We Got an Award! Thanks, Saved by Dogs!

Saved by Dogs has honored me (us?) with the Versatile Blogger Award! I do love getting awards, because who doesn't like being praised for all of the blood sweat and tears that they pour into their keyboards, right? Right.

I try to get Elka excited about them as well. I mean, I can get Elka excited, certainly, but I guess she doesn't really understand the ramifications of "a very important award", being a dog and all. I mean, we still think she's awesome, but sometimes that dog thing is an unforeseen limitation.

Missing Blogpaws....

One of these years, I'll make it to Blogpaws. Really I will. I'd like to go. Will I bring Elka, though? No, probably not.

I happily bring her to New Jersey at Christmas, or to North Carolina on vacation, but though the trip itself is somewhat stressful, the rest of the vacation really isn't. She gets to lounge around with people she likes and appreciates in a relatively calm environment.

(Relatively. We Donohues, when gotten together, can get a little loud and rowdy.)

Blogpaws, though? She would hate it. And managing that would make me miserable too.

Wordless Wednesday May 22 2013

Derek, a Doberman Assistance Network case (and an updated Demi picture!)

This is Derek. He was dumped in a California shelter, horribly afflicted with mange. The Doberman Assistance Network pulled him, and named him Derek, and now they're working on getting his skin condition under control. He's apparently also hypothyroid, which has an effect on hair and skin. He can't go to a rescue until his skin condition is taken care of, so he's being boarded for now, at DAN's expense.

You can make a donation towards Derek's care on the Doberman Assistance Network sponsorship page.

New (to me) survey: Dog aggression and owner aggression

I posted not long ago about how Alpha rolling was both not my style and also not a safely recommended training technique. A study in 2009 by the University of Pennsylvania veterinary researchers linked an exacerbation of aggressive dog behavior with punitive and confrontational training techniques, entitled "Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors" by Meghan E. Herron, Frances S. Shofer and Ilana R. Reisner. Basically, if you're aggressive your dog will be too. Of course, Patricia McConnell beat me to posting about the study, but in a way, I'm glad. She's somebody I've heard of, read a lot, and am confident recommending her advice to people.

(Picture of Elka "paws up", taught through positive reinforcement techniques, to prevent this post from being a wall of text)

Doberman breed infographic from Adopt-a-pet!

Looking for a Doberman Dog or Puppy? Why Not Adopt!

Happy Birthday, Elka!

Four years ago today, my little Elka V was born! It's hard to believe that she's four; she's still so much like a puppy. Inquisitive, excitable, full of boundless energy......