Djembe the Dog

I have enough friends, and ever since my brother 7 and sister Zilli has arrived I even have enough relatives ( anydoggy need a sibling?)

So I thought!

But eversince my dad became the coolest dog trainer in Charlotte I have been meeting more awesome dogs than I could ever imagined.

My buddy Pumba is one of those dogs.

We met couple of months ago when he came to my house for training. We hit it off right away. He’s my kind of a guy. Short, dominant and funny.

Yesterday my dad told me Pumba needs a new pack, and I wanted to post this in hope of a good family for my buddy.

If you know anydoggy out there who want to have an awesome Bulldog, please shoot an email here.

Thanks

Dj.

Posted on May 5th, 2009 by djembe
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Because my dad is the best dog trainer in Charlotte we get to meet lots of dogs who need training, and hang out with them after they’re trained.

And when I’m at home with my brother 7 and sister Zilli we often talk shop.

Everydoggy knows we Ridgebacks are exceptionally smart breed when it comes to…. well everything.

I thought it’d be a great idea if each of us came up with a dog training myth and BUSSSTEEEEDDD.

Myth #1 - A dog that chews things is either terribly bored or simply trying to be vindictive.

Not true. Although it’s not straightforward. Chewing is definitely one of the most common undesirable behaviors. However, dogs chew is part of their nature but they also need to chew on things to maintain healthy teeth and gum’s and good jaw strength. This is especially important when puppies are teething. What you need to do is redirect any chewing away from things you don’t want your dog to chew to things that are safe for him to chew.

Myth #2 - You need to understand and communicate in “dog language” so that your dog will understand you.

Again Not True, but it’s one that seems to be popular at the moment. Dogs are intelligent animals. They know you don’t look like a dog, you definitely don’t smell like a dog, and so there is absolutely no reason why you need to act like one. What is important though is to read their body language know when they’re whining because they’re acting up and when they are actually in pain.

Also make sure that your dog see’s you as the pack leader. Dogs are pack animals who will always obey the leader or Alpha dog. You need to be that leader.

Myth #3 - You’re only training your dog when you THINK you’re training your dog.

Wrong. You’re actually training your dog when ever you are together. Your dog is picking up on your verbal and non-verbal cues all of the time.
If you spring up and run to the phone every time it rings, you are training your dog that it is ok to spring up and run around whenever he hears that ringing sound.

If you get nervous each time you pass by the neighbor who walks their Great Dane on the other side of the street in the morning, you are training your dog to be nervous if the Great Dane is in sight.

You need to be consistent with your Dog and make sure you spend quality time together.

Posted on April 21st, 2009 by djembe
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Since you can’t just say to your dog “Here is your new brother/sister… Play nice,” I’ll give you some ideas on how to introduce a new dog to your pack.
1) Because your current dog knows her home and will likely be protective of it when a new dog enters, it’s much better to have new members meet the pack on mutual territory. Going for a walk is a wonderful way for introductions.

2) Initial introductions are huge and should always be supervised.  There is always a possibility things could get ugly, so it’s important for the meeting to have humans around. Read my earlier writing on meeting rituals.
3) It’s always a good idea to crate the new dog so she can observe the house from a safe place without getting too involved right away. This will also allow your existing dog(s) a way to get used to your new dog… but remember whenever the dogs are together they need to be supervised.
4) One dog will always be the leader, and not always the older one. We dogs look at things differently. Often humans assume just because a dog is older it should be the leader, and they interfere with the ranking process. This is the wrong thing to do, because it messes with the “natural way” of sorting things.

If you’re thinking about getting a new dog. You may want to talk to my dad first

Posted on February 23rd, 2009 by djembe
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At the request of all the dogs at my local dog park, I will explain the Off leash Dog park etiquette for the humans .

1) Walk, don’t run to the park: I often see humans being dragged to the dog park by their dogs, and I think to myself, if that guy can not control his dog before entering the park, he surely will not be able to control her inside the dog park. If your dog pulls on the leash read post on why dogs pull on the leash If that doesn’t help call my dad. He’s the best dog trainer I know

2) Humans, YOU are responsible for your dog(s). That means you are In Control of your dog at all times…if a dog doesn’t want to be humped by YOUR dog, you need to get her/him off the other dog.
3) Doodie Calls… our poop needs to be picked up immediately. My Mom always gets upset when she steps in another doggie’s poop. I don’t want to be wrapped in those diapers like they put on human cubs, so PLEASE, pick up your dogs poop.

