Just a coupla pics

Franklin enjoying the dog park, Monroe St. in Alexandria











Leo not enjoying getting his picture taken at the dog park.

Holistic Dog

Since Franklin has a little trouble relating to humans and has been reluctant to get in his crate, I am trying Bach's Flower Essences on him, per Lloyd's recommendation. He is taking Aspen, Rescue Remedy and Mimulus. Lloyd also recommended Water Violet, but I was unabel to find that in the store. He hasn't had too much interaction with people since he started the therapy, so it remains to be seen whether it will work. I will start trying to get him in his crate this weekend. I plan to put treats and food in there to entice him & keep the experience positive.

Also, I am considering a new diet for him, called BARF. People say BARF stands for different things, but the most common one I've heard is Biologically Available Raw Food. This means feeding the animal food that it would be eating in the wild. He will get raw chicken necks, backs and wings. Raw chicken bones are not brittle (as they are when they're cooked), so the choking hazard is less. He'll also get some livers, hearts, kidneys, etc. and kelp, which is very nutritious.

Puppy Class Plus

It was yet again another Hell Saturday (see earlier post on this topic) on June 10, 2006. We have a medium-sized class this time, with an English Bulldog, a couple of black labs, a Boxer and two unruly & aggressive German Shepherds. The Shepherds will stay outside the group for the next several weeks until they learn some manners and are accepting of the other dogs in class. By the end of that first class, they were fairly clam and were able to be within 30 feet of the other dogs without barking. The owners of these dogs have some major work to do. I admire their committment - they drive all the way from Frederick, MD to Great Falls, VA early on Saturday mornings to help their dogs.

We also had an Off Leash Readiness class, in which Franklin is supposed to participate. He will not get to come to class until a week from this Saturday, because I have agreed to handle a dog for one of the students whose husband can't be at class (they have 2 dogs). But it's a pleasure to work with Bonnie Blue Eyes, the black lab/husky mix. She's a big flirt and so smart. The Rottweiler in Off Leash Class was giving her big kisses!

It's Been a Year!

It's been about 1 year since I started this whole doggie journey. I left a really crappy job in February 2005, and spent a couple of months being depressed and tired. When my severance from the job ran out, I got up off my butt and emailed every dog trainer I could find in the DC area, and I got a part time job at the doggie daycare.

I worked with one trainer for a few months, but she was mainly doing dog sitting and very little training. I hooked up with Lloyd, and away I went! After I attended Lloyd's first puppy class, I was hooked, and I love it more and more every week.

The daycare job was really difficult, I must say. Some of the dogs honestly should not have been allowed there. See one of my early posts about that. Working there was a great experience, and the 20 hours a week I worked allowed me to get my own dog. I always felt like owning a dog was a distant dream, given my past full-time work schedule and my lack of yard. I did research and found that having a Pug in a condo was feasible. I found a reputable AKC registered breeder and connected with my little baby dog Franklin.

Franklin is a joy - he learns very quickly and loves being around other dogs. He is a bit shy of people, but we're working on that.

Now I'm back working full time in an office, attending to my apprentice duties during off hours and on weekends. Franklin plays at Lloyd's house every day & is completely zonked out at night (see pic of Franklin & Lloyd's dog, Crash).

Life is good.

I missed Puppy Class

I was sick as a dog (pun intended) on Saturday, 5/27, so no puppy class. I also had to miss a vet appointment to get Franklin's Bordatella vaccine updated.

On Sunday, we went to the dog park, just Franklin & I. Fiance Leo usually accompanies us, but he was late (what else is new?). It's starting to get hot here, so franklin only lasted about 20 minutes at the park. On Monday, he only lasted 15 minutes.

It is important for dogs with smashed faces, like pugs (I forget the technical name for a smashed in face, and I can't be bothered to Google it, sorry!) to be watched carefully in hot weather. Franklin was panting heavily when we left the dog park, but he was fine - just exhausted fo rthe rest of the day!

This Saturday, June 4, there will be several classes - the last class of the current session and the first class of the next. Not sure when Off Leash readiness starts, hopefully soon.

Dog Training Career Path

When I first met Lloyd, he showed me his dog training pyramid. The pyramid explains the careeer path of a dog trainer, as well as shows how many real Dog Behavior Consultants or Dog Behaviorists are out there (hint: not many!). I designed this for Lloyd's web site, but I thought you might like to have a look-see. I'm only 1/2 way through level 1.

Puppy Class 5/13/06

Today the weather was unexpectedly great... mostly sunny, temp somewhere in the high 60's. Franklin accompanied me to class to do his demo with the Holt halter. He did great. Lloyd took his leash, while I moved about 30 feet away. I had some treats in my hand, squatted down and called Franklin. The halter kicked in when I called and he tried to run to me. Lloyd stood still, and Franklin stopped pulling instantly and sat down.

