thedogsdish’s posterous

Dog Coach

Dog Coaching is a method of positive relationship/team building between a human and their dog(s)! As a dog coach I observe you and your pet together, listen to you and your pet, translate messages between the two and create an effective plan that will hopefully result in a happy solution for all to live together peacefully! Everyone wants a dog they can bond with and that they can be proud to say is well behaved. Everyone wants a neighbor that has a well behaved dog, every dog wants to be understood! I am here to help as the dog coach!  
If you answer yes to any of these questions and have a few more you'd like to add to this list then you probably need to hire a dog coach.

My dog is....
  • chewing up things in the house
  • acting sad/strangely/upset when I leave him/her alone
  • getting up onto the furniture when I am not home
  • not getting along with another pet(s) in the house
  • over 12 weeks old and perfectly healthy but still not potty trained
  • barking all the time and the neighbors are getting upset
  • pulling on the leash when we walk
  • jumping on people
  • failed obedience dog class
  • unsure how to socialize with other dogs
  • ignoring me, not paying attention to basic commands like sit, stay or down, etc.
  • begging for food when I am trying to eat or have company over
  • not behaving the way I wish it would behave, I am so embarrassed to take my dog in public
  • driving me crazy because I do not understand why they behave the way they are behaving
  • sensitive to harsh training methods and I do not believe in them either, I prefer someone to be nice to my dog and show respect and love to teach them and myself what it is we need to learn together to live in harmony under the same roof!
How to schedule a dog coach/animal communication consultation. My fees for pet services
***SEPTEMBER SPECIAL***
LIMITED TIME OFFER! $25 private dog coach/animal communication consultation with Sophie! If you live within a 25 mile radius of Southern Pines, NC I will visit you at your home or barn! Outside 25 mile radius extra fee of $1 per mile. Special off to those worldwide: 1 email DOG COACH consultation with 1 email follow up for $25

~Hurry limited special offer~
All consultations require an advance appointment and prepayment. If paying with credit card then payment must be made in advance online via Paypal, cash or check is paid upon visit or snailmail: 

Sophie Robbins
P.O. Box 493
Southern Pines, NC, 28388

DOG COACHING
I only offer dog coaching for those with dogs as this is my field of expertise. Sorry I am not a cat coach or lizard coach, etc. However, I do offer animal communication sessions with all types of animals. There is a difference! Although my dog coaching also correlates animal communication into the session, my dog coaching is a type of behavior observation/basic training for both the human and dog together as a team! 
HORSE BARN VISITS
I do love working with horses to communicate with you what it is your horse wants you to understand by translating for the horse. I do not however train/race/show horses but hiring an animal communicator such as myself could greatly increase the odds of getting your horse to do what it is you desire to see by allowing me to translate messages from the horse to the human or trainer so that you can better understand your horses emotions and thoughts. I had 2 horses of my own as a teenager so I am an experienced rider and I was also a professional horse wrangler in New Mexico.
 




 

 



  

state dogs

Sophie Animal Communicator pictured here with a Merle Great Dane in NC

What's that? Only 9 Official State Dog Breeds...what about the other 41 states? Hhhhhmmm?
Let's clear this up a bit...

Here are the netstate official results that actually show more then 9 if you combine official state dog and official state emblem and state dog. What's the difference anyway I ask? I found more info via the canine information library

I added some comments as follows:
  • Alaska - Alaskan Malmute (well that was a no brainer)
  • Louisiana - Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog (sounds Cajun to me)
  • Maryland - Chesapeake Bay Retriever(Virginia is probably pissed....)
  • Massachusetts - Boston Terrier (Capital of MA is....)
  • New Hampshire - Chinook ( I recall that being a helicopter...)
  • North Carolina - Plott Hound (they got a lot of hounds down South plotting things against them Yankee dogs)
  • Pennsylvania - Great Dane
  • South Carolina - Boykin Spaniel (they say things funny down South; lived in SC never heard nor saw this breed)
  • Texas - Blue Lacey (I lived in TX and never heard of nor saw this breed, according to this photo
  • it looks like a combo of Pitt Bull, Labrador and Weimeriner if you ask me; those Texans like big things you know)
  • Virginia - American Foxhound (they are probably still pissed about the Chesapeake Bay thing)
  • Wisconsin - American Water Spaniel (does it like cheese is the question, it kinda looks like the Boyton Spaniel eh?)
NOT OFFICIAL YET:

