Service Dog graduation!

Congratulations to the graduates of our first Service Dog Level 1 class!

December 4th found our Service Dog Class working at the Fashion Mall on Keystone to do their Public Testing. We worked in and out of various stores, finding different floor surfaces to work and test on. One of our dogs, Sophie, found that she liked the hardwood floors to lay down on because of the cooler surfaces, but prefered the carpeting to walk or sit on.

We also needed to show that our dogs could *shop* in tight places without knocking things over.  Believe me getting a young Goldendoodle to be able to do this takes a LOT of work. Kudos to Sophies owners Anita and J.D. Dudley for working so hard with Sophie over the past year to bring her successfully to this point.

The dogs also need to be able to sit and wait quietly, without sniffing the merchandise or becoming overly distracted, while the handler/owner is doing their shopping. Lugnut shows how well he can do this for his owner Jeff while testing at Bed Bath and Beyond.

When training and testing with the Service Dogs they need to become familiar with shopping carts. They have to learn to walk with the owner/handler, turn with them with the cart and even back up without becoming confused, upset or out of control. Here you can see just how well Shawn with her dog Sophie; and Jeff with his dog Lugnut have trained and learned how to handle shopping with carts.

We tested on the elavators (Kudos to Jeff and Lugnut as Lugnut was also able to touch the elevator button to call open it!) which all three passed without issue. While walking through out the mall we called upon a couple of other shoppers to help us test them with other issues. They needed to stay laid down with a stranger stepping over them and not move, they also needed to stay sitting while a stranger petted them. Of course that was the best part for the dogs! Who doesn't like to be petted! We had plenty of opportunity for them to remain in control and focused even with children approaching them as there were kids galore in the mall shopping with their families. I am happy to report all three dogs passed these tests with flying colors!

Once we completed the mall tests, we moved on to phase two of the night's testing. Dinner out! I wanted to choose a place that had action, without being TOO disturbing for us or the dogs, yet plenty of opportunity for the dogs to be put to a real test. As you can see with the following two pictures both Sophies tested excellant (so did Lugnut, in fact he slept through the entire meal!) at dinner. They needed to be able to remain out of the way, not bother anyone while they were eating and not focus on or disturb the other patrons. Not only during the meal, but while we walked in and out of the restaurant. For this test I chose Claddagh's Irish Pub (thank you Claddaghs for welcoming us!).

The dogs all three were put to a true test, not only by the smell of our dinners, but with other people coming and going, or our servicing staff taking excellant care of our needs, but there was also a young girl who (once completing her own meal) took to bouncing back and forth across the floor from our area back to her families table. Not once did our dogs break their positions from under or close to their tables!

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATING SERVICE DOGS

LEVEL 1

Sophie Dudley, Lugnut Day and Sophie Roberson

At what age should training start?

Formal obedience training - puppy training in a class situation - can begin at 8 weeks of age. At Best Friends our *rules* are as soon as they have had their first two puppy shots and a bordatella they are ready to rock!


TRAINING of your puppy - the stuff you teach them at home - should start the day you bring your puppy home. Training at this stage should be done in many little lessons, in short spans of time (5-10 minutes per session). Puppies always learn better if you keep training light and fun so watch the tone of your voice as well.

Puppies and dogs learn from the instant they are born. At first their world is small and their learning comes from their mother, other littermates. By the time they are weaned and sent on their way to new homes, they have learned many things. Hopefully, they have had a good foundation set for future learning.

Learning is built on many factors:

Socialization - positive exposure to many different people, animals, environments, surfaces, situations, sounds, etc, and teaching the pup how to best react to new things

Innate personality - the set type of personality that all animals and people are born with.

In-home work with potty training, crate training, leash & collar training, teaching appropriate stuff to chew on, your household routine, words, basic home manners.

Training classes (Best Friends has an on going rotating schedule of classes!) - where you teach your puppy the essentials of obedience commands, manners, and ability to do everything with the distraction of other people and dogs.

Potty training basics in any age

It is an undeniable fact that our pets have to go potty. Puppies especially come to us with a basic thought, *If I have to, then I have to.* This pertains to eating, sleeping (ever see a pup fall over asleep in mid-play?), play AND going potty! Puppies do not understand anything more than that. It's up to us to develop that level of understanding to make life with a puppy fun not troublesome. Humans are the ones with all the rules, not them. Puppies are simply happy to take care of their needs the way they already know.
The most successful potty training methods consist of four steps:
1. Confinement
2. Training
3. Timing
4. Praise

Confinement
Puppies (or dogs who have never been housebroken) need to be confined in order to facilitate the easiest potty training. The most effective place to confine is in a crate or cage. In the beginning, don't leave anything on the bottom of the crate (blanket, newspaper, etc.). Your pet make make a project out of destroying it. Most dogs do NOT want to eliminate where they live, therefore the crate needs to be just large enough for your pet to turn around, stand up comfortably, or lay down. Anything larger will encourage your pet to potty at one end and sleep in the other. For large pets or puppies who will growto big big, use a crate that is sized for a larger pet and partition it to a smaller size using a homemade insert or a crate insert made by the crate company to fit your crate.

