Weekend Pooch Parade Fun

I do not usually dress my dogs up, but sometimes you just go with it. There was a pooch parade hosted by my favorite local dog store the Loyal Biscuit for the start of the towns Solstice Celebration. The Loyal B also had some special guests come by and set up booths with free product to try in front of the store. Represented were Planet Dog, Smart Pup, TriPom Chews and Zeldas Biscuit Bakery. Their people were also the judges for the parade pooches. Catagories included biggest dog, smallest dog, most original costume, cutest dog, and such. The weather was sunny but cool enough that I decided to take both dogs. (The parade route is also amost completely shaded.) I dressed Jenny up as rapper diva "Miss J" who hits include "Scratch my butt it itches" and "Give me a treat you B****!" Jack went as her security. I was the paparazzi.

Here Jack was checking out McGruff the crime dogs credentials. (McGruff was very dog savey and did proper introductions with the dogs there. I dare say not many had seen the likes of him before!)
And this is Prudence as a hula girl. Complete with bikini top, grass skirt and lei. She won for best costume. Her second year in a row as winner for that catagory!

They did great with the crowds. I think I said "Hes a longcoated akita" a bajillion times though. That and "He weighs 115lbs. He looks bigger cuz hes fluffy". Going out with Jack is like hanging out with a rock star. One girl even asked to have her photo taken with him! Luckily he loves the attention. I did put him in his gentle leader though because I always worry about what people will do in crowded situations. So many people think because he is cute they should get right in his face. This is rude behavior in dog language so I perfer to have control over his mouth in case anything happens to keep everyone safe. Hes never been snarky about it in the past but why take any chances?



Jennys top was made from a purse I got at TJMaxx. Im not sure she was all that impressed with my mad skills. She also stole a TriPom chew from the ladys hand! as she was passing it to Jack. Thief!! Then she sat in front of the booth hoping to get more.

Jack won a gift bag for being the biggest dog. It contained lots of our favorite goodies. We were very excited! It was a great time and maybe well do it again next year. I think I already have a costume idea.

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If you want to see more photos they are posted on my facebook page and the Loyal Biscuit facebook page as well under the Solstice Pooch Parade albums. (Photo credit for the photos with me included to Holly Sherburne. And of "Miss Js top" to Ashley Bickford.)

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Saturday morning fun

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Dressing Dogs Up Borderline animal abuse Not if you make it fun!

I just read a question posted to a reporter news feed about wanting opinions from animal professionals on the topic of dressing dogs up... Okay, so this just happened to fall on the birthday of my beautiful, handsome, lovely, love of my life, baby boy Poncho! Of ALL days! Why today??? Today is one of those days Im going wear my "dog mom" hat - not my professional certified pet dog trainer, dog behavior counselor hat! 

Whats my opinion? Hmm, my usual m.o. is to change up his collar...I admit, Poncho the dog has quite a few to choose from. I switch his license and ID tag to whichever he ends up wearing. As I tell my dog training class and private dog training clients, one key element in being a responsible pet owner: "Your dogs collar is similar to our wallet. Its used for carrying ID and license. Other than that it can be used for a fashion statement, personality statement, or to match your outfit." It shouldnt be used for "training" (like those nasty aversive training methods using collar correction). 

As for other "outfits"? Yes, Poncho has various sweaters, t-shirts, a couple of vests/jackets... and the ever popular lobster costume he wears at Halloween, the hawaiian lei I have him wear many times throughout the year...we do live in Ventura, which is a beach town. Besides the annual Halloween event, all of his clothes are more about function...if its cold out. Oops, wait a minute...some of his t-shirts are more about statements I want to make...like when he goes to races with me. Poncho is one of my running partners, and he likes to brag about that. 

This specific reporter asked the question: "Other than essential winter coats, do dogs generally hate having to wear people clothes, and is it cruel to dress dogs up?"

My answer to that: I have no idea what theyre thinking. Therefore Im not sure if they hate it or not. I know that when I dress Poncho in clothing that hes not used to, like his fuzzy green birthday hat, or lobster costume, I head down the "creating pleasant associations" path, and feed him little bits of yummy high-value treats while hes wearing them. This way, hell learn to love the outfits! Classical conditioning is a wonderful thing! 

