Are you a TWIT?

WE'VE had WAGS, yuppies and metrosexuals; now meet our newest social phenomenon, TWITs. The TWITs are "Teenage Women In Their Thirties". Just like men with Peter Pan-syndrome who are not ready to grow up, TWITs are putting serious relationships and parenthood on hold, instead choosing to continue partying and enjoying the freedoms they discovered in their teens.

Isn't that pathetic? Another result of the "Me Generation". Let's call them what they are: selfish flakes. At one time we valued virtue, honor, maturity, hard work, being responsible, and so forth. Now, we see this phenomenon where it is OK to be a loser. Your behaviors AREN'T special and wonderful when you accept being a quitter, irresponsible, lazy, have an inflated self worth based on nothing, and thinking you are entitled to anything good in life. The real world is a meritocracy.

I've met women who were Twits, who were also raising their daughters to be Twits. And they are all a mess. And woe to the men who get involved with Twits, because they will be left holding the bag for this woman's problems. The excuse given by Twits is "If I found the right man I would settle down and have kids, but I am not going to sit around at home waiting." Yeah, right. If you weren't responsible before the guy met you, then you aren't going to be that after you are married and have kids. You'll still choose to be a flake because you don't have your values in the right place. What character trait do you feel it is OK to eliminate in a friend, spouse, wife, girlfriend, or daughter? What character traits do you feel are unnecessary to a successful life? Honesty, faithfulness, diligence, perseverance, courage, ability to be a team player, ability to be a leader, loving, responsibility, self respect, honor, resilience, etc.? Why would someone willingly sabotage their lives by reverting to acting like a child when they are an adult?

If you were a TWIT, and in a moment of reflection, asked me what I'd recommend, I'd say to you that I expect better of you, that you are better than this, and that this kind of selfish lifestyle leads to a very unhappy life.

A good life is made, not handed to you. It requires a solid work ethic, which takes years and years to hone and develop.

Flaky people abound in this modern world. In the old days, you couldn't be a flake because it was survival of the fittest. You either worked and made a life or you starved out.

How does this relate to dog ownership? It relates because flakes shouldn't get a dog or be made responsible over a dog. I wouldn't sell or give a dog to a flake. And I wouldn't let a flake take care of my dog. And I wouldn't marry someone who was a flake if I had a dog, because those selfish desires would not only ultimately tank the relationship, the dog might then end up with no home once the divorce was over and the money had been all consumed fulfilling the selfish desires of this Twit.

There are good and responsible women out there. Women of character. Let's hold these women in high esteem, because they've earned it. Character is the will in action. Good character takes continuous effort and is a choice to be responsible. Bad character takes no effort at all, and is a choice to be irresponsible.

Just my humble opinion.

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.

The Kids Should Go To Jail... But, What About The Dog?

Four children between the ages of 11 and 15 used a pit bull to attack two women in SeaTac on Sunday evening after one of the victims questioned the group's treatment of the dog.

There's something seriously wrong with a bunch of kids that would command a dog to attack an innocent woman. These aren't "children", they are thugs! These fools, if convicted, should go to jail of some sort, and be forced to do counseling and community service. But, what of the dog? It is now being held by Animal Control. The dog was being abused, was taunted by the kids to the point it was ready to attack, and then it bit an innocent person. The dog is innocent, and unless the dog has been wrecked by abuse and is now vicious, it should be given to a good home. We'll see what the courts do with this dog.

Dog & Cat Bites

Dog and cat bites make up about 1 percent of emergency room visits in the United States.

Some facts presented in the journal:

* Women and the elderly are most at risk of being bitten by a cat.
* Men in general and those aged under 20 of both sexes are most likely to be injured.
* Most bite exposures occur in young children, involve unrestrained dogs on the owner's property, and about 20 percent involve a non-neutered dog.
* Risk is highest in young boys aged 5 to 9 years, due to their small size and lack of understanding of provocative behavior.

Severe infections can occur in about 20 percent of all cases, the researchers state, and are caused by Pasteurella, Streptococcus, Fusobacterium, and Capnocytophaga bacteria from the animal's mouth, plus possibly other pathogens from the human's skin.

In other words... don't do things that will cause an animal to bite you. or someone else Too often we blame the animal, when instead, we should look at what we are doing to the animal.

Three Dog Rule At Off Leash Parks?

Six months after the city passed a law limiting each person to three dogs at its nine off-leash dog parks, scores of dog walkers far exceed their legal mutt max.

How many dogs should you be allowed to take to an off leash park at any one time? I think this is an interesting question. I think this is a question that must balance freedom, reasonableness and legal liability. The freedom argument would say that you'd be able to do whatever you wanted to, wherever you wanted to. For the most part, I'm a live and let live kind of guy: be responsible and take care of your own business so it doesn't affect others, and leave me alone so I can do my life. Then again, I'm an experience dog trainer and behaviorist. I have worked as head trainer at a doggie daycare, and at a certain point, you get to the point where you need a reasonable dog handler-to-dogs ratio in order to ensure the safety of the dogs. In daycare for kids, you need a certain number of supervising adults per child. There isn't any similar kind of regulation for doggie daycares or kennels, but common sense tells you that at some point, one individual can't supervise an unlimited amount of dogs. I have seen a number of homes with 5 or more dogs, and the management of the dogs gets pretty difficult at that point. I can't imagine taking 32 dogs, from different homes, to an off leash park. Lastly, there is the issue of liability. The more dogs you have to supervise, the more potential that something could go wrong in an unregulated environment. I think that the 3 dog per handler rule is a good balance. I am of the opinion that these dog walkers are using the off leash parks as a kind of doggie daycare, where they get use of the premises for free, and are transfering most of the cost and risk to the public. It is therefore unreasonable and isn't what these parks were created for.

BEING A DOG’S PACK LEADER

I’ve seen, heard and read a lot written about being the pack leader of your dog.

Most of popular dog training literature is wrong on leadership.

