Modern Dog Fall 2008

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions

What Your Dog’s Trying to Tell You

An Illustrated Guide To Body Language

Smart Toys

PublicationsAgreement AgreementNumber Number40743013 40743013 Return ReturnMail MailDept, Dept,202–343 202–343Railway RailwaySt., St.,Vancouver, Vancouver,BC BCV6A V6A1A4 1A4 Publications

Do Dogs Need Canine Friends?

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THE DACHSHUND NO PULL LEASHES ASK DOG LADY STUFF WE LOVE SENIOR DOGS

FALL 2008

The How-to Issue Brush your dog’s teeth Hunt for truffles Start your own rescue group Introduce a new dog into your pack

The Best Finds Under $20

MORE

Giveaways

FALL

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Jennifer Finnigan & pups

FALL 2008

FEATURES 28 Do dogs need canine friends?

BY STANLEY COREN

38 Maggie Q, We Love You

An exclusive interview with the actor and animal rights activist.

BY MARNI WEDIN

42 Nobody Knows the Truffles I’ve Seen

Trained dogs unearth culinary black gold.

BY SANDY ROBINS

50 Laughing Matters

Jennifer Finnigan’s love for kooky comedy, matching luggage, and her co-star, Johnny.

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BY MARY-JO DIONNE

56 Rescue 101

Animal lovers start their own inspiring grass-roots rescue organizations. BY CARREEN MALONEY

62 The Modern Dog’s Guide to Boston

Where to shop, eat, stay, and play.

BY ELIZABETH GARDINER

84 Chi-Wow-Wow!

With her latest role, the incomparable Jamie Lee Curtis throws dog lovers a bone. BY ELIZABETH KEMP

86 Dog Story

Of love, betrayal, and (eventual) reconciliation.

BY SARAH STRANGE

98 Body Language Basics

How to “read” dog. BY STANLEY COREN

107 Rover’s Got Game

Nina Ottosson’s smart dog toys challenge canine minds.

BY BRIELLE MORGAN

140 War of the Roses

A down-on-her-luck Dachshund finds her forever home.

BY JENNIFER NOSEK

STYLE 37 Dress Your Dog

Solving fashion crises one dog at a time.

40 Chien Chic

BURNIE 1 © 20 05/ DEBOR AH SAMUEL

32

49 Doggie Styles

Fun stuff for feisty pups.

66 Cirque du Chien

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LINDSEY DONOVAN

97 Green Scene

Earth-friendly choices for eco-minded dogs.

105 More Cool Finds Under $20

Big style, small budget.

that not d chewy texture an e ap sh e u iq un Ž n chews have a ey also help freshe th Greenies dental , ar rt ta d an rol plaque only helps to cont greenies.com ee sample, visit fr a or F . th ea your dog’s br

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LIVING 12 Stuff We Love

Modern Dog staffer’s picks of the litter.

27 Say Cheese

More smilers make their Modern Dog debut.

80 Senior Dogs

Give Rover the Golden Years he’s earned with products created especially for aging dogs.

90 Canine Cutie Cupcakes

Why, hello, cupcake! Dog lovers, get your just desserts with these easy recipes.

95 Dogs on the Job

This year’s Take Your Dog to Work Day photo contest winners give new meaning to “working like a dog.”

103 Art Attack PHOTO LINDSEY DONOVAN

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Profile in style: Jessie Marianiello. BY MARNI WEDIN

109 No-pull Leashes!

Our round-up of back-saving devices make walk time fun again.

111 Connie’s Book Club

Modern Dog Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson’s book selections for just-can’t-put-it-down reading.

115 Ask Dog Lady

Dog Lady delves into your most dogged dilemmas.

119 The Party

This Hallowe’een it’s trick and treat.

121 D.I.Y.

97 BREED PROFILE 32 The Dachshund

Beyond wiener dog.

BY MARIAN BUECHERT

BODY AND SOUL 72 10 Easy Ways to Detox Your Home

From paint to cleaners: Lighten your eco footprint and dog-proof your home.

BY ELIZABETH KEMP

74 The Doctor’s In

Bid dental disease adieu with Dr. Betsy Brevitz’s brushing how-to.

77 The Qi to Good Health: Canine Acupressure

Make your own dog toy: simple instructions for The Squeaky Sock Sack.

123 Ask an Expert

Training trials? The Fab Five answer your questions.

REGULAR FEATURES 6 8 10 14 20 23 120 138 142

Editor’s Letter Contributors Our Readers Write The Scoop Pup Profiles Calendar Marketplace Giveaways Horoscopes

COVER LOOK Our fall cover girl, actor Jennifer Finnigan, star of Beethoven’s Big Break, cuddles adorable Saint Bernard puppies.

Photographed by Joel Lipton.

BY ELIZABETH KEMP

78 Ask the Animal Psychic

Animal Communicator Joy Turner connects people with their pets.

4 moderndog

F AL L 2008

In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 7, Issue 3. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 357 Martin St., Suite C, PO Box 1419, Blaine, WA 98231-1419.

Periodicals postage paid at Blaine, WA and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402

©2008 Blue Buffalo Co., Ltd.

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PHOTO LI N DS E Y DO N O V A N

E D ITO R ’S LE T T E R

E

uropeans certainly have it over North Americans when it comes to enjoying life, at least with regards to vacation time. Our paltry two weeks seem sad indeed when compared with their four. Worse yet, there seems to be a growing North American trend of cutting vacation time short or “postponing” it entirely. When plugged into the daily grind, it’s easy to get so involved that you forget the importance of stepping away from your everyday environment to recharge, allowing a different perspective on life. Besides the apparent health benefits, regaining energy often enables us to find simple solutions to problems that previously seemed unsolvable.

I can vouch for that personally, as I finally gave myself permission to take some time off during the summer. I went to the Aeolian Islands off the North East coast of Sicily and they were amazing. (You can check out my photos on my blog at moderndogmagazine.com/blogs).

Although guilty of checking in with the office from time to time, I was able to totally relax and have fun—lots of it! When I returned, I felt calm, de-stressed, balanced, and mentally capable of dealing with the backlog awaiting me.

As a matter of fact, I’ve experienced such benefits that I’m already anticipating my next vacation and intend to schedule mini-breaks into my busy life as frequently as I can.

However, with summer now behind me and fall’s “back to business” ethos slapping me in the face, I fear it will be altogether too easy to plummet into the work trap again.

That’s when I’ll call on my dog, Kaya, to help me. Incapable of stressing over deadlines, brooding about the past, or worrying about future “what ifs,” our dogs are a great daily reminder of the importance of setting aside some time every day to unwind and have fun.

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F AL L 2008

Also here to help with that endeavour is Modern Dog! The fall issue is packed full of ideas to get out with your canine pal and enjoy life. Why not take a trip to Boston?

We’ve sourced the best dog-friendly hotels, shops, restaurants, and parks. (If you’re looking for something closer to home, we have loads of suggestions—check out all our City Guides at moderndogmagazine.com). Are you a gastronome? If so, turn to page 42 and start training your dog to bring home the bacon or, er, truffles. Impress your friends with a theatrical dog trick (p. 16), get the dialogue going between you and Tippy by interpreting your dog’s body language with Dr. Stanley Coren’s illustrated guide (p. 98), check out the newest breed of smart, interactive dog toys (p. 107) or get crafty and make your dog a new toy (p. 121).

Read about Jennifer Finnigan, our beautiful and talented cover model and star of the just released Beethoven’s Big Break, the newest installment in the comedic saga of a lovable but trying Saint Bernard (p. 50). The amazing Jamie Lee Curtis also throws us dog lovers a bone with her role in upcoming release, Beverly Hills Chihuahua (p. 84).

On a more serious note, if you’ve been wondering how you can make a difference in the lives of unwanted or abused animals, then take your cue from some animal lovers who started their own inspiring grass-roots rescue organizations (p. 56).

From the latest and greatest must-have accessories, toys, beds, and beyond, to more photo contest winners (guaranteed to make you smile), indispensable training solutions, health and nutrition advice, the best fashion and cool finds, we’ve put together an issue for you that will be sure to entertain, educate, and amuse. Enjoy!

Love,

Constance Wilson, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief

I have heard it all my life, A voice calling my own.

Sometimes it comes as a soft-bellied whisper.

Sometimes it holds an edge or urgency.

But always it says: Wake up my love.

You are walking asleep.

There’s no safety in that!

By: Oriah Mountain Dreamer, from The Call: Discovering Why You Are Here.

C ON T R IBUT OR S •

FALL 2008

Award-winning actor Sarah Strange makes her MD debut with “Dog Story,” an account of how the dreaded Other Woman almost came between her and her dog (page 84). Sarah grew up in the B.C. television industry, as her parents created the The Beachcombers TV series. She has been a regular on Da Vinci’s Inquest and The Newsroom and has made guest appearances on shows such as The X-Files, and The L Word. Her feature film credits include White Noise and Stargate: The Ark of Truth. Most recently, she has been working on ABC’s Men in Trees and Personal Effects, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer. Aside from acting, Sarah is occupied with writing a novel, learning to speak French, and spending time with her dogs.

Publisher

Editor-in-Chief

Editor

Connie Wilson Jennifer Nosek Marian Buechert Jennifer Nosek

Creative Director

NO 3

Modern Dog Inc.

Contributing Editor

VOL 7

Circulation Manager

Jessica Nosek

Design & Production

Carolyn Howse

Manager, Advertising & Marketing

Elizabeth Gardiner

Marketing & Administration

Elizabeth Kemp

Subscription Services & Accounting Assistant

Ariel Castillo

Controller

Web Consultant

Interns

Cecilia de Roca Chan Dave Egan

Annica Tong Marta Puszczewicz Mariella Koc-Spadaro

Donations Program Liaison

Jessica Nosek

Okanagan

Representative

Jytte Wilson

For artist Michelle Hayden-Marsan, capturing the essence of her subject and documenting the connection between owner and pet is the inspiration for her whimsical work. Michelle received a BFA in drawing from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, but now makes her home on California’s central coast with her mutt Pretzel, husband Darren, and their two fluffy girls. Michelle’s illustrations have appeared in the last two issues of MD; in the current issue, her work explores the relationships between dogs and their peers in “Do Dogs Need Friends?” (page 28).

Subscription inquiries call (800) 417-6289 Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 7, Issue 3.

Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 7, Issue 3. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 357 Martin St., Suite C, PO Box 1419, Blaine, WA 98231-1419.

Periodicals postage paid at Blaine, WA and additional offices.

POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402 PHONE

(604) 734-3131

OR TOLL FREE FAX

(866) 734-3131

(604) 734-3031 OR TOLL FREE (866) 734-3031

The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, images, photographs or other materials.

Marni Wedin is a graduate of Simon Fraser University’s prestigious Writer’s Studio, where she was mentored by Canada’s finest literary talent. Having grown up on a farm surrounded by animals, Marni thinks that being able to combine her love for dogs and her love for words makes her the luckiest person in the world. When she isn’t writing, Marni has been known to dabble in visual and stage arts and loves talking to other artists. Lucky for her, this issue gave her the opportunity to chat with two very accomplished artists (and dog lovers!) in exclusive interviews—actor Maggie Q (page 38) and painter Jessie Marianiello (page 103).

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F AL L 2008

By accepting and publishing advertising the publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses the quality of services or products within those advertisements.

Copyright 2008 by Modern Dog Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic or mechanical, including the Internet or photocopying without the written permission of the Publisher.

Modern Dog and its logotype are the trademarks of Modern Dog Inc. Oneyear subscription prices: Canada $18CAD, U.S.A. $15USD, foreign $45USD. Subscription orders and customer service inquiries should be sent to Modern Dog Subscription Services, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4

PRINTED IN CANADA

www.moderndogmagazine.com Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743013 PAP Registration No. 11049 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program and the Canada Magazine Fund towards our mailing and editorial costs.

© 2008 P&G

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OU R RE A D E R S W R IT E Dog Lady hits the mark I was just reading Dog Lady’s advice in my summer edition of Modern Dog. I wanted to say thank you for giving Amanda from Princeton, NJ a reality check. When I started to read her letter to Dog Lady, I could feel my blood pressure going up, because she is 29 and, it appears to me, hoping that a man who is 41 is going to change. The sentence in which she complains that he is “slow to change, slow to motivate” reveals her anger ask dog lady and frustration with him, which you identified right away. When she Q goes on to say she intends to have a “firm” talk to him, presumably about all his glaring faults, I just thought A to myself, this woman needs to straighten out her own control issues before she can ever have a relationship with someone. I sure hope she listens to you. Sam’s [the dog’s] happiness is hanging in the balance.

Judy Taylor-Atkinson, Port Moody, BC Bothered and Bewildered?

Crazed and Confused? if your doggie dilemma has you down in the dumps…

Dear Readers, Dogs weave into our lives and, often, they serve as the brokers of change. Here are three letters exploring different aspects of how dogs play poignant, significant roles in romantic relationships.

Dear Dog Lady, Help! My husband and I fight over our dog sleeping in our bed! My husband agreed not to let our dog, Bugsy, sleep in our bed anymore after we moved into our new home, and he’s kept his promise, somewhat. I have walked into our bedroom and caught him breaking the rules.

I usually get angry and get Bugsy down and then we fight about it. I love my dog but can’t stand sleeping in his hair!!! My husband and I fight about this constantly.

We are moving again and I will not have the dog on our bed or, if I’m lucky, even in our bedroom period. He thinks I’m cruel.

Who’s right here? How can I get my sanity back?

—Aimee, Toronto, ON Aimee, good gracious, it sounds as if you’re talking about the dread “other woman” rather than the family pet. You’re going to resent

Bugsy more and more as your husband and you continue to fight about sleeping arrangements for the dog. So cease and desist with a truce-inducing heart-to-heart conversation.

Your peace offering will be to allow Bugsy a sleeping space in the bedroom.

C’mon, you can deal with this concession.

To sweeten the deal, throw in a new dog bed as part of the bargain. Say you’ll buy Bugsy a bed all his own so there’s no possible excuse for your husband to accuse you of cruelty. Once the dog becomes used to his luxe lounger, he will want to go there all the time if there is consistent training from both of you to direct Bugsy to his special sleeping pad. (Treats scattered at bedtime will help a lot.)

In exchange, your husband must promise not to allow the dog to sleep on your marital bed. You have to convince hubby—in a nice way—that your sanity is being compromised so he clearly understands how important this is for you. You can stress you dearly love the dog but your devotion is severely compromised by the hair of the dog.

Dear Dog Lady, I am in love. I always hoped for a day when I would find someone to come home to; someone to love unconditionally

and share my life with. I finally found this someone, but it isn’t my boyfriend, Rick.

Rather, it’s his dog, Bella, a Boxer who has stolen my heart.

Here is the problem: My feelings for Rick have cooled. While I think he is an OK guy, I don’t think he is the guy for me. Rick is boring, kind of sedentary, and getting on my nerves with his nonstop chatter and whining. To be honest, he is driving me crazy. Normally, I wouldn’t have a problem ending the relationship yet I think about losing Bella in the process and my heart breaks.

Bella has become my constant companion. Bella and I have our daily routine of jogs around the neighborhood. We meet our friends at the dog park. Every evening we have playtime in the backyard. After our daily activities, Bella climbs onto the couch and puts her head in my lap to go to sleep. (Rick doesn’t like her on the couch or drooling on his lap.)

Now there’s added wrinkle: Several months ago Rick mentioned it would be nice to get Bella a little brother. At the time I was enthusiastic. Last weekend, however, he put a deposit down on a puppy. While the puppy is adorable, I am scared that I will become even more attached (if that is possible) and it will be impossible to walk away from Rick. moderndogmagazine.com

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“When Good Dogs Go Bad”: The Good and the Bad When I read the article “What Lies Beneath: When Good Dogs Go Bad” (Spring 08), I must admit it sent chills up my spine, especially when I saw the photo of the author’s beloved Stella. I was also affected by a very similar tragedy involving my German Shepherd, Isis, and my Toy Poodle, Tiffany. Without going into any of the gruesome details, the images of that fateful morning have haunted me for years. I was 11 years old when the tragedy happened. Dunbar quoted that “these incidents are so rare that it is impossible to predict them beforehand.” This is comforting to some degree. I want to commend Corey Van’t Haaff for sharing her experience. I had never heard of anyone who had witnessed what I did, until now. Thank you.

Nikki Stovall, Winter Springs, FL

n First, before I unload my concerns, I would like to congratulate you on your magazine: I have been reading it since the first issue and draw many ideas from it. But I take issue with the article “What Lies Beneath: When Good Dogs Go Bad” (Spring 08). It says: “Aggression is not a natural thing. Wolves are rarely aggressive towards their own kind unless A threatened.”

As an overall statement, this is simply wrong and a fatal message for dog owners who When Good Dogs Go Bad will interfere every time a dog so much as warningly looks at another dog. Aggression is not only natural, but live-saving behaviour. It is us humans who mistake normal aggression for a life-threatening act. Every fixed stare, every time a dog shoulders another, every snarl towards each other is a small act of aggression. It is not only normal, but healthy. Complete absence of social stress is unhealthy for people as much as dogs.

The statement “Among dogs, the largest and strongest always have higher ranking in the social order” is also not true. The older, more experienced dog has the higher ranking. The problem is often that people do not realize when the hierarchy changes.

Most dog owners tend to take their dogs too seriously on one hand (substitute for human relationships), and not seriously enough on the other (don’t keep them in a way that is appropriate for the species). Overall statements like this are misleading and confusing to the average dog owner.

Katharina von der Leyen, Germany nyone who knows me knows I would lAy down my lIfe for Any of my

what lies beneath

By Corey Van’t Haaff

46 moderndog

dogs. I wouldn’t hesitate to put myself between my girls and any threat that came our way.

But last autumn, a threat did come calling: an internal threat. one of my dogs, a gorgeous 18-month-old German wirehaired Pointer named matilda, became the threat.

It was sunday evening. we had just finished a pizza feast and, of course, the dogs got their nibblies. The TV was on, the empty cardboard box still on the coffee table. I had claimed my space on the corner of my very long couch, purchased to accommodate all my canine friends, when my very old Poodle, stella, walked over.

In a flash, matilda was on her, attacking her ferociously. It took a long time to pry her teeth from stella and once that was accomplished, the damage was severe. stella’s side was ripped open and without the muscle to hold back her internal organs, her intestines had tumbled out, protruding against the skin. I was in full panic mode. I locked up each dog separately and rushed stella to an emergency clinic, but her injuries proved to be fatal. I was devastated. what followed—the question of what to do about my baby, matilda—was heartrending. I thought this could be simply a one-time occurrence. I rationalized that I could not euthanize a perfectly healthy puppy for one mistake. I discussed the situation with my vet and my dog-owning friends. reaction was mixed. one friend said to euthanize her immediately.

One of my dogs, Another said not to be hasty—it could be an isolated a gorgeous incident. maybe it was jealousy, another chimed in.

18-monthAggression in a multi-dog household is a huge old German problem, according to Peni fitzpatrick, dog behavWirehaired iourist, trainer, and owner of The dog Company, a dog training facility on Vancouver Island in British Pointer, became Columbia. the threat.

“Aggression is the outcome of an issue not being addressed,” she says. “Aggression is not a natural thing. wolves are rarely aggressive toward their own kind unless threatened.” In our world of dog/human relationships, aggression develops when a dog issue is not dealt with. “Aggression always accelerates if it’s not dealt with,” she says. “The human must be the pack leader.” naturally dominant dogs need to know in no uncertain terms that it’s you in charge, not them. They cannot be allowed to exhibit any unacceptable behaviour, including growling or mounting another dog.

And it’s a 24/7 job.

“The moment you let it slip, instantly the dog will take charge. The leader is the leader around the clock.”

At the same time, says dr. stanley Coren, noted psychologist and dog behaviour expert, the top dog needs to know that you recognize and support the pack hierarchy; you may be dominant over the alpha dog, but she or he is dominant over the others. ”Among dogs, the largest and strongest always have higher ranking in the social order,” he explains. “when you are distributing food, praise, affection or anything of value to the dogs, do it by starting with the largest and strongest animal and working downwards to the smallest and weakest animal (regardless of your own sense of honour or justice or preference). If you fail to do this you are setting things up for trouble. for example if you feed the Chihuahua first and the Pointer later, then you have violated natural pack order.

This means that the Pointer must prove that it is higher in the pack and that will be done by attacking those dogs that appear to have usurped [her] rightful rank and so forth. It may not make sense to you as a human, but it does to the dogs.”

Guilty as charged. I had always given any treats, food, love, and affection to the dogs in the order they came into my home.

There were probably many warning signs I didn’t notice, or gave little thought to. stella only came into my home a few years ago. she was lovable but definitely grumpy and had nipped at almost all the other dogs from time to time. I ignored it because of her age.

moderndogmagazine.com

spring 2008

47

Write to us!

Modern Dog welcomes correspondence from all readers. Address letters to Modern Dog Letters, 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1A4, Canada, or email us at letters@moderndogmagazine.com. If correspondence is by email, please tell us where you are writing from. All letters are subject to editing.

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STUFF WE LOVE

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Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter

1 These lovely collars from Dosha Dog are my pick for style and durability. Designed in San Francisco and handcrafted from safe, non-toxic materials, they’re practical yet so pretty! —Carolyn ($20, doshadog.com)

2 Beauty school drop-out no more! With these totally awesome rainbow shears and thinners, every day is a good fur day! —Jessica ($225, tamsco.biz)

3 Finally, an alternative to standard-issue breed t-shirts. Skeledog’s tees, with their x-ray take on iconic

$

breeds, are available in men’s and women’s sizes and printed on American Apparel shirts in awesome colours.

—Jennifer ($25, skeledog.com)

4

Yabba Daba Doo! My little Timmy stays safe, secure, and comfortable in this up-front personal carrier that keeps my hands free for shopping. —Cecilia ($36, available at upscale pet stores in Canada and U.S.)

5 As much as I love the “eau de dog” exhaust emitted from the vacuum, it’s not a scent everyone adores. If you fall into the latter camp, you’ve got to try Arm & Hammer Pet Fresh Fresh-ins. Simply pour a small packet of Fresh-ins into your vacuum bag and voila, the air emitted now smells fresh (we’re not talking icky perfumesmell, either). Trust me, this dog’s nose knows. —Kaya ($2.48, at Wal-Mart).

