Happy Independence Day from Follow Me Dog Training LLC !

July 4 has been named a federal holiday in the United States to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776. This document written by Congress in 1776 was to declare the United States’ independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Nowadays, July fourth is celebrated with fireworks, parades, festivals, barbecues, celebrating our armed forces, baseball games and the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. It is always bound to be a fun day but can be a little daunting to our dogs if we aren’t careful!

Keep your dog safe this Fourth of July! 

• If you plan to go to any parades, you may consider leaving your dog at home. The noise and chaos of a parade is not as fun for our dogs. If you do take them, be careful they don’t eat any thrown candy off the ground, keep them on a leash (you don’t want them scared by noises and bolt from you), take fresh water and don’t forget to pick up after your dog!!!
• July is famous for high temperatures…if the weatherman warns the humans to stay inside because of ozone levels or extreme heat, leave your dog at home.
• Have plenty of fresh water available.
• Take your dog for a long walk or some play time before it becomes dark so they will be nice and tired for fireworks.
• Keep your dog inside while fireworks are going off. Try not to baby them or coddle them if they become scared, instead give them a safe place to go and leave them be. You may even consider turning on the TV or radio to muffle the sounds of the fireworks.
• Don’t participate in a hot dog eating contest with your dog…the dog will win.

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One of the most frequently asked questions to canine professionals is: What kind of dog is that? Some of the cutest dogs around are your everyday mutts, mixes, and Heinz 57 dogs. Up until now it has been up to us professionals to say “well it looks like it could be a…” But honestly we don’t really know for sure.

We as humans want to know what our dogs may be mixed with for genetic purposes (what diseases or health issues may be dominant in that breed). So we can wow our friends with worlds like Schnoodle, daisy dog and Saint Berdoodle. Or maybe so we can understand more about why are dog is exhibiting one particular trait more then others.

Curiosity though is a good thing…ask a dog they know that curiosity killed the cat….so how can it be bad. So where can we go to find out more about what kind of dog your mixed breed is? Wisdom Panel MX Mixed Breed Analysis does a DNA test for mixed breed dogs. It has in it’s data base 134 AKC recognized breeds, having pulled DNA samples from over 13,000 pure bred dogs from across the United States and over 7,000 were donated from the UK.

It is amazing what may come up as the dominant DNA in your mixed breed. A friend of Follow Me Dog Training LLC  in East Dubuque IL had her dog tested through Wisdom Panel MX and found out her dog Tasha

is mixed with Chow Chow, Irish Setter, Shetland Sheepdog and Poodle. Knowing Tasha these are never breeds that I would have considered were a part of her. But it is pretty darn cool to see what may be in her rather long line of doggy genes.

An article in USA Today on 24 June 2008 called DNA tests snif out mutts’ breeding by Sharon L. Peters, talks about other groups that do DNA testing on dogs and some of the other results found. You can contact your local veterinarian and find out if they are working with one of the researchers and have a DNA test done on your dog for $60-$170 depending on method and lab.

Dogs are dogs and need to be treated, trained and loved as dogs. Follow Me Dog Training LLC trains the dog. We don’t care what kind of purebred it might be, what fancy name it has, what mix it might contain….our focus is on the dog. If you want to learn to communicate with your dog’s inner setter, or poodle contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE evaluation and demonstration.

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Making sure your dog’s nails are short is an important part of the grooming routine. You know your dog’s nails are too long when: You can hear your dog walking on concrete or tile floor. When you look at their foot print in mud you can see all the nails.When your dog is walking funny on top of their nails instead of on their paw pads. Keep in mind that just because your dog runs on concrete, or takes long walks everyday, doesn’t mean their nails don’t need a trim.

Your dog’s nails should be short and they do need to be cut or trimmed to avoid a change in gait (or how your dog walks), the nails can turn into the paw pads (especially the dew claws), and so they don’t break when running around or playing. Long nails also hurt when your dog jumps on you or other people or your dog uses their paws to demand attention. (contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE evaluation to eliminate jumping and demanding attention!)

