After a rough few months, the Dog Trainer is back!

Dog Trainer just before back surgery

The Lovely and Awesome Shane

As many of you know, I have not been working much the last several months. I have had some pretty severe problems with nerve pain in my right leg. It turns out that the problem seems to have been a pinched nerve in my lower back. The nerve was being pinched by a ruptured disc.

After trying physical therapy and three rounds of very uncomfortable steroidal injection in the lower back, I had surgery to remove the offending disc material. The surgery was done two months ago.

I am still having some pain but it is getting better every day. I am not yet back to doing all the handyman work that I usually provide but, I am back to dog training!

The lovely and awesome Shane has been, and continues to be a big help to me!

Copper is ready for work!

Copper, my demo beagle,  is also looking forward to getting back to work! We are both ready to help you with any training issues that you may have!

If you would like Copper and I to help you train your dogs to be polite little guys and girls, please contact us!

I always say, " Polite Dogs = Happy People". Let us help you to become happy today!

Till Next Time -

William

Professional Dog Trainer
Co-Owner
Moore Services for Your Money
678-702-4791
mooresvs.com

New Website

As most of my readers know, I also operate a lawn maintenance and handyman business. I have also offered commercial custodial services for many years as part of the handyman business.

Since we were married, the lovely, beautiful, and talented Shane has been a great help to me in these business endeavors. Shane has recently joined me as a full time partner (co-owner) in these business efforts.

Shane has recently begun building a residential cleaning offering.

I have wanted to get an Internet Domain Name for many years. We have finally done that and built a web site.

The new web site is: www.mooresvs.com . This web site will provide information on all of out service offerings including Dog Training. This blog will continue operating to provide dog training information, advice, and some of my commentary to our customers and the general public. I intend to update it more often in the future.  Recent health issues have prevented me from updating the blog as often as I should. I am recovering nicely now!

We will continue to offer the Dog Training services that we have always provided. The new website and new holding company name "Moore Services for your Money" is simply intended to provide our customers with a more convenient  way to access and learn about the services that we offer.

Thank you for your continued support!

Copper, the lovely Shane and I look forward to working with you in the future.

Till next time -

William

Advice regarding stores that suddenly deny access to your dog.

Copper Whopper helping me in the shop.

As many of my readers know, I also own and operate a Lawn Maintenance/Handyman business.By the way, we provide the best and most reliable service available anywhere.

I often take one or two of the pack to work with me when weather conditions are mild.

Recently Copper and I went to work together. We were purchasing material an tools for a custom shelving job. Copper has done this with me many times before. We were in Harbor Freight Tools in Fayetteville, GA. This is one of our frequent stops. Copper was on leash (as he always is when we are out) and we were approached by an associate of the store who asked that I put Copper in a shopping cart or remove him. Well, as you can imagine, a shopping cart, for many reasons, is not an option for Copper. So, I did not cause a scene. We simply went to the check-out, paid for our stuff, and departed for our next stop.

I never suggest that you start an argument with anyone who ask you to remove your pet dog. Please comply with a business owner's ( or in this case their representative's) request. It is, after all, their property and this is a free country. They have the absolute right to deny service or access to anyone at anytime and I would not have it any other way.

I was however, confused. Copper had been welcome in that establishment for a long time. So, I contacted Harbor Freight Tools through their website. I sent them an email in which I respectfully requested clarification on their policies and explained my concerns regarding the safety of pet dogs in shopping carts.

I learned that this was simply an encounter with an employee who did not understand the policy.

This is an except from the email I got from Harbor Freight:

Good Afternoon Mr. Moore,

I am sorry to hear that you had a bad experience in our store.
I know who you are because I see you in the store with your dog.
It is not a policy nor is there a law that should keep you from bringing your dog into our store.
You and your dog is more than welcome in our store at any time. The only time that we may<sic> band a dog if customer’s felt threaten by a dog and I would confer with my boss and the office before making that decision.
If you will let me know who told you not to bring your dog back into the store, I will correct the situation.
The small business owner is the meat and potatoes of our business. We too are a small one owner company.
I am looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you and Copper in the store soon.
Thanks,
Bill

Bill Tesney
Store Manager
HFT352
1415 HWY 85 North
Fayetteville, GA 30214
Store Phone: 770-461-5521
HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS
Quality Tools at Ridiculously Low Prices


I responded with a description of the employee whom I encountered along with further clarification of my concerns:

Hello Mr. Tensey-

Thank you for your response.

I was never told to not bring Copper back into the store. I was told to put him into a shopping cart.

