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    • Dog Friends

    Dog Friends

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    Not all dogs want to be friends with other dogs!  And it is a horrible myth that all dogs need to play with other dogs! What is most important to any dog is the relationship they have with you. There are genetic predispositions to a dog’s temperament that lets them be interested in other dog friends. For instance, Labradors and Goldens have a high desire to be with other dogs.  Many of the herding breeds and guardian breeds may not.  They can be offended by other dogs that are pushy and can get into a tussle if pushed too far with an obnoxious greeter.

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    Dominance!! That Evil Word

    Dominance!! That Evil Word

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    Never has there been a more highly debated conflict in opinion among dog trainers in the history of time. Either one purports the “Dominance Myth” or you are just wrong.  How difficult does this make finding a dog trainer for the everyday dog owner? 

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    Double the Fun or Double the Trouble?

    Double the Fun or Double the Trouble?

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    If you have ever visited my website, you will find a page called “No Bones About It” which is my two bits of free advice and how I arrived at this newspaper column title.  This is where I tell it like it is without any sugar coating. I talk about having two puppies, especially from the same litter: “Two puppies (especially siblings) are not better than one, unless you don't want to have any

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    Emotional Support Dog, Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs

    Emotional Support Dog, Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    A while back, a flight attendant was bitten by an Emotional Support Dog (ESA) and required 5 stitches.  This is a travesty for all dogs, service dogs, the flight attendant, as well as the general public. Being exposed to - with nowhere to escape inside a plane – an aggressive dog is a horrible experience.  Yet, consistently, people claim their pet dog to be an ESA by buying a doctor’s prescription online, and a vest. Anyone who does this is not only being fraudulent, but they are endangering themselves to legal liabilities from anyone bitten as well as the airlines. Yes, just because you call your dog an ESA does not relieve you from responsibility for damage your dog does.

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    Essential Dog Training

    Essential Dog Training

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    It’s not just obedience.  Essential dog training is teaching a dog the essentials of life and how to live in a family.  Very few dogs I work with are professional dogs that live in kennels only to come out to work.  Most of my dog clients are all integrated into the family and are treated like family members. The very basics every dog should have aside from sit, down, stay and come, include teaching puppies to

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    What Every Dog Should Know

    What Every Dog Should Know

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    A question I am always asked is, “what should my dog be trained to do?”  There are minimum safety behaviors any dog should learn.  This is my list of should do’s and don’ts.

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    More Ways to Exercise Your Puppy!

    More Ways to Exercise Your Puppy!

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    An energetic puppy sure can be hard to live with!  A smart puppy is inquisitive and busy.  Much of her energy can be enjoyable as we watch her explore and learn about life every day.  It can wear us out just as fast as your pup can make it from one end of the house to the other!

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    Through the Eyes of a Dog – the Dog Park

    Through the Eyes of a Dog – the Dog Park

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    “Oh boy! We are going for a ride in the car! That always means something fun!  I love running and playing!  I especially like the river! “Oh boy! Here we are!  Look at this big space for me to run! I hope mom brought treats, too!  It’s so fun to play that ‘come’ game where she calls my name, and when I get to her she gives me treats!  I love that game so much!

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    Fake Service Dogs

    Fake Service Dogs

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    Right now, I have a lovely black German Shepherd guide dog that I trained for a blind woman 4 years ago. She is back to me to help her stop barking at other dogs.  Why does she bark at other dogs?  She was attacked by a pit bull in a grocery store about a year ago and now her blind owner can’t use her anymore.  This isn’t a comment about pit bulls, it’s a tragic tale of how a fake service dog can destroy another, fully trained service dog in a flash of a second.

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    First Things First!

    First Things First!

    November 23, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Weekly Sun Mentor-Z

    We all know how incredibly important early baby experiences are for human children. We have wonderful mobiles for them to watch while in their cradle.  We leave beautiful lights twirling around the room at night, play music for them to listen to when they sleep and read to them every chance we get.

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