The first commission I want to talk about is of a dog in Denver named BOBO. His finished commissioned portrait is below. He is a yellow lab. The second commission below is of a rescued dane named Zach. This is his second portrait done by me...Smile.
Lil Angel Pet Boutique and Gallery
Click here to return to Lil' Angel Website
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Recent Commissions
It just dawned on me that I have not been keeping up with my end of blogging with letting you all know what I am working on, SO I will call this my work in progress commissions.....
The first commission I want to talk about is of a dog in Denver named BOBO. His finished commissioned portrait is below. He is a yellow lab. The second commission below is of a rescued dane named Zach. This is his second portrait done by me...Smile.
The first commission I want to talk about is of a dog in Denver named BOBO. His finished commissioned portrait is below. He is a yellow lab. The second commission below is of a rescued dane named Zach. This is his second portrait done by me...Smile.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Press Release from the Wildlife Experience
For Immediate Release Contact: Keith Carlson Michelle Portillo
720.488.3331 720.488.3327
kcarlson@twexp.org mportillo@twexp.org
The Wildlife Experience Celebrates The Dog Days of Summer with Exhibits, Movies & Paws
DENVER—April X, 2007— The Dogs Days of Summer are heating up at The Wildlife Experience with exhibits, movies and more paws than you can shake a stick at.
This summer The Wildlife Experience is featuring two new exhibits: Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs and Paws & Reflect: Art of Canines as well as the showing of Wolves in the Extreme Screen Theater.
Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs explores the history, biology and development of dogs and the role of dogs in human societies. Paws & Reflect: Art of Canines features artwork in acrylic, mixed media, oil, pencil, watercolor, gouache, scratchboard and bronze sculptures celebrating the canine. Wolves gives audiences a look into the reclusive lives of wolves, their pack behavior and an opportune glance back at the plight of the gray wolves struggle to recover from near extinction.
In addition to exhibits, visitors will also be treated to “paw”-some activities such as:
ß Dog Days with My Best Friend – entries will be displayed in the Habitat Hallway and a Weekly Woof will be featured on our website
ß Live Wolves presentation – July 7th
ß Live Cheetah presentation – July 21st
ß Dog Day Expo – August 4th
ß Daily stories about dogs and wolves
ß Police Canine Unit visits and demonstrations
ß Weekend pet adoption opportunities & artist appearances
A natural history and wildlife art museum, The Wildlife Experience is located at 10035 South Peoria St., Parker, CO., one mile east of I-25 at the intersection of Lincoln Ave. and S. Peoria. For admission prices, museum and giant screen theater hours, and information on special exhibits, please call 720.488.3300 or visit thewildlifeexperience.org.
720.488.3331 720.488.3327
kcarlson@twexp.org mportillo@twexp.org
The Wildlife Experience Celebrates The Dog Days of Summer with Exhibits, Movies & Paws
DENVER—April X, 2007— The Dogs Days of Summer are heating up at The Wildlife Experience with exhibits, movies and more paws than you can shake a stick at.
This summer The Wildlife Experience is featuring two new exhibits: Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs and Paws & Reflect: Art of Canines as well as the showing of Wolves in the Extreme Screen Theater.
Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs explores the history, biology and development of dogs and the role of dogs in human societies. Paws & Reflect: Art of Canines features artwork in acrylic, mixed media, oil, pencil, watercolor, gouache, scratchboard and bronze sculptures celebrating the canine. Wolves gives audiences a look into the reclusive lives of wolves, their pack behavior and an opportune glance back at the plight of the gray wolves struggle to recover from near extinction.
In addition to exhibits, visitors will also be treated to “paw”-some activities such as:
ß Dog Days with My Best Friend – entries will be displayed in the Habitat Hallway and a Weekly Woof will be featured on our website
ß Live Wolves presentation – July 7th
ß Live Cheetah presentation – July 21st
ß Dog Day Expo – August 4th
ß Daily stories about dogs and wolves
ß Police Canine Unit visits and demonstrations
ß Weekend pet adoption opportunities & artist appearances
A natural history and wildlife art museum, The Wildlife Experience is located at 10035 South Peoria St., Parker, CO., one mile east of I-25 at the intersection of Lincoln Ave. and S. Peoria. For admission prices, museum and giant screen theater hours, and information on special exhibits, please call 720.488.3300 or visit thewildlifeexperience.org.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
For pet trainer to the stars, short leash is not the answer
For pet trainer to the stars, short leash is not the answer
By ANITA MANNING, USA Today
Dog trainer Tamar Geller says her horrific childhood helped her understand "what it means for a pet to be misunderstood, to be used as a scapegoat in the family dynamic."
