Dog Training Myths Debunked by Top Dog Trainer

When dog obedience training techniques prove to be stumbling blocks in your dog human relationship, it can be helpful to put the dog training truck in reverse.



Good dog obedience training programs will not only offer dog training tips, but will reject combative dog training techniques that break down trust and consistency. A dog obedience training system is only as good as its resulting dog human relationship.

On that note, I’d like to offer a sampling of some dog training myths. These are ideas perpetuated by foolish dog training techniques.

Myth: Crates are for punishment. Fact: When a dog is banished to his cage as punishment, he will begin to believe that every time you ask him to go into it, he’s being reprimanded. This misplaced crate training punishment can be especially harmful when training puppy.

Myth: Grooming puppies will always be difficult. Fact: Puppy care doesn’t have to be a struggle if you teach your little guy that nail trimming, tooth brushing, and ear cleaning are fun. When you call your puppy, grab him, hold him down, and perform scary and unfamiliar procedures on him, he’ll never forget this negative puppy training.

Myth: Pee and poop punishment works. Fact: Dog house training is successful when approached with a positive attitude. Reward for good puppy potty training responses, rather than punishing when accidents occur. Housetraining is complicated by nose-rubbing and yelling. Training your dog in this area will never be accomplished with a combative attitude.

Myth: Some dogs love to bark. Fact: Incessant dog barking is not natural. To stop your dog from barking persistently, you must identify the cause of the barking and then adjust the dog’s environment. There are plenty of positive ways to train your dog to control his barking.

Myth: Training is unnecessary for smart dogs. Fact: Often, dog owners shun adopting any dog training program if they believe their dog is highly intelligent. All dogs crave leadership, say top dog training schools . Labrador training, terrier training, and training German shepherd may differ slightly, but dog obedience training is largely universal for all breeds.

Myth: Puppy biting is aggressive behavior. Fact: Actually, puppy biting is an unavoidable part of your dog’s adolescence. But puppy biting must be controlled, and puppies must also be taught to control their bite strength when playing.

Myth: All dogs dig and chew. Fact: Dog owners have the power to stop digging and chewing behaviors of their dogs. Often, it’s simply a matter of replacing bad habits with good ones.

Myth: Dog walking comes naturally. Fact: Asking a dog to walk on a leash rarely goes smoothly from the start. Yanking on your dog’s neck, or employing other types of punishment, will never contribute to peaceful dog walking. Proper k9 training is the only route to dog walking success.

Myth: Dogs understand spontaneity. Fact: Dog training works best when it’s used with consistency, even after a dog training program is completed. Assuming that a dog will be able to recall good behaviors, without them being practiced with predictability, can be detrimental to dog obedience training results.

Myth: Training without food is effective. Fact: Immediate rewards of food are essential in dog obedience training. Food is what your dog desires the most. That means you will get the biggest return from your dog training efforts when you offer food rewards. Praise is great, but assuming it’s enough, especially when training puppy, can have a backpedal effect.

Myth: Dogs remember mistakes. Fact: If your dog runs away, and you scold him upon his return, you’re teaching him that it’s bad to come back to you. When training a dog, it’s important to understand that he associates rewards and punishments with the action performed immediately preceding your reaction.



Regardless of your dog’s breed, your dog obedience training success hinges upon your understanding of the effects of a positive, proactive attitude.

Increase dog training dividends by investing wisely in words and actions that speak to your dog’s sense of fun and need for quality time. Remember, the dog obedience training battle shouldn’t be a battle at all.

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Training dogs by e mail

When I opened Pikes Peak Manners In Minutes in 2006 and started training dogs professionally, I thought I had everything figured out about what I would be doing.  Now 6 1/2 years later I find myself doing a lot of things I never thought of originally.

Neighborhood Pack started out as just a way to give my clients some extra time to work with me on their dogs.  Today it is a major part of my training.

I had never even thought about training a deaf dog.  But each year I train a couple of deaf dogs.  I also didn’t realize that this blog and a Facebook page would be in the mix.

But the biggest surprise is that I find myself training a couple of dogs each year by e mail. 

