A sunny day for Stormy

A 5 month old Airdale pup crossed our path on Oct 31st. I had met his owner, Gary Reissner, at the Tractor Supply Company in Prescott when we were set up out there in July. Several weeks later, Gary saw our photo in a ribbon cutting that Michelle and I had attended as Ambassador's for the Prescott Area Chamber of Commerce, and it jogged his memory to have us come out for a "Start 'em out right - Puppy Training" Session.

We met Gary's lovely wife and his rambunctous puppy and we were off to the races. Stormy needed boundaries, and loved to mouth, so almost before the session began Michelle and I were giving him one correction after another and showing the Reissners how to do a dominance ritual to settle this high energy pup down and establish their leadership over him. we showed them a few scenes from an excellent wolf documentary by Jim Dutcher called "Wolves at our Door" to help them understand the Pack Leadership concept, its vital importance, how firm the corrections sometimes need to be and why.

The weather was brisk but kind, so our walk was invigorating. I suggested a prong collar for Stormy to give the owners more control. He was very verbal about getting used to it, but did settle down as we all took turns walking him. He was used to running with Cindy which I always like to see. The faster a dog moves, the more energy he drains. We will be going back to the Reissner's soon to try the Gentle Leader harness on Stormy. I have a half and half success rate with those and would like to see how he fares in it. I didn't have one with me that day.

We finished with some obedience training in the back yard. Stormy showed good potential in this area. Obedience commands are not behavioral solutions, but they will give the owner a better handle on the dog. It can help tremendously when behavior modification is being carried out, and make life in general more pleasant.

When we left the Reissner's, they had a fairly full plate to munch on. If they are willing to delve in and follow through, I see no reason why they can't have, in time, a happy amicable relationship with their growing dog. All the best to you Gary and Cindy!

~Candiss DelCastillo

Walks & Wags Pet Service

http://www.walksandwags.biz/

Chuck & Don's Cottage Grove

Michelle and I always enjoy our day out at Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet in Cottage Grove,MN. On nov 7th '09 we were there to talk to the customers about dog behavior issues and this time the weather was in our favor. We set up outside with all the trimmings.

One of the families that came by was a young couple who had 2 adopted dogs. They were so open to the principles that I shared with them, and were very excited to see how easy their dogs would walk without pulling when done in a structured way with a prong collar. The lady of the couple ran right in and bought one.

We always enjoy our Chuck & Don's friends, and appreciate the manager of this store, Cindy Bartz, who arrranges for us to come out. This store is well stocked, well priced and has a knowledgeable staff. I recommend them highly.

On Dec 5th we'll be at the Chuck & Don's in Red Wing, MN. You'll find my blog about that later.

~Candiss DelCastillo

Walks & Wags Pet Service

http://www.walksandwags.biz/

Filming at Carpenter Nature Center

This was our hugest day ever of filming. Our last program, "What Makes your Dog Tick...and other miscellany" was originally going to be a simple program consisting of Michelle, myself and our neighbors loyal golden retreiver, Max, who accompanies us for some of our Walks & Wags events. Well, the 3 of us were definately in the show all right, but let's just say it didn't stay that simple...

Since this was filmed in Autumn for the purpose of capturing the beauty of the leaves in color, I spent 3 weeks thinking of nothing but filming sites as I would drive and go about my daily life. The weather had been cold, so I wasn't sure if we were even going to get a good crop of color this year at all. For some of our scenes, I actually just went up to the 3 different houses, knocked on the door and told the people there that we would like to use their yard due to it's beauty to film a segment of our cable TV program. I was never turned down.

The morning of October 19th, Michelle, Max and I went to 'Red Bush House' #1, (as we dubbed it) and filmed a few scenes there. Then we rushed over to Carpenter Nature Center in Hastings, MN to meet our other co-hosts and their owners for a full day of filming numerous scenes there. Thankfully I had scoped the area out a few days before, and knew exactly where we would be going, in what order, etc. I also have the ability to be flexible which came in quite handy.

By now, the show had mushroomed into 5 owners and 5 dogs, and that was just that days filming. We ended up with a couple more that I will write about in a separate blog. You cannot imagine how difficult a time I had in coordinating 5 adult working people's schedules with the weather, the peak color of the leaves, and getting us all together on a weekday. God Love 'em! They actually took time off of work to bring their dogs out to be in this show. This was the biggest group we have had so far all at one time. They were a real good bunch and made acquaintance quickly with one another.

