Re direct

Visit my new blog:

www.Dogtrainingbykate.com

hope to see you there!!!!!

Donuts!!

One of the blogs I read religiously - among several - is
Chickens in the Road
http://suzannemcminn.com/blog


If you've not read it - you are missing out!
Suzanne has the life I crave - worked her butt off to get it too. I want what she has!
Well, I'd have more dogs. And a dog training business. And probably no sheep. Sheep are silly creatures, full of wool and nonsense.

But other than that!!!

Today she wrote about making donuts. I'm not working outside the house today. And - I have a sick kid so no church. I'm staying home and loving every second of it.

And I'm making donuts.


I realized I'd been relying on my bread machine way too much. I can't remember the last time I kneaded dough. Luckily like riding a bike, it came right back. A soothing routine that makes all things right with the world.

Check out her blog if you haven't. Its worth the trip.
And I'd offer you a donut - but even the sick kid isn't so sick he won't eat donuts till they are all gone.

Unneutered males

And of course my big question is WHY??
People usually give three reasons for not neutering.
One. It costs too much.
Two. It will change their personality or its mean - or my husband won't let me.
Three. I want to breed.

To me, none of those are good excuses.


There are spay/neuter programs. You can get it done cheaply if you make an effort. My opinion also is, if you can't afford a dog, don't get a dog. Shots, food, grooming, equipment, training and spay/neuter are all costs of owning a dog. I don't have as many dogs as I would like because I can't afford it. Part of being an adult - postponing gratification till you can afford it.


Husbands can be funny about neutering. Doesn't bother them at all to get a female spayed - but you go messing with the important things! Well, now, you've done quit preaching and gone to meddling, as they say.
I'm good with dogs - human males, not so much. And personally, I've not noticed neutering changing personalities at all - the occasional mellowing - but. It does ease frustration. It stops a lot of hormones from coursing into their.....brains..... And honestly, I think its meaner not to - think of it - all that need rushing to parts that can not be used! How mean is that?? (remember being a teenager?? whoa baby!)


Breeding. Don't breed. Just don't do it. Do you have any idea how many tons of dogs are put to sleep in your home town because they have no homes?? The world does not need your dog's offspring. Especially not needed is puppies from your dog with biting and aggression issues.
If you are not a professional breeder - don't breed. No. Stop. Quit even thinking about it.


Tonight is my Aggressive dog class. Lots of testosterone floating around in there. So far I've not talked any of them into neutering. But I've got weeks yet to discuss it. And I shall - oh, yes, I shall.

The secret to finding dog training time!

One of the most common complaints I get is 'I didn't have time!' to do whatever was needed with the dog.

No time to provide exercise opportunities.
No time to teach a trick.
No time to practice desired class skills that they paid to learn.

And of course the big one - no time to housebreak.

I understand no time. I really do.
I also know I make time for the things that are important to me. I make time to read my paper every day. Very rare are the days when there isn't enough time for me to do that. I almost always check and answer my email. There is time for that. I mention tv and there is a show or two that people always watch. Won't miss!

So one time trick that I use is - train your dog during commercials. You remember those commercial things. People are trying to sell you something and you fast forward through them. Stop fast forwarding through them. Let them roll - hit the mute button and do something else.

Teach your dog a trick. Work on stay. Call them to come three times and give them treats and kisses. Reinforce down. Go out and ring the doorbell and have the dog do what you chose for them to do instead of becoming hysterical idiots barking and jumping at the door.

Then sit down and watch your show again. Then next commercial set - do it again.
There is no hard and fast law that training has to take place in cute twenty minute blocks of time. Incorporate the training time into your day. Into down time, into time already being spent with your dog. Two or three minutes of commercial time is so much better than no time.

Come when called

One of the many things I enjoy teaching is 'come'.
The goal for come would be to have your dog run right up to you, sit right in front of you and wag their tail really hard and really fast in sheer and utter joy.
Unfortunately, that isn't what happens most of the time.

Either you call the dog to come, and he comes and jumps all over you - or you call him to come and he runs the other way 'its a game!'. Or even worse - you think he's coming, then he comes pretty darn close - and veers away, laughing hysterically at his own cleverness!
My idea of come is that it should be a party from day one. The very best choice your dog has made. Come and you get a treat. Come and you get petted. Come and party happens!

Think about it - if your boss or teacher calls you over, and you know you are going to get yelled at - you wouldn't come - or you come very very slowly! - too!

It doesn't matter if you chased her for an hour. If she comes and jumps muddy feet on you. If she is hiding in the corner, whimpering. Doesn't matter. Best thing that happened to her is that she came to you, you are together.
Call puppy early and often, From a foot away! Yay! You came. Take a step back and do it again! Double yay!!
Put two of your kids across the room or yard with a handful of hot dog - call puppy back and forth!
Puppy running your way? Kneel down, open your arms and 'come!!' Way to go!
Just like with 'sit' come is a learned command that takes much practise to be perfect. Set them up to win and make it a great thing that they do.