tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72853317516093053172024-03-05T02:17:58.992-08:00Caninestein Dog Training"Bring out the GENIUS in your dog!"Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-45126425463072021322016-04-29T10:44:00.000-07:002016-05-02T16:26:30.815-07:00Building a relationship... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvw6C9-vZbu-SFFXRxPUXngpUL7bpWP0iFd6hlNNop8VkKNEnbucrMbmGva_E_nDJAW_DspHtUi-jVjB6aqp9jwBKzhKpsQtGbJ4O7_wV8G38Ffevb6X3VZiswq7-nmvSvwVWGIZ3k3tD/s1600/Saber+Cayucos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvw6C9-vZbu-SFFXRxPUXngpUL7bpWP0iFd6hlNNop8VkKNEnbucrMbmGva_E_nDJAW_DspHtUi-jVjB6aqp9jwBKzhKpsQtGbJ4O7_wV8G38Ffevb6X3VZiswq7-nmvSvwVWGIZ3k3tD/s320/Saber+Cayucos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
When I adopted Saber, at nearly two years old, the first thing I worked on was a solid recall. He's a high-energy dog, I live in an apartment, and one of my favorite things to do with my dogs is to let them off-leash in safe areas to play retrieve games.<br />
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The first two years we came to Cayucos (on an annual training adventure I lead for advanced clients), his favorite thing to do was chase birds. He'd run and run and run, and it was quite beautiful to watch. While I sometimes joked he was running north to Cambria or south to Morro Bay, I knew he knew where his bread was buttered, and would eventually turn around and come back.</div>
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This morning marks our fifth trip to this glorious stretch of Central California coast. (It's not been five years, but we've successfully snuck up here on our own a couple of times.) Today, he was much more interested in interacting with me than chasing the birds - hands down. On the couple of occasions where he did chase birds, it was a half-hearted attempt of maybe 30'. Part of me misses watching him majestically race along the surf, but most of me is thrilled to learn I have become the more exciting source of fun. It shows me how our relationship has grown throughout our two years together.</div>
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New training students sometimes seem to scoff at the idea of wanting a relationship with their dogs. When most people come to a training class, it's because they want behaviors they consider to be problematic to STOP, preferably yesterday! I empathize, but am always trying to teach them to appreciate how building a relationship will support their training goals. When you develop a meaningful relationship with your dog, he learns to *care* about what you have to offer and he values shared interactions. No dog ever works to "please his master, just because." No. Dogs do things to please themselves - but when you play your cards right, and develop a relationship, your dog learns to find *you* pleasing, and will more actively cooperate with your chosen game plan. </div>
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Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-41308775937072231832016-01-30T11:35:00.001-08:002016-01-30T11:35:46.182-08:00Diary of a Dog Trainer: Jan. 29, 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>"First I broke the fountain rule, then I was seen loitering and someone </b></div>
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<b>must've called the police! Ruhroh!" - Saber</b></div>
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Read what happens when a dog trainer unexpectedly gets to spend the whole day hanging out with her own dog <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1097296136969217&id=251224608243045" target="_blank">in my recent post on our Caninestein Dog Training Facebook page... </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l8py822pQGHgs4N1QzFmwPrjLmE5Ag3XGLUoTK_LmgEBK0ZEIjKsi160wNIBazVEn2-tHNs8AGC7XPKFsISUMrZTXoecDZM4gfHqQbgxdh88XPZSZP19qTV2y1xPwxaJPnWx7Rjf9RyR/s1600/IMG_5315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l8py822pQGHgs4N1QzFmwPrjLmE5Ag3XGLUoTK_LmgEBK0ZEIjKsi160wNIBazVEn2-tHNs8AGC7XPKFsISUMrZTXoecDZM4gfHqQbgxdh88XPZSZP19qTV2y1xPwxaJPnWx7Rjf9RyR/s1600/IMG_5315.JPG" /></a></div>
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<br />Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-27775899230044008042015-10-07T17:09:00.001-07:002015-10-07T17:09:47.685-07:00"Q2" Opts for a Career Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After nearly two years majoring in a future as a guide dog, “Q2″ was released from the training program and was career-changed to that of a beloved pet companion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As they say in the guide dog world, the dog has to “want it” in order to thrive under the very demanding conditions for which they are trained. For “Q2,” life as a guide dog was just not meant to be. Instead, she’ll enjoy her early retirement in the home of friends of her puppy raiser. Her puppy raiser shared the following message:</span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Ultimately, she decided that it was time to change her major and find new ways of spreading the Love. Now a smart dog knows what they want and need and it took only a second for Quiz to make her choice. Quiz has chosen a new life in the local area as a sidekick with a kind and loving person! In fact, upon seeing each other they were both crying with joy! The staff witnessing the connection said there was no doubt it was the right match for Quiz. Quiz now has an opportunity to educate even more people in the meaning of love, just as her name sake, the original Quiz did.”</span></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://caninestein.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-most-incredible-gift.html" target="_blank">All of us who played a part in sponsoring “Q2,”</a> and who loved her namesake are disappointed that we won’t get to cheer for her and a partner at a future Guide Dogs of America graduation, but we are happy she has found the perfect Forever Home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Retirement, “Q2.” Here’s to a long and happy life.</span></div>
<br />Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-79716413651410594972015-10-07T13:55:00.000-07:002015-10-07T13:55:13.790-07:00How to be a Polite Dog Owner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrrzVYUDEKK9pH8lDRbseQizOm-Qw6BToPFBssKi2797V7l-LVdCLz_pSMfKX-MZs-mdh7qyKNcnhSiqiYeAQbx3HCr8n8iO0yna7-OCDnapaHBcW3M9R1OxWmWemzOSwuuJV9Nsk6lh_/s1600/Saber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrrzVYUDEKK9pH8lDRbseQizOm-Qw6BToPFBssKi2797V7l-LVdCLz_pSMfKX-MZs-mdh7qyKNcnhSiqiYeAQbx3HCr8n8iO0yna7-OCDnapaHBcW3M9R1OxWmWemzOSwuuJV9Nsk6lh_/s400/Saber.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I recently had a chance to <a href="http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/18_10/features/Four-Ways-to-Be-a-Better-Dog-Owner_21324-1.html" target="_blank">share my thoughts on polite dog-owner etiquette </a>in an article for Whole Dog Journal. Many articles are only available to subscribers, but this one is offered to everyone for free!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What's your favorite tip for how to be an especially polite dog owner?</span></div>
Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-63549085471767498432015-06-18T12:29:00.000-07:002015-06-18T12:29:31.741-07:00Pool Safety for Dogs!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxjzdepYjEZV6b-bwF47k-RGLGmRk2RuFgQyeYW0OsXnEJPq2iEUUP2e22NNHCystRwC5yE8_-LalU27tHpBZGC_TlzE1yNvaUPrigh1qiu73MTn0gYGGkXlTw8QrQZ1DXF8z5djT8u7Z/s1600/Pool+Dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxjzdepYjEZV6b-bwF47k-RGLGmRk2RuFgQyeYW0OsXnEJPq2iEUUP2e22NNHCystRwC5yE8_-LalU27tHpBZGC_TlzE1yNvaUPrigh1qiu73MTn0gYGGkXlTw8QrQZ1DXF8z5djT8u7Z/s400/Pool+Dogs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As the summer temps climb, who doesn't like a refreshing dip in the pool?</div>
