Living with Labrador Retrievers, the joys and tribulations of living, loving and training dogs
This blog is a tribute to Belle, and all the dogs who have come before and after. They are my friends, my companions, my teachers and my students. They bring me both joy and heartache, laughter and tears. There is nothing as sweet as the smell of puppy breathe, and nothing as sad as the final goodbye.
Friday, May 5, 2017
Rin Tin Tin and Rusty
Rin Tin Tin IV was co-owned and trained by Lee Duncan and Frank Barnes of Hollywood, California. Frank Barnes, a fine motion picture dog trainer of "Flame" and "Gray Shadow" German Shepherds, handled Rin Tin Tin IV on tour promoting the television show.
Monday, May 1, 2017
Should I Call a Dog Trainer?
There are many reasons people give up their dogs. First and
foremost it is because of seemingly out of control behavior issues. Issues
ranging from destructive chewing, house soiling, uncontrollable barking,
jumping, lunging and growling at other dogs to more dangerous behaviors
including food guarding, biting and fighting with another dog in the home. The
reasons are varied and I could go on and on adding to the list. What matters in
the end is that if that dog’s behavior doesn’t change he will end up either
re-homed if he is lucky, or more often than not, he will end up in a shelter
where he has a good chance of dying.
I know you love your dog and I know you have reached your
limit. You have poured through
training books trying to make sense out of the often conflicting advise you are
told. You have listened to your friends, your relatives and the so-called dog
experts in your neighborhood or local dog park. But still, the bad behaviors
persist, or worse, they become more pronounced. So now you have a choice to
make, either get rid of the dog or bite the bullet and seek professional help.
How I wish you had called me early on, before the bad habits
had taken hold. It is so much easier to instill good habits than it is to break
bad ones. If there is one piece of
advise I could give to new dog owners it would be this: Don’t wait until your
dog’s behavior is out of control or dangerous before you seek professional
help. The sooner a problem is dealt with, the easier the fix. If you’ve never had a dog before, or
never had ‘that type’ of dog before, call a trainer. Call us when your 12-week-old
puppy can’t play with you without biting. Call us when your puppy is a bundle
of energy that seems to never subside. Pay attention to his behavior. If you
see behaviors that make you uncomfortable give us a call. Don’t wait until the choice is between
a trainer and a shelter. There is
help out there. It is up to you to ask for it.
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Thursday, April 27, 2017
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Thursday, April 20, 2017
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