Viewing by month: March 2009

Eau du Poo - Doggie Perfume

Following on the heels of my latest tweet, "If a dog rolls in poo in the forest, and no human is there, does the dog still smell?" I've decided to ask my readers. Do female dogs roll in poo and dead animal more often than their male counterparts? According to the nursery rhyme, girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, and boys are made of snips of snails and puppy dog tails. But when it comes to dogs, I don't think the maxim holds.

When my wife and I were first married, we lived on a horse farm with our female Aussie Shepherd, Sundown. There were several other dogs on the farm, both male and female, but only the female dogs participated in a game that Sundown invented called "Queen of the Manure Pile." Outside one of our barns was a pile where we placed our manure. Local farmers and gardeners would come by, and pickup the manure and haul it away for us from time to time. Between their visits, the pile could get up to 7 or 8 feet high. Sundown figured out that if she ran to the top of the pile and barked, the other dogs would come chase her. Eventually the game evolved into a doggie version of "King of the Hill" One dog would run up and try to knock or wrestle the other dog off the top of the pile. The winner would stand on top of the pile, covered in manure, triumphant for all the world to smell. The loser smelled the same, they just didn't get to stand on top of the pile.

As I've mentioned in a previous post, Sundown also loved to tear up the garbage and roll in it, something my male dogs have never done. Even my current dogs, Gavin, a male Aussie, and Annie, a female mix, take a different view on scent. Gavin will indulge in an occasional roll in rabbit pellets, but Annie is obsessed with cow manure. And not just any cow manure will do, it has to be fresh, and she prefers the dark green color. A habit which reminds me that spending time working on her recall, is better than spending time giving her a bath.

So you tell me, do girls like to stink more than boys?

0 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 2:37 PM - Categories: Dogs | Humor | Behavior

Chasing Bunny Rabbits - Doggie Dreams

I've often wondered about my dogs and their dreams. Maybe it's because I get a chance to see the behavior so often. My Aussie Gavin, has had a very good life, and is a typical doggie dreamer. His body twitches and his muscles and paws flex as he woofs and woofs chasing after the bunny rabbits. His dreams are relatively short, lasting anywhere from 15 to 45 seconds and he rarely wakes himself up. But the funny thing about him is that he gets extremely upset when my other dog Annie starts to dream. In fact he gets so upset that he leaves the room that Annie is in and usually won't come back in for quite sometime.

My other dog, Annie, is a Springer Spaniel mix and a Hurricane Katrina rescue we adopted from a shelter. Her dreams are usually much more intense than Gavin's. Her woofing and twitching is more pronounced and her dreams seem to last much longer than his. Sometimes they last for a couple of minutes and she seems to wake up more often than Gavin. I have also noticed that when we have a windy day or night up here on the mountain, (which can terrify her to the point that she will actually jump into the bathtub), she will have an intense dream that day.

That brings me to this article, which I found this morning on MSNBC.com, about military dogs serving multiple tours in Iraq. It seems to validate some of my thoughts on my dogs life experiences and their dreams.

So what do you think? Leave us a comment and tell us about your dogs! Are they "Bunny Rabbit" chasers, or full fledged sleep walkers like Bizkit here.

To comment on this article just click on the "comments" link at the bottom of this article next to my name.

0 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 10:41 PM - Categories: Health | Dogs | Behavior

Why Spaying and Neutering Are More Important Than Ever

It doesn't take an advanced degree in economics to understand the direct impact our current economy has on dogs. "Economic euthanasia," is a phrase that is being applied to many of the "solutions" that are forced on some dogs. The number of dogs and other animals placed in the shelter system because of the economic downturn, has become so overwhelming that many shelters are euthanizing animals within 72 hours of arrival. Because of the economy, owners are being forced to make hard choices when it comes to their pet's health care, as reported in this recent article on msnbc.com. Yet, with all the problems facing dogs, there are still people breeding them for reasons that to me, are incomprehensible.

There is a ton of good, sound, scientific information available about the benefits of spaying and neutering. Articles like this one from the Humane Society of the United States, dispel the myths that many people have about spaying and neutering. However, as the following story illustrates, the myths and misconceptions are hard to shake.

