This past weekend, I quit eating long enough to take in the new Muppet Movie. It's appropriate that I saw this over Thanksgiving Weekend - it's a real turkey.
I have been a fan of the Muppets since the 70's. The old Muppet Show was lively, clever, and had lots of great cameo appearances by all kinds of stars. Unfortunately, this movie has only one of the three.
The movie starts slowly - the early song and dance numbers are slow and have little life. Of course, that comment pretty much sums up my thoughts about the whole movie - there's just no energy to the production. Much of that is the fault of the human cast. Jason Segal (Marshall from "How I Married Your Mother") is such a bland, vanilla character that I pretty much just fell asleep every time he opened is mouth. Amy Adams is very cute, and provides what little spark there is in this movie. She can sing and dance, and is always an appealing character. Unfortunately, there's only so much she can do, and for much of the movie she just stands around on the edge of the crowd, looking kind of embarrassed. The villain, played by Chris Cooper, is fine - he's just not very funny.
The human characters, of course, are never the stars in a Muppet Movie. As much as it pains me to say it, the Muppets are a big part of the problem here. In previous movies - not to mention in the TV show - they were real characters, with vivid personalities, including their own special quirks. This bunch were just animated puppets. Where was the interaction between Kermit and Miss Piggy? For crying out loud, Miss Piggy only hit one person! Gonzo didn't have enough death-defying stunts, and even Animal didn't go nuts. It was like the whole bunch were on tranquilizers.
The plot was OK, as far as it went. Gary (Segal) and Walter are brothers, except of course Walter is a Muppet. Walter's a huge fan of the Muppets, and becomes involved in the quest to save their theater from destruction. The rich, evil villain gets his in the end, and Gary, Mary (Adams), and Walter live happily ever after. All this is fine - it's what's NOT in here that matters.
Where is the conflict between Kermit and Piggy? How about a little something between Mary and Kermit - wouldn't that work to make Piggy jealous? Piggy is a wonderful charachter - maybe my favorite Muppet - who doesn't do anything in this movie. If nothing else, it would give us a little more of Amy Adams (never a bad thing), and give Kermit a chance to connect with her as well as the audience. There's a big block of the movie spent of rounding up the old gang, but nothing much happens, and what does happen just isn't funny.
Finally, after what seems like forever (it's actually only 98 minutes), comes the "show within the show". This is the best part of the movie. It's ALMOST as good as the old TV show - plenty of gags, tons of celebrity cameos, some decent music. It's not great, but it is pretty good, especially compared to the rest of the movie. Unfortunately, it's not good enough to make up for the last hour of pain.
If you, like me, are a great Muppet fan, do yourself a favor - instead of seeing this movie, go find a copy of the original Muppet movie, or the old TV show.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Take a Hike (or at least a walk)!
My dogs get a walk or a run 6 days a week, almost regardless of the weather conditions - snow and cold aren't a problem, but I do draw the line at hard rain and/or thunderstorms. When I'm getting ready to go each morning, I'm always amazed at what a big deal it is to the dogs. You'd think, since they go so often, that it would be just their normal routine, eliciting no great response. Not so! If I put on my shoes and sweatshirt, and head for the door, the tails are wagging uncontrollably, and both dogs are prancing around the room like I just offered them a pound of hamburger.
Every dog I've ever had has loved going for a walk. If you don't do anything else with your dog, teach him to sit, and take him for a walk every day. If you do those two things, you'll likely have a happy dog that is a pleasure to be around. Most of the common complaints about dogs can be solved - or at least minimized - by regular walks:
OK, so now you're convinced your dog should get a walk every day, right? Now you just need to know how to do it. Keep in mind that walking nicely on a leash is a different skill than walking at Heel. Heel is an obedience command, and requires the dog to be in precisely the correct spot throughout the exercise. When you're out walking with your dog, you don't need precision - you need your dog to be under control, not pulling, and not underfoot.
Small dogs need very little training to walk on a leash. They should walk to your side, and not be underfoot. Since they're not strong, pulling isn't a big problem, but pulling may lead them to trip you up. Many people don't bother to train a small dog, and few even take them for a walk. Both of those are mistakes, in my opinion. An ill-mannered small dog is obnoxious.
It is vitally important to train large dogs, of course. When walking, it is physically painful to be pulled constantly by a big, strong dog. I don't feel it's necessary for a dog to walk at heel at all times, but he should recognize that you are in charge of the walk, and walk at your pace.
Teaching your dog to walk nicely isn't hard, but you have to be more stubborn than your dog. You also need to use an appropriate collar and leash. I don't believe in "Flexi" leads (a long, retractable leash) for training large dogs to walk. You may be able to safely use one after he's trained, but they're dangerous with an untrained dog. I prefer a simple 6' lead, with a good, heavy duty snap.
For a collar, you should choose something appropriate for your dog's strength and temperment. For many dogs, a pinch collar (also called a prong collar) is a great tool. The pinch collar looks like some kind of midieval torture device, but it does not cause pain for the dog when used correctly. With many dogs, the pinch collar is not needed. You can use a snug-fitting leather or nylon collar, a choke collar, or a Martingale Collar (kind of a hybrid between a standard buckle collar and a choke collar. The Martingale is a limited-slip collar, so it's a little safer for your dog. Of course, the biggest safety factor for your dog is between your ears. You've got a brain - it is your job to make sure you don't choke your dog or damage his neck using excessive force.
I'm not a fan of the "Gentle Leader" harnesses. They are uncomfortable, and I'm concerned about the torque that can be applied to the dog's neck. I'd rather use a pinch collar, and make sure I'm not going to injure my dog. If you've used these and like them, that's fine.
Regardless of the type of collar you use, when you're teaching your dog to walk nicely, you need to show him that he needs to pay attention to you. To accomplish this, just walk along and, if your dog is ignoring you, pulling, or dragging back, switch directions. Don't tell him, just do it. If he's pulling really hard, just stop. You don't need to jerk the leash - the dog will provide all the force. When he realizes you're not moving, he'll stop and look back at you. He'll probably take a couple of steps back toward you. As soon as he learns to pay attention to you, he won't jerk the leash. Sometimes, when my dog is distracted, I'll walk in circles. She has learned that when I do that, she has to keep an eye on me to avoid reaching the end of the leash. My attitude is, "Oh, too bad you got jerked! Too bad you weren't paying attention!"
It's easy to get lazy after you've got your dog trained. I frequently find myself putting up with Cassie pulling a little more than she should. Sometimes, you just need to go back and give them a little refresher course. Once they've learned, it's easy to reinforce it again. You'll know you've succeeded when you can't change directions and catch your dog.
Years ago, when Charlie was new to us, I stopped home at noon to take her for a walk. We had worked really hard at walking nice, and Charlie was doing well. I had on my work clothes, so we were strolling slowly around the block when we passed a woman working in her yard. As we went by, she looked at my dog walking sedately by my side and said, "Wow, that's an old dog!" Charlie was young and healthy at the time - we had gone for a 4 or 5 mile run that morning, and she had handled that fine. I explained to the woman that she wasn't old, just well-behaved. I'm sure she didn't believe me.
