Must Love Dogs

The Yellow Dog Project

2013-06-02T14:11:00.000-04:00

BlueDog invites the pups of The Andovers to become Yellow Dogs!

What is the Yellow Dog Project? The Yellow Dog Project is a global movement that was created to bring awareness to the general public about dogs who needs space while out on a walk. A Yellow Dog is a dog of any age, any breed, or any mutt who wears a yellow ribbon on their leash to let the public know that they need space and should not be approached. Yellow Dogs could need space for a number of reasons: they’re in training, they’re shy, they’re recovering from a surgery, they’re reactive around other dogs, they have health issues, or any other number of reasons for a dog to require distance from others.

At BlueDog, we firmly believe that respecting a dog’s need for space will help them become healthy, happier dogs! When our caring team walks dogs around town, every dog walker knows to keep our clients’ dogs a safe distance from others. Even if they’re friendly and social, this helps us ensure that they remain that way. And we have a number of training clients whose pups already wear a yellow ribbon on his or her leash to make sure their training with us is as successful as possible!

And I even have three Yellow Dogs myself! My four-year old Collie, Reese, is a little shy around new dogs and needs some time and space before she starts to feel comfortable. And my four-month old Miniature Poodle puppy, Walt, is still just learning his proper doggie etiquette and good manners. Keeping him at a distance from other dogs and people will prevent him from using his very silly puppy-antics on anyone who might not like them!

And my eight-year old Collie, Elsa, well, she doesn’t exactly need a yellow ribbon, but she’s helping me spread the word about the Yellow Dog Project! A yellow ribbon on a leash is a wonderful conversation starter and has made a number of our clients more comfortable about explaining to others that their pup just cannot say hello.

It’s our goal at BlueDog to help spread the awareness of the Yellow Dog Project to the residents of Andover and North Andover. By doing so, we will be able to help the pups who need yellow ribbons so that they can feel more comfortable and safe while out on a walk!

I would like to invite you to visit the BlueDog booth at the Dog Days Festival at Smolak Farms on Sunday, June 9^th from 10am-4pm to learn more about the project and to get your pup his very own yellow ribbon. It’s

a wonderful event for the entire family, and we can also discuss additional tips to help keep your pup happy and healthy!

To learn more about the Yellow Dog Project you can visit their website at www.TheYellowDogProject.com or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheYellowDogProject. You can also contact Kimberly at BlueDog by phone: 978.208.7933 or email: Kimberly@BlueDogPetCareMA.com to get your pup a yellow ribbon and discuss how we can help ensure his walks are always safe, fun, and a positive experience!

Tips for Taking Your Pup to a Community Event

2013-05-16T17:24:00.002-04:00

Town events such as North Andover's annual Sheep Shearing Festival and Dog Day at Smolak Farms are perfect opportunities to socialize your pup and help him learn to be an active, well mannered member of the community. My 4 month old puppy, Walt, will be attending both events with me and I plan to make the experience as fun and positive as possible!

The more prepared you are to bring your pup along to an event the better set up you'll be for success, so in addition to everything you've learned from your BlueDog classes or private lessons, I have put together a list of tips and reminders for you to make the very most out of the experience!

1. Pack some super treats and don't forget you clicker! Oh common...you knew I wouldn't allow you to leave your clicker at home! The tastier the treats the better...regular kibble or chopped up carrots aren't going to cut it when there are sheep running around. And your clicker will help you let your pup know the precise moment he's doing something right!

So, what are we clicking for? you might ask. Well, anything your dog does that you like! I want you to go there with a list of GOOD behaviors you'd like to see your dog give you. The moment he does one, CLICK and give him a treat! You should be clicking and treating at a high rate of reinforcement, we want to catch all the good things! It could be anything from your dog glancing up to you, walking on a loose leash, or simply nice, calm behavior. If he's being good let him know, because the more you reward the behaviors you like, the more he'll give them to you. And don't forget that it's not just all about the clicker and treats, you've got to make it SO much fun for your pup to be with you! Talk to him, surprise him with a toy in your back pocket....you're going to have a lot of distractions to compete with so the silly puppy voice WILL be necessary.

What if my dog does something I don't like? you might also ask. Simply avoid reinforcing it! If your pup pulls, don't move and work on getting his attention back to you. He only gets to move forward if the leash is loose, simple as that!

2. Start easy. Find a place by the edge of the park where there are minimal distractions and begin reinforcing your dog immediately for good behaviors before moving toward the crowds. You can even start your training in the car...why not?! Begin by getting his attention with the Name Game, that's one of Walt's favorites, or try some easy commands like "sit" or "touch." Setting him up for success early on will make the entire experience easier and much more fun for him.

3. Look for signs of stress. We want public outings like this to be enjoyable for your pup, so if he looks too overwhelmed, he may not be ready for such a busy event. Signs of stress include heavy panting, ears pulled back, low tail and head, not taking his treats, licking his lips, blinking his eyes, holding up his paw, or lots of yawning. Of course, some of those behaviors may also represent excitement, but you know your pup and we've taught you well...so if you think he's unhappy, he likely is. Simply bring him home (or surprise him with a trip to his favorite local trail!) and allow him to calm down. Then start bringing him to more locations but with less distractions (the park on a normal day would be much better to start.) Just because he was overwhelmed, that doesn't mean he'll never be able to go to a busy event, he just needs some more time and training before he's comfortable with it!

4. Don't forget additional supplies. Make sure your pup is wearing his ID when you go to an event and make sure you have a supply of poop bags. Bring along some water as well, all the excitement might make him thirsty. If you use a front-clip harness or head halter for training, this is a good time to use it. And avoid bringing your pup's retractable leash as it will give you limited control and can prove to be dangerous in crowds; opt for his regular 6 foot lead instead. And fun toy is always a good idea as well in case he starts to get bored with his treats!

5. Be respectful. It's wonderful that Andover and North Andover are so dog friendly and allow dogs at these events, so let's keep it that way! Make sure you clean up after your dog and always respect the personal space of others....not everyone loves slobbery kisses like we do! And as I ALWAYS preach, make sure you ASK before you allow your dog to greet another dog or person, or simply don't allow him to say hello, he's too busy having fun with you anyways! If you don't want your pup to say hello to another, feel free to throw me under the bus by saying "I'm sorry but he's in training, and my dog trainer is very strict!" Or if you do want him to say hello, use it as an opportunity to reward good behavior by waiting until he's calm and on a loose leash before you allow him to say hi.

For more about proper greetings, ask me about the Yellow Dog Project. And make sure to visit us at Dog Days at Smolak Farms where we'll be talking about the project and handing out yellow ribbons for dogs who need them!

6. If things are going well, practice some of the more challenging behaviors your pup learned in class! Use the event as a learning opportunity for your dog....if he's giving you great attention and straying by your side, feel free to ask for a little bit more, such as for a "down" or a 5 second "stay." Or if you've been working hard on generalizing you pup's "settle," bring a mat and spend a couple minutes shaping him to it. (This could be a great exercise for a couple of adolescent doodles I had in class...you know who you are! : ) This will help your pup learn to generalize the behaviors he's learned in class, so that he'll do them for you anywhere, with any distractions.

Remember, when you bring your dog to a community event, you want to keep things as positive and fun as possible! I will be thrilled if I get to see some of you at the Sheep Shearing Festival this Sunday, you'll find Walt and I at the North Andover Merchants Association's booth from 2-4pm (and will definitely get bonus points in class if you stop by with your pup and some treats and your clicker!) The entire BlueDog team will also be at Dog Days at Smolak Farms at the BlueDog booth all day long.

If you would like advice about your dog and if he is ready to attend these events, feel free to contact me. And if you came across this blog and would like to understand what the heck I'm talking about because you haven't taken one of our classes, call me and we'll get your pup enrolled in some super fun training!

The Great Cookie Debate

2012-03-22T09:05:00.003-04:00

Each year as the air begins to turn cold and I must pull out my winter jacket, it never fails that I will find stale dog cookies in my pockets. Search my car and I can guarantee you’ll find bits of dog kibble throughout. I will even (shamefully) admit that during a recent dog training conference I was absolutely convinced and disgusted that the guy next to me smelled of rotten food. However, at the end of the day as I pulled my keys out of my purse, I discovered a bag full of old chopped up chicken that I had used to train my dogs a couple days prior, placed in my purse, and forgotten about. Oops!

The verdict is: I am a dog treat junkie. I have them everywhere, prepared for anything.

And I’m constantly recommending that every dog owner has a pocket full of dog treats as well. However, I find time and time again that people are chock full of too many excuses for not using treats. Their dogs will get fat. Their dogs will learn to beg. They don’t want to have to always carry treats with them. They want their dogs to do things because they asked them to, not because of food.

I understand the concerns, and I will gladly dive into each and every excuse later this week (for those of you who want to hear me rant even more.) However, for now I will keep this short and sweet and give you my blunt opinion.

When I take my two dogs anywhere, 90% of the time I have treats on me. I can confidently let them off the leash where it’s allowed, and know that they will come when they’re called. We could be walking past another dog, a squirrel could run by, or they could be indulging in something that I’d rather they didn’t eat. If I called, they’d come running, because they are always rewarded for it.

