~~Welcome~~

Flash Slideshow

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*~*~*~*~Welcome*~*~**~

I'm very happy that you have found the homepage of Minis by Schnauzers Of Taylor. Maybe you are interested in the breed or maybe you are looking for the proper puppy for you. Maybe you already have a miniature schnauzer. You might be my relative or friend or maybe someone just gave you my link. In every case, you are warmly welcome to my website!

I breed black miniature schnauzers and sometimes have salt/peppers. My goal is to produce the best quality, not quantity. A high quality miniature schnauzer is the combination of the steadfast health, the character with right temperament and an appearance of the breed standard.

Originally bred in Germany as a working dog, the miniature schnauzer is a breed known for its fearlessness as well as its fitness. Facing tasks in both sport and as a watch dog, the schnauzer is versatile breed that responds no matter what the calling may be. Today in the U.S., most schnauzers have taken on the role of companion, and just like their ancestors, they excel in their purpose.

Because the miniature schnauzer was originally used as a working dog, its appearance should be strong and stocky,but not overweight. The coat of the miniature schnauzer is made up of a dense undercoat with the top coat clipped short.

The miniature schnauzer was bred to work at many types of jobs. Many of the characteristics that were highly desirable for work still remain today. They are fearless guard dogs with a keen sense of alertness and superior level of fitness.
Although no longer employed solely as working dogs, miniature schnauzers are a unique breed that has taken the role of a wonderful family companion.

Here you have a good chance to get to know my breeding principles, beloved dogs and other activity. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me or call.

Planned Litters for 2010

ARMANI X TESSA DUE JAN-FEB 2010

Tessa is owned by Scott and Karen Brown and will be bred very soon to our Armani. We look for beautiful coated minis between 14-16 lbs and in chocolate black, blacks or salt/peppers. Tessa is out of our retired Madame Valrhona Of Taylor.
She is in heat as we speak, breeding to take place soon. We will keep you posted on our progress. See waitlist below.

HOLLY BERRY X ARMANI FEB-MAR 2010

Holly Berry we produced from our Gabriella and Cooper. She was born Nov 6th, 2007. She is a beautiful mini that weighs 17 lbs and is 13x13.
This litter should be blacks with maybe a salt/pepper. Due in heat anytime, we will keep you posted on her breeding.See waitlist below

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WAITLIST 2010***WE EXPECT 3 BREEDINGS THIS YEAR:
Black Male: Scott and Karen
Black Male: Irizarry, Tx
Black Female: K. Kubena, Tx
Black Male: Surprise for Houston, Tx

By being placed on our waitlist you are agreeing that would like to wait for one of our babies. Every effort will be made to get you exactly what you are wanting. All of our babies are well worth the wait and we promise that we do the best job possible. We will keep you posted on the progress of our breeding's and our pregnancy. Once a litter is born you will be contacted and can either pick a puppy from that litter or choose to wait for the next litter. At that time a non-refundable deposit of $300 will be taken (see our deposit contract section). We understand that circumstances can change, please let us know as soon as possible if that is the case while on our waitlist,it is not fair for the other parents who are waiting.

Litter "La vita e' Bella" Life Is Beautiful Born 10/9/09

*~*~*~*~Litter Name "La vita e' Bella" means "Life is Beautiful" with nicknames in Italian*~*~



Our LineUp:
1. Girl: for Leong Family, Tx (approved/deposit rcd) Pink string Girl "Sophia" (means beautiful)
2. Boy: for Garvin Family, Tx (approved/deposit rcd)Red string Boy "Zanipolo" (means little gift of God)
3. Boy: C. Banks, AZ (approved/ deposit rcd) Green string boy "Marcello" (means strong warrior)
4. No string Girl:MCDONALD, DC (approved)"Amadora" (means gift of love)
5. Girl:MCDONALD, DC (approved) Purple string Girl "Giovanna" (means God is gracious)
6. Boy: M.Thomas, PA (approved/deposit rcd) Blue string Boy "Shadow"
7. Boy: B. Sumner, Tx (pending deposit) Yellow string Boy "Beau"


Pick Up Times/Dates:
Dec 5th 8:00am Shadow flys to PA
Dec 5th AM: Amadora and Giovanna fly to DC
Dec 12th 1:00pm Marcello leaves
Dec 12th 1:30 Sophia
Dec 12th 5:00 Zanipolo
Dec 12th 5:30 Bert


Video:

11/8/09 Playing!


Girls 4 weeks 11/6/09


Boys 4 weeks 11/6/09

Isabella Sofia and Joshua Von Cooper are proud parents born early 10/9/09. We have been blessed with 3 gorgeous black girls and 4 very handsome black males. Very black and just the most awesome and beautiful shine. All are doing well*~**~They look like little black bears!
Will be the very classic coats and larger minis up to 20 lbs.
If you are looking for the classic mini then this is the litter. Bella has the most awesome family pets you could ever have. Great size for kids in the house too. Bella loves to play or just perch high on the back of the couch. She loves tummy rubs and never complains except if she thinks she needs to. She loves to take a squeaky toy and squeak and squeak until I take it away. Loves to play hide and seek with daddy's hanker chief for hours. You can almost see the grin on her face with joy. She is a very good mommy to her babies and is one we have to wean away ourselves. She loves vanilla cookies and will do almost anything for one. She and her sister Gabby are what I call as close to a perfect pet as one can find. Not much of a barker except to alert us to a stranger or newcomer. Cooper is our big baby Huey. Never sees a stranger and is just the most awesome guy. Get your classic baby NOW, she is retiring with a wonderful family in Austin and with her daughter Giada Dec 2009.


BLOG:


11/5/09: Using the litterbox great already. Loving their new big area and more freedom. Still nursing great.
11/6/09: HAPPY FOUR WEEKS OLD! Hope you like the new videos. It is hard to catch everyone awake and active at this stage, they just want to sleep.
11/9/09: Please start reading our "Bring Puppy Home" section, this is your homework over the next few weeks.
Please see pick up times and dates above and sign up.
11/10/09: Gruel is being increase and soaked food is next. Teeth are really coming in and these guys are hungry.
11/11/09: I forsee some pics in honor of Veterans Day in the near future :0)

11/12/09: QUESTIONS:
most all of this is covered in my Bringing Home Pup section.

I'm thinking that that black box in the pen was the litter box, right? Yes, covered in the home section. This size is good for pups but I recommend a regular size large can pan once home or they slosh out the pine pellets.

What was in it? These are the pine pellets that can be purchased at Tractor Supply....details under that section.

How old do you think he needs to be before I try the puppy door? I am not sure, I guess it will just depend on him.

Age to walk on leash? Please complete all shots before leash walking anywhere besides your little closed in yard.

I'll practice in our back yard first, but I want to take him out and meet everyone, so leash or not? carry him until all shots are complete

You told me this before, but when do I get him neutered? between 5-6 months

You'll be giving him his shots, are there more after those? Texas recommends them at 6,9 and 12 weeks. Rabies we give at 12 weeks.

I will want to know how to get in touch with the Blue Buffalo company that you referred to as well. Leave him on the Eukanuba for a couple of months before switching. Let him adjust to everything first. Blue Buffalo can be purchased at any pet store.

Do you recommend one feeding a day or two? I recommend twice a day. So divide the recommended daily serving into 2 feedings. If he seems hungry you can suppliment with some yogurt, dried chicken breast, fruit, vegis or cheese.

Can he hold his potty for 3 hours? Do a web search on crate training. It tells you how long they can hold it depending on age. They recommend every couple of hours under 12 weeks of age.

