Motion Sickness

                                                Bailey enjoying a fall car ride

We had just turned into our subdivision--the finish line of
a successful car ride and visit to Dr. B in sight. I looked at him in the

rearview mirror. He looked back with that familiar expression. 

We weren’t going to make it…

Motion sickness is more commonly seen in puppies than adult
dogs primarily because the ear structures used for balance are not fully
matured yet. There are many adult dogs that
still experience motion sickness long after the ear structures develop
though.

My Bailey is one of those dogs.

Whether puppy or adult there are a few things you can do to
make travel easier and more fun for you and your pooch.

First schedule an appointment with your pet’s veterinarian
for a physical and to discuss the issue.

Granted getting to those
first few appointments may be a little stressful so consider

crating your dog or placing several old towels or blankets down

to make clean up easy. It’s also often helpful if the pet faces
forward during travel to eliminate sickness.
A secure doggie seat belt will help with proper placement. 

If Sadie is riding in the front passenger seat please be aware that

passenger airbags can pose a danger to pets. And remember, your dog is not nauseous on
purpose (would you be?) so never punish or ridicule a pet with motion
sickness. A simple “That’s okay, we’ll
clean it up when we get home.” or “Does your tummy feel better now?” in a
soothing voice may make you & the dog feel a little better.

Teach Sadie that car rides are a wonderful experience. With the car parked

and engine off, lead Sadie close to it and offer a yummy treat.
Now open the car door and offer the yummy treat. Working slowly

over several days or weeks (at your dog’s comfort level) place Sadie in
the car or have her jump into the seat as yummy treats rain down. 

When your pooch learns that the car is a fun place, start the engine. 

You’ll slowly add backing down the driveway and touring your

neighborhood before venturing out for longer trips. Move at a pace
comfortable for Sadie and her tummy. If she does suffer nausea don’t

become frustrated, simply go back one step and
work forward from there.

Once your dog has the hang of things you may want to phase out

the yummy treats since an empty tummy is best for travel.

If it’s safe, crack or open the car windows slightly when
traveling. This will help equalize air pressure in the vehicle and allow

fresh air to circulate. Keeping the car cool will help, too.

Bailey and I once traveled two hours in 15 degree weather with

three windows open (we repeated the 2 hour trip the next day with 4 inches

of snow on the ground). Yes, all heat vents were pointed in my
direction and on full blast! Keeping fresh air moving is key to keeping

Bailey’s tummy happy—my toes can thaw out later.

Ginger has a calming effect on tummies, so you might try
offering one or two gingersnap cookies 15 minutes before your next car trip.

Try changing vehicles. Maybe your pooch has grown to associate

mom’s SUV with motion sickness but dad’s sedan makes a car trip

easier on her tummy.

I have a friend whose dog must ride in the family truck, on the

middle of the backseat, facing forward.

Making your destination a fun one will help build a positive
reinforcer that car travel equals fun trips to the dog park,

hiking and pet store for browsing for a new toy.

If you have more than one dog, try putting both dogs in the
car together. Some pooches feel more
secure if their playmate is with them on car trips.

If these suggestions do not relieve the problem then you may
want to discuss the option of medication with your vet. 

Never give Sadie any medication, even over-the-counter,
without first discussing it with your vet.
Anti-nausea drugs, antihistamines and phenothiazine all work to calm
nervous tummies and riders. But as with
any medication therapy, it should be an owner’s last option for treatment.

Bailey is in the small percentage of pooches for which the above classical
conditioning and natural remedies have not been effective. He
does require medication for even the shortest trips.

A little patience, practice, planning (car trips are not
spontaneous for Bailey) and a positive attitude can help both

pooch and owner overcome motion sickness.

***We should note that some dogs may have a learned fear of
travel. They may foul a vehicle through
no fault of their own but because of a previous traumatic experience. 

Maybe they were dumped onto a roadside from a
car? As with motion sickness, the animal
should never be punished for this behavior.
Please speak with your vet about this behavior, seek help from a
certified animal behaviorist and ask your local positive reinforcement trainer
for tips on classical conditioning.

Photo courtesy of Amy Callahan Photography http://amycallahan.com/

Sheila Rinks is the editor of Finding Fuzzybutt Four, producer of the Raising Indiana podcast and shares her home with her husband, 4 Great Pyrenees and 2 very well-fed kitties.

Raising Indiana: Dr. Stanley Coren

I don't know how she does it but boy I tell ya, Sheila, our righteous producer, finds some incredibly fascinating guests.  This week we have Dr. Stanley Coren, he's a psychologist, lifelong dog trainer, prolific author and a genuinely enjoyable fellow to talk with.  

