The third and final version….I of course can continue with this for there are sooo many ways to paint a subject…but time to move on to other paintings. This style is of course, to me anyway, the most fun to work on. The wonderful textures you can add….both in digital form and once printed….also, so many choices in printing, transferring, adding more color, splats of paint….the possibilities are really endless.

 

What…dog training an Art? I think so! Have you ever watched a handler and a dog working together…in sync with each others body movements. Knowing the time they have spent together working, teaching, learning. …yes in my eyes an art form indeed.

Teaching a dog to sit is Such an easy task, and something most of us starts teaching from the moment we bring our furry friends home. Sadly, follow through seems to be a huge problem with some. Our dogs are smarter then we give them credit for. I have never met a dog that could not be taught to sit.

When I taught Group Dog Obedience Classes, on the first night I would ask all students if they have taught their dogs to sit. All said yes, but when asked as a group to show me, only a few could get their dogs attention, and get them to sit. Some would start raising their voices and chanting Sit, SIt, SIT. OK, I admit, this always made me chuckle a little bit. The challenge was on, could I successfully teach those in this class the meaning of “Sit”? To me, Sit is the foundation to a well behaved dog.

We must decide what sit means, if the meaning is the dog touches their-rears to the ground for a minuscule of a second, then many have successfully managed to teach their dogs to sit. Hmm mm, but I wonder if that is what most of us have in mind when we start teaching our dogs to sit.

To understand the meaning, lets first look at a couple of the benefits of a sitting dog:

*a sitting dog cannot jump (were you aware one of the reasons so many dogs end up at shelters is due to the fact the dog jumps up on people, sad but very true (very much human fault for not raising the dog properly from the start).

*a sitting dog cannot run out an open door. Just a few of the benefits of a sitting dog, the safety factors are indeed immeasurable!

Looking at just a few of the benefits one gets the idea that a sitting dog would have to remain in a sitting position a little more then a minuscule of a second.

OK, I admit….teaching a dog to sit takes a little bit of time, you must be patient and a have a sense of humor. Most importantly, you must spend time with your dog and have the ability to implement training into your daily life.

You know, dog approaches you (or vice a versa) the dog should sit. Before feeding, treats or attention the dogs should sit. Going in and out doorways, getting in and out of a car, before crossing the street the dog should sit. Put that command to good use!

So, the steps to teaching the dogs to sit…Teach the word to the dog. Yes, we will reward when they touch their rears to the ground, but then keep them in that position for a few seconds longer before rewarding. This is called teaching a longer duration of sit. Vary the duration, slowly adding longer lengths of time, we also want to have the dog paying attention to us. Oh No….your not there yet, for you also must introduce distractions. Like each of us, our dogs are individuals and some have the attention spans of a nat, some even less, some more. This will take several weeks, then you can start adding distance (safety alert…this does not mean off leash in an unsecured environment). So then, going by what is written above the meaning of sit is a dog that can keep their rear on the ground for duration, distance and with distractions while paying attention to the handler. Yes, I know some are wondering why I have not yet written abut the command stay. That is a choice in verbal commands. I prefer that sit mean remain sitting until I release you….thus, one needs a release word. Call me lazy but I use “OK” along with body language to release the dogs from sitting.

Interesting, with all the dog laws that are in place, all the banning of particular breeds, but absolutely nothing about training a dog. Rather then telling us what breeds of dogs we cannot have why not just make sure all dogs are trained.

These days anyone can breed, buy, rescue a dog from a shelter..hold the breeder<s>,buyers, shelters accountable, all those that have a dog should train them. There is a Trainer on just about every block that offers in home training, or group classes. Online classes available for those with hectic schedules such as the one we offer here at Paw Prints (if you have a dog that is difficult to handle or exhibiting serious behavioral issues an online course is NOT for you and your dog. In home, one on one training just may be best for you and your dog).

All that is needed to teach your dog to successfully sit, is your time!

Remember, training is for the life of the dog.

