Monthly Archives: July 2009

Success Program of Shelter dog

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Highland Canine Training and Forever Home Canine Rescue, teamed up through our Second Chance Program for Shelter/Rescue dogs and found Scout a forever loving home!

Scout is a beautiful full blooded black lab that had issues with manners and mild dog aggression. Scout was rescued by Kelly Ratcliff who volunteers with Forever Home Canine Rescue to find Scout a new home. Kelly worked on basic obedience for Scout and then followed up with an in-kennel stay here at Highland Canine Training to work on the dog aggression issues. Scout made tremendous progress and his new owners are doing a great job maintaining his training and exposing him to new things gradually to keep control of the aggression issues. Here is what Scout’s new family had to say about him!

He is such a great dog! He has just melted right into our family. He is house trained, sleeps all night on his bed. He’s wonderful with my son and the kids in the neighborhood. And we couldn’t believe how fast he is! We took him to Fisher Farm in Davidson, there is about 5 acres of open field there. He can flat out fly after a tennis ball!
He heels off leash with me now (in controlled environment only for now), sits, stays, goes to his place when told, still loves to shake paw. We’ve taught him to sit and wait for the ‘ok’ command before eating, getting into the car or going in/out of the house. We found that he was just so excited that he often knocked into our son but he got the command after the first day of training.
He goes to work with me everyday and has a bed in my office. He is doing great with the socialization training. Rarely now do I have to leash correct him, he seems to respond better to verbal commands now. When he gets “that look” we give him his verbal cue, he relaxes and we praise him for relaxing. Afterwards he seems to be ok. It’s almost like he’s just really insecure and needs to be told that other dogs are ok (after he’s correct for the inappropriate response).
Anyway,,,, probably more than you wanted to know but we are just so happy with him. What a GREAT dog he is!
I’ll attach a couple pictures for you guys.
Thanks again for taking care of him all that time so he could get to us.
-Aimee

We are so excited to hear about the great outcomes of our Second Chance Program through the hard work of our Shelter/Rescue groups…Keep up the good work guys!

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

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I just finished a great read titled ” The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” by David Wroblewski and I just wanted to share my thoughts with you. The story is based on a family in the 1950′s who bred a new breed of dog for generations on a farm in Northern Wisconsin. The story is not entirely centered around dog training/breeding, this story of fiction will have you captivated and thinking about the Sawtelle’s for days after you finish the read.

This story touched me more so, simply because we have our kennels here at our home, their everyday chores, and their dedication to training and raising dogs is amazing. I highly recommend this read even if your not a total dog lover!

What is Rally Obedience?

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Rally Obedience, known as Rally O is the hot sport for dog owners who enjoy working with their dogs as a team. The dog and handler team navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform. The exercises include sit-down-sit, figure 8, send over a jump, a multitude of right and left turns, as well as serpentines, front finish and of course, heel. The team navigates through the course at a brisk pace without directions from the judge and the handler can talk to the dog or give hand signals for encouragement.

All dogs, mixed breeds, purebred and dogs with disabilities, can participate in Rally O. Because there are three levels of Rally O dogs in all levels of training can participate. Beginners would work on heel positioning, sits, turning paces, sit stay and come. As the dog becomes more proficient he/she can move to level 2 then level 3.

Titles can be earned at each level and teams may earn Championship titles, National Ranking Awards and a special Award of Excellence.

Rally is an excellent entry level class for Competition Obedience and for Agility. Even though Rally O is a lot of fun, it is a challenging sport that encourages teamwork and develops a bond between the dog and owner. The result will be a well behaved, thinking dog and a very proud owner.

If you think you and your dog would like to try Rally O, or if you just have questions about the sport or the next class schedule, contact Linda Taylor at 704-500-6810 or you may e-mail her at ltaylor@highlandcanine.com.

That Barking Dog Is Driving Me Crazy

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We don’t understand all of the reasons dogs bark, we just know it is irritating and we want them to “BE QUIET.” We get angry and yell at them and sometimes we resort to punishing them. Instead of behaving this way we need to take the time to understand what they are trying to tell us.

Like us, dogs have a language and barking is part of that language. With a little understanding and proper training we can solve the barking problem.

Barking can be classified as follows:
1. Excitement Barking
2. Warning Barking
3. Fear Barking
4. Guard Barking
5. Frustration Barking
6. Learned Barking

We have heard all 6 of these barks, but probably didn’t pay much attention to the differences.

Excitement barking is usually a series of high pitched barks and a lot of body movement. The warning bark is a quick low sounding bark. It sounds like the word “woof.” Fear barking is high pitched and like excitement barking it comes in a long series of barks. Unlike excitement barking which sounds happy, fear barking sounds like the dog is becoming hysterical.

Guard barking is easy to recognize. The dog will growl then bark. The barking may be one or two or even three times followed by another growl. We have all heard frustration barking. That’s the one that drives us crazy. It is the endless bark bark bark bark bark bark that seems to go on forever. And of course, learned barking is the bark that your dog does to get your attention. The dog will bark and then turn to look at you knowing that some type action will take place. Most of us have reinforced that behavior unknowingly.

So the next time you think a barking dog is aggressive, dominant, or is just being a pain in the neck don’t get angry, instead take a moment to listen.

The Dr. Diana Bowman Center Pet Fair!

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Where: Pet Envy 246 North Center Street in downtown Statesville.

When: Sunday July 19, 2009 12:00-4:00p.m.

Outdoor event at Pet Envy Grooming Salon in down town Statesville, NC. Event’s include: children’s games, prizes, raffles, great food, vendors, and last but not least; pets available for adoption!

Enter your dog in the cutest pet contest and win a $50.00 cash prize! Regristration will be from 2:00-3:00 p.m. The contest will begin at 3:30p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Bowman Center.

Pet Portraits $15.00 includes the sitting fee and one 8 X 10. Family members maybe in the picture for no extra charge. Call Elaine at 704-872-4090 to schedule a time for your portrait!

Please come and support our cause to save a pet’s life and keep Dr. Diana Bowman’s memory alive!

www.drdianabowmancenter.com
dbowmancenter@yahoo.com