Of course, there’s that 10% when I don’t have treats on me. Last summer, my husband let our younger dog, Reese, out into the backyard in the evening without a leash and without treats. He wasn’t aware that about 30 feet away there was a skunk strolling across the yard, but Reese saw it and ran right up to it as if it were her best friend. My husband suddenly realized what was going on and called “Reese COME!” in a panic. Reese stopped in her tracks, turned around, and came running back to him; smelling just as fresh as she had before the adventure.

Reese came to my husband that evening because throughout her life she had learned that nearly every time we call her, she receives a treat. Over time, she became conditioned to respond to “Reese come!” because she had done it so often and had nearly always been rewarded for it. If Reese had only been 6 months old when she ran across a skunk in the yard, we likely would’ve ended up washing her in the bathtub that night. She wouldn’t have had enough time in her young life to become conditioned to respond to the command. But instead, she’s spent three years learning that if she comes when she’s called, she gets a treat. So it becomes automatic for her to obey us, even when there’s a very interesting, smelly new friend in her backyard.

I consider the command “come” as a life saving command. In Reese’s situation, it saved her from getting sprayed by a skunk. But in some situations, it can literally save your dog’s life. So if that’s the case, why not always have treats on you? At the least, it could save your dog from getting into trouble like Reese nearly did, or it could simply make your relationship with your dog a more trusting one; don’t we all want that? But in some cases, it could be a lot more than that, and getting your dog to listen to you could save his life.

When you take your dog out for a walk, what do you need? A leash. A poop bag. Perhaps a water bowl if you’ll be out for a while. So then, what’s the big deal about bringing along some treats? Get a treat pouch that attaches to your pants; you’ll look as stylish as me, and you won’t even need to use your hands to carry the treats! Reward your dog every time he is good by giving him a treat: when he comes when he’s called, when he looks at you instead of the dog across the street, when he’s walking nicely on the leash. The more you reward those behaviors, the more you’ll get them. And someday, I can guarantee that your habit of carrying those dog treats will come in handy.

So in the Great Cookie Debate, my vote is YES: all dog owners should carry treats with them. Not only will it create happier, more well behaved dogs, but it just might save lives as well. What’s your vote?

Big City, Good Dogs

2012-02-21T22:25:00.003-05:00

I recently enjoyed my second trip to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City this month. And though much of my time is spent at the show itself, my husband and I also make a point to enjoy the city a bit as well. And it's a time like that, when I visit a new place, that I struggle with an unfortunate side effect of being a dog trainer; I analyze every single dog and owner I see. I mean no harm by it, and quite frankly enjoy it very much, you can learn so very much about dogs by watching how they are handled by different people! So as usual, as I walked the streets of New York City, I made sure to watch and critique each and every pup I saw.

And turns out, I was surprisingly impressed by the pups of NYC. And I apologize for using the word surprisingly....I don't mean to insult city folks....but for some reason I had expected poorly behaved dogs. You'd think living in a small apartment and only having busy sidewalks to walk and poop on would be the proper lifestyle for some really serious behavioral issues. Turns out, they're just the opposite!

So what is it about the city that creates dogs that walk nicely on a loose leash, stroll past strangers without hesitation, and even pass by another dog without barely saying hello? Whereas, us Andover residents are being dragged across the street anytime our pup sees a fluttering leaf?

Well, I can tell you. It's exposure to distractions. Exposure to lots of people, lots of sounds, lots of smells, and lots of dogs. It's unavoidable in a city like New York.

Think of when we raise a puppy here in the Andovers. Sure, we've got our neighbor's dog for him to meet. And the kids' friends come over once in a while. Walks are fairly limited to the neighborhood loop that you take him on, but you'll bring him to the park once in a while. He gets exposure, but is it enough to prevent him from going absolutely crazy at the end of the leash every time he walks by a new dog? Probably not.

In New York City, a dog steps out of his apartment and is bombarded with distractions. There are so many people rushing by ignoring him, he learns that there's no point to say hello to them all. And with the rush of people going by, some have dogs, but once again, they're usually not stopping to let their dogs say hello (which is why I've taught my dogs How To Be Snobs.) And even stopping to sniff a fire hydrant would be difficult with the heavy foot traffic. In New York City, there's a place and time to stop and say hello, it's called the dog park. But when you're out for a walk, there's just no slowing down. The lifestyle creates structure, routine, consistency, and a whole bunch of well mannered dogs.

So what can us Andover dog residents do to get those good manners? Exposure to distractions! Bring your dog everywhere. To the park, to the bank, to the pet store. Sign him up for training classes even if he already knows some basic commands, it will teach him to listen to you around other dogs. And when your dog sees another dog, another person, or stops to sniff, just keep walking. Allow him the chance to sniff in the yard before and after your walk, and perhaps a quick break as a reward halfway through your walk. But if you stop for a distraction for him, he'll learn that you'll likely stop next time, and the time after, and he'll begin to anticipate it. I never allow my dogs to say hello to another dog on the street simply because I want them to learn that during a walk, we don't stop. And you know what? We walk past another dog and they barely blink an eye.

So even though the pups in New York City may have it easier than our dogs because their exposure to distractions is unavoidable, that doesn't mean we can't help our pups get just as much exposure. It's just a matter of committing the time and structure into our dogs' lives!

Big Time BlueDog Pup!

2012-02-09T13:57:00.012-05:00

In my opinion, all BlueDog pups are superstars. But it turns out, we actually have a doggie celebrity in our BlueDog family!

Meet Hunter, a BlueDog pup who will be competing at the 2012 Westminster Dog Show! And I will have the pleasure to cheer him on from the sidelines!

I was fortunate enough to be able to take care of Hunter a little while back. He is a fun loving, goofy boy who loves to play. He lives with three other Samoyed pups - Kallie, Cooper, and Pinky. They are a wonderful group of dogs and are so much fun!

And apparently good looks run in the family. Hunter's mom, Kallie, received an Award of Merit at the 2004 Westminster Dog Show!

Once I found out he'd be competing at the show this year, I asked his mom to answer a couple of questions about him. This is what she had to say:

Hunter's show name: “GCH KallieCo’s On The Hunt”

Favorite toy: Lamby and Raccoon (he insists on bringing them outside with

him)

Favorite hobby: chasing squirrels and chipmunks (and even caught a real raccoon in the backyard!)

Favorite TV show: All the commercials with dogs in them. He also likes checking out Samoyeds on the internet too (as seen in the picture)

Favorite Treat: pork liver or Butcher Boy calves liver

Skills: Exceptional bed warming, singing & digging skills

Dislikes: the blow dryer

Next Tuesday, Hunter will compete against 15 other Samoyeds to try to win Best in Breed. If he wins, he'll then compete against the winning dog of each breed in the Working Group. That winner will go on to compete against the top dog of each of the 7 groups to win Best in Show!

You can watch the show live on the US Network next Monday and Tuesday from 8-11pm.

So please send good vibes to the BlueDog pup competing at the Westminster Dog Show! And even if he doesn't win Best in Show, Hunter will certainly be Westminter's top dog in my book : )

4 Years, 14 Lessons

2012-02-08T07:46:00.002-05:00

Once upon a time there was a girl who ran a dog walking and training business, and in her spare time she would blog, sharing valuable information about how to raise a happy, healthy dog. And then one day she became way too busy with her business, leaving her with absolutely no time to write.

Yup, you guessed it, that was me!

But I’m back, not because business is any slower, but because I finally have some help in place that will allow me the time to blog once again. For those of you who have never read my blog before, or have forgotten about me (common, it hasn’t been that long has it?) I’m Kimberly Palermo, proud owner of BlueDog (and now BlueDog Academy!) For those of you who remember, hello again!

Since my last blog I’ve learned an incredible amount about dogs. That’s the beauty of our relationship with them – we’re always learning and they’re always learning. I also took a certification course at Gail Fisher’s All Dogs Academy, discovering a tremendous amount about training dogs. I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with you!

However, before I indulge in the wonderful world of dogs, I wanted to begin with an announcement that I am so incredibly proud of. On February 2^nd, 2012, BlueDog turned four years old! It seems like it was just yesterday when I began with a handful of business cards, a newspaper ad, and a dream. Now my dream is a reality! I absolutely enjoyed every moment of the journey and I learned many lessons along the way. Lessons that, in my opinion, should be shared with others.

So for my first back-to-blogging blog, I’d like to share some of those lessons with you. Some are dog related, some are business related, and some are life related. Hopefully some will pertain to you.

1. Dogs rock! (Ok, I knew that before I began my business. But either way it’s totally true.) No explanation needed.

2. Marry a rich spouse. Or at least a passionate, supportive one. I chose the second, though I couldn’t complain about my husband’s income either. But having a partner to support me through the past four years as a business owner was the best thing I could’ve asked for. Because starting and running a business isn’t always easy - just as life isn’t always easy. There are ups and downs and quite frankly, at times there are lows. Having my husband by my side supporting my business is what brought me to where I am today.

3. Grow because you want to, not because you have to. I learned the hard way not to hire hastily. Two years ago, as calls came pouring in for walks, I desperately searched for a new employee, hired quickly, and then got burned. I was stuck with too many clients and not enough walkers. I don’t like to turn new clients away, but now I will if I don’t have enough help. I’m also always looking for the right person to join our team now, whether I need to hire or not. That way I’m patient about who I pick, and it’s the right choice for my business.

