New Testimonial -- Sam The Dog Trainer

"I was ready for a new dog. I visited the Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue website and after a lengthy application, a site visit, and a personal interview, they had a dog for me. When Grady first arrived, I wasn’t sure I should say Yes. He was hyperactive, pulled on the leash, seemed aloof, and definitely wasn’t into cuddling on the couch.


But then Sam Basso entered our lives. Sam was the best dog trainer we had ever worked with. We opted for the full monty. Sam would spend about three weeks at our house training not just the dog, but John and me as well. But about one week into training, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, and waiting until we were done with training was not an option. So after only one week of fairly basic stuff, we put dog training on hold, and got to work on my recovery. "

Wow.

Hey, go to Jenny's web page. Hope For Horses does horse rescue in the Seattle area.

Michael Vick - Where To Go From Here?

The path is clear for ex-National Football League quarterback Michael Vick to take snaps once again, with his reinstatement on a conditional basis today by league commissioner Roger Goodell.

As most dog activists know, Michael Vick went to prison for being involved with dog fighting and for inhumane treatment of his dogs. Now, he is out of prison and trying to get back to playing professional football. I hear from many dog activists that he should be banned from football and harassed for life for what he did. I disagree. I think once someone has paid their time in prison, it is time to give that person a chance to rebuild their lives. They have already paid their price to society. If not, then we should demand harsher sentences in the courts. However, this is what society has deemed sufficient punishment for what he was convicted of.

It's no longer our job to be judge and jury and jailer of this man. The sentence has been fulfilled.

And if you are so righteous in who you are, then let me ask you what you did about all of this? Morally, this is what you should have done regarding Michael Vick: you should have gone to him, or talked or corresponded with him. How is your shunning of this man going to make him a better man? Is your unending punishment any less cruel that what he did? And what price are you going to be willing to pay for the hardness of your hearts and the harm you are going to inflict on him. I say, it is time to move on. You had your chance to make a relationship with this man, and now you've blown that opportunity.

Here's what I use to judge your behavior towards him:

Matthew 25: 31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

The Helicopter

Some call it the helicopter. You hoist a dog off the ground by a choke chain and leash, then spin together. The airborne dog, revolving around you, fears for survival. North Tampa dog trainer Clarke Inghram uses the move to establish dominance, saying it subdues even the most hostile animal. But the American Humane Association and Association of Pet Dog Trainers have decried the practice as cruel. Inghram landed in Hillsborough County Court last year defending the maneuver after he used it on a Labrador. A judge found he did not violate animal cruelty ordinances. The complaint was one of several lodged against Inghram by Hillsborough County Animal Services, at odds with his Sit 'N Stay Dog Academy since April 2004, seven months after it opened. In the last five years, the department pursued animal cruelty charges on four occasions.

I believe the "helicopter" to be cruel and inhumane. I would not use a dog trainer that did this to dogs. And just because this court said it did not violate animal cruelty ordinances... well, let's just say that I don't think this would be the case in many cities around the country. I predict you'd be the one getting the helicopter treatment by the courts if you try this one yourself and get caught.

Leadership vs Teamwork

We talk a lot about leadership these days. And for many years, all of us, including myself, have studied how to be a leader. We not only talk about leadership, regarding people, we talk about leadership regarding dog training.

We are still living in the "Me" generation, when people think too much about themselves and what they want, how they are going to stand out from the rest, what they are going to do for themselves, and telling others what to do. That's not leadership. Parents spoil children by teaching them this kind of thinking, and lead them into all sorts of temptations and tribulations. Husbands neglect and hurt their wives, and wives disrespect and cheat on their husbands with this kind of thinking. Teachers bully or overindulge students with this kind of thinking, and students don't reach their potential. Managers wreck and politicize companies with this kind of thinking. Proper leadership requires team building and guidance. Not everyone on the team is the leader, and in productive teams they work together, not as a group of individuals all thinking of themselves as so-called leaders.

Selfish thinking destroys teams, businesses, relationships, marriages, and families. Selfish thinking is NOT leadership because it rebels against leadership, and prevents the very results that these people want out of their lives and need from the relationships they have... and they don't understand why.

People don't much understand what it means to be a leader, whether it is leading people or leading dogs. Here's my article on Being A Dog's Pack Leader. I'll have more to say on this, so stay tuned...

Your thoughts?

Man Or Dog?

THEY used to be man's best friend - but now it's single women whose lives have gone to the dogs. Australia's single women are turning their backs on men and opting for a much more loyal and reliable companion - a dog.

This is a sad commentary on the state of society, isn't it? I love dogs. Enjoy having them around. However, this mentality of treating dogs as people wrecks many dogs. There have been untold numbers of dogs given up to shelters or put down because they were spoiled (treated as humans) and had become behavioral messes.

