Blair Stephens asked:


Editor’s Note: We had the pleasure of watching Toni Drugmand and her group of happy, well-trained dogs at an Arizona RV show at the Civic Plaza. Seeing the happy, well behaved dogs, it occurred to us how much more pleasurable it is for boaters, RVers, and anglers to have well-mannered dogs as their “Good Company” on outings around the state. Consequently, we at Sit Means Sit decided to share a bit about our innovative training techniques with our readers.

A Part of the Family

As loyal companions and members of the family, dogs give so much to us and touch us deeply while bringing us comfort and joy. Our pets deserve to have the best we can give them in terms of happiness, freedom, safety and security. Our dogs show happiness when we come home, when we say nice things to them, and especially when we spend time with them. They seem to express sadness when we are gone or get upset, and they even seem to sense when we are not feeling well. It is hard to imagine that dogs really don’t know instinctively how to behave in our world. Despite all of the time we spend with our dogs and love we give them, we may not be able to effectively show them how we want them to behave in any given situation. A dog’s way of communicating, though it shares similar virtues, is very different from ours. We, as owners need to learn how to communicate with our dogs. The Sit Means Sit dog training method is fast, effective and produces a happy, healthy dog. When it comes to training your dog you want to select a method of training that makes sense for you and your family. We understand that the outdoor recreational lifestyle that hikers, campers, horseback riders, boaters, anglers, and RVers love is greatly enhanced when the family pet is able to be a part of the experience. Having a well-mannered pet ensures the pleasure and enjoyment that both dog and owner get to experience together.

Dogs Are Social Critters

Because dogs are naturally social beings, they want to be with us. Often referred to as pack animals, dogs have an instinctive need to be part of a pack or group of other dogs. To ensure survival, dogs in the wild have a very strong need to have order and boundaries established by the pack. If they don’t have these hierarchies and boundaries their ability to survive is weakened. This innate trait makes dogs easily trainable and also provides us with a strong case for why we train dogs- because having order and structure is something the dog naturally needs.

Dogs are amazing animals, but they do not arrive in our homes understanding the rules. No one has told him the mail carrier shouldn’t be chased down the block, or Granny should be treated with gentleness and not jumped upon with love, the lovely garden that mother just planted needs to stay earthed, and the sprinklers are not something to be killed. Your dog, with all his creative exploration of behavior options like the counter surfing, chasing cars, chewing your favorite leather shoes and so on, is really just that dog looking for a job, and if she doesn’t find one they are sure to create one. Your dog is looking for someone to show him about how things are, to keep him safe, to prepare his meals and most importantly, someone to spend time with them. All he really wants to know is what are the boundaries and rules. Dogs of all types, temperaments, and breeds will behave in this manner without a strong base of training and discipline from their owner.

Innovative Training Methods

Training a dog gives your canine friend a job and helps him understand what his boundaries are while providing him with a sense of safety and security, and it allows both of you to enjoy the freedom that comes from hard work and good training. Our training here at Sit Means Sit Training uses the No Limitations system of dog training developed by Fred Hassen. This dog obedience training approach utilizes an electronic dog training collar ( www.sitmeanssit.com). This collar allows us to train our dogs in a very effective, quick, and gentle manner because of the instant communication we are able to share with our dog. Our clients all receive a free training demonstration so they can see the initial response of their dogs first-hand. We demonstrate the training method in the face of all of the normal distractions that occur in the real world and allow you to see how your dog responds to our training with the collar.

Because many people are new to the electronic dog training collar, we ask our clients to feel the collar in operation. Many clients tell us that the pulse feels like a Tens Unit, or like other electronic pulse treatments used by physical therapists, chiropractors, and other medical professionals. In fact, in a conversation with a Tens Unit Sales representative, I was told that our remote dog training collars were not as strong as the feel of the portable Tens Unit he was selling. Innovation has always brought about controversy, and the idea of using a collar that promotes an electronic pulse can be an emotionally loaded and controversial subject for some. The controversy however, should pale, in comparison, to the results of our training method. Seeing your dog happy, confident, obedient and safe is a great result.

Making the Right Training Decision

One of the first questions a person new to dog training asks is, “Where do I start?” We know that with so many training methods available it can be overwhelming to find the best possible training method. Fred Hassen’s innovative method using the remote electronic dog collar combined with traditional techniques produces fast results. You will be able to communicate effectively with your dog, eliminating the frustration of a difficult and disobedient dog.

At Sit Means Sit, our hands-on approach means that we evaluate your dog as an individual. Remember the safety and security of knowing that your dog is trained and able to face any situation with confidence will go a long way to help ensure a memorable and relaxing time on your outdoor adventure. If you are interested in a free training demonstration by a Sit Means Sit professional dog trainer please visit our website to find a location near you!



WILMER

Steve Searls asked:


Hunting dogs are an exclusive breed of canines that have been trained to work with humans when they are hunting. They are immeasurably beneficial to humans because they can perform numerous tasks that are useful to people.

They are especially beneficial to hunters during hunting expeditions; since they can aid them locating their prey. Hunting dogs come in varied classifications such as: hounds, gun dogs, terriers and curs.

Hounds- These dogs are grouped into sight hounds and scent hounds.

–Sight hounds are especially adept in tracking down their prey by keeping them in their view. They are experts when it comes to detecting motion because they have superior vision.

Characteristically, they have long legs, ears that have little flaps, and a very strong cardiovascular system. They are incredibly agile, which is valuable since they have to pursue fast animals on the run.

