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By Susan Spisak

Volume 11 • Issue 1 • January 2016

Hot Dog News

Ask the Vet & Furry Words

INSIDE 2 4

Sandra Pond (KPA) (CTP) (CAATP) (CATEP) (CGC) has always been a passionate animal lover; from pet owner to breeder, she also showed her dogs. In 2012, she realized she wanted that passion to change people’s lives. She attained

Meet Razzle!

See CLASSIC on page 5

Above Left: Clara learns to protect Gianna. Above Right: Lilly and Zeb pose together.

to live with him or her at least a portion of the time, reinforcing the human-animal bond - something that sets Classic Paws apart from similar organizations. The client

New Year, New Tricks! Adoptable Obedience Trainer Special Dogs

8&9

the necessary certifications and founded Classic Paws, Inc., a Naples, ME 501(c)(3) non-profit that trains and places service dogs with those affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Autism, and/or physical disabilities. She prefers to match a client with a puppy and likes that pup

CLASSIC PAWS: CHANGING LIVES ONE DOG AT A TIME

DowneastDogNews.com

DOWNEAST DOG NEWS

FRE E

Hot Dog News

Loyal Biscuit hosted five fund raising events on Saturday, December 5th! ROCKLAND - On December 5th, Loyal Biscuit Co. hosted five different events across their four stores, raising a total of $595.00 for area shelters. Loyal Biscuit's goal in hosting all five events was to raise much needed funds for the Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County (PMHSKC), Humane Society Waterville Area (HSWA), and the Catahoula Rescue of New England, "Every day, the staff at these shelters work so very hard to give all of the pets waiting for their new homes the love and care they all deserve. It is not always a rewarding job and it is often filled with heartbreak when dealing with sick and abandoned animal, but I have personally witnessed them in action, and they do it with love, care, and compassion. They also do it on shoestring budgets with minimal supplies and much creativity," stated Heidi Neal, owner of Loyal Biscuit. Their Rockland location hosted a Photography session with Becky Lowe Photography, their Camden location hosted a Holiday Paw Painting Ornament event with Cre8tive Events Maine, and their Waterville location hosted a Nail Clipping Clinic with Primp My

Paws. All proceeds from these events will benefit Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County (PMHSKC) and the Humane Society Waterville Area (HSWA). The Belfast and Rockland locations hosted Nail Clipping Clinics with all proceeds going to the Catahoula Rescue of New England. Proceeds from the Rockland, Camden, and Waterville events will go towards Loyal Biscuit's annual "Fill Our Windows, Fill Their Bowls" fund raising campaign which helps support the Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County (PMHSKC) and the Humane Society Waterville Area (HSWA). "Last year, we raised over $6,000 and purchased seven pallets of food for the shelters. Our goal for this year is to beat that number," stated Neal. Currently, $2,352.68 has been raised with 16 days left. The Loyal Biscuit Co is an awardwinning pet store with four locations in Rockland, Camden, Belfast, and Waterville. You can find the LBC online at loyalbiscuit.com or fb.com/ loyalbiscuit. For information call Loyal Biscuit at 207-594-5269, or email Sue L'Africain at sue@loyalbiscuit.com.

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Muffin's House Book Now Available! L e a h Haney of Harrison and Kellie Sanborn Brown of Auburn have been friends since they met in Mrs. Leblond's kindergarten class in 1988. Growing up together they dreamed of the many artistic projects they would take on together as adults. However like many other people they put those dreams were put on hold. That is until this November when they combined their creative talents to publish a new children's book called "Muffin's House" the story of 12 year old Ellie Wood, her newly adopted Pekingese dog, and their adventure in building a bond with Ellie's very skeptical big dog loving father. The story is written by Leah and illustrated by Kellie. Katie Grant, publisher of this very

newspaper was one of the first to read the book and here is what she said: "Muffin’s House is wonderful story of resilience: that of Ellie standing up for Muffin and then also Muffin’s determination to protect Ellie. Muffin’s House will speak volumes to and entertain readers young and old alike!" "Muffin's House" is available at Bridgton Books, Books N Things in Norway, and online at Amazon.com. Kellie (left) and Leah with "Muffin's House"

New Salon Just Opened! 89 Town Farm Rd Oakland, ME 04963

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Downeast Dog News

From the Publisher

know Jenn from our sales side of DDN as she has been involved with the paper for a number of years with many of our advertisers. She and her black lab Pepper are excited to meet and work with you! This past year has brought many changes to my personal life; my husband and I opened Dirigo Public House, a pub style

Publisher/

Graphic Designer

Katie Grant

Copy Editor Belinda Carter Contributors William Kunitz Diana Logan Sara Moore Judith Herman Carolyn Fuhrer Lisa T. Jung Susan Spisak Advertising Jenn Rich 207-230-0260 ext. 6 jenn @downeastdognews.com

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Wendi Smith

Parent & Publishing Company Maine Pet News LLC

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• Provide the latest in dogrelated news and information. • Encourage and support dogfriendly businesses and Mainemade pet products and services. • Cultivate a community of responsible dog guardianship/ ownership. • Support animal welfare causes.

