Adventures at Planet Dog!!

So my son and I had to go to the big city of Portland today on a couple errands. I realized part way there this could mean a stop at a favorite dog store, Planet Dog. I told my son "Hey I think I want to go to Planet Dog" and he looked at me like I had two heads. (I'm quite sure he was thinking Mom's finally lost it! She wants to travel to a PLANET full of dogs!) "It's a store and it's on the way." There is a store called Planet Dog??? Yup! And it is fabulous!

The first thing I have to do though is apologize to the clerk that waited on me. When asked what kinds of dogs I had I answered a pug and a long-coated akita. She made the remark about how they must be rare, my response was a lackadaisical "not really". When I left the store my son said "Mom, sometimes you should just play along". Um what? To some people long-coated akitas ARE rare. OK good point. I'm not sure if it was a knee jerk reaction to the word "rare", which unscrupulous breeders use to sell pups to those that don't know any better, or my dog store ADD cropping up.

You see this is what happens to me at the check out. The clerk says, Did you find everything ok today? Or whatever they are saying to me, trying to be NICE! and this is what is going on in my brain: "Did Do I really want to buy this or the other shirt? you Should I get that puzzle toy for Jenny? find I wonder if that comes in another color? every Dammit I think I missed that corner of the store! thing I could go back and get that other book... o I think I'm almost out of treats. k Naw I can get that at the Biscuit. today Crap I'm sure I'm forgetting something. ? Oh look at that cute dog in the bed!! Yeah that is about right. They keep talking and my brain keeps spinning. Can we say distracted?? It even happens in my local dog store if anything has been rearranged. I'm talking to Heidi and looking around and my brain gets vapor lock because Hey is that new?! It is ridiculous! But it is how I am wired. I have DSADD (Dog Store Attention Deficit Disorder!) So I apologize to that clerk and all the others I am sure I have acted like a total idiot to. It's not you, it's me. Please forgive those of us so inflicted with DSADD.

I originally wanted to check out the t-shirt with the above logo that I know they sell. (it is also on the bottom of their bag) They did have it in stock but it was $30. I am an admitted cheapskate. I have a hard time spending that much on a t-shirt. Of course now I will obsess about it and probably get it eventually because I love it but I have to think about it awhile first. Yeah I know it doesn't make sense. This is what I picked up instead.

Two t-shirts from the sale table (only $10 each!) and a book on allergies in dogs. Score!! It was a great side trip for sure.

And while I am showing off stuff I've scored here is my latest acquisition from T.J.Maxx. It is a new set of couch steps for Jenny. One of the errands we were doing was to pick out our 2 new leather couches and the ugly plastic set of steps wasn't going to cut it anymore. I nabbed this for only $15! I did add the no-slip grip tape to the top and some no slide on the bottom so it won't slip on the floor. Isn't it cute?

I'm very excited about the new couches. I am hoping this helps cut down on the dust mite dander since we will be getting rid of the two we have now. I'm sure they are dusty considering how old they are. (and both were used when we got them) It certainly can't make anything worse one would think. And now I have the new book so that should help in some way too. There must be a useable tidbit in there somewhere. Fingers crossed!

Caden Brings the Ball!

Tonight I got out my old portable jumps from my days of obedience with my Rough Collie Katie. I have not used them for Caden, and decided to have some fun with him. I played around with throwing his precious yellow ball over the jump a few times. The jump is set at his wither height of 24 inches. In SchH he will have to jump much, much higher! This is baby height! Caden is so athletic, he has no problems jumping. Next, I had him lie down with his ball, then walked to the other side and called him over the jump. After a couple of those - I tried putting it together.

Caden is such a keen worker - he figured out the game - this video is our 7th try! I sound excited, but seriously, he jumps, brings the ball back and sits! I swear he even did an OUT.



Here he is doing a recall over the jump. My grass is pathetic this year - but it has not stopped raining long enough for anything to dry or enjoy sun. The soil is damp and it is very depressing. Back to Caden - nice and straight and a good sit!


We had been using the chairs in the background to do a 'group' heeling exercise. He did OK but I need to practice this more. In this video, he does a straight recall. We had been working and playing hard for about 45 minutes by this time, so he is a bit tired. I must admit, I don't mind him that way!

Sorry my neighbour is mowing. Hmm... she has one old dog and more grass...




And when he was done, he pulled a Border Collie stunt, and ran to water! Jet and Ted lie in this little tub. Caden splashes around in it. I always keep fresh water there for the dogs. They just love it. Maybe the SchH people should have a tub like this handy for the dogs after they work! It is a great idea and cools the dogs down.

Mixed Breed Program - American Kennel Club

Good News Mixed Breed Dog Owners !

 

AKC Cordially Greets Mixed Breed Dogs

A group of members of American Kennel Club has formed a Board, aiming towards working for mixed breed dogs. This AKc Board has been seriously planning for a program for mixed breed dogs since January 2005. Non-binding resolutions had been passed by an incredible number of Delegates at the March 2009 meeting, asking the Board to consider the program for mixed breeds. Following this an extensive research work and simultaneously collecting information and feedback from the mixed breed dog owners, delegates of American Kennel Club and Clubs registered under AKC was documented and analyzed sparing serious thought over this issue. Finally, at the Board meeting in the year 2099 the Board unanimously approved a program for mixed breed dogs, which is an invaluable contribution towards the mixed breed dog owners throughout the USA.

This Mixed Breed Program includes a Listing Service and Competition Eligibility.

