These are a few of my favorite things...

If you are still trying to find the right gift for a friend or family member who loves and owns dogs, I have some suggestions for you.  Here are a few of my favorite things!

1st - Songs About Dogs CD is one of our very favorites!  I love this CD and my Grandchildren are absolutely wild about it!  A. Rae and The Rescue Dogs have put together a wonderful array of catchy tunes about dogs.  This CD features wonderful music and great vocals.  The vocals are of two young ladies who can really belt out a song!  The CD goes with us on trips and plays throughout the day complete with my 2 year old grandson and 4 year old granddaughter dancing to their hearts content!  You'll love it!  And another great thing about your purchase of the CD - half the money goes towards local rescue organizations!  This is sure to make you smile for three reasons - great music, wonderful vocals and money going toward helping dogs in need!  How can you go wrong!?

2nd - Dog Lessons:  Biblical Truths taught through Man's Best Friend.  If you teach or have a friend who teaches Children's Church or Christian Preschool, this would be a wonderful gift.  As a Children's Church teacher for many years, I was always looking for innovative programs, something different.  Well, here it is - written by someone who has taught Children's Church, everything included and ready to use!  Dog Lessons uses a different breed's characteristics thoughtfully woven into a weekly Bible Story - for example, the Siberian Husky runs his race just like Paul encouraged us to run the race God set before us and the Collie herds and watches over his sheep just like the Great Shepherd watches over us. I include facts about the breed, a ready to use craft that compliments the featured breed or Bible Story, a memory verse and “Emma’s Tip” which teaches children how to be a good and responsible dog owner.

3rd - Reversible Dog Collar Bandanas!   I have two styles packaged and ready to ship. Noel in blue and Christmas Pups in red - Small (fit Jack Russell, Shih Tsu, Yorkies), Medium (fit Labs, Goldens, Collies) and Large (fit St. Bernard, Newfoundland and Great Dane).  Your dog collar will slip right through the top of these bandanas...no knot and very comfortable for your dog.

I will be happy to ship all these items anywhere in the United States!  Email pawsitivejourney@gmail.com for more information!

I hope you are enjoying the Christmas Season.  Don't forget to take some time for yourself and take a walk with your best buddy. What a wonderful way to take in the sights and sounds of the holiday by enjoying a walk through your neighborhood and or town.  It will be good for both you and your dog.

Merry Christmas from all of us here at Pawsitive Journey!  And as always, Happy Trails!
Barbara, Alli and Ezra

A Winter's Tale - perfect for a cold day...and a bit about socialization and problem solving

I have just finished another excellent book entitled, "The Cruelest Miles" by Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury.  It is the fascinating, well researched book about the heroic race of sled dogs and their amazing people who took serum from Anchorage to Nome Alaska during the outbreak of diptheria in 1925.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G just doesn't quite describe this book.  Story after story of heroic men and dogs who braved the coldest temperatures on earth -89 to -100 degrees below zero with windchill and white out blizzard conditions.  With deep icey cravaces and breaks where water pushed up through the ice - danger lurked at every turn.  It was up to the lead dog to keep the entire team safe.  The stories are indeed legendary!  Here is a description about the blizzards these men experienced from the words of a famous musher named Scotty Allan.

"you don't know whether to pray, curse or cry.  You generally do all three together.  But after a while the blizzard becomes a hated thing with a personality.  You get that back to the wall feeling, and like a man in the heat of battle, you forget to feel afraid.  You grow to glory in the fight..."  "A blizzard attacks a Musher by causing confusion.  His eyelids freeze shut, his face is pounded by snowy blasts every way he turns, and he loses his sense of direction.  You can't see, you can't lay hands on it.  You can only feel it."  

Allan once claimed that nine of  ten dogs would turn tail and run in the face of a blizzard.  The fearless ones were prized throughout the Seward Peninsula and these brave few could inspire an entire team.  These were the leaders the mushers depended upon for their very lives.

Scotty Allan left behind a vivid description of a particular trip mushing during a blizzard.  His team was enveloped in "air thick as smoke with whirling snow.  Gritty as salt it was, and stinging in like splinters of steel.  It baked into my furs and into the coats of my dogs until we were encased in snow crusts solid as ice.  The din deafened me.  I couldn't hear, couldn't see and couldn't breathe."  Every fifteen minutes, Allan stopped his team and crawled up the gang line, putting a hand on each dog to check his condition.  The young dogs were whining and trying to bury themselves beneath the snow (to keep warm), but every time Allan reached the front of the team, he found his leader, Baldy, "sturdy and brave as a little polar bear...a small brave bit of life in that vast, storm swept waste...I'd melt the ice away from his face and hug him and then fumble back to the sled.  I was so darned proud and happy over that pup I just couldn't find the words to tell him what I thought of him," Allan said.

