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Volume 5, Number 9
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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September 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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First, thanks for doing the rain dances. I say so because last week we finally received some rainfall. I lamented for most of the first week because it rained all around my home until two days ago. Coincidentally this happened after I wrote a friend (who lives here part-time) whining about that fact.

I’ve been running up and down the mountain weekly which wears me out. This has been good and bad. Good because I get out of here into the world and also to the mineral springs for a short stop for R&R. Bad because I am having a tune-up and feel less energetic than normal.

Animal training has kept me really busy. I hope you joined me for the telewebcast but if you did not have a chance to attend live, you can still can listen in—just scroll down for the link in the calendar section. I am going to invite you to one more free course and then begin the monthly subscription program and downloads from the shopping cart.

I did sent out an announcement for the interview on Animal Tails Radio from Chicago’s WGNU. It was a hoot and the hosts got a kick out of the key to pronouncing my last name, Grrrrrr-rare-o. Needless to say, it got a bit out of hand. They should have it up on the podcast but promise to send me the audio and I’ll post it for you if they do.

Have a great month and thanks for your continued support.
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2. Question(s) for the Month
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The big buzz this last week was about Hurricane Katrina’s animal victims. I think I touched on his before but in case you missed it--only about 15% of the animals lost during that disaster have found their way back home.

There have been a few dogfights between humans over custody of the animals. The buzz this week was because of a custody battle over a dog who now lives in Santa Monica. The arguments I have seen discuss how the dog was not cared for by his former owner and that he should not be returned because of that.

My thoughts, having worked in disaster rescue, are that a judgment about what is a good owner and what is not is a matter of perspective. Katrina hit many poor areas where the status quo is not providing jeweled collars or an annual health care for the animals at the local veterinarian.

Many of the people lost their homes that were passed down to them and were just scraping by. Pets are part of the family but not top priority. The quality of pet care has a lot to do with lack of affluence and community status quo.

In “What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality” I wrote about one hard hit family that I helped retrieve their pets during the aftermath of Hurricane Georges. The lady arrived in a car that barely ran, without shoes, and looking very worse for wear.

She was frantic about her pets who were stranded in the upstairs of their home. I followed her to the location with two large crates for the dogs and watched as neighbors handed her the dogs that they had helped swim the dogs to shore just before we arrived. The dogs did not have tags and probably had not seen a vet in a year or two—if at all. Even so, they were clearly loved.

The other people nearby had also managed to get a boat over to the house to grab the cats. The felines were caught put into her car while the dogs had to be loaded into the crates by the owners--because they were so fierce.

One of the team members was pretty judgmental over the looks and situation surrounding those pet owners and their pets but what I saw was someone who couldn’t sleep or rest until her animals were safely in the care of our team and the local veterinarian.

In times of disaster there is no time to pass judgment on a person’s situation or choices. Many of Katrina’s victims still remain in the most dire of straits—so is it wrong or right to keep the animal victims in the new homes? Read the stories and let me know what you think:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13595315/

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-katrinadog27aug27,1,3004469.story?track=rss

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/27/Tampabay/Judge_orders_dog_visi.shtml

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0721/p01s03-ussc.html


Have a question? Drop me a line for the next issue.
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3. Critter Chronicles
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During my career I have transitioned several times and so this new reassessment is nothing new. Beginning in October I will again be taking animals in for training and working with a local Doggie Bed & Breakfast who will keep the critters for me.

I’ll be working intensively with a select few animals and then working with their owners once a week. This is directly in opposition to my work training owners to train their animals on a weekly basis but I have to say I love training animals and seeing the results. Training owners to train is very laborious, and although rewarding, is not my passion.

Boot camp is intense and involves taking the animals into a variety of environments and teaching them how to learn, how to behave, and training basic obedience and manners. The two scheduled to arrive in early October don’t know how to think.

People believe that all animals “get” training but that is not necessarily true. Genetics, exposure, and upbringing can throw barriers into the learning process. These two cannot focus and are related to each other. That is not great for the owners because sibling animals tend to bond more with each other instead of the family or owners.

The owners inherited them and are dedicated to getting them to integrate. When I first walked into the yard I was shocked. It looked like a war zone. The animals were also wild and never settled down into the training process unless separated one on one.

Also, they have no food drive. Although food treats are not necessary to train animals, tidbits can be a good tool to shorten up the learning curve and increase motivation. I nicknamed the two delinquents the dastardly duo—for good reason.

Anyway, I have worked with them twice with their owners and they are making some progress but it takes them about twenty times the time to learn what normal animals get immediately.

This week I am having the owner train them to learn what a clicker is. The idea is that one click gets one treat. I am not going to get into the training theory or discussion but the clicker ends of working as an IOU.

Most animals get the clicker association in about 20 clicks but not these guys. Anyway, once that is established it will help make my job a bit easier. So cross your fingers. Dogs usually go to boot camp with me for two weeks but I extended my training offer to them for up to four weeks because I think I am in for a challenge. Hope I am wrong, but hope I am right.

Yeah, yeah, I love a challenge—just not when I am in the middle of it!

If you don’t understand the difference between training methods be sure to listen to the audio I have online (Introduction to Animal Behavior & Training) and available or a limited time from the link in the calendar section.

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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 through September. Puppy Club & Canine Club schedules are not included here as the times and dates change. Please sign up for the client list or call (800) 818-7387 to make your reservations.

Our teleclasses are being recorded. If you miss one—don’t fret—they will be for sale online shortly.

Here is the link to the Understanding Animal Behavior & Training (Prerequisite to All Training Classes) http://www.instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=610122

Want to get the latest on the book? Visit:
http://www.blessingoftheanimals.com/blog_book_buzz.html

September 4, 2007
Pasadena All Day

September 5, 2007
Training Class 8 (6:00pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

September 5, 2007
Training Class 3 (7:00pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

September 12, 2007
Training Class 4 (6:00pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

September 18-21, 2007
Super Zoo
Las Vegas, Nevada

September 22, 2007
Trick Training Class (10:00am)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

September 26, 2006
Training Class 5 (6:00pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

September 29, 2007
Trick Training Class (10:00am)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

October 3, 2007
Training Class 6 (6:00pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

October 4-5, 2007
Temecula, CA

October 6, 2007
Many Paths Bookstore & Blessing
North Hollywood, CA

October 8-November 5, 2007
Doggie Boot Camp
Big Bear Lake, CA

October 10, 2007
Training Class 7 (6:00pm)
Bear Valley Pet & Animal Supply
Big Bear Lake, CA

October 17, 2007
Training Class 8 (6:00pm)
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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Copyright © 2007 by Diana L. Guerrero
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