Korrect Kritters

Last Post

2011-02-26T10:58:00.000-05:00

I have a new blog and will no longer be posting here. If you care to follow the new blog it's linked to my website.

Thanks!
Marilyn

Pit Bull Viciously Attacks Baby

2010-07-03T12:25:00.001-04:00

Watch this youtube video with caution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL1trl1FMUw

Can you identify the pitbull out of this group of 26 dogs?

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v3.html

National Canine Research Council on dog bites

http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/

Lab Rescue

2010-06-15T15:35:00.001-04:00

This article was in Fetch, the Lab Rescue newsletter (MD, VA & DC). Take a few moments to read it.

The Rewards of Fostering
by Melissa Gilman

I started out as one of those people who just wandered up to a Petsmart, saw all the Labs and said, "Hey, what's going on here with all the Labs?" I spent most of the two-hour adoption day with a loving, lanky chocolate Lab named Kodie. I filled out a form to be a foster and brought my first foster home shortly after that. That was a little over two years ago, and I now have my 18th foster.

The most common response I get when I tell people that I foster dogs is, "I could never do that. I'd get too attached. Isn't it hard when they leave?" The answer is...Yes, it is hard when they leave, but the time they share with me outweighs any tears I shed when they are gone. It is an amazing experience to have a dog that has never met you, hop into your car, walk into your home and settle on the couch as if they've visited you a thousand times. Those are the dogs that will easily fit into any home. I've had lots of those dogs...Savvy, Brett, and Twix to name a few. It's a bittersweet day when they leave for their forever home because they would make a great "keeper."

On the other hand, there are the dogs that are fearful of the leash, need coaxing into the car, refuse treats, pace in the home and stand guard at the door awaiting their chance at an escape. Fostering a dog like this, although stressful for dog and human at times, brings an entirely different type of reward. Ivy, my current foster, arrived as a bundle of nervous energy. She had a sense of urgency about her as if she knew she was late for a very important appointment, but couldn't remember where to go. She was my constant shadow ... literally on my heels. It took almost three weeks, but there was a definite moment where she let out a sigh of relief. She had finally learned the routine, gained confidence and felt safe. She will now stay curled up napping and only open an eye if I leave the room. She reminds that the little steps in life are important, too.

It's natural to become attached even if the foster stays only for a short time. I feel like I could have adopted all of my fosters. Each time one leaves, I think about how much I'll miss their quirky ways and how no other dog will be just like them. However, I take great comfort in knowing the happiness they brought me during their short stay will bring a lifetime of happiness to another family.

Marmaduke, a handsome black Lab, spent much of his young life wearing a too tight collar that was attached to a chain that was attached to a tree. Once rescued, he had his embedded collar removed by the vet and seemed forever thankful for his literal freedom. He was adopted by a family that has a huge piece of property and another dog. I think of him often and picture him running free on his property, swimming in the pond and visiting the horses.

For me, fostering is not entirely altruistic - that's only half the story. The other half is for every dog that I provide comfort for I am repaid in love, loyalty, Lab licks and tail wags. They can't speak words to say thank you for the food, thank you for cleaning their ears, thank you for the new toys, the comfy place to sleep and the security of your home. They speak to you with their eyes, the tilt of their head, the Lab lean. They say thank you by putting their heads in your lap, lying at your feet, greeting you at the door or playing with a toy for the first time. It is that type of thank you that makes me look forward to the next foster that comes through the door.

To Foster Families Everywhere
Your home may have been
The first one that I'd ever seen;
Your voice the first to teach, to praise,
To guide me through confusing days.
You're the one who taught to me
What the We of a good dog ought to be.
Your patient persistence all the while
May have won my very first doggie smile.
And now that I am off to roam
With the family of my "forever" home,
Yours is the home I will always dream of
Your gentle hands, your smiling love,
The way you coaxed tangles out of my coat,
The sound of your voice, yes, every note.
If they learn to love me the way that you do
I will know that I owe my acceptance to you.
Though my paws may wander far away,
Yours is the home where I learned to stay.
--Kam Ellery, 2000
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The God of Animals

2010-05-31T18:10:00.001-04:00

"From an award-winning and talented young novelist comes one of the most exciting fiction debuts in years: a breathtaking and beautiful novel set on a horse ranch in small-town Colorado.

When her older sister runs away to marry a rodeo cowboy, Alice Winston is left to bear the brunt of her family's troubles — a depressed, bedridden mother; a reticent, overworked father; and a run-down horse ranch. As the hottest summer in fifteen years unfolds and bills pile up, Alice is torn between dreams of escaping the loneliness of her duty-filled life and a longing to help her father mend their family and the ranch.

To make ends meet, the Winstons board the pampered horses of rich neighbors, and for the first time Alice confronts the power and security that class and wealth provide. As her family and their well-being become intertwined with the lives of their clients, Alice is drawn into an adult world of secrets and hard truths, and soon discovers that people — including herself — can be cruel, can lie and cheat, and every once in a while, can do something heartbreaking and selfless. Ultimately, Alice and her family must weather a devastating betrayal and a shocking, violent series of events that will test their love and prove the power of forgiveness. "

(From Powell's Books)

The ending is gut-wrenchingly sad but the novel is wonderful.

