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    • My Fur Baby!

    My Fur Baby!

    November 24, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Wood River Weekly A-M

    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.

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    Love Your Dog to FOUR!

    Love Your Dog to FOUR!

    November 24, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Wood River Weekly A-M

    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.

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    FOUR Steps in Dog Training

    FOUR Steps in Dog Training

    November 24, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Wood River Weekly A-M

    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.

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    Forever Leashed?

    Forever Leashed?

    November 24, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Wood River Weekly A-M

    Since our recent mountain lion attacks upon dogs in the valley, I go out with my dogs every time they are outside.  Even during the day, a few weeks ago, there was a mountain lion spotted and captured on video just 2 blocks from my home!  Even though I own big dogs, I am very cautious and so are most all dog owners throughout the valley.

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    First Things First!

    First Things First!

    November 24, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Wood River Weekly A-M

    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. Puppies are exactly the same in that they are sponges of learning even the second or third day after birth.

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    Fake Service Dogs

    Fake Service Dogs

    November 24, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Wood River Weekly A-M

    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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    Through the Eyes of a Dog – the Dog Park

    Through the Eyes of a Dog – the Dog Park

    November 24, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Wood River Weekly A-M

    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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    More Ways to Exercise Your Puppy!

    More Ways to Exercise Your Puppy!

    November 24, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Wood River Weekly A-M

    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! There is so much encouragement to exercise puppies to tire them out so they are easier to live with.  This is very true, but there can be some physical dangers to OVER-exercise.

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    What Every Dog Should Know

    What Every Dog Should Know

    November 24, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Wood River Weekly A-M

    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. Should do’s: Sit and wait at a door - to prevent darting out into the street or running someone over. Sit for meals - this teaches dogs respect for humans and food. Sit for petting – ANY time, not just with visitors.

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    Essential Dog Training

    Essential Dog Training

    November 24, 2024 Fran Jewell
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    Wood River Weekly A-M

    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 accept “restraint.”   Restraint is holding a puppy snuggly until he relaxes.

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