Here is an original 1986 music video featuring The Tombstones song, Black Cat from the band’s Grave Matter EP. This main portion of this vintage video was originally shot and edited by Lester Dragstedt, a film student friend of the band. Our intent was to distribute copies of the video as part of our press and promotional packet, but as fate would have it, the video was never actually released to the general public. The footage was shot in various locations around Atlanta, Georgia, including inside and outside our old practice space at Stevie T’s house (known by everyone in the Atlanta punk scene at that time as the Skank Hotel”) and inside Oakland Cemetery (the final resting place of many notable Atlantans, including Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell). History of the Band The Tombstones emerged in 1985 during the heyday of the punk rock scene in Atlanta, Georgia. They are often remembered as the unofficial “house band” at Atlanta’s now-famous (and now defunct) Metroplex nightclub during the club’s latter years. The Tombstones shared the stage with such notable bands as The Circle Jerks, The Lords of the New Church, Divine Horsemen, DRI, and Bad Brains, as well as a slew of great local talent. The Tombstones sought to meld a punk attitude to American roots music and the result was a rough and rowdy punk-blues. The band’s fascination with black magic, voodoo, graveyards, ghost stories, and the dark side of southern culture is quite evident in their songs. The …

There is nothing worse that rushing to get dressed for the office and finding your good pair of shoes all chewed up. Unless of course, its coming home to find pee puddles and poop hills all around your living room. And when was the last time you had friends over without them being attacked or slobbered by your unruly pet? If you have had it with doggie nightmares, then maybe its time to call in the experts in dog training.

Owners who want to personally train their dogs but cannot do so for whatever reason, are beginning to appreciate the mighty services of trainers who are hired to teach your pet. These professionals (either individuals or company connected) train your dogs for you while you sit back and watch the progress from the comfort of your very own home. Yes, in home dog training is the answer but what are the questions? Here are the five important things you need to ask before launching into the world of canine home education.

What level of obedience does your canine qualify for? If he already has a modicum of dog manners, this means you already have had some success in dog training and you may want to consider following it up yourself. However, if you correctly asses yourself incapable of teaching your pet anything, then have the professional over as soon as possible.

Where can I find good trainers? The best gauge is the work itself. Do you have neighbors and friends who have had transformed pets and swear by the services of a particular dog whisperer? If not, they probably know someone who does. There are also companies that specialize in dog behavior modification and obedience training you can check out. You can leaf through the yellow pages or surf in the internet to find these people that will offer you the right services at the best price.

What makes a good trainer? The most important thing you need to check in a trainer is his manner of handling the dog. Violence, yelling, or force of any kind should not be tolerated regardless the reasons he may have. Feel free to ask for personal records and referrals he has to you can check it yourself. There are no official government licenses for animal training to date; however, most of these professionals have graduated from courses that will equip them in the career path they’ve chosen. One of the best qualifications they can have is the International Association of Canine Professionals’ CDT or CDTA certification.

Which should I choose: individual or group classes? Individual classes are always advisable because your pet gets the complete focus of the teacher. However, group classes are a good alternative also because your dog will get to develop his social skills as he interacts with others of his own kind. It will also be easier on the pocket to share the trainer’s rates and other fees. Make sure that the group of dogs your pet is included in are healthy and vaccinated.

What age should training begin? Right now! The optimal age to start training puppies is at 8 weeks old. However, its never too late to teach adult dogs basic commands and progress from there. If you are willing and your dog is present, it can be done. Through in home dog training, a safe and easy way to a well-trained dog is possible.

Adopting a dog is not a decision that should be made lightly. When you bring an animal into your home through adoption, you create a bond that lasts for a lifetime. You want to be sure you, your home and your family are ready to take the step.

Have you Done Your Homework? – Do you know what it takes to be a dog owner, and are you prepared to do it? Read up on topics such as housebreaking, dog training, training collars and the debate, inside and outside dogs, grooming and daily care. – Be sure that your schedule allows you the time to exercise and care for the dog daily. Especially puppies, but any dog needs the chance to move around outside every day. – See that any children in the house are invested in helping to care for the dog. Help them understand the kinds of responsibilities associated with pet care and help them determine if they are prepared for these things. – Consider the cost of pet owning a pet, and be sure your budget can handle it. Youll need to consider annual exams, medical costs, monthly medications such as flea and heartworm control

Which Dog is Right? – If you have long hours and a busy schedule, you may want to reconsider dog ownership. If you still are certain you want a dog, consider a smaller, less active breed. – If you dont have the time for training and housebreaking, then adopting a more mature dog will probably leave you happier than a puppy would. – Think about size. Too small a breed could get smashed by children, but too large a breed needs space. A small, active breed can seem to take up as much room as a large dog.

