Impulse Control in Dogs

In our environment, it can get kind of crazy with all the dogs running and playing at the same time.  Since our dogs are screened to weed out aggressive types, we enjoy a lot of high stimulation play time. It also becomes very important that we control the aspects of the play that we can.  Even with the best of dogs, things can get out of hand pretty quickly. We work hard at controlling our environment, controlling the tempo as well as teaching and reinforcing impulse control.

Kirby the boxer mix up close and personal

With many working breeds, these impulses are ingrained in their DNA…  Things like chasing after moving items, herding, running and barking (while tracking a scent,) flushing birds, pointing & retrieving.  Breaking the “act without thinking first” mold isn’t easy, but it is necessary if we want a pet that fits in well with our human lifestyles. Like many desired traits, impulse control is a learned behavior and often goes against the very nature of a dog, so patience is required.

Things to practice: (most of these are pretty self explanatory, but I’ve provided links to instructions for teaching a few that you might not have heard of or thought to try.)

• Name recognition http://www.puplife.com/pages/how-to-teach-your-dog-to-recognize-their-name

•  Basic Sit: Sit = Dog’s butt remains on the ground until you give the release command. If the dog breaks the “sit” before being released, put him back in the same physical location you had him sit in before and make him sit again.  Give the release command after a few seconds of compliance.

• Eye contact (training this is very similar to name recognition but you’re rewarding the dog for making eye contact and checking in with you without using verbal cues. If you can get eye contact in association with your dog’s name, you’re doing great!

• Long Sit (dog must sit quietly until released. Practice until the sit is rock solid and build duration to 20 minutes or more. This comes in very handy when you’re unloading groceries from the car.)

• Long Down Stays (Just like above but the dog is laying down, work up the duration until your dog is comfortable holding that down stay for 20 minutes!)

• Sit and Wait: For safety’s sake, please teach your dog to “sit and wait” before going through doors, helps reduce risks caused by bolting dogs. Sit / Stay  or Wait  should also be practiced prior to feeding dinner and/or treats.  The Dinner and treats can be the reward for the sit and stay (until released,) giving the pet the pleasure of working for his food. (Don’t you know that treats taste better when they’re earned?)

• Leave it:  http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/leave-it.html  Leave it can also be practiced on leash with a trail of dog food.   Sprinkle a couple of treats in the area and walk by them on leash while giving the command “Leave it”   Come back by these treats a couple of times and when the dog starts to understand that he gets better stuff  by ignoring the trail of food,  reward the dog with a treat or an activity he enjoys.

When performing these or any other dog training exercises, start simple. Start inside with no other distractions and slowly, work towards success in more stimulating environments.  Add in a distraction or two at a time. There are few dogs that can maintain total impulse control at the dog park, but ideally, that’s what we’re working towards; a dog that is responsive to us even in utter chaos. A little success will bond you together, building a relationship based on trust.  You may think that since Fido has mastered all of these in the living room, he should be fine outside, but dogs do not generalize well, these exercises should be practiced in a myriad of different locals adding as many different new distractions (children, other animals, other textures, other smells) as you can think of while maintaining a safe environment for everyone.

Keep in mind that we need our dogs to both maintain a healthy weight as well work for things other than food, so try not to get too hung up on using dog treats as rewards. There are a multitude of other rewards that can be used as currency.  A toss of a ball, a belly scritch and your attention are all things that most dogs value as much as we humans value our currency, money.  Your attention / affection is incredibly valuable to your dog.  Trust me, 99% of dogs will work for it.  If you have one of the 1%’ers you already know that your dog is not “Lassie” but rather a unique and independent pooch. Relax, you will eventually figure out what motivates your dog.

Your dog should not be demanding of your attention, he should be willing to work for it.  Training should be fun for both of you. If it’s not fun, you’re doing it wrong. Always stay calm during these exercises. Most dogs will get over stimulated if you act too happy and many will cower when you get angry, you want a dog that will respond to a whisper, so practice that too.

Here’s a great article with more training tips from the ASPCA   http://aspcabehavior.org/articles/77/Impulse-Control-Training-and-Games-for-Dogs.aspx

Until Next time,

Kerri

The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

Common Dog Training Question #1… Why Do Dogs Heel On The Left?

It’s a fair question: Why do we ask our dogs to heel on our left side?

Pancho the Yellow Lab Puppy checking out his agility skills

For that matter, why do we do so many things to the left?

Why do we mount a horse from the left side?

The reason is basically the same. We have our dog’s heel to our left because this is a right handed world.

