Modern Dog Fall 2009

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions

Take Better Photos of Your Dog!

fAll 2009

Reduce Fido’s eco footprint

DIY

The Pet Food Issue

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

How to really read dog food labels

Treats & Crafts Pain & the Senior Dog PLUS!

Blog about your dog Maria Menounos and her rescue dog Benjamin moderndogmagazine.com Display unTil Dec 09 CDN$5.95 US$4.95

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Looking for Love?

toxic toys the papilon dealing with possessive aggression best products under $20 mid-century mutt cozy coats & beds

Adorable Adoptable Dogs Inside p.64

Smart Dog Toys

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64 phoTo Tanya king

Features 32

The Coolest Dog Activity You’ve Never Heard of: Geocaching, the Hunt for Treasure Armed with a GPS and doggie bags, the canine set catches on to geocaching. By Patricia Komar

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New Hope in Nepal Volunteers take to the streets of Kathmandu to help Nepalese strays, whose staggering number and sad condition challenge rescue efforts.

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By matthew KruchaK

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Dogs and Blogs (and Twitter and Facebook…)

Making your mark (and maybe some $$) from your muse. By Sandy roBinS Dog Photography 101 Take better pictures: easy steps to instantly improved photos of your dog. By Shaina FiShman The Amazing Life of Cloris Leachman Hollywood icon, animal rights champion, PETA poster girl—even at 83, there’s no stopping Cloris.

phoTo Bleacher + e verarD

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Nifty and Thrifty More swell stuff under $20.

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Smart Toys Interactive toys to challenge the canine mind.

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Mutt’s Love Got to do With It? Everything These adoptable darlings wear their hearts on their sleeves. PhotograPhed By tanya King Mid-Century Mutt Modern design for discerning dogs.

By mary-Jo dionne

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Chronic Pain and Your Aging Dog Reflections on pain in geriatrics and the ethics of intervention. By JenniFer meSSer

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The Magic of Maria Maria Menounos on taking action, rescuing dogs, and relaxing at the dentist. By mary-Jo dionne

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Dogs and Your Health: The China Experiment Rapid change in China provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of dog guardianship on human health.

109 Green Dog: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Earth-friendly options to diminish your pup’s eco footprint.

By Stanley coren

102 The Modern Dog’s Guide to Washington, DC Where to shop, eat, stay, and play. By Karin SinKeviciuS 143 In Remembrance To lost friends and fallen comrades.

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By roSe FroSeK

121 Fab Finds for Fall The coziest sweaters and comfiest beds.

144 Back to (Reform) School Best bets to shape up your delinquent dog, from calming pheromones to remedial training tools.

BODY anD sOuL 70

Toxic Toy Alert Age Ain’t Nothin’ but a Number?

Defining “Senior” Growling Matters Do: Lend a (Digital) Hand to Dogs in Need

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Feeding Fido: How to Really Read Dog Food Labels Determine good food from bad with our guide to deciphering the list of ingredients in your dog’s dinner. By elizaBeth PaSK and laura Scott

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Go, Green Dog, Go

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Good Buy

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Healthy Hound: Brush Up on Grooming Basics

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Ask a Vet: Herbs for Mental Health A natural approach to behaviour modification.

pho To Ta n ya kin g

97

By BetSy Brevitz

BreeD PrOFiLe 27

The Papillon Social butterfly.

Living

By marian Buechert

reguLar Features 6 8 10 14 20 23 128 141

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

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PH OTO SH AINA fISHMAN

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Stuff We Love Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter.

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D.I.Y Pet Project Get crafty. Make your own dog-appliquéd baby romper.

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D.I.Y. Eat Make quick & healthy fall snacks with these super recipes for Flea-Be-Gone Treats and Scrumptious Delight.

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My Dog, My Heart, My Soul 11 wonderful ways to commemorate a pet.

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Meet Your Dogs of the Week

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Heavy Metal for Hungry Hounds Designing dog feeders led Frank Mansfield to a lifestyle overhaul and some major media recognition.

