When my buddy Wes called and asked me if I could give some advice about how to handle a dog that barks when the mailman rings the doorbell I was not surprised. In my 18+ years of training dogs, about 90% of the dogs that I worked with barked and became uncontrollable when the door bell rang.

Dogs go crazy when the door bell rings for a few reasons. One is that dogs are territorial, another is that when the door bell rings, it is usually the highpoint of the day for your dog.

You dog hangs around all day waiting for something to do. The door bell rings and “YAHOO!” we got company.

When you go to the door, your dog is excited, jumping, barking and you’re saying “Down Buddy,” “Stop jumping boy,” “Buddy, get off the mailman.” The whole process is very rewarding to your dog. What you need to do is control the whole situation and make sure that you don’t continue to reinforce the behavior.

Watch what happens the next time someone rings your doorbell. Your dog will run to the door and start barking. If you don’t follow your dog, what you’ll notice is that your dog will look back at you as if to say, “What are you doing? We got company, get over here and open the door.”

In order to gain control of your dog’s behavior, you need to control the door and access to it. Here are some steps for you to follow to control your dog at the door.

Step one: the doorbell rings your dog runs to the door. You wait and watch your dog. As soon as your dog looks back at you, call your dog over to you.

Step two: Once your dog comes to you, walk over to the door. Ask your dog to sit and stay. As you reach for the door, your dog may become excited and get up. Ask your dog to sit and stay again.

Step three: As you open the door a fraction of an inch, your dog will probably get up again. Quickly close the door and ask your dog to sit and stay again.

Step four: Keep repeating until your dog holds the sit stay as you open the door.

You are using access to the door as the reward for your dog. The whole process is very simple, but it is easier to show you than to write about it. So we have put up a video for you to watch on Wes’s website. The video is short and you can see exactly what steps you need to follow to gain control.

Click on the video once to activate it, then click on the play arrow in the bottom left hand corner of the screen.

Good luck and happy training!

Eric “The Amazing Dog Training Man” Letendre

By: Elaine Lipkin-Gardner

I’m sure it’s happened to you—the holidays, what should normally be a happy, celebratory time of year turns into a tension convention. The house needs to be decorated. Dozens of gifts need to be bought and wrapped. Food needs to be prepared. Guests need to be entertained. There aren’t enough hours in the day. Expectations are rising along with your blood pressure…

The Holidays morph into the Hellidays.

We’re stressed and we unwittingly pass that stress along to our pets. Maybe we lose our temper. Get emotional. Eat or drink more than usual. Holiday hackles are rising. And our pets know it.

Animal behaviorists will tell you that our pets are highly attuned to our behavior, more so than we think. So we need to look at our own behaviors, deal with our stresses, and thus help our pets—who, after all are only reacting to us.

Triggers for our pets can be disrupted schedules, rearranging the home décor, visits by more people than usual, boredom from lack of attention or mental stimulation. So naturally – our pets act out.

Humans react to pets much as they do small children. We scoop them up when they are afraid and sooth them—which only teaches them to react fearfully for the positive response of being cuddled. Or we give them special treats at inappropriate times – which reinforces their bad behavior.

How you respond to your pet’s behavior can determine how well you and your pet survive the holidays. Make sure to use positive reinforcement to replace destructive behavior with appropriate behavior. And don’t scold them in ways that will only increase their anxiety.

Taking time to take care of ourselves is most important of all. Get exercise, do activities that are relaxing, watch what you eat and drink, learn to set limits and learn how to just say no to people.

And what about gifts? I often see parents buying toys for their children to compensate for the lack of time they have to spend with them. And, yes I often see people do the same for their dogs – especially during the Holidays.

Pet stores make it easy. Displays abound with ‘holiday’ toys and treats. The store will even gift wrap them!

My advice for you is this: The best gift you can give your pet is you. A relaxed, stress-free you. Happy Holidays.

How do you feel after you’ve stayed in bed all day, without any source of mental stimulation?

• Bored?
• Irritable?
• Grumpy?

Your pet feels the same way and a bored pet can cause all sorts of trouble. So today I’d like to talk about the proper way to give your dog mental stimulation using a Kong.

For a couple of bucks you can pick up a Kong at your local pet store. It comes in different sizes and you should think of it as a Rubiks Cube for your pet. Here’s how to use it…

1. Fill It Up: Take dog treats and pack them inside of the Kong. Then put some peanut butter or cream cheese in it too. Make sure that the peanut butter or cream cheese holds everything together.

2. Practice: Now place the filled up Kong on your floor. Watch as your pet begins to lick and chew at the Kong, in order to get to the goodies.

