Lowcountry Dog Magazine Feb/March 2013 by Lowcountry Dog Magazine

volume 9, issue 2

SIZE matters frazzled fido addressing the issue of strays diversity in pet behavior

magazine

february/march 2013

Publisher Leah England (843) 478-0266 leah@lowcountrydog.com

contents

Advertising Information (843) 284-3094 Communications Gillian Nicol gillian@lowcountrydog.com Contributing Writers Sarah Kalnajs Kelly Rae Smith Staff Photographers Laura Olsen www.lauraolsen.com Dana Cubbage www.danacubbagephotography.com Guest Photographer Leigh Webber www.leighwebber.com Accounting Carrie Clark Financial Services (843) 367-9969 carriecl@comcast.net Lowcountry Dog Magazine PO Box 22 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465 Web: lowcountrydog.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/leahengland Facebook: facebook.com/lowcountrydog This magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper. Continue the green process by recycling this copy. Lowcountry Dog’s mission is to be the leading local resource for dog owners regarding regional events, health and wellness information, trends, style and lifestyle choices. We also strive to be a mouthpiece to the public for various dog related non-profits and promote pet adoption and other responsible pet care practices. Dog lovers can pick up the bimonthly magazine for free at most area veterinarians and pet stores throughout the lowcountry, as well as numerous restaurants, coffee bars and retailers. A full distribution list is posted to the magazine’s web site, lowcountrydog.com. Subscriptions are also available. Please call 843-478-0266 for more information.

february/march 2013 fido’s friends 4 Tyler Heffernan love resides here 6 frazzled fido 8 canine mural unleashes community creativity 10 size matters 14 calendar of events 21 training 22 Set Your Dog Up for Success health & wellness 24 Diversity in Pet Behavior paws & think: addressing the issue of strays 26

The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted by Lowcountry Dog Magazine with all rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher. Lowcountry Dog Magazine does not endorse or guarantee any product, service, or vendor mentioned or pictured in this magazine in editorial or advertising space. Views expressed by authors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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F ido’s Friends

Tyler Heffernan Occupation: Reporter for Moultrie News Dogs in Household: One Na med: Charlie Lives: North Charleston 1. What’s the best thing about owning a dog? You have constant companionship. If I’m going to get the mail, he wants to come. If I’m debating on a restaurant to go to, he wants there to be outdoor seating so he can tag along. Even if I’m doing push-ups inside, he climbs on my back.

2. What do you find the most frustrating about your dog, or struggle with as a dog owner ? Charlie is a puppy, so he’s constantly testing his boundaries.

3. All time favorite memory of your dog? For a funny photo at a restaurant, I held him up in my lap with his mouth right over my straw. Next thing I know, Charlie grabbed the straw and starting slurping water through it.

4. Favorite place to hang out with your dog in Charleston? I’d say walking around downtown, but I’m sure he’d say our Monday walks to Moe’s Southwest Grille, because he usually finds a way to steal a chip or two.

5. With what aspect of your dog’s personality do you most identify? We feel strongly that food and naps are fantastic.

6. In your opinion, what’s the one item all dog owners must have? Don’t throw away drink bottles. Charlie’s best friends are empty 2-liters that he chases around and tries to unscrew the caps.

7. If your dog were some other sort of animal, what would he be? You mean Charlie isn’t human?

8. How does your dog inspire you? Or what has your dog taught you about life and work? He has taught me to slow down and enjoy the present moment.

9. How do you KNOW you and your dog are best friends? I’m always thinking about the lil’ guy. Sometimes if I should run an errand or two after work, I’ll skip them, just to have those extra minutes with him.

10. What’s your favorite thing about Lowcountry Dog Magazine? All the tips and advice.

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photos by Laura Olsen Imagery

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Love Resides Inside your Here: Local Animal Shelter

Kevin Ryan Executive Director of Pet Helpers

The words “animal shelter” often conjure up images of dilapidated understaffed facilities that act as warehouses for unwanted animals drifting toward a macabre ending. What we societally imagine is sad, what we remember is visceral, and the result can be the desire never to return. We have compassion for the animals in that situation, but can’t take the heartbreak. That is an entirely understandable reaction – but the reality in Charleston is far different. Our community is fortunate to have nationally recognized animal welfare organizations and facilities that are up to the task of keeping animals healthy and making adopters comfortable. Visit your local animal welfare organizations and experience the reality for yourself. They are bright, vibrant places with the space and staff to care for the animals and create an environment where you can take the time to meet and fall in love with the perfect pet for your family. The impressive facilities are just the beginning of what has been made possible in Charleston through the generosity of local individuals and businesses. “Shelters” not only provide a place to come adopt a family member in need of a new beginning but also provide you with superior service and expertise. Animals adopted from reputable animal welfare organizations are provided with spay/neuter operations, necessary (and legally required) vaccines, microchips, veterinary care, perhaps even personality and behavior assessments, and so much more. At Pet Helpers all dogs that enter the system are assessed to determine if any behavior issues exist and are treated by an expert veterinary staff with more than 30 years of experience. Their personalities are gauged using the Meet Your Match Program, and they are then provided with whatever training is deemed necessary by the full-time Manager of Animal Health and Humane Programming. Yet, the attention to animal well-being does not end there. Pet Helpers staff and volunteers provide an enriching and engaging environment for those animals that join the Pet Helpers Family, before they join yours. Enrichment ranges from auditory stimulation, olfactory engagement, tactile and toy diversity, visual stimulation, auditory enrichment, extensive human/dog time, recorded and monitored yard and walking time and so much more. In short, great pains are taken to keep dogs in the system happy,