Going back in time to the olden days, back when the real men wore swords, it was necessary to mount horses from the left side for safety purposes. (For  both the horses sake as well as the riders.) With the sword hanging on the left side (for right handed riders), it was simply easier, and more comfortable to mount from the left. Consequently, all of the tack produced for horses has always been made to be buckled, put on and taken off from the left, too. When it comes to dogs, a similar logic has traditionally been applied.

When working with a dog it is assumed that the handler would want their right hand (typically the stronger, more dominant hand,) free. By using the left hand to hold the leash, this leaves the handler’s right side unimpeded. So the dog is traditionally heeled /walked on the left. There is at least one other reason for heeling a dog on the left hand side. In the hunting world, Gun dogs are traditionally heeled on the left… this is most likely done so that the ejecting shells and cartridge casings won’t hit the dog in the head when the gun is actually fired.

Today owners often teach their dogs to heel on either side, which is an owner’s prerogative. This is easier to accomplish after you’ve got the left side heel, down pat…

Many dog activities rely on training a dog from the left because the trainer or owner needs to keep the right hand free to signal. Many herding and hunting dog trainers train their dogs from the left because they need to have their right hands free for using equipment, like firing guns, throwing bumpers and/or giving hand signals.

So many people in the world are right handed (approximately 80 percent) that training dogs from the left has simply become the standard way of training. It’s not necessarily good or bad, it’s just the usual way of doing things. Dogs probably don’t care which side is used.

I’ve been known to walk the dog on the opposite side of the road, in order to keep them on my left, but also to keep them as far away as possible from approaching traffic.

On the other hand, dogs do seem to be right-pawed or left-pawed themselves.

How To Determine Paw Dominance:

Fill a Kong toy with peanut butter or another food your dog loves. Place the Kong on the floor for your dog. Record which paw your dog uses to touch the toy first — and continue tracking which paw the dog uses until he has made a total of 100 touches on the Kong. (Don’t record touches with both paws at the same time.) Dogs that use their left paw 64 times (or more) are left-pawed; dogs that use their right paw 64 times or more are right-pawed. If your dog has fewer than 64 uses of either paw then he is ambidextrous.

You may already have some idea of whether your dog is left or right-pawed. Does he always paw at you with one particular paw? Does he try to pick things up with one of his paws? These can be tip-offs that he favors one of his paws over the other.

If you’re not hunting with your dog, there is really no solid reason why your dog “needs” to heel on the left. It just happens to be a de facto training standard now, mostly due to the fact that the majority of people are right handed.

I hope this answers a few questions…. Or at the very least, makes you think of new questions.

Until Next time,

Kerri

The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

I’m the “Alpha Dog’s” wife… Life Partner and Co-owner of Adventure Dog Ranch, The Vacation Destination for Dogs!

A place where socialize, exercise and have fun. You don’t have to feel guilty when you take a vacation, your dog can have his very own vacation with us!

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/Adventuredogranch

 

 

Fireworks, BBQ Food & Fido!

Summertime has finally arrived at Adventure Dog Ranch.

Although the weather may not yet be showing it, there are BBQ’s and fireworks right around the corner.

Here are a couple of tips designed to help keep your best friend safe during this enjoyable time of year.

Ali Mae Begging for Belly Rubs

1. Control Your Environment:

If you can’t control your dog, you must control the environment that your dog inhabits.

This sounds a lot simpler than it is, but it is your responsibility. Look at it from Fido’s point of view: How would you feel if the sky started exploding for no good reason?

Even If your dog is reliable and comes when called, do not let him outside off-leash on the 4^th of July. Even the best of dogs can become fearful and agitated around fireworks, so don’t take unnecessary chances. Don’t depend on pre-teen children to keep your dogs safe this time of year. A frightened dogs’ pulling capacity is likely to be far superior to that of your child. Please keep this in mind when walking Fido on the 4^th.  Professional Dog Trainers like Steve exercise extreme caution this time of year and we do not let our dogs roam unattended at any time on Independence day.

2. The Jolly Routine:

Good desensitization programs begin long before the fireworks start. Here at the ranch we use every opportunity and stray firecracker noise as an opportunity to practice the “Jolly Routine.”

Every time we hear fireworks, we simply act happy, joyful and a bit silly. Dogs take important behavioral cues from both other dogs and their human counterparts. Therefore, If we don’t act startled or afraid, neither will our dogs. The Jolly Routine will help reinforce that fireworks aren’t supposed to be scary!