Maine Pet News, LLC 266 Meadow St. Rockport, ME 04856 Ph: 207-230-0260 ext. 6 jenn@downeastdognews.com www.downeastdognews.com

Hello DDN readers! I know it has been quite a while since you heard from us – we’ve been busy making sure our stories and advertisers have had enough space in the paper. We hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday and is ready to start the New Year! With each New Year, change is inevitable. We have a couple changes going on here at DDN. Our long-time contributor, Bill, the extraordinary interpreter of our beloved Baxter, will no longer be contributing to the paper. After Baxter’s passing last year, Bill continued to put together some favorites of Baxter’s columns and though that has been wonderful, it is time to move on. Bill is planning on putting together a book similar to Baxter’s column. We will definitely be letting everyone know about when and where the book will be out so that all of Baxter’s fans can pick one up. We want to extend a huge thank you to Bill and Baxter for their amazing contribution

and support over the years to Downeast Dog News. Chow! I would like to also introduce Razzle! Razzle will be stepping into Baxter’s previously occupied space in the paper. We are very excited to have another pup perspective, and we hope that you will all give Razzle a warm welcome. In addition to our change in doggie contributors, things are also going to be changing from the publishing side. I am stepping down as publisher and passing the “bone” to my colleague and fellow dog-lover Jenn Rich. Many of you may

Dear Dog News Readers, I am very excited to take over the position of Publisher as Ka-

tie moves on to pursue a new adventure of growing her family’s new business. I wish her all the best! I am a dog lover as one should be in this position and am the proud doggie momma of a beautiful, very energetic, one and a half year old black lab named Pepper. Pepper herself is actually a Downeast Dog as she was born in Machiasport but now lives on the Midcoast. I often times find myself wishing I could harness some of her puppy energy for myself. She is the bounciest dog I have ever

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COPYRIGHT 2006-2016 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.

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3-month minimum recommended Business directory: $45/month 1/16 page $75 B&W, $90 color 1/8 page $135 B&W, $165 color 1/4 page $230 B&W, $275 color 1/2 page $405 B&W, $485 color Full page $705 B&W, $845 color Ask about 3, 6, and 12 month discounts

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January 2016

restaurant on Route 1 in Yarmouth, and we are very proud of it. I need to spend more time with our family business and our family in general – hence my decision to step down from the paper. The past (almost) three years that I have been involved with DDN have truly been wonderful. Thank you so much for your support and readership, and please continue to support us as we make these changes. Thanks for everything! Katie, Baby & The 3 Beagles

known. Her excitement over fetching a tennis ball or anything that excites her sends her leaping about 2 feet off the ground. I swear she is part kangaroo. Her innocent enthusiasm and unbridled happiness are truly a joy to come home to each night as well as the great puppy snuggles. Pepper and I look forward to providing you with good dog news and helpful information! All the best, Jenn & Pepper

Table of Contents

Hot Dog News .................................. 2 Furry Words ....................................... 4 Ask the Vet........................................... 4 Basic Training Tips ........................... 6 Baxter ................................................... 7 Razzle Speak....................................... 7 New Year, New Tricks!..................... 8 Performance Dog Training............ 10 Words, Woofs & Meows ................. 11 Local Dog Wins Big ......................... 12 Dogs Love Car Rides ....................... 12 Dogs for Adoption........................... 13 Calendar of Events .......................... 14 More Hot Dog News........................ 15 Business Directory ........................... 15

Furry Words

Sara Moore, Animal Communicator

In 2015, I wrote about dog shows, rescued animals, my childhood dog, processing the loss of my dog Sophie, some of the amazing people and pets I encountered, and more. I am so grateful to the people I’ve met, the stories you’ve shared and that my job is fascinating and different every day! So how am I going to launch the first column of 2016? By telling you a few things that your pets would like you to know. They want you to be happy – even animals that are high maintenance or needy, like my cat Maple. Yes, I’m a psychic, but it’s really hard to read my own family and animals because I’m so close to them. I know she’s a cat, but I’m dogless right now, so I’m going to use her as an example of how her frustrating behaviors are actually trying to nudge me toward happiness. As soon as I get up, she expects to be fed. She will climb into the fridge as I reach for my breakfast if her needs haven’t been attended to first. Once she gets what she wants, she’s off on her own until she needs me again because she doesn’t have thumbs to open a door or to use a can opener to inhale that oh so delicious wet food. Her behavior is making me very unhappy because she’s bossy, and I feel like she thinks her needs trump mine. Ok. So here’s the part when I explain that within this experience lies an opportunity for me to find even more happiness in my day to day life. I have a ten year old son. He can act the same exact way, and it’s my job to show him how to be helpful and grateful for what we have. When he’s more on board, the cat is less of an issue. She mirrors him. Oh dear, huh? When he’s hungry and forgets that he DOES have thumbs, he is just as demanding as the cat until I remind him that he can actually get up and fix his own snack. In my life, there has been a theme of being #2, and yes, as the mom of a boy and pets, they are my responsibility, but I’m being reminded through my cat’s behavior that I’m just as worthy as those around me. I can thank Maple for showing me that I can feed her the coveted wet food after I have my first cup of coffee in me and know that she won’t starve because there’s always a full bowl of dry food for her to graze on. Another thing they’d like you to know is when they are in heaven, or across the rainbow bridge, they are

