Running ... again!

Simon is a great running companion, but between his recent health issues and mine we have gotten off our game for the past few months. I could feel myself giving in the holiday excess and knew that a downward spiral could happen at any time. But no- that is not happening!

Simon and I are both feeling great and started our post holiday exercise with a fantastic, and easy, trail run in Acadia. I chose a trail that was relatively flat, a day that was warm and a running pal who was into tramping through the forest. We had to navigate some ice and some deeper than expected pools of water... and one of us had to take a break to swim in a couple of streams. By the end we were both smiling and I was thinking about our upcoming Canicros Race at Pineland in May.

Today we were heading out for another run and I chose a place where Simon could run leash free. He could do his thing while I tried out the first day on a Galloway plan to improve my 5k time. Next thing I knew Simon bolted for a patch of forest across the (quiet, no traffic) road from our running route. I called and called with no response and as my fears started to take hold I thought... he does not do this!.... but there have been 2 times when he acted in a similar way and both times he had discovered a deer carcass. So off I bounded into the trees and I found him close by with his prize. The deer had been picked pretty clean, but he was enjoying a bit of a chew on the skeleton. Simon was so in "dog mode" that I doubt he even heard me calling him. I clipped on his leash and finally got started on our run. I decided to keep him leashed knowing how close the temptation was to our running route. Let me tell you that Simon was jazzed and if I had had my canicross gear we would have flown!

Another day with my beloved fiend.... and another adventure!

Happy Holidays

Simon and I hope you have a dog centric holiday season this year!

A(nother) Morning on Gorham

It was so funny this morning as I had planned last evening that today would be a hiking day, but when I woke I really wanted to go running instead! I almost did, but then checked the weather and we are due for lots of rain tonight and tomorrow- I will run in rain, but hate hiking in rain as the trails are slick. So... a hike it was today.

I decided to hike Gorham Mt. I have a tremendous fondness for this small mountain as it was where I got started in hiking. It is a cool, crisp day for a hike and being on the trail felt great. Not long after we got hiking I had a sense that someone was watching us. I have had this experience before and it is usually worth stopping and having a closer look around. We were very near a well traveled animal path, so I had a pretty good idea of who was around. Eventually I saw a horizontal plane of brown amongst the trees- I was right it was a deer. I quietly greeted her and then we moved along.

The trail felt so much like home... it is funny to me now to try and remember just what it was that got me to hike in the first place. What started it all? I have no idea. But once I got going it was all uphill from there. Early on in my hiking days I would hike Gorham 3 or 4 times a week. Still feeling a little anxious about venturing onto other trails. However, with Simon by my side, that soon changed and we have been hiking all over the place since.

As we continued our hike I noticed, even with the small amount of altitude change, the variation in color of the huckleberry bushes. As we neared the summit they sported leaves colored a stunning red and at the trailhead the leaves were still slowly moving from yellow to red.

Just past a lovely view point, Simon became quite alert and stopped in his tracks. Moved a bit and lifted his nose to the air. I know the signs and there was someone about. In the past Simon has shown me great owls in the trees we pass, Ravens soaring high above us, killdeer, fox, grouse and coyote. I strained my eyes to pick out something in the shrubs and trees, but it was dense and I could not make out who might be around. Well, I knew the chances of it being a bear, lynx, or bobcat were incredibly slim- despite their presence on the island and despite my great desires to see one of these animals. I thought it could very well be a fox or coyote watching us, but more than likely it was a deer. Sure enough when we started to move along I saw the distinctive flash of white as the deer decided to bound off.

We reached the summit and stopped long enough for Simon to have a few treats and to gaze out at the ocean before us and the mounains behind us before heading back down. I will never tire of this view- I have been on this mountain in all seasons and each time it offers me something amazing.

On our way down Simon and I caught the scent of, what I imagined to be, a fox. There was an animal path at this point along the trail and we have certainly noticed fox activity here before. Needless to say, SImon needed a moment to savor the scent and check out this path more in depth.

