GOOD DOG! - DOG TRAINING

Well, we made it through another year!  We have met more wonderful people and the most incredible dogs! 

This must have been GOOD DOG!'s Year of the Mastiffs!!   We had 4!!  They ranged in age from Cash, who was 8 weeks old when he joined us, to Tank, who was about a year old.  Inbetween were Doyle and Maggie!  Mastiffs are such magnificent animals...they live up to their title of "Gentle Giants!"

Maggie, came all the way from Orlando, to stay with us for a few weeks!  She is a 6-month old  Service-Dog-In-Training.  Cash, is with us so much, he's part of our pack!  No hesitation with our "big guy."  He walks into our house as if it's his!  The amusing thing is, they were both with us last week...it was like having baby elephants in the house!  Other than the fact they took up so much space, you hardly knew they were there!  They instantly bonded and watching them together was a learning experience.  The best part, they could play together like a couple of Mastiff pups, yet, they were so gentle and affectionate toward each other it was heartwarming!  We know they will miss eaqh other...but Morgan and Jim, promised they will bring Maggie back as much as possible, so she can stay in touch with Cash and her new doggie park friends.

      Maggie went home to Orlando Saturday, and Cash went home last night.  We miss both of them! 

DAYUM!  Our house seems so much bigger now, even though we still have 14-week old Tally, a sweet GoldenDoodle from Ponte Vedre and Zoe, a very lucky, affectionate, little Boxer/Pug mix, who was rescued from Death Row by S.A.F.E, and was adopted by a loving couple from Julington Creek who gave her a forever home!

To show our appreciation to all our students and alumni, we will be hosting GOOD DOG's 2nd Annual Santa Paws Party, from 2-5 pm, Sunday, 6 December.  There will be refreshments, gifts from Santa Paws and lots of doggie park fun at the dog park in Pomar Park, 1600 Masters Drive, in St. Augustine.

Carol and I would like to thank everyone!  It was our pleasure and a lot of fun, working with you and your dog(s) this year. We are grateful that so many of you are joining us again next year, to continue training.

Having problems training or modifying your dog's behavior?

GOOD DOG! believes to successfully train your dog or modify their behavior, the trick is to make it fun! 

It works for humans too...as the Swedish have proven.  To see how fun makes behaviors change...click this link!

http://www.biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=16297

Now, go get creative...have fun working with your dog...and see how their behavior changes!

Well, the word is out!  The St. Augustine Humane Society is planning to reopen in a few weeks.

There has been a lot of buzz from dog park patrons and from many of our students, if things will be better, or will it be more of the same? 

The greatest concern appears to be how tight-lipped the new management is about whether or not it will be a "no kill" shelter.  The doors haven't even opened yet, and already there are inner sanctum secrets!

Granted, times are rough right now.  It won't be long, before the new shelter will be "busting at the seams" with surrendered and abandoned animals.  Hopefully, the facility's educational programs will help people understand and appreciate the importance of spaying and neutering their pets.  Convenient off-site adoption opportunities should also help reduce the census.

The success of the new shelter will depend on how the new management treat their volunteers, sponsors and patrons.  In the past, it was shameful!

GOOD DOG! believes some of the "new" people who will be handling the day-to-day operations have the greatest of intentions.  Unfortunately, there are also a few of the "old guard" who were a serious part of the demise of the previous shelter, still hanging on.  We can only hope they have seen what their old ways have done, and that they are willing to ease up on their white knuckled need for control and power.

We are optimistic the facility will soon be a stellar example of how a well-run shelter can admirably serve a community that has been embarrassed for too many years, by how badly they treated their unwanted pets.

GOOD DOG! will reserve judgement for the time being.  We can only hope the good residents of this town will never allow what happened, to ever happen again.  St. Augustine touts itself for tourist reasons, on being a dog friendly town.  Why not set the example by starting with our own dogs!

So, if you are looking to add a new furry member to your family, adopt one from the soon-to-open St. Augustine Humane Society.  Think of the difference YOU can make in a dog's life!

