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10 reasons we are getting our next dog from a reputable breeder

6/20/2022

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We have committed.  We found our breeder and we have put a deposit down on a puppy so there is no turning back now.  We chose to get a puppy from a responsible breeder.  I’ve already been asked by a few friends “Why didn’t you rescue a dog?  There are SO many homeless dogs!”  So, if you are secretly wondering the same thing here’s a list of why we chose a buy from a breeder instead of buying a dog from a rescue.
  1. Compatibility.  My youngest dog, Walter, is a wonderful dog that we love very much but he has some quirks and challenges.  We must bring in a female and she has to be middle of the road in confidence.  Not so strong willed that she will constantly challenge him but also not such a push over that he will walk all over her.  My older dog, Stanley is well mannered and socialized with a rock-solid temperament, however I don't want a dog to come into the house and challenge his position since he is older.  We need a puppy, not an adolescent dog that the rescues and shelters offer.
  2. Timing.  When you work with a responsible breeder you know when the puppy will be born, when they are weaned and ready to come home.  This allows us to plan accordingly and be ready.  No spur of the moment decisions here or waiting endlessly for the “right” rescue to come along at the “right” time.
  3. Epigentics.  Many people get a puppy from a shelter or rescue thinking that they are getting a blank slate.  Quite often these puppies have behavior problems.  Especially fear.  Puppies are NOT blank slate.  Why?  Because of epigenetics.  In a nutshell, the experiences of the parents affect the offspring.  I want a dog with behaviorally sound parents.  Curious about epigenetics?  Here is a super quick explanation.  And a longer explanation here. 
  4. Early learning.  The eight weeks the breeder has the puppy is super important.  Why?  Because the foundation of every animal starts the minute they come into this world.  There are critical and important phases that all dogs must go through to develop into sound animals.  I want a dog from someone who understands these phases and meets all their needs - especially at critical times. 
  5. Health guarantee.  Reputable breeders carefully select the best health qualities in the dogs that they breed.  Every puppy born to a reputable breeder has parents that have gone through a series of genetic tests to ensure that the dog you get has the best possible chance of being healthy. So, an excellent breeder will give a health guarantee something like this:  “This puppy is guaranteed to be in good health and has been vaccinated and de-wormed properly for the puppy’s present age. The puppy has been thoroughly examined by a licensed vet, and given a clean bill of health. This puppy is guaranteed to the original buyer for two years against hereditary/genetic diseases, and hip dysplasia.”  That is not only piece of mind for me but also for my pocketbook.
  6. Back-up Plan.  Reputable breeders stand behind their work.  Here is what my breeder has to say “I can tell you my dogs will NEVER end up in a shelter. Not only will I buy back dogs if they can’t be kept, but if, by chance, a dog I produced ends up in shelter, it’s microchipped with me as a secondary contact that can’t be removed. I am responsible for all my puppies for life. Shelters wouldn’t even be needed if all breeders did the same.”  Again, piece of mind for many owners.
  7. Love of the breed.  I don’t want to end up in a world that just has “dogs”.  I love the variety of the breeds we have and don’t want to see them disappear.  Did you know that many breeds today have very small populations?  If some breeds were any other kind of animal, they would be considered endangered. You may find it hard to believe, but breeds can become extinct.  If we don’t support reputable breeders, we will lose them and lose the wonderful variety of dogs they breed.  For more on this idea read this blog.
  8. Stacking the deck.  Right now, I don’t have a lot of free time and the time I do have I don’t want spend on a lengthy behavior modification program with my own personal dog.  I’ve been there and done that with my previous dog, Jasper, so I know what it entails but that doesn’t mean I want to go there again.  At least not right now.  There is no perfect dog.  Getting a dog from a breeder doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have problems or challenges. Not all breeders are reputable but that’s a topic for another day.  By using a reputable breeder I believe I am going to stack the deck in my favor of getting a temperamentally sound and healthy dog. 
  9. Truth behind the curtain.  Rescues aren’t always what they seem.  Some are great and some are not.  "Don't buy while shelter dogs die" is great marketing.  It tugs at your heart strings.  But unscrupulous rescues and shelter organizations are responsible for importing almost double the number of dogs euthanized.  Why are "rescue organizations" not placing the dogs we have in the United States? Why are they spending donation money on importing more? There is such a thing as irresponsible rescue. “670,000 dogs are euthanized in US shelters every year.  1,000,000 dogs are imported from overseas by rescues every year.”  (Source – CDC & ASPCA) in addition, these dogs are often not healthy.  Here are just two examples from this year of poor health in imported dogs.  New strain of distemper and Rabies from Egypt dog.
  10. High expectations.  My new dog will be a working partner with me and that requires a level of skill that the average dog owner doesn't need.  It gives me piece of mind knowing that I will know everything my dog has experienced in his life so I am not surprised by an unexpected response in the middle of a training class or private session.
Where you get your dog is a personal individualized decision.  What is right for one person may not be right for another.  Rescuing a dog doesn’t make you a better owner, nor does it give you the right to judge anyone who hasn’t rescued a pet.  Being a great dog guardian isn’t based solely on where you got your dog but how you treat the dog for the rest of their life.  The quality of the relationship and life you provide the dog is what matters at the end of the day.