Do I put a diaper in his little carrier just in case during flight? You could put a pee pad in there. I think he should be fine. I will try and withhold food and water, it won't hurt him until you get home. You may have a litterbox already packed in your trunk or something so you can let him use it once you land. NO potty on the ground at a airport....yuck, thing how many dogs do that.

do you find that they just sleep the whole way? Yes, most say they just sleep. I am going to put some Lavendar oil on his a litte cloth before he leaves and you can stick it inside his crate with him. That will help. I always do that when I fly babies.

Is there a place or can you tell me some more of the things that you do from week to week with the puppies.
Do you mean after he is home?
Usually I recommend the
week 1 introduce him to 10 new sounds
Week 2 10 new people
Week 3 10 new places
After this stage he should of had his shots and can start going more places. Pet stores, parks etc. Let kids and older people handle him every chance you get. The pet store is a great place. Just ask folks to help socialize your puppy and ask if they would hold him.

I noticed that my puppy doesn't seem to engage in play as much as the others on the video, why is this? This is the reason I dislike putting up videos. These pups are little and sleep about 23 hours out of 24 hours. The 2 min clip that I shoot does not mean that all the pups are ready for play or that they just didn't finish their play hour. Believe me they all are very active, they bite, they cry, they bark and they want tons of attention. Please do not judge your puppy by a 2 min clip. Thank you!!!
HAPPY 5 WEEK OLD BIRTHDAY!!
11/14/09: Today we enjoyed our first full bowl of kibble sprinkled with greens powder. Did just great with no problems chewing as each puppy now has a mouthful of teeth. Using the litterbox 100% now and I have removed all newspaper from the bottom of their pen that lined it in case of accidents. Very smart and clean babies except I think they are getting into the water on purpose!!!
For my parents with small children, please read:
http://www.bluebuff.com/health/obedience-training.shtml?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=november09
11/15/09: All AKC papers have been ordered now for the litter. Microchips are here along with puppy packets. It just amazes me how quickly this seems to be going. They are now what I like to call toddlers. They are really mean to each other and feeling their oats as I call it. They bite ears, tails and what ever else they can grab. Bella was fussing at somebody this morning over something. She is about ready to wean with these mouthfuls of teeth, I don't blame her. We will really be working on socialzing over the next few weeks. This next week on Sat they will get their first set of shots and will have their micro-chips inserted. They also will enjoy their first bath together. Finial invoices will also be sent out then. Your finial invoice will also include their AKC registration and Micro-Chip number. Pups being picked up the finial payment must be paid in cash, no checks accepted but please remember to remove the paypal fee amount. Shadow will need to have payment returned quickly so we can get his flight booked.
Good time to start looking into training classes in your area. Once the finial round of shots are finished at 12 weeks they should be starting in some kind of puppy training. This is not only good for them to continue with meeting new people and other dogs but also is good to teach you how to handle situations as well and know you are not alone. You get to see what works with other new parents.
The first 4-6 weeks will not be easy. They will want to bite your fingers because of teething and chewing and then learning what you expect from them with potty training.
I think I get the most questions about how to handle mouthy pups, please read this section also.
11/16/09: Last night was the first night they slept without their mommmy. They did fine and Bella did also. I think she was glad for the break actually. I am adding a little plain canned pumpkin and yogurt in with their food, yummy...they love it. Pumpkin is great for the tummy and if they ever have loose stools or even constipation, works for both. Yogurt is really good also. All I had was strawberry and they seem to love it. Really are starting to chew and your fingers are fair game they think. Instead of saying NO, I just stick something else in their mouth to distract them.
11/17/09: First accident last night in the pen outside of the litterbox, not bad considering 7 pups. Of course nobody confessed to the mess....Starting them on frozen raw carrots for teething.
11/18/09: Last night they all enjoyed time with us in the livingroom on the couch, thank god for leather. No accidents, they were just perfect. They loved the big comfy blankie and all curled up in it.
11/19/09: I will be working on finial invoices this evening and tomorrow. Shots and micro-chips,check up and first bath on Sat. I should have new pics/video by Sunday evening. Please bear with me, this is pretty busy age for us :0)
11/20/09: These happy little faces are such a joy to wake up each day. I feel very blessed that they will have such wonderful and loving homes waiting for them. Thank you for trusting me and enjoying this journey together.

~*~*~*Litter" La Dolce Vita" Litter*~**~Born 10/18/09

*~*~Litter Name "La Dolce Vita" means "The Good Life"*~*



Our Lineup:
1. Male: "Albert aka Bert" camo collar for the Donohoo family, Tx (returning proud parents to Mattie (Gabby X Cooper litter)and sissy Sadie!)
2. Black Female (pink collar) for the Mullen family, CA (also returning proud parents to Rhonie) her Rhonie was the namesake for the Rhonie we had that is now retired!
3. Black Male "Cookie" (red collar) for the Powers family, Tx
4.salt/pepper female- Tx

Pick UP Date/Times:
Pick Up Times/Dates:
Dec 5th 8:00am Shadow flys to PA
Dec 5th AM: Amadora and Giovanna fly to DC
Dec 12th 12:00
Dec 12th 12:30
Dec 12th 1:00pm Marcello leaves
Dec 12th 1:30 Sophia leaves
Dec 12th Zanipolo leave 5:00pm
Dec 12th Bert 5:30





Will be thicker fur smaller size minis. With the little thicker coats and they do require more brushing then the classic coats but feel oh so good, like sleeping with your favorite blankie. See my section and video about Thicker Coats. Gabby is a classic coat and a very laid back girl. Just a sweetheart who loves to watch everyone else play and act as the nurse maid. Loves to bury herself in our pillows on our bed or snuggle. Gabby loves tomatoes and carrots. Her favorite toy is a black Ty kitty that all the stuffing is out of, we call it road kill kitty. (It lays flat as a pancake)Doesn't bark much unless she feels the need to. She is always in your face to snuggle but doesn't lick. Litter is fathered by Armani our thick coated little guy weighing 12 lbs who is the love of my life.

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VIDEOS:

18 Days 11/5/09

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10/18/09: Babies are here, everyone is doing just great. 1 salt/pepper girl, 1 black girl and 2 black boys.
10/21/09: Vet checks tomorrow for tails and dew claw removal. Everyone is eating great and growing. Doing our exercises.
10/24/09: Vet checks went great yesterday. Dr. Graef said they sure were cute. Didn't cry much last night after tails and dew claws were removed. Nursing great and just starting to really move around. Gabby is being such a great mom.
One little salt/pepper baby left from this litter.
10/25/09: HAPPY ONE WEEK OLD BIRTHDAY!!
10/28/09: Starting to sleep less and move around more. At this point they really just like to eat and sleep and really don't appreciate me making them upset, oh well...gotta do it!
1 salt/pepper girl remaining from this litter.
10/29/09:Eyes should be opening very soon as they are coming up on their 2 week old birthday.
10/31/09: EYES ARE STARTING TO OPEN!!! They are almost finished with their neuro exercises. This next week they will start moving around a lot more, crawling and starting to work on walking.

11/01/09: The boys sleeping.

11/01/09: The girls sleeping, they actually sleep on top of each other all of the time.
11/2/09: Cali still has one eye that needs to open but other than that everyone has peepers today!!!
11/4/09: They are working on their walking, they look like drunk little bears. Growing like little weeds and eating just great. Gabby has tons of milk.
Today was bleach day. I use a dilution of bleach and water and clean the puppy floor/room from top to bottom. Daily we wash blankets (I love to buy a queen size cheap blanket $4.98 from Walmart and cut into 4 pieces) daily in soap and bleach and hot water. All of this to prevent illness. Just read today that in Georgetown (about 30 min from us) that the dog shelter has parvo. Numerous dogs had to be put down. Sad....
11/5/09: Really working on their walking at this point. They are so fat that those little legs don't want to hold them up. They end up pulling themselves around a lot but they will get there once some of that baby fat comes off.
11/9/09: They are just so cute, really starting to come alive. Playing with each other and walking pretty well. Eating great!
Please see pick up times above and let me know what time works for you. They only pick up date available for you on the weekend is on Dec 12th. If you wanted to get your baby in the evening during the week before the 12th please let me know.
11/12/09: QUESTIONS:
most all of this is covered in my Bringing Home Pup section.

