Downeast Dog News March 2016 by Downeast Dog News

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Hot Dog News

Basic Training Tips

INSIDE 2 6

I believe in the power of dog, the power of his love, his affection, and his ability to make me smile and feel happy. Harpswell Community School also believes in the power of dog and the power that he has to help children read.

By Sara Sokol

Volume 11 • Issue 3 • March 2016

Calendar of Events

See Woofs & Books on page 5

this program is for the children to build confidence in their reading aloud skills, and since the dogs are always listening and never judging, it works. Darcy Baggett, the school’s social worker and Woofs and

Perfect Pet, perfect Vet! Rescue of the month Veterinarian Special

8&9

Every Thursday at 1pm at the school four certified therapy dogs are spread out in the art room ready to listen to children read to them. For the next hour, a total of twelve children, three per dog, spend twenty minutes each practicing their reading skills with the dogs. One of the goals of

Woofs & Books

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Hot Dog News

Two Shelters in Maine to Receive Adoptable Dogs and Puppies Through the ASPCA & Subaru “Share the Love” Event Rescue Ride Program Abandoned dogs from Puerto Rico to get a new “leash” on life through animal transport program. Dogs will arrive in Waterville on Wednesday, February 10th.

BRUNSWICK, WATERVILLE, ME — Coastal Humane Society and Humane Society Waterville Area today announced that they will be receiving as many as 30 dogs and puppies for adoption through the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) & Subaru “Share the Love” Event Rescue Ride Program. The dogs -- or “Rescue Riders” -- will be traveling from Puerto Rico, where they were rescued by the animal welfare organization, All Sato Rescue. (Sato is Puerto Rican slang for a mixed breed dog.) All Sato Rescue is one of 49 national animal groups to

receive grant funding through the “Share the Love” program, which supports the safe transport of rescue dogs from localities where supply exceeds demand to areas

where demand exceeds the supply of available adoptable dogs. On Wednesday, February 10, 2016, 7 dogs will make the journey from Puerto Rico to Humane Society Waterville Area. “We are so grateful to the ASPCA and Subaru for their generous support of shelter transport programs,” said Lisa Smith, Director of the Humane Society Waterville Area shelter, which will receive 15 Satos in the next few months through the grant funding. “We are very fortunate to live in a state where so many people understand the importance

See Two Shelters on page 15

Green Acres Kennel Shop Pet Care Technicians Complete PPG Pet First Aid Certification

Bangor — Green Acres Kennel Shop Kennel Supervisor Michelle Harmon and Pet Care Technicians; Breanna Davis, Nicole Gatcomb Clara Irvine, Lauren LeBreton and Aron Nichols have been awarded the Pet Professional Guild’s (PPG) Pet First Aid certificate of competence. The PPG First Aid Program was developed by a Certified Veterinary Technician in accordance with American Veterinary Medical Association’s guidelines and teaches the basic skills and procedures that may possibly save a pet’s life by providing the knowledge to administer basic treatment to a sick or injured animal until a veterinarian is available.

Green Acres co-owner Don Hanson commented; “We know that when we are entrusted with a families pet, we have a responsibility to have the knowledge and skills to care for that pet. Our staff has always had first aid training, but this new certification program by the PPG has set the standard for our industry. Our technicians did not simply attend a course but also

had to pass a rigorous knowledge and practical examination to earn the certification. Congratulations to all of them. Also, thank you to the PPG for developing programs of this caliber. It is just one of many reasons that each member of the Green Acres staff is also a member of the PetProfessionals Guild.” The Pet Professional Guild is an organization comprised of dog training and pet care professionals committed to holistic, force-free, pain-free and fear-free pet care. Their mission is to help make every pet a valued member of its family and to improve the relationship, and the quality of life people share with their pets. This is accomplished by providing the greatest value and highest quality, state-of-theart, force-free, scientific based pet training and pet care for each client and by always demonstrating integrity, compassion and an uncompromising commitment to excellence in the care and support of clients and their pets. PPG members are committed to continually expanding their knowledge and improving their skills to serve their clients by providing the most innovative pet training and pet care possible. In business since 1965, Green Acres Kennel Shop, located at 1653 Union Street, is committed to petfriendly, force-free, pain-free and fear-free pet care. We are a proud member of The Pet Professional Guild. For more information, please call 945-6841 or visit www.greenacreskennel.com.

