BlueDog Gets CPR and First Aid Certified!

Here at BlueDog, we want to do the very best we can to keep the dogs that we walk safe and happy! That's why this past Saturday BlueDog attended a class held by the American Red Cross to become certified in dog & cat first aid and CPR!

We learned how to recognize a distressed dog, tend to and bandage a wound, and perform CPR on a dog and cat!

Not only was it a very educational event, but a lot of fun as well! So of course, the camera came along with us and we took some pictures of our learning experience : )

Kaila performs CPR on a cat!

Lauren's learning how to save a dog's life!

I give a thumbs up, looks like this dog is saved!

Logan "scans the scene" before performing CPR on a cat.

Lauren shows off my bandaging job!

Logan practices bandaging a wound on her "dog" Kaila! : )

We had a fantastic time and now BlueDog is certified in CPR and first aid! So as much as we hope that we'll never need to utilize our new knowledge, we will be ready if we have to!

Vacationing Strays

Every once in a while, even a dog walker finds the time to enjoy a vacation. And that's exactly what I did over Thanksgiving week! I packed my bags and headed down to the Caribbean with my family.

It's easy to say that the lifestyle on the islands that we visited are very different than the lifestyle in North Andover, MA! And that's not just for us two-legged inhabitants, life for dogs in the Caribbean can be a little less glamorous than our spoiled pups. I saw plenty of stray dogs laying along the streets, as well as dogs with collars walking around without a leash, or tied to a car. Most females looked as if they had a number of litters of puppies...apparently spaying and neutering dogs in the Caribbean wasn't the trend!

However, there was something different about the stray dogs compared to the dogs that I walk back at home...and I'm not just talking about the fact that they didn't have a warm roof over their heads. These dogs were well behaved!

Ok, before I go further, I'm not saying that the dogs that I walked are BADLY behaved. But, even my two girls will jump onto a guest or beg at the kitchen table once in a while. And plenty of dogs pull on the leash. It happens!

But while in the Dominican Republic, I watched a young dog, tied to a truck, lay patiently for his owner. No crying, no pulling, no barking. Just laying patiently. If Reese were tied to that truck, boy would she make a fuss! So why doesn't this dog do the same, as his owner sat nearby at a booth selling jewelry and tourists walked back and forth?

The blame goes to us. This dog has been conditioned. His owner doesn't spoil him and see him as a family member like we do our pups. So when the dog cries, or is unhappy being tied to the truck, he just doesn't care. He doesn't go over to comfort his dog or give him a Kong to keep him busy or take him for a walk. He ignores the pup, so the pup learns that crying does no good. He might as well just lay down and take a nap.

There was another dog that I saw at a beach in Tortola. The beach was filled with beach chairs and tourists swimming, playing, and lounging. This dog plopped herself right in the center of the beach and took in the sights. When she saw someone eating some food, she politely walked closer to the person and sat patiently. She didn't beg directly, didn't jump on him, didn't try to grab the food out of his hands. And he gave her some food.

But what if the stray did try to grab his food, or jump onto the guy? He would not be happy! He'd shoo her away, and she would not get any food. Most tourists aren't going to bother to cater to a stray dog that's being a pest. But...if they were back at home though and their lovable little maltese was barking and jumping for a piece of a sandwich...the case may be different!

So perhaps these strays can teach us a lesson or two. They certainly seemed content with their lives, though I'm sure a haircut on the stray at the beach would do her good! And a warm home and loving family beats living on the streets. However, what they have that many of our dogs don't have, is rules, expectations, and structure. They behave because they benefit from the behavior, and because misbehaving gets them nowhere. Our dogs misbehave because we put up with it, deal with it, and cater to it!

