The Pawkeepers

101 reasons why everyone should read this book!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:41:00 +0000

Yes, I could list a 101 reasons why everyone should read this book but it would be a boring review.

When you see the book, the cover alone grabs the heart and soul, Tuesday can say a thousand words without speaking.

Once you have absorbed the beauty of such a wonderful dog, you will find yourself reading, pausing and going back to the front cover just to look at the eyes of this amazing hound. This book stands proud and upright on the top of my desk, like a photo of a loving relative, carefully framed and displayed to be viewed often. I marvel how everyone who enters my office, immediately passes a comment as they are drawn to the beauty of Tuesday.

This book affected me on so many levels. How someone could be so brave and honest? Luis bares his soul for his readers to see the cause and effects of war on a warrior. How little we the readers understand the life of a wounded warrior. How blind we are to the results of their lifetime injuries and suffering. How inadequate the system of support for recovery of PTSD.

I know I cannot be this honest in my writing skills and would run to the ends of the earth rather than expose my fears.

Luis Carlos Montalaven has laid down his life for his country and now bares his soul to help his fellow warriors and for us to see that there is hope and a wonderful, cost effective solution that can save lives on so many levels.

Luis, guides us through his journey until Tuesday gently takes over. As a reader I loved the gratitude that Luis feels for his dog. I am in awe of the bond and understanding that although Tuesday has a job, Luis also recognizes that Tuesday has a personality too!

It needs to be #1 on the top seller list! Buy this book and your life will be enriched.

You will see your own life in a new light. You will have a better understanding of how we can help our wounded warriors. You will feel a deep sense of gratitude.

I am so grateful to Luis and Tuesday for reminding me that honesty, integrity and loyalty are the foundations of love and understanding.

An unwanted Christmas gift!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:01:00 +0000

It’s that time of year again. The holidays have traditionally been a season of joy and good cheer. But “ho, ho, ho” has also turned into “buy, buy, buy” and “give, give, give.” Malls are full to overflowing, television commercials seem to broadcast nothing but sales, and everyone is feeling the pressure to purchase gifts for their loved ones. Inevitably, for many families with children, one of those gifts will be a puppy.

I’m not so much of a grinch that I’m going to try to talk you out of giving your children a puppy. But if you’re going to give a puppy as a gift, do your research. Find out about things like what the breed you’re considering was bred to do. For example, if the dog you are contemplating is bred to hunt (such as retrievers), herd (like border collies, Australian shepherds, corgis), or do some other active type of work, you’re most likely going to have a very active little puppy on your hands who, without a job to do, will create one in your home—one that has a title like Deputy of Destruction, or Rover’s Redecorating Service. Active breed dogs need a lot of exercise. If you’re looking for a small lap dog, look for a breed that was actually bred for it. Don’t assume that all small dogs are lap dogs! Many small breeds were actually bred for hunting and other physical activities, and some do not have the “soft” temperament many parents want—terriers, for example, are tough and feisty as a rule, rather than soft and cuddly, like, say, a Bichon Frise.

Another thing to consider, especially if you are a working couple, is whether you really want a puppy. Now, you know kids will love a sweet, adorable dog who’s a few years old just as much as they would a puppy—kids love dogs, period! And with an adolescent or adult dog, chances are you won’t have to go through that not-so-fun housebreaking period. Even if you do, it’s not the same as with a young puppy who simply can’t hold it overnight—oh yes, did I mention that’s like having an infant all over again. Here comes the No Sleep Express!

Whether you decide to buy from a breeder or adopt, don’t rush the decision. Sure, that holiday pressure is on. But here’s an idea: rather than rushing and chancing not getting the right dog for you, go out and buy a large, cute stuffed animal, put a big, red bow on it, and a card that announces “We’re getting a dog!” Believe me, the kids will be thrilled at the very notion even without the dog being there. The stuffed dog approach buys you time to discuss as a family what type of dog is right for you, and after the parents have narrowed down the choices, the kids can be part of the decision-making process.