His books have been both controversial and ground breaking.  The Intelligence of Dogs ranks 110 breeds according to their intelligence.  Want to know why you're drawn to a Dachshund or a Labradoodle?  Get a copy of his very popular book, Why We Love the Dogs We Do.  

Pet Myths

Pet Myths
Author, Jan Casey
“Denver the Guilty Dog” has received over seven millions views on Youtube. The video became so popular, dog and owner were quickly signed to appear on Good
Morning America. Denver the Labrador was filmed “acting guilty” as his
owner berated him for allegedly pilfering cat treats from a mangled bag. Unfortunately, Denver was not acting guilty, he was responding with appeasement behaviors.
Uncomfortable with the camera eye “staring” at him (stares are considered aggressive behavior by dogs) and aware his owner was angry, Denver was trying to calm
down his owner using the tool dogs use best – body language. Every person who understands dog body language was cringing at the misinformation being given to the public. They felt for Denver, too, as he is stuck with an owner who does not understand what the dog is so clearly trying to tell him. (for more on guilt, see: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090611065839.htm)

Animals are a central component of many myths and urban legends. Ever heard of the cactus which exploded a short time after being brought in from the desert, releasing thousands of baby tarantulas? Not true. While it is probably
not good for cactus sales, the story doesn't harm spiders. Other animal folklore taken as fact: ostriches bury their heads in the sand when frightened, penguins fall over
backwards when looking at airplanes, and toads cause warts. Again, all are popular
tales, none are true, and they have little-to-no effect on the well-being of
ostriches, penguins, or toads.

When it comes to our pets, however, folklore is abundant and often does
negatively affect their welfare. The very thing we use to help us connect with them – shared behaviors and emotions – can work to their detriment when we try to explain unique animal behaviors in human terms.

How many feline lifespans have been shortened by tales based on fiction
rather than fact? New parents are warned that a cat, jealous that he must
now share attention, may suck the breath out of a baby. A cat may be accused of mistaking the cries of a baby for the cries of another cat, provoking the cat to smother its competition. Hearing such tales, frightened parents re-home, abandon, or relinquish the cat to a shelter. Do cats have nine lives? Do they always
land on their feet? The answer to both questions is no, and cats will live
safer, more peaceful lives if people will learn the facts.

For man's best friend, the scenario is no better. Dog folklore includes both breed and behavior myths. Breed myths are interesting. “You have to watch out for Dobermans. They'll turn on you.” Normal, healthy dogs of any breed do not just go crazy, they give warning signals well in advance. People just don't recognize them. “Pit
Bulls have locking jaws.” Studies have found no locking jaw mechanism in any dog.
More breed myths: “all labs (or goldens) love people, especially children”; “Jack Russells make great lap dogs”; “border collies are easy to train”; “huskies are more closely related to wolves than other dogs.” People who accept
these breed myths as true may be in for a surprise.

Canine behavior myths are insidious. “Once a dog tastes blood, it will become a killer.” Did you become Charles Manson after you last ate rare roast beef? Dogs may bite (taste blood) more often if they learn that biting works to get them away from something they don't like. If small animals were injured or killed, the dog's fixed action pattern (prey drive) may have kicked in, making them oblivious to your recall. You may wish
to muzzle a dog who will be near small animals in the future, but there is no
reason to believe the dog will now attack people. In either case, it has nothing to do with developing a taste for blood. More training is called for, but not the destruction of the dog.

“A barking dog will not bite.” “Dogs who are wagging their tails are friendly.”
Believe these myths and chances are good you will get bitten. Barks have a lot of different meanings, one of which is to warn you to stay back or else be bitten. The same is true of tail wags – they have different meanings and not all are invitations to be friends. “Dogs are pack animals. A dog needs to have another dog in the house to be happy.” Sometimes dogs are forced to share their homes with other dogs when they
would be much happier as the only canine in the family. Dogs are loners,
scavengers who only form packs when necessary. “Dogs destroy your belongings because they are spiteful.” Dogs really don't understand the concept of
prized possessions or how hard you had to work in order to buy them. Objects are often chewed and mangled as a way for dogs to relieve anxiety or because they are bored.

Urban legends, myths, folklore can be harmless or they can cause misunderstandings which are detrimental to the well-being of pets.  If you've heard something repeated as fact, take a moment to research it. You'll enjoy your pets much more if
you truly understand why they do what they do.

Jan Casey is a reward-based trainer in Florida
at Courteous Canine, Inc. www.courteouscanine.com and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services www.smilesandwags.com. Mrs. Casey is a member of the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. Mrs. Casey is a columnist for the Cookeville,
Tennessee Herald-Citizen Pet Pages and Kid's Korner . This column was originally written for the Herald-Citizen www.herald-citizen.com.