4. Sweat the small stuff. But then learn from it and do something about it. I know this goes against what everyone else says. The thing is, the small stuff - the little details - they really do matter. After each dog walk, my walkers and I have always leave notes at my clients’ houses, filling them in on the details of their pup’s adventures with us. But last year I began noticing that my walkers were taking a really long time writing out notes, and they’d use any kind of paper they could find, including scraps of paper. It didn’t seem very professional to me, and was quite time consuming. But really, how important are the notes? Well to me, they were important. So I worked with a graphic designer and printer and created journals (or BlueDog DogLogs as we call them!) to leave at each client’s home. In it my walkers can check off what the pup did, leave a short note, and even include a sticker when a pup is extra good! Sure, it costs more than using scraps of paper, but the feedback was phenomenal; my clients absolutely love their journals and my walkers appreciate the time saver. It was just a minor part of our business, but I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of details because of it.

5. Never put your phone number in a help wanted ad. Talk about learning the hard way! 62 voicemails in one weekend. Stick to your email addresses.

6. There’s always tomorrow. Yes, I just quoted Annie. But it’s totally true. Recently I had a walker break her leg, another have her tonsils remove, then a third get sick with the flu. All within days of my certification program during which I would be unavailable for five days. I honestly thought I wouldn’t make it through the week. But guess what? I did. I took what I’ve learned in the past during tough times, I improvised a bit, and I got through it - and not a single dog missed a walk!

7. It’s OK to talk out loud to your dog. My neighbors must think I’m crazy. Actually, probably anyone who sees me walking a dog does. Because I talk to them, a lot. And I do it because dogs love it (OK, it’s also because I have no one else to talk to.) But if you want your dog’s attention on a walk, tell him how wonderful he is, be silly, and act like a dork. Your dog will totally love you for it; just ask any dog that I walk.

8. Stay humble, but be proud. It’s my husband who has to remind me of this one time and time again. When I get frustrated by the everyday of running a business, it’s easy to forget why I’m doing it and how far I’ve come. I just dwell on the little issues and forget about the big picture. It takes him reminding me of what I’ve accomplished to bring me back to a positive outlook. Even the little accomplishments mean a lot – a new client, a training success story, a nice compliment on one of my walkers. Be proud of what you do, it’ll help you continue to be successful.

9. Trust people. I was reminded of this lesson when I met with my accountant this week. After talking about my business’s growth over the past couple of years, we began laughing about the first time I came into her office. It was about 8 months into the start of my business and my husband and I were just about to get married. All I had to document my sales was a mess of Excel spreadsheets and I was totally freaking out about leaving the business while we went on our honeymoon. My plan was to have my sister and mom run the business for me while we were away. Why I was afraid that something would happen in the hands of my family was beyond me, but I was scared out of my mind! Fast forward four years and on our last vacation, I had a dog walker staying at my house with my own dogs, another taking care of all phone calls and emails for the business, and a third managing my employees. If I couldn’t trust others, not only would I not be able to grow my business, but I certainly would never go on another vacation again!

10. Give yourself some me time. This one is a challenge as a business owner, especially for someone who works from home. It’s way too easy to work from 6am to 9pm at night, and still feel guilty about not getting enough work done. I’ve learned to allow myself some time to get away. This means literally getting out of the house to do something. Of course, for me that usually means a walk with my two Collies. But a date night with my husband is nice as well. Of a Friday afternoon lunch with my mom and sisters. Whatever it is, I need it at times, we all do.

11. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people. I’m sure you’ve heard this one before, but it’s important enough to be repeated. When I held our open house for our new training facility, I was literally astounded by how many people showed up to support our business. Friends, family, clients, business associates, even people who I had never met before. Everyone was so excited for our next step, and if I didn’t have the support of those people, I don’t know if I would have had the confidence to open a dog training facility. You need those people, and you don’t need someone who doesn’t support you. They will only bring you down.

12. Check for holes in bags. All you dog owners out there know what I’m talking about. Never let your guard down before you pick up dog poop. There could be a hole in that bag.

13. Take risks. With a down economy and people unable to find jobs, it’s hard to see the reality in taking risks. But it’s also hard to live out your dreams if you don’t take them, which is why I quit my straight-out-of-college sales job to start my own business in 2008. And as my business grows I continue to take risks all the time. Most recently my husband and I took the greatest risk of all - he quit his full time, stable job to work for BlueDog. Talk about scary stuff! It was a discussion with my in-laws that really convinced us that it was the right move to make. My father-in-law had taken numerous risks, both successful and unsuccessful, as an entrepreneur throughout his entire life. But the biggest one he took was when he was in his late forties; he sold his stable dental lab business and went back to school to become a licensed denturist and open his own practice in Maine. They told us it wasn’t an easy decision, but they wouldn’t be where they are today – proud owners of a thriving denture practice (shout out to Denture Solutions!) if they hadn’t had the guts to take that risk.

14. And if you’re stressed out, go walk a dog. One of the greatest lessons I learned was from my younger brother. One day I was ranting on and on to him about how the business was stressing me out. Finally, he looked me in the eye and calmly said “Kim, what do you do when you’re stressed out? You go for a walk or you play with your dog. You walk dogs all day long. Get over it.” And he’s totally right. So if you’re stressed out, go find a dog to take for a walk, I know plenty who would be more than happy to join you!

It's All About the Energy!

2011-09-02T14:39:00.000-04:00

Well hello there! It's been quite a while since I've been able to write. I'd like to say it's because I've been lounging on the beach all summer long with a margarita in my hand, but that's not quite the case. I've been busy spending my summer days with dogs (which in my opinion, is even better than the beach!)

Ah, but I've finally found a moment or two! As usual, just when I think I know as much as I can about dogs, the wonderful pups that I work with have taught me even more. And of course, my favorite thing to do is share what I've learned.

If you've got a dog and if you watch TV, then I'm sure you've watched an episode or two (or a lot!) of Cesar Millan's The Dog Whisperer. And if that's the case, you've heard of his famous suggestion to portray "calm, assertive energy" while working with a dog. And yes, he's completely right. A calm, assertive energy is going to help you handle your dog better.

However, that doesn't just apply to people. Our dogs are surrounded by other dogs. There's the neighbor's dog, the dog that you run into at the park, or the dog that you pass on the street. In the Andovers, they're everywhere! But not all of them are taking Cesar Millan's advice to stay "calm and assertive."

This became quite clear to me when our other dog trainer, Amy, and I recently worked with a Golden Retriever named Duncan. Prior to his next training session, his mom had emailed me saying that though his training has been nothing short of astounding, he's still very reactive around other dogs; lunging at the leash and barking if they pass another dog on their walk. The embarrassment and frustration had gone on long enough; she was ready to tackle the issue.

So next time we met up, I brought along my two dogs, Elsa and Reese. Amy stayed with Duncan and his mom, while I drove down the street to prepare my dogs to walk past them as they went for a walk. I started with my older girl, Elsa.

Now, as a side note - Elsa is perfect. Ok, I'm bias. Perhaps she's just a well-behaved snob. See, Elsa could care less about other dogs. She's been around them her entire life, attends daily dog walks and training sessions with me, and has more friends than I could ever imagine having. So quite frankly, a new dog means nothing to her. In addition to that, she's extremely obedient. And for those reasons, Elsa barely blinks an eye if we walk past another dog.

So as Duncan came towards us, Elsa and I walked by. Elsa kept walking, and Duncan kept walking. And not a thing happened.

You'd think Duncan's mom would be happy about the turn out, but she was not at all! Her dog had just made a liar of her! She had gone on and on about how bad he reacts to other dogs, and then Duncan walks right past Elsa as if it's nothing. So I suggested a twist. I'd bring out Reese.

Now, about Reese. Reese is a social butterfly and absolutely loves to have fun. However, just like Elsa, she's very obedient. So we could have easily walked past Duncan without a hitch. But we were there to tackle Duncan's problem, so that's not what we did. It doesn't take much to get Reese to play, so play we did! She leaped and jumped and barked as I egged her on. She had a blast! And Duncan totally wanted in. So the lunging and barking began.

See, Reese wasn't expressing the calm, assertive energy that Elsa was. Elsa was boring. But Reese was exciting and playful and quite frankly, a bit out of control at times. So Duncan reacted by pulling and barking, his go-to behavior when he walks past another dog with unstable energy. And because we were in a controlled situation, Amy was able to coach his mom on how to get Duncan to stop the bad behavior. By the end of our session, Reese was exhausted, and Duncan was comfortably walking past her distracting behavior.

So how does this relate to your dog? Well, it means you've got to give him some credit! I hear it all the time, "my dog is fine around most dogs, but he hates the neighbor's dog." That's because that particular dog isn't expressing the right energy and your dog is feeding off of it.

Now of course, there's sometimes more to it than just the other dog. Many of our dogs are conditioned to react to all dogs, no matter what their energy, because we allow them to. That's why I've literally taught my dogs to be snobs. (To learn how to do that, read Why My Dogs Are Snobs.) It could also simply be a matter of a lack of socialization. And you have to remember that if your dog is reacting inappropriately to another dog, it's not just the other dog exuding the unstable energy - it's your dog too.

I told you Elsa is a snob. However, she will make friends and play with a pup who approaches her correctly. But if there's a dog lunging at the leash, she just turns and walks the other way. Fortunately, she's learned to disregard such distractions, but not all dogs have. And it's not easy, so give your dog a break. I can assure you that your neighbor's dog who he absolutely hates is totally egging him on!

