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Volume 10 • Issue 12 • December 2015

Hot Dog News

8&9

Adoptable Dogs

See MMC on page 5

Above: A MMC therapy dog offers some love to a patient. Photo by Alexandra Daley-Clark

more than one certified dog in the group - and they visit most units of the hospital, including The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital. Countless studies indicate therapy dogs have

Kathy Berube, Maine Medical Center’s Director of Volunteer Services, “The purpose of MMC’s Therapy Dog Program is to bring comfort and joy to patients, their families, and also our staff.” The program, which began in the 90’s, now has 30+ volunteer handlers and 40 dogs - some handlers have

Basic Training Helping to Say Goodbye Words, Woofs & Tips End of Pet Life Special Meows

INSIDE 2 6

Maine Medical Center takes their patients’ needs very seriously – perhaps that’s why they’ve gone a step beyond to bring them an extra dose of cheer and goodwill by utilizing a friendly group of certified therapy dog teams. According to

By Susan Spisak

MMC THERAPY DOGS BRING GIFTS OF JOY & COMFORT

DowneastDogNews.com

DOWNEAST DOG NEWS

FRE E

Hot Dog News

Green Acres Announces 8th Annual Fundraiser for the Eastern Area Agency on Aging Furry Friends Food Bank

BANGOR - Green Acres Kennel Shop is holding its 8th annual fundraiser for the Eastern Area Agency on Aging Furry Friends Food Bank from Sunday, November 22nd through Saturday, December 26th. The Furry Friends Food Bank helps low-income seniors and adults with disabilities feed their pets. Customers will be asked for a donation when making purchases, and donations will also be accepted by mail and online. All funds raised will be used to buy pet food at wholesale prices for distribution by the Eastern Area Agency on Aging Furry Friends Food Bank. Once the community

donates $3000, Green Acres will donate an additional $1000. Once we receive $6,000 in donations, Green Acres will donate a second $1000. Due to the generosity of their clients and many others in the community, last year, Green Acres raised a total of $6,347; this year’s goal is $7,000. People can learn more or donate online through the Green Acres website: www.greenacres-donate. com. Green Acres Kennel Shop’s owner Don Hanson states, “Pets play a significant role in our lives, and even more so for those whose pets may be their primary companions. Studies have demonstrated that pets can help lower blood pressure and resolve depression, but having a pet is also about companionship and caring for another living being. When your pet is all you have, foregoing eating, not refilling a prescription, or turning the heat down very low, are some of the sacrifices that you may make to keep your pet with you. The Eastern Area Agency on Aging has seen the needs for its services continue to grow. In the last 12 months, the organization has distributed over 55,000 pounds of pet food to over 1,100 clients. This

entire effort is funded by private citizens such as yourself. Please join the Green Acres Kennel Shop team in helping the Furry Friends Food Bank keep pets and seniors together and well fed and healthy.” People may follow the activities of the fundraising drive on the FaceBook page for the Friends of EAAA Furry Friends Food Bank at (https://www.facebook.com/GAKS. FFFFB). People can learn more about the Eastern Area Agency on Aging and the Furry Friends Food Bank on the November 21st podcast from The Woof Meow Show where Kate and Don talk with Robert Crone about these important programs http:// traffic.libsyn.com/woofmeowshow/ Wo o f M e o w S h o w -2 015 -11-21E A A A _ F u r r y _ Fr i e n d s _ Fo o d _ Bank_fundraiser.mp3). The Eastern Area Agency on Aging is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization serving Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock, and Washington counties dedicated to providing seniors, adults with disabilities and caregivers with a variety of options, opportunities, resources and referrals. (http://www.

PlanetDog-DowneastDogNews-Santa-Ad.pdf

eaaa.org). In business since 1965, Green Acres Kennel Shop, located at 1653 Union Street, is committed to petfriendly, force-free pet care. We offer boarding, daycare, and grooming for dogs and cats, as well as pet behavior consultations and group and private dog training classes. Voted Best Kennel every year since 2002, Best Pet Store every year since 2007, Best Dog Trainer every year since 2011, and Best Pet Groomer every year since 2013, the Green Acres retail store offers a wide variety of wholesome pet foods, treats, and quality supplies. We are a proud member of The Pet Professional Guild. For more information, please call 945-6841 or visitwww. greenacreskennel.com.

