Hendo Dogs

23/08/2024

My hens are laying plenty of eggs, so I've made some egg & cheese muffins to put in the freezer for my 2 dogs. Yummy protein! When they are gone, I'll make more!

20/08/2024

I live for those (not little) moments right along with my dogs, many times, every day. Do you? They are precious, and make us whole.

12/08/2024

My two dogs have finally learned how to swim, and are starting to enjoy it! No compulsion, though having a life vest with a handle on top helped them “float” and swim with more confidence. Today was Bam Bam’s turn--at Fawn Lake in Dupont Forest. A celebration of sausage when he chose to leap in the water and swim to me!

We also explored a gorgeous side trail with mushrooms of many kinds everywhere after the rains. Found some chanterelles and Lion’s Mane! (But they would have been more edible yesterday...)

10/08/2024

22/07/2024

(turn on the sound)
I do a lot of work in my garden, and sometimes I forget to close the gate to my back yard. Doh! Since I have a dog door to the house... my boys get out and run around the neighborhood looking for squirrels and bunnies.
It’s a quiet cul de sac and they don’t range far, but this is when I am SO glad I trained them that WHOOOP! means, “Come running, I have special treats!”

02/07/2024

My article about fear in dogs has been reposted by Pets and Their People. Have a read! It's not only about fear of fireworks, but relevant as we are coming into the Fourth of July. And thunder and lightning.

A friendly reminder as the approaches:
Fear Is an Emotion, Not a Behavior
"Behaviors and emotions are tied together in important ways, but they are not the same, and require different approaches when they become a problem for your pet." - Sue Kocher of Hendo Dogs
Read more here: https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/pet-owners/pets-and-their-people/pets-and-their-people-blog/fear-is-an-emotion-not-a-behavior/

27/06/2024

Got a new baby puppy 8-15 weeks of age, or know someone who has?

Grab a spot in my monthly Baby Puppy course starting SEPTEMBER 2, held every Monday at Sage Pet Hospital in Laurel Park. Only 4 puppies per course, so you and your puppy can learn safely and effectively.

Puppies aged 7-14 weeks are primed to learn--both the behaviors you want such as focused Attention, Sit, Come--but also the ones you don’t want (like nipping, destructive chewing, and pottying in the wrong place). Now’s the time to get started!

We cover a LOT in each session, and you will also get email summaries with videos and “handouts” on points covered.

Message me for more info and to reserve your spot (you can also do so at Sage).

12/06/2024

Napa is a genuine, trained, and certified Service Dog. I’m increasingly sad to see all the fake “service dogs” with vests in restaurants, riding for free on planes, etc. If you ask what they are trained for, many owners will snap “None of your business” and/or “I am not required to explain my dog’s qualifications or my disability to anyone.”
I’ve had people ask me to train their dog to be a “service dog” but then won’t tell me what service the dog should provide--or say things like “picking up my keys” or “turning lights on and off” when the person clearly has no problem with such tasks. One even admitted that they already bought a service dog vest on Amazon.
I will not work with such a client.

No need to respond if you actually have a disability that your dog is professionally trained to help you with, and is certified by a *qualified* organization to wear a Service Dog vest--I SUPPORT you. But not the fakers and “emotional support dog” people. Heck, I’d love to take my “emotional support dogs” everywhere too. But I settle for cuddles on the sofa, hikes, and training for dog sports together.

11/06/2024

My next 4-week Baby Puppy class (Sage Pet Hospital in Laurel Park HVL) starts Monday July 1.

Only 4 puppies per class, so if you’re interested, message me for details (Hendersonville NC area only, but I also offer this course to individual clients on Zoom!).

Puppies aged 7-14 weeks are primed to learn--both good things, and not-so-good things. When you learn how to make training fun, your pup will be giving you loving gazes like this, asking to puh-leeeze play the Training Game!

02/06/2024

I hid all of Sagan’s balls so I could get some chores done. But he’s very persistent.

20/05/2024

Who says Irish Wolfhounds are untrainable? Fiona says “I love this training game because I *win* (yummy treats) a lot! Bingo!

Congratulations to Christine and Fiona for a qualifying run AND 3rd place in their very first Rally trial! Fiona’s breeder shares the pride. And me too. They’re such a pleasure to work with!

11/05/2024

BABY PUPPY?
Hey local HVL folks! Are you planning to get a puppy, or know someone who is?

I’m pleased to announce that I’m starting my Baby Puppy Training course in June. I taught this course for years at a large veterinary hospital in Raleigh, and it was very popular!

This 4-session course is for puppies between the ages of 7-12 weeks when the course begins--the “Critical Learning Period” that shapes your puppy’s habits and behavior for life.

Veterinarians see baby puppies well before owners are thinking about “training!”... so I was looking for a partner here in Hendersonville who understands the Critical Period and wants to help clients to navigate those first few months with their new furbabies.

