Chicago’s Most Valuable Real Estate
by Roger on June 9, 2010
in Dog Care, Dog Parks, Dog Training, Upcoming Events
- Image by xelcise via Flickr
Chicago’s most valuable real estate is it’s Lakefront. I am so happy that the early settlers & developers of Chicago had the foresight and vision to protect the most precious and irreplaceable real estate, the lake front.
One of Chicago’s official dog parks is Montrose Beach Dog Park, see video to appreciate how dogs and dog owners enjoy a sunny summer afternoon.
A volunteer group known as Mondog, has been very instrumental in helping to keep the beach clean, safe and user friendly. This past Saturday, 6/5/2010 they did a fund raiser/bake sale to collect some money to help with the upkeep and continued improvement of the dog park. Next Saturday, 6/19/2010 there is a volunteer clean up secheuled from 9am to 12pm at Montrose Beach. Again coordinated with the efforts of the Mondog.org group. They could certainly use your help so if you enjoy the beach with your pooch, might be a good idea to give a helping hand, contribute to community and the facility you use. If you don’t have a dog, I suggest you adopt one from a local shelter or just come out to help MonDog clean up our area known as Chicago’s Montrose Dog Beach. Free Parking.
Retractable Leash—A Cautionary Tale
by Marianne on April 22, 2010
in Dog Parks, Dog Training
by Marianne Sackett
Trainers have long argued against retractable leashes because they teach dogs to pull on the lead instead of walking next to you. Vets don’t like them because when you are distracted (perhaps picking up after your dog) you can easily find the dog in the street chasing a squirrel and subsequently getting hit by a car. There are some that argue that their dogs are little and/or it gives them freedom when playing to run around the dog park or other area without being off the leash. I’ve even heard some say that injuries occurred because people weren’t using the leash properly.
Here’s my experience. You decide if you, your children, or your dog is worth using the leash.
It was a friendly interaction between 2 dogs, both under 20#s. Matilda and Dottie were running playfully in front of my home. Matilda was wearing a regular leash, Dottie, a retractable. After we detangled the dogs a number of times, the accident happened: Matilda ran behind my 11 year old son, Dottie followed her. The retractable leash was like a razor cutting the back of my son’s leg right at the spot where your leg bends. The wound was about 1/8″ deep and 6″ long. It wasn’t the type of injury that could be stitched or glued. There wasn’t too much that could be done except keep it clean and immobile since normal walking would cause the wound to open again. It took several weeks to heal.
About a month later, we encountered a young couple walking their small dog with a retractable leash. We kept walking backwards as they approached. They assured us that the dog was friendly. My son said, “We’re not afraid of your dog, we’re afraid of the leash. Those things are dangerous.” They both rolled their eyes and kept walking.
Seeing the damage the leash could do just running against the skin I couldn’t imagine what would have happened if it wrapped itself around any part of my son or either dog for that matter. There are decapitation warnings on the leash for a reason. Here’s a Consumer Reports story about said leash http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2009/03/retractable-leashes-pose-problems-for-people-and-their-pets.html.
Even if you don’t use the leash beware of encounters with dogs who do.
Dogs and People Helping Dogs and People
by Roger on March 15, 2010
in Dog Training
Dogs and People Helping Dogs and People
When it comes to pit bull terriers, Roger Lautt has his own translation for what the letters “PIT” stand for — “Princess In Training.”
That’s how he refers to his beautiful Emma, the pit bull terrier he adopted four months ago after seeing her photo and biography on petfinder.com.
“She’s like the princess of the house,” Lautt says. “I’m doing a little training with her using treats. If it’s not the right treat, she’ll just sort of look at it, compared to Tucker who will eat anything put in front of him.”
Tucker, a Labrador-golden retriever mix and certified therapy dog, is the other canine member in the Lautt family.
Emma might be picky when it comes to treats, but not when it comes to other dogs and people.
“She likes to give kisses and she’s just a cuddly sweetheart,” says Lautt, who decided to get a pit bull terrier after friends told him what great pets they make.
“I’d heard wonderful things about their personalities from friends who have them,” Lautt says. “And there are so many of them in shelters.”