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healthy and ready to go home as soon as possible. Adopters are encouraged to come in, keep an open mind, discover what personality fit makes the most sense for your family, and adopt. Staff and volunteers are matchmakers, not just “shelter staff.” They offer much more than a backyard breeder or roadside stand ever could. As you can see, there is much more to animal care facilities than meets the eye. The professionals that work in these life-saving facilities strive every day to save more animals, increase adoptions, advocate for spay and neuter operations, and prepare the animals for adoption. By using the Meet Your Match program you can find the perfect animal for your family based upon personality and temperament. The best adoptions are often those who come in search of a lifelong family member rather than a specific breed. After all, though the staff strives to best identify dog breeds in the shelter, it is a nearly impossible task. They most often rely on visual breed identification, so for most of the dogs, it is really guessing at predominant breed or breed mix. A new companion is best selected by considering each dog as individual and by its personality profile. That said, if you are heart-set on a specific breed, don’t fret; Charleston’s shelters can still find you a perfect match. If you are in search of a particular animal, maybe you’re a beagle guy or pitt bull gal, have no fear, shelters and rescue groups can help. Animal welfare groups offer a great variety of dogs ranging from the lovable all-American mutt to pure-bred, well…pure bred anything. In fact 25% of all animals in American shelters are pure-bred animals. There is a perfect match for you waiting in an area shelter. In this issue of Lowcountry Dog, you’ll see photo evidence of the myriad of shapes and sizes of dogs in our community. At Pet Helpers, a 165 pound Perro de Presa Canario was adopted the very same week as an 11 pound Pekinese (as well as 35 other mixes of all varieties). No matter what type of dog you looking for, start with your local animal rescue organizations. You won’t just be adding to your family, you will be saving a life and making room for another in need of a second chance. By visiting your local animal welfare organizations, you can not only find the perfect companion but also take that pet home knowing far more about your new friend than in almost any other circumstance. You can be confident that it has received sterling health care and an abundance of behavioral care. Local animal organizations, including Pet Helpers, are spending more than ever to ensure that your new family member is healthy, happy and ready to go home with you today. Our community is saving more lives than ever and they need your help. Adopt. Donate your time and resources. The progress made is a reflection of the community, a reflection of you. Sustaining this progress becomes ever more difficult and these groups need your help more than ever. Adoption is a strange blessing – it is selfish as you will take home a pet that will forever enrich your life and enhance your family, and it is infinitely selfless as you are saving a life in need. How many decisions in this life are this easy? Don’t shop, adopt.

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Frazzled Fido by Sarah Kalnajs B.A., CDBC, CPDT-KA If you are old enough to read this, chances are you’ve experienced stress at some point in your life. The longer we live the more likely – and more often – we experience stress. It’s part of life and it isn’t always a bad thing. Everyday, normal stress is often referred to as eustress - a “good” type of stress that gives you a feeling of fulfillment and does not drag you down. This type of stress helps focus your attention so that you can meet whatever challenge is facing you, whether playing tennis with a friend or completing a magazine article before the publisher’s deadline. There is, however, a darker side to stress. When stress becomes more intense than the everyday variety and affects your wellbeing in a negative way it is referred to as distress. This kind of stress often persists for a longer period of time. Examples include the stress caused by a tax audit, a divorce, or longterm illness of a loved one. The worst form of stress occurs when multiple stressors pile up one after the other, giving your mind and body no time to recover. Have you ever stopped to think about your dog’s life and the stress he may be experiencing? What about the role of stress on your dog’s health or behavioral problems? Do dogs have the same link between stress and physical and mental health that we do? Absolutely! Stress affects our dogs in all of the ways it affects us. It can be situational or chronic, mild or severe, and plays a role in the development of both health and behavior problems. The good news is that once identified, stress is much easier to manage in dogs than it generally is in people. Dogs live in the present and don’t worry (as far as we know) about aging, divorce, taxes, and the like. It is important to note that this does not mean they cannot experience chronic stress - only that their issues are generally of a simpler nature than ours and are often easier to fix. Many behavior problems such as

destructiveness, nuisance barking, and digging have at their core a stressed dog who is engaging in these behaviors as a way to occupy himself and relieve some of the stress. There are two important things you can do to keep stress from becoming a problem for your dog. First, learn to recognize the common sources of stress in dogs. And second, learn the body language they exhibit when stressed. These two skills will help you keep your dog’s stress level low, and as a result, prevent serious problems like separation anxiety or obsessive-compulsive behaviors such as constant spinning, or chewing, or licking his own tail, legs, or feet. If your dog is experiencing stress he may often seem agitated - easily startled and unable to calm down even in favorite sleeping spots. On leash your dog may frantically pull as if he was being chased by something even though you do not see any obvious sign of threat nearby. Dogs experiencing stress may also pace relentlessly and tend to defecate or urinate at unusual times or places due to activation of their sympathetic nervous system. Other, more subtle signs of stress include lip licking, yawning, sniffing, excessive shedding, increased respiration rate, blinking, tension in the body and face (including a tightly closed mouth), sweaty paws, and teeth chattering. It is important to understand your dog’s threshold of response. This threshold is the lowest level trigger that reliably elicits his lowest level of reactive behavior. For example, this might be the presence of another dog fifty yards away - far enough that your dog notices him but is still calm and completely attentive to you. Keeping your dog under this threshold is important in a variety of situations. When you are doing any sort of behavior modification work with him his ability to learn shuts down completely the second he goes “overthreshold,” and when you are in a new or

unfamiliar situation keeping him under this threshold will insure that his stress level also remains low. There are several particularly effective ways to determine if your dog is under his threshold of response (“under-threshold”). These indicators are also very useful for checking your dog’s internal emotional state in new or unfamiliar situations that may be causing him stress. They can tell you whether he is relaxed (and under threshold) or stressed (and perhaps over threshold). These are the two indicators: 1. Is your dog eating? It is always a good idea to have a few treats with you so that you can “take your dog’s emotional temperature” whenever needed. Use a treat that your dog really likes at home when he is comfortable (for most dogs this will be something tastier than an ordinary, bland dog biscuit). When he is in a new situation such as in a crowd of people, or on a busy street, or near a strange dog, or in the vet’s waiting room, give him one of these high-value treats. If he refuses to eat it, or spits it out, or chews it slowly, this is a clear sign that he is not feeling comfortable, or is becoming over-aroused, or is already over-threshold. 2. Will your dog respond to a simple, wellknown cue such as “Sit” or “Shake”? For this test to be meaningful, it needs to be a cue that your dog knows extremely well and that he responds to with almost 100% reliability under normal circumstances. For most dogs, “Sit” fits the bill. If your dog suddenly seems to forget what “Sit” continued on page 19