One last tip: there is a lot you can do now, before you even bring that puppy home. Dr. Ian Dunbar has written an excellent book called Before You Get Your Puppy, and believe it or not, it’s completely free! You can download either a text-only version or the complete book with photos. Doing your research now will be the best guarantee of not only a happy holiday, but a very happy new year.

Phantom Publishing

Goodies for your dogs Christmas stocking.

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:25:00 +0000

Chew Toys and BonesWritten by Dr. Sherry Weaver

All puppies have an undeniable need to chew, and labs can be among the worst. The key to keeping an intelligent dog like a lab from being destructive is to provide a stimulating environment. A big part of this stimulation should be playing with owners and training. When owners are not available, appropriate toys for both education and chewing are extremely helpful.

The truth is that there are no completely safe chew toys. Any product that is swallowed has the potential to cause an upset stomach. All natural products are preserved with chemicals, and rawhide has been found to have unhealthy chemicals and bacteria. Our biggest worries are toys that cause more serious problems such as blockages or tooth fractures. The key to safe use of any toy is to read labels and watch your dog at play with the toy to determine which is best for him as an individual.

Rawhides have the advantage of being tasty and relatively inexpensive. Most dogs love them. The disadvantage of rawhide is that it can be quickly chewed into small chunks, and dogs have been known to swallow pieces too large and get blocked up. These blockages are extremely rare, especially with single-ply rawhide, but you should watch your dog play with the rawhide and take it away if he is breaking off large chunks to swallow. When the rawhides wear down to a swallow-able sized piece, they should be thrown away. If your dog is a slower chewer and makes a rawhide last for a day or two, then it can be appropriate. When you do buy rawhide, try to get it from a reputable manufacturer, although the recent pet food crisis has made us all aware that even that is not enough to guarantee a lack of harmful chemicals.

Another common natural product available in pet stores is the large beef leg bones. These bones are too hard for most dogs to splinter and swallow (although if they do it has a chance of causing some stomach problems which may require surgery for removal.) The main disadvantage to these bones is that they very commonly cause fractures in the dog’s teeth.

Some people still give dogs poultry bones to chew (especially around the holidays). These bones shatter easily into extremely sharp long shards and can cause a pretty nasty irritation in the stomach and on down the intestines. Although it is rare for a dog to get Salmonella, you should be careful about feeding raw poultry bones. I usually recommend that my patients avoid any bones.

Many dogs seem to enjoy the taste of cow hooves, and they are relatively safe for the teeth. However, they do seem to be easily swallowed. If your dog tends to swallow large pieces, they are not right for you.

I have recently been seeing “bully bones” in the pet stores. This piece of cow anatomy is relatively new to the pet market, but it seems very safe. It can be chewed up relatively quickly, but appears to be pretty digestible. The only disadvantage I have found is that they can be a little expensive and often don’t last very long. But, so far, this is one of the safest chew products that I have found.

Soft rubber squeaky toys are great for small gentle dogs, but usually do not last very long with big dogs. Dogs that chew them up quickly will often swallow the squeaker or big chunks of the rubber. Usually these squeakers are too small to cause a blockage, but you should look at each one compared to the size of your dog. Squeaky toys can be fun, safe, and inexpensive, but not very practical if you go through several a day.

Harder rubber chew toys are often not very exciting to dogs due to lack of flavor. They are unlikely to cause stomach problems, but they can cause tooth fractures. Some of them have a place in the middle to fill with a treat or some peanut butter, so they become more popular with the dogs. The advantage of these is that they last a long time, and they are almost impossible to chew up.

Balls of various sorts are the most common things that I have had to surgically remove from a dogs’ stomach. Again, if your dog chews up balls quickly, it is not an appropriate toy, but if he just carries it around, it is probably safe.

In recent years, it has become easier to find dogs new “educational toys”. These toys are often balls that must be manipulated in a certain way to release treats. They are usually made of break resistant plastic, and since they are round, they are hard to chew up or break teeth on. These toys not only indulge the need to chew, but they stimulate the dog and prevent boredom. These are my absolute favorite toys for puppies and dogs alike. The only challenge I have seen with these is that they can have a bit of a learning curve before the dog realizes that treats come out.