Raising Indiana: Jim and Rene with Tripawds

Tonight's Episode is a particularly special one. My dear friends, Jim and Rene, with Tripawds join us to talk about adopting two and three legged canines and critters. We go way back to before the walk and share the same scar from losing a dog to bone cancer. Theirs was Jerry, a handsome shepherd mix who like mine, Malcolm, had a coolness about him and I had the great fortune to meet in 2008.

When Sheila, our producer extraordinnaire, put a couple of tripod Pyrenees up on the blog we came up with the idea for a show on how special needs dogs find good homes. Well, the dynamic husband and wife duo at Tripawds are doing just that. 

Raising Indiana Ep 6: Robert Mueller

What's in a name? Well, when it's BARF, I'd say alot. This week we're delighted to have on our podcast a true pioneer in pet nutrition and co-founder of BARF World, Robert Mueller, to talk about why the raw diet is better suited for puppies than cooked food or kibble.

Raising Indiana Ep 5: Temple Grandin

Hudson, Murphy & I were caught in a terrible storm system in Newark Delaware during our walk and holed up at a Red Roof Inn during which I had the awesome opportunity to watch a movie about this week's guest, Dr. Temple Grandin.  I'd heard about her research along our travels but until I watched it I had no idea of its sweeping significance in many aspects of our society, human and animal. 

The film and her books are powerful and affecting... To learn more about her lifelong devotions and adventures, visit Dr. Grandin's website

Raising Indiana: Ep 4 Intro Into Training

This week's podcast is our very first on training and we're fortunate to have with us Cindy Ludwig, a certified trainer with the Karen Pryor Academy to introduce us to the basics.  She's the owner of Canine Connection in Dubuque Iowa and a specialist in clicker training and a frequent contributor to Finding Fuzzybutt Four.  If you, like me, don't know where to begin this is the perfect podcast for you. 

Raising Indiana Ep 3: Dog Food.. Damn, Where Do I Begin?

Broadcasting from outside of Boston, Episode Three is the first of many, many on diet and nutrition. It's a complex, contentious topic with lots of confusion and a whole host of theories.  Karla Haas owner of Rudy Greens is with us this week with a wealth of knowledge and experience on the subject. 

 

The Other End of The Leash...

...should be a place of positivity and continous learning, which is also what you will always find here at FFBF.

One of my favorite blogs is written by Dr. Patricia McConnell, Applied Animal
Behaviorist, Trainer and compelling author and speaker. Sheila

THE OTHER END OF THE LEASH

Welcome to an ongoing inquiry about the behavior of people and dogs. I would
like this to be a forum for people who are both intellectually and emotionally
fascinated by the behavior of the animals at both ends of the leash. My hope is
that it will become a place for an informed and thoughtful consideration of the
amazing relationship between people and dogs—my two favorite species.

http://www.theotherendoftheleash.com/

Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, (CAAB) has made a lifelong
commitment to improving the relationship between people and animals. She is
known worldwide as an expert on canine and feline behavior and dog training,
and for her engaging and knowledgeable dog training books, DVDs and seminars.
Patricia has seen clients for serious behavioral problems since 1988, and is an
Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison,
teaching "The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships."
For fourteen years she dispensed advice about behavior problems, and
information about animal behavior research, on Wisconsin Public Radio's Calling
All Pets, which was heard in over 90 cities around the country.



A highly-sought after speaker on
dog behavior and training, McConnell has presented seminars all over the United States, and in Canada,
Germany, Australia, Sweden,
Belgium and New Zealand. In
2011 she'll be speaking in Texas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Scotland and Madison, WI.
(see
Events).



She is the author of
the much-acclaimed books The Other End of
the Leash (which is now published in 13 languages), For the Love of A Dog: Understanding Emotions in
You and Your Best Friend and Tales
of Two Species. Her self-published book and booklets on dog
training and dog and cat behavior problems continually receive rave reviews
from professional trainers, veterinarians and dog and cat lovers from all over
the world. Dr. McConnell is also the behavior columnist for the Bark magazine (www.thebark.com) "the New Yorker of Dog
Magazines") and writes for many other publications, including APDT's
Chronicle of the Dog and Natural History. She has made numerous television
appearances, including spots with Anderson Cooper on CNN, Martha Stewart and
Wayne Brady.



