Such a lovely sidekick!

We’re in Asheville, North Carolina readying ourselves for a Steve & Jen White training workshop at A Good Dog’s Life.  It’s a very yin yang kind of trip.  Blissfully wonderful having Willow here with me and painfully sad because the last time I was in Asheville, again for a workshop at A Good Dog’s Life, I learned I was going to have to euthanize my soulmate dog, Gibson.

I don’t even need to tell you the pain I was in ….you dog people know.  Suffice it to say, I wasn’t sure I would live through it, yet here I am watching this beautiful, blue merle Australian Shepherd girl, Willow, confidently experience all the newness of her first road trip with such ease and grace.  I’m sure Angel Gibson would be proud of her.  In truth, I know he is.  I feel him with us.

He and I had nearly nine years of road trips together and he was always cool as a cucumber in all new situations.  This little girl seems to be following in his paw steps.  Oh, except for that darn Harley that gunned the engine while we were taking a potty break by the curb.  No, she didn’t like that at all!  But she recovered very quickly and was back to her confident self.

So here’s the fun Willow and I had today in a short photo journal.

Couldn’t keep the girl off these landscaping rocks.…she loved them!

Imagine that after checking in, the first person she met was Steve White!  Yep, he thought she was cute.  She was pretty full of herself after that.

Wow, these flag poles sure can make some noise when it’s windy.

She was quite curious about the flag poles.  All that racket kept her looking up a while.  Then it was on to experience her own personal, moving chariot.

It is NOT to carry luggage, it’s my ride!

After getting settled in our room, I decided it was time to do a little classical conditioning around the elevator before going for a ride.  Neither the opening, nor closing of the doors bothered her.

Patiently waiting for those doors to open.

And some dried salmon helped her think the funny sounds while inside the elevator (when it moved) were pretty cool.…well, maybe just ok.

A little unsure about those weird sounds in the elevator, but salmon helped!

After all that adventure, it was time to hit the bed.  I love hanging out on a hotel bed with my dog.  Something glorious about it that I can’t describe.  Maybe it’s the cuddle factor?

Yummy bed to eat a bully stick on.

And she loves her window on the world!

Curious about all the movement outside “her” window.

And I discovered that the girl has an extreme desire to burrow!  OMG.….I wish I had been able to get it on video.  I laughed myself silly.

Aussie or Mole?

So here I sit, with Willow burrowed in the pillows beside me and reminiscing about my days with Gibson.  Yes and crying.  Many tears.  I didn’t think it would be possible to love another dog again, but Gibson was even more special than I thought, because he’s made more room in my heart for Willow.  I already love her beyond measure.  I think we’re going to have a really fine life together.  And she’s already a great Cold Nose College Mascot.  Yep, there “is” life after death.

I love you, Gibson.  I love you,  Willow.

Our New Aussie Pup, Willow

Written on February 27, 2012

As I write this I’m thinking about tomorrow and am giddy with excitement because tomorrow we’re adding a new puppy to our home.  There’s nothing like a puppy to spice up one’s life!  But bringing a new pup into your home should be done with much forethought and preparation….no snap decisions please.  Here are some important things to do prior to the little one joining your family.

The moment you even “think” about adding a puppy to your home, get a book on puppies.  Read it.  Two that I recommend are Whole Dog Journal’s “Puppy Primer, What to Do and Not to Do in the First Months” and “Puppy’s First Steps” by Nicholas Dodman, BVMS.  Puppies are LOTS of work.  You may prefer to bring an older dog into your home.

