Northglenn CO To Seize Pets If More Than Four

"A Colorado city plans to seize residents' pet cats and dogs in a bid to limit the number of animals allowed in households. On August 1, pet owners in Northglenn - about 40 minutes outside of Denver - will not be allowed to have more than four cats, dogs, or a combination of the two 'totaling no more than four.'"

What a bag of idiots. Colorado is going the route of animal bans again; just like Denver rounded up pitbulls 20 something years ago and slaughtered many innocent dogs. 

I'd move. 

Plan accordingly. 

The Backyard Dog

It is shameful to have a backyard dog that is never played with, socialized, trained, given a toy, given a chance at a normal life. Many lack adequate shelter, medical care, cleanliness and grooming. 

Most likely, there is at least one in your neighborhood. Usually this situation isn't illegal, but it is immoral. 

Something is wrong with the owners of such dogs. 

I would not be friends with such a person.

Plan accordingly. 

Dog Training And Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Twenty something years ago, I joined a Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy (dojo). It was a bit intimidating that first time, not knowing what to expect... (MORE) 

Being Your Dog's Leader

In my opinion, the "be your dog's leader/ alpha" thing in dog training has done more to hold back pet dog training than any other recent phenomenon over the past 20 years or so. 

Instead of figuring out the dog, the mantras just were implemented to bully dogs into inaction. 

The second worst thing is the germination of all these internet dog gurus, promoting discredited theories, and inventing their own, just to mass market their programs for money. 

Plan accordingly. 

Does Dog Breed Matter?

One of the latest claims is that there are few differences that matter between breeds.

Clearly, this is said by people who don't train dogs of various breeds. 

It is just another ignorant assertion floating around the internet. 

Dog differences are more than just physical. 

Note the people who say this and the types of dogs they own, and their background in working with dogs of the various breeds. We could test their assertions by putting them with each of the various breed types and see how things went... but we know they would never take up that challenge. 

Don't be fooled and don't spread this nonsense. It harms dogs by matching innocent dogs with the wrong owners. Dog ownership is more than a beauty contest.

Plan accordingly.

Is It OK To Play Fetch With Your Dog Every Day?

Is Fetch a harmful activity for a dog? 

No. 

Prey runs away (the stimulus), dog chases, and "kills" it. That is what predators do, every day, all over the world. When we use a dummy, such as a ball, to many dogs they perceive that just as if it was a prey animal trying to escape. 

Prey drive stimulation, and the obtaining of that prey by the dog, is the basis for most of what is done when training hunting, competition, scent detection, police and military dogs. It should also be the basis for companion dog obedience. These dogs don't become neurotic as a result. In fact, the propensity to Fetch is one of the criteria many breeders enhance in their lines to make their dogs even more useful for their owners. 

When might Fetch be harmful, or maybe a nuisance? 

It could be harmful if you do it in such a way that your dog is injured. I had a dog that ran so fast to get the ball I had to be careful how far I tossed the toy so that he didn't slip and fall on wet grass. That wasn't the fault of Fetch, it was a physical safety thing. Same with tossing him a Frisbee. Dogs look amazing when they jump high in the air to get it, but they can torque their backs if they land in a twisted manner. Again, that isn't a Fetch problem, it is a physical safety thing. Other issues can be what you use as a Fetch object. Sticks are dangerous. Dirty tennis balls can wear the teeth down over time. Very hard toys can chip a tooth. 

The nuisance part happens this way. I can relate. Years ago, I had a student with a Golden Retriever. He would sit in his chair with a Chuck It and toss a ball out the back door all day while he sat in a chair. If he stopped, the dog wouldn't stop because that was the only thing they did together. All the toys on the floor were balls. I had him pick up the balls and had him get some chew toys for when the Fetch was over. He had made the dog a total pest. All he had to do is create a clear break between activities: this is Fetch time, then, Fetch time is over, I'm putting away that toy, and I have to do something else. Simple. This wasn't a Fetch problem, it was that the dog didn't do anything else with his owner except Fetch.

So... go ahead and Fetch with your dog. 

Plan accordingly.