If you are a mixed breed dog owner and if your dogs are not yet registered with American Kennel Club, you can now go ahead and register your beloved mutts with AKC, under the clubs mixed breed program.

This program has been designed to give equal respect and value to the mixed breed dogs, according to which:

1) Dogs registered under the AKC's Mixed Breed Program will be issued an ID Code Number.
2) Dogs can be registered under the AKC's Mixed Breed Program only if they are spayed or neutered.
3) The owners has to give registration fees for their mixed breed dogs to be registered under this program.
4) In Phase I, listed registered dogs will receive:

        a. A certificate of participation
        b. A competition card, with their ID Code Number (Identification Number), which will allow the mixed breed dogs to participate in the AKC Agility, Rally, and Obedience events.
        c. An access to the dog lovers community that is interested in supporting all things canine, including the American Kennel Club Humane Fund
        d. An affiliation with an organization that:
  
                     i. Actively stands for responsible dog ownership and breeding and parallely fighting against the   anti-ownership legislation at the local, state, and federal level
                    ii. Donates incredible volume of fund for canine health research with a motive to make this place a better a nd a healthier place for canines.
                   iii. Proactively works for dogs and dog owners victimized by disasters such as 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina.

5) In Phase II, with effect from July 1, 2010 dogs participating in this program will also receive:
      
       a. Enrollment in the AKC CAR Lost & FOUND service at a discounted rate, which includes a                    collar tag and 24-7 year round recovery services, ensuring sense of safety for your dog.
       b. An AKC Supporter window decal
       c. If yuor dog passes the CGC test, he or sher will be entitiled to recieve a CGC certificate.
       d. Copy of The New Puppy Handbook and/or sample of Family Dog magazine
       e. An initial veterinary check up for absolutely free!
       f. A trial offer for pet health insurance
       e. Discounted coupons to an online dog store

AKC has always been advocating for the dog owners' rights and the welfare of dogs through its Government Relations efforts. AKC has always served dog owners through its affiliate organizations like the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation and AKC Companion Animal Recovery. The organization has come up with many programs in the past with the common motive to build awareness and to encourage responsible dog ownership. The Mixed Breed Program of AKC is also a noble step to benefit the mixed dog breed and mixed breed enthusiasts. The organization has already considered mixed breed in different programs in the past such as AKC Canine Good Citizen, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppysm, AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund’s disaster relief efforts and AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day.

Two short, tight training tracks on hard surfaces

Nice rainy evening - might as well track! These are very different than the long tracks that are more like UTDX test tracks on the June 5 and June 12 posts.

River at the article.

Caden at his glove

It was spitting rain and the parking lots were wet, so I decided to lay two very different tracks this evening for Caden and River. Since Jet is pregnant, I am not working her so much - she went for a walk this morning and has been sleeping all day! So she stayed home tonight - it felt weird to leave her at home, I've got used to tracking with that little dog. It's funny how it has hit her so suddenly, all she is doing is sleeping.

Jet on the couch with her current favourite toy

For Caden, I did some 'berm hopping' as we called it back in Thunder Bay. He started on a boulevard, then went to the parking lot, turned, crossed another berm, and went out for another turn on the parking lot. So he had grass every third of the way to reconnect before striking out for another hard surface turn. I also picked up a few handfuls of grass to toss down for the first few steps on each transition from veg, over a curb onto the parking lot, which I think helps him - especially on the second transition which is much more confident.

He worked so hard and was so diligent - and did a great job. I asked for a platz at the glove. He is not article trained yet but I think it will be easy. I am really happy with his hard surface turns here. He is very nose down but I allow him to think a bit - without correcting - because he is such an honest dog - whenever he goes off the primary track it is to sort it out, not to goof off. His track is 30 minutes old. He lifts his head a lot, and in part I think it is the moisture in the air and perhaps I should have aged it more.

At the 2:30 minute mark you can really see him get into the groove and begin to track nicely on the parking lot. He finds all of his turns pretty quickly. He's not super-experienced on hard surfaces but he is very nose down with lots of drive. Good boy!



River's track started on veg but the rest was on a big parking lot. I laid parallel legs with concrete barriers in-between. If you want to see a UTDX - trained dog get pissed off, you will laugh at this video. When she steps onto the parking lot - it is obvious she knows the article is to the right. The blue line shows where she tried to go to the end. It sure shows WHY you should not have tight tracks and parallel legs in urban tracking. However, I like to practice different scenarios. River tries about 3 times to go to the right but then, finds the track and a treat and off she goes.

This is a training exercise with treats along the way - so I prevent her from cutting over to the wood article. She is a good girl and plays along. You can see her dip her nose and touch the hard surface - but she knows all along that she COULD just cut across to the end. It made me smile, but I was proud of how she worked with me. Technically, if she went straight to the article and cut out the entire track, she would be within the 40 meters allowed in the regulations. Something to be aware of when plotting! Yet (I am sorry to say) I HAVE seen tight legs like this from time to time over the years, in tests.

River's track is ONLY an hour old. It is very easy for her fine-tuned nose and in parts she is moving pretty quickly and doing her regular nose dips to check the scent. You will notice that her track does not flow as nicely as it does when I just give her a loose line and let her do her thing. Tonight I did prevent her from cutting over to the article - and it shows that she is fighting me a little. This would be unacceptable in a test, but training is not testing! I put enough treats for her to be rewarded for working with me and she did realize here was scent there.

