I've been more or less "offline" from this blog for three years! Gack! I never thought it was that long ago that I was posting here, but since that time, I've moved back to my parents' home, lost my dad, and helped my mother show her Border Terriers.
On top of that, I've added a new web page to my current collection. This one is at Squidoo. The lens (that's what they call the pages there) is called "Frito Feet" and has some training tips for getting your dog to allow you to handle his/her feet. I happened to remember that dog feet tend to smell like Fritos when they're clean and warm. LOL
Well, glad to be back on the job of blogging and giving out training tips. Thinking I might just write a book. LOL Next lens on Squidoo is going to be about teaching your dog hand signals. Later, Chris
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Dog Training--Interesting News
A Canadian Reseach facility has apparently located a gene that causes epilepsy in dogs. It should be noted that this is only ONE gene that causes epilepsy, where there are many that probably can. In humans and mice (which have been found to be VERY close to humans in physiology), there are over 30 mutations that cause epilepsy. Still, it's a step forward. DNA research is progressing in leaps and bounds. If you'd like to submit blood for DNA testing for your dog (currently only purebreds are permitted), or, would like to find out more about the program, visit the website for the Canine Epilepsy Consortium at the Universities of Missouri and Minnesota.
Seizures in dogs are caused by many things. Genetics, congenital hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), infections causing brain damage (such as canine distemper, cryptococcosis), ingestion of toxins (such as lead paint chips, insecticides), brain tumors, portosystemic shunts (improperly routed intestinal blood vessels bypass the liver - one of the body's important waste-product detoxifiers), and vaccinations. Apparently, in some cases, glutens in the dog's food can trigger a form of epilepsy known as Spike's Disease or CECS. At least, lowering the glutens in the diet seems to be helping sufferers of this malady.
So, how do you know if your dog is having, or about to have, a seizure? Preliminary symptoms may include (and may not and are not limited to): excessive panting, extra affection, anxiety, restlessness, whining, and hiding. If there are no apprarent triggers for the behavior, such as a very hot day or loud noises your dog might respond to, it is best to keep an eye on the dog.
Seizures may be petit mal (small) or grand mal (strong with varying intensity of muscle tremors/seizing). In petit mal, the dog may appear distracted, spacy, or the eyes may roll upward. In grand mal, the dog falls to the ground, can lose consciousness, becomes rigid or paddles the feet. May arch the back.
Most seizures last from seconds to a few minutes. Anything over three minutes can be considered life threatening. Clusters of seizures in a 24-hour period are also considered life threatening. Contact your vet immediately.
The only way to get a definitive diagnosis of seizure disorder and possible causes is to have your vet do a complete work-up of the dog, including testing the thyroid, blood sugars, check for toxins in the system, and a brain scan. Most seizure disorders are treatable, although a "cure" may not be achieved.
*****
Well, I really hadn't planned to write an article about seizures. lol But, I did think the finding of a genetic mutation something you'd find interesting.
*****
There are two new show postings on the forums. Check 'em out. Lots of shows at the end of April.
*****
Training Tip:
Continuing on the CGC training, this is the next test in the title.
Step 4 of 10 to earning a Canine Good Citizen title for your dog is the following:
Out for a Walk. Goal: Handler takes dog for a short walk including right
turn, left turn, about turn and stop.
Sounds easy, doesn't it? While they're not looking for perfect heeling here, they do expect you to be able to walk with your dog and make the moves the Evaluator tells you without getting tangled up. Making the right turn is relatively easy, as you make the turn before the dog does. But the left turn can be a little trickier.
One way to handle it is to draw back on the lead to stop the dog's forward motion and then make the turn in front of him and let him come alongside you after you've turned. By stopping the dog this way, you can make the turn without him walking into your legs and tripping you.
The about turn is usually done to the right and is a 180 degree turn about. The dog is expected to keep up with you in a reasonable manner, so when teaching this, you'll want to encourage him to hustle a bit to stay with you. I've seen folks that had not taught their dogs this and the dog then tried to cross in front of the person and tripped them. Could mean a nasty fall.
When the evaluator asks you to stop, ideally, the dog will sit next to you, but it's not totally required. It will depend on the evaluator.
Things that will fail the dog is if he lags (walks way behind you), forges (goes way in front of you), or strays too far from your side. If you were out walking in a crowd and the dog did that last, you might cause someone else to trip over your lead and get hurt. So, you want to teach your dog to walk nearby and, preferably, on a loose lead. Too much stopping to sniff is not acceptable, either.
You're really getting there.
*****
Well, that's it for this time. Oh, yeah, I've added DP to a webring about dogs and training. The link is at the bottom of the pages.
I'd appreciate if you'd patronize our sponsors on the site. They help make all this possible.
See ya at the shows,
Chris
*****
Animal Den - This Dog Lovers Gift Shop is highly recommended. Great products, top service, five stars.
For Border Terrier Lovers A place to find original Border Terrier gifts and items.
