Delmarva Unleashed Spring 2021

Dog tested. Dog approved.

pg. 20

pg. 32

Submissions: Please email all editorial material to creative@grandlivingmag. com. We welcome previously unpublished articles and high resolution color images in jpg format. We cannot guarantee that either will be printed or returned. All articles are subject to editing and fact check. We reserve the right to publish all letters received. You may also mail submissions to Grand Living Magazine, 12610 Murray Rd, Whaleyville, MD 21872. 38 Doggie Socials

On the Cover: “Jax” a Delmarva Unleashed dog, proudly owned by Farin & Phil Lewis of Whaleyville, MD. Photo was taken during the annual Delmarva Unleashed Calendar Shoot at Stinky Beach, West Ocean City.

Bark of the Town

Delmarva Unleashed announces the release of their new destination dog collars. The series of collars will begin with their home town of Ocean City, Maryland, and capture the town's iconic images with a marlin, a Maryland flag crab, and a sportfishing boat. All in bright festive summer colors.

The initial offerings will also include the nearby Chincoteague Island resort with a bright collar featuring illustrations of the world-famous ponies, the island lighthouse, and the dolphins that inhabit the island's coastline.

If you call the Florida Keys your winter resort, you will want to be sure your pup has that collar for the off-season too! The Delmarva Unleashed Key West dog collar features the Conch Republic's island roosters and palms in a refreshing island vibe.

The collars are all limited editions and are available, with matching leads, on our website at DelmarvaUnleashed.com/shop

Reprinted annually

Holistic Flea & Tick Spray

Looking for an alternative to “spot-on” treatments? Try this holistic preparation. Be sure to spray your dog daily for best results.

2 lemons sliced

1/2 cup of dried Lavender

(We found a great selection of modestly priced lavender on Amazon.)

2 cups boiling water

Combine all ingredients and let steep for at least 8 hours before use. Strain through a paper towel or cheese cloth and transfer to a spray bottle.

Keep refrigerated.

So you don’t forget, consider spraying your dog at his morning meal.

Good RX, Well RX, Single Care Prescription Cards for Dogs?

Did you know that some of those meds you need to pick up from a human pharmacy for your dogs can still get the same discounts as if they were being prescribed to humans? Some of the same discount cards can even point you to legitimate/verified websites that can offer additional cost savings on maintenance medications.

Hi! I’m Elvis

What can you learn from a nine-week-old Shetland Sheep Dog? It turns out plenty! A new children’s book, Hi! I’m Elvis is available throughout the Delmarva Peninsula for 2021.

Elvis weaves his wisdom for young readers through a wise choice of words and shows them what he means with his fluffy adorable images. His lessons include; making friends, how to stay healthy, making quality decisions, and more. Adults and children will enjoy his straight-forward approach and common sense messages.

The book is available locally at: Barnes & Noble, Salisbury; Tidepool Toys & Games in both Fenwick and Bethany Beach, as well as at both Kids' Ketch and Biblion in Lewes.

A personalized and Elvis signed copy may be secured when you email paulamv723@gmail.com.

Hi! I’m Elvis is also available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xlibris.

CONTINUED FROM PG 27 — TUG

sniff. They should open their mouth once they smell the treat, at which point you can say “drop it” and hold the toy while your dog gets a treat from your other hand.

6. Repeat! As your dog gets better at trading, you stop giving that treat every time, make it less often and more random.

Tips:

—If your dog refuses to drop the treat, you can just let go and turn away from your dog. As long as he/ she has an interest in playing with you, they will try to re-engage with you. Try the drop it again, and once they do drop it, they can get rewarded with more play!

—If your dog is vocalizing during play, it is not necessarily bad. Some dogs just make more noise in play than others. Look at your dog’s body

—If your dog is vocalizing during play, it is not necessarily bad. Some dogs just make more noise in play than others. Look at your dog’s body language. Is he/she still loose in the torso? Can you pet them without them tensing up? If so, you are probably good. If not, I would recommend getting in touch with a trainer or behaviorist who not only uses non-aversive methods but who has experience with normal and aggressive dogs. They will be able to help you determine whether this is aggression, resource guarding, or just a vocal pup.

The Delmarva Unleashed 2021 Annual Dog Treat List

Our picks for our dogs this year.

Wisdom Dog Food makes a great “trail mix” as well a meal on the go!

SoJo’s Simply Bocce Small Batch Whimzees

Snicky Snaks Primal Treats Hare of the Dog

Stella & Chewy Wild Weenies

etta says! Chew! Plato Small Bites

Really? Peanut Butter?

