CrystalDogs - Dogblog featuring the Crystal Dog Pack

2010-05-04T14:49:00.018+01:00

Cesar Millan Ambassadors Greet and I with Cesar...Sadie too!

"The only way to travel" - Cesar, crew and dogs "Team Millan"!

Sadie and Bob head onto the coach leading the way............... "Come on humans time to go to the next show town"!

Aflie shows us how to relax as we chat with Cesar................... "Sofa style rock-star ..no.. dog-star sofa style"!

These are some of my favourite pictures from the UK Tour, here in the top one are the "European Ambassadors" with Cesar - Greet from the Netherlands and I along with Sadie "JRT posing"!

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Greet came along to the first 4 live shows, she was a tremendous help back-stage as well as a great photographer - the photos that follow are all with thanks to Greet. Many times Greet helped me with the pack, preparing dressing room dog areas with crates and water bowls, looking after 2 of my dogs if 1 was on stage with me. Greet was a star, always happy to help out including taking care of the dog owners who came along to take part in shows and so much more....we sure missed Greet when she returned home...but I don't think she missed being outside in our cold weather!

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Greet also stayed with me before the tour and helped me with the pack, she was an instant hit with all my pack and we very much enjoyed sharing our home and walks with Greet. Greet helped me get the dogs ready for the tour which included bath time, we both got a little wet but the dogs looked good!

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The second photo shows you how we travelled around the UK...in the coach...not just "any coach" rather a luxury coach with blacked out windows! Luxury meaning it had sofas, tables, TVs, kitchen areas and even beds upstairs! These photos were taken at the Cardiff hotel, which gets Alfie's vote for best location as the walks just outside the hotel were heathland and sea...English Setter Perfection! Mind you they needed a good brush before they went on stage as all 3 dogs had had huge fun in and out of the water!

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As you can see from the last 2 photos here, Sadie and Bob knew when it was time to go into their "home from home"...."doggie time to go travel" and then Alfie showing all how relaxed he was on the coach..."Alfie sofa style" just like at home hey Alfie?!!

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On tour we had shirts and a jacket provided to us as Crew, labelled up as "Cesar Live Tour Crew" this became what I called my "uniform" for 3 weeks and readily recognisable so maintaining a positive view important...just as well the dogs behaved so well in the 5star hotels! This also helped with keeping up with the washing while on the road - as all the same colour so could all be washed together! They make for great souvenirs too :-)

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Greet and I had a lovely time with Cesar talking all about dogs, packs and human-dog interaction during the drive from Cardiff to London. I learned from Cesar much more about energy - one key to communicating with our dogs and how one dog's energy can impact another, sometimes negatively. This is something which is needed to be understood when running a pack of dogs and readily explained why some very-high energy dogs I have had here before did not work-out living in my home - as my pack are middle energy, as am I, so such additions unbalanced my pack dynamics upsetting the family balance....and we are a home we do not have any kennels so....lesson learned! "Cesar Insight" - even in a kennel environment it is best to mix energy types to maintain balance e.g. not all the high energy dogs in one kennel else they bounce off each-other, which again helps explain why my pack work well in one home as they are a mix of energies...except high! We talked too of how important it is to match a dog's energy with that of the human, in my opinion not something that is considered enough when choosing a new dog to join humans as a member of the family.

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My dogs show how quickly dogs can adjust to a new routine ...with my 3 dogs here who adjusted from "Home life" to "Tour life" ...from sleeping in hotels to travelling around the country, from new walks to show time....my pack moved on into the routine within a couple of days and then taking a little longer than my dogs... so did I! But...did all 3 dogs adjust well to being on tour?...find out more in the next post!

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Alfie "The Star dog"

2010-04-27T15:13:00.012+01:00

Alfie My "Wonder Dog"!

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When the UK Cesar Millan Tour began I had with me 2 of my dogs, Bob and Sadie, Bob my JRT mix Border Collie, Sadie my tiny JRT so they are both small in size. At the dress rehersal the day before the first show at O2, the crew asked if I had another dog who was more medium in size to help with some of the balanced dog demonstrations on stage...so enter Alfie one of my English Setters, a last minute dash down to London from Norfolk..driven by Simon Alfie arrived at O2 just in time for the show!

Here is Alfie on stage demonstrating the "meet and greet", accompanying him as his own personal dog handler I stand to his side while Cesar introduces a member of the audience on how to meet a dog for the first time. ""Way to go" Alfie you were the first dog on stage, great job sniffing the person then relaxing! As you can see from the photo...my smaller dogs would have been hidden from the audience by the techy equipment box on stage :-) we needed "Alfie size"!

Meantime Sadie and Bob waited calmly back stage for their turn. Bob, who became known as "Bob The Dog", showed the audience how to walk around following his Pack Leader...me, going through doors then relaxing by my feet as I sat on the sofa...perfect Bob! Sadie on the other hand...showed the audience how not to be walked...pulling Cesar ....out in front she came to me, great demo Sadie! The pack also played the role of balanced dogs pack walking in a park while a hyper dog and owner learned from Cesar how to lead their dog calmly walking past my pack and I.

Back to Alfie, at nearly 10 years old he is retired from working as a balanced stooge dog for me, yet he happily and readily came out of retirement for Cesar. Alfie very much enjoyed the lovely hotels we stayed in, the extra walks and of course the breakfast leftovers of which there was always plenty...I always ordered a room service full English breakfast!

Mind you looking at Alfie in this photo he could have been a show dog..if he wasn't a "working bred English Setter" as this means he is actually smaller than the average show bred Setter, when we meet other Setters out on walks Alfie is always dwarfed by them. Worth remembering is that Alfie only came to us at 4yrs old, with many problem behaviours himself, look at how well he recovered balance through pack leadership - so much so he was even able to run off-leash while still following my lead and direction around Regents Park in London...what a great boy!

The crew loved Alfie, they had not met such a chilled out dog before as in every environment he was "soooo relaxed"! The crew were superb, setting up for the shows ahead of us at every venue they were true stars. Alfie managed to do 6 shows - half the tour schedule before returning home to a very relaxing holiday - pack life here at the beach!

The "meet and greet" demo I renamed as "to sniff or not to sniff" - sometimes Alfie would sniff the person...sometimes he would not...he would just sit near them totaly relaxed, so relaxed that at his last show in Nottingham he lay down falling asleep! The rest of the tour would have been too much travelling for Alfie as heading from Nottingham we set-off for Newcastle, Scotland, Ireland and back via Liverpool to end at Sheffield. "Home Time Alfie" replaced the saying I had just before the shows began of "Show Time Doggies" - what happens if I say that now...find out in later posts coming soon!

The first show was electric, the huge audience very welcoming to Cesar and the show very well received. I was delighted with the way my dogs behaved, they have never been in a show before not even a dog show! Yet on stage they were not distracted by the audience, the sound or the lights etc, they simply followed my lead... they were "totally awesome stars", gotta love this "mini pack" of mine and I loved having them with me on tour.

Next...more behind the scenes photos, stories and how the pack got on during the tour, as well as some of my learnings and expereinces I will share with you gained from working for Cesar.

UK - News on Dog Whisperer Tour!

2010-01-10T14:48:00.004Z

Hello all - and a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!

This is a year in which we here in the UK are to be honoured by Cesar Millan's Live Tour!

If your dog has everyday behavioural issue and you would like him/her to appear on stage with Cesar then please visit http://www.cesarmillanlive.co.uk/ to find the closest show to you and complete the on-line application form.

PackPower to all in 2010! With Love and peace from Suzie and the "RatPack".

Meeting Cesar Millan!

2009-12-06T13:35:00.017Z

Some of my pack and had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Cesar, the Dog Whisperer! And so did I!! Meet Nic and her GWPs in this photo of the 3 of us humans and many dogs!

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Next here we are as Cesar walks some of my dogs, and a quick chat before he adds these 4 small ones to the pack with those he is already walking!

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We took the dogs down to London for an official "Pack Walk" photo shoot, they did great and Cesar simply picked up the leashes to walk around London! The photos even made the Daily Express here and are all over the Internet! So proud of my dogs they did great, all dogs had calm and balanced, no over-excitement just relaxed, Cesar enjoyed meeting and walking them. I add Cesar himself had a wonderful energy, calming and freindly, the dogs showed respect straight away to his balanced calm assertive energy without any words or commands, I assure you they simply followed his leadership! Here is a link to more photos:

http://www.celebmad.com/users/GossipGirl/photos/index.cfm/Cesar-Millan-launches-The-Dog-Whisperer-show-on-Nat/thumbs

http://www.allaccess.nl/index.php?ajax_queryzoekitem=125513&ajax_querytype=get_eventoverzicht

Nic, my friend and colleague, brought along her 3 rescued GWPs, 11 dogs in total for Cesar! Then on Friday evening Nic and I went out to dinner with Cesar and some of his team. A wonderful time was had by all and I sat next to Cesar enjoying a conversation about ...dogs of course, seeing some great photos of Daddy and Junior too!

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Now I can also say that I am privileged to be going on Tour UK in the role of the "Dog Handler" for all the UK events next March, and Nic is the Tour "Dog Coordinator". So I hope you are all buying your tickets UK - for a superb event in a city near you? Sadie, Bob and Jack will also be joining Cesar on tour as the balanced dogs, along with a couple of others from my pack at some venues! More news on how you can apply to have your dogs take part in the shows coming soon!

This is a truly exciting journey we are on here, knowing how Cesar's inspiration will help to save many more lives and train people in Cesar's special way, we in the UK are indeed honoured to have Cesar here next March.

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Cesar's Way WORKS - my pack here with Cesar are proof, look how balanced and contented canines they are with the Dog Whiperer who they have only just met yet follow no problem! AND - just in case some are wondering if my dogs are often in big cities walking around - NO - they live here at the beach some had never been in a city before, they trust me and I honour that trust to keep them all safe and well, Cesar shows us here how he can gain that turst and respect within seconds of meeting a dog. so they loyally follow him too!

Finally, Cesar confirmed my long-time thinking - Max my Dobey is a very calm balanced dog! Power breed dogs can indeed be calm submissive to a balanced leader.

Safi helped by pack!

2009-11-10T18:30:00.008Z

Safi arrived into the pack as a foster for rehabilitation, a beautiful looking GWP yet a rescue dog at only 9months! Here she is with her "mentor" Max my balanced Dobey, to find out more about the top photo see the end of this post! Safi was rescued by GWP Rescue UK, thanks to this organisation for being there to help rescue dogs like Safi finding them both foster and forever homes.

Safi had some key problems, she would bark, be destructive (as my ex-blinds would soon find out) and toilet when left alone. This one needed the pack to help out by showing her how to behave when left, within weeks she rests well at such times and no acting-out...thanks Pack now I have new blinds!

She was also crate phobic, having spent much of her life in a kennel, this is still a work in progress, she can be calm in the crate now for about 20minutes, we gradually increase this with daily practise!

In the beginning Safi was leashed to me or dragging a leash while she learned the home rules, between the pack and I Safi has graduated and no longer needs any such leash boundary. A work in progress is Safi seeing my pet rabbit having his free time run around, this fires up her preydrive via my window she stares...points at him....we are working on this one...calm submissive around my bunny...in time with practise and consistency....much patience...we will succeed!

Food aggressive to other dogs - Oh yes we found this out quickly, but mainly due to her being so very under-weight! Now we have found a food that suits her she is putting weight on - previously no solid poop was not good ...for me or her! Some rehab from me and again lessons in eating together from the pack and food aggression cured!

The main thing for me was the pack accepting this new member - particularly my high ranked dogs like Max, as you can see from the photo that is "job done!" Max spends much time washing her ears and showing her how to run the beaches, Max now 7 looks real slow next to this fast GWP! Safi has learned how to play "gently" with our Chihuahua puppy Ava - they are about the same age, so another good in-pack moment. Safi is respectful to the older females...the matriarchs Patsy and Eddie, Absolutely Fabulous...yes another dog named after characters from this fab TV series...Safi!

Which all means...Safi is no longer a foster, she is a full pack member now and she is much rehabilitated so that she works many cases with me helping other dogs gain balance, she is now our "super stooge dog"! So from a rescue dog to a dog who helps others, again the power of the pack at work. Older dogs and balanced pack members can always show the way to younger or other less balanced dogs!

Safi has taught me so much too, especially about this breed....always ready to learn from my dogs!

So the photo with Monty my Gt Dane, well Monty does not normally take to new dogs preferring to be left alone with the dogs he knows...well he has with Safi as you can see he is her cushion - so she stays with us as her forever home!

Beautiful Balance - these photos show how dogs resting together

can be so bonding!

Meet a Pack - USA!

2009-07-21T15:23:00.007+01:00

Hello all, and Thank you to Jen for her lovely comment here in reply to my last post.

Here is a great picture for all of you, showing how balanced and calm power breed dogs can be, when they have structure and a balanced life with a calm assertive Pack Leader. Jen's 2 dogs, on the left looking at the photo, and 3 clients on the right.

Remember Cesar's fulfillment formula - Exercise, Discipline then affection - it works when we work it!

With my pack's exercise, we do more on-leash than off now as inspired by Jen, this gives my dogs a greater mental workout, not just a physical one! I add back-packs to increase the mental challenge.

Truly I have seen improvements already, the pack are more relaxed, even PeterPan! We do 75% on-leash with 25% off-leash in the middle.....as a reward for walking well next to me. This more structured way is the way to bond - as one pack!

So when my Terriers are off-leash now, do they still run off after small rodents? NO! Amazing - they follow me and my ways off-leash too! This calmer way meets their needs, so can indeed block breed instinct. They are all super-tired in the afternoons!

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So if your dog is still not tired after a walk off-leash - try changing the structure and increase on-leash work-out! Free roaming or running is not as "natural" as we humans may think it is for Species Dog!

Pack Walking - It is the Way to Walk!

Meet Nunu!

2009-07-14T15:24:00.007+01:00

Nunu sitting contented with Jill, a balanced boy these days!

Nunu, on top of his pal, and owner Tina sitting with Jill.

Hello All! I am back from my trip to LA, USA! So here comes some pictures from my wonderful trip! Staying with Jen, a fellow Ambassador and my own mentor, was a marvelous opportunity I really appreciate and very much enjoyed. "It was hot hot hot in LA!"

To begin here is a photo of "Nunu" , the Chihuahua from the very first ever DW Show - Next he is sitting on the Goldie, alongside are Tina his owner and my fellow Ambassador Jill. I had the super opportunity to chat with Tina, a wonderful lady with her rehabilitated Nunu, they are both an inspiration. Did Nunu let me stroke him, Oh "Yes" :-)

The fundraiser was a great day, Jen and Jill hosted this event with a committee of helpers, they worked so hard to put on this event and all really did a superb job, I truly enjoyed my day here. The aim was to raise money for the Cesar and Ilusion Millan foundation, the amount is yet to be confirmed yet I do know we can class this as a huge success.

At the event we were honoured to meet some of the Foundation Team, truly a great experience to learn all about the aims of this most inspirational and deserving of causes.

A HUGE THANK YOU to all at the event and everyone who helped make the day such a success, it was lovely to meet you all and be so very welcomed. and for those who did not make this day - see you there next year!

Much more to come about my trip and many more photos so stay tuned to my blog!

Suzie Goes to LA, USA!

2009-06-23T19:22:00.004+01:00

Hello all, Tomorrow, Wednesday 24th June, I am flying to the USA, California! And this is much more than "just a holiday" - read on!

I will be staying with my fellow Cesar Millan Ambassador, Jen Freilich, a top USA Trainer and Behaviourist, check out Jen's website for more information: http://www.attheendofyourleash.com/
Jen is my mentor and my most gracious hostess for the week, I am indeed honoured to be able to stay with Jen.

I am privileged to be able to attend the fundraiser that Jen, and our Ambassador Jill, are working so hard in delivering at the moment - this fundraiser is in aid of the Cesar and Illusion Millan foundation, Cesar helps save dogs lives all around the USA!

As well as having this wonderful opportunity to work with Jen and learn even more from her great experience, I will get to meet some stars of the DW show at the fundraiser too - "Daddy" Cesar's dog, a wonderful balanced Pitt Bull, and "Nunu" as well as "Whilshire" the fire department dog - remember these great episodes hey?!

I will take some pictures and then share them with you here on blog.

A huge "Thank you" to my Mum and Dad, without whose support this trip would not be possible, and of course to "Simon" (my husband) who is looking after the pack for me! A special "Thank You" as well to CJ - the founder and leader of the Ambassador group and so much more, a huge inspiration to me, without whom this trip would not have come about, CJ united the Ambassador group and made physical distance no problem. Now with thanks to this group of people my pack are balanced, we are spreading the word in the UK about the sucesses of Cesar's Way, and...I am going to America!

"Stay Calm Assertive" Pack Leaders - I will be posting soon from States Side so stay tuned!

"People Training"! Let's Talk Dogs!

2009-06-18T15:58:00.005+01:00

Pack Leader events are all about learning a little dog psychology to help you live in balance with your dogs. These classes are popular because they are all about real life with our pet dogs, not just dog training or only the science!

We look at how to be the Pack Leader, how dogs learn and how our dogs make associations leading them into a type of behaviour or response! And so much more - to find out all about this "people training" then get in touch so I can send you a sample menu...I mean list of topics! We do look at real problems and into the solutions, there are regular "Q&A" sessions as well.

I love presenting these events, we have fun while learning all about dogs. This event in the picture was in Northamptonshire, hosted by my wonderful friends at "Pack Your Paws" and "The Scarlet Paw Print" who also have my "Thanks" for the photos, please do visit their websites: http://www.packyourpaws.com/ and http://www.thescarletpawprint.com/about.html

We can have these events with or without your dog present, we do have half or full days, I can meet your needs so we can create the event just for you!

I share with you success stories, my top tips, and my dogs Bob and Sadie help with demonstrations. Visit my website for further information about my services http://www.suziecrystaldogs.com/

Learn to talk with the animals, species dog!

Pack Leader Training Days!

2009-06-17T18:57:00.005+01:00

Here is a picture from one of my people training events, this one was in Northamptonshire. These days or half days are all about teaching owners a little dog psychology and how to be the Pack Leader, Cesar's Way!

At these events "dogs are welcome" too! Here I am leading the way with my Sadie and Bob modeling "how to walk as followers"! This is human leadship/adult dog socialisation - a way to walk together in harmony.

So we begin with a "Pack Walk" - a structured walk to unite all dogs as one pack, this is not about "saying HI" in human ways by us sharing touch/hugs/words with other dogs. Nor is this walk about letting the dogs play, it is all about walking in tune together so all dogs become one pack, "just for now"! All the dogs also learn that none of the other dogs on the walk with them are a threat to them! This creates a balanced bond, while releasing some excited dog energy, many dogs get excited when new people and dogs are all in one place near them, so then all dogs can calmly wait while I teach their owners.

More about these classes coming soon, I run them "Anytime .. Anywhere .. Any Place", a wonderful way to learn more about Being the Pack Leader as I coach you and a chance to meet-up with friends, their dogs too. A fun experience for all as well, including behaviour problem solving!

This is "The Power of the Pack Walk" - Walking together is truly the way to contented canines and pleased people!

Southern California? - YOU could Meet "Daddy"! UK please read too!

2009-06-14T12:41:00.013+01:00

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Hello All - Special Announcement for you

in South California, or nearby, States Side!

AND

an opportunity to support Cesar from the UK!

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Presenting Jen - "At The End Of Your Leash", S.California

http://www.attheendofyourleash.com/

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This is a special event coming very soon, a wonderful fundraiser in support of "The Cesar and Illusion Millan Foundation" with a once in a life-time opportunity to meet the beautiful Daddy, Cesar's balanced Pit Bull! You can meet some of your Cesar Ambassadors too!

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And as well as other great speakers, my own favourite "Nunu" and owner Tina will be there, "Nunu" is the Chihuahua from the very first DW show episode - a very well rehabilitated little/big dog, my Ava would love "Nunu", "Oh how I wish I could be there to meet Nunu and Daddy!" Don't miss this chance if you can get there, do so and say a big "HI" from my pack and I!

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This event is being run by Jen Freilich, Owner/Trainer/ Behaviorist and Official West Coast Regional Cesar Millan Ambassador, USA:

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Jen owns/runs "At The End of Your Leash!", Dog Training & Rehabilitation Center for Complete Canine Wellness! Jen is also a key mentor of mine, frequently inspiring me with her amazing knowledge of canines and their owners too!

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Here are some of the details from Jen herself:

When: Saturday, June 27th, 2009; Time: 2:00 - 9:00 pm;

Location: At The End of Your Leash! Dog Training & Rehabilitation Center for Complete Canine Wellness, Riverside, Ca. 92508;

Tickets: Before June 15 - Adult $25 / Children (11&under) $12Tickets: After June 15 - Adult $30 / Children (11&under) $15;

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Who's invited: ALL of YOU!

YET,.. tickets are limited,.. there are only 250 available, and they are going fast! This is most certainly a "can't miss" fundraiser for one of the best organizations!

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Cesar has given to all of us unconditionally, now its your turn to give back! We want ALL of you there! Many of you live in Southern California, contact me today for your tickets!

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For those who cannot make it, have no fear! YOU can still HELP! YOU can still GIVE BACK! Send a donation in any amount! Its all tax deductible!

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Contact Details:

www.attheendofyourleash.com

Jen Freilich TEL: 951-288-5034 OR

jeniferfreilich@ aol.com for email contact with Jen and/or

to send a donation/become a sponsor of this event, via paypal.

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CrystalDogs ........and our new website: http://www.suziecrystadogs.com/ Check us out here!!

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I am raising sponsoring on behalf of the UK supporters of Cesar's Way, I know my PeterPan is one contented canine now thanks to the inspiration of Cesar Millan!

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So if you wish to join me, and get a mention at the event, even though we over the pond here so may not be able to attend in person, then do get in touch with me or Jen directly!

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A little more about the foundation

this fundraiser is supporting:

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National Geographic’s “The Dog Whisperer,” Cesar Millan and his wife Ilusion Millan have founded The Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation, a national, non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation designed to aid and support the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of abused and abandoned dogs.Your Pledge allows The Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation to provide financial support and rehabilitation expertise to shelters throughout the United States, ultimately enabling them to maintain the highest standards of care and assistance to animals under their protection.

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The millions of animals that enter shelters each year need the help of strong Pack Leaders. We count on you to lead the charge in helping The Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation save more dogs from euthanasia. Each of these abandoned animals deserves a second chance. Together we can prevent unwanted litters, assist overcrowded shelters, and provide resources to the rescues that work diligently to rehabilitate these dogs and find them the forever homes they deserve.

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With your donations, the Millan Foundation is able to provide monetary grant support to the shelters and rescues20on the front lines. These organizations are rescuing dogs from abusive puppy mills and euthanasia lists, alleviating shelter overcrowding through spaying and neutering, and educating today’s youth on proper pet care and the humane and compassionate treatment of animals. To learn more about the foundation, please visit www.MillanFoundation.com.

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So please join me in wishing the organisers Jen,

and fellow CA Ambassador Jill Vega,

great success with this event!

THE UK - "CRYSTALDOGS" WISH YOU WELL!

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Look out for more "After-event" opportunities and "read all about it" - check back in here!

Model Dogs!

2009-06-09T19:15:00.008+01:00

The "Power of the Pack" can truly help other dogs recover balance and teach puppies how to follow the rules of the pack...home!

I have recently begun taking Max, my balanced Dobey, out for walks with the "Rehab 3" - my 3 Terriers who have been "highly reactive" to other dogs they pass-by in the past. While Mickey and Timmy simply react with excitement, PeterPan would react with aggression!

Walking with Max we are now passing-by other dogs with no reactivity from any of the "Rehab 3"...nothing...after just one week, they walk on by just like their respected, high ranked dog Max!

I spent much time rehabilitating PeterPan from his severe dog-dog aggression, 1 year in recovery he is no longer red-zone, yet he would still react with a level of "Terrier excitement" upon seeing another dog, now with Max to help he is much calmer and not so anxious. PeterP needed much one-one rehab time first, now he is ready to walk with the others Max is proving a great role model!

I add though this is not all due to modelling from Max, I have increased the pace and the amount of challenge during this exercise, both mental and physical! As well as stepping-up my calm assertive energy - altogether this works and I am the leader of this 4-dog-pack!

Some of my dogs are very experienced "stooge" dogs, dogs who can help other dogs recover by remaining calm submissive and showing the way to balance through their own behaviour/energy, this works well even for an insecure or aggressive dog.

Ava, the puppy, has 9 other balanced dogs to model from on our walk, she is doing great walking in tune with the pack, ears back truly focused on walking next to me in balance with the pack!

The "Power of the Pack" is truly inspirational, if we are open to learn from our balanced dogs we can indeed help other dogs, dogs helping dogs recover balance.

"Discover the way to lead the way" -

My 14 dogs can show you the way too!

Together, my pack and I are CrystalDogs, -

We have "Pack Power"!

AVA...The Angel or Diva?

2009-05-18T15:17:00.005+01:00

Ava gets her Angel wings... I mean, of course, her ears as they have now stood in up "Pure Chihuahua" style!

