Podcasts about schipperke

We are wrapping up our series on ethical rescue and breeding with ethical breeder Lorelei.  She tells us about her breeding program and rescue efforts alike.  Lorelei explains how much time and effort she put into selecting purchasers, selecting breeding pairs, and building a strong foundation for her puppies through things like puppy culture. She also shares everything from why she started breeding dogs to some of her favorites, and even some of the most difficult parts of dog breeding.  We discussed some of the ways ethical breeders work together to keep dogs out of the shelter, while preserving the breeds they love.  Additionally, we talk through the good and bad parts of phrases like "adopt, don't shop" and how the dogs in our communities at large, can benefit when we have ethical breeders available because of the immeasurable knowledge they have, and are willing to share. Lorelei has been involved in the sport of purebred dogs since she was a teen in the 70s. Her parents had Russian Wolfhounds. In the 80s, she worked on a cutting horse ranch and had an Australian Shepherd and Schipperke. They used the dogs and horses to bring cattle in from the pastures.  In the late 90s, she got involved in Miniature Bull Terriers, and then Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and then eventually standard Bull Terriers.  Lorelei has always valued her partner mentor breeders because there is so much to learn from others.   In the last 10 years she has breed 8 litters and has 8 home bred champions and a number of Staffords competing successfully in sports.   She operates under the affix Ciera Staffords and Bull Terriers. Her main concern in breeding is temperament and health from a pet owner's perspective. She is a member in good standing of the SBTCA, BTCA, and MBTCA. She is the current Editor of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club magazine and Annual book. Lorelei also helps the Bull Terrier club with articles for the magazines.  Recently, she has been approved to judge Staffordshire Bull Terriers at AKC events. She is looking forward to adding Bull Terriers in the future. Lorelei did not get involved in rescue until 2010.  Prior to that, she had only been a foster fail. In this time, she has fostered countless puppies and dogs over the last 13 years. She focuses primarily on puppies but been willing to help wherever needed. She has gone to shelters to identify dogs, evaluate temperaments, and help transport.  She has also photographed and videoed dogs for marketing purposes.  She has gone to many an adoption event.  Currently she works with Bull Terrier Rescue, and I usually have a Bull Terrier foster at my house.   Lorelei loves to write and has written articles on fostering successfully, choosing homes, and contracts, and many more dog that are dog related. She also enjoys graphic, publication and web design and photography.       You can find Lorelei at her website: https://www.cierastaffords.com/ Don't forget to review, subscribe, and share! Follow us on IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sometimestheressideeye | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Links: Online Course ⁠How To Find an Ethical Dog Breeder | Puppy K All Day (puppy-kallday.com)

Welcome to the Instant Trivia podcast episode 820, where we ask the best trivia on the Internet. Round 1. Category: early america 1: Carpenters in this colony's city of Savannah went on strike in 1746 for better working conditions. Georgia. 2: This colony of James Oglethorpe banned the importation of rum and brandy, and forbade slavery. Georgia. 3: In 1723 in Boston, construction began on this church, one of the first Georgian churches in the Northeast. the Old North Church. 4: The second of these legislatures drew up the Articles of Confederation. the Continental Congress. 5: Hot on the trail of 7 magnificent cities, Estevanico called the first one this, entered it and was killed there. Cibola. Round 2. Category: animal common bonds 1: Angora,Flemish giant,cottontail. rabbits. 2: Schipperke,borzoi,bichon frise. Dogs. 3: Thresher,nurse,whale. Sharks. 4: Bufflehead,Eider,Teal. ducks. 5: Black,brown,spectacled. bears. Round 3. Category: jewel 1: The Pinctada maxima, or silver-lip oyster, is the largest oyster capable of cultivating one of these. pearl. 2: The Aztecs showed their rank in society by wearing this bluish-green December birthstone. turquoise. 3: A variety of smoky quartz, cairngorm is a gemstone that comes from the Cairngorm Mountains of this country. Scotland. 4: The bulk of the world's peridot is mined from Peridot Mesa on the Apache Indian Reservation in this state. Arizona. 5: The American ruby and the Cape ruby are not rubies, but red varieties of this mineral. garnet. Round 4. Category: warner bros. cartoons 1: "Carnivorous vulgaris" is one of this Roadrunner-chasing rascal's "scientific" names. the (Wile E.) Coyote. 2: This "scent-imental" skunk was named after Charles Boyer's character in the film "Algiers". Pepé Le Pew. 3: This "fastest mouse" made his debut in 1953's "Cat-Tails for Two". Speedy Gonzales. 4: This "roughest, toughest he-man hombre that's ever crossed the Rio Grande" could never beat Bugs Bunny. Yosemite Sam. 5: This animal is the symbol of the new Warner Bros. network. Michigan J. Frog. Round 5. Category: "down" the hatch 1: This highly undesirable event can occur when a nuclear reactor's core overheats. Meltdown. 2: If you're hunting by scent, it's where you want to be, relative to your prey. Downwind. 3: The New England Primer popularized the bedtime prayer beginning with this line. "Now I lay me down to sleep...". 4: It describes the "trampled" masses. Downtrodden. 5: In 1902 Battling Nelson inflicted 42 of these on Christy Williams, who finally stayed on the canvas. Knockdowns. Thanks for listening! Come back tomorrow for more exciting trivia! Special thanks to https://blog.feedspot.com/trivia_podcasts/

Let's meet the "Little Boatman," the "Black Devil," the "Horse Inspirerer" -----the Schipperke, with Paul Csomo of Avast!. You can visit the Avast website or download it wherever you listen to podcasts! Resources for today's episode: https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/he-inspired-horses/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schipperkehttps://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/schipperke/https://www.schipperkeclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Revised2018_Schip_Club_leaflet.pdfhttps://www.schipperkeclub-usa.org/about-schips/breed-history/Support the showIntro/Outtro music: Tiptoe Out The Back - Dan LiebowiczInterstitial Music: MK2Additional music: Freesound.com, Pixabay.org and HappySoulMusic.comTwitter: @BewilderedPodWebsite: BewilderBeastsPod.comSupport the Show and get stuff! Patreon.com/BewilderbeastsPodYour host, Melissa McCue-McGrath is an author, dog trainer, and behavior consultant in Southern Maine. She'll talk about dogs all day if you let her. You've been warned :)

The library: introducing children to a world of knowledge about animals, pets and nature. Animal of the Week: the Schipperke