GOOD DOG! was fortunate to be invited last Sunday, to participate in St. Patricks Episcopal Church - Feast of St. Francis of Assisi Blessing of the Animals.

A great time was had by all!  Dogs got to meet and greet.  They bobbed in the pool for toys.  Got to try out the agility equipment.  Participated in games for prizes.  Learned a few obedience commands.  Some even took a dip in the pool! 

A local agility team demonstrated agility skills.  Cash, GOOD DOG!'s 6-month old Old English Mastiff demo pup, made us happy, as he went through his obedience drill flawlessly!  What a guy!

Not only were there the usual cats and dogs, this year there was a rat that received a well deserved blessing.  The snake he was to have "dinner" with, didn't want to eat him...so he is now a pet!  There was also a South American Raccoon and two baby goats!  To see some photos, go to our Photo Gallery and click on the album.

             No Cash..it's a Blessing...not a Baptism!

If you couldn't make it this year, try to make it next year!  Your dog will thank you! 

Years ago, while going to school in Boston, I had a roommate whose father's favorite expression was, "Why are there more horse's asses than there are horses?"

So much for the great security provided, by having a St. Augustine cop live in Pomar Park.

The Tuesday morning "regulars" showed up at Pomar Dog Park yesterday,  to find the swimming pool and water buckets had been slash and gashed.  The cerebrally challenged individual even took the time to cut a fairly large hole in the swimming pool!

Obviously, they came prepared with a box cutter, thinking there was only a tie wrap between them and their loot.

Did the previous pools just walk out of the park?  Doubt it!  You would think with all the cops; city and county, city and county  maintenance crews, and the U.S. Postal Service employees that just hang out there sometimes for hours, one of them would have noticed something!

NEWS FLASH TO THE HORSE'S ASSES THAT DID THIS!  The dogs will have their pool and water buckets.  The Tuesday morning regulars will be bringing them in for their dogs to enjoy, and take them out when they leave.  It's too bad other dogs won't be able to enjoy them.

HEADS UP!  To all the folks who go to their kid's football games there, better watch your kids!  There is at least one uncontrolled character hanging around Pomar Park with a box knife.  Most of those whackos start with animals, then move up to larger prey...kids!

Over the Labor Day weekend, 2009, the Canine Influenza Virus H3N8, has spread from South Florida to New England.  It is highly contagious!

The Bordetella vaccine does not protect your dog from it!  For more information, go to our FOR YOUR DOG'S SAFETY page.

Three recent GOOD DOG! Puppy Kindergarten alumni have joined  the pack of "regulars" at Pomar Dog Park. 

They are Cash Ivey, a 6-month old Old English Mastiff pup, and his 5-month old Lab friends, Atticus and Molly Cribbs, who just happen to be sister and brother.

The trio meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, joining other dogs; usually Chloe, Sammy, Pebbles, Diego, Jodie, Ling-Ling and Maxie for an hour or two of full blown doggie fun! 

They especially love the days when one of their people bring a swimming pool!  You will most often find Molly and Cash, taking a dip in the pool; as part of their regular exercise routine of  "track & field" and as you can see, water sports!

The best part, besides the facts they get to socialize with other dogs of all ages, and get a terrific workout, the three pups go home exhausted!  Nice break for their owners Sherry Cribbs and Linda Ivey!

They are always happy to welcome a new friend into their pack!  If you are looking to introduce your puppy or dog to a great bunch, join them!  The fun starts at 9 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursday.

Ozzie was a 5 month old Aussie, that had signed up for our current Julington Creek Puppy Kindergarten.  We never even had a chance to meet him.  He was scheduled to start is first class yesterday.  Instead, Ozzy passed away yesterday, after being exposed to lawn care chemical treatment that was suppose to be pet and children safe.

So that Ozzy did not suffer and die in vain, hopefully this blog will save the life of your canine best friend!

THE PERFECT LAWN, BUT POSSIBLY A DEAD PET!

What is the correlation between many American’s obsession with golf course class lawns and the number of dogs and cats that die of canine carcinomas, and/or liver and kidney failure? Could it be our addiction to lawn chemicals?