always fine. Better than fine, actually! And they can hear you talking to them even when it’s just in your thoughts. So tell them hello! They love that! If you have a hard time hearing the answers, then set up a reading with a reputable animal communicator or take a class to learn how to do it yourself. To an animal, death is just a transition to another way of living. It’s hard on those who remain behind, but they are always at peace. Some animals that are in pain and have endured many rounds of treatments are not at all sad or angry at you if you decided to end their lives. I love seeing the stories of people who are giving their dog one last hurrah and checking things off the bucket list when they know they have a terminal illness. They will still see you after they’re gone, and they cherish the time they do have with you, so make it count! One of my favorite parts of readings is when animals ask for special treats or clothing. They want you to know that they may have a warm fur coat permanently attached to them, but that does not trump the need for fashionable clothing or collars. I am not creative enough to come up with the descriptions of patterns, styles, and designs of coats that have been requested. Not all dogs want one, but you’d be surprised at how many who do. If you’ve never thought to give your dog a fancy collar or outfit, ask him if he or she cares. If you get the full body wiggle YES as an answer, take him to a store and see if he perks up in a new ensemble. They don’t have to be worn all the time, but some of them are pretty proud of how they look and grateful that they have an owner who lets them feel fancy. Believe me, before I realized I could hear animals talk, I thought it was cruel to dress them up. I’ve been shown over and over that I was wrong in that belief. For 2016, I intend to collaborate more with non profits that rescue, care for, and place animals. Last year, thousands of dollars were raised through my gallery readings and events that many of you attended. I’ve just created a “Rescue Reading” that is a discounted fifteen minute psychic session where you can ask anything you’d like to a newly adopted or foster dog. When you know what would help them transition to the perfect home, it can be less stressful for all involved. So Happy New Year to you and yours and give your furry friends some love for me! Sara Moore of Enlightened Horizons has an office in North Conway, NH and is available for phone and Skype readings as well. FMI go to www.enlightenedhorizons. com, text or call (603)662-2046 and email is enlightenedhorizons@gmail.com. She is also available for private parties and fundraisers.

Ask the Vet . . .

Dr. Judith Herman

We Got a Christmas Puppy! Now What?!

My family was surprised Christmas morning with a puppy. We had talked about getting a puppy but didn’t expect this little bundle of joy. We already are in love with Noel, but also totally overwhelmed. HELP! 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. So, everyone, including the puppy, has made it through Christmas day. Now, what? First, and I hope this happened after Christmas dinner when all was quiet, a plan and schedule needs to be developed. Since Christmas was a bit ago, and you are screaming, “Help!” I guess this step was missed. Not too late! The puppy needs to have a safe place to go to sleep, eat, or get away for a time out. An appropriate size crate is the easiest place to start. Any quality pet shop can help you find the best size. If Noel is going to become a big dog, there are crates with movable separators, so the crate space will grow with the puppy. If you work and there isn’t a family member at home most of the time, set it up so the crate can open to safe, larger area for a pee pad, water, and a stuffed toy to chew on. Set up a potty schedule, usually once an hour to a selected potty area. Do this on leash! Puppies, like children, get distracted and forget they needed to go potty until it is too late. Waking up, eating, drinking, sleeping, and playing all stimulate the puppy to eliminate. When the puppy does any of these things, take the puppy to the designated spot. She will not have control for several months. Puppies are not toys you put in a box and take out only when you feel like playing with them. They are growing and developing members of your family and society. It is important to have at least four new experiences a day or more if the place she came from didn’t do any socialization the previous month. Puppies usually go to their new homes around seven to eight weeks of age. Eight to twelve weeks is a fear imprinting stage. At this stage,

if traumatic experiences occur, the puppy may develop as a fearful puppy. This is the stage to develop happy experiences and a more confident puppy. If you have children, invite a few of their friends who are dog smart and a parent to have a puppy party. These parties are about an hour long. Have adult parties with people of different sizes, shapes, and looks. The point is to introduce the puppy to different people in a controlled environment. Puppy play dates should also be under a controlled environment. The best place to do this is at kindergarten class. The instructor will make sure these puppies will have happy experiences. Because of the holidays, most puppy classes will start after the new year. This doesn’t mean you just do nothing until school starts. You can teach your puppy to sit, down, etc. You can teach learning games with family and friends. There is a website www. dogstardaily.com which has many videos and information on how to play and positively teach your puppy. There are great books for children on training and playing games. You can find these at some libraries or purchase at www. dogwise.com. If you are running into problems, find qualified experts to help you resolve them. Certified dog trainers, veterinarians, and veterinary technicians are just a few that come to mind. The puppy should have its first checkup as soon as possible. Bring a poop sample. The puppy needs to be checked for parasites inside and out, and also for any physical issues that may need to be addressed. Your veterinarian should take time with you and the puppy. This is your time to address such things as what to feed, behavior issues, and how to develop a well balanced member of the family. At my clinic, the first puppy visit varies from forty-five minutes to two hours depending on the owner’s experience and the physical and mental health of the puppy. There is nothing more exciting than opening your home and heart to a puppy. The excitement grows into a fabulous life-long relationship. Enjoy. Judith K. Herman DVM, CVH Animal Wellness Center, Augusta, ME www.mainehomeopathicvet.com officeawc@roadrunner.com

