"Real" Stats

"The number of properties sold via the MLS® systems of real estate boards in Canada edged down further in December 2008 to reach the lowest level for the month since December 2000, according to statistics released by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Seasonally adjusted residential MLS® sales activity numbered 27,357 units in December 2008, a decline of 1.8 per cent compared to the previous month." - CREA (The Candian Real Estate Association) - to read the whole article and see the graph visit: http://creastats.crea.ca/natl/mls_stats.htm

The Biggest Little Dog

Story originally written and published by Julie Deans for the Spring 2006 Terrier Times - official newsletter of the JRTCC. Visit the JRTCC

I decided to take a trip to our local Chapters to use up my gift certificate that I received for Christmas. I made it a family occasion, letting my mom and two sisters tag along. Always on the hunt for new and interesting behaviour and training books, I started off in the "nature section", picking up a book that was recommended to me as a must read, and moving on to the fiction section for entertainment value.

With selections in hand, I wandered around looking for the rest of my family. I found my mom in amongst the fiction, but with no luck on her book search. Together we ambled over to the children's section, laughing at the books that she used to read us when we were young (well, younger, I'm not that old). We happened upon a display of plastic animals, that were, in my opinion, very well represented.

We sifted through the shelves of them for fun, passing by bramah bulls with wicked horns, huge clydesdale horses, ornery looking farm pigs, lanky giraffes, lions and tigers and bears (oh my) and the occasional dinosaur. Then something caught my eye, a little animal that seemed like it had wandered into the wrong display. I laughed and pointed to the offending creature, and my mom giggled as she noticed what I had pointed out. In the midst of all these great beasts that lined the shelves was a display of Jack Russell Terriers by the same manufacture, in the same style as the rest of the animals.

I thought, why would they put a JRT in with all these huge wild and farm animals … and before I finished the thought I had answered my own question. Wow, that was one of the best representations that I have ever seen of these wonderful little canines. The worlds biggest little dog. They could have created a mastiff, an Irish wolfhound, a Newfoundland or a great dane to make the canine portion of the display "fit" better, but they chose what really belonged in that display, and announced to all that passed and chose to observe the little creatures on the

shelves, that this is no "little" dog!

My mom adopted one of the little plastic JRT's for me, along with a ram and a giraffe for my sisters. He was transported home in a plastic bag along side two books. Brandy, my non-plastic JRT, decides that everything we bring home is for her. So, as usual was nosing the bag when I brought it in. I figured that my adopted, broken coated, tan and white plastic male would be safe in the bag. Apparently Brandy doesn't take well to new house guests and later that evening I found her, proudly displaying my new adoptee with no face and lacking two ears in between her paws.

I went back the next day and bought another, having a second chance to marvel at the biggest little canine, that was holding his own with much mightier beasts.

Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful

The Dog Legislation Council of Canada
Banned Aid Coalition

Another Snow Filled Day in Southern Ontario

15-25cm today (these are from 8:36a.m. this morning), fluff through the rest of the week. I am not looking forward to what the snow uncovers in the backyard come spring.

Can You Spot the Difference?

English Bulldog Standard - Canadian Kennel Club here

Olde English/Leavitt Bulldog Standard - Leavitt Bulldog Association here

Can you guess which one would last longer in an endurance competition? To easy eh?

Mr. Leavitt has the right idea, and I commend him for wanting to "create" a healthier bully, insisting that any dog registered must conform to his standard (which includes faulting kinked tails, muzzles that are too short etc), and must have hips X-rayed, passing a certain grade before being bred or registered with his organization. I've spoken with him on 2 occasions, nice man, with a nice idea that I think eventually will take the same path as the dodo. The original OEB (a very young breed in itself) has already been separated into the "working" and the "show" type - the show type vying for UKC recognition and creating their own registry (hell, it's like the JRT's all over again) removing the creator of the breed from their midst because they were in disagreement of a number of issues, one being the introduction of viable out-crosses to increase the gene pool on this already inbred "new breed". 

Sadly, the largest registry for the Olde English Bulldogge (the IOEBA), will register anything under the sun that even remotely resembles a bully. And this is the registry that most are familiar with when the OEB is brought up as a topic. They, in a sense, ripped off Mr. Leavitt and his creation, adopting their own standards, rules and regulations and utilizing the name that he coined for his dogs. Mr. Leavitt's OEB's are now labeled "Leavitt Bulldog", though, through the separation, the other half of his original breed stock still uses the catch-all term Olde English Bulldogge. 