Downeast Dog News

From the Publisher

Publisher Jenn Rich

Graphic Designer Amanda Sinclair Copy Editor Belinda Carter Contributors Diana Logan Sara Moore Judith Herman Carolyn Fuhrer Don Hanson Susan Spisak Sara Sokol Stacy Gile Advertising Jenn Rich 207-230-0260 ext. 6 jenn @downeastdognews.com

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Greetings Readers, The weather has continued to be strange. One day it’s below zero, the next it’s 40 degrees. Miss Pepper enjoyed the big piles of snow while they lasted which wasn’t very long. How-

ever, we both could do without the bitter cold. I am pleased to announce that this month we have added a new article to our monthly mix, Rescue of the Month! Each month, we will feature a different rescue and recognize the hard work that these folks put forth to help find homes for those less fortunate pets. This month we featured the New England Lab Rescue. As is the case with all rescues, it takes money and volunteers to keep the doors open, and they could certainly use your help. So please do read their article, and I know any help that they can get would be greatly appreciated! I have received a great amount of profiles of dogs available for adoption from shelters all over the state. I can only fit so many in the paper, so please

More Hot Dog News Loyal Biscuit Nail Clipping Fundraiser

ROCKLAND - On February 20th, Loyal Biscuit Co. hosted Nail Clipping Clinics at their Rockland and Belfast locations. Twentytwo dogs and cats had their nails trimmed, which resulted in $220 being raised for Catahoula Rescue of New England. The check for $220 was presented to Shannon Nachakjo of Catahoula Rescue of New England. by Heidi Neal of Loyal Biscuit Co.

Loyal Biscuit Co. will be hosting several more Nail Clipping Clinics in all four stores in March; Rockland, Belfast Camden and Waterville. Please visit www.loyalbiscuit.com/ events for time and details. Cost is $10.00 per pet and all proceeds from the clinic benefit pet related organizations. The Loyal Biscuit Co. is an award-winning pet supply store with locations in Rockland, Camden,

Belfast, and Waterville. You can find the LBC online at loyalbiscuit. com or fb.com/loyalbiscuit.

King Care Pet Sitting Celebrates Professional Pet Sitters Week Pet Sitters International, the worlds largest association for professional pet sitters, recognizes the professionalism of its members during Professional Pet Sitters Week, March 6-12, 2016. This international week of recognition seeks to educate pet owners about the advantages of using a professional pet sitter and the value of in-home care. Professional pet sitters are committed to providing the best quality service for all your

pets needs. They are professional, experienced, insured, bonded business owners in your community. For pet owners in-home pet sitting provides a unique alternative to boarding or having to rely on family or neighbors to care for their pets. Pet sitting goes beyond simply feeding and checking on pets. Professional pet sitting services often include dog walking, care of special needs pets

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March 2016

look at our website as I will be posting more there as well. Just this week I received news that three dogs that we have listed recently have been adopted! I don’t know if they saw them all here, but it sure is good to hear considering how many are out there awaiting their turns! One last announcement to make, we are introducing Bammy this month! Bammy is a Carolina dog who will make frequent appearances in the Downeast Dog News to provide advice and experience to fellow canines from a sympathetic perspective. Please keep an eye out for Bammy and feel free to send your questions to: Bammy, PO Box 135, Newcastle, ME 04553. Have a great month! All the best, Jenn & Pepper

and pet transportation as well as basic pet care and looking after your home to ensure the health and happiness of your pets as well as the safety and security of your home while you are away. King Care Pet Sitting is a proud See King Care Pet Sitting on page 15

More Hot Dog News on page 15!

Table of Contents

Hot Dog News ............................... 2 Furry Words .................................... 4 Ask the Vet........................................ 4 Basic Training Tips ........................ 6 Ask Bammy...................................... 7 Perfect Pet, perfect Vet!.............. 8 State Dog of Maine....................... 10 Words, Woofs & Meows .............. 11 Perfomance Dog Training .......... 12 Rescue of the month ................... 12 Dogs for Adoption........................ 13 Calendar of Events ....................... 14 More Hot Dog News..................... 15 Business Directory ........................ 15

Furry Words

Sara Moore, Animal Communicator

When I do a reading, I go totally blank right before we speak, and when I open my eyes at the end, it’s like a giant eraser comes and wipes my brain clean. It’s not something I practiced doing, but it is a great way for me to keep my energy protected, and it helps me be “human” when I’m not on the clock. Some people are surprised that I honestly don’t remember anything I say during a session, but it’s fascinating to hear stories months and even years later about how the information relayed impacted their lives. I recently saw a Facebook post about a Sable, a dog who had been adopted from Harvest Hills Animal Shelter (HHAS). I couldn’t help but feel the emotion in the post, and I would love to share it with you. A beautiful blast from the past....a story worth telling again... Sable was with us for quite awhile, adopted, came back

from adoption in pretty rough shape due to neglect, and then with us for awhile longer until a wonderful young couple, Jackie and John Robertson, stepped up to foster her. Sable had Cushings disease and separation anxiety... and was VERY smart (could open refrigerator doors, etc.), so she needed very committed people to watch over her and her special needs. Jackie and John did just that. Unfortunately, while in their care, Jackie and John became concerned with another health issue for Sable. Sadly, it turned out that Sable had bone cancer...a very painful, quick moving disease. Prior to learning about the bone cancer, Jackie and John did something a lot of us might not do, but when you hear the end of this story, you may reconsider it....they had a pet psychic do a reading on Sable. One thing she said was that Sable loved her red coat....well, Sable had a red coat while at HHAS. Another thing that was interesting was that Sable "wanted to see the ocean”. Fast forward to February 11, 2012...

