metropet mag march 2011
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Metropet Mag March 2011TRANSCRIPT
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Feature Articles
6 Kansas City’s Premier Dog ShowYou are invited to attend the Heart of America Kennel Club Dog Show, March 17-20.
10 Be Kind to YourselfIf you have just lost a pet, be kind to yourself and take time to grieve.
14 What To Know Before Acquiring a SheltieThe Sheltie is a relatively new breed with an interesting background.
18 Silence Speaks VolumesWhat do you do with a deaf dog? There are lots of options.
22 Ask the VetVeterinary LASER therapy can provide amazing results.
24 An Ounce of PreventionPreventing infections and seeing the vet before you need to, can save you hundreds of dollars.
28 Dog Training 101: Don’t Ever Assume AnythingThinking out side the box solved these problems — and everyone won!
30 Talk to the PawAdvice to the pet owner!
32 The Fate of Senior Pets in SheltersSenior pets bring in shelters face many difficulties, is one right for you?
In Every Issue
4 Happy Spring! We are all ready for a great Spring!
16 Chip’s Corner — Complete this pawzzle and have some fun!
21 Dog Horoscopes — How well do you know your dog?
27 Cat Horoscopes — How well do you know your cat?
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6March 2011
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Happy St. Paddy’s!Spring is on its way! A special “Thanks” to the Easter
Bunny who modeled for the front cover of this issue! Tomany people he represents Spring! If you are thinkingabout purchasing a bunny for Easter, please do yourresearch first. If a bunny is right for you, then consideradoption as an option. Two local groups to contact:Missouri House Rabbit society, www.mohrs.org andKansas Rabbit Rescue, http://rabbit.rescueme.org/Kansas.
New Website and Email Newsletters Have you been to the MetroPet website lately? Go to metropetmag.com and
check it out! While you are there, sign up for our News N Deals newsletter. Thisweekly newsletter offers tips, ideas, events, links and more. And, don’t forget tofollow us on Face Book and Twitter — links are available from our home page.
Pet of the Week Contest! MetroPet is pleased to announce two Pets of the Week contest winners! If you
have the cutest pet, enter a photo at metropetmag.com.
Each week we select one winner and announce it in our weekly email newsletter.The following month, the winner’s photos and story is published in the magazine.Many of these winners also win prizes!!! You have everything to gain, so entertoday!
Events, Events and More Events! The event page at metropetmag.com is enhanced. Just go to our website and click
on Events — see the top right hand button. Then check out the events that appeal toyou. Don’t miss the upcoming Heart of America Cluster Dog Shows on March 17-20.This dog show is FREE to the public — even the parking is FREE. This is a greatopportunity to learn more about breeds and see a professional dog show! Check out
the article on page 6.
Support our Advertisers The companies who advertise in MetroPet provide quality serv-ices which enhance our lives with our pet companions. When
you purchase products and services from them, please men-tion MetroPet that you saw their ad in MetroPet. This helpsthem know their advertising is working.
Barbara Riedel, Publisher
P.S. This magazine is FREE toyou — because of ouradvertisers. Please
support andthank them.
Publisher’s Message
Publishing Policy: Articles printed in the MetroPetMagazine express the opinions of the individual authors and donot necessarily represent the formal position of MetroPetMagazine. Acceptance of advertising does not necessarily con-stitute endorsement by MetroPet Magazine.
Articles: Readers are invited to submit articles for considerationfor publication to [email protected]. All materials are sub-ject to editorial review.
© 2011 MetroPet Magazine. All rights reserved. Requestreprint permissions at [email protected].
MetroPet Magazine is owned and published by ROI MarketingServices, all rights reserved. 4
Staff andContacts
PublisherBarbara Riedel
EditorDan O'Leary
Magazine LayoutROI Marketing
816.942.1600 • [email protected]
Advertising [email protected]
Deals of the [email protected]
Contributing AuthorsMike Deathe
Christa GrunzingerPat HennessyPatty HomerHeddie Leger
Micheal Tarrant, DVM, CVANancy Piper
PhotographerDan O'Leary
Contact MetroPetPO Box 480065
Kansas City, MO 64148Phone: 913.548.1433
Ad Sales: 913.548.1433Fax: 913.387.4313
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Pet of the Week
Winner
Submit your photo at metropetmag.com.
New Web Design
New email newsletter
I'm always trying to capture thoseamazingly cute moments with my twodachshunds. I can always get them to sitpretty and look at me, but this justseemed to capture the most preciouskiss. I have been in love with this photoever since!
Submitted by Abigail
Won a Bag of Life’sAbundance Dog Food
Fromfrom Your Pet Nutrition Storewww.yourpetnutritionstore.net
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D id you know there is a pre-mier dog show right here in KansasCity? Yes there is! And, this year’s showwill be held from Thursday to Sunday,on March 17-20, 2011 at theAmerican Royal Complex. The show issponsored by the Heart of AmericaKennel Club, Inc. (HOAKC).
CLUB HISTORYThe Heart of America Kennel Club is
an all-breed kennel club comprised ofcanine breeders, exhibitors, and own-ers located in Kansas City, Missouriand the surrounding areas in Missouriand Kansas. The club was organized inlate 1947 and was incorporated inMissouri as a “non-profit” organiza-tion on January 8, 1948. It wasaccredited by the American KennelClub that same year.
The Heart of America Kennel Club is anorganization made up of persons interest-ed in the welfare of purebred dogs and isdedicated to the activities associated withthe sport of purebred dogs.
For over 60 years, the Heart ofAmerica Kennel Club has sponsoredall-breed competition events, includ-ing conformation dog shows, as wellas a variety of service projects, educa-tion programs and training classes.
ANNUAL DOG SHOWDogs of all sizes, shapes,
and descriptions will appearat the HOAKC 2011 ClusterDog Shows. Attendees canview top-winning dogs from around the U.S. proudly strutting their stuff at thisevent. Events will start at 8:00 a.m. and continue each day until the best in showdog is selected in late afternoon.
The shows on March 17 & 18 are presented by the Leavenworth Kennel Club.Shows on Thursday will include the All-Breed Shows, starting at 9:00 a.m., andcontinuing all day through Best in Show. Dogs will be judged by different judgesat each show with separate winners being selected each day.
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PremierPremierDog ShowDog Show
Kansas City’s
The Heart of AmericaKennel Club was formed
over 60 years ago.
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Thursday, March 17Cardigan Welsh Corgi “Top 20” Invitational (followingBIS judging)
• Three Trails Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of KansasCity
Friday, March 18• Breed Specialty Shows (all following BIS judging)• Heart of America Poodle Club• Heart of America Samoyed Club• Three Trails Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of Kansas
City• Weimaraner Club of Greater Kansas City• “B” Match (following BIS judging)• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of Kansas City
Saturday, March 19• Breed Supported Entry• Heartland French Bulldog Club• Heart of America Keeshond Club• Three Trails Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of
Kansas City (Puppy & Veteran Sweepstakes)• Breed Specialty Shows (all are designated
specialties during the all-breed show)• Heart of America Samoyed Club• Kansas City Collie Club• Show Me Vizla Club• Breed Specialty Show (following BIS judging)• Three Trails Cardigan Welsh Corgi Club of
Kansas City• “A” Match (following BIS judging)• Heartland French Bulldog Club
Sunday, March 20• Breed Supported Entry• Heart of America Keeshond Club
HEART OF AMERICA CLUSTER DOG SHOW SCHEDULE
For times when specificbreeds will be judged
call 913-676-7DOG
SPECTATOR ETIQUETTEHEART OF AMERICAN CLUSTER DOG SHOWS
Dog shows present a wonderful opportunity for individuals and familiesto look at many different dog breeds simply for pleasure or for compar-ing breeds as a logical step in making a decision about what breed mightbest suit you and your lifestyle. In order to help ensure that you have apleasant experience at our dog shows and to avoid distracting dogs andtheir handlers during their time in front of a judge, you are encouragedto read and comply with the following etiquette guidelines.
