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October 18, 2002 - Volume 29 Materials in this newsletter are the sole possession of the authors and Dog Company. Correcting Bad Habits - Now ! As life long canines and a professional dog trainer's dogs, we want to share with you the smartest way to train your dog and that is to correct bad habits now! You've probably just got a new pup or there's an older dog that you want to create a bond with. Or the dog you already have needs to understand the rules and things aren't going as you had planned. Let's face it; the last thing you need complicating your life is a canine delinquent. Relax! Let's face it; life can be hard. However, the pressure is off because you have just made the first step into getting things on track. We believe that all dogs have the right to an education and you, the dog owner, have now made the decision about training with your dog. Dog school is for both of you. We will teach you sensible humane ways to deal with undesirable actions. Your dog needs to understand just what it is you want from him/her. Both ends of the leash need training. All that said ....take a deep breath and relax, we can help. We will teach you practical ways to turn your dog into the family member you've always wanted. From the basics to the ultimate, we'll give you the tools you both need to smooth out those rough spots. We will keep you both on the straight and narrow with street walking (legal kind), trail walking and problem solving techniques so you can go everywhere, anytime, together. We teach by example - by going with you and doing all the things together that you will want to do with your dog. From Obedience to Dog Sports, Tricks, and dog behaviours, it is always about building a positive and trusting relationship. School and learning should be fun, interesting, an adventure and a positive experience. It's the best way to build a bond of trust and respect for each other. As the handler, you owe it to yourself and your dog, to be worthy of being looked up to. If you have a dog club or a group of friends who want something just for them, we do interactive seminars too! Yes, we do go the distance; we have done seminars all over Canada and the U.S. and are on two Talk shows on a regular basis ..."In the Dog House" (New York/New Jersey) and Pet Talk America (California). Call us at (250) 656-1659 or visit our website www.dogcompany.com Woof....Peni, "Sweep" & "Poutine" ^..^~~!
Classified Wanted: Your 'articles', your 'For Sales', your 'Want Ads', your birthday wishes, your letters to Mam'selle.... your names, your..... ????? By Wed. Oct. 30 .... for the next Woof, please...... mtpeard@shaw.ca Wanted: Hi ! My name is Zak and I am interested in purchasing a large crate for myself. I am a big guy - 90 lbs of quivering, furry-love. Call me at 370-7727 .......Dave or Tena take my calls for me! Lost: Beagle, partly blind, hard of hearing, neutered; answers to the name of Lucky. Call XXX XXXX. Wanted: Looking for a new furry companion - a quiet, well behaved female poodle who would make an excellent friend for an older lady. Lots of love available. Please contact Peni at 656 1659
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Boowoooof.........."Treat or Treat!" This is a reminder that Halloween is not all that much fun for most of us dogs. Fireworks start a few weeks prior and last for weeks afterwards, so please, keep us on leash. The loud sudden noise scares us and hurts our ears. Those ghosts, goblins, Spiderman and Good Lord knows what else, are pretty frightening; with the masks and flying clothing, no one looks or sounds like they should. They are all strangers. I hear you say to me, "You know these kids - be nice!" I try to show you by lunging or jumping or barking, "Are you kidding me ! These don't look anything like the those kids!" Do you listen? NO ! You laugh and keep giving them all treats! It happens every year you say, but that's way too infrequently because we only remember how scared we were when it first came about! Please keep us on our leashes so we can't bolt and run away out of fear! Put us in a safe quiet place while the Ghouls are at the door.....way too much stimuli for us canines. Trying to force us to "Get used to it" will not work! Kids, listen to your parents: don't eat anything till you get home, don't go with strangers and wear clothing that can be seen in the dark and carry a flashlight! Watch for cars! Don't run across streets. Look before you cross and please hold your parent's hands.......we dogs think you kids should be better leash trained. Woof ... Poutine ^..^~~!
Woofs of Wisdom Don't make the mistake of treating your dogs like humans, or they'll treat you like dogs.
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ASK MAM'SELLE Dear Mam'selle, Dear Curious Corgi: Our chances of getting testal cancers and breast cancer increases as do many other health problems. Those of us who will live long and healthy lives are all getting "fixed". This is a very good thing! You will just have to take it easy for the first ten days after your operation. Then it's a great, long, healthy life ahead!
Did You Know?