6 I love this colourful line of dog-themed, handcrafted Polish pottery which includes mugs, bowls, plates,

BL

servers, even a dog bowl! Pictured is the Cheese Lady, which keeps your cheese (or butter) safely away from Rover’s roving tongue while expressing your love of dog with its black Lab print. —Connie ($80, polishpotterybuyer.com)

7 Small dogs (particularly Dachshunds, such as myself) can really injure their backs jumping onto chairs and beds, which is why I love Carmen Steps. These great ramps and steps make it a whole lot easier for me to get up onto my office chair and oversee the editorial department! They can even custom design them to fit any home.

—Esther ($359, carmensteps.com)

8 It’s hard to look good eating off the floor but my dog, she dines in style. —Liz ($30, unleashedlife.com) 9 I’m a sucker for backstage anecdotes and when those stories star rescued animals that have trod the boards on Broadway, it’s a perfect read. Broadway Tails (Lyons Press, 2008) gets a standing ovation for its behind-the-scenes gossip and wonderful true tales of clever, cute, and charismatic critters that stole the show.

—Marian ($12, amazon.com)

10 I’m a fan of big shiny hair, and not just on me but on my dogs, too, which is why I love Nu Hemp’s O Sauce supplement. It’s jam-packed with nutrients and fatty acids that keep your dog healthy, inside and out (gorgeous locks!), and, might I add, it’s quite tasty, too. If they only made this stuff for humans!

—Lisi ($8, nuhemp.com)

11 Check out this cool “King Dog” tee from one of the hottest brands in the world, Ed Hardy by Christian

9

Audigier! Also watch out for Rock Couture for dogs in collaboration with Chromebones. —Ariel ($62, christianaudigier.com)

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12 moderndog

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CANINE NEWS AND REVIEWS

PHOTO THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART/AN N A MA RIE KE L L E N

Pet Store Puppies a Poor Purchase

Pop Goes the Dog A giant balloon dog is causing quite a stir in New York, and, no, it has nothing to do with a Thanksgiving parade. Rather, it is a sculptural piece by Pop artist Jeff Koons, on public display

Keep cruelty off your gift list this year: that’s the message that the Humane Society of the US (HSUS) would like everyone to take to heart this holiday shopping season.

Every animal lover should now be aware of the terrible conditions dogs endure at puppy mills. According to the HSUS , buying puppies from pet stores or over the Internet supports puppy mills, so people seeking a new pet should stay away from those sources.

“When consumers stop ‘demanding’ the ‘product’—the puppies—at pet stores and online, these mills will go out of business,” says Stephanie Shain, director of The HSUS’ Stop Puppy Mills campaign.

Sadly, many soft-hearted buyers will be drawn into “rescuing” a woebegone puppy from a store or will be deceived by retailers who promise their puppies don’t come from mills.

The truth, says Shain, is that, no matter how good the intention, buying a puppy from a pet store simply makes room for another pup to be produced at the mill, while stores that say they don’t sell dogs from mills are probably lying.

To make the public aware of these and other issues, the HSUS has declared November 16 to 22 as Puppy Mill Action Week. For more information, including six simple things you can do to fight puppy mills, visit stoppuppymills.org.

–Marian Buechert

for the first time ever, at the Metropolitan Museum Cantor

Images from the Tennessee puppy mill bust in June 2008.

Roof Garden as part of the annual outdoor art show the Met puts on. The three immense, meticulously crafted sculptures featured are from the Celebration series, which Koons began working on in 1993, and are made of stainless steel and transparent colour coating. On display are Sacred Heart (Red/Gold), a valentine chocolate heart, Coloring Book, an abstracted, colour-splashed profile of Piglet from Winnie-the-Pooh, and finally, Balloon Dog (Yellow), whose captivating, highly reflective form stands more than 10 feet tall. Koons is well known for his

These enormous pieces seem to share a place in our collective childhood memories.

commodification of art, but these enormous pieces also seem to share a place in our collective childhood memories. Placed against the New York skyline, though, these giant sculptures almost seem small, dwarfed as they are by the Manhattan skyline. Regardless, there’s certainly something bordering on absurd—delightfully so—about these caricature-like piece as they look out, guarding (in the case of the dog) the city.

You Can Make a Difference • Refuse to buy a dog from a pet store or over the Internet, both of which primarily sell dogs from mills.

• Stop shopping at pet stores that sell puppies.

“Jeff Koons on the Roof,” is at The Metropolitan Museum’s Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden through October 26.

–Elizabeth Gardiner

14 moderndog

PHOTO MICHELLE RILEY/HSUS

F ALL 2008

THE SCOOP Calling All Eager Palates and Heavy Petters

D

o you enjoy lounging in a comfy chair with a glass of wine in hand

and a furry friend curled up at your feet? Join the club! Literally. The Dog Lovers Wine Club (DLWC) caters to dogfancying oenophiles who enjoy trying new wines almost as much as they like supporting canine rescue organizations.

Founding partners Matt Hahn and Fleet Hamilton found they had a few things in common besides their California tans: experience working in the non-profit and charity sector, graphic design capabilities, and a background in wine-making, as well as one more very important commonality—a love for dogs. In light of their shared pas-

The Dog Lovers Wine Club caters to dog-fancying oenophiles

sions, Hahn and Hamilton launched the DLWC. Members sign up to receive a new premium wine on a monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly basis, depending on preference. Each Each wine features a unique dog illustration.

month’s shipment is unique, introducing a new wine featuring a unique dog illustration, and is accompanied by a

story about the pictured pup, often a rescue. In addition to promoting dog-love through the story labels, the DLWC donates 10 percent of the proceeds from each bottle to animal welfare organizations.

Upon purchase, customers can select which “Bark Partner” (organizations such as the Humane Society), they would like their 10 percent to benefit.

As for the wine, count on Hahn and Hamilton to mix it up, sometimes shipping wine from guest winemakers (hailing primarily from the Santa Barbara region), and other times from their very own winery, Carivitas. Aptly, the etymology of Carivitas is the Latin word for charity, caritas, and the French word for wine, vin. The result of this clever combo? An innovative business model that—as per the club’s tag line—blends wine with philanthropy. Now there’s a toast-worthy concept! dogloverswineclub.com –Brielle Morgan

Modern Dog Poll Should ear-cropping and tail docking be illegal in North America as it is in many other parts of the world?

Go to moderndogmagazine.com to vote.

16 moderndog

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DOG TRICK

5 Easy Steps to Teach Your Dog to Take a Bow

By Andrea Arden

In addition to being a cute finale to a routine of tricks, teaching your dog to take a bow on cue may help your dog stretch out and relax.

Choose a surface that is not slippery, so your dog is less likely to slide into a down, and an occasion prior to mealtime so your dog is motivated by the tiny food rewards.

Step 1: Most dogs will stretch when they wake up or go into a play bow as a way to solicit play. In either case, you can capture the behaviour by simply marking the moment she bows. You can mark by saying yes or clicking your clicker and then offering a tiny, tasty treat. In this way you are clearly telling your dog that what happened at the exact moment she heard the marker sound is what results in the reward.

Step 2: In most cases, you may need to use a bit of shaping as your dog is not likely to offer another full bow right away. If she offers anything close to a bow, even just a slight bend down of her front end, mark and reward. Odds are she’ll start to offer more of this behaviour and you can reward for those movements which are closer and closer to the full bow.

Step 3: You can also lure this behavior by holding a treat at your dog’s nose when she is standing.

Lower your hand to the ground and be prepared to mark the moment her front end goes down so she doesn’t slide her whole body to the ground and lie down. If she does, just try again and be careful to mark before her rear end starts to go down.

Step 4: Once you can reliably get the bow either because your dog is freely offering it or because you are luring, you can add the cue word or phrase such as “Take a Bow” or “Bravo” right before she goes into a bow so she starts to connect the verbal cue with the behaviour.

Step 5: When your dog bows reliably in response to your cue, work on increasing the duration of the bow by pausing for a second before you mark and reward. Repeat the one second bow about five times then try for a two second hold in the bow position by pausing for two seconds before you mark and treat. Plan three to five minute practice sessions a few times a day as you gradually build up to a longer bow and then release your dog with something cute like “OK, the show’s over!” n

THE SCOOP Wag the Dog So much is in a wag, at least according to creative British designers James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau. Seemingly inspired equal parts by Times Square billboards and dollar store must-haves, Auger and Loizeau invented the LED Dog Tail Communicator, a part of their Augmented Animals project.

The LED gadget attaches to Fido’s tail; simply wait for him to wag and be wowed as Fido’s message, interpreted via an intricate wags-per-minute reading, shows up in neon. With the switch of his digitally enhanced tail, he can now let you know whether he is dying for dinner, seeking your approval, or simply showing you some love. Dig it?

Well, you’ll have to sit back on your wag-

Be wowed as Fido’s message shows up in neon.

ging consumerist tail because, for now, the Communicator is purely conceptual.

Featured as part of the spring 2008 “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, NY, the Communicator is an inventive solution to a perceived problem of canine accessibility in a human-centric culture. Instead of seeing dogs become increasingly isolated by our reliance on new technologies, the designers imagined a world where “technological innovations are equally appreciated and used by animals.” Hmm. Certainly, an original concept and yet I can’t help but wonder if my dog, given the choice, would opt for having his thoughts broadcast so literally, so nakedly. I tend to think not. Gone would be the hours spent staring loving into each others eyes, trying to decode quizzical looks.

While I’m all for leveling the playing field between us techcrazy humans and our pooches, I’ll be sticking to mysterious exchanges with my mutt and reserving tail lights for my bicycle. –Brielle Morgan

Fido: the Art World’s Newest Darling?

Does Fido’s photographic style lean towards photojournalism? Conceptualism? Or has he more of a snapshot aesthetic, perhaps inspired by Hiromix and her pointand-shoot capture of the everyday? (We’re guessing the latter but prepared to be surprised.)

With the Pet’s Eye View camera, you can put your wondering to rest—there’s finally a way to definitively establish just what school of photography your dog belongs to. This light-weight digital camera attaches around the neck of your pup (or cat—good luck with that), providing you with a dog’s-eye view of the world from your pup’s perspective. Set the self-timer to take a picture every one, five or 15 minutes and get ready for a sneak peek into the secret world—and artistic aspirations—of your dog. The camera comes with a USB cord to download photos directly into your computer, so just collar your four-legged photographer and you’re ready to roll. Get yours at unclemilton.com. moderndogmagazine.com

17

THE SCOOP Casting Call Is Shakespaw practicing soliloquies BIGS TO CKPHO TO

in front of the mirror again? Put that talent to use already!

If your four-legged ham yearns for the spotlight, take ye straight to starpet2008.com to enter the StarPet 2008 contest.

Simply upload Poochie’s photo to the site and then spread the word; the six semi-finalists with the most votes (three dogs and three cats) will be flown to New York for two nights and put up in a hotel for the finals. The grand prize winner will receive representation by the legendary Bash Dibra for three months, including coaching on how to secure television and film roles for your pet. Don’t let the contest go to the cats! Upload your leading dog’s photo or video today. starpet2008.com (U.S. residents only)

TJ, a Spanish Spaniel, winner, small surf dogs 40 pounds and under.

Scott, Tyler, and Zoey Chandler, winners, tandem.

Stoli and Jager, Black Labs, winners, large surf dogs 41 pounds and over.

Truly, everybody’s gone surfin’, surfin’ U.S.A. Over two thousand spectators showed up to watch three heats of almost 60 dogs compete in the 2008 Loews Coronado Bay Resort surf dog competition. For those who placed, bragging rights were accompanied by warm fuzzies—all proceeds from the event were donated to the Modest Needs Foundation, an organization that aims to prevent poverty before it begins. Since its inception, the surf competition has raised over $20,000 for the foundation. With such worthy incentive, one’s dog may wish to bone up on his surf skills and enter next year’s contest.

You and Bingo can get the jump on the competition by checking into the resort for their Su’ruff Camp package, a one-night stay at the beachfront resort that includes surfing lessons for man’s best friend taught by the Coronado Surf Academy. Surfs up! loewshotels.com

18 moderndog

F ALL 2008

How to bark in 18 languages Prevent Fido from overseas embarrassment with this handy “woof” sheet Albanian - ham, ham (A classic double entendre if conversing with dogs and/or people speaking both English and Albanian.

Arabic - hau, hau; how how Mandarin - wang, wang Czech - haf, haf Danish - vov, vov French - ouah, ouah; ouaf, ouaf German - wuff, wuff; wau, wau Greek - ghav, ghav Icelandic - voff, voff Indonesian - guk, guk Irish - amh-amh Italian - bau, bau Japanese - wan, wan Korean - meong, meong (mung mung) Russian - gav, gav Serbian - av, av Spanish - guau-guau; jau, jau Thai - hoang, hoang

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THE SCOOP

Modern Dog Pup Profiles

Aida

Age: Three Breed: English Pointer Hometown: Charlotte, NC Nickname: Aida Bean Likes: Running on the trail; sleeping under the covers; ripping her bed to pieces Dislikes: Thunderstorms; loud noises; leash-walking Favourite pastime: Playing with her Viszla friend, Diego Favourite foods: Goldfish crackers and cheddar cheese

Jojojibajeesh

Age: Six months Breed: Mixed!

Hometown: Nemaska, QC Nicknames: Jeminan; Peepeesh Likes: Showers, singing (especially throat singing!) Dislikes: Car riding; normal dog food Favourite pastimes: Playing with Grandpa!; chasing my tail Favourite foods: Moose meat; goose; anything Gramma cooks; and Native fine cuisine!

Kirby

Age: Four months Breed: Pomeranian Hometown: Montgomery Twp, NJ Nicknames: Lil Man; Mommy’s Boy; Mr. Fuzzy Pants Likes: Squeaky toys; doing “zoomies;” trying to hide behind a single blade of grass Dislikes: Big trucks; being alone; being brushed Favourite pastime: visiting the seniors at the senior center as a therapy dog! Favourite foods: bananas and homemade dog treats

Whiskey

Want to see your pup profiled in the pages of Modern Dog? Email us at doggieprofile@moderndogmagazine.com with a high-resolution photo (minimum 4 megapixel) and the above doggie data for a shot at stardom!

20 moderndog

F ALL 2008

Age: Seven Breed: Lab Hometown: Boerne, TX Nickname: Boo Boy Likes: Laying in the sun like a black solar panel; chasing deer, baseballs and frisbees; chewing on Dingo bones Dislikes: Baths; and bad neighbourhood boys Favourite pastimes: Sleeping; chasing squirrels Favourite foods: Ribs; grass; and diet dog food (to keep his boyish figure!)

Kasper

Age: Ten Breed: Wheaten Terrier Hometown: Aurora, ON Nicknames: Bubsey; Whiskey-Doodle Likes: Getting in bed with Mom and Dad on Saturday morning, the designer duds mom buys me after reading Modern Dog Dislikes: Getting off the couch; cats; cold weather Favourite Pastimes: Walks in the forest, sleeping; car rides Favourite Foods: Liver treats; organic ground beef; and cheese

Is your dog modern?

Boo

Age: Four Breed: American Eskimo Hometown: Monticello, MN Nicknames: Kappy; Boo Bear; Mommy calls me “Beautiful” Likes: I love my stuffy animal and rolling in the cold wet snow Dislikes: The mailman, the Schwans man, and our neighbour, Steve Favourite pastimes: I really enjoy helping myself to the goodies in our backyard. I sneak green beans, cucumbers, raspberries, and apples when nobody is looking! Favourite foods: I haven’t met a food that I don’t like! My very favourite treat is vanilla ice cream, though.

By submitting photographic images to Modern Dog, you grant Modern Dog a perpetual, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and otherwise exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to those photographic images at its sole discretion, including storing it on Modern Dog servers and incorporating it in other works in any media now known or later developed including, without limitation, published books. If you do not wish to grant Modern Dog these rights, it is suggested that you do not submit photographic images. Modern Dog reserves the right to select, edit and arrange submissions, and to remove images from the Modern Dog website at any time at its sole discretion.

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September September 6-7

Calling all dogs and dog lovers: Fido’s Festival USA in Woodstown, NJ, celebrates the loveable family dog with friendly-dog contests inspired by reality television, health and wellness seminars, attendant celebrities, training demonstrations, Fido’s Food Court and Shopping Mall, unique entertainment, and more fidosfestivalusa.com

September 14 5

Rock out this fall in support of animals in need at the 10th annual Pet Rock Festival in Worcester, MA. Bring the family out to enjoy the vegetarian food court, flyball demonstrations, and local bands. petrockfest.com

events

September 21 The coolest urban scavenger hunt has gone dog-friendly. The Amazing New York Race is inviting you and your furry friend to help tackle “roadblocks” and “detours” as your team races around the big apple trying to outperform your competitors. pogoevents.com

Sept 28 – Jan 4 5

Get hands-on and interactive. Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs exhibit at the Portland World Forestry Center in Oregon explores the dog’s link to his wild ancestors and his relationship with you.

Guaranteed to be a howling good time for the whole family. worldforestry.org

September 13 Bring your dog out in support of the Wildcats and the rest of Kansas States sports teams! The Helping Hands Humane Societies Sports

Mutt Paws in the Park, Topeka, KS, opens with a onemile mutt strut through Gage Park and finishes with vendors, contests, and a pancake and sausage breakfast. hhhstopeka.org

September 13

September 15 Take advantage of a rare opportunity to play one of Ottawa’s most prestigious golf courses, the private Rideau View Country club in Manotick, ON. Canadian Guide

Dogs for the Blind’s Golf Tournament offers a chance to play 18 holes, enjoy scrumptious meals, and test your reflexes at a live auction, all for a great cause.

FORE! guidedogs.ca

Choo choo choose to ride the Dog Daze Express this summer on the historic Conway Scenic Railroad, Conway, NH. This special opportunity coincides with the Conway Humane Society’s Bark in the Park celebration. conwayscenic.com

October 4

We’ll see you at the Dog Days of Summer celebration at the See Ya Later Ranch in Okanagan Falls, BC. While Rover is posing for photographs and learning tricks from master trainers, you can sample the latest vintages of the ranch’s reserve wine series. sylranch.com

September 14 Walk to help raise $850,000 for animals in need. BCSPCA Paws for a Cause events take place in 37 communities across the province, with the flagship benefit being held in Vancouver, BC. Grab your sneakers and get going! To register and start fundraising, go to spca.bc.ca.

October

September 21 1

Celebrate Mardi Gras early this year and make a difference in the lives of pet owners who have difficulty affording medical treatment for their dogs. Grace’s Birthday Party, in Watkinsville, GA, is a celebration with a cause, plus you get to showcase your finest four-legged masquerade wear. Don’t forget your beads! gracesbirthday.com

October 5 Be part of Because You Care’s largest, and most fun, educational event. The annual Walk for Small Animals raises funds for the rescue and rehabilitation of abandoned and abused animals in the Erie, PA, area. walkbyc.org

moderndogmagazine.com

23

CALENDAR fall October 10-12 This is no regular dog show—it’s a dogthemed extravaganza! The Showcase of Dogs features AKC trials, demonstrations, exhibits, Super Dog and Super Puppy contests, and more, all happening over three days in Memphis, TN. showcaseofdogs.org

October 24-26 With a focus on orthodox lifesaving programs as well as exciting, cutting-edge approaches in grassroots animal welfare, the No More Homeless Pets Conference in Las Vegas, NV, is a must for anyone involved with animal welfare or who cares deeply for animals. nomorehomelesspetsconference.org

October 25 Ghastly ghouls and wicked witches will be judged at Bark in the Park’s Howl-o-ween contest in Surrey, NC. Break out those costumes and brush off the lawn chairs for a fun-filled day of music, raffles, and demos. barkintheparksurrync.com

October 28 The Clatsop County Animal Shelters Dog Show on the Beach is just one more reason to visit the beautiful seaside resort town of Cannon Beach, OR (Because surfing, tide pooling, and relaxing just aren’t enough!) nwcoast.com

events

in Portland. The silent auction will feature animal masks designed by local artists. wetnosesoiree.com

November 8 The anticipation is killing us: Who will be crowned Mr. & Miss Barkaroo this year? Head on over to Murfreesboro, TN, to find out! Bring the whole family along for a day of contest, tricks, shopping, and more. barkaroo.com

November 19 One-of-a-kind dog beds designed by Canadian architects, designers, artists, and TV personalities are showcased at the Twelve Beds of Christmas Charity Auction to raise money for the Toronto Humane Society. No need to ask Santa for one, just turn in the highest bid at the end of the evening and take one home! twelvebedsofchristmas.com

November

November 1 5

Nothing says party like a signature cocktail and…Beagle mask? Oregon’s animal lovers will be out to celebrate the DoveLewis Foundation and all its fine supporters being honoured at this years’ Wet Nose Soiree

November 22 1

Talk about running with a good idea! The Santa Special AniMile & Human Race in Kingsport, TN, invites runners of all ages to get a jump on Santa and his Christmas parade and run with our furry friends. All dogs get a bandana and proceeds benefit the Kingsport Animal Shelter. runtricities.org

moderndogmagazine.com

25

Healthy, balanced nutrition for your loved ones.

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Our main priority has always been to create wholesome, natural foods to help keep your favorite four-legged friend in top health. We make all our dry foods in small batches in our very own state-of-the-art facility. We offer healthy, balanced nutrition throughout every lifestage, while using only the finest ingredients, no animal by-products and no grain glutens.

To learn more about our incredible dog and cat foods, please visit www.nutrience.com. Available only where quality pet foods are sold.

moderndog photo contest wÄąnners!

Bowie Latiffe

smile!

Puddles Bonnie

Toby

Cupid Shelby

Gerty

Dic Dic Think your dog ought to grace the pages of Modern Dog? Send us photos of your picture-perfect pooch! The winning entries will be published in the Fall 08 issue. Send photos to: Modern Dog Photo Contest, Suite 202, 343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4. Submitted photographs are property of Modern Dog and will not be returned. Please include your name, dog’s name and breed, address and contact info, including telephone number. Please send 4 x 6 print photographs or enter online at moderndogmagazine.com.

