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Tag: Dog

Tomorrow on King 5’s Evening Magazine! / Feature

A couple weeks ago, we were privileged to have Kim Holcomb from King 5 visit us here at the Puppy Manners’ ranch to film a special feature on dog therapy testing. Our friend, Diana, and her mushy-faced Beagle, “Frodo”, volunteered to be our “testers” and did a fantastic job showing the world what a therapy test looks like. Tomorrow night, the feature will air on Evening Magazine at 7PM PST. If you can’t watch it tomorrow, no worries! You can check it out on their Website after this Wednesday. We can’t wait to see how it turned out! Be sure to leave your comments if you watch it tomorrow! We’d love to know your thoughts!

Here are some photos* taken during filming. We’ll start with our “star” of the day.

*Photos taken by Carly Chaney.

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Becky & David Bishop
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King 5 Article / Feature

I feel so honored and thankful to be part of an amazing organization like Reading with Rover and to see it featured on King 5’s website is so exciting! It’s always a little nerve wrecking to see myself on camera but knowing that the RWR program is getting exposure and gaining attention is totally worth it! Check out the feature and then visit Reading with Rover to find out more about how you and your best doggie pal can get involved.

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Becky & David Bishop
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Meet my new puppy!

I realize this isn’t actually a photo of me and a puppy, but this is my “human puppy” and granddaughter, Reagan, age three. The comparisons between my little human puppy and a real puppy are amazing. For your convenience, I’ve put together my Top 10 list of similarities:

  1. She’s almost house broken. If I withhold liquid after 7PM, she can make it through the entire night without an “accident.” However, if she has a bit of Root Beer (or “Beet Brr”, as she likes to call it), I can guarantee she will need a “wee wee pad”, aka “Pull Ups”.
  2. She doesn’t eat the furniture, but I have caught her chewing on inappropriate objects. For example, pencil erasers, paper clips, and pennies.
  3. She’s a bit of a “resource guarder,” as she doesn’t like to share her HPGs (Hard Plastic Guys) and/or her “Chickens”, aka “chicken nuggets.” She actually growled at me the other day. I thought about squirting her with a water bottle but we thought a timeout would be more effective. It was.
  4. She doesn’t drink out of the toilet, but I did catch her splashing in it the other day. When I found her, she exclaimed rather bluntly, “I’m playing in your toilet!” Thank heavens for liquid sanitizer, although I have caught her drinking that too.
  5. Right now, her recall (“come here” command) needs some serious work. When she’s in the yard and I call her to come, she runs the other way. Eventually, I resort to shaking a bucket full of HPGs (again, Hard Plastic Guys) and she cannot resist and comes running. Like a cookie to a puppy, positive reinforcement is often the best solution.
  6. Something she’s getting better at on every outing is resisting the need to greet strangers because, as I have explained to her, not everyone loves being greeted with sticky hands or being licked on the face. On the other hand, I don’t want to squash her friendly spirit and sociability. There’s a fine line between keeping them social and not letting her end up someone else’s little puppy.
  7. A tired three-year-old is a well-behaved three-year-old. Sure, she gets a little cranky. But that doesn’t last long and then she falls asleep, usually in the middle of chewing on something, like a “binky” (pacifier) or, as I’ve mentioned, an HPG.
  8. She loves to jump on the bed and when you say “off”, she won’t do it.
  9. She loves to play with other puppies but she’s often guilty of having “third dog syndrome,” otherwise known as the peace keeper. She doesn’t like conflict, although that doesn’t apply within the context of her toys (see #3, regarding resource guarding).
  10. Above all else, the biggest similarity I’ve found between her and a puppy is her undying love, devotion, and loyalty. She truly lives in the moment, doesn’t care about the future, and doesn’t look back. I wish that would last forever.

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Becky & David Bishop
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Wow!

Time flies with the holidays quickly approaching! Not to mention, I’m still getting the hang of this blogging stuff—I never knew it was such hard work! You missed all of October (my fault, obviously!), so I don’t want you to miss out on November. So let’s recap!