• The Heart Cluster encourages spectators to visit the grooming areaand talk with professional breeders, groomers and handlers to gaininsight about specific breeds, their characteristics, traits, needs,grooming requirements and to ask whatever questions you mighthave. This is a unique and especially valuable opportunity for anyonedeciding what purebred breed is right you. However, be sure to notinterfere with groomers if they are rushing to complete preparationsto go to their show ring.
• Avoid reaching out to touch or pet a dog at the show without first ask-ing the handler for permission. If the handler agrees, first let the dogsniff the back of your hand then extend your hand to gently pet thedog under its jaw or chest.
• Prevent small children from sticking their fingers and hands into cratesand exercise pens. Again, always ask before petting a dog at the show.
• Don’t approach handlers when they are ready or waiting to enter theshow ring. Wait until the handler is finished showing their dog if youwant to talk to them.
• Spectators are not permitted in the center aisle of the show arena inorder to avoid blocking the ring entrances. Many handlers are show-ing multiple entries and it becomes difficult for them to be at theirassigned ring at the appropriate time if spectators block the way.
• Avoid talking to exhibitors while they are in the ring with their entryand don’t touch or lean on or over the ring fencing and markers.
• Avoid being near a show ring with food that might distract a handler’sentry while the judge is considering the dog.
• Leave your baby stroller at home or in your car. Most dog shows,including Heart Cluster, do not permit strollers in the show facility.
• You are not permitted to bring your pet to the show unless it is for anevent that has been promoted for a special purpose such as a CanineGood Citizen test.
• Be sure to visit the vendor booths for many products and gift itemsrelated to the canine world. The vendors are also a source of valu-able information about dogs.
• Finally, be sure to wear comfortable shoes since you will undoubted-ly find yourself doing a lot of walking.
Come, have fun and learn at our dog show!
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The shows on March 19 & 20 are presentedby the Heart of America Kennel Club. Shows onSaturday will include the All-Breed Shows,starting at 9:00 a.m., and continuing all daythrough Heartland French Bulldog Show. Dogswill be judged by different judges at each showwith separate winners being selected each day.
COME LEARN AND ENJOYFor individuals and families attempting to
decide on a specific breed for a household pet,the shows offer a unique opportunity to seeand compare any of over 150 pure-bred dogbreeds, visit with breeders and exhibitors, andsee many of the nationally prominent dogsfrom around the U.S. compete at these fourshows.
Complimentary copies of the AmericanKennel Club informational pamphlets will beavailable. There will also be various healthclinics and seminars. The public can shop inmany vendor booths that offer a wide range ofdog supplies, equipment, books, gift items,jewelry, antique dog collectibles and muchmore. Only dogs entered in these showsare allowed on the show grounds, soplease don’t bring your pets.
VETERINARY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMIn addition to the annual dog show, the
HOAKC promotes Veterinary Technology. Achance conversation led to the establishmentof the a Veterinary Technology scholarship atMaple Woods Community College, one of fivecolleges comprising the MetropolitanCommunity College (MCC) cluster in KansasCity, Missouri. Since 2009, one $500 Vet Techscholarship is awarded each Spring semesterM
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This show is a greatopportunity to see over
150 pure-bred dogsbreeds and experience
the excitement of a professional dog show!
based on the applicants’ Fall semester GPA, financialneed and the submission of a paper describingthe individual’s experience with animals, moti-vation for choosing the Vet Tech course of studyand career goals. The scholarship was estab-lished with a renewable feature for each suc-ceeding semester until graduation based on spe-cific criteria.
In combination with the VeterinaryTechnology scholarship, HOAKC committed togive a high-quality stethoscope to each mem-ber of Maple Woods incoming Vet Techclass. The stethoscopes are engraved withthe student’s name and become their’s touse during their academic and profession-al careers.
The club also strongly supports thehealth and wellness of all dogsthrough sponsorship of researchand canine health programs ataccredited veterinary medicine col-leges in the Midwest and nationallythrough contributions to the AKC’sCanine Health Foundation.
JACKSON COUNTY K-9 PROGRAMA desire of the HOAKC to continue its record of com-
munity service projects in its official territory ofJackson County, Missouri (largest city is Kansas City),led to its purchase of a trained narcoticsdetection/patrol support canine for the K-9 Unit of theJackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Club members Janet and Dick Rees canvassed locallaw enforcement agencies for a K-9 Unit that mighthave been unfunded. Based on their research, theyprepared a proposal for consideration by the club’sboard of directors. The proposal included a narcoticssafe to be installed in an area police department’spatrol car; building materials to complete anotherdepartment’s K-9 Unit obstacle course, a trainingcourse used by most area K-9 Units; and the purchaseof an K-9 dog to add to one unit. The dog, named“Blitz,” is an AKC registered, 2 1/2 year-old maleGerman Shepherd Dog that replaced another dog thatwas retiring due to age, after a highly successfulcareer.
The presentation took place on May 27, 2009, at theclub’s regular meeting. In accepting the dog SheriffMike Sharp stated, “We appreciate this gift more thanyour members can imagine since it prevented thepotential end of our K-9 Unit due to lack of funds. Itcan be said that during his career, Blitz will probablysave an officer’s life while in the line of duty.”
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HOAKC has a strongrecord of community
services and it continued that withthe tradition when
it donated Blitz.
RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIPThe club encourages responsible dog ownership,
and encourages the general public to come andlearn about the different breeds. This dog show, is awonderful opportunity, at no cost to see and experi-ence a professional dog show. Please join us.
For more details about this group and the show,please visit www.heartofamericakc.org.
Y our pet has died. Your belovedfriend, companion, child has died. You aregrieving. You are probably astounded by theintensity of your grief. Be assured that griefover the death of a pet is not immature,crazy, or overly sentimental. It is normal,natural, and proper. If you love deeply, yougrieve deeply.
YOUR BUDDYYour buddy, your best friend was with you
nearly 24/7 for all of his life with you. Yourcompanion was never too busy for you,wanted to be with you, didn’t ever lie to you,comforted you when you were upset, wasthere for you during the bad times as well asthe good times, and saw you at yourabsolute worst and still loved you uncondi-tionally. He was your confidante, your socialpartner, perhaps your exercise partner, andwas a daily source of joy and laughter. Yourbeloved pet fulfilled your need to nurtureand comfort someone. Your pet was part ofyour family; perhaps was your family. Youloved him, were concerned about him, hadfun with him and enjoyed his companion-ship. He also met your need for physicalcontact; touch was probably an importantpart of your relationship. Your pet was partof the ritual of your days; was woven into thevery fabric of your life.
When he died, no wonder you were devas-tated. This may be one of the most signifi-cant losses in your life. There are no wordsto describe your relationship with your pet.Pet grief is real.
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by Nancy Piper
Your pet has died. Your belovedfriend, companion, child has died.You are probably astounded by theintensity of your grief. Grief over
the death of a pet is not immature,crazy or overly sentimental.
Be kind toYourself
PERFECTLY NORMAL TO GRIEVEIt is perfectly normal and natural to grieve when a
loved one dies, although you may be surprised by theraw emotion. Allow yourself to feel all of your emotionsover a period of time. To deny or repress your griefwould be to devalue the love your companion animalbrought into your life. When grief is freely expressed,the healing time is generally greatly reduced. It is okayto cry, it is okay to ask questions, it is ok to view thebody, it is okay to reminisce about your pet’s life.