3. Retrievers, Retrieve Things:

NEVER Light and Throw Firecrackers around your dog. I can tell you awful stories about innocent dogs retrieving M-80’s and getting their snouts blown to smithereens. Even if you have enough common sense not to light off fireworks around your dog, this does not mean that your neighbor does. (Some of the bad neighbors even use this holiday to intentionally injure neighbor dogs that they find annoying. It is awful and unfortunately true.

It is your responsibility as a dog owner, to protect your dog this time of year & always. Something as innocuous as a “ground bloom flower” can cause serious injuries & excruciating burns to canines and human’s alike. A good rule of thumb to follow this time of year is: If things are going boom, keep Fido inside.

4. Provide a Safe, Quiet Place:

Provide a nice, quiet, dark, sound-resistant and relaxing environment where your dog will feel safe.  A crate tucked away in a quiet bedroom with a blanket thrown over it may be a good place for Fido to ride out the Fourth of July festivities.

5. Music Soothes the Savage Beast:

Consider adding a stereo to your dogs’ safe place. Play some music at a high enough volume to drown out most of the booms and bangs. This is a method we employ here at the ranch. The dogs that come to stay with us know that we love music and play it frequently. This time of year we bring out several boom boxes, tune them all to the same station and leave them playing all night. Familiar noises help to camouflage the unfamiliar sounds.

6. Beware the BBQ:

To a dog, a Barbecue grill is a mystical and magical thing. Yummy things like burgers, chicken and the obscenely named, but oh so yummy, “Hot Dogs,” go on and off of barbecue grills with astonishing frequency. To a food obsessed dog it will seem as if a huge feast is beckoning him. Even the most well behaved dog will have difficulty resisting that level of temptation. After all, that bounty seems to be just sitting there waiting!

While your dog won’t be the first to snag a juicy rib-eye, the least of your concerns is losing your dinner your dog. Fido could be seriously burned if he topples the barbecue or knocks it over during play. It’s also a very real possibility that he or she could accidentally start a fire. Dogs love food, (especially people food,) and canines of all kinds are opportunistic eaters. A dog can get pretty sick if they eat 20 burgers and hot dogs in one sitting, and well meaning guests often sneak Fido a treat. This is not a big issue if it’s just one or two guests, but with a crowd it can be more than your dogs’ digestive system can handle.

Many years ago, we had a get-together where we barbecued 60 pounds of beef ribs. MaxShadow a rebellious lab/mutt, had only been in our household for less than a week. He really thought that he had died and gone to heaven!  Guests kept leaving their plates on easy to access, folding chairs, yummies right at nose level. Max had taken to stealing these smokey, juicy, morsels off of unattended plates. This was something that our Starbuck would never have thought of doing, having been with us since early puppy-hood, she knew that wonderful rewards would be hand delivered for good behavior.  By the time we witnessed MaxShadow’s stealth, rib-stealing technique in action, he had gobbled several of these delicious treats. Luckily we caught him in the act and removed him from temptation, with no harm done. In retrospect, he could have easily eaten his way into the nearest veterinary hospital, which is something that happens far too frequently with certain breeds of dogs.

Always request that your guests not feed your dogs without your permission. That way you can better control what and how much your dogs get to eat.

Thousands of dogs are separated from their families every July 4^th. Most simply bolt due to fear. Keep your best friend safe, secure and indoors this 4^th of July.  Your pet will thank you for it with many more years of the unconditional love that only a canine can provide.

Until next time:

Kerri

The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

Follow Us:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adventure-Dog-Ranch/117454404937371

Twitter:  http://www.Twitter.com/AdventureDogs

Myspace: http://www.Myspace.com/adventuredogranch

Google Buzz: http://www.google.com/profiles/adventuredogranch#about

Microsoft Live Spaces: http://adventuredogs.spaces.live.com

Separation Anxiety, 12 Idea’s to help combat destruction and other unwanted behaviors.

If you’ve never had the misfortune of owning or loving a dog with separation anxiety, consider yourself incredibly lucky. Dogs with this condition have been known to shred carpets, chew through drywall, eat siding, snack on electrical cords and jump through sliding glass doors.  Luckily, not every case is this severe. It can present in many different forms and levels of intensity, from dogs that howl incessantly (calling for their missing pack members,) to dogs that are so stressed that they’d rather cause themselves grave injury than spend an afternoon alone. Here’s a few idea’s to help ease the frustration while you work compassionately to teach your dog that being alone can be a very good thing.