At the 45 second mark you can see her look straight in the direction of the wood article with her ears up. It's so interesting because it is like a knee-jerk reaction. I love videotaping my dogs because I see this after, not always when I am handling and it helps me read my dogs better. At the 3 minute mark (after I am unstuck from the stupid concrete thing) she tries again to cut over but I won't let her go. These nice damp lots carry a lot of scent, and you can see she finds the track easily.

Can Dogs Laugh? I am Just Curious About Dog Laughing...

Can Dogs Laugh?

Dog laughing is no more just a nifty curiosity of the dog lovers... rather more expanded form of researches have been carried out all through the world to establish whether dogs can really laugh. Modern studies suggest that dogs' laughter, alike human, is a very strong form of their communication with their pack members -- other dogs/animals and with their beloved owners.

Stanley Coren, Ph.D., F.R.S.C., a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia has been making constant researches on dogs and their psychology. According to professor Coren, "Animals make laugh-like sounds when they are tickled or playing... ". Modern canine behavioral studies defy the already established idea of psychologists and behavioral biologists that "laughter was a unique emotional expression found only in humans". The Nobel Laurette, ethnologist, Konrad Lorenz has chosen to differ from the already established idea of canine psychologists and behavioral biologists, and re-established that dogs can laugh. He says that it is during play that dogs actually appear to laugh.

"Man Meets Dog" is a famous book authored by Mr. Lorenz, who described this specific emotion in dogs in this way:"...an invitation to play always follows; here the slightly opened jaws which reveal the tongue, and the tilted angle of the mouth which stretches almost from ear to ear give a still stronger impression of laughing. This ‘laughing' is most often seen in dogs playing with an adored master and which become so excited that they soon start panting". It is this "panting", which according to Lorenz is similar to human laughter.

Patricia Simonet, who is the Cognitive Ethologist and Animal Behaviorist said that she found a way to cool down the raucous barkers at her animal shelter. Simonet said she use to play a recording of dogs “laughing” – a prominent breathy exhalation through the mouth - which is generated when the dog pants in excitement. Simonet compares the sound with the "pig snorting". She found its similarity with the human “hah hah hah” without the “a.” This is dog laughing, according to the research scientist Patricia Simonet. While describing the laughter sound in dogs she said, "To an untrained human ear, it sounds much like a pant, 'hhuh, hhuh."

So what is the difference between a dog laughing and general panting?
To describe this difference between a dog panting and the laughter of a dog,Simonet describes what she had studied while analyzing the sound of playing dogs being recorded in parks with a parabolic microphone. What she defines as a laugh of dog is the exhalation sound that bursted into a broader range of frequencies than the sound made by a dog while panting in general. She also noticed that when she imitated the laugh panting sounds of dogs it appeared to cast a positive and enliven effect on the dogs that hear it. A shinning facial expression is exhibited by the dogs hearing it.

Dog Facts - Rare Dog Breeds

Welcome Dog Lovers… here’s an interesting posts that most of you would like to read, I am sure. If you are looking for interesting dog facts that many of us have not been aware of, you are on the right page.

Did you know that dogs can actually see colors, although not as prominently as human? Did you know that Basenji is the only dog breed on the planet that cannot bark?
Did you know that a female German Shepherd guide dog led her companion, who was blind an incredible distance of 2100 mile Applachian Trail?
Did you know that dog’s nose prints, alike human finger prints, are unique, and can be used to accurately identify them?
Interestingly, Chihuahua puppies are born with a very tender spot in their skull which closes with age, just like human babies.

But this post is not meant to offer info as the above. This post has been composed to provide information about some of the rare dog breeds.

Read on…

one of the most rarest dog breed Ariégois that is one of the great working harrier (French pack-hunting scenthound), and is the result of cross breeding several French breeds including the Blue De Gascogne and Gascon Saintongeois and some local briquette hounds.
Another very rare breed – Japanese Terrier – a beautiful black mask dog breed is rapidly declining. A preservation society has been established in Japan to breed and enhance the numbers and popularity.

Another rare dog breed New Guinea Singing Dog has been accepted to be one of the most primitive domestic dogs that had been taken to the island around 6000 years ago. This dog breed has not been promoted properly and has been kept isolated I Papua, New Guinea. These beautiful dog breed is almost a living fossil these days.

Another very rare Korean dog breed – Poong San has been facing a stiff decline due to non-promotion. Scientific breeding programs for Poong San has recently been set up by responsible breeders. This breed was named after the place or its origin – Poong San Region of North East Korea.

Kintamani Dog is another rare dog breed that is typical to Bali, Indonesia. They are bred in a rare village and sold as family pets.
An ancient livestock guarding dog breed, Yugoslavian Herder that originated from the south-eastern mountainous range of former Yugoslavia is still used to guard and protect flocks in his homeland. Yugoslavian Herder was once called Illyrian Shepherd Dog.

Kai – a rare dog breed is fortunately increasing its popularity. Kai is a good watchdog, but a incredible good companion at the same time.

Hokkaido is another rare dog breed, which is considered to have its roots in the Matagi-ken, a breed brought by the Ainu people from the Tohoku region during the Jōmon period. The isolation of Hokkaido led to decrease in popularity. In the year 1869, the English zoologist Thomas W. Blankiston gave this breed the name Hokkaido.

Karelian Bear Dog - a rare dog breed with striking beauty had its origin in Finland and Russia (Finnish-Russian border), where it used to be considered as the national treasure

Private tracking lessons - one on one - field or urban - July long weekend

I am offering private tracking lessons over the July long weekend. If you are interested in getting together to work on field or urban, one on one, please contact me privately! I have lined up a field to work in but can also travel a little to meet you.