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Canine Mural

Unleashes Community Creativity by Kelly Rae Smith

photos by Dana Cubbage Photography

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“I don't want to say that he's famous, but he's famous,” Tim Edgar, a local illustrator and musician, says with clarity of his dog, Don. Don, of a mysterious breed, is a handsome little fella who has made a lot of enamored friends in his trots about Charleston, particularly in West Ashley. A favorite at dog-friendly places like the Tin Roof, this furry gent’s face has also become a welcome addition as a mural Edgar painted in Avondale’s chART Initiative and Outdoor Gallery, a public community art space that supports contemporary artists working in the visual arts. “Our mission is to foster creativity and art excellence,” Geoff Richardson, owner of Avondale’s Lava Salon and curator of the Gallery, says. “We provide exhibition space to new and established artists as well as programs and activities that encourage public awareness, participation, and appreciation of the visual arts. It’s a catalyst for public revitalization of Charleston via the aesthetics of art.” Ed Hose, an illustration artist from Georgia, erected the first public art piece in Avondale after winning a mural design contest conceived by the neighborhood’s businesses. Then in 2010, Richardson’s mind was blown with what he discovered during a Barcelona vacation, and he returned to Charleston with a new purpose. “I saw and was inspired by the incredible proliferation of street and outdoor art,” he says. “When I came back, I took one look at the service alley behind our shops and thought, ‘Hmmm, I wonder if I could get something started here…’” After some agreements with the (unofficial) Avondale Business Association and the City of Charleston, this dream of his, and so many others, was put into motion. And it’s still going. A short stroll around West Ashley’s Avondale or North Charleston’s Park Circle and you’ll get a free glance of over 50 walls that have been superbly illustrated by almost as many artists with everything from an exquisitely detailed Charles Darwin (by Sean Williams) to a beautifully vibrant peacock (by Susan McKellar), to Edgar’s adorable gray and white, and now-famous, dog. “In the beginning, they came fast and furious,” Richardson says. “For better or for worse, I didn't care. If you had paint, I had a wall. My only job was to make sure it didn't offend or include anything obscene. As the walls started filling up, I began to understand what my job was as the curator: to guide the artists to the wall that spoke to them. And through discussion of ideas, themes, and, in some cases, input from building tenants, we worked to conceive something that made sense, was appropriate for the space, and, for the more advanced artists, maybe felt a bit provocative on a certain level. My job is to bring us all together and to make the Gallery feel like it's a communal effort.” After working with local artists like Ishmael and Patch Whisky, Richardson was introduced to Edgar, who would soon bring the neighborhood Don, his picture of a perfect companion. “I was recommended to Geoff by a mutual friend,” Edgar

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says. “The first thing I could think of, as far as subject matter, was my dog—who had been living back in Wisconsin with my parents for the past 9 or so months while I traveled a lot to play music. I didn't really consider any other subjects. When it was suggested that I do a mural, it was almost instantly decided. I missed my dog, so it had to be Don.” After two days of admitted nervousness of painting his largest piece yet, Edgar finally immortalized Don down the alleyway between West Ashley’s Voodoo Lounge and Mellow Mushroom. “The spot is perfect because it is a low half-wall, and it kinda brings home the point that he's a little guy who is always hanging around.” Since its creation, the mural has brought many smiles to passersby, especially children who have been known to stop by for a photo and a kiss. Don’s friendly nature moves beyond the paint and encourages Richardson’s hope that everyone, even pets, feel connected to the neighborhood. “One of the things I so much enjoy about outdoor art is that it's made for the community to enjoy. It connects us all through a shared experience. For some, that experience is enhanced by stumbling onto our little secret garden of art. I like the one of Tim's dog for so many different reasons. He captures the spirit of his dog. I like that he is right at the beginning (or end of the alley), so he's always greeting you, like an alleyway ambassador, no matter if you're coming or going.” So what ever happened with the real Don? Not to worry, Don came back and made his mark in more ways than one. Last November, not only did Don return to Charleston for good, he was also introduced to his own likeness upon that alley wall. “My parents came to visit me from Wisconsin on Thanksgiving and brought my dog back to me. We took him out for a family photo shoot next to the mural, and the first thing he did was lift his leg on it. I took it as his way of signing it.” When Don’s not signing autographs, he loves to chase squirrels, kiss his feline roommate, Grapefruit, snack on pupcakes from the Lucky Puppy Truck, and watch nature shows. Go give Don’s white mohawk a scratch, and view other incredible pieces, some of which are works in progress, at the chART Outdoor Initiative and Gallery in Avondale and Park Circle, Charleston.

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who: Don, breed unknown, but “he’s something,” Edgar says. nickname: “Bacon-face” origin: Wisconsin famous for: His white mohawk, expressive eyes, and of course, his Avondale mural. loves: Long walks, kisses, and ice cream cones. hates: Vacuum cleaners, drums, and anything that beeps.

