the greater gainesville dog fanciers association, inc.ggdfa newsletter — july 2019 the greater...

GGDFA Newsletter — July 2019

The Greater Gainesville Dog Fanciers’ Association, Inc.

July 2019 Newsletter for Dog Lovers

G.G.D.F.A. P.O. Box 358332

Gainesville, Florida 32635-8332

www.ggdfa.org

General Meeting Dates: 2nd Tuesday each month

PINE GROVE Baptist Church 4200 NW 39th Ave

7:30 pm Gainesville, FL

Board Meeting Dates: 4th Tuesday each month

Club Officers

President — Denise Gaboury 1st VP — Pam Rice 2nd VP — Kathy Davis Secretary — Sarah Wingfield Treasurer — Doris Horton

Club Directors Carol Lamb

Claire Hedrick Marge Saucier Linda Graham

Newsletter Editor

Claire Hedrick

Membership Chair Kathy Davis

HAPPY JULY!!!!

AUGUST MEETING IS POTLUCK NIGHT!!

7:30 PM— August 13th, 2019

We will have a pot luck night instead of our regular meeting just to relax and spend some time networking.

This year we have a special location. We have been invited by Sharon to her house for the event. Bring your favorite dish to share!

And your swimsuit/towel for a dip in the pool

Sharon Hiemenz 10742 NW 153rd Terr

Alachua, FL 32615

Directions will be in August newsletter, in case you don’t have GPS.

??? Call Claire 339-6208


News From AKC Published www.akc.org

Giving Your Dog a Swimming Lesson Published AKC.org

AKC Staff –April 2015

There’s nothing better than a cool dip in the lake or

backyard pool on a steamy summer day. Your dog

would certainly enjoy it too, but give him a

swimming lesson first.

Not all dogs are natural swimmers. Some breeds,

such as bulldogs, take to the water like boulders. At

the risk of mentioning what should be common

sense: Don’t toss your dog into deep water as an

introduction to swimming.

When teaching your dog to swim, start in a shallow

area where you can stand close to him. Start slowly.

Let him get accustomed to having wet feet. Praise

him when he enters the water and you might even

use a few treats to lure him into the water.

Avoid giving the lesson in a noisy location or where

there are a lot of distractions. You want your dog to

focus on swimming.

Gradually escort your dog into deeper water until he

starts to paddle to keep afloat. You should place

your arm under his belly if he appears to need extra

support. This should entice him to start paddling his

rear legs too.

If your dog uses only his front legs, he’ll tire more

quickly. Keep supporting him until he seems

comfortable in the water. If he starts to struggle or

appear alarms, guide him back into the shallow

water, praise him and let him calm down.

Make sure you show your dog how to get out of the

swimming pool or how to climb back into a boat.

Never leave your dog alone in the water.

If you feel your dog isn’t a strong swimmer, you

can look into buying a doggy flotation device.

Do Dogs Understand Mathematics?

Published AKC Family Dog

Stanley Coren PHD–July 2019

The idea that dogs might understand mathematics is

apt to make many people laugh in disbelief. But

when you consider that there are different forms of

quantitative thinking, the theory is easier to

consider.

Comparing Sizes

Early researchers tested dogs by putting out two

balls of hamburger: one large and one small. They

found that dogs were as likely to choose the small

one as the large and concluded that dogs could not

estimate size. But the test was flawed. Dogs think in

an opportunistic manner — a mentality of “a bird in

the hand is worth two in the bush.” If the two plates

were at different distances, the dog would always

grab the closest, but if they were at equal distances,

the dogs showed that they understood the notion of

size by going after the larger one.

Determining Quantity

A slightly more difficult aspect of quantitative

reasoning is the judgment of numerosity. This

simply refers to the ability to compare two groups

of items. We do this when we judge which of two

crowds contains more people. This can be done

without counting or any idea of the specific number

of people in either group. Thus a dog who runs to a

pile containing 10 pieces of kibble rather than to the

pile next to it that contains only two pieces of kibble

makes that decision based upon his judgment of the

number of kibbles in each pile. In the laboratory,

dogs prove that they can judge numerosity by

learning to press a panel that has more (or fewer)

dots painted on it for a food reward.


put a low screen in front of it. Then the dog watched

as the experimenter placed another treat behind the

screen. If the dog can do the math, he knows that

one plus one equals two, so he should expect that

when the screen was raised, there will be two dog

treats. Just like in the case of the babies, sometimes

the experimenters surreptitiously removed the

second treat, so that when the screen was raised the

dog saw only one.

As in the case of the babies, the dogs stared at this

unexpected outcome for a longer time than they did

when the arithmetic came out correctly, apparently

“surprised” at what they saw. Similarly, if

researchers secretly added an extra treat so that the

dogs saw three instead of the expected two, the dogs

appear to be equally surprised. This suggests that

dogs cannot only count, but they can also do simple

addition and subtraction.