Patricia received her Ph.D. in
Zoology in 1988 from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison
researching dog behavior and communication between professional trainers and
working domestic animals. Her dissertation received the prestigious Allee Award
from the Animal Behavior Society in that same year. Patricia and Nancy Raffetto
founded Dog's Best Friend, Ltd in 1988. Dogs Best Friend Training, LLC is now
owned and operated by the very capable Aimee Moore of Madison, WI. For more
information about dog training classes and behavior consultation in the Madison, WI
area, go to www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com.
Patricia has one dog, one confident cat and a very spoiled flock of sheep on a
small farm in Southwestern Wisconsin. Her two
Border Collie, Willie, keeps her outside and active, and the memories of her
beloved Great Pyrenees, Tulip, keep her humble. Trisha suffers from Separation
Anxiety each time she leaves her dogs at home when she leaves on her numerous
speaking engagements around the country.

Courtesy of theotherendoftheleash.com

Training Foundation-"Watch"!

Clarence, showing off his "Watch" command.

Training the Foundation
Behaviors – Watch!

Author, Jan Casey

If you have a spouse or
a child, you have probably started a conversation with him or her only to hear
minutes later, “What? Were you talking to me?” How do you know if the recipient
of your verbal wisdom is even listening? Generally, that person will be looking
at you, giving you eye contact, not locked in on the TV or absorbed in reading
the paper. So why not apply this concept to training your dog?

The uses for “Watch!”
are endless. “Watch!” can help the dog attend to the handler while heeling,
refocus the dog on the trainer instead of the squirrels trying to interrupt
agility practice, or distract the dogs from barking at the toad that is here to
kill us all. Attention is one of the first basic cues all owners should teach
in order to build a great training foundation. After all, you can’t teach her
if she’s not paying attention!

I love clicker training
because it is dog friendly, scientifically sound, and effective. Teaching the
dog to attend to you begins by what we call “loading the clicker.” It’s really
very easy. Set a small bowl of soft, super-yummy treats next to your chair,
have the dog sit or stand by that chair, click the clicker, then give your dog
a treat. Repeat until the dog begins to automatically look for the treat after
hearing the click. No clicker or a sound sensitive dog ? You can just use the
word “Yes!” in place of the click. Now that your dog is eagerly anticipating
her treat after hearing the click, you are ready to teach the dog to “Watch!”

Okay, up and out of the
chair! With a smile on your face, hold a treat in your hand near your face. The
dog will look from the treat to your eyes, wondering why you have failed to
recognize that all treats belong in her mouth, not your hand. The second she
looks at your eyes, click and feed her the treat. While it is best to have the
dog look you in the eye, some dogs will avoid it as this is often an invitation
to fight in the doggy world. If your dog indicates discomfort with eye contact,
settle for a look at your chin. Practice repeatedly and when she begins to
spend less time worrying about the treat in your hand and more time looking
into your eyes, turn your back on her. She should run around to be in front of
you again – after all, she has learned that eye contact is rewarding! Be sure
to click and treat when she comes to face you and looks into your eyes.
Practice, practice, practice!

It’s time to add the
word “Watch!” to cue her to look into your eyes. Give your cue word, turn your
back, then click and treat when she runs to where you are facing and looks into
your eyes. Are you still smiling? It’s important!. Practice, practice,
practice! Once the dog is excellent at this, you can use play or any other fun
activity like tug or fetch to reward the dog.

Once you have a 90%
success rate, cue “Watch!” without turning and lengthen the time the dog must
hold eye contact. Treat the dog for longer and longer eye contact. When you
have achieved a prolonged stare, begin to work on distractions. This is
extremely important for dogs who will be entered into show events, where there
will be guaranteed distractions from loud noises to loose dogs. Chris Bach,
developer of The Third Way Training System, a system that uses guidance and positive
techniques rather than force and punishment to train dogs to the highest level
(check out her website www.trainthethirdway.com),
suggests dropping a rock. If the dog maintains eye contact, click and treat. If
the dog looks at the rock and then back at you, click and treat. If the dog
stares at the rock, pick it up and try again. Using games like this will teach
the dog that attending to you is much more rewarding than anything else that
happens. Be sure to do these proofing exercises in many different situations
and locations. Once you have duration and distraction conquered, work on
“Watch!” from a distance. Start a foot back and work up to 100 feet away.

An important reminder:
as you add new criteria, like the addition of distraction, temporarily relax
previous requirements. In other words, don’t expect a 3 minute watch when you
first add distraction. Are you still smiling? I hope so. This is a game – make
sure you and your dog are having fun!

Jan Casey is a
reward-based trainer in Florida
at Courteous Canine, Inc. www.courteouscanine.com
and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services
www.smilesandwags.com. Mrs.
Casey is a member of the Association of Animal
Behavior Professionals. Mrs.
Casey is a columnist for the Cookeville,
Tennessee Herald-Citizen Pet
Pages and Kid's Korner . This column was originally written for the Herald-Citizen www.herald-citizen.com.