As for the latter part of the question, "Is it cruel?" That all depends upon the motivation of whomever is dressing the dog up. If the person is intending to hurt, humiliate (intentionally), bully, coerce, or intimidate the dog in question, then "yes" I do think its cruel. If the person is doing it to have fun, provide love, attention, and steak for their dog, then why not? Just like when my parents dressed me in striped pants and paisley shirts - they werent cruel, it was the 70s. 

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The 12th Annual Pooch Parade Doggone Fun Outing This Sunday!

Summer is in full swing and what better way to get those tails waggin’ than enjoying a fun-filled day of activities and treats for the whole family to support a good cause and celebrate all things dog. This Sunday, July 19, the Ventura County non-profit group Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.) is hosting the Annual Fundraising Dog Walk and Pet Expo at San Buenaventura State Beach Park  in beautiful Ventura, California.

We hope you will join us this weekend for some doggone fun – Poncho and I would love it if you’d stop by our Inquisitive Canine booth so we could personally thank you for letting us be a part of your lives. Plus it’s the paw-sitively perfect way to spend the day with your canine (and human) family and friends. 

This Sunday will be the BIG unveiling of my new PAWsitively rewarding dog training card game! Its called "Out of the Box Dog Training Game" and I have to admit, it is a fun way to train with your dog! 

This years theme is: “Wags For Wellness: Protect, Prevent, Provide” and I have to say, the C.A.R.L. group has stood by their word. For over 12 years the volunteer-run non-profit organization has placed over 3,000 abandoned, relinquished and homeless dogs in pre-screened loving and secure homes.

At this dog-friendly festival, you can dress your dog up (you know you want to!) and then enter him or her in one or more of the many contests and competitions! Don’t feel like being part of the show? Then you can sit back and watch others partake in the competitions or watch those participating in doggy demonstrations such as Agility and Flying Frisbees. 

After showing off your dog’s loose leash walking skills in the parade, be sure to reward him/her with a tour around the Pet Expo  You and your dog will have an array of pet-related exhibits and vendors to choose from, as well as the silent auction that will have many items to tempt you (which may not be such a bad thing since proceeds go to a good cause!).

Love dogs but don’t have one of your own right now? Thinking about adopting or fostering a dog? C.A.R.L., as well as other rescue groups, will be on hand to introduce you to shelter dogs looking for loving homes.

Event Details:

• Registration begins 8:30 - 10:00 AM
• Hours: 9:00 AM - 4 PM
• Warm-up stretch starts 9:30 AM
• 3-mile Walk begins at 10:00 AM!
• Cost: $40.00 to enter Parade, Walk, Contests, Competitions.
• FREE: to observe, walk around, visit vendors and shop, and have fun!

For additional information, please check the Canine Adoption and Rescue League Pooch Parade website!

For all of you dog lovers out there that aren’t in this area, this is the perfect time to check your own community for pet-related fundraising events. Maybe your own local shelter is having it’s own Pooch (or kitty) event where you can go with your own dog, adopt a new dog, or volunteer to help animals in need. 

We had such a great time last year, and are looking forward to enjoying ourselves again this year! 

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Puppies are fun

especially when someone else gets to potty train them. Check out our other K-9 Corrections dog Russet.

He is a 9 week old 1/2 German wire haired pointer, 1/4 Labrador retriever and 1/4 Chesapeake bay retriever mix. Momma was the pointer. He was one of 11 puppies, only 9 survived, and he was one of the runts in the litter so he got bottle fed from an early age. As a result one of his issues is mouthing. We thought he might be to much of a handful for the average adopter so he got put on the program to learn not to be mouthy as well as all the basics. Who doesnt want a puppy that is already house trained and crate trained?

Jenny is learning how to play less roughly with him. She cant help herself, shes just a puppy too. More photos (and video!) of them can be seen on our K-9 Corrections facebook page. The challenge with a young puppy on the program is to make sure he gets exposed to lots of other dogs while he is still young. To accomplish that he will be going on a few field trips with me and Ill be taking dogs there for both of them to meet. There are also staff members with dogs that occasionally visit the facility too. Fortunately his foster home had lots of other animals he got to be around which helps. If you are interested in adopting either of them you need to apply through The Humane Society of Knox County. They will be at the facility for at least 6 more weeks however.

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Obedience Practicing For Dogs Is Not Difficult And Fun

Obedience Practicing For Dogs Is Not Difficult And Fun

If you are just beginning the process of training your puppy or possibly a seasoned proper dog training professional with experience, this post offers you a variety of tips, suggestions and advice that you could pertain to your situation to maximize results and achieve your pet dog training goals and objectives.

