Mr. Dudley

Dudley is my newest foster pup, at 2 yrs old he is a handsome Scottish Terrier.  With a sweet disposition, a true love to play fetch, house broken, crate trained, good with dogs and children.

He arrived last week for an evaluation and within minutes of arrival was playing fetch with a ball he had brought with him.  Honestly, the transition period was easy for him, it is clear he has enjoyed a good life so far and is well socialized to environments, people and dogs.

I did have to modify a bit of Dudley's behavior this week.  When he jumped on the couch and proceeded to drop his ball in my lap while I was reading the paper and drinking my coffee.  I ignored him, he backed up and barked at me (as if to say, hey lady you are suppose to throw it!).   I picked up the ball and rolled it to my scottie, Sophie who gladly grabbed and shook it.  As it rolled away from her, Dudley grabbed the ball and you guessed it, again dropped it in my lap and barked.  I again ignored him and rolled the ball to Sophie who happily chased it.  Within a minute Dudley rushed up to the couch with his ball in his mouth, he hesitated, laid down on the floor and played with his ball all by himself.   He is a smart boy!

Is Snoopy loving this?

Peanuts by Charles Schulz

• June 18, 2011
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I want to thank Don Hanson, BFRP, CDBC, CPDT-KA  for sharing this                cartoon. It shows exactly what NOT to do with your pup.  As you can see             Snoopy does not like to be approached quickly, patted without warning, or         hugged. Our perception of what our dogs love is not the same as what we                love, something to think about.

Repeating Cues

Sadie is in a stay at Back Cove

What are we actually doing when we repeat a cue/command to a dog?  If you think about it, we are desensitizing the dog to any meaning the word has.  I recommend you ask your dog two times, then do something different if he did not comply, like lure with a treat, change your cue and pitch, or use a long line to follow through.  Some behaviors are harder for some dogs, so please take into account what your dog is doing and how much enjoyment is he getting out of it.

I suppose you could argue that yelling a repeated command at a dog is sort of like "nagging" someone.  If so, then the reward is earned when you stop yelling or adding physical pressure toward the dog.  What if the dog does not comply?  You just rewarded him for not doing anything.  So, if you do not think your dog will "come" from the neighbors yard, then do not call him unless you have his favorite wubba, tug toy or yummy cheese.  We know rewarding good behavior will produce more of that behavior.  Try it, you will like it and so will your dog.

When should you teach the verbal cue?  First teach the behavior using a clicker, lure, shaping or capturing. After the dog is performing the behavior using a hand signal 5 out of 6 times, then you can add the verbal cue just before the hand signal.  The Cue predicts the hand signal which elicits the behavior, then reward to reinforce the correct behavior and let your dog know how awesome he/she is!

How best to socialize your new Puppy

 Robert K. Anderson DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Behaviorists has provided us with the best details on how to Socialize your new puppy!

Puppies begin learning at birth and their brains appear to be particularly responsive to learning and retaining experiences that are encountered during the first 13 to 16 weeks after birth [Dr. Anderson is saying that the prime time for puppy socialization stops somewhere between 13 and 16 weeks, although more socialization occurs after that time]. This means that breeders, new puppy owners, veterinarians, trainers and behaviorists have a responsibility to assist in providing these learning/socialization experiences with other puppies/dogs, with children/adults and with various environmental situations during this optimal period from birth to 16 weeks.


Many veterinarians are making this early socialization and learning program part of a total wellness plan for breeders and new owners of puppies during the first 16 weeks of a puppy’s life -- the first 7-8 weeks with the breeder and the next 8 weeks with the new owners. This socialization program should enroll puppies from 8 to 12 weeks of age as a key part of any preventive medicine program to improve the bond between pets and their people and keep dogs as valued members of the family for 12 to 18 years.


For additional information on Proper Socialization and Vaccinations, copy the link below:


www.diamondsintheruff.com/RKanderson.html

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program!

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy^sm Program now offered by CBC

Because our Socialization Program on Thursday's has been such a success, I have decided to add this S.T.A.R. Puppy Certification Program on June 29th.

A key component of the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy^sm Program is a responsible owner. Our Canine Good Citizen^sm Responsible Dog Owner’s Pledge is for the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy^sm Program too. Responsibility should start the moment you decide to add a new dog or puppy to your family.

AKC CGC Responsible Dog Owner’s Pledge

I will be responsible for my dog’s health needs. These include:

• routine veterinary care including check-ups and vaccines
• adequate nutrition through proper diet; clean water at all times
• daily exercise and regular bathing and grooming

I will be responsible for my dog’s safety.

• I will properly control my dog by providing fencing where appropriate, not letting my dog run loose, and using a leash in public.
• I will ensure that my dog has some form of identification when appropriate (which may include collar tags, tattoos, or microchip ID).
• I will provide adequate supervision when my dog and children are together.

I will not allow my dog to infringe on the rights of others.

• I will not allow my dog to run loose in the neighborhood.
• I will not allow my dog to be a nuisance to others by barking while in the yard, in a hotel room, etc.
• I will pick up and properly dispose of my dog’s waste in all public areas such as on the grounds of hotels, on sidewalks, parks, etc.
• I will pick up and properly dispose of my dog’s waste in wilderness areas, on hiking trails, campgrounds and in off-leash parks.

I will be responsible for my dog’s quality of life.

• I understand that basic training is beneficial to all dogs.
• I will give my dog attention and playtime.
• I understand that owning a dog is a commitment in time and caring.

S ocialization
T raining
A ctivity
R esponsibility

Help your puppy be the best he can be!