Many people don’t enjoy cutting their dog’s nails because of the chance of cutting the quick in a dog’s nail. This part of the nail contains blood and when cut, your dog will probably complain and bleed a little. You can train your dog to be nice and calm and accept having their nails cut either by you, a vet, or a groomer. Leinie is taught to lay on his side while I cut his nails and this makes life a lot easier for both of us. If you don’t feel comfortable cutting your dog’s nails, don’t do it, but do take some steps to having your dog remain calm and relaxed when someone does grab their paws for a nail trim.

Preparing your dog means taking the time each day when you are giving your dog some regular loving, to touch and manipulate their paws. Your dog probably won’t like this at first, that is why we suggest you do it everyday so they become accustomed to someone holding onto their paws. I also believe that nail cutting should be a calm affair, so teaching your dog to lie down and have their paws touched is a great combination. Once your dog is calm with having their paws touched, splay the paw pads..pushing each nail above the fur and handle the nails. Tapping them with a pair of clippers lets your dog become used to the idea of you holding a paw, pressing on the paw pad, and touching the nail with something other than your fingers.

There are a few different tools you can use to cut your dog’s nails. There are two kinds of clippers, the kind that have a guillotine type cutting action and the other that are alot like pliers.

Both are equally efficient, and your use should be by preference. The other tool is called a dremel. I like the dremels that are cordless and don’t make too much noise (prepare your dog for the noise before even trying to dremel their nails!) Dremels are a great tool if your dog is calm and doesn’t mind the noise, you can round off the edges of the nail and dremel closer to the quick.

Make sure you also have on hand some styptic powder, just in-case you do cut the quick. Pack some styptic powder into the nail and let the dog sit still for a few minutes, movement causes the blood to flow faster and you want the bleeding to stop. If you don’t have styptic powder handy, try cornstarch, regular flour or just stick your dog out in the mud to move about and the nail will stop bleeding.

White nails are obviously the easier of nails to cut because you can see the quick (the pink vein running up the nail).  But a good rule of thumb is to look at the nail and cut where the nail begins to curve over and become thinner. Don’t cut the meaty part of the dog’s nail, guaranteed you will hit the quick and have an unhappy dog on your hands. We suggest cutting a small amount off regularly rather then a whole lot at once. Not only does this practice the event of nail clipping, but you will be less likely to hit the quick.

If you have more questions about cutting your dog’s nails you can contact your veterinarian, a groomer, or Follow Me Dog Training LLC. We would be happy to show you how to cut nails yourself and sometimes we have been known to cut them for you.

If you are interested in making your dog’s routine grooming needs easier on you and the dog, contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE evaluation. For your dog, training and self control help every situation a calm happy one. Where grooming is concerned, we always like to make it a calm and happy event!

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Kasper is a 10 month old Maltese/Poodle mix (a malti-poo)that has been staying with Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a couple days. He is a cool little dog with a great personality. He and Leinie play almost all day….they trade toys, they run after each other, Kasper tackles Leinie, Leinie woofs at Kasper….it is a trip to watch them play. Kasper has a love of toys only a little less obsessive than Leinie. He has tried to pick up and carry around Leinie’s Bouncy Bone, but wasn’t able to run too far with it. Mostly he sticks with the small and medium sizes of Kong balls, and the Nylabone Knot toys.

I DO NOT allow products such as rawhide, pigs ears, hooves, bully sticks and the like in my house. My dogs don’t need them and I find them to be rather disgusting and don’t see the need for my dog to chew on them when they can have something healthier like a Nylabone product. Kasper came to the house with a rawhide chip and it has stayed in his bag because of my house rules and because he has been finding so much joy in the toys Leinie is sharing with him.

So here is how it goes in our house right now…..the Kong ball is dropped because Leinie is obviously having more fun with the Knot.

Kasper must show off the toy to everyone and proudly chew it, head thrown into the air. Although it does look like the size of it will tip Kasper over.

Curling up on the bed he chews on it for a good five minutes or so….

Until falling asleep….

At this point, Leinie will spot the abandoned toy and the exchange starts over.

