When I start a new dog on basic commands I am laying the groundwork for everything it will learn in the future. It is a valuable, if not exciting, part of a process.
Basic commands in obedience are similar to the compulsories in figure skating; if you're not good in your compulsory or foundation skills, you'll never excel in freestyle.
And because I train my own dogs for competition as well as want them to be well-behaved pets, I set goals for each lesson. I teach in short, rewarding sessions, avoid patterned or monotonous repetition and because I expect it in return, give the dog my undivided attention. I don't ask for perfection or precision in the beginning, just a good effort on the dog's part.
What do pit bulls and Justin Bieber have in common? A shared propensity for making ugly headlines. And whether you're a pittie-lover or "Belieber," nowadays what people associate most with the object of your affection is their bad...
Dog doors. For people with long or erratic work schedules, they are heaven-sent; for others, they are a constant source of anger and frustration. That usually happens when dogs and their owners have different viewpoints on the dog door's...
Recently, as I chastised Frank for the zillionth time about eating the mulberries that fall into my yard every year, it brought to mind my first Newfoundland, who likewise would suck up and swallow anything in his path. Or, as I call them:...
It's only the beginning of May and we have already experienced several 90 degree-plus days. So before you take your "best friend" along while you run errands and leave him locked inside your car for even just a few minutes, read this...
Last week's column was a tribute to a special dog, two very special people and that roller coaster of emotions we all ride as dog lovers. But Xeoe was special not only for being a beloved dog, but also because she was a rescue who...
A few weeks ago some very dear friends of mine said their last goodbyes to their beloved dog. After the news came, I hung up the phone with that sick ache in my chest that any of us who has ever loved and lost a pet knows only too well. I...
I have large dogs, but I love little dogs and one will share my home in the future. He just hasn't found me yet. That makes it all the more disturbing that lately I've been seeing an inordinately large number of pint-sized canines with...
While attending the recent Kern County Kennel Club shows, I picked up a copy of the March 22 Dog News. This weekly magazine, which advertises the recent wins of show dogs, has a target audience of exhibitors and dog show judges, albeit...
The word socialize, as it applies to humans, may conjure a picture in your mind of people gathered at a party or picnic, eating, drinking or catching up on the latest family news. That's right on target since Webster's dictionary...
I frequently get calls for what many owners refer to as their "Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde" dog, that perfectly well-mannered pet who can be observed walking nicely at its owner's side until that moment it spots another dog and transforms into a...
Lots of mail has arrived in response to last week's column on the value of dog training. Here's what people are asking. One couple writes, "We have a 10-year-old toy poodle who anxiously barks when visitors come to the door. I want her to...
As a dog trainer, I believe that every puppy should be given a minimum of basic obedience training, and taught to respond to commands like sit, down, stay and walk politely on a leash. They should be housebroken, taught to bark only at...
Silva family files federal claim (11)
The family of David Silva announced Friday it has filed its long-expected federal civil rights claims against the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, six sheriff’s deputies and a sergeant, two California Highway Patrol officers, the county and the state alleging excessive police force killed him.
CSUB awards Haggard, Owens top honors (9)
He’s Dr. Merle Haggard now. The bad-boy hero of the rebel strain of music that put Bakersfield on America’s cultural map half a century ago did something Friday he hadn’t done since he was 9: He sat still in school.
Key green light for California high-speed rail (5)
SACRAMENTO -- The California High-Speed Rail Authority won approval Thursday from a federal railroad oversight board to start construction this summer on the first leg of what would be the nation's first bullet train.
Sheriff's office: Man who died in custody had drugs in throat (4)
A 25-year-old man who died in Kern County sheriff’s custody Monday night had two plastic baggies with illegal drugs stuffed in his throat, the department reported.
Local attorney arrested in shooting of his wife
A Bakersfield attorney’s rocky marriage, marked by a divorce suit and a history of loud, public arguments, reportedly erupted into violence early Wednesday morning when police say he turned a gun on his wife and fired.
Coroner's office identifies woman found dead in garage
A woman found dead in a southeast Bakersfield garage Tuesday was identified Friday as 18-year-old Mia Ramirez of Bakersfield.
Sheriff's Office makes arrest in homicide
After a search that lasted much of Tuesday afternoon, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man on suspicion of homicide in connection with the discovery of a woman’s body in a southeast Bakersfield garage.
Attorney pleads not guilty to attempted murder of wife
Bakersfield DUI attorney Mark Joseph Madrigali pleaded not guilty to three felonies in Kern County Superior Court Friday in connection with the shooting of his wife.