Eeeek Worm!

Jasper is full of curiosity. He spotted a "singsing pari" (millipede). It was squirming so he was so anxious to catch it.

Joy To Our World

Come here . . . sit . . . fetch . . . down . . . go . . .







Dogs, cats, birds . . . pets are source of joy to a lot of people.











Feeling a little sad? Chase those blues away. Be happy with your pet.

Doggies On The Table

I placed Jasper and Joaqui on their grooming table as I clean their playing area.

Joaqui here was begging to be put down so he can do his tossing with the ball or his wrestling with his favorite stuff toy.

The dogs do need sufficient time and attention, enough exercise and rest too. They are like kids.

Crate or Cage

Initially, a crate for me was synonymous to a cage.I viewed a dog in a crate as a prisoner. I have pictured cute dogs on top of their master's lap, inside limousines or a fuzzy dog, peeping outside the window of a moving shiny red car, the fur on their faces blown by the wind. Cute scenes!

My dogs have been crate-trained at a young age, more because of the need-basis. Crates make it easy for the dogs to tag along when going somewhere, in dog shows or visits to their pretty young veterinarian for vet meds and immunization vaccines.

They are also accustomed to "not-so-short" drives. We go to pet-friendly places like Serendra, Eastwood and Tiendesitas for some dog socializing and exercise. They have gone as far as the provinces of Quezon, Laguna and Batangas.

When they sense everyone has dressed up and with shoes on, the critters get excited. When we open the door of the crate, they go inside on their own.

I also observe that when they want some peaceful time, they go inside the crate. They just stay there a while to rest a little or sleep. One other thing they do? They go hide there when bath time comes.

Training and Corrections

Training
This refers to the process of teaching a dog to perform certain actions in response to certain commands which the dog is trained to understand. It is a general term which does not, by itself, describe what or how the dog is taught. There are many methods and objectives of training. Dogs may be trained to:

• follow obedience commands (part of obedience training)
• perform tricks casually or for circus acts
• be a guide dog to lead the blind
• be a rescue dog to find victims of a disaster
• be a hunting dog to aid in hunting
• aid in herding, tracking, coursing, and retrieving
• follow agility commands
• serve as a guard animal

Basic Concept
Most dogs, no matter what their eventual advanced training or intended purpose, live with people who want them to behave in a way that make them pleasant to be around, keep them safe, and provide for the safety of other people and pets. Dogs do not figure out basic obedience on their own; they must be trained.

Dogs as Pack Animals
As pack animals, dogs have natural instincts that favor cooperation with their fellow dogs. Many domestic dogs, either through instinct or breeding, can correctly interpret and respond to signals given by a human handler.

Dogs can be followers or leaders. The owner or handler must act as the leader of the pack, projecting positive energy and confidence.

Basic Pet Obedience Training
This usually consists of (6) six behaviors:

• Sit
• Down
• Stay
• Recall ("come", "here" or "in")
• Close (or loose-leash walking)
• Heel

Communicating
The hardest part of training is communicating with the dog in a humane way that he understands. However, the underlying principle of all communication is simple: reward desired behavior while ignoring or correcting undesired behavior.

Corrections
Corrections should never include harmful physical force or violence. Using force while training is controversial and should not be taken lightly, because even if it ends the behavior, when applied inappropriately with some dogs it may lead to a loss of drive (enthusiasm for the given task), stress, and in some cases even aggression. A handler may decide to use force, however, the standard used by most trainers is the minimum amount necessary to inhibit the unwanted behavior.

A simple nudge, poke or a firm "shhh" are included in corrections.

Source: Wikipedia

Crazy Talk

"Joaqui!

Joaqui? Why are you hiding? Did you do something bad?

Ah okay, so you're just looking for your toy ball."

He loves tennis balls.

"Then why are you all dressed up? Are you going somewhere?

Ah okay, so you'll be playing ball with your friends.

Be back before dinner time.

Have fun then."

Lazy Dog

Aha! Joaqui!

Look at this dog, lying on the sofa, watching TV. Is this all you do the whole day? Lie on the couch and have the tube open while you doze around?

Look at all those clutter around you? Shoes, socks, bag, laptop, books, guitar! Can't you tidy the living room? Hmmp.

Hahah, so fun to play make-believe with the doggie. Dogs are really a man's best friend. They stick with you even during your crazy moments.

Know and Learn

I joined an informal meeting with MS (miniature schnauzer) owners. A Singaporean MS expert did a training on the proper grooming of an MS. There are limited MS groomers here.

The props are alive, MS pets needing a great haircut, heheh.

It's fun to meet other pet lovers, on-line or even in person, what more if you get to be with dog lovers who also have dogs of the same breed you have. Terrific!

You get to learn from them and share what you know as well. The exchange of both experiences and knowledge is truly precious.

Know, learn and share!