMOTION BEHIND EVERY, “I DON’T CARE,” AND A LITTLE PAIN BEHIND EVERY “IT’S OK” - (Author unknown)……
When you bad mouth someone else’s’ dog and then say “Just kidding”……When you withhold information that could help a newbie in the breed by saying, “I don’t know”….. When someone tells you they don’t like your puppies and you say, “I don’t care” (when you really do)……When someone hurts you by telling you your dog is nothing but a pet and you shouldn’t be showing him and you say, “It’s OK” (when it really isn’t)…..there’s always a little truth behind these words!
I’M NOT TELLING YOU IT’S GOING TO BE EASY, I’M TELLING YOU IT’S GOING TO BE WORTH IT – (Author unknown)……….
Coming into this breed thinking that you know everything there is to know in the breed, set’s you up for disappointment. Having high expectations and suffering many disappointments along the way is to be expected in anything that is worthwhile. Being in the breeding and showing of dogs is not an easy thing to do, but it’s oh so worth it when you succeed at what you attempt to do in this breed.
WHEN YOU’RE READY TO QUIT, YOU’RE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. And this old Chinese saying….THE TEMPTATION TO QUIT WILL BE GREATEST JUST BEFOE YOU ARE ABOUT TO SUCCEED - (Author unknown)……….
You might have suffered many loses in the breed, you might see clubs folding, but now’s not the time to give up. You haven’t come this far to throw it all away.
THAT WHICH DOES NOT KILL ME MAKES ME STRONGER – (Author unknown)……….
You’ve lost puppies; you’ve had to put young dogs to sleep because they were too ill, you’ve spent thousands of dollars taking care of sick animals. You’ve rescued dogs that no one else wants. You’ve spent your own hard earned money taking care of them. You’ve been talked about, abused and used, but you’re still here…alive and kicking and yes stronger than ever!
OF ALL THE ANIMALS, MAN IS THE ONLY ONE THAT IS CRUEL. HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT INFLICTS PAIN FOR THE PLEASURE OF DOING IT. – Mark Twain from “The Lowest Animal.” – From dogs that are killed in shelters, to the experimentation of laboratory animals, to the torture and senseless killings at the hands of those with “superior intelligence” over the beasts of the land!
IF YOU LOVE A DOG, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY OUTLIVE IT. TO GET A DOG IS TO OPEN YOURSELF TO PROFOUND JOY AND, PRESPECTIVELY, TO EQUALLY PROFOUND SADNESS – Marjorie Garber……….
There’s no need to explain this one as anyone that has ever loved a dog before will know the enrichment that one brings to your life but on the other hand the total and complete devastation losing one brings to your heart and you’re never the same again.
DON’T LET YOUR VICTORIES GO TO YOUR HEAD, OR YOUR FAILURES TO YOUR HEART – (unknown)……….
Some people take their victories with grace and gratitude and we are happy for them. Others gloat, adopt a “better than you” type of attitude and we resent them for it. Then there are those others that each failure in the breed is like a personal assault against them and they wonder if they have the strength to carry on.
And here’s one for us humans which I try to practice in my own life!
ALWAYS FORGIVE YOUR ENEMIES – NOTHING ANNOYS THEM SO MUCH!
Have a great week-end everyone!
WHEN YOU JUDGE ANOTHER, YOU DO NOT DEFINE THEM; YOU DEFINE YOURSELF – Wayne Dyer..........
Oh this is a good one for all those gossip loving, finger pointing, and “I’m better than you” types of characters in the breed!
THERE’S ALWAYS A LITTLE TRUTH BEHIND EVERY “JUST KIDDING,” A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE BEHIND EVERY “I DON’T KNOW,” A LITTLE EMOTION BEHIND EVERY, “I DON’T CARE,” AND A LITTLE PAIN BEHIND EVERY “IT’S OK” - (Author unknown)……
When you bad mouth someone else’s’ dog and then say “Just kidding”……When you withhold information that could help a newbie in the breed by saying, “I don’t know”….. When someone tells you they don’t like your puppies and you say, “I don’t care” (when you really do)……When someone hurts you by telling you your dog is nothing but a pet and you shouldn’t be showing him and you say, “It’s OK” (when it really isn’t)…..there’s always a little truth behind these words!
I’M NOT TELLING YOU IT’S GOING TO BE EASY, I’M TELLING YOU IT’S GOING TO BE WORTH IT – (Author unknown)……….
Coming into this breed thinking that you know everything there is to know in the breed, set’s you up for disappointment. Having high expectations and suffering many disappointments along the way is to be expected in anything that is worthwhile. Being in the breeding and showing of dogs is not an easy thing to do, but it’s oh so worth it when you succeed at what you attempt to do in this breed.
WHEN YOU’RE READY TO QUIT, YOU’RE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. And this old Chinese saying….THE TEMPTATION TO QUIT WILL BE GREATEST JUST BEFOE YOU ARE ABOUT TO SUCCEED - (Author unknown)……….
You might have suffered many loses in the breed, you might see clubs folding, but now’s not the time to give up. You haven’t come this far to throw it all away.
THAT WHICH DOES NOT KILL ME MAKES ME STRONGER – (Author unknown)……….
You’ve lost puppies; you’ve had to put young dogs to sleep because they were too ill, you’ve spent thousands of dollars taking care of sick animals. You’ve rescued dogs that no one else wants. You’ve spent your own hard earned money taking care of them. You’ve been talked about, abused and used, but you’re still here…alive and kicking and yes stronger than ever!
OF ALL THE ANIMALS, MAN IS THE ONLY ONE THAT IS CRUEL. HE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT INFLICTS PAIN FOR THE PLEASURE OF DOING IT. – Mark Twain from “The Lowest Animal.” – From dogs that are killed in shelters, to the experimentation of laboratory animals, to the torture and senseless killings at the hands of those with “superior intelligence” over the beasts of the land!
IF YOU LOVE A DOG, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY OUTLIVE IT. TO GET A DOG IS TO OPEN YOURSELF TO PROFOUND JOY AND, PRESPECTIVELY, TO EQUALLY PROFOUND SADNESS – Marjorie Garber……….
There’s no need to explain this one as anyone that has ever loved a dog before will know the enrichment that one brings to your life but on the other hand the total and complete devastation losing one brings to your heart and you’re never the same again.
DON’T LET YOUR VICTORIES GO TO YOUR HEAD, OR YOUR FAILURES TO YOUR HEART – (unknown)……….
Some people take their victories with grace and gratitude and we are happy for them. Others gloat, adopt a “better than you” type of attitude and we resent them for it. Then there are those others that each failure in the breed is like a personal assault against them and they wonder if they have the strength to carry on.
And here’s one for us humans which I try to practice in my own life!
ALWAYS FORGIVE YOUR ENEMIES – NOTHING ANNOYS THEM SO MUCH!
Have a great week-end everyone!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
SO YOU WANT TO BREED A LITTER OF PUPPIES - (Conclusion)
Mother and her puppies are doing well. She’s eating her food right on schedule and you’ve increased it because of all the hungry little mouths she has to feed. You’ve kept a close eye on the puppies to make sure that they are all doing well and are nursing on their mother. You should note that when you observe the puppies while they are sleeping you will notice that their little bodies jerk quite often while they’re sleeping. This is normal and your puppies are healthy so no need to worry. They should feel warm to the touch. It’s the puppy that isn’t moving very much and feels cooler to the touch that you should have a concern with. Call your vet if you notice anything that doesn’t seem right. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
The first couple of weeks, you won’t need to do too much of anything besides change the newspapers in the whelping box and wash the towels or blanket. The mother is very capable of taking care of her babies at this stage. She licks and cleans them to help stimulate their need to defecate and urinate before they can do this on their own.
Normally you will see the puppies eyes begin to open around 10 – 14 days old. At this tender age, the best they can see is shadows. They will have a bluish looking tint to their eyes. By 3 weeks, most puppies are beginning to try to stand and walk although they are shaky at best. It’s comical to watch them as they fall like drunken sailors back onto the floor of the whelping box. They will try to play with their litter mates and you will see a pattern developing as the alpha puppy is determined among the litter.
It is also at this young age that the puppy will have been introduced to a mushy type food. Many breeders will first introduce the puppy to meat by putting a small amount of chop meat on her finger and put it in the puppy’s mouth. The funny faces that they make can give you a chuckle but no more so than when you place the puppies around their dinner bowel and watch them slide head and body first into their food. It’s not unusual that most of them will be wearing more of their food than eating it. But give it time, and they’ll get the hang of it. Then you can gradually add dry food to your puppy’s gruel like mixture which can consist of baby rice cereal, ground meat, puppy milk like replacement supplement that’s loaded with vitamins, etc. Most puppies will be fed four times a day with solid food while still being nursed by their mother.
Many times a breeder will take the puppies to different parts of the house at 4 – 5 weeks of age to get them familiar with different sounds and objects. Up to this time, I like to have a radio playing in the room where the puppies whelping box is so they are already familiar with different sounds. I love to put them on a rug and watch them taking their first steps in unfamiliar territory. By five weeks I’ve already picked my best puppies because at this age, I’ve get my first glimpse of their movement as they do their little puppy gaits across the rug. It amazes me how much a puppy at this age has already developed considering that five weeks ago they were still in their mother’s tummies!
Most mothers will still allow their pups to nurse for a little while, but the puppies at this age show their mother no respect and can be very rough on her by biting and scratching her already tender body. You may see the mother discipline them as well by gently but firmly biting them to let them know that she has had enough of their rough housing. As time goes by she’ll nurse them less and less but will still want to play with and discipline them. This bonding is necessary for their mental and emotional health. They learn from their mother who normally enjoys teaching her offspring.
In a couple of weeks, the puppies will receive their first inoculations. Most of the time you will have to bring a litter of puppies into your vets. If you’re lucky, you may have a vet that makes a house call. However, many breeders give their puppies their own shots that they’ve ordered from a veterinarian supply catalog. They will also have received their first worming mediation.
These initial weeks of a puppies life is crucial for their health and their mental and emotional growth. You don’t just breed a litter of puppies and leave them in a dog run. It is very important that they are played with and socialized. They should come into the kitchen where pots and pans are rattling or dropped on the floor intentionally to watch their reaction and recovery time from their initial “shock” of the intruding object. This is when you observe do your puppies come to investigate what it was that made all that noise? Do they sniff at the invading intruder lying on the middle of the floor or do they run and hide behind a chair? Do your puppies like people? Are they friendly towards strangers, or are they suspicious and cower in a corner somewhere unwilling to come and make friends? This is all an indication of the pups character and future personality.
This is also a good time to introduce them to being handled and groomed. Gently brushing them and combing their fur gets them used to being handled. Put them on a grooming table and most of the time they will stiffen up because they may be frightened. But once they get used to it, most puppies are cooperative. This is also the time that you can introduce them to their first bath. Oh they’re going to kick and splash and try to get out of the sink or tub but they’re German Shepherds and they learn very quickly.
Alright so your puppies are now eating solid food, they’ve had their initial puppy shots, they’ve been wormed, they’ve been handled and groomed and played with and socialized. You’ve enjoyed them, (but the parties over) and it’s time to find them their loving “forever” homes. Let’s hope that you have already received some deposits on these puppies when they were first born or you had a waiting list when you bred this litter. No litter (in my opinion) should be bred unless you have homes for them to go to. You’ve also probably advertised your litter and are hopefully receiving inquiries about them.
Your first concern as a breeder should be to find the very best homes that you can for your puppies. You’ve screened your potential buyers by asking them the right questions like what are their plans for your puppy? Do you have a fenced in yard? Do you have references? Who is the vet that you plan to take care of your dog? Do you work a full time job? Where will the people stay if you do? How will he be taken care of when you’re not home? Do you have other animals and how will they take onto the puppy? Do you have children and do they know how to treat a puppy? Do you know how to train a dog? Will you take him to obedience classes?
You will give the new owner a health guarantee on the puppy. You will tell them that they are to have the puppy neutered if they are not sold as a show or breeding animal. You will take the puppy back at whatever age it is if they can no longer keep him. You will give them a list of shots and worming and dates that they received them. You will tell them what food you recommend that they feed him. You might even give them some food for his first few days in his new home. You will ask them to get in touch with you with any concerns and ask that they give you an update on the puppy periodically. You will tell them that you might drop in on them occasionally just to see how things are going.