I read these stories with awe and wonder (and at times tears at the courage of the big and good heart of a dog).  During this diptheria outbreak in Nome in 1925, the only dependable mode of travel in such harsh, unrelenting conditions were the dogs and the mushers who spurred them on.  Words escape me as I try to describe their brave hearts in the face of certain death, if they let down their guard for just a second or they picked the wrong lead dog they could plunge into an icy death in an instant.

 In 1925,  planes were on stand by, but these were planes with open cockpits.  Stories were told of brave pilots who froze to death in place or engines that would just stop and cut out because they froze up.  Because of this the Governor of Alaska would not allow the pilots to try to fly in the serum.  He was afraid to lose plane, pilot and life saving serum. There was no other way to get the serum to Nome but by sled dog.  And that's what they did, the dogs and brave men saved the entire community.

I have one last story to share.  The bit about socialization and problem solving...

I encourage and teach my students everyday that socialziation isn't just about dogs meeting, greeting and playing with other dogs.  Socialization is so much more about allowing our dogs to use their five senses.  To explore the world around them, to live life...travel and see, hear, smell, taste and touch the world around them.  This is what makes a wonderfully social and well behaved dog!  I thought this next story explains this concept perfectly and from the words of Leonard Seppala himself.  When all was said and done Seppala and his lead dog, Togo (pictured above) traveled over 261 miles during the serum run.  Again, amazing!

Seppala was famous for crossing the Norton Sound when frozen.  It was very dangerous as the powerful water could push up through the ice at a moments notice, creating fissures that could suck an entire team right down into the icy waters.  These fissures would create ice flows and a team could get stuck on an ice floe and be carried out to sea...

Once Seppala was out on the Sound with his lead dog Togo when an northeast gale whipped up.  They were flying along at top speed and almost to the shore when Togo heard the crack.  He ignored Seppala's command to 'haw'.  And just at that point Togo reared up and somersaulted back onto his teammates.  Seppala shouted angrily and ran up to Togo to see what was the matter.  As he neared, he saw why Togo had stopped.  No more than six feet ahead was an open channel of water.  They were on an ice floe, drifting out to sea.  There was no escape.  Togo had saved their lives by disobeying his master.

But now what to do.  Seppala curled up with his dogs, conserved his strength and warmth and hoped for a shift in the wind to bring them back to shore.

Several hours later his dogs sensed a change and started to whimper and howl.  Togo himself gave a short yelp.  The wind was beginning to turn in their favor and was heading back to the shoreline. They drifted 9 more hours until they could finally see the shoreline ahead.  When they were about 5 feet from shore, Seppala threw Togo to land.  Seppala reported later that, "Togo seemed to understand what he had to do."  Once on the other side Togo dug in and tried to pull the ice floe to shore.  Unfortunately the line snapped and fell into the water.  Seppala was speechless.  They had just been given a death sentence.   And here's the part I want you to hear...

They say animals have the ability to find solutions to problems, it's called 'adaptive intelligence'.  The icy lead separating Togo from Seppala was keeping him from his reward; reuniting with his master and his team.  Togo had been born and bred a sled dog and it was part of his instinct (his default) now, like always, to pull.  From an early age he had been exposed to an amazing array of daily challenges that had improved his ability to learn and in some cases to problem solve!  He had traveled over varied terrain in summer and winter and had spent most of his entire day for the past twelve years watching and working with Seppala as the team traveled out in the gold fields and to towns across Alaska.

As Seppala stood staring in disbelief at Togo, the dog dove into the water, snapped the line into his mouth and stuggled back out onto the shore.  Holding the line tighly in his jaws, Togo rolled over the line "until it was twice looped about his shoulders" and began to pull.  The floe started to move again and Togo continued to pull until it was close enough for Seppala and his teammates to jump safely across.

Bear with me as I dry my tears and take a moment to gather myself...

This my friends is what I have been talking about.  The conversation...the story never has to end...it grows deeper and more meaningful with each passing year of living and working together...man/woman and dog!

I will end here.  I highly recommend this beautiful story.  You won't regret spending a few hours snuggled up with this one.

As always...Happy Trails!  And I do mean trails...blaze a new trail with your dog...grow in communication, trust and understanding and write your story...and then bravely tell it to the world!

Only you can write your dog's story...

...and I can give you the tools to make it a good one!

I sometimes hear this phrase when meeting with a new client and their dog.  "This is the ______ fill in the blank - dumbest - most obstinate - stubborn - dog I have ever met."  I don't take offense nor do I judge the person when I hear these statements.  I am hearing loud of clear that things are out of balance and communication is just not happening.  I realize I am needed and I am happy to reply, "I can help!"

There are often a myriad of reasons why the person has come to this conclusion.  As I help them sort things out and start communicating, behaviors generally turn around.  But, I  might add, only if the human part of the equation is willing to think another way or, as I like to say, write another story.