–Scent hounds hunt using their keen sense of smell to seek their prey. They have large nasal cavities which allows them to follow the scent of the killed or wounded prey, or fallen game. These hunting dogs are trained to do these tasks starting when they are only pups.

Some hunters train their dogs to follow smells by familiarizing them with the scent of the blood of the animal. They leave a blood trail to a piece of meat on the field and leave it sit out for a time: then they command their hunting dogs to track down the scent of the blood. When the dog finds the end of the trail, they are rewarded with signs of affection and praised by their owner.

The intent of this teaching is to familiarize the dog with trailing the blood and the scent of a fallen prey, so they will be ready when the time comes to go on a real hunting expedition.

In some states, such as New York, Wisconsin, Indiana, Texas, Vermont and Michigan, just to name a few, using dogs to retrieve deer, and other large game has been legalized. In other states this custom has not been adapted, so hunters who are thinking about taking their hunting dogs with them on their expedition for this reason, need to check the regulations and rules of the state, pertaining to this matter.

–Gun Dogs are hunting dogs that help their owner retrieve their downed game, including birds. They are also often called bird dogs.

–Terrier is a type of dog that was originally bred for the purpose of hunting and slaying vermin.

–Curs is the term usually used for dogs that are not purebred and are quite often deemed unworthy. But cur also applies to the types of hunting dogs that have been developed in the United States for the purposes of assisting in hunting. They are recognized for their superior hunting skills and abilities.

Caring for Hunting Dogs

Hunting dogs need to be kept in excellent shape, so it is imperative for their owners to carefully attend to their health. They should be provided a healthy diet. There is always the risk of the dog becoming overweight if its food intake is not carefully supervised.

Some dogs, such as greyhounds, require special attention when it comes to their diet. They are better off eating three small meals a day, because they have the tendency to become bloated if they try to eat heavy meals. Greyhounds are exceedingly susceptible to pesticides, chemicals, and medication; even flea collars could be harmful to a greyhound.

Hunting dogs continually need to exercise to sustain their agility and keep them in top condition. Their nails need to be trimmed at least every 2-3 weeks and they should be given regular baths to keep them clean.

Socialization

Hunting dogs should be trained to socialize with people, particularly if the dogs are also the family’s’ pets. Owners should get them used to interacting with various types of people. Many hunting dogs are just sociable by nature, such as a greyhound.

Don’t forget that hunting dogs are predatory by nature. They could pose some danger to small animals, pets, and even small children if they have not been trained to keep from acting upon these instincts.

Hunting dogs are a wonderful companion for any hunter since they can perform tasks that humans find rather difficult. This is why hunting dogs are priced according to their capabilities. They are truly remarkable creatures that will be useful to any hunter.



SHANE

Eb Netr asked:


The general rule is that greyhounds run until they reach their 5th birthday. At least, that’s what most “experts” have written over the years. However, if you look at a program, you’ll find that there are dogs who are more than 5 at almost all the tracks.

As a matter of fact, if you check the dogs’ ages at smaller tracks like Hinsdale and Ebro, you’ll find many dogs who are older than 5. I once bet on a seven year old dog who won and paid $32, but that was back in my wilder and crazier days. The dog was a little female who got out pretty good, but not first, and closed at the end of the race.

It was beautiful to watch, the way she threaded her way through the pack and nipped the leader at the wire. But then, she’d been doing that for at least 6 years, so it was old hat for her. She was an exception. Most greyhounds are ready to hang up their muzzles by the time they’re 5.*

If a dog doesn’t have any serious injuries, and it’s a strong, healthy dog, it can still race when it’s over 5, as long as it’s legal in the state where it runs. Different states - and different tracks - have different rules. When you’re handicapping the races and trying to decide whether an older dog is a contender, there are some things you have to take into consideration.

While older dogs can still run, no matter how good they are, over time they slow down. If they’re breakers, they may not be able to outbreak the younger dogs. They’ll start getting out second instead of first, and then third and fourth as they slow down. If they’re closers, they may not have the same reserve of strength at the end of the race, so they’ll close to second, then third, then fourth.

They’ll be less consistent. Their win percentage will do down and their place and show percentages may go up. They may need more days between races to recover, but whether they get that or not depends on the racing secretary, their trainers and owners. This is something you can look for on the program when you see an older dog. Notice whether it’s had more days off than other dogs.

Of course, there are some outstanding dogs - the dogs who win stakes races with very fast times - who manage to stay competitive longer than most dogs. These are the Mickey Mantles and **** Ruths of dog racing. They’re so much better than most of the other dogs that their decline isn’t as noticeable. However, even super dogs reach a point where they either just can’t make it in the lowest grade or go to the stud farm before they’re too old for that kind of performance.

If you’re concerned about age when you handicap, my advice is not to consider it a major factor like post position, running style, pace of the race etc. However, if it comes down to two dogs who are almost exactly alike for other factors, I’d take a close look at the older dog’s in-the-money percentages. If they’re low, it could indicate that the dog is slipping and not as likely to come in.

We all get old. I’m sure I was sharper when I was younger. But on the other hand, other factors compensate for sharpness as we age. I know I’m a better handicapper now than I was when I was younger. I may not be as fast, but I’m more thorough. Old dogs may not be as fast, but if they’re still managing to avoid being graded off, you have to admit that they probably know their way around the track better than some of the younger dogs.



RAY