Louise Hinckley

Hurricane Irene

We weathered the storm and only a bit of damage. We’re feeling very lucky when so many around us di not fare so well.

We only lost a few branches on the Tulip Poplar.

I have some debris to clean up tomorrow but blessed that’s all. Praying for all those with more to contend with.

Family Portrait

My friend Janet snapped this picture of us the day we laid our mats at SureFire Dogs.

Such a lovely family!

The Making of a Dog Training Center

I have been a little distracted for the last few months, ok the last 9 months. Just long enough to give birth to a new dog training center.
Last November we decided to dissolve Four Paws Academy, the training center we started back in 2004. I joined forces with one of our former partners, Christie McNamara, and we began a journey to start a new Dog Training Facility. We must have looked at 20 different buildings, most which did not fit the bill for one reason or another. With the help of our tireless real estate agent, Bruce Lee, of Lee Partners we finally found the jewel in the rough.
It didn’t look like much back in March when we first saw it.

The floor was grimy and the room was draped with cobwebs. It had been empty for years and we weren’t sure it could be cleaned up to meet our expectations.

The parking lot was a mess with broken pavement and huge potholes.

We analyzed the space and decided it could work for us and the price was definitley right. It was large enough, 14,000 square feet, to allow us to grow our business in all the ways we want to. We excitedly made the decison to pursue the building.
There was one problem. It was not zoned for a dog training school and the process to get it re-zoned would not be an easy one. But we were sure it would be worth it.
So began Louise and Christie’s excellent adventure. We worked our way through the zoning board, the planning board, hiring a civil engineer, Mark Beaudry at Meridian Associates who was a huge help in understanding the process and a source of never ending support through the process. Our architect, Liz Macarilla tirelessly answered our questons and intermin

We mailed abutter letters, appeared before boards, were filmed pleading our case and waited through two seemingly interminable waiting periods.

But at long last, (and when I say long, I mean LONG!) we are the proud owners of SureFireDogs Training Center, in Westborough MA. You really need to come check us out. We worked with Mimi Englander at Mountain Dog Marketing who created, what we think is an unparalled website that showcases our business. You can Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Last weekend we had our first public event and the turn-out was fabulous.

We hardly recognize the place. What do you think…

Set-up for agility run-thrus.

The reception area.

The soon to be SureFire Cafe

Come on back and visit soon. I’m sure I’ll have more to tell about SureFire Dogs Training Center. And now that we are up and running I might even be able to get back to talking about what is going on with the dogs and Scott and our life!

Can we watch TV Mom?

They tell me dogs can’t see TV. Uh huh.

Photo Tuesday

I was looking through my recent pictures and found some I really love. I just had to throw them out here so you all can see them too.
These 2 were from my trip with a few friends to Ogunquit Maine back in January.
It was so cold that weekend. We did manage a few walks bundled up against the wind and frigid temperatures, but of course that makes for nice pictures. These two were right outside our hotel, The Anchorage.

We had such a wonderful time of relaxation and fellowship.

And of course I have to throw in, the face that will melt your heart. My baby Kindle.

Have you seen my baby lately?

Watch this!

I am so proud of her. That was her first Grand Prix run and she was so great! We still have things to work on, but I love running her.

In jumpers I messed up and sent her to a wrong course tunnel, but once again Kindle was stellar.

So we keep working and practicing and getting our teamwork together. I can’t wait to get back out there again!

I just can't say goodbye....

Most of us have lost someone at sometime in our lives who is dear to us and the empty, helpless feeling of loss is overwhelming.
I lost my Aunt Becky last Wednesday. She was only 63, and had been battling breast cancer for several years. I have what are probably the usual regrets. I wish I had called her when I thought of her a week ago, I wish I had gone to visit her as she kept asking me too. When she visited last fall for a few days, I wish I had spent more time with her, talked a little more, listened a little better. I’d been praying for her and she often came to my mind, but I wish I’d followed that with a call or note.