So how can you teach your dog to react better to other dogs, especially those who are not exuding the right energy?

Start by staying calm and assertive yourself. If you see another dog coming, don't tense up and tighten on the leash. Your dog is going to sense your energy and get tense himself!
Keep treats on you. When you see another dog in the distance, start getting your pup's attention by saying his name, and then giving him a treat. Teach him that when there are distractions, you have something that's even better - food!
Avoid the problem dogs. If you see your dog's nemesis approaching, turn around. Don't set your dog up for failure; begin by walking past only the dogs who are exuding the right energy and work your way up to more difficult dogs.
Plan some play dates. Talk to some friends who have well socialized dogs and arrange for your pups to play. Start by walking as a group with your dogs on a leash, and then reward their good behavior by allowing them to play.
Teach your dog to be a snob. Don't let your dog say hello and meet every dog you pass, because he's going to begin to anticipate it and pull towards every dog. Teach him that he only says hello once in a while, and it's only if he's behaving well.
Avoid having your dog face the other dog and make eye contact. That position is confrontational to dogs. Unless the dogs are already friends, they should meet by approaching each other to the side and without much eye contact. If you allow your dog to face forward, you’re setting him up to appear threatening to the other dog.
Work with a dog trainer. If you can't seem to get your dog under control no matter what you do, try getting professional help. A trainer will not only show you how to properly control your dog in those situations, but can also teach your dog how to react correctly to other dogs.
And most importantly - keep things positive and have fun! When your dog passes another dog without reacting, that's a BIG deal! Let him know how happy you are by lavishing him with praise. Just as much as you want to understand your dog, you want him to understand you - so let him know that you're most happy when he's well behaved!

The Dog Lover Theory

2011-07-25T06:59:00.004-04:00

Throughout the summer my hubby, dogs, and I are fortunate to be able to enjoy many weekends in Kennebunk, Maine, thanks to my in-laws. They own a denture business, whose office sits below a comfortable condo that often becomes our weekend home.

The fortunate thing about staying above a denturist's office are the many magazines in the waiting room that I can choose from to bring as my light reading to the beach. I'll be honest, after spending my busy weekdays running a business, on weekends I prefer to turn off my brain and indulge in mindless reading, my magazine of choice is People Magazine! However, this past weekend as I browsed the waiting room table, a magazine cover caught my eye. A National Geographic magazine pictured a fox on it's cover, headlining their feature article, "Designing the Perfect Pet."

I immediately knew the article. I posted my thoughts on it a couple months ago. However, in hopes that the actual magazine had more content on the subject than the online version that I had read, I scooped up the magazine and eagerly headed off to the beach.

For those of you who did not read my last post on this subject, I'll quickly summarize. A study about animal domestication in Siberia has raised and bred foxes for friendliness. They now have a population of foxes that greet humans and crave attention just as your yellow lab or golden retriever does. What's more, these foxes have changed in appearance; they have floppy ears, curled tails, and a piedbald coloration. The study suggests that the genes that are necessary for domestication, also correlate to changes in appearance and behavior. To read the entire article, you can click here.

In browsing the magazine, I was correct in that there was more content in the magazine than the online version. However, it wasn't where I expected to find it! As I read the Editor's Note, I was incredibly intrigued by what was said and the suggested theory. So much that after reading it, I nearly ran across the beach to where my hubby was searching for sea glass and read it out loud to him (I've said it before and I'll say it again, yes I'm a dork, I love this kind of stuff.)

And just as I hurried over to my hubby to share what I read, I hurried this morning to put together this blog to share with you the editor's note. The end of the second paragraph is the part that I found most interesting:

"In Jackson's mind there is no such thing as a good person or a bad person. There are only people he desperately wants to meet. Jackson, I should explain, is my Jack Russell terrier. When he meets someone, his short tail wags at warp speed, sending a vibration through his piedbald body right up to his floppy ears. He is exuberant, playful, affectionate - everything a dog lover could wish for. He fits the description of an animal domesticated through years of selective breeding.

In this month's issue we explore animal domestication, which began more than 15,000 years ago with dogs. As humans bred wolves to be our hunting companions and friends, changes in appearance occurred along with changes in behavior. Traits that might otherwise have been weeded out in the wild survived because they were, well, cute. Jackson, with his piebald coloring and floppy ears, is a classic example. But I think there is more to it than that. When my family went shopping for a dog, Jackson confidently trotted over and made it clear he liked us. We immediately responded by picking him up and hugging him. I have to wonder if there is something in human genes that makes our response to a puppy so immediate and positive. Are we genetically predisposed to connect with dogs? Can a case be made that dog lovers had a better chance of survival with the help of man's best friend - in a violent and uncertain world - to put food on the table and guard against threats? It makes sense to me, but cat lovers may not buy my theory."

Chris Johns

Are we predisposed to connect with dogs because our ancestors were more likely to survive if they were using domesticated wolves to hunt, for protection, and as companions? They now say that people who own a dog are healthier, happier, and perhaps live longer. Was that the case 15,000 years ago when dogs first became domesticated? Let me know what you think!

Beat the Heat With These Fun Games for Your Pup!

2011-07-22T08:17:00.005-04:00

Because of the heat wave we're currently experiencing, Facebook decided to put together a list of who they think has the worst hot weather jobs. Turns out dog walkers have made that list! Sure, it's hot out there, really hot. But I'll be honest, I've been having a blast walking dogs in this heat!

To start, I want to make it clear that "walking dogs" hasn't exactly been just that. It's just too hot to go for a brisk midday, half-hour walk. Myself and all of my walkers haven't had our pups walking for more than 10-15 minutes per visit. However, we still have lots of other fun and stimulating activities up our sleeves! And the great thing about these activities is that even wayyou can try them at home to help your pup burn some energy! They'll keep your pup busy and happy in the house, while enhancing your bond and reinforcing good behavior.

To help you get started on keeping your pup active and happy during this hot weather, I've explained two very fun games to try out:

"Find It!"

What you need: Tasty treats or a fun toy, and a crate if your dog doesn't know "stay."

Instructions: Ask your dog to "stay" or put him in his crate. Take a cookie or his favorite toy and hold it up so that he sees it in your hand. Then walk to a spot in your house where he can still see you, put the item down, then return to your dog. Say "Find It!" and release your dog from his stay, or open his crate. Watch as your pup runs to the spot and gobble up his treat or play with his toy! Next, start all over again, but this time placing the item in a slightly more difficult spot. Watch him search for the item and find it! Repeat over and over again for lots of fun!

Remember: Your dog needs to be rewarded to stay motivated. Start the game very easy to make sure he understands the goal. If things get too difficult and he looses interest, try going back to placing the item in an easy-to-find spot. Egg him on with your voice, and if he needs help, try pointing to the area that the item is hidden. Reward him once he finds it with lots of praise and clapping so he's extra proud of himself!

Why the game is so great: You're burning your pup's mental and physical energy by challenging him to find the item. You're also reinforcing the "stay" command while teaching him a new command, "find it." And the best part about it is he's got to pay attention to you and read your body language so that he knows where the toy is! It's a great way to connect with your pup, and I think at times we all wish our dog paid more attention to us!

Who enjoyed this game: Kande the Wheaton Terrier could not get enough of this game with me yesterday! She was great at staying, so I'd amp up the excitement by asking her if she was ready before telling her to "find it!" She would get so psyched, that the moment I said "find it!" she'd give me one big WOOF then sprint off into the living room, as if to say "here I go!!"

"Hide & Go Seek!"

What you need: Tasty treats or a fun toy, and someone to help you if your dog doesn't know "stay"

Instructions: Ask your dog to "stay" or have someone hold him, and show him that you have a treat or toy. Then walk into another room, stand still, and say "(dog's name) come!" If someone's holding your dog, have them let go. Then stay quiet until your pup finds you and when he does, reward him with lots of praise and a treat or some playtime with his toy! Next, repeat the game, but this time hiding in a slightly more difficult spot. If you're playing with someone else, have them hide this time. Reward your dog for finding you, and repeat over and over again for lots of fun!

Remember: Keep your dog motivated and help him understand the game by first hiding in an easy-to-find spot. Increase the difficulty based on his success. If he suddenly looses interest or can't find you, give him a hint with a whistle or by saying his name. Make it super exciting when he finds you so that he has lots of fun and stays enthusiastic about the game!

Why the game is so great: You're burning your pup's mental and physical energy by challenging him to find you. Plus, you're reinforcing both your "stay" and "come" commands. It also teaches your pup that being around you, or finding you, is a wonderful thing! That way when you're outside one day and want to call him to come, he'll be more happy to do it!

Who enjoyed this game: My two Collies, Elsa and Reese, absolutely love this game! They've become so good at it, that I'll ask them to stay in the basement, and hide all the way upstairs in the bedroom and they still manage to find me! The two flights of stairs are great exercise for them when it's too hot to go for a walk and they've learned that being called to "come" is fun and exciting!

So even though it's sometimes too hot outside for our dogs to burn a lot of energy, that's no excuse to have a bored pup! Try out these games to help your dog stay active during the hot summer days while reinforcing good behaviors, enhancing your bond, and having fun!

