Author Archives: RogerGafke

What dog breeds have the longest life-span?

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Jack Russell terrier pull small wagonAnn Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
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Newsweek puts Jack Russell terriers at the top of its list at 14 years.  It also has wonderful pictures that represent the top 25 breeds. https://www.newsweek.com/25-dog-breeds-longest-life-spans-1575093

We can he help with the exercise part of a healthy dog’s life and with creation of the bond between you and your dog. https://dogschooling.com/training/

 

This Newsweek article summarizes information from the American Kennel Club and the Dogs Longevity website set up by Dr. Kelly M. Cassidy.

You Expect Us to Celebrate St.Pat’s Day?

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Two Border Collies and German Shepherd pose with St Patrick Day costumesAnn Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day for the Irish? Not for us Scots as Border Collies, Moss (right) and Miste (left) testify.
Let us help you have fun with your dog while training to have the dog pay attention to you, regardless, do as you say, and stay on task. See these Drill Team pictures for inspiration.  You and your dog can do it, too. We can get your started now.

Dogs Make Us Healthier? They Might.

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Puppy Sits on Chair with glasses and stethoscope around its neckAnn Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
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This research says just looking into your dog’s eyes for a while can help.

We can help you build a wonderful bond with your dog. Join us for our spring classes including one-on-one coaching and video critiques for your dog at work.

This article in a Belfast published Newsletter presents substantial round up of research on the human/canine relationship regarding our health.  http://bit.ly/2ONCyZX

 

Border Collie Fun in Sun & Snow

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4 Border Collie puppies playing in snowAnn Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
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Our Border Collie puppies and their mother had fun in today’s snow and sun. This was the puppies’s first experience with snow.
Join them for our early spring dog training classes that begin the week of March 1. Here is a link to information and to register: https://dogschooling.com/virtual-dog-training/  4 Border Collie puppies playing in snow 2 Border Collie puppies playing in snow 4 Border Collie puppies playing in snow 7 Border Collie playing in snow

Guinness Record – Most Tricks in Minute by Two Dogs

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Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
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This California dog trainer and her two dogs set the record for most tricks in a minute by two dogs. One of the dogs set another record for fastest crawl.  In this video she also explains how she teaches the  tricks. Puppy Learning to hug the hander's arm

Many of the winning tricks are ones our students are teaching their dogs Join our tricks classes  – Great fun for both you and the dog. In this picture (right), the puppy is learning to hug.

Canine Loyalty – Dog Waits for Hospitalized Master

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Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
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A dog in Turkey waited five days outside a hospital for her hospitalized owner. They were reunited January 20.

According to this Associated Press story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, (http://bit.ly/3phILe0)  the dog followed an ambulance to the hospital and waited outside. The daughter of the patient family took the dog home but said the dog would run off early each morning to return to the hospital.

We can help you build a loyalty bond with your dog. (https://dogschooling.com/virtual-dog-training/)

Greyfriars Bobby grave markerThe story mirrors the story in Edinburgh, Scotland, of Greyfriars Bobby.  Bobby, a Skye Terrier,  spent the last 14 years of his life lying at the grave of his master.

Bobby has books, films, a museum exhibit, a statue, and his own grave marker to celebrate his loyalty. The rules of the cemetery in the 1870s prohibited a dog burial near the master’s grave. So, Bobby’s grave is at the entrance to the cemetery.

The picture (left) shows two visitors to Edinburgh at Bobby’s graver marker.

Is Your Dog Among the 20 Most Popular Breeds in 2020?

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King puppy dog wearing his royal gold crown, 3d illustration render

Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
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According to this survey, the top three – Mixed Breeds, Labs and Chihuahuas. This survey conducted by the pet sitting service, Rover and published on its blog – THE DOG PEOPLE –  is sure to generate some discussion – who’s on the list – who’s not. Here is a link to the details. To generate the list of most popular, Rover surveyed its clients about their dogs.

Give Your Dog A Job – UK Study Lists The Naughtiest Breeds

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Ann Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
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This entertaining report created by dog trainer Graeme Hall lists the five naughtiest dog breeds – dogs most in need of training, exercise and guidance from their families.

Let us help you keep your dog off the ‘naughty’ list.

The UK information came from a survey by the GoodMove, a home buying company in the United Kingdom, among its clients. How would you rate your dog?  What breed would you put at the top of the naughty list?

All dogs need jobs to do, and if one doesn’t create the job for their dog, the dog most likely will create the dog’s own – often one we don’t want.

Their ranking had Labs, Border Collies and Beagles at the top of their list. Read the article to find the other two.

 

As Your Puppy Ages, Will Behavior Change?

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Four Border Collies puppies on a tableAnn Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
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The answer is Yes & No – based on a four year research project at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-74310-7

The research used the Vienna Dog Personality Test (VIDOPET) to study the dogs Sociability-obedience, Activity-independence, Novelty seeking, Problem orientation, and Frustration tolerance. They tested  217 Border Collies from six months to 15 years of age.  They retested 37 dogs four years later.

They found, as in human personalities, the more active dogs among their peers at a young age remained the more active as they aged. However, among the five traits, they found individual differences. For example novelty-seeking – that is a dog’s  interest in distractions – did not decline until middle age and continued to decline, and problem-orientation – that is a dog’s interest in and ability to solve problems – increased until middle age and remained stable after that.

Because of the individual differences among dogs, researchers cautioned against over-generalization of global age trends in dogs.

Those criteria used is in this test are important elements of the training activities throughout our school beginning with puppies to introduce them to the human world we’ve invited them into and help them conclude – Been there, Done that, No need to worry about that. https://dogschooling.com/puppy-kindergarten/

 

When Your Dog Talks – Listen

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Border Collie lying on dog bedAnn Gafke’s Teacher’s Pet, 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd, Columbia, MO 65202
Phone: (573) 443-0716 or Email: Contact Us
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This story from the Victoria, British Columbia, newspaper describes the insistent barking of the family’s dog one evening. When the owner, finally did open the door to see what was prompting the barks, she found her elderly mother on the sidewalk near the home unable to get up.  The 80-year-old had tripped.  The story reports the mother has recovered after a few days in the hospital.

The lesson for us – pay attention;  read your dog. The dog may well have important information for you.

Helping humans ‘read’ their dogs is an important part of the training throughout the classes in our school.