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Copy Editor Belinda Carter Contributors William Kunitz Diana Logan Sara Moore Judith Herman Carolyn Fuhrer Don Hanson Susan Spisak

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December 2015

COPYRIGHT 2006-2015 All contents of Downeast Dog News are protected under United States copyright law. The contents may not be reprinted or reproduced without the expressed written permission of the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within Downeast Dog News are those of its contributors and not necessarily those of the publisher. Content of ads is the sole responsibility of the advertiser. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content and Downeast Dog News assumes no liability for any errors, omissions or claims made by its contributors or advertisers.

Table of Contents

Hot Dog News ........................ Furry Words ............................ Ask the Vet................................. Basic Training Tips ................ Baxter ........................................ Happy Howl-idays! ............... Performance Dog Training. Words, Woofs & Meows ...... Holiday Training Tips ........... Dogs for Adoption................. Calendar of Events ............... Join Our Team!........................ Business Directory ................

2 4 4 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 15

Furry Words

Sara Moore, Animal Communicator

Dogs have the ability to give us peace of mind that we may not otherwise be able to find. When my son was in preschool at Children Unlimited in Conway, NH, I asked my friends with A.C.T.S. (Assistance Canine Training Services) if they would be willing to bring some of the service dogs into his classroom. A.C.T.S is a nonprofit that raises and trains dogs to assist people with various disabilities. Dogs come into the program as puppies and are brought to weekly canine classes and integrated into the community as much as possible. Not all graduate out of the program and go on to be service animals, but those who do, are trained to help meet the very specific needs of their human companions. This can range from identifying when people are about to have seizures or panic attacks, helping open or close doors and cabinets, guiding those with poor vision, even helping people with activities of daily living. Having an opportunity to visit Zach’s school was a fantastic opportunity to socialize the dogs while offering an educational experience for the kids. In order for this visit to go well, the kids had to be respectful of themselves and others, have patience to sit through the ten minute presentation, then take turns asking questions and finally have a few minutes to pet the animals. A.C.T.S had recently started training a puppy, so as word spread that a sweet little Golden Retriever pup was coming the one class activity expanded to a school wide event. The handlers and dogs arrived before the kids filtered into the common room, and once everyone was seated on the floor, the volunteers explained what they do and talked about how they actually train the dogs. They had the kids’ undivided attention as they talked about how they think of unique ways to get a dog to figure out a new skill, how they reward the right behavior, and how many hours a week they spent practicing. As the kids listened, the teachers sat in the corner taking turns snuggling the sleepy puppy around. From my experience, the coolest part of any presentation is seeing it all in action. My friend Kathy

had her black lab Moxie, who was wearing her blue working vest and was on her best behavior in front of the group. Kathy put on a snug leather work glove and asked Moxie to help her take it off. I know Labs have soft mouths for retrieving birds, but it was incredible to see her ever so gently use her teeth to gently tug it off her hand! I can tell you that none of the dogs I’ve ever had could even begin to do such a thing. Then it was Maggie’s turn. She was a black flat coated retriever, and she was asked to turn off the lights. She walked right up to the light switch and used her nose or paw to flip it down. She seemed so nonchalant about it as if that’s a skill all dogs should be able to do! The kids laughed and cheered as she turned it back on. The next skill Moxie showed off was picking up a television remote. It was laying on the floor, and Kathy asked her to “get the remote.” She did it without even leaving any teeth marks and hardly any drool. It was so cool to see how well trained and connected to their handlers these A.C.T.S students were! Since the puppy was new to the program, he only had one trick under his belt. He was about nine weeks old and just a smushy ball of buttery softness. They asked him to sit and he did. Then they put a line of treats in front of him and told him to wait for them. He obediently waited until they gave him the command to go get them. I don’t know many family dogs that could handle that pressure! Children Unlimited has a soft spot in my heart, not only because they essentially helped me raise my child as I worked and co parented with his father, but they have occupational, physical, and speech therapy for children on site. Want to know how to motivate a child to talk or use his motor skills? Bring in a dog. This experience was so much more than just an excuse to get out of the classroom for thirty minutes. My son, who is now ten, still remembers that day many years later. Because of my job, I had the connections to be able to make that day possible, but you’d be surprised at how eager many organizations are to work on socialization and educating people about their missions. I encourage you to seek some out, and if nothing else, introduce yourself to them when you see them in public.

Sara Moore is a Psychic Medium for people and pets. Her office is in North Conway, NH and is available for in person and long distance readings. You can contact her at (603)662-2046 or at enlightenedhorizons@gmail.com. FMI go to www.enlightenedhorizons.com.

Ask the Vet . . .