Things To Have – Dog ID tag Have the tag made and ready to put on the collar after you adopt. – Have a leash and collar. A buckle collar gives the best, most secure fit. – A crate provides security for the dog and assistance to you in training. Try to find the fold-up wire variety. – Water and food bowls as well as some kind of a bed.

Determine the Adoption Facility – Be sure the animal will have all its basic immunizations and is ready to enter your home. Find a shelter that provides spaying or neutering as part of the adoption process. – Collect all records for the dog, especially veterinarian records.

Choose Your Companion – Get to know lots of dogs before deciding on one. Spend some time with each dog youre considering and see how it interacts with the family. – Set limits on what you will bring home as far as breed, size, health, etc. and stick with those limits.

Visit the adoption center at different times of the day if possible. Get to know your dog in different circumstances so that you know it well before it comes into your home permanently.The Process When Adopting a Dog

Many people become frustrated with a dog that just won’t listen. They want to be to understand their dog and develop communication method that the dog will understand. Fortunately, there are number ‘friendly’ training methods that you can use to help you communicate with your dog, which will help eliminate behavior problems.

Most behavior problems like biting, jumping on strangers, urinating on the floor, and barking, result from a failure to communicate properly with your dog. Basically, the dog does not understand what you are trying teach him. ‘Dog-Friendly’ methods of training means you can communicate and dog training without inflicting pain or anger. They are positive reinforcement techniques that are fun for both you and your dog.

Using friendly training methods that include positive training techniques will help you develop a trusting life-long bond with your dog. To build a strong owner-dog relationship, based on trust and mutual respect, incorporating the following techniques will help:

Kindness and Patience is Essential: Yelling, hitting, using choke collars, or electric shock, is not only cruel, but will not train your dog. He will develop a fear of you and most likely develop other behavioral problems such as aggression, trust, love, and respect, are essential to understanding and communication with your dog. Of course, your dog should know its position in the family, and that you are the ‘top dog’ so to speak, but you do not have to do this using punishing and inhumane methods. It won’t work. Friendly training helps you work with your dog’s natural instincts

Training and Play: One thing that dogs love is play. Make your training fun. Motivate the dog with treats and praise when he accomplishes a task. For instance, if your dog is jumping on you, praise your dog every time he greets you by sitting. When you meet him, assist him with sitting and then praise him or give him a treat. Repeating the sitting technique, the dog will learn he is rewarded for sitting and not jumping on you. Make sure you are consistent with the training technique and reward. You do not want to confuse the dog.

Association and Repetition: Dogs do not have the ability to learn something once. You have to associate the word with the action you want it to perform. For instance, if you want it to lie down, you can use the correct signal and you can lay down with your dog. After it lies down, you can reward him with a treat or praise. Keep repeating the method and your dog will learn to associate the word and action. Connecting words with actions in a positive way .is essential to success

Arrange for Your Dog to Succeed: Throughout your training session, make sure you incorporate easy techniques so you can reward him. The reward for succeeding will stay with him. He will be a much happier dog. Ending the session with a successful training technique will leave him feeling happy. Keep Positive: Some dogs will take longer to learn than others. If you get angry or show frustration, your dog will pick up on your negative energy. The dog will be confused and react to your negative emotions by displaying negative behavior.

Clicker Reinforcement: Use a clicker device to make a ‘click’ sound when your dog does something right. They will begin to learn that the sound means they did something right.

Dogs are never entirely trained. As the owner, you must keep up with the positive reinforcement techniques. If you don’t, the dog may forget some learned behaviors. Communication is critical to creating a life long bond with your dog. It is important to observe how your dogs react to situations so you learn its body language. Talk to your dog in a kind and loving voice and you will soon find yourself with a loyal life friend.

