My experience with Paul Owens DVD, the original "Dog Whisperer"

Fiona playing the "Find It" game

I never realized before what a perfectionist I am.  Not about housecleaning or having the perfect lawn, but more about behavior and getting things done right the first time.  I grew up in a world where nothing could ever be wrong, there was no room for mistakes. 

This mentally has spilled over into working with my dogs. I grew up with the preconceived notion they were suppose to learn everything the first 6 months of their lives and training was done.   When I was working with the dogs and I couldn't get them to understand something the first couple of times, I blamed myself for them not getting it right. I would lose patience and would be frustrated, disappointed and angry with myself and would walk away. As I've painfully tried to undo the damage that was done to me, I began to understand that nothing happens overnight.

Then I found Paul Owens "The Dog Whispherer." when I was struggling with Brut's dominance/aggression issues.  I had already discovered "clicker training" and that was working wonders.  Paul Owen's approach was phenomenal to me.  At the end of every lesson he has three tips.  This one hit home for me and my dogs:

Teach step by step.  Don't go far too fast.
It's good for you, it's good for your dog.

I was always pushing myself so hard to get it right and get it right NOW.  I used to literally bawl through his video.  His methods were based on kindness, compassion and respect which I believed in.  He didn't believe in any kind of pinch, choke or shock collars and neither did I.  The lessons were simple and he believed in short sessions, 30 seconds, 1 minute or 2.  He taught how to teach a behavior in small steps that made it manageable and easy for me and my dogs.  He broke the process down so that it was understandable.

I took Paul Owens' words to heart, probably more for myself than for the dogs.  Still when I hear his kind gentle voice play, it is always a reminder to slow down, step back, breath and start again.

I still use these basic steps and principals when trying to teach anything new to my dogs.  When we had the puppies I was better prepared for handling all 10 of them.  The most import and thing I have learned in the last few years is patience and that we are in this for the long haul.  I certainly haven't learned all of my life lessons in a couple of days, that's why they are called life lessons and I can't expect the dogs to either.

It has been such a rewarding experience being taught such a simple lesson that can carry into every part of my life.  I have been so blessed with the patience and understanding all my dogs have had for me, it is nice to give back what they have given to me.

Paul Owens "The Dog Whisperer" is part the 24 Paws Favorites. 

Monday Memories-Precious moments

I... can't..stay...awake..any...

I still can't resist this picture because it was so cute at the time.  Chance was 3 weeks old, doing his duty and actually fell asleep while trying.    He was having a hard time as the puppies had round worms and we were just getting ready to treat the puppies for them.  

We treated them at 3, 5 and 7 weeks old.   Puppies are born with round worms and the get them through their mother's milk. Silver wouldn't stop nursing at 8 weeks, so we were back to the vet for more treatment.  I'd always wondered how the mother got them, because we had Silver checked before she got pregnant.  The vet told me that round worms lay dormant in the muscles until the mother gets pregnant and then they become active and migrate to the mammary glands and the placenta where it carries through the blood supply to the fetus, liver and lungs.

Little facts you may not have known.

                 We ending up having to separate Silver from her puppies to stop the round worm cycle. 

  

That age old question...

CHANCE, WHERE'S MY CUCUMBER?

I GOT IT MOM.  IT WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY!!

Bear-Bear, Husky play and Saturday Blog Hop

Have you ever seen Huskies (or even almost Huskies) play? This is in response to Bear-Bear, a Husky who was shot and killed by an officer. You can read the story here.

Here is an example of how Huskies play.  This is Blaze and Chance just warming up.

After a couple of rounds of this easy play, things really begin to heat up in this next video.

This is their playtime.  Note the open mouths that never touch and the noises they make alone are enough to make us run out to see if everything is OK.

   

SHOOTING AND KILLING THE DOG WAS STEPPING WAY OVER THE LINE.

WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WARRANTS AN OFFICER TO KILL AND SHOOT A DOG WITHOUT USING SOME OTHER METHOD FIRST.   

Our deepest regards and prayers to Bear-Bear and his family. 

Rest in Peace Bear-Bear

24 PAWS OF LOVE

Breaking the rules

My husband, Mark and I have very different views how we interact with our pets.  Mark never had pets as a kid, so he is like one big kid with them.  He thinks everything they do is comical and hilarious, even the bad things like sticking their noses near his plate.  He is horrible at discipline, because he is always laughing.  He can not be serious around them.  I swear all I do is correct everything he undoes while he is home.  lol  All the dogs know they can get away with anything when Daddy is home.   

I on the other hand grew up with pets and and a household where discipline was a must.  No dogs on the couch, in the kitchen, on the bed and don't even think of looking at my plate.  Growing up with such strict rules in regards to the pets carried over into my adulthood.  I learned the earlier you start to discipline a puppy the better.  Then we got Silver and she started to help me break the rules.

