As part of its mission, AnnaBelle's has always been dedicated to community involvement and being a good corporate citizen. We've recently been connecting with local residents and business using the #lovelansing hashtag on Twitter, with amazing results. So, we've decided to energize our community involvement by combining it with our social networking efforts.  

We've named it AnnaBelle's #LoveLansing Community Initiative. As part of our new #lovelansing community initiative, we're having a monthly raffle. The prize - a free dog grooming from AnnaBelle's professional pet stylist, Michelle van Kleef - will be awarded on the first day of each month. The price of tickets is one ticket for $1, five tickets for $3, or 10 tickets for $5.  

One-hundred percent of all raffle proceeds will be donated to the local charity of the winner's choice. Winners can select from a list of charities that we'll be compiling or can pick their own favorite local charity. Tickets will be available for purchase Monday through Friday at AnnaBelle's! We #Lovelansing and hope you do too! Suggestions for charities to be on the list? Send us a tweet or email angela@coolcitydogs.com.  

Dogs Enjoy Second Home at
AnnaBelle's in #LoveLansing! 

Author: Ameerah Gillespie · argillespi@lsj.com · December 21, 2010 · From Lansing State Journal  

If there's one thing that Benny loves to do, it would be taking care of his pack. Out of a class of 80, he's established his spot as the popular pint-size in the room."I love Benny, the little Chihuahua that started with us," said Ann Andrews, 59, who is one of the co-owners of AnnaBelle's Pet Station in downtown Lansing. "He's so funny when his dad comes to pick him up, his dad will hold his little crate and Benny literally jumps from there right into it."Benny is among many cool city dogs that attend AnnaBelle's for training, grooming and regular day care. Thus the name @coolcitydogs on Twitter, a regular pro-Lansing voice in social media.

The one-stop pet drop dream turned to reality in 2009 with the help of partner Angela Brown. Andrews and Brown were lawyers at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn law firm in Lansing. But the distance to take her dogs to day care became an issue for Andrews. "We were both in the litigation section doing arbitrations and trials and depositions and all the things that litigators do," Andrews said.Andrews stated that she and Brown have new jobs in law, but they've freed up enough time to work at AnnaBelle's during evenings and weekends.

Andrews said one of the main reasons people give up their dogs are due to behavioral issues. Both Brown and Andrews said they want to change that by teaching dogs social skills. No matter how big. No matter what kind."The thing that touches my heart is to see a dog that comes in that's fearful, reactive and to finish up the six-week class you know, happy and anxious to come here," Andrews said.

Day Care Depot Supervisor Erica Kaplan

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Your Dog Nose Fun!  

SEEKING the Master Emotion

seek |sēk|

verb (past sought |sôt|) [trans.]

attempt to find (something): they came here to seek shelter from biting winter winds.

· attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something): the new regime sought his extradition | [intrans.] her parents had never sought to interfere with her freedom.

· ask for (something) from someone: he sought help from the police.

· (seek someone/something out) search for and find someone or something: it's his job to seek out new customers.

This is what most of us think of when we here the word "seek." But what many of us don't know is that SEEKING is a basic animal emotion that drives much of the behaviors we see in our dogs.

In her book, Animals Make Us Human, Creating The Best Life For Animals, Temple Grandin discusses the work of one of her mentors, Dr. Jaak Panksepp, a neuroscientist at Washington State University.  Dr. Panksepp wrote the book, Affective Neuroscience, where he identifies and names the core emotional systems of the animal and human brain.  He called these systems the "blue-ribbon emotions," finding that well-organized behavior sequences can be generated with electrical stimulation of localized areas of the brain. So, when you stimulate the "fear" system, you get a snarling, biting animal and when you stimulate the SEEKING system of the brain, you get a animal that starts moving forward, exploring and sniffing its environment.

These core "blue-ribbon emotions" are SEEKING, FEAR, PANIC, LUST, CARE, and PLAY.  Some of these are well known, but SEEKING is probably new to most of us.

So what exactly is SEEKING?  Dr. Panksepp defines SEEKING as "the basic impulse to search, investigate, and make sense of the environment."  It's a combination of things we usually think of as different concepts: "wanting" something good, "looking forward" to something good, and curiosity. Both Dr. Panksepp and Temple Grandin speculate that SEEKING may be a type of "master emotion." SEEKING is about looking forward to something good, not having something good. This system is probably to blame for most of the marital infidelity in us humans, but it's about survival in our dogs.

So, now think about your dog.  Is this SEEKING "emotional system" strong in your dog?  I would dare to guess that it is.  Would you like to give your dog a safe outlet to practice and fulfill this emotional system?  If so, there's a new dog sport sweeping the nation that centers on your dog's natural scenting ability and desire to SEEK good things like food or toys.

The training for this sport is simple and immediately rewarding. With "Box Games," your dog is allowed enter a secured area with no other dogs and encouraged to SEEK, explore, and search for their favorite treat, toy or ball among mostly empty cardboard boxes. As handler, you take the back seat, only intervening to keep your dog in the designated area, while your dog does what it does best ... use its nose to find food. Trainer/Helpers will work to keep your dog interested and help them learn to rely on their noses instead of their human "tool." All interactions are positive and non-threatening. And your dog will come away happy, satisfied, and often tired.