One more thing - keep your dog on a leash! If your dog will ALWAYS come when you call, and you're in an area away from traffic, people, and other dogs, I don't see a problem with taking your dog off the leash. In any other circumstances, it's extremely irresponsible, not to mention illegal, to walk without a leash. I always look at it this way: If your dog won't stay constantly by your side during your walk, he needs to be on a leash. If he does stay right by you the whole time, he might as well be on the leash. It's not fair to put your dog's life in peril just so you can show off how well-trained your dog is.
I can't stress it enough. Your dog will do almost anything for you - don't you think you can do this for him? Put on his leash, and take a walk. If you're not in shape, just go around the block. He won't care, and you'll find that both of you will look forward to the next walk tomorrow.
Every dog I've ever had has loved going for a walk. If you don't do anything else with your dog, teach him to sit, and take him for a walk every day. If you do those two things, you'll likely have a happy dog that is a pleasure to be around. Most of the common complaints about dogs can be solved - or at least minimized - by regular walks:
- Hyper-activity. Many dogs end up in the shelter because they "just won't settle down". They're always "in your face", begging for attention, licking or mouthing you, pacing, etc. I have big dogs that could tend to be very active (a lab and a lab/husky mix). Even a short walk (1/2 to 3/4 mile) in the morning is enough to settle them down. A long 2 to 3 mile walk will have them napping most of the day.
- Chewing. No, a walk won't completely stop a puppy from chewing. Many dogs, however, are destructive because they're bored. A walk, unlike time in the back yard, exposes your dog to many stimuli. This mental activity works for the brain just like the physical activity of the walk to keep your dog satisfied most of the day.
- Barking. All dogs will bark from time to time. For me, I can handle a dog who barks at the mailman, or when someone comes to the door. My dogs will sometimes bark at me if I come in the wrong door. The thing that's hard to take is when a dog just stands in the yard and barks non-stop, at nothing in particular. Like chewing, many dogs bark from boredom.
- Fear or aggression. These are often the same thing, and while a daily walk won't cure a dog of fearful or aggressive behavior, it will very likely help. Exposure over time will tend to desensitize your dog to the triggers. Our lab, Cassie, still reacts poorly at times to seeing strange dogs on a leash, but her behavior is much less extreme than in the past, and at times she will not react at all. Even more important, a pup that is taken for a daily walk from a young age will not tend to have an adverse reaction to new or strange situations.
- Health issues. If you feed your dog enough, he'll be fat (kind of like people). Daily exercise will, however, make him - and you - more fit. Not only will your dog live longer, he'll likelier have a happier, healthier life if you give him a walk every day.
OK, so now you're convinced your dog should get a walk every day, right? Now you just need to know how to do it. Keep in mind that walking nicely on a leash is a different skill than walking at Heel. Heel is an obedience command, and requires the dog to be in precisely the correct spot throughout the exercise. When you're out walking with your dog, you don't need precision - you need your dog to be under control, not pulling, and not underfoot.
Small dogs need very little training to walk on a leash. They should walk to your side, and not be underfoot. Since they're not strong, pulling isn't a big problem, but pulling may lead them to trip you up. Many people don't bother to train a small dog, and few even take them for a walk. Both of those are mistakes, in my opinion. An ill-mannered small dog is obnoxious.
It is vitally important to train large dogs, of course. When walking, it is physically painful to be pulled constantly by a big, strong dog. I don't feel it's necessary for a dog to walk at heel at all times, but he should recognize that you are in charge of the walk, and walk at your pace.
Teaching your dog to walk nicely isn't hard, but you have to be more stubborn than your dog. You also need to use an appropriate collar and leash. I don't believe in "Flexi" leads (a long, retractable leash) for training large dogs to walk. You may be able to safely use one after he's trained, but they're dangerous with an untrained dog. I prefer a simple 6' lead, with a good, heavy duty snap.
For a collar, you should choose something appropriate for your dog's strength and temperment. For many dogs, a pinch collar (also called a prong collar) is a great tool. The pinch collar looks like some kind of midieval torture device, but it does not cause pain for the dog when used correctly. With many dogs, the pinch collar is not needed. You can use a snug-fitting leather or nylon collar, a choke collar, or a Martingale Collar (kind of a hybrid between a standard buckle collar and a choke collar. The Martingale is a limited-slip collar, so it's a little safer for your dog. Of course, the biggest safety factor for your dog is between your ears. You've got a brain - it is your job to make sure you don't choke your dog or damage his neck using excessive force.
I'm not a fan of the "Gentle Leader" harnesses. They are uncomfortable, and I'm concerned about the torque that can be applied to the dog's neck. I'd rather use a pinch collar, and make sure I'm not going to injure my dog. If you've used these and like them, that's fine.
Regardless of the type of collar you use, when you're teaching your dog to walk nicely, you need to show him that he needs to pay attention to you. To accomplish this, just walk along and, if your dog is ignoring you, pulling, or dragging back, switch directions. Don't tell him, just do it. If he's pulling really hard, just stop. You don't need to jerk the leash - the dog will provide all the force. When he realizes you're not moving, he'll stop and look back at you. He'll probably take a couple of steps back toward you. As soon as he learns to pay attention to you, he won't jerk the leash. Sometimes, when my dog is distracted, I'll walk in circles. She has learned that when I do that, she has to keep an eye on me to avoid reaching the end of the leash. My attitude is, "Oh, too bad you got jerked! Too bad you weren't paying attention!"
It's easy to get lazy after you've got your dog trained. I frequently find myself putting up with Cassie pulling a little more than she should. Sometimes, you just need to go back and give them a little refresher course. Once they've learned, it's easy to reinforce it again. You'll know you've succeeded when you can't change directions and catch your dog.
Years ago, when Charlie was new to us, I stopped home at noon to take her for a walk. We had worked really hard at walking nice, and Charlie was doing well. I had on my work clothes, so we were strolling slowly around the block when we passed a woman working in her yard. As we went by, she looked at my dog walking sedately by my side and said, "Wow, that's an old dog!" Charlie was young and healthy at the time - we had gone for a 4 or 5 mile run that morning, and she had handled that fine. I explained to the woman that she wasn't old, just well-behaved. I'm sure she didn't believe me.
One more thing - keep your dog on a leash! If your dog will ALWAYS come when you call, and you're in an area away from traffic, people, and other dogs, I don't see a problem with taking your dog off the leash. In any other circumstances, it's extremely irresponsible, not to mention illegal, to walk without a leash. I always look at it this way: If your dog won't stay constantly by your side during your walk, he needs to be on a leash. If he does stay right by you the whole time, he might as well be on the leash. It's not fair to put your dog's life in peril just so you can show off how well-trained your dog is.
I can't stress it enough. Your dog will do almost anything for you - don't you think you can do this for him? Put on his leash, and take a walk. If you're not in shape, just go around the block. He won't care, and you'll find that both of you will look forward to the next walk tomorrow.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Child Abuse at Penn State and Syracuse
I didn't plan to post on the Penn State Child Sexual Abuse scandal - it's not really the kind of thing I want to deal with here - but it has been so much in the news that I decided to chime in.
It seems clear to me that this is not a case of a rogue individual abusing kids. At the very least, a number of adults looked the other way, allowing him to continue in his pattern of serial abuse. That's the BEST thing you can think about all those people - it's much more likely that there was a deliberate attemp at a cover-up, involving not only football staff members, but school administrators, Second Mile administrators, and even county law enforcement. It's entirely possible that EVERY football coach and official knew what was going on - we may never know for sure the extent of the cover-up.
