Cosmetic Surgery For Dogs

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Cosmetic Surgery For Dogs

Just when I thought I had heard of everything as a Bark Busters Home Dog Trainer, I just read an article in The Baltimore Insider about cosmetic surgery for dogs. Before you totally discredit the idea as I did, some of the dog surgeries have a medical benefit.

Sure there are cosmetic procedures for dogs that just involve a little nip here, a little tuck there. Believe it or not there are thousands of dogs who have face lifts and nose jobs.

We call it cosmetic surgery just because it's altering an animal's facial features," says Dr. Jules Benson, vice president of veterinary services at Petplan, a pet insurance provider. "It changes the look of an animal, but you are doing it to prevent further disease and to better the health of the animal.

It makes sense if your dog has entropion, causing his lashes to constantly brush the surface of his eyes. It's painful and, if untreated, could lead to permanent eye damage. An eye lift may be a solution. Or a dog whose breathing problems are so bad, rhinoplasty would help clear his nasal passages. But pet owners who use liposuction for overweight dogs or steroid injections for droopy ears? Botox for bull dogs? Or synthetic dog testicles for pets who’ve been neutered called neuticals?

Fortunately, the American Kennel Club forbids cosmetically enhancing a show dog except in cases of breed standards — like tail docking. The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association campaigns against tail docking, ear cropping, debarking, declawing and any operation an animal doesn't medically need.

Please remember that anytime you put a dog under general anesthesia, take him for surgery or have foreign objects (such as neuticals) put in his body, there are risks. Unless the plastic surgery procedure will dramatically improve the quality of his life (versus just hide his imperfections) don’t take a chance at an adverse reaction.

I’ve got a better idea for dog owners who have plastic surgery on their dogs for procedures that are not medically necessitated … donate the money you would spend to an animal shelter or rescue organization!

Is Your Dog A Genius?

Like all proud parents, we want to think our dog is the smartest dog ever. After all, the neighbor’s dog doesn’t bring his owner the morning paper like my dog does. He can’t even catch a Frisbee … I definitely have bragging rights.

There’s a new mobile app recently launched called Dognition, which is essentially an I.Q. test for dogs. It was developed by Brian Hare, an anthropology professor at the Canine Cognition Center at prestigious Duke University. It consists of a series of assessment questions and a series of science-based games involving cups, treats, paper and sticky notes.

It then reveals your dog’s canine IQ when it comes to empathy, communication, cunning, memory and reasoning. By entering your data, it creates a foundation by which more focused tests will be developed. You’ll receive a 15-page report on your dog’s cognitive style.

The purpose? To create a stronger connection with your dog — a connection that can help you be the best owner you can be for your furry friend! According to the website: “Dognition is not about ranking dog IQ scores. It’s about discovering which skills your own dog relies on to navigate the world — the ones your dog excels at as well as the challenges. Knowing your dog’s “cognitive style” can help shed light on where your best friend is coming from — and the new places your relationship can go.”

The downside? The price is $60. A steep price to pay to find out behaviors you may already know about your dog.

At BarkBusters Home Dog Training, we may not be able to tell you if your dog is a budding Einstein, but we can tell you if your dog has behavior issues that may present a problem. Answer 20 simple questions and your dog will get scored A – F. And if your dog gets an “F”, you’ll definitely want to contact your nearest BarkBusters behavioral therapist for some help!

And the price tag for the BarkBusters Behavioral quiz? It’s free.

View the original article here

Working With a Dog Training Pad

A dog training pad was designed for 2 major purposes: to protect wooden floors and carpets from damage done if a dog does his business on them and to make cleaning up the mess afterward easier - simply pick the soiled pad and dispose of it in the trash. In theory, this all sounds wonderful and easy, but in reality we still need to train the dog or puppy to do his business on the pad and not anywhere else. With grown male dogs especially this is quite a challenge - how do you teach a dog to aim, it is difficult enough with little boys!

The first step in working with dog training pads is to select the appropriate pad for your requirements. Puppy training pads come in different sizes and with different grades of absorption. It is not necessary to buy the biggest pad available with the highest possible absorption grade if you have a tiny poodle puppy. Sure it will work, but the added cost is unnecessary. The opposite is also true - a tiny thin pad is not suitable for doing dog toilet training with your fully grown Rottweiler.

The next accessory that is not required but could be helpful is a special potty training spray. This is sprayed on the dog training pad and will indicate (through smell) to your dog or puppy where you want him or her to do their business. Once you have all the equipment, place the dog training pad where you want the dog to do their business. This is normally in an area away from the dog's food, water and sleeping place.

The actual dog potty training consists of watching your dog carefully. The moment you see them starting their business somewhere else than on the dog training pad, issue a stern NO, possible combined with a firm shake by the scruff of their neck. Immediately place them on the dog training pad and let them finish their business. Praise them lavishly when done and dispose of the used pad in the trash, replacing it with a fresh one. Repeating this exercise will soon teach your dog where you want them to do their business.

Initially, when you notice that they do their business on the training pad without being told, reinforce this behaviour with praise and possible a tid bit. Also watch out for signs that they might need to go (i.e. restlessness, sniffing around or possibly indicating that they want to go out) so that you can actually be proactive and put them on the pad before they start.

Other articles on this site that might be of interest include: Dog training pad

Eddie has been involved in training various breeds for more than 20 years. For more articles on dog and puppy training, visit us at http://trainpuppyfun.com

Should You Buy Pet Insurance?

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Should You Buy Pet Insurance?

Do you get sticker shock when you go to the Doctor? Not only do you pay for the visit, but if you have to have blood work or any additional tests, it costs extra. The same can happen to you if you visit the vet. For instance, does your dog need to have a broken hip repaired? The price tag could be $18,000.

Many of us dog owners will spare no expense when it comes to our beloved companions despite the lagging economy and high unemployment. According to the Associated Press, Americans spent more than $53 billion on pets in 2012 - a new high. In fact, much of the same costly technology and diagnostic tests available for humans are now being used on dogs. For instance, veterinarians can now use MRI technology and chemotherapy to treat their pet patients.

So this begs the question: should you get pet insurance?

Here’s some facts about pet insurance:

All policies have varying deductibles and co-pays.The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.Premiums are based on an animal’s age, breed and where you live.Some companies cover routine wellness care, such as vaccinations and checkups, whereas others insure solely for illnesses and emergencies.Costs can range anywhere from $35/month to $115/month depending on the exclusions, riders and deductibles.

Advantages

It helps you prepare for the financially unexpected.It helps you pay for catastrophic or emergency expenses.Many policies offer multi-pet discounts.Pet insurance is available for both dogs and cats.

Disadvantages

Policies do not cover pre-existing illnesses.Policies do not cover periodontal disease.Some insurance providers will not cover breeds considered “high risk” such as Chinese shar-peis or Newfoundlands.Some policies have hidden exclusions.

Interested in finding out more? Here are some companies offering pet insurance:

My advice as a BarkBusters dog trainer? Buyer beware. If you’re going to invest in pet insurance, read the fine print and know exactly what it covers and what it doesn’t. Educate yourself about the pros and cons by reading this article by Consumer Reports. Then make an informed decision based on your income, your budget and how much you have or could have in an emergency kitty should an unforeseen accident or illness occur.

View the original article here

Does Your Dog Have Allergies?

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Does Your Dog Have Allergies?

Achoo! This is a sound heard around our household as Spring and Summer sets in and everything begins to bloom. Think about how miserable you are – your eyes running, your nose dripping and a general feeling of sluggishness. Just like their dog owners, dogs can have allergies too!

Dog allergies are known as canine atopy and although there is no cure, dog allergies can be managed. An allergen may be inhaled or the dog may absorb it through direct contact with his skin. Many dog allergies occur between 1 – 3 years and can be seasonal, while other dogs will experience allergies year round.

According to the ASPCA, here are some symptoms to look for and potential causes of allergies.

Symptoms of Dog Allergies

Itchy, red, moist or scabbed skinIncreased scratchingItchy, runny eyesItchy back or base of tail (most commonly flea allergy)Itchy ears and ear infectionsSneezingVomitingDiarrheaSnoring caused by an inflamed throatPaw chewing/swollen pawsConstant licking 

What Can Dogs Be Allergic To

Tree, grass and weed pollensFleasFoodMold sporesDust and house dust mitesDanderFeathersCigarette smokePrescription drugsFleas and flea-control products (The bite of a single flea can trigger intense itchiness for two to three weeks!)PerfumesCleaning productsFabricsInsecticidal shampooRubber and plastic materials 

What To Do If Your Dog Has Allergies

Two of the most common sources of allergies are fleas and food. Fleas can be controlled with a flea control program, and food allergies involve trial and error in changing dog foods. The hardest allergies to combat are the environmental ones. It is best to talk with your vet before starting any program so the dog’s allergies can be pinpointed. Here are some suggestions to help your dog if he is experiencing allergies.

