Resources
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To read is to learn; that is why one of my favorite resources is dogwise.com; this site has a plethora of dog training books. My own collection comes from this source. My favorite authors: Pat Miller, Jean Donaldson, Patricia McConnell, Terry Ryan, Nicole Wilde and Karen Pryor. Have a look, start reading! I am always urging my clients to read about dog behavior.
Faithful Friends is a great animal rescue in Wilmington, DE. They always need help in many different areas. Please visit www.Faithfulfriends.us You can make a difference in so many ways.
For ease of online shopping for pet related products with great selection, good prices and hard to find items, go to www.Petexpertise.com/tal This will take you to my Experts' page and favorite picks. You can also get dog-training tips on this site.
If you are a dog owner/aspiring dog trainer, visit some of these on-line sites where you can get questions answered, lurk and read or offer input of your own. These have been a valuable resource to me and I am on them frequently: peaceablepaws@yahoogroups.com, apdtlist@yahoogroups.com, and clickersolutions@yahoogroups.com
For all you lab fanciers out there, please check out Labrador Retriever Rescue of the Potomac, found on-line at lab-rescue.com
Before Talley, my English Lab., was released to me from service work, I was seriously researching this organization and probably would have adopted from here. They have a lot of great labs waiting for home.
Peaceable Paws: second home to Leslie Fisher after completing three Internships with Pat Miller, a wonderful Instructor and most valued Mentor. Please take time to look at all the wonderful Camps and Classes that Pat offers; if you are an aspiring dog trainer like I was, you will be interested in the Internships.
The Whole Dog Journal is a magazine devoted to improving the lives of dogs, through promoting nonviolent training methods, holistic healthcare methods, and aiding owners in making educated and kind decisions concerning their own dogs. Pat Miller, owner of Peaceable Paws and author of Positive Dog Training books, is the WDJ Training Editor. I recently subscribed to WDJ myself and have enjoyed every word I read, all very useful information. Commendal to WDJ is the fact that it does not accept commercial advertising, so what you get is all information. This is a must on the list of every dog owner. To subscribe, visit www.whole-dog-journal.com
The Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue is a non-profit organizations dedicated to the rescue of German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes. As always, I advocate looking to a shelter or rescue as an option when searching for that special dog. Look What I Can Do! is listed on the resource pages of MAGSR as a Positive Dog Trainer; in fact, this organization espouses Positive training methods. " Look for a trainer who relies on positive reinforcement for the right response rather than only punishing the wrong response. To contact, visit www.magsr.org
The Humane Society of Washington County is close to my heart. This Hagerstown MD non-profit organization is where, as an Intern of Peaceable Paws, I worked with dogs from this shelter. I know that the first one, an endearing Puggle, was successfully adopted. The more recent affectionate Lab/Chow mix I am not quite so certain of. From the Mission Statement: " The Humane Society of Washington County exists to improve the quality of life for all animals. Through education, legislation, action and leadership, we strive to eliminate overpopulation and to foster an environment of respect, responsibility and compassion." Both Mr. Paul and Pat Miller are and have been long involved with this organization. Mr. Miller is currently Executive Director of Operations, and Pat Miller worked tirelessly in Animal Rescue for many years. There is an impressive array of services and support to the person looking for that special dog. The website address is: www.hswcmd.org
Canine Partners for Life was a major impetus for me to found Look What I Can Do! After successively raising two Labrador Retriever puppies for them, and enjoying the process immensely, I knew that I wanted to make Dog Training my life`s work. (the rest of it, anyways.) This nationally recognized Service Dog organization, with headquarters near Cochranville PA, does great work. Like any non-profit relying heavily on volunteer work, there is always room for more help. Visit www.k94life.org to see how you might help! I plan to continue giving my support by attending as many of their fund raising events possible.
A very nice website with complete information on everything Dog in Maryland is www.marylandpet.com, including a great listing of breed specific rescues, as well as extensive information on Maryland Animal Rescues. Just today a neighbor a street over asked how to go about finding a Lab and I was able to direct her toward the breed rescues. This site is also a handy resource for finding a dog trainer, pet sitter etc.
People are always looking for dog trainers, and trust me, I know: click here to start your search. www.apdt.com So if you landed on my page but you are too far away, just click on trainer search of this site. Then, it is as easy as entering you zip code. Most, but not all, of the trainers of this site use primarily positive methods. Be sure to ask specifically about methods when you contact a trainer. This organization has a mission to standardize the practice of dog training, through national certification for CPDT. (certified pet dog trainer) Eventually I will be taking this exam myself; for the time being I have gained Pat Miller Certified Trainer status.