Recently, another scandal at a major university's athletic department has been revealed. Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine has been accused of molesting two boys over a period of about 15 years. Unlike at Penn State, no witness to an acutal attack has surfaced.
I don't need to know anything more about Jerry Sandusky to form an opinion of his behavior - his interview with Bob Costas was extremely creepy. Clearly, regardless of the results of any legal proceedings, this guy is guilty in the opinion of any reasonable person. The case against Bernie Fine is less clear, but there are certainly some red flags about that situation. I'm certainly not shocked by the allegations in either case - child sexual abuse is, unfortunately, all too common.
As I could have guessed, coaches, players, and fans of both institutions have been eager to show support. Of course, they're not supporting the VICTIMS - they're supporting the accused abusers! Here's a quote from Syracuse Head Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim, "I know this kid (Davis), but I never saw him in any rooms or anything. It is a bunch of a thousand lies that he has told. You don't think it is a little funny that his (relative) is coming forward? He supplied four names to the university that would corroborate his story. None of them did…there is only one side to this story. He is lying" Kind of makes you wonder how Boeheim could know, with such certainty, that all the allegations are completely false, doesn't it?
At Penn State, Sandusky has been - rightly, in my opinion - demonized, but, during the Nebraska game last week, the stadium showed plenty of "This one's for JoPa" type signs, supporting the man who Could have stopped the abuse a decade ago, but chose to do nothing. Assistant coaches and players were quick to support Paterno, regardless of the role he played in this crime. By Paterno's own admission, he was told there was some contact of a sexual nature between Sandusky and a young boy. That, to me, means he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt.
National commentators have expressed shock and outrage regarding the Penn State mess. How many times have you heard someone say, "I would have stopped it, if I knew"? No, you wouldn't. The sad truth is, this is exactly what so-called responsible adults do when faced with the knowledge or suspicion that a friend, relative, or co-worker is guilty of sexually assaulting a child. They wimp out. They look the other way. They pretend it didn't happen. They help to cover it up. God forbid they stand up to protect a child - it could be embarrassing. Their friend (or relative, or co-worker) might get mad. Maybe they'll stop. Maybe it will just go away. In all the coverage regarding this scandal, I've yet to see someone make this point. Think about it - all too often a parent won't stand up to protect their child from being assaulted by another household member, so what makes us think they'll stand up to protect someone else's child?
In the Syracuse University case, you have a long-time, successful basketball coach saying flatly that the accuser is lying. There's no wiggle room in that - no possibility that something happened over that period of time. Nothing. "He's lying." Well, I guess there's no reason to investigate, is there Coach? Do you suppose Joe Paterno said the same thing? Since you're so positive, are you willing to be held accountable if the allegations turn out to be true?
The truth is, if you're not directly involved in the situation, you don't know what happened at Syracuse. I certainly don't know whether Bernie Fine is a pedophile or not. I'm not sure we'll ever know for sure. One thing I do know for sure, though - Jim Boeheim also doesn't know with absolute certainty. Since that's true, he should keep his mouth shut. When you're talking about child sexual abuse, there's a time to talk. That time is when you can speak up and make it stop. If all you have to offer is support for those who enable abusers, just shut up.
It seems clear to me that this is not a case of a rogue individual abusing kids. At the very least, a number of adults looked the other way, allowing him to continue in his pattern of serial abuse. That's the BEST thing you can think about all those people - it's much more likely that there was a deliberate attemp at a cover-up, involving not only football staff members, but school administrators, Second Mile administrators, and even county law enforcement. It's entirely possible that EVERY football coach and official knew what was going on - we may never know for sure the extent of the cover-up.
Recently, another scandal at a major university's athletic department has been revealed. Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine has been accused of molesting two boys over a period of about 15 years. Unlike at Penn State, no witness to an acutal attack has surfaced.
I don't need to know anything more about Jerry Sandusky to form an opinion of his behavior - his interview with Bob Costas was extremely creepy. Clearly, regardless of the results of any legal proceedings, this guy is guilty in the opinion of any reasonable person. The case against Bernie Fine is less clear, but there are certainly some red flags about that situation. I'm certainly not shocked by the allegations in either case - child sexual abuse is, unfortunately, all too common.
As I could have guessed, coaches, players, and fans of both institutions have been eager to show support. Of course, they're not supporting the VICTIMS - they're supporting the accused abusers! Here's a quote from Syracuse Head Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim, "I know this kid (Davis), but I never saw him in any rooms or anything. It is a bunch of a thousand lies that he has told. You don't think it is a little funny that his (relative) is coming forward? He supplied four names to the university that would corroborate his story. None of them did…there is only one side to this story. He is lying" Kind of makes you wonder how Boeheim could know, with such certainty, that all the allegations are completely false, doesn't it?
At Penn State, Sandusky has been - rightly, in my opinion - demonized, but, during the Nebraska game last week, the stadium showed plenty of "This one's for JoPa" type signs, supporting the man who Could have stopped the abuse a decade ago, but chose to do nothing. Assistant coaches and players were quick to support Paterno, regardless of the role he played in this crime. By Paterno's own admission, he was told there was some contact of a sexual nature between Sandusky and a young boy. That, to me, means he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt.
National commentators have expressed shock and outrage regarding the Penn State mess. How many times have you heard someone say, "I would have stopped it, if I knew"? No, you wouldn't. The sad truth is, this is exactly what so-called responsible adults do when faced with the knowledge or suspicion that a friend, relative, or co-worker is guilty of sexually assaulting a child. They wimp out. They look the other way. They pretend it didn't happen. They help to cover it up. God forbid they stand up to protect a child - it could be embarrassing. Their friend (or relative, or co-worker) might get mad. Maybe they'll stop. Maybe it will just go away. In all the coverage regarding this scandal, I've yet to see someone make this point. Think about it - all too often a parent won't stand up to protect their child from being assaulted by another household member, so what makes us think they'll stand up to protect someone else's child?
In the Syracuse University case, you have a long-time, successful basketball coach saying flatly that the accuser is lying. There's no wiggle room in that - no possibility that something happened over that period of time. Nothing. "He's lying." Well, I guess there's no reason to investigate, is there Coach? Do you suppose Joe Paterno said the same thing? Since you're so positive, are you willing to be held accountable if the allegations turn out to be true?
The truth is, if you're not directly involved in the situation, you don't know what happened at Syracuse. I certainly don't know whether Bernie Fine is a pedophile or not. I'm not sure we'll ever know for sure. One thing I do know for sure, though - Jim Boeheim also doesn't know with absolute certainty. Since that's true, he should keep his mouth shut. When you're talking about child sexual abuse, there's a time to talk. That time is when you can speak up and make it stop. If all you have to offer is support for those who enable abusers, just shut up.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Why Choose a Shelter Dog?
When I was young, I couldn't understand why anyone would adopt an older, mixed breed dog. I empathized with all the dogs put down every year, but I was positive that if you wanted a great dog, you should buy a purebred puppy from a breeder. I was wrong. More about that later - first, let's take a look at some facts about pet shelters (statistics from ASPCA):
A Backyard Breeder is exactly what it sounds like - it's an amateur who decides to have their dog produce a litter of puppies. Often, they think it's good for the dog to have pups. Many of these are people who bought a purebred dog from a pet store or another backyard breeder, and think they're doing a good thing by breeding their dog to a friend or neighbor's purebred dog. These dogs, while not raised in the horrific conditions typical of puppy mills, will not tend to be great examples of the breed (although they may very well turn out to be wonderful pets).