4) You can’t pay attention to your dog while on the cell phone. It takes about 1/100th of a second to go from nice to mean, and by the time you hang up your iphone, 3 dogs can gang-up and eat your dog. Turn off your cell phone and bond with your best friend.

In closing I’d like to send good vibes and healing energy to JJ the Boxer. My dad told me he’s not feeling too good.Hope to see you at the park soon JJ. Smell you later buddy.

Posted on January 1st, 2009 by djembe
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We Ridgebacks are naturally caffeinated dogs, so I don’t drink the stuff, but I occasionally go to coffee shops with my dad. Places my dad takes me usually have doggie treats, and those I like.

One of my favorite places to chill with my dad is at Smelly Cat coffee shop in NoDa.

Just from the name of it you know it’s where the cool people hang out. Smelly Cat. enough said.

First of all they are friendly to well behaved dogs. They provide all you can eat doggie treats, and all you can drink fresh water. The place is owned by Auntie Cathy who is always nice to me. She calls me by my name, and she only hires dog loving people. Cats are not even allowed in the place.

On dry mornings, we usually sit outside. While my dad enjoys the sun rising over the tree line and thinks about his homeland, I keep an eye on the buses, trains, and other loud noisy vehicles and greet all my friends who are taking their morning walks with their humans. (Mad shout outs to Lucy, Milu, Cheeseburger and Dozer)

Anyways, it’s totally worth making a trip and checking out the place. Remember the name….. Smelly Cat. It should be easy to remember.

Posted on December 30th, 2008 by djembe
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Happy Kwanzaa everydoggy.

As all of you know Kwanzaa started on the 26th. I believe it’s day after the Non-African celebration of Christmas.

Being an African-American dog, for all my life I’ve been concentrating on things that are related to me, and my ancestors. Because we have such great history ( We started the human race, Coffee was discovered in Africa, Snoop Doggy Dogg is African etc.etc.) I’ve never needed to explore other things. But that all changed.

My dad is the coolest human in the world. He is always teaching me new cool stuff, and not just new tricks like “Hug”, but stuff that makes me think for myself and broaden my being. He’s got a way to explain things that everydoggy gets it.

Anyways, So, I was talking with my brother 7 about some rather good looking, gentlemen in very sharp looking red uniforms. You may recall my blog post titled: Santa is it real?

At the time I was telling 7, they didn’t look African, and that normally that means they’re not as important, but luck would have it my dad was there to challenge our beliefs. He explained the difference between being proud of your culture, and being ignorant.

He explained our beliefs are how we analyze the world, and if we only use our own beliefs exclusively, and not explore what others’ beliefs are without open mind we miss out in life. That’s like only using only my nose, and never using my eyes.

He then explained the story about those gentlemen in red uniforms, and how some dogs believe in Santa.

Everydoggy knows we Ridgebacks (and our brothers) are super adaptable, and upon receiving new information we immediately test it. So we decided to test this Santa theory….. There was only one variable we weren’t sure, and it was for Santa to work you had to be good all year long….. I knew I was good all year, but 7 got here in June, and the night we picked him up from the prison he pooped in dad’s hotel room. So we thought that may disqualified him.. err us.

WOW!

Amazing things happen when you simply open your mind be receptive to other beliefs.

I am happy to report Santa passed with flying colors. He is real, and he brought us a sister that matches our wish exactly. Here is her picture see for yourself.

I will tell you more about her later on. I have to go and poop now.

Posted on December 28th, 2008 by djembe
Filed under: Life | 1 Comment »

Every year right after my dad’s birthday we start seeing old fat people with white beards wearing the same red outfit. We don’t see them any other time in the year. Seems they only show up between November and January.

My brother 7 and I have been discussing this, and decided to ask the smartest person we know. My dad….. err our dad (but he was my dad first.)

He told us those people in red suits work for a guy named Santa who lives in North Pole and has reindeers that kinda look like me… but without the ridge. It turns out Santa somehow knows if you’ve been naughty or nice, and if you’ve been nice he will bring you whatever you wish.

If this is true I’d like to get on the record about I don’t think those old people who work for him are fat, but they look rather handsome.