Downeast Dog News

CLASSIC from page 1 is responsible for part of the dog’s expense - many fundraise and attend bi-weekly classes. Once training is complete, the dog is evaluated using the ADI Public Access Test. In 2015, Brunswick High School students, senior Lilly Gardiner and junior Gianna Barnhart, realized a service dog could guide them through their respective challenges. They’ve been diagnosed with the rare Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a group of genetic disorders that affect connective tissues, with several types and varying manifestations, such as sore joints prone to dislocation, hypermobile joints, elastic skin, fatigue, depression, and chronic, often debilitating pain - which can hinder sleep and physical activity. These high honor students also have Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a cardiac condition characterized by a high heart rate with low blood pressure especially when standing, resulting in dizziness, palpitations, weakness, and fainting. Last Valentine’s Day, Lilly met her Lab pup with a white spot and named her Zeb, short for Zebra, the animal that represents EDS. “She’s completely turned my life around… she’s like the other half of me.” The protective Lab often attends school with her and can retrieve pencils, keys, even push handicap and elevator door buttons. More importantly, Zeb understands the need to shadow her upstairs, encouraging her to grab her vest handles for support. She’s bolstered Lilly emotionally as well. “I think so far, in the last year, she’s helped me with the anxiety and depression, [overall] mentally.” As far as college, she’s more confident with Zeb around, so this England-born gal may pursue Criminal Justice.

Above: Clara learns how to proctect Gianna. Below: Sandra Pond with Zeb (left) and Clara (right).

Regardless, she’ll persevere: “I am just going to do it, and push through it.” Gianna was matched with Lab pup, Clara, this past fall, and she also attends school with her most days, “It’s a really big difference having a dog in my life…she’ll be with me for her life.” Clara keeps her active, which is an integral part of Gianna’s therapy. At Classic Paws, they’ve been focusing on alerting techniques for POTS; Gianna is very prone to fainting and sometimes needs a wheelchair for safety. She hopes, with time, Clara will sense her heart fluctuations and alert her with a “paw” if she is standing. Clara is also learning to lie on Gianna’s chest in the event she does faint, keeping her secure until help arrives. She adds, “I am happy with the adaptations I have made so far in my life, and I feel like my options are still open, future wise.” Sandra is proud of these motivated young ladies, “Nothing will stop them. They will be successful, and they know what they want.” She also appreciates the changes a Classic Paws dog brings to all her clients. “I love it when you see the progress, the hope and joy it brings.” For more info, including application guidelines, volunteer opportunities, and service and therapy dog training, visit http://classicpawsinc.com/.

Please Support Our Advertisers MIDCOAST Flagship Inn................................................. 14 Harbor Hounds .............................................. 7 Loyal Biscuit.................................................... 2 Mr. Dog Training.......................................... 14 The Country Inn............................................ 6 Two Salty Dogs .......................................... 10 Water Bark Wellness...................................... 6 Yankee Clipper............................................. 10 SOUTHERN Camp Bow Wow......................................... 16 Charlie's Friends Doggy Daycare ............ 2 Diana Logan/Pet Connection.................. 6 Maine Veterinary Medical Center........................... 6 Paws Applause.............................................. 6 Planet Dog...................................................... 2 Pleasant Hill Kennels................................... 5 Portland Veterinary Specialists............ .. 10 The Whole Dog Market............................. 10

January 2016

STATEWIDE & BEYOND Maine TV 85 ................................................. 14 Puppy Love .................................................. 14 Silver Paws Pet Tags ..................................... 5 The Evolved Dog ........................................... 2 BANGOR & DOWNEAST Green Acres Kennel Shop ....................... 16 Veazie Veterinary Clinic ........................... 14 WESTERN Bee's Pet Boarding ..................................... 10 Taylor Brook Animal Hospital ................... 5 CENTRAL Paws In For Style ........................................... 2

Basic Training Tips by Diana Logan

Seeing the good stuff Are you a “yes” or “no” dog owner?

