Konfident Kanines eNewsletter - April 2008
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NEW In This Issue!

Training Leashes
The Leonberger
Words of Wisdom
Dog Aggressive Dog
Did You Know?

Issue #0007 - Published by L. Neilson

The contents of this newsletter will be limited to dog training/education issues as viewed from my perspective. I am also dedicating this newsletter to the thousands of wonderful people and dogs I have been so fortunate to have met and worked with over the past three decades. It is you, who make this all so worthwhile.


Konfident Kanines Inc. now offers genuine leather, Calgary made training leashes!
Available in a variety of widths and colors. Standard 72" lengths.

Competitively priced at $23.00 & $25.00.


The Leonberger is one of the oldest breeds originating in Germany. It is a large, long haired breed that was always meant to be foremost a companion and watch dog. Leonbergers can come in different colors and build, but all should have black masks and have a strong body that is still elegant and neither massive nor plump. The Leonberger breed is not for everybody. Leonbergers are large and powerful dogs that need training from early puppyhood so an owner can live with the full grown dog of over 100 pounds without issues. While meant to be a perfect family dog, careful selection of breeding dogs (puppy buyers need to be very diligent in choosing a breeder) and early socialization is vital in order to achieve the perfect companion the Leonbergers should be.

The Leonberger is classified by the FCI, in the molossians type mountain dog, not a typical working breed that was bred to serve one purpose. Today's Leonberger is best described as a family companion who is willing to take over the task of companionship and almost anything else their pack leaders can come up with. While not a good choice for a running or bicycling companion, Leonbergers do enjoy hiking, swimming, and gatherings of family and friends. Leonbergers can be trained to do almost anything as long as you have patience and a sense of humor! Leonbergers have captured working titles in obedience, water rescue, agility, carting and herding, and seem to have a natural ability as therapy dogs. They are happiest as a member of a family that includes the Leonberger in daily activities.

These friendly giants are known for their love of children. They are gentle, loving and have a guard quality (size and deep bark deter most intruders). Leo's have oodles of patience and will walk away before showing any aggression. They deal well with noise and busy households.

With their size, training is a must, but because they love to please this is not a difficult job. Leo's are quite agile and are very careful of their surroundings "Your Home". It is important to socialize them when they are young so they do not become shy in adulthood.

For additional information go to www.leonbergersofpopespride.com

How many of you have had your otherwise enjoyable walk with your companion dog rudely interrupted by another persons' dog while you were out for a leisurely walk. I am sure most of you have at one point or another. What annoys me most about this personally, is that often the misinformed person hanging on to the leash of the psycho dog, will often tell you that Fifi "only wants' to play" even though he is on his back legs with teeth barred, snarling with great intensity. How ridiculous is this? Fifi is a menace and a nuisance, plain and simple! Fifi needs to be educated; however before we can expect to educate Fifi first we must educate the owner!

The first step we must take if we are in possession of a dog like Fifi is to stop making excuses for his behavior! In the next few paragraphs I will attempt to identify but a few of the infinite number of drivers that may be leading to this type of unsavory behavior, and provide some tips to successfully address this behavior.

Unfortunately, owners of dogs that like to fight are often under the influence of denial, refusing to appreciate fully the danger posed by their dogs' appetite for fighting. Such owners may try to rationalize their dogs' behavior, or to find excuses for it. Often these owners will treat their dogs' aggressive tendencies as normal canine behavior and are reluctant to seek professional help to control it. Some may even get a vicarious thrill from their dogs' aggressive tendencies. Often these same owners are strikingly irresponsible with regard to their lackadaisical effort they put into controlling their aggressive dogs while in public.

Many otherwise responsible owners are simply uneducated in regard to canine behavior, and do not know where to turn for help. Only the very experienced trainer is qualified to deal with the aforementioned behaviors. These aggressive like behaviors are almost always correctable with intense basic training by a qualified canine expert. The initial goals are to introduce response blocking and cognitive attack interruptive measures. There are many approaches to aggressive canine behaviors (too many to list here), however my experience has taught me that left unaddressed, this annoying and often dangerous problem will only continue to escalate. No amount of negotiating or bribery will rid your dog of this dangerous behavior. If you are one who has a genuine desire to correct this type of behavior in your dog, do your homework carefully in selecting a trainer who has a proven track record of effectively dealing with this type of behavior. More often that not, in order to rehabilitate the dog, most of the education process will involve educating the owner or guardian of the dog. If you are one who cannot gain your dogs respect in a fair and humane way, then perhaps you have the wrong dog. Articles contained in this newsletter, as all information shared by Konfident Kanines, is never intended to be derogatory in any way; however it is my intention to adhere to the truth as I see it. There is no shame in admitting you may have acquired a dog that is simply too much for you to handle. This same dog may do very well in the hands of the right handler. Expect nothing more of yourself than honesty. To simply endure a dog in your home is never enjoyable for you or your dog.

L. Neilson Trainer/Behaviorist KKI

Words Of Wisdom

Experience is a comb which nature gives to men when they are bald.

Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think.

The man who does not learn is dark, like one walking in the night.


Did You Know?

Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand.

More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a phone call.

A frightened cat can run at speeds up to 31 miles per hour.

The Basenji, an African wolf dog, is the only dog that cannot bark.

A dog sees objects first by their movement, second by their brightness, and third by their shape.