Category: Humor

Book Review: Am I Boring My Dog? By Edie Jarolim

Worry is part of the human condition, and it is something we seem to excel at. When we are put into unfamiliar situations and feel out of our depth, it's amazing the questions that can wander through our minds. Enter Edit Jarolim, her significant canine other, Frankie, and their wonderful book, "Am I Boring My Dog? (And 99 Other Things Your Dog Wishes You Knew)."

Written mostly for those considering adding a dog to their house and new dog owners, even veteran dog owners like me can pick up tidbits from this book. Covering 100 questions, from irreverent ones like "How should I refer to my relationship with my dog?" (I had no idea what a SCO was), to serious ones like "How much - and how often - should I feed my dog?" (A question I'm sure your dog has interest in), Edie's congenial style and sharp wit make this a fun and informative read. Chock full of great resources and some pretty clever insights, make sure to pay attention to the footnotes, they alone are worth the price of admission. So if you've ever wondered if you're dog will hate you if you dress him up, this is the book for you.
 
Edie has a terrific blog that can be found at http://www.willmydoghateme.com and you can find out more about her at http://www.ediejarolim.com.  She can also be found on tweeting away at http://www.twitter.com/willmydoghateme.

0 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 9:22 PM - Categories: Veterinarian | Nutrition | Health | Dogs | Humor | Spay & Neuter | Advocacy | Adoption | Rescue | Treats | Training

Woof Wednesday With Leslie Fisher

My guest this week is Leslie Fisher of Look What I Can Do Dog Training. When Leslie and I first started talking about the topics for this week’s post we were both lamenting about behaviors that are both highly reinforcing to dogs, and are reinforced randomly. Leslie’s dog Bridget (pictured here and who turns 4 today) is an escape artist and provides excellent fodder for this discussion; as this post from Leslie’s Facebook account shows.

Too much like work! At least we are all getting our exercise and it is a nice day. Have run out of mesh now lugging wooden pallets around as temporary blocks. yes the yard Bridget vs human challenge is ongoing and probably will be unto eternity. Should really write blog about power of random reinforcement as it…

So I asked Leslie to blog about it here, this is what she said.

Looking over this post, I realize comments from one friend might prove to be true: that I will need the Army corps of Engineers to construct a Bridget proof fence. It truly has been an ongoing exercise in determination on her part— and I suppose myself equally as determined that she will NOT escape. There you have it, the power of random reinforcement! In Bridget`s driven, busy mind, if a good thing happens ONCE, there is a darned good chance it could happen again. For example, Bridget still has a habit of searching under my car at the hairdresser where she viewed a groundhog going under— 2 years ago.

Imagine then the power of being able to escape from the yard on a random schedule to a dog like this! Are they likely to ever give up trying? Not likely! In fact the escape behaviors have escalated driven by the fact that she is escaping randomly. On the occasions when I have been observing, and see that she has been foiled, I can almost see the gears turning as she stands and stares at the house: "what should I do now?" The look on her face is priceless but it ultimately means trouble for me in the form of yet another eventual escape. The only way that this behavior can ever truly be over will be to build an escape proof fence and wait for her to give up on her escapist attempts. As the behavior has been so well reinforced, I am quite certain there will be quite an extinction burst, which should prove to be interesting to observe. If and when I am able to get the new escape proof fence in place that is. For now it is going to be mesh and staple gun, and vigilant supervision. We work with what we have. What I have is one extremely driven dog!!

Dogs, of course are highly individual in their behaviors. My English Lab Talley has never left the yard, even when the gate was left open by Bridget. She is firmly attached to her food dish. Bridget, however, has dedicated her life to finding new ways out of the yard. Different dogs, different motivations. Achieving extinction of undesired behaviors, in driven dogs like Bridget, with activities that are highly self-reinforcing, may be nigh impossible. Remember, this is the dog that continues to check under a car at one location, where a groundhog was spotted two years ago. My friend may not have been wrong, I may need the Army Corps of Engineers to construct a Bridget proof fence with the following qualities: fencing buried three ft underground, at least 6 ft high, top angled into the yard, and solid boards not mesh to eliminate climbing. Short story is, having been so randomly reinforced for escaping, combined with her driven personality, she will never stop looking. When Fort Knox does get constructed, I expect it will be a very long time indeed before she gives up patrolling for an escape.