Sable was in obvious pain and despair from the bone cancer and was having terrible restless nights. So, one evening Jackie returned home from work and told John, "we need to take her to the ocean." The three of them made the over hour long journey to Old Orchard Beach from Conway, NH. Sable was anxious all the way there not because of riding in the car, but because she was in pain. And yet, once they arrived...well, this beautiful picture tells it all...Sable was calm and relaxed and seemed to be pain free...and continued to act this way for the entire drive home. Sadly, however, that night Sable was the worst she had been and Jackie and John called Deb C, Sable's best friend from Harvest Hills, to say they thought it was time for her to go. The next morning, a Sunday, they all met at Fryeburg Vet and peacefully said goodbye to Sable. Dr. Caffrey said that it was the right thing to do because, had Sable's leg broken from the cancer, she would have been in even more pain...the timing was right to

say goodbye to a smart, silly, sometimes pain in the butt, dog who didn't have all a dog could ever want in a lifetime....hers was cut too short and was riddled with a lot of sadness, pain and challenges, but in her last months on earth, Sable knew love....and she saw the ocean...and then she said she was ready to cross the bridge. I commented on the link that it was a beautiful story and was surprised to hear that I was the animal communicator they had spoken to! I had no idea, and I am beyond grateful to have been able to help them find peace in their journey and ability to give her a fabulous last day. Rest easy Sable. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. 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 her email is enlightenedhorizons@ gmail.com. She is also available for private parties and fundraisers.

Ask the Vet . . .

Dr. Judith Herman

Itchy Dry Skin in the Winter

Every winter my dog starts scratching then his coat becomes really dry and his skin gets flakey. What can I do to help him? Ah, Maine winters! As we start to “prune and itch” because of the dry, cold environment, the same thing happens to our companions. They are set up for trouble in late summer and early fall if they are exposed to fleas. If Bozo is allergic to fleas, his skin becomes inflamed and itchy. Sometimes the itching

is so bad that he scratches until he bleeds; this is called excoriation. Once the fleas are gone from the environment and your dog, winter strikes. Many of our companions start the winter coming off a fall of skin problems. This leaves him with skin that is healing but not quite healthy. What if Bozo doesn’t have fleas and he is itchy and flakey? In either case, there are many things you can do to help the poor guy. Winters in Maine are cold, dry, and then we turn on the heat or wood stove to dry him out more. Most of us with wood stoves have a pot of water somewhere to add moisture to the air. This is a big help and a good start. Not only does the moisture in your home help your furniture and you, the increased moisture will really help Bozo’s skin too. Sometimes the added moisture isn’t enough. Think of the poor guy

who had fleas in the fall. We can help topically by using a medicated shampoo and rinse for dry, itchy skin. Your veterinarian has many good products, or you can go to a locally owned pet shop and ask the knowledgeable staff what shampoos and rinses they recommend. I find Aveeno Oatmeal Rinse works very well for itchy skin, as well as a lemon rinse. You make the rinse by bringing 2 cups of water to a boil, then add a cut up lemon. Cover the pot and take it off the stove. Let this steep over night. In the morning, you can put the liquid in a spray bottle or sponge it on your dog in the itchy areas. Neem oil is another topical treatment which helps heal as well as stopping the itch and is a bug repellent. We are what we eat; Bozo isn’t any different. Dogs on a balanced homemade diet have less of a problem with dry, itchy skin than

those on kibble. Homemade diets have more water, fresh fats, proteins, and vitamins and minerals. People who make their dog’s food are very conscious of the nutrients in each meal. Adding sardines and salmon will add important omega 3 fatty acids. Other fats in the meat and vegetables will add the omega 6 and 9’s. Your veterinarian and local pet shop will have quality omega products if you feel Bozo isn’t getting enough. Coconut oil is another source of healthy fats that you can share with your best friend. Make sure you check your best friend’s skin and coat often, bathe him when needed, and supply him with extra healthy fats in his food. Judith K. Herman DVM, CVH Animal Wellness Center Augusta, ME 04330 www.mainehomeopathicvet.com

Downeast Dog News

Woofs & Books from page 1 Books coordinator for Harpswell Community School, says that the program “has made reading ‘cool’ for students. Students who have disliked reading in the past are so excited about the presence of a dog, that they are suddenly interested in reading a book. Because the dogs are popular, even the ‘popular’ kids with reading difficulties are not ashamed of their participation. Kids feel lucky to have the opportunity, so it is changing their attitudes about reading being acceptable.”