• Sit down and discuss the possibility of a puppy with your entire family.  Do your research to determine what breed or mix of breeds would bet suit your home.  Consider size, energy level, temperament and grooming needs.  And of course, consider time and expense.  This decision is a 10 to 15 year commitment and should not be taken lightly.  Decide who will be the primary caregiver of your pup.
• Decide where you’ll get your pup.  If from a shelter, make an intelligent decision, not an emotional one.  Enlist the help of a trainer to help you with a temperament and behavior assessment.  If from a breeder, make certain you pick a reputable breeder.  Start with a phone call to interview the breeder to ask many important questions. Key information to know is:  How many females does the breeder have?  The fewer the better as whelping/raising litters takes time and you want your pup to get the early attention it needs.  Where does whelping take place?  Right answer is inside the breeder’s own home.  Be sure to meet the puppy’s mother and father so you can understand their temperaments.  Ask if people come and go in the home and if there’s interaction with pups.  If so, then your puppy is getting nice early socialization before leaving the litter.  Ask if the puppy has littermates?  A singleton puppy is very much at a social disadvantage because of lack of time with siblings.  And do not, I repeat do not bring a puppy home earlier than 8 weeks.  Actually 10 weeks is preferred.
• Adjust your schedule so that you’ll have time off of work when the puppy comes home.  You want to make sure the introduction to your home and family goes well and you need to be present for that to happen.  If possible, take an entire week off of work.
• Purchase a crate that will be your puppy’s safe space and will aid you in preventing unwanted behaviors and help you with housetraining.  Be sure to buy a front clip harness, a collar and a 4 or 6 ft nylon, leather or cotton leash (stay away from retractable leashes).
• Buy a puppy Kong, Nylabones and other toys made for chewing.  Your puppy explores the world with its mouth and you want to be sure to have safe items for chewing.
• Puppy proof your home just as you would for a human toddler.  But valuable items and everyday items you don’t with you puppy to touch up and out of reach of that little mouth with sharp teeth.
• Consider pet gates to keep your pup in specific areas of your home until she/he is housetrained and to aid in proper introductions with other members of your animal family (you can check out the Cold Nose College blog for proper introduction tips).
• Look ahead and arrange for a puppy socialization class for your new canine kid so that he or she learns that new places, people, sounds and places are good things vs. becoming afraid of the new things in his/her life.  You’ll learn about housetraining, how to deal with puppy nipping and biting and how to safely introduce your pup to a variety of new experiences.  A puppy’s most formative time is up to 16 weeks of age.  Puppies love everything early in life…..you want it to stay that way and proper socialization will help make that possible.

So, tomorrow I’ll be a puppy parent.  I’ll embrace the lack of sleep, the little time for myself and the constant supervision needed for my girl to grow up into a confident, well-adjusted pup.  And I’m already enrolled in puppy class……see you there!

Lisa Lyle Waggoner is a CPDT-KA, a Pat Miller Certified Trainer-Level2, a dog*tec Certified Dog Walker and the founder of Cold Nose College in Murphy, North Carolina.  She enjoys providing behavior consulting and training solutions to clients in the tri-state area of North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, as well as offering educational opportunities for dog trainers and dog hobbyists throughout the U.S.  

Nicole Wilde, Popular Author and Speaker

Many dog owners, shelter/rescue workers, trainers, and other canine professionals find anxiety, fears, and phobias to be among the most challenging behaviors to treat. This information-packed workshop combines lecture, photographs, and extensive video footage to explore the art of working with fearful dogs, with some overlap into fear-based aggression.

Topics include:

Causes and prevention

-        How fear manifests

-        Recognized and lesser-known stress signals

-        How to work with fearful dogs in the home

-        Suggestions for group classes

-        A Firm Foundation program on which dogs can build confidence

-        Skills owners should know

-        Skills to teach dogs

-        What training equipment is (and is not!) appropriate

Interactive exercises include participation in solving a fear-related case history. You will also learn how specific complementary therapies and products can make your treatment plans even more successful. Whether you are a professional or non-professional, you will leave with a better understanding of shy, anxious, and fearful dogs, and plenty of new techniques and ideas you can try out immediately.

Nicole Wilde is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and an internationally recognized, award-winning author and lecturer. Her nine books include So You Want to be a Dog Trainer, Help for Your Fearful Dog, and Don’t Leave Me! Step-by-Step Help for Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety (www.phantompub.com). In addition to working with dogs, Nicole has worked with wolves and wolfdogs for over fifteen years and is considered an expert in the field.

