Wordless Wednesday

I can't believe I have to write this post

Some of my readers know that I was targeted awhile back by another trainer and online "stalked" so to speak by her. I had simply put forth another viewpoint on training and education and instead of simply disagreeing and attempting an adult dialogue about it, she got insulted and started attacking me. This happened through this site, another site and through e-mail. It was online bullying at it's best. She is the reason I, and others in my bloglist, had to go to moderated comment status.

Sadly it wasn't just myself either, she routinely attacks other positive method trainers, and pet owners, as well. Basically anyone she disagreed with. Now she has been banned from a public pet site due to her conduct there. This is a professional trainer mind you. (Remember how I said anyone can hang a shingle due to this being an unregulated field?) Part of me is bummed about it because in all her posts there people could see for themselves how this all started. It was proof of my own actions as well as hers. I had reached the point of realization that an adult conversation wasn't possible so I had stopped interactions with her. (Don't reinforce what you do not want for behavior after all.)

But that is not the reason for this post. This is instead an open message to her: Be aware that posting comments under another trainers name on other websites IS traceable!! Your ISP can be tracked. That means my own ISP will be the same as well. So I can also prove when something is sent by me or not. Online pretending can only go so far. So it is easy to prove the area (at the very least) that something gets posted from. Because apparently you are unaware of this fact.

Now how ridiculous is it that I have to write this post at all. But this is what we, the people she has targeted, are dealing with. I just do not know another way to address the issue. I find the whole thing repulsive that I am forced to sink to this level as a way to protect myself. (and speak up for others)

It is mindboggling that this is an issue at all. If this trainer believes in her training program so strongly why is she wasting time with this other stuff? Heck I am not even in her area! I just don't get it. And I find it all very sad. I am sad to waste readers time on this but I have no other way to get this info out to her because I refuse to e-mail her and do NOT want any more e-mails from her. I have had enough.

So if ANYONE gets a message from me, or other trainers that seem hateful or unprofessional, check it out. It may not be from the actual trainer in question, but a part of a this woman's attack plan.

Sad, sad, sad.

Snow Day!

Missy is not impressed.

Score 1 for us.

This is one very lucky cat.

This poor cutie was delivered to us by a local animal control officer to be euthanized. She was a stray that the shelter couldn't take in due to space issues. Well it turns out she is also quite pregnant. We took pity on her since she is friendly, healthy and very adoptable. Fortunately for her there is a cat rescue in the area that specializes in pregnant homeless mothers that made space for her when we plead her case. As a hat tip to the season we named her Holly. It was a great team effort by our staff and it makes me happy that I work at such a place. The rescue promised us an update after delivery.

I do love a happy ending.

How To Train A Dog Not To Chew Everything-Stop A Destructive Chewing Dog

In the dog world, the act of chewing seems to be a matter of individual taste. Some dogs like to chew and will chew everything they can get their little paws on, and some dogs could care less about chewing, and will only do so if they are bored to tears. If you are unlucky enough to own a dog that loves to chew, then you know that the phrase "destructive chewing" is just a tad redundant. Any chewing the dog does is going to be destructive. So, how do you stop destructive chewing?

We will get to that in a moment. First, we should tell you why dogs chew. Here are the three main reasons:

- Most dogs have a natural desire to chew. They just can't help themselves. It's fun, and in many cases, what the dog is chewing tastes good to them.

- For an anxious or nervous dog, chewing provides relief and comfort. Chewing for a dog is just like comfort food for a human.

- Chewing expends nervous energy or relieves boredom for a dog. Dogs need something to do, and if you are not exercising your dog enough, chewing is a great release for them.

Rest assured, if you have a dog that likes to chew and is into destructive chewing, it is for one of these reasons. Your dog is NOT chewing just to make you mad, to see your reaction, or to get back at you when you leave them alone. Really.

Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to stop destructive chewing. Here are the top six steps to stop a dog from chewing:

1. Dog proof your home. The best rule is this: If it's on the floor it belongs to the dog, anything else belongs to you. It is fairly simple to teach your dog this rule. Remember though, that food doesn't work in this equation. Dogs are opportunistic and will grab any food they can get, if they think they can get away with it.
Items that are still within a dog's reach might be sacrificed until your dog learns the boundaries, so if you are not going to use the "on the floor is your rule", you need to put anything away you don't want chewed up.

2. Don't set up your dog for failure by blurring the boundaries between her stuff and your stuff. Don't give her one of your old shoes, and then expect her to no the difference between the shoes she can chew and the shoes she can't chew.

3. Don't let your dog feel the joy of illegal chewing in the first place. Keep your dog confined in a dog proofed area until you have taught him the difference between your stuff and his stuff.

4. Spend a lot of time in active supervision of your dog, and make sure she gets plenty of exercise. Remember, this isn't a goldfish you own, and your dog requires companionship.

5. Provide your dog with lots of tasty alternatives to chew on. Toys and treats work really well. Most dogs do have the desire to chew, and if you own a puppy, the need is even more pronounced.

6. When you do catch your dog chewing on something they aren't supposed to, interrupt the behavior by making a loud noise, like clapping your hands , or yell out "Oi" or “Ah-ah-aaaah!”. Immediately provide your dog with one of his toys and praise him as soon as it is in his mouth.

The final word on how to stop your dog from chewing stuff up is to be realistic with your expectations. Your dog is going to mistakes, and needs time to learn the rules.

For more information on all dog training problems and dog training techniques from A to Z please visit This Website

Train A Dog Like The Dog Whisperer

If you are a pet owner and haven't been living under a rock for the last few years, you know who the dog whisperer is. In case you haven't seen the TV show, Cesar Millan is the dog whisperer, the ultimate dog trainer, and each week he is introduced to, and trains in just a few minutes, some of the worst behaved dogs in the world. How does he do it?

There are some who would say that his shows are staged, and of course they are to an extent. If you really pay attention to his shows, however, you will see that he DOES have this certain way with almost all dogs. Fortunately for you, this big secret of his really isn't a big secret at all. If he were here, he would probably be the first to admit it. The secret of the dog whisperer is this: he understands dog behavior, he understands a dog's absolute need for a lot of exercise, and he understands "people behavior".

The reason the dog whisperer is the ultimate dog trainer is that he understands and uses a dogs pack mentality and the basic form of dog communication: body language. This is really the basic secret to dog training, understanding that dogs communicate with body language, and they react to their human owners body language more than anything else. Most dogs will operate on instinct, and a lot of their habits are nothing more than the result of the rules of the pack. What you need to understand is that most of the "bad habits" your dog has are the result of your behavior, not becuase you just own a "bad dog". Another important point here is that, although it may seem lke it sometimes, dogs do not do things to get even with you or just to upset you! Virtually everything a dog does has its root cause in a dog's instinct or is the result of your actions or your reactions to a dog's behavior.

What all this means is that learning to train your dog is nothing more than asserting yourself as the alpha dog in the pack, and learning to communicate with your dog via body language, and understanding your dog's body language.

It sounds complicated, but like the TV show, it is really a short and fairly simple process.

Get more information on Dog Training from A To Z by visiting Kingdom of Pets

Wordless Wednesday

So sayith the Moo.