Tamar Geller, a former Israeli intelligence officer who became a dog trainer to the stars, says the most important thing animal lovers can do for their dogs is to "empower them." Geller, who calls herself a "life coach for dogs," offers her philosophy and specific tips for pet owners in her just-published book, 'The Loved Dog: The Playful, Non-aggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior' (Simon Spotlight Entertainment, $24.95).
"I'm completely against the notion of having your dog be submissive to you," she says. "There's a difference between submissive and well mannered. I want them to be empowered and well mannered."
In her book, Geller, 42, describes her childhood as brutal. She says her mother, who is now dead, was an "emotional monster." Her father, who was often away, did not protect her, she says. "I never felt that I was loved or that I belonged in my family," she writes.
It was this horrific background that gave her a special affinity for animals, she says, and an ability to see things from their point of view.
"I know what it means for a pet to be misunderstood, to be used as a scapegoat in the family dynamic. I know what it is to live in quiet desperation, to live in uncertainty, where you don't know if you're going to have a home, whether your parent is going to hug you or smack you for the same behavior.
"When I wrote this book, I did not write it as someone who understands dog behavior," she says. "I wrote it as someone who has been there."
Boasting a client list that includes celeb pet owners Oprah Winfrey, on whose TV show she appeared Wednesday, Ben Affleck, Olivia Newton-John, Eric Idle, Nicollette Sheridan and Goldie Hawn, Geller has been training dogs in Los Angeles for 19 years. She founded The Loved Dog Center, a dog day care in West Los Angeles, in 1996, and also does in-home training.
USA Today Headlines
Feed
* Gen. Petraeus: 'We are just getting started'
* U.S., Russia dispute over missile defense
* Mortgage rates dip; 30-year averages 6.16%
* Rapper Eve arrested after L.A. car crash
* For Raiders, logic says JaMarcus, but ...
Her career path sounds like something out of a film script. She became interested in canine behavior while an intelligence officer in the Israel Defense Forces, which she joined at 18. There, she witnessed military dog-training methods, which she says included prong collars, choke chains, hitting, pushing and bullying.
After her service, she spent a year backpacking through Southeast Asia; then, before returning to Israel, she made what was to have been a short stop in Los Angeles. She saw a billboard advertising a Pink Floyd concert and decided to stay for a few weeks to catch the show. During that time, she contacted local dog trainers to learn American training methods and went along on house calls as an observer.
"We went to a home where they had a cocker spaniel who kept stealing socks," she says. Geller was able to change the dog's sock-thieving ways by teaching him to fetch and play hide-and-seek.
The dog's owner was saxophonist Kenny G.
"It was a minute before he became big," Geller says. He and his wife recommended Geller to their friends in the entertainment community, and her star-studded client list grew.
She advocates a kind, gentle approach to communication with canines. "You don't have to be a dictator," she says. "There are two kinds of leaders, the Saddam Hussein type or the Gandhi type. Both types, people listen to. What kind of dog parent do you want to be?"
The most important thing dogs have to teach humans, she says, is "to love without holding back, to love as if you've never gotten hurt. A dog is the incarnation of love."
-------------------------------------
FOR A GOOD DOG, MEET BASIC NEEDS
Problem behavior in dogs results when any one of these seven basic needs is unmet, Tamar Geller says:
· A sense of security: Dogs need a steady routine and owners they can count on for love and safety.
· Companionship: Dogs are pack animals. They need attention and interaction with humans.
· Understanding the hierarchy: They need to know their owner is the leader. When two or more dogs are in the home, owners should let them work out the rest of the hierarchy.
· Surprises and excitement: Bored dogs find ways to entertain themselves by digging, chewing and barking. Treats, walks and visits to the dog park motivate good behavior.
