 My Doberman, Dancer (gone now), licks her way thru an ice block to get her prize: Her precious Kong, filled with yummy peanut butter!
I always made these treats for my girls in summer. Simple: Get a plastic container and put a couple inches of water in it. Freeze it. Then place the Kong (with PB of course!) into the container, on top of the ice, and fill the container with enough water to cover the Kong by a couple of inches. Freeze solid. When ready, just pop the ice block out of the container and make Doggie happy!
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 Fireworks are pure torture for so many dogs.
I implore people to properly-socialize their puppies to help them NOT be scared on that once-a-year FRIGHT NIGHT. This was Jetta sleeping under my desk one 4th of July, after we came back from a fireworks-filled walk and while the BLASTING was still going on. She was properly socialized as a puppy and never had any problems with fireworks or anything else. Questions? I’d love to help. PM me and I will send you my (free) newsletter about how to PROPERLY socialize a puppy. A puppy’s most-vital socialization period is OVER at 4 months. If not properly socialized, dogs can end up afraid of MANY things, including loud noises. Fearfulness is horrible for dogs to experience, and, it’s fearful dogs who are most likely to bite. We have to work on this stuff (and many more things) by then. Fearfulness must be PREVENTED as it can rarely be CORRECTED. Get my free newsletter. It outlines everything we need to do with young puppies to get them properly socialized and please remember, proper socialization is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing we need to do for dogs.  Want to have some REAL FUN with your dog?
Fun that will impress everyone and is GREAT doggie exercise? Have you ever seen another pet dog do this? You and your kid will be unique and admired. Go someplace where your dog has room to run, and with at least one tree. Two or three trees are even better. (If he can’t be trusted off leash, play in your backyard.) Stand with your dog far away from the tree and motion with your hand to signal him to "Get out!" toward the tree. (This is agility training stuff.) When he gets close, order him to "Go around!" He'll whip around the tree and come racing back to you. I used to send my Doberman, Jetta (gone now), around trees, parked cars, people and even tennis courts and houses. And... with two trees... Figure 8’s!!! Really fun and really impressive! And great EXERCISE! Note: This is a stock photo. Free Stuff! Whatcha need? Dog equipment? Other things? Get them FREE! _________________________________  _________________________________ These sites fly in the face of the adage, “If it sounds too good to be true...” Yep... people give GREAT things away FREE! If you want something, search and/or post to one of these sites/groups asking for it. If someone has it, they’ll reply and you make arrangements to get it. If you have something to give away, post it and see who wants it. I have received:
I have given away an HP all-in-one color printer/fax/scanner, a very nice set of cutlery, a phone, two oil lamps, a case of lamp oil, a guitar, a bracelet, a BBQ, music CDs, a dog coat, a dog training lesson, a no-pull harness and other dog equipment. I’ve also gotten bicycles for my students who wanted to use them to exercise their dogs and some for neighborhood kids. A student of mine had a bunch of nice and newer computer monitors at her house when I went there for a lesson. I commented on them. She said she were all in excellent condition, were overstocked items from her business, and that she wanted to get rid of them. I turned her on to these sites and within a couple days of her posting, they were all gone. (And, the day AFTER her posting, she snagged a Singer sewing machine.) It’s hard to believe, but true. Everything is free. Give stuff away, and ask for things you want! Here’s a post from one of the sites:  Here are 10 sites for free stuff:
Freecycle.org TrashNothing Buy Nothing Project Freebay LetGo OfferUp Facebook Groups (Search for terms like “BuyNothing” and “BuyNothingEver”) – Be aware Facebook has a BUNCH of groups for various purposes, so look around for others that are relevant? Note: These three below ALSO allow posting for NON-MATERIAL requests: Sacred Circle Dance Craigslist Nextdoor (my fave as it is more local than the others) A note about Nextdoor: Post in the “General” section for the biggest audience, but also check out the “Free” section, and search for various GROUPS dedicated to free stuff. Also, on this app, you can join (and post) ONLY in your own neighborhood. PRO TIP: Get friends and family to post or search for you in THEIR neighborhoods. If you know of any others, tell me and I'll add them to the list? OK! Get goin'! Tons of great, FREE stuff (including dog equipment) available, just for asking.  So, you are getting a dog or puppy. How fun! These are my 5 biggest considerations in choosing WHICH dog or puppy to get: _________________________________ - Exercise needs (some need more than others - generally speaking, breed determines this, but that is not guaranteed - regardless, dogs need to RUN every day. This is the most neglected need dogs have, and the one most likely to cause "dog problems.")