3. Hide The Kong: Make your pet sit and stay. Then hide the Kong in another room. Release your pet from ’stay’ and watch as your pet tries to find the Kong and then get to the goodies.

4. Do This When You Leave: The next time you leave, hide the filled Kong. Tell your pet to find it. Your pet will love the hours of activity!

To watch a short video on this go to:

http://amazingdogtrainingman.com/videos/kongtoy.htm

ENJOY!

Today, I’m going to share a secret with you that will help you can save BIG $$$ on your pet. Right away.

It’s easy too. All you have to do is pick up your phone or get to a computer.

BUT…before I reveal this secret, I want to preface it with one thing.

There are a number of wonderful vets that offer terrific care for your pet. These services aren’t cheap but they are oftentimes necessary. It’s important to realize that there is no substitute for getting your pet to the vet should he/she need it.

That being said, here’s how you can save $$$ at your next vet visit…

The next time your vet prescribes a medication, DON’T fill that prescription at your vet’s office. Instead, ask for the prescription and fill it at the following:

www.1800petmeds.com. Or call…1-800-Pet-Meds.

1-800-Pet-Meds will call your vet and verify your pet’s prescription. They will then fill your pet’s prescription, mail it to you and charge your credit card.

They are fast too. I received Elliot’s meds in about a day. Plus, 1-800-Pet-Meds saved me about 50%.

Check it out for yourself.

It’s simply… There really aren’t any ‘secrets’. If you want a lot of money, you have to earn more and spend less. If you want to get good at something, you have to practice. If you want to get in shape you have to watch how much you eat and exercise.

But let’s face it… All of these are easier said than done. I realize that which is why I want to pass along a ‘user friendly tip’ that will help you get and keep your pet in great shape!

It will take a little discipline on your part, although not that much!

Ready?

It’s really just a matter of portion control. No secret there. But that becomes difficult on a day-to-day basis. The purpose of this lesson is to give you a sample chart that will make portion control a little easier.

Let’s take a look at the chart…

Keep in mind that this chart is a general guideline for adult dogs and it doesn’t account for special feeding requirements based on age, size and activity levels. If you have specific questions, please consult your veterinarian.

I wish you and your pet good health and happiness.

All the best,

Wes Murph

The Studly Pooch

1127 Aviation Blvd

Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

310-376-7033

PS…Ask me how you can save 10% on every grooming your pet gets! PPS…It’s really simple and takes no work on your part. Just ask me how during your pet’s next grooming!

By Guest Correspondent: Elaine Lipkin, MFT

According to a recent survey, over 60% of American households currently own a pet. In 2007, it’s estimated that $40.8 billion will be spent on pets in the U.S.

We pamper our pets. We spoil them. We buy them presents for birthdays and holidays. There are hotels for pets, exercise classes for pets, fashionable clothes for pets, even gourmet food stores for pets.

So, why DO we lavish so much attention on our pets? Why do we talk to them like they’re our children? Why are pets such a big part of our lives? The answer is simple…

Because for pet owners like myself, we can’t imagine life without one.

Pets give us unconditional love–without being asked. They are non-judgmental. They appreciate everything you do for them. They appeal to our nurturing sides. They are our constant companions. They are members of our family.

There is research in abundance about the health benefits of having pets. They can help reduce everyday stress, lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease, decrease depression, increase opportunities for exercise and socialization and improve emotional well being.

Pets can even lower health costs. It has been shown that people with pets actually make fewer doctor visits, especially for non-serious medical conditions.

The bond a human makes with a pet can help maintain a purpose in life. Having a pet has been shown to increase longevity in the elderly, raise heart attack survival rates, and promote faster recovery for cancer patients.

A pet can help you cope with a life crisis, bring you comfort in times of grief. Pets are objective listeners. They just seem to know when we’re feeling sad. (The day my mother died, my dog, Shadow stayed by my side constantly.)

Pets help teach kids responsibility, empathy, kindness, patience as well as learning to care for a living thing other than themselves.

When a family pet dies, a child can have the opportunity of learning how to deal with loss.

But I don’t really have to explain any of this to pet owners. They already know the advantages, both tangible and intangible, of having a pet—and couldn’t imagine life without one.

END

Elaine R. Lipkin, MFT is a licensed Psychotherapist who has been in Private Practice in the South Bay for 20 years, and in the Mental Health field since 1975.

In her work, she deals with many loss issues, including Infertility and Pet Loss. Both are areas where she has had personal experience as well as professional training.

She and her family have two dogs, Bailey and Sam. Elaine can be reached at 310-798-0367 or

elipkinmft(at)verizon(dot)net.