Spending the Day with BlueDog!

2011-07-13T08:05:00.019-04:00

I hear it over and over again, the constant exclamations of how lucky I must be to be to spend every day walking dogs. And I have to agree, my walkers and I are very lucky! And what makes it even better are the fantastic dogs that we walk. There's tall dogs and short dogs, energetic dogs and lazy dogs, cute dogs and silly dogs. The personalities are endless! And there's nothing I love more than capturing those personalities with a picture. One of BlueDog's wonderful walkers, Jenn, also has a passion and talent for photographing dogs. So we planned a BlueDog photo shoot; an entire day with an ambitious list of dogs and walkers for Jenn to meet and photograph throughout Andover and North Andover! She had a blast, our walkers had a blast, and most importantly, the lovable pups that we walk had fun showing off and smiling for the camera!

So to all of those people who tell me how lucky I am, I'd like to share a look into what it's like to be a BlueDog walker for a day.

Jenn started her day off with a 9am visit with Katie and Romeo. Romeo is BlueDog's most senior pup, he just celebrated his 14th birthday! The two of them enjoy slow, sniffy walks in beautiful downtown Andover.

I've never known dogs to get wrinkles as they age...but apparently their tongues do!

Next was Chloe, a little Havanese pup who enjoys two visits a day from her walker Katie as she learns how to be house trained (and Katie had taught her a trick or two already too!)

She likes laying in the summer sun with Katie and her best friend Chance. Chance is Katie's dog and joins her on nearly every walk. All of her pups absolutely love walking and playing with him! It also promotes socialization and all of our walkers are encouraged to bring their dogs on walks with them once I've determined they're well behaved, well socialized, and great with other dogs.

Usually we try to keep our walks structured and controlled to promote good manners, but Bella was just too excited to get her picture taken and ran ahead of her walker Meghan to smile for the camera!

There's the smile!

Then Jenn was off to North Andover for a walk with Butch and Amy. And speaking of smiles...Butch makes it clear that dogs can indeed, smile : )

He absolutely loves his walker and best friend, Amy. Amy also occasionally house sits for Butch, he always has a blast during their slumber parties!

Daisy is a rescued terrier mix who lives in a beautiful neighborhood, though her and her walker must watch out for poison ivy! I walked Daisy myself earlier this summer and ended up with a whole bunch of the itchy stuff all over my legs!

Daisy likes to have some cuddle time with Rebecca. She also enjoys it when Rebecca brings her dog, Sadie, who is also a rescue, over for a visit!

Jenn has got photographing dogs down to an art...but sometimes the pups just get too excited! Like Sarah here, who just couldn't handle her excitement about making a new friend. She just went straight up for a kiss!

And then it was on to her best friend Katie, who she absolutely smothered with kisses! Sarah is just a pup and is learning good manner's from BlueDog's trainer, Amy. Amy has also taught Katie what they've learned, so that she can be consistent with Sarah's training during their walks!

Look at that tongue! Simba is just growing up from puppy-hood, he's currently going through that awkward stage most of our dogs went through as they matured! But he's a very good boy and not only enjoys walks with Amy, but they also work on his good manners and commands.

Amy has been walking him since he was only 8 weeks old!

Next Jenn headed to the park by the library in North Andover where Lauren and Stanley were playing fetch with a tennis ball. It's his absolute favorite game and he could play for hours!

They also worked on a couple commands in between games. Look how well he stays for her!

Amy and Sadie were enjoying some cuddle time in the yard. Sadie had no problem rolling over for a belly rub, she knows Amy can't say no to that!

Jenn loved photographing Sadie, she was such a ham and totally loved the camera. Look at that face!

Amy also walks BlueDog's amazing three-legged dog, Sophie. After being diagnosed with bone cancer, Sophie's parents made the brave decision to save their girl by having her leg amputated. She has been healthy and happy ever since!

And still keeps up on her tricks!

Next up was Bruno who enjoyed a nice, shady walk with his walker Lauren.

And then on to a fun game of fetch in the yard. He's another one who could play for hours!

Tell me that isn't love! Another BlueDog senior, Sasha, still has the energy to go for long walks despite her age...and grey hairs! But her older age has also brought on some health risks, so we all know the signs to look for when she's gone far enough.

She has fun walking the fields along Spring Hill Farm and loves barking at the cows!

The last stop of the day was at 3pm with Katie, Max, and Cleo. Max is by far BlueDog's tallest dog and towers over Katie when he stands on his hind legs!

But these guys, despite their size, are as gentle and sweet as they get. They love to walk with Katie down to the North Andover town common, or play in the backyard.

We will surely be doing another BlueDog photo shoot in the future! It was absolutely impossible to take pictures of all the dogs walked by BlueDog that day, but we'll be certain to feature more pups soon. If your dog was featured today and you'd like to see more pictures, just let me know!

And I hope you were able to enjoy daydreaming about what it's like to spend a lucky day with BlueDog : )

Tips To Keep Your Dog Happy & Safe Over the 4th of July

2011-06-28T14:55:00.008-04:00

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. My family of nine 2-legged members and seven 4-legged members pack into my parent's cozy, little lake house for a weekend of cookouts, canoeing, swimming, and water skiing. But nothing beats The Big Event, when my hubby, brother, and brother-in-law put on their annual I-don't-even-want-to-know-how-much-money-you-spent fireworks show! Shooting right off the dock and over the lake, we're astounded every year by a remarkable display.

And while everyone fully enjoys the fun packed weekend, not every family member is happy about the fireworks show. Especially my girl Elsa! Not a fan of thunderstorms either, she becomes a very unhappy pup as soon as the sparklers are lit. And this isn't uncommon. While we oooo and ahhh over the big bangs and bright flashes created by fireworks, many dogs will hide, run, or escape in fear. Shelters and veterinarians report an increase in dogs after the holiday and owners will have found that their dog has broken through fences, screens, and even windows at the sound of a firework.

There are a couple of training methods that you can use to help teach your dog not to fear fireworks, but they require a lot of patience and time. So with the holiday approaching quickly, I've listed a couple of quick tips to help keep you dog safe and happy during the 4th of July celebrations:

Make sure your dog is wearing a properly fitted collar with an up to date license and rabies tag. Talk to your vet about having your dog micro-chipped if he hasn't already. Or simply run down to your local pet store and get a tag made with your dog's name and your phone number on it so that if he gets lost, someone can contact you quickly when he's found.
During a fireworks show, keep your dog in a safe, secure, familiar place such as a crate or a bedroom. Close all windows and doors to lessen the sound and to ensure that there are no possible ways for him to escape.
Play music, a TV, run the air conditioner, or turn on a fan on to muffle out the sound of the fireworks.
Try using a calming treatment such as Comfort Zone. Comfort Zone plugs into any outlet and releases the same pheromones that a mother dog releases to calm her puppies, and may help your dog relax.
Give your dog an article of clothing or blanket that has your scent on it. The smell of you can be soothing and comforting to him. It's one of Elsa's favorite comforts when she gets scared.
Don't leave your dog outside if you know there may be fireworks. Even if you have a fenced in yard, tether, or invisible fence, if he gets scared he may try to escape and can injure himself.
Stay calm and relaxed around your nervous dog. Your dog reacts to your mental state, so try not to get worried about him, but instead stay upbeat and positive.
Distract your dog with a game of fetch or ask him to do some tricks to keep him busy and stimulated while you can hear fireworks. Or try giving him a treat-stuffed toy to enjoy and work at.
If your dog's anxiety tends to be severe over the 4th of July, call you vet and discuss possible medications that will help calm him.
And lastly, as wonderful as it is to spend family time with your dog, avoid bringing him to a firework show. Neither of you will enjoy the show if he gets scared and it's not worth the risk of him trying to run away!

If your dog has any fear or phobia such as that of fireworks or thunderstorms, feel free to contact me at Kimberly@BlueDogPetCareMA.com to discuss how we can help him!

I Wish I Didn't Have a Job

2011-06-24T14:32:00.010-04:00

I know, it's a crazy thing to say. How could someone who spends every single day training and walking dogs ever wish she didn't have a job? I should love my job!

Well, I'll let you in on a little something. I do love my job! I love every moment of it. But I still wish I didn't have a job.

Here, let me explain myself.

I wish I didn't have a job because if I didn't have a job, it would mean that no dog ever needed training. I wish I didn't have a job because it would mean that no dog ever needed a daily walk. I wish I didn't have a job because it would mean that every dog owner had enough time, enough knowledge, and enough understanding to provide the proper exercise, companionship, structure, and training for their dog. That every dog would live a life of health, happiness, and satisfaction.

But, I have a job.

It really came into focus for me this morning when I met with a four month old puppy and his family of two parents and three siblings (I'm talking about the two-legged kind) for a training consult. This dog had had everyone on his side since the day he was born. His mother was rescued as a stray while she was pregnant with him and his littermates. He was born at a foster house and raised by a loving, caring family. At 8 weeks he was adopted by yet another wonderful family, who were thrilled to be bringing a dog into their lives for the very first time. He has since spent the past two months living with them in a warm, comfortable home. His life was seemingly perfect.

I could get into the details about what I saw when I met this puppy; the biting, the barking, the jumping. But let's just say that this puppy, despite all of the good intentions, was in serious need of training, restructure, and some stability in his life.

