Bite prevention for kids

Something I found on the net and wanted to share with everyone. Dog bite incidents are very often in the news but not how to prevent them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and the American Veterinary Medical Association, most dog bite victims are children, and most bites are by the family pet or another dog known to the child. More dogs are euthanized for behavior issues, including biting, than any other cause. 


We can help children and dogs by teaching kids and families how to read dog body language and act safely around dogs. Promoting clicker training as a hands-off way of building a bond of love and respect between child and dog is an excellent approach.

Doggone Safe is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to dog bite prevention through education and to dog bite victim support. More: http://www.doggonesafe.com/

Trees are boring to dogs. Be a Tree and a dog will just sniff and then go away. When was the last time you saw a dog chasing a tree?

Be a tree in any of these situations:


A strange dog comes near you (even if he seems friendly).


Any dog is making you feel uncomfortable, worried or scared.


A dog is chasing you.


Your own or a friend's dog is acting too frisky or excited.


Count in your head to the highest number you know and then start back at 1 again until the dog goes away or help comes.


Most dogs do not intend to scare or bite people, but they do like to investigate new people. Most dogs will chase a person who runs and will get more and more excited the more the person runs. Shouting or screaming is also exciting to dogs and can frighten some dogs. Being still and quiet is the best way to show a dog that you mean no harm and that you are not going to play with him or threaten him.

Links: Tools for Dog Bite Prevention Week 2008 by Joan Orr

Move to music class was a huge success

We had a 2 hour long session with dance instructor Hayley Austin who showed us some dance moves and helped us to express ourselves to the music. Every one went home with loads of tips and new dance steps. We are now all excited about putting the new steps into our routines. We also had a small session with our dogs which was great as we could put all new steps into practice together with the dogs.

Special thanks to Adrian Long who was so kind to pick Hayley up and take her to the hall.

Violet & Sheep

What a hard life!

Wizz - lazing about
You can see that our dogs really have a hard life......I would nearly feel sorry for him! :-)

Training day at Kings Green Farm, with Andy Nickless

Saturday 10th April Adrian and I went sheep herding with Rogue and Violet. We had a seminar with Andy Nickless, that was organised by the Midlands Border Collie Club (all pictures by Di Savage).

Adrian and Rogue

Andy giving some tips

"This is what you need to do with the stick Adrian", and Rogue just kept working....no need for a stick she thought, I know what to do!

"No daddy, noooooooooooooooo! I don't want to stop, there are sheep here and they need to do as I tell them!" :-)

Andy explaining what he wants and walking with Hetty.

Violet nicely behind the sheep and driving them on a straight line. 
If only this was possible with our own very naughty sheep.

Working on their own with the sheep while Andy had a comfort break.

Violet keeping a bit more distance from the sheep.....very nice.

We both learned a lot. I think Adrian got a bit more confidence after this day and is even more motivated and I really was able to work on my out run with Violet. We have met some new people and made some new friends. We are already looking when we can go back for another lesson of Andy as he is really really good!

I think Andy liked our doggies and the whole day was just perfect!! Beautiful surroundings, sunny weather, fantastic organisation of the day, superb training, what more can you wish for......Well actually....yes one thing: to go back and take my 2 boys (Wizz & Koda) with me as well for another lesson!!!

All pictures above were taken by Di Savage. Thank you Di for these wonderful images of a perfect day!

Dog Walk

Alan and Adrian are putting the rubber granules on at the moment. The middle part is already finished! I think it looks fantastic!

Can't wait to try it out. It looks sooooo good!

  

cross posted - stuffed toys

WARNING FOR ALL DOG OWNERS - RE CHILDRENS TOYS FOR DOGS

Last night at agility class, a vet, who is a fellow agility student was telling us about a case she had this week. The dog ate a child's teddy bear and was very sick. When she opened the dog up to remove what she thought was an intestinal obstruction she found a huge gelatin type mess inside and the dogs intestines were black and the tissue dead. The dog will die no surgery can fix him up there was no living intestine left from stomach to colon.

