Defining what aggression means is not easy, because there are so many variables associated with what is a highly complex behavior. But by investigating the function served by an aggressive act as well as why it occurs and what result it achieves from the dog’s point of view, we can begin to gain a better understanding. At its core, aggressive behavior addresses the dog’s need to increase distance from a perceived danger and includes threat and action displays, ranging from a subtle lip lift to a deep bite. In most cases the intention is not so much to harm as it is to change the “threat’s” behavior by making it go away.

Aggression is deeply rooted in the dog’s instinctual need for safety. Growling, snapping, lunging, and biting are critical ways of communicating intent, and whether that intent is to warn, intimidate, resolve conflict, increase distance, defend, or cause harm, it’s designed to ensure personal safety and survival. Even on an emotional level, when a dog is fearful, frustrated, angry, anxious, stressed, or in pain, safety is of paramount importance. Most dogs don’t live their lives walking on eggshells, but the functional need for safety is intricately woven into most aspects of aggressive behavior.

Of course, there are those who explain all aggressive behavior in terms of dominance, but as we now know, using the “d word” to describe every dog’s intent can be misleading.  Because the term itself suggests a preconceived plan by the dog to use aggression as a means of establishing an elevated status over others, this fuels an owner’s anger and encourages a rank reduction protocol involving punishment, confrontation, and other unpleasant methods to establish an owner’s authority, which in turn increases the likelihood that the dog will aggress again in the future.

Although aggressive behavior is an effective way for dogs to control their environment, affect behavior in others, ensure priority access to resources, and achieve reproductive success, using the dog’s supposed desire to be the ‘alpha’  to explain why dogs aggress does not do justice to what is really going on in the dog’s mind.  A more accurate explanation lies in the fact that if a dog has not been taught how to function successfully in a domestic environment he will behave the only way he knows how. He may control access to food, space, furniture, or other things that provide comfort and pleasure, by aggressing, but this is more likely done out of fear that he will lose access to those resources and not because he wants to  be “above” everyone else in the household.

So if attaining the position of ‘alpha’ is not the root cause of domestic dogs’ aggressive behavior, what is?

Genetics, health, age, sex, fear, an imbalance of brain chemicals, hormones, and whether the dog is intact or neutered--all are factors that influence aggression. Studies show, for example, that due to higher testosterone levels, intact male dogs between eighteen months and two years of age have a greater incidence of aggression than females or neutered males. It is also important to point out that even though dogs can bite when in pain and because of other medical reasons, there are some cases of aggression that simply cannot be easily explained. These cases are categorized as idiopathic (unexplained) aggression, which manifests itself as a sudden explosion absent of any known trigger. Idiopathic aggression has been linked to chemical disturbances in the brain, such as canine epilepsy.

There is a clear link between anger, anxiety, and fear-based aggressive behavior. This has recently been demonstrated by Dr. Karen Overall of the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of Pennsylvania, who found that dogs with a history of aggression problems have levels of neurotransmitters and stress hormones similar to those of dogs that suffer from fear and anxiety. When a dog aggresses, he surpasses his stress threshold, causing his limbic system (the emotional brain) to take over as he prepares for flight or fight. When this occurs, the cerebral cortex (the learning brain) is inhibited, explaining why it is so hard to get a dog’s attention and encourage him to learn when he is reacting, as he is at that moment incapable of rational thought. To overcome this situation, a punitive trainer would try to suppress the aggressive outburst with punishment, whereas a positive trainer would immediately remove the dog from the stressor by quickly walking him away or creating some distraction to cut through the reaction. Only when the dog is in a calmer state can he begin to learn again. The secret to successfully treating aggression is to never put your dog in a situation where he goes over his stress threshold. Achieving this requires sensitive, compassionate handling and the manipulation of his environment to set him up for success while working on ways to change the way he feels about a particular stressor.

Unfortunately, we cannot sit down with our dogs and ask them how they feel, but we can observe them closely to understand why they feel. Helping an aggressive dog become more confident by teaching it to see a perceived threat or potential loss of a valued resource in a different light is the key to successfully changing the behavior. For some dogs this can be achieved in a relatively short period of time, but others require more time; each dog learns at a different pace. Positive reinforcement is the most effective philosophy to use in these cases, because the methods have a lasting impact, even on the “red zone” dogs.

Owners want quick fixes for their dog’s aggressive behavior because they worry about what damage their dog may do, but the “quick fix” idea demeans a dog’s emotional experience and is psychologically unachievable. When a dog is suffering from anxiety or fear, it is sheer foolishness to profess that he can be “fixed” quickly; this idea of “success” is dangerous and fundamentally wrong.

Imagine what would happen if people who suffered from chronic fear or attacks of anxiety went to their psychotherapists and were guaranteed they’d be “cured” in an hour, a day, or even a couple of weeks. Those therapists wouldn’t be in business for long. Successfully addressing fear and anxiety-related behaviors in both humans and dogs takes time, patience, and an understanding of what’s going on in the brain and body. It’s true that some positive behavioral modification processes take more time and work on the front end, but the result is a lifetime of positively changed behavior. Quick fixes may suppress the behavior at that moment, but because they don’t actually change it, you could spend a lifetime dealing with the problem

A dog needs time and support to change the way he feels emotionally; punitive training only puts a bandage on the problem without really addressing the cause and changing the way the dog feels inside. Even though it may look like the dog is “behaving” better, continual suppression of aggressive behavior through punishment is very dangerous because every incident creates another negative experience for a dog that is already a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

Unlike other manifestations of aggressive behavior, predatory aggression is not emotionally driven and is largely influenced by genetics. Some dogs do find it reinforcing to chase other animals or moving objects as it fulfills an instinctive need but this is only the beginning of the predatory sequence. Humans have bred the desire to bite and kill out of the domestic dog, but occasionally a deeper instinct takes over. Although many dogs, including my Sadie, enjoy shaking and disemboweling stuffed toys, this sequence does not translate to live animals or people. Herding breeds are adept at eyeing, stalking, and chasing their “prey,” but they will seldom attack and kill the animals they are herding. Dogs that are motivated by the chase, grab, bite, and kill part of the sequence can be very dangerous to live with, especially around small animals and children.

Aggressive behavior serves many important functions for dogs; it is a deeply rooted natural instinct that ensures reproductive success, safety, and survival. If aggression is successful it can be an effective way to repel a perceived threat and to control resources, space, and environment. On an emotional level, aggression causes extreme stress for dogs, especially if triggered by a traumatic incidence, abusive handling, or an inability to cope with continually changing environments. Regardless of its origins or intent in the dog’s life, aggression is almost never a useful or wanted behavior in any domestic environment and must be treated appropriately in order to preserve the well-being of the dog, the environment, and his human family.

You can find more about aggression and workable solutions for aggressive behavior in my new book, Train Your Dog Positively.

Cancer is a disease that we veterinarians are diagnosing more frequently in pets. According to the Morris Animal Foundation, “1 in 2 dogs will develop cancer and 1 in 4 dogs will die of the disease.”As there is no guarantee for a cure, we should strive to prevent our pets from developing cancer in the first place.Yet, as cancer is a complicated disease of the immune system involving excessive growth of cells that have altered DNA, the origins of the disease never have a singular or finite cause. Therefore, there is no absolute guarantee that our best efforts to prevent cancer from happening will guarantee a desired outcome (i.e., having a pet never develop cancer).

May is Pet Cancer Awareness Month, so I want to emphasize the concept that making healthy lifestyle choices can provide a better state of overall wellness and potentially reduce the likelihood that cancer may occur. Although there is no fail proof cancer preventive tactic, here are my top five tips to help keep your pet cancer free.

1. Physical Examination — Take a DIY approach paired with your veterinarian’s evaluation

Owners can take a proactive, holistic approach to their pets’ health by placing their hands on their canine or feline companions on a daily basis to perform a DIY (Do It Yourself) version of a physical exam. Frequent, tactile examination of a pet’s body permits pet owners to detect areas of discomfort, heat or swelling, skin lesions or masses, or other abnormalities that can then be brought to a veterinarian’s attention.

All pets should have a physical examination by a veterinarian at least every 12 months (more frequently for juvenile, geriatric, and sick pets). During the exam, all organ systems can be evaluated through the veterinarian’s scrutinizing perspective. The eyes, ears, nose, mouth, heart, lungs, digestive tract, lymph nodes, skin, neurologic function, and urogenital (urinary and reproductive parts) and musculoskeletal systems must operate normally to achieve whole body health. Body weight and temperature should also be assessed during teach visit.

2. Vaccinations — To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That is the question

Have you considered the necessity of updating a vaccination just because the recommended time to booster has arrived? Will getting all of your pet’s vaccinations “up to date” really make your pet healthier? Is your pet even healthy enough to be vaccinated? You should be asking yourself and your veterinarian all these questions before your pet is “given its shot.”

As an individual and public health preventive tactic, humans vaccinate pets against certain organisms that could cause severe illness or death. Companion canines and felines should be vaccinated under state-mandated guidelines and the discretion of the attending veterinarian.

Vaccinations should only be given to a pet that is in the utmost state of health. Animals showing any signs of illness (lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) or having known diseases (cancer, immune mediated disease, etc.) that could be worsened by a vaccine-induced immune system response should not be vaccinated; at least at that time.

Blood testing for antibodies (immune system proteins involved in managing infectious organisms that attempt to enter the body) can determine if the patient already has mounted an adequate immune response from a previous vaccination.

3. Focus on whole food instead of processed food

The foods our pets eat and the liquids they drink are the building blocks of body tissues and the foundation of overall health. Without consuming appropriate quantities of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water, organs ultimately suffer and ailments emerge.

Before feeding your pet a particular commercially available food or treat, look closely at the ingredients and ask yourself if you would consume it. Many people who feed their pets conventional dry or canned foods may resist the idea of eating the types of diets made for our canine or feline companions. I completely understand this perspective, as most pet foods are made with feed-grade ingredients. (See Are You Poisoning Your Companion Animal by Feeding 'Feed-Grade' Foods?)

Why should we feed our pets nutrients that we would not eat ourselves? Do they deserve to eat less than the highest quality meats, vegetables, and grains? When we feed our pets food that has been significantly modified from the way nature intended and that potentially contains ingredients that are poorer quality and have higher allowable levels of toxins (some of which are carcinogenic, like mycotoxin) than the foods we eat, we are doing a disservice to our pets’ health.

Instead of processed pet foods, consider a commercially available or home prepared diet formulated from whole-food based ingredients.Home prepared recipes that are balanced and complete can be scientifically formulated via the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Nutrition Support Service or companies like BalanceIT.

4. Reduce Calories and Keep Body Condition Slim

In ever growing numbers, pets show the significant health consequences of being overfed by their caretakers. Diseases of the heart, kidney, liver, pancreas (diabetes), musculoskeletal (arthritis, disk disease) system, urinary tract, skin, and cancer are all associated with being overweight or obese.

The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) estimates that 54 percent of pets in the United States are overweight or obese (an astounding 89 million cats and dogs). Excess weight increases the body’s overall level of inflammation, which promotes cancer cell growth. Being overweight or obese has a well documented correlation with canine bladder and mammary cancer.

Always feed your pet a quantity at the lower end (or less) of the recommended guidelines according to the food’s manufacturer (or home prepared recipe). Minimize extra calories from pet treats and only give human foods that are high in fiber and low in caloric density (vegetables, etc.).

Make time every day to engage in calorie-burning activities with your canine or feline companion. Dogs can be taken for longer or more intense walks or hikes. Cats can chase a feather toy or laser pointer, eat from elevated surfaces, or be required to retrieve portions of their food from puzzle-style toys.

5.  Reduce Day to Day Exposure to Toxins

Toxic exposure can initiate a variety of negative internal organ system changes in your pet. Air, water, soil, food, plants, and other substances all hold the potential to create short or long term toxicity in companion animals. Some chemicals commonly used as herbicides are associated with bladder cancer (Transitional Cell Carcinoma = TCC) in Scottish Terriers.

Strive to reduce your pet’s exposure to toxins in your home or yard by:

• Not allowing your pet outside unless under control of a responsible adult

• Walking your pet on a short lead

• Pet proofing your home and yard to remove appealing substances that may be inappropriately ingested (trash, feces, plants, still water, etc.)

• Using only pet-safe cleaning products and cleaning all chemical residues from the surfaces your pet’s body comes into contact with (as self-grooming can lead to ingestion of chemicals)

• Reading all food and treat labels and only feeding your pets products that are free from meat and grain meals and by-products, rendered fat, animal digest, carrageenans, food dyes, meat and bone meal, and chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, etc.)

The five tips I’ve presented here merely scratch the surface of the means by which pet owners can help maintain or improve an overall state of health and wellness in pets of all ages.

What steps do you take to reduce your pet’s chances of developing cancer?

In my holistic veterinary practice, I’m continually striving to educate my clients that by feeding their pets "nutritionally complete and balanced" dry or canned food, they may be involuntarily providing a daily dose of toxins that otherwise unlikely to appear in foods consumed by humans.  With this knowledge, I challenge them really consider why they are feeding pet foods containing “feed-grade” ingredients in the first place.

First, let’s get some background on the multitude of issues that have stemmed from people electing to feed pet food to their canine and feline companions.

In 2007, an international pet food crisis caused dogs and cats to suffer kidney failure and even death after eating foods containing wheat gluten contaminated with melamine. The foods had been produced in China. This tragedy prompted U.S. pet owners to finally become more observant of the ingredients and nutritional value of commercial foods they had been so faithfully feeding to their companion animals. After all, if meals are built on the foundations of being cheaply produced and containing less than bioavailable ingredients, how will your pet’s physiologic needs be met?

Contained in most commercially available dog and cat foods are a plethora of feed-grade ingredients. Dr. Janice Elenbaas, founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine, clarifies the meaning of feed-grade as being "any ingredient not fit for human consumption, including moldy grains and 'allowable' levels of plastic and Styrofoam. These are not acceptable in my (human) food, so why should they be acceptable in dog’s diet?  It’s no wonder that one in two dogs is being diagnosed with cancer."

Additionally, the ingredients in feed-grade foods include parts from animals that are dead (not from being slaughtered onsite), diseased, dying, and disabled (the "4Ds").

In Buyer Beware: The Crimes, Lies and Truth About Pet Food, Susan Thixton shares text from the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act (FD&C Act), Section 402. Adulterated Food:

A food shall be deemed to be adulterated — (a) Poisonous, unsanitary, or deleterious ingredients … (5) if it is, in whole or in part, the product of a diseased animal or of an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter.

This makes it sound like our pets’ safety as pertains to consumable foods is strictly overseen by the FDA, but that’s not the case. According to the FDA Compliance Policy CPG Sec. 675.400 Rendered Animal Feed Ingredients:

No regulatory action will be considered for animal feed ingredients resulting from the ordinary rendering process of industry, including those animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, provided they are not otherwise in violation of the law.

These laws sound contradictory, and Thixton concurs in stating that "the FDA Compliance Policy is a direct violation of The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act." As a result, companies putting 4D animals into foods do not incur any regulatory or legal repercussion. Such policies do not bode well for the overall health of millions of pets (and some people) eating non-human grade ingredients.

What about the toxic effects of moldy grains?  According to Toxvet.com’s John Tegzes, VMD, Diplomate ABVT (toxicology):

“Aflatoxin is a mycotoxin most commonly associated with corn-based pet foods. Even very small amounts of aflatoxin can cause serious illness in dogs, often progressing to death. Aflatoxin primarily affects the cells within the liver and results in overwhelming liver failure. If the dose ingested is very high, pets may also develop sudden kidney failure. Even with treatment, most of these dogs will die. Chronic, low-dose exposures to aflatoxin can suppress the immune system and cause cancer.

Although it is impossible to see mycotoxins in grains, laboratory tests can identify their presence before the grain is incorporated into feeds. The FDA established specific guidelines about the amount of aflatoxin that can be detected in grains and still be used in either animal feeds or human food products. The allowable amounts in animal feeds are consistently higher than that for human-grade foods, therefore using only human-grade grains in pet foods will help reduce the incidence of poisonings in our pets”.

With such potential for pet foods to create a toxic effect, why do companion animal owners feel these are the best available nutritional options? Fortunately, companies that produce pet foods made with human-grade ingredients are emerging to satisfy the demands of consumers seeking options similar to home prepared food.

The standards for nutritional content as dictated by Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) create a challenge for pet owners who are interested in feeding home prepared foods.  Unfortunately, society has been misled to believe that our pets will suffer detrimental health effects if protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, vitamin, and mineral ratios are not specifically commensurate with industry standards. In extreme cases (100 % meat/bone diets, etc.) or with pets already dealing with illness, this has some validity. Otherwise, feeding a home prepared diet has many nutritional advantages over commercially available feed-grade sources even if the home prepared version is not 100 percent "complete and balanced."

I would rather feed my dog a combination of moist, human-grade, muscle meat protein, whole grains, and fresh vegetable and fruit options having a somewhat varying or unknown cumulative nutrient content rather than any commercially available dry or canned option made with feed-grade ingredients. This perspective is controversial in the veterinary profession, but my beliefs are based on ongoing clinical experience and common sense.

In my practice, if a client seeks to feed home prepared foods, I suggest a diet specific to my patient’s needs is formulated by veterinary nutritionists at the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Nutrition Support Service.  Alternatively, I recommend using a reputable service like Balance IT.  I prefer these guidelines, as the truly give the client an excellent foundation for ingredient options, portion control, and food preparation and safety.

Thank the good Lord for my pups. I'm over-the-hill, rough around the edges, not politically correct, pretty cynical about people, have a tendency towards sarcasm, more of a who the (beep) drank the water from my glass (none of that half empty/half full garbage) type of guy. My wife should be elevated to sainthood and Mr. Satan won't want me any more than Mr. God will. So what's my point?

Like I said, thank the good Lord for my pups. I've had a lot of dogs over the years, each very different and special. Topping the list is my deceased K9 partner Sanders who was my partner, my best friend, my boy. Next up are my current pups Joey and Rufus. Both are 'special needs' behavioral dogs, each with a complex set of fear issues but each who teach me so much every minute of every day about enjoying who they are and the world they live in.

Joey's big brother was Sanders. Sanders taught Joey everything from house-training to socializing with other dogs, good manners and that streams can be so much fun. Sander's sudden passing in 2010 left him devastated and changed certain aspects of his personality forever. Rufus was born and raised in 3 shelters before finding safety at the Best Friends Animal Society sanctuary at Dogtown. When we adopted him at 6 years of age, ours was the first human home he'd ever been in. Though he continues to have occasional heartbreaking events he has come such a long way.

The reason for the short history was to give you a quick look inside who my pups are, as I see them, an admitted failing on my part.  As far as they're concerned, they don't let many obstacles get in the way of enjoying every waking, and sleeping, moment, which is what makes our dogs so very, very special. They love to sleep; Joey on his back, Rufus on his side, snoring loud enough to wake the dead. Play hard, sleep hard:) They wake up looking at me with the childlike wonderment of what each new day will bring. They find the simplest pleasure in venturing outside each morning, understanding that the night brought lots of other mammals through our yard and new smells from the skies just for them to sniff. Noses and tails high, they drink in the air, whether sun, rain, snow; hot or cold, but always with delight. For two years we watched Joey muzzle punch Rufus' flanks and pull his tail trying to get him to play and then one day, voila!, Rufus 'bootybumped' Joey, chased him and rolled onto his back so Joey could climb on- I don't know who was happiest, them or us! It was unbelievably exhilarating because Rufus finally found within himself the freedom to be a puppy.

Whether it's trail walking with them off lead, looking deep into their eyes as I rub their muzzles, Joey rooting through toys in the toy box, Rufus chasing deer, Joey jumping through my newspaper as I try to read it, both of them sleeping on the couch while my wife and I watch TV or Joey dancing on hind legs when he gets excited (which he does about anything and everything), I get to see them being dogs in their way, the way enjoyable to them, telling me in such simple terms what the truth about life is as they see it, not understanding why I don't see it like they do: rewarding, fascinating and fun.

When you look at your pups, forget what you see, see what they see and LIVE in the moment, SHARE in the moment and ENJOY the moment, for that moment will never come your way again. Don't miss out on the fun.

TEACH   TRUST   CHANGE   ENJOY- DO NO HARM

To read some of my other interesting views on things dog and human, please visit my website at www.samwike.com or check out my Facebook page, The Inner Dog.

If the thought of interacting with a wolflike creature makes your heart leap, meet wolfdog Journey, A cross of a wolf and a domestic dog several generations removed, Journey was selectively bred for social-butterfly abilities and wolflike appearance.

To Hear Journey Howl and Watch Him in Action, Click on Photo.
Courtesy of Wolf Creek Ranch

When he wags his tail, bobs his head and starts to wriggle, he’s saying, “Pet me!” People are joyfully surprised they can pet him. (To hear Journey howl click here or visit Linda Michaels YouTube Channel.)

Journey loves people, traveling and new challenges. His public appearances help to debunk the Big Bad Wolf myth and to raise awareness of our precious, endangered wolves in the wild, as well as those in rescues and sanctuaries.

Approaching his second birthday, Journey weighs in at 90 pounds and can stand at 5 feet, 9 inches. He eats species-appropriate raw food, peppered with a variety of wholistic supplements.

Journey lives at Wolf Creek Ranch with his pet parent Julie. He loves the family cats, running his acre pasture, and watching goats and llamas grazing.

Journey is also a “poster pup” for dog-walking harnesses.

“It’s a matter of mutual respect,” Julie tells us.

At four weeks of age Journey was “placed in a shopping cart and into the store he went,” says Julie. They went to busy public places each day for the first year of his life. Now he strives to meet as many people as possible. Journey was raised with and adores children.

Journey’s been seen locally at the Balboa Park Powwow, Del Mar and Lowes Surf-Dog-a-Thons, Thanksgiving Dog Day, Bates Nut Farm Kennel Club Dog Show, and the Del Mar Pet Expo.

Wolfdog ownership requires a serious lifelong commitment, thorough research, appropriate housing and acreage, early ultra-socialization, and training the Positive Reinforcement way. Just looking at and petting Journey is a bucket-list dream come true.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email:LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published in the U~T San Diego, Scratch n’ Sniff. Chris Ross, Editor.

Endnotes:  I wrote this article knowing it to be a controversial subject, however, I've never run from controversy if I feel there is an injustice when it concerns animals.  The literature on wolfdogs suggests that each animal should be judged individually....just as any dog ought to be as well, but even more so in the case of wolf-dogs. There is no way to make accurate statements about them as a group from what I  understand.

I did my due diligence researching statistics on bites comparing wolfdogs to domesticated breeds. Reported bites from wolfdogs are not as prevalent as some other domesticated dog breeds. BSL (breed specific legislation) is proposed for a number of breeds, including wolfdogs.  I believe that socialization and behavior modification are key, and that training trumps genetics in most cases of domesticated and wolfdogs. It's absolutely true that wolfdogs require very, very early ultra-socialization and continued frequent and regular socialization and training throughout their lives if they are to interact with the public.

If one examines the relevant research, that notably includes the fox studies in Russia, we see that selectively breeding for friendliness to human is indeed possible and may be accomplished in just a few generations...much to the surprised of the lead investigating scientists, I may add. This information is now widely available and accessible, such as here on Wikipedia, as well as documented in peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

Here's an except about the conclusions drawn: "The result is that Russian scientists now have a number of domesticated foxes that are fundamentally different in temperament and behavior from their wild forebearers."

There will always be individual stories that stray from the norm. However, I stand with Nicole Wilde who wrote, "Living with Wolfdogs", and "Wolfdogs A-Z". On the first page she thanks Dr. Ian Dunbar, Animal Behavior Ph.D, renowned canine expert, and Veterinarian for his encouragement.

I hope everyone understands, I'm not advocating for breeding or having these animals for the average pet owner. This animal and others I've worked with are being used to help educate the public in order to try to save our wolves in the wild. I find that a worthy cause.

The San Diego Zoo uses wolfdogs not only in their behind the scene shows but also parades them around the grounds for people to observe and enjoy. Wolfdogs can be used to help rehabilitate the Big Bad Wolf image so people CAN get close which was a thrill of a lifetime for me.

My personal experience with wolfdogs was mostly a great surprise, as I arrived with my own bias. They are extremely intelligent... wolves having brains 30% larger than the domesticated dog on average, they learn quickly.

Breeding laws vary from state to state, so it's a complicated mix of possible actual wolf-content that may be legal in your state. In California, for example, breeding wolves with dogs ended in about 1976 and since that time the lines are wolfdog to wolfdog offspring, with the content weakening across time as people mix in more domesticated dog. The idea is to LOOK like a wolf, not behave like one... although wolves in wild are generally fearful, not aggressive toward people which is largely misunderstood.

I expect the controversy will rage on!

Birds are screaming. People are screaming back. Every spring, as the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, birds scream more. While some pet parrots scream every season, many scream more during spring when their hormones get revved up as they are looking to breed.

Wild parrots scream, too. They scream at sunrise to start their day and to search for breakfast. They scream at dusk as the flock gathers to eat dinner. But what is a natural behavior for wild parrots is an annoyance to many pet parrot owners, especially those that live in small homes with close by neighbors who don’t share their love for these very vocal pets. So, what do parrot owners do when their pets scream? Often, they start to scream back, only perpetuating the cycle of screaming.

Pet parrots scream for other reasons. The main reason they scream is to get their owners’ attention. They scream, and their owners respond (even if just to run to the cage to yell back at them to stop screaming). Positive reinforcement of the screaming behavior starts. The parrot screams, the owner comes. So the parrot will continue to scream, so that the owner will continue to come, and the cycle of positive reinforcement of an undesirable behavior is established.

Screaming is not the only behavior that bird owners inadvertently reinforce. The same occurs with biting. When bird owners want their birds to come to them, they generally hold out their hands in front of their birds and say, “Step up.”  However, sometimes birds are occupied with other activities (eating, playing with toys, etc.) and don’t want to step up at that moment. So, they express their lack of cooperation by biting their owners’ hands. Consequently, owners may scream (unwittingly positively reinforcing the biting behavior by responding to it with attention) and remove their hands (also positively reinforcing the biting, because now the birds have achieved what they wanted - not having to step up). Thus, another cycle of positive reinforcement of an undesirable behavior is established.

What can parrot (or dog, or cat, or any pet) owners do if their animals scream and bite and drive them crazy? Unfortunately, owners in these situations often end up ignoring their pets completely or relinquishing them to others who are more tolerant of these behaviors. With birds, this happens particularly after a few years, when the birds reach sexual maturity and are hormonally driven to scream and bite more. What these bird owners don’t know is that with just a few minutes of training each day, many of these pet-owner relationships can be saved, and owners can learn to enjoy their pets again.

As I am frequently reminded by my mentor, Dr. Susan Friedman, and other behavior specialists, behavior doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Behavior is learned, in part, either to achieve something good (such as attention from an owner) or to avoid something bad (such as having to step up on a hand when you don’t want to). This same is true for all behaviors performed by both animals and people. Behavior is repeated because it accomplishes something for the performer. If you think about it, why else would a behavior be repeated if it didn’t?

I teach parrot owners who bring their parrots with behavior problems to me that they can use the principle of positive reinforcement to help solve these behavior issues. Positive reinforcement training involves rewarding an animal’s behavior with something valuable to that specific animal (i.e. a food treat, verbal praise, a head scratch, etc.). For this training to work, the reward must be something very valuable to that particular animal, and what is rewarding to one pet might not be to another. For example, I may love pepperoni pizza and be willing to do anything for it, while you may hate it and ignore any request to perform a behavior that rewards you with pepperoni pizza. The same is true for animals that have likes and dislikes. Thus, it is critical that an owner trying to modify behavior with positive reinforcement training determine what makes his individual pet happy. The best way to do this is to watch the pet as it plays and eats to see what food and objects the animal seeks out. Once the owner figures out what is most rewarding to his pet, he can use this information in a training program to modify undesirable behavior.

In trying to eliminate problem behavior, an owner can start by positively reinforcing a more desirable behavior that the pet already knows (i.e. for a bird, tapping the beak on the cage) to accomplish the same end for the pet (i.e. getting the owner’s attention or signaling to the owner an unwillingness to step up). Ultimately, the animal will no longer have to perform the undesirable behavior (screaming or biting) to accomplish the same end. Eventually, the undesirable behavior will go away, because if it is no longer positively reinforced, as now the beak tapping is, the undesirable behavior is no longer as rewarding to the pet as is the more desirable behavior of beak tapping.

Pet owners also can teach animals new behaviors (for a bird, for example, ringing a bell) by positively reinforcing these new behaviors initially when they occur accidentally or unpredictably. With repeated positive reinforcement of these new behaviors (i.e. giving the bird attention or a food treat every time it rings the bell), these newly learned behaviors may ultimately be used to help replace problem behaviors if these new behaviors can be positively reinforced in the situations that usually elicit the problem behavior. For example, if a bird screams every time an owner leaves the room, the owner should wait to come back into the room until the bird is no longer screaming but is ringing the bell. By going to the bird then and praising it or giving it a treat, the ringing behavior becomes much more rewarding to the bird than the screaming (which ultimately should go away because it is no longer rewarded). Simple, right?

So, if you own a bird or other pet with a problem behavior, and you are willing to work at it, problems behaviors can be eliminated, and the pet-owner bond can be re-established. All it takes is some patience and a few minutes every day. Remember, however, that animals aren’t machines; like us, they have good days and bad days, and when you are teaching them a new behavior, they may take a few steps forward and an occasional step back. There is no magic solution or quick fix to solving problem behaviors, and behavior takes ongoing practice to be maintained. However, with a little daily practice and long term dedication, you and your pet can live harmoniously together once again.

For help with problem parrots or any other issues related to the health and behavior of birds or other exotic pets, Dr. Hess can be reached through her websites, www.LaurieHessDVM.com and www.avianexoticsvet.com.

An exclusive excerpt from Victoria's new book, Train Your Dog Positively, which is available from March 19th in the US:

The shocking result of a study on the effects of early neutering in Golden Retrievers was recently released in the online journal Plos One.  Goldens neutered early, before one year of age, were judged more likely to develop hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament tears, and some forms of cancer than those dogs left intact or neutered after a year of age.  Golden lovers began calling and emailing me with questions and concerns as soon as the popular press picked up the story.

Most of the dogs we teach at Canine Assistants are Goldens.  Maybe that’s why people wanted to know my take on the study.  Perhaps I was an easy way to access the opinion of my veterinarian husband, Kent Bruner, whose practice at Canine Assistants consists primarily of Goldens.  Regardless of the reason, I was enthusiastic to review the findings of this research…until, that is, I actually studied the study.

The researchers obtained data on nearly 800 Goldens Retrievers, an enormous number for this type of project.  It is extremely rare to see a study on dogs as a species, let alone on a single breed, with such a large sample size.  But, while the amount of data collected is impressive, the source of the data concerns me deeply.  The dogs were all patients at the Veterinary Medical Hospital, University of California, Davis.

UC Davis is a fantastic veterinary teaching hospital, offering cutting edge care for those breeders and pet parents who want the very best for their animals.  It’s the type of place you turn when your beloved dog needs specialized treatment for major problems such as hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament tears, cancer, and infertility.  All the data collected came from a very small population of dogs---those seen at UC Davis.  That one fact makes any conclusions drawn from the data suspect.

Consider the finding that Goldens neutered before one year of age are more likely to develop hip dysplasia or have cruciate ligament tears than those left intact or neutered after a year of age.  At a vet school, most of the intact dogs seen belong to breeders who have retained those specific animals for breeding, at least in part, because they have good hips and conformation that makes cruciate ligament tears less likely.  It makes sense then that few of the intact Goldens seen at a vet school would have hip dysplasia or cruciate ligament tears.  At the same time, those pet guardians who would take their dogs to a vet school for treatment of hip dysplasia or ligament tears most likely neutered their pets early as part of their commitment to responsible care.

Likewise, committed pet guardians, those who usually neuter early, are the individuals most likely to take their dogs to a veterinary school or specialty center for cancer treatment.  Good breeders, especially Golden breeders, are very committed to breeding only dogs whose bloodline shows no evidence of early cancers.  So, much like with orthopedic issues, the dogs most likely to be seen at a veterinary teaching hospital with cancer are those belonging to guardians who probably, responsibly, neutered them early.

So are the findings of this study valid in any way?  I have absolutely no idea.  There isn’t any way to know for certain unless the same large amount of data can be collected from sources less likely to produce skew the results---meaning a cross-section of all Goldens not just those taken to specialty hospitals.  Previous studies with smaller sample sizes have reported inconsistent results.  So, for now at least, my pet dogs will continue to be spayed or neutered before one-year of age.

PS-Below is a link to the article for those of you who want to read it.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0055937

It's early in the New Year, and no doubt many have vowed to exercise and get into shape. But do you look at your dog and feel guilty that you're working out instead of playing with him? How about incorporating your dog into a cardio, calorie-burning workout? Sure, you could just go running or biking with your dog. Or you could use your workout to work on your dog's down-stay, come when called, and to play fetch. With the help of Igor Seriba, instructor at Hideshi's FitnessGarage, I"ll introduce you to a fun cardio workout, that includes speed and agility for you, that you can do while training and playing with your dog.

For this set of outdoor exercises, you will simultaneously work on the down-stay exercise for your dog or playing fetch, or alternating between the two. For instance, you can have your dog lying down while you exercise and reward him frequently enough so he stays in a down-stay, or you can play fetch and get as many repetitions in while he's running. In some exercises, you'll even build up distance while your dog is in a down-stay and then practice a come when called.

One benefit to incorporating your exercise into your dog's training is that you turn the most boring dog-training exercise ever -- the down-stay -- into a fun routine. Let's face it, having your dog lie down while you stand around and watch the clock to make sure he can stay lying down long enough is more irritating than standing in line to return holiday presents.

Practicing a down-stay at a distance is even worse. You have to have your dog lie down, walk away to whatever distance you're practicing (such as 5-30 feet), and then come back and reward him while he's still lying down. You can't just call him to come to you, because then you're rewarding him for a come when called, not a down-stay. Now, if you can exercise during the segments where you'd just be waiting around or if you can exercise on your way out and back from your dog's lying spot, suddenly you're making good use of that time.
You'll also be playing fetch with your dog during your rest period between high intensity intervals.

This workout is simple. You'll just need your dog's 6-foot leash, a safe area for your dog to play fetch or be off leash, and your dog's treats. I use my dog's daily allotment of kibble for treats. That way his diet is still balanced and he stays trim.

The General Approach

This workout will be high intensity, so you should warm up first and stretch while you work on an easier set of down-stay exercises with your dog. (See: "Working Out With Your Dog: Quick Outdoor Warm-Up Exercises for You and Your Dog"). For each exercise, you'll start with your dog in a down-stay; make sure you get treats to him frequently enough so he remains lying down. Get the reward to him quickly and low enough so that you don't accidentally lure him to stand.

The first exercises are a set of four speed and agility exercise that involve your dog's leash, which will be lying on the ground. You'll perform three sets of five repetitions per exercise with 30, 45, and 60 seconds of rest in between each set. Take the rest time to play fetch with your dog.

The final two exercises will be even higher intensity. You'll perform three sets of three repetitions per exercise with 30 seconds of rest during the first break, 60 seconds during the second, and 90 seconds between exercises one and two. Rest sessions are your dog's chance to play fetch. You'll also work a come when called into these exercises.

FINDING A GOOD TRAINER

One of the most important decisions you will make in paving a path to happiness with your pet is choosing a competent and kind dog trainer. The absence of standard credentials required by law, or established professional ethics, makes it problematic for pet parents to find a great trainer in an unregulated field.

However, science and culture are moving away from punishment/pain-based methods. Behavioral scientists resoundingly endorse dominance-free, reward-based training as the most effective, long-lasting and safest method, particularly for aggressive dogs who may bite if underlying issues are not adequately addressed.

Use of a front-clip harness or head collar is recommended for hard pullers — a step-in harness for puppies and small breeds. Medical injuries caused by collars constricting the airway passages are well-documented.

Journey, wolfdog ambassador of WolfCreekRanch, admiring his harness.

The Pet Professionals Guild adheres to the “do no harm” ethic and a strict code of conduct for trainers, holding pet welfare as the top priority. It’s the right thing to do for those who cannot speak for themselves. Search www.PetProfessionalsGuild.com for a trainer near you. Victoria Stilwell-licensed trainers, hand-picked by Victoria, may be found on this website. These trainers use non-aversive leash-walking equipment and behavior-change protocols available. They suggest that you:

• Find a trainer both you and your dog like.

• Reward behaviors you want repeated.

• Manage environments to prevent the opportunity for unwanted behavior.

• Remove reinforcement to stop or decrease a behavior.

• Teach alternative behaviors for behaviors you want to change.

Talented trainers can manipulate the resources we control in order to get the behavior we want. They don’t resort to force or pain-based methods.

Killer whales, dolphins, wild animals at progressive zoos world-wide, and wolfdogs trained with purely positive reinforcement methods are powerful examples of the effectiveness of purely positive methods. It can work for your dog, too.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email:LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us atDogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published in the U~T San Diego, Scratch n’ Sniff. Chris Ross, Editor.

OUT OF A MILLION MOMENTS SHARED, IT IS ALWAYS ONE THAT MATTERS MOST

Pet photography provides the impossible: a lifetime with your pet

Photography is everywhere. We are faced with millions of images every day, most of them selling us something, implying who we should be, how we should look or what we should buy.

Anyone with an iPhone and Instagram is an artist: capable of creating a digital masterpiece instantly and sharing it just as quickly on Pinterest, Twitter, Flik-r and Facebook simultaneously. The medium of photography is evolving even faster than the technology supporting it and the definitions of art are more fluid than ever.

In the midst of all the images marketers choose to attract us and all the cover photos we select to define us, it’s easy to forget just how powerful a single photograph can be.

As a professional pet photographer I admit I take my job granted; the flexible hours, the travel perks, my dogs at my feet while I edit and of course the fact that I get paid to spend hours rolling around on the floor with the most irresistible creatures on earth. But there is one irrefutable fact that I never, ever forget: I am too-often reminded of just how a perfectly captured portrait of a pet transcends art to become the most precious possession a person can own.

PHOTOGRAPHS CAPTURED ARE MOMENTS SAVED FOREVER

photo by: J.Nichole Smith, www.dane-dane.com

Last week I was designing an album for clients with three charming dogs: Jasmine, Willow and T-Rex. T-Rex, the eldest, started life in New York City, chained up outside in a cage, but fate managed to deliver him all the way to Terri & Michael in Seattle, which is where I met and photographed him many years later.

Our shoot was on a hot day in August and I remember T-Rex as a smiley, wise old German Shepard who quite willingly followed us around the vast lakeside park. But only months later, on a cold day in January, T-Rex passed away.

As I edited his images and pieced together pages of the album, I found myself feeling quite weepy. I glanced down at the notes written by his mom…

“T-Rex's nickname was "Dunderhead" and he was a cheese bandit. He was in love with our boy cat Asher and they slept together on the couch. T-Rex could put whirling dervishes to shame when he was ready for a walk…”

As I considered where to include these details within the album I re-read her most recent email and saw the lines…

“Sadly, our boy just passed away. He was in such great spirits that day and we really want to remember him that way.”

photo by: J.Nichole Smith, www.dane-dane.com

These honest words struck a chord with me and despite my best efforts the lump in my throat choked-out objectivity and tears began spilling over my cheeks. I was crying for their loss, crying for my 8 yr. old Dane who is starting to show her age, crying for the memory of T-Rex as a sweet, happy boy and the knowledge that he no longer joins his family for walks in the park. I blubbered like a baby all over my keyboard.

Then I recovered, struck once again by the warm, honorable reality of my job: the most precious gift photographers offer the world is tangible proof of perfect memories. Pet photographers in particular, have the ability to capture poignant moments with the pets we love so desperately. The stark reality is that these companions just don’t stay with us long enough, but the timeless gift of a portrait, is that it will be a meaningful part of our life long after the dog hair, stinky breath and the tap, tap, tap of their tails has vanished.

In a world of fleeting and fake, there are few jobs so meaningful and lasting.

JOY SESSIONS

One pet photographer in Minnesota was so impacted by the power of this role that she designated a whole portion of her business to offering “end-of-life” sessions for aging and terminally ill pets. Her name is Sarah Ernhart and she has lovingly defined these shoots as “Joy Sessions”.

photo by: Sarah Beth Photography, www.joysessions.com

Sarah was inspired to offer these sessions after she had the opportunity to create portraits of a particularly special relationship between a labarador named “Joy” and her owner, Joan.

Since 2010 the demand for these shoots has risen to the point where Sarah recently created a whole website dedicated to matching up pet owners in need of “Joy Sessions” and pet photographers who offer this tender service:  www.joysession.com

As pet photographers we regularly receive overwhelmingly emotional words of thanks for the images we captured with our clients. Thanks because their puppy is grown and they had forgotten just how small he once was, or because like T-Rex’s family, their dear friend is gone but they have beautiful images to remember him by. This is the greatest honor bestowed upon artists – the ability to transform an intangible, powerful bond, into proof of your love you can see, touch and cherish.

If you haven’t yet, or if it’s been years since you have, I urge you to document the relationship you have with your pet(s). Whether you snap cell phone videos and photos for your desktop wallpaper or Facebook, or you hire a professional to produce a work of art for your mantelpiece or coffee table – do it now. If not, you will desperately wish you had.

When we lose a pet, no words can soothe the grief. No amount of busy can distract from the daily routine that is suddenly gone. No sound on earth can ease the silence their absence leaves behind. There is no remedy for the loss of a loved one.

As time passes the ache does dull, but so too the memories will blur and fade. But like your love, the gift of photography is forever; moments as crisply rendered a decade from now, as they were that sunny day in August when you took a walk in the park… one of a million moments shared, saved forever.

If you’d like a referral for a fantastic pet photographer, check out Pet Anthology’s Guide to Inspirational Pet Photographers Part I  and Part II.

In memory of T-Rex February 1997 – January 2012

… and all the animals we love so much who leave too soon.

Wise Food Choices. What’s more important to your dog than food? Chances are, not much.