· Food and exercise: In addition to a balanced diet, dogs need exercise to allow them to burn off energy. Usually the younger the dog, the more exercise is needed.
· Mental stimulation: Dogs love to learn and enjoy playtraining sessions.
· Love and connection: There should be a solid bond between dog and owner.
By ANITA MANNING, USA Today
Dog trainer Tamar Geller says her horrific childhood helped her understand "what it means for a pet to be misunderstood, to be used as a scapegoat in the family dynamic."
Tamar Geller, a former Israeli intelligence officer who became a dog trainer to the stars, says the most important thing animal lovers can do for their dogs is to "empower them." Geller, who calls herself a "life coach for dogs," offers her philosophy and specific tips for pet owners in her just-published book, 'The Loved Dog: The Playful, Non-aggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior' (Simon Spotlight Entertainment, $24.95).
"I'm completely against the notion of having your dog be submissive to you," she says. "There's a difference between submissive and well mannered. I want them to be empowered and well mannered."
In her book, Geller, 42, describes her childhood as brutal. She says her mother, who is now dead, was an "emotional monster." Her father, who was often away, did not protect her, she says. "I never felt that I was loved or that I belonged in my family," she writes.
It was this horrific background that gave her a special affinity for animals, she says, and an ability to see things from their point of view.
"I know what it means for a pet to be misunderstood, to be used as a scapegoat in the family dynamic. I know what it is to live in quiet desperation, to live in uncertainty, where you don't know if you're going to have a home, whether your parent is going to hug you or smack you for the same behavior.
"When I wrote this book, I did not write it as someone who understands dog behavior," she says. "I wrote it as someone who has been there."
Boasting a client list that includes celeb pet owners Oprah Winfrey, on whose TV show she appeared Wednesday, Ben Affleck, Olivia Newton-John, Eric Idle, Nicollette Sheridan and Goldie Hawn, Geller has been training dogs in Los Angeles for 19 years. She founded The Loved Dog Center, a dog day care in West Los Angeles, in 1996, and also does in-home training.
USA Today Headlines
Feed
* Gen. Petraeus: 'We are just getting started'
* U.S., Russia dispute over missile defense
* Mortgage rates dip; 30-year averages 6.16%
* Rapper Eve arrested after L.A. car crash
* For Raiders, logic says JaMarcus, but ...
Her career path sounds like something out of a film script. She became interested in canine behavior while an intelligence officer in the Israel Defense Forces, which she joined at 18. There, she witnessed military dog-training methods, which she says included prong collars, choke chains, hitting, pushing and bullying.
After her service, she spent a year backpacking through Southeast Asia; then, before returning to Israel, she made what was to have been a short stop in Los Angeles. She saw a billboard advertising a Pink Floyd concert and decided to stay for a few weeks to catch the show. During that time, she contacted local dog trainers to learn American training methods and went along on house calls as an observer.
"We went to a home where they had a cocker spaniel who kept stealing socks," she says. Geller was able to change the dog's sock-thieving ways by teaching him to fetch and play hide-and-seek.
The dog's owner was saxophonist Kenny G.
"It was a minute before he became big," Geller says. He and his wife recommended Geller to their friends in the entertainment community, and her star-studded client list grew.
She advocates a kind, gentle approach to communication with canines. "You don't have to be a dictator," she says. "There are two kinds of leaders, the Saddam Hussein type or the Gandhi type. Both types, people listen to. What kind of dog parent do you want to be?"
The most important thing dogs have to teach humans, she says, is "to love without holding back, to love as if you've never gotten hurt. A dog is the incarnation of love."
-------------------------------------
FOR A GOOD DOG, MEET BASIC NEEDS
Problem behavior in dogs results when any one of these seven basic needs is unmet, Tamar Geller says:
· A sense of security: Dogs need a steady routine and owners they can count on for love and safety.
· Companionship: Dogs are pack animals. They need attention and interaction with humans.
· Understanding the hierarchy: They need to know their owner is the leader. When two or more dogs are in the home, owners should let them work out the rest of the hierarchy.
· Surprises and excitement: Bored dogs find ways to entertain themselves by digging, chewing and barking. Treats, walks and visits to the dog park motivate good behavior.