Sometimes she is a real Angel, other times she becomes a complete "Diva" when she struts around showing off a toy! She does this with complete confidence as she shows the other dogs, or us, her "toy". As she struts she makes a sound like "ooohooowoo", which starts low in tone then raises to a "hoo" then lowers again!

At feeding time she has now joined the small dog pack (small in size not in energy or rank!) This is when she can become the "devil puppy" as she is making clear communication that her bowl is hers! When she does this little "growl" I correct her with a "psshttt" and a touch so she stops immediately - possessive behaviour is not allowed at feeding time!

Each day we make progress with feeding time, just today she waited for her food giving me space to prepare it, then sat for me before I gave her the bowl. I also give her a boundary - using my arm I block her from going over to another dog's bowl - she would steal their food if she could do so as a "typical puppy", no dominance behaviour allowed in my pack either!

Ava is naturally a very high ranked dog, energetic as well she could become dominant, but here she cannot as there is no human she can dominate and all dogs are all equal followers to me, so no animals to dominate either!

At only 4 months she has now joined the "Big Walk". We began with small regular walks during the day as we socialised her to the walk experience and taught her how to walk on the leash. Today she joined 8 of my pack which includes the Dobey, Gt Dane, Setters and a few of the smaller dogs too. This "Big Walk" is on and off-leash here at the beach for over an hour - Ava did great, my Chihuahua is a "Big Dog" now!

So if I want more of "Ava the Angel" than "Diva the Devil" - I need to keep up this new exercise routine, "YES" she is a Chihuahua yet she is also a "Dog" and needs to walk/run/play too. Discipline is going to be an absolute necessity with Ava, as much as it is for the rest of the pack to live as contented canines, if any of my females even senses a vacancy for Pack Leader one would try to take over then we would be in chaos here!....And that "one" may just be Ava!

"Exercise and Discipline before affection" is the way

to fulfil our dogs - it works for Chihuahuas too!

Cat is in the Pack!

2009-04-20T18:36:00.006+01:00

Meet Socks, the cat, who proves Cesar's point that all species are "animal" first then species, as animals they can indeed unite as one pack!

When dogs "howl" they do this to stay in touch with the pack and their leader! Howling is not a protest or an "alerting" behaviour like barking.

I go out to feed the small animals in the front garden each morning and, though I am only a few feet away from my pack, they howl...little Jack starts this with his tiny voice and then all the dogs join in!

Now .....the other day Simon was here when they howled to me and he said there was one very strange howl...it came from the room the dogs do not go into - "cats room"! Socks, our cat, was joining in the "pack howl" - sat on his chair head tilted he was copying his pack mates the dogs with a howling noise..."cat style"!

So even though Socks the cat does not share the same home space as the dogs, he is still a pack member according to him! The reason he lives apart is because the Terriers' instinct could not be trusted around this furry animal, but this said he is a very dominant cat who has stood his ground when the dogs pass-by him on a walk! I never leave cat and my dog pack alone unsupervised...prey drive, remember, is one thing we cannot control unless we leaders are very close-by to do so!

Actually, Socks is supposed to be an outdoor cat, but at times he prefers the comfy life in his own private room! When he is out and about he does not fear dogs, he fears the chickens here yet sits happily with the rabbits!

The other day Socks sat in the road and refused to move for a passing car, I had to go move him as he tried to swipe the driver who went over to him! - Here it is "beware of the cat"!

Ava, our Chihuahua puppy, touches noses with Socks the cat! She likes him and he seems to be OK with her as he has not swiped his paw...yet...but I think Ava senses this grumpy cat and moves off quickly after their greeting!

Dogs are Dogs...Cats are Cats...YET all are

ANIMAL FIRST so can be "One Pack"!

Max Saved a Life - Cesar's Way!!!

2009-04-01T19:56:00.011+01:00

My story of Max protecting Jack clearly shows how Cesar Millan works to help many dogs into recovery - by using the "inter-species" language called energy - Calm Assertive Energy as we saw Max use in the story!

This is "why" Cesar's Way works - because dog whispering is all about mimicking the dogs themselves, their ways, not human ways, to communicate "stop". Then as dogs live in our domestic world we need to "redirect" - tell/show then what we ant them to do instead and use "positive reinforcement" to reward the wanted behaviour.

Max, a balanced dog of a high rank, can truly be calm assertive and stop an attack without joining in to fight. So we can use this to stop dogs from using behaviour we do not want, while we would never throw a dog we can block dogs in a way they understand - using energy, but only ever calm assertive, body language and vocal tone! Oh and that means "no words" just sound and tone!

OK so we don't throw but we can block. Dogs will block another by standing firm and confident! Calm is the energy needed if we want to try to communicate "we are leader" in "canine" so "stop"!! I can usually stop a dog charging at me and have written about this in some of my earlier blog posts so please do check them out!

There is no doubt in my mind what Max was doing to stop the attack and no doubt of Cesar's ability to teach us how to have a balanced people/dog relationship. If a person begins to shout or hit out when dogs are fighting to try to break it up...well this may work with people (though often adds to the conflict) but never works with dogs! Dogs would see this as "joining in fight" and so escalate the aggression even then to us as mis-directed ....after all we joined in!

Any aggression always consult with a professional...do not try to copy the methods one can see Cesar use on the DW show - this can create serious problems if tried by a non-professional! This warning is here for a reason, as all the dogs and people Cesar helps he has fully assessed first, in-person, to find the best treatment method and solution, so "don't try this at home"!

Way to go Cesar....Max showed us exactly what you mean by calm assertive energy, so I hope you all gain some more insight into energy from me sharing this story with you. If you read Cesar's books you can learn all about his philosophy which is what Cesar's Way is - not the methods alone.

Cesar is an inspiration and he does save lives...I am a great believer in his belief which is "any way that works that does not harm the dogs"!

Max is Jack's "Doggieguard" ...the "Bodyguard"!

2009-03-30T18:03:00.013+01:00

I want to share an incredible story with you about how confident dominant dogs can protect without using aggression! Max, our Doberman, is for sure a "would-be alpha" dog - a natural leader with calm assertive energy. In this story he did truly save a life and proves that dogs do naturally live in packs and that dominance is not a bad thing when used as animals do - without human complex emotions...not as we humans can sometimes mis-understand dominance as a negative unwanted dictatorship behaviour!

On the beach my husband Simon and Max, along with some other pack members, were enjoying a stroll. Jack, the little Chihuahua mix, who was nearby Simon was suddenly charged by other dogs.. they just appeared! Along came these 5 Greyhounds off-leash and not under control, they attacked Jack aggressively. There was no chance to stop these dogs quickly enough with their intent on attack - prey drive! Jack yelped and rolled over and over to try to stop them getting him.

Simon had Max on leash, when from behind him came Alfie, our Setter, who was off-leash and went into the middle of the attacking dogs, all calm Alfie began to circle Jack to protect him keeping these hounds back from Jack....normally Alfie barks but he was completely quiet!
Alfie was unable to stop the attack completely with this blocking as he is quite a low ranked dog.

So Simon, with Max under control and on leash, went into the middle - Max immediately took over as directed to - he instinctively knew which one of these hounds was the Leader Dog of that pack. Without aggression, Max picked up one of the greyhounds by their coat (a doggie jacket not the fur/skin) and threw the dog to the side to stop the attack from that dog - their leader...."It Worked"! Not only did this dog stop but the whole pack of Greyhounds stopped and stood very still....as did Max!

Meantime Jack ran away home! Max knew just what to do - he could stop this attack safely and far quicker than a human, as we are after-all a different species! So he was enabled to do so under Simon's control and saved Jack from further injury. Max did not use any aggression, as he would have naturally known to fight would be to cause more aggressive confrontation...no barking and not even hackles up!

As Max was on-leash he could not use "bump" to move these dogs away, this is when dogs bump into another to move them, so he just threw without harming. By stopping the Leader the whole pack stopped, no need for Max to do anything else but stand there with very calm/assertive dominant energy!

The owner was very sorry, but my husband and pack just moved-on, no point in going over the event as these dogs should have been under owner control but were not - they should have been leashed and muzzled, yet they were neither - it was that simple!

Anyway Max was keen to go fetch Jack back into the safety of the pack - he was no longer interested in the Greyhounds! So Max was the leader in the moment and protected his pack without aggression.

Simon, being a naturally calm person, made the right decision in that moment to direct Max to step-in, he remained calm while Max stopped the attack. Of course he knows Max and trusts him never to use aggression.

Jack is OK, not too badly hurt, Max is such a balanced dog, a true Ambassador for the Doberman breed, with Simon having perfect timing to enable Max to stop the attack and Aflie trying to block - great team work..packs do work..working together works!

Coming next - my take on how this relates to Cesar's Way and how we can mimic Max to protect our dogs...remember though we can only ever control our own dog, as people we can only aim to safely block another dog, and if we cannot then I will share with you how we can be sure to help our dogs move-on from an unavoidable attack!

If all dog owners were as responsible as my readers

all would indeed be well -

eductaion is the way forward so

keep on reading me here and then

ALL WILL BE WELL!

Welcome EVA!

2009-03-12T18:29:00.006Z

Introducing "Eva" our new pack member - the smallest member now being a Chihuahua and only 8 weeks old! She is beautiful in both character and those big blue eyes! Eva will teach me "all about puppy psychology & behaviour" - so I can coach you to raise your puppy calm and balanced...leading the way to "puppy peace"!

She is a very confident dog taking in her stride meeting the pack on her first day...no fear just interest ...though she looked a little amazed at the GT Dane, Monty, when he sniffed a "polite" greeting...but then his paw is bigger than she is! One day later and she licks his face as she passes by him snoozing!

Eva for now is on her "puppy license" this means she can get away with behaviour around the pack that an older dog could not, for example an older dog new into the pack and climbing all over the Terriers here would be corrected by my Terrier dogs ... but Eva can do it as she is puppy and all the dogs naturally understand "puppy" - so my pack allow this & play...just for now! Peterpan loves her, he is very gentle playing with her by rolling over!

This is my time as Pack Leader to teach her the home discipline - the rules, boundaries and limits so that when her "puppy license" runs out she is not climbing on them so they have no need to correct her.

The "power of the pack" helps in positive modelling ...this means they are "toilet training" her to go outside...thank you pack! But of course negative behaviour can be modelled by puppy as well so they are all having to be extra well behaved....I don't want her to think she is a Terrier and chase those flying rats...pigeons in the way the JRTs do in the garden!

Eva is a lovely dog, she won't grow very big but she makes up for size in spirit! She already walks all round the garden and out to the post box with me, but then she met the "cat" and backed-up...I am not surprised I back up from my cat! She was also a little spooked by the noise the chickens make but I was careful not to reinforce this fear with a human emotion ... as tempting as it was to cuddle...that would be a mistake in dog psychology!

Follow her journey to becoming a balanced adult dog here....Eva is my Star...named after Evita...one of my favourite films starring Madonna...Eva is my "little Madonna" she sure has her confidence!

Mirror...Dog....Mirror

2009-03-06T10:10:00.007Z

"YES" Mickey you are a great looking dog...but that is not what I meant by "mirror"!

Dogs are our "mirrors"! In some way our dogs mirror back at us our own energy and emotion.

*************

This is a key part of Cesar's philosophy and the reason why Cesar can help transform the lives of owners for the better too! Cesar's Way brings balance and peace to the whole pack...all the family.

In the past I didn't come across a Behaviourist in this country who had such a philosophy - to help the humans as well, rather most refused to have any dealing with the people just the dogs...and sometimes "just a talk about the dogs problems" without even meeting the dog, as the dog was acting out aggressively!

How can we help a dog to recover without helping the humans to balance and harmony in their lives too? I don't believe we can single out the dogs..we need to treat the family with a holistic approach...as one pack.

So this is what I do...I coach people and rehabilitate dogs, inspired as ever by Cesar. This, I add, is more like "life coaching" than counselling - the latter needs a professional in human psychology, while coaching is all about achieving individual goals. Sometimes it is hard even to identify "what you want" so this is where we begin...until we know what we want how can we feel like we are meeting our needs and those of our dogs.

The mirror works...to accept oneself and then to decide how to change..."nothing changes if nothing changes"...I can empower you to find just what works for you and your dog.

Many who come to me with their dog problems have been told there is no way to change their dogs behaviour or mind-set - there is...I found the way and the dogs recovered. There is always hope...believe there is a way and we will find it together.

I have many mirrors here...13 dogs to tell me every moment what my energy is to check that I remain a benevolent leader, clam and confident so that my dogs continue to respect and trust me. We enhance our special bond every day on our journey through life together.

What is your dog trying to tell you?

Welcome USA!

2009-03-03T18:06:00.013Z

Hey you are cute!

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

I am very pleased to introduce you all to a JRT from the States. He is very special to his owners who are wanting to enhance their relationship with this young dog so he can grow up to be a balanced contented canine.

He is my first USA client - OK so the human family are the real clients who have joined my personal people training service via distance coaching. With this service where you live is not an issue, so we are now "international" helping owners to understand a little dog psychology in their own unique envionment....family...pack!

A dog does not need to have problem behaviour for their owner to benefit from my coaching - as to learn to use dog, not human, psychology when interacting with dogs is the way to balance and avoid unwanted behaviour from even developing! So I congratulate this dog's family for wanting to learn more about their dog to maintain the great bond of human leaders and follower dog.

So I coach people by Internet and/or phone in how to be the leader and improve their own special bond with their dogs. I carefully tailor my services to meet your more specific needs and individual goals....we work together to achieve what you want by empowering you to balance and harmonise life....and dogs too!

We have had huge success here in the UK as people coaching brings dog psychology to all in a personal way you can understand. Behaviour solutions and guidance is all part of my holistic approach.

Dog psychology is not just those who want to work in the profession but everyone...owners just like you who want to know some more about their dogs - behaviour and mindset. This can also help those who want to find out if they wish to follow-on and become a more formal student of canine psychology through certified course providers or to compliment their existing studies or people training courses too. Coaching works for owners I mentor!

I think sometimes it is so important to have individual coaching, so I launched this service to meet requests for help. Though "in-person pro" help is for sure important to help change dog aggression energy and responses. Such in-person help is also key to rehabilitate many other behaviour problems, yet my personal coaching service can be beneficial to you as a supplement to this. I can advise anyone on the most appropriate service - just for you!

So if you want to "discover the way...to lead the way" then join us here at CrystalDogs by sending me an email...wherever you live there is a way I can help you just ask me.

I am the Canine Coach - I rehab dogs and coach people, I am a certified Canine Behaviourist and a People Life Coach. My dog pack teach me...I can be your mentor!

"Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes" ....SO....Call in the Canine Coach....Suzie!

The Ladies...The Matriarchs!

2009-02-24T17:20:00.005Z

Eddie and Patsy are the "matriarchs" of the pack, at 9 years old these 2 females have the respect of all the younger members...including the males... even the highest ranked male Max, the Doberman, can get space bumped by Patsy if she wants to sit where he is he moves...no dispute! My "ladies" were named after the ladies on "Ab Fab" (Absolutely Fabulous TV Show) and have always been very closely bonded pack members.

While in their "senior" years, this makes no difference to Eddie with her quick responses and ability to exercise for many hours a day....so long as there is a good fire to sleep in front of come the evening!

Patsy on the other hand has always been rather "slow" for a Terrier..less reactive and less energy...OK more ...well....lazy! As you can see from the photo of the month for Feb she is a little over-weight but she doesn't do "diets"...I think she has lost 1lb in a year!

"BC"...Before Cesar...Eddie was the alpha female and the Pack Leader, now still alpha of the dogs for sure she is no longer Pack Leader...I am! I had her as the leader back then as many Behaviourists say to have a leader dog...NO.....this can cause in-pack fighting, equal members which my pack are now as inspired by Cesar...they do not fight! The interesting part is how readily she "gave-up" this role to me, clearly insecure as a leader she would on occasion use her sharp mouth to discipline the pack.

All I have to say to Eddie now is "Cesar" and she jumps on my knee and fixes her stare on the TV awaiting the DW show, she also liked a TV programme about herds of elephants and one about wild dogs...but she loves Cesar!

Eddie went into follower zone the quickest of all the Terriers who are leashed on a walk. She used to pull for 7 years then no more - all loose leash walking now. In the beginning she did not need much discipline to achieve loose leash and only a couple of corrections..she got it and has never pulled since! Patsy, by the way, has not worn a leash for many years she always is behind me!

So you see even naturally alpha dogs can be insecure as leaders in our domestic world and give it up to a human who is prepared to be their leader in a way they can understand = calm assertive energy.

Let me share an example of calm assertive energy from a Terrier...Yes Eddie again. I have seen Eddie go into the pack of my dogs out on a walk where one of the Setters, Lucy, had stumbled over ..literally... injured prey! I feared the pack would fight over the prey as they all charged in.. but Eddie stepped-in and claimed it with pure calm assertive energy - the rest of the pack simply...and calmly... backed-off! The rat was "Eddie's kill" and there was not even one dog who challenged this and neither did she need to use fight energy to claim it...it was calm and highly assertive, then she gave it up to me once I claimed it...as I didn't want her bringing it home!

I tell this story only to show you one of the unique ways that I learn what calm assertive energy is from my pack - as dogs understand it, this was amazing to watch Eddie who claimed the prey without triggering any fight behaviour between the pack...especially the Terriers.

What are your dogs teaching you? I learn something new everyday...thanks Pack!

The Snow Dogs!

2009-02-03T19:56:00.008Z

With February along came the snow here at the beach - a very strange sight indeed for us!

Exercise daily is vital for my pack to all remain balanced, as warm as the log fire is....I just need to pick up a leash, head for the door with that "special look" from me to the dogs and they are all wanting to go out whatever the weather!

In pouring rain my Dobey, Max, does not want to go into the garden...with an "it's raining" look on his face he sneaks back to his bed. Heavy driving rain + me and that leash = Max right by my side to go for that walk! This shows the meaning of a walk for a dog - to migrate is so much more important than just being in the back yard, no matter the size of gardens...just ask my Setters!

So big coats and hats for us humans in the snow but not for the dogs..even the smallest Chihuahua mix, Jack, needs no such accessory....it isn't that cold here and such things get in the way of a dog being dog...this is England not Alaska, so cold yes...really too cold for my dogs.. NO!

As soon as Jack was off-leash he rolled and rolled in the snow, covered from head to paw in little "Chihuahua sized" snow cubes! He totally loved it, his pal Bob was more interested in eating the snow, while the Terriers just charged about trying to get scent ...any scent from under the snow!

I'm not really sure that either of the big dogs or the Setters even noticed on their walk. I did though, as the time for the walk I picked turned into a "white-out" - the worst snowfall of the day! Oh well us leaders can't predict the weather for a walk...everything else and we lead the way but not with our British weather!

Back home the "front of fire" beds were very popular..even my Gt Dane chose to go on the rugs on the floor - and he doesn't "do floors" .... only sofas!

"Soon be spring" I keep on saying to all the animals here, the chickens were not impressed with the snow!

Out walking my pack I lead the way in all weathers...but please I do hope no storms like last year ...please!

Exercise truly is key - this is the first part of Cesar Millan's fulfillment formula for a very good reason - it leads our dogs to balance. It is truly the way to balanced energy....just check-in with my pack after "walkies" all snoozing together, contentment in the air.

Dogs Love Being Dogs - I Love Dogs Being Dogs

LEAD THE WAY!

Can humans be "Alpha"?

2009-01-31T15:52:00.009Z

YES!

But we cannot be dogs - so we have to find the way to inter-species communication and acceptance!

This is not about "going through doors first" or indeed "not sitting on sofas" - as you should see my Gt Dane on his sofa, afterall we are not dogs!

The "Dog of the Month" for January is Max my Doberman - in his DNA he is a high ranked dog, but this does not mean dominant in the way we can sometimes understand this. To dominate others is not to use aggression, as this would be insecure behaviour - not the behaviour of a leader!

A true "Alpha Leader" dog only uses calm/assertive energy to lead the pack, never aggression, they are followed out of respect by other ranks including other high ranked dogs. These dogs have no need of training their pack, like we humans teach dog obedience, they simply have a structure - rules/boundaries/limits.

MAx, now 7, has always had this confidence - it is his DNA to be high ranked and dominant over lower ranks - but not a single case of aggression from my Dobey yet all the pack members show respect naturally. This is why I prefer the term "high ranked, confident dog" than "Dominant" and don't forget we can always climb to be higher - the leader of the pack!

The really interesting part in all this is that to have a balanced pack with human leader all my dogs need to be my equal followers - they are and this stops any fighting over rank...Max is just fine with this as he respects my leadership and rules.

So I "mimic" Max, this is how I learned to show leadership from a "would-be leader" - I raised my status to be accepted as his Leader and he will follow my lead anywhere...anytime....just today he followed my communication to "be with me" rather than his instinct to chase a wild deer, this I could not train him to do but he knows to be a safe and a valued member of the pack is to follow my lead...even off-lead!

Max has taught me so much I could not learn from a book, for example "how to reunite" - this is amazing to watch him - he stands tall...aloof..."no touch - no talk - no eye contact". My Dobey is 7 this year, I hope for many more years with my best friend and incredible teacher.

So even with other "would-be" alpha dogs we can indeed be the leader, we just have to "talk" using energy and body language...not words! - Watch your dogs and you too can learn how to talk with the animals. Remember don't try to lower a dog - it won't work as it goes against nature - raise yourself to leader and it works! Max agrees!

Max loves being "just dog" but he is so much more to me...our dogs share our jounrney through life for a reason - what is your dog sharing with you? Max is showing me the way to help dogs...many dogs back to balance - what a truly wonderful gift between species.

All Around The World!

2009-01-22T10:37:00.004Z

Cesar's Way is helping dogs to recover to balance all over the world! Cesar's philosophy is helping owners to understand some dog psychology to improve their relationships with their beloved canine companions.

There is a DW fans list where many people from different countries share stories of success and support each-other during "dog rehab"! This Yahoo Group List can be found here:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DogWhispererFans/

All over the world people follow Cesar's Way... from USA to UK, from Peru to Netherlands, from India to Australia and the list goes on and on...Welcome "Doctor G" - a Vet from Lema, Peru, I hope you continue to find this blog helpful this year!

Many more owners from lots of countries are joining the on-line community - Cesar's Web site and Forums, I am proud to be one of Cesar Millan's Ambassadors with responsibility for the UK and Interntaional regions, so please do come and join us there:

http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/

So far this year I have helped to save 2 more dogs - lives are being saved everywhere thanks to Cesar's Way...one day and one dog at the time we all do make a difference.

Business here at CrystalDogs is both welcomed and popular, we are successfully leading the way to rehabilitation for dogs with problems, improving relationships and helping many understand "why dogs do what they do". Remember my services are provided to suit you!

This is post number 101...so that was 100 in the last year! I shall be working hard to communicate more advice and tips this year...maybe I can double and hit 300 by the end of the year...so keep reading and commenting.

Thank you.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-03T18:30:00.002Z

Wishing a calm assertive, balanced and peaceful new year to all of you.

Coming soon will be the CrystalDogs official web site, listing all our services.

By far the most popular service was launched last year in response to demand from dog owners all over the UK - "Distance Owner Coaching" - DOC!

This service I provide is personal and individual to you - I train you to understand dog psychology/behaviour - tailored to you so that you can improve your human/dog relationship. I can help you learn the inter-species language - Energy! You get one-one help from me.

Through my coaching I lead you to live in balance with your dogs and rehabilitate unwanted behaviour by providing you with solutions. I explain the "science thing" and help many understand Cesar's philosophy as I advocate and follow his way, encouraging more Pack Leadership from us humans!

To find out more Email me directly suzie.crystal@yahoo.com,

You can have the life you want with your dog and lead the way to fulfillment whatever the breed!

Call in the "DOC" - Canine Coach Suzie!

The Boxing Day "hunt"

2009-01-02T16:54:00.003Z

OK - so it is not really a "hunt" but a pack walk along the beach! Joining us is new dog "Oscar" - can't miss him he is the only black dog "bottom" in amongst Jack Russell white bottoms! And, I have no idea what "Loopy Lucy", my mad Setter, thinks she is chasing but what an expression. With her daughter Snoopy, our blind dog, behind yet very alert to her mother's strange movement style.

The dogs love this walk, having received left overs from Christmas lunch there is much energy to run off. So there is nothing to hunt except the smell of fish - but to roll in such is a great from of dog fun!

The odour of dog replaced by that of fish, so it was a wash for all with Tea Tree shampoo on their return, pack leader I am but dog I am not - I just can't bear the scent of rotting fish even if the pack think it is akin to expensive perfume for dogs!

Fulfilled they slept through the rest of Boxing Day, while I watched my gratefully received Xmas gift of Cesar's Season One Dog Whisperer Shows! This series has not been shown on TV here for a while - we watched episode one with the Chihuahua "Nunu"....now my Chihuahua mix has a split personality...sometimes he is my Jack and sometimes he is "Nunu"!

More about "Jack/Nunu" soon.

Introducing OSCAR!!

2008-12-31T12:38:00.005Z

The pack have a new member - 10 month old Oscar, A black Lab mix with a little Springer Spaniel!

