Dog Tales Blog

Competitive Obedience is one of the American Kennel Club’s oldest performance events. It was developed in the 1930s, which to put into perspective is before the invention of penicillin, the Jeep, synthetic rubber, colored photographs, boxed cake mix, the Slinky, the Frisbee and even Silly Putty. During the first year the AKC held competitive […]

While most people were out enjoying the best weather we’ve had on a Sunday since last year, I was busy at work. I starred in a commercial for Android. It will air during the upcoming Google I/O 2018 conference. According to their website, this event ”brings together developers from around the globe […]

Trimming your dog’s nails is not only a cosmetic necessity, it is an essential part of your dog’s health, as well. Just like in humans, dog’s nails continuously grow. Wild dogs naturally wear down their nails due to the amount of exercise (walking, running) they do on uneven and rough terrain. Our domestic dogs don’t […]

NottaBear Newfoundlands is a kennel of service, therapy, and emotional support dogs. We train the dogs at home, and they also go to school to learn socialization and appropriate behaviors. Each dog has their own distinct personality and is good at the tasks they enjoy. Based upon that, we choose different jobs for different dogs.Service […]

When you hear the words “Fast CAT” do they conjure up images of a tabby chasing a Dachshund? Does it also bring to mind your dislike of Mondays or your fear of spiders? If so, you’re probably not alone. Set aside your lunaediesophobia and arachnophobia for a moment, if you will, and allow me to […]

Last week, we went to an agility trial somewhat far from home, making it necessary to book a hotel for the weekend. After a long day of agility, we arrived at the hotel.Dad stayed in the truck with us, while mom went into the room to do a “pill check”. She had a bit of […]

Any breed of dog can be trained to be a therapy dog. Whether you have a large breed or small breed, your dog will need lots of training to get started. They should go through a behavior class and learn the basic commands: sit, stay, come. There are private trainers, and some pet stores offer […]

As many of you know, I got my driver’s license when I was six months old.Rodney didn’t show interest in getting his until recently, when he turned twelve months old, as he was pursuing other interests…such as rolling a rubber ball to and fro under the living room Lazy Boy…don’t ask. He finally decided that […]

I worked in the caregiving industry for over 30 years. I had a heart for the elderly and witnessed a lot of loneliness and heartache. It was natural for me to want to take the dogs on visits to care homes. I contacted the activity directors at several locations to set up visit […]

Now that your new furry family member has had a few weeks to adapt to his new home, it’s time to discuss different training methods. Remember that the method you choose is up to you and your puppy’s needs, but training is a must for any dog. A 2012 study found that 80 […]

When training your dog with positive reinforcement, it is important always to have treats easily accessible – accessible to you, not to your dog – in order to make it easier to shape and/or capture desired behaviors. I keep a bowl filled with healthy dry treats on the counter at all times to make it […]

This week, we’re introducing a new contributing writer, Susan Reznicsek of NottaBear Newfoundlands. Each month, she’ll be writing about the world of therapy and service dogs, including how dogs are selected and the training process along with her personal experiences sharing her family’s gentle giants.I am happy to share with you my wonderful kennel of […]