Dog Sledding Prehistory
By Robert Forto, PhD
The art of dog driving started with early man. The area in northern Asia known as Siberia, is the location of some of the most brutal weather conditions on the face of the planet. The bone chilling temperatures produce almost frictionless snow and ice that covers everything for the majority of the year.
The next natural step from dogs pulling firewood along the beaches, or dragging home spoils from the hunt across the frozen, snow covered tundra, was to pulling toboggans and sleds. From ancient bone runners dug up at Savoonga on Saint Lawrence Island, we know that the sled was used between four and five thousand years ago. The dog sledding that these prehistoric people started became a crucial tool for the tribes of the north in the fight against Mother Nature for survival.
The Chukchi and Samoyed tribes of Siberia developed dog driving into an art over the centuries. The Chukchi, according to experts, are the first people that depended seriously on the dogs in order to survive. The Russian scholar, Dr. Robert Crane, wrote, “climatic changes and displacement of the Chukchi by a more powerful southern people combined to force the Chukchi to base their economy on sled dog transportation in order to survive.”
In the long winters of the northern region the sled dog’s contributions were the most prevalent. Time and time again the Chukchi people suffered from the scarcity of
food that continually threatened their very survival. This reality was the catalyst that drove the tribe to develop the sled dog. With this development, the Chukchi had trumped the other arctic tribes who competed fiercely for the limited resources. The native people of the north were able to extend their hunting ranges in direct correlation to the added mobility that their dogs enabled them to achieve by pulling sleds of supplies
The original canines that the Chukchi used were likely descended from the domesticated dogs of their competitors from the southern latitudes. The dog of the north scarcely resembled its southern ancestors a few generations later. They were larger, more rigorous, wolf–like and of course very furry. Their thick outer coats were supplemented with a life sustaining undercoat that helped the canine to retain heat, and fight off the bitter cold of the arctic regions.
These early dogs did more than pull sleds; they were hunters, protectors and companions. The sled dog was to become an important part of history, figuring predominantly in a plethora of history changing events. Most assuredly, without the sled dog many things would be different.
Showing posts with label blog talk radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog talk radio. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Who Are You? Dr. Robert Forto
Who Are You, and What Makes You Special, Anyway? Dr. Robert Forto, PhD
By Michele Forto
We are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and they have one of the best dog training journals around, especially for us in the canine training industry, The APDT Chronicle of the Dog. Each month in their highly acclaimed magazine, they have a member profile edited by Nicole Wilde. While we haven't been privy to be showcased in this column yet, I thought it would be appropriate to showcase each one of our trainers over the next few weeks so that you can get to know us and what we are about.
This week I will be interviewing Dr. Robert Forto, PhD....
Lets get to know Dr. Robert Forto, PhD....
Business Name: Denver Dog Works
Location: Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-578-9881
Email: rforto@denverdogworks.com
Website: www.denverdogworks.com
Years in Business: 3 1/2 in Denver, 19 years as a canine obedience instructor and behaviorist
Personal Training Philosophy: Know Yourself. Know Your Dog.
Our training philosophy at Denver Dog Works is not a procedure but a lifestyle.
I have learned in the nineteen years of literally living with a pack of dogs and on the sled dog trail that it has offered me a unique perspective. There I was forced to examine my attitude about everything including my dogs. I was constantly challenged to become more open to the language dogs use to communicate with us. This experience confirms our deepest intuitions about the relationship of human beings not only with their dog but every aspect of their lives.
I hope to foster my clients with a diverse and varied understanding of the environment for which they live. I hope to foster a more realistic understanding of their dogs and an increased awareness of the benefits of their companionship.
Drawing on my experience as a kennel owner of many Siberian Huskies I will teach my clients how dog training goes far beyond the elementary instruction of basic obedience; as it must encompass a whole new attitude and lifestyle with their dog. It must touch on the levels of a dog’s own life that are often ignored.
I will bring my client into the world of a dog musher, canine behaviorist, and father of three by using my experience as a lens through which they may broaden their understanding of their dog. The stage will then be set for a balanced, lasting relationship between them and their best friend.
How long have you been in business and what types of services do you provide?
I have been training professionally since the summer of 1994 when I attended my first “certification” course. Also in 1994 I started my Siberian Husky sled dog kennel in Duluth, Minnesota on my hobby farm. I began training clients dogs in local parks in a Canine Good Citizen-type training program and offering in-kennel board and train programs for clients. In 2000, I went back to school to earn my doctorate and began research on human-canine communication in the sport of dog sledding and I took a hiatus from dog training for clients. In 2006, my family and I moved to Denver, Colorado and I sought employment as a canine trainer. I sent out three resumes and one person called me back. I interviewed for the job and gave him a stack of certificates and degrees and the owner of the school said, “I don’t care about paper, I want to see how you train dogs.”