The experts do not agree about nutrition, however, Dr. Doug Knueven, veterinary lecturer on dog nutrition, tells us that poor diet is the biggest obstacle to achieving canine health: Many illnesses, skin, and behavioral problems are directly affected by diet. Here’re some “greendog” guidelines:

Poor diet is the biggest obstacle to canine health.
Photo Courtesy of Archie Chippendale

• Diets. Home cooking is great if you eat healthy, and you avoid foods that are toxic to dogs. Alternatively, choose a super-premium quality dehydrated, freeze-dried or kibble feed. A more natural diet includes raw meat, organ meat, raw bones, vegetables, and fruits. An excellent resource that investigates and reviews food may be found at http://www.WholeDogJournal.com
• Ingredients. Read the labels. Look for a specifically named meat or fish as the first ingredient and natural preservatives. Avoid by-products, sugars, artificial colorings and flavorings.
• Protein and Carbohydrates. High-protein diets are often linked to high performance, and high simple carbohydrate diets to obesity. Dr. Lynn Honeckman, DVM, tells us, “Medical problems that result from obesity include diabetes, hip dysplasia, cancer, degenerative joint, respiratory, skin and autoimmune diseases.” Monitor intake.
• Rotation. Rotate between and within brands. Transition gradually. A balanced diet requires variety.
• Processing. High-temperature processing destroys essential nutrients. Stay as close to natural and organic as feasible.
• Supplements. Err on the safe side and provide a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement, fish oil, and a probiotic.

In case of illness, always consult your trusted, nutrition-savvy veterinarian.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist” M.A. and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker, can be reached at (858) 259-9663 or email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com  for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations in or near Del Mar or the San Diego Coast. Visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published UT San Diego, Scratch ‘n Sniff. Chris Ross, Editor

Our pets deserve better. Overwhelmingly, Americans want to do the right thing for their pets -- or at least that's what they say. After all, according to all surveys, most pet owners consider their four-legged or even feathered friends as members of he family. Yet, despite our love for our pets, veterinary visits are on the decline, especially when it comes to preventive care. As a result, pets and their owners are paying a significant price. Preventive illness is on the rise, and the price is also paid in dollars and cents.

My resolution for 2013 will be to play whatever role I can in reversing this alarming trend.

Just two of many examples of preventive illness which are on the rise are flea infestation and heartworm disease, according to the Banfield Pet Hospital State of Pet Health 2011 Report.

Flea infestation and heartworm are far more expensive to treat than to prevent. As flea infestations have risen, so have reports of flea allergy. Also, fleas can also spread disease to people. The treatment for heartworm -- which can be fatal -- is grueling. For cats, no treatment even exists. Obviously, if pets had a choice, they'd clearly pick prevention over crazily itching from flea allergies or suffering the effects, even succumbing, to heartworm.

According to a study conducted by Bayer Animal Health, a quarter of all pet owners don't understand the importance of preventive care for pets. The percent of households making no trip at all to a veterinarian in the course of a year went up by eight percent for dogs, and a confounding 24 percent for cats compared to five years ago, according to the 2012 American Veterinary Medical Association U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook.

One viable explanation is that many pet owners have never been educated about the value of preventive pet care, as well as what veterinarians do doing during annual exams.

For example, most pet owners don't know that the exam begins as the pet walks into a clinician's room. The veterinarian checks the pet's gait for arthritis, even neurological problems. By simply petting a dog or cat, the veterinarian is feeling for lumps, even noting coat quality, an indicator for all sorts of issues.

The answers to seemingly benign questions, like "how much does your pet drink?" offer clues to potential kidney disease or diabetes. Or is your dog barking when you leave the house? The answer may reveal separation distress, a behavioral issue which dogs are sometimes given up as a result – but pet owners often don’t volunteer this information to veterinarians. Solving a behavior problem can save a life as much as solving a heart problem.

Some pet owners believe they would know if their pet was sick. However, this is often false, especially for cats, masters at masking illness. A veterinarian may detect problems an owner can't, unless the owner has learned to run blood work in their home or knows how to listen for a heart murmur, for example, with a stethoscope. Others (as many as 15 percent, according to one survey) feel they can "Google" anything their veterinarian can do.

I don't deny that in some cases veterinarians are to blame for not communicating the value of visits, pushing clients away with excessive fees, or "nickel and diming" them. Overall, however, veterinary medicine remains a relative bargain. The cost of similar care and identical testing and drugs for pets is far less than the cost of the same for people.

Regardless of the explanations, the decline in veterinary visits is entirely contradictory to what's in the best interest of our pets.

I welcome your comments and ideas on all sides of the fence on this issue.

Email: steve@stevedale.tv.

Dr. Martin Luther King

Today we celebrate a great leader. We all know about how he helped advance civil rights and effect change around the world. We teach our children about the value of sticking to your core beliefs and allowing strong but understated confidence in the power of justice run its course like he did. But perhaps the most defining characteristic of the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. is his unwavering commitment to advancing his cause through the use of nonviolence.We continue to learn much from MLK, but the impact he continues to have on us as a society today applies not only to our human relationships.

The most effective and powerful leaders are able to change the behavior of others without imposing their will through the use of physical force. I wish we could all take this to heart as it relates to our relationships with our pets as well.

Despite the significant advances we've made as a culture over the past several decades in our understanding of animal behavior, there remains a virulent and undiminished undercurrent of resistance to the concepts of building relationships with our pets that are based on mutual trust, respect and love rather than pain, fear and intimidation. Despite the successes of my various TV shows and other projects, I'm continually confronted by those who believe that positive training is nothing more than a cute little sideshow that's helpful for naughty chihuahuas and earnest soccer moms.

Like Dr. King's, the battle to change people's perceptions of how we should interact with our dogs is an uphill fight. But as the evidence from the scientific community continues to mount and our collective willingness to allow others to treat pets more like livestock than cherished family members erodes, it becomes clearer and clearer that there is no alternative in sight but to win the fight.

Though the sentiment is obviously on a far different plane than the struggle over civil rights for all humans, we positive trainers, too, have a dream. We dream of a world where it is commonly understood that punishment and pain have no place in dog training. Where forced cooperation and submission through the use of intimidation and fear are universally recognized as outdated and less effective. Where positive reinforcement is celebrated as the most humane, long-lasting tool to combat unwanted behavior in all dogs - whether it's for common housetraining issues or severe aggression. Where we don't have to counteract and undo the damage inflicted on those whose owners are susceptible to the zen psychobabble of popular media culture.

On this Martin Luther King day, we celebrate the legacy of a great leader who harnessed the power of nonviolence and gentle, persistent persuasion. Let's try to do his memory justice not only by how we interact with our fellow humans, but also our four-legged companions.

Although the name bed bugs produces an image of bugs in a bed, they often reside in other places, according to WestChesterGov.com. That's when expert sniffers, like Cruiser, Liberty and Gracie come to the rescue. With the growing resurgence of bed bugs in majors cities, dogs like Cruiser, Liberty and Gracie are becoming trained professionals, who are hired and paid to sniff out potential bud bug problems in their homes.

Cruiser wakes in New York City, sometimes making house calls as early as 9:30 a.m. In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Liberty's work often requires her to travel to different cities for her clients, while Gracie in Derby, Connecticut has inspected everything from college dorms to apartment buildings.

According to the National Pest Management Association, "one out of five Americans has had a bed bug infestation in their home or knows someone who has encountered bed bugs at home or in a hotel."

Earning An Education

Like any traditionally promising career, the dogs start at school. According to the Associated Press, Gracie, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, graduated from the Florida Canine Academy in Tampa while Liberty, a tan and white beagle, and Cruiser, a puggle, attended J&K Canine Academy also in Florida, according to the New York Times. There are only 150 dogs in the nation certified to sniff out bed bugs. Training and certifications are gained through the National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association.

According to the Association's website, members of NESDCA evaluate dogs critically as handlers hide bed bugs and are given 20 minutes with their dog to end the search, with strict alert and room size requirements. Only dogs affiliated with NESDCA credited dog schools can be certified, so schools that offer training programs and raise dogs in-house sell for an upwards of $10,000.

Working the Grind

Once certifications are given, the dogs are quickly sent out to their handlers to begin work.

"She loves to go to work. When I say, 'Let's go to work,' she gets excited," William Steeves said to the AP about the enjoyment Gracie has as a bed bug inspector.

Bugs can sometimes hide from the eyes of exterminators, but they don't stand a chance against the nose of a dog. Steeves said a dog trained to find bed bugs is accurate 97 percent of the time.

As Liberty's handler, Glen Collymore expressed to Tulsa World that, "Beagles have one of the best senses of smell of any dog." Unlike Gracie, Liberty is known to be a bit more 'energetic,' although at times she can be hard to handle. The used-to-be show dog has impeccable accuracy in work with the K-9 Special Force Bedbug Detection Specialists in Norman, and is the state's only detection dog.

How could a dog not enjoy their job of travel and constant interaction with people and treats? To keep their noses sharp, the dogs are constantly being trained and rewarded of their findings with treats.

Daily Duties

Cruiser starts his day on the job with a whiff of bed bugs from his handler Jeremy Ecker, of Bed Bug Inspectors. To keep dogs training up, handlers are required to own living bed bugs; most store the insects in small glass jars, hidden from the dogs.

The dogs travel to businesses, hotels, residencies, schools and virtually any type of facility with furniture and people. They need minimal distractions to focus and work. Typically when they detect an infestation, they pause, and paw at the infestation location.

Although there are lots of 'ick' in their daily jobs, handlers can earn between $200 to 400 per hour for their services. Ecker, who had been in the business six years before trading his co workers for dogs, told the New York Times, “it’s very rewarding work. We get to walk dogs for a living and we help people get peace of mind.”

Linda Michaels and Oka. "If non-aversive methods work for wolfdogs, killer whales and wild animals at the zoo, it can work for your dog too." Photo Courtesy of the WolfEducationProject.org and Colleen's Custom Pet Photography.

 Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist” M.A. and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer , canine behavioral consultant and speaker, can be reached at (858) 259-9663 or email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com  for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations in or near Del Mar or the San Diego Coast. Visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com   All rights reserved.

Originally published UT San Diego, Scratch ‘n Sniff. Chris Ross, Editor

Maybe it’s not a coincidence what God spelled backwards is. "Dogs are absolutely loving, non-judgmental and pure," says Tim Hetzner, president of Addison, IL-based Lutheran Church Charities, and their K-9 Parish Comfort Dog Program. Hetzner and a contingent of dog handlers and eight Golden Retrievers traveled from the Chicago area to Newtown, CT, arriving two days after 26 people were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

On the Monday after the shootings (December 17), primary school-aged children, including many who survived the Sandy Hook attack, attended events held at a local activities center. The dogs greeted people walking into the building. Perhaps it's no surprise that the presence of the dogs attracted children. And they weren't alone.

Hetzner says, "One lady came up to the dogs. She sat down, looking directly at them, and began to speak with the dogs, not the handlers. Of course, the handlers could hear."

The woman spoke quietly and was crying as she explained, "Five people were killed on my block. I have five funerals to go to. I don't know what to do. What can I possibly say to their families?"

As she cried, one dog curled up into her lap. She hugged the dog, looked at the handler and no further words needed be spoken.

"We met parents (of slain children). Of course, they're numb," says Hetzner. They want everything to return to how it was, though of course it can't. Some are angry; their emotions range. At the high school, one young man came to pet a dog. He said that his dad was a first responder. And ever since it (the shooting) happened, when he comes home at night, he doesn't talk to anyone. He asked, 'Can I bring my dad to pet one of your dogs?"'

Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dogs are all Golden Retrievers. The dogs’ resume includes visiting New York City and New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy, and Joplin. MO, following killer tornados there.

"It's never been like this." Hetzner says he says that he’s seen homes ripped apart, but never so many hearts. The most emotional moment for him came at Newtown High School. Hetzner and his volunteers walked into the school auditorium, where they were greeted by thunderous applause. The principal was at the microphone, but he just couldn't get any words out. Finally, he asked the students to stand and hold hands, which they did. Everyone cried, Hetzner included. "I'm the father of four children myself," he says.

On two days, the dogs "attended high school," available in two different classrooms for students or faculty to pet.

Lutheran Church Charities is national ministry which offers a legion of volunteers from around the country as first responders following disasters. The ministry trains its volunteers using a FEMA-approved program.

When responding to disasters, Hetzner had observed how people are attracted to dogs, even neighborhood pets out for a walk. In 2008, Lutheran Church Charities initiated K-9 Parish Comfort Dog Program. All the dogs in the program begin their training as puppies. Their training protocol is similar to that used for service dogs, except these dogs' only job is to listen to people in their time of need.

"They're really just furry counselors; they keep whatever they're told confidential, and they don't even take notes," Hetzner says.

What the dogs do is indeed work for them, and can take an emotional toll. Of course, no one really knows what the dogs understand, but Hetzner, and most experts, believe that somehow dogs are emotional sponges.

"The Goldens never work for more than an hour to two and a half hours, depending on the dog,” he says. “Then the vest comes off. The dogs get a chance to be dogs, maybe play with a ball."

Though they make no bones about being a Christian ministry, the group doesn't proselytize. "We don't hide who we are," says Hetzner. "But we're not there to convert anyone. We are there to offer comfort at a time when people may need it the most."

Perhaps it takes a person of special commitment to faith to believe good can come from evil like that seen in Newtown, CT.

"What I've seen is that the worst of all events has brought out the best in people. And that is beautiful," Hetzner says.

I have always enjoyed a challenge.  Whether I’m working on a complex behavioral case or brokering a workable deal among quarreling families, it’s a challenge I welcome and work hard to resolve.  The most dedicated trainers are the ones that never stop learning, never sit back and think they know it all and always work to perfect their skills. Even after fifteen years of teaching, including eight years of It’s Me or the Dog, I am still growing and perfecting my skills with each new experience I encounter. Failing a case has never been an option and maybe it’s this trait that has kept me going for so long.

I’m not going to pretend the journey has been easy because however much I do, there is still so much that needs to be done to guide people towards a better way of teaching their dogs and improve the well being of animals around the world.  This is one of the reasons I formed Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training (VSPDT).  The VSPDT network is comprised of some of the best positive reinforcement trainers in the country dedicated to spreading awareness of humane methods to the dog loving public.  If you are a trainer and are interested in joining VSPDT go to www.vspdt.com or if you are looking for a qualified trainer to teach you and your dog, please go to: www.positively.com/trainers

I still find it hard to comprehend how anyone can justify teaching a dog through pain, force and fear, when decades of research and a mountain of scientific and observational evidence continues to prove how destructive these methods can be.  Teaching people to train their dogs in a humane way is not just a moral issue; it has become an issue of public health and safety.  Punitive training methods are having a profound affect on our canine companions, making them more insecure, unable to communicate and more aggressive as a result.  Mankind is destroying what was a beautiful relationship and putting their dogs, themselves and their children at risk as a result. There are approximately 10.5 million dogs in the UK and 78.2 million dogs in the US, and while education and humane training is not going to solve all canine problems, it will certainly go a long way to make things a lot better for our dogs and for ourselves.

While punitive trainers vehemently defend their use of forceful techniques, they are finding it harder to discredit the insurmountable evidence supporting the fact that hitting, poking, kicking, restraining, hanging, jerking and using electric shock to teach dogs causes pain, fear, anxiety, distrust, shyness, insecurity, increased likelihood of aggression, irritability, frustration, learned helplessness and in many cases, complete shutdown. And that’s just for starters.  I can’t see how any sane person can validate using techniques that have such a high potential to cause harm.

Following extensive discussions with a number of notable human behavior experts on why people use force or feel the need to dominate other beings, I learned the following:  The general feeling among these professionals is that some people use force and punishment because they need to be in charge and fear losing control.  This might be because they have been or are being dominated themselves by a family member or friend, or because the tendency to dominate others is inherent within them.  Other people simply don’t have the time or the desire to investigate what training methods are best and grab whatever is most available, even if they instinctively know the techniques they are using are inhumane.  Whatever works to fix a dog’s behavior as quickly and as easy as possible is preferred and validated.  Dog training is an unregulated profession, which means there are too many people advertising themselves as trainers that simply don’t have the qualifications and use force because they don’t know or don’t want to know any better.  Because there is an ever-increasing amount of bad press about punitive training techniques in the media, some trainers use the ‘positive reinforcement’ buzzwords to sell their services to prospective clients even though these trainers still employ punitive methods in practice.   Some trainers use positive reinforcement techniques to teach dogs what to do, but lack the knowledge and/or skills to use humane techniques to curb unwanted behavior.  It is relatively easy to use positive reinforcement methods to teach a dog to do something, but it takes advanced knowledge and skill to stop a dog from doing something negative WITHOUT using punitive techniques. Viewers might be impressed by what looks like a heroic battle to ‘rehabilitate’ a deranged, aggressive animal on some television shows and copy what they see, but in reality what they are viewing is just an act of violence from a human to a dog, designed to suppress negative behavior through dominant control.  The great tragedy in all of this is that when the dog finally submits to this force, his submission is labeled a ‘success’ even though he is not submitting calmly at all, but has been BULLIED and FORCED into submitting.  A submissive dog’s stillness is often mistaken for calm, when in reality the dog’s body and mind have reached such a state of distress that the dog shuts down, ceasing all movement in an effort to avoid further violence.  This state of stress, often mislabeled as a dog being ‘calm submissive,’ gives people a false impression of what the dog is actually feeling, including a belief that the methods employed to get him to that point, worked.  This is not only desperately sad for the dog but very upsetting for those of us who really know what is going on in the dog’s mind.

I must make something clear at this point.  I do agree that harsh punishment curbs negative behavior at the moment it is used, (unless the dog fights back, which is often the case and is why so many punitive trainers and their clients get bitten when they use domination), but here again is the reality:  When you use pain, punishment and intimidation to teach dogs to ‘behave’ you are likely to see a difference in behavior very quickly and this will positively reinforce that what you did to get that difference did indeed work.  This will make you feel good, even though you might feel slightly guilty that you used combative methods to get the desired result. But be aware, just because you might see an improvement in behavior, this does not mean that the behavior has been CHANGED.  You might think your dog is behaving better, but this is only because your dog has been intimidated or dominated by you or your trainer into submission, and he is now ‘behaving’ out of fear of repeated force.  He still feels the same inside, even though the outward expression of how he feels has been suppressed… for now! This improvement in behavior is labeled, by those who don’t know any better, as a success, a great rehabilitation; the dog is fixed or cured!  But again, shut down, suppression and learned helplessness is NOT CHANGED BEHAVIOR.  If anything, your dog is now even more insecure because of the treatment he experienced and worse still, by using punishment, you haven’t taught him anything useful.  You haven’t given him a new skill or shown him that he can ‘be’ and ‘feel’ another way, which will help him behave in a more positive way in the future. That’s the beauty of humane training. Instead of putting the emphasis on punishment, positive trainers put the emphasis on teaching dogs new behaviors and new ways to cope in different situations, and yes, it even works with the aggressive ‘red zone’ dogs or dogs with high drive.  It’s not about just stuffing a treat in a dog’s face, it’s about finding each dog’s individual drive and using that to help him learn and overcome any behavioral issues he might have.

If you use punitive techniques, be warned that your dog will associate you with negative experiences and distrust you as a result, even if it looks like he is still your best friend. Dogs are very forgiving!  Forcing submission on your dog won’t change the way he feels inside and increases the likelihood that he will revert back to his former behavior at some point, and when he does, it will be much worse than it was before.  This is especially true for aggressive dogs.  After punitive handling, their aggressive response might be suppressed for a time, but when the stress becomes too much, the aggression will resurface again with a lot more intensity.  If you fight fire with fire, you will get burned.

I can write numerous columns, books, produce videos, film TV shows, or do seminars all day on this subject, but that won’t help change things unless people are willing to learn, discover and change for themselves.  We are creatures of habit and it’s hard to change our behavioral patterns.  But I think it is time to ask the question:  am I truly doing everything possible to ensure my dog is happy, trusts me, and is pain free and secure?  Am I someone who my dog truly wants to be with or does he only follow me because he’s scared of what will happen to him if he doesn’t?

If what I write annoys or angers you and you think I’m wrong or are sick of being preached at by the British girl who trains dogs on TV, then I encourage you to read the numerous books and articles written by some of the brightest animal behavior minds in the business: Dr. Patricia McConnell, Suzanne Clothier, John Bradshaw, Karen Pryor, Dr. Sophia Yin, Jean Donaldson, James O’Heare, Alexandra Horowitz, Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Nicole Wilde, Turid Rugaas, Dr. Ian Dunbar, to name but a few.

My biggest challenge is to continue promoting positive change, even though this sometimes makes me the target of ridicule by those who are threatened by what I say.  I understand that it takes courage to change, but the more humane you are towards your dog, the better your lives will be. The right kind of knowledge is very powerful.  As more and more people make the switch to gentler teaching methods, the canine and human nation will be safer and more stable because of it.

Photo Courtesy of Cindy Staszak

Why not start a holiday tradition and share the joy of the season with your local animal rescue group? It’s the perfect time of year for pet lovers to give back to the animals. This holiday season, there are more dogs than ever in need of help.

You can foster, volunteer, adopt, or donate skills, equipment or money. You'll not only provide a much-needed service to our community, but it will fill your heart to overflowing. That’s a promise. Your local 501c3 rescue groups-- often shelters of last resort, need help. Volunteering and working with animals is a great learning opportunity for the kids.

Six-month old “miracle puppy”, Daniel, American Humane Society’s Emerging Hero Dog Award winner, survived seventeen minutes in an Alabama euthanasia gas chamber and became the new “poster puppy” for dog adoption. An estimated seven million animals are brought to shelters every year, and ½ of those are euthanized due to overcrowding.

Please visit http://www.Petfinders.com, the #1 facilitator for 13,772 animal shelters and rescue groups across North America.

You can search for any breed or animal welfare group by zip code. Today, more than 25% of dogs in rescues are purebreds. For example, you can find 31 breeds to choose from that start with the letter “B” including, Bedlington Terriers, Borzoi, Boston Terriers, Boxers, Bull Terriers et al. Petfinders.com has hundreds of thousands of beautiful adoptable dogs at this very moment.

"Daniel". Survived 17 minutes in a euthanasia gas chamber. American Humane Association Emerging Hero Dog Award Winner.

The Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) has one of the world’s most successful holiday pet adoption drives. In California alone they partner with 262 shelters They also provide free 3-day seminars that teach animal lovers and shelter workers more effective ways to increase adoptions and lower euthanasia.

Dogs are often relinquished, orphaned and abandoned when pet parents find their dog’s behavior unacceptable simply because of insufficient socialization or basic training. Non-aversive training for every dog at the earliest possible time avoids problems. Positive Reinforcement, force-free dog training is effective, safe, fast and truly dog-friendly.

There are good dogs languishing in shelters and there are great dogs languishing in shelters. Help make adoption a first-choice in your community.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist” M.A. and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer  and speaker, can be reached at (858) 259-9663 or email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com  for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and up the SoCal Coastline. Visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com   All rights reserved.

Originally published UT San Diego, Scratch ‘n Sniff. Chris Ross, Editor.

Make recall fun and rewarding. Photo Courtesy of Patton Marshall

"Come!" Make recall fun and rewarding, one baby-step at a time.  If you bounce back and forth between a sugary-sweet, sing-songy, “Come Blinky” and a frustrated, commanding, “Blinky, Come!” — try these recall tips instead. 

Always reward for “coming”

Living things perform best on the reward system. Each time your dog “Comes” to you, reward her with a yummy treat. To start, substitute meal calories for training calories, using food to help your dog learn quickly. You can transition to affection or a “Good Girl, Go Play” later.

Start with easy “Comes”

Start inside your home and progress slowly, week by week, to more difficult environments. From just 3 feet away, use a big hand signal, saying, “Come” as your dog runs toward you. Reward. Increase distance, vary distractions and locations step by baby step. Later, work outdoors in an enclosed area or with a 50-foot leash until recall is reliable. Always reward when your dog comes back to you without being called.

Never punish for “coming”

Don’t clip nails, medicate, leave the dog park, or scold your dog for being slow to “Come.” If necessary, reward first, wait a minute and then do what your dog dislikes. Otherwise, she’ll learn that “Come” means that something unhappy may happen and she’ll run the other way.

Practice regularly and frequently

Get the whole family on the same training page. Play “Come” Round Robin. It’s fun! Repeat “Come” and reward in four 3-minute sessions per day. Regular routines and predictable outcomes speed training and reliability. Once learned, use recall throughout the day to cement it. Remember to have realistic expectations for your dog. Some breeds seem to naturally stick closer than others. If you train your dog to “Come” to the sound of “Blinky, Come” paired with a whistle for dinner, your dog’s ears will perk up when she hears those words in other contexts too! It’s easy.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published in the U~T San Diego, Scratch n' Sniff. Chris Ross, Editor, 2012.

Check your ego at the door!  EGO, this funny little word has such a huge affect on people, it changes people for the worse.

When working with animals you cannot have an “ego” of any kind.  Animals know, they can feel the kind of love and energy your putting off and when ego gets involved nothing will go right.  Why you ask?  Because ego is all about self and teaching and guiding your dog is about the dog not you.

Positive Reinforcement training is training that is respectful and is based in science and best of all is kind, the lines of communication stay open and loving, this is how we all learn the best.

Stop and think about it, how great would you be at your job if someone was always yelling and telling you” NO, NO that is not how you do it how can you be so stupid” but they never stopped and took the time to show you what they wanted. My guess is you would quit that job and probably have a few choice words for your boss.  Just because you’re a human and you think differently than your dog, does not give you the right to DOMINATE, or INTIMIDATE or BULLY your pet into doing what you want. This includes prong collars, choke collars, shocking devices, hitting and verbally abusing.  When knowledge ends aversive techniques begin.  This world wants everything NOW and given the technology we have everything is at a touch of a button and happens fast!!  We are used to getting what we want when we want it.  We must remember dogs are gifts, they feel, they love, and they hurt just like we do.

SLOW DOWN PEOPLE!  If you are blessed enough to live with animals as I am we need to realize that dogs and humans alike thrive on love and kindness and consistency.  Don’t get caught in the” EGO trap” instead why don’t you pause for a moment, look at your dog and actually try and figure out WHY the behavior is happening in the first place. There is always a reason for everything a dog does you just may not understand their language and it frustrates you.    It means you have to take your EGO out of it and really try to understand you pet.  Read about dog behavior call a professional force free trainer to help you get on the right track.

Our dogs our the most wonderful loving creatures who shower us with unconditional love each day and I feel its only fair we give them more of our time. They cannot be an after thought they cannot be last on the list of things in the family order.  Be grateful for your pets and show them that you are grateful by spending time with them and educating yourself about their world and what makes them who they are.

Involve the entire family in continuing your education about your canine family member and read about what makes a dog tick.  Remember, when communicating with your dog speak with your heart, be a kind, be educated and the learning will astound you.

Amy Sandmann  vspdt

Even today, I miss my best friend.

Ricky and I had one of those special relationships – he could look at me and know what I was thinking. I believe if my name happened to be Timmy, and if I feel into a well – he would have been there to rescue me.

Most people might bet that Ricky would have been a Collie, or perhaps a German Shepherd dog or even a Poodle. Ricky was a Devon Rex cat.

That’s right – a cat.  He was no ordinary cat, aside from our close bond, he was talented. Ricky could jump through a Hoola hoop, over dogs (or young children) on a down stay – and did I mention that he played the piano?

One of our dogs, named Lucy, did animal assisted therapy work. My wife asked me to teach her something new, so I thought I’d show Lucy how to play a little kids piano I’m not sure why I thought this.

I closed the door in our practice room so I could begin our first clicker training piano lesson. I began to shape Lucy’s behavior. Well, I apparently hadn’t closed the door securely, and in walked Ricky the cat. Instantly, he looked up at me, and then looked at the piano, lifted a paw, and “ping,” “ping,” he began to play the piano. I had a virtuoso!

I thought, ‘What am I fooling around with this dog for?’ And continued the piano lessons with Ricky. I had long wanted to demonstrate that a cat can be taught to do anything a dog can do, and maybe even do it better. So in no time, Ricky had an entire regiment of behaviors.

But what good is a circus act for just me and my wife?

Ricky was social, and leash and harness trained. Knowing he wouldn’t mind public scrutiny, I let the cat out of the bag and unleashed Ricky on the America public. If only YouTube were around, Ricky would have gone viral many times over.

Ricky, thought nothing of appearing in recitals at Petco or PETsMART. TV crews regularly paraded into our home, as Ricky appeared on several Animal Planet shows, National Geographic Explorer and PBS. Ricky made in studio radio and TV appearances in Chicago. He seemed to relish the extra attention being a star brings.

Even when he wasn’t performing Ricky would accompany my wife, the dogs and myself on errands, to the pet store or to the dry cleaner.

In the summer of 1999, during a routine veterinary visit, my best friend was diagnosed with feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) – a common heart disease of cats.

Some cats with this disease (an abnormal thickening of the left ventricle of the heart) live for many years, dying of old age related illness. However, often that is not the case – either cats throw clots and have repeated painful stroke-like episodes, until finally the family is too taxed emotionally and /or financially to deal with it, or cats with HCM die suddenly. HCM is the most common cause of sudden death in cats. In fact, HCM may account for more deaths of indoor cats from about three years to eight years than any other disease.

Ricky was easily trained to jump on my shoulder to take his heart medication  (of course, it was Ricky). At best the medication only slowed the disease progression, offering little – but it was the best veterinary medicine could do.

Ricky was only 8-years old when died suddenly in June of 2002. A little of my heart was lost forever that day. Ricky gave me so much, and taught so many about what a cat can do – I felt I needed to stop heart disease in cats, or at least try.

I began a fund with the Winn Feline Foundation named for my pal, hoping to raise enough money for researchers to help find an effective treatment. We’ve raised over $100,000, which in feline health is significant. And, in fact, as a result, a genetic test (using a simple cheek swab) can now be done for Maine Coons and Ragdolls to determine if the gene defect for HCM exists. The test is not perfect, but this beginning – and at least has begun to diminish the disease in these two breeds.

Still, there’s much to do – to somehow find a treatment for all cats with HCM. What’s frustrating is that when it comes to cat health every dollar is a struggle  to raise. For reasons I don’t quite understand, it’s far easier to raise money for canine health studies. Meanwhile, cats are the most popular pet in America – and too many are dying of heart disease.

We don’t know how many cats succumb to HCM, many suffering for months or even years prior to their deaths – something must be done. Please help.

• Ricky Fund http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/RickyFund.html
• Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Health/HCM.html
• Winn Feline Foundation www.winnfelinehealth.org

Scientists around the world have confirmed that for some conditions a wagging tail might help more than a pharmaceutical. One such condition is posttraumatic stress disorder syndrome (PTSD).

There are scientific studies (though limited in number) which do support the positive affects of dogs paired with veterans diagnosed with PTSD, not to mention  literally thousands of real-life anecdotal instances.

“I couldn’t handle it any more; I was pushing away people I loved,” says Ray Galmiche, a Vietnam War vet with PTSD in Navarre, FL. “I don’t know what would have happened to me if it wasn’t for Dazzle (a German Shepherd Dog).” He added that is not too melodramatic to say that his service dog saved his life.

A few years ago Congress mandated additional scientific study conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the impact of service dogs paired with PTSD vets. The study was to follow 230 PTSD vets and their service dogs, and to track them and their families through 2014. In June 2011, a study was finally begun.

After enrolling only fewer than two dozen dogs, the VA just announced they’ve suspended the study. What’s more the VA indicated they will no longer support service dogs paired with veterans diagnosed with PTSD (and instead only support dogs partnered with veterans with visible disabilities).

This sudden move apparently even took Congress by surprise. U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) was so affronted; he quickly held a press conference and issued a press release. Schumer replied to a request for further comment via email.  “It’s of the utmost importance that we provide our vets with every option available to treat service related ailments.  For some vets who suffer from PTSD and other mental illnesses, this means service dogs.  Especially as the wars are winding down, and more and more soldiers are returning home with mental trauma, the VA must continue to allow their doctors and mental health professionals to provide benefits to veterans who need mental health service dogs.”

Indeed never before are so many veterans being diagnosed with PTSD. According to the VA, there are about 400,000 ex-soldiers currently in treatment for PTSD, and among that population, rates of divorce, substance abuse and unemployment exceeds those in the general population. Suicide rate is off the map with 32 to 39 suicide attempts daily with about half that many succeeding.

The non-profit Paws for Purple Hearts is one of several groups which provides certified therapy dogs for PTSD patients. The organization began in 2008 with PTSD patient veterans helping to train dogs for veterans with physical disabilities. “We immediately learned that the dogs benefited the ‘trainers’ with PTSD as much the disabled veterans they were eventually paired with,” says Robert Porter, CEO/executive director.

In each and every instance Porter says medical professionals at their partner VA Palo Alto, CA Health Care System witnessed dramatic changes among PTSD veterans paired with dogs, which includes fewer medications (sometimes all together eliminating them), and an improved quality of life, including fewer flashbacks and nightmares.

“One hallmark of PTSD is avoidance (of going outdoors and socializing with others),” says Porter. “That’s hard to do with a 60 lb. dog who just wants to go out and play.”

Guardian Angels Medical Services of Williston, FL was one of the three groups involved in the VA study (the other two were New Horizons Service Dogs of Orange City, FL and Freedom Service Dogs of Englewood, CO).

According to printed reports, the explanation for halting the VA study were concerns of dogs biting children; dirty, cramped living conditions that caused animals to suffer illnesses such as worms and diarrhea; and faulty record-keeping.

That “explanation” leaves Carol Borden, executive director and founder of Guardian Angels perplexed. The majority of the dogs enrolled in the limited study, she says, were from her organization, and there were no biting incidents. Providing dozens of service dogs paired with veterans over the years, Borden says she’s never received a single complaint relating to a dog’s temperament. As for veterinary care, it was paid for as a part of the study.

Borden says that in her organization’s history, in each and every instance, the veteran (with PTSD) has benefited by having a dog. Many go from 12 or more meds daily to half that to even no meds at all. We’ve not experienced a single suicide attempt as far as we know,” Borden pauses and takes a breath “I have letters from wives thanking us because the (personality of their) husband has returned, and it all happens because of a dog who provides unconditional love.”

Instead of the veterans depending on government subsidies, many PTSD vets with dogs find jobs.

“It (the VA’s directive) doesn’t make sense,” she says. She even intimated that since vets paired with dogs require fewer meds, pharmaceutical companies may have lobbied for the VA’s new position. Another possibility is that the VA was told to cut budget, period. And even if the decision will cost taxpayers more dollars, at least their department isn’t paying.

“I understand the need for further published scientific evidence, but the overwhelming anecdotal personal stories of veterans who say they’ve gotten their lives back as a result of a service dog should matter,” says Amy McCullough, national director of animal assisted therapy of the Washington D.C. based American Humane Association. “With all the returning veterans with PTSD, we don’t have the luxury to say ‘let’s think it over’ when we could be saving lives.”

(Next week: More with Ray Galmiche, Vietnam War Veteran diagnosed with PTSD, and how his service dog works daily. “I know my dog has my back,” he says. “I never thought a dog could do this. My life has changed.”)         

Renowned pet trainer Victoria Stilwell, forensic dog bite and aggression expert Jim Crosby and attorney Claudine Wilkins are just a few of the presenters that are coming to Denver on Nov. 2, 2012 to take part in the National Dog Bite Awareness and Prevention Conference presented by Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training (VSPDT). This marks Stilwell’s and the world’s premier national dog bite prevention initiative’s first visit to Denver - a city all-too familiar with dog bites making national news.

In 2010 alone, over 4.5 million people were bitten by dogs in the U.S., 800,000 of which required medical attention, while thirty-one people died from dog attacks. Through September 2012, twenty-four people have been killed by dogs, sixteen of whom were children. The tragedy is that in most of these cases and others, such bites and fatalities are preventable. 

In response to the reports of dog bites and attacks which continue to drive news cycles in cities across the country, celebrity dog trainer, TV personality and best-selling author Victoria Stilwell (It’s Me or the Dog, Animal Planet) founded the Dog Bite Prevention Task force in 2012 with other leaders in the fields of animal behavior, forensics and legislation.  Comprised of canine behavior experts, lawyers, pediatric surgeons, rescue coordinators, educators and dog bite victims’ families, the Task Force tours the country presenting the Dog Bite Awareness and Prevention Conference in a dedicated effort to finding practical and workable solutions to this universal problem through education and heightened awareness among those on the front lines of this epidemic.

“I am devastated each time I hear about children being bitten, mauled or killed, especially when most of these incidences could have been prevented,” Stilwell states. “Education is key, not just for parents and kids, but for professionals and educators who must all work together to spread awareness and encourage responsible pet ownership.”

The National Dog Bite Awareness and Prevention Conference, presented by VSPDT-certified Wag & Train Animal Behavior Specialists and Good Family Dog Training, is designed for and open to all animal industry professionals, child educators, shelter workers, attorneys, medical professionals, first responders, animal control officers, delivery personnel, trainers and dog lovers.

The one-day seminar features dynamic presentations from Stilwell, Crosby, Wilkins and other leading canine behavioral experts. Topics include: understanding aggression, recognizing and interpreting canine body language, the effect of punitive training methods on dogs, safe-handling of aggressive dogs, what to do after a dog bites, how to investigate a bite incident, victims’ rights, the inadequacies and inefficiencies inherent in breed-specific legislation (BSL) and tips on keeping you and your family safe around dogs.  Find out how which breeds and age groups are most bite-prone and how bites can be prevented through education, awareness and humane training techniques.

Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Early-bird registration is open until Oct. 5, 2012 and is $85 ($125 for a personalized copy of Victoria's book as well). To register or for more event details, visit www.denverdogbiteseminar.com. Group and shelter worker discounts are available: please contact event organizer YellowDog Creative at yellowdogdenver@gmail.com for details.

Proceeds from the Conference benefit the Victoria Stilwell Foundation.

Downloadable Press Release (PDF)

Victoria with her two rescue dogs, Sadie & Jasmine.

There are over 78 million owned dogs in the U.S., and 39% of all American households include at least one dog. This Sunday, August 26^th, is National Dog Day, giving many of those dogs and the people that love them reason to celebrate. As someone who has dedicated my life to helping people build healthy relationships with their pets based on mutual trust, respect and love, I have one of the best seats in the house on days like this and I honestly believe that I have one of the best jobs in the world.

These special animals are unique among pets, and the bond we’ve developed over many thousands of years of domestication and partnership is one-of-a-kind. Anyone who has shared their life with the family dog knows this. But on National Dog Day, while we are celebrating our love for and devotion to man’s best friend, we must also take time to remember those who aren’t here to celebrate with us any longer.

Losing a pet can be a truly devastating event. We lost our beloved cat, Angelica, several years ago, and my eight-year old daughter still occasionally lights the ‘kitty candle’ to let her know that we still love her and think of her. And while any current pet owner who has previously lost a pet can use a holiday like National Dog Day to remind them to give their furry pals an extra squeeze or a few more minutes of belly rubs, there are many dogs, cats and other pets that have never felt that kind of love.

Victoria visits with Lennox's owners, the Barnes family, in Belfast.

Many of you are familiar with the case of Lennox, a Labrador mix from Belfast, Northern Ireland who was euthanized recently following a two year legal battle to return him to his loving owners. Despite the fact that the dog was registered, microchipped and well-behaved, the Belfast authorities claimed that due to his bodily dimensions, he was of ‘pit-bull type’ and confiscated him, keeping him in a kennel for two years before killing him while claiming their hands were tied due to the law. I met with Lennox’s owners in Belfast last month, and knowing what conscientious, loving, responsible pet owners they were to Lennox and continue to be with their other animals, my heart goes out to them today.

But it’s not only the victims of breed-specific legislation (BSL) that we must think of. Every year, between 5 to 7 million dogs and cats enter American shelters.  3 to 4 million will be euthanized, 60% of those will be dogs (the number is even higher for cats). We are suffering from a chronic pet overpopulation problem, and the most frustrating thing is that it simply doesn’t have to be this way.

As a nation, the U.S. is improving in terms of the number of dogs we’re adopting instead of breeding or buying – 21% of currently-owned dogs were adopted from shelters. We’re also making progress regarding spaying and neutering, with up to 78% of American dogs spayed or neutered. But we still have a long way to go, as evidenced by the fact that 20% of people who leave dogs at a shelter originally adopted from the shelter as well. This is a return policy where the math doesn’t add up to a happy ending.

People often ask me if it’s ever too late to train dogs, or if their older dog is a lost cause. While it is true that, like humans, some older dogs’ brains don’t fire quite as quickly as they did in their youth, the wonderful thing that dogs have going for them is that above almost everything else, they still retain a desire to learn and simply want to please us.

Some people abuse that fact, using domination and intimidation to ‘train’ their dogs and force them into a mythical state called ‘Calm Submission’, but more and more people are beginning to see that that type of approach is outdated and ultimately less effective (not to mention inhumane!)

The short answer is that it’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks, but the more important thing to remember is that it’s also never too early to begin working with your young dog. Watch the puppy training and socialization videos I’ve produced on the eHow Pets YouTube channel, read books promoting positive training ideas, and use consistency and perseverance when working with your young dog – it will pay off in the long run and you’ll be doing your part to ensure that your dog won’t become a casualty of our pet overpopulation numbers at the same time! To find a professional, force-free dog trainer certified and licensed by me, check out the Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Trainer search page. 

In between filming projects and speaking tours, I continue to work with rescue groups all over the world, and I have the utmost respect for those on the front lines of the battle to overcome our pet overpopulation problem. One of the most successful and mutually rewarding projects I’ve come across is the Gwinnett County Jail Dogs program, featured in the American Dog series on the eHow Pets YouTube channel. In this program, shelter dogs are brought into the jail where inmates train them using positive reinforcement methods in order to make the dogs more adoptable to the public. I’ve witnessed firsthand the power that these dogs and inmates can have on one another as they help to rehabilitate each other from the inside out.

On this National Dog Day, give your dog a little extra love, but also remember that there’s much work to be done to make sure that all dogs are eventually able to experience that same love and devotion.

Top Five Tips for Successful Dog Training! It’s scientifically sound advice to be nice to your dog. So says the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, in a consensus article, Good Trainers: How to identify one (2006). The authors, esteemed veterinarians and experts in behavior, recommend positive training methods and tools, and warn against the use of punitive methods and tools. Intimation and pain-based methods can actually worsenyour dog’s behavior.

Samantha learns Sit Pretty easily with the help of Positive Reinforcement methods. Photo Courtesy of Nicole Marlin.

Sadly, the unregulated field of dog training has no “Do No Harm” ethic. Anyone can call themselves an “expert dog trainer “. How’s a well-meaning pet parent supposed to figure out what is really best for their dog?

Here’re some tips:

1. Train early and practice often. Early training (at 8 weeks) trumps genetics. Be proactive and you can prevent many problems.
2. Socialize, socialize, socialize. Socialization is the most important thing your dog will ever learn. Socialization skills with humans, other dogs and tolerance of moving objects are the most difficult challenges.
3. Listen to what your dog is telling you. Your dog is “talking” to you all the time, through her body language. Learn to “read” dog body language: ears, tail, posture, facial expressions etc., and hear what your dog is telling you. Let this be the guide to your next move.
4. Speak to your dog in a language your dog can understand. A common language is available to you and your dog to help you communicate clearly. Use easy-to-learn hand signals. Reward behaviors that you want repeated. You will be able to brag about how smart your dog is!
5. You never need to hurt your dog, physically or psychologically, in order to train your dog. Methods and collars that hurt can cause aggression. Get your information from reliable sources, not from TV shows that warn, “Do Not Try This At Home.” Redirect, don’t correct!