Wby Sandy Phillips

Well, it happened again; we have another dog in the family with cancer. After eight years of a holistic diet, no pesticides, holistic cleaning products, and still cancer, ugh. I suppose the upside is that the oncologist tells us that he was very likely pre-dispositioned. It was inevitable; however, the onset was very likely delayed because of his healthy lifestyle. The diagnosis has made me dig deeper into things we can do to stack the odds in favor of our dogs living long healthy lives. I’m always looking for tips to help my dogs. After all, my first Labrador/Chesapeake lived to the age of 14 and only had arthritis creep in during his last year; when it hit, it hit hard, so the next dog in my life had fewer joint issues, as I was now alerted to early signs of joint problems. I think each dog in my life lives a bit better than the previous one because I have learned.

I graduated from college with a science degree and have had a great deal of holistic training from some of the countries leading holistic vets, a privilege from a job I held in the past and one that has helped shape the lives of my dogs.

While diet, toxic environmental exposure and perhaps over vacciation still seem to be leading causes of canine cancer, I found an interesting topic truly worth bringing to your attention— Peanut Butter.

If you follow Delmarva Unleashed, you already know that peanut butter with the ingredient Xylitol is extremely toxic to our dogs. We have encouraged you to read the peanut butter label for years, but now I’m going to suggest that you take a closer look at peanut butter as I have.

Peanut butter contains something I have run test for thousands of times and yet not something I equated with peanut butter until now; aflatoxin.

Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin or mold, and it is one of the most carcinogenic substances known to man. In many cases, it impacts the liver. The FDA Bad Bug Book cites the following:

“Aflatoxins are toxic substances produced by some kinds of fungus that can grow on food. People who eat food that contains high levels of aflatoxins can become sick. To date, there has never been a human illness outbreak caused by aflatoxins in the US, where foods are carefully regulated and inspected to prevent such an occurrence, but some developing countries have had outbreaks. One of the aflatoxins is among the strongest known carcinogens (substances that cause cancer). Scientists have

pinpointed a site where this aflatoxin appears to cause a mutation in human DNA. Aflatoxins can lead to liver and immune‐system problems. The combination of hepatitis B infection and eating foods contaminated with aflatoxin appears to make the risk of liver cancer especially high. Foods in which aflatoxins commonly are found (unless regulations and inspections prevent it, as in the US) include corn, sorghum, rice, cottonseed, peanuts, tree nuts, dried coconut meat, cocoa beans, figs, ginger, and nutmeg. Aflatoxins can cause illness in animals, and contaminated pet foods caused outbreaks and deaths among US dogs and cats in 1998 and 2005.”

You can never totally get away from aflatoxin; we consume food with “acceptable levels.” You may even find some level in organic peanut butter. That all being said, the FDA Bad Bug Book also states this: “Aflatoxin does not form in peanut butter once it is packed in containers, so if the production process is safe, then the final product will be too when it reaches the consumer.” Keep in mind that they also approve a wide variety of kibbles as “healthy” for our dogs.

Did you know that peanuts are and OWL food? Oats, Wheat, and Legumes (OWL) are plants typically desecrated with glyphosate right before harvest. According to the Holistic Home Economist, farmers even use it on non-GMO fields because of the ongoing battle against superweeds, weeds that have evolved due to GMO plants and pesticides.

When they take their harvest to market, they are paid less for a large percentage of “weed,” all impacting the farmer’s pocket. It’s been going

Bone Appetite

Dehydrated Snacks

While using a dehydrator is a simple way to make healthy treats, affordable snacks for your dog can be dried in your oven too. Make sure meats, in particular, are thoroughly cooked to maintain shelf life and store them in airtight containers. The more moisture you remove will allow treats to keep longer, and if you're a beginner, you might consider keeping them in the refrigerator just as a precaution.

Meats should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees for poultry and 145 for beef, venison, and fish. Many regular pet treat chefs, using dehydrating machines, will still pop treats in the oven at 275 degrees for 10 minutes as a precaution.

Remember, drying times vary greatly and are directly impacted by the thickness of the meats. Thin slices will offer the best results.

What to dehydrate? While this list includes some basics you are likely already familiar with, I think you will find a few surprises your dog will love!

Beef Beef Liver

Boneless Chicken Breast

Chicken Liver

Venison

Turkey Breast

Turkey Sausage

Some prepared foods work great too!