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On these pages you'll meet Charleston's largest and smallest dogs. Nigel the English Mastiff is an impressive 230 pounds, and his neck size? There's not a collar on the market that fits. Moose the rescued Great Dane is 205 pounds, towers over many at over 6 feet tall when standing on his hind quarters, and became quite the celebrity when his size earned him a spot on the Today show. In the case of Nigel and Moose, Bigger is Better. Rigby the 2.5 lb. Chihuahua might be dramatically smaller in stature than our two big fellas, but his large and in charge personality belies his size. He was right at home posing for the cover alongside Nigel, who outweighed him by a whopping 227.5 pounds! Our belle of the ball is Ginger Rose, a 3lbs 1oz Yorkie who perches perfectly on laps and prettily poses amongst delicate china. These two prove Winnie the Pooh correct, "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

Photography by Leigh Webber

SIZE matters

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continued from page 8

means or acts like he can’t hear you, it is quite possible that he is experiencing significant stress. A practical example of this would be as follows. You are having a dinner party and it’s the first time your dog has experienced a group of strangers in his home. You begin to rearrange the furniture for the party and notice that your dog is beginning to pace a little, lick his lips, scratch, and sneeze a few times, but he still happily responds to “Sit” when asked and takes his treat for a job well done. Your dog is stressed at this point, but not overthreshold. This doesn’t mean you should ignore the stress, but for the purpose of this example let’s keep going and see what happens next. As guests begin to arrive you notice that your dog begins to show more signs of stress and cannot seem to get comfortable, moves from place to place, and shifts from lying to sitting to standing repeatedly. Now when you ask him to sit, he does so but quite slowly and a bit stiffly. When offered the treat, he takes it but then drops it and backs away. Your dog’s stress level has increased and the situation needs to be addressed, but for the purpose of this example let’s push him further. The guests are all in the house, having drinks, eating hors d’oeuvres, and wandering through the house, mingling. Every time someone sees your dog they pat him on the head, oblivious that he is dipping his head to avoid them. His stress level has been increasing for several hours now. He’s had no quiet, safe place to go, away from the guests. Guests ask him to sit but he doesn’t, and when you offer him a special treat, his favorite, he turns his nose up at it. A moment later a young child comes up and puts her arms around your dog (which is not a good idea even if the dog is relaxed), and in one split second he growls, turns, and snaps at her face. Unfortunately, this is a story that I hear over and over again in my practice and the culprit in many situations is a chronically stressed dog, and lack of human intervention and situational management. So what are some of the common causes of canine stress and what simple strategies can be used to avoid them?

• Expectations anxiety: This is the stress that results when a dog does not know what is expected of them or cannot assess the situation. An example would be a person repeatedly saying “Off ” to a dog who has never been taught what “Off ” means. Some dog owners seem to think that dogs come pre-programed with a series of commands that they somehow “just know.” Remember, if you haven’t taught the dog what “Off ” means, using methods he can understand, then from his perspective you are just speaking gibberish and his anxiety goes up because he has no idea what you want! To reduce stress, you must know precisely what you expect when you give him a particular cue, the cue must always mean the exact same thing every time you use it, and you must have taught him the meaning of this cue. If you don’t know exactly what you expect when you give your dog a cue, then how is your dog supposed to know what you want? • Unpredictable humans: A common stressor for dogs is unpredictable human behavior. Dogs don’t cope well if we are inconsistent and change our minds, or send out different signals depending on our mood. A good example is being allowed on the couch one day but not being allowed on it the next day. Dogs do not have the capability to understand that being on this couch is OK today but not tomorrow, and become extremely stressed when your behavior appears to tell them two contradictory things. This category includes rules that change over time, such as one set of rules for when he was a puppy and another set of rules when he became a full-grown adult. Also in this category are rules that change throughout a day, such as stricter rules for when his paws are muddy or there are guests over. You must be consistent otherwise your dog will never know what the rules are and will experience anxiety and stress as a result. Low stress strategy? Pick a rule and stick to it! • Physical punishers: Harsh physical training or correction methods that may seriously frighten or hurt a dog are a huge source of stress. Training tools such as choke, pinch, and shock collars do not train a dog what behavior to do; instead,

they teach that the possibility for pain exists whenever the collar is on. The dog often learns to fear his owner, damaging the bond between owner and dog, sometimes irreparably. This is not to say that there should never be consequences for a dog’s actions. In the words of dog trainer Susan Garrett, “Positive does not mean permissive!” So how to reduce the impact? Correction and training methods should be understandable to your dog and should teach them what you want them to do instead of making them afraid to try anything new lest they do the wrong thing and receive a painful punisher. Great resources for teaching these methods include books written by Pat Miller, Patricia McConnell, Mary Burch, Jon Bailey, and Dr. Sophia Yin. • Lack of mental stimulation: Too little mental stimulation is one of the largest causes of stress that I see in my practice. Many dog owners seem to think that a walk or two per day (for the lucky dog) is all a dog needs. In some instances, such as dogs that are fearful of other dogs, walks can do more harm than good! Mentally stimulating activities, on the other hand, are always a good idea. Think about human solitary confinement. A prisoner could do jumping jacks, run in place, squats, or a dozen other solitary activities all day long but solitary confinement is still punishment. The reason for that is the isolation and lack of mental stimulation. Going for a walk can be invigorating, but sitting through a long meeting at work is mentally exhausting! This type of mental workout is what our dogs need on a daily basis. Strategies that reduce stress include a few short training sessions throughout the day, especially those that use shaping techniques (reward your dog for taking small steps towards the behavior you want, setting the bar higher as he masters each step until he eventually learns the entire behavior), and also providing learning puzzles for him to solve. Another good way to give your dog a mental workout is to engage his amazing sense of smell in an intense game of “Find the Cookie.” We have nine dogs in our home and we hide 100 pea-sized pieces of liver treat all over the house - but (and continued on page 27 Lowcountrydog

