While Shep was leading the sheep to the yard, the farmer, when Shep could not see him, took one of the sheep into the woods and tied it to a tree. When the gate to the farmyard was opened for the sheep to go in, Shep, as always, watched them carefully. As the last sheep entered, Shep immediately became agitated. He dashed out into the countryside and quickly located the sheep hidden in the woods.

The men were impressed and offered a large amount of money for the dog. “No” said the farmer smiling. “I’d never part with Shep. I just wanted you to see why.”

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One of the causes of collie flatulence (aka. dog poots, dog farts, breaking wind) could be that your pet collie has an allergic reaction to something which is causing or contributing to the gas attacks. If your collie’s flatulence is being brought on by an allergy it could well be due to something in his diet which is affecting his digestion.

If your collie is unable to digest his food properly then flatulence may be a byproduct of digestion problems. If this is the case a well balanced, healthy diet of good quality collie food can assist with your collie’s ability to digest his food which in turn can reduce his flatulence.

If you suspect a your collie may have a food allergy you may be able to quickly figure out what may be causing it by simply stopping to feed him what you suspect may be causing him problems.

A food allergy is not the only form of allergy from which a collie can suffer. In fact a collie can contract all sorts of allergies just like any human can. But how can you spot the warning signs that your collie may have an allergy to something.

Well, the symptoms vary but may include your collie persistently itching a certain patch of his coat, skin discoloration, coughing, being sick and similar. Be alert to any unusual behavior from your collie which may indicate any health issue, not just collie flatulence or an allergic reaction.

As always, if you suspect your collie may have any sort of health problem – an allergy certainly fits in to that category – be sure to consult with your vet. He will be able to offer professional advice and opinion to diagnose the possible allergy and prescribe treatment.

If the allergy is food related and is causing flatulence in your collie, be certain to mention this to your vet. He will be able to offer specific advice and treatment relating to your collie’s diet which could include cutting out the food suspected of causing the allergy or suggesting a restricted diet designed to weed out exactly what the cause is.

About the Author:
For further information on dog flatulence, and a FREE tip sheet on how to reduce dog flatulence please visit http://www.dogflatulence.com

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He had done his master proud and he had won.

It wasn’t that he understood exactly “what” he had done to make everyone so happy. It wasn’t as if he had fought off a raging bear, or saved a lost child like Lassie would have. He hadn’t run for help or chased a thief away from those he loved. He hadn’t done any of those things you see on TV. He hadn’t done anything but be himself, standing before a crowd of strangers, beside the one he loved. And, there it was: His master’s hand upon his shoulder; his master’s voice at his ear; his master’s smile upon him.

It wasn’t always like this. In the long-ago mists of Before, when he nudged his sable mother’s breast and scrapped with his brothers and sisters, he was blind to the life that lay ahead of him, blind to anything but himself. Listening into the night, his mother’s breath comforted him in a world of what he could feel, hear, or sense around them. But, from his earliest awakening, he was aware of a presence around him; an intelligence. From as far back as he could think, there seemed to be a mysterious something watching over them, providing an order to things; a mysterious someone who seemed to care.

Day after day it was like this. Day after day, as he dozed in the manner of the newborn, he felt himself touched by something greater than he, himself, seemed to be. It wasn’t that he knew himself. It wasn’t as if he knew he was any different from a rock or a tree or the flowers decorating his life. He only knew that his life was protected by someone that could change anything around him.

It was a power that could change the bedding on which he lay. It could bring him food. It could bring water. It could take away his mother, making him wonder if she would ever return. It could fill the air with music all night long and calm him with a reassuring voice.

From the moment he first saw it, he knew he was important to this powerful someone. He knew it from the moment he felt his master’s smile upon him.

As it is with all young colliesthere were ups and there were downs.

There was the time he escaped and followed a yellow butterfly. Yes, it was true he could hear his name being called. It sounded nice, hearing his master shout his name to the Heavens and fade into the distance.
But, a yellow butterfly! Now that was something he had to know about.