I guess maybe I should had brought Elsa and Reese on my trip to learn a thing or two : )

Pet Dogs vs Show Dogs

Pet dogs versus show dogs (A little humor)

Pet dogs raid the garbage. Obedience dogs are very food motivated.
Pet dogs shed. Show dogs blow coat.
Pet dogs are in heat. Show dogs come into season.
Pet dogs run around the house. Show dogs show tremendous reach and drive.
Pet dogs stand. Show dogs stack.
Pet dogs get a bath. Show dogs are groomed.
Pet dogs beg for treats. Show dogs animate for bait.
Pet dogs jump the fence. Obedience dogs demonstrate problem solving intelligence.
Pet dogs bark at other dogs. Agility dogs show excitement before showing.
Pet dogs are hyper. Show dogs are high-drive.
Pet dogs steal socks and laundry. Show dogs show natural retrieving ability.
Pet dogs find and chew up their owners’ shoes. Show dogs are practicing scent articles.

- Author unknown

SuperZoo 2009

On September 15th, 2009, my husband, Chris, and I packed our bags and took a flight out to Las Vegas, Nevada for the 2009 SuperZoo pet industry tradeshow! Having both previously working at PetEdge, a pet supply manufacturing company, we were not strangers to these remarkable shows. Filled with the latest and greatest products in the pet industry, the shows are geared towards pet store owners looking for ways to improve their stores. In additional, doggie daycare owners, groomers, and dog walking businesses attend the show to increase their knowledge of the industry and find ways to expand their businesses.

Back when we were at PetEdge, Chris and I had to work the PetEdge booth. We would talk to people as they walked by and looked at our products. But we could never walk around the show! Every excuse I had I'd try walking down a different row to take a peek at all of the new products...dresses and costumes for small pups, beer for dogs, canned food that was sampled...to people! But I only got a glimpse of all of that and used to dream of being the business owner who could walk the floor looking for ways to better my business.

Flash forward a couple of years and there I am!

It felt amazing walking that floor as a business owner and I was able to spend all the time I had to look at new products and see where the industry is going. I saw Magic Color, a dye used to color dogs. There was Out of the Box, a card game filled with training games for you and your pup. A bottle cap that you put on your water bottle so that your dog can take a drink. And lots and lots of new dog foods....dehydrated foods, frozen raw foods, organic foods...you name it, they had it! What I enjoyed seeing the most were all of the interactive toys that are now available to keep our pups busy and thinking. With a little busy body of a dog at home (Reese) I know how wonderful those toys can be. Not only that, but all of my client's dogs are home alone until I show up, these toys would just be wonderful to keep them occupied while no one's home!

What was even better about the show were the informative seminars held everyday. Boy did I learn a lot about customer service, management, and running a successful business. I couldn't wait to get home to work on improving my business!

And on top of all of that, we were in Vegas. I had never been! What an amazing city. My feet were tired and sore after walking the trade show floor all day but that didn't stop us from exploring the city at night. I can't say I'm any lucky in the casinos...but I had fun regardless!

What an amazing trip we had! And how lucky I am to be on the other side of the show...walking around as a business owner, with a supportive husband who is just as excited as I am! I learned so much about the pet industry and all of those new products that are available for our lovable pups. I have the luxury of working in one of the best industries I can...I mean, who doesn't love their dog?? I'm very excited for BlueDog's future...there are BIG things to come!!

Tops Dogs of All Time

Happy Anniversary AKC!

In celebration of 125 years, the American Kennel Club has posted the top 10 most popular breeds of all time. Congrats to the Collies!!

Top Dogs of All Time

Sugar-Free Gum and Snacks Can be Deadly for Pets - Paw Nation

Sugar-Free Gum and Snacks Can be Deadly for Pets - Paw Nation

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How's Your Dog's Short-Term Memory?

Recently Chris watched a show discussing the intelligence of dogs. Unfortunately, I missed it. He did his best (in a guy sort of way) to fill me in on the interesting stuff (I bet it was all interesting!)

The part that he thought was the most amusing was a short-term memory test given to the dogs. It's simple enough. They showed the evaluator in a room with a dog with a handful of treats. She showed the dog the treats, then proceeded to hide them while the dog watched. Under a couch, on top of a table...easy to find but somewhat hidden. She made sure the dog saw her place each cookie. Then she took the dog into another room and distracted it for 30 seconds by playing with the dog or practicing some basic commands. At the end of the 30 seconds she let the dog back into the room with the cookies.