Remember, both you and your dog can both get what you want. Scientifically- endorsed Positive Reinforcement methods are the most effective, long lasting, and safest. Your pet is a member of your family, but will be "a two-year old for life." Be kind. Be patient. Play daily.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published in the U~T San Diego, Scratch n' Sniff. Chris Ross, Editor. 2012

“The health of America’s pets is deteriorating; pets are getting sicker than they need to,” says Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, medical director Banfield the Pet Hospital.

Klausner bases his candid assessment on the “Banfield Pet Hospital State of Pet Health 2012 Report.” The document offers the only meaningful sum of available data to sum up pet health in America. There’s no Centers for Disease Control for pets, but the Banfield report provides the next best thing; their 800 hospitals in 43 states report all illnesses to their database, trekking every detail on pet health. Last year, 2,600 Banfield veterinarians saw over two million dogs and nearly 430,000 cats.

While there are about 20 percent more cats than dogs in the U.S., cats represented less than a quarter of visits to the veterinarian, according to the Report. Is it because cats rarely get sick? “Not at all,” says Klausner. “Overall, veterinary visits have been on the decline for some time. This is particularly true for cats – we need to get cats into the veterinary clinic.”

The number of overweight or obese cats has increased a whopping 90 percent over the past five years, Banfield’s data shows. Dogs aren’t exactly maintaining their svelte figures either, as overweight and obese canines increased 37 percent over the past five years. Klausner doesn’t mince words, “It’s an epidemic,” he says.

There are many explanations for the striking rise in weight gain among pets. One is that pet owners truly aren’t aware their pet is overweight. According to the Report, 76 percent of dog owners and 69 percent cat owners don’t know their best friend is flabby.

Interestingly, Minnesota has the highest rate of overweight dogs and cats. South Dakota, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Washington State also rank high. What does this mean? Klausner admits he’s not sure, especially since these states don’t correlate where the most people are overweight and obese. (According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Colorado actually has the lowest obesity rate nationwide for people; West Virginia has the highest obesity rate followed by Delaware, Mississippi and Louisiana).

No doubt the rise in arthritis, diabetes and several other problems mentioned in Banfield’s Report is correlate to the increase in weight gain. According to the study, since 2007 the prevalence of arthritis in dogs has increased 38 percent. It’s relatively recent that veterinarians are even considering arthritis in cats, and instances have gone up 67 percent over the past five years. Also, not surprising, the states with the most overweight pets also tend to have the most that are arthritic and diabetic.

Here are some more facts and figures from the “Banfield Pet Hospital State of Pet Health 2012 Report:”

• The most common small dog breeds (under 20 lbs): Chihuahua, Scottish Terrier
• The most common medium dogs (20 to 50 lbs): Beagle and Boxer
• The most common large dogs (50 to 90 lbs.): German Shepherd dog and Golden Retriever
• The most common giant dogs (over 90 lbs.) Great Dane and Great Pyrenees
• One of the most common dogs seen, overall: dogs described as Pit Bulls
• Overall dog trends: More mixed breed dogs, fewer dogs described (by weight) as large and giant.
• The most common names for cats: Tiger, Max and Kitty
• The most common names for dogs: Max, Buddy and Bella

Ever get the feeling your dog is talking to you? You’re right. If you’ve longed to know what’s going on in your dog’s heart and mind, and to communicate back, here’s a surefire way to connect. Learn to read what your dog is saying to you, and speak to your dog in a language your dog can understand.

Conversing with Your Dog

Your dog talks to you in three straightforward ways: via behavior, with body language and by vocalizing. Hone your observational skills to decode your dog’s messages. Then respond with clear hand signals in order to communicate most effectively. Body language is the bridge to communicating with your dog.

Body Language

Start with listening. Your dog’s body language broadcasts clear giveaways to their feelings. Don’t ignore it. Dr. Lynn Honeckman, veterinary behavior expert explains, “We can learn to read the body language of dogs displaying happiness, curiosity, anxiety, fear and hostility. Even learning the basics of interpreting a dog displaying Approachable versus Stay Away body language can be of the greatest benefit.”

"Ferrari" Photo Courtesy of Cindy Staszak

Tails

A relaxed flag-waving tail often means “I love you” but a raised twitching tail is an aggressive display. There’s some difficulty reading the “tail language” of a dog with a stubby tail.

Ears

Floppy ears generally indicate calm, but erect ears means “I’m on alert”. Your dog is deciding how to react. Flattened ears may be your dog telling the world she is afraid. Behaviors on-leash, such as hiding behind you, freezing, or trying to go the opposite direction let’s you know something is wrong. Change the situation so she can relax.

Body Posture

Body posture is another emotion indicator. Forward leaning with a stiff body are warnings to back off. If your dog freezes over the food bowl or fixates on another dog, a bite may follow. “Looking versus non-looking has various meanings” says Carol Byrnes, creator of What is My Dog Saying? and What is My Dog Saying at the Dog Park? available online for pet parents and trainers who want to learn more.

Vocalizations

Vocalizations such as whining, growling and barking are your dog’s way of telling you she is uncomfortable. Whines often mean, “I’m scared, help me” or “I want something” whereas a growl is a warning. Barks have a lot of different meanings, depending on the context.

“Listen” for Doggie Disorders

Indoors, following from room to room, escape attempts, housetraining or destructive regression are some classic symptoms of separation/attachment problems. Your dog is not a happy camper. Fears may be treated with very slow acclimation and exposure to the troubling stimulus. Use baby-step socialization desensitization for confidence building. Dogs with human aggression or serious dog/dog aggression problems need professional help.

“Talk Back” by Marking

When your dog does something “all by herself” that you’d like to see more of, such as sitting or making eye-contact on leash, “Capture” it by marking it with a treat. Behaviors that are rewarded are repeated, so reward what you like regularly and frequently and you’ll be getting more and more of what you want. Use “Luring” with a treat to get a jump-start on a new behavior. You may want to use a clicker to mark a behavior before you reward.

Developing a good relationship with your dog is two-way street. Stay positive. Don’t correct... redirect. Punishment and old school dominance training methods produce anxiety and may cause aggression making a troubling behavior even worse. Learning to look at the world from your dog’s point of view will help you understand and respond appropriately to dog talk so you can both be happy!

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published in the Natural Awakenings Magazine, Pet Edition. San Diego.

You can have hot fun in the summertime with your pets, but if the heat is on, your pets may potentially be in danger.

In general, dogs aren’t able to deal with the heat as well as people, that’s mostly because for all intents and purposes they don’t perspire – they pant, Darker colored dogs have a tougher time of time, and so do larger dogs.

Here are seven tips for keeping your pets safe in summer:

Dogs Die in Hot Cars: Instances of dogs becoming ill and sometimes dying as a result of literally roasting in hot cars are avoidable. According to the AAA Chicago Motor Club, if it’s 85 degrees outdoors, even when the windows are open a crack, the dashboard can heat up to 170 degrees in less than 15 minutes.

In many states, counties and cities, it’s actually against the law to keep a pet shut inside a hot car, so the law may be on the side of the good Samaritan. Calling the police may be an option. In some places this law (like many animal cruelty laws) is more enforced than in others. Certainly, if the car is parked at a store – if more than a few minutes passes, simply fetching the owner can save a dog’s life.

Exercise: Some dogs play fetch, and simply know when enough is enough; they stop. Others will fetch forever because they want to please us. It’s your job as an adult to step and say, ‘enough, the game is over.’ This is why an adult in the household needs to be aware of the pets’ activities. If the dogs appear too hot, they probably are.”

For dogs who are out in the yard for any extended period of time – which is not the best idea in the first place – shade and water are necessary.

If you run with your dog – even a short distance – best bet is an early morning jog or hit the track after sunset when the temperatures aren’t as hot and the sun isn’t shining. Be sure to bring water for your dog (and for you).

Splash This: Life preservers for dogs are a good idea, if you’re on a boat. Just as they save human lives, they may do the same for even good canine swimmers. While many dogs might know how to jump into a pool for a few laps, the problem is getting out of the pool. Also, never allow Pugs, Pekingese and other swimming impaired dogs near a pool without adult supervision. It’s rare for them to enthusiastically jump in (Labrador style), but they can fall into the pool – and get into trouble very fast.

Cats in Trees:  Where’s Sheriff Andy Taylor when you need him? In most places, phone the local sheriff or fire department to fetch a cat up a tree, you’ll only hear a bemused operator ask, “You’ve gotta be kidding?” If you manage to convince emergency personnel to respond, you’ll likely be charged a fee.

Be patient. Veterinary clinics rarely report treating cats who have fallen from trees. Emergency rooms, however, do treat people who have fallen trying to rescue feline friends. Entice kitty with a can of tuna left at lower branches or at the base of the tree; walk away and wait for hunger to overcome fear.

Skunks: Step #1: Get a clothespin – that’s for your nose. Step #2: Scrub your pooch in a solution of one quart hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda and one teaspoon liquid dish soap. Step #3: Rinse. Step #4: Scrub the pet again – this time with a solution of half tomato juice and half water as needed. Step #5: Rinse. Step #6: Go to the movies while the odor subsides. Or go back to Step #2 and purchase an over-the-counter products available to help fight skunk stench.

Asphalt: Hot asphalt can literally scorch dog paws.

Rodenticides: Pets who have eaten rodent poison may emit a sour gassy smell, and have sudden muscle tremors or bleeding from the nose or stool. See your veterinarian immediately. It’s very helpful to know exactly what kind of rodenticide your dog has ingested.

Bret Michaels says he owes his life to rock ‘n roll and to a Husky named Nicholas.

The year was about 1990, Michaels recalls. "It was overnight. I was having a very bad low blood sugar drop, around the high 20s or low 30s. I don't know if Nicholas picked up on a scent or saw me getting increasingly restless in bed. I was about to go into insulin shock, and I might have died if he didn't jump on the bed and alert my manager, who gave me orange juice and a Glucagon shot (to increase blood glucose) - and I was fine in moments."

Fans of old school heavy metal know Michaels as the front man for Poison. Others know him from the highest rated VH1 show ever, "Rock of Love." Michaels won "Celebrity Apprentice" in 2010, though the battle was not so much with Trump as with his own health.

The star has been battling Type-1 Diabetes since he was 6-year old. A series of health scares were played out in front of America during his final weeks of "Celebrity Apprentice." It began with an emergency appendectomy. Less than two weeks later, Michaels was back in the hospital with a brain hemorrhage, which was followed by a transient ischemic attack. (TIA occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops for a brief time, triggering stroke-like symptoms. A TIA may be a warning sign of an impending stroke). This was followed by heart surgery. Michaels is 49.

"I've been so blessed," says Michaels. "I know it sounds very clichéd, but when you go through something like that and come out the other side doing just fine...," he says, pausing. "I sure don't take life for granted."

Michaels says he was both surprised and thankful for the outpouring of public support as he faced each crisis. Today, he's past the string of setbacks and is very busy creating rock 'n roll gear, as well as toys and accessories for pets, partnering with PETsMART.

Pets have been a part of Michael's life since childhood. His very first pet was a German Shepherd dog that his dad named Tarkus Arlicicus.

"It was some sort of Romanesque name," Michaels says. "To be honest, I never knew why we named him that; we just called him Tark." He says that having a pet helped to teach him responsibility. Along came cats, horses and more dogs.

Today, Michaels' menagerie includes two German Shepherds (still his favorite breed), Diesel and Phoenix; horses Bo and Ness; and his pet rats, Harley and Charlie. He talks affectionately of his beloved rats Marley and Chester, who passed away.

"I'm telling you, rats are smart, clean and friendly. It's not like Ben and Willard," says Michaels. "We need to create some rat toys."

While the rat toys haven't yet materialized, his Pets Rock line of toys and accessories will be available in stores and online around the end of May, with more products to be released through the summer, and in the fall, a line of cat toys called 'Look what the cat dragged in.'

"Love me or hate me, it doesn't matter, you'll love the ball with my face on it," Michaels says and laughs. "Dogs can fetch me, or not; maybe they'd rather bury me in the yard."

Michaels says he had a hand in designing everything, then "the pet experts" insured that each product would be safe. In addition to toys, the collection includes stylish t-shirts (for dogs) - one with a skull and crossbones. Of course, Michaels' trademark bandanas are replicated so pets can wear them. One dog bed is pink, but a skull with wings adds rock 'n roll appeal.

There's even a rock tour bus dog toy. Inside the toy bus are other toys, band members, groupies and a driver. It's the toy that keeps on giving. As the dog shakes the bus, a band member or groupie might fall out.

The fireworks show last week celebrating the Queen's six decades on the throne was reported to be the most amazing show London has ever seen. Fireworks can be fun for humans, but dogs don't have the same reaction.

In the United States, July 4th is around the corner, along with the fireworks that inevitably come with this holiday. Almost all humans with canines in the U.S. declare this day the worst day of the year for their dogs. Veterinarians say that July 3rd is usually the most trafficked day in their offices, with clients coming in to get drugs for their dogs.

A few years ago, I found a lost dog on the 4th of July. He was obviously a well fed, groomed, and trained dog that escaped his yard when he heard the fireworks. When I called our local Humane Society, I was informed that it is the busiest time of the year for them, as more dogs are found wandering loose on July 4th than any other day of the year in the U.S.

10 Tips for providing a safe July 4th for your Canine Household:

1. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise earlier in the day.
2. Keep your dogs inside during fireworks, preferably with human companionship. If it’s hot, air conditioning will help. Bringing your dogs to a fireworks display is never a good idea.
3. Provide a safe place inside for your dogs to retreat. When scared of sounds they can’t orient, dogs often prefer small enclosed areas. (I once had a dog who climbed in the bathtub during windstorms.) If your dog is comfortable in a crate, that is a good option.
4. If possible, keep the windows and curtains closed. Covering the crate or lowering the blinds can also be helpful. Removing visual stimulation can also help calm dogs.
5. Make sure all your dogs are wearing ID tags with a properly fitting collar. Dogs have been known to become Houdini around the 4th of July.
6. Leave your dog something fun to do – like a frozen Kong filled with his favorite treats.

Using sensory enrichment to calm dogs:

7. Sound Therapy: The psychoacoustically designed music of Through a Dog's Ear has been specifically designed to reduce canine anxiety and has been successfully utilized by dog lovers world-wide. It is most effective when you first play the music well before the fireworks start, at a time the dog is already feeling peaceful and relaxed. He will begin to associate the music with being calm and content. Then play the music a couple of hours before the fireworks start and continue to play through bedtime. The music doesn’t need to be loud to be effective as it has been clinically demonstrated to calm the canine nervous system. Listen to free sound samples.
8. Sound Therapy combined with Desensitization: The Canine Noise Phobia series (CNP) consists of four CD's that can be used individually or as a set: Fireworks, Thunderstorms, City Sounds, and Calming. CNP is an innovative desensitization training tool that combines three distinctive elements for the treatment and prevention of sound-sensitivities and noise-phobias:

• progressive sound effects (distant/close)
• specially-designed psychoacoustic music (Through a Dog’s Ear)
• reward-based reinforcement protocols (Victoria Stilwell)

Here's what Nancy Weller said after using CNP Fireworks:

"I am preparing for New Years Eve. The most skittish of the greyhounds already went to bed. My boy is just game for everything. Tonight, we are relaxing to the Phobia Series Fireworks. He fights hard to stay awake. The subtle fireworks make him stare at the speaker. Then not. 75+ lb brindle boy, sleeping like a baby. Mom might have to curl up too."

9. Tactile: There are two canine wraps on the market that reportedly help sound phobic dogs. The original Anxiety Wrap was invented by professional dog trainer Susan Sharpe, CPDT-KA. The patented design uses acupressure and maintained pressure to reduce stress. The thundershirt is also a wrap for your dog that provides gentle, constant pressure. Their website reports that over 85% of Thundershirt users see significant improvement in noise anxiety symptoms. Most dogs respond with the very first usage; some need 2-3 usages before showing significant improvement.
10. Scent: Canine Calm, an all-natural mist from Earth Heart™ Inc., can help dogs relax and cope more effectively with loud noises and other stressful situations. Directions on their website say to spray Canine Calm onto your hands and massage the dog’s outer ears or abdomen. Or lightly mist the air behind your dog’s head, inside the travel crate or car, or directly onto bedding or clothing.

Do you have any additional tips for helping keep dogs calm and safe on this noisy holiday? Thanks for clicking comment below and sharing your suggestions. Also, feel free to share how your dogs have acted during previous July 4th holidays.

At some point, it’s time to say enough is enough. For several years now, both in Canada and the U.S, there had been reports of pets sickened as a result of chicken jerky treats made in China. Last year, veterinary substantiated reports of pets eating chicken jerky treats and in some cases becoming very ill – even dying – seemed to be on the rise.

The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine began to investigate. And the agency was further pushed in February when U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio publicly interceded, and expressed concerns for pet owners at a press conference which included Ohio resident Kevin Thaxton, whose 10 year-old pug, Chancey, passed away unexpectedly after eating chicken jerky pet treats.  But Thaxton didn’t know why his dog died at that time and fed the same jerky treats to their new puppy who nearly died as a result.

To date, the FDA CVM and independent scientists have not been able to determine the problem; the agency even sent an investigator to China. “It’s a very simple product really,” says Dr. Dan McChesney, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance at the FDA CVM, referring to how little goes into chicken jerky treats.

Put simply – the agency is stumped.

And making matters all the more confusing, the vast majority of dogs who eat jerky treats suffer no apparent ill affects after scarfing down any of the myriad of jerky treat brands.

Still, this year alone, McChesney says there have been about 1,000 complaints of pets sickened as a result of chicken jerky treats. While not all reports are absolutely substantiated, there have no doubt been pets who have become ill – but their owners never connected the treats as a possible explanation.

McChesney concedes that something must be going on. But therein lies the problem. The agency isn’t legally allowed to stop companies from distributing the products or authorizing a recall without specific scientific justification.

That hardly satisfies pet owners like Terry Safranek of Brooklyn Heights, OH. She’s confident that Waggin’ Train Wholesome Chicken Jerky caused the death of her best friend Sampson on January 13. This brand, manufactured by Nestle Purina PetCare has, thus far, done nothing, despite many complaints, and over 64,000 signatures at Safranek’s Change.org petition. Though, interestingly, the Waggin’ Train website does state last November’s FDA note of concern on their website.

I suggest that the best way to deal with this issue is the old supply and demand model. If the demand dissipates enough, those who supply the jerky will be far more motivated to figure out the issue for themselves and correct the problem.

I realize most pets have no ill affects – but what if it’s your pet that is sickened? Is purchasing chicken jerky treats really that important? Call it a boycott if you like. I think it’s less risky to choose an alternative tasty dog treat, or offer some baby carrots to your best friend – you can’t go wrong.

Story Links:

• Steve’s blog with more details from Senator Sherrod Brown
• Waggin’ Train site
• Safranek’s petition
• The FDA answers questions regarding chicken jerky treats

Many who discount the power of positive training often frown upon the use of food in training and claim that it is tantamount to bribery.  Having heard this argument from traditional trainers ad nauseum, I have finally determined that it is usually motivated by one of two things (or maybe both):

1.   A desire to have the dog ‘work’ for his food simply because it’s what we want, and given that we’re smarter, stronger and in charge, that should be enough,
or
2.   An unnecessary and unfounded fear that once the food stops flowing, the unwanted behaviors will return.

As for the first point, there’s not much we can do with someone who feels the need to dominate such an eager-to-please species, so we’ll leave that one for their human psychologists.  And while the second point above is a more understandable concern, this frequently-repeated myth not only completely disregards the scientific fact that food literally alters an animal’s brain chemistry, but also suggests a fundamental lack of understanding regarding the basic scientific principles of how reward-based training (conditioning) works.

To truly comprehend why food is so powerful, you must first understand the influence it has on the dog’s brain. Food has the power to not only enhance a dog’s ability to learn but  also helps a dog overcome fear or anxiety by raising the levels of dopamine in the brain and stimulating the desire to seek or move towards the food reward. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a major role in reward-driven learning and helps regulate movement and emotional responses. If a dog is presented with food before he reaches a high stress level in the presence of a stimulus that scares him, a positive emotional response occurs. There are circuits in the dog’s brain that encourage seeking or hunting behavior and circuits that elicit the fear response. When you present food to your dog you turn on his seeker system, effectively turning off the fear. This is one reason why using food for activities such as scent work is so valuable for fearful/aggressive dogs. Turning on the thinking brain deactivates the emotional brain, enhancing a dog’s attentiveness with positive motivation and allowing him to move into a calmer state where learning can take place. Therefore, because food is incompatible with fear, using food treats for teaching is incredibly valuable, especially when it comes to modifying a dog’s anxiety and stress.

The food that is used to motivate your dog to learn must be of high value to him until he is responding reliably. Once this has been achieved, the high-value food should only be used intermittently, meaning that your dog doesn’t always get rewarded with food every time he responds to a cue, but with an alternate reward that might be of lesser value to him, such as praise. Because the dog never knows when a treat is coming he will continue to respond in anticipation that food will appear again in the future.

Such intermittent reinforcement actually makes your dog respond faster and more reliably because this learning is based on the same concept that makes a casino slot machine so addictive. It would be wonderful if a slot machine gave out money every time you played it, but unfortunately that doesn’t happen. The potential, however, that you could win the jackpot with the very next pull of the lever makes you want to play even more.

Imagine you arrived at work tomorrow and were called into your boss’ office. You like your job (pretend if you have to), and are generally quite good at it. Your boss praises you for your good work and tells you how glad he is to have you on the team, and then informs you that as of that moment, you’d no longer be receiving any salary. When you ask why, he simply states that you should be glad to work for him because he’s in charge and you’re not, and that that should be enough for you. I don’t know anyone who would put up with those terms, and yet that’s the dynamic that opponents of reward-based training suggest we employ with our dogs.  Nuts.

Finally, while food should certainly be used as a reward for a dog that is food motivated, rewards such as toys, praise and play can be just as powerful if a dog happens to be motivated by them.  You can enhance your dog’s ability to learn by using whatever motivates him the most first and then varying the rewards you use as your dog becomes proficient at the particular cue or action you are teaching him.   Any reward which motivates a dog to learn is a great training tool because learning not only makes a dog more confident and able to live successfully in a domestic environment, it also encourages mutual understanding that increases the human/animal bond.  This is not bribery.

Bottom line: if a dog sees that there are pleasurable consequences for a behavior then he is more likely to repeat the behavior because doing so makes him feel good.  When a person is attached to that good feeling there is more likelihood of the dog listening and responding to whatever that person asks of him.  That is why I have never understood why people choose to train their dogs using force and punishment or who belittle the power of rewards in training. I want my dogs to do the things I want them to do because they want to, not because I have made them do it through force.

Pet parents are now aware of the necessity of providing dog/dog socialization opportunities for their puppies. Nevertheless, when and how to do it is still misunderstood largely because many veterinarians, as well as breeders and pet-store owners, advise new pet parents to avoid socializing their new puppy with other dogs until the age of four to six months in order to avoid exposure to illnesses that vaccines protect against.

"I'm a Social Butterfly!" Photo Courtesy of Macchi and Kathy Hopper

Veterinarian experts in animal behavior, however, caution that the risk of developing behavioral problems—especially aggression—outweighs the risk of developing disease in otherwise healthy puppies. As early as 2004, renowned veterinarian, RK Anderson, proclaimed this in an open letter to his veterinary colleagues; Puppy Vaccination and Early Socialization Should Go Together!

Dr. Lynn Honeckman, DVM, tells us, “There is a very small window of opportunity during which it is our job to teach our puppies that the world is a safe place.”  So, exactly how do you plan for the “lifetime of happiness” approach to puppy-raising?

When Should You Socialize Your Puppy?

Dr. Ian Dunbar, veterinarian and Animal Behavior PhD, a pioneer in puppy training, tells us that safe socialization during the first few weeks at home is of “extreme urgency.” Indeed, Dunbar has launched the Puppy Raising Initiative explaining socialization imperatives for puppies in the short “critical period” of social development—between four and twelve weeks of age. This applies to socialization with people too. “Puppies must be safely socialized to people; otherwise, during adolescence they will likely become wary and fearful and may be aggressive towards people.”

How to Socialize and Protect Your Puppy

Dr. Lee Harris, a San Diegan veterinarian who studies canine behavior, wisely counsels, “Some common sense needs to be exerted about providing well-chosen socialization.” The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior Position Statement on Puppy Socialization advises that socialization in the first three months of life, before puppies are fully vaccinated, should be the standard of care. The organization Operation Socialization: Just Add Puppy offers easy to follow socialization safety guidelines when socializing your puppy. The American Veterinary Medical Association website provides guidance as well. It states that, “Puppies need socialization with other dogs, but those dogs must be well vaccinated and healthy.” Socializing with litter-mates or in-house dogs is not sufficient.

What Happens to Dogs who are Not Socialized Early?

"Jack" Photo Courtesy of Rebecca Kronenberg

After the 4 to 12 week “critical period” window closes, the friendly socializing puppy that was open to accepting the wide and wonderful world, enters into a fear-acquiring developmental period. So… unless you and your dog plan to live in the woods and need to protect yourselves from other dogs, preparing your pup to live in a domesticated, dog-filled environment makes better sense!

Failure to properly socialize early often results in aggression that is resistant to treatment, dogfights, embarrassing and stressful barking/lunging walks, heartache and pet abandonment.

Education is the Key

Dr. Karen Overall, Veterinarian, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior (ACVB) PhD, CAAB, explains, “Worldwide, it’s exceptional that

veterinary specialists in behavior are on faculty at veterinary schools, and yet the single biggest killer of pet dogs is behavior problems. People need to realize that vets don’t know that much about problematic behavior, or maybe even normal behavior. The single biggest reason people relinquish animals to a shelter is a behavioral problem.”

Work closely with your veterinarian to keep your puppy current on her vaccinations, or better yet, titer testing, but be proactive about your puppy’s socialization requirements. Discuss the current scientific literature and work out a medically safe but early socialization plan with your vet and a private trainer or puppy class instructor, or ask your positive reinforcement behavioral consultant for a veterinary referral.

Originally published in the Natural Awakenings Pet Magazine, San Diego Edition.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Dog training is sometimes a Mystery.  I work daily with the Devil Dog on Sit Down Stay and COME. The DD will be one year old on Friday 13 April. I still don’t have these command done.  At times I just want to cuss; then there are times when I think maybe she is getting it. We train every day on the basics, and still I want to just cuss.

Today  I want to  relay another Devil Dog story to allow y’all to share in my pain. Yesterday I loaded all four dogs into my truck for a afternoon of running at the farm. As I drove out of the driveway it started to rain, but I had brought towels for the ride home I was prepared.   As I turned into the gate at the farm I heard all this growling, barking, screaming and weird noises from the dogs -  the noise sounded like a busload of first graders stopping at the Dairy Queen for free blizzards -- they were excited.

I opened the door to the truck, Star took off running, Lucille found a hole to dig and Maggie ran to gather the cows. I being the smart one had DD on a leash.  I walked around my new barn looking at the new electrical plugs that were installed today. I wondered what kind of lights to use in the barn. I walked DD around the fence line; checking for holes, loose wire, and picking up sticks.  Rain had started by now and all dogs were double wet as they had taken turns jumping into the cows' water tub.

After an hour or so  I spread towels in the seat of truck, loaded up Star in the front seat and Maggie and Lucille in the back. As I loaded DD into the back seat a cow walked by the door of the truck. DD jumped from the seat, jerking me to the ground. While on my way to “kiss the dirt”  I hit my ‘good ‘ knee on the corner of the truck door, laying in cow poop, water, and sheep poop;  I looked under the truck to see DD chasing the cows. Once before she had chased the cows into the barn thru a fence and over me, causing me to ram my head into the doorway of the small barn. Visions of that bloody incident  came flooding back, but I some how managed to get up on my feet.

DD  was running as fast as the wind after the cows, thank heaven the cows were in the open and not headed for a fence.  DD is flying over the pasture  but right on her back end was Buddy the Llama, who has in past KILLED dogs that have attacked livestock. Now in my younger years I was a pretty good athlete, able to run with the best, sprint with the wind, and turn on a dime. But somewhere along the way ’LIFE’ has taken me to a different athletic realm. I struggled to get up then realized my knee would not work with out me screaming multiple cuss words. I ran behind Buddy who was chasing DD  who was chasing the cows, only if some one could have videoed this from the road where cars were passing and honking. I was yelling (cuss words) lay down! But DD kept on running the cows straight at the new barn and new fence I had spent the past two weeks building. Buddy making weird Llama sounds right in behind and the two goats and one ram sheep  are now running wildly around me and Buddy.

Can you say “CIRCUS”! with lots of yelling and cussing.

Finally DD sees me as she turns the cows into the newly fenced pasture I have a stick, leash in my hands and covered in sheep and cow poop. What I looked like must have scared the dickens out of her as she ran an jumped into the cow trailer. GOT YA! I  screamed as I  slammed the end gate   But no, that was just a shortcut to the cows on the other side. Buddy now was right behind me spitting growling and stomping his feet.

The cows were now approaching the new barn and  new fence; they were about to stop running; when DD comes from under the truck and dive bombs into them biting and barking, THRU the new fence the cows  go. AND DD then runs to the truck gets in the back seat , sits there with this look on her face of ‘My job is finished here’.

I, on the other hand, was out of breath, smelled like sheep, cow, and llama crap, wet, jeans torn where I had hit my good knee on the bottom edge of truck door, blood running down from my knee into my shoe, leash wrapped around my neck, and a llama over my shoulder  I thought to my self…. Dog training is tough and some times you just got to laugh to keep from crying. I managed to limp to the truck driver's side and slid behind steering wheel  and think to my self. This adventure is becoming a comedy.

Animals dying in gas chambers – it doesn’t conjure a pleasant image but it happens at shelters every day,

When the inevitable time occurs, owned pets are euthanized by injection. Animal euthanasia comes from the Greek, literally meaning a good death without fear, stress or pain.

“Death by gas (really carbon monoxide is used) is a death horrible enough to be banned (in most states) for criminals,” says activist and dog trainer Joseph Dwyer of Nutley, NJ. “These shelter animals are not criminals – their only crime is that they can’t find a home.”

According to Dwyer’s count, 30 states still allow for killing in carbon monoxide chambers. ”It’s unnecessary, heartless,” he says.

Dwyer became involved when he learned about a Beagle named Daniel. The little dog made national news back last fall when he and 17 other dogs were placed together in a carbon monoxide chamber in Florence, AL. Sixteen dogs died that day. When a shelter worker opened the chamber door, a wagging tail was on the other side. The amazed shelter worker thought the pup would still die overnight, but the dog refused to succumb.

The shelter didn’t have the heart to put down the plucky dog, who made national news for his resilience.

Dwyer heard about the dog, and adopted him through a non-profit called Eleventh Hour Rescue. Dwyer not only adopted Daniel – named for the Biblical figure who survived the lion’s den – he adopted a personal mission to advocate for euthanasia by injection, and end carbon monoxide killings forever.

When Pennsylvania State Senator Andy Dinniman (D) heard about the hardy Beagle, he learned his state was among those, “still in the dark ages,” as he says. “I feel our great state must do better.”

Indeed, they’re about to do just that. This month (in March) a Pennsylvania bill to end carbon monoxide killing of animals should sail through the state Senate Appropriations Committee, and then onto the full Senate for what one Dinniman hopes and expects to be a bipartisan vote of approval.

Dinniman noted that public response to the proposal has been overwhelmingly in favor. “In my district (the 19^th Senatorial district), 400 people showed up at a rally with their dogs,” he says.

“I’m not sure what the opposition could possibly say,” adds Dwyer. “I’m convinced that most people don’t realize gas chambers exist – and likely in the state they live in.”

Some contend euthanasia by injection – one animal at a time – will be more costly. It turns out that isn’t true, according to a 2009 study by the American Humane Association. In fact, euthanasia by injection can potentially be less expensive

Perhaps, the carbon monoxide chambers are so rarely reported on because it is, after all, hard to stomach. Despite guidelines which suggest otherwise, for the sake of expediency, the animals put to death in these chambers are often rounded up. So, big dogs are crammed together with small dogs, and cats are put to death with dogs – it doesn’t matter. Temperatures in these chambers may reach over 100 degrees. Technicians report hearing animals scream.

“That’s right, it’s inhumane,” says Dwyer. “But also don’t all animals deserve to die with some dignity?” As pet owners are aware euthanasia by injection, allows for respect for individual lives; many pet owners use words such as “beautiful,” “spiritual” and “peaceful.”

Dwyer – is working to support Dinniman efforts in Pennsylvania, and hopes that the state’s high profile passage of a bill banning euthanasia by carbon monoxide will spread to other states. And Dinniman is hoping for the same. “The way which we treat our animals reflects the way which we treat ourselves.”

Drop the “obey” and replace it with "COME PLAY."

I think part of the problem with many dogs today is that they don’t get to really play enough.    Having a dog in your life should be more about having a friend and companion and less about obeying and commands (I don’t care for either of those words - they sound so controlling).

When I am with my own dogs I feel a sense of wonder because I get to share my life with such amazing animals.  Don’t get me wrong - I want everyone to have well-behaved canines, and one very important step to that is learning to play fun games with your dog and get them outside.  In addition to exercise (which is a key component to having a well balanced, healthy dog), the mental stimulation that your dog gets from the exercise is crucial.  Just like us, dogs get bored with the same smells, the same backyard, etc.  Change it up for them, bring them joy from your human world just like they bring you joy from the simple act of being a canine.

I believe that walking a dog should be about the dog.  Remember, you're taking them so that they can use one of their most important senses - their noses - and because they probably have been locked in all day waiting for you to return.  Smelling new smells and exploring makes their minds happy.  Next time you take your dog for a walk make the walk all about them.  Try and forget how busy or how tired you are, how long your dog is sniffing the same darn spot and wishing he would just hurry up.

Our dogs are not here for very long and I think sometimes we all tend to forget that.  When it is time to go for that walk and you're tired, just remember, you’re the stars and the moon to your dog.  Let us all try and strive to be just that…   The STARS and the MOON.

If Your Dog Could Talk, What Would She Tell You? Photo Courtesy of Cindy Staszak

There's a raging controversy in the field of dog training centered around dog training collars and methods--Reinforcement vs Correction and Treats vs No Treats. What's a pet parent to do? If your dog could talk, your dog would surely ask you to listen to the experts in animal behavior. As it turns out, it’s scientifically sound advice to be nice to your dog.

In a consensus article, Good Trainers: How to Identity One, the Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2006) states quite clearly; shock, prong, and choke collars should be avoided “because they increase fear and anxiety.” It specifically suggests, “no pop and jerk”. You can Google it to read the full article. These esteemed veterinarians-- experts in behavior-- outline the behavioral and psychological drawbacks of punitive methods and equipment: “There are many pitfalls of punishment: it ruins relationships, inhibits desirable learning, doesn’t tell the pet what to do, and increases aggression and arousal.” They recommend, “bite-sized treats, harnesses and praise” and name these as superior training tools.

Scores of animal behavior experts in the scientific community and humane organizations have spoken out on the Reward vs Punishment debate. Behaviorists from The American Humane Association to the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists concur that using intimidation and pain-based methods to prevent or manage behavior can actually WORSEN existing behavior.

So, why is punishment-oriented training so widespread and popular? Well, there’s a charismatic TV trainer whose sensation-driven show warns viewers, “Don’t try this at home”. Additionally, shock, prong and choke collars are marketed in every big box store assuring buyers that they’re safe, acceptable and “won’t hurt your dog.” The language of “stimulation” and “tickle” can mislead innocent pet parents. Shock collar training is still legal in the US and there’s a great deal of money to be made. It works in the moment, but doesn't create lasting change or address the underlying problems.

Shock collars were recently banned for dog training in Wales and are illegal in Italy, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and many parts of Australia. States, such as Connecticut, have banned their use by private trainers and severely restricted their use by facilities.

If you think of your pet as member of your family, think of your dog as "a two-year old for life." That's the truth of it. Reward-based learning is what we ought to use with our children and with our companion animals as well, if we want relationships built on trust and love rather than on dominance and fear.

Originally published in the Natural Awakenings Pet Magazine, San Diego.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

The modern dog tends to lead a relatively unstimulating life in the domestic home, with nothing more to do than eat two meals, sleep on the couch and go for the occasional walk.  Dogs that were specifically bred to work can find domestic life boring, and in most cases barking relieves that boredom.  Even though dogs bark for many reasons including excitement, anxiety, for attention or to sound an alarm, the best prescription for any barking issue whatever the cause is increased exercise and mental stimulation, which helps to refocus a dog’s mind and tire them out.

First of all it is important to find out why your dog is barking. As with all training, you cannot successfully address the issue until you understand why the behavior is happening.

If your dog is barking at you for attention or because she wants something, ignore her until she stops.  This might be hard to begin with as she might bark longer and harder in an attempt to get your attention, but be patient.  Wait for 5 seconds of quiet and then reward that quiet with attention.   Repeat this as necessary.  Your dog will learn that barking gets her nothing but quiet gets her the attention she desires.

Dogs bark with excitement just as we humans like to vocalize when we are in exciting situations.   This barking normally occurs before going for a walk or being fed, which can be hard to work with because humans usually have a fixed pattern of pre-departure and pre-feeding cues which are highly ritualized.   Dogs pick up on these cues and bark in excitement for what is about to come.   The first thing to do is to change your cues as much as you can and stop what you are doing when the barking starts.    If your dog barks when you go to get her lead, for example, put the lead back where it was and go and sit down.  If you manage to successfully attach the lead when she is quiet and then the barking starts again as she goes outside, immediately came back in and wait for quiet before going out again.  This technique requires patience, but your diligence will pay off as your dog learns that being quiet is the only way she gets to go on a walk or be fed.  All of these training techniques require no verbal communication with your dog whatsoever.  In situations like these, body language speaks volumes and as dogs are so good at watching our every movement, it is a language they quickly understand.

Each dog needs an outlet that is specifically designed to motivate them and serve their particular needs.   Find an activity or sport that your dog really enjoys doing, taking into account what your dog’s breed or mix of breeds is.  Enrich your dog’s life inside the home by hiding her toys or food around the house and encouraging her to seek them out using her canine senses to find them.  Instead of feeding your dog from a bowl for every meal, try feeding her through activity toys at meal times instead so that she has to work to get her food.  Working for her meals will stimulate her brain and tire her out.

Some dogs do not do well by themselves and suffer anxiety upon separation.  Vocalizing this distress is a way of easing that anxiety as well as a way of trying to re-establish contact.   If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, you need to enlist the help of a qualified positive reinforcement trainer to help you with a modification plan.  Separation anxiety can be a hard behavior to modify and time is needed for success.

Your dog will be ecstatic about your resolution! Photo Courtesy of Cindy Staszak

New Year's Dog Diet Resolution: "I resolve that my dog will eat better in the new year!" Why not get on the “green dog bandwagon” and give your dog the new year’s gift that will last a lifetime? Your dog will be ecstatic about this resolution!

If you're having trouble sifting through all of the dog nutrition information and want to know what's good for your dog to eat and what's not--what's  essential and what's not--this article is written for you.

Veterinary nutritionist agree, a poor diet is the biggest obstacle to achieving canine health...from the ingredients, to the additives, to the processing. Buy food from companies that don’t cut corners but rather strive to provide the best quality food using ingredients produced and regulated in the U.S. Experts do not agree 100% about nutrition, however, an excellent holistic resource that investigates and reviews dry and canned food each year may be found at www.WholeDogJournal.com

Here're some tips to help you select dog foods that are both healthful and convenient.

The urban legend instructing pet parents to avoid feeding "people food" to dogs is only true if what you eat is not good for you! If you choose to home-cook, start with trustworthy recipes or prepare a healthy meal for yourself and cook a little extra for your dog. Be informed however, that raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, chocolate, xylitol and even onions are considered toxic to dogs, as are the pits of fruits. Home-cooked meals can be great for your dog... but not every good pet parent wants to cook for the dog.

If you choose to feed kibble, feed an organic super-premium quality kibble and rotate between specifically named meats within and between brands. A balanced diet requires variety. Feeding the same food continuously may create allergies and nutritional deficiencies. There are some excellent dehydrated and freeze-dried foods as well.

Transition from one brand or protein source to the next over the course of a week or two.  Always add water or a scoop of wet food to the kibble. Producing enough saliva to swallow dry kibble is hard on your dog’s digestive system. Chewing kibble does not clean the teeth.

FAQ's

Q. What’s best on the ingredients list?

A.  TV ads and food bags that proclaim “complete and balanced” may be misleading.
Look for a specifically named meat (or fish) as the first ingredient and as many named meat sources in the first three ingredients as possible. Unfortunately, you can’t determine the quality of the meat from the label. Look for natural preservatives, such as vitamin C, vitamin e, citric acid and rosemary.

Nikko, carrot connoisseur, tells us that carrots are not only a yummy treat, but nutritionally ideal for dogs. Photo Courtesy of Cindy Staszak

A more natural diet would include raw meat, ground and large raw bones, shredded fruits and vegetables, and organ meat. Most vegetables and some fruits can and should be a part of your dog’s diet. Add a human food-quality bone meal as a calcium source to balance the high phosphorus in meats if you’re not providing bones. Conveniently frozen raw meals of meat, bone and veggies are now available.

Q. What about protein vs carbohydrates in the nutritional analysis?

A. High-protein diets are generally linked to high performance and high simple carbohydrate diets are linked to obesity in dogs. Choose a food with a small percentage of whole grains, if any. Doug Knueven, DVM, renowned veterinary lecturer on dog nutrition and author of The Holistic Health Guide: Natural Care for the Whole Dog (2008) also warns, “High carbohydrate foods predispose dogs to cancer.” Canines have little dietary requirements for carbohydrates, however, up to 90% grains may be used in commercial dog food because they are an inexpensive way to increase calories.

Q. What ingredients should I avoid?

A. Corn gluten, wheat, soy, unspecified meats, by-products of all kind, and any ingredient ending in -ose, corn syrup and sugar.

Q. What are red flags in my dog's food and treats?

A. Artificial flavors, colors and preservatives, especially BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin which have been linked to a variety of diseases.

Q. What about the processing?

A. High-temperature dog food processing can destroy nutrients including vitamins,
enzymes and amino acids. Stay as close to natural and organic as feasible.

Q. Do I really need to add supplements?

A. No matter what type of diet you choose, supplements are important.  Be sure your supplement producer is a member of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) which commits to stringent quality controls.