- Confidence (be aware that fearful/shy dogs have a lot of problems and can really limit your life, and are most likely to bite) - Food drive (get only pups/dogs who LOVE, LOVE, LOVE food as they are easier and quicker to train) - Toy drive (not all dogs/breeds retrieve, but those who do are easiest to exercise) - No puppies raised without littermates Breed you can decide for yourself - lots of info on the Internet. Grooming requirements are also a consideration. BUT... MOST IMPORTANT is regarding CONFIDENCE: You need to see the dog in its home and out in public, including in noisy environments and around traffic and other animals and children and "big men in hats" and in the car, etc, and without its owner, before you can really see what you have. :-) (And never introduce dogs on either one’s property - always do it on neutral territory and never by putting the dogs together right away. Let me know if you need some quick tips on how to do this correctly? No charge.) Shy, fearful, cautious, timid dogs need homes and love. If you can provide what they need, terrific. BUT... be aware that these dogs are a TON of trouble and will inhibit your life in many ways and that these are the dogs who most often bite. And sorry... generally speaking (it depends on the severity), we cannot fix this. A puppy's most vital socialization period is OVER at four months of age. The best time to get a puppy is 7 1/2 weeks. Then for the next two months, work hard on socialization. Do it right or you can mess it up! Dogs who do not get PROPER socialization by the age of 4 months are usually fearful of our world. And while we can usually make them better, we cannot cure them. Ask me for my newsletter on this topic? It explains exactly HOW to properly socialize a puppy (and yes, it CAN be done without exposing him to parvo). If you get a puppy older than 7 1/2 weeks, make sure the breeder has been working on proper socialization. (Caution: few breeders can do everything required for a whole litter of puppies. Also, MOST breeders are "backyard breeders" and don't know anything about this anyway. Don't take their word for it – KNOW what is required and ask pointed questions, or better yet, hire a trainer to evaluate the dog.) Again, ask me for my newsletter on socialization? It will explain it all and tell you how to do it safely so the puppy doesn't get exposed to the puppy killer disease, parvovirus. Buying from a breeder? Ask me for my “Breeder Comparison” so you can see if you are buying from a good breeder or a bad breeder. If looking at rescue dogs, ask me for an excellent article from the Whole Dog Journal, “How to Pick a Winner,” explaining how to evaluate shelter dogs. I also strongly suggest you test a dog for signs of separation anxiety before adopting him or her. SA can be debilitating to dogs and cause you a lot of grief when they tear up your house and make it hard or impossible to ever leave them alone. (Think of hiring me if you need a consultation or evaluation.) And consider planning a lesson asap. Whether you know it or not, you ARE training your puppy or adult dog the VERY DAY you bring him home. It's vital to NOT start bad habits, and again: Right or wrong, you ARE training your dog EVERY MOMENT you are with him. :-)  A dog visits the office of a digital marketing company in downtown Chicago. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune) Do you take your dog to... WORK? CAN you take your dog to work? _________________________________ Want to know how to talk your boss into LETTING you take your dog to work? According to Ladders Inc, more and more companies are “wagging their tail at the idea of dog-friendly offices, which have been scientifically proven to calm employees, while boosting morale and office interaction.” Career and branding expert Wendi Weiner says that having dogs in the office can make you “happier, more positive, more enthusiastic about coming to work, and even friendlier.” How to get your boss to allow YOU to bring YOUR dog to the office? THAT is the question! Read Ladders' take on this, "How to Talk Your Employer into a Dog-Friendly Office," then pass it on to the Head Honcho.  Frank van Delft—Getty Images/Cultura RF And add USA Today to the mix. In "Dogs in the workplace: Good for you, your employees, your bottom line," they argue that dogs in the office help in recruiting and retaining employees and making it easier for employees to stay late because they don't have to rush home to walk or feed Fido.