A special catagory of breeder is the seller of "Designer Dogs". Chances are you know someone who has a "Labradoodle", "Goldendoodle", or some other type of doodle. These dogs are a mixed breed, of Poodle mixed with a Labrador, Golden Retriever, or some similar breed. There are other designer dogs, mixing virtually any two breeds - each purporting to have all the best traits of each breed. These dogs - especially the puppies - are very cute. Many of them are great dogs - of course, many purebred or mutts are great dogs, too. The thing to keep in mind is, these are not a breed, but a hybrid (nothing wrong with that - I'm a hybrid myself). Most of the time, these designer dogs sell for more than a purebred dog, so there's a big financial incentive for the breeders to produce more of them. Here are some pictures of Labradoodles - note that they don't look like a breed - each of the four has a distinctive appearance. Again, that doesn't mean they're not great dogs- it just means they're a mixed breed.
A real breeder will tend to specialize in a particular breed. They'll show their dogs, and should have some titles in both conformance and obedience. Don't expect to buy one of their dogs without answering some questions - they will tend to be pretty selective about who gets their pups, and they'll keep the litters together longer than the backyard breeders. If you ever decide you don't want the pup, they'll want you to contact them first. Pups that don't meet their standards will most likely be neutered and sold as pets, although dogs with serious problems may be destroyed.
At the beginning of this post, I said I had once been convinced the only way to get a great dog was to buy a purebred pup. I now understand that is not true - there are tons of great adult dogs in shelters (there are plenty of nice pups in there, too). Far from being somebody's problem, many of these dogs are well-adjusted, trained, and ready to join the family. When you adopt an older dog, you miss the puppy stage - chewing, potty training, etc.
Although I'll probably never buy another puppy, there are certainly times when it's a good choice:
In a future post, I'll describe how I pick out the right dog in a shelter. I'll also continue talking about some of the dogs I've owned.
- 5 to 7 million pets enter animal shelters every year.
- 60% of dogs and 70% of cats (a total of 3 to 4 million) that are brought to shelters are euthanized.
- About half the animals in shelters are surrendered by owners.
- About 25% of dogs in shelters are purebred.
- Few pets that enter shelters are returned to their owners - 15-20% of dogs, and less than 2% of cats.
- Most pets are euthanized because there's no room in shelters. Even "No-Kill" shelters are unable to take all the pets that are brought to them, so they do little to reduce the total number of animals put down.
A Backyard Breeder is exactly what it sounds like - it's an amateur who decides to have their dog produce a litter of puppies. Often, they think it's good for the dog to have pups. Many of these are people who bought a purebred dog from a pet store or another backyard breeder, and think they're doing a good thing by breeding their dog to a friend or neighbor's purebred dog. These dogs, while not raised in the horrific conditions typical of puppy mills, will not tend to be great examples of the breed (although they may very well turn out to be wonderful pets).
A special catagory of breeder is the seller of "Designer Dogs". Chances are you know someone who has a "Labradoodle", "Goldendoodle", or some other type of doodle. These dogs are a mixed breed, of Poodle mixed with a Labrador, Golden Retriever, or some similar breed. There are other designer dogs, mixing virtually any two breeds - each purporting to have all the best traits of each breed. These dogs - especially the puppies - are very cute. Many of them are great dogs - of course, many purebred or mutts are great dogs, too. The thing to keep in mind is, these are not a breed, but a hybrid (nothing wrong with that - I'm a hybrid myself). Most of the time, these designer dogs sell for more than a purebred dog, so there's a big financial incentive for the breeders to produce more of them. Here are some pictures of Labradoodles - note that they don't look like a breed - each of the four has a distinctive appearance. Again, that doesn't mean they're not great dogs- it just means they're a mixed breed.
 |
| Looks like a Poodle! |
 |
| Looks like a Sheepdog? |
 | ||
| Looks like a Lab! |
 | |
| Looks like "Who Knows"! |
At the beginning of this post, I said I had once been convinced the only way to get a great dog was to buy a purebred pup. I now understand that is not true - there are tons of great adult dogs in shelters (there are plenty of nice pups in there, too). Far from being somebody's problem, many of these dogs are well-adjusted, trained, and ready to join the family. When you adopt an older dog, you miss the puppy stage - chewing, potty training, etc.
Although I'll probably never buy another puppy, there are certainly times when it's a good choice:
- If you want to compete in conformance, obedience, or field trials.
- If you are in law enforcement, ranching, or some other business that uses specific breeds of dogs for the purpose for which they are bred.
- If you have specific needs or desires for a dog - size, usage, etc. that may not be met by a mixed breed dog.
In a future post, I'll describe how I pick out the right dog in a shelter. I'll also continue talking about some of the dogs I've owned.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Mandating the Pledge of Allegiance
Lincoln state senator Tony Fulton plans to introduce a bill to require that all classrooms be led in the Pledge of Allegiance every day. What a dreadful idea!
It may be true that patriotism is not what it once was. If so, one of the biggest signs may be this attempt to indoctrinate our children - isn't this a tactic of totalitarian regimes? Is there so little to love about our country that we need to FORCE children to declare their devotion to it? This is a bad idea for a bunch of reasons:
It may be true that patriotism is not what it once was. If so, one of the biggest signs may be this attempt to indoctrinate our children - isn't this a tactic of totalitarian regimes? Is there so little to love about our country that we need to FORCE children to declare their devotion to it? This is a bad idea for a bunch of reasons:
- It doesn't work. Just about everyone in my generation grew up saying the pledge every day. It didn't make you stop to think about this country, our form of government, or anything else - it was just something you did at the beginning of the day. After learning it, I don't remember spending one single second thinking about it afterward.
- It's unnecessary. Most grade schools already say the pledge every day. There's plenty of overt patriotic symbols available, both in and out of school - the pledge of allegiance, the flag flying at schools, businesses, and public buildings, and the Star Spangled Banner played before every sporting event. If that's not enough to show our love of country, I don't know what is.
- It is against our traditional values to force someone to say a pledge. We have a long and proud tradition of being able to control what we do and don't say - do we need to lean on students to get them to go along with this? (and, yes, I know the proposed law doesn't FORCE students to say the pledge - it just forces it to be led in every class. If you don't think that will force students to participate, you haven't been in school for a while)
- It's a poor solution to a nonexistent problem. I don't see any signs that our youth are less patriotic than past generations. If they are, saying the pledge won't fix it.
- Passing this law will take up time and effort that would be better spent working on real solutions to real problems. We've got serious problems - budget issues, a struggling economy, a failing education system - and the most important thing we can think to do is pass a law requiring students to say the Pledge of Allegiance every day? It makes no sense!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Sit!
I'm always amazed when I see people with dogs who have absolutely no training. Even when we were testing dogs for the Angel Dogs Program at Madonna, I'd see otherwise well-behaved, pleasant dogs, who didn't know to sit and stay on command, wouldn't walk nicely on a leash, or obey other basic commands.