On Today's Trivia Podcast Episode Time for 20 new questions on this trivia podcast! What are the five ship pieces in the game of Battleship? Which artist painted "The Water-Lily Pond" in 1899? What three nations have only won a single all time Winter Olympics medal? What Paramount + show features actors Jonathan Frakes, Jeri Ryan, and Marina Sirtis reviving roles that they are well known for? "The Man Who Died Twice" by Richard Osman is the sequel to which successful debut novel? What kind of animal is a Schipperke? Who hosted the Tonight Show on NBC from 1992 to 2009? What branch of mathematics are the names Sierpinski, Lindenmayer, and Mandelbrot connected to? Jason Todd who became so unpopular with fans that he was killed off succeeded Dick Grayson as what Superhero sidekick? What is a Corgette known as in the U.S.? If you liked this episode, check out our last trivia episode! Music Hot Swing, Fast Talkin, Bass Walker, Dances and Dames by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Don't forget to follow us on social media for more trivia: Patreon - patreon.com/quizbang - Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Check out our fun extras for patrons and help us keep this podcast going. We appreciate any level of support! Website - quizbangpod.com Check out our website, it will have all the links for social media that you need and while you're there, why not go to the contact us page and submit a question! Facebook - @quizbangpodcast - we post episode links and silly lego pictures to go with our trivia questions. Enjoy the silly picture and give your best guess, we will respond to your answer the next day to give everyone a chance to guess. Instagram - Quiz Quiz Bang Bang (quizquizbangbang), we post silly lego pictures to go with our trivia questions. Enjoy the silly picture and give your best guess, we will respond to your answer the next day to give everyone a chance to guess. Twitter - @quizbangpod We want to start a fun community for our fellow trivia lovers. If you hear/think of a fun or challenging trivia question, post it to our twitter feed and we will repost it so everyone can take a stab it. Come for the trivia - stay for the trivia. Ko-Fi - ko-fi.com/quizbangpod - Keep that sweet caffeine running through our body with a Ko-Fi, power us through a late night of fact checking and editing!

Quizmasters Lee and Marc meet with Elyse and Max for a trivia quiz on topics including Dogs, Landmarks, Entertainers, Poker, Reptiles, Radio Shows, Chemistry and more! Round One DOGS - While much emphasis has popularly been placed on Balto, what other sled dog led the longest and most dangerous leg of the 1925 diphtheria serum run to Nome, AK (260 miles to Balto's 55)? LAW ENFORCEMENT - The Roscher System and the Henry Classification system are used by the police for what? LANDMARKS - Originally built in 1889, the 460 ft long Capilano Suspension Bridge is a tourist attraction in what international city? LARGE OBJECTS - The Vredefort what is the largest verified of its kind? ENTERTAINERS - Which influential female stand-up comedian and early cosmetic surgery advocate had a fictitious husband named Fang she mentioned frequently during her sets? NAMES OF THINGS - Sierra Sam, THOR and WIAman are all different versions of what? Round Two POKER - How many cards are dealt to each player in Omaha Hold 'Em Poker? REPTILES - What is the common name for the subfamily of venomous reptiles, which includes Moccasins, Lanceheads and Rattlesnakes, and is named in part for the infrared-detecting organs located deep between their eyes? INFAMOUS PEOPLE - Paul Tibbets once said "I'm proud that I was able to start with nothing, plan it, and have it work as perfectly as it did. I sleep clearly every night." What is Mr. Tibbets so proud of? FAMOUS ROLES - What actor played the role of Linkovich Chomofsky in three files, from 1992-1994? NOBEL PRIZE - What German physicist is regarded as the founder of Quantum Theory, for which he won the nobel prize for Physics in 1918? NU-METAL - The video for which 1998 song by KoRn features Eminem's first appearance in a major music video and was requested on MTV's Total Request Live so much that it became the first music video to be officially retired from the show? Rate My Question RADIO SHOWS - Broadcasting from station WSM in the southern U.S. since 1925, what is the longest-running American radio program? Final Questions DOGS - The following dog breeds come from which country; Bouvier de Flanders, Lacanois, and Schipperke? EXTREME SPORTS - AFF, CRW, Formation, Swooping, and Canopy Flying, are all types of what extreme sport? GURUS - Which Indian guru is known for his intense gaze and once fled the U.S. after his group of followers contaminated then salad bars in Oregon in an attempt to influence a local election by incapacitating as many voters as possible (751)? CHEMISTRY - The chemical element Molybdenum gets its name from the Greek word for what other metal element (with an atomic number of 82)? Upcoming LIVE Know Nonsense Trivia Challenges April 6th, 2022 - Know Nonsense Challenge - Point Ybel Brewing Co. - 7:30 pm EDT April 7th, 2022 - Know Nonsense Trivia Challenge - OOPS! All Podcast Questions - Ollies Pub Records and Beer - 7:30 pm EDT You can find out more information about that and all of our live events online at KnowNonsenseTrivia.com All of the Know Nonsense events are free to play and you can win prizes after every round. Thank you Thanks to our supporters on Patreon. Thank you, Quizdaddies – Gil, Brandon, Adam V., Tommy (The Electric Mud) and Tim (Pat's Garden Service) Thank you, Team Captains – Matthew, Captain Nick, Grant, Mo, Jenny, Rick G., Skyler, Dylan, Lydia, Gil, David, Aaron, Kristen & Fletcher Thank you, Proverbial Lightkeepers – Trent, Justin M., Robb, Rikki, Jon Lewis, Moo, Tim, Nabeel, Patrick, Jon, Adam B., Ryan, Mollie, Lisa, Alex, Spencer, Kaitlynn, Manu, Luc, Hank, Justin P., Cooper, Elyse, Sarah, Karly, Kristopher, Josh, Lucas Thank you, Rumplesnailtskins – Issa, Nathan, Sai, Cara, Megan, Christopher, Brandon, Sarah, FoxenV, Laurel, A-A-Ron, Loren, Hbomb, Alex, Doug, Kevin and Sara, Tiffany, Allison, Paige, We Do Stuff, Kenya, Jeff, Eric, Steven, Efren, Mike J., Mike C., Mike. K If you'd like to support the podcast and gain access to bonus content, please visit http://theknowno.com and click "Support." Special Guests: Elyse and Max.

Using all holistic techniques and modalities, cancer can go into remission. Using diet, herbs and acupuncture, we can help the little fifteen year-old dog, Raven, better live with her cancer. Transitional Cell Carcinoma (#TCC) is very common in Scottish terriers and many other breeds and has few effective conventional treatment options but luckily for us, in 2005, a study showed a 50% reduction in the occurrence of TCC in Scotties because, like many urogenital and bladder problems, the herbs and diet have a direct responds. In this podcast (and the corresponding YouTube video-please Subscribe!) I describe 10 steps to prevent cancer. These are also 10 steps I use to treat the condition holistically in cases where conventional medicine is too expensive, too dangerous or not viable. Please comment and share and follow to pay it forward! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/donna943/support