Memorial Day

Fort MacArthur: The facility is where the first military dogs were trained nearly 70 years ago. "This is a fitting tribute," Acosta said. "These dogs deserve it. They contributed to people who wanted to serve their country." Ayana estimated that 100,000 men and women owe their lives to the dogs, which were used as sentries, bomb sniffers, booby-trap finders and scouts. "If a scout dog didn't catch a trip wire, the dog and the handler both blew up. They saved GIs that were left in battle. Those dogs found them."

For those who died,
For those who fight,
And for our country:
NEVER Forget 9/11

SHE Was Surprised?

A Texas mother of twins got the shock of her life when doctors revealed that her 11-month-old boys do not have the same father.

What about the shock of the father? She knew what the heck she was doing.

This happens with street dogs all the time. Oh, I'm talking about the canine type...

Is the Dog-o-Matic an owner's best friend?

I think this is animal cruelty. This is an automated dog washing machine. If you look at the dog in the photo, it is clearly afraid. I think this device should be outlawed.

Good Decision

A 4-year-old girl was transported to a local hospital after she was bitten by a dog Sunday night in south Phoenix. According to the dog's owners, the girl was in her own backyard when she stuck her arm through the fence and the dog, a rottweiler-pit bull mix, bit her. The dog's owners told ABC15 News that they have children and they've never had problems in the past. They also said that they've had problems with their neighbor's children taunting the dog in the past. Police said they do not plan to issue citations to the dog's owners.

Amazing. Many times, the owners are still charged with a crime and the dog is put down. At some point, people, regardless of their ages, have to be responsible for what they do. And parents have to be responsible for what their kids do, and live with the consequences. I am not happy that a kid got bitten, however. This wouldn't happen in an ideal world, but we don't live in an ideal world.

Foods Dogs Shouldn't Eat

Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for Veterinary Pet Insurance Co., recommends that pets stay away from the following edible items that are toxic to them: chocolate, grapes and raisins, walnuts, onions, mushrooms and macadamia nuts. For a complete list, go to the American Animal Hospital Association Web site, www.healthypet.com, and search for "prevent poisoning."

Every dog owner should know these things... and I also recommend every dog owner should have a dog first aid book to treat their dogs in cases of emergency poisoning.

Puppy Mill Legislation

A SPATE of law-enforcement raids on local dog breeders in January uncovered horrific conditions as well as the news that Washington had no statewide law to crack down on puppy mills. State lawmakers corrected this oversight with a strong bill passed by the Legislature this week. The bill prohibits breeders from possessing more than 50 non-neutered dogs older than 6 months at one time. It sets standards for kennel size, exercise and sanitary conditions. The bill's language is a clarion call for basic humane treatment of dogs. Breeders will have to provide clean food and water, keep cages clean and allow dogs to leave their cages for at least an hour a day. Violators could be charged with a gross misdemeanor.

Even though I prefer no legislation of this type, it is probably inevitable that this kind of law would be proposed. The problem is that once it becomes law, then it will, over time, be amended. And amendments are always more and more restrictive. The number of dogs allowed will be reduced, the standards will get tighter and tighter. And eventually, dog breeding will become pretty much illegal.

Hmmm... Not Sure On This One

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to take up an unusual free-speech case to decide whether the government can make it a crime to sell or own videos portraying dog fighting or other acts of animal cruelty.

I have a problem with these types of laws. Yes, I know they are used to fight child pornography... But, I'm not too happy with restrictions of free speech. I guess it matters what the courts and legislatures will consider animal cruelty. Is a vet cropping dog ears, tails or dewclaws engaging in animal cruelty? In some countries, the law says 'yes'. Is dog training with a chain or prong collar animal cruelty? In some places, the law says 'yes'. Is putting a dog in an airline crate animal cruelty? Possibly. Some cities are passing laws defining the enclosure sizes for animals. So, a lot of the criteria for 'animal cruelty' is pretty arbitrary, and when we are talking about penalties that might include prison, I'm not happy with these types of laws.

Arizona Dog Owners - Be Responsible!

YUMA, Ariz. - The Imperial County Sheriff's Office plans to pursue charges against the owner of the pack of dogs that fatally mauled a man last month near the California-Arizona border.

Look, you need to properly contain and supervise your dogs. There is no more 'one free bite' rule anywhere. There are times when a dog bite is justified, such as if the dog is being teased or the owner is being attacked by a criminal... but otherwise, you are in trouble if your dog bites someone. It is more important than ever these days to properly socialize, train, supervise and manage your dogs.

Celebrity Dog News

Paris Hilton got another dog... a Pomeranian for (reportedly) $10,000!!!

Britney Spears has a private dog washer...

Do you see why I don't do many celebrity dog stories? Boring...

Breeder Received Death Threats Over Joe Biden's Dog??!!

In a remarkable story, the breeder who sold Joe Biden a German Shepherd puppy describes receiving death threats and being harassed by government officials once the public learned of Biden’s purchase. (Apparently Biden has received threats too.)

I hadn't heard this before. Can't people just mind their own business?

Obama's Dog... Purebred or Rescue?

Is Bo a rescued dog or not? Did President Obama keep or break a campaign promise in picking the purebred as the family's new pet?

Who cares? The guy is President of the US. There are bigger issues to be concerned about. The only thing that would give me ulcers would be if he hated dogs... and he doesn't.

Move along...

Need New Procedures

Two medics are being investigated after giving a dying dog painkillers as he sat unable to move in the middle of a street, his owner refusing to leave his side.

I understand why an investigation is warranted. Civilized societies are managed by laws. On the other hand, there is right and wrong, and there isn't always a law to deal with every situation. The medics did the right thing.

Urinating Dog Triggers Multiple Murders

Three Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, police officers were shot to death while responding to a 911 call of a domestic argument triggered by a urinating dog.

This story causes me to ponder a couple of thoughts.