I am so happy to have connected with Dr. Toria McHarg and staff at Pet Hospital in Laurel Park!

Yes, your tiny puppy can learn, a LOT, and it’s important that they do so to prevent problems later! I will help you handle all those challenging issues--house training, crate training, jumping and nipping, plus Come, Sit, Off, and Down. We will also cover the importance of *proper, safe* socialization (hint: it’s not just “meet & greet”)--and Maddie at Sage is offering a class to dive more deeply into that. We’ve got you covered.

***ONLY 4 PUPPIES PER CLASS--you will get plenty of personal attention, and you will discover how eager your new puppy is to learn! New courses start on the first Monday of each month, held weekly at 6 PM. $140. ***

Message me for more info, or to register before the class fills!

15/03/2024

Got a dog who fears thunder, fireworks, gunshots?

This morning well before the first crack of thunder, Sagan crawled into my lap, panting, and begged me to put on his Thundershirt. Happier. Then he stood at the door to the basement/garage, and I thought, “Maybe being downstairs AND in the car will help him”. Indeed, he was happy to jump in. He knew what he needed.

I just checked, and he’s lying comfortably, ate a treat, not panting.
Thundershirts do work IF they are fitted and conditioned properly on non-storm days. Please help your thunder-fearing dog and get one!

Caution: Dogs perceive thunderstorms well before we notice. If you only put the shirt on AFTER your dog dog is panicky, your dog might conclude that the shirt *causes” scary things, and the shirt might not help as well, or at all.

I can help you with the fitting and conditioning!
(Clients past and present: let’s schedule a free Zoom call so I can show you.)

12/03/2024

Training “sniffy walk” at Lowes with the brilliant little Teddy and his awesome parents. (Unmute if needed.)
I placed some treats along the lumber aisle so we could practice the human “mechanics”--hands, posture, gestures, cues. Teddy’s learning to engage, give eye contact, and wait for the cue “OK! Go SNIFF!” instead of pulling the leash to get to pee-mail and other lovely smells along his street. :^)

05/03/2024

Having a good recall is handy! Could also be life-saving. I can help you teach your dog to come when called, happily. Even when there are interesting smells and critters around.

02/03/2024

Got a dog that seems indifferent to their food, or that gobbles it way too fast? Here’s how to make a simple, quality snuffle mat. Your dog will have a blast sniffing and hunting for his food!

I see a lot of them on the internet that are needlessly complicated, with crinkle-plastic and squeakers and such. Then buyers complain that their dog chewed it up and destroyed it.

Well, DUH. Snuffle mats are a kind of enrichment puzzle but they are not chew toys--they’re for mealtimes only. Then for heaven’s sake, put it UP until the next meal!

26/02/2024

Public service message:

Need a fenced yard for your dog, but can’t afford a fancy wood or chain link fence? If you don’t have an HOA that prohibits it, you can pretty easily make your own, big or small! Read on...

When I lived in Raleigh, I learned how to build inexpensive dog fencing as a volunteer with the Coalition to Unchain Dogs, now called **Beyond Fences**. (They build fences for pet owners who can’t afford them, and also provide spay-neuter $$--send them a donation!)

Later, I built my own fence with the help of a friend who had a come-along. You’ll need to buy or borrow one of those tools, and you can make your own fence stretcher--inexpensive as you can see in the video.
You don’t need a tractor to stretch it if you’ve got a strong friend or two to help. And those braces for the angled posts at the corners are new, and very cool! Add a chain-link gate & posts if needed, but it’s great if you can run the fence up to your house so you can just open the door and let your dog out!
Wheeeee! Life changing!

Check this out and give your dog, or a relative/friend’s dog, a safe space to sniff and play!

Used high tensile Red Brand 'no climb' 2X4 horse fence on t-post and t-post alone with the Wedge Loc hardware. Worked awesome... saved a lot of time with di...

24/02/2024

Bam Bam got me past my jitters to win our Advanced Rally title today! Three runs, three Qs, on to Excellent level next. Dogs in Wellford NC

07/02/2024

How on earth?
(Unmute if necessary) We were working on “Place” (station/mat training) in class, and puppy was responding well, and then suddenly hesitant to get on the mat--a “learning plateau” very common in shaping new behaviors. It’s like they have a hypothesis about what to do, but are a bit conflicted about testing the hypothesis in case they might be wrong (nothing bad happens, just no Click/Treat).
This Frenchie-Boston pup thought for 2 seconds, then had a “eureka!” moment and jumped UP to get on the mat--and her human was quick enough to mark it precisely. From then on, this was how this adorable pup responded to “Place!”.