Now most of your puppies are sold into loving homes, but there still remains a few that were not so lucky. These are the puppies that no one seems to favor. Did you think of this BEFORE you bred the litter? Are you prepared to hold onto puppies after 8 – 10 weeks old knowing that the older they get, the less desirable they are to the pet market? Most pet people like to buy young puppies. Many a time a breeder will find themselves with puppies that are now over six months old? Do you have the space to hold onto them and the finances to feed them? This is all part of being a breeder……preparing yourself for the unexpected. Or how about the person that buys the 8 – 10 week old puppy and was never prepared for all the chewing, scratching, biting and destructive behavior of the little darling? Are you prepared when that person calls you first thing in the morning whining and complaining that they need to return the puppy to you and want their money back?
This folks is all part of being a breeder! So the next time you get an “urge” to breed Daisy to Duke, stop and think before you do it. Leave it to the breeder that knows what they’re doing because even the best of them can find themselves in situations that they didn’t plan for. It is not all about the cute, fluffy little butterballs that you see in the pictures that you just want to reach out and grab. It’s about the daily taking care of and meeting the needs of a very needy animal. Treat him right, raise him with love and care and he should give you 10 – 13 years of devoted and unconditional love that will leave paw prints on your heart forever!
KONG Extreme Kong Dog Toy, Extra Large, Black.........
* Stuff with KONG Treats and Ziggies
* Recommended for power chewers
* Keeps dogs busy and help deter misbehavior
* Made in the USA of nontoxic, extremely durable natural rubber
* Measures 5-inches long, for dogs 60 to 90 pounds
My rating: Dog breeding: (1 - 4)
The first couple of weeks, you won’t need to do too much of anything besides change the newspapers in the whelping box and wash the towels or blanket. The mother is very capable of taking care of her babies at this stage. She licks and cleans them to help stimulate their need to defecate and urinate before they can do this on their own.
Normally you will see the puppies eyes begin to open around 10 – 14 days old. At this tender age, the best they can see is shadows. They will have a bluish looking tint to their eyes. By 3 weeks, most puppies are beginning to try to stand and walk although they are shaky at best. It’s comical to watch them as they fall like drunken sailors back onto the floor of the whelping box. They will try to play with their litter mates and you will see a pattern developing as the alpha puppy is determined among the litter.
It is also at this young age that the puppy will have been introduced to a mushy type food. Many breeders will first introduce the puppy to meat by putting a small amount of chop meat on her finger and put it in the puppy’s mouth. The funny faces that they make can give you a chuckle but no more so than when you place the puppies around their dinner bowel and watch them slide head and body first into their food. It’s not unusual that most of them will be wearing more of their food than eating it. But give it time, and they’ll get the hang of it. Then you can gradually add dry food to your puppy’s gruel like mixture which can consist of baby rice cereal, ground meat, puppy milk like replacement supplement that’s loaded with vitamins, etc. Most puppies will be fed four times a day with solid food while still being nursed by their mother.
Many times a breeder will take the puppies to different parts of the house at 4 – 5 weeks of age to get them familiar with different sounds and objects. Up to this time, I like to have a radio playing in the room where the puppies whelping box is so they are already familiar with different sounds. I love to put them on a rug and watch them taking their first steps in unfamiliar territory. By five weeks I’ve already picked my best puppies because at this age, I’ve get my first glimpse of their movement as they do their little puppy gaits across the rug. It amazes me how much a puppy at this age has already developed considering that five weeks ago they were still in their mother’s tummies!
Most mothers will still allow their pups to nurse for a little while, but the puppies at this age show their mother no respect and can be very rough on her by biting and scratching her already tender body. You may see the mother discipline them as well by gently but firmly biting them to let them know that she has had enough of their rough housing. As time goes by she’ll nurse them less and less but will still want to play with and discipline them. This bonding is necessary for their mental and emotional health. They learn from their mother who normally enjoys teaching her offspring.
In a couple of weeks, the puppies will receive their first inoculations. Most of the time you will have to bring a litter of puppies into your vets. If you’re lucky, you may have a vet that makes a house call. However, many breeders give their puppies their own shots that they’ve ordered from a veterinarian supply catalog. They will also have received their first worming mediation.
These initial weeks of a puppies life is crucial for their health and their mental and emotional growth. You don’t just breed a litter of puppies and leave them in a dog run. It is very important that they are played with and socialized. They should come into the kitchen where pots and pans are rattling or dropped on the floor intentionally to watch their reaction and recovery time from their initial “shock” of the intruding object. This is when you observe do your puppies come to investigate what it was that made all that noise? Do they sniff at the invading intruder lying on the middle of the floor or do they run and hide behind a chair? Do your puppies like people? Are they friendly towards strangers, or are they suspicious and cower in a corner somewhere unwilling to come and make friends? This is all an indication of the pups character and future personality.
This is also a good time to introduce them to being handled and groomed. Gently brushing them and combing their fur gets them used to being handled. Put them on a grooming table and most of the time they will stiffen up because they may be frightened. But once they get used to it, most puppies are cooperative. This is also the time that you can introduce them to their first bath. Oh they’re going to kick and splash and try to get out of the sink or tub but they’re German Shepherds and they learn very quickly.
Alright so your puppies are now eating solid food, they’ve had their initial puppy shots, they’ve been wormed, they’ve been handled and groomed and played with and socialized. You’ve enjoyed them, (but the parties over) and it’s time to find them their loving “forever” homes. Let’s hope that you have already received some deposits on these puppies when they were first born or you had a waiting list when you bred this litter. No litter (in my opinion) should be bred unless you have homes for them to go to. You’ve also probably advertised your litter and are hopefully receiving inquiries about them.
Your first concern as a breeder should be to find the very best homes that you can for your puppies. You’ve screened your potential buyers by asking them the right questions like what are their plans for your puppy? Do you have a fenced in yard? Do you have references? Who is the vet that you plan to take care of your dog? Do you work a full time job? Where will the people stay if you do? How will he be taken care of when you’re not home? Do you have other animals and how will they take onto the puppy? Do you have children and do they know how to treat a puppy? Do you know how to train a dog? Will you take him to obedience classes?
You will give the new owner a health guarantee on the puppy. You will tell them that they are to have the puppy neutered if they are not sold as a show or breeding animal. You will take the puppy back at whatever age it is if they can no longer keep him. You will give them a list of shots and worming and dates that they received them. You will tell them what food you recommend that they feed him. You might even give them some food for his first few days in his new home. You will ask them to get in touch with you with any concerns and ask that they give you an update on the puppy periodically. You will tell them that you might drop in on them occasionally just to see how things are going.
Now most of your puppies are sold into loving homes, but there still remains a few that were not so lucky. These are the puppies that no one seems to favor. Did you think of this BEFORE you bred the litter? Are you prepared to hold onto puppies after 8 – 10 weeks old knowing that the older they get, the less desirable they are to the pet market? Most pet people like to buy young puppies. Many a time a breeder will find themselves with puppies that are now over six months old? Do you have the space to hold onto them and the finances to feed them? This is all part of being a breeder……preparing yourself for the unexpected. Or how about the person that buys the 8 – 10 week old puppy and was never prepared for all the chewing, scratching, biting and destructive behavior of the little darling? Are you prepared when that person calls you first thing in the morning whining and complaining that they need to return the puppy to you and want their money back?
This folks is all part of being a breeder! So the next time you get an “urge” to breed Daisy to Duke, stop and think before you do it. Leave it to the breeder that knows what they’re doing because even the best of them can find themselves in situations that they didn’t plan for. It is not all about the cute, fluffy little butterballs that you see in the pictures that you just want to reach out and grab. It’s about the daily taking care of and meeting the needs of a very needy animal. Treat him right, raise him with love and care and he should give you 10 – 13 years of devoted and unconditional love that will leave paw prints on your heart forever!
KONG Extreme Kong Dog Toy, Extra Large, Black.........
* Stuff with KONG Treats and Ziggies
* Recommended for power chewers
* Keeps dogs busy and help deter misbehavior
* Made in the USA of nontoxic, extremely durable natural rubber
* Measures 5-inches long, for dogs 60 to 90 pounds
My rating: Dog breeding: (1 - 4)
Friday, August 27, 2010
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY!
Whether you breed, show or just own the German Shepherd Dog doesn’t mean that you won’t experience a little of each of these things at one time or another (good, bad & ugly). So let’s take a look at some of these things.
THE GOOD:
The pride of ownership of the best all around, “do everything” with type of dog.
There really isn’t too much that you can’t do with this dog. He’s extremely devoted and is need to please in unrivaled.
He’s a great watchdog.
He’s a great baby (kid) sitter.
He loves to go out for hikes or walks.
Many of them love car rides.
He’s very easy to train.
He definitely is the “poster” child for “Man’s Best Friend.”
I think more movies have been made with the German Shepherd Dog than any other breed of dog.
He’s a hero! I bet he’s the breed of dog that is instrumental to saving and rescuing more people’s lives than any other breed.
He’s very good at sizing up people knowing if the person has good intentions and who doesn’t.
He doesn’t make friendships easily with strangers.
The devotion of some people in this breed that work unselfish hours to rescue them from shelters or other abusive situations.
The breeders that take responsibility for ALL the dogs that they breed, whether it’s a pet, show, or working animal.
These are the same breeders if a rescue calls and says we have one of your dogs, that they take the dog back and re-home him.
Breeding a healthy, strong litter of German Shepherd puppies.
Breeders who give the best care to their animals through proper nutrition, immunizations and training.
The lasting friendships that we make because we share the same love for this breed.
The wealth of information that can be found through communication from one breeder to another.
The amount of time and devotion that some people in this breed give to their local breed clubs and the Parent club.
The “newbies” still coming into the breed.
Helping the “newbies” coming into the breed by being a mentor to them.
The German Shepherd Dog will always be a beloved breed simple because they are what a dog should be like.
THE BAD:
The number one “bad” about the German Shepherd Dog………DOG HAIR!!! EVERYWHERE!!! THIS BREED SHEDS A LOT!!!
They never live long enough. 8 – 12 years (give or take), but never enough for anyone that owns and loves this breed.
Because of their popularity, many people that should not be breeding are breeding because of the money they hope to get from this popular breed of dog.
Because of the over breeding of the German Shepherd Dog, many of them will find their final “homes” in a kill shelter.
Intestinal health problems as well as other genetic dispositions for certain diseases.
People that breed and don’t know the first thing about how to read a pedigree.
People that breed that don’t know the first things about the proper structure and movement of the German Shepherd Dog.
People that should never have their judging license because (see my last sentence).
People that don’t know how to train and socialize this breed.
The lack of sportsmanship by some that exhibit dogs.
The same judges judging the National every couple of years when there are those judges that are never asked that could do an equally good job or even better!
The expense of some dog foods that we would love to feed our animals, but we can’t afford so we have to feed a lesser quality food.
Some people never volunteer when they belong to a club but instead bellyache about how the club is run.
These same people reap the rewards of those that do do the work for the club.
And what about those people that never say “Thank you, or congratulations” to their fellow exhibitors?
The “newbies” leaving the breed because of the indifference shown to them by those that should know better.
Being in the breed with the attitude of "What's in it for me?" rather than what good you can do for the breed.
THE UGLY:
Those breeders that are told that one of their dogs is in a shelter and they say, “It’s not my problem!”
German Shepherd puppies and adults being used as “bait” dogs for fighting breeds of dogs.
Those judges that are dishonest and set up the “winners” before you even walk in the ring with your dog!
Those exhibitors that would even ask a judge to put up their dog because of friendship, or because the judge wants to get a lot of judging assignments that the exhibitor has promised to make sure that he does.
Anyone that would abuse this breed through neglect, indifference, torture or with the intention to cause it harm in any way!
The ingredients in some dog foods, like rendered concoctions – road kill, diseased animals, dead animals from shelters, etc.
Those that pass judgment on others in the breed by spreading vicious lies and gossip about someone or their animals hoping to get people to believe them.
This is especially ugly when it comes from people in the breed that should be setting an example rather than being an example of what people never want to be like!
