News

According to some new research out of Austria, dogs may have a sense of fairness. Ask the dog to do a trick and they'll give it a try. For a reward, sausage
say, they'll happily keep at it. But if one dog gets no reward, and
then sees another get sausage for doing the same trick, just try to get
the first one to do it again. Read the Associated Press article here. 

That's Tango and Lily a few years ago at the C + O Canal. We had a great day.

Except for when we'd run into loose dogs.

Usually, their people weren't far behind, but they had no control over the dog, who came running right up to us.

Not only is having your dog off leash illegal, it's also dangerous. Dogs could become lost if they chase a deer deep into the woods, they could come across an person afraid of dogs, or another dog that isn't fond of other dogs.

Lily is leash reactive – meaning she's not particularly pleased to meet a dog when she's on leash. So the dog owner yelling "It's ok, my dog is friendly," doesn't really help very much in that situation. Friendly or not, Lily's not happy.

Our Aussie, Lucky, was dog-friendly, but not people-friendly. So when an off-leash dog approached, there was nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, the off-leash dog would be having so much fun with Lucky that he wouldn't listen to his owner when called to return. And because Lucky wasn't friendly to strangers, they couldn't come in closer to get their dog. It was quite the quandary for the owner — what to do? Yet another reason to keep your dog on a leash. For your safety, your dog's safety, and the safety of others, leash your dog.

You can find 20-, 30-, and even 50-foot long lines, so your dog can still investigate and explore, but still be under your control. Not everyone likes a dog running up to them. Not every dog does either. So be courteous of those around you and leash your dog.

The dog responsible for my being a dog trainer — more specifically a positive reinforcement trainer — died yesterday. Almost 15 years old, Lucky led a full life, but in the end it was his heart that failed him. We knew it would come to this, and I'm comforted by the fact that I was able to be with him when he died.

In August, 2007, our cardiologist diagnosed Lucky with several heart ailments. He gave Lucky 6 – 18 months, but cautioned me that because Lucky's diagnosis was pretty severe, we probably would not see 18 months. Not one to follow orders, Lucky surprised everyone and his condition actually improved on the meds.

Lucky was a challenging dog, and a terrific teacher. I wouldn't be the trainer I am today without his lessons. I hope I did half as much for him as he did for me.

Not gone, just gone ahead. We'll meet again. I got this from a very good friend who lost her own Aussie a year ago today:

We who choose to

Surround ourselves with lives

Even more temporary than our own

Live within a fragile circle

Easily and often breached.

Unable to accept its awful gaps,

We would still live

No other way.

We cherish memory as

The only certain immortality,

Never fully understanding

The necessary plan.

Irving Townsend “The Once Again Prince”

Your dog
is running through the house, your unmentionables flapping from his mouth,
right in front of company. Could it get any worse?! Actually, yes, it could.
Not as embarrassing, but definitely more dangerous: my dog met me at the door
gripping a serrated steak knife firmly between his teeth, wagging his entire
body. Ghastly thoughts flashed through my mind: a bloody massacre of sliced
faces of the other dogs as he charged around exuberantly. Or a veterinary
emergency room visit for his shredded gums. (How do you explain that?!) Never
before had I realized the importance of a well-taught “Give” cue!

Not only are they easy skills to
teach, but “give” and “take” are cornerstones of polite dog behavior. Read the entire article here.

As the holidays quickly approach, both our "To Do" list and our stress start to creep up. It's easy to leave a pair of scissors on the table, or forget to put that fruitcake away. It's easy to let dog training slide, just for now, because you're just too busy.

Remember these few safety tips to help you and your dog have a happy holiday season.

1. Raisins are toxic to dogs. Even if they're baked into holiday goodies. So if your dog snacks on some fruitcake, oatmeal raisin cookies, or other yummy holiday treat, get them to the vet immediately. Even just a couple raisins (or grapes) can be enough to harm your dog.
2. Keep your fragile and sentimental ornaments high on the tree. Wagging dog tails can be lethal to those precious ornaments. If one does break, be sure to get up all the tiny pieces of glass. Curious dogs may try to eat it, or they'll walk in it, getting shards of glass in their paw. 
3. Tinsel can be deadly if your dog eats it and it gets wrapped around his intestines. Forgo the tinsel or hang it high enough that your dog can't reach.
4. Christmas tree water isn't good for your dog. Make sure his bowl is always filled so he won't be tempted to drink the water from the Christmas tree stand.
5. Be aware that some snow-globes contain antifreeze – a sweet-tasting, but deadly toxin for your dog. Keep snow-globes out of reach and clean up any broken globes immediately.
6. If your dog is a door-dasher, make sure he's secured before your party guests arrive. A leash is an easy tool, just be sure someone's holding the other end! Also, a really yummy toy stuffed with food will keep your dog busy in his crate or a closed bedroom. 
7. Be sure your dog is comfortable around your guests. If he's trying to get away from them, he may be happier in his crate (see above). 
8. No turkey or chicken bones from the cooked birds for your dog. These cooked bones are brittle and not safe for their consumption.
9. Don't buy a puppy for the holidays. It's far too hectic a time and the little pup will be stressed out of his mind. (Which means you will be, too!) Check the shelters in March for your perfect pooch — the shelters will be teeming with all the Christmas puppies that were foolishly purchased (and subsequently given up).

Look who's three years old today! Our little Nemo! Hard to believe! Remember last year at this time we were facing two awful possibilities: amputation of his front leg and/or probable death because of that nasty fungus?

From a silly (and, if I'm being honest, annoying) little puppy to a handsome (and still silly, thank goodness) dog, we're crazy in love with Nemo.

He's the best cuddler, biggest lap dog, goofiest, and most playful dog we've ever had. And we couldn't be happier to celebrate his third birthday.