What I love about filming these programs is that every one just pitches in to do what is needed. Some people handed me another dog for a scene, some checked the camera to be sure it was centered, some contributed an idea, some handled the dogs off camera and some held cue cards. Speaking of cue cards, one of the highlights of the day was the Brittish couple that we met at the River Outlook. It was their first day of a vacation in America. Since all of us and the dogs were in the outro scene, we asked them if they would mind holding the cue cards. The husband of the couple, Mike, was happy to oblidge us for as long as it took. They were staying at the Arbor Inn in Prescott. This was a very special memory for me.

For the first time in any of our programs, I had the owners and dogs in the outro with Michelle and I which we filmed at CNC's River Overlook. Gorgeous!!! When she and I looked at the footage a few days later in the eding room, we were amazed at the beauty in this show due the color. In that outro, the St. Croix River was behind us and it actually looks like we might be in a blue screen room with a back drop behind us. It was so perfect that day. Breathtaking!

By mid afternoon all the owners were done and had gone. Michelle and I kept Max and Kelly, a shepher-lab mix with us. We must have walked 25+ miles all together before we were finished at 5p, 8 hours after we had started at the Red Bush House #1. Some of the terrain was very uneven to boot and we were not in the best walking shoes. CNC is a big spread of many acres of land. It was too far to go back to the van to get our comfy shoes, so we just stayed in our nice ones all day. I seem to remember a blister or two that night.

Unlike earlier in the day, the scenes we filmed with just the 4 of us took alot of takes, so it was all we could do to keep it together by the end. We had the pressure of the rapidly setting sun, on top of being exhausted and starving. We finally did call it a wrap, though, and wearily made our way back to the refuge of our precious van only to find that it had been vandalized. Our right front window was smashed in and our purses gone. Not exactly the perfect finish to the perfect day.

(I am not blogging to elaborate on that incident, but after several days of personal anguish, two+ weeks of changing bank accounts, having keys, drivers liscences replaced, approximately 350.00 in costs to replace thes things, etc. , we are fully recovered from the incident and very grateful that we were not hurt and the van and it's contents was not stolen.)

A few days later, we went to the home of Gary & Kay to film Jazz (the golden lab-above photos) as he modeled every collar, leash and harness we have. This was to give a visual to the 'collar and leash training' segment, so the viewers could see what we were describing. He is such a gentle dog that he was incredibly easy to work with. He posed regally in each item.

I was so proud of these dogs. They did whatever we asked of them and cooperated beautifully. Max was particularly patient. He konked out for the rest of the night when he got back to his owners house. Marty, his owner, said he didn't move a muscle until morning.

I want to thank my dear daughter and best girl friend, Michelle, the people who let us film in their yards on a moments notice, Barry Waters who oversees this project, Dallas Eggers who is such an encouragement to us and lends us equipment from time to time, as well as all the owners and their dogs in this blog:

Marty Waters - Max
Gary Ericson & Kay Buchanan - Jazz
Liz Lachner (of Prescott Pet Inn) - Kelly
Kris Sampson (of Croix Insurance) - Princess
Tristina Timm (of Stella Dance Studio) - Lola

To save the best for last, I want to thank my incredible husband, Ruben, for his love, strength, patience and being so proud of us for doing Walks & Wags and making these films. I love you, Honey.

This was a huge undertaking and not without it's stresses for both Michelle and I, but we both agree that it was more than worth it, and we will enjoy the process of editing this one.

~Candiss DelCastillo

Walks & Wags Pet Service

www.WalksandWags.biz

Kailey & Charlie

On October 24th, we set out to film to more segments of the "What Makes Your Dog Tick" show. First stop was to a dog walking client, Mike Roger's house, to pick up his dog Kaily to demonstate to our viewers how to handle the corrections we sometimes need to administer to our dogs.
When we picked her up, we noticed that just up the road at 'Hairitage Hair & Tan' were 2 big, beautiful orange/redbushes in the yard. We know the owner through the Prescott Chamber of Commerce and Michelle has her hair cut there, so we took the liberty to set up in the yard and do our filming there. Normally I attain permission before hand, but this was spur of the moment and they were closed. I did leave a message for Cyndi Cashman, the owner, later that night and told them what we had done. She was actually delighted that we used the yard and wants a copy of the show. :)


Kaily was perfect. She is a high energy dog and 'performed' just as I hoped she would so I could do the necessary corrections. We were in and out quickly there. Well, as quickly as it can be - only about 2 hours. We consider that quick.