I recently had a "friendly" discussion with a woman who said she allowed her dogs to have puppies, to teach her children about birth and responsibility. I asked her if she had a plan for the puppies after they get older. She told me that she would probably keep one, and give the rest away. I wanted to know how she would find homes for the unwanted puppies. Somewhat annoyed, she replied that they weren't unwanted because she never had problems giving puppies away before. Then I asked, "So the main reason for the puppies is to use them as a teaching tool for your children?" She asked me what was wrong with that, so I asked her a question in reply. "If you allow your dog to have puppies, to teach your children about birth and responsibility, do you take your children to the animal shelter and watch dogs being euthanized, to teach them about death and irresponsibility?" Needless to say, the woman was shocked and angry that I suggest such a thing. I explained to her that I used such a stark analogy not to be mean, but to show her that other "living things," are affected by her decision to have those "teaching tools."

To be honest, I don't know if I made a dent. But I do know that adding to the current pet population, for reasons like the ones given by this lady, are irresponsible and misinformed to say the least. If you know of someone that needs to hear this message. Send them a link to this article or any one of the following links.

• Myths and Facts About Spaying and Neutering | The Humane Society of the United States
• SPAY-USA
• ASPCA | How Will Neutering Change My Dog
  
• Sacramento SPCA | Why Spay or Neuter?
• PHS/SPCA | Spay/Neuter Myths and Facts
• Doctors Foster and Smith | Myths about Spaying & Neutering Dogs
• American Veterinary Medical Association | What you should know about Spaying and Neutering
• Petfinder Library | Why Spay or Neuter?
• Pets 911 - Low Cost Spay and Neuter

1 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 6:18 PM - Categories: Health | Advocacy | Adoption | Rescue

The Words "Positive" and "Negative" in Dog Training

We often see or hear the words "positive" and "negative" when investigating methods for training our dogs. Positive methods, positive reinforcement, negative methods, negative reinforcement, negative punishment, are all phrases that are used, but what do they really mean?

The meaning of positive and negative are often misunderstood as applied to dog training. This is because many people associate these words with their emotional definitions. Often, when we think of the word positive, we think of something good. When we think of the word negative, we think of something bad. But as they apply to dog training, and specifically to operant conditioning, the words "positive" and "negative" are meant in their mathematical sense. Positive meaning the addition of something, and negative meaning the removal of something.

When talking about operant conditioning, we are talking about modifying or producing a behavior through reinforcement or punishment. Reinforcement, is a reward that immediately follows a behavior, thus increasing the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. Punishment, is a consequence that immediately follows a behavior, thus decreasing the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. Both reinforcement and punishment, can be positive (added), or negative (removed).

An example of a behavior we might reinforce, is getting a dog to sit. We can employ either positive or negative reinforcement to produce that behavior. Using positive reinforcement, we could lure the dog to sit by raising a treat above the dog's head. As the dog raises its head to follow the treat, it sits, and we reinforce the sit by giving the dog the treat. Using negative reinforcement, we could put a collar and a leash on the dog, apply upward pressure on the collar and downward pressure on the dog's rear. As a result of the pressure, the dog sits, and we reinforce the sit by removing the pressure.

An example of a behavior we may want to correct or punish, is a dog running out in front of us while on leash. Using positive punishment, we can give the dog a quick leash pop, causing pain or discomfort for that behavior. Or, using negative punishment, we can simply change the direction in which we are walking, and thereby remove the thing the dog was running towards.

So when thinking about the words "positive" and "negative" in training, think "addition" and "subtraction", not "good" and "bad".

0 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 7:50 PM - Categories: Training | Behavior

Debunking Dogma - Dog Training Myths

Dogma -  a point of view or tenet put forth as authoritative without adequate grounds  (source Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

As I grow older, I find that I am less apt to take things at face value, without first having investigated them for myself. The knowledge that I gain because someone or something causes me to question, that which I previously held or assumed as fact... is a great reward for the effort put forth in the investigation. In cases where I prove that which I thought to question, I have renewed confidence in that thought or idea. In the cases where I disprove it, I come away with a sense of expanding my mind with new ideas that I know, have basis in fact.

As a young boy, I was taught that the best way to house break a dog, was to rub the dog's nose in its' own waste. That grabbing a dog by the scruff of the neck and yelling bad dog, was a proper correction for unwanted behavior. And that dogs know that they are misbehaving because they act guilty when caught doing something wrong. I never thought to question these methods, even as I became older, until prompted by circumstance.

Sundown, a beautiful tri-color Australian Shepherd, was a surprise for my wife, Jackie, during our first year or marriage. For the most part Sundown and I got along well. Being an Aussie, she was tough skinned and tolerated my training methods without becoming overly sensitive. She was a farm dog and had plenty of room to roam, and was outside working with me or my wife most of the day. So she was easy to housebreak, having decided for herself that outside was the place to do her business. However, there was one thing Sundown and I did not agree on, the proper place for garbage.

