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!

B.A.R.F.

Did I get your attention?  I had a feeling I might. Good, now let me explain.  B.A.R. F. is an acronym.  What is an acronym?  According to Webster it is an abbreviation formed from the initial components in a phrase or word.

My acronym is something I formulated to teach my students a bit more about why dogs bark.  Not all barking is negative.  In fact, when a dog barks they are trying to tell you something.  Here are four main reasons why your dog may be barking. So listen up and let me help you decipher what your dog is trying to say.

B stands for Boredom barking.  Boredom barking is the #1 reason dogs bark.  Yes, I said #1.  To me that's so sad.  Now hear this...  All of us have heard the dog barking incessantly, waking us up early in the  morning or serenading us to sleep at night in our neighborhoods.  It can be irritating.  But if you think about it, it's sad.  Plainly sad.  The #1 reason most dogs bark is out of boredom and guess what...they bark to give themselves a job to do.  Dogs are meant to have a job.  Do you know your breed?  Herding, hunting, draft work....  Most dogs want, NEED, to be active, it's in their DNA.  The dogs who are boredom barking are the ones most often tied to their dog house or placed in a small kennel for hours and hours, if not days and months...even years on end.  This is their life. They seldom get a reprieve from their chain or wire enclosure.  These precious pups aren't allowed to go anywhere, their view is exactly the same day in and day out.  Oh, they might see a leaf fly by or even a skunk or raccoon walk by.  But that's it...  No walks, no travel, no playing tug...nada...nothing  I have to wonder why the person who ties their dog got them in the first place. Dogs are called companion animals for a reason, right?  Dogs enjoy sharing our lives WITH us.  So next time you hear a dog barking and barking maybe you could do a little investigation and take pity on this poor pooch instead of getting irritated.

A stands for Alert barking.  This is a very good reason for a dog to bark.  Did you know that the #1 deterrent for a thief bent on breaking into your house is a barking dog? I love my dogs to alert me by barking and I reward alert barking when at home.  I live in the country and you can bet I want to know when something is amiss. When my dogs bark, you can be sure there is something afoot.  Someone is in my driveway, on my property, a pony is out of the field (that's happened), a fox, a skunk, a dog or a kitty has been on or by my front porch. Alert barking is a very good thing!  So when my dogs bark, I 'thank them", ask them to go to their place while I investigate.  They are spot on every time.  Good dogs!

R is for Request barking.  Think of Lassie going to get help for Timmy.  "Is Timmy stuck in a well?" A little bit of trivia for all the Lassie fans, Timmy was never stuck in a well.  But, he was often in some sort of trouble. We humans can be a bit slow but I encourage you to take your time and think things through and investigate.  Dogs do bark to request...something.  My sweet Jack Russell Libby told me when the water bowl was empty.  I remember the first time she sat squarely right in front of me and barked.  I didn't think much about it and just got up to let her out.  Dogs do bark when they need to be let out too.  I opened the door and Libby just sat there and looked at me like, "silly human I don't want to go outside."  I stood there perplexed.  She barked again and I said,  "Libby if you don't want to go outside what do you want?"   I didn't give it too much thought, gave her some attention and went back to work.  A few minutes later, I went to the kitchen to check on dinner and my little lady followed me with a skip in her step (finally the human's got it).  Hmmm, I thought what's up here...  She skipped over to her water bowl and looked at it and then at me.  I looked at the bowl and good grief - it was empty. Libby was thirsty.  Humans learn a bit slowly but from then on when Libby sat down and gave me one sharp bark, I knew there was a good chance the water bowl needed filled.

F is for Fearful or Frightened Barking. This is the type of barking you often see at a obedience class where lots of dogs are crammed in a small space.  There is always that one or two dogs who are barking in a fast tempo and a bit high pitched.  People mistake this type of barking as aggression.  When most often this type of barking is just a reaction to being overly stimulated, overwhelmed, fearful or frightened...these dogs are often insecure and telling the other dogs to stay away. Trainers call this type of barking re-activity.  Certainly, sometimes a dog is barking because they are aggressive.  When a dog is being aggressive they are showing their teeth, lips pulled back, ears pinned and they mean business.  Most barking from dogs in high stimuli environments is fearful barking.  These dogs need help and with time, positive reinforcement training and socialization they will come to realize that no one, human or canine, means them any harm.

So there you go - B.A.R.F.  I think this is a fun acronym and one most people won't forget.  So the next time you hear a dog bark...investigate...think it through...our dogs are often barking for a reason, it's up to the human to figure out why.

Happy trails everyone!

Let's Walk

This cute wooden rack hangs by my back door.  Lots of different collars (many with bandanas!) and leads ready and waiting for our next walk.  Did you ever look at something and have a flood of memories hit all at once...out of no where?  I thought about how very much I love to take a walk and how much walking with those I love was such a big part of my life.