It started out, like so many things, simply enough.  A Lakeland breeder I know asked me to contact the owner of one of her dogs.  The owner was having a couple of problems that just needed some knowhow to get through.  The word got out and pretty soon I was getting regular requests from that breeder or others to help one of their dogs out in pet owners homes.

Then I was contacted by a Lakeland owner for some help.  The problem was easily cleared up.  But the dog owner was so impressed that she asked if I could help her train the dog in the entire Manners in Minutes system.

What resulted was a series of e mails.  I would explain how to train a command.  She would start working the dog in the command and as questions came up she would e mail and I would answer.

Wisely I kept all the e mails.  Last fall when I found myself going to Williamsburg VA for seminars those e mails became the basis of my new workbook.

And now when I train a dog by e mail, I have a workbook to guide the owner to the dog they want.

The one downside, I only get to see pictures of the dog.

 

Doug

 

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Training a deaf dog Part 2

Having taught Simba the necessary commands to get him to “hear” us it was time to start training.

Simba is a powerful dog and he was dragging his owner all over the place. Even in a hearing dog this is common.

One of the reason a dog will drag someone on a line is that the dog thinks the line is a reason to play tug of war. Tug of war is more than just a game to a dog; it is actually a dominance test. If you ever watch two dogs tugging on a toy, the dog that gets the item the most often is the dominant dog.

So if you take your dog for a walk, and you let it drag you all over the place, then you are telling the dog it is higher in the pack than you. And a dog that is higher in the pack than you is not going to obey very well.

In Manners in Minutes training we use a training device called a Q bone. Invented by Pat Muller, this allows us to “nip” the dog without causing pain. And since nip is one of the three ways dogs correct each other, the dog is born knowing that a nip means NO.

In addition, a Q-bone on the dog’s collar acts as a stone in its shoe. The dog will tend not to let the device become a stone in their shoe and stops pulling on the line.

We placed a Q bone on Simba’s collar and started walking him on a twenty foot line.

We always start with a long line since to a dog, the farther away I am when I nip you, the more powerful a pack leader I am.

I gave Simba the sign for walking on a twenty foot line and off we went. As soon as he started walking with me, I gave him the “good” sign.

Simba walked ahead to check something to smell and in doing so, lost sight of me. Any dog, hearing or not, should always pay attention to you when hold the line, so I turned around and went another way. When I got to the end of the twenty foot line my momentum gave him a nip on his neck. He immediately turned to come with me and again I gave him the “good” sign.

Now it was time for Simba to learn that life has limits, so I started walking him towards his owner. Now since he likes her more than me he started going to her.

I stopped, and when Simba reached the end of the line, he nipped himself. He turned immediately and ran back to me. Again he was rewarded with praise via the “good” sign.

Pretty soon, no matter where I turned, Simba made sure the line was slack and was staying within twenty feet of me.

We then switched to a six foot line and again, Simba learned that when he was on a short line he could be six feet in front of me, beside me or behind me. But the line had to be slack at all times.

Now it was time for Simba to learn the rules also applied to Mom. And within a couple of minutes he was walking with her without pulling.

Simba was sent home for a week of practice. And his owner called me a day later to let me know that with each walk Simba was better on a line.

And I started planning his next set of commands.

To be continued….

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PIT BULLS AND OTHER DANGEROUS DOGS KEEP ON KILLING

http://www.optuszoo.com.au/news/top/news-com-au/guide-dog-killed-in-pit-bull-attack/750059

ANOTHER innocent Guide dog killed in yet ANOTHER vicious pit bull attack.  When are pit bull owners finally going to understand that their dogs are dangerous; they pose a huge danger to society!

Pit bulls are mauling, maiming and killing people, pets, and service/guide dogs at a rate UNMATCHED by any other type of dog, and WE ARE SICK OF IT!!!!

I dont really care whos at fault, whether its the dogs or the owners; it makes no difference to me. The fact is that pit bulls are dangerous, and a lot of times, so are their owners. So dont bother with your comments about who is at fault, and comment about that "its the owners fault."  I DONT CARE!!!! The FACT is, PIT BULLS CONTINUE TO MAUL, MAIM AND KILL AND IT NEEDS TO STOP, by whatever means necessary! If the damn dogs have to be removed as pets, then so be it.  This guide dog, and NO guide or service dogs, or family pets, or children, or adults deserve to be mauled to death or eaten alive by some aggressive dog, just because its owner thinks he/she has the RIGHT to own whatever dog they want.  Well, guess what....WE HAVE RIGHTS TOO!!!! WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO FEEL AND TO BE SAFE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS! 
And were DAMNED TIRED of your vicious dogs harassing, threatening, mauling and attacking, and even KILLING our family members, our pets, and our service and guide dogs! 