Dr. Weaver

About Dr. Sherry Weaver

Dr. Weaver graduated with honors from the University of Georgia's School of Veterinary Medicine. She founded a state-of-the-art animal hospital, teaches pet care to children, and donates time and resources to rescue organizations.

Note: The opinions and views expressed in the Ask the Vet articles are the result of Dr. Sherry Weaver's formal education and over 14 years in clinical experiences. Your veterinarian is the best source of information for your pet’s specific needs.

Help my dog ate a glass ornament!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:15:00 +0000

An important item to keep in your first aid box is a box of cotton balls.

Be sure that you get the pure cotton balls, not the cosmetic puffs that are made from man-made fibers.

Also, buy a quart of half-and-half coffee cream and put it in the freezer.

What to do if your dog eats glass or a glass ornament.

Defrost the half-and-half and pour some in a bowl. Dip cotton balls into the cream and feed them to your dog.

Dogs under 10 pounds should eat two balls which you have first torn into small pieces.

Dogs 10-50 pounds should eat 3-5 balls and larger dogs should eat 5-7.

You may feed larger dogs an entire ball at once.

Dogs seem to really like these strange treats and eat them readily.

As the cotton works its way through the digestive tract it will find all the glass pieces and wrap itself around them.

Even the teeniest shards of glass will be caught and wrapped in the cotton fibers and the cotton will protect the intestines from damage by the glass.

Your dog's stools will be really strange for a few days and you will have to be careful to check for fresh blood or a tarry appearance to the stool.

If either of the latter symptoms appear you should rush your dog to the vet for a checkup but, in most cases, the dogs will be just fine.

Have a safe and happy holidays!

True or False ~ Are Poinsettias poison?

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:13:00 +0000

FALSE

Poinsettias are not poisonous.

They will cause more than perhaps a mild stomach upset if a part of the plant is eaten. The plant's taste is very bitter and not very edible at all. So usually, a leaf or two will give the message to a curious dog.

According to Poinsindex, "a 50 pound child would have to ingest 500-600 leaves to exceed experimental doses that found no toxicity." The white sticky sap however, may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Pet owners can rely on findings from the ASPCA. According to ASPCA,
"In reality, poinsettia ingestion typically produce only mild to moderate gastrointestinal tract irritation, which may include drooling, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Keeping this plant out of the reach of your pet to avoid stomach upset is still a good idea, but you need not banish the poinsettia from your home for fear of a fatal exposure."

We can now rejoice and resume adorning our homes now with a Poinsettia plant. It is advisable to monitor pets and small children, but at least we can have peace of mind that our beloved dog or cat will not die from ingesting a leaf or two.

Poinsettias are not only very ornamental plants, but they can also prove to provide health benefits. They seem to contribute in improving air quality in homes, effectively removing harmful pollutants such as Formaldehyde, commonly found in plywood.

Have a happy and safe holiday season!

How to find good boarding for your dog.

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:08:00 +0000

So what are the choices?

1.   Beg and plead with family, neighbors or friends.

2.   Find a pet sitter to come to your house.

3.   Board at your local veterinarians.

4. Look for an in home cage free boarding.

5. Research kennels.

Friends, family and good neighbors.

If you have great friends and family that will love your dog then that is so wonderful. A lot of the stress of travelling and finances will not be a problem for you but live changes constantly. I would love a dollar for every time I have received a phone call in despair, that the neighbor moved or my son who used to watch the dog is in college. My relatives are all going on the same cruise and so on.

Is it not a good idea to always have a Plan B?

Many pet services require registration. Why not check on Yahoo local or Google? Type in dog boarding and your zip or state and see who comes up. Online references are available. You can check prices and services from the comfort of your home whilst sipping hot tea in your PJ's!

Be prepared for sticker shock!

This is going to do one of two things. You will really appreciate and value your current caregivers and not take them for granted or you will start to budget for those times you will need a professional pet care giver.

In later posts we will go into costs and comparisons but for now please do your homework. Your dog is counting on you!