I knew her all my life, because my grandparents lived next door to us, I saw a lot of her when I was growing up. As a child, I really idolized her. She seemed so glamorous and very bold. She was only 10 years older than I, so as adults we were friends more than aunt and niece. I have so many great memories of her, shopping trips, spending summers at her home here in Massachusetts. She had a wonderful sense of humor and we used to laugh until our sides ached.

We’d had a couple of fallings out over the years, but always found a way to forgive each other and rebuild our relationship. I thank God for that. She had moved to the West Coast several years ago, so we didn’t see each other as often, but she usually made it back once a year and we spent a couple days together. I am very sad realizing we won’t do that ever again.

Her battle with cancer was a very difficult one. The disease, found late really took a toll on her body. She had tried a couple experimental treatments and went the traditional route too. Through it all she was able to stay positive and maintain a good outlook on life. It infuriates me that insidious, horrible disease took her.

I miss her, we were family, shared a love of good food, really good beer and a love for living. She was my friend and confidante through the years, my funny, quirky, unpredictable Aunt Becky. I can’t say good bye yet and I don’t think I will ever get used to her being gone, but I am so glad she was part of my life.

Shock Collar Training: Is it effective

I have never been a fan of using a shock collar to teach or deter behavior in dogs. However there are many who do use the method and swear by it. I am not shy about my opinions, I would not use a shock collar to teach a behavior, I know too many positive methods that very effectively and quickly teach dogs what I want them to do. I wouldn’t use a shock collar to deter behavior unless I had exhausted all my positive methods and I needed to ensure deterring the behavior would save the dog’s life.
For instance, Jackaroo loves to kill snakes. Works for me, we have lots of garter snakes in our yard and I do not consider them my friends. I would prefer to never see them, but they do like to hide and jump out at me. I’m sure they slither off and chuckle with all their wriggly little friends. I always scream when I see one. Can’t help it, I’ve tried, but I scream. Jackaroo knows my snake scream and comes a-running and kills the snake. Sorry snake lovers, but that is his way.

I’m glad we don’t live in an area where there are many poisonous snakes and I have never seen one in our yard (Thank God!). But if we lived in Arizona where rattlesnakes do visit people’s homes, I might consider using a shock collar to teach Jackaroo to leave snakes alone. I might…. Shock collars are supposed to change behavior in one or two repetitions, forming a negative association so strong, the dog will remember always. In this case, Jackaroo would see a snake and run in the other direction. However, I know people who use a shock collar over and over again to teach a dog not to do something. I don’t agree with the method and I know if an aversive does not work after 3 repetitions it will probably never be effective enough without adding a stronger aversive. I also believe aversives have a negative effect on the relationship between dogs and humans. sort of like playing the hot and cold game and when the player is cold, ZAP! I would rather teachby showing what I want, marking it and rewarding lavishly. With positive training I’m confident the dog understands what I want and I reinforce my relationship with my dog at the same time. Besides I love my baby dogs and don’t want to hurt them.

I came across an interesting article on Facebook on a friend’s page, I thought I would share it with you all. It’s an interesting study and I look forward to hearing more about their testing.

Let me know what you think.

Are Electronic Shock Collars Painful or Just Annoying to Dogs? A New Study Reveals Some Answers

By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Scott and I have a few traditions every Christmas season we look forward to. One of our favorite is cutting down our Christmas tree. We almost always go to the same place, Pierce’s Christmas Tree Farm in Lunenburg. I can’t remember how long we’ve been going there, but we love it. They have miles of trees to pick from and we enjoy the hunt for the perfect tree. They also always wish you a Merry Christmas. And that is the point, isn’t it?

Tyler had always gone with us. He loved to meet all the people and enjoyed the hike. We were a bit sad to not have him with us, but this year Beta went with us.

She did a good job picking the tree and she had a blast. I think she picked up every stick from the entrance to the exit and made several new friends. Mostly she got to be with her Dad.

Nice tree don’t you think?