My experience and observations of canine behavior, in my work as a professional dog trainer, has influenced my belief that a shopping cart can be a very dangerous place for a dog. The issue is two-fold. If a dog is stressed, for any reason, being confined is not a good thing. This makes the effects of the anxiety much stronger for the dog. It has been my experience that a confined dog is exponentially more likely to bite. The other issue with confinement to something like a shopping cart is that shopping carts were not really designed with our canine buddies in mind. The large openings between the mesh on the bottom can lead to injury. It is also difficult to get a dog larger than medium size in and out of a shopping cart.

The above is my concern. I simply want to know if dogs are allowed to walk on the floor, on a leash  in your store. The representative who asked me to put Copper in a shopping cart was a white lady I believe she had brunette or dark color hair. Probably about 5'6" - 5'9" in height (if I remember correctly). I was a little rushed on the day of the incident so, I did not really discuss it with her. I simply told her that we were on our way out and went to the register.

I work with many customers who are interested in pet friendly places to bring their dogs. I maintain an Internet Blog at http://fayettedogtrainer.blogspot.com. I would like to accurately indicate your policy to my customers. Are dogs required to be in shopping carts?

By the way, I completely understand and agree that you absolutely have the right to ban any dog that you consider to be a threat to safety. In fact, other that the case of service dogs, you, as a business, can ban dogs altogether. That is your company's decision and I respect that right. I am not upset, I simply want to understand Harbor Freight Tools' position and policy on pet dogs in your stores.

Thank you again, and Copper and I look forward to seeing you soon. We are in there quite frequently to pick up tools that we need for the Handyman business.

Have a good day!


-William Moore

This is the response I got back:

Good Morning Mr Moore,
Thank you for your response.
On a leash in the store is fine.
We have numerous dogs that come in our store all the time.
The managers that I spoke all know who you are and have no problem.
Let me know if you need anything else.
I will speak to <name censored> about the incident from the other day.
Thanks,
Bill

Bill Tesney
Store Manager
HFT352
1415 HWY 85 North
Fayetteville, GA 30214
Store Phone: 770-461-5521
Cell Phone: 770-359-8112
HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS
Quality Tools at Ridiculously Low Prices

This, my friends, is the way that professionals handle this sort of situation. I asked for clarification and Bill Tensey provided the clarification I requested. I was never mad, simply concerned and a bit confused.

Now I can report that Harbor Freight Tools is a pet friendly business. Please be respectful of Harbor Freight Tools, or any other business, and do not bring your dog in unless they are properly housebroken and behave well on leash.

If you need assistance in training your dog to be a polite little guy or girl in public, or anywhere else, please contact me.

Till Next Time

-William-

Updated information regarding giving pills to dogs.

Earlier, I wrote a blog post in which I mentioned the method that we use here, at the Dog Training/Foster Shack, to give dogs medication in pill form.

One of the things that I suggested in that earlier post was to hide the pill in cheese or a hot dog as an alternative to the pill pockets and similar products that are available, for a high price, at the pet stores.  I mentioned that we used block cheese and that our pack prefers extra strong cheddar. The pack still loves extra strong cheddar, as do I. However, the other day, we ran out of the block cheese and only had the pre-sliced imitation american cheese pictured above. I gave Copper his pill wrapped in this stuff and he loved it.  This stiff is a little cheaper than the block cheese and, I found that it is easier to conceal the pill in it. You can just wrap this stuff around the pill and sort of squeeze it together like play dough.

So, you may want to consider this the next time you have to give your dog a pill.

Till next time

-William-

William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

My dog ignores me when I call. The importance of recall.

The Importance of Recall Training

One of the most common things that folks ask me about involves teaching a dog to consistently come when called. Dog trainers (just to sound cool) call this recall.

A polite dog should be very consistent at coming to you when you call. However, like everything else in dog training, this requires consistency in training. The dog must get a consistent message from you. The absolute most important thing to remember is that responding to your come command must not be seen, by the dog, as optional. I am in no way suggesting that you punish the dog for not responding. However, if the dog does not respond, you must be prepared to physically walk over to the dog and get his attention.

Recall is important for the safety of the dog. It is also important because a lot of other things that you will likely want to accomplish in training rely, to a large extent, upon good recall.

I know this sounds like it does not need to be pointed out.... but... I am going to point it out anyway (this is my blog I suppose I can do that :) ) : The dog must respond to his/her name before recall has any chance at all of working. Before you begin your recall training the dog must understand his/her name! 

Does this guy look complex to you? All Dr. Phil McBeagle
really wants here is attention from his foster daddy.
Affection is a great motivator for Dr. Phil. Treats are
not bad either :).