Nicole is the recipient of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers’ prestigious Ian Dunbar Member of the Year Award for 2006, and a popular speaker at the organization’s conferences. She is on the Advisory Board of the Companion Animal Sciences Institute, the educational branch for the International Institute for Applied Companion Animal Behavior, and an Advisory Board member for the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. Nicole writes an “Ask the Expert” column for Modern Dog Magazine.

Nicole lives in southern California with her husband and two dogs, and runs Gentle Guidance Dog Training.  View her popular blog, Wilde About Dogs and find Nicole on Facebook and Twitter.

Date:  Saturday, June 9, 2012; Price: $95 (includes lunch)

Registration Here  

Brad & Queen of the Superdogs, Abbey, with soon to be Superdog, Gibson

There’s a menacing problem in the pet dog world and I’m going to attempt to do my best to keep this from happening again in our own home. Yes, it occurred once 3 years ago….January 31, 2009.

The truth is, a great many dogs are affected by this syndrome, including many of our clients’ dogs. Fortunately it’s not contagious and it’s relatively easy to cure.  YOU are the most important ingredient to preventing and curing this menacing problem.

I must admit, however, that it can be a challenge to prevent.  Many of you may know that we had to euthanize our 8.5 year old Aussie, Gibson, in November.  After a sudden development of blood in his chest cavity and fluid in his abdominal cavity, trips to local vets and 4 days in ICU at the University of Georgia Veterinary Hospital it was believed he had hemangiosarcoma. Unfortunately, there’s no ability for early diagnosis of this canine cancer and when found, it’s in the advanced stages. There is no treatment and no cure. We gave Gibson the gift of a peaceful passing.

On that day, my world turned to black and white and I could do nothing but long for his presence.  My sights were behind me with no ability to look forward.  Gibson was the first dog in our home that was trained with only positive training methods and our relationship was a testament to that…nothing but trust.  No matter where we went, people noticed the deep connection between us.  We were a registered Therapy Dog team and we immensely enjoyed the nursing home visits and the myriad of the school programs we were asked to deliver.  Gibson started my clicker training journey and I honed all my dog training skills with him. I never intended to be a dog trainer, but merely learn more. So as I now begin to look forward, I’m considering a new canine kid and I’m scared of Superdog Syndrome.

Yes, after 8.5 years of training and relationship building, Gibson was a Superdog. Even at 5.5 years of age in January of 2009 when we adopted Cody (an extremely fractious, untrained 1 year old Australian Shepherd), Gibson was already a Superdog.  As was Abbey, who we had recently lost at 13 years of age and who we referred to as our Angel Dog.  She was the Queen of Superdogs!

Oh my…the training Cody needed!  One Cody, two dog trainers and endless days of helping him learn house manners was beyond tiring….physically and emotionally.  While at my wits end one day, I left Cody in the house and took Gibson for a walk around the pasture to quiet my mind.  I was frustrated because Cody didn’t have Abbey’s Angel Dog qualities, nor did he have Gibson’s calm, low energy Aussie qualities. On that walk, I realized Cody was Cody and it was up to US to help him become the best he could be.  He didn’t need to suffer from comparisons of dogs who had come before him.  He would never be Abbey and he would never be Gibson, but we would love him and train him and do our very best to meet his needs in our home and in our life.

As I write this, Cody is lying peacefully at my feet and has become the best of dogs.  He valiantly stepped into Gibson’s paws on our last television appearance on WRCBtv in Chattanooga.  He’s now a Superdog.

Superdog Cody!

So as we begin to think of bringing yet another new dog into our home, I’m going to do my best not to compare the new canine kid with those who have passed or the current Superdog in our home.  I will love and appreciate the new dog for all he or she is and vow to do my best to bring out the best  in that new canine kid, thereby preventing that menacing Superdog Syndrome.