The concept is that if the dog finds the cookies, he has a good short-term memory. The less he finds, the worse his memory. Well, Chris and I couldn't resist testing our own two girls. They watched as I hid a couple of cookies in the living room, then we headed to the kitchen for 30 seconds of playtime.

Anxiously, I brought them back into the living room...hoping to prove that Elsa and Reesie are two very bright girls with amazing memories! Well...not quite. Upon entering the room, both girls began sniffing around...so they must've remembered that cookies were in there! Reese found one cookie, gobbled it up, and began sniffing some more while Elsa just sniffed. But it didn't take long for both girls to lose interest and find better things to do.

One more try! I was sure that my girls must be able to remember after only 30 seconds where I hid the cookies! This time Reese sniffed briefly and then looked at me for further instruction. Elsa seemed more intent on finding something to eat and did manage to find one cookie, searched some more, then gave up.

So lesson learned...my girls don't have good short-term memories! Apparently a short-term memory isn't necessary to win obedience titles : ) Try it out, how's your dog's short-term memory??

Way To Go Reesie!!

Congrats to Reese for passing her AKC Canine Good Citizen test (on her second try.) My smart little girl has learned NOT to bark, and was perfect throughout the entire test : )

Why Touch?

I had mentioned in a previous post about the benefits of clicker training with your dog. Now for a trick that not only creates a game for your dog, but also provides a number of additional training opportunities!

The trick is "touch." It's simple enough, you teach your dog to touch something with his nose. Start by holding a clicker and a couple of treats in your left hand, out of your dog's reach. Put your right hand out, palm facing your pup. Likely, he's going to go straight for your right hand, checking it out. When he does, click the clicker and give him a treat. Once again, put your right hand out, when he goes to sniff it and touches it, click and treat. Keep doing that, and if he loses interest, simply help him out...make your right hand interesting by moving it towards or away from him. Continue over and over again, it takes lots of repetitions for a dog to fully understand what you're looking for. Once he gets 99% consistent, add your cue and say "touch" before you put your right hand out. Click and treat as you had been before. It's a great trick to practice at anytime...even while you're on the couch watching tv!

Once he understands the trick, there's lots you can do with it! If you have problems with your dog getting distracted on walks, bring a clicker and treats with you. If you see another dog approach, put out your right hand and say "touch!" Click and treat! Make it fun so that he's interested in the game...put your hand high, low, behind your back. Make that pup work for it! Try it when someone comes over the house to distract him from greeting and jumping up on your visitor.

You can also teach him to touch other objects besides your hand. Something as simple as a tupperware cover or paper plate. Hold it in your right hand and the clicker and treats in your left. Start like you had when you began the trick....put it in front of him, click when he touches it. It won't take long for him to realize it's the same game you had played with your hand, so you can quickly add your cues. Now hold it lower, "touch," click and treat. Lower and lower, until you place it on the ground. If he gets confused, help him out as you had before...hold it higher or make it fun by moving it around. Once he understands to touch it on the ground, you can start moving it! One foot away...two feet away. Make it a game, how far can he go! Once he gets that, if you have a dog that doesn't like to go into the crate, teach him with touch! Put your plate into the crate and tell him "touch!" When he goes into the crate and touches the plate, click! When he returns to you give him a treat. Good boy! Play that game and suddenly the crate doesn't seem so bad to him!! You can do the same in the evening when you want him to settle. Put the plate on his bed and tell him to touch. Start clicking only after he's touched the crate and pauses on the bed. Longer and longer. Once he's standing on his bed for a while after touching the plate, you can add a second cue, "settle."

Making the game fun and interesting will make it easy for your dog to learn. And be creative with what you can do with it! It opens up a number of opportunities to expand your dog's training while making it fun fun FUN!

Albert Payson Terhune Quote

"Soon or later, every dog's master's memory becomes a graveyard; peopled by wistful little furry ghosts that creep back unbidden, at times, to a semblance of their olden lives."