Seizures in dogs are caused by many things. Genetics, congenital hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hypothyroidism (low thyroid function), infections causing brain damage (such as canine distemper, cryptococcosis), ingestion of toxins (such as lead paint chips, insecticides), brain tumors, portosystemic shunts (improperly routed intestinal blood vessels bypass the liver - one of the body's important waste-product detoxifiers), and vaccinations. Apparently, in some cases, glutens in the dog's food can trigger a form of epilepsy known as Spike's Disease or CECS. At least, lowering the glutens in the diet seems to be helping sufferers of this malady.
So, how do you know if your dog is having, or about to have, a seizure? Preliminary symptoms may include (and may not and are not limited to): excessive panting, extra affection, anxiety, restlessness, whining, and hiding. If there are no apprarent triggers for the behavior, such as a very hot day or loud noises your dog might respond to, it is best to keep an eye on the dog.
Seizures may be petit mal (small) or grand mal (strong with varying intensity of muscle tremors/seizing). In petit mal, the dog may appear distracted, spacy, or the eyes may roll upward. In grand mal, the dog falls to the ground, can lose consciousness, becomes rigid or paddles the feet. May arch the back.
Most seizures last from seconds to a few minutes. Anything over three minutes can be considered life threatening. Clusters of seizures in a 24-hour period are also considered life threatening. Contact your vet immediately.
The only way to get a definitive diagnosis of seizure disorder and possible causes is to have your vet do a complete work-up of the dog, including testing the thyroid, blood sugars, check for toxins in the system, and a brain scan. Most seizure disorders are treatable, although a "cure" may not be achieved.
*****
Well, I really hadn't planned to write an article about seizures. lol But, I did think the finding of a genetic mutation something you'd find interesting.
*****
There are two new show postings on the forums. Check 'em out. Lots of shows at the end of April.
*****
Training Tip:
Continuing on the CGC training, this is the next test in the title.
Step 4 of 10 to earning a Canine Good Citizen title for your dog is the following:
Out for a Walk. Goal: Handler takes dog for a short walk including right
turn, left turn, about turn and stop.
Sounds easy, doesn't it? While they're not looking for perfect heeling here, they do expect you to be able to walk with your dog and make the moves the Evaluator tells you without getting tangled up. Making the right turn is relatively easy, as you make the turn before the dog does. But the left turn can be a little trickier.
One way to handle it is to draw back on the lead to stop the dog's forward motion and then make the turn in front of him and let him come alongside you after you've turned. By stopping the dog this way, you can make the turn without him walking into your legs and tripping you.
The about turn is usually done to the right and is a 180 degree turn about. The dog is expected to keep up with you in a reasonable manner, so when teaching this, you'll want to encourage him to hustle a bit to stay with you. I've seen folks that had not taught their dogs this and the dog then tried to cross in front of the person and tripped them. Could mean a nasty fall.
When the evaluator asks you to stop, ideally, the dog will sit next to you, but it's not totally required. It will depend on the evaluator.
Things that will fail the dog is if he lags (walks way behind you), forges (goes way in front of you), or strays too far from your side. If you were out walking in a crowd and the dog did that last, you might cause someone else to trip over your lead and get hurt. So, you want to teach your dog to walk nearby and, preferably, on a loose lead. Too much stopping to sniff is not acceptable, either.
You're really getting there.
*****
Well, that's it for this time. Oh, yeah, I've added DP to a webring about dogs and training. The link is at the bottom of the pages.
I'd appreciate if you'd patronize our sponsors on the site. They help make all this possible.
See ya at the shows,
Chris
*****
Animal Den - This Dog Lovers Gift Shop is highly recommended. Great products, top service, five stars.
For Border Terrier Lovers A place to find original Border Terrier gifts and items.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Dog Training--More Show Information
Well, I've posted more show information in the forums on DP. Have more to add today, so will get that done when I finish this post.
Not sure I put a link in the last post to the Shopping page, so I will this time. It's a neat page of shopping for travel necessities for you and your dog, for breed-specific items for show trophies or judge's gifts, check out Animal Den, for unique and custom gift items, check the goodies at the DP and Keeping to the Borders shops linked from that page. One thing I think is particularly helpful is the journals in the shops. They're handy for keeping track of shows, expenses, notes on judges, funny things the dog does, and health records for your dog.
Training Tip:
"Appearance and Grooming. Goal: Evaluator inspects dog, combs or brushes lightly, examines ears and each front foot."
Well, guess that means a bath before the test. lol But, it is important for the dog's health that he is groomed regularly. It is also an important way for you to keep track of fleas, ticks, lice, or other vermin or skin problems your dog might develop. You will be expected to bring a comb or brush to the test for the evaluator to use, so as to not pass on any possible infections.
Checking the ears is important, too, especially for the dogs with floppy ears. Mites can breed in there and it is easier for these dogs to develop ear infections. By checking them regularly and cleaning them with a cotton ball occasionally, this should be a breeze.