You’ve heard the joke, “my dog thinks his name is ‘no’ because I say it to him so much!” It’s sort of amusing, yet quite sad, too. If you’ve ever spent time with someone who was always telling you what you were doing wrong, you may have an inkling as to what the relationship is like between these “no” dogs and their humans. Are you a “glass half empty” or “glass half full dog owner?” The way we train our dogs reflects the type of relationship we share with them. There are an infinite number of “wrong” answers. Some of us tend to focus on them rather than defining and communicating the “right” answers to our dogs in a way they understand. The problem with “no.” “No” is just a sound, ambiguous and confusing. Behavior is driven by consequence; “no” is not a

consequence but rather a sound. What does the dog think he’s doing “wrong”, if anything? The accompanying confrontational human has more effect on the dog’s behavior than the word, temporarily anyway. Unfortunately, confrontational methods have side effects such as avoidance and fear. We expend a significant amount of time and energy on “no”,which takes a toll on the relationship, when we could be making a difference through better management or active training or both

Yes! For every “no," there needs to be a "yes”. Most dogs who have “no” thrown at them on a regular basis repeat the same undesirable behaviors. Why? Because the “yes” factor is missing: a reinforceable alternative behavior. We cannot train the absence of a behavior; there must be something else for the dog to do. Oftentimes, when asked what an owner wants his dog to do instead of jumping, for instance - he will respond, “not jump”. Unfortunately, behavior doesn’t work that way. It takes a shift in thinking to be able to identify what reinforceable behavior we’d like the dog to do. If we can’t articulate it, the dog surely won’t be able to guess what it is. I made this exact faux pas recently when I was practicing with my dog in our yard. A visitor was watching. I requested that he “not pay attention to” Astro because I wanted his focus. Sure enough, Astro approached him and sure enough, our friend started paying attention to him saying, “you go back to Diana, now,” gesturing towards me, very animated. Astro was enthralled, convinced that a tennis ball would

magically appear. Thankfully, my well-trained husband understood the problem and piped in and said, “look up and be still.” Voila. Clear instruction, easily followed, and I had Astro back with me. The humans in this situation all spoke a common language, yet my idea of "no attention" wasn't the same as our friend's. Imagine what it's like for our dogs! Interrupt, then Inform Interrupt your dog BEFORE he engages in the undesirable behavior (or manage him so it’s not possible), and then reward him for doing something else – even if it’s a tiny fragment of what you’d ultimately like him to do. An example of this is a dog who counter-surfs. The moment you see that twinkle of intent in his eyes, interrupt, then reward him for, say, lying on his bed. Your interrupter can be anything short and sweet – it can even be “no” as long as it’s followed by a “yes.” Now, let's promise our dogs that 2016 will be full of yeses! Notice the good stuff, even if it's small, and let your dog know you noticed.

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

Razzle Speak!

Farewell Hello, I’m the one responsible for listening to Baxter’s musings about living with two-legged creatures with very little fur, a terrible sense of smell, and almost no idea of what it is like to be a dog among them. After nine years and over one hundred columns translating his thoughts into something that passes for readable English, I’ve decided to turn my attention to other pursuits. As many of you know, Baxter died last winter. I’ve been dredging up old columns and updating them, as well as writing a couple new ones from notes he had left. Baxter was a special guy, happiest when he was playing with friends, lying in the snow chewing on a bone, roaming our land, or dodging the surf at Popham Beach. He was big, over 120 pounds at his peak, but so gentle puppies flocked around him. He will be missed. I’m hoping to put together a book based on the columns to be published this year. Meanwhile, perhaps another dog can step into this space and share his thoughts about what it is like to live with such strange creatures as us. William Kunitz Dresden

January 2016

Introducing, Razzle! Happy New Year, pups and people. My name is Razzle. In the spirit of beginnings, I am delighted to announce next month's debut of my column, Razzle Speak. From the end of my damp nose to the tip of my wagging lab tail, I am eager to share my dog-brain observations, humor and wisdom. While no dog can replace the pawprints of our beloved Baxter, I honor him with my pledge to sit up and speak up for our downeast Maine canine community.

New Year,

Choosing a Puppy Obedience Class By Leah Haney

One of the greatest pleasures of working in a veterinary clinic is getting to see a happy family excitedly bringing in their new puppy. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an incredibly busy first visit with huge amounts of information to go over including vaccination and deworming schedules, spay/neuter discussions, microchipping, and, of course, house breaking and obedience training. Puppy kindergarten is a standard recommendation from Bridgton Veterinary Hospital for young pups. These early training classes offer socialization, confidence building, and a place where new puppy owners can share experiences and get help with puppy problems. The classes provide a great opportunity for puppies to bond with their families during a very fun and moldable stage of a puppyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development. How do you find the right class for you and your puppy to attend? For suggestions, I turned to my friend and co-worker, Nicki Taylor. Nicki has been training her Labrador retrievers for over 30 years, working in such dog sports as obedience, tracking, rally-o, and more recently, agility.