In the Western World, we are not taught how to effec-tively handle grief,whether it is our ownor someone else’s.When we are grievingover the death of abeloved companionanimal, we typicallydon’t know what todo, plus we thinkwe’re crazy! You arenot the only one whofeels this way after thedeath of a pet; otherpeople feel this way,too.
Anybody who has lost a loved one, albeit a belovedcompanion animal, has a broken heart. Sometimes youdon’t look like it or sound like it, but know that there isa broken heart in there. When you are grieving, there isnothing wrong with your head. It is your heart that isbroken. Yet we have been taught to deal with grief andemotion in an intellectual way. We have been raised withdifferent clichés with which to address emotions.
DEALING WITH THE CLICHÉSHere are some of the clichés we were raised with: • Don’t Cry. Don’t Feel Bad. It’s okay to cry. Crying
is part of the grief process. It helps get the grief out.We have been so conditioned to convert our emo-tions to intellect that we think we are defective forhaving emotions at all.
• I Know How You Feel. No two relationships arethe same, so no one can ever know how anotherperson feels. You can only know how you feel, andit is awful.
• Be Strong for Others. Now is not the time to bestrong. Let non-grievers be strong. It is okay togrieve openly, to show the depths of your emotions.Teach children that it is okay to grieve, to have emo-tions and to let the emotions show.
• Be Grateful. Now is not the time to be grateful. Agriever can’t be grateful for anything right now.Later on, after going through the grief process, you
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can be grateful for many things.• He Led a Full Life! So what? He’s still dead and your
heart is still broken and you have lost the physical rela-tionship with him.
• We’ll Get You A New One onSaturday. The loss can’t be replaced.You can bring a new puppy or kitty orparrot into your heart, but you can neverreplace the companion you lost.
• Grieve Alone. Don’t do that. Findanother griever and sit with him. Hugeach other. Comfort each other. Talk.Tell your pet’s story. A good friend canalso fill this role; usually one who hasexperienced the human-animal bond. APet Grief Recovery Group can also helpyou with this, by providing a safe place togrieve.
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Anybody who has lost aloved one, albeit a belovedcompanion animal, has a
broken heart.
• Keep Busy. And then what? What happens when you col-lapse at the end of the day? Your heart is still broken andyou’re exhausted and nothing has been resolved. There arephysical activities you can do which will help with grief, butdon’t keep busy for the sake of being busy.
• Just Give It Time. Time will heal. Time does not resolvegrief. It depends on what you do with the time that counts.Remember the good and the bad. Deal with the pain. Youhave to work through it to recover from the loss.
• He Lived a Long Time. Your heart rebels at these words.Yes, he did. But you still miss him; your heart is still bro-ken.
There are more clichés, like “Jesus needed a little dog forsomeone else.” “God works in mysterious ways.” “Everythingusually works out for the best.” None of these help heal a bro-ken heart.
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GRIEF HURTSGrief hurts. Ignoring your grief, hiding your grief
from yourself and others, just hoping it will go awaydoesn’t help. Grief is a process, a journey, not anevent. You have to experience the emotion, gothrough the process, work through the pain even alittle bit at a time, in order to come out the other sideand be healed. If you make an active effort to work
through your grief, you will eventually successfully nav-igate your grief journey. There is not a set time framefor this. You will eventually arrive at a new “normal”because life will never be the same. Be kind to your-self. Be patient with yourself. Be assured that what youare feeling is normal. Never pretend your heart isn’tbroken. Do what feels right to you; there is not a wrongway and a right way. You have loved and you have lost.You will be a stronger and more capable personbecause of it. You will also be ready to open your heartto another companion animal. You may find anotherplace in your heart for a new love.
Nancy Bush Piper has owned RollingAcres Memorial Gardens for Pets, a petcemetery, crematorium, and funeralhome in Kansas City, for over 31 years.She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psy-chology and sociology from NorthwestMissouri State University. Nancy contin-ued her education in the cemeteryindustry, attending the InternationalCemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association University for twoyears, where she also taught a course one year. She was certifiedas a Grief Recovery Specialist in 1999 by the Grief RecoveryInstitute, Sherman Oaks, CA. Nancy worked in the human ceme-tery and funeral industry before, as well as after, she becameinvolved with the after-life care of pets. Nancy and her husband,Gary, are blessed with many animals in their lives. Visit her web-site at www.visitrollingacres.com
Grief hurts. Ignoringyour grief, hiding yourgrief from yourself andothers, just hoping itwill go away doesn’t
help. Grief is a process,a journey, not an event.
Next month’s MetroPet Magazine will include anarticle on Traveling through Grief.
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SAVE MONEY
SUPPORT ANIMAL HAVENDo you love animals?Want to support Animal Haven?
Do you like to save money?
If the answer is YES — then thismay be the right program for you.AIM Insurance has a new program — get aninsurance quote and they will make a donation toAnimal Haven. There is a catch— you have to tell them yousaw the ad in MetroPet —or your quote won’t count.
So if you need home,auto, renters, motorcycle,boat, or commercial insur-ance — call Kelli at AIM at913-451-9246 and get a quote.
Make sure you tell them, “This is for Animal Haven — I saw yourad in MetroPet magazine.”
Oh, and each quote will be entered into aquarterly drawing for prizes from the sponsors.Submit your photo at metropetmag.com.
This is my favorite picture of Baylee. She is looking atpictures of herself on my computer. Submitted by Cheryl
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Won a Bag of Earthborn Holistic Dog FoodFrom
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for upcoming events
The Shetland Sheepdog, or Shelties, is a relative new-comer to the world of purebred dogs. Originating in theShetland Islands, the breed was first registered inLerwick in 1908 and with the Scottish ShetlandSheepdog Club in 1909. Subsequently, both these reg-istries and the breed were recognized by the UKC(English Kennel Club) in March of 1909.
First registered there as a Shetland Collie, the namewas changed to Shetland Sheepdog by October of 1909 because of objections by Colliefanciers. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in April of 1911.
The Shetland Islands in the Northern Atlantic are a series of small islands exposed to thevagaries of the sea and north winds. They are rugged, rocky and sparse in vegetation. Thepeople who inhabit the islands are also rough and rugged as are some of the animals thathail from there; for example, the Shetland Pony and the Shetland Sheepdog.
It has long been thought that the beginnings of this breed could be traced to influence bya Northern Spitz type dog brought from Scandinavia by the early inhabitants, a King CharlesSpaniel, the original Pomeranian and other dogs indigenous to the islands as well as theScotch Collie. The actual mix of this breed is shrouded in mystery and still debated.
What to knowbefore acquiring a
Sheltie
Today, the Sheltie appears in theHerding Group in the USA and thePastoral Group in the UK. The origi-nal purpose of the breed was as anall-around farm dog. The Sheltiesassisted the crofters where needed,keeping livestock from the gardens,assisting with a twice yearly round-up of the sheep, and as family com-panions, warning of intruders andvisitors and doing whatever else wasdeemed useful. The tendency tobark is sometimes considered a lia-bility in the breed today. Whatevertheir task or responsibility, it wasnecessary for these early Shelties toearn their keep, as the Shetlanderscould ill afford to keep any dog sim-ply as a pet.
SHELTIES TODAYShelties are seen today excelling
in multiple venues around theworld. Some find their place asmedical alert dogs, therapy dogsand others assist the handicappedin various ways. The breed excels inagility, rally, herding and obedienceas well as in the conformation ring,or simply as someone’s beloved petand companion.
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LOOKING FOR A PUPPY? THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.Health problems in Shelties, in general, are not common.
However, the testing of the breeding stock is a recommended tokeep the incidence of certain problems to a minimum. It mustbe remembered that dogs are animals, not machines, and onaverage, every dog has 4 to 5 defective genes. Congenital and/orhereditary problems will occur no matter how conscientious thebreeder.