All levels offered. June 30 - July 4. We can figure out where to meet - and if a couple of people want to come together we will work it out.

Most Common Mistakes That Dog Lovers Make

This swirled up in my mind suddenly while I was reading out a magazine that mentioned how even the most responsible dog owners some times are held responsible for their dogs’ sad demise. Although being hugely responsible, many dog owners make some of the biggest mistakes that may claim their dogs’ life. I discussed with one of my German Shepherd lover pals, my idea of making an analysis of the most commonly committed mistakes by the dog lovers. It took us around half a year to gather a good deal of information about Most Common Mistakes That Dog Lovers Make that I think can make a meaningful blog post.

Yearly Health Check for your Dogs

We came across many dog lovers who do not care to see the vet for their dog’s health check up until they find an apparent health issue. There can be many dormant health problems in dogs that may remain undetected until they become serious and uncontrollable. Moreover, it is wise to call your vets occasionally at your place instead of dropping by the vet’s clinic every time. During the old age you may need to see the vet more frequently than now. It may be a hard task for both - you and your old dog to visit the vet every time. Calling the vet at your place is a wise attempt to get your pet used to with situations of vets coming in to the dog’s place for a health check. During the old age your dog will get little aggressive towards certain situations and strangers coming home may be quite irritating for him then.

Is there any Non-Allergenic Dogs?

NO!

Here I will take a chance to talk about Mr. Barrack Obama (the present American president, who is a well known figure through out the world), who considered his mixed breed dog labradoodle as hypoallergenic. He’s wrong if he considered dogs as non-allergenic. This also reminds me of the offering of Peruvian Government to Mr. Obama and his family. I am sure you remember that the Government of Peru offered Mr. Obama a Peruvian Hairless Dogs, considering that these dogs are non-allergenic. Wrong idea!

Even the hairless dogs may be allergenic, because of their dander – the dead skin cells that form flakes and may cause allergies to some people. There’s nothing like non-allergenic dog breed on this planet.

Not All Human Medicines Are Safe For Your Dogs

Human pain killer drugs act as high poison for your dog. On administering, your dog may start blood vomiting. In worst cases the consequence is death. While large breed dogs may give you some time to take him to the veterinary clinic for necessary treatment or surgery, the small and toy breeds can hardly be saved.

Work out Prior to Meal

Kathy’s dog (Cairn Terrier) doesn’t want to eat. She’s worried because she knows that RISE should eat more than what he eats. Kathy and her husband have planned out a seemingly great solution! They made their pooch walk a good distance in order to increase his hunger. Their concern about their pooch shows that they are really responsible dog owners, but the idea of making a dog work out heavily immediately prior to meals is a big mistake. Especially for deep-chested breeds like Saluki, Great Danes, Mastiffs, German Shepherds etc. heavy exercise immediately prior to and after heavy meals may turn out to be really fatal. Bloat (gastric torsion) due to exercise before and after meals may claim life of your beautiful companion. I suggested Kathy to visit the vet immediately… RISE may need a temporary liver treatment. Chances are also there that her digestive system needs to be treated. Vet is the best person to decide on that.

There are lots of other observations we have made regarding most common mistakes the dog lovers make. You can find more on this analysis and our observations at About German Shepherd Dog, where we contributed an article with more detailed information. Read out Biggest Mistakes the Dog Lovers Make there!

Do protein levels in dog food matter?

Like everything else in the dog behavior world the answer is, well that depends. I've been searching for a while for information regarding protein levels in dog food affecting behavior. I knew I had heard about a possible link to high protein causing or exacerbating problems like aggression and hyperactivity but I couldn't put my finger on where the info came from originally. (Though I am quite sure Dr. Dodman had spoken about the subject at the seminar I attended.) I did some internet searching here and there but nothing came back that answered my questions specifically. (Many veterinary sites are private which didn't help.)

Fast forward to a discussion with a dog food rep recently and I asked her if she had heard about the possible aggression link. She said she had some info she could send me. Well it arrived today so I am going to type out the part of the report that deals with the protein level question. This is the closest I have come to the information I was looking for. It is long because I am including the whole section because there is other info included that I found relevant to dog training as well. The references are listed in the article and included at the end of the article. I highlighted a couple tidbits I found interesting.

This is an excerpt from "Dietary effects on canine and feline behavior" by Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, PhD and Steven Zicker, DVM, PhD. (Taken from The Veterinary Clinics Small Animal Practice book 2003)

Effect on canine aggression:

An interesting effect of food on behavior is the motivation of dogs for different foods. A hierarchy can be constructed based on the frequency with which dogs display aggression over a particular food. Most dogs aggressively defend rawhides. Next in attraction is any human food, bones, and toys. A few dogs guard their ordinary ration of food, and fewer still protect their water dish. (Fig. 1) From the blog author: Figure 1 is a bar graph showing the percentage of dogs that guard, to the resources listed with the highest bar at Rawhide, table, bone, toy, biscuit, dog food, and water in descending order. Table equaled human food.

A standard instruction to owners of aggressive dogs is to obtain dominance over the dogs by eating before the dog is fed. Forcing the dog to wait to be fed results in more food begging and general unruliness at dinnertime. Furthermore, it seems highly unlikely that the dogs equate the people seated at the table eating salad with a fork and drinking wine from a glass with a pack of dogs vying for a bite from a carcass. In fact, Jagoe and Serpell [14] found that dogs that were fed after their owners were more likely to be aggressive to strangers.