I went back into his kennel and got a dog and took it to the training room and showed the owner how I could work the dog through an obedience routine. He hired me the next day and shortly thereafter offered me the training school to lease. In January 2007, we opened Denver Dog Works at that location and have been training in Denver ever since.
How did you get started?
As I stated before, I have been training dogs since the 90’s in competition obedience and conformation with Siberian Huskies, thought by some to be the toughest breed to train, but my work with canines really started to take off when I moved to Minnesota. I literally lived with a pack of 35 sled dogs 24-hours a day. We ran teams all night on the snowmobile trails in the Superior National Forest and then I would come back and take care of the dogs and interact with them and study their behavior. While there is much to be said about pack based training theory today, I learned so much about those dogs that I became an expert in canine body language and communication. In 1997, I was given the opportunity to attend a wolf migration study in Alaska and we conducted research by dog sled and helicopter. That was when they still used radio collars on the wolves and antenna, unlike today where they track them via GPS. I worked on that study for 17 months before returning home to run my sled dog teams for sport. I learned so much about the two species and how to compare and contrast the two. Shortly after my return, I was thirty for knowledge and began to read every book I could get my hands on and took several courses in canine training and behavior. I started to attend seminars and lectures and took exams to become a certified canine trainer.
Are you involved in and dog sports or activities?
I am heavily involved in canine sports. I have several clients that I am working with right now in conformation classes and competition obedience. I am a professional musher and in training for my first Iditarod in 2013. I plan on running a pure-breed Siberian Husky team under the Team Ineka banner.
How do you get business, and what is your relationship like with veterinarians in your community?
Most of our business comes from referrals, our website, Denver Dog Works, and word of mouth. Denver Dog Works is sought after often as a last resort for dog owners who have tried other training schools and failed for one reason or another. There is a veterinary office right next door to our training center and we receive a lot of referrals and “foot traffic” from there. I am sought out often for canine aggression cases and behavior modification. We take full advantage of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Ustream, YouTube and others. Of course, we do offer a lot of canine sports and working dog programs as well.
Do you belong to a trainer networking group, or otherwise consult with/refer to other trainers in your area?
I belong to several trainer associations and clubs throughout North America. I have found that a lot of trainers in Denver do not refer clients to each other. I don't know why. I speak to a lot of people though networking events at the Chamber of Commerce and I host a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show where we discuss everything that is related to dogs.
What do you believe are the three most important things to teach a dog?
Loose leash walking, Come (recall) and manners. As I tell my clients all the time, a dog that does not know how to walk on a loose leash is the first candidate for a shelter. Why? because if the relationship between owner and dog is strained on walks (pardon the pun), the owner does not want to interact with the dog, hence that equals lack of exercise, which equals destructiveness. In regards to the recall command, I tell my clients, “who cares if your dog will sit and down on command in your living room, if he won’t come to you at the park, you will have a big problem.”
What types of cases do you find the most challenging and why?
I find dispelling the myths that people have about their dogs the most challenging. I routinely talk about canine evolution and anthropomorphism and how proper relationships should be formed with our canine companions.
What advice would you give to other trainers about working with dogs and their owners?
Patience. Just one word, Patience.
Can you offer a specific tip or trick for working with dogs or owners that other trainers might find helpful?
Take the time to listen to your clients and encourage them to think outside the box about their dog and their training goals. Also, turn off the T.V. and get out and do something with your dog and that will teach them more about their canine companions than any book or T.V. dog training show.
What was your scariest moment with a dog (or client)?
I have been known to say that I have been bit by the best and trained the rest. In all honesty I have never had a scary moment with a dog but witnessing my wife being attacked by a Dutch Shepherd that we had in training scared me to death. You can read her story about that by clicking here.
What would you say are the top three things you have personally learned as a trainer?
1. Patience. 2. dogs make better clients than people, 3. and that fear and punishment is the least effective way to get a dog to do what you want.
What was the last training related seminar you attended?
I conducted the last seminar I attended and that was about the misconceptions people have about how dogs behave in dog parks. I was the featured speaker at a conference with several HOA’s and the city of Denver when it was up for debate on whether Denver should add more dog parks.
Are there any specific books, authors, DVDs that have influenced you as a trainer?
I have read so many books on canine training, behavior, evolution and origin that I cant list them all. Some of the most influential have been the books written by the Monks of New Skeete, the book Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution. the three book series by (Lindsey) Darwin’s Origin of the Species, Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog, many courses in psychology an learning theory, hundreds of business books and articles, countless hours of research for my dissertation and the thousands of miles on the back of a dog sled and in my kennel have been my greatest teacher.