She has assisted in clinics and taught a variety of classes over the years, and currently teaches obedience and rally classes at Saccarappa Obedience Club in Westbrook. Nicki says the number one thing she is concerned about when searching for a training class is whether the instructor believes in positive reinforcement methods vs. rough dominance training. Pups, at this early age, do well with consistent management, setting boundaries, and making repetitive training exercises fun. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also important the instructor has a solid understanding of dog body language to recognize nervous or bully puppies and deal with them accordingly. The class should be structured as a training event and not just a puppy play hour. Allowing puppies to play without structure and lessons in self-control teaches them to ignore commands of their owners and charge other dogs they meet, expecting them to want to play. Last, but not least, Nicki recommends you find a class whose organizers are knowledgeable and concerned with the spread of canine diseases. They should have and

explain a policy regarding required vaccinations and skipping class when a pup is suspected to be ill. At this young age, when pups are not fully vaccinated, nor have fully developed immune systems, it is a balancing act to get them out and about for socializing and training while still protecting them from disease. These days it is generally thought that the benefits of a good puppy kindergarten class far outweigh the risks. Although a puppy class cannot take the place of day to day socializing and training, finding the right class in a safe and relaxed environment can make puppy kindergarten a fun and rewarding experience for pups and their families working relationships with vets and other dog professionals, and offer good communications skills with people as well as canines. There is no hard, fast rule about what makes the ideal trainer for you and your dog, but there are some red flags. For example, avoid situations in which someone promises to train your dog for you in seven days of boot camp. As in all things, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Educating a dog

takes time, insight, and skill, and no program of force can accelerate the process to a week or two without risking harm to the dog in the big picture. Obedience training is your dog's best resource for a happy life, and the time you spend teaching will be rewarded a hundredfold with his devotion. To have good timing and offer dogs quick feedback commensurate with their attention spans, to carve out the daily time to spend practicing, to be present in the moment with your dog, to blur the line between playing and training. . . that is what it means to teach obedience to your dog. Training establishes a common vocabulary of both body language and verbal language between two completely different species and is an everyday miracle, and it is fun. Leah Haney works at the Bridgton Veterinary Hospital and in addition to contributing her writing skills to Downeast Dog News, she has published books including the new release, "Muffin's House". To learn more, please see article on page 2.

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January 2016

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

Bits and Pieces - Training From the Dog’s Point of View To be successful in training we must try to see the performance of a task from the dog’s point of view. What is required and when is it required and what commands or signals the dog when and what to do. You can apply this concept to almost anything you want to teach your dog. First - what is it you want your dog to do? You must have a clear picture of the exercise. Second - when do you want your dog to do it? Have a clear concept of what your job is as far as timing. Third - how will you tell your dog what to do? Voice, signal, both? Fourth - how will you tell when to do it? Fifth - when is the task done and then what does your dog do then? If your dog does not understand

each piece of the exercise you have not taught the exercise properly and should not be criticizing your dog’s behavior. I have so many students who come for a lesson to fix - as an example - drop on recall or recall or signals because they feel their dog has a problem with these exercises when actually their dog does not fully understand the exercise because the proper foundation has not been taught. Simply repeating and repeating exercises that are not fully understood will result in hit and miss behavior, some of it may be correct, some of it may not be and there will be no consistency. This leads to confusion and frustration on the part of both the dog and the handler. It may result in shutdown behavior by the dog in which case the handler gives up and puts the dog away or takes out toys and

cookies to make the dog happy again. In either case, the problem has not been solved and actually taking out toys and cookies or putting the dog away may teach the dog that shutdown pays or else, at least, gives relief. If you are having trouble with an exercise, go back and review the basics. Break the skill down to its simplest parts and make sure your dog understands each piece of the exercise and understands what behavior is required and when. It may be as simple as your dog is not paying attention and may feel attention is optional. In this case you need to go back and

work on attention before you can proceed any further. There is a big difference between your dog paying attention to food and your dog paying attention to you. Your dog may anticipate parts of the exercise. This is not a bad thing as anticipation is a prelude to learning. Your dog knows what to do, just not when to do it. You may have combined skills too quickly and not rewarded each piece. Your dog may also do nothing when you ask him to - many times the behavior occurs because the dog is unsure and feels they can’t be wrong if they do nothing. This dog needs confidence and a trainer who will help the dog to be right and encourage the dog to try. Teach the basics well and don't be afraid to go back to basics to increase confidence (we all like to be right), Don’t progress too fast - enjoy teaching and rewarding all the bits and pieces of the exercise.

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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WORDS, WOOFS & MEOWS By Muppy Hanson, CUTE, ADORABLE, VIVACIOUS dog about the same time I was arriving in Maine. They found me on PetFinder, completed an application and made an appointment to meet me at my Maine foster home with another nice lady named Victoria.

Training - A Rescue Dogs Perspective Hi, everyone! My name is Muppy. Don asked me to write this month’s column because he thought I could provide some valuable insights. Plus he said if I did this for him I would get some extra tummy rubs and yummy treats!