Another Digger Milestone

2010-05-30T21:31:00.002-04:00

I adopted a puppy when we moved to Florida. I missed my grandson so badly it was a physical pain. I adopted a puppy to give me something to tend to. He was indulged and adored, as was my grandson. One of the things he would do is wake up very early and want to get up and play. We negotiated a time when I would get up and start my day. It had to be daylight. If he woke up before daylight & needed to go out, we went and then he was back to bed. No playing, no food, no talk, no toys. Period. Then we got another dog. She was held to the same rule. Daylight. Period.

Over time dogs have come and gone. My day starts at daylight. Not before. Period. Up until a few months ago I was getting to sleep in until almost 8am. For me, it was luxury. I was able to wake up by myself without a dog in my face trying to convince me it was time. Then one morning I heard this one big WOOF at not quite 6:30. Digger had decided it was time to get up. He woke us all up. But it was daylight. Since the sun was up, the girls knew it was okay to start talking and playing. So now we all get up as soon as Digger wakes up. One WOOF does it. Another sign of confidence from the big guy.

This morning Molly and Candy were playing after breakfast. I called Digger over to me to try and keep him from barking at them because Burt was still asleep. I wasn't as interesting as they were and he wanted to play. I picked up a toy he's played with and started shaking it just below his nose. He took it. I kept shaking it and he held on. We were playing tug for the first time. His pupils were highly dilated like he wasn't sure if I was going to hit him for pulling.

Then Molly grabbed it and I let go. She and Digger were tugging it. Several minutes later all four of us repeated the process. Then all 3 dogs were playing tug with it. The third time he and I played tug his pupils were normal and he was really into it, bracing and pulling hard. Another milestone for Digger.

Our trip to the Vet

2010-05-25T09:28:00.003-04:00

Last week I took all 3 of our dogs to the vet for their annual exams. They range in weight from 45# to 75#. The girls are friendly and like interact with people. Digger needs time to warm up to people and rarely approaches anyone unfamiliar.

Everyone was easy to weigh because they're all familiar with going to the scale and sitting. After weighing in we were escorted to the biggest exam room. I let them all wander around and drag their leashes. Digger investigated until other people started coming into the room. Then he decided it was safer to lie under the bench behind my legs. Candy, as always, was nervously panting the entire time.

They were all vaccinated, received a physical exam, and a blood draw. Candy allowed me to hold her mouth closed each time the veterinarian listened with the stethoscope on each dog. Digger came out from under the bench to allow an exam. All exams were uneventful.

As we were ready to leave we received a comliment from the vet. He said, "You have very well-mannered dogs. I think this is the first time I've ever had 3 big dogs in here and actually been able to do 3 exams."

Way to go guys!

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS: Remember that they can't do a lot of things for themselves and that they depend on you...

2010-05-22T19:48:00.003-04:00

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don 't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don 't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God's critters.

~Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!

by Eric Bellows

Korrect Kritters at Tampa Bay Birth Network

2010-05-15T20:01:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I attended the Tampa Bay Birth Network Expo. TBBN is described on the website as, "If you're looking for a natural birth professional in the Tampa Bay area, you're in the right place! Here you can find midwives, birth and postpartum doulas, natural childbirth educators, pre- and post-natal fitness experts, natural baby products, and so much more! Our members believe that birth is a natural and normal event that doesn't usually require medical interventions, and they support six basic principles that make our group unique in the Tampa Bay community." http://www.tampabaybirthnetwork.com/index.html

I represented Korrect Kritters to introduce the concept that babies and dogs can safely be introduced. Too often dogs are given away when a couple become pregnant. With proper management and preparation there's no reason why the dog must lose its home. There are very few dogs who cannot adjust to children in the home.

My favorite book on this subject is, Living with Kids and Dogs...Without Losing Your Mind: A Parent's Guide to Controlling the Chaos by Colleen Pelar, CPDT-KA. Colleen is a mom of three boys with her own dogs and foster dogs coming and going. Her book is filled with good practical information for keeping everyone safe. She also addresses the lifestages of children and how it can affect the family dog. Excellent book!

Think ahead and consider the following if you have a baby on the way:
Respect your dog as a family member. Your dog is not a jungle gym.
Teach your dog verbal cues so you can instruct when your hands are full.
Buy baby equipment, clothes, lotions, and toys now so the dog can get used to them before the baby arrives.
Could you walk your dog on a leash with a stroller?
How will you feel about your dog picking up a baby item?
How well can you read your dog's body language to identify stress?
How will you introduce the baby and dog?
Will your dog accept being crated or separated from you? Is this necessary in your home?
Does your dog react well to activity in your home?

If you already have a child(ren) and want to adopt a dog, what should you consider?