In terms of dog training then, my best advice is to know the behaviors of your own dog. I know Bridget just never gives up on anything. If you have a Bridget you will always have to be one jump ahead, with your management and your training. Good luck to you!!

We hope you've enjoyed this weeks Woof Wednesday With Leslie Fisher. For more information about Leslie and Look What I can Do Dog Training, you can visit her website at http://www.lookwhaticandodogtraining.com, there you can find links to her Twitter and Facebook pages as well. Leslie also writes a popular blog "The Dog Trainers Dog" which can be found at http://lookwhaticandodogtraining.typepad.com/my-blog/

As always we welcome you to share your comments and stories of escape with us.

Cheers

3 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 12:51 PM - Categories: Dogs | Humor | Woof Wednesday | Training

Dogged Determination

Dear Human,
I must admit that as a dog I find you humans a bit perplexing. You seem to praise us for certain characteristics one minute only to turn around and admonish us for the same characteristics the next.

Take for example the term “dogged determination.” You use it to compliment other humans who show firm resolve to accomplish something. Dogged is synonymous with firm, persevering, resolute, steadfast, indefatigable, and many other words that are meant as a positive reflection on those you speak them about. Yet sometime you forget that our determination is not linked to emotions or concepts like good or bad. Our determination just is.

The determination that leads many of my kind to become search and rescue dogs is no different than our determination to chew on your favorite slippers it’s just focused in a different direction.

You humans are great company and without you some of the greatest inventions in the world (like belly rubs) would not have been possible; but sometimes you forget who you’re talking to. To us chewing on your slippers isn’t good or bad it’s just something we do to relieve boredom, to relieve tension, or simply to occupy ourselves. Telling us “NO!” doesn’t really help us all that much. We know that you are currently irritated about something and if we quit chewing on your slippers for a few seconds you will probably quit yelling (we hope). But we don’t know what you would have us do instead.

As dogs we have certain needs that are really no different than those of humans. When humans are nervous or tense they fidget; we like to chew. When humans are bored they find an activity that occupies their minds; so do we. It’s just that our ideas of acceptable activities seem to be a bit at odds; but we are more than happy to change.

If you teach us that treat filled Kongs are a better alternative then we will gladly leave your slippers alone. If you show us that sitting quietly in front of you as opposed to jumping up on you is a much better way to get your attention, then consider our rumps on the ground. Above all just remember that our determination can be focused on whatever you like. The choice is yours.

PS

Please remember that we choose to live with you not because we are in need of a dominant pack leader but because our partnership seems to do us both a lot of good.

Cheers,

Tosha, Gavin, Annie, Kevin, Jackie

6 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 1:40 PM - Categories: Dogs | Anti Cesar Milan | Humor | Advocacy | Adoption | Training | Behavior

Coming Soon Woof Wednesdays With...

A little less than a year ago I started Dog Lovers Digest in the hope that I would be able to share some of what I’ve learned about dogs and our relationship with them, to a larger audience. The process of creating and updating this website has led me to find and connect with people that I probably would have never known otherwise. The web and social networking has really come of age for dog lovers; it is one of the best tools we have to help combat much of the misinformation that seems to be en vogue. Networking on sites like Twitter and Facebook, I have met trainers, behaviorists, psychologists, veterinarians, and dog people from all walks of life; people that have a passion about what they do and the expertise and eloquence to share it with others.

 Borrowing from the “#WoofWednesday” tradition on Twitter, Dog Lovers Digest is starting a regular blog series called “Woof Wednesday With,” featuring interviews and articles from some of our favorite dog people that can be found tweeting away on Twitter. The series is going to start Wednesday February 9th and continue each Wednesday thereafter.

 Our first two scheduled guests are:

• Wednesday, February 10th 2010 – Debbie Jacobs of Fearful Dogs – Debbie, (@fearfuldogs on Twitter), is a trainer, columnist,  author, and a great advocate for fearful dogs everywhere. Her website can be found at www.fearfuldogs.com and you can read her blog at http://fearfuldogs.wordpress.com.  
• Wednesday, February 17th 2010 – Leslie Fisher of Look What I Can Do Dog Training – Leslie, (@lookwhatlabs on Twitter)is the owner of Look What I Can Do Dog Training and is a Pat Miller Certified Trainer and an Authorized Mentor Trainer for the Animal Behavior College. Leslie’s website can be found at www.lookwhaticandodogtraining.com and you can read her blog at http://lookwhaticandodogtraining.typepad.com/my-blog/.