Because of the indifference by some, the breed clubs diminish, the entries are down and the sport of showing dogs as we once knew it may not be re-visited again for some time if ever again.
So these are just my thoughts and like usual just my opinion.
From the book: "WHEN FRIENDSHIP HURTS: Does anything hurt worse than betrayal by a close friend? Sociologist and friendship expert Jan Yager (Friendshifts: The Power of Friendship and How It Shapes Our Lives) explores failed, hurtful, and destructive friendships in When Friendship Hurts.
The book describes 21 types of potentially negative friends. The "Rival," for example, is envious to the point of malice. The "Blood-sucker" expects you to be there every moment. The "Controller" must be in charge of everything, from where you meet for lunch to whom you date. Yager lays out strategies for dealing with the problems when you want to keep the friendship, while also warning about extreme behavior and discussing triggers that lead to friendship conflicts, such as jealousy, anger, and change (of marital status or job, for example). Yager also guides you to examine your own destructive or harmful traits and recognize patterns in your family background that affect your friendships. Overall, this book will help you learn how to deal with destructive friendships--when and how to save them, when and how to end them, and how to cope when a business friendship goes wrong.
My rating: The Good: (4), The Bad: (1), The Ugly: (1)
THE GOOD:
The pride of ownership of the best all around, “do everything” with type of dog.
There really isn’t too much that you can’t do with this dog. He’s extremely devoted and is need to please in unrivaled.
He’s a great watchdog.
He’s a great baby (kid) sitter.
He loves to go out for hikes or walks.
Many of them love car rides.
He’s very easy to train.
He definitely is the “poster” child for “Man’s Best Friend.”
I think more movies have been made with the German Shepherd Dog than any other breed of dog.
He’s a hero! I bet he’s the breed of dog that is instrumental to saving and rescuing more people’s lives than any other breed.
He’s very good at sizing up people knowing if the person has good intentions and who doesn’t.
He doesn’t make friendships easily with strangers.
The devotion of some people in this breed that work unselfish hours to rescue them from shelters or other abusive situations.
The breeders that take responsibility for ALL the dogs that they breed, whether it’s a pet, show, or working animal.
These are the same breeders if a rescue calls and says we have one of your dogs, that they take the dog back and re-home him.
Breeding a healthy, strong litter of German Shepherd puppies.
Breeders who give the best care to their animals through proper nutrition, immunizations and training.
The lasting friendships that we make because we share the same love for this breed.
The wealth of information that can be found through communication from one breeder to another.
The amount of time and devotion that some people in this breed give to their local breed clubs and the Parent club.
The “newbies” still coming into the breed.
Helping the “newbies” coming into the breed by being a mentor to them.
The German Shepherd Dog will always be a beloved breed simple because they are what a dog should be like.
THE BAD:
The number one “bad” about the German Shepherd Dog………DOG HAIR!!! EVERYWHERE!!! THIS BREED SHEDS A LOT!!!
They never live long enough. 8 – 12 years (give or take), but never enough for anyone that owns and loves this breed.
Because of their popularity, many people that should not be breeding are breeding because of the money they hope to get from this popular breed of dog.
Because of the over breeding of the German Shepherd Dog, many of them will find their final “homes” in a kill shelter.
Intestinal health problems as well as other genetic dispositions for certain diseases.
People that breed and don’t know the first thing about how to read a pedigree.
People that breed that don’t know the first things about the proper structure and movement of the German Shepherd Dog.
People that should never have their judging license because (see my last sentence).
People that don’t know how to train and socialize this breed.
The lack of sportsmanship by some that exhibit dogs.
The same judges judging the National every couple of years when there are those judges that are never asked that could do an equally good job or even better!
The expense of some dog foods that we would love to feed our animals, but we can’t afford so we have to feed a lesser quality food.
Some people never volunteer when they belong to a club but instead bellyache about how the club is run.
These same people reap the rewards of those that do do the work for the club.
And what about those people that never say “Thank you, or congratulations” to their fellow exhibitors?
The “newbies” leaving the breed because of the indifference shown to them by those that should know better.
Being in the breed with the attitude of "What's in it for me?" rather than what good you can do for the breed.
THE UGLY:
Those breeders that are told that one of their dogs is in a shelter and they say, “It’s not my problem!”
German Shepherd puppies and adults being used as “bait” dogs for fighting breeds of dogs.
Those judges that are dishonest and set up the “winners” before you even walk in the ring with your dog!
Those exhibitors that would even ask a judge to put up their dog because of friendship, or because the judge wants to get a lot of judging assignments that the exhibitor has promised to make sure that he does.
Anyone that would abuse this breed through neglect, indifference, torture or with the intention to cause it harm in any way!
The ingredients in some dog foods, like rendered concoctions – road kill, diseased animals, dead animals from shelters, etc.
Those that pass judgment on others in the breed by spreading vicious lies and gossip about someone or their animals hoping to get people to believe them.
This is especially ugly when it comes from people in the breed that should be setting an example rather than being an example of what people never want to be like!
Because of the indifference by some, the breed clubs diminish, the entries are down and the sport of showing dogs as we once knew it may not be re-visited again for some time if ever again.
So these are just my thoughts and like usual just my opinion.
From the book: "WHEN FRIENDSHIP HURTS: Does anything hurt worse than betrayal by a close friend? Sociologist and friendship expert Jan Yager (Friendshifts: The Power of Friendship and How It Shapes Our Lives) explores failed, hurtful, and destructive friendships in When Friendship Hurts.
The book describes 21 types of potentially negative friends. The "Rival," for example, is envious to the point of malice. The "Blood-sucker" expects you to be there every moment. The "Controller" must be in charge of everything, from where you meet for lunch to whom you date. Yager lays out strategies for dealing with the problems when you want to keep the friendship, while also warning about extreme behavior and discussing triggers that lead to friendship conflicts, such as jealousy, anger, and change (of marital status or job, for example). Yager also guides you to examine your own destructive or harmful traits and recognize patterns in your family background that affect your friendships. Overall, this book will help you learn how to deal with destructive friendships--when and how to save them, when and how to end them, and how to cope when a business friendship goes wrong.
My rating: The Good: (4), The Bad: (1), The Ugly: (1)
Monday, August 16, 2010
OPEN DOOR POLICY
The very first time that I put up a couple of kennels in my backyard we attached them to the back of our garage. The dogs could go in and out of the garage as they pleased because I had a “doggie” door for them to use. Can I tell you how much I loved that? So did they. You just drill a hole in the wall of the garage and attach the “doggie” door to the hole. The reason I liked this so much was that the dogs went in and out of it whenever they wanted except late at night when I locked those doors for the evening.
The nice thing about having your kennels attached to a building is that the dogs can get out of the sun or bad weather if they want and come inside. These doors have been around for a long time, but I think they are a God send to dog owners for the convenience that they afford our animals. Besides fencing, “doggie” doors are one of the best inventions in my opinion. The dog is not forced to stay outside if he doesn’t want to. He comes and goes as he pleases. Ideally a platform should be placed out in the dog’s run and one inside the garage or building. This way he’s not lying on a cold, damp or hard surface.
Some people that don’t own a dog kennel but keep their dogs in a fenced in back yard love the convenience of the “doggie” dog as well. The only difference with this set up is that sometimes when your dog is feeling a little bit frisky, don’t be surprised by the little “gifts’ that he may bring into the kitchen and deposit at your feet. This is especially true if you have cats. He may share the rest of his uneaten dinner in the form of a “nearly dead” mouse or worse.
Now let me say here that if you have pets that you want to give freedom to by coming and going as they please, caution and common sense should be used. Only use these doors attached to your house if you have a fenced in yard. Depending upon where you live (what state) there are other things to take into consideration. Are there venomous snakes or bad mushrooms that grow on your lawn? Do you live in a neighborhood where children can throw things over the fence for your dog that may not be healthy for them to eat like a chocolate candy bar? If you live in a state like Florida, are there fire ants on your lawn? These are all the kinds of questions you should ask yourself before giving “Fido” his freedom to come and go as he pleases.
Another reason that some people like having a “doggie” door attached to their homes is because the owner may have physical ailments that make taking her dog for a walk close to impossible. Because she realizes the need for her dog to get fresh air and exercise, having a “doggie” door is the answer for her and her animal.
Here are some “doggie” doors that I found on Amazon.
My rating: "Doggie" doors: (4)
The nice thing about having your kennels attached to a building is that the dogs can get out of the sun or bad weather if they want and come inside. These doors have been around for a long time, but I think they are a God send to dog owners for the convenience that they afford our animals. Besides fencing, “doggie” doors are one of the best inventions in my opinion. The dog is not forced to stay outside if he doesn’t want to. He comes and goes as he pleases. Ideally a platform should be placed out in the dog’s run and one inside the garage or building. This way he’s not lying on a cold, damp or hard surface.
Some people that don’t own a dog kennel but keep their dogs in a fenced in back yard love the convenience of the “doggie” dog as well. The only difference with this set up is that sometimes when your dog is feeling a little bit frisky, don’t be surprised by the little “gifts’ that he may bring into the kitchen and deposit at your feet. This is especially true if you have cats. He may share the rest of his uneaten dinner in the form of a “nearly dead” mouse or worse.
Now let me say here that if you have pets that you want to give freedom to by coming and going as they please, caution and common sense should be used. Only use these doors attached to your house if you have a fenced in yard. Depending upon where you live (what state) there are other things to take into consideration. Are there venomous snakes or bad mushrooms that grow on your lawn? Do you live in a neighborhood where children can throw things over the fence for your dog that may not be healthy for them to eat like a chocolate candy bar? If you live in a state like Florida, are there fire ants on your lawn? These are all the kinds of questions you should ask yourself before giving “Fido” his freedom to come and go as he pleases.
Another reason that some people like having a “doggie” door attached to their homes is because the owner may have physical ailments that make taking her dog for a walk close to impossible. Because she realizes the need for her dog to get fresh air and exercise, having a “doggie” door is the answer for her and her animal.
Here are some “doggie” doors that I found on Amazon.
My rating: "Doggie" doors: (4)
Friday, August 6, 2010
TO BARK OR NOT TO BARK.....THAT IS THE QUESTION!
I think when you own dogs and live in an area where you live close to your neighbors; you become much less tolerant of your dogs barking. That’s usually due to the fact that your neighbors are much less tolerant of your dogs barking. I know I’m sensitive to my dogs barking and I live in a rural area, yet still there are neighbors that can hear my dog’s barking. I don’t like listening to them and I own them so I can sympathize with people that don’t own dogs and don’t want to be serenaded by their unwelcome annoying little yaps!
Now days it seems that people are less tolerant of things than they were years ago. Years ago if you lived in a neighborhood, hearing a dog bark was part of living in America. Johnny rode his bike down the center of the street, while Julie skipped rope on the sidewalk. A few stray dogs ran loose on Bill and Ethel’s front lawn and still others could be heard making a commotion behind someone else’s fence. This was a part of America. This is how we lived. Dogs and kids doing what dogs and kids do……playing and barking and living life to its fullest. Momma stayed home and cooked and baked while daddy went out to make a living.
Then all of a sudden we become a two income family. Less chocolate chip cookies were baked because momma had to go type up some “memos” for her boss and dad worked longer hours and couldn’t coach the little league team anymore. Nerves were stretched to its limit. Less time with the family and patience levels were tested on a daily basis. This is where the things that we once tolerated had all of a sudden become a nuisance to us. Children looking for help with their math homework, daddy looking to share his day with mommy who had all she could do to pull out yet another frozen meal for supper from the freezer. “Rover” is barking in the back yard looking to come in the house where he once laid by the fireplace. The dynamics of the family structure has changed and in many cases the tolerance level has gone out the window as well. What we used to classify as normal behavior is now classified as annoying behavior.
We’ve all heard this overused term a lot in these last several years and that is we live in a “sue happy” society nowadays. If you look at someone cross eyed, expect to be taken to court. Well dogs that bark even like a “normal” dog would back because a stranger comes into his yard is now considered a nuisance. Some neighbors would say that this dog was disturbing the peace! The next thing you know is that the animal warden is knocking on your front door looking to seize your dog and put him in an animal shelter were he spends a few of his last days before taking a trip to the “Pearly White Gates!”
