If you are looking to name your new puppy and you want to go with current trends, here are the top 20 most popular names.  For females, in order, are Lady, Belle or Bella, Princess, Mae or May, Rose, Daisy, Grace or Gracie, Baby, Molly, Maggie, Sadie, Ann or Annie, Star, Lily or Lilly, Angel, Coco, Sophie or Sophia, Lucy, Abby or Abigail and Marie.

For males, the list is Bear, Blue, Max, Duke, Buddy, Jack, Prince, King, Bailey, Rocky, Harley, Jake, Shadow, Lucky, Hunter, Dakota, Lou, Midnight, Cooper, and Buster. 

None of my dogs made the list but I like it that way.  I like to go with a name that strikes me at a particular moment, something about the dog that makes that name pop into my head.  I like themes, too.

Curly was named  because he has a broken tail which curls at the end.  It fit his personality because he was such a comedian, like Curly of the the Three Stooges.  I had thought about naming him Kinky first.  Perhaps he would have turned out to be a liberal who operates a little outside the lines. Not good when you are a demonstration dog for obedience so I guess I gave him the right name.

Thursty's name is actually Thurston after the character in Gilligan's Island.  I had Lovey previously so I thought that gave me a matched set.  We rarely call him Thurston.  His name might be the reason he developed Psychogenic Polydipsia, a condition where a dog drinks too much water caused by a malfunction in the thirst center of the brain.  Sometimes we call him Thrusty when he has his way with his stuffed bear.

Johnee doesn't really reflect her name which is actually Johnee Walker Black.  I decided to continue with the tradition of naming Scotties after Scotch Whiskey brands.  My last one was named Pinch.  Her name does cause a problem when I have to get medication for her at Walgreen's.  They keep putting it under the name Walker or Black instead of mine.  It's always a nightmare dealing with that pharmacy anyway and this just makes it worse.

Jumper was actually named for my favorite shot in basketball, the three point jumpshot but it also suits her perfectly as she has a vertical leap of about five feet.  She certainly is quite the athlete, like a body builder where you can see every muscle defined as she moves.

Don't be in a hurry to name your new dog. Get to know them and let their looks or personality be your guide.  Something about them that is uniquely personal.  Think about the things that are significant to you, or carry fond memories of something.  My first Scottie was named Tush after the ZZ Top song which was popular at the time.  Every time I hear that tune, I smile as I think of her.  Your dog's name will be a part of your forever memories.  Make it a good one.  

Jumper and I have had our fourth lesson today with Randy from Noble Pointers. I am happy to report that she is doing extremely well in her birddog training.  Not only has our trainer told me so, but I had him take one of his dogs out today so that I could have an idea of the end result we were looking for.  She's not quite where he is, but she's pretty darn close.

Some people might wonder why I want to train my pointer to hunt when I don't.  It's not a philosophical thing, I'm just interested in watching the dogs work, period.  I am amazed that the talent she has is bred into her. She is beautiful standing still but she is a sight to behold when she is hunting. That's the fascination for me.

Jumper loves the birds and wants to go find them.  That I can get her to stand steady with her tail up before I "tap her out" (release her by tapping the top of her head), is not an easy feat.  But she's shaping up nicely in that department.  Then, she is quickly a memory as she runs to the high grass.  Every so often, you see a flash of white as she bounds like a bunny seeking game.  When she finds it, in a split second, she becomes a statue.  The only sign of life is her rib cage expanding with every breath.

Now, we are working on making her steady to wing and shot.  That means that she cannot move while the bird is flushed and shot.  Then, she is released to go find another bird.  We don't shoot any birds. His birds are too valuable.  Randy also has quite an operation in which he raises racing pigeons.  That's a whole other story for another day but I had no idea that this sport even existed.  It's big time with lots of time and money invested.

I'm in a another world when I go to his place in Alvin.  It's like visiting Narnia or something where things are so completely different from my daily experience. When you're there, you get completely drawn in.  You're far from technology, traffic, phones ringing and the pace of the city.  When I watch Jumper do her thing, I am mesmerized by the energy and the  ecstasy she seems to be feeling.