He had to know about all kinds of things in the Early Days. He had to know about powdery wings that fluttered and lifted a butterfly into the air. Did he have wings, too, he wondered? Where were his own wings? … Where, he suddenly wondered with a sinking feeling in his belly, was his master’s voice? Yellow butterflies melted into darkness and shivers as he learned the meaning of loneliness … and longing.

A light! The rustling, crunching sound of dry leaves and familiar footsteps! Was it possible? “There you are!” came the words that showed him all things are possible even when all is lost. “I’ve been looking for you,” came the caress of love as they turned for home and he felt his master’s smile upon him ….

There were other times, many of them, when he tried new things.

Some were praised and others were not. But through it all, through the good times and the bad, his spirit flourished and he grew. As his spirit grew, so did the body in which it dwelled. He grew taller, stronger, and wiser with his master never far away; feeding him, watering him, turning on the radio and filling the night with music ….

With his master’s help, he grew to understand that collars, leashes and manners were important things to know about. He grew accustomed to riding in a car, accustomed to the slippery floor of a veterinarian’s office and the bitter taste of medicine … He grew accustomed to many things, to please the one he loved.

There were others like his master. As time went by, he saw many of these gods, for that’s what they were to him. He heard them speak and did not understand their words, he saw their eyebrows raise and fall, he saw the gesture of their hands and felt their laughter. “Is that thing worth showing?” they asked.

“We’ll see,” came the answer from the one who mattered to him most.
“His mother is the best one I have and his sire is a winner.”

As spring burned into summer and summer leaves began to fall, they worked. They worked together, side by side, early in the morning. They roamed the pasture and fields, just the two of them, a master and his collie dog; a master and his collie dog sharing a secret. “You can do it,” he was told. “I know you can.”

After what seemed like endless mornings and endless nights, when it felt as if this would be his lot in life forever, something changed.

“We’ve done enough now, my friend. It’s time to show them.”

Show them? Show them what? What are we going to show them?

“We’re going to show them what you were born to be,” came the answer, as he felt his master’s smile upon him.

He was frightened that day. Was he good enough? Would he do the right thing or would he let his master down? What was ahead for him, he wondered, as he hopped into the car. Were they going to the vet’s office? Please say they weren’t going to the vet’s office for shots or medicine. But, they weren’t going to the vet. This time, they drove past the vet. He breathed a sigh of relief and fell asleep.

It was the sounds that woke him: sounds of barking, air compressors and excited chatter. The smell of sausage, French fries and dogs — hundreds of them; more dogs than he had ever seen in his life — lured him to full attention. Where are we, he wondered, pressing his nose against the window. What’s happening?

“Come on, fella,” his master said, opening the door and snapping on a leash after they came to a stop. “Good boy!”
  “Good” is what he always tried to be. Was it his imagination, or was his master standing extra tall today? Was his master brushing him with extra-careful attention? Were people looking at them in a different way than they used to?
  “Where’d you get that one?” somebody with a poodle asked.
  “Bred him myself,” came the answer.
  “Yeah? Who’s he out of?”
  “The best one I have and his sire’s a winner.”
  “Wait a minute -” came a voice of disbelief. “That can’t be the one I saw at your place. That pup was just about the scrawniest thing I ever saw!”

Nobody had ever told him he was scrawny. Nobody had ever told him he was any different from a flower or a cloud or a beautiful butterfly. Nobody had ever told him anything … except that he was important; except that he was loved.

The class was called, the entries filed into the ring … proudly, he stood as the judge ran her hands through his hair, over his back and down his legs. Down and back they trotted; around the ring they went. As still as a living statue he stood, though every fiber of his being wished to jump into his master’s arms.

One by one the entries went through their paces. One by one, they went to the end of the line. One by one, they waited the judge’s brave decision.

“Around again, please,” she directed … and, sure of herself, she
pointed: “One! … Two! … Three! … Four!” as the crowd clapped their approval.