The ability to count and do simple arithmetic might

seem to be a superfluous skill for dogs, but it is a

useful ability. For example, it is necessary for a

female to know if all of her pups are present or if

one of them had somehow gone astray and requires

a search-and-rescue mission to be launched.

Despite this display of arithmetic ability in dogs, I

wouldn’t give one my pocket calculator since he is

still apt to view it as a chew toy rather than as a

mathematical tool.

Originally published in AKC Family Dog

Don’t forget to check out the latest on AKC TV:

Do Dogs Understand Mathematics?

(continued)

Counting

The next level up is simple counting, an ability

that dogs frequently demonstrate, especially those

in the Working and Sporting Groups. For

example, in field trials, retrievers must be able to

count to know how many ducks are out in the

field to retrieve.

Adding

If dogs can count, it seems natural to ask whether

they can do simple arithmetic. Robert Young of

the Pontifical Catholic University in Brazil, and

Rebecca West of the University of Lincoln in the

United Kingdom, attempted to confirm this idea

by modifying a test that has been used to prove

that human infants have the ability to count. The

procedure involves something called “preferential

viewing,” which measures the amount of time

infants spend looking at things. Research confirms

that infants (just like adults) will stare at

something unexpected or unusual for a longer

time.

The human test for counting is quite simple. The

child is shown a small doll on a table, and then a

low screen is put in front of it to block the child’s

view. While the child watches, the experimenter

takes another doll, shows it to the child and then

puts it behind the screen. If the child can count, he

should expect that when the screen is raised, he’ll

see two dolls — and sometimes he does.

But sometimes the experimenter secretly removes

one of the dolls, so that when the screen is raised,

there is only one doll visible. When this occurs,

the babies stare at what is on the table for much

longer after the screen has been raised. This

suggests that infants have made the mental

calculation and are now surprised to find that the

number of dolls they are seeing is different than

what they expected.

In the canine version of this test, researchers

showed the dog a single large treat, and then


How to handle Fleas on your Dog Published PetMD.com

When pet owners are asked what they dread most

about the summer months, the topic that

invariably comes up most is fleas!

These small, dark brown insects prefer

temperatures of 65-80 degrees and humidity

levels of 75-85 percent-so for some areas of the

country, fleas on dogs are more than just a

summer problem. In many areas of the southern

United States, fleas can survive and bother your

pet year-round.

Dogs often get infested with fleas through

contact with other animals or contact with fleas

in the environment. The strong back legs of this

insect enable it to jump from host to host or from

the surrounding environment onto the host.

(Fleas do not have wings, so they cannot fly.)

The flea's bite can cause itching for the host, but

for a sensitive or flea-allergic animal, this itching

can be quite severe. It can lead to severe

scratching and chewing that causes

hair loss , inflammation and secondary skin

infections. Some pets can be hypersensitive to

the flea's saliva and will itch all over from the

bite of even a single flea.

How to Spot Fleas on Dogs

How do you know if fleas are causing all that

itching ( pruritus in veterinary terms)? Generally,

unlike the burrowing, microscopic Demodex or

Scabies mites, fleas can be seen scurrying along

the surface of the skin.

Fleas are a dark copper color and about the size

of the head of a pin. They dislike light, so your

best chance of spotting fleas on a dog is to look

within furry areas and on the belly and inner

thighs.

"Flea dirt" can also signal that there are fleas on a

dog. Flea dirt looks like dark specks of pepper

scattered on the skin's surface. If you see flea dirt

digested blood-pick some off the pet and place on a

wet paper towel. If the tiny specks spread out like a

small bloodstain after a few minutes, it's definitely

flea dirt, and your pet has fleas.

What Is the Best Way to Get Rid of Fleas on a

Dog?

If you've discovered that your dog has fleas, here are

a few things you can do to provide your pet with

relief.

ORAL AND TOPICAL FLEA CONTROL

Fleas are annoying and persistent. However, dog flea

and tick pills and other spot-on dog flea and tick

treatments have proven to be some of the fastest ways

to rid your pet of fleas.

Some only target adults, while others target flea eggs,

larvae and adult fleas, so it's important to buy the

right one. Others will combine flea control and

heartworm prevention in one treatment. You'll notice

that some require a prescription, while others do not.

So, what is the best oral flea treatment for dogs? It

will depend on your individual dog's needs. Talk to

your vet about which option is the best for your pet.

PRESCRIPTION FLEA MEDICATIONS

There are a wide variety of flea products on the

market today, but the newer prescription flea and tick

products are finally taking the frustration out of flea

control with popular and highly effective brands.