It used to be easy for you who own pit bulls, but not anymore! We are going to FIGHT you! And we WILL NOT STOP until these vicious dogs are off of our city streets and are NO longer in homes as pets.  WE WILL FIGHT until its done; until we can live safer, and in more peace in our neighborhoods and can walk down the street with our children, or our dogs and guide/service dogs, without the fear of being mauled to death by your inherently vicious pit bull type dog! 

If you dont want the fight, THEN CONTROL YOUR VICIOUS ANIMALS! Put up an adequate fence, get a stronger leash, train your dogs, put them in a locked pen....do whatever you have to do to MAKE THIS STOP, or youre going to have the fight of your life on your hands! We are gathering an army of support, most of them victims, and we WILL fight you! 


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2186433/Dog-bite-hospital-admissions-rise--especially-children.html

"In the UK it is illegal to breed or own Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brazilieros. They were bred as aggressive fighting dogs.

It is also an offence for an owner to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control in a public place.

The Government has recognised that dog attacks is a growing problem. In 2011 police seized 1,512 illegal dogs – up from just 27 five years earlier. Meanwhile attacks on guide dogs were now running at the rate of seven a month."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2186433/Dog-bite-hospital-admissions-rise--especially-children.html#ixzz23AkD4Eoa

You CANNOT argue the FACT that pit bulls and their mixes, were bred to fight and kill, EVERYONE seems to know that except the owners of these dogs! 

These attacks are inexcusable! Unacceptable! And completely PREVENTABLE! 

You wonder why people like us want BSL?   THIS IS WHY! Because YOU pit bull owners, and owners of DANGEROUS DOGS cant seem to keep your damn killing machines under control! 

Have you ANY idea what it takes to train a service or guide dog? Have you any idea how much it costs? Do you know what kind of a bond a handler has with his/her service/guide dog?  DO YOU EVEN GIVE A DAMN?????


We Will be quiet NO MORE!!!!!!!

Join us to Walk For Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs

October 27th, 2012

12 noon- 7pm

Lincoln Park, Tucson, AZ 

ITS TIME FOR THE VOICES OF THE VICTIMS TO BE HEARD!!!

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Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs

I made this video in honor of all the victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs, because people need to see what these dogs are doing.  They need to see the impact that their pit bulls are having on families, and communities nationwide.  People need to be aware.

The pit bull zealots have for years refused to see the danger in having pit bulls as pets, and continue to refuse to this day; but just because they wont admit to the facts, doesnt make them untrue. Please watch this video and you would, please share it with as many people as you possibly can.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bMMECgOG-aM

Thank you.

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Bertie Blog Bertie Dog Training closed this week

Bertie Blog: Bertie Dog Training closed this week: "Both venues - Oadby and Langtons are closed this week. Normal services will resume the following week."

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Quincy the Guide Dog Viciously Killed by Pit Bull Dogs

I chose to once again post the story of Quincy the Guide Dog who was viciously attacked and killed by pit bulls, because there are some important updates to this story.  Please visit Quincys page at https://www.facebook.com/QuincyColeGuideDog and see whats new with Quincys story.  RIP Quincy, brave and wonderful soul!

Posted: May 07, 2012 1:12 PM MSTUpdated: May 07, 2012 1:13 PM MST

 

The Sarasota County Sheriffs Office says it has closed its investigation into an incident that a blind man said caused his guide dog to die.

It happened March 19 when Bruce Cole was out walking with his guide dog, "Quincy."

According to Cole, three dogs attacked Quincy. 

"I could feel the dogs hitting her," he said. "Then they came up and slammed her [to the ground]."

Over the next couple of weeks, Cole said Quincys health began deteriorating. She died on Friday.