Concerned breeders of Shetland Sheepdogs are striving tobreed healthy Shelties and decrease the incidence of heritablediseases in the breed. Hip dysplasia, thyroid disease, eye dis-eases, dermatomyositis (Shelties Skin Syndrome), vonWillebrand’s disease (vWD), and epilepsy are some of theknown health problems of the breed. Although these problemsare NOT COMMON in the breed, the Board of Directors of theAmerican Shetland Sheepdog Association (ASSA) recommendsthat questions about the health of the dog be asked when con-sidering a Sheltie.
SHELTIES COLORS AND STANDARDAs stated in the standard: Black, blue merle, and sable
(ranging from golden through mahogany) and marked withvarying amounts of white/and or tan.
Faults: Rustiness in a black or blue coat. Washed out ordegenerate colors, such as pale sable and faded blue. Self-colorin the case of the blue merle, that is, without any merling ormottling and generally appearing as a faded or dilute tri-color.Conspicuous white body spots. Specimens with more than 50%white shall be so severely penalized as to effectively eliminatethem from competition.
TRAITS AND FAULTSThe Shetland Sheepdog is intensely loyal, affectionate, and
responsive to his owner. However, he maybe reserved toward strangers. OtherShelties traits include shyness, timidity,nervousness, stubbornness, snappiness,and ill temper.
This breed is similar in size and generalappearance to the Rough Collie as theShetland Pony does to some of the largerbreeds of horses. Although the resemblancebetween the Shetland Sheepdog and theRough Collie is marked, there are differ-ences which may be noted. The ShetlandSheepdog is a small, alert, rough-coated,longhaired working dog.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCEThe Shetland Sheepdog should stand
between 13 and 16 inches at the shoulder.Height is determined by a line perpendicu-lar to the ground from the top of the shoul-der blades, the dog standing naturally, with
forelegs parallel to line of measurement.In overall appearance, the body should appear moderate-
ly long as measured from shoulder joint to ischium (rear-most extremity of the pelvic bone), but much of this lengthis actually due to the proper angulation and breadth of theshoulder and hindquarter, as the back itself should be com-paratively.
Compliments of the American Shetland SheepdogAssociation.
LOCAL SHELTIE AND COLLIE RESCUE GROUPS
Kansas City Sheltie Rescue Group — formed in 2001, thisis a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit group licensed in Kansas andMissouri. It serves the Greater Kansas City area by rescuing andsearching for great “fur-ever” homes for Shelties. For photos ofadoptable animals, adoption dates and other details go towww.kcsheltierescue.org.
CandE Aussie & Border Collie Rescue — founded by Carland Elise (that’s where CandE came from) Bush, the organizationworks tirelessly trying to find forever homes not only for theirfavorite Australian Shepherds, but also for an occasional straythat crosses their path. For photos of adoptable animals, adop-tion dates and other details go to www.candeaussieresq.org
Mo-Kan Border Collie Rescue — Mo-Kan Border CollieRescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization headquartered inthe greater Kansas City area, serving Kansas, Missouri and partsof the midwest. For photos of adoptable animals, adoption datesand other details go to www.mokanbcrescue.org.
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Chip’s Corner
Pawzzleby Heddie Leger
Go towww.metropetmag.com
for upcoming events
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Across:
2. This breed is intensely_______________.
4. One job is to keep _____________from the garden.
5. This breed is known for its___________ double.
6. Disqualifying coat color8. The Shelties should stand between
thirteen and _____________ inchestall.
11. This breed has a tendency to_________.
13. The Shelties was an all around__________ dog.
15. ____________ is a breed quality.16. This breed excels in
_________________.18. Name of Islands this breed origi-
nated from19. This breeds coat is called a
__________ coat.20. This breed is very __________.
Down:
1. First registered as the Shetland __________3. The shape of the head is like a
____________.5. Disease referred to as Shelties Skin
Syndrome7. The Shetland Sheepdog is a very good
family _________________.8. Another name for the American Shetland
Sheepdog9. A popular breed color10. This breed appears in what AKC group in
dog shows?12. This breed should not show ____________.14. Eyes should be ___________ shaped.17. In the United Kingdom the group is called
the ___________ group.18. This breed was used to herd what animal?
Unfortunately, withpuppy mills using indis-criminate breedingpractices and backyardbreeders trying to “cre-ate” their uniquedesigner dogs there aremore deaf dogs thanever due to faulty genet-ic combinations. Thereare many theories as towhat causes deafness indogs. Scientifically it hasbeen found that dogswith a predominance ofwhite in their coat colorare genetically predis-posed to deafness. Inaddition, merl coloringis also found to carry thegene for deafness. Many“show” breeders willdestroy a deaf puppyconsidering it a severefault to be culled fromthe breeding stockrather than spaying or neutering it and selling it as a pet puppy; thus, keep-ing deafness a well kept secret in their lines.
DEAF DOGS GROWING IN NUMBERIt is estimated that there are over 3,000 owners of deaf dogs and the num-
bers are growing. These special pet owners have discovered that SilenceSpeaks Volumes. There are now books on how to train a hearing impaireddog, a support chat group that is international and several websites that pro-vide information on deaf dogs. A deaf dog is not necessarily at a disadvan-tage as many trainers teach sign language to dogs in training in class. In fact,English is considered a second language to dogs. They are no more familiarwith English than they are with German, Spanish or French. The dog’s mainM
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Sign language comes verynatural and easy to them
and when trained withthis method deaf dogs canbe successful at anything
a hearing dog can do...
Speaks Volumesby Heddie Leger
SILENCE
taught me to go forwarddespite struggles. Mona, a deaf
French Bulldog, suffered with a terminalliver malformation. She greeted eachmorning with a lick and a wag. From her, Ilearned not to whine about life's small dif-ficulties. I learned that perseverance couldover come just about anything. We all havehurdles put in our way. I just look at themas challenges.
a deaf Bull Terrier, taughtme to enjoy life. An ant
crawling across the floor can become themost entertaining event. A burst of frenet-ic activity, can invigorated the body. Thesimple touch of a human hand can warmyour soul. One should take time everyday,to give thanks for being alive. Life may giveyou obstacles but there is great pleasure inthe process.
language is body language. Sign language comes very naturally and easy tothem and when trained with this method deaf dogs can be successful at any-thing a hearing dog can do including agility, carting, rally, search and res-cue, herding, lure coursing, and flyball.
SHINING EXAMPLEThis story submitted by a young man named Justin Skinner is a shining tes-
timony as to how wonderful deaf dogs are to live with, what great compan-ions they make, and the life lessons he has learned by living with them.
“My life's lessons have come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Theirworld is one of silence, but they have spoken volumes. For the past 7years, I have shared my life with deaf dogs. They have come fromshelters or the streets. The lucky ones came from responsible breed-ers. Each one has taught me a lesson about what life has to offer.
a deaf English Cocker Spaniel, taught me to acceptless than the perfect. I watched him arrive in this
world as an unconnected soul. Then felt the disappointment oflearning of his disability. Time gave me the chance to marvel at theway he adapted to a silent world and became a loving being. Hetaught me the value of being different.
a deaf Dalmatian, taught me the value of forgive-ness. She came as a terrified dog. Time, patience and
space taught her to trust humans. From her, I learned to turn a cheekto those who may be cruel or unkind. I learned that most cruelty isnot personal but a lack of moral character in the perpetrator.
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Rugby
Faith
Mona
Snatch
a deaf Border Collie,taught me there are no
disabilities. It's all in the way youapproach life. Life is too short andthere is too much to do to let life'sobstacles slow you down. She goes ateverything full speed and with greatexuberance. She has taught me to gofor what I want and be persistent.
a deaf Setter, taught meabout passion. Oneshould have things that
are an integral part of one’s soul.I've learned to embrace my pas-sions. Although distractions may getin the way, follow your heart. I havewatched the sheer delight in Grace'sbody as she has pointed to a bird. Ihave felt my own joy as I finished acomputer animation project orsunk the winning basket in a game.Passion is the fuel for life.