***** ALWAYS SUPERVISE CHILDREN AND DOGS *****

With some planning and forethought there are easy ways to manage almost every situation. To help plan for integrating your dog and baby or solve existing problems, contact Korrect Kritters. http://www.korrectkritters.com/

Other resources available are:
Dogs & Storks
Doggone Safe
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Avoid Shocks When Walking Your Dog

2010-04-29T10:12:00.004-04:00

There has been an increasing number of reports of dogs (and people as well) being shocked by manhole covers, street grates, lamp posts, fire hydrants and other metal objects while walking in urban areas. Horses, dogs and people have been killed or injured by stray voltage.

Doggone Safe is concerned about the welfare of dogs and also the welfare of people who may be around dogs. Dogs are more likely to bite if hurt or afraid and so the presence of these shock hazards increases the bite hazard potential as well.

Since many people may not be aware of this issue we would like to highlight it here so that those of you who walk dogs in urban areas can be careful and can spread the word.

Thanks to Blair Sorrel of Street Zaps for providing the following information. Please visit the Street Zaps site to find out more or to report an urban shock incident.

WHY URBAN METAL ISN'T PRECIOUS- Blair Sorrel, Founder, Street Zaps

Of course, you want a worry-free walk year-round, so adopt this simple strategy:

EYEBALL THE BLOCK, AVOID A SHOCK.

Take just a few seconds to survey the immediate surroundings and make your trajectory toward a non-conductive surface, ie., plastic, wood, cardboard, rather than risking any metal or electrical fixture. The lowly, free-standing garbage bag, is you and your dog's best friend, most of the time, unless it's snowed and salted. Then you might contemplate indoor products. Consider the safer, hardware-free RopeNGo leash and harness to help shield against a possible zapping and for greater peace of mind.

CONTACT VOLTAGE DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE BY GENDER.

Your pooch's sex is irrelevant. True, the most gruesome scenario is that of a male dog electrocuted by its own urine. Our poster girl sidled a hydrant and limped for five days.Intuit your dog's cues, if resistant to an area, choose an alternative route. Elude potentially live work areas or carry your canine, if necessary. Opt for indoor products such as The Pet Loo, Hammacher Schlemmer's Indoor Restroom, or Wee-Wee Pads, if external conditions are ominous. Dog booties can leak and make your pooch even more vulnerable.

ARE YOU PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH YOUR DOG?

Any of these fixtures might be dangerous, so again, choose non-conductive where and when possible.

Street & Traffic Lights can leak if damaged internally, even if the compartment is fully closed and the light is not illuminated
While wooden blocks anchor Scaffolding or Sidewalk Sheds, be aware that sloppy wiring by a contractor and/or the use of lighting equipment which is NOT WATER-PROOFED or even suitable for outdoor usage, may still shock a passerby.
ATM Vestibules
Decorative Lighting
Dog Booties may increase the risk of a shock
Electrical Boxes
Fire Hydrants
Fire Police Call Boxes
Manhole Covers
Municipal Meters
Phone Booths
Service Boxes
Street Light Boxes
Traffic Boxes
Work Areas

After all, why chance it when there's a choice?

BETWEEN YOU, ME, AND THE LAMPPOST.

Tampered equipment can become pernicious so please map damaged fixtures and known hot spots to admonish other pedestrians and alert the utility and transportation department.

Find out more at Street Zaps

View article at Doggone Safe...

Ethics

2010-04-08T22:21:00.004-04:00

I’ve heard several discussions recently from dog trainers about ethics. If you’re outside the profession you might wonder how ethics could affect us. There are many ways we need to consider ethics, often having to do with helping the people instead of the dog.

My own personal ethical dilemma arose this week with a client. She saw my ad in the newspaper and called me to come to her house and work with her small, male, American Staffordshire Terrier who jumps the fence to say “hi” to everyone he sees. She had to reschedule once. I went to her house this week and she had forgotten I was coming. Her son let me in.

Ordinarily, I would just have left. This day, however, I saw this small woman whose demeanor was slow with hunched shoulders. Maybe she looks that way all the time, but being a dog trainer I’m attuned to body language. She was wearing pajamas and put on a housecoat to talk to me. Then she had a meltdown right in front of me.

She started crying and shaking and telling me that she had to give the dog away because she can’t handle him and she’s moving and she has repairs at the new house and the old house and she has no money and she feels guilty about not being able to handle all of it and … So, do I walk out? Or stay and see if I can help the dog to give her some breathing room? What am I ethically obligated to do? I couldn’t live with myself if I just walked out. I stayed.

I just let her talk and started working with the dog. I rewarded him for keeping his feet on the floor. In a very short time he was also offering a sit on his own. After she calmed down somewhat she saw what the dog was doing without me saying anything. I explained how to reward what you want repeated (feet on the floor) and ignore what you want to go away (jumping). She started taking notes on an envelope (one of many) on the counter. I stayed about ½ hour.

My husband said I should call ahead of time to confirm appointments. Maybe he’s right. More than once, though, I’ve ended up in a situation where I had the tools to improve it. It feels to me like I was put there for a reason. I left some handouts and am trying to help her re-home her dog. If she pays me it will be a surprise.