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available at all four All is Well locations. Tickets will also be available at Magnolia Gardens the day of the event. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, 3550 Ashley River RD, Charleston, SC

www.charlestonanimalsociety.org

february 16th 12:00pm doga fundraising event. Come have fun, stretch

every sunday in march and april 4:00pm pet safety sundays. Enjoy

and bond with your furry baby! One dog per person. Fund-raiser for animals in need, $25 Minimum Donation. To sign up call 557-3453. Serenity Now Yoga 419 Hibben St. Mt. Pleasant.

this FREE monthly lecture series provided by Dr. Carrie Davis, ER veterinarian. Topics include "When To Go To The Animal ER" "Toxins in and Around the Home" "Basic First Aid and CPR" "Dog Bite Prevention" Veterinary Specialty Care 985 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. RSVP to Donna @ 843-216-7554

february 7th - 9th 2nd annual pet helpers spay-ghetti/neuteroni event. 12 Local Restaurants Feature Special Entrées to Raise Funds for Pet Helpers Spay/Neuter Efforts. Visit any of the following restaurants to help spread awareness of the benefits of spay/neuter and raise funds for Pet Helpers! Each restaurant’s chef has created a Spay-ghetti or Neuteroni special entrée, of which a percentage of the proceeds will benefit Pet Helpers. Bacco Italian Restaurant, Bluerose Café, Café Fork, Cesca Ristorante Trattoria, Graze, J. Paulz James Island, J. Paulz Mt. Pleasant, La Fontana W. Ashley, La Fontana N. Charleston, Mondo’s Italian Restaurant, Parson Jack’s Café, Three Little Birds Café. www.pethelpers.org

february 10th 1:00pm-5:00pm lowcountry animal rescue dogmore stew festival at magnolia plantation. Tickets include admission to the plantation & its gardens, a lowcountry feast of hors d oeuvres, Frogmore Stew, and delicious desserts. Day long events include Silent Auction, Raffle Prizes, Dog Agility Course, Dog Training Demos & much more. ADULTS $20 ($25 at the door) $10 children 12-6/ $5 5-3 / under 3 free / well behaved, leashed pets are free. Call or text 843-343-8063 for more information or tickets. Tickets are

february 16th 12:00pm-3:00pm frwspca adoptathon pet lovers warehouse. Foster Pets & Shelter Pets are welcome. 620 Bacons Bridge Road Summerville. Call 843-873-5918 for more info.

Helpers, the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign and MUSC Heath & Vascular Center team up at the for Human & Canine Health featuring: Heart screenings for dogs and owners, the Go Red Dog Walk, pet and owner photos by Laura Olsen Imagery, prizes for the best costumes. $1 entry into the park. www. pethelpers.org for more info

march 16th 7:00pm-11:00pm 12th annual pet helpers oyster roast. Visitor Center Bus Shed, Charleston. Allyou-can-eat local oysters cooked just for you by Lowcountry Fatboy's Cooking. Petfriendly! Bring the entire family, dogs included! Please stay-tuned for ticket purchasing details. Silent Auction. Click to www.pethelpers.org for more info.

february 22nd-24th frwspca at petsmart national adoption weekend. The Frances R. Willis SPCA will be attending the PetSmart National Adoption Weekend which will take place Feb. 22-24, 2013 at the PetSmart in Summerville at 470 Azalea Square from 11:00am-4:00pm. For more information please call 843-873-5918. Foster Pets & Shelter Pets are welcome.

february 23rd 9:00am doggie day at the rec in the "Bark Park" located behind the Recreation Center on 29th Avenue. Please bring a copy of your Rabies vaccination to obtain City dog license. Vaccination clinic ($10) and annual IOP dog license ($5), pet photos, local rescues, and dog show. Categories include: Cutest Puppy (1 yr and under), Best Eyes, Most Attractive (1 yr and older), Best Smile, Mystery Mutt (small breed - under 40lbs), Best Dressed (costume), Mystery Mutt (large breed - 40lbs and over), Best Female Rescue, Most Creative Name, Best Male Rescue, Most Ear' Resistible Ears, Most Unusual Breed. Register by calling 843 8868294 or email Will McElheny at willm@ iop.net

february 24th 1:30-3:30pm paws go red. James Island County Park. Pet

april 20th-21st 9:00am to 5:00pm daily lcdm hosts deciphering the canine code with sarah kalnajs. Sarah Kalnajs, internationally renowned certified canine behaviorist and dog trainer, comes to Charleston to help us Break the Canine Code. This seminar will offer insight into dog-to-dog, dog-to-human, and human-to-dog communication. Trident Technical College Click to www.lowcountrydog. ticketbud.com/caninecode for tickets. *IAABC CEU credits: 6 per day, 12 total **CCPDT CEU Credits: 7 per day, 14 credits total.