When walking your pet dog on the leash, never keep your leash too tight. A strict leash generates a counter pressure response and might increase the risk for dog to get uptight or agitated. Your pet dog may then pull, as opposed to walk correctly on the leash. Being less restrictive with the leash hold allows for the more pleasing walking experience.

Walking your puppy means leading your pet. Your role in this situation is to lead the pack, therefore the family pet needs to be supposed to walk a half step behind. You will instill confidence within your pet when they know you might be leading the rest and making the decisions. They will be unlikely to attempt running or being distracted as you walk.

A healthy diet is very important towards the health insurance and well-being of your respective dog. The consequences a poor diet has on the dog extend beyond you might think. Without the right nutrition, your dogs general health will suffer and there may also be direct effects on behavior. Simple things like improving their diet can sometimes have a big impact on how receptive they can be to training.

When they are to become properly trained, dogs need a well fitting collar and lead. Dont choose these materials since they are cute or since they have rhinestones to them. Choose your dogs collar and lead based on the service you wish from them. If your halter is much more ideal for your unique dog, think about. Do they want a long lead or would a shorter one be much better? Create the right choices, plus your dog will benefit.

Prepare to administer lessons to your dog repeatedly. Most dogs will not pick up a brand new command with just a few tries. Sometimes it is helpful to pay attention to a couple of commands every day to ensure through your sessions you will be repeating enough times to repair the commands solidly in your dogs memory.

Your dogs behavior during walks should become habit through consistency. Teach your puppy to pay attention to you and the physical clues about their behavior. Teaching these people to walk along with you should come naturally in their mind in case you are leading and demanding the eye of the dog. It will likely be emulated through your pet should you be walking with purpose.

Socialization skills are a crucial part of any well-rounded training program for virtually any canine companion. Understanding how to go along with children, adults along with other pets results in a happy dog that is certainly welcome in his surroundings. Socializing your pet dog is easy and can be integrated into your everyday activities. An evening dog walk, visit to the park or holiday to the pet store can provide an excellent opportunity to expose your puppy to short interactions with neighbors as well as their pets, while getting much needed exercise and bonding time together with you.

The real key to successful proper dog training is usually to start them without delay. Irrespective of how old your puppy can be it really is never too far gone to get them started. While it might take a little bit longer, it is possible to still achieve quite a lot of success. Start training most puppies after they are about 6 weeks old. This is certainly the perfect time to obtain the ground rules setup to get a calmer more obedient dog.

To avoid your puppy from chewing, you must apply a smelly substance on objects that your particular dog is not expected to chew. Buy some chew toys to your dog: some dogs chew because they are going through teething, and several use chewing as a means of releasing stress due to loneliness.

When you are mindful of how many treats he gets in just one day, usually do not fatten your pet dog. A lot of people forget to account for treats given during training when thinking about a dogs diet program.

Your timing and the expected timing of your own dogs actions are very important,. Thats one tip to keep in mind when training your pet dog. This will be significant as this is one learning aspect that is common to all dogs. While different dogs require different teaching methods, timing is actually a communication method that can help you find success no matter what you attempt.

Stay consistent when training your dog. A dog will not understand why sometimes chilling out about the couch is allowed, but other times produces a scolding. Decide exactly what the rules are, and stay with them each time. Soon your pet knows what things to want and expect to impress you by doing the correct thing (and getting the occasional praise or even a treat or two to get caught doing well.)

One tip to be aware of when training your puppy is usually to stop your puppy in the behavior you need to change. This is important to make sure that your pet knows when you ought to stop a specific action and what you should change it with. A good example is usually to never allow it to jump on anyone, and constantly discipline and correct the canine mid-action.

To conclude, remember that you can take advantage of the information, advice, suggestions and tips highlighted on this page to train your puppy(s) regardless of whether you happen to be just beginning the procedure, or searching for ways to improve your existing process. Have patience and apply the details in your case and good luck with your puppy training adventures.

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Making Dog Walking Outings More Fun For Your Dog You

As Poncho and I were on our evening stroll today here in Ventura, we played our "lets say hi to our neighbor dogs as we walk by" game, which made it a lot more fun - for the both of us!  

Every time we walked by a house where the dogs started barking, Id say *Hi!*, mention their names (theres Mookie, Zorro, Nick, Guinness and Waylon, red house dog, blue and white house dog, and Heather), and give Poncho a little piece of leftover chicken.  

