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    Protection or Aggression?

    Protection or Aggression?

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    I spent the weekend with my family, including my grandson, 2 ½ year old Ben.  What was incredibly interesting to me was the roll that Baewulf took in becoming a guardian for Ben.  In a series of photos I took, I recorded some beautifully demonstrated guardianship of Ben between Baewulf, my almost 11 year old long coat, black and red retired service dog and baby Cloud.  There is no act of aggression in these photos.  What is demonstrated is what is call “splitting”.  Splitting is when one dog comes between someone a dog feels protective of, putting distance between the person (or dog) and another person or dog.  It is a natural and very desirable behavior.

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    My Dog is so Protective of Me

    My Dog is so Protective of Me

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    I was at a park a few years ago and watched a woman sitting at a bench next to a picnic table with a little dog on her lap.  As she at her lunch, she occasionally gave the little fellow a nibble of her sandwich.  Along came a couple of little girls about 7 or 8 years old, minding their own business with some dolls in their arms walking over to the big toy.  As they approached the woman with her little dog, the dog watched intently.  When the girls got closer, the dog jumped up, standing on his owner, barking and snarling fiercely.  The owner quickly patted him, telling him it was okay.  As the girls left, the woman went back to her sandwich and giving her dog nibbles.

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    Proper Puppy Socialization

    Proper Puppy Socialization

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    Socialization needs to begin the moment you bring your puppy home.  However, most folks think it means to let your puppy play with every dog she sees.  And, usually, there is no structure to the play time.  Unfortunately, it is not advisable for your puppy to play with strange dogs until she has had all her vaccinations.   Many times, that means 16 weeks old!  However, BEFORE that 16 weeks of age is it CRITICAL for your puppy to have experiences with other dogs and people.

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    Prevention or Crisis Intervention Dog Training?

    Prevention or Crisis Intervention Dog Training?

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    In many ways, puppies are like human babies that are like little sponges that absorb every little thing around them.  Although, puppies are still DOGS, not people. They engage with you at a much earlier age and can learn as early as 3-5 weeks old.  In fact, there are some critical learning periods at that 5 week old marker and up to 8 weeks.  During that 5 week age it is critical that puppies have positive experiences with older dogs that are fair and patient with puppies.  This period of time is crucial dog to dog socialization.  Many good breeders will allow puppies to socialize with older dogs for exactly that purpose.  Puppies that have this experience are usually much more social with other dogs than pups that are not given this experience.

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    Preventing Dog Bites

    Preventing Dog Bites

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    The first step to preventing dog bites is to realize that all dogs have the potential to bite given the right situation.  For us to believe that our dog will never bite, no matter what, is unrealistic.  Even the most docile, sweet Golden Retriever can decide to nip a youngster lying on her sore, arthritic hip.

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    Do You Pressure Your Dog?

    Do You Pressure Your Dog?

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    In this day of the purely positive training philosophies that insist dogs do not have to endure pressure of any kind, I am astounded that a wider consciousness has not been taken.  I want my training to be humane, honest and fair.  This article is not entirely about training philosophies, but more about everyday life that our dogs are exposed to and the expectations we dog owners have of our dogs.

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    The Power of Barking!

    The Power of Barking!

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    “What do we bark for? “ “FOOD! “ “When do we bark!” “ NOW!” “What do we bark for?”    Attention!”   “When do we bark?”  “NOW!!!” Sound like the mantra at your house?  Truthfully, there is nothing more annoying to neighbors than a dog barking for recreation, or over-reacting to people walking by the house, or barking for a plethora of other reasons.  I see people with dogs who bark when they are on the phone, or on their computer.

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    The Power in PUPPIES!!!

    The Power in PUPPIES!!!

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    When we have children, we are quick to start reading to babies, providing them with educational experiences, socializing them, even taking them to an educational pre-school.  We would not lock them in a dark closet and expect them to come out when they are 2 years old as a well adjusted child. In the past 2 to 3 years, I have seen this phenomenon happening more and more with our puppies.

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    Pleasure or Pressure?

    Pleasure or Pressure?

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    It’s okay if your dog does not get along with other dogs!  Let me say that again, it’s okay if your dog doesn’t get along with other dogs!  For some reason, everyone has come to believe that their dog must be social and NEEDS to spend time with other dogs.  This simply is not true and this belief has put our dogs into situations that they feel uncomfortable with and subsequently, enormous pressure, too. This can ultimately lead our dogs to respond aggressively to other dogs to protect themselves.

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    Pit Bulls

    Pit Bulls

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    Uh oh!!  I am treading on sacred waters here!  A few months ago, I wrote an article about Fake Service Dogs, and in it I mentioned that a guide dog had been attacked by a pit bull in a grocery store and now had to be retired because she became defensively reactive to other dogs.  It went viral on Facebook with over 10,000 shares. It wasn’t how many shares it got, but how many chastised me for having mentioned it was a pit bull that attacked the German Shepherd.  My response was, “I am honest and that is what happened.”  

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