The DogHike Blog

Local Exploration

snapperurl — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:31:13 +0000

About Me

Hello everyone, my name is Derrick and I’m an outdoor enthusiast. From an early age, I’ve been exposed to the outdoors in the form of camping and hiking. I’ve always had an interest in wildlife, and was always looking through guidebooks whenever I had a chance to.

In my teenage years, I took in interest in mountain climbing and spent a lot of time at the Shawangunks. I was very active hiking and climbing for about ten years. It wasn’t until a 2008 vacation to Bar Harbor, Maine that I realized how much I was missing.

Shortly after the vacation, I picked up a SLR digital camera to begin photographing wildlife. While it was a steep learning curve, I eventually got the hang of it and have taken thousands of photos since.

I have been asked by numerous people how I capture my photos. Nearly all of my photos are handheld shots by just being at the right place at the right time. From the months of hiking and writing down my sightings, I have come to expect to see particular wildlife at various locations. Having a reference guide helps a lot too. I have provided links to online guides & information on my blog to get you started.

Dog Whisperer | National Geographic Channel

snapperurl — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:15:10 +0000

Dog Whisperer | National Geographic Channel.

this?

snapperurl — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 02:37:54 +0000

Where is tumblr

snapperurl — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 19:02:46 +0000

Huh?

New Post

snapperurl — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 18:18:15 +0000

Checking to see if I am linked to tumblr

Rail trail in Marbletown becomes part of Greenway system – DailyFreeman.com

snapperurl — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:04:00 +0000

Rail trail in Marbletown becomes part of Greenway system – DailyFreeman.com.

Cooperative Dog Blog » Blog Archive » How should you to greet a dog?

snapperurl — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:18:48 +0000

This may be the most common question asked of dog trainers. The answer may also be the most ignored of all advice offered in the dog training. So what’s the best way to greet a dog? Looking at the advice given to children is a good place to start:First, do not run toward and reach for a dog. Walk casually toward as you stike up a conversation with the owner. Ask from a distance, “May I say hello to your dog?” Dog owners should feel free to decline the polite offer without reason. It’s their dog and their choice. Owners should definitely decline if they have any hesitation as how their dog might respond to the approach of a stranger. No dog should ever be forced to allow a stranger to pet them. The freedom of choice should always be that of the DOG.Even if the owner says, “Sure”, YOU still need to ‘ask the dog’ if he or she wants to greet you. A good way to be a wee bit certain is to wait to see if the dog is willing to greet you, hence, the reason for pausing at a distance. How far? Maybe as much as a big car or suv length… Depends on how big the dog is– the taller and longer the body, the further away you need to be… a big dog can cover a lot more ground more quickly than a small dog. These are words of caution. Some dog owners do not know how to say that their dog might not want to greet you but instead, might want to keep you away. Remember, you are a stranger to the dog.Assuming the dog is not barking or growling or straining against the leash to get to you, you should put on a friendly face and turn slightly away from the dog and toward the owner and stand still with one hand at your thigh. This posture may be less threatening/more friendly and may put the dog at ease. If the dog approaches you, keep your hand still to allow him or her to sniff you… Do not reach out to pet the dog’s head. That would probably be too forward of you. Besides the fact that your hand will go out of sight momentarily, some dogs perceive the last second movement of your hand as YOU initiating a fight with them. This is one of the most common instances in which dogs bite. It is done in self defense .So, again, as things progress smoothly in greeting a dog on the street– Once the dog has sniffed your hand and his body seems generally relaxed and the owner is too!, you can gently rub under the chin and along the side of the chest and more as you get to know one another. Enjoy your conversation and greeting session!What if the dog starts to bark, growl and lunge as you approach? Your natural, self-preserving response will likely be to arc around the dog and owner and go on your way. Please do not take too much offense. Note the dog’s description and move on by if you should see the dog again. Dogs are like us in some ways and not like us in others. A leashed dog has no way to flee from you if they are afraid and frequently display the ‘best defense is a good offense’ strategy. Dogs greet one another in an arc to facilitate mutual butt sniffing and to maintain a safe, prepared-to-take-flight distance. Dogs also arc to increase the distance between themselves and something or someone they perceive as danger or threat.

via Cooperative Dog Blog » Blog Archive » How should you to greet a dog?.