Diana L. Guerrero’s Ark Animal Tracks: June 2007
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Volume 5, Number 6
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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June 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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Can you believe it is already June? This month is filled with new classes and the start of my virtual book tour. Thanks for your nice comments and support. It makes life fun and fulfilling when people take the time to write or give comments about how life changing the books or animal training classes are to them.

On that note, the puppy preschool classes and puppy club are just about the best programs I have ever done. My goal is to get people to start their animals off on the right paw really early. It is so much easier in the long run.

I am getting this out to you a little bit early as I head out to New York today and won’t be back until after the 5th. My new chapeau is finished (I’ll have photos up on http://www.blessingoftheanimals.com when I return) and today I’ll be running around finishing errands before heading out for the perpetual travel day.

Although I love living in the mountains, travel can be a hardship. It is about two hours to the nearest airport and then the only flight out leaves at 1am. Yikes! At least I am getting in a day early.

New York is a big contrast to my living environment here in a small rural town on the edge of the National Forest and above a lake. Even so, I find the energy and activities of the city life stimulating and enjoy networking with other authors, publishers, and book sellers.

When I get back I will be working hard on some new projects. One of which I need your help on. Let me know if you have a favorite animal or book blog as I am going to start reaching out in a virtual tour. Also, I’d love to do a living room book club tour through southern California. So, contact your favorite bloggers and let me know who they are.


Have a great month and thanks for your continued support.
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2. Question(s) for the Month
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I am a bit confused, when should you start a pet into training? Some say to wait until six months but I see you are doing classes with puppies as young as eight weeks old.

Great question since there is a misconception that you should wait to start training an animal until they are in adolescence. For dogs, this is about six months of age. The rumor still circulating in the general population is a big disservice to anyone who gets a young animal because learning is an ongoing effort. Would you wait to start teaching a child or would you start teaching right from wrong, what is off limits, and what is appropriate early?

Just like young children, animals need guidelines and coaching from the minute they have awareness. Environmental stimulation, mental activity, basic coaching, and socialization are critical to getting good behavior from an animal. These efforts start the moment the animal arrives into the home.

Due to the risk of disease, and because a dog older than six months is easier to train (they have an attention span), the tradition has been to wait. However, new discoveries show that pets should enter into preliminary socialization and other activities early.

The other secret is that puppies, although easier to train, have no attention spans and so the training is more challenging. Kittens have been virtually ignored, except for animal actors, until the last 10-15 years. Birds have been overlooked as well. A well rounded and socialized animal is usually better behaved.

Puppies should begin home training immediately. The puppy groups are open to those puppies who have had several inoculations and veterinarians usually have their guidelines as to when the risk of exposure to disease outweighs the benefits of proper socialization and schooling. This is changing but some are still adamant about not participating until the series of shots is done.

To avoid aggression and other puppy challenges I believe the early schooling is vital to the mental health of both the animal and the humans! If you have any worries, start with private and then move your critter into a group.

Have a question? Drop me a line for the next issue.

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3. Critter Chronicles
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The canine club and puppy club activities have been a riot. Dogs of all ages and sizes have been turning out for the socialization group. The training pen is such a positive place that I have dubbed it the “party pen.”
Dogs who are now in class seem to sulk that they cannot play with their buddies during school. However, we usually have the club after class so they can romp and wear themselves out.

Due to the influx of smaller breeds we are going to break the club into three groups—the new one will be for small dogs. If you have not made it to the puppy club—be sure to check it out. We all have a blast.

On that note, I do not usually recommend dog parks any more. They are not moderated and many dogs are not under the control of their owner. Incidents of fights and even a few fatal altercations have occurred. So, if you live in an area that has day care facilities or moderated social sessions I’d encourage you to participate in those rather than the expose your pet to the risks in a “dog park gone wild.”

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4. Schedule of Upcoming Events & Appearances
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Group dog training, puppy preschool, kitty kindergarten, and pet parenting classes will begin each month until September. Please call (800) 818-7387 to make your reservations. Want to get the latest on the book tour? Visit:
http://www.blessingoftheanimals.com/blog_book_buzz.html

May 30th & 31st, 2007
No Classes Due to Travel

May 31-June 3, 2007
Book Expo America
Booth 4138-39
New York, NY

June 2, 2007
No Canine Club or Puppy Club Due to Travel

June 6, 2007
Puppy Group (6:00 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 7, 2007
Dog Group (6:00 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 9, 2007
Canine Club (4:30pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 9, 2007
Puppy Club! (5:30pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 13, 2007
Puppy Group (6:00 pm)
Special Topic: Housetraining/Toileting Troubles
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 14, 2007
Dog Group (6:00 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 16, 2007
Canine Club (4:30 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 16, 2007
Understanding Animal Behavior & Training
Prerequisite to Puppy Training Class (5:30pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 16, 2007
Puppy Club! (6:30 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 20, 2007
Puppy Group (6:00 pm)
Special Topic: Chewing
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 21, 2007
Dog Group (6:00 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 23, 2007
Canine Club (4:30 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 23, 2007
Puppy Class (5:30 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 23, 2007
Puppy Club! (6:30 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 27, 2007
Puppy Group (6:00 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 28, 2007
Dog Group (6:00 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 30, 2007
Canine Club (4:30 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 30, 2007
Puppy Class (5:30 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

June 30, 2007
Puppy Club! (6:30 pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

Thanks for your continued support and suggestions
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Have a great month and stay tuned!
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ARK ANIMAL TRACKS
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Copyright © 2007 by Diana L. Guerrero
PO Box 1989 PMB 215
40729 Village Drive Suite 8
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