I believed garbage belonged in a plastic bag, placed in a pile with other garbage, and ignored while waiting to be picked up and taken away. As she saw it, garbage was best ripped from the plastic bag, strewn about the ground, eaten, and then rolled in. I think if I could have asked her why she ate it first, and then rolled in it, she would have replied that it helped her digestion!

I would always catch her after the crime had been committed. Although the evidence was compelling, trash strewn about, a somewhat queasy but content look on her face, the unmistakable odor of garbage wafting about; I still wanted to catch her in the act. I got my opportunity one day and caught her, head buried in the garbage. I screamed "SUNDOWN" at the top of my lungs, which made her stop dead in her tracks. Then I called her over to me, and she complied by crawling along the ground, a sure sign that she knew, she'd done wrong. When she was within reach, I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and scolded her, "bad girl, bad girl," I growled. One of the horse trainers at the farm, Stella, saw this happen and decided to correct me in much the same way that I corrected Sundown. She screamed at the top of her lungs "What in the *#@% are you doing?."  She had my full attention and decided to use both barrels. I won't go into detail about the expletive laced tirade she unleashed. But the gist of it was this. To continue to "correct" Sundown for eating garbage like I just did, would result in two things. A dog that would make sure no humans were around when it played with garbage. And a dog that would not come when called.

I took me a while to calm down from the embarrassment of being scolded like this in public, but eventually I did. I decided to research some of the things she said. I started to read about dogs, about how hey learned and how they behaved. I spoke with other people about their dogs, and the training methods they used. I spoke with my vet about finding a good trainer to learn from. In short, I became aware that much of what I knew about dogs, was based on assumptions and methods that were no more valid than the assertion that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck. I learned that there were better ways to train my dog that would lead to a better understanding between us, without using methods that called for bullying and intimidation.

Educating ourselves about dog training and behavior, is one of the best ways we can pay our dogs back for all that they give us. Talk with people who have the kind of relationship with their dogs, that you want with yours. Read books dealing with Positive Reinforcement methods. Find a trainer or class in your area that uses positive methods. The following is a list of resources that can help. It is by no means complete, but it is a good place to start. Your dog will thank you for it. Mine did.

• The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson - If dogs are ever required to come with an owners manual, this book should be it.
• The Other End Of The Leash by Patricia McConnell - Excellent book on the differences in communication between humans and dogs.
• Don't Shoot The Dog! by Karen Pryor - Great book on behavioral training.
• How to Teach o New Dog Old Tricks by Dr. Ian Dunbar - Dr. Dunbar is the founder of Association of Pet Dog Trainers, a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and one of the premiere authors on the subject of dog training.
• The Humane Society Of The Unites States - Dog Behavior Tip Sheets
• Association of Pet Dog Trainers - How to Choose a Dog Trainer - A good list of things to consider when choosing a trainer to learn from.

If you know of a good resource on training and behavior, please let us know it by sending an email here. Comments are always welcome. If you would like to leave a comment just click on the comment link at the end of this article.

1 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 12:00 AM - Categories: Training | Behavior

The Others

Okay I admit it. I was raised a doggie elitist. My first dog, whose name I can't remember, was with for just a few days. She was a purebred German Shepherd who cried, whined, and whimpered all through the night. My parents, who were none to keen about the idea of a dog in the first place, decided that listening to me ask, "Can we have a dog?", twenty times a day was preferable to listening to her whine.

It took me another couple of years to wear them down to try a dog again.  It was a big deal, my parents wanted to surprise me but my brother came running up to me when I got home from school and said "There's a dog in your room.”  That’s how Beau, Sir Beaureguard Brummell, a purebred Pug came to live with me. I still remember some of his pedigree, not because I was into doggie lineage, but because his father's name was Sir Phillwill of Shortsnort, how cool was that? I am happy to report that Beau made it through those first couple of nights with us, and kept us as his humans for the next 9 years of his life.

As an adult living on my own, my first dog was an Australian Shepherd named Dfer, as in "D fer dog". I know it sounds pretty corny but I thought it was a cool name at the time. The Australian Shepherd is definitely the dog for me. The general personality of the Aussie is a perfect match to my own and it's hard for me to imagine that Aussies' won't be a part of my life until I die.