The Sarasota County Sheriffs Office confirmed in an e-mail to FOX 13 News that they were conducting a vicious dog investigation. The e-mail said "there were no documented injuries to Quincy, which the vet confirmed" and that "she developed an internal infection from stress."

The sheriffs office said it cited the dogs owners for letting them run loose and not having them properly licensed.

They said there were no other reports against the dogs, and with no other bites or complaints on file, they closed the investigation.

Cole said he has already started the process of getting a replacement for Quincy, but that it could take upwards of one year. 

    NOW  HERES THE REAL STORY

BRUCE COLE, A LEGALLY BLIND RESIDENT OF SARASOTA, WAS WALKING WITH HIS GUIDE DOG QUINCY ON MARCH 19, WHEN ACCORDING TO AN EYEWITNESS...........

                         2 PIT BULLS

BEGAN JUMPING ON QUINCY.  MR. COLE, HAVING WORKED WITH QUINCY FOR 7 YEARS WAS SENSITIVE TO HER MINUTEST MOVEMENTS THROUGH THE HARNESS THE DOG WORE AND KNEW THAT DOGS WERE HITTING AND PROBABLY BITING QUINCY.

BRUCE CALLED 911.  THE OWNER OF THE PIT BULLS CAME FROM HIS HOUSE AND HEARD BRUCE SAYING THAT HIS GUIDE DOG HAD BEEN ATTACKED  AND  HE CALLED HIM.....

                  "A (EXPLETIVE) LIAR"

WHICH CAN BE HEARD ON THE 911 TAPE.

TWO DEPUTIES FROM THE SARASOTA COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE ARRIVED BUT QUICKLY TURNED THE MATTER OVER TO AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.  THIS OFFICER COULD DETECT NO BITES ON QUINCY BUT FOUND DROOL ON HER SHOULDER AND NECK, A COMMON SIGN OF BITING AND CHEWING.  THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER ISSUED CITATIONS TO THE OWNER FOR NOT KEEPING HIS DOGS UNDER CONTROL AND NOT HAVING PROOF OF SHOTS FOR EITHER DOG.  THE OWNER SAID......

"IM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY FRONT DOOR AND I NEED TO FIX IT."

QUINCY DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY SYMPTOMS FOR SEVERAL DAYS, BUT SEEMED TO BE SHAKEN.  MR COLE SPOKE WITH A VET BUT THEY AGREED HE SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR HER CONDITION.  THEN SHE BEGAN TO WOBBLE WHEN WALKING AND MR. COLE REALIZED QUINCY WAS LOSING THE USE OF HER HIND LEGS.  HE TOOK HER TO BENEVA ANIMAL HOSPITAL ON APRIL 9.

TESTS REVEALED THAT QUINCY HAD 2 FRACTURED VERTEBRAE AND A BACTERIAL INFECTION, THE CAUSE OF WHICH, GIVEN THE ABSENCE OF ANY OTHER TRAUMA, WAS LIKELY A PUNCTURE WOUND SUFFERED DURING  THE PIT BULL ATTACK.


          QUINCY DIED ON MAY 4




"IT IS A CRIME IN FLORIDA FOR ANYONE TO "PERMIT A DOG THAT HE OR SHE OWNS TO INTERFERE WITH THE USE OF A SERVICE ANIMAL BY OBSTRUCTING, INTIMIDATING OR OTHERWISE JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY OF THE SERVICE ANIMAL OR ITS USER......" THIS IS A SECOND-DEGREE MISDEMEANOR FOR THE FIRST OFFENSE.  MORE SERIOUS CHARGES CAN BE FILED IF THE CONDITIONS OF THE INTERFERENCE INVOLVES INTENT .........

*************OR THE SERVICE ANIMAL IS KILLED ****************

IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT CONSIDERED FILING SUCH A CHARGE, WHICH WOULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

CIVIL LIABILITY IS ALSO POSSIBLE.  SOME STATES NOW APPLY STRICT LIABILITY TO ATTACKS BY PIT BULLS.  WHEN STRICT LIABILITY IS APPLIED, AS IN A CASE DECIDED BY MARYLANDS HIGHEST COURT IN APRIL (TRACEY V. SOLESKY), "IT IS NO DEFENCE THAT A KEEPER EMPLOYED REASONABLE CARE, OR EVEN A HIGH DEGREE OF DILIGENCE TO PREVENT THEIR ESCAPE.  LIABILITY IS INDEPENDENT OF ANY FAULT ON THE PART OF THE OWNER."  STRICT LIABILITY HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO LANDLORDS OF TENANTS WITH PIT BULLS.

