Sally the Dog: Bad news looms with passport's appearance

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

About Me: I’m a brown dog who was rescued by my family a decade or so ago from the Belle Meade Shelter. My heritage is uncertain, and my first life was not so great. My second life, when my Mom and my girl, Elizabeth (E for short), rescued me, has been nothing but sweet.

I’m not sure exactly how old I am (and what lady would ever reveal her age anyway?), and I don’t know where I was born. But I’ve been a columnist for The Tennessean ever since Mom let me write my first travel piece. Mom and I love to travel, especially to posh pet friendly places.

I had a bit of a time learning to use the keyboard and the mouse, but once I got the hang of it, oh, dog, I’ve loved it.

On the weekends I love to: On the weekends I like to run errands with my Mom, and go to parties with her. (She covers social events for Williamson A.M./The Tennessean.

If I'm watching a movie or listening to music, it's probably: My favorite music is rock ‘n roll and my most fave song in the world is “Mustang Sally.”

Sally the Dog: Bad news looms with passport's appearance

Well, there's good news and bad news at my house. First, the bad news: I've sniffed out a trip in the works. I've seen Mom pull her passport and E's out of the drawer — never a good sign. And she has put some empty luggage (I've nosed around and know it's empty) by the kitchen door. She thinks I'll get used to it being there and won't think anything of it.

Oh, dog, I'm not falling for that. Pup and I both get sad when she leaves us; I don't even know why she would want to take some big trip without us. Anytime she goes, she tries to pack when I'm asleep so I won't see her.

The good news: I know she's talking to Jon Stolzer of Canine Inc. about taking Puppy for training while she and E are gone. He's in Spring Hill. She's also checking at The Farm at Natchez Trace. She is so worried after his latest great escape.

The best I can tell, E's boyfriend, Griff, will stay here at my house with me, the kitties, E's dog, Little Bit, and her kitty, Bailey. I like Griff a lot, but he's not my mom. I'm sniffing out this whole deal, but I sure wish I could talk Mom out of going on a trip without me. (But if she took me, she would insist on taking Puppy, too. How ridiculous is that?)

Source: The Tennessean

Category: Press

URL: http://tennessean.com/article/20090916/COUNTY09010506/909160332/1893

Trainer Urges Dog Owners To Be Attentive

Thursday, November 19, 2009

SPRING HILL — The city became a little more dog-friendly with Saturday's grand opening of the Bark Park.

But do people know the right way to be friendly around other people's pets? Local dog trainer Jon Stolzer urges people to be careful, even when strange pets seem excited to see you. "Always ask their owner," he said. "Never assume. It's not OK to pet someone's dog without their permission."

That might be the single-most important thing to know at the Bark Park, but there are many other clues and cues about dog behavior people might notice, said Stolzer, who was a special guest at the park's opening last weekend at the back end of Evans Park.

"Most dogs will give six signs before they bite," he said. "This all happens in a second or two, so it's important that you can recognize them."

Those signs include the dog's body stiffening, face tightening, ears lying back and tail stiffening, Stolzer said. He started his business, Canine Inc., about a year ago out of his Spring Hill home. He hopes to eventually open a location where he can train and kennel pets.

A former real estate agent, Stolzer began training dogs three years ago and earned certification as a behavior and training specialist at Triple Crown Academy in Hutto, Texas. He's also had police dog training through North State Canine Academy in Sanford, N.C. Stolzer plans to train dogs for police use and said a lot of his business comes from people who just want to better understand their pets and modify bad behavior.

"All dogs can and should start training at 8 weeks (old)," he said. "If you get going, you will have a fantastic dog on your hands. You need to establish the right behavior and the right rules."

Use care when teaching

People often aren't aware that dogs have an entirely different emotional vocabulary than they do, Stolzer said. Sometimes a dog's bad habits are the byproduct of unintended coaching, he said. For example, when a dog gets overly excited when their master leaves or comes home, it's because the owner has conditioned the dog to respond when they do. The better thing for people to do is ignore the dog when they come and go, he said.

"It's stressful for the dog," Stolzer said. "It creates separation anxiety."

Since dogs are pack animals, it's important for the pet owners to establish their leadership in the pack, or family. One mistake people often make is allowing the dog to have the run of the house. It's important for new dog owners to walk the dog through their home, establishing areas the dog will be allowed to romp. It's also important for dogs to have at least 45 minutes a day of stimulating exercise.

"Think of a child with no stimulation," Stolzer said. "That's often the situation that most domesticated dogs are in."

Source: The Tennessean

Category: Press

URL: http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008811190378

Cornucopia of Doggie Do's from Jon Stolzer

Sunday, November 15, 2009

It’s that time of the year for holiday feasts, but also for possible distress for our dogs. Although you want to share the Thanksgiving holiday with your canine, here are the top 5 tips from Expert Canine Behaviorist & Training Specialist, Jon Stolzer of Canine Inc. for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.

1. Refrain from over indulging your pets with table scraps. A diet high in fat can be extremely harmful to their health and can lead to obesity and serious digestive issues.
2. Dispose of aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper from holiday foods. These coverings can cause intestinal obstruction if swallowed by your pet.
3. Keep turkey bones out of reach as they are very dangerous for your pet. They are hollow, brittle and can break easily.
4. Keep your pet home and away from parade celebrations. With the large crowds, your pet can become stressed. Provide a quite, resting place for your pup.
5. Secure your trash. Keep your trash cans out of reach. This will insure that your pup does not smell the leftovers and knock it over just to get to those turkey bones.