First, it is always best to find ways of not getting in direct strife with people. Direct confrontation leads to hurt feelings, anger, and creates enemies... so it should be used sparingly and for true enemies where you have to defeat and destroy them. We are all guilty of provoking others to strife. We get upset and we go after the other person, or we goad them and goad them until they blow up, or we ignore what is going on with them and don't really bother to find out how they are doing inside. As the old proverb says, "The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with." Tact, patience, planning, forgiveness, timing, thoughtfulness, consideration of others... love... all take maturity and self control. People are mostly self centered, thinking of themselves and what they want. They don't consider the other person. I'm convinced that the one thing you'll never really get in any sincere quantity or quality from others is gratitude for what you've done or first consideration of what you need over what the other person wants. And you'll always be thinking of yourself before you think of others. The more self absorbed you are, and the more self absorbed the people around you, the more likely for strife and hurt feelings. Yes, you might be mad that the dog urinated in the home. But, maybe the dog needs training. Maybe the dog's owner needs help. Maybe instead of complaining, you get in there and give the other person a helping hand when they are down.

Second, many people have never been taught to exercise self control. You can influence, and even greatly control, how good or bad you feel and what you are going to focus on. Is the glass half empty or half full? Are you a quitter or a winner? Do you get up again after being knocked down, or are you a loser? I have learned a lot about emotional control from a variety of sources. You learn it if you have to be a salesperson. Your attitude will definitely control whether you make money or not. You learn it if you have to be in business for yourself. There are a lot of people out there who will try to knock you down. You'll learn it if you get married. The hardest things to do when married are to keep putting your best foot forward every day, sharing sacrifice, showing your spouse esteem and preference, supporting them, and not getting in strife. I think the traditional marriage vows are a terrific example of the choices we have to make in order to have a successful marriage: "Do you ___ take ____ to be your husband /wife – to live together after God’s ordinance – in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him / her, comfort him / her, honor and keep him / her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, to cherish and continually bestow upon him / her your heart’s deepest devotion, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her as long as you both shall live?" Those are all choices about what you are going to do and how you are going to manage how you feel. Spiritual books, self help books, business motivational seminars, and so forth all deal with managing how we feel. When you get down, get distressed... you don't get a gun and start shooting people. Instead, you need to draw upon the character lessons of life, talk to friends, do the right thing regardless of how you feel, and get professional help if necessary.

This Is Good...

A northwest Ohio legislator says her proposal to remove pit bulls from the definition of a vicious dog under state law is a housekeeping item — one a county dog warden says would be a bad move. State Rep. Barbara Sears, a Republican from Lucas County, recently introduced House Bill 79 — a measure that would remove pit bulls from the definition of vicious dog in state law. Sears said she decided to offer the bill because she felt it unfairly categorized pit bulls as vicious without just cause in many cases.

Hopefully, this bill passes. Dogs shouldn't be deemed vicious purely because of breed. Viciousness isn't a trait that can be bred into a dog. And oftentimes what a novice considers vicious is just a dog doing a normal behavior in a situation where the dog has no other choice but to threaten or bite.

Dog Ate My Homework... Or Something Like That

The two year-old greater Swiss mountain dog gobbled up $400 in cash that his owner Kelley Davis had been saving up to deposit--in the bank.

I know of a Dalmatian that ate a stack of $100 bills off its owner's dresser. Best not to leave money out with a dog that is a destructive chewer.

Government Meddling... Again

MANTECA - An ordinance requiring all dogs be spayed or neutered by the time they are 6 months old will come before the City Council at its meeting Tuesday night. It is an expansion of a similar ordinance that pertains only to pit bull breed dogs that was passed by the council in September.

Why is this legal?

Dog Bite Saves Owner!

A man who broke into a Hempfield Township mobile home late Friday night was foiled when a woman and her dog fought back.

These stories happen over and over again. Dogs are a great deterrent to crime, and can even save your life.

Michael Vick Update

The Falcons quarterback (yes, he's still under contract to Atlanta) has been approved for home confinement that would begin May 21 and go through July 20, when he will have finished his sentence on a conviction stemming from an illegal dog-fighting operation.

Medical Experimentation on Dogs?

Students practiced life-saving procedures by cutting open live, anesthetized dogs; later, the dogs were killed, the group said.

I am not opposed to using animals for medical research... however... I do believe in minimizing the use of animals and only doing it as a last resort. When alternatives are readily available, then we should use those alternatives. I know this is a very emotional issue, and easy to side with those who would say that no experimentation should be allowed.

To me, it's kind of like the drug legalization debate. It's fine to argue for the legalization of intoxicating drugs... until one of your close friends or family is either killed or injured or mentally damaged... then it isn't so easy to sit back and say these things. Same with experimentation on animals... easy to support the banning of these procedures... however, it's not so easy when maybe we are talking about saving the lives of people you love. You can't have new doctors experimenting on children or adults to learn how to treat diseases or injuries, can you?

What are your thoughts?

Sickening

A Forest Grove man who buried his daughter's dog alive was sentenced Tuesday to 120 days in jail on one count of misdemeanor animal abuse. Hyrum Long, 75, said he was trying to euthanize the dog last October when he hit it on the head with a hammer and buried it up to its neck. Police were called to Long's home in the 2200 block of Laurel Street last October after neighbors heard the dog, a yellow Labrador named Molly, barking and whimpering in the backyard. They found Molly buried up to her neck and bleeding, unable to move. Long said the dog was sick, and since he could not afford a veterinarian, he struck her head with a hammer and dug a grave for her. Then he went to dinner with his daughter.

How could someone do this kind of thing?

TWO police officers caught on video beating their dogs have been allowed to keep their jobs in North Wales.

Shouldn't we expect police officers to show the highest level of character? I have a great deal of respect for the police. But, they lose the respect of the community when this kind of thing happens.

City Council Does The Right Thing

South Portland City Council members unanimously voted to allow dogs on Willard Beach -- with conditions -- despite disagreeing on the issue. Some council members voted for the bill, that will allow dogs on the beach from 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., despite their disliking the ordinance.