Every dog deserves to find joy and when they feel it, it is contagious.  Whether it's a Border Collie herding sheep or a Cavalier King Charles doing therapy work, these things are it's own reward to them.  The technical term is a self-rewarding behavior which means that performing the act is it's own reinforcement.  I gotta say, it's pretty rewarding for me, too, to watch Jumper whip around and slam on point. Boy, she's awesome!

A lot of people ask me about my affinity for Scotties and why I like them.  Sometimes, when I explain what their personality is like, they ask me why a person would want a dog like that.  After all, they are stubborn to a fault, independent and often unaffectionate.  If they are not trained or socialized properly, Scotties can be aggressive to adults, children or other dogs.  Sometimes to all of the above.

I think that my love of the "Diehard" relates to another passion of mine, sports.  Not that Scotties are particularly athletic.  That would relate to my other breed of choice, pointers.  When you grow up around sports and play sports, you come to appreciate certain qualities within them that are a metaphor for life.

One thing that playing sports, at least it was like this in the old days, teaches you is that you have to become mentally tough if you are going to have any kind of competitive edge.  You play through pain, you keep pushing when you are down and you don't show weakness.  My motto in sports and in life has always been "Strong body, strong mind. Strong mind, strong body."

These are the qualities that I love about the Scottish Terrier.  When facing prey that are vicious and cunning, the Scottie should never back off and never blink.  If necessary, they were bred to fight to the death.  This is what makes them a stubborn pet, but their tenacity is something that I admire.

My favorite sport is basketball and I love the Rockets.  I enjoy watching the team's franchise player, Tracy McGrady when he is mentally and physically healthy.  Right now, he is undergoing a lot of criticism because his knee is sore having had surgery earlier this summer.  The doctors have said in so many words that he can play on it but Tracy feels the need to sit out for the next three weeks. 

I've had injuries and having crossed the line of middle age, I am feeling the effects of years of  heavy lifting I did as a competitive body builder.  Some days, it would be easy to let my sore  shoulder or the tendonitis in my knee get me down but I have a job to do, one that is physical.  So you suck it up and don't dwell on it. You be a Scottie, a diehard, a gamer.  It's something I learned in sports and have seen it in all the Scotties that I have loved from tough as nails Pinch to freaky little Johnee.  When push comes to shove, there is no quit in a Scottish Terrier.  So, Tracy, be true to your Scottish last name--buck up and get in the game.

It's the night before turkey day and time to give some thought to all the things we have to be thankful for.  There are many in my life--my family who was so wonderful thousands of miles away during the afermath of Ike.  As I sat in the darkness, night after night with nothing to do, my sisters would call from Chicago to keep me company.  (It was like calling into a late night talk show, just you, the night, and the person on the other end of the phone.)  I'm grateful for my neighbors, my staff, and all my wonderful clients here at My Dog & Me.

But, this is a blog for dog lovers so I ahve to make special mention of the canines that share my life. Everyone appreciates and loves their dogs but for a trainer, it goes beyond what the pet owner experiences.  I have really been so blessed to have four wonderful working dogs, without whom I couldn't do my job. 

All of them fill an essential role that make my job easier.  Johnee, the neurotic little Scottie, doesn't get much playing time but she is the perfect dog to bring out when I'm working with reactive dogs.  They can bark, lunge and growl and she will not budge from that down stay.  That is easier said than done for a dog that can be pretty reactive herself.

Jumper, the sweetest dog in the world, is not only going to be a sound demonstration dog in classes, but is the perfect dog to introduce shy or timid puppies to in a play group.  She is not only sweet, but is so beautiful when she is running or hunting, it takes my breath away.  How do you know what puppy to pick out of a litter?  I always say, the right dog picks you and, in her case, I think that is true.

What can I say about Thursty?  He keeps me humble and on top of my game.  We joke that he is just like that Dos Equus commercial in that he is "the most fascinating dog in the world".  Just when you think you have him figured out, he will do something so totally out of character just to fool you.  I've never known a dog (and I have met and trained thousands of dogs over twenty years) quite like him.  Stouthearted and unflappable, he is the perfect dog for television or live appearances. He loves an audience.