A greater enjoyment of reading is not the only benefit that the school is seeing however. Baggett reports, “there are clearly students who started the program in the fall, stumbling over words and uncomfortable with the reading process. Just the increase in reading aloud to a ‘safe’ audience

has helped them with their reading fluency -- speed and accuracy combined”. Another benefit, according to Baggett, is that the program is popular with the students. “I constantly have students stop me in the hall, asking if they can read to a dog, too! Students who struggle with academics often feel excluded from academic events or special challenges. In this case, they are the lucky ones! (It's a special thing when more advanced students are jealous of lower performing

readers),” says Baggett. In addition, the program has started producing positive changes in the children’s classroom work. One third-grade teacher has noticed that after one student’s Woofs and Books reading session, he was “The happiest I had ever seen him. Although usually a

reluctant reader and writer, he came back feeling happy and selfconfident and produced the most work of the week after his Woofs and Books session.” Another goal of this program is to build love, awareness, and respect for dogs and strengthen the animal/human bond; both between the handler and dog as well as between the dog and child readers. One of my favorite success stories from this program is about a child who was recommended to the program by one of his teachers but was afraid of dogs. His mother wasn’t sure if he would benefit from the program since his fear was such an issue but decided that we should give it a try and he was paired up with the smallest dog in the program, my Shih Tzu Milo. At first this boy was unsure of Milo but would read, very quietly, to him for his 20 minutes sitting about three feet from him. Then, after a couple of weeks, he started sitting closer, then reaching out and petting Milo while he was reading, sometimes stopping to look at him while he did it. That’s the power of dog. Then it happened, his “reading voice” got louder. In just two months, he went from a boy who was fearful of dogs and not at all confident about reading aloud to a boy who would bound into the room with a huge smile on his face to say hello to Milo and read confidently to him. He even began reading in different voices for the different characters in the books. Not long after that, he branched out and started reading to medium and large sized dogs, and the last

time that I was there, he chose the largest dog in the room , an American Mastiff named Grace, to read to. Not only does this boy now enjoy reading, his perception and feelings towards dogs is forever changed for, what I believe is, the better thanks to this program. That is the power of dog. The Woofs and Books program is currently in Harpswell Community School every week and combining work with 12 different students each 1 hour session. In addition, the program will soon be starting at Williams Cone School in Topsham. All dogs in the program are certified therapy dogs. Please contact Sara Sokol at 207.798.1232 or info@mrdogtraining.com, for more information about this program, to have your dog or your children become a part of the Woofs and Books program, or if you would like Woofs and Books to be a part of your organization. Sara Sokol is owner of Mr. Dog Training in West Bath, a 2000 square foot positive-reinforcement training center voted BEST in Maine by Downeast Dog News Voters 2015. She offers Free Puppy Preschool, Obedience classes ranging from Basic Obedience to Advanced Obedience as well as Canine Good Citizen classes and testing and Activity Classes such as Agility, Noseworks, Treibball, Circus Dog and Tricks! In addition, she is a mentor trainer for the Animal Behavior College as well as the creator of the Woofs and Books Program.

Please Support Our Advertisers MIDCOAST Country Inn..................................................... 6 Harbor Hounds .............................................. 7 Loyal Biscuit.................................................... 2 Mr. Dog Training............................................. 2 Two Salty Dogs .......................................... 10 Water Bark Wellness...................................... 6 Yankee Clipper............................................. 10 SOUTHERN Camp Bow Wow......................................... 16 Gorham Growl............................................... 2 Maine Veterinary Medical Center........................... 6 Paws Applause.............................................. 6 Pet Connection ............................................ 6 Planet Dog ..................................................... 2 Pleasant Hill Kennels................................... 5 Portland Veterinary Specialists ........... .. 10

March 2016

The Whole Dog Market............................. 10 STATEWIDE & BEYOND Catahoula Rescue of New England ........ 2 Puppy Love .................................................. 14 Silver Paws Pet Tags ..................................... 5 Vet Special ....................................................... 8 BANGOR & DOWNEAST Bear Brook Kennels ................................... 16 Green Acres Kennel Shop ....................... 16 Veazie Veterinary Clinic ........................... 14 WESTERN Bee's Pet Boarding ..................................... 10 Taylor Brook Animal Hospital ................... 5

Basic Training Tips by Diana Logan

Crate Happiness

It can enhance your dog’s.. and your... life. For the house training effort, you can’t beat a crate. Dogs are averse to soiling their own dens so appropriate use of a crate during puppyhood helps build bladder and bowel control and good habits. It becomes your puppy’s own bedroom, a place where he can be safe from the activities in the household, out of reach of active children, where he sleeps at night, and a safe place for him to be when you cannot supervise him. We all know that free-ranging puppies, like free-ranging toddlers, rarely stay out of trouble. But crates are not just for puppies. A big mistake we often make is to toss out the crate once our puppy is house trained as if it were “a coming of age” ritual. If we do this, we are throwing out a wonderful, life-long management tool, too.