It has been alot of fun to have Kasper here and have him play so well with Leinie and vice verse!

Kasper is one of Follow Me Dog Training LLC’s clients and he would not have been allowed to come stay with me if he didn’t already have a great recall, some basic manners and was social. All those accomplishments came with training and he still has a bunch of fun stuff to learn in his training package when his owners come home. If you are interested in training your dog, contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE evaluation with your dog.

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This weekend is the Virginia Kennel Club Dog Show! The dogs will be out in numbers at The Showplace, 3000 Mechanicsville Tnpk, Richmond Virginia. For more info call, 804-257-0531. Free parking from 8am-6pm and there is an admission fee. Please leave your pet dogs at home..they might feel a little out of place.

Dog shows can be alot of fun to attend. Not only will you be surrounded by dogs of all shapes and sizes, but you may see some dogs you didn’t even know existed. There you can see the tallest dog (the Irish Wolfhound) and the shortest dog (the Chihuahua). Be sure to ask permission before petting and be careful of some dog’s hairdos, they might be about to go in the ring and the handler may have just spent alot of time primping and grooming. There are also usually lots of vendors so you can purchase fun things for your dog.

Dog Shows are also a fantastic opportunity to talk to breeders, handlers and groomers  about a specific breed of dog. If you are interested in a breed but don’t know much about them, go find where they are showing and talk to some folks. Dog show people are usually very happy to talk to others about their favorite breeds and what makes them special.

Follow Me Dog Training LLC is planning on being there for a little while between lessons so if you see Renée, say hello. If you are interested in learning more about what it takes to own a show dog or to show your dog in obedience this dog show is a great opportunity to talk to people. Although Follow Me Dog Training LLC, isn’t as involved in dog shows as many of our friends, we can lead you in the right direction to finding conformation classes or a professional handler for your dog. (Locally we like Shannon at Every Dog Training School)

If you are interested in finding the right dog for your family, or maybe need some help with a puppy, and would like some help with basic obedience and manners, contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a free evaluation with your dog.

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The search for the perfect toy is ongoing when you have a dog like Leinie. Tennis balls, Kongs, disc’s, Hurl-a-squirrel’s, Cuz balls, anything from Canine Hardware, Planet Dog Orbee balls, soft squeaky toys, Nylabone Dinosaurs, you name it Leinie loves them. Don’t be surprised if you call Follow Me Dog Training LLC and there is a strange squeaking/ teeth on rubber sound in the background…that is usually Leinie popping and chewing a Kong Ball.

There are different kinds of toys that can be sorted into two categories. Chew toys: those that are meant to be gnawed on to relieve stress, boredom, and alleviate teething pain. Play toys: those that are meant to be thrown, caught, tugged on, and basically involve human interaction.

With all the toys on the market today you could spend a lot of money on toys for your dog. Remember to purchase the right size toy for your dog. Don’t go buying a small latex toy for your Great Dane, they might swallow it! Make sure all your toys are safe for your dog to chew on or carry…no sharp edges or small pieces. Be sure that the toys are durable enough for a hard chewer. Know which toys float before you throw them into water for your dog to retrieve. If you see any wear and tear on a toy it is probably time to throw it away.

While I was at the IACP conference a couple weeks ago, I had a chance to see some different toys. The conference is held at Triple Crown Dog Academy in Hutto, TX.  Triple Crown has their own line of pet products they have developed under the name StarMark. Leinie loves their Easy Gliders and their Fantastic Foam Balls.

Also at the conference was an IACP Sponsor, Premier Pet Products. Premier has alot of cool products for dog…and other animals as well. So I couldn’t resist the conference discount and picked up a new toy for Leinie. Leinie’s friends Lexi and Chloe already had a couple of these toys so I had seen them before and knew that with a combination of Chew toy and Play toy, Leinie would absolutely love his new Bouncy Bone!

The toy comes with little replacement “gnawhide treat rings” but Leinie loves it whether they are on there or not. This size is a bit heavy and I have a feeling Leinie makes a point of dropping this toy on my bare feet at least once a day.