Make sure to wash his dog bed at least once/week, and vacuum floors, carpeting and anything else that gathers dust.
Certain dogs may need to be bathed weekly to remove the allergens from your dog’s skin and relieve any itching. Discuss with your vet the best shampoos for your dog, because frequent bathing can dry our your dog’s skin.
There are several flea-prevention products that can be applied monthly to your dog’s skin.
Certain antihistamines such as Benadry with omega fatty acid supplementation can be helpful. This medication counters the release of histamines, which are responsible for the itching and irritated skin. Just like with humans,  you may have to try different  antihistamines to find the one that works best for your dog because different dogs respond differently to different medications.
In extreme cases, cortisteroids may be prescribed by your vet on a short term basis to break the itch-scratch cycle. These are not recommended on a long-term basis because of the side effects.

Although most dogs love to be outside, you may have to keep the  dog indoors when airborne pollen is high, which is usually during early morning and evening hours.

View the original article here

Black Dog Syndrome

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Black Dog Syndrome

At Bark Busters Home Dog Training, we have trained hundreds of thousands of dogs from around the block and around the world! We have taught dogs that are black, white and red – and every color in between! As our motto says … any breed, any age, any size.

That is why when we continuously see a situation called “black dog syndrome” in the news, we are utterly amazed. Apparently there is a prejudice against black dogs, and most animal shelters have twice as many black dogs up for adoption versus any other color. In fact, black dogs are commonly the last, if at all, to be adopted. This phenomenon is known as black dog bias, or black dog prejudice or BBD (big black dog).  Somehow, potential dog owners associate black dogs with misfortune, similar to the superstition surrounding black cats.

Maybe the media has tainted potential dog owners against black dogs, often portraying them as aggressive on TV or in popular fiction. For instance, a big, frightening black dog can be seen in The Hound of the Baskervilles, the Harry Potter series, both movie versions of The Omen, and even on the common “Beware of Dog” sign.

But at Bark Busters, we’d like to speak out in favor of beautiful black dogs who can be just as loving or well-behaved as their white or lighter colored counterparts.

We are here to tell you that the Black Dog Syndrome is a myth.  Having worked on dog obedience issues with dogs of all colors, to say that black dogs are more hostile or less friendly is just not true.

“It’s not a dog’s color that makes him/her aggressive” says Sylvia Wilson, founder of Bark Busters Home Dog Training. “Generally, what makes a dog aggressive or prone to bite other dogs is improper dog training or unscrupulous breeders who deliberately or unknowingly breed unsound temperaments to another unstable temperament. Dogs like babies are born innocent and their personalities are more often a product of their environment than a genetic component.

“I have come across some black pit bulls that are teddy bears,” added Wilson.  “The fact that people judge dogs solely based on their color is a mistake.”

At Bark Busters Home Dog Training, we encourage you to adopt pets that are harder to adopt – dogs that are black, deaf, old or handicapped in some way to save them from being euthanized. Want to see some adorable black dogs? Pick up a copy of Black is Beautiful: A Celebration of Dark Dogs, a photographic tribute to America’s least appreciated canines by writer and photographer Pam Townsend!

Black is beautiful! If you have any problems with your dog – black or otherwise, feel free to contact the Bark Busters dog trainer nearest to your area.

View the original article here

Bark Busters USA Issues Dog Owner's Pledge

“Too many times, families don’t understand the full commitment they are making by bringing a dog into their household,” said Liam Crowe, CEO and Master Dog Behavioral Therapist for Bark Busters USA. “Dogs are completely dependent on their owners for their physical, mental and emotional health, and while dog ownership often brings a lot of joy, providing the care dogs need can be costly and time-consuming.”

To help families who are considering adding a dog to their household, the Bark Busters Dog Owner’s Pledge outlines a variety of needs that potential owners should be able to commit to meeting—before they fall in love with that irresistible “puppy in the window” at a local rescue, shelter or breeder.

“What we hope this pledge will do is encourage families to have these conversations early in the decision-making process,” said Crowe. “Often, dogs are given up to shelters because it was not decided in advance how the new pet’s health care would be paid for, what training and entertainment would be provided, or even who would take the dog out to toilet late at night.”

The pledge consists of four key areas, with sub-points for each, beginning with the statement, “We will be responsible for our dog’s”: 1) health and well-being (veterinary care, food and water, daily exercise); 2) safety (restraint laws, identification, training); 3) quality of life (shelter, entertainment); and 4) actions (reproduction, nuisance behaviors, waste disposal).

“When families are fully prepared for the commitment of dog ownership—and take into account things like age, activity level, and size when choosing a dog—they are much more likely to enjoy a long-lasting relationship and a strong human-canine bond,” said Crowe. “Part of our mission as trainers and advocates for the dogs in our community is to help ensure that families keep dogs in loving homes, and we believe that getting out the message that dog ownership is not a right, but a privilege that comes with many responsibilities, is an important component of our public service.”

To view the full pledge or to access a printable copy, CLICK HERE.

About Bark Busters
Bark Busters, the world’s largest, most trusted dog training company, started in Australia in 1989 and came to the United States in 2000. Since inception, more than 750,000 dogs have been trained worldwide using its dog-friendly, natural methods. With hundreds of franchised offices around the world, including locations in 40 states in the U.S., Bark Busters is continuing its mission to build a global network of dog behavioral therapists to enhance responsible dog ownership and reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment and euthanasia of companion dogs. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers guaranteed lifetime support. To fetch a trainer in your area, call 1-877-500-BARK(2275) or visit www.BarkBusters.com, where dog owners can complete a Dog Behavioral Quiz to rate their dogs’ behavior.

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Technology and Your Dog

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Technology and Your Dog

There is no doubt that we humans are into technology … if we forget our cell phones, we feel naked. And where would we be without our computers, iPads and laptops? In fact, I read an interesting statistic the other day … there are more than 7 billion people on the planet today -- 5.1 billion of them own a cell phone, but only 4.2 billion own a toothbrush. Crazy!

It’s no wonder then that the technology craze has invaded the world of dogs as well.  At Bark Busters Home Dog Training, we try and keep you up-to-date on everything dog. Here’s some technological innovations you might find fun, silly or just aids for keeping your dog healthy.

Dog TV – Many dog owners leave the TV or radio on where they’re away so the dogs won’t be lonely. Now there’s such a thing as a channel devoted exclusively for dogs that’s only $10/month. As its founder says: “DogTV’s 24/7 programming helps stimulate, entertain, relax and habituate dogs with shows that expose them to various movements, sounds, objects, experiences and behavior patterns, all from a dog’s point of view.” Move over Lassie!
Puppy Tweets – Are you a Twitter lover? Do you like to tweet to let your friends know what’s going on? Believe it or not, now your dog can Tweet too.  Introducing Puppy Tweets which is an electronic dog tag that sends messages to your computer, then Tweets to you. Whenever your dog moves or barks, the Puppy Tweets™ tag detects it and sends a Tweet via Twitter. “As your puppy moves, barks, eats and plays throughout the day, motion activity is sensed by the tag and transmitted to the Puppy Tweets™ USB receiver on your home computer. Your dog's activity triggers one of 500 humorous Tweets to be broadcasted to Twitter. Set up a Twitter account for your dog and then follow their Tweets!”
Pet Locator - There are many different products to keep track of your pet, some using GPS technology and others using radio frequency. One of the newest is  The Zoombak Pet Locator. It attaches to a dog's collar and uses GPS technology to keep track of your animal's location. Anytime you want to identify his location, hop onto to Zoomback.com or use your cell phone. You can also set up safety zones and request email or text updates when your dog wanders outside of these zones. The Zoomback is $79.99, with monthly service fees that start at $12.99. There’s also the Loc8tor, The Pet Tracker Tagg,  and many more … do your research and find the one that’s best for you!
GoDogGo  Remote Fetch Machine. Does your arm get tired from throwing tennis balls? This automatic fetch machine launches balls more than 40 ft and is remote controlled. You can fill the bucket with one ball or launch several in succession depending on how your dog likes to play.  The cost is steep -- $139.99.

View the original article here

Redbox Donating Proceeds For Shelter Me DVD Rentals

Are you not sure what to do this weekend?  Are you thinking about making some popcorn and renting a movie?  If you’re an animal lover like me you might be interested in renting Shelter Me from Redbox, a documentary about shelter dogs and their new homes.

While browsing through our Facebook news feed and RSS feed the past couple days we saw DogTipper and Keep The Tail Wagging talking about the new Redbox Docmentary: Shelter Me.  We were very excited to hear that RedBox would be donating the proceeds from the Shelter Me DVD rentals (through April 29th, 2013) to the Halo Pet Foundation.