Now, the feet need to be inspected and you'll have to teach the dog first to accept having his feet handled. This really ought to be done from the time he is small, even before his eyes open, if possible. Dogs don't really care for their paws being handled, but since you're going to have to trim his nails, anyway, you might as well teach it early on.
Simply start by grasping the leg at the elbow (or, the hock) and run your hand down and off the paw. Your dog will likely pull away, but handle each paw (yes, even the back ones) every day until he gets the idea you don't mean to hurt him. Praise him when he allows you to touch his paws in a variety of ways, including inspecting the nails and the pads. When you start clipping the nails, be positive about it and praise a lot and try not to clip the quick. That way, the dog learns that having his paws handled is not a bad thing.
Not sure I put a link in the last post to the Shopping page, so I will this time. It's a neat page of shopping for travel necessities for you and your dog, for breed-specific items for show trophies or judge's gifts, check out Animal Den, for unique and custom gift items, check the goodies at the DP and Keeping to the Borders shops linked from that page. One thing I think is particularly helpful is the journals in the shops. They're handy for keeping track of shows, expenses, notes on judges, funny things the dog does, and health records for your dog.
Training Tip:
"Appearance and Grooming. Goal: Evaluator inspects dog, combs or brushes lightly, examines ears and each front foot."
Well, guess that means a bath before the test. lol But, it is important for the dog's health that he is groomed regularly. It is also an important way for you to keep track of fleas, ticks, lice, or other vermin or skin problems your dog might develop. You will be expected to bring a comb or brush to the test for the evaluator to use, so as to not pass on any possible infections.
Checking the ears is important, too, especially for the dogs with floppy ears. Mites can breed in there and it is easier for these dogs to develop ear infections. By checking them regularly and cleaning them with a cotton ball occasionally, this should be a breeze.
Now, the feet need to be inspected and you'll have to teach the dog first to accept having his feet handled. This really ought to be done from the time he is small, even before his eyes open, if possible. Dogs don't really care for their paws being handled, but since you're going to have to trim his nails, anyway, you might as well teach it early on.
Simply start by grasping the leg at the elbow (or, the hock) and run your hand down and off the paw. Your dog will likely pull away, but handle each paw (yes, even the back ones) every day until he gets the idea you don't mean to hurt him. Praise him when he allows you to touch his paws in a variety of ways, including inspecting the nails and the pads. When you start clipping the nails, be positive about it and praise a lot and try not to clip the quick. That way, the dog learns that having his paws handled is not a bad thing.
Well, that's it for this one. See ya at the shows,
Christi
*****
Animal Den - This Dog Lovers Gift Shop is highly recommended. Great products, top service, five stars.
For Border Terrier Lovers A place to find original Border Terrier gifts and items.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Dog Training--New Format
Well, the newsletter and the blog are undergoing a change in format as of this moment. I have decided to post the show news in the forums rather than here. They are in the "What's Happening" topic there. Too much duplication of effort to post there and here and then to the newsletter. If it's going to be a problem, please leave a comment either in the forum or here.
I've added two new pages to DP. One is a "shopping" page with links for all kinds of shopping you might be interested in. The other is a breed-specific link page. If you have a breed-specific website you'd like to exchange links with me for, let me know via email or here. There is one link already there--a neat site about Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Please visit her site and learn a bit about these adorable little guys.
I'll still be posting training tips here and in the newsletter, so that won't change, but as the show season progresses, it will get too hectic to post all the show info here. Once I get a decent vehicle, I'll be taking to the road to show RX again, so it will be easier this way. Plus, you can post any show news I've missed and your show results on the forums. I'd love to see that become an active community. There are some fun posts there already.
I'm proud to announce that Dog Potentials has received an award. You can see it posted on the site on the left-hand side of the pages. I'd like to thank Terrific Pets for that accolade. It makes all the work on the site seem worthwhile.
Training Tip:
"Sitting Politely for Petting. Goal: Evaluator pets dog. Dog must show no shyness or resentment."
To briefly recap, you want to first work with someone you know that can help by ignoring the dog if he jumps up or barks, growls, or hides behind you. By not looking at the dog and ignoring what he is doing, the other person is showing that unwanted behavior is not acceptable.
Once the dog obeys your "sit" command, then, the other person can speak to the dog, even pet him if the dog stays seated. If the sit is broken, though, the helper needs to return to the ignoring stance.
Well, work with that a bit and see how you do. I'll have another entry, newsletter and training tip next week.
See ya at the shows,
Chris
Animal Den - This Dog Lovers Gift Shop is highly recommended. Great products, top service, five stars.
For Border Terrier Lovers A place to find original Border Terrier gifts and items.
I've added two new pages to DP. One is a "shopping" page with links for all kinds of shopping you might be interested in. The other is a breed-specific link page. If you have a breed-specific website you'd like to exchange links with me for, let me know via email or here. There is one link already there--a neat site about Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Please visit her site and learn a bit about these adorable little guys.