The thing is, the puppy had done nothing wrong. And his family had done nothing wrong either. So then, what went wrong?

It's a time like this, when I meet a dog and its family in need of training, that I take a deep breath, and remind myself; we all have good intentions for our dogs, but it just doesn't come naturally to us.

I'll use myself as an example. I'm a dog person, but I'm no car person. Say the "check engine" light was on in my car, and it was up to me to figure out what was wrong. Sure, I'd read the manual, google a couple things, maybe even call my hubby for advice. And after lifting the hood, I could possibly figure out at least where the washer fluid goes, how to recharge the battery, maybe screw around with a couple of things, but that's probably as far as I'd get. Hey, I never claimed to be a mechanic, right?

Well, it's the exact same thing when we bring a puppy home for the very first time. We read the books, we watch the shows, and sure, we've met plenty of dogs on the street. So we could possibly figure out a thing or two on how to properly raise the dog. Probably not all of it though.

And here's the catch. With a car, the check engine light turns back on, smoke comes out of the hood, or the darn thing just won't turn on. Time to head to the mechanic's.

A puppy, though, isn't as black and white. They don't have any "check engine" lights. So while an owner may take what they've learned and try all the right things, they still don't always know when they're doing something wrong. Or at least not until it really becomes a real problem. Or maybe it doesn't even become a problem, and the dog just lives his life unsure about how to connect with his owner. He doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to act, doesn't know how to make them understand. This isn't just a car we're talking about, this is a living, breathing member of our family.

We aren't born with the ability to read our dogs' minds. All we can do is learn as we go, ask for advice, and hope for the best. It would be wonderful if we came into this world with the innate ability to communicate with 100% accuracy with our four-legged friends. How happy and satisfied they would all be!

When I see a pup like the one I met today, it makes me wish I didn't have to do this. It makes me wish that all dogs and people could just naturally figure each other out.

I would do anything to provide that for every dog out there. Happiness, completeness, understanding. But unfortunately, I'm no doggie Oprah. I'm just a small time dog trainer and walker in North Andover. So on days like today, I have to remind myself to take it one step at a time. One dog at a time. I will improve this puppy's life. Just like I've improve the lives of the dogs that I walk. My walkers and I only get a half hour each day with each dog, but we make that the very best half hour we possibly can. It's the least we can do.

So as much as I absolutely love my job, I wish I didn't have it. I wish there were no need for it. But then again, a girl's got to make a living. And even more so, she's got to be realistic. I do have a job. I do my very best at my job. And that improves the lives of the dogs that I meet. People may not be born with the innate ability to understand their dog, but I sure as heck can try to teach them!

The Invisible Leash

2011-06-14T07:03:00.007-04:00

Throughout the years, as I've worked with people and their dogs, I've found that we've become increasingly dependent on the leash. The latest and greatest collars, harnesses, and head halters are making us even more hooked on that six foot piece of fabric that connects us to our pups. I watch daily as people walk with a tight leash, pulling this way and that, without ever consulting their dog.

And it makes me wonder, have we taken away from the potential relationship we could have with our dogs by becoming so dependent on the leash?

My leash of choice is the thinnest, four foot lead I can find. The flimsier the better! Because I don't rely on my leash. Sure, it's got to be there. They keep our dogs safe and secure; no matter how reliable your dog is, he should always be on a leash. However, I like my leash to be invisible, as if it weren't even there, with every dog that I walk.

How does a leash become invisible? Well, rather than using it to direct your dog where you want to go, you simply tell your dog where you're going. If you're taking a walk with a friend, are you holding their hand, pulling and tugging them this way and that without notice? Of course not. If you decide to take a left, you tell them "let's go this way." If you want to stop, you say "wait one second." So what's the difference between your friend and your dog? There shouldn't be one!

When I walk my dogs, I tell them where I want to go. If I'm changing directions, I say "this way." Then I take a left or a right or wherever it is that I'd like to go. Originally, if I said "this way" and changed directions, my dogs would continue walking straight until they reached the end of the leash, feel a tug and realize I had changed directions, and then follow me. Within no time, they learned that when I say "this way," it meant I was changing directions, so they'd look at me to figure out where I was going to avoid being tugged by the leash.

I also tell them when I'm stopping. I say "wait," and then stop. Once ready to move forward, I say "let's go." If I want them to catch up to me or slow down, I say "with me." And of course, I always throw in an occasional "good puppy!"

Some dogs pick up on this quickly, others less so. However, if you remain consistent, talking to your dog every time you go for a walk, these commands will eventually have a meaning to him. And the key to doing this is keeping a loose leash. Because remember, it's invisible! If you can't use your leash, you'll have to use your voice. I'll admit, it isn't easy at first, but once you turn it into a habit, you'll never want to use your leash again.

To test your dependence on your leash, you can try tying it around your waist, so that you can't hold onto it. Then take your dog for a walk! You may see how often you rely on the leash, and perhaps how little direction you actually give your pup!

Consider your walks with your dog the same as a walk with a friend. You go for a walk to reconnect, chat, and enhance your relationship. If you take the same approach with your dog, your walks will be much more enjoyable for the both of you!

Am I a Boring Dog Walker?

2011-06-02T16:09:00.006-04:00

On a daily basis, I have the privilege of spending time with four dogs who make up a lovely pack; Dexter, Bogart, Bruno, and Doobie. Each one of them is a sufficient watch dog, so to say there's a lot of commotion and excitement upon my arrival is an understatement! However, amongst all of the barking, there's a sound that I've just recently begun to notice. After a couple of barks, Dexter will yawn. And yawn. And yawn! At first I thought it was a fluke. But sure enough, I’m greeted daily with a whole bunch of barks and a couple of yawns.

Am I really that boring of a dog walker??

In hopes that no one else felt that way, today I decided to make note of any yawning upon my arrival. My day began with Kelsey the poodle. As usual, when I picked up her leash she acted silly, bouncing up and down. And as I patiently waited for her to settle, to my surprise, she let out a big, loud yawn! Ah-ha! Apparently Dexter isn't the only one!

And it didn't stop there. Next I visited Gracie and Petunia. As soon as I went towards Gracie's crate, she yawned. When I stopped by Solo’s house for a walk, he greeted me with a big, loud yawn. And sure enough when I returned home, my two dogs greeted me at the door. Tails wagging and mouths open wide…yawning!

Well I might as well hang up my leash now, because apparently I’m a boring dog walker!

Fortunately, that's not actually the case. Dogs don't yawn for the same reasons that we do. For dogs, yawning is referred to as a calming signal and in many cases, is used to cope with excitement. A yawn fills their lungs with air and boosts their brain with oxygen and increases their heart rate. When I walk through the door, all of these dogs are excited and anticipate a walk and a good time. To get ready for action, they yawn! So it turns out I’m not a boring dog walker after all… I’m actually quite fun!

Studies also suggest that yawning is contagious and can be used as a way to calm your dog down. In theory, you can yawn at your dog and he'll yawn back, making him more relaxed. Well, I just yawned about 15 times in front of my dog Elsa and she just stared at me as if I were crazy. So apparently my yawns aren't contagious...but at least I'm not a boring dog walker!

The Sun Has Arrived! And So Have the Poppies!

2011-05-25T21:57:00.005-04:00

Well it's nice of the sun to finally decide to show up...I was afraid we'd never see it again! And that isn't the only bright and colorful sign of spring that has arrived. The fantastic poppies that I love to see bloom every year have made their arrival, once again from the wonderful garden of Bogart, Dexter, and Bruno's yard!

So yesterday I packed up my girls and we swung by my Cockalier friends' house, Merry and Pippin, and we all made our way to our favorite yard. The pups had a wonderful time playing...or in Elsa's case, napping...while I snapped pictures!

Enjoy! : )

Beautiful flowers!

Pippin wants to check them out.

Blooming

A little something else I found

Bruno waiting patiently for me to take a picture of him before throwing his ball

Cutie!

Merry & Pippin

Reese is so weird. She isn't digging. Just standing in a hole. Weirdo.

Sniffing

Spoiled dogs!

Isn't life tough?

Happy dog!

Kisses

Waiting for me to throw the ball

Pippin

Bruno!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2011-05-17T21:00:00.018-04:00

Ok, so I know rain isn't the best subject right now. But let's remember - rain means green grass and blooming flowers! And after probably the longest dog-walking-winter I've yet to experience, I'll take the rain if it results in more signs of spring!

And my favorite sign of spring (ok, besides cute little puppies) are blooming flowers! Growing up as the daughter of the owner of Desmond Landscape, I've learned to appreciate everything from the first bulb to pop through the earth to the last leaf to fall from a tree.

However, I currently reside in a townhouse. Which simply means no opportunity to exercise my green thumb...besides my fast growing collection of indoor spider plants. So I must instead appreciate the gardens of my fortunate clients who are able to contribute more to their yards than just a condo fee.

And the yard that I anticipate the most each spring is that of my four friends Bruno, Bogart, Dexter, and Doobie. The humble yard boasts no fertilized gardens or manicured shrubs. Instead, it has a flower scattered here, an interesting plant there. It's slow to bloom and you need to search hard to find all that it has to offer. But it has a lot to offer! Most especially the rose bush, which has yet to bloom this year. But I swear when those pink petals finally make their appearance, I can smell them the moment I step out of my car.