Scrapple

Canned WILD Salmon

Bananas

Apples

Green Beans

Sweet Potato

Try the Honest Kitchen Pate. It will work best when pipped onto a parchment lined cookie sheet in strips. These are something different your dog will totally love and come in a few different flavors to explore.

More adventurous?

Blend a 2:1 ratio of Peaches to blueberries or a 2:1 ratio of shredded carrots to organic applesauce.

Pour onto parchment paper in a pan with a lip. Place in the oven at 200 degrees for 5 - 7 hours; again length of time to dehydrate depends on the thickness. Once these are dry, cut the mixture with kitchen shears to suitable bits size pieces

on forever, and why pesticide use is so high. The weed has to be taken out by the processing facility, which adds a step, costing more... you get the picture.

Numerous studies have been published tying glyphosate to cancer and that exposure can increase risk by over 41%. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a possible carcinogen, and use has been banned in several countries, although the US is not currently one.

I digress; let’s move onto peanut butter characteristics, peanut butter that we assume is pristine: non-GMO, organic— which still can have a level of naturally occurring mycotoxins and...lectins.

Lectins can be potentially dangerous to our dogs because they can trigger or add to a leaky gut, a condition related to a host of health concerns from allergies to digestive issues. The bottom line is that lectins cause a low level of inflammation in the body. Science learns more each day about the long-term effects of inflammation, even low-grade inflammation on both the human and canine bodies. Managing inflammation plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy body for all of us, our dogs too.

Unhealthy fats in peanut butter? They are there! Peanut butter contains omega 6’s, polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs. PUFAs induce inflammation throughout the body, and among other problems, cause joint pain. The negative effect of PUFAs are directly related to the health of your dog’s gut. If there is any question about your dogs gut health, inflammation from PUFA’s can make matters worse.

“In 2018 the Health Research Institute tested a popular brand of peanut butter … Skippy. They found that Skippy Natural Peanut Butter with Honey contained 11.71 ng/g of glyphosate.”

My dogs don’t eat peanut butter regularly; I have always considered it high in calories, but does the occasional doggie treat with peanut butter impact them? And how do you define “regular basis”...daily? Weekly? Does a small amount cause enough inflammation to be concerned with? Is any level of inflammation acceptable? Too many questions.

Sometimes significant changes can be seen when we make tiny changes to our dog’s lives and diets. The food as medicine movement grows each day, and we learn more about how both human and canine bodies react to those “treats” we indulge in. Maybe a nice bit of dehydrated liver is a better choice for our pups.

Pooch Palooza Dog Festival

September 11th, 2021 9 am - 4 pm

Frontier Town Western Theme Park

Advance tickets are just $12 $15 at the gate

PoochPalooza.com

Your Dog Wants to Be Here!

Delmarva

Healthy Dog Treats

MMaybe I'm a bit crazy when it comes to my dog's diet, but shouldn't we be? They are dependent on us to provide for them. I'm positive that if someone watched everything that went in my mouth, I would be healthier overall. From my perspective, the real challenge is that our dogs can't always tell us when they don't feel well. We often don't know there is a problem until there is a big problem that presents visually, and sometimes a significant health issue has already taken hold at that point.

So what do you do? You stack the odds as well as you can and hope for the best. We cannot control everything, and like us, while you should focus on a great diet (particularly daily), our dogs enjoy the occasional indulgence too!

by Sandy Phillips

With our dogs out and about this time of year, I wanted to share some research on dog treats and one new food, Earth Animals, Wisdom. This very modern food travels well (think trail mix here) and makes an excellent training or potty treat when you're home. And remember, your dog will need fresh water, too, particularly on those warm days.

The following list comprises snacks I would feel good about sharing with my dogs, knowing that I have reviewed the entire ingredient list for those hidden things that could have a negative effect on them or pack on those unwanted pounds. These treats do not have wheat, so they should be glyphosate free, no cane sugar (which is now a new favorite for manufactures to add to dogs treats—while they make them palatable, they also will pack on the

pounds. Whose idea was it to add sugar to their diets?). Many of these are prepared with organic components like organic peanut butter, which should not have glyphosate. While there are white potatoes in the Whimzees, they are farmed in the Netherlands, where glyphosate is banned.

You will also want to note that we have selected particular items from 10 vendors as some of their product lines, much like dog food brands, are healthier than others. Without further delay, and in no particular order, here is the Delmarva Unleashed 2021

Treat Shopping List!