MANY STATES INCLUDING FLORIDA, HAVE PASSED LAWS IN AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE SUCH INCIDENTS AND THE RESULTANT COST TO GUIDE DOG USERS, WHO MOST OFTEN WAIT UP TO A YEAR TO GET ANOTHER DOG, AS IS LIKELY TO BE TRUE FOR MR. COLE.

HAVING LAWS ON THE STATUTE BOOKS CANNOT HELP IF AUTHORITIES REMAIN UNAWARE OF THEM OR REGARD THEM AS UNENFORCEABLE.  IT IS HOPED THAT SERVICE ANIMAL INTERFERENCE LAWS, AND INCIDENTS THAT SHOULD BE PROSECUTED UNDER THEM, WILL RECEIVE GREATER ATTENTION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE PUBLIC, AND THE MEDIA, IN THE FUTURE.

SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2012THE OWNER OF THE PIT BULL WAS ALLOWED TO TAKE THE DOG WITH HER AND WAS ADVISED TO QUARANTINE IT FOR 10 DAYS.

These are the two idiots that let their pit bulls attack and viciously kill Quincy, a beautiful and brave Guide Dog that was only out doing her job. See the update of whats happened to them at Quincys Facebook page below. 

Please check out Quincys page at

https://www.facebook.com/QuincyColeGuideDog

ROYAL OAK MI - PIT BULL BREAKS FREE FROM A 10-YEAR-OLD AND ATTACKED A DOG BEING TRAINED BY LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND

Sunday - June 3, 2012 - A   PIT BULL  broke loose from a 10-year-old girl Sunday afternoon and attacked a dog that was being trained by Leader dogs for the Blind. The  Golden Retriever that was attacked was training in the citys downtown with an instructor and a blind client.

The 10-year-old girls mother left her with the Pit bull on the sidewalk cafe of Burgrz Restaurant on South Main.  Lana Louys of Wyandotte, who was dining at the restaurants outdoor area said she heard the girl screeam and looked up to see th Pit Bull scrambling after a seeing-eye dog and a blind man who were passing by....

THE PIT BULL PINNED THE SEEING-EYE DOG TO THE GROUND AND HAD IT BY THE THROAT. ABOUT 10 MEN GOT INVOLVED AND SOMEHOW PRIED THE PIT BULL OFF" THE 18-MONTH-OLD GOLDEN RETRIEVER.

One of the men held the dog on his leash while others finally found the girls mother about five minutes later.  Police said that neither of the dogs needed medical treatment, though there was a small spot of blood on the golden retrievers neck.  Animal Control is investigating.

A spokeswoman at Leader dogs for the Blind in Rochester Hills said it will take another week or two before they are able to determine if the incident will have any lastsing effect on the Golden Retriever and possible end its eligibility as a leader dog.  It had completed 4 months of training and was in its final month, when leader dogs typically work with deaf or blind clients.

WE NEED BETTER LAWS TO PROTECT GUIDE AND SERVICE DOGS NOW!!!!

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Meet Dash Training with Distractions

Hi! I am Dash and I am learning a lot. 

Good Day Leapers,

This evening we had the pleasure of working with a cute little fellow named Dash. Leap has been meeting with Dash for a few weeks now, but today we tested his recall/come when called with high distractions... At the dog park.

How do we do that?

Well, we make it into a game. You see, sometimes, we humans only call our dogs while at the dog park when WE are ready to leave. Of course, the dogs are never ready to leave because theyre having way, way too much fun. The trick is to be creative.

Here are some ideas:

1. Run away from the dog. Thats right! If you become the most fun interesting item at the dog park then then your dog is sure to follow you, run after you, and come to you. Do this very often while your dog is at play to try to get their focus back on you.
2. Reward/Praise your dog. Remember to reinforce your dog whenever he/she comes near you, stops by, or even looks at you. This will ensure that the dog is paying attention to you. Yes, we didnt ask them for anything, but dont we want them to do this all the time? You know, come to us? So, this is a good way to shape it. Reward behaviors you want, even if not asked.
3. Practice. Always practice at home or outside of the park first with a leash before adding all these distractions.