My Grandma, Mom, Dad and Sister all loved to take walks! I remember when I was quite young, holding my Mom's hand swinging our arms as we sang on our walk to her work.  We lived in town and walked a few blocks up to the town square and the small diner where she worked as a waitress.  Faber's was quite a popular place where you could get a G-burg Special with fries and a drink for a couple dollars. Her boss, Mr. Faber was a very kind man and loved kids.  Which was a very good thing as often I would sit behind the counter on a big potato chip can while my Mom waited on customers.  Being a single mother, Mom would often be in a crunch for babysitters and I would have to wait for my Grandma, Aunt or Sister to come pick me up.  I loved those walks.

I remember my Sister and I walking that same route to visit Santa Claus.  His house was just off the town square right in front of the National Bank.  It seemed back then, you know way back in the 70's, we would get a bunch of snow at Christmas time.  It was wonderful and so beautiful and as a kid I always looked for the biggest drifts to walk through.  My sister would fuss at me and say "you're going to get snow in your boots and I'm not carrying you!"  Invariably I would get snow in my boots and beg my sister for a piggy back ride the rest of the way.  Although, she tried valiantly to stick to her guns, she would eventually give in and carry me.  We would stop into Faber's for the best homemade Hot Chocolate you ever tasted before the trek home.

My Grandmother would take me each week with her to her hair dresser appointment.  This was back in the day that a trip to the hair dressers was a highlight.  A place to get all the latest "news" of the week!  This little salon was located in the front of the house of the lady who did my Grandma's hair, just a couple blocks from our house.  What a sweet memory walking with my Grandma.  It would seem that I always had a ton of questions for her during our walks.  She was so good and tried to answer all of them, but I knew when she tired of all my questions as she would start saying "because Barbara it just is..." or "because I said so...." and that was my cue to stop asking so many questions.

When my Dad would come and visit my sister and I, he would always take us for a walk.  Most often on the Battlefield and we would talk and catch up.  His visits were often unannounced and a surprise.  Often I would just see him walking up our sidewalk.  "Dad's here!"

As I grew older, I was the resident dog walker!  I took our dogs on walks all through our little town and on the Gettysburg Battlefield.  What happy memories with dogs past and present on those familiar sidewalks, trails and paths!

Today was our first big snow fall of the season and I could hardly wait to get out and take a walk in the beautiful white snow!

I yelled, "let's walk" and I had two beautiful tri colored faces - Alli and Ezra, greet me with enthusiasm and off we went!

Happy Trails everyone!

Thankful for...your Friendship!

A recent picture of our pack...missing one.  Hard to go back to our favorite place the first time without our littlest member, Libby.  Although dogs live so beautifully in the moment, I do have to say I felt a sense of the dogs missing Libby as well.  Both Ezra and Alli collie stayed close by us. These two, close...our two adventurers right by our side?  Interesting.  Libby was always by our side, right with us as we walked and Ezra and Alli were the ones to sniff out the chipmunks and run ahead blazing the trail.  Did they feel the need to stay by us, to take up Libby's place?  Did Libby staying close - watching over us - allow them the freedom to explore?  I don't know for sure, but I do believe they were trying to figure out how to accomplish this new way of walking...without our friend.  So were we, Matthew and I...but we did it and we did it together.

As we walked, almost with each step, my heart started to fill with such wonderful memories of our times here with our dogs, with Libby.  Matthew and I shared our thoughts together of all the many fun, sweet memories.  I started feeling this tremendous warmth of thankfulness, for the gift of sharing my life with Libby, with dogs.  Since before I can remember, my life has been graced with a dog or dogs sharing my days.  I do understand those who feel the pain of loss so strongly that they declare they will never go through "that again".  I feel for them, as I do truly know their pain, it's real and it's hard.  But, try as I might, I just can't think of life without them.  The wonderful ways in which dogs have enriched my life are almost too numerous to name...my sweetest friends.

As I was about to burst with a thankful heart, I thought how appropriate...for this month of November.  A time to be thankful.

I'd like to share some of the ways dogs have made my life richer.  Anyone who knows me knows how very thankful I am for my human family...my husband, my kids and now my grandkids are my most precious gifts.  They are number one and bless me beyond compare!  But, it's okay to thank those furry paws who climb into our hearts in ways that are so loving and so pure.  So here goes....