Continuing to positively reinforce our adult dog’s relationship with a crate has many benefits. A crate is a personal sanctuary, a homeaway-from-home. Does your dog have fears or phobias? Do you want to travel with your dog? Have a destructive dog? Need to help your dog cope with separation? Does your dog go to a groomer, or will he ever spend an overnight at the vet’s? Does he have poor greeting

behaviors? A dog who is accustomed to confinement as a normal part of life is so much easier to manage than one who is not, and he will have the skills to help him cope with many situations. Despite all the reasons to the contrary, there still persists a mindset that crating a dog is a bad thing, that it’s tantamount to imprisonment. Doggie daycares tout “cage-free” situations as if offering occasional personal space to a dog is a horrific concept. If a dog’s physical and emotional needs are regularly met, chilling out in a cozy space is a welcome and necessary thing. The advantages a crate has over other spaces (such as a dog bed) are many, including the fact that due to just one point of entry, the level of visual stimulation is greatly reduced. A crate is like a leash with walls. Do you like your bedroom? Do you enjoy the personal space of your car? Do you have a favorite room at home? How about at work? Do you have a cubicle or office? Practically everywhere we go as individuals

we find ourselves in some sort of confinement, in a space we make our own and in which we feel safe. Personal space is critical to good emotional health. Dogs need a lot of sleep Did you know that, on average, dogs need to spend about 50% of their day sleeping, and on top of that, another 30% resting? That leaves less than 5 hours of dog action each day. “Crate Hate” vs Cozy Retreat: it’s all in the presentation. “Crate-happiness” isn’t always automatic, but it can be very easy to train as long as the dog doesn’t already have a negative association with crating. As a trainer, I work with a variety of dogs whose problem behaviors would never have seen the light of day if good management techniques, including crating, had been used. Please visit Downeast Dog News online to read about one of my favorite crate-training games.

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

Ask Bammy, an Advice Column for Dogs by a Dog I am a Carolina Dog, a breed that long ago owned* Native American people. Our breed was designed by natural selection to be so beautiful, intelligent, healthy and superior in every way, that I can offer advice based on the natural instincts and attributes of wild dogs. In addition, my adoptive person and I have had lots of training classes and other experiences. Some humans call themselves Mom or Dad of their dog. But I am no puppy, so I will, tongue in cheek, refer to my human as Boss. Much as I love her, I admit she has many of the same odd notions and hang-ups as most humans; so I can relate to other pet dogs with problem humans. (If you want to learn more about my credentials, go online to The Carolina Dog Society of America.) So send me your questions! If I can’t help, at least I can offer sympathy, and we can have some fun talking about our amazing humans. Bammy, PO Box 135, Newcastle, ME 04553.

Dear Bammy Why is it that my people often leave such delicious meals on the counter and then get SO UPSET when I help myself to the treats that I'm sure were meant for me? CONFUSED in Friendship. Dear Confused, You are in one of the oldest and most common conflicts among animals. (Remember that humans are a kind of animal.) Picture a little Middle Eastern wolf thousands of

March 2016

years ago trying to snatch a bite of meat out from under the jaws of the alpha. If she learns not to steal food, she will starve! Sneakiness has been evolving to keep the pack fed, and sneakiness is your answer to today’s food conflicts. My recommendation involves training your people. Aim for at least one training session a day if you can. Choose a target food on the counter that is high value to them, not necessarily high value to you. I have found that a raw pie crust is ideal. When Boss remembers she has left the pie crust in my reach, she runs from a distance yelling, “No! No! Leave it!” until she sees me sitting obediently. Then she just melts and gives me hugs and hands full of treats that are way better than gaggy raw pie dough. To start the training, when you are alone in the kitchen, sit down and point your nose at the target. Wag your tail (I hope you have one!) so it bangs the cabinets. Even work up a drool if you can. Call them with a whine, or even a soft bark. When they arrive, they will look surprised at your self control. Ham it up! Make irresistible spaniel eyes. Poor, honest dog,