Oscar, re-homed to us here at CrystalDogs, has bonded well with most of the pack...Monty the Gt Dane is still a little unsure as Oscar loves to try to play with him - fascinated by his sheer size and slobbery chops!

It took a few hours to get PeterPan to accept Oscar into the pack, we have not had a male younger than PeterP here for a couple of years as PeterP was so aggressive to other younger males. Well PeterP was muzzled to begin with as he relapsed into red zone, I had to step-up my Pack Leader energy and followed Cesar's Way to introduce a new dog to PeterP and then later to the rest of the pack.

We began with much walking exercise - just PeterP and Oscar together, then some supervised discipline time around the home, PeterP relaxed and peace was restored. Now PeterP, I am sure, thinks Oscar is "so cool" as Oscar is a young, high energy dog - he needs more exercise than the rest of the pack and PeterP gets to go along too!!

Oscar did not react to PeterP's aggression in any way - he was not aggressive in response to PeterP's lunging attacks .... I think I have the dog I need now - as Cesar talks of too - we get the dogs we need not necessarily the ones we want! I need a dog to work with me to help balance other dogs - welcome Oscar my "Rehab Assistant"!

Oscar has settled into our routine very well, from day one he began to learn how to rest from the pack! It is strange though having a pup around the place again ..... things go missing .... socks and the empty dog food cans in the trash bin are favourites!

More on Oscar coming soon as we are now a pack of 14 dogs!

Pack Member helps dog with shorter legs!

2008-12-17T18:53:00.005Z

This week at the seaside the tide is quite high, there is just enough beach to walk along! While out on our pack walk we had to climb over a few rocks to get to a stretch of sand, once across I realised Sadie, the tiniest of the Jack Russels, was stuck on the other side - too short to jump over!

Just as I was thinking "oh no, I shall have to climb back over the rocks to lift her over" ......... Max the Dobey ran off, jumped the rocks and caught up with Sadie, he did not stop he kept on running with Sadie now following him. He found a way round the rocks and led her safely back onto the beach where we all were waiting and watching in amazement!

Way to go Max - he went and rescued his little pack mate and showed her the way. Max completely lived up to his rank of "would-be-alpha" dog - leading the way!! The amazing part is how all this was communicated between the dogs and I in "energy" alone - no vocal from the dogs or me, pure energy told Max to run to help Sadie join us - now that is true pack team work.

Remember our dogs are reading us all the time - they know what we are doing through our energy and body language! Energy truly is the inter-species language as Cesar Millan tells us.

Just as well Max accepts me as his Pack Leader .... else I'm not sure what he would have the rest of the pack doing all day - or maybe I do .... I think they would be running the beaches chasing sea birds all day, stopping occasionally to eat fresh fish washed up on the beach!

It's a Dog's Life at the beach!

Happy "Cesar" Christmas!!

2008-12-09T17:26:00.009Z

Finally a chance for everyone including us "Brits" to learn from Cesar Millan, without having to live in the USA and be on The Dog Whisperer!

I highly recommend this for all owners and handlers... Cesar trains humans...us the people!

Extra News below so make sure you read on to the end of this post!

It's Christmas so treat yourself or friends and family this holiday to some Unique Coaching and Get Results from Cesar Millan

It's Sessions With Cesar, the interactive online coaching course available from Cesar Millan for the first time, ever. Inspirational, Motivational, Full of Cesar's Way Insight = WOW!

Sessions With Cesar. Login, enroll (for a low monthly fee), choose your dog's behavior problem or ownership situation, and you're ready to go. The course consists of tutorials, audio clips from Cesar, and video clips where you can see exactly how Cesar works his magic with dogs and learn his Fulfillment formula.

After completing each section of the course work (at your own pace), you take a brief quiz. It's that easy, and it's fun! As a special added feature, Cesar's Pack is an online community forum where you can ask questions and communicate with other dog lovers and Pack Leaders. Cesar's Ambassadors are also there to help guide you through the course and try to answer your dog behavior questions.
For more information, go to http://www.sessionswithcesar.com/

Sessions With Cesar makes a great holiday gift for that "dog person" in your life!

And I am A "Sessions With Cesar" Ambassador as well so I can support you too - as well as great wisdom and experience from all the Ambassadors and course members internationally through the forums!

And there is even more....Cesar has live Q and A forums where all course members get to post a question and are selected at random by the SWC Team, then the lucky selected members can interact on-line with Cesar!

Finally, if you enter this promotion code 18689FB1 you get a chance to win a special Cesar prize pack!

Join In...Join The Pack...Be The Pack Leader!

Bringing home a puppy...but not a "dog"?

2008-12-08T20:42:00.005Z

Hello Jen and Welcome - a reply to comment question:

My first question would have to be "why would one not want to treat a dog as a dog"? Even my smallest Chihuahua mix Jack is proud to be "dog", dogs love to be dogs they are not fulfilled being surrogate humans! You should see little Jack running the countryside covered in mud with a feather in his mouth - his entire body language says “proud dog” - he would not want to be “carried around” and “pampered”...he is a dog!

Dogs are pack animals it's in their DNA, so why not be their leader this is nature's way? Being the Pack Leader does not mean we cannot have our dogs as companions or have to change everything - actually it is a very straight forward philosophy and I get to share affection - my pack get loads of affection, but it comes as a reward for being my followers and this makes it even more special to my dogs - they have earned their place in the pack, this is the ultimate reward for any dog!

So what is it about the pack leader way that you do not like or want to follow? What is your dog if not a dog?
Brining a powerful breed such as a Rottweiller into a family ....pack....without following exercise and discipline is a risky method, if the dog is naturally lower ranked "happy go lucky" then with training alone you may have a great family dog BUT if the dog is a social climber then behaviour may become a problem which later requires rehab!

Anyone can become their dog's Pack Leader - anytime - any dog age - this is because dogs live in the now and always prefer to live in the most natural of environments which is a pack.

I know if I was going to bring in a puppy to this pack I would follow Cesar's ways in his book "A Member of the Family" - a friend of mine Greet, in the Netherlands, has just followed this book to bring a Chihuahua pup at 7 wks old into her pack of 14 dogs with great success.

So the only other advice I could give you would be to have one dog as the higher ranked member of the pack - the "alpha", though please note this may well inspire fighting between them as the pup matures! I would also protect the smaller dog from puppy play in case of injury from a heavier boned puppy.

Train the pup from day one with other dogs, socialization is key in as many different environments/contexts as you possibly can. Try to avoid any bad habits developing by having at least some rules from day one. Walking both dogs together would help to create a bond, as would feeding them near each other but not allowing them to go to each other's bowls and balancing your attention between both dogs!

If you can manage to follow a little dog psychology it may well help you raise your pup without him suffering fears and obsessions - don’t reinforce fearful instinct/mind with affection, redirect him if he is becoming fixated on something - prevention is far better than cure!

If you are not following any discipline then you are likely to get more primal behaviour - behaviour which can carry risks and become unwanted later when it is no longer cute! If your current dog is a balanced dog then the positive power of the pack may well transfer to the puppy, if not then behaviour problems can double!

Not everyone wants to be or can be the pack leader , there is always room for compromise but personally I just love the calm energy of my pack now, you can see the contented dogs at walk, rest and play - it's a dog's life. If I cannot convince you to see you dogs as dogs, then all I can do is wish you luck with your new puppy and hope all goes well for you and that you go on to control your Rottie pup through obedience training.

I love to be my pack's Dog Whisperer! I still humanize my dogs for fun between humans only, they are all still my "babies" - my family, but never directly with/to them or in any emotional interaction as I respect their right to be my pack ... my dogs first.

Balance means I can be a dog lover and a Pack Leader.

Don't Be The Boss...Be The Pack Leader!!

2008-11-26T18:16:00.015Z

When we switched philosophies to being the Pack Leader, not the "Boss", the changes in my pack are truly inspiring - they are with me...they will follow me and they are not all obedience trained! Here are some of my "key differences" between boss and leader:

To be a boss is "human hierarchy" - Bosses make demands, issue orders and expect staff to do exactly as they are instructed - between humans we can have this structure as we understand the rules, but for a dog "a boss" is not a leader, rather they are someone who gives commands and believes that a dog should obey the boss's demands always BUT

Sometimes dogs refuse to obey the boss..."oh how I remember this one!!"
Dogs have various ranks, while they may not be the boss as you the human are, a high ranked dog can still be the leader of the pack and that can over-rule a boss..."Eddie was the leader of the pack here!"
Middle ranked dogs can feel insecure in such a structure as bosses have various ranks below them, like middle management, with middle ranked dogs = fighting between dogs over status/rank. While lower ranked dogs can feel insecure - Dogs can feel over-powered by a boss and behave fearfully or overly-submissive even using learned helplessness. "3 male Terriers would competitively fight...and fight!"
Dogs cannot be bribed or negotiated with - a tactic used by some bosses. "Often Max would refuse a piece of food if there was something else he was focused on!"
A dog does not follow a boss, they may do as they are told but this is not the same as following naturally out of respect, more likely through training obedience or for a "pay rise" which means a dog will only do something for a treat!! Or they do as told out of fear of consequences such as "being ignored" or "time-out" - human psychology dogs do not understand. "I put Alfie outside once as a consequence for not recalling - he just curled up on the bench and went to sleep quite content!"

Being a Pack Leader is dog, not human, psychology = successful communication between species. A Pack Leader is a rank and status a dog respects, the consistent structure and pack dynamics are those a dog understands - so we have follower dogs who respect us and want to please their leader - they want to work for their leader and place in the pack! Dogs do not follow unstable leaders - they only follow calm assertive leaders, to rant at a dog, use angry/frustrated energy or use physical force then these are actions of a boss or a weak leader which dogs do not respect and will not follow unless made to = back to being more of a boss again!

Pack Leaders claim the alpha, highest rank/status, we have equal ranked follower dogs - we do not acknowledge any dog ranks in our packs = no fights!!
Pack Leaders use calm assertive energy not physical dominance or aggression, "dominant type" dogs become follower dogs no longer acting-out dominance over the pack.
We don't need commands, energy alone can have our dogs following our lead. Our dogs behave with calm submission with "no touch no talk no eye contact".
We can give out verbal "commands" or physical signals (body language) - once we have taught them we can use them to direct and redirect our dogs, not to boss them around!
Our dogs follow us out of respect - we do not bribe them or ask them to do things, the power of positive projection "energy" is a language our dogs understand.
We communicate with clear and consistent rules, boundaries and limits - Discipline.
We understand the need for "exercise first", we don't shower our dogs with affection first, our dogs earn their affection = natural dog pack psychology and behaviour.

Human Leader with Follower Dog creates a bond of trust, fulfills our dogs need for the natural structure they understand and need.

I believe we should all be our dogs pack leaders, benevolent leaders not the boss!

Peace returns to our lives, chaos gone - balance achieved between people and dogs Cesar's Way! As I said at the start - "inspirational" this is also a great word to describe Cesar Millan - the original, genuine Pack Leader! Make being the "boss" old school, "Be The Pack Leader" - use energy not so many human words ...get in tune with your instincts, avoid humanising dogs and too much human analysis to solve dog behaviour problems over-complicates - So keep it simple, work with nature not against it and live in the now - dogs do!

Stay Calm Assertive - Stay balanced

Pack Leading = Contented Canine Companions!

Good Brush - Good Dog!!

2008-11-18T18:34:00.002Z

The key here is to change a dogs association with the combination of human and the brush.

This method helps fearful dogs to recover mental and physical stability.

First after exercise, some real energy draining exercise, wait until your dog is truly calm submissive - relaxed body (not tense) and relaxed mind (not focused). Have some treats at the ready or prepare your voice for some gentle praise. Put a leash on your dog so that you have control, we don't want your dog running off to hide now! Sit down or having the dog standing on a table if they are really small, so you can make good warm eye contact. Hold the brush as far away from your dog as you can without letting go of the leash, preferably far enough away that your dog does not show a negative reaction! No talk and No Touch just encouraging yet confident eye contact.

Reward only calm submissive behaviour and mind. You are communicating to your dog this is a good thing - the brush being held by the human!

Gradually, - slowly and this is key, bring the brush closer to your dog, only moving the brush ever closer as your dog does not react negatively. Reward as you go - only for calm submissive behaviour. If your dog carries out unwanted behaviour then go back a step to when they did not act-out but do not give up now else once again they win the context! Keep going until you have the brush touching your dog and reward - as ever only reward calm submissive behaviour...I can't say this one enough as to praise anything else is to reinforce acting-out around the brush! If you do need to break this up into different sessions then always end a session on a positive note - so you still win the context!

Keep exercises short at first, building up to being able to groom your dog using any tool, this is systematic desensitisation and it works! Soon you may well have a dog who loves to be groomed - still having problems then Email me for personal advice.

Believe it or not but I did have to do this with my Gt Dane some 5 years ago who was fearful of the brush! Monty's sheer size made me more wary of a bite and I lost my confidence a little, so I used this approach instead!

Cesar's Way - dogs prefer to return to balance, aggressive behaviour is insecure behaviour, rehabilitation of the behaviour will change their response enabling recovery to begin!

Once again though - consult with a "Pro" if you can - maybe try thinking of it this way - would you expect to learn how to be a top singer without a vocal coach, the same is true for grooming or any other canine behaviour = contact a dog psychologist who can help you to understand your dog and teach you how to achieve balance between owners and dogs.

Cesar's Way - It works when we work it - Stay Calm Assertive

Grooming Gremlin!

2008-11-18T18:13:00.005Z

This is the name of an episode of the Dog Whisperer Show with Cesar Millan, Season 1, and also the nickname of our Chihuahua mix Jack, who way back was just this - a complete nightmare to groom he truly transformed into a Gremlin!

Jack would snarl and "air bite" whenever I came near him with a brush and as for scissors...then his growl sounded worse than one from Max the Dobey! Small Jack may be but is size only, he is a naturally high ranked dog who given the opportunity will dominate others! This was Jack dominating me, only alpha dogs get to choose who they groom and when/how they do it, Jack thinking he was higher ranked than me was warning me off.

Another reason dogs can become "grooming gremlins" is through fear - they are afraid as they have been hurt before (not deliberately but hair snagged with a comb for example or their mind reads the human's energy which may be over assertive) or they may simply have a general fearful/nervous nature, so they growl/bark basically to protest the grooming/vocalize their fear and it works - the owner stops and begins backing away so "hey" the dog knows this behaviour works to keep human from grooming them so guess what? They keep on doing it!

Either way a dog wins the context so they keep on repeating the unwanted behaviour and aggression indicates insecure dog (unstable mind) who needs our help.

With Jack the rehab began with me establishing myself as his Pack Leader, I would not allow any dominance posturing from this little dog, though he could look cute! Once I made a decision to groom him I had to check first that my energy was completely calm and assertive because any hesitation on my part would mean Jack would win again! Well he snarled, he yapped, he escalated his protest trying to bite me (and managed one time) but I did not back down, eventually he submitted to the grooming and to this day is no longer a gremlin - just ask the Dog Groomer!!

For Jack this process is part of discipline - after exercise and before affection = Jack is calm submissive before and during grooming..... sometimes he falls asleep!

Of course I am a professional - so folks don't try this at home unless you are very experienced with your dog who respects you as Pack Leader first - check out Cesar's Way or consult with a behaviourist first as such behaviour can be a symtom of many other underlying problems! IMPORTANT POINT - Any dog of course who seems to suffer pain when grooming 9aggression can be a reaction to physical pain) should consult with their vet first so the dog be checked-out first in case there is a medical expalantaion.

Remember Jack's top tip - growl and my owner stays away!! - So owners don't hesitate - be calm, be confident, be assertive = Be the Pack Leader and then you can groom whenever you wish! Remember too my top tip - If in doubt have your dog wear a muzzle as to get to practice reactive, unwanted, aggressive responses means the dog gets to practice the behaviour so they just get better at it - get in a pro to help you rehab and Stay Safe.

Another way to help a dog who is afraid of the brush/scissors coming up next.

"Oh no another dog over there!!"

2008-11-10T17:06:00.005Z

Today I have been watching some of Cesar's DVDs and came to a sudden realization, well actually it was a moment of recollection really!!

In the summer here at the beach we get used to people and their dogs visiting the beach frequently, my dogs are taught to avoid both. So when winter comes we are more used to having the beach "other dog free", so my pack get to run free much more. Thing is when I see another dog at this time of year I slip back into old thinking "oh no there's another dog here on lead everyone"...well I am only human! The dogs pick up on this weak energy of mine, on the outside I am saying to the pack "don't react, be submissive" and yet my energy is clearly saying something else - that I don't want these other dogs on the beach right now this is my time!

In the season 2 of Cesar's DW shows there is an episode called "Spooked Hootie" where the owner is thinking that she is over a previous incident when Hootie was spooked by children, then realizes she is also thinking "oh no children are here" as Hootie has become afraid of children, Cesar explains on how this means she is 2 energies - the superficial energy saying to Hootie "It's all OK" and the real energy which was saying "Oh no chidlren here" therefore holding onto the past issue, unintentionally reinforcing Hootie's fear! Dogs know when we are acting, they know which energy is real. Hootie recovered from his fear really well once the owner truly let go of the past and changed her own and Hootie's association with children.

So my most reactive of dogs the Ratpack Terriers were picking up on my real energy in not liking the other dogs around, ignoring my acting energy of it's all OK. So they have begun acting-out again using aggressive vocalization and posturing dominance!

I caused this "relapse" - just watching this episode has reminded me of this - the power of our energy, I must truly let go of this thinking pattern and believe that it is a good thing to have other dogs around again! All summer when I truly did not mind my dogs passed by other dogs just great, my energy was calm assertive then to keep them all under control and I did not feel frustrated with other dogs being around.

This can apply to any context, a dog who gets excited upon seeing another dog can lead the owner into thinking "oh no another dog we have to pass-by" and then their dog does exactly what they do not want them to do..jump about! Think about it and be totally honest is your energy truly calm assertive or are you saying something else to your dog from your inside energy?

Positive projection works - when we are truly seeing and believing in the picture we want rather than the one we do not want...we leave behind the old energy - we move-on by changing our thinking patterns as well!

Fireworks...And The Dogs!

2008-11-05T13:40:00.009Z

When the bangers go "bang" so does Peterpan!

Peterpan, being an anxious type dog, fireworks = stress for him ... particularly the bangers on fireworks night ...tonight the 5th of November, ....and unfortunately "bonfire night & fireworks parties" go on for many nights afterwards! This can be a tough time of year for some of us animal owners! This is how we get through this nightmare of seasons...and I am still at a loss to understand why humans like fireworks anyway?!!

Most of my dogs are not bothered by fireworks but we still drain as much energy as we can do to make sure all are resting when it gets dark! We begin the day with exercise...we then exercise some more and for Peterpan even more!

Here are my top tips:

Drain energy from your dog - exercise! Try faster paced exercise such as running or cycling or even games of fetch it...over and over again!
I Feed just before it gets dark as my dogs naturally rest after food.
Take your dog out for another walk just before it gets dark or as close as you can to a display if you know when it is due, allowing time for a dog to get settled into the resting zone pre-fireworks!!
Have the TV...radio...stereo on and loudish - but "Watch out" as some soap programmes do indeed feature "fireworks" so keep the remote handy!
And - if there is a lull in this distraction noise - try singing, laughing or coughing loudly ... I do!!
Use Dog psychology to overcome unstable mind - Ignore any acting-out e.g. protests like whining, shaking or pacing around - as to acknowledge or try to comfort a dog is using human psychology - with dogs to do this and share affection when the mind is unstable is to reinforce the wrong energy, mindset and acting-out behaviour...so don't be tempted to cuddle! Trust me - dog psychology enables your dog to move-on and out of the fearful-zone much more quickly - this is how I help my dogs to recover from fear of fireworks. If you must "cuddle" find a human instead...or a teddy bear :-)
Humans - Clam Assertive energy please! Picture the calm scene you do want and don't even think about the fireworks as a dog will know if you are anxious or focused on them in any way!
If the acting-out is too much e.g. aggressive/destructive/toileting/vocalization - then I step-in with calm energy to correct, for the most nervous of dogs it is best to have them leashed to avoid getting accidentally hurt by a dog who is frightened, give a leash "pop" and remember to redirect the dog - what do you want them to do instead?
Remember too that it is very hard for an excited or nervous dog to sit/down calmly - have something else prepared for them to do instead! - Have a way for the dog to release pent-uo nervous energy - I have a chew toy for Peter so he can displace his frustrated energy!
Reward relaxed behaviour with your mind - think "good dog" as your dog does understand this energy as rewarding from us and keep your facial expression "happy" - smile so you are communicating "relaxed human relaxed dog"!

I have some Rescue Remedy for Peterpan which helps him to calm down, I take some too :-)
Off for another walk now - Peterpan you will be tired!!

Stay safe - Stay Calm Assertive

Breed....BOB!!

2008-11-03T18:57:00.005Z

Introducing you to a "Mix of breeds" dog - BOB! In this picture he is "in touch with his Border Collie side"!! And here he is with 3 Tennis Balls...each one is "Bob's Ball"!!! Bob ...check out his colour and markings .... you will not grow up to be a real Border Collie ... you are 6 yrs now!

Thankfully Cesar believes dogs as "Animal first" then "Species Dog" then "Breed" then "name" = which means that I can fulfill all my dogs through exercise even if I do not know their true breeding!

So how do I fulfill Bob's "breed"? Bob who is Border Collie (BC) mixed with a Jack Russell Terrier (JRT) ...well he goes on two walks every day - one where he seems to be more BC so he plays ball over and over again, the other with the Terriers brings out his JRT side so he sniffs around, goes under vegetation searching, digs holes in the sand and much more that Terriers do - today he chased a hare across a field..no chance of catching up with this fast animal but he tried - totally in tune with his JRT instincts!

All my breeds for sure see themselves as animal then dog, but will "breed pack up" when resting - the Setters lie together and the Terriers next to each other as well as on top of each-other!

There are so many ways we can fulfill our dogs or their breed through exercise without having to "give-in" to their more primal instincts or behaviour! I mean though I do work some of my Terriers to catch rats I am not going to turn this into a sport by giving them a bunny each day to fulfill their instinct! So instead I drain their energy through walks and far more appropriate sport like chase it games - back to that trusted tennis ball...oh man do I get through bags of tennis balls thank goodness they are sold in a £1 shop!! Oh and Bob just loves the squeaky toys but they do not last long - he gets the squeak out in seconds! He will go into a pet shop and not act like most dogs he leaves the food and treats alone but picks up all the toys he can to see if they have a squeak!

To end with a little humanizing between us Human Pack Leaders - if I could say what Bob's dream would be it would be - Wimbledon - a job as a "ball boy"!!!

When Two Packs Meet!

2008-10-27T18:43:00.002Z

We walk as one pack, we migrate together all in tune with each other one human and 52 paws!! So how then for another owner and dog to join us? This is how we do it...a step by step or should that be a paw by paw guide!

1. I walk my pack alone first, especially important for my higher energy dogs, to release excess energy and get them in the mind-set of migration walking.

2. We meet up with my friend and her dog, all dogs are on leash. Once all dogs are calm we allow the dogs to politely greet each other through scent - the "sniff"! They are not allowed to greet face to face as this could be understood as canine confrontation, rather they greet approaching sideways with relaxed body language.

3. If any of my dogs are not in the right mind-set they only get to look, no greeting and no focusing is allowed, their energy must be calm submissive and we simply wait until it is - say one is excited...oh OK so I am referring of course to Peterpan who is fearful/excited when he first sees another dog, as this negative energy can quickly turn to aggression he does not get to greet ...yet! - read on!!

4. Then we begin to walk, humans heads held high and no looking at the ground just straight ahead projecting positive images of the lovely walk we are going to have altogether. Not one paw is allowed in front of either human! At this stage we are each holding the leashes of our own dogs so we are still 2 separate packs!

5. Agan any focusing on the other dog from my pack gets a quick leash correction (to focus is to begin acting-out problem behaviour hey Peterpan!) So we keep going - moving the minds of all dogs forwards into calm or alert submission.

6. Once all dogs are migrating well then my friend begins to hand off her dog to me, I have all my dogs on my left hand side and take on her dog to my right - we do not stop she hands-off to me as we are still moving forwards - no change in energy.

7. I keep walking with my dogs on one side and her dogs on the other - now we are one pack! Gradually once all dogs are in true migration zone, I move my friends dog to the same side as my pack, again we do not stop, this dog goes around my back to join-up with my dogs.

8. Once we have walked this way for a while, say about 30 minutes then we stop for a rest and let the dogs off leash together for some "directed play time" - this means they get to sniff about, run around, play etc but still no excitement as we humans correct this energy as it can so easily change from play to fight! This is the time when Peter can greet the other dogs as we are all one pack Peter accepts this and socializes well as he feels safe under my leadership!

9. Back on leads and we all walk home together - then it is just fine for my friend and her dog to come into my home - as dogs live in the now and "just for now" we have united the dogs as one pack under our human leadership.

These steps, and not even 10 steps, are the only way Peter can learn to greet another dog without fear or aggression and accept them in our home as well, once he knows a dog through this process he is very relaxed around them.