Dog haters don't want dogs anywhere. You have to fight back, and when you do, you will win. The public understands and loves dogs. Politicians and bureaucrats need to remember that... be dog friendly or lose your job.

Superbowl!

Hey, be careful with the pooches during the Superbowl. Dogs can escape, be poisoned, abused, or otherwise harmed. Keep an eye on them!

Some Dog Bites Are Justified...

A Boston terrier stopped a rape attempt by biting a Florida woman's attacker... a 46-year-old woman allowed a man inside her apartment after he said he was a repairman. Once inside, however, the man attacked her. Her female dog then bit the man on the shoulder, and he fled the apartment.

Criminal Animal Neglect?

The Humane Society of Northwest Indiana is investigating... a woman in Gary who wanted them to pick up her dead dog, who had frozen to death on Thursday night. Clayton found the snow-covered dog curled up in the fetal position inside its dog house -- less than 10 feet from the back of the house -- and it was chained to a tree. The dog house wasn't much more than a wire crate covered on all sides with thin paneling boards... The temperatures on Jan. 15 was minus 11 degrees, with a wind chill of minus 28. "There were no visible signs of food or water," Clayton said. "You could see its hip bones sticking out"...

This is sickening to me.

Pet Insurance

I am a believer in pet insurance. After spending way too much on medical bills over the years, i have realized it is better to be insured than to take your chances.

Here is a review of a variety of pet insurance plans.

Dying To Save Your Dog?

Compare these two stories..

1. A Plainsboro woman died Saturday morning after falling through thin ice and into freezing water while trying to rescue her dog, police said.

2. A man waded into icy water to save his dog after it became trapped in a lake in Greater Manchester. Marc Greenhalgh, 25, was out walking in Alkrington Woods, Middleton, on New Year's Day when his cocker spaniel Jarvis ran onto the ice to chase ducks. When the ice broke, Jarvis was having difficulty climbing out so his owner plunged into the water to save him. The fire service said Mr Greenhalgh could easily have died and urged people to keep away from icy waters.

Is there any clearer set of examples why it is important to train your dog to be RELIABLE when told to Come? Or Stay? Dogs need to be trained to do a variety of specific commands in order to be manageable in dangerous situations. People die when their dogs get loose, whether it is an icy situation like this, or in busy traffic, or on a hiking trail. Don't let this happen to you or your dog!

New Puppy?

So, did you get a puppy for the holidays? Or are you getting one soon?

I'd love to hear about it!

How is it going? Any surprises? Difficulties? Successes? What are your training plans?

Chinook? State Dog?

Seventh-graders from Bedford are the driving force behind a bill to declare the Chinook the New Hampshire state dog.

I am not excited about this development. The Chinook is still a pretty primative breed, and most of these types of dogs don't make great pets. Further, with a very limited gene pool, there is a great potential for genetic defects. It is also a sled pulling dog. The sled pulling versions of the Husky, the real things in the Arctic, aren't the same types of dogs as those you see in the dog shows. I haven't met or worked with a Chinook. I could be wrong. But, I'm probably right on this one... it is a specialty breed that isn't right for most pet owners. When a new breed comes along, the tendency is to oversell the dog, and not be realistic about what the dog is really like... and then they end up abandoned in shelters.

Seventh graders aren't the best resource for making suggestions on what dog to own or not own. On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with promoting or creating new breeds.

Real Life Ace Ventura?

Loki, a highly-trained Fort Worth police dog, is back home after he chewed a hole in his handler's fence and ran away New Year's Eve, apparently spooked by fireworks. So police called Laura Davis and Kat Manning, who own a company called Dog-Gone Detectives that specializes in finding lost pets. They arrived at the scene with Godiva, a labrador with a sensitive nose. It took her just 15 minutes to find Loki, in a wooded area a few blocks away.

Cool! Very Cool!

Failure To Groom? Go To Jail

THIS neglected Yorkshire terrier had such a matted coat that it was impossible to tell one end of the dog from the other. His owner, who treated her pet - called Stumpy - appallingly for at least six months was jailed for 12 weeks and banned from keeping animals for life. Inspectors found the dog had been subjected to severe neglect, resulting in it having head tremors and such poor coordination that it was unable to fend for itself. Even after two weeks of hospital and veterinary care, Stumpy had to be put down to end his suffering. "The dog's coat was so badly matted that it was almost impossible to tell one end from the other. "Stumpy had been neglected over a lengthy period and was in a very bad way when we found him."

I saw something similar to this a couple of years ago. The groomer warned them that she would turn them into animal control if she found out that they ever neglected the dog like that again. This poor dog smelled horrible, a lot of dust came out from the coat, there were sores starting to form on the skin of the dog. Poop was matted so bad at the back end of the dog it was having trouble defecating. And it took the groomer hours to clean the dog up. In the end, the dog was pretty much shaved mostly bald because there was no way to get out all the mats. This kind of thing is cruel. The owner was too senile to own a dog, and it was the family who brought the dog in for grooming.

New Puppy?

So... you got a new puppy for Christmas?

Having some problems, eh? House training? Biting? Chewing? Jumping?

Are these problems becoming a nuisance for you? Getting aggravated? Maybe even a bit worried?

Time to hire a dog trainer!

Is This Dog Cruelty?

Prince Edward has been placed under fire by various British animal welfare organizations, after he was photographed raising a stick at two dogs on a recent hunting excavation.A Buckingham Palace spokesman denied Prince Edward actually inflicted any harm on the dogs. "I can confirm there were two dogs fighting over a pheasant. Prince Edward did separate them but no harm was done to either dog," the spokesman said. "He broke up the fight with the dogs and pictures show him waving his stick around. We cannot confirm, however, whether he struck the dog."

I watched the video. He didn't beat the dogs. I believe his story that he was stopping something happening between the dogs. This story is prompted by is wacky animal rights nuts going ballistic in order to get in the news.

Don't Use Sticks For Fetch?