No, it wasn’t as if he understood exactly “what” he had done to make everyone so happy. It wasn’t as if he had fought off a raging bear, or saved a lost child. He hadn’t run for help or chased away a thief. He hadn’t done any of those things. He hadn’t done anything but be himself, standing bravely before a crowd of strangers; standing beside the one he loved. There it was: His master’s hand upon his shoulder; his master’s voice at his ear; his master’s smile upon him.

——————————————————-
Figurines, paintings, and stories by author/artist RON HEVENER are collected by collie and animal lovers everywhere. Visitors to Hevener’s studio can see the collies, horses and wildlife that inspire novels like Fate of the Stallion, The Blue Ribbon and High Stakes.

“Your life is a movie, and you write the script,” he says. “On With The Show!”
www.RonHevener.com

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Taking your dog with you when you travel, whether you go by land, air or sea, can present real problems. I know – I do 100k miles a year, and most of them I get to take Beck with me. It’s worth the extra hassle, no question. But what tips can I offer you?

Air travel with your dog
It takes most dogs a long time to get used to traveling by plane. It took Beck about 6 flights before he stopped getting stressed about it. The big thing is to make sure your dog knows that it’s just a temporary thing – to a woofer, a flight can seem to last forever! Each airline has their own set of rules – you need to check these before the flight. No good turning up and finding you are denied access to the plane because you didn’t bone up on the regs!

Number one tip is – get a vet to sign a health certificate for your dog certifying that he has no diseases. Also make sure the dog is up to scratch on his anti-flea programme, and bring documentary evidence with you if you can. No airline wants a flea infested plane! Check his dog tags. Make sure YOUR contact details are there and easy to read. If you do get separated, this ensures you’ll be re-united fast. For the same reason, you carry a photo of your dog in your wallet.

Number 2 tip – no food for Fido for 6 hours before the flight, and no water for 2 hours before. We wouldn’t want any nasty ‘accidents’ now, would we???!!! Also put a note on his crate saying what his eating and drinking needs are – if the flight gets delayed, the ground staff will have a duty to live up to these.

Number 3 tip – buy a crate big enough for your dog to stand up in. Only buy custom made crates from your pet shop. Buy one that is designed for the rigors of air transport. NEVER try to ‘get by’ with any old crate. Trust me – your dog will thank you for the gift! Also remember that the airline you are using may have specific requirements for cases that go in the hold. Check the livestock regs.

Car Travel with your Dog
Tip 1 – Just like air travel, make sure your dog has all his ID with him, and you carry a photo. Even in the car, keep him leashed. Dogs have been known to get excited and leap out the window. Bad things happen on the freeway!

Tip 2 – Always book your hotel or motel ahead of time. If they don’t allow dogs, you will be turned away whether or not you have a booking. I learned this the hard way with Beck – sleeping in a car ain’t fun!

Tip 3 – acclimatization. Get your dog used to trips – start out with short trips, and gradually extend them. Let him experience the aircon, and maybe even stick his head out the window (dogs love this – make sure he’s on the leash first, and that there is no contra traffic!)

These tips have enabled Beck and I to enjoy many great trips together, and believe me, it’s nice to have some company on those long empty miles! If you like Beck, please vote for him on the petmillions.com contest at Vote for Beck in the petmillions contest!

About The Author

Terry Hanson is in sales, but doesn’t like to be separated from his pooch Beck, who is entered in the http://www.petmillions.com/ pet contest.

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Potty training your collie is one of the most frustrating things you will have to do. Take heart in the fact that once your collie gets the potty training, you won’t have to teach it again. In many ways, potty training can be rewarding too. Not only can you help your pets to stop making messes on your favorite carpeting, but you can develop a strong relationship of trust and bonding with them to.

Here are 5 steps to make potty training successful in your home.

1.Use a crate. Crate training is very effective. A crate is used to allow your pet to have a place to sleep and teaches them to control their bladder. They won’t soil their bedding. Then, when it is time to get up and go out, you can easily do just that. The dog learns from the start that you control potty time.