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<a href="http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_8/features/Safe-Water-Play-With-Your-Dog_20581-1.html">Click here for my Whole Dog Journal article about keeping dogs safe, poolside!</a></div>
<br />Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-20576352236294344052015-03-18T14:48:00.000-07:002015-03-18T14:48:11.158-07:00(Mostly!) Wordless Wednesday: Tug!<br />
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<b>Best. Work. Break. Ever!</b></div>
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<br />Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-39588973517778659972014-04-01T20:49:00.001-07:002014-04-02T10:13:36.765-07:00Run free, sweet Zoie.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you've never felt the rich, velvety smoothness of Whippet ears, you have no idea what you're missing. EVERYONE should experience the rich, velvety smoothness of Whippet ears. <br />
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I sure miss Zoie's silken, rose ears. My sweet girl left this earth on Friday, March 28. Thankfully her passing was as graceful as her time here on earth. Making the gut-wrenching decision to release her from a devastating prognosis was my last gift to her. That she went peacefully, her last gift to me.<br />
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I'm still in shock over how we found ourselves in such a position. At 13.5, she was as gorgeous as ever. She barely looked half her age. She was healthy and happy. When she wasn't lounging under the adoration of her many fans, she could be found engaging in various shenanigans around the house. If you ever needed an unopened shipping container of bully sticks relocated and chewed into, she was your gal. When it came to nosework, she was an ace carb detector, snagging endless packages of tortillas, muffins and loaves of bread (sourdough being her favorite) from the kitchen.<br />
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When I came home from work one Sunday night and found her on three legs, we thought it a soft-tissue injury. Crate rest and a chiropractic adjustment seemed to do the trick. But as she returned to four legs, it appeared the four legs were malfunctioning. Her gait became intermittently awkward; occasionally a leg would mysteriously give out in a way that looked more neurologic than orthopedic or soft-tissue related. The chiropractor suggested basic blood work and a spinal x-ray.<br />
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When we went for the x-rays and blood work, I threw in a chest x-ray, as our regular vet mentioned hearing a possible heart murmur. The picture of her spine belonged to a dog easily half her age. Her blood work came back stellar. But the chest x-ray... the chest x-ray revealed a set of lungs riddled with white, blotchy spots throughout. The vet shifted uncomfortably as she told me it *could* be a fungal infection, but, more likely, it was cancer that had potentially metastasized to her spinal cord, causing the neurological deficit. Three days later, additional blood work told us it *wasn't* fungal.<br />
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From the beginning, I knew the prognosis wasn't good. There was just too much involvement throughout her lungs. And lungs are a pretty big deal. She spent the first week in good spirits, eating, drinking and walking without much incident. While she spent most of the day lying down, that really wasn't much different from most of her retired-life days. She wanted to go for walks, often choosing to go considerably farther than I was expecting. I prescribed a course of "window food therapy," where each day I'd bring home a fast-food item just for her: Breakfast Jacks, tacos al carbon, french fries... all eagerly devoured as additions to her regular food. But two weeks later, she mostly stopped eating, and her breathing became labored. Still, she wanted to walk, so we enjoyed leisurely walks around the corner, or sometimes to the neighborhood park for some people-watching. She spent her entire life watching people in that park. Not long after, I knew it was time. She was ready to go. I made the gut-wrenchingly difficult call to schedule her final appointment. We shared three weeks together following her diagnosis. She passed one year and eight days after her housemate Quiz.<br />
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Part of what made the decision SO difficult was how amazingly healthy and strong she was everywhere else. No arthritis. Great blood work. She had aged so beautifully that she didn't even look <i>old</i>, much less sick. I really thought she'd be one of those 16+ year-old Whippets. But finally, I realized that *because* she was so beautiful, it was that much more unfair to have her exist as a shell of her former, vibrant self.<br />
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That the demise of her health came almost one year to the day of losing Quiz only made the process that much more emotional. Saying "goodbye" to Zoie marked the closing of a chapter of my life. Many of my students will tell you that getting a dog changed their lives in that it led them to training, which helped them discover the fun you can have with a dog. Many of us have developed close friendships with fellow dog-lovers as a result of taking a dog to training classes. Some of my closest friends - most of whom I consider family - are people I've met because of my dogs - specifically Zoie, as she was my first dog as an adult, and the one I set out to train on my own. She was also responsible for a career change, because in finding a training school, I discovered a love of training and was fortunate enough to volunteer and go on to teach classes. I spent more than 10 years as a full-time dog trainer, and still train dogs part-time.<br />
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Zoie will be remembered for her velvety ears, soulful eyes, silly yodeling noises, see-thru back legs, her tri-toe front paw, catlike personality, her habit of lying on a dog bed with her body on the bed and her head on the floor, her love of carbs, and so much more. <br />
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She really was catlike. Cuddling was almost always beneath her. Her idea of "cuddling" was to dive under the blankets in bed on cold nights, where she'd stay so long as I didn't spend too much time loving on her. She wasn't one to sit with me on the couch. In fact, if she was on the couch first and I'd join her, she'd often leave in favor of her dog bed. "Is that a Whippet thing?" people would ask. No. It was really more of a "Zoie thing." She was her own creature, for sure. We were bonded, and she'd be concerned if I left her with someone else, but when she had free access to me, she wasn't above playing *VERY* hard-to-get. I guess it made the times she *did* choose to sit with me all the more special.<br />
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She was unfazed by other dogs on walks, even the trio of super-barky dogs we'd pass daily. They were simply beneath her. Always were. When in the company of other dogs, if she wanted her space, she calmly gave the most powerful "stink eye" I've ever seen. She mastered "the look" early on. All other dogs seemed to respect "the look." Seriously, if there was a textbook on "how to give effective stink eye," she penned it for sure.<br />