· Food and exercise: In addition to a balanced diet, dogs need exercise to allow them to burn off energy. Usually the younger the dog, the more exercise is needed.
· Mental stimulation: Dogs love to learn and enjoy playtraining sessions.
· Love and connection: There should be a solid bond between dog and owner.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
If You Want to Know if Spot Loves You So, It’s in His Tail
If You Want to Know if Spot Loves You So, It’s in His Tail
By SANDRA BLAKESLEE
Center for Neurosci./Univ. Trieste
A Matter of Degree: Seeing its owner, the dog wagged harder to its right. Shown an unfamiliar dog, the bias was to the left.
Every dog lover knows how a pooch expresses its feelings.
Ears close to the head, tense posture, and tail straight out from the body means “don’t mess with me.” Ears perked up, wriggly body and vigorously wagging tail means “I am sooo happy to see you!”
But there is another, newly discovered, feature of dog body language that may surprise attentive pet owners and experts in canine behavior. When dogs feel fundamentally positive about something or someone, their tails wag more to the right side of their rumps. When they have negative feelings, their tail wagging is biased to the left.
A study describing the phenomenon, “Asymmetric tail-wagging responses by dogs to different emotive stimuli,” appeared in the March 20 issue of Current Biology. The authors are Giorgio Vallortigara, a neuroscientist at the University of Trieste in Italy, and two veterinarians, Angelo Quaranta and Marcello Siniscalchi, at the University of Bari, also in Italy.
“This is an intriguing observation,” said Richard J. Davidson, director of the Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. It fits with a large body of research showing emotional asymmetry in the brain, he said.
By SANDRA BLAKESLEE
Center for Neurosci./Univ. Trieste
A Matter of Degree: Seeing its owner, the dog wagged harder to its right. Shown an unfamiliar dog, the bias was to the left.
Every dog lover knows how a pooch expresses its feelings.
Ears close to the head, tense posture, and tail straight out from the body means “don’t mess with me.” Ears perked up, wriggly body and vigorously wagging tail means “I am sooo happy to see you!”
But there is another, newly discovered, feature of dog body language that may surprise attentive pet owners and experts in canine behavior. When dogs feel fundamentally positive about something or someone, their tails wag more to the right side of their rumps. When they have negative feelings, their tail wagging is biased to the left.
A study describing the phenomenon, “Asymmetric tail-wagging responses by dogs to different emotive stimuli,” appeared in the March 20 issue of Current Biology. The authors are Giorgio Vallortigara, a neuroscientist at the University of Trieste in Italy, and two veterinarians, Angelo Quaranta and Marcello Siniscalchi, at the University of Bari, also in Italy.
“This is an intriguing observation,” said Richard J. Davidson, director of the Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. It fits with a large body of research showing emotional asymmetry in the brain, he said.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
My Thoughts on owning a new pet
Well here are my thoughts on owning a new pet.
I just recently adopted an Australian Cattle Dog and I love her. I did the ferret festival in Wheat Ridge this past Sunday... Boy are those ferrets cute. I will be posting pics from the show in the next few days. Check out furretti.tk it is a great website for ferret lovers. I also visited the fast and the furriest in Fort Collins on Saturday. It was great. Lots of dogs... My advice to anyone going to Fort COllins... Stop at Horse tooth. It is wonderful. I hiked with my new cattle dog on Saturday with her friends molly and Moxie. It was big fun! I will post pics soon.
Bye for now!
New Member of My Family
WEll I have a new family member... stella ann bean brooks.
She is a full blooded Australian Cattle Dog and I love her.
My dogs love her. Angel marie and her wrestle all day long. It is awesome!
Here is a picture of my new girl!
Monday, April 9, 2007
6 Common Dog Emergencies
Sure, you may be a master of human First Aid. But do you know what to do in a dog health emergency?
Approaching Dog Health Emergencies: Two Steps
In any dog health emergency, stay calm and think. Approach the dog cautiously. The dog may become aggressive because of fear or pain. You can’t help the dog if you’re hurt yourself.