He also got to see his girlfriends Marina and Zoe. Marina is a rambunctious yellow Lab, and Zoe is the only Bavarian Bloodhound (an example is pictured here) in the U.S. She came form Poland originally. I must say, Franklin has great taste in women!

Franklin also had fun with Raven the Rottie and Thor the young Dobie.

My favorite little pup, Kuma the fluffy black thing, was not at class today. No fluffy cuddles for me. Hopefully next week I'll get my Kuma fix.

Dog Training "Schools"

If you're thinking about becoming a dog trainer or dog obedience instructor, avoid any company that bills themselves as a Dog Training School. These people charge a buttload of money for something you can get for free.

A good dog trainer will be open to taking on apprentices and won't charge a fee for the privilege. Dog trainers will be mentors and teachers all in one, whereas at a school you will rarely get individual attention.

If you are willing to spend money to learn about dog training, go to your local college and take courses in psychology and animal behavior - they will get you a lot further than any dog training "school".

Another blog

I started another blog to show off my fabulous & tacky shot glass collection. Have a look-see. If you're 21 or older.

Franklin the Demo Dog

Tomorrow at puppy class, Lloyd will be teaching about getting your dog to walk by your side. He uses and recommends either the Holt Halter (for smaller or younger dogs) or the Sporn Halter (for larger dogs).

Anyway, when you use one of these halters, when your dog starts pulling ahead, you give a little tug on the leash, making sure the tail of the halter is parallel to and touching the dog's back. The halter will cinch up under the dog's armpits when you tug, which makes the dog think: "Huh? What the hell was that??!". It doesn't pull on or put pressure on the dog's throat.

Franklin has really responded well to his halter, so he will be doing a demonstration at class tomorrow. I hope he won't be too distracted by all the other dogs!

Cargo shorts, anyone? Also, Crufts

I entered Franklin in the Old Navy Mascot search. I'm sure he's up against some stiff competition. A hundred dollars says a Border Collie who can disassemble a bomb and cook your breakfast will win. Pshaw....Franklin is by far the Cutest Dog in the World, even though he sometimes has a hard time coming when called.

I watched part of the Crufts Dog Show, then The Apprentice came on. However, after Googling it up, I see that an American dog won! I do love Aussie Shepherds for their smarts and their beautiful coats. The Pug did not place in the Toy Group. What were they thinking?!?!? Pomeranian, my butt.

Sorry for the lack of updates

I was out of town this past weekend, so I didn't attend puppy class. Now I'm pooped. I'll write more stuff sometime this week.

For your entertainment and eddification, some pics from the weekend in North Joisey and the greater NYC area. These are ladies I met on the internet. They tried to sell me a timeshare in Arkansas.

Positive Reinforcement

Developed by Edward Thorndike at the turn of the 20th Century, positive reinforcement is a gentle, reduced-stress way to train dogs and owners. One of the earlier proponents of positive reinforcement for dogs was Ian Dunbar, whose books are available online through most book retailers (like Amazon and Barnes & Noble).

Reinforcement (as part of operant conditioning) is defined by Wikipedia as:

...any change in an organism's surroundings that:

• occurs regularly when the organism behaves in a given way (that is, is contingent on a specific response), and
  
• is associated with an increase in the probability that the response will be made or in another measure of its strength.

For example: you give your dog food every time it sits when you tell it to. If the dog becomes more likely to sit when told to, sitting is considered to have been reinforced by the administration of food contingent on it.

Note that it is the behavior that is reinforced, not the dog. The food serves as a reinforcer, reinforcing or strengthening that behavior, only to the extent that sitting subsequently occurs more often or more quickly because of it.

I think positive reinforcement is the most gentle way to teach your dog all kinds of behaviors, from basic obedience, to agility, to fun tricks. When looking for a dog trainer or dog training class, be sure to ask what kind of training methods are used, and go with one that uses positive reinforcement.

Keep in mind that techniques for dealing with behavior problems such as aggression are different than those used to teach new behaviors, such as "sit" or "fetch".

Puppy Class 4/29/06

Puppy class was back on this week, after a cancellation last Saturday due to rain. It was great to be back on the field with the doggies! We have a large class this time around: Kuma the tiny puffy black dog; Thor the Dobie pup; Marcus the ginormous Dobie; Zoe the Bavarian Bloodhound (only one in the U.S.); Dixie the adorable & squirmy Chocolate Lab; Dexter the sweet Airedale; Marina the friendly Yellow Lab; there are also 2 Rotties and a big fluffy German Shepherd. I am probably forgetting someone, but hey, we've only had 3 classes!

The busiest part of class is checking everyone's collars before we get started. Dixie was particularly reluctant to have her adjustable slip collar put on...she's pretty shy of me right now. Most of the dogs are very friendly and bouncy.

Lloyd taught "sit with touch", which is an exercise to use when introducing your dog to new people - family, friends, and strangers. It helps the dogs trust new people and it teaches them not to jump up.