We often write a story about our dogs.  We are quite good at it really.  But here's the thing...your dog will live up to the story you are telling.  They will meet the bar.  Once we have our mind made up, we don't realize the body language cues we are giving to our dog.  We also don't realize that our dogs can not understand our phrases, "don't do that", "now see you are all wound up", "stop it, just stop it."

Here are a few good suggestions as you start on your journey of communicating with your new dog.  Whatever you are feeling or projecting about your dog try hard not to.  Instead, try this - if you don't like what your dog is doing, think about what you would like your dog to do.  Start a new conversation.  I don't like what you are doing_____________ fill in the blank, so I will ask you to do this.  That's were our communication foundation comes in.  Building a foundation of understanding takes time and you have to start at the beginning.  A   B   C....then words sit, down, stay and then concepts (sentences).  You come when I call you and walk by my side and ignore the other dog and "leave it" when I ask...etc.  The conversation can go on and on and on...

Often times, about 98% of the time, when someone starts the conversation in this way I have described above, they free feed their dog. The dog's food bowl is always full.  It's a smorgasboard that they can come and eat whenever it pleases them.  This is huge in the thought process of a dog.  Food is very important to them. This nice human provides me food always and I have to do nothing in exchange.  I have a nice home, water and food - "what do I need this human for?"  Interesting thought, yes?

My first suggestion is to feed your dog twice a day.  And when you do, ask your dog to do something in exchange for their food. By feeding 2 times everyday it gives you an opportunity to communicate with your dog.  It gives you an opportunity to do some training.  When my students say it's been a busy week and they didn't have time to train, I ask them, "did you feed your dog?"  Of course, the answer is, "yes".  Then I can gently remind them they had two wonderful opportunities to communicate and train with their dog!  I will also share other easy peasy ways to incorporate training into your everyday routines...while drying your hair, while preparing dinner.  Training can be incorporated in your schedule each and every day.  Just ask me, I can help!  :)

But here's your free tip for this beautiful Friday!  Food is a great motivator, don't waste this opportunity you have every day - two times daily - seven days a week to ask your dog to engage with you and earn his food.  They will love it and you will love the results.

For example, I ask for a sit - either by visual or verbal cue, sometimes a down - I switch it up.  As I progress in my training, I have my dogs sit and wait and place the food bowl down and then give them their "release cue" to enjoy their food.  Sometimes I ask for sit ups, sit/down -sit/down.  Or touch and touch to stand. You get the picture and you can get quite creative.  I don't know if you ever saw the video of several labs sitting in a row with their bowls in front of them while the man recites a prayer.  At the very end of the prayer he says their "release word" and they dig in!  It's fun and it's a great way to communicate with your dog.

If you have read my blog you know that dogs do get us.  They understand our social gestures and our intentions.  If you feel your dog is stupid...he'll live up to it.  If you feel he is the smartest dog on the planet...guess what...he'll live up to it!

Dogs are amazing, intelligent creatures.  We just have to ask to receive.  If you don't like what your dog is doing...you have to know what you want your dog to do!

If you need help laying that communication foundation, call me.  I can help!

In the meantime, Happy Trails!

We Speak the Same Language - An evening with Dr. Temple Grandin

I attended a lecture last evening with Dr. Temple Grandin entitled, "Understanding Animal Behavior and Reducing Stress."  I can tell you I was anticipating this event for weeks, so excited to see someone in person that I have admired from a far for years!  The day of the lecture, I told my husband that I felt as though it was Christmas day.

From the moment we arrived, an hour and 1/2 early just to get a seat in the room Dr. Grandin would be speaking, I felt something good was about to happen.  I am thankful we arrived early as there were two other rooms full of people hearing and seeing Dr. Grandin via wireless remote tv. 

As Dr Grandin began speaking and sharing all her research about understanding the behavior of animals I felt right at home.  I kept nodding my head in agreement and writing down all the good information as fast as my fingers would allow.  I had the overwhelming sense of oh my, we speak the same language...I get her...I get this - I 'see' what she is saying!

Allow me to share a few of the highlights.  Concepts I too have experienced and observed over my lifetime of living and working with dogs and horses.

Animal's thinking process is sensory based and not word based!  They think in visuals, in pictures.  And this is why I teach my students to use visual cues mostly and stop talking, talking so much. Also, I encourage my students to be proactive, be aware of their environment and watch for things that might cause a reaction from their dog or pony 'before' they have opportunity to rehearse an unwanted behavior. See what they see!

Animals can and do make specific visual history, auditory and touch associations.  They are hyper-specific.  Case in point, Dr. Grandin worked with a horse that was afraid of black hats.  White hats were fine, but bring out a black hat and he reacted and became visibly frightened.  Animal fear is very specific.  My pony, Beauty, when she first arrived at my home was afraid of coats that made a shooshing/crackling sound.  She told me very clearly that that noise frightened her.  Why?  Think about it...  Someone who wore a black hat or a swooshing crackling coat did something that frightened them.  Yes, my friends - they do tell us, if you have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Dr. Grandin said that Fear is a proper scientific term.  Animal memories are very specific and they do feel fear.  How do we know this.  Dr. Gregory Burnes of Emory University did a study and found out that "Yes, animals do really have and experience emotions."  