Emma’s friendly nature makes her an excellent candidate for volunteering with Best Friends-sponsored Safe Humane Chicago programs. Emma makes up the dog part of Lautt’s dog and handler team, one of many teams that came to an informal Safe Humane Chicago Meet and Greet event held March 5 at the Windy City K-9 Club, a local pet boarding and daycare facility.
“Emma did really well,” Lautt says. “She’s just a joy to be around.”
The Meet and Greet events accomplish many things, says Cynthia Bathurst, national director of Project Safe Humane for Best Friends Animal Society and principal director and co-founder of Safe Humane Chicago.
“They help determine, with the help of professional trainers and programs specialists, how they (dog and handler teams) might best find a spot for volunteering.” Bathurst says the latest Meet and Greet went “very well.”“We had 23 dogs and 32 people and we expect that almost all of the dogs will be approved pending receipt of vet records and review of their volunteer paperwork.”
Finding the best fit
One of the people observing the dog and handler teams at the Meet and Greet was Best Friends Community Training Partner Janice Triptow, a nationally certified dog trainer with Dog Behavior Solutions in Chicago.
“We observe the dogs in the presence of other dogs and in the presence of adults and children,” Triptow says. “We have to make sure our dogs are comfortable with our target populations.” The dog and handler teams attended an orientation the following day and the next step for them is for the handlers to shadow Safe Humane Chicago programs without their dogs to learn more about the programs. And Safe Humane Chicago has a number of wonderful programs. Kids, Animals and Kindness teaches children proper techniques for approaching and handling animals, about the humane treatment and proper care of animals and why dogfighting and other forms of animal abuse are bad. The Youth Leaders program certifies high school students to mentor their peers and younger children in Chicago’s public schools about kindness and compassion toward animals. The Lifetime Bonds program includes pit bull terrier training in at-risk neighborhoods, presentations for juveniles on probation and dog training for the residents at the Illinois Youth Detention facility in Chicago.
“Lifetime Bonds encourages people to develop bonds with their animals that will last a lifetime,” says Triptow who oversees Lifetime Bonds’ programming.
Lautt thinks he and Emma might like to volunteer with young people at the local detention facility.
“The program that really appeals to me is going into the juvenile detention centers and working with kids there to help them learn how to train shelter dogs,” Lautt says.
Shiela Dietz also attended the Meet and Greet event and orientation. She first heard about Safe Humane Chicago from Stacey Hawk at Hawk City K9 where she does agility training with her dog, Frisco, who was rescued from a puppy mill.
“He was shipped at four weeks from Budapest to Missouri and rescued at six months by the Havanese Angel League Organization (HALO),” Dietz says. “I’ve learned so much about rescue through this wonderful group that I wanted to find a way to give back to my own community. I’m also a former special educator and I appreciate the connection between children and animals through compassion.”
Frisco, whose nickname is “King Baby,” still has a little more work to do to gain the confidence he’ll need to be a Safe Humane Chicago “ambassador dog.” “Frisco is still very timid, and although the work with Stacey has been remarkable in his adjustment and self-concept, he’s not yet a good candidate for work in the program,” Dietz says. “I’ve volunteered to be a facilitator and to work in the shelter dogs manners classes. I’m very excited about Safe Humane Chicago and am looking forward to my future involvement.”
Safe Humane Chicago is all about a community coming together to make itself better, and safer, for all living creatures.
“We’re all responsible for our own safe humane communities,” Bathurst says.
How you can help:
- Read more about all of Safe Humane Chicago’s programs.
- Safe Humane Chicago plans its next Meet and Greet event in early May. For more information, e-mail [email protected]
- Safe Humane Chicago’s programs are helping Best Friends move closer to its goal of No More Homeless Pets. Read more about Best Friends’ No More Homeless Pets campaigns.
Photos courtesy of Priscilla Kienzell, Odessa Cody and Shiela Dietz
January Training Challenge
by Roger on January 17, 2010
in Dog Training
Beginning in 2010, we will kick of our series of the Monthly Training Challenge! January’s inaugural challenge is from Chris Dignan*.
Beginner:
“Go Home” Teach your dog to RUN to a mat on cue.