Muppy and Ernie on the way to Maine

So what do I know about being a rescue dog? I am one, thanks to the kindness and compassion of several people in my birth state of Mississippi. I might not be here without them. I was living with a family, I had puppies, and then one day my people moved away and left, and my puppies and I were all alone. Fortunately, a nice lady named Catherine heard about me and rescued me by taking me to Rose, another nice lady. Rose fostered my puppies and me until we could be put up for adoption. I took good care of my pups until they were eight weeks old and then they were transported to New England to new homes. Soon after that, I was also sent to a rescue group in Maine, Helping Paws-Maine, where I was placed into a foster home until I was adopted. I got to ride to Maine with my friend Earnie who was also going up for adoption. I did not know it, but Don and Paula were looking for a

Napping on Don's lap

When I first met Don and Paula in my foster home, they were sitting on a couch with Earnie. That boy is quite the social butterfly, unlike me at the time. When Don sat down next to me on the floor, I moved away because I was not so sure about him. However, once he started giving me some treats, I decided he was safe! We all visited for a while, and then Paula and Don did some paperwork and then I got to go for a car ride to Bangor. It was May 1st, and I had a new home! When we arrived in Bangor, Don spent the rest of the day with me. We started off snuggling on the floor and then I took a nap in his lap while he was in his recliner. I got to explore the yard and that evening I again fell asleep in his lap. The next morning started with Don taking me out to do my poops and then he sat down on the floor with my breakfast and started teaching me an attention behavior. All I had to do was look at him, and I’d get a piece of kibble. Yummy! I like this game! Over the next few days, I got to meet the staff at Don and Paula’s business, some of the dogs, my new veterinarian and the people at the bank. Don told me that eventually I would get to go to school, but because I was a bit unsure of new things, especially people, he said he was going to let me settle in first. He hung a bag of treats on the door to his

office along with a sign asking people coming in to grab a treat to give to me. Until then he worked with me on the attention behavior, recall and sit. He said I was a fast learner, and I loved how he rewarded me when I got it! He always makes training fun for both of us. One of the things I started doing in my new home was to jump up on people I liked. I just get so excited when I see a person that I like, that I cannot help myself. I see them and POP! my front paws are on them, and I am smiling, hoping they will pet me and say “Hi.” Since I was shy, Don allowed me to do this as it was so rewarding to me. Since it was something I felt good about it helped me feel good about interacting with people. One day a strange man came to visit Don in his office, and I did not even think about being shy. I just ran up and jumped and said, “Hi! I am Muppy!” He patted and talked to me and was real nice. After that Don told me it looked like I was over my shyness and we would now start to work on sitting for greeting. I do pretty well, most of the time. There are some people that I like so much; I am talking about you Deb and Miriam, that I cannot always contain myself! I started my first group training class at Green Acres on August 30th, 2013, four months after joining the Hanson family. Both Don and Paula went to class with me; Don says it is very important for all family members to be involved with training.

Muppy's Famous Recall*

In that class I learned to do the following on cue; look, sit, lie down, walk nicely on a leash, come when called, leave it, and wait or stay. I have since taken Green Acres Level 2 and Level, 3 classes, as well; some more than once! I love

training classes because it is so much fun! It is an opportunity for me to interact with my favorite people whether we are actually in class, or I am working individually with Don on the days in between class. Moreover, when I see Don out in the training field teaching classes filled with other people and dogs; I let him know I want to have fun too! That is why he keeps enrolling us in classes because it is so much fun for both of us.

Don and Muppy in class*

So I guess this is where I am supposed to tell you what I have learned. Every dog should be trained; training helps establish a bond and makes us better companions. It also makes it possible for us to go more places with you and to spend more time with you. Isn’t that why you got us in the first place, to be your steadfast companion? Work with a professional dog trainer either privately or in group classes as they can help you learn about your dog and make the process of training fun for both of you. Make sure any trainer you work with is committed to methods that are force-free, pain-free, and fear-free. The Pet Professionals Guild (http:// www.petprofessionalguild. com/) can be a great resource for finding such a trainer. If you have a rescue dog like me, starting in a group class immediately might not be the best thing to do. A professional trainer can help you make that determination and can help you start working with your dog at home. Lastly, be patient with your dog and yourself and most importantly, ALWAYS make training fun! *Photos by Debra Bell, Bell’s Furry Friends Photography

Muppy Hanson lives with Don and Paula Hanson the co-owners of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (greenacreskennel.com) in Bangor. She is a four-year-old Golden Retriever/Cocker Spaniel mix from Mississippi. Don is a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, and Certified Professional Dog Trainer. He produces and co- hosts 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. Muppy provides a great deal of input and insight for all of Don’s endeavors.

January 2016

Local Dog Finishes Top Six At World Championship The late summer and fall of 2015 was a very exciting time for the staff and clients of Bridgton Veterinary Hospital. In early August, our very own Kristin Hanscom and her black Labrador retriever, Hattie, traveled to the Dock Dogs Northeast Regional Championships in Millerton, New York. This competition included dogs from all up and down the east coast. A second place finish in the Big Air Division (dogs who regularly jump 15 to 19’11”) and a top ten finish in Dueling Dogs, (two dogs racing each other to be the first one to reach their bumper) qualified them to compete in these events at the Dock Dogs World Championships in Debuque, Iowa in November. As you can imagine, a trip to an event like this comes with significant financial costs. We at B.V.H. wanted to do what we could to support Kristin and Hattie’s adventure. With the help of great donations from our awesome sales reps, we were able to launch a summer-long fundraising campaign. Our fabulous clients were more than happy to support Kristin and Hattie’s bid for a World Championship. They purchased raffle tickets, bags of treats, and offered Kristin many words of encouragement. We raised