Further, they say, having dogs in the workplace helps employees connect and communicate with one another. In "Why Bringing Your Dog to Work Can Be Great for (Almost) Everyone," Time reports that Amazon's Seattle headquarters has had dogs in the office for about 20 years and currently has over 1,000 dogs attending regularly. Jennifer Fearing, co-author of "Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces," says dogs in the office encourage various departments to collaborate. The dogs, it seems, serve as social bridges. About 11 percent of U.S. pet owners work in places that allow animals, according to the American Pet Products Association. But, what if someone doesn't like dogs? Or worse, is allergic? (For some, that just means a runny nose, but for others... it can be life-threatening.) Fearing proposes rules and protocols to make them more comfortable. Such as... HEPA filters, requirements to wash bedding weekly, and maintaining "Dog-Free" zones. Still... there will always be the nay-sayers. Like Linda McCormick, writing "Against office dogs," in The Week. For a fair assessment of the pros and cons, see The Balance Careers piece, "The Pros and Cons of Bringing Your Pet to Work." A plus, they say, is that a dog-friendly office improves the company image, making a company seem more progressive. There are cons, of course... like pee pee on the carpet. Still, again, a "pet policy" and some rules go a long way... Regardless, if you can convince your boss that dogs are cool for the bottom line... How awesome would that be to take your doggie kid to work? VERY! So, I'm at PetSmart buying a bag of dog food. This woman has her adorable puppy in a basket. _________________________________  She points to my bag of dog food and asks if I have a dog. On impulse, I tell her, “No, I do not have a dog. I'm starting the dog food diet. “I probably shouldn't because last time I ended up in the hospital. I lost 50 pounds, but I woke up in Intensive Care hooked up to a bunch of tubes and IV’s.” “Wow!” she says. “And you’re doing it AGAIN?” “Well, it’s essentially a perfect diet,” I reply. “All you do is load your pockets with food nuggets and simply eat a few every time you feel hungry.”  "The food is nutritionally complete, so it works well, and I thought I would try it again.” Horrified, she asks if I ended up in ICU because the dog food poisoned me. "No,” I say. “I got hit by a car when I ran across the street to sniff a Poodle's butt.”  Jetta... my sleeping angel... _________________________________ Looking thru photos... found a bunch of my girl, Jetta, sleeping. She died a few years ago, but I feel such love and warmth looking at these pics... I just wish I could snuggle up with her. And yes, Jetta slept with me, so be quiet! Notice she's under a blanket in most photos? That's because Dobermans have only one short coat - most dogs have two coats - so she was always cold. LOL Send me some photos of your kids sleeping? I'd love to see! Here's my baby...              Mom misses you Baby Jetta!
Miserable Dogs!!!! _________________________________ Can you imagine being DESPERATELY THIRSTY with NO WAY to quench your thirst? MISERY. When I'm out walking and I see dogs whose tongues are hanging out, panting, panting, panting... and the owners have no water for them... I can't stand it. Dogs get HOT when walking or running! They NEED water. They NEED it. NEED. They MUST have it (year-round), not waiting for them back at home or in the car. It's TORTURE to be hot... and dogs get hot MUCH QUICKER than we do... Hanging tongues need water NOW. You think it's a pain in the ass to carry water??? WRONG!  I LOVE The Water Rover!!!!  It has an attached bowl, and you never have to unscrew the top (even when filling it), or flip open the bowl or even squeeze the bottle. You just lift the stopper tab, hold the bottle horizontally (or lay it on the ground) and the water flows into the bowl. After the dog drinks, tilt the bottle up, and the water flows back inside. No waste! Water Rover comes in various colors and sizes. It’s easy to carry by holding onto the bowl or by clipping onto your belt or waistband and is very reasonably-priced. Dogs NEED (not just want) water while walking or exercising, especially in warm weather. The Water Rover Makes it EASY!!!! Water Rover is BPA-Free and proudly made in the USA! And to the cynics amongst you... NO... LOL I am not making a single penny on your purchase of the Water Rover. I LOVE the Water Rover! It's the best water-carrying device I've ever seen and I ALWAYS carried mine when out with Jetta. My advice to all doggies:
Don't leave home without it!  Check out this video from the website, Digg.