Cat training isn’t as hard as most people think, and cats have a quick learning curve. Cats are low-maintenance, and once you’ve finished your kitten training you’ll be so happy with your choice to own one. Cat training is important and whether or not you think that it is, think of all the things that you need to train your cat to do? First of all there is the litter box, the cat door and eating out of a bowl. Cat training is well worth doing because it will do good for the health and safety of both cat and owner.

Kittens will be easier to train as their habits are less ingrained. Training an adult cat will take a little longer. Kittens must be socialized from an early age. By introducing cat furniture, cat condos and kitty gyms into your house, you can teach your pet what is right and wrong. Kittens purr in response to their mother cats purr to assist in bonding them. It is generally believed that the purring is a vibration of the voice-box as air is pushed though it.

Cat training is becoming more and more popular all the time. One of the most common things people want to do is teach their cats how to use the litter box. Cat training is important and whether or not you think that it is, think of all the things that you need to train your cat to do. First of all there is the litter tray, the cat flap and eating out of a bowl just to name a few.

Cats are mammals, just like humans. They give birth to young ones, and the female cat feeds milk to the young ones. Cats, like all animals pick up on the emotions we emit, so if you are organized you are more likely to be calm which in turn will help to keep your cat relaxed too.

Kittens purr in answer to their mother cats purr to help bond them. It is mostly theorized that the purring is a vibration of the larynx as air is pushed though it. Kitten training tips are not for bullying and terrorizing your pet. Kitty has learned that his behavior can get him exactly what he wants. Kittens are active and require some training. Kitty will be a happier camper and so will you.

Positive reinforcement will give you the best results while training your cat. This just means to reward your cat for a good behavior. Positive rewards for positive behaviors works well in cat training just as it does for training other pets. If there is a particular type of treat your kitty enjoys you can reinforce positive behavior with the treat.

Litter box training is commonly the most important goal of a cat owner when they bring their new kitty home. A kitten is often trained by the mother cat by watching her use the litter box. When this doesnt happen, human intervention is required by the new kitten owner.

Toilet training sociable cats that love being praised makes the training task much easier. It will take between 2 weeks up to even 3 months, depending on the response or the personality of a cat. Toilet training cats is not as difficult as many people usually think. A lot of people are under the impression that cat training is difficult.

If you would really love to own a Golden Retriever but are hesitant about taking on a puppy, then adopting an older Golden may be the answer. These lovely dogs when they are mature settle in very easily to a new home and they do not need nearly as much attention as a puppy as they like to have some time to themselves. Regardless of their age you will find that your new friend very quickly becomes a welcome member of the family.

People sometimes say to me “yes, I agree, it makes good sense to adopt an older Golden, but where do I find one?” Good question, and the answer may surprise you – try your local breeder. I know, its seems on the face of it to be an unlikely source for a mature dog, but in fact there may well be quite a few reasons why a breeder might have an older dog for sale, and this can all be to your advantage.

When your mature Goldie comes to you they will already have been house trained, and so adjusting to your particular family lifestyle will be a lot easier. It won’t be easy, just easier, and you must expect a period of re-adjustment during which you will need to shower him or her with plenty of tender love and affection, something which, believe you me, it will not be hard to do.

If you have been thinking of adopting an older Golden Retriever, you should make sure that you learn everything you can about him. You should also determine his temperament, and whether or not it’s compatible with your family. You should also learn important things as well, such as his diet, likes, dislikes, daily routine, and his habits. Before you decide to take him, you should always make sure that the members of your family meet him as well, so you can talk it over and decide whether or not everyone wants the dog to be a member of your family.

You will find life much easier in the early days if you spend a bit of time helping your new family member adjust to your home and its environs. You will find things easier if you do, and your new family member will certainly appreciate you taking the time to help them settle in.

Its not a bad idea, once your dog has had a month or so to settle in, to take them to an obedience training class somewhere. In your initial meeting with the person who is handing over the dog to you they may well tell you that they have been to training classes in the past. But the thing is that you have not been to the classes with your dog, and this makes a big difference. Do enrol in a class somewhere near to your home, and together you will learn a lot about each other and how to harmoniously get on together.

