Personal Reflections After a Doggie Faux Pas

Every morning one of my client's dogs greets me at the door with what I like to think of as a gift of sorts. Usually it's a bone, sometimes it's her owner's shoe, occasionally a sock. Today, however, I was shocked to find that my welcoming "gift" was a pair of her owner's underwear. Luckily they were clean (I think although I did not inspect them thoroughly). Both myself and said owner got a good laugh at this morning's faux pas but it also got me thinking about how the nuanced twists and turns - some small, some large, some glorious, some dreadful - of day to day life are what keep it interesting Oh to be alive! Due to the unpredictable nature of dogs I never know how the day will unfold. Some days are challenging, others are fun, many are funny (or funny later when you can look back and laugh). But one thing the days are never is boring. I'm thankful for that.

You're Invited!

The College and Career Access Project, a vocationally focused noncredit college program, jointly administered by North Shore Community College and the Northeast Arc will be hosting a business reception at Eastern Bank, 195 Market Street in Lynn, on Wednesday October 15th from 6 to 8pm.  Please join us for networking and to learn the benefits the program affords to both the businesses that employ the students enrolled in these programs and the students themselves.  Dingo's Dogsitting is working with two students enrolled in the Basic Canine and Feline Care track of the program and as such, I will be speaking as part of a panel representing participating businesses.

The event is sponsored by the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce. There will be complimentary beer, wine and appetizers and free parking! RSVP by Wednesday October 8th to Pam Silva of the Northeast Arc: psilva@ne-arc.org.  Hope to see you there!!

For more information about the College and Career Access Project please see here:  http://www.northshore.edu/ccap/

For more information about the Northeast Arc please see here: http://ne-arc.org/about-us/

Dingo's Dogsitting is Proud to Introduce Our Two Interns!

Dingo's Dogsitting is happy to introduce our two, new interns from The College and Career Access Project (CCAP), Lizzie and Kaitlyn! CCAP is is a one-year, vocationally focused, noncredit college program established by the Northeast Arc in conjunction with North Shore Community College. It affords young people with intellectual, developmental, and learning disabilities the opportunity to build vocational skills through classroom and real world experience. Both Lizzy and Kaitlyn are students in the Basic Canine and Feline Care track of the CCAP Program. We are happy to have them on board and the dogs seem to enjoy their company as well!

Read more about the Northeast Arc and the wonderful work that they do here:  www.ne-arc.org

Job Hazards...

My company motto, especially given that I love my job so much, is typically "Wag more.  Bark less."  But when dogs poop, or even worse, have diarhea in my car, such as what occurred to me yesterday, I can't help but bark more and wag less.  I guess when you are living your dream you just gotta take the bad with the abundance of good sometimes.  I'm thankful for apologetic clients who helped me clean my car.  I'm also thankful for Febreeze!   #jobhazards #firstworldproblems #alreadyoverit #thatswhatcarfreshenersarefor

An Insider's Guide to Dog Behavior Seminars, Trainings, etc

This past weekend I attended a seminar on dog group dynamics by Sue Sternberg.  Sternberg is the head of Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption, a community, nonprofit animal shelter which serves the upstate New York community.  Sue also runs national programs dedicated to ensuring safe animal adoptions, and quality of life at animal shelters around the world. She has over 23 years of canine behavior experience, including as an animal control officer, a behavior consultant at the ASPCA, a kennel and animal shelter owner, a successful competitor in a variety of dog sports, and a teacher of dog trainers.  

I was made aware of the seminar and attended with Irene Zimmer, the staff trainer at Dingo's Dogsitting.  Irene, a former Vet and dog sport competitor, is constantly keeping abreast of the various animal behaviorist trainings and seminars held throughout the year.  Since I'm new to the training world, I asked her to let me know when there is another seminar in the area that we could attend together.  Irene, always enthusiastic, took that small prodding to write me a fabulously informative email of all the local trade organizations in the area dealing with the health, wellness, and training of dogs.  Since her email was so thorough and informative I wanted to share it with my readers.  So without further ado, here it is:

1) There is the website of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (www.apdt.com). Their annual conference this year will be in Hartford Connecticut in October. 

[As a side note, Irene went to their conference in San Diego three years ago.  Sue Sternberg is presenting a workshop there this year.]

2) Ian Dunbar, who I think founded the APDT or was founding member, has a website called Dogstar Daily (www.dogstardaily.com) which is also full of good information. He is very knowledgeable. I am a big fan of his.