By submitting photographic images to Modern Dog, you grant Modern Dog a perpetual, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and otherwise exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to those photographic images at its sole discretion, including storing it on Modern Dog servers and incorporating it in other works in any media now known or later developed including, without limitation, published books. If you do not wish to grant Modern Dog these rights, it is suggested that you do not submit photographic images. Modern Dog reserves the right to select, edit and arrange submissions, and to remove images from the Modern Dog website at any time at its sole discretion.

moderndogmagazine.com

27

Do Dogs Need Canine Friends?

BY STANLEY COREN Illustration by Michelle Hayden-Marsan

T

HE WOMAN HAD GREY HAIR WITH FAINT BLUE OVERTONES AND IN HER ARMS SHE

clutched a coffee-coloured Pomeranian. The dog’s name was Max and he was around nine months old. Max was a tiny dog, and on the ground he would probably only stand around 8 inches at the shoulder, and weigh around 7 pounds. The woman’s name was Greta, and she was quite emotional as she explained her problem to me.

“I know that Max needs to have doggie friends, but he is so small that I don’t feel safe when we are at the dog park. There are Rottweilers there that could hurt or kill him, and when the retrievers start to play, they are so rough that they might injure him even if they didn’t mean to. Yesterday, there was a spaniel and one of those small sheepdogs there and I thought it might be safe, but instead they knocked him over and made him yelp and run away.

“I’ve been told that dogs are like kids, and if they don’t have friends of their own kind, they can become neurotic. What should I do?”

There are many myths about dogs based on the presumption that they are something other than a unique species. One can easily imagine that when Greta was rearing her own children she carted her three kids around to participate in soccer games, swimming, and various recreational activities so that they could form friendships with other children. Dogs, however, are not children.

Some people feel that dogs must have canine companions because they are derived from wolves, which are cooperative hunters and are supposed to form deep lasting friendships and allegiances within their packs. This is a misinterpretation of the social structure of wolves. Researchers Traci Cipponeri and Paul Verrell of Washington State University at Pullman, studied the relationships among wolves and found that, except for individuals that were related to one another, their social interactions could be described as “uneasy alliances” among individuals with both shared and conflicting interests. The relationships are much more like individuals in the same corporation who work together toward similar goals, but each has his or her own ambitions to get ahead of everyone else.

There are clearly social interactions here, but not true friendships, except with those other wolves that are bound by direct kinship. Fortunately, dogs are not wolves.

In the thousands of years since humans first domesticated dogs, we have genetically manipulated them to socialize easily and to show friendliness almost indiscriminately. Dogs that have been prop-

moderndogmagazine.com

29

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erly socialized will congenially approach virtually anything that is alive, regardless of its species, and, unless they receive hostile signals, they will attempt to establish a good-natured relationship.

The bond that dogs can establish with other species is often dramatic and poignant. For example, there is the case of a Labrador Retriever named Puma. One cold day in Bristol, England, a gang of boys stole a kitten, threw it into a pond and waited to watch it drown. Suddenly, Puma dashed into the pond to grab the kitten. He must have thought that this was some sort of accident, because he brought the kitten out of the water and laid it at the boys’ feet. They just laughed and threw it back into the water. Puma again leapt into the water, but this time swam across to the other side of the pond with the kitten and ran home with it. When his family opened the door he rushed past them and laid the kitten down next to the heat vent. He would not let his family take the kitten out of his sight, so they felt that they had to keep it. They named the kitten Lucky, because he was so lucky to find a friend like Puma. The dog and cat established a life-long bond, playing together, sleeping together and apparently drawing comfort from each other. This is consistent with the idea that, although dogs are happiest when they are in a social situation, the species that that they are interacting with is less important than the quality of the interactions.

In some respects, we have bred dogs to be perpetual puppies. When in the company of other dogs, their natural inclination is to act like puppies, with playful games of chase or wrestling with that rough and tumble frenzy similar to what we see in human children of preschool age. This can produce bonds of friendship between dogs and can generalize to become a positive and friendly attitude toward all other canines. However, in some cases, such forms of rough play can produce antagonistic relationships and attitudes. This is not uncommon when dogs have been allowed to run in an off-leash park area or have been placed in a doggie daycare where they interact with dogs of mixed sizes and

temperaments in a generally unsupervised way. Under such circumstances, dogs may actually develop a general hostility or fear toward all unfamiliar dogs rather than acquiring canine friends.

Although most dogs prize human companionship, the form of the relationship between dogs and humans is not exactly what we would call friendship. Research conducted at Eötvös Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary, indicates that the bond between a dog and its owner is more like the bond between children and their parents. This has been explored using the same kinds of research methods that psychologists use for testing children.

For example, the researcher Adam Miklosi used something called the “strange situation test,” which is often used to measure the attachment between a mother and her child. Basically this involves placing the child in an unfamiliar environment.

If the mother or someone familiar is not present, children often act as if they were anxious and uncomfortable.

However, if they have a warm and loving relationship with their mother, when she is nearby, even if she is not making an effort to interact with her offspring, the child seems to relax and soon starts to happily explore this new and strange world.

Miklosi found the same behaviour in dogs, suggesting that dogs are bonded to their human owners in the same way children are bonded to their parents.

The explanation for the nature of the human-canine bond is that thousands of years of co-existence have caused dogs to become dependent on humans.

“The stronger the attachment between a dog and its owner, the more likely it is to behave in a socially dependent way, relinquishing its powers of independent thought and action but at the same time drawing feelings of emotional comfort and safety from the presence of familiar humans,” Miklosi explains.

The head of the Budapest team, Vilmos Cysani, explains that the selective breeding of dogs over time has produced animals that form strong bonds and are predisposed to learn and obey rules, but also to have emotional empathy with humans.

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Cysani claims that “the dog’s natural environment is the human family or other human social settings,” so it should not be surprising to find that the company of humans is quite sufficient to keep a dog happy, and the company of other dogs, while often pleasant and fun for the dog, is not really necessary.

None of this should be taken to mean that dogs cannot form close friendships and strong bonds with other dogs. Take the case of Mickey and Percy. Mickey was a Labrador Retriever owned by William Harrison, while Percy was a Chihuahua that had been given to Harrison’s daughter, Christine. Normally, their size difference might have prevented the dogs from becoming friends; however, in this instance, they became playful pals. The dogs would chase each other around, or Mickey would lie on the ground and let Percy pretend to be dominant as the little dog jumped on him and mouthed his ears. They ate together and, when they slept, Percy would lay against the bigger dog to stay warm.

One warm summer evening, the dogs were out on the front lawn playing one of their favourite chase games, and, as he often did, Percy made a wide circle at high speed in an attempt to get behind Mickey. Unfortunately, this time his path took him out into the street and he was hit by a car.

The first one on the scene was Mickey, who barked and whined and nosed his little friend. Then, while Christine stood by weeping and Mickey watched attentively, William placed the dead dog in a crumpled sack and buried him in a shallow grave in the garden. The depres-

*

sion that had fallen on the family seemed to affect not only the humans, but also Mickey. The big dog sat despondently staring at the grave of his friend, while everyone else went to bed. He would not come into the house when he was called, so William left the back door open except for the screen door, in order to allow him to hear Mickey if he decided that he wanted to come into the house.

A few hours later, William was awakened by frantic whining and scuffling outside the house. When he investigated the noise, he saw, to his horror, that the sack in which he had buried Percy was now laying empty beside the opened grave. Next to it he saw Mickey, who was in a state of great agitation, standing over Percy’s body, frantically licking his face, and nuzzling and poking at the limp form in what looked like a canine attempt to give the dead dog the kiss of life. Tears filled the man’s eyes as he watched this futile expression of hope and love.

He sadly walked over to move Mickey away when he saw what looked like a spasm or twitch. Then Percy weakly moved his head and whimpered. It was his friendship with Percy that had kept Mickey close that night. There was also something deep within him that had sensed that there was a faint spark of life in the little dog, combined with some mysterious instinct to return his companion to him that had told him what to do. He would not give up on his friend.

Because of this bond between the dogs, they would be able to romp and play again, and once more share the warmth of life and their canine companionship. n

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BR E E D P RO F I LE

The Dachshund Beyond Wiener Dog

By Marian Buechert

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O DOUBT ABOUT IT: THE DACHSHUND IS PROBABLY THE

world’s most recognizable breed. From toddlers to octogenarians, everyone knows the funny little fellow with the sausage body, stubby legs, and waving tail, and the wiener dog has been used to sell everything from Slinky children’s toys to foot-long frankfurters. Images of Dachsies abound in cartoons, caricatures, and commercials.

As with any celebrity, however, the public pooch persona isn’t the whole story. Behind the dark sunglasses, behind the paw raised to block the paparazzi lenses, behind the tinted windows of the limousine, the Dachshund’s true nature is revealed. A hot dog he may be, indeed, standing tall at 7th place in American Kennel Club (AKC) popularity, but he’s no weenie.

This is one fearless performer who insists on doing his own stunts, whether going underground in small, dark spaces, chasing small game through thick brush, or climbing onto the table to steal food. According to both the British and US breed standards, he is “courageous to the point of rashness.” This characteristic can be traced back several hundred years to the Dachshund’s roots as a hunting dog developed by German foresters to track game and, more importantly, to locate and hold at bay animals that went “to ground”—those that sought safety in their burrows. It takes a

WOODY + BURNI E 2 © 20 08 /DEBORAH SAMUEL

MANY OF THE ROYAL HOUSES OF EUROPE FAVOURED THE FEISTY BREED. fierce and determined dog to dive into a narrow, dark hole, find the prey by scent and sound, and then face down a badger or fox on his own territory.

As the huntsmen of the 18th century discovered the value of these low-slung yet energetic hounds, they began to breed coat varieties to suit different uses: the Dachshund was crossed with spaniels to produce the Longhaired Dachshund and with the Dandie Dinmont Terrier to create the Wirehaired. Small-sized Dachsies were probably always used to hunt rabbits and other smaller game and eventually became established as Miniatures of all three coat types.

Many of the royal houses of Europe favoured the feisty breed, both for work in the field and for companionship in the house, and partly as a result of this prestige, its popularity soared to the point that in 1913, it was one of the top ten dogs in the US. The royal seal of approval has not proved to be an unmixed blessing, however. Kaiser Wilhelm II, who led Germany during World War I, was a great Dachshund fancier and this, combined with

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BURNIE 4 © 2008/DE BO RA H S A MU E L BURNIE 5 © 20 08 /DEBORAH SAMUEL

the Teutonic name and origin of the breed, fueled an antiDachshund sentiment in the war years. In Britain and in the United States, Dachshund kennels were shut down, dogs were jeered at and sometimes stoned if they appeared in public, and, for a time, the poor Dachsie, seen as a symbol of the hated enemy, was even forced to assume a pseudonym: the AKC changed the official breed name from Dachshund to Badger Dog. Never one to go down without a fight, the plucky Dachshund staged a dramatic return after the war, bouncing back into the limelight within a couple of decades. His popularity remains high, with the list of Dachsie devotees running from actors like Isabella Rossellini and Christian Slater, musicians such as Winona Judd, Tracy Chapman, and Madonna, to painters Picasso and David Hockney. Whether because of his winning personality or because of his unusual physique, the Dachshund has always been popular with artists, authors, and other creative individuals.

With the three coat varieties to choose from and two official sizes (Standards are usually from 16 to 32 lbs and Minis are under 11 lbs; dogs falling in the middle are sometimes called Tweenies) as well as a wide range of colours, from any shade of solid red or cream to sable, brindle, dapple, black and tan, or chocolate and tan, this is a breed that can fill almost any casting call.

Fame, unfortunately, does not come without a price. That distinctive long body means one in four Dachshunds will develop disc problems. Technically called canine intervertebral disc disease (CIDD), it can result in a lot of pain for the dog and a lot of heartbreak and financial outlay for those who love her. Every potential Dachshund owner must recognize the serious possibility that their dog will suffer from CIDD and require expensive medical care. Once a Dachsie is part of a family, it is the owners’ responsibility to take all possible steps to prevent injury. This includes making sure the dog stays trim and fit while watching that she doesn’t engage in risky behaviours like jumping off furniture, standing up on her hind legs, or climbing too many stairs, all of which put extra strain on backs.

Another issue that owners must deal with is the common belief among Dachshunds that a warm, soft rug indoors makes a much better bathroom than the cold, wet world outdoors. Once they get this notion, it is hard to convince them otherwise, as they can be quite stubborn, so it is best to housetrain with a method that heads off accidents before they can happen.

True Dachs groupies consider these challenges to be a small price to pay for the joys of living with one (or more) of these unique dogs. Whether headlining as “The Sensational Sausage,” “The Wonderful Wiener,” or “The Fabulous Frankfurter,” this celebrated hound will always be “The Delightful Dachshund” to his fans. n

THAT DISTINCTIVE LONG BODY MEANS ONE IN FOUR DACHSHUNDS WILL DEVELOP DISC PROBLEMS.

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Dress Your Dog

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Maggie Q, We Love You

By Marni Wedin Photographed by Jemma Lamana

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PPEARING IN BLOCKBUSTERS

like Die Hard 4 with Bruce Willis and Mission: Impossible 3 with Tom Cruise, and with a role in next year’s New York, I Love You alongside performers such as Orlando Bloom, Natalie Portman, and James Caan, actor Maggie Q is one hot Hollywood commodity. But when she isn’t on set, she gives her heart and soul to animal rights work, helping organizations like Best Friends Animal Society and Last Chance for Animals. She shapes her life around the philosophy “a life is a life is a life,” viewing her existence to be of no more importance than any other animal’s.

What makes Maggie Q extra special, though, is that she’s the proud mom to eight rescue dogs, four of which she rescued in China. I recently had the opportunity to ask some questions of this inspirational star.

MD: Do you ever bring your dogs on set with you?

MQ: Totally. One time I brought them on set of Mission Impossible. They were in my trailer and someone left the door open; one of the dogs pushed the door wide open and they all ran out into this huge, black SUV in front of my trailer.

All my dogs were jumping around in this complete stranger’s car! I said, “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I’ll get them out right away,” and he said “This is Tom’s car.” I was like, Oh no, I just lost my job. (laughing) Later, I said to him, I don’t know if your driver told you, but all five of my dogs ran into your car. I’m so sorry. He started laughing. He said, “Are you kidding me? I love dogs. Your dogs can run around in my car anytime.” So, yeah, my dogs have got me into trouble.

MD: What’s more fulfilling, acting or animal activism?

MQ: I believe I’m here to do acting work so that I can do animal rights work. I’m fulfilled by my art, but [it also enables me] to gain a name that can be

a voice for those that have no voice… there’s nothing else in life I need.

MD: When did you get involved with animal rights?

MQ: I’ve always been an animal lover since I was a young child. I was the girl who always brought home the bird that fell out of a tree or the cat that got hit by a car or the dog that was lost. That was me, always bringing animals home, to my parents’ utter horror. Caring for animals is second nature to me. It’s not even something I think about.

MD: What issue is close to your heart right now?

MQ: The big earthquake that happened in China; with 90,000 people dead and 350,000 people injured, it’s a huge humanitarian crisis.

Anytime you have a big crisis that involves people, you have all these great groups like the American Red Cross and World Health Organization that will fly in and will help the humanitarian effort. That’s great and we need that. But the animals will always get forgotten in this situation. There are a lot of pets hoping to be reunited with their owners right now, walking in the streets, starving. And the police have been ordered to kill these animals on sight. It’s a touchy thing over in China, you can’t just go in and say, “Hey, you can’t do this.” They can do whatever they want. It’s their country.

What I’m trying to do is raise some awareness so that we can fund local groups to shelter these animals and hopefully reunite them with their families or adopt them to new families.

MD: How can people help?

MQ: People can go to the Animals Asia Foundation website [animalsasia.org] and donate.

A lot of people say to me, “How can one person make a difference?” I say, “Are you kidding me? It only takes one person to make a difference.” n

“Caring for animals is second nature to me.”

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Ruff Stuff’s elegant, Italian leather collars are modern classics. Their Sassy Stripes collection makes a great addition to your dog’s fall wardrobe. ruffstuffdesigns.com

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Trained dogs unearth culinary black gold

By Sandy Robins

Nobody knows the

Truffles I’ve seen

Stella, a yellow Lab, looks intently at a recently dug Oregon white truffle during the Oregon Truffle Festival truffle hunt.

PHOTO ANDREA JOHNSON

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C

place in such enchanted stories as Alice in Wonderland; there’s something undeniably mystical about mushrooms. Yet nothing is as intriguing as the mystique that surrounds the quest for the most prized member of the fungi family, that edible buried treasure, the truffle.

For centuries, truffle hunting has been cloaked in a veil of secrecy. Those that hunt for them, as well as those that savour their culinary delights, tell legendary tales of clandestine trips under the cover of darkness to scour muddy forests; of competitive rivalry to keep secret those special patches of earth that hide this delicacy beneath the soil. And while chefs around the world are often the ones that take a bow for their preparatory expertise, the real heroes of the day are the specially trained truffle dogs that hunt this coveted morsel.

“People tend to associate pigs with snuffling out truffles,” explains mycologist Charles Lefevre, of Eugene, Oregon. “But, in fact, truffiers gave up on swine back in the 1800s. Pigs tend to gobble up truffles as quickly as they find them. Also, I think serious truffle hunters made the switch because of the history of this secretive quest. Going for a casual walk with a pig would be very suspicious. Besides they are not very companionable and have an odour that could be problematic in the back seat of the car. But a man and his dog, now that’s a different story…”

A man (or a woman) and a dog—that’s actually what truffling is all about. While black truffles are usually associated with Perigord region of France and white truffles with the Piedmont region of Italy, Lefevre points out that, if you hunt, you will find various kinds of edible truffles all over the world, including many parts of North America. Simply put, if your quest is to spend quality time with your dog, this is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors— and the fruits of your labour.

The Sunday truffiers that embark on fun outings with their dogs in a happenstance quest for “black gold,” much like hobby prospectors, are only one breed of truffle hunter. There is, of course, the serious truffier for whom the search is tantamount to a treasure-hunting expedition; a dedicated quest for a high price-tagged gastronomic delight that could be mistaken— visually at least, for, well, turds.

ONSIDER THE MAGICAL MUSHROOMS OF THE PSYCHEDELIC SIXTIES OR THEIR

A Lagotto Romagnolo of Blackberry Farm on the hunt for Perigord truffles.

PHOTO CHARLES K. LEFEVRE

PHOTO ANDREA JOHNSON

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a luxury country hotel in a farm setting where guests spend their time with the resort’s cheese maker and master gardeners and world-class chefs, experiencing how the food served to them is cultivated and prepared, from start to finish.

“We have planted our own truffle orchard, but we don’t expect to see the fruits of our labours for the next five years,” explains Beall. “In the meantime, our dogs are working with mycologist Tom Michaels in a nearby cultivated orchard hunting truffles that we are serving to our guests. The first truffles the dogs, Tom and Luci, found were served at a very special dinner. It was a very memorable occasion.”

A freshly dug Perigord black truffle harvested in Tennessee, winter 2007. It was sent to the White House the next day.

PHOTO CHARLES K. LEFEVRE

Furthering this fervor is the emergence you can even cross-train a bomb-sniffing of truffle cultivation. Ever since mycolodog to hunt for truffles.” gists such as Lefevre managed to establish Lefevre has proved this point over a delicate symbiosis between this fungus the past couple of years at the special and the roots of certain trees, truffle dog demonstrations and workshops farming has begun to emerge as a comthat have become an integral part of the mercial enterprise in certain states such as Truffle Festival, held every year on the Oregon, North Carolina, and last weekend in January in Tennessee, as well as parts of Enter the Lagotto Eugene, Oregon. People from Romagnolo, an all over the country come to Canada, like British Columbia, ancient breed learn about the skills needed to all of which means that carefully bred to hunt, as well as for the opportrained truffle dogs are very hunt truffles. much in demand. tunity to taste the gastronomic delights dedicated chefs preTraining For Truffles pare as part of the gathering.

When it comes to training dogs, trainers believe any breed can be trained to hunt Leaving It To The Professionals these haute cuisine edibles. And it is haute Recently, the growing interest in truffle indeed; truffles can sell for as much as hunting and commercial farming has $800 a pound. resulted in the importing of “professional” “All dogs have good noses,” says dog truffle hunting canines from Italy. Enter trainer Eve Russell of the Trifecta Dog the Lagotto Romagnolo, an ancient breed Training School near Eugene, Oregon, of water dog related to the Poodle, but who offers truffle dog training sessions. with a special feature (beyond its webbed “For many people, truffle hunting is just feet)—the Italians have carefully bred it another way of developing that special over years especially to hunt truffles. bond by doing something fun with their “Not only are they cute to look at and dog. It’s all about scent training and I train wonderful to have around the house as using real truffles. Naturally, a dog with pets, but they are also highly intelligent retrieving instincts will be better than othand dedicated working dogs—truffle hunters. But it takes dedication because it’s ers extraordinaire,” says Judith Martin, not just a matter of training the dog, but president of the Lagotto Club of America. teaching the owner to work with his dog.

“They literally take to it like a duck to There has to be that bond and instant water.” recall that the dog will respond to.”

The first trained working Lagotti in “I’ve seen everything from Dachshunds the United States were actually imported to Labrador Retrievers out hunting,” says from Italy by Sam Beall, owner of the Lefevre. “When it comes to scent training Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee,

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Truffle Hunting The Italian Way One thing that all serious truffiers have in common is that they have all experienced a truffle hunt in Italy, and consequently,

Get Started!

The annual Oregon Truffle Festival happens the last weekend in January every year in Eugene, OR. Events include truffle seminars, dog-training demonstrations, tastings, dinners, fine food vendors, and truffle hunting excursions. Packages range from $425 to $1,025 but tickets for individual events are always available. Visit oregontrufflefestival.com or call 503-296-5929 for details.

To find out more about the Lagotto Romagnolo, go to lagottous.com. The Lagotto Club is currently working to have the breed registered with the American Kennel Club.

The North America truffle season lasts approximately from November to February.

