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HoofPrints Newsletter
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April 6, 2012
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ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THIS NEWSLETTERFarriers Greeting Cards was started by Gina Keesling in 1986 (in a very small way) to provide helpful promotional materials for farrier husband Rob. Along the way we became HoofPrints.com, too, adding a selection of fun horse and dog products geared toward women of a certain age. This newsletter is emailed to subscribers a few times a month, depending on how often I have something to share. Watch for special sales, interesting stories, uplifting quotes and more.
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This is our second R&D mention, the first one is here
This time we're focusing on dog products. As with the horse products, we test everything, and if we don't love it, you never see it. Shown above are a few of our favorites (products, people and dogs) - if you click on the picture, it takes you to a larger version on our Facebook page here. This particular adventure centers around my efforts to civilize the somewhat lawless Labrador Bailey. She's one of 2 Lab pups that were dumped here last year. I found a home for the other (Ellie). Bailey & Ellie were named after the main characters in the best-selling book A Dog's Purpose. Bailey has problems with impulse control.Bailey and I are shown here with Deb Dolak of Over the Rainbow Dog Training & Behavior Consulting. Deb uses strictly positive methods; punishments are not allowed (more about that later in the newsletter) She's shown here with her Clicker - we sell them as part of a special kit; Clicker Training for Dogs here. Because I personally have a problem with getting much too serious about things, I made it a point to wear my Life is Short, Play With Your Dog T-shirt each week. My dog was such a maniac, and I was sure I'd be embarrassed by her out-of-control behavior, so I needed to "get my sense of humor on" in preparation. I also used our Leather Treat Pouch - it worked great for dog treats, even though it has a picture of a horse embossed on it. Most convenient is the extra zippered compartment that allowed me to stash my phone, keys, etc. for the trek to class. I needed both hands free to manage the rowdy dog. As it turned out, Bailey did not embarrass me one bit. All we needed was the keen eye of a professional to help us locate and address problem areas, and we made great improvements. Dashing Bailey, who seemingly could not hold still for two seconds, quickly learned to stay quietly when asked. She was friendly with the other dogs in class, and interacted politely with their humans, too. She earned a diploma AND got to pick out her own special toy for her efforts. Way to go, Bailey!
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A Dog's Purpose is the remarkable story of one endearing dog's search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, A Dog's Purpose touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?
Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden-haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey's search for his new life's meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8-year-old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog. But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey's journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders-will he ever find his purpose? Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny, A Dog's Purpose is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's-eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This moving and beautifully crafted story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose. Gina's note: "I'm an avid reader, and appreciate all sorts of genres, but I struggle with reading first person accounts that are written from a viewpoint (or language dialect) that's vastly different than my own. I just can't get "into character" enough to appreciate what's trying to be told. I almost didn't get this title in to review for that very reason. *Would it be a series of hard-to-read phonetic spellings of whines and barks and grunts? *A dorky telling of a dog's viewpoint from a best-selling author who thought he could pull one off for the pet market? *A new, even sadder and more gory way to describe the terrible unwanted pet problem? I was emphatically wrong on all my theories, and I am so glad I gave this one a chance. I was not very far into the pages... and I WAS that dog - reading from his viewpoint and understanding his world. And yes, you will need kleenexes, but I wasn't distracted from the story line by the occasional tragedies. They were more than offset by the happy, and humorous moments (kind of like real life). And the spiritual slant on this one left me feeling very good. I highly recommend."
To order click here.
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More than just a treat pouch...
This handy little bag made me rethink the idea of carrying a regular purse. When I first hatched the scheme to take Bailey to dog class, I had some logistical problems to work out. This dog had been on 3 car rides in her life (that I know of) One to get dumped here, 2&3 were to and from the clinic to be spayed. So, her history of enjoying a ride in a vehicle is not so good. My car is a 2-door with leather seats, so that option was out - I was afraid she'd scratch them with her toenails. Second choice was my son's pickup truck (also leather seats) but enough room on passenger floorboard for her to sit comfortably. When I did a "test run" which consisted of yet another trip to the vet for the required vaccinations to attend class - it did NOT go well. She was afraid to get in. Coaxing didn't help (although it DID cause our other dog Puppy-Girl to try and get in - which only added to the confusion as I tried to keep her OUT) I didn't anticipate all this happening, and had an appointment, so as the clock ticked, I ended up picking up her 60+ lb frame and stuffing her into the truck. She promptly dashed to the driver's side floorboard - where she could, oh, stomp on the accelerator. I tried to push her back to the other side when I got in, but seeing the open door caused her to push just as hard to get out - which she did. And so it went. Must've looked like some kind of Chinese Fire Drill involving a dog. (with apologies for using what wikipedia is saying is "racially offensive slang")
Seeing that this had potentially disastrous consequences safety-wise, I recruited my son to DRIVE US to the vet - while I used both hands to HOLD THE DOG on her side of the truck. I knew then that setting off alone with this rowdy dog to a weekly class in a neighboring town was going to be a challenge.