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We logged a lot of memories in our time together. In her younger years, we trained for and competed in obedience, where she earned companion dog titles in two different registries, all with scores in the 190s, and even a 198. She was the #1 AKC Obedience Whippet in 2004. An especially proud accomplishment given that she was my Novice A dog. She loved lure coursing and finished her AKC Master Courser title at 9-years-old. While she loved it, she never once tried to rip up the bag at the end of course. Instead, she'd look rather offended to think she'd just hauled her butt some 700-1,000 yards, at top speed in pursuit of a giant poop bag! Then she'd happily trot over to me and we'd walk off the course while our running mates' owners struggled to extract the bags from the clenched jaws of their adrenalized hounds. On her last-ever run, she told me it was time to retire by enthusiastically running half of a course, then stopping and trotting off the field and back to the car. Gotta love a girl who knows what she wants. At 13, she took up beginning nosework with a working spot in an online training class. Oh how she loved it, and I LOVED watching her work with such enthusiasm, her skinny little tail wagging furiously. In her absence, I treasure our series of training videos even more.<br />
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We did therapy work for a while, went on lots of road trips - one even as far as to Canada, spent countless hours training (she knew lots of tricks, which she eagerly performed her entire life!), she was on the cover of Whole Dog Journal, we hit the road for lure coursing so early even Starbucks was often still dark (now THAT'S love!), and met many wonderful people along the way. <br />
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She really did change my life, and I am grateful. She is deeply missed.<br />
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Run free, sweet girl. Have fun chasing all the bunnies. And this time, they *won't* be poop bags.<br />
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<b>In Loving Memory of Donmar-Valair Second Wind</b></div>
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CD, RE, MC, ASCA-CD, Th.D. </div>
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"Zoie"</div>
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#1 AKC Obedience Whippet in 2004 / AKC and ASFA FCh Pointed</div>
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-Stephanie<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. In the midst of this sadness, there is some joy. Shortly before Zoie got sick, I was evaluating a dog in an effort to help find him a working home. When Zoie got sick, I realized he'd already found a home. He's a little red Golden. Did Quiz send him? Did Zoie send him? I don't know. But I'm very glad he's here. He'll get a post of his own one day soon.</span><br />
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<br />Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-11312909529087170522013-12-19T14:08:00.001-08:002014-07-03T19:24:44.044-07:00Holiday gift giving to support local working dogs!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKybVJh0HGkqsd-cDQBu8RPCPWga2p1o58hFjzcQ3KERdawl4ouhYUoqJAginnaDa2AozlInzEPGPneAhrXXNS2p4ANDvwzDWADc3lO41FO1cMuwB5cFBkNykp8PN1GiYezubO8DTAmLPb/s1600/Vargas+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKybVJh0HGkqsd-cDQBu8RPCPWga2p1o58hFjzcQ3KERdawl4ouhYUoqJAginnaDa2AozlInzEPGPneAhrXXNS2p4ANDvwzDWADc3lO41FO1cMuwB5cFBkNykp8PN1GiYezubO8DTAmLPb/s400/Vargas+1.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ofc. Vargas and K9 Mitch of CSUN's Dept. of Police Services.</b></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Support our Local Working Dog Teams this Holiday Season!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking for the perfect, last-minute holiday gift? Consider a donation to one of So. Cal's dog-related organizations that help make life better for our communities. Organizations such as these rely, in many cases, exclusively on donations from community members. A few of my favorites are listed below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not in Southern California but want to donate? Not a problem! These So. Cal. organizations will gratefully accept donations from anywhere! (Or, look-up your own local law enforcement agency. Most have a related foundation either specific to the canine department, or that which supports the agency as a whole. If the latter, be sure to note if you'd like your donation earmarked for the K9 Unit.)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CSUN Police Services K9 Unit</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Checks payable to the National Police Dog Foundation with "CSUN K9 Unit" in the memo. Mail to:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CSUN, Dept. of Police Services</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">C/o Captain Fernandez</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18111 Nordhoff St.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Northridge, CA 91330-8290</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CSUN's two dog and handler teams are awesome. Follow the links to learn more about <a href="https://soundcloud.com/caninestein/ofc-vargas-and-k9-mitch" target="_blank">Ofc. Vargas and Mitch</a> and <a href="https://soundcloud.com/caninestein/cpl-finnerty" target="_blank">Cpl. Finnerty and Isy</a>. CSUN's K9 Unit does a great job protecting the campus and neighboring communities, and Cpl. Finnerty and Isy are often requested for special projects, as he explains in his linked interview.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Search Dog Foundation</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.searchdogfoundation.org</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Currently matching donations dollar-for-dollar thru Dec. 31, 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>"SDF is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Ojai, California. Our mission is to strengthen disaster preparedness in America by partnering rescued dogs with firefighters to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters. The teams are provided at no cost to fire departments and other emergency service agencies throughout the country."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>Los Angeles County Police Canine Association</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">www.lacpca.com</span></div>
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"The LACPCA is an organization that promotes the educational advancement, welfare, and safety of Canine teams in law enforcement."</span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ventura County Sheriff's K9 Search and Rescue</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.vcsark9.org</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Provides highly trained and tested volunteer handlers who assist local, state and federal agencies in the search for lost or mission persons.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guide Dogs of America</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.guidedogsofamerica.org</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Based in Sylmar, GDA "provides guide dogs and instruction in their use, free of charge, to blind and visually impaired men and women from the United States and Canada. <a href="http://youtu.be/aWVKYxCaSEc" target="_blank">Click here</a> for a short video highlighting the role of volunteer puppy raisers and the impact a trained dog has on the life of his partner.</span><br />
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There are lots of great dog-realted organizations out there. What's your favorite group, and why? Post a comment to let us know!</span></div>