Anyways. Everydoggy knows Ridgebacks (and their brothers) are the best behaved dogs in the world, ( as seen on this photo) and if this Santa situation is for real we promise to welcome his reindeers to our roof and I’ll have my brother 7 clean our chimney so Santa can stop by.

We had a long discussion about what we want from Santa, and decided we want a little sister.

Mr Santa, Here are the specifics: We don’t want our house to smell like pee, so we don’t want her to be a puppy. We want to be fair to each other so another Ridgeback or another Lab mix is out. She should be another breed. I’m the big brother so she should be smaller than me. 7 likes to be the only black dog so she should be my color. I think that’s pretty much all that we want this year.

So, Mr. Santa we’ll be expecting you and your reindeers in our home sometime tomorrow. My dad said we have to be sleeping for you to bring us a sister. So, we’ll be going to bed around 3 pm.

Thank you. And I apologize again for calling your employees fat, and looking back those people look not a day older than 8. it was a typo.

Read how the story ends 

Posted on December 23rd, 2008 by djembe
Filed under: Life | 1 Comment »

We Ridgebacks are the most humble breed there is.

Sure you see me here in the bloghesphere ,and think “Djembe is famous, but what does he do to give back?”

I’m glad you asked.

I am a contributing writer for my friend Max’s newsletter Keep On Wagging.

Where I share with humans and dogs alike training tips I learn from my dad. The best dog trainer in the world starting in Charlotte,

Anyways. Here is from last month’s issue of Keep on Wagging.

We dogs have meeting rituals. I think it might be a good idea to explain to humans so they understand it better.

Since we only like to use our front paws for walking, running, digging and to reach on top of the kitchen counter ;o) we use our tails to communicate from afar.

When I first see a dog in the distance I stop for a second to see if she’s friendly or not. If I see she is wagging her tail freely, I know she’s friendly, if it’s straight up but wagging I know she wants to know my intentions, and if that tail is stiff I don’t even talk to that bossy dog.

It’s the leader’s responsibility to meet the other pack and make sure we’re all safe. So, we sit and wait for dad to say it’s OK for us to meet.

Smelling is big! The nose, the butt, the genitals. To humans, this is handshaking, ID check, what you had for lunch, and how do you feel all rolled into one. It’s Huge!  And often interrupted by humans because of their misunderstanding of the ritual. It’s important to allow your dogs to completely sniff each other.

You humans just be sure and pay close attention to tails and heads while dogs are meeting to make sure everydoggy is nice.

Posted on December 9th, 2008 by djembe
Filed under: Training | 1 Comment »

Everdoggy knows Ridgebacks are the cleanest breed of dogs.

Buuut. I loove wrestling with my brother 7 in the backyard, and Because we’ve been wrestling all summer long we managed to make our backyard look like desert.

So occasionally my dad takes us for a wash at the Dog Salon.

We tell my brother 7 he needs to be washed by ladies because he’s got long hair :::: wink wink:::::

But my dad washes me. Even mom washes me, but Not 7

heh heh heeeee. Being first born has its priviliges.

Here are the pictures from the other day.

Ladies feast your eyes on this handsome Ridgeback, and feel free to send me your pictures ;o)

My dad is always happy when he gets to spend time with me.

First thing first: Get me completely soaked with warrrrm waterrrrr

You can see he’s paying extra attention to make sure I don’t get any water in my ears.

Best dad in the world.

I prefer the Almond smelling shampoo they have. Sometimes I need to be washed once with extra grimy flavor, then with the almond flavor. It’s important for my entire body to be washed.

Don’t mind my dad’s sense of humor on this picture. He’s trying to be funny.

I never smell bad. I’m a Ridgeback.

After the wash the yellow towel and the blow dryer.

Nothing completes a bonding experience better than a new collar. I’ll take a new Dublin Dog please.

Here I’m melting my dad with those puppy eyes… He’s defenseless.

Posted on November 14th, 2008 by djembe
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Everydoggy knows cats are evil creatures. Famous for stealing and eating small puppies, according to anonymous sources close to cats, sometimes they even target homeless people. We dogs on the other hand are gentle, caring, even heroic animals.

But don’t take my word for it. See it for yourself. In this video you will see a hero dog risking his life to save some cats (yyyuck)  from a fire……. I’m pretty certain the cats started the fire at the first place to kill and eat their owners.

Anyways, I call on humans and human lovers to investigate this fire a little closely, and they’ll find evidence of meow-play.

Posted on October 27th, 2008 by djembe
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