Housebreaking

Housebreaking
Author, Jan Casey

I received a card from
the UT alumni association requesting I update my information with them. Just
call the 800 number and verify what I had already mailed them, which I did. We
got through the name, graduation date, degree and got to current profession –
Pet sitter and Dog Trainer. The young man on the other end paused, then asked
“Do you really train dogs for a living?” I laughed and told him I did. He told me
he had two dogs, a dachshund and a rat terrier. After another pause, he said
“You know, I have a question I have wanted to ask a trainer for a while. My rat
terrier will go to the bathroom outside, but will always mark again when he
comes back in. Why does he do that?” I have had similar questions from other
frustrated owners.

My first request of any
owner concerned about a dog who soils the house is to take the dog to the
veterinarian for a check up. Urinary tract infections are more common than one
would expect. Trying to correct a soiling problem that has a medical cause will
make an owner (and a trainer) crazy. Once a medical cause is either ruled out
or corrected, the problem can be addressed. When looking for a way to stop the
behavior, it is important to review several facts about the dog: age, size,
weight, medical history, housebreaking history, changes in the household, just
to name a few. Next , a review is made of the daily routine including how many
trips outside per day the dog makes, what times, and in what area does the dog
take care of business. From there, the owner and I work together to try to
piece together the puzzle of “Why?”

There is no way I could
address in one sitting how to correct the problem of house soiling. There are
many reasons why a dog may do this and a solution would be based on the
individual dog. The information I am providing may or may not help your dog,
but it would be a place to start. If your dog is not very young or not very
old, not sick, and is being given enough opportunity to relieve himself
outside, then here are some suggestions.

First, be sure you clean
the carpets with an enzymatic cleaner such as Nature’s Miracle. The scent of
urine encourages a dog to use that spot again and again and must be removed
completely. Next, you will be working with your dog as if he has never been housetrained.
This will mean your dog no longer has free run of the house. If you are home
and wish to let the dog be loose in the house, tie the dog to you or tie him to
a piece of furniture in a location where you can watch him at all times. If you
cannot watch the dog, the dog should be crated. The general rule of thumb for
the length of time a dog can hold his bladder is 1 hour per month of age plus 1
hour. A two month old dog should be able to hold about 3 hours. Dogs should go
out immediately upon awakening, within 15 minutes of eating or drinking, and
more often when the dog is playing.

How to take the dog
outside is another part of the equation. You must walk with the dog in order to
know if the dog has taken care of his business. Try to take the dog to the same
area each time as the scents will be the strongest there. Some trainers suggest
walking in a small circle while in that area as dogs will often circle before
they go. When you see the dog doing the job, praise, praise, praise! Do not go
back into the house immediately, especially if your dog enjoys being outside.
This will only teach them to hold it so they can stay outside longer. That can
be miserable when weather conditions are less than ideal.

If you are unable to
take your dog out as often as he needs (remember, small dogs have small
bladders), you should look into the options of having a friend or neighbor walk
him midday, hiring a dog walker, taking him to doggy day care, or setting up a
small area which consist of a crate, water, and absorbent pads or a doggy
litter box in a confined area.

How long will it take to
fix the problem? It depends on how long the dog has had this behavior. Do not
expect a quick fix, especially if your dog has been using your house as his
toilet bowl for some time. The longer the behavior has been happening, the
longer it will take to fix it. If your dog has an accident, hit yourself with a
newspaper for not watching him more closely. Punishing him will only teach him
to be more careful in the future not to potty in the house when you are nearby.

Jan Casey is a
reward-based trainer in Florida
at Courteous Canine, Inc. www.courteouscanine.com
and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services
www.smilesandwags.com. Mrs.
Casey is a member of the Association of Animal
Behavior Professionals. Mrs.
Casey is a columnist for the Cookeville,
Tennessee Herald-Citizen Pet
Pages and Kid's Korner . This column was originally written for the Herald-Citizen www.herald-citizen.com.

When Choosing a Dog Trainer, Buyer Beware!

When choosing a trainer for puppy or adult dog “talk with the trainer you
might use. Observe a class. The only way to know for sure the trainer uses
current, positive methods is by contacting and asking questions. If the trainer
suggests any methods that use force or pain, run quickly in another direction.”
Jan Casey, reward-based trainer and member of the Association of Animal Behavior
Professionals

When Choosing A Dog Trainer, Buyer Beware!

August 27, 2010 by Leah Roberts for http://www.dogstardaily.com/

http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/when-choosing-dog-trainer-buyer-beware

In 1981 Dr. Ian Dunbar developed the first Sirius Puppy Training Class http://www.siriuspup.com/about_history.html,
he was and remains a leader in puppy & dog training and an advocate for
proper training practices.