When it comes to appreciating a dog as a partner, Curly is a once in a lifetime dog. He is one of the reasons I love teaching obedience classes.  To be a good demonstration dog, it takes more than just obedience.  Curly knows exactly when to make every move.  He's got the choreography down to perfection.  In some cases, he even knows how to do things "wrong" so that we can demonstrate how to correct it.  I am only half of the team necessary to instruct and I couldn't do my job without him.  At ten years of age, I am thankful that he still has such a desire to keep on working.

You don't become a trainer to get rich.  You don't get to work nine to five with every weekend free.  You do it for the love of dogs and the people who come with them.  I am grateful that I have been able to live this dream and grateful for the dogs in my life that have made it possible.

I recently read an article in the AKC Gazette written by the chairman who spoke about the severe drop in revenue the organization is experiencing.  The majority of their money comes from registrations and most of these from pet puppy owners.  They have seen a reduction in participation in events like confirmation and obedience trials as well.  He was not only concerned but seemed puzzled as to how this could be happening. I'm going to write a response to him based on my personal experiences and observations.

My first experience came about 20 years ago when I, the proud owner of 2 AKC registered Scottie puppies, approached a handler at the Houston dog show to ask about getting started in the show ring.  She was so distant and rude to me, it discouraged me from entering that world.  With the exception of a few wonderful people, some of whom have been clients of mine over the years, my impression persists to this day.

After that, came agility at a nationally renowned facility.  Again, lots of unfriendly, unhelpful people who did not seem to be having any fun.  I learned a lot but did not want to be a part of that world.  I thought it was me but then I talked to several others who felt the same way. I had the same experience when I tried to get involved with  Earthdog trials.

Lest you think it is a defect in my personality, I can think of numerous clients and friends who have shared my experiences in these and other AKC venues.  When I bought Jumper, I decided to go a different route.

Jumper is not an AKC pointer but is registered with the Field Dog Stud Book.  This is one of the oldest registries for hunting and field trial dogs.  They value confirmation but do not hold separate events.  I like the fact that they believe that beauty is as beauty does.

I wanted to find someone who could help me train Jumper in the field.  Based on the opinions of others, she appeared to have the right stuff but I wanted to know how to bring these traits out.  I struck it lucky when I found Randy of Noble Pointers in Alvin.  He agreed to work with me and Jumper, sight unseen.  He is not only a breeder and trainer of field trial dogs but has also judged.  His dogs sell for thousands of dollars.  And you will never meet a nicer man in the world who has the patience to deal with a rookie dog and owner.  I don't know how far we can go with Jumper although she seems to be doing very well.  Randy said today that he thought she was going to make it. 

I brought my friend, Nancy, with me today and her springer, Toby.  Randy is mainly a pointer man but he said he would be happy to work with her too.  Nancy has experienced similar situations with the AKC and was also astounded that such a respected and knowledgeable man would be so willing to help us.  Randy's demeanor and enthusiasm make me want to take it to the next level, even if that is not a realistic goal at this time.

And that's the lesson that the AKC has to learn.  We are a nation of detached persons, thanks to technology and the loss of social skills that seems to have accompanied it.  People love their dogs but when it comes to participating in dog events, they want to relate to the people as well.  Hang out at the Houston dog show and try to talk to the competitors and you may be rebuffed.

I have been bitten by the pointing dog bug.  I want to learn more, do more.  That's what the AKC is striving for right now.  They need to take a lesson from Randy of Noble Pointers before their fears of losing business to other registries becomes a reality. Of course, to do that, they going to have get out of the corporate office and talk to people.  Now there's a concept!

I've been hearing that our new president elect has been considering a goldendoodle for his daughters.  Please, Mr. Obama, think this through.  This is not the breed that you should be considering.  Here's why:

1.  There is a myth that persists that doodle dogs are hypoallergenic.  The truth is, some are and some aren't.  There is no guarantee that any breed doesn't cause allergies but in this case you can't really say there is a likelihood since this is a mixed breed.  Yes, poodles are often recommended for people who have these conditions but the golden is a shedding, dander producing dog.  If this is a primary concern, go with the Peruvian hairless that was offered to you. No hair means no dander.  You just have to get used to petting a dog that feels like a baby's bottom.

2.  I would not recommend a doodle dog for a first time dog owner, let alone for children.  They are not the easiest or calmest dogs to train and they are immature for a really long time.  Just like retrievers, they jump, bark for attention, can be destructive and are physically very strong.  Which leads me to my next point....

