I was reading a dog training book and read this interesting article that broke down the different trainging models. It really got me thinking.
Dog Training Models
No-No Model
Method- The dog is always wrong- he is punished unless he can figure out on his own by trial and error what you want.
Effectiveness- Takes a long time and sometimes the dog doesn’t get it, depending on what the dog is expected to learn.
Stress Involved- Extremely high, to the point where the dog may give up trying altogether.
Yes-Yes Model
Method- The dog is always right- he is rewarded for every correct response but still has to learn on his own what is expected.
Effectiveness- Takes a considerable amount of patience and time.
Stress Involved- Can be high, depending on the dog.
Yes-No Model
Method- The dog knows immediately whether he is right or wrong.
Effectiveness- Very fast.
Stress Involved- Very little.
It made me think about how I train Duke. I think when he was a puppy I was using the yes-no model, but sadly, now that he is older and knows the basic commands, I think I use the no-no model in the sense that I really only do training when he does something wrong. I don't tell him he is a good boy enough. I am happy I read this so I can work on getting back to using the yes-no model.
What model do you use? Why?
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
All About Puggles
Thanks to Eduardo's Mom for this great review on Puggles.
From what I've read & my own experience training Eduardo, puggles are very easy to train. They pick up on things so quickly & Eduardo has a great memory. Like their parents, puggles are sensitive to the tone of your voice and body language so bold gestures or harsh tones can upset your puggle. Usually if I say, "Eduardo, NO SIR!" he will stop what he is doing & run straight to his bed!
If raised in a kennel, they may be cleaned and handled at feeding time but may not have much human contact otherwise. It's certainly much harder to bring a pup in from a kennel to cuddle with on the couch rather than walking from one room to the other.
It's important to note also that not all breeds of dogs are raised to be family companions. Some dogs are working dogs, guard dogs, some are show dogs, etc. and may have different socialization needs.
Alright a quick rundown of the breed, everything you need to know about puggles.
One quick note:Every purebred breed was established by mixing one breed with another at some point in time to create a certain look, desired trait or working ability.
A puggle is a hybrid. A hybrid is an intentional mix of two purebred dogs and a mutt is generally one of unknown parentage - usually on the father's side (the uh oh factor). A puggle can be 
registered as CKC, as long as the parents are AKC/CKC purebreds.
registered as CKC, as long as the parents are AKC/CKC purebreds.1st generation puggles are: Half beagle-Half pug
2nd generation puggles are: Half puggle-Half puggle
Although the Puggle is a mixed or hybrid dog, a true Puggle has verifiable (registered) purebred parents. Without the registration, anyone can tell you the parents are purebred. If you are looking for your puggle to look a certain way you need to find out what the parents are.
Traditional puggles(i.e. One that looks like Eduardo) are 1st generation. But ones that are multi-colored are second generation. It is looked down upon to breed puggle to puggle as if we ever want to establish puggles as a breed then they must all have the same look.
Puggles are energetic dogs with a thickset body, a smooth short-haired coat of fawn, tan, apricot (golden) or black in color (white markings may also be present), a wrinkled forehead, curled tail, black facial mask and drooping ears. Not all puggles have these features, every puggle is different. Depending on the size of the parents, Puggles stand at a height of 10-15" at the shoulder and weigh between 15-30 pounds at maturity.Eduardo was the runt of the litter so he is fairly small for a puggle, standing at 12" and weighing 21 pounds most puggles we meet are bigger than him! Both beagles & pugs are food obsessed so if your looking for the best why to train your puggle, I suggest using food.
From what I've read & my own experience training Eduardo, puggles are very easy to train. They pick up on things so quickly & Eduardo has a great memory. Like their parents, puggles are sensitive to the tone of your voice and body language so bold gestures or harsh tones can upset your puggle. Usually if I say, "Eduardo, NO SIR!" he will stop what he is doing & run straight to his bed!
They love to play, walk and snuggle with their owners. Beagles are very active dogs, loving to play. Some pugs are active but most love to relax. Mix these two together and you'll have a dog
that's willing to play WHENEVER, WHERE EVER or feel like staying in & relaxing? No problem! Puggles love to snuggle!(That's why Eduardo's nickname is Eduardo the Snuggle Puggle).
that's willing to play WHENEVER, WHERE EVER or feel like staying in & relaxing? No problem! Puggles love to snuggle!(That's why Eduardo's nickname is Eduardo the Snuggle Puggle). Since they are a mixture of beagle and pug, Puggles can inherit characteristics of either breed. They can develop a howl like a beagle, a muffled throaty sounding bark of the pug, a normal dog bark or talk very little at all. Puggles make a variety of interesting sounds also. Most puggles that I have met do grunt like pugs. Eduardo grunts like a little pug when he gets too excited, & howls just like a beagle when he sees someone to close to the house. Puggles do whine and growl like every other dog can.