Don't throw a stick for Spot - he might injure himself. Really. It seems that there is a previously unremarked-upon and sizeable pack of man's best friend who do themselves a mischief in any given year as a result of the old stick-throwing game. Many injuries are minor, we are told by Professor Dan Brockman of the Royal Veterinary College, but others run the gamut from acute to chronic to life-threatening - to do with the pointiness and dirtiness of many sticks and the ease with which one of these spear-like missiles can pierce a doggy hide - often made worse, presumably, by the embarrassment of the owner at having to admit how their shaggy mutt's injury was sustained.

I never use sticks as toys for this very reason.

Okayyyy... Step Away From The Dog

The Pinellas County Sheriff's office says they arrested a Dunedin man for beating his dog, then reportedly threatened to shoot his neighbor who saw him harm the animal.

Wow. Super dangerous situation.

Merry Christmas!!!

If you got a Christmas puppy, search this blog for a lot of free dog training tips. Also, go to my web page, SamTheDogTrainer.com for more specific advice. Just remember:

* The pup doesn't know anything. YOU have to teach them everything, step by step. They don't know their names, any commands, the word "No", leave it, drop it, don't know where to pee and poop, won't come when called, can't walk on a leash... they don't know anything. All of that has to be taught.
* No rough stuff! No spanking, swatting with a newspaper, yelling, shoving the pup's face in it's poop... none of that stuff! It doesn't work, and it wrecks the dog... and it is cruel.
* Get help! Don't be a cheapskate! Hire a trainer!
* Study the breed(s) in your dog.
* Go buy a dog first aid book, read it from cover to cover, and make up a first aid kit for your dog.
* First objectives: House training, puppy manners and early socialization.
* With a good trainer... start obedience no later than 4 months old.
* Supervise, supervise, supervise... kids, strangers, and the pup!

Shoot To Kill?

A directive that allows Ferris police officers to shoot dangerous feral dogs is drawing criticism from animal welfare advocates. The policy handed down by City Manager David Chavez last week allows officers to use shotguns to kill the potentially violent dogs. As more owners dump their dogs or let them loose in the Ellis County town, the population increases and the threat becomes greater, said Mr. Chavez. "A lot of people come here in the country and let them go because for some reason they don't want to keep them any longer," he said. "They think they're doing something humane, but they forget these dogs don't have any food." Instead, they breed and form packs that roam the town for food.

Three cruelties for the price of one. First cruelty: shooting dogs with a shotgun. You kill birds with shotguns. You kill larger animals with a rifle, otherwise they might just be wounded and run off and die a slow miserable death. Second cruelty: letting a dog go to let it fend for itself in the wild. Third cruelty: letting feral dogs run loose. Feral dog packs are dangerous to other animals and people, and dogs can pass on rabies to people. There's got to be a better way, eh?

Starve A Dog...

Do Not Pass Go... Do Not Collect $200... Go To Jail...

A woman has been found guilty of deliberately starving a pit bull. A jury convicted Lakisha Smith, 36, December 15 for animal cruelty. Police said they found the dog dead in the backyard of Smith's home.

I just don't get it. Why would someone do this kind of thing?

Hmmmm... Guilty or Not Guilty, That Is The Question

An assistant Los Angeles County fire chief who allegedly beat a neighbor's 6-month-old dog so severely it had to be euthanized said Monday he was acting in self-defense. Glynn D. Johnson and his attorney, John E. Sweeney, said the incident was being unfairly characterized by the media and protesters as an unprovoked attack on a timid puppy. "The dog had my thumb in a viselike grip in his jaws when it became necessary to defend myself," Johnson said in the lawyer's office, where enlarged photos of his stitched-up thumb were displayed for reporters. Johnson, 54, of Riverside, is accused of beating the shepherd mix with his fist and a 12-pound rock Nov. 3. The injured dog was taken by its owner to a veterinarian, where it was euthanized. Johnson was charged last week by Riverside County prosecutors with felony animal cruelty and other counts and freed on $10,000 bail. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

Two sides to this story, from my experience.

I encountered a vicious 12 week old Australian Shepherd pup many years ago. The dog was a born fear biter. The dog was dangerous even at that age. Breeders will tell you, if they've been breeding dogs long enough, that sometimes a pup will be born that isn't right in the head. And the breeder will cull the pup (meaning put the pup to death). The article says the pup was "timid", usually meaning fearful. A true fear biter can't be fixed. The dog is mentally ill, and no amount of training, love, or behavior modification will change that. A dog that bites will often not let go, and dogs have incredibly strong jaws, even as puppies.

Then again, I have met wackos that would provoke dogs. They would tease, or even harm a puppy, to the point that even a very mild mannered pup will eventually become a biter. Saw this once with an Italian Greyhound. Mild mannered dog that was treated way too roughly, and the dog eventually became a serious biter. The dog needed some serious work, a lot of patience and love, and we could have gotten the dog over it. The owners refused to spend the money and let us get the dog out of this predicament. Ham handed, home brewed training is just as bad as outright abuse.

So, what happened here? You can't tell from the article, so we really don't know. There are more clues, however... A second article states: "A Woodcrest man accused of savagely beating a dog that strayed onto his property is a dedicated firefighter and animal lover who simply tried to defend himself when the dog attacked, his lawyer said Monday."

Again, from experience...

Some people get manic when dogs enter their yards. They get aggressive to the dog to run it off, or to punish it for pooping in their yard, or such like.

Or, some dogs, when loose from their homes, feel very afraid when a stranger corners them and tries to catch them. The second article states: "Karley turned on Johnson as he tried to return her to her yard, biting him on the right thumb so severely that she nearly severed it, Sweeney said. He said Johnson, who is right-handed, defended himself as best he could with his free hand." Did he grab the dog? And how did he do it? Regardless, the type of bite and the location of the bite leads me to believe it was a fear bite... but was it provoked or not?

Again, we can't tell from these stories if the man is guilty or not. So, unless there is more evidence showing abuse leading up to the bite, I'd acquit the guy.

