The other day was bath day….always fun. Once the warmer weather arrives bath time can occur outdoors…saves my poor aching back. The doggie tub (yep, they have their very own tub which is raised up off the ground and therefore I do not have to bend) was dragged out of the garage….hose was run from inside out the window so I could use luke warm water. Poor Niki had a few fleas….a true sign sprig has arrived.

After re-introducing the “evil” tub to the dogs….all are little skittish and since they have not seen the tub since last summer I thought it best if they practiced getting in and out….for treats of course. Bath time should be relaxing to a dog….it should not have to be a struggle….nor should grooming. Niki was first….brushing/comb and bath/ towel dry….then a nap in the sun. Gemma was up next….brushing/ comb, towel dry….then run around crazy until she too takes up next to Niki in the sun for a nice nap. Last….Rocky….brushing/ comb bath. Then he is force dried (doggie drier) for he has so much fur his under coat would never dry. I tend to brush my dogs almost on a daily basis. On those days I skip a day or two I reallllly kick myself for they mat very quickly….especially Rocky and Niki. Gemma is a low maintenance dog, however since the other two are getting attention she wants her fair share and will actually wait her turn. In other words….she wants to be groomed.

Niki, the smallest is actually the most work. She was before her accident and after now requires special handling. She is very sensitive to touch all along her spine (overly sensitive reflexes). After her spinal injury it seems the nerve endings are crossed wrong now. Her coat must be kept short due to sanitary reasons. She can at times drop her hind end, tail into her urine when she relieves herself….as do we still have to help her completely empty her bladder. Shaving her is also a bit tricky. Just running the clipper down her spine causes her to twitch, pull her hind legs up…I must be very careful. Because of this it can take me days….or weeks to fully groom her. We will do a little and then go back a few days later….poor thing, while she dislikes the process….when it is over she does strut her stuff. Yep, she is indeed a “hot dog!!!!

The photographs were taken early evening…all smelling so very clean….nice shiny coats. Soon after Rocky went and rolled in the red clay….yep, you gotta love a Golden! Be on the look out for those nasty critters….fleas and ticks. Images taken with a Nikon d300.

Fun, silly, loving and playful!!!

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.

 

A second version, cropped, looser brushstrokes and a slightly different expression.

 

Just a quick painting created In Corel Painter for our Digitally Painting Animals On-line Course. Next week we should have a few versions of this to post when students submit their assignments. If interested in upcoming classes please visit: On-Line Courses. 

The original photograph that I used for this painting was taken using a wide angle lens on a Nikon d300. ..I was just a few inches from Rocky….I at least think he is adorable and so very serious at times.

The above is a quick 10 minute doodle created yesterday for a forum I am a member of. I fell in love with the thought of a boy and his dog fishing I have started working on a piece that I hope conveys the wonderful friendship between a boy and his dog.

The elusive Blue-jay!!! They emit a hawk like squawk, always wonder if they are trying to get the other birds to fly away from the feeders! Does not seem to work for when the hawk is around the birds know it!

Today was supposed to be a no PC, camera, no painting…no web site day…Not! In the end worked a little….and of course the birds….I was ever so determined to get an image of the Blue-jay….did too. Not the best image for he did not fly up to the tree for me to get him in a more appropiate setting, so this will have to do for now. Also posting one of ours students painting…. Class 1 of Digitally Painting Animals (created in Corel Painter). Niki never looked so good, well done Deb!!!!For more information on Paw Prints on-line courses visit: Digitally Painting Animals. New Classes starting in May.

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

Lovely creatures! Swans can live up to 35 years and mate for life!

Male Cardinal striking a pose.

 

Male Downy Woodpecker (only the males have the red on their heads)

Male & female Cardinals, Male and Female Mourning Doves

 Lately I find myself doing 100 things at once….several paintings, getting the forum up and running….yippee….it is now open to students. Finally, a place to upload their work in one location….maintaining the web site and blog. Of Course, Mothers Day deadline has come and gone so know that gift certificates available up until the very last minute. Oh….I have not forgotten about the big Print Giveaway….it is really coming….soon.

With the warmer weather I longingly want to be outside, as do the dogs. Yesterday I decided to take a little break….we go out….dogs, treats, some bird seed and camera. We Play, do Niki’s PT and then put out some fresh bird seed. I have been trying to photograph a few of the blue jays that have been visiting our feeder throughout the day. Then do a little bird watching….Blue-jays would fly over head and just pass right over us….nope they were not going to visit with me and the dogs sitting there, they are not as brave as our other feathered friends. Place the dogs inside for a little while….find a better location where I was not as noticeable….of course that  meant my lens could just not capture what I wanted. So…the blue-jays are now called the elusive blue-jays….as I type I can see two of them feeding away at the feeders….they know what they are doing!!! Make sure that no-matter how busy…take some time for yourself, and of course your furry friends.

The Nikon D300 is a wonderful camera but I must share with you…in low light situation lots of noise….or I should say I am comparing it to my Fuji S2 pro. One of the images I am posting today, sadly the birds were just too far away for my lens….but I just had to have it….so cropping, not the best lighting and well lots of technical things wrong with the image. One of these days I will just have to break down and purchase a lens that can capture my feathered friends from a distance.

 We simply adore our furry friends!

Sharing our lives with them is very beneficial. I know in my daily existence they get me away from the PC . We all know sitting in front of the PC for long durations is not very good for us! Working from home is also a bit lonely, you do not have the opportunity to see people….the dogs keep me very busy and saved me from a life of talking to myself….well OK, I still talk to myself but not as much

As with any relationship it does take a bit of work….due to the fact I have three dogs in my pack I must vacuum….allot. Also….mopping the floor is now one of my daily chores, not to mention the fact that I can never wear black again, only colors that hide the fur.  One MUST spend time with them…doing things they like to do….walks, ball tossing, only fair as they are always doing the things you like to do etc. As I have written so many times, you must also train them…they in turn do the same with you. If you think I am exaggerating just think about it….they tell you to feed them, they tell you to rub their butts, they shove toys in your face to get you to play with them…yes indeed, they train their human friends better then most humans I know train them!!!!

Sharing one’s life with a furry friend is a win/win situation and to be honest I cannot imagine my life with out them!

 

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.

For those of us that share our lives with these wonderful creatures….well you all know this look…as I am sure you have said “Leave It” more then once