Sometimes you just have to let the image speak for itself!

Digitally Painting Animals online course starts up next week….e-mail me if you enrolled and have not yet received information to join the forum.

Contact Dee to Commission work or to schedule a photography session.

I get soooo many questions about smudge painting….so easy. Classes are not needed all you have to do is PRACTICE. The above was a demo that took about 10-15 minutes to complete….you of course would take your time and do a much better job of it then I….this is just a very quick demonstration. In Photo-shop make your adjustments, after making a duplicate of course….I wanted the above to be soft….so I sharpened (usm)….just not a lot…..adjusted contrast, saturation, levels. Then clicked on the smudge tool and chose my brush. Very important once started to to vary brush size, strength…lighten, darken in those areas that need it (you can even add color).

I know so many that do the eyes this way as well….I just blacken them and paint in what I want.You can smudge the background….or just paint on layers with several different colors…adjusting the opacity along the way. It is soooo important to make sure you cover the entire image….push those pixels around. I use smudge painting when I am short on time and need to show a proof, or for retouching an image…or just want an overall softness to an image. There are so many wonderful examples on the net….really the best way to learn is to practice, practice and more practice.The above image was taken with a Nikon 5200 a couple of years ago. The dog…my beloved Phoenix who died last July. While I think of him so very often…the arrival of spring he has so been on my mind. Our walks looking for wonderful things to photograph…fun times playing and doing agility. Yes…I do so miss my Phoenie…

On a brighter note… first day of spring. Rocky the Golden is getting over an injury, yet again. While his Pano has improved, he hurts himself so very easily.Yesterday I happened to spy my first Monarch butterfly for the season….what a lovely dance it put on flitting here and there. Rocky, with Frisbee in mouth spied it and soon both he and the butterfly were what seemed to be chasing one another…Rocky, running, spinning…until the butterfly flew over the fence. Poor Rocky, still with Frisbee in mouth just looking over the fence. My camera was inside, of course, and I knew well enough best to watch the dance then dash off for the camera. Maybe another day. Nice to know my big goofy Golden is still very much a puppy a heart.

Contact Dee for price or to Commission work.

The start of a new day…sounds promising indeed. My days each start pretty much the same…get up, take the puppies outside….pretty chilly this morning from 60 degrees yesterday to low 30’s this morning….brrrrr….shuffle into the bathroom, entourage following. Wash up, brush teeth….comb hair….all without ever looking in the mirror….way too early for that. Head into office, still in my jammies….turn PC on….back in the kitchen to put the tea kettle up (I like a cup of green tea in the morning). It is then I notice somewhere along the way I have lost my entourage. I head back to the office and there they are…already napping, knowing I will sit look through e-mail….sip my tea…look at yesterdays work and start painting for about an hour or so, then time for breakfast. They are so very adaptable to my schedule. I type that with a smile for…say, I was to go over that hour of quiet time in the morning….then boy are they ever so annoying for they want breakfast. After each feeding there is a pack rule ….no play for a few hours (always reminded me when I was a kid, no swimming after eating)….this rule stems from having dogs that can possibly suffer from bloat. It has never been discovered why some breeds experience this, we know it is in many a hereditary problem…others, well so many things have been said to be the cause….since no one really knows…well there must be rules right

Well, they know exactly when it is time to play…..they just know. Just as they know when one of their loved ones should be coming home….sure, your thinking that they are creatures of habit…yes indeed, that they are….but it is more then that. …Dogs can tell time

The image was taken this morning, bad light but this is the view from my chair when it is pushed back….often times Gemma (the dog that is missing from the photo) does not follow me into the office, but rather stop in the living room preferring to nap on the comfy leather sofa.

16×11 Gallery wrap

Contact Dee for price or to Commission work.