Anyway, these are just some quick, easy tips. Im sure you guys have some really good ones: how do you guys get your dogs to come to you while at the dog park?

XOXO LEAP!

Note: every dog is different and not every dog likes dog parks. Please make sure you know your dog very well before taking them to an off leash dog park area. Dog parks can be fun for some, but very stressful place for others.

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Neela The Guide Dog Savagely Attacked By Pit Bull

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2743988/Savaged-guide-dog-fit-again.html

I wanted to blog this one, and give it some special attention for a few reasons.

When I originally saw the video of this brutal and vicious pit bull attack on a beautiful, noble guide dog, it made my blood boil! I found it hard to sleep the night I saw this.  The insensitivity and lack of caring on the part of pit bull owners never ceases to amaze me! No matter how many times these vicious dogs attack, maul, maim and kill, their owners STILL refuse to admit the dangerousness of this breed and its threat to public safety.  They STILL DONT CARE!!!  

There are SO many pit bull attacks in which the owners of the mutant pit bull/s just grab their dogs and flee the scene, which is worse than despicable, but this one just takes the cake for me! The woman was walking along, feeling a great sense of independence and freedom, that she now had this noble, and wonderful guide dog to be her eyes for her and give her a new lease on life.  This noble dog, Neela, was doing the work she was so very well trained to do for her blind handler, when a disgusting mutant pit bull, dove out and brutally savaged her, ripping her neck open, and leaving her handler terrified and powerless.  Then, to top it off, the loser, piece- of- shit mutant owner, does the most despicable and unimaginable thing possible....he grabs his ugly, mutant, vicious mauling machine, and flees, leaving the blind woman there, with her injured and bleeding guide dog with no help!    

What kind of person does such a thing???!!! The answer...A PIT BULL OWNER!!! Sorry, but here it is, the proof, in writing.  This is how these people behave! I could go on and on about that, but I wont...because all you have to do is google pit bull attacks, and see for yourself how many times the owners of these beasts just flee the scene after their mutant dogs rip someones innocent pet, or God forbid, someones innocent child, to pieces.....leaving them lying there in a pool of their own blood, with no help in sight.  Read the stories, then scroll down to the comments sections and read the comments that blame the innocent pet, or child for somehow provoking their sweet, gentle, wiggly butt pit bull into mauling them bloody, or dead. Yes, theyre there...all you have to do is look.  You can go to a small, innocent, lovely little childs memorial page....that their parents have tearfully written through the worst grief of their lives, and see the comments by the pit bull cultists that blame that poor child for provoking the dog somehow, as if they somehow deserved to die this early, horrible, and brutal death....RIGHT THERE ON THE CHILDS MEMORIAL PAGE!!!  What kind of people are these for the love of God!??? The answer, PIT BULL OWNERS!

Now, I am disabled. If you follow my blog you know this, you also know that my dog Jade is currently in training to be a service dog. But.....The one disability I cant imagine having, is to be blind.  When I even just try to imagine it, I feel an immense and overwhelming sense of powerlessness, and that is an extremely difficult emotion to endure for even a short time.  I cant imagine feeling that way for longer than a few moments. Dont get me wrong here, I dont want to pity anyone....Im just trying to empathize, or put myself if someone elses shoes (for any pit bull owners that might be reading this).  Im trying to understand what it might be like to be blind, and have to have help to go just about anywhere.  Then, at some point in your life, to acquire, through blood, sweat, tears, patience and a whole lot of money, a new set of eyes, in the form of a beautiful and noble guide dog.  Suddenly, theres new found independence, a new best friend, and a freedom you might NEVER have thought youd have.  What an amazing gift! A true blessing! 

AND....

