Skip Needs Surgery – Please Help and Pray

Skip sitting so proud!

Skip sitting so proud!

My Italian Greyhound, Skip, is needing surgery for a large hemangioma on his back leg & a few small ones, on his chest.
Please click on the link below to learn more about our need & then you can pray that we will be able to raise the funds needed for his surgery.
http://www.gofundme.com/SirSkips-a-lot
Thank you so much for praying & giving.
Kathy & Skip

Metaphors Matter: What Are Your Metaphors?

This article mainly applies to horse training, however, it is equally applicable to dog training & training any animal for that matter. If you can wade through the behavioral science parts, this article really is a good explanation on how & why the following techniques work so well: clicker training, positive reinforcement training, the use is treats/rewards, back chaining & especially your own mindset.
Metaphors Matter: What Are Your Metaphors?.

Exercise vs. Recreation & Our Perceptions

Exercising & stretching, for me personally is like taking unpleasant medicine or eating a particular vegetable that I may not be fond of but, “it’s good for me”. I equate exercise with discomfort, out of breath, boring, & sometimes painful.
I do enjoy walking, hiking, climbing, softball, biking, swimming. But if one was to ask me to do these things as exercise, I immediately get into a “stubborn” mode & the things I may like doing have now just become “work” or “drills”. What’s the problem? It’s perception of is it “fun” or is it “work”? Is it “recreation” or is it “exercise”?
The point I’m trying to make is how we perceive something affects how we actively participate in something. If we perceive training, exercising, stretching as something akin to work & drudgery then we will be less likely to stick with it unless forced to do so. If on the other hand we perceive something like, learning tricks, going to a wonderful destination, playing games, camaraderie of companions, relaxation & massage; then not only do we look forward to participating we are more apt to do these things more often.
This applies to dogs as well as people. If training times with your dog become a time of being in a military school filled with repetitive drills, abrupt commands, and all “work” and no “play”; you and your dog will not look forward to this time together.
So get creative, what are some ways you can think of to make training fun for both you and your dog?
Recently at a doctor checkup, my doctor encouraged me to exercise more. I think he saw the scowl that immediately appeared on my face. So then he suggested Yoga or Tai Chi and go slow with these things. He also suggested walking more.
All I could think of was, walking in my neighborhood is no fun & at times can be stressful for various reasons. But change of location, along a river or a creek, along a beach, through a forest, up a mountain, in a park all can transform “exercise” into “recreation”. And what can make this even more enjoyable is bringing my dogs along!
I use outings with my dogs as an opportunity to train some fun into our ordinary “drills”. Looking for trees or lines, or objects that I can have my dog heel in creative patterns in, through & around, over & under, zigzags, weaving, hide-n-seek, playing fetch, and so much more. In all these fun activities simple commands can be put into the mix: sit, down, come, stay, wait, up, over, off, leave it, stand, etc.
Now, when you’re all done & ready to relax. Spread out a big blanket and stretch out your tired muscles very slowly. Now is a great time to stretch your dog too!
Here’s a great video to get you started on how to stretch your dog. This guy has a total of 11 videos on how to stretch the various muscles in your dog. He also has some for people too! It looks so very relaxing and not only will you feel great your dog will benefit so much from the stretching but it deepens the bond you share with your four-legged friend!
Enjoy this YouTube video: ” “The Other End of The Leash -Dog Stretches”
Okay whose going to give me a massage now. LOL!

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NO AGILITY CLASSES

There will be no agility class starting in June until I get location & schedules worked out. Things are changing & the drought is & may be a factor this summer. I will update as soon as I can. But for now Agility classes are on hold.
In the meantime, we are offering a variety of other classes. As soon as I can confirm classes locations & dates I will notify the entire “Dogdom”.