Mature white truffles are about the size of a walnut, while black truffles can be the sizes of eggs.

The North American Truffling Society website, natruffling.org, lists truffle foray reports, events, recipes, and truffle identification information.

The Puget Sound Mycological Society’s website has a link to state mushrooming rules and contact information for different state land agencies, as well as other useful tips. psms.org/rules Interested in training your dog? Truffle dog trainer Pasquale Scricco of Hopatcong, NJ, sells an instructional video on his website, truffleusa.com.

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A Lagotto Romagnolo of Blackberry Farm digging for a Perigord black truffle

Sam Beall, the proprietor of Blackberry farm, with his Lagotto, Tom.

their training methods are variations of the Upon returning home, though, Martin tried and tested Italian way. had to adapt the Italian training tech“The Italians use a ball of tied up rags niques a little. “I live in Arizona with very with a piece of truffle, truffle oil, or even a little vegetation, so I trained my Lagotto, nutmeg inside,” explains Martin. It’s called Adrina, by first hiding the packet inside a strufiòn. Dogs are first trained to find the house. When she was able to run this ball in tall grass. When I around and find it, I tried was in Italy I was given a small hiding it outside. It’s always All I have to say is best to keep the training sestruffle which I preserved by ‘come on, let’s sions short, no longer than wrapping it in about 1/4 cup of hunt’ and they are ten minutes, and let the dog dry rice in a baggie. My training off like greased think it’s a game. “truffle” was then that packet of lightning. now truffle-scented rice (truffle “The third session objecremoved) wrapped in the toe of tive, says Martin, is to teach an old sock. And I added a few them to dig. Experienced drops of truffle oil to the rice. Sometimes truffle dogs dig when they find a truffle, the Italians let their puppies play with indicating their success to their owner. pieces of truffle and allow them to actually Then they need to be trained to stop when eat them. They are such smart dogs that it you come over, leaving the removal to the doesn’t take them long to start following owner so that the truffle isn’t damaged. the scent.”

“They are such a joy to watch at work

It starts with a

Click...

because they are so enthusiastic about their skill,” says Martin. “If all goes well, I am planning to take Adrina to the Oregon festival next year and give her the opportunity to dig up the real thing!”

Betty and Grant Duckett are truffiers in Parksville, British Columbia. They have cultivated their own truffle spoor-induced trees from scratch and bought two Lagotti puppies from one of the first litters born in the US and trained the dogs themselves.

“My husband and I each trained our own dog so that we could each work as a team,” Betty explains. “We started when they were about a year old. I made balls of ordinary dough and rolled them in black perigord truffles. Then every morning before breakfast, we would go out and hide them and train the dogs to sniff them out. When they found something, they would be rewarded with their favourite jerky treat. They are such intelligent dogs; they were very easy to train. Now all I have to say is ‘come on, let’s hunt’ and they are off like greased lightning.

“The truffle season is only a couple of months long. But we keep their skills honed all year round. When they are not working, they are the best pets ever.”

As for the allure of these unassuminglooking tubers? French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin sums it up best: “The truffle is not exactly an aphrodisiac, but it tends to make women more tender and men more likeable.” n

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Laughing matters: Jennifer Finnigan’s love for kooky comedy, matching luggage, and her co-star, Johnny.

by Mary-Jo Dionne

T PHOTO JOEL LIPTON

HERE’S AN EXPRESSION THAT COMES TO

mind when talking with Montreal-born actor Jennifer Finnigan and, ironically, it’s one we Anglophones borrow from the mother tongue of her city’s denizens.

Hers is a voice that emanates the purest form of it: joie de vivre—that exultation of spirit, that love of life, that appreciation for a great laugh. So it’s no surprise that this busy LA-based thespian plans her travel schedule around Montreal’s internationally renowned Comedy Festival. When we talk on the phone, she instantly apologizes for her voice: having caught half a dozen comedy performances (“show-hopping,” she calls it) the night before, it’s a bit raspier than normal. But when it comes to sharing her enthusiasm for her upcoming film, the Universal DVD Original Beethoven’s Big Break—to be released November 25 and co-starring Rhea Perlman, Joe Fatone, and Jonathan Silverman—talking in a lower

octave is an insignificant detail. And just one more thing to laugh about.

MD: What are the differences between your life in Montreal and your life in LA? JF: Montreal has this real cultural feeling, there’s a lot of history here. The whole city doesn’t revolve around the entertainment industry. As much as I love LA and I love what I do and I love my life there, it’s good for me to come back home every once and a while. It’s grounding.

MD: I understand your dad was a radio personality.

Did you ever give any thought to a career in radio?

JF: He would take me to the studio when he was doing his show and would try to get me to speak. I was shy when I was a kid, so I always refused. I would turn beet red and shake my head “noooo!” It’s something I have so much respect for, and I am a fan. But for a career, that was my dad’s life. And I chose TV.

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MD: You started your career at 18.

What was the first job that got you hooked?

JF: It was a show called Student Bodies.

It was targeted to a ‘tween audience. And it was the first show I was a regular on.

It’s actually still broadcast here in Canada, much to my dismay. I just can’t get away!

MD: It’s like having the old high school yearbooks come out. But for you, it’s broadcast.

JF: Exactly!

MD: What was it like to sink your teeth into a role like The Bold and the Beautiful’s Bridget Forrester?

“I equate it to your wedding day.

You’re completely elated and it’s surreal at the same time.”

JF: That was the biggest growing experience of my life, professionally and personally. A whole new city, a whole different life…and I wouldn’t take it back for anything. I fell madly in love with the people I worked with; we were like a family.

And I really credit that job with keeping me stable. I think it’s very overwhelming

1, 2, big and blue.

3, 4, on the floor.

5, 6, chewing on sticks.

7, 8, soft and great.

9, 10, recycled again.

the eco nap from west paw.

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for a young girl to go to Los Angeles— wide-eyed and naïve—and that is exactly what I was. That was such a tight-knit set, and everyone was so supportive and encouraging. It was a safe place.

MD: You were awarded three consecutive Daytime Emmy wins. What’s it like when they call your name?

JF: It was pretty much shock every time. And I hope to feel that again. It’s utter disbelief. I equate it to your wedding day. You’re completely elated and it’s surreal at the same time.

MD: You’re in an industry that can have its fair share of pauses. But you seem

PHOTO GENE PAGE

to be doing something very right. To go melodrama for so many years. From that from The Bold and the Beautiful to a recurI went right on to [Jerry Bruckheimer’s] ring role on Crossing Jordan. What was it Close to Home, which was pretty dramatic like to work with Jill Hennessy and Jerry as well. But comedy is a strength of mine, O’Connell? and I’m mad about doing comedy. For me, JF: Jill was great. She’s Canadian, so the kookier, the better. we bonded on that. And I was still on the MD: You star in the latest of the cult soap when I switched favourite Beethoven over to Crossing Jordan. movies, Beethoven’s Big I’m mad about All of a sudden jumpBreak. And I understand ing into the primetime you know the leading doing comedy. world, I was so fearful For me, the kookier, man, Jonathan Silverman of it at first. People often (Gimme a Break, Brighton the better. make such a big deal Beach Memoirs, The Single of transitioning from Guy), just a little? daytime to nighttime.

JF: Yeah, you know, Everyone was so welcoming, all very seakinda, sorta….We actually just celebrated soned actors. Jerry was great and hysteriour one-year wedding anniversary. cally funny. That was such a good experiMD: Is this the first time you and he ence right off the bat. From there I went have starred in something together? on to a short-lived sit-com, Committed, JF: He did the last three episodes of which was probably the best time of my Close To Home. But we only had one life. I never knew I could do comedy, and line together. Which was a relief to me I realized that is my love, having done because when I found out he was going to

do the show, I thought, Please don’t make him my love interest. I’ll just be completely freaked out. And we actually go back every few months and do an episode of a show called Head Case on Starz. We play sort of an elevated, crazy version of ourselves in couples therapy. But [Beethoven’s Big Break] is the first time we went on location together.

It was so great. My favourite part about it was being able to come home after work every day and talk about the scenes we did, run our lines together for the next day, talk about our experiences on set.

And being able to relate to each other. We had such a blast. I mean, it’s the person you know best in the world, the person you love most in the world.

MD: Can you tell us a bit about the premise? And your role in it?

JF: It’s almost like the prequel to the original Beethoven movie. It’s just this crazy adventure. It’s absolutely adorable. I play the writer of the film; basically it’s a

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PHOTOS GENE PAGE

“I saw all these behind the scenes things I never thought I’d see. Like a trainer with a piece of steak on the end of a stick.”

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film within a film, which makes it more interesting. The whole thing is set on the original Beethoven movie set, so in the background you see extras walking around, camera people; it really brings the audience into the making of a film.

In the story, the film we are making is originally intended for this little Bichon Frise, but then that dog is kidnapped and so all of a sudden my character, Lisa, has to re-write the script for this giant Saint Bernard. She’s frazzled at first and she blames it on [Silverman’s] character. Eventually, sparks develop and it becomes a little romance.

MD: What was it like working with a Saint Bernard?

JF: There were actually three different Saint Bernards. There was sort of the star dog. He was the one who was most well-trained in terms of doing tricks. Barking on cue, things like that.

Then there were two others as well. I saw all these behind the scenes things I never thought I’d see. Like a trainer with a piece of steak on the end of a stick, trying to get them to run in a certain direction.

MD: The dogs? Or the humans?

JF: I hope it was for the dogs.

MD: Do you have dogs?

JF: Yes. I have a Miniature Dachshund, Saucisse—French for “sausage.” Johnny has a rescued Boxer, Gibby. The two of them sort of look like matching luggage. Mine is the carry-on, and his is the check-in.

MD: There are a number of things I love about that. Not the least of which

is knowing that Jonathon Silverman actually goes by “Johnny.”

And Gibby is a rescue?

JF: She was found tied to a tree. A member of The Bill Foundation, a charity Johnny had done some work with in the past, contacted him and said they just found this dog and they knew he was looking for one because his Cocker Spaniel had just passed away and he was devastated. This dog had just been so mistreated, they were desperate to place her and Johnny said “Of course!” right away.

MD: Did you bring your carry-on with you on location?

JF: I actually brought her to Florida for the filming. I especially wanted to get her in the movie. There’s this really great scene where all different dogs are auditioning to be the star of the film and I was desperate to get her in there, but it didn’t work out.

MD: You’re like one of those TV moms, aren’t you?

JF: I am! I am! n

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Rescue Animal lovers start their own inspiring grass roots rescue organizations.

Written and photographed by Carreen Maloney

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(facing page) A Pasado’s rescue dog relaxes in the woods on a quiet afternoon. (right) Furbaby’s Eleni Naslund cuddles puppies born to a dog rescued from a puppy mill. (below) A grass snack is a tasty treat for a Furbaby dog.

I

T WAS THE PLAINTIVE CRIES OF HUNGRY KITTENS THAT

transformed Carol Reichert from an everyday animal lover into a budding animal rescuer. The Canadian Airlines flight attendant first noticed strays eking out an existence in the Vancouver International Airport employee parking lot in the late 1980s. Soon she was carrying bags of kibble in her car to feed them. Before long, she had purchased her first humane trap.

“I was in business,” Reichert says. “I started to see the problem everywhere. My husband said I was the only person who could see a cat out of the back of my head.”

Driven to improve circumstances for unwanted animals, she and a few volunteers initially set out to trap cats, spaying or neutering them for population control, and established feeding sites for strays.

From this, her commitment grew and Reichert, now retired from flying, has built her quest to save animals into a kingdom called Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS). The group operates a sanctuary housing 800 cats on six acres of farmland and has spayed or neutered thousands of animals, saving countless lives over the years. RAPS recently landed the contract to run the City of Richmond Animal Shelter, which takes in abandoned or lost dogs, cats, rabbits, and other assorted species.

“It’s overwhelming on some days, but I would never give it up,” Reichert says. “I am hopelessly in love with every one of these animals.”

Frustration is inherent to the work, with rescuers struggling to house and home a relentless flood of unwanted animals. “It would be so much easier if every person did one little thing instead of passing the buck,” Reichert says. “I beg people to step up and do something. I am so inspired when I find someone who has trapped a cat or taken in a stray dog.”

Luckily, there are many ways citizens everywhere can take action. Corrine Dowling was a volunteer dog walker at San Francisco’s Animal Care and Control when her interest was piqued by “the dogs behind the green door,” custody animals being held by court order. Destined to languish in isolation for months, they face boredom and stress while they wait for their cases to be resolved in the court system.

“These are the forgotten dogs that nobody knows about,” Dowling says. “I found out they were here for incredible lengths of time with nothing.” So Dowling founded Give a

(above) A dog enjoys vigorous playtime at the City of Richmond Animal Shelter (above, right) RAPS founder Carol Reichert bonds with a young shelter dog. (right) Einstein observes the happenings at Pasado’s Safe Haven from his looking post.

Dog a Bone, a program that provides tug toys made of strong nylon rope, tennis balls on sticks, a steady supply of stuffed animals, and special food treats to make life bearable and rebuild the dogs’ trust in human beings, allowing them to be considered for adoption when their sentence has been served.

While Dowling dreams of bringing her program into other shelters, Susan Michaels of Pasado’s Safe Haven brings the people to her. She started a popular groundbreaking course entitled Sanctuary 101 for fledgling rescuers interested in starting their own operation. Each spring, Michaels invites a new flock of 30 people to visit her sanctuary for two days of intensive training. Besides learning the basics of animal care, attendees receive advice on fundraising, budgeting, and the tax advantages of being a charity. They get information on animal rescues, investi-

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gations, prosecutions, and convictions.

“They can learn from our mistakes,” says Michaels.

Michaels’ passion for animals fueled her to found Pasado’s Safe Haven in 1992, the day after a donkey named Pasado was beaten and hanged in his pasture.

For 19 years, Pasado had been a beloved fixture at Kelsey Creek Farm in the affluent area of Bellevue, Washington. Children came to pet and ride the personable donkey.

Michaels, a former television personality, was horrified to discover that the laws on the books at the time did little to protect the defenseless donkey or bring his killers to justice. Since his death, she has focused her efforts on strengthening anti-cruelty legislation in her state.

Michaels also put a mobile spay-neuter clinic on the road and built an 80-acre sanctuary in Sultan. It’s a serene place for rescued factory farm animals and abandoned cats and dogs to come and live out their lives in a beautiful rural setting. More than two dozen dogs, many of them seniors, are among those creatures who call Pasado’s home.

Though there are many rewards, Michaels warns the work is not without heartbreak. She tells her Sanctuary 101 students that they face physical and emotional challenges ahead. She encourages people to follow their dreams with at least one partner if at all possible. A spouse, sibling, or parent can provide support at critical times. She adds that having a business background

“It’s something they need to feel in their hearts or they won’t have the passion to keep it going.”

is useful, but equally valuable is somebody who is handy at building. Physical structures will be required, and often need to be adapted for animals so they can be housed safely and humanely.

“If you’ve got a couple of wimps starting a sanctuary, forget it, you’re not going to make it,” says Michaels, who at the time of this interview was nursing a broken toe sustained while working at her farm. “It’s something they need to feel in their hearts or they won’t have the passion to keep it going.”

Michaels’ operation might sound daunting, but most founders start small.

Rescuers often get more involved after fostering a few animals in their homes. For example, after adopting a Shih Tzu from a backyard breeder in 1997, Eleni Naslund joined an online chat group to find out how to take care of her dog’s coat. In the process, she learned the sad fates of other Shih Tzu. >>

Sweet Charity?

Deciding whether to seek official charitable status is a question that plagues startup rescue groups. It’s not always worth the effort. Without the status, it can’t provide tax receipts to donors. But it can still subtract expenses from donations and adoption fees, typically under tax laws that govern hobbies. Taxes must be paid only on income not offset by expenses, but in reality income isn’t likely to occur.

Usually it’s the opposite, and losses aren’t deductible against unrelated income, and can’t be carried over into the next year.

Business owners launching animal welfare initiatives might find the operating expenses from their pursuits are deductible from the company’s income as a whole, but again, the company isn’t permitted to provide tax receipts for donations they receive.

“There’s definitely a deduction there if they can make a good argument that they generate business from the activities they do, or create goodwill in the community,” says Rob Gilfillan, a certified public accountant (CPA) with the firm Moss Adams in Bellingham. “It’s an advertising expense.”

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Doggie Paw Delites are baked using only the highest quality natural human grade ingredients. (No preservatives or additives.)

Order online at www.doggiepawdelites.com 60 moderndog

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“I thought I could take a dog in from time to time and help them.”

“I thought I could take a dog in from time to time and help them,” says Naslund.

Over time, that call to action blossomed into Furbaby Rescue. With the help of 12 volunteers, Naslund’s organization takes 200 to 300 Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apsos, and other small breed dogs into her foster network each year. She pulls dogs from nearby shelters and other sources, such as puppy mills. Little dogs bounced around her heels as she spoke, explaining that she pays $50,000 a year for veterinary bills, grooming, leashes, collars, toys, and food. Adoption fees and donations cover her costs, but money is always tight. She shops sales hard and uses commercial animal equipment catalogs to purchase supplies.

Furbaby Rescue has chosen not to seek charitable status, and that’s common for small groups. While being registered with the government as a charity can provide tax advantages such as the ability to give donors a tax deduction, it also requires specialized accounting and judicious recordkeeping. Certain guidelines must be followed, or the charity risks not qualifying each year. Charitable status usually leads to higher administrative costs, both to set up and file taxes annually as a charity.

“If people have any questions about [their donation], I just tell them to send the money to my vet,” Naslund says.

“That’s where the money goes anyway.”

Regardless of charitable status, paperwork is a crucial component of running a responsible rescue group. If you will be adopting even a few pets from your home, cruise the Internet for sample adoption applications posted by other organizations. Merge the best parts into an agreement you can live with. Prepare a questionnaire you can use to query people regarding their needs and views

regarding animals. Survey their stances on inhumane acts such as de-clawing cats and de-barking dogs before releasing your animal. Be certain the animal will fit in well with your adopter’s home situation, children, and existing pets. Do a home visit before placing the pet, if possible.

“When my gut feeling tells me it’s wrong, I just say no,” Naslund says. “I watch the relationship between the person and the animal.”

Be honest about your animal’s medical and behavioural issues. You don’t want to place an animal where he will not be welcome. Most animal rescuers allow— or even require—adopters to return an animal if the match doesn’t work out.

Giving away animals isn’t advisable—set an adoption fee.

“If they can’t pay the adoption fee, then they can’t afford the dog,” says Naslund, who also grooms, microchips, and vaccinates all dogs she adopts. She pays their veterinary bills and has them spayed or neutered without fail, a vital tenet among animal rescuers. Promises to spay or neuter by a prospective adopter should be ignored. You must have the animal altered yourself to be certain your efforts aren’t adding to the overpopulation crisis. Your veterinarian might offer you a discounted rate on medical care if you approach him or her in a professional manner and explain your mission calmly and thoughtfully. Finally, keep records on all animals you have adopted, including contact information for their new guardians, microchip numbers, and medical histories.

It all adds up to a pile of work. But despite long hours and sheer exhaustion—both mental and physical—those who take the leap to start their own animal welfare organizations take comfort in knowing that they will leave behind a legacy.

“When I take my last breath, no matter when it is, I know I will have accomplished something before I died,” Michaels says. “We’re not put here just to consume resources. We have to leave the world a better place.” n

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How You Can Help If you’d like to help the organizations mentioned in the above article by volunteering or making a donation, visit their websites for more information: Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS): rapsociety.com Give a Dog a Bone: gadab.org Pasado’s Safe Haven: pasadosafehaven.org Furbaby Rescue: furbabyrescue.com

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the modern dog’s guide to

Boston >where to shop, eat, stay, and play.

By Elizabeth Gardiner

•

Illustration by Keith Warren Greiman

Sniffed out: the city’s best ideas for a full day of doggie nirvana.

Herewith, Boston’s top dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, shops, and outdoor spots.

>st ay Nine Zero 90 Tremont St. (617) 772-5800 Kimpton hotels are renowned for the allout pet services they offer, and their Nine Zero property is no exception. This is a hotel that understands first-class accommodation, catering to both you and your dog.

You’ll enjoy the chic rooms and central, downtown location while Poochie digs the “In the Doghouse” pet package, which includes dog treats and a designer bowl and bed. Pet sitting, grooming, and massage services are available upon request, and, best of all, you’re right across the street from Boston Common, Boston’s pet-friendly 50-acre public park. There are neither fees nor size restrictions imposed upon canine guests. Limit two dogs per person. ninezero.com

city. Every detail of your room will leave you feeling pampered, from the luxe, environmentally-friendly Molton Brown bath products, to the breathtaking architecture.