This was not an obstruction, so she called the manufacturer of the Teddy Bear on a quest to find out what the gel was and what killed the dog. Turns out the stuffing in children's toys contains ingredients for flame retardants and mite control! It is designed to be come a gel. It is highly toxic. Now you would think a child's toy would be safe because it is for children, but they don't expect a child to eat the stuffing of the toys.

So do not give or buy your dog any children's stuffed animals. Maybe some children's toys do not have this ingredient, but better to be safe then sorry. So meanwhile, make sure all your dog toys are for dogs.
Please pass this on...... it is a horrible death she described and one that can be avoided.

Doctor Who Milan 2010

We are on Italian television:  petmania.tv Hope you enjoy it!

First agility lesson

We had our first agility lesson at the field last night. The weather was good and we had enough light to train by and also long enough. All doggies did really well. By the end of the evening the dogs were able to do a little sequence of jumps and a tunnel, touch a tile, touch a tile while on the contact trainer with their hind legs and their front legs on the floor (2 on 2 off) and they have made a start on the V weaves. I was really pleased with the result! Hopefully on the second or third lesson we can introduce them to a proper dog walk and then slowly move on to the other contact equipment.


Well done everyone!!!

Busy weekend.....

Adrian has been mowing the grass at the training centre today and I must say it is starting to look really good. The jumps arrived today and we already saw the dog walk. It needs another coat of paint and rubber granules on the top. But should be ready by the end of the week :-) In the following weeks we will get the A frame and see saw as well. Tomorrow is the first agility lesson but we have plenty to work on with the jumps, tunnel and weaves!


The clippers arrived as well so we can shear the sheep soon as well. That will be an adventure on it's own as neither of us have ever sheared a sheep. But I have helped lots with grooming dogs in a salon and some of the poodles that come in the salon have never been brushed so their coats are very much like a sheep I guess....:-)))))


And now....just having a chill out on the sofa with Adrian and the doggies.....Life is good!

Silly sheep....




Happy sheep.....

Move to the Music Class with dance instructor

On 15th April Hayley will come to our Dog Training Centre to give a Move to the Music class, especially for our Heelwork to Music and Freestyle group. We hope to improve our dance steps and it should help to make the routines flow and give the routines the feel and appearance of a dance. I really look forward to this evening!

Agility classes are starting next week

After hard work at the field getting everything ready, we are starting with our first agility class on Tuesday. The week after we will also have an agility class on Monday evening. It's all very exciting to see the club grow more and more. This weekend we will pick up some of the new equipment. It's made to the European standard and the contacts will be covered with a special anti slip layer of rubber granules.

Competition results so far this year

January 2010 - Wizz and Hetty performed their Dr Who routine at the Rugby HtM competition and got a second place in intermediate freestyle. They have now moved up into the advance freestyle class.

March 2010- Wizz and Hetty performed to Sing Sing Sing at the Findon downs HtM competition and got a first place in novice heelwork to music.

Judges' comments: Good variety of HW and paces, Nice, Good routine, Moved well around the ring, Nice team

March 2010 - Koda and Hetty performed to Mission Impossible at the Findon downs HtM competition and got a second place in novice heelwork to music. It was his first competition.

Judges' comments: Nice young dog - good attitude, Would like a little more drive in some positions, and try not to rush him - smooth things out, Good content, Nice close leg positions, Nice happy handling, Good change of pace and interpretation

March 2010 - Megan and Rogue did a fantastic freestyle routine in special beginners. It was their first competition.


Judges' comments: Nice variety of moves, Well executed, Good timing, Good attention, Try to move out a little more to engage the dog, Good left work, Try removing the treats from her nose, Walk out with confidence, Nice dance moves, Nice team attitude, Very good range of moves, Well done, Close HW very good, Good interpretation, Move out a little more, Great little routine

Demo in Milan, Italy, January 2010

dr Who - Hetty and Wizz (Detania The Wizz Kid BH, FS N ex, FS I Ex, Htm St Ex)