The Collared Scholar Dog Training Blog

Amazing! Joey and Jameson come to BootCamp for Basic Obedience!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:51:00 +0000

Joey, a 5 year old Chocolate lab who I have known since he was a baby puppy, just got a new little brother. Jameson is a rambunctious and GIANT yellow lab puppy. I'd guess him to weigh in at about 80lbs and he's still growing! He's a rescue and he had bounced between homes for a while, no doubt due to his puppy craziness coupled with his monstrous size. Together, the boys joined us for In Kennel training, to learn basic obedience and manners. They were a TON of fun to have around and the ranch is a much quieter place without them.

Check out their video after a few short weeks with our trainers. They are amazing!

Check out The Collared Scholar's New Photo Album on Flickr!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:23:00 +0000

When we aren't training dogs, we have been busy taking pics of our daycare, training and boarding clients. Check out our new photo album on Flickr. Flickr users, register and add us as a contact so you can get updates when we post new pics (which should be regularly!)

Also, we will be putting out a "Dogs of The Collared Scholar" calendar featuring all of YOUR doggies. Calendars will be available for purchase from your favorite Collared Scholar trainer and proceeds will go to benefit a local rescue group.

Check out our pics below OR Click HERE to be taken directly to our Flickr page.

A tribute to Gordy

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:59:00 +0000

For those of you who attend group classes at the ranch, you have surely met our awesome, old lady basset hound Gordy (aka G. Marie....aka Gordita Juanita the Latin Temptress). Gordy was a 14 year old spunky basset hound who knew what she wanted and how to get it. Unfortunately, her little life was cut short this morning, as she passed away in her daddy's arms from the cancer she had so valiantly fought for the past 3 years.

Gordy came in our lives in 2006, when we pulled her from the shelter at 10 years old. She was abandoned their by her "owner" after he had used her repeatedly to produce basset hound puppies that he no doubtedly sold to make a quick buck. She was overweight, stinky and her nails curled all the way around and punctured the pads of her feet. She an open sore on her back end and severe arthritis. The shelter told us that given her medical condition, they had deemed her unadoptable and had planned to euthanize her. We weren't about to let that happen. We immediately pulled her from the shelter and although we already had a house full, I decided to take her home.

When we got her home and got her cleaned up, it quickly became apparent that she suffered from a terrible case of pneumonia. She was hospitalized for quite some time and for a while, we weren't sure she was going to make it. But, after knowing her for the past 3.5 years, it became increasinlgy apparent that she was a stubborn fighter who wouldn't let something like pneumonia slow her down!

She beat the odds and recovered from her pneumonia. It was now time for her spay. When we went into the vet for the eval, he let us know that she had several mammary tumors he was concerned about. We had them biopsied and the news was grim - it was cancer - and not just any cancer, but an extremely aggressive form that they believed would cut her life short. We were devastated - it was amazing how attached we had become in a few short months. We opted for a radical mastectomy to remove the cancer she currently had and hopefully buy her some time. The surgeon was not optimistic. Although she was able to get clean margins on the tumors, given the type of cancer she had, they believed she'd relapse in 6-8 months and they recommended a second surgery and chemotherapy to buy her some extra time. We respectfully declined. Her recovery from her first surgery, where they practically removed her entire stomach, was rough and we couldn't see putting her through that kind of pain again. We switched her to a holistic diet and decided to enjoy what time we had left.

Her surgery was just over 3 years ago. Since then, we learned just what a fighter little Gordy was. She was pushy, demanding and knew how to get her way - and we loved her because of it (not despite it). She could regularly be found ripping treats out of your pocket or growling to get you to pet her. At times, she would growl so loud, it would make her sneeze and ultimately, send us into fits of laughter. She was never trained and got her way by barking, growling, biting and forcing her way through doorways when you weren't looking. Just what you'd expect from a dog trainer's dog! But she was old and fiesty and we loved that about her.