This is Neela

There you are, walking along, feeling independent and free, guided by your beautiful and noble friend...your guide dog, headed through the train station, going somewhere youve couldnt have gone before without your noble friend. When suddenly a vile, mutant-like creature, with an unquenchable thirst for blood, blasts out and away from its just-as-vile and despicable owner, who thinks its okay to drop the leash, while he has a smoke and a beer, and grabs your noble friend, your set of eyes, around her neck in a sincere effort to kill her dead.  Your whole, entire life has changed in an instant....and there you stand, blind, and confused, feeling such powerlessness as to drop your heart from your chest, as you listen to the scrambling noises, the frightful and gut-wrenching screams of your noble friend, as it tries to escape the death-grip of this vile mutant-like pit bull.  All you can do is feel your way to some semblance of what you hope is safety, and cry out for help, hoping your friend, your eyes, will somehow live through this nightmare.  When its finally over, you hear the gut-wrenching screams of your noble friend stop, and you feel her come to you, finding you in your darkness, even in her own blinding pain, to see if youre okay. You reach down to feel her, tears streaming down your face, your hands shaking, and you know that its blood you feel on her soft, wet fur, and your heart is broken.  Your life is broken.  Luckily, a caring passer-by, a witness, has called for help, and talks to you, helps you.  They tell you what happened, and tell you that the owner of the vile mutant that has broken your dog, your heart, and your life, has taken his dog and fled the scene, without even so much as an apology to you. 

Now you tell me....how does that feel?! 

This is only me, writing about this story, and what Ive read, trying to imagine it happening.  But it didnt happen to me, so I cant really, truly feel what that poor woman felt when this happened to her. I can try to empathize though, something pit bull owners do not have the ability to do, obviously. Make no mistake, this is VERY traumatic, and it doesnt just go away.  Something like this has lasting consequences for the person and the dog, but I wanted to blog this because after all, it has a somewhat happy ending.  The woman and the dog are doing well, not to say that this has not completely changed their lives, but they are okay.  The guide dog, Neela, somehow miraculously survived and even more miraculously is still able to work! This is rare.  There are a lot of service dogs that experience something like this, unfortunately, and can no longer perform their job anymore, if theyre lucky enough to survive, and have to be retired, and the handler has to move on and through the search, training, blood, sweat, tears, patience and money it takes to acquire a new service dog once again. 

The public is NOT educated about service dogs/guide dogs. This is painfully obvious to me when I go out with my service dog. Ive blogged about that previously. THESE ATTACKS NEED TO STOP! People have NO idea what it takes to acquire and/or train a service dog/guide dog, and learn to work together as a team. 

So when you see a service dog team or guide dog team, please have a little respect. Try to understand how it might feel to have someone ask you questions like, "Whats wrong with you?" or "What do you need that dog for?" Please refrain from just reaching out and petting someones service or guide dog, and remember that when you do that, or let your children do that, you are distracting a working dog from doing its job, a very important job. These are not just pets, they are providing a service to their handler and for a good reason.

And...PIT BULL OWNERS, KEEP YOUR DOGS ON A VERY STRONG AND SECURE LEASH! KEEP THEM AWAY FROM SERVICE AND GUIDE DOGS, AND AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC FOR THAT MATTER, WHERE THEY CANT  HURT SOMEONE OR SOMEONES PET. 

IF YOURE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT CHOOSES TO OWN THE MOST DANGEROUS AND VICIOUS TYPE OF DOG OUT THERE, SPARE THE REST OF US FROM THE CONSEQUENCES, PLEASE!  AND IF YOU HAVE BEEN IRRESPONSIBLE AND LET YOUR PIT BULL TYPE DOG HURT SOMEONE OR SOMEONES PET, SERVICE DOG, OR GUIDE DOG....MAKE IT RIGHT!!! DONT BE A COWARD AND A LOSER AND FLEE THE SCENE! 

Now, I do have to say, to be fair, that not ALL pit bull owners are this way. But thats a given, I think.  There are some pit bull owners that would actually apologize for their mutants behavior, and that might even stick around to lend a hand.  Those type of owners, however, are few and far between.  At least that is certainly how it appears when you read about all of these brutal attacks.

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Meet Louie The Importance of Homework

 Hello Leapers,

Last night we had a fun time watching Louie practice his Super Star action skills and review his Canine Good Citizen. Louie did a phenomenal job!!!! Without the help of his parents, Louie would not be able to get where he is today. You see, Raul and Karina made sure that Louie would do his homework--if he didnt do his homework then how would he improve?