All Golden Retrievers, regardless of their age, love attention. Older Golden’s on the other hand, may have medical problems that you aren’t aware of. You shouldn’t let this stop you from getting one though, simply because the rewards that you’ll find are far greater than any cons that may come to mind. Although many people don’t give a lot of thought to getting an older Golden Retriever – they are perfect for families who don’t want to put up the time and troubles of raising a puppy.

Because pop culture is so prevalent in our every day lives, we often look to celebrities for hints and ideas on how to live our lives. Perhaps it’s the idea of living glamorously, or maybe for sheer lack of creativity , we often emulate our favorite actors, actresses, t.v. stars, musicians and even politicians. Choosing and naming our pets is no different! We’ve all seen them, out and about at the dog park or shopping out on the town , celebrities love their pets! Whether you’re a pop culture buff or not, if you’re considering getting a dog, you may be inspired by whom and what some well-known personalities call their ‘best friends.’

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is ‘best friends’ with a German Shepherd named ‘Atticus’ and a Puggle named ‘Boo Radley.’ ‘Bambi’ is the Pit Bull that keeps tennis star Venus Williams safe at night. Actress Sienna Miller keeps it simple with her mutts named ‘Bess’ and ‘Porgi.’ Actress Minnie Driver loves her Black Labrador named ‘Bubba.’ South African actress Charlize Theron owns two mutts named ‘Delilah’ and ‘Denver.’ Actress (and daughter of Goldie Hawn) Kate Hudson pampers a Pomeranian named ‘Clara Bo.’ Reese Witherspoon’s two French Bulldogs each have a first name and a last. Meet ‘Coco Chanel’ and ‘Frank Sinatra.’

Courtney Cox Arquette and her husband David Arquette have two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels named ‘Harley’ and ‘Hopper.’ Actress Eva Longoria loves her little Maltese, also known as ‘Jinxy.’ Hilary Duff has lots of (little) fun with her Chihuahua, ‘Lola.’ Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner named their Golden Retriever after the ultimate domestic diva: ‘Martha Stewart.’

Talk show hostess and all-around star extraordinaire Oprah Winfrey has three Golden Retriever. She calls them ‘Luke,’ ‘Layla,’ and ‘Gracie.’ Actor Adrien Brody has two Chihuahuas named ‘Ceelo’ and ‘Lolly.’ Actress and wild child Lindsay Lohan has a Maltese named ‘Chloe.’ Who can forget Ozzy Osbourne’s wife Sharon Osbourne’s tiny Pomeranian, ‘Minnie?’ Jessica Alba named her two Pugs after the tragic couple , ‘Sid’ and ‘Nancy.’ Joan Rivers, of most recent ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ fame owns a Pekingese she calls ‘Max,’ a Boston Terrier named ‘Lulu’ and a Yorkie named ‘Veronica.’ Jimmy Buffet calls his Golden Retriever (what else?) ‘Cheeseburger.’ Basketball star Ken Griffey Jr. has a Rottweiler named ‘Akeiba.’ Mel Gibson’s Australian Shepherd is named (simply) ‘Patch.’ Who says small dogs aren’t manly? Pro football player Bret Favre has a tiny Yorkshire Terrier named ‘Jazzmin.’

Sir Paul McCartney’s Sheepdog is named ‘Martha.’ Author Stephen King keeps company with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named ‘Marlowe.’ Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer and infamous for his stunts on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ has a Shar Pei named ‘Coco Puff.’

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have tow Rottweilers, named ‘Indo’ and ‘Zhaki.’ Actor and comedian Jim Carrey’s best friend is a Great Dane named ‘George.’ Matt Lauer, host of the Today Show on NBC has a Golden Retriever named ‘Walden.’ Her Bull Mastiff, ‘Koko’, protects Singer Christina Aguilera. Scarlett Johansen’s miniature best friend is a Chihuahua named ‘Maggie.’ Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is often seen out walking her Black Lab, ‘Holden.’ Mary Kate Olsen of Mary Kate and Ashley fame owns a Chocolate Lab named ‘Luca.’

So if you are looking for that special pooch to call your own, consider the personalities of the celebrities listed above. Do you identify with any of them? If so, you may get along with the type of breed that your ‘hero’ or ‘heroine’ has. If you’ve recently adopted a dog training and are stumped for a name, you may find a great idea from a great star.