In this podcast episode, we explore canine anatomy to reveal the deliberate function behind the familiar forms of breeds you know. And a few breeds that are not-so-familiar. The way a dog is built and how it moves says a lot about its original purpose and place of origin. Whether it is to climb steep cliffs to catch birds or having a short stature to keep a nose to the ground, every aspect of a dog's anatomy lends to its unique abilities. The AKC recognizes 197 distinct breeds today, and each has been purposefully bred to perfect a wide range of canine skills and talents. Bonafide Bits Dachshund translates to “badger hound.” The breed has been around since the 1400s. Testimony of a Bloodhound's findings is acceptable in some courts. The Norwegian Lundehund has a three-jointed toe, much like a human thumb. Featured Breeds Basset Hound The Basset Hound stands no higher than 14 inches at the shoulder but, with his remarkably heavy bone, powerful little legs, and massive paws, he possesses big-dog strength and stamina. Bassets are famous for a large, domed head that features extremely long, velvety ears, mournful eyes, and a wrinkled brow, which give the breed the look of a sad clown. Built more for endurance than speed, the Basset moves in a deliberate but effortless manner. The breed's scenting ability is uncanny; it's said that among dogs only the Bloodhound's nose is more accurate. Mild and agreeable at home, the Basset is stubborn on the trail and barks in a loud, ringing voice. Although they may not be wildly demonstrative in their affections, they are steadfastly loyal. Discover more about Basset Hounds at AKC's Basset Hound Breed Biography. Chihuahua The Chihuahua is a balanced, graceful dog of terrier-like demeanor, weighing no more than 6 pounds. The rounded “apple” head is a breed hallmark. The erect ears and full, luminous eyes are acutely expressive. Coats come in many colors and patterns and can be long or short. The varieties are identical except for the coat. Chihuahuas possess loyalty, charm, and a big-dog attitude. Even tiny dogs require training, and without it, this clever scamp will rule your household like a little Napoleon. Compact and confident, Chihuahuas are ideal city pets. They are too small for roughhousing with kids, and special care must be taken in cold weather, but Chihuahuas are adaptable as long as they get lots of quality time in their preferred lap. Discover more about Chihuahuas at AKC's Chihuahua Breed Biography. Poodle Forget those old stereotypes of Poodles as sissy dogs. Poodles are eager, athletic, and wickedly smart “real dogs” of remarkable versatility. The Standard, with his greater size and strength, is the best all-around athlete of the family, but all Poodles can be trained with great success. Discover more about Poodles at AKC's Poodle (Standard) Breed Biography. Irish Setter The Irish Setter is a high-spirited gundog known for grace, swiftness, and a flashy red coat. They are famously good family dogs: sweet-tempered companions for the folks, and rollicking playmates and tennis-ball fetchers for the children. Discover more about Irish Setters at AKC's Irish Setter Breed Biography. Gordon Setter The Gordon Setter, the black avenger of the Highlands, is a substantial bird dog named for a Scottish aristocrat. Athletic and outdoorsy, Gordons are bold, confident, and resolute in the field, and sweetly affectionate by the fireside. Discover more about Gordon Setters at AKC's Gordon Setter Breed Biography. Golden Retriever The Golden Retriever, an exuberant Scottish gundog of great beauty, stands among America's most popular dog breeds. They are serious workers at hunting and fieldwork, as guides for the blind, and in search-and-rescue, enjoy obedience and other competitive events, and have an endearing love of life when not at work. Discover more about Golden Retrievers at AKC's Golden Retriever Breed Biography. Labrador Retriever The sweet-faced, lovable Labrador Retriever is America's most popular dog breed. Labs are friendly, outgoing, and high-spirited companions who have more than enough affection to go around for a family looking for a medium-to-large dog. Labs are famously friendly. They are companionable housemates who bond with the whole family, and they socialize well with neighbor dogs and humans alike. But don't mistake his easy-going personality for low energy: The Lab is an enthusiastic athlete that requires lots of exercise like swimming and marathon games of fetch, to keep physically and mentally fit. Discover more about Labrador Retrievers at AKC's Labrador Retriever Breed Biography. Dachshund The word “icon” is terribly overworked, but the Dachshund with his unmistakable long-backed body, little legs, and big personality is truly an icon of purebred dogdom. Dachshunds can be standard-sized (usually 16 to 32 pounds) or miniature (11 pounds or under), and come in one of three coat types: smooth, wirehaired, or longhaired. Dachshunds aren't built for distance running, leaping, or strenuous swimming, but otherwise, these tireless hounds are game for anything. Smart and vigilant, with a big-dog bark, they make fine watchdogs. Bred to be an independent hunter of dangerous prey, they can be brave to the point of rashness, and a bit stubborn, but their endearing nature and unique look have won millions of hearts the world over. Discover more about Dachshunds at AKC's Dachshund Breed Biography. Norwegian Lundehund At a glance, Lundehunds seem a typical northern breed: A spitz-type with triangular ears, curving tail, and a dense double coat. But a closer look reveals several unique traits. They have feet with at least six fully functioning toes and extra paw pads, an 'elastic neck' that can crane back so the head touches the spine, ears that fold shut, and flexible shoulders that allow forelegs to extend to the side, perpendicular to the body. This last anomaly produces the breed's distinctive “rotary” gait. Discover more about Norwegian Lundehunds at AKC's Norwegian Lundehund Breed Biography. Schipperke Standing no higher than 13 inches, Schipperkes are small dogs built for hard work. Schips were created as ratters and watchdogs. Their powerful jaws, necks, and forequarters coupled with a stealthy, catlike hunting style make them ideal rat-catching machines. The black coat is profuse around the neck, shoulders, and legs, giving the breed a silhouette that accentuates a thick, substantial body. The foxy face completes the unique look of a unique breed. If you can't tell a Schipperke from an ordinary dog, you simply haven't been paying attention. Discover more about Schipperkes at AKC's Schipperke Breed Biography. Bloodhound Bloodhounds are large, substantial dogs standing 23 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 110 pounds. Their most famous features are a long, wrinkled face with loose skin; huge, drooping ears; and warm, deep-set eyes that complete an expression of solemn dignity. Coat colors can be black and tan, liver and tan, or red. Powerful legs allow Bloodhounds to scent over miles of punishing terrain. As pack dogs, Bloodhounds enjoy company, including other dogs and kids. They are easygoing, but their nose can sometimes lead them into trouble. A strong leash and long walks in places where they can enjoy sniffing around are recommended. Bloodhounds are droolers, and obedience training these sensitive sleuths can be a challenge. Discover more about Bloodhounds at AKC's Bloodhound Breed Biography. For more information about a specific breed visit the breed's parent club or AKC.org. Shareables Fiery terriers can be trained and socialized to be good neighbors and trustworthy pets. The wrinkles, long ears, and dewlap—which hangs from the neck—are designed to gather scents towards a Bloodhound's incredible nose.  Fun fact: Humans have about five million scent receptors in their noses. There are dog breeds that have 20 times that.