Dr. Judith Herman

Holiday Precautions to take with Your Pups

This Christmas I am having my family over for the long weekend. This is the first time Princess, my year old beagle, will experience such a crowd in my home. What precautions should I take so everything goes smoothly? The Holidays are fun, stressful, and a lot of work. There are several things you can do so Princess and your guests have a great time. Let’s start with the decorations. Be cautious with some of the traditional Yule Tide flora. Poinsettias have been heralded as poisonous. They are only a problem if large quantities are ingested. If Princess is a plant chewer, then put the plants out of her reach. Generally, they cause vomiting and diarrhea. Other decorative berries to be careful of are mistletoe, bittersweet, and holly. If you decorate with these berries, be sure they are in places so the berries can’t fall where your dog cannot ingest them. Christmas trees are beautiful and can be a real temptation for Princess. When decorating, don’t put your plastic or glass ornaments near the bottom where she can reach them. They can break and cause problems. The same problem exists with strung popcorn and cranberries; any food decorations can be a big temptation, not only to eat but getting tangled in the tree thus tipping. Big trees should be secured, so they don’t topple over. Electric wires should also be kept from harm’s way. Using tape to secure wires so Princess can’t get tangled in them is a must. You may need to keep the lower branches of the tree lightfree for the same reason. Tinsel is another concern if she likes to eat such things. It is more of a cat problem, but I did do an emergency surgery to remove a ball of tinsel out of a little dog’s stomach. An easy way to protect

the tree and Princess is to put a fence or gate around the tree to keep them separate. Candles are always festive, but make sure they are placed so they won’t get knocked over and cause a fire or burns. When you are planning activities and meals for the busy weekend, also plan a schedule for Princess. Try to make her routine as close to normal as possible. If you are too busy to walk or play with her, have one of your guests, who love dogs, take her out. Plan activities where she can safely be included. Remember: your rules are law. If Princess isn’t allowed to jump up or be on furniture, she can’t do it this weekend either. Politely tell your guests the ground rules. Make sure you have a safe place for her when she gets overwhelmed or wants a break. Her crate or a quiet spare room is a good spot. There will be many tasty treats around, so make sure they are out of harm’s way. Chocolate, Macadamia nuts, greasy foods, alcohol, cooked bones, and raisons or grapes can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or worse problems. If you are making yeast rolls or bread, be sure it is way out of reach. Dogs love yeast and will climb almost anywhere to get it. If Princess indulges in any of these things, call your veterinarian right away. Make sure your guests know not to feed Princess their food and snacks, as to avoid more stomach or intestinal upset. The best way to avoid these problems is to have little “Princess treat bowls” strategically placed around the house in easy reach for company to indulge their needs to feed Princess. You can use part of her meal in the treat bowls, so she doesn’t gain weight or get sick from overeating. With a little planning, you, your family, and your best friend will have a great holiday. Judith K. Herman DVM, CVH Animal Wellness Center, Augusta, ME www.mainehomeopathicvet.com officeawc@roadrunner.com

Downeast Dog News

MMC from page 1

Photos by Alexandra Daley-Clark

positive effects on patients, both physically and emotionally. Benefits include decreased blood pressure, heart rate, and recovery time, a lowering of stress and anxiety, and a reduced need for pain medications. Therapy teams bring a connection to the outside world, taking patients’ minds off their hospitalization. MMC requires that canine candidates have excellent obedience skills, are well-mannered, vetted regularly, and healthy. Potential teams are required to partake in a “preprogram,” visiting a nursing home to acclimate the dog to residents, elevators, and medical equipment. It’s an excellent way for an accompanying team mentor to analyze if the dog is going to succeed in the hospital environment. If all goes as hoped, the team can continue on its journey, being formally tested and certified

Photos by Alexandra Daley-Clark

through Pet Partners or Alliance of Therapy Dogs, and then become hospital volunteers. The dogs, decked out in their hospital scarves, are so popular that they sometimes don’t reach their assigned unit. Visitors in the lobby or waiting areas stop them for a meet and greet and one of their personalized trading cards, funded in part by a grant from Planet Dog Foundation. For hospitalized kids, a visit may encourage them to get out of bed, so they can pet or even walk alongside the dog. These canine ambassadors, willing to share their affection with all, even reenergize MMC’s nursing staff, especially if they’ve had a trying day. “It’s for everyone, not just the patients,” explains Kathy. For Alex Daley-Clark, a Pet Partners