There have been two studies directly testing the hypothesis that higher protein diets lead to aggression. The first compared scores for two types of aggression and hyperactivity. The types of aggression were territorial and dominance. Owners scored the dogs on a 10-point scale, where 0 was no aggression and 10 was uncontrollable aggression when strangers entered the house (territorial) or when the dog bit, lunged at, or chased family members, becoming worse with disciplined (dominance) in many circumstances.

The diets were 10%, 25%, and 32% protein, which corresponds to 2, 3, or 4 g of protein per kilogram of body weight, and were fed for 2 weeks. Fat was substituted for protein in the lower protein diets. There was no significant effect on dominance aggression and a trend toward decreased aggression when the dogs were fed the higher protein diet. Aggression toward strangers was significantly greater when the dogs were fed the higher protein diet. Within that group were dogs that were offensively aggressive and dogs that were defensively (or fearful) aggressive. The fearful dogs improved most when fed the lower protein diets. Control dogs were scored for the same behavior and showed no change in score with diet. [15]

(Sidebar by blog author: True dominance aggression tends to be directed towards the owners and NOT people outside of the home. This is one clue that helps us diagnose it as such. True dominance aggression is also the more rarely seen of all the types of canine aggression.)

In the second study, there were four diets, high (30%) and low (18%) protein with or without 1.45 g of tryptophan per kilogram of diet added to the basal diet of 0.15% tryptophan per kilogram. The significant effects were that dominant aggressive dogs fed high-protein diets without tryptophan were more aggressive than those fed the other three diets and that dogs fed the low-protein diet plus the tryptophan were less territorially aggressive. There were no dietary effects on fearfulness, hyperactivity, or excitability [16]. Diets formulated for dogs with renal disease and some commercial diets for normal dogs are lower in protein than the low-protein diets tested and may be more effective. On the basis of the Dodman et al [15] and DaNapoli et al [16] studies, lower (18%) protein diets should be recommended for aggressive dogs. This is in contrast to earlier suggestions that high-protein diets might improve behavior [17].

The reason why low-protein diets and tryptophan may reduce aggression is that tryptophan is the precursor of serotonin; it is converted by tryptophan hydroxylase to 5-hydroxytryptophan, which in turn, is converted to 5-hydroxytryptamine or serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of well-being and satiety. Tryptophan is found in low concentration (<1%) in most protein sources. It must compete with other large neutral amino acids for a common blood-brain barrier transporter mechanism. Increasing dietary tryptophan increases brain serotonin. The lower the protein level the diet, the higher is the ratio of tryptophan to large neutral amino acids and tryptophan transport to the brain. Tryptophan has been shown to decrease aggression in chickens [18] and primates [19]. Care must be taken when adding amino acids to a diet however, because an imbalance in amino acids and consequent anorexia could result [20].

[14] Jagoe J, Serpell J. Owner characteristics and interactions and the prevalence of canine behavior problems. Appl Anim Behav Sci 1996; 47:31-42.
[15] Dodman NH, Reisner I, Shuster L, et al. Effect of dietary protein content on behavior in dogs. JAVMA 2000; 217:376-9
[16] DeNapoli JS, Dodman NH, Shuster L, et al. Effect of dietary protein content and tryptophan supplementation on dominance aggression, territorial aggression, and hyperactivity in dogs, JAVMA 2000; 217:504-508.
[17] Campbell WE, Behavior problems in dogs. Santa Barbara (CA): American Veterinary Publications; 1975
[18] Shea MM, Douglass LW, Mench JA. The interaction of dominance status and supplemental tryptophan on aggression in Gallus domesticus males, Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1991; 38:587-91
[19] Mehlman PT, Higley JD, Faucher I, et al. Low CSF 5-HIAA concentrations and severe aggression and impaired impulse control in nonhuman primates. Am J Psychiatry 1994; 151:1485-91
[20] Gietzen DW, Duke CM, Hammer VA. Amino acid imbalance, a nutritional model: serotonin & mediation of aversive responses. Physiol Behav 1991;49:981-5.

Now I know there is some discussion on the TYPE of protein being important. These tests were done with dogs using a kibble based diet. I know raw feeders do not typically find this a concern because of the difference in how the protein is digested and processed. If anyone has more recent studies to refer to I would love to hear about them.

Wordless Wednesday

Hopeful for a puppy...

For the first time in thirty-five years in dogs I am very very excited to take the plunge and breed a dog - and tell my friends that Jet is pregnant! Ted is the sire. It is an awesome pairing!!! The ultrasound today confirmed pregnancy. It will be a very small litter, but I am happy with one puppy! It is like a miracle puppy - I adore both of these dogs so much. Now I will pray for a healthy pup or two. I know that people have mixed feelings about saying anything too early, but I have a great need to share my joy with people. All positive thoughts and prayers are most welcomed. Thank you God!

Lakeview Ted X Alta-Pete Jet UTD
You can read about Ted and Jet in the sidebar menu to the left - just scroll down a bit.

Walking the Dog

I have this bad (?) habit of checking out the pet section of any store I go in that might have one. You never know what you might find in them that you can't live without. Our local T.J.Maxx has been good for the occasional dog related treasure. Check out my latest score, a dog walkers belt:

I have been looking for an alternative to a purse or backpack for dog walking in warm weather and this seems to perfect. (Cold weather walking means a jacket and pockets to utilize.) It has a place for my wallet and keys, (and phone and camera) as well as a water bottle and poop bag dispenser. There is also a mesh pocket to carry a full poop bag if necessary. I am all about having my hands free for leash holding and training as needed. The white piping is reflective for walking at night. Because it is a belt all the way around I can clip my favorite bait bag to the front of it as well. (coincidentally also made by Olly Dog) This awesome find was only 12.99!! How cool is that? It do admit it makes me feel a bit like Batwoman at times. (Where's that pesky repelling hook?)

