Considerations Before Pursuing Small Business Certifications

There are certain business certifications that can help a small business get ahead. Typically, these certifications are based upon the majority owner(s) of the company. There are certifications for being a minority, a female, or a veteran. If one was able to be all three, all the more leverage they would have. However, there are some realities that a business should consider before pursuing certifications for leverage.

The first consideration is determining if one's business is in the right industry. Basically, the United States government is big business, it is the largest single purchaser of goods and services in the world. So, if one's company is not a business-to-business company then it would be best if one stopped looking for federal business. Something that is business-to-consumer like a restaurant just does not fit government procurement. There can be times when a consumer company could fulfill a contract here or there. One example is where a government institution needed meals provided on a fairly regular basis. The contract may not be big enough for a food service company, so a local provider would be desired. But the opportunities are so few and far in-between that one should not worry about getting certified.

Another consideration is that even with certification, getting business from governments or corporations will be hard. A business has to be able to handle the job and market itself. Being certified is just one more thing a business can add as a reason to use them. But rarely is it the sole-reason any procurement agent will use a particular company. Between two competitors it may be the deciding factor, but only after everything else has been added up and they are equal. Most likely, it will be the last thing considered.

Also consider that getting certified is not easy. That is not to say one's chances are not good. The reality is that if one sticks with it a business will probably get its certification. But it is saying that it does take a lot of time to get certified. If one is looking for government certification then there is a lot of paperwork and waiting. So, one should really be committed to making it happen. In the meantime, they should be working on getting business from their regular sources because getting a government contract will be far off.

The final thought is that a business will still need to sell itself. Marketing will be key, and because one is pursuing a very narrow niche with the certification marketing will not be easy. One will have to be willing to invest money to be at conferences and networking events. It may take trip to places like Washington, DC. Then there are a lot of sales calls and staying in front of procurement and contracting people.

A business needs to decide if they can make the commitment of time, money, and work to get and leverage their business certification.

There is more information about small business certifications. Visit this help about minority owned business certification or learn about the women owned business certification. There is help online if one looks.

Mobile Pet Groomers Wanted!

Pet grooming courses can lead you to an exciting profession which offers both pleasure and profitability. Pet grooming schools call for standards which even veterinarians and breeders usually do not need to adhere to. You might fill an important niche within the pet market and you will develop into an essential contact for the pets you serve aside from their owners. You will have to apply hands-on techniques towards the animals, while at the same time having to observe their behaviors and physical qualities. Further, you will in fact have to spend quality time with the pet.

Pet grooming is an activity that most vets and breeders usually do not carry out. If you provide a dog grooming service, (or become a cat groomer) you will need to be able to judge the psychological and physical characteristics of the pet and then report back to the owner. As such it is possible to develop not only a rapport with the pet, but the owner as well. But, if you observe that the animal has been maltreated by the owner it is essential to call up the veterinarian at once.

One of the skills you will be taught in dog grooming training, is to be able to consider the specific breed and choose what kind of coat that dog actually has. For example, the Labrador retriever has two coats. Its first coat is really a fine down fur which is close to the skin and allows warmth in the winter and water activities. The second coat is usually a long, thin, fine hair that is used as a water repellent. This permits the dog to dry off promptly and to look after the inner coat.The skilled grooming expert will be proficient in knowing how short to trim or to clip at all. To trim the coat too short would most likely leave the under coating hair and the skin exposed to dangerous situations, such as exposure to the sun, which might bring about skin irritation or skin cancer.

If you have these abilities, undertake one of the dog grooming courses. There are many pet grooming schools, even online. Some are the brick-and-mortar type where you can attend daily classes. The benefit of pet grooming courses online, naturally, is they permit you to study at your own leisure. When the program is completed, a certificate will likely be issued. This certificate should be taken to your State Board responsible for certification. A few states do not require certification, however the certificate is a representation of credibility in the world of pet grooming.

Mobile pet groomers have a profitable business opportunity as they can decide on the breed of animals to preferably groom as well as the fees they may charge. Further, becoming a cat groomer as well, might fill a valuable niche - they are in demand. There is also a shortage of mobile pet groomers in rural regions, so moving to a place without a dog grooming service could possibly be the start of quite a profitable career.