Anything else you would like to add?
In my opinion,our relationship with our dogs is our greatest gift. I say that not only as a dog trainer and a business owner, but also as a father of three teenagers. Our dogs have taught us so much about life. My work with canines is dedicated to my friends of friends “Ineka and Rutgrr” who have taught me the definition of unconditional love. In addition, to all other sled dog pups that have unselfishly provided comfort, compassion, and unparalleled commitment to humans. This dedication is generally without measure of our right to such gifts or of our own commitment to reciprocate.
It is this affection that has given me the ability to survive, with relative sanity, in an often difficult world. The power of this unconditional love has been the inspiration for this dissertation and the project that produced it. May this project bring power to those who want to chase their dreams. May this project also give us a better appreciation for those creatures with which we share the earth.
_________________
Michele Forto is the business manager and a trainer for Dog Works Training Centers and the co-host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show that can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West and downloaded anytime. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
By Michele Forto
We are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and they have one of the best dog training journals around, especially for us in the canine training industry, The APDT Chronicle of the Dog. Each month in their highly acclaimed magazine, they have a member profile edited by Nicole Wilde. While we haven't been privy to be showcased in this column yet, I thought it would be appropriate to showcase each one of our trainers over the next few weeks so that you can get to know us and what we are about.
This week I will be interviewing Dr. Robert Forto, PhD....
Lets get to know Dr. Robert Forto, PhD....
Business Name: Denver Dog Works
Location: Denver, Colorado
Phone: 303-578-9881
Email: rforto@denverdogworks.com
Website: www.denverdogworks.com
Years in Business: 3 1/2 in Denver, 19 years as a canine obedience instructor and behaviorist
Personal Training Philosophy: Know Yourself. Know Your Dog.
Our training philosophy at Denver Dog Works is not a procedure but a lifestyle.
I have learned in the nineteen years of literally living with a pack of dogs and on the sled dog trail that it has offered me a unique perspective. There I was forced to examine my attitude about everything including my dogs. I was constantly challenged to become more open to the language dogs use to communicate with us. This experience confirms our deepest intuitions about the relationship of human beings not only with their dog but every aspect of their lives.
I hope to foster my clients with a diverse and varied understanding of the environment for which they live. I hope to foster a more realistic understanding of their dogs and an increased awareness of the benefits of their companionship.
Drawing on my experience as a kennel owner of many Siberian Huskies I will teach my clients how dog training goes far beyond the elementary instruction of basic obedience; as it must encompass a whole new attitude and lifestyle with their dog. It must touch on the levels of a dog’s own life that are often ignored.
I will bring my client into the world of a dog musher, canine behaviorist, and father of three by using my experience as a lens through which they may broaden their understanding of their dog. The stage will then be set for a balanced, lasting relationship between them and their best friend.
How long have you been in business and what types of services do you provide?
I have been training professionally since the summer of 1994 when I attended my first “certification” course. Also in 1994 I started my Siberian Husky sled dog kennel in Duluth, Minnesota on my hobby farm. I began training clients dogs in local parks in a Canine Good Citizen-type training program and offering in-kennel board and train programs for clients. In 2000, I went back to school to earn my doctorate and began research on human-canine communication in the sport of dog sledding and I took a hiatus from dog training for clients. In 2006, my family and I moved to Denver, Colorado and I sought employment as a canine trainer. I sent out three resumes and one person called me back. I interviewed for the job and gave him a stack of certificates and degrees and the owner of the school said, “I don’t care about paper, I want to see how you train dogs.”
I went back into his kennel and got a dog and took it to the training room and showed the owner how I could work the dog through an obedience routine. He hired me the next day and shortly thereafter offered me the training school to lease. In January 2007, we opened Denver Dog Works at that location and have been training in Denver ever since.
How did you get started?
As I stated before, I have been training dogs since the 90’s in competition obedience and conformation with Siberian Huskies, thought by some to be the toughest breed to train, but my work with canines really started to take off when I moved to Minnesota. I literally lived with a pack of 35 sled dogs 24-hours a day. We ran teams all night on the snowmobile trails in the Superior National Forest and then I would come back and take care of the dogs and interact with them and study their behavior. While there is much to be said about pack based training theory today, I learned so much about those dogs that I became an expert in canine body language and communication. In 1997, I was given the opportunity to attend a wolf migration study in Alaska and we conducted research by dog sled and helicopter. That was when they still used radio collars on the wolves and antenna, unlike today where they track them via GPS. I worked on that study for 17 months before returning home to run my sled dog teams for sport. I learned so much about the two species and how to compare and contrast the two. Shortly after my return, I was thirty for knowledge and began to read every book I could get my hands on and took several courses in canine training and behavior. I started to attend seminars and lectures and took exams to become a certified canine trainer.