Wearing a belt isn't always the most flattering either but I'll take function over form any day. It's all about priorities.

Sunday was a beautiful day for a walk on our local boardwalk with Jenny. I've been toying with the idea of taking a beginners Agility Class with her. As I snapped this photo I noticed something that might hinder that plan.

Hmmm Not sure those front hocks are built for much jumping. Lord knows I don't need to be doing anything to create more vet bills for her. So that plan is now on hold. As least until I get some feedback on the subject. And yes I know her nails look long. I clip them about every 2 weeks yet haven't been able to get the quicks moved back. I'd love to hear reader tips on the subject of you have any.

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So tell me, what is your favorite un-expected canine treasure find?

Weekend Pooch Parade Fun

I do not usually dress my dogs up, but sometimes you just go with it. There was a pooch parade hosted by my favorite local dog store the Loyal Biscuit for the start of the towns Solstice Celebration. The Loyal B also had some special guests come by and set up booths with free product to try in front of the store. Represented were Planet Dog, Smart Pup, TriPom Chews and Zelda's Biscuit Bakery. Their people were also the judges for the parade pooches. Catagories included biggest dog, smallest dog, most original costume, cutest dog, and such. The weather was sunny but cool enough that I decided to take both dogs. (The parade route is also amost completely shaded.) I dressed Jenny up as rapper diva "Miss J" who hits include "Scratch my butt it itches" and "Give me a treat you B****!" Jack went as her security. I was the paparazzi.

Here Jack was checking out McGruff the crime dogs credentials. (McGruff was very dog savey and did proper introductions with the dogs there. I dare say not many had seen the likes of him before!)
And this is Prudence as a hula girl. Complete with bikini top, grass skirt and lei. She won for best costume. Her second year in a row as winner for that catagory!

They did great with the crowds. I think I said "He's a longcoated akita" a bajillion times though. That and "He weighs 115lbs. He looks bigger cuz he's fluffy". Going out with Jack is like hanging out with a rock star. One girl even asked to have her photo taken with him! Luckily he loves the attention. I did put him in his gentle leader though because I always worry about what people will do in crowded situations. So many people think because he is cute they should get right in his face. This is rude behavior in dog language so I perfer to have control over his mouth in case anything happens to keep everyone safe. He's never been snarky about it in the past but why take any chances?



Jenny's top was made from a purse I got at TJMaxx. I'm not sure she was all that impressed with my mad skills. She also stole a TriPom chew from the lady's hand! as she was passing it to Jack. Thief!! Then she sat in front of the booth hoping to get more.

Jack won a gift bag for being the biggest dog. It contained lots of our favorite goodies. We were very excited! It was a great time and maybe we'll do it again next year. I think I already have a costume idea.

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If you want to see more photos they are posted on my facebook page and the Loyal Biscuit facebook page as well under the Solstice Pooch Parade albums. (Photo credit for the photos with me included to Holly Sherburne. And of "Miss J's top" to Ashley Bickford.)

Wobblers Syndrome in Dogs

If you are an avid fancier of Doberman, Borzoi or/and Great Dane you may be aware of some of the neurological abnormalities that these dog breeds are often susceptible to. Wobblers Disease is one of such neurological syndromes that affect mostly Doberman Pinschers, Borzoi and Great Danes.

Researches have been carried out on Wobblers Syndromes in dogs, and documentations have indicated that apart from Dobbies, Danes and Borzoi, certain other canine breeds are also susceptible to this disease, although not seen as frequently as in Dobbies and Danes. These dogs are Dalmatian, Weimaraner, Boxer, GSD, Old English Sheepdog, Basset Hound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, St. Bernard, Newfoundland, Samoyed, Bull Mastiff and Greyhound.

What is this Wobblers Syndrome in dogs all about?
Wobblers Syndrome in dogs is a disease that affects the cervical vertebrae (neck spinal column), which in turn causes weakness and disorganized & uncoordinated gait. Wobbler Disease adversely affects the animals through malformation - especially narrowing of the vertebrae and intervertebral disc protrusion. The condition affects the interspinal ligaments, ligamenta falva (ligaments connecting the laminae of adjacent vertebrae, from the axis to the first segment of sacrum) and articular facets of the vertebrae. Wobblers Syndrome is also called Cervical Spondylopathy or Cervical Vertebral Instability (CVI). Some researchers thinks that this condition is incorrectly referred to as Spondylopathy.

Although the exact cause of Wobblers Syndrome in dogs is not yet been unearthed, but researches have shown that this condition is related to gene. Many scientists opines that osteochondrosis may be the wobbler disease in dogs. In dogs, as well as in other animals like horses wobbler disease cause tremendous pain, discouraging mobility and in worse case it leads to partial or complete paralysis.

Symptoms of Wobblers Syndrome in Dogs

Symptoms of Wobblers Syndrome in dogs are common in all canine breeds and usually start off with pain in the hind legs. The dog’s age of exhibiting the symptoms may vary from breed to breed. While in case of Dobermans the symptoms may be first noticed at the age of 3 to 5 years, the Great Danes may show wobbler disease symptoms at a very early age – with one year. The dog will show lack of coordination during movement and will face trouble while standing up. The distressed movement can be noticed if the dog tends to turn round – either ways (right or left) -- a corner. With the maturity the back legs will be placed apart stiff with the feet scraping on the ground.