Dr. Ian Dunbar and SIRIUS® established the hallmark for puppy classes and its concept
has been adopted and adapted by most educated trainers.

Does Wayne Brady Have to Choke a Puppy?

Ah the joys... Errr scratch that.  Argh the pains of raising a puppy.   Most days I’m just tolerating Indiana and the others I’m trying not to strangle him.  He’s a little terrorist and it’s like I’m harboring the youngest member of Al Qaeda.  If God didn’t make them cute and sweetly smelling...

Okay, okay… he’s not that bad but as Patty in Cincinnati astutely observed, emotionally I am keeping Indy at arm’s length.  That was also the case when Hudson was a puppy so perhaps it’s because I don’t fall in love easily or that’s the natural arc of life’s circle.  I am uncertain.

Hudson has been my absolute priority these past months following Murphy’s death even after the adoption of the new puppy, but it’s time to put my pack back in order and that’s a tall one. 

When I envisioned the Finding Fuzzybutt Four blog I hoped not only would we be able to find a brother for Hudson but some good homes for other dogs, too.  And from there we could share all aspects of the puppy’s development since in large part I am having to re-learn being a Papi all over again. 

Honestly, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing with him but admitting you have a problem is the first step.  Starting next week, Sheila and I are proud to announce a series of weekly ‘puppy podcasts’ that’ll cover all aspects of what I need to know to raise Indy right - from training to nutrition, and toys to treats, and pack integration. 

Every week I’ll be talking with experts on different topics that we’re encountering and the podcasts will only be hosted here on Finding Fuzzybutt Four.  Stay posted…

Keep the Faith and Puppy Up! 

Hudson, Indy & Luke

So many blogs, so little time

Puppy Up! Blog

http://puppyup.blogspot.com/

puppy up! is
about the undaunted spirit of the dog! This Blog is dedicated exclusively to
them, to telling their stories, and open to all who want to share.

2 Million
Dogs-The Blog

http://2milliondogsblog.wordpress.com/

The blog to read to keep up with all things 2MD!- Blog Admin
is Erich Trapp

2 Dogs 2000 Miles Blog

http://2dogs2000miles.blogspot.com/

Want to know what Luke is up to or where he is—here’s your
answer start from him..

Finding Fuzzybutt Four Blog

http://findingfuzzybuttfour.blogspot.com/

A blog begun by Luke in the search of his next Great Pyrenees. This
blog covers all aspects of a safe, secure, happy, healthy, fun life for
adoptees; and how owners can step up their game with great training tips, behavioral
advice for issue management, and more fun surprises to come!

Bark Radio

FFBF wants to give a quick "bark out" to Terry & Dee from Bark Radio.

http://barkradio.com/

They are actually taking a little time off right now and working on a great project which I've asked Terry to share with us when he gets a free moment. But you can still check out all their past interviews & Good Dog News on their site.

Bark Radio

We're not done until every dog has a home

Blogging Bob, Scooby & Spain, Oh My

The Famous Blogging Bob!

Hi Everyone

Miss Sheila Rinks has kindly asked me to be a Guest Blogger
for Finding Fuzzybutt Four, because it is National Dog Week and because I am a
pro at this Blogging Business, I have kindly agreed to help out. I had to do a lot of thinking about what I
would share with you, but before I get started, maybe you will want to know
about me.

I am Bob. Just
Bob. Not Robert or Bobby or anything
like that…. Just Bob. I have been
writing a Blog for several years on behalf of our company which is called
Everything & The Dog and our home is in Leesburg, Virginia. My official title is Blogging Bob, Boy Bloginator
and PitBull Reporter Extra Ordinary, and since my blogging was voted the Best
in Northern Virginia by Northern Virginia Magazine, I am also somewhat of a
phenomena. I like that word a lot,
don’t you?

I met Mr. Luke and Hudson and Murphy when they stayed with
us for several weeks the summer before they made it to Boston. I like Mr. Luke and Ms. Ginger a great
deal. I liked Hudson and Murphy too,
but I liked them best from a distance.
I am, I guess, more of a people person-dog, and as much as it pains me
to say this, I am rather much un-nerved by dogs larger than I am. I like small, fluffy dogs a lot.

I went to Washington, D.C., which as you know is our
nation’s capital, and I walked with Mr. Luke and ‘da boys during the big March
on Washington for 2Dogs, 2000Miles. I
wore a pink bandanna that said “Puppy Up” and I was very proud of myself. I also behaved quite admirably in
consideration of the fact that there were a LOT of very large dogs marching
that day. When one is a PitBull, it is
very important to behave well in public, as we PitBulls suffer from some
terrible misunderstandings.

