It's a Cats Life

A Good Read

I was really excited when I went to the Westminster Public Library last week. I found 2 great dog books. One is The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller. Big thanks to the Carroll County Humane Society for donating it!

You should check it out next time you're at the library. I've only gotten through the first part but it is FABULOUS! Anyone that owns a dog, plays with a dog or is thinking about getting a dog should read this. 

I can't wait to start up Haiku's training again. I've been super busy with "things" and "stuff" this summer and our training has been neglected. I"m gonna read a few more pages and when I get home, I'm pulling out our itty bitty yummy treats and doing some training! 

 

Haiku is home power napping. She loves training and is saving up all her energy for it!

the perfect storm

Last night Ethan and I really enjoyed listening to the storm. It was gentle at times, rain falling steadily, but without force. Thunder like the deep rumble of a kitten's purr. And sometimes the wind would pick up, the rain would sheet across the road and the thunder sounded more like a tree crashing down in the forest than a kitten. We enjoy listening to storms laying next to each other, lights off, windows open. When we first started doing this Crack would often come and sit with us. Now we have Haiku, who enjoys chewing on a bone at our feet, or playing a gentle game of tug.

We're lucky. Haiku is not afraid of thunderstorms. Often she seems more alert, but that's probably because I"m more alert. I always have to see what the storm is doing and point it out to Ethan. I jump at thunder sometimes. And while Haiku notices how I act, and thinks maybe she should watch the storm too, she's not afraid.

Oddly, it's Crack. Crack is afraid of thunder, unexpected loud noises and us cooking on the stove top. The smoke alarm and stove fan send her racing upstairs, preferably to hide waaaay back in the closet, as high up as she can get.

Last night Crack felt safest settled on the floor next to the bed. When Ethan went in the room across the hall, she sat in the hall so she could be directly between the two of us. She had the tense body and big round eyes of a frightened creature, but relaxed when given chin rubs and soft words. This morning she's feeling her usual Crack Attack self!

Having lived with a dog that was TERRIFIED of thunder, storms, heavy rain, loud noises, etc, etc, etc, and got worse in his behavior and boarder in his fears as he aged, I know all too well the horror that is the Thunder Phobic Dog. To the point of is it inhumane to make him face another summer of storms? Can the house survive his destruction? Can his people tolerate his panic?

If your dog is afraid of thunder, PLEASE check out The Other End of the Leash, for Dr McConnell's advice and insight into helping your dog get through the storms. There's a lot of good ideas about helping your scaredy pup, both in the posts and in the comments.

proper incentive

So this morning my husband was at the bottom of our stairs putting his shoes on. Crack was lounging at the very top of the stairs. I had just let Haiku out of her crate and started walking downstairs. I got to the bottom and realized Haiku wasn't following me. I called for her. Whistled for her. No Haiku. My husband points out that Haiku is still in the hallway because she can't go past the cat.

Two choices. Stand at the bottom of the stairs yelling at the dog to come. Highly unlikely to happen, since she can't get past the cat. Or, walk upstairs and pick Haiku up and carry her past the cat. Well, three choices. I could convince the cat to move, allowing Haiku safe passage downstairs.

Now the thing is, when Haiku is completely focused on her surroundings, she won't go past the cat. She's too smart. Or at least, has a good grasp on past experiences. Sometimes the cat likes to bap her if she gets too close. However, if Haiku is being super exuberant, not paying attention or sees something REALLY GOOD that she REALLY WANTS, or any combination of those, she's not even aware the cat exists.

So I chose option 4. I found a piece of dried liver and once Haiku realized I had a SUPER YUMMY TREAT she went leaping OVER the cat, bounded down the stairs and sat at my feet in a blur of Cavalier joy. She got her treat, I got the dog down the stairs without effort and the cat was only mildly perturbed at being leapt over.

Beth Rex and Clip Clip Hooray LLC would like to remind you that allowing your pet to jump hurdles on the stairs is incredibly dangerous and stupid.

That being said, here's my challenge for the next month. Figure out what is your dogs favorite treat. Is it dried liver? His favorite ball? Bacon? I don't know! It's your dog, find out what he thinks is The Best Thing EVAR. Then, use it as an incentive to get your dog to do something you want. Coming when you call? Call him, let him realize you have Super Awesome and once he comes bounding over, give it to him immediately. What a good dog! How about if he chews on your socks? Don't scold him. First offer a trade. I'll give you this hot dog for my half chewed sock. Take the sock, give him the hot dog, everybody wins! Except for the sock. Next time make sure that sock gets in a drawer. Etc, etc, etc.