Training and Praise
When I teach a new dog (or puppy) where to potty, I use a leash. Leashes keep your dog close to you, where you can supervise and control everything that happens. Puppies, especially, are easily distracted. A blowing leaf, new flower, stick, another animal - all can take a puppy's mind off the matter at hand. If you are near the puppy (or dog) with the leash in hand, a gentle tug will redirect away from the curiosity. Leashes are also good to help teach an area to potty (behind the garage, etc.). With a leash, you just take your pet to the exact same area every time. Our pets are creatures of habit. they will learn to use the same spot if so directed in training.

I also teach words for elimination. This way, when the puppy understands what the words mean, he will understand WHAT I want as well as WHEN I want it to happen. My words are "go potty" for urination and "go poopie" for defecation. Your choice can be ANY word or phrase you want to use consistently (such as, hurry hurry, do your business, get busy, etc.). Remember when you choose your word or phrase that you will be repeating it over and over. Don't keep changing your words or you will just confue them so pick a phrase or a word that you are comfortable using.

As I take my dog outside on a leash, I start to teach him the word outside. "Let's go OUTSIDE!". "Do you have to go "OUTSIDE"? In time, the dog will learn that the word OUTSIDE is associated with going potty. Eventually you will be able to ask the dog "do you have to go OUTSIDE?" and get a response like barking, running to the door or tail wagging.

TIMING
The command or phrase should never be said in a firm or angry way and not in a soft or pleading way either - it is usually said in an encouraging tone. When elimination occurs, use a happy tone and repeat "GOOD Go Potty! Yay! Go Potty!". I choose to use words only to reinforce elimination, because petting or treats can interrupt the act. Verbal praise needs to happen DURING the act, not after! Usually dogs will urinate first, then defecate. You need to become familiar with your dog's habits so you can wait for defecation and use a command for it.

PAWS4VALOR

PAWS4VALOR
Service Dog Training Program
For Disabled Veterans

Lugnut is a 17 mnth old Golden Retriever who

is in a current Service Dog class.

Trainer Kristi Rush, at Best Friends Pet Care in Castleton has designed a new program (Called PAWS4VALOR) to help our returning Veterans with disabilities.

The classes are designed to help returning Veterans who have the need, and are interested in working with their own dog, to train their dog to assist them in specific needs, based on their personal disability. The dogs can be trained as a handicap assistant or as an emotional/mental needs dog (for PTSD or depression)

One of his objectives is to turn the

light on or off as directed

Each *team*(team being the Veteran and his/her dog)will need to commit to no less then 5 obedience classes, maybe more depending on their rate of learning and the needs of the dog. They will then need to commit to as many classes as needed to get their dog fully certified as their personal Service Dog. Each team will need to train for and learn no less then 3 objectives.

We at Best Friends will help them to find the right personality for their dog (their choice of mixed breed or pure bred. We will assist them in their training through our classes. We will be available for problems, advice, or any questions the Veteran may have during this process. We will assist the Veterans/team in getting their Service Dog vests, Federal I.D. cards, and other items needed for public access training. Best Friends will also be able to provide their final Certification test.

He has also learned to pick up items

that have been dropped

Our goal in this new program will be to help the Veterans develop a long lasting bond with their own dog, give the returning Veterans a new focus and commitment to life, with the end result being; a fully trained Service Dog to help them with their personal needs.

And to bring back the items

that were dropped.

Best Friends will be offering these classes to Veterans at a reduced rate based on the number of classes they take.

Federal funding may be available to help qualified Veterans pay for the training classes.

Who's the boss?

WHO'S THE BOSS?

It SHOULD be you!

Isn't it cute when a pet brings you his toy to play with, or nudges your knees for attention? Don't you find it hard to resist rewarding your pet with a cuddle when he pounces on your lap?
If you answer "yes" to these questions, you are doing your pet a disservice by teaching him to be "Leader of the Pack," and this can lead to problems down the road.
A pack can only have one leader, and in the dog world you're either the leader or the follower."

All dogs are born with a "pack instinct" that helps them determine where they stand in the family or group. When a dog enters your home, he expects to follow rules and obey the leader, who he should recognize as you. It is imperative that your pet learn his rank within your family's pack immediately. Dogs that know their place in the social hierarchy are generally content to maintain that position, and are more comfortable and secure.
The degree of self-confidence your dog possesses will guide your behavior. If you've got a timid little one you've got to let him win a few games. But if you've got an adult who's regularly challenging you, he's got to know his place.