Are you involved in and dog sports or activities?
I am heavily involved in canine sports. I have several clients that I am working with right now in conformation classes and competition obedience. I am a professional musher and in training for my first Iditarod in 2013. I plan on running a pure-breed Siberian Husky team under the Team Ineka banner.
How do you get business, and what is your relationship like with veterinarians in your community?
Most of our business comes from referrals, our website, Denver Dog Works, and word of mouth. Denver Dog Works is sought after often as a last resort for dog owners who have tried other training schools and failed for one reason or another. There is a veterinary office right next door to our training center and we receive a lot of referrals and “foot traffic” from there. I am sought out often for canine aggression cases and behavior modification. We take full advantage of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Ustream, YouTube and others. Of course, we do offer a lot of canine sports and working dog programs as well.
Do you belong to a trainer networking group, or otherwise consult with/refer to other trainers in your area?
I belong to several trainer associations and clubs throughout North America. I have found that a lot of trainers in Denver do not refer clients to each other. I don't know why. I speak to a lot of people though networking events at the Chamber of Commerce and I host a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show where we discuss everything that is related to dogs.
What do you believe are the three most important things to teach a dog?
Loose leash walking, Come (recall) and manners. As I tell my clients all the time, a dog that does not know how to walk on a loose leash is the first candidate for a shelter. Why? because if the relationship between owner and dog is strained on walks (pardon the pun), the owner does not want to interact with the dog, hence that equals lack of exercise, which equals destructiveness. In regards to the recall command, I tell my clients, “who cares if your dog will sit and down on command in your living room, if he won’t come to you at the park, you will have a big problem.”
What types of cases do you find the most challenging and why?
I find dispelling the myths that people have about their dogs the most challenging. I routinely talk about canine evolution and anthropomorphism and how proper relationships should be formed with our canine companions.
What advice would you give to other trainers about working with dogs and their owners?
Patience. Just one word, Patience.
Can you offer a specific tip or trick for working with dogs or owners that other trainers might find helpful?
Take the time to listen to your clients and encourage them to think outside the box about their dog and their training goals. Also, turn off the T.V. and get out and do something with your dog and that will teach them more about their canine companions than any book or T.V. dog training show.
What was your scariest moment with a dog (or client)?
I have been known to say that I have been bit by the best and trained the rest. In all honesty I have never had a scary moment with a dog but witnessing my wife being attacked by a Dutch Shepherd that we had in training scared me to death. You can read her story about that by clicking here.
What would you say are the top three things you have personally learned as a trainer?
1. Patience. 2. dogs make better clients than people, 3. and that fear and punishment is the least effective way to get a dog to do what you want.
What was the last training related seminar you attended?
I conducted the last seminar I attended and that was about the misconceptions people have about how dogs behave in dog parks. I was the featured speaker at a conference with several HOA’s and the city of Denver when it was up for debate on whether Denver should add more dog parks.
Are there any specific books, authors, DVDs that have influenced you as a trainer?
I have read so many books on canine training, behavior, evolution and origin that I cant list them all. Some of the most influential have been the books written by the Monks of New Skeete, the book Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution. the three book series by (Lindsey) Darwin’s Origin of the Species, Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog, many courses in psychology an learning theory, hundreds of business books and articles, countless hours of research for my dissertation and the thousands of miles on the back of a dog sled and in my kennel have been my greatest teacher.
Anything else you would like to add?
In my opinion,our relationship with our dogs is our greatest gift. I say that not only as a dog trainer and a business owner, but also as a father of three teenagers. Our dogs have taught us so much about life. My work with canines is dedicated to my friends of friends “Ineka and Rutgrr” who have taught me the definition of unconditional love. In addition, to all other sled dog pups that have unselfishly provided comfort, compassion, and unparalleled commitment to humans. This dedication is generally without measure of our right to such gifts or of our own commitment to reciprocate.
It is this affection that has given me the ability to survive, with relative sanity, in an often difficult world. The power of this unconditional love has been the inspiration for this dissertation and the project that produced it. May this project bring power to those who want to chase their dreams. May this project also give us a better appreciation for those creatures with which we share the earth.
_________________
Michele Forto is the business manager and a trainer for Dog Works Training Centers and the co-host of a weekly radio program, The Dog Doctor Radio Show that can be heard every Saturday at 9:30 am in the Rocky Mountain West and downloaded anytime. Michele can be reached through her website at http://www.denverdogworks.com
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Dog Sledding Legends: Arthur Walden
Dog Sledding Legends: Arthur Walden
By Robert Forto, PhD
When sled dog racing started to catch on as a winter sport in New England and Canada, the speedy little Siberian dogs with the great endurance had not yet been introduced outside of Alaska. These crossbred dogs still held the inside track. Arthur Walden and Emile St. Godard won many races in New England and Canada during the 1920’s; Walden’s dogs were the big golden Chinooks, a freighting dog, and St. Godard’s were hound-husky crosses, bred for speed.