Grid from http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/ethics-grid-.gif

A Woof Saves His Woman

2010-04-07T20:26:00.003-04:00

This story has been shared several times on Facebook.

http://www.komonews.com/news/88743137.html?#idc-cover

It's about a recently adopted pit bull who protected his person from a car jacker.

Not long after 9/11 I was picking up my husband at the airport. We had a Honda van with the back row of seats folded down. In the back of the van we had our two dogs. One was a fluffy, yellow lab mix. The other was a tall, muscular Rhodesian Ridgeback mix.

The inspector ran some kind of machine over the car and under the edge of the carriage and started to open the sliding door on the side of the van. I deliberately hadn't unlocked it yet. I was very clear that he should NOT open the door and that I would come around and open it for him. With my hand on the door handle, I explained that I would get the dogs out and he could then inspect whatever he wanted.

I opened the door. The guy looked in. The big dog stood there confidently and woofed once. The guy decided I could go on through. So I got back in the car and we did.

Restraining Your Dog in the Car

2010-03-30T21:47:00.000-04:00

Attached is a very interesting study on different restraint systems to keep your pet(s) safe. As a colleague said, it increases the dilemma of how to manage children, pets, groceries, and more in cars that are getting smaller.

http://wachusett.pssweb.net/Test%20report%20pets%20in%20cars-1.pdf

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Hugging a Skunk

2010-03-13T13:06:00.003-05:00

Several years ago I heard these stories from Corrine Zipps about two of her malamutes.

Every so often we parents are reminded how literally children take our instructions as the following story indicates.

In a parking lot a few years ago, I had a little toddler pop up from seemingly out of nowhere *underneath* my dog, a large Alaskan malamute. Her arms encircled his neck as she asked sweetly, "Can I hug you?" I then saw her poor Mom frozen like a deer in the headlights three cars away. The next thing I heard was an exasperated, "You're supposed to ask the person, not the dog!"

One of my prior malamutes, Siranush, had a problem with getting into cars if he got loose. He loved to go for rides! A friend was caring for him one weekend while I was away and was having a grand old time with him until Nuk jumped off his sailboat when they got to shore and immediately ran off! Nuk was a beautiful seal and white male with a striking mask. Fortunately, he was found quickly by a neighbor. It turned out that a neighbor's little grandson had seen Siranush in his car. The child had come inside and told the grandfather, "Grampy, there's a biiiiiiiiiiiiiig skunk in your car, so I shut the door!" The poor man was actually *relieved* to find a big black and white dog in his car!

Good Girl

2010-03-11T20:57:00.008-05:00

I have a basenji-German Shepherd mix puppy in one of my classes. She weighs about 20# and looks more like a basenji than a GSD. Very smart girl. The resident family has had non-resident family visiting. One of the visitors is a 14-month-old boy. The pup is being much more calm and patient with him than anyone else. He picks up her leash and walks her around the house even though he's barely walking himself. He's also been watching the rest of the family train her.

We were talking about it at graduation on Monday and Mom said he will give the pup a treat and say, "Goooood Girrrrl." Then Mom told us that the little boy asked for a cookie and his mom gave him one. He looked at his mom and said, "Goooood Girrrrl."

"Reggie" and Paul

2010-03-05T19:47:00.002-05:00

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen.. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home.. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.

For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls --- he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old stuff, that I'd get him new things once he settled in. But it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going to.

I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and "come" and "heel," and he'd follow them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called his name --- sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth or fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.

This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. I was a little too stern with him and he resented it, I could tell. The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cell phone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "damn dog probably hid it on me."

Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys from the shelter...I tossed the pad in Reggie's direction and he snuffed it and wagged, some of the most enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home. But then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that? Come here and I'll give you a treat." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction --- maybe "glared" is more accurate --- and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down. With his back to me.

Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the shelter phone number.

But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that, too. "Okay,

Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice..".... .....

____________ _________ _________ _________

To Whoever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time... it's like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong...which is why I have to go to try to make it right.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be careful - really don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.

Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones --- "sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals: "back" to turn around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down --- I bet you could work on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.

I trained Reggie with small food treats. Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of hot dog.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car --- I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.

Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new.

And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you....

His name's not Reggie.

I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it means everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it, well ... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his demeanor if he's been giving you problems.

His real name is "Tank".

Because that is what I drive.

Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with ... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq , that they make one phone... call the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Well, this letter is getting downright depressing, even though, frankly, I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was writing it for a wife and kids and family ... but still, Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family.

And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.

That unconditional love from a dog is what I take with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those who would do terrible things ... and to keep those terrible people from coming over here. If I have to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. I don't think I'll say another good-bye to Tank, though.. I cried too much the first time. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.

Thank you, Paul Mallory

____________ _________ _________ _______

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.

The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.

"C'mere boy."

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months.

"Tank," I whispered.

His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and disappeared in the next room.

And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

Napping with Molly

2010-02-21T19:10:00.002-05:00

I decided to take a nap this afternoon. I didn’t want to get undressed to go to bed so I searched for a vacant couch. Molly was stretched out on the 3-cushion so I took the loveseat. When she discovered I was taking a nap, she decided to join me.