I have mentioned many times before, on this blog, that dogs are not complex. They really are not complex.  You must keep that in mind. They do not understand the English language. Therefore, repeating their names or commands can really be confusing to these little guys. For instance, when I want Copper to come to me, I call his name one time i.e. " Copper" then I give the command (or cue)" Come". Those are the only two words I use.  If I need to get his attention again, I make kissing sounds or whistle or maybe even snap my fingers. I never repeat the command (or cue) or his name. The reasoning for this is very simple. If I repeat his name, Copper may begin to think his name is "Copper....Copper.... Copper" or that the cue (or command) to which he needs to respond is " Come...Come...Come". 

By the way, I also tell folks that it is really important to use a verbal and visual cue. For instance, Copper knows the hand signal for "Come" and if he can see me, I should not have to use the verbal cue. This is part of training for a polite dog. For instance, if I am in a conversation with another person and want Copper to come over, I should not have to stop my conversation to call him, simply using the visual cues should work too.

Foster Boy Tiny and Foster Boy Biscuit playing on the porch.
This is an example of something that is fun for the dogs
and a potential distraction when you call them.

It is really beyond the scope of this post to teach you step-by-step how to accomplish good recall. However, I want to encourage you that it can be done! Sometimes it is frustrating but you can be successful.

A large part of success however, involves setting realistic expectations. You will very likely never get 100% recall from any dog. This is especially true with the scent hound breeds. If a dog is on the trail of some interesting scent, it is difficult. However, you can get really good recall. The times when the dog does not respond should be rare. 

You must also remember that this is a process. You have to first get your dog to come consistently with no distractions before you introduce distractions. There are techniques that allow adding distractions slowly. For instance, the dog should consistently come to you when you are in the same room in the house before you start trying it when the dog can not see you ( i.e. you are in another room). And until the dog comes consistently from another room with a few distractions, you should not expect him to come when he is outside with all the interesting smells and cool fun things to do!

Treats can be a powerful motivator

You also must have some type of motivation to entice the dog to do something that he really does not want to do, like come to you when he would rather play with a pack mate or chase a squirrel. I often use treats in the beginning.  To address my trainer friends who do not like this technique, I will point out that I do not have to use the treats forever. If the dog begins to associate fun things (like getting a tasty treat) with doing what I want him to do, he will be more likely to do it even if he does not get a treat every time. Eventually it will become routine for him. There are different techniques for training. I have found that I have success with this positive motivation method. So, I use it!

If you need help teaching your dog recall, Copper and I will be happy to help! Good recall is essential for a polite dog. I always tell you that " Polite Dogs = Happy People". So, call me and let me help you get happy today!

Till next time,

-William-

William Moore Canine Training

678-702-4791

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

Do dogs sense when their pack mates are sick?

Copper the Whopper Beagle spending time with his
buddy Sammy who is recovering from
surgery.

I wrote a blog post earlier addressing the questions of whether or not our dogs know when we are sick. I am convinced that they do sense when we are sick and that they worry about us.

I am equally convinced, through observation, that the same sort of thing occurs between canine pack mates as well. I was reminded of this last night:

The Lovely Shane and I are very greatful
to these folks for being so nice about meeting
us after 10:00pm last night to help us take
care of Foster Boy Sammy the Beagle!

Yesterday, I took our foster boy, Sammy the Beagle, to the Mobile Veterinarian to be neutered. He also got heart worm tested (he is negative!!), got a microchip, and all his shots.

When we got home, the Lovely Shane and I noticed that he was bleeding a little. We did not worry too much at first. However it got worse and about 10:00 pm, we contacted the veterinarian. We ended up going back to the vet last night. Sammy had developed a blood clot. The veterinarian took care of the problem for Sammy and sent us home with pain medication, anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics.

I stayed up most of the night just to check on Sammy and make sure he was doing okay. The Lovely Shane and I were not the only ones concerned, however. I am convinced that Copper was also worried.

In retrospect, I actually think that Copper knew the severity of Sammy's problem before we did. When we bring a dog home from the veterinarian, all the other dogs are curious and have to sniff the guy who just survived the evil alien veterinarian (well at least sometimes it seems that is how they see the vet :) ). Copper's reaction was subtly different in this occasion. He sniffed Sammy as usual but he also followed him around everywhere. Copper would not let Sammy out of his sight. At the time I thought Copper had just missed his new little friend. I think it may have been more than that.

Copper is smart but... I would not
say he is all that complex. As illustrated
here he has simple motivation... food..
for the proper food Copper will do
practically anything :).

After we took Sammy back to the veterinarian late last night, we put an E-collar on him and put him in a crate. Copper stayed near the crate most of the night. Copper continued this for most of the day today. This is unusual for Copper. Occasionally during his watch today, Copper would sniff Sammy through the crate and sort of watch him closely for a little while then lie back down on a bed next to the crate.