Beagles and pugs can and do sometimes snore. Eduardo is the KING of snoring, he will wake me up sometimes because I'm scared he's having trouble breathing. Puggles like most animals, have occasional gas and believe me they are stinky little farts! LOL!
Unlike their full-blooded parents, Puggles do not usually experience the same issues that some find troublesome. Full blooded Pugs can suffer from breathing complications and intolerance to warmer and cooler temperatures due to their almost nonexistent muzzle. Purebred Beagles love to hunt and will often become distracted by a scent and wander away from home if left unattended. They'll come home eventually but beagles can get injured or killed due to their nature. They tend to run with their head down, unaware of the world around them and are often hit by passing cars. Because of this, beagles need to be kept indoors, on a leash or in a large run when not accompanied by their human family.
Puggles have an elongated muzzle inherited from their mother, and usually does not become overly distracted by scents and has a wrinkled face through maturity. But puggles do have a nose for trouble! They sometimes can get a scent & just stay with it for a while unless they are pulled away from it with a call. Eduardo will go to the dog park & smell the entire park before 
playing with any dogs!
playing with any dogs!Most puggle puppies do go through a chewing stage. Eduardo completely grew out of his chewing stage at about 1 year. I'm sure it was a little before that but I remember by time his birthday came around he hadn't chewed up anything, & his Daddy was so proud!
Puggles have short fur but once it hits summer, they shed, a lot! So before getting a puggle you may want to get a good dog brush! Eduardo is not allowed on our bed unless a blanket is up there, because he sheds so much.(I don't mind it, his Daddy does though!).
Most puggles I have met are very friendly. Beagles & pugs are both consider family dogs. Eduardo thinks everyone is his friend & wants loving from everyone.
Now about where to find a puggle. I personally recommend pups raised inside a home. Generally, pups raised in a home environment instead of a kennel (no matter how nice) learn socialization skills that many pups do not. When living among a family, (depending on breeder and program) they are used to household noises from birth, tend to be handled and played with more often, receive care on a constant basis, seem happier, are potty pad trained, get some obedience training, gain more socialization skills, are generally cleaner, are not exposed to outdoor parasites, or fecal material of their mother or other kennel residents.
If raised in a kennel, they may be cleaned and handled at feeding time but may not have much human contact otherwise. It's certainly much harder to bring a pup in from a kennel to cuddle with on the couch rather than walking from one room to the other.It's important to note also that not all breeds of dogs are raised to be family companions. Some dogs are working dogs, guard dogs, some are show dogs, etc. and may have different socialization needs.
Interested in doing a write up on your dog? Email me at info@poochieheaven.com or leave a comment.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
New Dog Collars & Leashes
Has all the swimming in the lake and outdoor bath made your collar look dull? We have recently added some adorable and affordable dog collars and leashes!
Sultry Dog Collar and Leash Set
Sultry Dog Collar and Leash Set 
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Some Pictures Just Don't Need Captions
Here is another darling email sent to me. It is called Some Pictures Just Don't Need Captions. Feel free to add some captions in the comment section. I would love to see what you can think of. Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
How to Avoid a Dog Bite
Tips on how to avoid a dog bite:
If you want good advice on avoiding dog bites, ask a mail carrier.
"I always approach dogs cautiously. Even though an owner says, 'Oh, they won't [bite],' you never know," said Rafael Rivera, who has been delivering mail in Richmond for six years.
He was bitten once while putting mail into a door slot without a safety flap on the inside that would've protected his fingers. He said he didn't fault the dog because "it was taking care of the house."
Last year, more than 3,000 postal employees across the nation were bitten by dogs. Many were attacked by pets that broke free from their owners or jumped through screen or glass doors. In the Richmond district, which includes the entire state except Northern and Southwest Virginia, 24 employees were bitten in 2008.
The U.S. Postal Service is spotlighting safety this week -- National Dog Bite Prevention Week -- by offering these tips.
How to avoid being bitten
If a dog threatens you, don't scream; avoid eye contact. Stand still until it leaves or back away slowly until it is out of sight. If you think the dog is about to attack, put something between you and the dog, such as a backpack or bike. Don't approach a strange dog, especially one that is tied up or confined. Keep your dog inside and away from the door when the mail carrier comes. Spay or neuter your dog. Neutered dogs are less likely to bite. Source: http://www.timesdispatch.com
If you want good advice on avoiding dog bites, ask a mail carrier.
"I always approach dogs cautiously. Even though an owner says, 'Oh, they won't [bite],' you never know," said Rafael Rivera, who has been delivering mail in Richmond for six years.