There are several subtle ways to teach a puppy its place in the pack:
1) Make him move -- establish territory control. Don't walk around your dog if he's lying in your path - nudge him out of the way and force him to move for you. Similarly, don't allow your pet to go through doors before you.2) No access to furniture unless invited - this is your territory. Being allowed on your bed or couch is a privilege that must be earned (by being well-behaved and house-trained, of course).3) You eat first - in the wild, the pack leader always eats before the rest of the pack. Enjoy your meals, then feed your dog.4) No free rides - the puppy needs to learn that everything in his world is controlled by you, and anything he receives must be earned - including your affection and attention. Ask him to perform simple commands such as sitting before eating, and enforcing the "down-stay" while you clip on his leash.

Exposing your pet to as many people and situations as possible will reinforce his place among humans. Teach him to sit while you're greeting people, and praise him for friendliness. Teach your pet right from the start how to behave around children, and let him know that he is below them in the hierarchy.
If a dog's place in his pack is not determined from the outset, he may eventually challenge you for the leadership position. He can be manipulative, demanding and possibly aggressive. It is difficult to alter this behavior once a puppy has grown, so asserting your place as the "alpha dog" while the pup is young is advantageous. It's also easier to put a pushy puppy in his place than a full-grown adult dog.
Just like humans, all dogs need limits and have to follow rules. One of the keys to a good relationship is respect. Set boundaries, be firm, and offer rewards, including love and kindness. You'll find you'll both be happier.

Home made dog treat recipes

As a dog trainer for Best Friends Pet Care, I do not train with treats. I want them to be consistent by command not by cookie. However that's not to say we can't ever give them a treat. We just need to make them EARN it. Work with them for your training session, get your time and training in and then give them a treat. A treat, not 6 or 7!

As a pet owner, I too give my dogs treats. (not for training!). I would prefer to go as natural as possible. I like to know what it is that's going in to them just as much as the next conscientious pet owner. I've compiled a list of home made dog treats for all discernible tastes. I hope you AND your pets enjoy them. (they make wonderful holiday gifts too, bake up a pan and make up a doggie cookie tray)

Liver Bread
Here is a recipe that's quick, easy, cheap, keeps well, etc. and dogs LOVE it.
· 1 lb of any kind of liver, pureed
· 1 cup of any kind of flour
· 1 cup of corn meal
· 2 Tbsp of Garlic powder (amount optional)
· 1 Tbsp of oil
Puree the liver and mix in the other ingredients. Spread on a cookie sheet or jellyroll pan (I line a pan with foil and oil it). Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. Cool and break in pieces. I divide into bags and freeze. It thaws very quickly or the dogs will eat it still frozen. They care not.

Tuna Training Treats
· 2 6-oz. cans tuna in water, do not drain
· 2 eggs
· 1 to 1 ½ c. flour (rice flour is best, but any kind will do)
· 1 Tbsp. garlic powder · parmesan cheese
Mash tuna and water in a bowl with a fork to get clumps out, then liquefy in blender or food processor. Add extra drops of water if needed to liquefy completely. Pour into bowl and add flour and garlic powder; consistency should be like cake mix. Spread into greased or sprayed pan; I find that a round pizza pan or square cake pan is perfect. Sprinkle with LOTS of parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes; edges will pull away and texture will be like putty. Use a pizza cutter and slice into teeny squares. These freeze beautifully, and the dogs love them...and, no liver to mess with!

Go Bananas Treats
· 3 cups oatmeal
· 1 1/4 cups flour
· 2 eggs
· 1/4 cup oil
· 1/2 cup honey
· 1/2 cup milk
· 2 mashed bananas
Blend liquid ingredients, eggs and mashed bananas, making sure to mix well. Add flour and oatmeal. Mixture will be similar to cake mix. Spread into a well-greased pizza pan and bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes. Cut into tiny squares or strips using a pizza cutter. Keep refrigerated; store unused in freezer. The Scotties give these two paws up!!!

Turkey Treats
· 1 lb. ground turkey (pure turkey, NOT turkey sausage)
· 1 cup oatmeal
· 1 egg
· parmesan (I used 1/2 cup)
· garlic powder
Mix all ingredients together using hands and pat into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cool *thoroughly*, then cut into thick strips (these do not hold together when slicing into small squares); freeze unused portions and keep the portions you're using refrigerated. Has the consistency of meatloaf.

Peanut Butter Treats
· 2 tablespoons corn oil
· ½ cup peanut butter
· 1 cup water
· 1 cup whole wheat flour
· 2 cups white flour
Preheat oven to 350°. Combine oil, peanut butter and water. Add Flour 1 cup at a time, then knead into firm dough. Roll dough to ¼ inch thickness and cut with small bone shaped cookie cutter. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Makes 2½ dozen.