First, let me say that many dogs will behave perfectly, until faced with distractions. In a previous post, I talked about Cassie's issues with strange dogs on a leash, so I'm the last person who should look down on someone regarding their dog's behavior. Often, however, the lack of manners is just simply the result of not providing proper training. One of the first, and most important things to teach your dog is to sit.
I prefer to teach a dog to sit before I work too much on a recall ("Come"). One reason for this is simply because it's much easier to teach - most dogs will sit easily, and they're already close to you and paying at least some attention to you. Plus, you can teach "Sit" with the dog on a lead, and you'll be able to correct poor behavior much easier. If your dog will sit and pay attention to you on command, you'll be able to teach him a bunch of other things.
In most cases, you can train a dog without use of punishment. You may, however, have to use a mild leash correction from time to time. That means a sharp tug on the leash. It's important when you do this to realize this tug is to get the dog's attention - it's not to cause pain, or to pull them into position. Done correctly, there's no pain to the dog. The leash, in this case, is simply the instrument of connection between you and the dog - it's use, purpose, and intention is entirely different than when you're on the street going for a walk, when you may have to physically drag your dog away from danger or some other distraction. During training, our goal is to teach the dog that it's a great idea to do what my trainer is telling me to do.
To get the proper attitude of both dog and owner, it's important to begin training in an environment conducive to learning - few distractions, and you and Fido are relaxed and having fun. Your dog should thing practicing his training is the most fun thing ever! If you find yourself getting frustrated, or if your dog is bored, frustrated, or confused, it's time to quit.
So, how do you make a dog think learning is great fun? With my dogs, it's FOOD! All of my dogs, as well as most dogs I've been around, have been motivated by food - if your dog isn't , you'll still be able to teach them. They may do what you want for a toy, or even just some attention - It just takes a little modification to your methods.
The easiest way to get a dog to sit is to let him see a treat in your hand - he'll probably stare at it (and drool). Hold it over his nose, and move it towards his tail, so he has to tilt his head back. If you do it properly, he'll probably sit as his head goes up. Say "Sit" as his butt goes down. If your dog wants to jump up and get the treat, hold his collar so he can't jump up. I don't recommend pushing the dogs back end down - in my experience it often just makes them brace it more. If your dog already knows "Sit", it will sometimes help to just put you hand on his tail end to remind him it's there (dogs sometimes seem to forget they have a back side). If your dog isn't crazy over food, you can do the same thing with a toy. If neither of these are the ticket, try kneeling in front of him, and taking his head in your hands and petting him. Gently guide his nose up, and he'll most likely sit - then you can love him up like crazy. Don't be afraid to use lots of praise when he sits - do it almost to the point of feeling silly. Your dog will love it.
Once your dog knows the command, start making him sit for everything - before you open the door to get him to go outside, before you put his leash on, before you put his food down, etc. He'll soon learn how great it is to do as you ask. If he doesn't obey immediately, just wait a few seconds and stare at him - he'll most likely look sheepish and sit down. It's usually counter-productive to keep repeating the command over and over - once or twice (assuming he heard the command) should be enough. If it's not, you've likely not succeeded in convincing him it's important for him to obey.
If you take formal obedience classes - and especially if you plan on entering him in obedience trials - you'll want to start him off sitting straight, and in the exact proper position. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about his posture - many dogs sit on one hip. In any case, have fun, and make it fun for your dog - both you and Rover will have fun!
First, let me say that many dogs will behave perfectly, until faced with distractions. In a previous post, I talked about Cassie's issues with strange dogs on a leash, so I'm the last person who should look down on someone regarding their dog's behavior. Often, however, the lack of manners is just simply the result of not providing proper training. One of the first, and most important things to teach your dog is to sit.
I prefer to teach a dog to sit before I work too much on a recall ("Come"). One reason for this is simply because it's much easier to teach - most dogs will sit easily, and they're already close to you and paying at least some attention to you. Plus, you can teach "Sit" with the dog on a lead, and you'll be able to correct poor behavior much easier. If your dog will sit and pay attention to you on command, you'll be able to teach him a bunch of other things.
In most cases, you can train a dog without use of punishment. You may, however, have to use a mild leash correction from time to time. That means a sharp tug on the leash. It's important when you do this to realize this tug is to get the dog's attention - it's not to cause pain, or to pull them into position. Done correctly, there's no pain to the dog. The leash, in this case, is simply the instrument of connection between you and the dog - it's use, purpose, and intention is entirely different than when you're on the street going for a walk, when you may have to physically drag your dog away from danger or some other distraction. During training, our goal is to teach the dog that it's a great idea to do what my trainer is telling me to do.
To get the proper attitude of both dog and owner, it's important to begin training in an environment conducive to learning - few distractions, and you and Fido are relaxed and having fun. Your dog should thing practicing his training is the most fun thing ever! If you find yourself getting frustrated, or if your dog is bored, frustrated, or confused, it's time to quit.
So, how do you make a dog think learning is great fun? With my dogs, it's FOOD! All of my dogs, as well as most dogs I've been around, have been motivated by food - if your dog isn't , you'll still be able to teach them. They may do what you want for a toy, or even just some attention - It just takes a little modification to your methods.
The easiest way to get a dog to sit is to let him see a treat in your hand - he'll probably stare at it (and drool). Hold it over his nose, and move it towards his tail, so he has to tilt his head back. If you do it properly, he'll probably sit as his head goes up. Say "Sit" as his butt goes down. If your dog wants to jump up and get the treat, hold his collar so he can't jump up. I don't recommend pushing the dogs back end down - in my experience it often just makes them brace it more. If your dog already knows "Sit", it will sometimes help to just put you hand on his tail end to remind him it's there (dogs sometimes seem to forget they have a back side). If your dog isn't crazy over food, you can do the same thing with a toy. If neither of these are the ticket, try kneeling in front of him, and taking his head in your hands and petting him. Gently guide his nose up, and he'll most likely sit - then you can love him up like crazy. Don't be afraid to use lots of praise when he sits - do it almost to the point of feeling silly. Your dog will love it.
Once your dog knows the command, start making him sit for everything - before you open the door to get him to go outside, before you put his leash on, before you put his food down, etc. He'll soon learn how great it is to do as you ask. If he doesn't obey immediately, just wait a few seconds and stare at him - he'll most likely look sheepish and sit down. It's usually counter-productive to keep repeating the command over and over - once or twice (assuming he heard the command) should be enough. If it's not, you've likely not succeeded in convincing him it's important for him to obey.
If you take formal obedience classes - and especially if you plan on entering him in obedience trials - you'll want to start him off sitting straight, and in the exact proper position. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about his posture - many dogs sit on one hip. In any case, have fun, and make it fun for your dog - both you and Rover will have fun!
My Phone
I can't say I didn't have plenty of warning. My phone had been acting up for over a year - locking up, shutting down, and, most puzzling, rebooting every time I tried to bring up the "Memo" app. I can't say I wasn't warned.
I got it about 4 years ago - my first smart phone. I decided to get it because I needed a method of opening the electronic lock boxes used by realtors in town. The lock boxes had an infared port, and to open them, you needed a special "EKey", a Palm Pilot, or the appropriate smart phone. I had been using a Palm Pilot to open the boxes, but found it unhandy to have to carry that, as well as my phone. In addition, I had to manually sync the Palm every day in order to open the lock boxes - a process that required me to go to the office and fire up my computer. The smart phone not only gave me lock box capability, it also allowed me to have mobile access to email, property listing information, the internet, my calendar, and contacts. I looked around, and chose the "Centro", a handy little phone running the Palm operating system.