I'm thinking that that black box in the pen was the litter box, right? Yes, covered in the home section. This size is good for pups but I recommend a regular size large can pan once home or they slosh out the pine pellets.

What was in it? These are the pine pellets that can be purchased at Tractor Supply....details under that section.

How old do you think he needs to be before I try the puppy door? I am not sure, I guess it will just depend on him.

Age to walk on leash? Please complete all shots before leash walking anywhere besides your little closed in yard.

I'll practice in our back yard first, but I want to take him out and meet everyone, so leash or not? carry him until all shots are complete

You told me this before, but when do I get him neutered? between 5-6 months

You'll be giving him his shots, are there more after those? Texas recommends them at 6,9 and 12 weeks. Rabies we give at 12 weeks.

I will want to know how to get in touch with the Blue Buffalo company that you referred to as well. Leave him on the Eukanuba for a couple of months before switching. Let him adjust to everything first. Blue Buffalo can be purchased at any pet store.

Do you recommend one feeding a day or two? I recommend twice a day. So divide the recommended daily serving into 2 feedings. If he seems hungry you can supplement with some yogurt, dried chicken breast, fruit, vegis or cheese.

Can he hold his potty for 3 hours? Do a web search on crate training. It tells you how long they can hold it depending on age. They recommend every couple of hours under 12 weeks of age.

Do I put a diaper in his little carrier just in case during flight? You could put a pee pad in there. I think he should be fine. I will try and withhold food and water, it won't hurt him until you get home. You may have a litterbox already packed in your trunk or something so you can let him use it once you land. NO potty on the ground at a airport....yuck, thing how many dogs do that.

Do you find that they just sleep the whole way during flight? Yes, most say they just sleep. I am going to put some Lavender oil on a little cloth before he leaves and you can stick it inside his crate with him. That will help. I always do that when I fly babies.

Is there a place or can you tell me some more of the things that you do from week to week with the puppies.
Do you mean after he is home?
Usually I recommend the
week 1 introduce him to 10 new sounds
Week 2 10 new people
Week 3 10 new places
After this stage he should of had his shots and can start going more places. Pet stores, parks etc. Let kids and older people handle him every chance you get. The pet store is a great place. Just ask folks to help socialize your puppy and ask if they would hold him.

I noticed that my puppy doesn't seem to engage in play as much as the others on the video, why is this? This is the reason I dislike putting up videos. These pups are little and sleep about 23 hours out of 24 hours. The 2 min clip that I shoot does not mean that all the pups are ready for play or that they just didn't finish their play hour. Believe me they all are very active, they bite, they cry, they bark and they want tons of attention. Please do not judge your puppy by a 2 min clip. Thank you!!!
11/14/09: They will be introduced to the litterbox this weekend. Walking is not mastered and they are really coming alive. Coats are getting really thick.
For my parents with small children, please read:
http://www.bluebuff.com/health/obedience-training.shtml?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=november09
11/15/09: HAPPY 4 WEEK OLD BIRTHDAY. This is a difficult time for the pups, they are going through their 4 week old fear stage. Loud noises and movement can scare them. We just work through these issues with a calm and positive attitude and talk softly to them. My grandma will appear this week at some point to handle them and I usually try to have more kids around to help also.
11/16/09: Thank you Donohoo family for your visit. It is always nice to see returning parents. I think each of the boys are going to be in their perfect families. Armani was a big ham for them.
11/18/09: I am feeling mouthfuls of teeth already. Gabby is still nursing just great though. Cali seemed to have some constipation so we gave her raw pumpkin and olive oil. Seemed to move things right along, she is fine this morning.
11/19/09: They are pretty much past their scardy phase and are now wanting to be picked up. Playing pretty ruff with each other. They pick on Cali I guess because she is the smallest so they are getting fussed at over that. Cali is just going to have to tougher with those brothers.

Is Yogurt Good For Your Dog???

As with us humans, there has been an increasing interest in the use of natural foods and supplements to enhance nutritional balance in dogs. One food that comes up often is yogurt, and there are many who sing the praises of yogurt as a nutritional supplement.

What Yogurt Contains
In addition to being a natural source of calcium, yogurt contains a strain of lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) which is a “probiotic,” or healthy bacteria. L. acidophilus naturally inhabits both the intestinal tract, and it does several good things for dogs (and us, as well). First, it assists in both folic acid and niacin production, which are both necessary for good health, especially in pregnant dogs. It also helps remove amino acids (protein building blocks) from bile acids in the digestive system. Perhaps the most notable benefit of L. acidophilus, however, is the protection it provides from other “bad” bacteria. As it breaks down nutrients, L. acidophilus releases both hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid, which can destroy or inhibit harmful bacteria. Additionally, since many bad bacteria feed on the same nutrients as L. acidophilus, a healthy digestive culture can simply starve off other bacteria.

There are other reported benefits as well, including reduced cholesterol levels, a reduction in the intestinal population of E. coli (a very common and harmful bacteria), improved immune function, and even a reduction in the occurrence of yeast infections. While there does need to be more study before these benefits can be convincingly proven, there are quite a few dog owners who sing their various praises of yogurt and L. acidophilus.

Yogurt and Antibiotics
Many people first hear about yogurt as a beneficial supplement after they or their dog are prescribed an oral antibiotic. Antibiotics will kill good bacteria in the intestine, including L. acidophilus, which can lead to diarrhea, sensitive stomach, gas, etc., so yogurt is an excellent source for replenishing your digestive system’s natural, healthy bacteria after a course of antibiotics.

What Yogurt to Feed
Probably not the yogurt you like to eat! Flavored yogurt contains quite a bit of sugar, and it’s definitely more sugar that your dog should consume. Even “light” yogurt, which contains artificial sweeteners, should be avoided, as dogs can be extremely sensitive to a variety of sugar substitutes. It’s important to use only plain, unflavored yogurt, and to check the label to be sure it contains active yogurt cultures (active L. acidophilus).

If you are considering giving your dog yogurt as an occasional supplement, definitely check with your vet to determine how much to give. Dogs do need calcium, but overfeeding high-calcium foods is believed to increase bone abnormalities, so ask your vet to help you set up a yogurt supplementation schedule. Your dog is likely to thank you!

from QualityDogs.com

How To Choose Between Male and Female Dogs

By Mary Stasiewicz

In some ways, choosing between male and female dogs is a matter of personal preference. However, there are some characteristics which are common in bitches and other characteristics which are common in male dogs. It is important to evaluate these characteristics and determine which sex would fit in best with your home situation. Additionally, choosing between male and female dogs is important if you already have another bitch or male dog and are choosing an additional dog. This article will list a few characteristics of bitches, a few characteristics of male dogs, and how to choose between male and female dogs when considering a second or third dog.

The following characteristics often apply to bitches:


1.Independent - Bitches tend to want to be in control of the entire situation. They may come to their owner when they are seeking affection but will often move away when they have had enough.
2.Stubborn - In many packs, a bitch is typically the Alpha. Female dogs crave more control of situations and are quick to respond to perceived challenges with fierceness.
3.Territorial - Female dogs mark in the same way male dogs do. A spayed female may continue to mark for her entire lifetime regardless of when she is spayed while most males will cease marking behaviors shortly after they are neutered and the testosterone levels subside.
4.Reserved - Bitches are generally less affectionate and friendly than male dogs. This characteristic is noticeable in puppies and becomes more pronounced with age.