Beth and Jen go back to Belgian (don't worry...it's just for this week) to meet the adorable Schipperke, have a bit of an issue pronouncing its name, and pick perhaps the worst sidebar topic yet—dealing with fleas and ticks. Feel free to fast forward.Sources:https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/schipperke/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schipperkehttps://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/schipperke#/slide/1https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/schipperke-not-always-blackhttps://www.rocadog.com/dog-blog-articles/schipperke-top-10-interesting-factshttps://www.terrificpets.com/articles/102126065.asphttps://be.chewy.com/differences-flea-tick-bites/ https://apnews.com/sponsored/?prx_t=z40EAq48yAniAPA&prx_ro=s&ntv_fpc=671dc30c-79c6-4e77-b41f-040c722e9642&ntv_fr#:~:text=When%20fleas%20bite%2C%20substances%20in,make%20the%20problem%20even%20worse. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/akcs-chief-veterinary-officer-on-tick-borne-disease-symptoms-prevention/https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/parasites/7-types-of-flea-tick-control-for-dogs#slide-1https://www.akcpetinsurance.com/blog/natural-flea-and-tick-preventionhttp://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/schipperke https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/schipperke#/slide/1 https://barkercise.com/schipperke-dog-exercise/Instagram:@bear_n_arlo@schippiesnlesley@schippie_life@schipalongRescues: SchipperkeRescue.Net (SRN):SRN is a 501(c)(3) charity that is dedicated to assisting displaced Schipperkes and their owners anywhere in the United States. SRN provides rescue/foster care services for purebred Schipperkes that come from a variety of circumstances, such as shelters, families that are unable to keep their dogs, loss of owner due to death or health issues, and other circumstances. Recycled Pomeranians and Schipperkes Rescue https://recycledpoms.org/Recycled Pomeranians and Schipperkes Rescue seeks to provide a safe haven for Pomeranians and Schipperkes, and other small breeds, who have been lost, surrendered, abandoned, neglected and abused.  Their large volunteer base works tirelessly to help dogs in need by removing them from what are quite often hopeless situations, makin

Today Social Dog has Christa Cook, Handler for the Colton the Schipperke from the Westminster Dog Show. Colton is the first Schipperke in history to ever win the Non-Sporting Group! Colton was not disqualified. His team made an HONORABLE call of sportsmanship. Christa will share what it was like to be there and what it took to get there. Would you like to become a dog handler? Christa will give you some fabulous tips and shares with us that dreams do come true!

Gin is an outdoor enthusiast and loves the hiking in California. She enjoys her Schipperke dog to join her during her excursions and will dictate while hiking. Gin has written a unique historical time travel book for Young Adults called a Tangle of Time. You can find out about Gin on her website https://ginwestcott.com/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1952435005/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1952435005&linkCode=as2&tag=saschneider-20&linkId=1db237efb840e0a4b29453217cf396ca

Alana Miller—founder of the Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary, a North Carolina facility that, since 2005, has rescued and provided a forever home for blind cats—recounts her first experience with […]

Today Social Dog has Christa Cook, Handler for the Colton the Schipperke from the Westminster Dog Show. Colton is the first Schipperke in history to ever win the Non-Sporting Group! Colton was not disqualified. His team made an HONORABLE call of sportsmanship. Christa will share what it was like to be there and what it took to get there. Would you like to become a dog handler? Christa will give you some fabulous tips and shares with us that dreams do come true!

I love Tahra Luther and have since we first met. She helped me tremendously as I navigated my move from Las Vegas, NV to Ann Arbor, MI. She has a heart that is genuine and open to all. She loves big and has a way about her that is authentic and so real. She's an inspiration to many and proclaims my life's theme song, "This Is Me!"  Tahra Luther was born in Methuen, Massachusetts and lived in Brazil for a few years as a baby. She grew up in Florida, and then moved to Michigan with her parents, where she has resided for the past 22 years. She received her BS in Zoology at Michigan State University, and MS in Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology at University of Michigan. She works as a Lab Manager doing Cancer Immunotherapy at University of Michigan, where she has worked for the past 11 years. She is very involved in her recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, as well as anxiety. She loves to constantly learn, snuggle her beautiful Schipperke pup Cedella, read fiction and personal growth books of all kinds, and spend time with her loved ones, including an abundance of close friends, family, and wonderful loving fiancé Dan. She is half Punjabi (Indian) and loves to learn about her culture. She is extremely grateful for her wonderful life and always appreciates being able to help others in numerous capacities. To connect with Tahra: * FB: Tahra Luther   Additional resource: * https://www.thetypeahippie.com/blog/how-the-war-on-drugs-has-changed-tunes