Article by Lois G http://www.DogGroomingTrainingInfo.com Mobile pet groomers are in demand and you may become skilled as a dog or cat groomer easily from home, online. To access your dog grooming training from online reputable pet grooming courses, plus your free Groomers' Guide, visit: http://www.DogGroomingTrainingInfo.com

Complete Your SBA 8a Certification In Four Easy Steps

Why have you been putting off getting SBA 8a certification? It is NOT that difficult to get certified if you really want to break into government contracting. And you do NOT have to pay someone else to help you fill out the form. If you can read and follow instructions, you can do it. How do I know? I successfully completed my company SBA 8a certification in 2004. Here's the blueprint... now get it done!

Where do you start?

There is an electronic application form at the SBA website. If you take the time to read the four steps to the Electronic Application Process, you will be prepared to complete it in the least amount of time with the least amount of personal pain. I recommend submitting the electronic application form over the mail-in version because you will receive your results back in days, NOT weeks.

Step One: Get registered with CCR

The first step is to get your company registered at the federal Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database The CCR database is a single point of vendor registration and is key to streamlining the procurement process. Note: It might take 24 - 72 hours to get your CCR profile active in the system. Then you can proceed.

Step Two: Register in the SBA General Login System (GLS)

This system supports all services offered by the SBA. Two key pieces of information you will need to know are your Employer Identification Number (EIN) or your Social Security Number. You will also need to register for a Dun & Bradstreet number (DUNS). The DUNS is a requirement for all federal contracts as well as many major corporations. Note: You can register for the FREE service and do not have to sign up for any other monthly fee-based D&B services.

Step Three: Download, sign, get notarized and mail-in Signature Authorization card

This is the only "manual" portion of the process. It becomes the trigger for the SBA to begin screening and reviewing your Electronic application. Be sure you send your Signature Authorization card to the appropriate SBA Program Certification & Eligibility address, based upon the state you are doing business.

Step Four: Begin SBA 8a Application Process via the GLS

Using your new GLS user name / password - enter your information into the application online. Note: You do not have to complete the application in one sitting, fill out as much as you can and then save and come back later. How long will it take to complete the application? The more complex the company structure, the longer it takes to fill out the information. For example:a 100% owned sole-proprietorship owned will not take as long as a multi-owner corporation located in a community property state. Note: My application took about two hours total to complete. You will need your tax returns from the past three years and other documents for reference.

The SBA does offer FAQs and an online training course to get you prepared for the application process. Once you have submitted the application, by law, there is a 90 day response time on getting back to you. My application was reviewed in less than 30 days. So if you submit the application online, you will get a much more timely response.

One other note: Caucasian women have more difficulty in getting SBA 8a certified. One extra support document you may be asked to prepare and submit is a disadvantaged social narrative. This is a paper that documents how overcome social, economic and business factors have influenced your inability to succeed to your maximum capability. Can you write this paper without hiring a company to prepare it for you? YES. Learn how I took my experience and now help hundreds of other women to gain confidence to prepare their own narratives. Read more about the toolkit I prepared at my company website.

Ok, now you know the four steps to the SBA 8a process, what is keeping you from starting your application today?

Karen Miller, President of Design2Train an SBA 8a company has created a Narrative Toolkit to assist small business owners. Get a free report at: [http://www.sba8anarrativetoolkit.com]

Dog Training Certification Tips

There are a lot of pet owners everywhere. Most of these pets are dogs. This furry four legged animal is man's best friend. A lot of pet owners are starting to feel the need of having them go through training with professional trainers.

Training dogs have become a possible job that will need to be filled in the coming years. To be a qualified for this kind of job you will need dog training certification. Knowledge on how to train canines is becoming a great job that anybody can benefit from, as long as they have their dog training certification and love for furry animals.