What do you do in these circumstances? First, try to get the owners to get their own dog. Second, if that fails, and you are going to try and get the dog yourself, use a leash or rope to lasso the dog. Don't grab the dog. Third, once a dog locks its jaw on your body, it is probably not going to let go... and then you have to defend yourself. That's the cruel truth.

Here is a clearer example of the kind of detail that would lead me to convict someone of animal abuse: "A Sandy man will serve jail time for strangling and beating two dogs, killing one of them. William McKnight, 29, was sentenced Monday in 3rd District Court to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine for two misdemeanor counts of aggravated cruelty to an animal. According to the charges, McKnight told a separate witness "that he had tortured (the woman's) dogs by grabbing their necks and throwing them against the walls and floor."

Financial Crisis Is Causing People To Abandon Their Dogs

The increase in requests for re-homing is attributed to the financial crisis. Owners either have to move to dog-unfriendly accommodation or can no longer afford to care for the animal after losing their job. "Moving as a result of the credit crunch is the number one factor for giving up a dog," explains Moore. "People also ring up to say they can't afford to look after their dog anymore, because they've been made redundant." On top of overcrowding, animal rescue charities face another problem; they rely on charity donations and are likely to suffer in those terms. "The expected increase in unemployment and decrease of disposable income is going to affect the donations," says Moore. Another concern for dog charities is that animals are given as Christmas presents. Unfortunately some of these dogs turn up at the re-homing center in the New Year as unwanted gifts.

The current worldwide financial crisis is the fault of government meddling with the free markets. This would have never happened if we hadn't created these ridiculous incentives to create no-money-down, no income verification, sub-prime loans. Whose brilliant idea was that? Banking is banking. We messed with the system, and gave lenders incentives and mandates to toss out good banking practices, and now look where that has gotten us. A mess. This is why you see articles here condemning government over-regulation, because it always ends up destroying things in the end.

Even on the simplest levels, these past wrongs are affecting everyone: It is trickling down to even to our dogs.

Texas Dog Breed Ban Coming?

A Dallas lawmaker has asked the state attorney general to issue an opinion on whether local officials have the authority to pass laws banning or regulating certain canine breeds — such as pit bulls and Rottweilers — in a move that could set the tone for a showdown in the Legislature.

Time to take action! Fight this thing. There are a number of pro-dog links at the side bar of this blog. Contact them and volunteer to help stop this.

Puppy Mills vs Hobby Breeders

Liz Walker was among hundreds of people who showed up at the East Valley Animal Shelter to bid for one of 10 purebred puppies seized last month at Los Angeles International Airport from a puppy mill operating out of South Korea. The puppies - five Maltese and five Yorkshire terriers - are the only survivors among 30 puppies seized after the long flight. Accompanied by falsified health certificates, the 30 puppies were found dehydrated and suffering from illnesses, officials said. Most had to be euthanized.

It is interesting that the worst breeding offenders are puppy mill operators... but the laws that are then passed to deal with them affect the best breeders... the hobbyists. Regulations are piled on to prevent the good breeders from staying in the business, and the worst breeders just keep pumping out dogs. You don't see the committed hobbyists pumping out 3o dogs, shipping them to who knows where, falsifying records, and causing the deaths of numerous puppies, do you? Nope.

Animal Shelter Disaster...

Columbus Ohio:

Zealously determined that fewer dogs should die, the Franklin County animal shelter harbors sick and vicious dogs and then offers them as pets to unsuspecting families. These conclusions, outlined in a report by the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, portray a shelter riddled with mismanagement, rife with disease, and crippled by overcrowding.

Seattle Washington:

Animal control has come under fire in the past year for running understaffed, overcapacity shelters in Bellevue and Kent, with high euthanasia rates. Two reports, one from a citizens committee in 2007 and a follow-up from a group of veterinarians at the University of California, Davis, called conditions at the Kent shelter deplorable. The reports pointed to poor sanitation, outbreaks of canine parvovirus and feline upper-respiratory infections, failure to vaccinate some animals and no place to isolate sick dogs.

***

Animal control enforces the dog laws in your community... and they oftentimes are doing the very things that they'd put you in jail for. I believe in the animal control function. It is necessary, for the welfare of the animals and for public safety. However... look at these situations and realize that these aren't just isolated incidents. So, who are they to judge you when they don't have their own houses in order? This is the result of a lack of accountability, poor management, too much influence from the animal rights nuts, lack of due process, bureaucracy, etc. This is also the problem when you give an agency police powers and then not check up on them until it is too late.

Hi Everybody

The year 2008 is almost over... and 2009 approaches...

HOLIDAYS!

Another Thanksgiving is past and the end of the year celebrations are still going. How did your dog do this past weekend? Was your dog good with your guests? How did the potty training go? Was your dog obedient? Did your dog get into any trouble? Did you have to keep your dog away from everyone, or was your dog able to participate in all the activities?

Holidays and pets can either be a fun thing or a not so fun thing. I have always been one to emphasize preparation for holidays. I start brushing up on my dog’s training weeks prior to these events. Training and manners can get rusty as the months go by, and then the training you thought you had isn’t there when you need it. So, right now is a good time to do a tune up on your dog! You can either do lessons at home, or we can arrange for a board and train program. Either way, you can be better prepared, and your dog will be happier. It isn’t any fun for the dog to be in trouble the entire time, or banished from the family, when guests arrive and everyone is hustling to and fro from the stores and in and out of the home.

Or maybe you are planning on getting another dog over the holidays. If you haven’t had a puppy in a while, it is best to start the planning now. I highly recommend doing a house training lesson BEFORE the puppy comes home, so you are prepared. And for some breeds, it is also good to do a Puppy Manners lesson before the pup comes home so everyone is prepared for what to do when the pup starts to bite, and tear up things, and gets everyone aggravated. It doesn’t have to be a hassle… do the preparation work in advance.