A few imporant points from his study;  Animals have Emotions

~Fear response was measured on a dog in the Amygdala part of the brain during an MRI

~Rage and Anger was seen in the Hypothalmus part of the brain during the same procedure above.

~We can measure true pain and we see separation anxiety in dogs a great deal.  How would we see these behaviors if the dog was void of emotions?

~Prozac works on dogs, on the same part of the brain it works on humans.

~Dogs seek our companionship and invite us to play.  They seek out sex and are caring toward not only us (service and therapy dogs for example) but also form friendships among themselves and with other animals.

As we see from the examples above, animals can be frightened by something they heard or saw and they do remember.  Scary items are usually sight and or hearing related.  What is the dog, the horse seeing, what is he hearing that is bothering him?  We need to see the full picture.  Remember animals and autistic children/people see in pictures. 

Fear is a true expression - not agitation - but animals feel true fear.   And, it's important to note, after a fear response it can take an animal up to 20 to 30 minutes to calm down from this fearful state.

Electronic stimulation elicits behavorial signs of fear (Davis 1992).  And a study done on electronic collars finds that they also are associated with signs of pain and fear (Elseviar 2007).  On a personal note, I don't use these devices and never have. Interesting, as I was waiting in line to have my book (pictured above) signed and meet Dr. Grandin, I had the happy privilege to speak with a vet student who has a great interest in the study of behavorial science. She shared with me that they still see dogs come into the clinic with tracheal collapse from use of both chain chokes and prong collars.  She is adamantly against both, not just for the physcial harm they cause, but also for the very obvious studies of the mental harm they cause as well.  Yay, for her. Although, we both agreed these tools can be used to get instant results, the far reaching implications of their use is far worse than the moment of apparent 'result' that has been seen.  Often these tools encourage the very behaviors we sought to eliminate.  In the long run, they do not work!  We speak the same language too!

We also discussed the interesting work that Dr. Grandin shared in that dog's do understand categories.  For instance, what happens when I am on leash and what happens when I am off leash.  Animal brains can and do make and understand categories.  Which is why it is important to me, as a trainer, that we build trust while working on lead with our dogs, as opposed to the old way of dominating - snatching and jerking a dog around on lead.   I have observed time after time that these same dogs who are dominated while on lead and have experienced harsh corrections, when off lead are outta there!  They understand that when they are off the leash they can get away to avoid this harsh and sometimes frightening treatment by the human!  

And finally two more very interesting points.  Dogs do look to people to help them problem solve.  Yes, oh yes they do!  And when they do we have to be a kind and fair leader.  They are looking to you, they want your input and help.  Let's help them in a positive constructive way.  A way that builds value with you, so that when they are off leash the most normal thing in the world for them will be to check in with you (as opposed to running off)!

Dr. Grandin helps build and design facilities for cows, pigs, horses and dogs that are less stressful for them.  The exciting work she shared with us about dogs and kennels is this;

you can have the most fancy schmancy kennel in the world but if dogs don't get exercise for at least 45 minutes everyday they will be noisy barkers and the environment will be chaotic, overwhelming and stressful. 

YES, this is true with our dogs in our homes.  We provide the most beautiful kennels for our dogs - indoor living areas, outdoor fenced in yards and yet we have problems with our dogs - separation anxiety, obsessive licking behaviors and chewing things up to name a few.  Why is this?  Simply a lack of exercise and mental stimulation. Something I preach constantly.  Now I can say Dr. Grandin says so too!  

Dr. Grandin ended her lecture with something that I have said many times and even shared on this blog a couple years ago.  Why did we not experience separation anxiety with our dogs in the 60's and 70's?  Simply because our dogs were allowed to accompany us in life.  Our dogs went swimming at the pond, ran along with us when we went on a trail ride with horses, roamed the neighborhoods and kids and neighbors looked out for them.  They were a very real part of our lives.  Now, we have stringent leash laws and specific places only dogs can hang out (that aren't always safe).  Dogs need exercise and mental stimulation.  The best way to socialize your dog is to allow them to live life...to travel with you, blaze new trails and explore the world around them.  As I say, allow your dog to use her five senses!  

I am so thankful to have had the wonderful privilege of hearing Dr. Grandin speak and share her years of studies and experiences.  I was thrilled to meet her and have her sign my book.  As I was sharing this information with my daughter, she said, "Mom, you understand this because you have decades of field experience."  I suppose this is why Dr. Grandin resonated with me, why I felt so comfortable and could see what she was saying.  I have experienced and observed her studies in my real life's work with dogs and horses over many years.

I feel a renewed sense of continuing this good work I have started. I feel encouraged to continue on the path I have been on.  Teaching people how to understand that awesome, wonderful, intelligent creature that is on the other end of their lead!