Bocce Bakery

Small Batch

Primal Pet Foods

Freeze Dried & Jerky

Stella & Chewy

Carnivore Crunch

Wild Weenies

Treat Planet

Etta Says

Wild Jerky

Freeze Dried

Hair of the Dog

Snicky Snax

Wet Noses

Freeze Dried & Jerky

Original Treats

Sojo's

Simply

PureBites

Freeze Dried

Air Dried

Plato

Grain-Free & Organic Thinkers

& Small Bites

Whimzees

All

Earth Animal

Wisdom dog food

As you shop for your dog's treats, don't make the mistake of thinking that just because the package says "jerky," that it's wholesome. We found that many "jerky" treats contained cane sugars and wheat fillers. When feeding "jerky," make sure it's 100% meat. Also, keep in mind that real jerky is more expensive, but it can be broken into bite-size pieces, reducing your actual cost per serving.

Don't forget that many fruits and veggies make great healthy dog snacks. The following list can help you choose from your garden too! This list is not exhaustive but a great place to start. Science shows us that dogs benefit most from eating vegetables when they are juiced, but they can also play a role in keeping snacking on a more healthy level.

Kale

Spinach

Carrots

Beets

Asparagus

Broccoli - may give your dog gas

Green Beans

Celery

Cucumber

Organic Sweet Potatoes

Watermelon (No SEEDS)

Apple slices (NO SEEDS)

Bananas (Peeled)

Blueberries

Strawberries (in moderation)

Cantalope (NO SEEDS)

Pineapple (Peeled)

Orange (Peeled)

Peach (NO PITS)

Kiwi

psst...in case you missed it, there is a convient pocket guide to keep in your purse or wallet in Bark of the Town!

Walmart Adds New Pet Care Services

by Polly Elliott

PPet adoption rates have soared during the pandemic, the multi-billion dollar pet business has gotten even hotter, and companies like Walmart have embraced the expanding market.

In 2019, Walmart dabbled in the industry, with Walmart PetRx offering both online veterinary prescriptions and in-store fulfillment of drugs you would typically take home from your veterinarian. They also offer preventatives, like flea and tick, in conjunction with a growing line of premium pet products starting to appear with the typical Walmart fare.

While you won't currently find a veterinary office onsite at all locations, it is likely coming to your local Walmart as time passes. There is a

great deal of change in the pet aisle at Walmart, and the question is, should you add your pup's needs to the grocery list? After all, they are promoting it as "full-service" in some locations. Does this mean our dogs will be allowed in the stores?

We think the first thing to consider is that they are just getting started here. We have yet to see anything other than the typical grocery store fare in the dog food aisle. The pharmacy staff is currently primarily human-educated, so they will not have those great medication tips you will get from your vet or the vet tech handing you the meds. Things like make sure they eat first, make sure they have more potty opportunities. The "speak

to the pharmacist" option really may have little value when you have canine-specific questions regarding the meds you are picking up, at least until they have licensed veterinary staff on site.

On the dog food topic, we suggest that you stay with your boutique pet stores, where you will also often find a level of guidance from knowledgeable staff. Again, "premium" pet food is still a highly debatable topic regarding the definition of premium; more expensive does not define quality.

Is it all about saving money? We did a little price investigating since the cost would likely be the main reason for purchasing your pet supplies from Walmart. The canine meds advertised on Walmart.com were similar in cost at the veterinary clinics we comparison shopped; we compared various medications, from maintenance meds to cancer drugs. Still, they were higher and on a few medicines, and considerably so. Like everything else, if you're budget-conscious, you will want to shop around, but there is considerable value in those canine-specific instructions you will come home from your vet with.

Lastly, on the Walmart topic, they have currently partnered with Rover. com for things like pet sitting, dog walking, etc... Rover.com offers over 300,000 providers in local communities across the country. As a partner, Walmart is offering a $20 gift card to their store when you complete your first service through Rover.com and an additional $20 gift card when you complete your 5th service within a 6-month window. If you are already a Rover.com customer, accessing their website via Walmart's partner link might offer a small return.

Change is inevitable in this current crazy world, and retail giants are taking leaps into the already booming pet industry. You can find almost anything on Amazon, and Chewy grows every day. Keep in mind that there are trusted faces at your local pet store, veterinarians who call your dog by name and offer warm pats on the head that you can't get via a laptop.