Stolzer, a graduate from the country's top Canine Behavior and Training School, Triple Crown Academy in Hutto, TX, has earned his police canine education and training though NorthStateCanineAcademy in Sanford, NC and also has an instructor’s license for emergency canine health and first aid through PetSaver Training. Stolzer has established himself as the “go to” expert for behavioral problems. He is the trainer and behaviorist for the Middle Tennessee Golden Retriever Rescue as well as the official trainer for The Farm at Natchez Trace (Middle Tennessee’s premium pet boarding facility in Franklin) and a member of the advisory board for Tennessee Animal Resource Center.

Canine Inc. provides services such as: basic, intermediate and advance obedience, trick training, agility training, canine good citizen, therapy dog classes, group classes, private training, in kennel training, protection, police dog training and behavior modification.

Category: News

Tips for Halloween Pet Safety

Thursday, October 15, 2009

The month of October brings fall weather, pumpkins, candy and fun, but as the Halloween season approaches, pet owners need to remember what is and is not good for their animals. Expert Canine Behaviorist & Training Specialist, Jon Stolzer of Canine Inc., is here to share several tips to protect your pooch on Halloween:

• Remember that any amount of chocolate is deadly to your pet!
• Be aware of candy wrappers—they can get stuck in your pet’s digestive tract, causing illness or death.
• Don’t leave Jack-O-Lanterns or lit candles in a place where your pet could knock them over with a wagging tail or curious paw.
• Putting a mask on your pet probably isn’t the best idea—animals will get nervous or snippy if they can’t see what’s going on around them. If you decide to dress your pet in a mask, be sure to make the eye holes big enough for them to see peripherally.
• Dressing your pet in a costume could cause them discomfort and stress. Trick-or-treaters and costumes may make your pet nervous, so be careful about causing them added stress with a costume.
• When you open the door for trick-or-treaters, be careful that your pet doesn’t run out through the open door.
• If you plan on having a party, you may want to keep your pet in a separate room with food and water so they won’t be disturbed. Be sure to check on them periodically so they know everything is alright.

Stolzer, a graduate from the country's top Canine Behavior and Training School, Triple Crown Academy in Hutto, TX, has earned his police canine education and training though NorthStateCanineAcademy in Sanford, NC and also has an instructor’s license for emergency canine health and first aid through PetSaver Training. Stolzer has established himself as the “go to” expert for behavioral problems. He is the trainer and behaviorist for the Middle Tennessee Golden Retriever Rescue as well as the official trainer for The Farm at Natchez Trace (Middle Tennessee’s pet boarding facility in Franklin). Canine Inc. provides services such as: basic, intermediate and advance obedience, trick training, agility training, canine good citizen, therapy dog classes, group classes, private training, in kennel training, protection, police dog training and behavior modification.

Category: News

Back By Popular Demand on NewsChannel 5+

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Jon Stolzer of Canine Inc. will be a featured guest on OpenLine with Rhori Johnston, Wednesday, September 20th on Nashville’s NewsChannel 5+ (cable channel 50) from 7-8pm central. During this hour segment, Stolzer will take your phone calls and answer your questions on how to protect your pooch this Halloween. Viewers can call 615-737-PLUS (7587).

Stolzer’s last OpenLine segment a few months ago, which featured the topic of dog training, received an overwhelming amount of feedback that the producers requested to have him back. This time, he will talk about the increase in pet accidents and injuries that pertains to chocolate, candy wrappers, jack-o-lanterns, candles, costumes and trick-or-treaters for Halloween.

Stolzer, a graduate from the country's top Canine Behavior and Training School, Triple Crown Academy in Hutto, TX, has earned his police canine education and training though North State Canine Academy in Sanford, NC and also has an instructor’s license for emergency canine health and first aid through PetSaver Training. Stolzer has established himself as the “go to” expert for behavioral problems. He is the trainer and behaviorist for the Middle Tennessee Golden Retriever Rescue as well as the official trainer for The Farm at Natchez Trace (Middle Tennessee’s premium pet boarding facility in Franklin).

Canine Inc. provides services such as: basic, intermediate and advance obedience, trick training, agility training, canine good citizen, therapy dog classes, group classes, private training, in kennel training, protection, police dog training and behavior modification.

OpenLine is a live, call-in show that features the area's biggest newsmakers. This is aired on NewsChannel 5+ (broadcasted on NWS5+/cable channel 50) and gives viewers the opportunity to voice their opinions and ask questions. Viewers can call 615-737-PLUS (7587) from 7pm - 8pm. The show repeats at 10pm the same day and 11am the next day on cable channel 50. For more information on OpenLine, please visit www.newschannel5.com.

Category: News

Threat to Pets This Halloween

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Threat to pets

October brings pumpkins, ghosts, ghouls, and candy, but as Halloween approaches, threats to your pets need to be addressed.

"A little extra care can make a significant difference in preventing pet accidents this Halloween," said expert canine behaviorist and training specialist Jon Stolzer of Canine Inc.

The following are simple tips from Stolzer to protect your pooch this Halloween.

• Do not feed any chocolate to your dog. Chocolate contains theobromine, which can cause nerve damage and even death in dogs.
• Keep your dog out of the candy bowl and dispose of candy wrappers that can cause choking and get stuck in your pet's digestive tract.
• Halloween costumes can annoy animals and can cause them discomfort and stress. Think twice before dressing up the dog. Make sure the dog can breathe, see and hear.

Source: The Tennessean

Category: Press

URL: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090930/MICRO020301/909300306/1475/Briefs++Season+s+final+Full+Moon+Pickin++set+for+Oct.+2