They do come in smaller sizes for dogs like Kasper, in the picture with Leinie, who has tried numerous times to lift Leinie’s Bouncy Bone. I especially like the fact that once the Nylon bone part of the toy is worn away from hours of fun, Leinie will still have a durable ball to play with. Leinie gives this toy four woofs!

Is your dog a destructive chewer? Try toys that are durable and made to be chewed. Not sure which ones those are or your dog isn’t really much of a toy “hound”? Contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC and we can give some helpful suggestions on toys that stand up to Malinois chewing and toys that excite even the laziest of dogs. Follow Me Dog Training LLC offers a FREE evaluation with your dog because training and play go hand in paw.

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If you read my last blog you know that Follow Me Dog Training LLC was in Hutto, Texas last week for the International Association of Canine Professionals annual conference. Leinie and Pepper stayed at home and entertained my mom and her Irish Terrier Maggie. I called home to make sure all was good and was astounded to hear that it was actually hotter in Virginia then in Texas…who’d a thunk it!

The conference was good fun. I had a chance to catch up with Aunt Faye, Robin MacFarlane, Dawn Geremia and many other dog training friends from all over the country. The Kong Company was represented by old friend Mark Hines who I met at the first IACP conference I went to in 2005. Mark and I bonded over the fact that his parent’s owned Irish Terriers…see it isn’t just my crazy family, reputable people own them as well. Some special people were missed as well, those that had passed in the year since the last conference (Jay Stull and Pam Green your lack of presence was felt all weekend) and those that just couldn’t make it because of the time of year or other obligations. The presentations by people such as Brian Kilcommons and Stanley Coren were amazing.

It was a fun time had by all and although Leinie was missed, I was able to hang out with everyone else’s dogs…that is the beauty of the IACP conference…dogs are allowed! Trainer Paula McCollum has a Bluetick Coonhound named Jeb that is one of the coolest dogs a person will ever meet….he graced us with a few artful bays and chased me down in the conference room once…he is a SAR dog so he’s good at that! Aunt Faye brought her English Shepherd, Captain. Captain’s brother Audie was there as well with Janeen McMurtrie. I like Captain better…Audie peed on my foot

Here is a picture of me with Karma, the new dog at That’s My Dog! Inc. owned by Robin MacFarlane.

So although it was a great weekend of seeing old friends, meeting new ones, playing with dogs, listening to some great presentations, and learning alot, I was very happy to return home to Pepper, Leinie and Virginia…even in the heat. Continuing education is very important to me. I make an effort to attend any workshops, confrences or seminars available so I can add to my toolbox of training.

Want to help your dog continue their education? Contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE evaluation with your dog.

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Follow Me Dog Training LLC is going to the annual conference for The International Association of Canine Professionals this week.

What is the IACP?

The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANINE PROFESSIONALS is an organization established to maintain the highest standards of professional and business practice among canine professionals. Its aim is  to  provide support and representation for all professional occupations involved with  any aspect of canine management, health, training and husbandry. 

The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CANINE PROFESSIONALS commitment is to develop professional recognition, communication, education, understanding  and co-operation across the wide diversity of canine expertise and knowledge.

The IACP brings in speakers from all facets of the canine world to present on their specialties. This year’s conference will have noted speakers such as Stanley Coren, Wendy Volhard, Brian Kilcommoms, and Kayce Cover.

I have met some amazing people at the annual conference. Last year my traveling companion was Faye Kelley of Aunt Faye’s Dog Training. We were privledged to meet Dr. Ian Dunbar,

Brother Christopher the head trainer for the Monks of New Skete, 

Disc Dog Champion Melissa Heeter,

and Leinie got his picture in the local Hutto, TX paper (Thanks to Nancy Royden for the cool press) with the Russian dog trainer  Vladae Roytapel.

 The IACP conference is a great time for networking with canine professionals from all over the world. It provides many of us with mini-reunions as well. I am amazed every year when I see how many of the graduating students from the That’s My Dog! Inc. Ecademy show up with their dogs and chat about how far their business has come since their time in WI. I also have a chance to catch up with many graduates of the National K9 School For Dog Trainers.

