Listen as Sherry Mers, founder of “Angel Service Dogs,” talks about her organization and how it helps people with serious allergies get matched with dogs that can recognize allergens and warn their person.  Some of these dogs, for example, are trained to sniff out anything “peanut,” in order to protect children with the peanut allergy.  Sherry’s “Angel Service Dogs” participates from puppy raising, to training, matching dogs to people, and assisting with financing.

Be sure to vote in our on-line poll:  “How Does Your Dog Show Affection for You?”

Did you have some ideas for the two breeds that make up Dante’s DNA?

Dante, a mixed breed dog, belongs to Dr. Stacy Fuchino, of the P.V. Village Pet Clinic in Redondo Beach, CA.  A few weeks ago, we made a deal with MARS Veterinary Services to give Dante their “Wisdom Panel Mixed-Breed DNA Test.”  Then, last Wednesday, Dr. Fuchino met Dr. Angela Hughes, an advisor to Mars Veterinary Services, to find out the final results.

Dr. Fuchino had guessed one half of Dante’s dog breed puzzle — miniature poodle.  But he was stumped about the other half.  The result from the MARS Wisdom Panel Mixed-Breed DNA test:  Papillon.

So, Dante’s personality is a blend of miniature poodle and papillon.  According to the AKC,  “carrying himself proudly, very active, intelligent, the Poodle has about him an air of distinction and dignity peculiar to himself. Major fault: shyness or sharpness.”

The other half, the papillon, according to the AKC, is “happy, alert and friendly. Neither shy nor aggressive.”

So, the puzzle solved, Dr. Fuchino says, “Now I know why Dante is always bouncing off the walls; it’s the papillon!”  Knowing this will change the way I feed him.  It will also change the way I manage his health and his exercise.  Actually, we’re going to start some agility work right away, because papillons need a lot of exercise.”

Listen to the interview with Dr. Fuchino and Dr. Angela Hughes, from MARS Veterinary Services:

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.  You are his life, his love,  his leader.  He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.  You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.”    Anonymous quote, from “51 Puppy Tricks,” by Kyra Sundance.

You will want to hear Kyra Sundance tell how to train your puppy!  Learn Kyra’s specific techniques and how to teach your puppy the “Ring a Bell to go Outside” trick.

Liz Palika, award-winning author, dog trainer and pet expert talks about her new book, “Puppy Love,” on the “My Doggie Says…” radio talk show.  Liz also discusses her approaches to dog training.

Click here to see Liz’s other books; she is a prolific writer about dogs!

The “My Doggie Says…” show helps listeners gain a deeper appreciation for “Man’s Best Friend.” The show is broadcast live from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights, on KFNX 1100, Phoenix. It is streamed live on www.1100kfnx.com. Host Fred Haney interviews dog whisperers, dog trainers, authors of dog books, and experts on all aspects of dogs and dog behavior and dog nature. The show is also available as a podcast on iTunes. Go to the iTunes store, click on “Podcast,” and search for “My Doggie Says…”

Check out the dog-relationship books written by all of the authors who have appeared on the “My Doggie Says…” show.

Grisha Stewart talks about her award-winning dog training school in Seattle, WA — and the ahimsa philosophy of “non-violent” dog training.

The “My Doggie Says…” show helps listeners gain a deeper appreciation for “Man’s Best Friend.” The show is broadcast live from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights, on KFNX 1100, Phoenix. It is streamed live on www.1100kfnx.com. Host Fred Haney interviews dog whisperers, dog trainers, authors of dog books, and experts on all aspects of dogs and dog behavior and dog nature. Listen to past interviews at www.mydoggiesays.com/blog/. The show is also available as a podcast on iTunes. Go to the iTunes store, click on “Podcast,” and search for “My Doggie Says…”

Because of Jamie’s (the heroine of “My Doggie Says…), gentle dog nature, my granddaughter Lauren had a wonderful relationship with her.  Check this out:

In the above photo, Lauren is about one year old.

Now, Lauren is almost five years old, and her sister, Amelia, is almost three.  And they are trying to learn how to get along with Callie, a two-year old puppy who has a wonderful doggie nature but is so rambunctious she scares Lauren and Amelia at times.