The condition may worsen with weakening and stiffening of the front legs, accompanied with a wobbling mobility. Bending the neck will be painful.

Diagnosis of Wobblers Syndrome in Dogs

Wobblers Syndrome in dogs may be diagnosed by wide range clinical tests, including of physical as well as neurological exams. The vets will advice to do x-rays and blood tests for the dog in order to diagnose if the dog is affected by wobbler disease. X-ray report will indicate the specific compression in any region along the vertebrae. Myelogram (fluoroscopy) or/and an MRI is usually prescribed by the vets.

How to avoid Wobblers Syndrome in Dogs

Well, this is the most important part of this post. Breeding should be carried out in a very planned and selective ways. Dogs with this condition in their history should be barred from the breeding program.

Still fighting the fight

First a shout out to my reader who recognised me at PBMC earlier today. I'm sorry I didn't catch your name. It made me feel like a celebrity. Thanks for reading!
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Sometimes living with dogs is very stressful. Especially if we are struggling to keep them healthy. Jenny is still having skin issues. I decided to try something different and go to a homeopathic veterinarian to see if that might work for us. I was concerned with the long term side effects of steroids and autoimmune suppressants. After 2 months of trying many different remedies we haven't found the magic yet. I decided to take a mental break and go back to some conventional methods for a spell. I had managed to keep trying because she wasn't uncomfortable. Lately that hasn't been the case however so I threw in the proverbial towel, at least for now. I still have great respect for homeopathic medicine and will pursue that as much as I can in conjunction with the conventional stuff. For instance I will be doing titers on Jenny from now on in lue of simply vaccinating her. Her system is clearly compromised so adding to that in any way is not going to help. This is how she looks today:


I'll spare you the close-ups of her skin, but you can get the idea. Red and inflamed and gooey in spots. So as well as taking her for an anti-inflammatory injection, I have decided to start her on a new diet. (yes again**) This time we will be trying the honest kitchen's Zeal. I am also going to add their supplement for healthy skin called Sparkle. (Thanks to Prudence for the tip on the skin supplement!) Our own local Loyal Biscuit Co. has some fabulous trial sizes for those who want to try THK but aren't sure their dog will eat it.

AND on the back of the box is a coupon if your dog likes it! I had to order a 4lb box so I picked up a couple of trial boxes so I can introduce it to Jenny slowly while we wait for the big box to arrive.

Here are a few tips I did find helpful to use on Jenny that are more natural than chemical filled shampoos. I found bathing her actually makes her worse most of the time.

One is the Aveeno oatmeal bath. I found this at Wal-Mart. You mix 2 tablespoons with 1 gallon of water and use it as a rinse. Do NOT rinse it off and towel dry. I used very cool water on Jenny. It will leave a residue but can be used twice daily and usually gives 12 to 24 hours of relief from itching. The only downside is you need to use it after mixing as it will NOT keep. I found the residue wasn't a problem on the furniture either. The other was using lavender oil. I found this in the health food section of my grocery store. Mix 4 drops of the lavender oil with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Rub on irritated skin to soothe it. I thought this would be messy but it absorbs into the skin very quickly. It also smells wonderful! I keep some mixed in a spray bottle for easy application. I also mixed some lavender oil with water in another spray bottle so I can "mist" an area that doesn't need a full rub. Hopefully someone else might find those tips as useful as I did. Lavender is also a natural healing agent and can help with cuts and burns.

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And now for something completely different. Check out the double dewclaws on one of the prison pups. They look the same on both back feet.

If these were on the front feet I'd wonder if they had any puffin dog in them! I did learn that some livestock guarding breeds have these and it is part of their breed standard. Who knew?

**So it turns out that the company that did Jenny's food allergy testing has admitted that the food panel isn't all that accurate. They recommend doing food trials instead. They still offer the test however because some vets want to be able to offer that service to their clients. I cannot quite convey how incredibly pissed off that makes me. One because I wasted money on a test that isn't worth a damn and two because those results changed how I chose her food and wasted my friggin time!! So thanks Greer. You are a real peach of a company!!

My fluffy weekend

So this weekend I got to have this cutie to take care of. A 13 week old rough coat Chow Chow named Batu. He was here for some extra socialization and an evaluation. I know, I know, tough job right? Socialization for puppies is extremely important. I have written a past post on the topic here.
Here he is with his new friend Chuck from the Loyal Biscuit Co.

Here he is pestering Jack to play.
And this is his new buddy Levi from the K-9 Corrections program.

Then he met my sisters bulldogs G.G. and Minos.

That was just a sampling of our busy weekend. He met at least 13 other dogs and countless people on our outings. We were both exhausted by the end of it.

What they say is true; a tired puppy is a good puppy!

Big Black Dog Syndrome - BBD

Big Black Dog syndrome - A Challenge Before the Animal shelter

When it comes to dog adoption, the animal shelters and dog rescue centers are usually called upon. One the biggest challenges that most animal shelters are facing is what is known as Big Black Dog Syndrome. It is a syndrome seen in many pet lovers, who pass over the back dogs, without adopting them. The Big black dogs (BBDs) have proved to be the hardest dogs to find homes for — even though they are in good health and human-friendly animals.

Researches have carried upon by specialists, and a few probable factors have been recognized playing their roles behind Big Black Dog syndrome. Fear stigma against black dogs play imensely significant role behind Big Black Dog syndrome. Belief that color black is a symbol evil or that black dogs are more dangerously aggressive than their lighter counterparts have also been recognized as a reason for Big Black Dog syndrome. Belief and (sometimes not necessarily a fact) that black colored dogs for certain breed are faulty makes the novice backyard breeders pass over the black puppies to the animal shelters.