She sat there looking at me waiting for me to make room for her. I lifted one leg and she curled up on the couch between my legs with her head on my thigh. That meant I had to put my legs beside her or over her. So I chose one of each, one beside, one bent over, and both of us slept on the little couch for a couple of hours.

Earning trust from a Macaw

2010-02-18T21:11:00.005-05:00

I’ve been volunteering at the vet tech program at Marchman Technical Education Center for the past few weeks. It was established by Deb Frelick, who teaches it. She brings her own animals for the kids to work with: llamas, goats, miniature horses, ducks, chickens, cows, guineas, sheep, rabbits, macaws, a cockatoo, a hedgehog, fish, bearded dragons, cockatiels, anoles, tree frogs, Quaker parrots, and sun conures. In addition, the kids bring their own dogs sometimes and if they rescue anything wild, it’s added to the mix. Now they have a ring neck snake.

Mrs. Frelick, students and parents have spent their own money to buy DVDs, CDs, books, handouts, videos, and build cages, crates, hutches and fences. It’s both academic and hands on. The kids feed and care for all the animals. They’re juniors and seniors. Each of them showed an animal at either the state or county fair. I’m a trainer who works primarily, but not exclusively, with dogs. It’s been very interesting.

In the next few weeks the kids will be studying avian anatomy. Last week, Deb loaned me DVDs on parrot body language and training. I’ve not had a chance to work with parrots before. I watched the DVDs multiple times and still need to watch the body language one more to remember the details.

I worked with one of the macaws this week. She was seized in a drug bust and was in terrible physical and mental condition. The vet thinks she’s about 3 years old. She had been fed only sunflower seeds. Physically, she’s in good shape now but she’s still fearful. I bought some green grapes on the way to school.

One of the kids had opened the door to her cage but she didn’t choose to come out. I tore some of the grapes into pieces and offered them to her on the back of my fist. I knew there was a chance she’d bite me and I thought it would hurt less on the back of my hand than if she got a finger. They can crack nuts with their beaks so the potential for damage definitely exists. I moved slowly and kept the side of my body to her while avoiding direct eye contact.

In the beginning, she did take a couple swipes at my hand with her beak but then she got a piece of grape. She ate the flesh from the inside and dropped the skin. When she would finish a piece, I offered her another. If she leaned or walked away from me, I left. A couple times she did nibble on my hand but didn’t attempt to bite hard. As she got used to taking the fruit, I switched hands. Eventually, she said, “hello” very softly.

Over the course of about an hour, I was able to walk at a normal pace to the open door, face the bird, offer her a piece of grape with my fingers, and she would take it easily. I’m already looking forward to working with her again.

sleeping Molly

2010-02-14T21:37:00.002-05:00

I'd really like to have a drink but that would mean moving the dog who's sleeping with her head on my leg.
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... my dogs aren't perfect either...

2010-02-02T15:43:00.004-05:00

"Many of our clients believe that dog trainers' dogs are perfect. I used to think so too. In fact, when I started training, I was embarrassed to tell people that I was a dog trrainer because my dogs weren't perfect. The more trainers' dogs I met, the more I realized that dog aficionados love dogs as they are and are generally pretty accepting of normal behavior, even when it doesn't match the societal standard of a good dog. It was such a relief to me to see that I didn't need perfect robot dogs to be a good trainer!"

Colleen Pelar, CPDT-KA, author of the new book,
Kids and Dogs: A Professional's Guide to Helping Families
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Candy's "Noodle-y" Leg

2010-02-02T15:40:00.001-05:00

In the past few days Candy has begun to get a little muscle tension back in her leg. When she lies on her back now, it falls into a normal contraction. I can still take one finger and push her paw down to her stomach, though. She's not limping but I've noticed that she still favors it just a bit. When standing on all four feet, there's more weight on her right foot than her left. She's still on Rimadyl and Tramadol. She still has reduced activity. She's also still walking, trotting, and jumping on and off the couch.

I just talked to Dr. Elliott and he's arranged for her to see an orthopedic specialist. Maybe then we can get a diagnosis.
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Sick Pets

2010-01-26T22:18:00.001-05:00

There are some very strange things in the past few months with animals. A colleague’s red-tailed boa is very, very sick and may not make it. My dog has a “noodley” leg.

The snake has been undergoing treatment for weeks. The vet has researched the symptoms but hasn’t been able to identify the cause. The snake is now trying to shed his skin but may be too sick to do it. He’s not getting better but no one knows why.

My dog, Candy, is having an issue with a front leg. She was staying with a friend a couple weeks ago. All 5-6 dogs were running and playing as they always do. The morning we were to pick her up Candy woke up with a limp. I put her on pain medication and restricted her activity for five days. She got worse for about 24 hours then started to improve. I went to a conference and Burt kept the dogs for the next five days. Candy remained on pain meds but was on normal activity.

The evening I came home, Candy was lying on the bed on her back between Burt and me. Her left front leg was lying straight and limp against the bed. I lifted it and it was dead weight but she didn’t show any indication of pain. I had her stand up and I was able to take one finger and twirl her leg like a noodle. Then she jumped down off the bed and walked away with only a minor limp. The next day I took her to the vet.

