Tag Archives: Dog training

To Prong Or Not To Prong: The Debate Continues

by

2

I think this is a good discussion. 

Here’s my take.
 
First of all, for me personally, I have really high standards and expectations for myself and my dogs. All my dogs must eventually get their CGCs. I have only had one (my GP, Dri) who didn’t get his. I don’t want to be the stupid neighbor with THAT dog. It’s very important to me because I’m the caretaker for these dogs. Kids go to school. They get graduation certificates. Shouldn’t my dogs?
 
My goal for my cattledog boy, Artie Blue, CGC, is some kind of Obedience, Rally, Agility or Schutzhund title. For sweet Elke it was getting her CGC (done!) and have her qualify as an Asst. Dog or Therapy Dog. Most of the folks on many of the lists I’m on have Pibbles. Being a terrier-type they have a different head set from herding breeds, which is what I’ve mostly dealt with.  So, I can’t speak as to Pibbles, as much as I’ve worked with them in the shelter and have tons of friends who have them. I love them dearly too and advocate strongly on their behalf! But I “get” herding dogs better.
 
Here’s one my stories as pertains to prong collars: 
In 1993 I had a girl cattledog, Hart-Marie (in the picture) that I started in classes at 6 months old.  She wore a soft buckle collar, and I was armed with tons of treats…..all the trainer would allow.  (Harnesses were for Guide and Service dogs or if you did pulling or crating.) She was pretty good EXCEPT with pulling horribly on the leash while walking.  Her one huge drawback: she was horrible with small, fuzzy, white dogs.
 
For the leash pulling, we did tons of luring and tons of turns using the treats with The Happy Voice, that kind of thing. It worked pretty well, although I was dizzy from all the turns and switchbacks. It did take a while and lot of commitment on my part. The trainer’s deal was: free classes for us for Hart’s lifetime BUT she had to get her CD (Companion Dog AKC obedience title).
 
The fuzzy dog thing? Much harder because Hart meant business; she would have killed that dog (a Bichon). We did lot of desensitizing with focus and treats etc, that kind of thing, but she still wanted to kill that dog. I am not exaggerating.  Cattledogs are very quick; they have to be fast and agile or they’ll get killed by a cow’s kick square in the head.
 
When Hart was a year old, my trainer (who was also Hart’s breeder) gave me a prong, first putting in on my arm and showing me exactly how it worked and how to use it correctly. She also showed me how it needed to be fitted correctly etc. She stressed it was a Training TOOL. Not to be worn causally or all the time, like a regular buckle collar. Ever. We did probably 3 weeks of classes with a double leash technique, never, ever touching the leash with the prong. One class, with no warning (cattledogs can be like that, most of them are extremely subtle, even for a fully sighted person) she went after that Bichon. One pop, we changed directions with lots of praise and treats for a nice heel. I think she wore that collar for maybe 3 months and never again. She didn’t dread it, she never turned away, she’d happily wag her tail and wiggle her butt when she saw it. But she also had great work ethic. I maybe corrected her 5-10 times, mostly to refine a heel, quite honestly.  I will tell you that her three years of year-round classes and out of class work were 90% positives and 10% aversives or corrections.  
 
Hollering at your dog to shut up or using a sound (Acckk! is ours) is considered by many All Positive trainers to be an aversive. Come on, Seriously? Who doesn’t holler at your dog or kid once in a while.  
 
“Oh, Johnny, darling, don’t go near the street.  You might get hurt by a car,” works great on a three (or eight) year old. Not. You go get Johnny and if he continues to do that, you just might holler at him or give him a time-out.  (Parenting a kid is for another blog!)  
 
If Elke insists (sneaks) on getting on the sofa with a bone or toy, she knows that’s a no-no, I’m going to say, firmly and yes, loudly, “Get off the sofa with the bone!” point to the dog bed and praise her when she eats the bone on it.  The rules haven’t changed in 4 years, Elke, and they pertain to all dogs!
 
Back to Hart the prong collar. 
She had her CGC, TDI (when it meant something more) and her CD, was working towards her CDX and Agility titles when my circumstances stopped her training. She could walk through a herd of little, fuzzy, white, yappy dogs on a buckle collar with tons of treats and no worries.  Interestingly enough, she had a best bud who was a Chi-weenie and was fine with smallblack fuzzy dogs, like Schipperkes.  
 
I’ve had 2 other cattledogs I used prongs on once in a blue moon, Jesse Ann, my wonderful pig-head, could get very fixated and wouldn’t respond to click/treats at all. Again, maybe 3 uses of the prong and never needed again for 10.5 years.  Wingie JoJo, my lovable dope was scared of regular clickers (we used a cricket clicker) but he sure loved his food!!  I had to fde food fast and use praise and pets on him!
E-Collars? I am not a fan. I think it’s the lazy way to train.  I do get why hunters use the warning-beeper ones.  “Hey, Buster, you’re off track,” is really hard to holler when your German Shorthaired Pointer is 1,000 yards away.  More and more, I’m hearing, hunters are using whistle training. I don’t how I feel about e-fencing.
 