Now... We NEVER laugh at scared dogs. NEVER. But, while I don't know exactly what's happening with this dog - the owner says he's scared at the vet's office - I've never seen a dog do anything like this. Did the guy TRAIN his dog to do this, then pretend it's spontaneous behavior? I dunno... Click here to see. Odd, eh? Fences For Fido Needs Your Help! No experience needed! _________________________________ These angels get dogs off chains! They build fences (and shelters) for dogs (at no charge) so the owners can unchain them.  Dolly - Before and After So, guess what? Did you see it on the news? Someone stole their truck and a couple thousand dollars' worth of tools.  Boo! The thieves apparently went 4-wheeling in the truck, damaging the undercarriage, busting the gas tank and siphoning out the gas, then spilling it all over the interior. "We'll be ok," says Michele Coppola, Fences For Fido's Communications and Operations Coordinator. "The truck is repairable and we're hoping insurance will cover our lost tools." Most important, Michele says, is that "No builds have to be cancelled. Still, it is making it difficult for us because that truck is our 'Daily Driver.' " But what the group really needs most... are VOLUNTEERS. Especially those who live, or are willing to travel, outside the Portland metro-area, where most of the builds are. "You don't need any fence-building skill, tools or training as we provide everything," she says. "Just show up with a big heart and help us improve a dog's life forever. It takes 3-4 hours on a weekend morning and we've freed a dog!"  Happy girl Sandy and her FFF builders Once You See a Dog Unhooked, You'll Be Hooked!!! "We are desperate for help," Michele says. "On any given weekend, rain or shine, we are building 2-6 fences for dogs that are chained or tethered or in enclosures that are too small for them. "Many of these dogs have been on chains their whole lives," she says. "We are a non-profit organization based in Portland. Since we were founded in 2009, we have freed nearly 1,800 dogs in NW Oregon, Central Oregon and SW Washington." Can you help get dogs off chains? FFF will train you! Just show up! Contact Fences For Fido: [email protected] or go to www.fencesforfido.org. Get hooked on unhooking dogs!  Sober and his FFF builders
 Did you know there is only one thing two dog trainers can ever agree on? Yep... the third trainer does not know what he’s doing. LOL  So, I was reading something online by a dog trainer who says that when housetraining, instead of taking your dog out regularly on a schedule, you should just let the dog tell you when he needs to go. What the hell??? If I’m housetraining a dog, it’s because he is not housetrained, right? Which means he doesn’t know to come to me and tell me he has to go out. A major part of the foundation of housetraining is that you take the initiative, you control the situation, and you take the dog out on a regular schedule. Come on! That is A-B-C. Further, he suggests teaching your dog to ring a bell to tell you when he needs to go. I totally disagree with this, even for fully-housetrained dogs. What if you’re in another part of the house or you have music playing loudly and you don’t hear the bell? Chances are pretty good he is going to go right there at the bell. When housetraining a dog, you need to initiate the process and guide your kid all the way through to completion. You tell him when (and where) to go, he doesn’t tell you. In fact, if he starts acting like he needs to go – pacing or sniffing around, you waited too long. And the bell? Keep it for cute tricks but not for serious business like pottying outside.  Look at this cute dog learning that he is getting a kitty cat! Click here And this kid wanting Pizza Hut Pizza! Click here So fun!   Boomer was a happy, playful, fun, 13-year-old Australian Shepherd, who loved his walks, according to Mom Tanya Strejc, of Beaverton. She almost went to the gym that day, but decided Boomer needed his walk, so off they went. Two dogs came from out of nowhere, Tanya said, and one of them, a mastiff mix, attacked - and killed - her baby Boomer. (It turns out, this dog killed another dog in 2015.) (Read her story at the KPTV link below.) Absolutely heartbreaking. And possibly PREVENTABLE. We must be prepared to protect our dogs when out on walks. Carry pepper spray or pepper gel! It is non-lethal and will deter most dogs most of the time. (No product will stop every dog, every time. Depends on how aggressive the dog is and how competent you are at using the product.) I have had to use Pepper Spray twice to protect my girls from advancing, aggressive dogs zeroed in on them. Scary... but it worked both times. ALWAYS USE PEPPER