So now you know all about me, and if you would like to
follow my Blogging, you can do so simply by asking your Mouse Person to fly you
over to http://blog.everythingandthedog.com Do you have a Mouse Person? Mine is named MOPE and he is very important
to the success of my blogging. He
doesn’t have opposable thumbs either, but he is very good at navigating the
internet and helping me with my research.
If you don’t have a Mouse Person of your own, I suggest you get one,
pronto.

So now you know all about me, and I think that I have
already used up a lot of my time as a guest blogger telling you my story, so
what started out to be the introduction to my blogging, has now become my
Blog. HA. That’s the way things go around here. Sometimes I just don’t know what to say, so
I start thinking into my Mom’s head and we just take off running.

I would like to ask everyone who reads my entry, and who
will be following Finding FuzzyButt Four, to remember how important it is to
adopt dogs from shelters, no matter where you live. My sister, Lydia, who owns our company
(Everything and The Dog) is on the Board of Scooby North America. Perhaps you could take a moment and check
out Scooby if you are searching for a new addition to your doggie family. They happen to be in the country of Spain,
but they are very, very needy and their shelter is a miracle for all the dogs
they take in, many of whom are called Spanish Galgos. Spanish Galgos are very similar to
Greyhounds (who also need a lot of help finding homes), but the story of their
suffering in Spain is so tragic that it makes my eyes cry just even thinking
about them. Please ask your Mouse to
fly you over to http://www.scoobymedina.org where you can learn
everything about Scooby Medina in Spain and then to also take you to http://www.scoobynorthamerica.org so you can learn about Scooby North
America. Perhaps your next dog will be
coming to you on an airplane and speaking Spanish!

It goes without saying that I also want everyone to consider
adopting a PitBull. The story of the
terrible suffering of many of my brothers and sisters, is well known, but you
can find out more about us and how you can help, if you and your Mouse Person
take a trip to http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets/pit_bulls.cfm This is the official web place for Saving
America’s Dog, which is an outreach of Best Friends Animal Society in
Utah. My sister, Lydia, who has gone to
Spain to help with the Galgos, also went to Utah and volunteered at Best
Friends a few summers ago. She got to
work with some of the Michael Vick PitBulls and we try to follow their stories
whenever we can.

So perhaps this will give you some food for thinking about
if you are looking to add a new Best Friend to your household. We know that Mr. Luke is anxious to find
Hudson a new brother (or sister?) and that he would very much like to have a
Great Pyrenees. We respect that
decision and we will do everything we can think of to help him. But remember, it really doesn’t matter
“what” you adopt, just so long as you do it with your heart.

Happy National Dog Week to everyone! I hope that many of you will become my
friends and will follow my blogging. I
don’t think there are very many Boy Bloginators and PitBull Reporters just
sitting around waiting to write a blog, so hopefully you will think that I have
some unique perspectives of a wide range of issues. Besides.
I am pretty funny – most of the time.

Love and Licks, Bob

FFBF Future

Clarence, my Great Pyrenees, showing his Puppy Up! spirit.

Tomorrow Sunday, the 25th, ends Petfinder.com's "Less-Adoptable" Adoptable Week and begins National Dog Week.

One look at a calendar and it is apparent that we do love our four-legged friends because we devote more designated days and weeks to them than we do most humans.

Finding Fuzzybutt Four began with Luke and Hudson searching for a new member of their family. We met many fuzzybutts needing forever families and love. Now that Luke & Hudson have found Indiana, we will countinue to post Great Pyrenees puppies under 6 months that are available for adoption. I also have a special place in my heart for senior pyrs over 6 years old. These are the dogs that get passed by and overlooked but they have so much love to offer! We will be featuring these dogs as well.

I encourage our readers to help us spread our reader base by posting and sharing this blog with Rescues, Shelters and Animal Organizations.

Indiana has been found, and finally named but we will countinue the blog to cover training tips for puppies, behavioral issues and basic training 101 for all dogs. We'll cover fun tricks and games to play with your dog--you know colder weather is just around the corner which means more inside time. And, we'll discuss RPO, responsible pet ownership, with experts in the animal field. We'd like to know what topics you'd like to see covered & discussed--let us know in the comments section below.

We have guest bloggers lined up. Some with dewclaws, others with 10 fingers.

We'll talk about cooking for your dog and share recipes.

I'm looking forward to beginning a "Favorite Things" post!