I'll still be posting training tips here and in the newsletter, so that won't change, but as the show season progresses, it will get too hectic to post all the show info here. Once I get a decent vehicle, I'll be taking to the road to show RX again, so it will be easier this way. Plus, you can post any show news I've missed and your show results on the forums. I'd love to see that become an active community. There are some fun posts there already.
I'm proud to announce that Dog Potentials has received an award. You can see it posted on the site on the left-hand side of the pages. I'd like to thank Terrific Pets for that accolade. It makes all the work on the site seem worthwhile.
Training Tip:
"Sitting Politely for Petting. Goal: Evaluator pets dog. Dog must show no shyness or resentment."
To briefly recap, you want to first work with someone you know that can help by ignoring the dog if he jumps up or barks, growls, or hides behind you. By not looking at the dog and ignoring what he is doing, the other person is showing that unwanted behavior is not acceptable.
Once the dog obeys your "sit" command, then, the other person can speak to the dog, even pet him if the dog stays seated. If the sit is broken, though, the helper needs to return to the ignoring stance.
Well, work with that a bit and see how you do. I'll have another entry, newsletter and training tip next week.
See ya at the shows,
Chris
Animal Den - This Dog Lovers Gift Shop is highly recommended. Great products, top service, five stars.
For Border Terrier Lovers A place to find original Border Terrier gifts and items.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Dog Training~~Going to a Show
Not a lot of show info to tell you this week, so thought I'd write up an article on going to dog shows. For the "veteran" observer or exhibitor, this is old hat, but to the person interested in attending shows for the first time, I hope this helps you understand what you'll see there:
If you've never been to a dog show, you're in for an exciting, and perhaps, confusing time. At an All-Breed Show (where every breed accepted in a registry is allowed to show), you'll find a huge variety of breeds, and even varieties within a breed.
For instance, in the Cocker Spaniels, they have Any Solid Color Other Than Black (ASCOB) which includes the well known "blond" variety, the Black Cocker, and the Parti-colored. The Black Cockers can have some tan on them, but must be less than 10% of the total coloring. The Parti-Colored are the ones with white and another color in splotches or spots. Each variety is shown, then, the Best of Variety goes into the Group Ring, just as a Best of Breed would.
The Collies, too, come in varieties. There is the Rough, which reminds you of Lassie, and the Smooth. The Smooth is build like the Rough, but with substantially less coat. It can be rather amazing to see what lies beneath all that beautiful coat.
Chihuahuas are long- and short-coated, the Welsh Corgi comes with (Cardigan) and without (Pembroke) a tail, the German Shorthair Pointers come in smooth and wire-coats, and there doesn't appear to be a lot of difference between the Curly-coated and the Flat-Coated Retrievers (except the coat, of course), although they are shown as different breeds.
Chinese Crested dogs come in the standard variety with almost no coat and in the "powder-puff" variety with a total coat. Beagles come in two sizes--13" and 15" and Daschunds come in three coat varieties, as well as Standard and Miniature sizes.
Underneath all these variations, though, there are basic characteristics that each breed must adhere to. These are called the "Breed Standard." Most Breed Standards will describe the "ideal" dog and any disqualifications that would keep a particular dog from being shown, such as too much white on the Cockers (except the parti-coloreds).
Once you find the breed(s) you want to observe in the ring, you'll find that all breeds show the dogs (males) first. From 6-9 Month puppies up to the Open dogs. The winner of each of those classes will come back into the ring for Winner's Dog. Then, the bitches (females) are shown the same way and go for Winner's Bitch. Next, you'll see the Best of Breed competition which the Winner's Dog and Bitch will be entered in. Other than those two, all the entries in Best of Breed are Champions. From these, the judge selects the dog or bitch that best exempflies the Breed and a Best of Opposite Sex. If neither of those is the Winner's Dog or Bitch, one of those will be selected as Best of Winners.
The way a dog or bitch becomes a champion in the AKC is to garner "points" from wins. Fifteen points are required for a championship with two "majors" needed. A major is when a set number of animals are entered in a competition. The numbers vary from area to area so it is difficult to tell you the exact numbers required. You can find that information on the AKC website (www.akc.org). Points are awarded according to the number of entries "defeated" in the classes.
Once all the Best of Breeds have been determined, it's time to go to the Group Ring. Here, the Best of Breed for each type of dog in a specific Group (i.e., Sporting, Non-Sporting, Hounds, Herding, Terriers, Toys, and Working) will be judged. They will be placed 1-4 and the number one winner will go on to the Best In Show competition.
In the Best In Show ring, there will be only seven entries. These are considered the cream of the crop for that show and only one will be selected out of them. Winning Best In Show is a huge honor and competition can be fierce throughout the climb to that exalted pinnacle.
If it all sounds a bit confusing, well, yes, it can be for the neophyte. If you attend several shows, though, it slowly becomes more clear and the fun part is, you can pick your own choices and see how you did compared to how the judges place the entries.