See MMC on page 7

Please Support Our Advertisers MIDCOAST Ames Supply............................................... 16 Flagship Inn.................................................... 2 Harbor Hounds .............................................. 3 Loyal Biscuit.................................................... 2 Mr. Dog Training............................................. 2 The Country Inn............................................ 6 Two Salty Dogs .......................................... 10 Water Bark Wellness...................................... 7 Yankee Clipper............................................. 10 SOUTHERN Camp Bow Wow......................................... 16 Charlie's Friends Doggy Daycare ............ 7 Maine Veterinary Medical Center........................... 6 Paws Applause.............................................. 6 Pet Connection............................................. 6 Planet Dog...................................................... 2 Pleasant Hill Kennels................................... 5 Portland Veterinary Specialists............ .. 10

December 2015

The Whole Dog Market............................. 10 STATEWIDE & BEYOND ASPCA Bar Harbor....................................... 13 Maine TV 85 ................................................. 14 Martha Dillard Pet Portraits.................... 12 Puppy Love .................................................... 2 Silver Paws Pet Tags ..................................... 5 The Evolved Dog ........................................... 2 BANGOR & DOWNEAST Bear Brook Kennels.................................... 16 Green Acres Kennel Shop ....................... 16 Veazie Veterinary Clinic .............................. 6 WESTERN Bee's Pet Boarding ..................................... 10 Taylor Brook Animal Hospital ................... 5

Basic Training Tips by Diana Logan

Do you have the right moves? It’s easy to give our dogs conflicting information

Which way are you going?

My client was amazed at how his dog responded to a slight turn of his body. His dog Lizzie had had a lot of practice avoiding her owners when they wanted to “catch” her. “Catch” is the key word here as it means she had feasted many times on the joy of keepaway after having taught the rules to her unsuspecting humans when she was just a mere pup. Now Lizzie raced to him when he called. He was incredulous. I demonstrated what I wanted him to do; call Lizzie’s name once, move in the direction he wanted Lizzie to go, and then as she caught up to him, do a quick 180 turn back again to get her to stop near him. It worked like a charm with Lizzie, who clearly thought this was a very fun game! She was, of course, generously rewarded for coming. It’s going to take a lot more work to get a more reliable recall with Lizzie, but if her owners

can learn to change their habits, Lizzie can change, too. They had, up until then, faced their dog and stood still in the hopes that she would come. They were sending her mixed messages, as you’ll see from below. We were, in essence, flipping Lizzie’s keep-away game on its head. Instead of the human chasing the dog, the dog was now chasing the human. It’s still a chase game, but of the variety that’s helpful. When you call your dog to you, see how he responds if you turn your body away from him – you

might be surprised! Action invites Interaction If you want your dog to engage with you, add some motion! Think prey animal again. Unfortunately, young children often run about their worlds looking like irresistible playthings to dogs. Limbs flailing, running, changing direction.. these can all be techniques you use to call your dog to you! For kids, though, it can result in jumping or nipping, so it’s best to separate those irresistible creatures (the kids) from the dogs until they can each learn more appropriate ways of interacting. Freeze for Space If you’ve ever tried to tie your shoelaces in the presence of a puppy, you’ll know how interesting that process can be for him. Movement, mini tug-toys flying around, fingers moving, and a human kneeling down – a perfect puppy party package! All that action is inviting interaction. When you want more space, cease all movement including eye contact and words. Our dogs are not only super cognizant of movement, but also to when that movement stops. If I want to play with a puppy but teach him the rules, I will abruptly freeze and stop playing if a rule has been broken. This is powerful stuff to

a dog! I can even do this from a distance. When I’m busy in the kitchen working with food and a dog starts to make the moves to join me, I suddenly freeze. My freezing, doing absolutely nothing, not a sound spoken, actually sends him away in a hurry. Simple Rules of Engagement… or Disengagement: Rule #1: move in the direction you want your dog to go. Our predator-dogs are drawn towards movement. We can use movement – and lack thereof in different ways to support the behaviors we want, and at the same time, engage our dogs in a way they understand. Rule #2: add motion or activity when you want to engage your dog. Rule #3: freeze if you want your dog to give you space. Happy training in 2016!

Diana Logan, CPDT-KA Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge-Assessed Pet Connection Dog Training, North Yarmouth, Maine www.dianalogan.com 207-252-9352

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Downeast Dog News

MMC from page 5 evaluator and team mentor, being a member of the therapy program is rewarding. She admits it sounds cliché, but this busy professional photographer adds, “I leave feeling very, very grateful and grounded again.” She may be in the middle of a demanding wedding season, but a visit to bring smiles to others with her almost 9-year-old Border Terrier, Basil, is like hitting her own reset button mentally. The patients are very grateful when they meet these special “canine therapists.” Some become quite emotional, says Nina Schribner; she knows first-hand as her gentle black Lab, Fletch, even brought tears to one gentleman’s eyes. Alex adds, “We might be the only people that come

into the room that don’t do anything medical or invasive to them. We don’t poke or prod...It’s kind of nice to bring comfort and happiness.” For info on MMC’s Therapy Dog Program, go to http://www.mmc.org/ mmcvolunteer, or call the volunteer office at 207.662.2205. To see all the beautiful canines that participate, visit https://www. facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151 242917332439.484186.88175637438&t ype=1.rt.