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10 Tips for a successful homecoming with your new dog

3/25/2022

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You have planned, prepared, and dreamed about adding a dog to your life and today is the day they come home with you.  You are so excited!  On the other hand, your new dog has no idea who you are.  All they know is that they have left their last “home” (whether it’s the breeder, a shelter, or a foster, it was still “home” to them), and now everything they know is gone. 
Homecoming can be pretty stressful for everyone in the family, most of all the dog.  This is especially true if the dog comes from a shelter or rescue situation.  What can you do to help your dog handle the stress of this transition?  Utilize these ten tips to help them ease into their new life with you. 

1.  Let them decompress
Younger dogs, especially puppies, will take less time to decompress than adult dogs.  Adult dogs from a shelter can exhibit fear, occasional aggression, or completely shut down.  Your primary job is to allow the dog to settle into their new surroundings and explore their new home on their terms at their own pace.  This does NOT mean leaving them unsupervised in your home – if you do, accidents will happen, things will get chewed on, and mistakes will be made.  I recommend allowing your dog to explore the home while you hang back, following them to guide them.   
2. Manage expectations
Don’t expect them to understand the rules of your home.  Don’t expect them to know where the toilet is or how to signal they have to go potty.  If your dog is a puppy, don’t expect them to sleep through the night.  Expect them to have an accident in the house.  Expect them to chew on stuff if you haven’t dog-proofed the home.  Don’t expect them to love you right away.  Relationships take time to build, and you might think it’s “love at first sight,” they may not feel the same way.  High expectations are a sure-fire way to get disappointed.  Give it some time.
3. Keep it calm and low key
A new dog needs a calm environment to acclimate.  Keep things quiet and peaceful in your home as much as possible. Every sound, movement, and smell will be new to them. This is especially challenging with kids in the house.  Yes, your dog needs to adapt to a busy household, but perhaps you can give them some time to settle in before the kids are jumping on the couch and running around screaming?
4. Give them space
Imagine going on vacation to a place you have never been with people you don’t know, and as soon as you get there, someone keeps hugging you or touching you.  Would you feel comfortable?  Probably not – especially if you just met the person.  Your new dog probably feels the same way.  Give them some space!  Resist the urge to shower them with affection.  Allow them to solicit engagement from you.  This doesn’t mean you can’t pet them but keep your sessions short and stay out of their face.
5.  Slow introductions
For the first week, keep your dog at home and limit visitors. When it comes time to make introductions to people and other pets, do it slowly. If you have other animals, it's best to let them get acquainted with the new dog outside your home. Take them on a walk and let them meet on the neutral territory if possible; an established dog may feel more territorial in the house.  If that isn’t possible, have them meet outside in a safe enclosed area on long leashes that don’t have tension.  I know you want to show your new dog to all your friends and family, but there is plenty of time for that later.  Let your dog start to build a relationship with you, so they know they have a safe person to go to if they get overwhelmed.  When they meet people and dogs, let them go to them and pay close attention to how they communicate comfort or discomfort.
6. Update their identification immediately
If your dog gets spooked and runs out the door or jumps a fence and doesn’t have identification, it makes it much harder for them to get back home safely.  The best tags are Red Dingo tags because they are guaranteed for life, but they take a week to arrive, so stop at the pet store and get a cheap tag until your permanent identification arrives.
7.  Crate train
Some new dog owners are not fans of using a crate.  For puppies, they are a must for housetraining and sleep training.  For adult dogs, they can be a tool that is familiar to them, and everyday things can be comforting.  You (as a human) might not like them, but many cautious dogs view them as a safe place to process all the changes that are happening daily.
8. Become a detective
Watch your dog for clues about their personality and what skills they may already know.  You are looking for deficiencies and strengths, and this requires you to see what they do naturally with no influence from you.  For instance, if you are walking in the backyard (fully fenced), pay attention to see if they follow you or do their own thing.  If they follow you, that is a clue that teaching recall might be fairly easy.  If they are busy doing their own thing and rarely look up to see where you are in relation to them, that is also a clue.  This isn’t about judging your new dog as “good” or “bad”; this is simply a tool to see how they respond when given a CHOICE.  Those choices will influence how you will train certain behaviors and will provide you with greater insight into how they see the world and how that will ultimately affect their responses to the world.
9. Establish a routine
Dogs, like us, are creatures of habit. The more predictable aspects of their new lives are, the faster they will acclimate to their new home.  Feeding, walking, playing, sleeping, and other daily activities can all be a part of your dog's regularly scheduled routine.  Routines can change, and some people have jobs that prevent a set routine, but the more predictable life can be, especially at the beginning, the easier the transition to your home will be for the dog.
10. Start teaching them life skills
Give them a week or two to begin settling into your home and do your detective work before starting any training program.  Giving them some time allows you to assess them to formulate a training plan.  Do they know any basic obedience?  Do you need to start at square one or somewhere in the middle?  Regardless of what they already know, I encourage you to start teaching them basic obedience – especially patience games!  When you teach (training), you are building a relationship, and the more positive experiences you share, the stronger your bond.  So, have fun with it, use tasty treats, and show your new dog that you are a fun human! 