Or maybe you are trying to think of a good gift for someone who is planning on getting a dog over the holidays. I have had numerous people purchase Gift Certificates for dog training over the years. Gifts can be pretty difficult to find, right? Most people have the things they need: TV’s, sweaters, pants, jewelry, DVD players, cameras, and so forth. It is hard to get something personal and unique. A gift of dog training can be just the thing! (And sometimes, you get them the dog training gift because it is such a hassle going over to their place, because their dogs are totally out of control… and here’s a way to help them with that problem).

Or maybe your dog just needs a tune up, or you never did complete the training of your dog, and you want a bit more control and a few less hassles.

Need some holiday training? Call me! And if you are out of the area... find a good local trainer!

TRUE LIFE EXAMPLE

Here is a recent customer… who hired me to introduce a new bull terrier to the family, when the main dog, another bull terrier, wasn’t typically good with other dogs…

Thank you, Sam. Things have gone so well that it is like a dream for us. We have put off getting another dog because we always thought that it just could not be done. Unfortunately, we blamed or male dog for it and didn’t realize that it took getting just the right dog at the right time along with some good advice. It has taken a lot of work (especially on my part) but we are so happy. It just seems like she was meant to become part of our family.

A

From: Sam The Dog Trainer

Super! I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. Usually when things are going well, I don’t get any feedback… and you wonder how things went.

From: A

To: Sam The Dog Trainer
Hi, Sam. I have been so swamped that I have not had a chance to get back with you. Things are going really well at our home between our dogs. Our third dog, has also accepted her.

THE CAT LESSON

I have owned dogs for many years. However, 2 years ago I inherited a cat after I got married. Because the cat was “someone else’s” (meaning it was a family member’s cat), and I was busy working, I didn’t much pay attention to what was going on. I figured that cats were pretty self sufficient. How wrong I was! The cat stopped eating, and $600 in vet bills later, I have learned a very important lesson.

I have saved numerous customers’ dogs. Because I have read a lot about dog health, I can oftentimes spot medical problems early on. I have come into customers houses and seen dogs that had a medical issue. I have immediately stopped the lesson, and urged the customer to get their pet to the veterinarian immediately. And some of these dogs would have died or had other serious medical issues if they hadn’t gotten their dog to the vet immediately. Years ago, I started recommending that my customers get a pet first aid book for their dogs, read it from cover to cover, and make up a first aid kit for their dogs. I have said over and over again, that this one step could save you thousands of dollars at some point in veterinary bills.

I should have done that with the cat. Once I got married, that cat was mine, too, right? Why it didn’t occur to me… I don’t know. I think if I had known more about cat medicine, maybe I would have seen early on that something wrong was going on, and would have been able to head off the problem. Maybe that is wishful thinking, and maybe none of that would have helped. Now it is past that point: we are having to force feed the cat, and inject it with fluids. Maybe the cat lives, maybe the cat dies. It is heartbreaking to have to deal with this every day.

I see this kind of thing with pet dogs all the time.

A LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE

My grandfather always taught us: Today is the first day of the rest of your life. He also taught us: When you get knocked down, get back up again. I still try to grasp the wisdom in these sayings, and keep trying to implement them in my life.

This year has been a time for a lot of changes for many of us… myself included. Yet, this year is now almost over, and even though it is useful to reflect on the past, and learn the lessons that life has for us, 2009 is about to start. You can’t re-do 2008, and 2009 is coming whether you like it or not. Some of you have had a great year, some of you haven’t. Whatever the case, it’s time to start planning for the next year, and to let this year go.

What are you going to do with your 2009? I’m trying to answer that question for myself this week. I’m making plans for growth and opportunity… how about you?

Give your dogs a hug for me…

Best Regards,

Sam Basso
Dog Trainer & Behaviorist
www.samthedogtrainer.com

Barking Mad... The Continuing Saga

A former TV executive has confessed to shooting dead his neighbour's dog after becoming annoyed at its early-morning barking.

I have blogged on this topic before. Some people go absolutely insane when they hear a dog barking. Sometimes it can be just a little woof that sets them off. Might be a complaint to animal control, might be a lawsuit, might be them killing your dog, might be them purposely getting your dog to bark in order to get you in trouble... Whatever the situation: Beware of these goofy people... they are nuts and they are coming for you and your dog.

I have worked with numerous dog owners to help them with their barking dogs. Sometimes the owner's dogs are at fault... but sometimes it is the goofy old man next door, or the crazy woman down the street who have a psychological problem and the idea of a dog barking is enough to set them off... Not all dog barking is a nuisance or illegal or unwarranted, and not all dog barking is worthy of what these cretins will do if they start to target you and your dog.

Puggles - The Verdict

When Puggles (Pug / Beagle cross) first came out as a breed, I was quite skeptical. After working with a number of them, and watching them in action, I have come to the conclusion that it is a success as a breed. I wasn't quick to jump on the bandwagon, because not all new breeds are a good combination.

I like the breed. They typically play well with other dogs, are pretty happy go lucky in temperament, are friendly, seem pretty healthy, not overly yappy or troublesome, and their owners love them, too.

So, if you want a Puggle, go get one!

Rescue Gone Amuck?

UPDATE: I received a call from Dan Irish yesterday (10/28/15), saying there is more to this story... an alternative account. As I stated when I first saw and commented on this story, there is a lot of silly stuff that happens in rescue. Many times, you really can't know the inside story unless you know the people involved. And the public, folks like me, can only know what the press reports. My opinions can only be formed by what is known. Yet, even the first article left me, and I'm sure the readers of the paper, with a lot of unanswered questions. Things didn't add up, and I could see that reading between the lines.

There is a second report, by Scott Anderson in the Amador Ledger Dispatch, entitled "Haunted by 'Rescue'", on 06/20/2012. You SHOULD read this account.

"Yet, as the longtime dog behaviorist stood in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Martell and waved goodbye to Buddy, something caught his attention - the woman's car had no license plates. Suspicious, Irish quickly attempted to call the phone number she'd left him. It was fake. He looked into the address she had given. It didn't exist. Irish was overtaken by a horrible feeling. Several hours later Buddy was dead - euthanized by an active member of Northern California Golden Retriever Rescue, a nonprofit organization that claims to save dogs."