My current ACD, Artie, is soft and he won’t need a prong. He “gets” what he’s supposed to do, what I’m asking. He’s smart and willing. He’s still reactive and stupid and mouthy but I can get him back. My Elke is very soft and needs a whole other approach to help her get over herself. I confess to use a prong on her for excessive pulling the leash when she a couple of years y0unger and in retrospect it was NOT the “right” thing to do for her.
 
Now times and techniques have changed in those 19 years! I use the clicker too — all the time! I usually use a tongue click when I’m working on leash though. Too much stuff to deal with and my dogs “get” the tongue click! Artie and Elke don’t need the prong. Three other ACDs I’ve had needed the use of a prong maybe a few times each in their 10+ years on this earth in my care.
 
My German Pinscher (a terrier) really didn’t need it. In retrospect it proved to be counter-productive. He was started as a wee pup on a clicker and treats and he is the reason why I can be somewhat ambivalent about clicker training. He was extremely hard to train as he was not food or toy motivated. And trust me, we tried everything, even a real (dead) squirrel tail!  He is also the reason I am loath to get another terrier-type dog much as I love the clownishness of terriers and the love-a-bull mugs of the Big Heads.
 
Point: I think each dog is an individual and may learn in different ways than another dog. It is a process and you may need other tools. Some rock it on a harness, others are idiots on a harness. A tool is a tool. It’s how you use it or even IF you use it at all. Honestly, it’s not for most dogs and definitely NOT for most owners or trainers.  However, I’ll stand by my decision to use the prong collar on Hart-Marie all those years ago.  As a training tool, it helped her “get” that a certain behavior was unacceptable. It may have saved two dogs’ lives: a small, fluffy, white dog’s and hers.  Had she killed a dog, I would have felt obligated to put her to sleep. She died at age 16 1/4 years, nicely trained, deeply loved and tenderly cared for all her life. 
 
Just my opinion.

Moving On From Michael Vick?

by

0

Forgive Michael Vick? Move on from the whole “Michael Vick Thing?” He did the crime and did the time, etc. I can get where some folks are coming from but here’s the deal.

 
He committed a crime. Crime? He committed crimes. Aside from the dog thing, which was horrific, he still got arrested for other stuff. Felony Stuff. He knew exactly what was going on on his property. He aided and abetted all that stuff. He committed other CRIMES besides dog fighting.
 
OK, he served his time. That’s great. However he should NEVER have been allowed near professional sports again. Never. He’s done nothing but profit from his time in the “hoose-cow.” Oh, but he lost all his earnings and potential earnings when he went into prison. Boo-hoo.
 
I don’t see him giving one nickle beyond what he was court-ordered to give to those dogs. If I were his P.R. person, I’d be all over him like spots on a Dalmatian to be doing more and more. Both publicly and privately so some snoopy reporter would find out. 
 
I don’t see him, week after week after week going into schools and community centers and preaching against Dog Fighting and Drug Usage to his idolizing masses. I don’t see him doing one ounce of Good. And he could have. He was and still is in a tremendous position to do incredibly good things, to be a huge power of example.
 
“I screwed up. God will be my Judge and I don’t think He’s going to be happy with me.  I was horrible and cruel beyond words to His defenseless creatures. I enabled people to do illegal, horrible and inhumane stuff. I knew it was going on and I did nothing. In fact, I participated! I will never do it again and I vow to spread the word and tell people it’s wrong, it’s immoral, it’s inhuman, it’s inhumane and don’t you ever do it!  Don’t get caught up the spiral of horror!  It’s not cool!  You’re a big loser if you do it. It’s no way out!” He truly could have had a public “Come To Jesus” moment and done something uplifting with this whole ungodly mess.  A true Man of God (or Goddess) would do such a thing.  And they’d keep on testifying!  
 
That’s why so many “animal people” think he’s such a jerk and still have him in the pillory of public opinion.
 
You don’t hear anyone saying, “Well, Bernie Madoff is doing his time. Let’s move on, shall we?” Nobody that I know of or have heard of is willing to give old Bernie a pass. There are people who are making it their life’s mission to find that money and make restitution. 
 
But because Michael Vick is a football player, an athlete, we should just “move on?”
 
Please do not flip out the “You’re just being that way because he’s black” card.  Dog-fighting, dog killing, dope dealing, trafficking, illegal-gambling, felonious, scum-buckets come in all shapes, sizes and socio-economic backgrounds. I wouldn’t care if he was pink with purple polka dots. He and his charming relatives and friends were a bunch of opportunistic criminals. Period. To pull out the “race card” is demean to people like Martin Luther King.
 