This year, I wanted to share this yard with all of you, so last week I brought my camera along with me. Mind you, I'm no photographer, but I do enjoy at least pretending I can be! Of course, I couldn't resist snapping a couple shots of Doobie, he's such a ham. And Elsa always manages to convince me to include a picture of her. I hope you enjoy : )

Doobie greets me at the gate

Doobie insisted I took a picture of him

My girl Elsa, always poised and proper...and ready for the camera

So please, join me in appreciating this rain...or at least putting up with it. For it's only going to help make our yards that much more pretty to enjoy when it all finally stops!

7 Tips to Teach a Dog to Heel

2011-05-17T08:27:00.009-04:00

Many of you know what it's like. It's a beautiful spring day (you'll have to use your imagination!) The birds are singing, children are playing, people are out for a jog. You decide to enjoy the nice weather like everyone else, and why not bring along your lovable pup! So you go to grab his leash to get ready to head out for a walk.

But as soon as you pick up the leash, your dog knows. He starts to race around the house and jump on you. You struggle to clip the leash on, then once attached, he dashes for the door, nearly throwing you off your feet in the process. Out you go, desperately trying to keep on with your eager dog. He chases a squirrel, drags you across the street to say hello to a friend, and has a new smell to sniff nearly every 2 feet. Suddenly your leisurely walk on a beautiful day is not what you had hoped for.

And you're not the only one who isn't enjoying such a walk. Believe it or not, your dog wants structure. Rather than feeling the need to sniff every smell, pee on every tree, evaluate every dog, and protect you from this crazy, over stimulating world, he wants to enjoy himself! So it's up to you to show him how to do that.

As a dog walker, I know what it's like to walk such a dog. But I've learned a thing or two about how to make our walks much more enjoyable, for both me and the pup. So before you head off to the local pet store to try yet another "no-pull" apparatus, why don't you try some of these tips first:

Start Calm: The way you start your walk can make a huge difference. Don't put his leash on or walk outside until he's sitting quietly. Be patient; if he doesn't sit immediately, walk away until he calms down. It might take what seems like eternity to actually leave the house, but eventually he'll learn that he goes nowhere unless he's calm.

Loose Leash: You always want a loose leash. Resistance will naturally make him pull. Think if someone was facing you, put there hands on your shoulders, and gently pushed. You're automatically going to push back, right? Same goes with a dog. You pull, he'll pull. So make sure that leash is loose.

Change Directions: Change directions frequently to teach your dog he should always be paying attention to you. Walk ten steps, then say your dog's name and turn around. Walk another ten feet and then do it again. Make it sporadic and spontaneous. And remember to always tell your dog you're changing directions to give him a chance to follow you.

Praise Your Dog: Dogs love to be talked to. But we tend to only talk to our dogs when he's doing something wrong. If he's walking nicely on the leash, tell him! Let him know that you're happy that he's by your side. And better yet, if you see a distraction up ahead, talk to your dog to direct his attention to you. It will give you better control as you approach the distraction.

Stop if He Pulls: On a walk, your dog clearly wants to keep going. So if he gets too far ahead, simply stop. Then wait for him to turn around, and begin your walk again. Be patient and consistent; it'll probably take you a long time to get even 20 feet, but once he learns that you won't move unless he's by your side, he'll stop pulling.

You Decide When to Stop: Remember, dogs are gamblers. If they win once, they'll try again. So if you allow your pup to say hello to another dog, or let your dog stop to sniff a mailbox, he'll try to do it every time. So teach your dog that those are rewards for good behavior, not something he can do every time. If he's been walking very nicely by your side for 5 minutes, tell him good boy and then allow him to sniff a tree for a couple minutes, or say hello to a dog. Then you decide when he's finished, and start your walk again.

Bring Treats: There's nothing wrong with having a pocket full of treats when you go for a walk! Use them to reward him when he's walking nicely by your side. Or if you see a distraction up ahead, say your dog's name, if he looks at you, give him a treat. Continue to do this while you walk past the distraction. He'll soon learn to look at you rather than a distraction so he can get a tasty treat.

Remember, every dog is different. Some of these tips may work for your dog, and others may not. But be patient in trying each one. In no time, you'll be able to enjoy those nice spring days (if we ever get any!) with your pup, and you two will have a much better relationship.

An Utterly Great Walk

2011-05-13T14:41:00.033-04:00

So I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Just to warn you, this is total proof of what a geek I am. But I'll tell you anyways.

I really like cows.

I think they're awesome. I don't know if it's their gentle disposition, their quirky curiosity, or the fact that I grew up listening to stories from my mom about how she grew up on a cow farm. Either way, I have a soft spot for them. (Ok, maybe I even have frequent daydreams about the day I own a cow farm.)

And fortunately, I get my cow-fix every spring through fall when I walk the little spaniel pup (who I totally LOVE), Sasha. See, she lives near Spring Hill Farm and our walk-of-choice is down a dirt road that follows along the cow field. Come spring, the field becomes the home of a herd of cows who Sasha, Elsa, Reese, and I love to visit. The pups learn to look for the cows, the cows learn to enjoy our company, and within no time I literally have cows running (yes, cows run!) to keep up with us on our walk!

So in celebration of the arrival of a new herd, and to prove my true geek-ness to you all, I'd like to share some pictures that I took of our most recent visit with my cows.

Sasha's got a smile on her face as we make our way towards our hoofed friends

Time to speed up, we see them!

And our cows catch sight of us

Reesie with her friends

Saying hello

Trying to get a closer look of the Collie

Got anything for us to eat?

Ok maybe I bribed them to like me by feeding them some of the tasty grass on our side of the fence

Following the pups

And saying hello

Reese likes to believe she's a herding dog

We began to head back and the cows gladly followed

Running to keep up with us!

How can you not love that face??

Yum

Getting a scratch

And trying a taste of a tree branch

Friends

Happy dog!

And more happy dogs!

Reese decided to run out to the cows one last time to say goodbye.

Four Legged Gamblers

2011-05-06T07:40:00.014-04:00

If there was a slot machine that never had a winner, would you play it? How about one that always had a winner? And what about those slot machines on which you occasionally win. Which would you pick? Sounds like an easy decision, right? Well our dogs certainly think so!

Let me explain...

Occasionally, there comes a time when my two dogs, Elsa and Reese, get bored. So I always have a collection of interactive toys ready to be filled up with tasty kibble to keep them busy. And my clever dogs know that I have a tendency to rush when I'm filling up their toys, and occasionally I'll drop a piece of kibble or two! So as I fill up their toys, they patiently watch the ground, ready to grab any piece that I may drop.

However, right next to them, as they desperately search the ground for dropped pieces of kibble, is the entire bin of food! Open and available. It would be too easy for them to just reach in and get mouthfuls of food! So why don't they??

Well, it's because dogs are gamblers! That's the slot machine that never has a winner. I have never, ever allowed them to eat from the bin. So why would they even try? However, when I drop a piece of kibble, I allow them to pick it up. Ah ha, the occasional winning slot machine! Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't...but it's worth playing!

OK, here's another example. Dinner time. As soon as my hubby, Chris, and I sit down to eat, Elsa and Reese take their places. Elsa lays on the mat against the door. Reese sprawls out on the kitchen floor. And they both fall fast asleep.

Yup, that's right...my dogs don't beg!

And the reason? It's because we have never, ever fed them from the kitchen table. Ever! There's that losing slot machine. Why play if you've never won? Why beg if you've never received food?

And no, I don't have super dogs who just don't care about table scraps. They love them. And better yet, Chris loves to spoil them. So every night we have a collection of scraps to give to our dogs. As soon as Chris stands up to put his dishes away, Elsa and Reese snap out of their slumber and rush over to him. Winner!!! That's the slot machine from which they always get a reward!

So why is this important to know? Well, clearly it helps with training! If you don't want your dog to do something, never let him do it. If you don't mind if he does something, it's OK to reward him. If you want him to do something, always reward him!

OK, I'll admit, sometimes it's easier said than done. There's plenty more for me to tell you about training your dog! But for now, let's keep that slot machine in mind. Because we're all living with four legged gamblers!

A Dog Training a Dog?

2011-04-22T14:52:00.009-04:00

Apparently my dogs are training each other. To misbehave.

Today I saw the proof. I watched Elsa train Reese. It sounds crazy, I know. And the worst of it was, she was training her to bark!

Let me explain.

I'll begin by saying, I'm not a morning person. And this morning I was exceptionally groggy. So as I put together my hubby's lunch, I accidentally dropped a baby carrot. No big deal though, I've got dogs...food doesn't last very long on the floor. Sure enough Reese grabbed the carrot and as she usually does when she finds a tasty treat, she trotted into the living room to eat it. However, while trotting past Elsa, she accidentally dropped the carrot, right in front of her sister.

A side note...Elsa's the boss. And even if Elsa could care less if something's near her...if it's near her, Reese won't take it. Whether it's food, a Kong, or a toy. And though I've never seen Elsa prevent Reese from taking an object from her, apparently Elsa is scary. And you should never, ever take something from her.

So Reese was in a tough situation. She wanted that baby carrot really badly. But she was afraid to take it from Elsa. So what did she do? Well, she did what she does best. She barked! And apparently Elsa has not read my blog, because instead of ignoring Reese's bark, she got up, walked away, and let Reese take the carrot. She totally reinforced the behavior with a reward!