I tell this story to make a point. I have often said and written that dogs are not really complex and they really are not. It helps with training if you understand that dogs are not complex. However, the lack of complexity does not mean that they are unaware of the feelings of their pack mates or their people. In fact quite the contrary is true. Dogs can be very sensitive and perceptive. For instance they sense thunderstorms before there is any indication of bad weather. If you spend a lot of time with your dogs, you will notice a difference in behavior just before a bad storm. In fact, Critten, a Lab/Pit Bull mix that lived with me when I was in Florida was very sensitive to the pressure changes during tropical storms and hurricanes.

Critten the weather dog :) .

Foster Boy Charlie the Beagle, Cody the
Little Beagle and Trigger the Dapple
Dachshund share a bed.

This really should not surprise us because these heightened senses are why dogs are so useful in hunting, search/rescue, etc. It is also why they can be trained to be useful to people with PTSD, diabetes, seizure disorders, etc.

I have been around dogs most of my life. While I should expect this sensitivity, it is still, frankly, incredible to watch! God gave these guys a great gift and I feel fortunate to have observed these wonderful creatures!

Keep you eye on your dog.... you might be surprised how much you can learn from these little guys and girls!

If you need help training your little canine buddy to be polite please contact me.  Remember.... Polite Dogs = Happy People! Let me help you to get happy today!

Till next time

-William

William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

Who did it??

Cuddles is as shocked as the Lovely Shane and I were...
She has no idea how this happened! 

A couple of days ago the Lovely, Awesome Shane and I were in the kitchen having a cup of coffee. While we were in the kitchen we heard a crash in the office. Upon closer investigation we found the scene depicted in the photograph. A chair was overturned. How did that happen?  Obviously, barring the possibility of paranormal activity, one of our canine buddies was responsible. Who, oh who, could it be???

Trigger surveys the damage .

The dogs looked at us as if they were as surprised as we were. Fortunately no dogs were injured. Even with polite little guys and girls, like we have in our pack, accidents sometimes happen.

This sort of thing occurs often enough at the Dog Training/Foster Shack that we have come up with a unique and hopefully humorous solution:

We assign a "head dog in charge" each day. That dog is in charge of pack behavior. We were at Wal-Mart the other day and found a little white board that sticks to the refrigerator with a magnet. This thing was on sale for less than a dollar so, we made the investment .We use this to post "head dog in charge" each day. (Yes..... we really do this.... we both have an odd sense of humor, I suppose). Even the foster pack members get to be "head dog in charge". This is a rotating title, a different dog has it each day.  Notice in the picture that Foster Boy Sammy has the honor today!

We enjoy our dogs and have a lot of fun with them. The point of posting this here is that you do not have to always be serious when it comes to dealing with your dogs. Accidents will happen. From time to time stuff will get knocked over. It is all part of having these little guys and girls in our families. I think what happened here is that Copper the Whopper Beagle jumped out of the chair too quickly and turned it over. It is no big deal. We allow him on that chair. He is about the best behaved dog I have ever worked with. He is polite and mild mannered. But, he is a beagle :) .

Copper relaxing on "his" office chair.

If you need help training your little guy or girl to be better behaved, please contact me. I will even help you teach them not to get on your furniture if that is what you desire. The point is that Copper is allowed on the furniture so, I  should not get upset with him when he accidentally knocks a chair over :) Besides, Sammy was in charge, it wasn't Copper's fault......at least that is Copper's story!.

A yard sign I use for my Lawn Maintenance
Handyman business... Yes that is actually an
old reel mower that I use to hold the sign up.

Well... there is more winter weather here in Fayette County, Georgia. We are in the middle of an ice storm here. We lost our electricity, here at the shack, for most of the day today. I understand that a large part of the eastern USA is having similar weather. As I have mentioned before, please, please, please, let your dog inside if you normally keep them outside. Also, make sure that all your dogs are in the house before you close the door if you let them out in a fenced back yard like we do. This winter weather is extremely dangerous for them (as it is for us as well)!

Till Next Time-

William
William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

Dog Training/Foster Shack in snow and ice. The
Lovely Shane and I are staying home until
the roads get better. Yes, that is the Awesome Mobile parked
out front!

A piece of yard art left by a previous occupant. I have not decided
if I like it or not. It is heavy so, I have not felt like moving it either.

Welcome Foster Boy Sammy the Beagle!!!!!!

Foster Boy Sammy. This was taken just before he got his
welcome to the Foster Shack bath.