As you get to know the ins and outs of showing and familiarize yourself with Breed Standards for any breed you're interested in, attending dog shows will become even more fun and you'll get caught up in the air of excitement and competition there.
If you wish to learn more about a breed, it is best to talk to the competitors after they show and, please, always ask to pet a dog before you do. For some of the breeds, there is a lot of work that goes into grooming for the show, and they will not thank you for messing that up.
Go, watch and enjoy a few dog shows. It's a great way to spend a day.
***
This week's training tip stems from the requirements for the Canine Good Citizen test. Any dog can get a CGC title, even mixed-breeds. This is about the first of ten tests the dog must pass to get the title.
"Accepting a Friendly Stranger
The evaluator approaches and shakes hands with the handler. Does not touch dog."
What they are looking for here is a dog that allows strangers to approach in a friendly manner and interact with the handler. Generally, the dog is expected to sit quietly although some sniffing of the newcomer is allowed. Dogs that show aggression or fear (barking, growling, hiding behind the owner) will not pass.
This is where good socialization is important. If you take your dog out and introduce him/her to different people and situations, you could pass this one easily.
Next week, we'll look at test two--Sitting Politely for Petting.
That's it for this week. Don't forget to keep an eye out on Animal Planet (if you have cable) next month for the Crufts Dog Show.
Please remember to patronize our sponsors on the website as they help bring you this information and the site.
See ya at the shows,
Christi
Dog Potentials
***
Animal Den - This Dog Lovers Gift Shop is highly recommended. Great products, top service, five stars.
For Border Terrier Lovers A place to find original Border Terrier gifts and items. New items added today.
If you've never been to a dog show, you're in for an exciting, and perhaps, confusing time. At an All-Breed Show (where every breed accepted in a registry is allowed to show), you'll find a huge variety of breeds, and even varieties within a breed.
For instance, in the Cocker Spaniels, they have Any Solid Color Other Than Black (ASCOB) which includes the well known "blond" variety, the Black Cocker, and the Parti-colored. The Black Cockers can have some tan on them, but must be less than 10% of the total coloring. The Parti-Colored are the ones with white and another color in splotches or spots. Each variety is shown, then, the Best of Variety goes into the Group Ring, just as a Best of Breed would.
The Collies, too, come in varieties. There is the Rough, which reminds you of Lassie, and the Smooth. The Smooth is build like the Rough, but with substantially less coat. It can be rather amazing to see what lies beneath all that beautiful coat.
Chihuahuas are long- and short-coated, the Welsh Corgi comes with (Cardigan) and without (Pembroke) a tail, the German Shorthair Pointers come in smooth and wire-coats, and there doesn't appear to be a lot of difference between the Curly-coated and the Flat-Coated Retrievers (except the coat, of course), although they are shown as different breeds.
Chinese Crested dogs come in the standard variety with almost no coat and in the "powder-puff" variety with a total coat. Beagles come in two sizes--13" and 15" and Daschunds come in three coat varieties, as well as Standard and Miniature sizes.
Underneath all these variations, though, there are basic characteristics that each breed must adhere to. These are called the "Breed Standard." Most Breed Standards will describe the "ideal" dog and any disqualifications that would keep a particular dog from being shown, such as too much white on the Cockers (except the parti-coloreds).
Once you find the breed(s) you want to observe in the ring, you'll find that all breeds show the dogs (males) first. From 6-9 Month puppies up to the Open dogs. The winner of each of those classes will come back into the ring for Winner's Dog. Then, the bitches (females) are shown the same way and go for Winner's Bitch. Next, you'll see the Best of Breed competition which the Winner's Dog and Bitch will be entered in. Other than those two, all the entries in Best of Breed are Champions. From these, the judge selects the dog or bitch that best exempflies the Breed and a Best of Opposite Sex. If neither of those is the Winner's Dog or Bitch, one of those will be selected as Best of Winners.
The way a dog or bitch becomes a champion in the AKC is to garner "points" from wins. Fifteen points are required for a championship with two "majors" needed. A major is when a set number of animals are entered in a competition. The numbers vary from area to area so it is difficult to tell you the exact numbers required. You can find that information on the AKC website (www.akc.org). Points are awarded according to the number of entries "defeated" in the classes.
Once all the Best of Breeds have been determined, it's time to go to the Group Ring. Here, the Best of Breed for each type of dog in a specific Group (i.e., Sporting, Non-Sporting, Hounds, Herding, Terriers, Toys, and Working) will be judged. They will be placed 1-4 and the number one winner will go on to the Best In Show competition.
In the Best In Show ring, there will be only seven entries. These are considered the cream of the crop for that show and only one will be selected out of them. Winning Best In Show is a huge honor and competition can be fierce throughout the climb to that exalted pinnacle.
If it all sounds a bit confusing, well, yes, it can be for the neophyte. If you attend several shows, though, it slowly becomes more clear and the fun part is, you can pick your own choices and see how you did compared to how the judges place the entries.