I couldn't have done it without the Treat Pouch. This handy little number let me keep my phone, keys, driver's license, etc. in a slim hands-free pouch around my waist - so I could wrestle the dog as needed. The added bonus is the separate compartment for the actual treats. It's got a magnetic closure (so no distracting velcro sound when opening) and is separated from the other compartment by a water-resistant barrier (so my phone doesn't smell like salami)
To order click here.
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Life is Short - Play With Your Dog
this t-shirt is a great reminder to take a few minutes each day - to toss a stick, or play a game of tug-of-war with your canine friend. This would make a great gift for someone who takes their dogs to a dog park, or for a shelter volunteer, etc. All over the country, an army of volunteers spend time each day with shelter dogs. Thousands of dogs waiting hopefully in cages for a family to come and choose them as their own. These dedicated volunteers take the time to help these dogs learn their manners AND make sure that they don't forget how to play while they're at the shelter. I barely have time to play with my own dogs, and my heart goes out to the crowd that gives of themselves to go and spend time with what will hopefully be someone ELSE'S dog some day. More info here.
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Need to get help? Don't do what I did. It's fodder for subsequent newsletters, so stay tuned... but in summary, after a lifetime of horse and dog ownership, with no insurmountable problems with said horses and dogs, I was feeling pretty smug about my abilities to manage animals. I guess God thought I needed taken down a peg or two, so He sent me some that wouldn't "get with the program" here. After deeming a few "crazy" and sending them on to other homes, I started to get a nagging feeling that I might not be the supreme animal handler that I thought I was. After a period of considerable emotional torment, I set about finding someone to help me on my way.
I am not really sure how this is all supposed to turn out, but I did learn this; If an expert's method doesn't feel right for you and your animal, KEEP LOOKING. This is a tough pill to swallow. You do the homework, find the expert(s), research their methods, observe/study them, etc, etc. At that point it feels like it should be time to let them take over with what they know - even if it feels wrong (after all, they are the expert - YOU'RE the one needing help...) WRONG. If it looks or feels wrong once you get into it - stop it and back up the train. Address the problem to your satisfaction and/or keep looking for different help. I learned the hard way what happens if you don't, and had pretty much resigned myself that in order to keep that from happening again, I was in this "animal management challenge" all by myself.
 Then, I read Vicky Kaseorg's I'm Listening With A Broken Ear. Vicky was in a mess with a stray dog and needed help. Her quest for help led her on a wonderful, inspirational journey - not without struggles - but a truly beautiful, happy story, where getting help turned out good. When I realized I was in over my head with Bailey, I emailed Vicky for advice. She adamantly told me to KEEP LOOKING if the training solutions I sought out didn't feel right for me and my dog. Armed with this advice, I attended (as an observer) a training/class session put on by a large, well established obedience club in our county. The building was filled with beautiful dogs, pretty much all of which were being yanked by their handlers for undetermined misdeeds. (sigh) I thought back to Bad Dog author Martin Kihn's commentary on the popular Koehler Method of Dog Training (my notes about that are here) and knew this wasn't the group for me. The dogs there were all obedient, but none looked happy. When I asked one of the instructors about the use of food rewards, she snorted and said it was discouraged as it tended to cause chaos - all the dogs could think about was finding the food - NOT the task at hand. (which I guess was being yanked by the neck?)<---sarcasm
About the exact opposite of this is Deb's method at Over The Rainbow Dogs. She DOES NOT ALLOW choke or pinch collars in her class. Food rewards are mandatory, and some of what folks were bringing as treats for their dogs looked better than what I'd had to eat that day... Deb encourages chaos. We work on a specific behavior for a little while, then the dogs are all released to run around and play with each other. At first it was a free-for-all, with a lot of butt-sniffing and snooping around the room (which is a back room/storage area at a vet clinic) As the weeks passed, the dogs learned to pay enthusiastic attention to what was being taught AND they looked forward to the short play sessions. There was no drilling - we practiced different things, and then moved quickly to the next exercise. The transformation was remarkable. With no drama, no yanking, etc. my dog's focus improved dramatically and she not only behaved, but she did so fairly reliably in a distracting environment. I could not be more pleased with the outcome, and I am so very thankful that I passed on the first class - the one with what appeared to be a more impressive attendance, history and accolades.
