Is This What Government Is For?

Now the Government wants competence tests before you can be a dog owner.

When is this going to STOP?!!! Government like this is tyranny.

Operant Conditioning Fails Again

A lot of dog trainers have been watching the SeaWorld story (killer whale kills trainer) with interest. There has been a raging argument within the training world regarding the efficacy of so-called "purely positive", "cruelty free", training, focusing on operant conditioning and clickers. I have stated again and again that the theory of operant conditioning is obsolete, a truncated, limited, myopic view of behavior. And this incident proves it once again. Training animals is more than something as simple as putting a quarter in the machine and getting your candy bar.

I work with dangerous dogs on a regular basis. Many are treated quite well, and still end up dangerous. Why is that? I know, and so do a lot of more common sense trainers.

New Breeds Joining AKC

They are the Leonberger, the Boykin spaniel, Icelandic sheepdog, Redbone and Blue Tick coonhounds and the Cane Corso.

Cool stuff. Except for the Leonberger, these aren't "new" breeds at all... some are pretty well established, just not very well known.

Ban Dogs Or Banish Criminals?

Gang members 'used ferocious dogs to attack four teenagers before stabbing a boy to death'.

Gang members used dogs and weapons to kill. They wouldn't be having these kinds of problems if they'd legalize guns and self defense in Britain, and start putting these losers away for life instead of cushy prison sentences. You can bet the dogs will be sentenced to death and the criminals will be out in a couple of years to kill again. This was animal abuse by these thugs.

Man Fed Kittens To Pit Bull & Filmed It

A man has been jailed for tearing the head off a kitten in front of his family. Te Ahu Aaron Mankelow, 31, pleaded guilty to five charges of wilful cruelty to animals after he recorded himself on a cellphone tipping out five kittens from a box for his dog, and urging his dog to eat them.

Go To Jail, you bastard

One More Reason To Hate Venezuela

They have banned pit bulls. The new law excluded banning animal sacrifice for religious purposes; there has been a huge increase in animal sacrifice because of religions such as Santeria.

Dog Bans Don't Work, But Politicians Keep Trying

Vicious dog breeds could be subject to an import ban and neutering policy in order to wipe them out in Denmark. The fourteen breeds considered dangerous by the committee include: Pit Bull Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentine, Tosa Inu, Boerboel, Kangal, the Central Asian, Caucaisna and South Russian varieties of Ovcharka, Tornjak and Sarplaninac.

There is a reason why there is a Bill of Rights amending the US Constitution... because government always keeps trying to accumulate more power over individuals over time. The Soviet Union had laws against pretty much everything. Same with North Korea today. Would you want to live in a place like that? More laws don't make a better society. Dog breed bans do not make the public safer, just like gun bans don't make the public safer. They have dangerous dog bans and gun bans in England. Has that made England safer? No. London is a mad house these days. It is illegal to defend yourself, and you are more likely to end up dead or in prison if you do defend yourself or someone else there. They've turned into a country of pussies.

You Can't Train A Dog By Watching TV

I have had to tell a number of students to STOP WATCHING THE DOG WHISPERER, Cesar Millan. They are trying to do what he does and are messing up their dogs and worsening their dog's problems.

You can't become a dog trainer or behaviorist just by watching his show.

Weird Dog Behaviors

I've been aware, from the beginning, that many strange dog behaviors have a genetic component. I find it sad that there are quick buck artists out there that claim they can fix any dog's behavioral problems. They can't. Maybe you can manage the problems, but you can't "cure" what can't be cured. I saw a dog trainer's vehicle recently with a sign that said they "guaranteed" they could solve any behavioral problem... what does that say about either their "expertise" or their ethics?

Here's a good example:

Dogs suffering under canine compulsive disorders have issues with common behaviors such as grooming, tail chasing, blanket sucking or pacing and circling... scientists discovered that the canine chromosome 7 location within the neural cadherin-2 gene, or CDH2, confers a high risk of susceptibility to the disorder.

Read an excerpt of the actual study results.

So, what do you do if your dog does some strange stuff? Ask an expert... but be sure to ask the right person, otherwise your dog will suffer and so will your wallet.

Start Training!

You ARE planning on training that new pup of yours, right? Delaying the training of a pup just gives the dog more time to develop bad habits and behaviors, and increases the chances the dog will be given away to a shelter.

Some Benchmarks:

You should start house training and puppy manners lessons from 8 weeks of age.
Socialization should start the day you bring your puppy home... with other animals and with a variety of people and situations.
By 4 months of age, the pup should be already on track with the house training.
No later than 4 months of age, you should enroll your dog in obedience classes.
By 6 months of age, your dog should not be peeing or pooping in the home, and should go potty on command. Your pup should be pretty well mannered, and good with guests. Your pup should be regularly playing with other friendly dogs on a weekly basis. Your dog should know how to walk on a leash without pulling. Your dog should be able to Sit Stay, Down Stay, Come when called, and Heel... on and off leash in moderately distracting environments.
By 2 years of age, your dog should be able to obey you within 100 yards, off leash, with distractions, be good with other dogs and people, completely trustworthy in the home (no accidents and no destructive behaviors).

Is your pup on track?