Supplements listed in order of relative importance:

A balanced multivitamin/mineral derived from whole food sources.
Fish oil. DHA and EPA are omega-3 fatty acids naturally found in fish oil and are important for brain function. A 2004 study showed that a measure of canine intelligence was more than doubled for a group with DHA supplement than a control group of puppies 9 -13 weeks of age. DHA is “cooked out” of heat-processed (kibble) foods.
Glucosamine/chrondroitin. Especially important for high-activity or performing dogs and to prevent and treat arthritis.
Probiotics--“good bacteria”. Provide at the change of the seasons, high-stress, and during and after any medication treatment, especially antibiotics.

Many illnesses, skin, and behavioral problems are directly affected by diet, so keep your Fifi and Bowser physically and temperamentally fit by meeting their canine nutritional needs. Consult your holistically-minded veterinarian or certified canine nutritional expert for more details.

Originally published in the Carmel Valley News. CA

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

After U.S District Court Judge granted a motion for Snickers to be returned to Jim Sak and Peggy Leifer, the couple walked outside the courtroom only to find that they incurred a parking ticket.

A few hours later, Peggy called me and she could barely laughed contain her laughter, “I knew you’d appreciate the irony,” she says.

Irony, in part, because her husband, Jim, 64, had been a Chicago police officer for 32 years (on the other end of those parking tickers). He’s also a Vietnam veteran. Clearly, the man is hero.

In 2008, Jim suffered a stroke. He depends on Snickers his service dog, to help enhance his independence.

In November, Jim and Peggy moved back to her home town of Aurelia, IA to help care for her ailing 87-year old mother. A hero and a good guy.

Jim Sack with his recently-returned therapy dog Pit Bull-type dog, Snickers.

Snickers happens to be part Pit Bull. And the city of Aurelia banned Pit Bulls and “bully breeds” several years ago. Well, maybe Snickers is a Pit Bull, but who knows. A certain look doesn’t necessarily correlate with what really is genetically in a dog. Peggy recalls, “We took in this 10-week old something dog – we really don’t know what Snickers is. Maybe part Lab, part Boxer and he does have broad shoulder of a Pit Bull, but we don’t know.”

Never mind that this dog had done nothing wrong, and is by all accounts is very friendly and is well trained. After two council meetings, Jim and Peggy were told to get their dog out of town, or else.

Never mind the dog issue  - disability experts were astounded.

“The ADA (American for Disabilities Act) Guidelines are very clear on this issue,” says Rebecca Huss, a law professor at Valparaiso University, an expert on service dog related issues. “The breed or mix is irrelevant when it comes to service dogs. The ADA isn’t about dogs, it’s about giving people with disabilities access and enhancing independence.”

Sometimes Jim’s leg begins to shake, and 85-lb. Snickers will push him up against a wall so he doesn’t fall. When Jim falls, he is able to get up by grasping on to Snickers. “I have a very hard time getting Jim back to his feet, but he and Snickers have it worked out,” Peggy says. Certified as a therapy dog, it’s difficult to argue that Snickers doesn’t assist Sak.

Also, a petition supporting giving up the dog was passed through the town of about 1,100, which 38 people signed.

Snickers future was discussed in both council meetings, before the decision was made. Snickers even attended the first of the two meetings. “I wanted to show everyone how friendly he is,” Peggy says.

Snickers was perfect, friendly and as well behaved as can be. Eerily, though, Snickers whimpered whenever his name was mentioned. It’s as if somehow this innocent dog knew he was a target. Maybe Snickers knew what was to come, or somehow felt unadulterated hate by at least a few in the room.

By a three to two vote, it was determined that Snickers would have to be removed from town. One of those votes to jettison the dog came from Cindy Nelson, a city council member. When reached by phoned, and asked to comment, she said “no comment” and hung up

George Wittgraf, an attorney representing Aurelia said he will stand by the comments he made to a Chicago newspaper reporter. He said, Aurelia is “simply exercising its authority to protect and preserve the rights and property of its residents — whether or not that’s trumped by” federal law.

Huss says, “Ugh, no. You can’t have local actions or laws which are contradictory to Federal Law.” And while this seems to be common sense which most high school students enrolled in a rudimentary civics class understand, the public servants of Aurelia chose another course.

Snickers spent several days in a kennel just outside town, and then moved into a foster home.

Jim Sack and Snickers were recently reunited after he was removed due to local breed-specific laws.

“Snickers gives Jim a feeling of independence, but the relationship is so much more,” says Peggy. “Here’s this tough ex-cop – and I am here to tell you Jim is tough. This dog makes Jimmy happy in way I can’t even explain. This dog is Jim’s heart. Snickers is like an anti-depressant drug. And then to be told when we explained Snickers is a service dog, to just get another (service dog).”

Of course Snickers isn’t like an old chair that can just be replaced.

Breed bans (almost always banning Pit Bull-looking dogs, and sometimes other breeds) have been passed in various cities and counties sporadically across the country. The wave of those bans began to wane around the time Michael Vick was convicted of dog fighting. In fact, it was Huss who was given responsibility by a court in 2007 for recommending the disposition of Vick dogs.

Huss agrees one lesson from the Vick story is that the dogs are merely victims of deplorable human behavior. “A type of look doesn’t make a dog dangerous,” she says. “But there’s a greater legal issue at stake.”

To that end Sak and Leifer have sued Aurelia for damages and costs associated with their ordeal (which the Animal Farm Foundation stepped up to pay for). “I’m not a litigious person,” says Leifer. “But we hope our case will prevent this from every happening again.”

In fairness, most people in town appear sympathetic, not to mention an outpouring of understanding emails from around the world – since the story has hit the Internet. In fact, several people who signed the original local petition in support of forcing Snickers to leave town have apologized, pointing out the petition never indicated Snickers is s service dog. Peggy said she heard someone in town was selling ‘Save Snickers’ t-shirts.

Still, when Snickers was removed from his home - the stress clearly took a toll. Though he was well cared for, Snickers still broke into hives and a rash, which was deemed stress related. Peggy rushed her husband to the doctor for elevated blood pressure.

The good news is that December 28, 2001; after several hours in court, the judge reunited Saks with his best friend by court order. And certainly national attention has been directed to the value of service dogs – and bred doesn’t matter is a message which the public seemed to understand.

While city officials voted for Snicker’s removal, they clearly didn’t speak for the town, and certainly don’t speak for the country.

“Listen, I take no pleasure that the media has painted the whole town as ignorant because of the ignorant actions of a few,” says Peggy “Many citizens came out of the woodwork to help us. Complete strangers helping us move in, bringing food, installing needed things in our home to assist Jim and the many, many offers of help we have received.”

It’s really like the Pit Bull issue isn’t it? All may get blamed for what a few do.

“Oh, you’ve got it,” she adds, and laughs. “We felt it was important to stand up for Snickers.”

“Snickers has given me so much – we wouldn’t even consider giving up on him,” says Jim. “My hope is that what happened here is an example, so no one else with a service dog has to go through what we did. “

Jim adds, “When I came back from Vietnam in ’68, they called me names and jeered at me. It felt like it was happening all over again. What did I do? What did Snickers do to do deserve this?”

1. LIMIT TABLE SCRAPS. When you have a dozen dinner guests, and everyone from Aunt Ethel and Uncle Fred are all offering table scraps, it may be too much for a small dog or cat to handle. Even big pets are too often treated for everything from minor tummy upset to pancreatitis on Christmas Day.
2. WATCH WHAT YOU LEAVE OUT FOR SANTA. When leaving Christmas chocolate cookies out for Santa, remember chocolate can make pets sick (and Santa doesn’t need the calories); avocado is hazardous to birds (no Guacamole for Polly). Pets can choke on chicken or turkey bones, which may also cause a gastro-intestinal obstruction.
3. CANDLES IN THE WIND. Candles may look nice, but they can easily be knocked over by playful kittens or curious cats. Aromatic candles may smell good to us and seem benign, but may be very dangerous to pet birds (who have very sensitive respiratory systems).
4. AVOID PRICKLY CHRISTMAS TREES. When choosing a tree, consider one with pet friendly needles such as white pine or Douglas fir. They’re not as likely to stick to pet’s paws.
5. TIDY WITH TREE NEEDLES. Puppies and kittens can munch on errant needles, and that may cause choking or stomach upset. Pet parrots (given the chance) may naturally perch on a branch of your Christmas tree, no harm done – great photo opp. But if Polly begins chewing on real needles or those from an artificial tree, it may be life threatened.
6. NO CHEMICALS UNDER THE TREE. Don’t add chemical preservatives to prolong the life of your tree if pets have access to that solution. While the solutions to prolong tree life don’t seem to cause severe reactions, pets can get an upset tummy.
7. HOUSE GUESTS. Some pets are social butterflies, others not so much. For some pets the commotion caused by little children is simply not the peace and quiet they’re accustomed. Those pets might be happier secluded in a room, door shut with Christmas Carols playing in the background. Also, with that front door frequently opening and closing – some dogs get out, and so do indoor cats. Be sure all pets are microchipped for identification (and registered with the microchip provider), and have a collar and an ID tag.
8. HOLIDAY PLANTS MAY NOT BE SO FESTIVE. In truth, poinsettias are generally not the poisonous killer they’re made out to be, although too much may potentially cause stomach upset. Fresh holly and mistletoe are toxic, particularly the berries. Also, cats may be attracted to amaryllis lilies, red azaleas – all potentially dangerous.
9. TINSEL AND RIBBON IN THE TUMMY. Cats and puppies love to play with tinsel and ribbons; if they ingest enough of this glittery stuff, it can create serious gastro-intestinal obstruction, and may be life threatening.
10. WHAT ARE TREES FOR? Ask any cat – Christmas trees are all about trying to climb them. Secure the tree, so if a cat takes a flying leap – the tree won’t topple over.
11. ORNAMENTS ARE MADE FOR CATS. If you have cats, glass ornaments should be kept off the tree. Find a cat-proof place, such as behind a glass cabinet where they can be shown off. Cats tend to believe that shiny glass ornaments are, of course, meant to be batted at. Broken ornaments are a hazard to people and pets, and some may have lots of sentimental value. Also, tinsel hanging from a tree is an equivalent to an invitation for any cat to jump and grab.
12. PETS DESERVE PRESENTS TOO. As the family gathers for opening presents, include all members of the family - even those with paws. This doesn’t mean you need to spend big bucks – simply take a dog’s toy away a few days before Christmas – and now open on the big day; your dog won’t mind the “re-gifting” as long as you make a fuss. Cat toys can be simple as a plastic bottle top, wine cork or used tissue box with catnip inside it, Of course, the best thing you can do for your cat is to wrap the present in catnip-scented wrapping paper. The wrapping will be far more exciting than the gift.

Zach had a history of running away. Zach isn't a roaming dog, but instead he’s a child with autism who likes to roam. His mom, Julie Yanez, of Minneapolis, MN, tells the story of how an assistance dog named Midas changed Zach's life, as well as the life of her entire family. The family can relax when Midas is at Zach’s side, knowing Zach likely won't want to run off, and if he does, his dog is trained to prevent him from getting far.

Yanez recalls how even going out to dinner as a family was impossible until Midas came along because Zach wouldn't sit still and would create a "scene" in the restaurant. Now, the dog serves as Zach's "emotional anchor" and "built-in sensory regulator," Yanez writes in "Animals and the Kids Who Love Them," a collection of inspiring stories compiled by Allen and Linda Anderson (New World Library, Novato, CA, 2011; $14.99).

The Andersons, a married couple, have authored a long list of inspirational books, including "Angel Dogs with a Mission," "Angel Animals: Book of Inspiration" and "Dogs and the Women Who Love Them."

Linda notes, "In her story (about Zach and Midas), Julie wrote what it was like to lose her child to autism, like a candle snuffer dropped on him and shut out his bright light. It wasn't until a dog, Midas, entered his life that the candle was lit again. I don't know that people realize the impact these animals can have."

“We received stories like this from all over the country," says Linda. "It (the book) was inspired by the American Humane Association, which protects animals and children. We put the concept together and today we have a book.”

Allen chimes in, “Don’t forget, when we were in your radio studio talking about the book ‘Dogs and the Women Who Love Them,’ you gave us the idea to directly connect children and kids in this unique way. This (book) tops them all when it comes to goose bumps."

"Animals and the Kids Who Love Them" is filled with touching tales, including one from Barbara Babikan, of Sugar Loaf, NY.

Babikan enrolled her Shetland Sheepdog, Lille, in Angel on a Leash, an organization administering animal-assisted therapy programs. One of many clients who petted Lille happened to be a little girl in the hospital for surgery on her leg. Lille and the girl seemed to bond. After the visit, Barbara left with her dog, assuming she'd never see the girl again.

About a year later, at the same hospital, Babikan encountered the same child's mom. Nearly in tears, she explained that her daughter had endured another surgery and had been asking for Lille. What a reunion it was. Babikan still had no idea of the Lilie’s impact on this little girl, until she bumped into her mother many years later. "You don't know what those visits meant to my daughter," the mom said, holding Babikan's arm.

While most of the stories in the Andersons' book feature dogs and cats, a wide assortment of other unlikely animals who made a difference in a child's life are also featured, including a rabbit, a llama, and a turkey who might have been dinner. Instead, the bird, named Chloe, landed at the Gentle Barn in Santa Clarita, CA.

The mission of the Gentle Barn – featured on TV’s Ellen (with Ellen DeGeneres) - is to rescue, rehabilitate and give sanctuary to abused animals, and to help kids who themselves have been abused and/or have a disability.

Julia was born to sing. She warbled and twirled like a ballerina from the time she could walk, though she was blind from birth. An earthquake rocked Julia's world when she was 6 years old, so profoundly that the child was traumatized. Julia stopped talking and began to act out violently.

It was advised that she visit the Gentle Barn, where she seemed to bond with a chicken named Bonnie, stroking the bird for hours, and being gentle. Julia treated the hen like a precious china doll.

Periodically, the Gentle Barn would sometimes take animals to fairs, where there was live music. As one such event, a country band began to play, and people began to dance. The dance floor began to part and it was clear that something unusual was happening, as people moved from the center of the floor to reveal a single dancer: Chloe the turkey, moving in time to the music.

Learning this bird was a music lover, the staff at the Gentle Barn began to play music for Chloe. The turkey always responded the same way, and soon Ellie Laks, founder of the Gentle Barn, began to sing to the turkey with Julia at their side. One day, Julia began to hum along.

Laks thought Julia might again find her voice through the bird. It worked, and soon Julia was singing to the turkey (who loved it), and began to talk again. What's more, her violent tendencies vanished.

"I do think animals and children can have a special connection," says Allen. "Explaining that connection is challenging, but understanding the connection as you read is heartfelt."

Part two of my interview with Dr. Sophia Yin about her new book, Perfect Puppy in 7 Days:

Victoria:  Perfect Puppy in 7 Days really focuses a lot on early learning and socialization. In fact, John Bradshaw, author of Dog Sense, says “Worth buying for the socialization advice and checklist alone.”  Can you explain to our blog readers Why is socialization so important?

Sophia:  People frequently have dogs who are fearful and later aggressive out of fear to unfamiliar people and dogs. They tend to think their dog must have been abused, when a much more likely scenario is that the puppy was not fully socialized starting at a young age. When puppies are between 3 weeks and 3 months of age, they are primed to be curious, and to bond to animals in their environment. But as they get older their default setting is to be fearful of all the things that they were not introduced to early on. This is a survival mechanism. It’s why wild animals don’t come out and visit and try to make friends with people all the time. It’s also how wild animals stay alive. If they approach everything without fear, they are likely to get eaten.

The implication with puppies is that we need to give them many positive experiences. with friendly, well-behaved dogs, unfamiliar people, new objects and  different environments during their sensitive period for socialization and continuing into their adulthood. My rule of thumb is that they need 100 positive experiences with 100 different people in 100 days. And they need to have positive experiences with new dogs on a weekly basis.

This means that as with children, owners will have to set up play dates and make an effort to get their dog into new environments at least 2-4x a week. In Perfect Puppy in a Week, you’ll see that during that first week Lucy, the Australian Cattle Dog puppy who was the subject of much of the book, had many positive experiences with visitors as well as appropriate doggie playmates. She also learned how to be polite around cats and kids.

VS:  What’s the biggest problem you see with how people socialize puppies currently?

SY:  Besides just not getting their puppy out enough, the biggest problem is that people when they do get them out, they don’t realize the puppy must have positive experiences, not neutral or negative experiences. That means they need to be able to read their puppy’s body language so they can recognize fear and anxiety. That’s why Perfect Puppy in 7 Days has sections on reading body language.

A second issue is that people don’t realize the amount of things they need to socialize the pet to—sounds, surfaces, people, other species, new environments. And they don’t realized that the socialization should start with the breeder. Socialization is so important that I cover it in two chapters in the book and show pictures of the various situations and items the puppy must be socialized to. The early chapter shows how puppies develop their senses and how this coincides with what they should be socialized to starting before 8 weeks of age.

VS:  A week or two really does make a difference in socialization, doesn't it?

SY:  For a puppy, a week or two is the equivalent of months for a child. For instance, I document the progress of a litter of young puppies and show that one puppy is very reactive to handling at 4 weeks of age but with several minutes of handling a day, after a week, the puppy can even have clippers near him and remains calm. Similarly puppies can also learn unwanted behaviors as quickly. For instance, one puppy in the litter highlighted in chapter 1 of the book was adopted and would struggle when the owner held him wheras previously he’d been very tolerant with us. The new owner would release him as soon as he struggled and by day 2 he was learning to growl when held. After the owner realized her mistake, switched to picking him up and giving him treats and then letting him down when he was relaxed. She’d try to put him down before he started struggling. But even when he did struggle a little, because he’d been given treats in the handling situation, he didn’t struggle as much and so she didn’t let go. Within a week he was back to allowing people to pick him up and place him in different positions. So behavior can change quickly in puppies.

VS:  Tell people about the advantage of training puppies as young as 8 weeks of age.

SY:  Besides letting them learn the rules before they have a chance to learn to break them, when they are young they are less coordinated and this gives us a huge advantage. We don’t have to be as quick to get the food reward or other reward to them. They physically can’t jump on us as quickly or nip or grab as quickly as an older puppy. So it’s easier to remove our attention or remove the reward for jumping before they have a chance. Training is about rewarding exactly as the correct behaviors occur and removing rewards for unwanted behavior such as jumping to grab a toy, before they can perform them. When puppies are really young, it’s easier for the humans to be faster and thus have better timing than if they wait several weeks.

VS:  You talk about leadership in the book, but make it clear that it’s not the same as being the boss? What’s the difference?

SY:  One definition of leadership is the ability to influence an individual to perform behavior he would not otherwise perform. By that definition, pet owners do need to develop leadership skills. However we have a choice of leadership style. We can lead by force like a dictator such as Muammar Qaddafi or by providing rewards that the followers want, such as Mahatma Ghandi. Schools of marketing and leadership recommend against the dictatorial, coercive style of leadership and encourage methods of leading that motivate humans through positive methods.

A similar approach should be used with animals. Instead of using coercion we can learn to lead like a leader in a dance. When partners dance as a couple, one leads and the other follows. The leader's job is to decide ahead of time which steps to perform and then guide his partner in a clear manner so that the partner CAN follow. Partners who have to shout out the steps or who yank their follower around don't make the cut. With animals the approach is similar. If we set rules and have a clear picture of what we want, then we can consistently convey this information to the puppy through our body language and perfectly timed rewards. To see this concept in action,  watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVVBGJi5v9s&feature=related

VS:  Marty Becker, veterinarian on Good Morning America has said it’s not just about teaching your puppy manners, it's a step-by-step recipe for bonding with your puppy, learning to communicate with him, and preparing you pup for life!  Can you explain how your book shows a step by step recipe for bonding?

SY:  One aspect of the book is my version of the Learn to Earn Program where the puppy learns that the way he gets what he wants —praise, petting, to go outside, to come inside, to get bits of his meal, to play fetch—is to sit politely and ask you. It’s not about forcing him to sit, it’s about rewarding him over and over throughout the day. If you’ve read the “Compass of Pleasure” by David Levin, you know that a high rate of reinforcement can have an almost addicting affect. For instance, the reason cigarettes are much more addicting than heroin, which is much more potent is that smokers get many many little rewards on a daily basis. Similarly with puppies, if they are working for their entire meal and everything they like, they are also getting probably 200 rewards a day for good behavior and they are learning that unwanted behavior does not work. Through this process they learn that you are consistent and you are able to communicate what you want in a clear manner (with good timing). As a result, they learn they can depend on you. It’s much easier to trust someone who always does what they say they will do and who communicates in a language you can understand.

I also use the Learn to Earn Program to quickly build a bond with any new dog I take in, as a first step for training anxious dogs they can look to their owners for guidance or help in scary situations, and for helping dogs who have lost their family members to guide them into a more structured situation.

VS:  In the testimonials people say over and over that the book is fun. One trainer says “ I own tons of dog training books and none of them are as much to read as this one. Was it your intention to make the reading enjoyable?

SY:  Yes, both people and dogs learn best if the learning is fun. And for me, I’m more interested in writing books that will also be fun for me to read.  Just having a wide array of photos that depict every type of situation you might meet make the book engaging and documenting the progress of both the litter of puppies as well as of Lucy, the main main character/puppy depicted on the front of the book, made the process enjoyable. I love watching puppies and noticing how they develop and how minor events shape their behavior and personality. So it was just natural to document these things so that everyone else could see.

Because of the fun and clear instructions, many puppy class instructors have told me they are going to use it for their classes, and at least one large puppy program will be revising their classes to follow the Perfect Puppy program.

VS:  Any last messages you want to send?

SY:  Yes. Blog readers, please feel free to visit my web site (www.drsophiayin.com) and Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/sophiayin.dvm).  I have lots of free downoadable posters on topics ranging from body language in dogs, how to appropriately greet a dog, how kids and dogs should interact, as well as many article and videos on behavior.  In fact I was voted one of Bark Magazine’s 100 Best and Brightest because of the website.

VS:  Sophia, thanks so much for all the great info.  It really is a great book, and I wish you lots of success with it.  I'll see you at the APDT conference in San Diego!

Note: This book will be available on amazon.com in September 2011 and on Amazon kindle, B&N Nook and ibooks by August 1, 2011.  You can preorder the book at a big discount now or download the free puppy socialization check list from www.drsophiayin.com/perfectpuppy. 

The American Humane Association inaugural Hero Dog Awards, presented by Cesar Canine Cuisine airs on the Hallmark Channel on November 11. Ordinary dogs achieving the extraordinary are being honored, as well as heroes on two legs on the other end of the leash.

“At the taping, there wasn’t a dry in the house,” says Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of the American Humane Association. “Many of those tears were tears of joy, it’s emotional, incredible what these dogs have done.”

During a nationwide six-month search for hero dogs, hundreds of canines from 50 states were nominated in eight categories. Then over 400,000 votes were cast on a Hero Dog website culminating in the selection of eight finalists. That’s where an panel of celebrity and expert judges took over including Whoopi Goldberg, Orlando Brown, Kristin Chenoweth, Susan Orlean (author of “RIN TIN TIN: The Life and the Legend), all overseen by Victoria Stilwell (who better?).

Each of the eight winning dogs walked the red carpet in Hollywood with dozens of paparazzi shooting photos and video. “I felt like a Hollywood celebrity,” said Dione Luper of Des Plaines, IL.

While many Hollywood celebs turned up for the event, and appear in the TV broadcast, from legends like Betty White and Mickey Rooney to TV’s Pauley Perrette of “NCIS: Los Angeles” to Michael Vartan, of “Alias” to Julianne Hough of “Footloose” and “Dancing with the Stars.”  Carson Kressley was the emcee. Victoria was among the presenters.

However, the real stars of the show were people like Luper.

In 2004 Zurich, a Labrador Retriever trained by Canine Companions for Independence, was partnered as a service dog with Dione’s wife Patricia Kennedy, who had been diagnosed with a degenerative and fatal brain-stem disease called OPCA (Olivopontocerebellar atrophy).  Today, Patty is dependent on a wheelchair and is unable to speak – the disease has many similarities to Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS).

“When we first got Zurich, I went to work and Patti was comfortable staying home because of Zurich, who was able to help her to get the phone or open the refrigerator. That was hugely helpful, and gave Patti more confidence. Today, it’s Zurich that makes it possible for her to cope. And in ways, I don’t understand, Zurich somehow understands her.”

Luper goes even further – saying his wife would not likely still be alive today if it wasn’t for Zurich.

Still, appearing on a website for thousands to see, and then at a TV taping – which millions will eventually watch – wasn’t an easy decision. “In the end, we just felt we wanted to tell our story, and also Zurich’s. He’s been amazing.”

When Dione first posted his wife’s story – he never thought about what he would be a top vote getter in the Service Dog category. After all, Patty isn’t even able to leave the house often, let alone travel half way around the country. “We thought going to Hollywood would be impossible, but the American Humane Association and their partners made the overwhelming possible,” he says. “It was a dream to be on the stage and talking from my heart about Zurich.”

Dione says he hopes the camera picked up on Patti’s tears. “They were definitely tears of joy,” he adds.

Among the eight categories is Military Working Dog. “We are especially pleased to honor military dogs on Veteran’s Day 11-11-11,” Ganzert says.

Debbie Kandoll of Atlanta, GA makes a point of saying Bino C152 is one of many military working dogs who easily could be honored. “Each military working dog is credited with saving a minimum of 150 people in a career,” she said

Bino, a Duch Shepherd, served the U.S. Army’s 35^th Military Police Dog Detachment at Ft. Gordon, GA as a Narcotics Detection/Patrol K-9 for nearly 11 years. He was also deployed in Iraq for over a year and served as a U.S. Border Patrol Dog.

Kandoll is working on a proposal to finally offer attention long overdo to military working dogs. Currently, it’s very costly to pay for an adoption of any retired military dog transported from overseas military bases when actually there is available space on cargo and military planes. So, the cost is, in reality, is negligible. This high cost charged though, deters potential adopters.

Currently, individuals award heroic dogs – but there is no formal award from the military for meritorious canine service (which would be subsidized by private citizens, and still the military – to date – refuses).

Also, Kandoll is hoping veterinary care for these retired military dogs would be made available by military veterinarians at cost. “Why not?” she says. “It wouldn’t cost the government, it’s just the right thing to do.”

Kandoll adds that currently when these dogs retire, they’re pretty much considered excess equipment. The good news is that those dogs who make it back to the U.S. are increasingly successfully adopted from military bases

Other dogs were honored in six additional categories, Law Enforcement/Arson Dog, Therapy Dog, Guide Dog, Search and Rescue Dog, Hearing Dog and Emerging Hero Dog.

“This is a tribute to what dogs can do – it’s really quite astounding and inspiring,” Ganzert says.

TV star Perrette, said, “There was only one problem with this event – we needed more tissue.”

Behind-the-scenes tidbit and images. 
A promotional sizzle reel of the upcoming Hero Dog Awards show on the Hallmark Channel.

Victoria Stilwell, Otis, and Linda Michaels on the KUSI TV Studio Lot

In my recently published interview, Victoria Stilwell discusses the major differences in dog training methods... and explains why "methods matter" to all pet parents and to every dog. Victoria goes directly to the heart of a "hot" issue in dog training that is too often misrepresented to people searching for help with their beloved pup. Victoria lays out the facts, clearly and  beautifully, in an easy-to-read manner. Please share it!

Animal Planet's Victoria Stilwell, the "Dog Training Diva", is the new heroine of dog lovers everywhere. Stilwell’s smash hit show, It's Me or the Dog, airs in more than 50 countries. Anyone who's seen her show knows she means business...and everyone recognizes the signature boots she wears. Importantly, professional animal behaviorists and progressive veterinarians applaud her affirmation that it's "scientifically sound advice to be nice to your dog."

Welcome Victoria! You’re considered a dynamo in dog training with an exploding and devoted fan-base.

Q. What’s your “mission”?
A. I’m a passionate cheerleader for positive training that’s based on mutual trust, respect and love, rather than fear, punishment, and intimidation. Our mission is to turn the tide of public awareness away from the traditional punishment and dominance-based methods which have been so popular in the past.

Q. Many people may not yet be aware of the differences in dog training methods, although they are quite dissimilar in important ways.
A. You’re right. To the casual observer, all dog training looks the same. But it’s not. Dominance trainers believe that most behavior problems stem from a dog trying to ‘dominate,’ while positive trainers know that the root cause in the majority of cases is lack of confidence. Two trainers on opposite ends of the spectrum can look at the same aggressive dog and see two totally different things. There’s still a lot of debate about which side is correct, but it’s really all moot because science has spoken.

Dominance trainers believe that they must impose their will on the dog in order to earn ‘respect’. This is very dangerous, as the dog has not fundamentally changed, and will still act out, sometimes aggressively, when it’s safe to do so.

Q. So, what’s wrong with the “alpha” and “pack leader” theories?
A. The “alpha” and  ‘pack leader” theories are based on 40-year old research that is now, admittedly, inherently flawed. Scientists studied wild, unrelated, captive wolves and translated the findings to domesticated dogs. We now know that a wolf pack is a mother, father and their offspring, and the “alphas” are the breeding pair.

A Conversation with Dog-Training Diva Victoria Stilwell. Cover "Natural Awakenings Pet" Magazine, San Diego.

Q. What about the need for leadership?
A. The most powerful and effective leaders lead without the use of force. Positive trainers believe that leadership should be used as constructive guidance rather than a punitive imposition of will. It’s similar to the way we raise children these days: build up their confidence and give them the tools to make the right choices.

Q. There’s a proliferation of shock, prong and choke collar equipment training. What type of leash-walking equipment do you recommend?
A. For “serial pullers”, a chest-led harness helps work through the behavior problem. For smaller dogs, I recommend a mesh harness.

Q. I understand your network of expert trainers now reaches from Athens, Greece to San Diego. Tell us a bit about your new project of networking trainers and what you hope to accomplish.
A. I founded Victoria Stilwell Positively Dog Training (VSPDT) – to provide the public with a ‘name brand’ you can trust to use the latest science-based, reward-based training methods.

Since last year, I’ve been enlisting the most accomplished, professional positive reinforcement dog trainers into my global network.  The idea is that if someone is hunting for a dog trainer, they’ll recognize that the trainer is aligned personally and professionally with me, they’ll recognize the type of training I do on my TV show and say, “I want that.”

We’ve got fantastic VSDPT members in the San Diego area, including Linda Michaels and Julie Schmitt.

Q. Please tell us, what's next on your agenda?
A. I’ll be continuing work on my new product line, developing new and innovative solutions to canine problems. We’re focused on promoting healthy, balanced relationships to make the world a better place for us and our dogs.

Thank you! Find us at www.Positively.com

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

It seems like every few weeks, a fresh news story about a family pet seriously injuring or killing a baby hits the airwaves.  And every time, we all say and hear the same well-meaning and accurate but tired talking points about how devastating it is, how it could have and should have been avoided, who to blame, who not to blame and what to do about the problem.  The general theme is that the ultimate responsibility lies with the parents and/or dog owners, not the children.  That any breed of dog can bite, and any breed of dog can be a good family pet.  That parents should never leave their kids alone with any animals unsupervised.  That government should focus on penalizing irresponsible dog owners, not certain breeds of dogs.

And I agree with all of that.  I've said much of it myself in interviews on national press many times.  And yet still, these tragic incidents keep happening.  And that's even not to mention the millions of dog bites that go unreported and don't require professional medical attention.  In the US alone, there are over 4.5 million reported dog bites each year, 800,000 of which require a trip to the doctor.

What we're doing is not working.

That's why I've dedicated myself and my company's resources to try and make a difference and reduce the number of dog bites that happen each year.  I'm in the process of setting up the first ever Dog Bite Prevention Task Force, which is charged with determining what the root causes of the problem are and how to effectively address them once and for all.  Comprised of trainers, behaviorists, legal professionals, legislators, animal control specialists, pediatric surgeons and reconstructive surgeons around the country, we will be bringing together the best and brightest minds to figure out how and why dog bites happen, what precedes them,  how they are investigated, who should be held responsible, and most importantly, how to stop them from occurring.

For example, by digging into the data from some of the most high profile cases involving canine homicides (the term used when a dog kills a human), we've found one fascinating common thread in almost all scenarios:  one component of the scenario is unnatural.  That means that in every case, either the child is being looked after by grandparents, the dog is being house-sat by an uncle, the whole family (including the dog) are visiting relatives in a different house, etc.  There's almost always one part of the equation that is not the everyday norm for either the dog, child, caregivers, or environment.  This important revelation can help us determine how to most effectively educate dog owners and parents of children about what to look out for in an otherwise seemingly normal situation.  If we can stop just one beautiful little child from losing his or her life, it will be worth it.

But my goal is even larger than that.

Ashlynn Dawn Anderson

Last year, I had the opportunity to meet with the lovely Anderson family.  Just over a year ago, they lost their beautiful daughter, Ashlynn, in a fatal dog attack.  I met the family when I was in Oregon, and I was struck by their determination to do everything they can to help other families avoid a similar tragedy.  They have set up a non-profit organization called Dads Against Dangerous Dogs, and though they lost their little treasure to dogs, one of the most remarkable things about them is that they have not jumped to the most obvious target.  They do not blame any specific breed for Ashlynn's death, rather they are focused on increasing awareness about the fact that any dog - any breed, any size, etc - can be a danger to little ones if not properly managed.

Obviously, education is the key to stopping this from happening.  We all know that.  But we've known it for a long time, and yet the message isn't effective enough to make a significant difference.  As a society, we must figure out a more successful way to get the message across.

Download your free copy of Pet Meets Baby here!

That's why I've decided to support the American Humane Association's safe handling initiative - Pet Meets Baby.  This is an easy-to-read, comprehensive free booklet that can help dog owners and parents of children without pets by making them aware of how to safely and effectively introduce pets to new babies and vice versa.  By widely distributing this information in maternity wards, pediatricians' offices and beyond, we hope that this will make a difference.  It's important to note that even parents of children without pets should read Pet Meets Baby, since all kids end up interacting with animals at some point, whether at grandma's house, on playdates or walking in the park.

I've donated some great prizes (Positively t-shirts, signed books, It's Me or the Dog DVDs, etc) to a free contest anyone can enter by providing some brief feedback about Pet Meets Baby.  Plus, one lucky winner will win the grand prize - a 30 minute phone consultation with me where we can talk about your dog and anything else you can think of!

Enter the contest by visiting the Pet Meets Baby homepage!

More info about the Pet Meets Baby contest.

Read my Safety Guide for Children and Dogs.

I recently connected with my friend, Dr. Sophia Yin, to discuss training young dogs and her new book, Perfect Puppy in 7 Days.

Victoria:  There are a lot of puppy books already out there. What made you decide to write this book?

Sophia:  I wrote this book because I needed a resource that would provide my dog-owning clients. I wanted to provide them with step-by-step, photo-illustrated solutions to their most common puppy and adult dog problems.  You can tell owners and then show them what to do and how to do it but they do best when they also have photo-illustrated instructions where each step is documented visually in pictures so they can see what the steps look like any time they want.

Even more important, I’ve found from the research projects I carried out on training protocols and handling procedures, that people also need to see what it looks like when they are performing the techniques incorrectly otherwise they think they are doing the right thing when in fact they are making mistakes.  Overall, three factors:

1. seeing photos of the training steps
2. having enough training steps so that there are no gaps in the sequences, and
3. seeing what can go wrong, greatly improve the rate of success.

VS:  In this book, you personalize the book by focusing on the training of your fathers’ Australian Cattle Dog puppy, Lucy. How did you make that choice?

SY:  Well, my dad declared one summer that he wanted a new puppy because my parents had recently lost their 13-year old Scottie to cancer. He knew exactly what he wanted—an Australian Cattle dog that looked just like his past cattle dog Rudy, and he wanted it ASAP.

Apart from the obvious concern that no matter how much the puppy looked like his old dog, it would not act like his old dog, I was concerned about how the puppy would eventually turn out. My dad has a history of raising dogs that turn out to be aggressive in some situations. Their 13-year old Scottie never showed signs because I had owned her first. But their first Boxer was an unneutered male who was aggressive to dogs and wandered the neighborhood. The second Boxer was a neutered male who was aggressive to some people. His most recent Australian Cattle dog, Rudy—who was otherwise a great dog—was fear aggressive if unfamiliar dogs got in his face. I already have a wonderful Jack Russell Terrier, Jonesy, with fear and arousal issues who keeps me on my toes, I really didn’t need to inherit an aggressive Australian Cattle dog down the road. And as you probably know, Australian Cattle Dogs can have a tendency towards aggression if not socialized appropriately.

So I decided that I would keep the puppy for a week as soon as I got her and then train her as much as possible before giving her to my dad. I knew that she could form great habits and be well on her way to being a perfect pup in just that one week if I ran her through my Learn to Earn Program and started her socialization, so I decided to document her training in pictures (and video) so that my clients as well as other dog owners could benefit from my task.

The great thing about using this puppy, Lucy as an example within the book is that I can specifically tell people how long it took for her to learn habits such as automatically sitting to go through doors, to get petted and to play fetch. The information is not just vague. It’s very specific and it gives people and idea of what can go write and the little glitches along the way.

VS:  It’s called Perfect Puppy in a Week. Can you actually get a perfect puppy in a week?

SY:  With the Learn to Earn program where you focus on teaching the puppy to say please by sitting for everything she wants and you are aware of your every interaction with your puppy, yes, you can form good habits in just a week. Each exercise only takes 5-10 minutes for the puppy to learn and we train the puppy that it’s fun. Probably the coolest thing for owners is that they get to see the puppy make the choice to behave in a desired way.

But what really makes the program unique is that owners learn how to make the good behaviors a habit, rather than just a trick performed for treats. It’s not just about training puppies to sit or come. It’s about training them to sit or come every time you want them to do so in all the appropriate instances. The key is to make it fun and use all of the dog’s motivators—food, petting, praise, getting the leash on, going outside—to your advantage and to make sure you don’t accidentally reward them for the unwanted behaviors. That combination is what makes the training so fast.

That being said, because readers will just be learning the exercises, and trying to teach their dog at the same time, it will take longer for them. And once the dog knows the exercises, it’s about being consistent enough to make the polite behaviors a habit. For Lucy, I didn’t expect that she’d be good for my parents until they also learned how to reward the good behaviors and make sure she didn’t get rewarded for unwanted ones. But she was pretty perfect for me, my assistants, and the visitors who visited.

VS:  What do you think are the biggest misconceptions people have about training puppies?

SY:  People think you should wait until the puppy is older to start training and as a result, they spend the first weeks inadvertently rewarding unwanted behaviors or instead of controlling the environment and immediately setting up the situation for success.

For instance, puppies are really energetic and love to nip and jump. People think that because it’s a puppy these behaviors are ok, but once they start getting scratches and wounds from the nipping that they have accidentally rewarded, or when the puppy is larger and knocking people down, it can be much harder to break these habits and form new desired ones. So a behavior that could be fixed in just a few days with a puppy might take weeks or months once the puppy is older.

VS:  Will starting young ruin your puppy?

SY:  Back when most people were training using force-based methods, yes starting puppies young could ruin them. The puppies just learned that whatever they did, they’d get a correction that might scare them or that might hurt. So, you can imagine that dogs that were bred as working dogs would not have a high drive to hunt or do protection work if they learned as a puppy that the world was a place where humans give lots of scary or painful corrections. So these trainers would say you had to wait until the dogs was mature enough. What they meant was mature enough to handle the force-based corrections without crumbling.

This whole situation is akin to taking young children and putting him into a school program where he is mostly corrected for doing things wrong rather than being shown in a step-by-step manner how to do things right, being rewarded for good behaviors frequently. I think everyone has had some type of incident when they were young and someone told them “you’re no good at that—you’re a bad drawer, or singer, or bad at math” and those negative words at that young age have stuck with the kids for a long time. Similarly for puppies, training based on punishing unwanted behaviors rather than setting them up for success can ruin them or at minimum produce a very different dog that what you would get otherwise.

VS:  How does your training differ from the correction-based training?

SY:  Similar to your approach on Its Me or the Dog, science-based training is about rewarding the behaviors we want and removing the rewards for unwanted behaviors. And it really focuses on making good behavior fun so that the puppy will want to be good. Many people don’t realize this, but in order to reward only the desired behaviors the humans have to be aware of all of their interactions with the dog. For instance, if they would like their puppy to greet them politely by sitting instead of jumping on them to get them to interact or give attention, they must clearly remove their attention, when the puppy starts to jump. Generally that means, standing still and looking away. Then as soon as the puppy sits they can reward with a sequence of treats—the first for sitting and the rest for remaining seated— and later with praise and petting, once the puppy can sit for food.

It also means that during other times during the day when the dog solicits attention but may not be as excited, they also must remove their attention until the dog sits. That is, in the most exciting situations, the dog will jump, but in less exciting situations the dog may just push against the owner, or climb into the owners lap. If the humans reward the pushy attention behavior in the low excitement situations, then they dog will definitely continue to perform the pushy behavior in the high excitement situations too. Hence it may take forever for the puppy to learn to greet politely.

VS:  This book really focuses on breaking the exercises down into steps and on the postures and movement of the owner.

SY:  Yes. The most difficult thing for owners is to realize that dogs care what you do now what you say. They don’t understand English or other language, but they do naturally understand and read your body language. So in order to communicate clearly with dogs, we have to be aware of how we’re standing, how we deliver rewards, and how we move around the dog. For instance if you lean over the puppy to give him a treat, he’ll have a tendency to jump because it looks like you are soliciting attention. That’s why for treat delivery I focus on standing up straight and bending your knees while delivery the treat with an outstretched arm. Similarly if you hold the food reward too high, you’ll train the dog to jump to get it. It doesn’t matter if you’re telling him “no,” he’s going to pay attention more to what your body language says, “Jump up to get the treat I’m extending out to you.” So it’s important foe people to know what their body language is telling the dog so that they can up a communicate clearly.

Part II of this interview will be posted shortly...  Stay tuned!

CANINE UNEMPLOYMENT

Is there such a thing??? I mean really folks, canine unemployment? Yes, Yes, yes!  That’s what I say.  Our shelters are filled to the brims and dogs are being tossed aside like yesterday’s news.  It’s because the unemployment rate for dogs is too high!

Dogs are faithful companions, but what are we really doing for them???  We feed them, water them, and pat them on the head and if they are lucky they may get a walk for 15 min.  Now I am not saying that every dog in America is treated this way but a high percentage are and then these unexercised un-stimulated dogs start exhibiting behaviors that are not house or people friendly and off to the shelter they go.

Your dog needs a job, it is only fair, and after all you have one.  Our pets are crying out for something to do and its time owners started listening.

Each breed of dog has a history, where they came from, what they were used for etc.  If you tap into your dog’s history and give him his old job back or one that maybe mimics his old job you will see the canine version of extreme bliss.