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 RECAP - From the last newsletter
Here's what we talked about last time:
Hoof Problems = a great deal - profusely illustrated hardcover with current info UNDER $50! here
Horseshoes.com before & after photo contest here
New Farriers Cards added to HoofPrints online directory, see who they are here
Special selection of caps for farriers here
Horse Woman's Hair control ideas here
Conflicting advice for Horsewomen about being happy - Make something - Clean something - Do Little & more here
PAST NEWSLETTERS - See what you missed! Catch up on the news here
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WHAT'S NEW?
SALE on Spring T's
BIG sale on Springy Horsey T-shirts less than $10 each here! |
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WHAT'S NEW?
FREE Spring Magnet
with every order shipped, while supplies last. Get one withOUT ordering by sending self addressed, stamped LONG envelope to:
HoofPrints Free Magnet Offer
13849 N 200 E
Alexandria, IN 46001
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WHAT'S ON SALE?
MORE stuff 50% OFF
Won't You Fix My Horse, Too? vintage art print $9.95 here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
Dog Business Card
New business card for dog lovers HALF PRICE to shelter workers and volunteers here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
~ Horse Books ~
Horse Tales from Heaven and Heavenly Horse Sense Christian Horse titles here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
~ Christian Products ~
Cowboy & Cowgirl Bible Pocket Partners here |
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WHAT'S NEW?
~ for Horsewomen ~
Horsewoman's Long Tall List of Things to Do here
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WHAT'S GOING ON?
21 days of positivity
We're not frolicking around like the folks in Cavalia, but we're grateful anyway. Details here |
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Message
We LOVE hearing from our customers. You can contact HoofPrints owner Gina Keesling via email at gina@hoofprints.com |
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Find us on facebook
Be sure to LIKE our facebook page - it's where we announce special sales, breaking news and everything else we find interesting. To see it go here |
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Our Current Catalog
Request your copy of HoofPrints Spring Catalog by clicking here |
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Memorable Quote:
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"Quotes found on the internet are not always accurate." ~Abraham Lincoln
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Share our emails
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Viral marketing... it sounds bad, doesn't it?
You can ask my husband - a frequent topic around here is that of forwarded emails - and the psychology behind them - just WHAT prompts people to decide; "I am going to send this to everyone I know!".
We receive a lot of them. Some are pretty good, and others are dumb. Dumb in a myriad of ways... Alarmist email rumors that have been around forever - that folks keep sending "just in case it's true" Pictures of someone's butt (or worse) - don't even get me started about the firecracker butt - but at least that one was timely when it showed up around July 4. Christian messages that are uplifting - until you get to the end and you're threatened "if you're not ashamed that you love Jesus, forward this - if you are, then delete." Pictures of cute puppies and kittens (awww)
I enjoy writing these newsletters - and sharing all this stuff with you all. But the fact is, it's also a way to help us stay connected with customers and sell products during the time between catalog mailings (which is only once a year) So I really, really like it when someone new stumbles upon the newsletter and is excited to "discover" our company and the products we offer.
In all my efforts to make the newsletter interesting and forward-worthy - it never occurred to me to JUST ASK you all to send it! Duh. Sometimes the obvious is elusive, I guess. So here goes - my request to ask you to forward our email newsletter to your horsey friends. All we ask is that you please be judicious and only send to folks who might be interested. Otherwise we are no better than the "firecracker butt". Click to get started. (please note - using this form does NOT subscribe anyone to our list - it is a one-time only forward)
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