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MY FRIENDSMy friends have come in all shapes,
sizes and colors. Some have had fur andsome are human. From them, I havelearned different is not something to befeared but revered. It is not something tobe ridiculed but defended. My life lessonsmay have been silent, but they have spoken volumes and helped me become theperson I am.”
By Justin Skinner
VALUABLE LESSONSAs you can see, from the eyes of Justin Skinner, deafness has spoken volumes in
teaching him some valuable life lessons. Perhaps we could all learn that what issomeone’s “trash” can be a “treasure” to someone else. If you learn that your newpuppy is deaf or your older dog becomes hard of hearing look for the “silver lining.”Learn the beauty of sign language and open upnew avenues of communicating with your pet.It might just give you a new view of life byenjoying the Silence Speaks Volumes.
Heddie is a Certified Humane Educator and memberof APDT, APLB, APHE and NHES sharing a lifelong pas-sion of helping children and the elderly learn mannersreinforcement with their pets through the PawZone In-Home PetSitting and The DogSpot Training Center.
From them, I havelearned different isnot something to befeared but revered.
Tilly
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Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)The Ship’s Cat. This feline is extraordinarily sensitiveto those with whom he or she lives, sharing theirinnermost problems.
Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) The Stray Cat. When this cat decides to hang around,the owner will find shredded curtains, snagged cloth-ing, and dents in the cushions
Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20) The Earth Mother. Laid-back, calm, tolerant and nearimpossible to ruffle, this feline could be described bysome as boring and dogmatic.
Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. Problems often surface whenthis cat is expected to do something that they do notwant to do... like staying in at night..
Cancer (June 22 - July 22)The Crazy Cat. the Cancer Cat can be a lovingcreature to anyone who is around long enough andup late enough to get to see him or her on occasion.
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)The Top Cat. A born entertainer, the Leo Cat willcharm company, wrapping around a favored person’sleg before leaping into their arms without warning.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Kitten Cat. This feline is fanatical about keepingclean and may spend more time preening than anyother cat in the Zodiac.
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)The Copy-Cat. With a Libra Cat in an owner’s lap,there will be little or nothing an owner can get awaywith and privacy will be a thing of the past.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)The Cat’s Pajamas. This feline is deeply intuitive ofothers where feelings are concerned, possessing thegift of empathy, and the ability to read emotions.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)The Stable Cat. This feline be a mixture of fact andfantasy, unable to tell the difference between the two.He or she may be a cat today and a horse tomorrow!
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)The Cat Burglar. The Capricorn Cat is frequentlyfrightened by things that do not normally bother othercats...shadows on the wall, the dark or high places...
Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18)The Hip Cat. The tendency to be aloof is a qualityoften associated with the Sign of Aquarius. Ownersshould make the most of it when the Aquarius Catcomes down to play and amuse.
Feline Signs
Q What is Laser Therapy for animals?
A Low Level Laser Therapy is also known as cold laser therapy and is a fair-ly new treatment method in veterinary medicine. Laser technology was
developed many decades ago, and has gained popularity and acceptance in vet-erinary medicine during the last 10-15 years. Low level laser therapy is very dif-ferent than lasers used for surgery.
Q Is Laser Therapy for animals different than from humans?
A Laser therapy for animals is not very different for animals than forhumans. The machines and technology are basically the same for both
human and veterinary medicine. Human chiropractors have had similar expe-riences using laser therapy on humans as veterinarians have had when usinglaser therapy for animals.
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by Michael Tarrant, DVM, CVA
Veterinary LASERtherapy can be used
to stimulate andimprove the healingof open wounds andother injuries. Thetreatment allowsyour pet to heal
faster after surgeryor traumatic injury.
Q What kinds of animals areeligible for laser therapytreatments?
A Any animal is eligible fortreatment. The machine in my
clinic has settings for cats, dogs andhorses, but can be adjusted to otheranimals based on their size.
Q On what types of ailmentsdoes it treat and/or help?
A Laser therapy works on anytype of ailment that involves
inflammation or swelling. We havetreated tendon injuries, musclestrain, hot spots, slow healingwounds, intervertebral disk disease,arthritis and more. Basically, we cantreat any kind of soft tissue inflam-mation.
What is LaserTherapy forAnimals?
Ask The Vet
Q How does it work?
A Laser therapy involves using light, of specificwavelengths, to stimulate the body’s own metab-
olism and essentially speeds up healing. The light inter-acts with mitochondria (the cell’s engine) to increaseproduction of ATP, which is the substance that the bodyuses for energy. This is what speeds up the metabolism.It also increases blood flow and drainage of lymphaticfluid in the area which helps to decrease pain, inflam-mation, and swelling.
Q How many treatments does it take to seeresults?
A The number of treatments depends on the condi-tion being treated. Some conditions like acute
strains or sprains will respond in one or two treatments.Conditions like intervertebral disk disease or arthritismay require a treatment regimen of six treatments overseveral weeks.
Q What are the side effects?
A There are no side effects from the treatment.However, treatments cannot be performed near
the thyroid gland or around the eye. Since the lightwaves are very powerful, they might stimulate the thy-roid gland or cause damage to the eyes if pointed atthem. Anyone present in the room, while the treatmentsare being performed, are required to wear safety glasseswhile the laser is in use. Patients may feel a warm ortingling sensation in the area where the treatments arebeing performed.
Q What kind of certifications and training arerequired to operate the equipment?
A There are no special certifications needed to oper-ate the laser. However, there is a training program
that has to be completed by anyone operating themachines. This program covers safety issues, operationof the machines, and education about the types of con-ditions that can be treated.
Q It the treatment monitored by any organiza-tion?
A Treatments are monitored by the same organiza-tions that monitor all other procedures and veteri-
nary practices. There are various agencies includingcity government offices, OSHA, DEA, etc. In addition, theKansas State Board of Veterinary Examiners monitorsveterinarians.
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Q What does a treatment or treatment package cost?
A Cost of treatments vary. First you have to decide thenumber of treatments; then the frequency. Before start-
ing any treatment program, ask for an estimate and verifythe veterinary is qualified and trained to preform the treat-ments.
Q Why should I consider this option?
A Laser therapy is a non-invasive method that can beadded to any other treatment options. There are no
side effects and it is a good way to stimulate the body to healitself rather than administering additional medications.
Mike Tarrant grew up in a small farming inOklahoma where he gained invaluable experienceworking with all types of animals. He attended theUniversity of Kansas and Oklahoma StateUniversity, where he graduated in 2003 as a Doctorof Veterinary Medicine (DVM). You can reach Dr.Michael Tarrant at Arbor Creek Animal Hospital, bycalling 913-764-9000 or by visiting www.acani-malhospital.com.
I ’m sure you have noticed that veteri-nary care is expensive and getting moreexpensive every year. According to vet-info.com, the cost of veterinary care forthe first year of a puppy or kitten’s life is$350 to $800 minimum; every year afterthat you can expect to pay $300 to $625.These figures include healthy pet exami-nations, annual vaccines and monthly fleaand heartworm prevention, but the figuresdon’t include any unexpected illnesses orinjuries that may arise.
Preventing disease is the best investmentyou can make in your pet’s health.Treating some illnesses and injuries afterthey have happened can be so cost pro-hibitive that with a catastrophic event,many people only have the financialoption of euthanasia. So, let’s talk aboutwhat you can prevent.
An Ounce of
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by Patty Homer
Prevention
Preventing disease isthe best investment
you can make in yourpet’s health.