1. THIS IS IMPORTANT: Quit making “Hello’s and goodbye’s” a big deal… If you’re saying hello and goodbye to your dog at all, you are contributing to the problem. This is one of the hardest habits to break and it falls on the human side of things. This takes practice and consistency, but it’s very effective in training your dog that you are the pack leader and that you can come and go as you please. It’s not something to get freaked out about.

When you leave for a while, don’t say goodbye, just walk out the door. It may be important to alter your routine somewhat because your dog has associated your morning routine with you being gone all day. If you have more than one door, try leaving out the back door and listening for a while… You are actually going to have to practice leaving the house and coming back after just a short while… extending the length of your absence until your dog quits acting all “zoomy and freaky…”

It’s important to ignore an overstimulated dog until they relax and settle down. If your dog gets all wired upon your return, simply walk in the house and completely ignore the dog until they stop trying so hard to get your attention. Don’t engage them period. No eye contact, petting…. Simply do the things you’d normally do if you didn’t have a dog. Take your coat off, put your groceries away, read a book… Once they give up on getting your attention or lay down and quit trying so hard, you can then call them to you, have them sit and calmly reward compliance.

2. It’s so obvious it’s ridiculous, but #2 is Exercise your dog…. Exercise is critical for dogs that suffer from Separation Anxiety. A tired dog doesn’t have the energy to tear furniture to smithereens, chew up designer shoes or bark for 10 consecutive hours..

Consider implementing Long morning walks into your daily routine, (practice leadership on the walk and make the dog follow you. Eventually, you can add a backpack and slowly build up to just shy of 20% of the dogs weight (provided they’re in good health and don’t have joint issues.) This will help to add a little more physical challenge to the walk. Or make time for a game of fetch or another physical activity that your dog enjoys, before you leave for the day.

3. Provide something to do while you’re gone. One of the “Busy Dog” toys… like a Buster cube (a toy that rolls around and randomly spits out pieces of kibble,) can keep a dog busy for an hour or more, once he’s figured out how to operate it. A Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter and kibble and then frozen, can keep even an aggressive chewer, busy for a couple of hours.  Chewing stimulates the release of all kinds of “feel good” hormones and it also helps to drain a little energy. Kong toys are pretty indestructible, but some dogs are better equipped for destruction than others. However, finding a chewed up Kong is much better than coming home & finding something that you didn’t want chewed up. Monitor Chewing activity for appropriateness (at first) and if a toy becomes damaged, replace it! It’s less expensive to replace a chewed up toy than to pay for emergency surgery for a bowel obstruction.. Remember to rotate toys daily, to keep your dog interested.

4. Try taking your dog to daycare… the extra exercise does wonders. Often with solid leadership and extra exercise, these problems diminish.. One or two days a week may be all that is necessary to keep these behaviors at bay. If dog daycare isn’t in your budget, consider hiring a dog walker or a neighbor kid to come play with your dog while you’re gone.

5. Try leaving the TV or Radio on while you’re gone… (especially if you often have one of these devices on when you are home.) It can camouflage “normal” neighborhood noises, hopefully quelling some of the noise-reactive barking, as well as providing a anxious dog with the comfort of human voices and/or music.

6. Practice Solid Leadership skills. If a dog isn’t getting adequate leadership, they will assume the pack leader role in the household. This is not a role that most dogs, (especially the anxious ones) are comfortable with. It puts the dog in the unfortunate position of evaluating everyone and everything and assessing their threat potential. Take the role away from the dog and he or she will be much more comfortable knowing that you’ve got it handled and that it’s your job to protect them, not the other way around.

7. Provide some sort of activity or toy, something to chew on that does not have the potential of being choked on when you are not there. I do not like rawhides because of the potential for choking.

8. Try Feeding your dog his main meal before you leave for work, This may help, but depends upon their bladder & bowel control.  Food can make a dog (or a person) sleepy due to the body’s energy going to work to digest the food in a full stomach.

If it takes you some time to get ready in the morning, you can feed the dog early in the AM and let them out to go potty before you leave for work. Keep in mind that playing on a full stomach can cause gastric problems like Bloat… so never let your dog engage in heavy exercise on a full tummy. Wait at least an hour, preferably 90 minutes so that your dog has adequate time to digest.

Life with a Labrador is never dull… but sometimes it stinks.

Meet Hi-Octane Java, my lovable, Jumping Java Bean, is now 6 years old. Her advancing age has not diminished her love of retrieving… It’s probably even more intense than it was when she was younger. It’s simply wired into her DNA and she was born to do it.