Walmart has also partnered with PetPlan health insurance, and we are very much proponents of dogs having health insurance. There is so much technology that can help our dogs lead better lives in today's world, but it can be expensive. All of the DU dogs are covered, although with a different company. Pet insurance is another topic that you will want to shop around for, and we noticed a large number of exclusions on the Walmart plan - check the details carefully. Get

Go Ahead, Play With Your Dog!

by Amanda Abresch, B.S., ABCDT, APDT, CPDT-KA

Iam a firm believer that just about every dog out there can fetch or play tug. Why? Because they are natural games for dogs to play. I’m not just talking about breed-specific traits here; I am telling you that the instinct to run after an item and bring it back to a safe place and the instinct to grab one end of something and pull it are normal things for all dogs. The exceptions are primarily those dogs who are physically limited from such activities. My dog, for example, used to LOVE playing tug. Now that she is older and needs some dental work, she isn’t as motivated by it. It’s probably more uncomfortable than

fun, so she doesn’t do it as much as she used to. When I meet a dog, and their human tells me their dog doesn’t like to fetch, I wonder what else is going on.

Is there pain somewhere that the human is unaware of ?(Don’t feel bad, they are good at hiding it from us.)

Is there something in the environment that makes the dog feel uneasy and therefore unwilling to play and have fun? (Like another pet who resource guards or a history of the game not being fun?)

Is the dog just uneasy or anxious in general due to genetics and/or early environment? (Sorry, you don’t usual-

ly have much control over those.)

Does the human always need to “win”, making the game less fun for the dog?

Those are just the most common reasons. One dog I knew didn’t like playing fetch, and it turns out he didn’t like playing fetch outside because there were sandburs in the middle of the yard, and he didn’t want to run into a patch. Once we practiced in an indoor space and a local park without that type of grass, we found out he actually loved it. Anyway, my point is this: if your dog doesn’t like playing fetch or tug, you are missing out, and so is your pup! They are such fun games and good for building your bond and something to use as a reward for good behavior. Yup, if you find a game your dog loves, it can be used as a reinforcer (a reward) for

your dog doing something well. If you watch agility competitions, you will often see that at the end of the course, many dogs get a 30 second game of tug as a reward for completing the course (I told you treats weren’t always necessary). For this to work, you have to work at making these games fun.

I know what you are thinking: “I read online that playing tug will cause my dog to be aggressive” or “I don’t want my dog to fetch things because he already steals my shoes- won’t it become a game?”

I am here to tell you with all certainty that I have never seen a dog “turn” aggressive after playing tug in all my years. What I have seen is a few resource guarding dogs get worse over time and with the introduction of a new, exciting stimulus.

Let’s be honest, if your dog likes to steal your slippers and he learns to steal them and bring them to you instead of chewing them up or burying them in the yard, isn’t that solving part of the problem? I agree that the slipper shouldn’t be stolen in the first place, but if your dog brings it to you happily, your biggest problem is now slobbery slippers- not lost or swiss-cheese-resembling slippers.

The best part? We teach your dog to drop the item on cue! They learn that dropping the item doesn’t mean an end to their fun since it’s always part of the game. All too often, we fall into this mindset of “needing to win” the game of fetch or tug with your dog, which makes absolutely no sense to me. I don’t have such a big ego that I need to win every game I play with my dog, and neither should you. It’s pointless.

So, here you have it, instructions on teaching your dog to fetch and to play tug.

Fetch

Why: It’s so much fun! Fetch is one of the best games you can play with your dog; it helps them burn off energy, gives them a task to do, and reinforces them returning to you! My favorite part of having a dog who can (and will retrieve and return) an item is that it’s great practice for trading something and dropping something valuable on cue. This is especially handy for pups who like to steal, as they can learn that coming to you

with an item is part of a game- not an end to the fun.

What: You toss a toy, your dog retrieves it and brings it back, repeated until your dog is thoroughly tired!

•pocket/pouch full of treats

•hungry dog

•15-20 foot leash, attached to a collar or harness

•quiet, comfortable area with room to toss a ball

•ball or another toy that can be tossed by you and carried easily by your dog

•patience!

How:

1. Start with a toy you know your dog loves and your dog on a leash next to or in front of you.

2. Be sure the dog is focused on the toy- wave it in front of his/her face; if it has a squeaker, make it squeak. Once the dog is focused on the toy, toss it a few feet away from both of you.

3. If the dog goes and retrieves it, say “fetch” as they grab it and encourage them to return to you.

4. Once they return to you, be ready with a tasty enclosed in your hand, held in front of their nose- once they drop the toy, say “drop it”, click and treat and grab the toy to toss it again.

5. If your dog does not chase after the toy, you should chase after it, making it seem like such a fun game so that your dog wants to mimic you. It may take a few tries, but your dog will get the hang of it and chase the toy while you standstill.