Note: We've rearranged episodes a bit here to better coordinate with guest schedules, so the names mentioned as next episodes in our last podcast was incorrect. Instead of Debbie Torraca, this week we have Esther Zimmerman -- we'll be back next week with Debbie Torraca.  Summary: Esther Zimmerman is a long-time FDSA student and has been a participant in AKC events for over 40 years. She's been teaching dogs and their people since the early 1980's.   Currently, she is the head competition obedience instructor at MasterPeace Dog Training in Franklin, MA, where she teaches multiple classes at all levels, and coaches many private students. Over the years, Esther has evolved her own special blend of the art and science of dog training, acquired through years of experience, extensive reading, and continuing education at conferences and seminars. She is well known for her patience, compassion, honesty, and humor, along with an unfailingly positive attitude toward both dogs and handlers. She feels it's the trainer's job to have the dogs WANT to play the obedience game, not to make them do it, and that there is no reason to use compulsion for the sake of a ribbon. Her many high-scoring students are proof of this, as they earn advanced titles, many with non-traditional obedience breeds. Esther herself competes with Schipperke, and she has finished the only Champion/Utility Dog Excellent in the history of Schipperke, and three additional Champion/Utility dogs. She also put three UDX legs on Presto, a Golden Retriever, who died of cancer at an early age. Links MasterPeace Dog Training in Franklin, MA Next Episode:  To be released 3/16/2018, featuring Debbie Torraca to talk about exercises, including exercise for puppies! TRANSCRIPTION: Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, an online school dedicated to providing high-quality instruction for competitive dog sports using only the most current and progressive training methods. Today we'll be talking to Esther Zimmerman. Esther is a long-time FDSA student and has been a participant in AKC events for over 40 years. She's been teaching dogs and their people since the early 1980's.   Currently, she is the head competition obedience instructor at MasterPeace Dog Training in Franklin, MA, where she teaches multiple classes at all levels, and coaches many private students. Over the years, Esther has evolved her own special blend of the art and science of dog training, acquired through years of experience, extensive reading, and continuing education at conferences and seminars. She is well known for her patience, compassion, honesty, and humor, along with an unfailingly positive attitude toward both dogs and handlers. She feels it's the trainer's job to have the dogs WANT to play the obedience game, not to make them do it, and that there is no reason to use compulsion for the sake of a ribbon. Her many high-scoring students are proof of this, as they earn advanced titles, many with non-traditional obedience breeds. Esther herself competes with Schipperke, and she has finished the only Champion/Utility Dog Excellent in the history of Schipperke, and three additional Champion/Utility dogs. She also put three UDX legs on Presto, a Golden Retriever, who died of cancer at an early age. Hi Esther, welcome to the podcast! Esther Zimmerman: Hi Melissa. I'm really happy to be here. Thanks for asking me to do this. Melissa Breau: I'm excited to chat. To get us started, do you want to briefly just share a little bit about who your dogs are now and what you're working on with them? Esther Zimmerman: I'd love to, but I have to start by talking about Jeeves, my Champion UD Rally X1 NW3 Schipperke, who passed away a few weeks ago at age 14-and-a-half. He was really an amazing ambassador of the breed. He was a perfect gentleman with all people, dogs of all ages and temperaments. He was that priceless known adult dog that we all want our puppies to meet because he's just so good with them. After surviving several serious illnesses as a youngster, he gave me a very profound appreciation of just how much our dogs do for us and with us when playing the games we love. I was grateful every day he was alive and he is really sorely missed. It's very fresh still because it was only a few weeks ago. Melissa Breau: I'm sorry to hear that. Esther Zimmerman: Thank you. Elphaba is my 9-year-old Schipperke. She happens to be Jeeves's niece. She has her CDX, which, when she earned it, included the group out-of-sight stays. Those were a real challenge for her. She doesn't like other dogs looking at her. But we persisted and succeeded. She's almost ready for the utility ring. She's the first and only nosework Elite 2 Schipperke and is a real little hunting machine in that sport. She also has her Fenzi TEAM 1 and TEAM 1 Plus titles. Friday is my 3-year-old Schipperke. His titles at this point are an NW1 and TEAM 1, 1 Plus and 1-H. He just passed his 1-H, which was very exciting. He's teaching me the importance of patience, a trait that I already have an abundance of, but he really requires it in spades. He really does. He can try my patience sometimes, but he keeps me honest as far as that goes. He's got tons of obedience skills under his collar, but there's no way he's ready for AKC competition. I'm hoping maybe by next year. And then I have Taxi, my 17-month-old Golden Retriever. He's had a Gold spot in an Academy class almost every semester since I brought him home as a baby puppy. He's got great potential, like all of our dogs do. I hope that we get to reach the goals I have in mind. He's a typical, happy, fun-loving dog. He's a real joy. And that's the three dogs that I have right now. Melissa Breau: How did you originally get into dog sports? Esther Zimmerman: It's interesting, because back in the beginning I didn't have my own dog. I didn't have my own dog until I was 15, but I've been training dogs since I was 5 years old. I grew up in New York City, and every apartment superintendent had a dog that they were more than willing to let me borrow. I read every dog and dog-training book in the library, much to my mother's dismay, because that's all I read, and with those dogs, I switched what I was doing based on whatever the advice was that the author of that book gave. So I had a real eclectic education as far as training dogs. Not my own dogs, and I did something different all the time. The very first dog show I ever attended was Westminster in 1969. School was closed because we had a snowstorm, but the trains were running. Westminster's on Monday and Tuesday, always has been. So the trains were running and off I went with my tokens, and I went to Westminster. I was in heaven. I had no idea they had 50 percent absenteeism because of the snowstorm, and I thought that the most beautiful dog there was the Basenji. I did not get a Basenji. Melissa Breau: OK. Esther Zimmerman: The very first obedience trial I ever went to was the Bronx County Kennel Club, and there I saw a woman in a wheelchair competing in Open with her Labrador Retriever, which just blew my mind. I couldn't conceive of such a thing, that not only was this dog doing all this amazing stuff, but that his handler was in a wheelchair. She was around for a really, really long time and quite well known on the East Coast and in New England as a competitor. So I got Juno, my first dog, was a German Shepherd. I got him from an ad in the newspaper — the best way to get a dog, right? Melissa Breau: Of course. Esther Zimmerman: She was one of two 10-month-old puppies who were so fearful that they were climbing over each other in their pen, trying to get away from me. So of course I said, “I'll take that one.” That was Juno. I used the same kind of eclectic training with her, doing something different each week based on what book I was reading from the library. It did apparently work, though, because seven years later, after I got married and moved to Massachusetts, I joined the New England Dog Training Club, which is the oldest still-existing dog-training club in the country. That summer we entered our first trial, we earned our first leg, and I got my first high-in-trial on this fearful dog Melissa Breau: Wow. Esther Zimmerman: And that's how somebody gets really hooked on this sport. The first time you go in the ring, you win high-in-trial, you want to do that again. Melissa Breau: Oh yeah. Esther Zimmerman: And coincidentally, my first paying job as a teenager was as kennel help at Captain Haggerty's School For Dogs. He's actually pretty well known. He used to train dogs for movies a lot out in Hollywood. But their training approach was “Break 'em and make 'em.” They would get dogs in there for boarding and training, and they went home trained. They were not happy, but they went home trained. It was absolutely pure compulsion, which as a teenager was really eye-opening and a little bit scary, actually. Melissa Breau: I can imagine. Esther Zimmerman: So that's how I got started in dog sports. Melissa Breau: Wow. You've really been doing it almost your entire life, but in an interesting, different story. Esther Zimmerman: Yes. Yes. Melissa Breau: You mentioned that it's been eclectic, and it's been a little bit here, a little bit there in terms of reading, but what really got you started on your positive training journey? What got you hooked there? Because I certainly know that's where you are now. Esther Zimmerman: I think this is a good time for us to talk about Patty Ruzzo, because she's a big part of that whole journey. In the early 1980s there was a really tight-knit group of us training at Tails-U-Win in Connecticut, and together we had our first exposures to Karen Pryor and Gary Wilkes and John Rogerson and others who totally and completely changed the way we were training and how we even thought about training. We were all attending every seminar we could go to, every clinic we could go to, we were reading dog magazines. I was amassing a huge personal library of dog books. That was all before the Internet, before YouTube, before Facebook. Patty was an interesting person. She was a really quiet force to be reckoned with. She was a great competitor, she had a great rapport with her dogs, anyone who saw her in the ring with her magnificent Terv, Luca, will always remember what that looked like. They had such a presence about them, and it's an image I always aspire to. It's one of those things that if you close your eyes, you can still picture it all these years later. So Patty was my friend, she was my training buddy, she was my coach. We were determined to pursue a force-free, reward-based approach to training. The first thing we eliminated were the leashes and collars. No more leashes, no more collars. We stopped any physical corrections. As our skills and understanding got better, we were able to even avoid applying psychological pressure to the dogs, and that was a big deal. My dog at that time was a Schipperke, Zapper. She was a dog that really pushed us to examine what we had been doing, and to see what we could accomplish with this new — to us — approach. She became my first utility dog. Patty was a really tremendously creative person. She was continually trying and then discarding ideas. It could be dizzying to try and keep up with her, sort of like Denise. Patty passed away twelve years ago. It was a real tragedy for the world of obedience and for me personally. Several of us from that original group have worked to fill the void by becoming instructors and trainers in our own right. We all made that commitment to stay positive, and I think the group of us really has done a good job of that. Melissa Breau: Denise brought up the fact that you knew Patty when she and I were talking about having you on. In case anybody doesn't really know the name, do you mind sharing a just little bit more about the impact she had on the sport in the area, just a little more about her background, or her history, and