Tonight, we were playing ball as we do every night after my work day is done… 

It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, pitch-black dark, snowing, etc…

Java NEEDS to Retrieve.

I’ve just hit the ball with my trusty tennis racket and she’s motoring to the far corner of the yard to get it. Taking a nice, straight line.

I hit a second ball to the opposite corner of the front yard for my other, more mature dog, Maxshadow, but Java see’s it first. She’s now locked on to it like a heat seeking missile.

She breaks on it and beats Max to the ball. Max looks at me with the frustrated eyes of a dog that’s starting to act at least 3/4’s of his 12, human-years of age.

“See?” he asks me with his eyes, “How can I even compete with THAT?”

This is when Java does the strangest thing:

Rather than scooping up the 2nd ball with that incredibly long tongue of hers and running back to me with one ball completely enclosed within her mouth and the 2nd, hanging halfway out. (Hey, I’ve seen her with 3 in there…it doesn’t look comfortable, but she pulls it off with style.)

She drops the 1st ball and then paws at both of them. Her forehead is wrinkled with a look of confusion and she keeps pawing at both balls. Looking at them, looking to me and tilting her head in that universal canine body language sign that says, “What the hell do I do now?”

I tell her, “Bring it” (this is play time, not work, so I didn’t use the “F” command.) She’s giving me the strangest look, I know angst when I see it although I’ve rarely seen it displayed so honestly. She is frantically pawing at both balls; obviously frustrated. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why on this occasion, she seems incapable of picking up both balls at once or why she just doesn’t bring back ONE of the balls. The look on her face has me almost convinced that there has got to be a baby bird over there… or maybe something dead.

I walk the 25-30 yards to the tree line, where Java is still insistently pawing at the 2 balls but not mouthing them.  She’s wiggly now, there is hope in her eyes because “Mama” (yes, that’s me,) Mama is there to save the day. 

I survey the situation… Nothing dead, no baby birds… Just 2 new but now dirty, yellow balls, a bunch of dirt, mud and leaves. I give the command, “Get it!” and she looks at me like I’ve gone nuts,  So I reach down and pickup the first ball thinking… “That’s pretty muddy,” at that exact instant my olfactory faculties and my sense of touch kicked into overdrive, “$#@!” An expletive escapes my mouth… (Yes, that is the expletive appropriate for this particular occasion.)

Even though I’m thoroughly disgusted and my hands are a poopy mess, I have to laugh. I have a smart dog. One that’s smart enough not to retrieve a dung covered ball, even when I’m not. 

Yes, I managed to get myself and both balls thoroughly disinfected and we finished our game of “Fetch.”  After all, my Java is born to retrieve.

I guess my life could be a lot worse. I could have one of those dogs that actively hunts out treats like Raccoon Roca, Kitty litter biscuits and the crème’ de la crème, Other dogs’ feces. I’m happy with the crew I’ve got.

Life with a Labrador is never boring…. but sometimes it really stinks, I wouldn’t trade it for anything….  Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Until next time, drink a green beer for me.

Kerri             –The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

The Vacation Destination for Dogs!

Adventure Dog Ranch

(360) 652-2924

Follow us on popular Social Media Sites:

Like what we do? Tell the world!

Review us on Yelp, Google maps, Insider Pages, Judy’s book, Bring Fido, City Search more!

My Dog is My Mirror…

I have been around a lot of dogs and a lot of dog owners.

I’ve also learned a lot about both dogs and owners over the years. In all honesty, it didn’t take terribly long to recognize that calm people have incredibly calm and well behaved dogs and that those folks that spend their days stressing, yelling and screaming; Well they are rewarded with like behaviors..

In fact some of the most amazing dogs of all, live with homeless people.

You’ve seen them.  The lost members of society, walking down the city streets with a well-fed, well-loved, furry, four-legged life partner. Sometimes the dog is heeling perfectly off leash, other times, it’s on leash, but the one constant? These dog companions are always well behaved.

I’ve asked myself why? Why do homeless folks have the best behaved dogs?  Is it because their owners don’t have as much to worry about? (Beyond what to eat and where to lay down tonight?) Is it because the dog walks with them everywhere 24X7? Is it because that person loves that dog more than his or her own life? Or is it simply that the dog must behave to survive in their environment?

I honestly don’t know the politically correct answer, but I have a theory. I’ve never taken the time to interview a homeless dog owner, but one of these days I will take the time to ask. Perhaps it’s partially because the very act of day-to-day survival depends upon the kindness of strangers. Or because the human sacrifices their own meal, to make certain that Fido gets fed.

