Cherry Mountain Kennel

07/18/2024

We are finally able to share the first of (hopefully!) two articles we have been preparing this summer on the topic of cooling hot dogs. This summer has seen the usual barrage of social media posts…

06/20/2024

This is a great idea! Communal water bowls can be risky.

06/15/2024

The photo shows what not to allow children to do, followed by 7 rules to keep dogs and children safe.

Let's talk about this photo. It's cute, except it's not. I see a dog who cannot get up without telling the child to get off. How do you think a dog is going to do that?

The 7 Golden Toddler Dog Rules:
#1: If a dog walks away from you, you DO NOT FOLLOW.
#2: Always leave room for the dog to walk away from you.
---that right there is 90+% of dog bites eliminated---
#3: We do not climb on the dog.
#4: We do not grab or pull on the dog.
#5: We do not hit or throw anything at the dog.
#6: We do not touch the dog's food.
#7: We do not go into the dog's kennel.

I promise these are not overly difficult concepts for littles, nor will they rob a kid of their bond with the family dog. It will deepen that bond, while keeping everyone safe.

"Oh, it looks like Moose is walking away from you. She is saying she wants a break. Let's play with this instead!"

"It's Moose's dinner time! Let's give her space to enjoy her yummies."

"That is Moose's room(kennel) and only she is allowed to go in there."

"If Moose wanted a break, could she walk away from you right now? No she really couldn't. Let's move away from the play house. You can keep playing but now she can leave when she wants a break."

In conclusion, ***parent your child or your dog will do it for you, and you will not like how they do it.***

02/25/2024

Thanks to Terrierman for this post.

02/17/2024

Click the link in the post to go to the survey. My dog watches TV sometimes, does yours?

We are conducting a new study, “Characterizing TV Watching in Dogs!” For this study, we will be evaluating how often dogs watch TV, as well as what temperament characteristics are linked to TV watching in dogs. Participation in this study will include the completion of an anonymous, online survey. The survey is expected to take 30 minutes to complete.

To participate, you must be 18 years old or older and the primary owner of a dog. The survey may be accessed at the link below. If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]!

https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_02JPqh8wwHhLOT4

02/03/2024

Once again, words of wisdom from Linda at Lionheart K9, Dog Training in Maryland .

We really don't need "Heel".

There's been a rash of commentary lately on the necessity for certain behaviors that fall under the category of 'obedience'.

Some folks seem to think that it's too much of an ask for a dog to sit every time the owner stops. They ponder the necessity of a dog to walk politely at the owners side. I don't care which side. Any side.

They equate that behavior as unnecessary because of the precision it requires to perform at competitive levels. They can't see the necessity of anything requiring that degree of focus in everyday life.

What would your average companion animal need with that much precision one would ask?

They don't really. It's not a perfect performance we're after when we're navigating the construction zone in a busy urban setting or when we have to navigate the sidewalk with other pedestrians with their strollers and their dogs.

No. We really don't need that attentive sit at heel when we have been crowded at the street corner by the busy mob that congregated around us while we wait for the crossing signal. We don't really need it at the vet's or the groomers either, when we're settling our bill at the cashier's desk in the lobby with cats in carriers and dogs yodeling greetings or threats to every passer-by.

We don't really *need* a heel, but it would certainly be nice to have it, I would think...

Wouldn't you?

The obedience being called in question is what people think is too much effort. What they need help understanding is that same obedience is what will help them control their dog in situations where that focused attention on them (handlers) is sufficient to move through a potentially difficult situation with dignity intact and no puncture wounds.

Those things require a lot of effort. It's easy to see how people get discouraged about training at all. There are so many choices, and so many poor examples of training gone wrong.

But for every moment a dog enjoys the reinforcement of engaging in risky behavior, think of how more convenient it would be if you didn't have to wrestle with bad behavior, when a simple "heel" command becomes the catalyst for reinforcement of a different kind.

Now wouldn't that be nice?

What would be even better is if folks understood that the obedience required for everyday living is the exact same obedience required for the highest levels of performance. It's all the same.

All of it.

12/07/2023

11/04/2023

Harper earned his Beginner Novice title at the Burlington Obedience Training Club trials on October 21 and 22. He earned scores of 196 for first place, 195.5 for another first place, and 197 for third place.

09/28/2023

Mighty stick hunter!