SPRAY/GEL AS A LAST RESORT. IT WILL CAUSE SUFFERING (burning sensations in the eyes, nose and mucous membranes) to the animal, and please remember, no behavior, not even aggression toward people or other animals, is the dog's fault. Someone, somewhere along the line, failed him in his socialization, training, management, supervision. Last resort only. The online Pepper Spray Store has information on how to help a dog that has been pepper sprayed. The problem is that you probably can't help him. He's going to be running away, hiding, growling. Unable to see well (or at all), he could get hit by a car. That said... I am going to do whatever is necessary to protect myself and/or my pet. I've never had a dog come after me when I was alone, but I certainly have had dogs come after my DOGS when we were together. I once used citronella spray (less effective than pepper spray or pepper gel) to chase off an aggressive dog coming after my Doberman, Dancer. All I had to do was spray it TOWARD the dog when he was about 15 feet away. I didn't even get any on him, but he turned and ran away. Here's a story from the online store Sabre about a Yorkie who lost his life after being attacked by another dog. I so wish the owners had had pepper spray (or even citronella spray) with them. I wish Tanya had had pepper spray or gel to protect Boomer. I highly recommend the product from Sabre called "The Runner."  This is really cool 'cuz it has a strap so it stays in the palm of your hand without you having to grasp it all the time, which means you can have it handy (forgive the pun) and still hold other items and use your fingers for other tasks. And, when you have it in your palm and feel the need to "get ready just in case," it takes just a flick of the thumb to arm it. It's very subtle... and when the "threat" passes, a flick of the thumb disarms it.  In addition, when you need your hand free to grasp or carry something, flip it around so it's resting on the top of your hand. They also have one called "The Cyclist" which attaches to your bicycle in a way that you can easily remove it if needed. The Pepper Spray Store has traditional sprays but also some that look like lipstick and a pen. NOW... Pepper spray formulated for humans is twice as strong as pepper spray formulated for dogs, because dogs have a much stronger sense of smell than we do. So pepper spray formulated for humans will ward off dogs, but could also cause even more suffering to them. Ideally, I'd want to carry one for dogs and one for humans, right? But for me, that's not practical, so I chose the stronger one. Also, keep this in mind: The spray is better for distance and gel is better for close range. Spray shoots farther than gel, but can more easily blow back on you in the wind or if you hit a dog or person at close range. Gel sticks, so is better in the wind and at close range, but be aware that it doesn’t shoot out as far. Ideally, you’d carry spray AND gel and when threatened, hope you have the presence of mind to choose the right one. Now... back to citronella spray. It's definitely more humane, but as I said, not as effective. Petsafe says their product, SprayShield Citronella Spray, defends against aggressive dogs, and that it is effective for dogs with low to medium aggression.  Here's the problem: it's really hard to be totally prepared. If you were, you would have citronella spray, and pepper spray and gel for dogs (and, as far as I'm concerned, pepper spray and gel for humans). And when fighting off an attacking dog, pick the appropriate weapon based on the dog's distance and aggression level. The problem is that it's hard to carry all these tools and this all happens so fast, it could be difficult or impossible to properly evaluate the threat and pick the best defense. I guess for me, I want to have the most effective product and guess what? If I think the dog is not as big of a threat, I can spray AROUND the dog instead of directly ON the dog. I hate to say this, but I'd rather have my biggest gun and try to shoot it with less force than to have my lightest gun and possibly find it’s ineffective against a particular aggressor. I care about the other dog, but to be honest, I care more about the safety of my (innocent) dog, and... I didn't choose to be in this situation. It's a tough choice.... I wish everyone luck making the best choice for him or herself. By the way, I also recommend my students NOT walk their dogs in neighborhoods. Stay on busy streets. You can encounter (and get attacked by) loose dogs in neighborhoods, but you rarely find a loose dog on a busy street. We need to protect our kids. If a dog gets attacked, obviously, it can lead to his injury or death but there's something else: even if he survives the attack physically, it can damage him mentally. It's not unusual for dogs to become dog-aggressive after being attacked, and this is often something we cannot fix. Be prepared. Oh! Here's another idea: For those of you who go to dog parks... carry your spray/gel (it's good for breaking up dogfights) and also carry Binaca breath spray.  A lot of dogs are annoying, bothering other dogs and trying to jump on or even mount them. Often the owners are all the way on the other side of the park, not paying any attention. If you spray the dog in the mouth, he won't like the taste and will probably go away.