I definitely would like to draw attention to Rainwood Kennel, just south of Elkton MD;I have a personal connection as this is a location for Look What I Can Do! classes. Owner Mary Thompson is a very savvy dog person, having enjoyed a pastime of successfully showing Irish Setters these past 30 years. Her business is run with great love and understanding of the canines under her care, and while there are standard indoor/outdoor kennel runs, Mary offers a little extra. Each of the dogs"on vacation" gets time with her as she travels around the facility during the day. The office area adjacent to the kennel is equipped with comfy dog beds and a nice variety of toys. As well, she employs a top notch groomer who comes well recommended, and uses gentle techniques. The facility in general is bright, clean and inviting. A swimming pool is currently being finished up, and there are plans for large spacious play areas outside. To reach Rainwood, call 410-398-1398. If the line is busy, leave a message! Mary will return your call.
With my recent ventures into AKC Rally training, and an existing CGC affiliation with AKC, it made sense to join a local branch. A friend with years of showing experience and an interest in positive dog training, directed me to the NorthEastern Maryland Kennel Club, with membership from, mainly, Harford and Cecil County MD. This is an active club with many activities. I would encourage anyone with an interest in ongoing canine activities, including the many different venues of showing, to take a look at www.nemkc.org/about.html There is also a very active branch in the Wilmington DE area.
Recently I began volunteering at the Chesapeake City MD, Paws For Life Animal Rescue, www.pawsforlife.org and have found it to be incredibly rewarding. Several of the dogs I have worked with found homes ( Marley and Joy) and I am currently working with three other dogs adopted from Paws, in training situations. Visit www.pawsforlife.org to read all about this wonderful rural rescue, and the lovely pets available for adoption. These are dogs and cats that were rescued from euthanasia situations at other shelters, and have been given a new lease on life.
Another excellent resource for finding a dog trainer committed to using positive methods is www.trulydogfriendly.com There is a user friendly state by state listing. Trainers on this list have pledged to not use choke chains, prong collars or shock collars in their training. There are excellent and informative articles available on this website as well. Look What I Can Do! is a member of this site.
www.fearfuldogs.com This is a website that I frequently refer clients to. There is a wealth of useful information on how to handle and work with fearful dogs. Often, dogs coming from rescue situations have fear issues. Learning to recognize the body language of a fearful dog is a must.
http://www.rewardingbehaviors.com/forum/
This link come from colleague Casey Lomanaco, Binghmapton NY, with a wealth
of information on the training forums. Casey writes about herself " Karen
Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, a member of the Association of Pet
Dog Trainers, an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, a member of Truly Dog
Friendly, the No-Shock Collar Coalition, and a business partner at Clicking
with Canines in Endicott, NY. " Just click on the link to begin getting
expert advice.
BROOD, Basset Hound Rescue of Old Dominion, is a rescue local to MD, and like all rescues, are chronically short handed of willing volunteers for a myriad of needs. Take a look at this great site, many needy dogs and lots of ways in which you could lend a hand. Your efforts will be greatly appreciated."
All dog owners should have knowledge of basic dog body language, and you will find a wonderfully clear and concise slide show on this youtube link, from Zoom Room Guide to Dog Body Language. Bite prevention is one of my jobs; pet owners aware of impending danger signs are much safer. Feel free to pass this along as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00_9JPltXHI
http://www.brood-va.org/
TESTIMONIALS
Raymond Keyes, North East MD.
It is good to hear from hear from you as well! Tank is doing really well! My wife and I just had our first child in April and Tank is doing an outstanding job with the baby! We where a little nervous at first just because he is so big (85 lbs), but we all have adjusted well. In the past few months we taught Tank how to shake, which he picked up on really fast (with in a hour). Our only issue now with Tank is that when people come to the house he is extremely excited to see them, and at times he jumps on people. We our so glad that we completed class you!
GREAT TRAINER:
We recently relocated to Delaware from Texas, and we were looking for a trainer for our 10 year old dog. He is an anxious guy, and we wanted to work on socializing him and helping him with his fears. We found Leslie online, and we lucked out with an excellent trainer! She came to our home for a 90 minute session to assess our dog's behavior, and a week or two later Leslie trained our dog while we boarded him at Rainwood Kennels. Our dog had a wonderful experience, which contrasts from his stressful visits to a kennel in Dallas. Leslie took the time to find out what motivated him, and she used those things to make his training and his stay pleasant. We couldn't recommend Leslie more for anyone wanting to learn more about their dog as well as improve their dog's behavior."
Talley English Lab 10 weeks
The chuckit squirrel did not last long!
Talley LOVES the Jolly Ball.
Life is not good without a Tuffies frisbee.
Yes, I must always have something in my mouth.
A tennis ball is OK when I can't find my tuffies.
OK, so I like to carry stuff around. I`m a Lab! .
Looking noble with my baseball.