the role that she played? Esther Zimmerman: She had multiple OTCH dogs, she competed at the games in regionals and did really, really well at those. She had a Sheltie, she had a Border Collie, and then Luca, the incomparable Luca. And then she got a Whippet. It's a dog like that that really tests your mettle and your commitment, and she was totally committed to being positive with this dog. When I tell you that he not able to do a sit-stay of any sort until he was 2-and-a-half, I really mean it, and she just would keep saying, “Don't worry, he'll do it. Don't worry about it, he'll do it,” and that “Don't worry about it” is something that I say all the time to my students. “But my dog's not doing that.” “Don't worry about it. He will. Eventually.” And she was just like that. I'll tell a little anecdote, and this will tell you everything you need to know about Patty and the influence that she had on people. She had two sons. The younger one was about 4 when this happened. They had gone grocery shopping, and they came home and he wanted to help her unload the groceries. So what did he want to carry up the stairs? Take a guess. Melissa Breau: The eggs? Esther Zimmerman: The eggs. The eggs of course. So he goes up the stairs, and of course he trips and falls and drops the eggs. She hollers up the stairs, “Are you OK?” He says, “Yes. Six of the eggs did not break.” So just that switch, six of the eggs broke, six of the eggs did not break — that's how she raised her children to focus on the positive. Melissa Breau: Part of the impressive part is that back then, nobody was doing that. There weren't people achieving those kind of things with positive training, and a lot of people were saying it could not be done. Esther Zimmerman: Right. So the early dogs — it would not be fair to say that she was totally positive with the early dogs. But by the time Luca came along, it was very, very positive, and by the time Flyer, the Whippet, came along, it was totally positive. She didn't get an OTCH on him, things happened, and then she passed away. But there was and she put it out there in the competitive world the way nobody else was at that point in time. Melissa Breau: We've danced around this question a little bit now, but how would you describe your training philosophy now? Esther Zimmerman: That's a good question. My philosophy is fairly simple, actually: Treat the dogs and handlers with kindness and patience. I could probably stop right there, but I won't. But really, kindness and patience. Break things down into manageable pieces for each of them. Use varied approaches to the same exercise because dog training isn't “one size fits all.” The theory, learning theory, applies equally, but not necessarily the specific approach that you use to help them understand. I try to use a lot of humor to diffuse tension in classes, in private lessons. People are a little bit nervous, or a little bit uptight, so I try to make people laugh. If they can laugh, they feel better about themselves, and what just happened isn't nearly as important as they thought it was. I try to be supportive when the dog or person is struggling to learn something. We've all been there, we've all done that, it's not easy. We're trying to teach new mechanical skills to people. They're trying to teach new things to their dogs. That's a hard combination, and I really respect people who make the effort to do that. At the same time I encourage independent thinking and problem-solving for the handler and for the dog. I cannot be there all the time when the handler is working with their dog. No instructor can. Even with the online classes, we can't be there. So if we give the handler the tools to come up with solutions to the problems on their own, now we've really accomplished something. Let them figure out how to solve the problem on their own. That's a big deal to me. I don't want to be spoon-feeding the answer to every little thing that's happened there. So I applaud all their successes, however small. We celebrate everything. My students know that I always advocate for the dog. Whatever the situation is, I'm on the side of the dog, and I urge them to do the same thing when they find themselves in other places, other situations, where perhaps the atmosphere is not quite so positive, or it's stressful for some reason. Advocate for your dog. You're the only one that's looking out for them, and they're counting on us to do that for them. So I really, really urge people to do that. And it's not just about using a clicker and cookies, or any kind of a marker and cookies. It's about having empathy for a creature who is trying to communicate with us while at the same time we are struggling to communicate with them. It's all really very simple, but none of it's very easy. So that's my philosophy. Pretty simple, don't you think? Melissa Breau: Simple but not necessarily easy. Esther Zimmerman: But not easy. But not easy, yeah. Melissa Breau: You mentioned you've been in dog sports in one variety or another for … you said since you were 15, I think. Esther Zimmerman: A long time, a long time. I was 22 years old the first time I set foot in the ring. Melissa Breau: OK. Esther Zimmerman: So now people can do the math so they'll know how old I am. Melissa Breau: As someone who's been in dog sports for that long, what are some of the biggest changes you've seen over the last ten or so years? Esther Zimmerman: Well, for even longer than that, but the sport of AKC obedience has changed dramatically since I started. Classes have been added and deleted, exercises have been added and deleted. The OTCH — the Obedience Trial Championship — was introduced in 1977, and they added the UDX in either 1992 or 1993. I couldn't find the definitive answer for that, and I couldn't remember off the top of my head. The group stays, as of May 1, have been safer in the novice classes and totally eliminated in Open. They've added a new and interesting and challenging exercise to Open. Jump heights have been lowered twice. My little German Shepherd, she jumped 32 inches when we started. Now she would have jumped probably 20 inches. There are tons of exceptions from that, from the … once their jump height now, for the really giant breeds, the heavy-boned breeds, the short-legged breeds, the brachycephalic dogs, they just have to jump three-quarters their height at the shoulder, so that's a big change. Now you've got to remember all of this has been done with the hope of drawing more people into competition. All of it has been done with the accompanying drama, controversy, charges of dumbing-down the sport, nobody's ever happy with whatever the changes are. But we survived all these changes, and as far as what changes do I want to see in the sport, I don't really want to see any more for a little while. I think we need to give things a chance to settle down, I think we need to give people a chance to simmer down, because this was a very controversial thing, getting rid of stays. And then people need time to train the new Open exercise and give that a try. New people coming up will not know that things were different. The command or cue discrimination exercise won't be something that you teach for Open. As opposed to people who are in a little bit of a panic now, if they've got their CDX and they're going on to a UDX, or they've got their UD, they have to go back and teach a new exercise, and not everybody's happy about that. But I think it's all going to shake out in time, as it usually does. People resist change because inertia is really a powerful force, and I think we need to move on. So that's how I see the changes in the sport. I'm very passionate about the sport, or I wouldn't still be doing it, and I try and go with the flow with all these changes that have happened. Melissa Breau: Do you think, or maybe you could talk about, how the addition of other dog sports has changed obedience in particular? I feel like originally it was really conformation and obedience, and now there's nosework and tricks and all sorts of things. Esther Zimmerman: I think that one of the reasons for the decline in obedience entries is the proliferation of alternate sports. When I started, like you said, it was basically confirmation, obedience, tracking, herding, and field. That was pretty much it. Look at what's been added, not only in sports in general, but there are multiple organizations now that offer their own variations on some of these previously existing activities. I'm just going to rattle these off. Besides those we have rally, we have agility with various venues, earthdog, flyball, multiple venues for nosework, lure coursing, barn hunt, dock diving, parkour, freestyle, weight-pulling, Frisbee, carting, sled dog, treibball, tricks, IPO, French ring. That's without even really thinking about it terribly very much I came up with that list. And I'm sure there are ones that I have overlooked. So depending on what part of the country you live in, there are many options to choose from on any weekend. And some of these sports, at the beginner level at least, seem to offer more immediate gratification with a shorter investment of training time than AKC obedience. This can be quite appealing for some competitors. When you get to the upper levels of almost any of these activities, sports, training matters. It really matters. But there's another influence on competition, and I think that's the advent of the private training center. Back in the day, if you wanted to train your dog, you went to a training club. Once you got out of the puppy class you were encouraged to join that club. In order to join that club you had to attend meetings, you had to help out, you set up equipment, you swept the floor, you rolled up mats in the gymnasium, you stewarded the annual trial, and sometimes you became an assistant to a trainer that was already at the club. You became part of something. Now don't get me wrong. Again, training centers like MasterPeace, where I work, offer far more than the clubs ever could. MasterPeace has classes and activities seven days a week, morning, noon, and night. But most of the people come for that class, and turn around and go home, so their exposure to the notion of competition may be more limited than it was when they went to a club. So only AKC clubs can put on an AKC trial. Without the clubs, there are no trials. Several New England clubs no longer exist because of the lack of membership. They had to just fold up and go away. So consider that. Consider … I want people to consider joining their local club. Support them. If you want to be able to compete, there have to be people working to put on the trials. Another thing: I also want to put in a plug for experienced exhibitors to become judges. I don't care what your activity is. I'm an AKC Open provisional judge now. In case anyone has missed the stat, the average age of judges is getting higher and higher. Without new, younger judges in the pipeline, competition will disappear, because sooner or later these judges have to retire. They can't go on forever, and there have to be new people coming up to step up and judge. Competition requires judges. The other thing is that becoming a judge really changes your perspective of your sport. It's so easy to criticize the judge from outside the ring: “He didn't see this,” “He didn't see that, “She missed this,” “She did something wrong.” Yeah, try stepping behind the clipboard and see how hard it really is to keep all the rules and regs in mind, to see everything that's going on, mark it all down. Yeah, it's not that easy, guys. But I encourage everybody to do it, because how else will we go on? The other thing: I can only compete in New England. I go to my national specialty occasionally, not that much anymore, but I have traveled. But in this area there seems to be an improvement in the general competitive environment. Experienced handlers seem to be a little more