This is a fun game - Poncho loves it! And of course now, thanks to learning by association, he loves when other dogs bark too...

This is a really simple and fun activity - its actually one of the activity cards found in my Out of the Box Dog Training Game.

What are you doing to make your dog walk outings more fun? For your dog and for yourself?

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Boatyard Dog Trial fun

On Sunday I went with a friend (Prudences mom) to watch a couple other friends and their dogs compete in the Boatyard Dog Trials at the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors show in Rockland. I was fortunate enough to have been a part of the trials a few years ago. Being part of it is nerve wracking, it was much more relaxing to cheer other people on. The contest has rules like: cheating is not only tolerated it is encouraged, and bribery will get you everywhere. The only "real" rule is that at least one of the team, dog or handler, MUST get completely wet. There is even an obstacle of getting in and then out of a tippy dingy to help make that happen.

The exciting part was that one of my friends won this year! Joel and Fenway, a rescue dog from our own local shelter, walked away with this years Pup Cup. Or swam was more like it. Here is the official news release here. And here is a super cute video showing a few of the participants. You can see more video and pics of their performance on their Loyal Biscuit facebook page. Or check out Fenways page. She is now even more of a local celebrity than before!

It was very exciting and it is one of those events that is always fun to watch. Congrats to Fenway and all the partcipants for putting on a great show.

(The above photo is Fenway with the rest of her family. Left to right: Buffy, Izzy, Chuck and Fenway. Arent they a great looking crew?)

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Interactive Dog Training Game That’s Fun and Rewarding for Both Owner and Dog A Pawsitive Solution for Dog Training!

Im off to a trade show in Las Vegas today, but I first had to share my latest press release. Ive been blogging about my new interactive dog training game and how its great for dogs of all ages and skill levels - not to mention its fun for both you and your dog

So please check out my our new press release and feel free to pass it along to anyone you think might be interested in this positive solution to dog training!

Inquisitive Canine’s Interactive Dog Training Game is Fun and Rewarding for Both Owner and Dog

Developed by distinguished dog trainer Joan Mayer, the Out of the Box Dog Training Game is an easy, simple and enjoyable way for you and your dog to play your way to canine good manners!

Ventura, CA - With 39% of U.S. households owning at least one dog, the common reality for many people today is that they just don’t have the time, money, or energy to invest in dog training or coaching their dogs to develop and maintain good manners.

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game was developed by acclaimed dog trainer and behavior coach Joan Mayer as a practical and affordable way for pet owners to positively reinforce real-world manners in their dogs while helping them create stronger bonds with their dogs for life.

This positive dog training solution was designed to go beyond traditional dog obedience training by emphasizing the importance of understanding canine behavior so that dog owners can successfully reinforce the behaviors they want, while limiting and preventing inappropriate habits.

“This interactive dog training game is highly effective because it employs established dog training techniques that reward and motivate both owner and dog,” said Mayer, founder of The Inquisitive Canine in Ventura. “I’ve created this pawsitive dog training solution as an easy, simple, and enjoyable way for dog lovers to raise a healthy and happy pet. By making dog training fun, you and your dog are learning - and you don’t even know it!”

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game includes:

• 56 activity cards that address real world manners such as loose leash walking, doorbell etiquette, techniques for building confidence and enhancing socialization, and activities that fulfill a dog’s innate needs while helping them adapt to our human environment
• An 18-page Guide Booklet that includes everything from dog training technique instructions to tips on which rewards will best motivate your dog to learn
• Scorecard to help you and your dog play your way to canine good manners

“The game is designed for dogs of all ages and can be played just about anywhere and at anytime that works in your daily routine - making dog training less overwhelming and more enjoyable,“ said Mayer, who also authors the dog advice column Dear Inquisitive Canine. "Since each dog training activity can be customized for specific needs and adapted to different learner levels to help advance your dog’s skills, the game is different every time you play!”

The Out of the Box Dog Training Game can be purchased online at http://www.inquisitivecanine.com/dog-training-game.php

The Inquisitive Canine is dedicated to empowering dog owners with a rewarding education that will help them further develop and enhance their everyday relationships with their dogs. The Inquisitive Canine specializes in dog training methods that focus on understanding canine behavior and teaching dogs through techniques that reward and motivate. For more information on private dog training, group classes, virtual dog training or the Out of the Box Dog Training Game, please visit http://www.Inquisitivecanine.com/ or call (805) 650-8500.

Also, please visit our web site to check out more news from the Inquisitive Canine.

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