Here's the deal. Try doing this for the whole month of March and then tell me how it went! You can email your story to me at clipcliphooraygrooming@gmail.com, call me at 410-848-6863 or stop in the store at 2D Bond Street in Westminster. Or leave a comment on a future blog post I'll do at the beginning of April. Why bother? Well, besides the fact that it will help you and your dog get along a little better and give you an insight into positive training, if you share your story and then visit Clip Clip Hooray, I'll give you a Free Reward! A bag of treats, a ball or a stuffed toy, whatever works best for your pup. OR, bring your dog in for a Free Nail Trim and File if you'd prefer that reward instead!

Haiku is resting after a game of tug of war. Haiku loves tug and I never have a problem ending the game or taking her toy away from her. Why? It's not because I'm "the dominate one" or bigger and stronger or anything like that. It's because I always give Haiku something better when I stop the game or take her toy. If I take her toy mid game I give her a cue (gimme), she gives me her toy, I give her verbal praise (good girl!) AND a reward (a treat OR give the toy back). When we're done the game I give her a chewy or a treat that takes longer than 2 seconds to consume. Or I let her outside or take her for a walk. While she's not looking I put her toy away. By the time Haiku is finished with whatever I gave her, she's no longer revved up from playing and is ready for whatever I want to do next, even if it's just hanging out on the sofa. She's happy, I'm happy. Like I said, I've never had a problem taking anything away from Haiku because she knows I'll give her something as good and probably better. Sometimes it takes a little planning ahead, like having her chew bone located and ready for a trade off or having my shoes on to take her out for a walk right away. Sometimes we just play our way over to the treat jar for an easy swap.

whine whine whine

Hey folks! Nothing fun today. But also no ranting or raving. Yay! Ranting, raving and foaming at the mouth is tiring.

Today I have 2 of my FAVORITE dogs here at Clip Clip Hooray. I have a lot of favorites, but these guys get capitalization. But not pictures. I can't find my USB cable (again) so no pics. Rogue and Wrigley, a Rottweiler and a Pug came to CCH last summer (spring?) as a last resort. Their mom was tired of hearing that they were "not bad, but just not good". Rogue is a bit dog aggressive and didn't do well in a noisy shop with lots of other dogs. But Rogue does great here! I haven't had one single problem with either of them. Their owner soooo does not believe me, but it's true! I hear it takes 3 people holding down Wrigley at the vets for a nail trim...but he's a perfect gentleman for me, I can clip and file his nails before his mom even realizes I've started!

This morning Rogue and Wriggies bounced into the shop ready for a groom! But then Rogue decided she wanted me to hold her up and scratch her back. You know how big dogs like to l e a n against your legs? Rogue was l e a n ing on me and giving me doggie smiles with happy squinty doggie eyes. AWWWWW! Rogue loves her groomer!

A couple tips for taking a dog aggressive dog to the groomer.

1. Tell your groomer when you set up an appointment. I like to have them drop off at a certain time when I know other dogs won't be going in and out. Or a quiet day with mostly cats or only a few other dogs.

2. Make SURE the collar and leash are in good repair and fitted correctly, and that your dog can't slip out of his collar. If he can, invest in a no slip "martingale" collar to use while walking/taking your dog places.

3. Call ahead. If your dog is very aggressive or you're not sure you can hold him, call from the parking lot. That way you know for sure there are no other animals about, as well as giving the groomer time to put away any pets they might be working on.

Now, there IS a difference between "dog aggressive" and "completely unsocialized" and "hopelessly out of control".

Speaking of, I'm once again looking for local dog trainers! It's been tough finding a trainers, but I have 3 now in my sights. Two I found from Truly Dog Friendly and one who happened to stop in the store. One trains in the home, travelling to you and the other 2 hold classes at their place. Pros and Cons to both styles of teaching. I'm VERy excited about  meeting 2, and less optimistic about the third. I'll be using Haiku as a guinea pig.

Popper is jealous. Popper wants to test trainers! 