07/13/2023

Ian knows things, pay attention!

LET’S TALK TOOLS

Red Arrow: Harness that fits around the dog’s body and when connected to a clip leash, creates a pulling reaction from the dog. This pulling reaction triggers the shoulders and chest muscles to be used which then influences the dog to use strength to get where they need to. If you have properly trained your dog to walk right next to you on a harness, you will not experience the pulling. Congratulations, I have yet to see this. 😂

Orange Arrow: Flat collar, usually used to connect a clip leash to and often times sits on the bottom of the neck due to gravity and the dog’s head being higher than the shoulders. This then triggers the dog’s shoulder muscles and the pulling starts. Again, this teaches the dog that strength needs to be used to get where they need to. If you have properly trained your dog to walk next to you on a flat collar, you will not experience the pulling. The majority of dogs I see are pulling during this setup.

Blue Arrow: Slip Leash is very high on the neck where it is placed behind the ears, behind the jaw bone, and it allows us to influence the dog’s head and brain. Shoulders and chest muscles are not triggered and physical strength is not used during the walk. When used correctly, little to no pressure is on the leash and physical strength is used by the dog to get from point A to point B. If you have properly trained your dog to walk next to you on a slip leash, you will not experience any pulling.

Out of the 3 tools shown, the slip leash is one of the most productive tools to create a structured walk, a calm mind, and a solid relationship.

Ever watch anyone walk a horse by the saddle?

Yeah, me either.

That’s because when you walk a 1000lb animal, you need to influence the brain and not the body.

Let’s start influencing our dog’s mentally and not physically.

05/30/2023

04/19/2023

Here's a quick way to check if your dog is too heavy or too thin. Of course, asking your veterinarian is also recommended.

04/11/2023

REUNITED

Two Dogs Missing in Dorchester NH - “Laya” is a female English Shepard, tri-color, 2 years, 45 pounds. “Tala” is a female Husky Mix, white with blue eyes, 10 years, 60 pounds. They are wearing collars and are microchipped. Laya and Tala are friendly but may bark. They are not from the area. Missing since 4/10/2023 from the Green Woodlands Trails area near the Mudgetts Pond Trail, near Six Mile Road. Please share their flier and watch carefully in Dorchester NH.
Call GSDR 24/7 at (855) 639-5678 if seen or found.

03/24/2023

Why we don't do group play sessions! The priority is keeping dogs safe.

Here is an update on the canine respiratory illness we have seen circulating around our area. While it doesn't have a name and we still aren't sure of the cause, we are encouraging dog owners to take extra precautions to avoid exposure. If visiting a dog park, dog daycare, or other places where dogs may be in close contact, take note of who your dog comes into contact with and see a veterinarian immediately if you start to notice your dog is exhibiting symptoms (coughing, trouble breathing, labored breathing, white foam in mouth). Read more from one of our ER veterinarians mentioned in this VT Digger article:

https://vtdigger.org/2023/03/20/burlington-emergency-vet-sees-uptick-in-respiratory-illness-in-dogs/

01/27/2023

Thanks to Lionheart K9:

Your daily anecdote:

Public access for your non-service dog is a privilege, not a 'right'.

When you see dogs in public; in stores, on public transportation, where dogs are generally not allowed, it is becoming difficult to discern whether or not they are service animals or just accompanying the person they are with.

The Americans with Disabilities Act is very specific on their requirements for dogs permitted in public spaces. A service dog must be able to mitigate the disability of its handler. A merchant cannot ask what the disability is. All they can ask is if the dog is a service dog.

The waters get even muddier when merchants cannot distinguish between a service dog, a 'therapy' dog (a dog that provides comfort to others), and an 'emotional support dog' (which provides comfort to the owner).

Therapy dogs are given *no* rights by the ADA, and their presence in a public place is generally by agreement with the facility; like a hospital, library, nursing care facility etc. An 'emotional support dog' is granted access to public transportation, and owners cannot be denied housing because of the dog, but they are not permitted the same protections or access as a service dog.

I have no problem with well-mannered dogs in public. I have personally been responsible for the "No Dogs Allowed" signs and policies to be changed in a variety of locations in at least 3 different states within the last 40 plus years and have written extensively about why public access should be granted to obedient, clean, un-obtrusive dogs.