being so good! Sooner or later, it will occur to them to reward you for leaving their food alone. Continue this training until they routinely reward you and trust you alone in the kitchen. Good work! Now for the payoff! Quietly, neatly, take a bite of the best thing you can reach. Don’t be greedy or careless! When I was a silly puppy I pulled an unlidded pressure cooker full of pumpkin onto the floor. The crash and pool of pumpkin stimulated my person to great aggression. She yelled at me and threw me out into the rain. I emphasize DO NOT BE GREEDY! After I dumped the pressure cooker, a gate was installed in the kitchen doorway. It set me back for weeks; but my gentle controlled begging finally worked and now the gate is seldom closed. With practice you can get about anything that you want off a plate without making a sound. Leave some food on the plate so they are less likely to notice. Occasionally a person will interrupt your feeding. DO NOT PANIC! When you hear

them coming, calmly slide over in front of a salad or some such useless thing, sit down, point at it and drool. What a good dog! You might even get the bonus of a really prime morsel, just for staring at a salad. After mastering eating off plates, you can go on to bigger things. I have learned to lift a dish down onto the floor, often without spilling the contents. That is very risky because you don’t want to get caught with the dish on the floor. Push it under the stove. May your belly be round, Bammy

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I am not sure if this happens in other professions, but it is very common for veterinarians. It’s a party, you are introduced to someone as, “ Meet Judy, she is a veterinarian.” The next question is either asking for free advice or “Gee, when did you decide to be a veterinarian instead of a real doctor?” This question is so routine that I don’t even think when I answer, “ I knew before I was 5.” While driving to a house call one evening a few weeks ago, I had time to think about why I became a veterinarian. I have been doing this for more years than I wish to remember, yet I still love what I do. The long hours, the challenges, the sadness, and the happiness are all parts of a career that is more fulfilling than words can imagine. It is a given that all veterinarians love animals. Otherwise, why would anyone spend years studying one of the most difficult and challenging disciplines out there? I hear people say they want to be a veterinarian because they love animals but don’t like people. Really? Who is on the other end of the leash? A monkey? There has to be more to it than just loving animals. You could go into many careers

which involve animals. So why this one? Besides the obvious, why do we become veterinarians? This is not a job but a career or more correctly a vocation. Looking at the veterinarians for whom I have great respect, I see similar qualities in all of us. First, I see a respect for all life. It doesn’t matter if we work with food animals, companion animals, exotic animals, or aquatic animals. If there is an animal in need, we are there to help, support, and console. Many veterinarians are in public health and research looking for the cures for many diseases that affect people and animals. There have been many times I have stopped my travels to help an injured cat, dog, raccoon, bird, or opossum to the chagrin of my friends. Second, we want to relieve suffering and make everything better. The most difficult aspect of being a veterinarian is when we can’t cure a patient of his suffering and the only humane and loving solution is helping him peacefully cross over the rainbow bridge. These are the obvious aspects of being a veterinarian. Isn’t there more to it? Yes, there is!

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March 2016

Labrador Retriever – State Dog of Maine One Year Later By Stacy Gile What do the Chickadee, the Pine Tree, Moxie, and the Coon Cat have in common? They are all official symbols of the state of Maine, chosen because they each uniquely reflect some aspect of what makes Maine “Maine”. So what became of the failed attempt last year to appoint the Labrador Retriever as the official state dog of Maine? At the time of the bill’s submission to the legislature, eleven states had designated an official dog. Earlier this year, New York became the 12th, appointing the “Service Dog” as their official pup. Most states with an official dog have selected one with ties or origins to that state – the Boston Terrier, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, so you get the idea. Labrador Retrievers did not originate in Maine, rather they came from Newfoundland, but their breeding and their traits make them a natural symbol of our state. On lobster boats – yup. Upta camp – you betcha. In duck blinds and flushing partridge – absolutely. Not to mention, in the pages of every copy of a certain catalog graced by a very famous

boot. Maine is a dog-friendly state as readers of this publication will attest. Research done last year in support of the bill showed Mainers LOVE their Labs. Data provided by town clerks from every corner of the state showed Labs and Labmix dogs as the #1 licensed breed. They averaged 20% in many locales. Maine-based businesses, large and small, often incorporate the image of a Lab into their logo or advertising: Two Salty Dogs in Boothbay, The Maine Dog in Camden, a TV ad that runs for a local hospital showing a yellow Lab patiently waiting for his person to get well. Even one of our flagship businesses – Sea Bags – has introduced a version of their tote featuring either a Black or Yellow Lab. Alas, our legislators did not see it that way. Missing the point entirely, they determined they could not designate the Lab as it would be “discriminatory” against other breeds. Thought – do you suppose the other birds at the feeder feel discriminated against when those

LD 107 An act to recognize the Labrador Retriever as the official state dog chickadees come along? However, the dream remains alive on Facebook. With nearly 3,000 followers, a page “Labs – State Dog of Maine” is still active, a place for Mainers to share their love of this special breed.