I understand “To err is human, to forgive divine.” (Alexander Pope) And the Latin: “Errare humanus est.” Yes, as spiritual folks, we should pray for Michael Vick, pray especially for his “vick-tims” and for all the people who invested and believed in him. He duped and cheated every stinkin’ one! He is still laughing his way all the way to the bank with million dollar endorsements and contracts. If you or I had committed his crimes, we probably wouldn’t be able to get a job at McDonalds, get a car or buy a house.
 
He is the poster child for “You might get caught, you might have to do some time, but you can profit from this.” What lesson does this teach kids? Where are the ethics?
 
And speaking of…..why don’t most professional athletes have to sign ethics’ clauses?  
 
Why is it that an athlete gets a slap on the wrist but some poor “muther f-er” from the ghetto would still be in jail?  (Better lawyers notwithstanding.)
 
His consequence for committing his crimes should have been banishment from professional sports, in particular football. If he’d been a NASCAR driver (and believe me, I don’t like NASCAR very much) his getting back into the sport would have been a total non-starter.
 
I’m sorry but if you are a professional athlete and you get nailed for felonies, that’s it.  You’re done, buster. If he’d done this stuff, he would have been kicked out of the Olympics!  Nobodyis that good or necessary to the football cause. There are many worthy high school and college kids ready, willing and able to take your place.
 
Get a real job and find out how tough it is for a convicted felon to get work. Then maybe I’ll give you a brief hall pass. Just don’t ever do it again. Ever. The same as with any other felon.
©2012 Mia Knerly-Hess

I Can’t Make This Stuff UP: PETA Again

by

0

PETA again.  “No one belongs in a crate.” Crate training is cruel?  I hope they’re kidding.  They’re not? Damn.
 Shame on anyone who supports these cretins (and that’s an insult to cretins….)
Rock formations have more brain capacity than PETA and its stalwart cohorts.
(Insert a whole string of incredible, mind-cringing swear words.)
I cannot make this stuff up.  Whoever the brilliant mind was that came up with this anti-ad is a genius.  I salute you!
Come-a-my-house and I open up a can of whoopass on you, you neanderthalic, mindless, reactionary PETA jerk-offs! I’ll bet you drink the lemonade too.
Go to your Happy Place now, Mia…..
Happy Place, Happy Place (rocking back and forth…)

Another Elke Blog

by

0


(With interjections from Artie)
 

The other day Momma Jen from L’Chaim Caninecame over again. We call her Momma Jen because she was the Brat Boy’s foster momma. But my paws get tired of typing all those letters. so I will call her Jen. That’s her name. I love her. I am happy to see her.

You’re a big old suck up. You do the pitiful eye thing, it’s soooooo gross.
Go chew on a bone, BB……
Our Mom wanted Jen to come over because somebody (and it’s not me) has a problem with the cats. Jen helps people with their dogs, she was our teacher for my Special Day. She also has a lot of helpful things to say and things to do about cats. Mom also wanted her to help adjust our new Freedom Harnesses. BB’s is green and mine is “raspberry.”
 
 Whatever.
 
Now, I have to tell you some stuff about Mom and Dad. I love them with all my heart but they’re kind of, oh there’s a big word for it… ambivalent (aren’t your impressed) about clicker training. Mom likes to give us treats and reward us for good stuff, but she not real confidentabout this whole clicker thing. She feels like a klutz. Dad is a dad, he loves us but he wants us to get it fast. Whatever “it” is. And he doesn’t do The Excited Voice like Mom. He’s a guy’s guy.
 
Mom’s been reading books and watching videos on YouTube like Kikopup, whoever she is and asking questions about this clicker stuff, even though I’ve known what a clicker was since I came here so long ago. Mom taught me sit, down, “bang” and how to pick up stuff with a clicker.
 
Hey, I know when I see and hear the clicker I KNOW that we’re going to get treats! I get so excited—
 
Yeah, you’re like STUPID excited~ it’s like your butt’s on fire—
 
Shut up, Brat Boy! You’re such a little turd.
 
(Takes one to know one….)
 
Grrrrumble.
 
 ANY way, where was I? Oh, yes. Clicker stuff. I am ok with the cats but he isn’t.
 
Hey, those damn things MOVE and do weird stuff. I don’t get them. They smell funny, they move funny! I want them to STOP doing what they’re doing. They’re not dogs. I don’t understand them. I can’t read them. Even humans are way easier than those damn things. What the hell da’ya expect?
 
Some decorum would be nice.
 