As you get to know the ins and outs of showing and familiarize yourself with Breed Standards for any breed you're interested in, attending dog shows will become even more fun and you'll get caught up in the air of excitement and competition there.
If you wish to learn more about a breed, it is best to talk to the competitors after they show and, please, always ask to pet a dog before you do. For some of the breeds, there is a lot of work that goes into grooming for the show, and they will not thank you for messing that up.
Go, watch and enjoy a few dog shows. It's a great way to spend a day.
***
This week's training tip stems from the requirements for the Canine Good Citizen test. Any dog can get a CGC title, even mixed-breeds. This is about the first of ten tests the dog must pass to get the title.
"Accepting a Friendly Stranger
The evaluator approaches and shakes hands with the handler. Does not touch dog."
What they are looking for here is a dog that allows strangers to approach in a friendly manner and interact with the handler. Generally, the dog is expected to sit quietly although some sniffing of the newcomer is allowed. Dogs that show aggression or fear (barking, growling, hiding behind the owner) will not pass.
This is where good socialization is important. If you take your dog out and introduce him/her to different people and situations, you could pass this one easily.
Next week, we'll look at test two--Sitting Politely for Petting.
That's it for this week. Don't forget to keep an eye out on Animal Planet (if you have cable) next month for the Crufts Dog Show.
Please remember to patronize our sponsors on the website as they help bring you this information and the site.
See ya at the shows,
Christi
Dog Potentials
***
Animal Den - This Dog Lovers Gift Shop is highly recommended. Great products, top service, five stars.
For Border Terrier Lovers A place to find original Border Terrier gifts and items. New items added today.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Dog Training~~Tips and Shows
I've been busily creating some "guides" on eBay as a prelude to offering the Tricks books for sale. One is about stopping your puppy from biting and the other is about socializing your puppy. Pop over and check them out. I hope you find them helpful.
Crufts is coming up next month. I touched on that last week. March 9-12 this year. The schedule of events is listed in the newsletter.
Other shows that are coming up are:
The Combined Specialty Clubs of Louisville, Wednesday through Friday, March 15-17, in Louisville, KY.
They'll offer Rally-O classes, Herding classes, Field Class and Versatility classes for the various specialties.
Specialities include: Kuvasz, Bedlington Terrier, Great Dane, Staffordshire Terrier, Chinese Shar-Pei, Shetland Sheepdog, Weimaraner, Basset Hound, Boxer, Pekingese, Yorkshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Border Collie, Collie, and German Shepherd.
The Kentuckiana Cluster, Thursday through Sunday, March 16-19, in Louisville, KY.
All-Breed showing, Obedience Trials and Rally-O will be offered. Also, specialties for Miniature Bull Terriers (Saturday) and Otterhounds (Sunday).
Closing dates for both of those are March 1st. They're through Onofrio.
The Maury Country Kennel Club, Franklin, TN, is having an all-breed conformation and obedience show Saturday and Sunday, March 25 & 26th. Entries close March 8. Also an Onofrio offering.
I believe I mentioned before that the forums are now fixed on Dog Potentials. Sure would love to see some posts in there. I've posted some of this show information there. If you have been showing lately, please post your brags for everyone to see.
I have been thinking about offering the tricks books in both regular print size and large print size. I have a friend that is losing her eyesight due to diabetes, and it brought to mind that there might be others that would appreciate the larger print. It will change the format of the books somewhat, but I'm going to put links in them that will go to the "sidebar notes" at the end of the book. Then, there will be a link back to the spot they left. I've also been thinking of doing the books in audio format. Would appreciate some input from you all on that.
Would also like some input from you about whether you'd be interested in ebooks of old classic dog stories. Things like Jack London's stories (if the copyrights are clear), Albert Payson Terhune, who wrote collie stories, such as "Bob, Son of Battle," Eleanor Atkinson's "Greyfriar's Bobby," and other stories along those lines. The majority of these are in the public domain, so should be available for some editing and re-publication. All of them would be written before 1923, which will make the language somewhat archaic, but that's part of what I'll work on to make it less "old-time" sounding. There were also evidences of less than "politically correct" terms in the ones I've already gotten hold of, so that will need some work, too. It is my intent to make these available for a price, probably around $6-8 each, but that has not been decided. Your input there would also be greatly appreciated.
***
Training Tip:
Start your dog early on with massages. It allows you to teach the dog to be handled everywhere, which your vet will love you for, it allows you to keep track of any swellings or lumps that might crop up on the dog, and it will help in calming the dog. Wouldn't you be calmer after a massage?
***
Please patronize our sponsors on the website. They help keep things running and offer a broad range of training information, equipment and treats and toys for your dog (and for you--like at Dog Potentials--The Store!).
See ya at the shows,
Christi
++++
Animal Den - This Dog Lovers Gift Shop is highly recommended. Great products, top service, five stars.
For Border Terrier Lovers A place to find original Border Terrier gifts and items.