Nanny State Strikes Back

Dogs that "without provocation" chase any animal — be it a rat, squirrel, seagull, bear or cougar — would violate a dog licensing and control amendment bylaw that passed three readings at the Dec. 16 council meeting.

Isn't this absolutely RIDICULOUS? This is why I'm for limited government and citizen legislators. Government has NO BUSINESS meddling in our lives to this degree.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone (including your dogs)! Please, have a ton of fun today, be careful with your pets, and get ready for the coming New Year!

Dogs are going to become more politicized in the future. Dogs are now targets of the socialists. Dogs are targets of the Nanny State because they seem to represent the "rich", they represent "carbon pollution"... since they eat and they have gas and they poop, and everyone needs to be protected from being a human being and from nature. But, let's not sweat that stuff today. We'll fight that after the holidays, OK?

Adopt A Dog For Christmas

The shelters are full of adoptable dogs this Christmas season. I have recently reversed my position on getting a dog for Christmas... I now believe it is better to get a dog and save a life, and enrich your home, than to be overly concerned about yourself. In fact, get 2 dogs. Dogs are happiest in groups, and even though it is a bit more work owning 2 dogs vs. 1, your dogs will appreciate the fun and companionship.

So, you don't know what to get the family for Christmas? Get a dog.

Here are some things to consider regarding what to look for in the dog, purebred or mixed, you are considering.

Thanks For Nothing, Paris Hilton

California has more Chihuahuas than it can handle, and experts say Hollywood is to blame. Chihuahuas make up 30 percent - or more - of the dog populations at many California animal shelters. There's suspicion that fans took to the tiny breed to imitate Chihuahua-toting celebrities like Paris Hilton and Miley Cyrus. People then apparently change their minds.

I'm always against "fad" dogs. I was very concerned that the Puggle would end up swamping shelters. It could still happen.

Why I Don't Believe In Clicker Training (Updated)

Clicker Training is based upon an OBSOLETE theory of behavior called “operant conditioning”. This might sound controversial, since clicker training is promoted as a “new” way to train dogs. However, operant conditioning is based upon the concept that all that matters is what an organism does in response to certain stimuli, primarily discrete consequences that happen outside in the animal’s environment. It ignores other valid research regarding the internal motivations, feelings and conscious experiences of the subject, in this case, the dog.

I periodically update my articles. This is the latest version on this topic.

Fire These Busybodies

PET owners could be punished for not walking their dogs... Under the legislation, they would have to regularly exercise dogs, ensure animals are not kept chained up and give their pets adequate food and water. If the proposal becomes law, dog and cat owners across Australia would face prosecution, fines of up to $12,000 fines for animal cruelty and magistrates could consider jail in extreme circumstances.

Is this what we hire politicians to do? Does the state have the right to tell you what to do in every way, down to the smallest detail? This is tyranny. It is obscene.

Pet Friendly Landlords Make More Money!

How to attract good tenants?

Allow pets. Many property management companies will no longer permit pets. Being pet-friendly can set you apart and attract more potential tenants to you. (Hat Tip: Trump Blog).

I'm surprised at the number of landlords that refuse pets. It's stupid. Pet owners will pay extra to have a place that is pet friendly. Pet owners typically average higher incomes than those without pets. Pet owners have more of a stake in where they live than those who don't (and can therefore more easily pack up and leave). The same is true for hotels, by the way. Hotels could make a lot more money if they allowed pets. Many hotels have become pet friendly, but many are not. In this economy, I can't imagine turning away good money.

Dogs & Fitness

Dog owners get more exercise walking their pet than someone with a gym membership, researchers have found. On average they exercise the animal twice a day for 24 minutes each time - a total of five hours and 38 minutes a week, a study for the pet healthcare experts Bob Martin found. On top of that, the average owner takes their dog out on three long walks each week, adding a further two hours and 33 minutes to the total. Those without a dog spend an average of just one hour and 20 minutes a week exercising by going to the gym or heading out for a stroll or jog. Worse still, almost half - 47 per cent - of non-pet owners admit they do absolutely no exercise whatsoever.

One of the original reasons I got my first dog was the idea that having a dog would keep me in shape. With my first dog, I walked at least a mile a day for nearly 10 years, most of that on some pretty steep hills in the suburbs of Seattle, WA. I never wanted to be out of shape. I have worked hard to stay fit. Blame it on the dogs!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Be CAREFUL with your guests & pets today!

Save Two Dogs

I am reversing my previous stance on adopting pets for holidays. With the economy being wrecked by government bungling, a lot of people have lost their homes and jobs. Dogs have filled the shelters, and are being killed in unbelievable numbers. Normally, I have been against people adopting dogs for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, as birthday presents, Easter, etc. I have mainly been against it because so many dogs are purchased from breeders as impulse purchases, and then 90 days after the holiday, the dogs are dropped off at the shelters. This time, the situation is reversed. There are too many dogs dying in shelters, and I'm encouraging people to adopt 2 dogs for the holidays. Most people will keep the dogs they adopt, and thus it is more humane to save these dogs than let so many die as a result of this terrible economy.

So, this year... please, adopt a dog for the holidays. Save a dog. Better yet, save two. Dogs are pack animals, and they do better in groups than alone. I have other tips here and at my web page, www.SamTheDogTrainer.com, on how to select the right dog for your home.

Save a dog. Save two.