I think it’s because the homeless aren’t worried about tomorrow. They are only focused on today. Living in the moment.

Dogs live only in the moment. Dog owners that spend their whole life wrapped up in the “What if’s?” Can NOT focus on the joy of a sunny day, a good belly rub or a tasty morsel scavenged from a trash can. There are a lot of quality life lessons there that we all would be behooved to learn.

I truly believe that you attract what you focus the most energy on (and not necessarily in a good way. Google the law of attraction for an education on this point..) So if you’re stuck on the thought, “I’m worried about my health?” You’re apt to get sick.  “I’m worried I can’t pay the mortgage?” You’re going to be broke all month.  “I have faith that all will work out.
Miraculously, it does.

I have since begun to think of “My dog as my mirror.”  If I am stressed, my dog misbehaves.  If I am irritated, my dog won’t quit barking,  When I am angry, there’s total disharmony in my household

Next time your dog is doing something you don’t desire or think is right, do a self status check. Where were you at mentally 10 minutes ago?  Yelling at the kids? Arguing with your spouse? Or taking a mental vacation in Tahiti with a cute cabana boy?

Yep it’s true, sometimes Dog Training is that simple. in this case, My Dog is My Mirror.

 

Kerri  — The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

How do you say goodbye to a friend that inspired glorious changes in your life?

You don’t… you say “So Long…” instead.

I know; (Okay, I don’t really know,) but I want to believe that we will all be reunited on the other-side someday…. Pets, Family, Lovers, Friends… While I don’t really care if I see my cable TV installer again, or my last corporate boss for that matter,  I do believe that my loveable Lab Mix, Starbuck will be there to greet me when I do finally reach the other side.

Seventeen years we spent together. A GLORIOUS 17 years.

This Blog is dedicated to Starbuck, the dog that quite literally taught me that life was worth living again.                                          

I don’t know what date she was born but I always celebrated Starbuck’s birthday around Valentines day. You see, my mother passed away on February 12^th 1996 so Valentines day is very hard for me.. I was very close to my mother… at 31, I wasn’t ready for mom to go, but no longer wanted her to have to suffer so.

Mom’s demise was caused by Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.This was brought on by a medication used to treat a rare form of lung disease where her lungs turned to scar tissue… This wasn’t easy to watch. 

My mother was such a vital and energetic woman. Watching her waste away, well it was killing me,  After her death I spun into a spiral of self loathing, and depression… suicide was never  an option for me. (I couldn’t conceive of doing that to the remaining members of my family,) But after my injury, a half dozen subsequent surgeries (I’m up to 13 and holding now,) and years of severe, intractable, spirit-crushing pain, I was losing it.

I realized my music career was done for good… I couldn’t play music professionally anymore, there’s only so much musical brilliance that can be displayed by a guitarist with a left wrist that has been surgically fused and doesn’t bend.. Without my music, I no longer felt I had a purpose in life. What could I possibly be here for? I hate to admit it but I also had a severe case of the “Why me’s?” Luckily, I also had this little, black Lab to love.

The answer 17 years later is a little more clear to me now… I’m here for the dogs. Specifically, for a little lab mix with an intoxicating and lopsided grin, that we named Starbuck. Now I also know that I’m here for all of the dogs that come through the ranch, not just my three… Oops, two. (That’s going to take some time to get used to.).

This re-framing of my life did not come easily… As a matter of fact, there was nothing easy about it at all. In the spirit of total disclosure, I am about as stubborn as they come… Luckily, so was Starbuck. She kept at me, grounding me when I got too manic, lifting me up when I was too blue and nudging me when I needed a push in a different direction… 

The fact that Starbuck worked her miracle on Steve first, inspiring him to change careers and go into the Dog Training field, well that was a big transformation for both of us., Without Starbuck, he would likely be breaking his back, still doing laborer work, traffic control and asbestos abatement. There would’ve been no Adventure Dog Ranch and I’d still be on Call 24X7 with a technical job I abhorred.

Starbuck taught us that good dogs provided with good leadership, can get along just fine in groups and that dogs are social animals and deserve to have a safe place to be with their own kind.  She also taught us that a well exercised dog is a happy dog and that aggressive dogs can have their very aggressiveness diminished with proper exercise, leadership and a decent canine role model. Starbuck was that role model for hundreds, if not thousands of dogs.

She taught me that it was worthwhile to take risks and love again,  she taught me that it was okay to try something and fail miserably, that the fun is in the adventure. She also showed me that life is worth living, but only if it’s done without regrets. Starbuck opened my heart in a way I didn’t think was possible.  In fact, if you would’ve told me 20 years ago that I would call myself a “Dog Mama” I would’ve told you, that you were NUTS!