welcoming of newbies, and more supportive of each other, than maybe five years ago. But those of us in the FDSA world would like to think that training overall is moving in a positive direction. Again, in my area, we have pockets of people devoted to that concept, but we're surrounded by more traditional training. That can feel a bit isolating. But the ripple effect that we talk about is a real thing. We do reach out to support each other, and we have an influence on what other people decide to do when we show how we behave with our dogs when we're in public, when we're at competition. People are watching when you don't think they're watching, and seeing you celebrate with your dog, even if things haven't gone quite well — they don't miss that, and that's an important thing for them to see. So yeah, things have changed a lot. Things have changed a lot. Melissa Breau: Yeah, for sure. Esther Zimmerman: But I'm hopeful for the future, very hopeful for the future. Melissa Breau: You mentioned FDSA in there, and I'm really curious: What led you to the Academy? How did you wind up there? Esther Zimmerman: I first encountered Denise at a seminar, and she's a dynamic presenter. She's got all this energy, talks really fast, is very excited, she's also passionate about what she does, committed to it, and her message just resonated with me in a way that nothing had since Patty. So I started following her blog — there's a lot of information there. Before FDSA, she offered an online course of relationship-building through play through another organization. I thought the idea was intriguing, but was really uncertain of how that could possibly work. So I got a working spot with Elphaba, and as we all know, it works great. It was a fabulous class, and I've been a devotee of the Academy since its inception. So that's how I came to FDSA. Melissa Breau: We talked through and you had a ton of experience before that point, so what is it that keeps you involved in coming back? Esther Zimmerman: This is a really easy one for me. I love dogs. I love dogs, number one. I love training, number two. I personally love how detail-oriented competition obedience is. It's not for everybody, I understand that, but I love that aspect of it. I love every training session, I love every class I teach, I love every lesson that I give, because every single one of them is different. I really love how my classes are a level playing field. Everyone who comes to the sport is a newbie, regardless of their professional and personal fields of expertise. I have doctors, I have veterinarians, I have lawyers, I have chefs, I have people who are really accomplished in their respective fields who are all starting at the same place when they come to dog training. None of that other stuff matters in the least. And I'm dealing with all the different breeds that come to me. That makes me a better instructor and trainer. I think to some degree people like to bring their non-traditional breeds to me since I have Schipperke. I think they think I will have a different sympathy and empathy for the perception of what we can expect from the non-traditional breeds, and to a degree that is correct, because I don't feel, “Oh, it's a terrier, it can't do that.” “It's a sighthound, we can't expect it to be able to do that.” Right? “It's a fill-in-the-blank, and therefore…” Yeah, there are predilections, but we can be successful, if we work at it and if we want it, with most breeds. And with FDSA specifically, I love how we have access to such a wide variety of subjects, world-class instructors from different parts of the world, and we never have to get out of our jammies if we don't want to. Melissa Breau: That makes me think of Sue's competition, her PJ competition, of everybody posting pictures of themselves training in their PJs. Esther Zimmerman: Exactly. And I don't know if you saw it, somebody was talking about FDSA swag that they bought, I think it was a sweatshirt or something, and I said, “How come there are no FDSA pajamas?” Melissa Breau: Yeah, we are looking at that. This is an aside, but I found onesies, pajama onesies, that you can get with your logo on them online somewhere, and I was sharing them with the other instructors, like, “I don't know, I think this should be what we wear to camp.” I think it got vetoed. But I don't know, I still think it's a good idea. Esther Zimmerman: That might be a little small for some of us. Melissa Breau: It's pajamas. Footie pajamas. One-piece footie pajamas. Esther Zimmerman: Hey, why not? You know some people would take you up on that. Melissa Breau: Right. This has been a lot of fun, but since this is your first time here, I want to ask you the three questions that I used to ask on almost every episode, but now that people have been on once or twice, we haven't gone back to them. The first question is simply, What's the dog-related accomplishment that you are proudest of? Esther Zimmerman: I'm not going to limit it to just one. I have a couple of things to say. Melissa Breau: OK. Esther Zimmerman: I'm really proud of the titles that I've earned with my dogs, with the Schipperke. Some of them have been firsts for the breed, which is really a nice thing to be able to say. What I'm most proud of, though, is how much I appreciate the partnership that I develop with my dogs as we go along. I have a bunch of candid photos that people have taken, and almost every one of them shows me looking right into my dog's eyes, and my dog looking right back into my eyes. I cherish those pictures and that feeling that I have. It's so special, and I can conjure that up at a moment's notice. I almost get choked up every time I talk about it, because it's just me and my dog, and everything else just goes away. That is something that I'm proud of, that I have that connection with my dogs. Melissa Breau: That's beautiful. I love that. Esther Zimmerman: Thank you. The second thing is that I love to share in the accomplishments of my students. That brings me so much joy, that they are finding success and happiness in this sport, and I'm just thrilled for all of them, every little thing that they do, and it doesn't always translate to a ribbon. If a person can come out of the ring when they have not qualified, and come to me and say, “Did you see that drop on recall?” or “Did you see how she worked articles?” when maybe that's something they've been struggling with and the dog did it — even if something else went badly, then I've done my job of teaching that person to focus on the positive and not worry about the rest of it, because we can make that better too. Those are the things I'm really proudest. Melissa Breau: I love that. Our second and second-to-last question is, What is the best piece of training advice that you've ever heard? Esther Zimmerman: I've got a couple of things here too. Melissa Breau: OK. Esther Zimmerman: I do like to talk. Melissa Breau: That makes for a good podcast, so we're good! Esther Zimmerman: Patty said, “When in doubt, put a cookie on it.” That's it. That simple statement can address so many issues. When in doubt, put a cookie on it. Sheila Booth said — I don't know if too many people know who she is, but in Schutzhund circles, IPO circles, I think she's a little better known — but Sheila Booth said, “They can do at 4 what they couldn't do before.” So she's saying what they can do at age 4, they couldn't do before then, which again speaks to patience and not showing prematurely. I firmly believe the dogs will tell you when they're ready to show, and don't rush it. There's no rush. Take your time, put in the work, and you'll be way happier. There are Flyers, there are dogs you can take out at 1 or 2 and accomplish great things, but for the most part, not so much. I have a saying that I say to my students, so much that one of them embroidered it on a vest for me. In class it always comes out when someone says, “How come my dog did that?” I always say, “Too far, too fast, too much, too soon.” Don't go too far too fast. Don't do too much too soon. That's how it got embroidered on my vest. That's my biggest piece of training advice to put out there. Don't go too far too fast. Don't do too much too soon. Melissa Breau: I love that. That's awesome. Esther Zimmerman: Thank you. Melissa Breau: It has a certain sing to it. Too far, too fast, too much, too soon. Last question for you: Who is somebody else in the dog world that you look up to? Esther Zimmerman: This is going to sound like a cliché, but I really admire Denise. In addition to being an outstanding dog trainer and instructor, she's a really smart businessperson. She works harder than any five people I know, she's created something unique with FDSA, and surrounds herself with other smart people who help keep it running smoothly and efficiently, specifically you, Melissa, and Teri Martin. Melissa Breau: Yeah, Teri's fantastic. Esther Zimmerman: And then Denise's generosity to the dog training community always impresses me. There's so much free material and information out there, the blog and these podcasts are free, of course, she joins in the conversations on the various Facebook pages and gives training advice there, she does her live Facebook sessions are free. I think the scholarships for free Bronze-level classes and the contests for free Bronze-level classes are amazing at making education available to everybody, even if you have limited means. It's just a wonderful thing to put out there for people. And then of course the inception of TEAM — that was also just brilliant. It's brought high-quality titling opportunities to anyone, anywhere, anytime. It forces people to pay attention to detail. There's a lot of precision required right through from basic foundation skills through the advanced levels. People who do that are pretty well prepared for success in other types of competition. It was a brilliant concept and brilliant in execution. I don't know what Denise has in store for the future, but I know she's been teasing us about something new coming in April, I don't like being teased like that, but I also can't wait to see what it's going to be, because it's going to be great. I know it is. So I have to say it's Denise. Melissa Breau: I will say that she is by far the most productive person I know. She gets more done in a few hours a day than most people do in a week. Esther Zimmerman: I don't know. It boggles my mind. It just boggles my mind. Melissa Breau: You're not the only one. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast, Esther! This has been great. I really appreciate it. This has been fun. Esther Zimmerman: I know it took us a little bit of time to be able to connect. I had a cold. I hope I sound OK, because my voice was shattered last week. It was worth the wait. It was a lot of fun, and I'm very honored that you decided to ask me to do this. Melissa Breau: Well, I'm definitely glad that you could. And thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in! We'll be back next week, this time with Debbie Torraca, to talk about exercise for puppies. If you enjoyed this episode, I hope you guys will consider hopping over to iTunes and leaving us a review. I know I mentioned this in our last couple of episodes, but reviews really help the show! We've gotten a few new ones since I've started including this request, like this one from Schout: “Melissa does a great job interviewing accomplished guests. Filled with useful insights and funny anecdotes.” Thank you Schout, whoever you are! And, while you're there, if you haven't already, I hope you'll subscribe to have our next episode automatically downloaded to your phone as soon as it becomes available. CREDITS: Today's show is brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Special thanks to Denise Fenzi for supporting this podcast. Music provided royalty-free by BenSound.com; the track featured here is called “Buddy.” Audio editing provided by Chris Lang.