Changes in Mood or Behavior - It is also important to note that if you do not spay your bitch, she will come into heat at approximately one year of age and approximately every six months thereafter. During this time, there will be some bleeding as well as a change in mood or behavior.


The following characteristics often apply to male dogs:



1.Affectionate - Male dogs are typically more affectionate than bitches. They tend to crave attention from their owners more than bitches and as a result, display more affectionate behaviors.
2.Exuberant - A male dog is also more likely to be fun-loving and outgoing throughout his lifetime than a bitch. While a bitch tends to become more reserved as she ages, a male dog maintains a more puppy-like exuberance throughout his lifetime.
Great for kids with energy.
3.Food-Motivated - Males are often very motivated by food. This food motivation can make training extremely easy as treats can be used to lure and reward a dog to display desired behaviors.
4.Attentive - While bitches tend to be more independent, males tend to be more focused on their human companions. They want to always be close to the human and are very eager to please.
5.Aggressive Behaviors - It is also important to note that intact males may display aggressive behaviors toward other males or exhibit marking behaviors. Additionally, intact males should be kept away from females in heat unless a breeding is planned.
Dog owners who are adding an additional dog to their home should carefully consider the ramifications of adding a dog of either sex. This is important because the makeup of the existing pack may be more accepting to either a male or a female dog.

(We recommend that all males be fixed between 5-6 months of age to eliminate #5)

The following are general tips for selecting the gender of a second dog:

If you already have a male or a female, a dog of the opposite sex is generally the best choice. Dogs of the same sex are more likely to fight than dogs of the opposite sex.
If you already have a male dog, he is likely to be more accepting of a female and you are likely to have fewer dominance issues if you add a female to the pack. However, if you opt to add another male to the pack, they can peacefully co-exist and may even become friends. It is important to closely monitor their interactions early on to ensure aggressive behaviors do not become common.
If you already have a female dog, she is likely to be more accepting of a male. Most males tend to be submissive. If he does not challenge your resident female, she is not likely to have a reason to fight with him. Adding a female dog to the pack, however, may result in complications. The worst combination of dogs is two bitches because they are more likely to fight than a male and a female or two males. However, many dog owners have two or more bitches that live together without problems. As long as there is an established Alpha and the other bitches know their place in the pack, there will not be dominance struggles often, although they may still occur.
Selecting a male or female dog is largely a matter of personal preference. The above characteristics are generalizations, and it is certainly possible to purchase or adopt a female puppy who displays male characteristics or a male puppy who displays the typical female characteristics. Additionally, bitches that are spayed and dogs that are neutered often do not have the gender-specific problems associated with their sex such as coming into heat or marking.

*******Notes From Parents*********
"Let me give my two cents on this topic. Males have always gotten a bad rap because of owners who were not responsible and had them fixed. I have owned both through my lifetime before I started breeding. My Pepper that I grew up with was a male who in those days before we knew better, didn't fix. He would sometimes raise his leg in the house but he pretty well knew better. My sassy that I had later in life was a female that was fixed and she began raising her leg on furniture in late age. Why? Don't know. I will tell that my females really can be moody,hard headed and stubborn. Cooper our breeder is the most lovable fun loving guy and is always ready to play. Our new little Armani is the love of my life. He only wants to please is so content to sit and be rocked. My females would never hear of that. Megan started using Holly for training and has now began using Armani. Holly never cared to perform but he loves to be the center of attention.
So like it says above, it is a personal preference and either one will make a wonderful pet but each have their own good and bad." Donna
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Congratulations!!!!!
"I was reading your blog about male vs female pups. I was only about females thought I would NEVER have a male. Worried about the hiking of the leg and humping stuff...........all those horror stories you hear and see with male dogs. Well last summer I got a male black and white, I wanted the phantom look and he did look like that until recently..............now he looks alot like Malorie, dark salt and pepper..............ANYWAY he is such a blessing! He is so laid back and you would NEVER know he was a boy unless you looked. As a matter of fact my husband teases that I am making a sissy outta him! Anyone would be lucky to have one of your males for an addition to their household!
Again I was SO anti-male until I got Mason. We got him fixed as soon as we could and he has NO male tendencies, and you are so right Malorie does for sure have the more pushy moody personality:) Gotta love those girls!
Your new young man is very handsome! Maybe in the future I would love to have one of his babies.
Sorry for the rambling email!
Take care and best wishes with the new additions:)"
Renee
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"I thought I would weigh in on the males vs. females as I have always been a pro male advocate even when they weren't popular.
I've always owned male dogs though I have over the years owned a sporadic female or two. I do not tend to get along with the females and have dominance issues with them that I don't have with my boys. We have 2 males at the house now and I don't have any leg lifting or dominance issues with them. Both my boys are very food motivated which helps quite a bit with training. Turk's very laid back and LOVES to play!" Kim

Thicker Coat "What is it"???

*~*This is super coated Isabella by our Armani*~*


Schnauzers, have different types of Schnauzer hair. Hair types vary from
the coarse German bristle terrier type hair (seen in the show ring) to the
ultra soft sheltie/type hair. Somewhere in the middle is the cotton
candy type hair that gets those really yucky mats. Because the
Schnauzer is a mix of the Affenpincher and the Poodle, you also
find Schnauzers with straight hair, others with dense curly poodle
type hair, and every other variation in between.

We have pups now with the thicker soft straight type hair
that almost never mats. Many people are breeding "Designer Dogs" by crossing several different breeds. We know at Schnauzes Of Taylor, mixing several breeds can be problematic from a health standpoint. We recommend sticking to a purebred AKC schnauzer and getting the coat that fits your lifestyle.

New Canine Parvo virus strain (Oklahoma St. University)‏

There was a new canine parvovirus strain identified last year by OSU:

http://www.cvhs.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43
7

OSU Laboratory First to Discover a Virus in United States - OADDL
Identifies A New Canine Parvovirus


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STILLWATER, Okla.-a team of Oklahoma State University (OSU)
veterinarians, virologists and pathologists at the Oklahoma Animal
Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL) recently published a paper in the
Journal of Clinical Microbiology on their findings from a Canine
parvovirus (CPV) study. Led by Dr. Sanjay Kapil, the group is the first
to describe the CPV type 2c variant in the United States.

"We were quite fortunate to discover this variant," explains Kapil. "It
has been known for six years in Italy but nobody paid attention to it
here until we found it last year."

Shortly after Kapil joined the OSU Center for Veterinary Health
Sciences, he received a case at the OADDL. The adult dog had been
vaccinated multiple times and still became sick with Parvovirus.

"This was very unusual and we were totally surprised that it was CPV
type 2c, which had not been found in the U.S. until then," says Kapil.
"What was so interesting was that after we described this disease, we
ended up with samples from other locations here in the U.S."

A patent has been filed on the characteristics of the U.S. CPV-2c. The
team reports that 500 samples were submitted from locations in south
California to south Florida. The published paper has been presented at
national level meetings and internationally in Italy and Melbourne,
Australia. However, their work is not done.

"The team work was most important. Sometimes we received ten dead
puppies a day. We are working with several veterinarians and are
receiving samples from cases with a history of vaccine failure,"
continues Kapil. "Diagnostic laboratories need to be involved to
identify CPV-2c. The disease now exists in all countries except
Australia because of its geographical isolation."

According to Kapil, the disease presentation is different in that
normally parvovirus does not affect adult dogs only puppies. However,
since publishing their findings, the OADDL has received samples from
adult dogs in Minnesota.

"Veterinarians are confused because the in office diagnostic tests come
up negative," explains Kapil. "Clinically it looks like parvovirus so
they send it to us. The OADDL tests it and it is parvovirus. Now
world-wide (except for Australia), this particular variant can attack
the heart and intestines."