Mom and Jen talked a lot about the cats and did clicker stuff with the BB. I didn’t like the fact that I didn’t get treats—-
 
Boo-flippin’-hoo! 😛
 
Every day since Jen came here, Mom has been clicking when you—-
 
We, sistah, WE—
 
Ok, I’ll give you that.
 
Anyway, when WE get riled up when WE hear the cats. Mom doesn’t quite get the reasoning behind it but she doesn’t yell at us. she might talk to us but she tries not yell at us. She c/t’s us and throws treats on the floor for us to get. WE do stop after a while.
 
Now Mom got us these fancy-schmancy harness but I don’t want anything to do with mine. I don’t know why….I just don’t like harnesses. But Mom said,
 
“I spent all this money on these fancy-schmancy harnesses….you’ll have to get used to it.”
 
(Actually she said I had to get over myself.)
 
Yeah, really! Get over yourself—-
 
—-Oh, really? And you are exactly HOW about the cats?
 
(Paying intense attention to my bone now…ignoring you….)
 
Yesterday and the day before, she put BB into his harness and played ball with him. She showed me mine and I jumped up on the sofa. NO way!
 
Such a chicken sh—–
 
That will do. So Mom put the BB outside and she put the harness on the floor and got the clicker out. She threw a couple of treats around it and I ate them. Then when I sniffed at the harness, she c/t’ed me. When I touched it with my nose or my paw, she c/t’ed me. Hmmm…maybe it’s not so bad.
 
Ooooh, she picked it up! It’s SCARY—-
 
See what I mean, you are SUCH a little chicken sh—–
 
—-You know what? I’m gonna drag you around by your collar and see how you like it.
 
…..Mom put her hand through the neck part with a treat. I kind of stuck my nose into the loopy part and ate the treat. She was used her Excited Voice, “Yes! Good girl!” I did that a couple of times and then Mom hung the harness up and let me outside.
 
Today, she did the same thing this morning. I was scared at first but I really like those smelly treats she was giving me. They smell like Dad’s summer sausage. First the harness was on the floor and then over her wrist, the treats were in her hand. After a couple of times of me putting my nose inside the loopy part, she said, “All done!” and let me outside.
She put BB’s harness on and we were outside while Mom took pictures of the BB playing ball. So stupid, that whole ball thing. Who wants to chase a stupid ball?
I LIKE Ball!!! It’s fun!!!
Goes to show how stupid you really are.
Then we came in and she took his harness off and put him in his crate with a STUFFED BONE. Why the heck don’t I get that? Oh, wait….Mom has treats! But, she has the harness thing again! But she DOES have treats. Oh, my goD, I don’t know what to do…treats, harness, treats…..I’m so anxious!
She did get me to touch the harness, then put my nose through the loopy thing then she got the horrible loopy thing to rest on my neck! eeeeuuuu, gross-gross–gross!! She gave me lots of treats and used The Excited Voice. She took it off of me, eeeeuuuu, phew, thank goD—-
Gawd, seriously, you are such a pansy—-
—-then she dropped it on the ground again. C/T.
…then she got my nose through the loopy thing…..
….then it was on my neck and I got a whole bunch of treats, tons!
Then she clipped one side of the harness on me, lots of treats and The Excited Voice stuff. then she clipped the other side on and gave me more treats!!!
We all went outside. I still wasn’t sure about that harness-thing on me but she gave me lots of treats even though SOMEBODY kept getting in my way.
Hey, it was food, dude!
Mom took some pictures and kept giving me treats.
So maybe, just maybe it isn’t too bad. The harness thing. Maybe.
So maybe Mom is getting the knack of this clicker thing. Maybe.

Cat (and Dog) Training, Part 1

by

0


Since it’s looking more and more like Dink and Envy are going to be permanent residents here, it’s way past time to make them a part of the household and that involves Feliaway, (which we’ve been doing for a while) and making their lives better. By “better” I mean more enriched and incorporated.
 
I still have a fair amount of resigned resentment about doing this but basically they’re nice cats overall and they certainly deserve to have a good life. This whole cat thing also involves getting Artie in particular to stop being an a**hole when he hears the cats scuttling across the floor. I should have done this when I first got him but I kept figuring the two cats would be gone and all we’d have to deal with is laid-back Rufus. I thought wrong. Ten months have passed. It’s time to get on the stick.
 
Frankly, I think “training” a cat is kind of an exercise in frustration and futility.
 
Socializing, yes. To be sure. Dink and Envy are friendly cats. They have been messed with since they were wee babies. If people come in the house, they are happy to see you and hang out with you. You can brush them and clip their nails with little protest.
 
Rufus, not so much. He runs away from almost everybody, even the Spousal Unit. who picked him out, by the way. I am the exception. Then he becomes a whiny, “I’m waking you up in the morning because you have to mess with my food bowl” kind of guy. He’s very demanding, and it’s always on his terms.
 
