harmonydogs

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Pet Health Seminar Sept. 30

Dr. Martin Goldstein D.V.M., will be holding a seminar on Animal Healing and Nutrition at the Kentucky Horse Park on September 30, 2007 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Dr. Goldstein is a graduate of Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine and is considered to be a pioneer in the field on Integrative Veterinary Medicine, which combines conventional medicine with alternative therapies.

He is the author of The Nature of Animal Healing: The Definitive Holistic Medicine Guide to Caring for your Dog and Cat.

You can learn more about Dr. Goldstein at his website

Cost is $30 per person.
The seminar is limited to 150 people, so reserve your spot today.
Contact: J. Seidelman at jeseidelman@msn.com

Dog Events in Georgetown, Oct. 5-7

Continental Kennel Club performance competitions taking place the weekend of Oct 5-7:
Friday night - weight pull.
Saturday - Obedience, Agility (precision), Junior Handler and a Conformation "Fun" Show, Sunday will begin promptly at 8 a.m. with Tracking/Article Search with Retriever Trial beginning at 10:00.

Saturdays event should end in time for everyone to get downtown in order to
view the Grand Horse Parade and Sunday, we will end in time to attend and
participate in the Blessing of the Animals and the Pet Parade!

For details, contact Denise or Tony at Thunder Vallies Animal House

Pool Party for Pooches - October 6

Another chance for one last swim of the summer in the pools at Spindletop Hall!!

Spindletop Hall is hosting a pool party for dogs to benefit Woodford Humane Society.
It will be held on Saturday, October 6th, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Rain date is Sunday, October 7th, 2007. The cost is $10 per dog.
All dogs must have their rabies tag or proof of shot. Concessions will be available poolside at their Tiki Hut Grill.

It’s a great opportunity for your dog to socialize and get some great exercise.

Spindletop Hall is on the right side of Ironworks Pike, past the KY Horse Park if coming from I-75. Call 255-2777 for further directions.

Ciao Down For Paws

Fazoli’s and the Woodford Veterinary Clinic Small Animal & Kennel are teaming up to bring you: “Ciao” Down for Paws 15% of pre-tax sales used with coupon below will be donated to the Woodford Humane Society.

When: Monday, September 17 – Sunday, September 23 2007
Where: Fazoli’s in Palomar Center
Animals available for adoption will be present on Kids’ Night, Tuesday, September 18 from 5-8 Fazoli’s Coupons will be given to owners who adopt that night

K9 Cocktail Hour

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Pet Parade in Georgetown, Sunday Oct. 7

There will be a pet parade Sunday, October 7th, at the end of Festival of the Horse in Georgetown.

There will be a blessing of the animals at the Church of the Holy Trinity on the corner of Broadway and Clinton at two and the parade will start at 3:30. The first 25 to sign in will get tickets to pick up gift bags at the end of the parade.

For more information, contact Denise at Thunder Vallies Animal House

Picnic With the Pups this Sunday!

This Sunday, Sept 9, the annual 'Picnic with the Pups' will be held from 12pm-5pm at Keeneland. There will be live music, contests, disc dog competition, food, and rescue groups with adoptable pets.

Proceeds benefit Bluegrass Animal Welfare League spay/neuter subsidy program. $5 fee.

Dog books I like

On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals
Turid Rugaas
A selective look at canine body language. A companion video is available.

Outwitting Dogs
Terry Ryan
Techniques for preventing and solving problem behaviors.

The Other End of the Leash
Patricia McConnell
A behaviorist's perspective on our relationships with dogs.

Bones Would Rain From the Sky
Suzanne Clothier
One of my personal favorites, but less practical than the others - meditations on training and our relationships with our dogs.

Don’t Shoot the Dog
Karen Pryor
This classic was instrumental in bringing force-free training into the mainstream of pet dog training. The book was written for a more general audience, however...here is the description from Dogwise:
"One of our best selling teaching and training books. Not exclusively a dog training book - author is famous as an early dolphin trainer. Outlines 8 methods for putting an end to all kinds of undesirable behavior without yelling, threats, force, punishment, guilt trips - or shooting the dog; the 10 laws of shaping behavior through affection training; how to combat your own addictions to alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, overeating or whatever; how to deal with such difficult problems as a moody spouse, an impossible teen, or an aged parent; PLUS housetraining the dog, improving your tennis game, keeping the cat off the table, and much, much more! New revised edition has new chapter, "Clicker Training, A New Technique." This covers the use of clickers in dog training, why it works, and how it has caught on."

Training resources

If you'd like to train on your own, here are three very helpful sites. All are focused on positive-reward, force-free training, and the associated e-mail discussion groups are closely moderated to make sure everyone stays positive and polite. The groups are great places to receive advice and moral support, and to share your struggles and successes

1. ClickerSolutions

The site has a lot of articles, and you can subscribe to an e-mail discussion group.

2. Training Levels

I count Sue Ailsby, the host of this site, as one of my principal training mentors. Even if you think you don't want to compete in any dog sports, the training program on this site will give you an attentive, courteous dog who is fun to train and a joy to live with.

If all you want is a good read, check out the sub-page Stitch's Blog - you will be thoroughly entertained and learn a ton about dog training in the process (note that the posts start at the bottom of the page).

If you want someone to get together with for informal Levels proofing/testing sessions, contact me at the e-mail address near the top of this column (right beneath "about me"). When we get enough interested parties, I'll coordinate a get-together.

3. Dog Scouts of America

Dog Scout Camp - what a blast! Just so you know, the scouts are the dogs, and they are accompanied by their grown-up trainers. In principle, we have a local troop, but the co-leaders have been too busy to organize meetings. At the moment, you may join our related yahoogroup to be notified of hikes organized by our faithful outings coordinator. If there is anyone with the time and energy to coordinate meetings, please contact the troop co-leaders (that's Rachel and me) through the yahoogroup. Meetings are a great place to socialize your dogs, practice training, and swap dog stories with other people who are as crazy about dogs as you are.

video examples

A. What every civilized dog should know:

All of the behaviors demonstrated below were trained using positive reinforcement and no force

1. to get what you want, look to your person for permission

2. wait...

a) at doors and gates

b) to get out of the car -

3. leave food and other things found on the ground
(Note: when this segment was filmed, Murray was new to leaving food on the ground, so rewards are given quickly and often - the goal is to achieve longer periods of ignoring the food and/or to be called away from the food, for a single reward.)

B. A cut above...

1. lie down on your mat/stay with distractions

2. heel

3. off-leash leave-it

C. For dogs who need a job...
1. find lost things - this game kept us sane when Cassie was a "busy" adolescent.

2. retrieve the food bowls - this is a good example of multiple repetitions performed for a single, delayed reward.