Evidences are there that particularly black dogs - both mixes and pure breeds, are horribly euthanized at many shelters because people pass them up quite frequently.

Records have shown that black dogs are mostly the last to be adopted, despite the fact that the black dogs are just as adorable and as gorgeous as the lighter colored dogs. Fact is that they appear to be more shiny than their lighter counterparts. It is to be remembered that life has no color. Love is never black. A solid black German shepherd Dog can make a pet as good as its black-tan and solid white counterparts. Thankfully some of the organizations have already started off with necessary campaigns to educate the novice dog enthusiasts about Big Black Dog (BBD) syndrome. Many associations and responsible black dog breeders have strongly stood against the the empirical basis for the bias against the black dogs. Some of the associations are doing appreciable job by adopting serious steps to exhibit black dogs as more appealing and gorgeously beautiful.

Dog Adoption

Dog adoption has been increasing day by day. The answer to why we love dog has still not been cleared by philosophers. Probably, they said we love dogs because they lave us back. Many other think that more and more people are becoming frustrated with the real life, more they are inclined towards pure, non-political, unconditional love that a dog can give. Remembering Ben Williams, "There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face." Truly said someone... "One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why."

Finding a dog for adoption is quite easy - probably quite a lot easier than providing him with the time and care he needs for the rest of his life! Dog adoption may entice you, as you may have seen smart labs or shepherds or dobbies with your friends and relatives. It is a highly responsible task of taking up guardianship of and responsibility for a puppy or an adult dog. You can find dogs for adoption in your locality. If you love dog really, your new family member doesn't have to be a pure breed rottie or a mastiff. You can find mixed breed dogs for adoption from an animal rescue group or animal rescue organization. A dog rescue group is dedicated to dog adoption. They take abandoned and/or abused dogs and always look for new homes for them. If you are in USA, it is easy to find information on breed rescue groups. The American Kennel Club has a comprehensive list of contacts, chiefly within breed clubs, that gives you the information on breed rescue organizations for purebred dogs in America.

If you are planning for dog adoption, you should drop by a known dog rescue organization that can give you the right kind of information as to why and how a particular dog was rescued. Dogs are rescued or taken to the animal shelters owing to several reasons, some of which are:

Backyard Breeding: Unscientific backyard breeding causes overpopulation of dogs. Breeding for money is dangerous for both both the so called breeders and the pets. Not-so-reputable and unrecognized breeders usually find less number of quality purchasers, who can actually take up the guardianship of a pet in the right manner.

Demise of Dog owners: Sad demise of dog owners is a real pathetic situation for the pet.

Health Issue of the Owner: Many good owners who look for responsible people to adopt their beloved dogs because they experience serious health issues.

Lost Dogs: Rescue teams often rescue lost dogs and look for responsible people who are planning for dog adoption.

Moving abroad: Many people have to leave their countries; quarantine laws in most countries prove to be quite treacherous to pets and their owners. In order to avoid the situation, their owners tend to look for responsible people who are planning for dog adoption.

Big black dog syndrome: Black dog bias is a human psychological problem in which the black dogs are passed over adoption, while the lighter dogs are favored. Many animal shelters often use the term Big Black Dog (BBD) to describe the type of larger black mixed-breed dogs that are typically passed over by novice adopters.

River's NV turn yesterday - and a wee SchH rant

Here is the last third of River's track. YES, she may be from the dreaded show lines, but she doesn't know it. I love her, and she has a lot of heart and has always pulled through for me in tracking! She was never taught footstep tracking, and bears a lot of my training errors, and thus has been my greatest teacher.

Observe her on a LOOSE LINE finding the track...this is the last part of 650 meters and she is 11, she should be tired but she works through it. What more can you ask for?





How many SchH dogs can do this?

3 hours
Loads of contamination
Hard surface tracking
Hard surface turns (NV = Non-Veg)

And more importantly - how many are interested in doing it? None, really. There sport is on grass, it is about style, and it is about precision. It too, has it's beauty and has it's place.

I defer to Wallace Payne's comments when I attended his tracking seminar - he said (my paraphrasing) - People, SchH Tracking is a DANCE... if you want to try real tracking, try AKC or CKC tracking... Thank you Mr. Payne for your open mind, and for sharing this message.

I know the two sports are different. But I get very tired of how some (not all) SchH people look down on this style. I appreciate all styles and try to learn from everything. Yes, I know that I have learned a lot from SchH tracking that I have applied to my younger dogs - Jet and Caden. I know it will tighten up their tracking on hard surfaces.

But without understanding how scent works or appreciating other tracking styles, *some* SchH people will cringe when they see a dog work out transitions and keep their head up on hard surfaces. Others have an open mind and accept different stypes and goals, of course.

I spend a lot of time explaining SchH to my CKC friends - that it is motivational, that it is not hard on the dogs, that it is beautiful to watch, etc. So, I feel it's time for me to express this side of the coin!

It is a lack of understanding on their part - not a lack of ability on my dog's part. Though I have to yell, as she is getting a little deaf!

End of rant.

Beautiful pictures of River at Olds College gardens

After a great track yesterday morning (3 hours old, 650 meters, nice work), I took pics of River in the beautiful flowers at the Olds College gardens. It was overcast but the colours seem quite vivid. She is 11! My BFF.

This picture was taken on Thursday night at Red Deer College

Olds yesterday - she did an amazing nv turn - I videotaped it - she is amazing.