The Lovely and Awesome Shane, Cuddles the Corgi Mix, Copper the Whopper Beagle, Cody the Little Beagle, Trigger the Dapple Dachshund, Foster Boy Dr. Phil McBeagle and I welcome our newest foster pack member, Sammy the Little Beagle!

Sammy relaxing in a nice warm place inside the Dog
Training/Foster Shack

Sammy is a handsome little tri-color beagle boy. He was found wandering around outdoors near Senoia, GA. A very nice concerned man alerted Michelle Crampo of BullyWag. Inc (Canine Rescue) about little Beagle. Michelle then asked The Lovely Shane and me if we would like to foster the little beagle guy. Of course we were happy to add another little foster beagle to our pack!

Sammy was hanging out with the nice man's dogs. However, Sammy was very scared of people and would not come near us the first evening we visited the Senoia location to attempt to rescue him. We even tried to lure him with extra sharp cheddar cheese ( a beagle delicacy) and he would not come near and actually wandered into the darkness.

The next day, the nice man in Senoia called me on the phone to inform me that he had lured Sammy into a kennel. Of course, the lovely and awesome Shane and I got down there as quickly as possible! With the assistance of the nice man, we had no trouble getting little Sammy into the Awesome Mobile (Shane's car)

Sammy with his new buddy, Trigger.

Sammy was as dirty as any Beagle I have ever encountered :) . We picked him up late Saturday afternoon. We were too late to get him to a vet or shelter to have him scanned for a microchip. I will take him Monday morning to make sure that he did not accidentally become separated from his people. If he has a microchip, we will, of course, return him to his home immediately. However, unfortunately, I suspect he does not have a home.

Sammy is extremely thin. We have begun our efforts to put some weight on the little guy. I am administering Nutri-Cal. He has some appetite but not nearly as good an appetite as he should have. He does however love and I mean absolutely love sharp cheddar cheese! It is the only thing I can consistently get him to eat.

Sammy explores the back yard assisted by Foster Boy
Dr. Phil McBeagle (Phil is available for adoption)

He was very much scared of us at first. He would cower and sort of slink over every time you got near him. We are working with him and he is beginning to walk over to us and let us pet him without cowering much but, he has a great deal of anxiety and has a long way to go.

It is difficult for me to estimate Sammy's age with any level of certainty. However, I think he is either an older puppy or a young adult. He is still fairly playful and has been playing with Trigger. However he does have some tartar on his teeth which indicates the possibility that he could be an adult.

He will have to be neutered , microchipped, heart worm tested, and vaccinated soon.

There is a possibility that Sammy may have some abuse in his past. I allow this possibility because of my observation of his behavior. He is very weary of people. Well actually it is a little more than that: Initially when we approached him he would cower and try to get away (i.e. our first attempt to rescue him).

Look closely at this picture and you can
see how thin Sammy really looks. He is the beagle on the left.

It also appears that he has been in some sort of scuffle or fight with possibly another dog. He has scars on his ears and even small chunks of ear missing.

In any case, the little guy is safe now! We are going to get the weight back on him and get him proper veterinary care and then find him a forever home! So, I will keep you folks posted on his progress because one day soon he will be

Copper Whopper carefully supervising the welcoming
of our newest foster pack member from his viewing station
on the back porch.

available for adoption. He will make some lucky family a great pack addition!

If you have a dog with anxiety problems or if you just need help making your dog a polite little guy or girl, please contact me! As I always tell you, "Polite Dogs = Happy People"! Let me help you get happy today!

Till next time,

William

William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

Copper the Whopper Beagle Demo Dog One Year Aniversary

The Lovely Shane, the entire pack at the Dog Training/Foster Shack and I congratulate Copper the Whopper Beagle on his one year anniversary!

We adopted Copper on January 12, 2013 and he almost immediately became my demo dog. He has an almost perfect personalty for a demo dog. He is very calm and gentle. He loves people and other dogs.

I could not have asked for a better demo dog! He loves to show off the behaviors that make him a polite dog! He is also good at helping to teach other dogs here at the shack!

He has also been a very good companion and friend to me over the past year. When I am sick he takes care of me. I mean he does not leave my side when I am sick. He constantly checks on me. He also helps me in my Lawn Maintenance/Handyman Business. He loves to meet customers and supervise my work (when the weather is mild enough of course).

We all love Copper here and look forward to spending many more years with him! Thank You my buddy, Copper!

If you need help teaching your dogs to be polite little guys/girls, Copper and I will be happy to help you! I always tell you, Polite Dogs = Happy People. Let Copper and I help you get happy today!

Till next time

-William

William Moore 

William Moore Canine Training

678-702-4791

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

William Moore Lawn and Handyman Services

678-702-4791

fayettelawnmoore@gmail.com

fayettelawnmoore.blogspot.com

More Adventures of Dr. Phil McBeagle

Who could not love that face!