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Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-44915661252188832662013-08-02T00:52:00.000-07:002014-07-03T19:26:24.312-07:00A Most Incredible Gift...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTWRi-UfOCS7JGtfgFumq-XojQmxy0u7ZPDTgE02sGE32LKus4CixtojhObBpxZSB4cxmOUWFG04TFj0cPAxN3fGWNyihQbZzcp3Nr6lG1G1At870bxWQS5qBtptdMYumtBOQcNxh7q8S/s1600/GDA+Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTWRi-UfOCS7JGtfgFumq-XojQmxy0u7ZPDTgE02sGE32LKus4CixtojhObBpxZSB4cxmOUWFG04TFj0cPAxN3fGWNyihQbZzcp3Nr6lG1G1At870bxWQS5qBtptdMYumtBOQcNxh7q8S/s320/GDA+Group.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am blessed to know these amazing people.</td></tr>
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Earlier this summer, an amazing thing happened. My wonderful friends rallied together to raise the whopping $5,000 necessary to sponsor a puppy-in-training with Guide Dogs of America in memory of my sweet Quiz.<br />
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It's a lovely tribute to an amazing dog, and I am touched beyond belief by everyone's generosity. The years I spent in partnership with Quiz changed my life in many ways, and it's an honor to think of a future pup, his namesake, growing up and ultimately helping to change the life of someone who is blind or visually impaired.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK38qLToEDG0lfVNrOfG2VMwqSN8VOsUYgqXmdmybmaLKaCuewSSojmTn6wXpkw5WHzGkZA8NyycWmYshvV9sCQkqAFRkUrxb5mBVfGaCY0BHCiKJsqclNLE_qgmcOOTHMXmKuI-Fn8X4/s1600/GDA+Letter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK38qLToEDG0lfVNrOfG2VMwqSN8VOsUYgqXmdmybmaLKaCuewSSojmTn6wXpkw5WHzGkZA8NyycWmYshvV9sCQkqAFRkUrxb5mBVfGaCY0BHCiKJsqclNLE_qgmcOOTHMXmKuI-Fn8X4/s400/GDA+Letter.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Enlarge.</td></tr>
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We have yet to meet this Quiz, who we've decided to refer to as "Q2," but I've been in contact with Guide Dogs of America and they expect to identify and place our sponsored pup within the next couple of months. As the pup's sponsor, we'll get regular updates from the puppy raisers ... very exciting! I'm hoping the puppy raiser lives close enough that we'll get to visit! And when "Q2" goes on to complete formal guide training and leads his or her partner across that Sylmar stage, you can bet we'll be there! <br />
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Stay tuned for updates on the adventures of Q2!<br />
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<br />Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-24846956707633620542013-03-27T01:27:00.001-07:002013-04-29T13:30:18.806-07:00The story of Quiz ... an epilogue.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPsNqKnUfyGs7UiAkHf5YYkkv8tpA_i5aBivpcg8bWldlkPrf6b7zSEbXnmfD8MmeKVLjoeZRoel-g2ZNhNQXU9N6BxMnsivlT64UlYEkhTGTgDGAdBDB_g3JMhDvKQ2wwib6YjwB7W-1/s1600/UnderDeskQuiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPsNqKnUfyGs7UiAkHf5YYkkv8tpA_i5aBivpcg8bWldlkPrf6b7zSEbXnmfD8MmeKVLjoeZRoel-g2ZNhNQXU9N6BxMnsivlT64UlYEkhTGTgDGAdBDB_g3JMhDvKQ2wwib6YjwB7W-1/s1600/UnderDeskQuiz.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
This has been the Longest. Week. Ever.<br />
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I am heartbroken over the loss of this truly amazing dog. At the same time, I'm am truly amazed by the tremendous outpouring of support. I am touched beyond belief to hear how many people enjoyed my dog and found pleasure in watching the two of us work together. We shared an amazing bond.<br />
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Now begins the long process of adjusting to life without Quiz and settling into a new "normal" as time begins to heal the hurt in my heart. <br />
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In following up with the specialty clinic, I've learned that the staff is reviewing the incident and trying to determine how best to modify surgical protocol so that a similar medication error does not happen again. I am told it was an experienced tech who made the mistake, and so far, the office has no definitive explanation for *how* the mistake happened. <br />
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I did learn, however, that upon reviewing his case, the medical director said she'd have been very, very surprised if the mass had not been cancerous.<br />
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I, of course, knew that was a strong possibility. Cancer, specifically the Big "H," is exactly why my heart sank the night before in my regular vet's office as we looked at the mass on an x-ray.<br />
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All I can think at this point - in an effort to find a bit of peace - is that it *was* cancer, and that somehow, this horrible, tragic, <i>unexplainable</i> mistake happened to spare my sweet, amazing, vibrant dog from a devastating diagnosis. For Quiz, having his body deteriorate when his spirit would've remained strong would've been a fate worse than death. And watching it happen - only to have to make the difficult decision of when to free him from that prison - would've been gut-wrenching.<br />
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With this in my mind, I can be thankful that Quiz spent his last weekend on earth blissfully playing at our dear friends' house while I was out of town, and for how he ran around the vet's office bouncy and silly and offering up one of his most popular tricks ... chasing *and catching* his tail. He may have had cancer, but cancer, at that point, did not have him. <br />
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It's funny how your mind begins to remember things in the wake of a tragedy. The night before surgery, as I tried to sleep with him beside me, I told him two things: That it was OK if he really needed to go, but that if he wasn't ready, I knew he'd find a way to stay with us; and I promised I'd never make him suffer just to prolong his time here on earth.<br />
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At the risk of sounding like the "crazy dog lady," I have to believe that his body may well have survived the surgery if not for the overdose, but with cancer's insidious grip lurking in the wings, the overdose somehow happened to spare my sweet boy - and everyone who loved him - that heartache.<br />
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Crazy as it sounds, it's the only explanation that makes even the smallest bit of sense.<br />
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-Stephanie<br />
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<b>A few of my favorite Quiz videos...</b></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Usyr0eMshg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Yup. That's Quiz!</div>
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Such a fun partner in the ring.</div>
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Gotta love that zest for life!</div>
<br />Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-39412861877503513442013-03-23T11:38:00.000-07:002013-04-29T13:29:16.594-07:00The life and loss of Quiz...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba6o-QXnjuHEDr49upTRtJoMO4p16pjD11j4itWTDERtcCbFhP0iGaoBveDgE27a-VdLSuRGfNc7n0lln7jjc9NB8XoZk27NSn36QGSBEeXN6u6mUxS6eBjYhkvVfC23q6Ls1q7OUaJmQ/s1600/Quiz+Memorial+Test+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba6o-QXnjuHEDr49upTRtJoMO4p16pjD11j4itWTDERtcCbFhP0iGaoBveDgE27a-VdLSuRGfNc7n0lln7jjc9NB8XoZk27NSn36QGSBEeXN6u6mUxS6eBjYhkvVfC23q6Ls1q7OUaJmQ/s400/Quiz+Memorial+Test+copy.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click Photo to Enlarge</td></tr>
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I've had to work up to this post.<br />