I am thankful for...

the love,

listening so intently while I shared my heart - whether it was breaking or about to overflow with joy,

for sitting up with me while taking care of my sick little ones, 

for helping me dry little tears and patch boo boos,

for getting out of your comfy bed to go with me on midnight runs to the kitchen for soda and crackers, for tylenol and water,

for snuggling with me when my fever spiked and somehow laying just right by my side to provide warmth and comfort to my aching back,

for seeing me at my worse and seeming not to even notice,

for dancing in the rain with me,

for sitting with me, just sitting together enjoying a sunny day, a beautiful sunset or watching the first snow fall,

for going with me to drop off the kids at school,

listening to all my worries, 

and keeping all my secrets, 

allowing me to cry in your fur,

and licking my tears,

for walking endless trails,

and taking wonderful journeys,

for being one of my greatest teachers,

for all the laughter, 

and all the fun...

...thank you, most of all, for being my friend.

So hard to say good-bye...

So hard to say good bye to our little lady, our beautiful and sweet friend Libby.  She passed quietly at home yesterday. I can't thank my vet Dr. Phil Dilts enough for coming to our home to help us end her suffering. It was time, she let me know.  So precious those last few hours, reminiscing, caressing her soft fur...telling her what a "good girl" she is and was and how I was so thankful to have had the gift of her...in my life.

I miss her so very dearly, a part of my heart went with her, but oh the flood of memories that bring me a smile and warm my heart. Libby was a lady from the start...

I remember the twist of fate that we welcomed Libby into our home.  I will forever be thankful that after a sore and sad disappointment we happened upon an ad in the paper for Jack Russell puppies and right down the road from our home.  After a quick phone call telling us they only had 2 females left, Matthew, Nicky and I hopped in the van.  When we arrived we saw two adorable little brown and white puppies.  I was smitten with Libby right away.  That sweet face and that darling smile, who could resist.  We stood there for some time while Libby was making it quite clear that she picked us. Matthew went to go to our van to get the check book and this tiny 4 inch long by 3 inch high puppy hopped through the grass, which was way over her head, and followed him the whole way to the van. She was making sure we got the message and were not going to leave without her. Oh, how glad I am that we didn't leave her behind, she jumped right int our hearts that day and brought us so much joy!

From the start she was an easy puppy.  She cried that first night in her little crate and I just could not help myself (after all I know better) but I scooped her up and put her in bed with us.  And that's where she slept every day of her life...  She slept through the night and woke me up at 5 am...I took her out to the potty and went back to bed with her.  All the while thinking this is not going to work...once puppies are up they are up.  But, not my sweet little lady...she promptly snuggled right in and went back to sleep and slept until 8:30 am.  I have never met another puppy so accommodating and one who loved her creature comforts.  So easy...and such a pleasure.

She was mentored by our beloved collie Emma.  I know Emma had something to do with her sensibility and the way she just knew the order of how things should be.  I always laughed when people would say 'wow, you have a JR...they're tough, lots of energy'.  Libby did have energy like her breed describes but she was always so sensible, intelligent and well just such a lady...

I remember the year Nicky took Billy pony to the fair.  He also decided to take Libby to the fair for his dog project.  Nicky had such a tough week with Billy...he was frightened by the pigs from the start and he lost his little pony brain.  Nicky handled it well, but it was disappointing to say the least and not what he had expected.  He had put a great deal of time and preparation into Billy and nothing went according to plan. Then Libby showed up at the Fair Dog show and every time they walked in the ring they came out with a trophy.  Libby came through big...she and Nicky had already won a trophy in their pre-fair judging. That was only the start, they went on to win the agility class, the tricks class (a trick that Libby taught us and Nicky put on cue and might I add she delighted many people with this sweet begging trick and would use it very adeptly when she wanted attention) and a trophy for the cutest (of course!) in the costume class!  She really came through and put a smile on the face of my son, she saved the day in many respects...what a sweet, sweet memory.  How do you quite say thank you...

The first time we took Libby to the beach, she was only 10 months old.  It took her some time to get use to the sand and the water was so unpredictable, seemingly to invite her in one minute only to turn back around and wash over her the next. Such fun to watch her try and figure it all out. Camping wasn't really her favorite.  I remember taking a 2 week trip, Matthew only stayed with us one week and had to go back to Ohio to work the following week. Libby made it known that she had spent quite enough time in 'that box' and jumped right in the truck with Matt.  Unmistakably she was telling us...'I'm going home'. She was quite happy to return to pick us up the following weekend.  Our second trip to the beach was way more fun...she enjoyed the beach and even dipped her tiny paws in the water.  Perhaps it was because she was older and wiser, maybe it was sharing the experience with her friend Ezra, or staying in a lovely beach house suited her better.  May be it was simply just spending time with her family! So many sweet memories that week...all of us together.

Libby was a Delta Pet Partner.  This is one of a handful of therapy dog organizations.  I was so proud of her to pass all their tests.  If you don't know Delta is much more stringent in their testing than most of the other groups, very thorough and a bit taxing for the dogs.  She passed all their many "tests" with flying colors.  She brought much happiness and many smiles everywhere she visited.  The kids in the reading program at the Mt. Vernon Library especially loved her! Her little begging trick never ceased to bring an array of oohs and aahs and giggles. She just seemed to know how to make us all smile...