Questions? Comments? Call 843-478-0266. Want to submit event information? Visit www.lowcountrydog.com and click on Add an Event. We will do our best to include your event as space allows. Our online calendar lists all events in full.

wondering why their dog is still reactive after several months of “working” with them. There are several reasons for why a dog might still be reactive d e s p i t e training, but for the purpose of this article’s topic, I will address one. If the dog is given free roam of the house or fenced yard when the pet parents are not present, the dog will rehearse barking at anything in their view and will find great enjoyment in it, especially if he feels he did his job by driving away the intruder. The ideal plan would be to set the dog up for success by managing their environment through the use of crates or gates when no one is present to supervise and train for the desired behavior. Crates, gates, closed doors and X-Pens will set your dog up for success as discussed above, but can and should also be used while you are in the stages of teaching them what items are suitable to chew on, during potty-training and when learning other boundaries. If they don’t have access to the sofa, they can’t chew on it; if they don’t have access to the nook behind the chair, they can’t potty there. Don’t get me wrong, you still have to teach your dog the desired behavior, but by not allowing him as much opportunity to rehearse the

Set your Dog Up for Success by Kristie Allen

I’m sure all of you have heard the phrase, “Practice makes Perfect.” Trainers often use this philosophy in dog training. The more a dog rehearses, or practices a behavior, the better they get at it. It’s easy to relate this philosophy to teaching your dog basic commands such as Sit, Stay, and Down. However, many dog parents don’t correlate “Practice makes Perfect” to undesired behaviors. These behaviors include barking or reactivity to other animals and people, eliminating in undesired locations, destruction of inappropriate items, and jumping on people. The best solution to extinguish an undesired behavior is to teach an alternate behavior, but it is just as important to limit how much the undesired behavior happens in the first place. Many clients come to me baffled, 22

Lowcountrydog

undesired behavior, you will set him up for success. Another fantastic management tool is your leash, and it’s not just for walks! Let me give you an example of how to use the leash as a versatile tool. A nice sit when greeting visitors at the door is a preferred alternate behavior to jumping, but can take some time for an energetic, untrained dog to master. As you are working on the alternate behavior, set your dog up for success by not giving him the opportunity to jump. Put a leash on your dog and stand on it before you open the door to prevent him from jumping. By consistently leashing him when guests arrive, you give him more opportunities for the sit to stick in his mind. When you do take Fido for a walk, use a training harness to keep him from pulling you. Some of my favorite loose leash walking tools are front clip harnesses such as the Sense-Sation, Walk In Sync, and the Freedom No Pull, or a head halter, such as the Halti. Instead of letting your dog pull then giving a collar correction, or a slap on the rump, these leash tools don’t allow him to pull in the first place. Instead, they provide you with the chances to positively reinforce his nice leash manners. These are just a few examples of management tools you should use while working with a new puppy, an older dog that you have inadvertently allowed to learn undesired behaviors, or if you’ve just recently rescued a dog that has had little training. It’s much easier to prevent an undesired behavior rather than to resolve one; however, setting your dog up for success via management is a fundamental tool when doing either. Depending on your dog, environment, and/or situation, management can be long or short term. In most cases, it’s a short term solution while your dog is learning correct responses and preferred behaviors. Remember, "Practice makes Perfect", so help your dog practice the behaviors you deem desirable through training, and prevent him from practicing undesired behaviors through management. Krisite Allen is the owner of The Learning Canine. To learn more about her positive training methods, click to www.thelearningcanine.com

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Diversity in Pet Behavior

at the time. My husband and I have also owned a Labrador retriever, a Golden retriever, a Bassett hound, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and other dachshunds over our twenty-eight years of marriage – I put up with his military deployments and moves – he puts up with my many household pets. I name these dogs to say that I have personal experience with many different dog types. Training retrievers initially involves treat rewards as they are very foodmotivated, and then quickly and simply, the reward of pleasing the owner is enough motivation. Labs and Golden retrievers live to make their people happy. I often joke that dachshunds, on the other hand, allow me to live in their home with them because I’ve agreed to feed them. Hounds are food motivated, thank goodness, because they are stubborn and not nearly as inclined to please an owner. Hounds need food treats as rewards – always – pleasing the owner will never replace the food as motivation for them. We bred hounds to follow a scent and that is what they do best, put their nose to the ground and go. No matter how loudly we call, they are focused on the scent and motivated to find its source. We bred them for that behavior, and we shouldn’t begrudge them the very characteristic we needed when we needed their help hunting food prey. When my dachshund slips out the door and is headed toward the busy traffic of Seven Farms Drive, I forget to acknowledge that fact in my concern for his safety. Sometimes even shaking the food treat can and shouting his name is not enough to distract him. One thing about a dachshund – they have good focus ability and very little fear. Dachshunds were bred in Germany to go down the hole into the den after a badger – they are tough little dogs! Another note about hounds – they cannot – I repeat cannot – be overweight because we need them to be always ready for that food treat. Otherwise, we have no effective means for motivating them.

by Lynn Flood , DVM

I love my father. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute, fell in love with a VA girl to whom he has been married for over fifty years, lives on 200 plus acres of rolling, partially forested pasture in the Shenandoah Valley, votes Republican, conservative Christian, owns a Labrador Retriever, feels passionately and lives his beliefs without apology. I also love his brother, my uncle, who is a Citadel graduate, fell in love with a Charleston girl to whom he has been married for over forty years, lives in West Ashley, is an active member of First Scots Presbyterian, a bit more progressive theologically and politically than my father, yet every bit as passionate in his belief system. He and his family have owned a mixed, small-breed dog, a Shih Tzu and cats; they are more accepting of diversity. I believe these personality differences are the result (phenotype) of their differing DNAs (genotypes) which shaped their individual responses to a nearly identical upbringing (my father is six years older, but their parents remained together for life.) They both lost a great uncle to a tragic, accidental, young death, their older sister to child-birth at a young age; both attended military colleges, my father chose to make a career out of the U.S. Army, my uncle went on to law school at USC, spent some time in the USAF, then practiced family law in Summerville. My own sons also are very different people who grew up in the same environment for nearly two decades. If my husband and I had used the same parenting style with them, we would have failed to motivate the one and to encourage the other; one needed constant prodding to work at school, the other needed constant reassuring that he was doing enough, that perfection is impossibility. Just as DNA affects personality in people, 24