Crufts is coming up next month. I touched on that last week. March 9-12 this year. The schedule of events is listed in the newsletter.
Other shows that are coming up are:
The Combined Specialty Clubs of Louisville, Wednesday through Friday, March 15-17, in Louisville, KY.
They'll offer Rally-O classes, Herding classes, Field Class and Versatility classes for the various specialties.
Specialities include: Kuvasz, Bedlington Terrier, Great Dane, Staffordshire Terrier, Chinese Shar-Pei, Shetland Sheepdog, Weimaraner, Basset Hound, Boxer, Pekingese, Yorkshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Border Collie, Collie, and German Shepherd.
The Kentuckiana Cluster, Thursday through Sunday, March 16-19, in Louisville, KY.
All-Breed showing, Obedience Trials and Rally-O will be offered. Also, specialties for Miniature Bull Terriers (Saturday) and Otterhounds (Sunday).
Closing dates for both of those are March 1st. They're through Onofrio.
The Maury Country Kennel Club, Franklin, TN, is having an all-breed conformation and obedience show Saturday and Sunday, March 25 & 26th. Entries close March 8. Also an Onofrio offering.
I believe I mentioned before that the forums are now fixed on Dog Potentials. Sure would love to see some posts in there. I've posted some of this show information there. If you have been showing lately, please post your brags for everyone to see.
I have been thinking about offering the tricks books in both regular print size and large print size. I have a friend that is losing her eyesight due to diabetes, and it brought to mind that there might be others that would appreciate the larger print. It will change the format of the books somewhat, but I'm going to put links in them that will go to the "sidebar notes" at the end of the book. Then, there will be a link back to the spot they left. I've also been thinking of doing the books in audio format. Would appreciate some input from you all on that.
Would also like some input from you about whether you'd be interested in ebooks of old classic dog stories. Things like Jack London's stories (if the copyrights are clear), Albert Payson Terhune, who wrote collie stories, such as "Bob, Son of Battle," Eleanor Atkinson's "Greyfriar's Bobby," and other stories along those lines. The majority of these are in the public domain, so should be available for some editing and re-publication. All of them would be written before 1923, which will make the language somewhat archaic, but that's part of what I'll work on to make it less "old-time" sounding. There were also evidences of less than "politically correct" terms in the ones I've already gotten hold of, so that will need some work, too. It is my intent to make these available for a price, probably around $6-8 each, but that has not been decided. Your input there would also be greatly appreciated.
***
Training Tip:
Start your dog early on with massages. It allows you to teach the dog to be handled everywhere, which your vet will love you for, it allows you to keep track of any swellings or lumps that might crop up on the dog, and it will help in calming the dog. Wouldn't you be calmer after a massage?
***
Please patronize our sponsors on the website. They help keep things running and offer a broad range of training information, equipment and treats and toys for your dog (and for you--like at Dog Potentials--The Store!).
See ya at the shows,
Christi
++++
Animal Den - This Dog Lovers Gift Shop is highly recommended. Great products, top service, five stars.
For Border Terrier Lovers A place to find original Border Terrier gifts and items.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Dog Training~~Upcoming Events
Remember, Westminster is next Monday and Tuesday, so be sure to stop over at their website to catch the streaming videos if you can't catch the actual show on cable. It can be a really thrilling thing to watch the top dogs in the country compete. They are really beautiful.
I tried the videos from last year on my dial-up and it worked okay, if you let it load. Best bet is to make sure you have the latest Flash download, as I think it helps it all do.
Coming up next month is Crufts. The dates are March 9-12, 2006. It's the oldest and largest Dog Show in the world. Their website is here: Crufts. IF you ever have the opportunity to attend this show, I urge you to go. The NEC is a fabulous venue for the show and Birmingham, England is lovely. In March, the flowers are beginning to bloom, although it's still chilly in England this time of year. You'll see breeds there that AKC and UKC here don't recognize--like the wire-haired Vizsla and too many others to name here. Their schedule is:
Crufts 2006 Times and Dates:
Thursday 9th March
Working and Pastoral
Friday 10th March
Terrier and Hound
Saturday 11th March
Toy and Utility
Sunday 12th March
Gundog
Open 8.15am to 7.30pm every day
You'll notice that they don't call their groups exactly the same as we do here in America. Gundog would equate to our Sporting, Utility would equate to our Non-Sporting, and Pastoral would be our Herding.
If you've had a chance to look at the pictures on the Agility page at DP, you'll see pictures I took at Crufts a few years back. It will give you a tiny clue as to the size of the NEC building where they hold the show. It is quite an event to attend. The vendors are on the lower floor of the NEC and the show rings are on the next floor up. There is a huge arena set up for Group Judging, Agility, Freestyle, and Best In Show. They don't bound their rings the way we do with baby-gating, it's just the chairs of the observers. Well, lol, if you EVER get the chance....