To get your qualification, you have to get enrolled a certification program. Finding a good training program can be quite hard. To help you find a reliable dog training program, I have listed a few things that a dog training course needs:

A dog training program should about the history on how to train canines. Some of the activities have been found to be dated back at early 1900's. It discusses methods and ways they were trained during the earlier eras.

The program should also include discussions on how they behave. This usually includes body language, behavioral genetics, developmental behavior, characteristics of different breeds, and social development. A dog trainer with a dog training certification that includes being well versed with different behavior of dogs will likely get hired immediately.

This is quite important. Any trainer should know how to train dogs so that the animal can interact with its owners. A well trained dog should be able to follow simple commands of its owner. If a dog behaves badly, punishment should be given. If the animal does well, a reward is important.

A good dog training program should also include the business part. It should teach trainers how to train others in the future and maintain the business well.

As dog trainer you will need the knowledge of how to structure a class. This will include what materials you will need, how to choose your client, what advice you will need to give to dog owners, and a knowledge on how to motivate other dog handlers.

Usually a good training program can go on for weeks or months. It usually consists of various trainings on how to handle dogs. There are programs that are short lived. Some of it only lasts a day or two. In this span of time, a dog trainer will probably not learn anything helpful at all.

Have you considered getting a job working with dogs then check out this great Dog Training Certification resources and articles and get on the road to a new rewarding career.
http://www.dogtrainingcertification.org

Dog Training DVD, A Great Investment in Your Dog

Purchasing a good quality dog training DVD is a smart investment into your dog training program. If you are a new dog trainer that has trained less than 10 working dogs or 30 pet dogs then it is important to establish a library of dog training DVDs and books. Every dog trainer develops his or her own style and method of training. Knowing how other professional dog trainers train and handle dogs is key to establishing your training methodology and curriculum. Even established professional dog trainers will purchase other trainers dog training DVD in order to keep current on different training methods.

If you are training pet dogs for obedience then you will have no trouble finding a good dog training DVD to employ in your training program. In fact you may have a problem choosing the best dog training DVD s. If you belong to a dog training organization you will have the ability to ask your peers what dog training DVD they recommend. In addition if you have interned with an established professional trainer you can ask what dog training DVD they would recommend. Most top dog trainers have produced their own dog training DVD that they provide to their clients owners. As your training program grows and develops, you should also consider developing your own dog training DVD that reinforces your training lessons. Any time a dog develops a bad habit the owner can simply take out your dog training DVD to address the issue.

Professional dog trainers that train law enforcement, handicap, hunting and lead dogs also use a dog training DVD as part of their training program. The greatest value of developing a good dog training DVD for working dogs comes from the fact the handler will have a copy of the training process to review. Professional working dogs must perform almost without error on demand. People's lives are dependent on the performance of these working dogs. A quality dog training DVD will allow the handler to keep themselves and their dog current by viewing and practicing the certification processes. Professional working dog trainers usually belong to a professional organization that established standards for both the handler and his or her dog. Some of these organizations have produced a dog training DVD that will assist trainers in achieving these standards of performance.

The use of a dog training DVD in a dog training program will help provide training uniformity and standards. If you are a professional dog trainer then one of your objectives should be developing your own quality dog training DVD. It will provide you with additional income while giving your clients a very good tool that they can use to review the training process. If used properly it will allow them to correctly tune up the performance of their dog. A good dog training DVD will assure the skills learned during the training process are continued long-term.

James Kesel, MS is the publisher of Career in Dog Training website. Providing information on various careers in training mans best friend.

Go to the Dogs - Work at Home As a Dog Trainer

Are you a canine fan? Have you always wanted to work at home? If you answered yes to both of these questions, you can combine your affection for pooches with your desire to work at home and become a dog trainer.

The dog trainer profession is a growing one. Dog trainers work in many capacities, including the film industry, working with the handicapped, and obedience training. The opportunities for regular employment and private, self-employment are rife in this profession.

If a work at home job is what you're looking for, you can become a dog trainer and work right out of your home in a couple of ways:

1) Teach obedience classes. Over half of canine owners enroll their pooches in obedience classes early on in their dog/owner relationship. Obedience training helps dogs and owners become oriented to one another and cements the dog-to-owner bond. It also teaches canines who is in charge (the human) and teaches owners how to get the kinds of responses from their pets that they desire without the use of force.