He examined her and manipulated her leg and shoulder. Again, it was like a noodle. When he moved it, there was neither muscle tension not pain. He took an x-ray which showed no problems. He has no idea what’s going on with her. He said to put her back on pain medication and restricted activity while he researches her symptoms.

She’s moving around the house normally. I see no limping. We haven’t heard from Dr. Elliott yet.

It's a dog's life

2010-01-08T22:29:00.004-05:00

This home is owned and operated solely for the comfort and convenience of the dog.

A Proper Greeting

2009-11-01T22:36:00.001-05:00

The first time my big dog saw a child we were outside the vet’s office. There were three children of different ages. They weren’t talking, they were just milling around. He reacted as he did to anything new: He backed away and watched. He stretched out his neck to smell them but wouldn’t get closer than about 6’. He didn’t get comfortable enough to want to get close to them before we went back inside.

I’ve heard stories from my colleagues about dogs meeting children for the first time when the child runs up and hugs a dog’s head. I don’t want to think what would have happened if a child had hugged him before the day he saw children at the vet’s. It could have been a disaster.

When I teach classes one of the steps I always cover is how to greet a dog. I often hear, “My dog always jumps on people so I don’t let him get close“ or “He barks too much.” If handled correctly, owners get to see their dogs being successful at something they didn’t think could happen. Conversely, these techniques can be used to greet others’ dogs, too.

With the prevalence of dogs in public nowadays, everyone should have an idea on proper procedure to greet a dog. Even if someone doesn’t like dogs, the knowledge can be useful. It’s especially important for children to know how to greet a dog properly for the child’s safety.

This article describes a proper introduction if the dog is yours. It isn’t meant to be a “how to” on training. If you have problems with any of these elements, please contact a professional trainer.

If someone is coming toward you and your dog, assume they do not want to meet your dog unless they start to approach or specifically ask to greet the dog. To be a good citizen, your dog should have already learned to stay with you unless told to do something else. Ask him to sit at your side.

Ask the person to stop at least 5’ away and ask if they would like to greet your dog. If they continue toward you, hold your arm out with your palm toward them and say, “Please stop. My dog’s in training.” Even if your dog is perfect, most people will respect the request and stop.

Show the person exactly what you want them to do. Make a fist with your palm pointed down and arm extended. Hold your hand at the level of your dog’s nose. Tell the person that if your dog sniffs their hand then they can scratch the dogs chin or neck.

Give your dog permission to, “Go say hi” and let him go to the person’s hand. After the person has petted your dog, call him to you and continue on your way. Remember to thank the other person for helping you “train” your dog.
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I’m a good dog trainer. I am not a miracle worker.

2009-10-19T22:09:00.000-04:00

Here's a wonderful blog article from Rewarding Behaviors Dog Training. I know how she feels.

"I am confident enough in my skills as a trainer that I do honestly believe I’m capable of training a dog to do anything that she is mentally and physically capable of doing.

Oddly and frustratingly, the one expectation I see most frequently from dog owners is one I am unable to meet. I cannot train a dog not to be a dog; an extension of this is that I cannot train a dog to be a plush toy, a 'stuffed animal.' "

http://rewardingbehaviors.com/pages/?p=161

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Even the Bad Stuff is Good

2009-07-18T23:19:00.000-04:00

Digger has begun to take things and chew on them. This is a problem because he destroys things once in awhile. Even though it's annoying (especially when he chewed my glasses), every time it happens I feel a little celebration because he feels safe enough to do it.

When he came to us, he was not a normal dog. He walked in perfect position on a leash but did not smile or look at me or stand up straight. Any movement or sound in the environment that he couldn't immediately identify caused him to crouch and search desperately for the source. His crate had to be completely covered for him to be able to eat a meal. He had never played with a toy or had a bone.

Little by little he has become almost normal. So every time he takes something it shows me that he has the self-confidence to explore his environment and that makes me smile inside.
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the Carmelita Cormorant

2009-07-16T19:57:00.002-04:00

I was driving down the street near Carmelita's Restaurant (8526 Old County Road 54, New Port Richey) one evening and saw a cormorant standing beside the street. Hmmmm...

Cormorants don't usually stand unless they're drying their feathers. This one wasn't. They're usually near the water. This one wasn't. It didn't run from the cars. I expected it to. I parked the car and started walking toward it. It started to walk away. I walked a little faster and it started to run. Then it started to flap its wings and continued to run. Ah, that's the problem: it can't fly.

I continued to walk toward it moving so I could steer it away from the street. Eventually, we were walking down the sidewalk in front of Carmelita's. There was a business colleague inside having dinner (Ralph Dorough, On Time A/C & Heating) . He and a friend came out to help me corral it. A waitress brought out an apron so we could keep that beak away from hands and eyes. We were able to corner it near a newspaper stand and get hold of it. I kept its head busy with the apron and Ralph’s friend put his around its neck. I dropped the apron grasped its neck and picked it up. I put it in my car on the floor of the back seat. I was really hoping it couldn't figure out how to get into the front seat and bite me. It settled down and stayed on the floor.

