Blogging from Head-to-Tail

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11038353401463236072011-08-08T03:43:56.161-07:00Blogging from Head-to-TailThis blog is a compliment to the Head-to-Tail web site. Here you’ll find my thoughts on dog-owner relationships, general care and anything else that strikes my fancy.Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.comBlogger271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-64361819794864392882010-05-20T17:21:00.000-07:002010-05-20T17:51:01.539-07:00I almost missed National Dog Bite Prevention Week

In addition to my article on Examiner.com, I want to pass on some of my own tips.1. At least once a year I get a phone call from a parent whose dog has bitten their child asking what can be done. If you have a dog, no matter the age or breed, and a young child you need to be extra attentive when both are interacting. Simply being in the same room is not enough. You MUST pay attention and correct

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-53175004667864545152010-05-18T07:43:00.001-07:002010-05-18T16:49:06.446-07:00Increased attacks on dogs in Baltimore?

Yesterday I had to write one of the most heartbreaking articles ever "Pit bull puppy dies after beating at local golf course". This follows days after a North Baltimore man attacked a pit/Sheperd mix with a machete, the Easter stoning of another pit and last year's horrific attack on a pit who was set on fire by two teenagers.In response to burn-victim Phoenix, who died during recovery, Baltimore

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-85050129290155576032010-05-15T07:19:00.000-07:002010-05-15T08:10:23.556-07:00Bullies In Our Local News

This past week I wrote two articles for the Examiner involving pit bulls. The first "Catonsville veterinary clinic treats dog maimed by Baltimore man", a pit/Shepherd mix was maimed by a machete-weilding man. The second story, "Pit bull attacks local off-duty cop and his dog" is about an unfortunate incident in which a Yorkiepoo and owner were severely injured.Any dog labeled as a "pit bull",

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-68883970212026572152010-04-16T11:51:00.000-07:002010-04-16T12:00:47.696-07:00UPDATE

I have some belated, but exciting news to share. I have been accepted as the new Catonsville Dogs Examiner for Examiner.com. This is another great forum to share my passion with the hundreds of thousands of people who are perusing Examiner.com's content on a daily basis. Articles will include information of general interest as well as local to the Catonsville - Baltimore area. I will also be

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-6320860018387195392010-02-10T12:09:00.000-08:002010-02-10T12:50:37.551-08:00Indoor Fun With Your Dog

Being trapped indoors means it is time to find some enjoyable indoor activities. Here are some ideas to keep both you and pooch entertained.Spa Day: Extra time is a great time for grooming. Give your dog a good brush-out, brush their teeth, clean ears and trim/file nails. End with a doggie massage.Practice obedience skills or learn some new tricks. There are tons of how-to tips online if you need

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-13824100308552524532010-02-08T12:07:00.001-08:002010-02-08T12:37:12.292-08:00Cold Weather Safety

We've finally been dug out from almost 30 inches of snow but still expecting more. I realize I am overdue for my annual cold weather safety reminder for our canine pals.Here are the highlights: Provide adequate shelter; preferably indoors. Exercise outdoors only as weather permits. In extreme weather, play some fun indoor games. Watch The Feet for irritation from salts and chemicals used on

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-79760532532064489172010-01-25T06:50:00.001-08:002010-01-25T07:11:47.504-08:00Are You Bow-Lingual

And if the bizarre doggie products couldn't get any weirder, I learned about the Bow-Lingual. While it looks like a radio shock collar, it's actually supposed to be a bark translator.Apparently this was sold on TV. I don't remember seeing it. The As Seen On TV site states, "Bow-Lingual was featured in TIME Magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2002” list and is an “O List” Oprah-recommended product."

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-33318452529110549192010-01-24T12:55:00.000-08:002010-01-24T13:01:32.876-08:00Cyber Pups

Here's another one for my "Seriously?" file: "Mattel takes innovation to the dogs with its Puppy Tweets". Basically, this is a toy that automatically sends tweets to a Twitter account the owner sets up in the dog's name. Really, I think he'd rather go to the dog park.I can think of at least a dozen better ways dedicated dog owners can spend 30 bucks.

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-32545905742505811472010-01-15T10:13:00.000-08:002010-01-15T10:19:35.224-08:00Beware Drunk Dog Walkers?