Don't worry, if some of it over-sprays into his eyes, he will air it out. Worst case scenario, if you get in too much, the owner may have to wash it out with water, but that's not likely since you are close to the dog and aiming for the mouth. Before I ever suggested a student do this, I got my veterinarian to look at the ingredients in Binaca and ok it, and then I sprayed it directly into my eye to test it. Sounds crazy, but I held my eye wide open and I sprayed directly onto my eyeball from just a couple inches away. And I did it five times! Only once did I have to wash it. So, order your pepper spray/gel and get down to the pharmacy for some Binaca. We need to be prepared to protect our kids. Period.  Find It Game! _________________________________ Children get bitten, scratched and knocked down playing with dogs, especially puppies. This “Find It Game" allows kids to play with dogs while teaching them some obedience.
Teach your dog the "Find It Game" before you ever even teach him any commands. (It’s also good to teach tricks before teaching commands.) This game (like any game or trick) teaches your dog to start paying attention to you. It helps set a good foundation, and gets him in the mode of learning. It’s very fun. If your dog likes treats or toys, he will go CRAZY playing this game and your children will go nuts playing this game with him. Start in the house. Put Fido on a sit-stay. If necessary, have someone hold his leash, or tie him up. (Always supervise tied dogs to prevent tangling and choking and use a harness, never a collar.) Place a favorite treat or toy 10-15 feet away, in plain sight. Go back, release him and command him to “Find it!” What joy! He’ll be ecstatic. You be, too.  What’s wrong with this picture? craigslist ad: Great Dane Mix Puppy To Good Home _________________________________ Odie is a 3-month-old Great Dane mix. I got him off a person here on craigslist a couple weeks ago, and I soon found out that he just tramples my two young kids. The last owner won't call back, and I don't want to take him to the shelter because he is a good dog. NO REHOMING FEE. JUST COME GET HIM. MY DAUGHTERS WILL THANK YOU. :-0)
971-388-xxxx - Justin What’s wrong? Gee, let me count the ways: 1) Not thinking ahead 2) Not using common sense 3) Not having a commitment to the puppy he just adopted 4) Not following through with his obligation to the pup by investing in a trainer’s help 5) Not resisting the temptation – no matter how inconvenient – to dump the pup ASAP (appears to be first come/first served and PS… please hurry!) And… I will bet ANY amount of money he will not do ANY of the things necessary to insure the new owner/home is a good one, such as conducting an interview and a home check and verifying the new owner can afford a dog and is allowed to have one where he or she is living. (Many craigslist pet posts are from people saying, “Need a new home for our new dog of one week. Landlord says NO PETS!”) 6) Not protecting the puppy by requiring a re-homing fee. (Studies show that pets people pay for are treated better and kept longer than pets that are free, plus a fee prevents “bunchers” from taking a free dog and selling it to research or idiots using it to bait fighting dogs.) 7) Not paying any attention whatsoever to the puppy’s needs – bouncing him from home to home, treating him like he has no sensitivities at all – like he’s nothing more than a couch or a chair 8) Not teaching his children that pets are NOT disposable, even when adults make stupid decisions Did I miss anything? BTW: I wonder…. I JUST wonder… If the person BEFORE him had required a re-homing fee, done an interview and home visit, checked him out AT ALL, CARED at all… if… 1) He or she would have given this poor dog to Justin 2) Justin would have more carefully considered his purchase and would have been more inclined to protect his investment by hiring a trainer and working with the puppy to be a good family member? Easy come, easy go??? Sadly, the cycle continues…. Take a 5-minute survey to win this:  No! Not the sweet dog. And no, not the cute guy!