When I got home, I put our three dogs in their crates so I could safely put the bird in the bathtub. As soon as the dogs were loose, they all rushed to door and lay with their noses at the base of the door. Knowing the smell of the dogs might frighten the bird, I put a baby gate in the hallway to keep the dogs away from the door. All three dogs were lying in the hallway with their noses against the baby gate. When my husband, Burt Weitzman, saw them he found out I had a wild bird in the tub. He was only a little angry. He said, "Were you hoping I just wouldn't find out?" I had to admit I was.

The cormorant was able to get out of the tub by midday the next day but still couldn’t fly. We had bird poop and some other organic "stuff" on the floor and in the tub. Our whole house smelled like a fish-filled lake. I could even smell it in the garage with the door to the house closed. My car also smelled like a lake.

I didn't want to interact with it any more than necessary because it was stressful for the bird. It was still trying to bite me but less with each encounter. It only tried to bite me if I actually reached for it. The first time I picked it up, near Carmelita's, its heart was pounding and it was trying desperately to bite me. The next day when I picked it up, its heartbeat was normal and it only made token attempts to bite me. I made a point to move around the bird like I move around dogs: I didn't make eye contact, tried to move keeping the side of my body toward it, move slowly and with patience and quiet.

I created an environment that allowed the bird to operate on its environment as much as possible. Except when we caught it (it was terrified) the bird set the interaction pace. If it struck at my hand, the hand went away. If it moved slowly toward my hand, the hand stopped. If it just watched my hand, it moved slowly toward the bird. From the picture it looks like I have hold of the bird’s neck. I just had my hand circling the neck, the bird could move its neck and head as it wanted.

I was able to put it in a cat carrier. I used a towel over my hand to get hold of its neck and picked it up slowly. I was able to fold one wing against its body with one hand and Burt folded the other one in. It settled down and just sat there looking around during the whole ride. We took it to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, FL. When we got to the Sanctuary, everyone was surprised it was in a carrier and I didn't have any wounds. One of the medical staff took it inside the hospital and Burt and I went to the gift shop.

I cleaned the bathroom and wiped it down with bleach. It still smelled like a lake so I poured Simple Solution cleaner, with active enzymes, on the floor and in the tub to take the smell away. At least the bird has the help it needs. They'll treat it, rehab it if possible, or give it a home if necessary.
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Knee to the Head

2009-06-30T22:41:00.000-04:00

We will have had Digger one year on July 16th. Seems longer. He's come so far in that time that I forget how bad things used to be for him. (See the post below, "Digger is up for adoption") I was reminded the other day.

I had him on leash to go outside for a potty break. We had just reached the door when I lifted my foot to take a pine needle out of my shoe. My knee went toward his head. It wasn't close to him just in his direction. He immediately ducked, lifted his foot, started doing lip licks, and wouldn't look at me. One look at him and I realized what I had done. He wouldn't look at me for the next three hours.

Poor guy...
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Snake Season

2009-06-12T07:59:00.000-04:00

We live in Florida. So do rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and coral snakes, among others. I live with 3 labs (one chocolate, one yellow, one black, but that's part of another story) who had never seen a poisonous snake. Until Sunday.

The three dogs and I were walking in the wilderness park. It was toward evening of a sunny day. This is when snakes around here are most likely to be out. It's past the heat of the day but warm enough that they can warm up before the cool of evening. They often will lie in a spot of sunlight about that time. I see them fairly often; usually many feet away.

We were walking on pavement when out of the corner of my eye I saw this snake. Probably at least 3' long, fat, dark. Looked like a cottonmouth to me. Digger and Candy didn't see it. Molly and I saw it and it saw us. It was about 2' away from my leg, not coiled. I told her to Leave It and she did. No big deal for me or Molly or the snake. Great! I hope it's always that easy.

This is also the time of year that "snake proofing" training takes place. Way too often that means putting an electrical stimulation collar on a dog, letting it see a real snake, and shocking it at the highest setting of the collar. The dog screams, jumps into the air, and is supposed to make the association that the snake was the reason for the shock. Some dogs probably do, others just think the world has come crashing down around them and they don't know why.

I am SO GLAD that Leave It worked.

Digger came back!

2009-06-06T22:54:00.000-04:00

I want to brag on Diggery-Dog for a minute. We were walking in Starkey Park this afternoon and Digger got loose. I must have dropped the leash. He started trotting way then running away.

For those of you who don't know, Starkey Park is about 2800 acres. He's very shy and even has trouble coming to me in the house sometimes. We've been working on trust in many, many forms ever since we've had him (almost a year now). At the dog park, he will follow me around and usually, though not always, come to me. He was gone about a minute (never out of sight) when he turned around and ran back to me as fast as he could come with a big smile on his face! He got lots of praise and a happy dance. He was so proud of himself! And I was proud of him, too!!

