Blog Entries

If H. sapiens sapiens can't evaluate themselves, how can they evaluate canis lupus familiaris?

jbuginas@gmail.com — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:52:48 +0100

We humans can barely handle accurate criminal interrogations. Human interrogators can induce innocent people to confess to crimes they didn't commit. There is an eerie parallel to canine behavior evaluations. The dog is, in effect, on trial for their life. The stakes for the dog and the community are high. We are faced with two problems: (a) a dog who is shown to be innocent during a behavior evaluation, and subsequently turns out to be a danger to society; and (b), a dog who is shown to [...]

NIH's Complimentary/Alternative Medicine project

jbuginas@gmail.com — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:01:01 +0100

See http://nccam.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2010_may/

This is the newsletter of the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIH's - NCCAM)

The NCAM was funded by the government to research what value, if any, is provided by complementary or alternative medicine. The nccam.nih.gov website publishes results of many studies, or studies of studies.

This issue covers a number of topics addressing nutritional suppleme [...]

Dog trainer fined for harsh treatment of dog

jbuginas@gmail.com — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:53:39 +0100

A Toronto dog trainer has been fined $2,000 for apparantly injuring a dog in her charge. The local SPCA says the dog showed signs of being dragged and over exercised, as well as sufferering symptoms of heat stroke.

SFSPCA President to leave SPCA 3/2010

jbuginas@gmail.com — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:56:15 +0100

From www.sfspca.org:

San Francisco, Nov 19 2009:

The San Francisco SPCA Board of Directors today announced that Jan McHugh-Smith will resign as president, effective upon completion of her contract in March 2010. Jan has decided to return to Colorado to be closer to her family and accepted a leadership position with a regional humane society.

A note to Academy students, friends, and family

jbuginas@gmail.com — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:39:10 +0100

Corrected, see highlights

My various electronic devices have been beeping steadily and are packed with messages expressing concern about the Academy’s future, and mine. I appreciate your support. I will attempt to personally thank everyone who has contacted me.

I will teach in the October Academy, but will move on shortly after that. You've already learned of Jean's and Janis's plans to continue developing new programs as announced in Thursday's Press release. I'm as eage [...]

Puppydog eyes trigger oxytocin in owners

jbuginas@gmail.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:01:11 +0100

According to researchers, a dog’s gaze triggers release of oxytocin in owners. Oxytocin is refered to as the "Trust Hormone," or the "Hormone of love."

Researchers found "increases in the hormone level that were highly correlated to “the frequency of behavioral exchanges initiated by the d [...]

Bo Diddles with TV Camera

jbuginas@gmail.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:07:42 +0100

This is natural dog behavior.

What is BO getting out of this?

What are the Media getting out of this?

Embedded video from CNN Video

Lisa Clifton Bumpas, CTC, presents at APDT Conference, 2009

jbuginas@gmail.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:56:25 +0100

Lisa Clifton-Bumpass, CTC, CPDT, CDBC, CAP

Lisa Clifton-Bumpass, CTC, CPDT,
CDBC, CAP

Lisa Clifton-Bumpass is a dog trainer in transition. She spent 10 years developing her career in teaching group dog training classes, private consultations and public speaking for shelters and rescue groups. Facing career burn [...]

Mission of the SF/SPCA

jbuginas@gmail.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:36:44 +0100

The mission of The San Francisco SPCA is to save and protect animals, to provide care and treatment, to advocate for their welfare and to enhance the human-animal bond.

Pit Bull Placebo available to download

jbuginas@gmail.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:46:57 +0100

A downloadable version of the Pit Bull Placebo (The Media, Myths
and Politics of Canine Aggression) by Karen Delise is available for download. This excelent book answers the questions:

How have Bulldog-type dogs, in only a few decades, been transformed from nationally celebrated heroes to “persona non grata” in hundreds of cities across America? How has thelandscape of America and the mindset of Americanschanged so dramatically in only a few decades? Is it canine behavior tha [...]

SFSPCA Grad Breed Specific Legislation Video tops charts

jbuginas@gmail.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:02:13 +0100

BSL - Breed Specific Legislation - Is your dog safe?

Boston Terriers a dangerous breed?

Drayton Michaels, SFSCPA Academy for Dog Trainers graduate, has produced a short clip highlighting problems and dangers in Breed Specific Legislation. Thes clip is gaining popularity as the movement to roll back breed specific legislation, insurance rules grows. It includes interviews with Nicholas Dodman, Jean Donaldson, and others.

Dog bites, airline deaths, and terrorist attackes get a [...]

Congratulations, new CTCs!

jbuginas@gmail.com — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:53:44 +0100

Contratulations to Alice, Alison, Arnita, Corinne, Donna, Jennifer, Jenny, Lisa, Mikkel, an Sarah. You join the ranks of the over 450 CTC graduates from the SF/SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers in the past 10 years.

Successful completion of projects and exams show you are ready to carry out the SPCA mission as you extend our leadership role worldwide.

Your class joins over 450 graduates who have received the honor of a Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC) since the Acad [...]

Bomb sniffing dog trained using a tennis ball

jbuginas@gmail.com — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:34:51 +0100

A bomb sniffing dog learned to detect drugs using only tennis ball as a reward.

"That's his drive, he wants that tennis ball very badly. That's his toy and his ultimate award and he loves to have that. If he can find that odor that means he's getting a treat," said Howard.

Full article.

Pit Bull Placebo available to download

jbuginas@gmail.com — Sun, 24 May 2009 08:00:00 +0100

The Pit Bull Placebo, Karen Delise, is available online in pdf form from Karen Delise.

Delise is the author of Fatal Dog Attacks As well.

The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression is available at Amazon, as is Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics (United States).

Almudena will discuss different types of dog play, how to be safe at the dog park, how to manage dogs at play, and how to intervene if play goes wrong.

Wednesday June 3 at 7 p.m. in Berkeley. Free of charge but reservati [...]

A day at the SFSPCA Academy for Dog Trainers (Hi Res)

jbuginas@gmail.com — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:00:00 +0100

What the first day of the SF/SPCA Acdemy for Dog Trainers is like. This is a course segment designed by instructor John Buginas. The academy is directed by Jean Donaldson. Instructors include John, Janis Bradley, and Gladys Chen.

A new session of the Academy starts in July, come join us to become a professional dog trainer.

See more about Chicken Camp and the academy CTC program.

It's illegal to use a shock collar on children (OK for dogs?)

jbuginas@gmail.com — Sat, 09 May 2009 04:42:59 +0100

From a student:

A man was arrested for using his dog's shock collar on his kids. Ironic how that is considered abuse and yet no one in this piece has a problem with it being used on dogs. What a backwards world. Jordan

Another thing that makes one go "Hmmmmm."

From kgm.com

Investigators say 41-year-old Todd Marcum, of Salem, used the electronic collar to shock his four kids, ages three to nine.

The father apparantly thought [...]

San Diego tops list of dog-friendly cities

jbuginas@gmail.com — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:45:52 +0100

Chicago, Carmel, Seattle, New york. Nothing close to San Francisco.

From Toptenz: Looking to travel and not sure where you and your family, including your four legged family member, should go? Picking places that will welcome your dog with arms as open as those that welcome you can be tricky, so here’s a list of the top 10 dog friendly citie [...]