How to find good boarding for your dog.

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:40:00 +0000

Holidays are a difficult time for you and your dog. The anguish of one finding a good place or pet sitter puts a lot of pressure on a fur parent. There are several things you can do to make this easier on you and your dog.

DO NOT LEAVE IT TILL TWO DAYS BEFORE A MAJOR HOLIDAY!

The above is shouted at all who are reading because it is so important. It is hard to understand why if you know you are planning a trip and there are so few good boarding places available that you would set yourself up for failure.

If it is a good boarding facilitate, they will be fully booked weeks prior to a holiday. Do not be surprised if they do not return your phone call or that you will constantly here phone messages stating they cannot take bookings until after the holidays.

If you own a dog the time to look for professional caregivers is day one!

It is not just the holidays it is the lifetime of your dog. With weddings, funerals, hospitalization and life's emergencies you are going to need to leave your dog with someone. So please prepare now.

Who are you Shawn Reed?

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:54:00 +0000

When I look at the people who follow this blog and are on The Pawkeepers fan page, I would like you to get to know them a little better. We are a community, of which I am so proud to be a part of.

When I attended Ian Dunbar's seminar in Richmond, I was proud to meet Shawn Reed a very up and coming trainer. What impressed me the most about Shawn, is openness and willing to share and learn. This humble trainer has a big heart! The time spent with Ian and Shawn was one of the many highlights of the seminar.

Shawn Reed

K-9 Reincarnations LLC

http://www.k-9reincarnation.com/

Shawn Reed Tip of the Week:

Ian Dunbar says, when your puppy is between 3 months-4 1/2 months old take him or her hiking in the woods.

Make sure there are no roads or anything dangerous around. Run upwind from your puppy and hide.

Your puppy will get stressed while he/she looks for you. When they finally find you they'll be extremely happy and relieved. This accomplishes conditioning on the dog's part to never take it's eyes off of you and to
mind your whereabouts.

The puppy will get stressed! However, some stress is healthy for development!

Michael Ellis says, dog's that learn that they can survive stress will be more resilient to stress later on in life. It's not a perfect world and dog's will get
stressed at some point in life.

If we can show them they can survive some stress we set them up for success.

On the road again...

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:23:00 +0000

With the upcoming holidays are you thinking of a road trip with dogs?

Has your dog been on a road trip before?

Chances are your dog has ridden in the car for trips to the vets, the park and visits at friends and relatives. Some dogs have anxiety over riding in cars.

The more positive your dog’s automobile experiences are, the more likely he will enjoy the rides.

If your dog only rides in the car for vet visits, and he dislikes the vet, his anxiety is understandable. Try taking him for short, frequent car rides
that end up at the park or a walk in the woods. Try to make short trips with a reward at the destination or treat upon arrival.

If your dog does not adjust to the car, then a road trip is not a good option. If you must bring your dog for a long car ride, ask your vet about possible anti-anxiety medications that can make the trip a bit easier on everyone.

Plenty rest stops along the way while traveling with your dog, and plan to stop every 3-5 hours to allow your dog to relieve himself, drink water and stretch his legs.

Road trip check list

• Leash

• Dog seat belt or crate / kennel

• Water and Bowls

• Treats

• One or two toys

• Bags to pick up waste

• Medications, if applicable

• Your dog’s medical records

• First Aid Kit

• Portable crate or dog bed

To boldly tread...

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:06:00 +0000

Diving into the email box I came across this email from Janet who wanted to know how to become a Bed & Biscuit Inn?

Janet, you have to boldly tread where no other paws have trodden.

My recommendations for anyone is become a pet sitter first!

You will learn so much about handling new dogs, running a business, customer service and is this the really what you want to pursue as a career?

I started as a pet sitter and still pet sit for a few dogs that have a special place in my heart. By starting as a pet sitter you will begin to establish your clients needs and will quickly establish a client base for your own bed & biscuit in the future.

So Janet your first step is to learn, read and talk to the best in the business.