Dog Cookies
· 3 cups whole wheat flour
· 2 small cans dog food or cat food
· 1 egg
· 1 ½ to 2 cups liquid (I make sure it isn't to dry or to wet so you may have to make your own judgment as to how much liquid to use. I also use left over gravy or broth as the liquid).
PreHeat oven to 375 degrees. Stir together all ingredients and drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes. These can be stored in refrigerated and also frozen.
After these are cooled down I cut them into small pieces with kitchen shears then put them in freezer bags and store in the refrigerator.

Fun dog facts

I'm always telling our clients at Best Friends, when working with your dog you need to keep it light and fun. Your pet will learn faster and be more receptive to the learning process if you keep it light. Make it too serious and that turns to stress and then they shut down their brains OR develop *bad habits* out of that stress. In keeping with the *light and fun* business of training, here are some fun dog facts :

Rin Tin Tin was the first American dog movie star and signed his own contracts for 22 movies with a pawprint.

Toto's role in The Wizard of Oz was played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry.

In the late 1800's, Lassie type Collies were known as Scottish Sheepdogs.

George Washington had 36 foxhounds, and one was named Sweetlips.

Former President Lyndon Johnson howled with his favorite dog, Yuki, a stray rescued by his daughter, Luci, at a Texas gas station. He also had two Beagles named Him and Her.

Teddy Roosevelt's pit bull, Pete, once ripped off a French ambassador's pants at a White House event.

Franklin D. Roosebelt once spent $15,000 to have a destroyer return to the Aleutian Islands and retrieve his Scottie, Fala, who had been accidentally left behind.

Davy Crockett's dog was named Sport.

Zorba, an English Mastiff, is the heaviest dog on record, weighing 343 lbs at the age of 8 in 1989.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the smallest dog on record was a Yorkshire

Terrier in Great Britain who, at the age of 2, weighed just 4 ounces.

The longest lived dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was an Australian Cattle Dog, named Bluey, who lived to be 29.

The first living being to travel in space was a small mixed breed dog named Laika, who gave her life orbiting the earth in the Russian Sputnik in 1957.

John F. Kennedy's terrier, Charlie, sired 4 puppies with Laika's daughter, Pushinka.

The Lundehund breed has 6 toes and can close its ears.

Dalmation puppies are pure white at birth.

Chihuahuas are born with a 'molera', or 'soft spot' like a human baby, which usually closes as they mature.

Dogs do not have an appendix.

An adult dog has 42 teeth.

The only sweat glands a dog has are between the paw pads.

A dog's normal body temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

If none are spayed or neutered, a female dog, her mate, and their offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years.

The most successful mountain rescue dog ever was a St Bernard, named Barry, who lived during the early 1800's and saved 40 lives.

A 12 lb Yorkshire Terrier named Oliver once defended an elderly woman from an 80 lb Akita. The woman escaped to safety and the Yorkie survived with only nine stitches.

A German Shepherd guide dog, named Orient, led her blind hiker the entire 2100 mile Appalachian Trail.

The Basset hound made famous in the Hush Puppies shoe commercials was named Biggles.
Biggles' grandson, Mr. Jeffries, earned fame as the dog with the longest ears in the world. His ears measured 11 and ½ inches each and he often tripped over them.

Tia, a 2 year old Neopolitan Mastiff gave birth to the world's largest litter in 2005. She delivered 24 puppies by Cesarean section. Twenty of them survived, setting another record of the most surviving puppies.

The world's tallest dog was a Great Dane from Sacramento named Gibson. He measured 7 feet when standing upright.

Andrew Larkey of Sidney Australia, walked 11 dogs at once on leash for one kilometer.

Twelve veterinary science students from the University of Sydney set a record bathing dogs when they scrubbed 848 dogs in eight hours.

The real hero of the 1925 Serum Run was really Togo. The 12 year old husky led his sled dog team through 260 miles of blowing Alaskan blizzard to deliver emergency diphtheria serum to Nome. Balto received most of the fame because he led the final 55 miles.

The first search and rescue dog on the scene of the World Trade Center disaster on September 11. 2001, was Bear, an 11 year old Golden Retriever. He began recovery efforts immediately, working 18 hour days in the beginning.

Endal, a yellow Lab, helped rehabilitate a Gulf War veteran. He also saved Allen's life, when Allen was struck by a car and knocked from his wheelchair, unconscious. "Endal pulled him into the recovery position, covered him with a blanket and grabbed his cell phone. After no response, he walked to a nearby hotel and raised the alarm.


Courtesy of SUITE101.com