Libby was fortunate to travel with us often.  Her diminutive size and her love of a road trip just made her easy to take along.  She shared a great deal of our every day life, she was just a part of our coming and going.  I guess it's why it's so hard not to see her snuggled up beside me right now, or look down to see her lying by my feet when I type.  She greeted us with such gusto when we would arrive home...I remember often her jumping on my lap and standing with her paws on my chest while I scratched her back up and down and back again...she would chortle that beautiful song she did, letting me know how very much she enjoyed me, her family...just being with us...you are never alone or lonely when you have such a friend!

Libby was our agility partner.  Nick started her, I helped her along the way and she ended up doing her very best with Matthew.  What a sight on course...my tall husband and little lady Libby.  She never ceased to  make me smile when we ran agility together.  She would chortle and bark her way around the course and I would smile and laugh so hard I would nearly forget the course.  We truly just had plain fun together.  It wasn't about the ribbons or the titles (although she earned quite a few) it was about enjoying one another and having fun and that we did!  I remember just a few short weeks ago at my training center running a small course.  She gave it her all although I know she was in the throws of her illness.  She chortled her song and ran the course and then looked for her treat...I laughed and smiled the whole time and then wondered how she had the strength...I think she did it solely for me, one last time... Another sweet memory...

Libby was my inspiration in so many ways. Her love for her family, never failing to greet those she loved with abandoned. How could such a big heart be contained in such a tiny body?! She was also a trail blazer.  I remember feeling quite low one morning on our walk around the pasture.  It had snowed quite a bit the night before and the world was pristine and white.  The snow was higher, much higher than my little Libby...yet she blazed her own trail.  She didn't wait for Alli collie to pave the way or open a path....she went first and made her own path.  She didn't hold back or wait to follow anyone and it would have seemed that that would have been ok.  After all, she was so small and the snow was so high and cold...but off she went.  After our walk I found myself no longer feeling low...the huge heart of my little friend made my heart soar that day.  I knew whatever the day held, I could do it, I could face it, I could blaze my own trail...

I used her as an example over and over again when teaching my students and their dogs.  Libby was the leader of our small pack, all 12 pounds of her. And she was a fair leader.  I remember often if I called everyone in and Alli and Ezra didn't hop too...she would head out barking and chortling and round them up, as if to say, 'did you not hear her, get in the house'!  Alli was probably 5 times her height and weight, Ezra was double and yet when she spoke, they listened.  And by speaking I mean...she used her body language, a look, a stare, only adding vocalizations if needed.  If she could get what she wanted using her body language...why could we "smart intelligent humans" not do the same.  I started using more visual cues in my training classes with much success.  Asking my students why in the world do we feel we have to jerk and push our dogs around when my sweet 12 pound Jack Russell Libby can do it all with a look.

Libby was always the first welcome anyone new to our family both canine and human. She was the first to understand my new grand lady Alli.  The first to welcome her to our home, Libby was the first to get close.  She didn't understand this new spastic kind of body language but with my guidance, she figured it all out quickly and welcomed my grand babies with her sweet friendship and special kind of love.  This past summer knowing our Libby was ill, Alli (granddaughter) and I took Libby to the "bankery" each week.  Alli got her lollipop and Libby received her cookie too.  Alli and I both delighted in taking our Libby with us...such good memories...

Libby also taught us about small dogs.  She taught us to be gentle and thoughtful when picking them up.  It is overwhelming to snatch a small dog up without any notice, thought or care.  Libby was picked up by a young person once without notice and Libby let us know in the best and kindest way that that had scared her. It never happened again. We then helped people to understand how very large we are in comparison to her.  Matthew realized if you simply asked Libby if you could pick her up, she was fine with it.  She would sidle up beside you and wait to be picked up gently. She actually loved to be held and snuggled.   (This ones for you sweet girl...helping your fellow small ones...)

Our dear canine companions, our friends mark the passage of time with us.  They share the most precious and intimate moments of our lives.  How can I be anything but grateful, thankful that my Father God would give me and my family such a wonderful gift, the gift of Libby in our life.  Sent to earth to teach us about his true, unfailing and unconditional love.

We laid you to rest last evening under the most brilliant and vibrant rainbow I have ever seen, sweet Libby.  In your pasture, your home, by Emma and Tucker so you can watch over your ponies...  I don't believe in coincidences and Matthew and I laughed through our tears and smiled once again that our littlest angel would send us such a beautiful sign...

My dearest Libby thank you my sweetest friend and teacher for the inspiration, for the smiles and the laughter, for the fun, the joy and all the love!  I have the most wonderful memories to keep me and warm my heart when I miss you the very most...happy trails sweet puppy...until we meet again...our dear Little Lady