So because many people have made it harder to live in some neighborhoods some owners of dogs have decided to debark their dogs so no one can complain anymore. Some people think this is a cruel and unfair punishment to a dog’s natural instinct used to warn their beloved owners of impending danger. Others feel that it is better to debark their dogs and insure that their animals won’t be taken away. However, even after a dog has been debarked, he can still bark with a lower tone or a squeak. Some feel that it gives a dog an emotional problem and others feel that that’s a bunch of hog wash! Those that are against this medical procedure feels why take a risk with your dog going under the knife and perhaps losing his life. They feel that unnecessary surgery is well unnecessary!
When a veterinarian does a debarking surgery, the vocal chords of a dog are cut and partially removed so the dog cannot bark as loudly. In some areas of the country, debarking is banned like in New Jersey. In some other countries it is also banned.
Some people are of the belief that you can train a dog to stop barking and others believe that you can not especially in breeds that are known to be constant barkers. Those that believe you can train a dog not to bark feel that by having a dog debarked you are not addressing the problem of why the dog is barking in the first place. Having this surgery doesn’t take the desire to bark away from the dog. Some people are looking for a quick fix when it comes to stopping their dog or dogs from barking. The stress that they receive from unforgiving neighbors finds them doing something that they otherwise would not be doing.
Sometimes after having the surgery, the debarked dog may be silent or have a low, hoarse bark, which sometimes is even more annoying than the original reason you had him debarked in the first place.
Some feel that debarking their dogs was a necessary thing that they needed to do in order to keep their dogs in the neighborhoods that they live in. They are no longer worried about their dogs being taken away from them because of their noisy barking all the time. They feel that their level of stress is reduced as well as their neighbors.
In the end, I suppose we all do what it is that we need to do to co-exist in an ever expanding population. If you live among other people, one must realize that the love we feel for our animals doesn’t mean our neighbors feel the same way about them. They pay their mortgages and their taxes and they are entitled to have a cook-out in their own backyard without the constant and annoying barking of the dogs on the other side of the fence! I know I wouldn’t like it. Heck I don’t enjoy listening to my own dogs barking no less anyone else’s doing the same thing.
So what do you think? Is it ever a good idea to put your dogs through this surgery just to keep the peace? And what’s next, will someone be knocking on your front door ready to “take you downtown” and lock you up for the night because you felt the need to clear your throat and spit on your neighbors front lawn? Will that little nasty act get you locked up? Or maybe your hacking cough woke up Susie Q who was napping in her stroller. Stay tuned………..
My rating: debarking dogs: (1 - 4)
Now days it seems that people are less tolerant of things than they were years ago. Years ago if you lived in a neighborhood, hearing a dog bark was part of living in America. Johnny rode his bike down the center of the street, while Julie skipped rope on the sidewalk. A few stray dogs ran loose on Bill and Ethel’s front lawn and still others could be heard making a commotion behind someone else’s fence. This was a part of America. This is how we lived. Dogs and kids doing what dogs and kids do……playing and barking and living life to its fullest. Momma stayed home and cooked and baked while daddy went out to make a living.
Then all of a sudden we become a two income family. Less chocolate chip cookies were baked because momma had to go type up some “memos” for her boss and dad worked longer hours and couldn’t coach the little league team anymore. Nerves were stretched to its limit. Less time with the family and patience levels were tested on a daily basis. This is where the things that we once tolerated had all of a sudden become a nuisance to us. Children looking for help with their math homework, daddy looking to share his day with mommy who had all she could do to pull out yet another frozen meal for supper from the freezer. “Rover” is barking in the back yard looking to come in the house where he once laid by the fireplace. The dynamics of the family structure has changed and in many cases the tolerance level has gone out the window as well. What we used to classify as normal behavior is now classified as annoying behavior.
We’ve all heard this overused term a lot in these last several years and that is we live in a “sue happy” society nowadays. If you look at someone cross eyed, expect to be taken to court. Well dogs that bark even like a “normal” dog would back because a stranger comes into his yard is now considered a nuisance. Some neighbors would say that this dog was disturbing the peace! The next thing you know is that the animal warden is knocking on your front door looking to seize your dog and put him in an animal shelter were he spends a few of his last days before taking a trip to the “Pearly White Gates!”
So because many people have made it harder to live in some neighborhoods some owners of dogs have decided to debark their dogs so no one can complain anymore. Some people think this is a cruel and unfair punishment to a dog’s natural instinct used to warn their beloved owners of impending danger. Others feel that it is better to debark their dogs and insure that their animals won’t be taken away. However, even after a dog has been debarked, he can still bark with a lower tone or a squeak. Some feel that it gives a dog an emotional problem and others feel that that’s a bunch of hog wash! Those that are against this medical procedure feels why take a risk with your dog going under the knife and perhaps losing his life. They feel that unnecessary surgery is well unnecessary!
When a veterinarian does a debarking surgery, the vocal chords of a dog are cut and partially removed so the dog cannot bark as loudly. In some areas of the country, debarking is banned like in New Jersey. In some other countries it is also banned.
Some people are of the belief that you can train a dog to stop barking and others believe that you can not especially in breeds that are known to be constant barkers. Those that believe you can train a dog not to bark feel that by having a dog debarked you are not addressing the problem of why the dog is barking in the first place. Having this surgery doesn’t take the desire to bark away from the dog. Some people are looking for a quick fix when it comes to stopping their dog or dogs from barking. The stress that they receive from unforgiving neighbors finds them doing something that they otherwise would not be doing.
Sometimes after having the surgery, the debarked dog may be silent or have a low, hoarse bark, which sometimes is even more annoying than the original reason you had him debarked in the first place.
Some feel that debarking their dogs was a necessary thing that they needed to do in order to keep their dogs in the neighborhoods that they live in. They are no longer worried about their dogs being taken away from them because of their noisy barking all the time. They feel that their level of stress is reduced as well as their neighbors.
In the end, I suppose we all do what it is that we need to do to co-exist in an ever expanding population. If you live among other people, one must realize that the love we feel for our animals doesn’t mean our neighbors feel the same way about them. They pay their mortgages and their taxes and they are entitled to have a cook-out in their own backyard without the constant and annoying barking of the dogs on the other side of the fence! I know I wouldn’t like it. Heck I don’t enjoy listening to my own dogs barking no less anyone else’s doing the same thing.
So what do you think? Is it ever a good idea to put your dogs through this surgery just to keep the peace? And what’s next, will someone be knocking on your front door ready to “take you downtown” and lock you up for the night because you felt the need to clear your throat and spit on your neighbors front lawn? Will that little nasty act get you locked up? Or maybe your hacking cough woke up Susie Q who was napping in her stroller. Stay tuned………..
My rating: debarking dogs: (1 - 4)
Monday, May 24, 2010
WOULD YOU DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN?
Maybe when you were growing up you always had a dog. Or maybe you were one of those kids that wished you had a dog. Whatever your circumstances were growing up you probably now own a dog or many dogs.
For most of us when we got our first German Shepherd, we just loved the breed and wanted to own one of them. He was going to be our friend, our watch dog and our buddy. He was going to be there for us when we got home from work. We could take him for rides in the car with us. We’d play ball with him in the park or even take him for a run on the beach. We’d go hiking with him and he’d even come with us when we went camping. I mean after all, isn’t this what people do with their canine companions?
So when did your interest grow from just owning a German Shepherd to wanting to train or show him? How did you discover there was such a thing as dog shows?
Do you remember your very first dog show? Did you go just to watch and observe or did you participate with a dog of your own? What were the people like back then? Were they friendly and welcoming? Was your first dog show a good experience?
My very first dog show was the most prestigious dog show in America. We went to Westminster at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Oh no, we weren’t showing. We just went to watch, to learn and to be educated. Didn’t we think we were something though? We already owned our first German Shepherd that we bought in a pet store. I mean isn’t that where everybody buys a dog? What’s a breeder? I never heard of them before. I just thought you bought a dog at a pet store or you went to the Humane Society and got yourself one. But we wanted a pure bred dog with papers so we bought our girl at the pet store.
It didn’t take us long to have our bubble burst about what a good German Shepherd looked like. We thought we had something special with our long coated black and silver girl. But we were soon to find out that “The only place you’d find a dog like that is in a pet store.” Yup that’s what a very known breeder told us who we met at that prestigious show in New York City all those years ago. Well we really weren’t heartbroken. We loved our dog and didn’t have any intention of letting her go. We continued taking her to obedience classes and we bought a show quality puppy from that very well known breeder that we met at Madison Square Garden. Long story short, he was a fear biter. So we placed the well bred dog and kept our black and silver long coated girl that we bought from the pet store. Her temperament was wonderful and we figured show dog or no show dog, she was a dog that we could be proud of.
Was I upset that this breeder sold me an inferior dog because he knew that we were novices and what the heck did we know anyway? Oh yes I was upset then because I had to place this youngster and even though his temperament was far from ideal, I still loved him and cried when he left. He went to someone that wanted his property guarded.
Looking back on it now, I realize it was a good thing because it taught me what a good dog is and one that isn’t. It taught me the difference between good and bad temperament. This dog’s conformation was not that of a show quality dog either. I know that now, but I didn’t then. I really thank this breeder now for opening the door for me. Because he sold me a bad quality dog didn’t turn me off to the breed. I knew there was something better out there for me and I wasn’t going to stop until I got it.
Our next show dog was indeed a true show dog. But alas he was from bloodlines at that time that was known to have produced the dreaded bloat. We lost our beloved show boy to this horrific disease at 2 ½ years of age. He went to doggie Heaven with seven points and a major to his credit. Somehow, I don’t think the Heaven’s was impressed.
We bred very few litters a year.....most of the time one to two litters was enough. Like all breeders, we bred some good ones and some mediocre ones. And like most breeders we had some show dog quality puppies but mostly pet quality puppies. We dealt with those people that came knocking on our doors looking for a pet for their little Johnny. We may have tossed and turned wondering if we should have let a certain puppy go before we realized his true potential. We cleaned up and we scooped up. We watered and we fed. We groomed and we trained. We won and we lost. We took home a trophy and blue ribbon one day, and another day we went home empty handed. And we never really learned how to say good bye even though popular belief would have us believing it gets easier with time. NOT!
So where did it all start for you? Was your experience a good one or a bad one? Did you have any mentors helping you or did you learn on your own? I was EXTREMELY fortunate that I had some wonderful people, many of them pillars of the breed guiding me in those early years. Many of them are no longer with us, but what they taught me and showed me remains with me to this day. All of these people in one way or another helped shape my future in this breed. I listened, I learned and I watched. I took what they taught me and formulated my own opinions about things. I am forever thankful to them for their guidance.
So this is how it all began for me. What about you? Would you do it all over again? Would you have done things differently? Would you have been just as contented owning a pet German Shepherd as you are owning a show dog?
My rating: Owning a pet or show dog: (4), Learning from mentors: (4), educating yourself about the breed: (4)
For most of us when we got our first German Shepherd, we just loved the breed and wanted to own one of them. He was going to be our friend, our watch dog and our buddy. He was going to be there for us when we got home from work. We could take him for rides in the car with us. We’d play ball with him in the park or even take him for a run on the beach. We’d go hiking with him and he’d even come with us when we went camping. I mean after all, isn’t this what people do with their canine companions?
So when did your interest grow from just owning a German Shepherd to wanting to train or show him? How did you discover there was such a thing as dog shows?
Do you remember your very first dog show? Did you go just to watch and observe or did you participate with a dog of your own? What were the people like back then? Were they friendly and welcoming? Was your first dog show a good experience?
My very first dog show was the most prestigious dog show in America. We went to Westminster at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Oh no, we weren’t showing. We just went to watch, to learn and to be educated. Didn’t we think we were something though? We already owned our first German Shepherd that we bought in a pet store. I mean isn’t that where everybody buys a dog? What’s a breeder? I never heard of them before. I just thought you bought a dog at a pet store or you went to the Humane Society and got yourself one. But we wanted a pure bred dog with papers so we bought our girl at the pet store.