So now Reese has learned that if she barks, Elsa will move, and she'll get a treat. Or perhaps, if she barks, Elsa will move. Or if she barks, she will get a treat. The doors of possibility that Elsa has just opened for Reese seem endless!

Now, do I think Elsa intentionally trained Reese? Of course not. She's not a morning person either! Being barked at is irritating, so she moved. However, that move was a positive reinforcement for Reese...a behavior followed by a reward.

So we do have to keep in mind that our dogs can absolutely learn from each other. Whether it's intentional or not. And even we can unintentionally reinforce a behavior, just like Elsa did.

However...ultimately, I think the moral of the story is simply this. From now on I'll just have to have my cup of coffee before I pack lunch.

2011-04-14T16:12:00.004-04:00

It is scarcely possible to doubt that the love of man has become instinctive in the dog.

~ Charles Darwin

Playtime in Kennebunk!

2011-04-11T10:10:00.034-04:00

This morning I wanted to share some pictures from the beautiful weekend that my girls and I had up in Kennebunk, Maine. We had perfect weather for walking along the beach...or in their case, running along the beach! They had such a wonderful time...the proof was this Monday morning, when they both decided to sleep in to recover from their fun filled weekend!

On our way to the beach...they knew we were getting close!

As soon as we got onto the beach Reese was running!
Happy girl

Reese trying to get Elsa to play

It doesn't take much convincing!

A little break

I swear Elsa poses for the camera
She's got trouble maker written all over her!

Play bow
Tag, you're it!
New friends

Exploring the tidal pools

Collie smile!

Followed with a bark!
Best friends : )

Learn How to Talk Puppy

2011-03-23T07:24:00.005-04:00

Out of all of the many things I have learned about working with dogs, one of most helpful was learning how to talk puppy. Sounds crazy, I know....so let me explain!

What I mean by "talking puppy" is to talk enthusiastically to your dog. Sounds simple enough. I've told clients who have issues with their dog pulling on the leash that they should try praising their dog. They tell me they do that and the dog doesn't respond. Then you're not "talking puppy!"

When I first began training dogs, I struggled continually with this concept. I'm generally a very quiet person and quite shy. Basically...I don't like to make a fool out of myself in front of people! So when I was in training class and was told to talk enthusiastically to my dog Elsa, I whispered some "good girl's" to her, with no results.

It was when I began competing with her in Rally-Obedience when I found my true "voice." In Rally-Obedience, your dog must stay by your side while you walk through an obstacle course. The wonderful thing about the sport is that you can talk to your dog throughout the entire thing, however, you can't use treats. Now, if you didn't know before, you know now...I am very competitive.

So Elsa and I didn't compete in Rally-O just for fun, we competed to win! At our first show, I watched our competitors in the show ring and I watched their owners walk through the course like zombies...as if their dogs weren't even there, paying attention only to what they were doing, not to their dogs. And their dogs just weren't interested at all! So I wanted to make Elsa interested. I put all shyness aside, and I talked to her, A LOT. I told her she was beautiful, I told her she was wonderful...and she took in every single word! I made Elsa feel on top of the world! And she enthusiastically stayed by my side, rocked the course, and won a blue ribbon!

I took what I learned from that experience with the dogs that I walk. What a difference it made! No longer was I pulled along all day long, I had dogs that not only stayed by my side, but enjoyed staying by my side! They loved being told how wonderful they are...who wouldn't?!

And in addition to telling them praise, you can also learn to get their attention with certain phrases. For example, whenever I'm about to bring my dogs for a walk, or throw a toy, or give them a treat...in an enthusiastic voice I ask them "are you ready!?" All of those things...a walk, toy, or treat are rewards. So now they here "are you ready!?" and they know they're getting a reward! We also play "up here!" I hold a treat up high and tell them "up here!" and they jump up to get the treat. It didn't take long to teach them what "up here!" means and they absolutely LOVE the game. So now, if I really need to get their attention, I'll enthusiastically say "are you ready!?" or "up here!" and it's a guarantee I'll get them to look my way.

Sounds easy enough, and I'm sure some of you are thinking "well I already talk puppy!" Try talking puppy to your dog when you're outside walking and you see another dog ahead of you. If you're dog ignores your talking and only wants to meet the other dog, you're not talking puppy!

You need to talk to that dog as if he's the greatest thing in the world! Make your voice higher pitched, loud, and as enthusiastically as possible. And you should practice. Yes, practice talking puppy. Your dog will love it. Start without distractions, wait until your pup is dozing or busy chewing a toy, and start telling him how wonderful he is as enthusiastically as you possibly can. No doubt you'll get a wiggly, happy pup bounding up to you to hear more! Then try the same thing when you let him outside to go to the bathroom, and then on a walk...increasing distractions as he learns.

And believe me, your dog will let you know whether or not you are properly talking puppy! It's not an easy as it sounds, but once you learn, it'll be one of your best tools in training your dog!

Good dog!

How Studies on Animal Domestication Can Help Us Understand Our Dogs

2011-03-11T06:58:00.005-05:00

I recently read a very interesting National Geographic article about animal domestication. It's a subject I've been very interested in since college...simply because our dogs are the very best example of domestication!

A study, which this article features, has been performed on silver foxes, begun by Dmitri Belyaev more than half a century ago. In short, researchers selectively bred for tame foxes, which has led to a group of foxes that greet people like dogs, crave human attention, and have changed in physical appearance with droopy ears, curled tails, and piebald coloring.

To read the article, Click Here.

Though this study is very interesting, there's one point in particular that I found the most intriguing...which can directly effect the way we understand and train our dogs. I've copied this bit below.

"I'd like to draw your attention to this fox," says Trut, pointing to one snarling creature nearby. "You can see how aggressive she is. She was born to an aggressive mother but brought up by a tame mother." The switch, the result of the aggressive mother being unable to feed its kit, serendipitously proved a point: The foxes' response to humans is more nature than it is nurture. "Here," she says, "it's the genetics that change."

Identifying the precise genetic footprint involved in tameness, however, is proving extremely tricky science. First the researchers need to find the genes responsible for creating friendly and aggressive behaviors. Such general behavior traits, however, are actually amalgamations of more specific ones—fear, boldness, passivity, curiosity—that must be teased apart, measured, and traced to individual genes or sets of genes working in combination. Once those genes are identified, the researchers can test whether the ones influencing behavior are also behind the floppy ears and piebald coats and other features that characterize domesticated species. One theory among the scientists in Novosibirsk is that the genes guiding the animals' behavior do so by altering chemicals in their brains. Changes to those neurochemicals, in turn, have "downstream" impacts on the animals' physical appearance.

It makes me consider what our dog breeds were originally selectively bred for. Many were used for hunting, guarding, and fighting. What this study denotes, is that even though a fox is raised by a tame mother, if she was bred to be aggressive, she will grow up aggressive. Therefore, her genetic makeup has a large impact on her temperament than her upbringing.

Now, keep in mind, this is an extreme case. The aggressive foxes in this study have been selectively bred for aggressiveness over generations.

However, we must consider our selectively bred, domestic dog breeds. Like I said, each one was bred for specific traits, and in some cases that included strength, stubbornness, or combativeness. And what this study is saying, is that despite how an animal is raised, his genetic makeup will likely effect his temperament. That's why it's very important that we consider what each breed was bred for when we choose a new dog. And as trainers, we will have to consider the same with every dog we work with and customize how that dog is trained based on his current temperament, as well as the traits of his breed. As for those of you who have "mystery breeds," well you can't consider their predisposed breed traits and have to just wait and see what they will be like!

However, we are fortunate in that our dogs have been so well domesticated and our culture has allowed for many options to improve our dogs' temperament and make them a happy part of our family. And though some breeders still breed for sport, in most cases a dog's main "job" now is simply to be a companion to humans, and we can hope that most breeders are simply breeding their dogs to be healthy, even-tempered, and happy companions : )

It is scarcely possible to doubt that the love of man has become instinctive in the dog.

Charles Darwin

Watch Out For Those Pesky Ticks!

2011-03-08T15:24:00.004-05:00

We've all got dogs and we all live in New England so each and every one of us knows that ticks are a problem here! And unfortunately, what has also become increasingly prevalent is Lyme Disease, a tick-borne disease that our pups can get.

Though it's natural to expect ticks in the summer, they tend to come out during the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. So make sure to look over your pup after a walk through the woods or even a romp in your yard for these pesty little creatures.

There are two kinds of ticks that are found most often in New England. Dog ticks are large in size and when engorged, blow up to a greenish/greyish blob. Deer ticks, however, are a lot smaller...sometimes as tiny as a speck of pepper. They also grow in size when engorged, but not nearly as large as a dog tick. And unfortunately, it's the tiny deer ticks that carry lyme disease.

Though it's important to remove a tick from your dog immediately, sometimes we just can't catch them in time. So it's important that you watch for symptoms of Lyme Disease such as fever, lameness, swelling in joints, swollen lymph glands, lethargy, and lack of appetite. We've had a number of BlueDog pups come up with these symptoms throughout the past couple of years and each tested positive for Lyme. Fortunately, they all recovered after taking antibiotics and getting some extra love from their BlueDog walker : )

Feel free to email me if you'd like more information on ticks and Lyme Disease and ways to avoid both!