CGC Orientation Demo
November 14th, 2011How to teach: Place
November 14th, 2011How to teach: Touch
November 14th, 2011How to teach: Down
November 14th, 2011How to choose and fit a training collar
November 14th, 2011How-to: Sit
November 9th, 2011Holiday Photos with: Bartlett Image!!
October 26th, 2011
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Join us at Divine K9 on November 6th, from 11am-2pm, for a fun day of Holiday Pet Portraits, and social time!! Package pricing is very reasonable, ranging from $40-60; details are below. Rob Bartlett, of Bartlett Image, will be serving those attending on a first come, first served basis. Have fun while you wait with complementary refreshments and fun games for your pets! Portrait Packages: $40 Print Package- -two 5×7 prints of one image -add on 5×7 prints $5ea -add on wallets $5 pet set $50 Digital Package- -two digital negatives of one image -one low-res to share online -one high-res for unlimited printing -package delivered via email $60 Holiday Card Package- -50 one sided holiday cards with personal greeting -three styles to pick from -50 envelopes included We hope to see you there!! |
Please visit Mutt Magic online at: www.muttmagic.com
One command, one response.
September 30th, 2011Most of us know that issues our dogs have are often related to us, as handlers. I’ll even admit that, in a competition setting, I’ve been told by a judge: “Your dog looks much better off leash than on leash.” Wow. Yes, that means that problems in how my dog performs are my fault! Probably one of the biggest mistakes we make as handlers is repeating ourselves. Our goal with any command should be to obtain one command, one response.
Every time we interact with our dog is a training exercise, whether it’s intended or not. If we ask our dog to “Sit. . .Sit. . .Sit. . .Sit,” our dog is learning that he doesn’t have to sit when told the first time. These repeated commands are not gentle reminders once the dog knows a command, it’s us being ignored! Often, we repeat commands without noticing it. The more aware you are of how many times you say a command, the easier it is to correct yourself. Once your dog has obeyed, think back to the command you just gave, count in your head how many times it was repeated, and be aware of it for next time.
If you find that your dog does not respond the first time you say a command, it may be best to re-teach it from the very beginning, luring them into position, and reinforcing your command one time, after the dog is in position, associating the word with the task. Along these same lines, whenever you go to a new location or provide new distractions, you may find the need to backtrack to more basic training to get the results you’re looking for until your dog has been “proofed” with a large variety of distractions.
Yes, training a dog is more like training ourselves!
To learn more about Mutt Magic, or to sign up for classes, please visit our site at www.muttmagic.com
Henry needs a home!
July 26th, 2011|
Henry needs a home!
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Henry is a 6-year old, male, collie/hound mix, and as you can see he is a cutie! He loves long walks, chasing squirrels, and above all else affection from people. He makes a great running partner (currently runs 3-4 miles a few times per week).
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Henry is neutered and up-to-date on all of his shots. House-trained and knows various commands (sit, down, place, heel, paw, fetch). He is excitable, but well-trained and reliably obedient. Not recommended for a home with children.
If you are interested in adopting Henry, please contact Aja, and she can give you more information on the adoption process. Thank you for reading!
Visit Mutt Magic online: www.muttmagic.com
Hidden Dangers of Summer
June 22nd, 2011In May, 2011, we included a survey regarding summertime heat knowledge. Thank you to those that participated!! If we used majority responses, there was an average of 100% correct answers out of the 10 questions. Great job, it looks like everybody knows how to protect their dogs against summertime dangers! There were only 4 out of 10 responses that all respondents answered the same, however. Let’s take a moment to address all of the answers, both for those that responded, and for those that may be curious about the answers. . .
Question 1: Which of the following are transmittable to humans?
Answer: Hookworms, Tapeworms, and Roundworms are all transmittable to humans. Whipworms are not.
Question 2: What is the cause of heartworms?
Answer: Mosquitoes carry heartworm larvae. Fleas and ticks are not carriers of this parasite.
Question 3: What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke?
Answer: Heat exhaustion comes before heat stroke. Keep reading to learn the signs of each!!
Question 4: How do dogs cool off?
Answer: By panting, and finding a cool, shady area. Even sun-loving dogs will search for a cool spot when they’ve had enough!
Question 5: Securely hooking a bucket in a shaded area, leaving a hose running to it with a trickle is a good way to ensure an outdoor dog has a fresh supply of cool water.
Answer: TRUE! On hot days, water buckets can become hot, especially metal buckets. Ensuring that an outdoor dog has a bucket that is secured from tipping and securely attaching a trickling hose can make sure the water supply is fresh and cold.
Question 6: Turning a fan on is the best way to keep a dog cool.
Answer: FALSE. Dogs cannot sweat, and therefore do not cool as we do when a fan is turned on. Continue reading to learn the best ways to keep a dog cool!
Question 7: The following is a symptom of heat stroke:
Answer: Wide eyes, rapid heavy panting, increased body temperature, bright red mucous membranes and tongue, thickened saliva, and vomiting. (All of the above.)
Question 8: A dog’s normal body temperature is:
Answer: Between 101 and 103 degrees F. Anything above this could be a sign of heat stroke.
Question 9: Veterinary care is critical when the following is noticed:
Answer: Whenever signs of heat exhaustion are present. Re-read question 7 to review these signs.
Question 10: When heat stroke is suspected, it is important to do the following WHILE transporting the dog to a vet:
Answer: Cool belly, inner thighs, paw pads, and tongue, cool the entire body, and stop cooling once the dog’s temperature lowers to 104 degrees F. (All of the above.)
To read a summertime article, by: Dawn Rexroad, please click here. Questions and answers for this survey were taken from this article, which was reviewed by Dr. Charles Lerner for accuracy. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about what you read! Heat can be dangerous, and we’ve had a lot of “code red” days so far this year. Be careful out there. If you’re hot, you’re dog is hot as well!