ILLNESSES/DISEASESFeline Aids (FIV) — FIV attacks a cat’s
immune system much like AIDS in humans butit is species specific meaning it affects catsonly; it is not contagious to dogs or humans.There is no cure, but once FIV is contracted acat can live up to 10 years. FIV is transmittedfrom cat to cat by blood and saliva as well asfrom a mother to kitten through her milk.
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PREVENTION: vaccination (if yourcat’s lifestyle demands it), keepindoors, limit access to unknown orunvaccinated cats.
Feline Leukemia (FeLV) — Inthe U.S. it is estimated that 2-3% of allcats are infected with FeLV. FeLV iscaused by a virus that is a form ofcancer of the blood cells called lym-phocytes, or leukemia. All cats are atrisk of infection but ill, young or sen-ior cats have a higher risk of infec-tion. FeLV is spread through saliva,nasal secretions, urine, feces andmilk.
PREVENTION: vaccination (if yourcat’s lifestyle demands it), keepindoors, limit access to unknown orunvaccinated cats.
Feline Distemper(Panleukopenia) — Feline Distemper is caused by thefeline Parvo virus and is not related to canine Distemper.This virus attacks the lining of the intestines causing diar-rhea, dehydration and anemia. Without extensive medicaltreatment this virus has an 85% mortality rate. The mortali-ty rate decreases with treatment, but is often still fatal. Thevirus is spread through all body secretions including feces,vomit, urine, saliva and mucous.
PREVENTION: vaccination, keep indoors, limit access tounknown or unvaccinated cats.
Heartworm Disease – This affects dogs and cats alike.Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes, so the risk ofinfection is higher in places that have a high mosquito popu-lation like the Midwest and coastal areas but it is prevalent inall 50 states. Heartworm lavae is injected into the blood-stream by a mosquito and grow from larvae to adult worms asthey migrate to the heart and lungs resulting in death. Thereis treatment for dogs, but no treatment available for cats.
PREVENTION: monthly dewormers such as HeartGard,Sentinel, Interceptor or Revolution. These are prescriptiononly and can not be given to a heartworm positive pet, sobefore starting on prevention, a heartworm test must beperformed by your veterinarian. Medication must be givenmonthly, year round and your dog must be tested annually.
Intestinal parasites —Roundworms, Hookworms,Whipworms, Tapeworms, Coccidia and Giardia are all intes-tinal parasites that pose a threat to our pets and sometimesus. Many of these parasites are zoonotic, meaning they canbe transmitted to humans. All dogs and cats should bechecked at least annually for intestinal parasites. Treatingthem on your own by giving over the counter products isgenerally a waste of time and money due to their ineffective-
ness — prescriptionstrength dewormers arerecommended. When youhave children, ill or seniorpeople in your home, pre-vention is extremely impor-tant. Intestinal parasites aretransmitted by contact withan infected pet or contactwith infected ground.
PREVENTION: monthlydewormers listed above,annual stool checks andpreventative deworming.
Parvo Virus — Parvo isvery deadly and one of themost common infectiousdiseases that affects dogs. Itis transmitted through feces
but the virus can stay alive for months on clothes, concrete andkennel floors and for years in the soil. Your dog can also comeinto contact with the Parvo from wild animals tracking the virusinto your yard or rain water running through your yard spreadingthe disease. Parvo is most prevalent in very young or ill dogs;
black and tan breeds such as Rottweilersand Dobermans as well as Labradors.
PREVENTION: A series of vaccinations start-ing at the age of 6-8 weeks old, no accessto unknown or unvaccinated dogs andareas that those dogs are prone to be insuch as dog parks, neighborhood outingsand pet store floors. Enrolling a puppy inan indoor group obedience class isfine after the second round of vac-cines.
Kennel Cough (KC) — This is anupper respiratory infection that is verycontagious via the air. There are sever-al different upper respiratory infec-tions that are generally lumped under the title Kennel Cough. Thesymptoms include a dry hacking cough, nasal and sometimes eye dis-charge. Most dogs will come into contact with and possibly show signsof KC at some point in their lives. The infections are generally mild andtreated easily by a veterinarian, but like most other diseases, the veryyoung, ill and seniors are more likely to get a serious infection.
PREVENTION: There are vaccines for Bordetella and Para-influenza,but they are not 100% effective and most often will just lessen theseverity of the infection. It is best to keep the more susceptible dogsaway from unvaccinated, unknown dogs and dogs that are showingsigns of coughing, sneezing or eye discharge.
Canine Influenza — This is a highly contagious respiratory infec-tion caused by a virus. There is a mild form and a severe form. Themild form symptoms are a moist cough that persists for up to a month,although some dogs will have a dry cough similar to KC. Dogs with asevere form will develop a high fever and have clinical signs of pneu-monia. The first outbreak of Canine Influenza was in 2004 and to datehas not been deemed zoonotic.
PREVENTION: There is a vaccine that does not keep a dog from con-tracting the disease, but does lessen the severity of the infection. The
vaccine is recommended for dogs thatcome into contact with many other dogssuch as boarding, day care or groomingfacilities.
INSURANCE PLANSThere are several insurance
plans available for pets. Icompared 3 different plans
for a 5 year old dog with a$50-$100 deductible and
found that you canexpect to pay any-where from $27 to
$95 per month, per dog($324 - $1140 annual-
ly). If you decide to buy insurance for your pet, readover the contract very carefully to see what is, and whatis not covered.
Your veterinarian should help you decide what vaccineprotocol is right for your pet. Take some extra time withyour vet at your next visit to discuss what vaccines areneeded for your pet based on age, breed, health, geo-graphic area, travel and your pet’s normal activities.
Two ways to cut down on veterinary expenses are:• Early Detection — Performing Home Health
Exams (featured in the May ’09 issue of MetroPet)help you catch illnesses, injuries and unpre-ventable maladies, keeping the cost of treatmentdown.
• Prevention — It is much more cost effective toprevent rather than to treat!
Patty Homer is a Certified Pet DogTrainer and a Pet First Aid instructor.She has been training dogs for 20years. She owns Good Pup dog train-ing and boarding in South KansasCity. Her certifications include CPDT-KA (certified through theCertification Counsel of ProfessionalDog Trainers); CDT certified throughthe International Association of Canine Professionals.She is the Founder and President of HEARTland PositiveDog Training Alliance. For more information, visit herwebsite at www.goodpupkc.com.
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Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)The Interpreter. Walks have a tendency to turninto swimming galas as this dog rolls in everypuddle and will run for miles to find a stream.
Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) Leader of the Pack. The relationship between theAries Dog and their human will largely be one ofcompromise...usually on the part of the owner.
Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20) The Strong Silent Type It is not unusual for theTaurus Dog to dig holes and lay away a goodly sup-ply of kibble for a rainy day.
Gemini (May 21 - June 21) The Yapper. Much like the “Elephant’s Child,” whoalways wanted to know more, this canine will beinquisitive and enquiring.
Cancer (June 22 - July 22)The Home-Lover. In the eyes of this canine, pos-session is nine-tenths of the law. It will literally hangon to anything that it feels is its personal belonging.
Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)The Boss-Dog. The Leo Dog cannot bear to beignored. The vanity of this canine knows no limit and heor she adores being the center of attraction.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) The Helper. This dog is never happier than when theyare doing something for their owner. However, as acreature of routine and habit, they expect to be fed andwalked at the same time every day.
Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)The Shop-Steward The Libra Dog will refuse to bebanished to an outside kennel, unless the owner isalso willing to take up residence with it.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)The Paragon. It will be important for any owner ofa Scorpio Dog to remember that, as the human,you will always be bigger than this canine.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)The Problem Dog. This dog is an independent crea-ture, preferring to make a personal choice regardingwho their living companions will be.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)The Social Climber. Problems arise with a CapricornDog if their living standards fail to improve.
Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 18)The Friend. The most humane of the species,people are most assuredly this dog’s “thing” andthey will get on brilliantly with an owner.
Canine Signs
Last week I had two real interesting situations while teach-ing my beginner class. One concerned a 3 pound Chihuahuaand the other a 55 pound Great Pyrenees puppy. One dogrefused to sit and the other put the brakes on every time he feltthe leash on his collar. On the surface, these two dogs appearedto have very little in common; but in the time between classes Icame up with two very different solutions for these behaviors, thatcame from the same idea. Never assume you know what a dog isthinking (or feeling) and don’t be afraid to think outside the box!
REFUSING TO SITWith our spunky 3 pound Chihuahua that would not sit, it
took simple detective work. I asked the owner if the dog sat athome. The answer was yes, but not on command. As I sat athome wondering what was going on, I had a thought; could it bethe floor? Let’s face it, this dog is obviously small, and Chihuahuasdon’t have what most would call a lot of fur. The training facility flooris concrete; could this little girl be cold or uncomfortable? So the nextweek I brought a blanket, and guess what? Within 10 minutes, she was“sitting pretty” and doing just fine. Many people would have labeled this
Dog Training 101: Dog Training 101:
dog as stubborn or just plain dumb; when inreality she just did not like the type of floor. Aseasy as it would have been to get frustrated
wondering what I was doing wrong, I forcedmyself into the dogs “paws” for a minute, and theanswer was right there looking me in the face.
STOP DON’T WALKNow as far as “big boy,” the 55 pound Great
Pyrenees puppy…well, he was a real head-scratcher. He would walk on leash for about 10minutes and then just stop cold and refuse to
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by Mike Deathe
Many people would havelabeled this dog as stub-born or just plain dumb;
when in reality she just didnot like the type of floor.
Don’t EDon’t Ever ver Assume AnythingAssume Anything
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move. When the owner told me about this behavior, I askedher to “show me.” I veryquickly noticed that themoment he slowed down,the owner did not noticeand would keep walking.The minute the leashcaused the collar to putpressure on his neck hestopped, and refused tomove. I did all the trainerstuff; asked if any leashcorrections had beenused in the past. I had theowner focus on keepingthe leash loose, and evenused toys to keep thedog’s attention. Of course,as any good positive reinforcement trainer does, I eventried treats as lures. Nothing worked. I suggested we workon other things and told the client to relax and keep calmand we would start fresh next week.
LISTEN TO THE DOGOnce again, I went home and just thought about the situ-
ation. The problem was not the walking on the leash in somuch as it was the pressure on the neck. Then it came tome…quit trying to train the dog and instead start listeningto him. The problem was (again) right there in front of me.The pressure on the neck caused by the collar was the rea-son he was having issues being loose leash trained. Thesolution was simple: a standard harness to take the pres-sure off his neck and move it to his shoulders. Yep itworked. Now when he slows down, the owner does nothingdifferent, but the pressure is now on his shoulders whichdoesn’t bother him so he has no negative reaction.
In all honesty, I should have seen these issues right off thebat. In the case of the Chihuahua, she looked nervous, con-fused and not her normally happy self when asked to sit.Same story with the Great Pyrenees, I missed the look offear and stress in his eyes when the pressure was inadver-tently put on his neck by the owner.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOXYes, I am admitting that I missed the signals both of these
dogs were sending me. I got too deep in Trainer Mode.However, when I went home and thought about the situationand forced myself to…
• Think outside the box, and look at the situation from thepoint of view of the dog
• I forced myself to stop training and just Think It is our job, as owners of dogs, not only to train them but
also to be their advocates! Never be afraid to think outside thebox and try to look at problem behaviors from the perspective
of the dog; and for goodness sake do notassume anything! Remember that we arethe ones with the great big brains,opposable thumbs and the ability forcomplex thought. It is our job to look attraining through the eyes of our dogswhen setbacks happen or better yetbecome more fluent in D.A.S.L. (Dog asa Second Language.)
Mike Deathe is a stay-at-home dad who foundhis passion as a dog trainer in 2008. The authorof the Keep It Simple Stupid (K.I.S.S.) Pet Blog.Mike has had dogs since he was four years old!
In 2009, he and his wife Kate founded Muttz “R” Us, a t-shirt and pet prod-uct company with a philanthropic motto of“Adopt a Pet, Save a Life.” In 2010 Muttz “R”Us also launched KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPIDDOG TRAINING. He is a charter member ofHeartland Positive Dog Training Alliance andjust earned his CPDT —KA credential! Visithim at facebook or twitter or follow the blog@http://muttzmembers.blogspot.com/ or check out the websitemuttzrus.com for details about shirts.
Dear Rover:I just got a new dog and she is fun and playful and gets along well with my
other dog pretty much, until it comes to toys. She always wants the toy he has— sometimes she will run up to him and take it and sometimes she will runup to him and growl. I am afraid it is going to cause fights. What should I do?
Wanting Harmony,Kansas City, MO
Dear Wanting Harmony,It sounds like she is just being a toy hog and a bully. If she waits until he turns
his head, say to scratch an itch, then grabbing the toy is fair play(like a fumble in football), but if she is just grab-bing the toy or making rude gestures to get it,then as the referee you have to throw the flag.That is foul play. If you don’t intervene, they mayscrap and she may get told in no uncertainterms that she was being rude. However, he mayalways be a gentleman and never tell her, leading her to believe she is right, or it mayturn ugly and cost either or both of them a trip to the vet. If you are going to throwthe flag, then you need to bring her back to the spot before the foul and give her anequal value toy. I’m sure at first this will not satisfy her need to have “his” cake andeat it too, but you can up the ante by offering her something more valuable as longas she leaves him alone, and continue to redirect her attention and reward her whenshe makes the right choice. If she doesn’t make the right choice, you should remove
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all toys for a little bit and get her orboth of them involved in anotheractivity, then bring the toys out againlater (watching for her behavior andintervening before she strikes, redi-recting her attention to another toyand provide a high value reward formaking the right choice). Unless sheis part cat, she will learn throughreward. Meanwhile, keep the toyspicked up until she learns to shareand play nice.
Pawsitively,Rover
Dear Whiskers,
My cat Misty is very finicky about herfood. She has always been a little picky,but lately she seems to be turning hernose up at several things I have offeredincluding wet foods with tuna, shrimp,and mackerel. What should I try
Worried
Lee’s Summit, MO
Dear Worried,
I am not sure why pet food manufac-turers thought we cats like fish. It isstinky yet enticing, I’ll give you that,but aside from a few of my cousinswho live in Key West most of us don’tlive anywhere near the ocean. If youlet me loose on a farm for just tenminutes, I can tell you I would headfor the chicken coup before I wouldjump in the pond looking for a fish.But back to the matter at hand — thefirst thing I would do, much toMisty’s dismay, is take her in for a vetcheck up and make sure there isnothing physically wrong with her.The next thing would be to offer her
Talk to the PawAdvice for the pet owner!
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by Pat Hennessy
MA
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fresh whole sources of food. You might try cooking some ground chicken orturkey for her, or offer her some canned chicken. There are also some othernovel protein sources available (such as rabbit or duck), and she may be acandidate to try raw food options, but check with your veterinarian. I knowI personally like an occasional mouse or black bird that wanders into myyard. The most important thing is to make sure Misty doesn’t have any healthissues, and then the possibilities are endless (beyond the fish!).
Pawsitively, Whiskers
Dear Tweety,
I have a new boyfriend and Peaches my SunConure, who is normally sweet with everyone, does-n’t seem to like him and she bites him. He is a softspoken man and he likes animals. I am not sure whyshe is hostile to him. I could just leave her in the cagewhen he comes over, but the more time we spendtogether the less time she would be able to be out.What would you suggest?