The Lovely Shane and I are happy to report that Dr. Phil is progressing nicely here at the Dog Training/Foster Shack!

He is now current on all his vaccinations. He has been heart worm tested and is heart worm negative. He has a cool new microchip. He has been neutered. It has been an eventful couple of weeks for this handsome Beagle.

As I mentioned earlier, he is now on the Copper Whopper diet and exercise plan. I think he is starting to lose a little weight and he is looking good.

He has been to the Saturday afternoon adoption events at Petco in Peachtree City, Georgia a couple of times now. He does very well there. He does not like to be in a crate or a x-pen though. He barks and howls in an attempt to get people to pet him. He stays with me on the leash and loves it! He loves all the attention from people in the store.

Dr. Phil is making good progress in his training as well. He is no longer afraid of doorways. He has learned the sit and down commands. We are now working on the leave it command and on waiting at doorways. He is getting much better at walking on the leash as well!

Dr. Phil enjoying some quality time with Cody and Trigger

As is common with Beagles and Hounds in general, Dr. Phil is very much ruled by his nose. Feeding times seem to be his favorite times of the day! We feed him twice a day as we do with the rest of our pack. He tends to guard his food. We are working with him to address this negative behavior. I think his previous people may have been feeding him three times a day. When he first got here, he followed be around giving me expectant looks around lunch time :) . 

Dr. Phil is a sweet little guy and would make a great addition to your pack! He is very quickly becoming a well behaved and polite little guy. As I tell you frequently, polite dogs = happy people. Dr. Phil will make someone very happy :).

Dr. Phil and his new buddy Copper the Whopper Beagle

If your dog is not as polite as you would like, please contact me at any time! There is hope!

Also, if you would like to add a dog to your pack, please consider adoption! Contact me for more information on Dr. Phil or for the names of some great rescue groups!

Till next time

-William-

Happy New Year and things to remember regarding your dogs this holiday.

The Lovely and Awesome Shane, Cuddles the Corgi mix, Copper the Whopper Beagle, Cody the little Beagle, Trigger the dapple Dachshund, Foster Girl Gracy ( the Georgia Gracy Hound), and Foster Boy Dr. Phil McBeagle wish you a Happy New Year!

The Lovely Shane and I will be observing southern tradition and having collard greens and blackeyed peas on New Years Day.

As I mentioned around July 4, fireworks continue to be illegal in this part of the country. However, this does not seem to stop people from firing them. This may bring out anxiety in your little guys and girls. Our little beagle, Cody is scared of fireworks. We have to try to make him more comfortable at times when they are being fired.

To make Cody more comfortable we will have distractions in the house. We will play some music or turn on the Television set to mask the offending war zone like sounds. It is also important that you not make a big deal about the fireworks. In other words remain calm. Resist the urge to say something like "poor Cody" and put your arms around him when the fireworks go off. This type of reaction makes the anxiety worse. Just ignore the fireworks. If Cody sees no reaction in us, he is likely not react either.

This may go with out mentioning but, I am going to mention it anyway: Please, please, please keep your dog inside during the fireworks. If a dog gets scared he may run off and get hurt or lost in the process.

If you need help teaching your dogs to be polite little boys and girls, please contact me at anytime! I always tell you., " Polite Dogs = Happy People". Let me help you get happy today!

Till next time

-William-

William Moore Canine Training
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com
678-702-4791

Dr. Phil McBeagle anexity update

The brave Dr Phil McBeagle waiting to cross the scary
kitchen doorway at the Dog Training/Foster Shack.

I am happy to report that Dr.Phil McBeagle is making great progress in overcoming his phobia of interior doorways! The Lovely Shane and have been using the techniques that I described in my last post.

Dr. Phil McBeagle bravely crossing the doorway
from living room to Dog Training Office. He is followed by
Cuddles the Corgi Mix.

After two days of using these techniques, Dr. Phil no longer had to be coaxed using treats. Sometimes he does not even slow down through the doorways.

I think it also helped that he could see that the rest of the pack had no problems at the doorways.

We are very proud of Dr.Phil here at the Dog Training Shack!

I hope that Dr.Phil's story helps to encourage some of you who have an anxious dog. There is hope! With the proper technique, persistence, patience and routine, you can be successful as well!

Dr. Phil is a very affectionate beagle. He really loves sitting next to Foster Daddy and getting petted! He can be quite the couch potato. He loves to watch TV. We do not watch that much TV here at the shack. But, Dr. Phil likes to lay next to me on the bed, just before bedtime, and watch a little TV.