Saying goodbye to Starbuck is hard, but not as difficult as I anticipated… why?  Because I have faith now. Faith that what we’re doing is right, faith that Starbuck is in a better place and faith that I have the strength and courage that I didn’t have 17 years ago when Starbuck sat down in front of Steve and I, looked us up and down, cocked her head & flashed that lopsided grin and pretty much telepathically said… “Okay, You two will do just fine.”

When she peacefully went into that unknown, misunderstood dimension, she had no fear, she knew that we’d do just fine this time too.

So… So-Long my beloved “Buckstar”… I already miss you… You truly were the queen of the bitches. Tonight I raise my glass to you, knowing that if you’re even half as productive at saving souls in doggy heaven as you were on Earth….. You will continue to work miracles for eternity. 

 

Kerri –The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

Steve & Kerri Pinkston own and operate Adventure Dog Ranch.  A Free-Range, Boarding, Daycare and Training facility located in Marysville, WA.  For more information about their facility please visit http://www.AdventureDogRanch.com

Flickr Tags: Black Lab,Adventure Dog Ranch,Black Lab Pitt Bull Mix,Geriatric Dogs,Saying Goodbye

New Video Up on our YouTube Channel AdventureDogRanch

Here’s the link to a new video posted on You Tube… Hope you enjoy it.  If you do, feel free to leave some comments… either here, on You Tube or on our Facebook page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tUYjy62_pg

Honey & Bear enjoy a game of ball in the Snow

Trimming Your Dogs Toenails… What You Need to Know to Do It Safely!

Toenail Trims…  Most dogs don’t like this task, as someone, at sometime has probably cut one too short and pinched the quick.. (the soft, nerve and blood filled core of the nail,) causing pain and a little bleeding. So I am here to tell you what you need to know to do it safely.

MaxShadow showing off his toy and his teeth

In Dogs with white toenails, it’s pretty easy to spot where the quick is… it’s kind of pinkish in color and the dead nail is really white. If your dog has black toenails, you can’t easily identify the quick.  However, if you can hold the paw in your hand with the pads facing up, you can easily locate a groove running along the bottom of the nail, from the tip, where it is very well defined to the toe where it becomes wider and more shallow until it disappears completely into the live nail. This groove, signifies the dead portion of the nail. i.e. the part you want to cut into. The part with the groove has no blood vessel and no nerve endings. The only way you’ll hurt your dog by cutting into the area with the groove, is if you accidentally pull his toe hairs. (Very easy to do on long coated dogs.)

It’s always a good idea to get your dog used to having his or her feet handled at a young age and to desensitize them to the clippers.  I prefer the guilottine clippers that have two blades that come together and meet in the middle, because they take less hand strength to operate. Make certain they’re sharp… if they’re not, throw them out… These things are inexpensive and trust me, you’d rather have new, sharp ones, that deal with a cracked nail caused by an old crummy pair.

Start off by having your dog sit next to you, holding his paws one at a time, firmly and feeding treats…. if this goes well… play with the toes during the next session (while still feeding treats.) Work your way up until you’re actually holding and activating the clippers without placing them on the nails. When you get to the point that you can do all of this and your dog is still relaxed, then it’s time to try the real thing.

It’s usually a good idea to have a partner there to help restrain the dog if needed, but if you’ve done your homework as stated above, you may not even need that. Of course always have some quik stop stypic powder on hand, (I like the kind with benzocaine,) just in case you clippers slip a little.

If you’re nervous, your dog will sense this and pull away… you may have to practice putting the clippers in position without clipping to build your confidence.  Having a friend there can help with moral support.

Don’t try to take too much off the first time… Note where that groove is and only take off the very tip of the nail… You can come back and do it again next week… it’ll help both you and the dog gain confidence in your ability to trim their nails. With repeated trimmings, the nerves will begin to recede in even the longest of nails, allowing you to trim them even shorter than you could’ve done on the first attempt.

Start with the back feet, dogs seem more receptive to having their back feet played with…  and even if you only get one paw or one toe done at a session, you’re making process!

Dremel tools also work great, but generate a lot of heat. If using a Dremel, only keep it in contact with the nail for about one or two seconds at a time…  and once again, watch out for toe and foot hair! Long hair and quick spinning objects do not mix well.