The husky for instance loves to run and pull so teach him to do that!  Give him his old job back.  Teaching a dog to pull a lightweight sled is easier than you think and these sleds are available along with the proper pulling harnesses to the general public you just have to know where to look.  Pulling is just not for the Iditarod dogs your yellow lab can do it too and he will have a blast and so will you and the kids.  I know, I got strange looks when my yellow lab Beezer and I would tool around our subdivision on our small kick sled but what a wonderful way to share time with your best buddy.  Beezer would see the racing harness come out and he would start to scream with excitement just as if he was at the starting line of the Iditarod.   Think outside the box when it comes to exercise with your dog.  There is a huge world out there for dogs and their owners to find new and exciting jobs they can do together.   I challenge each and every one of you to get your dog’s old job back for him or her.  Experience the joy of something new and exciting you can do together. Let’s end CANINE UNEMPLOYMENT!

We all have our stories to tell.

On that bright September morning ten years ago when the world changed before our eyes, our collective experience was etched into our personal histories in the way that only those truly transformative historical occasions can imprint us:  Pearl Harbor, JFK, 9/11.

Having moved to Manhattan the year before the attacks, I had been going through a not entirely smooth transition from the leafy suburbs of London.  I had been used to driving where I needed to go, having family nearby, and regularly escaping into the vast swaths of greenspace that are scattered throughout the city where I had lived all my life.  Moving to New York City with my husband at the beginning of the millennium had been rewarding in many ways, but I still harbored deep longing for my hometown while somehow slightly resenting New York for not being London.

We were living in a one-bedroom apartment on the 4^th floor of an old building in Hell’s Kitchen in September, 2001.  I was working as a dog trainer in and around Manhattan, cutting my teeth in one of the world’s most unique environments for dogs with some of the most colorful clients you could imagine.  The events of 9/11 changed all of us in ways large and small, and for me, one of those small changes was that I truly became a New Yorker.  In the spirit of JFK’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” moment, I believe that peaceful, loving, selfless citizens all over the world became New Yorkers that day.  Just as we all also became Londoners on 7/7 after the train attacks, Indonesians and Japanese after the tsunamis, and Haitians after the earthquake.

Certain events pull us all together and lead us in new and more fruitful directions, sometimes even out of the smoke and rubble of tragedies like those endured at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  For me, in addition to my newfound sense of ownership and pride in my adopted city, those tragic events also provided me a backdrop from which I would build an even greater appreciation of the power and grace of man’s best friend.

Pier 94 on Manhattan's west side served as the Family Assistance Center for victims' loved ones.

In the days and weeks following the attacks on the World Trade Center, the West Side Highway along the Hudson River near where we lived became a sort of pipeline for those working through the carnage downtown.  Countless times each hour, a fire truck or bus filled with search and rescue teams hurtled back and forth from Ground Zero down a road lined on both sides with well wishers and those of us who felt compelled to do something – anything.  Many of us who lived nearby felt a constant sense of helplessness – we wanted to be a part of the effort somehow.  Part of our city, country and way of life had been threatened and disrupted, and we needed to help support those who were literally doing the heavy lifting both emotionally and physically.

I was working as a volunteer adoption counselor at New York’s ASPCA during this time, and after investigating what options were available to those of looking to help during those dark days, I ended up at Pier 94 on the Hudson River.  FEMA, the Red Cross, and other organizations set up areas within the massive pier to organize the search for missing persons, and the ASPCA began the task of rehoming animals whose owners had died in the tragedy, as well as coordinating the large number of therapy dogs that came to provide comfort for the victims’ families.  My job was to organize which dogs would accompany the families on the boats making daily trips from the pier down the Hudson River to Ground Zero.  It was a chance for the families to remember their loved ones and to throw flowers and wreaths into the river in their memory.

Photo credit Patrick Schneider - Charlotte Observer

I had been aware of and even worked with a few therapy dogs before 9/11, but the days I spent witnessing the immense power of these dogs as they poured themselves out for the bereaved was truly amazing, and served as the inspiration for what eventually became my charitable foundation.

Therapy dogs bring comfort and companionship to people in all kinds of situations, helping the elderly, the sick and the disabled, relieving their pain and anxiety.  A therapy dog must be calm, confident, patient and enjoy meeting and being touched by strangers.   It is well documented that dogs improve a person’s health by lowering blood pressure, relieving anxiety and boosting immunity.  Playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, nerve transmitters that promote pleasure and calm.  According to several studies, heart attack patients that have pets survive longer than those without and male pet owners in particular have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels, two key components of heart disease.  But even beyond the physiological chemistry of how it all works, to watch a therapy dog bring the first smile to the face of a boy who had lost his father in the towers was witness to a heartwarming mini-miracle.

Photo Credit Andrea Booher, FEMA

The dogs who served during and after 9/11 were shining examples of what has become known as hero dogs.  Along with Whoopi Goldberg, I am co-hosting a tribute evening on behalf of American Humane Association in honor of the search and rescue, therapy, and support dogs who gave of themselves so bravely 10 years ago.  The event in New York on September 8^th will help kick off American Humane Association’s Hero Dog month as we lead up to the official Hero Dog Awards in L.A. on October 1^st.  Click here to find out more about this special event.

There are many of us around the world who are dedicated to helping dogs who can’t help themselves, but I wanted to find a way to help support the extraordinary work being done by organizations that helped dogs who help people, too.  That’s why I created the Victoria Stilwell Foundation, whose mission is to provide behavior advice and financial assistance to canine assistance organizations around the world.  Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation and helping us make the world a better place not just for dogs, but also for the people who rely on them for help.

As we reflect on the loss we suffered ten years ago and how it changed the world we live in, I think it’s also important to look forward and try to identify whatever positives we can glean from the wreckage.  I’m currently filming the 8^th season of It’s Me or the Dog in New York City, and I feel honored to be back in my adopted city as this important anniversary draws near.  We will never forget what happened that day, nor those who gave their lives then and in the years that have followed so that we can live in freedom.

Clockwise from bottom left: Nicole Wilde, Cathy Bruce, Amber Burkhalter, Victoria Stilwell

I love Nicole Wilde.  She is such a lovely woman and a true powerhouse in our collective quest to promote positive training at the expense of dominance and fear-based methods.  I first met her several years ago when she stopped by our house in Atlanta for some dinner while she was in town for one of her popular dog training seminars, and we instantly hit it off.

I recently caught up with Nicole to discuss her latest book, ‘Don’t Leave Me!’ – a fantastic resource for those who have dogs struggling with separation anxiety.  I love this book, and recommend you buy it today if you don’t already have it!

Victoria Stilwell:  What made you decide to write “Don’t Leave Me!”?

Nicole Wilde:  Well, actually, I wasn’t intending to write a book about separation anxiety! But a year after our dogs had crossed over, I found myself searching the shelters for a new family member. I eventually found a wonderful female husky-keeshond mix. When I went to sign the adoption papers, I learned that she’d been impounded four times previously. I now believe that was probably due to a combination of separation anxiety and being a consummate escape artist. After the first year living with Sierra and her separation issues, I realized that a comprehensive book on the subject was warranted. That’s our girl Sierra on the cover!

VS:      What sorts of things did you learn by living full-time with a dog who has separation issues, as opposed to what you already knew as a professional behavior specialist?

NW:    Living with Sierra has given me a much deeper understanding of what owners of dogs with this issue go through. Although I had helped many clients to address separation anxiety over the years, I hadn’t really understood the extent of the emotional turmoil it caused to both dog and owner and the upheaval to one’s lifestyle.

It became important for me to come up with creative management solutions even beyond those I had previously used in my professional practice. Overall, my experiences with Sierra caused me to search beyond the traditional recommendations for addressing the issue, to get creative with solutions, and to become very organized in my approach.

VS:      The book appears to be partly a workbook. Can you talk about that?

NW:    Because the problem of separation anxiety can seem so overwhelming, and because so much of the available information is very general, I wanted to give owners a way to formulate a plan for their own individual dog. The book begins by guiding the reader through a few simple exercises to determine whether their dog has true separation anxiety, is simply acting out of boredom, or has “isolation distress,” meaning they are fine as long as there is another warm body present. In subsequent chapters, owners are assisted in brainstorming management solutions and in creating an appropriate  “Alone Zone” for their dog, and are given step-by-step assistance to formulate a customized treatment plan. Getting it all down on paper helps owners to feel less helpless and overwhelmed, and empowers them by creating a solid plan of action.

VS:      Along with useful exercises such as desensitizing the dog to departure cues, you offer a few different behavior modification protocols. Why not just one?

NW:   Because every dog is starting at a different point along the anxiety continuum. Some dogs become distressed when separated from their owner physically or visually—these are often the “Velcro dogs” who don’t want to let the owner out of their sight, even for a minute! Then there are those who are fine so long as the owner is at home, but become anxious as soon as the owner prepares to leave. Other dogs don’t become upset until the owner is actually gone. So there are different protocols to follow, depending on the particular dog.

VS:      You also discuss complementary tools and therapies that may help. Can you discuss one or two?

NW:    Leaving calming music playing when you are gone is one of the easiest ways to help your dog to relax. This goes beyond the old advice to leave a radio or television playing. Studies have shown that classical music, played with sparse instrumentation at a specific tempo, can have a calming effect on dogs. I recommend the Through a Dog’s Ear CDs, which are psycho-acoustically designed specifically for this purpose—but the chapter also discusses how you can use classical music you have on hand.

Another helpful modality is DAP, or Dog Appeasing Pheromone. This product chemically mimics the pheromones that are given off by a lactating female dog. In addition to being calming to puppies, it is also calming to adult dogs. The product looks like a plug-in air freshener, and you place it in your dog’s main resting area. I’ve had good success with DAP with some of my clients’ dogs. All of the things mentioned in this section, including the natural alternatives to pharmacological drugs, may help and won’t cause harm. They are definitely worth trying, and should be done in conjunction with behavior modification.

VS:      In addition to helping owners, do you feel this book would be particularly helpful to shelters or rescue groups?

NW:    Absolutely! It’s an unfortunate fact that some dogs who are rehomed will have separation issues. I offer deep discounts to shelters and rescue groups. Some organizations hand the books out to adopters of dogs with known separation issues, while others sell them, for example, in on-site humane society gift shops. This is an issue that is very close to my heart, and I want to do whatever I can to help. My hope is that the book will help dogs and their owners, and by doing so, keep dogs in their forever homes.

VS:      Fantastic stuff – thanks so much, Nicole, and I’ll see you in a couple of months!

Purchase “Don’t Leave Me!” and “Help For Your Fearful Dog" in the Positively store.

Earl looked at me with is big brown eyes and his black droopy lips asking, what’s going on?  Where are we?  Howie has been following me from room to room for the last week.  No matter how easy you try and make it your pet feels the confusion and stress of a move as much as you do!  Don’t take it for granted that your dog is not under stress when a household move happens.  Take as many precautions as possible to help them through the difficult and confusing time.

First and foremost get new ID tags BEFORE YOU MOVE and attach them to your pets collar right away. Get to know the veterinarians in your new area and pick one ahead of time if you can.

I feel it is best to board your dog at a familiar kennel for a few days while the packing is underway and the house is getting torn apart.  Think about it, think about what your dog is seeing and he cannot use the human language to tell you of his confusion and fright.  Always put yourself in your dog’s paws and try and see things from his point of view it’s a real eye opener.   What if someone came into your home started pulling things off the walls, putting your belongings into crates and boxes WITH NO EXPLANATION TO YOU? There is no doubt you would be very frightened and freaked out by the overwhelming process that was taking place. That’s how your pet can feel when they are being moved out of their familiar home into a new home.

My next suggestion is plan on boarding your dog on the other end of the move as well until you can get at least two rooms in some kind of order. Your pet needs to have some type of safe area in the new home one that is not full of boxes.  Keep a favorite toy or bed with them at all times.

Remember, even the best-behaved pet may turn into a bit of a door dasher in an unfamiliar house so keep a sharp eye when going in and out until the house becomes “home” to them.  Every dog is different so adjustment time will vary with each dog.

If there is a fenced yard you must walk the perimeter and do a fence check to make sure there are no gaps or holes where your dog could get out.  Making sure your new backyard is secure for your pet is a must.  Do not take it for granted that the yard and fence are secure and safe you must check it. It is best not to leave your dog outside for extended periods of time in a strange yard unsupervised they may try and dig or jump out.  Sometimes owners just assume a yard is a yard and if the dog stays outside at home for extended periods its no different in the new yard.  Don’t make that mistake, your dog does not know where he is yet, this is not “home” he may try and escape if he is feeling overwhelmed.   As each day passes and things settle down so will everyone in the family and soon the strange smelling, funny looking new place will become “home” to everyone.

I have been planning on building a goat/sheep barn for some time. I have drawn plans and have been watching the prices of the 12 foot post that I need. These post range in price from $11.50 to $15.50 so being on the cheap side , I was really keeping an eye on the price.

Last week Lowes had the post on sale for $11.50 each I hustled to the store to purchase the 8 that I needed plus all the other supplies such as 2x4s, nails, and cement.

As it was raining I covered the cement with a tarp for the trip to the farm.  When I arrived at the farm. I then took all the supplies to the area I where I was planning to build the barn; but the cement I took to my small shed where  I had some tools stored. With eighty pounds of cement on my shoulder I placed each bag in the shed in an area that was dry and covered with a tarp.

On Saturday the rain had stopped some so I took off to the farm with the dogs. I started to build  the barn, First set the 2x4s in a perfect square ; then staked up everything so it would be  square and level.

Now I started to dig the post holes. Wow didn’t know that I  had clay that close to the surface of the ground. My arms were just about to break off after 3 holes, the rain had started so I called it a day.

Sunday morning the rain had stopped and it appeared that there would be sunshine even with 25 degrees for the high that day. I took a couple of Advil to help the sore arms and shoulders. Then loaded up the dogs for our day at the farm.

I began to dig the remaining holes with some strong arms, but after the second hole I started to take longer breaks between holes.  Finally I got to the last hole! I must admit I did try to dig that one faster and with out stopping to breath.

Now to cement the poles in the ground, I found I had to walk up hill about 75 yards to the small shed to get an 80 pound sack of cement then tote it back to the area of the new barn. At first I thought “you big stupid” but then some where the mucho man inside of  me said “ this will get you in shape”. So I began to tote each bag to the new barn site , fill the poles holes and level and straighten.

On the fourth or fifth trip to the shed, I might mention that the  shed doorway is 5 foot, I picked up a bag of cement slung it over my shoulder as I had done before, but this time  I stumbled slipped and staggered out the doorway. Did I mention that I am 5 feet 11 inches tall?  I began to fall forward and to gain my balance I stood up. BAM I hit the top to the door way with my head. Down to the ground I went , HARD!   I lay there for a long time hoping that some one would come take the 80 pound sack of cement off me. Or some one would just come see if they could see my brain  as I just knew I had a gapping hole in my head.

Maggie Lucille and Star were to busy searching for some critter so they were no help.  Laying there in the water that had turned to ICE, I realized that I had my cell phone. Help would be on the way soon.  I called my son Bryan who lives only 5-6 miles away, ‘no answer’. I called my wife; who was in town shopping, ‘no answer’  I called my daughter who lives about 38 miles away, ‘no answer’. I called my son who lives in Florida, ’no answer” !!!

The ice was sticking to me by this time, I had  to get the sack of cement off me. I did not want to be found with  80 pounds of cement on me while I was face down in the rain and ice.  What would people think. I rolled and rolled on the ground. Now the dogs come ; they think this is some kind of new training that I am teaching them. A new game, they are now jumping on my back and splashing ice water on me. Why is ‘leave me alone not a command”? I will teach them this command if I can just get this sack of cement off of me I thought as I struggled.

Finally I rolled the sack of cement  off my body. I started to stand, bells, stars, black spots in my eyes, and rain made me stay on the ground.  I sat on  my knees till I could see the truck over there. I could not stand I was just to dang dizzy. So I crawled toward the truck, dang dogs think this is another new game , ( a reminder to self teach “ leave me alone next week”).

With all the strength I had in my sore arms and hands I could gather I reached for the door handle on the truck. Locked! The keys were ’way’ over there by the shed that I had just crawled from.  I crawled back to the shed; dogs jumping on me ( this aint funny you animals). I got the keys; crawled back to the truck (NOT Jumping on a crawling person is also  being taught next week).

I unlocked the truck crawled inside turned on the heater. I sat there for a very long time letting the ice melt from my clothes an face.  When I got to feeling better I found some dry clothes in the truck, I began to towel off the rain from my face to find that it was not rain but BLOOD. ! My blood!  I was bleeding and since it was my blood I was thinking this is very serious.

After adjusting the mirror in two different angles I found I had a huge cut on my head. Still somewhat dizzy and not thinking real well because of the blow to the head and  nearly freezing  I thought I will rip off some of this “duct tape” and plaster on my bleeding head.  First aid on the job site --- I missed that class!

I sat in the truck for an hour or more   before I felt that I could drive home.  I called the dogs ; they piled into the back seat of my truck. Each one of them saw the big splat of duct tape on my bleeding head . Each one of them had to smell or lick my head. I will teach that class next week also.

I drove to the main highway and headed home. I  called my Mom and Dad who might give me some pity. Dad answered the phone on the first ring. I said “ I’m okay”. Dad said “well I am glad to hear that “ he hung up.

So today I am home with a large lump on my head, very large bandage on the top of my head, bruised forehead and burns on my  head where I had to pull the ‘duct tape’ off last night. That removed some the hair on head also. Like I needed less hair.

So the training of ‘leave me alone’ has started and  just so you know “I’m Okay”

Bill McFarlin

Was your first baby a fur-baby? Many dogs accept a new baby without any problems. However, some don’t and some will need a lot of help adjusting to the presence of an infant. Here’re some Tiny Tot ABC’s to help you prevent common problems.

1. Prepare your beloved dog months in advance. Assess, ultra-socialize, train and desensitize before you bring your baby home. Encourage independence and slowly transition primary care-taking duties of your pup to your partner if helpful. Visit your veterinarian to get a wellness exam for your spayed or neutered dog.

2. Never leave a baby or child alone with a dog. Sufficiently provoked, any dog will bite. No dog should be trusted with a small child and no child should be trusted with a dog. The American Veterinary Medical Association has a must-read online brochure: What You Should Know About Dog Bite Prevention (www.avma.org). Your dog may not recognize your newborn as a human member of the family. The best rule may be not to allow the dog into the nursery. Secure it.

Get your FREE DOWNLOAD here and enter the Sweepstakes to win free prizes from Animal Planet star, Victoria Stilwell, by sharing your thoughts and your experience.

3. Personality profile. Assess your dog’s behavior toward infants, toddlers, strangers, as well as reactions to novel items, smells and situations. What’s your dog’s history? Does your dog have small-animal predatory tendencies, guarding behaviors, startle phobia or fear responses? If so, call a professional canine behavioral consultant for an assessment.

4. Address training and behavior issues before the baby arrives. Obedience requirements are: sit, down, stay, come, leave it, and calm leash-walking. Practice using voice-alone instructions with your dog. Train out the behaviors you don’t want. Private, distraction-free training and practice in your home can provide the best results. Don’t play aggressive games with your dog.

5. Learn to read your dog’s body language so you can tell if your dog is experiencing stress  around your baby. Watch for avoidance or fixation, listen for vocalizations and notice how you dog looks when she’s happy. Be sure to provide lots of aerobic exercise. Employ a dog walker if your dog needs more fun!

6. Habituate and desensitize your dog to new baby sounds, gadgets, smells, and various baby routines by role-playing activities such as diaper changing and stroller walks with a doll. Dogs love routines. Check out Preparing Fido, a CD of crying, grunting, bathing, and giggling baby sounds www.preparingfido.com  by the Humane Society of the United States. Everything associated with the baby should become the new normal. You don’t want your dog to be surprised or anxious about having a baby join the family.

7. Socialization to infants and children. Take your people-friendly dog to observe children at play. Encourage friends with infants to visit in order to accustom your dog the presence of babies in the home. Reward your dog with treats and soft praise for remaining calm in order to develop positive associations between them.

8. Create a "Dog Zone" sanctuary and a "Baby Zone". Enclose gated areas to keep them safely separated so both you and your dog can relax and your baby is safe.

9. Introduce your dog to your baby in a slow, gradual fashion. When coming home from the hospital, have Mommy come into the house alone and calmly greet the dog. Then put the dog on a leash and ask for a sit or down. Have your partner come in with the baby and either retreat to another room and save introductions for later, or if your dog looks relaxed, walk your dog calmly and slowly toward the baby and let him sniff the baby’s toes---not the face. Make it a non-event. Ideally, your dog will not be overly interested in the baby. Help your dog experience the arrival of the baby as a good thing.

Photo Courtesy of Cara Shannon, Dog Bite Expert, Mom, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Trainer

According to renowned veterinarian Dr. Nicholas Dodman, “Share your attention with the dog when the baby is around.” This will help endear your baby to your dog and prevent “sibling” rivalry.

10. Seek professional help anytime you have concerns about interactions between your dog and family members, displays of aggressive, or guarding behaviors of items or people, sudden changes in your dog’s behavior, or conflict between dogs in the home. These problems need immediate intervention.

Ideally, parents ought to add a dog to the family after the children have reached the age of five but often that’s not the way life unfolds. Achieving harmony through proper preparation should have your fur-baby as happy as a lark to go for a stroller walk with you and your new baby!

Resources: Renowned dog and baby specialist, Colleen Pelar’s, Living with Kids and Dogs may be found at: www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com/. Her website is filled with helpful articles, an advice column and more. Attend a Dogs and Babies seminar or arrange for a private consultation in your home. And don’t forget www.DogsandStorks.com.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

My rabbit sprayed urine in my face this morning.

Now what on earth does this have to do with dog training you may ask?  Hear me out.  So after cleaning my face, swallowing my frustration that while I was reaching in to feed my rabbits their beloved pellet breakfast, Smokey decided to spray me in the face, I decided to do some research.  My first question was “why” and my second question was “why then?”  Turns out that male rabbits can develop a tendency to spray urine to mark territory or if they feel threatened.   That somewhat answered my “why” question and the more I thought about it I realized my ritual of moving around food bowls and refilling water in the morning could absolutely lead Smokey to feel threatened OR territorial.

So where am I going with this?  I’d like to talk about empathy for a moment as it relates to our pets, namely our dogs.  Showing empathy is identifying with another’s feelings or emotionally putting yourself in the place of another.  Once I started thinking about why my rabbit Smokey might be spraying me (regardless of whether it was territorial or fear based) I started having empathy for him and I was not as frustrated.

One of the most fulfilling components of my job working with dogs and owners is helping them answer some of the possible “whys” of the dog’s behavior they might be frustrated about.  The owner can then put themselves in the dog’s shoes and try to look at the reality from the dog’s perspective.  I think empathy is a must in any good relationship and this point was driven home to me recently with a young client I was working with.  She could not empathize with the fear her young dog was experiencing and the behaviors that were associated with that fear.  In her words, the dog should just “get over it.”  Wow.  If someone were to put me in a room with a snake and deal with my fear by telling me to just “get over it” I would probably have some choice words for them!  I wonder how many times our dogs have some choice words they would like to say to us when we refuse to empathize with where they are coming from.

If you Google “empathy towards dogs” what you come up with is a long list of articles and essays on whether or not dogs are empathetic towards humans.  There is great research being done on this topic, but what surprised me was the lack of articles on what I was actually looking for which was writings on “human” empathy towards dogs.  It is an important element, not to be overlooked in the relationship between dog and owner.  It is sometimes easiest to walk into a shelter and feel empathic for the dog without a home, but when we turn our thoughts onto that unwanted behavior that our OWN dog displays at home, are we
able to afford them the same empathy?  I hope it is something we all strive to do, but it involves us sometimes having to put our own feelings of frustration or aggravation aside and trying to see things from the dog’s perspective.  At the end of the day this will lend itself to a greater understanding and better relationship with the wonderful canine companions we share our lives with.

Call it the human condition.  We often  take the ones we love most for granted.  Until she was gone, perhaps I never quite appreciated how wonderful our little dog Lucy was.  However, there are many who do – and likely will never forget the joy Lucy brought to their lives.

“Wha hoo” says Lucy, our miniature Australian Shepherd, as walked into the large gymnasium-sized room at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.  Lucy spent eight years at the direction of medical professionals to help stroke, spinal cord injury and burn injury victims as a part of an animal assisted therapy program.

When Lucy walked into a room – everyone knew it, as she announced her entrance.  I was embarrassed and worked to correct this attention-seeking behavior.  But it was an effort in futility.  Lucy’s “Wha-hoo” sparked laugher.  What could I do?   And really, why would I?  A part of her function turned out to be simply to help people to laugh, who might not have had a reason to for a long time.

Once our animal assisted therapy assignment was to help a little boy – about 12 years old – to better use his voice by calling to Lucy from the other side of the large gymnasium-sized room.  Thing is, the boy was afraid of dogs.  Why would he ever want to call a dog who he was afraid of?

I tried telling a few jokes, and told the boy Lucy likes jokes and will laugh:

Q: What do you call a joking duck?

A:  wise-quacker!

Each time I told a joke, Lucy, would howl “Wha hoo.”

The jokes didn’t make the boy laugh, but Lucy did. And within 10 minutes, Lucy somehow broke the ice…and the boy quietly began to ask Lucy to “sit” or “roll over.” He was amazed that she listened to him. Lucy knew over a dozen little tricks, from “playing dead” to jumping through hoops.

Lucy visited the Rehab Institute weekly, and each week the boy seemed to gain more confidence and have more fun. We were told, he had two photos in his room, one was Michael Jordan, then with the Chicago Bulls and another was of Lucy.

In four weeks the boy achieved the assigned goal from the medical professionals – which was to call Lucy from other side of the room.  The following week, the boy called her so often – we had to stop him; he was exhausting poor Lucy.

The week after that, the little boy wasn’t there.  My wife Robin and I were worried because sometimes, in truth, the stories don’t always have happy endings.  One of the physical therapists came up to us in tears.

We thought, ‘Oh no.”

The therapist walked right by Robin and me, and went straight to Lucy with a cookie, and said “thank you.”  She then hugged us, and tearfully told us the little boy went home much sooner than expected, She credited Lucy.

The wonders of animal assisted therapy are mind boggling but definitive. No one knows how dogs like Lucy wiggle their way into the hearts of people – adults and kids - and somehow achieve success when medical professionals cannot.

Lucy wasn’t a dog who liked to snuggle, except for when she was working– and her job was to sit next to sick child – which she would do as long as asked.

Sometimes Lucy’s animal assisted therapy successes were dramatic, sometimes more subtle.  No doubt there are families who still tell stories of the little dog who made them smile, or helped them on their way to recovery.

Lucy came to us as an 8-week-old blue-merle puppy.  Lucy was – named for Lucille Ball – so, no wonder she made people laugh.  I can’t count how many times with a group of children, I’d ask them to holler the name of a language, any language – German, Swahili, whatever…  My contention was that Lucy could speak them all.  And somehow, without any discernable cue from me, Lucy would “Wha-hoo” as they’d offer up a language.

So one child may offer Japanese, and Lucy would “Wha-hoo”.

Then another, say Australian, and Lucy would reply “Wha-hoo.”

I am telling you – I am sure I was giving her some cue, but honestly, after a time I had no idea what that was.  Lucy just knew it was time to play this game.

Lucy was euthanized May 2, just a few weeks shy of her 16^th birthday.  Our veterinarian commented, “She was lucky to have you and Robin.”  Actually, we were lucky to have the little funny dog who made people laugh.

To honor our dog, the American Humane Association has created the Lucy Fund, to provide recognition and assistance to animal assisted therapy dog dogs.  American Humane is also naming an award in Lucy’s honor at the Hero Dog Awards. Please consider contributing to help all dogs who do this important work:   www.americanhumane.org/lucy.

LOVE HAS NO AGE LIMIT

I recently had the chance to catch up with my friend and dog training guru Dr. Patricia McConnell to chat about her latest book, Love Has No Age Limit.  Love this woman and what she does!

Victoria With Dr. Patricia McConnell

Victoria Stilwell:   Hi Patricia!  So glad you could find a few minutes to talk to me about your new book (which I love, by the way.)  As you know, you have been a huge influence on me as a dog trainer and I’m honored to be able to talk dog with you!

Patricia McConnell:  The honor is all mine, Victoria, it’s a joy to talk to someone who has done so much to promote humane (and effective!) dog training.

VS:  Why did you and your co-author, Karen London, decide to write Love Has No Age Limit?

PM:  We wrote the book to both encourage adoptions and, as importantly, to increase the percentage of successful ones. We’ve both had many clients over the years who adopted dogs from shelters and rescues who needed some guidance about how to transition their adopted dog from “new dog” to “best dog ever.”

VS:  Have you found that dogs from shelters or rescue groups have a special set of problems that need to be addressed?

PM:  In some ways, no. We’ve met (and adopted!) so many adolescent and adult dogs who were great dogs, really fantastic ones. However, it IS a bit different bringing home a dog who is not a puppy anymore, and it helps to have one’s expectations aligned with reality.

VS:  What have you found are the primary differences between bringing home a young puppy versus adopting a dog who is a bit older?

PM:  One important thing to keep in mind is that a dog who is “house trained” in one home doesn’t necessarily transfer that behavior to your home. Even well-trained, older dogs need to be watched carefully for the first few days so that they understand where to find the restroom. Take them out often and give them treats for relieving themselves outside so that they catch on before they establish a bad habit.

Another important tip is to remember that once a dog is no longer a puppy he or she doesn’t have an automatic “following” response. Too often adopters bring home a dog and expect it to jump out of the car and follow them into the house. We advise being

extremely cautious at first when you bring home a new dog: be sure the leash is on and in your hand before the dog leaves the car, and don’t assume that, if you have one,  your backyard fence is “dog-proof” without doing a careful check before you let the dog loose in it.

And overwhelmingly, the most important attribute to making an adoption work is to be patient! Just as puppies need months or years to learn the rules of the house, remember that your new dog needs time to get to know you and to settle in and feel at home. He or she also needs the humane and effective kind of training that you role model Victoria, to be a polite member of the family. Just because a dog isn’t a puppy doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to learn what you expect of it.

VS:  Some people have told me that they are resistant to adopting a dog from a shelter or humane society because the dog must have something wrong with it. Do dogs from shelters have more behavioral problems than other dogs?

PM:  Absolutely not. That doesn’t mean that every dog who needs a home is perfect, but there are so many wonderful dogs out there looking for homes. It’s true that they’ll need training and guidance to learn to fit into your household, but one of my best dogs ever came from a shelter, the one I renamed Lassie because she was the dog everyone wants but doesn’t deserve!

VS:  It certainly is a fantastic book, but I know that most shelters and rescue groups are strapped for money. Can they afford to give it out to adopters?

PM:  We worked very hard to create a book that is priced far, far below the usual retail cost for a book its size, so that shelters and rescue groups could afford to give it out with every dog they adopt. That’s been super successful --- a Golden Retriever rescue group (GRIN) in Ohio bought 500, and we’ve heard from lots of people who are buying multiple copies and donating them to their shelter. We want to do all that we can to help find homeless dogs their forever homes!

VS:  Fantastic.  Thanks so much, Patricia, and best of luck with the new book – it certainly is a valuable addition to your terrific catalog.  See you soon!

For more information about Dr. McConnell, go to www.patriciamcconnell.com

CLICK HERE to visit the Positively Store where you can buy Love Has No Age Limit and Dr. McConnell's other bestseller (and one of my favorite dog books - The Other End of the Leash.

Certified Humane

By Lisa Spector, Canine Music Expert, Juilliard Graduate, and co-creator of Through a Dog’s Ear.

I noticed the top of the Brown Cow yogurt I recently purchased. It read "We're Certified Humane". I continued to read, "Our farmers have always treated their cows with kindness. But, now that we're certified humane, you can be certain the ladies enjoy ample space, shelter, gentle handling, healthy food, clean water, and a safe living environment."

I reflected on those words and wondered if that phrase could also be used with dog trainers. Just imagine, if a trainer uses science based, positive-reinforcement training, everything associated them would say, "I'm certified humane." A further expanded explanation could read, "My dogs and the dogs in my training classes and lessons have always been treated with kindness. But, now that we're certified humane, you can be certain that they are treated gently, are encouraged to make good choices and are rewarded well for those choices, are not seen as something to dominate,  are taught very patiently, while their people are supported in building bonding relationships with their dogs."

Of course, if you are a Victoria Stilwell licensed trainer (VSPDT), you will likely have the Positively sign to the right (or something similar) on your website, so it will be obvious. Otherwise, it's not always so clear. I try and be very selective in who I follow on Twitter, and often can't tell what training methods a professional trainer uses by looking at their website. Trainers who use dominate based training methods often use deceptive words that could misguide potential clients. And dog lovers in search of a trainer may not know what science based/ reward based/positive reinforcement training really is all about. And the initials KPA, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, CDBC, CDAC might as well be in Greek to some of them.

What do you think? What words could be used to make it clear what kind of training method a trainer uses? Should a trainer that uses dominate based training methods be required to say so? And should there be a certification that would allow trainers to post a sign that says "We're Certified Humane", if they use positive reinforcement training? If you are a trainer, I'd love to hear what words you use to describe your training methods. Thanks for sharing your comments below.

As co-founder of Through a Dog’s Ear, I am offering my readers a free download from our latest release, Music to Calm your Canine Companion, Vol. 3. Simply click here and enter your email address and a link to the free download will be delivered to your inbox for you and your canine household to enjoy.

To some dog owners, the issue of vaccination is controversial—should it even be done? But to anyone living in developing country where most dogs and cats are not vaccinated or to anyone unlucky enough to see an outbreak, the issue is a no brainer. Take the following historical case in point.

Unknown infectious agent drops dogs in droves.
It was a scorching 90 degrees and the young stockbroker, in a hurry to reach the comfort of his air-conditioned house, was taking a short cut through the park. The area looked pristine, but little did he know, thousands of microscopic organisms were collecting on his shoes. They weren't after him. He was just their transport. What they really wanted were his two pups. And they would wreak havoc with them when they met.
"I was vacationing in Cape Cod when it hit," says Dr. Leland Carmichael, a veterinary virologist at the Baker Institute of Animal Health at Cornell University. I received an urgent call from my lab. 'There's something strange going on here,' says my associate Dr. Max Appel. 'We're being inundated with fecal samples.'
That July 1978, dogs were dropping in droves to an epidemic of diarrhea the likes of which had never been seen. Veterinarians all over the U.S. were sending samples to Carmichael's lab in hopes that the watery excrement held the clue to the mysterious outbreaks. Carmichael and Appel evaluated the samples under the electron microscope, a gargantuan magnifying device, and in record time they had a suspect. It looked surprisingly familiar. Like a cat virus they knew well. And after further tests, they knew for sure it was a relative. A new virus. They dubbed it Canine Parvovirus.
Identifying the beast was only the first step. With diarrhea in adult dogs spreading across the U.S. and a more fatal form showing up in young puppies -- sudden death due to heart failure -- Carmichael and company were under the gun. "We dropped all other research," says Carmichael, "and embarked on a crash program, directing all our resources to the new virus." They needed to know more about the virus so they could find a way to stop its lightening spread.
The task proved challenging. The virus replicated quickly and was passed easily through diarrhea. Plus, it was practically impossible to kill. The particles could live in the environment for months and were resistant to most disinfectants other than bleach. This meant that anyone and anything traveling through an infected area could transport the virus. As a result, even kennels and households with no history of contact from outside dogs suddenly spiked disease.
In the following months, Carmichael's lab was flooded with over 10,000 telephone queries and thousands of cases were diagnosed from samples from around the world. But luckily, by October things were slowing down. The virus was highly infective with possibly hundreds of thousands of dogs falling ill, but only about 5% died. Because those that recovered were immune, the population was gaining a natural immunity to the disease. New cases mostly involved puppies.
This natural immunity didn't stop the disease though. While the first commercial vaccines were marketed in 1981, they weren't in time for a second more deadly wave of disease in 1980. This time fewer dogs were affected but more died. The virus had mutated to a more deadly form affecting primarily dogs under five months of age and killing whole litters of younger puppies.

Preventing parvovirus infection by vaccinating
Today we have a number of good vaccines against parvovirus and we no longer see nationwide outbreaks. However, every year, hospitals see micro outbreaks and occasionally large outbreaks of over 100 dogs occur, especially at shelters. In fact, if you work at a shelter, you are likely to see an outbreak of distemper or Parvovirus at least every several years. And infectious disease is such a prominent issue at shelters that there’s now a well-established specialty in veterinary medicine called shelter medicine. The veterinary specialists in focus on keeping large groups of animals healthy rather than just focusing on the individual. They set up programs and make choices that ultimately keep more animals safe. Even in the absence of actual outbreaks, many individual cases or Parvo infection occur. In 2009 one of Oprah Winfrey’s puppies died of Parvovirus infection after staying at an animal shelter in Chicago. (http://www.examiner.com/pets-in-boston/oprah-s-dog-dies-from-parvo-dog-owners-urged-to-get-their-dogs-vaccinated-for-parvovirus)

Why does parvovirus still persist?
Parvovirus persists because the virus is highly infectious and difficult to destroy. Infected dogs shed millions of virus particles in their feces and potential victims need only ingest a small amount to become infected. New victims can become sick within 4-7 days of exposure. Secondly, although vaccines are available, not all vaccines are equally good. This is where your veterinarian comes in.
Lastly, many dog owners still fail to get their puppies vaccinated and this is the most common cause of outbreaks. Puppies need to be vaccinated in a series of shots every 3-4 weeks starting around 6-8 weeks of age and extending to 14-16 weeks—longer in susceptible breeds such as Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers. Adult dogs who've never been vaccinated may need a series of two shots to start off, although one administration of parvovirus vaccine is considered to be protective. Both groups should have regular boosters—the American Animal Hospital Association recommends not more than every 3 years. Alternatively, individuals can have their titers taken to see whether they need a booster yet.

How do you tell if your dog has Parvovirus?
Dogs rarely develop heart disease from parvo now, but if your puppy develops vomiting or diarrhea or suddenly becomes listless take him to your veterinarian immediately. He or she can diagnose the disease using a specific diagnostic test. Many diseases can cause diarrhea but parvo is the number one cause in dogs under six months of age. If your dog does have parvo, expect an extended hospital visit. Treatment often requires intensive hospital care including fluids, antibiotics and even a blood transfusion. The total stay can last days and sometimes several weeks and even then, cure is not guaranteed.

To find out why puppies need multiple vaccinations, read Puppy Vaccinations: Why Puppies Need a Series of Shots.

Have you ever had a pet or seen a pet get parvo?

A couple of weeks ago the whole of Britain was furious to hear that two police dogs had died after being left in a hot car.
Instantly that policeman became the number one most hated person in Britain, replacing the woman who had put a cat in the trash!

But instead of stewing in negativity a campaign was born on Twitter to promote a zero tolerance of leaving dogs unattended in hot cars.

Many years ago the RSPCA did a demo of how hot a Volvo estate gets even with the tailgate up and all the windows down. They proved that within a very short period a dog actually starts cooking. Designer Judith Broug gave her expertise for free and Dogs Today magazine picked up the bill on printing 50,000 car stickers and 1,500 posters that graphically got across this message. Actor and author Stephen Fry added his name to mix with a spectacular reTweet to his 2.98 million Twitter army and the rest is history! The striking car sticker has already been translated into many languages. One of Britain’s top PR agencies agreed to work on the campaign too  pro-bono - or should that be Pro Bonio!

If you would like a free car sticker or a poster, click herefor the latest news!

We would love charities and doggie people to really support this campaign worldwide and would be very keen to share the artwork so people can have their own stickers printed – we have found a very good printer and we can arrange bulk printing at cost for anyone wanting more than 5,000 stickers. We are just as happy to send people as few as 15 for the price of the postage via our site. Please do spread the word and stop anymore dogs having a horrible and avoidable death.

Dog/dog Aggression: There’s nothing pet parents like better than socializing with their dog in the summer sun. There are, however, two important questions to ask: “Is it safe?” and “Is my dog really having fun?” Your dog speaks to you through body language--ear and tail carriage, stance, behavior and vocalizations. Perhaps your dog is telling you she is experiencing an overload of stress when confronted with other dogs. If so, avoid any potentially dangerous situations while you begin a science-based behavior modification program.

Photo Courtesy of Cindy Staszak

Displays of aggression between members of the same species are common in animals. Conflicts over resources, such as, food, territory, and access to others are well-supported in animal behavior literature. Still, we often expect our dogs to play-nice with “stranger dogs” in group situations and out on neighborhood strolls. Rules of appropriate behavior in dog society are quite different than human manners. You may need to reexamine your expectations and goals for your pup. If your dog exhibits generalized dog/dog aggression, it’s unlikely he’ll turn into a social butterfly.

Genetics, early socialization or the lack of exposure during the critical period of social development, and traumatic experiences, shape how your dog interacts with other dogs. Play between dogs should be a 2-way street. They should take turns chasing each other--neither dog being a bully or a target.

Dog/dog aggression can be a dangerous problem for you, your dog, other dogs, and anyone who tries to break up a dog fight. If your dog has an aggression issue of any kind, get a wellness check from your veterinarian to rule out any underlying organic causes that may be affecting behavior.

If your dog has bitten another dog or been in a number of dog fights, engage a certified behavioral consultant to help you work toward changing your dog’s underlying drives and motivation. A complete intake evaluation should be given in order to develop a plan of treatment based on your dog’s history. It’s a complex problem and each case requires an individual approach to assess on-leash aggression, off-leash aggression, territorial aggression, fear-based aggression, fence-barrier aggression, resource guarding aggression, bite hierarchies, ameliorating factors and context.

The amount of time it takes to see improvement varies depending on the severity of the reactivity, your dog’s responsiveness to training, and the amount of time you devote to practicing behavior modification protocols.

Behavior modification techniques that include: desensitization, behavior adjustment therapy (BAT), functional rewards, Feisty Fido and clicker training will help you and your pup have a safe and happy summer together. Avoid harsh methods or collars that cause pain as they increase fear and anxiety and may cause aggression (Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2006).

A realistic goal for you and your dog may be taking your dog for a pleasant walk in the neighborhood without any barking and lunging incidents. If your dog shows signs of anxiety with “stranger dogs”, it’s all right to skip the group activities and play at home The booklet Play Together, Stay Together by Dr’s. Patricia B. McConnell and Karen London is packed with great games for the two of you. Supervised play-dates with doggies friends may be another alternative. Stay safe this summer and have fun with your dog!

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com 

Originally published by San Diego Pets Magazine. Publisher Casey Dean. All rights reserved.

Because I am a concert pianist, the delightful video above has arrived in my inbox dozens of times. No matter how many times I watch it, it always brings a smile to my face. It is part of the  Volkswagen “Fun Theory,” based on the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better. I chuckled when I read those words and watched a few more of the winning videos in their contest, as I realized that is what positive reinforcement dog training is all about.

