Doggy Daycare story

[livvy]

I work in a boarding/doggy daycare facility. My job is to make the play groups and supervise the dogs at play. I organize the groups according to temperament and play styles with size as an additional consideration. The groups range from 5 to 20 dogs depending again on the play style and size. Larger groups would consist of small, very calm dogs, ones that don't do a lot of interaction with each other. Smaller groups have the more active players. This gives them more room to move.
Anyway, I really like this forum, being the animal lover that I have always been. It's really the first place I come to on DU, even though I don't do a lot of posting. I thought it might be fun to share some of the happenings on the daycare floor.
Today, I had a group of a large Great Dane, a Weimaraner, a young pit mix, a young Rottweiler, a Flat Coated Retriever, and my niece's Golden, who can play with any dog, any size, any temperament, and does so with gentle glee. The Weimaraner fell for her the other day. Apparently it was love at first site, and he doted on her the entire play period, sharing his beloved ball and gently wrestling. The Great Dane is a lovely girl, but due to her size puts off a lot of dogs, and she has the odd habit of occasionally "stalking" a smaller dog, not in a vicious way, (I can not see her biting another dog), but just following them around in an annoying way. So today, she fixated on my niece's golden, who really was not all that concerned. She pretty much ignored her, other than a few friendly "kisses". Anyway at one point the Great Dane was hot on the tail of the Golden, who was running along with the other dogs, and they had reached a point on the play floor where the Golden was cornered a bit. This Weimaraner who really hadn't paid all that much attention to the Golden today, ran across the floor, ball still in mouth, and put himself between the Golden and the Dane. I really thought it was cool. He's a big boy, and the Dane put on the brakes, so the "hit" he took didn't even phase him. He trotted off to continue his ball play, so he was not trying to instigate play with the Dane. I really think he "came to the rescue". He was protecting his Golden from being "plowed" down by the Dane.
Dogs are so amazing. I learn something new about them every day I work.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. What a great job for an animal lover!

Sounds like lots of fun, but I have a feeling that you have a lot of knowledge about dogs. You have to if you can keep up with the play days.

Cute story. I never really saw dogs in a group like that, so I never knew that they fell in love at first sight. But why not?

[livvy]

3. I know a lot more now than when I started 2 years ago.

I've been fascinated with animals my whole life, and I remember even when I was real young (8-9 yrs) spending a lot of time just watching bugs, squirrels, birds, (whatever moved that wasn't human), and really being interested in what they were doing and figuring out why they were doing it. As I grew older I began to notice more about how they communicate with each other, and how my pets communicated with me. I also became really into how animals are so perfectly adapted to their lifestyles, and full of the wonderment of the incredible biodiversity of the lifeforms on our little planet.
I've done a lot of reading about animal behavior in general, and specifically over the recent past, dog history and behavior. I try to keep my sources diverse as there are so many different ideas out there. I think the single most important understanding that really helped me grow in being able to understand and read dogs (and actually all animals) better came from Cesar Milan. Like most people, I tended to think of dogs in human terms and thought about their wants and needs from the human wants and needs standpoint. I went to one of his seminars a few years back, and he said something like, "When you think about your dog and his behavior, you have to remember it is a dog first. It is not a human." It was such a simple statement, but it really changed things for me.
Another really important understanding that has helped me came first from Cesar, but I've heard and read it from several other leaders in the canine behavioral field, is to understand the order that dogs get their information. It's based on what senses the dog develops from birth. At birth their sense of smell, touch and taste are the most developed. Sight develops next, and hearing is last. Applying that understanding has helped me with understanding how dogs learn what we/I expect from them. I have learned to use my voice less and hand signals, facial expressions, body posture, and a variety of touches more. It has made for quieter, calmer, and a less stressful play experience for all, including me.
I'm still a novice, and have a lot to learn, but this job has really given me the opportunity to do just that. And you're right...it is fun.

[Walk away]

5. May I recommend the books and lectures of Dr. Ian Dunbar?

I have been studying his theory and attending his seminars for twenty years. I have my training certification from a school that is based on his scientific method. He is the "father" of positive and pain free training, a PHD in Animal Behavior and highly respected by every trainer and behaviorist I have ever worked with.