Curiosity got the better of me so I decided to take a peek at the trailer to see what this DVD was all about.  Take a look at the trailer:

I was very excited to see that not only was this a documentary about shelter dogs, but also a story about how shelter dogs were helping people with disabilities.  What was even more exciting was I caught a glimpse of one of the service dog jackets during the video and it looked a little bit like this one…I mean a lot…well I mean exactly like this one!

Apache CST Puppy

In case you don’t recognize him that’s Apache proudly wearing his Canine Support Teams (CST) Puppy In Training jacket.  The very same jacket I saw in the Shelter Me trailer!  Apache was my 4th Guide Dog puppy in training and after getting dropped from the guide dog program moved on to CST and is now a working PTSD Service Dog!  Go Apache!

After seeing the CST jackets in the trailer I had to check out the full documentary.  After all by renting I was also making a donation to a good cause!

Shelter Me was broken up into three parts.  The first part followed two pit bulls from the time they were picked up off the street to finding loving homes.  Two adorable dogs that goes to show you that there are plenty of wonderful pets waiting to be adopted from your local shelter.

The second part of the documentary focused on two owner surrendered dogs that made their way from the animal shelter to the Canine Support Teams Prison Pup Program.  This part focused more on the CST Prison Pup Program then it did on the two dogs, but it really gave you some insight into how much these shelter dogs impacted the lives of their trainers as well as the people they later served as working Service Dogs.

Finally, part 3 focused on another Service Dog organization: Freedom Service Dogs.  Part 3 was mainly about PTSD Service Dogs and really gave you an inside look on how these types of dogs change the lives of veterans with PTSD.

Those short summaries do not do the DVD justice, but are just to give you a brief idea what Shelter Me is all about.

This documentary is probably more interesting to me then it is for most other people.  First of all, I feel connected to each of these stories.

Part I has to do with dogs rescued from a Los Angeles shelter.  I rescued my very first dog, Linus from an LA County Shelter.Part II has to do with shelter dogs working with Canine Support Teams in the Prison Pup Program.  My last guide dog puppy graduated from the CST Prison Pup Program just over a month ago!Part III has to do with PTSD Service Dogs and the organization Freedom Service Dogs.  First, a friend of mine actually volunteered at Freedom Service Dogs evaluating dogs to find if they were suitable as potential Service Dogs.  And of course, Apache graduated as a PTSD Service Dog! Apache CST Graduate

When Apache graduated, CST changed out his Puppy In Training jacket and replaced it with a Service Dog jacket custom made using material from Apache’s handler’s military uniform.

So my review may be a bit biased, but I think this was a wonderful documentary that most animal lovers will enjoy.  By the way, I was looking for Apache amongst the other Prison Pups, but I don’t think he was a part of that group.  Apache was a bit of an over-sized Golden Retriever so I think he would have stood out amongst the other pups.

What do yo guys think?  Are you interested in watching a documentary about shelter dogs this weekend?  If so, rent Shelter Me from your local Redbox and let us know what you thought about it in the comment section below.

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My Guide Dog Story

Guest Post by: Linda Ladaga

My whole life, I’ve been a dog lover. My parents never let me have one though; they said dogs were too much work. So, when I went away to college, I knew that I had to have a dog. I also knew that I had no clue how to take care one.

So, I joined a program called the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. They taught me how to raise puppies that would become seeing eye dogs for those with vision impairments.

Shortly after my training had ended, I received my very first 8-week-old puppy, Phyllis. No, I did not get to pick the name (although I do love The Office). Phyllis is a golden retriever-yellow lab mix and could not be any cuter. I fell in love with her instantly.

Day 1 with Phyllis

I quickly found out that my parents had been lying to me my entire life – puppies are a lot of work, but that is the fun in raising them! The best part about Phyllis was that she was a certified service dog. That meant she had to wear her cute yellow “dog in training” vest and follow me to class, restaurants, sporting events, movie theaters, and more.

We attended monthly training programs together so that the program could monitor her progress. She was so smart, independent and strong. She had a will of her own. 15 months passed quickly and it was time for Phyllis to head to New York for her professional training. If she passed, it was off to live with someone who has vision impairments.

Phyllis and her brother Duke, the day before heading up to NY (Phyllis on left, Duke on right)

Saying goodbye to Phyllis was one of the hardest things that I’ve ever had to do. If you’ve ever had a dog, you know how it would feel to give up a pup you love so much after 15 months together. It was heart wrenching, but I knew she was on her way to do the job she was born to do.

Luckily, upon her goodbye, I was handed Ace, my new 8-week-old black lab puppy. It was difficult starting again from square one with Ace’s training, but I quickly fell madly in love with him. He was my buddy, my cuddler, my sweetheart.

Day 1 with Ace

Eight months into my training with Ace, I received great news: Phyllis had graduated from her training and moved to Arizona with her new owner, an elderly woman who was blind. Before I knew it, it was time for Ace to head to New York as well. I waited months to hear about Ace’s progress and finally the news came: he had graduated the program as well and was placed with a woman in Michigan.

I couldn’t be more proud of my dogs for making it all the way through the guide dog program and leading the blind with their eyes and with their hearts. Today, I’m a still pen pal with Phyllis and Ace’s owners. They send me updates and pictures each month. I also have two dogs that are my very own: Kibo (a goofy, Shepherd mix) and Kenya (an 8-week-old puppy mix). The three of us live in Denver now, where I attend graduate school.

Many of my friends have rescued dogs for the animal assisted therapy program here, and I often lend a hand with training and dog sitting in exchange for donations to the Guide Dog Foundation. Each time I help someone out, I know that those donations are making their way back to dogs like Phyllis and Ace, and the people whose lives they have changed forever.

If you’d like to join me in supporting this great cause, pledge an hour of your time in my ProBueno community. I’m helping with dog-related things, but you are free to offer anything from baking cookies to offering career advice. Every time someone needs your help, they will make a donation to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind.

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Want To Adopt A Puppy? Try PetFinder.com!

Neary 8 years ago I adopted my first puppy from the Carson Animal Shelter.  It was life changing and adopting Linus had to be one of the best decisions of my life.

At the time my ex-girlfriend and I were visiting many of the local breeders crooning over adorable little puppies.  We saw tiny little Labrador Retriever pups, Golden Retrievers, and Australian Shepherds.

I can still remember seeing 12 little 6 week old Golden Retriever puppies come bursting through the screen door with mom and dad in tow.  I can’t recall a more adorable sight.  However, even after seeing all of these cute puppies I always had my eye and heart set on adopting my first puppy.

I remember seeing the blurry picture on PetFinder.com like it was yesterday:

Animal: DogBreed: Labrador Retriever/Australian ShepherdAge: BabyGender: MaleSize: LargeLocation: Carson Animal Shelter

We hopped in our car drove down to meet this little Lab/Aussie puppy and the rest is history!  Read more about the day we brought home our first puppy, Linus.

For those of you who are looking to adopt a puppy and don’t think they have any pups at the shelters or rescues you need to check out PetFinder.com.  There are thousands of puppies listed on PetFinder.com waiting to go to their forever homes.  You can also find hundreds/thousands of local rescues as well as many adoption events occurring in your area of the nation.

We saw this little guy at the Irvine Super Pet Adoption last year.

Cute Little Rescue Puppy From The Super Pet Adoption

If you’re looking for a new pet please consider adopting from your local animal shelter or rescue.  As we can attest it’s a wonderful feeling knowing you helped save another life.

Did you adopt your last pet?  Are you planning on adopting?  Tell us about it in the comment section below.

By the way, this was supposed to be my Wordless Wednesday post, but it ended up getting a few hundred words…sorry…

View the original article here

Wordless Wednesday – How LONNGGG is this hallway????

We finally made it! Number 10, the final edition, the last puppy in the Cutest Puppy Ever series. I … [Read More...]

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Wordless Wednesday – Koa Says Happy Fourth of July!

We finally made it! Number 10, the final edition, the last puppy in the Cutest Puppy Ever series. I … [Read More...]

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Apache’s Journey To Guide Dog College

Apache here to talk about my journey to guide dog college.  I’m going to try and keep it short and sweet with some of the basic information.  If you want a more wordy description then just ask my Dad (he likes to talk) to shoot you an email or let him know about any guide dog puppy questions you might have.

I think I’ll start off with where did I come from?  I’m now a student at Guide Dogs of America (GDA) and this is actually where I started.  We are all born and bred at GDA and after spending about 7 weeks in the nursery we go home with our puppy raisers where we learn basic obedience, socialization, and good house manners from our puppy raisers.