It didn’t take us long to have our bubble burst about what a good German Shepherd looked like. We thought we had something special with our long coated black and silver girl. But we were soon to find out that “The only place you’d find a dog like that is in a pet store.” Yup that’s what a very known breeder told us who we met at that prestigious show in New York City all those years ago. Well we really weren’t heartbroken. We loved our dog and didn’t have any intention of letting her go. We continued taking her to obedience classes and we bought a show quality puppy from that very well known breeder that we met at Madison Square Garden. Long story short, he was a fear biter. So we placed the well bred dog and kept our black and silver long coated girl that we bought from the pet store. Her temperament was wonderful and we figured show dog or no show dog, she was a dog that we could be proud of.
Was I upset that this breeder sold me an inferior dog because he knew that we were novices and what the heck did we know anyway? Oh yes I was upset then because I had to place this youngster and even though his temperament was far from ideal, I still loved him and cried when he left. He went to someone that wanted his property guarded.
Looking back on it now, I realize it was a good thing because it taught me what a good dog is and one that isn’t. It taught me the difference between good and bad temperament. This dog’s conformation was not that of a show quality dog either. I know that now, but I didn’t then. I really thank this breeder now for opening the door for me. Because he sold me a bad quality dog didn’t turn me off to the breed. I knew there was something better out there for me and I wasn’t going to stop until I got it.
Our next show dog was indeed a true show dog. But alas he was from bloodlines at that time that was known to have produced the dreaded bloat. We lost our beloved show boy to this horrific disease at 2 ½ years of age. He went to doggie Heaven with seven points and a major to his credit. Somehow, I don’t think the Heaven’s was impressed.
We bred very few litters a year.....most of the time one to two litters was enough. Like all breeders, we bred some good ones and some mediocre ones. And like most breeders we had some show dog quality puppies but mostly pet quality puppies. We dealt with those people that came knocking on our doors looking for a pet for their little Johnny. We may have tossed and turned wondering if we should have let a certain puppy go before we realized his true potential. We cleaned up and we scooped up. We watered and we fed. We groomed and we trained. We won and we lost. We took home a trophy and blue ribbon one day, and another day we went home empty handed. And we never really learned how to say good bye even though popular belief would have us believing it gets easier with time. NOT!
So where did it all start for you? Was your experience a good one or a bad one? Did you have any mentors helping you or did you learn on your own? I was EXTREMELY fortunate that I had some wonderful people, many of them pillars of the breed guiding me in those early years. Many of them are no longer with us, but what they taught me and showed me remains with me to this day. All of these people in one way or another helped shape my future in this breed. I listened, I learned and I watched. I took what they taught me and formulated my own opinions about things. I am forever thankful to them for their guidance.
So this is how it all began for me. What about you? Would you do it all over again? Would you have done things differently? Would you have been just as contented owning a pet German Shepherd as you are owning a show dog?
My rating: Owning a pet or show dog: (4), Learning from mentors: (4), educating yourself about the breed: (4)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
WHOSE HOBBY IS IT ANYWAY?
Owning dogs can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences for many people. Some couldn’t envision their life without a dog or two to share it with. Many feel that their life wouldn’t be the same without them. For most people, a dog is considered their pet or best friend. The dog sleeps in the bed with them. They go for rides in the car with them and some even take them on vacation. These people truly consider their dog a part of the family.
Then there are those “show dog” people. And yes, most of them are cut from a different cloth than the “average” person is. They live, breathe, walk and talk dogs! Yes, believe it or not, there is such a creature! They come from all different economic and social backgrounds. But regardless of their “walk in life” they all share the same common interest and connection and that is their love for the dog.
Breeding and showing dogs for the most part is considered a hobby. There are a few breeders that make their living or supplement their income by raising dogs. But whether or not it’s a hobby or an income for some, these people chose to become involved with dogs. It was their decision to do so. But how does this decision affect the rest of the family and especially the children?
Hopefully if you are married or have a partner in your life that the two of you enjoy owning dogs. You both work towards a common goal and both contribute to the upkeep of the animals in your care. Being with someone who does not share your interest in dogs can be very challenging to the relationship. If you have a tolerant partner who is not jealous and demanding of your time, then the relationship can work out fine. Raising animals is a full time job and being involved with someone who doesn’t understand this can cause many long term problems. I already wrote about the problems that can arise when two people don’t share the same interests in another article that you can find in the archives section of this blog. For this article, I wanted to address the children in the family.
When one thinks a child with a dog, a picture might come up in your mind of a boy with his dog fishing in the neighborhood pond. Or you might recall the old Lassie stories on television that many of us seen growing up as children ourselves. Dogs and children……is there not a better way to grow up? Most children that are raised with dogs usually love them. It teaches them to respect life in all its forms. It teaches them responsibility. It teaches them to give and receive love. I think it can be a beautiful experience for both the child and the dog as well. But what about when it isn’t a beautiful experience?
We must never lose sight of the fact that this is OUR hobby that we chose to become involved with. The children didn’t choose this hobby. The child will hopefully love what we do and want to participate in it, but that’s not always the case. As the children grow older they will have their own activities and hobbies that they may want to enjoy. When children are forced to do something, we all know how much they can rebel against it. When a parent makes the child take care of the animals and do all the work involved with their upkeep, the child can grow resentful towards the dogs. I know people that make their children feed, water, clean the dog’s runs, groom them, etc. Now this is fine if the children enjoy being involved with the upkeep and care of the animals. However, when the parent forces the child to do all the work everyday, well you can see why the child can become bitter. And yes, this happens. The child is being used to do all the work that the adult doesn’t want to do. I once knew of a child that is now an adult that wouldn’t step foot on a show ground anymore because she was dragged from one show to the next and forced to do all the work that her parents should have been doing.
On the other hand, if the child is raised with lots of love and attention and he looks at the dogs as part of his family, he too will love animals. Teaching and giving child chores is fine, but having him do the adults work because you don’t want to, is not. When a child is being used to take care of the animals and doing the work that the adult should be doing (because it is HIS hobby), then the child can grow bitter and when he reaches adulthood the relationship remains strained. I have seen it time and time again. Then the parent complains when the child is an adult that they are being very “testy” with them. He’s an adult now and can now let you know his displeasure with having to be forced to do something that should have been your responsibility in the first place. Like someone told me once…..”She wanted them; let her take care of them!” OUCH!
Children should be able to pursue their own interests and participate in after school activities with their friends. They should have time for themselves to develop into the fine young people that we hope that they will be. If loving and wanting dogs or animals in their life is something that they chose to do then it was their choice to do so.
Children and dogs should be a wonderful combination and in most cases it is. Many times the child wants to help with the care of the dog or dogs. This is fine and welcomed by most parents. This is because the parents honored their child’s own individuality and included him in the family’s activities with or without dogs. The wise parent knows that not every child will want to participate in the sport of dogs. This should be fine. Your child will love you for it. But when the child is made into a slave to do all the work taking care of our canine friends, then a happy household will not be realized at that address.
My rating: dogs and children: (4), children doing most of the work: (1)
From the book "LIVING WITH KIDS AND DOGS....WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND"......At last! A kids-and-dogs book for parents written by someone who "gets it." This is a wonderful book. Useful, useful, useful information—all the main points in an extremely easy-to-read style. As a trainer and a mom, Colleen sees the full picture." — Dr. Ian Dunbar Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind by Colleen Pelar, CPDT, covers more than introducing a baby to the family dog. It has chapters devoted to each stage of a child’s life with parental pointers for setting their family up for success while raising kids and dogs together. Parenting books say control your dog; dog-training books say control your kids. The reality is far more complex and goes way beyond placing blame on either children or dogs for being who they are. Living with Kids & Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind provides busy parents with simple, realistic advice to help ensure that the relationship between their kids and their dog is safe and enjoyable for all. You will learn how to • Help your child and dog develop a strong relationship, built on trust and cooperation • Set your family up for success with a minimum of effort • Recognize canine stress signals and know when your dog is getting worried about normal kid activity • Identify serious behavior problems before someone gets hurt • Provide specific help for managing the interactions with dogs through each stage of your kids’ lives from infancy through the teen years • Prevent your child from becoming part of a growing statistic—children who have been bitten by a dog.
Then there are those “show dog” people. And yes, most of them are cut from a different cloth than the “average” person is. They live, breathe, walk and talk dogs! Yes, believe it or not, there is such a creature! They come from all different economic and social backgrounds. But regardless of their “walk in life” they all share the same common interest and connection and that is their love for the dog.
Breeding and showing dogs for the most part is considered a hobby. There are a few breeders that make their living or supplement their income by raising dogs. But whether or not it’s a hobby or an income for some, these people chose to become involved with dogs. It was their decision to do so. But how does this decision affect the rest of the family and especially the children?
Hopefully if you are married or have a partner in your life that the two of you enjoy owning dogs. You both work towards a common goal and both contribute to the upkeep of the animals in your care. Being with someone who does not share your interest in dogs can be very challenging to the relationship. If you have a tolerant partner who is not jealous and demanding of your time, then the relationship can work out fine. Raising animals is a full time job and being involved with someone who doesn’t understand this can cause many long term problems. I already wrote about the problems that can arise when two people don’t share the same interests in another article that you can find in the archives section of this blog. For this article, I wanted to address the children in the family.
When one thinks a child with a dog, a picture might come up in your mind of a boy with his dog fishing in the neighborhood pond. Or you might recall the old Lassie stories on television that many of us seen growing up as children ourselves. Dogs and children……is there not a better way to grow up? Most children that are raised with dogs usually love them. It teaches them to respect life in all its forms. It teaches them responsibility. It teaches them to give and receive love. I think it can be a beautiful experience for both the child and the dog as well. But what about when it isn’t a beautiful experience?
We must never lose sight of the fact that this is OUR hobby that we chose to become involved with. The children didn’t choose this hobby. The child will hopefully love what we do and want to participate in it, but that’s not always the case. As the children grow older they will have their own activities and hobbies that they may want to enjoy. When children are forced to do something, we all know how much they can rebel against it. When a parent makes the child take care of the animals and do all the work involved with their upkeep, the child can grow resentful towards the dogs. I know people that make their children feed, water, clean the dog’s runs, groom them, etc. Now this is fine if the children enjoy being involved with the upkeep and care of the animals. However, when the parent forces the child to do all the work everyday, well you can see why the child can become bitter. And yes, this happens. The child is being used to do all the work that the adult doesn’t want to do. I once knew of a child that is now an adult that wouldn’t step foot on a show ground anymore because she was dragged from one show to the next and forced to do all the work that her parents should have been doing.
On the other hand, if the child is raised with lots of love and attention and he looks at the dogs as part of his family, he too will love animals. Teaching and giving child chores is fine, but having him do the adults work because you don’t want to, is not. When a child is being used to take care of the animals and doing the work that the adult should be doing (because it is HIS hobby), then the child can grow bitter and when he reaches adulthood the relationship remains strained. I have seen it time and time again. Then the parent complains when the child is an adult that they are being very “testy” with them. He’s an adult now and can now let you know his displeasure with having to be forced to do something that should have been your responsibility in the first place. Like someone told me once…..”She wanted them; let her take care of them!” OUCH!
Children should be able to pursue their own interests and participate in after school activities with their friends. They should have time for themselves to develop into the fine young people that we hope that they will be. If loving and wanting dogs or animals in their life is something that they chose to do then it was their choice to do so.
Children and dogs should be a wonderful combination and in most cases it is. Many times the child wants to help with the care of the dog or dogs. This is fine and welcomed by most parents. This is because the parents honored their child’s own individuality and included him in the family’s activities with or without dogs. The wise parent knows that not every child will want to participate in the sport of dogs. This should be fine. Your child will love you for it. But when the child is made into a slave to do all the work taking care of our canine friends, then a happy household will not be realized at that address.