This past weekend, we could tell the cancer came back. She began rapid, shallow breathing and seemed a bit reluctant to get up and trot around the yard. She wasn't breaking into the training field to steal the treats we were using for training as often as she had used to so we knew something was up. Yesterday, our worst fears were confirmed as Gordy, our half pig half basset hound declined her dinner and wouldn't take treats. This was unheard of for her. I took her in bed with me last night and we tucked her under the electric blanket for warmth. Her breathing was labored and her heart rate had sky rocketed. We knew it wasn't long but wanted to give her the peace of dying in her own home - a home she no doubt longed for most of her life. This morning, we let her outisde and she layed in the sun. Things were looking grim. She stuck around long enough for her Auntie Christine to say a tearful goodbye. After what seemed like an eternity of her laying in the sun, panting and barely able to lift her little head, we decided it was time to intervene with humane euthanasia. Rob went to the yard, scooped her up to carry her inside so we could make that dreaded final vet visit and within a few quick seconds, her little body went limp and she peacefully slipped out of this world to join her brother Koby in heaven.

Gordy passed away this morning in her daddy's arms. Although she only graced our lives for a short time, looking back I can't imagine life without her. She was one of the best friends I have ever had and we will miss her every day. It's amazing to me how someone could just throw away a little soul like Gordy's. But her prior owner's carelessness was ultimately our gift and we will always be grateful for the time we had with her. Give 'em hell up their Gordy. And give your brother a big sloppy kiss from his mama and daddy....

For our doggies in heaven:

Join The Collared Scholar at the 1st Annual Mermaid Run 2/13/2010

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:16:00 +0000

The trainers of The Collared Scholar have been asked to appear at the upcoming Mermaid Run, 2/13/2010 at Fiesta Island. Our trainers will be on hand answering dog training and dog related questions while promoting awareness for heart disease and the Heart Truth. Here's some info on the event:

"Join us at Mission Bay in San Diego for a fun 5/10k run. February is Heart Health month and you can join hundreds of women as we raise awareness for heart disease an The Heart Truth campaign. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Heart Truth and participants can make an additional donation via the Mermaid website. Run participants receive a stylish race t-shirt and finisher necklace." Click HERE to visit their website and register!

Hope to see you there!

New Working Dog Programs at The Collared Scholar!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:35:00 +0000

We are proud to announce the launch of our newest dog training programs designed specifically for working dogs.

DOGS with DRIVE is a new "focus group" designed specifically for working dogs and dogs with drive who have foundation obedience but need some work on emotional control. In this class, we will teach drivey dogs to behave in high distraction settings and help build and focus their drive into more positive obedience behaviors. Class meets Sunday afternoons in Poway. Instructor approval required for participation.

PERSONAL PROTECTION TRAINING and PROTECTION SPORTS programs have also begun at The Collared Scholar! Do you want to see if your dog has what it takes for personal protection? Do you want to teach your dog to "act" tough to help keep you safe from intruders or other unwelcomed strangers? Or, are you interested in Schutzhund or Ringsport? We at The Collared Scholar have teamed up with some incredible training decoys and protection sport clubs that can help you achieve those goals. Call us at 619-916-8710 to schedule your evaluation to see if your pooch has what it takes!

Gaius and Attia learn to Speak!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:06:00 +0000

We have two doggies joining us for some intensive training here at the ranch. We briefly talked about them in the blog previously but, since they are going to be around for quite some time and since their training program is pretty unique, we decided they needed a blog of their own.

Meet Gaius and Attia. Gaius (aka Gaius Julius Caesar) is a 4 month old weim puppy rescued from puppy mill conditions. He came to us with severe kennel cough (he had had it for 2 months!), an ear infection and some sores on his little feet. He had to be in quarantine for 10 days while he healed and then, he went right into training to learn to be a good puppy.

Attia is a 4 year old lovely lady who won the hearts of her trainers instantly by resting her head on their shoulders while she is riding in the car and by sticking to them like glue at the ranch. She is a sweet sweet girl and we at The Collared Scholar are faced with a challenging task! We are going to take some of that sweet away :-)

You see, Gaius and Attia are very loving dogs - in fact they might be a little too loving as they would happily greet any stranger with love and affection, even if they were holding their family at gunpoint.