I don't know the parties involved, didn't witness the events. But in all fairness, now that I know there are two sides to this story, I feel it is important for my readers to see both and then do their own research and form their own opinions. Further, if you wish more information, please contact the parties involved, including the papers and the reporters.

My opinion is still the same: Once again, another rescue mess.

***************************************

Dog rescue volunteer Jill Morgan has received death threats and angry e-mail messages, and her property has been damaged, she says in retribution to her controversial call to euthanize a golden retriever she deemed too aggressive for society. Morgan, who has rescued and placed hundreds of dogs for eight years, in October answered an ad on Craigslist.com for a dog she previously handled and knew had aggression problems toward other dogs. She gave a false name to adopt him and had him euthanized. The dog initially was rescued by Norcal Golden Retriever Rescue, where Morgan volunteers, and was adopted out to dog trainer Dan Irish after a number of failed attempts to modify the dog's behavior. Irish, of West Point, said he rehabilitated the dog and then put him online for re-adoption, violating his agreement with the rescue group to keep the dog. According to Irish, he made no such threats but did call her foul names when he learned she falsely represented another group to gain access into his facility for an investigation... officers went to his home one time more than five years ago because he exceeded the limit of dogs on his property. Irish, who last week said he has 10 dogs, is allowed only three dogs and four cats because he doesn't have a kennel license.

What a bunch of silliness! I have worked with rescue groups for years, and sometimes the members will do some pretty stupid things. Sigh, the stories I could tell... and don't because there's no reason to get sued for libel and slander... questionable dogs adopted out; money spent foolishly on dogs that were too old and too sick and should have been put down; inter-organizational squabbles; people overstepping their authority on behalf of the organizations and costing them tens of thousands of dollars; people who shouldn't be rescuing dogs at all setting up their own private shelters, oftentimes severely underfunded and therefore inflicting more abuse upon the dogs in their care; people with mental problems adopting dogs that should be put down; and on and on.

This story doesn't surprise me at all. My opinion of what happened here? First, the adoptee apparently had an agreement with the rescue group to keep the dog and not give it to someone else. Second, the organization could have enforced this agreement. Third, dogs that are dangerous to other dogs don't need to be put down, they can be managed in a variety of ways by people. Forth, you don't go and play James Bond, put a fake name on an application and then put a dog down outside the authority of the organization you apparently represent... looks bad, puts them in a liability conundrum, its got to be some kind of fraudulent thing, and lying is just plain wrong. Fifth, this trainer, if he did what they say, and if there was an agreement to keep the dog, was wrong to not just turn the dog back to the rescue organzation if he had fixed the dog. If there was no agreement, and he had fixed the dog, then he had every right to give it to another person. And if he hadn't fixed the dog, then something is wrong with this situation... and I'd like to know his reasoning for doing what he did. Apparently a lot of assumptions were made by everyone involved, and no one apparently just talked to one another before all this happened. Sixth, wasn't there another way? Did the rescue group do a good job of evaluating and placing this dog? And seventh... death threats? Who is nutty enough to issue death threats to others? This takes things to the level of a felony, most likely, and none of this is worth that.

My suggestions? These don't seem to be the right people to be involved in rescue or adoption. Time for a top to bottom re-evaluation by this rescue group of what they are doing, their procedures, and so forth. There is no way I'd want to be contributing to any organization with these types of problems.

Thanksgiving... Safety For Your Dog

Here are my tips for a safe Thanksgiving for your dogs...

1. Consider enrolling your dog in a doggie daycare for the day, or at least for the day before. A tired dog is a good dog, and by wearing your dog out a bit prior to guests arriving, your dog will be calmer and less likely to be a nuisance or be harmed. Or, if you can't manage your dog and guests simultaneously, then do the daycare during the day and board your dog overnight. Same with your guest's dogs.

2. Too late to train your dog... so SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE, SUPERVISE. It is also too late to train your kids and relatives. Put your dog in a crate or kennel when you can't supervise your dog, make sure everyone knows the rules for the dog, watch the doorways, watch the potentially poisonous foods, keep dangerous human toys away from the dog, and watch any family members that arent' good with dogs. Don't leave dogs unattended in hotel rooms, either.

3. Don't give your dog a ton of table scraps. You can kill a dog by giving it turkey bones. You can kill a dog by giving it chocolate, or the entire skin off a turkey, or feeding the dog a variety of other people foods. If you aren't sure if it is safe, then ask your vet, or better yet, don't feed it to your dog at all.

4. Lock the side gates of your back yard to prevent escapes.

5. Get your dog some extra toys to enjoy. If your dog's toys are old, or if your dog doesn't have anything to do... then no wonder your dog is getting into trouble.

6. Don't mix dogs. Guests bring their dogs to town. They might fight with your dog. And they take them to the local park and let them run loose, and these strange dogs might not have been out of the house since last year... unsocialized, wary, unruly and ready to get in a fight with your dog.

7. Kids and Dogs... can be a recipe for a disaster. Watch 'em, don't let them pester one another, don't leave kids unattended with dogs, and the rest of the usual advice.

Enjoy the holiday... and make sure it is going to be an enjoyable holiday instead of a mess.

Get Help

Two North Wales Police officers have been given community sentences after being filmed kicking and throwing their pet dogs around their back yard. Anja Mason, 29, and Craig Macleod, 34, were filmed by a neighbour who watched the abuse at a house in Prestatyn. They had admitted causing suffering to the dogs. They were also banned from keeping animals for five years.

I see a lot of "do it yourself" dog training out there. Many people have no clue whatsoever regarding dog behavior. Some harm their dogs physically, some do it psychologically, some do both. If you asked most of them if they liked dogs, they'd say yes. Weird, huh? In some of these instances, these people would be just as in trouble with the law as this couple mentioned above. Heck, these people could be your next door neighbors, or even extended family members, or even someone in your own home.

Simple solution: Hire a dog trainer!