He goes on to say that the mortality can be quite heavy. One breeder
claims to have lost 600 puppies in one night. Without diagnostic
confirmation, it is not known if the cause was simply this virus or if
other factors were involved.

"We will continue to study CPV-2c. Through collaborations with others we
will search for more effective vaccines," he promises.

Of 80 cases tested by the OADDL, 26 were from Oklahoma puppies/dogs. Of
those 26, 15 tested positive for CPV-2c. For more information on the
Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, visit
http://www.cvhs.okstate.edu

*~Armani's Chocolate Thunder*~*

Myspace Layouts

Meet our newest addition to our family. We call him Armani. We were very blessed to be able to add this little guy to our breeding program for you.
Armani was born on June 24th, 2008. He should size down our minis for you and add a thicker coat. Megan is using Armani for the Happy Tails 4 H program. He is training in obedience, confirmation and Rally.
His eyes have been re-certified (CERF) and are perfect. He weighs 12 lbs and is 12x12....we call him the perfect 12.
He is such a love bug. He doesn't think he has feet when I am around. He loves to be carried and snuggled.

***CERF eye re-certified year 2 on Nov 14, 2009****Excellent Eyes****
*** DNA Certified****

Check out Armani's Blue Trading card. http://bluebufftradingcards.com/PetAlbum-Inside.aspx?PPID=14888

*~*~*~*~*Our Home**~*~*~~*

We are deeply devoted to providing our puppies the very best start in life. In return we expect only the best for them from their new families. Not only do they get the best of care during their first 8 weeks of life, best in nutrition, mental stimulation, love socialization, and medical care.

Here you can see our in home nursery. I wouldn't have it any other way. They are under my constant supervision including a baby monitor so I can hear them at night and a TV monitor so I can see them while in other parts of the house. For the first 2weeks our puppies are spoken to, loved and cuddled several times per day. We also start our early neuro stimulation on day 3 and continue to day 16. During this time our eyes open. Starting at 3-5 weeks of age we get moved into our larger play area so we have lots of room to move around. We also get introduced to the litterbox.We have "puppy playtime" daily. During this time they are allowed to explore inside and after our first set of shots, outside.

Our grown dogs have their own play area in our back which they enjoy when out. They have a very large basket of toys to play with that is rotated to prevent boredom. They are crated only at night for sleep. No cages and pens here! When cold weather strikes they have access to their area in our garage for shelter.

I had somebody that wants to be placed on my wait list for next year ask me this "If I were to come to your house unexpected right now, what would I smell"....I appreciate all my questions that I get. For the many parents that have had the opportunity to visit my house know that you probably would smell bleach or my Circle E candles burning. I am so anal about cleaning down the puppy room 3 times a week with bleach water, bedding daily (more if needed) and papers and litter once or twice daily. Dishes and bowls are ran through the dishwasher after each use. Blankets are washed daily. Because my pups are in my house living with us, it is imperative that nothing smells.

Beginners Guide To Feeding A Raw Diet

Feeding your dog a meat-based diet has never been easier. NUTRITION or a machine to work properly, it requires the manufacturer's recommended fuel, lubrication, and maintenance. The same is true for our dogs (and ourselves). In the wild, every creature will find and choose the foods most suitable for its evolutionary development. Our dogs evolved to eat - mostly - other animals. Their strong jaws were designed to crush bones, and their sharp teeth to tear raw meat. So say the innovators who developed so-called " BARF " diets for dogs. BARF is an acronym that stands for either Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, or Bones And Raw Food; the terms are used interchangeably. There are thousands of dog guardians who feed their dogs homemade BARF -based diets, buying all the ingredients and preparing their dogs' meals from scratch. People who utilize home-prepared diets are happy to discuss the many benefits of this feeding method for their dogs, including clean, tartar-free teeth; fresh breath; strong bones, muscles, and joints; a glossy coat; a healthy amount of energy and a balanced temperament;and overall vibrant good health. For all the people who have made the leap to a homemade, meat-based diet for their dogs, however, there are many more who would like to make the change, but who are intimidated by the challenge of "getting it just right." Some are afraid of failing to present their dogs with a balanced array of nutrients; others fear bacterial contamination from handling raw meats.

Schnauzers Of Taylor is in the process of feeding a parital raw diet to our adults. They love RMB (raw meaty bones). We feed morning meals of chicken necks or backs and in the afternoon a muscles meat or fish with organ meat. More info to follow.

http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm

"Birthday Surprise" Litter June 24, 2009

************************
Holly Berry X Armani-Holly gave birth 6/24/09 and on their daddy's birthday....that is so neat and what a "BIRTHDAY SURPRISE"!! We have been blessed with 5 boys and 3 girls (I had to do a recount). Mom and babies are doing just fine...Of the boys 2 are black and it looks like 3 are dark salt/pepper or silver/black. Of the girls we have 2 blacks and 1 dark salt/pepper. Very unique and beautiful litter and you are going to have to bear with me on the colors. I will only know for sure as they grow what we have.
Holly is from our very own Gabriella Bellina and Joshua Von Cooper. Should be smaller mini's about 13-16 lbs and thick coats. Holly is a mini at 14x14. Holly is our clown. Seems like she loves to do things to make us laugh and see talks. She always has a say. Loves everyone to death and cleans a face very well. She has enjoyed advanced training with some agility.
Armani is our newest little guy and is replacing Cooper and is a small polar bear coated boy at 11 lbs and 12x12 . Armani should size down our minis some for you and add a fuller coat. Megan is using Armani for the Happy Tails 4 H program. He is training in obedience, confirmation and Rally.
His eyes have been certified (CERF) Nov 15, 2008****Excellent Eyes****AKC DNA #V568596
His dad is Texas T's-Armani and his mom is Mrs. B's Maggies Chloe Blanton at www.mrsbsteenyschnauzers.com
He is such a love bug. He doesn't think he has feet when I am around. He loves to be carried and snuggled. This is our first litter by him and he has thrown us some beautiful pups. I can't wait to see them at about a year of age, they will be stunning.


*These pups have limited AKC registration only*

OUR LINEUP:

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No String Black "Bella": Mclean, Tx (and repeat parent of Jaxx)
9/2/09:"Thank you Donna..........great pic of Uly and Isabella but I look like poo. ....ha! Bella is doing well. She is my shadow and she is currently curled up in my lap. We only had one accident today inside......my fault as I was not watching her. All other bathroom duties have been successful outside. It is a blessing that I am between jobs so we can do it this way. I'm hoping she'll be trained in 10 days to 2 weeks........we'll see...... Jaxx is not in love with her but he is tolerant. He watches her a lot. She seems to adore him, her little tail wags like crazy when he pays attention to her. She is already jumping into giant monkey grass bushes without fear, she can already climb the back steps, and if she amazingly seems to be using logic when she finds herself in a situation where she can't get up or out, she'll figure it out and go around another way instead of crying about it.............but she does not appreciate being left in her crate when I go to Yoga. She was asleep when I came back an hour later. She woke up once last night and whimpered but heard our voices and went back to sleep. She held her pee for 7.5 hours!!" Mariellen
************************
"Lexie" pink string dark salt/pepper girl: Gomez Family
8/17/09: "Hey there Donna,We are doing good with Lexie. The gilrs can’t get enough of her . We love her!" Elena
9/2/09:"Hi Donna – hope all is well. I took these pics right after Lexie’s 9 wk appointment. Can’t believe how much she’s maturing…hehehehe
We are so happy with her. Nadia can’t thank me enough for giving her what she wanted more than anything else – her exact words ;)
I told her that she could start by being a good girl with us every day!