Lisa Lyle Waggoner is a CPDT-KA, a Pat Miller Certified Trainer-Level 2, a dog*tec Certified Dog Walker and the founder of Cold Nose College in Murphy, North Carolina.  She enjoys providing behavior consulting and training solutions to clients in the tri-state area of North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, as well as offering educational opportunities for dog trainers and dog hobbyists throughout the U.S.   www.coldnosecollege.com

Gibson

This poem, author unknown, speaks to my heart today.

Goodbye, My Friend

When our brief time
Together nears its end
I have the faith
In my heart that the
Love that dwells in your soul
Will give you strength
And courage to let me go

You and I
We have been friends
Secrets I will keep
That you have confessed
Will remain with me
From this life
And into the next

In this life
My path seemed clear
My task ~ to teach
You of the greatest
Gift of all
So even if it seems
Beyond your reach

Show me one last time
I’ve done my job well
And return this
Unconditional love
As you hold me
Close and bid me
Farewell.

It’s November and a time of giving thanks.  I do feel thankful each day because I’m passionate about the work I do, but I’m feeling particularly thankful today because my Aussie, Gibson is now home and feeling well after four days in the University of Georgia Veterinary Hospital ICU with an unknown illness.   I’m thankful too for the North Georgia Animal Emergency Hospital in Blue Ridge, Georgia and their expert care and treatment when they determined Gibson had blood in his chest cavity and clear fluids in his abdominal cavity, and Blairsville Animal Hospital before the referral to UGA for further diagnostics.

Though the diagnosis remains elusive, one of the first things the vets considered was toxin ingestion.  This was highly unlikely because of the way we live our lives (organically) and the fact that Gibson is rarely, if ever, outside without me and is always in a fenced area.  Nonetheless, I’ve given lots of thought this week to things that could be toxic to dogs and other pets.

Do you know that the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center receives close to 100,000 phone calls each year about dogs that swallow or become exposed to dangerous toxins?  Over 15,000 of those calls were about common food ingredients in our cupboard or on our tables that can make dogs sick.

While most dog owners are aware that chocolate, coffee, caffeine, alcohol, raisins, grapes and macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs, there are a few items that are not as well known. Unbaked yeast dough toxicity is particularly a problem in small dogs. Rapidly multiplying yeast cells cause swallowed dough to continue rising, creating a risk of blockage or even rupture of dog’s gastrointestinal tract.  If Fido starts acting lethargic don’t wait, but seek out veterinary care. One of the newer toxicities that have come to light is Xylitol poisoning, unfortunately thanks to “sugar-free” products.  Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that causes dogs to have very low blood sugar levels and can lead to liver failure. This product is most commonly found in sugar-free gums and if your dog snatches just one piece it can be toxic. Another toxin is zinc. If your dog swallows a zinc penny, screws or other items containing zinc, it can cause zinc toxicity leading to gastroenteritis, hemolytic anemia, inflammation and possible necrosis of the liver, kidney or pancreas.

So, what can you do?  Be sure to store potentially dangerous foods and household items in places your dog can’t reach.  Educate your friends and family to keep toxic items away from your dog. Don’t let your dog roam free where he can find toxins elsewhere.  Keep phone numbers on hand for emergencies: your vet, the closest emergency clinic and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Hotline: 888–426-4435 which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  And if your dog is acting strangely or exhibiting strange symptoms, be sure to err on the side of caution and take him to the vet because waiting could be fatal.

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Lisa Lyle Waggoner is a CPDT-KA, a Pat Miller Certified Trainer-Level2, a dog*tec Certified Dog Walker and the founder of Cold Nose College in Murphy, North Carolina.  She enjoys providing behavior consulting and training solutions to clients in the tri-state area of North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, as well as offering fun educational opportunities for dog trainers and dog hobbyists throughout the U.S.   www.coldnosecollege.com

Training & Education for Dog Lovers!

Do you need help with your dog or puppy?

Want to put your career where your heart is?

Spend a week honing your skills with a shelter dog?

Escape to the mountains for a weekend getaway with your dog?