And, we'll cover health topics. If you have a health issue with your pet we encourage you to seek medical advice from your vet. Myself and the other contributors to the blog are not doctors, we can only offer personal experience and opinion, which should never take the place of sound medical advice. That being said--what health topics do you want to see discussed here? Post ideas below.

I'm also excited about a Q & A section with one of our resident pyr-experts!

If you see an interesting story that you think should be featured on the blog, email me at sheila@2dogs2000miles.org.

So, we have many things in store for FFBF. Help us spread the word by sharing with all your friends and let us know your thoughts.

Puppy Up!

Blog Admin, Sheila

Puppy Socialization Part 2

Bailey, a then well socialized & happy 3 month old pyr-golden mix.  Bailey is 1 of my 4 pyr/pyr-mixes.  Sheila, blog admin.


The Most Important Puppy Lessons

Author, Jan Casey

Not long ago the question was raised on one of my professional lists – “What is the first and most important thing to teach a new puppy?” There were as many different answers as there were trainers responding to the question. I could not personally think of just one lesson I would teach above all others. Raising a well-behaved, social canine is so much more than just teaching a pup the basic behaviors of sit and down. It involves helping him develop the skills to exist in a world where owner expectations usually don’t include normal canine behavior. Since most studies show behavior issues are the main reason dogs end up in the shelter, it is vital for training to begin immediately upon the puppy’s arrival to his new home.

Many years ago, veterinarians recommended owners keep their puppies at home for at least six months in order to avoid exposure to diseases that immature immune systems may not be able to handle. Today, however, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has recognized the dangers involved in waiting to train the dog and they now recommend puppies as young as seven weeks begin socialization and positive training as long as the pup has received its first set of shots at least seven days prior to the first class, is parasite free, continues to receive its vaccinations on schedule, and attends classes in an environment that is clean and disinfected (http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/puppy%20socialization.pdf). This change came about due to the recognition of the short window of time critical to developing proper social skills for dogs. Up until sixteen weeks of age, normal puppies will be interested in socializing, overriding their fear of new people and situations. To take advantage of this, owners should begin immediately to introduce the puppy to new people in a way that will not overly stress the dog. Dr. Ian Dunbar, in his book Before and After Getting Your Puppy, suggests puppies should have met at least 100 different people by the time they are three months old. This includes males and females, all races, heights, weights, and ages, men with facial hair, people wearing hats, uniforms, scarves, or gloves, and those carrying umbrellas or canes. Allow calm children to play gently with the puppy while you supervise. The least stressful introductions will consist of allowing the puppy to approach the strangers rather than passing the puppy from person to person. As the puppy becomes comfortable, strangers should be encouraged to gently handle the puppy. Nothing is quite as wonderful as a dog who loves people!

As with socialization, bite inhibition has to rank as one of the top lessons you must teach your dog. The fact is ALL dogs can bite. Even dogs who have displayed wonderful personalities and who have been trustworthy companions may bite if they are afraid and/or in pain. Should that be a choice your dog makes, the severity of the bite may be limited if you have taught the dog to have a “soft mouth” early in his development. When your pup bites, remove yourself from his area so he no longer has the opportunity to interact with you, then return to play gently again. Giving him a 30 second time out in this manner will help him learn that biting makes the good thing (you) go away. You may see suggestions to say “Ouch!” before leaving, but for some dogs, this just makes the game more exciting and they bite more and harder. It may be better to say “Too bad!” in a normal voice just as you turn to walk away or just say nothing at all. Dogs, like people, are individuals, so you may have to experiment with your pup to find which technique works best. Once the puppy has learned that hard bites result in the fun ending and he no longer treats you like a piece of rawhide, it will be time to teach him not to bite at all.

There is so much more for a puppy to learn. Recall, give and take, and leave it are just a few examples of the many behaviors which should be taught so the dog can stay in his home for a lifetime. Puppies are fun, that is a given. It’s easy to skip the training and just play, but the game that was fun when the puppy was small becomes an obnoxious - and possibly dangerous - behavior when the dog is full grown with adult canine teeth. Take advantage of eagerness of the puppy to learn and spend several short (5 – 10 minutes) training sessions daily, teaching him how to behave appropriately around people, always rewarding the behavior you want. Every interaction between you and your puppy is an opportunity to create a well-behaved companion who will be a welcome addition to your family for a lifetime.

Jan Casey is a reward-based trainer in Florida and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services  http://www.smilesandwags.com/ . Mrs. Casey is a member of the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals.  Mrs. Casey is a columnist for the Cookeville, Tennessee Herald-Citizen Pet Pages and Kid's Korner  . This column was originally written for the Herald-Citizen  http://www.herald-citizen.com/ .                                                                    

Posted by blog admin, Sheila