*************************
Black Male green string "TJ":Rose, Tx
8/15/09: "Thanks for the pictures; TJ did fine; he was hungry so the food helped, then he slept. He is a quick study, he's already potting outside; if I can get him through the night that will be a great accomplishment. You were right, he spoiled rotten, he knows if he sits at your feet you will pick him up; I'm trying to break my husband, maybe I should send him to obedience school 8-).....He went to the vet today, got good reviews; vet luv him. Thanks again. will keep you posted"


8/30/09:"We are doing great, TJ is a quick study, I will brag and say he is totally house trained; in 3 days (ie knowing where to go); which I believe is a record (at least for me) he had a few accidents but that's expected. He learned to ring the bell to alert us within a week. Therefore it took a total of 10 days to get him to pot outside (wonderful). After about 4 days he was sleeping through the night, he needs to be close to us but that's not a problem.

The little guy is now 6# just got his 8 wk shots Saturday and is doing very well. He loves to ride in the car. New tricks to learn are shaking hands and roll over; sit, stay and down were no brainers for him..... He has such a 'laid back" approach to everything, a great personality; a little sneeky though but otherwise a great addition to the family.
***************************
Dark S/P Red string "Bailey": Parker, CA leaves 8/15
8/17/09:"Hi Donna,Bailey's first 24 hours in CA went pretty well. He's been eating, going potty and sleeping. In between, he really likes to play and he especially loves following us around the house. We are limiting his space to roam at this point until he's fully potty trained. So far, we take him outside every hour for potty and after that he gets a 20-30 min playtime in the house before we lure him into his crate. He's been using his litter box too. We're very happy about that.
We've been running short errands yesterday and today to get him used to our absence and hopefully his whining will get lesser and lesser as the days go. Last night, we didn't get much sleep because Bailey was up at 2, 4 and 5:30am! Hopefully, he can sleep through the night soon. As I'm writing this email to you, Bailey is sleeping contenting in his crate. He's a really sweet boy. As a first time dog-owner, Chris is doing exceptionally well taking care of Bailey. This little boy is officially his puppy!I'm sure Bailey misses everyone. We hope to continue the great work you started on him. Thank you for raising such an awesome puppy!Jacintha
8/20/09:"Hope all is well. I took Bailey to the vet yesterday and everything checked out fine. He's a healthy little chunky monkey. He responded really well to the vet. Everyone at the clinic wants to hold him and thinks he's such an adorable puppy, which I couldn't agree more!

Bailey is eating fine. Sometimes he'll finish his food, sometimes he won't. I'm not too concerned about that. I go home everyday at lunch to let him go potty outside and I think he is grasping the concept. He doesn't fuss much when we leave for work and he's well-behave when we return home. I think he's coping well with the short period of separation. We got hime some toys to play with and his two favorite toys are a sqeaky carrot and a little pyramid thing with bells. He seems to be fascinated with anything that makes noise. We took your advice and exposed him to different sound, and he responded just fine. At night, he goes to bed without a fuss and he'll want to go potty at about 3am. Chris has been such a great daddy, he'll take Bailey out every night to relieve himself. His little bad habit is to tip the water bowl, which we have since replaced it with a water bottle attached to his play-pen. When it's feeding time, we give him food and water in a bowl. But once he's done, we remove everything so he doesn't have the opportunity to play with the bowl.

Right now, he's really into biting our fingers or wanting to bite anything he sees. He has not caused any damage yet because we are not giving him too much freedom and we keep a really close watch on him. We know he's teething and he wants to play, any advise on how to help him get through this?

We saw the video of Bella and Albus. They are so adorable! I wish Bailey can play with all his siblings. Bailey is doing really well and we are very happy to have him in our lives. He sends you hugs and kissess!!"

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Black Male blue string "Albus": Elliott, Tx
8/30/09:The trip home was a bit uneventful he'd cry then he'd stop we repeated this pattern all the way home. He's been great so far he came in a sat on Julie's lap and was pretty content doing so. He's a bit unsure of the cats he pretty much keeps his distance unless they get close. He has got to the potty twice on the puppy pad (yeah) just moved the pad to see if he'll keep going to pad or if that just happened to be where he went potty. He whimpers a bit in his playpen but he has to get to used to it cause that's his play area when no one is home. He does hate the collar lol but he'll get used to it.I'll update you again soon,Josh
9/2/09:"Ok lets do a recap over the past few days.
first day he cried or i should say screamed if someone wasn't in the room. He work me up about 1 am screaming. The past two days have been great he whimpers when we leave the room but no screaming which is nice, he has let me sleep all night this probably because i don't lock him in a crate he has a crate attached to a puppy pen and he has been so awesome about only going pottey on the puppy pad that it really hasn't been necessary to lock him in the crate. He plays just fine in his puppy pen. He is a pretty nervous of the cats he doesn't chase them or anything i expected he got a little to close to Yoda once and got a good smack to the face. We went to the vet today and they said he looks perfect.
Oh and i went to eat lunch with my mom today. I came home and he wasn't in his pen i went o'crap i forgot to the lock the gate. But i found him just trotting around, he hadnt has any accidents or tore anything up, thanks goodness.Luckly becaus kiera gets into everything we keep all the doors closed at all times. I was so impressed he's been a great pup."Josh


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Orange String "Mick" :K. Szablya DC
8/15/09: Kate reported that Mick made it just fine. Gracie is being a good big sissy and is already sharing with him. We look forward to more updates soon..hint hint!!!
8/20/09:"We are doing fantastic! Gracie and Mick are getting along famously and Gracie
is a WONDERFUL big sister! It is pretty adorable because he is small enough to
be able to walk under Gracie when she is standing but he can hold his own when
they wrestle :). The two of them sleep together and wake up around 5 for some
early morning play before I get up. Louis is with them during the day, so they
are getting lots of love, exercise and supervision. Louis told me that today
Gracie initiated two new games with Mick...chase and tug, and they were chasing
around the ottoman in our living room. Mick went for his first vet visit and got
his Bordatella, and is now sacked out on the couch next to me, while Gracie is
off exploring the bathtub again (one of her favorite spots!) Mick is doing
really well with his potty training and uses the pad more than 50% of the time,
with only an occasional accident. We are extremely happy that we decided to get
a second pup so soon after Gracie...it is pure joy to see them together! :)"

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White String "Kaiser aka Beck ": Dupuis family, TX (look for their story soon under our Footprint section about the bad breeder that caused them great heartache)
8/15/09:"It was like water last night and this morning but now this afternoon it is a lot thicker so I am feeling better.
I will let you know if it changes again or gets worse. I think he will be fine and I am sure it was because of the meds.
He took his first swim today,ahah. I would not say swim it was more like a cruise on my chest while I laid on the float mat. He snuggled his head in to my neck and laid in the sun with me while the boys swam, he loved it.
I thought he wanted out so I put him on the side of the pool to hang out and then he was howling like excuse me I want to be cruising in the water like everyone else.
He is totally like a small man....
He has had a few accidents but I expect it since he has probably not had so much free range to roam.ahah.
I hope he lets me sleep tonight I was so close many times to putting him in my bed but my husband was like nope because it will never stop,ahah. Husband's suck sometimes when you have to share a bed with them,ahah.
He is staring at me right now about 6 inches from my feet so far everywhere I go he goes.
If he is sleeping in his bed near the sofa if I get up he follows me to cook in the kitchen or wherever I go.
He is totally healing my heart little by little, it feels good to have a pup again and knowing that I got a good one helps me so much, so THANK YOU BIG TIME!!!!!
Have a great night,"
sheila
8/17/09:"Thanks for the info on the crate.
I have been pulling his food so that is good then.
His poop is normal again today good news there.
He did better last night he actually played or slept and cried some but half as much as the night before.
Our master bath is just in front of our bed so he can see us sleep. I keep the doors open and put a baby gate so he is really close to us.
I think every night this week will just get less and less he will just understand it is like that and he is not sleeping on my neck,ahah.
Yes I had already said that to them about the feeding or else gosh if I go away one day and he only wants me it could be a bad day for all of them,ahahha.
The boys are having puppy races in the house and Kaiser stays hot on there heels just like a little rabbit, so funny.
They really love him already it is so good for my 9 year old you can not believe it.
He was talking about Daisy every second and today only once so I feel better about his healing already.
8/19/09: "By the way Kaiser loves the pool and loves to go in to cool off, he is so funny.
He is doing awsome at night he sleep in his area near our room and wakes me up at 7am now. He learned fast that it was sleep time and not play time, thank god,ahah.
He is using his pee pads when needed at night and he totally goes outside to potty.
He has his accidents but it is normal he has the whole house as a potty box, but he is learning quickly so I dont worry about that."