Talk to your veterinarian about preventative flea and

tick medicine for dogs, as many are prescription

products. Prescription treatments present one of the

best ways to kill fleas fast.

Bravecto (fluralaner) begins to kill fleas within two

hours and lasts for three months, while products

containing spinosad (Comfortis, Trifexis) begin to

work within 30 minutes and last for one month.

Some of these flea products do not harm the adult

flea but instead prevent her eggs from hatching,


Dog Flea Shampoos

There are several dog flea and tick shampoo options

for dogs and cats on the market that can be quite

effective when used properly. Flea dog shampoos

may contain a variety of ingredients that are more or

less effective.

Small puppies should only be bathed in nontoxic

dog shampoo . You'll need to consider whether or

not your pet can stand getting soaking wet and being

lathered up for five to 10 minutes, though, since

that's how long the shampoo takes to sink in.

Following a nice warm bath, you'll have killed the

fleas and will be able to use a dog flea and tick comb

to remove the dead fleas from your dog. However,

flea shampoos do not protect your dog from

continued infestation with fleas.

WARNING: Tea tree oil is toxic. Do NOT use tea

tree oil as a flea repellent in cats or dogs.

Understanding the Flea Life Cycle

But your quest to eliminate fleas isn't over just yet-

you also have to treat the environment. Simply

sprinkling some flea powder on your pet will not

work; simply vacuuming the home vigorously will

not work, simply placing a dog flea collar or using a

flea topical on your pet will not work.

In order to understand how each treatment options

works and why you must also treat the environment,

we must first understand the flea's life cycle. The

various treatment and prevention products work on

different parts of this life cycle.

There are several stages to the flea life cycle: egg,

larva, pupa (cocoon) and adult. The length of time it

takes to complete this cycle varies depending upon

the environmental conditions, such as temperature,

humidity and the availability of a nourishing host.

The life cycle can take anywhere from two weeks to

a year.

The flea's host is a warm-blooded animal such as a

dog or cat (or even humans). The various flea

How to handle Fleas on your Dog

(continued)

thus breaking the life cycle of the flea. With no

reproduction, the flea population eventually

dissipates as long as the pet isn't coming in contact

with new fleas continually.

In warm climates,

prescription flea and tick treatment for dogs is

typically a year-round endeavor, but in other

climates, treatment should begin in early spring

before the flea season starts.

For animals that are allergic to flea saliva (have flea

bite hypersensitivity), choose a product that targets

adult fleas as well, since they are still able to bite

the animal. For dogs with flea hypersensitivity,

products containing a flea repellent (Seresto collar,

Vectra 3D) are the best choice so that the fleas

never bite.

NONPRESCRIPTION MEDICATION TO

TREAT FLEAS ON DOGS

There are also many other products which will kill

fleas on the pet and for which no prescription is

needed. The drawback, however, is that these

products may be less effective than the prescription

products.

These nonprescription flea products include flea

shampoos, flea powders, flea sprays, flea collars,

oral flea treatment and spot-on products. Many

veterinarians are reporting that their patients still

have fleas after use of these over-the-counter

products, but there are also good reviews from pet

parents for some of these products.

Capstar, for instance, is a tablet that kills adult fleas

and is taken orally. It begins to work within 30

minutes, and kills more than 90 percent of all fleas

within four hours. It is used to treat flea

infestations.


How to handle Fleas on your Dog (continued

more)

stages are quite resistant to freezing temperatures.

The adult female flea typically lives for several

days to weeks on its host. During this time period,

she will suck the animal's blood two to three times

and lay 20 to 30 eggs each day. She may lay several

hundred eggs over her life span. These eggs fall off

of the pet and into the yard, bedding, carpet and

wherever else the animal spends time.

These eggs then proceed to develop where they

have landed. Since they are about 1/12 the size of

the adult, they can even develop in small cracks in

the floor and between crevices in carpeting. The

eggs then hatch into larvae. These tiny worm-like

larvae live among the carpet fibers, in cracks of the

floor and outside in the environment. They feed on

organic matter, skin scales and even the blood-rich

adult flea feces.

The larvae grow, molt twice and then form a

cocoon and pupate, waiting for the right time to

hatch into an adult. These pupae are very resilient

and are protected by their cocoon. They can survive

quite a long time, waiting until environmental

conditions and host availability are just right. Then

they emerge from their cocoons when they detect

heat, vibrations and exhaled carbon dioxide, all of

which indicate that a host is nearby. The newly

emerged adult flea can jump onto a nearby host

immediately.

Under optimal conditions, the flea can complete its

entire life cycle in just 14 days. Just think of the

tens of thousands of the little rascals that could

result when conditions are optimal.

Knowing this life cycle allows us to understand

why it has always been important to treat both the

host animal and the indoor and outdoor

environment in order to fully control flea numbers.

