Callie

Callie was my first dog. She was the dog that every boy dreams about. Today would have been her 17th birthday, and this year, like every year, I will celebrate her and the relationship that we had. In her honro I'll give my current (and also magnificent) dog an extra hug and a wrestle and thank God for every minute I can scrounge with these animals.

They deserve far better than they receive. After all, they have to put up with us.

Paracord bracelets, lanyards, keyfobs, and leash wraps!

Awhile ago I decided that I really wanted to make a leash and collar for my dog. This was like, 3 years ago. Well, I finally got around to learning about knots and ropework and made some stuff.

There's the small bracelet:


I'll be selling these for $5. Lots of colors will be available - as will plastic side-release buckle closure.

And there's the large bracelet:


The large bracelet will have all the same options as the small bracelet, with a few key additions - for example:


THe large bracelets will be $8, with compasses etc. being additional. There are also lots of choices for knife lanyards and keychains, knid of like this:


You'll be able to pick lengths, colors, styles, glow beads, other beads... They're going to start at $3. The sky's the limit with these. And last but not least are the leash wraps - I'm really proud of these. Lots of colors. With or without the carabiner.

The leash wraps will start at $10 (plus the cost of the leash). Adding the carabiner to a wrap will vary in cost depending on the carabiner.

Hopefully I'll have more cord soon to show all the options for colors etc. soon!

Get this!

You had better sit down for this one: There are at least 2 people who read these posts! I honestly can't believe it. And they have questions. I can't believe that either.

First up, I still am working on the (long) article about socialization and its importance. There has been a lot of crazy stuff going on here at home (none of which is pup related, unfortunately) that has been keeping me from turning my notes into actual coherent material. But I'm working on it, I swear.

Second, I've recieved several messages re: the pup who was found leashed to my car door. He's doing great! Literally the day after I found him he was adopted (dogs with "stories" don't usually last long in rescue) by a young couple that seemed very nice. They were both raised with dogs, but Kirby (the name they gave him) was to be their "first" dog. I felt no trepidation about them, and I don't think Kirby did either.

And last, my full on training site is still in its infancy. I find that I'm totally overwhelmed by everything that I want it to do - so much so that I'm paralyzed by choice. I just need to get my stuff together and put something up.

I'm also working on some homemade leash and collar projects, as well as lanyards, key fobs, bracelets, and bookmarks. Pics are coming.

First time in a long time...

Man. I've been busy.

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

- Unknown

I am speechless.

While I was at work today, something truly horrible happened. Someone tied a dog to the passenger door handle of my car. I have never seen this dog before in my life. I understand that times are tough, and I understand that people in my community know me for my dogs, but please don't just leave them outside! The worst part is I honestly don't know how long the pup was out there.

I just can't believe that someone could do this.

As seen on a Frisbee at PetSmart:

To err is human. To forgive, canine.

Now that is something I can definitely fetch.

Why don't we socialize our dogs? Part 2.

Here's the thing: No matter what you tell yourself, chances are the way your dog behaves in social situations is not "normal," or "ok," or "he's just excited," or "she's just really shy." Dogs, just like people, are individuals. Individuals who react differently when confronted or thrust into new situations.

Can you predict how your dog will react, given the situation?

I feel that this is step one. Once you have a good feeling as to how your dog will react, you can plan accordingly!

So think about it - think about every possible situation you can put your dog into - walks in the neighborhood, the pet store, the dog park, the vet's office, etc. Then answer the following questions:

How does my dog act in each situation (excited/nervous/agitated/etc.)?

How does my dog react to my input/commands in each situation?

How might I change or correct my dog's behavior in the given situation?

What factors can/can't be accounted for?

And these are just to get you started. Be prepared! You have so much more control over your dog's behavior than you realize, and it begins the moment you leave your home. This is not something to be left up to chance - it really is up to you.

In the next Don't Think. Just Dog. post we'll be going over some strategies to help keep socialization as positive and productive as possible.

How do you walk your tiny dog?

All dogs need to be walked, and not just for exercise! Walking is, in this trainer's opinion, one of the single best bonding experiences to be had with any dog, regardless of size or shape.

It breaks my heart that so many owners, and their dogs, are deprived of this.

And unfortunately it seems that the smaller the dog, the less the dog gets walked. Now I don't know if this is because the owners figure that small dogs = small exercise, which can be true in some cases, but more often that not it is because the dog is in the owners arms, or a purse, or in their coat, or in their - well, you get the idea.

I know they're cute. I know they're cuddly.

I know that it is much easier to carry them than it is to walk them, but they still need to be walked.

That being said, most of these dogs don't know what it means to be walked on a leash. Some pull way out in front leading the charge, while others shut down and refuse to move at all. And it is in these situations that owners are more than likely going to pick up their dogs and continue on their way without a second thought.

So how do we teach little dogs leash manners? No one likes to bend over the entire trip around the block (using treats to keep the dog in place), and there is simply too much leash required to "lock in" the dog (by lock in I mean using as little leash as possible to limit freedom while still remaining comfortable).

So I guess this is an open call to all of you out there with tiny dogs: How do you walk them? What works/has worked for you in the past? Any helpful hints as to breaking the dog-carrying habit?

Why don't we socialize our dogs? Part 1.

The greater majority of the dogs that I see on a daily basis have negative behaviors that can be attributed to a lack of proper socialization.

Whoa. What does that even mean?

It means that the dog has not learned, or rather, has not been taught, what type of behavior is appropriate for a given "social" situation.

Still confused? I think I am too. Think about it this way:

How do you become a better basketball player? A better typist? A salesman? How do you earn straight A's in school? How do you make a relationship work?

I'll let you ponder it for a minute...

The answer? Practice. Hard work. Repetition. Luck. Instruction. Talent. Understanding. Trust. Guidance.

Right now I know you're thinking "But my dog does fine is social situations! He/she's a really friendly dog!"

Awesome. Congratulations. But have you ever thought about why?

I always use athletes as examples. Michael Jordan would not be Michael Jordan if he didn't practice. What would he be like if he never had any coaching or instruction at all? He was blessed with almost limitless talent to be sure, but he also had family and coaches and teachers and teammates who fostered and nurtured that talent. And you can be sure that MJ was never satisfied with "good," or "fine."

So How did your dog become this exceptional citizen? Think really hard. What have you done to bring him/her to this point (it's ok to brag yourself up a bit here)? Chances are, you have actually done a lot. Granted, you might a very happy social dog to begin with - but that doesn't mean that there isn't room for improvement.

Next on Don't Think. Just Dog: More on socialization and what it means for us as owners.