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Yellow String Black "Gracie" :Fitzpatrick, CO
8/15/09"It's 6:30 pm, the end of Gracie's first day in her new home and she's doing fine, I think. She pooped twice more this afternoon, very soft stool, but I think she'll be fine. She's napped this afternoon and has played some and I took her to meet the next door neighbors. The neighbors who loaned me the carrier came over to see her, also. Everyone thinks she is so sweet and so cute. She's such a cuddle bug and I love that!
Sophie just can't wait to play with her. It's amazing how big Sophie has grown, when she's next to Gracie. Sophie is so well adjusted to meeting other folks and I'll try to provide experiences for Gracie which will help her be as friendly to everyone, eventually.
Thank you, again, for raising her is such a loving and developmentally appropriate environment; and for taking such good care of her nutritionally, socially, and physically. She's done well today about peeing and pooping on the newspaper. She knows that's where she should go and she's hit the paper most of the time today, her first day in her new home. I feel so blessed to have found you and her. I also feel you did a great job of matching her personality to the characteristics I wanted in a dog. Thank you, again, the taking such good care of her the first 7 1/2 weeks of her life. She's just a little treasure.Gracie says, "Hi. I miss my siblings, but I'm doing fine." Karen
8/23/09: "Gracie is growing like a weed. She loves playing "tug" with Sophie using an old panty hose. She and Sophie have become fast friends and Gracie holds her own even with Sophie weighing 10 lbs and standing about 12 inches tall. They are both very sweet puppies. Gracie is a good eater and I'm still putting a teaspoon of plain yogurt on her food. She loves it. She's a very smart dog and has learned to come when called and push the swinging doggie doors open by herself.

Yesterday I had an open house celebration for about 50 guests from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. (until 9:00 for family) for my cousin One of the college kids brought Sophie and Gracie to meet everyone about 6:00. Gracie was passed from person to person and she was wonderful.Everyone thought she had the sweetest face and personality (even my brother who is not a dog lover).Gracie won everyone's heart. It's hard to believe I've only had her 10 days. She's just the best!! I think she's getting socialized well.

Thank you, again, for raising such a sweet puppy. She is so loveable and has a great personality." Karen


Videos have been moved to video section.

Calming Signals - The Art of Survival

by Turid Rugaas


For species who live in packs it´s important to be able to communicate with its own kind. Both in order to cooperate when they hunt, to bring up their offspring, and perhaps most importantly: to live in peace with each other. Conflicts are dangerous - they cause physical injuries and a weakened pack, which is something that no pack can afford - it will cause them to go extinct.

Dogs live in a world of sensory input: visual, olfactory, auditory perceptions. They easily perceive tiny details - a quick signal, a slight change in another´s behavior, the expression in our eyesÉ Pack animals are so perceptive to signals that a horse can be trained to follow the contraction in our pupils and a dog can be trained to answer your whispering voice. There´s no need to shout commands, to make the tone of our voice deep and angry - what Karen Pryor refers to as swatting flies with a shovel.

The dogs have about 30 calming signals, perhaps even more. Some of these signals are used by most dogs, while other dogs have an incredibly rich ´vocabulary´. It varies from dog to dog.

The problem
Dogs use this communication system towards us humans, simply because it´s the language they know and think everyone understands.

By failing to see your dog using calming signals on you, and perhaps even punish the dog for using them, you risk causing serious harm to your dog. Some may simply give up using the calming signals, including with other dogs. Others may get so desperate and frustrated that they get aggressive, nervous or stressed out as a result. Puppies and young dogs may actually go into a state of shock.

Basic knowledge
Dad calls Prince and has learned in class that he needs to sound strict and dominant so that Prince will understand who is in charge. Prince finds dad´s voice to be aggressive, and being a dog he instantly give dad a calming signal in order to make him stop being aggressive. Prince will perhaps lick his own nose, yawn, turn away - which will result in dad becoming angry for real, because dad perceieves Prince as being pig-headed, stubborn and disobedient. Prince is punished for using his calming signals to calm dad. This is a typical example of something that happens on an everyday basis with many dog owners.

We need to learn to understand the language of dogs so that we can understand what our dogs are telling us. That is the secret of having a good life together.

How the dog is using the calming signals
Yawning
The dog may yawn when someone bends over him, when you sound angry, when there´s yelling and quarreling in the family, when the dog is at the vet´s office, when someone is walking directly at the dog, when the dog is excited with happiness and anticipation - for instance by the door when you are about to go for a walk, when you ask the dog to do something he doesn´t feel like doing, when your training sessions are too long and the dog gets tired, when you have said NO for doing something you disapprove of, and in many other situations.

Threatening signals (to walk straight at, reach for the dog, bending over the dog, staring into the dog´s eyes, fast movements, and so on) will always cause the dog to use a calming signal. There are about 30 different calming signals, so even when many dogs will yawn, other dogs may use another calming signal.

All dog knows all the signals. When one dog yawns and turn his head to the side, the dog he is ´talking to´ may lick his nose and turn his back - or do something completely different.

The signals are international and universal. All dogs all over the worlds has the same language. A dog from Japan would be understood by an elkhound who lives in an isolated valley in Norway. They will have no communication problems!

Licking
Licking is another signal that is used often. Especially by black dogs, dogs with a lot of hair around their faces, and others who´s facial expressions for some reasons are more difficult to see than those of dogs with lighter colors, visible eyes and long noses. But anyone can use licking, and all dogs understand it no matter how quick it is. The quick little lick on the nose is easier to see if you watch the dog from in front. It´s best seen if you can find somewhere you can sit in peace and quiet and observe. Once you have learned to see the lick, you will also be able to see it while walking the dog.

Sometimes it´s nothing more than a very quick lick, the tip of the tongue is barely visible outside the mouth, and only for a short second. But other dogs see it, understand it and respond to it. Any signal is always returned with a signal.

Turning away/turning of the head
The dog can turn its head sligtly to one side, turn the head completely over to the side, or turn completely around so that the back and tail is facing whoever the dog is calming. This is one of the signals you may see most of the time in dogs.

When someone is approaching your dog from in front, he will turn away in one of these ways. When you seem angry, aggressive or threatening, you will also see one of these variations of the signal. When you bend over a dog to stroke him, he will turn his head away from you. When you make your training sessions too long or too difficult, he will turn his head away from you. When the dog is taken by surprise or take someone by surprise, he will turn away quickly. The same happens when someone is staring or acting in a threatening way.

In most cases, this signal will make the other dog calm down. It´s a fantastic way in which to solve conflicts, and it´s used a lot by all dogs, whether they are puppies or adults, high or low ranking, and so on. Allow your dog to use it! Dogs are experts at solving and avoiding conflicts - they know how to deal with conflicts.