My rating: dogs and children: (4), children doing most of the work: (1)
From the book "LIVING WITH KIDS AND DOGS....WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND"......At last! A kids-and-dogs book for parents written by someone who "gets it." This is a wonderful book. Useful, useful, useful information—all the main points in an extremely easy-to-read style. As a trainer and a mom, Colleen sees the full picture." — Dr. Ian Dunbar Living with Kids and Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind by Colleen Pelar, CPDT, covers more than introducing a baby to the family dog. It has chapters devoted to each stage of a child’s life with parental pointers for setting their family up for success while raising kids and dogs together. Parenting books say control your dog; dog-training books say control your kids. The reality is far more complex and goes way beyond placing blame on either children or dogs for being who they are. Living with Kids & Dogs . . . Without Losing Your Mind provides busy parents with simple, realistic advice to help ensure that the relationship between their kids and their dog is safe and enjoyable for all. You will learn how to • Help your child and dog develop a strong relationship, built on trust and cooperation • Set your family up for success with a minimum of effort • Recognize canine stress signals and know when your dog is getting worried about normal kid activity • Identify serious behavior problems before someone gets hurt • Provide specific help for managing the interactions with dogs through each stage of your kids’ lives from infancy through the teen years • Prevent your child from becoming part of a growing statistic—children who have been bitten by a dog.
Friday, April 16, 2010
TO ALL THE DOGS I'VE LOVED BEFORE
To all the dogs I’ve loved before……..who traveled in and out my door………
From my very first scruffy looking, long haired black and silver coated pup to my top producing champion ROM bitch to my “wild child” and my girl who likes being pregnant so much that even when she’s not, she thinks she is! From my piano playing dog to my vacuum attacking “watch dog”…….they’ve all contributed to my life with dogs. Then there’s the 105 lb. male who scaled his six foot kennel to be with his half sister in her run, to the “escape artist”, who led half my kennel down the street for a leisurely walk on a spring like day. Yes sir, these dogs certainly did add some excitement to my otherwise “normal” existence. That cut on my finger, that bruise on my knee, that scar on my arm and the scars on my heart…….all reminders of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Photographs of my dogs encircled in ordinary looking black frames line the walls of my family room as constant reminders of a happy and rewarding past. Maryland, Georgia, New York, Rhode Island, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey are just some of the places we visited to take some of those blue ribbons home. Tolls paid, hotels stayed in, jets flown across the miles, handler’s bonuses, pictures taken…….all reminders of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Stud dog services, bitches bred, puppies born, some live, some die, some stay, and some go bye bye. Good breeding, bad breeding, superstars, mediocre stock, ears up, ears down, full mouth, and missing teeth too……not in my line……must be your line. Good temperament, bad temperament, American lines, German lines, Champion titles, Obedience titles, ROM’s, some make it, some don’t, some are capable, and some aren’t. It matters not, because all were special and unique in their own way and they were part of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Some dogs long gone still come back to pay me a visit every now and then in my dreams. How I wish they would do that more often. They tease me for just a little while, running through my dreams and I never can reach out to touch them long enough because I awaken and then they are gone. It’s unfair. They make me long for them and I carry that dream with me throughout the day. Longing but never having…..they play with me just long enough to remind me of how much I truly miss them because they were a part of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Empty dog bowls, worn out collars and leashes, dried up dog bones, and ragged stuffed toys lay on scratched up floors and discolored carpets. A smudge still left on a window, a lone dog hair scattered here and there…..all reminders of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Smart dogs, scheming dogs, spoiled dogs, lazy dogs, my “heart dogs”…..they all had different personalities and temperaments. Black and tan dogs, sable dogs, and black dogs too, coated dogs, light dogs, dark dogs, they all had different colored coats, but they were part of all the dogs that I’ve loved before.
You came in that door over there with your muddy paw prints to decorate my floor. You went out that same door everyday to bark a “good morning” to everyone in the neighborhood whether they were up or not. You were a fence runner. You were a fence climber. You liked to dig holes in my yard and you liked to dig up my flower beds. You were a dirt eater and then you were a “poop” eater. Never could cure you of that habit. You never seemed to mind. You didn’t think you needed a cure. The good, the bad and the ugly; just reminders of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Puppy dog shots and dog worming too. Oh don’t forget about the rabies shot or Uncle Sam will come and get you. Heart worm medicine, flea and tick medicine as well. Pay lots of dollars to poison my dog but it’s all done to ensure his good health. Holistic dog food, natural ones too, or if you like the stores own genetic ones are available as well. No soy, no wheat, no additives but how about some “road kill” just to add a little spice? More health problems, more illnesses, and more vet bills. Just a part of the joy of dog ownership and all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Lessons learned. Lessons taught. Some learned quickly. Others presented more of a challenge. Some were eager to please. Others looked to be pleased. Some loved rides in the car. Others decorated the back seat as a reminder of how much they didn’t like rides in the car. Beds shared. Sofa’s as well. Pillow stealer. Food grubber. Scratches on my back door. Toilet bowl drinker. Cold, wet noses. Kisses on my cheek. Bad breath in my face. Neighbors refuse to come for coffee because the dogs are in the house. Aunt Mildred called and said she won’t be coming for Thanksgiving dinner this year because of the stray dog hair she found in her mashed potatoes last year. Oh yes, all parts of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
I loved you best, than you next, and you were always a little pain in the neck. You listened to me, and you didn’t. You wanted your own way and most of the time you got it. You on the other hand took whatever you could get. You were first. You were alpha. You were the underdog. You were the pick of the litter. You were the runt. But no matter what pecking order you fell in, you were all a part of the dogs I loved before.
So now I live with some new and different dogs that may be a combination of any of the different personalities that I once shared my life with. Will I love them the same? Will I love them more? I don’t know yet, until they too are no longer here and become just a memory and a part of all the dogs I’ve loved before!
Photo albums and show dog catalogs lay sprawled on my coffee table. Some of you are on those pages as a testament to the life you once lived. Life ended too quickly, gone too fast. I can’t keep up. Here one day, gone the next. I can no longer wrap my arms around you, but you’ve wrapped your love around my heart. You learned from me. I learned from you. I gave you my love. You gave me yours. But I’m afraid I’ve fallen short because you loved without question. But I on the other hand questioned how I could love a dog so gosh darn much! Just another lesson to be learned from all the dogs I’ve loved before!
My rating: living with dogs: (4)
From the book: THE OTHER END OF THE LEASH; WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO AROUND DOGS.....It matters greatly that people who love dogs understand enough about them to provide a good environment, writes McConnell (Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage Your Multi-dog Household) in her thoughtful exposition on improving human-canine communication. An animal behaviorist and adjunct professor of zoology at the University of Wisconsin Madison, McConnell offers sound advice for dog owners: Pay attention to your own behavior. Believe me, your dog is. Drawing on anecdotes from her professional practice (she specializes in canine behavior problems), research into the work of other dog trainers and personal experiences with her beloved Border collies, the author explains how a dog might be misinterpreting signals from its owner. For example, although humans express affection through hugs, a dog may feel threatened by them. McConnell also provides tips on how to play safely with dogs (she recommends games of fetch rather than rough-and-tumble wrestling) and how to get them to do what you want (the best way to get a dog to stop demanding attention is simply to break off visual contact). She has harsh words for trainers who tell owners to establish dominance over dogs by behaving aggressively to them when they are young, and also for owners of puppy mills. These dog factories, she says, create damaged animals and unsuitable pets. This is a helpful guide for pet owners by a specialist who clearly loves her work.
From my very first scruffy looking, long haired black and silver coated pup to my top producing champion ROM bitch to my “wild child” and my girl who likes being pregnant so much that even when she’s not, she thinks she is! From my piano playing dog to my vacuum attacking “watch dog”…….they’ve all contributed to my life with dogs. Then there’s the 105 lb. male who scaled his six foot kennel to be with his half sister in her run, to the “escape artist”, who led half my kennel down the street for a leisurely walk on a spring like day. Yes sir, these dogs certainly did add some excitement to my otherwise “normal” existence. That cut on my finger, that bruise on my knee, that scar on my arm and the scars on my heart…….all reminders of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Photographs of my dogs encircled in ordinary looking black frames line the walls of my family room as constant reminders of a happy and rewarding past. Maryland, Georgia, New York, Rhode Island, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey are just some of the places we visited to take some of those blue ribbons home. Tolls paid, hotels stayed in, jets flown across the miles, handler’s bonuses, pictures taken…….all reminders of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Stud dog services, bitches bred, puppies born, some live, some die, some stay, and some go bye bye. Good breeding, bad breeding, superstars, mediocre stock, ears up, ears down, full mouth, and missing teeth too……not in my line……must be your line. Good temperament, bad temperament, American lines, German lines, Champion titles, Obedience titles, ROM’s, some make it, some don’t, some are capable, and some aren’t. It matters not, because all were special and unique in their own way and they were part of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Some dogs long gone still come back to pay me a visit every now and then in my dreams. How I wish they would do that more often. They tease me for just a little while, running through my dreams and I never can reach out to touch them long enough because I awaken and then they are gone. It’s unfair. They make me long for them and I carry that dream with me throughout the day. Longing but never having…..they play with me just long enough to remind me of how much I truly miss them because they were a part of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Empty dog bowls, worn out collars and leashes, dried up dog bones, and ragged stuffed toys lay on scratched up floors and discolored carpets. A smudge still left on a window, a lone dog hair scattered here and there…..all reminders of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Smart dogs, scheming dogs, spoiled dogs, lazy dogs, my “heart dogs”…..they all had different personalities and temperaments. Black and tan dogs, sable dogs, and black dogs too, coated dogs, light dogs, dark dogs, they all had different colored coats, but they were part of all the dogs that I’ve loved before.
You came in that door over there with your muddy paw prints to decorate my floor. You went out that same door everyday to bark a “good morning” to everyone in the neighborhood whether they were up or not. You were a fence runner. You were a fence climber. You liked to dig holes in my yard and you liked to dig up my flower beds. You were a dirt eater and then you were a “poop” eater. Never could cure you of that habit. You never seemed to mind. You didn’t think you needed a cure. The good, the bad and the ugly; just reminders of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Puppy dog shots and dog worming too. Oh don’t forget about the rabies shot or Uncle Sam will come and get you. Heart worm medicine, flea and tick medicine as well. Pay lots of dollars to poison my dog but it’s all done to ensure his good health. Holistic dog food, natural ones too, or if you like the stores own genetic ones are available as well. No soy, no wheat, no additives but how about some “road kill” just to add a little spice? More health problems, more illnesses, and more vet bills. Just a part of the joy of dog ownership and all the dogs I’ve loved before.
Lessons learned. Lessons taught. Some learned quickly. Others presented more of a challenge. Some were eager to please. Others looked to be pleased. Some loved rides in the car. Others decorated the back seat as a reminder of how much they didn’t like rides in the car. Beds shared. Sofa’s as well. Pillow stealer. Food grubber. Scratches on my back door. Toilet bowl drinker. Cold, wet noses. Kisses on my cheek. Bad breath in my face. Neighbors refuse to come for coffee because the dogs are in the house. Aunt Mildred called and said she won’t be coming for Thanksgiving dinner this year because of the stray dog hair she found in her mashed potatoes last year. Oh yes, all parts of all the dogs I’ve loved before.
I loved you best, than you next, and you were always a little pain in the neck. You listened to me, and you didn’t. You wanted your own way and most of the time you got it. You on the other hand took whatever you could get. You were first. You were alpha. You were the underdog. You were the pick of the litter. You were the runt. But no matter what pecking order you fell in, you were all a part of the dogs I loved before.
So now I live with some new and different dogs that may be a combination of any of the different personalities that I once shared my life with. Will I love them the same? Will I love them more? I don’t know yet, until they too are no longer here and become just a memory and a part of all the dogs I’ve loved before!
Photo albums and show dog catalogs lay sprawled on my coffee table. Some of you are on those pages as a testament to the life you once lived. Life ended too quickly, gone too fast. I can’t keep up. Here one day, gone the next. I can no longer wrap my arms around you, but you’ve wrapped your love around my heart. You learned from me. I learned from you. I gave you my love. You gave me yours. But I’m afraid I’ve fallen short because you loved without question. But I on the other hand questioned how I could love a dog so gosh darn much! Just another lesson to be learned from all the dogs I’ve loved before!