By corey van’t haaFF

107 Art Attack Profile in style: pet furniture designer Frédéric Richard.

By marni wedin

111 Connie’s Book Club Curl up with a good dog and a good book. Editor-inChief Connie Wilson’s must-read book picks.

Maria Menounos with Bichon Frisé Benjamin, one of her four rescue dogs.

115 Ask Dog Lady Dog Lady delves into your most dogged dilemmas.

Maria wears a Generra dress, Linea Pelle bracelet, and Hearts on Fire earrings.

Benjamin wears a jewelrybynola.com dog collar.

123 Help is Here! Ask a Expert Our Fab Five answer your most pressing training questions.

Photographed by Bleacher + Everard Hair, Tommy Cyr of Yuki Sharoni Salon Beverly Hills; makeup, Bret Boreman; styling, Lindsay Albanese.

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In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 8, Issue 3. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.

eD itOr ’s Le t t e r

PHOTO lI N DS E y DO N O V A N

that relay the heroic efforts of average citizens rescuing or sheltering animals, volunteering, and initiating fundraising campaigns. In this issue, check out “New Hope in Nepal” (page 38) a story that relates the efforts of volunteers who take to the streets of Kathmandu to help the vast number of Nepalese strays. It’s also heartening when celebrities use their star power to bring animal rights issues to the forefront.

Take, for example, our beautiful and super-talented cover girl, the tireless Maria Menounos, and the posse of rescue dogs she has welcomed into her life (page 90), or the amazing animal rights champion and PETA poster girl, Cloris Leachman (page 60).

Inspired to get involved in rescue yourself? Then read my review of Rescue Matters!, a book that offers important pointers on how to get started (page 112). And if you’re looking for love, flip to page 64 for our adorable, adoptable mixed-breed dogs photo feature, “Mutt’s Love Got to do With It? Everything!”

And the great ideas don’t stop there. Now that Fall’s upon us, painting the landscape with reds, oranges, and yellows, why not get out there and capture your dog frolicking in the great outdoors? But, first, turn to page 52 and read how to take instantly-improved photos ’ve been reflecting lately on the difficulties—and joys—of of your pup, then learn how to share your experience with other dog caring for an aging dog. At 15, my Kaya is well into her senior lovers by blogging about it (page 46)! Or why not try Geocaching years. Yes, there are many beyond-trying moments, dealing (page 32), a growing sport that’s super dog-friendly, combining the with loss of mobility and growing incontinence, but she’s my pleasures of nature with the excitement of treasure hunting, all with girl and I wouldn’t trade a moment with her. a 21st century bent. But what if Rover’s not up to it? If the crisper The many stories I’ve heard over the years of older dogs that get morning air hasn’t worked its magic in bringing an exuberant spring dumped at shelters when they start to slow down or become a soback into his step, then perhaps he’s beginning to suffer from arthricalled burden to their families weigh heavy on my heart. I’ve never tis or other age-related disease. Interestingly, been able to understand how someone can walk check out his human age equivalent (page 70) away from their companion animal, especially then learn about the signs of geriatric pain and when abandoning them is tantamount to a death explore the ethics of intervention (page 84). sentence. Apart from almost unfathomable emerThe advice on how to choose a healthy dog gency situations in which there’s simply no other food (page 72), as well as the health-boosting option, how can a faithful dog that has shared products highlighted in Body and Soul are sure years of life with his humans be so callously disto improve not only his gait, but his overall posed of? Scared and confused in noisy and often health, as well. over-crowded shelters, these abandoned dogs I love the change in seasons, especially Fall, usually face euthanasia, for most seniors prove as it signifies a time to do a little nesting in almost impossible to re-home. preparation for the upcoming cold season. That Fortunately, these owners who ditch their means shopping! Herein we give you oodles of dogs once they lose their puppy-like charms “True happiness is found in simple, ideas, from our ever-popular “Nifty & Thrifty” appear themselves to be a dying breed. We’re seemingly unremarkable things.” selection of best buys (all under $20!) on page finding that there’s an increasingly aware generaFrom Guardians of Being 36 to Smart Toys that will challenge your dog tion of dog guardians who treat their canine com(New World Library; 2009) to put her grey matter to good use (page 50), panions as loving members of the family, striving mid-century inspired designs for dog lovers to provide them with the best nutrition, medical (page 97), and product picks to reduce your dog’s environmental care, exercise, and love, as part of their commitment to provide their impact (page 109). dogs with all they need for a long and healthy life. Our loyal and We hope you enjoy this issue; we made it for you with love. loving companions deserve no less, especially when one considers the truly priceless gifts they give us: joy, unconditional love, and a daily reminder to live in the moment. I also think that as people become more attuned to their dogs, they themselves become better, more compassionate human beings, often devoting themselves to Constance Wilson the service of others, both human and canine. Proof of this positive Publisher and Editor-in-Chief trend is found in each and every issue of Modern Dog, in the articles