For his part in the promotion of the sport in New England, Arthur Walden held the inevitable title, “Father of New England Sled Dog Racing.” For nearly twenty years he traveled all over the Northeast, including Canada, driving his teams in races and exhibitions, at schools and fairs. For much of that time his famous dog, Chinook, was on lead, and was a welcome companion at ball games, lectures, and promotional visits. With a breeding program that included not selling any dog that could not reproduce to Walden’s standards, he developed his unique dogs and sold them as sled dogs and pets.
In 1928, Walden, age fifty-six, and with his special breed of sled dog, ventured from New Hampshire and his New England Sled Dog Club, from the races and the farm where he taught dog driving, and joined Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition. His position was that of dog handler, his chief assistant was his faithful lead dog, Chinook. Chinook did not make it back to New England from his trip to Antarctica and the Manchester (New Hampshire) Union Leader newspaper carried a tribute story to this fine sled dog on January 24, 1929.
Walden returned to New Hampshire and remained a popular speaker on sled dogs. His life touched all the aspects, from dog punching to racing, from kennel manager to explorer. He brought the spirit of the gold rush dog team from Alaska and he instigated sport races a continent away from their original home.
Walden lived to be ninety-one years old, straddling the animated decades from the 1870’s into the 1960’s. Without Arthur Walden, the lore and the lure of the sled dog would be much less than it is.
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is a professional musher and training for his first Iditarod racing under Team Ineka. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.teamineka.com
By Robert Forto, PhD
When sled dog racing started to catch on as a winter sport in New England and Canada, the speedy little Siberian dogs with the great endurance had not yet been introduced outside of Alaska. These crossbred dogs still held the inside track. Arthur Walden and Emile St. Godard won many races in New England and Canada during the 1920’s; Walden’s dogs were the big golden Chinooks, a freighting dog, and St. Godard’s were hound-husky crosses, bred for speed.
For his part in the promotion of the sport in New England, Arthur Walden held the inevitable title, “Father of New England Sled Dog Racing.” For nearly twenty years he traveled all over the Northeast, including Canada, driving his teams in races and exhibitions, at schools and fairs. For much of that time his famous dog, Chinook, was on lead, and was a welcome companion at ball games, lectures, and promotional visits. With a breeding program that included not selling any dog that could not reproduce to Walden’s standards, he developed his unique dogs and sold them as sled dogs and pets.
In 1928, Walden, age fifty-six, and with his special breed of sled dog, ventured from New Hampshire and his New England Sled Dog Club, from the races and the farm where he taught dog driving, and joined Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition. His position was that of dog handler, his chief assistant was his faithful lead dog, Chinook. Chinook did not make it back to New England from his trip to Antarctica and the Manchester (New Hampshire) Union Leader newspaper carried a tribute story to this fine sled dog on January 24, 1929.
Walden returned to New Hampshire and remained a popular speaker on sled dogs. His life touched all the aspects, from dog punching to racing, from kennel manager to explorer. He brought the spirit of the gold rush dog team from Alaska and he instigated sport races a continent away from their original home.
Walden lived to be ninety-one years old, straddling the animated decades from the 1870’s into the 1960’s. Without Arthur Walden, the lore and the lure of the sled dog would be much less than it is.
_______________________
Dr. Robert Forto is a professional musher and training for his first Iditarod racing under Team Ineka. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.teamineka.com
Friday, May 22, 2009
Redemption...Or Not?
Redemption…Or Not?
By Robert Forto, PhD
On this week’s edition of the Dog Doctor Radio Show we are going to talk about the big news story of the week—Michael Vick released from prison. The Dog Doctor Team weighs in on redemption, punishment and community service. While I am sure that most of you know the Michael Vick story unless you have been under a rock for the past two years, he was released from federal prison on dog fighting charges this past week. What brings this story to our forefront is that he is planning on working with the Humane Society of the United States on a campaign directed at at-risk youth. Our question to you is what does a person have to do to receive redemption?
When the story of Vick being released broke I posted on Facebook and Twitter this question and received a lot of responses. While I am sure you are aware our forum is mostly dog owners you will be surprised at what they all said.
The question I posted was: Vick to work with Humane Society. Your thoughts?
I have included some of the comments and they are listed below in bold. My thoughts are in italics. I encourage all of you to comment as well and let’s keep this story alive.