This is where we come in. We are going to teach the two dogs to be a little more protective of their family. Don't fret - we aren't going to make them mean. We are just going to teach them to act tough to ward off potential intruders. We are also teaching the two to be hunting dogs so that they can accompany their Dad on exciting hunting and camping trips.

The two are loving their training so far. It's been all fun and games and we are capitalizing on their great prey drive to teach them some protection behaviors.

Check out this video of Gaius learning to bark on command, showing of his positions and his place and recall to the whistle. This was the first day we worked on the place and recall and he picked it up in no time!

Rainy Days at the Ranch....

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:03:00 +0000

So, as you have all experienced, Southern California has been hit hard these past few days with some severe weather (compared to So Cal's standards). Me and all the pooches have been cooped up for several days and the time stuck inside has forced me to get creative with training and excercise for the pups.

First, a quick intro to all of the new doggies spending these rainy days with me. First, we have Bella and Bailey, a pair of cute as can be maltipoos here to learn some basic manners. They are pretty overwhelmed by life at the ranch (much different than their condo downtown), but they are getting more and more comfortable each and every day. Next we have Reese and Buttons, an Ibizan Hound and a Dalmation who you may remember from our days at Metropawlitan. These lovely ladies belong to our Metro Groomer Keith, and are gracing us with their presence over the next few days. Last but certainly not least, we have Diesel - an adorable Jack Russell available for adoption through Russell Rescue, Inc. Diesel regularly entertains us with his antics - our favortie is when he falls asleep half on the couch and buries his face between the cushions....ridiculously adorable.

Now that the introductions are out of the way....here are some tips on keeping your pooch busy during this wet, rainy weather....

First and foremost - INTERACTIVE TOYS! These are my lifesaver when the dogs aren't getting their regular exercise. My favorties are the Tug A Jug, Kong Toy and Treat Stick. I fill these with plain kibble, mixed with a few Natural Balance Treats and sealed with a layer of cream cheese and let the dogs go to town. For those dogs who are OK with being in a crate, I give Raw Beef Neck Bones and Bully sticks. These options satisfy dog's desire to chew while also helping them to get rid of some of that excess energy.

In addition to the (HEAVY) use of interactive toys and bones while its raining, I have also been playing some fun, inside training games with the pooches staying here at the ranch. Here are a few you can play at home:

Hide and Seek - For those dogs learning the "COME" command. If the dog has a good foundation with the recall, I will hide in rooms around the house, call the dog to come, and force them to "FIND" me, rewarding heavily when they finally do. If your dog doesn't know the "COME", start by teaching that, and then move on to training games. Click HERE for an article on introducing the "COME" command.

Training Tricks - I have also been spending my days teaching my dogs "Stupid Tricks". There is a fun dog training book out their called 101 Dog Tricks. You can pick it up at Barnes and Noble or other local bookstores. This book is chalk full of fun, easy to teach tricks that are completely useless but tons of fun. Teaching your dog new tricks will help give them mental stimulation, build confidence and its just plain fun!

Search! - The last and possibly my favorite game is to teach your ball or food motivated dog to "SEARCH!". For toy motivated dogs, hide their favortie toy and have them "SEARCH!" until they find it. For food motivated dogs, put a piece of their favorite treat into a small, ventialted container that they must search for. Start by placing the toy in easy to find places and slowly increase the difficulty as your dog starts to pick up the idea....

Have some fun with your pooch while you are both stuck, cooped up inside. He will thank you for it!

Stay dry and stay safe out there!

Lights, Camera, Action! Some pooches show off for the camera and a star visits the ranch!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:44:00 +0000

If you have been following the blog, you have met Turbo and Vigo, an unlikely couple who came to us for help with dog aggression and obedience. They are visiting California from Oregon and decided to spend some time with the trainers of The Collared Scholar for help with the issues they were having. Here is a video of them learning a few new commands. Keep in mind, this is only their third lesson and it is the FIRST time the Place command was introduced. What smart pooches!