(Elaine and I thought that you would enjoy information on the topic of pet & human psychology. Elaine has a positive, calm energy that makes her perfect for her work. Please send your feedback to Wes(at)TheStudlyPooch(dot)com. Thank you.)

When I was thinking about getting out of Corporate America, I was lucky to have friends I could talk with. Two of these friends, Peter and Nina, provided a listening board and great feedback. I really appreciate both of them for this. Plus, they live super interesting lives. Peter flies helicopters and Nina goes undercover.

Enjoy this interview and please let me know what you think of it.

Me: Tell me a little about yourself.

Nina: My name is Nina Epton and I live in Oceanside, CA with my husband, Peter and my stepdog, Duncan (Peter got Duncan while in a previous relationship, but I love him like he’s my own). I was born in Hawaii, graduated from UC Davis and had the opportunity to live in the SF Bay Area, Okinawa, Japan, and Montgomery, Alabama before moving to Oceanside. I enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, rock climbing, yoga and lazy Sundays, reading the paper in the sun.

Me: How did you decide to apply to the FBI?

Nina: I was never one of those kids who always knew what they wanted to do when they grew up. In fact, for a long time I didn’t think I had what it takes to work for the FBI. But as I gained more life experience and discipline with regards to physical fitness, I explored a career in the Bureau a little more closely. I like that they investigate a whole range of criminal activity and that there are so many different career path opportunities. You can work in forensics, violent crimes, counterintelligence, financial crimes, cyber crime…the list is endless. As an Agent, you apply analytical as well as people skills to your job and every day is so different and challenging. And ultimately, I wanted to work for the FBI because I want to catch “the bad guys.”

Me: Tell me about your internship.

Nina: I had the opportunity to intern at FBI Headquarters over the summer. It was an amazing experience! I worked in their Criminal Division and met employees from a variety of different units. I had the chance to check out the Academy as well as several field offices and really get a good understanding of what the organization does and what it demands from its employees.

Me: Any secret investigations you can talk about?

Nina: Due to the sensitive nature of investigations, I can neither confirm nor deny any knowledge of top secret operations.

Me: Have you always been a dog lover/owner?

Nina: When I was little, our family had a little Terrier, Chibi. Oy. He was little, but he was mean and he particularly didn’t like small children. However that didn’t dissuade me from being a big fan of dogs. Being an owner is a lot of work–you have to find someone to take care of the pooch when you go on vacation, make sure you take it to the vet regularly (oof! vet bills ), provide it with structure and discipline, make sure it gets enough food, water, exercise and belly scratches–but I absolutely love it. I couldn’t imagine not having Duncan around, even though he tracks dirt into the house every opportunity he gets.

Me: They say dog ownership adds 7 years to life. Has Duncan had this effect on

you?

Nina: Duncan is awesome. I could write a very long list of all of his great qualities, but if I had to boil it down to one thing, Duncan is a great companion. Having a frustrating day? He’ll go for a run with me, play fetch, lounge around on the couch, or just leave me alone with my thoughts, all with equal amounts of enthusiasm. He’s great on road trips and a good buddy for the beach. He gets me out and talking with the neighbors. He seems so joyful that it makes it so much easier to forget any of the bad things I saw or experienced during the day.

Me: Anything else you’d like to add?

Nina: Duncan loves Wes, Gen, and Elliot at the Studly Pooch. I appreciate how caring they are and that they put up with all of my Duncan stories. I had been to several different groomers and was never fully satisfied with the work they did–they gave Duncan the wrong haircut and he seemed so miserable and reluctant to “go in back” with them. I have only had positive experiences at the Studly Pooch and love all the little extras like the photos, newsletters, and dog-ownership tips.

END

Thanks for reading and send your comments to: wes@thestudlypooch.com.

If you have any pet related person you’d like me to interview, please let me know.

Interviewed By: Wes Murph, Owner – The Studly Pooch

Studly Pooch Client Reveals…

“How I Stayed Happily Married For 56 Years!”

I am fortunate to serve some of the nicest and most interesting clients in the world. I really mean this! Recently I came across a client that I found super duper interesting. I think you will too.

Enjoy and please let me know what you think of this interview.

Me: Tell me a little about yourself?

Ann: My name is Ann Santilli and I was born in Chicago in 1930 to Elvira and Benny Novelli. I grew up in a Catholic Italian neighborhood and wed Paul Santilli on February 24, 1951. Paul and I lived in Chicago and had 3 wonderful children – Denise, Ben & Nick.

For work my husband and I owned several small businesses including construction, dry cleaning & laundry. In 1975, we moved our family to California to enjoy a new life in the sunshine. We settled in Santa Clarita and my husband worked in Van Nuys at the Anheiser Busch plant for 18 years.