Relationships with people require practicing the Golden Rule, and many people just don't have it in them to do that, and would be better off if they never got married in the first place. I have learned it takes consistent practice of good character to be in a healthy relationship: sacrifice, teamwork, love, commitment, forgiveness, integrity, drive, faithfulness, doing the right thing, helpfulness, respect, effort, having a higher purpose than yourself, putting the marriage first, selflessness yet being true to yourself, etc. Good relationship with your dog also requires a lot of love and effort, yet also an understanding that dogs are just animals and not furry little babies. Likewise, a good relationship with your dog requires a lot of personal commitment and good character, and many people don't have it in them to do that, and would be better off if they never got a dog at all.

A dog is no substitute for a spouse. A dog is no substitute for a child. And if you treat your spouse like a dog, then all you'll end up with is an empty home and your dog.

PetSmart Considering New Business Model

PetSmart Inc., the largest U.S. pet- store chain, is considering expansion into in-home services including dog walking, backyard clean-up and aquarium set-up to distinguish itself from retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. PetSmart currently offers grooming, training and kenneling at many of its 1,137 stores, he said. “In-home services are a big opportunity, but we have a lot of work to do before we determine how to make that work,” Moran said in a July 15 telephone interview. “It becomes a competitive advantage if we can break the code on how to provide that.” Wal-Mart is targeting the $45.4 billion market for pet goods, putting pressure on PetSmart as shoppers consolidate buying trips, according to David Strasser, an analyst with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC. Wal-Mart competes in about 20 percent of the items carried by PetSmart, he said in a report last month.

Interesting. But, I don't think they can make this strategy profitable. The article indicates, indirectly, that PetSmart is having trouble going head-to-head with Wal-Mart because consumers are increasingly cost conscious because of commuting costs. These things, like dog walking and backyard cleanup are low margin businesses. I have other ideas, but hey, no one is asking (or paying) for my advice.

Leonberger

The German breed has webbed feet. A Leonberg councilman gave the dogs to royalty in the 19th century to promote the town and his new breed. After World War I, 30 Leonbergers were tracked down and a breeding program was started with six males and six females.

If I was looking to get a giant breed of dog for a family situation, this is one of the first dogs I'd be looking at. This is the most amazing breed! Great with kids, natural guard but good with people, likes to swim, affectionate, etc. I was totally impressed with this breed the first time I saw them at a rare breed dog show about a decade ago. I don't praise breeds all that much, but this is one that made a very good impression. Obviously, you want to choose a good breeder, and at my web page, www.SamTheDogTrainer.com, I have suggestions on how to screen breeders. But, combine a good breeder with this breed, and you are going to be mighty happy!

All Pet Airline? Stay Tuned...

Binder and Wiesel used their consulting backgrounds and business savvy to start Pet Airways in 2005. The last four years have been spent designing their fleet of five planes according to new four-legged requirements, dealing with FAA regulations and setting up airport schedules. The two say they're overwhelmed with the response. Flights on Pet Airways are already booked up for the next two months. Pet Airways will fly a pet between five major cities—New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. The $250 one-way fare is comparable to pet fees at the largest U.S. airlines.

Keep an eye on this one. Airlines are typically meant to fly people not pets, and that's why I avoid flying dogs if at all possible. This new airline might just fit the bill. Do you have any experience with Pet Airways and what is your opinion of them (please be polite and factual).

Criminal Charges? That's Criminal!

Corky and Koo-Boosh are the convicted law breakers, but it's northeast Phoenix homeowner Renee Maurer who was criminally charged for her two vocal dogs. Maurer's predicament mirrors similar barking-dog conflicts across the Valley: Anxious or lonely dogs bark incessantly, causing tempers to flare and neighbors to use city noise ordinances.

This is another example of a silly, overkill dog law. Dog barking violations shouldn't be prosecuted criminally. Sorry. That's a miscarriage of justice and abuse of police powers. There are huge issues here, including Constitutional problems with this kind of thing. Someday, Phoenix will be the one sued... and they will lose... a LOT of money. In the meantime, control your barking dog and move out to the suburbs.

Ozzy Osbourne's Dog Eaten By Coyote

ROCKER Ozzy Osbourne's favourite pet dog has been eaten by a coyote inside the grounds of his mansion in Los Angeles. The Osbournes now have 18 dogs at their sprawling home. Mrs Osbourne is a regular at the Los Angeles stray dog home and often gives homeless dogs a new home.

Really too bad. Many people underestimate the cunning and ferocity of wild animals. They think their pets can escape, or fight back... and they can't. I've always figured Ozzy's a good guy. Really sorry this happened.

Aggressive Puggle

I keep hearing from people who have aggressive Puggles (Pug / Beagle mix bred dog). This confirms what I predicted a couple of years ago regarding this new breed. People are buying this designer dog not considering the training needs of the dog, and making tons of mistakes. It's not the dog's fault! If you are having problems, or better yet want to prevent problems, then you need to hire a professional trainer. Simple as that.

I've met a number of very nice Puggles. It's not the breed, it's the unrealistic expectations of new dog owners, and them not hiring a professional to help them as problems arise.