Also, some big news is brewing here at The Collared Scholar, yesterday, a reality TV celeb dropped off her mini poodle JJ for some in kennel training. Poor JJ is pretty fearful and snaps at other dogs, has an issue with submissive urination and is just plain scared of the world. But don't fear JJ, The Collared Scholar is here to help. This particular reality TV personality has a particular love for doggies and has developed a line of ridiculously adorable doggie neckwear that is now being sold online and in some high end pet stores. Her neckwear is made from imported, recycled and vintage materials and you can check it out online at Damaged Threads. Keep an eye out for JJ's shocking transformation........

Agility Training at The Collared Scholar!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:10:00 +0000

For those of you who don't know, we recently launched our new Agility classes! We are offering an Introduction to Agility class Saturday mornings and we are also hosting an Agility Club designed to give dogs who may lack certain social skills the ability to train and compete in agility!

This past Saturday, we held our graduation day. We set up an obstacle course featuring all of the obstacles our students learned over the 6 week course and held a mini competition. We are very proud of all of our students and are excited for them to join the club and fine tune their training for competition!

Here is a video of Graduation Day!

And for those of you who were in our first Agility Class, we did video graduation so don't feel left out. We are having some "technical difficulties" and hope to have the video posted ASAP.

Welcome some new faces and some Collared Scholar news....

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:35:00 +0000

I know its been quite sometime since the blog has been updated. The holidays are always a busy time for us here at The Collared Scholar and sometimes, the blog entries fall by the wayside. But we are back up with a vengeance and plan to keep blog updates as frequent as possible....

First and foremost, I'd like to welcome some new faces - of both the two legged and four legged variety....

If you take any of our group classes, you have surely met Kelly, our awesome new intern! Kelly typically works two days per week helping out around the ranch, keeping the doggies entertained and learning dog behavior in the process. She has been an incredible addition to the crew so next time you are out at the ranch, be sure to say hello!

Of course, the blog wouldn't be complete without our canine introductions as well. In training with us currently are some really great doggies who deserve some recognition!

First is Charlie....Charlie is an incredibly adorable doxie mix who came to us for help with some intense fear issues. His owners recently rescued him and it appears that poor Charlie has never had any socialization or exposure to the outside world. He has been making excellent progress and we look forward to a full rehabilitation....keep and eye out for his video as he should be graduating with honors in the coming days.

Next we have quite the dynamic pair in training with us for basic obedience and some hunting work. Attia is a 4 year old Weim who has quickly become one of the staff favorites. She is learning at an exceptional pace and instantly bonded with her trainers. She is learning to be a bit more protective of her family since currently, she will happily greet strangers and potential muggers with big sloppy kisses and tail wags. She is also learning reliable obedience and some hunting skills so she can accompany her owner on exciting camping and hunting adventures. Attia's little brother is a 4 month old weim names Gaius, who was recently rescued from puppy mill conditions. He is recovering from a nasty cough but is really turning a corner and is showing us what a great hunter he will be when he grows up....he has a great time here playing with the quail and practicing retrieve games and we are sure that he will grow up to be a mighty hunter and a great companion.

Last but certainly not least, we have Turbo, a misunderstood pittie mix who wins everyone over with her hilarious smile (yes - she actually pulls back her lips when excited and flashes her pearly whites at you in a gesture of love and affection). Turbo is here because she has a high prey drive that has got her into some trouble in the past. We are working on corralling her issues while her parents are in San Diego on vacation and she has made astounding progress.

Pictures and video definitely to follow.....

In addition to our new faces, we also have a couple of pieces of exciting news for you....

First, keep an eye out for our video newsletter which we plan to launch in the coming weeks. We plan to post regular video tidbits with helpful training tips and tricks that you can practice at home...

And finally, perhaps the most exciting piece of news I have to share with you today is regarding one of the dogs we had in rescue, Augie. Augie is a Jack Russell/chi mix who came into our program with a few behavioral issues. Augie spent several months in training, learning to be a good doggie and this past week, we are proud to announce, that he found his perfect forever home. We will certainly miss his antics here at the ranch but we are thrilled that he finally has a family to call his own...
Until next time....

Sonny learns his manners....