I'll be offering my first ebook on dog training soon on eBay and a couple of other auction sites. Figure that is the quickest way to get them noticed. The first one is titled, "Teach Your Dog a Trick: Dead Dog," and outlines the steps to teach your dog a fun trick. Keep an eye out for an announcement on when you can get your own copy of this fun book. This is stuff I've taught my own dogs, laid out in easy to follow format.
Training Tip:
Talking to your dog as though he/she can understand you in normal tones is a great way to expand your dog's "vocabulary." As you teach the dog various words for things, such as "out," "supper/breakfast," "ready?" (I use that one to crate them) and other things, your dog will learn to understand much more than if you rarely talk to them. It expands their intelligence, I think, much like letting them work with puzzles like the cube or ball you put treats into and the dog rolls it around to get the treats out. Just like us, if they have to exercise their brains, they are smarter.
My dogs know things like: Excuse me, please (means get out of the way), find your.... (sends them to search for a specific toy), who did...? (means one of you did something you ought not have and I know who), and other phrases you wouldn't expect them to comprehend. Because I talk to them much like I would a child of two years of age, they have learned a lot and respond much better to learning new commands than a dog that is left outside with little human interaction. Give it a try!
***
That's it for now. Be sure to visit Dog Potentials, where you'll find lots of good information and articles, and please visit our sponsors there. They help make all this possible.
See ya at the shows,
Chris
www.dogpotentials.com
***
Legal stuff:
I am not a professional dog trainer, but have spent time training dogs in conjunction with 4-H and as an instructor at PetsMart. Information in the blog and at Dog Potentials is from my own experiences and research. I cannot be responsible for what you do with the information provided, nor how you interpret that information. If you use tips provided in my blog, on the site, or in my articles, you do so at your own risk.
I tried the videos from last year on my dial-up and it worked okay, if you let it load. Best bet is to make sure you have the latest Flash download, as I think it helps it all do.
Coming up next month is Crufts. The dates are March 9-12, 2006. It's the oldest and largest Dog Show in the world. Their website is here: Crufts. IF you ever have the opportunity to attend this show, I urge you to go. The NEC is a fabulous venue for the show and Birmingham, England is lovely. In March, the flowers are beginning to bloom, although it's still chilly in England this time of year. You'll see breeds there that AKC and UKC here don't recognize--like the wire-haired Vizsla and too many others to name here. Their schedule is:
Crufts 2006 Times and Dates:
Thursday 9th March
Working and Pastoral
Friday 10th March
Terrier and Hound
Saturday 11th March
Toy and Utility
Sunday 12th March
Gundog
Open 8.15am to 7.30pm every day
You'll notice that they don't call their groups exactly the same as we do here in America. Gundog would equate to our Sporting, Utility would equate to our Non-Sporting, and Pastoral would be our Herding.
If you've had a chance to look at the pictures on the Agility page at DP, you'll see pictures I took at Crufts a few years back. It will give you a tiny clue as to the size of the NEC building where they hold the show. It is quite an event to attend. The vendors are on the lower floor of the NEC and the show rings are on the next floor up. There is a huge arena set up for Group Judging, Agility, Freestyle, and Best In Show. They don't bound their rings the way we do with baby-gating, it's just the chairs of the observers. Well, lol, if you EVER get the chance....
I'll be offering my first ebook on dog training soon on eBay and a couple of other auction sites. Figure that is the quickest way to get them noticed. The first one is titled, "Teach Your Dog a Trick: Dead Dog," and outlines the steps to teach your dog a fun trick. Keep an eye out for an announcement on when you can get your own copy of this fun book. This is stuff I've taught my own dogs, laid out in easy to follow format.
Training Tip:
Talking to your dog as though he/she can understand you in normal tones is a great way to expand your dog's "vocabulary." As you teach the dog various words for things, such as "out," "supper/breakfast," "ready?" (I use that one to crate them) and other things, your dog will learn to understand much more than if you rarely talk to them. It expands their intelligence, I think, much like letting them work with puzzles like the cube or ball you put treats into and the dog rolls it around to get the treats out. Just like us, if they have to exercise their brains, they are smarter.
My dogs know things like: Excuse me, please (means get out of the way), find your.... (sends them to search for a specific toy), who did...? (means one of you did something you ought not have and I know who), and other phrases you wouldn't expect them to comprehend. Because I talk to them much like I would a child of two years of age, they have learned a lot and respond much better to learning new commands than a dog that is left outside with little human interaction. Give it a try!
***
That's it for now. Be sure to visit Dog Potentials, where you'll find lots of good information and articles, and please visit our sponsors there. They help make all this possible.
See ya at the shows,
Chris
www.dogpotentials.com
***
Legal stuff:
I am not a professional dog trainer, but have spent time training dogs in conjunction with 4-H and as an instructor at PetsMart. Information in the blog and at Dog Potentials is from my own experiences and research. I cannot be responsible for what you do with the information provided, nor how you interpret that information. If you use tips provided in my blog, on the site, or in my articles, you do so at your own risk.
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