What is it, you ask? It's a Bark4Beer dog collar bottle opener. I have no comment. Discuss amongst yourselves...

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-10277002901185535392009-10-30T12:19:00.000-07:002009-10-30T13:39:16.838-07:00Fear Of Car Rides and Car Sickness

Suzi did not enjoy her first ride home. As she sat in my lap, she barked, whined and even howled the entire 25-minute drive. So two days later when it was time to take her to the vet, 10 minutes away, I decided the safest thing would be to transport her in her crate. While this definitely was a smart move, being confined in the cargo space of our CR-V made her even more fearful. She threw up

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-60938616813274717612009-10-13T08:45:00.002-07:002009-10-13T09:53:59.754-07:00What I Did On Summer Vacation

You may notice the last blog posted before this was a few months ago. There is a very good reason for this hiatus...I lost my mind. Somehow - I can't remember exactly how it was accomplished - my family convinced me to adopt a puppy.Our original plan was to adopt in the beginning of August, while the boys were still home on summer break. As it turned out, there were not any puppies that fit

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-71162996584850183682009-06-05T13:47:00.000-07:002009-06-05T14:26:38.148-07:00Walk This Way

Requiring your dog to always walk behind you is like the king sitting in a throne towering over his minions. It's archaic and domineering. If you live in an urban or suburban area, it is also impractical.Allowing your dog to walk slightly ahead also allows you the benefit of observation. I don't want my dogs behind me because I need to see what she's doing. I'd rather the dog regulate her

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-67775194754414177012009-05-22T07:19:00.000-07:002009-05-22T08:11:43.953-07:00Cesar Millan: Controversy or Sign Of The Times?

I'm hearing and reading more and more lashings out agains Cesar Millan and "The Dog Whisperer" show. And while I disagree with the majority of his training methods, I am also heartily against all this finger-pointing. Some articles sound as if we should through the poor guy into cage full of angry pitbulls. Educating the public is critically important. But getting nasty is just

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-7821585827606457092009-05-19T08:43:00.000-07:002009-05-19T09:22:30.898-07:00Learning Gratitude

The other day, I was walking around with my lunch in my hand trying getting ready to sit in front of the TV. And it dawned on me, that if my dogs were human they would think me very rude. If someone made a big bowl of steaming hot, cheesy pasta and didn't offer you any wouldn't you be offended? Well, I didn't give them any, because Buddy is on a grain free diet, and I don't believe dogs should

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-61720210995716541602009-05-13T10:26:00.000-07:002009-05-13T11:06:29.886-07:00What's One More?

For those who don't know, or remember, we lost our beloved Pit, Jesse, this past Decemeber. Last week, I got a yen to go onto Petfinder and search for adoptable female Pits. As expected, there were many. But, unexpectedly, I came across one that looked almost exactly like Jess did when we first adopted her. When hubby got home that night, I asked him to talk me out of emailing the contact.

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-35535969533482301572009-04-16T12:39:00.000-07:002009-04-16T12:41:13.647-07:00Pet Savings

Pet insurance is gaining in popularity. I tried VPI for a while, and was happy with the service. But as two of my dogs started getting into geriatric age, and we have three total, after about a year the premium costs outweighed my reimbursements.After canceling our policies I decided instead to start a pet savings account. This account is with the same bank that holds my checking account and

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-16309885638306683382009-04-10T07:35:00.000-07:002009-04-10T07:45:15.831-07:00I'm OK, You're OK: Muzzles

We need to stop stigmatizing the use of dog muzzles. From my initial online research, it seems only the U.S. has this stigma about muzzles. Muzzle use is much more common in Europe and Canada, where there are stricter requirements for dogs in public. But a U.S. citizen sees a muzzled dog and immediately thinks something like “Dangerous dog”. I see a muzzle and think, “Responsible,

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-69957444001434036752009-04-02T06:43:00.000-07:002009-04-02T07:07:50.026-07:00Just Keep Calm!