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MuTTs © 2009 paTrick McDonnell

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cO n t r iBut Or s FALL 2009 publisher

Over the past three years, matthew Kruchak has lived, worked, and eaten across Canada, enjoying breakfasts in Victoria, falafel in Hamilton, perogies in Winnipeg, Thai in Saskatoon, and sandwiches in Regina. He is a versatile journalist working in print, radio, television, and photography whose work has been published in The Globe and Mail, The National Post, and The Toronto Star, and broadcast on CBC Radio, A&E Biography, and History Television. Kruchak is currently freelancing from Nepal and eating many momos, which are Nepali dumplings. “New Hope in Nepal” (page 38) is his first feature for Modern Dog magazine.

Modern Dog Inc. Connie Wilson Jennifer Nosek

contributing editor creative director

Marian Buechert Jennifer Nosek

circulation manager

Jessica Nosek

design & production

Carolyn Howse

design & production assistant

Maxine Matishak

design intern sales & marketing

Melle Hong Annica Tong Tia Mihalj Lillian Wei

editorial assistant subscription services & accounting assistant controller

donations program liaison

Photographers Katie bleacher and dean everard are thrilled that their first cover for Modern Dog features the tireless Maria Menounos and her pack of rescue dogs.

“It’s so satisfying to see rescue dogs having a great life because in most cases they have come from such horrible circumstances,” says Everard. Both Bleacher and Everard like working with animals because “they’re unpredictable and yet are always trying to please their owners. The combination of the two makes the outcome a wonderful surprise.” When not traveling on assignment, they love hanging out with their rescue dog, Holly. See their full shoot with Maria and her super-cute pups on page 90.

okanagan representative

Karin Sinkevicius Ariel Castillo Cecilia de Roca Chan Dave Egan Omar Duran Rojas Jessica Nosek Jytte Wilson

Subscription inquiries call (800) 417-6289 Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 8, 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 8, Issue 3.

Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003.

Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices.

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

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yuta onoda, originally from Japan, graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Arts Illustration from Canada’s Sheridan College. He has been shaping his art aesthetic through various forms of media, hoping to find new avenues to express himself. For his first illustration for Modern Dog, Yuta found it especially poignant to work on “In Remembrance,” a lament of the short life spans of our beloved dogs (page 142). Yuta tells us, “I have a dog in Japan and I miss him a lot.

He is 15 years old and it really breaks my heart when I realize how old he is now.” It’s a sentiment that all of us with aging dogs can relate to. See more of Yuta’s work at yutaonoda.com.

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Copyright 2009 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

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Bark Back! Our

r e aD e r s Wri t e puppy. Please do an article on Cairn Terriers or West Highland Whites. I’ll end up with one or the other for sure.

Kathleen Montana, S. Yarmouth, MA [Thanks Kathleen, stay tuned. Next Breed Profile is the Cairn Terrier. –Ed.]

get happy Just thought I’d say hi! I made the “Happy Brownies” from the Spring, 2008, issue for Jasper’s birthday party this past weekend and they were a big hit with all the doggies. I’m keeping this one on my “make again” list.