Comment 1: I think it is great. He served his time in jail, now it’s the reconciliation tour.
I agree with this comment and I also believe that we are using situational ethics in this case. I mean, if a pro-football player got in trouble for beating up his girlfriend he would be on the field the next week, right? What separates Vick from this is that it was the callousness and the atrocity of the act of dog fighting and what was done to those dogs. By no means am I condoning the behavior. I actually abhor this, but don’t we go to NASCAR racing for the wrecks, don’t we go to boxing matches for the knockout? Don’t we go to greyhound racing for the dog to catch the rabbit?
Comment 2: Whatever as long as he is serious...he was one of my favorite players in the NFL...cannot stomach him now.
This is also true and I think the same way of Woody Allen. I used to love to watch Vick play ball. His athleticism was second to none. He was entertaining and he brought a passion to a sport that is otherwise lacking but now it will be tough to watch him play. Just like it is tough to watch Woody Allen movies after he was caught in a child abuse scandal. It just makes him somehow “dirty” now.
Comment 3: It would be nothing more than a PR tactic to better his image. He could care less about the lives of the dogs he owned. I think he'd still be at it if he hadn't been caught. I also believe any NFL team that picks him up is in for a world of bad press and upset fans.
This is where redemption comes in for me. All of us have skeletons in our closets. All of us have ill deeds. This is what makes us uniquely human. What does a person have to pay for redemption? What price do they have to pay after they say I am sorry?
Comment 4: Listen as far as I am concerned the ONLY reason he is going to "work" with the Humane Society is because he got caught, I know people deserve a second chance but did these dogs get a second chance? Some did some have been given a life in a cage...hmmm..MAYBE he should spend life in a cage...I am sorry I will stop, seeing first hand what dog fighting does to the dogs...I just can't be objective about this.
Vick, or his PR people, approached the Humane Society and the director went to visit him in prison before his release. And while an article in USA Today says that the director does not condone Vick’s actions he believes he is sincere in his willingness to work with the Humane Society.
Comment 5: Last night on CNN, they had an individual that had adopted one of the dogs. Through love and patience, she gave "Jhumba?" a new life. They reported none of the surviving animals were in shelters. They had either been adopted or were in sanctuaries. "Redemption" for Vick? While I hate the actions, I can't hate the man. His future actions, while under scrutiny, will determine if he’s legitimate or not. I hope, if anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
I agree, something good has come from this and with discussions like this will hopefully continue to educate the public about dog fighting and the violence and criminal activities linked to dog fighting. I challenge the Humane Society and all shelters to campaign for more education about animal abuse. We are destined to repeat history unless we are educated about its ramifications.under scrutiny, will determine if he's legitimate or not. I hope. If anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
Comment 6: I know that some of these dogs are in "sanctuaries" such as Best Friend’s society. I still DO NOT agree that is a life for a dog, living in an aggressive stance not trusting and still LIVING a life in a "gilded" cage. Sorry I feel and (I know I will be BLASTED for this )but I feel a gentle death is better than living a life in a cage- no matter how "big" it is. I know many will not agree with my feelings on this but oh well!
I disagree with this comment. Many dogs find themselves living in sanctuaries or foster homes for many reasons including as foreclosure victims. I wrote an article about that very subject…… Retired sled dogs, greyhounds, and other working dogs spend their retirement years in some of these same circumstances; it’s still a decent life. Fighting dogs that are confiscated from their “homes” and placed into another sort of kennel environment can still have decent thriving lives. From the research that my wife/co-host Michele has done, all of the dogs have been placed in homes not “gilded” cages. Michele adds, what about all of the other dogs out there being raised to fight? We only know what happened to the dog’s Vick owned, what about the countless others’ that are still living that existence?
Comment 7: Personally I think what he did is unacceptable, but with the way our society works, if you do the time you get a second chance. I hope that he had plenty of time to reconsider what he did, and grew up. This should make him realize that he is not invincible, and he has no choice but to do charity work to reclaim any chance he has of going back to the NFL.
In my opinion what he is did is atrocious! But it is how our society works. My wife/co-host Michele added Martha Stewart received redemption. She is more successful since her release than before. People still tune into her show and buy her merchandise. She went to federal prison for securities fraud. No, she didn’t abuse animals, but her crime received a higher penalty and longer sentence. Not only that, but she didn’t do her time in Leavenworth, noted as one of the toughest federal facilities out there. This is not saying that her time wasn’t tough, I’m just saying that his was done in a harsher environment. Countless other celebrities and politicians have gone to federal prisons and received public redemption for their crimes. Again, I personally do not condone what Mr. Vick was involved in, I’m just asking what’s the price?
