Christmas Photos 2009

The dogs had their annual Christmas photos. This year, with them being adults, they do much better about taking photos. We went into the backyard and they wore their scarves. I barely had to say anything. They just sit, down, and look at the camera! This was sooo much easier than last year's fiasco with baby Genevieve. Hehe.

Well, DUH!!!

The New York Times published this article that I just thought was great and finally confirmed my beliefs that dog training and working with kids, while not the same, do have some distinct parallels.

Kids are not like dogs. There are some very intrinsic differences. As both a teacher and a dog trainer I can see both sides of the coin. But how you approach working with a child and working with a dog can be the same! Patience, structure, confidence, and most importantly consistency. I thought this article was very good.

To quote:

It’s little wonder, then, that some parents, and even a few child therapists, have found themselves taking mental notes from a television personality known for inspiring discipline, order and devotion: Cesar Millan, otherwise known as the Dog Whisperer.

Cesar Millan is a great dog psychologist. He has some great ideas about how to work with a dog and I really respect him for his overall ability to work with any dog.

“That goes along with the philosophy of the Dog Whisperer,” the host added. Brenna Hicks, a child therapist in Palm Harbor, Fla., who writes an advice blog, The Kid Counselor, adapted Mr. Millan’s central idea, that dogs take their cues from their masters, and misbehave only when the masters fail to carry themselves, in body language and tone of voice, like pack leaders. In a post, “Raising Kids: Wisdom From the Dog Whisperer,” she wrote, “When we present nervous, angry or scared energy in front of our kids, they pick up on those emotions.”

This is exactly what I was told when I first started puppy raising. They always told us that "it travels down the leash." If you're angry or upset they are going to react to this. Kids react in close to the same way. Babies stress if parents are stressed. It's a lot of reacting.

“Unlike modern parents,” she added, “dog trainers don’t think discipline equals being mean. They understand that dogs are happiest when they know their position in the hierarchy.”

So is it “spare the rolled-up newspaper, spoil the child?” Not exactly. Many Dog Whisperer techniques — say, the push on the neck to get a dog’s attention — are best left to the kennel, unless you welcome a visit from Child Protective Services.

I totally agree with that. I wouldn't use a tennis racket to corral my child or student if he or she was biting. LOL. But dog training has a lot of good ideas, that, mixed with common sense, can do a lot of good to parents.

One thing that Millan points out often is that you shouldn't accept beginning behaviours. He doesn't stop the dog when s/he is charging across the lawn to attack another dog. He stops the dog when her/his body language shows s/he is starting to consider attacking the other dog (i.e. perked ears, hackles up, aggressive tail, etc.). Just like you don't get angry at a child when he runs into the street. You stop him/her before you get into the street, remind him/her that s/he needs to look, then you cross together. Stop the behaviour before it gets to that point!

To some parents, however, moving Dog Whisperer theories into the human realm is not so much about changing their child’s attitude as it is about changing their own.

That's what it's all about.

Here is the full article.

To add... I love going to Disneyland and restaurants because I get to see how I DON'T want to parent.

Pismo's Birthday Party

Pismo's birthday was last week and it sounds like he had a great time. A friend of his threw him a birthday party. She made posters for each year of his life and it sounds like he had a lot of friends over.

These are some of Pismo's friends.

This is the map of his party!

It sounds like he had an absolutely great day!

Happy Birthday, Pismo!!!

Four years ago today, little Pismo III entered the world and seven and a half weeks later he entered my home. I just want to wish my little 'Mo, the playboy, a very happy birthday.

This was him at just 10 weeks old... Isn't he possibly, one of the cutest puppies ever? He has those big brown eyes, that perfect lab head, floppy ears, his happy dance... What a guy! He has a great new dad who loves him for who he is and gives him the life he is perfectly suited for as a dog. Pismo, the one I feared would drown, is now an avid swimmer.