As a post-script, another bill under consideration last year naming Maple Syrup as the state’s official sweetener (is that a thing?) died unsigned on the Governor’s desk.

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

The Four Essentials for a Great Dog Knowledge, Relationship, Management, & Training Part 2 Last month I told you that I believe that every dog has the potential to be a great dog if his person: 1) has adequate and up to date knowledge about dogs, 2) is committed to developing and nurturing a relationship with his dog, 3) understands the importance of managing the dog and its environment, and 4) is committed to training the dog. All of this needs to happen throughout the life of the dog, as just like us, the dog is a living, breathing entity that is constantly learning and changing. I discussed the importance of obtaining key pieces of knowledge before you even start searching for a dog and explained that the relationship between you and your dog will be the foundation of all that you will do together. This month I will address the remaining two essentials to having a great dog: management and training. Management Management is one of the simplest ways to resolve a behavior issue, and in my experience is ironically, one of the hardest things to get many clients to consider. Far too often when someone has a behavioral issue with a dog he looks for an elaborate training solution when all he needs to do is to change the dog’s behavior by manipulating its environment. Management is simply taking the necessary steps to ensure your dog is not placed in a situation where it may not behave appropriately. In its simplest form, it translates

March 2016

to: If you do not want your puppy chewing on your new shoes, then do not leave the puppy and the shoes in the same room unsupervised. I believe that management is essential to your dog’s training because every dog has, at least, two trainers: 1) his guardian and 2) the environment in which the dog spends its time. While you may spend an hour per day training your dog, your dog has the potential to learn from its environment 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The environment in which your dog lives may consist of other people, other animals, noises, odors, tastes, and visual and tactile stimuli that all have the potential to reward your dog. If you do not initially control your dog’s interaction with its environment, he may quickly learn behaviors that you do not want, such as tearing up magazines, chewing on bedposts, or jumping up on people. While providing this management may seem incredibly time consuming, when done properly, it will pay off as you will eventually be able to give your dog free access to your home. Part of managing your dog also involves meeting its physical, emotional, and social needs. These needs are: 1) making sure your dog adequate access to water and appropriate food, 2) ensuring that your dog is free from physical and emotional discomfort and things that may cause the dog harm, 3) making sure that your dog has access to veterinary care and is free from pain, injury, and disease, 4) ensuring that your dog is free from fear and distress, and 5) making sure that your dog is free to express behaviors normal for the breed. The latter is especially important to consider before you get a dog, as not all normal behaviors are always appreciated by dog guardians. Management is simple and profoundly effective. Just do it! Training Training involves teaching your dog and controlling the

learning process. The objective of training is to have a happy dog that fits in with your lifestyle. I believe that every dog will benefit if it is trained to: • Allow you to take away items that may pose a danger to it, • Allow you to brush and groom it, • Come when called, • Walk politely on a leash, • Sit or down when asked, • Leave things when asked, • Allow you to be near it when eating, • Cope with being left alone, • Quietly welcome our guests and us without jumping, • Tolerate teasing children, and • Only urinate and defecate in specific locations on our schedule. These are all foreign concepts to a dog and may be dangerous to the dog if it behaved this way in the wild. A feral dog that waited to be offered food and allowed it to be taken from him would not survive long. We must remember that dogs have instinctual needs to protect their food and themselves. It is our responsibility to make sure our dog is trained to understand our world. When we do so, our family and friends welcome our dog and our dog is accepted in public places, and thus is allowed to be with us more frequently. Working with a Certified Professional Dog Trainer/ Professional Canine TrainerAccredited (CPDT or PCT-A) can be one of the easiest and most effective ways to learn how you can best train a dog. Whether you work with such an individual in a group class or private one-on-one training, these highly skilled individuals can show you how to get the behaviors that you want through rewarding the dog. Equally important, they can help you learn how to extinguish the behavior you do not want, things like jumping up on people and stealing socks. When choosing a trainer, look beyond how close the trainer is to where you live, the day of the week that classes are offered, and the cost of the training. The most important characteristic