He is a wonderful man and a great teacher. I just went to one of his seminars two weeks ago in NYC on shaping behavior with lure training. I love him because he has proven for decades that fear and pain and correction have no place in training a reliable, happy and healthy dog.

If you haven't read him yet he might be a nice addition to your study of dogs.

[livvy]

9. Thanks for the tip.

I just ordered a couple of his books, "Dog Behavior: An Owner's Guide" and "How To Teach a New Dog Old Tricks". I'm with you on positive and pain free training...the only way to go.
Thanks again!

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Since I have always had cats,

I sure wish someone could tell me all about cat behavior! After years of being the parent of cats, I still am baffled. Of course, it never helps you understand them when each of your cats are so different.

[Walk away]

8. I have had clients who use a very expensive cat behaviorist in the city.

She doesn't even come to your house. You just describe the problem and she prescribes the "fix".
She has a PHD in psychology and one in animal behavior. A phone consultation starts at $200. Most of the time the problem is the cat peeing or pooping in the wrong place. The client has already seen the Vet so the cat is healthy. The first step is always the same....
...buy different litters and different types and sizes of pans and put the all over the house to see if one attracts the cat.
$200 for that bit of info! If I didn't have a conscience I would be a rich woman!

I think that cats are human behavior specialists. It's sheer hubris to try to figure them out!

[Curmudgeoness]

10. We could both be rich in we had no conscience.

All the gimmicks in this world, and they seem so easy. No worries about me ever using a "cat behaviorist", especially one who will not even come to meet the cat and charges that much! I know all about the first step that this psychologist suggests. Been there and done that....freaking litter boxes all over the house with all kinds of litter in them, and the cat would pee right in front of one. Bless his heart, he is gone now----although I still can smell the memories on very hot and humid days! So that woman would have to earn her money if I used her.....but I got all the info I found on the web. For free.

[Walk away]

2. I own a Doggie Day Care and my favorite thing about it is watching the pups interact.

Most of my clients are small but one of my larger clients is a young Golden Doodle named Charlie who loves to play with everyone. A few months ago Rosie (a bossy little Yorkie) fell in love with him. She napped with him, played with him and refused to let him play with any other dog. She spent their days together yelling at him and chasing him away from other pups. He just let her do it and actually acted sorry for cheating on her.
Here is a little snip of a video about their relationship!

[livvy]

4. I love the videos you share.

There's nothing quite like the self-image many little dogs have. They seem to have no concept of their size in relation to others. I've seen the smallest of small put many a much larger dog in line. Attitude, baby, attitude!

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Hahaha. We have a Sabre Toothed Shih-Tzu.

She runs our GSD around with total impunity. Its a riot to watch.

[ceile]

11. Ha! That is just too cute! n/t

[get the red out]

12. So precious!

Dogs develop such wonderful relationships with each other, as well as with us. When I took Layla to her agility class Monday she was not going to be content until she greeted her friend Tommy, the Golden. All the other dogs just love Tommy. He sounds a lot like your niece's Golden, just so laid back and good with everyone else, human and canine. The young Aussie in our class will sometimes bolt at the end of a run to go over and try to play with Tommy, who seems to think that's just fine. My Layla is a Border Collie Mix so "laid back" sometimes isn't her strong point, LOL.

Dogs have the same emotions we do except I think they love more easily, they are so amazing.

[kraj8995]

13. Doggy Daycare story

Great story I really impress..

[livvy]

14. Well, apparently the Weimaraner is a fickle fellow.

Last Saturday he fell for another blonde bombshell, a bigger, longer-legged version of my niece's Golden. I haven't the heart to tell her. He does seem to have a thing for the Golden girls! They played the entire time so sweetly and gently, and he doesn't do this with his other playfloor buddies, nor does she. She's a bit of a wild child Golden, with a bit of a temper, but just a wee bit. After about 20 minutes they both collapsed on their sides on the floor, back to back, and still continued to make contact while they rested. I've got to start getting some pics of these super cute moments. Everyone who walked by the floor said, "Awww...", a definite squeeee! moment for the staff.