Comment 8: Honestly, if he has a change of heart and he finds a dog that he falls in love with...he will find it difficult to forgive himself. No one knows another man's heart...but, I would rather he use his fame and money to help our four-pawed angels than for his selfish endeavors.
I cannot agree more. This is the best comment of all I believe. It sums up all the qualities of forgiveness, human emotion, redemption, restitution and resolution.
Comment 9: Celebrities get the spotlight for whatever they do. Whatever Mr. Vick's intentions are for "volunteering" with the Humane Society, he will undoubtedly benefit from what he will be exposed to and he will learn. And, isn't that the whole point? As pet owners, trainers, and advocates for education, isn't our job to a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.
This is actually my wife, Michele’s comment to the question. Michele and I co-host the Dog Doctor Radio Show and she and I will speak about this topic in depth on the show.
Comment 10: I believe if he can use what he knows and what he's learned to help eliminate dog fighting than I embrace this idea. I say USE his notoriety to fight the good fight.
Comment 11: I think it all comes down to if you believe people can change, and if there's a point at which they can't or won't. I think that I almost agree with the comment posted earlier that if he finds an animal he cares about, his genuine guilt will punish him a great deal...
So, ladies and gentlemen, sports lovers, and dog enthusiast, what should happen next? Should this person receive redemption or not? Sure, someone has to be an advocate for the dogs. I work tirelessly doing that every day. I have spoken on countless occasions about breed bans, landlord/tenant disputes, canine aggression, bite statistics and much more, but when I do speak I speak the facts of the case and let my peers decide what is right and wrong. I am asking for you to do the same here. What is the price for redemption…in anyone’s case, not just Michael Vick?
____________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the host of the acclaimed Dog Doctor Radio and the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/
By Robert Forto, PhD
On this week’s edition of the Dog Doctor Radio Show we are going to talk about the big news story of the week—Michael Vick released from prison. The Dog Doctor Team weighs in on redemption, punishment and community service. While I am sure that most of you know the Michael Vick story unless you have been under a rock for the past two years, he was released from federal prison on dog fighting charges this past week. What brings this story to our forefront is that he is planning on working with the Humane Society of the United States on a campaign directed at at-risk youth. Our question to you is what does a person have to do to receive redemption?
When the story of Vick being released broke I posted on Facebook and Twitter this question and received a lot of responses. While I am sure you are aware our forum is mostly dog owners you will be surprised at what they all said.
The question I posted was: Vick to work with Humane Society. Your thoughts?
I have included some of the comments and they are listed below in bold. My thoughts are in italics. I encourage all of you to comment as well and let’s keep this story alive.
Comment 1: I think it is great. He served his time in jail, now it’s the reconciliation tour.
I agree with this comment and I also believe that we are using situational ethics in this case. I mean, if a pro-football player got in trouble for beating up his girlfriend he would be on the field the next week, right? What separates Vick from this is that it was the callousness and the atrocity of the act of dog fighting and what was done to those dogs. By no means am I condoning the behavior. I actually abhor this, but don’t we go to NASCAR racing for the wrecks, don’t we go to boxing matches for the knockout? Don’t we go to greyhound racing for the dog to catch the rabbit?
Comment 2: Whatever as long as he is serious...he was one of my favorite players in the NFL...cannot stomach him now.
This is also true and I think the same way of Woody Allen. I used to love to watch Vick play ball. His athleticism was second to none. He was entertaining and he brought a passion to a sport that is otherwise lacking but now it will be tough to watch him play. Just like it is tough to watch Woody Allen movies after he was caught in a child abuse scandal. It just makes him somehow “dirty” now.
Comment 3: It would be nothing more than a PR tactic to better his image. He could care less about the lives of the dogs he owned. I think he'd still be at it if he hadn't been caught. I also believe any NFL team that picks him up is in for a world of bad press and upset fans.
This is where redemption comes in for me. All of us have skeletons in our closets. All of us have ill deeds. This is what makes us uniquely human. What does a person have to pay for redemption? What price do they have to pay after they say I am sorry?
Comment 4: Listen as far as I am concerned the ONLY reason he is going to "work" with the Humane Society is because he got caught, I know people deserve a second chance but did these dogs get a second chance? Some did some have been given a life in a cage...hmmm..MAYBE he should spend life in a cage...I am sorry I will stop, seeing first hand what dog fighting does to the dogs...I just can't be objective about this.
Vick, or his PR people, approached the Humane Society and the director went to visit him in prison before his release. And while an article in USA Today says that the director does not condone Vick’s actions he believes he is sincere in his willingness to work with the Humane Society.