In summary, instead of correcting dogs for the behavior you don’t want, you reward them for behavior you do want. What naturally happens when you reward the behaviors you want? You get more behaviors you want, of the dog’s own free will, and consequently it’s a lot more fun for both canine and their human counterpart.

But, how does that relate to Volkswagen and their Fun Theory? Well, it’s exactly the same thing, but applied to people. Before the stairs were turned into a musical keyboard, a hidden camera revealed that almost everyone took the escalator. But, when the musical keyboard was installed, people were curious and it became so much more fun to take the stairs than the escalator. They were benefiting from the exercise without even realizing it, because they were just having fun making music while climbing stairs. Most adults are aware that it’s better for their health to take the stairs instead of the elevator, but previously the reward for taking the stairs just wasn’t very enticing without a fun factor. With the musical addition, they are rewarded with music making and fun!

The video above, that won first place in the Volkswagen Fun Theory contest, demonstrates my point even clearer. Kevin Richardson won 1st place with The Speed Camera Lottery video. He knows that the number of people speeding isn’t reduced by giving more speeding tickets. In dog training language that would be the equivalent of expecting a dog’s unwanted behaviors to decrease by punishing those behaviors. It may work in the short term, but rarely in the long haul and often escalates into additional undesired behaviors.

Similarly, when people receive a speeding ticket, they are more apt to pay attention to their speedometers short term, but it’s not sustainable behavior. However, when they are rewarded for their good behavior by being entered in a lottery for keeping the speed limit, they are more likely to continue driving under the speed limit, by their own free choice. And they have fun in the process, because they are being rewarded for their good driving behavior. Where do their lottery winnings come from? The people who were caught speeding! Brilliant!

Can you think of any areas in your life where you’ve been more apt to change a behavior because you were rewarded for your desired behavior rather than corrected for your unwanted behavior? Thanks for leaving your reply below.

As co-founder of Through a Dog's Ear, I am offering my Positively readers a free download from our latest release, Music to Calm your Canine Companion, Vol. 3. Simply click here and enter your email address and a link to the free download will be delivered to your inbox for you and your canine household to enjoy.

What looks like a jelly bean but feels like a gummi bear? No it's not something edible. It's a testicular implant for dogs.

While some of you may find the idea laughable, this product is no joke. In 1995, inventor Gregg Miller developed these oblong tidbits of glory called Neuticles® and already 425,000 pets sport the implants worldwide. The hotspots for insertion in the U.S. are Texas, California, and Florida in that order—one can only guess why. Oddly enough, England used to lead the way internationally, but recent bans on any type of plastic surgery have resulted in a sharp drop in sales there.

Neuticles® come in a plethora of different sizes ranging from the minute version for one to three pound dogs to the gargantuan 3 inch by 6 inch Neuticles for bulls. But don't even think of swapping for the next size up. Even when using the appropriate size things can get kinda crowded. Dr. Robert Arrick, of Park Animal Hospital in San Francisco placed neuticles in a Rottweiler and describes the implants as "a tight fit," which accounts for the procedure taking him well over the two to three minutes described in the instruction manual.

Despite this fit, the testicle switch is relatively easy. A veterinarian simply makes the discrete exchange during the regular neutering process. As with regular neutering, it's a relatively low-pain, quick recovery job. And, even with the Neuticle originals, made of polypropylene which gives them a rock hard feel, the dog looks the same and owners are satisfied. There's only one downfall says the inventor, "In a few dogs, you occasionally hear a thunk when they sit."

But there's a way around that. For owners who are really picky, there are NeuticleNaturals® which are made of FDA-approved solid silicone for a softer, almost rubbery, feel. Having this more natural version can cost up to four times more than using the originals, but let me tell you, when it comes to natural feel.....Okay. Okay. I've never actually felt the product, but Miller assures me that they're almost like the real thing. The dogs can't tell the difference, but then again they were just as satisfied with the hard plastic version. More importantly, most owners can't tell the difference, though Miller admits that an owner once called him to complain, "They don't feel just like the old ones."

Who needs Neuticles®?
This all brings up the question: Who are the 425,000 people whose dogs are happily wearing fake symbols of their manhood?

Could they be an underground group of show dog enthusiasts who want to secretly neuter their dogs and then illegally compete with them in American Kennel Club conformation shows? Well, that wouldn't be very lucrative, nor would it be effective since any competent judge could distinguish a fake pair of family jewels from the real McCoy. So who does that leave? Well, for one, Kim Kardashian. In 2010 she had her wayward wondering boy Boxer, Rocky, neutered, and Neuticles® placed. Surprisingly she chose the smaller sized pair of Neuticles®. According to one report, “she doesn’t like big balls on dogs, or anything else.”

But are celebrities and other plastic surgery buffs the only ones who would go for this? No, the answer lies all around us. According to Dr. Cynthia Edleman, a Castro Valley veterinarian who's placed Neuticles® in a number of dogs, they're just regular people who want their male dog to look the same after surgery. These clients include women as well as men and their dogs range from pit bulls to pugs.

So maybe these are just every-day people like you and me,? Not quite. These are a more dedicated group of people willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure their male dog remains male-looking. For without Neuticles®, these owners would have braved the behavior of a dog at the mercy of its hormones. They would have repeatedly forgiven Rover for demonstrating his sexual prowess on inanimate objects. They would have endured the scene he made upon sighting other male dogs. They would have coped with his frequent attempts to escape in search of "female company" even though such breakouts could easily lead to a fatal rendezvous with the front end of a moving car.

Why risk all this?
Many are concerned that their dogs will experience "post neuter trauma," a term coined by Miller to describe the mythical condition where a male dog is depressed due to losing a familiar body part. The truth is dogs are not as intimate with certain private body parts as some members of our two-legged species might suspect. In fact, once fully recovered from anesthesia, Rover usually continues on with his happy, carefree life as if his "hormone-secreting friend" had never existed.

What do veterinarians think?
Because of its purely cosmetic use, many veterinarians find Neuticle® insertion an odd request, but because it's the only way some people will opt for the birth control procedure, veterinarians are becoming more open to their use. "We don't offer Neuticles® to every client as a matter of course," says Dr. Dean Beyerinck of Irving Street Veterinary Hospital, "but if we're really trying to convince a client to have his or her dog neutered, we mention it."

And what do I think?
While I would never use them on one of my own pets, if they cut down on the number of dogs my colleagues and I have to euthanize for the animal shelter due to pet overpopulation, then bring them on.

Can dogs with Neuticles® still have sex? Read "Can Neutered Dogs Still Have Sex" to find out!

by Sophia Yin, DVM, MS Revised from a San Francisco Chronicle article pet column article that originally ran in October 1999

During my feverish four years as a veterinary student, unexpected nontraditional lessons occasionally came my way and left an everlasting effect on me and how I practice my profession. One especially shocking lesson that still sticks out in my mind hit me during my final year.

It was during internal medicine rotation when a prominent veterinary reproduction specialist spoke his words of wisdom.
Out of the blue he said, “Instead of breeding their pets, people who want their children to witness the miracle of life should have another child, then they can invite their children and the neighborhood kids to witness the birth.”

Sounds like a joke but he was dead serious, and rightly so. He’d just received a call from an owner whose pregnant dog had consumed one of its newly born pups. The family kids and their friends had eagerly taken their front row seats around the dog’s make-shift birthing box several hours earlier. The promised event never came to pass though, as the female Fido’s stage fright helped to abnormally lengthen her labor. Finding the suspense too long to bear, the kids were sent home and to bed just in time to miss the birth and post-birthing mishap.

The Miracle of Life May Teach an Unexpectedly Dark Lesson
Every year pet owners breed their dogs, cats, rats, mice—whatever animal is at hand— in the name of educating their children about the miracle of life. What they don’t realize is that not only can they be contributing to pet overpopulation, but the lessons their kids might be learning could be much darker than anything they imagined.

For instance, they might learn that not all animal moms make good mothers. For some females the maternal instincts don’t kick in the first year. These young moms don’t recognize the offspring as being related to them any more than you’d recognize a coconut as your cousin. Some are even afraid of the little youngsters and flee as if running from a fire. Others are openly aggressive to the surprise intruders treating them as if they are there to steal their babies instead of be their babies. This twist in maternal instincts may last just the first year or may be that particular mom’s modus operandi. In any case, it means that humans will have to provide intensive nursing care, which, let me tell you, is only fun for about the first half hour.

Lesson two might be about infanticide. Sometimes animal moms made nervous by a hoard of watchful human eyes respond by killing their infant. In other cases this murderous trait may be a special characteristic of the species. Lions have long been known to kill their own kind. When a gang of males overthrows the reigning royalty, they eventually knock-off all existing cubs. This brings the lionesses back into breeding season so that the murderous males can mate, producing offspring of their own. In domestic cats a similar sight has been recorded by researchers, at least once or twice. In one case an unfamiliar tomcat made a visit to a nest shared by four female cats. Like a hired gun, he silently shook six kittens by the back of the neck and would have killed more if the mothers hadn’t driven him away.

Lesson three might be that while the breeding may be free, the veterinary care is not. This is no problem if all goes unusually well. In the perfect scenario, veterinary pre-pregnancy exams, radiographs or ultrasounds, and then examination and vaccination for youngsters before they go to their homes would be the only veterinary fees to pay. But if your pug or Persian needs a C-section or a litter of pups gets parvovirus, animals may die and you may be out the cost equivalent of several wide screen TVs. Even without one of the common catastrophes, minor problems, such as skin rashes or upper respiratory disease can cause bills to quickly add up too as can prescreening tests for common hereditary diseases that you would not want to pass on to an unsuspecting adopter.

Birth is a Miracle but What’s the Value on Life?
Perhaps the most troubling lesson the kids might learn is about what happens to the youngsters that are produced. With 3-4 million dogs and cats euthanized in animal shelters a year (ASPCA) finding a home for randomly bred pets can be a serious task. Should you give them away like hand-me-down clothes to anyone who can pay a few bucks, or can you take the time to screen potential owners as if they’re adopting a precious life? Have you done your homework and checked both parents beforehand for common hereditary diseases so you are providing healthy pets? If the pups or kittens crop up with congenital or hereditary diseases the new owners may be heartbroken or they may expect you to take responsibility by refunding their money and replacing their new pet. And what if you can’t find homes or the new owner-animal pair is a poor match? Will the puppy or kitten go to the pound where it is likely to meet a sorry fate?

With all of the things that could go wrong, if you’re unprepared or you choose the easy and inexpensive solution, by breeding your pet you may be teaching your kids the wrong lesson. You may be teaching them that birth is a miracle but life after birth is cheap.

My recommendations is that if you want your kids to witness the miracle of birth, either adopt a pregnant cat or dog into your home from the shelter and then view the entire event by web cam or go to Netflix and download a video.

To see the type of socialization, care, and training that goes into raising a puppy or kitten before and after it's adopted out, read Perfect Puppy in 7 Days.

Does your dog bark while running in circles, bay at the moon, bark at bugs, or scare your visitors out of their boots?

Dogs bark to repel intruders, for attention, during play, as an outlet for energy, or in separation distress. Barking is as natural a vocalization for dogs as speaking is for humans. Basic barking is normal, but incessant barking may indicate an unhappy dog that has developed a behavior problem. Here’re some non-aversive training tips to help bring some peace and quiet to your home.

First, identify why your dog is barking. Then address each trigger separately. Either remove or modify the trigger, teach your dog to do something other than bark when triggered, or decrease your dog’s sensitivity to the trigger in order to decrease the frequency and intensity of barking. Teach your dog early that barking is not rewarded. If you have a multiple-dog household there is often an instigator, so train each dog separately starting with “you know who”.

Remember this important Learning Principle: Behaviors that are rewarded increase in frequency, so reward your dog with attention, affection or treats only when she is calm.

Photo Courtesy of Cindy Staszak

Alarm Barking
Desensitize so that the doorbell no longer warns “scary stranger is here” but proclaims “cookie-friend is here". Have visitors carry treats. Mount a treat bag on your doorknob that reads, “Please feed the animal”. If you’re home, interrupt and redirect your dog to another location. For example, call your dog and ask for a quiet “sit” in front of the refrigerator, give a treat for a “down/stay” in the dog bed, or easiest of all, throw treats out in to the backyard where your pup will focus his energy on grazing rather than barking.

Alternatively, put your dog in a time-out until she calms herself down. Again, calm behavior gets the attention and treats, whereas barking doesn’t. Please see see Dr. Sophia Yin’s video on Counter-conditioning to change emotional response on her YouTube page or website.

For outdoor noises try an audio blocker such as background TV or stereo and desensitize by pairing treats with the trigger sound. If dogs passing by or squirrels out in the yard set your dog off, rearrange and manage your dog’s location so there's a visual blocker rather than a “guard station” where your dog stalks, sits or lies in wait. Provide your dog with novel stimuli to replace guarding activities and plenty of exercise to relieve pent-up energy.

Demand Barking
Never give in to: “I want treat, I want you, I want outside” barking. If you provide the desired item or any reinforcement you’re teaching your dog to repeat the behavior over and over again. Reward for quiet and well-mannered behavior, but turn away or walk away in response to barking.

Photo Courtesy of Cindy Staszak

What Not to Do
The use of citronella collars, spray bottles, shouting or shaking cans of marbles near delicate ear structures have undesirable side-effects. Punishment may incite yourdog to aggress, become fearful, damage your relationship, and nurture a negative association/relationship with whatever or whoever your dog is barking at. We want your dog to calm down, not totter on the brink of aggression, or to shut down. Never punish her for barking--next time she may forego the bark and just bite.

Your dog is smart and will learn what you “teach” her. Learning how to communicate in a language your dog can understand is the key to the wonderful relationship you’ve always dreamed of with your dog.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published San Diego Pets Magazine, Casey Dean, Publisher. All rights reserved.

This animation may seem shocking to some; however according to studies published in the journals American Surgeon and Pediatrics a majority of injuries in kids are to the neck and face. Furthermore dog bites are not uncommon. Nearly a million people—both adults and kids—are bitten badly enough to require a hospital visit.

To some people the bites may seem out of the blue, but to those in the know, the causes are obvious.

Says Dianne Fabretti, a registered veterinary technician for the Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation, “We read [bite reports] and it tends to be people don’t know body language of animals [and] they don’t exhibit proper behavior to the animals so the animal behaves as an animal.”

She emphasizes further, “People don’t educate their children as to how to handle and act around animals.  I know that. I have one son and two stepsons and I was always amazed what kids do and how much more training kids need in terms of how to act around the animals.”

It’s all in the education according to Fabretti and the worst part, is that when children are not taught what to do and what to avoid around dogs, dogs get into situations where they need to defend themselves and the results are not only bad for the kids but can be much worse for the dog. Says Fabretti, “When animals do bite, people get emotional. The [dogs] end up here and most are euthanized.”

What is it that kids do so wrong?

So just, what is it that kids do that’s so wrong? Fabretti has firsthand knowledge of this too because when one of her step sons was younger he would harass their Australian Cattle Dog. “He would go around and stick his face in the dog’s face and go Amos Amos Amos. And I’d say don’t do that. That’s rude to dogs. He was behaving in a way that boys do but is inappropriate to dogs.”

While the internet is riddled with examples of kids behaving similarly, when you know how to read a dog’s body language you realize that many of these kids are just lucky.  Due to her training, Fabretti could tell the rude interactions were making Amos nervous.

“[Amos was] putting his head down, trying to avoid eye contact.” Because Fabretti was always supervising their interactions, she could call her step son away and prevent a disaster from happening.

“People always want to be in the dog’s face. Kiss them,” says Fabretti. “Even if the dog says he doesn’t like that, they don’t listen. So the dog has to go beyond putting his head down and growling and maybe he goes beyond that and then bites because he is so stressed.”

Of course once the dog is pushed to that level, the owner may report that the dog is vicious and has bitten out of the blue. The humans assume that dogs should put up with children no matter what, when even humans can’t put up with their own kids all the time. Human parents have babysitters, spouses, family members and baby cribs and play pens to help give them relief from caring for and dealing with their kids yet they expect the household dog to get along no matter what.

How come sometimes only one family dog is aggressive?

When informed that their kids may not be interacting in the most appropriate way with the family dog, some owners ignore the advice saying, it never bothered their last dog. Making an assumption that all dogs and all interactions are the same can be a big mistake. One of my classmates from college, Christina Martin, and her family know from experience. Martin relayed her message me, “We have an 8 month old puppy who’s great with our older kids but growls at our youngest girl. At first we were puzzled about why she growls. We have two other adult Labrador retrievers and they were always good with the kids.”

When they described what had been going on, the cause of the aggression was clear. The youngest daughter always wanted to hug or kiss or chase the puppy around to pick him up. She basically pestered him all day and he had no way of predictable escape. So he would warn her by getting tense and raising his lip and when these signs didn’t work he would snap. The reason the other family dogs had never been aggressive to the children is that they were older when the kids were born. The kids never hounded them in the same way. But bring in a puppy and for the kids meant open season on hugging and squeezing.

Luckily Martin knew better than to just reprimand the puppy to try to stop the growling. Doing so can cause dogs to become more stressed and then they learn to hide the outward warning signs of their emotional state. When this occurs what can happen is that when the dog can’t stand it any more he erupts in a full-fledged bite. This bite is, of course, seemingly unprovoked because the warning signs of fear have been punished out.

Instead, the Martin’s trained their youngest daughter how to interact appropriately. Most of her interactions were when she was training the puppy by giving rewards for following her or running with her and then sitting. That way the puppy was learning polite fun behavior and getting rewards and learning to associated the youngest daughter with good things.

There are a number of factors that can cause dogs to bite kids. If adults educate their children about dog body language and how to interact, fewer children will suffer bites and more family dogs will live longer, happier lives.

Here are a some tips for preventing dog bites:

• Before getting a dog, seek advice from veterinarians, vet techs or other knowledgeable pet care professionals.
• Make sure any dog acquired by a family with children was well-socialized, especially to children, as a young puppy and into adolescence.
• Teach kids to stay out of the dog’s personal space when the dog is eating, sleeping, injured or has puppies.
• Don’t startle or surprise any dog –let the dog know when you are approaching.
• Avoid hugging, kissing or any activity that puts your face in close proximity to the dog’s face.
• Supervise all interactions between dogs and children and be sure that both adult and child know the body signs that indicate fear or anxiety.
• When signs of fear or anxiety are observed, stop interactions between child and dog.
• Provide dogs with a child-free zone in which to retreat—such as a baby-gated room or a kennel or crate.
• Don’t allow children to mistreat the family dog, teach them to interact appropriately.
• Don’t approach strange dogs without the owners’ permission.
• Don’t approach loose dogs or ones tied out on long lines.
• Don’t reach through a fence to pet a dog.
• Don’t reach into a car window to pet a dog.
• Do train your pet to obey basic commands such as sit, lie down and come when called by having clear expectations and rewarding the good behaviors with something the dog enjoys
• For dog households with children, teach the dog good things happen when children are close by.

Here are some other articles and resources that may help you:

• Read Dog Bite Prevention: Dogs Bite When Humans Greet Inappropriately
• Download the Body Language poster that clearly outlines the common signs that a dog is nervous or scared.
• Please share the PSA with as many adults as you can. Once the youtube views hits a high enough level we will make a second video that’s an appropriate educational piece for kids. (G-rated version).

All living things thrive on positive feedback – people, dolphins and very importantly, your dog! Positive training for companion animals is fast becoming the preferred method of dog training. One of non-aversive dog training's most prominent advocates, The Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2006) in their article, "Good Trainers: How to Identify One",  recommends dog-friendly dog training because it is effective, humane and leads to the lasting behavior you’ve been working so hard to achieve with your dog. To get started, reward the behaviors you would like to see repeated, and ignore, prevent or manage the behaviors you’d rather not have repeated. In addition to short training sessions, pay close attention to your dog’s behavior and actively identify and reward the behaviors you like that she already does on her own, such as Sit or Down. Behavior can be "captured" in this way.

Positive does not mean permissive, however, so remember to set some household rules, draw boundaries, establish routines and make it all doable for your dog by being consistent.

How are you being a "Good Trainer" with your dog? We'd love to hear from you!

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com
All rights reserved.

Do dogs suffer from re-entry issues after having been separated from their owners or been boarded?  I have been pondering this question recently due to several calls and interesting conversations with clients recently regarding their dog’s behavior after coming home from a trip.

One such conversation took place with a client whose rescue dog had been boarded for a week.  The owners have had this dog for about six months and have spent several months really improving their relationship with the dog.  Things had been progressing, the dog had better connected with the owners and was becoming a lovely family companion.  When the owner called me, she explained that recently despite all the recall work they had done with the dog that there had been an incident where the dog got out of the car off leash and decided to run all over an empty parking lot despite the owner’s attempts to call him back.  Then there was also the strange eating behavior at home.  The dog normally ate his food in the kitchen by himself, but that week he had been grabbing a piece of food from the bowl, running with it into the family room where the owners were sitting, would eat it in their presence and then run back to the bowl to get another piece before performing the ritual all over again.  There had also been a few potty accidents in the house that week.

The owner was obviously distraught and could not understand why the dog was exhibiting such “abnormal” behavior.  They were at their wits end.  She then asked if I thought that being boarded was making the dog worse.   Now the important factor here was “where” this dog was boarded!  This colleague of mine who boarded this particular dog basically runs a Sandals resort for dogs out of her home.  Picture half day long frolics in a meadow, followed by a swim in the creek, homemade cooked highly nutritious meals and massages before bedtime……complete with sofas and bedding and more!

I explained to this owner that her dog had basically been on the equivalent of a week-long trip to Hawaii while they were away!  He was now back at home in the “real world” and though it was his normal environment and routine, I believe there is always a “re-entry” process of some sort.  I liken it to when my husband goes away on a week-long business trip.  It takes about a week after he gets home to get back into the swing of things and re-acclimate to the routine.  It is also not just a re-entry process for him, but also for me and my son!  We are lucky if we survive that re-entry week which is sometimes full of tension as we ease our way back into life’s routines.

So what should you do to help your dog get back into the swing of things?  First, don’t assume it is just “bad behavior” for the sake of it or that your dog is mad at you for being away.  Second, set some realistic expectations that the first week back together may be a bit “off” and afford your dog some extra patience as you help them re-acclimate to their environment and routine.  Lastly, if your dog’s unusual behavior lasts for more than a week or so, contact a professional trainer to explore other possibilities of what the underlining issues may be.

Victoria and her show were honored by Hollywood at the recent Genesis Awards. The awards air on Animal Planet Saturday night with an encore on Sunday. It took place on March 19, 2011, in Beverly Hills on the Avenue of the Stars... and I was there with Victoria Stilwell, star of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog! The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) event honors outstanding individuals who have made a significant contribution through major media to raise public consciousness of animal protection issues. The event included a gourmet vegan dinner, a silent-auction, and an up-close look at celebs decked out in their glamorous best.

Nominee Victoria Stilwell with Dog Psychologist and VSPDT Trainer, Linda Michaels

Victoria’s show, It’s Me or the Dog, was nominated in the competitive Best Reality Series category. I watched excitedly as Victoria walked down the “red carpet” and gave me a little wave. Press, TV, radio and on-line interviewers rushed to get their interviews, quotes and footage to further to promote the celebrities who are using their voices as animal welfare advocates. Victoria said: “This award is special because it recognizes the contribution It’s Me or the Dog is making in helping people build more positive relationships with their pets, as well as addressing issues such as pet overpopulation and the importance of spay and neuter.”

This was my first red carpet event and although I didn’t walk it, I did have my photo taken on it during the reception! I could not have been more proud to schmooze with the producers of Animal Planet, gab with Shorty the Pit Bull Boss and discuss dogs with veteran veterinarian, Marc Abraham, author or the new runaway best seller, Vet on Call. Attendees and presenters included: Betty White, Valerie Bertinelli, Ed Asner, James Cromwell (Secretariat), Leona Lewis, Renee Russo, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (of Los Angeles), Charlotte Ross (Glee) and Dusty the Dog (True Blood).

Stunning film clips from the highly anticipated release of the IMAX “Born to Be Wild” 3D documentary which follows scientists and rescue teams returning orphaned elephants and orangutans back to the wild were shown. Filmed in the rain-forests of Borneo and the Kenyan savanna this stunning expose debuts in theaters on April 8th. Other clips highlighting animal maltreatment brought tears to my eyes on at least three separate occasions during the ceremonies.

Victoria speaks out about puppy mills on the red carpet.

Kristin Davis (Sex and the City) was chosen for the prestigious Wyler Award, “in recognition of the attention she has brought to the plight of orphaned African elephants impacted by the increase in elephant poaching for their ivory tusks.” said the HSUS.

Other winners:

* How To Train Your Dragon for Outstanding Feature Film for its inspiring message about tolerance and respect for all living creatures.
* Comedy Central's The Colbert Report for satirizing bullfighters.
* HBO's True Blood for a dogfighting episode.
* The Oprah Winfrey Show for two animal-themed shows spotlighting dolphin netting, elephant poaching for ivory, and pet overpopulation.
* Last Chance Highway, Animal Planet, for a look at rescuing, re-socializing and finding loving homes for dogs.

The honor of being nominated and being part of a group of creative individuals who are passionate about exposing and stopping animal cruelty was reward in itself for us. What a night!

Victoria with the Pit Boss and Hercules. After-party.

HSUS advocates for better laws, investigates animal cruelty, encourages corporations to adopt animal-friendly policies, conducts animal rescue and emergency responses, and provides direct care to thousands of animals at it’s sanctuaries, shelters, wildlife rehabilitation centers and mobile veterinary clinics across the country.

The Genesis Awards one-hour special will air on Animal Planet on April 30 at 7pm ET/PT and encore May 1 at 9am ET/PT.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published by San Diego Pets Magazine. All rights reserved.

 How much do you know about canine bloat? It’s a life-threatening condition, and yet many dog owners don’t even know it exists. Bloat is also known as GDV, or gastro dilation and volvulus. Gastro dilation refers to the dog’s stomach filling with air or food, and expanding. Volvulus, which occurs as well in many cases, is where the stomach rotates, cutting off the blood supply. As the pressure inside the stomach builds, the tissue begins to die. That also affects the heart and lungs, and many dogs will begin to have trouble breathing, develop an abnormal heart rhythm, and go into shock. This is clearly an emergency condition; a dog can die in hours, or less. One little-known fact is that even after a dog pulls through surgery, he’s not out of the woods yet. Many post-operative complications can occur; many dogs die of heart arrhythmias in the week following surgery, so careful monitoring is key.

Some early warning signs of bloat are a hard, distended abdomen, abnormal restlessness or lethargy, drooling, heavy panting, dry heaves, and pale gums. But when my soul dog Mojo bloated at the age of 14, he had abnormal warning signs. He was restless, a normal sign of trouble, but he also began to vomit white foam. No one had ever mentioned white foam in regard to bloat. I thought hmm, he wouldn’t be bringing anything at all up if it was bloat…still, my Mom radar caused me to rush him to the emergency clinic. Sure enough, it was bloat. Regardless of the traditional warning signs, if your dog is acting strangely and you believe something may be wrong—even if you just “have a feeling”—bring him in to vet. Mojo, by the way, recovered and went on to live for another six loving, tummy rub-filled months.

Although large, deep-chested dogs are the prime candidates for bloat (think Danes, Dobermans, Standard Poodles, Boxers, among others), it can happen to any dog. Years ago, it was thought that elevating a dog’s food dish would prevent bloat. Many owners of Great Danes, a bloat-prone breed, followed this advice. Unfortunately, it wasn’t true. We now know that elevating a dog’s food dish may, in fact, increase the chances of bloat. It is also now believed that feeding two meals a day rather than one can help to decrease the chances of bloat.

As bloat can be caused by great amounts of air in the stomach (among other things), food-gulping can be to blame. If your dog inhales his food, there are various ways to address the problem:

1. Feed in a bowl such as the Brake-Fast bowl that has built-in obstructions to slow your dog down. Alternately, place a large object such as a ball or toy (too big for your dog to swallow) in the middle of the bowl, and pour the food around it. It will take some time for your dog to eat around the object.

2. If you feed dry kibble, do the Kibble Toss: measure out the kibble, but instead of putting it in a dish, fling it far and wide! You can do this in your back yard or your living room. (If you have multiple dogs who fight over food, separate them first.) As a dog trainer who recommends the Kibble Toss regularly to my clients, I can tell you that dogs absolutely love it. Even picky dogs become involved in sniffing out the tasty tidbits, and a gulp-fest is avoided.

3. Feed the meal in a kibble-dispensing toy such as the Atomic Treat Ball, Kong Wobbler, or Dog Pyramid, or pack it into a Kong, using a bit of healthful wet food or other mortar. You can even freeze the Kong so it takes  longer to excavate. The added benefit is that mealtime quickly becomes “getting some of that crazy energy out” time.

The good news about bloat, as reported in a recent CNN article, is that “Twenty years ago, the survival rate was 25 percent”…but “With surgery and care, especially if treated early, about 80 percent do pretty well.” Let's all spread the word and help save a life.

Wildfire season is upon us so we want to be sure that your Fifi or Bowser happily hops into the car if you need to evacuate. Although the desensitization techniques highlighted in this article are applied to overcoming the fear of riding in a car - the same principles can be applied to any fear, hyperactivity and even to other-dog aggression behaviors that may be troubling your dog.

You’re all set to take your dog out on an exciting adventure or to spend some quality time together running errands, but when you say, “Let’s Go for a Ride” your pup turns tail, slinks away and goes into hiding. In the car, perhaps your puppy howls, shakes uncontrollably, cries or tries to escape, then crawls into your arms holding on tenaciously with his nails while you are trying to drive…making you feel just terrible too. He’s scared and nothing you do seems to help.

“Bella”, a rescue, was not about to get into the SUV – no way!  Taking a ride in the SUV required her to hoist herself up about a foot and one-half and then enter a narrow closed-in space, commonly referred to as the back seat.  How could she be motivated to overcome her deep-seated fear and get into the car?

As her trainer, I began by teaching her to walk up a wide, low-sloped ramp with much clicking and treating to propel her along a trail of yummy treats. Then I put the ramp on the SUV’s running board.  Next, with both back doors to the SUV open and “Bella’s” pet mom on one side and me at the other, we enthusiastically and painstakingly lured her onto the back seat. I clearly remember the instant when she decided to hop off the ramp and into the car to get to her pet mom who had the sausage! We then began to desensitize her to the noises and movement of the car, one baby-step at a time.

Once on the road, we took a slow ride directly to the nearest fast-food drive-through to buy a double bacon cheeseburger she devoured in the back seat! This is an excellent illustration of a behavior modification plan that associates a positive experience with riding in the car, that is, we pair a positive thing with a feared thing in order to overcome a fear.

“Frankie”, a purebred puppy of 4 months who had been allowed to ride on the pet parent’s lap was one of my challenging recent cases. He was quickly growing into a good size dog, so for many reasons, this method was not going to work for long. Socialization training was of paramount importance at this stage of his development and riding in the car from day one was imperative. It took dear “Frankie” 3 weeks of daily trips before he finally began, out of curiosity to sniff, albeit gingerly, out the window.

A hopeful adoptee from a humane society was afraid of….everything.  Poor “Arty”– he weighed eighty pounds and it required two people to hoist him into the car for an overnight behavioral evaluation at my home.

So, let’s try to look at it from your dog’s point of view.

Cars are ginormous, noisy, rattling devices replete with engines that roar, doors that slam, perhaps loud music and mysterious wipers that crawl across the windshield as well as having all manner of odd and novel features your puppy or dog may never have acclimated to in daily life at home. Then the whole world full of people, dogs and other cars races by at a speed simply unimaginable to your dog.

As if that’s not enough for a scardy-dog, safety-conscious pet parents may want their dog to wear a harness or to be crated to protect both of you in case you need to slam on the brakes or you get hit by another vehicle. The down-side for your dog is confinement. If confined your dog cannot run away if frightened - a behavior that is adaptive and survival-wise in the wild.

Desensitize your pup to each of the above triggers and then address the movement of the car itself that may be causing the puppy-tummy to turn upside-down. Riding in the car or engaging in any feared activity can, become a great joy or at the very least, a less stressful part of life for you both.

The two main principles of a fear- desensitization plan can be used to treat any fear your dog may have…

1. Present the feared activity at an intensity that your dog can comfortably tolerate, then

2. Increase the intensity of the activity by baby-steps - as long as your dog continues to remain calm.

If your dog's behavior, body language or vocalization are stressed, you need to go back to where your dog can comfortably tolerate the intensity of the stimuli. It may take some time to complete these steps depending on your dog’s history and willingness to play the training game.

Here are some steps to help you and your dog get on the road:

1. Lure your dog into the car with food or a favorite toy. This technique may work best when your dog is hungry, so train before breakfast and before dinner if possible. You want your dog to “walk through” her fear of the car and to have the food win out. Things go more smoothly for everyone when it is her decision to get into the car.

2. Close the door while you are inside of the car with a big smile on your face. Provide some happy words of encouragement as you give your dog a treat at the same time. Open and close the door a number of times reinforcing your dog enthusiastically each time.

3. Start the engine but don’t go anywhere. Just sit talking happily to your pup in the car for a while. At this juncture, you may want to add some doggie massage to comfort your pup. Desensitize your dog to all of the noises and gadgets in the car.

4. Drive very slowly at first on quiet streets before picking up speed

5. Block some of the windows with a screen or put a cover over the crate if your dog appears stressed in order to shelter her from the onslaught of novel stimuli. It will calm her, just as it does a bird!

6. Make the ride itself reinforcing. Open the window a bit to let the smell of the great outdoors capture your dog’s interest. A nice, slow ride in the country with trees and natural landscapes can help to make first-time adventures reinforcing for your pup so that you can more easily move on to more intense environments. Keep a favorite chew item or plush toy in your car that your dog is just crazy and save it just for rides.

7. Head out on the Highway as your dog gives you the “I’m OK Now…Let’s Go for a Ride”.

The payoff for your patience and efforts will be a lifetime of happy joyriding with your beloved pup who is now more than happy to be your traveling companion.  A great bonus is that now you can use “Let’s Go for a Ride” as a reward!

In the event of an evacuation emergency, have your dog’s disaster preparedness pack ready to go – you may need to make a hasty departure. If you won't be staying with relatives or friends, call your favorite dog-friendly hotel well in advance to secure a reservation for comfy accommodations for you and your precious pup. To confine your dog inside the car with you, a padded crate with tie downs or a car harness is best but a laundry basket or a box for a small pup will do in a pinch. Bring bedding, wet and dry food, plenty of bottled water, medications, first aid kit, supplements, leash, harness, collar, ID and rabies tags, poop bags, plus chew and other toys to keep your pup busy while you make a great escape with Fifi and Bowser safely in tow. Be sure to provide your pup with frequent potty breaks, stretch breaks, water breaks and as we all know, never leave your dog alone in the car on a warm day.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published RanchCoastNews, Lorine Wright, Executive Editor.  All rights reserved.

I was at home ill in bed the last few days and one of my only comforts as I sat feeling sorry for myself was that my three dogs had been really good about keeping the bed warm for me all weekend!  They are wonderful companions when I am sick.  It’s like “they know….”

We could get into a whole conversation on what it is and how they actually “know” when we are sick but honestly in that moment the most valuable thing to me was that they kept my side of the bed warm and kept me company.  I suspect this is why many dog owners let their dogs sleep in their beds.  I was reminded me of an article I read recently about the risks of letting dogs sleep in bed with us.  The article primarily highlighted the risks of the spread of zoonotic agents from dog to human.  This risk however applies to any scenario where licking or “kissing” might occur not just when a dog sleeps in the same bed as their owner.

Then there is the “behavioral” question.  It never ceases to amaze me the expressions on client’s faces when I ask them in a behavioral consultation “where does your dog sleep?”  Nine times out of ten, the client gets a sheepish look on their face and almost as if asking ME the question says “in bed with me?”  Then before I can get a word out, they will ask “is that okay?”  My reply typically is “well, is it a problem for you or the dog?” and the answer will usually be “no.”  So my final response is then of course its okay!  I am not sure where we all got the idea that its NOT okay for dogs to sleep in the bed with us or that they are being “dominant” if they do so.  I must have missed the manual on that one.  All I know is that as a dog owner myself, it is of great comfort to me and one of the many wonderful shared experiences I have with my dogs.

That said, there are the occasional situations where the dog sleeping on the bed IS a problem in the household.  Typically we see this in a setting where the dog feels the need to protect or guard either the bed itself or the human in the bed.  The dog should not have to take on this job and we would want to take a closer look at what imbalances are occurring in the relationship with that human that need to be changed so that guarding or protecting is no longer a job that the dog feels they need to do.  Other instances may be ones of safety for the dog.  If you have a small Chihuahua and you tend to roll around a lot in your sleep….this could be a problem for the dog!

Lastly, ask the dog.  Even if you enjoy having the dog on the bed with you, make sure they derive the same pleasure from it.  Some dogs can get overheated and actually prefer lying on a nice cool floor.  Other dogs might just prefer having more space to stretch out and do not mind sleeping on the floor or in a comfy dog bed next to your bed.  Ask them, they will let you know.

After falling in love with a dog that melted your heart at the local  shelter or carefully selecting  a puppy from the breed-specific rescue, you’re now faced with some very real challenges at home. What’s the quickest path to making your new bundle of joy a member of the family with whom it’s a joy to live? Your pup will be developing habits each and every day, so begin on day one to train the behaviors listed below.

1. Housetraining – From day one, the key words are containment, both short-term and long-term, and reward opportunities. Confinement in a crate for night-time and in a small area during the day with an indoor sod tray or puppy pad is essential for errorless housetraining until your pup earns more space in your house. Ample opportunities for elimination with food rewards will have your dog looking forward to getting onto the leash to go to the chosen spot in your yard to eliminate and get a yummy treat.

2. Handling and Good Manners at the Veterinarian and Groomer – Your pup should be handled often, starting at 4 weeks of age if that is possible. Visit your puppy frequently and get a head start on the human-animal bonding process with all the members of your family. If your puppy comes home at 8 weeks or later, handle, massage every inch of your puppy, and hold your puppy often. In addition to regular snuggling, pretend you and your pup are at the groomer or vet and practice puppy calmness while you examine toes, ears and mouth with your puppy standing safely on a raised surface.

3. No Bite! - Start on day one to let your pup know in a dog-friendly way that puppy biting is not OK with you. Discontinue playing or handling your pup each and every time you feel teeth on your skin - draw away from your pup or put him on the floor immediately as you make a disappointed sound with your voice. Wait for five seconds, and then resume calm play and handling as if nothing had happened. Your dog will learn that everything, especially fun, stops if he bites!

4. Socialization – Expose your dog to anything and everything you think he may experience later in life - 100 New Things in the First 100 days! Learning to be a social butterfly is the most important thing your dog will ever learn.  Socialize early and frequently to all types of people, other dogs and moving objects. Ultra-socialize your puppy to children of all ages, men and strangers and with lots of other dogs of all shapes and sizes. Socialize to skateboards, bicycles and joggers and to all types of situations too.

5. Appropriate Chew Toy Training – Chew items are your friends. Provide a nice variety of safe chew and food toys to help stop puppy biting, to save your furniture, and to teach your puppy self-calming and how to be happy on his own. Up to five months of age and perhaps for a lifetime, your dog will be hunting about for things to chew. Chewing dulls the pain of teething, keeps a pup busy and very importantly, it relieves stress. If you don’t give your puppy something to do, you can be certain, he will find something to do!

6. Preventing Separation Anxiety – Dogs who develop too strong an attachment to their family, may quickly become insecure and possibly destructive when left alone. Leaving your puppy alone on a regular basis with a safe, yummy chew toy for short periods of time is necessary so that you will be able to leave your pup alone when you want to go out. The number one thing you can do to help your pup build confidence is to greet your dog in a very calm manner. It may be hard for you to save your effusive greetings until your pup calms herself down after an arrival home, but it will be well worth it in the long run.

7. Insurance Against Resource and Food Guarding for Puppies – Hand feeding and training with treats helps develop positive associations with people and their hands.  Showing your puppy that hands deliver good treats to eat, and that they don’t take away good things will help keep the hands/food association happy and strong. When you do need to take something from your puppy, it’s best to trade it for something better. If your adolescent or adult dog is already guarding objects, you may need the help of a professional.

8. A Healthy Diet for Your Dog – Independent dog nutritionists agree that feeding a super-premium quality dog food on a rotating schedule will best provide your dog with what he needs to grow up happy and strong. Unfortunately, a high grade dog food may not be available at the typical grocery store no matter how healthy the name of the food sounds. Look for a meat that is named as the first ingredient and avoid by-products, fillers, sugar, artificial preservatives and coloring. You may want to add Vitamin, Mineral, Omega and probiotic supplements to strengthen the immune system. Rotate within and between super-premium brands, transitioning from one type to another and feed at least a little wet food each day if you choose a kibble diet. Feed your puppy 3x day until 4 months of age, then twice a day. Bison, duck, fish, venison and lamb are some new favorites!

9. Wearing a Leash and Harness – The most puppy and dog-friendly leash-walking gear generally includes a flat collar and a harness. If your dog pulls, or barks and lunges at anything at all, a harness will distribute the force of the pull or lunge across the torso and protect delicate cervical vertebrae as well as tracheal, esophageal and other throat structures. Leash-walking training may then begin.

10. Obedience Training - Formal training for you and your dog is recommended if you want to make the most productive use of your time and you want to be sure to get your puppy or new dog off on the right paw. Group or private training is available. The most highly respected dog  professionals and veterinarians strongly advocate the use of the positive reinforcement method of training alone.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published RanchCoastNews, Lorine Wright, Executive Editor.  All rights reserved.

Apparently I decided to be a veterinarian when I was only three years old after using a twig in the garden to successfully tease out a maggot from my pet tortoise Speedy's leg wound! From then on all I wanted to do was to help animals.

After my first few TV appearances as a veterinarian I realised how powerful and effective the media can be to help educate the millions of pet owners out there look after their pets better.

My biggest break in TV was being selected to give veterinary advice on a one hour obestiy special episode of It's Me Or The Dog with none other than the great Victoria Stilwell. Victoria and I had a lot of fun working together and we have remained firm friends ever since.

As a ’TV vet’ there is no such thing as a 'typical week'; varying from anything between being a locum veterinarian in a small animal practice, to filming a TV show about pets, to volunteering for an animal charity in the Mumbai Slums, Amazon Rainforest or Palestinian West Bank!

My most memorable adventure by far was going out to volunteer to help the dogs and cats in tsunami-hit Thailand. Flying out there, not knowing what to expect; from the moment I landed I began helping a charity rescue, treat and feed the strays left behind by all their deceased owners, and surrounded by such intense devastation and massive loss of life. An incredibly moving and life-changing few weeks that also illustrated - almost magically - the effect of pets can have on re-building a desperate community's spirit.