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the same occurs in our pets. For that reason, I hope we continue to responsibly breed purebred dogs which mankind selectively produced over millennia – we bred for certain characteristics in dogs to meet a working need; the resultant breeds have predictable response to stimuli, making every breed safe when handled correctly. The dangers lie in improper handling and uneducated ownership. Even the fighting breeds need not be trained to fight and become aggressive to other dogs. They are almost never aggressive to small children unless owners are irresponsible about socializing them properly when they are puppies – and/or they are placed into anxiety-producing environments. Other “aggressive” breeds which tend toward protective behavior, when trained and handled properly, are not dangerous. Using the Wisdom Panel DNA test by Mars Veterinary Company (a simple blood test) (http://www.wisdompanel.com/) for mixed breed dogs can give us powerful information about our individual mixed breed pets and how to manage their behaviors. If we expect one training method to work for all dogs, we are distilling canine behavior into simplistic terms and we will fail in many cases. We must understand a bit about our pet before we can modulate behavior effectively. My own household consists of a menagerie of dogs and cats, and I’d like to use them to illustrate what I mean. I own a 70+ lb neutered male greyhound, a 32 lb spayed female herding-type, mixed breed dog and two male neutered dachshunds, one eleven years old and one four years old. They all have come from my practice over the years – they either had medical problems for which their previous owners could no longer manage the necessary care or they lost their homes due to medical or behavior issues they were suffering

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Paws and Think: Addressing the Issue with Strays By Denise K. James

While rescuing a homeless dog or puppy is a noble aspiration, many people are not fully informed about the situation regarding homeless and feral dogs. Numerous areas of the Lowcountry are problematic for strays, and, while it might tug at your heart to think of canines that lack the cozy, loving environment your own dog enjoys, an abundance of strays often points to a larger problem. Areas on James Island have become known for animals “at large,” the term used by Charleston Animal Control for dogs that roam without regular human supervision. “Over the last three years, we have received calls about approximately 300 puppies from one particular area,” explained Kristin Kifer, director of operations at Pet Helpers. “The dogs end up on a neighbor’s property, which faces the woods. This neighbor often calls our facility to come collect any puppies who are at least 3 weeks old; this past summer, for example, we pulled 18 and found caretakers for them,” she said. As it turns out, the adult dogs are hanging around as well – they just aren’t getting as much attention as the puppies. “The adult dogs pretty much run away from us or from anyone they don’t recognize,” said Kifer. “The neighbors who live in the area leave food out, but these animals are still considered strays. They roam freely and are not socialized.” Kifer recently adopted a puppy of her own

Lowcountrydog

from the problematic area and said the dog has adapted to life at her house on Johns Island. “Darla lived outside for the first winter,” she said. “It broke my heart, the way she wouldn’t come in. But now she sleeps inside the house every night and gets along with my other pets. She just needed time.” Although pups like Darla are frequently rescued from the area, dog-lovers around the Lowcountry are concerned about the overall issue of overpopulation. “The question that needs to be begged is, what about the adult dogs?” asked Joe Elmore, executive director at the Charleston Animal Society. “My opinion is that community members should avoid letting dogs roam, even spayed or neutered, because of the potential danger. Saving a puppy or two out of a situation where dogs are running at large still means what it means. No matter how we slant it, it’s a serious issue that deserves attention and needs to be solved.” Courtney Gruber, a cyclist who enjoys the beautiful routes on James Island, admits that roaming dogs can pose an obstacle. “I have never encountered an aggressive dog,” Gruber said, “but, in May 2011, we had a feral dog chase our bicycle group, run into my front wheel and cause me to crash and fracture my elbow.” Though Gruber and her friends may not be the first to encounter dogs on a trail, the number is slowly decreasing over time. “The 'at large' population of dogs has

greatly diminished on James Island,” Kifer commented. “It went from about 40 dogs a few years ago to about 10 dogs currently. Natural selection – such as illness – and vehicles can take a toll.” Kifer noted that many Lowcountry doglovers are aware of the situation and have become avid volunteers, choosing to foster and adopt only dogs from that problem areas. “We also offer a program where puppies can be spayed or neutered free of charge if they were rescued,” she said. Unfortunately, not everyone feels that spaying and neutering adult dogs and letting them roam where they may is a wise choice. Furthermore, people who adopt a young dog from the area need to be aware of the pup’s background. “I'm not against the pups getting adopted by willing families, but you have to be careful identifying whether these dogs are feral or socialized,” said Elmore. Elmore admitted that he, like many of us, grew up in a neighborhood where dogs roamed without leashes. But, he said, that is not the optimal situation for the community. “How much socialization can dogs get if they are running around like that?” he asked. “Yard dogs who have been spayed or neutered and receive vaccinations can live out of doors with proper fencing – but it’s not the same for dogs who don’t have that kind of care,” he added. But a glimmer of hope shines for the future of dogs in the Lowcountry. More people than ever are realizing that spaying and neutering is the best way to prevent an overpopulation of animals, whether the pet lives indoors or out. “We are better off than we were 10 years ago because spaying and neutering has become more of a societal expectation,” remarked Kevin Ryan, executive director of Pet Helpers. “That doesn’t mean that everyone believes in it yet, but more do. We need to keep beating the drum on this; spaying and neutering needs to become the norm and not the exception.” Ryan commented that the old concern of endangering a pet by spaying and neutering is largely outdated, given the above-average facilities in the Lowcountry. “We are fortunate in this community to have so many excellent and low-cost clinics.