Josh Schermer is an amazing business man, incredible pet sitter and treasure trove of solid good information.

BUY HIS BOOK TODAY!

Become a fan

http://petsitterbible.com/

Engage in discussions on his forum!

This book is vital and will save you from making huge mistakes financially.

By becoming a pet sitter you will be paid to learn. Help dogs. Grow as a business person and learn to put one foot in front of the other lol!

Thanks to everyone for their comments, questions, support and encouragement. I would not be The Pawkeeper if it was not for the love of my pack.

An exceptional daughter of an amazing dog trainer!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:37:00 +0000

Secret to Dog Training

by Lilly Hoff - currently attending freshman year at Cal Poly School of Engineering

The piercing noise is overwhelming, and the chaos is rampant between the kennels as the dogs jump and shake their chain link walls. An outsider looks upon this situation and sees no solution to the insanity however; a dog trainer envisions a simplistic remedy. A dog-trainer’s answer is a single whistle and a loud clap. Silence instills on each and every dog with this single motion. How is it possible for fifty dogs to quiet and stop jumping and spinning in their kennels within a second? The truth is in the hours spent individually with each dog. Gaining their trust and teaching them to respect the trainer’s authority, is the job of the dog-trainer. Even before the dog is trained, the practice begins in the years spent learning how to successfully interact with a dog.

Lilly Hoff

Growing up, my father has been a world-renowned dog-trainer. He trains dogs in obedience, upland bird hunting, waterfowl hunting, and many other classifications of training such as agility. His dedication to dog training influenced me as a maturing young girl. I wanted to clap once and silence a room of dog cacophony, or raise my hand and have a line of dogs sit. At first I began as the distraction in the instruction sessions with my father, but as time progressed so did my knowledge of how “mans best friend” operated. Knowing all of their avoidance techniques to get out of training, and their communication handicaps is essential to becoming successful in teaching the dogs. As many times as I practiced with my dog outside in the lawn I seemed to always miss a small cue, or command, until I had practiced so many times that I knew it as well as the back of my hand. I quickly learned through my trail and error with my young dog in the lawn that patience is crucial in the overall process because just like learning to ride a bike, there is a long, but steep learning curve that must be found by both the trainer and the dog as one. Once the balance occurred the reward of knowledge and success was enough to forever grasp my attention and love of the practice.

The bond between the leader and the pet must be sincere to achieve the anticipated results. Whether basic obedience, or upper level pheasant hunting, the different branches share a common overarching theme; an understanding of the dog’s abilities and trust with the dog. Trust must be built before any progress can be made with the animal. Once you have gained the animal’s confidence a door opens and they begin listening, watching, and obeying their trainer. To gain the trust of the dog the owner or trainer must begin with interactions that do not involve commands. For example, going on a walk with the dog, or even simple things like cuddling the dog. These informal encounters show the dog that they are appreciated and will not be hurt or betrayed by the trainer. At this point in the training, the relationship between dog-trainer and dog begins to take on a more serious tone. The trainer must give clear and simple commands for the dog to learn. No matter what the instruction is, it is very important to deliver it clearly so that the dog understands the trainer, and knows what the mission is. The trainer begins to coach the dog to move through each command correctly. Dogs want to please their owners, not disregard what they are trying to teach them; therefore, they want to trust the teacher. Clear commands enhance this because they believe the owner knows what they are doing.

Dogs are very receptive to humans’ emotions. They respond to the commands we give them while reading our emotional language as well, making them not only “man’s best friend,” but also difficult to train. They understand emotions such frustration, fear, and excitement through pitch in voice and mannerisms. When working with the animal we must try and convey a calm manner. The best way to do this is act controlled, be calm and patient, and not make any jerky and unnecessary moves. The result of a perfectly trained dog does not happen immediately. It is most important not to force anything aggressively upon the dog.