Once moving again and getting close to my first deer sighting of the day, we rounded a corner of the trail and looking right at me, very close to the trail was a deer. She was adorable and I admit that I am often reminded of Simon's warm loving eyes when I see deer eyes. Behind her I caught a flash of white as another deer moved farther away. Simon stopped and looked in their direction, I do not think he saw them, but remained calm for which he was duly rewarded. In order to continue along the trail we would have to pass very, very close to her and I had a clear view of her and of her fawn standing behind her. Simon paid them no attention and I said a soft hello as we passed.

Back at the car we had water and Simon had a few more treats and then it was back home. Again, Gorham recharged my soul.

A Weekend in Crawford Notch

Whew- Simon and I have been active as usual, but it has been so long since we posted. So....
a couple of weeks ago Simon and I went camping in Crawford Notch State Park in NH. I had hope to "bag" another 4000 footer, but a lack of sleep and needing to meet up with my sister, niece & nephew inspired me to change my plans. Instead, in honor of SImon's love of water, I decided that we would do a series of short hikes that involve water. It was perfect weather and Simon was ready to swim!

We topped off our hikes with a couple of short hikes to 2 of the tallest waterfalls in NH- Arethusa & Ripley. Simon and I both relished the coolness of being near such amazing sights and, yes, SImon did get in a lot of swimming- river, pond & stream. All in all a perfect camping weekend.

Dog & Cat First Aid Course Scheduled

Peaceful Pack Dog Training has scheduled a Pet First Aid Class for May 15th from noon to 4 pm. Bobby Silcott from the The Maine POM Project will present first aid techniques for both dogs and cats. The cost is $40, a $20 deposit is required to guarantee your spot and all proceeds will go to the Red Cross($22) and The Maine POM Project ($18)!! POM stands for Pet Oxygen Masks and Bobby is raising money to purchase enough POMs for every rescue group in the state of Maine.

So, if you attend you will receive four hours of great first aid instruction from Bobby, a First Aid manual and DVD so that you can review the material any time and the knowledge that all the proceeds from this event are helping dogs in our home state of Maine!

To register please call Tracy at 460-8548 or email me at tracy@peacefulpack.com

You may also send a check made out to "Maine POM Project" to me at:

Tracy Haskell

75 State St

Ellsworth, ME 04605

The course will take place at Peaceful Pack's Training Studio in Trenton, Maine. For folks using GPS the address is 513 Bar Harbor, Rd.

If you need directions they can be found on our website at: www.peacefulpack.com

This is a human only event. Space is limited so please register early!

Tracy to Seek the Peak!

I have been wanting to hike up the infamous Rock Pile- otherwise known as Mt. Washington, for years now. I have decided that this is the summer to make a summit attempt. To add a nice twist to my hike I have decided to participate in the annual Seek the Peak fundraiser for the amazing Mount Washington Observatory. This is the 11th year for Seek the Peak, so I expect there to be quite a crowd on the mountain on July 23rd when I WILL climb Mt. Washington. This will ease Larry's mind as he really is not comfortable with me hiking up there alone. I have not decided if Simon will be joining me- I usually like to have a good idea of the trail conditions before I bring him along on a hike.

Since 1932, the member-supported Mount Washington Observatory has been observing and reporting on Mount Washington's infamous conditions from their mountaintop weather station, maintaining a continuous climate record nearly eight decades long.

The data they collect is utilized in nationwide forecasting models, local and regional weather reports, landmark climate research projects and a variety of innovative educational programs. Through research and education, the Observatory is working to inspire the next generation of scientists.

If you would like to support me on this adventure and support the legendary MWO, I would welcome a supportive comment below or donations towards my hike. All gifts are fully tax-deductible, and will help Mount Washington Observatory continue their important work in the Home of the World's Worst Weather. Every dollar I raise will directly support the Observatory's mission of research and education on Mount Washington. You can find my personal page here:

http://observatory.mountwashington.org/site/TR/Events/SeekthePeak11?px=1180743&pg=personal&fr_id=1030

This should be a fun adventure and I certainly hope my steadfast hiking pal, Simon, will be there to share in the success. I'll let you know what happens!