He was bitten once while putting mail into a door slot without a safety flap on the inside that would've protected his fingers. He said he didn't fault the dog because "it was taking care of the house."
Last year, more than 3,000 postal employees across the nation were bitten by dogs. Many were attacked by pets that broke free from their owners or jumped through screen or glass doors. In the Richmond district, which includes the entire state except Northern and Southwest Virginia, 24 employees were bitten in 2008.
The U.S. Postal Service is spotlighting safety this week -- National Dog Bite Prevention Week -- by offering these tips.
How to avoid being bitten
How to be a responsible dog owner
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Cat Carriers
Jax got a new cat carrier this weekend. He does not ride good in cars. Besides meowing the entire time, he tries to get out of the carrier. When the style I had, he was cutting up his nose. I got him this cat carrier and it has worked great!
There really is no difference between cat carriers and dog carriers. This one is a dog carrier, but works perfect for what I need. Jax seems to like it too. Carriers are important to use while traveling for a few reasons. First is for their safety. If you were to get into an accident, they would be more protected in a carrier then they would be riding freely in your car. Second, for your safety. When they are confined to a carrier, you don't have to worry about where they are and have them crawling in and on places they shouldn't be. You would not want them crawling under your brake and then you needing to use it.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Prison-trained puppies help wounded troops
If there's anything Oprah Winfrey knows for sure, it's what the love of a dog can do for your life. "There is nothing in the world like puppy love," Oprah says.
Still, dogs are more than just companions. They can be the eyes for those who can't see, lead those who can't walk and calm people suffering from conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.
Where do these service dogs get their start? For some, it all begins behind prison walls...
At the Fishkill Correctional Facility in upstate New York, more than 1,600 men convicted of abuse, robbery and murder are serving their time.
"I've been incarcerated for robbery in the first degree," an inmate named Michael says. "I really had no regards for other people. It was always me, me, me, me."
Now, a groundbreaking program called Puppies Behind Bars is transforming these offenders.
Inmates are given 8-week-old puppies and taught to train them to become service dogs for the disabled, including wounded soldiers.
The puppies and prisoners are together 24 hours a day. The puppies sleep in crates in the inmates' cells.
In return, the puppies give the prisoners something many of them have never experienced before -- unconditional love. "I'm going to make my family and those around me proud of me again. Joining this program, it helped me to give myself a sense of pride again. To know that by nurturing and raising these dogs to their fullest potential, that I could give back."
Animal lover and five-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close first learned about Puppies Behind Bars when she volunteered to help inmates at the women's prison in her town. She was so moved by the impact of the program that she called "The Oprah Winfrey Show" herself to share this story.
"We know the bond that can be created between humans and animals. And there is common knowledge that it's a healing quality," she says.
"The bond that's created between inmates -- who never knew love, never knew responsibility, have only been told that they're worthless -- and the bond that they then train their dogs to establish with these wounded returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan is changing their lives."
Roberto is an inmate whose life has been changed by the program. Convicted of second-degree murder, Roberto has been in prison since he was 17. "I am now 33 years old. I wish I could turn back the hands of time for the hurt and pain that I've caused so many people, especially my victim's family," he says.
Roberto was chosen for Puppies Behind Bars and immediately bonded with his yellow lab, Frankie. "From the moment I got her, it was amazing," he says. "There was some beautiful moments in here that I shared with my puppy."
Eventually, Frankie had to move on -- and Roberto had to say goodbye. "The first night I was without Frankie, I have to say it was a long night," he says. "It was hard for me to realize that the next morning I was going to wake up and not actually feed her that morning."
Since leaving Roberto, Frankie has become a lifeline for Sgt. Allen Hill, who suffers from traumatic brain injury and severe combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder after he was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Frankie helps Sgt. Hill overcome his paralyzing, violent flashbacks by kissing his face.
After a few months together, Sgt. Hill and Frankie return to Fishkill to meet Roberto. When Frankie sees Roberto, she takes off running. "She looks beautiful," Roberto says.
Sgt. Hill thanks Roberto for all that he's done. "Frankie has been there for me. She's been my rock when I've needed her to help me out with a flashback or a nightmare. I can do things that for a year and a half I couldn't do," Sgt. Hill says.
Roberto is moved. "This is an overwhelming feeling, and to see you is breathtaking," he says. "And to see what Frankie had done in your life."
Now paroled, Roberto is expected to be released from prison this summer, but what he learned from Puppies Behind Bars will stay with him forever. "Being able to be involved in the puppy program has taught me to be a responsible person," he says. "It has taught me patience."
Sgt. Hill, his wife, Gina, say Frankie has changed their lives. "The biggest difference that Frankie has made in my life was, one, she allowed me the opportunity to go back to church," he says.
"And, two, she's helping me gain my independence back so I'm not so reliant on Gina and other family members."