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As most of you know, I lost my Sweet Quiz last week. He was diagnosed with a large mass in his abdomen, thought to be on his spleen, and he went in for surgery. Though the mass was tremendously large, pre-op x-rays showed his heart and lungs were clear. He was still in great spirits... running around the exam room, playing with the surgeon and spontaneously offering his "get your tail" trick. To me, he was at about 75 percent, but 75 percent of Quiz was still a lot of dog... even at 9 years old.<br />
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While I knew there was a chance it would be cancer, I left the surgeon's office feeling incredibly optimistic that not only would my boy pull through, but that he'd continue to live out the greater part of his life.<br />
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What I haven't shared publicly, until now, is that while in surgery, he was inadvertently given "a significant overdose" of Lidocaine to address a series of non-critical arrhythmias. Immediately following the overdose, he went into cardiac arrest from which, despite CPR, he did not recover.<br />
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I am absolutely gutted over the loss of this dog, and with how it happened. I feel like he had more than a fighting chance to get through surgery, but was robbed. It was less than 24 hours from the time I took him to my vet to discover the mass to the time of his passing at the specialist's office.<br />
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Quiz was the dog of a lifetime. The outpouring of support I've received from friends, family and my family of friends has been overwhelming. Even people we never met are commenting on Facebook or other social media platforms to say how much they enjoyed pics and videos of Quiz, and how evident it was that we shared an amazing bond. I had no idea that Little Red Dog had weaved his way into the hearts of so many. I am immensely proud of him for that.<br />
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People talk about having a "heart dog" and Quiz was that dog 10 times over. He always did whatever I asked of him ... and did so with an endless wag of his tail, a grin on his face and joy in his heart. And then he did it again - because if doing something once was good, doing it 10 times was even better! He was a gamer for sure. I always remember Steve White saying, "I could've made him an awesome detection dog," and I'm sure he would've been. He was awesome at everything he tried ... obedience, rally, agility, field work, dock jumping ... even the crazy working trials we did years ago. And oh how he loved to snuggle at home. I'll miss that the most.<br />
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There are so many things I, and others, dearly loved about him. If you were around him often, you likely encountered his patented "jump up and tongue you" maneuver, wherein he'd spring straight up in front of you without making contact. Of course, this would make you laugh, and he'd seize the opportunity to launch his tongue right into your mouth. <br />
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That dog had stamina for training like no other. Boy did he love to work. He taught me a lot in our training journey together... and he forgave me endless training mistakes and even the moments where I became frustrated and expected him to compensate for my training mistakes. There were plenty of times when I frustrated him. He had a very specific bark that let me know.<br />
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My absolute favorite thing about Quiz is simply how much I enjoyed him ... how much<i> we enjoyed each other</i>. THAT is the message I want to share with others. Enjoy your dog. No matter what sport you compete in or what behavioral challenges you might face, live your life with your dog in ways that allow you to enjoy each other, even if it changes what you end up doing together. If you participate in dog sports, aim for high scores if that's who you are, but in your quest for near-perfection, please don't forget to <i>enjoy your dog</i>. Maybe it's because, over the past 18 months, I've not had as much time for training (having returned to graduate school), but I found myself really focusing on this idea... <i>Enjoy your dog</i>. And for doG sake, train every session and run every ring like it's your last, because you never know when it might be.<br />
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I'm heading up the coast in two weeks to run a dog training camp on the beach. That was one of Quiz' favorite times of the year. He was at his bliss point chasing toys into the surf. I plan to scatter some of his ashes while I'm there. I'll be with some of his favorite people and dogs. It will be a fitting send-off for his physical self.<br />
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It's difficult to have shared this ugly detail, but I needed my (and Quiz') army of supporters to know the whole story. For the moment, I'm strangely thankful for the ball of anger this information presents, because I'm not sure I'd be able to handle the straight grief. Processing the grief through a filter of anger might just be the buffer I need.<br />
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As for the specialty group, all I can say is that the staff has done everything right in the aftermath of this horrible mistake. The surgeon told me they will launch a full review of the incident to determine what systematic changes need to be made so that this never happens again. I will follow up until I am satisfied - Quiz can count on that. You sometimes hear of tragic mistakes in veterinary medicine where the office fails to take responsibility, etc. I do not feel that is the case here. I have tremendous respect for the surgeon for disclosing what happened and, while it doesn't excuse the mistake, nor does it bring my dog back, it makes me believe they are doing everything possible to make sure the loss of sweet Quiz will not be in vain. While I am angry, it serves me no purpose to feel vengeful, and I aspire to pursue this with grace in my heart. Please respect that.<br />
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Thank you all for your love and support. I will no doubt be leaning on you greatly in the days and weeks to come.<br />
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Run fast and free, Sweet Quiz. You may have been Tanbark's Number Two Pencil, but to all of us, you were clearly Number One!<br />
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Edited to Add: Click here for <a href="http://www.caninestein.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-story-of-quiz-epilogue.html" target="_blank">The Story of Quiz... an Epilogue</a>.<br />
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Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-72594588985124977762013-01-15T21:54:00.001-08:002014-07-03T19:27:03.945-07:00FUN Training Walk to Benefit DEAF Project!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZUlPh0v7TSi5-g9oo9vz3vfGRoozBmYdboa_TxX7JkeFrS-J4LAg2nitijddBsCfIdT_Fe0DwpQDplzFWiJcfLo0RmxBMZpt_JLoNOxodgGmCRkWyOPzqmT31QU_E9aXUu3yibOtKfLm/s1600/DEAFproject_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZUlPh0v7TSi5-g9oo9vz3vfGRoozBmYdboa_TxX7JkeFrS-J4LAg2nitijddBsCfIdT_Fe0DwpQDplzFWiJcfLo0RmxBMZpt_JLoNOxodgGmCRkWyOPzqmT31QU_E9aXUu3yibOtKfLm/s400/DEAFproject_logo.png" height="173" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Sunday, Feb. 10 * 10:30 a.m.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Downtown Burbank, CA.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Minimum Donation of $25 per dog.</span></b><br />
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<b>It's dog PAWS for a CAUSE!</b><br />