I hope that you will find the prospect of picking the brains of some of our favorite doggie tweeps, as interesting as I do. If you would like to suggest some questions or topics for our first two guests, please e-mail me at kevin@dogloversdigest.com or leave a comment here, suggestions (or volunteers) for future guests on Woof Wednesday are encouraged as well.

Cheers

Kevin, Jackie, Gavin, Annie, Tosha

0 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 3:51 PM - Categories: Nutrition | Health | Dogs | Humor | Photo | Advocacy | Adoption | Training | Behavior

Who's Training Who?

I’ve seen a lot of training tips being offered lately that deal with a simple concept, ignoring behaviors that we don’t our dogs to repeat. Whether we know it or not, we are constantly training our dogs. Decisions we make about what to ignore, or what to reinforce, shape the dogs we live with.

I was actually working on another article today when I saw an old battle of who’s training who breakout between my wife, Jackie, and my Aussie, Gavin. As usual in this particular battle, Gavin won.

Sometimes Jackie will prepare a treat for the dogs to keep them occupied while she is doing other things.  She takes some bones and stuffs them with a dog biscuit and maybe a little bit of peanut butter and gives the bones to the dogs. This normally keeps Gavin, Annie, and Tosha occupied for quite some time, as they work at trying to get the treat inside.  One day while working on his bone, Gavin decided that it was taking just too long to get the prize. He walked up to Jackie in the kitchen and dropped the hard bone loudly on the tile floor. My wife was busy doing other things, but Gavin was persistent and my wife was tired of hearing the bone hit the floor (and her feet) so she reached down and pushed the treat out for him. A behavior was born and the battle was joined.

If Jackie had initially ignored the behavior, Gavin would have eventually quit doing it because a behavior that is not reinforced will decrease in frequency until it ceases.  She could have also used negative punishment (the removal from the dog of something that it finds positive) and taken the bone away from Gavin anytime he dropped it like that. Gavin would have learned over time that dropping the yummy bone ay mommy’s feet, makes it go away.

What Jackie has done is inadvertently put Gavin on the slot machine (variable ratios) schedule of reinforcement. The battles between them always end in Jackie’s paying out a jackpot. Sometimes it takes ten bone drops, sometimes it takes a hundred bone drops, but it always ends with Gavin being paid off. Gavin knows that with each pull of the slot machine lever, he is that much closer to hitting the jackpot.

Jackie could still use both methods mentioned earlier to end this behavior. In the first instance it might take days for the initial stand off to result in Gavin giving in. He would end up coming back from time to time to offer the bone drop again, and if Jackie were to give in just one of those times, the behavior would come back with a vengeance and even stronger than before. She could also just use the negative punishment method and take the bone away when he drops it, but she’s just too much of a softie for that; and besides, as she puts it, they wouldn’t want to deprive me of a good chuckle!

Cheers

Kevin, Jackie, Gavin, Annie, Tosha

0 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 4:24 PM - Categories: Dogs | Humor | Treats | Training | Behavior

The Dog Hair Effect

I am sure that many of you know that the butterfly effect is an illustration offered by Edward Lorenz in an attempt to describe some of the tenants of chaos theory. In essence it asks, “Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas?” It is an attempt to show that it is almost impossible to make predictions over long periods of time about complex systems. But as a human who lives with dogs, I sometimes wonder if a better illustration might have been, “Can a dog’s hair affect the human exploration of space?” The answer it would seem is yes!

Many people know that NASA uses Velcro quite extensively in the space program, and many mistakenly credit NASA for having invented it. However, Velcro was invented in 1941 by a Swiss engineer named George de Mestral. Mestral got the idea for Velcro after returning from a hunting trip with his dog and examining under a microscope, the cockleburs that kept sticking to his dog’s hair. I find this quite ironic because one way for Velcro to lose its grip, is to stuff it full of dog hair. This revelation about Velcro has made me think about some other ways in which dog hair has affected our complex world.

Yoga & the Lint Roller
Historically we are told that Hatha Yoga is a system of Yoga documented in the 15th century by Yogi Svatmarama, and can loosely be described as a physical practice in preparation for higher meditation. In reality, I think the practice of this particular form of Yoga is inspired by something a bit more mundane. Watching my wife emerge from a car with a lint roller in hand, and dog hair on clothes, has convinced me of the following:

1. Yogi Svatmarama lived with dogs.
2. The invention of the lint roller by Nick McKay of Helmac Products in 1956, was a direct response to some of the more strenuous poses needed to remove dog hair.
3. To wait in the car for five minutes after my wife has exited to avoid embarrassment.