Sophie Animal Communicator pictured here with a Mantle Great Dane in Germany

Perhaps you can visit your local shelter and RESCUE FOSTER ADOPT one of these breeds as believe me I see plenty when I volunteer that look like these breeds mentioned here...oh yes purebreeds end up at the pound too not just mixed breeds and many times purebreeds are incorrectly labeled as a mix breed on their paperwork as animal control does not have to be a breed expert neither do the employees/volunteers at the shelter, it is all a guessing game without running DNA testing or being an expert with a particular breed! 



  

DOG DISH DIET

Dr. Greg's DOG DISH DIET - Sensible Nutrition for Your Dog's Health by Dr. Greg Martinez, DVM
My short review in three words:  BUY THIS BOOK!
My long review: This book is written by a DVM which is abbreviation for "Doctor of Veterinary Medicine." However, not only do you have his expertise as a trained medical doctor for animals but you soon realize while reading this book that this man is more then that, he is the modern, what I like to call, The New Age Vet! This means he is smart enough to take the horse blinders off and look outside the box if you will. He has spent many years of personal field research with his doggy companions taste testing and watching results. He has some news to share with you that makes me very happy, that will make your dogs very happy, that will probably not make the commercial pet food industry happy or perhaps make them consider change and bring smiles to the olive tree growers and crockpot manufacturers! I won't tell you much more cause you really need to read the book to really get the full inside scoop on the dish, the dogs dish diet that is! I have been trying to tell others/my clients/friends/family about this insightful information for years and finally this man has written down on paper what the animals have been telling me all along and I thank him for sharing his knowledge, for confirming what I knew and what the dogs were oh so very patient for some human with a paw-degree to announce to the world! This vet cares about your dogs diet! He actually wants to try to save you and your pet costly trips to the vet clinics if you just change your dogs diet all because he truly cares about dogs health! I care about my dogs diet and you should care about your dogs diet too! 
     
Click here to download:
dog-dish-diet-ejHflqcrJrtFzIgrzrjb.zip (1296 KB)
This is the book you have been waiting for, simple easy to read. Do not worry, he does not use big words or medical jargon but instead uses his own down-to-earth-sense-of-humor approach to his method of writing to get his point across clearly and concisely. This book has my dog Koa's paw of approval for sure and mine too!
THANK YOU Dr. Greg for the autographed book I shall treasure forever! You rock the dog dish world! 

Like Dr. Greg on Facebook and follow dogdishdiet on Twitter and follow Dr.Greg on Twitter  

 



 

 



  

Turtles

Turtles that cross my path...or perhaps I am crossing theirs! Either way when I see one in the road I always have to stop and help it cause I do not want it getting run over by cars!

 










Merde

Everytime someone says "Pardon my French" I swear (and I do) I am gonna send them this! lol









Whisper

 
This is the short story of Whisper the Jack Russell mix that entered my life path beginning the late evening of Sunday, August 15th with a phone call from my local village police. 