My Centro worked great for several years. I quickly became dependent on the functionality, and I could even watch YouTube or browse the internet on the tiny screen. Of course, it was no substitute for a laptop, but you could actually get something done in a pinch. I can't tell you how many times I was able to Google something to get a phone number or directions.
When my phone started to act up, I decided I'd be proactive and go ahead and get a replacement. Unfortunately, I discovered that the new models didn't have the infared port, requiring the use of a separate small device to open the lock boxes. That seemed to me to be a step backward, so I decided to hold out as long as I could. My strategy seemed genius when I found out that the next generation of lock boxes would not require infared, using Bluetooth technology to communicate with the phone. Of course, the introduction of the new boxes was delayed, so I just kept on limping along with my old Centro.
I continued to delay, even once the new boxes were introduced - reasoning that it would be smart to wait until I was sure all the old ones were gone. After a couple of months, it was clear it was time - except by then, there was a special demo day scheduled at work, where Sprint would have a bunch of products and people around to explain them. It seemed like the perfect time to make the move.
Unfortunately, the day before the demo, my phone died completely. Since I don't have a land line - at home or at the office - I was in a bind. I also didn't have a PIN number to access my voice mail, so I needed to do something, and quickly. Since I'd been happy with Sprint, I decided to just stop in and pick one out.
Unfortunately, the first Sprint store I stopped in wasn't helpful. The young woman I talked to didn't even know as much as I did about which phones were capable of operating the EKey program, and she didn't seem to be too interested in helping me decide on a phone. In frustration, I left and headed to a different Sprint store.
The second store was a bit better. The salesperson I had was helpful, although it frustrated me that neither store knew anything about the planned demo at work, and couldn't give me any info about what kinds of discounts I could expect there. Since I was in a hurry, and desperate, I decided to swallow my frustration and just pick out a phone.
It seems my available options boiled down to three major operating systems - the Android, Blackberry, and the iPhone. I didn't know too much about any of them, but the phones running the Blackberry system didn't appeal to me - plus, my wife has a Blackberry phone, and I wasn't too impressed with it.
The iPhone is, by all accounts, great, but it needed an extra piece of hardware to communicate with the lock boxes. In addition, although there are a lot of apps out there for that phone, the Android has more free apps. I had played around a little with a couple of other Android phones, and was impressed, so I decided to go with that system.
I ended up buying a Samsung Epic phone. It has a ton of features, and a big, bright screen that's easy to see in all light conditions. Of course, everything works differently than on my old phone, so I was facing a steep learning curve. I soon discovered that it was going to take a little time to teach this old dog some new tricks.
I very quickly learned how to turn the phone on (yeah!), but my first problem came when I tried to answer the first call. The Epic is a touch screen, with virtually no buttons. All input is accomplished by touching or wiping the screen with a fingertip. I knew this, but no amount of touching the phone icon would answer when it rang! Since I knew how to dial, I just waited until the caller hung up, then called them back. Eventually I learned that, to answer the phone, you had to "wipe" the button across the screen. Problem solved!
Next, I spent an hour or so on the phone with our tech support guy Brian, installing software and getting the phone synced with my email system, so I could open lock boxes and have access to my email and calendar. That went well, except of course for my giving Brian a nervous breakdown. How he can spend all day beating his head against the brick walls that make up Realtors brains is beyond me, but I'm glad he does.
Now that I am up and running, my challenge is to learn to put the phone to work. I've spent the past couple of days learning the basics - how to move around menus, open and close apps, etc. Yesterday, I discovered that not all my calendar events were syncing to my desktop - this phone has the capability of syncing with a number of calendars, and I'd been putting appointments in my GMail Calendar, instead of the Outlook Calendar. Never mind the fact that I've never so much as opened up a calendar in GMail!
The biggest thing this phone fiasco has taught me is that I am remarkably less flexible and adaptable than I was when I was younger. I used to love getting new gadgets - playing with them and figuring them out was part (most) of the fun. Now, I just want everything to work! My old phone, ancient and cranky as it was, was familiar, and I knew just about every thing there was to know about operating it.
The moral of this story, if there is one, is that the transition to new technology is far easier if you upgrade before you're forced to. Trying to learn something new - at any age - is much more difficult when you're under pressure. Of course, I doubt very much if I actually learned anything from all this. I'm quite certain that, a few years from now, I'll once again be scrambling as I try to learn the latest, greatest, phone.
I got it about 4 years ago - my first smart phone. I decided to get it because I needed a method of opening the electronic lock boxes used by realtors in town. The lock boxes had an infared port, and to open them, you needed a special "EKey", a Palm Pilot, or the appropriate smart phone. I had been using a Palm Pilot to open the boxes, but found it unhandy to have to carry that, as well as my phone. In addition, I had to manually sync the Palm every day in order to open the lock boxes - a process that required me to go to the office and fire up my computer. The smart phone not only gave me lock box capability, it also allowed me to have mobile access to email, property listing information, the internet, my calendar, and contacts. I looked around, and chose the "Centro", a handy little phone running the Palm operating system.
My Centro worked great for several years. I quickly became dependent on the functionality, and I could even watch YouTube or browse the internet on the tiny screen. Of course, it was no substitute for a laptop, but you could actually get something done in a pinch. I can't tell you how many times I was able to Google something to get a phone number or directions.
When my phone started to act up, I decided I'd be proactive and go ahead and get a replacement. Unfortunately, I discovered that the new models didn't have the infared port, requiring the use of a separate small device to open the lock boxes. That seemed to me to be a step backward, so I decided to hold out as long as I could. My strategy seemed genius when I found out that the next generation of lock boxes would not require infared, using Bluetooth technology to communicate with the phone. Of course, the introduction of the new boxes was delayed, so I just kept on limping along with my old Centro.
I continued to delay, even once the new boxes were introduced - reasoning that it would be smart to wait until I was sure all the old ones were gone. After a couple of months, it was clear it was time - except by then, there was a special demo day scheduled at work, where Sprint would have a bunch of products and people around to explain them. It seemed like the perfect time to make the move.
Unfortunately, the day before the demo, my phone died completely. Since I don't have a land line - at home or at the office - I was in a bind. I also didn't have a PIN number to access my voice mail, so I needed to do something, and quickly. Since I'd been happy with Sprint, I decided to just stop in and pick one out.
Unfortunately, the first Sprint store I stopped in wasn't helpful. The young woman I talked to didn't even know as much as I did about which phones were capable of operating the EKey program, and she didn't seem to be too interested in helping me decide on a phone. In frustration, I left and headed to a different Sprint store.
The second store was a bit better. The salesperson I had was helpful, although it frustrated me that neither store knew anything about the planned demo at work, and couldn't give me any info about what kinds of discounts I could expect there. Since I was in a hurry, and desperate, I decided to swallow my frustration and just pick out a phone.
It seems my available options boiled down to three major operating systems - the Android, Blackberry, and the iPhone. I didn't know too much about any of them, but the phones running the Blackberry system didn't appeal to me - plus, my wife has a Blackberry phone, and I wasn't too impressed with it.