3) Then there is the International Association of Animal Bahavior Consultants (IAABC). The reason I mention this is that they have a link called (CEUs) where they feature workshops and conferences etc. Here is the link:

https://iaabc.org/bin/#/ceus/search/#e1995

4) Then of course there is Dr Sophia Yin; she also has a website full of interesting stuff. She is very good.  I will be doing a laboratory with her in October at a vet conference. 

5) I also like to keep an eye on TUFTS Cummings school of vet medicine in North Grafton. I once sat in on behavior consults with Dr Dodman and Dr Borns-Weil, they are very good and have a lot of what I consider "healthy" takes on things. 

6) Here is a webpage I also check for especially behavior things, they list a lot of events, not only for vets: 

http://avsabonline.org/resources/events

If anyone else has any feedback on any upcoming seminars or trainings they have attended I would love to hear from you.  Please email me at: nancy@dingosdogsitting.com.

Acupuncture Is Not Just For Humans Anymore!

I'm pleased to announce that Dingo's Dogsitting will now be working with an animal (and human) acupuncturist by the name of Kuan Chung Chen or Median for short.  For some diseases associated with pets, particularly ones related to age -- arthritis, sore joints, muscle spasms/weakness, disk problems, hip dysplasia, and paralysis (to name just a few) -- acupuncture can work wonders. It is a far less invasive procedure than surgery, and the cost of treatment - $65/session- is but a fraction of the cost of any surgery.   Median is dedicated to helping your pet and your wallet by providing an alternative to costly surgeries and drugs. 

A little background on Median: He was introduced to the eastern medicines of Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Acupuncture by his father, a practitioner of all three, in Taiwan.  Median received his Master’s degree in Physical Education, Health, and Leisure in Taiwan in 2008. Upon graduating, he made the voyage to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in Sports Management. While working on his Ph. D., Median also graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture, (the oldest school of acupuncture and oriental medicine in the United States), earning a Master's degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAOM), and also a Mass Board of Medicine Certification as a Licensed Acupuncturist.

In addition to helping people, Median also trained to practice on animals while residing in Taiwan. He has always believed that if Acupuncture can help humans deal with pain and other illnesses, then there is no reason it cannot help animals.

Median will be available by appointment only at Dingo's Dogsitting for evening and weekend appointments. If interested, please contact him at the following number: 857-233-3407.

It's All Fun and Games Until A Dog Defecates In Your Car

Last week I had the displeasure of cleaning dog poop out of my car, not once, but twice!  As the owner of a doggie daycare, this is not the first time this has happened to me.  But it is the first time it has happened multiple times in one week. 

Layla, a first time offender, can not be blamed for her momentary indiscretion as the sausage and fish her owners had fed her the night before and the morning of did not sit well with her sensitive stomach.  Poor little Layla had "the runs" all day and seemed truly apologetic and ashamed of her crimes against my Rav-4.  

Unfortunately for myself, Layla's upset stomach coincided with one the windiest days of the year thus far in Boston, Beverly, and beyond.  The irony of Mother Nature's cruel game of tag as I transported the sullied blankets in the car to the dumpster at the end of the lot, all the while dodging against her wicked winds,was not lost on me.  Despite my best efforts, M.N. won that game and I traipsed home at the end of the day smelling faintly of filth and stench (my fiance confirmed this).

Morky, on the other hand, was a repeat offender.  Prior to last week's offense his record of recidivism was already high (at this point in time he has now defecated in my car three times and urinated in it once).  In keeping with the breed standard, Morky, a Bulldog, is stubborn and willful, and it is of my professional opinion that these "accidents" had little to do with an upset stomach or an inability to "hold it" and more to do with the frustration of welcoming a new baby into his life, thereby demoting him from "top dog" to secondary companion in the eyes of his owners.  

I'm a firm believer in second changes, but three strikes and your out and four strikes and you're banned from the Dingo-mobile!  This particular decision was a tough call.  I adore Morky's owners and Morky himself is relatively well behaved when not in the car.  But the time and money it takes to clean a car that has been soiled in such a way forced my hand in this particular instance.  I can think of few things worse then being cooped up in a vehicle smaller than the size of the smallest dorm room and stinking of a smell so foul you have to breathe through your mouth to keep from gagging.  And you think the subway smells bad?

So it's all fun and games until a dog poops in your car.  And as rewarding and enjoyable as my job is, like any other profession, it's not without it's headaches.   But that's life I suppose.  We take the good with the bad and hope that the good, more times than not, outweighs and outnumbers the bad.  Shit happens.  Sometimes it even happens in the car.  But we must always remember to laugh...if only but to keep from crying.

Til next time...