Photos by Alexandra Daley-Clark

To honor to our long time contributor, Baxter, we will be reprising some of his best pieces from over the years. This month's column is one of the few unpublished pieces we have uncovered, enjoy!

The Problem With Cats My humans got a cat about the same time they got me. It was a standard, garden variety cat. It coughed up hairballs, sat under the window waiting for birds to run into it, and brought a number of small, unidentifiable animal parts to our door. When it was in, it wanted to go out. When it was out, it wanted to come in. It slept in impossible positions, ate my food and was allowed to do its business inside in a little box in the basement. But here is the problem with cats. Even though they are four-legged animals with a head at one end and a tail at the other – just like all of us – they refuse to be dogs. When I was a puppy, I wanted to play with our cat in the worst way. I wanted to sniff its butt, chew its ears, roll around on the ground with it, chase it – but not up a tree – just far enough until it would turn around and start chasing me. I wanted to run and fetch balls with it, play keep away and tug of war, dig holes, run through puddles, play in the snow. And what was the cat’s response? If I were lucky, it would just raise its back, hiss and walk away. On days when I wasn’t so lucky, I’d come away with a bloody nose! What kind of friendship is that? Why can’t cats be like dogs? Why do they have to be so aloof, so prissy, always preening themselves, half the time completely ignoring me? Lately, our cat has taken to rubbing up against me, but as soon as I turn around to chew on its ear, it gets all huffy and hisses at me. I’ll never understand cats. Why can’t there just be dogs? Chow, Baxter

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December 2015

Howl-iday Shopping Guide

Not sure what to get your favorite furry family member? Or maybe something for the fellow animal lover in the family? Below are some of our favorites this Howl-iday season!

1. Pet Quarters - with locations in Brunswick, Falmouth, Scarborough, Waterville, Windham and Rockland this Maine based pet store is a staple for many pet owners! Pet Quarters carries quality products, and keeps up their inventory with needs and trends. Customers, two-legged and four-legged, are always a priority at Pet Quarters. You're bound to find an assortment of great gifts for Fido at any Pet Quarters location. 2. PetLife - with locations in Augusta, Lewiston, North Windham, Topsham, Portland, South Portland, Saco, Sanford, Scarborough and Bangor, as well locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, PetLife stores are ready to help you with your holiday gift giving! They feature top brands for dog and cat food, supplies and of course toys and treats! All of their products are hand selected by their team to make sure that the animals who use their products get nothing but the best. Visit them online at petlifestores.com or one of their many locations

throughout the state! 3. Paws Applause & Dog Loft - Paws Applause is located in Oak Hill Plaza on Route 1 in Scarborough, They provides products that are chosen for their holistic approach to pet health – high quality dog & cat foods, treats, vitamins, flea control, supplements, shampoos, toys, accessories many of which are Made in Maine. In addition to premium dog and cat items, they are Maine’s largest supplier of Raw Food. Any of these would be amazing gifts for your furry freinds this season. Dog Loft is Paws Applause's full service grooming salon located at 119 Bishop St. in Portland. They offer a number of excited spa packages just perfect to pamper your pet this holiday season. Visit them in Portland or Paws Applause in Scarborough or check them both out online! 4. Loyal Biscuit - located in Belfast, Camden, Rockland and now in Waterville! Loyal Biscuit stocks a huge array of pet supplies, food and fun. With four locations, there

is bound to be one close by for you to swing and at grab something special for your four-legged friends. If you aren't able to stop in, check them out online at loyalbiscuit. com or on Facebook! 5. Silver Paw Pet Tags these goregous tags are available statewide and beyond. They are beautifully crafted right here in Maine and extremely durable. Made out of stainless steel, they look great and remain looking great for years! Check out the designs and place your orders online at silverpawtags.com. 6. Green Acres Kennel Shop - located in Bangor, Green Acres has everything your pet could need during the holidays! They carry food, supplies, toys and also provide daycare services, grooming, boarding, training classes and so much more! Check them out online at greenacreskennel. com or visit them in Bangor at 1653 Union Street. 7. Yankee Clipper - located at 589 Commercial St. Route 1 in Rockport, Yankee Clipper is not only a fabulous place to treat your pet to some grooming and spa services, but also carries a great array of gifts and treats! They are stocking a bunch of winter pet needs including Pawz Boots, fleece sweaters, toys and much more. Swing in to say hi or find them online and on Facebook. 8. Planet Dog - located in Portland, Planet Dog is absolutely bursting with fun