6. Repeat, gradually increase the

distance you toss the toy.

7. As your dog is consistently trading the toy for a treat, with “drop it” begin to give treats randomly.

Tips:

—You have your dog on a leash when first working this behavior in case they do not want to return to you; if they do not want to bring the toy back, give a gentle tug and encourage him/her to return to you.

—Even dogs who do not retrieve naturally can be taught to play fetch. It just takes patience and time from you!

More:

As your dog improves and consistently returns the toy and drops it, you can remove the leash and increase the distance you throw it.

Once you are ready to go outdoors with this activity, keep the dog on leash until he/she is consistently performing in the new distracting environment

Share your message with over 220,000 dog people in DU!

Tug

Why: It’s fun! This game helps your dog get an excellent full-body workout, play a game with you, and learn some impulse control. By making tug a game with rules and a solid cue for dropping the item, this can help in real-life situations when your dog has something he wants. By having a way to end the game, you can get your dog to drop that sock the next time he grabs it.

What: Your dog brings you a toy so you can hold one end, and you each pull it back and forth.

•pocket/pouch full of treats

•quiet, comfortable area with room to move around

•one of your dog’s favorite toys that is long enough for you to each hold an end

•patience!

How:

1. Start with a toy you know your dog loves and your dog on a leash next to or in front of you.

2. Be sure the dog is focused on the toy- wave it in front of his/her face. If it has a squeaker, make it squeak. Once the dog is focused on the toy, let them grab and hold one end of it while you hold the other.

3. Gently pull the toy in your direction, then let your dog pull it in their direction.

4. Talk to your dog and pet them while you play this game, so they remember that it’s a fun game with you and that handling is ok when excited. *

5. Discreetly get a treat in one hand while playing tug, or start out with a treat in one hand. Bring that closed hand to your dog’s face and let them

Your Smart Pup

with Amanda Abresch Reader Submitted Questions

play, it is not necessarily bad. Some dogs just make more noise in play

We recently inherited my mother’s dog when she had to move to an assisted living facility. He is a really sweet older lab, about 11 years old. My mom got him as a new puppy, and since she lived in some acreage, he got lots of time running and playing free. I don’t remember her ever having an issue with him coming when called, but now that he’s in our house, I think he’s ignoring us when it’s time to come inside. We live in a development with neighbors fairly close, and while I know he would never hurt anyone, I don’t want him to wander off and get lost or hurt. What can I do?

Thank you for being one of the great people who takes in a loved one’s older dog. That is a kind, selfless act (except for the doggie kisses, so maybe not entirely selfless). Second, you may be battling a few different factors with this guy, so I will break them down, and we can explore all options.

1. It sounds like he had 11 years of free play and lots of room to roam, which is the dream life of lots of dogs. Moving to the suburbs is a tough adjustment, and it may just be that he wants to do what he has always done and stay outside to enjoy the great outdoors. He may also not have much experience with you calling him back and therefore no reinforcement from you when he does come when called. For now, I would recommend to leash him when outside, even with a long line, and practice a “catch and release” recall. Call him to you, give a treat and lots of petting and praise and then...let him play again. You can even add a release cue, like “free”, “all done” or “go play”. By repeating this, he

gets to practice coming when called, and he learns that coming when called doesn’t always end the fun. By keeping him on a leash, he can’t just wander off to find rabbit poop and ignore you.

2. He is an older dog, and with age comes hearing loss. It is entirely possible that he has a fantastic recall but cannot hear when you are calling him. In my experience, the best and possibly least scientific way to test your dog’s hearing at home is to open a bag of chips, dog treats or to shake around some dog food in a scoop while your dog is in another room and cannot see you. Do this a few different times of day and try a few times during the next week. Try not to make it the same time every day,

or he may learn that you are always opening chips at 10:00 am. If your dog is responding by looking up or coming to you, his hearing is probably ok. If he consistently ignores it or looks around in a confused manner, he may have a hearing problem. In that case, teaching him a recall with a vibrate-only collar (we don’t want an accidental shock) can be a fantastic option. I have worked with deaf dogs using vibrate collars with really great success. The key is to train is a positive cue that causes him to look at or come to you for a reward. By starting at a short distance and building up, he can learn to come back when you need him to, even if he can’t hear you. Please keep in mind that what I am talking about here is not using the vibrate as an aversive- it is not meant

to startle or “correct” them when they go too far; it is meant to remind them to come to you when they feel it.