It is equally important to appropriately reward the dog, as it is to be gentle and not act irrationally around the dog. Rewards in dog training should not be an edible treat, but rather a loving pet and saying “good boy/girl.” The reward of an edible treat leads the dog to expect it and only listen to the owner or trainer when they have a cookie in their hand. In other words the dog will be begging for the food and learning bad manners as this habit progresses. The reward of food is not a good idea for an animal with respect to their health as well. Athletic animals should stay lean and eat healthy food. Their diet is essential to the physical rigor of their sport. For example, a hunting dog may run in the fields hunting birds for as long as four hours. This kind of exercise needs to be supported by a healthy diet not dog bones and doggy treats during training sessions.

Within the realm of dog training, there are many categories; obedience training, hunting, showmanship, agility-trial training, rescue and bomb sniffing, assistance training, and numerous other recognized disciplines. The two most common training courses for dogs are obedience and hunting. Obedience training is most important to all dog owners because it sets a foundation for how their dog behaves in everyday occasions. This includes but is not exclusive to things such as, running on a leash, or greeting someone at the door. It is important that a dog starts training young because his/her brain develops habits and the sooner good habits are created, the more successful the dog will be later in life. Obedience is taken in small steps beginning with manners in the house such as, house training, barking, and chewing. The command sit usually comes next, then practicing the “come,” or return to the owner. A more advanced phase of training includes, “heeling” the dog, or walking the dog without pull in the leash while the dog is directly at the trainer’s hip. This command takes a little longer and usually starts later in the dog’s life. All of these commands are learned through consistency, repetition, and reward allowing the dog to be successful each time. Obedience is the constant baseline that all dogs should learn especially before advancing to other training topics.

Hunting is more advanced in its skill level of training and knowledge. Not all breeds are raised to be hunters. Certain breeds have particular hunting instincts such as, pointing, flushing, and retrieving the birds or waterfowl they are hunting. Pointing is commonly used with German Shorthairs and other small athletic dogs. This task involves pacing the fields until the dog spots a bird, they then lock, or stand completely still facing the direction of the bird. This allows the hunter to orientate himself towards the bird before it is spooked into flight. The other method of hunting is called flushing. Larger hunting breeds such as Labradors are more adept to this style of hunting, The dogs run the field in front of the hunter, causing the birds to fly in front the hunter. In both of these scenarios the dog is then taught to retrieve the bird after it has been shot to the owner’s hand gently. A dog best learns how to hunt and retrieve a bird in the field when they are actually being trained in the field with live birds. When a young dog is introduced to the field it is usually in companion with an older seasoned dog who knows what they are doing, why they are doing it, and is already excited about the hunt. Putting the inexperienced dog in the field and shooting over their head before they know why they are out there is equally as bad of a choice as not introducing them to it at all it can cause the dog to become “gun shy”. A “gun-shy” dog will be afraid of the sound of a gun and not focus on his/her task of hunting the birds in the field. This ruins the dog’s chances at being a great hunter due to the trainer’s mistake. Retrieving and smelling the bird’s feathers is a more reasonable introduction to hunting. Exciting the dog about the birds will result in a terrific hunter. The ultimate goal is to allow the dog to enjoy himself, which in turn causes a committed hunting dog.

The stereotypical dog-trainer has an image an odd dog whisperer. The image of someone telepathically speaking the “language of dogs” to get them to do amazing tricks and be the sixth sense of a man is often what is conjured when someone thinks of a dog trainer. My dad however is not the stereotypical trainer; he learns about the dog and understands how to work best with them. This talent allows him to be confident and take leadership in the relationship with the dog. He has taught himself all of his knowledge about training, and prides himself on his success with each and every dog because they each take time to train. Dogs are not taught or communicated to in a simple language that the trainer speaks with the dog to persuade them to listen. The skill of training a dog is actually a delicately practiced art that takes years to perfect. Both the animal and the owner must stay engaged in the training while building a concrete relationship of trust and respect. The dog must know that the owner is in charge through simple and clear commands. Body language and emotional presence of the trainer are also critical to the success of a dog’s training. Schooling for dogs begins early in the animal’s life by building a friendship with it as a puppy. This lasting friendship is the key to the animal’s success in obedience training. Once the basic obedience of an animal is established, the more advanced disciplines of training can be successfully achieved.

http://colorado-dog-trainer.com/

Early morning musings...