It’s been a bit of a struggle to have the girls around with Callie off the leash, so we enlisted the dog training help of Brian Lee, an expert and experienced dog trainer (who appeared on the “My Doggie Says…” radio show on March 18, 2009).  In one session, Brian helped Barbara and me “adjust” our relationship with Callie in order to command a little more “doggie respect.”

Then, Brian brought his dog whispering skills to Lauren and Amelia.  He helped them have more confidence around Callie — and to know how to react to Callie’s enthusiasm.  And he taught Callie to be calmer around the girls and that their “stinkies” (security blankets) and snack food are “off limits.”

After the session with Brian, Callie’s Golden Retriever dog nature came to the fore, and she performed like a champ.  This one-minute video shows Callie playing soccer with Amelia (who had been afraid of Callie) and then both Lauren and Amelia in our Jacuzzi with Callie bouncing around the edges.

Thanks, Brian!  You worked a miracle for us!!!  It was a great example of dog behavior modification.

Dr. Emily Weiss, Senior Director, ASPCA Shelter Behavior Programs, appears on the “My Doggie Says…” radio show and describes the ASPCA’s “Meet Your Match” program, which helps dog and puppy shelters “match” dogs and puppies to owners (sort of like eHarmony). The program helps owners select dog breeds and specific dogs that will best match their personalities.

The “My Doggie Says…” show helps listeners gain a deeper appreciation for “Man’s Best Friend.” The show is broadcast live from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights, on KFNX 1100, Phoenix. It is streamed live on www.1100kfnx.com. Host Fred Haney interviews experts on all aspects of dogs and dog ownership. Listen to past interviews at www.mydoggiesays.com/blog/. The show is also available as a podcast on iTunes. Go to the iTunes store, click on “Podcast,” and search for “My Doggie Says…”

If your puppy is like me (I’m two years old now), it probably has some pet peeves. It’s hard for dogs to express themselves, but if you really pay attention you might be able to figure out some things that bug your pup. Here are a few of my Puppy Pet Peeves:

Short leash
Here’s one that just drives me nuts. Ever notice how many dog owners pull their dog’s leash real tight when another dog comes along? Why can’t people just trust us dogs to work things out? As soon as that leash tightens up, the dogs gets a message from its owner, “I’m afraid of this other dog.” So their dog gets real defensive and protective. C’mon. Give us dogs some credit, will you? We’re probably better than most people at making new friends, sniffing out (if you know what I mean) they lay of the land, and getting along peacefully.

Getting left home
I know there’s nothing to do about this one, but I really don’t like to get left home alone. There are times when Fred and Barbara both have to go their work. Then don’t usually leave me for very long, but it means I have to go back in my cage. It’s soooooo much better when I can hang out in Fred’s office, take a nap on the futon, play with Fred a little, and go where I want around the house.
When Fred says “No” to playing soccer with me
I can never understand why Fred doesn’t always accept my invitations to play soccer in the back yard. I just love to play soccer with Fred. So I poke my nose through the opening in the sliding glad door to the back yard. And Fred knows that’s my way of inviting him to play soccer with me. But sometimes he just walks right on by to get a cup of coffee or go back to his office. Why can’t we just play soccer for about eight hours every day?

How come I’m the one who always remembers my jumping rock and my jumping bench?
When I go on my morning jog with Fred and Barbara, I have a few places where I get to jump up and sit for a minute. One is a tall flat boulder by the post office. Another is a wooden bench on the golf course. I’ve got Fred and Barbara trained to give me a little piece of puppy treat when I jump up on the boulder or the bench. But lots of time Fred and Barbara forget about my jumping places. So I have to drag them over to remind them. I guess it’s not a big deal, because they usually remember (finally!), but why can’t they always remember? Humans must have funny memories that don’t work as well as dogs’ brains.

No divots?
Everyone knows that dogs like to eat a little grass. It can even be good for our tummies — sometimes.  And we live right across the street from “Grass Heaven” – a golf course with an occasional divot that is just perfect bite-size for a puppy like me. I snatch these little suckers every chance I get, but Fred and Barbara try to pull me away from them with my leash. So I keep working on being a little faster and sneakier. I can snatch a divot faster that John Wayne could draw his six-shooter. But it’s getting harder all the time. Hey, guys! What would be so bad about a little perennial ryegrass divot once in a while?