Here at Puppy Manners, we’ve been pretty busy. While we just started the second week of our newest Group Training classes, our sweet girl, “Zoom”, just started her 13th week of rehabilitation from hip surgery. Only three more weeks to go! No one would ever know that she has an artificial hip. We’ve nicknamed her “Bionic Girl” and we believe it makes her the coolest dog ever. She’s feeling so good these days, we have to be especially careful to not let her run or jump, which she is very eager to do. At the end of this month, “Zoom” will get her final X-rays and we’ll finally receive the “all clear” for her to run, jump, play, and do what she loves—zoooooooooming around!

We received a huge response from our post about “Dusty”, who is still here and making progress. Of course, it is all on her time, not ours. But we are pleased to inform you that she is warming up to all of us. When she’s with our other boarding dogs, she now approaches the fence and offers a lick. She no longer runs for the hills when we approach and our youngest employee, Jamie, took her home for the weekend, where she did very well. She needs more in-house time with people, so we plan on bringing her in the house to hang with us as well. We also received her DNA blood test results which revealed that she is 52% Doberman, 12% Malamute, and 12%… Pekenese! Yeah, that last one seems crazy, but we won’t argue with science! No wonder she’s our odd little duck!

The “Howlidays” are quickly approaching and we are busy getting ready! It’s like a bed and breakfast for dogs, as we are “a buzz” with prepping the barn for our furry guests. This is the busiest time of year for us but it’s also the most fun. We love seeing our guests running through the “Dream Field” and then coming into to warm their toes by the heaters. If we could serve them hot chocolate, we would! It really is a magical season.

We recently had a foster dog named “Dodger” come to us but he lucked out and already found a new home! He’s an older dog so we were so excited when a really nice family with five acres came along to adopt him. They have horses, cows, pigs, and a St. Bernard buddy to romp along the fields. We are always SO happy when the perfect family comes along for a sweet and well-deserved dog.

Meanwhile, we have another foster dog, “Shadow”, who is looking for a home! She is a field-bred black Labrador. She went to drug sniffing school but she dropped out. Seems that “Shadow” likes to look for things rather than sniff them out! She will make a great companion to someone active and on-the-go. She is going through rigorous puppy training here and will be a wonderful family dog, especially if that family enjoys activities like going to the park, camping, or bike rides together.

Well that’s all I have time to update you with today. I promise to do better in the coming weeks. There are some things I’ve been wanting to blog about, like Therapy Testing, some more basic obedience tips, as well as a special feature on our youngest and most animated dog, “Harry Plotter.” Stay tuned for those posts, coming up fast!

And because blog posts are always better with a photo—Here’s a great one of former foster dog “Dodger”, which was taken by our new pet photography friend, Cyndi T., who came to visit us all the way from Tennessee! And be sure to check out the blog post she wrote about our “kids”! Isn’t “Dodger” a sweetheart??

Posted on November 5, 2010 by Becky & David Bishop
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Feature / Our Foster Pup, “Dusty”

Not everyone is aware that occasionally, Dave and I will be foster parents to a dog. So today, I wanted to recognize the time and energy the entire Puppy Manners staff puts into these puppies in need, because it’s definitely not all me and Dave. When we take on a foster dog, we are fully committed to creating balance and of course, good manners. But I have to remind myself that not every pup is the same and in our current foster pup’s case, I am reminded constantly…

“Dusty” came to us from Homeward Pets in Woodinville, WA, a wonderful shelter that does amazing things for homeless dogs and cats. We love networking with their organization and I always feel it’s a privilege when they trust us to foster one of their dogs. But I have to say, puppies that come here to Crystal Creek Ranch have it pretty good! There are lots of fields to run and play and tons of interaction, both with loving handlers and other friendly pups! But “Dusty” is very different… Allow me to explain:

First, I want to tell you about her name. In my years as a dog trainer, I’ve come to recognize how often the names we give our dogs are like tiny self-fulling prophecies. We meet “Barker,” and he… barks. Later, we’re introduced to “Chewy” and he… chews. And eventually, we find ourselves encountering a cuddly “Cujo” and he… terrorizes the village. I’m kidding! But you see my point! So when “Dusty” came to us, I wanted to give her a name she could grow into… That’s when I found the name “Dustin,” which can be for a male or female. It means “brave, warrior, confident,” which is everything “Dusty” isn’t!