 Then you’re in the right place. 

Welcome to Cold Nose College, the Land of Dog. 

We know dogs inside out, tip of the nose to tip of the tail. 

We know how they think and more importantly how they learn.

Read to get started?  Call us at 828–644-9148, today!

www.ColdNoseCollege/education 

Ahhhh, early autumn and changing leaves!  As the days get cooler, my thoughts turn to hiking with my dog.  I’m fortunate to live in an area where I can easily walk outside of the fenced acreage around my home and hit a few trails.

I love being out of doors and so does my dog!  If it’s exciting for me, it’s nirvana for a dog with all those fabulous smells.  For your dog, the outdoors is like their own personal iPod and cable TV rolled into one…it’s excitement, for sure.  Even before I grab my shoes, my dogs’ eyes are sparkling with the mere thought of going outside with me.  Before taking your dog into the woods or on a trail, you should make sure your dog is prepared.  Perhaps even more importantly, you should make sure you, your dog’s protector, are prepared.

The most important factor to consider is will your dog truly enjoy herself?  Have you socialized your dog well so that she’s comfortable and confident in new situations?  Have you done the training necessary to ensure she’s controllable around other people and other dogs?  Does she have a reliable recall (if not, on-leash hikes are the ticket).  Will the weather be too hot or cold to ensure her comfort and safety?  While you can never predict the weather, being prepared and being willing to adjust accordingly will help make your journey successful.

Once you’ve done the proper planning, here are some tips to make the day successful.  Let a friend know where you’re going and when you plan to return.  Check out the local dog policies for area or trail you plan to hike.  Confirm your dog is current on rabies and other necessary vaccinations.

Take water from home for you AND your dog and stop frequently to give your dog water breaks.  Don’t let your dog drink from streams or lakes where there’s potential to ingest bacteria or parasites (like giardia).  Dogs can easily over exert themselves, so make sure you give her a break if she seems tired.

After your hike, be sure to give your dog a thorough check (ears, face, body, feet, etc.) for any briars or burrs she may have picked up along the way and also check her paw pads for cuts or stickers.  Once you return home, you can both enjoy a well-earned dinner and some R&R together.  Give her an extra special belly rub and revel in the glory of spending time out of doors with your furry friend.

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Lisa Lyle Waggoner is a CPDT-KA, a Pat Miller Certified Trainer-Level2, a dog*tec Certified Dog Walker and the founder of Cold Nose College in Murphy, North Carolina.  She enjoys providing behavior consulting and training solutions to clients in the tri-state area of North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, as well as offering educational opportunities for dog trainers and dog hobbyists throughout the U.S.   www.coldnosecollege.com

Training, Exercise and Mental Stimulation at Day School

Get a Better-Behaved Dog Quickly

Day School

We help dog owners get the best possible manners from their dogs.

Does your dog’s unruly behavior seem impossible to change?  Don’t be fooled.  All dogs can learn nice manners, and yours is no exception. We use positive, science-based training to change behavior quickly.

A few of the problems we solve for dog owners every day:

At Home or Out & About: Jumping on visitors, pulling on leash, rushing the door at the bell, not coming when called, barking at people and other dogs, basic manners such as sit/stay, not listening to commands, not listening

Life with Puppy:  House-training accidents, puppy biting and mouthing, crate training, socialization to people and other dogs

Behavior Problems: Aggression issues, anxiety, shyness, protectiveness of toys or food, Thunderphobia, sound sensitivities

Do any of those sound familiar? If so, we can help—with these and many other problems.

What it is A fast, effective way to get a well-behaved dog. We do the training for you, then show you how to keep your dog’s improved manners from slipping.

How it works You drop your dog off at our training facility 3 times per week for half a day’s intensive training and exercise. Total number of weeks depends on your training goals, but 3 to 6 weeks is typical.  Day School is $45 per day.

Day School hours

Mon: 8:30am–12:30pm. Wed: 12:30pm–4:30pm. Fri: 8:30am–12:30pm.