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Neo's Big Adventure I think I have one of the most incredible baby-sitting tales to tell. My mum and dad went on a trip to Europe and they left me with my favourite aunt, uncle and two cousins. My aunt and uncle are just starting to build a house and everywhere you look, there's mud. This is one of my favourite things to play in. I love going to their house; it's great. Not only is there lots of mud, there's an underground spring and everything gets really mucky. I have so much fun playing ball with my uncle. On this one day, my uncle and I were playing fetch with my ball; he'd throw the ball down the hill and I would run through all the muck and dig my head into it to try and find my ball. A long time later when I was covered in mud right from my tail to my ears, my uncle decided that he was going to take me to the beach to get me washed off. The day before he tried to wash me off with the garden hose but I hate that spitting snake thing - it really scares me. I was so dirty there was no way I was allowed in the cab of the truck so I got to go in the box of his pick-up truck. I was really excited about this because I had never ridden in the back of a truck without being in my crate before. My uncle told me to lie down and stay there. The beach was only a 5 minute drive away so uncle figured that I would be okay back there. My mum and dad would have been so proud of me because I lay down the whole way. Once we got to the beach, I ran into the water and washed off all the mud because I love to chase logs and sticks, too. I got really tired and clean, so uncle decided it was time to go home. Once again I got to ride in the back of the truck. This was great - the wind was blowing all around me and drying my fur. I sure looked and smelled good. On the way home, my uncle saw some deer in a field and he slowed down to take a look. Boy oh boy, I sure get excited when I see other animals to play with. Then I heard a sound like this, "Baaaa baaaa." I think that these animals are called sheep and they were on the other side of the road. I looked from the deer to the sheep and I couldn't decide where to look. I got so excited, I started bouncing around in the back of my uncle's truck! I slipped on the bed liner and fell right out of the truck onto my left hind leg.. I tried to get up but I couldn't move. I really thought something was wrong now. My uncle came running out of the truck and picked me up out of the ditch and put me back in the truck. Boy, is he ever strong. I'm a big girl and he picked me right up with no problem. I think he was really worried because he quickly got me back to his house and called my auntie to come look at me. The next thing I knew I was put into my auntie's truck (inside this time) and taken to the doctor. The doctor took pictures of my leg and told my auntie that I had broken my leg really badly. My mum always told me that if you're going to do anything, then you should do it well. I really don't think she meant I should break my leg this well though. The doctor had to put a steel plate in it and everything. I had 23 staples too. I had to stay over night at the doctor's for three whole nights. I got to wear this funny hat just like my mum did at this party once. It was really funny - it looked like a lamp shade. When I got back to my auntie's house, they sure took good care of me. They didn't let me walk either. I tried to play but it really hurt, so I learned to lie still. Even going to the bathroom was really uncomfortable. My aunt wasn't strong enough to carry me down the stairs to go outside, so she put a big towel around my tummy and held up my hind legs. Finally, my mum and dad came home and I was so glad to see them. My tongue got sore from giving them all the kisses I could. My mum is such a push over; I tricked her all the time, pretending I couldn't go up and down stairs. But my dad is very smart; he knew right away that I could do almost anything I could before, just more slowly. I broke my leg on April 30th and just now, I can say I'm almost better. I had a little set back though. I got really sick and almost died. My temperature went so high that my head started to shake and everything. The emergency doctor told my mum that I had a bad infection where I broke my leg. My mum worked really hard helping me to eat and drink with a pointed thing called a syringe. But now I'm almost all better. I think the best part of all this is all the EXTRA love and attention I got from everybody. The worst thing was when my fur started to grow back and it was so itchy, that I had to rub on anything and everything. I will always remember all the care and love my aunt and uncle gave me but I will never get into the back of a pickup truck without being in my crate. Remember, breaking your leg isn't all that it's cracked up to be. * Dog Note:
Phydeaux Phun Q: What is it called when a mixed breed dog talks to itself?
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The Sporty Dog Beat It's that time of the year, folks. Soon, Mom will set the clocks back an hour and it will be getting dark really early in the evening. For a black dog like me that can be kind of dangerous. Mom and I like to walk along our street. It is narrow, has no sidewalks and the kids use it for a drag strip. Mom and I take special steps so we are visible in the morning and at night when we go for walks. Mom and I have safety vests. You know the ones with the reflective stripes. Mom keeps our vests by the front door next to her jacket. So, every time it is dark out, I get my vest put on. I like the vest 'cause it doesn't get in my way. I can still run, jump and most important of all.....do my business. So to all my doggie and people friends out there...be especially careful when walking after dark. Make sure you have visible clothes. A vest for you and your people will make you visible. If you need vests, just talk to my Mom or Peni. They tell you where to find doggie and people safety vests. So be careful out there. I gotta go. It's time to put on my vest and go for a walk. Jazz "The Visible Black Locomotive"
What's in a Name? Lady MacBeth.... for a dalmation (Out, out, damned spot!)
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Tips & Tales by Miss Trouble When I first came home with Mom, I was just a baby and not too much good for anything except being cute and cuddly, and that was my main job. But as I've grown up, I've learned that like all us fur faces, I've got real jobs to do. One of the most important jobs any pup can have is to look after the house, whether your Mom and Dad are away or not. Now, being very creative, I've broadened that looking after to include the houses on both sides of us as well. On days when I'm left alone, as soon as Mom and Dad leave, I report in to Aunt Jessie to let her know I'm on duty, and to Uncle Jack on the other side as well. They often pay me in advance. I patrol all three places and keep an eye on which cars come and go, making sure to greet anyone who happens to come back home. Keeps me hopping from one place to the other sometimes. Being on duty to look after the house doesn't end when your folks are home. They need to be told when some noise happens outside, or you hear a car, or a plane, or a boat or the wind or... you get the picture. I get Mom's attention pretty quickly if I start to talk to her but sometimes, I don't even have to bark. Just standing at the window, staring out fixedly, will get her attention and get her to look... it's fun to do that when there really isn't anything out there. Another job that's important is being a vacuum cleaner in the kitchen. Seems like there are always some little bits and pieces that fall to the floor and need cleaning up. I find that under the table is the best spot; seems like some cookie crumbs are always lingering around there. A really special job that I get sometimes is being the prewash cycle for the dishes; a word of caution here though, if you happen to get that one. Don't try washing the dishes that are in the dishwasher; I did that once when the door was open and Mom not looking.......my collar got stuck on something and the first thing anyone knew was the dish tray was on the floor and there were dishes all over the place. That was kind of scary so I've not ever tried that again. I've got a few other jobs as well, like alarm clock for the mornings, foot warmer at night, or people finder. Whatever your size or nature, be assured that you can find lots of jobs to do for your people and they'll be very appreciative. HRH Trouble (athlete with attitude)
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