The article I wrote two weeks ago in The Weekly Sun about Fake Service Dogs has been shared on Facebook almost 10,000 times. I have been contacted by many breed clubs from around the country and various other publications, and websites wanting to print the article, as well. I have no idea what the readership has now mounted to. Frankly, I am astounded.
I love my dog so much, she is my Fur Baby! This is anthropomorphism. What is anthropomorphism? It is humanizing dogs. Dogs are NOT furry humans. The media and pet suppliers, the dog training community and dog care specialist have begun to refer to dogs as “fur babies”, or “fur children”. Not a day goes by that we don’t see dogs in clothes that make them look like little children. I posted a photo on the Positive Puppy FaceBook page that had a Weimaraner with painted toenails and a bracelet on her leg.
So often, we take our puppy to a puppy class that lasts from 4 to 8 weeks, and then feel we have done what we need to do to teach our pup skills for a life time. While that class or private instruction is imperative to having a well behaved dog, it is only part of the equation. There are essentially four phases of training to a fully trained dog. Some of these phases are short in duration, others must continue for the lifetime of the dog.
I am called so many times being asked to help a family save their dog once it has bitten. There are so many things that go into making a decision about how to handle a dog that has bitten, and there is no easy solution. What I think, however, is very rarely addressed are the liability issues involved once a dog bites.
For many years, food has been an accepted way to train dogs. Now, however, I am finding more and more people questioning this. I think it is GREAT to question tradition or new training methods and to be a critical thinker. I question things frequently, and I can be a “Devil’s Advocate” in a lot of situations!!
Years ago, my daughter’s first dog, Lucy Jo, a corgi/sheltie mix became our absolute companion in every aspect of our lives. You might recognize her from the photo/logo on my Positive Puppy van. Lucy was a rescue and had been found foraging on the streets of Twin Falls. The Animal Control officer immediately adored her and gave her to a Sheltie breeder friend of hers which is where we got Lucy from. Lucy had many life persevering skills. She was fearless and a tough cookie. As cute as she was, she was a very wise pup. We would take her camping and hiking with us everywhere. When we camped, we fed her dinner as we had ours.
What does one have to do with the other? Right now, we are all excited about the longer days and warmer nights. For us, that means more time to spend with our dogs getting closer to the magnificent area we live in. Not a moment goes by for the dog lovers of the Wood River Valley, that we are not thinking about long hikes and getting back to nature, especially now after an incredibly hard winter.
What does one have to do with the other? Right now, we are all excited about the longer days and warmer nights. For us, that means more time to spend with our dogs getting closer to the magnificent area we live in. Not a moment goes by for the dog lovers of the Wood River Valley, that we are not thinking about long hikes and getting back to nature, especially now after an incredibly hard winter.
I don’t usually like to discuss equipment in this column because I think every dog is individual and training equipment and needs of the owner and dog need to be considered individually. But, there is some misinformation out there that should be addressed, so I hope I can do that here giving credit to both sides of the coin.
It’s that time of year again when our freedom will be celebrated with fireworks! Stands will abound all over the valley. If you have a dog that is terrified of fireworks, this time might be more stressful for you than any other time of the year. This year, with the incredible growth of extremely flammable weeds, the fireworks can cause additional stress for you because you are not only concerned for your dog, but you also feel fearful for your own safety. When we are stressed, our dogs will sense that fear and stress right along with their own. Now the problem has even intensified from the usual 4th of July celebrations.
AFTER AN EXTENDED MEDICAL LEAVE, I WILL BE RETURNING TO WORK MARCH 1st!