Obedience classes are usually conducted over a series of several sessions (typically between four and eight). The sessions include both canine and owner. Dogs learn the basic pooch skills: sit, fetch, roll over and beg. Owners learn how to elicit these behaviors using a system of gentle commands and rewards.

Extended training may include teaching pooches to navigate an obstacle course with the help of their human companions. Owners also learn proper canine care and nutrition.

Running an obedience class right out of your home requires a considerable amount of space. A large yard, extra lot or field is necessary so that pooches (and owners) have room to run without getting in each other's way and to set up an obstacle course.

If you don't have the space at home, you can still become a dog trainer. You can conduct the business portion of your operation from home and run classes in a rented space, such as a public park or farm.

2) Train guide dogs. Guide dogs help the disabled, blind or handicapped to live independently. They may act as "eyes" for the vision impaired or "ears" for the hearing impaired. They can even help epileptics anticipate the onset of seizures.

Working at home training guide dogs usually involves living 24/7 with the canine for several months or more, beginning in the puppy stage. Trainers raise the animal and teach it not just the basic puppy skills but also those special ones that will be needed in order to help the disabled.

Training guide dogs is a round -the-clock commitment but can usually be worked around a regular job if necessary. You must have adequate space to house the animal. A yard is a benefit, but not completely necessary as long as you take your charge out for regular exercise around the block or at the park.

Professional dog trainer certification is beneficial, and can be obtained from vocational colleges or through online courses. However, it's not always necessary, as long as you obtain proper training from some other source. For instance, some guide dog placement agencies offer private instruction for its trainers. Whatever route you choose, it's not only an excellent way to work at home, it's a rewarding way to serve the community you live in.

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Dog Training Advice and Tips

If you're a proud dog owner, training him has to be a top priority. Whether you're well-versed in the art of training dogs - or if you're a complete novice - it never hurts to brush up on some first-rate dog training advice. There is a whole lot of it out there; different situations will call for different tips and pointers. Still, some types of dog training advice are universally true. A handful of prime examples are highlighted below.

Fun is the Name of the Game - While training your dog is important, it shouldn't stress you out or make you miserable. Dogs are very intuitive; they can pick up on your mood with ease. If you're stressed and unhappy while training your dog, he's going to feel that way, too. Engage in training sessions when you're in a positive mood - being well-rested helps, too.

Positive Reinforcement is Critical - Since dogs can pick up on your mood, they can generally discern when you're happy with them. This is a good thing, since it allows you to put positive reinforcement to work for you. Each and every time your dog does what he's supposed to do, make sure to reward him with praise, a treat - or both. Encouragement is essential, so focus on the positive things that your dog does.

Using the Right Tone Matters - When communicating with your dog, you'll usually want to use a happy, friendly, encouraging voice. This is especially true when it comes to teaching him fun things like rolling over or playing fetch. If you're teaching your dog more serious commands, like sit and stay, you should use a firmer, more serious tone. Your dog should learn when you mean business; over time, he will respond in kind.

Patience is Essential - One of the most important pieces of dog training advice that you'll ever get concerns patience. You'll need to have plenty of it if you want to end up with a well-trained and obedient dog. Remember that training a dog is a process; there will be good days and bad days. You may lose a few battles, but patience will help you win the war.

Anger is Unproductive - When a dog has an accident or misbehaves in other ways, it's easy to become frustrated. However, reacting with anger is never going to get you anywhere. Remember to take a deep breath and resist the urge to respond in an angry way. Shaming your dog will not teach him anything. Simply move on and everything will eventually fall into place.