pet supplies for the holidays. A great new toy would be perfect in Fido's stocking or a gift card is great for any fellow animal lovers in your life. They also host an array of fun pet-centered holiday events. Learn more on their website or visit them on Marginal Way in Portland! 9. Fish & Bone - located on Commercial St. in Portland as well as in Boston, Fish & Bone is a one-stop-shop for all things pet! Their mission statement is "to improve the quality of life of animals and their people with healthy natural diets & other edibles, a great selection of gear, a depth of knowledge in a creative, and a spirit of good fun…and to support animal welfare, the arts and the environment along the way." Stop in to check out all of the great selections of holiday toys and goodies they have available! 10. BarkDannas of Maine - BarkDannas of Maine creates fun, flirty and fancy dog bandannas. Their tagline: “It’s all about the buckle!” says plenty about why these bandannas are special with their unique “Kno-Knot” solution – a buckle! Bandannas are all made with a side release buckle system in a huge variety of fabric pattern choices and buckle color choices. What a great way to dress your pup up this holiday season! Check them out and order online at barkdannasofmaine.com!

Downeast Dog News

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December 2015

TRAINING YOUR PERFORMANCE DOG Agility, Obedience, Tracking By Carolyn Fuhrer

Obedience - Something For Everyone If you haven’t looked at dog obedience for a while, you are in for a surprise. There are a lot more choices to enjoy obedience with your dog. The regular obedience classes are Novice (CD or Companion Dog), Open (CDX or Companion Dog Excellent) and Utility (UD). After these regular classes, there are UDX legs where you must qualify in both Open and Utility at the same show, and if you do this 10 times, you earn a UDX (Utility Dog Excellent title). And finally there is an OTCH - Obedience Trial Champion - which requires many many shows in which you must win the class in order to gain points toward the OTCH title. All of this takes great dedication and commitment to training. Not everyone wants to do this or has

the time to dedicate to this type of training, but this is not all that obedience is about. AKC has greatly expanded the obedience offerings so that people who enjoy teaching their dogs exercises that require focus and teamwork can enjoy obedience with their dogs. If you and your dog have earned a CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title, you are well on your way to begin working towards a Beginner Novice (BN) title. The exercises in Beginner Novice are a step up from CGC. The heeling follows simple signs with a left turn, right turn, about turn, slow, fast, and sit (an extension of the CGC “out for a walk” ) . The figure 8 exercise is a refinement of walking through a crowd. Sit for exam is just like sit politely for petting, except you are in front of your dog not next to him. In the stay exercise, the handler places the leash on the ground, tells the dog to stay and walks around the

room. In the recall, the handler takes the leash off and tells the dog to wait and goes 20 feet away and calls the dog. A little harder than the CGC work, but not that hard. The skills required are reasonable pet skills and are within reach of any responsible dog handler team. After Beginner Novice (BN) the next classes are Graduate Novice and Graduate Open. The Graduate Novice class involves teaching your dog to carry a dumbbell, jump with a dumbbell in its mouth, to jump over a broad jump, and to drop on recall. The Graduate Open class involves teaching your dog to down, sit,

and come from a distance, to find an article you scent, to retrieve a glove, to stand for examination, and then come to you and go away from you and perform directed jumping. These classes parallel the regular open and utility, but are much more user-friendly and dogfriendly. The exercises have been modified and distances are shorter. The people working in our open/ utility classes here at North Star find that their dogs really enjoy these problem solving exercises. They are fun to teach and really enhance the dog/handler relationship. Obedience is a wonderful way to teach your dogs something new and stimulate their minds. As we learn to become partners in helping them learn, a special bond develops as we grow together working towards a goal. Have some fun this winter and challenge yourself and your dog by learning something new. Obedience training has something for everyone!

Carolyn Fuhrer has earned over 80 AKC titles with her Golden Retrievers, including 2 Champion Tracker titles. Carolyn is the owner of North Star Dog Training School in Somerville, Maine. She has been teaching people to understand their dogs for over 25 years. You can contact her with questions, suggestions and ideas for her column by e-mailing carolyn@dogsatnorthstar.com.

