At long last, a new newsletter. I"ll try to get them out more often in the future. Summer is always busy for everyone, me included. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer and their families and their dogs. There's nothing like summer so let's enjoy it while we can.

  

Thanks for all who had to have class up in the front of the store a while back. We are now training in the garage in the back for the next couple months. Feel free to bring cool drinks for yourself. I will try to have water for the dogs. I am trying my best to make it dog and owner friendly. I'm open to suggestions.  Thanks for your patience. Also a big thanks for enduring my hoarse voice. I think I strained my vocal cords teaching 24 classes a week and trying to yell over the fans and dogs. Or it's allergies as it gets worse after rain, I'm not sure though, I'm not a doctor, just a dog trainer.

 

Be sure to bring treats for your dog to class. I always have some but bring some extra special good ones because the distractions in class are bigger than kibble or milkbones. You want to be worth paying attention to. Maybe bring a couple different ones so mid way through class when your dog is losing interest, you have some thing wonderful to reinterest him. Later, in the higher levels we will talk about life rewards and such so you won't be carrying around treat bags for 15 years.

 

Thanks for all the referrals. You know who you are. My business grows the most from word of mouth. I have had a lot of new clients recently referred by happy clients. Thanks so much for helping my business grow! And my dogs thank you too. They love to eat.  

 

I'm thinking of having a Leash Walking in the Park class this Fall. We would walk together as a group at a local park and stop for training tips and breaks. And of course-play! Shoot me an email at playfulpooches@msn.com if you are interested. If enough people want to join, we may do it.  I will just charge by the week and offer a discount if you want to buy multiple weeks up front.  

 

Always here for you and your dog,

 

Lydia McCarthy 

 

P.S. Can't resist a cute German Shepherd pic. If you would like to send me pics of your dog, I will try to include a few pictures each newsletter of our wonderful students, both current and past.  

 

We have lots to celebrate! Here are the great dogs that did great things recently:

 

AKC Star Puppy:Lois, MIcah, Jessie, Maggie, Rocky, Hailee, Kleyo, Skitzle, Abigail 

 

 

 

Canine Good Citizen: Hava, Lilly, Toby, Jessie, Leo, Bailey, Gracie, Bruce, Jojo

 

 

Almost (soon to be) Canine Good Citizen-Honorable Mention:  Kona, Peppy, Ella, Rory

 

 

Graduates: 

Puppy-Lois, Rocky, Kleyo, Micah, Jessie, Skitzle 

 

Adults-Lilly, Bailey, Kona, Peppy, Bruce, Gracie, Jojo, Leo, Hava

 

This is a question all owners should think about before getting a dog. Some breeds require tons of exercise and training. Some breeds are natural lapdogs. Some breeds are bred to be working dogs from sunup to sundown. Some breeds need room to run. Some are content with a daily walk. All dogs are different but there are alot of tendencies in breed lines.

 

My best advice to you is to talk to owners of the breed you are considering. Look up breed clubs and talk to them. Talk to vets, groomers, breeders and trainers about the breed you are thinking about. Take your time and make an informed decision. Learn all about the good, the bad and the ugly. This way your dog can be happy and balanced in his new home because his owner is well informed. You will enjoy your dog more and your whole household will live in harmony. 

Hey, I know it's a little late for this. Summer has it's own busyness and no newsletter was issued in July. But lots of you were on vacation anyway, right? We still have lots of warm weather left so here's some tips for the best time of the year.

 

Watch your dog around water: pools, lakes, ocean. Don't assume they can swim. Optimally get them a life jacket. Then you know they will be safe. You can also use a lead line or lunge line of 10, 20 or 30 ft. Keep the end on your wrist for safety. There are sometimes dropoff or sinkholes and you want to be careful. Or your dog can get tired and can't swim back to shore. 

 

Watch out for heat exhaustion. Always bring water for your dog wherever you go. I would advise bringing water from home or bottled water, whatever your dog is used to to avoid stomach upset-just like humans. Dogs regulate their body temperature by panting and the pads of their feet. Bring a spray bottle to cool them when they get hot. Spray the tummies and pads of feet with tepid water (not cold water) This will help bring the temperatures down.

 

Do not leave your dog in the car in this weather. Car temperatures can rise in a matter of moments and you can lose your dog. I saw this recently in a store parking lot. I didn't know the dog was in the car till the people approached and mentioned that they forgot the dog was in the car and there they were (5 of them) and a basket full of groceries. They opened the doors and he was moving but I'm not so sure he was okay. Had I seen him before they came out of the store, I'd have called the police. They know how to open locked doors faster than I could have broken the window.

 

Fleas and ticks. Need I say more. I hate both of them and both are bad for you and your dog. Make sure your dog is protected. Whether you use Frontline, CedarCide or a natural herb, be on the lookout as this is the time of year for them.

 

Watch out for your dog drinking from lakes and ponds. There is always danger of bacteria or giardia. You will know as your dog will have diarrhea and/or vomiting. Bring your own water and you will be sure not to have to deal with that.

 

And one more: poisons. Toadstool mushrooms can be very dangerous. If your dog eats some or ingests some of the spores, take him to the vet. Toadstool mushrooms are the kind that if you kick at them, dust (spores) flys around. Also beware of acorns, buckeyes and walnuts. They could also harm your dog.   

 

After all that, try to have a great rest of the summer and warm weather. There are so many fun activities this time of year: hiking, swimming, ball games, picnics, Frisbee, vacations, bubbles, agility games. Just be sure your dog is safe.   

 

I know this might sound simple and like common knowledge but just so everyone knows this. Physical punishment is not something dogs know by instinct. They do not hit each other out in the wild. First, it destroys your dog's trust in you. It can destroy your relationship, too. Second, it teaches them that is the way we resolve conflict is to exert physical power over  (hit) each other. That is never the way to resolve a conflict with canines or humans. Third, it's abusive. They are a lower species of animal with a smaller brain. Seriously, if your dog is not doing what you ask or doing what you don't want it to do, look at your training first. Are you consistent? Every day? All members of your family? Do you practice with your dog every day? Do you have my cell phone number in your training papers so you can call me if you need immediate help? Call me instead of resorting to physical punishment. There are so many other options and methods. I want you and your dog to be best friends. Now I'll get off my soapbox.

Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. The judge tells the handler to begin, and the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 - 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience.

The team of dog and handler moves continuously at a brisk, but normal, pace with the dog under control at the handler's left side. There should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler both during the numbered exercises and between the exercise signs; however, perfect "heel position" is not required. Any faults in traditional obedience that would be evaluated and scored as a one-point deduction or more should be scored the same in Rally, unless otherwise mentioned in the Rally Regulations. After the judge's "Forward" order, the team is on its own to complete the entire sequence of numbered signs correctly.

Unlimited communication from the handler to the dog is to be encouraged and not penalized. Unless otherwise specified in these Regulations, handlers are permitted to talk, praise, encourage, clap their hands, pat their legs, or use any verbal means of encouragement. Multiple commands and/or signals using one or both arms and hands are allowed; the handler's arms need not be maintained in any particular position at any time. The handler may not touch the dog or make physical corrections. At any time during the performance, loud or harsh commands or intimidating signals will be penalized.
www.akc.org