Thank you Dr. Temple Grandin!  And until next time...Happy Trails!

Survival of the fittest...or is it?

I'd like to continue my conversation from my previous post.  How were dogs domesticated?  How did this wonderful, glorious relationship between human and canine begin?

Let's start at the very beginning.  Wolves.  Wolves throughout history typically do not fare well with humans.  They have been reviled, hunted and even today are made the bad guys in Disney movies.  We do not have a very good relationship with the wolf.  It would seem very unlikely that humans one day decided to gather up wolf puppies and breed them.  We had no use for them, we were not friends.

   

Twelve to fifteen thousand years ago humans started to settle in one place.  And along with those first settlements, came a great deal of garbage.  We threw away our garbage and wolves started to use the food remains made available.  Much easier than going out and hunting for food.  

So this brings us to what type of temperament of wolves would hang around people.  It would have to be a friendlier type personality.  If aggressive wolves starting hanging around human settlements, it's unlikely that humans would allow it, right?  Remember our relationship with the wolf...we were not friends.  It would make sense that the wolves who hung around cleaning up after us; 1 - showed little to no fear and 2 - were friendlier in nature and temperament.  Humans allowed the friendly wolf to hang around and thus they lived and reproduced a friendlier wolf...dog.

Having access to the 45 year study in Russia of the Dimetrie Belyaev foxes.  We have concrete scientific evidence.  The scientists selected kits who showed the least amount of fear and aggression toward humans.  The outcomes of these matings showed a change in the fox's morphology.  The friendly foxes exhibited floppy ears, curly tails and spotted coats to name a few of the visible changes. They became increasingly more friendly toward humans, enjoyed and even desired our touch and company.

Thus we can conclude that domestication is selection against aggression and a selection for interest in people and a willingness and desire to want to be with people!

Let's review:  

~It's unlikely the first dogs evolved from wolves due to humans intentionally breeding them.

~ The friendliest wolves would have advantage scavenging from humans as we became more sendentary 12 - 15,000 years ago.

~More likely that frienldy wolves were allowed to live and thus reproduce.

~This selection for friendliness would change the behavior of these dog-like wolves but also their morphology and cognition would change like the Belyaev foxes.

In short, how were dogs domesticated?  It was by "self domestication" that this most beautuful of relationships bloomed between human and canine. It is very evident that the first dogs CHOSE US! How exciting is that?!

And further study reveals, humans also started to realize the benefit of having a friendly wolf dog protect us, help us hunt and partner with us in our every day lives!

Survival of the fittest? No. Survival of the friendliest is a truer statement!  Once again, I think we can learn a thing or two from our furry friends!

As always Happy Trails!

Dog Emotion and Cognition

I enjoy this picture of Alli collie. It shows her recognition of something we were all looking at while hiking recently. I was so impressed with her ability to be so engaged with us and what we were looking at, I snapped a quick picture.  And I was right to notice, to observe this - because as I'm learning my suspicions were correct.  Dogs get us, they understand us and what we are doing and saying more than we know.  

Speaking of recognition of intentions and social gestures, let me fill you in on what I've been learning.  I'm taking a course through Duke University on Dog Emotion and Cognitive Ability.  I've been as happy as a dog with a bucket full of tennis balls or a field full of sheep learning about dog cognition.  Let me bring you up to speed. 

The ability to read social gestures and understand intentions has only been attributed to human beings up until about 1999. This is a rather new study. Scientists tested chimpanzees and bonobos, as their genetic makeup is closest to that of humans, on their ability to understand social gestures and intentions.  They conducted the same tests on primates as they did on 14 month old children. For instance, they placed a couple cups closely and would hide a treat under one cup and either gaze or point to the cup with the treat. Of course, human children understood these tests perfectly. But primates, to the shock of the scientists, failed miserably.   

Scientists thought for sure primates would do well with these tests.  But after doing trial after trial, many repetitions, the primates were not getting it.  They even tried to train them to respond correctly without success. The great apes were having none of it.  With this new data, scientists concluded that only humans have the ability to read social gestures and understand a person's intentions. 

Until Dr. Hare (an Evolutionary Anthropologist and professor of this class) just happen to mention to his colleagues that he felt his dog understood his gestures. He further explained to his fellow scientists that when he would throw several balls to "Oreo" and point to the ball he wanted him to fetch, Oreo would, without fail, follow his visual cue or gesture and find the ball he pointed to.  Dr. Mike (fellow scientist) was intrigued and so began the study on Dog Cognition. 