A similar process to this also works to re-bond two or more dogs from the same home-pack who have been fighting previously but are ready to unite as one pack - always consult with a canine professional first though when faced with aggression rehab!!

That's it - this is how I can turn two packs into one pack, whether it is a friends's dog joining us on a walk or a new dog joining my pack the routine works. So once again I see Cesar's Way triumph here...as always!

New Dog - An existing pack member rehabilitated!

2008-10-08T17:35:00.005+01:00

I have been reading a little more of Cesar's new book, A Member of the Family by Cesar Millan. So I will be talking about some of the ways I adopt what he says into life with my pack as I go through this book - join me?! BUT I am not going to give too much away, it's all in the book!!

In the beginning Cesar talks about getting a new dog and introducing this dog to the family - other humans, dogs, cats and so on - the pack! But I am not getting a new dog, well not just yet anyway, so how does this apply to me? Let me tell you as indeed it still does!

When I rehabilitate problem behaviour in any one of my dogs, I start over again and the best place to do that is from the beginning - as if this were indeed a new dog, afterall once rehabilitated it is just like having a new dog who has learned new discipline - rules, boundaries and limits!

So you see Cesar's early chapters do apply here, we go back to basics, teach my dogs the new rules of behaviour, we have zero tolerance for in-pack aggression or dominance posturing, we begin again to teach the walk, the rules of the home, socialisation, that all dogs here are my equal follower and the list goes on. So I "begin again" and it works!

Even the chapters about how to select the right dog for you can still help us with our current dogs - at least we can learn how we may not be fulfilling the breed we have and how to change this while keeping our dog of course! Or that, for example, a high-energy dog is not a perfect fit with a more "laid-back" lifestyle - BUT - when anyone owns such a dog in such an environment, one can accept to do things different another time, look in the mirror to see what one can indeed do now and improve life for all - make changes in the now to accommodate and fulfill the dog you do have already - this is your responsibility - not to give up on a dog...any dog! Here is a brief look at how this applied to me and the pack:

As I read these points Cesar makes I thought of my pack - "oops" some of my dogs would not be a "best fit" in terms of their energy needs matching my natural energy drive! - So I did have to change and become more of a walker, more of a cyclist, and ...well OK not more of a jogger ...running is just not my thing!! Though I am sure my pack would love an early morning run on the beach...this is not for me! So I take some instead, the higher energy dogs, to play ball on the beach first before the walks begin for the day - that way they run .. I throw the ball!! Though I add if any of you have read the quote "You threw it go fetch it yourself"? I think Peter looks at me like this sometimes!! (Just a little humanizing between us humans here for fun!!)

So if you are experiencing problem behaviour then I would get this book and let it guide you to counter-condition your dogs current behaviour into the dog behaviour you do want - a "new" your dog!

Peterpan is such an example here, we have spent months re-conditioning Peter on how to behave within the pack, home and outside. Of course it is much harder work to teach him change than to teach new, but with consistency, time and above all Cesar's Way he is beginning to act like a completely different dog, but still he is Peterpan, my beloved dog!

Stay Calm Assertive, Be The Pack Leader and fulfill your dogs - my pack are contentedly resting now all tired out from the day...me I am exhausted, high energy dogs I have but I think I need some energy food...drinks...tablets myself! Though I add that when off-lead as a pack they do exercise eachother...and "chasing sea birds" is one great way to "high energy exercise" my Doberman Max, he still just doesn't "get it" - they fly away you cannot fly to catch them Max!

CESAR'S NEW BOOK IS OUT!!

2008-10-07T18:27:00.004+01:00

A Member of the Family - Cesar's new book is on sale from today!!

As one of his Ambassadors I was honoured to receive an early copy of this most excellent new book. For anyone who follows Cesar's Way, anyone who has a dog I urge you to get this book and read it ...not once but at least twice as it is so full of just the information we all need to live with our dogs as part of the family - part of our packs! This book is also essential reading for those of you or your friends "thinking of getting a new dog" - trust me there is no other book like this you really can begin life with a new dog Cesar's Way - in tune and in balance!

Oh and look at the Acknowledgements section in the front - you will see a note to Cynthia Anderson - CJ - our Ambassador Program Manager!! CJ leads us Ambassadors by example as well being our co-ordinator for activities and projects, she works tirelessly in support of Cesar and helps save many dogs lives, she is an inspiration as well as a success story herself - "CJ and Signal Bear", in the book "Be The Pack Leader"!

Through my work with dogs and their owners, we are seeing much sucess with problem behaviour, inlcuding for owners who were told by others that the behaviour could not be rehabilitated - it has with thanks to Cesar's Way and indeed continues to be a success story of my own here at Crystaldogs - Packs are returning to balance...fighting behaviour is ceasing to be a way of life - peace returns .... chaos extinguished!! All through calm assertive energy and instinct, no forceful methods, no harsh punishment, no intimidation - such archaic ways I, like Cesar, do not follow, I never use aggression and now neither do my dogs!! Cesar saves lifes, last chance dogs have hope and as his proud Ambassador International I follow his lead, I am here in the UK so I too can help you to have the life you want with your dogs, all you have to do is ask me - I am the Canine Coach!! More News coming soon - I need a Team here in the UK and Internationally to help me spread the word in our communities! - Watch here for more information very soon.

Look out for future posts reviewing this book - for now I must go and finish reading this wonderful experience - My "Cesarised" pack are truly success stories themselves, I really appreciate Cesar's unique insight as I lead them to fulfillment! Cesar, Illusion and their children too have contributed to this book, thank you. Happy reading everyone!

Ruff n Tuff Dogs we are!

2008-09-27T13:17:00.007+01:00

Patsy, Eddie, Mickey and Timmy - 4 Terriers are go! Click on photo to enlarge the rat-pack!

Meet the ladies either side of my knees ...."Eddie" my first pure bred JRT.....and "Patsy" my Parson Russell Terrier - my first two dogs and my "introduction" to the world of Terriers...some time back now! And then along came "Macho Mickey", with his tan and white face - another pure JRT, standing to my far right side - suits his name, hey?! Which led onto...

Timmy, standing next to Mickey and almost pure white (apart from tan spots on his ears and a splodge above his eye!) .... Patsy and Mickey's son! So Timmy is half Parsons and half Jack, 5 years old and a little odd - Why? Because he is not truly a Terrier...by breed "Yes" but by instinct "No"! Timmy helps me in the small animal enclosure here, daily he comes in with the rabbits and the closest he gets is to rub noses with the dominant male bunny! He walks freely about in their run, no harm on his mind at all and these small animals know that so they are not afriad of him, he is the same way with the cat and the chickens! I don't think Mickey, Patsy and Eddie are very "proud" of him - I sure know what these other 3 would do in such a place as many rats and pigeons would testify if they hadn't lost out on run-ins with these dogs!

Eddie and Patsy will be 9 next year - Patsy slowing up ...well she never really did "quick" in the first place - unless she hears the "Eddie Cry" from somewhere in the garden out back which roughly translates to "rats!!" - though usually means flying rats - pigeions! I think Patsy's kennel club name "Right You Are" means "right on human, I'll be there soon ... sometime....when I am ready...right you are!" But Eddie is not slowing up - she still managed to chase a hare across 3 fields this week...no real chance of catching this fast mover but that didn't stop her trying!

Patsy, Eddie and Mickey are all "ruffntuff" pure bred Terriers - a truly great breed line. If you check out their web site you will see some fabulous pictures of some great dogs ... who look very similar to my lot here and may well be some of their exteneded family members! ... enjoy: http://www.ruffntuffterriers.net/

Many remark on how Eddie "is such a cute puppy" even now and Mickey "such a great looking boy"....Timmy however has been told "he is a very pretty girl"! Ooops never mind Tiny Tim, just as well I am not a breeder hey everyone at Ruffntuff!

I just love my Terriers...this truly is a "ruff n tuff pack" here at the beach! - in the background you can just see little Jack and Bob (well his tail anyway) trying to get in on the terrier photo shoot!!

Hey Mickey!

2008-09-27T12:56:00.003+01:00

Hey Mickey you're so fine...you're so fine you blow my mind..hey Mickey!

Words from a song I know but this is very true of Mickey! This is my chap just recently 6 years old....but why does he blow my mind -

I am a dog psychologist and Behaviour specialist BUT why does he sit up in his rocking chair and wave both front paws at me with his tongue sticking out?!!

Actually I do know why - and "no" it is not a trick I taught him - he figured it out all by himself .... it is because it gets my attention - result Mickey wants! One of the ways dogs learn is through obeservation, so he trys something he has seen us humans do - wave, then copies it which makes me smile and say "who's a clever boy then" which praises his actions = reinforcement...so now he does it all the time!!!

Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes!!!

2008-09-12T14:48:00.005+01:00

Peter, as some of you know, was red-zone aggressive towards other dogs - now he is not!

Just today he played "doggie tennis" with me on the same beach where another pack of dogs were sitting with their owners, he ignored them focusing on me his Pack Leader!

Cesar says "we don't get the dogs we want - we get the dogs we need" - So - Why did I need a very aggressive Fox Terrier called Peter Pan in my pack??!

To show me that I needed to change from being just an owner of a large pack of dogs, some with problems, into a Pack Leader owning and sharing my life with balanced, happy dogs! Peter taught me that he was not an aggressive dog, he was not born aggressive - he was an insecure dog with too much anxious, frustrated energy - which led him to act-out aggressively encouraged through lack of structure and leadership - I had a lot of work to do back then!

I truly believe that to do nothing then nothing in our dog's behaviour will change - dogs with problems will go on acting-out.

Some say: " But just last year" ..... or .... "just six months ago Peter was dangerously aggressive to other dogs" - I say: "That was then - this is now, move-on - Peter has!!!" - Peter has moved on thanks to the inspiration I gained from Cesar Millan plus a lot of hard work from me and Peter too, who is successfully rehabilitated living his second chance in life - returning to nature's way as a balanced dog.

For people who stay stuck in the past they not only stop themselves from moving on but they stop others including dogs! = Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes!

I believe every dog is entitled to balance - so if you have a dog with problems then first look to yourself - our dogs are our mirrors - in some way they reflect back at us our own energy. I did, accepted what I saw (that was the hardest part) and changed!.

Everyone has to start somewhere/sometime - Why live in last year....Why not live in today - you can start "your today" at any time?! My personal drive was to give my dogs a balanced life through commitment - being open and honest, willing to learn from past experiences, studying to fill the knowledge gap and rehabilitating Peter!

Much Changed ... SO ... Much Changed - I am who I am today ...not yesterday....training other owners and rehabilitating dogs, I share my journey with my rehabilitated pack, you and your dogs too! To enjoy coaching from me - you just have to ask me for help!

Meet the whole pack!

2008-09-10T14:30:00.004+01:00

If you check this photo - you truly can see all 13 pack members! Enlarge by clicking on the picture - enlarges the photo not the pack! - Don't miss Jack - the little Chihuahua mix who is the sandy coloured dog by my feet! Or the "flying" English Setter "Loopy Lucy" to the far left - being black and white she can seem to merge in with shingle!

So this is how we walk 13 dogs in one go - We lead-up, all dogs get a little excited so it's leads on and sit back down again in our courtyard! Then we "wait" and "wait" ....until all dogs are in a calm mind-set! Any other energy would be unstable energy and not the beginning of a migration walk with all dogs taking follower position. I mean could you imagine, I dare not, if we left with the dog pack leading the walk??!!!

Off we go - humans first that's be me and Simon, after about five minutes of slow paced moving forwards, a few "waits" to get the dogs to focus on us not each other and then we're into the walk. We walk for about 20 minutes on lead, a few are off but walk behind us. Then we get to a beach I have nicknamed "Russell's Cove" - it is the Jack Russell's favourite beach with cliffs which have very interesting grass and holes! Here the whole pack go off lead - a reward for having walked in follower position so well. They get to play around while us human Pack Leaders keep watch ready to put leads on if any unsuspecting passers-by happen upon our pack! - Remember I always go "leads-on" to show to other humans that the pack are under control - at CrystalDogs we lead by example!!!

Then it's back home in the same way we came out - 20 minutes migration walking, humans back in first, dogs get to rest ... then eat ..... then rest some more....

WOW This truly is a dog's life at the beach!

Once agian - HAIL CESAR - we could never have got the pack this balanced without you!

Nancy's Dog - A New Relationship!

2008-09-02T21:30:00.003+01:00

And finally...........

Kaela will need to be conditioned to having a Pack Leader as this philosophy - Cesar's Way, is probably a new way of living for her , training a dog in obedience is very different, and her energy on a walk tells me she has probably not been too well socialized within the contexts you meet on your walks. So the more you practice these walks with her the way I have described the more she will move-on acting the way you want her to, and the old behaviour gradually becomes extinct. That is why you need to correct her behaviour when she begins to show the first signs of acting-out, then redirect how you want her to behave - if not then she cannot understand that what she is doing is unacceptable or what she needs to do instead - be very clear and keep it simple.

With structure - rules, boundaries and limits this will lead to a balanced life together. It takes time, patience and consistency to convince a dog you are in charge as their Pack Leader, with a 4 yr old rescue many old behaviours may need to be counter-conditioned ("re-learned") to your rules -this is discipline and dogs love to live within such a structure that is nature's way. Remember too that dogs live in the now she will have moved-on to her life with you now, but will still need to learn your rules etc. Any excited energy she displays is not a natural state for a dog, so they always prefer to return to balance with our help and calm assertive energy.

Also, Husky type dogs need plenty of exercise - this is a strong working breed - they can go for hours of walking/running work! Adding a back-pack and mental challenges during the walk such as changing direction or indeed teaching them to pull something via a harness can help to release energy from this breed mix. It maybe that you need to release some of her pent-up energy before going for the migration walk e.g. running her/treadmill/retrieve games etc They can also be very vocal so you are lucky there!

So the philosophy for you I suggest is "Cesar's Way" (have you read the book?) and for Kaela his formula to rehab her behaviour on a walk and accept you as her Pack Leader is "Exercise and discipline before affection".

Remember you are doing great in the home - harness that energy you use inside and take it with you outside on the walk - be confident, firm yet kind, walk tall keeping your eye level above that of your dog and remain calm - no tension on that leash, relaxed smile (but not over happy as a dog can read this as a human signal to get excited) and breathe steady it works!

Helping Owner understand Dog Behaviour

2008-09-02T21:12:00.004+01:00

HI Nancy - Kaela is lucky to have you give her a new home and for her to be in a home who follow Cesar's Way is great news! Along with Cesar, Kaela will help you learn so much about achieving balance and what a wonderful relationship human/canine is. One good thing about not having had experience of owning dogs before is that you won't have picked up any bad habits!!

When dogs pass by other dogs, or indeed are confronted with any context out on a walk, it is up to the Pack Leader to choose the dog's option of reaction. Remember dogs only have 4 choices - their mind works by choosing fight/flight/avoid/submit, as Pack Leader you never choose fight that leaves 3! Lets use passing by another dog as the context - So be very decisive and either "avoid" - teach your dog to ignore the other dog and allow physical space for this keeping your dog's attention focused on you, "flight" - move away from the other dog e.g. turn and go in a different direction, "submit" - have your dog relaxed and calm preferably either in a low phsyical position e.g. sit or down when the other dog passes by or keep walking, moving forwards confidently leading Kaela this moves the mind on from acting-out/protesting. As the pack bond builds, she will learn to trust and follow your choice of response, ignoring distractions.

Sometimes other dogs who have unstable energy prompt a reaction from my dog, for example in your situation faced with an approaching aggressive dog may mean your dog responds with a growl, to a playful dog they may want to join in etc. This is a dog making its own choices of response - you need to correct this and choose another response - the one you want, I teach all my dogs to "avoid" - ignore everything! In order for a sound "pshht" correction, touch correction or leash pop correction to work it must be done as soon as a dog changes from alert energy to fixed energy (begins a stare/focus on the other dog), or indeed from the migration energy to alert - a follower follows - a leader is alert! The correction needs to be done early before the acting-out gets too intense otherwise it may not work as the dog is totally focused on what she is doing. These corrections need to match the dog's intensity - not to low or too high and never with frustrated human energy - always calm assertive: I find I say to myself "I am your Pack Leader, I protect you so I am dealing with this"! With an over-excited energy dog I tend to stop and "wait out" the acting-out (This is No Touch No Talk just pure calm assertive energy), once the dog is again calm submissive then I "reward" with carrying on with the walk.

Nancy - I hope this helps you to understand - feel free if you need more to ask more after I have posted the next part for you on how to help your dog to balance with you, either here via comments again or personally via my email suzie.crystal@yahoo.com

Mastering The Walk

2008-09-02T18:32:00.002+01:00

Hi Nancy, Welcome and thank you for your question. Firstly I would like to say that to master being a dog's Pack Leader outside of the home is harder and can take a little longer because of all the distractions, changing contexts etc, any dog needs firm yet fair, calm discipline and time to learn how to follow their owner and trust in their direction as leader of the walk - this is the special bond crated by walking in pack migration style.

To master the walk here are some of Cesar's tips from his book "Be The Pack Leader" and my top 5 - they work for me!

1.Ideal time for a walk is when you are not in a rush. A good point I have also made is how we "see" the walk - it is to be an enjoyable journey not a chore. If you feel it is something you need to "get out of the way" then a dog will pick-up on this and the bond will weaken.

2. Wait until the dog's mind is calm before beginning the "going for a walk" ritual - excitement is not the right energy to begin a walk - Calm Alert or Calm Submissive is the right energy!

3. Keep your human energy strong, calm assertive - know what you are doing you as the Pack Leader always has a mission or intention - you are the leader of the walk!

4. Only leave the home/garden when the dog is again calm submissive, else stop and wait. Walk with the dog behind or beside you - never in front else the dog is leading the walk!!

5. Allow some time for a "sniff break/toilet break" then begin the migration ritual - moving forwards in tune with each other - the challenge is to not allow sniffing, looking round etc, this is all about migrating ignoring distractions! Once the dog is in the "zone" their body language will be ears back but not pinned back or tense, movement forward at a steady pace, tail hanging naturally, body relaxed not tense with the muscles working to walk and the mind focused on/commited to the migration.

I allow a "reward" for good behaviour which is some off-leash time, this is still with my dogs under my control I still direct them what to do - this is not "their free time" though they can pretty much sniff away and play too - but I am in control of starting and stopping this activity which both begin and end with calm submissive behaviour - that is key!

I'll put up another post next to more specifically answer your questions.

Wolves, Domestic Dogs and Martin Clunes

2008-09-01T19:40:00.005+01:00

We have been watching Martin Clunes and his dogs in the documentary which talks of how dogs descend from wolves, I'll tell you Eddie agrees - she watched the whole programme and particularly interested in the "howling", thankfully my pack didn't join in!!

I completely agree that we need to be our dog's Pack Leader! Cesar's Way, The Dog Whisperer, is "Be The Pack Leader" and that is why he has such huge success treating dogs and their owners, rehabilitating back to balance. So I for one am pleased Martin referred frequently to the need for a Pack Leader, this is how I live with my pack and help my clients achieve balanced relationships too. Even if there is just "one dog" and one human (or many humans - the family) the human and dog relationship is a pack - the human(s) must be the Pack Leaders! This programme reached many I am sure who may now understand more about dogs needing to be dogs, not surrogate humans!

One thing that was not explained was in the second episode about the release of the wild pack of dogs - you may be wondering why so many males (7 I think) were released into the wild with just 2 females? It is because in nature the pack dynamics are "more males than females" to avoid fighting among females who can fight on until death, the ratio needs to be higher in favour of males. In my pack the ratio is 8 males to 5 females - this works to help avoid my females fighting. Many people have multiple females without realising the "potential behaviour problems if two females are social rank climbers - dominant energy dogs, especially if they are also similar in age", it is common for this to lead onto aggressive inter-female fighting - the problem is that even 2 females alone can be too many in an environment and this is not about the physical size of the environment, it is about dynamics - the psychological space within the pack. BUT there is a way to have two such females in balance living together - Human You Need To Be The Alpha - Be The Pack Leader and have both females as equal ranked followers - it works!

Also, I hope a bonus from this documentary is that people will stop breeding dogs with physical problems and mental health issues - Let's get dogs back to nature and being/looking like dogs - Oh and that includes "dressing them up" - there is no need and I assure you any dog prefers to romp in a field rather than "wearing a designer coat and being carried around"!!

So anyone with any comments on this programme?

Pack Fun in the Sun!!

2008-08-09T16:25:00.004+01:00

As you can see from the August feature picture it is a beautiful day for "Terriering" across all the fields around the top of the cliffs - don't worry they know how to avoid the edge actually its not that steep as Eddie and I have gone down that way before as a short-cut used by a few locals onto the beach...OK we slid down on our bottoms!!!

Now this is Timmy out front "checking out the ground scent first", Eddie and Peter raring to go and about to be set off - leads off and away they went! Notice our Bob here hanging back - not into Terrier racing today as he is Jack Russell Terrier mixed with Border Collie and today is clearly a "Border Collie Day" - now if I had !! Now if I had a tennis ball that would be very different hey Bob - that is a Border Collie thing with Bob!!!

All worn out or so I think...back home we have just taken on rehoming some more Cockatiels from a chap who could no longer cope with them...so the Terriers now have their own version of a "treadmill" - they run up and down the outside of the aviary as the birds fly up and down the long flight deck! Of course they can't get at the birds but they sure do spend ages watching them and the birds couldn't care less about the Terriers - they don't scare our birds one bit but Eddie believes they should be terrified of her as a Jack Russell and proud to be one who has hunted many times in the wild fields!!

Dogs, their leads and school!

2008-07-25T19:01:00.005+01:00

Welcome Chloe and Eddie to the pack - No not new dogs into my pack but a new Pack Leader Chloe and her Jack Russell Eddie!

So Eddie is mis-behaving at school - this may remind some of you of Peter's School Days, so I know I can help you here as Peter did graduate class! So this is not an unusual problem - you are not alone so I am posting some feedback on this subject.

Training school is not a natural environment for dogs...a necessity for a well-trained dog but my point is that their behaviour there can vary greatly from other "normal" responses. In such a school they are usually on a lead and that limits the choices a dog has to act, normally a dog has 4 choices of flight/fight avoid/submit. When in a training environment the choices are limited, thus some choose fight and put up an aggressive display, these are insecure dogs as such they act aggressively dominant over other dogs or they are insecure afraid acting aggressively to keep other dogs away from them!

When they are on a lead as well as decreasing their choices it acts as a tool to transfer our energy - if that is negative energy such as fear of how they may behave or human anxiety then a dog sees this a week energy and takes over as Pack Leader making their choice fight rather than submit! This is when the association takes place - the dog learns that at training school on a lead + other dogs = aggression, so each time they go this learned behaviour is reinforced, so they keep on acting out! But to avoid school is to give-in to the dog - we don't do that as Pack Leaders!

So to change the response change the context - the training school is the environment and does not need to be changed, the lead needs to be on so this cannot change either - What CAN change is the human's energy and the dog's response. Picture how you want the experience to be - keep focused on this while you hold the lead. Keep the lead as loose as you can. Now teach a new response, in this case "submit", every time the dog acts out be confident and firm while calm - correct the display with a vocal "pshhht" which says to a dog "hey I disagree with what you are doing" (or whatever noise you are comfortable making but it should not be a command as such) and if need be follow-through with a pop of the lead - this is a quick tighten and release action. This interrupts the behaviour and gets you access to the dogs mind - then be sure to redirect the dog what you do want e.g. submit is to be in a relaxed physical position. Any interruption needs to be timed so that it stops the behaviour before the dog escalates to a high level response - watch the body language and react BUT at the same time avoid anticipating the dog as else you run the risk of the self-fulfilling prophecy!

Practice Makes Permanent - the new calm behaviour when carried out regularly in the context of the training school in time substitutes the old - so that training school with the lead on + other dogs = calm, the old behaviour gradually becomes extinct. The point here is that dogs cannot have conflicting emotions so cannot be aggressive and relaxed at the same time, so they move on and behave differently.

Tellington Touch is a good way to calm an anxious dog BUT it has a major drawback potentially - in this situation you would be applying touch which would initially reinforce the unwanted behaviour, so I do not recommend it unless a dog is in a calm submissive state first then it is applied to increase relaxation, unlikely in such a situation you describe.

The reason that in other situations with the same dogs your dog may behave well is because the lead is removed and the environment is different - a complete change in context so a completely different response! When a dog is on-lead and near other dogs they cannot use avoid or flight, they can only choose fight or submit - we have to be their Pack Leader and teach them to submit, or we can change the situation by choosing avoid giving the other dog space or flight by turning to walk the other way but these we only choose when a dog is calm submissive - WE always own the choice and make that choice for the dog they then follow our lead! As responsible humans we NEVER choose fight!!!!

IF you try this and it isn't working then you need to look again at the context - what else is going on? Is this really aggression as in a dog's "fight" choice or is it in fact "over-excitement" which is different requiring another approach? How do you enter/leave the school - if it is when the dogs is acting-out and not calm submissive then you are setting the scene. As you see there are so many variables here but I hope I've given you some ideas to start with, please feel comfortable with asking more, I had exactly this problem with my rehab dog Peter!