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Downeast Dog News

WORDS, WOOFS & MEOWS By Don Hanson, BFRAP, CDBC, CPDT-KA

Reflections on 20 Years as a Pet Care Professional – Pet Food & Nutrition Part 2 My wife Paula and I have been part of the pet care services industry for over 20 years, and in that time, we have seen many changes. Last month, I started writing about the changes we have seen in pet food and pet nutrition. I discussed how brands have changed, the need for consumers to be knowledgeable, the verbiage used by pet food companies, protein choices, and industry consolidation. Pet food is a big topic, and there have been many more changes that I address below. Gus’ Story – Last month, I started a story about how our Cairn Terrier Gus’s issues with UTI’s and crystals initiated our journey with learning about pet nutrition. It was not until after I sent my column off to the editor that I realized that I had not finished the story. We eventually found a brand of food, Wysong, and some Wysong supplements that cured Gus’s UTI and crystal issues. It was our first experience with what, at the time, was classified as an ultra-premium pet food. We learned a great deal from Dr. Wysong and his distributor here in Maine, the late David Hinson. Their commitment to quality nutrition should be an inspiration to all pet food companies. Formula Proliferation – Twenty years ago, the most common form of pet food was dry kibble, still the number one choice for food. Pet food

companies offered kibble formulas for puppies, adult dogs, and overweight dogs. Then came senior, and a few years after that, we started seeing the large breed puppy formulas and in some cases, food for specific breeds of dogs. Many experts in pet nutrition, like Dr. Wysong, argue that the proliferation of formulas is more about SKUs, marketing and shelf space than nutrition. I believe their position is quite sound if we look at what and how canines eat in the wild. The nutritional rationale for all of these formulas is not necessarily based in science or good nutrition and often makes it harder for the consumer to make a good decision. Recalls – We have seen numerous pet food recalls in the past twenty years, just as we have with human food. As long as good quality food remains perishable, which I suspect will be forever, there are going to be recalls. A recall in itself as not a bad thing, but a lot depends on how the company handles the recall. The companies that handle recalls the best are the ones that offer full disclosure early in the process and that keep their distributors and retailers informed. It is always our goal to contact our clients to let them know about a recall before they hear about it on the internet. Misleading Advertising – Pet food advertising is made to appeal to people because, let’s face it, your dog or cat is not making the decision of what food you will buy. Unfortunately, advertising can make any food look and sound wonderful. What makes it even worse is when the claims made in those ads are false as has been the case with the ads by a pet food company that many would argue currently has some of the most appealing ads on television. Those ads claim this company never uses low-grade ingredients like poultry by-product meal and insinuates that food made by other companies do use

low-quality ingredients. This company was first sued in the Spring of 2014 and has now admitted in Federal court that it is indeed guilty of using the low quality ingredients it claimed not to use. What makes this even more incredulous is that the company is not accepting responsibility for its actions, but instead is blaming the companies that make its food and its suppliers. Yes, you read that correctly. There are companies out there that only market pet food and subcontract the development and manufacture of food to other companies. In my mind, that is not a real pet food company, but instead is an accident waiting to happen. That is why we prefer dealing with small, family-owned companies that buy raw ingredients from suppliers they know, manufacture food in their own plants, and then market food to independent stores like ours. Dietary Rotation – For years, the standard recommendation from pet food companies and many veterinarians has been to find a food that your pet does well on and then NEVER change it, as any change could upset your pet’s digestive system. It is easy to understand why a pet food company would like this approach; it keeps profits going into its coffers. One of the first things we learned from Dr. Wysong was his belief in the benefits of dietary rotation. Wysong produces a puppy and senior formula, as well as a couple of adult formulas; however, rather than feeding them strictly by age, Dr. Wysong recommends you rotate among the diets. We would feed our dogs growth in the summer when they were more active, and senior in the winter when they were less active, and standard adult formulas in the spring and fall. If one studies how wild canines eat, the concept of dietary rotation also makes perfect sense as what they eat varies widely, day to day. We are glad to see that in the past few years, some of the pet food companies that we deal with now offer multiple adult