Tracy

Polite Hikers

Simon and I are avid hikers and we try our best to practice polite trail etiquette. Instead of re-writing this information I thought I would just post a link to the Daily Hiker site which has an excellent post about Trail Etiquette. We also practice the principles of Leave No Trace and I have posted a link to their website as well.

http://www.dailyhiker.com/news/hiking-and-trail-etiquette/

http://www.lnt.org/

So, get out there and enjoy yourself on the trails and help others enjoy it as well : )

The Importance of Puppy Socialization

Many people have heard friends or dog trainers talk about puppy socialization. Yet, lots of folks are not sure of what this means or why it is important. I am going to try to clarify some of this for you and why we dog trainers think it is a critical component in raising a well-adjusted, well-mannered puppy.

Socialization is a process of introducing your puppy to a wide range of new experiences, people, places, things, environments and activities. This is accomplished by gradually allowing your dog to check out different looking people, children, environments, objects and dogs. The period of your puppy’s life when socialization is most critical is between the ages of 8 to 16 weeks.

When you socialize puppies, you give them the opportunity to be positively exposed to a wide variety of new experiences. This results in dogs that more easily adjust to new things throughout their lives. Well-socialized dogs are more secure and self-confident.

The process of puppy socialization should be fun, safe and positive for your puppy. It should be completely force free and voluntary for your puppy. Your attitude will matter during this process, so make sure that you are having fun introducing new things to your pup.

It is also important for you to respect your puppy’s feelings and never push or force your puppy if she is at all reluctant to meet someone or something. Let her approach new things at her own pace. Provide opportunities for your puppy to investigate new things and then let her take her time. If she is reluctant, try laughing or interacting with the new object or person yourself, but be wiling to let it go if your pup continues to remain reluctant to interact with a new object or person.

Try to avoid situations, places or people you think may be less than positive for your puppy. The idea here is to build upon lots of really good experiences so that your puppy builds up a resiliency to novel experiences. So, if someone approaches you and wants to hold your puppy, it may be best to suggest that they sit down and allow the puppy to approach them.

A well-socialized puppy means that by the time your puppy is 16 weeks old they should have had POSITIVE experiences with:

• Many different surfaces: grass, sand, cement, grates, linoleum etc
• Interacted with many different objects: a variety of toys (soft, squeaky, hard, etc), wood, paper, metal etc
• Been to many different locations: friend’s homes, the vet’s office, ponds, cars, boats, bus etc.
• Met and played with a variety of new people: kids, men, women, people wearing hats, men sporting beards, folks in wheelchairs etc.
• Have heard many different types of noises: lawn mower, snow blower, sirens, doorbell, coffee grinder, vacuum, other animals sounds (horses, chickens, cats), babies crying, kids playing etc.
• Has seen objects moving at different speeds (do not allow your pup to chase): people running, kids playing, cats running, vacuums moving etc.
• Has had a variety of challenges: climbing up and down objects, climbing over objects, walking on wobbly surfaces, seeing an umbrella open etc.
• Has been gently handled by you and family members multiple times per week: touching their paws, looking in the ears etc.
• Eaten from different containers and in different locations.
• Played with many different safe puppies and adult dogs.
• Has had an opportunity to learn that it is OK to be left alone; this should be done gradually so your pup does not experience any anxiety about your departures and arrivals.
• Experienced wearing a leash and collar.

The important thing to remember is that when your puppy is experiencing new things you must allow your puppy to approach and that the experience is a positive one for your puppy. Peaceful Pack Dog Training offers Puppy Head Start classes with new sessions starting every four weeks. These classes are a wonderful opportunity to get your pup started on the right paw- more information can be found on the schedule page of our website at www.peacefulpack.com.

January is "National Train Your Dog Month"

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the largest educational and professional association for dog trainers in the world, has proclaimed January "National Train Your Dog Month." The goal of this campaign is to promote the importance of training and socialization to all dog owners.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, between six and eight million dogs and cats are turned in to animal shelters each year, and about four million are euthanized for lack of good homes. Many dogs are turned in to shelters for common behavior and training issues that could easily be solved with the assistance of a professional trainer or behavior counselor. In fact, it has been proven that training and socializing dogs when they're young reduces or eliminates behavior problems in the future.

