Happy New Year to all of our TMD friends and family! Thank you for all the wonderful memories of the past year. Whether you are here in the Dubuque, Iowa area or one of our dog loving friends from around the globe, we are so grateful for your trust in what we have been able to provide. We are very excited for the coming year. Expect new classes, new services and if luck prevails, a new training center. The desire to grow and to move forward with passion is inspired by all of you and your wonderful dogs. Cheers to 2010 and welcome 2011! * if you are not subscribed to our Free Newsletter, make sure to subscribe here. Keep up with what is happening at TMD; info on upcoming classes, special sales on training equipment and toys, plus free training tips each month.read more »

The Dubuque area has been getting a record amount of snow this year. It is only mid-December and we have had to cancel several of our dog training classes due to the weather. But that hasn't stopped the dogs from wanting to enjoy the outdoors. It doesn't matter to them that it is cold or icy, that the winds are howling or the drifts are higher than their noses! After days of trying to avoid it, I finally decided to quit my whining, bundle up and get them out for some play. Actually they made the decision for me because their pent up energy from being in the house was making me a little crazy. One too many wrestling matches had to be stopped while I was trying to return phone calls so I figured it was worth the time to layer on all the clothes and head into the winter wonderland. They each have their way of making up games. It is interesting how they use the snow to entertain themselves. Hero is like a kid in a candy store as he bounces from one drift to another. It is like he is testing which one might hold his weight and then joyfully discovers himself buried to the waist so he has to bounce out again. Diva does the shovel nose thing where she pushes through trying to find some treasure to uncover. And she loves to harass one of her big brothers into a wrestling match so she can get completely covered with those little ice balls that cling to her fluff. Of course Tom stands around obsessing for me to throw another shovel full of snow so that he can frantically attempt to "catch it"! And Ella, well she just stands at the door prancing, waiting to go back inside...princess. Now they are all blissfully quiet and crashed out at my feet. A reminder to me not to short change them on the exercise even when I don't feel like facing mother nature myself. Make sure you find the time for your furry ones despite the weather and the busy holiday schedule. Does your dog have a favorite snow activity? read more »

Meet Sasha & Emma aka "White Dog" & "Brown Dog" as their owners kiddingly refer to them. These two are doing well with their obedience training and are just lovely to work with. I found it amusing that their owners refer to them by color from time to time. Very clever. Many of us call our dog's by nicknames and from time to time those names might even have a bit of pointed meaning to them. Case in point when I recently caught my pup chewing up my sunglasses and appropriately referred to her as "Little Turd" for the remainder of the day. When you are thinking about naming your new pup, you should consider that it will be a word you are repeating A LOT in the next 10 plus years. "Cassiopeia, come" might not roll off the tongue easily after a few times hollering it at the dog park. So make sure it is something easy to say and more importantly easy for the dog to notice and pay attention to. Names that rhyme with other members of the family are not a wise choice. And the same rule applies for names that sound similar to obedience commands that you will be teaching the dog. "Trey" and "stay" might cause some confusion when you are teaching the difference between coming when called and remaining stationary in one spot. A simple Google search revealed several sites that offer thousands of ideas on naming the dog. However, I think it is wise to consider the implication of what the word means. You might be surprised how much the name tends to be reflected in the personality as time goes on. I named my newest pup, Diva, because she pitched a fit for the entire 3 hour drive home when I picked her up near Green Bay, WI. And she has come to really fill the persona. She certainly is learning how to work it for a crowd. It takes her only moments to get someone to rub her belly. What a prima donna! Don't forget the old standby, Fido, which means Faithful in Latin, perhaps it truly is the best choice for the companion we all have come to know and love So now I'm curious, how did you choose your dog's name?read more »

November is the month we take time to express gratitude and celebrate all we are thankful for. I have been blessed to be able to make a living doing something I love and I am grateful for that everyday. I am also grateful for the dogs that I currently have and those that have shared time with me through the years. So this month I would like to share my: Top Ten Reasons I am Thankful for My Dogs: 10. Because you help keep the floor clean. Without you I would actually have to mop! 9. Because when I am sick and no one wants to come close you sense this and stay even closer. Swine flu?…no problem. Heck you love pork! 8. Because you bark like mad when someone pulls in the drive or comes to the door. I appreciate the feeling of security. 7. Because having holes chewed into the pockets of my clothes gives me a valid reason to go shopping. Perhaps that is why I never remember to empty the treats… 6. Because you are role models for loyalty. You never disclose who done it. You are all willing to revel in the glory or keep quiet and take the blame. 5. Because you NEVER complain about my cooking. In fact you make me feel like Rachel Ray has nothing on me. 4. Because you know the value of sitting in a sunbeam and there are times I need to be reminded of that. 3. Because you love my singing….or at least I have never heard you complain about it. You understand it’s fun just to make some noise at times. 2. Because the joy you demonstrate when running with abandon to no particular destination always makes me smile. 1. Because you are the perfect reminder of how to live in the moment. For Hero, Ella, Tom & Diva; Happy Thanksgiving and yes, you will get a sliver of turkey in your bowl!read more »