It’s always nice to be asked to front charities like Oldies Club that do such great work for animals but have little or no marketing budget (usually because all the money's spent looking after the animals as it should be!) By blogging, publicising, tweeting about them they can hopefully achieve greater exposure which means more money can potentially be raised to help their pets. Everyone's a winner!

Victoria and I at the Dogs Trust Honors Awards in London 2010

Last year I created PUP AID - the celebrity judged charity dog show and boutique music festival designed to raise awareness about the UK's cruel puppy mills. Promoting rescue pet adoption and responsible dog breeding practices PUP AID 2011 will once again take place at the beautiful grounds of Stanmer House in the Sussex countryside near Brighton in England on Sunday 18th September. A fun day out with a serious message means the more awareness that's raised, the quicker the demand stops and this evil trade will cease.

Vet on Call  is not like any other vet/pet title, as it describes - in great detail - life as an out of hours emergency vet which is very different from a small animal vet in a day practice. Routine vaccinations, worming and nail clips are replaced by road accidents, caesareans and gastric torsions!

I often visit schools to both educate and listen to what the pet-owners of the future want to know about animals, and to teach and share with them advice on choosing and looking after pets, helping wildlife and looking after our environment you can really make a difference. It's always a pleasure to do and it costs absolutely nothing.

My forthcoming iPhone app is another platform with which to educate and help dog owners give their dogs the best care. It not only contains short videos about looking after your dog (how to know when your dog's ill, emptying your dog's anal glands, etc), as well as fun games, vet locator, dog-friendly pub finder and much much more!

To order your copy of Vet on Call  today click here, and for more information about all of my projects please visit www.marcthevet.com or why not follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/marcthevet?

Happy reading!!

Marc the Vet x

Weight is not always the best indicator of how healthy your pet actually is. As we all know, muscle weighs more than fat and therefore seemingly fit dogs can weigh more then a similar non athletic dog. A better way to see if your pet is at its ideal weight is through a body condition score (BCS).  The ideal BCS is 5 out of 9.  0 to 4 is thin, 5 is perfect, 6 to 9 is overweight. A BCS of 9/9 is obese while 1/9 is emaciated.

A BCS of 5/9 means you should be able to feel the ribs without digging, a waist, a dip under the lumbar muscles, and a rounded back (it should be hard to balance a plate on top of the back).

Research shows that maintaining a lean body condition in dogs increased their median lifespan by 15%. This was a 14-year study and is the first completed lifetime diet restricted study. It involved 48 Labrador retrievers (from 7 different litters). That 15% equates to an extra 1.8 years of life for the healthiest dogs, so it’s certainly something you should work on with your dog.

Next time you’re at your vet’s office, have them check your dog’s BCS and keep striving for that perfect 5/9!

“Lilly” certainly was little. She measured just up to the high end of my ankle and it made me shiver to think of what it was like to live down there with all the giant humans and bigger dogs tramping all over the place. Nevertheless, I’ve seen many confident, even overly-confident toy breed pups that aren’t the least bit troubled with their small stature - but this was different. The little fawn-coated Chihuahau/doxie seemed to have every fear-laden issue in the dog diagnostics book.

Adoptee and rescue dogs almost always have a mysterious past that new pet parents can never truly know. Reading their body language and behavior may give us an idea of what their past lives may have wrought, although their prior and formative experiences may well remain a secret forever.

“Lilly” was adopted at the age of approximately a year and one half and was living with a wonderful and doting pet parent for 6 months when I received a call to help. “Lilly” was now in a safe and loving environment replete with a wonderful garden of a yard in Del Mar but she was still a scardy-cat.

Confidence-building was the overarching goal of “Lilly’s” treatment and training. If we could build confidence, everything else would come along easily when compared to the task of dispelling her fears. Fears are quickly learned because they are adaptive to survival but, therein, also resistant to change. Teaching obedience behaviors using yummy treats as rewards would serve to help “Lilly” develop a positive association with humans rather than the fear-based association that was so apparent.

One of “Lilly’s” most disarming behaviors was what is termed submissive/excitement urination. The first thing Lilly would do when a new person approached was to urinate wherever she was standing. Loss of control of the bladder is a common symptom of fear. We can easily imagine the degree of fear a dog must be experiencing for this to occur.

Since I appeared and sounded friendly, “Lilly” curled her body up in a tight little ball, and crawled on her side over to me, head to the ground and she began licking my toes incessantly in a classic submissive/appeasement display.

Her little body shivered with fear all the while. This is the behavior of a dog who is in conflict - experiencing fear of people, yet wanting to receive affection. Her ears were held flat and back, she would not make eye-contact, everything about her spelled fear. She was not, however, fear- aggressive as many fearful dogs may become.

“Lilly” was afraid of me approaching her, afraid of hands and afraid of the clicker which I often use in training fearful dogs in order to speed desensitization. Training would be a slow and delicate operation and I would be ever watchful for the slightest landmark improvement that could be built upon.

We used the distancing technique as a starting point for desensitization training. We began with “Lilly” standing and looking at me from a considerable distance where she did not show any body language or fear behaviors while her pet mom talked confidently to her at close range and fed her treats. As long as “Lilly” continued to behave in a normal fashion, her mom approached closer toward me, one step at a time, using the same confidence-building techniques.

Desensitizing “Lilly” to the clicker took a couple of weeks. I started by making a soft, muffled clicking sound with my mouth and graduated to using the real thing held behind my back, in my pocket and then out in the open. If “Lilly” was a bit hungry, she would work to overcome her fear of the noise because she wanted the treat! I would click and treat for head held high and for high ear carriage too. We graduated to gentle handling and massage to help “Lilly” overcome her fear of hands. We then worked on not rewarding appeasement or fearful behaviors - so if “Lilly” appeasement licked or put her ears back, she would not get petted but if she acted brave she would get a pet and a treat!

There is a psychological theory called the James-Lange theory that suggests that if, for instance, you smile, you will feel happier. Thus, using rewards for confident body language in a dog may predict the development of confidence in the dog.

Training toy and small dogs in basic behaviors, such as sit, may be most easily accomplished by placing the dog on the couch next to you and working in close proximity to your dog. Once you get the sit, you can then increase the difficulty by placing your dog on the floor. This is how I taught “Lilly” and many small breed dogs to sit.

Lying down is a vulnerable body posture for a fearful dog, however, and Lilly did not want to give up what little height she had by standing. Fortunately for us, her favorite treats finally won out when I had her sit underneath a chair and placed the treat on the floor outside of the chair. She crawled under the horizontal bar that runs parallel to the floor to get the treat and thus, we had a successful method to train the down!

I remember the first time I arrived on “Lilly’s” doorstep and she neither urinated nor crawled over to me but walked up to me just as natural as can be… and smiled. I later had the pleasure of pet sitting Lilly and some of her family dogs. She was just the sweetest thing. I got her an extra, extra small doggie life-jacket just in case she got accidentally pushed into the pool by the larger dogs. She looked hilarious wearing it – but practically so.

The last I heard of “Lilly”, she was happily chasing butterflies in her backyard and taking daily walks along the ocean, being widely admired and loving every minute of it. Good Brave Happy Girl “Lilly”!

Names have been changed to protect the innocents and the rascals as well as their very devoted pet parents.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published RanchCoastNews, Lorine Wright, Executive Editor.  All rights reserved.

This winter there has been considerable talk regarding the Canine Influenza Virus, also known as H3N8. Although it is present in 30 states, this virus is not common in most pets and only a few isolated areas of the country have experienced major problems. The virus thrives in shelters, kennels and other environments where dogs are housed in close quarters. However, all dogs are at risk so it's a good idea to be aware of a few tips for prevention and care in the event your dog is exposed to the virus.

The FDA approved a vaccine for prevention of H3N8.  For the vaccine to be effective, it needs to be a two dosage series that are given three weeks apart, and it is preferable that the last dosage is given one to two weeks before exposure to solidify immunity.  Like many flu vaccines, the vaccine for H3N8 reduces the occurrence of symptoms but does not prevent the disease.  This means that your pet could still contract H3N8 after having the vaccines, but the clinical signs associated with the disease should be reduced.

There is debate on whether the vaccine should be recommended for all patients.  Many veterinarians are not recommending the vaccine for all patients, but some patients could benefit from it, and the veterinarians are handling the need for this vaccine on a case by case basis.  However, some boarding facilities are starting to require the vaccine even if there has not been a documented outbreak.  Therefore, if you are boarding you may be required to have this vaccine.  If you are concerned that your pet may have exposure to this virus or are required to have it in order to board, you are encouraged to contact your veterinarian immediately to ensure its availability. You are also encouraged to contact your boarding facility ahead of time to find out if it is required.

Another tip to prevent exposure is to avoid unnecessary contact with unfamiliar dogs. Pets at a higher risk for contracting the virus include young or old dogs and dogs with compromised immune systems.

If you are concerned that your dog has been exposed to Canine Influenza, symptoms to look for are a cough and high fever. However, it’s important to note these can also indicate health problems not associated with influenza. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to have your dog examined so that immediate care can be provided for them.

One last thing to note, Canine Influenza is different from the human strain and has not been shown to be contagious to humans or other animals. Although we want you to be safe, there is no need to keep your dogs inside since their exposure is likely to be minimal.

M. Duffy Jones, DVM

Dr. Jones is the owner and founder of Atlanta’s popular Peachtree Hills Animal Hospital, as well as the vet for Victoria’s dog, Sadie. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he received his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Tufts University of Veterinary Medicine and has served as the veterinary consultant for episodes of It’s Me or the Dog filmed in the Atlanta area.

By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS

While winter may be mild in some areas of the United States, in other areas, it’s virtually a wet and windy freezer. We humans have heaters, and special hats and winter clothes but what about our pets? What winter dangers do they face and how can we keep them safe?

Keep Pets Inside and Out of the Cold

The most obvious danger is the cold and as a result, most dogs should stay in the house with the humans, especially at night.

Even if they were bred for cold weather, cold weather can be a problem. Says Suzanne Heath Boskovich, “When I worked in a practice in NE many of the outdoor dogs, even with thick double coats, had frost bitten ears that cauliflowered; and several of our patients had missing toes from frost bite.”

Even mildly cold weather can be bad for cats because cats are resourceful at finding warm places. So if left outside in the cold, they may hide under the hood of your car. As a result when someone starts the motor, the cat gets injured or killed.

A friend of mine who lives in Denver, CO used to have a St. Bernard.  Of course this dog, descendent of those renowned rescuers of travelers and hikers in the Swiss Alps, was primarily kept outdoors. And as is common, my friend was busy with everyday life and didn’t closely monitor his dog. The dog was eating so that was all he needed to know – he thought.  When the dog finally stopped eating and was taken to the vet, the vet found under all that hair that his tail had been frostbitten and was now gangrene. The tail was amputated.

Salt for Street De-icing Can Cause Irritation

A major issue is the salt and chemical alternatives. Says one dog owner, Jean Lessard, from Montreal, Quebec, “It is cold! I'm downtown. Here, the problem is not the snow, nor the weather... But the salt! There is so much salt on sidewalks and streets, it's ridiculous! So the dogs will step on this, get their paws ...wet from melted ice, then walk on ice again and freeze their paws.”

Lessard also points out that the salt can cause some major irritation and veterinarian Rachel Germain of central Pennsylvania agrees, “It’s not extremely cold here,” she says, “but my own dog has significant issues with sidewalk salting. He has to wear booties in the winter because his pads get so burned. I have talked with several clients about the same issue. It's a small thing, but seems to be significant for dogs in my area.”

As Dr. Germain suggested, for many dogs, training them to wear booties is the solution. Many can be trained just by putting a bootie or two on while giving many tiny treats in rapid succession or playing with them in way such that they are engaged in interacting with you. Then keep them distracted as they get used to the feel. When you stop with the play and treats, take the booties off. The goal is that the dog learns to associate the booties with treats, play and later with going out on a walk. Another solution for less salt-sensitive dogs is to just wash the salt off with warm water as soon as you get home. Unfortunately neither of these solutions works as well for cats who traipse in the salt laden streets.

Says Lori Tyler of Ithaca NY. “Several years ago when I worked at the shelter, a person found a cat on the side of the road. She had severe burns/ulcerations throughout her mouth and esophagus from eating from the roadside (and eating lots of road salt in the process). We treated her and nursed her back to health, and she certainly would have died if not noticed by the driver.” This provides yet another reason to keep cats inside.

Pets Can Ingest Snow with Toxic Substances

Cats aren’t the only pet that can ingest something toxic during winter. Pets that eat snow that contains toxic chemicals can become fatally ill. Amos Suguitan, of Massachusetts reports,

“A client I had in daycare a couple years ago had an Airedale puppy who suddenly became very ill after the first major snowstorm for the area. Vomiting, lethargy, stopped eating, etc. That curly hair around his feet had collected a lot of ice around his toes, and a big chunk of chemical ice melt had gotten stuck in there as well. Poor guy had gotten home, chewed the ice melt out and eaten it. He spent a couple days at the hospital, but was fine afterwards, thanks to his mom's quick action!”

Depending on the substance and how quickly the pet is brought to the veterinary hospital, the outcome may not be so good. If the chemical is car antifreeze, the dog may have vomiting later in the day and by the next day may start going into kidney failure. So if you see your dog eating discolored snow, especially if it’s bright green, take him to the veterinarian immediately.

Exercise-related Winter Injuries

Winter is also fraught with physical injuries. Although the snow looks soft, the ice can rip and cut the feet.

Leslie Finnegan Conn gives an example, “I remember our Lab mutt ripped her dew claw out when she was doing a crazy-run-in-circles in the snow. It looked like someone had been murdered in our yard. We had to take her in to get her paw wrapped up.”

Both boots as well as careful and regular trimming of the nails can help prevent such injuries.

Courtenay Watson who lives in British Columbia says, “My dog has sliced his metacarpal pad on the snow crust that forms when the snow melts a bit then freezes hard. That's a pain. We've been using Pad Heal and it helps.”

Not everyone wants to use boots, and one solution that has worked for Courtenay has been to train her dog to play differently.

“He is also a bit of a careless guy, and when there is ice on the ground, he will spin out and slide and hurt himself playing fetch. So I've taught him to run around a pole. He worked up to running around two poles many feet apart. This way, he has a more controlled path and doesn't slide. He does a couple of those laps, then I toss his toy to him to catch instead of chasing it. Much safer.”

Injury related to snow and ice is not limited to dogs. It can extend to those trying to help dogs in winter distress. Leslie Finnegan Conn “My neighbor let his Shih Tzu out in the backyard after a snowstorm that ended in a coating of ice. The dog went to the back of the yard and then couldn't get back to the house because it was too slippery. My neighbor went out to get her and fell on the ice, hitting his head. About six weeks later he had emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma.”

Some situations are even more dangerous to both owner and dog. Says Claudine Sleik, owner of a Border collie (BC), “My husband was cross country skiing with our BC near a small swift moving river. He thought they were on the shoreline. He was, Jak, our BC, wasn't. Jak suddenly fell through the ice. Craig, with his skis on, slid onto the ice, scooped Jak up by his harness and tossed him towards what he hoped was the shore. Without missing a beat, Jak landed on all fours and quickly ran to find a stick in the hopes of playing fetch. They were both very lucky that day.

A similar situation happened to an acquaintance of Courtenay Watson “My mom's boyfriend (from England and not used to snow) tossed a toy onto the ice on the river. The dog fell partway through the ice trying to get the toy. He crawled onto it and got her, both cold and scared but no lasting damage thank goodness!”

An emergency clinic in Denver related that they always see a rise in HBCs (dogs hit by cars) after a snow storm.  For some reason people think it is safe to let their dogs run at large after a snow storm because traffic is somewhat decreased.  What they don’t consider is the stopping time required for those who are out on the slippery streets has greatly increased. The drivers often can’t stop in time to miss that dog who’s been let out to enjoy the snow while the owner shovels the driveway.

Winter: a Dangerous Season

Overall winter can be a dangerous season. However it doesn’t need to be. Keeping pets indoors when temperatures drop, take time to care for their feet or train them to wear booties, avoid letting them eat snow, and be careful to avoid thin ice on lakes. By doing this you’ll avoid most winter dangers to your pet.

To read insights from a top sled dog kennel veterinarian and owner on keeping dogs safe when outdoors in cold weather, read  Cold Weather Safety for Dogs—Insights from a Sled Dog Veterinarian on my website www.drsophiayin.com.

By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS

A reader, Donnie Rion of Carl Junction Missouri, recently emailed with the following dilemma, which will be debated in a town council meeting later this week.

The town I live in is looking to revise their leash law to allow dog owners to us electronic leashes to walk their dogs. Are they good enough to physically control dogs in all situations? One reason council is looking into this is that there are people here that have golf carts and they are complaining that is to hard for them to drive their golf carts and hold onto their dog leashes at the same time, so they want to be able to use electronic ones so they don't have to hold onto a leashes while the drive a golf cart.

What People Think Happens When You Use an Electronic Collar

When people think of electronic leashes, known more precisely as electronic shock collars, they imagine their dog trotting next to them in an unerring path as if held in place by an invisible force field. With this “miracle cure” for pulling or even running away, they envision everything they can do on their walk now that they can safely ignore their dog—listen to the radio, text-message their friends, or just power ahead in a daydream state. And even if a squirrel, cat or another dog crosses their path, they imagine that the invisible forcefield will magically hold the dog by their side.

What Really Happens When You Use an Electronic Collar or Electronic Leash

While, in the hands of an expert, many dogs can learn to consistently trot by one’s side even in the face of major distractions, for most owners this is not likely to occur. There are several reasons for this:

First, the dog has to be taught to stay next to you and to do so at all times. For the collar to work, the owner must be able to give the shock right when the dog starts getting ahead, falling behind or walking or moving too far to the side, even after the dog knows the heel behavior. For instance if the dog sees a buddy and starts to run off to greet him, the owners must deliver the shock immediately as he starts, not 1-2 seconds later. That means, the owner must always be holding the electronic collar with finger on the delivery button or the dog will know that sometimes he has at least a 2-4 second window to do something a human might consider naughty. And, if the owner cannot deliver the shock at the very start of the dog running off, the dog is not learning that running off is the problem.  In the dog’s mind he is being punished for whatever he is doing at that exact moment he receives the shock.

Even if the owner is able to always be ready and holding the remote control at all times, there are other factors too. The collar has to be charged similarly to how you’d charge a video camera, and it must be snuggly fit. A loose fit or weak charge results in an unreliable shock. The dog must always wear a real electronic collar rather than wearing a fake or dummy collar. Dummy collars are often used in place of an actual electronic collar when the owners have to use the real collar on another dog but don’t want to pay for two electronic collars. Another thing most people don’t consider is that all electronic collars are not created equally. Some are poorly built and don’t consistently work.

One huge issue, regardless of how careful one is in addressing all of the concerns listed above, is when using the collar, the shock level must be at the right intensity for the dog’s level of distraction or the dog’s level of excitement. In one situation a low level shock, just enough to remind him of what happens if he doesn’t respond but not enough to startle, scare or hurt him is most appropriate. A low level may be all that’s needed to get the dog to move back by your side. But in another situation, like a squirrel running by, anything short of the “super high” setting and Rover won’t even feel it. In fact, even with the collar set to deliver the highest level of shock, some dogs will ignore the pain when they are extremely motivated to perform the undesired behavior.

You can’t really solve the problem by keeping the collar on “super high” at all times. If Rover just drifts one step out of place it’s not really fair to give a shock that will make him leap out of his skin. Many owners would hesitate to be so unfair and they would elect to avoid correcting this little error at all if they only have the option of using a super high level shock. As a result the dog’s grey zone for where he’s allowed to be would get wider and wider. Of course if you have the collar on a level appropriate for correcting small errors and Rover suddenly bee-lines after a deer, your first zap is too low and you then have to adjust the level—most often with your free hand. That adds 2-4 seconds as you try to reach the appropriately high level.

Even More Can Go Wrong in the Hands of the Average Dog Owner

Now let’s add into this mix the fact that most dog owners are not dog training experts. So whereas an expert may expect the dog to trot along in a perfect heel position and every time the dog surges slightly ahead or falls behind or starts straying to the side, the dog gets a zap, the regular dog owner has shades of grey not to mention long periods of mental snoozing on the job. The typical dog owner’s criteria for using the collar changes randomly. Their dog runs ahead of them or weaves back and forth or is in the general area and it’s okay at least nine out of ten times. Then once in a while that same behavior earns a zap. Its not unusual that the owner never quite trains their dog what heel position is in the first place. Because realistically if they did, they could just wear a hands free leash (such as the buddy system) which ties around their waist so even when using an electronic collar the leash would not be an inconvenience at all.

In my experience, about 95% of individuals using an electronic collar use it incorrectly or are in a family where at least one of the family members who handles the dog uses it incorrectly meaning the dog gets mixed signals about what is or is not appropriate behavior. I’ve also seen many people use it to punish their dog for something it did 3 to 5 minutes earlier.  They are angry so hit the button while the dog is not engaged in an inappropriate behavior.  The dog cannot be expected to learn what is allowed and what is not under these conditions, which sadly are not uncommon.

Now Add the Golf Cart Issue

On top of all of the electronic collar issues there’s one more factor—the golf cart. If it’s on a bike path without cars and with very low traffic and the driver is very focused on both driving and on the dog, it may be ok. But dogs plus moving vehicles in the street are generally not a good mix. When on leash you’d have to be careful that the leash doesn’t dangle too closely to a wheel or that you don’t accidentally pull the dog close enough to be run over.  Off leash on a regular two-way street with regular cars, eventually a town dog will get run over while the owner multitasks by holding the electronic collar, keeping an eye on the dog, and also trying to watch the road. Add the ubiquitous cell phone to the mix and it’s a real recipe for disaster. It’s also possible that the dog could help create an accident with another vehicle. So the entire issue of having dogs on electronic collars so they can be exercised next to golf carts on regular residential streets without a leash is a safety issue for dogs as well as everyone else on the road. If it’s on a bike path with low traffic, the safety vs risks are up to your city council to decide.

To find tips on how to get into shape with your dog read the drsophiayin.com blog article “Get Fit with Your Dog: My New Years Day Dog Human Exercise Workout” as well as my Huffington Post blog article: A New Year’s Day Resolution: Get Fit With Your Dog.

To learn how to run with your dog read “First Steps on Running with Your Dog."

Let me start off by saying that neither my husband nor myself are athletes, or even what you would consider “spring chickens.” In fact, the AARP seems to have recently taken a real interest in us. (Retired? What’s that?) And yet we have two young, energetic northern breed mixes who came complete with serious exercise needs. So how do we handle it?

My husband works full-time outside the home, while my schedule is more flexible. Each morning before he leaves for work, my husband takes one of our dogs out for exercise. During non-rattlesnake season (the winter months), he’ll take either Bodhi or Sierra hiking up in the mountains behind our house. This has resulted in his four-footed personal trainers getting him in better shape than he’s been in years. As he’s navigating the trails, I have the other dog out at a local park, exploring, sniffing, and walking for a few miles. As often as possible, on the weekends we engage in “urban mushing,” which entails hitching the dogs to a one-person scooter they pull on a level dirt trail. It’s incredibly fun for the dogs and for us. Still, we’re always looking for new and creative ways to exercise our fur-kids. Since so many dogs are under-exercised (which, of course, leads to less than desirable behavior), I’d like to share a few thoughts.

We’re all multi-tasking twenty-four/seven, yada yada yada…you know the situation. But if I could wave a magic wand (we trainers all have them, you know) and give you a few days worth of what life would be like with your dogs if they had truly adequate exercise, you’d be super motivated to keep providing it. But with limited time, how can you realistically provide enough exercise? Well, most people already find the time to squeeze in a daily walk or two. For many these are “potty walks,” meaning fifteen minutes or so in the morning before and after work. The dog eliminates and the walk is over. (Tip: many dogs learn that pottying ends the walk, and it then takes them longer and longer to go. To avoid this, allow at least a few minutes of walking after your dog eliminates before turning back toward home.) Get up fifteen minutes earlier so your morning walk is now half an hour long. (If you can swing forty-five minutes or an hour, even better.) If your dog is fit and has no physical issues, add a doggy backpack. Do your research and buy one that is comfortable and fits well. Start off very light. As your dog gets accustomed to the feel and the weight, you can add a bit more weight. (Manufacturers and your vet should be able to provide guidelines.) Small water bottles make it easy to manipulate the load. Most dogs become accustomed to backpacks very quickly, and the nice thing is that you are not spending any more time than you usually would on your walk, yet there is more exertion required by your dog.

If you bicycle, you’ve got a great, fun way to provide exercise. There are a number of attachments that will allow you to fast-walk or run your dog next to your bike, including the Springer and the Walky Dog. The bicycle should be introduced carefully by allowing your dog to walk next to it first. Offer treats if necessary. Once your dog is comfortable, start with short distances, and choose dirt tracks as opposed to pavement whenever possible, as it will be easier on your dog’s joints and paw pads. The nice thing about the attachments is that they absorb shock so that if your dog pulls, you won’t get pulled off the bike. There is also “bikejoring,” where your dog is out in front of the bike pulling. Google it for details.

Another pulling sport is mushing, on snow if you get adequate coverage in your area,  and urban mushing if you’re pretty much snowless, like we are here in southern California. Your dog needn’t be a typical northern breed to participate—Labs and other breeds can pull as well. An online search will turn up instructions, discussions, and groups in your area. Strong, heavily muscled dogs can even participate in tire pulls and other weight-pulling sports.

Now, if you have a Chihuahua, pulling heavy objects is probably not going to be in your future. But there are plenty of ways to exercise smaller or less athletic dogs. Even on a normal walk, smaller dogs and those with shorter legs are working twice as hard to cover as much ground as larger dogs, so you’re already halfway there. Typical play such as chasing a ball or running off-leash in an enclosed area may be perfectly adequate to wear your dog out, but if you are unable to provide that sort of exercise (and unable to hire someone else to do it), and/or are house-bound, try the Chase N’ Pull tug toy. It resembles a fishing pole with a furred squeaky toy on the end. You get to sit in a nice, comfy chair as you cast the toy from side to side while your little fur-ball happily chases after it. Speaking of furred squeaky toys, playing tug is another nice way to burn off some of that canine energy, whether by using a plush toy made for the game, or a rope tug.

Whether your dog is large or small, young or old, training sessions are an excellent way to provide exertion. You may not think of training as exercise, but put it this way: what would make you more tired, taking a thirty-minute walk or a half hour of balancing a seriously unbalanced checkbook? (I know from experience which one would make my head explode.) Mental stimulation is tiring, so make the most of it: Training sessions, interactive toys such as Kongs that have to be unstuffed, puzzle toys such as the Nina Ottoson toys…the choices are virtually limitless nowadays, and it just takes some trial and error to find what works best with your dog.

There are so many more options for exercise than I’ve listed here, but I hope it’s given you food for thought, and motivated you to try some new things with your dog. It’s worth the effort. Being well exercised translates to better behavior, which will make you happier as well. And who knows, your personal trainer might just end up getting you both into great shape!

* The amount of exercise your dog needs depends on age, breed, health, and activity level. Consult with your vet before starting any canine exercise program.

Exercise! Courtesy of SurfDogRicochet.com

The lingering aroma of hot cider, eggnog, and evergreen, sparkling lights that brightened each night, and my great hope for a wonderful new year, stir me to share a list of “gifts” that can enhance the quality of every dog’s life. Your thoughtful choices make a big difference-- from adoption to the twilight days.

1. Adoption
Consider adoption as a first-choice. There’s a wide array of deserving dogs that need families. You may find an already house-trained, obedience-trained, and socialized dog that fits in easily in your home.

2. Veterinary Care
Be pro-active about your dog’s health and ask questions. Personal recommendations from a trusted friend or professional are best. Consider integrative care that combines both standard and holistic treatment, and importantly, look for a vet that practices gentle handling. Check out pet health insurance, and don’t forget to take care of those pearly whites.

3. Spay/Neuter
Help stop the over-population problem by choosing to spay or neuter early and don’t breed except with excellent reason and planning. Reliable research tells us that spay/neuter prevents or decreases many behavior problems and has some medical benefits as well.

4. Training
Begin training at 8 weeks or as soon thereafter as possible. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior advises: "Training should be based on positive reinforcement with frequent rewards, praise, petting, play and/or treats. Positive and consistent training is associated with fewer behavior problems and greater obedience than methods that involve punishment and/or encourage human dominance" (2008). Socialize, socialize, socialize!

5. Nutrition
Be careful about what you put into your dog. Read the ingredients list. Feed a super-premium grade food with a specifically named meat as the first ingredient and avoid, fillers, by-products, artificial flavoring, preservatives, coloring and sugar. Rotate between meats and brands to achieve variety. Provide supplements of Vitamin/mineral and Omega 3/6 and feed at least a little wet food each day or soften kibble with broth or water.

6. Exercise
Provide your dog with sufficient exercise for her size, breed and activity level. Most medium, large and giant breeds need to run. The health and behavioral benefits of a happy, well-exercised dog are priceless.

7. Grooming
Please search out a gentle groomer.

8. Environmental Enhancement
Your dog needs and enjoys novel scenery, sounds, objects and activities just as people do. Provide a toy box, food-toys, chew items, a window with a view, and activities that will keep your hound stimulated and out of trouble. Consider re-landscaping a dog-friendly yard for your Bowser.

9. Twilight Days
In-home end of life procedures provided by a mobile veterinarian are often the kindest choice for an aged or sickly beloved pet.

10. Love...infuse all of the above with a big dose of your love!

Dogs are our closest, most beloved animal companions, so it behooves us to consider every aspect of their care and well-being carefully.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com 

Originally published RanchCoastNews, Lorine Wright, Executive Editor.  All rights reserved.

By Sophia Yin, DVM, MS

Is your New Year’s resolution to loose weight and get fit?  Well if it is remember that routines are easier if they involve a friend or partner. What better exercise partner than your dog? Take this from a veterinarian and animal behaviorist who exercises with her own dogs and her clients’ dogs regularly, combining the two can be a great way to bond as well as an efficient way to exercise. The following are some tips to help you get fit with your dog.

Tip 1: Walking with your dog is a great exercise. Be sure that you’re walking at a brisk pace. Your dog should be at a fast trot to benefit the most from the walk.

Tip 2: Ideally your dog is walking by your side rather than pulling your arm out of your socket or dragging you to each bush to water the plants. As a result, it’s best to incorporate dog training into the workout. Instead of feeding your pooch his meal before the walk, carry the kibble in a fanny pack or in your pockets and use it to reward him for good behavior. That is, reward him throughout the walk by giving him a kibble or two for remaining at your side.  The goal is to reward him frequently at first so he gets the idea where he should be, but then with successive walks or as the walk progresses, require that he walk longer distances by your side before he gets a reward. Ultimately you won’t need to reward with portions of his meal, the walk itself will be rewarding.

Also consider trying a gentle leader head collar, which is like a head halter for dogs. By controlling the head, you can more easily control where your dog’s body goes.

Tip 3: Will your dog run with you? Most dogs that engage in a good round of fetch or sprint around with dogs at the dog park can run at least a couple of miles. But to make the run fun for you, it’s best if your dog can stay by your side instead of dragging you by the leash and messing up your running form. To train your dog to run nicely, start the same way you start with walks. That is, bring a portion of your dog’s meal and reward him for being at your side. You can break your first runs into short running intervals interspersed with walks so that you can reward him both while he’s running alongside you as well as when he slows down to your brisk walking pace. That way you get him used to the conditioning as well as train him to stay at your side.

It’s also easier to run if you have your hands free leash. My favorite such leash is the buddy system (www.buddysys.com).

Tip 4: Work on your dog’s sit or down-stay while you perform calisthenics. For instance, have your dog lie down and reward him frequently with bits of his meal—just frequently enough so that he remains lying down.  Then increase the time in between treats by doing exercises. For instance, do a few squats and then reward Fido for remaining in his down-stay before he has a chance to get up. Systematically increase the number of squats or lunges or pushups that you do in between going back to reward him for staying in down-stay. This way you can build up both duration and the distance you are away from him at the same time. The bonus here is that not only are you training him to lie down and stay, reliably, but you’re training him to do so with the distraction you create by doing weird things in between. Graduate to jumping jacks and burpees—dogs generally take these exercises to be a cue to get up and play. So be sure to hurry up and reward them for staying before they have a chance to get up.

Tip 5: Play fetch with your dog while you dog calisthenics. This is a great way to ensure your dog gets as much exercise as you do. If your dog does not have a 100%, immediate come when called, make sure you’re in a dog-safe area such as a backyard or fenced-in park.  Toss the ball and while he’s running, see how many squats or pushups or jumping jacks you can get in before he gets back to you.

Mix up the Routine

My Jack Russell Terrier and I do all of these including sprints followed by some heeling followed by pushups, burpees, or squats on my part. Make up your own routine using things you’ve learned in exercise class. It’s a great way to work in your own exercise and quality time with your dog.

To see the New Year’s Fitness workout I shared with my dog, read Get Fit with Your Dog: My New Years Day Dog-Human Exercise Workout.

For tips on how to train your dog to behave politely so that you can work out easily, go to www.drsophiayin.com and read the blog articles or watch the videos.

Newsflash! National pet food marketing firm reports, “Next to week old fish, decaying road kill, and napkins from a woman’s monthly you know what, dogs vote cat poop favorite flavor.”

Yuck is right, because immediately after sampling this savory snack, dogs tend to engage in their other canine-specialty: the big wet kiss. Unfortunately, you don’t know the affectionate gesture’s laced with a slimy stink until it’s too late.

Why do dogs don this eclectic assortment of culinary cravings? The answer lies in studies of free-roaming, human-avoiding dogs in rural areas of other countries. These dogs don’t survive by playing the great four-legged hunter. Instead, they raid the Mother Lode of trash cans: the local dump. And with all the competition amongst rival groups, they can’t be choosy. If it smells edible, the rule is “eat first and ask questions later.”

But why do your refined city dogs engage in scavenging like these rural heathen hounds? And why your cat’s poop? Because they can and because it’s there. Some owners are lucky because their dogs haven’t figured it out. Once they do, it’s “end of story.” Dogs practically lie in wait for a chance at this secret stash. Will kitty leave them a tasty treat this time? Once the prize is placed, it stares them in the eye like a luscious brownie on the third day of your no-chocolate diet.

Needless to say, trying to break Fido of this habit is a losing cause. And scooping the litter box immediately after each of Kitty’s deposits is simply not possible for mere mortals. Luckily, we can manipulate the environment to restrict dogs’ access and get our way. For example, if your Fido is Fifi-sized, you can elevate the litter box out of pooch range. On top of a desk or cabinet could work fine. Of course, you have to be sure Kitty is comfortable jumping that high.

For large breed dogs, you can designate a room for Kitty’s litter boxes and place a baby gate in the doorway, but raise it about a foot off of the ground. A better bet would be a personal passage for your cats to their private lavatory in a separate room or closet. You can either try a magnetic or electronic kitty door that will only open for pets wearing the collar key. Or you can try my personal favorite: the “Cathole,” a mouse-hole shaped entryway that you insert into a door. It's big enough for both regular as well as plus-sized cats but keeps most dogs—and infants for that matter—out. Even with the enticement of last night’s table scraps, neither my 35 pound Australian cattle dog nor my 20 pound Scottie—who due to some weird act of nature has the same sized head and teeth but a smaller body than the cattle dog—could shove her way through past her chest. They just paddled and strained, their heads protruding through like mounted trophies.

The Cathole even looks pretty nice. It has an optional brush insert which grooms your cat every time she passes through, and you can stain the wood to match or complement your door's design.

The one down side is that you do need to install it. Yes, unfortunately it's not self-installing. That means you have to take the door off its hinges and cut a hole using a jigsaw and the included template. Luckily, the Cathole comes with instructions designed to guide even the most mechanically handicapped. The company's web page includes pictures on how to remove your door, and the paper instructions remind you to make the hole at the bottom of the door rather than accidentally making it at the top. All-in-all, the process is pretty simple and probably worth your while. The best part is that if you place the litter box far enough away from the hole and in a location that your cat finds suitable, your pooch poop-eating problem could be solved for good.

You can find different door options at these websites: www.cathole.com and www.petdoors.com.

And if you feel guilty for denying Fido his favorite doo-doo delicacy, you can offer him Cat Logs for Dogs – a dog treat designed to look like real poop replicas.

Adapted from an article originally appearing in the San Francisco Chronicle in 2001.

If I were judging this book just on it’s overall cuteness and character, this book would get a top score. The cartoons are engaging, the rhymes catchy, and the overall message of “dogs are fun” is great. It’s clear that the intentions of the books are good. The authors are encouraging children to make the pet an active member of the family.  The problem is that a number of the recommendations are actually dangerous. In fact, the recommendation from which the book takes its title is the most dangerous recommendation of all. While the authors suggest to kids to, “Smooch your pooch to show that you care,” they fail to recognize that most dogs don’t like being hugged or kissed.

The authors are clearly unaware that while many dogs tolerate being hugged and kissed, most don’t actually like it, especially not “anytime, anywhere” as the book suggests. In fact, according to a study of dog bites to kids publishing in Injury Prevention in 2007, the researchers found that familiar children were bitten most often in the context of "nice" interactions -- such as kissing and hugging -- with their own dogs or dogs that they knew. And most children had been bitten by dogs that had no history of biting.

Unsafe Recommendation #2

There are other unsafe recommendations in the book. For instance, one illustration and rhyme says, “Let him sit by your side when you go for a [car] ride. And make sure the window is opened up wide. When his ears get all flappy, you’ll know your dog’s happy!” The illustration shows the dog with his front feet propped on the car door and his head sticking out the window.  It looks like fun and it’s not unusual to see a dog engaged in this activity but, at least one of my colleagues has quite a few horror stories to tell. Says Kathie Hayes, co-owner of Narnia Pet Behavior & Training, a popular dog training facility in Chicago, “One of our clients had her dog on leash in the car, she was holding the leash, but let the dog lean out the window. She had to make a sudden stop and the dog fell out of the window. The leash became taut and the dog rolled under the car and was killed because she ran over the dog with her own car.”

“A second client was on his way over for our class,” says Hayes, “[he] had his dog in the back seat with the back window rolled all the way down. The dog had his feet up on the door with half his body hanging out. The driver had to make a sudden stop and the dog fell out of the window and in the path of an on-coming car. The dog was hit by the car but did survive with a broken leg.”

And in yet another case Hayes describes, “A friend of mine spent over a thousand dollars on a hunting dog. He let the dog hang his head out the car window. A twig flew up and stabbed the dog in the eye.” Two thousand dollars were spent on veterinary bills for surgery and treatment (not to mention the pain and suffering the dog experienced) but the accident still resulted in blindness in that eye, so the dog could not be used for hunting.

A more appropriate but fun recommendation would be to “Let him sit by your side wearing a seatbelt when you go for a ride.” And make sure the window is open, but not too wide.” A second illustration could emphasize that some dogs like the feel of wind on their face but if so, they should have protection for their eyes. An illustration of a dog with its head sticking out of the window could include a dog wearing protective goggles (such as Doggles). These messages would be informative, instructional, and cute.

Unsafe Recommendation #3

While this book is only thirty pages long, there is no shortage of unsafe recommendations. One odd suggestion is that, “When he woofs at the door, let him go right on out.” The illustration shows the dog being let out the front door. This makes me wonder if the authors live in a region of the country without leash laws where dogs normally wander the neighborhood and if so, don’t they get hit by cars? A more appropriate illustration and suggestion would be of the child letting the dog into a fenced-in backyard to go potty.

Unsafe Recommendation #4

My last complaint as a veterinarian is section that says “Toss him a bone, feed him some kibble. Or better yet, pizza. He’d sure like a nibble.” Realistically, once he comes back from the veterinary hospital with bills for pancreatitis I think the adults may want to scratch that suggestion out of the book. A more appropriate rhyme would have been “Or better yet, pizza, but only a nibble.”

Now, I’m sure some of you who already own this book may pooh-pooh we veterinarians and dog care professionals as being no fun and think the unsafe consequences aren’t likely to happen. But think about this…

What if the book said, “Pinch your sister’s cheeks to show you care, pinch them anytime, anywhere.” Or it said, “Bounce and scream with your brothers in the car when you go for a ride. Remember to open the window wide.” Or it said, “Play in the street with your brother, play video games. Or better yet, offer him a cigarette, or a Mary Jane.” All of these could be accompanied by cute, adorable illustrations, but that wouldn’t make the suggestions safe or appropriate.

Part II

If your thoughts of gratitude this Holiday Season include your precious pup who faithfully brings so much joy and unconditional love all year long - show your appreciation by including your dog in the festivities of the season.  Please help us to find new ways to say "Thank You"!

6. Grooming

A trip to the groomer for a new hair-do or even a spa treatment, blueberry facial and massage can be a fun yet practical holiday choice. Grooming is not only aesthetically pleasing but hygienically prescribed. Bathing and brushing removes bacteria and may uncover tumorous growth or dermatologic conditions that need veterinary attention.The groomer files toenails to prevent painful walking. Extra gentle handling and kind attention from a carefully chosen, knowledgeable groomer will help your dog enjoy the visit. 

7. The Gentle Dental

Polish those gorgeous pearly whites! While an anesthesia-free gentle dental procedure cannot match a complete, deep cleaning and oral exam given under anesthesia by your skilled vet tech or speciality veterinarian, neither does it pose the inherent dangers of anesthesia. Experienced practitioners work closely with veterinarians.

8. Environmental Enhancement

Indoors and out, your dog needs both mental and physical stimulation in order to thrive. From interactive toys to re-landscaping your yard in order to create a more natural dog-friendly space where your dog can run, jump, dodge, and perhaps even dig, there are a great variety of options that can provide novelty in your dog's environment and make life more interesting and enjoyable for her. Check out "Landscaping for Dogs" at www.hgtv.com.

9. Chewing. Most dogs love to chew. It's a natural canine behavior. Satisfy your dog's craving to chew with a safe (100% edible or 100% indestructible) chew item or food toy. A safe chew toy or bone can keep your dog happy, contented and stress-free for a long while and free you up to take care of the guests.

Don't forget that cooked turkey or other meat bones splinter and can get caught in the throat or tear the stomach and intestinal linings.

10. Sanctuary. During the bustling Holiday Season, be sure to provide an adequate sanctuary for your dog that is quiet and safe. Too much excitement can lead to unwanted behavior and accidents. You dog will fare much better if she has a designated spot to get away from it all and de-stress. A nice "nook and cranny" type open door crate with a blanket thrown over the top side with a decent view in the corner of the living room, for example, will allow your dog to relax and nap when needed and still feel like part of the family. The dogs are, after all, depending on you to make the wise choices for them.