continued from page 24

Food is the best leverage we have for hounds and for terriers. A fit dog of any type is healthier, happier and easier to train, but for these two types of strongminded dogs lean is essential to a happy dog/owner relationship. Terriers are another type of dog we bred for a specific use (rodent hunting) which did not involve pleasing us. In order to train them, we need them to be ever-ready to accept a food treat. Overfed hounds and terriers are guaranteed to have behavior problems. Until an owner is willing to get the extra weight off one of these types of dogs, there is little that can be done to modulate behavior issues. Eating is the best motivation we have for adjusting behaviors to create a happy home environment. I encourage owners to think not in terms of diets, restrictions and “being mean,” but in terms of the ultimate relationship they want to have with their dog – when they can dole out praise and food rewards rather than resent or fear the problem behavior(s) which we are working to change. Sight hounds and the working and herding types are the most sensitive and perhaps the most intelligent breeds – but that makes them the most challenging to train. They are all high-energy dogs and require a lot of exercise every day or they will find destructive ways to use their energy. Wisdom DNA testing of mixed breed dogs is very helpful in my practice; it enables me to inform an owner about a dog’s daily need for exercise and mental stimulation. The test results give, by percentage, the dog’s genetic breed makeup back two generations. Armed with that information, an owner can plan accordingly to use daily jogs, dog park visits, dog walkers, doggy day care, or whatever means necessary to prevent destructive behavior and anxietyproduced health issues throughout the dog’s life. If we attempt to use canine behavior techniques with our feline pets, we are doomed to fail from the beginning. In an online follow-up article, I will discuss feline behavior and some tips, techniques and training aids to help in that pet species.

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Lowcountrydog

continued from page 19

You can go to these facilities and know your pet is in capable hands. A lot of the people who are opposed to spaying and neutering feel the way they do because they want to avoid putting the pet ‘under the knife,’ but we’ve made the surgery less invasive than before,” he said. Ryan, Kifer and Elmore all agreed that taking responsibility for animals is the key to solving the problem with strays, not just through spaying and neutering, but also by finding a safe place for a pet you are no longer able to keep. “A number of these strays are dogs that might have been tamed previously but got dumped off or ran away and reverted back to a wild state,” said Elmore. “They can come into contact with rabid foxes, squirrels and other animals that carry rabies.” “We are all committed to saving lives, but we need the community to partner with us... with donations, adoptions and getting your pet to a facility,” Ryan said. “The good news, regarding areas with strays, is that the people want progress on this issue. We’re lucky that Charleston is a humane place, where folks are passionate and committed to the welfare of animals.” The dogs are lucky, too. ** NOTE: LCDM refrained from specifically naming any of these problematic areas to avoid publicizing places where dogs are readily abandoned. If you are interested in volunteering to help, please contact your nearest shelter.

Lowcountrydog

here’s the part that will really give them a workout) we put them off the floor! They are used to finding treats on the floor, so we make things harder by balancing treats on the rails between chair legs, on bases of lamps, on lower shelves of bookcases, in the dog toy bin, under dog toys that have been scattered across the floor, on stair treads, and in dozens of other out-of-theordinary places. The challenge of finding the treats is like “doggie calculus” to them ... so mentally exhausting that they usually take a nice long nap afterwards! Anything you can do to get your dog’s nose “working” will be worth its weight in gold in terms of a happy, low stress dog. • Insufficient rest: Were you aware that dogs require (on average) 17 hours of rest per day? If they don’t get enough rest they experience stress. They also require time to recover after out-of-the-ordinary outings. Are you taking your dog for a morning run, having a dog-walker come mid-day, going to agility class after work, and then visiting the dog park? If so, then he is definitely not getting the downtime he needs to keep his stress level low. So how can you lower your dog’s stress level? Limit your activities to one outside activity (besides daily walks) per day while incorporating training and mentally stimulating activities at home. • Nowhere to call “home:” Just because you enjoy having company over doesn’t mean your dog wants to be in the middle of this social activity. In fact, most dogs would much rather have a place of their own, in a quiet area, to get away from the hubbub. The more sensitive the dog, the more likely they are to be stressed by visiting children, holiday activities, dinner parties, and the like. Low-stress strategy? Provide your dog with a Safety Zone. This could be a bedroom, a hallway, or a laundry area that has been outfitted with a comfy bed and some toys. It should be a social area of the home - not in an area isolated from the family and not in an outdoor garage or kennel. The Safety Zone should never be used for punishment! Remember, its purpose is to lower stress, not increase it. Get your dog used to the Safety Zone by giving him great toys, treats, and lots of attention when he is in it. It’s better to close off the Safety Zone with a baby

gate that he can’t see through instead of one that is visually open since dogs tend to be stimulated by anything they can see. When your house is going to get busy, put your dog in his Safety Zone with a stuffed Kong or favorite chew toy. To mask environmental noise that may disturb his rest, use a white noise machine or play one of the excellent Through a Dog’s Ear CDs. We all need somewhere to unwind and so do our dogs. Dogs experience stress much the same way we do, and chronic stress can create health and behavioral problems in them just as it can in us. If you see that your dog is under stress, even if it’s mild, take a moment to figure out what the cause is and how you can manage the environment to make your dog feel more comfortable. The more training your dog has had, the easier that management will be. They need our help to reduce their stress levels so that risks of secondary problems are reduced. Faced with a perceived threat (such as another dog or an approaching person), your dog will become alert to the threat and will begin to show signs of stress that, if left un-managed, will grow until the dog crosses the behavioral threshold into arousal and possibly aggression. The longer a dog has been experiencing daily stress, the quicker he will move from calm to highly aroused, from safe to unsafe. It is critical that you learn to understand how your dog thinks and learns, as well as how he uses body language to communicate. Learning your dog’s body language will help you create a relationship with him you may have not thought possible and will enable you to help him manage daily stress. There are a number of excellent resources available to help you learn how your dog communicates, including my upcoming Deciphering the Canine Code Seminar hosted by Lowcountry Dog Magazine April 20th and 21st at Trident Technical College. I hope to see you there. Click to www.lowcountrydog.ticketbud.com/ caninecode for tickets. Learn more about Sarah at www.bluedogtraining.com

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