Since January is the time for New Year’s resolutions, it is the perfect time for the dog-owners of Hancock County, and those who may be considering getting a dog, to learn about the importance and impact of training for their pet. The APDT web site has a wealth of helpful information for pet owners at www.apdt.com/petowners.

APDT and its over 5,000 member trainers are dedicated to helping to keep dogs in homes, in showing dog owners how to fully enjoy and have fun with their dogs, and to experience the joys of having a well-trained dog.

At Peaceful Pack Dog Training we believe that training your dog with current, humane and effective methods will help your dog remain in his or her “forever home”. Training provides dogs with the basc good manners we all want- from polite greetings, to walking nicely on leash to coming when called. Training builds your mutual bond, enhances partnership and enriches the relationship you share with your dog. Is there anything better?

Peaceful Pack Dog Training offers a variety of classes for your dog- from puppy headstart, basic manners to agility, Rally O, Tricks and even Canine Good Citizen Testing. Peaceful Pack Dog Training provides group and private lessons to people and their dogs. It is our business to help people and their dogs create lasting friendships with training solutions that REALLY work!

So, Simon did not go to Sargent...

Although Simon the dog did not accompany me for our Sunday morning hike up Acadia's second highest peak, I thought of him often and how much he would have loved this snowy adventure. I also was thinking of what I would offer as alternative exercise when I returned home.

Exercising our dogs in the colder winter months can be tiresome, especially when we would much rather rest buy the fire. So, on those days when all you want to do is take Fido out for a potty break why not opt for some indoor mental exercise.

Dogs require both physical and mental exercise. Mental exercise is important as it engages your dog's brain and asks them to really think about what you are asking of them. Dogs, like humans, get bored and when left to their own devices may choose activities that we may not admire- such as chewing on our favorite shoes or stealing food off the counters. Mental exercise provides your dog with something to do, which helps to keep them from engaging in those activities that we frown on.

So, here are a couple of tricks to engage your dog's brain, build focus and teamwork and provide much needed mental exercise. Have fun and enjoy this time with your dog!

Spin/Twirl

The trick: Your dog spins in either a left or right full circle.

Begin with your dog facing you with a treat in your right hand. Move your hand to your right in a large counter-clockwise circle, slowly luring your dog. Give your dog the treat at the end of the circle. Only lure 3 times with food in your hand, then try to just use your hand motion.
As your dog improves and readily moves in the circle, start adding the cue word “spin” as he starts to turn in the circle.
As your dog continues to improve start making the hand motion smaller.
Repeat the steps luring with your left hand (I will admit that I taught this to my dog using the same hand to lure him- worked fine) to have your dog turn in a clockwise direction. Use the cue word “twirl” for moving in this direction.


Roll Over

The trick: Your dog rolls sideways on his back, completing a full rotation.

Start with your dog in a down position, facing you. Kneel down in front of her, holding a treat to the side of her head opposite the direction you want her to roll.
Move the treat from her nose toward her shoulder blade. This should lure your dog to roll onto her side- click and treat when she gets on her side.
When you think she is ready, continue the motion with your hand as you move the treat from her shoulder blade toward her backbone. This should lure her to roll onto her back and over to her other side. Reward the moment she lands on her other side.
As she improves and readily completes the roll add the cue word “rollover” and start using more subtle hand motions.

A Winter Hike Up Sargent

This past Sunday a friend and I took advantage of the warmish weather and headed out in the morning to hike Sargent Mountain in Acadia National Park. The sky was overcast and there was a possibility of snow flurries- but the weather was due to clear as the day progressed. It was 26 degrees F when we left the house.

Sargent is the 2nd highest mountain in Acadia at 1,373 feet. Some reports suggest that the pond between Sargent and Penobscot Mountains may be the oldest lake in Maine at 17,000 years. We opted to follow the Maple Spring Trail and then follow the Grandgent Trail to the summit.

Simon did not accompany us on this adventure as I was not sure how much ice we would encounter and we had hopes of spotting snowy owls at the summit. No Snowys were to be seen, but the pure beauty of the summit was worth every step. I think Simon would have loved it!