In 1998, Paul and I moved to Lake Havasu, AZ where we enjoyed golf and the outdoors. Just recently, in May 2007, I lost Paul to cancer.

Me: I’m sorry to hear about your loss. How did you decide to come back to California?

Ann: I moved to Hermosa Beach to live with my daughter and be closer to my grandchildren and son. I love living near the beach and have found South Bay to be very friendly. I really enjoy the moderate weather too.

Me: Just to clarify – how long were you married?

Ann: I was happily married to Paul for 56 years.

Me: So tell us – what is your secret to staying happily married for so long?

Ann: My advice to everyone is to always have the ‘give and take’ – ‘respect for each other’ – philosophy. I always respected my husband’s time away for hunting, fishing, golfing and horse riding.

Also – don’t use jealousy against each other and enjoy the time you have with each other because you never know what’s ahead. But most important – love each other everyday and always say ‘I love you’.

Me: Have you always had pets?

Ann: Paul and I always had a dog. Even before we were married, we each had a dog. Our first dog together was a Weimaraner named Bambi. We also owned a Toy Manchester, a mixed breed and a few Dachshunds.

Currently, I have a long-haired Dachshund named Peppermint.

Me: What do you like about The Studly Pooch?

Ann: I love the Studly Pooch because they treat my dog like I would want her to be treated. They are friendly people whom really care about my dog’s health and well being.

A big thanks to Ann, Denise & their pets for making this interview possible!

1. Question: Tell Me A Little Bit About What You Do?

Rebecca: I am a California licensed Marriage and Family therapist with a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology. I have a private practice in Manhattan Beach.

In my practice, I work with individuals (both adults and adolescents), couples, and families to assist them with learning (or re-learning) the tools needed to be successful in their relationships and everyday lives.

It is my belief that each one of us has the resources within us to rise to the challenge and be successful. I assist clients to identify and reconnect with those inner resources and, if necessary, I provide external resources, as well.

I have experience working with individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, childhood abuse, trauma, grief, loss, parenting, and those who are just having difficulty adjusting to current stressful situations in their lives.

2. Question: How did you get into your profession?

Rebecca: Out of college, I fell into working as an interior designer. That lasted for 15 years.

What I liked best about the design field was my interaction with my clients and helping them solve problems. While still a designer I started attending personal growth workshops. It was through that experience that I decided I wanted to be that person helping to facilitate the same kind of healing that I experienced.

With the tireless support of my husband, Peter, and my mother-in-law (a Licensed Social Worker), and juggling work and motherhood, I went back for my Master’s degree. Ten years later, I still feel very passionate about what I do.

3. Question: In 2007, pets are considered a family member. What are the best ways to cope with the loss of a pet?

Rebecca: Coping with the loss of a pet is very personal and individual. Everyone grieves in different ways. Cultures mourn in different ways too.

According to Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, an expert in grief and loss, there are five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Everyone, whether it is the loss of a pet, family member, or friend, will experience these five stages. The stages are not necessarily experienced in a linear fashion. One may find that anger is the first thing you feel one day and depression the next day. The last stage of acceptance is probably the most important of the stages. Acceptance lets us know that it is OK to move on, have hope and move forward.

What is important to know about grieving is that it just takes time to get through it. Give yourself permission to grieve the loss of your beloved pet.

Whatever you feel is normal.

There is not a right or wrong way to do it and there is no time frame. Don’t isolate with your grief. Make sure you reach out to family and friends and talk. You may need to ask them to just listen without the well intentioned advice. If you have a spiritual belief, you can turn to that for comfort.

I suggest a few different exercises to help my clients move more gracefully through the healing process. These exercises can be done as a family, or individually.

A letter, using your pet’s name, will help you verbalize the words unsaid prior to the transition or the words you would like to say now. Then take that letter and plant it at the base of a tree, flower or bush that you have planted specially for your pet. Another suggestion is to take the letter and while safely burning the letter, say words of goodbye. For the kids, you can take their letters and put them in a helium balloon, say some words as a family then let the balloon go. Acknowledging the loss of your pet by creating a sacred ceremony facilitates the letting go.

In extreme cases, some people may experience a clinical depression. The signs of depression are; isolation, difficulty sleeping or to much sleep, lack of appetite, irritability, fatigue, indifference, lack of focus or concentration. If you are experiencing these symptoms for a minimum of two weeks I would suggest that you speak with a professional and explore medication as a temporary treatment.