3. I don't ever support getting a dog "for the kids" unless you have kids that are dog crazy to begin with.  Children are thrilled when the puppy comes home and they can carry him around everywhere.  Within a couple of months, this dog will be too big to carry and will be nipping, jumping and pulling.  Before you come back with the fact that the dog will have a trainer, I'll tell you that no amount of training can rush puppyhood. When you love dogs, you know this going in and you move through it with a sense of humor.  Unless your kids have been around a lab puppy or similar breed and can handle it, when this doodle turns about 5 or 6 months old, the kids will not enjoy the pup anymore and will be begging to go to soccer practice.

4.   All dogs need consistency and human interaction.  This "breed" demands it.  This is not a dog that can be shuffled from person to person when it is inconvenient for him to be around heads of state and the like.  One thing I like about the Bush's is that they really love their dogs, and they truly were part of all their activities.  The Obamas have not had a dog before, we don't know if they are truly dog people.  I would hope that this pup won't evolve into just a photo op with no real family life.

Remember Radar, the weather dog?  A few years ago, Channel 2 called me to ask me to become his trainer.  When they explained that he was going to live at the station and would be cared for by everyone there, I turned down the job on a matter of principle.  I predicted that it was just a matter of time before they phased him out.  Under new management, that is exactly what happened.  Someone did end up adopting him but people who worked at the station told me that until that point, his life was fairly chaotic.  I fear that that may be what happens to first time dog owners who are learning how to be a first family.

This is not the time for the Obamas to add any dog but if they succumb to the pressure of politics, let's hope they start with a dog that might acclimate a little better, maybe an older dog from a shelter.  Caring for a dog goes beyond material wealth and nothing can replace belonging to someone. I always say that, given time, the right dog usually finds you.  This would be good advice for the Obamas to heed.

Every Sunday, I pull out the want ads to check out what dogs are for sale.  No, I am not planning on adding to my pack.  I just like to see what people are advertising in there and get a feel for what's popular.  I also am amazed at what puppy sellers are charging for dogs that may have a questionable heritage.  I just can't believe that someone would pay $1500 for a "designer mixed breed" when I paid much less for Jumper, who comes from a line of field trial champions, eight of which are in the Bird Dog Hall of Fame. 

One ad caught my eye.  It said, "Puppies wanted.  South Texas Tack...presents "Puppy Alley" December 20, 2008.  Applications on line southtexastack.com."  Curious, I went to the website to see what this was all about.  This tack and feed store in Brenham is holding an event in which anyone who has puppies can rent space and sell them.  The site says, "All breeds of puppies for sale.  Great Christmas Gifts.  Come join the fun!"

This thing is going to be advertised on the radio and in print.  Who do you think will predominantly be represented at this event, especially since the cost of a booth is only $15?  I think that's less than Trader's Village and we know what comes out of there.  Truly, the ad should have said, "Puppy mill dogs wanted" because that is who will be there. 

You would think by now that with all the information available, people would realize where these puppies come from.  If they are not from puppy mills, then they are from people who just decided to breed their beloved  (fill in the blank) because she was such a good dog.  Never mind that she was poorly constructed and afraid of her own shadow.  In either case, those who purchase these dogs are, unusually unwittingly, supporting the propagation of puppy mills and poorly bred dogs.

The city has proposed a mandatory spay and neuter policy.  That's a discussion for another day but where do they think that many of the dogs purchased in Houston are bred?  There is a proliferation of puppy mills in Montgomery County alone.

Everything you hear about puppy mills is true.  Dogs stacked in crates upon each other, feet never touching the earth, except when they are being forcefully bred.  Puppies crammed together in crates that are too small covered in feces and urine.  No shots, no vet care of any kind.  These are the people that need to be stopped and it will not be the law that does it.  It needs to be the prospective puppy buyer who knows how to spot red flags. Really, people, if someone tells you that she's planning a trip to Houston anyway and it would be easier to meet in the IHOP parking lot with the puppy, run the other way. 

When I got Jumper, I talked to several people who finally hooked my up with the breeder.  His facility was old and nothing fancy but he could tell me about every pointer in his care and why he chose to breed her parents.  At the time, I didn't know that she had such an impressive pedigree.  His dogs were beautiful, happy and responsive to him. It was obvious he loved those dogs. 