The iPhone is, by all accounts, great, but it needed an extra piece of hardware to communicate with the lock boxes. In addition, although there are a lot of apps out there for that phone, the Android has more free apps. I had played around a little with a couple of other Android phones, and was impressed, so I decided to go with that system.
I ended up buying a Samsung Epic phone. It has a ton of features, and a big, bright screen that's easy to see in all light conditions. Of course, everything works differently than on my old phone, so I was facing a steep learning curve. I soon discovered that it was going to take a little time to teach this old dog some new tricks.
I very quickly learned how to turn the phone on (yeah!), but my first problem came when I tried to answer the first call. The Epic is a touch screen, with virtually no buttons. All input is accomplished by touching or wiping the screen with a fingertip. I knew this, but no amount of touching the phone icon would answer when it rang! Since I knew how to dial, I just waited until the caller hung up, then called them back. Eventually I learned that, to answer the phone, you had to "wipe" the button across the screen. Problem solved!
Next, I spent an hour or so on the phone with our tech support guy Brian, installing software and getting the phone synced with my email system, so I could open lock boxes and have access to my email and calendar. That went well, except of course for my giving Brian a nervous breakdown. How he can spend all day beating his head against the brick walls that make up Realtors brains is beyond me, but I'm glad he does.
Now that I am up and running, my challenge is to learn to put the phone to work. I've spent the past couple of days learning the basics - how to move around menus, open and close apps, etc. Yesterday, I discovered that not all my calendar events were syncing to my desktop - this phone has the capability of syncing with a number of calendars, and I'd been putting appointments in my GMail Calendar, instead of the Outlook Calendar. Never mind the fact that I've never so much as opened up a calendar in GMail!
The biggest thing this phone fiasco has taught me is that I am remarkably less flexible and adaptable than I was when I was younger. I used to love getting new gadgets - playing with them and figuring them out was part (most) of the fun. Now, I just want everything to work! My old phone, ancient and cranky as it was, was familiar, and I knew just about every thing there was to know about operating it.
The moral of this story, if there is one, is that the transition to new technology is far easier if you upgrade before you're forced to. Trying to learn something new - at any age - is much more difficult when you're under pressure. Of course, I doubt very much if I actually learned anything from all this. I'm quite certain that, a few years from now, I'll once again be scrambling as I try to learn the latest, greatest, phone.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Cassie
I posted earlier about Charlie, our older lab that we lost last winter. As I said in that post, Charlie was almost too good to be true - very well behaved - and everybody loved her. Probably because of that, we decided to get another lab.
Cassie,Theresa, Gregg, and Charlie about 3 years ago
We talked about getting a yellow lab, and I found a good candidate at a shelter in Iowa. Karma was a pretty lab, a little over a year old, who was destined to be put down. She had a bad knee joint in a hind leg, but was very active (a little wild, I suspect). I went back and forth over it, then called and told them I'd take her if no one else did, so she wouldn't be euthanized. The day we were going to pick her up, I got a call from the shelter saying someone wanted her, so I told them to go ahead.
A couple of months later, I made the mistake of going to the Capitol Humane Society, "just to look". Of course, I fell in love. Cassie was very calm and quiet - unlike most of the dogs, she didn't jump on the fence and bark like crazy. Since that was very similar to Charlie's reaction when I first saw her, I assumed she'd be the same. Not exactly!
I didn't pay too much attention in the shelter, but Cassie was skinny - in fact, although she was taller than Charlie, she weighed over 40 pounds less. Her hips looked deformed, because they stuck out so much, and you could count all her ribs from across the street! We weren't even sure she was a lab, because her head looked gigantic. Also, her coat was very thin - unlike the typical heavy, slightly oily, lab coat. Her demeanor in the shelter was almost certainly due to her being so thin and weak. In addition, we discovered she had kennel cough, ear mites, an ear infection, worms, and some other kind of intestinal bug.
Cassie weighed 46 pounds when we got her, and I soon learned she was unable to keep food down. After eating, she'd either throw it all up, or have explosive diarrhea. As soon as she was done, she'd just happily go about her business. I kenneled her when we were gone, but there were a number of times she had an accident in her kennel and I had to give her - and her kennel - a bath. Of course, she was also completely clueless about housetraining, but that only took a week or so to teach her.
After multiple trips to the vet over the next 2 months - and about $2,000 in fees - she had lost 7 pounds! One night she was so weak she couldn't even lift her head while she was vomiting. When our vet didn't have an idea what to do (I've since changed veterinarians), I decided to try a different food. Of course, we had tried a number of prescription foods from our vet, but nothing had worked. I went to the pet store, and, after spending about an hour looking at labels, bought some "Nutro Natural Choice for Sensitive Stomachs", and tried it. The result was amazing - she quit throwing up, and the diarrhea stopped after a few days. She started putting on weight, and got dramatically stronger. I was certain our troubles were over!
Of course, not all the problems were over - Cassie had some interesting behavioral quirks. I quickly discovered that, although she walked nicely on a leash, she went nuts when she'd see a strange dog. She'd bark, growl, snarl, and act up horribly when that would happen. This was totally unexpected (and completely different than Charlie), as well as being embarrassing. She would also act up at times in the car - consistently barking at people in cars next to us, and going off on anything strange (fork lifts, roller coasters, cows, animated signs, etc.) that we would drive by.
I put Cassie in obedience class at The Greater Lincoln Obedience Club, thinking that would help her behavioral issues. It the first class, she went nuts, tried to attack other dogs, ripped my shirt, and generally was about as bad as you can imagine. I pulled her away from the other dogs, and worked with her alone. By the end of the first class, she could heel withing 10 feet of the other dogs. By the time we were done with that class, she could do all the basic things better than any other dog in the class! She didn't have any issue with dogs at the club, but that didn't help her behavior in other places.
I ended up taking her through intermediate and advanced obedience classes. Cassie had a real knack for this - she picked things up very quickly, and seemed to enjoy the classes. Unlike most dogs, she paid complete attention to me when we do the exercises - her eyes were just riveted to my face while heeling. I never spent enough time working with her - never more than about 15 minutes per day - but she was still able to do everything well.
When we got Charlie, I had put her through the Canine Good Citizen test. This test verifies that the dog will follow basic obedience commands, socialize appropriately with people and other dogs, and is able to be left (on lead) with a stranger. Charlie, of course, passed with flying colors. I decided - even though I knew she couldn't possibly pass - to let Cassie take the test. To my shock, Cassie passed easily! Of course, she still had the same issues out on the street, but she could easily tolerate the dogs at the club, since she was used to it. Later, Cassie even passed the test to be a therapy dog, but she really isn't suited for that task.
Cassie is very smart - she learns things quickly, and seems to retain it forever. She's very obedient, except for her quirks with strange dogs (she gets along fine with our other dog, as well as our kids' dogs). We tried professional trainers with only fair success, but we did make some progress using a bark collar. This gives her a small shock when she barks at the dogs, and it didn't take much for Cassie to learn she couldn't go off on strange dogs while wearing it. She doesn't normally wear the collar - we just put it on her if she acts up. She's gotten much better even when she doesn't wear it - she can control herself pretty well in most cases. Although she continues to improve, she'll never be a dog you can just ignore when other dogs are around.
