KENNEL CLUB USA

Butkis & Adrianne

Pit bulls were once Americas poster dog….what happened? The wrong people started owning these dogs and using them as symbols of toughness and also for the “sport” of dog-fighting. Most people are floored when they meet my pitties and see how sweet and loving they are and just can’t believe they are pit bulls. Why do they attack people? They are no different than any breed of dog but they are the dog of choice for irresponsible dog owners. They are often chained in the back yard and used for guard dogs or are banned to the basement and are only brought out to fight. Most pit bulls living with these irresponsible owners are neglected, abused, or are breeding dogs to make money. The number one most neglected and abused dog is the pit bull. If any dog were to live in these conditions they would be aggressive too.
Pit Bull traits:
1. Love human attention and really can’t get enough of it
2. If socialized properly they can do wonderful with other dogs but do tend to be same-sex aggressive
3. Very athletic dogs so they love to run, swim, play ball (but this can also make them excellent escape artists)
4. Very loyal and eager to please
5. Generally very healthy dogs w/ limited genetically prone conditions

Pit bulls are not right for everyone but with the proper socialization and training they can make a wonderful addition to any family. There are specific laws in Ohio pertaining to pit bulls and pit mixes which requires liability insurance and they also have confinement rules. They are also banned in Bexley and Reynoldsburg.

If you are interested in adopting a pittie please visit www.measlesanimalhaven.org

Ali and Bella

Every day, I am reminded of the joys of dog ownership, when I stroll through the field with my dogs. Its fun to watch them explore, satisfy their curiosities, romp, and play. Occasionally, my dogs are tempted to eat some grass, or the leaf/blades of another plant. Sometimes I find an unpleasant consequence of such actions in a pile on my floor. Most owners can relate to such experiences. But what about all those plants that we don’t recognize. Is it really safe for our dogs to be chewing those.
I would suggest all owners to get a home veterinary manual that covers poisonous plants in their area, and other dangerous substances. Small dosages of some substances like antifreeze can cause death, kidney or liver failure, and other major issues. It is important that we familiarize ourselves with these dangers. Education is definitely the first step, but not the last. If our dogs are going to be exposed to environments where such dangers are present or prevalent, it is extremely important that me monitor and supervise them. Often we forget our responsibilities as dog owners. Doing so may really be comparable to leaving a 2 year old child in a room full of matches, burners, and knives. Remember many things may be potentially dangerous for example : pesticides, fertilizer, pools and related chemicals, aquarium products, cleaning products, glues, etc… Have fun, stay educated, stay safe.

Jonathan Brinkley

I would like to thank Robin, her daughter Maddie, and their two dogs Tommy & Diva for the wonderful workshop they led here this weekend. Everyone that attended went away with a new perspective on training with “Electronic Stimulation”. As the owner here, the biggest thing I took away was that it did not matter what breed of dog was being trained (we had dogs from 7 lbs. up to 110 lbs.) or what temperament of dog was being trained (aggressive to extremely laid back) the method was exactly the same and the results were exactly the same.

We had a great weekend. It was fun and we all learned a lot. Visit Robin’s Blog!

http://www.truthaboutshockcollars.com/304/remote-collar-dog-training-workshop-in-columbus-great-success/#more-304

Bella is a spunky playful little Goldendoodle puppy that joined our pack a few weeks ago. Bella is super sweet and loves to chase anything that moves including our feet! She is a recent puppy kindergarten grad and loves the catwalk. She is a very confident puppy and will be joining the ranks of all the other puppies soon! We are so happy that David and Lindsay have trusted us to take care of their new little angel!

Many people have seen the Dog Whisperer on tv and think he has magical powers when in fact he just handles the dogs the way they would handle each other in nature and sets up rules, boundaries, and limitations and well as an exercise plan. His 3 keys are Exercise, Discipline, and Affection in that order. Most people shower their dogs with affection and the other 2 key factors of exercise and discipline are optional or inconsistent.
Acheiving the key ingredients to a balanced dog:
Exercise:
All dogs have different exercise needs some dogs are couch potatoes and can be taken on a 30 minute walk and get their energy drained others needs hours of exercise to drain that energy. Daycamp is a wonderful option to drain a high energy dog. A few other ways to drain energy is swimming, walking with a packback, running, rollerblading, and bicycling with your dog. The dog must always be next to you not in front this makes you the Pack Leader.