You must also treat the home and surrounding area.

How to Treat Fleas in the Environment

With any flea treatment, it is necessary to treat all of

the animals in the home in order to achieve complete

success. In addition, you will likely need to treat the

indoor and outdoor environment.

TREATING THE HOME

When treating the indoor environment, it is

important to wash all bedding in soapy, hot water.

All of the carpeting should be vacuumed thoroughly,

and the vacuum bag thrown away or canister

emptied and trash bag taken outside. Steam cleaning

the carpet can kill some of the larvae as well.

Remember, though, that vacuuming and shampooing

a carpet will still leave a good percentage of live

fleas, so some sort of chemical treatment may be

necessary.

The entire house is now ready to treat for fleas.

Several choices are available including highly

effective foggers. Boric acid-based products may be

a safer option for homes with small children or other

situations where chemical residues are a concern.

The most effective products are those which contain

both an ingredient to kill adult fleas and an

ingredient to kill the other life cycle stages. The

latter is called an insect growth regulator.

Methoprene is one such growth regulator. Aerosol

foggers may not penetrate well enough, in some

cases, to kill all the hiding fleas and larvae. Another

option for indoor control is a sodium borate product

that is applied to carpeting. You should consider

calling a local exterminating company for an

estimate and a guarantee that their procedure will rid

your premises of fleas.

Flea eradication won't be cheap, but what price will

you put on living free from flea infestations?

OUTDOOR FLEA CONTROL

As for outdoor control, sprays and pelleted

insecticides are generally used after dog houses and

dog kennels are cleaned thoroughly. An insect

growth regulator is a good choice here as well.


July Pet Holidays

National Lost Pet Prevention Month

July 15th: I Love Horses Day

July 16th: World Snake Day

July 17th: National Hot Dog Day

July 21st: No Pet Store Puppies Day

July 30th: International Day of Friendship

July 31st: National Mutt Day

Dog Quotes

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our

lives whole.”

—Roger Caras (photographer and writer)

“Dogs are better than human beings because they

know but do not tell.”

—Emily Dickinson (poet)

“Why does watching a dog be a dog fill one with

happiness?”

—Jonathan Safran Foer (author)

“When an eighty-five pound mammal licks your

tears away, then tries to sit on your lap, it’s hard

to feel sad.”

―Kristan Higgins (author)

“There are times when even the best manager is

like the little boy with the big dog — waiting to see

where the dog wants to go so he can take him

there.”

—Lee Iacocca (former president and CEO

of Chrysler)

How to handle Fleas on your Dog (continued

last)

OUTDOOR FLEA CONTROL

As for outdoor control, sprays and pelleted

insecticides are generally used after dog houses and

dog kennels are cleaned thoroughly. An insect

growth regulator is a good choice here as well.

Pyriproxifen is more stable in sunlight and lasts

longer outdoors than methoprene.

It is important to know that the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the

insecticide chlorpyrifos (Dursban). Production

ceased in December of 2000.

Diatomaceous earth, a nontoxic option, can be very

effective and is safe to use in and around vegetable

gardens and children's outdoor play equipment.

When choosing a diatomaceous earth product look

for a food-grade product like DiatomaceousEarth

Food Grade Powder, which is safe for use around

pets.

Certain nontoxic nematodes (tiny worms) can also

be spread in areas of the yard which are warm and

moist and which pets and fleas frequent. The

nematodes feed on the flea larvae. And once there is

a cover of snow on the ground, much of the major

source of fleas is eliminated.

Be sure to consult your veterinarian regarding

which methods and products will be best for you

and your pets. Your veterinarian will be your best

source for current flea information.


GGDFA Newsletter c/o Claire Hedrick 514 NW 127th Street Newberry, Fl 32669

Secretary’s Notice of GGDFA Meetings

The next General Meeting of the GGDFA will be Tuesday, Juky 9th, promptly at 7:30 pm PINE GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH, 4200 NW 39TH AVE, Gainesville, FL

The next Board Meeting will be Tuesday, July 23rd..

Training Classes

LOCATION: OAK HALL SCHOOL - Covered and lighted

Tower Road , Gainesville

Obedience/Rally classes— Thursdays 6:00 pm With Denise Gaboury 316-4543

Conformation classes—Club is not offering at this time

Newsletter

The views and opinions in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Newsletter Editor or those of the GGDFA Officers and Board of Directors.

The editor reserves the right to edit or withhold copy that which may be detrimental to the standards of this publication. The deadline for submission of articles, announcements, and brags to the newsletter is the 15th of each month. Materials received after that date will appear in the following month’s publication, depending upon space availability.

You can email the editor at [email protected].

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

mailto:[email protected]

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