For those dogs less fortunate than your own, you may want to give a donation or help an orphaned dog through a local breed-specific rescue group or shelter. We urge you to adopt for the holidays, foster or give to the more unfortunate dogs in whatever way you can this season.

Giving is inherently rewarding, so you can you feel good about finding some special way to say "Thanks Buddy" to your year-round best friend while at the same time contributing to his overall well-being and happiness. What's on your dog's wish list?

We'd love you to share your favorite "Thank You" story, comedy or idea right here. Please do!
Warmest Woofs,
Linda

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published RanchCoastNews, Lorine Wright, Executive Editor.  All rights reserved.

In our industry, the discussion about vaccines has been raging.  The debate is centered on which vaccines to use and how often to vaccinate pets to ensure that they be protected against many deadly diseases.  Even though there is controversy surrounding vaccines, few will debate the benefit that vaccines have brought to the veterinary field.  Vaccines have had the biggest impact on the lives and well-being of our patients.  It has given us the ability to prevent infectious disease that previously had been devastating to our patients.

The evolution of our vaccines has been an ongoing process.  Early vaccines did not have the same safety and efficacy of our current products.  Many times these vaccines had serious side effects with short duration of immunities (DOI).  Our previous recommendation to vaccinate every year reflects the limitations of these products.  For many years, veterinarians worked on the “better safe than sorry” policy in order to prevent widespread outbreaks and devastating consequences.

The ultimate goal of any vaccine is to have 100% efficacy and 100% safety.  Unfortunately, as of now, no vaccine exists that meets this requirement.  There is not one current vaccine that is always protective, always safe, or always indicated.  As our knowledge increases and newer generations of vaccines are brought to market, our recommendations on yearly vaccines are certain to be constantly changing.

To aid in the discussion of vaccines, some background and terminology will be beneficial.  A vaccine is a preventive type procedure that involves showing the immune system a small part or a non-infectious part of a disease.  The immune system will then mount a response to the disease so that when a pet becomes exposed to that disease, its immune system will be ready to fight.

Vaccines usually contain at least two parts.  One part is the small part or non-infectious part of the disease for which we are vaccinating.  The small part may be a modified version of the live virus.  These vaccines are called Modified Live Vaccines (MLV).  The small part may be a recombinant form or a viral or bacterial vectored vaccine. These are usually referred to as recombinant vaccines.  The small part may also be the virus that has been killed.  These vaccines are called Killed Vaccines.

The reason for the two different types of vaccines is that there are benefits and drawbacks to each.  Modified Live Vaccines generally produce the longest and most solid immunity.  Both pathways of the immune system, (humeral and cell-mediated) are activated.  A single vaccine may provide significant immunologic memory, and may not need many boosters when given at the correct time.  The drawback to a MLV is that it is possible for the vaccine to become live and cause the disease.  This is a very rare occurrence, but can still happen.

Killed Vaccines cannot ever revert back to the live form and cause disease.  However, they provide less durable immunity and usually require boosters.  The rabies vaccine is a Killed Vaccine since this is a vaccine which we would never want to revert back to an infectious agent.  Recombinant vaccines are also very safe.  However, the duration of immunity is variable with these vaccines as well.

Another interesting and important note about vaccines is that any vaccine given while a pet has circulating material antibodies from the mother’s milk is not effective.  The maternal antibodies counter act the effect of the vaccine.  This is one of the reasons we vaccinate multiple times to younger animals to try and match when the maternal antibodies are falling, making the vaccine effective.  For all the different diseases, the maternal antibodies fall at different times.

In our current discussion of vaccines, we have labeled some vaccines as core vaccines and others as non-core vaccines.  Core vaccines are vaccines that should be given no matter what.  Non-core vaccines are vaccines that are given to animals with a high degree of risk for developing the disease.  For example, FELV is not considered a core vaccine for inside cats since they have a low exposure to this disease.  It is, however, considered necessary for outside cats whose exposure is very high.

The newest guidelines for vaccinating dogs are as follows:

•  Canine distemper virus (MLV):  one dose should be given at 6-8 weeks, 9-11 weeks, and 12-14 weeks of age.  After booster at 1 year, revaccination once every 3 years is considered protective.
• Canine Parvovirus (MLV):  one dose should be given at 6-8 weeks, 9-11 weeks, and 12-14 weeks of age. After booster at 1 year, revaccination once every 3 years is considered protective.
• Canine Adenovirus-2 (MLV, Killed, or topical):  one dose should be given at 6-8 weeks, 9-11 weeks, and 12-14 weeks of age. After booster at 1 year, revaccination once every 3 years is considered protective.
• Rabies 1-year:  administered as early as three months of age.  Annual revaccination.
• Rabies 3-year:  administered as early as three months of age.  Revaccination in 3 years
• Para influenza virus (MLV or MLV- topical):  one dose should be given at 6-8 weeks, 9-11 weeks, and 12-14 weeks of age. After booster at 1 year, revaccination once every 3 years is considered protective.
• Leptorpira interrogans combined with serovars canicola and icterhaemorrhagiae (killed bacterin):  administer 1 dose at 12 weeks and a second at 12-14 weeks. Annual revaccination except in high risk areas where vaccines are admistered every 6 months.

In all, vaccines are a very complicated issue.  Because our knowledge of vaccines and diseases are increasing every day, our current recommendations are likely to change over the next few years.  The best advice when deciding about vaccines for your pet is to consult your veterinarian and look at the overall risk of disease for your pet.

Dr. Duffy Jones, DVM is the owner of Peachtree Hills Animal Hospital in Atlanta and served as the veterinary consultant for It’s Me or the Dog episodes filmed in Atlanta.

There are not a lot of things that “scare” me, but falling trees are one of the things that I worry about.  As I write this, I am sitting in a pitch dark room at 2am in the morning listening to the sound of roaring wind gusts outside.  We just had tornado producing storms with a lot of rain this afternoon and therefore the ground is saturated, making it very easy for trees to topple over with one strong gust of wind.

So what does my falling tree fear have to do with dog behavior?  Well, it is important to ask the question what produced my fear of falling trees in the first place.  The answer is simple.  For the last seven years, my husband and I have bought properties with lots of older mature trees on them and on all of these properties we have experienced storms that caused trees to fall and threaten to damage our house and/or other outbuildings or fencing.  In the last instance two years ago, we experienced a microburst that took down seven trees and nearly killed my horse.   So, my point…..my fear is based on past experience.

Very often, a dog’s fear is also based on past experience.  The only difference is that they cannot sit down with mom or dad and “talk it out.”  I recollected today how my five year old son (who was three and a half at the time) dealt with the microburst we had.  For six months after the event, which was very traumatic for him, he talked about the microburst to anyone who would listen!  He was very scared of storms for a good year after that but after talking out his fears, this afternoon he sat in the basement with me and the dogs and played with toys as we rode this storm out.

I read a wonderful book recently called EXTREME FEAR by Jeff Wise and it beautifully illustrates what chemically goes on in the brain when we become fearful.  Another difference between how we humans and dogs deal with fear is that a little knowledge with us can go a long way.  After reading EXTREME FEAR, when I would become afraid I would ponder the chemical reactions that were happening in my brain and because I realized it was all “normal” I actually “felt” LESS fearful!  Dogs do not have time to “ponder” a fear experience when they are in the midst of it.  They immediately slip into the different fear and arousal responses of fight, flight, freeze or fright.  It is very important and helpful to understand that the chemical changes going on in your dog’s brain when they are fearful are not physical changes that the dog has control over and as your dog’s number one advocate it is imperative to keep your dog safe and help them to deal with their fear in a positive way.  In cases of extreme fear or residual fear from a traumatic experience, calling in a professional to help with this process is key.  Addressing fearful behavior in dogs in a punitive way is a recipe for disaster.  Attempting to get inside your dog’s head to identify where the fear is coming from, whether from past experience or recent events, will help you to empathize and give your dog the patience he/she needs to overcome those fears.

Last point…..an opposite to fear…..trust.  As I finish up this blog post a day later, I am struck with the sad reality of devastated homes about four miles from where I live that were in fact struck by a single tornado.  That same tornado could have hit our property, but it didn’t.  Our trees are still intact and I have a little more trust now that we will again weather out whatever next storms come our way.  I think dogs are the same in that way.  Each positive experience brings with it a little more trust.  And more trust leads to less fear.

Last week I was interviewed on NPR’s Fresh Air by Dave Davies (introduced by Terri Gross).  The subject was Tufts new book, good Old Dog, which I contributed to and edited. Right after the show the book took off. It was in the top 100 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites, which means, by definition, that it is a best seller already. Amazon actually sold out of books for a while and had to reorder. Such is the power of public radio! This week is the so-called national radio tour where I sit at my desk and get local stations from all over the country call me to chat about the book. I have about 12 interviews set up so far and may be coming to a radio station near you (whoever you are and wherever you live!).  Then mid-November (the 15^th) I will be on the Diane Rehm show and WAMU (2 separate shows, one before lunch and one after to be broadcast live from Washington DC). The release date of this book was well planned, right in time for the gist giving season!

Anyway, razzmatazz aside, the book should be very helpful for all owners of aging dogs and fills a niche that has hitherto neglected.  The population of older dogs is increasing in parallel with the human population and for similar reasons (enhanced preventive health care and more advanced medical techniques). These days, more and more people find themselves in the company of an aging dog and need to know where to look for help when things begin to go south. Old age is not a disease it is state that with care and knowledge can be managed. The book explains how. We hope that after reading this book owners will be in a better position to know what’s right for their dog and that they will have increased quality time with their dear old(er) friend.  Good Old Dog’s subtitle is: expert advice for keeping you aging dog happy, healthy, and comfortable. That just about sums it up.

To learn more about Good Old Dog see NPR’s website for an extract of the discussion.

http://www.npr.org/2010/11/22/131516152/helping-your-good-old-dog-navigate-aging

After another long strung out period of loud bangs, fireworks night has thankfully been and gone for another year, but not before it affected many of our household pets.  Standby for one of my soapbox moments; Fireworks(or Guy Fawkes) Night seems to be developing into Fireworks Fortnight, as the celebrations begin a week early and do not finish for another week because people appear to wait for good weather to use their remaining fireworks.  Don’t get me wrong, I think fireworks provide a great spectacle and can make a fun event; however I have to get up on that soapbox and ask why members of the public are allowed to purchase as many pretty explosives as they like and set them off whenever and wherever they wish! From my biased point of view, I believe that if fireworks were only displayed at organised events on public premises, there could be fewer pets affected in their homes by these unnecessary loud noises.  Okay, I’ll jump down from that box now!

I am one of those pet owners that is affected each year by fireworks.  One of my collies, Eko, is very sound sensitive and finds it terribly stressful when exposed to firework’s loud percussions. We have recently moved from a country location and into a town environment where fireworks are far more commonplace.  He is so smart that he is able to differentiate between fireworks or explosions on the television and those in the real world outside; this means that the desensitising  sound CDs have not proved to be effective as he can tell that they are not the threat coming from outside the home.  So what can we do to help alleviate our dog’s anxiety?  Let face it, Christmas is around the corner and then it will be New Year’s where even more fireworks are going to be let up into our skies! Once again, I, and many others in a similar situation, are going to have to deal with a anxious dog.

In order to help our pets, I find that trying a variety of techniques or helpful accessories can be successful, although, maybe only a few of the remedies available will work for a particular dog.  Unfortunately, this can mean it becomes a bit of a trial and error situation.  The first thing to do is to act early; be prepared and do not leave your choice of action to the last minute, as some of the remedies require a lead-in time.  So what are the options?  Here are some useful ideas and techniques which I have found to have merit, and may help your dog through that difficult time.

The Sounds CD is a useful tool for many, but as I mentioned, has not been a success on Eko so far, although it can alleviate the symptoms in some dogs if the training is followed correctly.  It is definitely a method that requires early preparation in order for it to be effective.  The idea is to desensitise your dog to the loud bangs by pairing it with something pleasant, and so creating a positive association to the noise. We begin by putting the CD on at very low volume so that you can just about hear it and ensure you have some very tasty treats with you such as chicken.  While the noises are being played in the background, keep your dog’s attention by either doing a Watch Me, the Find It Game, or you can simply feed the chicken to your dog when he is displaying calm behaviour.  Gradually increase the volume and continue with the training.  This may be done over a number of consecutive days, and if at any time your dog becomes anxious, turn down the CD to the level where you were last successful.  I have not given up on this particular training tool just yet.  I just need to find an inventive way of fooling Eko, even if it means putting a sound system outside my house so that he thinks it is an external threat!

The Thundershirt is a purpose-made body wrap for dogs that applies gentle and constant pressure on the dog’s torso.  The pressure applied is designed to have a calming and comforting effect on the dog, and has been judged to help reduce the anxiety in over 80% of dogs whose owners have tried the product.  The application of pressure has been used successfully  for many years to help reduce anxiety and fear  by those such as the Tellington Touch Professionals.  People who suffer with Autism have had pressure used on them to relieve persistent anxiety, and there is the old-fashioned method of swaddling infants to help calm them.  The Thundershirt has been a huge success in the United States of America and is now over here in the UK.  I had the opportunity to try the product on Eko and found it did give him a little relief, but I was also pairing it with other techniques due to the situation.  My Assistant Trainer, Jenny, also tried it on one of her dogs who had issues, and she found it to be very successful;  Fen sat calmly beside her throughout an evening with a lot of fireworks.

D.A.P. (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) is a particularly well known product that is often recommended by many Veterinarians.  Essentially, it is a synthetic reproduction of the natural canine appeasing pheromone, and by using it, helps give dogs support through many stressful situations.  There are a number of differing methods of dispersing the chemical; plug-in devices that to go into a wall electrical socket, an impregnated collar, and a handheld spray.  Personally, I found that this had no effect on Eko due to the severity of his anxiety, but I have seen its effects successfully calm dogs in other spheres of my training.

Zylkene is derived from milk and is lactose free.  It is a fully natural product and has proven to help cats and dogs manage stress and anxiety.  It is not intended to be a cure for all behavioural problems, but is extremely useful to manage situations such as fireworks and coping in Kennels.  I have seen a great deal of success gained using this product with the shelter dogs, and I hope to use it on Eko for the next round of fireworks.

Dorwest Veterinary herbal tablets; Skullcap and Valerian is a herbal medicine for the relief of anxiety, nervousness, excitability and travel sickness.  This again, has shown to be particularly effective for those suffering from noise phobias such as fireworks.  It does need to be taken daily and works best when taken for the week prior to the stressful event, and its effects help produce a calmer dog without causing drowsiness.  I use these herbal tablets in conjunction with the Thundershirt to help Eko with his stress, and I find they a very effective product.

Training; Trick Training and Playing is a particularly effective method of distracting your dog from what is happening around him. Essentially it is a form of desensitisation;  doing something positive and fun while the loud bangs are present.  It certainly has been invaluable to me when dealing with Eko, and I hope that it can also be a useful tool in your training bag.

I love to trick train as it gives the dog something fun to do while he has to use his brain, stimulating  him, which in turn will help tire him by the end of the day.  I use simple tricks such as find-it, using three pots on the floor with a biscuit hidden under one of them, Play-dead games, high-five and fetch-it games with a toy.  There are great books available full of tricks and games for your dog, and they make a worthy addition to your bookshelf.  You can also do some simple training like watch me, sit, down and waits, but you must ensure that you maintain the interest level; some breeds are more easily bored than others, so ensure you have a wide variety of tasks to keep them occupied.  Playing simple games inside the home can also be fun.  You don’t need to be throwing balls inside, but simply train your dog to down-wait, roll the ball along the floor and then send him away to fetch it.  You can play another mentally challenging game by hiding his favourite toy somewhere accessible in the room and making him find it; great for dogs that love to use their nose.

During this period of distraction or distressing,  it is essential that you do not try and comfort your dog.   This can cause him to worry further, so be quite ‘matter of fact’ about the situation and give him a simple ‘good boy’ for being calm.  If he wants to lie quietly under a table, then allow him to do so, don’t try dragging him out of his ‘quiet place’.  Shut the curtains or blinds, and put the television or radio on to cover some of the noise if it is appropriate.  By putting some of these ideas into effect, you can begin to alleviate your dog’s anxiety.  If you choose to try herbal remedies, don’t use all of them at once, choose one and stick with it to allow it to work fully.  I also recommend pairing  it with something else like a Thundershirt, and don’t forget to engage with your dog by playing some games or doing training.  Now that we are close to town, I will continue working on finding a better solution for Eko, and hopefully one day my boy will be able to cope with firework noise.  To all of you out there with sound sensitive pets, I hope you find this blog of some use, good luck and start preparing!

Instructors are the ones on the front line of Dog training. But do you really listen?  I teach at a local college all my students pay  the college to come to my class.  Towards the end of the semester I tell my students that we will be having a special guest soon.   That guest is one of the Dog Obedience teacher at one of the local training schools.  My guest speaker talks to the students about what our class is about. Having a different person say what I have been teaching drives the point home.

Most of the time we don't listen to our parents. BUT let one of our friends tell us what our parents have been saying for years, WOW that friend is so smart.. Same in dog training  I tried for a long time to teach one silly trick to Star, I just could not get it done. Mom told me to think of a different way to teach it 'maybe Star is right handed"  Sure Mom. Several weeks later  I was at an agility event when one of my agility friends was watching me working hard on this one silly trick. He said "try the other foot maybe Star is  right footed". Well Star got it the first time, what a smart friend.

I invite other instructors into the class I teach to give the students a different point of view. Some times we all need a different point of view on dog training. I travel to as many seminars as I can to hear that different point of view and to learn. Seminars are a great place to get that different view . I was attending a Gerrie Brown seminar several years ago near Austin that was about agility. I was new to the game and wanted to learn as much as I could so Star and I could become a better team. I had worked with two obedience trainers in Tyler who stressed the flat work and basic obedience skills. I mostly thought just go fast and run hard that is what agility is about.  Gerrie watched our dogs run a course  then took the dogs performance and our skills apart.   During our time on the course I had a tough time getting Star on the table and 'sit'. We did the course in a good time but we lost precious seconds because of the table.  The first thing Gerrie said to me " you need to work on your flat work and obedience skills". Wow that came from the current AKC world champion and he knew my name.

I came away from that Three day seminar with a new interest in obedience. I took his advise an worked hard on 'sit  down come and stay." The basic of dog training.  My two teachers  back in Tyler were just in shock when I showed up at the next class with a wonderful sit down come and stay.  What was different about our training ; nothing just a different way of saying  the same thing.

When Lucille my rescue border collie came along  I had a good grasp of agility obedience training by this time. She had so many problems from her former life on the streets I spent more time on social skills and focus that   I forgot to give her a good  'sit down come and stay '.  Lucille is fast -super fast- I am talking rocket fast, I had a very tough time controlling her. The speed just seemed to be to much for me. I began to panic became frantic with my handling, and was just over whelmed.

I entered an agility event in Houston with Lucille. I traveled far from my home wanting no one to see me doing my best to control this wild out of control speed freak. Our first course of the day was jumpers with weaves. I was so excited as Lucille had learned the weaves in just three days; and was good at them.  I lined up Lucille for our first ever run in agility Her eyes were as big a softballs My heart was about to pop out of my chest, I walked out to the second jump turned to see Lucille taking the fourth jump  and continuing on the course with out me. She was so fast I had no way to slow her down , Stop her or at least get her attention so I could be part of this team. Finally I caught her in the weaves ,for a moment, then she went over to the side of the course did three jumps that were just leaning against the fencing around the course plus the A frame. Finally I called her and she did the last two jumps to cross the electronic eyes to stop the timer.

That was the longest 17 seconds of my life!

I sat there near the exit gate amazed at the speed, desire, and wondered how am I ever going to control this amazing speed freak.
Over my racing heart pounding pulse I heard this voice " did you forget your sit down stay and come when you trained this dog?" Gerrie Brown was there standing over me like my mom did when I was much younger. He looked down at me an I melted into a pile of rubble knowing I had forgot the most important part of training.

Gerrie said that the next time he saw Lucille and me  I better have a good sit down come and stay.  Couple of months later I saw Gerrie in Monroe Louisiana. I showed him our great sit/stay at the start line, our awesome down on the table, and our come into the Aframe.

Now several years have passed and now  I teach.  I stress those four basic commands. As they are the foundation for all things dog. The speed of Lucille still makes my heart race but I have good flat work that helps me control the speed. I listen and read as much as I can about dog training  go to seminars and travel with both Lucille and Star. Many people ask me  ' how do you get your dogs to do those things" I tell each one you must have the basic skills of 'sit down come and stay' . And the response that I get is 'you know that is what my teacher tells me'

I just said it a different way. Be positive, listen, and train

bill mcfarlin

Actress Pauley Perrette, of the TV show, "NCIS", awarded the Linda Michaels/Victoria Stilwell gift package to the Halloween costume contest winner at a recent Amanda Foundation event on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

Adopt for the Holidays!  Wherever I travel, I visit the dogs. I’ve toured numerous humane societies, shelter facilities, and wolf rescue sanctuaries. In Beverly Hills, Rancho Santa Fe, and online worldwide, dog adoption is becoming not only the humanitarian but also the fashionable thing to do. Celebrities often have “pet projects”.

Why not start a new holiday family tradition sharing the joy with a rescue group? It’s the perfect opportunity for pet lovers to give back to the animals-- adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate skills, equipment or money...whatever you can do is appreciated. You'll not only provide a much needed service to our community, but it will fill your heart to overflowing.

My education as a dog trainer began as a local shelter volunteer while researching my master’s thesis. I cleaned kennels, trained hard-to-adopt dogs, and appeared in TV spots with ready-to-go dogs, showing off their innate ability to melt hearts. I fell in love again and again and again and again, and sometimes my heart got broken. The shelter experience shaped the development of my non-aversive training method and I promised to speak out for those who can't speak for themselves.

Animal Planet's smash hit show, It's Me or the Dog star, Victoria Stilwell (exciting new season airs in January) is an outspoken advocate for the adoption of shelter dogs as a first-choice. Dogs are often relinquished, orphaned and abandoned when pet parents find their adolescent dog’s behavior unacceptable as a result of insufficient socialization and solid basic obedience training.

Today there are more dogs than ever in need of help with as many as 8 million deserving, orphaned pets looking for a family to love, and nearly 1/2 of those are euthanized each year due to shelter overcrowding.

Rancho Santa Fe's Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) has one of the world's most successful holiday pet adoption drives, Home 4 the Holidays. They partner with over 3,500 animal organizations in 21 countries with a goal this year to place at least 1.5 million pets into homes from October 1, 2010 - January 4, 2011. HWAC created a variety of fun, interactive online features for pet lovers’ websites and blogs. Visit Facebook.com/Iams for ways to help a shelter in your area.

The Helen Woodward Animal Center also provides free, 3-day seminars that teach shelter workers and animal lovers more effective ways to increase adoptions and lower euthanasia.

Animal Planet’s Petfinders.com, is the #1 facilitator for pet adoption posts ads for 13,574 animal shelters and rescue groups across North America. They have 176,936 adoptable dogs online to date. You can search for any breed or animal welfare group by zip code.

More than 25% of dogs at rescues are purebreds. You’ll find Bedlington Terriers, Borzoi, Bull Terriers et al. There are 31 breeds to choose from that start with the letter B! Petfinders.com also provides spot-on, non-aversive training articles from the likes of Pat Miller, editor of the Whole Dog Journal, and the ASPCA.

Very importantly, plan to look for the right dog to fit your family. Please see a previous edition of my column available on my website on the My Articles page for tips.

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published RanchCoastNews, Lorine Wright, Executive Editor.  All rights reserved.

Animal shelters are the cornerstone of animal welfare in our communities and they desperately need our help 365 days a year but especially during the holiday season. Here are a few of the many ways in which you can help your community shelter throughout the holiday season and into the New Year:

1. Donate toys, bowls and enrichment items to the animals that will spend the holidays in the shelter.
2. Have some extra blankets and/or towels?  Clean out the linen closet and donate your unwanted items to provide bedding for shelter animals during the cold winter months.
3. Staying at home this season?  Consider volunteering at the local shelter.  Many shelters will be short on staff and volunteers due to holiday travel.  This is a wonderful time for animal advocates to provide much needed help with hands on care, website maintenance, adoption counseling, event planning, transport, the list goes on!  Ask shelter staff where you can be most helpful.
4. Make a donation to the animal shelter on behalf of a friend as a holiday gift.  Better yet donate a spay/neuter voucher for your local low cost spay/neuter clinic.
5. Post flyers in busy shopping areas highlighting adoptable animals in the local shelter.
6. Remind all friends and family that there are many shelter animals looking for families.  Don’t shop!  ADOPT!

The holidays do not have to be a lonely time for shelter animals. As animal advocates we want to help as many animals as possible.  Your local animal shelter is a great place to start!  As a community we can make a difference.

Happy Holidays!

Kim

New study says that dogs have bigger brains relative to their body compared to cats. But does that mean that dogs are actually smarter? Or that cats are dumb?

The study published by researchers at Oxford University charted the evolution of mammal brains over the last 60 million years. They scientists found that mammals such as whales, dolphins, dogs and humans, tend to have larger brains relative to their body size when compared to more solitary species such as tigers and rhinos.

The co-authors, Dr. Susanne Shultz and Dr. Robin Dunbar state that these findings suggest that the cooperation and coordination needed for group living can be challenging and over time some mammals have evolved larger brains to be able to cope with the demands of socializing. Dr Susanne Shultz, who led the research, points out, “Dogs have always been regarded as the more social animals while cats like to get on with their own thing alone.”

To many readers this might suggest that dogs must be smart and cats must be dumb. But let’s think about this more carefully. First, this study didn’t actually measure intelligence in animals, just brain size. And brain size isn’t the only thing. For instance parrots have tiny brains compared to cats and dogs, yet most animal behaviorists would agree, the average Macaw or Cockatoo is much smarter than the average dog.

Secondly, the suggestion that dogs are smarter fails to ask, smarter at what? It’s true that dogs are very social and have a rich repertoire of social tools and body language built into their brain for handling conflict as well as for forming friendships and alliances with others. But does social aptitude equal smarter for the job? A look at the world’s physicists and engineers clearly says “Not!” A psychologist friend of mine whose task it was to measure the mental and emotional IQ of highly skilled computer tech firm employees once told me something to the effect of, “When we measured the IQ of these scientists, they were way high, but when we look at their emotional IQ, they were well below average.”

I propose that this is the same for cats. Certainly many cats are not very social, partly because they were not socialized during kittenhood, the way puppies are. And most cats do not know many tricks or behaviors on cue the way dogs do. On the other hand if you ask any of my colleagues they could tell and show you, that cats can learn many tricks and can learn to respond well to common cues such as sit and come when called. So what does it say if that as humans we have these potentially trainable cats in our home, yet many cats lounge around the house and get their meals for free? And many have even trained their humans to serve them on demand? Sometimes at 5:00 am in the morning?

I’d say it means, that we humans, with our big brains relative to our body size need to use our brains more because we’re being outsmarted by the little-brained cat.

To see video on cat training go to www.drsophiayin.com/resources/cattricks or visit my facebook fan page (click here) or read the free online abridged version of Low Stress Handling and Behavior Modification of Cats and Dogs (click here).

Canine behavior specialists deal with fear issues, aggression issues, and everything in between. Most would agree, however, that separation anxiety can be one of the most difficult behavior problems to solve. Not only do separation issues present in challenging ways and sometimes to a severe degree, but the success of any rehabilitation program depends largely on the commitment of the owner to make lifestyle changes as necessary, and to persevere through what may be a long-term project.

Although I have always had compassion for my training clients and what they were going through, my empathy reached new levels when we adopted Sierra. A beautiful eighteen-month-old husky-keeshond mix, Sierra had been impounded at a county shelter in the desert four times before we adopted her. She’d been brought in as a stray, and once we got her home, the reason became apparent: she had a serious case of separation anxiety, combined with the talents of Houdini. It was easy to imagine her missing her owners and then jumping the fence or digging out to go find them.

Our fencing went from six-foot chain link to eight-foot with overhangs. I patiently went through all the steps I advise my training clients to take. Some helped and some did not, as Sierra’s case was different and challenging in more ways than I can go into here. Suffice it to say that I had to become creative, to find new tools and to put together new behavior protocols. Those ideas, along with my newfound awareness of what it was like to live twenty-four seven with a dog with this issue, led me to write Don’t Leave Me! Step-by-Step Help for Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety. I wanted to create a comprehensive, interactive workbook that was based on the latest scientific research and sound behavioral principles, that would allow owners to customize a program for their dogs much as consult with a behavior specialist would do.  I decided to include stories from other trainers as well—the fabulous Victoria Stilwell among them—to show how real-life cases were solved. The solutions were sometimes creative, sometimes more obvious, but the stories were fascinating and even included one dog whose separation anxiety was so bad, the owner came home and found her on a third-story ledge!

My fondest hope is that the book will be helpful to people whose dogs have separation issues, not only because the dogs are suffering, but because owners are suffering as well. If you have a dog with separation anxiety, read the book, work with a trainer one on one (the Association of Pet Dog Trainers website’s Trainer Search is a good place to start), and above all, have patience. It can be a long journey, but your most powerful tool is your love for and commitment to your dog, who is, after all, worth every bit of effort.

How do you say "Thank You" to your dog? If your gratitude this Holiday Season includes your precious pup who faithfully brings so much joy and unconditional love all year long-- show your appreciation by including your dog in the festivities. Say "Thank You" to your kindred canine and make your dog smile. Here are some of my ideas, please feel free to add yours to the Wish List.

1. Hang Out with Your Dog

Photo Courtesy of Chihuahua Rescue San Diego

One of the best gifts you can give your dog is your time, energy and affection, and quite likely, no one is more gleefully pleased with your attention than your dog. If you have a well-socialized dog, take her with you to run some errands or spend some quality time together. Take a long ride up the coast or just about anywhere out in nature and walk along the beach, visit some of our beautiful little beach or small towns along your way. Dogs love country.

2. Veterinary Care

Be pro-active about the health care of your dog all year round just as you are about the health of other family members. Why not schedule a trip to your vet for a complete check up? Choose a veterinarian that both you and your dog genuinely like and trust. Some top-notch integrative-care veterinarians combine both allopathic and holistic approaches to the health and well-being of your dog to provide optimal dog-friendly medical care.

Practice calming desensitization techniques in order to better prepare your dog for the onslaught of stimuli she will likely encounter at the clinic. If your dog has been "dreaming of an orthopedic bed", this could be a good time to make that purchase.

3. Train Your Dog

Say "Thank You" by practicing Positive Reinforcement techniques. Positive training for companion animals is fast becoming a preferred method of dog training. One of its most prominent advocates, The Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2006) in their article, "Good Trainers, How to Identify One"… recommends dog-friendly dog training because it is effective, humane and leads to lasting behavior. Enroll in a class or get a private behavioral consultation to target those little or big behavior problems that have cropped up during the year.

To get started at home, reward behaviors you would like to see repeated. Ignore, prevent or manage the behaviors you’d rather not see repeated. Remember to set some household rules, draw boundaries, establish routines and make it all doable for your dog by being consistent.

4. Food!

Tasty food ranks very high on the list of things your dog loves. Why not prepare holiday feasts for the entire family and provide a special meal for your dog? If you feed your dog healthy, organic food and avoid ingredients that are toxic to dogs, a homemade meal may be just what Doggy Santa ordered. Super-premium dog food is also a good choice. Who can resist Merrick™ "Venison Holiday Stew"! Hopefully your dog is already accustomed to eating a wide variety of foods in a balanced diet so a new dish will not upset the tummy.

Don't encourage begging by feeding directly from the table but feed in your dog's bowl or by hand, away from your dining area.

Whether it's foods that people love that may be toxic to your dog, cooked bones, chocolate, or poinsettia plants, be sure to educate yourself for your pet’s sake about the season's dangerous substances. The Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org) has a complete list of foods that are potentially poisonous to pets. If you think your dog may have ingested a toxic substance you may call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888.426.4435). For a fee, you will receive an immediate consultation.

5. Exercise.

Get your dog out for a nice long run if possible. There are many unique trails, parks, beach areas and neighborhoods to explore. If you prefer to watch rather than run, arrange for a "Play Date" with another friendly dog, or head out to a Dog Beach or one of our leash-free dog parks. Remember, however, to bring only dog-friendly dogs to the dog park and be aware that there is little legal recourse should your dog have an encounter with a dog that is not dog-friendly in a leash-free area.

Consider enrolling your dog in a dog sport class or joining a local group for agility training, fly-ball, or dog dancing. Behaviorally, a tired dog is a well-behaved dog, so don’t underestimate the benefits for both of you that come from aerobic and non-aerobic exercise as well.

What about gear? Many dog trainers recommend a dog-friendly front-clip harness for both walking and running in order to distribute the stress of on-leash pulling across the dog's chest and body, rather than around the neck and throat structures.
(To be continued...)

We'd love you to share your favorite "Thank You" story, comedy or idea right here. Please do!

Warmest Woofs,
Linda

Linda Michaels, “Dog Psychologist,” MA, and Victoria Stilwell-licensed Del Mar dog trainer and speaker may be reached at 858.259.WOOF (9663) or by email: LindaMichaelsPositively@gmail.com for private obedience instruction and behavioral consultations near Del Mar and the San Diego Coast. Please visit us at DogPsychologistOnCall.com

Originally published RanchCoastNews, Lorine Wright, Executive Editor.  All rights reserved.

Picture this: you’re walking your dog at the park when you spot another dog and owner coming toward you. There’s something about the dog that gives you pause. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but that little inner voice is saying, “This is not a dog you want your dog to greet.” As you near each other, the dog strains toward yours. The owner calls out, “It’s okay, he’s friendly.” Who should you believe? The well-meaning owner, or that little voice in your head? The latter is always right.

All too often, we take the word of other dog owners as to how their dogs will behave. Most owners don’t purposely deceive others, but they may not have a realistic view of their own dog’s behavior or potential for aggression. Whether at the off-leash dog park, out for a stroll, or anywhere else in public, you must be an advocate for your dog. Regardless of what anyone says, if you feel a situation is unsafe, remove your dog as quickly and calmly as possible.

Sometimes the problem doesn’t involve ignoring someone else’s opinion, but having them heed yours. Just this morning I had Bodhi, our two-months-out-of-the-shelter husky mix out for a walk at the park. There’s a group of people who walk their dogs together off-leash in the mornings, and I recognized the older man heading back to his car with his Boston Terrier. The man is very friendly, and delights in feeding treats to other people’s dogs. But Bodhi is somewhat reactive toward other dogs while on-leash, and is definitely food possessive. When the man called out to ask if he could come over and give Bodhi a treat, I said I’d rather he didn’t, since Bodhi isn’t very dog-friendly. Undeterred, the man said, “Oh, I’ll just toss one to him then.” I quickly told him not to, since his dog was off-leash and would most likely run after the treat, but it was too late—with a cavalier, “It’ll be fine!” he tossed the treat toward Bodhi. As predicted, the little Boston went racing after it. Fortunately, the treat landed a few feet from us, so when Bodhi lunged for the dog I was able to stop him.

Why didn’t the nice man listen when I told him not to toss the treat, or that Bodhi was not dog-friendly? Why do some owners say their dogs are fine with other dogs when they’re clearly not? In the end, why doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that we are guardian enough to our dogs to chance social ostracism in order to protect them. Be courteous and friendly with other dog owners, but when it comes to questionable canine behavior, don’t take their word for it.
- Nicole Wilde, author Help for Your Fearful Dog

I’m baffled sometimes by the fact that we don’t let our dogs “think.”  If it rings true that whatever our dogs are allowed to practice that that is what they will get good at, why don’t we let them practice “thinking!” It is a concept that I always try and instill in my students, but I was prompted to write about this topic last month when an incident happened with one of my clients where someone else took away her dog’s right to “think.”

The situation happened during a testing evaluation where the dog was being tested on 10 different skills.  My student was taking this test for fun, to see what behaviors her 8 month old dog still needed work on.  During the test, which took place outside at a park, some squirrels ran by chasing each other right in front of the adolescent dog.  The dog naturally thought “oh, what fun, I want to chase too!” and she got out to the end of her leash trying to go after them.  She pulled her owner a couple steps off her balance, but once the owner realized what was happening she grounded herself with her feet planted firmly into the ground and waited.  What was she waiting for?  She was waiting for her dog to think to “check in” with her, as she has taught her to do.  Unfortunately, in that very brief moment of waiting, the evaluator’s assistant came running over and interrupted the dog’s “think time” by grabbing the leash from the owner and yanking the dog back so hard by the leash and collar that the dog fell to the ground.

There are a lot of other learning points we could discuss about the story above, but I want to focus on the “think” part.  When this owner came to me for training with her dog, she had very little connection with her at first.  Meaning, she had taught the puppy a lot of obedience behaviors, but the relationship was not as strong as it could have been and the puppy hardly had to think at all because she was prompted to do everything the owner asked of her and she never had a choice.  What the evaluator’s assistant mentioned above did NOT know was that in six months of rebuilding the connection the dog had with the owner and allowing the dog to “think” about her choices and reinforcing the ones that the owner wanted to build on, she had helped transform the relationship with her dog and gave her dog the ability to use her well honed brain to think through her choices in life.  Deciding to chase squirrels?  For an 8 month old adolescent dog, absolutely a viable choice…..but in this situation the dog knew her options were limited by the six foot leash and had she been given a moment to “think” about the situation, the owner was confident that the choice the dog would have made would have been to check back in with her owner, as her owner had taught her to do.  What I would have asked the assistant had I been there was what would have been wrong with giving the dog more than 3 seconds to think about her options given that no one here was in danger….these were squirrels after all, who at this point were already halfway up a tree!

Another personal example I can give with one of my own dogs right now is in the context of the new K9 Fun Nose Work activity I am doing.  As he searches through boxes looking for a food scent, sometimes he gets frustrated and stares at me as if to say “come on Mom, help me out here!”  In that moment, I am so tempted to help him out in some way, to show him what he needs to do.  However, it is clearly instructed in this sport to let your dog “think!”  In this context it is all about letting your dog think to use his nose constructively, but the principle is still the same….let them work it out and do not be too quick to jump in and intervene.

How often do we take away our dog’s right to think when we don’t need to?  How is it that we don’t trust the scientific evidence and research that has been done citing the intelligence of a dog’s brain and cognitive function?  We do not have to look very far to see that it is true.  At the Association of Pet Dog Trainer’s conference in Atlanta this year, there was a whole day devoted to canine cognition study by some of the experts in our field.  Dr. Patricia McConnell has a great blog summary about some of the research that I would encourage anyone interested in the subject to check out on her website.

Bottom line…..let your dog think!  And to help them, let’s be patient and get rid of our incessant need to micro manage or make every decision for them.  Let them use that well honed organ called the brain!

Question: “My dog is great with people most of the time but sometime when strangers rush up to him when we’re on our walks, he backs off and growls. The behavior seems to be getting worse. Why does he do this?”

Answer: The problem here is that people don’t know how to politely greet your dog. All would be well if humans heeded the two golden rules—never pet a dog without owner permission, and always let the dog make first contact.  Instead well-wishers approach too quickly, crowd too closely or loom over like a thunderstorm ready to dump its load. Under this pressure some dogs will freeze or shrink, pretending it’s all a bad dream. Others take action—usually a reflex bark or low-level growl. A few successes here and the message is loud and clear: when strangers approach, growl and bark to keep them away. Pretty soon, your sweet, slightly insecure dog has turned into a mass of defensive rumbling.

Many humans can’t understand why Fido would be afraid of them when they’re obviously making friendly human gestures. Turn the tables around and the picture becomes clear. Say you’re afraid of spiders and your friend shoves her pet tarantula in your face. If she simultaneously reassures you, “She’s a friendly tarantula. See her amicable expression?” or “She can’t cause harm, she’s just an innocent baby,” would you suddenly feel safe?

No, in fact the only way you could get used to the spider is if you greeted it at your own pace. That means it would have to be on a table or in some locations where you could control your distance from it. Then when you were ready you could gradually approach for a closer look and to even touch it. The same goes for dogs. All dogs are not outgoing or used to meeting many types of strangers, especially if they were already shy when you adopted them or have received minimal supervised socialization with many types of humans. If you walk into a dog’s personal space or even stand and reach out to touch him he may feel threatened or be unsure of your intentions. If however, you stand straight up or crouch down on one knee while look slightly away, then he can approach and sniff you at his own rate. Once he’s relaxed then you can calmly pet him under the chin and neck or on the side of the front half of his body. Offering treats that the shy Fido can choose to take out of your hand while you’re looking away from him will speed the friendship process and will teach Fido to associate unfamiliar people with good things.

Often people manage to get through the initial greeting with Fido okay but then they make a quick or inappropriate move that scares him into snapping or running away. This is still similar to the situation with the giant spider. Even when you’re finally comfortable enough to examine and touch the tarantula, if it suddenly moves its mouthparts or waves one of its legs in the air you might jump away out of fright. To you these movements may conjure images of the tarantula leaping at you and taking a bite whereas to the tarantula the movements may just be a subconscious change in position or even a signal that it’s your friend. So the trick to ensuring that you don’t frighten Fido even after the initial greeting is to gradually get him used to you in different positions. Avoid learning over him or reaching over his head or grabbing and hugging him so he feels confined. Instead move slowly and smoothly in order to give him a chance to back away. Most importantly, always be aware of the signals he’s sending you with his body language. Is he tense and fearful with eyes darting back and forth or his gaze looking away while he’s cringing submissively? Or is he yawning, flickering his tongue in and out of the front of his mouth, or panting with his lips drawn way back to the sides? These are signs of conflict or anxiety.  In all of these cases make sure you give him his space.

If his pupils are hugely dilated or pinpoint and he’s suddenly stiff and completely motionless or giving you a hard stare, it’s a little late because he’s probably about to bite.  But if you still have time, you can calmly avert your gaze and back away out of reach.

The body language you’d like to see when greeting a dog is one that says this whole business is ho-hum. The dog should remain relaxed and his gaze should be steady and soft. His tail should either wag or hang loosely down. If humans would let dogs approach them at their own pace and would even make treats magically appear on the ground around them without pressuring the dog to allowing being petted, they would experience many good dog greetings and help Fido experience good greetings too.

For more information on dog body language, fear, and how to greet correctly while making the pet more comfortable:

Read and see the photos and video clips in chapter 2,3,4,5 of the Free Low Stress Handling and Behavior Modification of Dogs & Cats Online Abridged Version. (www.lowstresshandling.com/online/abridged).

Read the article Seven Tips for Preventing Dog Bites in Animal Care Professionals and Dog Lovers

Or watch the video Why Dogs Bite

This is a revised excerpt from How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves by Sophia Yin

© 2004, 2010 TFH Publications