Here’s a picture of me the first day I went home with my puppy raiser:

That’s me! Aren’t I adorable. That’s my first day going home with my new puppy raiser

Normally we stay with the same puppy raiser until we are about 18 months old, but I just kept growing and growing and eventually I was too big for my original puppy raiser.

So a little bit before my first birthday I heard that a big, strong, burly, handsome (he made me say all those things) man named Colby would be my new puppy raiser.  That’s us together working on our obedience:

I’m working with Dad on a loose leash heel. Looks like I’m doing pretty good! Picture by Laurel Schuman

My Dad said that my original puppy raiser did an awesome job with my training.  However, he still took me to obedience classes, worked on our manners around the house, and visited many new and interesting places like the Bass Pro Shop:

That’s me, Apache! Just working on a sit-stay next to my Dad.

After working with 2 puppy raisers (Mary and Colby) we got the call that it was almost time to start guide dog college.  So this past Saturday we got in the car and drove to the GDA campus in Sylmar, California to meet up with my first puppy raiser, Mary and to also get me started on the next leg in my journey to become a guide dog.

Guide Dogs of America had a nice luncheon for my puppy raisers and told us what we (the pups) would be doing in the coming months.  Training sounds rigorous, but also fun at the same time.  I can’t wait to get started.  Here’s a good picture of me with my puppy raisers:

That’s my sister Asha! She’s a little bit smaller than me.

After our luncheon and taking a few pictures.  It was time for us to say our farewells.  We all walked down to the kennels.  Dad took me into the kennel, removed my leash and collar, and I got to meet my new roommate, a beautiful female black Labrador Retriever!  However, I still wanted to say goodbye to my puppy raisers and Dad gave me a big hug and told me to be a good boy while I’m at college.

Dad’s giving me a nice long hug before I start college

After Dad and everyone else left.  I played with my new pal Dahlia until we were both exhausted.  She’s my new best friend!

I couldn’t see him, but my Dad said he was going to try to catch a glimpse of some of the future guide dog puppies on his way out.

This adorable little guy is almost ready to meet his puppy raisers.

Now that I’m at guide dog college I will only be updating by postcard, but Dad says he’ll make sure that you guys hear all about how I’m doing with my training by updating the blog, Facebook, and Twitter accounts so make sure you “like” and subscribe to our social media channels.

I’m going to do my best in college and hopefully with help from GDA’s awesome instructors I’ll be wearing my shiny new harness at graduation soon!

Guide Dogs of America currently has a ton of puppies almost ready to go home with their puppy raisers.  If you’re interested in raising a guide dog puppy and live in Southern or Central California (we also have group in Washington) then please let us know.

I know a lot of you are puppy raisers out there.  Tell us about your experiences on puppy turn in day.

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Related posts: Dublin Graduated Guide Dog College! YAY!!!Dublin Is Graduating Guide Dog College!Are You Interested In Becoming A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser?A Thank You Message From A Guide Dog HandlerWhy I Decided To Be A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser

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Guide Dog Puppy Raising 201

Hmmm…so is this really Advanced Guide Dog Puppy Raising?  Well…no not really, but we did learn a few new and important things about raising our guide dog pups from our good friends Tony and Sam.

Last week Tony and his guide dog, Sam visited our monthly Orange County Guide Dogs of America monthly meeting.  We were lucky to hear all about Tony’s life with Sam and how much Sam has changed his life.  Stories ranged from comical to happy to sad to inspirational.

As a guide dog puppy raiser it’s great to hear how much a working guide dog changes a blind or visually impaired persons life.  It really does help them regain their independence and Tony and Sam are just one of the reasons why we (puppy raisers) continue to raise puppies for our great organizations.

Sam, Guide Dog.  He’s a Labradoodle!

So what’s up with the title?  Why is this Guide Dog Puppy Raising 201?  Quite honestly as I mentioned earlier it really isn’t all that advanced and the 2 tips Tony shared with us are really quite logical.  The reason why I say it’s advanced is because it’s the first time I’ve heard these kind of tips from an actual guide dog team.

If you’ve been following the blog for a while then you probably remember me talking about puppy names and how we name our guide dog pups.  If not, take a look back at our post on puppy names.  There are some basic rules to naming our pups, but at our meeting Tony told us his story about Sam’s name and gave us a good reason why and how we should name our pups.

Now that you’ve had the chance to refresh by reading our Puppy Names blog post (I’m sure you read the related links and comments as well) then you know that it was recommended to us by the GDA puppy department as well as other puppy raisers that we try to name our dogs with 1 or 2 syllable names and occasionally a 3 syllable name is allowed.

Back to Tony’s story about Sam.  Sam’s original name was Sylvio…A 3 syllable name…Tony tried to use the name Sylvio to issue commands, but he said it just didn’t work out and after about 1 day he told his trainer that his name is “Sam”.

Once your puppy in training goes to his new handler they have the right to change the puppy’s name.  Tony said a 1 syllable name is preferred by most guide dog users and urged us to strongly consider 1 syllable names when naming our puppies.  A 1 syllable name just makes it easier especially for guide dog users who have to use their guide dog name more frequently then the average pet.

So far, I’ve failed at the 1 syllable puppy names, but I have kept it at 2 syllables for the most part:

Stetson – 2 syllablesDerby – 2 syllablesDublin – 2 syllablesApache – 3 syllables – I wasn’t involved when naming Mr. Apache, but I like the name   By the way, Apache is on the verge of completing his Team Training!

Even if you are not a puppy raiser it’s important to think about your puppy’s name.  Is your pup’s name easy to say when you’re using it with commands?  If not, maybe it’s a good idea to consider a nice 1 or 2 syllable name.  After all, you’re just making your life more difficult if you choose  a 4 syllable name like “Serenity” (a name I really like) and try to issue obedience commands.

While I had heard about the importance of keeping puppy names short this was the first time I had heard anything about puppy training tip #2.

We do a few things differently when we potty train our guide dog puppies.

We teach our puppies to potty on command by saying “get busy”We pet our puppies while they potty.We teach them to potty on many different surfaces.

Tony’s puppy training tip for potty training was to keep the leash short when taking our pup’s out to potty.  The leashes we use for guide dog training has a short and long attachment.  Our leashes can usually be clipped in at about 3 feet or 6 feet.  The reason why Tony recommended the short leash was because if puppies are only used to going potty on the long setting then it makes it much more difficult for a visually impaired or blind person to pick up poop.

I always made sure to keep my puppies from not wandering or sniffing too much when going potty, but this was the first time I had heard the importance of keeping your pup on the short leash setting to keep them close by for the purpose of picking up poop.  This is definitely one I will be doing with my future guide dog pups.

So that’s it!  Did you learn something new about guide dog puppy raising?  or hopefully you learned something new that will help you when raising and training your own puppy.

Do you have any unusual puppy training tips that you use with your puppies?  Tell us about it in the comment section below.

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Wordless Wednesday – What’s Your Pups Favorite Dog Toy?

My 65-lb, almost 1 year old Lab, Dorian, has dog toys that fall into 2 categories: unsupervised and supervised.
He gets only a few unsupervised toys because he destroys most things he can get a tooth-hold on and I don’t need him swallowing things that might end up with a trip to the vets!
Unsupervised toys: Nylabone Dura Chews, Kongs and Goughnuts stick. These are all great fun for him, can be left around all day without worry and hold up to heavy chewing. Always supervise a toy until you are sure your dog can’t destroy it.
Supervised toys: Kong Wubba (it squeaks and has a tail), polar fleece braided tugs, various stuffed animals, wood dowels, etc. These are for playing games with me like Find, Retrieve, Mouth Catch, Get it/Hold/Give, and Tug. All the supervised toys go up when we are done playing and game is over. He cannot go off solo and chew/rip on them. That makes them even more fun when I bring them out, and lots safer too!

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Wordless Wednesday – Black Lab…Future Guide Dog!

Future Guide Dog

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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How Can I Get My Dog To Stop Peeing In Her Crate?

We often get puppy questions through our blog, email, and social media channels and recently received similar crate training questions several times over the past month.  The basic questions was “How Can I Get My Dog To Stop Peeing In Her Crate?”

Before we brought home our first puppy we read several books about how to train puppies.  We wanted to learn as much as we could about puppies before diving into puppy ownership.  Now over 8 years later we continue to read books about puppies and dog training.

We rescued Linus from the shelter, fostered dozens of puppies and dogs, raised 4 guide dog puppies, and puppy sat countless dogs and puppies.  Maybe we’re not experts, but we do think we know a little more than the average bear.

We get hundreds of questions every month about puppies, dogs, and training.  Over the years we’ve kept the answers in the comment section, but starting this year (2013) we’re going to highlight questions and answer it right here on the blog!  Our hope is to build a resource section and help answer some of the most common puppy training questions.