to look for in a trainer is how he trains. Insist on a trainer that is committed to forcefree, fear-free, and pain-free methods. That means that the trainer will not be talking about dominance and alpha-rollovers or using tools like electronic shock collars, choke collars, or prong collars. While these tools and methods were routinely used in the past, organizations such as the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), The Pet Professionals Guild (PPG), and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) are unified in their recommendations that these tools and methods should NEVER be used in the training or the behavioral management of dogs. They are not only unnecessary but they are counter-productive as they inhibit the dog’s ability to learn and often make a dog reactive and aggressive. Dogs can be wonderful companions, and the best way to make sure that happens with every dog is to: 1) acquire the knowledge to understand your dog’s behaviors and the language unique to the dog as a species, 2) have fun with your dog every day as one part of nurturing your ongoing relationship, 3) manage your dog and its environment so as to meet its needs while preventing undesirable behavior, and 4) invest time and energy into training your dog not only for your benefit, but its benefit as well. Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (greenacreskennel. com) in Bangor. He 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 Pulse AM620 WZON and streamed at http://www. wzonradio.com/ every Saturday at 12 Noon. A list of upcoming shows and podcasts of past shows can be found at www. woofmeowshow.com. Don also writes about pets at his blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com.

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

Thoughts of Tracking During the winter months whenever we see some bare ground – even if it is only for a day or so – those of us who love tracking start thinking about the upcoming season. Most dogs love to track and as handlers, one of our most important jobs is to set the guidelines of what we want our dogs to track. From the very start of learning to track, dogs must be motivated to stay on the track, to follow the scent they found at the start flag. When I listen to people talk about their problems in tracking, such as cross tracks, turns in the woods, turns on a slope, turns on different surfaces, animal distractions, etc., they tend to focus on these as separate problems. Actually, the

common thread to all of them is to teach the dog to stay on the track – so that it is the best deal and will be the most rewarding for the dog. As we train a dog and progress through higher levels of tracking and more difficult challenges, we need to be sure our reward system matches the challenges we are asking our dogs to confront. This is a very common problem in most dog sports. We start to take certain skills for granted and expect them to stay bright even though we have stopped rewarding them as we go ahead and make the work harder. We tend to concentrate on the problem and bombard the dog with scenarios of “the problem” and many times undermine our dog’s confidence. We as humans tend to want to achieve more and more,and achievement is measured by making the tasks harder and

harder. We sometimes fail to see that we are not helping our dogs learn to solve problems and gain confidence. Breaking problems down into small parts and enabling the dog to be successful and build confidence and learn from the experience is really what we need to do. We must understand our dog’s reward hierarchy and be able to work with that in order to have him want to solve more difficult problems. It may not always be a food reward that makes the effort worthwhile. One of my dogs loved bumpers,

and when he completed a difficult part of the track, he would find his bumper and get to retrieve and retrieve and retrieve – this was his best reward. Rewarding only at the end of a long track with several problems included along the way will not be enough for most dogs and soon the “problems” we want to solve become more and more of an arduous task. We need to keep tracking rewarding and exciting. If the track doesn’t pay well enough, other distractions start to become more appealing or at least a better alternative to hard work. Be creative. What does your dog really like? Have some special food rewards just for tracking. What about a brand new toy your dog could find along a track or a great bone as a reward? What motivates your dog? What will make him think this is a great deal? Find the keys to motivation, work to solve pieces and parts of the track to increase confidence and desire, and watch your problems disappear.

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.

Rescue of the Month: New England Lab Rescue NELR’s Committed to Saving At-Risk Labs by Susan Spisak

“Anybody can do this; all it takes is a vision and a commitment,” says Heather Labbe’, Founder and President of the Limerick, ME based New England Lab Rescue, Inc., a 501(c) (3) non-profit that focuses on pulling Lab and Lab mixes facing euthanasia in high kill shelters across many states, particularly in the south. Driven by the love of the Lab breed and determination to give these dogs a safe home, this 6-year-old organization with only 35 volunteers has rescued over 2,100 Labs.

NELR’s roots go back to a long night at Maine Medical Center. Heather’s husband, Gary, was a patient there, and she was visiting with him, scanning Facebook. An anonymous posting to her page, with a link about a Lab facing euthanasia in a southern state,

caught her attention. Despite being a rescue novice, she was going to save that Lab. Countless hours and phone calls later, she had transportation and a foster home arranged. She called the shelter director in the morning to inform him that someone was in route to save that dog. Heather’s happy to report that the once endangered Lab is thriving in his forever home six years later. This rescue, with an active Board of Directors, coordinators, and staff, has come a long way since that first “pull.” While they started slowly, they now rescue an average of 20 to 40 dogs monthly. Thanks to social media and cross-posts, they’re alerted to Labs facing an untimely demise, usually due to overcrowding. They have volunteers willing to drive to a shelter at a moment’s notice; once the dog in jeopardy is pulled, it is fully-vetted and fostered in the state of origin. Once deemed healthy and okay to travel, the lucky Lab is then transported on their freedom ride north, either by P.E.T.S. LLC or in NELR’s own van. It’s fostered locally for at least a few days so it can relax before being adopted; there’s great stress associated with