And sadly extreme sells - extreme weights, extreme features, extreme colours etc. etc. This "new breed", registered with the IOEBA, has now taken a page out of the EB book, and many "breeders" (and I say that with tongue in cheek), have reduced their stock back down to larger, sloppier EB look-a -likes, which is unfortunate, but it's what makes the money. Not all in this registry are going down that path, but a large majority are breeding for colour, for extreme bulliness, for huge size and weights, basically for a dog that would work well on a couch, or as a paper weight. Disregard for health and temperament are evident in many of these dogs, though, again, there are some conscientious breeders out there, but they seem to be few and far between.

For the most part, Mr. Leavitt's dogs are not extreme. Many compete in weight pull and personal protection, and have kept the original athletic build of their fore-bearers.

I wish Mr. Leavitt luck in his endeavor - but in the world of dogs, nothing is easy or simple, money complicates, extreme ideas complicate, and differing opinions complicate - hey, that sounds just like life as we know it! But at least there are some out there willing to do the work and put up with the crap from others. However, sadly, many of the "good ones" are lost because their ideas of health testing, out-crossing, reducing temperament/health issues, and keeping the extremes at bay are frowned upon by the conformists. Ah well, good luck Mr. Leavitt - you'll need it.

To Err is Human, To Beg ... is Dog?

Webster's Dictionary - 1992 - Beg v.t. ask earnestly, beseech; take for granted; v.i. ask for or live on alms

I often wonder if it would be just as easy to train humans not to beg as it is to train dogs. Then, today I had my answer - NO. Dogs and humans beg for the same reasons; because they desire something, weather it be dinner, a toy, some treats, bird crap, jewelry, money etc.

I find, however, that dogs pick up cues a lot fast than humans, and I mean A LOT. Humans take a while to clue in.

You can use the "if I ignore you, you'll go away" technique, which often times, when you are persistent, will work on a blubbering dog waiting for a scrap. Eventually they'll huff off, sigh so that you can hear them and know they're pissed, and go sit in a corner somewhere hoping you'll feel sorry for them (I know, I'm Anthromorphizing, but bear with me, I do it a lot). Eventually, with consistency, they'll even forget what begging is.

Or, you can employ the handy dandy "place" training. In general, show them where they are to be for that moment in time, and enlighten them that they have to stay there until released (treats, rewards blah blah) - this I have used with great success on dogs.

Nice and easy you say, simple to follow, should be quick to pick up. Not so with humans. I have desperately tried the "lalala, I can't hear you, I'm covering my eyes and I can't see you either" (or "if I ignor you, you'll go away") technique, to no avail. I've even gone as far as trying to "place" train some, refraining them from entering my workspace, but these techniques only seem to irate, causing further issues with their behaviour.

And so, today, I had yet another human begging session with one who has less sense than a bag of hammers, and more than enough high and mighty attitude to be featured on some day time soap opera. Needless to say, neither technique worked, so I'm beginning to ponder the use of a shock collar...at least it would make me feel better.

In the Beginning ...

In the immortal words of Austin Powers, "Allow myself to introduce......myself."
Is that awkward? Though I've blogged through my own website here, I've never truly been involved with the blog world. So if introducing myself is weird, awkward or frowned upon, well, I'm sorry, but I'm going to do it anyway.
I love art. I'm an artist. I love dogs. I have two. I love fish. I have lots. I love men. I have one, and he loves fish, dogs and chameleons (he has two). There, that wasn't so bad. Actually it was, kind of embarrassing, but who's reading this anyway.
This blog is here to help give me a kick in the pants, get me out of my little slump, force me to be creative not only artistically, but literally as well, and hopefully I will help add some wisdom to someones day.....anyone?
Did I mention I love dogs? Guess I did. Did I mention I love to train and compete? And nothing better to do that with than a Jack Russell Terrier who is smarter than a good 95% of the people I work with (you know who you are). So, for your pleasure and enjoyment, I will share my wisdom of dogs ... among other things.
Alright, that's enough for now, work is calling, though I'm trying to ignore it. I told it I had headache, but it's being persistent.