So without further adieu…

Dublin didn’t have any potty problems during crate training

We hear this question several times a month in it’s different variations.  Maybe your dog is peeing in her crate or maybe your dog is pooping in her crate either way your question is probably what can I do to get my dog to stop having accidents in her crate.

The original crate training question we received this week is below:

“Hi I am crate training my 9 week boxer puppy. She is peeing and pooing in the crate overnight and then whines to be let out. what should I do if she doesn’t cry when she has to go?”

You have to remember that a puppy as young as yours (around 9 weeks of age) probably does not yet have full control of her bladder.  She may not always know when she has to potty, but there are some things you can do in your situation.

Your goal is to not allow your puppy to potty in the crate anymore.  At some point in time she learned that it was okay to potty in the crate.  If she’s having accidents in the crate during the day and at night you need to make sure you reduce the amount of time she spends in the crate and over time incrementally extend the amount of time she spends in her crate.

Lets start off by speculating as to why your puppy is peeing/pooping in her crate.  There could be several reasons why a puppy has an accident while in crate:

Crate size is too big.  If you’re crate is too big then your puppy will often times use one side to potty (her bathroom) and the other side to sleep (her bedroom).  A crate should only be large enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around any bigger than that and you might have a few potty accidents.Before you brought home your puppy she learned to potty in her crate.  In general puppies will not potty where they sleep, but there could be reasons why your puppy learned to do this before you brought her home.  If you bought from a pet store (please don’t buy from pet stores as the majority of these puppies come from puppy mills) your puppy probably learned to potty where she sleeps.  The same could be true if you purchased from an irresponsible breeder.  Responsible breeders will often times start potty training their pups before they go home with their new families.  If you adopted your puppy may have learned to potty in there kennel or other sleeping area.  You never really know, but sometime in her past she may have learned to potty in her crate.She has a bladder infection or some kind of health issue.  A trip to the veterinarian may be in order.  You might want to consider this as an option if your puppy is having unusual potty accidents.

Make sure you read through these two articles:

Since your puppy is peeing/pooping in the crate overnight without any whining to alert you then you should consider setting your alarm clock 2-3 times spread out through the night, wake up, take your puppy to her potty spot, have her potty, then take her right back to bed.

Another thing you should do to help avoid future puppy potty accidents in crate is thoroughly wash your crate using an enzymatic cleaner like Nature’s Miracle (aff link).  Puppies like to potty in the same place where they went before.  If she can smell the urine in the crate then she might go there again.  Moving forward, anytime she has an accident make sure you thoroughly clean the crate again.

If you’re putting blankets or towels in the crate I would consider removing these.  Puppies usually like going potty on soft surfaces as opposed to hard surfaces.

As mentioned earlier make sure you have the right size crate.  If you bought a large crate to allow your puppy to grow into it I would either purchase a smaller, proper sized crate or use a divider to make the crate the correct size.

Keep your puppy on a consistent feeding schedule.  Try to make sure you feed your puppy at the same times every day.  You’ll notice a consistent feeding schedule = a consistent potty schedule.

You should start keeping a daily puppy potty schedule to keep track of every time your puppy pees, poops, eats, and drinks water.  You’ll notice that your puppy is very predictable as to when she potties in relation to the times she eats, drinks, plays, etc.

Make sure you feed your puppy at least a couple hours before you put her to bed for the night.

Make sure you take your puppy out to potty (and make sure she goes) right before you put her in her crate for the night.

It’s always a good idea to speak with your local professionals.  If you don’t already have a local veterinarian or dog trainer then you should start doing some research to find some good ones in your area.  Having a good vet and trainer will be a great resource for you and your dog today and in the future.

You should also consider enrolling in a puppy kindergarten which will give you a chance to socialize your puppy, learn basic obedience, and have a professional dog trainer to ask questions.  Not only that, but you’ll find that you may be experiencing similar frustrations with your puppy as others in the group.  It always feels better when you realize that you are not the only one experiencing these puppy training and behavior problems

I hope this helps to answer your puppy training question.

What about everyone else out there?  Have you had any problems with your crate training?  Did your puppy used to potty in her crate?  If so, tell us what you did to solve the problem.

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Wordless Wednesday – Puppy Adoption

We saw these two puppies at the Irvine Home For The Holidays Pet Adoption Fair. If you’re thinking about getting another pet please consider adoption.  A great place to start is PetFinder.com that’s where we found our rescue pup Linus almost 8 years ago!

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Meeting Pet Bloggers And Brands At BarkWorld 2012

October has been a very busy month!  I don’t usually travel all that much, but in October I made two trips back east.  You already heard about our trip to Knoxville visiting PetSafe.  After visiting Knoxville I had a couple weeks off then flew back to Atlanta for the BarkWorld Expo where I had the opportunity to meet fellow pet bloggers, brands, and learned a little more about how to make the Puppy In Training blog more successful.

BarkWorld 2012

So what the heck is BarkWorld and why was I there?  From the BarkWorld Expo website:

Founded in 2009, BarkWorld Expo was created by Denise Quashie, Social Media Strategist for Socially Planned. After putting her dog, Frankie Beans, on Twitter she realized there was a large pet loving community using social media; however there was little education being provided at other pet expositions and conferences for this community. Being an award-winning event & social media producer, Denise thought it only made sense to create a conference for this community. With that, she created BarkWorld Expo and has continued to build strong online support for the cause of sharing and educating pet lovers within social media.

Why was I at BarkWorld? If you remember earlier in the year I put together my goal post for 2012.  Unfortunately, several of these goals will go unaccomplished, but after attending BarkWorld I know I’ve at least accomplished one of my blogging goals.

Lets quickly revisit those goals for 2012:

GOAL: 366 Days of Blogging - Unfortunately, this one is not going to happen.  We started strong going about 60 days in a row, but technical difficulties really side tracked us..  I did recently read that Jodi Stone over at Heart Like A Dog is approaching her goal of blogging every day for 2 consecutive years!  That’s amazing!  Congratulations Jodi!GOAL: Write 52 Articles For My Autoresponder - I think I got about six articles into the autoresponder, but I’m not too pleased with them and I’m not too sure I want to build the autoresponder anymore…We’ll take another look at this in 2013.GOAL: Attend BlogPaws and Barkworld Expo -   Mission Accomplished!  I was fortunate enough to attend both BlogPaws and BarkWorld Expo this year.  Hopefully I can do the same next year.GOAL: Write An eBook - This probably won’t happen this year, but I’ve gotten some great ideas after meeting and attending BlogPaws and BarkWorld.GOAL: Build A Membership Site - Something I’m still interested in doing, but it probably will not happen in 2012.GOAL: 2,000 Facebook “likes” -  Achieved!  and then some!  We currently sit at 9,207 Facebook Likes!  We’ve learned a lot about Facebook in the past 10 months and after receiving a credit from Facebook Ads we decided to give their ad program a shot and had brilliant results.  We continue to run Facebook Ad Campaigns and also make sure to update our Facebook status on a regular basis.  A lot of our current Facebook success can be attributed to our consultations with PetSmart during our Build A Business Blog case study.GOAL: 250K Page Views a Month - unless something miraculous happens like an extreme viral moment this is most likely not going to happen in 2012.  However, we did have a record month in October with  82,223 visitors and 123,697 total page views according to Google Analytics.  Maybe 2013 will be the year we break the 200K mark.

We’ll revisit these goals sometime around the end of this year or beginning of 2013.

So what did I do at BarkWorld this year?  I made sure to arrive early so I could participate in the Social Petworking Offline Speed Dating for Bloggers.  I felt very lucky because only a handful of pet bloggers were allowed to participate in this session.

The speed dating session was an excellent experience.  Basically I was given a list with times and brand names.  We were given the chance to meet with each brand on our list for 6 minutes.  If you’re interested in participating in the speed dating session next year make sure you have your elevator pitch prepped and ready to go.  The speed dating session was a great chance to meet one-on-one with several brands in a short period of time.

I did want to mention that Flexi far and away exceeded expectations during the speed dating session as they prepared several custom leashes (you can actually go to the Flexi website and design your own myflexi leash) for each pet blogger.  Check out the 3 leashes they gave to us:

Custom pics of my pups (Stetson, Derby, and Linus).  Also custom Guide Dogs of America Flexi.

We really like using our Flexi leash during training to work on recalls with our puppies, but we don’t use our Flexi as an every day leash because it can be difficult to control a dog with a Flexi.  If you’re interested in using a Flexi leash please make sure and read the precautions and warnings on the back of the package.