Modern DNA Techniques
More and more criminals are being caught and convicted not by their own DNA, but by the DNA of their pets via dog and cat hair being left at the scene of crimes. Moral of the story, if you’re a criminal don’t own a pet. Good advice in any age.

Where’s George
I am sure that many of you have received a dollar bill with the “Where’s George” stamp on it. You go to the website www.wheresgeorge.com, enter the serial number of the bill, the zip code you are in, and you can track where the bill has been. I have often wondered how far my dog has travelled via its hair. I am willing to be that some of my dog’s hair is now resting somewhere in the world he’s never been to; waiting to hitch its next ride to horizons unknown. Furthermore, I believe that when scientists are able to look back at the moment of the Big Bang, the infinitely massive spec of space dust that started it all will contain some percentage of dog fur.

The Vacuum Cleaner Industry
Come on Mr. Dyson, would anybody really pay $600.00 for a vacuum cleaner if they didn’t own pets? Enough said!

I could go on and on but I think you are starting to get the point. So the next time you are cleaning out the lint trap in your dryer, take a moment to thank that ball of fluff for all it has done for you.

Have a great weekend everybody. I will be back with more next week.

Kevin, Jackie, Gavin, Annie, Tosha

0 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 6:04 PM - Categories: Dog Hair | Dogs | Humor

The Immutable Laws of Finding Lost Dog Toys

If you’ve ever lived with a dog, then the following scene will be familiar to you. You’re getting ready to play with your dog and you ask “where’s your toy;” the dog begins a frantic search running back and forth jumping up and down but cannot seem to find the toy. It’s now up to you to repeal the laws of physics and somehow retrieve the toy from the black hole into which all toys seem to disappear from time to time. Some are eventually found but some never seem to be able to escape from the inky void.

After tweeting with my friend and fellow trainer Leslie Fisher (on Twitter aka lookwhatlabs) of Look What I Can Do Dog Training, we’ve come up with some immutable laws to observe when embarking on the search for the lost toy.

Lost Toy Law 1: If the lost toy is to be found under the bed, it will always be on the side opposite you. 

Lost Toy Law 2: If the lost toy is hard enough to stub your toe on, it can always be found by waking up in the middle of the night and walking barefoot into the kitchen.

Lost Toy Law 3: Apply the rule of Forensics. Follow the trail of stuffing / guts to find the body of the disemboweled toy.

Lost Toy Law 4: To keep your toy driven dog’s mind engaged, send them into an empty backyard to find an imaginary lost toy. The dog will come back with a toy you didn’t know was lost.

Lost Toy Law 5: When looking for spare change under your seat at a drive through window, lost toys seem to appear.

Lost Toy Law 6: For the lazy / smart human simply ignore the dog; they will bring you every toy in the house.

Lost Toy Law 7: Before blaming your spouse for that wet spot in the bed, make sure it’s not a lost toy.

Lost Toy Law 8: If your dog suddenly starts to squeak when barking, Veterinarians are helpful in finding the lost toy. (If the Vet finds an 84 karat diamond as well, you’re not real but a character in my favorite Guy Ritchie film)

Lost Toy Law 9: If a lost toy can truly be considered by a human as either stinky, disgusting, repulsive or gross, it’s not lost; it’s waiting in ambush somewhere.

Lost Toy Law 10: Backed by the rigors of the scientific method, this law is foolproof but also the most complicated and time consuming. If you really want to find a lost toy, take the following steps:

• Starting at one end of the house get down on your hands and knees.
• Crawling in a clockwise direction, look under and inside every piece of furniture in the house until finally you arrive back at the place you started.
• While still on your hands and knees turn around, your dog will be standing there with the lost toy in its mouth.
• Your dog will then drop the lost toy at your knees and happily lick your face in payment for all your hard work.

I have submitted these laws to Professor Stephen Hawking to ensure that we are not violating any of the laws of Relativity or Quantum Mechanics. In the meantime, if you have laws that you think need to be added to the list or can find fault with our sound scientific reasoning; please leave us a comment here.

PS: In spite of the methods “whispered” by some TV shows, we are sorry to report that no toy has ever been found as a result of “calm assertion” or “positive energy.”

3 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 6:10 AM - Categories: Dog Toys | Humor | Play