Sign up today for Your Dog Nose Fun! SEEKING the Master Emotion. Be one of the first in the area to experience this fun new, rewarding  dog sport!

Dawn has written articles on the All Important Dog Walk, the benefits of Clicker Training, and What is Shaping and Why Should You Use This Training Technique With Your Dog? 

Follow Dawn on Twitter! Find out what's going on in Dawn's clicker classes and get clicker training news and updates.

 RALLY - THE BRIDGE BETWEEN CGC TO COMPETITIVE OBEDIENCE - AND NO PEDIGREE REQUIRED!  

All About Rally® from the American Kennel Club®: 

"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.  

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. Rally provides a link from the Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) program to obedience or agility competition, both for dogs and handlers. In addition, rally promotes fun and enjoyment for dogs at all levels of competition.

What is Rally?

AKC Rally is the new dog sport that is taking the nation by storm, a successful stepping stone from the AKC Canine Good Citizen® program to the world of obedience or agility. Rally offers both the dogs and handlers an experience that is fun and energizing. The canine team moves at their own pace, very similar to rally-style auto racing. Rally was designed with the traditional pet owner in mind, but it can still be very challenging for those who enjoy higher levels of competition. A rally course includes 10 to 20 stations, depending on the level. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience. Communication between handler and dog is encouraged and perfect heel position is not required, but there should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler. The main objective of rally is to produce dogs that have been trained to behave in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs, in a manner that will reflect positively on the sport of rally at all times and under all conditions.

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible to compete in AKC Rally trials, a dog must be: Registered with the AKC or listed with the AKC Purebred Alternative Listing/Indefinite Listing Privilege (PAL/ILP) program, or a Foundation Stock Service (FSS) recorded breed that meets the eligibility requirements for competition.

6 months of age or older.

The Purebred Alternative Listing/Indefinite Listing Privilege (PAL/ILP)

Dogs of any breed recognized by the AKC that do not have registration papers or known parents may qualify for a Purebred Alternative Listing/Indefinite Listing Privilege (PAL/ILP). PAL/ILP dogs may participate in certain AKC events, such as obedience, agility, tracking, rally and many performance events. Photos are required to prove the dog is a registerable breed. The dog must be spayed or neutered. For more information about the PAL/ILP program, visit the PAL/ILP section on the AKC web site, or e-mail questions to PAL@akc.org." As of April 1, 2010, the AKC, through its Canine Partners program, now allows mixed breed dogs to compete in Agility, Rally, and Obedience events. *Note:  The UKC (United Kennel Club) allows mixed breed dogs for either agility or rally, and some other performance based events: UKC Agility Rulebook and UKC Rally Rulebook.

Want to learn more and get your dog involved in Rally?  Carol Hein-Creger of the Canine Training Center is offering a beginning Rally class, starting Feb. 17, 2011! Six week class is only $99. Sign up now - space is limited! Carol Hein-Creger has been training dogs and their owners for over 30 years.  She has trained thousands of people, including many local dog trainers, and is a seasoned competitor and handler.   

Check out Carol's upcoming class schedule - classes start the week of February 14, 2011. In addition to Rally, this coming term, Carol is offering ABC: Agility Builds Confidence I and II, Follow My Lead: Puppy, Follow My Lead: Beginner, Follow My Lead: Intermediate, and Refined Canine. 

ANGIE FALCSIK WINTER/SPRING CLASSES  

Check out Angie's nosework videos to see what it's all about and how you can have this much fun with your dog!

Level 1 Scent Games: Fun With Obstacles reinforces the foundational concepts learned in Intro to Scent Games taking the game to a new
level by increasing the intricacy of the game. Dogs will learn
problem solving while having fun!. This class is for any type
of dog, regardless of breed, size or temperament, and is great for shy or reactive dogs (to other dogs or people),
dogs with social or anxiety preventing them from joining typical training classes, dogs with impairments, or those who are in need of a 'job' to keep them busy and happy. The primary goal is fun! Where dogs get to be dogs. Dogs work independently of each other and with their team handler. Bring treats and toys. 4 week class.  Sun. March 13-April 3, 5-6:30 pm.

Language & Leadership K9 Obedience Class: This class focuses on enhancing the relationship between owner and dog utilizing pack leadership, body language, and positive reinforcement techniques. Angie's training style also takes into account breed, personality, and temperament of the dog as well as the owner's abilities.  You will learn the importance of establishing rules and boundaries, along with exercise and how to enforce and put these essential aspects of responsible dog ownership into your lives. Your dog will learn the basics such as heel, sit, wait, down, and come, along with additional training and rehabilitation measures specific to your dog and family. Two day workshop:  Feb. 26-27, Sat. 11-1 pm & Sun 11-1:30 pm. 4 week class $99. Saturdays, March 19-April 9, 12-1:30 p.m.

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