Your canine companion won’t feel neglected, either, with food bowls and a dog bed, plus locally baked treats provided. Plus, not only is the hotel 10 minutes away from a dog park, but it is also located along the Esplanade, miles of park land along the Charles River, perfect for walking or running with your dog. A one-time dog fee of $100 is charged. Doggie guests of all stature are welcomed. libertyhotel.com

5

The Chandler Inn Hotel

The Liberty Hotel 215 Charles St. (857) 233-0552 The Liberty is situated on Beacon Hill, offering one of the greatest views of the

1

26 Chandler St. (800) 842-3450 If you and Fido are in search of an independent boutique hotel offering modern yet cozy accommodations that won’t burn a hole in your wallet, the Chandler Inn is for you. Appropriately self-described as a mix of European charm and hip South End personality, the Chandler Inn brings its own flavour to the table. Dogs up to 25 pounds are welcome and there is no additional fee charged for canine guests. chandlerinn.com

Eliot Hotel

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370 Commonwealth Ave. (617) 267-1607 The Eliot hotel insists that one needn’t give up comfort and luxury when traveling with dogs. Beautiful rooms and a central location—adjacent to shopping on Newbury Street and Copley Place, as well as the Fenway Park, Symphony Hall, and The Museum of Fine Arts—make this charming boutique hotel an excellent choice. Plus, it houses an award-winning restaurant, The Clio, that’s certainly worth a visit. Dogs of all sizes are warmly welcomed without additional charge. They must be crated whenever left in the room unattended, but pet-sitting services are also available if your pooch doesn’t want to stay alone. eliothotel.com

>eat/Drink Tremont 647 647 Tremont St. (617) 266-4600 This American Bistro not only serves up some mean food, but dogs are more than welcome on the patio. Be sure to stop by on Saturdays between 2 and 5 p.m. when moderndogmagazine.com

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both you and your four-legged friend can enjoy brunch. While you partake of coffee and gingerbread pancakes, your dog can peruse the delicious doggie menu (catered by the Polka Dog bakery), with choices including Martha’s Meatballs (gently seasoned ground beef drenched in salt-free tomato sauce) and tender Lamb Rangoon…makes you want to go half and half with your dog. tremont647.com

>s hop The Dogfather 51 North Margin St. (617) 227-2212 There will be a day when you’ll have to call upon the Dogfather for a favour—and they’ll be happy to oblige! The Dogfather offers all canine-related services, from dog walking to grooming to day trips, plus a selection of quality pet products. dogfather.com

The Polka Dog Bakery 256 Shawmut Ave. (617) 338-5155 The Polka Dog bakery is a touching tribute to Pearl, the “polka dog” behind the store’s unusual moniker. It was Pearl, a one-eyed, rescued Puerto Rican Boxer that inspired owners Rob Van Sickle and Deborah Gregg to open Boston’s most delicious “bark-ery.” Aside from the goodies, they offer a complete and stylish retail selection for your canine, plus they are

Harvard campus is not only historic, but pet friendly. Harvard first opened its doors in 1636, making it the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. On campus, you and your dog can enjoy lush promenades (especially in the fall season) and free student-led historical walking tours. Dogs must be leashed all times and cleaned up after. http://www.news.harvard.edu/guide/ to_do/index.html

known for catering various canine events around town. A definite must when shopping Bean Town with your dog. polkadog.com

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‘S Poochies Spa and Boutique 400 Tremont St. (617) 357-7387 x221 Break a nail on a walk? Need an emergency dog-cut? ‘S Poochies is a spa and gift store with first-class service, plus the trendiest products your dog could ever want or, less to the point, need. Their grooming services have consistently been rated one of the best in Boston; Fido won’t be disappointed! spoochies.com

> pla y Harvard University 1350 Massachusetts Ave./Harvard Sq. What’s a trip to Boston without a stop at one of its Ivy League universities? The

Peters Park Dog Run

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One of the only off-leash dog parks in Boston, the Joe Wex Dog Recreation Space in Peters Park is located in the South End on Washington Street between East Berkley and Waltham Street.

This completely privately funded dog run, opened in 2007, is a true expression of Bostonians love for their four-legged friends. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. peterspark.org n

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cirque du chien

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LINDSEY DONOVAN SPECIAL THANKS TO DOG STARS TALENT AGENCY (DOGSTARS.CA)

! e r e h r hea (facing page) Tilo, a Chinese Crested, wears a black and white striped tee, Puppy Angel (puppyangel.com); gold-accented tuxedo bib, Road Wagz (roadwagz.com); white tuxedo jacket and top hat, 1 Cute Pooch (1cutepooch.com); black satin pants, Precious Pups Creations (preciouspupscreations. com); and copper leather jacket with feather trim, Angel Ragz (geocities.com/ angelragz/index.htm). (this page) Cookie, a Toy Poodle, wears a GLAM Queen sequined dress, Louis Dog (barkingbabies.com) and rose-petal appliquĂŠ tutu, Ella Berella (ellaberella.com).

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Rosie, a Long-haired Miniature Dachshund, wears a Gerber Fleur de Lee collar, Rufflees (rufflees.com) and a Poochie Koochie ruffled bathing suit and skirt.

! p u t h g i step r

Roli, a Pit Bull puppy wears reversible Rain or Shine jacket with polka dots, Mod Dog (moddog.ca), striped cashmere leg warmers, Te-leash-a by Telicia (teleashabytelicia.com) and flower squeaky toy (as broach), Spot Designs (spotdesignsinc.com).

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t s e t ! a e h t r r g a e e h T how on s Co, a Chihuahua, wears a Gui’tarzan-the Man tee, Bully Ware; Lulu, a Chihuahua, wears a JANE-insane tee, Bully Ware (bullywarenycom); and Dolce, a Chihuahua, wears a CHEETAH-Jones tee, all Bully Ware (bullywareny.com).

Zeus, a Boston Terrier, wears a cupcakeappliquĂŠ tee-shirt dress with pink ruffle, Tu For Tee (tufortee.com).

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body &soul 10 Easy Ways to I LLU ST R A T I O N B Y J E SS G O LDE N

Detox Your Home

1. Read your labels. Shop for pet food without artificial preservatives or chemicals. As a general rule of thumb, if you have difficulties pronouncing the ingredients, consider a different brand (this goes for your food, too!).

2. Clean cleaner. A skull-and-crossbones symbol indicates a product that is most certainly not puppy-friendly, and ingredients with six syllables or more are usually man-made synthetics. Ditch the toxins! You can clean almost everything in your house with soap and water, baking soda, lemon or vinegar (plus some elbow grease). There are also some excellent pet, people, and earth-friendly products out there that are safe enough for Rover to lick up off the floor or lap out of the toilet bowl—because you know he will. Or try Method household cleaners, a line so green you can literally eat off your floors. methodhome.com

3. Go phthalate free. Conventional human and pet grooming products contain these potentially harmful compounds, the most common of which are DEP and DHEP. To avoid these, choose 100 percent organic products when shopping for shampoos and soaps. We like Gordon MacIntyre Cleansers, a line created by a veterinary dermatologist. All their products are paraben and phthalate-free and

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Whether you have a dog, a child, or a dog-child, you should be concerned about what you’re both exposed to on a day-to-day basis: The average household contains dozens of toxic chemicals. But, fear not, these easy steps can help clear both the air and your conscience.

the containers are all recyclable, plus, they smell great. gordonmacintyre.com

4. HEPA HEPA Hooray! Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter will eliminate 99.7 percent of airborne particles, including dust, dander, and other allergens, while you clean. Dyson, the Cadillac of vacuum cleaners, offers a pet model, the DC23 Motorhead Animal, a bag-less HEPA wonder vac that extracts mold, bacteria, and the equivalent of a large dog’s worth of hair, dirt, and dander from your carpet. dyson.com

5. Keep air conditioners, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers clean. Damp environments are breeding grounds for bacteria and clogged filters won’t do anything in your fight against mold, viruses, and pollen.

Regularly replace air-conditioning and furnace filters and check their manuals for cleaning instructions.

6. Natural is nicer. For upholstered furniture, drapes, carpets, and bedding (including the pup’s), choose natural textiles and opt for feather, cotton, wool, or recycled fill. Old foam can crumble and be mighty tempting to a curious pup exploring by way of mouth.

7. Avoid that “new paint” smell. Choose low-VOC (volatile organ-

by Elizabeth Kemp

ic compound) or VOC-free paint when decorating your home; regular paints release low-level toxic emissions into the air for years after painting.

8. Avoid insecticides and be wary of fertilizers and herbicides. Exposure to or ingestion by your dog can cause severe damage to her nervous system, a risk not worth running for a “perfect” lawn.

9. Literally, go green. Bring the outdoors in by planting a plant. Plants help clean the air by absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen, plus they look pretty and it’s been proven that tending plants can help reduce your blood pressure and ease mental fatigue.

Just be sure it’s not a species that’s toxic to dogs.

10. Open the windows. With your furniture off-gassing and your walls leaching toxins, indoor air pollution may be much worse than outdoor. Help your home take a deep breath and open those windows to let fresh air in to circulate.

If you need a bit of extra freshening, try Bill Tufts Organic TKO Pet Power. This ultimate all-in-one, deodorizer/organic cleaner/stain remover is made of orange peel extract and will make your home smell fresher than a Tropicana grove. tuftsorganics.com n

IN SEARCH OF CINNAMON

Against Fleas, Flies, Ticks and Mosquitos Solid Gold researches the ingredients that go into its products very carefully. The owner, Sissy Harrington-McGill, recently went to India to study ayurvedic herbs. The biscuit treat, Solid Gold’s Cinnabone Biscuit for dogs, was of a special interest.

Sissy has been breeding, showing and raising Great Danes for almost 50 years. Her dogs are fed at 6am and at 6pm. We all go to bed at around 10pm. If she forgets to give them their night-time biscuit, around 2am, a very loud yawn is heard saying, “I’m starving to death. Feed me my biscuits.”

Then, they go back to sleep through the night. Their people are well trained!

Of all the five biscuit recipes, Cinnabone Biscuit is the all-time favorite. South East Asia is known for its cinnamon. Nothing is too good for our fur kids.

Cinnamon information first appeared in Chinese writings around 2800 B.C. It was given to people for a variety of ailments.

It helped with kidney, liver, and heart problems. It was used to keep meat from spoiling and kept disease from spreading due to its anti-bacterial properties.

In the first century A.D., Pliny, the Elder, thought that cinnamon was so valuable that 350 grams of cinnamon were equal to 15 times the value of silver.

Medieval physicians used it for respiratory problems such as coughing and sore throats. They didn’t know how effective it was for bacterial infections. They just knew that I worked.

Cinnamon was thought to have an anti-aging use, since it slows down the deterioration of cells.

Today, cinnamon is used for weight control and Type II diabetes. The Bellville Nutrition Center is under the auspices of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Their 2003 study found that cinnamon lowered glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol as well as improved diabetes problems.

The department also found that it helped with insect problems. As an additional bonus, the department found that even after the experiment was over, all the beneficial effects continued for 20 more days.

A professor of nutrition at the Public School of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health was amazed at the long lasting results. Dr. Anderson of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture said, “Cinnamon makes cells more sensitive to insulin.”

Cinnamon contains sulphur, the seventh most prevalent substance in the human’s and dog’s bodies. Dogs love cinnamon.

Fleas, ticks, flies and mosquitoes hate sulphur.

In 2004, the island of Taiwan found that if they sprinkled cinnamon around the island, it killed mosquitoes larva more effectively than DEET, a common pesticide. On July 14, 2004 a recommendation was made from the Agriculture and Food Chemistry Dept. in Taiwan to use cinnamon to repel insects. Yet, if the dogs found the cinnamon and ate it, it wouldn’t hurt them.

Dogs love cinnamon.

From Sissy’s notebook about India in the spring of 2008, she tells what she observed.

“The elephants and camels are common beasts of burden in the city of Bombay (now called Mumbai). They poop all over as they walk along. The sacred white cows stop traffic and walk into the street, into shops-pooping all the way. Traffic comes to a dead stop as the cows wander across the streets.

At night, women come out and gather up the poop, mix it with straw, dry it out, and use it for fuel for cooking.

In the early 1800’s in the U.S., pioneers also collected Buffalo Chips and Cow Pies for the same reason.

The chips were so valuable that they were shipped to various ports as cargo. At first, they were stored into the bottom of the ship’s hold. But they produced methane gas. So, if someone approached the chips with a lighted lantern, it exploded.

So sailors marked on the ship’s walls STORE HIGH IN TRANSIT to let the air circulate.

Later on, the abbreviation S.H.I.T. was used.

I always thought that expression was used by dog handlers as they left the ring, if they didn’t win.

Solid Gold Cinnabone Biscuits are available in 2.5 pound reusable buckets with handles, or 1 pound jars. The other ingredients are barley, lamb, oats, fish, and garlic and sea vegetation.

Our other biscuits are Dragon’s Teeth to clean teeth, Dragonett to clean little teeth, Dyna-Bones for the eyes and diabetes and Natur-Bone Biscuit for memory, circulation and weight control.

Solid Gold is the only dog food company that is a member of the Organic Trade Association, the American Nutraceutical Association, the Medicinal Food Association, Nutraceutical Foods Association and the Life Extension Association.

For a catalog or store near you call or email us at: (619) 258-7356 or (619) 258-1914 (M-F 10-5 PST) or E-mail us at dane@solidgoldhealth.com or www.solidgoldhealth.com Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, the Holistic Animal Nutrition Center 1331 N. Cuyamaca El Cajon, CA 92020

body &soul The Doctor’s In Tackling Toothbrushing Start brushing to avoid dental disease —and expensive vet bills.

A dog’s mouth is host to many of the same factors and processes as our own—bacteria producing plaque, plaque hardening into tartar, and tartar causing gum irritation and recession, tooth-root infections, and tooth loss. It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that regular tooth-brushing is the first line of defense for dogs as well as people.

Happily, brushing a dog’s teeth is usually easier than you think. But there are a couple situations in which you shouldn’t attempt it. One is with a dog who is likely to bite if you come near his mouth with a toothbrush: clean teeth simply aren’t worth getting bitten over. The other situation is when a dog already has a lot of tartar on his teeth. Tartar can’t be removed by simple brushing, and brushing could be uncomfortable for a dog whose gums are very irritated. If your dog’s teeth are funky, schedule a dental cleaning by your vet before you begin the following home dental-care regime.

Plan on brushing your dog’s teeth once a day.

Plaque hardens into tartar within 36 hours, so you need to remove it every day.

Buy a soft-bristle toothbrush that’s an appropriate size for your dog’s mouth and a tube of dog toothpaste. A “people” toothbrush is fine, but don’t use people toothpaste—it contains foaming agents that might make a dog vomit, and the enzymes in dog toothpaste do a better job of cleaning.

A dog has 42 teeth, but you can begin by brushing the outside surfaces (the lip side) of just four of them: the upper canines (fangs) and the upper fourth premolars (the first large teeth in the back of the mouth). Those are the four teeth that accumulate the most tartar, so brushing them alone will contribute significantly to your dog’s dental health.

Wet the toothbrush, put a tiny dab of toothpaste on it, and brush gently using a circular motion at the gum line of one of the upper canines for about five seconds. Repeat with the upper canine on the other side.

I LLU ST R A T I O N B Y JE SS G O LDE N

Dr. Betsy Brevitz tackles common veterinary vexations

Next, brush the upper and fourth premolars. The upper fourth premolars are far back in a dog’s mouth, but you can brush them without cranking your dog’s lips all the way back, which can be uncomfortable for both of you. Picture a vertical line running straight down from your dog’s eye. Where that line meets his mouth is where his upper fourth premolar is. Push back your dog’s lips to take a peek—it’s the biggest triangular tooth. Once you have an idea of where your target is, let go of the lip, wet the toothbrush, put a tiny dab of toothpaste on it, and slide the toothbrush gently along the inside of his mouth until the head of the toothbrush is about even with his eye.

The brush with a circular motion at the gum line for about five seconds. Repeat with the upper fourth premolar on the other side.

You may notice some blood on the toothbrush when you first start brushing your dog’s teeth.

Ease up on the pressure, but don’t stop brushing, as your efforts make your dog’s gums healthier.

Once you’re comfortable brushing the four teeth described above, expand your efforts to include the outer surfaces of the other teeth.

With practice, you’ll be able to brush all 42 in just one or two minutes. Focus your efforts at the gum line, because that’s where the plaque builds up.

If brushing your dog’s teeth is impossible, ask your vet whether using an enzyme or antibacterial mouth spray instead would help reduce the plaque and irritation in your dog’s mouth.

Rawhide and other chew toys may help clean a dog’s teeth a little, but they are nowhere near as thorough or effective as daily brushing. n

The Doctor

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Excerpted from Hound Health Handbook Copyright © 2004 by Urbanhound, LLC Used by permission of Workman Publishing Co., Inc. New York All Rights Reserved.

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body &soul Meridian Legend

The Qi to Good Health Canine Acupressure

T A LLG R A SS P U B LI SH ER S, LLC , W W W . A N I M A LA C U P R ESSU R E. C O M

by Elizabeth Kemp

T

raditional Chinese medicine teaches that the body’s vital energy, called qi, travels throughout a system of interconnected channels called meridians. Acupressure is a non-invasive therapy that uses focused pressure to stimulate key points along the meridian to enhance circulation, remove blockages, and release endorphins (the hormones that make you happy). The squeamish will be glad to know that, unlike acupuncture, a related discipline, this technique does not involve needles of any kind. Like massage, acupressure can help relieve the pain of arthritis in the joints and loosen tight aching muscles. It is also said to improve circulation, allowing more oxygen to flow throughout the body and feed the muscles, and facilitating the excretion of waste and toxins that may be affecting health. For dog or human, more oxygen to the muscles decreases stiffness and increases you and your pup’s range of motion, making it easier and less painful to lead an active lifestyle.

While acupressure massage may be performed with hands alone, you may find your dog is particularly pleased with the use of a mini Acuball (acuball.com) in your sessions. This nubbly rubber ball increases the sensation for your dog by stimulating numerous pressure points in one go. However, as the ball is rubber, be gentle over all joints and areas of the dogs body where you can feel bone. The standard version of the ball works great for owner too, allowing you to reach those tense spots on your back that you just can’t massage any other way.

Acupressure uses focused pressure to enhance circulation, remove blockages and release endorphins.

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ask the animal psychic Animal communicator Joy Turner connects people with their pets.

Q:

I am writing about my sweet Beagle, Ellie Mae. She passed away last year.

Ellie was my best girl. She was rescued from our county shelter as a skinny, meek, and rather unattractive creature. Over her lifetime, she blossomed into a beautiful, loving, and loyal friend. She survived two bouts with cancer, a ruptured disc and numerous gastric indiscretions thanks to her hound dog nature! She was a happy and contented girl who always wore a smile on her face! She slowed down a lot in her senior years, but always kept the sparkle in her eye and had endless kisses for anyone who wanted them.

In January, 2007, she began to show signs of being more than just tired. She slept more restlessly and began to have bouts of pain that seemed to leave her immobile for minutes at a time, unable to walk or even lay down. An x-ray showed the vertebrae in her back literally disintegrating, due most likely to a bone cancer. She was prescribed several new meds including pain killers and steroids. They caused her even more lethargy and she began wetting her beds and blankets while she slept. She was on this course of treatment for only a day or two and it struck me...her smile was gone. She had given us 16 wonderful years and I thought it was time to let her go.

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I miss her terribly and think of her all the time. I struggle every day asking the questions, Did I send her off too soon?

Was she ready to go? Did I rob her of another golden year or two? Is she at peace?

Can you contact her to see if she is at peace and let her know how much she is still a part of our lives and always will be? Can she possibly know I did what I did because I love her so much?

—Shannon, Grand Rapids, MI

A:

Shannon, when I connected with Ellie Mae, she came to me as the softest and most gentle she could possibly be. She wants to assure you that she loves you as much as it is possible to love anyone and knows you love her the same. She also wants me to let you know that she does know how much you miss her, knows that you did the absolute best you could possibly do with circumstances that were incredibly hard, and that you chose the perfect timing. She says it was becoming very painful for her in her body as it was literally falling apart. She wants you to know that it wouldn’t have been very long before the spine severed completely and that would have been extremely painful. She is grateful you spared her that experience and she wants to assure you she completely knows that you put her down because you love her so much. She says she breathed a great

I LLU ST R A T I O N BY JE SS G O LDE N

body &soul sigh of relief when she left the body. In her opinion, there would not have been another year or two—maybe a month or two, but with great pain. She is completely at peace and content with your choices. She also wants you to know that every time you think or talk about her, she hears you. She also hears the messages your heart sends and says you can feel free to talk with her any time you want to. She is always listening and sending love to you.

Thank you for letting me talk with both of you.

Q:

I fell in love with my neighbour’s lovable Miniature Poodle last summer. His name is Collar, he’s about two years old, cream to golden in color, very high-spirited, but also calm in nature.

Unfortunately, he went missing around December last year and I have been desperately looking for him ever since finding out that he was lost. I’ve put up flyers, listed him on the Internet, have checked the local shelters, and I haven’t had any luck. I worry about his well-being so much.

I would love to find him, but more importantly, I want to know if he is okay and with someone or a family who is taking good care of him. He’s such a special little guy and I’ve bonded with him so much. I’m still hopeful.

I pray for him at night before bed, and look for him every morning in the area that he went missing on my way to work. If you can give me any information that would rest my mind, I would surely appreciate it.

—Collar’s friend, Paula, Oakland, CA

Do you have a question for the Animal Psychic? Submit your question and a recent photo of your dog to animalpsychic@moderndogmagazine.com. Please also include your background information (ages, history, names, and where you live) to enable the psychic to make a connection.

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A:

Paula, Collar tells me his name is no longer Collar and that he is happy and very content with his new family. There are apparently children from what he shows me and a nice yard with what looks like cyclone fencing. He gets to play with the kids and feels he is loved a lot. He shows me wandering quite far and then finding a place he decided to stay. In feeling him, there is no trauma.

He does tell me that he still misses his previous family (that includes you) but that he is still happy where he is. He feels you pulling on him to return and thinks he is fine where he is. He knows your heart and those of your neighbours love him and is grateful for that. His new name is something like Stanley— which he considers quite distinguished. He wants to send all of you his love and again reassure you he’s happy in his new family. There is apparently a school bus which he gets to visit when the children are picked up. For your information, feeling him and, through him, the family he is with, they don’t seem to know you are looking for him. The feeling I get from them is that they put up flyers in their location and no one responded, so they decided to keep him and are very happy with him. Delightful is the word that keeps wanting to come up when I feel the family. Perhaps this can put your mind and heart at peace.

It has been my experience talking with Souls and Spiritual Guides, that there are times when things like this happen because of a higher plan that we don’t know about and don’t necessarily happen to like. I’ve always been told that it is for the highest interest of all concerned, even if we don’t understand it at the moment. n

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Senior Dogs Kaya, 14 years old.

P H O T O LI N D SEY D O N O V A N

by Connie Wilson

W

e all grow old; however, it’s not until we see Tippy stumble going up the stairs or the wet spot on Sadie’s bed that we realize

that our canine pals are no longer puppies. Sadly, most of us dog parents will live to see our dogs depart this world before we do (as Agnes Sligh Turnbull wrote, “It’s their only fault, really”) and as much as we don’t want to think about it, being prepared will help with the transition.