Then off to Ted And Sylvia Bailey's in Cannon Falls, MN to film the collar and leash training with their dog, Charlie. We ran out of daylight that day, so the Bailey's let us come back on Monday which was a gorgeous sunny day. Charlie is well trained in obedience commands so he was a breeze to work with. He loved it and even stayed with us when we were done and told him that he was free to go over to Sylvia who was gardening nearby. (We took that as a real compliment).


Charlie posed in a dog back pack, and a reflector vest amongst other things. We even filmed he and I in a 4 minute piece (attached) that we brought with us for an interview that the Cottage Grove Community Ed did with me to promote their big Saturday classes event. They are one of the district CE's that I teach my seminars at. I was very excited to be interviewed for that promotional piece.


Then it was over to Red Bush House #2 to catch the last of the daylight and finish our collar & leash training over there. It really gets cold when the sun goes down! We got what we needed, though and went home tired but happy. By the time you have filmed at 3 different locations in the same day, and you are the writer, director, and in the show as well, you are ready for a hot bathtub and a nap.


Many THANKS to:

~Mike Rogers and his wife Joyce for the use of Kailey.
~Ted & Sylvia Bailey at Bailey Farm & Retreat for the use of their place and Charlie.
~Kailey and Charlie, you two were just awesome!
~Cyndi Cashman at Hairitage Hair & Tan for the use of the yard for our filming location with Kailey.
~Joe, the owner of Red Bush House #2, whom I had never met before I knocked on his door that morning and asked him if we could film in his asthetically pleasing yard.

~Candiss DelCastillo

Walks & Wags Pet Service

www.WalksandWags.biz

Behavioral HELP for Dogs Seminar in Cottage Grove

Michelle and I enjoyed our first seminar with a power point presentation on sat 11/14/09 at the Cottage Grove Middle School. We set it up this past summer and it came out well. Very colorful and informative, I found it much easier to follow than the overhead transparencies that we used to use. Certainly more entertaining for our students. Michelle chose some fabulous photos to accompany the outline. Since the seminars are 4+ hours long, she is co-teaching with me now, which gives me a necessary break during a few places in presentation. She adds a fresh twist to the presentation.

Our students were very attentive and engaged in the presentation, which makes it all the more fun for me. We had with us a little malteese named Lambeau which I describe in detail in the next blog. ("Interview...") He is a very sweet, easy going fellow and did a perfect job for us. He was also very endearing to the students. It was a blessing to have him with us.

After the intstructional portion on The Innate Make-up of a Dog, and a description of THE WALK, we took the class outside to put it into practice. I demonstrated how a structured walk should look and feel. Michelle was out there with her roller blades on to demonstrate how to move dogs along faster, thus draining more nervous energy from them. Most dogs love to go faster than we can move while we are walking, even if it is at a fast pace. Then each student tried it. We also put Lambeau through the paces on obedience commands. First with treats, then without. Treats have their place, however, they are generally overused, misused and unhealthy, so we encourage our students to use them as a temporary method, only unless absolutely necessary, or for a proper reward.

After lunch, we spent time going over the optimum collar and leash for them. We have a table of all various types of each, so the student can get a visual on what we are talking about.

Then to the part every body came for: Dogs Issues and their Appropriate Corrections. After that we settled in for a good Q & A session, so I could address the problems each student was having with their dog. When our students arrive, they are usually in dire staits with their dog(s). I admire and appreciate their candor as they share their challenges and dilema's and seek to remedy them. That takes alot of courage and determination.

In this particular setting it was just Lamlbeau with us. In other areas that we instruct, however, the students are usually allowed to bring their dogs as long as they are able keep them in the car until the handling portion, which we do outside -weather providing.

Michelle and I are available for speaking and teaching engagements besides the seminars that we teach through the Community Ed's. Currently we are teaching in Prescott, Red Wing, Inver Grove and Cottage Grove/Woodbury area. Please contact us at info@WalksandWags.biz if you are interested in having us speak to your group. As you will see on the services and rates page in our web site, we also do also 1 on 1 sessions at your home, both for puppies as well as adult dogs. http://www.walksandwags.biz/.

~Candiss DelCastillo

Walks & Wags Pet Service

www.WalksandWags.biz

Cottage Grove CE cable TV interview

On November 6th '09, Michelle and I made our way to the cable TV studios in Cottage Grove, MN where I was to be interviewed by Gretchen Carlson and her supervisor, Ernie Pines, as a promotion for their 'Gentle Saturday' event that was held there on Nov 14th.