Exercising cats? To a large extent, I see the merits and benefits of that!
 
Getting a cat to use its “hunting skills” to get its food from a cat food toy? Uh, No.
 
I got an Fun-Kitty Egg-cersizer from my trainer friend, Jen. (I have a lot of respect for and trust in her. So if she says, “Let’s do this,” I’m going to try it!)
 
Great, I’ll try stuff! It was cheap. Good thing I got it from her because neither the Pet Supplies Plus in Stow or the PetSmart at Chapel Hill had ANY Cat Food Toys. And at both places, they looked at me like I was some crazy broad hallucinating on LSD when I even asked about stuff like that. (I should have called first.) So no second Egg thing. I guess if I’m going to continue trying this, I’ll have to get it online.
 
So we have good news and bad news….
 
The Bad News (and you can see it on Envy’s face) is The Egg has been a huge bust. Alas. Maybe I need more of them but this is what I was afraid of…. none of these cats will eat any kind of food off the bare floor. I tried rattling The Egg, playing with The Big. Look at the picture and you’ll see a piece of food right there by Envy’s chest. He’s looking at it. I even showed it to him! I even tried giving it to him! He gave me the, “Are you f—g crazy, lady?” look. (And yes, cats do use the F word. Frequently. Like no other creature on earth.)
 
It Was Not Happening.
 
In the past, even if their food bowls are completely empty, and there are food pieces near the bowl on the floor, they’ll remain untouched. Envy did whack at The Egg, I saw them do it, food spilled out on the floor in their room but no interest in eating off the floor. None. Zip. Zilch.
 
“We are cats, We eat out of bowls, you lowly peasant.”
 
Taking the food bowls up caused a whole bunch of pacing, meowing and restlessness from all three cats. Nobody settled down and took naps in the afternoon which is unusual.. The first night, I took Dink and Envy’s food bowl up and put The Egg down. Luckily they didn’t cry all night but they also didn’t eat. That’s not a big deal, going a while without food; she (Dink) in particular is overweight.

 
I shut Rufus in the basement with his food to give the other cats some time with The Egg. As I said, they even get the Egg at night in their room. The food was not eaten. I tried adding some treats and it’s not tempting them, I guess. None of them “do’ treats anyway.


When I did try the Egg down in the basement where Rufus’ bowls and the other litter box is, there was one huge pile of kitty food throw-up next to the Egg with food pieces in it. I think one of them may have tried it but I wonder if eating the food off the basement floor made them sick. There’s no way to really clean that floor safely for animals….. it’s concrete. I guess I could move food and water up to the first floor, not sure where to put it though.
 
The Good News: Dink and Envy enjoy playing with a laxer light a lot. Marty’s really good at it and he gets them going. It’s pretty funny! I’ll play with a feather toy up in their room and then give them a bit of wet food afterwards. Rufus has no interest in the laser light, it actually kind of freaks him out. But we did get him to play with a feather toy for a few minutes Friday and Saturday. That was kind of cool!
 
We have clear French doors from the den (dog area) to the dining room which has for months had a curtain over the windows. I did this because I got tired of having a**hole, fixated dogs staring, barking, carrying on at the French doors all damn day long.
 
Upon Trainer Jen’s advice, I did the “curtain up” thing while Marty played with a cat toy in the dining room, All Elke cared about was that I had treats, Artie was super fixated on the cats in the other room because they were being active, so I c/t’ed every time he turned his head away. I started by saying his name, then c/t the moment he turned away from the French Doors. I didn’t do it long, about 5 minutes then I closed the curtain. At first he didn’t want much to do with treats at all, “OHMYGOD, THERE ARE CAT-things THERE! WHOOOOA, WHEEEE!”
 
Meanwhile Elke is practically pooping her silly self with excitement at the mere suggestion of FOOD!!
 
The cats are evil. All cats are evil, I’m convinced. They come by the den door in the kitchen. Any self-respecting dog is going to KNOW they’re out there. Consequently Artie’s still really fixated by the den door, he jumps up but it usually starts with Elke’s “boof-roo-roo-roo” bark B.S. And that can be anything from she hears Marty messing around to she hears the cats or something “not right.” It seems like she starts stuff and then he gets all wound up.
 
Not sure how to fix that one, because it’s mostly her. At first. Interesting.
 
This is gong to be a long, relatively sucky process. But it could be so much worse. So far, we don’t have cats spraying and horrible crap like that.

Cesar Milan, Again?

by

3

Here is the article in question:

I can see where the writer is coming from in so many respects of this article and I agree with much of it even though (by the way) it IS an old article.  Note the episodes he references. While everyone is flailing away at BAD Cesar Milan did anyone miss something huge in this article?  
 
The part that said “compulsive” behaviors are always neurological? 
 