The Family Dog

2009-05-29T09:43:00.000-04:00

This You Tube video shows everyone in the family having fun . . . except the dog. The dog is trying to just eat its rawhide in peace and the family won't let it happen. The child is being encouraged to handle the dog inappropriately. The dog, on the other hand, is being amazingly tolerant about it. When the dog tries to leave, it isn't even allowed to do that.

Dogs correct each other in the same ways this dog is trying to tell the child, "I've had enough." Ignoring the annoyance, leaving, looking away. When these things don't work, they may growl, lift a lip, snap at the air beside the annoyance. If none of these work, it will bite.

This family's inability to understand how the dog communicates is putting the child in a precarious position. If the dog escalates its communication to a growl or a snap, the family's comment would most likely be, "With no warning, the dog snapped at him!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPTEDvxZ_hc&NR=1

Our family dogs are wonderfully accepting of all sorts of bad behavior from the human members of their family, but they are not toys. They deserve consideration by the rest of the family, too. At a minimum, if the dog leaves . . . just let it.
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How pets can be good for landlords and renters

2009-05-24T10:44:00.000-04:00

There are many reasons a family might be moving into a rental home. Just a couple might be needing a new location or moving from a single home to a rental. However, this often means the family dog needs to find another home. With forethought and responsibility from landlord and renter, there's no reason the family dog can't be a welcome tenant. Below are links to several resources for keeping dogs in their homes.

Canine Good Citizen
The American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen® program is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. Mixed breed and purebred dogs are eligible.
http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm

S.T.A.R. Puppy
The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy(sm) is an exciting new program designed to get dog owners and their puppies off to a good start. The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is an incentive program for loving dog owners who have taken the time to take their puppies through a basic training class. Mixed breed and purebred puppies are eligible.
http://www.akc.org/starpuppy/about_the_program.cfm

How pets can be a landlord’s best friend
“In what may be the only published research on the subject, a 2003 survey (.PDF file) by FIREPAW found that apartments that accepted pets not only didn't lose money, they actually gained more, to the tune of nearly $3,000 per apartment, per year.”
http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=19186150

10 Tips Every Tenant Needs to Know
Whether you own a pet or not.
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/19980701_10tips.htm

Does Your Pet Need A Resume?
What to put in it, how to write it.
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20010216_pets.htm

Condos Go Dog Wild
"Doggy interviews are mandatory prior to moving in at Porto Bellagio and Aventi complexes."
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20041213_dogwild.htm

How To Create Pet Policies For Rental Properties
"Just look at all of the issues that need to be policed and enforced for pet policies to work. On the other hand, there's a growing demand for apartments and condominiums that cater to pets."
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20010516_pets.htm

With honesty and responsibility, the family, the pet, and the landlord can all benefit.

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Is your dog "broken?"

2009-05-13T14:16:00.000-04:00

I just read yet another article about housebreaking. I used to housebreak dogs, cats, skunks, whatever came into the house. When a "present" was discovered, I was taught to yell at the animal, hit it with a newspaper, smash it's face into the "present," take, or drag, it outside and continue to reprimand it. I have not housebroken an animal in years.

I do, however, housetrain them. Without quoting my dictionary, "break" is grossly defined as making something inoperable, usually with force. “Train” is grossly defined as preparing for a course of action with specialized instruction. I no longer use force (or yelling, or hitting, or humiliation, or reprimanding) to bring about consistent elimination outside the house. I do have dogs that don’t eliminate in the house unless they’re ill. I consider them housetrained.

Please consider using the term "housetraining" where it’s appropriate with your methods.

Digger is up for adoption :-(

2009-05-07T20:44:00.000-04:00

Digger is our foster dog. He's a beautiful, auburn, guy with yellow eyes. He's called a chocolate lab. He's officially up for adoption, as he's been put on the website. Digger came to us July of 2008. He was terrified of everything, and I mean everything.

As closely as we can put together his story, he was probably a breeder at an Alabama puppy mill for his first two years of his life. He must have been punished for just about everything except living. He had been in another foster home for 6 months before he came to us. By the time Lab Rescue decided to move him, he was living under a trailer and no one could get close to him. The foster called Animal Services who pulled him out with a catchpole.

When we brought him home in July 08, he ran to his crate and tried to shrink through the bars into the wall. We covered it with a sheet so he would have a den where he felt safe. For weeks, his time was spent between his crate, the corner of the family room, and under one of two tables.

For the first three weeks we had him, we didn’t look at him, talk to him, or touch him. The only interaction with him was to clip on a leash and take him out to do his business. Even then, we didn’t make eye contact and were careful to have the sides of our bodies to him.

We took him to a vet familiar with behavior issues for an evaluation. She wanted to start him on fluoxetine. In order to build his blood levels slowly, give it time to work, then wean him off, we would need to commit to Digger for about nine months, April 09. We did that. Now it’s been more than nine months. It was a long road. He’s almost a normal dog inside our house with our dogs and us. He’s off the meds and up for adoption.

If we can find him an appropriate home, I could let him go. We would all miss him. If we can’t find him a home, we’ll adopt him. The primary negative to adopting him is that three would be our limit; no more fosters.

So far, no one has called about him. We’ll see.