Ooops..that's Gusty. I don't seem to have a picture of Popper. Gusty doesn't really give 2 celery stalks about meeting dog trainers.

Anyway, Haiku is fun to test because Haiku starts out optimistic, but will be very obvious if classes aren't to her liking.

This is feign death Haiku, hoping to dissuade me from taking her to boring classes or insufficient reward classes.

Anyway, I'll let ya'll know when/if I find that great dog trainer(s). Probably start working on that more next week. This is a lazy week. Oh, why is this called whine whine whine? I've been listening to Rogue complaining about being inside when it's a sunny day and SNOW to play in!

Haiku's Picks

Starting sometime soon (but not today) there will be a brand new category here at It's a Cats Life! It's called Haiku's Picks and will appear at least once a month, but probably more. Haiku is the official tester for all products at Clip Clip Hooray. She tests toys, treats, shampoo...just about everything!

Haiku loves playing with toys. She's pretty rough on them though. That makes her the perfect tester for durability! Looking for a fun toy for your dog? Thanks to Haiku, I can tell you how much abuse a certain toy can take, and how easily it can be sewn back together.

Haiku is fairly sensitive to food and shampoos. While we only use gentle, 100% tried and true safe for pets, some pets may not do as well with a certain type of shampoo. Haiku gets to try them out and help me decide the cleansing strength or how long the fresh scent will last. Plus it gives me an idea of how a certain shampoo with leave the coat - before trying it on someone else's dog.

Plus Haiku helps me decide what treats are yummy, and which ones are only ok. Or if any treats will leave her with an upset tummy. All good things to know in advance.

So, let Haiku help you out. She'll be introducing some fun toys available for sale here at the store, as well as treats, shampoos and other bathing specials, along with whatever else she finds along the way!

on the rack

As one could imagine, sometimes grooming a waggly, leaping, rolling, flouncing, spinning, sitting, or otherwise not-doing-what-I-want-it-to dog can be very difficult. Most of the owners that come to Clip Clip Hooray are good natured and aware AND understanding of their pets bouncy nature and how that can make it difficult to groom. Sometimes a dog that's less than stationary on the table just takes more repositioning, more energy needed from me to keep them safe for their grooming. And sometimes it's an full body workout.

A dog that hasn't learned (or refuses to) stand quietly on the grooming table puts alot of wear and tear on their groomer. Grooming a dog (or cat, especially cats...) can be dangerous. We use extremely sharp clipper blades, scissors, shears, stripping knives and combs. Even a brush can be painful if it's too hard or a pin points the wrong way and scratches. Or under a human finger nail (ow ow ow OW!). It's hard enough on a perfectly motionless animal, but one that is hyperactive or fidgety...it's just an accident waiting to happen. We (groomers) strive to keep grooming as safe as possible. We spend hours learning how to use equipment properly, we upgrade our tools as safer ones are created. We absorbed brush strokes against our own bodies. I dremal my own fingers rather than let it roll of the nail onto the dogs foot.

Why and how are two things I'm not going to go into right now, it would simply take too long and I don't feel like typing that much. There are alot of things a groomer can do to help keep a dog positioned the way they want. Everything from anti sitting "saddles" to shoving a knee under the dogs belly, there's all different methods and equipment to try and keep a pup in place. I had tried on contraption, supposedly the greatest tool EVAR, with a price tag to match. Needless to say, it didn't do much for me, the dogs delighted in squirming out of it, or resisting so hard I couldn't groom them. Some groomers swear by this product, but in my opinion, it's a piece of junk. So, for one fifth the price I got this lovely over the table grooming arm.

 

(Stock photo)

It is WONDERFUL! I now have lots of different options. For a well behaved dog, a simple loop around the neck attached to the side is enough. A spinner might need to be crosstied to the side posts. For sitters or an older dog that has trouble standing, I have a nylon belly band, modeled below by Good Dog Moose, can offer them the support they need.

 

Moose, of course, is far too well behaved to need a sling, but she does like to sit when I comb out her tail. Instead of having to keep asking her to stand up, I just attached the sling to the top, looped under her belly, brushed out her tail and was done! The sling is great for dogs that like to spin, since it hampers their range of motion and confuses them enough that they're thinking about "what's this blue thing?" rather than on how to wear me out trying to catch them. Older and/or overweight dogs do well with the sling too. It just makes it easier on them.