To quote:
The last episode (compulsive disorder) is particularly unsettling because compulsive disorder is related to an imbalance in neurotransmitter levels or receptors, and is therefore unequivocally a medical condition.
 
Unequivocally? Really? That means (in the abjective form): 
Admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; clear and unambiguous
 
To that I reply: Horse Manure.  A lot of “compulsive” behaviors are learned or created due to lack of exercise or some kind of positive interaction.  Like tail chasing etc.   Excuse me, Mr. Expert, so all puppy mill dogs who might circle incessantly or exhibit other compulsive behavior, they ALL have a “medical condition?”  How about they’ve never been out of a CRATE?
 
If all compulsive behaviors were due to bad brain wiring you’d never cure an animal or help them overcome it, get through it, whatever the latest PC buzz-word is.  In my opinion, it’s a ridiculous blanket assumption.  I don’t care how many vet degrees you’ve got.  Unequivocally?  Well, heck, let’s just nuke the poor dog, he’ll never get better.  
 
I see the veterinary community becoming a lot like human medicine…let’s medicate the heck out of the animals instead of holistic health, training for pet AND owner, etc. etc.  When was the last time you heard a vet that wasn’t some expensive big shot vet saying, “Man, get your dog to a positive dog training class!” or “Go online and look up Clicker Training,” or “You know what your dog’s problem is?  YOU!”  Uh, I think not.  Too bad more don’t. The animals would be better served.
 
I think the writer would have been better off giving some constructive alternatives instead of just criticism, just flaunting his “expertise.”  So do tell us, Doc, how would you handle those three cases??  
 
I’m not saying Cesar’s handling of those three dogs was right, correct or appropriate. Far from.  I’m sorry but it’s like a theater critic who’s never been IN a real show in any capacity pontificating on how crappy Joey’s little theater show was.  How about you get out of your ivory tower, go to Bumflip, Iowa and you help some poor sod work with his tail-chasing dog, Doc?
Oh, here’s a thought…how about if you go around to poor communities, isolated communities and just do a free or low cost seminar helping hands on with troubled dogs and their distraught owners instead of writing articles?
You want someone who’s helping people, look up kikopup on Youtube; she’s doing it for free, although I’m sure she’d appreciate some bread.  Click on the link….
What Cesar Milan has done, right or wrong, agree or disagree, is he’s made desperate dog owners AWARE.  Aware, for good or ill, that there is something out there to help your problem dog.
 
I got news;  when you have a big time dog problem you feel isolated.  Like no one else gets it. That there are no other resources.  I’ve been there.  I have felt truly desperate and alone.  I wept buckets of tears.  I have blamed myself. 
 
Remember in 2005 we didn’t have nearly the resources on YouTube, Facebook etc.  I still get questions about problem animals if I do a program.  Dog classes can be expensive; not that you shouldn’t take them, you should.  But when if you don’t drive like me? Or they’re not anywhere even close to where you live? People still don’t know where to go or whom to turn to. 
 
Agree or disagree on his methods but…face it…..
 
Ten to fifteen years ago, his methods, right or wrong were THE NORM. Is it archaic?  Sure?  Are they still used?  You betcha.  Check out some performance dogs or schutzhund. 
 
Let’s face it too; most of those dogs on his show would have been dumped or killed.  
 
He’s also made people aware that their dog is picking up on their “energy.” It’s going right down the leash. What is so bad about that message?  My first dog teacher told me that in 1993. I’ve had my Positive Training Friends call me out on this all the time!  Three weeks ago was the most recent and they were right!  I know if I’m all weirded out, my dog is going to be too!  It happened three weeks ago!
 
Cesar Milan has also done a lot for Positive Pit Press.  I think, for good or ill, him being on TV with his Daddy dog has done a whole heck of a lot to turn people’s minds away from the Bad Pit Bull Dog Syndrome. You may not like his methods, think them cruel, archaic, whatever….. but for the Pit stuff you all really need to give him some credit.  Just my opinion.  
 
He kind of started the trend of Dog “Training” TV shows and other people, like Victoria Stillwell have run with that in a more positive training approach. He made it viable TV. 
 
Just sayin’

Artie’s Blog From Yesterday

by

0


Bandanna! Harness! Leash! Car ride! Stopping! Going! Walking in the woods!! So many smells! Elke grumbles, what’s that? Oh big brown animal thing? Far out! More walking! Back in car! Class Place! I smell Clark! I love Clark, where is he? I want to plaaaaay with Clark! Mom, why can’t I play with Clark, you smell like Clark! Did you….pet him?