Snow from yesterday all gone, actually it was gone within the hour. We had our fun….now just a muddy mess. Funny how the dogs know that when it is raining and muddy….lots of naps inside, they can stand it for about two days at the most. Looked over at Rocky earlier and starting painting him….wonderful model when sleeping. Still very much a works in progress…will not take long to finish it up. Check back a little later…for his hard work modeling will have to take him for a nice walk before it starts raining again.

I know Northerners would get a good chuckle that I am calling the above “snow”….but indeed it is snow, and still coming down. Last I heard this will just be mushy mess and not amount to anything…or just turn to rain, or so they say. Want to see a city panic, come to Atlanta when there is any mention of snow….just not equipped to handle it. I have not seen snow in several years….this is the first time the dogs have seen snow…Niki did not like it….remember the tale “The sky is falling”….well that is how she looked. If any snow left in the morning I’ll post a few images….all though I really doubt it.

Like many others, I too made a few of them for the new Year….the usual….organize, choose to live a healthier life (better food choices, more exercise)….be kinder, more generous…understanding…most importantly, Patient. Nothing crazy that I cannot at all attain. …well maybe the organizing part. I am an unorganized individual…big time. So, the last few days has found me in my office…a very small space with a lot of stuff. To organize….well difficult to do in a tiny space for usually as the mess gets bigger and bigger I usually give up….this time hanging in there….will get this done….so that is what I am doing for the next few days. Maybe in the next few weeks I will actually even paint the room….it needs a little something. I have actually found a few things that were purchased and forgotten about…hoping I find a few more surprises for that will keep me going

Over the weekend Michael managed some time to build a pvc ladder for little Niki’s rehab and exercise. It is 10 feet long, however separates into two 5 ft. sections….right now we are just using one section. I introduced it to her yesterday and worked with her until she could run out in front of me… run the ladder, turn around and come back towards me (wanted a few shots). Would have loved a few photo’s of her running across with me on the sidelines for I would have gotten a better view of just how high she is lifting those back paws. I hope by incorporating this into her daily routine it will improve muscle memory in the hind area. This can be used just for fun….Rocky did it a couple of times….helps to teach a big dog that there is a back end. With Gemma, it can help improve her confidence. Oh….might I also add the dogs think this is fun….and wonderful exercise. In one of our upcoming On Line Dog Training classes we will be teaching Agility in a bag and I will be offering info on how to build your own agility equipment, as will I be selling a small kit. Fun way to hang out with your dogs….teach a few tricks, commands and intro agility.

Contact Dee to Commission work.

Several times a week I get several e-mails in regards to my work. ..what software I use, etc.

Digital Art has come a lonnng way Baby!

There are so many things that can be done….the end result looking more like Traditional Art, and some more like Digital Art. Lots of wonderful artists producing amazing works. The above is the start of a simple sketch..it is being done in Corel Painter….I will be posting the complete sketch a little later today. So many brushes to choose from, paper and texture choices….once completed and printed onto fine art paper or canvas you can…if you prefer the look as I do, to go over with paint, pastels, chalks to add more colors and more texture for a Mixed Media Painting. The above sketch will be completed with a layer of pastels making ir pop with vibrant color and that wonderful look that pastels adds to it.

What a day….very loud explosion….then no power, no business phone and DSL. Must have been a transformer. Not sure what we did before DSL Completed my quick sketch hours ago…a few changes were made. Although the hair was originally behind the ear…it was decided to cover the ears….add bangs for that is how it is usually…or so I am told and a tighter crop.

Yep….with our new site we now have the ability to offer online Dog Training  on the Net…how you wonder

Since my beloved Rocky is in need of some dog training I thought I would use him as my demo dog…I am used to working with the very best as far as Demo dogs go….he has some very big paws to fill.

With video and PDF files you will view your weekly lessons. A private chat room will be set up for you to go to have your questions answered. So, if you have a young pup that needs some manners, or an older dog that you want to spend some quality time with while going over some obedience this will be perfect for you!

So….come join Rocky and I in a six week Dog Training Course starting 10-24 $45.00. Pay in Paw Prints Secure online store.