The other option is that you can bring the dog to us and during their regularly scheduled daycare, boarding or training session, we’ll sneak in a nail trim for only $10

This will be easier for us if you’ve done your desensitization exercises listed above…

Until next time, go play ball and have some fun!

Kerri — The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

Part III Choosing the Right Doggy Daycare for you dog!

Some suggested questions to ask your potential dog boarding or daycare facility:

• What kind of experience do their employees have with dogs in a pack environment?
• What makes them qualified to supervise a group of dogs at play?

Looks like some one's been digging in the snow! (He Had FUN!)

• How do they introduce your dog?

Do they just throw them in with the other dogs or do they take the time to     slowly integrate the new member and make certain that your dog is  ready?

Is the dog play facility indoors or outdoors?

This is entirely up to you, both have their good points. Some dogs do better in an outdoors environment and won’t go potty indoors. Personally, I don’t care if my dog gets dirty, I just want them to have fun. However I do not want my dog getting used to going potty indoors. If the daycare is located indoors, do the dogs have access to the outdoors to relieve themselves?

• Where will the dogs sleep at night? If Free-Range, How do they choose your dogs’ roommates?

• What is the staff to dog ratio? (These requirements will vary with dog size and energy levels. 1:12 or 1:15 is okay as long as staff members are physically capable, experienced and carry radios so they can quickly get help if needed.)

• What is their maximum occupancy? (This should coincide with the staff to dog ratio)

• Does the staff provide both love and leadership?

The good dog daycare is a lot like the daycare for kids there are rules that must be reinforced such as no bullying, no humping & no biting. A good facility will offer both leadership and love.

• What kind of corrections do they use for bad or unwanted behavior?        A good facility will tell you that the correction will vary depending upon the dog and the infraction. Some dogs respond very well to vocal corrections and some dogs will cower at a strong “No” If the staff can’t tell the difference, it may not be the right facility for your dog.

• Do they correct for excessive barking? If so how? Answers will vary from facility to facility. Some facilities use water and spray bottles on barking dogs. Some facilities use bark collars. Our facility chooses to use vocal corrections, gentle touches and body language to get our point across.

• Are there age/size/health requirements? Which Vaccinations are required? Are Titers accepted?

Titers are blood antibody tests performed by your veterinarian. (Great for dogs that are sensitive to or allergic to components used in vaccinations.)

• Are there Breed restrictions? If not than do they hold certain breeds to higher standards than others?

Not all of us like enforcing breed restrictions, but this is fair question… not all Pitt Bulls or Rottweilers are vicious animals, (very few are,) but they are big and strong and physically capable of causing injury; (As are Great Danes, Labrador Retrievers and even Standard Poodles.) It is important that the staff members be physically capable of separating dogs in case of an altercation. If they’re not physically capable of breaking up a conflict, they should enforce some type of breed or size restrictions and /or have additional staff to ensure safety.

• Do they require behavioral evaluations prior to accepting reservations? Accept recommendations from other facilities?

• What happens in the event that you can’t get there before closing time? Grace period? Extra fees? Is overnight care an option?

• Are the fences sturdy and secure? Easy to climb?  (I once heard of a daycare in a busy area having their temporary fencing knocked over and all of the dogs running off into traffic!!!)

• What happens if your dog is injured? Do they have a relationship with a local veterinarian? What are their notification procedures and policies?

• Do they have a Dog Trainer on staff?

Having a Dog Trainer on staff is very helpful if unwanted or bizarre behaviors crop up during a boarding or daycare stay. An experienced trainer will know how to keep the problem from escalating.

• Do they require fecal tests? This helps protect your dog from being exposed to parasites and bacterial infections, of course this is not foolproof, but it is an added layer of protection.

• What is access like to the play yards? Are there several doors or gates between the play area and the outside world? Or can just anyone get in?

As you can see, the options for daycare and boarding are as vast as the breeds of dogs they serve. To find the facility that will best serve the needs of your dog, we recommend that you and your dog pay a visit to a couple different places. Observe your dog. He or she will let you know when you’ve found the one that best suits his idea of fun, as well as his personality and his physical and emotional needs.

These are not meant to be a “Black and White” list of correct answers…  but a guideline… each dog is an individual and what’s right for one dog, may not be right for your dog…  let your dog guide you on this one.  Only he or she will know what truly makes them happy.

 

Kerri — The Alpha Dogs’ Wife

Steve & Kerri Pinkston own and operate Adventure Dog Ranch.  A Free-Range, Boarding, Daycare and Training facility located in Marysville, WA.  For more information about their facility please visit http://www.AdventureDogRanch.com