As you can see, the preceding pieces of dog training advice provide a general outline for starting things off on the right foot with your canine pal. There's a whole lot of other great dog training advice out there, but you'll see that most of it complies with the advice that's been dispensed here. Keep these points in mind, have fun - and be sure to cherish every single moment with your four-legged friend!

http://www.thedogtrainingadvice.com

IT Training Courses - A Necessity in Todays IT Job Market

The importance of IT training courses are still relevant today as they always have been. The world is advancing technologically and in the world of business, so it is important that people looking for successful careers in IT will need to stay up to date with all the latest software applications and programs to find their perfect jobs. The best way for anyone to penetrate the IT industry and make any impact is by having the relevant qualifications that are available through IT training.

Going to an IT course will help you out in a lot of areas. You will never fear anyone replacing you in your job because once you finish a course, chances are you will have the most advanced IT knowledge in your company because of the professional qualifications you have obtained. A course in IT will keep you ahead of the competition and will without doubt, maximise your earnings to their fullest. In 2009 despite the credit crunch, the average salary for an IT professional is £42,000 per year!

If you are interested in getting a career that has excellent job prospects with many opportunities, then is is paramount that you look into a professional IT qualification. The reason why IT training courses are very important is due to the sheer number of available jobs on offer in the UK even as I write this. Some people may actually think that in a time of financial downturn, IT jobs will dry up like the rest of them.

This is not the case, the IT industry is recession proof! There will be technological advancements all the time being developed by leading IT companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, VMWare etc. Organisations all over the UK are putting these technologies into place and for these organisations to have any success they will always require individuals trained up to speed to help them migrate these new systems seamlessly into their business.

The Learning Skills Council have done research on this exact topic. It came to the conclusion that jobs that are in the IT sector are some of the most secure positions in the market today. Despite the credit crunch, it is good to know that the dangers and insecurity that these times bring will not
affect the IT sector or affect the job market within it.

The reasons for this are because of many businesses and highs street names collapsing there has never been a more opportune time for an IT professional to acquire even more skills that are in demand today. IT Training can give brilliant prospects for the IT professional, on top of that the job market is incredibly strong right now as more and more companies hire IT staff.

If you don't believe that then please visit any job or recruitment website and search for jobs in the IT sector. You will see that there are hundreds of positions going daily, you will also see that the jobs in the IT industry far outnumber any other job market This has always been the case, yet the number continues to grow year on year despite the current climate.

There is no doubt that the IT industry will continue to grow and it shall always offer great opportunities to the IT professional. Attending IT training courses will give you the boost you require to assert yourself and take the top jobs that are going daily right now. Book yourself into an IT training centre and discuss your training requirements with Scott Heron.

Dog Breeding and Genetic Diseases

The dog breeding world has been accused of prioritizing appearance over inherited disease problems and government control of the production of both pedigree and non-pedigree dogs could be a helpful tool for solving this problem. Kennel clubs issue standard that define the appearance of show winning dogs. At the same time, more genetic screening tests are being introduced in an attempt to solve problems related to inherited diseases.

The frequency of inherited conditions can be decreased by implementing good breeding practices. Many disorders that are believed to be inherited are now studied and there are ways to identify the disease, recognize carriers of the disease but the specific patterns of inheritance have not been established yet. There are breed dispositions, so dogs classified in these breeds should not be used in breeding programs.

Many breeders make efforts to ensure the highest standards of welfare, take proper care of their dogs and try to ensure good homes for the puppies. They spend time and resources to make sure that genetic disorders in their lines are avoided. However, there are amateur breeders and puppy mills where there is no screening and poor genetic health is perpetuated.

Common hereditary diseases can affect different organs. Buyers of pure-bred puppies should ask for certification as a means of protecting themselves from amateur breeders that use questionable practices to breed their dogs.

Dogs can be affected by inherited disease of the eye, such as cataracts, glaucoma or progressive retinal atrophy. Collie eye anomaly is a problem with the blood supply to the retina and can result in a detached retina before two years of age, and eventually in blindness. All collie breeds can be affected by this condition.

Other inherited diseases can be musculoskeletal disorders. Hip dysplasia is one common disease and can cause osteoarthritis in the joint, the dogs affected by this condition becoming lame. Large breeds and some medium-sized breeds are commonly affected by hip dysplasia.