This is dog psychology....not training but it should help you to handle any such displays in future! I am able to help more just let me know as this would need a more one-to-one approach than here, anyone can contact me directly through my email address see my profile on the here on dog-blog!

What Not To Wear!

2008-07-21T16:22:00.005+01:00

An interesting comment was made about how some owners think dogs don't like/or fear colours such as a high visibility coat - it is not the colour it is the way it changes your appearance that causes a different reaction!

Take an example from my pack - One time I put in a hat and scarf and came downstairs, a number of my dogs went into guarding overdrive! Barking at me and some backing...off some coming closer staring - which from a Doberman is the only warning one gets before they carry-out their role of serious guard dog! So very quickly I spoke to them .... nothing changed apart from slightly more inquisitive looks! I took off the hat an scarf and all was back to normal and they came over to me much more relaxed. So the hat and scarf was not something I normally wear or that they had seen me in before. I had changed my appearance yet was too far away for them to pick up my recognisable scent so they only had their eyes to use - dogs use their nose first then ears then last of all eyes. So by getting them to use their senses backwards this was not normal behaviour and their eyes are their weakest of their senses - so they did not recognise me!

It is well know in dog psychology that big winter coats can have the same impact on a dog whose owner comes home with the coat on they can get startled and even run away or worse go into attack!

So as high visibility coats are exactly that - highly visible to dogs as well!! They make you look different to a dog as your outline is how they recognise you via their eyes alone - you look different = you are different in a Dog's mind! Outside where there are so many other smells/sounds to challenge their nose/ears the chances are they may well react with an unusual behaviour towards you...it's not you...it's not the coat...it's the mixture!

So owners - "What not to wear" - remember that when we look different we may recognise ourselves (or not as the case maybe - we humans rely heavily on our eyes first and I for one have walked straight past a work mate at a weekend as they weren't in their suit I didn't recognise them!!) - so too then our dogs may not, for me I take that big winter coat off before I go inside..and the hat/scarf! For sure though a dog will get used to an owner wearing different clothes etc but others they normally greet with a welcome they may not if they look different! Oh you should have seen the Gt Dane that day - he shot off to try and hide behind a small kitchen chair - he truly believed I couldn't see him! And Gt Danes used to be guarding breeds...not anymore well not our Monty..now "hiding breed"... .Oh Yes that would be him!

Remember dogs live in the now - every single moment the context of an event may change that event making it unrecognisable - to a dog it is not completely the same as another time/similar situation - it is new and so they may act differently - more on that soon!!

Ambassador Human...Ambassador Dog!

2008-07-08T21:36:00.005+01:00

Hi all, SORRY I have been "absent" but I'm back in the NOW!!!! - Well I have been very busy working and participating in the Dog Whisperer Group which had led to an incredible honour - I have been given recognition by Cesar Millan Inc as an Ambassador of Cesar's Way - The Dog Whisperer(DW). Now this is truly WOW, I join a great group of people also recognised for their ability to follow, understand and promote Cesar's philosophy by effectively communicating his ways - train the owners and rehab the dogs. So I am the UK/Europe Ambassador and this will help me to help you all in becoming the Pack Leader - remember my original goal when in January I set up this blog was to promote responsible dog ownership and this is how I came across Cesar The DW! By explaining...translating communication between humans and dogs I hope to encourage all to learn "how to behave around/with dogs" making this " common knowledge" so it can become "common sense"! Thereby helping to PREVENT accidents, unwanted dogs, unhappy dogs, dogs with problems, breed bans, dogs being unnecessarily being euthanized e.g. for triggered aggression and the list goes on....we do this through gaining a greater understanding of dog behaviour - our relatioships with them and their psychology - I can tell you "what dogs really mean"!! I love helping you all on-line, those in the DW group have really helped me and my pack too, it's like an "extended family"!

Anyway, back to my pack - I have appointed 2 dog Ambassadors!! Sadie and Bob are two balanced "follower" dogs, who if I meet a loose dog out on a walk I send out to greet that dog first. The "power of the pack" from these 2 helps to calm a "stranger dog" before they come near the rest of the pack, actually usually they don't approach the rest of us as these 2 distract them and keep them from approaching by blocking the other dog using their energy - quite incredible to watch! They are Ambassadors because they advocate my ways - to use the dog's option of "avoid", they are super cool dogs! I teach all my dogs to choose "Avoid" when seeing another dog, this is a large pack walk there are 9 of them now on one walk and it is far better to avoid than risk any confrontation and the dog's choosing their own options e.g. "flight" as I would disappear into the distance being dragged behind them at the other end of their leads!! If another dog were to carry on towards us then as Pack Leader I stop the dog from coming close - it is my job to protect my pack, they trust this now and do not react on their own they await my direction - I direct my dogs to choose submit while I take charge and move the other dog back/away from our space...my dogs they follow me!

Oh and for those of you who watch the DW show - hey you should all be doing this by now :-) I have my very own stooge dogs like Daddy, not only Sadie and Bob but Alfie the English Setter, Jack the Chihuahua and Monty the Gt Dane! Max the Dobey thinks he is in retirement now except for chasing those sea birds!

So Happy Pack Leading All - Stay Calm Assertive!

Greet and Meet - Dogs are not human!!

2008-06-11T19:50:00.007+01:00

When meeting a dog to be "dog polite" you have to think the opposite of how us humans say "Hi" to someone we want to greet.

If we see someone we move forward, smiling maybe waving and start talking with our arms often flying about as if driving our excitement - this is fine for humans but not good for dogs! In fact it will either excite them or scare them, neither of which will make for a "dog polite" meeting and may result in a bad moment for both of you!

So to meet a dog first rule is "No touch No Talk No eye Contact"! No touch - as dogs don't use touch to greet each other with a paw shake! No talk - dogs don't use words to convey their emotions - ever heard a dog say "Hi I'm Max great to see you" :-) No eye-contact - this can be read as a challenge by a dog, anyway even a human can read your eyes to see if you are friendly or not! Follow this rule and a dog will give you respect and not anxiety or over-excitement, neither of which is a balanced state for a dog to be in.

To invite a dog to come over to you - lean back a little not forward, this says you are happy for them to come into your personal space. If they are all "so-excited" then ignore these antics they are trying to manipulate you to get your attention! Then allow the "dog greeting" - "Yes" I'm afraid that is the "sniff thing" :-) Once the dog has done this and is calm/submissive then add in a touch (stroke) but don't reach over their head or bend over them as this is a dominant approach and may incur a dominant response - remember it takes at least "two to have a dominance situation"! If you really must be "ever-so-human" then speak away but keep the tone soft and calm.

Even if you regularly meet the same dog don't change your ways as a dog does not change how they understand us, still go for the rule above it will just be much quicker before you can directly interact.

So don't greet a dog in the way you would a friend else you may get more of a response than you bargained for, not necessarily aggressive but probably over-excited with all that jumping up which can put us owner/trainers into a set-back after all our hours of work!

Think Dog...Greet Dog.....Meet Dog...they really don't need your paws all over them and that constant "Chit-Chat" to know you like them they will know from your energy and if they give you calm submissive respect then they like you!

CRYSTAL DOGS - We're Here!!!

2008-06-08T13:58:00.005+01:00

We're "Open"!!Hey Peter that's right read that - Pack Leader is all trained up in dog psychology! I have just completed a refresher course in dog psychology, mind you I think though it provided me with a great deal of knowledge about our canine companions and communication, I call it the "science thing", that learning from the Dog Whisperer (Cesar and in particular a group of people who follow his ways) and my own pack has provided the real-life experience I needed to rehabilitate problem behaviour. For the record Peter is doing great with no aggressive displays upon seeing other dogs now, not the best at socializing with them yet but much improved. Rehab is an on-going process and not a cure, so as someone said on our Dog Whisperer Group: "Practice Makes Permanent" - and Scott I couldn't agree more!

My studies continue both formally and informally, of course within my pack too - life for me is about learning from experience and improving, I shall continue studying canine behaviour as there is always more to learn and with my dogs the lessons just keep on coming - and all my dogs have something new to teach me each day :-)

Jog and Dog.......Stop and Go

2008-06-05T20:11:00.003+01:00

So when should a jogger stop for a dog…when the dog is giving chase! Keep running and they’re sure to keep chasing - it an adrenalin thing! Most dogs can out-run humans :-)

Stop and turn side away from the dog - make no eye contact and don’t turn your back just ignore and remain calm while hopefully the owner will retrieve their dog. If the dog keeps approaching then hold an arm out with hand signalling stop - like a laid back traffic cop (it can help to imagine you are that calm cool traffic cop) and say a firm “NO”, not a shout or panicky the tone is all important - say it and mean it! Though don’t actually lean back rather lean slightly forward but not exaggerated, and definately follow the "no touch" rule! Most dogs understand the word as meaning stop, the key here is your energy - stay in the moment and in control - calm and confident own your space. It can help to think about how you may react if someone gets to close to you and you think “hey you’re in my personal space” - keep that energy but without any anger, if you like be “aloof” this will get most dog’s respect.

Go and keep going if there’s dogs about but not chasing, slow to a walk as you move into their focus - keep that “owning your space” feeling and just walk on by, then when clear pick up speed again. The best advice I can give is to get in touch with your instincts and trust them…that’s what dogs do they don’t think “oh shall I chase that jogger today” they just react to what is going on around them. That’s why it helps to understand their mindset and language - to communicate in non-human ways!

So "Happy Jogging and Doging" all. I “power walked” with my Terriers today, at one point I wondered how we would all get on with a jog….two steps into the movement and I tripped over a lead! Back to a fast walk pace I think is best can‘t really have their Pack Leader face down in the sand :-)

Terriers and anything that moves quickly!

2008-06-04T15:09:00.002+01:00

For Terriers a jogger can prove too much of a temptation to chase after!

That is a rather sweeping generalization but worth keeping in mind that many Terriers have a strong prey instinct - genetically bred to chase, catch and kill vermin they just love their work but when this instinct is miss-directed it can transfer to anything from bikes to joggers! - Rarely though is this anything more than the thrill of the chase - as this is a diluted instinct to chase moving things, though can prove risky for the dog especially if it‘s a motorbike or similar. Unlike with the real thing say a rat which drives prey instinct via their senses which will end in doom for said rat!

3 of my Terriers Eddie, Mickey and Timmy have very strong prey drives, they are pure bred Jack Russells and from a breeder with the appropriately named “Ruff n Tuff Terriers” and they sure are both! Small furry animals and birds beware - that’s anything from cats to pigeons or if they think they’re up for it then best is the pheasant chase! Though these birds usually fly off leaving the Terriers looking a tad bemused!

So when I happen upon joggers and I have the Terrier Pack with me it’s "leads on" in record time else they’ll be off on the chase! They wouldn’t do anything if they caught up they are all very people friendly dogs - again the reward is in the chasing not the catching here! This is when I prefer a jogger to stop and give me a breathing space to regain control. By this I mean stop running - walking confidently past is fine always ignoring the dogs though.

So I have to be extra vigilant on behalf of anything that moves with speed when out with these Terriers else they would “Terrierize” the beaches and lanes! Don’t be miss-led by size - they maybe small but they are “rough and tough” dogs and more likely to miss-behave than all my others put together!

Interesting though that I did not mention Peter hey?! That is for once he has no problems with chase drive either real or miss-directed - with people even if they are jogging he is not inspired to chase, he is a Fox T mixed breed with less prey instinct, though my cat Socks would probably not agree here!

All Terriers walked for the day so cats, birds, rabbits, cyclists, joggers etc you are all clear to go forth with speed on the beach!

More on "Dog and Jog"

2008-06-04T11:58:00.003+01:00

Life is full of coincidences!! Off out on our “large dog walk” today this is a mix of breeds varying from the Extra large GT Dane, Large - Dobey, Medium - English Setters, Medium-small English Setter x, Small - Border Collie x and Jack Russell, V.Small Chihuahua x…What a strange sight we must be!!

Anyway along the beach out in front of us are two joggers…they had that energy of calm (or maybe that was exhaustion) and appeared confident so I only recalled the Dane and Dobey plus one Setter - back to the “why” in a minute. The pass-by was just fine as all dogs ignored the joggers and the joggers ignored the dogs. So it does go to show that jogging by a large pack of loose dogs can be safe - if the dogs are under control and everyone, including the dogs, pointedly ignore each other!

Now with this mix of my dogs who do not have a particularly strong “chase instinct” the chances of them giving a jogger a “run off” is very unlikely. So too they are all well-trained to ignore people when passing by on the beach - else it would be a nightmare to walk them in the summer when it can get a bit busy…it’s not exactly Benidorm even then though :-)

Why did I call the Dane and Dobey back?? - Only because people have a mistaken impression of these guarding breeds and can get scared easily so out of politeness I make visible my contact with their collars! As for the Setter Alfie - well that’s his track record - he is in his own world when running about and can’t hear or see much as he’s so focused on the drive to run free - so what did he do? He sent a jogger flying last summer - not just his fault as the jogger was listening to music and totally unaware of Alfie’s presence zigzagging about - so that resulted in the jogger tripping over him! No one hurt all was well but I don’t want a repeat accident!

More next on “Dog and Jog” as to when to stop and go - and how to pass by! Plus a story about the Terriers and how they would react to a jogger - let’s just say it would not be in the same way as this pack of 8 behave and there’s only 5 of them!!!

Off to take the Terries out now - along a quiet lane with no joggers!!

Joggers be dog aware! Owners be "jog" polite!

2008-06-03T20:18:00.003+01:00

Jog and dog…unless this is as a team with the owner jogging with their dog then it is not a good combination. Dogs see jogging as a human running which can inspire a dog to give chase -, they see the jogger as running away which is what a weaker/fearful animal may do so they chase and this activity is self-rewarding. If they were to catch up the outcome could be an attack though as I said before and stress this is not a normal reaction.

So - what to do if you are the jogger? In my experience if you are a calm assertive person who pointedly ignores dogs and carries-on-confidently by not focusing on the dog at all, then keep on jogging. This though would rely upon you giving plenty of space to the dog so avoiding any inadvertent interaction, the dog not being aggressive towards people and the owner having total control over their dog….not always something a jogger can be assure of though hey?! The energy of the jogger is key here, anything such as nervous energy will encourage a dog to give chase - and you can’t fake it they can read energy even from a distance! Of course this said there is still a risk that a dog will give chase!

If in doubt then to stop is the best course of action, but don’t turn this into a challenge - do not focus on the dog, turn away, leave space, claim your own space by standing still and tall - I have found that folding your arms can help a human to feel assertive and “own” their space. Do not run up behind a dog, or pass close-by running - dog walkers don’t always see/hear you coming and surprise can provoke an unwanted reaction from a dog and us owners don’t have eyes in the back of our heads! Give the owner a chance to get their dog on a lead and under control, which in my opinion is what all owners should do when joggers are close - that is polite dog ownership! Sometimes it is necessary to say to the owner that you are waiting to pass - do this calmly and do not make any contact with the dog.

What should dog owners do? Get your dog back to you - remember they shouldn’t be off lead unless you have a good recall anyway. Put them on their lead and let the jogger pass on by. Make sure they are not in your dog’s sights - the dog is not focusing on the jogger before you let them off again.

I always lead-up when joggers are about - but they don’t always give me a chance before shooting on past which is a bit inconsiderate and dare I say a risk - as this is a large pack of up to 8 loose dogs on the beach and they don‘t know that I have total control! Just a thought - joggers and dogs…maybe that is where the expression “run the risk” comes from - over to you on that one Dad :-)

So why do dogs chase joggers this is the psychology bit: mis-directed prey instinct - human runs - dog gives prey chase - adrenalin surge in dog is a reward - they don't need to catch up with you and many won't bother! Or territorial chase off: they think human is running away from them - that is what the dog wants to happen - there is the reward the dog has chased off the intruder on their perceived turf!! Or - as in the case of some herding breeds such as Collies they could be herding you even though you are not a sheep :-)

Bottom line - it is up to the owner to control their dog - no human can control the environment e.g. other dogs, joggers etc. Unfortunately some owners don’t or can’t, keep yourself safe jogging at all times and do not run from a dog they can out-run us - change direction or stop! If the dog is on a lead then pass-by but slowly and by giving space. Remember the “chase thing” is instinct in dogs and we can’t fight nature only work with it.

Judge each situation as you come upon it - every instance of “jog and dog” is different - get in tune with your instincts and go with them.

See the next posts on how to meet a dog and how to stop a dog approaching you!

Jogging and doging! Meeting a dog!

2008-06-03T16:48:00.003+01:00

Hi all and Welcome Holyhead!! Holyhead in North Wales hosted a "dog fun day" recently and with my Mum and Dad Pack Leading the event it was a great success - they have been well-trained by me :-)

Thank-you for your comment - I have been asked a question about humans out jogging and dogs - which is a coincidence as I am about to write a post on that very subject as it came up recently in email discussions with fellow dog whisperer followers in the USA. This was prompted by a very unfortunate incident where a jogger was attacked by a large pack of loose dogs, so joggers and dog owners recommended to read my post to all stay safe when out and about. Worth mentioning that such incidents are very rare but again one is too many - so check back in soon for the real story on the mix of joggers and dogs from my view, and that of my dogs too!! Tips and advice on what to do if out jogging or out walking your dogs with joggers passing by.

Let's make how to "jog and dog" or if you prefer "dog and jog" common knowledge!!

Then we can look at how to meet or not to meet a strange dog, or even one you already know! Guess what - this is so not the way us humans do as this can actually cause an unwanted response from a dog! For a quick example - if you lean forward towards a dog this can make a dog stop or not approach...if you lean back then that is inviting them into your space so encouraging an approach, so you see what I mean it is the opposite of how us humans would naturally react when meeting each other by moving forwards.... so we can confuse a dog and ourselves!!

ps. We're not on Facebook ....yet!!!

When my dogs don't listen to me - here's the reason why!

2008-05-13T19:44:00.007+01:00

I’ve been thinking about how my dogs understand me…or don’t as the case often is! I use so many different words to communicate the same thing - how confusing this must be for one that does not speak English let alone a dog who tries so hard to do what we say to please their Leader.

Take my pack - there are so many different words meaning recall - come back to me…come here now…I mean it come over here….right now….get here…and the list goes on and on! They have all been trained to recall with the word “Come” said only once and by itself with a firm yet welcoming tone! But it’s way too easy being a human to use different words, it’s natural as I think well if that didn’t work then I’ll try something else to see if they can understand me, or I’ll repeat myself and escalate my tone ...OK I get louder to shout level :-) So this totally confuses my pack, should they recall when I command “Come” or “come here” or even “Come Come Come” so only responding when I say it 3 times in a row or when said loudest - you see the tone of the word changes it’s context - the meaning to a dog!

I have spent a week observing what I say, and how I say it …fascinating and trust me really hard to stick to “keep it simple” and only use specific consistent commands….and I’m a Student Dog Psychologist! Try it even if only for a short while and imagine how your dog is supposed to know what is meant - they just don’t string words together to have a different meaning, or prefix words with “No” meaning don’t do that e.g. “No pull” means “No” then “Pull” so my Dobey Max would stop then begin to pull as instructed!! Imagine then how a sentence must seem to a dog - baffling :-)

So how do my pack keep up with me - they read my energy and body language to figure out what I mean, they use trial and error - if their response doesn’t get a reward then they try another one, thankfully my dogs are like most dogs- very clever at learning to understand us. Oh and if they don’t think I am serious and will follow-through they will ignore me - then guess that’s the same between humans too! I mean imagine how a human "going on and on" at their dog must sound - not only like "Doggie nagging" but totally incomprehensible too!

What have my dogs taught me? To think before I speak, which is a lesson I often need to apply in all walks of life, I’m a typical human "language repeater" and talk about the same things in many ways to get my point across which can work with humans but not dogs! Actually suspect it can be irritating for other humans too…but hey I’m only human :-)

Human Affection - from how a dog sees it!

2008-05-07T19:40:00.002+01:00

When I think of affection I think of how us humans see it as in hugs, kisses or maybe doing something caring for another, but my dogs don't see affection the same way!

In fact any attention from me is affection, affection is a reward to my dogs. Think about that and you'll soon understand why some dogs seem to love being told off - if I nag at Peter "Bad Boy" or "Stop That" he doesn't get it as a correction he just sees it as my attention upon him...he laps it up! So rather than getting him to stop what I don't want him to do rather I am encouraging him to continue...Another say Eddie will understand it as "me cross" and will become fearful but still does not associate it with her doing anything wrong - even though she may look like she's guilty that's fear! Even laughing at their naughtiness can be an encouraging signal....bit like how we as adults know we shouldn't laugh when children do wrong but what they are doing is funny!!!

If my dogs ask for affection, the old paw on the knee trick then I try to ignore them ...hard as it is as they're such a darn cute bunch and have some great manipulative tricks to get me to give-in..Jack especially who turns around presenting me with his back over and over as he knows I can pick him up in one hand...or Monty who gives me a half smile, bright eyes then bounces off outside hoping I will follow to walk him! If I do give-in though I immediately become a follower and not a leader, so I ignore them/claim my space so they have to move away, then later once I know they have resettled I call them over to share affection, no negotiation...only on my terms reinforcing my leadership!

How do they know when I am pleased with them? My energy tells them...words are not always necessary to communicate with my canine chums! Neither do they need cuddles, treats, toys etc to feel my love....... don't get me started on designer coats, collars etc that really is for the owners pleasure and is not understood as affection by a dog! I show them my love everyday - every time I feed them and take care of them in the way they need their leader too.

Sounds like I'm being tough? - not to my dogs it doesn't it's how they expect a Pack Leader to behave! So if you want to teach a dog new rules or change a behaviour - remember exercise then comes the discipline then affection as a reward.......in that order it works!

A Lesson Learned in "Doglish"!!

2008-04-30T02:30:00.000+01:00

As a young teenager I just loved dogs, “No” correct that I adored dogs! I had my own dog “Whiskey” who was a Collie x Lab, my first dog who looking back taught me a great deal! This boy was my best friend and early on was conditioned to my hugs and kisses - my strange human ways!

A neighbour and friend owned a Chow, beautiful orange boy who always welcomed me when I was round to visit. One day I was there, sitting in the dining room attempting some Maths homework with my friend, who was in the kitchen sneaking biscuits or something in the vain hope it may help me understand Maths! The rest of the family were in the lounge, apart from the Chow, who came over to see me. I bent down over him looking him straight in the eye, starting talking to him and went to give him a hug - “OUCH” - he bit me on the face, pulling apart my lip. So after a trip to A&E, stitched up, I insisted nothing bad should happen to the dog, did not know why but had some vague notion it had been my fault!

A few weeks on I was hauled into the Head’s room at school. Worried about me and asking “why had I been seen hugging a dog while walking out in the country” - after such an incident they couldn’t believe I would do such a thing! My answer - very simple this had been my dog Whiskey - totally conditioned to my behaviour I knew he would not attack my actions!

So many years later, I now understand why this Chow attacked me, I was rudely approaching him, making direct eye contact, blowing air onto his face by talking, then went on to hug - so all meaning “unfriendly challenge” ! He had not been conditioned to hugs from me, he warned me and I ignored him so he followed-through and bit me!

My initial instincts to approach all dogs this way were wrong, my instinct that I was the trigger was correct! I learned a painful lesson and still have the scar to prove it, thankfully this did not have to be a sad and unnecessary end for the Chow.

What have my dogs taught me? Ignorance is not bliss, an explanation maybe but not an excuse, once we realise we don’t understand something we owe ourselves and others we share this planet with to find out - ask for help, do research WATCH "THE DOG WHISPERER"…whatever it takes!.

To Hug or Not To Hug - Now that is the question!

2008-04-25T02:40:00.000+01:00

What we humans see as affection can be seen by dogs as quite the opposite! Take Max the Dobey, if I go up to him, stand over him and give him a big hug you can almost see and definitely feel him tense up. This is a rude approach from Max’s viewpoint, if another dog were to be so rude this would be a challenge - paws on back definitely not welcomed which Max would make clear! This is not because Max is a Dobey, little cuddly looking Jack would feel/react the same!

True that my dogs seem to enjoy hugs, this is because they have become conditioned to hugs from us, their human family, meaning affection - some tolerate while others love the fuss. Were another human to approach in the same way as I do the reaction may be different as the context is changed - new person so unconditioned response = dog’s normal response may change in the moment, hence if such a situation is not managed by Human Pack Leader = unpredicatbe response! Best then to save hugs for my own dogs and humans!

Keep the picture of how one dog would react to a kiss and hug from another - not a positive image hey?! The “hug thing” can get us into all sorts of trouble, many a bite is a result of humans sharing such affection with dogs who do not understand this human ritual, and human then says “but I was only being nice and their tail was wagging too” - actually in “doglish” this means rude/challenging behaviour and their tail probably was wagging but this is a warning wag not a friendly wag! I'll tell you about a mistake I made just like this many years ago next post!

Peter has just reminded me of how I can see their approaches as rude too, he came over all calm and submissive, I invited him for a stroke and he burped in my face! That’s my charming boy!

What have my dogs taught me? Dogs will be dogs, humans will be humans, neither species acts right or wrong just different! We need to understand each other to interact appropriately and safely.