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:40:00 +0000

We at The Collared Scholar recently welcomed Sonny, an adorable 8 month old pit bull/weim mix into our in kennel training program. Right off the bat, Sonny was a handful. When I spoke to his owners on the phone, they told me about his behavior, most of which was written off to puppy exuberance. But when I met Sonny, I knew they weren't exaggerating. You see, Sonny is the kind of dog that trainers LOVE. He is unafraid and sure with a great drive for the toy and he is amazingly eager to please..... but at this stage in the game, he had NO idea how to use his body. He would plow into just about anything and he knew how to use his strength against you. When he first got here, I put him in the yard to potty and he came slamming into the sliding glass door so hard, I was sure it was about to shatter. He would tackle you, mouth you and slam his body into you, regularly taking people out as he ran joyously through the yard. He had so much energy, that when he got excited, especially upon seeing other dogs, his frustration to play would get the better of him and he would find himself slipping into aggression. Plainly stated, Sonny lacked emotional control.

After a few weeks with our trainers, Sonny was transformed from a crazed puppy into a sweet and calm gentleman. He still loves to play and has the strength of a mack truck, but his energy is now focused into more positive training games, giving him an outlet for his energy and giving his parents some piece of mind.......Check out Sonny in action!

Buster, Casey, Flea and Grumpy - It's been busy at The Collared Scholar!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:32:00 +0000

The past week or so, things have been pretty busy around here! We have had several doggies head home from their stay at the ranch and welcomed some new faces to the training program.

First on the list is our sweet boy Buster. Buster is a dachshund mix who presented with some people and dog aggression issues. He's a sweet boy that was just sorely misunderstood. You see, Buster was a rescued dog and he suffered from some intense fear and panic issues that caused him to become aggressive in situations he felt like he couldn't control. Because he was unstable, he sought refuge in the few areas of his life he felt he could control. Hence, his aggression. He would bark wildly at other dogs as he passed them on the street and he refused to let strangers in the front door without him letting them know whose house it really was....he stayed in our program for a few weeks and made great progress. He now attends doggy daycare twice weekly and will be joining us for agility class soon!

Check out Buster's video :-)

We also had the pleasure of working with Casey, an 11 week old German Shepherd puppy who graduated the program on Monday. She was here for crate training, housebreaking and some help with some fear issues. She overcame her issues quickly and became the pride and joy of pretty much every one she met. The ranch is a quieter place without her but we are happy she's back home showing off her new skills!

Last week, we also had the pleasure of meeting an odd couple who joined us for in kennel training. Grumpy is an 8 month old English Bulldog who came to us with his brother, Flea, a 4lb chihuahua. Grumpy is a bowling ball of a dog who presented with destructive behavior. He would tear up everything in sight, become aggressive when disciplined and trample his tiny brother Flea. Flea on the other hand was fearful, barked like a mad man, was not sociable with other dogs and had housebreaking issues. They enrolled in our program and have been so much fun to work with. Keep an eye out for their video coming soon!

Loui isn't so vicious anymore....

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:53:00 +0000

If you have been following the blog, you know about Loui, our vicious pit bull puppy who came to in kennel training at The Collared Scholar. Loui is only 6 months old and he was terrified of the world. His aggression was so fierce, we had to be outfitted in a full bite suit to handle him his first day here. You see, unlike most dogs, whose aggression is all an act, Loui's aggression was very real - he had no problem taking a bite out of any person or dog who rubbed him the wrong way.

After a few weeks of training at The Collared Scholar, Loui was transformed....

Check out his video :-)

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:45:00 +0000

If you have been following along in the blog, you have read about Raggs, our senior terrier mix (yes, I said senior!) who came to in kennel training for help with aggression. Raggs had some issues with people on her property and quite a few issues with other dogs. Raggs returned home yesterday after her stay with our trainers. We still have quite a bit of work to do in teaching Raggs not to be territorial in her home, but she has made amazing progress and is on the road to a full recovery. Check out her video!

NEW Articles and Weekly Advice Column!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:18:00 +0000

The Collared Scholar behaviorist, Meagan Karnes is now the "resident expert" for DogTownSanDiego! Check out Meagan's Korner for great dog training articles and our NEW weekly advice column!