Mom is walking me around, I don’t have my harness on now, must be Class Time! Smelling stuff, dogs, dogs, I smell dogs! I smell Clark, he peed here, let me pee on Clark’s pee! Ooooh, there is Auntie Kelsey, hihihih, let me jump up on you, auntie! I love you!! I don’t WANNA sit and be good! OK, fiiiiiine. I’ll sit. Humpf.
We go in the Class room! Clark is there! “HI CLARK!!!“
Mom says, “Blooby, you have to be good and calm for Clark!” but I don’t wanna!!! Clark and me, we want to plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!! Our moms walk us around, my mom is sweet talking me. But me and Clark…we want to have fun! Poopy humans. Our moms walk towards each other, Mom has me on a short leash, talking to me, “Watch Me!”
“But it’s CLAAAARKKKKKKK!! I LOVE CLARK!” We walk around some more and Mom is being firmer, “Artie Blue, Watch ME!” but her voice is still pretty happy. we walk towards each other and mom says “Sittt” I lay down just to mess with her. She shakes hands with Clark’s mommy and another new lady says, “Pass.” Mom takes me outside and we hide from Clark. I don’t know why…..
Then we go back into the room. All my favorite people are there!! Mama Jen who fostered me with her other big doggies, Auntie Kelsey and Auntie Mary Ann and that guy from last week! A new lady is there! She talks to mom, ooooooooh, she’s coming to say hi to ME!!!! “Wheeeee! Hi, lady!! I’m Artie Blue, let me get in your face!!!” Mom turns me around and walks me away and then makes me sit and STAY (I hate stay when there are people around and they might touch me!) The new lady comes up and shakes hands with Mom and I rolled on my back. She messes with my feet and I AM SO EXCITED but I’m pretty good. Well…… for me I’m REALLY good.
Then I had to do the Sit, Down, Stay stuff. When Mom called me, “Artie, Front!” I saw my chance! “Hi everyone! Hi New Guy Friend, Hi Aunties, Mama Jen, I WUFFFF you!“
But…..wait….Nobody pets me, human poopheads. they all turned away from me! Mom made me sit again, STAY (yeah, ok, ok. fine, sucks…). When she called me she was so excited, wow, she made all sorts of crazy squeaky noises and clapped her hands! More fun than every one else!
“Exercise finished, ” said the nice lady. and she took my leash. Mom said “Wait,” and left me.
(I’m having a brain fart, I can’t remember what happened.)
Mom came back and they said, “Congratulations! You passed!”
Passed what? Mom didn’t have a stinky cloud. But she sure was happy; she was playing with me and then everybody was petting me and making a BIG fuss over me! I got so excited I forgot myself and grabbed my leash with my mouth!!
There is a picture Mama Jen took of us! What do the words on it mean??
The people who helped my humans understand me better and help me learn things: http://www.lchaimcanine.com/
And Miss Chris’ who gave me my test, she helps human “get” their doggies too. http://www.woofwisedogtraining.com/

Dog Classes: The Great Melt-Down

by

0

(Elke Louise, the Schmooby-Do)

Dog classes tend to bring out the worst in me! Guilt, tension, performance anxiety, guilt. Did I mention the guilt. But they DO matter! They are important! These latest ones are NOT my first rodeo, by any stretch of the imagination.

Let me back up a bit here.

Ladies, did you ever have one of those days where you are little “weepy?’ (I’d like to assume that men have days like these, but they suck it up better than I certainly do.) Those lovely days where it seems like your hormones are in wacko, weep-er-ella mode. Because let’s face it, ladies, we ALWAYS blame our emotions on hormones these days. (Insert winking emoticon here.)

Seeing as I am spayed and beyond the PMS years, I supposed I could blame my emotional state on Menopause. The Change as it is euphemistically known is not for sissies. “Yeah, I’m changing all right,” you growl, “My bullshit-o-meter is in the red! How’s THAT for change, m—-r-f—–r!” 

It has also made me at times emotionally fragile, insecure and very depressed. This charming trifecta seems to leave my poor Spousal Unit somewhat befuddled or saying stuff like, “YOU’RE depressed? Look at ME! Now I’VE got reasons to be depressed!” My darling Marine sometimes acts as though emotions are the “Hoo-rah” equivalent of struggling up a hill with a 60 pound pack on your back in the pouring rain. “My feet hurt worse than yours and my pack is heavier.” 

“It’s not the Who Feels Sh*ttier Competition!” And then the guilt sinks in. I feel bad that I feel bad.

One of the “good” things I guess (the jury is still out on that one) is I’m writing more. My typing hasn’t improved. I’m still a bit grammar-challenged at times. I write in short spurts; I don’t think there’s a novel lurking way down inside of me. I have cousins who do that sort of thing. 

http://www.amyatwell.com/ and http://www.williamsknerly.com/

I tend to think in moments in time, not sweeping vistas covering days, weeks, years. I’ve been published in print which is very exciting! I tend to think sentimentally. I am very sentimental. I get weepy at movies, TV shows, reading stories, blogs etc. I got a little teary seeing the squished, cartoon-flat squirrel on my bike ride Tuesday. I’m a softy with a fairly good front. 

