Two Smooth Collies - Two Border Collies - One Danish-Swedish Farmdog

August 2007Monthly Archives

A Positive Training TV Show

There’s a lot of news and hype about Cesar Millan and his dog training methods. Some people love him. Some people hate him. I have never watched him because I don’t have the channel he is on… isn’t it the National Geographic Channel or something? I don’t even know for sure. But I hang out in positive dog training circles with people who support and use clicker training and positive methods, and my friends in these circles do not like him, and so I tend to sway toward the side that I don’t like him, either. I trust the opinions of my friends.

I recently got Animal Planet on my Dish Network. And I’ve been watching Victoria Stilwell on her show It’s me or the dog. And I haven’t heard much about her from my friends, but so far I really like her. I went to her website, too, and read her bio, and she does train with positive methods and she has helped out the ASPA and she is a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers). These are good signs.

The show is short, only 30 minutes, and I’m sure there are a ton of things going on, a ton of time being spent, that we can’t see in 30 minutes. But I really enjoy her innovative and creative methods of training. She doesn’t use crates, which I think is odd because I use them a lot, but she really has some great ideas about how to be a leader and have dogs behave.

So I recommend her show. Have you watched it? What do you think? Do you like Cesar or not? Just curious.

Cynthia
August 18, 2007
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The Boys and Me

Levi, Chase and I went jogging this morning. It felt good, and now I am tired. Chase loves jogging so much. As soon as I open the closet door to get my running shoes out he is plastered by the front door. Just in case I might forget to take him with. :)

Levi does good, too. We went for about 40 minutes today. Levi gets tired at the end. Chase wants to go for at least another 40 minutes. Levi needs it because he needs to stay fit. Chase needs it to burn off energy, and I need it to stay fit and keep my weight down.

Cynthia
August 18, 2007
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When your Dog Gets Out

The other day, I am embarrassed to admit, Jessi got out of our house. I was carrying a monitor out and she sneaked out the door. I hate that. As careful as we are, it can happen. As careful as anyone is, it can happen. My four regular dogs all ran out too because I was worried about Jessi and didn’t close the door. There was a lady walking her dog along the street too.

I don’t worry about my four. They are all comfortable off leash and will come back to me easily enough. When we first got Chase, he wouldn’t come to me whatsoever. Or my husband or anyone. He had learned that it was dangerous to come when called. Well, we convinced him otherwise and now he has a great recall. And he’s off leash so much for agility, flyball, and hiking that he is comfortable with it and doesn’t feel like he needs to run off and explore.

I tell all my fosters that one of the most important things they can learn is to come back to their person. It’s so important. I worried Jessi would run out onto the busy street that borders ours. Fortunately she didn’t. I just opened the front door and she ran right in, so that was good. Then I rounded up my regular 4 and they went in too. They all thought it was great fun.

I always have a long line in my car if I need it, and some other auto accessories that are useful for emergencies and dogs. I don’t use them often, fortunately.

But when your new dog gets off leash outside your house, and it can happen to anyone, what do you do? First and foremost you cannot ever punish your dog when he comes to you. Ever ever ever. Even if you are screaming mad that the dog got out and doesn’t have a recall, you have to be happy and reward the dog for coming back. Coming must be fun!

Training a recall can take a lot of work. One of the things I like to do is just get the dogs used to being off leash in a fenced area or on hikes. That way they know that they can come back and get a treat, then go off again. And make it fun, you have to be the most interesting thing to the dog… and that is quite hard to be!

Good luck in training that recall!

Cynthia
August 17, 2007
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Dog Community and Photos

I run my own server and I have a photo gallery on it, but I’m going to be shutting it down in the next month or so. It’s more trouble than it’s worth. Actually, the only trouble is when dog hair gets in there and overheats the thing, which happens more often than I would like. So I’ve been looking at other places I can load up my dog pictures and look at other dog pictures. More of a community. And I found a place where not only can I upload puppy pictures, but I can also get to know a community of dog people and maybe learn some new things. They have a collie section, too, with some gorgeous collies. :)

They are thinking of changing their photo section, and would like to get many ideas of what people would like to see. I registered on their forums and am going to see what I like and what I might suggest they change. They are looking for all types of opinions, so you might want to stop by and see what you think, especially if you are looking for some place to post some pictures, and browse around at other cute dog pictures too.

One of the things I like about their forums is they don’t have a zillion sections. They have a nice succinct number that is interesting, and not overwhelming. The boards I visit that have 20 or more sections overwhelm me and usually I don’t go back.

This is a sponsored post

Cynthia
August 17, 2007
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Count Down To Camp

Eeek! Just over two weeks to camp. Only two weekends left. I will start washing clothes and packing this weekend, and see if any of the weather guessers have an idea what the weather will be like.

I have to get fecals on the boys, too, dangit. So maybe I can do that Monday, if I remember. I have my list from last year so that should be everything, well mostly, that I need. I have two friends staying here the night before, so we’ll be up to 10 dogs that night. Fun!

At camp I don’t think I’ll be wearing any sexy lingerie, but maybe I’ll get some to bring home to the husband!

Cynthia
August 16, 2007
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Slow Day

It’s the slow time of the week. We do all of our training on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.. and sometimes Wednesday. That is four days! It’s too much, really, for a little ol’ human. Not enough for the boys, though. Wednesdays I go to the park with some friends and usually bring the boys, but today I brought Sonny so he could get out and walk around. He did great, he loves other people and dogs. He’s never shown teeth or growled at any other dog. Just like to sniff and sometimes play.

I have to have self-enforced down days, too. And people do have to respect that. This week it’s Saturday. I’m not leaving the house on Saturday. If I don’t force myself to have down days my battery will run out and I’ll over stress!

Now all the pups are happily sleeping on the floor, except Levi who is on the couch. The day is over, it’s just about time for bed.

Cynthia
August 15, 2007
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Groom your Long Haired Dog

I just want to stress to the entire world that you really, really.. did I say really? You need to really groom and brush your long haired dogs.

Even if you never take the dog to the groomer, a daily, or every other day, brushing is necessary. I rescue collies, rough coats as well as smooths, and already I’ve seen too many rough coat collies come in with long matted awful coats. The poor things, their skin gets irritated, they can get bugs and hot spots, not to mention how uncomfortable it must be.

When I originally got collies I got two smooth coats – short haired. Because I didn’t know if I would have the time and energy to keep up with the long coats. Now, however, I love brushing and grooming the roughs. It’s super fun and they look so gorgeous. So please, everyone, if you are considering a long haired dog of any kind, know that you must keep them brushed!

And then, if you groom your dogs, maybe fixed asset accounting will pay off!

Cynthia
August 15, 2007
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Vet Update

Well just wanted to post a quick note that Sonny is a healthy boy. He loves to go for rides and hang out with people. He always has a smile on his face. Check out the Collie Rescue blog for more information on his vet visit.

Lucy is still swollen. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in and she can get her tooth extracted next Monday. Monday will be busy. If I go to training in the morning with Levi and Chase, I’ll have to bring Sonny and Lucy and drop them off at the vet on the way. I’ll have a full car. They will all fit, but just barely!

Cynthia
August 14, 2007
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