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With a dog year equaling about seven of ours, by the time a dog has lived ten years, he’s actually a senior citizen. Just like us, dogs experience age-related illnesses, aches, and pains. So what we can we do to help them grow old gracefully and painlessly, not to mention extend their time with us for as long as possible? We here at Modern Dog have researched the following products, techniques, and services that will assist you in giving Rover the Golden Years he’s earned. Don’t forget, though, your first resource should always be your veterinarian.

completely under the foot. They can also be custom designed. handicappedpets.com/splints

Mobility

Aging dogs can develop weak bladder sphincters, causing them to leak urine, especially when they’re relaxed while asleep. Your veterinarian may suggest an estrogen supplement for your female dog or you can try the many attractive “pantie”-style diapers for girl dogs or belly-band diapers for the boys, available in disposable or washable styles (pantsfordogs. com; dog-diapers.com).

Getting out for more frequent bathroom breaks will also help.

The Bottoms Up Leash shifts weight from your dog’s hind legs and provides support, so your elderly dog will find it easier to walk or use the stairs. (For photos, see page 109.) bottomsupleash.com.

The Walkabelly harness is also helpful for mid-region support.

It wraps around the midsection, then fastens with Velcro. The handles are long enough so you won’t have to stoop while helping your dog along. walkaboutharnesses.com Fifi can’t jump up on the bed or sofa anymore? Pet stairs to the rescue…either custom made to complement your home décor (carmensteps.com) or lightweight stairs sculpted from foam then carpet covered (decadentdigs.com).

Getting a large dog with mobility problems into a vehicle can be back breaking.

That’s when a pet ramp is indispensible.

Check out petstep.com or ottostep.com.

Canine carts can really help severely immobilized dogs run around again.

Check out wheelchairsfordogs.com or dogkarts.com. Both sites feature a variety of styles for different needs and provide useful info on how carts work, sizing, and measuring.

The Burley Tail Wagon is a sporty mode of transportation that allows Poochey to come along whether you’re out for a stroll or a bike ride and can accommodate dogs up to 75 pounds. burley.com Splints for support and healing are modeled after the human versions and go from above the hock for back-leg splints or below the elbow for front legs and extend

Sleeping Soft fluffy beds may look cozy, but a firmer model like the Woof-A-Pedic bed makes it easier for Fido to get up and down and provides better support for his old bones. Draper Therapy beds deliver increased circulation and oxygenation to combat stiffness and soreness. drapertherapies.com

•over 100 pet bowl designs •matching home accessories & raised feeders

Incontinence

Give Rover the Golden Years he’s earned.

Medication Older dogs often need to take more medication more frequently. You’ll find Pill Pockets indispensible for the previously stressful task of trying to get the meds down your dog’s throat. A malleable and nutritious treat formed into a pocket, they come in two sizes. Simply drop the pill(s) into the pocket and pinch the top closed.

Rover won’t suspect a thing and the medication will be down the hatch in seconds. greenies.com

Food As dogs age, they become more sedate and enjoy longer and more frequent naps.

This can lead to weight gain unless we control their calorie intake. Ask your vet about the right calorie-reduced diet to keep Poochey in top shape.

Exercise Be aware of your dog’s limits. A senior dog will not have the same endurance he had when he was younger. Although

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he might have been your running partner as you trained for the half-marathon, he won’t be able to keep up now, but will still try. Be aware of what you’ve got him doing and take shorter, but more frequent walks. Overdoing it will cause inflammation and joint pain. If you suspect your dog is in pain, ask your vet to recommend an appropriate medication, such as Metacam.

Other choices such as glucosamine with chondroitin or Sasha’s Blend (a more holistic remedy) may be effective in getting your dog moving painlessly again. sashasblend.com Hydrotherapy can also work wonders. The water keeps the dog buoyant, taking body weight/pressure off joints and allows for weightless exercise. Your dog may also benefit from massage and/or reiki treatments. To learn more about these techniques visit moderndogmagazine.com/massage or moderndogmagazine.com/bodyworks. n To see a photograph of Editor-in-Chief Connie’s dog, Kaya (a nimble 14!) riding in her Burley Tail Wagon, go to moderndogmagazine.com/burley.

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Chi-Wow-Wow! With her latest role, the incomparable Jamie Lee Curtis throws dog lovers a bone.

by Elizabeth Kemp

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P H O T O S Š W A LT D I SNE Y P ICTUR E S

D

UE TO MY FAMILY’S BENEVOLENTLY NEGLECTFUL PARENTING

style, Jamie Lee Curtis entered my life at an early age, likely too early by most therapists’ standards, given the vehicle to our introduction was the horror movie Halloween. As such, I now have the nerves of a tormented puppy—and a love of all things Jamie Lee. The reasons for this love are multifold. For one, in a town where sporting short grey hair is tantamount to treason, Jamie Lee Curtis is a Hollywood anomaly: a gracefully aging, grounded actor who has removed herself from the image-based pressure of Hollywood to focus on what she loves: her family, her writing, her charity work, and, of course, movies.

Of the latter, there is something for everyone: From scream queen to sex symbol to cult hero, Curtis is the quintessential all-genre Hollywood star. The daughter of actors Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, Curtis was inducted into Hollywood at an early age, making her acting debut in the aforementioned 1978 horror masterpiece Halloween (the occasion of our acquaintance). This was followed by starring roles in movies from the cult classic comedy A Fish Called Wanda to blockbuster True Lies (co-starring with a beefy Arnold and an equally beefy Doberman Pinscher) to feel-good family movie Freaky Friday, in which she memorably swapped places with Lindsay Lohan.

After taking time off in 2006 to focus on her family (she’s married to mockumentary director Christopher Guest of Best in Show fame—more to love!), Curtis has returned to the silver screen, giving us dog lovers one more reason to adore her; she’s back to star in Disney’s new adventure-comedy Beverly Hills Chihuahua.

Curtis plays the mom of petite pampered pooch Chloe (voice of Drew Barrymore), who finds herself accidentally lost in the mean streets of Mexico without a day spa or Rodeo Drive boutique anywhere in sight. Now alone for the first time in her spoiled life, she must rely on some unexpected new friends, including a street-hardened German Shepherd named Delgado (voice of Andy Garcia) and an amorous pup named Papi (voice of George Lopez), to lend her a paw and help her to find her inner strength on their epic trek back home. A true girl-getslost-and-finds-a-moral-to-the-story (and maybe love?) movie, the film co-stars Piper Perabo, Manolo Cardona, and Eugenio Derbez, along with an adorable bunch of really well-trained Chihuahuas. We have a feeling that Chloe will be up there with likes of Legally Blonde’s Chihuahua Bruiser Woods after this release, (Anyone else thinking love match? Is there a potential for Hollywood super-Chihuahua puppies?)

We suggest you sneak your own pup into this one. Perhaps she’ll pick up some pointers for the “Jarabe Tapatio,” a.k.a. “The Mexican Hat dance,” or she’ll envy Chloe and accuse you of never taking her anywhere, thereby missing the point of the story. Regardless, we’re betting you’ll both love this story of friendship, inner strength, and an incredible journey.

In theatres September 26, 2008; disney.com/Chihuahua n

(top) Curtis as Aunt Viv with Chloe. (above) Piper Perabo plays niece to Curtis’ Aunt Viv.

Curtis has returned to the silver screen, giving us dog lovers one more reason to adore her.

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Dog Story

Of Love, Betrayal and (eventual) Reconciliation.

By Sarah Strange

C

Illustration by Jess Golden

AULFIELD “BUDDY” STRANGE IS A 13-YEAR-OLD PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER. HE’S ONE

those terribly handsome, very deep characters given to black glooms and bouts of passion. A creative genius, he’s alternately aggressive and aloof. He is deeply suspicious of strangers (and friends and family) but his loyalty to me is absolute.

He’s dark, he’s complicated, he’s my best friend in the world.

He’s earned quite a reputation over the years, my dog. A reputation and a number of unflattering nicknames—Snarky, Barky, Grumpy, Grouchy, Jackass, Jerkface, Trouble, Monster, Quick Draw, Bitey, BadNews, and Stabby (when he drinks), to hit the highlights. All pretty much warranted, I’m afraid. There is nothing anyone could say about my dog, that I haven’t already recognized and forgiven him for. I’m not blind to his peculiarities, I just accept them and love him anyway. Like any relationship, really. Ever been in love with an actor? It’s a lot of work and inevitably you will have to apologize to your neighbours. Sure, if you were to come by my house to, say, deliver flowers or collect for charity, Buddy would try to rip your head off through the door.

It’s his nature. But if I’m sick or sad, his tenderness would break your heart. We understand each other. We’ve been a team for a long time and, frankly, public scorn only draws us tighter.

But then, oh, the trespass I made. The first time I met Viv she was the size of a muffin. She actually looked a bit like a muffin, crossed with a little brown bat. French Bulldogs are known as “les petites clowns” of the dog world. They’re bred for their mellow good nature and, because they’re companion dogs (whereas Parson Russells are a working breed), their only jobs in life are snuggling and making you laugh.

Of course, I understood the risks involved in bringing such a tiny puppy home to Buddy, but I believed in him. I believed he would see her as a blessing and would be glad to have someone young and cute to curl up with in his dotage. Besides, she looked like a kitten crossed with a OF

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We’ve been a team for a long time and, frankly, public scorn only draws us tighter. hippo. How could he not love her?

“Viviane” means “full of life.” After being in the house for ten minutes she swaggered around like she owned the joint, stealing stuff, jumping on the old dog’s bed, on the old dog’s head, racing up and down the hall with a sock in her mouth. “She’s an angel!” I cried. “She’s looks like a raspberry crossed with a penny loafer!”

“She’s very smart,” said J., my big strong boyfriend, crawling around on the floor like a toddler.

She was bold as brass and quick as a cat; my guy and I were enchanted. So cheerful and self possessed, so utterly unafraid, it was as though she’d always been there, the yin to Buddy’s yang, the sparkling pear to his stinky cheese.

But he flatly refused to acknowledge her, even when she started chewing his neck with her sharp little fish teeth. It was a better reaction than I’d expected, to be honest. Then I caught his eye and a chill ran through me. “You betrayed me,” he said. “You, my only friend.

How could you? It looks like a pine cone in a fur coat! What is it? Where’s its tail?

I feel a bit weak. And you can just keep that liver jerky in your traitorous hand, thank you. I may never eat again.”

Of course he forgave me, in time.

After awhile, Viv, “the ambassador of love” wore him down with her relentless puppy-ness. They play now, they wrestle. She sleeps curled into his side like a little black comma. It’s possible Viv loves Buddy as much as I do. It’s been a pleasure to watch my cranky old monster become a caring and patient guardian, to watch him grow and mellow, as befits his new station. And there is a new spring in his step, a swagger he didn’t used to possess. Perhaps he’ll need a sports car to go with his new, young companion. Anything for you, pal. You are my heart. n

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Get Started!

To make Schnauzer and Chihuahua cupcakes you will need: 8 vanilla cupcakes baked in white paper liners (makes four of each dog) To prepare frosting for both breeds.

1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting 1 can (16 ounces) chocolate frosting 1 can (16 ounces) dark chocolate frosting Red, brown, and black food colouring Spoon 1/3 cup vanilla frosting into a ziplock bag. Tint 1/3 cup vanilla frosting a pinkish brown with the red and brown food colouring. Spoon 2 Tbsp pinkish brown frosting into a small ziplock bag and place the remaining pinkish frosting into a small bowl and

Canine Cutie Cupcakes Why, hello, cupcake! Dog lovers, get your just desserts with these easy recipes.

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cover. Tint 1 cup vanilla frosting light gray. Spoon 4 Tbsp gray frosting into a small bowl and cover. Tint the remaining gray frosting a darker shade and spoon half of it into a small ziplock bag and place the remaining darker gray frosting into a small bowl and cover. Tint 1 cup of the dark chocolate frosting black with the black food colouring. Spoon 2 Tbsp of the remaining dark brown frosting into a small ziplock bag. Spoon 1/2 cup of the black frosting into a ziplock bag and keep the remaining frosting covered.

Schnauzer 1 marshmallow 1 tsp pink decorating sugar 1 pink fruit chew (e.g., Starburst, Tootsie Roll) 2 brown mini candy coated chocolates (e.g. mini M&M’s) 1 small black jellybean 1. Cut 1/4 inch slice, crosswise, from marshmallow. Cut the slice into quarters. Press the cut side of two of the quartered pieces into the pink sugar and use these to make the ears. Using remaining large piece of marshmallow, trim 1/4 inch piece off of round edge. Spread the top of a cupcake with a thin layer of the dark gray frosting. Place the largest piece of marshmallow on top of cupcake, trimmed end closest to edge. Arrange the two sugared marshmallow pieces as the ears on the top edge of cupcake (see photo).

2. Cut the fruit chew into quarters. Use one piece to shape into a tear drop shape to make the tongue. Press a knife onto the fruit chew to create a crease and pinch one end.

3. Pipe vertical lines of vanilla frosting on the edge of the cupcake below the marshmallow and on the front flat side of the marshmallow. Snip a small corner from the bag with the dark gray frosting. Pipe a few lines around edges of ears, at top of cupcake to make tufts of hair, and vertical lines on both sides of marshmallow to cover with the dark gray frosting. Pipe two dots of vanilla frosting and add the chocolate candies for the eyes. Pipe small white highlights in the eyes. Add the black jellybean for the nose and the pink fruit chew for the mouth.

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Chihuahua 2 thin chocolate cookies (e.g. Famous chocolate wafers) 1 marshmallow 2 tsp white decorating sugar 3 small black jellybeans 1. Cut chocolate cookie using a serrated knife to make the long pointy Chihuahua ears. Cut the marshmallow in half crosswise. Spread the top of a cupcake with a thin layer of pinkish brown frosting. Place the cut marshmallow on the lower half of the cupcake and press into the frosting (see photo). Spread the pinkish brown frosting on top to cover cupcake and marshmallow.

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2. Spread one side of the chocolate cookie ears with the pinkish brown frosting. Sprinkle the top of cookie ears with the sugar to coat. Press the cookies into the cupcake on either side to make the ears.

3. Pipe several lines of the pinkish brown frosting around the edge of the ears. Pipe a mouth with the dark brown frosting. Add a whole black jellybean on its side to make the nose. Press the two remaining black jellybeans on end into the frosting for the eyes. Pipe small white highlights in the eyes.

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Petsitters International’s Take Your Dog to Work Day gives new meaning to the expression “working like a dog.” Herewith, a peek at some of the hardest-workin’ modern dogs around, snapped on the job for Modern Dog’s 2008 TYDTWD photo contest.

Dogs

on the Job

Roxy has a case of the Mondays.

Tokyo and Cairo at the board meeting.

Boomer, hard at work on the annual fiscal report, fights off distraction from phantom arm.

Blue works the reception room, offering a warm welcome, particularly to those with treats.

Max, absorbed by the books.

Doubledog Design’s Art Director and staff Beagle hard at work.

Scoots provides quality customer service at the Delta hotel reservation desk.

Honey, a St. John’s Ambulance Therapy dog, gets ready to visit some elderly ladies in a personal care home.

Caleb panicking that he’s stuck in traffic when he should be at work.

Photo-assistant Buffy hard at work at Jeffrey Photo Studio, Nesconset, NY.

Ms. Buttons campaigns for the upcoming U.S. election.

Buddy takes “casual Fridays” to a new level.

Belle goes to work at a pulmonary rehab center.

Duke, campaigning hard for his candidate, the Kentucky way.

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Cain & Able’s Dirty and Hairy “Repel” natural pet spray with green tea, lime and citronella is both a refreshingly scented and effective way of dealing with bugs, fleas and ticks, plus, it’s odour neutralizing. dirtyandhairy.com

pup will sleep soundly with this comfy 100 percent organic cotton dog bed from BellaDogga, as will you, knowing you’ve made an earth-wise bedding choice. earthdoggy.com

Earth-friendly choices for eco-minded dogs.

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(shame on you!), you’ll love Simply Fido’s natural hemp, organic owl toys stuffed with raw unbleached cotton. simplyfido.com

Soda-ceiving! There are one and a half plastic bottles in each one of these super-soft recycled cotton/poly tees from From Scratch. getitfromscratch.com

Mrs. Meyer’s quality,

naturally-made Oatmeal shampoo will leave your dog’s coat smelling and looking great without taking a toll on our environment. mrsmeyers.com The gorgeously designed Vurv pet feeder will leave all your eco-holic friends envious.

The wenge wood is an earthfriendly, engineered composite veneer and it’s finished with a polyurethane varnish, which doesn’t exude poisonous fumes like lacquer. vurv.ca

Dare to care! Let everyone know how you feel about Mother Earth and start reusing your plastic bags. Ensure you’ve got one handy by keeping a stylish, handmade 4 U 2 ReUse carrier (made of reused materials and organic fibers) attached to your leash or purse at all times. 4u2reuse.com

The Good Life’s cute collars are perfect for more formal occasions and take the “reduce, reuse and recycle” motto to heart: All the collars are made from recycled ties! thegoodlifesf.com

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Body Language Basics

How to “read” dog.

By Stanley Coren Illustrations by Emma Trithart

1 Relaxed Approachable Ears up (not forward) Head high

What is your dog trying to tell you? Dogs have a language that allows them to communicate their emotional state and their intentions to others around them. Although dogs do use sounds and signals, much of the information that they send is through their body language, specifically their facial expressions and body postures.

Understanding what your dog is saying can give you a lot of useful information, such as when your dog is spooked and nervous about what is going on, or when your dog is edgy and might be ready to snap at someone. You do have to look at the dog’s face and his whole body.

To help you, I have created a sort of visual version of a Berlitz phrase book to allow you to interpret the eight most important messages your dog is sending to you.

Mouth open slightly, tongue exposed

Tail down and relaxed

Loose stance, weight flat on feet

1 This dog is relaxed and reasonably content. Such a dog is unconcerned and unthreatened by any activities going on in his immediate environment and is usually approachable.

2 Alert — Checking Things Out Tail horizontal (not stiff or bristled)

Tail may move slightly from side to side

Ears forward (may twitch as if trying to catch a sound)

Eyes wide Smooth nose and forehead

Mouth closed Slight forward lean standing tall on toes

2 If the dog has detected something of interest, or something unknown,

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these signals communicate that he is now alert and paying attention while he is assessing the situation to determine if there is any threat or if any action should be taken.

3 Dominant Aggressive Tail raised and bristled

Ears forward (may be spread slightly to the side to form a wide V shape Hackles raised

Forehead may show vertical wrinkles Nose wrinkled

Tail is stiff but may be seen to quiver or vibrate from side to side

Lips curled Teeth (and often the gums) are visible Mouth open and C-shaped. Corner of mouth is forward

3 This is a very dominant and confident animal. Here he is not only expressing his social dominance, but is also threatening that he will act aggressively if he is challenged.

Stiff-legged stance, body leaning slightly forward

4 Fearful and Aggressive Hackles raised

Body lowered

Ears back

4 This dog is frightened but

Pupils dilated

is not submissive and may attack if pressed. A dog will generally give these signals when he is directly facing the individual who is threatening him.

Nose wrinkled

Lips slightly curled (teeth may be somewhat visible) Corner of mouth pulled back

Tail tucked (little or no movement)

5 Stressed and Distressed

Body lowered

Ears back

Pupils dilated Tail down

Rapid panting with corner of mouth back

5 This dog is under either social or environmental stress.

These signals, however, are a general “broadcast� of his state of mind and are not being specifically addressed to any other individual.

Sweating through pads

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6 Fearful and Worried Forehead smooth Eye contact brief and indirect

Ears back

Body lowered

Tail down (may wag slightly)

Corner of mouth back

6 This dog is somewhat fearful and is offering signs of submission. These signals are designed to pacify the individual who is of higher social status or whom the dog sees as potentially threatening, in order to avoid any further challenges and prevent conflict.

Licks at face of dominant dog or the air

Paw raised

May leave sweaty footprints

7 Extreme Fear—Total Submission Head turns to avoid direct eye contact

7 This dog is indicating total surrender and submission.

He is trying to say that he accepts his lower status by groveling before a higher ranking or threatening individual in the hopes of avoiding a physical confrontation.

Rolls onto back exposing stomach and throat

Ears flat and back

Eyes partly closed Nose and forehead smooth

Tail tucked Corner of mouth back

May sprinkle a few drops of urine

8 Playfulness Tail up Tail my broadly wave

8 Here we have the basic Ears up Dog will usually hold this position for only a moment before breaking into a run in some random direction

Pupils dilated

Mouth open, tongue may be exposed

Front end lowered by bent forepaws

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invitation to play. It may be accompanied by excited barking or playful attacks and retreats. This set of signals may be used as a sort of “punctuation mark” to indicate that any previous rough behaviour was not meant as a threat or challenge.

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Page 1

art attack

by Marni Wedin

Profile in Style: Jessie Marianiello

FJessie Marianiello

or many of us, without our loving canines, we’d be spiritually homeless; void of a beacon to point us home. For artist , immortalizing dogs in her paintings brings her “home” everyday. Painting dogs often leaves her “feeling as though her heart might possibly burst,” but it’s a job hazard she embraces eagerly. Perhaps because of her connection with her subject matter, Marianiello’s portraits seem to reflect the very soul of the animal she is painting. She describes her style as “loose realism,” with some aspects in each piece portrayed with extreme detail and others left subtly skewed and impressionistic.

Before settling in Minneapolis and starting her business, the free-spirited Marianiello hopped freight trains from her hometown of Bemidji, Minnesota, to Alaska and visited India with “no real plans and an empty backpack.” Though she admits her life now is more settled, painting dogs “represents the sense of freedom and authenticity” fundamental to her nature.

Marianiello recalls painting for fun as a child and being inspired by animals for as long as she can remember. The first

drawing that she remembers being proud of was a “farm scene with a barn and a whole bunch of animals.” Her deepest connection, though, remains with dogs.

Marianiello developed her skills at Bemidji State University, earning a BFA in Visual Arts, as well as a BA & MA in English.

Early in her career, she experimented with subjects from abstract landscapes to human portraits, sometimes using brushes as tiny as the tip of a pencil to create large murals. She soon realized she’d “go crazy if she kept painting like this” and forced herself to loosen up her stroke, developing the style she currently employs. But it wasn’t until she started painting dogs that she experienced the clarifying moment of finally realizing who she was as a painter and becoming “aware of her place in the world.”