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Lace up your walking shoes, leash up your dog, gather your training treats and toys and get ready for a fun morning of training!<br />
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Throughout this one-hour training walk, we'll practice loose-leash walking, sitting politely for petting, quick name response, fun tricks and much more. AND - we'll do it all while simultaneously working on attention and focus around distractions as we take advantage of Downtown Burbank's busy backdrop. It's a great training and urban socialization experience for your dog, with the added benefit of the "warm fuzzies" that come with knowing your ENTIRE enrollment fee (minus minimal PayPal service fees) will benefit the Deaf Education And Families Project. (Online registration, below.) Exact meeting location will be emailed to the address associated with your PayPal account. Due to the charitable nature of this event, refunds are not available.<br />
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<b><u>What is DEAF Project?</u></b><br />
The Deaf Education And Families Project (DEAF Project) is a non-profit organization that empowers families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing through outreach and education. Regular activities help parents realize the positive lifetime journey of bonding with and raising a deaf or hard-of-hearing child versus struggling with how to "fix" a "disabled" child -- while learning how to successfully advocate for their children's emotional and educational needs. The organization utilizes parent mentors, who themselves are raising DHH kids, to offer invaluable experience and emotional support to fellow parents and families. DEAF Project also conducts three free, weekly American Sign Language classes for families. Ninety-five percent of DHH children are born to hearing families, many of whom have never met someone who is deaf or hard of hearing. These classes play a critical role in enhancing communication between the family and the DHH child.<br />
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<b>REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION:</b><br />
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<li>Registration is reserved for dogs with whom I've personally worked, either professionally or recreationally. VHOC and other area dog club members (with appropriate dogs) are also encouraged to participate.</li>
<li>NO DOG/DOG OR DOG/HUMAN AROUSAL/AGGRESSION ISSUES, PLEASE. </li>
<li>Participating dogs should be at an intermediate or advanced skill level. </li>
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<b><span style="color: red;">Submission of payment assumes participant's acknowledgement and acceptance of the following:</span></b><br />
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<i>I hereby release Stephanie Colman/Caninestein Dog Training, and any person acting on her behalf or at her request, from all liability for loss, damage or injury to me, my dog or my guests, and agree to hold harmless from all liability, damage, cost or expense (including all attorney fees) arising out of any claim, demand or action based upon any occurrence concerning myself, my guests or my dog. I understand that I alone am responsible for my dog's behavior, and that I assume full liability for my dog's actions. Further, I understand that, based on my dog's behavior at any given time, I may be asked to remove my dog from some or all of the training walk, and in such case, no portion of my pre-paid donation will be refunded to me.</i><br />
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<tr><td><input name="on0" type="hidden" value="Donation Amount" />Donation Amount</td></tr>
<tr><td><select name="os0">
<option value="Star Supporter!">Star Supporter! $25.00 USD</option>
<option value="Hearty Helper!">Hearty Helper! $40.00 USD</option>
<option value="Fantastic Friend!">Fantastic Friend! $50.00 USD</option>
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If you are unable to attend the walk, but would still like to support DEAF Project, <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/deafprojectconference/x/319567" target="_blank">please click here to make a separate donation.</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thank You for Your Support!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We look forward to a fun training adventure!</b></span></form>
Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-248907766213145702012-11-20T14:11:00.000-08:002012-11-20T14:11:12.943-08:00Doggone good Thanksgiving celebrations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ11v6JpOLNdmKlzvnDaPhkgX_394Ksi4IQu3LkH54NHl50R-GACtO67psPbOGDeWxvwKfcVXo52vLbNmj26frF3eYPjdEudodtVawqt4jYmyEHhT8tcrYEULgS71tzbAhfb-3KVT0tcbU/s1600/Thanksgiving+Pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ11v6JpOLNdmKlzvnDaPhkgX_394Ksi4IQu3LkH54NHl50R-GACtO67psPbOGDeWxvwKfcVXo52vLbNmj26frF3eYPjdEudodtVawqt4jYmyEHhT8tcrYEULgS71tzbAhfb-3KVT0tcbU/s320/Thanksgiving+Pic.JPG" width="185" /></a></div>
As you and your family prepare to gather around the table this Thursday, don't forget to keep an eye on your animal friends. Even the best-behaved dogs can forget their manners when their noses are in over-drive!<br />
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Check out <a href="http://caninestein.blogspot.com/2009/11/holiday-begging.html" target="_blank">these tips to keep your pets safe</a> around your your Thanksgiving feast, and <a href="http://caninestein.blogspot.com/2009/11/thanksgiving-manners.html" target="_blank">these tips to help make sure all humans and canines can peacefully coexist</a> throughout the day.<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving!<br />
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<br />Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-17401106769874861382012-10-25T00:13:00.002-07:002012-10-25T19:31:32.610-07:00Halloween night as a training opportunity for your dog.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogfTJ-AuiPODUQvRfVWMrrTfnYhfHXYxlr-AoA1ofWIkIwzK4pFoSCe-Y9E5ebFdRgB_50my9Jld9WvUkpozzCIWnP77IWC4PlRsPPAaK8DIMDkMpecVGo2PsvCMrQdcL_ZA3XpOukrm6/s1600/Tommy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogfTJ-AuiPODUQvRfVWMrrTfnYhfHXYxlr-AoA1ofWIkIwzK4pFoSCe-Y9E5ebFdRgB_50my9Jld9WvUkpozzCIWnP77IWC4PlRsPPAaK8DIMDkMpecVGo2PsvCMrQdcL_ZA3XpOukrm6/s200/Tommy.JPG" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devilishly Handsome</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Halloween is coming, and if the consistent doorbell ringing turns your dog into a Raging Barkasarus, this training tip can help! With a little strategic pre-planning, you can turn Halloween into a great training opportunity for both kids and your dog.<br />
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<a href="http://www.caninestein.blogspot.com/2009/10/trick-or-treat-and-train-your-dog.html" target="_blank">Click to watch "Trick or Treat and Train Your Dog!"</a><br />
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There's also a written version of this training technique, <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/handling-your-dog-when-halloween-trick-o-treaters-visit" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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AND - if you'd like your dog to wear a costume, <a href="http://caninestein.blogspot.com/2009/10/prepping-your-pooch-for-howl-ween.html" target="_blank">check out these tips</a> on teaching him to not just <i>tolerate</i> but <b><i>like</i></b> wearing his Hairy Pawter get-up! <br />