Play bow
Going down with front legs in a bowing position can be an invitation to play if the dog is moving legs from side to side in a playful manner. Just as often, the dog is standing still while bowing and is using the signal to calm someone down. These signals often have double meanings and may be used in many different ways - often the invitation to play is a calming signal by itself because the dog is making a potentially dangerous situation less tense and diverts with something safe.

Recently, in a puppy class with a mix of puppies, one of them was afraid of the others in the beginning. The others left him alone and respected his fear. In the end he would dare to approach the others. When he did, he went into a play bow as soon as one of the other dogs looked at him. It was an obvious combination of slight fear of the others, as well as wanting to take part in the playing.

When two dogs approach each other too abruptly, you will often see that they go into a play bow. This is one of the signals that are easy to see, especially because they remain standing in the bow position for a few seconds so that you have plenty of time to observe it.

Sniffing the ground
Sniffing the ground is a frequently used signal. In groups of puppies you will see it a lot, and also when you and your dog is out walking and someone is coming towards you, in places where there´s a lot going on, in noisy places or when seeing objects that the dog isn´t sure of what is and find intimidating.

Sniffing the ground may be anything from moving the nose swiftly down toward the ground and back up again - to sticking the nose to the ground and sniff persistently for several minutes.

Is someone approaching you on the pavement? Take a look at your dog. Did he drop the nose down toward the ground, even slightly? Did he turn his side to the one approaching and sniff the side of the road?

Of course, dogs sniff a lot, also in order to ´read the paper´ and enjoy themselves. Dogs are pre-programmed to use their noses and it´s their favorite activity. However, sometimes it´s calming - it depends on the situation. So pay attention to when and in which situations the sniffing occur!

Walking slowly
High speed will be seen as threatening to many dogs, and they might want to go in to try and stop the one who is running. This is partly a hunting behavior and is triggered by the sight of a running human or dog. If the one running is coming straight at the dog, it involves a threat and a defence mechanism sets in.

A dog who is insecure will move slowly. If you wish to make a dog feel safer, then you can move slower. When I see a dog react to me with a calming signal, I immediately respond by moving slower.

Is your dog coming very slowly when you call him? If so, check the tone of your voice - do you sound angry or strict? That may be enough for him to want to calm you down by walking slowly. Have you ever been angry with him when he came to you? Then this may be why he doesn´t trust you. Another reason to calm you may be if the dog is always put on a leash when coming when called. Take a look at your dog the next time you call him. Does he give you any calming signals when coming? If he moves slowly, you may need to do something different in the way you act.

Freezing
"Freezing" - is what we call it when the dog is stopping while standing completely still, sitting or laying down and remain in that position. This behavior is believed to have something to do with hunting behavior - when the prey is running, the dog attacks. Once the prey stops, the dog will stop too. We can often see this when dogs are chasing cats. This behavior, however, is used in several different situations. When you get angry and aggressive and appear threatening, the dog will often freeze and not move in order to make you be good again. Other times the dog may walk slowly, freeze, and then move slowly again. Many owners believe that they have very obedient dogs who is sitting, lying down or standing completely still. Perhaps they are actually using calming signals? Very often a dog will stop and remain calm when someone is approaching. If your dog wants to stop or move slowly in a situation like that, then let him. Also, should your dog be in a conflict situation with a human or dog, and is unable to escape, freezing may be one way to calm the other dog or person.

Sitting down/lifting one paw
I have only rarely seen dogs lift their paw as a calming signal, but on a few occasions it´s clearly been used to calm another dog.

To sit down, or an even stronger signal, to sit down with the back turned towards someone - for instance the owner - has a very calming effect. It´s often seen when one dog wants to calm another dog who is approaching too quickly. Dogs may sit down with their backs turned against the owner when he or she sounds too strict or angry.

Walking in curve
This signal is frequently used as a calming signal, and it is the main reason why dogs may react so strongly towards meeting dogs when they are forced to walk straight at someone.. Their instincts tell them that it is wrong to approach someone like that - the owner says differently. The dog gets anxious and defensive. And we get a dog who is barking and lunging at other dogs, and eventually we have an aggressive dog.

Dogs, when given a chance, will walk in curves around each other. That´s what they do when they meet off leash and are free to do things their own way. Allow your dog to do the same when he´s with you.

Some dogs needs large curves, while others only need to walk slightly curved. Allow the dog decide what feels right and safe for him, then, in time and if you want to, he can learn to pass other dogs closer.

Let the dog walk in a curve around a meeting dog! Don´t make him walk in a heel position while you´re going straight forward - give him a chance to walk in a curve past the meeting dog. If you keep the leash loose and let the dog decide, you will often see that the dog chooses to walk away instead of getting hysterical.

For the same the reason, don´t walk directly toward a dog, but walk up to it in a curve. The more anxious or aggressive the dog is, the wider you make the curve.

Other calming signals
By now you have learned about some of the more common calming signals. There are around 30 of them, and many have yet to be described. I will mention a few more briefly so that you can make further observations:

"Smiling", either by pulling the corners of the mouth up and back, or by showing the teeth as in a grin.
Smacking the lips
Wagging the tail - should a dog show signs of anxiety, calming or anything that clearly has little to do with happiness, the wagging of the tail isn´t an expression of happiness, but rather that the dog wants to calm you.
Urinating on himself - A dog who is cowering and crawling toward his owner while wetting himself and waving his tail, is showing three clear signs of calming - and of fear. · Wanting to get up into your face and lick the corners of your mouth.
Making the face round and smooth with the ears close to the head in order to act like a puppy. (No one will harm a puppy, is what the dog believes)
Laying down with the belly against the ground. This has nothing to do with submission - submission is when the dog lays down with the belly up. Laying down with the belly towards the ground is a calming signal.
...an there are even more calming signals that are used in combination with others. For instance, a dog may urinate at the same time as he is turning his back to something. This is a clear sign of calming by for instance an annoying adolescent dog.
Some dogs act like puppies, jumping around and act silly, throwing sticks around, etc. if they discover a fearful dog nearby. It´s supposed to have, and does have, a calming effect.

Meeting situations
A meeting situation between two strange dogs will almost never show signs of strong submission or what people refer to as dominant behavior. A meeting situation between two dogs will usually be something like this:

King and Prince sees each other at 150 meters range and are headed toward each other. They start sending each other message the moment they see each other. Prince stops and stands still (´freezes´), and King is walking slowly while he keeps glancing at the other dog through the corner of his eye.

As King gets closer, Prince starts licking his nose intensly, and he turns his side to King and starts sniffing the ground too. Now King is so close that he needs to be even more calming, so he starts walking in a curve and away from Prince - still slowly and now he is licking his nose too. Prince sits down, and looks away by turning his head far to one side.

By now the two dogs have ´read´ each other so well that they know whether they wish to go over and greet each other, or if this could get so intense that it is best to stay away from each other.

Never force dogs into meeting others
Allow the dogs to use their language in meeting situations so that they feel safe. Sometimes they will walk up to each other and get along, other times they feel that it´s safer to stay at a distance - after all, they have already read each other´s signals, they do so even at a several hundred meters distance - there´s no need to meet face to face.

In Canada, dog trainers who attended my lecture, came up with a new name of these calming signals: ´The Language of Peace". That´s exactly what it is. It´s a language which is there to make sure that dogs have a way to avoid and solve conflicts and live together in a peaceful manner. And the dogs are experts at it.

Start observing and you will see for yourself. Most likely, you will get a much better relationship with your dog and other dogs, too, once you are beginning to realize what the dog is really telling you. It´s likely that you will understand things you earlier were unable to figure out. It is incredibly exciting, as well as educational.

Welcome to the world of the dog, and to knowledge of a whole new language!

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