Dog Emergency 1: Traffic Accident:
If possible, do not to move the dog. Call the nearest Humane Society or ASPCA office. If the animal workers can’t or won’t come and you must move the dog, slide a blanket under the animal. Lift the animal to safety with the help of another person. Check for a heartbeat and bleeding. Try to stop the excessive loss of blood by holding a clean cloth or pad over the wound and securing it tightly with a makeshift bandage. Take the dog to the nearest vet, calling ahead to prepare them for the emergency.
Dog Healthcare Emergency 2: Burns:
1. Immerse the burned body part in cold running water for as long as possible. 2. If the burn is from a caustic substance, wash it off. 3. Call the vet.
Canine Health Emergency 3: Heat stroke
Warning signs: The dog is overheated and without sufficient air. The dog might be panting, vomiting, frothing at the mouth, or already collapsed. 1. Remove the froth, 2. Place or douse the dog with cold water to lower body temperature. 3. Take the dog immediately to the veterinarian for treatment. Treatment usually consists of more cold water, drugs and observation.
Emergency 4: Dog Poisoning
Warning signs: Look for muscular twitching, vomiting, bleeding, convulsion or collapse. 1. Have someone call the vet. 2. Follow the vet's advice. Different poisoning cases sometimes have to be treated differently. 3. If you cannot reach the vet, try to induce vomiting. Salt and mustard in water usually will do the trick. 4. If you know what the poison is, take some of it with you to the vet’s office.
Emergency 5: Dog Choking
Open the dog’s mouth carefully and try to see what is causing the problem. It could be anything: a small ball, bone, stick, meat wrapping. Pump the chest by pressing down on the ribs and releasing immediately at 5-second intervals. If this doesn’t dislodge the object within a few moments, rush the dog to the nearest animal hospital to have the foreign object removed under anesthetic.
Dog Emergency 6: Drowning
Remove the dog from the water. Try to get the water out of the dog's lungs as soon as possible by pumping the chest as for choking (see above). Take the dog to the vet to be checked out. Hopefully, you will never have to handle any of these emergencies. But if you do, you have the dog health advice that you need.
Approaching Dog Health Emergencies: Two Steps
In any dog health emergency, stay calm and think. Approach the dog cautiously. The dog may become aggressive because of fear or pain. You can’t help the dog if you’re hurt yourself.
Dog Emergency 1: Traffic Accident:
If possible, do not to move the dog. Call the nearest Humane Society or ASPCA office. If the animal workers can’t or won’t come and you must move the dog, slide a blanket under the animal. Lift the animal to safety with the help of another person. Check for a heartbeat and bleeding. Try to stop the excessive loss of blood by holding a clean cloth or pad over the wound and securing it tightly with a makeshift bandage. Take the dog to the nearest vet, calling ahead to prepare them for the emergency.
Dog Healthcare Emergency 2: Burns:
1. Immerse the burned body part in cold running water for as long as possible. 2. If the burn is from a caustic substance, wash it off. 3. Call the vet.
Canine Health Emergency 3: Heat stroke
Warning signs: The dog is overheated and without sufficient air. The dog might be panting, vomiting, frothing at the mouth, or already collapsed. 1. Remove the froth, 2. Place or douse the dog with cold water to lower body temperature. 3. Take the dog immediately to the veterinarian for treatment. Treatment usually consists of more cold water, drugs and observation.
Emergency 4: Dog Poisoning
Warning signs: Look for muscular twitching, vomiting, bleeding, convulsion or collapse. 1. Have someone call the vet. 2. Follow the vet's advice. Different poisoning cases sometimes have to be treated differently. 3. If you cannot reach the vet, try to induce vomiting. Salt and mustard in water usually will do the trick. 4. If you know what the poison is, take some of it with you to the vet’s office.
Emergency 5: Dog Choking
Open the dog’s mouth carefully and try to see what is causing the problem. It could be anything: a small ball, bone, stick, meat wrapping. Pump the chest by pressing down on the ribs and releasing immediately at 5-second intervals. If this doesn’t dislodge the object within a few moments, rush the dog to the nearest animal hospital to have the foreign object removed under anesthetic.
Dog Emergency 6: Drowning
Remove the dog from the water. Try to get the water out of the dog's lungs as soon as possible by pumping the chest as for choking (see above). Take the dog to the vet to be checked out. Hopefully, you will never have to handle any of these emergencies. But if you do, you have the dog health advice that you need.
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