New Faces :-)

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:04:00 +0000

As I woke up this morning and got ready to greet the daycare dogs, I realized we have a slew of new faces that have joined The Collared Scholar family. I'm happy to introduce all of our awesome new additions!

First is Boss and Baby. Boss is a GINORMOUS bull mastiff puppy who is sweet, squishy and just a big baby inside. He came to us for long term boarding with his pittie sis, Baby who you may see tearin' it up on the agility course in the near future. Boss and Baby are excellent houseguests and great fun to have around. If you join us for group classes, boarding or daycare, you will most certainly see this dynamic duo :-)

Next we have sweet Buster. Buster is a dachshund/terrier mix here for help with some self esteem issues. Buster doesn't like other doggies all that well and he has displayed aggression towards people as well. Like Loui, Buster is just a scared little guy searching for a sense of security in this world. Keep an eye out for him in our anti aggression social starting next week!

We have also been blessed with the addition of some AWESOME new daycare doggies. Today, we are celebrating Karma's first day of daycare. Karma is an adorable brindle bully X who needs some more social time with other dogs. She wasn't allowed at other daycares because she was too forward in her greetings. But since she has been here, she has been a perfect angel. She is in the yard now, sniffing every surface and playing with her two new basset buddies.

And with that, I MUST introduce our new basset buddies, Rocky and Adrian. These two also attend doggie daycare at The Collared Scholar. If you know me at all, you know I am absolutely smitten by the basset hound breed and having these two around is like heaven :-) If you come to daycare, you will inevitably see Adrian racing zoomies around the yard and Rocky trying to keep up. They have now initiated Ms. Karma into the pack and the three of them are kicking up the dirt (literally) with a good game of chase!

Last but certainly not least, we have Raggs, a senior girl who has had some run ins with animal control for aggression. Underneath it all, Raggs is a sweet girl who just wants to be loved. We are teaching her the appropriate way to greet strangers and she is picking it up quickly. Keep an eye out for her video in the coming weeks.

Keep an eye out for these crazy puppies next time you are out at the ranch. They are quite a treat to have around :-)

Our Little Pearlie Girl....

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:01:00 +0000

Recently, we were fortunate to add a new pooch to our extended family at The Collared Scholar. Pearl is a ridiculously adorable boxer who had a rough start at life. Her mom adopted her from a local boxer rescue and her history was unknown. The only thing we did know was that whatever she went through left Pearl with some pretty major behavioral issues.

First and foremost in our eyes was Pearl's intense separation anxiety. Her anxiety was so bad, mom had to take her EVERYWHERE! Pearl had a bed in the back of the car so she could accompany mom everywhere she went. This meant only running errands at night, when the weather was cool enough for Pearl to hang out in the car, and never leaving for a day trip or vacation. In addition to Pearl's separation anxiety, she had some issues with dog aggression. Whenever another dog approached, Pearl would stare them down and then bark and lunge wildly at them.

Pearl came to in kennel training for help with these issues. The separation anxiety definitely turned into a battle of the wills - Pearl carried on for days before learning that her constant whines and whimpers wouldn't be rewarded. Then, just like that, she settled in and became another pack member at the ranch. The dog aggression subsided quickly and Pearl turned into one of our star students!

Check out the video of Ms. Pearl showing off her newly acquired skills!

Welcome Louie, our newest student!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:59:00 +0000

Today, I had the pleasure of picking up our newest In Kennel Training client, Louie, a 6 month old pit bull who has some issues his parents couldn't overcome. You see, despite being only 6 months old, not so little Louie is suffering from severe human and dog aggression. To give you an idea, when I went to pick him up today, Louie tried with all his might to take a bite out of me just to get me to leave him alone. He was tenacious in his aggression - I'm sure I will be bruised from the number of "muzzle punches" I took to the stomach :-) But underneath Louie's tough exterior is a scared little guy just trying to defend himself from the world.

