Blogs - Animal Tales

I am a dog snob

I have a new foster dog – Chippers. He is so much different than the last few fosters I’ve had that I am forced to examine myself and see myself for what I really am – a dog snob. I’ve fostered a few dogs that were just, well, dogs. They were perfectly great dogs, don’t get me wrong, but for me, they just didn’t have that spark. I want my dogs to be fun, have tremendous play drive, be bold and intelligent. I want dogs that ask, “what are we going to do next?” rather than one happy to lay on the… Continue

Added by Connie Swaim on July 22, 2009 at 3:11pm — 4 Comments

The Chaos method of training

The more I work with Condor, the sadder I become that I have discovered the joys of dog training so late in life. I wish I was in my 20s or 30s. It isn’t that 48 is ancient, but I figure I won’t really have too many dogs of my own left if they all live to a normal age (and if I live to a normal age). Although, I probably agonize too much to ever be an effective dog trainer. Condor is like a blank canvas and I worry constantly that I will put a brush stroke on the canvas and step back and find o… Continue

Added by Connie Swaim on July 6, 2009 at 10:00am — 2 Comments

Failing Lexie

Lexie, my foster dog, died this week. While there could be much debate as to why she died, I think it was because she just didn’t fit into our world. I went to a two-day seminar conducted by Jean Donaldson recently. She said that if you think about it, we humans ask dogs to fit into our world even though almost everything a dog does naturally is something humans in general don’t like: barking, urinating and defecating to mark, growling to show unhappiness, snapping, digging, jumping up, etc.… Continue

Added by Connie Swaim on June 20, 2009 at 9:34am — 4 Comments

The Transformative Journey from Compulsive Pet Trainer to Positive Reinforcement Trainer: a story of how embracing a new method of training dogs has completely transformed my life.

The first dog I adopted was an Australian Shepherd mix named Sheila. I adopted Sheila, whom I love dearly, in the early nineties. I now feel extremely guilty about how she was trained, though it was all I knew and had available to me. She was a difficult dog at best and horrendous at worst. She was jumpy, mouthy, and could be downright aggressive; other times she was a delight. My friends, vet, and an animal behaviorist all told me she was displaying dominant behavior, and that I had to get her… Continue

Added by Marci Haw on May 27, 2009 at 11:48am — No Comments

That pit bull "thing"

“I love this dog,” the woman said of the shelter dog who was standing up in order to better lick her hand and gaze at her with hopeful eyes. “She’s a great little dog,” I replied, hopeful that an animal was about to find its forever home. “You can take her out and play with her.” “I just can’t get her. It’s that pit bull thing,” the woman replied. “What pit bull thing?” I asked flabbergasted as the woman obviously adored the little dog, which looked more like a Jack Russell or maybe some kind… Continue

Added by Connie Swaim on May 25, 2009 at 7:10pm — 5 Comments

Marci Gets Stupid and John Gets a Clue

As some of you know, I’ve been capturing Charlie laying flat on his side, fully relaxed, with soft or closed eyes. The goal is to get this on cue so that we can use it during times of stress to calm him down. I’ve been unable to use the clicker to train this behavior as the sight or sound of the clicker is emotionally charged for excitement (clicker = treats and/or play). This boy LOVES to train! I’m using a whispered letter “X” to mark the behavior I like so as not to ruin the relaxation behavi… Continue

Added by Marci Haw on May 19, 2009 at 11:53am — 1 Comment

Was it a good day or a bad day?

Training can be so agonizing. I worked with Batman off the training field to try and get him less nervous. Ever since we started working with the gun fire, Batman has been very shy about heeling. So, I wanted to work on heeling in a place where there had never been gun fire. While everyone else was doing tracking this morning, I worked on heeling and the dumbbell retrieve. I also did some heeling through a group of people. It didn't go too bad. I was encouraged. Batman seemed happy. Hours late… Continue

Added by Connie Swaim on May 9, 2009 at 8:37pm — No Comments

A tired dog (or person) is a happy dog (or person)

What a day. We left the house at 7:45 a.m. and went to Plainfield to go tracking with Condor, Batman and Draco, then to Whitestown for training. Got home about 4 p.m. I had wanted to go to the Petsmart in Westfield to help IACC with an adoption event, but they were only going until 5 and by the time I got home I was caked in mud. So, instead I cleaned up and went to the Humane Society of Indianapolis and got there at 5 and stayed until 8 p.m. and then came home and took George, the new foster do… Continue

Added by Connie Swaim on May 2, 2009 at 8:53pm — 3 Comments

Mothers Day Wish

For over 20 years i have known what joy it is to be a Mother, the unconditional love you feel , the Joy you have of watching your child grow. For years children ponder "what to do for Mom" on her special day, and each year I tell them, Just your love and a hug will be more than enough. This year I actually have a request ....all the Hugs & I love yous, I dont want to go to me, I want them to go to a shelter and spend the day or a hour or even just a half hour to walk the kennels and say to t… Continue

Added by Laurie Adams on April 27, 2009 at 1:00pm — 3 Comments

The Monon Trail is a great place to train

I love using the Monon Trail as a place to train dogs. The dogs are exposed to so much. On a busy day or evening you will find people running, biking, biking or running with their dogs, babies in strollers, running children, roller bladers, other walkers and of course other people walking their dogs. My philosophy is if a dog can walk on a leash well on the Monon, then it is going to be a great dog. I also use the Monon to train other people. Because I am generally in training mode or because… Continue

Added by Connie Swaim on April 24, 2009 at 11:12am — 2 Comments

Breed Specific Legislation: Just say NO

I cannot understand how BSL continues to rear its ugly head. There is so much research showing that BSL does not work, and yet people like Marion County City County Councilman Michael Speedy continue to try and enact such legislation. Last year I fostered Amy, aka, lump of love. She was taken to Indianapolis Animal Care and Control when her owner moved. At that time IACC was not adopting out pit bull type dogs. But, every single person who worked with Amy said she was so sweet. So, Friends for… Continue

Added by Connie Swaim on April 23, 2009 at 9:32pm — No Comments

Kudos to IACC and HSI

Indianapolis Animal Care and Control adopted out more than 50 animals during a special event this past weekend. The shelter is now gearing up for its summer special events and is in need of volunteers. Please see the Events Calendar if you would like to learn how you can help. I was so pleased to see John Aleshire's letter to the Marion County City County Council. It is refreshing to see the director of a shelter take a public stance against breed specific legislation. With new leadership at b… Continue

Added by Connie Swaim on April 21, 2009 at 9:03pm — 4 Comments

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