3. There is always the possibility that his recall was never as great as you thought, but your mom never had a problem with it since she had land, and he would eventually come back on his own and never wandered too far. For this, I would recommend looking back at #1 here- he needs to learn a reliable recall and practice it. Often, a change in environment brings out hidden issues in our dogs.

I have heard people using the words “leave it” and “drop it” for their dogs when they grab something. Which one is better to use when she grabs sticks on our walks?

Ooh, that is an excellent question and one I get from clients often. In general, it does not matter what words we use, since, in training, we are teaching a dog English- we are teaching them to associate our words with their action. Those words don’t matter as much as our consistency when teaching them.

That said, I do often train the “leave it” and “drop it” to have a different meaning. When I teach a dog to “leave it”, I want them to look away and disengage from that stimulus. I find this much more useful than a dog who just stares at something they want but cannot have, especially if that something is another dog or a squirrel. By looking away, she can move on and away from the situation. “Drop it”, on the other hand, is that dog opening their mouth and letting

something they are holding fall out. To me, “leave it” is for before she grabs the stick, and “drop it” is for once she has it.

To teach this, I start with a simple trading exercise and build up to dropping it when they see the visual cue and hear the words from the person.

Think about it, can you look away from something in your mouth? Of course, but it can also still be in your mouth. I have seen some very smart dogs try just this! I always have clients teach both cues since they are different behaviors, and there are plenty of dogs for whom the cues can be interchangeable, but this way, we have a clear set of expectations for our dog from the start, which helps to ensure success.

by Sandy Phillips

Precious Paws Rehab Facility

TTucked in the tiny town of Berlin is the Precious Paws Rehab facility. Now the only veterinary rehab facility on Maryland's Lower Shore, this service offers an underwater treadmill, stance analyzer, class IV laser therapy, acupuncture, massage, and more. The modalities are all under one roof and all under the supervision of Dr. Annie Flood.

Dr. Flood completed her veterinary degree at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech and is a certified Canine Rehab Practitioner via the University of Tennessee, and is a canine acupuncturist.

"The facility can help dogs with a variety of problems, including senior

dogs with pain management. Physical therapy can often be an alternative to the long-term use of pain medications, or they can use them with less frequency with the practice of certain exercises," says Dr. Flood. " "We offer help with soft tissue injuries, neurological challenges, and rehab after an ACL repair, and those are just a few examples of conditions we can assist with."

The rehab focus is on regenerative medicine - offering a blended plan of traditional veterinary medicine and alternative therapies that provide the best outcome for the dog. New technology is integrated as well, including things like platelet-rich plasma for injuries.

You can expect "take-home" exercises to maximize your dog's recovery; perhaps you will be assigned massage techniques for your dog or learn how to position your dog for stretching correctly. These activities are part of the program for maximizing healing. All things that will help them feel more comfortable during the healing process and ultimately deepen your relationship with your dog as you aid them on their recovery journey.

While just opening in August 2019, Dr. Flood already has her sights on the addition of future modalities, including therapeutic ultrasound, shockwave therapy, and arthroscopy, all treatments that will open new doors for dogs with physical challenges on the Lower Shore.

Do you have a senior dog at home with difficulties getting around? One of the things we like here is that you can pick up your phone and make an appointment for a consultation. While you may need to have x-rays transferred from your primary vet for review by Dr. Flood; you don't have

to have a formal referral to have your pet seen.

There has been much success with alternative treatments for dogs today. Perhaps your dog would benefit from exploring this exciting new facility.

Precious Paws Animal Hospital also has a full-service veterinary clinic in Bethany Beach/Ocean View, Delaware, and an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited facility located on route 50 in West Ocean City.

How to Train Your Dog to Stop Barking Without a Shock Collar

by Andrew Kade

Excessive barking can be a uisance, but shock collars are not the answer. A recent study by Research Gate on the effectiveness of training techniques indicated that human training works better. The study also maintained that reward-based training yielded better results compared to vocal or physical punishment. It is crucial to note that a shock collar's only function is to inflict pain for an unwanted behavior - they do nothing to encourage good behaviors.

Before considering punishment-based training, try to understand why your dog is barking. Note that dogs rarely bark without provocation. Let's look at some of the main reasons why dogs bark.

Why dogs bark

Different breeds bark for various reasons. It may be boredom, and for some, it may be because of agitation. There are, however, some universal factors that influence uncontrollable dog barking.

