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Posted on December 10, 2009
How much fun are you having these days? Do you curl up with a blanket or go crazy like us?
Posted on December 8, 2009
Since I talked about using treats for dog training last Friday, I thought it would appropriate to share my favorite training treat with you this week.
I absolutely realize that many dog trainers might shake their head at me, now. Hopefully not for the reason that I’m harming my dog but simply because I am spending too much money on him. I have often heard that hot dogs, cut up in tiny pieces, are the most economical treat that every dog loves. Well, I am a sucker for marketing. I love new stuff, I love good looking stuff, I love cool names, packaging, design, you name it! So while training with Mac I have gone through a lot of different treats and I like to mix it up. But I find myself coming back to one specific treat over and over again. And that is ZUKE’S mini naturals. We started out with Peanut Butter, which Mac loved but not every other dog did. Right now we are going through a bag of Salmon flavor which Max and Trixie absolutely loved last weekend.
One thing that I absolutely love about them is that they are tiny. No need to cut up anything and no worries about giving your dog too many calories. Also, they are moist and a little smelly. The smell helps to get their attention and because of their size and consistency they are chewed up in seconds and my dogs attention is back on me and my next command and not on a hard cookie.
And although ZUKE’S offers three different flavors, which makes it easier for me to mix it up, I am always open for new treats. So what are you favorites? Feel free to comment below!
PS: I buy mine in Manhattan, either at the Aquarium or Scaly Dave’s.
Do you have a pet product you absolutely love and would like to share with the pet loving world out there? Send me your suggestion and if your product ends up on the blog you might just have a sweet little something coming your way!
Posted on December 7, 2009
Last weekend I spend an afternoon with Trixie, Max and their people. Trixie is the winner of the last Mutt Shots Contest. She is a two year old german short haired pointer and has more energy that you could imagine and so does her buddy Max, the english Cocker Spaniel. BUT that did not make it hard for me because both of them are sooooo well behaved! It was an absolute pleasure to spend the afternoon with you guys!
Part no. 3 of the past weekend had to be rescheduled, but no need to worry, Max the English Bulldog will still get his time to shine before Christmas. Stay tuned!
Posted on December 5, 2009
The first of my three sessions this weekend was at the Shelter in Wamego for the Pott. Country Humane Society (and one pup for the Riley County Humane Society). Who could not want these eyes???
This is Buddy. He has been with his foster parents for a couple of months and really wants a forever home! Go here to learn more about him.
This little gal is supposed to be some kind of a bulldog. I’m not sure about that, but look at that eyeliner! More about her, here.
This is Banjo, he is also with the Pott. Country Humane Society.
By the way, the Pott. County dogs are at the Manhattan Petco all weekend!
Posted on December 4, 2009
If you train your dog with treats I’m sure you have heard comments along the line of “Your dog only does it cause you have food” or “Why do you bribe your dog?” Don’t let them intimidate you!
There is a big difference between a reinforcer and bribing!
When I was working with horses, I was totally against treats and would never feed my horse out of my hand. On one hand because I had heard from old experienced trainer that it makes them more likely to nip or bite you. On the other hand because it felt like bribery to me. After researching a lot into learning theory, I somewhat changed my mind.
A positive reinforcer, e.g. treat, pet, play, is reinforcing wanted behavior. It is a reward, not a bribe. The key is not to show your dog that you have a treat to get him to do something. THAT would be a bribe and chances are your dog will only do what you want if you show him a treat again next time. A reinforcer can be exchanged or phased out after time, once your dog has understood what you want him to do.
How do you train your dog? What are your favorite rewards and what are the coolest tricks you have taught your dog using this reward? Feel free to leave your comments below!
Posted on December 2, 2009
On Monday afternoon Mac, Bella and I came back from a walk and were greeted by a wiggly and happy pointer boy. He is an escape artist and found his way out of the crate, while his people were at work. Luckily I was armed with my favorite leash (see yesterdays post) and could snap that handy little extra snap to his collar and bring him home. Fortunately for Kai, the dog, he was armed with tags full of phone numbers and his ID number. Thanks to Home Again I could get a hold of his owner immediately so she did not have to worry and could pick him up.
I don’t think that pets that “get lost” have irresponsible owners. I feel Kai’s moms pain, Mac has dug his way out of the yard before, too, and I was so grateful for the person who picked him up and called me immediately.
So are the infos on your pets tags up to date? It sounds like a no-brainer, but if you want to get your pooch back and don’t want to have him traumatized in a shelter, make sure you always update your phone number and address on your dog’s tags as well as on the website(s) his microchip number is registered on!
Kai was lucky and had a blast playing with us while he waited for his mom.
Posted on December 1, 2009
This might not be the most exciting or stylish pet product I have ever talked about, but it is, nonetheless, one of my favorites. I am particular about the leash I am using on my dog. Preferably no leash, at all, of course, but let’s face it, it’s just not safe to roam the town without having your dog on a leash. And Mac and I like to roam all kinds of towns. My favorite time, yet, was when we took a road trip from Kansas all the way to Oregon. Some places on the way were much more dog friendly than most towns, and even if stores aren’t dog friendly then you can still stroll through the streets and hang out on the terrace of a coffee shop or restaurant together.
Long story short. This is the leash I would take anywhere! Perfect length, perfect weight, perfect hooks to tie it to a chair or table in no time, without any hassle. And funny enough, I just read that (according to Petsmart) it is the number one choice for European pet owners. I have not owned a dog when I still lived in Europe, and yet I pick this one as my favorite… interesting. 
What I do notice though, is that americans who have been to Europe say that the dogs there are so much better behaved and always (always!) talk about the dogs laying under tables in restaurants. Just chilling out until their owners are done eating (hence needing the hooks to tie them to something while you eat). But why should that only be European? Go out and show them that your dog is just as good as those European ones!
And don’t let anyone tell you that all dogs in Europe are well behaved!
Do you have a pet product you absolutely love and would like to share with the pet loving world out there? Send me your suggestion and if your product ends up on the blog you might just have a sweet little something coming your way!