Louie's aggression likely comes from how he was brought into this world. Louie's owners have given him a great start at life but Louie's issues are deeply imprinted, likely from when he was just a baby. Today, when I picked him up, Louie was severely aggressive....but once I could take the leash and subdue his aggression, he immediately tucked his tail in intense fear - you see, all of his aggression was used to scare people away.....and it worked! But underneath it all, Louie's defensiveness stemmed from complete and utter terror of the outside world.

I loaded Louie into the dog mobile and headed for the ranch. On the car ride home, he started to relax. He was grateful for the quick spritz of water I gave him to cool him off and by the time we got to the house, it was all kisses and cuddles. Louie is now hanging out in the living room, enjoying the air conditioning....and instead of going ballistic, he wags his tail every time he sees me.

Keep a look out for Louie's video. We are excited to see his transformation from a scared pup to a confident, social butterfly!

New Dog Training Articles!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:50:00 +0000

The Collared Scholar trainer Meagan Karnes is now a freelance writer for Examiner.com. Check out her weekly dog training articles at http://www.examiner.com/x-22743-San-Diego-Pet-Training-Examiner?showbio . You can even subscribe to her articles so that you get email updates everytime a new article is published. Check it out!

Lush Puppies Happy Hour is BACK!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Join us for our dog friendly happy hour and bring your four legged friend out for some great food and drinks. Our happy hour will meet the first Wednesday of each month and we will regularly change up the venue so that you are sure to find a happy hour close to you. This is a great opportunity for not so social pooches to come out and work on their manners and its also a great place for you to strengthen your obedience in a high distraction setting.

Our next happy hour will take place Wednesday, Sept 2nd from 6-8pm at Point Loma Sports Bar and Grill. Leashed dogs are welcome and there are a ton of happy hour specials to take advantage of. We hope to see you there!

The Collared Scholar's End of Summer Shindig!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:11:00 +0000

This past weekend, The Collared Scholar hosted its annual End of Summer Shindig! We partnered with Beauty and the Beast Pet Grooming and Sweet Home Chicago Pizza to put together a great event! Thanks to everyone that joined us! We had a blast! Here are some pics from the event!

Check Out these Bullies!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:08:00 +0000

If you are a follower of the blog, you may remember me talking briefly about my two bully buddies, Emma and Solomon. If you recall, they joined us for in kennel training because Emma was dog aggressive off leash and Solomon was dog aggressive on leash....what a team! These two were little bowling balls of personality and we had a great time working with them. Check out their video!

The Chronicles of Koby - The Final Chapter

noreply@blogger.com (Meagan Karnes) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:37:00 +0000

For all of you following along - sorry I didn't make more frequent updates. As you can imagine, this is a pretty tough topic to discuss. For those of you new to the story, a quick recap. Back in April, our oldest dog, Koby was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. He had a spot on his spleen that began bleeding. We had the spleen removed and received a grim diagnosis that is was in fact cancer and our poor boy only had 1-3 months to live. On June 27th, the cancer returned and made itself known. He began bleeding internally and would suffer from extreme weakness. The vet gave him a week to two to live but told us he wasn't in pain so we opted to keep him at home, comfortable, and only intervene if showed signs of pain.

Throughout the course of this nasty disease, our boy, a mere 7 years old, would have his good days and bad. Bad days consisted of him not being able to lift his head, barely opening his eyes, not able to move much. But on his good days, he was a force to be reckoned with. He would run and play as if his energy had been pent up for years. He would chase toys, play tug (which we always let him win!), pig out and shower you with what we fondly called OCD kisses (he would OBSESSIVELY lick you until your skin was almost raw). At night, he would snuggle up in bed with me (the only dog allowed in not only my bed, but my bedroom as well).

The past month was trying on us all but we LIVED for those good days. Whenever we would start to lose hope, he would bounce back out of his spell and wreak havoc on the house, running and playing and somehow being cuter than ever. He made all kinds of new friends, tried to bite a few in the face, and gathered am incredible amount of support from people who knew him and from those he never met. It was a great couple weeks for my boy, and he ate it up....