Heart diseases, such as mitral valve disease, aortic stenosis, tricuspid valve dysplasia are another group of inherited disorders. Endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus or hyperthyroidism can also be caused by genetic factors.

A pedigree puppy can be chosen to suit your lifestyle so that you will be better able to take care of it. With pedigree puppies you can find out about genetic tests that are available for the specific breed, but you have to make sure you choose a good breeder.

Just as humans can be unhealthy, dogs can suffer from genetic disorders. Kennel clubs make efforts to improve the health of pedigree dogs and use certifications to ensure that the dogs they are responsible for are checked for diseases. Moreover, they are involved in keeping such problems under control for future generations.

Breed standards are continuously reviewed and health schemes are implemented to avoid perpetuating sicknesses in future generations of dogs. Even though there are breeders that continue to breed unhealthy dogs, pet owners can actively combat such practices by refusing to buy puppies from such breeders.

Please visit ThePound.org to learn more about your local Animal Shelter and Pet Shops.

The Responsible Great Dane Breeder

Have you ever wondered why over 30% of dogs in shelters are purebreds? Most animal behavior specialists and animal advocates blame puppy bills and commercialized breeders for this negligence. In order to become a responsible Great Dane breeder, there are certain responsibilities that you must accept. These responsibilities will protect your Great Danes and his/her puppies, as well as identify you as a reputable breeder.

Excellent Great Dane Dog Breeders DO:

Carefully screen each person and their household who wish to purchase a puppy.

Advise and suggest different methods of caring for the Great Dane puppy in every aspect, including: diet, exercise, documentation of lineage, health, knowledge of genetics, any history of illness (genetic or non-genetic).

Not sell their Great Dane puppies in a pet shop or pet-auction

Do not sell multiple breeds of dogs. If you are a Great Dane breeder, stick to Great Danes.

Involve themselves in the showing of purebred Great Danes and are very knowledgeable about the breed.

Keep the puppies as house pets until they are ready for their homes. This ensures that your Great Dane's offspring will make wonderful pets too.

Test dogs for all diseases and proper examination prior to breeding, such as: Brucellosis, CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation), OFA (Hip X-Ray Certification), PENN-HIP (hip-joint laxity).

Provide full, lifetime guarantees covering genetic disease and temperament problems. This should be a written contract.

Agree to take the Great Dane back at any point of his life for whatever reason, should the new owner not wish to keep it.

Place the Great Dane with the new family ONLY if the new owners agree to spay/neuter.

Only breed Great Danes over the age of two years old.

Hold the value of your dog's (and its puppies) health to highest esteem.

De-worm and vaccinate your Great Dane puppies prior to placing them.

Excellent Great Dane Dog Breeders NEVER:

Take a great Dane pup from it's mother prior to eight weeks of age.

Breed puppies in a puppy-mill atmosphere.

Sell their Great Dane puppies to the local pet shop.

Hide or withdraw information on genetic diseases or the Great Dane's lineage.

Keep their puppies in inhumane conditions, such as an outdoor shed or a room covered in feces.

Put unnecessary stress on their puppies, such as transporting them to different locations outside of their home.

Pick a Great Dane at random to breed their bitch with

Allow their bitches to breed every year

Decline on accepting their puppies back, should the new owner not be able to care for them

Breed their Great Dane prior to two years of age

Let their Great Dane run the neighborhood

Sell faux purebred Great Danes (which are crossed with God knows what)

Jen Carter is staff writer for Dynamite Danes - a professional qualified breeder of Great Danes. You may publish this article only if you do modify it in any way.

Dogs Rolling in Poop and Other Smelly Stuff

Anyone who has spent a Summer in New York City can understand why most urban dwellers anxiously await the coveted invitation to visit a friend in the country for a weekend. While the drive out of the city is sure to be a test of mental stamina for even the most experienced city driver, the destination brings with it the peace and quiet that is so highly sought after and scarce in the lives of most city folk. I recently spent one such weekend at a friend's beautiful cabin in upstate New York. Things started off as any dog loving city escapee would hope for. My dogs and I were welcomed with open arms and a dog biscuit or two and our host assured me that the dogs could run freely and safely in the fenced in yard. She even gave the A-OK for the dogs to lounge on the furniture! I pulled my dogs aside for a puppy pow-wow and explained that they must be on their absolute best behavior as a repeat invitation to this rural heaven was on the line.

