My Puppy Learns About Tough Love

1.jpegToday has been consumed with preparing the “print product” for deadline. And while the stress level of that exercise is reaching fever pitch (Eric has even stopped blogging while he finishes his feature), my attention was diverted from the tasks at hand when I received the picture at left over the transom. My pup, the one under attack, has been at puppy boot camp (I know, ridiculous) for the past week and a half at Park Cities Obedience School. While I have every faith in their ability to train my pooch, I am hoping that he does not have PTSD as a result of his ordeal.

19 Comments to “My Puppy Learns About Tough Love”
  • soon to have pup

    Stacey, I’d love to hear about your experience with PC Obedience School. I just found them yesterday and was thinking of sending my pup there when I get her in May!

  • Jay

    When will the puppy on puppy crime stop people?

  • NC

    We happened to have Nancy from PCOS over yesterday evening for a private class. I loved her! And, by the end, my 11 month old, 70 pound pup was walking calmly on a leash for the FIRST TIME EVER!!!! I highly recommend them! Cost of the private home lesson was $100 and well worth it. Hope that helps.

  • DGirl

    You might want to check out these helpful hints for dealing with bullies.

    http://blog.peoplenewspapers.c.....e-bullies/

  • Anne

    I took my pup there for obediance class several years ago. A man was the trainer. I did not like him at all. He jerked those dogs up by those choke chains (some completely off the floor) and several of us looked at each other in shock. I didn’t go back. Nancy may be very good…but I wouldn’t go with that guy.

  • Sean

    Those uvver dogs…dey’re bein’ racialists, gangin’ up on dat black dog.

  • Rawlins

    Clearly, what is pictured is a sexual assault. I say, storm that compound!

  • Matt

    It’s just like the course D Magazine interns have to take, but with less licking.

  • JS

    Hey guys I am Stacey’s puppy and I want
    the film and the video and soon as possible then I will be able to identify the puppies who

    1. Followed the instructions of the puppy boot camp trainers hereafter referred to as “trainers” who directed the white dog to declare themselves the “man” (even tho they are dogs) and snatch the official puppy toy from me. After they stole the puppy toy I barked at them that any puppy chewing those puppy toys other than me (I affixed my paw print to an affidavit that I would be legally held responsible for the toys) the scoundrels will be prosecuted for unlawful chewing of a puppy toy. The toys were returned to me.

    I will also be able to identify the puppy who snatched the pooper scooper. I also instructed the puppies that Dallas is the only city in the state that allows an unleashed dog on the patios of restaurants.

    2. With the video tape I will be able to identify the puppies who were instructed by the trainers at 9:50 a.m. to drag me out of the kennel to “make me take” the leash to the “go for a walk” department because their walks would not be allowed if it was not done by 10 am.

    2. I barked at the trainers that I had informed the other puppies earlier that I don’t do rolling over and I don’t do New play dead much less beg for treats. I barked to them that “I was skinning this cat and all they could do was hold the tail” (I like to chase cats.) The trainers refused to leave me alone, accusing me of being less than trained. I agreed to let them shake my paw but mandated that they were prohibited from requiring further tricks or I would leave. They disagreed and I proceeded to put my things up and go home. Therefore I left the building on paw, the trainers ran after me bumping into a senior citizen and proceeded chasing me down the street, taking camera pictures while the other puppies jumped on me (see above) and just as the street turned into cul de sac I planned to run through the alley to lose them. One of the trainers who will be witness to the intimidation of my puppyhood told me to get into his car because he feared that they might smack me with a newspaper (apparently one of the few subscribers left for the DMN, or perhaps it was a free Observer — the so-called Quick newspaper isn’t big enough to hurt, although I do like to poopie on Gordon Keith’s picture). Then the trainers started harassing him and taking pictures of his car tags. To keep them from following me to my yard and disturbing my master that I care for (hi Stacey), I advised the ones harassing me to meet me at Tony’s Italian Restaurant (thanks Tony!) so we could share some spaghetti (shout out to Disney). I then instructed the driver to go through the dark and wooded area of the neighborhood to determine if they were following me (plus I needed to use my favorite tree). While at a stop sign, I jumped out of the car window (I love it when the wind whips through my puppy fur) and identified the ring leader who was in fact following me. I instructed the driver to take me to the SPCA so that I could file criminal stalking and harassment charges.

    An invitation then was given to all puppies (except for those frisbee dogs — the prima donnas) inviting them to a Red Carpet and Bandanas Texas Super Stars Convention. They were to be served milkbones in brown paper sacks and cactus juice and Texas Earl Campbell Links with a big screen plasma TV donated by the pound for a watch party. (We were going to watch Homeward Bound as I love that Shadow)

    In closing, tell the ALL those from across the world to read the road signs along the highway that say “Don’t Mess with Texas.

    More tommorrow.

  • Amy S

    15 minutes after reading and this I’m still laughing. Thank you.

  • tdh

    best. comment. ever. except you spell-checked.

  • CBS

    JS, you sir or madam are genius.