a total of $600 dollars for their trip, and we could not be more grateful to people for their support. Kristin and Hattie made the trip to Iowa for the World Championships on November 12th. Hattie did not disappoint those of us at home eagerly following the story on Facebook. The flying black Labrador qualified for the finals in both of her divisions. On the final Saturday, Hattie, unfortunately, got a little overzealous in Dueling Dogs and jumped into the other dog's lane. She was disqualified for jumping lanes, but she still beat the other dog to the bumper! However, in Big Air she made a solid jump of 17 feet. This put her in 6th place, beating out almost 40 other competitors in the Senior Division. We are so proud of Kristin and Hattie and very thankful to our awesome reps and clients who helped make Team Hattie's trip to the World Championships possible. It was great fun for all of us to watch them compete and cheer them on! We are very excited for the 2016 season of Dock Dogs! Article by Leah Haney, Bridgton Veterinary Hospital

Why Dogs Love Car Rides Our friends over at TripsWithPets. com have some fun facts about why or canine friends enjoy those car rides so very much! Visit TripsWithPets. com for more information and tips about traveling with pets! Watching a dog enjoy a car ride is a true delight. His head is up, the wind is blowing through his fur, and there is an unmistakable look of pure happiness on his face. You can’t help but smile, because you know that feeling of unadulterated bliss. But what is it about car rides that fills dogs with so much joy? In all honesty we’ll probably never know for sure, because our furry friends can’t tell us. But we’ve sniffed out the mystery a little bit, and found five plausible reasons for this curious doggie behavior. 1. Dogs love a good adventure Not every dog is adventurous, of course – some dogs are timid and prefer the comfort of things they know. However, most dogs are very curious and really enjoy any kind of adventure, whether it’s visiting a new dog park, greeting the new neighbors, or exploring that interesting-smelling crawlspace under the house. A car ride is the best kind of adventure -it’s novel, unpredictable, lasts much longer than the average walk, and offers all kinds of opportunities for new discoveries. Where, oh where are we going today? 2. There’s a symphony of smells in the air Dogs go crazy over smells – whether good, really bad, or in between -- and for good reason.

According to Nova, scientists have determined that dogs have about 3,000,000 olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to our paltry 30,000, and their sense of smell is anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than ours. What does this mean, exactly in terms of the difference in our abilities? Well, as dog-cognition researcher Alexandra Horowitz explains in her book Inside of a Dog, while we might be able to sniff out a teaspoon of sugar in our coffee, our pooches can detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water. So, when you crack open the car window, you’re cracking open a whole fascinating, unseen world that promises infinite olfactory discoveries for your pooch. If he’s happy sniffing out the mundane and familiar scents in your backyard, imagine how thrilling it is for him to

experience thousands of new scents every minute! 3. There’s something new to see everywhere If your dog has ever gone manic at the sight of a squirrel or sounded off the second he spotted the mail truck, you have some idea of how easily she’s stimulated by visual cues. On a car ride there are endless new things to see every minute, from birds, to pedestrians, to other doggie passengers. Unlike the human driving the car, dogs have the luxury of gazing out the window and taking in all the sights throughout the whole trip. 4. Dogs are always happy to be close to their “pack” On a car ride, the whole pack stays together. No one is running off to another room or disappearing out the door. Your dog can see you, smell you, and be close to you, while

still getting all kinds of sensory stimulation he wouldn’t at home. In a sense, you are a pack on an adventure together -- just the way you would be in the wild. 5. Car rides triggers a dog’s hunting instincts Kevin Behan of Natural Dog Training believes that dogs love car rides because they produce some of the same euphoric sensations as hunting. He theorizes that the car’s motion causes synchronized movements among the “pack members” – they move and sway together along with bumps, twists and turns of the road. These synchronized movements trigger a sensation in dogs similar that of moving in sync with their pack as they hunt. Also, to your dog, who doesn’t know much about the physics of motion, every object outside the car appears to be moving quickly, which can trigger her instinct to give chase. Of course, safety is priority number one during car travel. Your dog’s head and paws should stay inside the car at all times, and he should be contained or restrained in a way that won’t cause a distraction for you as you drive. This doesn't mean your favorite four-legged friend will enjoy car rides with you any less -- he can still see the sights, sniff the wind and feel the excitement of a new adventure. It just means you'll enjoy the trip even more knowing that he is both deliriously happy and safe. See more pet travel tips at TripsWithPets.com!

Downeast Dog News

Dogs for Adoption Waffles, Beagle

Introducing Waffles, an elder beagle with a heart of gold who Waffles came to PAWS after being abandoned in the woods. We suspect he was a hunting dog who was no longer valued. He was adopted by a wonderful family who retrained him for home life and included him in all activities. The ultimate buddy, he is fond of walking, going for rides, watching TV or sleeping in late (on the bed, of course)! Recently, his loving guardian passed away and Waffles needs another family to give him the tender loving care he deserves. His adoption will be fee-waived. FMI or to arrange a meet this very special,cat-friendly boy, call 454-7662 or email pawscalais@yahoo.com.