Why do I have to keep learning how to swim?
Every time Fred and Barbara take me swimming, it seems like I have to learn all over again. I wade in until the water gets deep, and then I back up to the shoreline, because I’m not quite sure how to handle the deeper water. Fred keeps throwing my “Floppy Disc” farther out, and, pretty soon, I have to swim to get to it. Why can’t they teach me to swim once and for all, so I don’t have to keep going through this learning thing? It’s a pain in the doggie tail, if you know what I mean.

Why can’t I chase those cute little animals with the black and white tail?
Sometimes at night I see little critters in the back yard, and I bark my brains out to warn Fred and Barbara about these guys. There are some funny grey animals that pretend they are dead when they hear me barking. And there are some guys who look like bandits, with black masks over their eyes – and fluffy tails with rings and circles all around. And then there are black and white cat-looking animals with long black and white tails. I sure wish Fred would let me go out and chase them sometimes.He says they’re skunks.

Give yourself the Puppy Pet Peeve Test and see if you can figure out some of the things that upset your dog. It will help you have a better relationship.

Bye for now,

Callie

Callie is the first dog we’ve crate trained, so I didn’t know what to expect — especially after the crate had served its purpose of helping housebreak Callie. Some people said, “She will continue to use her crate, but I couldn’t imagine how. Now, I’m beginning to understand.

Callie’s crate training went as well as we could have hoped for. It was her place to eat, so she wasn’t going to soil it. Perfectly simple theory — and it worked, with only one or two small accidents when she was just a few months old. She quickly learned to go outside to go potty, and to “squeak,” if she needed to be let out.

Callie is perfectly housebroken now. So there’s no need for the crate any more; right? Well, not exactly. If we leave Callie at home alone, we still put her in her crate — mostly to protect her from herself. We probably won’t always do that. But, aside from that, Callie’s crate has taken on a life of its own.

When we’re around the house, Callie’s crate door is propped open, so she’s free to enter the crate or leave it. She still gets most of her meals there, so it’s a special place in her mind. It also houses her water dish, which she visits frequently. And her puppy pad. So she has good reasons for visiting her crate.

But it’s also become Callie’s own storage place for favorite things. It’s now the home of about a dozen balls of all different kinds. It is frequently the home of “Stinky,” Callie’s little stuffed puppy security object — upon which she sucks quietly almost every night before falling asleep.

Once in a while, Callie manages to steal a sock from me or Barbara. She knows she’s not supposed to do that; you can see the guilt on her face. So when she does it, she runs immediately into her crate and deposits the sock toward the back. She obviously thinks her crate is off limits to people.

It’s neat that Callie likes her crate and thinks of it as a special place. Once in a while, she even goes into it and lies down for a few minutes, knowing that she will be able to walk out when she wants to.

A dog’s crate is its castle!

Pet Sitters International created a neat thing; they created national “Take Your Dog To Work Day.” It’s today — June 20, 2008. Here are a couple of links to articles about “Take Your Dog To Work Day.” K9 Magazine. National “Take Your Dog To Work Day.” Big Wag Gourmet Bakery. “Take Your Dog To Work Day.”

Actually, more and more companies are becoming dog-friendly and allowing employees to bring their dogs to work. You can read about it here. Most of these places have some pretty strict guidelines, such as 1) dogs have to be on the leash, 2) dogs need to be well-behaved, 3) three strikes and your out, 4) owners are expected to clean up, and 5) some rooms (like the cafeteria) might be off limits.

Callie, my 17-month old Golden Retriever puppy, has learned to be pretty calm when she’s allowed to hang out around my office. This morning, I went to her crate, opened the door, and said, “Hey, Callie, it’s national ‘take your dog to work day.’” Callie grunted approval and followed me into my office. Then she made a tight u-turn, went back to her crate, and retrieved her “Stinky,” her favorite stuffed puppy security object. She sat down beside me and proceeded to suck gently on “Stinky.”

After a while, she got tired of “Stinky” and went to her crate to get one of her Nylabones, which she also loves. So Callie’s having a very successful “Take Your Dog To Work Day.”

Be sure to tune into the “My Doggie Says…” radio show on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. MST/PDT. It’s broadcast live on KFNX 1100 in Phoenix and streamed live over the Internet. (Go to the KFNX web site and click on the “Listen Live” button in the upper right hand corner.)