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:22:00 +0000

I love the mornings. Sipping my coffee and watching the dogs cavort through the autumn leaves is best time. Although we seem to be lacking the autumn nip in the air I am not complaining.

Sipping my coffee, I go through the upcoming events of the day. Who is being dropped off? Who is being picked up? Make time for blogging, play a little Farmville and pay the bills.

Funny how I can go through the entire days schedule in my mind and the day is never what I had planned.

Mornings at The Pawkeepers start at 5:00am when my dog Thumper decides to push me out of the bed with his wet nose. Every day is the same ritual to him. " Come on, the guests need to go out and they will want their breakfast!"

He is a dog with a job that he takes very seriously. He nudges me out of bed and tells the guests, "You must let her have two cups of coffee! She will not talk to us until she has had her coffee." He boldly herds them out into the early morning darkness to patrol the grounds. He finds his spot on the hill and keeps a diligent eye on them.

Thumper is a wonderful dog who watches over the guests and makes sure they are comfortable. I never picked this dog, he picked me and we work so well together. Even when he is napping one eye is always watching to make sure the guests are happy.

Thanks for making my life easier Thumper.

Nothing to do with dogs!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 17:30:00 +0000

I know you are shocked!

When you work with dogs, taking a break and doing something totally different is tough but the opportunity to take some time with the hubby and go to the movies happened last night!

Perused the choices online and decided on the Hereafter.

"Hereafter" tells the story of three people who are haunted by mortality in different ways. Matt Damon stars as George, a blue-collar American who has a special connection to the afterlife.

Now you would think, a suspense thriller directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Matt Damon would be a sure thing. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!

The most boring, disjointed, painful, sleep invoking, waste of money movie that I have been too!

I was miffed, could have stayed home with the hounds cracked open a bottle of Merlot and watched Netflix!

So much from taking time away from the dogs. Now I am done ranting it is back to where I belong, twiddling the ears and scratching the bellies of the fur guests.
The quest of the week is can I blog three times in a week? Stay tuned to see if its the blog or the Dyson that wins.

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Dee and Terry talked with Ian Dunbar during the first of his new round of seminars in the U.S. Dunbar, the master of lure-reward training, shares his wealth of knowledge in this, his “Science-Based Dog Training with Feeling” series. Dunbar is also talks about his contribution to Cesar Millan’s new book, Cesar’s Rules, a comprehensive look at dog training. To learn more, visit Dog Star Daily for training/behavior videos, books, and articles.

http://barkradio.com/

It is so good to laugh at yourself!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:23:00 +0000

It is amazing! I can do a hundred and one things that I really dislike doing other than blog lol!

House cleaning, filing, bill paying and poop picking up, all suddenly become so much more important than blogging. I laugh at myself as I now know how to motivate me!

One of the stumbling blocks in my mind is that I tell myself I am a talker not a writer. Guess what I have told myself this enough times and I believed it! Yup, I can talk the hind leg off a dog, prattle on about anything for hours but stick me in front of a keyboard and say, "BLOG!" The fingers get stiff, the brain gets fluffy and suddenly I feel the burning desire to get out the vacuum cleaner.

So you my wonderful readers are going to have to read drivel until I get it right. Be kind and gentle with your comments please. Like training a young puppy, do it over and over with love and kindness and lots of praise when a task has been done well.

Dr Ian Dunbar

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 20:17:00 +0000

Dr Ian Dunbar

Where For Art Thou Romeo?

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:45:00 +0000

Our little resident romantic, Romeo, is a usual face around the Pawkeepers. His swishy tail and sly grin are hard to miss on our furry friend.

Romeo is a Papillion, an elegant dog breed which were common favorites of royalty, and first seen in paintings of these royals. One of the most famous owners of these gorgeous dogs would be Marie Antoinette, a prominent figure in French history. Well, I guess this explains why he holds himself in high regards. He’s not afraid to strut his stuff, especially for the ladies. But especially Belle. She is his Juliet.