Saturday started off swimmingly, both literally and figuratively. After breakfast we all headed down the road to a neighbor's property for a dip in their pond. While we floated on rafts the dogs bounced around the edge of the pond in a futile attempt to catch a frog or an insect. It was the start of a superbly lovely, lazy Summer holiday. After a couple of hours we headed back to the house for a picnic lunch. Once finished, we lay about reading and talking as the dogs investigated the yard. Then it happened.

I watched my little dog Nora trot across the yard and then noticed that her tail was wagging with more than typical intensity as she kept her nose glued to one spot on the ground. In my countryside induced foggy state of mind, I couldn't seem to get the words "Nora, come" out of my mouth before she plopped herself on the ground and began to vigorously roll about. "Aww, that's so cute," my friend said. "She's rolling in the grass." I quickly assessed the pros and cons of honesty in a moment like this. Should I reveal the fact that odds were Nora would walk away from this little roll-fest smelling of something far more pungent that sweet grass? Or should I get a hold of 'Little Miss Roll in the Poo' and try to ever so subtly take her to some hidden spot to clean her off before my friend could suspect a thing. In the moments I took to decide, Nora bounded back to us and right up to my friend whose face squeezed into a look of smell induced pain. "Ugh, what is that smell!" she screamed as Nora wagged her tail in what seemed to be a state of prideful euphoria. I could all but see the little thought bubble over her head: Look at the smell I found, look at how well I coated myself in it!

The jig was up. My dog had rolled in poop and now her couch snuggling days at my friend's house were clearly numbered. My friend suggested I take Nora back to the pond for a dip, but I thought it better to figure out a way to more thoroughly rid her of the smell she had so enthusiastically coated herself in. After a thorough bath we came back to the group refreshed and hopefully redeemed only to find that the topic of conversation had remained poo-rolling centered. Everyone wanted to know why a dog would want to do something as yucky as coating themselves in such an unpleasant smell.

I explained that while some suggest dogs roll in feces or decomposing carcasses as a way to disguise their own scent (so that their prey are less likely to be alerted to their presence), it is unlikely that this would do the trick to the extent that it would mask the odor from their plentiful scent glands. It is more likely that this is a behavior that was useful when our dog's ancestors had to hunt for their own food as a way to carry the scent back to the pack. This way the group could more easily follow the scent trail back to this discovery. It might also be a way of trying to mark the feces or carcass with their own scent (I imagine most pet parents would prefer their dogs opt for the more traditional urine marking). While our pet dogs no longer need to hunt, some have retained the propensity for this behavior and this could be in due in part to a dog simply enjoy rolling about in smelly stuff. Ultimately, while it doesn't seem there is currently any concrete science behind the cause of this behavior, clearly what smells bad to people is a rose by another name to some dogs.

Regardless of why it happens it is pretty yucky and certainly one of the less pleasurable aspects of sharing your life with a dog. But, as unpleasant as it may be to have your otherwise lovely canine companion romp about smelling like goose, deer, or other animal feces, it is best not to scold them for this behavior as doing so may cause damage to the canine/human bond. Instead, focus on supervision, management and training as the keys to anti-poo rolling success. My weekend was still very relaxing, but I made sure to keep an even closer eye on Nora and to have a couple of treats on hand at all times when outside so I could reward her for coming when called away from any potential rolling hazards. As a result, we had a lovely weekend in the country which included lots of snuggle time on the couch with a pup who smelled delicious.

Andrea is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers and a Certified Pet Partners Team evaluator for the Delta Society and the AKC's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. She is the Director of Andrea Arden Dog Training in New York, and was named the best dog trainer in New York by New York, W, Time Out, Quest and the Daily News. Her website is located at http://www.andreaarden.com and she can be reached at 212-414-9597. You can follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/andreaardendogtraining.