Marianiello insists on using oils to paint dogs. Being able to “mix and push colour around” is the part of the process she loves. She works from photos and likes collaborating with her clients about the size and shape of each piece. To commission a painting, visit straydogarts.com. Prices start at $375. n

It wasn’t until she started painting dogs that she realized who she was as a painter.

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You’re it! Hand-made pewter dog tags with glossy kitsch images show you and your dog know where it’s at. Can be personalized with a name and number or worn simply to show off.

How cool it is. $15, punkrockdogg.com

Meet for a drink? The Wow Bow’s reusable, stylish aqua box is a water bowl that folds up to the size of business card so you can take it with you for a quick drink no matter where you are. $6, wowbowproducts.com

Bright nights. Light up your

Picture Perfect JT Yost’s prints are a must for any lover of art and dogs.

They’re silk-screened or hand-carved linoleum block prints, so each one is unique. Starting at $10, jtyost.com

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Just upload a photo and follow the instructions on the website and your dog will soon be brightening up your day and your night! $19.95, petnightlights.com

Cool Finds Under $20 Spring for it.

Durability meets ergonomic design with the Spring Roll toy from wetnoz. A pleasure to play with and to look at. $12, wetnoz.com

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Get the stink out! All-natural odour remover OdorZout uses Zeolites to rid the world of unpleasant smells. Great for removing doggie smell, urine, and skunk, as well as many others unpleasant olfactory nuances that accompany dog guardianship. $13, 88stink.com

What’s cookin’ good lookin’? These fun and easy recipes will get any aspiring chef and his right-paw man cooking! $13, articoproducts.com

Planet Dog’s Old Soul line of toys are easy to chew for senior dogs with weakened jaws and teeth, yet remain fun and chewy; old dog doesn’t have to mean no-fun dog! planetdog.com

guessing these all-natural gourmet cookies come in the shape of a heart, cause, well, we all heart cookies, right? Available in three delicious flavours, cheddar cheese, peanut butter, and pacific salmon. $10, wantacookie.ca

Smell no evil, see no evil. Sealed tight against odours and leaks, Muksak is great for any pick ups far-removed from an appropriate receptacle, or simply for those who don’t relish the thought of holding hands with a poo-filled bag while making the rounds at the dog park. $17, www.muksak.com

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Rover’s Got Game

Nina Ottosson’s smart dog toys challenge canine minds.

By Brielle Morgan

M

(top, from left) Dog Twister, Dog Brick, Dog Smart. (above) Nina Ottosson and her product testers, Zigge and Ville.

Forget mindless chewing and squeaking— these are toys that require your dog to think.

Y FAMILY WAS ONE OF THOSE FAMILIES. YOU KNOW, THE GAMES-

playing variety. Twenty Questions, 30,000 piece jigsaw puzzles, Jenga, and, Mom’s personal favourite (for obvious reasons), The Quiet Game. We played ‘em all.

These familial moments were only marred by the fact that our dog was left out of the fun (he just couldn’t get I Spy). But now, with the introduction of Nina Ottosson’s line of interactive toys, he can finally get in on the action.

As with so many ground-breaking ideas, necessity proved the mother of invention. As a new mom, Ottosson suddenly found herself with less time to interact meaningfully with her dogs. She knew that consistently challenging her dogs was integral to their development, not to mention her relationship with them, so she created Ottosson’s Zoo Active Products, a line of games that ask your dog to combine wits, motor skills, and memory to get a treat.

Forget mindless chewing and squeaking—these are toys that require your dog to think.

I started my dog, Olly, on one of the simpler toys, the Dog Brick. Olly watched as I placed treats in hollows in the game board, then covered them up with sliding tiles. Upon my signal, Olly started scraping away at the board with his front paws. I helped him by pointing, indicating certain tiles. He was digging it, literally and figuratively, and it was so much fun to watch. (I think it’s the unabashed excitement Olly lets loose at the prospect of a treat that I so admire. There’s no pretending he wouldn’t give his first born for that treat as he noses, digs, and whines at Ottosson’s toys, trying to figure out a way to get at the goods.)

Next up was The Box. This game asks your dog to pick up a block and drop it into a hole in the top of a box. When the block goes in, a treat falls out. Watching your dog puzzle it out, make the connection, and be rewarded with a treat is enthralling. A game that keeps us both entertained is totally genius. I especially like that some of Ottosson’s games require Olly to work his paws while others require him to pick things up with his mouth or move things with his nose.

Plus, the games enable you to practice commands like sit, stay, lie down, and fetch while playing.

All in all, Ottosson’s interactive games make for quality time for the whole family (these things draw a crowd) and beat the heck out of attempting to play Monopoly with the dog.

For more information visit nina-ottosson.com. n

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Cargo Area Travel Liner The Cargo Area Travel Liner protects the cargo area in your SUV from any pet messes and protects all dog(s) from any possible injuries from the hard floor of the cargo area when traveling in the SUV. This travel liner provides an extremely soft comfortable surface for all dog(s) to rest on when traveling. Multiple dogs can rest on the cargo liner together. Made for SUVs only.

Unique photo holiday cards featuring your pet!

Large 5.5 X 8.5 folding cards from your photos Choose from many styles - or custom designed Art quality paper All retouching included (including red eye) Your choice in inscription Create a family heirloom starring your best friends

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Custom Rear Seat Protector The Custom Rear Seat Protector provides a soft comfortable surface for all dog(s) to rest on when traveling in the vehicle and protect the vehicle's interior from pet hair, paw and nail marks and accidents. The seat protector is custom made to fit perfectly with all features.

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Simple, strong and effective, the Weiss Walkie is designed to quickly, comfortably, and humanely stop dogs from pulling. emilyweiss.com

The Jerk-Ease leash attachment is a short elastic coupling that fastens between a dog’s collar and leash, absorbing the shock of sudden jerks on the leash. It works with all types of collars and harnesses and all types of leashes, including retractable leashes and jogging tethers. jerk-ease.com

no pull

Help your arthritic, postsurgical, or otherwise disabled dog move more comfortably and safely by supporting Stylishly avoid stress on his hind legs with this your dog’s neck by using Bottom’s Up Leash. a Buddy Belt harness. bottomsupleash.com These functional yet stylish harnesses are made with 100% leather and quality hardware and come in a rainbow of colours. buddy-belts.com

EzyDog’s shock absorbing stretch provides comfort and control when walking your medium or large “hard-pulling” dog.

For ultimate control, use with the EzyDog harness. ezydog.com

Rope-N-Go’s unique, no-buckles harness is lightweight yet strong, constructed of one continuous piece of rope that allows a wide range of adjustments for the perfect fit. Available in a variety of colours and includes a removable leash with comfort-grip handle. ropengo.com

The easy to use

Kurgo Safety/ Walking Harness has a broad padded chest plate, comes in a complete range of sizes, and it’s seat belt loop allows your dog to be safely belted into the car. kurgo.com

Both children and adults will enjoy the fact that this polyurethane stretchable leash absorbs any pulling. The more energy your small or large dog exerts pulling, the more they get back, making The Perfect Leash a great training aide. justduckyproducts.com

leashes

Make-walk time more fun and comfortable for both you and your dog with these back-saving devices.

Form meets function with the Wacky Walk’r. The forceinhibiting stretch of the rubber tubing reduces stress on both you and your dog and comes in lots of great colours. wackywalkr.com

Based on the principles of The Tellington Touch, the Releash Me harness provides maximum comfort for your small or large dog. Wide, fleece-padded straps combined with nonslip adjusters keep the harness in place, preventing slippage or rubbing. releashme.com

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Gourmet Dog Biscuits Biscuits pours Chiens All Natural, Human-grade Ingredients!

NO Wheat, Corn or Soy! * Apple, Blueberry, Cheese, Ginger, Italian Oregano, Peanut Butter & Variety Pack * Made in the USA 800-354-8710

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Connie’s Book Club (above, left and right) from Dogs: 101 Adorable Breeds © 2008 Rachael Hale Trust

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CONNIE WILSON’S SELECTIONS FOR SOME GREAT AUTUMN READING.

The Art of Racing in the Rain (Harper, 2008)

By Garth Stein Love, danger, loyalty, intrigue: The Art of Racing in the Rain has all the elements of a good story and deftly weaves them into a page turner. It is narrated by Enzo, an old soul in canine form who considers it his grave responsibility to keep his family—Nick, a race car driver, his wife, Eve, and their daughter, Zoe—together. This becomes increasingly difficult when Eve is diagnosed with a terminal illness and her parents plot to gain custody of their grandchild. Though risky, the assignation of dog to narrator never enters Readers Digest territory. Anyone who loves and understands dogs will appreciate the novel’s perspective and will likely be moist-eyed by the conclusion. The underlying philosophy, that there is no limit to what we can achieve if we focus all of our effort on one goal (or, in Nick-speak, “the car goes where the eyes go”), will be a familiar and welcome message to many. This book is a winner.

Dogs: 101 Adorable Breeds (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2008)

By Rachel Hale Rachael Hale takes breed books to a new level with Dogs: 101 Adorable Breeds. If you’re already familiar with Hale’s extraordinary photography, you’ll know this coffee-tablestyled book is covetable for the photographs alone. However, each of the 101 breeds that she portrays—from the long-accepted like the Beagle to new-comers, such as the Golden Doodle—is accompanied by an illuminating passage describing origin, temperament, and appearance. Using props and unique settings, her soulful, inimitable pictures capture the engaging qualities and essence of each dog and will no doubt leave the reader trying in vain to choose a favourite. moderndogmagazine.com

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Promise of the Wolves

A Rare Breed of Love (Fireside, 2008)

By Jana Kohl After Jana Kohl lost her 9-year-old dog, Blue, to cancer, she began an online search for another dog. Though a friend warned most dogs sold online and at pet stores are supplied by commercial breeders who keep their “stock” in inhumane breeding factories known as puppy mills, Kohl was lured by the sweet photos of cuddly puppies. One irresistible puppy caught her eye, and her fate was sealed. She hopped a plane to pick up the puppy at the breeder’s operations and what she witnessed left an indelible impression on her heart and mind: breeding dogs kept in small cages for their whole lives, their fur matted and covered in excrement, many having lost their minds, spinning madly in their cages, their vocal cords cut so the mill operators wouldn’t hear their cries; others gravely ill or severely maimed, while those nearing the end of their productive years awaited death. Heartbroken and irrevocably changed by the horrors she witnessed, she returned home wondering how to make a difference. She returned to her online quest, this time searching for rescue dogs and happened upon Baby, a three-legged, mute, puppy-mill survivor and the heroine of this story. Baby has become a “spokesdog,” traveling with Kohl to rally politicians, celebrities, and animal advocates to raise awareness about puppy mills and to reform animal protection laws. The resultant book, A Rare Breed of Love, contains over 60 photographs of Baby with supporters such as Barack Obama, Judge Judy, and Gloria Steinem, to name a few, bringing hope for abused animals—and their champions—everywhere.

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(Simon & Schuster, 2008)

By Dorothy Hearst Never Consort With Humans. Never Kill a Human Unprovoked. Never Allow a Mixed-Blood Wolf to Live.

Such states the Promise of the Wolf, a creed scrupulously followed by the Swift River wolf pack. The story, set 14,000 years ago, revolves around Kaala, a she-wolf sired by a wolf outside the pack and thus consigned to be killed by Ruuqo, the Swift River leader. But Kaala is special. She bears the mark of the crescent and is spared from death by the Great Wolves, though she must still fight for her place in the pack. Inexplicably drawn to humans, she secretly forges a friendship with a human girl, risking expulsion from her pack and setting in motion irreversible repercussions for the future of both species. As the story unfolds, she learns she is the last in a bloodline charged with watching over humans to ensure they don’t lose touch with nature and thus destroy the world.

With a war between the wolves and humans imminent, Kaala faces the challenge of choosing between her pack and her destiny. Or can she have both? Well researched, with a timely ecological message, this mythical tale will take you on an incredible adventure.

Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac (Da Capo Press, 2008)

By Bruce Goldstein Oddly enough, Puppy Chow is Better Than Prozac, a true story of depression, is surprisingly uplifting. Bruce, a recently dumped, up-and-coming advertising executive, finds that his mood swings make it increasingly difficult to get up and go to work, not to mention accomplish daily tasks such as grocery shopping and laundry. When suicidal thoughts edge out all else, he seeks professional help, but the cocktail of drugs prescribed to manage his diagnosed bi-polar disorder fails to totally turn his life around. It is on the recommendation of his psychologist that he gets a dog (“black to fit my mood”), which he names Ozzy, after heavy metal’s Prince of Darkness.

What follows chronicles a tale most dog owners can relate to, how the care and attention given to a puppy forges a previously unfathomable bond and, in Bruce’s case, provides the catalyst to heal, easing him back into society and a productive and happy life. n

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BOTHERED AND BEWILDERED? CRAZED AND CONFUSED? IF YOUR DOGGIE DILEMMA HAS YOU DOWN IN THE DUMPS…

ask dog lady Q

Dear Dog Lady, Is it ever okay to feed a dog cat food? I am a pet sitter and I have a client who has an Italian Greyhound who lives with two cats. He feeds them all the same food, Purina One cat food!

I’m guessing it’s probably not nutritionally sound for the dog but I don’t want to approach my client about it unless I have sound facts. I’d love to hear your input on this subject. This little dog’s health may depend on it!

—Karen, Williamsport, PA

A

Karen, no, no, no. This lazy client wants two for the price of Purina One. He could be harming his Italian Greyhound.

Tell him to cease and desist.

Cat kibble is denser than dog food because it has more protein and calories. Cats are carnivores. They eat meat exclusively.

Dogs are omnivores. They need a varied diet, with some grains and vegetables.

The food metabolizes differently in each species’ system. Dogs gain a lot of weight if they eat cat food all the time. It might not hurt for a couple of meals (although it may cause diarrhea), but a steady diet of cat chow is killing. Please encourage your client to pay the extra money and buy dog

food. Thanks for bringing this canine culinary crime to Dog Lady’s attention.

Dear Dog Lady, There’s a soap opera at my dog park. It all started when a newly divorced woman with her big shaggy dog began hanging out with a married man and his Vizsla. His wife goes to work early so he’s the one who walks the dog. My Lulu, a mutt mix, loves playing with their dogs. But the newly divorced woman and married man have started being exclusionary. They don’t hang with everybody anymore and go off together with their dogs. They can be seen walking around the space where our group meets. They talk only to each other. They throw each other looks. One morning, Lulu and I tried to walk with them and, by the awkward silence, I understood I wasn’t welcome. Their dogs and Lulu still jump around as usual. Lulu streaks after the two dogs whenever she sees them. I always have to chase her and bring her back to the group because the woman and man want to be left alone, I think.

Help. What should say to these two? I want my dog to play with their dogs without worrying I’m interrupting something.

Everybody in the dog group gossips about this and we all wonder what’s up.

—Maura, New York, NY

Maura, any communication with this dog park duo must be casual, friendly, and within the confines of the usual chirpy canine-lingua. How about, “Hey guys, mind if my dog runs with your pack?”

They can’t possibly object and, if they treat you like a third wheel, it’s their problem, not yours.

Dog Lady understands why tongues wag. This couple isn’t being very sociably smart at a sanctuary of fun and frolic— for dogs. And, remember, where there are smoky glances, there’s usually fire.

They are the ones to worry about all this and what it means for them. Their dogs don’t care. The animals merely enjoy the innocent frolic. And you are just a bowser-besotted observer of human misbehaviour. Eventually, the truth will be revealed.

Dear Dog Lady, I’ve got a problem with a neighbour who seems to think that I’m not doing my duty picking up after my pup. On more than a few occasions, I’ve noticed this woman standing at her front door as my dog, Blue, and I have approached her house.

I thought maybe it was just coincidence, but yesterday as Blue and I were standing across the street from her house, I heard a male voice call out accusingly, “I hope moderndogmagazine.com

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ask dog lady you have something to pick up after your dog.” I turned and saw a younger guy (probably her son) poking his head out the front door. I indignantly replied, “Of course!” He replied “Good.” I was more than a little offended and had to resist the urge to stop by the house at the end of our walk to show them the evidence I carried.

Blue does tend to sniff around a lot near this woman’s house because she lives at the end of a dead end street where lots of garbage, leaves and dead critters build up against the fence, presenting all sorts of intoxicating aromas. Should I try to set the record straight or am I better off just ignoring this woman? My concern is that she’s going to tell her tales to other neighbours and Blue and I are going to get a bad reputation.

—Spike, Denver, CO Spike, don’t ignore her. Pretend you’re a mutt missionary and you must convert her. The next time you spy this woman, remark on the lovely spring weather and say something chatty to the effect: “Blue and I wish everybody did their part to clean up.” Maybe she needs to vent, which your entrée will allow her. Everybody does not like dogs and some dog people can be so reckless by leaving stuff behind for others to step in.

You should be a shining example of good breeding, a doggie diplomat beyond reproach. Be nice to her so she will have no choice but return the favour.

Dear Dog Lady, I have an issue with an older woman. Actually everyone in the neighbourhood with a dog has had the same issue with her. She has a beautiful yard with hedges all around the outside. The problem is that she thinks the sidewalk and the grass on the far side of the sidewalk are also her property. One day, as we were walking past her house, my dog sniffed in the gutter. Suddenly, I heard banging on the window and turned to see the woman shooing me away. I just looked at her and mouthed, “What?”

I decided I’m going to tell her I understand she wants a nice yard, and I actually appreciate that. But shooing people off the public sidewalk is inappropriate. While she is responsible for maintaining the sidewalk, it isn’t actually her property. I want to tell her she really ought to be nicer to the people who walk dogs in the neighbourhood since none of us reported her for not shoveling her sidewalk this winter forcing kids on their way to school to walk in the street. What do you think of this?

—David, Boston, MA

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David, sigh. Dog Lady wonders if there are too many cranky folks out there with nothing better to do than stare out the window and yell at people for imaginary transgressions. Give this woman a break. She’s property proud and maybe she’s lonely. It won’t kill you or your dog to skirt her sidewalk. And if she yells because your dog sniffs in her gutter, smile and move on. Life is too short to plot the comeuppance of nit-picky neighbours.

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ask dog lady Dear Dog Lady, I’ve been with my current boyfriend for six years, and we’ve lived together for two. At my parents’ house, I have a wonderful black Lab named Buddy. I know Buddy is happier at home with the other dogs than he ever would be in the city with me, but I would like to get another dog.

My concern is how to convince my boyfriend this is a good idea. I was born and raised a dog lover, but he was not. He thinks our apartment is too small and we don’t have enough time. But Dog Lady, I don’t want a Mastiff, just a small to mid-size dog. And Dog Lady, I’ve taken care of dogs my whole life; I would never dare to neglect a walk, a belly rub, or a chew toy. How can I convince him this is a good idea for both of us?

—Maria, Toronto, ON Maria, there are deceptive ways to persuade your squeeze, a nondog person, to allow you to get a pet but Dog Lady declines to spell them out. Your boyfriend has the freedom to say “no;” you have the freedom to say “yes.” You must do what is right for you, an unmarried woman.

If you truly cannot live without canine companionship, inform him of your decision, and hope he comes around once the dog is ensconced. You must be prepared to do all the work and have faith the relationship will endure—or not.

Trying to convince your boyfriend to suffer a dog in a tiny space will never be productive. He might always feel beleaguered by the inconvenience. For now, with this guy, in this matchbox apartment, you have to reckon with reality: the time may not be right to add a dog. If you continue to ache for canine joys, volunteer at your local animal shelter. And bring your boyfriend. The experience might be a heart-warmer for both of you.

Dear Dog Lady, One morning, after my West Highland Terrier completed his bathroom duties, I rewarded him with a dog treat and praised him. I sat down to my breakfast and proceeded to eat my usual toast and coffee. My Westie appeared and begged for some toast with butter. I told him “no” because he had already gotten a dog treat. He then left, came back, and tossed the dog treat at my feet, letting me know he did not eat it and preferred toast instead. These little guys learn our human ways so quickly. I was most amused and rewarded him with a couple of pieces of toast.

—Gizella, Cleveland, OH Gizella, your darling Westie turned you to toast by showing off his breathtaking terrier cuteness and cunning. Dog Lady will not rebuke you for indulging him. When our dogs perform brilliant stunts like this, they earn our laughter—and eternal respect. In the future, simply cut back on the jam and butter. n

Visit askdoglady.com to ask a question or make a comment.

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The Party

Quick Costume Ideas For safety’s sake, don’t forget to supervise your dog to make sure his mobility isn’t impaired and that he’s not ingesting parts of the costume.

• Loop a lei around your dog’s neck for quick Hawaiian flavour. Aloha!

• Cut two pairs of grey stockings in half, so you have eight separate legs. Fill each leg with stuffing, leaving a bit of room at the top. Tie each stuffed leg onto your dog’s collar.

Now halve a small styrofoam ball,

This Hallowe’en, it’s trick and treat.

Be the most pupular person on your block—welcome the costumed dogs crossing your doorstep with treats for tricks. Whip up and hand out the canine equivalent of candy, Hallowe’en Howlers, or decorate penny-candy-sized brown paper bags

ink a black dot in the middle of each

with felt-marker-ed “scary” bones (severed limbs and the like), then fill with air-

half and adhere to a strip of fabric to

popped popcorn sprinkled with liver powder (try Benny Bully’s liver powder from

fashion an eyeball head-band. Voila,

bennybullys.com) for a fast dog-approved treat.

an octopus.

Repeat as above, but substitute black stockings for grey. Your dog is now a spider. Sub green stockings for grey and you’ve got a Martian. In a word: versatile.

• Fashion an arm out of a nude-

Hallowe’en Howlers

lift away the cutter. Repeat with the remain-

Makes 30–35

der of the mixture.

Prep time: 15 minutes

3. Bake in a preheated oven, 325°F for

Cooking time: 10–15 minutes

10–15 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

8 oz oats

4. Place the cream cheese in a small bowl

coloured panty-hose leg and batting.

1 egg, beaten

and beat with a fork to soften, then transfer

Add gore by colouring the ends red.