  • JS

    FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION: PROTESTS PLANNED IN HIGHLAND PARK

    Please join freedom of speech within bounds, national puppy health advocacy groups, and dog party activists across the nation in demanding that D Magainze and its executive editor , Tim Rodgers adhere to the standard rules of conduct on their blog, “Frontburner and the standards of journalism in their publications.

    I have been accused of inappropriate peeing on the carpet on the D magazine blogs. Further, anonymous and named bloggers have attempted to practice veterinarian medicine without a license by diagnosing me as having a urinary tract illness and directing me to several agencies for help. I have never been diagnosed as such. D Magazine also published pictures of my exposed underside without blurring out my most private of areas. Some of the blogs are considered a false light invasion of my privacy even though I am a public doggie. Further, making a mockery of the incontinent is considered despicable and irresponsible by incontinence advocacy groups. Said groups maintain that those suffering from pee-pee problems and other illnesses are not subjected to abusive public humiliation. When asked if the magazine would consider implementing procedures that would require all bloggers to adhere to standard rules of conduct and that would require service providers to identify the bloggers for civil and criminal prosecution if they injured puppies or engaged in criminal activity on their blog. The executive editor, Tim Rodgers stated that they had considered it and they were not going to act in good faith and instead stood by freedom of speech and the right to an opinion. He further notified me that he was going to release the audio of the taped conversation on the blogs in which I shared with him my personal barkings and how I felt my life was endangered by the same people who drove me to the puppy training facility in the bed of a pickup without proper restraints. When I asked him ” Is it legal to tape a conversation with a dog without my knowledge,” he said “Yes.” When I asked him, did he see this act as being irresponsible and a threat to my live, he said “It didn’t matter , it was all legal and that it was okay to bark at his attorney I responded but in “good faith. I ask that all advertisers in this magazine refrain from supporting the unethical and irresponsible practices of D Magazine. We will be asking your consumers and clients the same.

    To Highland Park Police and City of Dallas Police.

    Freedom of speech within bound and pet health and anti-dog pornography advocates are being asked to demonstrate our concerns with the unethical and irresponsible acts of the D Magazine.

    We would like the legalities, policy and procedures in the respective cities for consideration of the following beginning as early as 10:00 a.m. Saturday, april 26, 2008. We will act within the city policies and may adjust to addresses within the city with the most enabling laws. We also will hire appropriate people to clean up the product of our unmentionable acts.

    Demonstrations at the following private citizens homes/ city proper address unknown , please provide.

    D Magazine executive publisher, Wick Allison at [address redacted]

    and/or Vance Miller at [address redacted], Texas Real Estate interests in Highland Park Village, Full Page Advertisers who we would like to broker an agreement without legal actions against D Magazine.

    Distribution of Flyers at the Intersections of Mockingbird and Prestion asking the Cinco de Mayo Shoppers to urge the merchants in HIghland Park Village to support our cause.

    Door to Door Delivery of the above letter notifying the merchants in Highland Park Village of our concerns in lieuof phoning, e-mail or postal delivery. Please call me as soon as possible as the legalities of our proposal.

    Stacey’s Puppy, pro se [phone number redacted]

  • Bobby Ewing

    Poor Anne….learn to obey the choke chain. Or perhaps they have lightly scented lavender and velvet lined “encouragement collars” that serve to soothe the beast.

  • David

    Uhhh…who’s the little dog in the background watching this beating take place? Accomplice to this crime, methinks…

  • UniversityMeadows

    Thank you for your genius JS! But, I have to agree tdh, you need to turn off spell-check.

    And to “Soon to have a pup”, our dog loves PCOB. He is a regular for day-care on Thursdays.

    As for actual lessons you may want to avoid Phil (the owner) and stick with his wife Nancy.

  • Oh My Eyes

    Oh, how I HATE that puppy porn! That is why I make all my dogs wear pants. It may get messy at times, but at least I don’t have to worry about the neighbors seeing the dog’s nekkid parts and naughty bits.

    The shame of that would be too much to ‘bare’….LOL

  • Drew

    Stacey, now that we’ve all had a bit of a larf over JS’ comments, I’ve taken one of my labs to obedience school at Man’s Best Friend (Houston but they have locations in the D/FW area).

    I would STRONGLY urge you to observe how dogs are taught obedience and trained. My lab was rather headstrong and disobedient, however, they used what I consider very tough “love” on him to comply. This included a choke collar (no thanks, these just don’t work), yanking him up off the floor, yanking his choke collar to get him to stop, etc. Simply put, a little pain will make a dog comply.

    He came out of the experience unscarred, or so it seems, but honestly, the best behavior modification for him has been the addition of a little brother black lab. This beat him into submission more than anything and he’s the most well-behaved lab around - unless you have a ball, mention the words “walk” or “car” or he sees one of his doggie buddies, then all bets are off. But, he still remembers commands well and helped teach his little brother a dose of obedience.

    I wouldn’t go back to a trainer that uses similar measures again.

  • Anne

    University Meadows: Thank you for the name “Phil.” Yeah, that’s the guy I didn’t care for.

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