But I digress as usual.

This past Monday was one of Those Days. I woke up emotionally charged. I was nervous about Elke taking her Canine Good Citizen test that night. For reasons I don’t understand I started blogging about Jesse, Winger and how they conspired to bring Artie into our lives. Maybe because I need to pick a birthday for Artie and I think he was born soon after Jesse died.
http://miaharted.blogspot.com/2012/07/a-cattledogs-gift-part-2.html
It’s fictional, of course, but I do wonder if there might be a spattering of inspired Truth somewhere in there. After hours of emotional writing, I had whipped myself in a bawling mess of tightly strung Me!

We get to class at L’Chaim Canine (www.lchaimcanine.com) and by now I’m a semi-controlled mess. I’m nervous and my Spousal Unit is patiently forbearing. Elke and Artie know where we were going and started whining in the car. All I can think is Artie might very well pass but Elke is going to have a really hard time. She is anxious already! What a great combo we four are.

Guess what? The test isn’t until NEXT week! Well, shoot, I’ve lathered myself into a frenzy for nothing. I feel the adrenaline beginning to drain out of me as we walk into the class room. There is a new person there, a nice fellow. Artie does bark, but he’s giving wiggling happy signals. Elke on the other hand, goes into total freak mode. She is in the corner of the room, growling andshrieking! Poor Clark, our other doggy classmate, a lovely Bull Mastiff has this “What the….who the….huh the….Duh?” expression on his big black mug. The guy, who is really nice, must wonder what in the world he’s gotten himself into now. I’m sure being a friend of Jen’s he’s used to Doggy Nutsville. Artie is starting to get upset because Elke is upset. I’m starting to gt upset and pissed that Artie is turning into a little jerk and I’m starting to yell at him, a big no-no in Positive Training. The whole thing is turning into a Mulligan Stew of semi-pandemonium. I am devastated!

Mary Ann, an instructor-in-training takes me outside. “Let’s work Artie on his meet-and-greets,” she says cheerfully. That goes fairly well but I am starting to get really anxious and teary eyed. I’m trying to suck it up and I just can’t. Suddenly visions of struggling dog classes at the Humane Society dance in my head. I abysmally failed those dogs, which is why I don’t go any more. The dogs I got never seemed to like me at all or they were indifferent to me. Wow, that’s was a real ego buster. I can’t even help a shelter dog. I really do suck. 

I can’t seem to take the pressure and now performance anxiety has kicked into high gear. I’m a sucky dog owner, a sucky dog volunteer. Who am I kidding? What was I thinking? 

Now the guilt hammers in. I’ve made my husband take me to these damn classes and it’s all for naught. He’s pissed at me because he doesn’t want to be there and I can’t blame him. I’m interfering with his biking. I hate not being able to drive. I hate missing out on stuff I want to do because I don’t drive. The whole thing sucks! This all happens in a matter of seconds, as I’m hearing a muted Elke voice from the inside of the training room, shrilly barking. 

My little girl dog, what IS wrong with her? What did we do to her? My sweet little dog is being an absolute a**hole! Her head is so far up her butt, it’s never coming out. I crack, physically and emotionally. My body folds to the ground and I start crying. Artie is confused. 

Thank heavens for Mary Ann and then Kelsey, another instructor. Between the two of them, they managed to get me calmed down. They both seemed to understand that I needed a back pat, must be the dog training thing! The guilt was still there. It’s there now, at this moment. Between Jen, Mary Ann and Kelsey, we did finish class. I felt bad for Clark and his owner. I’m sure she couldn’t wait to get the heck out of Dodge! 

I get that dog classes are a process. I vaguely recall this from the dim days of classes with Pat Piazza almost 2 decades ago. I need to recollect that Hart, my first cattledog, failed beginners twice. I am not a “natural” trainer. Clicking and treating is a co-ordination thing that I have yet to master. I’m still on the fence as to its efficacy. I believe that my Spousal Unit also doesn’t see it as “All Positive” either. It does go against Marine Corps Policy. 

But I do believe that dog classes are very important and these “Positive” folks are the best in town. You expect your kids to get an education so they go to school and graduate. Why not your dogs? I tend to think of my Dogs Past in their older years, when they were really good, well-behaved dogs. Jesse Ann passed her CGC test easily, even putting up with a very rude Golden who got in her face. True was a breeze too, but he had been a big time show dog. I forget that Winger was terrified of men when we got him but he did pass his test in Canada. But all that was at least 11 and more years ago. 

I guess I have to view next week’s class, which is when they’re actually giving the test, as a training exercise. It’s all training. It’s continuing education. I wish I could get over all the guilt.