When my current Aussie, Gavin, turned one year old, my wife, Jackie, and I discussed getting a playmate for him. At the time we both worked away from home and took Gavin to "Doggie Daycare" a couple days a week. We saw how much he enjoyed it, and that his demeanor around other dogs would allow us to get another companion for him, and for us. Jackie was helping to teach puppy classes at the daycare center and heard from a lady in the class, who worked at the local animal shelter, about some of the shelter dogs. After visiting the shelter for the first time, Jackie and I both knew that shelter and rescue dogs would be part of our lives for as long as our Aussies would.

Our current pack consists of my wife and me, Gavin our Aussie, and Annie a Hurricane Katrina rescue. Annie is a Spaniel mix who is nothing like Gavin. She is very shy and reserved, absolutely terrified of thunderstorms and strong winds, (hmm wonder why), and is leery of men with loud voices (which I have). Yet she gives me as much joy and pleasure as any dog could. When she manages to forget her troubles and relaxes, there is no dog on the planet that enjoys life more. She loves to play soccer and will leap five or six feet in the air to catch her favorite ball, running back to you and dropping the ball at your feet and bounding from side to side until you send it sailing again. She is truly a joy and deserves a place in our home.

There are dogs out there now, in shelters and at rescue organization that will bring as much joy into your life as Annie and Gavin have brought my wife and me. They deserve a chance to live in a home where they can be a true companion. Our Adoption / Rescue page contains resources to help you find that special dog, or to find people who can help a dog in need.

0 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 8:49 PM - Categories: Advocacy | Adoption | Rescue

Unchained Heart

Being a resident of rural Tennessee, I must admit that one of my "pet peeves" is the fact that many people here let their dogs roam free. While outside enjoying play time with my dogs, Gavin and Annie, nothing irks me more than having to keep them from running off because a pack of dogs just came bounding through the yard. My Aussie, Gavin with me since he was a pup, can be controlled off-leash, in just about any situation. Annie, my Katrina rescue, is a different story altogether; but we're working on it. Despite the fact that these "free-range" dogs bother me, what bothers me even more are their polar opposites-- dogs forced to live their lives at the end of a chain.

You can find them everywhere you go-- in the city where space is at a premium, and in the country where there is room aplenty. Dogs tethered to chains, ropes, and wires, a brown circle of hard packed dirt ascribing the total scope of their existence; all chance to interact with anything meaningful just out of reach.

If you think about it, making a dog live life at the end of a chain, meets the definition of physical and mental torture. Physical confinement, lack of exercise, as well as sores, difficulty breathing, and choking, are all part of these back yard victims' misery. Mentally, the simple truth is that dogs are social animals and it is their nature to live with their pack mates. It's hard to imagine a punishment as cruel as having the thing you want most in life deliberately placed just out of your reach. I imagine it's quite like being locked in solitary confinement, except that in solitary they don't dangle videos of your home and family in front of you!

To be fair, I don't think that all people who chain their dogs do it out of malice, nor are they unconcerned with the animals welfare. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball that may make us forget about those that are totally dependent on us.

So what do we do when we come across an animal in this situation? Our instincts may be to "take" the dog away from this situation and provide a better life for them. And while that may seem like the prudent and humane thing to do at the time, not only is it a felony, it's just not a good long term solution. How would you would feel having "secretly removed" a dog from that situation, only to pass that property a week later and find a new puppy at the end of that chain?

Fortunately there are people out there who have taken up the cause of these dogs and provide excellent resources for helping you break these chains. Following is a list of some of them...

• http://www.unchainyourdog.org/index.html This is an excellent site that provides good practical advice on how to help these dogs. It includes resources on talking with the owners of these dogs, on building fences, on building trolleys, and resources for getting laws passed in your local community.
• http://www.dogsdeservebetter.com This is a very comprehensive website overflowing with information about helping these dogs including letters that you can send to your state or local representative, and hundreds of articles, stories, and poems.
  
• http://www.helpinganimals.com Another very good site for animal advocacy.

In addition you can always get good information about the problem from these national organizations...

• Humane Society of the US
• ASPCA
• American Humane Association
• Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
• PETA
• STOP Puppy Mills
• Pet-Abuse
• Animal Law Info

Dogs give so much to us, please take the opportunity to do something for them.

As always, we welcome your thoughts on this subject and any information you can provide to help the plight of these dogs is welcomed. Critcism is invited, and as long as it is done in a respectful manner, is welcomed.

0 comments - Posted by Kevin Myers at 12:00 AM - Categories: Advocacy