Over the past week or so, he had been "down" more than up and again we were trying our best not to let worry consume us. He seemed comfortable however and so we just decided to ride it out with him. On Tuesday, he bounced back a bit. We spent alot of time playing with his favorite toy and I even let him help me open a package UPS delivered (which is his FAVORITE thing to do - rip a package to shreds and feel like he's helping by doing it!). He seemed cheerful, and, like so many days in the past, my worries were quelled a bit. I was in the middle of housesitting for a family out in Rancho San Diego but I made it a point to come back during the days to spend time with my boy and the rest of the gang, get some training in etc etc. Because of his great day, I worried less as I left for the night. I hugged him, as always, kissed him on the head, told him I loved him and that I would see him in the morning. Then I headed out for the night....

6am Wednesday morning, my phone rang....it was my husband Rob. At first, I was irritated. If you know me, you know I love my sleep and the last thing I want is to be abruptly ripped out of it....When I answered the phone, all he said was "Koby's gone...." It didn't register at first. I was groggy and couldn't comprehend what he was telling me. "Did he run away?" I thought to myself as I tried to shake the sleep from my eyes (and mind). He proceeded to tell me that when he woke in the morning, he walked into the bathroom to find my boy's lifeless body on the floor. I burst into tears, ran around the house in a panic, got dressed and hopped in the car to head home.

As I drove, I realized the news still hadn't quite sunk in. But as I made my way closer and closer to my house, my stomach began to sink and I began to feel uneasy. I didn't know what to expect but I wanted to say a final farewell to my little guy....

When I walked into the house, Koby was covered in a sheet in the kitchen. I ran over to him, slowly peeled back the sheet and stared at his lifeless body, still a bit warm from the blanket he was shrouded in. I kissed his head and pet him while Rob and I both sobbed. I wasn't ready to let go. We loaded him into the car and headed to the vet where we left him to be creamated. As we filled out the paperwork, I kept expecting him to come running out of the back room, to shower me with kisses - but he never did. We said our final goodbyes at the vet and headed home, full of tears, barely saying a word on the car ride home....

For those of you who have lost a pet, I am so sorry. The pain is unreal. But its beautiful in the sense that it merely reflects the intense love we have for our four legged companions....to love something that much is truly a blessing.

Koby to me was the one who started it all. Through the trials and the tribulations of his life, I learned to train dogs and because of him, I left biotech to pursue my career in the dog world....he is the start of it all and I owe him so much.....I love that little guy and I miss him terribly....he is and always will be my inspiration....

Thank you boboy.....we will see you on the other side....

I also want to take a moment to share my condolences for all the pets we have lost this year....its been a rough year and we have lost a lot of pets that, through our work, we consider part of our family....a heartfelt goodbye to Cleo, Ellie, Rosie, and Pepper and all the others whose lives were cut short....Take good care of my boy up there.....you are all in our hearts.....

Handsome Hamlet!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:37:00 +0000

Hamlet is the newest member of the gang to join us for daycare and train. Hamlet is an incredibly handsome golden retriever who is joining us for dog to dog aggression issues. You heard right....an aggressive golden retriever!

Hamlet barks and lunges at other dogs while on leash, nearly giving his mom a heart attack on walks. He has also gotten into a pretty good tiff at a local park, causing his mom to keep him away from off leash parks and beaches altogether.

Enter The Collared Scholar......

Hamlet is going to be spending his days at "Summer Camp" with our trainers to learn how to play nice. We have already had the pleasure of having this cute kid with us for a day and let me tell you....we loved it! Not only is he incredibly receptive of the training we are doing, he is also just about the BEST cuddler you could ask for! Here are some pics of Hamlet on his first day of training. Keep an eye out for video of Hamlet once he is fully rehabilitated!

Vote for Us!

noreply@blogger.com (The Collared Scholar) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:16:00 +0000

The Collared Scholar has been nominated one of San Diego's BEST dog training companies but we need YOUR help to clench the title!

Visit http://kgtv.cityvoter.com/the-collared-scholar/biz/286985 ,vote for us, and tell everyone why The Collared Scholar is your FAVORITE dog training company in San Diego!

Thanks as always for your continued support!