When she came to us, she was called “Izzy,” an extremely shy and fearful puppy. Even now, after five weeks of living with us and constant socializing, if you met this uniquely beautiful dog, you’d assume we’ve made no progress at all! Believe me, we’ve made huge strides, but she’s still a bowl of quivering jelly! When people approach, she leans away and if someone reaches out to pet her, she freezes in place and waits for the petting to be over. Funny enough, she doesn’t have a mean or aggressive bone in her body, with the most amazing blue eyes we’ve ever seen! But those beautiful eyes are a blessing and a curse. Mezmerizing to look at, but staring into them is the one thing that makes “Dusty” most uncomfortable. If we humanize the situation and imagine ourselves as extremely shy, we realize how going out in public to be met with constant stares simply because we have “cool looking eyes” can be extremely intimidating!

What we know about “Dusty’s” history is that she is sadly under-socialized. I don’t believe she was abused but I think neglect is within the spectrum, as her social interactions never involved people, resulting in fear of anything or anyone to which she was never exposed. She is what my friend Sarah Wilson calls a “deficit dog.” While she may be genetically shy, most of her issues derive from never being subjected to certain environmental influences like people, cars, or even different types of floors! Slowly, she is learning to trust and we are learning patience. When it comes to “Dusty,” we are currently running on “dog time.” Even after a month of hand-feeding her every meal, she still resists social contact. But we’re pressing on, believing we will become more relavant to her and she will warm up to our touch. And she is improving, no matter how long it seems to take. We strive for better, not perfect. If you’re wondering where we have seen improvement, I’ll tell you.

In the beginning, “Dusty” would never want to leave her crate. She loved going in, like it was her own personal condo. But the “outside world” where two-legged weirdos roam and gave her unwanted attention was too much to bare. So she would remain inside as long as she could… With a bladder of steal, it seemed! On that first day, we waited for hours for her to come out, convinced she would HAVE to pee at some point! But she held her ground… Finally, I reached into her safe haven, scooped her into my arms and carried her out to the grass. Even there, she refused to move. Days went on and we knew that “Dusty” had a decision to make. Then we noticed something… “Dusty” behaved socially and interacted most when grouped with some of our doggie guests. It wasn’t long before my Barn Manager, Karen, came running into my office like she won the lottery, “‘Dusty’ came out of her crate! All on her own! And she let me put her leash on and take her to the play yard!” It was HUGE news. And in that small act, we realized what “Dusty” wanted—to be and play with other dogs.

Most recently, “Dusty” has been coming to some of our Group Training Classes. Typically accompanied by our newest Puppy Wrangler, Jamie, or my daughter, Carly. When she comes to class, I prep the rest of the students by telling them to not stare or coddle her. The worst thing you can say to a shy or scared puppy is “Aww… Poor puppy…” because this only reinforces that behavior. It’s difficult for people to understand but if you want to win over a dog like this, it is going to be on his or her terms. Like saying “If you set something free and it comes back to you, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, it never was.” We are trying to set “Dusty” free to be who she is and not the dog she became due to her previous circumstances.