Each year, thousands of pets die of canine carcinomas and/or liver and kidney failure. It is usually chalked up to “cause unknown.” Granted certain breeds such as the Scottie are predisposed to bladder cancer or transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), but how many other dogs and cats are exposed to lawns treated chemically by either professional lawn care companies, or even worse, amateur lawn care specialists…the home owner!!! How many pet owners do you know, who have or lost a dog or cat diagnosed with bladder cancer, liver or kidney failure…for no “known” reason?

In some neighborhoods lawn care is pretty much a religion. Neighbors compete with each other for the greenest, most weed and bug-free, photo perfect lawn on the street. In some neighborhoods it’s almost a blood sport!

Many elite communities even have it spelled out in their by-laws, that your lawn must meet their specifications; or else you will be fined. Scary isn’t it?

So, one day you are out admiring your flawless lawn and you just happen to notice a few small brown patches. Panic sets in. You start to sweat. You run to your phone, your hands shaking as you call a local lawn care business. It’s an emergency! They need to get there immediately if not sooner!

Perhaps you are one of those do-it-yourselfers, so instead you run down to your local garden supply house and you stock up on all kinds of herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, and fertilizers. This is war! If a 1-6 ratio is good, a 3-6 ration will be even more effective!

Subsequently the lawn care “technician” comes rushing over with his huge truck full of “pet and children” friendly chemicals. They start hosing down the yard. You can breathe again. Before he leaves, he sticks cute little warning flags or signs stating no children or pets should be allowed on the lawn until it dries. Great! And how many dogs and cats do you know that can read?

Wait a minute! Didn’t their ad say it was “pet and children” friendly? Don’t they have pictures of kids and pets romping on a golf course class lawn in all their commercials? Why would they need those flags or signs?

Or you are out there spraying and/or broadcasting poisons on your lawn, but you don’t have the cute little signs to warn dogs and cats to stay off until it dries. It’s OK. It should be dry enough before the dog, kids or grandkids go out to play on it.

An hour or so later, you notice little Fido or Fluffy is starting to:

Drool

Foam at the mouth

Vomit

Appear disoriented

Seem lethargic

Have diarrhea

Go into convulsions

Slip into unconsciousness

And die!

The animals most likely to exhibit these symptoms are kittens, cats, puppies, and senior or infirmed dogs. What is happening is, their nervous system has been attacked and liver and kidney damage is progressing.

You don’t have a minute to waste. As your rush your pet to the animal hospital, you better pray your veterinarian is knowledgeable on how to treat toxic lawn chemical poisoning…otherwise you will be saying good-bye to your beloved pet because of “liver and/or kidney damage from unknown cause.” Fact is most veterinarians, even though they suspect or even know the cause, will not commit to it for fear of being dragged into a lawsuit.

Keep in mind, the most effective treatment as a rule can be done only by an emergency animal hospital, equipped with a dialysis machine for pets. Most pets have less than 48 hours to receive successful treatment.

Bottom line: Granted some pets don’t show symptoms for years. But you can bet sooner or later they will. And one other thing to think about when you are out there in awe of your lawn; in 10 or 20 years when your kids or grandkids starts exhibiting liver, bladder and kidney damage symptoms, how fondly are your going to recall your picture perfect lawn?

http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Karen_Soukiasian

It was 2:30 in the morning, when Debra and I pulled in.  We had spent the past 2 days in Miami, with PETCAREAVAN, helping with the inoculating and heartworm testing what seemed to be a million dogs!  We were, no pun intended, dog-tired!

I went down on a lark, not only to help out, I was also there as a dog training to observe.  I had mixed feelings at first.   The number of  intact (unneutered or unspayed) dogs was a bit disappointing.  However, on the flip side, the number of dogs rescued from the streets, never mind shelters, was unbelieveable! 

I would guess about 25% of the people who showed up with a dog or cat, had no clue about it.  We heard over and over again, "I don't know how old he/she is.  I found him/her on the street."  Or, "I don't know how old they are, someone left them in my yard."