Having lived and worked with dogs my entire life, I have observed the ability of dogs to read our social gestures and understand our intentions over and over again. My Uncle's collie heading out to the field to drive the cows in for milking every day without fail, winter spring summer and fall and without any prompting!  My sweet poodle greeting me, a nervous uncertain little girl, every day at the door of my empty house after school and sitting right by my side until my Mother arrived home without fail...day after day after day.  My sweet Emma collie understanding her girl (my daughter) was upset one day when dropping her off at school and Emma taking her leave of our yard to go check on her girl at school.  Dogs read us well and are always watching.  They know our coming and our going.  What we do, when we do it.  My dogs knew I was packing to go away recently and watched me closely looking for the tell tale sign that their blue bag is taken out, packed and place by my suitcase signifying that they would be accompanying me. They know when we're happy and seem to rejoice with us and when we might just need a friend and sit by our side. 

These cognitive tests they conducted on human babies, who passed beautifully and primates, who failed miserably, dogs passed with flying colors! The scientists were so excited that they had to be certain.  It was important to be certain they were not projecting these thoughts and emotions on to dogs.  So they tested puppies as young as 9 weeks old and guess what, they passed. They tested dogs they had no relationship with and they passed beautifully!  But how...why?  Why do dogs, a species so far removed from our own genetic makeup, understand our social gestures and intentions?  Where did this ability come from? Instinct?  Is it innate in wolves? Did dogs gain this ability from their wolf ancestry? Intriguing...right?!  Well let's investigate further. 

These were the questions that needed answers.  It was decided they would have to find a pack of wolves to test.  After a bit of a search, Dr. Hare found a pack of wolves who had been raised by a young woman. She agreed to perform the tests with her wolf pack.  And guess what? The wolves failed miserably. What?  No.  Dr. Hare could hardly believe it.  Again, they performed many repetitions of the games they did with humans, primates and dogs.  The wolf pack were absolutely disinterested.  Just like with the primates, they were unable to train the wolves to make the correct decisions.

So the question remains.  Where and how did dogs obtain the ability to understand us? How do they get us so fully?  For centuries dogs have helped us.  They've worked along side of us.  Did they gain this ability through domestication?  That's the $100 question and one I will be exploring further in my study on Dog Emotion and Cognition.

In the meantime, I'll share the fun Ezra and I have been having.  The lab for this study is called dognition (which equals dog cognition) that I can explore and test with one of my own dogs.  So far the two modules we have completed, Ezra has scored very high in Empathy and Communication.  It's been fascinating to perform these same tests (that they performed with children, primates and wolves) on my own dog and gain more understanding on how dog's think.  I have had a ball and Ezra seems to be enjoying working with me as well.  By doing these tests with Ezra our results are being calculated with the information gained from dogs and their owners all over the world. 

Dogs have fascinated me from as far back as I can remember.  I am fortunate to come from a family who welcomed dogs into our homes.  I have had experience with a myriad of different breeds and mix breeds alike.  I have studied them and their interactions with me and my family for well over 40 years.  I have worked with dogs and observed them in my, over 20, years of training dogs.  I feel it a wonderful privilege to be on this journey of further investigation in understanding their interaction with us.  Although, I am not certain about carbon dating and the number of years dogs have been our companions or that great apes are our ancestors, I do know that there is something special about our relationship with our canine companions that has spanned, at the very least, over 10,000 years.

I look forward to sharing this journey with you.  And as always...happy trails!

C.P.R. for Dogs

I put together this little mnemonic to help my students in their dog training journey.  What is a mnemonic, you ask?  Webster describes a mnemonic as a device such as a pattern of letters, ideas or associations that assists in remembering something.   So here is what CPR means in helping you train your dog.

Consistent - being consistent with your cues and training techniques will help your dog understand what you are asking of him.  One of the most difficult things to master when you are first training your dog is deciding on what cues (both verbal and visual) to give and learning how to give them. By practicing your cues over and over again, your responses become second nature and then you are able to concentrate on your dog and what he is doing instead of what you are doing.  The second part of being consistent would be Committing (let me throw in another C word) to set a time aside every day to work on your new behaviors. Having a consistent routine of exercise, play and work will help to drain your dogs energy, give him a job to do and solitify his understanding of the new training principles and behaviors.

Persistence - be persistent in pursuing (oh, this is fun there's another P word) your goals so you and your dog will succeed. For instance, when teaching your dog to go to her place so you can answer the front door.  If she pops up from her place as you go to reach for the door knob, direct her back to her place and try again.  If she pops up when you have the door open, let's say, a foot - guess what? Shut the door and direct her back to her place and start again.  Persist! Your eventual goal is to have someone ring the front door bell, have your dog go to her place and stay, while you go answer the door. Once your guest is invited in, you will release your dog to greet them.  If you need to remind her a 1,000 times to go and stay on her place...so be it!!  With persistence she will finally understand when she hears the front door bell she heads to her place and stays until you release her to greet your guest without jumping on them.  Wha la...you did it and it feels so good to have this wonderfully trained dog who doesn't greet people at the door by jumping all over them.  The second part that goes along with being persistent is having Patience.  Dog training takes as long as it takes and each dog is an individual.  Are you patient enough for your dog to process the information you are giving her before you intervene?  I encourage my students to wait up to 30 seconds to allow their dog to think through the cue until they're able to complete it.  Remember to give your cue for sit or down only once...then wait.  If you say these verbal cues over and over again, guess what...your very smart dog will start to wait until he hears sit three times before he sits.  Ask for it...wait for it and Praise for a job well done!