"Puppy Alley" is an odd but perhaps appropriate name.  When you think alley, it conjures up people hiding in the shadows making shady deals.  I'm sure the folks in Brenham aren't intentionally doing this event to support puppy mills, but I'm afraid that it will add to the coffers of these canine "Houses of Ill Repute". If you feel strongly about this, as I do, contact them and express your concerns for those who can't speak for themselves.

Ike and all that went with him now seems like a bad dream as life is returning to normal, at least for me anyway.  It will be some time before the isle to the south of Houston will see any semblance of a carefree beach life.  This whole ordeal really brought home for me a book I had just finished reading on stress.  It's called, "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers" and is written by a biologist who has studied the effects of long-term stress on both humans and animals.

One of the things he points out is a study on unpredictability.  He cites an experiment in which rats were exposed to a stressor (I think it was an electric shock).  Cortisol levels, the hormone associated with a stress response, were recorded in the control group.  They then gave the rats a warning prior to the shock and what they found was that even though there were still elevated levels of cortisol, they were lower than when the rats could not predict the stressor.

I thought about this in relation to the power situation and also how all of this affected my own dogs.  I think everyone expected the power to go out as a result of the hurricane.  That was predictable.  What didn't sink in was Centerpoint telling us that it could be a couple of weeks before power was restored.  After the first day or two, it did start to sink in and then the stress set in as well.  I was in denial until about the fourth day.  That is why Centerpoint started posting maps and estimated times for restoration.  Even though it wouldn't make the power come back on any sooner, it reduced their customers' stress levels by having some semblance of predictability.  In some cases, it happened a little sooner but most of their estimates were pretty close.

When I saw that the Heights would not be restored for several days, I reduced my stress level by buying a generator so that we could at least open for retail sales in the afternoon.  Regaining some feeling of control of a situation also reduces stress.  The opposite of that is learned helplessness commonly called burn-out.  In the study with the rats, they added a component in which the shock was delivered in random locations so that the rats could not escape the shock.  (In the control group, the rats had the ability to move away from the shock once it was delivered). So, the ability to generate some business probably lowered my cortisol levels a smidgeon.

I'm sure there were many dogs that had elevated stress hormones as well.  Curly, the Lab, seemed to take it all in stride although he was one happy camper when classes resumed as that is what he loves best.  Jumper and Johnee love the outdoors so they were cool with playing in the yard all day.  They didn't particularly like having to go to bed at 7pm every night, however.

Thursty had the hardest time.  He doesn't really like being at my house, preferring the activity at MDM.  He also did not like having to sleep on the floor in my den where I put a featherbed down so that we could sleep with some breeze from the back door.  Even with the semi-cool nights, he was hot and I worried about his constant panting.  He has a heart condition and I was afraid the heat and the change in his routine might affect him adversely. 

We made it through with power coming on after a week at my house, another week until we had it at work but I am keeping an eye on him even now.  I'm noticing an increase in water intake and the same signs I saw when he had the psychogenic polydipsia several months back, a condition that is brought on by stress and causes a dog's thirst mechanism to go awry causing them to drink more and more water.  He peed right in front of me in the activity center yesterday.  That is not something he is prone to do and now I am seeing the need to drink.  If this happens again, it means that I have to measure and restrict his water intake until it returns to normal.  That also means that I have to restrict the other dogs too which drives them crazy. Just when I thought those cortisol levels were coming down......

The other day I was overseeing one of our group playtimes when I heard the phone ring in the grooming room. I knew that the trainer up front was busy touring a customer and that she would not be able to answer the phone so I left the activity center to catch it before it went to voicemail.  I asked the other staff member to keep an eye on Jumper who was playing with her good buddy Jack Flash, the Sheltie.

I was gone for a few minutes but when I returned, Jumper was waiting at the gate.  Jack Flash was trying to engage her but she would have no part of it until I stepped back into the play area.  That doesn't seem so unusual except that Jumper is a fairly independent dog that doesn't tend to keep track of me that closely.  I have to admit, it was kind of heartwarming to see her tail wagging with anticipation upon my return.