“Dusty” finds strength in the company of other dogs, so we’ve capitalized on this by surrounding her with our own balanced pack. When “Dusty” couldn’t walk on a leash, we hitched her to “Zoom” and suddenly, there was no “drag” in that pup’s step. Now, she walks perfectly on a leash with or without the company of another dog. And she might just be the only dog at Puppy Manners encouraged to pull ahead, as we want this dog to gain as much confidence as possible! Additionally, we’ve started keeping “Dusty” in our home, surrounded with our three furry kids, “Moose,” “Zoom,” and “Harry.” When she took her first steps into our living room, we noticed something right away. Each one of our dogs ignored her… It seemed “Dusty’s” energy spoke volumes to them and they returned with a resounding wave of silence. None of our dogs tried to greet her or say “hello” in their usually dog-way. It was interesting for us to observe, as our mature, balanced dogs seemed to know what an unbalanced dog needs. And for “Dusty”, that meant distance.

We’re continuing with this process of learning “Dusty” and allowing her to teach us what rare dogs can. In her case, it can be summarized as “two steps forward, one step back,” but I’m happy to report we’re always moving forward. Recently, someone asked me “What kind of home should ‘Dusty’ have? Who could deal with this type of dog?” And to be honest, I’m not sure what kind of home will work for her but I believe her home with us, even if only temporary, has been a win-win for all. There is a family for “Dusty”, I just know it. For now, it’s about what “Dusty” needs and that means me, Dave, our wonderful dogs, and our fantastically patient staff. Of course, we’ll keep you posted on “Dusty’s” progress while we continue to encourage her to live up to her name: brave, warrior, confident. Of course, we might settle for “normal” at this point but we’re optimistic regardless…

:)

*Photos provided by Carly Chaney.

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Becky & David Bishop
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Feature / Reading with Rover Radio Spot

First of all, we just want to say how thankful we are to everyone who has supported us during this time following “Bloo’s” passing. The cards in the mail have blessed us immensely and the compassion our friends and clients have showered us with have meant more to us than you’ll ever know… Truly, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Thank you for loving us and loving Bloo—it makes me realize what an impact he had on his community in the short time he was here and what a one-of-a-kind dog he truly was.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

But we’re an optimistic family and we can only feel down for so long before we start itching for that hopeful outlook, the glass-half-full mentality, and the pursuit of the next great thing.

So we wanted to shed some insight into what we have coming up here on the blog and we’d like to hear more feedback from our readers about what you are dying to know! We have a feature quickly approaching that addresses “jumping/door greeting manners” and we’re really excited to share this information with you. But what else would you like to know? What areas do you struggle with your dog? Also, tell us what works for you! We can’t tell you how often we learn new things from what our clients have tried themselves! For example…

TRAINING TIP: Frozen stringcheese! If you have a ravenous dog, freeze your string cheese instead of using soft! It forces them to really work at the treat, slows down their ability to chew, and makes the cheese itself last ten times longer! How’s that for practicality? :)

So if you have questions or if you’ve discovered great techniques that work, please share them with us! And perhaps they, too, will make their way onto the blog!

In the meanwhile, we’d like to share another bit of exciting news! Becky and “Harry” had the opportunity to be guests on the Sundusky Radio Seattle station last week, sharing information on our favorite children’s literacy program, Reading with Rover with Gary Shipe. We also have some photos from the interview!* Check ‘em out! Even “Harry” got in on the interview action!

The interview airs this Sunday, August 15th, at the following times: KKNW 1150AM at 5:00am, KIKI 880AM at 5:30am, KWJZ 98.9FM at 6:00am, and KQMV 92.5FM at 6:30am.

So all you early morning commuters, tune in! And let us know what you think!

*Pictures provided by Carly Chaney.

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Becky & David Bishop
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Feature // Windsor, 2000-2010

It’s a sad week at the ranch as we lost one of our favorite barn managers, Windsor.Our human barn manager, Karen, and Windsor were companions for over 10 years and he faithfully came to work with her at Puppy Manners everyday she worked. Anyone who met Windsor immediately commented on his unique look and his sweet disposition.

