NEW WEBSITE

I have a new website
It's excellent if I do say so myself

Please change your bookmarks and go there

The New Family Dog

www.thenewfamilydog.com

Love to all
Kat

The Quick Fix

I often hear in my profession clients who want their dogs fixed.  Clients who call me up and want to have me solve their problems in one visit.  The problem with the quick fix is it never actually fixes the problem.  Many of the tv/radio shows today talk about being a pack leader and thinking like a dog.  Well, I have to agree with that statement but what is a pack leader and how do you think like a dog.  Being the pack leader has much more to do with guiding your pack in a positive manner then punishing it for bad behavior.  We all know that with children, if we punish them too much, they will turn around and punish their friends.  But teach your children how to behave kindly and they will turn around and be kind to their friends.  Well, dogs are the same way.  Certainly think like a dog. But realize that thinking like a dog means that to say hello you sniff a face or behind.  People stop and shake hands.  So yes we must teach a dog that to say hi to a person they must sit and shake, but don't punish him for not understanding at first.  Positively teach the good behavior while management with a leash and collar will stop him from jumping up.  When clients have much more difficult problems like aggression and separation anxiety again I tell them they first need to manage the problem.  If their dog has an opportunity to bite then it is the owners fault.  The dog is only doing what it has learned to do.  By positively teaching the dog a new way of telling the person he is scared you will eliminate the aggression.  By forcing the dog to stop but not teaching it a better way of communicating you only suppress the behavior which will eventually come out much more violently at some person a year or three down the road.  No training program is quick.  Even on tv commentators mention that the whole training process took a month and there is more work to do. Unfortunately we have told ourselves that animals are here for our enjoyment.  A part of our lives when they are good but cast aside when they don't perform as we would intend they to perform.  But they aren't here for our enjoyment .  We are here to keep them safe.  And we are doing a terribly poor job at it.

 

Madagascar ethology training

Dear clients,
I wanted to let everyone know of my Spring plans. I am participating in a volunteer research program in Andavadoaka, Madagascar from April 1- May 12. This program consists of documenting coral and fish behaviors and their relationship to the local community in Madagascar. This country is unique in that it’s remoteness as an island off the east coast of Africa has given it’s wildlife an opportunity to develop completely separated from the rest of the world. 90% of its environment’s animals, plants and corals are endemic to Madagascar. For this reason many scientists and environmentalists see Madagascar as a place of great importance to teach people how to live and thrive economically while preserving the ecological heritage that exists. The company, Blue Ventures, has taken up a major role of continual research and documentation of the oceanic wildlife in the area while also involving the local communities in development projects that help bring education and money to them in a sustainable fashion.
The research I will be doing will extend my knowledge of behavioral tendencies in animal culture. As I explore the ever expanding regions of animal ethology and it’s role upon the human existence I hope to better understand and help the creatures that we live with. Today’s world is increasingly understanding the intelligence of the animals around us and the importance of considering their well-being in our development. I believe that continued scientific research is imperative to the understanding of this and removal of cultural and political people who strive to continue to destroy of environment as well as denigrate our animals to sub-level living conditions.
Because of this trip I will be unavailable by phone or for consultations for the following dates:
March 23- May 20.
I appreciate your understanding in this issue and can’t wait to get back and share all that I learn with you.
If you need help from me please contact me ASAP to schedule any meetings in the following two months or to schedule something upon my return.

Sincerely yours,

Kat Berger
Muddy Dogs Training
muddydogs@mac.com

Happy New Year Everyone

We are almost heading into February and here's to hoping you are still holding onto those resolutions you made only a short time ago.

I've been working hard this year.

I lovely puppy has been with Kayla and I learning to be a confident happy puppy.  He didn't get a great start on life but he sure landed a wonderful second home. Mr. Puppy has been learning all the basics of "dogs in a human world."  I had forgotten all the work a puppy entails.  My Kayla just needs one long walk/hike/run in the morning and then is content all day, but Mr Puppy just keeps going and going and going.

But as I work with him he is learning all his basic commands.  I've looked at my journal as realized it's gotten so much easier then a month ago.  So the work is paying off, and the journal is so good to help me see the progress.

Here's to more snow and less wind in the future :-)

Love to all creatures

Kat

Puppy Mills- What they really mean to the pet industry

Did you know that one puppy mill breeder with just 10 breeding females can easily put 100-140 dogs in the industry a year. But if you think that sounds horrendous then think of this. The HSUS has documented over one thousand commercial breeders in Virginia alone, many of these puppy mills admit to owning over 500 breeding females. That means that one puppy mill with 500 breeding females can easily put 5000-7000 dogs in the industry a year.

Responsible breeders DO NOT sell their dogs to pet stores. It just never happens. If you can't see the parents and living conditions of the breeder's home then DON'T buy the puppy.
Each time a puppy mills puppy is bought you put money into the hands of the cruel people. They do not care about the health and wellbeing of a single animal, they only care about making money.

Even if your puppy doesn't become sick think about it's parents. Breeding dogs never get to touch grass and are of kept in cages raised off the ground so that the dogs must stand on chicken wire their entire life.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
Adopt from a Shelter
Buy ONLY from reputable small single breed breeders who let you visit their homes.

In Response to the HSUS Investigation

Virginia authorities responded to the Humane Socirty of the United States undercover investigation this week. With help from HSUS, dozens of shelters and Virginia authorities all helped close down just one of the puppy mills in Virginia.
All the data is still coming in but according to HSUS website 45 adult dogs and 65 puppies were taken from one breeder in two separate visits. Unfortunately the number of rescued dogs has swelled in the past several days as dozens of the adult females were pregnant at the time of rescue.
The majority of dogs were small breeds. These dogs would have been sold in clasified ads and pet stores across the East Coast. In the end the only thing that will truly end puppy mills is for the money trail to run out. By not ever buying a puppy from a pet store or from back yard breeders we will cut off the income supply for these breeders. It is the consumer who has the ultimate power.
LET'S USE IT!!!!
Please visit the HSUS website and learn more about puppy mills.

Love for all creatures
Kat

Behavioral Myths

The below list is a compilation created by Dr. Lore Haug of many trainers and what we hear as "behavioral truths" which in fact have no baring in scientific reality.

If one of these myths confuses you then please comment.  I'm happy to explain the reality in more detail.

1. Puppies should not go to puppy classes/the mall/friend's houses until they have had all their vaccinations at 16 weeks of age

2. Aggressive dogs are dominant.

3. Dogs pull on leash and jump up on people because they are dominant

4. If you let your dog sleep on the bed, he will become the alpha.

5. It's importnat to rub a dog's nose in it's feces or urine to properly housetrain it.

6. Dogs can't learn from positive reinforcement.  You have to punish them so they know they are wrong.

7. My dog is aggressive towards strangers because he is protecting me.

8. If you use treats to train, you will always need them.

9. Dogs urinate inside the house and barks when him alone because he is spiteful.

10. Pit Bulls and Rottweilers are aggressive due to a "missing gene"

There will be more to come

Keeper of the Dogs