I Wish I Were a Dog (by Michelle Neuman)

I wish I were a dog...for I would sleep 20 hours a day.
I would get petted for looking cute.
I would forgive no matter what.
I would bark when I thought something might hurt you (even if it's on TV -- oops, false alarm).
I would protect the pack above all else.
I would expect nothing in return except to be near you.
I would dance a happy dance when I saw your face.
I would never be sad because you love me.

Afghan Dog Rescued from Taliban

Chris Hughes, Defense Correspondent for the Daily Mirror wrote a sweet story about Brin, a stray Afghan dog who became a mascot for British soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Brin not only served as a morale booster, but went on patrol with soldiers in the Green Zone sniffing out explosives without any formal training. One night while on patrol, the soldiers made a hasty departure from enemy territory and Brin was left behind and captured by the Taliban. Word spread that Brin had been captured and during a Taliban raid, commandos rescued Brin and returned him to his family of soldiers.

Report Pet Food Complaints at FDA.gov

The FDA regulates dog and cat food. Pet food does not require FDA approval before hitting the market; however, the FDA is required to make sure existing pet food is safe.

If you have concerns about your pet's food, you can file a complaint online using the Safety Reporting Portal. Complaints can include things like finding a foreign object in your pet's food, foul odor, leaky or damaged packaging, and most importantly, if you believe your pet has become ill from his or her pet food.

Hang on to your pet food packaging, if possible. That, as well as other information, can be included in your complaint. Find out more at How to File a Pet Food Complaint.

Stop Pulling with Gentle Leader

The Gentle Leader Headcollar is a great way to stop pulling and lunging. I use the GL on two of my daily walks: a 70 lb. Vizsla and a 40 lb. black dog. The Vizsla pulled a couple times during each walk when he wanted to go back for a longer sniff. The black dog, Taao Yi, was nervous and pretty much pulled the whole time. Whether sporadic or constant, pulling is never fun and physically painful. Try getting tugged 20 times a day. It wears on you.

The Vizsla's owner was the first to turn me on to the GL. I asked her if her dog pulled for her and she said No, she used the GL. I used it the next day and Bam! No more pulling! I was in heaven! Anyone who's had a dog stop pulling knows how wonderful it feels!

I eventually occurred to me to try a GL on Taao and picked one up for him (after discussing it with his owner). I was surprised at the six-panel instructions and instructional DVD that came with it. There was a huge warning: Do not use the GL without reading and understanding the instructions! I hadn't realized how important technique and proper fit was. I took the warning seriously and read then reread the instructions, fit the GL to Taao's head, read the instructions again, made adjustments and Bam! No more pulling! In fact, he was such a nervous guy that it actually helped him feel more confident because the nose loop mimics an alpha dog grasping his muzzle in a firm, but gentle way.

I know some trainers are saying: Just train your dog properly and they won't pull. Yeah, that's great in theory, and I totally agree with you, but I haven't figured out a way to quickly train a dog not to pull. If you know of a better way, contact me! I would for you to teach me a better way, but for now, I'm all about the Gentle Leader Headcollar.

Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog

In his book, Merle's Door: Lessons from a Freethinking Dog, Ted Kerasote tells the story of his dog, Merle, who found Ted during a camping trip and lived with him for 13 years. Merle lives in the small town Kelly, WY where, through his doggy door, has the freedom to come and go as he pleases to explore Mother Nature and socialize with other dogs and people in town.

The human-canine connection between Ted and Merle is profound. At times, Ted is the teacher teaching Merle the rules of life in the Grand Tetons. At other times, Merle teaches Ted about tracking, scouting and skiing. Their adventurous (and fun) life is one every dog owner/walker/trainer/lover can appreciate.

What I loved about Merle's Door was learning more about dogs and dog behavior. The author cites several scientific and historical facts about animal behavior that was not only interesting, but will ultimately help me do my job better through a deeper understanding of animal behavior.

It was a sweet little story and I'm glad my client recommended it.

Expecting?

Are you "expecting" a puppy? Before you bring your new best friend home, consider developing a training plan, house breaking plan, puppy schedule and house rules before your puppy arrives.

Training Plan: Read a few different training books and adopt a philosophy that best suits your personality and style. Different trainers tout different philosophies and techniques, so choose one that works best for you and your family. All family members must adopt the same techniques and enforce the same rules for your puppy!

House Breaking: I personally recommend crate training, but do your research and choose a plan that works for you, your budget and lifestyle. The rule of thumb is that a puppy can hold it one hour for each month of age (i.e., a three-month-old puppy can hold it three hours). Hire a dog walker or ask for help from neighbors to make sure your puppy's schedule isn't interrupted while you're at work.

Puppy Schedule: Keep a consistent schedule as much as possible for the first few months. Consider feedings, potty breaks (increasing crate time as your puppy grows), exercise, socialization, nap time and training when creating your schedule.

Rules: Establishing house rules before your puppy comes home is a must. Determine where your puppy will sleep at night, if/when your puppy will be allowed on furniture, whether any rooms are off limits, whether you want your puppy to jump on guests, etc. It's easier to stick to your guns if you determine well, thought-out rules before your puppy comes home and steals your heart.

Here are some links to my favorite trainers: Cesar Millan, Victoria Stilwell and Tamar Geller.

Good luck!

No Idea

I have no idea what to Blog about. Now that I have a Twitter account, I don't feel the need to write anything requiring more than 140 characters.