Dog Pack Sound "Alert" At night

2008-04-24T18:11:00.000+01:00

Now some of you may recall I said I would always respond by “checking it out” to discover what the “it” is when my dogs bark at night!

OK so the night before last they set about alerting me at 4:20am and no surprise my reaction was “Quiet” in my not so polite English! Then I thought “hang on a minute this is not just the Setters being daft, the Terriers are barking too” - now with the Terriers being so lazy and once settled appear fixed in place, I thought best check this out after all.

It was not yet dawn - so true that we learn something new everyday! The Chickens were making much noise so I went out to check why they were awake so early. Mr Fox had clearly been very brave and tried to get an early breakfast! I let the hens out and checked about, no more sign of Fox, guess he ran away very quickly upon hearing a pack of dogs after him….wonder if they inherit instinct to avoid hounds learned from the Fox Hunting days, now of course officially banned in the UK countryside! Of course I couldn’t actually let my dogs chase off the fox as they would have to pass by the hens - defeating the object as they would too eat the hens!

Anyway good news, all hens safe and sound following much time spent by me trying to fix the pen making it fox-proof, this now looks a bit like a scrap merchants yard as I cobbled together bits and pieces from around the house/garden as defences! The fence itself was ripped apart - cheek of this Fox that’s my fence! Will be getting in extra supplies of chicken wire at weekend to mend the pen properly!

And guess who didn’t get out of bed to see-off Mr Fox - Yep that’ll be Peter the Fox Terrier! Oh well Peter we do call you “Lazy Boy”!

Neutral Dogs In Pack!

2008-04-24T01:35:00.000+01:00

Hi all, I've been asked if the pack are neutered and spayed as is the practice in the States. Well it is the pretty much the same here in terms of advice to do so, particularly for neutering. Is it common practice? - No I don't think it is yet, I still meet many full dogs out walking.

All my boys are neutered, this helps to prevent hormone-induced behaviour problems such as inter-male aggression - fuelled by raging hormone levels! I say "helps" as this does not work alone, I need to have them all as "equal followers" to prevent outbursts of "inter-male" aggression over alpha status, only since practising Cesar's philosophy of being the "Pack Leader" have fights between 3 of the male Terriers stopped! - Timmy, Mickey and Peter all similar in age and social climbers would have fights then naturally re-bond and relax together! So all the boys are now neutral :-)

As for the females, the older ones are spayed, the younger ones not yet! This is due in part to not experiencing problems between females due to hormones. The other part is financial - it costs so much more to have a female spayed. Add to that the greater risks of the surgical procedure we decided to neuter all males instead for now!

Problems keeping females together usually arise when there are too many in an environment. This is not a behaviour problem which can be helped through spaying so as such this is partly why I think it is not carried out as often as neutering. Also this does not relate to physical size of space, it means the number in the pack - even 2 females as only dogs may fight to rank as alpha female and not re-bond. Within our pack the ratio is 8 males to 5 females, as such we have had no problems. With Cesar's way of humans being Pack Leaders and taking the "alpha" rank then even if there are "too many females within the dogs environment" fights should not break-out or can at least be rehabilitated - the bond carefully re-established. I have read accounts of success with such problems from those who follow Cesar's ways. Unlike with males it is all about status and not hormone driven.

Though neutered my males would still perform the "mating ritual", now I don't allow this behaviour and they will ignore the female in season following an interruption from me the Pack Leader - I "Claim" the female as mine and they must leave her alone - WOW....it truly works!

With rescue centres over here they neuter and spay before re-homing. It is all too common in the UK for owners not to neuter/spay and not be in control of their dogs behaviour, which can lead to inter-breeding (genetic problems), roaming and an increase is stray dogs. The other reason, apart from deliberatey breeding of course, is that to own a "show" dog means no fixing allowed - they must be entire in order to qualify for the show ring unless there are proven medical grounds.

I have no plans to breed from my full females, so I employ strict control measures when they are in season! Wish I could say the same for my rabbits...I can now but that's after the accident of not correctly identifying their sex and 9 babies!

Exercise...walkies has a new meaning!

2008-04-10T03:00:00.000+01:00

Exercise as part of the routine “exercise, discipline affection”, deserves an explanation so I’ll use my example!
I used to believe it was enough to get my dogs, out then off-lead for a charge around and the back, all as quickly as possible, more of a chore that had to be completed! Chaotic is understating it, leads tangled everywhere, dogs way out in front of me straining the leads to get free and run off, little control simply praying I did not meet other dogs! With my energy fast approaching intolerant and frustrated this was all... Wrong! Exercise in this context is about how we leave the house, how we conduct the walk and how we return.

To leave is always “human first” once my dog is “calm submissive” - quite a challenge with 5 eager Terriers who think they are going out to hunt! Then we walk, into migration mode we go - this is dog in “follower position” at my side or behind me. Lead loose only “poping” (tighten and release) to correct pulling or lagging behind. If continuing to pull, we stop and re-focus by getting my dog calm and off we go again!

We walk this way at the beginning, middle and end of the walk, with free-time in the middle - translates to running fast chasing sea birds for Dobey Max! We return again with my dog behind me into the house. Natural migration speeds for dogs vary, Peter’s is cycle pace - darn quick, so on a walk as I’m no runner he has to work hard to slow down, after about ten minutes he begins to move forward at my pace!!

This is how to create the Pack Leader/follower bond outside of the home, helps of course if your dog sees you as alpha inside the home first so if your having problems with the walk this way - check out how your dog truly views your status in the home! Picture the walk how you want it to be - if I were to dread it now or see as a chore my dogs will surely play up! I look forward to them, geting in the “enjoy it” mindset even if it’s a sea storm out there! Other forms of exercise are good but should not replace the walk, as they do not achieve the same thing.

Exercise in this routine is about establishing your relationship with you dog, draining energy before attempting discipline which is particularly important with rehabilitation, yet great for teaching all dogs.
So guess what - affection isn’t human style only either! Yes- next post!

So what have my dogs taught me? To stay calm even when faced with the frustration of over-excited, pulling dogs, it works when I work it!

Hey Dog here - I'm telling you something!

2008-04-10T01:04:00.000+01:00

A way to tell if we have accidentally used punishment instead of correction is check out your dog - they will tell you we just have to read it! Courtesy of a fellow Cesar follower from Canada, I wanted to share this with all of you - all credit to Lori for this brilliant description.

Wrong energy - When you use anger, physical domination with frustration you will see:
The dog will become confused and start to give you fearful or confused body signals. (pawing at the air, tail between the legs, melting body position, going low to the ground with head, ears pinned back, eyes wide and fixed)
The dog will run away from you, be wary of you, tip toe around you and stand a few feet away watching you for more signs of unpredictable violent behaviour.

Right energy - When you use calm assertive corrections
Your dog will understand the correction and change his energy and actions immediately. He will stop doing the "bad" behaviour and his body language will change to show a calmer and submissive mindset. (ears slightly held back, licking, soft eyes, body low, head up, tail wagging, body up, head lowered). After the display of submission the dog will return to a normal body posture and show NO negative effects from the correction.
Your dog will WANT to be near you afterwards. The dog will give you its full attention and eye contact (waiting for more instructions) and willingly follow you around.
The truth about how your dog is receiving your corrections is completely obvious in the dogs REACTION to your correction. I don't have to be close enough to see or hear a human correct their dog. I only need to look at the dogs reaction to the human and I know right away if that correction enhanced or did damage to their relationship with their dog.

Me again - How we react to the dog afterwards in important too. If we inadvertently punish do not go for the “human making up” - lots of attention (sweet talking) and petting, which actually reinforces the dog’s unbalanced mindset and rewards the wrong response! They just don't understand us this way. So accept you’ve made a mistake and move on …after all we’re only human! Your dog will soon move on too as the event becomes past and dogs don‘t bear grudges. Of course if one was to continue to punish, there’ll be no respect only fear as dogs do have good memories too. There’s no need to make-up with discipline, just reward correct responses as in positive reinforcement training!

What have our dogs taught us? Mistakes made through ignorance are part of life as we learn and grow, but once we have the knowledge there’s no justification!

The motto at Crystal Dogs is correct never punish! So that's all on the subject of discipline for now!

That's my name - don't add "No"!

2008-04-09T23:40:00.000+01:00

To correct my dogs the first most important issue is his name - do not use this with a correction! Ok but this is easier said than done! Us humans are hard-wried to use a name to get attention even if we’re about to dis-agree with what someone is doing! So it becomes second nature to use name first, but this is not how it is with dogs!

As Cesar says, dogs are Animal then Breed then Name- last for the very reason that this is a human adage - dogs do not use names to address each other!

So we need to reserve using their names to get attention to follow a command, such as come to us, to distinguish one dog from another. Not to add a correction e.g.Max No! This is a sure way to confuse a dog, make them fearful of responding to their name as they begin to make the association between name and correction, so it follows that recall becomes a nightmare!

To correct my dogs for carrying out unwanted behaviour is to add something they don’t like, with all crucial timing. The timing must be within seconds of the action, otherwise the association will not be made and worse still be made to something else. Ever had a human have a go at you after an event , when something has happened in-between - been confused as to what they are talking about?!

The key is to interrupt and stop my dog, I add a vocal correction “pssshhht”. If not respected try something else, don’t keep on with the same thing else you’ll be teaching your dog to ignore you!

If the vocal interruption doesn’t work, attach a short lead and leave it on when you are around to supervise. When say the dog goes to jump up, pop the lead, move away using the lead to guide the dog. Then add in a command say “sit” and reward. This distracts the dog from the unwanted behaviour, stopping the acting out, then teaches something new to do instead, thereby releasing any pent up energy! Repeat this process each time, when the dog happily goes away with you, next time add the vocal sound, soon you will be able to use the sound alone as your dog knows you will follow-through!

How to know if you’ve used the right energy to correct and not punish …coming up!

So what have my dogs taught me? Always remember to connect the problem with the correction, even when disagreeing with people, focus in on the problem clearly to avoid mis-understandings!

Correct not Punish!

2008-04-09T23:35:00.000+01:00

To “correct” is simply discipline…to "punish" is to cause harm, with intent on getting your way and born out of anger or frustration.

Imagine if a person was shouting angrily at you, even if you knew you were wrong, you would probably be very defensive and escalate back at the other person - an argument. Now change that for a calm, firm, confident person, telling you that what you are doing is the wrong way….you may still feel defensive at first, but on reflection you see that the person is trying to help you do it the right way - no argument just change!

Same is true for dogs, never ask them, always “tell them” what you want them to do, simply put and with calm assertive energy. You will have their respect, not their fear and aggression! Correct with love and help in the forefront your minds, they will change their ways as if they respect you they will want to please their Pack Leader…it’s their job and they’re proud of being a dog!

Don’t negotiate - you can have this treat if you stop that! Dogs don’t negotiate between each other, they simply claim what they want, follow through if one dog doesn’t do what the alpha intends. They don’t respect such human ways, prefer to keep it simple they correct each other and reward with praise through touch and energy alone!

So What have my dogs taught me? Never give up on trying to remain calm - practice makes permanent!

To Correct is not mean!

2008-04-04T01:00:00.000+01:00

At Crystal Dogs - Correct is to change and control with care! Punish is to penalize!

OK so some may think only positive techniques should be used when working with dogs, but how do they go about discipline, without which even us humans can run riot! Reward wanted behaviours of course being sure to get your timing right - else may inadvertantly reward the wrong response and have a very confused dog. We must step-in and correct those we don’t want - unless we wish to live with a “bully dog” who may use aggression at any time to back-up their demands or a dog who gets their way through being fearful or possessive or territorial!!

I caught an episode of “Dog Borstal”on TV this last week….supposedly a school for unmanageable dogs. Unfortunately it really did seem to have the negative feeling about it that the name suggests!

All the show did for me was to make it so clear that there is a world of difference between "correcting a dog" - with calm assertive energy and “punishing” a dog - with angry forceful energy! The former is how Cesar does it and how I’ve had excellent results working with my pack, Peter in particular. The latter is how the trainer on this programme put a dog into a submissive roll, it made me cringe even I backed away! I had to see it to believe it…“bad” human energy is no way to handle a dog and may well provoke an aggressive response, so I beg that we all see the difference. This show made it so obvious - when I actually saw it done with wrong energy then watch Cesar at work. Clearly demonstrates that Cesar does rehab dogs with the right emotional energy, even with very aggressive dogs his energy is always the same - Calm Assertive.

I shall not be watching such a programme again - I don’t want to pick up any bad habits! I always have to check my emotional energy…as I’m not naturally calm, but with all this practice I can get calm pretty damn quick now :-)

Calm assertive energy will get you respect and achieve goals …angry forceful energy will only get you …..aggression….fight…induce fear…..a forced reaction , so without the use of force the response will not be repeated…..no respect!

When I'm talking "assertiive", I do not mean in any way aggressive - even if some dictionaries would have us believe it means aggressive! Assertive in this context is an emotional energy meaning firm, fair, confident, in control of our environment - owning our space and dog!

Coming up I'll describe corrections I use and "how your dog can tell you if you have used "correct" or "punish"!!

So what have my dogs taught me? To apply this positive emotional energy when dealing with human confrontations as well!!!

ps. Monty still hasn't caught up with time moving forward an hour - he's about half hour out!!

Balanced Dogs - Discipline Begins here!

2008-04-02T01:30:00.000+01:00

Some say there's no such thing as naughty dogs - only bad owners. Not quite true...dogs can learn to do things we don't want them to do, our reactions may inadvertently encourage them to continue sure. They also have instinctual reactions, which though hard wired (genetics) can be controlled. Without teaching and discipline from humans, how can they know what is acceptable and what isn't.

Here comes a few posts on this topic! Also, remember what is acceptable behaviour from our dogs is largely individual choice, what one may allow another may not...that's fine! Or what one owner may put up with another may not!!!I believe we must always remember to be considerate to other humans and our dogs when setting rules, boundaries and limitations.

Always remember "dogs want to be and love to be dogs...they don't want and cannot be humans"!! So "human psychology" simply won't work with them - you need to think "dog psychology" - which is where the "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Milan comes in! Later I'll explore with you how dogs use "human psychology" on us through manipulation! So sure we can and should only use their psychology to change "naughty dogs" and enhance "good dogs" then we all live with happy balanced dogs!

Introducing Dogs!

Dogs have only 4 choices of reaction when faced with any situation/confrontation, they can fight (use aggression) flight (run away or leave) avoid (give space) submit (acknowledge another is superior)

If you have a "happy go lucky" dog then there is probably less need for any rehabilitation, but there is still a need for discipline. Following Cesar's rule of exercise then discipline then affection they will remain balanced dogs with you as their Pack Leader. This too is one of the keys to freeing a dog from problem behaviour, rehabilitating a dog!

As Pack Leader we teach our dogs which of the above options to choose in different situations (never fight of course), they learn through reinforcement, to carry out our commands and follow us no matter what - they will trust our judgement even though we're only human!

Affection is any positive dog/human interaction experience, or if you like your human attention e.g. talking (to dog in any voice), touching, feeding, playing and if they "walk you" then going out applies too!

So if you consider you're dog to be naughty, are you being consistent with your rules? Do you follow-through? = make it happen if they ignore you, if not they will not take you seriously hence the expression "play me up"!!

So read on as I explore the meaning of exercise! Look at the difference between discipline and punishment - applies to the human species too!!

ps. 5:30pm and Monty is asking for food...getting better at telling that time has moved forward by an hour then!!

Welcome - it is now!

2008-04-01T03:00:00.000+01:00

We had some human visitors, My mum and Dad visited from the West Coast (OK Wales), with their old car for us to use with the dogs (Simon getting edgy about his “posh” company car being used to ferry around Terriers!) Actually the car’s for me….but I have to learn to drive first…Can I be Pack Leader of a car?! So it is now called the “Terrier Mobile” and we went for a drive with 3 Jack Russells sitting on the back parcel shelf…true nodding dogs!

So how can we have visitors now? - by using the “No Touch No Talk No Eye Contact” rule. On arrival I dealt with any barking first and put the dogs outside to wait. Humans can understand they need to wait while I mange the dogs. Then it’s their turn to wait while I manage the humans! Mum and Dad entered…sat down….chatted…..without being hassled by 13 dogs! I let them back in gradually, blocked their attempts to gain attention by nudging them away or “psshting” them - Mickey being the most insistent with his sit and wave paws act! Once calm and submissive, they could stroke and greet the dogs…Max during this time, who knows the routine so well, had fallen asleep on the daybed!

So if the door bell rings, and your dog is barking and charging the door, take control of your dog first - do not open the door with your dog excitedly in front of you. Calm yet in control ”thank the dog” for the alert, as Pack Leader you must go see to take over. Then claim the door - create a boundary away from the door, behind you and make sure your dog is calm. Just let the person on the other side of the door know to simply wait a while! The dog must not cross the boundary - invisible line as you open the door, I use a walking stick to help me identify the boundary to my pack, I use it as an arm extension! Then in come the guests, keep on blocking any dog approach until you invite your dog to join you ensuring the greeting is “dog being calm and respectful” (no jumping, pawing, submissive body language)

If you let the dog go in front of you to greet visitors - it’s as if you are saying “it’s OK - the dog’s in charge here“, with the dog believing “you just have to follow“, he’s saying to your guests “look how these humans follow me you must do same”!! So hey - who owns your house?!

Other dogs and humans are welcomed now by the pack politely- I imagine how I want it to be, then we live it that way. What a very different story from this time a year ago…the power of Cesar’s Way….“Dog Whispering” in all its glory…I must say “Hail Cesar”!!

What have my dogs taught me? That they need to work for me, not the other way round, I used to think I was only here to serve them, so that is how it was. Redraw the picture, “look how my dogs follow Human Pack Leader“!

We Move On..from Winter to Spring too!

2008-04-01T01:45:00.000+01:00

With the Easter Holidays now over, the weather turns from Winterwonderland to Spring with a calm blue sea - typical as we see lovely sunshine on today….Monday! After 5 months of beach-side winter living, I am gratefully reminded of why we live on the East Coast today - truly beautiful on the beach!

Tia has now gone home, she fitted well into the pack though their were a few of mine who did not bond with her - Monty the Gt Dane just couldn’t understand all her energy and excitement when there was not even a wild seal in-sight! Bob being my only Collie mix, clearly likes it that way, as he seemed “put-out“ having another collie around! The great news is there were no in-pack fights, or even lesser squabbles, and no boys attempting to mate her either! So by being the Pack Leader and claiming Tia as one of my followers made the dogs all equals, with no need to challenge each other or need to pair off with Tia. Absolutely amazing - a first - never had my boys ignore a female in season before!

Tia adjusted really well to all the rules that my pack follow, we did not make exceptions, although I always had an eye out for her - in case she went up to another as she was without their "pack sensitive instinct" to approaching a snoozing dog (OK so I mean she'd charge up to them to lick their muzzles if not stopped, which is not something my Dobey appreciates - he symbolises "let sleeping dogs lie" and my pack know that - they figured it out the hard way!)

So good-bye for now Tia, was lovely to have you stay and hope you‘ve learned only good behaviours from Crystal Dogs…hey Terriers?!. Now re-settled into their routine as my home-pack, I can get back to adding a new rule each day, keeps them “on their paws”!!

We have lost an hour as the clocks move forward...but gained more daylight! Monty on Sunday - it may be 6pm but you believe it is 5pm and feed time! Wonder how long it will take before he asks for his food at the now real 5pm! It's fast approaching 6pm and he hasn't asked yet!...Maybe tomorrow?!

What have my dogs taught me? When adjusting to and making changes - to take it slowly and keep it simple, one day at a time!

ps. Easter Sausage Hunt postponed due to rain until sunny May Bank Holiday - now that is being hopeful!

Mini-Pack Stop!

2008-03-23T23:00:00.000Z

Ok you lot, stop and wait, it's "treat time....scooby snack anyone?"......my hands are so cold it takes a while to get the treats out.....Alfie bored of waiting tries to help himself as Lucy tucks into hers so elegantly (not!) - Alfie get your nose out of the bag and sit nicely like Tia! Jack doesn't do sit...so small he stands still instead! They know the rule all to well - nothing in life is free, so they hold the sit or "Jack Stand" until they receive their reward! Alfie clearly has a very short "setter" memory!!! Peter has already taken his out of camera shot to munch alone!

A Mini-Pack Walk

2008-03-23T22:30:00.000Z

4 of my 13 dogs, with their friend Tia, walking the beach with me. This is what a "mini-pack" of dogs on the move looks like! Spot little Jack in there!!

Walking in an Easter Winterland!!

2008-03-23T22:00:00.000Z

Happy Easter all.....says Pack spokesdog Peter and guest "Tia"...she just loves my "bad boy"!!!

Easter Sunday starts with snow! Not the weather for a “sausage hunt” so this has been postponed till tomorrow - hopefully!!

Walks on the beach with snow instead, as you can see Peter and Tia loved it anyway, and in case your wondering I have a tennis ball in my hand and they’re staring at me awaiting a throw! Funny thing is Peter goes for the ball and Tia goes after Peter, literally pulling at him to play with her!

All of the “ratpack” are now snoozing in front of the fire, reckon it’s more like Christmas than Spring Easter!

Monty was out trying to track seals again today with Max out tracking sea birds, no sign of either they’re staying out of the snow, sorry dogs! So these two large black dogs are not so much “beach combers” as “beach chasers“! One thing that is confusing Monty, is the strange looking objects in the sea riding the waves, he really doesn’t know what to make of this vision…mind you nor do I …I mean people going surfing in wet suits in the snow….there’s just no accounting for humans hey dogs?!!

The snow always makes the Jack Russells look dirty white! Mind you they are now as they’ve been on the country walk today, and let’s just say there’s a heap of horse muck waiting to be spread on the fields…Terrier heaven! Had to put them in the sea to wash them off….they didn’t much appreciate this consequence!

Hope to share pictures of pack searching for sausages tomorrow!

Bark only once....or twice....then stop!

2008-03-22T22:00:00.000Z

Lets talk "Doglish".... bit long but well worth the read!!!

So true that we don’t always want to hear barking, such a racket, and certainly our neighbours may not! Like many owners I fell into the trap of telling my dogs, “quiet” …only not so politely and angrily! This never worked, so I would just get more frustrated and the barking would go on..and on …and on - recognise this anyone?!

Our energy is how they read us. If we start shouting, get angry or wave are arms around a dog will not follow our lead, they do not follow instability and weakness which is how they see us if we act like this. So the barking will escalate, we are seen to be joining in as an equal - barking is self-rewarding giving the dog an adrenalin surge, so not what we want and the barking continues, often even louder. They too will know if we're worrying about the neighbours - so clear away such thoughts, to stop barking we must focus only on being calm, assertive! Always follow through, think stop - mean stop!

The way I address continuous barking is to tell them to stop in a way they understand! I get my dog’s attention by interrupting them (no voice from me) - I will add something they don’t like to surprise my dogs, e.g. use a water pistol (never direct at eyes) or rattle a tin can with coins in it, this momentarily stops the barking display, then I can distract them to put an end to it. Timing is crucial, the “surprise” element must be added when they are barking, the distraction when focused on you. Interupt barking, reward quiet, calm response. You can also choose sound, ensuring the assertive sound is one like “pshhht” or “aargh” - not talking (which regardless of what we say can be interpreted as affection thereby reinforcing the barking behaviour!)

Remember it’s up to you to decide if you want your dog to guard bark, teach them and always be in control of how they guard, why/when/where it starts and stops, be consistent else you’ll have an insecure barker/uncertain response.

I want my dogs to bark to signal alert. Having carried out the routine hundreds of times, now I can go over to where they are, check out the situation, calm and assertive I add commands, telling them “Thank you” and to “leave”. If I do need to interrupt them I do this with the (now famous in "doglish") “psssht” sound instead of a tool such as the tin can. Thanking them works as when we say this we usually mean it, so our energy is calm and grateful yet we’re assertive with our decision to leave it to me as the pack leader.

If one dog is still carrying on I will mimic a true dog pack leader and claim the window, I get in front of the window, lean forward, point at them and silently I keep moving in front of them to block them until they give me submissive respectful body language. In the wild, a dominant dog does not use aggression to get his way, so neither should we.

Ignoring a “rant” bark from a dog can be another way to stop the behaviour, as Pack Leader if you pay no attention the performance will stop, you may need ear-plugs and good claming techniques for yourself!

It’s true then if you let a dog wind you up with the bark, this reinforces their response, so “carry on barking” is all you‘ll hear! So I “bite my tongue”…..”keep my cool” and “carry on pack leading”!!!

More ideas soon….for now it’s back to our new pack game - hiding from the snow for the us!!!

Barking....What's it all about?

2008-03-22T21:10:00.000Z

Dogs don't understand English, even if we think they do!! They make connections between our words and their responses - if learnt via association, e.g. through repetition and reinforcement like reward treats, it may seem like they understand English - they don't!

They use “Doglsih” - this is how they vocally communicate with us, there are different types of bark, here are just some I come across ….daily! To signal alert/alarm, fear, interest (flirt with me being one I hear much at the moment), attention “me me me syndrome”, dominance aggression, excitement, insecurity and my favourite the “howl” which in my pack this means "We're still communicating with you our Pack Leader, even though you’ve gone out we beleive you can hear us"!! Truly amazing experience when you see our tiniest Chihuahua and Gt Dane howling together!