Oh, did you want to sit here?

As soon as she was big enough to, she was on the couch.  I loved that.  Nothing like cuddling with my little girl watching TV, but she still wasn't allowed on the bed.  Then when the puppies came along, we had one little puppy named Angel who would sneak out of the whelping box (she was the only one who figured it out) and get up on the bed and cuddle with me.  It was like heaven.  Her warm puppy kisses waking me up.  I'd always wanted to sleep with my animals when I was kid, but wasn't allowed.

Zappa and Fiona look down as Zappa gets "the look" from Brut.

"Kids rule and Dad drools!" 

My husband had overnight work and didn't want me sleeping alone.  Since Brut and Silver weren't allowed on the bed and couldn't get them up there when we tried, we let Zappa and Fiona on the bed.  It was great.  They were only about 3 months old and they snuggle tight up against me.  Although I don't know how great a sleep I got as I became locked in position all night. There were nights it became terribly difficult to move as they grew, but eventually we learned to shift together.

I still don't let any of the animals near my plate, but I might share a bite after, another thing that was forbidden growing up.  Mark always saves enough for everyone, every time.  He started a traditional when we just had Alex and Silver of a bone or chew treat every night.  The tradition continues as he is always finding goodies for all of them.  We have a stash in the kitchen, basement and garage.  They all know what it means when the wolf  "cookie jar" howls. It is snack time.

So while I'm learning to loosen up my rules with the animals, Mark is trying to be more serious with his discipline.  We are quite the ying and yang with the pets and with most things really.  I'm more the dog's leader while Mark brings the childlike wonder and fun into the mix, giving us a balance that seems to work.

Any "rules" you've broken from childhood or getting another pet?        

A Correction

We have a correction that has come to our attention, (by needle sharp claws kneading my thighs) that I must address.  It seems we have been misleading everyone with our "24 PAWS OF LOVE"  blog. A clear understatement.  (staring at bloody legs).   

The correction:  We actually have 32 Paws and 2 webbed feet in our household.

We are apologize for leading any one astray or grievances this may have caused.  Without further ado, Here is Boxer, Princess Leia and Luigi.  (OK, Boxer, you can get off my legs now!)

Boxer and Fiona  (Mom just had to get the dog in there)

Princess Leia, the She-Warrior

    

Princess Leia and Boxer

Indoor cats, hmph!  Who ever came up with that lame brain idea??

Luigi

Look at what a stud I am. 

Blaze's beauty

Blaze showing off in her harness. 

Somewhere in Blaze's blood is a natural born sled dog.  She may technically have 1/4 Lab in her, but her temperament and disposition is all Husky.  This goes along with the drive she has to pull.  I have been told that not all Huskies have this drive, but when they do it is all they live for.

When we first got her back, I put on a harness and tie a small log for her to drag, she didn't even notice.  Never once turned around to look at it, just wanted to go faster.  After that I tied her to my 3-wheel bike I use for pulling and she never thought twice about what she was doing.  She was the first dog I never had to teach "how" to pull, she just did it.  I still have to work with her on commands, turning, stopping (very important, lol) and just plain listening to me, but she's smart enough to catch on quick.

Watching her run while she pulls is like watching water flow.  I've never witnessed a dog pull with such fluid and graceful movements.  She moves effortlessly, agile and with strength.  Her body is sleek and smooth and rises and falls like that of a gentle wave.  She becomes very focused, almost a completely different dog, and you can feel the ghosts from the centuries of this old tradition riding along beside you.  It literally takes your breath away.

There is nothing more beautiful than watching a dog do what it was born to to.  There is nothing more amazing than finding and unlocking that gift and watch it come to blossom.  And there is nothing like watching Blaze pull a sled in the middle of snowstorm and the beauty of watching her be the Husky she is.         

Monday Memories-2 week old pups

The puppies here are two weeks old, their eyes and ears are still closed and everything they know is by touch and smell. 

As you can see, Motherhood agrees with Silver...

These darn kids!  Payback is hell Brut!

Here's a common feeding time.  See how they are pushing their little paws to get right up to the teat.  They made a suckling noise and oohs and ahhs while eating. 

One, two, three, pump them legs!

Now here we have the diver.  See the white pup with his tail sticking up?  The puppies would take turns  climbing to the top of the heap and then "dive" into the pack trying to find a teat. 

Bombs away!

There are just a few left finishing up.  The white pups were the "pigs" of the bunch.  The started first and ended last.  Never missing a drop. 

Full bellies, getting ..very...sleepy

This is one of my favorites photos.  This is Zappa on the left, snuggled with his "twin" Blaze on the right.  You can see where Blaze gets her name.  Her blaze eventually faded, but it is still there.  The white on Zappa eventually splits in two so that he has a line on his forehead and a very faint one on his nose. 

I love you brother.  I love you sissy.