What I have a problem with is the cavalier attitude of a needy public that tow their ill-mannered animals into a public space and allow it to defile property or invade the personal space of other patrons.

The folks that operate that public space, whether it's a store, restaurant, or bank, have extended you the privilege of occupying their space, often against corporate policies.

Accord yourself respectfully or lose the privilege forever.

01/18/2023

Do your snow dances Mushers! More info to come! Limited parking for teams at this venue.

01/17/2023

Your Daily Anecdote:

Dog training requires goal setting, which requires a strategy, which requires planning, which lends itself to following a methodology that takes you from the beginning, works you through the middle, towards a logical and productive conclusion.

Jumping around trying to "solve problems" is like expecting a child to understand quantum physics when he can't even add and subtract.

Training is language. It is also physics. It posesses a methodical rhythm that establishes mental and emotional organization through a structured, precise application of meaningful steps that the dog is introduced to, taught the meaning of, and proofed for.

Before expecting your pup how to read Shakespeare, you owe him the opportunity to learn the alphabet.

And I am fairly certain, you didn't learn to read until you knew your ABC's.

Think about it.

01/09/2023

Dr. Lori Baldwin, a vet at Animal Care Clinic Monadnock in Peterborough and Veterinary Emergency Center of Manchester (VECM), said a respiratory disease affecting dogs has been really worrisome, and there are still a lot of unanswered questions about...

09/24/2022

Shhh... Don't tell... Sometimes I really do get to play with puppies!

08/21/2022

You will hear that chant all the time. “He’s friendly,” they say. Then, lo and behold, the dog comes.... READ MORE

08/09/2022

Pittsburgh PA Casting Call - Aug 17th -Golden Retriever

Looking to cast sweet, well trained Golden Retrievers for an indoor video shoot. It is a holiday shoot with a Christmas tree and 2 children. 6 and 9 yrs old approx.
If you are interested or know someone that might be please get in touch ASAP via email [email protected]
NO DMs

Please include pics, location, cell number and why the dog would be a good fit for this. We may do a virtual/zoom auditions. So let me know if you prefer Facetime or Zoom.

Ideally looking to find semi local talent that lives within a 2hr drive of Pittsburgh.Thanks so much!

Permission to tag your friends, share and cross-post granted and very much appreciated!


Want to be notified of future casting calls? Follow us on Facebook & IG 🐕🐈🐾
https://www.facebook.com/pawsitivelyfamous/
https://Instagram.com/pettalentsearch

Join our fun, friendly FB community of Animal Actors, Trainers, Models, and Influencers.... https://www.facebook.com/groups/pawsitivelyfamous

07/17/2022

There are no secrets in dog training.

06/16/2022

Just in case you need to know this:

Some quick information regarding canine heat injury treatment: Don't let the age-old myths get in your way of preventing this deadly condition, or providing life-saving treatment of canine heat injury.

04/29/2022

I’m going to burst your bubble for a moment…

If you put the same amount of effort into teaching your dog useful life skills as you do with shake a paw you could potentially be in a totally different place with your dog.

It’s always baffling when time and time again we encounter completely out of control dogs who can’t sit to save their lives but they know shake a paw. Why is that?

You practice shake a paw, you’re constantly rewarding shake a paw, you reward even when your dog offers it to you without you asking. Why don’t you apply those exact same techniques to skills that make life with your dog better!

You need to practice obedience, you need to reward recalls, you need to acknowledge every good behaviour that you LIKE instead of waiting and addressing the behaviours you don’t like later on.

I’m telling you guys, ditch the shake a paw and start training your obedience with the same enthusiasm. You get out what you put in when it comes to your dog, simple as that!

And hey, once you have a nice foundation on your dog you can definitely train all the tricks in the world, I’m a huge fan of trick training! But don’t let cute party tricks take the front seat while your obedience is left behind.

03/02/2022

A “community dog” could never happen today, but history is replete with stories of dogs that belonged to no one and everyone, and “Paddy,” was one of them. In truth, Paddy, described as a ginger and brown Airedale Terrier, did have an owner, Elsie Marion Glasgow, the young daughter of a seam...

02/28/2022

Takes effect in 60 days, just in time for nicer weather! Let's all make sure that our dogs are on their best behavior, because restaurant owners don't have to allow them.

Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill Thursday that clears restaurant owners to allow dogs in any outdoor dining areas of their restaurants.