The dogs ranged in ages and breeds. They went from microscopic Chihuahuas and Yorkies, to massive Dogo Argentinos. There was the sweetest Great Dane you could ever meet!  She must have felt as if she was in the "land of the Lilliputians!"  Some were seniors.  Their age and wisdom obvious.  Others were clueless teenie-tiny puppies.

The one that impressed me most, was a woman who came in a motorized wheelchair, with her old Lab.  After she had  him inoculated, she went home and came back with her second dog...plus a huge orange Garfield cat (stray) that lives in her neighborhood.  She said she felt it was her responsibility to see that the cat got neutered, fed and inoculated!  That impressed me!

It seemed the lines got longer each day we were there.  Yesterday, our second to the last stop was the largest.  People patiently waited in line with the dogs and cats.  In the two days were were in Miami, considering the number of animals that came, it was amazing there was not a single incident!

The dog's attitudes and moods were interesting.  They were walked in, dragged in, carried in and a few were even driving in.  There were those that believed they were attending the doggie social event of the year!  Others, you could see were processing..."Oh no...this doesn't look good!"  A few acted as if they knew everyone there...others were working hard at making new "best friends."  A dozen or so acted as if they were so bored, they napped until it was their turn.  Then you had the ones who had to let everyone know they arrived...and their counterparts, that wished they were invisible. 

Our last stop was the most fun though.  It was getting late...7 pm when we got there.  We had 1 hour to go.  We were hot, tired, and hungry!  The thought of a 5 hour ride back to St. Augustine didn't help.  When we pulled into the parking lot and saw all the people and dogs already waiting in line, my aches and pains all vanished!

It was an interesting weekend for observations.  For some, it was their first puppy.  For others, probably their last dog.  Young couples were holding their first puppy to their chest.  It gave the sense the puppy was to be their training wheel stage of preparing for parenthood.   There were families with k9z-n-kidz.  There were a number of elderly ladies, who put their dogs in the shopping carts and both waited patiently.  Some people looked very much like their dog.  Others, the dog looked better than their owner! 

Of course, it would not be a doggie event unless one or two broke free"  And the usual chaos that it ensues...what with a canine/human posse gathered to round them up...none escaped more than a few seconds.

Before I forget...the manager of that particular Walgreen's could win a prize in marketing skills!  They offered free pet photos, even going so far to set up a backdrop where people could pose with their pets.  Then, employees came with bags of treats, handing them out to everyone patiently waiting their turn.  It was a festive PET FAIR atmosphere.

All things considered, it was an interesting weekend.  I haven't worked that hard in years!  These old bones are feeling the effects of the 10-hour days!  But, I had a great time. 

Oh, but one thing more...please, please, please!  People of Miami, get rid of those retractable leashes!

In a few hours, I'll be off to Miami for the weekend.  I'm going down there to help Jackie and John of PETCAREAVAN fame, set up Miami as one of PETCAREAVAN's new destinations.

From St. Augustine to Miami...Boy will that be culture shock!  From a town that rolls up the sidewalks at 5 pm, to a city that never sleeps!  St Augustinians are all curled up in bed, snoring away; just about the same time Miamians are heading out to door to go to their favorite hot spot!   Talk about opposites.

Anywhooz, I'm packed and ready.  The thought of working 10-12 hour days is a bit unnerving.  I don't even know what I'll be doing to help.  But, on the flip side, it's a dog trainer's dream!  I am looking forward to seeing hundreds of dogs in the next few days!   That will make it all worth while.

PETCAREAVAN is a mobile unit that travels the highways and byways of Florida on weekends, offering EXTREMELY affordable vaccinations, heartworm testing/medications as well as flea and tick preventatives.  It is a wonderful service...they practically come to your door!   Have a WALGREENS nearby?   If so, you can bet, sooner or later PETCAREAVAN will be rolling into your neighborhood.

If you haven't heard of them, and you live in Florida, you need to check them out!  Visit their web site at  http://petcareavan.com