We also learned about 2 techniques to stop dogs from pulling while on leash:

1. Stop dead. This teaches the dog there is no "payoff" for pulling.
2. Turn around and walk the opposite direction. This teaches the same as above, while also giving a gentle physical signal to the dog via the leash jerking slightly.

At this point, most dog owners are learning the basics of handling their dogs on the leash, giving rewards, using their voice. By the end of 8 weeks, dogs and owners should be working like well-oiled machines.

Great Site

This is non-dog related, but you really should check out Rich (on a daily basis). He writes a letter a day to various politicos, Evangelists, mega corporations, government agencies, and non-profits.

Duties of an Apprentice Part I

Every dog trainer will have different tasks for apprentices, but here are some of the things I do at puppy class:

• Observe! I'm there to learn, and a big part of that is just observing the class.
• Set up traffic cones in a circle. The cones give dogs and owners a fixed place to stand and perform their training exercises.
• Set up chute. The chute is used when the lessons on "come" begin. Owners crouch at one end of the shoot with food lures (i.e. treats) and the dog runs down the chute.
• Paperwork! See post on Hell Saturday
• Check to see if dogs' collars are on properly. Most owners use an adjustable collar that "slides", and it needs to be put on the dog in a certain way.
• Make some noise. When we're practicing the "sit" in our first class, we have a few different noise makers we use to help the owners train their dogs in more busy environments.
• Be a Supermodel. When certain techniques, such as how a dog should meet new people, need to be demonstrated, I'll serve as a "model".
• Answer questions from owners.
• Distribute handouts.
• Cuddle doggies!

Hell Saturday

The second puppy class is the one where almost everyone pays the fee and buys equipment such as collars, leashes, etc (the first class is a meeting with owners only - no dogs). With 15 people in a class, it is CRAZY getting all the paperwork done, making sure everyone has paid, what they paid for, who they are...on and on.

Hell Saturday for the current session was two weeks ago. One dog owner arrived early and I began their paperwork while Lloyd checked their collar fittings and leash. I happened to glance up to see if anyone else was arriving, and I see a parade of about 8 dogs and owners marching up the drive...right toward me! We were supposed to have extra admin help, but she didn't show up (probably forgot - class had been delayed by weather a couple of times). It was alllll me, taking checks, taking cash, handing out forms. It's been a while since I've done that kind of admin. It took about 30 minutes before I could come up for air.

I've talked with Lloyd about computerizing his forms. I think I'll pick up my Java Script and Java books and figure out how to do an online registration form, so students can have it filled out prior to class. Online payment would ROCK, but I think that's more pain that it's worth at this point.

Oh well

No puppy class or meeting friend and her Cavalier King Charles. Rain rain go away.

Dog Tails from the Daycare

Some names changed to protect the guilty.

When I would arrive at the daycare in the mornings, the first thing I did was look at the list of attendees for the day. I would be overjoyed to see some dogs, like Sonny and Shelley, who rarely came in for daycare, but were a pleasure to be around.

Then there were the "other" dogs. Let's call them Apple and Seven - two dogs from the same household. Apple was some sort of retriever/herding dog mix and was as hyper as any dog. He liked to tear around the playroom at speeds up to 1,000 mph. This, of course, riled up all the other dogs, and before I knew it I had 10 dogs going non-linear. Apple also liked to play rough, and some dogs just don't appreciate that.

Apple also liked to bully new or shy dogs. He would sneak up behind his target, bite it's tail and skitter away. Little bastard. But Apple didn't have to worry about getting the beat-down from other dogs, because he had Seven to protect him.

Seven was a DOMINANT female Chow mix. This dog was so dominant she would lift her leg to pee. I kid you not. Seven was obedient with humans, but often felt in charge of the other dogs.

After the dogs' morning potty walks, we would load them one-by-one in to the playrooms. We had already let several dogs into a playroom when it was Seven's turn. She immediately went on the offensive with a sweet Collie named Barkley. She was put in time out (i.e. crated) for the next hour, and when she came back into the playroom she was fine, thank heaven.

But from that day on, the human room monitor had to be inside the room while the dogs were let in, which made it difficult, in that we needed an extra person to herd the dogs from the crate room to the playroom andthrough the playroom door.

If it was my business to run, Seven would have been banned from daycare right then and there. There are other peoples' dogs that we were charged with protecting, and ONE aggressive incident should be enough for banishment.

Apple and Seven were such a bad combo that we would take turns with which one of us would have to be in the playroom with them. You could guarantee a harrowing morning with them around.

Yeah Practice!

Going to help a friend this weekend with walking her dog, a teeny little Cavalier King Charles. We'll be using the Holt Halter, and demo-ing with Franklin. The weather looks none too good - hopefully we'll get a window with no rain (we call that the NASCAR Window).