No matter what type of dog, difficult or well behaved, I've used this set up with, it's been much easier. Easier on me, easier on the dog. They don't get upset, feel panicked or trapped. I spend more time grooming and less time repositioning.

I'm really excited about my new grooming table frame!

School's Out for Summer!

Or is it? Summer is a great time to take classes with your dog! If you have a new dog or a puppy, a  basic obedience class can help you get started on the right paw, teaching YOU and your dog how to interact with each other, as well as learning commands, tricks or just meeting new friends. Already done the basics? There's a ton of other things you can do with your dog. Classes in FlyBall, Rally, Obedience, Agility, Good Citizen Training...etc. All kinds of fun that you can do with your dog!

More advanced classes will help strengthen the bond you already have with your dog. Your dog will be having fun, learning something new is a great boredom buster. Plus the added benefits of excersise and positive social interaction are invaluable.

Things to look for:

The Classroom. While this can vary due to the training being done, you want to make sure it's clean, well lit and safe. Safe meaning there's nothing your dog can get into, eat, or destroy. It should  be enclosed, with no gaps or holes your dog can squeeze through, especially doing off leash work. If the class is held near a road this is especially important.

Health. Your trainer should require vaccinations. I know, I know. No one likes going to the vet and spending a hundred bucks every year for shots. It's important though, and since you're going to be around a bunch of other dogs, your dog needs to be protected. Parvo, Distemper, Kennel Cough and other diseases ARE out there. Other dogs where YOU LIVE get them. Talk with your vet about what vaccinations your pet needs. Tell them about classes or competitions you'll be doing. If you choose to titer your pet instead of vaccinating, check with your trainer to make sure this is acceptable. Please note that titering for Rabies is not legally accepted instead of vaccintation.

Also, if your dog isn't feeling well, stay home! Let your trainer know that you're missing class and why. Chances are, even with correct vaccination, you may have picked up a bug that you could share with the whole class!

Check It Out! A good trainer will invite you out to watch a class (please come without your dog) or at least out to visit the training area. This way you can see what you're getting into, if the training style feels comfortable, what the area is like and what the trainer is like, as well as how they handle dogs. If you visit and don't like it don't sign up for the class. If something doesn't feel right, ask the trainer, even if it means calling them later. If you don't feel comfortable talking to them, definetly don't sign up for the class!

A good dog trainer will be teaching  you how to teach your dog. If the trainer takes the dog, does all the work and you never do anything, what happens when you go home? Is your dog going to respond to you? Probably not. While having someone else train your dog might seem nice, it doesn't really help  you at all. Find a trainer that not only is there to train dogs, but to make sure you're doing it right too.

Breaks? Find out if you'll be getting a break. Some classes run for a full hour, some have a short break halfway through. There are drawbacks and benefits to both. If your class does not have a scheduled break, make sure that you are able to leave the classroom for a few minutes. Most dogs (and their owners!) need a break, a pee break, a drink break, a sit down and chill out break.

Haiku and I just started a basic adult obedience class last night. We don't have breaks, but we can leave anytime for a drink or potty break. The trainer made sure to let me and the owner of another young dog know that we could break whenever our dogs attention span wavered. She knew that young dogs get bored easily and much quicker than the older members of the class.

Gear. Find out what you'll need to bring. Basic supplies include a well fitting collar, usually a 6 foot lead (no retractable!), a toy and treats for rewards (make sure to bring the BEST TOY EVER and Extra Nommy treats), poop bags, and water for you and your dog. If your class is held outside, consider bringing sunscreen (for you and your dog) as well as a blanket for breaks.

Follow the Rules. Always. If your trainer has a rule, follow it. If you don't agree and won't follow a rule, you shouldn't be taking a class. Most rules are things like: Have your dog leashed before getting out of the car. Don't let dogs interact without your full attention. Don't yell at your dog. Pick up your own poop. Etc.

Not sure where to go, what to do or how to find training classes? Ask your vet, groomer or pet store. They should have a trainer or two they reccommend. Don't forget to ask your neighbors or other dog owners. They'll tell who and where to go, or not go.

I hope this inspires you to go out and take some doggie classes this summer! Once Haiku and I get through the basics, we plan to try some Agility and maybe FlyBall. We'll keep you posted!