On today's behavior edition Laurie gives an explanation of what is and is not a trained dog and what would be expected if you wanted a trained therapy dog. Callers had questions about a Maltese who is loosing vision in one eye, a Schipperke who could say "I love you Daddy", wondering if dry or wet food is best for cats, and a border collie X golden retriever who nips people in the butt. Laurie cautioned people about purchasing micro mini dogs, a caller wanted to know if any other dogs run wildly after drinking water, and a question solving leash aggression. Laurie encouraged a man to be creative in his training approach to accommodate his disability. 

Susan Daffron talks to Mary Cox of Midwest Schipperke Rescue about a Schipperke named Juno. Established in 2005, the Midwest Schipperke Rescue is based in Michigan and works to help dogs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Juno is a 6-7 year old male Schipperke who was found as a stray. Now he is enjoying the good life in a foster home where he's receiving a lot of TLC. When he was found, his fur was a reddish color and it appeared that he'd been licking, probably because of stress, malnutrition, or allergies (because he was a stray, there is no way of knowing for sure). However, with a switch to a high-quality food, his fur is looking better and the licking is subsiding. Schipperkes are active dogs that like to have a something to do. Juno's "hobby" is pouncing on rawhide chews, which he does with great glee and pride. However, because he's 6-7 years old, after he has had his playtime, he's ready to relax. Juno would be great for a family that doesn't want an extremely high-energy dog. Juno loves young kids (particularly girls), gets along with dogs, and loves to be petted. However, he's somewhat less demanding than some Schipperkes. He'll snuggle with you on the couch, but then when you're done relaxing, he'll get up and go off to do his own thing. Because he's not a young Schipperke, Juno would be an ideal companion for an older couple with grandkids for him to play with occasionally. More details on this episode MP3 Podcast - Juno - Formerly a Stray; Now Just a Schipperke Enjoying the Prime of Life - with Susan Daffron on PetLifeRadio.com