Check out the 2012 BarkWorld Schedule.  There’s a ton to learn at BarkWorld and while this event was very similar to BlogPaws at also had many differences.  One thing I did notice about the educations sessions was that BarkWorld was more focused on blog monetization and the blogger/brand relationship.  That was great for me because I was very interested in both subjects.

A few sessions that really stuck out for me were

Showcase your Influence: How To Make The Most Of The Blogger Brand Relationship – This was a great session that brought together 3 professional and gave the perspective from pet blogger, brand, and public relations.  As a pet blogger hearing all 3 representatives speak really helped me understand how the relationship between blogger and brand works.  I was especially excited and impressed to hear Jaime Derringer from Dog Milk talk about her experiences.  Be prepared and be professional when you speak with brand representatives.   While many of us like to speak through our pets voice it’s important to make sure you are professional and use your own voice when talking to a brand.Navigating The Pet Lifestyle Landscape: How To Attract Readers And Advertisers With The Hottest Trend In Pet Blogging - This session really focused on product reviews.  This was of special interest to me not only because of the blogging aspect, but because I’ve been searching for modern home for about 4 years now in particular I’ve been looking for an Eichler home.  While I don’t have a cat any of the furniture from Moderncat.net or Dog-Milk.com would look great in my new home. Paid or unpaid product reviews?  That was a questions I had…while I haven’t been offering unpaid reviews mainly because I can’t handle the sheer volume of requests this got me thinking about some alternate ways to still offer product reviews at no charge.  I think it was actually Amy Burkert that mentioned she receives products, but doesn’t promise reviews and once a year does a best of review for her favorite products…hmmm…Finding And Keeping Sponsors – I was very excited for this educational session because I’m currently looking for sponsors for PuppyInTraining.com.  Not only that I was particularly interested in hearing Joanne McGonagle from The Tiniest Tiger and Amy Burkert from GoPetFriendly.com speak.  I’m sure we are all trying to figure out how much we should be charging for that 300×250 banner ad in the sidebar above the fold.  Unfortunately, there wasn’t a straightforward answer, but it was mentioned that you should think of your number then add 10% because as pet bloggers we are undervaluing ourselves.Making Of The Madonna Of The Mills – A Labor Of Love – I nearly missed this session, but I’m glad I didn’t.  I’d already seen Madonna of the Mills, but after listening to Andy Nibley talk about the movie I was so impressed I wanted to buy several copies of his DVD and give them to my friends.  He was very inspirational and it was great listening to him talk about the Madonna of the Mills project and how he got started.  I wish he had a few for sale in the back because I definitely would have bought copies for friends and family.

I really enjoyed almost all of the educational sessions and keynotes, but these 4 really stood out in my opinion.  I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2013!

Wanna bring your dog to BarkWorld? They even had doggy daycare!

I already talked about our speed dating experiences where we got to meet with several pet brands for 6 minutes.  However, there’s also the exhibitioners hall where you can meet and find out how major brands like to work with bloggers.

I made several great contacts and I’m hoping to build a solid relationship with several brands I met while at BarkWorld.

One of the best parts about BarkWorld was getting the chance to meet my fellow pet bloggers that I only get to chat with online.  Meeting people face to face is very important and every pet blogger I’ve met has always been super nice, encouraging, and supportive.

Are you ever chatting with your boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife watching their eyes glaze over as you talk about your blog?  Just think of the same situation, but instead of glazed over eyes the person you talk to is super excited, helpful, and experienced similar situations.  That’s what it’s like to meet a fellow pet blogger!

I probably learned just as much or more talking to Jessica at You Did What With Your Weiner, Lorie over at Pet Healthcare Gazette, Nancy at LIPetPlace.com, and Stacy over at PetsWeekly as well as many others throughout the weekend.  Everyone has very different experiences in the pet blogging world and are willing to share those experiences.  It really exciting to hear about the different opportunities such as building Facebook reach, monetizing with banner ads, monetizing newsletter subscribers, and learning about which pet brands are working extensively within the blogging community.

If you are a pet blogger and you have the means I highly recommend you attend BarkWorld.  It’s a great chance to meet your fellow pet bloggers and pet brands face to face.  There’s also the education sessions that teach you how to be a better blogger.  Finally, everyone is very friendly so it’s a great chance to make new friends…oh by the way did I mention the swag?  I only had so much room in my bag, but here’s what I brought home from BarkWorld:

BarkWorld Swag

So what about you guys?  Are you planning on going to BarkWorld 2013?  Have you been to BarkWorld in the past?  Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below.

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Are You Interested In Raising A Puppy?

It wasn’t that long ago that I was asked the question in today’s blog post title when I walked up to the Guide Dogs of America (GDA) booth at the America’s Family Pet Expo. This past weekend I was asking pet lovers at the Pet Expo the very same question while working with Tasha (a guide dog puppy in training) at the GDA booth: “Are you interested in raising a puppy for Guide Dogs of America?”

By the way, the Pet Expo was packed this past weekend with thousands of people and we came away with possibly a few new puppy raisers

Bro and Sis? BFF’s? Guide Pups?

Who are those pups pictured above?  That’s Tucker and Treacle!  Brother and sister from the “T” litter (read more about the GDA rules for naming a puppy).  Guide Dog Puppies In Training!  These two are currently in formal guide dog training and hopefully will be graduating soon from Guide Dog College.  This picture is from our outing to the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach, CA.

So what happens at the Guide Dogs of America booth?  We try to recruit new puppy raisers and the Pet Expo filled with thousands of Pet Lovers is the perfect venue.  While our time is sometimes short with each prospective puppy raiser here are a few things I like to say and do when working the booth:

First, bring an adorable Puppy In Training to draw in the crowd.  I had Tasha an 11 month old gorgeous female Labrador Retriever working by my side.  the Pet Expo is full of excitement and distractions so we only bring the older puppies as they can handle the stress better than the little ones.After you draw in the prospective puppy raisers lead with the question “Are you interested in raising a puppy?“Then I usually give them the basic run down of what puppy raising entails… GDA provides you with an approximately 7 week old puppy.You keep the puppy with you from 7 weeks until about 18 months of age.During that time you work with them on basic obedience, good house manners, and socialization.Most pet lovers are intrigued by puppy socialization aspect of puppy raising and love to hear how puppy raisers take their pups to shopping malls, grocery stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and most places many pet dogs can not attend.At 18 months you return the puppy to the school where they begin their formal guide dog training.After about 6 months of formal training your puppy gets matched with a visually impaired or blind partner.After approximately 1 more month of training with their new partner you puppy graduates and begins his life as a guide dog team.The most common response: “I could never give up my puppy after 18 months…“My answer: “I understand, but once you see your puppy graduate and give his partner a new life of independence it’s all worth it.”  –Cue tears from my eyes…

That’s a very brief summary, but in reality there are so many more benefits to being a puppy raiser.  It is a large commitment, but you will receive so much more in return.  That is why I’ve raised 4 puppies and plan on raising more.  That’s why when you talk to many other puppy raisers they’ve raised 5, 10, 20 puppies over the past few decades.

If you’re interested in puppy raising leave me a comment or shoot me an email though our contact form.

How about you guys?  Are you already raising a puppy?  If so tell us a little bit about some of your experiences and the benefits you find raising a puppy.  If not, what’s holding you back from starting your journey as a puppy raiser.

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We Are Thankful For Our Dogs And More!

Happy Thanksgiving!  We are thankful for so many things we are truly a blessed family.  I, in particular am thankful for having wonderful family and friends, good health, and a super girlfriend.  The list could go on and on, but since this is a blog about puppies and dogs I’ll stick with being thankful for my 2 wonderful dogs: Linus and Stetson.

As I sit here writing about Thanksgiving Linus is lying down by my feet and Stetson is in the living room keeping my girlfriend warm while they both watch television.  My dogs truly are wonderful and I’ll never forget the days I picked them both up.

Linus (the rescue), Stetson (the career changed guide), Dublin (now a working guide dog!)

Here are 4 quick facts about my two boys:

Linus

We picked Linus up from the Carson Animal Shelter on January 7th, 2005.He was only about 2 months old when we rescued him.He was sick, covered in fleas and mites, anemic, had worms, and a stomach virus.We nursed him back to health and now he’s in wonderful condition as an 8 year old pup.

Stetson

We picked up Stetson from Guide Dogs of America on February 9th, 2007.We raised Stetson to be a Guide Dog for the blind.June, 2008 Stetson was career changed and became my forever puppy.Stetson makes a great couch potato and loves to eat just like all Labs!

I am very thankful and feel truly lucky to have all that I do.  I’ve also been keeping others in my thoughts and prayers as well.