It was 10pm when my mobile phone rang and I was advised there was a small friendly little female puppy that was picked up by the police on the corner of Niagara-Carthage Rd and Airport Rd in Whispering Pines, NC of Moore County. Did I know who she belonged to by chance? I did not but promised I would be by in the morning to see her and take photos and post it on my MISSING PET ALERT blog page. The advised that they were unable to locate her home nearby and as they approached her she went into cover under a porch area of a home under construction but soon came out to friendly tones of the dog friendly police officer who rescued her and took her to the police dept for the night where she would be safe out of harms way and given food,water and shelter. The police were hoping someone in the community would be missing this sweet girl but no one called...the animal control stopped by between jobs on Monday to check if she had a chip implant, the scan found no chip. She had no collar, no form of I.D. on her. What to do? Wait a little longer that day to see if anyone claimed her but if not the animal control would stop back by and take her to the animal shelter. 
Meanwhile, I went to visit and observe Whisper that morning at the police dept. She was sitting quietly in her kennel not a peep out of her. I started taking photos of her and giving her treats with the help of the police secretary who luckily had just been given some fresh baked cookies by a local elderly lady which was good timing, who could resist fresh baked cookies right? Whisper at the time did not have a name. She was just "sweet girl" "good girl". She was a little unsure at first but quickly warmed up to me with those cookies and I was able to pet her and get a leash around her neck and take her outside for a walk. She KNEW what a leash was, she knew what outside and walk meant, oh yes she did! She LOVED going outside and let it be noted this girl had just started to be in heat and was unfamiliar with it, so I was guessing she was under a yr old, she seemed and looked young and full of energy. She truly enjoyed her walk, she was great on the leash as it was familiar to her. She looked clean for the most part so it did not appear she was an outside dog by any means. She was unable to give me any information on who was her family. It was also clear to me that she was housebroken because she had not gone to the bathroom in her kennel the entire night, she was happy to relieve herself outside for pee and poop. What a good girl! Still not a whine or bark from her. Very alert, very happy, big smile for me! Well I took all the pics I could and returned her to the police dept then went home and entered her photo and information into the lost and found pets section of The Pilot newspaper online as well as posted her information and photos on my MISSING PET ALERT blog page as follows:

This dog is also listed in The Pilot Lost and Found Pets section http://www.thepilot.com/news/2010/aug/16/jack-russell-terrier-found/

INFORMATION:
FOUND Jack Russell (mix?) young female dog in heat on the evening of 8/15/10 intersection/vicinity of Niagara-Carthage Rd and Airport Rd, Whispering Pines, NC by theWhispering Pines Police Dept.
No collar, no chip, no form of I.D. located on this pup but her cute little face!

This little female spent the night at the police dept. and is hoping her owner claims her soon! She is quiet, non barker, house trained, does her business outside and knows what a leash is and how to walk on it! She is friendly and alert and appears to be in heat so not spayed. Loves cookies and walks!

If you are the owner or have any information leading to her owner or perhaps can foster her till owner is located, please contact the Whispering Pines Police Dept at 910-949-9961 or Moore County Animal Control 910-947-2858 where she will be placed sometime today August 16, 2010 unless her owner calls in time or a foster steps up to care for her!

BY THE WAY - the Whispering Pines PD could use some dog/cat treats/food donations as well as dog toys/dishes/ blankets/towels/leashes and extra crates and funds for a pet I.D. chip scanner.

Thank you!  

                 
Click here to download:
whisper-fuiHvgDkqbrFdgbwscsm.zip (4124 KB)
I volunteer at the local animal shelter and all that week Whisper was still there, no one had claimed her so she went up for adoption! The volunteer coordinator of the shelter asked me to name her, normally I do not do this but for her it was too easy - I gave her the temporary name of Whisper because of the location she was found in and because of her disposition of being so quiet! It fit her well. She said she liked it! People would walk by and she would smile and sit like such a good girl and wait and wait...no one adopted her until...
The following Saturday I received an email that Whisper was noticed and got adopted! Due to new shelter rules she was not able to go home with her adopters until Monday. I do not like this new rule. 

I thought nothing more of it because normally I do not get to meet the adopters and get busy with my life and trying to help other lost pets, etc. However, it could not have been better timing because on Monday afternoon I went to the shelter to volunteer and take photos and clean cages and who did I see through the glass door being out processed before even entering the shelter but WHISPER! Our eyes meet, we both got excited of when you notice a good friend. I also noticed that Whisper has a thing for men in uniform because her new human dad filling out paperwork...is a handsome military man and could not wait to get her home to her new human mom! I took pics of them together, gave him my card asking he keep in touch and pass it along to his wife... and then he opened the passenger door for Whisper (such a gentleman) asking her to get in but she was unsure of that so he picked her up and he gently placed Whisper in the front passenger seat of the car, she was soooooo happy, I was so happy, oh it was wonderful, I almost cried! I knew Whisper had found her forever home with this kind hearted man. I knew I would see her again and I only wished all of the animals in the shelter were this fortunate. 
 