My rating: living with dogs: (4)
From the book: THE OTHER END OF THE LEASH; WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO AROUND DOGS.....It matters greatly that people who love dogs understand enough about them to provide a good environment, writes McConnell (Feeling Outnumbered? How to Manage Your Multi-dog Household) in her thoughtful exposition on improving human-canine communication. An animal behaviorist and adjunct professor of zoology at the University of Wisconsin Madison, McConnell offers sound advice for dog owners: Pay attention to your own behavior. Believe me, your dog is. Drawing on anecdotes from her professional practice (she specializes in canine behavior problems), research into the work of other dog trainers and personal experiences with her beloved Border collies, the author explains how a dog might be misinterpreting signals from its owner. For example, although humans express affection through hugs, a dog may feel threatened by them. McConnell also provides tips on how to play safely with dogs (she recommends games of fetch rather than rough-and-tumble wrestling) and how to get them to do what you want (the best way to get a dog to stop demanding attention is simply to break off visual contact). She has harsh words for trainers who tell owners to establish dominance over dogs by behaving aggressively to them when they are young, and also for owners of puppy mills. These dog factories, she says, create damaged animals and unsuitable pets. This is a helpful guide for pet owners by a specialist who clearly loves her work.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
A COUPLE OF THINGS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER
I’m always researching different things to write about and I love it when I find products that I think are worth your while to check into. Today I’m reviewing two products….nothing you haven’t heard of before, but you might want to check into if you don’t already use them.
The first one is the “StarMark Clicker Dog Training System.” If you’ve never tried clicker training, you should really give it a try. Not only is an excellent way to help obedience train your dog, but it is a great double handling tool as well. It’s small and compact and can fit right in your pocket. If I take one of the dogs in the car with me and I stop at a store, I have the clicker in my pocket. When I come out of the store, I click it and if the dog is lying down in the back seat, he gets up quickly knowing that I’m walking towards the car. Using the clicker will get his attention all the time. It’s also funny to watch the reactions from people walking across the parking lot as well knowing that they’re hearing something and they don’t know where it’s coming from. They are great to take with you if you are taking your dogs on a hike. Many times the dogs love to go off and investigate on their own if they are off the leash. Give a couple of clicks on this gadget and you’ll see that they’ll run back to you once again. These little gadgets are so inexpensive, that I have a couple of them. One I take with me when I go out with the dogs and the other one remains at home. If you want to get your dogs attention fast, the use of this clicker will do it!
From the description of the product: The StarMark Clicker Training System is based on the scientific principles of Classical and Operant Conditioning, 2 proven and well-respected methods of modifying your dog’s behavior and enhancing his training experience. Teach him to repeat behaviors that lead to rewards. The ergonomic Clicker fits comfortably in your hand and features an easy-to-press raised button and a stainless steel rust-resistant clicker element. To reward your dog, click the button and give your pet a treat, so he will learn to associate that action with a reward. Use the included step-by-step training guide for complete details. The guide is approved by the Training Directors of Triple Crown Academy. Clicker attaches easily to a keychain or lanyard, so you can always have it close by.
The other product that I came across today, I thought fit in so well with the clicker system so that’s why I’m including it here as well. It’s called the Canine Hardware Treat Tote. Can I tell you how much I love this handy little tote idea? It’s simplistic in concept but so functional in design. How many times do you put a dog cookie or treat in your pocket, forget that it’s there and when you remember it, the treat is not anything but crumbles? I hate that when it happens. Now you can clip this little tote on your belt and forget about the mess you would normally have in your pocket. It’s small enough to wear and for those who are “fashion conscious” it comes in a choice of colors. It also comes in small and large sizes.
From the product description: Perfect for afternoons in the park or training sessions, the Treat Tote is a small pouch designed to carry a handful of treats for your dog. The versatile Treat Tote has a specially designed clip that slips onto your pocket or belt. Keep crumbs out of your pocket and a smile on your dog's face.
I think these two products work well in conjunction with one another. If you are training your dog with the Clicker program, you would be giving him a treat as a reward. So if you have to carry the treat with you, don’t mess up your pockets, try something like the treat tote. In my opinion, both of these products work well together.
Both of these products are inexpensive but can be so rewarding to the pet owner, trainer, or show person. It’s a win – win solution!
My rating: Clicker system: (4), Treat tote: (4)
The first one is the “StarMark Clicker Dog Training System.” If you’ve never tried clicker training, you should really give it a try. Not only is an excellent way to help obedience train your dog, but it is a great double handling tool as well. It’s small and compact and can fit right in your pocket. If I take one of the dogs in the car with me and I stop at a store, I have the clicker in my pocket. When I come out of the store, I click it and if the dog is lying down in the back seat, he gets up quickly knowing that I’m walking towards the car. Using the clicker will get his attention all the time. It’s also funny to watch the reactions from people walking across the parking lot as well knowing that they’re hearing something and they don’t know where it’s coming from. They are great to take with you if you are taking your dogs on a hike. Many times the dogs love to go off and investigate on their own if they are off the leash. Give a couple of clicks on this gadget and you’ll see that they’ll run back to you once again. These little gadgets are so inexpensive, that I have a couple of them. One I take with me when I go out with the dogs and the other one remains at home. If you want to get your dogs attention fast, the use of this clicker will do it!
From the description of the product: The StarMark Clicker Training System is based on the scientific principles of Classical and Operant Conditioning, 2 proven and well-respected methods of modifying your dog’s behavior and enhancing his training experience. Teach him to repeat behaviors that lead to rewards. The ergonomic Clicker fits comfortably in your hand and features an easy-to-press raised button and a stainless steel rust-resistant clicker element. To reward your dog, click the button and give your pet a treat, so he will learn to associate that action with a reward. Use the included step-by-step training guide for complete details. The guide is approved by the Training Directors of Triple Crown Academy. Clicker attaches easily to a keychain or lanyard, so you can always have it close by.
The other product that I came across today, I thought fit in so well with the clicker system so that’s why I’m including it here as well. It’s called the Canine Hardware Treat Tote. Can I tell you how much I love this handy little tote idea? It’s simplistic in concept but so functional in design. How many times do you put a dog cookie or treat in your pocket, forget that it’s there and when you remember it, the treat is not anything but crumbles? I hate that when it happens. Now you can clip this little tote on your belt and forget about the mess you would normally have in your pocket. It’s small enough to wear and for those who are “fashion conscious” it comes in a choice of colors. It also comes in small and large sizes.
From the product description: Perfect for afternoons in the park or training sessions, the Treat Tote is a small pouch designed to carry a handful of treats for your dog. The versatile Treat Tote has a specially designed clip that slips onto your pocket or belt. Keep crumbs out of your pocket and a smile on your dog's face.
I think these two products work well in conjunction with one another. If you are training your dog with the Clicker program, you would be giving him a treat as a reward. So if you have to carry the treat with you, don’t mess up your pockets, try something like the treat tote. In my opinion, both of these products work well together.
Both of these products are inexpensive but can be so rewarding to the pet owner, trainer, or show person. It’s a win – win solution!
My rating: Clicker system: (4), Treat tote: (4)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
CELEBRATING SPECIAL TIMES
So today Amber will have Salisbury steak added to her dinner and she’ll get a large dog biscuit to chew on this morning. I’m afraid there’s no cake to announce her birthday because I’d end up eating it all myself and I don’t need any more cake to distract from my already more than “pleasingly plump” figure!
Many people celebrate their animal’s birthdays as well as other national holidays with them. Oh and how about Halloween? Some people love to dress their dogs up in special costumes and make them look goofy. Come on, admit it, you know that you do. I’ve seen some of the pictures.
We just love our dogs. We treat them like children. We pamper them. We spoil them. We indulge them. When it comes to showing our dogs how much we love them, there’s just nothing we wouldn’t do for them. We just love them to death. And when they do die, for some of us, showing our love for our dog doesn’t die with them. We may bury him beneath the old shady tree that he loved to lie under. We might even have special urns with his ashes sitting on our mantles over the fireplace. We all know that our love for our beloved animals hasn’t died because his physical presence is no longer with us.
The pet industry has watched us and listened to us and I guess that’s why the pet industry is a multi-billion dollar business. Designer this and designer that……is no longer just for us humans! The pet industry attaches all sorts of fancy names to attract the consumer to buy their products. You can buy your dog, designer beds, designer cloths, holistic food, holistic vitamins, natural shampoos and conditioners, and on and on.
Some people love their dogs so much that they hire a professional animal photographer to take many pictures of their animals. Beautiful photographs are then displayed in different places in the house for all to enjoy looking at. Then some people will hire a very special artist to paint a picture of their dog. The portrait is then displayed in a prominent area of the home for people to enjoy for many years to come. This to me this is the ulimate in luxury. Many years ago, a young couple bought a puppy from me from a beautiful stud dog that I owned. They loved their puppy and the sire of that puppy so much that one day a knock came at my door. Imagine my surprise when this lovely couple handed me this huge package all wrapped up in pretty paper. After pulling the paper off, imagine my further surprise to see a water color portrait of my stud dog taken from a picture that I had given to them. I was so grateful and happy to have that painting and it still remains with me to this day!
Some people even include their dogs in their weddings. Yes, I’ve seen pictures of that as well. They actually dress up the dog for the official picture! If there’s room for a dog, the dog owner literally will have the dog attached at the hip! I’ve seen dogs in pictures riding on their owners motorcycles. My friend takes her dogs sailing with her and her husband. Some people won’t go on vacation unless they can take their dog. They’ll check out places that have dog friendly hotels before they make their reservations. Just look at some of the people in the German Shepherd Dog community. They plan their vacation around the National Specialty Dog Show that is held every fall at different locations in the United States. This is what they save their hard earned money for. To them, this is their vacation. Yes, some dogs truly know what it is to be loved by their smitten owners!
An animal lover includes their beloved pets in just about anything that they include their family members in. They are treated as part of the family. Many sleep on the owner’s beds, live in the house, ride in the car, are invited to join in parties at the house whether company likes it or not……yes sir; these animals are special in their owner’s eyes and hearts. Some dogs are treated so special that every day is like a birthday for these lucky guys! Lucky for the dog born into this household!
I know that some of you that are reading this have your own little rituals that you may do on his “special” day. Any time that one of my dogs or a friend’s dog finished their championship or made his ROM, we would gather at our houses and put on a big celebration with good food, lively conversation and dogs or puppies taking turns coming in the house to “strut their stuff!” Actually, if truth be told, the parties were more for the people than they were for the dogs. The dogs were an excuse for us all to get together once again.
Then there are those pet owners that don't need any holiday or a birthday celebration to share special times with their dogs. Their bond is not about recognizing any special date on the calendar. Rather every day spent with their animal is a celebration of the life that they share. It might be a hike up the mountain, or a stroll through the park. It might even be when you take your dog out in the back yard and throw a ball for him to fetch. Or maybe it's the quiet times that the two of you share as you read a book and your dog is curled up at your feet resting peacefully by your chair. Special times for you means times spent with your special friend that is reserved just for the two of you!
So for all you special dogs out there that were born today HAPPY BIRTHDAY and may you celebrate many more birthdays! My Amber is sitting by me as I type this article for my blog today. Oh she doesn’t care about the subject matter. She’s just sitting looking lovingly at me waiting for me to share another one of my pretzels with her. Oh she knows that she’s a spoiled dog, but well you know it is her birthday, after all!
From the book: "For the Love of a Dog": Animal behaviorist, dog trainer, syndicated radio talk show host and prolific author on all things canine, McConnell (The Other End of the Leash) presents a compelling combination of stories, science and practical advice to show how understanding emotions in both people and dogs can improve owners' relationships with their pets. This is more than a simple dog-training book: much of what McConnell discusses concerns how dog owners can learn "the language" of dog by recognizing important signals and reading them correctly. She provides numerous helpful examples of how owners can observe dog behavior, especially differences in posture and facial expressions, in order to help dogs be better behaved and help dog owners to be better handlers; her discussion of the meaning of a dog's "tongue flicks" is alone worth the price of the book. Her overall goal is to help owners provide their pets with "a sense of calm, peaceful benevolence," and she skewers current dog-training fads that emphasize "dominance" over a dog. "Don't fool yourself: if you yell at your dog for something he did twenty seconds ago, you're not training him; you're merely expressing your own anger."
My rating: celebrating special times with your dogs: (4)
Monday, March 8, 2010
THE CRATE - DEN OR A JAIL SENTENCE?
