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Heartwood
Positive Training
Just Say No To Shock
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Star on MV
When traveling with your dogs, call ahead to a local vet and see what's up in the area. Fleas, ticks, canine illnesses may be waiting for you and your unprepared dog.
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Alex and Ty
Heartwood Center for Body Mind & Spirit
  Heartwood's New Location
1818 Dempster in Evanston

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This one's for humans. Take a little care of yourself.
WORDS OF WISDOM
 


The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants.

   Johnny Depp

Issue:Twelve
September 2010
kona's touch
With Gratitude

As many of you know, I have been running kona's touch, inc from my computer this year. I have been recovering from two major surgeries, and I have seen very few clients, The good news is I AM recovering. I am very excited to be preparing to see clients again and getting back to business as usual. I can't wait. I have been writing and reading and studying and I am so thrilled to begin "clicking" again.

I'd like to thank all of you for your blessings during this "ruff" patch.
It has been a learning experience like none I have had before. I hope I will come out of it with new understanding, compassion and knowledge. It is with knowledge that we continue our path to being the best that we can be, and therefore, continue our path to have kona's touch, inc promote positive training, health and wellness.

Next month look forward to Waggin' Tales 1st year birthday. Yes we have been out for 1 year now. I hope you all will let me know how we can make this the most dog friendly and fun newsletter in print..

Enjoy,

Be gentle, after all isn't that what you would want for your best friend,
Laura Dorfman, CPDT-KA
Owner and Founder
Loose Leash Talkin

Positive Training: A New Generation For Peace                    Sam and Noah Kissing

As my 3 year old great-niece came downstairs this morning full of energy and singing Beatles songs, (love that kid) Little Star and I knew the quiet of the morning was over. Laughter, running, screaming and crying would now take the room. Star was always friendly with kids and we had a lot of them in and out of our house. When Kaiya came, we found we had an issue. Kaiya seemed obsessed with anyone under 10 years old. She couldn't get enough of them and it became a huge problem when my great-niece was born three years ago. The first time they brought the baby over, I thought Kaiya would lose her mind. She'd been around babies before, but not in her house. She tried every way she could to kiss that baby. She jumped, she snuck around chairs, she climbed onto arms and over the back of the couch to get a better look. She was a dog possessed. BTW, she just wanted to lick the baby, not eat it. This was going to be a hard task. It turned out dog and human health issues temporarily postponed working directly on this problem. We just skirted around it the best we could. Yes sometimes "life" even makes it difficult for the dog trainer to keep up. BUT all along we had Kaiya on a working model of many different contrary behaviors to help her with her "excitement" when we have small visitors. Not just kids make Kaiya get "over excited," all visitors put her in "BOING" motion, but kids are multiplied by 1000 and apparently babies by 100,000.

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Healin' News
Bo cute PupJust Say No To Shock

I was recently at a local sports event in my small town. A women was sitting in a folding chair on the sidelines, with a dog in her lap. The dog was shaking like many small dogs do. When I walked by I noticed she was on her cell phone, deep in conversation. Her dog growled at me as I walked pass. It did not seem unusual, many dogs growl in their owners arms as people approach. What did surprise me was the yelp of the dog as he growled at me. She had mindlessly pushed the remote control button in her other hand and given her dog, what seemed like from the yelp, a good size volt of electric shock. It was horrible for me to witness, and even worse knowing I had no chance to help her dog. I checked to see if there were kids around. I didn't want them to witness this horrible act of what many consider animal cruelty .

I was pretty sure she had no idea of what pain she was causing her dog. We continue to be inundated with information from electric collar, and electric fence companies. They lead our uneducated clients and friends to purchase electric training devices. Aversive trainers come into our homes and talk us into purchasing e-collars and e-fences. Then they get a cut from the fence company. Dr. Karen Overall has written many pieces on this subject and here is one that is timeless.  An Open Letter On Shock Collars

We want to let our friends and neighbors know that electric is not an option for well rounded, balanced canine family members in our home. The negative ramifications are endless and none of the results are good or safe for your dog. Please research this decision very carefully. Read everything on the subject, not just the fence company success stories. There are no success stories from using electric shock on your best friend. Don't believe the advertising. Read what the scientists, behaviorists and positive trainers say. Send this news-letter to friends who are considering this option. It is not a good option. On behalf of our canine family members, educate as many people as you can.
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kona's touch offers positive dog and puppy training or consultation for Chicago's North Shore. Our positive training and consultations help you and your dog to create a respectful, loving relationship.
 
At kona's touch, we use peaceful clicker training techniques based on scientific knowledge and years of experience in canine behavior for fun family dog training. For dog training or your personal consultation, call 847-204-7100 or email me at [email protected].

 
Sincerely,

Laura Dorfman, CPDT-KA
kona's touch, inc.