Repetition -  for both you and your dog, many repetitions are needed to perfect a skill.  They say up to 1,000 repetitions are needed to learn one new behavior.  Be kind to yourself and don't be in a rush...practice does make perfect.  Most canines and humans learn by practicing over and over again.

Remember to make sure your signals are clear to your dog.  Dogs learn in black and white, not shades of gray.  In other words, sometimes equals always to a dog.  If your dog is sometimes allowed on the couch or to run out the door when it's open or not go to his place when he hears the door bell...it translates to "I can always just do what I want".

Another important point and something my Mother in Law says quite often.  "If you don't use it, you'll lose it"!  Such truth to these words.  It's much like a language we might have learned in school years ago.   If we don't use that language we will forget it quickly.  Case in point, I lived in Los Angeles right off Sunset Boulevard for a couple years.  I lived in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood.  If I wanted to buy something, at many of the businesses on Sunset, I had to communicate in Spanish.  I also spoke to my neighbors in Spanish.  Now with practice, I was starting to really understand not only what others were saying to me, but I could respond back to them.  I certainly wasn't as good as my friend, Suzy, who was raised a Missionary kid, but I was really picking it up.  After moving away from LA and back to Ohio, I didn't have as much need for my use of speaking Spanish and I have forgotten much of what I had learned.

This is the same for our dogs.  If we continue to be consistent in our asking, clear with our cues and persistent in our follow through...our dogs will learn and retain these new behaviors and skills.  If fact, their understanding of what is expected of them will grow and become second nature.  There is nothing more exciting to me than to be able to communicate with my dogs.  It's a good thing and our living together becomes easy, comfortable and enjoyable.

CPR...Consistent, Persistent, Repetition will allow you to have the canine companion you always dreamed of!

Until next time, Happy Trails!

Massage Table

I am so excited to have just purchased this massage table.  I was thrilled to find one at such an excellent price.

I generally use my grooming table for smaller dogs but have been massaging larger dogs on the floor. I know I would feel more comfortable after a few massages to be able to stand and have my client waist high.  This will work perfectly for all sizes of dogs.

I thoroughly enjoy my work!  I find I enjoy the massage almost as much as my client does.  The energy that flows back and forth is amazingly refreshing!

I am happy to offer canine massage.  I am seeing great results and happy clients!  Please contact me at pawsitivejourney@gmail.com to book your massage today.  Help me break in my new table and mention this blog post and receive $5.00 off your first massage.

Whether pampering your pet with a relaxing massage or helping them recover from injury or illness, massage is an effective therapy to aid in helping your pet reach their optimal health.

**Barbara is a Certified Canine Massage Therapist and does not diagnose or treat animals.  Massage is not a substitute for regular Veterinary care.   Contact your Veterinarian if your dog has a serious health issue.**

The Dog Who Could Fly

Another good book review!  If you like to hear people's real life stories and it's a big plus if that story so happens to involve a dog too...then you are really going to enjoy this book.

This is the true story of a World War II Airman and the dog who stayed right by his side.  From the start this book will steal your heart.  Their initial meeting was amazing and their relationship bloomed from that point on.  Many twists and turns...will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I loved it!

I was overwhelmed once again how this dog made a difference in the lives of not only Robert (his person) but all the soldiers who lived on the edge during this most difficult of wars.  Antis, the canine hero, gave them joy, peace and comfort during a time of incredible sadness and hardship.

I am interested that Robert and his crew came back from all their missions.  Flying missions each night over the enemy in Germany...Hamburg, Bremen...they were right in the thick of it.  Antis flew many of those missions with 'his' crew.  I might add many of their bother Airmen did not return from their missions...

Each Airman had a lucky charm that they took with them every flight...they might wear a certain garment, or take a small token in their pocket.  I was interested in hearing that when they had Antis on board they didn't need those items, they felt he was their lucky charm.  Antis gave them a sense of courage, of peace that they would return home alive.  And let me tell you, it was just by a miracle that they returned home several times.

Was it Antis that made the difference?  Did he give them the courage to keep fighting against incredible odds?  Read the book and you decide...  I know what I believe!!

I am always so touched by the strong relationship that can bloom and grow between a dog and a human.  It's nothing short of amazing, a miracle how a dog can change a life... They comfort us and bring us such joy in the midst of some of our most trying hardships...they bring out the best in us... I've seen it over and over again.

I am glad for that bond that was created over 10,000 years ago.  I have been blessed by the canine heroes in my life...  I highly recommend this book...enjoy!

I encourage you to get out there and live your story and tell it to the world!   And as always...Happy Trails!