4. Question: Is there any timeframe for getting a new pet?

Rebecca: I don’t believe there is a time frame for introducing a new pet into the family. There is just no rule-of-thumb. Each person or family is individual. Usually families that have children want to replace the pet fairly quickly. In this case, remember that the new pet does not replace the one you lost, but the new pet can fill the pet “energy” of your home.

It may be a good distraction for the kids but it doesn’t necessarily take away the pain of your loss. Others will take more time. Give yourself permission to take that next step when you are ready. I believe you will know when the time is right. Trust your intuition.

5. Question: Do you recommend any books, websites or other resources on how to cope with a loss?

Rebecca: To understand the stages of grief and loss, whether for a pet or a human, I recommend “On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss,” by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler. There are many very good books for both adults and children on dealing with the loss of your pet. You can search these materials on Amazon.com. Enter the key words: “loss of a pet”.

6. Question: How can someone contact you, should they need additional help?

Rebecca: Should your readers have questions regarding this article or need additional help or resources they may contact me at: rgkahane@yahoo.com or call at (310) 925-0607.

7. Question: How did you hear about The Studly Pooch and what is one thing that you like about us?

Rebecca: I read about the Studly Pooch in the Beach Reporter. I was drawn to the article because Wes seemed to take a more holistic approach to the care and grooming of the dogs. It appeared that the dogs would have more individual attention and would not be waiting for hours in a cage till they were ready for their grooming.

These are terrible acts committed by some of the most uncared for and untrained dogs. It’s also sad because it causes certain breeds to get a bad reputation. It’s the whole theory – ‘1 bad apple spoils the bunch’. It really should be ‘1 negligent pet owner spoils the rest’.

But based on your feedback and in order to find solutions, I decided to interview animal expert – Eric Letendre.

Here’s how the interview went…

Me: Tell me a little bit about yourself?

Eric: My name is Eric Letendre and I’ve been training dogs for the past 18 years. One of my first “real” jobs was working security for a large hospital in Hartford, CT. It was a huge security department.

The security department had a K-9 unit which I was chosen to work for. I ended up working on the K-9 unit for seven years and became the K-9 supervisor which gave me some great opportunities to work with a lot of trainers; some good, some not so good.

I then went on to become director of training at one of Connecticut’s largest training facilities.

After working there for a couple of years I opened my own business which I ran for 12 years before selling last year.

Me: What one piece of advice would you give to every pet owner?

Eric: Start training early – as young as eight weeks old. Also, train your dog using positive reinforcement.

Me: Recently, we’ve had some dog attacks in So Cal. What can someone do to prevent a dog attack?

Eric: As an animal control officer, I once jumped over a fence and landed in a yard with two of the biggest rotties you’ve ever seen. My first reaction was to run – which would have been a big mistake.

If you are confronted by a strange dog, it is best to stay calm. Don’t look the dog directly in the eye but don’t take your eyes off of him either. The worst thing to do is turn your back on him.

Dogs that bite are generally classified as fear biters or prey driven biters. A fear biter really does not want a confrontation but they will use aggression to control the situation. They will take a bite when they feel that they have a clear shot at getting away with it; kind of like a sucker punch.

The prey driven biter wants you to run. You’ll never win. So, when confronted with either type of biter you want to stay calm, keep an eye on the dog, and try to back out of the situation. If the dog starts to advance, firmly say the command “SIT.”

Most dogs have learned the command sit. It can sometimes put you in control of the situation. When I jumped into the yard with the rotties, every part of me wanted to scream and run out of the yard like a scared schoolgirl.

However, the trained rational side of me told me to stand my ground and keep an eye on them. As they moved towards me I loudly commanded “SIT” like I was their owner. They didn’t sit but they did stop and look at me which gave me enough time to do a swan dive back over the fence.

Me: What should someone do if they’re being attacked?

Eric: Hopefully this never happens to any of your readers. I have been attacked a few times and it is often worse emotionally than it is physically. Emotional scars take a lot longer to heal than physical scars.

If attacked, do everything you can to protect your vital areas. Let the dog bite the outer surfaces of your body.

The outside of your forearm is probably the safest. Try to stay on your feet, if you fall to the ground roll yourself into a tight ball.

Me: How can someone get your book or courses?

Eric: They can go to your website, TheStudlyPooch.com, scroll down until they see my logo, click on it and they will get access to my book and products.

Me: Anything else you’d like to add?

Eric: When they go to the website they can get my free ebook “101 Ways To Improve Your Dog’s Behavior.” They can also get tons of dog training videos, articles, and tips.

(END)

Please – as always I would love to hear your feedback and any ideas you have for future articles.

You can reach me at wes@thestudlypooch.com or 310-376-7033. Thank you.