The Portable Pet Containment "System," Silly. Honestly... I think the survey took me only about 3 minutes. Looks like a GREAT and useful prize!!! This offer is thru Dogster Magazine. Here's the link to the survey: Survey link GOOD LUCK! Neighbors' Dogs Pooping in Your Yard? Post these Poopy Yard Signs:   Guide Dog Trained to NOT Run? _________________________________  The other day, when we had a rain break, I was playing Pickleball at Mt. Tabor Park, and was amazed and pleased to see a million people out there walking their dogs. Very nice! Toward the end of the match, a woman walked by with her Labrador. She put him on a “stay” while she took something over to the trash can. “Good dog!” I say. “Nice to have a trained dog, isn’t it? Good for you!” “Thanks,” she says. “My only problem is I can’t get him to run.” “Why is that?” I ask. “Because that’s his job,” she says. “He was trained as a Guide Dog and was trained not to run.” She picks up his leash, turns and they start up the hill. “Excuse me,” I say. “May I tell you something?” She turns around. “Sure.” “I’m a dog trainer. I can promise you that any training you give to a dog, if you don’t maintain that training, you will lose it. You know, ‘Use it or lose it’?” “All training needs to be maintained,” I continue. “Or the behavior deteriorates and the dog won’t do it anymore.” I didn’t say it, but I’m sure she got my point… that if he was trained to never run (which I highly doubt), he will forget it eventually if she doesn’t enforce it. She turns to walk up the hill, saying “Well, he’s very stubborn.” Sorry... dogs are not stubborn. They really aren't. They are very good at doing what works. If you train a dog properly, you will never say he is stubborn. “Wait…” I implore. “If he won’t run, have you thought about taking him to the vet? He might have a health problem.” “He’s very healthy,” she says. “He’s only two years old.” “Well, he might have some pain. He might have pulled a muscle or torn something.” “No, he’s fine,” she says, turning again and heading up the hill. “He’s just stubborn.” Ugh. Poor dog. (For the record, Guide Dogs are taught to walk with their handlers when in harness - although there are some videos on the Internet of at least one Guide Dog trained to run marathons with a blind handler - but even Guide Dogs get free time to run and play and just be dogs. It’s preposterous to say that they can never, ever run at any time in their lives.) Turning back to my game, I hit the ball over the net. After a few volleys I notice she is calling her dog. I turn to see that she is all the way up the hill and her dog is still all the way down by the tennis courts, sniffing in the grass. She is calling and calling and begging him to come but his nose rules.  This boy doesn’t even hear her. (Odd that he continues his “training” to not run, but doesn’t come when called?) She comes back down the hill, picks up his leash, and they walk on together. It’s not normal for a dog to never run. I hope she takes him to the vet for an examination. Veterinarians can feel and see things that we don’t. Never hurts to be sure. Blaze - RIP Buddy - |
- Candy -
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