I recently attended the BarkWorld Expo in Atlanta, Georgia and met many wonderful people.  I contacted many of my new friends and recently heard from Nancy at LIPetPlace.com.  Unfortunately, others have not been as lucky as myself with Hurricane Sandy reeking havoc along the east coast.  Nancy informed me first hand some of the effects and after effects of this natural disaster.

Here’s a copy of the email she sent me:

Thanks for reaching out – it has been insane here to say the least.  Some areas completely devastated, pets displaced, homes wiped out, big time shortage on gas or gas stations couldn’t pump because they had no power for over a week, and people are still without power almost two weeks later.  I said insane right?  It’s quite unbelievable the destruction and it goes from town to town, meaning one town is fine the next is not – and I know not everyone across the country is seeing all that we are seeing.  I was very fortunate, no damage to home or office – although the day after Barkworld I had to put everything in my office on higher ground and just hope it didn’t flood, it didn’t so super lucky.  Cell service was really spotty the first week and internet was here and there.  So many people lost so much, I personally know people who’s houses were flooded (my aunt’s house was), who lost everything, including their cars. Just a really sad situation.  And then not to have gas for cars, waiting in lines up anywhere from 1 hour or 5 hours, they finally enlisted an odd/even plate number to get gas – and that has helped tremendously – why the powers that be didn’t do this last week is beyond me.

I went today to one of the county run pet emergency shelters (different than the regular pet shelters) who are caring for over 250 owned displaced dogs, cats and exotic pets and it will be a long term thing.  While we are getting a lot of pet food donations and everyone here is really stepping up – many pets displaced will need to eventually go into long term foster until their owners can rebuild their homes or find a new home. So needless to say I have been consumed with the pet needs and wrote two articles on it here and here.  I am finally getting to Barkworld stuff, my own networking events, etc this weekend.

This Thanksgiving I’d like to ask everyone to be thankful for all the wonderful things they have and also to keep others who aren’t as fortunate in their thoughts and prayers.

Again Happy Thanksgiving!  And I hope you, your family, and your pups have a wonderful day.

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Why I Decided To Be A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser

The third Tuesday of every month we have our Orange County Guide Dogs of America monthly meeting to work on basic obedience with our puppies, discuss upcoming events, and usually we have a topic dedicated for each month.  Last month we had a round table discussion where each puppy raiser talked about themselves for a little bit.  Specifically, we talked about why we decided to be guide dog puppy raisers.

Dublin and Colby at GDA

It was nice to hear everyone’s answers and it also gave us a chance to know each other a little bit better.  One thing that I thought was nice was the fact that some of the puppy raisers came to our group from events we’ve attended in the past.  It felt good knowing that getting out into the public and telling people about guide dogs produced results in the form of new puppy raisers.

So why did I decide to become a puppy raiser?  Unfortunately, it’s not for some awesome reason, but instead my story is very similar to many other puppy raisers in our group.

There are several reasons why I became a puppy raisers.  Here’s today’s list:

I wanted to volunteer and give back to the community.I had volunteered for many other charitable organizations, but this time I wanted to volunteer to help animals.I wanted to raise another puppy after Linus (my rescue pup), but I knew I could not spend time with a new pup at home because of work.  Raising a guide dog puppy was a nice solution as my office allowed me to bring my guide dog pups to work every day as a part of their training and socialization.I wanted to be a part of a group working towards a goal.  I love our OCGDA group and all the people involved.

I had actually been thinking about becoming a puppy raiser for a while after the April, 2006 OC Pet Expo.  However it wasn’t until after my ex-girlfriend broke up with me in the summer time.  That’s when everything changed.  I started by fostering puppies for a local rescue called Cuddly Canines.

After fostering over a dozen puppies and dogs I decided that I’d give puppy raising a try which is a much more long term commitment.  As a foster I usually had puppies or dogs for no longer than 3 months.  However, as a guide dog puppy raiser I receive a puppy at 7 weeks of age and raise them until they are around 18 months of age.

Today I’m raising my 4th guide dog puppy in training, Apache a Golden Retriever.  My 3rd puppy, Dublin is currently at guide dog college and I’m hoping that he graduates this month.  My 2nd guide dog pup, Derby was career changed and adopted through the Guide Dogs of America adoption program.  Finally, my 1st pup in training, Stetson was also career changed and lives at home with me where he loves to eat, sleep, and work on his K9 nosework training.

Becoming a guide dog puppy raiser has been a successful venture for me and if you’re a dog lover than I highly recommend you look into becoming a puppy raiser.  It’s definitely a very rewarding volunteer activity.

If you’re interested in puppy raising for Guide Dogs of America then check out their webpage at http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org.

Related posts: Are You Interested In Becoming A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser?Top 5 Questions People Ask A Guide Dog Puppy RaiserInterview A Guide Dog Puppy RaiserHow I Became A Guide Dog Puppy RaiserGuide Dog Training – How To Become A Guide Dog Puppy Raiser

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How Often Does Your Dog(s) Bring A Smile To Your Face?

How often does your dog bring a smile to your face?  That’s an easy one…DAILY!!!  If my pups were with me throughout the day I might have to change my answer to hourly, every minute, or even track by the second!

My dogs make me smile every day!  When I come home tired and mopey from a hard days work they are there immediately to cheer me up.  Linus will come charging with one of his doggy toys.  If he can’t find a dog toy he sometimes comes charging in with one of my UGG slippers.  Stetson will sometimes do the Lab scoot running around the house with his butt tucked under him.

My pups bring happiness to me every day whether it’s just a simple smile to my face or belly-filled laugh!

Apache Dublin tug of war

Linus

At 8 years old Linus still gets the puppy zoomies.  He will sprint from my office to my bedroom,  jump up flying onto the bed pushing all the sheets to one side, and then repeat about 10 times.  Puppy zoomies will always make me laugh it’s definitely one of the pure joys in my life.

Stetson

Stetson is about to turn 6 years old and to watch him do K9 Nosework is a sight to be seen.  Most of our fellow sniffer dogs are methodical when searching out different odors such as birch, anis, or clove…not Stetson!  As soon as I give him his release command: “FIND IT!”  he goes darting in and out of rooms like a dog possessed.  You wouldn’t think for a minute he was sniffing for odor, but all the time his nose is in the air.  Everyone in our Nosework class loves Stetson and he always brings smiles and laughter whenever he performs in the classroom.

Derby

He didn’t jump like a bucking bronco (like our pal Journey), but Derby could jump and although not appropriate for a guide dog puppy in training he’d make me laugh when I’d see him jump from a stand still, over 4 feet straight up, and into my friend’s planter.

Dublin

Dublin is an easy one and makes me proud every day.  I smile every time I think of him as a working guide dog with his partner Liz.  Dublin made me belly-laugh when he was playing with his pals Wriley, Winter, and Baron.  Dublin was the first one into the pool that hot summer day, but he didn’t jump in.  He was so excited he didn’t look down and before he knew it there was water beneath his feet instead of the ground.  I have great memories from that day and some wonderful pictures especially this one of Dublin’s flying ears!

With those ears Dublin is ready to fly!

Apache

He makes me smile to think that he’s helping others first by working in the prison pup program and when he graduates he’ll be helping as a working service dog.  As a puppy in training, Apache made me laugh every time he played by himself with one of his toys. He loved to growl with his toy in his mouth.  Fearsome yet playful I always found play time with Apache to be a blast.

My dogs give so much more then happiness and laughter.  There’s a bumper sticker that says “Who Rescued Who?”  Linus is my only rescue dog, but I think all of my dogs have rescued me in one way or another.  A few more of my favorite quotes about dogs:

“My goal in life is to become as wonderful as my dog thinks I am”

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”

Are you a teacher or parent of a 3rd to 8th grade student?  If so, you can enter your kids in the 5th Annual Pets Add Life Children’s Poetry Contest!  It couldn’t be easier to enter! Kids simply write a poem about their pet and the joys they bring, and post it online.  6 Students nationwide will win:

A $1,000 scholarship for each winning student’s classroomA $250 gift certificate for pet productsAnd, a “by·line” in a nationally circulated magazine!

Awesome!!!  Check out the PALS Facebook page to enter and for more details

Has your dog made you smile today?  I’m sure he has.  Tell us a little bit about how your dog makes you laugh and smile in the comment section below.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Pets Add Life campaign and the American Pet Products Association. We are being compensated for helping spread the word about the benefits and joys of pet ownership.

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Wordless Wednesday – Merry Christmas!

I know…I’m a day late, but I still wanted to get a Merry Christmas out on my blog.  I did get this up on Facebook yesterday and after all you are following me on Facebook…Right!?

Linus and Stetson have their very own custom Christmas stockings.  My sister had these made a couple years ago and you might not be able to tell from the picture, but they are 3 dimensional that is they are kind of like little stuffed animals attached to the stocking.  Pretty cool stockings if you ask me.  If you’re interested I’ll see if I can dig up the name of the person who made them.

