Behavior is more than meets the eye

Each and every canine is born with inherent abilities that wait to be discovered.  One of the maladies that plagues the rescue sheltering world, is the owner surrender that gives up on a dog, before trying to understand what their animal is able to do mentally and physically.  One of the major complaints of the owner is the dog has too much energy and is destructive.  More often than not, this situation is the result of boredom.  The solution is often within reach if the owner can find assistance.  This blog is intended to offer that assistance.  Please feel free to email: kyndeness4k9s@gmail.com with any questions you may have.  It is not always a training issue, but one of basic behavior.  An understanding of what causes a certain behavior and what you can do break the cycle of destruction can be very helpful and help keep your dog in your home.

If your dog came from a puppy mill or pet store that receives dogs from puppy mills, there could be genetic, temperament or health issues due to irresponsible breeding practices.  It is very important to have a veterinarian conduct a thorough health check including checking for thyroid function and any pain the dog may be experiencing that can create adverse behavior.   Please contact your local veterinarian before making decisions regarding relinquishing your pet, if possible.

Here are a few suggestions:

* Something as simple as providing your dog a Kong toy filled with peanut butter and put in the    freezer overnight; give the toy to your dog before you leave and this will keep your friend busy for hours while you are gone.  This activity will also keep their mind busy trying to get the peanut butter out of the Kong toy.    It can actually tire them out enough, they will take a long nap. 

* There are also many puzzle toys on the market where the dog must figure out how to get the treat.  It is amazing how long a dog will be entertained by this activity. 

*  Some dogs are entertained by having the television left on for them.  While others like to listen to music.

*  If your dog is more active and you have a pet sitter or dog walker in your area, you can have them come by and take the dog out for exercise at mid day.

*  It is simply a matter of looking to see what type of mental and physical energy your dog possesses and finding creative ways of keeping them busy while you are gone. 

A local organization Legend Acres offers many of these items in addition to behavior and training assistance.  You can reach Legend Acres at www.legendacresboarding.com   They also offer board and trains, private and group lessons. 

Rather than relinquish your dog to a shelter take a look around, there is always help, closer than you think.  Doing things with your dog can be fun and provide much needed exercise for both of you.

Happy trails and tails to you,

Heddie Leger, ABCDT-L2, ADT, CDT, CHES, CPDT-KA
Canines with Careers Trainer
Pet Partners Instructor/Evaluator
Canine Good Citizen Instructor/Evaluator

Past, Present and Future

Good evening friends, canines and felines -

We have finally made the transition to our new home in Tennessee.  It's been a long drawn out process.  We have felt very displaced in the process and a bit of our trust in mankind has been tainted, but nothing we cannot recover from.  We are thankful for everything whether planned or unplanned.  Our health is wonderful, although I will admit our mental and emotional health took a major hit during the transition.  There are so many things to share, I am not sure where to start.  From missing old friends, to making new friends.....from missing everything familiar to getting acclimated to a new world and way of life.   The things I miss most, are the things I did not expect....missing the prison dog program and its challenges.  It kept me on my toes, and even though challenging, it was very rewarding.  The program grew from a fledgling minor program, to a statewide program in a few short years. 

The best part of being here is being near the grandchildren and being able to see them without driving 10 hours.  While I do miss being able to see Corrie, still in Missouri, we have figured out creative ways to keep in touch.  I am convinced this has been a good move and one that will prove better with each passing  year. 

I miss my dear friends and therapy dog/cat/guinea pig visits, but I am certain I will recreate those things here. 

It is great to have the horses here.  They are doing well getting used to a bit of a different climate, and grazing opportunities.  We definitely will need to use more hay.  Our location allows for lots of fun riding time. 

I will mention now that while there is a great group called Force-Free Tennessee https://www.facebook.com/forcefreetn/ that I have joined, the level of participation is at its infancy.  I am surrounded by the traditional methods and no doubt it will take some time for the message to become more common place.  I am ready to take action and help make that happen. 

With all that said, I have been asked to mention by the Force Free Tennessee group what I will able to offer here in Western/Middle Tennessee so here goes my best effort.  I will blog as often as possible to bring the message to hopefully a household phrase "The Looking Grass" - where we hope you will look beyond what your eyes are seeing to looking at your pet from the dog's perspective.  While I do work with other species, the dog is the prominent bulk of where my time is spent. 

My background includes work with:  horses, pot belly pigs, guinea pigs, cats, birds, rats, other species.  I am a licensed instructor and evaluator for Pet Partners and am happy to help you determine if your pet would qualify to serve in this career. 

You will hear me refer frequently to the term "career" when it comes to your dog, as that is truly what most people should be looking at when they are looking at their dog.  What is the dog capable of being good at doing with you.  Some folks just want a companion, while others want to compete, in some capacity, while others want a dog that can assist them in their daily activities. 

We do not work with teaching dogs guarding or attack work.  We use only force-free, reward based methods when working with all species.  While I am not comfortable talking about myself, I am aware that folks will be interested in my skills, experience and background.  Each post will share a bit of my past, current and future plans.   I might even surprise myself with some unexpected topics that might arise impromptu.  I will leave each post with a thought to consider:

"Animals are not robots, they are sentient beings that will respond to kindness, patience and consistency. With the application of these three things they can reach high levels of efficiency and skill, given the bond with their human is healthy and strong."

Services offered include:

Dog Training and Behavior Consulting
Cat Training and Behavior Consulting
Private In Home Training
Group Training, if enough folks sign up
Puppy Socialization and Basic Skills
Pre-Purchase and Pre-Adoption Consultation
Foster Home Training and Consulting
Canine Good Citizen Training/Evaluation
Therapy Dog/Cat Instruction and Evaluation
Career Dog Evaluation

Send your comments, send your questions, send your photos, we love to share. 

Happy Trails and Tails to you until we meet again. 
Heddie Leger, ABCDT-L2, ADT, CDT, CHES, CPDT-KA