Let’s take an example from my pack- there’s 6 Terriers sitting on the window sill, checking out "their territory" - they don’t know or care that it's us who pay the mortgage etc! An unsuspecting owner with dog passes by., now that’s a sure way to go straight to “barking hell”! This is understandable to them as the unsuspecting dog can’t see them, their body language signals are of no use so vocal it is - which roughly translates to “get off my patch“!

Thing is us humans can be really tricky for a dog to keep up with, to them we are always changing our minds, wanting them to bark to alert us to strangers approaching and yet to shut-up when we know what is going on and don’t want to hear the racket! Dogs cannot tell the difference between friend and foe, anyone or dog just passing by or visiting the home can be seen as either. Much will depend on how we have allowed or taught the dog to behave, aim not to “human confuse dog” by expecting different responses to, how the dog sees it, same situations!.

I’ve heard owners express how their dog would stop a burglar by jumping and licking them! This translates to a dog who is encouraged (not necessarily deliberately) to get excited with visitors and would naturally transfer this to a foe! The other extreme being the dog who cannot be with welcome visitors for our fear of an aggressive response. Both are examples of dogs who have made their own decisions on how to greet humans! Both types are in need of a Pack Leader to show them how to meet friendly visitors calmly and respectfully, with all paws on the floor!

Remember - our dogs are trying to tell us something…check it out, especially if it's whining - until you’re sure you know why don’t insist they stop (if you’re uncertain ask a professional or vet).

Tia settles into pack life!

2008-03-22T19:45:00.000Z

A week with Tia and all is well in the pack! She has moved on from being “Princess Whirlwind” to “Rag doll”, she’s all hair and paws, lightweight, and leaps onto my knee splaying all 4 legs out, reminds me of rag dolls I had as a child!

There’s been some flirting by my boys, a quick reminder - a nudge or “pssht” from me, blocking their behaviour and they leave her alone. Oh the power of being Pack Leader and having my dogs follow me happily, makes for a very peaceful balanced life! Tension and dominance together is the recipe for a fight over a bitch in season, so I go after the strongest one if they get excited over Tia, this prevents the ripple effect and balance restored! Her “BF” (best friend/boyfriend) is still Peter, and she went to the beach with him and had an off-lead run about, having checked there were no other dogs around, for once not because of Peter’s reactions but to make sure she was safe from other males!

She’s picked a heck of a week to visit - storms, sand storms, snow, hail, gale winds…I’m worn out of trying to walk that beach! No sign of spring again then, the dogs may love their fur coats all year round, but I’m fed up with wearing my winter coat! Hope things improve soon, really want to move into the season that is “trainers or bear feet” (remember how my dogs see my footwear as an indication of to walk or not to walk) as opposed to “wellies or slippers” !!!!!

Talking previously of dog’s using signals to communicate, in their species they use body language as well as vocal to communicate …in “Doglish”! Bit tricky to read what Tia is saying as there’s so much hair… if her hair ever stood up on end I couldn't tell - one big fur ball! She has a lovely, openly friendly nature though so there’s not any problem for me to read - one of those “happy-go-lucky” dogs - wish that would ripple through the pack!!!

Today is the smallest Jack Russell, Sadie’s birthday - she’s 3 so sausage birthday tea later!!

No school tomorrow as Easter Holidays!!! Check us out on blog tomorrow for the annual Dog Easter Sausage Hunt….!!

Rain stopped play and Tia's back!

2008-03-17T02:38:00.000Z

No school today for Peter - rain storm over here on the coast and so training out in the middle of a field is a no! All out for quick runs on the beach - wow that was windy and huge waves but my dogs don’t care about the rain - they’re not “fair weather” walkers! However, a walk is one thing, but if you ask Max he’ll tell you that Dobeys don’t go outside into the garden in the rain!
The Setters were lucky, as Tia needed to come over and stay (now definitely in season), so they went to the Heath anyway! Tia duly collected, I was here at home ready to lead the pack in greeting Tia. Once the Setters had joined the others in the garden, I had Max and Eddie (the head couple) inside and went to retrieve Tia, waiting very patiently in the car!

The most important rule here was Cesar’s “No touch No talk No eye contact” with any of the dogs, gradually introducing the more senior pack dogs, then the calmer ones. I had to correct with that now famous “psssht” sound, come to think of it I corrected Simon for talking to the dogs that way to….and it worked!! Dog psychology works on humans …..human psychology does not work on dogs and can be dangerous - separate post on this next week!

Amazing how they simply accepted her this time without any fussing, she’s clearly an honouree pack member. Very welcome too if you ask my boys…who thought she smelt lovely and I had to interrupt their social advances a few times!! Pack now reunited and settled, Tia had a nap. So very different from last time on the first day, no separation anxiety, just relaxed and very happy that it’s Sunday - so roast dinner next good timing again Tia!

Thank you then Tia - lovely to have you stay in such a calm way! Looks like I’ll be doing a fair bit of correcting my boys, even though they are all neutered! In dog packs only the alpha couple mate, so I can’t be my old lazy self and allow any actual pairing up else it will inflate their status. Especially Peter who is only just beginning to accept that I’m “alpha” and he’s not! He accepts that Max is higher ranked than him but me that’s been a long hard road! As Peter is also her favourite, as well as an experienced dog at mating (Snoopy’s dad) this could cause trouble for me as his leader …can‘t have Peter thinking he‘s top dog and out-ranks me…again!!!

Simon looking worried....when she breeds with Bruffy (Chris's gorgeous boy), might fancy a pup now that I've seen a calmer Tia! He's only really got to worry if I start thinking of names...Betty, Becky, Libby....!!!

"Packleading" goes American!

2008-03-14T02:10:00.000Z

We’ve been doing a lot of talking to folks in America - on-line as I found a Cesar "Fan site" and joined! This is a large group of people, mainly in the States as far as I can tell (those of you may remember I don’t do Geography!) who follow Cesar’s way. This is no ordinary fan club, they use Cesar’s philosophy, his method of Pack Leading to have balanced dogs, then share their experience. The tips and insight into dog rehabilitation that I am getting is truly excellent, and I’m able to offer my experience gained with my pack members too. So this is a great way to learn how to be pack leader, as close as I can get to asking Cesar himself! Mind you I really do think he should come over to the UK and help us follow his lead, his way is the only way I’ve found that has a positive impact on my pack!

One of the great, new to me, philosophies I have got from this "Cesar group", is NILIF - nothing in life is free! This works really well alongside Cesar’s way. When we apply this to the dogs it means that to get affection, this involves lateral thinking to define what a dog perceives as affection - walks, food, even talking to him, and albeit negative shouting at a dog can be seen as joining in! Tip - if they’re barking - don’t shout - don’t join in! So to get anything from me as their leader they have to earn it, do something for me and they will receive affection, this can be as simple as a sit, but they are doing something for me ….so nothing in their life is free, and they are becoming less dominant and more like followers!

Will share some more of these great tips from States side soon! I’ll keep chatting (yippee) and you keep reading! Way to go American pack - We’ll all become “awesome” pack leaders!

Also, coming soon - if you can’t shout at them what can you do to stop barking?

Peter's School Days....he's back!

2008-03-09T22:00:00.000Z

Returning this Sunday, after a week off, he struts in and turns his attention to me, obeying commands….is this the same dog his classmates wonder! “Oh yes it is“, as Tia comes over to see him, recognising him as her “best friend” when she stayed with us, only to be greeted in his anti-social way…growls and snarls! However, this didn’t last long, once I said “hi” to Tia and petted her, he was back to being friendly and “checking her out”!! So he did remember who she was after all, just didn’t recognise her at first seeing her at the training field rather than on home turf!

The class went well, really well! Peter did his heel work and was as good as it gets for a Terrier (close to perfect responses to my commands)! He walked past his classmates without an aggressive tantrum and even did a “down stay”…only a few minutes but he did it! He’s mastered the “recall” and adds on a “finish” - the bit where the dog comes to you, sits then goes around to the heal position and sits again! That’s my boy! We managed to get a bit closer to his classmate on the socialisation exercise, inch by inch we moved closer when he didn’t react aggressively. May take his muzzle with him next week so he can safely experience being around the other dogs.

We did some more agility with him, he really loves this sport and focuses on me and my commands, I even got my left and right turns correct so he jumped over following the route I had in mind…as opposed to his own choice of where to go! We didn’t do it off lead today, not sure I can trust him to not chase after the others working on their obedience on the field! His weaves were just great, especially as we haven’t done this since the first time, he remembered how to weave in and out of the poles. What a bright boy he really is, as I forgot that he was a beginner, and that I was using the “in and out” commands to teach weave, I reverted to “weave weave weave” and he just knew what to do!

So seems that he takes to agility, he has to constantly move forward, changing pace and turning, so this challenges his mental ability as well. Will we go onto agility next then, the early class? Will think it over and discuss it with teacher! I hope so as he clearly enjoys it, reckon may need some more work on that recall, with distractions, first.

Peter’s been doing a lot of homework, massive improvement noticeable this week, very proud of him. By the way Peter, how about doing some of that lovely heelwork on your daily excisions to the beach?!

Alfie at rest.....

2008-03-09T03:38:00.000Z

So this week we've been watching Crufts, mind you Eddie finds it a little boring, I mean it's not the Dog Whisperer! Last night was the turn of the working dogs, I watched the English Setters, while glancing at my Alfie.....oh well never mind Crufts is not our thing anyway! Alfie, is from working stock, so much smaller in height than the show bred Setters, and a darn site scuffier!, Which would make you think he'd be better at working....see the pheasant and then "set" meaning stand still and look towards the bird's location, to show human where the bird is....not our Alfie - he just chases them all over the place with no idea what to do, he's never caught up with one yet, he's got close and just carries on running round them!

Anyway, a Setter didn't win the group, so other than a chihuahua who got through on Thursday, it'll be up to the Gt Danes, Dobeys (tonight) and Terriers (Sunday) to represent our pack!!!

Our Dogs and Other Animals....

2008-03-09T01:00:00.000Z

Today Eddie’s excitement level peaked…..watching us through the sunroom window as we moved in the new chickens!! Much “yearking (mix of yelps and barks) by the Russells as am guessing they thought “mmmn supper“!

No afraid not, no “terrierising” the new hens (dogs and other animals kept well separated)! We have added to our family with 7 hens, all rescued from death row, at one year old, they have had no experience of life except as battery hens. I can assure you that is no life, as caged birds they are kept in about 1sq ft (max) never allowed to roam, they have few feathers and appear very thin and tatty. Thanks to a wonderful organisation who rescue these hens on the day they are due to be slaughtered, anyone can adopt them as pets, to live out there life happily experiencing space, fresh air and grass!! Hopefully they’ll lay some eggs too, then the dogs will get the benefit of daily eggs with their feed - better than nothing hey ~Eddie?! Our chicken “Henny“, will meet them in a week or so, when they’re a bit stronger and more confident. The phrase “pecking order” is used to describe many animal hierarchy systems including dogs, but it refers to chickens and we don’t want Henny acting “the boss” to them too early! Else they’ll get too frightened, they need to recover themselves as chickens first!

My thanks go out to both Jamie Oliver (the chef), Liz Jones (column in Mail on Sunday) for bringing to my attention the plight of over 2 million hens kept in battery cages, out of sight and thereby out of mind! To find out how you can help save battery hens, visit http://www.bhwt.org.uk/ They make lovely pets, and there are other ways you can help to through donations or sponsoring. More importantly support free range chickens, lets help put a stop to these cruel batteries and factory farming of chickens, you can help now by making adjustments to your shopping- look out for - “free range” and remember other products like mayonnaise, cakes etc that use eggs, if you like “hidden eggs” - look for products labelled with free range.

Unexpected arrivals, as yet the Terriers know nothing about, are 7 baby rabbits. Yep, did say 7!! Thing is we were about to neuter the male, born last year, but he shouldn’t have been old enough to “mate” his fellows yet….Oh Yes He Was! So he did….breed like rabbits! So all 3 females gave birth this week and babies galore! I have the young male in question in a cage away from the ladies now! Hope we can move the youngsters on at 6 weeks, else “rabbit village” will become “rabbit town”…or “City”!!!

Plenty for the dogs to watch out of the window now then….Don’t call it a picture window for nothing!!!!

Peter's School Days

2008-03-05T02:30:00.000Z

Back to winter here on the East Coast, and I’ve got an “end of season” cold! So day off school for Peter last Sunday, never a day off training though we were out putting him through his paces on the beach!
Some good news….
Today we bumped into a fellow dog walker who owns one of Peter’s many nemesis. Previously we’ve tried to have a conversation while Peter is throwing his aggressive tantrum, I’ve told him about Peter’s problems so he has empathy for us, his dog Lucky is a very calm and submissive older lady! He was walking towards us, he put Lucky on her lead, we were walking towards him, no option to avoid as no space in the lane.

So I checked Peter into the heal position, told him to leave and passed by…no display - no dominant posturing…no aggression…I got Peter to sit, rewarded him and had a chat with the owner….a real conversation! OK so we are Brits...it was about the weather ...but as there was a sandstorm brewing up on the beach where we were headed that's acceptable hey?! He did comment on how improved Peter's behaviour was. Peter sat still, avoided looking at Lucky and then I said “lets go” and off we went. Truly amazing so proud of my boy!

I really felt like his pack leader, for the first time! The other dogs have accepted my leadership but Peter is a stubborn, social climber (a dog who climbs up through the pack ranks to be ready to challenge for leadership),very reluctant to hand over his perceived high rank to me! When I began the walk I kept telling myself that I am the leader, I “own” this walk, I am the “pack protector“, this together with being calm yet assertive, a loose lead and a few commands - everything came together at the crucial time and it all worked! What a confidence boost for me and so now I do know that he can do it…..so lets do it every time hey Peter?!!

We will be back at school Sunday, wonder how Peter will react seeing Tia…if he’ll make the connection between Tia - his best mate at home and Tia - Chris’s dog at the training field………?

Power Of The Pack!

2008-03-05T01:45:00.000Z

If any of you watch “The Dog Whisperer” on TV, you’ll know that Cesar’s pack of dogs help un-balanced dogs with rehabilitation. Dogs have amazing powers of observation (far better than us humans), so dogs who need rehab watch and communicate with the stable dogs, thereby learning how to be balanced, calm and submissive in dog/human company.

I’ve seen this work when I have got one of my calm dogs to help Peter on his walks, the calm dog does not react to other dogs, completely ignores (avoids eye contact ) and gives off calm, submissive energy which positively impacts Peter’s energy. Put simply he copies the calm behaviour and “bingo” - we pass by without an aggressive display!

What I hadn’t realised until we had “Princess Whirlwind“…Tia, to stay was how calm and relaxed they are generally around the house. Even when they’re alerting me to passers by etc, once I “Thank them” and tell them to “Leave” it to me, its back to resting for them, their mission complete! Tia picked up on this energy, the second day of her stay, she had it copied and down to a fine art, this is how she fitted in so well. The bonus for owner Chris is that apparently she has taken this new calmer energy home with her, Chris commenting on how laid back she now is ….so looks like we’re the opposite to “boot camp” ….we’re “calm canine camp”….your dog stays and leaves de-stressed and more balanced, bit like health farm then?!!

The “power of the pack” is truly awesome, I guess I have seen it before, my pack have always house-trained the young ones for me, I haven’t had to do this in years! The only downside is that they too can observe and copy bad behaviours ….ooops …hey Jack Russells?! I’ve mentioned before that they also copy humans, Alfie will give me a smile, lifting both sides of his mouth mimicking a human smile as it gets results, a treat, walk…hug! They read all our body language, specifically our eyes, to suss out our feelings or what we‘re about to do next!

So remember…your dog is watching you….all the time!!

The Earthquake Dogs!

2008-02-28T03:00:00.000Z

Very rarely, the pack awakens me at night with a few loud “woofs” and I’m always saying to myself that I must respond to this by checking out what is wrong for them to sound such an alarm. However, I never do just telling them to quiet down so I can get back to sleep. I really ought to pay attention to them as something important might be going on to need to wake me. I mean I’ve heard before of dogs waking their owners, barking to alert the owner to a fire!

Last night I did the usual quieten down thing - ok I admit a few louder words were used! Albeit this time I did sit up a bit concerned as those who normally sleep on the bed got off and went charging outside barking. This is a very unusual occurrence as Patsy, the old girl, jumped off the bed - normally it has to be breakfast time before she’ll even consider getting up! I couldn’t see anything amiss so I got them all back to bed and that was that. At least so I thought until I heard the news - clearly it was the earthquake that had stirred them up.

Wow, clever dogs - I hadn’t even noticed but they were obviously unhappy about such an event! It is known that dogs can tell when an earthquake is about to happen, some can even tell when a tsunami is approaching. Dogs are being employed to use these incredible senses to alert the authorities out in Indonesia.

Well done all, we didn’t suffer any damage but at least I know I’m safe at night with this pack of dogs, even asleep they’re still alert! All I have to do is be less lazy and respond actively to what they’re trying to tell me!!!

At home with Tia!

2008-02-28T02:30:00.000Z

Tia was quite stressed to be apart from Chris on the first day, and at night particularly! As it took some time to settle her before we could get any sleep - drifting off to a tune of “whining” is not really relaxing! The dogs on the other hand just slept through any of her displays of separation anxiety! It proved to me how “chilled out” my pack have become…or is that lazy?!

The next day, you wouldn’t have known that she’d not been here for ages. She’d calmed down, copying the energy of my pack she began to laze about and settle into our routine. We took her out on a walk with Peter and the Setters, she can’t be let off the lead so she nearly pulled Simon’s arm off charging here and there chasing the others!

The strange but true news is: her favourite dog is…..”Peter”!! Peter feels the same way and displays playful behaviour with her, bouncing on and off sofas as if he were a pup again! Jack, Monty and Bob - a surprising trio, aren’t too keen on Tia, giving out a gentle growl warning to stay away which she happily adheres to! I say surprisingly as Jack usually gets along with most dogs, Monty is usually neutral, as is Bob. On reflection it’s the energy those three don’t like, high and excitable these three only do calm and laid back! There’s no problem between them I must add, they just ignore each other and mine carry on regardless.

This morning she spent some time, encouraged I do believe by Peter, to stare at cat through the window. Cat duly obliged by putting on a display of preening himself which provoked much barking at him from the pair of them. Unfased , cat carried on refusing to do as they wanted and runaway, they gave up and settled for sunbathing instaed!!

However, her stay is short as she isn’t fully in season yet - my boys have confirmed this by paying no interest! So she’s off back home to return when the time is right! We had a walk on the beach with Chris, Tia and her other dogs, I brought Peter along and wondered what he would make of so many dogs on the beach. I half expected some aggressive displays, but there were none! He played about quite happily, albeit avoiding their rough and tumble play - he is one strange dog!

The Eastcoasters are back to their normal pack balance then…all sleeping in front o the fire having tucked in to their evening meal! Until next time Tia, take it easy we’ll see you soon.

Welcome Tia!!

2008-02-28T02:00:00.000Z

Imagine a whirlwind in an enclosed space and you’ve got Tia’s arrival into the house! A Border Collie x Poodle and 9 months old, her long chocolate hair flying in all directions as she investigates our home accompanied by Peter! By the way, Peter does not recognise her as the dog at school who he snarls at, she’s now “part of the pack” in his view and to be played with!

We introduced Eddie next, and true to her status - “top ranked female”, she chased Tia about, placed her paws on her back to dominate and a few “powerful looks” later, Tia submits and all is well - the balance successfully restored by the Boss Lady!

Gradually, we introduce the rest of the pack, the meeting is a little mad and chaotic, as we’re giving out treats at the same time to reward the dogs who are greeting with good social manners. Of course, there’s always one who steps out of line, and it’s usually a Jack Russell, again true to form it was Mickey! He got all too excited and bossy, he’s not even a high ranking dog but has a unique view of himself! So I had to control Mickey for a few minutes until he submitted to me then all was well.

Must add that the Mitchell brothers, Max and Monty (the East coast equivalent to Eastenders’ Phil and Grant), paid no real attention to her arrival, you could almost see them thinking “Oh no another hyper puppy, we don’t do puppies”!!!

All is well with the “Eastcoasteres” and their guest! You're very welcome Tia - enjoy your stay...!

Peter's School Days

2008-02-24T22:00:00.000Z

Hey - there’s a new kid at school - and he’s a Jack Russell pup!! Peter stops in his tracks…the Russells he knows are all higher ranked dogs so this is confusing, what to make of this new guy?! He stares and then avoids him, best to be on the safe side and give the new boy a bit of space - respect from Peter now that’s a first at school!

This week we did agility jumps for half the class- I say we but this time I didn’t have to jump with Peter to show him what to do - he remembered. When he’s focused on his agility work he completely ignores the other dogs doing obedience close by. He’s got the hang of back and close - left and right…but for me it’s a bit trickier as it’s his left and right turns that require the commands and not mine!

After this we joined the rest of the class for some obedience. He’s improving and doing this after some agility works better. However, I was anticipating a reaction when he had to stop near a classmate and handler, I’d get tense and so he duly obliged with an aggressive display! So looks like I’ve got some homework to do on being calm and not projecting anxiety onto Peter!

A charge around the Heath has tired out Peter and the Setters, then we’re back to school to collect Tia, Chris’s dog who’s joining our pack for a couple of weeks.
Coming next: Tia’s holidays - read about her introduction to Crystal Dogs…how will my pack react?

13 Dogs at Dinner ...plus one!

2008-02-21T03:45:00.000Z

We’re soon to be a pack of 14 dogs …..don’t panic I haven’t got a new dog! We will be looking after our friend Chris’s dog, Tia a fabulous young puppy who is a Poodle cross Border Collie! The reason for this unusual event is that being a young lady, she’s come into season, Chris also has male dogs and being full boys they’re getting edgy and challenging each other for Tia’s attention! My male dogs have all been neutered so no inter-male fighting over a bitch, she’s with me for the duration!

The plan is for her to come over after Peter’s school on Sunday. She does know my lot but has not stayed with us before. So this is going to be “interesting”…..what will my pack make of having a house guest I wonder?!

Usually when one of mine is in season, she pairs off with one of the boys and the rest are kept away by that boy. The contenders for this role are usually Peter (what a surprise hey), Timmy (one of the Jack Russells) and most surprisingly little Jack (the Chihuahua who turns into a gremlin when acting in this role!)

The first job is to get her accepted by the “Boss Lady” - Eddie, the highest ranking female. We’ll walk Tia with Eddie to get them to bond, when Eddie says “Yes” to a new dog in the house the whole pack says “Yes"! Of course, if I say she’s staying for a few weeks, Eddie will say “Yes”…just got to remind her that I am the Leader! Seriously though, it’s vital Eddie approves of the new addition in order for the dogs pack hierarchy to function in the balanced, happy-go-lucky way that they’re used to. How will Eddie do this? - She will put her paws on Tia’s back, use “herding” type behaviour to dominate her and so long as she submits she’s in! Eddie did this the first time they met at Christmas and Tia accepted her as “Boss“, so she just has to remind Tia. To Eddie she’ll be part of the pack…neither of them would know that it’s only temporary!

So watch this space for regular reports on how Tia adapts to life with Crystal Dogs - Drama with the “Eastcoasters” coming soon!

Monty's Great Adventure

2008-02-21T03:00:00.000Z

It’s a beautiful clear sunny day, with the big dog troop we’re off to the beach. We start on the beach where Monty first spotted a seal, more than 5 days ago now. He’s off back to the exact spot where the seal appeared, none of the usual mad dashing with Max, he’s searching for said seal!

We head off on the walk, usually along the middle of the beach, Monty is walking right at the edge of the sea - nose down, paying no attention to any of the others or me (I even have dog treats in my bag but they’re of no interest today). He’s speeding up …. Has he picked up the seal’s scent I wonder.

He’s off, at quite a pace. We’re all lagging behind now, Max catches him up from time to time but he appears to be in his own world - Monty and his Seal world. With Monty “seal tracking”, the rest of us head off onto the dunes, we do this routinely so Monty does know which way to go, but nothing is to disturb his tracking!

Eventually he realises he’s on his own, I can see him but he can’t see me. He turns and heads back, still keeping close to the shore. Next thing he’s passing me, I’m calling him, he’s oblivious! He’s passed us, he’s in front of me and he’s off….no way can we all keep up! So we too head off towards home, now I can’t even see him on the distant beaches… I mean he is a very large black Gt Dane on a sandy beach….how does that happen!

At last we arrive back at the house and there he is as large as life, standing by the gate looking baffled and very pleased to see the rest of the troop! I just wonder if anyone saw a large black dog, striding out alone along a beach on a mission?! He wouldn’t have gone near anyone or any dog, just focused on getting himself home without being noticed!

So that’s that then - it is possible to “loose” a Gt. Dane on an empty beach in clear weather!! Seal tracking - a new sport for Gt. Danes, a non-contact sport obviously I wouldn’t let him to close to one and they‘re too fast at swimming for him!