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We are very excited about a new class we will begin offering in November. Some of you have heard about our intro to Scent Games Class. This is a fun class that every dog can have success at and you will enjoy immensely as your dog learns to harness the power and ability of his/her nose! All dogs have an excellent sense of smell and a desire to search for the source of odors. This class was created to develop your dog’s natural abilities by using their desire to hunt combined with their love of toys, food and exercise. It’s a great way for your dog to have fun, build confidence and burn lots of mental and physical energy. There are no prerequisites for the class. Dog's of most any age can participate and no obedience is required. This is a skill you will be able to use at anytime to entertain your dog and burn some of their energy! This is a 6 week class that will be held on Thursday evenings at 5 PM. We will begin on November 4th and finish on December 16th. (No class on Thanksgiving 11/25) Class size is limited to 6 participants. Fee is $125.00 For more info or to register: Robin@ThatsMyDog.comread more »

Congratulations to our newest TMD E-cademy grads. Bonnie Krupa of Muncie,IN Jim Wright of Wooster, OH and Laurie Spain of Winnebago, IL just completed our 10 day course. They are returning home with some new skills and fresh ideas to help the dogs in their area live more fulfilled lives. By adding remote collar training to their bag of tools they will be better prepared to give frustrated dog owners easier and faster results to every day problems like not coming when called or jumping on people. The students spent 10 days here observing our lessons and participating in group classes, working with dogs from the shelter, their own dogs and TMD board and train dogs. They received lots of hands on experience as well as daily lectures and discussions about problem solving and dog rehabilitation. They were observed and evaluated each day and completed a written exam to test the breadth of what they had learned. I was proud to issue each of them a certificate of accomplishment. Bonnie, Jim and Laurie have been added to our referral list of graduates and I wish them great success. Woof!read more »

We all celebrated as the Chilean miners were successfully rescued yesterday. It is hard to imagine how any of us would handle being trapped 1/2 mile below the surface of the earth for 69 days. What would we think about, how would we maintain hope, what would the emotions be when we came back to our loved ones? One of the news releases had this to say about Mario Sepulveda, the second miner to exit the rescue hole, " he reached into a large yellow bag and handed out what appeared to be rocks to officials and rescue workers. Sepulveda cracked jokes in his first moments above ground and led the crowd in a cheer for Chile. As the 40-year-old was hauled away on a stretcher for his medical evaluation, he asked his wife, "How's the dog?" That might seem and odd question to some, but not to any of us dog lovers. We know how big the relationship is and how much "the dog" is part of the family. Gene Hill may have said it best: "He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog."read more »

Today marked the first day of our final E-cademy program for this year. The TMD E-cademy is a continuing education course for dog professionals who wish to learn more about remote collar training for dogs. We currently have 3 students who have traveled here to the Dubuque, Iowa area to eat, sleep and breath dog training for the next 2 weeks. [More...] We spend our days training dogs, teaching lessons and learning more about how electronic, remote collars can be useful in teaching obedience and rehabilitating behavior problems. There are lots of questions and much discussion about this method of training...but the interesting comment I heard today from one of the attendees was "I just saw that dog learn more in one lesson than I have ever seen achieved in a six week training course." I thought that was a pretty powerful statement. I also know that it is true and it is what we have been building the TMD reputation on for years. The simple philosophy is to get to the heart of it right from the start. Help people with the problems that are most common in their everyday lives and get solutions as soon as possible. For us that means our first lesson takes care of teaching the dog to walk on a loose leash, stops the annoying behaviors like jumping up, stealing food and not letting go of things and teaches the dog to come when called. Not only do we cover these issues in the first lesson, we introduce the concepts to distractions too. Distractions are part of the world we live in so we figure we might as well help dog owners learn how to handle them when they come up. That way we create a well behaved companion that can be truly integrated into our everyday lifestyle. So the first day for the students was a big one and we are just getting started with what is possible. Imagine what six weeks of training can create! :-)read more »

"Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog" ~ Sydney Jeanne Seward We can't help but have a special place in our hearts for older dogs. We've been in the dog training and boarding business for a while so we've watched snuggly pups grow into rambunctious youngsters, transition into dignified adults and then mellow into gentle seniors. We are always pleased to see our senior citizens come back to visit. This sweet boy has been coming to stay with us for 13 years. Senior dogs require much of the same care and attention as young or adult dogs. Things like good nutrition, adequate exercise and a structured routine are important to the health and well being of all dogs, regardless of their age. But there are a few things to pay attention to with your older dog. Watch for changes in flexibility as your dog is getting older. Does Fido have difficulty getting into the car, getting up, laying down or climbing stairs? Dog's, especially large breed dogs can suffer from arthritis just as humans can. Check with your veterinarian for possible medications that could ease discomfort. Many dogs experience reduced hearing as they age. Watch for signs that your dog is not hearing as well as he used to (this is different than selective hearing!) If you're dog is more difficult to wake, does not hear you or is startled by your approach these are generally signs of hearing loss. Take care to keep your dog safe in environments where he may not hear approaching cars, etc. Even if your dog is young now, cross train him with hand signals (as well as verbal commands) so you can use them later in life to communicate. Periodontal disease is common in older dogs. Because poor oral hygiene can lead to more complicated health problems down the road so it is important to keep your dog's teeth brushed with an animal approved toothpaste. Also watch for any signs that your dog is not eating well and follow the advice of your veterinarian regarding dental cleanings or teeth that need to be extracted. Slowing down can lead to weight gain, so really watch your dog's waistline. Obesity can lead to a myriad of health problems and decreased quality of life. Keep a regular exercise routine of walking with your dog and consider a possible food change. There are a variety of high quality senior diets on the market so do a bit of research to see if there is something that may be more appropriate for your older dog. Just because your dog may be slowing down does not mean he can't learn new tricks. The mental challenges of learning new things, conquering new toys or finding new places to explore are just as exciting as they were to him when he was younger. Spend some time together and enjoy those special moments together. woof!read more »