Oh, and happy birthday to the rest of the P litter... but I certainly got the pick of the litter.

Pupdate! (Summer 09)

Most puppy raiser's dream is to make sure each of their puppies makes it into a great home, whether it's as a service dog or a happy pet. Most people, upon hearing I give the puppy up, say "I couldn't do that." I won't ever tell them it's easy and it's probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do (each and every time) but they go to wonderful homes.

#1- Yancie was my first puppy and was one of the hardest puppy I have ever had to raise. She was nicknamed "Psycho Puppy" by our contract trainer. It was pretty bad but she graduated as a skilled companion. Her new handler updated me that she is doing well and has been keeping a good weight. I have photos but they take scanning.

#2 Zastrow was my second puppy, a mellow giant dog who was willing to do anything to work. He failed training because of medical problems. He would have been a service dog, he had a drive to please that no other dog has ever shown me. I got to see him at Sunke's turn in and graduation and I hear from him often by e-mail.

#3 Pismo was a sweet little boy that always wanted a cuddle and a hug. Everyone was his friend in his opinion. He embarrassed me horribly at his turnin by doing his trademark "Happy Dance" on stage, causing the crowd to laugh. I was bright red. I always knew he didn't care to work but he ended up in a great home. This is him at the pool this summer. The dog I once feared would drown is now an avid swimmer.

#4 Lacey came to me at 10 months of age as a crazy dog. She bit me in her excitement to steal my treats. I believe my dad, upon seeing this dog yank me down the hall, asked if I could do this (doubting me). So of course I did. Lacey was like nuclear energy, harnassed and used correctly she can do a lot of good. She now works as a facility dog with special needs children. Her handler sent me two videos of her working as well as booklet of pictures about Lacey's summer vacation at a doggy camp. Isn't she gorgeous?

#5 Sunke was another big, handsome giant, who enjoyed working almost as much as Zastrow did. He was a big lug of a dog that loved to sit on my lap and cuddle, he used to get in my lap and fall asleep on his back. He was extremely gentle, I used to let a 3 year old walk him and he always was very good to her, even though he was almost taller than she was! Even though I have yet to meet her, his handler has sent me many pictures and e-mails about him! I feel like I've gotten to know her. These are a few pictures she has sent me!

#6 Genevieve has matured by leaps and bounds this summer. She turned one years old in the Happiest Place on Earth where she was SHOWERED with love by the characters she met there. The dog that was once terrified by these characters played tricks with Goofy. He sat. She sat. He downed. She downed. He shook. She shook. He rolled. She rolled. Goofy kept coming to see her and her amazing skills. Woody, Mickey, the Princesses, and Pluto also came many times.

Rest In Peace Flower

My assistant puppy raiser, Flower, passed away on Wednesday. She was 2 1/2 years old, very old for a rat. She had grown uncomfortable and had lost her sense of balance, unable to walk straight or figure out how to get to her water bottle. She was very cute. Her job was to teach my dogs to be kind to small creatures and also to be entertaining to me. I bought her on my birthday, after losing my last rat, Chaos, that morning. She helped to raise Lacey, Sunke, Belle, and Genevieve. She will be missed. In the photos, is also pictures of her sister, Thumper, who died about two years ago. Now they rest together in the backyard.

Flower as a Baby

Flower and Lacey

Flower and Sunke

At two years old...

Belle and Flower

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Happy Birthday, Diva!!!

My darling Diva (Genevieve) turned the big 1 on September 5th! We celebrated in Disneyland and she had an absolute blast. She got the day off from working. She mostly ran around the hotel room playing with her new toy. I think she had a supremely good day.

The next day she went to Disneyland and wore her button. She had A VERY good time at Goofy's Kitchen. The night before her birthday we went to Premium Seating of Fantasmic, where she got her own front row seat. I briefly considered asking the Cast Members there to sing "Happy Birthday" for her. LOL. There will be more on that in the trip report. There is even some YouTube videos!