Windsor didn’t win the lottery when it came to health. He was born without teeth, which no one can explain, but this never inhibited his ability to eat. In his last years of life, Windsor also lost his sight. Eventually, he could barely see at all but he totally tried to fake like he could, which he quickly failed when he’d walk into a wall or the car door. But even though he couldn’t see, Windsor had a vast understanding of what was going on around him. From time to time, I would watch Windsor while he explored in one of our fields. Every now and then, I would see him stop and pause to sniff the air, but it was more than just a sniff. He would inhale the air around him, like he was appreciating it. And even though he lost his sight and had no teeth, Windsor only got better, even the way he “looked” at you. As if he could see into you, he knew you and could read the energy you brought into the room.

Like a marriage, we take our dogs into our lives for better or for worse and for sickness and in health. And thank goodness for Karen as I’m not sure Windsor would have had a great life or even a life at all. Ten years is never long enough, but we love our dogs and we know when they want to go, it’s not up to us.

We will miss you sweet doggie and we promise that we will take great care of Karen and your little sister “Hope”.

Until we all meet again, just take in the sweet scent of Heaven in those glorious fields.

We miss you.

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Becky & David Bishop
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Best of 425Magazine!

We’ve had a great week here at Puppy Manners! Summer has finally arrived in Seattle and we could not be happier! We broke out the kiddie pools (for our playin’ pups!) and Dave’s favorite cooking appliance—the barbecue! We had a fun holiday weekend with our family and even got to celebrate the Fourth with our friend, Anniemarie Kaighin, aka  “My Puppy Nanny.” To top things off, we received our copy of 425Magazine in the mail this week only to discover we were named “Best Dog Trainer” in their “Best of 425″ issue! Even more surprising is how we were the runner up for “Best Doggie Day Care” since that’s a service we don’t advertise because of our limited space!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all our friends and clients who voted! We are thrilled to have been spotlighted, especially on this side of Seattle! We don’t take this recognition lightly and will continue to strive to be the #1 Dog Trainers in this area code and beyond!

In other news, we’ve got some exciting blog posts coming your way, including some of the following:

  • Training tip! Jumping! Is there a little too much pep in your pup’s step? How to recognize the behavior, stop it, and prevent it altogether!
  • Feature! Our dog “Bloo!” and his incredible story that would make him one of “our” dogs.
  • Reading with Rover at the Strawberry Festival! Did you attend the Strawberry Festival in Bellevue last month? We were there with our favorite children’s literacy program Reading with Rover, 425Magazine‘s runner up for “Best After School Program”! If you had your picture taken with a RWR dog, the gallery will be posted here on the blog on July 15th! Don’t miss it!

Thanks for tuning in! And thank you, 425 residents, for voting us #1!

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Becky & David Bishop
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Feature / “Ewok” & Fay

It was a crazy week here at Puppy Manners as we prepared for our son’s wedding last Saturday. In the middle of all the chaos, we encountered a moment of peace and joy when we received this postcard in our mailbox. It was from our friend and client, Fay, telling us that she and her sweet Labradoodle,  “Ewok”, had passed their therapy test with the Delta Society!

We first met Fay when she came to us with 9-week-old “Ewok” back in September, 2009. I noted “Ewok’s” disposition right away as he was drawn more to people than to other dogs, which usually means he or she is made for therapy! When I mentioned to Fay about the Reading with Rover program, a non-profit organization for children and literacy, she was immediately hooked on the idea! Fay and “Ewok” joined our Pup’prentice Project the following January and as of last month, they passed their test and are on their way to doing good in the community! Sadly, we won’t be around to see it in person, as Fay is originally from the UK and will be moving back overseas very soon. But we are so excited to hear about her and “Ewok’s” continued adventures and all the good they’ll do in her native land! We wish them luck with everything, but just look at them! I don’t think they’ll have any trouble, do you?!

We love stories like Fay’s and “Ewok’s” and will continue to share the success, love, and joy of our clients with all our blog readers! Stay tuned for more features like these in the near future!

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Becky & David Bishop
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