Comment 5: Last night on CNN, they had an individual that had adopted one of the dogs. Through love and patience, she gave "Jhumba?" a new life. They reported none of the surviving animals were in shelters. They had either been adopted or were in sanctuaries. "Redemption" for Vick? While I hate the actions, I can't hate the man. His future actions, while under scrutiny, will determine if he’s legitimate or not. I hope, if anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
I agree, something good has come from this and with discussions like this will hopefully continue to educate the public about dog fighting and the violence and criminal activities linked to dog fighting. I challenge the Humane Society and all shelters to campaign for more education about animal abuse. We are destined to repeat history unless we are educated about its ramifications.under scrutiny, will determine if he's legitimate or not. I hope. If anything, his mess has exposed the prevalence of dog fighting and made the public more aware of the signs. Something good came from this.
Comment 6: I know that some of these dogs are in "sanctuaries" such as Best Friend’s society. I still DO NOT agree that is a life for a dog, living in an aggressive stance not trusting and still LIVING a life in a "gilded" cage. Sorry I feel and (I know I will be BLASTED for this )but I feel a gentle death is better than living a life in a cage- no matter how "big" it is. I know many will not agree with my feelings on this but oh well!
I disagree with this comment. Many dogs find themselves living in sanctuaries or foster homes for many reasons including as foreclosure victims. I wrote an article about that very subject…… Retired sled dogs, greyhounds, and other working dogs spend their retirement years in some of these same circumstances; it’s still a decent life. Fighting dogs that are confiscated from their “homes” and placed into another sort of kennel environment can still have decent thriving lives. From the research that my wife/co-host Michele has done, all of the dogs have been placed in homes not “gilded” cages. Michele adds, what about all of the other dogs out there being raised to fight? We only know what happened to the dog’s Vick owned, what about the countless others’ that are still living that existence?
Comment 7: Personally I think what he did is unacceptable, but with the way our society works, if you do the time you get a second chance. I hope that he had plenty of time to reconsider what he did, and grew up. This should make him realize that he is not invincible, and he has no choice but to do charity work to reclaim any chance he has of going back to the NFL.
In my opinion what he is did is atrocious! But it is how our society works. My wife/co-host Michele added Martha Stewart received redemption. She is more successful since her release than before. People still tune into her show and buy her merchandise. She went to federal prison for securities fraud. No, she didn’t abuse animals, but her crime received a higher penalty and longer sentence. Not only that, but she didn’t do her time in Leavenworth, noted as one of the toughest federal facilities out there. This is not saying that her time wasn’t tough, I’m just saying that his was done in a harsher environment. Countless other celebrities and politicians have gone to federal prisons and received public redemption for their crimes. Again, I personally do not condone what Mr. Vick was involved in, I’m just asking what’s the price?
Comment 8: Honestly, if he has a change of heart and he finds a dog that he falls in love with...he will find it difficult to forgive himself. No one knows another man's heart...but, I would rather he use his fame and money to help our four-pawed angels than for his selfish endeavors.
I cannot agree more. This is the best comment of all I believe. It sums up all the qualities of forgiveness, human emotion, redemption, restitution and resolution.
Comment 9: Celebrities get the spotlight for whatever they do. Whatever Mr. Vick's intentions are for "volunteering" with the Humane Society, he will undoubtedly benefit from what he will be exposed to and he will learn. And, isn't that the whole point? As pet owners, trainers, and advocates for education, isn't our job to a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.job to take a bad behavior albeit a human bad behavior and teach that individual right from wrong? Rather than punishing them their entire lives for what they were involved in.
This is actually my wife, Michele’s comment to the question. Michele and I co-host the Dog Doctor Radio Show and she and I will speak about this topic in depth on the show.
Comment 10: I believe if he can use what he knows and what he's learned to help eliminate dog fighting than I embrace this idea. I say USE his notoriety to fight the good fight.
Comment 11: I think it all comes down to if you believe people can change, and if there's a point at which they can't or won't. I think that I almost agree with the comment posted earlier that if he finds an animal he cares about, his genuine guilt will punish him a great deal...
So, ladies and gentlemen, sports lovers, and dog enthusiast, what should happen next? Should this person receive redemption or not? Sure, someone has to be an advocate for the dogs. I work tirelessly doing that every day. I have spoken on countless occasions about breed bans, landlord/tenant disputes, canine aggression, bite statistics and much more, but when I do speak I speak the facts of the case and let my peers decide what is right and wrong. I am asking for you to do the same here. What is the price for redemption…in anyone’s case, not just Michael Vick?
____________________________
Dr. Robert Forto is the host of the acclaimed Dog Doctor Radio and the training director of Denver Dog Works and The Ineka Project in Colorado. Dr. Forto can be reached through his website at http://www.denverdogworks.com/
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