diets and now also recommend dietary rotation. Raw Diets & Homemade Diets – In 1998, Paula and I attended a seminar to hear Dr. Ian Bilinghurst talk about raw diets for dogs. The Australian veterinarian and author of Give Your Dog A Bone was one of the first veterinarians to discuss the benefits of feeding what he called BARF; Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. What Dr. Bilinghurst was saying is essentially what experts on human nutrition have been emphasizing; eat fresh whole food (meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables) and avoid highly processed food. Dry pet food, no matter who makes it, is one of the most highly processed foods on the planet. Paula and I sought more knowledge about raw pet food, and eventually started feeding our pets a raw diet in 2001. Green Acres began selling commercial, raw frozen diets at the beginning of 2002. At first we fed one raw meal per day and a meal of kibble for the second meal of the day. When we started to see the changes in our dogs, we switched to 100% raw, which is what we continue to do today. We practice dietary rotation, switching proteins every time we purchase food and readily switch between brands. I cannot prove it, but I do believe that a raw diet played a significant role in our Golden Retriever Tikken living past her 16th birthday. What Does the Future Hold? The only thing I can predict with any certainty is that the pet food world will continue to change and that we, as consumers, will need to remain diligent. More and more people are considering feeding raw diets or at least fresh whole food. I expect that trend to continue to grow. The pet food world is threatened by the same thing as the world of human-food, industrialization and consolidation. Hopefully, as we become more aware of the importance of fresh, whole, locally-sourced food for ourselves, that will change for pet food as well.

Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (greenacreskennel.com) in Bangor and the 2014 Association of Professional Dog Trainers Dr. Ian Dunbar Member of the Year. He is a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, and Certified Professional Dog Trainer. He produces and cohosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show heard on The Voice of Maine (103.9FM, 101.3FM, 1450AM & woofmeowshow.com) every Saturday at 7:30 AM and Sunday at 8:30 PM. Don also writes about pets at his blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com.

December 2015

Is Your Pooch On Santa's Nice List? Teaching Good Holiday Doggie Manners

Our friends at TripsWithPets.come have some great tips on teaching and preparing your pup for the holiday season! With the holiday season upon us, many pet parents are planning to gather friends and family for fun festive parties. Keep in mind that although you might be ready to ‘Deck the Halls’, your four-legged friend may not be. Jingle Bells, Figgy Pudding and Tannenbaum create the perfect recipe for misbehavior. The family pooch probably isn’t accustomed to lots of guests and merriment so they might be tempted to act out, if you’re not prepared. So, if you’re stressing about how to manage Fido so he doesn’t steal from the table, raid the trash, beg, jump, and whine, then ‘Rest, Ye Merry Gentlemen (and Ladies)’; Santa isn’t the only one with a list this year. Check out the following simple ways to help ensure your dog is on his best behavior and is the pawfect host this holiday season. Tire Him Out A tired dog is a good dog. In all the preparation for your holiday party, it’s easy to forget how important it is to exercise your dog. Remember, a bored and restless pooch can get ‘bad to the bone’. Make it a high priority to take your dog out for a long walk or run him around in the yard. With all the preparation and attention to detail you’re doing to make your

party perfect, having a wound up dog with pent up energy could mess up the whole works. The day of your party (before the guests arrive) exercise your dog so he can get it all out of his system. Dogs that are taken for regular walks, runs or hikes won’t need to release pent-up energy by chewing, begging or barking. This means he’ll be better behaved and more relaxed, so you can be, too. Keep Him Occupied Be sure that you have an ample supply of your dogs’ favorite toys, treats, or bones – that you KNOW will keep him busy. Toys that stimulate your dog mentally will

not only keep him occupied but the mental stimulation will help tire him out. If your dog is a Kong lover, try stuffing a Kong or two with peanut butter and them putting in the freezer – this will keep your pooch busy for a while! Food dispensing toys are also excellent options. Practice Good Behaviors It’s never too late to reinforce and practice good behaviors. Start your dog on a refresher course of the basic commands (sit, lay down, stay, wait, leave it, etc.) today! As always, make sure you have high reward treats on hand. Also, be prepared on the day of your party or gathering with a good

supply of those high reward treats so that you can continue to reward your dog for his good behavior. Have a Back-Up Plan Even the most well behaved dogs can forget their manners with all of the excitement and distractions of holiday festivities so it’s important to have a plan B. If your pooch just can’t curb his enthusiasm, place him in his crate, behind a baby gate, or perhaps on a tether. If you do have to separate your pooch, give him something really special to keep him occupied. If your dog normally gets hard biscuits in a Kong, stuffing it instead with a mixture of highquality dog food and some mashed sweet potatoes will be especially exciting. Assign Doggie Duty In the hustle and bustle of the holiday, it’s important that your pooch is attended to appropriately. Recruit and assign a family member or friend to help you keep on eye on your little four-legged host. They can help keep him in line, curtail any overly generous food-giving guests, and take your dog out for potty breaks and little walks. So, don’t worry. With a little preparation and practice and a lot of consistency, your dog's good manners will so impress your guests (and Santa, too), that you both are sure to earn your spot on the “GOOD LIST” this holiday season.

Downeast Dog News

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