Enjoy your wonderful life Whisper!

Forest Spirits

My pup Koa and I encountered this morning during our hike what appears to be an orb(s) or as in this photo and location it would be notated as dancing woodland spirits! I felt it and so did he but I did not "see" it until I downloaded my photos afterwards and was delighted to see the enchantment caught on camera! The pics prior and after were normal outdoor natural lighting shots! The Forest Spirits are said to protect those with 'pure spirit' who enter the forests! This was our first time on this particular forested path. Just a few minutes prior to this photo I saw to my left of this path direction a rather large deer the same color as my Golden but as I placed leash back on my pup then adjusted my camera to take a photo it was no where in site...now around the time and exact location of this photo taken my pup and I both stopped and heard a strange faint noise through the trees but not of human sound to our right of this path.

There are other names for the Forest Spirits (another type of Orb) and I will keep adding them as I research more about them. 

Woodland Spirit

Waldgeist (German)

Custodians of the forest (Ancient Pagan)

Kodama (Japanese)

Skogsra (Swedish)

 

Flicker Forest Spirit Pics others have caught on camera http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=forest%20spirits

Worlds Smartest Horse

 
This is a perfect example of interspecies communication showing how love and patience goes a long way in forming a spiritual loving connection of understanding between horse and human with outstanding results. Just listen to your animal friends, show respect and you will be rewarded with so much more from them then you can ever imagine! Just watch the results of this horse and handler! Who is teaching who here? They are teaching one another...this is lovely!
 



 

 



  

counter surfing

 
Tonight I caught my 5 month old BIG puppy realizing he was capable of reaching the kitchen counter to help himself to his dog dish that was being prepped with his meal. I walked out of the room as I wanted the dish to cool, I had left a fork in the dish...so a few moments later I heard the sound of the fork mixing the food thinking that was strange...so I returned to kitchen and caught him helping himself! I got a shock and awe as I approached kitchen and I quietly waved my husband over from the living room to witness what was taking place! Well, Koa got reprimanded with a stern drill sgt voice "WHAT ARE YOU DOING! NO! DOWN!" and Koa was so startled that he proceeded to remove himself from the counter and piddle on the floor! We then all went on with our usual routine and dinner got served. Now after dinner...I decided to test my pup out on his new found surfing skill ...so I placed the now empty dog dish back in the same place I always prep it on the counter and left the room long enough to walk down the hall to get camera (just in case he did make attempt I wanted to capture it so I could analyze the behavior). Upon return, lo and behold I did manage to capture my pup getting curious once again hoping for a reward of food in his dish that he managed to get last time! I got a quick sneek peek picture and gave a firm NO! He got down quickly! I also decided that now that he has gotten bigger and discovered this new exploratory skill that it was best to put away anything he could possibly reach from counters or kitchen table or open pantry shelf that would be tempting.

How will I stop this negative unwanted behavior? 

  • I will not leave the room with anything tempting on the counters he could reach. Instead if I must leave room then the food must be placed out of reach like in the frig or microwave or on top of frig for example. Basically places dog can definitely NOT reach!

  • Reward dog only for good behavior of remaining off counters, keeping all paws on floor by giving dog snack on the floor level! Basically, just reward dog for laying down on kitchen floor when I am prepping meals. This will teach dog that there is no need to counter surf when surprise goodies are down at his level at any given moment!

  • Teach dog to GO LAY DOWN in their bed or spot while prepping meals in kitchen. Reward dog for doing this. 

  • Set up alarming type decoys that will not be rewarding should dog decide to explore counter and basically turn you dog off from wanting to explore any further! Scare tactics but this does not work on all dogs and make sure it is something that can not hurt the dog just startle them and make them want to avoid this all together!

Good links I found for more info on how to stop counter surfing 

and

This incident reminds me of a commercial with a Golden Retriever in it