Dr. Phil McBeagle exploring the back yard with Copper and Trigger

We are going to now begin working more on loose leash walking. I really don't think Dr. Phil ever really learned to walk on a leash. He does okay, he really does not pull that much but, he likes to put the brakes on so to speak and not move forward. We are going to work with him using positive reinforcement. I think he will make fast progress on loose leash walking.

He is really a smart dog and wants to please the people. However, as is common with beagles, he can be stubborn too.

We have begun our diet and exercise program. It is a little too soon to notice any results. He is quite an active dog for his age so that is encouraging!

I think it has really helped Dr. Phil McBeagle to be a part of our pack. Copper the Whopper Beagle and the rest of the pack have been really good about welcoming him and helping him to learn how the pack should behave. Phil loves to work for treats with Copper and the rest of the pack. We are working on the down command now. He has pretty much mastered sit and stay. We are going to begin working with him on how to wait and behave properly at doorways.

Remember, Dr. Phil is looking for a forever home. He loves it here as a foster at our place, but he really needs a permanent home with people who love him and can devote lots of time to him :) .

Dr. Phil really loves people and attention! He loves to go visit his foster grandparents! They live next door to us and love to pet our dogs and give them treats!

If you need help training your dogs to be polite, please contact me! I always tell you, " Polite Dogs = Happy People" Let me help you to get happy today!!!

Till Next Time

-William-

William Moore Canine Training
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com
678-702-4791

Welcome New Foster Boy: Dr. Phil McBeagle !

Dr. Phil checks out the kitchen at
his new foster home (Dog Trainer/Foster Shack)

The Awesome and Lovely Shane, Copper the Whopper Beagle, Cody the Little Beagle, Cuddles the Corgi Mix, Foster Girl Gracy, and I are pleased to welcome our newest foster pack member Dr. Phil McBeagle.

Phil is about 5 years old. He is a tri-color Beagle with some ticking. He is a sweet boy! Phil was surrendered to BullyWag by a family who could no longer care for him. He is not used to being around a lot of other dogs so, we are slowly introducing him to the pack here. He is nervous but seems to be adjusting well in the first few hours.

He came to us with a flea problem and some minor skin issues that I suspect are a result of flea allergy. As you can likely see in the pictures, he is also a little overweight. Our initial plan is to put him on the Copper Whopper exercise and diet program. It is obvious that he likely has not been getting a great deal of exercise.

He will get his booster shots and go the the veterinarian soon to be neutered, microchipped and heart worm tested. After that process is complete he will likely be available for immediate adoption!

He is a really sweet little guy and needs a forever home! He is housebroken. He knows some basic commands like come and sit. The pack and I will work on a little more training for him while he is here.

Dr. Phil after his bath

His former mommy and daddy say that he loves "hot dogs". For those of you who are unaware, we call these "frankfurter on bun" instead :) . He also loves cheese! Copper was helping me teach him today using cheese as a reward. Former mommy and daddy also inform us that, like most beagles, he loves to bay and howl at appropriate times and is quite the lap dog when he has the opportunity. Also like most beagles, he will try to escape if left alone in the fenced yard for too long.

If your home is beagle proofed, you may want to consider Dr. Phil McBeagle (by the way, his former family just called him Phil.... I like Dr. Phil McBeagle better) as an addition to your pack.

If you are looking for a new pack member, as always, Copper and I strongly encourage you to consider adoption! There are very many dogs, like Dr. Phil McBeagle, that desperately need a new forever home! If you would like information about rescue groups in the Atlanta Area, please contact me at any time!

If you need help training your dog to be a polite little guy, please contact me at anytime! You know, I always tell you, "Polite Dogs = Happy People!" Let Copper and me help you to get happy today!

Till next time -

William

William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

Cody the little beagle's Thanksgiving message

Me resting at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Hello-

I am Cody the little beagle. Copper was bragging about his post on Daddy's blog so I thought I should write one as well.

In May 2013, I was at the Coweta County (Georgia)  animal shelter. I had lots of buddies there. There were nice people who walked me and fed me. It was a sad place though. I did not have a pack of my own and I spent a lot of time in a small cage. I did have a nice little bed that I liked but, it was not home. It was quite noisy most of the time. There was also an odor that I didn't like.

In June, my future adopted Mommy and Daddy came to see me. They were both really nice! I wagged my tail the whole time they were there! Daddy gave me a treat. It was good! I had to stay at the shelter for a couple of more days  because I had to go to the vet to get shots and a microchip.

Me at the shelter

It was a really happy day when Mommy and Daddy came to get me! I am a senior dog and was running out of time at the shelter. I was scheduled to be euthanized the day after Mommy and Daddy took me home. I am very thankful that they took me home!

