Now that we can be welcoming and reasonably hospitable we're working out appropriate invitations to play. I have never stole my guests' shoes and cantered about the house to incite a game of ... Continue reading →]]>

There are things my dog does that he really shouldn’t. Admittedly fewer than a year ago and a gift away from two, yet none the less he really shouldn’t bark and sniff when someone comes to the door.

For awhile I stood guard. The first to know someone was approaching the door; I could get him sitting and focused before the first knock. The scenario was like I know there is someone at the door and I’m not opening the door until you stop barking. I thought he was barking to tell me someone was at the door, and he was. I also began to sense that he was barking about something about me.

When my ear started recognizing differences in his barking so much so, that I knew who was coming to the door, I realized there where definitely times he barked less, almost as if he had less to bark about. Now, the scenario is more like I know there is someone at the door and I’m okay with this. I don’t care about the unswept floor, the clutter of shoes and the dishes piled on the counter. It’s a day in process. Like everyone’s, it’s messy. And, I’m not opening the door until you stop barking.

I make apologies for keeping guests waiting. Embarrassing as this can be, I’m encouraged when frequent visitors comment that my answer time is steadily decreasing. I’m on sniff patrol these days. There is absolutelyno sniffing above the ankle, nothing too personal. Some visitors do not mind, and some enjoy, sharing about where they’ve been and all the things that happened while they were there. Sniffing below the ankle is negotiable. Some visitors have just come to rest a moment. They prefer that you don’t sniff.

Now that we can be welcoming and reasonably hospitable we’re working out appropriate invitations to play. I have never stole my guests’ shoes and cantered about the house to incite a game of chase. I’m not sure where this comes from, but sometimes, the expression on his face seems to state ‘careful nothing too personal’.

3. Was the dog trainer a male or female and is your dog in a household where the caretaker ship of the dog is shared by a man and ... Continue reading →]]>

DOG TRAINING: Train the owner & the dog.

It is imperative that the owner or a dog be trained at the same time a puppy or adult dog is in training. Why? There are several good reasons:

1. When you send your dog to obedience training (for 2 weeks, usually) the dog is being given basic obedience skills…but what about you, the owner? When your dog comes home, do you continue the same commands, hand signals, rewards, and so on that the trainer at “dogie boot camp” used? Probably not! So the obedience training slowly erodes away and you become frustrated with your dog and your dog is confused!

2. When your dog is being trained in obedience skills are treats being used to reinforce positive behaviors? Do you continue to use the same treats as the trainer? Are you using positive rewards and not just screaming.

3. Was the dog trainer a male or female and is your dog in a household where the caretaker ship of the dog is shared by a man and woman? Or does your dog live in a one owner female household or one owner male household? This makes a huge difference in training, especially as related to voice commands! Dogs detect the difference in voice tone between woman and men.It may be desirable to have a female trainer if the dog is living with a single female and vise-versa.

4. Who is the trainer training? Why both of you need to be trained. That is why “in home” pet training may be the best technique for positive and long lasting dog obedience training. A trainer can watch the dog in his/her own environment and help correct the dog and your way of handling problem behaviors. Remember, your dog may do well at training class then come home and_________well, you forget you are Alpha not your dog! With a new puppy starting off correctly at home in your training prevents much frustration for both owner and dog!

5. Consistent training commands ( voice-clicker-rewards) and praise, work with most dogs! It may be necessary to use an electronic collar in severe cases of barking or jumping, but not without proper training for the owner in use of such equipment. All owners of dogs must be trained to comprehend basic needs and instincts about their dog. An owner should also be educated about the breed, they’ve added to their family andvery special issues that may be related to that breed. Just because a puppy is adorable and adorable – does not mean it will grow up to be the dog you want to spend years with, as your “best friend”.!

You must comprehend that dog training means – train the owner and the dog………..not just the dog. And “in home” training may be betterthan just sending your puppy or adult dog away for a few weeks and anticipating “wonder dog” to return! Your dog will follow your commands as long as you are in command…are consistent with your commands…give praise and love along with treats…and You Must Remember you are the Alpha Leader of the pack and house not your dog!

Recent '60 Minutes' Show (June 2005), with correspondent Morely Safer, made arrangements with dog trainer Andy Cook, at the Hearing-Aid Dog Center near Amersham, England. Conduct a test, to see if a cocker spaniel, ... Continue reading →]]>

Man’s best friend, will become man’s best diagnostic tool, detecting cancer in their owners, and other people. There ability is more effective then conventional scientific equipment and leastHigh-priced A dog’s ability to smell odors, can be trained to smell chemicals that are emitted in urine (example), by cancer cells. Odor from cancer cells can be detected, in very small quantities. Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer worldwide, diagnosed in 330,000 new cases a year, and more then 130,000 deaths. Also, a dog can smell a person’s breath, detecting any development of lung cancer. Canine’s sense of smell is generally 10,000 to 100,000 times greater, than humans, because dogs have greater number of neurons, that act like smelling receptors to the brain.

Recent ’60 Minutes’ Show (June 2005), with correspondent Morely Safer, made arrangements with dog trainer Andy Cook, at the Hearing-Aid Dog Center near Amersham, England. Conduct a test, to see if a cocker spaniel, can detect a cancerous urine sample, from a patient diagnosed with bladder cancer. Six other samples, where included, from patients with other diseases, and healthy patients. The test conclusively showed, cocker spaniel was able to detect the cancerous sample twice.

March 2004, Debbie Marvit -McGlothin, learned she was pregnant, and soon afterwards, her dog, a two year old shepherd-hound mix, began to sniff a little mole on the back of her leg. The dog was persistent, licking, biting and scratching the mole. Her Doctortook, biopsy of the mole, from her skin. Laboratory results proved, the mole was melanoma, the most severe type of skin cancer. The remaining area around the mole was later removed, and she was clear of cancer. Another case study, in 2001, man had for 18 years, eczema on his leg. His pet Labrador started persistently sniffing this area of skin, and whenever, he was wearing trousers. His doctor examinedthis area, and diagnosed he’d a tumor. Subsequently, tumor was removed. Afterwards, his dog stopped the attention on his leg.

Dr. Armand Cognetta, dermatologist at a clinic in Tallahassee Florida, worked with police department dog trainer. Objectively, train a dog to locate, and retrieve tissue samples of melanoma, which where stored in doctor’s laboratory. Result of the study showed, dog was able to find and retrieve these samples, 100 percent of the time. Dr. Cognetta had the dog, smell suspected areas of cancer on patients. The dog was nearly 100 percent accurate, detecting cancerous skin lesions, in tested patients.

Dogtor Dogs (Dogtor Dogs: HC 77 Box 240, Altamont, TN 37301), a nonprofit organization kennel that specializes, in training dogs to find human cancer. Including, detecting for lung cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer. Takes two years to fully train a dog, from ten weeks of age. A trained dog can screen over 11, 500 people in a lifetime.