Gretchen had asked me to bring a lap dog with me, so I called upon Lambeau, a male Malteese who's behavior is exemplary. Michelle and I had only worked with him as a client for a short session quite some time ago, so we took plenty of time to acclimate him to us before we even left for the studio. He did very well that day, and as all the dogs who accompany us, he had fun! A friendly, easy going dog, Lambeau was a real hit that day for all who encountered him. My thanks to Beth Johnson (of River City Stitch, Prescott) and her husband, Nick for allowing us to bring their precious canine with us that morning!

I so much appreciated being chosen to do this interview out of the many instructors that were a part of that event. Since we were teaching our Behavioral HELP for Dogs seminar there, that is what the interview centered on. Michelle and I had also made a 4 minute demo clip that we gave to the camera operator, Sharon Jerome, who inserted it into the interview. Both of my hosts were gracious in their questioning and gave me as much time to answer as I needed. There was also another gal there named Mary who was very sweet, and was interviewed, after I was done, for her crafts class. She was very encouraging and engaged in my interview as she watched on.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am always thrilled when I have the opportunity to take my message about dog (and child) training to the community in larger numbers than I can reach 1 on 1. TV is a good avenue to assist in that. Many accolades to Gretchen Carlson, the CE coordinator in Cottage Grove for the primo job that she and her team do to make it all happen!

~Candiss DelCastillo

Walks & Wags Pet Service

www.WalksandWags.biz

BHD at the Krolls

We had the pleasure of meeting the Kroll family recently in a Behavioral HELP for Dog's session with their 5 dogs (4 Labrodoodles and 1 chihuahua) and umteen number of beautiful cats. A family of 4 living in Cannon Falls, MN halfway to Red Wing, they own and operate 'Dr. Krohll's Health Solutions Chiropractic & Rehab' out of their lovely home. Brian, the chiropractor and Beth have two teenage sons, Blake and Blair, who really impressed me. They were attentive and polite and played a very hands on role in our 3 hour session. All of them were good students.

We were there to assist them in some challenges they have had with the dog's barking excessively when clients come for their adjustments, which is an obvious distraction for both doctor and patient. Oh, and Romy, one of the 4 LD's, was eating the cats...

We were impressed with the dedication that this family had towards correcting the challenges they were experiencing. After a time of introduction and instruction, we went out for THE WALK so we could first drain that nervous energy that causes any unwanted behavior in a dog. We all handled the dogs, even Tinkerbell. Her name fits her little body well. She was a bit dubious of our time outside with all the 'giants' around her, but she was a trooper for her first time doing this. By and large the dogs loved it. My favorite part was walking the dogs that prior to that didn't get along well with each other. I first walked them one on each side of me, then put them together on the same side of me as I walked them. They got along beautifully that way.

One thing I want to mention here: When dogs are moving forward on leash at the side of a confident Pack Leader, they are usually amicable towards each other. We saw this in the behavior of these dogs which was very encouraging. This type of structured walk will eliminate a high percentage of problem behaviors when carried out on a daily basis twice a day. It must, however, be incorprated with confident leadership from the owners and consitently kept rules.

Now for the cats. Before we went inside, I took Romy up the front stairs slowly. She was wearing a prong collar, which I rode up very high on her neck, just behind the ears, to give me better control. The cats were strewed all about on the deck and she certainly must have been salivating at these savory morsels before her. I walked Romy extremely slow towards the cats, establishing a clear boundary for Romy, letting her know that she could not under any circumstances touch them. The cats dispersed one at a time, but a couple of them remained so I could put Romy down on her side in an intense dominance ritural as close to a cat as we could get. This lasted for approx 10 minutes, but on a daily basis it should go up to 20+ minutes.

I instructed the Krolls to do this daily, so the cats can become the Pack Leaders to Romy as well. This may take some time. I never know how long, but they will definately see some positive change if they keep doing it.

Michelle and I also showed the Krolls how to correct their dogs with a cupped hand 'bite' under the neck - or the tug of a slip leash; feed the dogs Food Event style; and set rules, boundaries and limitations for each one.

I look forward to our return follow-up visit with this dedicated family and I wish them the very best in their journey.

~Candiss DelCastillo, Owner

Walks & Wags Pet Service

www.WalksandWags.biz