Louies parents are very busy pet parents, but they would take any time possible, anywhere they could fit it, to practice Louies new skills. They would show their guests, practice before dinner time, and even taking him out during the kickball games and have Louie showcase a few of those skills.

Well, their hard-work has paid off, Louie is en route to be a complete Super Star! Wish him luck for March 31st when Louie takes his final exams!!! I am sure Louie will do great and his pet parents will keep helping Louie with his homework.

How do you help your dog do their homework? How often do you guys do your homework?

XOXO LEAP! 

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Another Guide Dog Attacked By Pit Bulls

http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-guide-dog-attacked-in-davis-20120506,0,5844282.story

These stories are really becoming all too common.  Another Guide Dog attacked by pit bulls, while minding his own business and working with his trainer.  This dog is in training, still learning to perform his duties as a guide dog, although its questionable now whether he will be able to perform those duties after being viciously attacked by the pit bullies.

Theres someone or something attacked by these menacing type of dogs nearly every single day and its time something is done about it! More and more cities are looking into some type of pit bull ordinance and although I think thats great, I think these dogs should just be banned nationwide.  They cause nothing but trouble.  Theyre constantly attacking and killing, children, other animals, even their owners, because they were bred to fight and to kill.  Why should we allow that type of dog in peoples homes?

Pit bull owners keep saying that its about the owners and they need to be more responsible.  Well, thats great, but it isnt happening is it?  If it was happening, the number and frequency of attacks would be going down, and instead theyre going up.  I am sick and tired of seeing more and more of these attacks EVERY DAY by these types of dogs.  Its not necessary that we keep seeing this!

I dont think pit bull owners understand, nor do they care, about the time, money, blood, sweat and tears that go into training a service dog or guide dog. So many of them have been, and are being attacked by pit bulls, and a lot of times, these attacks either kill the service dog or force it into early retirement, as its no longer able to perform its duties any longer out of fear, or defensiveness.

In my opinion, if pit bull owners cant learn to play nice with their pit bulls, they should have their pit bulls taken away! These dogs are nothing but a menace to society and a danger to the public!

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Death by phone call

I have been struggling with whether or not to write this particular blog. By nature I like give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their decisions, believing that most people are basically decent. Yet my street time as a cop has shown me that poor judgment can show its ugly head in many situations.

I read a column by a trainer recently. The trainer was contacted by phone. Someone had gotten a dog off one of the internet boards. The dog had started to show some alarmingly aggressive behavior. Apparently based on a phone description of the behavior and the trainer’s “knowledge” of the breed’s behavior, the trainer advised the owner to put the dog down.

The point of the article appears to have been to be very careful when getting a dog from this kind of a source. That is a valid and useful point. People are not always honest about why they want to place a dog.

What was so aggravating to me was that, unless this columnist is a poor writer, that trainer never saw the dog.

That just mystifies me. It is not that hard to get a pretty good idea of what you are going to be dealing with when someone calls. And some behaviors are so mild, that you can help them with just a few simple suggestions. You should be able to give the owner some good general advice on what they are dealing with in any conversation. But you should make it clear that until you see the dog, you cannot say for sure what the problems are.

But the trainer should insist of seeing the dog, especially if they think the problems are dangerous. To diagnose a dog as un-trainable over the phone is an extreme act of arrogance. Or it is the mark of someone who should rethink how they train.

Maybe someday I’ll find out it was just poor writing skills. But I kind of doubt it.



I wrote the paragraphs above two weeks ago but decided not to put it on the blog. Then the columnist wrote another column. The columnist got several e mails taking him to task on this. The writer made a point of how he had won over the worst critic.

When I was a field training officer I taught my young cops always try to get the suspect’s story. There were occasions when I had a solid case against a suspect. I had enough to do a warrant and make a good arrest. They seemed like slam dunk cases. But every now and then, when I got the suspect’s side of the story, the case fell apart. Either the crime hadnt occured or the supposed suspect was actually the victim.

It didn’t happen often, but it did happen.

They day will come when I have to advise someone to put down a dog. The dog will be so badly traumatized that it cannot be saved.

But I guarantee I will have seen the dog in person.

Doug

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