There are usually great booths set up from companies like the KONG Company, Premier Pet Products, The Continental Kennel Club,  and CPAC so all the canine professionals can stay up to date with new products and information.

Unfortunately because of the high temperatures in Texas this time of year, Leinie is going to miss his first conference. Many of his friends will miss tossing a ball for him and I know he will miss learning new stuff from some of my trainer friends. He gets to have a little vacation with my mom who will be looking after him and Pepper along with her Irish Terrier Maggie. I know he’ll have fun here with “grandma”!

If you are a canine professional intereseted in the IACP, feel free to contact me or go to their website for further information. The association is open to all canine professionals; trainers, groomers, vets, handlers, breeders, therapy dog handlers…..you name it!

If you are interested in a FREE demonstration and evaluation with your dog to pursue some dog training, basic manners and clear communication, contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC.

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I don’t like snakes. I admit it. I will look at them if they are behind a nice solid wall of glass, but otherwise, really want nothing to do with them. I had a first hand experience when I lived in Kenya with a Mamba on our front porch step and since then, the appeal is just gone for me.

This week two Follow Me Dog Training LLC clients told me about a snake siting in their yard or neighborhood. News like this creeps me out, creeps me out even more when I hear they are rather long Copperhead snakes. One dog found the snake in the middle of the yard…the dog had been barking at it and the people called a pest control service to remove it. The other family found it in their back yard, these people have two dogs, they said it was about 4 foot long. So moral of the story….snakes don’t care if you have a dog in your yard. They will come on through anyway.

There are three venomous snakes in Virginia; The Northern Copperhead, Eastern Cottonmouth, and the Timber Rattlesnake. It is always a good thing to have some idea of how to identify the venomous snakes in your area….and to know to not touch them, leave them alone, keep your pets away! The Virginia Herpetological Society has a great list with pictures of all the snakes in Virginia.

Copperheads are venomous snakes, although their venom won’t kill you it will make the average person very sick, causing tissue damage and other infections. However, small animals like small dogs can sustain a fatal bite from a Copperhead. The thing that struck me (no pun intended) when I was researching this is that unlike the Rattlesnake who rattle when they give a warning, or the Cottonmouth that sit there with their mouths open as a warning, the Copperhead apparently strikes without warning when they are threatened.

“The copperhead’s initial threat display is to strike. It lashes out at an enemy as a warning. If the enemy is close enough, the fangs may penetrate the skin. However, because this is a threat display, not an attempt to kill, the snake injects little venom. A copperhead has no intention of wasting valuable venom if it can scare away the menace with a minor bite.” http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/reptiles/copperhead.htm

That seems to be why “Copperheads bite more people in most years than any other U.S. species, but they also have the mildest venom. ”

No matter how you look at it, snake bites are not fun!  So what do the experts suggest: Don’t try to touch or kill the snake. Let it go on it’s way because it doesn’t want to face you anymore then you want to face it. When you are out hiking, keep your dog with you. Yes I know it is fun to let them roam wherever if they have awesome off leash control, but they don’t see snakes often and usually make bad mistakes like sticking their nose at a snake. Call a pest removal service to take the snakes out of your yard. If your dog comes in from outside, acting sluggish, begins to swell, possibly drool…get them to the vet immediately, you may not see where the bite is on your dog! Learn what the poisonous snakes look like where you live so you can easily identify them.

The Virginia Poison Center has a great page about snake bites. http://www.poison.vcu.edu/pdfs/snake.pdf …cool information like looking at the shape of the snake’s eye to know if it is venomous, or knowing that in VA all venomous snake bites are treated with the same anti-venom so you don’t have to find the snake that bit you or your dog.

Not sure if your dog will race to you when you give that “come” command when faced with a distraction like a snake? Contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a free demonstration and evaluation and we will discuss how to help keep you and your dog safer.

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May 18-24 2008 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week!