• Dogs have the profound ability to identify distress. A dog can tell when you or a loved one is in trouble. The uncontrollable barking may be because the dog is trying to alert

you to what they perceive as some immediate danger. This characteristic is common to almost all dog breeds, a kind of sixth sense when it comes to protecting their owner.

• Most dog breeds are also fiercely territorial, and they tend to bark when they see or sense a stranger or even another dog. This territorial nature can be a good and bad thing. On the one hand, it may be a friendly neighbor; on the other, it may be an intruder.

• Dogs are also empathetic. Your dog can tell when you are in a bad mood, and the barking may be a way of trying to cheer you up. This pro-social nature allows dogs to feel your pain, and it gives them the impetus to try and improve your sulky mood.

• Dogs are easily agitated. Something as slight as the crack of twigs can get them going. A neighbors dog barking, a cat on the fence, a bird on your mailbox, a passing car - all these are small events that can make your dog bark all night.

• Lastly, dogs get bored quickly when they are understimulated. The barking may be because your dog wants attention.

The takeaway here is that dogs rarely bark for no reason, and the best way to rectify this unwanted behavior is to understand the reason behind it.

Shock collars are aversive, they use fear and pain to get results, and they ruin the love and respect you share with your dog. Remember that your dog is part of the family, and having

a relationship based on fear and pain will do nothing to maintain the bond you share. Shock collars also increase the chances of fear-based aggression. So what is the alternative?

Great Alternatives to Shock Collars

Distract from Barking

Dogs are surprisingly easily distracted. The idea is to distract the dog with a treat just long enough for the agitation to pass. The treat leaves the dog entranced. Ideally, all you have to do is hold the distraction long enough for the irritation to stop. It does not have to be an actual edible, just something interesting enough to keep the dog's attention for some time.

Find Solutions for Separation Anxiety

Dogs are an active species, so leaving them home alone is never a good idea. Exhibition of destructive behavior like chewing on your couch is usually a sign of separation anxiety. There are several ways to deal with this.

1. You can leave a recording of some of your favorite tunes playing while you are away. Dogs are familiar with the kind of music you like and can associate the sounds with you.

2. Leave the TV on. The sights and sounds make your dog feel a familiar presence.

3. Leave the radio on.

4. Leave recently worn clothes around the house - especially ones that smell like you.

5. Find distraction toys.

6. Establish a sign or action on leaving that shows your dog that you will

not be gone for long and that you will be back.

Reward-Based Training

Dogs quickly learn which behaviors are positive and which ones are unwanted based on this system. This training helps the dog associate the action with the reward. Rewarding your dog for good behavior creates positive reinforcement where the dog learns what is acceptable and what is not.

Clicker/Command Combination

A clicker can also be a great asset. It may require a bit of patience, but you can train your dog to associate a clicker with treats. Here features another reward-based training technique, with the clicker diverting the dog's attention from the unwanted behavior. The idea here is to get your dog to link the clicking sound with praise or treats. It works like a charm.

Obedience Training

This training method is at its most effective at a young age. Puppies respond better to this type of training, and you may not need a private trainer to get the best results. Older dogs may require more patience and a professional trainer. The reason is that it aims to identify unwanted behavior by finding the cause at its root and getting rid of it completely. It is much simpler with puppies because they are still in their socialization phase, which means they are still learning the ropes.

Keep Your Dog Active

Remember that your dog is a bundle of energy. The barking may be a sign of boredom. Boredom in dogs can cause hyperactivity and irritability, all of which may cause destructive behavior. Distractions with chew toys and playpens can go a long way in ensuring they get rid of any excess energy. You can also take your dog running or walk it twice a day. The beauty of exercising your dog is you get to do a bit of cardio yourself.

Consult a Specialist

It is quite demanding to teach an old dog new tricks, a reason why some dog owners resort to shock collars. The problem with punishment-based training is that it causes both psychological and physiological damage to your dog. Dog trainers are well equipped to counter unwanted behavior by using various unobtrusive and sympathetic techniques.

Bottom Line

It is clear that you love your dog, and a shock collar will do nothing but make your dog fear you. Although dogs are fiercely loyal, a relationship based on pain and fear is one doomed to fail. If you have been using a dog collar or are considering purchasing one, please reconsider. Hopefully, these alternatives will help you get the desired results.

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Canine Perspective

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Half Marathon (13.1 m)

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All distances with or without your leashed canine companion.

Registration/Check In 6:45 - 7:45 am

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Commemorative event t-shirt, finishing medal, trophy by division and awards for the top fund-raisers.