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Volume 5, Number 2
Publisher: Guerrero Ink
Online: http://www.guerreroink.com
Copyright © 2007 Diana L. Guerrero. All rights reserved.
Content may not be reproduced without permission.
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February News & Tips
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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. Tales from the Trips (Latest News)
2. Question(s) for the Month
3. Critter Chronicles
4. Schedule of Upcoming Events & Appearances
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1. Tales from the Trips (Latest News)
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This year is off to a great start. I’ve been really busy with book marketing,getting my automatic programming done for my online courses and odds n’ ends.

http://www.arkanimals.com and http://www.blessingoftheanimals.com were both completely revamped and relaunched. I am still waiting on the new banner—I’ll have to update any glitches when I configure the sites for the new look.

Did you get the bonus I sent out? I hope you enjoyed it.

I am going to be moving all my newsletter subscribers over to a different management system in the near future. It will allow me to manage all my subscribers easily and help cut down on the spam being sent to me. It will also allow me to send you a beautiful html newsletter instead of just text. Let me know if you are a foreign subscriber where this may be a problem.

BTW: One of my favorite blogs was “I’m not really a waitress” by Patry Francis. She finally landed a book deal and it is going to be released in February. If you like good mysteries it is getting good buzz before it is even out! To order just click into http://www.arkanimals.com/Newsletter/newsletter_index.htm

Have a great month and thanks for your continued support.
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2. Question(s) for the Month
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Will you give up chocolate for fur this Valentine’s Day?

Pet owners and prospective pet parents are giving up chocolate for fur this year—and before you get your feathers ruffled let me just say that I am referring to time spent with pets and not fur lined clothing or coats. There is a new coupon program Purina is launching this February:

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to spend with the ones you love, especially the ones who love you unconditionally all year long. Whether it's pawin' around with a playful pup or cuddling with a kitten on the couch, this year many pet owners plan to spend Valentine's Day with Fluffy and Fido.

According to a national Purina PetLover survey of 1,000 pet owning Americans, 61 percent of people who own one or more pets plan to include their pet in their Valentine's Day celebration. In fact, 30 percent of women who said they prefer to spend the holiday with just their pet think their furry friend is more in tune with their feelings than anyone else. In comparison, of the men who said they prefer to have a pet date for Valentine's Day, 43 percent said it's because their pet lowers their stress rather than adds to it, making them the perfect loving companion.

Although some pet owners are opting for a quiet Valentine's Day this year -- 57 percent of them said they will spend time snuggling on the couch with their pet and watching a movie -- others will continue to show their love in a more public way. In fact, 41 percent of women with pets said they engage in public displays of affection with their pet more than their significant other. This truly gives new meaning to "puppy love."

Pets can also have a positive impact on a person's social life. By simply having a pet with them while they are out and about, pet owners may seem more approachable and give that potential "special someone" a reason to stop and talk.

If you have been looking for love in all the wrong places visit your local shelter or rescue group where plenty of pets are waiting to find their perfect match in a forever home. Pet lovers can adopt a loving furry friend, who is sure to leave a paw print on their heart, just in time for the holiday.

In celebration of their four-legged Valentines, pet owners will receive some very special savings, which is great news for the 53 percent of pet owners planning to forego the traditional roses and chocolate, and give their pet a special meal and treat to show their affection.

On February 11, 2007, pet owners across the country will be able to utilize PetLover coupons appearing in local newspapers for savings on dog and cat treats for their pets this Valentine's Day. For details on the Purina PetLover coupon campaign or to find your four-legged love of a lifetime at a shelter in your area, visit http://www.purinapetlover.com

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I put out a Valentine’s Day quiz out on the newswires, too. If you want to see the quiz and answers visit http://www.blessingoftheanimals.com and take a moment to fill out the drop down box—you’ll also be helping me test out the new system.

Have a question? Drop me a line for the next issue.
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3. Critter Chronicles
Despite the cold weather and snow I have been seeing clients around the mountains. I have one particular pup that is a mess. He almost jumps out of his skin when the doorbell rings and barks/aggresses at strangers. However, the other part of the equation is that he is pretty good when out on a leash so I thought I would talk about this phenomenon so you can understand it better.

Everything in an animal’s life is either reinforcing or extinguishing. This means that an animal gets reinforcement for certain behaviors and gets corrected for other behaviors. When reinforcement occurs you usually see the behavior continue, when it gets corrected—or reprimanded—it usually disappears.

Some behaviors occur only in specific situations. So, an animal might be fine out in public but overly aggressive on its territory.

People often make mistakes in rearing their pets, especially small critters. The biggest errors occur when people pet or reward their dogs for simply existing or through efforts humans associate with comforting. Let me explain a little more.

In the dog world, everything is earned. Dogs need leaders, require mental stimulation (challenges), should have jobs (work to do), and require exercise. These are not optional requirements—they are mandatory. The compensation for canines is attention (and yes, food).

When rewards are unearned, problems arise, because the guidelines are not clear. The lack of leadership also puts the dog under stress…because they need leaders. Also, if any one of those components is missing, problem behaviors escalate.

In situations where an animal is unsure or barking out of fear, petting or giving an animal attention reinforces the behavior—which erroneously tells the dog that he or she should continue the behavior.

I distinctly remember a dog aggression seminar I attended with a colleague. In the audience (which was a bad idea anyway) was an aggressive dachshund. It was clear as to why the pup was aggressive—every time a human walked by and the dog growled, barked, or lunged at the person the owner, still clutching the dog, would give it a pat or a toy and tell the dog, “its okay.”

Yikes! Talk about training errors.

Anyway, people make mistakes with their pets but fortunately most can be corrected. It takes a lot of time in some cases—especially if the behavior has been around a while.

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I mentioned the Pet Parenting School in the last newsletter. Just a quick note to let you know that the discount cards are now available from select locations throughout the San Bernardino Mountains. Pups and kittens from 8-16 weeks of age are the right students for these programs.
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4. Schedule of Upcoming Events & Appearances
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Visit the index page of http://www.arkanimals.com for any last minute updates and bookmark my calendar page at http://www.dianalguerrero.com for the scoop on upcoming 2007 events.

This month I am booked up through the end of February!

What do you think about helping me schedule a virtual book tour? All you have to do is send me any good ideas for blogs, podcasts, or other programs I should contact. Just drop me an email.

Thanks for your continued support and suggestions.
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Have a great month and stay tuned!
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Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone who is on the lookout for new books, speakers, and information related to animals or writing.

Don’t forget to tell your friends about this newsletter. Recommend that they sign up! To subscribe to this newsletter enroll at www.arkanimals.com or any of my other websites listed below.

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Thanks for joining me. If you have a topic you would like to see covered in this newsletter, please visit our online form at http://www.arkanimals.com/ark/contact.html

Want to advertise or sponsor an event? Contact me below.

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Copyright © 2007 by Diana L. Guerrero
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