As I mentioned, I am a senior dog. I have some senior health problems. I have a couple of benign cysts. One is fairly large and on my back. I think some people that saw me
at the shelter were afraid of my cyst. I am thankful that Mommy and Daddy loved me in spite of my problems. I also broke my leg when I was a younger dog. It is one of my hind legs and it was never set properly. Because of that, I can no longer jump and I have some difficulty doing a sit and can not do a down.

When I got home, I met my new pack. Copper the Whopper Beagle was very nice to me! He is younger than me although we are both adults. Cuddles the Corgi mix is about my age. She tolerates Copper and me but is not really friendly. We love her anyway! I am really thankful to be part of this pack!

Me roaming around the backyard with my foster brothers
Tiny and Gracy.

Shortly after adopting me, Mommy and Daddy began fostering dogs. It has been great to have foster members in our pack! I have really enjoyed helping Copper to teach them things. It is also fun to watch them play. I am really thankful to be in this pack!

A while ago, I was roaming around in our backyard and somehow I got a big splinter in my ear. I am not sure how I did it but it really hurt. Daddy tried to remove it but it hurt too bad. Daddy took me to the veterinarian to have it removed. I had to take some pain pills and antibiotics after that. Daddy and Mommy took care of me. I am really Thankful that they love me so much and take care of me!

Me in my basket bed at the Dog Trainer Shack

I really like spending time with my Daddy. Sometimes we go for rides in the truck. Occasionally I go to work with him. Every night I sleep in the bed next to Daddy. Sometimes we watch television together in bed with Mommy and Trigger the Dapple Dachshund. Trigger was recently adopted into our pack. I really like Trigger! I am really thankful that Daddy and Mommy spend so much time with me and love me!

Daddy and Copper have taught me all sorts of things that I can do to get treats. Things like sit, stay and leave it. Daddy and Copper also taught me how to walk properly on a leash. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? My Daddy and Copper taught me! If you have a senior dog who needs to learn new tricks, please contact my Daddy. Daddy always says "polite dogs = happy people". Let my Daddy make you happy today!

Copper and I , often go on walks together with Daddy. We have a special two dog yoke that we use. We really love walking around the pasture and to Grandma and Grandpa's house with Daddy!

Me in the truck after working with Daddy

I am really thankful for my Mommy and Daddy. They literally saved my life! If you are looking for another dog to add to your pack or for a first dog to start a pack, please consider adoption. There are a lot of dogs who need forever homes. Many of them will be perfect for you! I am so thankful that I now have a forever home! You can make a dog thankful too! If you need information about adoption, please contact my Daddy at anytime! Remember, you can save a dog's life!

I not only have a great new Mommy, Daddy, and pack but I also have really nice grandparents. They live next door and we visit them often. They love to pet me and give me treats. I am really thankful for Grandma and Grandpa!

Well that is a very small sample of the things for which I am thankful.

Have a great and safe Thanksgiving!

-Cody the little beagle

William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

The Foster Files: Foster Boy Tiny the Beagle has a new forever home! Welcome Foster Girl Gracy!

Foster Boy Tiny showing his lose leash walking skills!

The Lovely Shane and I are very pleased to inform you all that Tiny the Beagle has a brand new forever home! After visiting the veterinarian today for Neutering , shots and a cool microchip he went home with his new foster Mommy. He will be part of a two dog pack with a cute little female beagle. His name is going to now be "Copper Head" or "Copper H." for short. Copper the Whopper Beagle and I really like that new name! We already miss Tiny around the Dog Training Shack here but, we are thrilled that he now has a great forever home!

Foster Girl Gracy eating a pecan on the back porch
steps at the Dog Training Shack

The Lovely Shane, myself and the rest of the pack here welcome a new foster pack member. Her name is Gracy. She is a beautiful mixed breed girl. We think she is some sort of hound mix. She is about 8 months old. One of her hind legs never developed properly so she is unable to jump well. However, that does not really slow her down. She is a slightly active and well tempered girl. She does need housebreaking. We are working on that now. She is also learning how to properly walk on a leash and some basic obedience. Copper Whopper and the rest of the pack are enjoying helping her learn.

Gracy will be available for adoption soon!

Foster Boy Biscuit

Biscuit the Basset Mix is now with another foster who has more puppies. This will allow him to play more and work off some of his energy. Our pack was a little low energy for him. He is still available for adoption and would make a great dog for someone with other young dogs or active children.

If you are considering adding a new adopted member to your pack, please contact me at anytime!

Till Next Time

William Moore

William Moore Canine Training
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com
678-702-4791