4 oz low-fat cream cheese

to the piping bag fitted with a fine nozzle.

Coerce Rover into carrying it around

4 oz strawberries, chopped

Decorate each of the cookies. Store in an

in his mouth. With this costume, your

3 oz blueberries, crushed or chopped

air-tight container for up to three days.

dog is any number of things, from simply macabre to a grave digger.

1. Mix together all the ingredients in a large

Of course, if you don’t want to field

mixing bowl until well combined. Grease

“what the heck is up with your dog?”

two baking sheets with oil.

questions all evening, consider shop-

2. Brush a decorative cookie cutter, such

ping for a real dog costume from pup-

as a witch’s hat or crescent moon, with oil,

pelove.com (see Barkenstein costume,

and place on the baking sheet. Spoon a

above). n

little of the mixture into the cookie cutter and press down in an even layer. Carefully

Fun tip: Be ready with a crowd pleasing trick: Bobbing for Apples. Some dogs love to bob for apples and it’s very amusing to watch. Reward successful bobbers with treats.

Recipe taken from the book PupSnacks: 35 Delicious and Healthy Recipes to Bark Home About. Published by TFH Publications, Inc., 2007 Used by permission © Octopus Publishing Group Ltd./Stephen Conroy

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FALL 2008

*D.I.Y. Make your own

Dog Toy The Squeaky Sock Sack

Follow these simple instructions for squeaky playtime fun.

Materials socks (2) toy squeaker or old toy stuffing

3.

Insert a squeaker.

Center it in the stuffing

4.

Sew the “stuff sock” into a ball or oval shape

6.

Stuff the “stuff sock” into the other sock.

Tools scissors sewing machine or needle & thread

Instructions the length of a sock by 1. Trim cutting it just below the heel.

the sock 2. Stuff with batting

skip steps 2 & 3, 5. …or, and sew an old soft squeaky toy into the stuff sock.

How to Play Start by playing fetch with the stuffer. After a while, insert the stuffer into the sock.

Your dog will want it out of the sock. It may seem like an impossible task at first, but we all know what a determined pup can accomplish!

Change it Up Use different types of socks to vary the size, texture, and color. Use old toys to stuff the stuff sock. Get more creative and sew the stuffer into a shape, maybe a donut or a bone, a creature (as shown) or whatever else you can imagine. n Excerpted with permission from “Silly Dog Toys: 12 Easy Projects That Will Make Your Dog Smile”

By Michael Spears, the Dog Designer thedogdesigner.com

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TRAINING TRIALS?

Ask an Expert The Fab Five answer your questions

Ask

Jennifer Messer

Q:

How do I teach my dog to walk off-leash beside me? The street kids where I live always seem to have the most well-behaved, street savvy, leash-free dogs. —Mary-Ann, Vancouver, BC

A:

hit by a car, or finding themselves cold, hungry, and lost. Many too… and I think there are a few layers to the answer have probably learned the hard way what can happen if they of why their dogs seem so perfectly well behaved. First and take their eyes off their guardians. The average pet dog is usuforemost, these dogs are probably a very select sample! They ally sheltered from such trauma, so has good reason to believe are survivors, not the dogs that have been run over by cars or that the grass is greener just beyond the confines of the leash, picked up by animal control. Those you see are the ones that always wanting to pull ahead to see what treasures might lie made the grade—a very select group of dogs that are compatible just beyond reach. with a unique lifestyle. To think otherwise would be like watchWe also need to consider the fact that most street kids and ing the Olympics and thinking your boyfriend should swim as their dogs spend a great deal of their time in a group, so there well as the competitors. Entirely different sample selection! are likely some pack dynamics affecting the dogs’ behaviour as The second issue concerns how the “street-kid dog” lifestyle well. Benefits of sticking close to the gang might include things might change a dog’s motivation to wander like access to food resources that are othoff. Despite all our love and good intentions, erwise scarce, and protection from the eleA process of many pet dogs are quite under-stimulated. As ments. Harmonious and stable group living natural selection modern pet owners, we often do a great job requires a minimum of disturbances between favours the of providing food, love and safety, but have members; “fitting in” is important. Agitators, cool, calm, selfa hard time meeting their intellectual and nervous ninnies, and aggressive dogs would possessed ones. physical needs for stimulation due to our time not only cause unrest in the group, but also and schedule constraints. One of the biggest would draw negative attention that street highlights of our furry friend’s day is usually their walk—a kids and their pet companions can’t afford. A process of natural chance to sniff, run, and explore a bit after a long day on the selection favours the cool, calm, self-possessed ones. sofa. Should it really surprise us that they are more interested That said, it is certainly possible to train a dog to walk politein investigating every last atom of odour and inch of ground on ly by your side, on or off leash. In fact, most progressive traintheir walk, than to remain by our side? ers teach heeling off leash first, and only introduce a leash later By contrast, street dogs spend their entire day in an atmoin the process. But, to achieve reliable off-leash heeling requires sphere that is buzzing with activity. They are mostly outdoors, a fair amount of skill and a pretty big time investment, and it is often on the move, with new people and dogs coming and definitely not a safe way to get around with a dog on sidewalks going—a much more stimulating world than that of our pet amidst traffic and other dangers. To count on your dog walking dogs who spend much of their time in our home. This is probat heel in town is asking for trouble. By all means, sign up for ably why street dogs are often seen catching a few ZZZZ’s, obedience classes at a progressive, dog-friendly training facility, curled up beside their guardians and looking ever so angelic. just pick and choose where you want to strut your leash-free They are more likely driven by exhaustion from a very busy stuff! n day than “obedient behaviour.”

Jennifer Messer is a veterinarian working in Ottawa, Ontario. She has an honours Street dogs are also more likely to have experienced some of BA in psychology from McGill University and a DVM from the Ontario Veterinary the darker consequences of wandering off, such as run-ins with College, and is curriculum consultant for Montessaurus Puppy School. She is law enforcement officers, been harassed or chased out of shops, owned by her Pit Bull, Charlotte, and her Beagle, Mr. F. Bender.

I’VE MARVELED AT THE ANGELIC STREET KIDS’ DOGS

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Takeout Treats

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FALL 2008

Ask an Expert Ask

Q:

Pamela Reid

How can I get my dog, Blakey, interested in fetch? She wants neither to fetch nor return. I’m jealous of all the other people at the park and their happily retrieving dogs getting come exercise.

Ask

Q: A:

Teoti Anderson

How can I introduce a bird and a cat to a household with an adult dog with a penchant for chasing both? Can’t we all just get along???—Mara, San Diego, CA

expression, wondering why you repeatedly throw the toy away, she’s not all that unusual. Few dogs intrinsically understand this game—most have to learn to fetch. Playing tug-of-war is an entirely different story, however. Almost all dogs adore tugging on toys, so the trick is to teach Blakey to go get the toy so that you can play tug.

Start with a soft toy that she likes to toss about. Play a short game of tug, then wrench it from her mouth and throw the toy a few inches away. If she runs to it, snatch it up and engage her in another game of tug. If she just stands there and looks at the toy, leave it on the floor but wiggle it around until she finds it irresistible. As soon as she lunges forward to chase the squirming toy, toss it a short distance. When she goes for it, play another game of tug with her. Soon, you’ll have her chasing after the toy and you can throw it greater distances. Once she gets the idea that bringing the toy leads to a tug battle, she’ll be quite eager to get it. Make sure you cheer her on when she’s running back to you with the toy.

Eventually you won’t have to play tug every single time she gets the toy, but be sure to do so intermittently.

If Blakey doesn’t want any toy in her mouth, you can soak a tennis ball in chicken stock or stuff an old sock with some yummy treats. This will entice her to taste it and you can reward her with a goodie for putting her mouth on it. Soon enough, she’ll figure out that putting the thing in her mouth pleases you to no end. Then, you can gradually shape her to go get the toy at farther distances. She may continue to associate fetching with treats, in which case you will always want to reward her to maintain the behaviour. Alternatively, she might learn that this fun game is its own reward.

Follow these steps and you and Blakey will have a fetching good time at the park. n

the natural behaviour of animals. In general, dogs love to chase things. They are predatory animals. It’s in their DNA to chase things, especially smaller animals. Just because your dog gets his meals from a bowl doesn’t mean his instinct to chase down dinner goes away.

Some dogs are happy with just the chase. I know some dogs that will only chase cats that run. If the cat holds his ground, the dog doesn’t pursue. Some dogs are specific about animals they go after.

I know some dogs that wouldn’t dream of chasing their family’s cats, but will instantly go after a strange cat.

Some dogs will take it a step further and injure or kill another animal. It’s not because they hate the cat or despise the bird. It’s because they are dogs, and chasing animals and killing them is a natural thing for dogs to do. We don’t always like recognizing dog nature, do we?

But it’s very important to acknowledge and understand it, especially if you are going to bring other animals into your home.

What kind of chaser is your dog? Has he ever hurt a cat or a bird? Do you ever think that if he caught one, he’d hurt it? Or is he just a bouncy dog who thinks chasing is great fun?

If you’re worried about cat or bird safety, then please carefully consider whether bringing another animal into your home is a practical idea. You will have to constantly manage your environment to prevent a tragedy. Because this could be dangerous for your new addition, I strongly recommend you consult a professional, rewardbased trainer for assistance.

If your dog isn’t likely to hurt a fly, but just loves running after things, then here are some things you can do to help: Increase your dog’s exercise. A tired dog is less likely to have energy to chase.

Teach your dog “leave it.” Teach and practice other family manners exercises, such as a reliable sit or down and coming when called.

Give your cat and bird areas where they can go, but the dog can’t follow. For example, set up a baby gate in a doorway so the cat can jump over to sanctuary. Put the bird cage up high or in a room where the dog is not allowed.

It is possible to have a multi-species household that lives in peace. It’s up to the humans in the house to set up everyone for success! n

Pamela Reid, PhD, is a certified applied animal behaviourist and author of Excelerated Learning: Explaining (in Plain English) How Dogs Learn and How Best to Teach Them. She heads the Animal Behavior Center at the ASPCA and lives in New Jersey with her dogs Eejit, Fidget, and Grifter.

Teoti Anderson, CPDT, owns Pawsitive Results, LLC (getpawsitiveresults.com), and is the past president of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She is the author of Your Outta Control Puppy, Super Simple Guide to Housetraining, Quick and Easy Crate Training, and Puppy Care and Training.

A:

—Matt, Hamilton, ON WHEN BLAKEY LOOKS AT YOU WITH A CONFUSED

If the toy leads to a tug battle she’ll be quite eager to fetch it.

THIS ISN’T REALLY ABOUT GETTING ALONG, IT’S ABOUT

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Q:

Ian Dunbar

My little dog, Snoopy, seems to like my new boyfriend more than me! At first she was wary, even standoffish, but now she only wants to sit on his lap and cuddle and is more excited to see him than she is to see me. I wanted them to get along but now my feelings are hurt!

Seems I’ve fallen from favour. Help! —Gabby, by email

A:

WHAT A WONDERFUL PROBLEM TO HAVE. I LIKE YOUR

man already! Not only did he take the time to develop a relationship with Snoopy, but he did so with a dog who was initially standoffish and wary, even fearful of this intruder to the inner circle. But now, he has given Snoopy a newfound confidence around men, or at least around one good man. Hey kiddo, this man’s a keeper! So just forget your hurt feelings for a while and, instead, dwell on your satisfaction that Snoopy is one lucky—and happy—dog.

Dogs can no more like all people equally than we can. Just like us, dogs have special friends and special enemies. In fact, my dogs seldom give me the time of day when my wife’s around. But, late in the evening, us four boys have couch time and watch some Premier League football on the telly. Then, my three dogs are all mine.

Obviously, Snoopy loves you but she is also spending a lot of time with your boyfriend. Now, maybe she does this because he truly is a wonderful person, adored by puppies and babies alike.

Or, it could be that your man is deliciously devious and, unbeknown to you, has been slipping Snoopy treats and so Snoopy simply spends lots of her time sitting on the lap of a food vending machine. All we know is that Snoopy now feels sufficiently secure to spend some quality time with your boyfriend.

Regardless, to rekindle Snoopy’s affections (and all relationships benefit from regular rekindling), I would most certainly suggest that you hand feed all of her daily dinner kibble, plus a few even tastier treats, and train her to enjoy sitting by your side and gazing lovingly in your eyes. Then challenge your boyfriend to call Snoopy at the same time as you to see who she goes to. For more detailed information about training proximity and attention (affection), check out the videos at: http://dogstardaily.com/training/ all-or-none-reward-train-attention n Dr. Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviourist, dog trainer, and author of several books and DVDs. He is the Founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (apdt.com) and co-creator of dogSTARdaily.com—a daily magazine for dog owners.

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Ask an Expert

Ask

Q:

Nicole Wilde

We’re thinking of welcoming a rescue dog into our family. She is the same age and breed as our “only child” dog. How can we prevent jealousy and ensure they get along?

—Carlene, Springfield, VA

A:

KUDOS TO YOU FOR RESCUING A DOG, AND ALSO FOR

planning ahead as that will surely make the process of integrating your new adoptee smoother. You didn’t mention whether your “only child” dog is male or female. If he’s male, great—but if you already have a female, adding another female of the same age may be asking for trouble. The most severe dog-dog aggression cases often involve two females who are close in age.

Regardless of gender, when you bring your new dog home, have another person there to help. The introductions should take place outside the home, as this will help to prevent potential The introductions trouble if your resident dog should take place has territorial issues. Instead of outside the home. walking the dogs directly toward each other, walk the dogs down the street in the same direction, while maintaining a few feet of distance. Then, assuming the dogs appear calm and friendly toward each other, allow them a getting-to-know-you sniff, keeping the leashes loose. Then take them back into the house together, taking care not to let them crowd each other at the door. Fights can occur at doorways since they are valued access points.

Just as with children, the easiest way to ensure that your former “only child” doesn’t feel put out is to make sure you don’t lavish all of your attention on the new family member. Plan activities that involve both dogs, such as fun walks or hikes, so that they both associate pleasant activities with each other, but be careful whenever valuable possessions are involved. Feed the dogs in separate areas; when giving chew bones, tether the dogs a few feet from each other or put them in separate rooms so there are no arguments as to whose bones are whose, and take care when playing games that involve balls or other potentially valuable items. Be cautious until the two get to know each other better. n Nicole Wilde is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer who teaches seminars worldwide on canine behaviour topics. She is on the faculty and advisory board of the Companion Animal Sciences Institute, and is the author of six canine-related books, including Help for Your Fearful Dog and So You Want to be a Dog Trainer (phantompub.com).

To submit a training question, email training@moderndogmagazine.com.

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TO ENTER: For the giveaways listed above, log on to moderndogmagazine.com and click on “Giveaways” or send a postcard with your name, address, age, email address, and daytime phone number to “Sleep Over with Rover,” “Ready to Rock,” “Frequent Flyer Fido,” “Go Green,” “Catering to Your Canine,” or “We Just Clicked,” Modern Dog, 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC CANADA V6A 1A4, by November 30, 2008. Winners will be notified

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NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contests are open to legal Canadian and US residents 18 and older as of date of entry. The decisions of the judges are final. Prizes are not transferable to any other person and may not be substituted for any other prize. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. The selection of the reviewed items for giveaways is based solely on the discretion of the editors. Income and other taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winner(s). The approximate retail values of the prizes are: Fur Babies Mattress Protector Set – USD 110; Rocknrollk9 dog tee – USD 32; Wag’N Pet Passport – USD 11; Unleashed Life dish set – USD 70 Wagging Green leash and collar set – USD 54; and Clicker Leash dog lead – CAD 40. Subject to all national and provincial/federal and state, and local laws and regulations. Void in Puerto Rico, and where prohibited. All entries become the property of Modern Dog Inc. and will not be acknowledged or returned. Winners may be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity release, which may be returned within 30 days from notification, or an alternate winner may be chosen. Acceptance of a prize constitutes consent to use a winner’s name and likeness for editorial, advertising, and publicity purposes without further compensation, except where prohibited. For the names of the winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to “Modern Dog Contests” at the address listed above after December 31, 2008.

We Support Rescue Organizations!

Modern Dog believes in supporting the efforts of rescue organizations and their volunteers. We do not accept advertising dollars from known puppy mills and our Donation Program was designed solely to help raise rescue dollars. We believe that surrendered dogs deserve “forever homes” regardless of age, breed, or lineage. If you are a member of a rescue organization and would like more information on how Modern Dog can help you raise much-needed funds, please email donations@moderndogmagazine.com.

P H O T O LI N D SEY D O N O V A N

War of the Roses

by Jennifer Nosek W E H A D N ’ T RE A L L Y P L A N N E D T O G E T A NOT HE R DOG . NOT T HA T WE’ D T E LL HER T HA T .

But it was one oF those things. Rosie’s sweet photo and heart-rending write up of past abuse suffered had us sending a brief email of inquiry and before you knew it, she was ours. It was pre-destined.

Not so sure of this new member of our family was our only-child dog, Esther; Esther Louisa Rose, a Miniature Dachshund of regal temperament and sore back, an old soul of five years with, alas, a spinal cord much better suited to a much older dog. And now, a new dog (though not younger), a shaggy little walking carpet of a Dachshund with a tongue much too long to contain in her small mouth and breath that could strip paint, intruding on her territory with, insult of insults, a shared name—Rose. Oh, the ignominy of it all.

Surprisingly, we’ve all settled in quite nicely. Rosie, my near-constant shadow, follows me from room to room, tail wagging, silly. Esther, mistress of the manor, presides from the largest of the small dog beds, resting her back when not begging cheese, while Rosie opts to either pee on the carpet or venture over to the neighbour’s patio to do her business, where her work will be discovered with displeasure. One dog occasionally tries to hump the other into submission or they eye each other before instigating prematurely aborted overtures of play. Funny little creatures, these two rounding out our motley crew. I marvel—how did we all find one another?—and whisper a greeting of recognition to our newest member: Welcome, little one, you’ve found your way home. We’re so happy you’re here. n

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Horoscopes

By Esther Louisa Rose, Psychic of the Stars • Illustrations by Kathy Weller

Virgo (Aug 23 to Sept 22) Your dietary indiscretions really do need to be reigned in a bit. The results are frightful and are earning you, I’m afraid, a stinky reputation and a series of less-than-flattering nicknames. Consider exercising restraint where snacking on unmentionables is concerned; this should clear the air and your rep.

Libra (Sept 23 to Oct 22) Your adroitness with a tennis ball wows crowds and woos both genders.

The athletic leap, the full-out dash, you are unstoppable—unstoppably arrogant, that is.

Sure, you possess athletic prowess, but that’s not the end all, be all. It’s time for introspection and independent study, lest your brain become muscle-bound.

Scorpio (Oct 23 to Nov 21) Scorpio, you need to expand your horizons a bit. If you only peruse passersby from your perch in mummy’s LV, you stand to forget what dogdom is all about. Make sure to round out your day of shopping avec the ladies who lunch by making a stop for a brief romp and sniff at the dog park.

Sagittarius (Nov 22 to Dec 21) As the infomercials on TV rightly claim, it’s never too late for higher learning. Why not take therapy dog training, truffle “rescue” classes, or enroll in some brush-up trick lessons? Expanding your mind and talents is never a bad idea, especially when you love the spotlight as much as you do.

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Capricorn (Dec 22 to Jan 19) Feeling like you need to shake things up? Take the leap—turn your passionate hobby into a career. Treat Connoisseurs, why not open a biscuit shop? Rodent Obsessed—consider hiring yourself out to the highest bidder. Point is, if you can see a way to live your dreams and make money, why not go for it? Car-paw diem, as they say.

Aquarius (Jan 20 to Feb 18) Ladies and Germs, get ready for feats of daring and the eating of the grotesque and inedible.

Aquarius, given your predilections, you’re a shoo-in for the circus circuit—or the freak show, depending on how one views the consumption of, say, the odds and ends encountered and scarfed on your morning walk.

Pisces (Feb 19 to March 20) A style makeover is in the works. Why be dragged down by the tired boho-chic of yesteryear when the new silhouette is sleek and body-con? Simply throw on your best collar and strut your stuff. And remember, wearing fur is okay when it’s your own gorgeous natural pelt.

Aries (March 21 to Apr 19) A sense of smell is a terrible thing to waste. Lucikly, you have no intention of doing so. Your nose has been working overtime, sussing out the stinkiest bit of lawn and just who, exactly, is responsible for sneaking what from the fridge. Secret information wafts to you; use this as you will— personal gain or erudition, no judgment calls.

Taurus (Apr 20 to May 20) The whole gourmet/gourmand debate tires you.

Just because you’ll eat anything that comes your way (with relish!), doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate delicacies. Why, just last week you savoured every morsel of turd de carnard. How about that, huh? And they say your palate isn’t sophisticated.

Gemini (May 21 to June 20) Consider: Is the doggie equivalent of “say it, don’t spray it” “wear it, don’t bark it?” If you let your slogan tee do the talking for you (“This Pom’s the bomb.”; “Talk to the paw.”), you can save your vocal cords for better use. Celine Dion-inspired vocal stylings, anyone?

Cancer (June 21 to July 22) “It has a lovely nose, very fullbodied. Really, a superb vintage.” Are they talking about you, or a fine wine? Hard to tell when you get better, more fragrant with every passing year. Revel in those grey whiskers; they mark the wisdom you’ve earned and your right to the most comfortable seat in the house. See, age does have its perks.

Leo (July 23 to Aug 22) In some circles, turning tricks is not a lauded profession, but for you, dear Leo, it can earn you the acclaim of all. Limber up, slap on that show-biz smile, and knock ‘em dead with your well-honed repertoire. Your “play dead” might not earn you a role in Hamlet, but someone might reward you with a ham roll.

lastlick Photographed by Lindsey Donovan

Clownin’ Around

Roli, Mia, and Roscoe are 13-week-old Pit Bull puppies.

Roli wears a reversible Rain or Shine jacket with polka dots, Mod Dog (moddog.ca).

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Frame: Marilyn Muttroe (large) with Pooch Diddy Bada Bling Bones Swarovski ® Finish: Asphalt Cushion: Leopard Combo Model: Lulabell (rescue dog)

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