Peter's School Days

2008-02-18T02:00:00.000Z

Peter arrives for school, alert which is more than can be said for me, half asleep guess it’s time to wake up and feel the cold, -1 the car reports! We have the usual aggressive display, come on Peter nobody is paying any attention!

Today we see the welcome return of his classmates, though they are puppies so obedience class is a little slow paced for Peter to remain focused for long. “Sit and stay” is not something that Terriers do well, hardly an active sport for this high energy breed!

We worked with Sonia and both of her dogs today. With calm Fletch, Peter would sit still and Sonia would walk around us. Peter got the hang of this and was quite accepting! However, Lucy a livelier dog, sent Peter into a frenzy so it was harder to get him to focus on working, simply not displaying aggression was the best I got! We finished up walking alongside Sonia and Fletch, I had Peter on one side and my Alfie on the other. So with both Fletch and Alfie acting as role models we all walked together well, moving forward all the time without any tantrums from Peter. He even walked with Sonia, noticeable improvement as she had Fletch on her other side - way to go boy! Moving forward is the key, he can't do aggression if he's on the move in "pack style".

The Heath walk was rather amusing, Alfie walked across the frozen lake like a person first attempting ice skating, legs all over the place ..imagine “Bambi attempting to walk for the first time and you’ve got a vision of Alfie’s performance. What do you think - Dogs on Ice next?! A few panics from me imaging the vet bill were he to take a nasty turn! There was no telling him not to do it, of course eventually the ice broke and he got a very cold dip!

Week of homework ahead and some high energy draining exercise, “Yep” we have a replacement bike! We shall see if he takes to running alongside the bike while I cycle - multi-tasking big time! Or if I take off and into the ditch hanging onto his lead, pulled off by a Terrier insisting on chasing a wild rodent!

Golden Dog Awards

2008-02-17T03:00:00.000Z

This week sees more of the pack challenging previous award winners! Those with outstanding performances are:

Gold Award - Goes to Monty, the Gt Dane. For actually going into the sea up to his waist - this is unprecedented and only inspired by a seal! The seal was happily swimming close to the shore when Max and Monty spotted it, the seal ducked and swam off - don’t blame it on seeing these two! However, Monty’s hasn’t seen one before and knows nothing of their behaviour, that they can and do swim off into the deap sea! So he went in after it, to hunt it down - Gt Danes were used to hunt wild boar once upon a time, did this instinct kick in I wonder, did he think it was a wild swimming boar?! Anyway, 2 days later we returned to this beach, Monty went again into the sea at the same place, refusing to come on the rest of the walk as he was busy searching for “his prey” - the seal. Clever seal, of course, would have been miles away! Never mind Monty, well done for going into the sea at last and demonstrating some instinct, you’re not just a couch potato after all!

Silver Award - Goes to Jack, the Chihuahua x Yorkshire Terrier, “Chalky”. For excellent behaviour when receiving his pre-spring hair cut courtesy of Chris in her pet shop. Short back and sides, not so much like teddy bear now there is a dog under that disguise!! Much sand was left behind along with his winter coat!

And finally, the Bronze Award goes to the Jack Russell 4 Dog Pack, headed up by Eddie, they successfully navigated the local woods and returned when called. This is significant, as to get a perfect recall when they’re busy doing their thing - “russelling” about with the direction only known to them, is unheard of. The best I’ll get from these Terriers is a return to me, soon after calling them and at a running pace, zigzagging their way! Not nicknamed “The Rat Pack - Terrible Terriers” for nothing, when there’s a rat about and the chase is on I may as well forget recall until they‘ve caught up with their target!!

Peter's School Days - Part 2

2008-02-10T23:00:00.000Z

Look how close Peter is to Chris with one of her dogs, Bruffy - and they're both off lead, calm yet working hard ....simply amazing!

We have “play time” at school, where we break the dogs off from working for some "rest and relaxation" - which usually translates to charging about playing with each other. Peter's lack of social skills have meant that he has been unable to join in so far. He does know Chris's dogs socially, but in this different environment he does not recognise them as friends. As only Chris's dogs were here today, and he had already been friendly with Bruffy, we introduced Tia (Chris's puppy). After a few corrections of his aggression, I let him off lead to great Tia, he met her with good manners so off all three went to play! So there Peter you can do it!

Looks like agility training is the way to go with Peter then. We will do some more obedience work first though to improve his attention on me, then we’ll take up agility. Thing is that’s the 9am class - thanks Peter!

A good charge around the Heath with the Setters, all exhausted we headed home to a sunny beach!

Will his classmates return next week? We shall see.

Peters's School Days - Part 1

2008-02-10T22:41:00.000Z

Ready Peter "Over" ....he's just jumped, Good Boy....."Close" - follow my arm signal, next to me that's right.....and all off the lead - Wow!

We arrive at school on a bright morning and much warmer on the training field! We’re ready to work and show off some of Peter’s new social skills, but there are no classmates to be seen! Has he scared them off? No it’s just holiday time being half term so Peter is the only one not missing school, no skiving for him!

With Chris, the teacher, we decide to put Peter through his paces on the agility equipment. During the week I had read how Fox Terriers love the agility challenge, and do far better at this than obedience because the pace is faster with the focus constantly changing. This makes sense and corresponds with Peter's Fox T character. Put simply - they don’t usually excel at obedience, Peter supports this theory as he gets bored quickly!

Within seconds of showing him how to weave in and out of poles he had grasped it and flew through, with me getting a bit tangled in his lead! The jumps he took to like a duck to water, not surprisingly as he is always leaping about! I got a bit confused with my lefts - back commands and rights - close commands! Once I’d got the hang of it we had Peter jumping over 4 jumps in a row, go boy! Also, worth pointing out that he did this off lead, while Chris was working one of her dogs off lead in the same area - no incidents to report, remarkable!

See Part 2 - play time!

Peter's School Days!

2008-02-10T02:00:00.000Z

Any Dream Will Do……

The tune alone is calming and cheery so it’s my theme this week when out walking Peter. It reminds me to focus on my dream - a rehabilitated Peter calmly walking past other dogs! Actually it does more than this, it helps me to help Peter during this very stressful time, by picturing how I want his experience to be a positive one, it helps to create the reality.

To get Peter to pass another dog, I have to Focus on relaxing, humming my tune, correcting any aggressive outburst from Peter, and rewarding him after he has calmed. When we’re in tune with each other, we just walk on by with no problems, balanced and content. I like being a calm leader, Peter’s giving up his position of "my protector" albeit grudgingly (typical strong willed Terrier!). However, I can tell that he prefers being calm and inquisitive.

Today we had a lovely meeting with 2 fishermen, reckon he liked the smells from their catch! As we were both distracted, with me deep in conversation, we didn’t even notice other dogs go by , we weren’t thinking "oh no there’s another dog" so neither of us reacted.

Clearly then, projecting how I want the walk to be really does enable it to happen. Empowering me and calming Peter - slowly and step by step we’re achieving our dream. Put another way, I no longer predict a disaster on meeting new dogs - which is how I used to cause such an event to happen in the first place!
Back to school tomorrow, homework complete, uniform (harness, & lead) ready, snacks for him and a flask of hot tea for me! Wonder what teacher will say…..!

What "anger" really means to a dog..........

2008-02-09T19:00:00.000Z

I recently read a quote “He who angers you, conquers you”, this is so very true when dealing with a dogs “naughty” behaviour!

Our anger decides who we are, in terms of “energy” for the dog that means “weak and negative” - not the makings of a good leader in their view! If we decide to feel instead how we want to feel - “calm, firm and confident”, this gives us respect from the dog and immediately reinstates us as Pack Leader.

It also gets results, lets look at this example of Max, the Dobey, out on a walk (mainly run in his case) along the beach:

Attempt 1: Max is charging off into the distance, I have noticed some people wandering along with children and a lively dog. I recall Max he “sort of” comes - he dawdles about, then runs towards me and straight past me! Of course he knows what “Come” means but has chosen to ignore it in favour of running along the beach! "A frequent experience I hear some of you say"! I am getting frustrated, I call again adding the words “bad Max“, he comes closer and goes into a routine of spinning, play bowing, dancing around - anything but come close and sit. Thus I’m getting more angry by the second and shout at him, this neurotic routine escalates. During this time I have no real control over him and he knows it, the feeling disturbs him hence this neurotic behaviour. I try ignoring him, no use he gets even more confused, I walk off - no use “stropping off” he doesn’t get this human emotion and continues his dancing around!

So what have I done wrong? Primarily, being angry! Max is clearly telling me he is in charge at that moment and although he doesn’t know what to do he uses a multitude of learned behaviours and becomes a neurotic dog. I am not acting like a leader and I have used his name to tell him off. This is a sure way to confuse a dog as I have learnt! Names should only be used to grab attention and particularly not in conjunction with corrections!

Attempt 2: Thankfully, dogs always prefer to return to a balanced state, instead of getting frustrated, moving towards angry, I calm myself down and picture what I want from him. I use his name to get his attention then only use commands, with positive reinforcements such as “good boy” as he’s coming towards me. A correction such as a firm “No” if he veers off. Avoiding eye contact as this can be connected with a “challenge” to him, until he is next to me in a sit then I reward him.

The first attempt took 20 minutes before I had him back under control, the latter only a minute or 2.

So that’s that then, clearly presented to me by Max, if I’m angry he wins, if I’m calm assertive I win! A Pack Leader always wins
So by communicating "in dog" that I am his leader and using consistency in commanding him I avoid creating a neurotic dog, and having a large neurotic dog is not a good feeling for me or Max!
Remember you can start “again” at any time, reclaim leadership and the dog will change their behaviour! This I call "the promise of a new dog"!

Golden Dog Awards

2008-02-09T03:00:00.000Z

Some of the pack have learnt new commands, some have learnt to stop doing unwanted activities! The awards are just for fun and to enable you all to know how much improvement has been made and by whom.

The dogs get their prizes for their correct reactions to my commands at the time, immediate reward enables them to associate the “prize” (food treat) with the instruction and their action, essential to condition the dog to repeat a new behaviour. If they stop doing something and substitute a wanted action they too receive a reward for the substituted behaviour. The technique used is known as "positive reinforcement" - adding something they like to reinforce the behaviour.

The Gold Award goes to Alfie, Yes I did say Alfie the English Setter, a remarkable achievement for him as he’s not the most likely recipient within the pack! The award is for “Recall” - every walk he has returned to me within an acceptable time frame…quite simply amazing and never been achieved before!

The Silver Award goes to Max, he learnt a new word “Pull”, sounds strange but I wanted him to pull me, out in front of me when the wind was high and I was struggling to walk across the sand!

The Bronze Award goes to Peter, for learning to play ball with me and today he sat with me on the edge of the beach and calmly watched dogs go by.

Runners up are the Jack Russells, for synchronised recall on the beach...it may have been a coincidence!
Let's see who the pack champions are next week..........

Spring is in the air...

2008-02-08T05:10:00.000Z

A Few of the Terriers relaxing after a "Jack Russelling" session in the countryside!

This week sees the arrival of the sun, at last, on the East Coast! With spring in the air some of the dogs have livened up! Ok by some of the dogs I am referring to my Terriers in particular! The outdoor scents, specifically rabbits I suspect, are encouraging their genetic senses to surface (I am referring to running off and completely ignoring any commands!) This is something quite specific to my Jack Russells and Parson Russells, both distant cousins of the Fox Terrier, with Peter more closely linked being a cross between Fox and Jack Russell Terrier! So much more lead work is required this time of year to remind them of the boundaries of our walks, the practice of not running off and staying with me, therefore all keeping safe. Clearly, this is not so appealing as searching out wild rodents! So we vary the route and play ball games to inspire them, it will take some time (read patience) to reinforce their learned behaviour to come when called, thus overriding their hereditary instinct.

Every year at this time it's the same thing with the Terriers, I love the spring, but it has it's problems that winter doesn't, which also includes busier beaches which means getting up earlier to avoid tourists! For now the temperature is still cold so they are all settled in for the evening by 5pm, in front of the fire, bellies full and bodies tired! The other breeds, don't seem to have seasonal changes, Monty the Gt Dane still remains the couch potato, Jack the Chihuahua the lap dog, Max the Dobey....well Max is just Max a laid back dog dressed in the suit of a Doberman, and the Setters remain true to breed and love the outdoor life no matter what the season.. a few more seagulls around add to their interest on the beach ....to them they are strange looking pheasants and Lucy tries stalking them showing her pure working breed instinct...Just miss-placed, she's supposed to "set" not stalk as well! To Max they are something to chase, and boy can he chase, he gets up an impressive speed! If they sit on the rocks out at sea he will stand and bark at them, not able to understand why they don't leave the rocks as clearly a Doberman is telling them what to do ...Alpha Male status has no impact on seagulls!

As for the household this week so far the light bulb in the lounge blew on Monday (once Simon had returned to work of course) but it didn't just blow it wiped out the fitting...so no main light until Simon returns home with a new fitting! The tumble drier continues to work only when it feels like it and the washing machine is kindly pouring some of its water onto the floor...to help with cleaning the floor..... I think not! The blinds in the sunroom took another hit from the Terriers and this time are broken, cat was at fault in their opinion for strutting past the window..I mean a pack of Terriers and a small furry moving animal!

We also had a helicopter land on the beach, I was out walking with Peter so that was a new experience for us both! I remained calm and so did he - a triumph for us both!
Peter has also learnt to walk next to my bicycle so we can use cycling to drain some of his high energy, this requires physical balance from me so there's a huge challenge. Which is on hold currently as my trusted bike has given up after much riding across these uneven tracks. Well it was a road bike and I can't really call these tracks roads! So until we can get a mountain bike I shall have to keep thinking up other ways to tire Peter out! I did think and even ordered some roller skates, copying Cesar's idea of rollerblading with his pack for high energy exercising, however my attempts at skating around the house (now that's stretching it ...more like lunging from one foot to the other with ski boots on and no snow) proved this to be a bad idea! The boots have gone back thus enabling me to carry on walking without the aid of crutches! Peter seems far more in touch with his Fox Terrier side as he grows older, so this week we played ball on the beach, which is something Fox Terriers enjoy and is proving to be a good game for Peter, he focuses on playing with me and ignoring what is going on around him.

Dogs can learn well from each other so I have employed Patsy and Alfie (both calm submissive dogs) to help Peter on his walks. The latter, Alfie one of the English Setters, who unless off lead is reliably obedient and Patsy, who has no interest in other dogs, both positively influence Peter's behaviour. It's important to only take out calm dogs with Peter, as there's also a negative side, Peter picked up some habits from the Jack Russells which I'd rather he hadn't! This has been working well, but Alfie didn't understand the ball thing so I let him off and he vanished presumably doing his Setter thing! Mind you this week Alfie has returned when called..not sure why yet, hopefully I'll be able to explain this soon.

In between walks I have been doing some more research and study into dog psychology. I've read up on Cesar Milan's techniques and continue to use some of his methods to balance my pack. On reading further, The Dogs Mind by Bruce Fogle, I am beginning to understand so much more about their behaviour, genetically and learned....why they do what they do! This even explains why Mickey (Jack Russell) waves at me with both paws, because I always react smiling and welcome him for a cuddle i.e. rewarding his behaviour with affection, so he's not just a clown after all....fascinating! The subject of types, causes and treatment for aggression are proving useful in treating Peter's problems. Although I am beginning to think he has more than one type! However, I also note specific references to Fox Terriers (remember Peter is half Fox T) - known for their male dog on dog aggression and that keeping more than 4 can lead to inter-pack fighting. Apply this to my pack, I have 6 Terriers so that explains a few of our previous issues and fights between the pack, especially when you consider that previously there have been at least 9 Terriers in my pack! Guess I could have done with knowing this a few years ago! Oh well, too late now, we'll just have to manage the situation, which has evened out now as they are older and intermixed with 7 other breeds. By older I mean that they have passed the 2-2.5 years stage, which rather belatedly for me explains that this is the stage when inter-pack dominance aggression arises, while they sort out their internal pack hierarchy. So for now the balance and hierarchy is established - for this I am eternally grateful!

Peter's been doing his homework too. We have been walking past other dogs and correcting any aggressive displays, there are a few calm submissive dogs who live near us and we've been walking close by, conditioning Peter with rewards to reinforce wanted social behaviour. We always end our homework sessions on a positive note, so sometimes they take a while!

Another added bonus of these new techniques I am using to communicate with my pack, is that the delivery man from Tescos can come by with my shopping safely! He gets out of his van and drops off the shopping without a chorus of barking dogs angrily watching him, which must have been pretty scary when you think about it! They bark to let me know he has arrived (no need for door bells here) and then I tell them to relax and they trot off to their lazing about places, apart from a few ever curious Terriers who watch....quietly! Peter even lets me go out and see him without accompanying me....now that was a hard habit of his to eliminate but hey success is a wonderful experience!

All the dogs are helping me with my studies, they just don't know it! What I think they do know is that as their owner and leader I am learning their language and how to read them - they can't get away with as much as they used to! Dogs don't have morals or understand human morals, such as fairness ... so that's good! They live in the now so simply accept the new boundaries and changes to rules, with consistent practice and positive reinforcement (food treats) they are learning fast. Strangely enough, the one who seemingly rebels the most to my new behaviour is Bob, set in his ways he doesn't like wearing his lead, and has an apparent look of disgust, of course this emotion is not one a dog has as they don't have such complex emotions, I'm humanising his behaviour here, so it's probably one of reluctance to obey commands (the spirit of the Jack Russell side of him outweighing the collie side!)

So let's keep the Terrier spirit for enjoying life...welcome in the Spring!

Peter's School Days!

2008-02-03T23:00:00.000Z

I have decided to re-start Peter's training, back to school for Peter Pan. The plan is that school, with many doggie classmates, will help him to overcome his anxiety sufferred in the company of dogs he doesn't know. I mean he doesn't know them so his rash decision to dislike them is surely unfounded?! There I go "humanising" his actions..really must stop that! Seriously though, he has aggressive reactions to new dogs causing him and me distress, this needs to be addressed and changed.

Luckily, my friends Chris and Sonia run a training school on a Sunday morning and know Peter and his, shall we say problem! Unluckily, for us humans, Sunday School starts at 10am...."Thanks Peter....I din't like my lie-in, coffee and croissants, lazing with the papers morning anyway!" So it's everyone up early, big dogs to the beach, breakfast and then off in the car to Cawston (a Norfolk village where we used to live, I've said before that our place new is named "Escape" was truly just that - an escape from Cawston! Let's just say we had an "escape from the country" experience after having lived there for 4 years, trust me that was long enough! It really wasn't as hoped, far from a "Miss Marple" village more of a "Midsommer Murders" which, incidently, is set around a place called Cawston - should have tipped us off!)

One redeeming feature of Cawston is the heath, a huge piece of common land great for dogs. So joining Peter on the trip are the English Setters, these 2 - Alfie and Lucy, are the nuttiest of dogs I have ever had the pleasure to own! There aren't many places, other than the beach, we can walk them as they charge off indiscriminatley, seemingly with no idea what they're doing or where they're going! Alfie, in particular, is the type of dog who gets an idea into his head and it appears to be the only idea, no room for anything else! Lucy just folllows (not nicknamed "Loopy Loo" for nothing!) The heath provides the perfect opportunity for them to run in strange circles, dashing off here and there, diving into the lake looking for any unsuspecting ducks (who are much smarter than the Setters and have already left the area!) They of course are joined as ever by Bob who did the school thing a few years ago, excelled and graduated with great applause! Jack and Sadie (Peter's week day walking companions) come along too, me thinks they like to sit in the warm car and watch Peter work...gloating I shouldn't wonder, one day I shall get them into school!

So all in the car, safely in the back, we arrive at school. All the others wait with Simon in the warm car (not that I'm jealous or anything but 10am on a Sunday morning in the freezing cold, in the middle of a field are Peter and I).

Once out of the car, Peter's tantruum begins. Lots of shaking and whining, while we watch the previous class come to a close (grateful I am that we're not in that one, I mean a 9am start?!) Correcting Peter's anti-social bahviour is all about spot-on timing so that he understands which of his actions he is being corrected for, a correction being to turn him away at the same time as using a firm vocal sound such as Psssht (like my Dad used to tell me when chattering on and on as a child...worked for me...well most of the time!) Takes a few corrections to stop his snarling at the other dogs and lunging to try an attack them. Last week was his first week and was all about dogs - simply getting him to calm down enough to focus on working. There was much less aggression this week, he got into the "working zone" much quicker and so did I ... well done Peter. He's joined the "puppy class" because that's all about socialisation - which is what he needs, to learn how to be polite in company with other dogs. Having had some training in the past, he know the basics - his "sits, downs, heels, wait and come" commands. It's just getting his attention off the other dogs and focused on me ...that's the all...that's massive! With Chris instructing, Sonia brought out one of her older calm dogs - Fletch acts as a stooge dog who helps unstable dogs by being totally balanced. She worked Fletch very close to Peter, with lots of praise and treats for good wanted behaviuor (and a few "just in time" corrections) we completed the class! It seems that Peter's manners are better with older calmer dogs, he was also well behaved when Bruffy, one of Chris's dogs whom Peter knows and likes. With the puppies who have high excitable energy he begins to stress and revert to his aggressive stance - more effort required from Peter says teacher! So todays class was all about conditioning Peter to work while other dogs are very near by, from there he has to learn to be calm and listen to me at all times, he's beginning to realise that no harm will come to him being in the company of strange dogs.

On the whole today's class was a success and I am very happy with Peter's improvement. As for me ......I had to work on releasing tension which I've developed over time anticipating Peter going into an attack. By relaxing my arm (then the rest of me) Peter responded well. I have found that smiling helps me to stay relaxed, my serious attitude kicks in as needed to give Peter instructions such as "Heel". This is how I manage to stay "calm assertive" and react spontaneously if Peter turns aggressive (he can turn it oon in seconds), ensuring the correction voice is used at the right time. Peter is being rehabilitated and I am being trained to live in the "now" with him, not living out his previous misdememanours!Remaining calm, firm yet fair, I begin to feel more confident and see positive changes in Peter's reactions - Result! Reckon re-training me to work with Peter is the harder of the jobs! I keep in mind my feelings, not letting anger or frustration get a look in by having my a conversation in my head with a friend who's saying "mean what you say but don't be mean when you say it".

Well done Peter, reckon Chris would give you a "C" for effort this week! Let's try for a "B" next week! I enjoyed the class, having fun while teaching Peter is the best way for both of us to learn new behaviours.

Schools out .... and it's off to the Heath! All out the car and they're off ... talk about "wacky races"! Flying setters, Sadie searching for rabbits (the tiniest of my Jack Russells most rabbits are bigger than her..we call this activty "russelling"), little Jack bumbling about and Peter releasing that pentup energy trying to keep up with the Setters, which is virtually impossible as Alfie puts in so many top speed 3 point turns Peter gets dizzy!

Back at the beach, the rest of the pack are now awake...nice lie-in hey pack?! More walks for the others then Sunday lunch ("Yep" they get the leftovers and just love it). Followed by lazing in front of the fire .....It really is a dogs day on Sunday!

Plenty of homework for Peter, more form Peter Pan's shcool days next week!

Bob's Ball

2008-02-01T04:00:00.000Z

Ever seen the Agatha Christie film "Dumb Witness" - where the witness of a murder is a Fox Terrie named Bob - the clue to Poirot was how Bob would always place his ball on the stairs, watch it bump down them, catch the ball and put it back in his bed everytime - this helped poirot to solve the mystery!

For our Bob, tennis balls became an obsession - 3 in his bed in this picture!

At first it was funny, Bob always with his ball, staring at shopping when we came home expecting to receive a ball from the bag, crying (read whining) if one did not appear. Slowly the ball developed into an obssession. He could sit for hours starring at a ball on a shelf, even when he had balls all over the floor, the one on the shelf out of reach was the only one he wanted! This obssession began to become a nuisance, a problem not that of aggression as he has never been aggressive, but a problem none the less. For humans its akin to an addiction, he needed a ball with him at all times and would become depressed if the ball was removed from him.

Clearly he was not a happy dog enjoying his tennis balls as we had originally thought. Through research I have found out how to begin to remove this obssession from him, this is a very long process. To date I have increased his exercise without using the tennis ball, using treats to reward him. We no longer play the "where is the ball game" on returning from shopping and ignore his obssessive behaviour. Again, I note that playing with him and comforting him was the wrong reaction from me. So far this change in behaviour is working, but I am prepared for more work beofre he gets over this problem. I know he's beginning to feel more balanced as he's far more relaxed, even around tennis balls. Soon I hope to learn more about how to remove obssessions in dogs. A human with an addiction is not a happy person, even though they may appear so, the same is true of our dogs! Rehabilitiation is the only way forward and it works! Obssession in animals is not a natural state, a truly balanced dog lives in a natural state. The dog has an advantage here - they would prefer to return to life in a natural state!

Bob is such an amazing dog he deserves the best life can give him - he's clever and has a lovely attitude to everyone and dogs alike. We created his obssession so now we have to remove it! It's a bit like conditioning him to accept the ball as an occassional toy, for now it's total abstinence that is required. I wonder if he will get to the balanced state and be able to react differently to a tennis ball?! Come to think of it a change in reaction to bringing the shopping in would be a great start!