Perplexed, Overland Park, KS
Dear Perplexed,Often we prefer either men or women,
and you know sometimes we can be “nippy”. It is our prerogative. I amsure your boyfriend is a nice man, but she may just not want to interactwith him or something about him may make her fearful (i.e. a ball cap,
mustache, glasses, etc.). I am sure you could let herout and give her a toy, some fresh fruit, or a treat onher cage, where she would be happy to stay as long asshe is included in the activities, and that still give hertime out of the cage. You could also save those specialtreats (fresh fruit, nuts, something you know shelikes) and have your boyfriend offer them to her, keep-ing at a distance and offering them from his flat palm.If she takes them nicely, then you can entice her withthose types of treats to come up his arm to get them,until she will sit nicely on his arm. The key to thistraining is to take it slow and let her participate at herown pace.
Chirpingly, Tweety
Pat Hennessy, is the founder of N2paws,LLC, an organization that provides aholistic approach to companion animalcare through behavior education, energywork, and positive training methods. Patis a Level 2 TTouch® practitioner, CPDTand member of the IAABC, IAATH andAWA. You may contact N2Paws via [email protected], phone 816-522-7005, or visit the websitewww.n2paws.com.
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Some time ago, his family unquestionably deemedhim as nothing but explicit damage; he must havecaused them burdens or acquired an attitude,which was simply too difficult to manage. No mattertheir predicament, it couldn’t justify their explana-tion. There’s no rationalization for why he was leftin this shelter for extinction. Day after day, hestared through the bars and envied the young dogswho were adopted each day; causing him to growshyer. He appeared to have lost all his spirit andlove for life.
INNER BEAUTYPet owners can still help dogs such as these by
adoring their inner beauty and by bringing backtheir long lost desires; to be loved as much as theywill love you. If you can see past flaws and unevengaits, then you might be able to share your pillow tokeep them cozy and warm. Share giggles and grins,whimpers and tears and cuddle-up during everyrainstorm. Provide love for as long as they aregranted life, but in a life without strife.
As the devastation overpowers the reality ofadoptability, it’s more difficult to place senior petsinto forever homes than any other homeless pet
Just one voice, with high spirits, can bring astronomical, sen-sible revelation to people everywhere.
NO LONGER A PUPPYAs people strolled down the aisles, stopping at nearly every
cage, they gleamed at the puppies and the dogs of mid-age onedog wondered what they thought, “Am I too tattered, moreovershattered or just that I neared ten?”
Perhaps people assumed he couldn’t scamper about in joy andplay. Maybe they thought he wouldn’t mend, as they bowed theirheads with pity, eagerly moving along their way; how swell. Theyhaven’t a need for an aching dog in their home to dwell.
There was once a period of time when he owned his very ownsettee. But since then, his fur has speckled in grey and his sens-es, ever so slowly, began to fail. Who wants a dog exceptionallymature and quite stale anyway?
The Fate of
In SheltersSenior Pets
by Christa Grunzinger
Day after day, he staredthrough the bars and
envied the young dogs whoadopted each day...
within shelter facilities. Even animals with disabilities, orother types of deformations such as a missing limb, havehigher hopes for adoptability than senior animals. A pet con-sidered a senior can vary from each type of animal. Forinstance, a Yorkshire Terrier are not considered seniors untilthe age 12 or older because their life span is much longerthan that of a larger dog, such as a Labrador whose averagelife span is 10 to 12 years.
STRIVING FOR PLACEMENTAlthough many seniors are the first on the list for euthanasia,
due to lack of space over exceeding their allowable timewithin the shelter, most shelter workers desperately strive forplacement of their senior animals. Phillip Snyder, the direc-tor of the Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood, Floridasays, “We serve a human population that can appreciate theserene companionship senior pets have to offer.”
Private, no-kill, animal rescue organizations often face thesame issues as shelter facilities. These rescues foster theiradoptable animals within foster homes, treating the animals
as a member of their own family until anadoption can be made. In doing so, theyare able to truly get to know the true per-sonalities and flaws of each animal. ShellBrodnax, the director of Seniors SavingSeniors Animal Rescue in NorthernCalifornia explains, “We encourage alladopters to consider a senior pet. Theyare well established, better trained andmore likely to fit into a family permanent-ly, as they need less training and disci-pline.”
Brodnax further explains, “Due to themortgage crisis which affects the entireUnited States we find family pets aretremendously affected by this. Families incrisis lose their homes and leaving theirbeloved pets behind, as they are nolonger able to accommodate them.Shelters and rescues are constantly flood-ed with animals of all ages, sizes and M
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ROVER’S TOP TEN WAYS TO PROVIDE
CALM DURING A STORM*
1. Play soothing music (RythmicMedicine.com) & useAromatherapy (Lavender Oil)
2. Flower essences (Rescue Remedy® orGreenHopeEssences.com)
3. Stuffed Kong® or Squirrel Dude™
4. Pheromones (DAP® for dogs, Feliway® for cats) spray on abandanna or bedding
5. Natural calming supplements (i.e. ProQuiet® or Calmazon™)
6. TTouch® (a gentle touch method for influencing the mind &body)
7. A body wrap (TTouch® method of wrapping the body forinfluence)
8. Alpha-Stim™ (a low frequency electro-therapy technique)
9. A retail body wrap (Anxiety Wrap® or Thundershirt™) orplain T-shirt
And... the number one way to provide calm during a storm
10. Let me crawl in bed with YOU!!!!!!
* Contact N2paws for more information about product andservice recommendations, usage, and availability.
We encourage all adopters toconsider a senior pet. They arewell established, better trained
and more likely to fit into a family permanently, as they need
less training and discipline.
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January/February Pawzzle Answers
breeds, but new adopters tend to choose younger petsand purebreds while ignoring seniors.”
FEARFUL AND SHYAs many dogs of any age, seniors pets have a higher
tendency to behave more fearful and shy within a shel-ter facility. They behave unnaturally from their usualstate, making them appear unfriendly within theircramped cage spaces. Jeannie Fisher, president ofMilagro Senior Pet Refuge in Phoenix, Arizona, feelsthese awkward behaviors are harmful to the animals.She states, “This liberal use of euthanasia by shelterseffectively sabotages the ability of rescue organizations,as well as adopters, to help save precious lives that theshelters readily extinguish.” If more animals are giventhe chance to strut their true selves by further effortsfrom shelters, such as more out of cage dog handling,using special larger cage spaces for freedom play orspecial adoption events outside of the facility theseoptions can considerably increase the adoptability ofall pets.
Fisher also informs us of the reality of exceeding vet-erinary costs for seniors in reviving their health whichwas once previously ignored. These costs can oftenbecome too expensive for owners, especially seniorowners to accompany, therefore Fisher works on a pro-gram to subsidize veterinary costs for senior pets dueto their special circumstances and to increase theiradoptability. Practicing veterinarians are able to writeoff these expenses as donations during tax season, andshelters inevitably save money by placing pets insteadof putting them to rest. Fisher says, “We truly hope thisprogram will have a rippling effect to shelters and res-cues and veterinary offices around the country. Thiswill also help to free more space within shelter facili-ties, as fewer seniors will remain their quite as long.”
There are senior pets in every animal shelter and petrescue. They await forever homes in every state allacross the nation. You can use www.petfinder.org toassist you in seeking out homeless animals everywhere.
Christa Grunzinger is a freelance writer who loves dogs. Sheworks with the Doggy Doodles Adoptions, an animal rescue,made up of volunteers who are dedicated tothe rescue of St. Louis’ Homeless PetPopulation. They focus on educatingadopters and the community aboutspay and neuter. She can be contact-ed [email protected].
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