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Written version of wear-a-costume training technique is available, <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/how-to-teach-your-dog-to-wear-a-halloween-costume" target="_blank">here</a>. <b>Note</b>: I describe draping the costume over your dog and feeding for 10 seconds, but this assumes your dog is comfortable with the approach of the costume. If you dog begins to shy away, start MUCH smaller. For example, hold the costume in one hand and feed a treat with the other. Repeat 10 times. Then reach toward the dog with the costume, but don't touch him with it, and then feed a treat. Repeat 10 times. You get the idea, right? Break it down into steps that are so small and simple, it doesn't even dawn on your dog to worry about the costume in your hand.<br />
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Happy Howloween!Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-54136740872635208762012-10-17T16:55:00.000-07:002012-11-04T13:43:26.515-08:00Why learning American Sign Language is like being a dog.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91u09UBmKTRIHdFGZq3VYmdK-Po9hzL260Fno5L3_5TdrdypY-wmrnzg3VrnL_9i7xaxW-Q44W1byoDc6I0CQrAQB6THX0qIN48a72zpCIG7E3rYGlxG2n1iEtjJYhEyl0ElVs16I6YNz/s1600/asl+alphabet.jpg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91u09UBmKTRIHdFGZq3VYmdK-Po9hzL260Fno5L3_5TdrdypY-wmrnzg3VrnL_9i7xaxW-Q44W1byoDc6I0CQrAQB6THX0qIN48a72zpCIG7E3rYGlxG2n1iEtjJYhEyl0ElVs16I6YNz/s1600/asl+alphabet.jpg.gif" width="190" /></a></div>
I've recently taken up the art of learning American Sign Language. It's something I've always been interested in, and I've tried to learn twice before, but lacked easy access to people with whom I could practice. Now I have at least two friends who sign, and I'm paying for school anyway (getting my graduate degree), so I figured, why not?<br />
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I really like the instructor. She's very personable and extremely expressive, which makes understanding her signs much, much easier. What I've come to realize, though, is that everyone signs things just a little bit differently. Even when using the same gesture, two people can employ subtle differences in precisely how they bend/twist/shape their hands. I think of them as visual accents.<br />
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What's interesting - and the tie-in to dog training - is realizing just how dependent I am on the instructor's specific "accent." I find that I sometimes struggle to understand other signers when they layer their own "accent" onto a sign. ToMAYto, toMAHto? Yes - but not when you're first learning.<br />
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Think of your dog during an obedience class. You think he "knows" sit (or whatever behavior you're working on) because you do it all the time. But when you practice, you generally have the habit of standing directly in front of your dog. Your body's "accent" is to be in front of the dog, and he is keenly aware of this. Later, when he's standing in proper heel position at your left side, and you ask him to sit, you've changed your body's "accent" and he's likely to struggle with the "sit" behavior.<br />
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Of course, the more you practice having your dog sit - in lots of different positions relative to you - the quicker he'll generalize the behavior (that "sit" means "butt-on-floor" no matter where he is in relation to you). Eventually, he'll become fluent at sitting - meaning it will happen anywhere, any time and it's never confused with a different cue.<br />
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For me, the more people with whom I practice signing, the sooner I'll begin to fully generalize the hand shapes and won't be as thrown by subtle visual differences. I don't know that I'll ever become truly fluent, but much like when training a dog, you don't know what you're truly capable of until you try!Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-16896739374623408772012-08-14T11:21:00.000-07:002012-08-14T11:21:24.022-07:00Benefits of Barrier TrainingI tweeted this pic of my dogs a few minutes ago:<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-left" width="350">
Benefits of barrier training. Dogs can chill out of the painter's way. <a href="http://t.co/0hmnyxul" title="http://twitter.com/caninestein/status/235438234707038208/photo/1">twitter.com/caninestein/st…</a><br />
— Stephanie Colman (@caninestein) <a data-datetime="2012-08-14T18:10:26+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/caninestein/status/235438234707038208">August 14, 2012</a></blockquote>
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Watching my dogs lie calmly behind the gate reminded me of what a great skill this is. Yes, I could've crated them, but my apartment is small so I only keep one crate set up, and using the gate gives them the freedom to mill around in the hallway, bathroom and bedroom. That's got to be more interesting than sitting in a crate.<br />
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Taking the time to teach various life skills (such as the ability to be confined) really helps make life less stressful for everyone. When it comes to confinement, I think it's good to have options. If you've already crate trained your dog, look around at where else you might be able to create dog-safe zones that provide a bit more space, or at the very least, an alternative to crating. <br />
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-27921258882238887472012-08-06T10:56:00.001-07:002012-08-06T10:56:27.735-07:00Keep Your Dog Safe in the Water During the Dog Days of Summer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6t6yneTl1CoNhSMyOr7qgx8wwGdgIoUVv9itGNTx5j2syeZPbopu627pHNGBR4_3Nece5NqOVp7m-WzK-TY3BWxXK8wXs02n4FsYnjoIqKwVhPAB1o0xazrClIfGRR041vTR5vDTUjKrY/s1600/LakeQuiz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6t6yneTl1CoNhSMyOr7qgx8wwGdgIoUVv9itGNTx5j2syeZPbopu627pHNGBR4_3Nece5NqOVp7m-WzK-TY3BWxXK8wXs02n4FsYnjoIqKwVhPAB1o0xazrClIfGRR041vTR5vDTUjKrY/s400/LakeQuiz.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/15_8/features/Safe-Water-Play-With-Your-Dog_20581-1.html" target="_blank">Safe Swimming for Dogs!</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">The kind, dog-loving folks over at Whole Dog Journal were nice enough to offer my recent feature on water safety for dogs as a full access article - no subscription needed! (Click "Safe Swimming for Dogs!" to be directed to the article.) As you and your dogs try and stay cool during the Dog Days of Summer, be sure to stay safe! AND, if you're in the Los Angeles area, and would like some help getting your dog used to the water or to perfect his paddle technique, I can help with that!</span><br />
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P.S. The pic is my dog, Quiz. We recently spent a few days in Big Bear Lake. It's a dog's paradise up there... hiking AND water play, all right outside your cabin door!Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-19564188703514449442012-06-29T10:44:00.001-07:002012-06-29T10:45:01.564-07:00Summer Boarding for Pets<span style="font-size: small;">Traveling without your dog this summer? Consider these tips when deciding how best to care for your dog while you're away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.stephaniecolman.com/WDJ%20Pet%20Boarding%20Jan%202010.pdf" target="_blank">Home Away From Home</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video/#%21/on-air/as-seen-on/Dog-Bites--Boarding/79791847" target="_blank">'Today in LA' Boarding Kennel Segment</a></span><br />