Overall, Cassie's a great dog. She's very affectionate, and likes most people. She's learned - for the most part - that she can't jump up on people. She's working on learning not to kiss everyone all the time, and she's very well behaved in the house. She doesn't get sick, and never has an accident in the house. She is allowed on the downstairs couch, my downstairs recliner, and our bed (but only when it's unmade). She doesn't get on the other furniture, even when left alone. I'm always amazed that she understands the rule for getting on our bed. In the fall and winter, Cassie will get on my lap in my recliner (she never does this in the summer) - she's much warmer than a blanket! She plays fetch and tug very nicely - she has kind of a quirky, pleasant personality, and is very affectionate.
Cassie weighs about 95 pounds now - she's still pretty lean, so I think she's about right. She's very strong, and we don't have any real health issues with her at all (she can, and does, eat pretty much anything). She has some allergies, but those are controlled pretty well with Benadryl. She's pretty laid back around the house - she gets a walk or run in the morning, and will just hang out the rest of the day. On Sunday, we usually don't walk - Cassie will stare at me and bark until I play tug for a few minutes - then she's OK.
We almost decided not to keep her in the first week we had her, but I'm glad we gave Cassie a chance. Although she was a little -actually a lot - more work than Charlie, she's definitely been worth it.
Cassie (L) and Charlie, about 3 Months after we got her
Cassie,Theresa, Gregg, and Charlie about 3 years ago
Cassie, jumping in to rescue my daughter, Kari
Here she's towing Kari back to the dock
We talked about getting a yellow lab, and I found a good candidate at a shelter in Iowa. Karma was a pretty lab, a little over a year old, who was destined to be put down. She had a bad knee joint in a hind leg, but was very active (a little wild, I suspect). I went back and forth over it, then called and told them I'd take her if no one else did, so she wouldn't be euthanized. The day we were going to pick her up, I got a call from the shelter saying someone wanted her, so I told them to go ahead.
A couple of months later, I made the mistake of going to the Capitol Humane Society, "just to look". Of course, I fell in love. Cassie was very calm and quiet - unlike most of the dogs, she didn't jump on the fence and bark like crazy. Since that was very similar to Charlie's reaction when I first saw her, I assumed she'd be the same. Not exactly!
I didn't pay too much attention in the shelter, but Cassie was skinny - in fact, although she was taller than Charlie, she weighed over 40 pounds less. Her hips looked deformed, because they stuck out so much, and you could count all her ribs from across the street! We weren't even sure she was a lab, because her head looked gigantic. Also, her coat was very thin - unlike the typical heavy, slightly oily, lab coat. Her demeanor in the shelter was almost certainly due to her being so thin and weak. In addition, we discovered she had kennel cough, ear mites, an ear infection, worms, and some other kind of intestinal bug.
Cassie weighed 46 pounds when we got her, and I soon learned she was unable to keep food down. After eating, she'd either throw it all up, or have explosive diarrhea. As soon as she was done, she'd just happily go about her business. I kenneled her when we were gone, but there were a number of times she had an accident in her kennel and I had to give her - and her kennel - a bath. Of course, she was also completely clueless about housetraining, but that only took a week or so to teach her.
After multiple trips to the vet over the next 2 months - and about $2,000 in fees - she had lost 7 pounds! One night she was so weak she couldn't even lift her head while she was vomiting. When our vet didn't have an idea what to do (I've since changed veterinarians), I decided to try a different food. Of course, we had tried a number of prescription foods from our vet, but nothing had worked. I went to the pet store, and, after spending about an hour looking at labels, bought some "Nutro Natural Choice for Sensitive Stomachs", and tried it. The result was amazing - she quit throwing up, and the diarrhea stopped after a few days. She started putting on weight, and got dramatically stronger. I was certain our troubles were over!
Of course, not all the problems were over - Cassie had some interesting behavioral quirks. I quickly discovered that, although she walked nicely on a leash, she went nuts when she'd see a strange dog. She'd bark, growl, snarl, and act up horribly when that would happen. This was totally unexpected (and completely different than Charlie), as well as being embarrassing. She would also act up at times in the car - consistently barking at people in cars next to us, and going off on anything strange (fork lifts, roller coasters, cows, animated signs, etc.) that we would drive by.
I put Cassie in obedience class at The Greater Lincoln Obedience Club, thinking that would help her behavioral issues. It the first class, she went nuts, tried to attack other dogs, ripped my shirt, and generally was about as bad as you can imagine. I pulled her away from the other dogs, and worked with her alone. By the end of the first class, she could heel withing 10 feet of the other dogs. By the time we were done with that class, she could do all the basic things better than any other dog in the class! She didn't have any issue with dogs at the club, but that didn't help her behavior in other places.
I ended up taking her through intermediate and advanced obedience classes. Cassie had a real knack for this - she picked things up very quickly, and seemed to enjoy the classes. Unlike most dogs, she paid complete attention to me when we do the exercises - her eyes were just riveted to my face while heeling. I never spent enough time working with her - never more than about 15 minutes per day - but she was still able to do everything well.
When we got Charlie, I had put her through the Canine Good Citizen test. This test verifies that the dog will follow basic obedience commands, socialize appropriately with people and other dogs, and is able to be left (on lead) with a stranger. Charlie, of course, passed with flying colors. I decided - even though I knew she couldn't possibly pass - to let Cassie take the test. To my shock, Cassie passed easily! Of course, she still had the same issues out on the street, but she could easily tolerate the dogs at the club, since she was used to it. Later, Cassie even passed the test to be a therapy dog, but she really isn't suited for that task.
Cassie is very smart - she learns things quickly, and seems to retain it forever. She's very obedient, except for her quirks with strange dogs (she gets along fine with our other dog, as well as our kids' dogs). We tried professional trainers with only fair success, but we did make some progress using a bark collar. This gives her a small shock when she barks at the dogs, and it didn't take much for Cassie to learn she couldn't go off on strange dogs while wearing it. She doesn't normally wear the collar - we just put it on her if she acts up. She's gotten much better even when she doesn't wear it - she can control herself pretty well in most cases. Although she continues to improve, she'll never be a dog you can just ignore when other dogs are around.
Overall, Cassie's a great dog. She's very affectionate, and likes most people. She's learned - for the most part - that she can't jump up on people. She's working on learning not to kiss everyone all the time, and she's very well behaved in the house. She doesn't get sick, and never has an accident in the house. She is allowed on the downstairs couch, my downstairs recliner, and our bed (but only when it's unmade). She doesn't get on the other furniture, even when left alone. I'm always amazed that she understands the rule for getting on our bed. In the fall and winter, Cassie will get on my lap in my recliner (she never does this in the summer) - she's much warmer than a blanket! She plays fetch and tug very nicely - she has kind of a quirky, pleasant personality, and is very affectionate.
Cassie weighs about 95 pounds now - she's still pretty lean, so I think she's about right. She's very strong, and we don't have any real health issues with her at all (she can, and does, eat pretty much anything). She has some allergies, but those are controlled pretty well with Benadryl. She's pretty laid back around the house - she gets a walk or run in the morning, and will just hang out the rest of the day. On Sunday, we usually don't walk - Cassie will stare at me and bark until I play tug for a few minutes - then she's OK.
We almost decided not to keep her in the first week we had her, but I'm glad we gave Cassie a chance. Although she was a little -actually a lot - more work than Charlie, she's definitely been worth it.
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