Every dog has teeth which means that every dog has the potential to bite. Good training, solid communication, socialization, clear boundaries, education and awareness from both owner and dog are the things that prevent bites from occurring.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the United States Postal Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have set aside the third full week of May to help educate the general public on dog bite prevention.

—-Each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about a dozen die. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years, and the rate decreases as children age. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages four years and younger are to the head or neck region. Injury rates in children are significantly higher for boys than for girls.— According to the CDC.

Why are children more susceptible?

This is my niece Madeleine and her German Shepherd Dog Meiko. Notice where her head and neck are located in comparison to where Meiko’s face and teeth are….. Now for those concerned readers Meiko and Madeleine are continuously being trained and this situation was tightly monitored, my brother is just left of Madeleine out of the picture.

Dogs and children can be the best of companions. They can be life long friends and there is a possibility that nothing will ever happen when your children (or someone else’s child) interacts with your dog. But dogs have teeth and lets be realistic, they are animals and they can bite if they want to and many times children especially but also adults don’t notice the signs of an impending bite. So number 1 rule for bite prevention:

NEVER EVER LEAVE YOUR DOG AND CHILD ALONE  NO MATTER HOW TRUSTWORTHY AND WELL TRAINED YOUR DOG AND CHILD ARE!!!!!!

Lets talk about what you can teach your children and as adults you can follow through with as well to avoid a potential dog bite.

• Teach your children to ask permission from dog owners/handlers before saying hello to their dog. Teach them to stay at a leash distance before they touch the dog and then ask if they can say hello. It doesn’t count if they are already hugging the dog while they are asking if they can pet the dog!
• Children should avoid approaching an unfamiliar dog or a stray!
• When an unfamiliar dog comes near you, stand like a tree, arms tucked under your armpits and stay still and silent. When dog stops, slowly and quietly back away from the dog and find an adult to tell about the stray. Stop and act like a tree if the dog follows.
• Don’t play with any dog, including your own unless supervised by an adult.
• When saying hello to an unfamiliar dog with their owner (after having asked permission) , avoid direct eye contact and don’t pet the head or face and tail. Also keep in mind that some dogs aren’t big fans of hugs from strangers, best to avoid it with dogs you don’t know.
• Children should avoid screaming, yelling and running away from or past unfamiliar dogs.

 Parents:

• Teach your children how to touch and interact with dogs, your kids will follow your lead. The younger the child when you start teaching them appropriate dog interaction skills, the less of a chance you will have for a bite.
• Before bringing a new dog into your house be sure your kids are comfortable with dogs…getting a dog to help your child get over their fear is never a good route for dog or child.
• Stay away from games like wrestling and tug-of war if you are in a home with children. These games teach your dog to argue with them. Your dog should never argue with your children.
• Training and socialization are key to owning a dog. Basic manners, obedience and greeting skills are essential to all dogs.

 Follow Me Dog Training LLC wants you to be aware that any dog can bite. They can bite while they are wagging their tail. Sometimes people don’t notice a warning from the dog that they are going to bite so it seems like an unexpected occasion. A nip is a bite, even if it isn’t breaking skin! It doesn’t matter what breed the dog is (blame the deed not the breed!), it doesn’t matter how old the dog is, and it doesn’t matter if “they have never done anything like this before”, the dog can still bite.

You, as dog owners, are responsible for teaching your dog to be social around all kinds of people and situations so they don’t feel the need to bite.

You, as parents need to teach your children how to interact properly with animals!

Help prevent dog bites by being educated about interactions with strange dogs. Teach your children and their friends the best way to say “hello” to your dog. Stay safe and train your dog and yourself to prevent dog bites.

Training is an important process in prevention! Teach your dog through clear communication to be a well minded and socialized member of the family! Contact us for a FREE demonstration and evaluation and find out all the cool things we can help your family teach your dog!

If your dog has issues interacting with people, chases the mailman, has bit anyone for any reason please contact Follow Me Dog Training LLC for a FREE demonstration and evaluation. We can help set realistic goals and educate you on the best course of action to prevent future bites or aggression issues.

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