<br />Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-44828383214076024392012-06-28T17:01:00.000-07:002012-06-28T17:01:06.763-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Keep Your Dogs Safe on July 4!</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1X56JzPP0EHMPrIbcVTnfri4EYjCRDsU_XsBJF37ORIWBnmVXeayELlAjzh-fs2PvooGXdjdMoQJM07camOhlGl-dp_1Po4iL8q0le_3xF4zqKTAZW4xtTwcxnglQI1XR-hJPbUZL4Az/s1600/July+4+Quiz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1X56JzPP0EHMPrIbcVTnfri4EYjCRDsU_XsBJF37ORIWBnmVXeayELlAjzh-fs2PvooGXdjdMoQJM07camOhlGl-dp_1Po4iL8q0le_3xF4zqKTAZW4xtTwcxnglQI1XR-hJPbUZL4Az/s400/July+4+Quiz.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/4th-of-july-safety-for-dogs" target="_blank">Click here for my article on Fourth of July safety for dogs.</a></div>
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Lots of great tips to help dogs who are afraid of fireworks.</div>Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-61517328957306283412012-06-27T15:41:00.003-07:002012-06-27T15:45:50.832-07:00Summer fun with dogs!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCxAyQ1k7hTiO-qR1M6OUfX2IekUyG3aUD6zDcPl2JnZHwah4sWSi6ZcbqUNcvV4FXJ7_8ZQJ0oHH99knQ2ZV2JJCvdRs-5WOkETxXfrJps-W5W222YxjIoLZzuiwBeZjVBVqh3jVd4zi/s1600/Quiz+Water.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCxAyQ1k7hTiO-qR1M6OUfX2IekUyG3aUD6zDcPl2JnZHwah4sWSi6ZcbqUNcvV4FXJ7_8ZQJ0oHH99knQ2ZV2JJCvdRs-5WOkETxXfrJps-W5W222YxjIoLZzuiwBeZjVBVqh3jVd4zi/s200/Quiz+Water.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't love a good pool party?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Summer is here!</b></span><br />
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As you enjoy the summer months with your friends, family and pets, don't forget to keep your dogs safe around the backyard pool.<br />
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Dogs, just like kids, benefit from swimming lessons! The goal of a dog swim safety lesson is to teach him the safe way to enter and exit the pool - whether or not he likes the water. Even accomplished swimmers can drown when they unsuccessfully try to climb out at the side of the pool instead of at a set of steps.<br />
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I can help make your dog pool-safe. To book a pool training lesson, please call me at (818) 989-7996.<br />
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Following is a pool training segment I shot in partnership with J9's K9s Dog Training:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bdcJgxnpuf4?rel=0" width="420"></iframe>Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-17896806781772184642010-02-01T12:20:00.001-08:002010-02-01T12:22:02.640-08:00The Nose Knows: Benefits of Sniffing!For a dog, sniffing can be a calming gesture and a great way to diffuse tension in a group. Learn how we can use this to our advantage by putting sniffing on cue!<br /><br /><object id="888" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="394" width="448"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=83247142&path=%2Fstation%2Fshows"/><embed src="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=83247142&path=%2Fstation%2Fshows" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="394" width="448"></embed><p style="font-size:small">View more news videos at: <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video">http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video</a>.</p></object>Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-67208971753748738712010-01-22T10:40:00.001-08:002010-01-22T10:42:29.475-08:00Nothing in Life is Free - Establishing Teamwork with your Canine Friend!Rewards come in all shapes and sizes. Teach your dog that keeping you happy is the key that opens the door to all things wonderful by asking for a simple behavior before you do something for him.<br /><br /><object id="8610" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="394" width="448"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=82400192&path=%2Fstation%2Fshows%2Fknbc%2Fdog-bites"/><embed src="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=82400192&path=%2Fstation%2Fshows%2Fknbc%2Fdog-bites" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="394" width="448"></embed><p style="font-size:small">View more news videos at: <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video">http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video</a>.</p></object>Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-17467868801207975822010-01-13T08:50:00.000-08:002010-01-13T08:55:57.309-08:00The Trick is in the Training!Teaching tricks is not only fun for you and your dog, but also a great way to get in some quality training time! What may look like just a fun parlor trick is also a great way to practice self-control, retrieve skills and drop it. Here, Hope the Border Collie learns to retrieve a hankie from my pocket on the cue of a sneeze!<br /><br /><object id="3777" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="394" width="448"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=81322802&path=%2Fstation%2Fshows"/><embed src="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=81322802&path=%2Fstation%2Fshows" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="394" width="448"></embed><p style="font-size:small">View more news videos at: <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video">http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video</a>.</p></object>Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-78821654714365922762010-01-13T07:58:00.000-08:002010-01-13T08:04:52.562-08:00Putting "Routine" in "Routine Vet Visit."Once you've done your pre-vet, at-home work (<a href="http://caninestein.blogspot.com/2010/01/vet-prep-101.html">See Vet Prep 101</a>), it's time to work on keeping your dog calm and under control while in the waiting room of the vet's office. Do your dog a favor and visit the office for fun - when he doesn't have to be there! A few rounds of doing so will go a long way to improve his behavior when a real visit happens.<br /><br /><object id="3866" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="448" height="394"><param name="_cx" value="11853"><param name="_cy" value="10424"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=81248637&path=%2Fstation%2Fshows"><param name="Src" value="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=81248637&path=%2Fstation%2Fshows"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="-1"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value=""><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="ShowAll"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value=""><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="false"><embed src="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=81248637&path=%2Fstation%2Fshows" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="394" width="448"></embed><p style="font-size:small">View more news videos at: <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video">http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video</a>.</p></object>Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7285331751609305317.post-84752273884786566032010-01-06T12:37:00.000-08:002010-01-06T12:38:56.524-08:00Vet Prep 101Quick tips to help make vet visits less stressful -- for you, for your dog and the vet staff!<br /><br /><object id="1458" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" height="394" width="448"><param value="always" name="allowscriptaccess" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=80783962&path=%2Fstation%2Fas-seen-on"/><embed src="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/syndication?id=80783962&path=%2Fstation%2Fas-seen-on" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="394" width="448"></embed><p style="font-size:small">View more news videos at: <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video">http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video</a>.</p></object>Stephanie Colmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12950766022659866206noreply@blogger.com0