2.After meals, give your pet 15 minutes and then take them out. Food is a trigger not only to eat but also to go. When it comes to potty training success, allow your pet to get outside when the urge is approaching. What’s more is that you shouldn’t leave food out. Put it down for them at the designated time and allow them to eat for 15 minutes to 30 minutes and remove the bowl. Soon he will learn and that again allows you to control potty time.

3.Pick a potty spot. Select the area of your yard that you want your pet to go in. Take them to that spot every time to go. This will help your puppy to learn that when he needs to go, he needs to come here. What’s more is that the smell of urine is yet another trigger to your pet to go.

4.Don’t reward them with food. Remember that rewards need to be emotional, and therefore it is more successful to give them a reward of a patting and rub down then it is for you to hand them a treat. Also, treats are food which triggers potty time again!

5.Reward success, but don’t punish accidents. Although you will be angry and you will want to punish your pet, your pet does not see this as a bad thing. He sees it as attention. He also can become aggressive as well as not like to be around you. Dogs don’t relate their potty mistake to the punishment you are given them. Instead, ignore them when they do something wrong. Don’t speak to them or interact with them.

Caring for your dog is hard work, but when it comes to potty training, success can and will happen when you install these five tips into your program.

About The Author

Michael Lewis is an editor at http://www.clearlypets.com where you can find more articles about dog training.

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Many times after a collie owner completes a group training class or private training lessons, the collie’s behavior is wonderful. However, after a few months the collie is back to pulling wildly on leash and does not respond to basic commands. Why the transformation? The hard reality is that for training to stick you need to continually practice. Collies do not stop learning after a basic puppy training course is completed.

The best way to be sure you are practicing your collie’s training is to incorporate obedience skills into your daily routine. A common mistake owners make is to discontinue reinforcing new behaviors too quickly. Remember, behaviors that are not rewarded will eventually disappear!

Simple strategies to maintain your collie’s training:

1. Keep clear containers filled with treats in several rooms of your home. You do not need to give your collie a treat every single time he performs a behavior you like, but you do need to reward him intermittently. You will be more likely to reward desired behavior if the treats are readily available. Additionally, you will remember to refill the containers if you can visually see when you are running low.

2. Ask your collie to sit or lie down at doorways. If your collie does not comply, simply close the door and ignore him for half a minute before trying again. Do the same thing at every entrance, or even better, do this with interior doors too.

3. Identify routines that enable you to practice training skills every day. For instance, tell your collie to hold a down stay while you cook dinner.

4. Incorporate training with play. Ask for a sit or a down before tossing a ball, giving your collie a new toy or giving your collie access to anything he enjoys.

5. Continue to bring treats on walks so you can periodically reward your collie when the leash is loose. Remember never to continue to walk in the direction of a tight leash.

6. Take up a collie sport such as agility or enroll in obedience lessons with a professional collie trainer to ensure that you do not allow your collie?s training to fall apart over time.

7. Keep your collie’s life fun and interesting by including him in your activities. Plan vacations to collie friendly locations, take your collie with you on errands and include activities for your collie in your weekend plans. Practicing training skills in different settings is essential.

8. Notice changes in your collie?s behavior and do not wait to get help if you see a problem. Talk with your veterinarian to make sure your collie does not have an underlying medical condition. Getting professional help from a qualified collie behavior consultant can prevent small problems from turning into big ones.

Maintaining your collie’s training skills is much like getting into great physical shape – you cannot just work out for two months and then hope for the best. You need to incorporate permanent changes into your lifestyle. Fortunately, if you do make a concerted effort, you can not only maintain your collie’s skills long after your last training class, but actually improve upon them!

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Author:

Veronica Sanchez has a Masters in Education, A Bachelors in Psychology, certified in Animal Behavior Consulting and is endorsed by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. She is a dog trainer who trains puppies, dogs and solving behavior problems. Visit www.cooperativepaws.com

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