Body Language

No I'm not talking about the song Body Language by Queen...  I'm talking about dog body language.  Dog's speak volumes through their body.  They speak to their fellow pack members, as well as, to us...if we'll listen.

Body language is a fascinating study.  I've spent a life-time of working with dogs and horses and my understanding of body language has opened a whole new wonderful world to me and has, at times, kept me safe.

As humans our main form of communication is verbal.  We are very vocal.  As a young child I was extremely shy – often described as “backwards”.  I found it very easy to communicate with animals – no words needed – what a relief for me. But I also learned, from a young age, that people speak volumes through their expressions and body language as well.  Often times what we say and what our body says - does not match (insert folded arms, rolling of the eyes...you get the 'picture')...

A dog’s main form of communication is by using body language.  Dogs do vocalize by barking, whining and growling but most often use their body when speaking to each other and to humans.  The most wonderful thing about dogs is they learn our language but often we don’t take the time to learn theirs. (And this is why so many GOOD dogs are surrendered to the pound – miscommunication!)

My approach to dog training is to honor the way dogs communicate and that is through visual cues and body language.

The smallest dog of our pack, Libby (pictured above) – all 11 lbs of her – was the leader.  I was always amazed at how she could give the other dogs a look, a stare, a stance and they obeyed her. She helped me to realize this truth in my training program.  If little Libby could ask for and get results from dogs who were 3 and 4 times her size...then why do we humans insist on snatching and jerking our dogs to get what we want.  If we spoke to dogs in the correct way, we wouldn't need to man handle and over power them! 

A recent study suggests that even people who are trying to hide their feelings speak volumes through their body language.  Truth is our body's just can’t lie. 

 Barely perceivable micro expressions are often caught by our dogs.  Dog's know when we are preparing to leave for work.  They know when you are preparing to take them on a walk, feed them or going on vacation.  They get it when you are frustrated, happy... They are master's of body language and they watch us all the time, they know our routines well.

Dog's tell us when they are frightened, excited, overwhelmed, stressed and even when they are about to bite.  We often just miss the cues.  Easy to understand what the doberman is saying in this picture below.

Get Back!

But do you know what the chocolate Labrador is saying in this picture?

A look, a stare, yawning, heavy panting, looking away and licking the lips are speaking volumes...can you hear it?  One of the things I am most passionate about is sharing this information with  humans.  So many misunderstandings could be solved by proper communication!

If you find you are having a difficult time communicating with your canine companion and you'd like to be on the same page...call me.  I'd be happy to help... and in the meantime...

Happy Trails!

   

Pawsitive Journey Canine Massage

After a 10 month thorough study and practice on both my dogs and my friend's dogs, I am happy to announce I am now a certified canine massage therapist!  What a wonderful journey this has been.  I find when massaging dogs it is quite therapeutic for me as well.  The whole process takes about an hour and is relaxing and rejuvenating for both canine and human!

Look for my News Release in the Mount Vernon News this week!  I will reprint it here just in case you miss it!  And please don't hesitate to contact me for an appointment today.  I am available both days and evenings!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CANINE MASSAGE THERAPY offered in Knox County

Barbara Kurtz, CCMT (Certified Canine Massage Therapist)

Opened for business and booking appointments!

www.pawsitivejourney.com

Canine massage therapy promotes good health and emotional well being.  Whether pampering your pet with a relaxing massage or helping them recover from injury or illness, massage is an effective therapy to aid in helping your pet reach their optimal health.

Benefits of Massage:

Increase and improvement of circulation

Promotes relaxation and stress reduction

Increased flexibility

Improvement of athletic performance

Release of endorphins (natural pain relievers)

Enhancement of muscle tone and range of motion

Advancement of healing through increase of nutrients to injured muscles

Partner with a Dog

My first post of 2015!  It's been a busy year so far and I will try to do a bit of catching up my next few posts!

Alli and I were invited to attend the monthly meeting of the Mansfield Parkinson's Chapter yesterday. We were asked to share the exciting work of Great Danes helping those who live with Parkinson's disease.  I was happy to share my Power Point Presentation entitled - "Partner with a Dog"!  The work the dogs are doing in helping those who live with Parkinson's is absolutely incredible.  With the Great Dane's tall stature and their strong presence, these dogs are allowing people to live life without fear of becoming unsteady and falling.

I also shared Alli's story and her journey as a Therapy Dog, now retired, and my life with dogs.  What a lovely group.  Lots of enthusiasm and wonderful questions.  We had a great time!

Next up for Alli and I - speaking to the children at the MTVarts Acting Workshop in August.  We'll be talking about the role of dogs in theater and my experience of training dogs for MTVarts and Orange Barrel Productions.  I am having a great deal of fun researching all the many wonderful dogs who have graced stages over the decades and their phenomenal trainers who did some pretty amazing things with canine actors!

My life with dogs continues...  I am so happy that I chose to "Partner with a Dog" so long ago.  It's been and continues to be a wonderful journey!

Happy Trails everyone!