I got a call the other day from a person that owns a Pit Bull male puppy that’s about four months old. I have seen the puppy and he is gorgeous and BIG! The head on him alone makes him look older than he is. But he’s a friendly, fun loving puppy. I absolutely fell in love with him. Anyway, they wanted to know about crate training the puppy because every time they eat something, there he is begging for a handout. I told them, “Well he’s a puppy and that’s what puppy’s do.” I told them that they will have to train him to sit or lie down quietly while they are eating. I told them if he really is a nuisance than they can crate train him until he knows what they expect from him.
I think owning a crate when you own a dog is probably one of your best investments you can make. I start to crate train my puppies at eight weeks old. I’ve never had a problem with this method at this young age. The German Shepherd Dog is very smart and they learn very easily with lots of persistence on the owner’s part.
Some pet people will question the use of crates. Many times a breeder will hear them say that they think putting a dog and especially a puppy in a crate is cruel. They don’t think that a puppy should be locked away in a crate like they are in some sort of jail!
There are many reasons to use a crate for a dog. The number one reason probably would be for the safety of your animals. Then the number two reason could be for the safety of your household items and valuables. Puppies and some dogs are notorious chewers. Anything they can find to put in their mouths, they will. You don’t want them chewing on dangerous electrical cords. You don’t want them chewing on your furniture or getting into your collectible items. You don’t want them getting and eating the garbage.
Many people don’t realize that a dog is a pack animal. If he were in the wild he would look for a den to get out of the elements with the changing of the weather. He would look for a warm, safe haven to rest in. The crate if introduced properly would represent to the dog a safe haven to rest in. The key word here is PROPERLY. A crate should be used and viewed to the dog as something positive, no negative.
A crate should not be used as a means to punish the dog. If it is, the dog will grow to hate it and you will have your hands full putting him in it and leaving him in it without a fight or a lot of ruckus. You want the dog to view the crate as a safe place for him to go to when he wants to rest and relax. You want the dog to treat his crate as his den. Like anything else when training a dog, this should be a positive experience for him.
I always train my dogs to go into the crate and they’ll get a treat when they cooperate. So at bed time, I get the box of dog biscuits, give it a shake and my dogs run in front of me to get to their “den.” They go in it and they are rewarded with the dog biscuit. I tell them they are good dogs. They swallow their treat and then it’s “Lights out time!” They have been trained like this since they were little eight week old puppies. Sure the puppy will complain the first few nights, but better than him destroying your house and going “potty” anywhere they chose. The crate is an excellent house training tool!
If however, on the other hand, if you use the crate as a punishment for when the dog is doing something bad, he will hate the crate. By yelling and screaming at the dog telling him he’s a bad dog and putting him in the crate, he’s just associated the crate with something bad. He’s associated it with a place that he goes to when he’s being punished. Association is very important to a dog when you are training him. You want the dog to associate the crate with something good, not bad.
Also when you are training your dog to get used to the crate, don’t expect him to love it if you leave him in it all day long. The dog needs and wants to be exercised. The crate should represent a place for him when he goes to bed or if you can’t trust him alone in the house, then this is a place he can “wait” until you return. Just don’t make it an all day event because then it will feel like a jail to the dog.
When a dog has a negative feeling about the crate, he can try to do everything in his power to escape from it. Most crates are secure enough that he won’t be able to do this. However, there are those few that are escape artists and somehow have figured out how to get out of his crate. Don’t ask me how they do it, but some of them can. I’ve personally never dealt with a dog that could do this, but I’ve heard about it.
When you first train the puppy to stay in the crate over night, it’s wise to take him outside to go to the bathroom before you put him to bed. The later, the better. Also plan on getting up earlier in the morning than you normally would as the puppy won’t be able to hold his need to “potty” for excess lengths of time. Gradually, you can increase the time he stays in bed in the morning as he gets a little older. Most puppies and dogs will not go “potty” in the place that they sleep, so if he does have an accident, he probably was in the crate too long.
Sometimes an indication that a dog has been in a crate for the majority of his life is how he reacts when he’s out of the crate. If you buy a dog from someone and the dog spins around and around a lot of the time, it MAY be an indication that the dog was crated for too long of a time. I have experienced this with two dogs that I bought with different bloodlines. Both of these animals were left in crates for long periods of time.
Many times you will notice that your dog that is in the house with you may disappear occasionally. If you go to take a look, you might be surprised to find that she went to take a snooze in her crate. I always leave the crate doors open for my dogs if they feel they want a place to go away from the rest of the family.
If you must leave a puppy in a crate for a short period of time while you do an errand, it’s a good idea to leave a radio on so she doesn’t feel alone. If you leave toys for her to chew on while you’re gone, make sure there is nothing that she can choke on. Sometimes you will get a dog like one of mine that is a “chow hound” and this means everything that she can get her mouth on she has to eat. I’ve learned this lesson when I’ve put big beach towels in for her to lie on. She would shred them time and time again. So she no longer lies on anything but the crate floor. This is for her safety so she doesn’t swallow big hunks of the towel and end up choking. Every dog is an individual and should be treated as such.
Getting a dog used to a crate in the house is a great idea because when you take her for a ride, you can put her in a crate in the car and she’ll feel safe and secure without giving you any problems.
Make sure that the crate is large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around in comfortably. His needs as a puppy will be different as he grows. I like using the plastic shipping crates for my dogs and puppies. I don’t change the size of crate that the puppy sleeps in. Right from the beginning he sleeps in a large crate and this is the crate that he will grow in and sleep in as an adult.
So as you can see, the crate can be a place for peace and solitude for a dog or a place they view as solitary confinement. Make it a pleasant experience for the both of you. A happy dog is a quiet and peaceful dog. This makes for a very happy and content owner.
From the book: "Don't Dump the Dog: Good advice—"Dear Abby" style—for bad dog owners. Do you want to dump your dog because he tries to escape your yard? Barks too much? You-know-whats in the house? Doesn’t play well with others? Chewed up your favorite pair of shoes? You wouldn’t be the first person asking to “return” your pet. And dog rescuer Randy Grim has heard every reason under the sun. But before you load Fido into the back of your car, read this book. In it, Randy addresses the concerns of dog guardians everywhere by responding to letters that he’s actually received. With humor, and from his vast experiences with abandoned dogs, he reveals exactly what you can do to remain calm and fix every bad behavior problem. (Even if it means dumping your husband instead of the dog.)
My rating: crates: (4), used as punishment: (1)!
I think owning a crate when you own a dog is probably one of your best investments you can make. I start to crate train my puppies at eight weeks old. I’ve never had a problem with this method at this young age. The German Shepherd Dog is very smart and they learn very easily with lots of persistence on the owner’s part.
Some pet people will question the use of crates. Many times a breeder will hear them say that they think putting a dog and especially a puppy in a crate is cruel. They don’t think that a puppy should be locked away in a crate like they are in some sort of jail!
There are many reasons to use a crate for a dog. The number one reason probably would be for the safety of your animals. Then the number two reason could be for the safety of your household items and valuables. Puppies and some dogs are notorious chewers. Anything they can find to put in their mouths, they will. You don’t want them chewing on dangerous electrical cords. You don’t want them chewing on your furniture or getting into your collectible items. You don’t want them getting and eating the garbage.
Many people don’t realize that a dog is a pack animal. If he were in the wild he would look for a den to get out of the elements with the changing of the weather. He would look for a warm, safe haven to rest in. The crate if introduced properly would represent to the dog a safe haven to rest in. The key word here is PROPERLY. A crate should be used and viewed to the dog as something positive, no negative.
A crate should not be used as a means to punish the dog. If it is, the dog will grow to hate it and you will have your hands full putting him in it and leaving him in it without a fight or a lot of ruckus. You want the dog to view the crate as a safe place for him to go to when he wants to rest and relax. You want the dog to treat his crate as his den. Like anything else when training a dog, this should be a positive experience for him.
I always train my dogs to go into the crate and they’ll get a treat when they cooperate. So at bed time, I get the box of dog biscuits, give it a shake and my dogs run in front of me to get to their “den.” They go in it and they are rewarded with the dog biscuit. I tell them they are good dogs. They swallow their treat and then it’s “Lights out time!” They have been trained like this since they were little eight week old puppies. Sure the puppy will complain the first few nights, but better than him destroying your house and going “potty” anywhere they chose. The crate is an excellent house training tool!
If however, on the other hand, if you use the crate as a punishment for when the dog is doing something bad, he will hate the crate. By yelling and screaming at the dog telling him he’s a bad dog and putting him in the crate, he’s just associated the crate with something bad. He’s associated it with a place that he goes to when he’s being punished. Association is very important to a dog when you are training him. You want the dog to associate the crate with something good, not bad.
Also when you are training your dog to get used to the crate, don’t expect him to love it if you leave him in it all day long. The dog needs and wants to be exercised. The crate should represent a place for him when he goes to bed or if you can’t trust him alone in the house, then this is a place he can “wait” until you return. Just don’t make it an all day event because then it will feel like a jail to the dog.
When a dog has a negative feeling about the crate, he can try to do everything in his power to escape from it. Most crates are secure enough that he won’t be able to do this. However, there are those few that are escape artists and somehow have figured out how to get out of his crate. Don’t ask me how they do it, but some of them can. I’ve personally never dealt with a dog that could do this, but I’ve heard about it.
When you first train the puppy to stay in the crate over night, it’s wise to take him outside to go to the bathroom before you put him to bed. The later, the better. Also plan on getting up earlier in the morning than you normally would as the puppy won’t be able to hold his need to “potty” for excess lengths of time. Gradually, you can increase the time he stays in bed in the morning as he gets a little older. Most puppies and dogs will not go “potty” in the place that they sleep, so if he does have an accident, he probably was in the crate too long.
Sometimes an indication that a dog has been in a crate for the majority of his life is how he reacts when he’s out of the crate. If you buy a dog from someone and the dog spins around and around a lot of the time, it MAY be an indication that the dog was crated for too long of a time. I have experienced this with two dogs that I bought with different bloodlines. Both of these animals were left in crates for long periods of time.
Many times you will notice that your dog that is in the house with you may disappear occasionally. If you go to take a look, you might be surprised to find that she went to take a snooze in her crate. I always leave the crate doors open for my dogs if they feel they want a place to go away from the rest of the family.
If you must leave a puppy in a crate for a short period of time while you do an errand, it’s a good idea to leave a radio on so she doesn’t feel alone. If you leave toys for her to chew on while you’re gone, make sure there is nothing that she can choke on. Sometimes you will get a dog like one of mine that is a “chow hound” and this means everything that she can get her mouth on she has to eat. I’ve learned this lesson when I’ve put big beach towels in for her to lie on. She would shred them time and time again. So she no longer lies on anything but the crate floor. This is for her safety so she doesn’t swallow big hunks of the towel and end up choking. Every dog is an individual and should be treated as such.
Getting a dog used to a crate in the house is a great idea because when you take her for a ride, you can put her in a crate in the car and she’ll feel safe and secure without giving you any problems.
Make sure that the crate is large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around in comfortably. His needs as a puppy will be different as he grows. I like using the plastic shipping crates for my dogs and puppies. I don’t change the size of crate that the puppy sleeps in. Right from the beginning he sleeps in a large crate and this is the crate that he will grow in and sleep in as an adult.
So as you can see, the crate can be a place for peace and solitude for a dog or a place they view as solitary confinement. Make it a pleasant experience for the both of you. A happy dog is a quiet and peaceful dog. This makes for a very happy and content owner.
From the book: "Don't Dump the Dog: Good advice—"Dear Abby" style—for bad dog owners. Do you want to dump your dog because he tries to escape your yard? Barks too much? You-know-whats in the house? Doesn’t play well with others? Chewed up your favorite pair of shoes? You wouldn’t be the first person asking to “return” your pet. And dog rescuer Randy Grim has heard every reason under the sun. But before you load Fido into the back of your car, read this book. In it, Randy addresses the concerns of dog guardians everywhere by responding to letters that he’s actually received. With humor, and from his vast experiences with abandoned dogs, he reveals exactly what you can do to remain calm and fix every bad behavior problem. (Even if it means dumping your husband instead of the dog.)
My rating: crates: (4), used as punishment: (1)!
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