Gina says she's starting to see her husband's playful, energetic side come through once again. "We're starting to see that side of him again that we haven't seen in the year and a half he's been home from Iraq," she says. "Frankie has brought my sons their daddy home. She has lit the light back in him that had been so dark."
Perhaps the greatest legacy of Puppies Behind Bars is the lesson of love each inmate learns. Jesse, another prisoner at the Fishkill Correctional Facility, is currently training Joy, his third dog.
"She brought forth in me the ability to love again. It had been so dormant in me for so long because of the cold place that I'm in," he says. "I didn't know that I could love again, and we all get to see how greatly these dogs affect the lives of the people that they touch."
Source: CNN and Oprah
Still, dogs are more than just companions. They can be the eyes for those who can't see, lead those who can't walk and calm people suffering from conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder.
Where do these service dogs get their start? For some, it all begins behind prison walls...
At the Fishkill Correctional Facility in upstate New York, more than 1,600 men convicted of abuse, robbery and murder are serving their time.
"I've been incarcerated for robbery in the first degree," an inmate named Michael says. "I really had no regards for other people. It was always me, me, me, me."
Now, a groundbreaking program called Puppies Behind Bars is transforming these offenders.
Inmates are given 8-week-old puppies and taught to train them to become service dogs for the disabled, including wounded soldiers.
The puppies and prisoners are together 24 hours a day. The puppies sleep in crates in the inmates' cells.
In return, the puppies give the prisoners something many of them have never experienced before -- unconditional love. "I'm going to make my family and those around me proud of me again. Joining this program, it helped me to give myself a sense of pride again. To know that by nurturing and raising these dogs to their fullest potential, that I could give back."
Animal lover and five-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close first learned about Puppies Behind Bars when she volunteered to help inmates at the women's prison in her town. She was so moved by the impact of the program that she called "The Oprah Winfrey Show" herself to share this story.
"We know the bond that can be created between humans and animals. And there is common knowledge that it's a healing quality," she says.
"The bond that's created between inmates -- who never knew love, never knew responsibility, have only been told that they're worthless -- and the bond that they then train their dogs to establish with these wounded returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan is changing their lives."
Roberto is an inmate whose life has been changed by the program. Convicted of second-degree murder, Roberto has been in prison since he was 17. "I am now 33 years old. I wish I could turn back the hands of time for the hurt and pain that I've caused so many people, especially my victim's family," he says.
Roberto was chosen for Puppies Behind Bars and immediately bonded with his yellow lab, Frankie. "From the moment I got her, it was amazing," he says. "There was some beautiful moments in here that I shared with my puppy."
Eventually, Frankie had to move on -- and Roberto had to say goodbye. "The first night I was without Frankie, I have to say it was a long night," he says. "It was hard for me to realize that the next morning I was going to wake up and not actually feed her that morning."
Since leaving Roberto, Frankie has become a lifeline for Sgt. Allen Hill, who suffers from traumatic brain injury and severe combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder after he was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Frankie helps Sgt. Hill overcome his paralyzing, violent flashbacks by kissing his face.
After a few months together, Sgt. Hill and Frankie return to Fishkill to meet Roberto. When Frankie sees Roberto, she takes off running. "She looks beautiful," Roberto says.
Sgt. Hill thanks Roberto for all that he's done. "Frankie has been there for me. She's been my rock when I've needed her to help me out with a flashback or a nightmare. I can do things that for a year and a half I couldn't do," Sgt. Hill says.
Roberto is moved. "This is an overwhelming feeling, and to see you is breathtaking," he says. "And to see what Frankie had done in your life."
Now paroled, Roberto is expected to be released from prison this summer, but what he learned from Puppies Behind Bars will stay with him forever. "Being able to be involved in the puppy program has taught me to be a responsible person," he says. "It has taught me patience."
Sgt. Hill, his wife, Gina, say Frankie has changed their lives. "The biggest difference that Frankie has made in my life was, one, she allowed me the opportunity to go back to church," he says.
"And, two, she's helping me gain my independence back so I'm not so reliant on Gina and other family members."
Gina says she's starting to see her husband's playful, energetic side come through once again. "We're starting to see that side of him again that we haven't seen in the year and a half he's been home from Iraq," she says. "Frankie has brought my sons their daddy home. She has lit the light back in him that had been so dark."
Perhaps the greatest legacy of Puppies Behind Bars is the lesson of love each inmate learns. Jesse, another prisoner at the Fishkill Correctional Facility, is currently training Joy, his third dog.
"She brought forth in me the ability to love again. It had been so dormant in me for so long because of the cold place that I'm in," he says. "I didn't know that I could love again, and we all get to see how greatly these dogs affect the lives of the people that they touch."
Source: CNN and Oprah
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