If you follow these tips, it shouldn’t take long for your dog to realize that your home is now his home, and it’s safe to let his guard down.  Sometimes this results in a dramatic behavior change – both good and bad so be prepared that you might have a very different dog on day forty than you did on day two.  That’s ok!  You will figure it out but don’t hesitate to contact a professional for help, especially if you see fearful behaviors that don’t lessen in two or three weeks.  It could be transitional stress, or it could be more deep-seated fear behaviors.  When you work with a professional, they can help you avoid common misconceptions and pitfalls and help your dog feel safer faster than if you go it alone. 

If you are trustworthy, patient, and open to hearing your new dog’s communication, you will lay the foundation of a lasting relationship with your new friend.  A dog to walk WITH you through life because they WANT to be with you.


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What is my training philosophy?

3/23/2022

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Our dogs don't have a choice in the training methods we use but we do it's our responsibility as loving guardians to teach them without hurting them or damaging the potential of our lifelong relationship with them.

I believe that dogs have an amazing culture and communication system. I believe that just because it is different than ours does not make it inferior to ours, simply different.  Because we have different cultures we have to each learn about the other.  Our dogs have to learn our human culture and we should learn some dog culture.   It is our job to bridge the communication gap between species. We shouldn’t punish them for being dogs when we haven’t taken the time to teach them what behaviors we do want.  We must show them how to function best in this human world.  

I believe that when we are teaching our dog something new positive teaching methods are best.  However, I am NOT afraid to tell a dog “no”. When I do tell a dog no it is after I have thoroughly taught the dog what behaviors they can do.  I do not have to hurt a dog to tell then no and I don’t.  I don’t use choke chains, pinch collars, shock collars, or alpha rolls.  When I have to learn something new I hope that my teacher is patient, clear, shows me exactly what they want me to do and makes learning fun. I don't want a teacher who yells at me, makes me feel stupid, or hurts me to teach me and our dogs are the same way.


I also believe that
  • Dog training should be affordable to everyone -not a luxury item.
  • Dog training should be fun and educational for both dogs and people, not a power struggle.
  • Dog training should be about building trust and communication not instituting “control.”

Using humane, scientific learning theories, I’ll show you how to communicate with your dog so they become a happy, well-behaved, and reliable companion.  I will teach you how to listen to your dog and build a relationship based on trust and love.  I will show you both how to work together as a team.

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    Author

    I have been working with dogs for over 15 years-soon to be over 20.  I have two dogs currently - Stanley and Walter and two dogs waiting for me at the rainbow bridge - Maverick & Jasper.  My dogs have been profound teachers and I want to share what I have learned with you.

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