We’ll be seeing lots more of Romeo in the future here at The Pawkeepers, and us and our caregivers will be delighted to have our romantic back once again.

Dear Sweet Holly

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:49:00 +0000

Holly here is a mix of english pointer and setter. Though I've yet to see her point to anything, she does enjoy setting herself on the floor in front of you, in hopes for some attention. And when she does, it's just too hard to say no to those big brown eyes.

Despite the hunting history of both of the breeds that make up dear Holly, she'd much rather hunt around for belly rubs and treats. Although she is fond of watching those squirrels scamper about the yard and through the trees.

But, it seems she's off to find Thumper to play with. Next time, on Adventures with Holly.... well, who really knows with this silly loveable thing.

Princess Belle

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 19:56:00 +0000

Sweet and fluffy Belle is a regular here at The Pawkeepers. Belle is a real princess, loving attention from her caregivers and being the center of attention, which isn't hard with her fluffy white coat and cute little eyes that make you want to just hold and cuddle her. Mission acoomplished for Belle.

Belle is a Bichon Frise, a favorite of Italian royalty in the 1300s. No wonder she fanicies herself to be a princess. But a wonderful princess she does make. spending her time lounging on couches and gaining the love of all around her, she is a wonderful member of the Pawkeeper's family.

Bichon can be hard to train, but trained well, and they make excellent performers. Used widely in circus and fairs, they make good dancers. Or, well, interesting ones at least.

Gracie the official couch potato lol

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:33:00 +0000

Gracie is a Weimaraner with a redskins collar. However, we won't judge her on her choice in football teams.
When she first came to The Pawkeepers, she was very nervous and trembled form head to toe. Now she boldly struts through the front door and reclaims her couch! She is particularly fond of this couch, as it has an excellent view of the cul de sac and squirrel activities.
Although she's not fond of getting her picture taken outside, once on her beloved couch, she poses like a Weimaraner from the court of King Louis XI of France.
Weimaraners are also features in the children's show Sesame Street. And are apparently fond of making bread.

Though, now it seems Gracie is ready to start moving again.

Snow, snow dogs and down tree limbs.

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:18:00 +0000

The weight of the snow has caused one of our pine tree limbs to break and fall. It almost landed on the car, thank goodness it missed!

This has been another one of those happy accidents. Thumper and Henry have decided to mark the limb over and over. Now all I have to do is open the garage door and tell them to go pee!

Dogs are creatures of habit and will mark on top of another dogs scent. So what could have been a bad situation has saved me a lot of grief.

How to survive the blizzard of 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:45:00 +0000

We have a received more than a huge dollop of snow! Now the reality of the situation is beginning to creep in and survival mode is upon us. We are so very blessed!
We have...

Health

Electricity

Food

Firewood

Netflix

Phones

Computers

Chores, chores and more chores!

So far a total of eighteen inches of snow!!!! It is still coming down and a possibility of additional four to ten inches more! But wait - we might not be able to get out till Tuesday and then if we can another six inches has been predicted. GROAN!

Between movie watching, trying to find a pee and poop station for Thumper and Henry, shoveling and chores I will update you all through the blog.

Please feel free to post your nice comments and words of encouragement as we do feel shut off from the normal every day world.

Henry is sad.

No chasing the squirrels,

no running with Thumper

and no fun walks!

Thumper is sad too! Both have become resigned to the fact that they will become one with the furniture!

Dog days with Henry!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:45:00 +0000

A week with Henry wahoo!

He always makes us smile with his puppy ways.

I call him Mr. Slobber chops.

We are going to turn him into a movie star. Stay tuned for doggy fun with Henry this week.

Separation Anxiety!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:49:00 +0000

This is little puppy did not want to be alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkocJE2ED2Q

Lucky dog!

noreply@blogger.com (The Pawkeeper) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:06:00 +0000

I am suffering from Henry envy! To be a happy dog running on the sand and swimming in the ocean. I wish there was a dog only beach and hotel coz I would take more vacations lol! But then where would Miz Paws be to look after your hounds?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nKXa4_FPs0