Discipline: Setting rules, boundaries, and limitations for your dog and correcting them for unwanted behavior every time is the key to this. If you don’t want your dog to beg when you are eating having them in a down stay and correcting them for getting up is just an example of setting these things.

Affection:
This ingredient should be very last. After your dog is drained of their energy and is greeting you properly (no jumping,nipping) then you can give affection. Playing ball with your dog and intermixing commands is a good way to put discipline and affection together.

Becoming the Pack Leader:
Now that you have the key ingredients to a balanced dog you can establish yourself as a pack leader and here are a few tips:
1. Never let the dog walk in front of you and always go out of the door first.
2. The dog should NEVER jump on your unless you tell them to.
3. Begging for food should not be tolerated. Putting them in a down-stay or place command is the best way to control this behavior.

**Those are just a few things that you can do to become the pack leader for your dog**

The end of summer may not feel like it is close but we all know when the kids start school autumn is right around the corner. As the leaves turn and the weather gets cooler it is still important to have your dog groomed. Regular bathing and brushing during the cold months will maintain healthy coat and skin. Some people choose to stop or space out grooming a little further during the winter. When dogs with a lot of undercoat and longer hair get wet they have a tendency to mat. So even though they may not be outside as much when they do go out the weather may have quite an effect on their coat. Short hair breeds may be able to go a little further in between grooms. A good rule of thumb is if during the spring and summer you have your dog groomed on a regular schedule you should maintain that year round. Regular grooming cuts down on pet dander, dry skin, and unnecessary matting. It is also a time when the groomer can check ears, teeth, and nails for any problems. We look forward to seeing you and your furry friend soon!

Over the years a good trainer always tries to find the truth relating to training, training tools, and techniques. It’s amazing when you search the internet how many blogs you can find condemning this method or that method. Sometimes as trainers we hang onto our ego so much that we forget that one can peel a potato using many different methods. As to what is right for your dog, it depends on what your dog is like. I’ve found myself irritated as I try to educate myself in different approaches and methods as to how little is based off science, and how much of the population spreads myths concerning humane methods, based on emotion and politics. Being of a variety of trainers who believes the electronic training collar can be very humane when used correctly, i was glad to be directed to a site trying to find the truth about such collars and methods. So if you find yourself on the border or surrounded by conflicting views on such topics, I suggest you visit this site : www.thetruthaboutshockcollars.com

PlaqClnz is a new and exciting product on the market. Here at Kennel Club USA we are always looking for new and effective ways to better serve our clients. The pictures above are an example of the results using PlaqClnz. These are not from our shop but from PlaqClnz themselves. We have some of the product on its way so that we can try it out. PlaqClnz is a gel that can be directly applied to the dog’s teeth and rinsed off. “PlaqClnz Spray and Gel are the only alcohol free pet oral care products that reduce plaque and tartar without brushing. They contain scientifically proven, natural ingredients including Zinc complex, which stops odor formation, interferes with tartar growth and may aid in healing soft tissue.” We would like to know what you think about trying out this product. I have listed a link to their site and would like to hear feedback as whether or not this is a product you would be willing to try if we offered this service here at Kennel Club USA. I look forward to hearing from you!
Valerie-Your Groomer
www.PlaqClnz.com

Todays remote collars have advanced into great training tools. Most people hear the term shock collar and think of the electric chair. When used properly however, this tool can be a great motivator for any dog. How can getting stimulation from a collar feel good for the dog? Treats=Stim the dog gets a treat every time it feels a light stim (just enough to get her/his attention). I start my puppies out on remote collars at 10 weeks of age and by the time they are 16 weeks they are completely off leash trained. Remote collars are a great tool that is non-confrontational for the dog and uses treats to motivate so the dogs are happy doing their obedience.

***We are hosting a remote collar workshop August 21 & 22 that is being taught by one of the leading remote collar trainers in the world. If you haven’t registered you and your dog to attend don’t miss this great opportunity***