Chris, by email [For those of you that would like to make the Happy Brownies, we’ve now posted the recipe online at moderndogmagazine.com/ happybrownies. Happy baking! –Ed.]

phoTo Tanya king

More on special needs, please

love, actually We would like to express our sincere appreciation for featuring our shelter dogs in your magazine. Any exposure these homeless animals can receive is a huge bonus towards finding them loving forever homes. Not only does this exposure benefit the specific dogs, but also engages the community to consider rescuing a homeless pet.

Modern Dog has been instrumental in showcasing the fact that indeed there are purebreds and mixed-breed dogs of all shapes and sizes out there still waiting for great homes to find them!

Katie Ernst, Supervisor of Canine Services, City of Vancouver, BC n After hearing raves about how fantastic the new issue was, I’ve just seen it myself and adore it! LOVE the spread with the Vancouver Animal Shelter dogs. Emily and Charlotte: *squeeze* *hug* *kiss*!!! Thanks for making us smile.

Michelle Cliffe, Communications Manager, Canada World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) n Your magazine caught my eye in a Borders Books store a few weeks ago. I picked it up and I was hooked! I brought my copy into work to read at lunch. Two co-workers asked to see it and they are going to subscribe also. Even your ads are great. I’ve already ordered a dog tag from Sally Harrell and sent a donation to Old Dog Haven to sponsor a dog. I cried buckets—last summer my 15-year-old German Shepherd, Murphy, died at home of old age. How anyone could abandon an elderly pet is beyond belief.

I am between dogs at present and hope to adopt a Cairn Terrier

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I just became a three-year subscriber of Modern Dog and really love it! But one thing I think it is missing is information on special needs pets. I am a volunteer with the Amazing Aussie Rescue of Arizona, which rescues Australian Shepherds that, due to irresponsible breeding, are born blind, deaf or both (called “lethal whites”). If it weren’t for rescues such as this one, these dogs would be immediately euthanized as unadoptable.

Fortunately, word is getting out and we’ve had dogs flown down to us from other states by private pilots and shelter workers that have driven two days to bring us puppies. Having a dog with disabilities really isn’t any different than having a normal dog with some adjustments in how you go about doing things, but it is hard to find resources such as how to train a deaf/blind dog and I think if resources were easier to get, adopters might be more willing to open up their hearts to these amazing and inspiring animals.

I also think it is important for the public to know that there are places for these pets (both cats and dogs) and resources available for the people that love them. Keep up the good work and I’m so excited to receive my next issue!

Lisa Stubert, amazingaussies.com

love the spread with the vancouver animal shelter dogs!

[Lisa is not the only one requesting features on disabled pets. The winter issue will include a profile on a most-inspiring blind Border Collie. For our story on Faith, a dog born with just two back legs that learned to overcome her disability and walk upright, go to moderndogmagazine.com/faith –Ed.]

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.

©2009 P&G

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STUFF WE LOVE Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter

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1 Attention all dog lovers, it’s time to button up! from breed specific to activity-based interests, Ookie Ookie’s got you covered! All buttons are custom designed and are made in house. Don’t see your breed here? Have no fear! Just drop the folks at Ookie Ookie a line. So, go on and wear your heart on your sleeve for your furry friend! –Annica ($3, ookieookie.com)

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2 Is Poochy a bit of a toucan or a unicorn? Can’t decide? Why not both? (A Toucanicorn!) Spice up a dull collar

with a handmade ceramic charm (or two!) from Adorn your Dog. – Jessica ($13, adornyourdog.com)

3 Help save the honeybees with Wagging Green’s 100-percent organic bamboo Honey Dog collection of tees, collars, leashes, and tags. five percent of the profits go towards preventing Honeybee colony collapse, the underdog of environmental issues. –Karin ($18 – $25, wagginggreen.com) 4 This adorable little pillbox from Art Bags is a total multi-tasker! Check your makeup in the built-in mirror, store your favourite mints, keep emergency headache remedy handy, and get your cute dog of the day fix with the sweet little puppy print on the lid! –Tia ($20-24, artbagz.biz)

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5 This 100 percent cashmere turtleneck sweater from Pinkgold is all heart and smiles—just like me!

–Miniature Dachshund Rose ($154, pariero-ny.com)

6 “Dry the dog, bag the mess” is a motto I can get down with. