Get Along Little Doggie Blog

New Classes at Houston Dog Ranch!

 

Hi Friends!

It’s Back to School time again!   We are very excited to announce that Get Along Little Doggie is offering two new classes at Houston Dog Ranch.  If you have not seen this beautiful facility, you must check it out:   http://www.houstondogranch.com/

*Canine Good Citizen

  6 Classes

  September 9^th – October 14^th

  7:30-8:30 PM

  $210

 

*Tricks 101 / Fido Fun Games

  6 Classes

  October 5^th – November 9^th

  7:30-8:30 PM

  $210

 

*Both classes will begin at 7:30. However, arrive at 7:00 for 30 minutes of off-leash play time!  Come let your pooch play, run, and burn off some energy before class. Yipeeee!

 

*Class size is limited to 8 dogs per class!

 

*Requirements for both classes:

   -Basic Obedience Foundation

   - Proof of Rabies, DHLPP/DA2P, and Bordatella

 

 

Class Descriptions:

 

Canine Good Citizen

 

Back by popular demand and in honor of Responsible Dog Ownership Day.

The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program was started in 1989 and it is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.

The Canine Good Citizen Program has begun to have an extremely positive impact in many communities. This is a program that can help us assure that the dogs we love will always be welcomed and well-respected members of our communities.

During the first 5 classes, we will concentrate on practicing the 10 test items in order to prepare for the actual CGC test which will be given during the 6^th class. Take a look at the test items here: 

http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm

 Don't let the word "test" scare you away from this great class.  It is really a just another fun activity to do with your dog:  More physical and mental stimulation for both of you!   

Check out this write up from Houston Dog Blog for a review and pictures of our last CGC class:

 http://www.houstondogblog.com/blog/2010/04/isabellas-canine-good-citizen-update-graduation.html

NOTE:  In order to practice in the community, the 5^th & 6^th class (Oct. 7^th & 14^th) will take place at Mid-town Park at 7PM. 

Tricks 101 / Fido Fun Games

This class is going to be a blast!  Now that you have learned the basics, it’s time for some real fun.  Hello Stupid Pet Tricks! 

Not only will we learn some fun tricks like:

 

~Bang! (Play dead)

~Wave (Hi!)

~Take a bow

~Jump

~Spin

~Hustle (Figure 8 through legs)

 

We will also play some hilarious games like:

 

~Musical beds / chairs

~Loose leash relay race

~Doggie Dash

~Hide & Seek

~Simon Says

 

To sign up or for more information, please call:

Get Along Little Doggie: 713.DOGGIE.9 (364.4439)

-or-

Houston Dog Ranch:  713.465.BARK (2275)

 “The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog… When all other friends desert, he remains.

~George Graham Vest

Speech in the Senate, 1884

Cowboy as Art!

"Cowboy"

Look at Cowboy!  I am just delighted with this painting.

Storey Studios’, Cirque de Chien© series definitely tops my “Things I Love” list.

We had the pleasure of meeting Beth & Nathalie Storey when they were displaying their work at last year’s SNAPSHOTS event.  Naturally, I am always looking for doggie stuff to decorate my office and I could not take my eyes off their paintings.  

The Cirque de Chien© series is a fun, colorful collection of images of man’s best friend.  Each piece is an original mixed media creation of Nathalie & Beth Storey.  Their designs start with a layer of watercolor pigment.  Then they layer acrylic paint, oil pastels, india inks, (even fingernail polish!); anything to give the art the color POP they love.  They currently offer designs of more than 30 different breeds and are adding new items every week.

You can purchase collector prints of the many breed designs they have already created, or you can commission a portrait of your very own best friend.  You will send them a couple of pictures of your pooch, have a quick phone consultation, and they will do the rest.  You will not be disappointed! 

Visit their website and Facebook page for more info.

Storey Studios is the creative collaboration of sisters Nathalie and Beth Storey. Natives of Louisiana, both ladies have now established homes in Sugar Land, Texas. In 2008, they joined creative forces to share their artistic visions with the world. Both share a flair for colorful, quirky, and whimsical design. Their pieces are best described as delightfully eclectic. A passion for man’s best friend, the loyal and lovable dog, is also a huge influence in the lives and works of both artists. The sisters have developed a specialty in commissioned pet portraiture.

 

Ridiculously Cute.

Take a Walk in the Air Conditoning!

This is how Get Along Little Doggie's, Mr. Hud,  got his exercise on this sweltering day in Houston.  He actually trotted for about 15 minutes, but we didn't think it was that interesting! Walking on the treadmill is a great  way to wear your dog out physically and mentally.  A tired dog is a happy dog! Hud has been walking on the treadmill for a few years now and is very comfortable on it, but he was petrified of the treadmill the first few times.  He was slowly trained with tons of positive reinforcement and cheese!  When we began training on the treadmill, Hud wore a harness and leash to help guide him and to ensure there was no choking caused by a neck collar.  Now he loves it and will sometimes just go and stand on the treadmill, as if to say, "Let's roll!" It by no means replaces the all important outside walk, but it is a great supplement on hot or rainy days.  If you want to train your dog to walk on the treadmill, remember to take your time and ease your dog into treadmill training.  Take baby steps and build on success.  If your dog panics or freaks out, STOP!  Some dogs take to the treadmill much quicker than others. Also, if your dog is overweight, out of shape, or has health issues, you should consult your vet before adding the treadmill to Fido's exercise routine.  If you feel unsure about it all, contact a professional dog trainer for help. Be safe and have fun!

Time To Eat The Dog?

Last week, I had a client ask me if I knew that owning a dog was worse for the environment than owning an SUV. "WHAT?"  I was flabbergasted.  I decided to do some research and found that all the hubbub stems from a book released in 2009 titled, Time to Eat the Dog, The Real Guide to Sustainable Living by Robert and Brenda Vale.  

I then found the following blog written by Tim Wheeler for the Baltimore Sun and thought it was definitely worth passing along:

To save the planet, keep your SUV, ditch the pets

Do dogs take a bigger bite out of the Earth than gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles? That's the contention of a pair of academics in New Zealand, who figure that a medium-sized dog has twice the eco-footprint of a Toyota Land Cruiser.

In Time to Eat the Dog, the real guide to sustainable living, Robert and Brenda Vale calculate that it takes roughly 2.1 acres to produce all the meat and grains consumed by a typical medium-sized pet pooch in a year, compared with about an acre needed to produce the energy burned in the SUV. 

The pair, architects who specialize in sustainable living at Victoria University in Wellington, don't just pick on dogs, but go after all pets as another form of conspicuous consumption that's taking a toll on the planet. They suggest those who care about living sustainably but just can't live without a pet consider sharing one with others.  Or, they add, get pets that serve a dual purpose, of companionship and food, like say, hens.

Hmm, our two Corgis better watch out.

For more on this, go here and here.

Obviously, all of this set my wheels turning.  Whether the theories are true or not,  there must be ways that dog owners can do their part for Mother Earth.  The following is a blog about my favorite idea yet:

Dog Poop Composter!!  (Be sure to watch the video below for a visual guide!)

By Annemarie Conte, Plenty magazine

My boyfriend had argued for a rottweiler. I lobbied for something that weighed a more manageable 30 pounds and didn’t look like it snacked on children. (Rotties can be very sweet, I know, but I also wasn’t into the uncontrollable drooling.) We compromised and found an adorable, 45-pound mutt at a local shelter. Honey has a yellow lab body with a pit bull head that looks like it was screwed on by a mad scientist. Actually, she is totally adorable and not at all mutant-like. Though nowhere near the scale of a rottweiler’s waste, Honey’s poops are still considerable and, needless to say, unavoidable.

I started getting the newspaper delivered around the same time we got Honey, and because our paperboy insisted on double bagging on even the driest of days, our porch was overrun with yellow plastic sleeves. After a few weeks of grabbing one from the growing pile and using it as a pooper-scooper, I returned home, sunk the knotted-up bag of dog waste in the trash can and felt overwhelmingly guilty.

I was taking a natural product that would eventually degrade on its own and encasing it in plastic. In an airless landfill, my dog’s waste will outlive her. (Hell, it’s gonna outlive me.)

I wish I could get all renegade and tell people to leave the poop where it lies, but a) this isn’t Paris, b) that will make people hate you and hate all dog owners by extension, and c) dog poop is actually really dangerous. Dogs carry E. coli, salmonella, and giardia, among other nasties, so when you just leave the poop there to rot, the rain can wash it into rivers, streams, and oceans (beaches have been closed across the country due to contaminated water caused, in part, by dog doo). So, my moral quandary became: Do I doom it to a landfill or directly contribute to unsafe swimming conditions? My choice was neither, and that’s how I ended up as the crazy lady who composts dog poop.

Turns out there are a few commercial composters out there, like the Doogie Dooley, but since I feel my $89.95 could be better spent on squeaky toys and treats, I decided to make one myself for less than ten bucks. All of the credit goes to Sharon Slack, head gardener of City Farmer at Vancouver’s Compost Demonstration Garden. She’s been doing this for more than twenty years on her own, so I called her up and shamelessly mined her for wisdom after poring over the slide-show instructions on the City Farmer website.

Sharon tells me to pick an area with porous soil that doesn’t have a high water table and is at least fifteen feet from my garden, due to the aforementioned contamination issues. Since my basement threatens to flood every time there’s a chance of thunderstorms, I assume I’m okay on the water table front. (And I realize I’m lucky enough to actually have a backyard, unlike some of my apartment-dwelling friends, who refer to their fire escapes as the “lanai,” a la The Golden Girls, to make themselves feel better about their lack of outdoor space.)

1. I choose a flat patch behind the garage, then grab an old, plastic garbage can, cut out the bottom, and drill drainage holes in the sides. While I do that, I try to convince my boyfriend to dig a can-sized hole, but he refuses, saying, “this is your project.”

2. After I’m done digging the hole, I sink the can into it, the top just above ground-level, and add rocks to the bottom for drainage.

3. At last, it’s time to throw in the dootie I’ve stored in 100 percent biodegradable BioBags (get ‘em on the company’s Web site; there are other bags out there that are sold as biodegradable but aren’t).

4. I add in a can of septic starter I bought at a hardware store, then enough water to soak the whole mess. I stick a lid on the thing and ignore it unless I’m depositing a BioBag, an armful of grass clippings, or more septic starter to keep breaking down the mess.

5. In time, Sharon tells me, I should have a nice, rich soil to spread on my non-edibles (go figure–bacteria-laced compost should be limited to decorative plants since it’s not so great for your veggie patch). The whole thing took me less than an hour, which I suspect will make it among the fastest and easiest eco-friendly changes I’ll ever test-drive. What’s the hard part? Teaching Honey to poop directly into the composter.

WATCH THIS:

"Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends."

~Alexander Pope

In Time to Eat the Dog, the real guide to sustainable living, Robert and Brenda Vale calculate that it takes roughly 2.1 acres to produce all the meat and grains consumed by a typical medium-sized pet pooch in a year, compared with about an acre needed to produce the energy burned in the SUV. 

The pair, architects who specialize in sustainable living at Victoria University in Wellington, don't just pick on dogs, but go after all pets as another form of conspicuous consumption that's taking a toll on the planet. They suggest those who care about living sustainably but just can't live without a pet consider sharing one with others.  Or, they add, get pets that serve a dual purpose, of companionship and food, like say, hens.

Hmm, our two Corgis better watch out.

For more on this, go here and here.

Obviously, all of this set my wheels turning.  Whether the theories are true or not,  there must be ways that dog owners can do their part for Mother Earth.  The following is a blog about my favorite idea yet:

Dog Poop Composter!!  (Be sure to watch the video below for a visual guide!)

By Annemarie Conte, Plenty magazine

My boyfriend had argued for a rottweiler. I lobbied for something that weighed a more manageable 30 pounds and didn’t look like it snacked on children. (Rotties can be very sweet, I know, but I also wasn’t into the uncontrollable drooling.) We compromised and found an adorable, 45-pound mutt at a local shelter. Honey has a yellow lab body with a pit bull head that looks like it was screwed on by a mad scientist. Actually, she is totally adorable and not at all mutant-like. Though nowhere near the scale of a rottweiler’s waste, Honey’s poops are still considerable and, needless to say, unavoidable.

I started getting the newspaper delivered around the same time we got Honey, and because our paperboy insisted on double bagging on even the driest of days, our porch was overrun with yellow plastic sleeves. After a few weeks of grabbing one from the growing pile and using it as a pooper-scooper, I returned home, sunk the knotted-up bag of dog waste in the trash can and felt overwhelmingly guilty.

I was taking a natural product that would eventually degrade on its own and encasing it in plastic. In an airless landfill, my dog’s waste will outlive her. (Hell, it’s gonna outlive me.)

I wish I could get all renegade and tell people to leave the poop where it lies, but a) this isn’t Paris, b) that will make people hate you and hate all dog owners by extension, and c) dog poop is actually really dangerous. Dogs carry E. coli, salmonella, and giardia, among other nasties, so when you just leave the poop there to rot, the rain can wash it into rivers, streams, and oceans (beaches have been closed across the country due to contaminated water caused, in part, by dog doo). So, my moral quandary became: Do I doom it to a landfill or directly contribute to unsafe swimming conditions? My choice was neither, and that’s how I ended up as the crazy lady who composts dog poop.

Turns out there are a few commercial composters out there, like the Doogie Dooley, but since I feel my $89.95 could be better spent on squeaky toys and treats, I decided to make one myself for less than ten bucks. All of the credit goes to Sharon Slack, head gardener of City Farmer at Vancouver’s Compost Demonstration Garden. She’s been doing this for more than twenty years on her own, so I called her up and shamelessly mined her for wisdom after poring over the slide-show instructions on the City Farmer website.

Sharon tells me to pick an area with porous soil that doesn’t have a high water table and is at least fifteen feet from my garden, due to the aforementioned contamination issues. Since my basement threatens to flood every time there’s a chance of thunderstorms, I assume I’m okay on the water table front. (And I realize I’m lucky enough to actually have a backyard, unlike some of my apartment-dwelling friends, who refer to their fire escapes as the “lanai,” a la The Golden Girls, to make themselves feel better about their lack of outdoor space.)

1. I choose a flat patch behind the garage, then grab an old, plastic garbage can, cut out the bottom, and drill drainage holes in the sides. While I do that, I try to convince my boyfriend to dig a can-sized hole, but he refuses, saying, “this is your project.”

2. After I’m done digging the hole, I sink the can into it, the top just above ground-level, and add rocks to the bottom for drainage.

3. At last, it’s time to throw in the dootie I’ve stored in 100 percent biodegradable BioBags (get ‘em on the company’s Web site; there are other bags out there that are sold as biodegradable but aren’t).

4. I add in a can of septic starter I bought at a hardware store, then enough water to soak the whole mess. I stick a lid on the thing and ignore it unless I’m depositing a BioBag, an armful of grass clippings, or more septic starter to keep breaking down the mess.

5. In time, Sharon tells me, I should have a nice, rich soil to spread on my non-edibles (go figure–bacteria-laced compost should be limited to decorative plants since it’s not so great for your veggie patch). The whole thing took me less than an hour, which I suspect will make it among the fastest and easiest eco-friendly changes I’ll ever test-drive. What’s the hard part? Teaching Honey to poop directly into the composter.

WATCH THIS:

"Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends."

~Alexander Pope

Puppy Won't Come When Called?

Try these tips from dog training legend Patricia McConnell:

 Ah, life with a new puppy! We have a 14 week-old Border Collie pup named Hope at the farm, and what better reminder of the importance of “talking to your dog” with your body! We’ve been working hard on teaching him to come when called by giving him lots of positive reinforcement for running toward us when we say That’ll Do.” (The classic herding dog handler’s phrase . . . you might have heard it in the movie Babe?). As soon as his head turns toward us we reinforce his attention by running away and letting him chase us, by laughing and clapping and giving him lots of yummy food treats when he catches up.

However, we noticed that Hope was much more responsive to me than to my partner Jim, even though Jim was doing a great job of giving Hope treats and chase games when the pup came running. I put on my “field observer” hat, and paid more attention to our behavior. Sure enough, I soon realized that if the pup showed the slightest hesitation to leave something that distracted him (and there’s always a lot of that any time a pup is outside, right?), I bent at the waist and snapped my fingers or clapped my hands at the level of the pup’s head. With very rare exceptions, this caused Hope to move away from the distraction and come to me.  Good puppy!

This makes sense when you think about it. First of all, imagine life through the eyes of a puppy. If you’re able to, get down on your hands and knees and look at the world from the level of your dog’s eyes—boy does it look different! When we call a dog to come our faces and hands are often far above their level of vision. It makes sense that our movements have more impact if we make them at eye level. Don’t you pay more attention to things directly in front of you?

In addition, the movement of bending down contains a compelling message to a dog. When dogs want to play, they bend forward to each other in a “play bow,” a signal universal understood to mean “let’s have fun!” No wonder they respond it when you bend down! Of course, you have to be at least 5 feet away from them for it to look like a play bow to your dog; if you are closer it’s more like looming over them, which can be scary for some pups.

The next time your pup, or full grown dog for that matter, looks at you as if she’s pondering whether to come or not, try bending forward, clapping your hands at her eye level and then moving away so that she is stimulated to chase you. Is it going to work if your dog is about to chase a squirrel? Very doubtful! But it might be just enough to “talk” a dog into coming when called if she’s on the fence!

Top 10 Reasons to Take Your Dog to Work

Just a Dog?

A $40 Gift Certificate Giveaway!

I was so happy when CSN stores contacted me with this giveaway offer. CSN is a large online store that literally has everything.  Whether you are looking for a bedroom vanity, an espresso machine, or a new grill for Dad, you can bet they have what you are looking for.  The great thing about the $40 gift certificate is that you get to choose what you want to spend it on. 

But let's face it, if you are a Get Along Little Doggie fan, you probably want to head straight to DOG STUFF. I happen to love the designer pet dens:  A beautiful end table and dog crate all in one.  Brilliant!  

For a chance to win the $40 gift certificate from CSN stores,  just leave a comment.  If you "like" Get Along Little Doggie on Facebook, let me know and I will enter your name twice.  The winner will be contacted by email in one week.  Dog Bless!

"In the whole history of the world there is but one thing that money cannot buy- the wag of a dog's tail"

~Henry Wheeler Shaw ("Josh Billings")

Stephanie Bennett

Certified Canine Trainer & Behavior Specialist

Professional Dog Training in Houston, TX

GetAlongLittleDoggie.net

323-573-0727

Become a fan of Get Along Little Doggie on FACEBOOK!

Laugh out loud today.

The Best Gift You Can Give Your Dog Today.

A new fancy bed?  A couple of the newest, trendiest doggie toys?  Maybe her very own sundress custom made just for her?  Forget it.  That kind of material stuff may make us humans happy, but honestly,  your dog could care less.

The very best gift you can give your dog today is a walk.  That's right a simple evening walk covers most your dog's daily needs and desires.  

• Mental stimulation
• Physical exercise
• Bonding and communicating with YOU.

You may have the biggest, most beautiful house with the biggest, most beautiful backyard in the neighborhood.  But as far as your dog is concerned, it is still just four walls.  She wants to get out into the world and socialize, stimulate her senses (it's all about the nose!), and just be a dog.

I'm not talking about miles and miles of treachery. If you only have time for a quick 20 minute walk around the block, that will suit her just fine.  Even a short walk is better than no walk at all. Every morning and every evening is best since dogs are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk).  Of course,every owner should adjust the walk to their dog's individual needs and of course, the weather (especially during the Houston summers). 

We can all agree that a tired dog is a happy dog.  Insufficient exercise can contribute to problem behaviors including destructiveness (chewing and digging), investigative behavior (garbage raiding), hyperactivity, unruliness, excitability, attention-getting behaviors, and sometimes, barking.  

If walking your dog is an unpleasant experience due to pulling, leash aggression, etc. Consider hiring a professional trainer to help you.  Your dog will love you for it.

Neither dogs or humans are meant to be couch potatoes. What's good for her is good for you! Dog walks are good for your health, heart, and soul. Tie a pink bow to her collar and see how many smiles you get and how many new friends you make.  Or better yet, try walking 6 dogs at the same time!

             From XL to XS and everything in between!

“If your dog is fat, you aren’t getting enough exercise”

~Unknown

Stephanie Bennett

Certified Canine Trainer & Behavior Specialist

Professional Dog Training in Houston, TX

GetAlongLittleDoggie.net

323-573-0727

Become a fan of Get Along Little Doggie on FACEBOOK!