The dogs that I have now are all fairly low-key when it comes to affection or attention.  But, even Thursty prefers to remain in close proximity both at work and at home.  While I don't need a "needy" dog, I do like the loyalty that I appear to have from all of them, the gossamer connection that no leash could provide.

Employees come and go, athletes get traded back and forth--nowadays, there seems to be so little loyalty from people that it is even more cherished from a canine companion.  You know that line from an old Carol King song rings true sometimes,"...they'll hurt you, yes, and desert you.  They'll take your soul if you let them..." Unless you are a hermit, you are bound to be disappointed by someone's lack of loyalty from time to time.

 Oh sure, in my life I have those whose loyalty has not wavered over the years and I value them immensely--my friend Barb, who has been my BFF for over 40 years, my sales manager Kathy, who is a steady and stable force in the constant storm of running a small business. When you have people like that, you know that they are 24k in a sea of glitter.

Yet, as valuable as these relationships with our own race are, there is something about man's best friend that transcends them.  I was reading about Greyfriar's Bobby this morning.  He was a Skye terrier that has been immortalized in Scotland for having remained at the grave of his master for 14 years.  The townspeople cared for him and fed him but he never left that cemetery and today there is a statue of him that visitors flock to see. 

When I was looking for an artist to design the MDM logo, I had great difficulty finding someone who could illustrate what was in my head.  All of them, and there were many, drew their own version of the dog looking up while at the foot of his master.  What most of them couldn't get was the expression on the Scottie's face.  The artist that sketched the one we use today, drew it in about 2 minutes.  I told him, as I told the others, that it was the expression that was the most important part. I knew that look from seeing it on my own dogs' faces and he nailed it. From there came our tag line, "To your dog, no one else can fill your shoes" and that, my friends, is what loyalty is all about.

A professional handler who teaches my confirmation class came in the other day and said that Thursty was looking good but hefty.  I explained to her that actually he is at a perfect weight and didn't have an ounce of fat on him.  The one she should have targeted was Johnee who looks smaller but doesn't exactly have the ideal body composition.  She has been chubby since I got her, although she is much more muscular now.  Johnee got kind of mushy when she was sick and spending a lot of down time in a crate.  Looks can be deceiving but a rib check tells the truth.

I have read 3 articles in the last week about the increasing statistics on pet obesity.  A couple of years ago, 30% of dogs were considered overweight.  The most recent study indicates that the number is much higher at 45%.  The amazing thing is that only 53% of these chubsters' owners identified them as overweight.  43% were in denial.  According to one article, "The average weight for the top 10 most popular breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club has increased by at least one pound with no marked increase in the pet's length."  Yorkies weigh 30% more than the standard for the breed on average.  Dachshunds, Chihuahuas, and Beagles show big increases as well.

This is a health crisis, an epidemic which will vastly affect not just lifespan, but quality of life as dogs age.  The solution is simple on paper.  Eat less and move more.  But it's hard for us to do that for ourselves and to many a dog owner, food is love.

Perhaps I am a little shallow, but I don't just keep my dogs at a good weight for health, I like the way they look.  It's hard to imagine a fat pointer but I have seen them.  Jumper is so beautifully trim and muscular, and many a person has commented on how pretty she is.  Yet, I have had other people remark that she is too thin.  No, that is the way a pointer in working condition looks.

I hate to see a good-looking dog start the ascent into portliness.  The waist is the first to go.  On a bigger dog, you start to see that sag in the topline as they get older and fatter.  That is one thing I have really liked about Curly, my lab.  He has always been in great shape and, at 10 years of age, has not developed that swayback you see in so many retrievers from being overweight most of their lives.

So, I urge all of you who are reading this to go to your dogs and do the rib check.  Can you feel them without having to apply any pressure?  When you look at your dog from the top, is the chest wider than the hips?  Do they have a waist or indentation just above the hips?  These criteria apply to all dogs regardless of breed or type.

Get off your butt and take your dog for a walk.  And I mean move.  Not the stop and sniff every five feet kind of walk.  You and your dog should be a little breathy if you are to get any benefits from your litle jaunt. It's a great way to burn a few calories yourself. Just think of your dog as the best piece of exercise equipment you will ever own.  You'll certainly get more positive feedback than you will from a treadmill.