We are having our roof replaced today. I probably don't have to tell you, the dogs are not happy about all the noise. When the crew first started walking around on top of our heads, Buddy and Chloe went barking mad. But I just ignored them, and continued working. After about 5 minutes they relaxed. Every once in a while, when there's a big bang or other new noise up there, one will jump up

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-45717218050383138942009-03-26T18:35:00.000-07:002009-03-26T18:40:32.766-07:00You Can't Speak Dog

Here is another stake in my ground: I unequivocally disagree with any training method that attempts to mimic dog communication. Examples of this include growling, or the old-fashioned Alpha-roll.The idea of trying to communicate to your dog using their own language sounds pretty logical right? The problem is a human trying to act like a canine usually only further confuses the dog.Take growling

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-90923099180328483152009-03-25T10:05:00.000-07:002009-03-25T10:54:02.763-07:00I Don't Click

I'd like to set the record straight about my positive-reinforcement training...I have so far not needed to, and actually prefer NOT to clicker train. But I’m not “anti-clicker”.Clicker training IS positive-reinforcement training. This method “marks” desired behavior by using a mechanical device that makes a "click" sound. In Psych-speak a “marker” is a signal to the animal that it is doing the

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-22663818148322322822009-03-18T12:40:00.000-07:002009-03-18T12:52:50.884-07:00Permethrin Warning

Permethrin is an insecticide used in and around U.S. homes and some topical tick preventatives. I just learned that K9 Advantix is one brand that contains this toxin. Permethrin has been classified by the FDA as a possible carcinogen (cancer causing agent).While other products do, of course, use insecticides as well, I have not yet been made aware of their possible carcinogenicity. Needless to

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-11227258179216849152009-03-13T09:08:00.000-07:002009-03-13T09:41:10.509-07:00Recommended Read: "The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood"

"The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood" by Nadine M. Rosin is a true account of the author's relationship with her "canine daughter" Buttons. The book focuses on the canine-human bond, hoistically healing canine cancer and the grieving process.I "met" Nadine online a Twitter (@PetParentAuthor). Following the link to her blog is where I learned more about the book. At first, this did not seem like

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-74250815081930739092009-03-10T07:22:00.000-07:002009-03-10T07:41:18.368-07:00Don't Poo-Poo the Poo Poo

You're probably aware that many cities and neighborhoods now have ordinances and laws requiring us to pick up after our dogs. But even if you are in a more rural area, it is important to pick up his poop.First of all, if it is your land and you don't want to clean up immediately, fine. That's your right. But you really have no right to leave anything behind on another's property. I hope you

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-72322218128387961692009-03-06T12:03:00.000-08:002009-03-06T13:00:16.377-08:00Warmer Weather = Heartworm, Fleas & Ticks

Now that the weather is warming up out here, I begin thinking about uping the parasite prevention for my pooches.HeartwormHeartworm is carried by mosquitoes. It only takes one bite to infect your pet. Once contracted, treatment can be effective, but a costly and lengthy process. Here, in Maryland, we often have relatively mild winters. Also, mosquitoes can survive the winter inside a home. I keep

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-5080043831622366572009-02-23T12:10:00.000-08:002009-02-23T12:16:33.811-08:00The Hairy Truth

Are you looking for a “hypoallergenic” or “non-shedding” dog? Well, you first need to know exactly what these terms mean when referring to canines.Let’s start with the “non-shedding” dog. This term is misleading. Shedding is a cyclical process by which hair grows for a period, then is lost later in the cycle. With dogs, this usually happens in seasons; i.e. shedding the winter coat.

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-80431500670921312562009-02-19T05:49:00.000-08:002009-02-19T07:29:01.294-08:00Dominance and Pack Theories

I have been hearing and reading much debate over the use of dominance and pack theories to train domestic dogs. I am currently drafting an article and would like to share some of the important points. Please note that more research is pending.1. Dog, like their wolf ancestors, are pack animals. A "pack" is simply a social unit. Humans, too, live in social units which include hierarchies.2.

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1103835340146323607.post-63207721235779531232009-02-18T12:35:00.000-08:002009-02-18T12:36:57.064-08:00Train The Whole Dog

Are you, like me, finding yourself inundated with differing views, opinions and suggestions on dog training? This blog site will pass on valuable information, provide insights into the training world, and hopefully change some attitudes about dog ownership in general.I believe in my heart most owners want to raise healthy, happy dogs. Experience shows me that often all that’s missing is awareness

Head-to-Tail Dog Traininghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15705232801460632417noreply@blogger.com0