25/12/2023

08/12/2023

I do not understand why, but Tisha is still available as of 26Mar24!
LOOK at this gorgeous, svelte young lady!
Please share this post with anyone looking for a beautiful, biddable, active companion. They can contact me on FB Messenger with any questions abouty Tisha (include Tisha’s name so I know it’s not spam).

Tisha is 11 months old, 35 lbs, and gorgeous with her tight, shiny red coat and flashy white feet/chest. She’s healthy, extremely athletic (as you can see), a real sweetheart with dogs and people. She was too much energy for my senior client--but just right for an active dog-lover!

I’ve done some training sessions with Tisha and I love her. If I could, I’d take her! She’s crate-comfy, smart, eager to learn, no vices!

She’d be awesome as a hiking/running partner, agility dog, and she would excel in Scentwork! She does enjoy snuggling on the sofa between games of flirt pole and ball chasing.

02/12/2023

It’s time to get serious about this mysterious canine respiratory disease that is now in NC and other states.
If your dog is coughing or sneezing, don’t assume it’s “just a cold or kennel cough”--get him/her to the vet ASAP because if it progresses to pneumonia, you could lose a whole lot of money spent in the ER... and possibly lose your dog.

Meanwhile, make sure your dog is UTD on vaccines, especially bordatella, and stay away from dog parks or other places where lots of dogs congregate! 😢

Mysterious dog illness hits NC

24/11/2023

Oldie but goodie!

19/11/2023

Every interaction with your dog is “training”. They are constantly learning from you, but they learn by what “works” for them, in the moment. Which means they learn bad habits as well as good ones.

Simple fact: Behavior, whether “good” or “bad” in your mind, is driven by reinforcement. “Bad” things like leash pulling, jumping up, nipping, or peeing on the dining room carpet are self-reinforcing behaviors that quickly become habits.

You might have noticed that yelling, leash jerks, or forced “time outs” have little effect. Except maybe to make them avoid you more. It’s not the dog’s fault. They are not *giving you a hard time*, they are *having a hard time*. Teaching your dog good manners-- through clear signals, food, and play--is the key. And it’s not hard, it’s fun for you both!

Sound good? Message/email me and we’ll set up a free Zoom call to see if we’re a good fit. I coach people in-person (HVL area) and live on Zoom (recorded so you can review and practice!).

Once you learn my 10 Trainer Skills, you and your dog will be on the path to a loving, positive relationship. Sit/Down/Come/Stay etc. become easy to train. Win-win!

19/11/2023

My compulsive little thief, Sagan, likes to drag stolen items out to the same spot in my backyard where he can chew on them. I’ve lost a lot of markers, pens, empty pill bottles from the trash-- but fortunately he doesn’t steal and destroy expensive things like shoes, or my TV remote. Here’s what I found this morning.

18/11/2023

I might have to bite the bullet and get one of these cool lure-coursing kits. But first I need to find a fenced place that I can use or rent cheaply. My yard is big enough for my small dogs, but if I want to allow clients to give this a try, I’ll need a bigger area.

FYI: I am well aware of the risks of this game/sport. Dogs have to be fit, weather right, terrain flat and mowed low, etc. But this kit is very “soft”, the line is not super tight, and the remote control works great to control speed and start/stop. If the dog steps on the line or grabs the lure, it pops off the wheel and stops immediately. I would set it up with more wheels and wider angles, or a straight line.
Interested? Contact Steve Pinelli: Steve Pinelli, who lives near me in Etowah. Tell him I sent ya! https://pinellimachineworks.com/

They are made locally of plastic using a 3D printer, powered by the kind of battery for rechargeable drills (in fact, he has a cheaper model that just uses a drill!), all in a compact box on a small platform.
Sagan absolutely loses his mind! He played this game once before, many months ago, but when the equipment came out, he remembered… and was screaming so loud, I thought our eardrums would bust!
It’s a good outlet for his high energy, and after that we went for a nice, calm walk.

29/10/2023

I came across this old video of my old Rat Terrier, Jeepers doing his “Up Against the Wall” trick in class. He knew so many fun tricks! This one never failed to crack people up. Including me!

13/08/2023

Easy egg muffins for you and your dogs!

First, if you’re not sure of freshness, put uncracked egg in a clear glass container of cool water. If they lay more or less flat, they’re fresh. If they’re at a 45°angle or greater, they’re getting stale but fine to eat. If they’re standing straight up I don’t use them--and toss them if they float or bounce upright on the bottom.
Otherwise: mix with a fork, and a bit of salt & pepper, and a little heavy cream for the “fluff factor”. A sprinkle of shredded cheese on top can’t go wrong. Fill muffin cups 1/3-1/2 full and bake at 350° for 15 min or so.
Cool completely then arrange in a single layer in a Ziploc bag (so they don’t stick together), and freeze. My small dogs each get a half when they’ve been very good boyz.