A Very Linus And Stetson Christmas!

The boys got some pretty good doggy toys this Christmas.  I’ll try to post some pictures either here or on Facebook.  Me…well I recently got a cool new Canon T4i camera for my birthday and lots of accessories for Christmas so hopefully you’ll start seeing some better pics here on the blog…as soon as a I get on a better posting schedule…sorry

Oh yeah…and my mom thought the end of the world was near (I think she bought into the Mayan Calendar or maybe some of the end of the world marketing hype).  So she ended up buying us a bunch of survival stuff including a backpack full of supplies (dehydrated food, water, etc) and also a solar powered radio.  I feel safe even though the end of the world already passed.

What did you guys get for Christmas?  Any new dog toys?  Any new human toys?  Merry Day After Christmas!

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Apache Is Working Hard On His Service Dog Training

We recently got an email and to quote a part of it: “…I would say he is going to be a Great Service Dog…”  We certainly hope this will be true.

In case you don’t remember Apache was my last guide dog puppy in training.  After spending a month at guide dog college he was career changed due to a medical condition.  However, the good news is he was career changed to a service dog organization called Canine Support Teams (CST).

Today Apache is in the Prison Pup Program with CST working on his service dog training with an inmate trainer at Chino Institute for Women.

Sorry, they don’t allow picture of Apache while he’s in the Prison Pup Program   I would have loved to have seen him in his dog Halloween Costume.  Since no updated picture here’s one of him as a puppy:

Apache, Fetch!

So without further adieu here’s the latest update we received about our buddy, Apache:

I got to spend time with Apache last night. I have to tell you he won first place in the Halloween Costume contest he was dressed like an Indian featuring a feathered headress and a loin cloth, he enjoyed every minute of the attention. His sister Asha was Pocahontas..very cute together.

Apache is doing very well, in last nights class we had a 2 part class the first part was the Primary Trainers taking the dogs through obedience commands with their hands behind their backs using no treats or hand gestures. I can tell you Apache did very well. He kept his eyes on his Trainer and stayed right by her side, even with the distraction of other dogs. The reason this is important and is practiced is not every client will have the ability to hold a leash and give gestures. We want the dogs to maintain eye contact and do what ever they are asked to do. He did a great job…

The second part of the class was a babysitter or secondary trainer who has never worked with the dog to do the same thing. Apache still did well with this but like all the other dogs was not totally focused on the new person. So it was good for the entire class to see that all dogs need to work for whoever asks them to do the command. We did let them bring out treats and all the dogs responded better to the new people and we had lots of wagging tails. Overall it was a Great class.

I spent some time talking with his trainer and asking about progress, any issues etc. She said he is doing well at all his obedience, directional, and working on task. He loves, loves, loves to retrieve. He started with the basic dropped items off the floor, keys, pens, glasses. He has progressed to retrieving items off counters, he is tall enough to retrieve out of the sink. He has such a gentle mouth he has moved on to mail and single sheets of paper. He can also now turn lights on and off with the commands Light & Switch.

I would say he is going to be a Great Service Dog. The next Team Training is in March…client files are being reviewed and if there is a good match for him he may be in that Team Training.

I’m happy to hear that Apache did so well with his secondary trainer.  He must be maturing!  Maybe it’s because his second birthday is right around the corner.  Does that mean he’s almost an adult!?  Probably not till he’s closer to three years old.

I’m so proud of Apache.  I hope he truly does become a great service dog for someone.  My fingers are crossed that he makes the next team training this March.  GO APACHE!!!

Do you have a dog in formal guide or service dog training?  How’s your puppy doing?   Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below.

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Wordless Wednesday – Our Little Yorkie House Guest

About Colby

Colby Morita is a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of America and has been raising and training puppies for over 6 years. He's been writing to the PuppyInTraining.com blog and sharing his puppy training tips from his experiences as a guide dog puppy raiser since August, 2007.

You can follow Colby at Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Google+

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The Benefits Of Owning A Pet…My Life As A Pet Parent

Shortly after I was born my parents purchased a Golden Retriever puppy and in an instant the course of my life was altered forever.  I was now a pet person for life.  However, it took over thirty years before I became a single pet parent (taking care of a pet without the help of other family members) and it was at that time that I first realized the true benefits of owning a pet.

By the way, I do say “Pet Parent” and not “Dog Parent” because I’m not strictly a dog person.  In fact, as a kid I was a cat person (shhh…please don’t tell my boys) and throughout my life I’ve had the benefit of owning dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles, fish, lizards, and birds.

Love my 3 doggies: Linus, Stetson, and Apache

I first brought home my very own rescue puppy, Linus nearly 8 years ago and since then I’ve enjoyed the many benefits of owning a pet.  If you visit the PAL (Pets Add Life) website you’ll find a list telling why your days are brighter and life is just plain better with pets in it.  Here’s the abbreviated version of their list:

Pets Help To Reduce StressPets Help To Lower Heart Disease and Reduce Blood PressurePets Help To Fight DepressionAdd JoyAdd Health

Check out the entire list with explanations at PAL (Pets Add Life) website.

My favorite benefit occurs nearly every day when I’m walking to the front door of my house after a hard days work I often ask myself (or whoever is with me at the time): “I wonder if the boys will be happy to see me?”  Of course Linus always charges to greet me, grabs a plush doggy toy (if he can’t find a toy he grabs one of my shoes), and tries to get me to play with him.  Now if that doesn’t bring a smile to your face then I don’t know what will.

I tell this to almost everyone who asks me a question on this site: “Every puppy is different, every puppy will have a different personality.  Don’t expect this puppy to be the exact same as your last puppy even if it’s the same breed or even from the same litter.”  That brings me to my 3 dogs.  They are each different and have their own personality.  I love them all to death, but they each bring a little bit something special to the table.

Linus – The Australian Shepherd Mix

Little Linus The Aussie Mix

Linus was my first puppy.  We rescued Linus from the Carson Animal Shelter and you can actually read the entire story of how I adopted Linus…my very first blog post.  Linus has changed my life in many ways.  He was the reason I got involved in fostering and puppy raising.  He’s always excited to see me.  His enthusiasm and playfulness is infectious.  I just love his daily greetings when I return home from a hard days work.  Linus is also the one in tune with my emotions.  He know when I’m happy and gives me plenty of wags and kisses and he know when I’m sad and gives me much needed affection and a body to hug.

Stetson – The Black Labrador Retriever

Stetson The Black Lab

Stetson was my first guide dog puppy in training.  Stetson is a career changed guide dog and now lives permanently at home with me.  Stetson has an enthusiasm for 2 things: food and sleep.  He does love his sniffer training, but that’s all related to his love for food.  Stetson teaches me every day to slow down and enjoy life.  Do the things that make me happy!  He doesn’t have the same energetic greetings as Linus, but he’s a great companion when you need a pup to snuggle up to on the couch while watching a movie.

Apache – The Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever Puppy – Apache First Dog Toy

Apache is my current guide dog puppy in training.  It’s great always having a young puppy in your life as we puppy raisers always do.  Apache definitely has a youthful outlook on life.  He prances on walks, he sometimes gets overly excited, and he loves to play.  He’s still a puppy and is constantly learning when he can be excited and playful versus when he needs to concentrate on work.  Apache really brings out the kid in me and reminds me that we should always be learning and that it’s okay to act like a kid once in while.  Of course he also has that endearing affectionate side found in most Goldens.

I’d be remiss to not mention my other 2 dogs.  Derby was my second guide dog puppy in training and ended up as a career changed too.  He went into the guide dog adoption program and went to live with a loving family.  He taught me that we’re not all made to do certain jobs.  If you don’t like what you do then try doing something else.

Finally there’s Dublin who has an entire series of videos right here on the blog.  Check out Puppy In Training TV.  Dublin graduated and is a working guide dog.  He taught me that if you work hard then you can reach your goals.

Pets add to all aspects of your life.  If you have not already experienced the joys and benefits of owning a pet it is something I definitely think you should consider.  If you have a moment I highly recommend you check out the PAL – Pets Add Life website or take a look at their Facebook Page.  The PAL – Pets Add Life campaign is designed to demonstrate the joys and benefits of pet ownership, thus driving increased adoption of pets and responsible ownership of pets. Produced by the American Pet Products Association (APPA).

We’ve always been a fan of pet adoption and responsible ownership and plan on continuing to work with our local animal shelters and rescues as volunteers and fosters.

So how about you guys?  How have pets added to your life?  What benefits have you experienced while owning a pet?  Tell us your story in the comment section below.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Pets Add Life campaign and the American Pet Products Association. We are being compensated for helping spread the word about the benefits and joys of pet ownership.

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