This behavior is completed when the dog runs to the mat and then automatically goes into a sit or down stay (trainer choice) for a minimum of 10 seconds. Extra points given for adding in distractions and changing the mat location.
Even if you have trained a behavior like this with your dog, do it again! We want a clean cue and a clean history with this behavior.
Advanced:
Turning a distraction into a cue for a behavior: if you have already trained for a go home or go to your kennel, great! Let’s put it to the test. People knocking on our doors or ringing our doorbells can cause some of our dogs to lose their minds at times. What if a ringing door bell signaled an opportunity for reinforcement as opposed to an opportunity to bark and run around like a mad dog?
Your challenge: teach a dog to RUN to their home, kennel or place when they hear a doorbell or knock. The doorbell or knock MUST be the cue for the behavior without any additional prompting. You can buy a cheap, remote doorbell for under 20 bucks.
Dog must stay in a sit or down stay for 1 minute after the cue was given. Extra points given for distractions on this one as well.
*Chris Dignan
Chris Dignan has been a professional trainer since 1997, of dogs and marine mammals alike. He is the founder of the Dog Saving Network, author of several training manuals and the creative influence of Life’s Ruff, a theater production designed to educate the public about the plight of shelter dogs. He was featured last fall on The Nightly News With Brian Williams and is now using his wealth of knowledge and experience to educate the dog-training public at the new DSN Learning Center. Chris lives in the suburbs with his wife Jill, also a trainer, and their four dogs. They are expecting their first child in June.
Dog Saving Network on NBC Nightly News
by Roger on September 15, 2009
in Dog Training
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Yep, that’s Roger for about 2 seconds…. (about 30 seconds in.)
Find out more info about Chicago BasedDog Saving Network here.
Introducing Fido To The New Place
by Roger on August 4, 2009
in Dog Training
After months of searching, you finally found the perfect home, but just how do you make the smooth transition with your Fido?
Here are a few tips that could save your sanity and in some cases your dog’s life…
First, make sure the new place has been thoroughly cleaned of dust, dirt, chemicals and other debris that have been left over from the construction. If this place is not new, remove carpets if the previous owners had pets; if that is not practical, then at least have the carpets professionally cleaned, so that Fido doesn’t walk in and detect the scent left from another animal.
Moving day is always a stressful time, so make arrangements for Fido to stay at a trusted kennel or with a friend. Many a dog has been lost because an owner brought the dog to the new place while the movers were going in and out of the home and Fido decided to explore the new neighborhood, but couldn’t find his way back home.
Don’t forget to change all Fido’s identification, even his microchip, to your new address. Should the unthinkable happen and the poor pup is lost in his new neighborhood, at least there’s a better chance he’ll be returned if your information is current.
Pack all of Fido’s belongings in a separate box, so they will be easy to find when you move to the new place, and unpack them first so that Fido can settle in quickly with his creature comforts.
Make room in one closet for Fido’s essential items. Target and other department stores sell over-the-door coat racks, where you can hang his leashes, a large bag that contains small poop bags, a towel, and even a bag for his toys. It’s also a good idea to have your veterinarian’s information as well as the emergency veterinarian’s, laminated and taped to the inside of the closet door. In an emergency, you may need to access the directions or phone number quickly and can’t always rely on information that you may have stored electronically. Also, it may be the pet-sitter who needs the information and cannot reach you.
Once you’re settled and have unpacked yours and Fido’s belongings, you are ready to introduce Fido to his new place. Regardless if Fido is two years old or ten, treat him like a puppy for the first few days and keep him on a long leash near your side while in the house. This way you and he can explore the house together and you can monitor his behavior. Even a well trained dog who is housebroken, does not always use the same control in a new surrounding, so keep Fido close to you when you’re home, and confined in his crate or room while you’re away.
Keep Fido on the same potty breaks and feeding schedule, even if your schedule has changed because of the move.
Take him around the neighborhood and introduce him to new neighbors and shop owners. Should he accidentally wander off one day, residents are more likely to approach a familiar dog and bring him home to you than a strange dog that may end up in the city pound!
Follow these few tips and you’ll both make the adjustment in no time at all!
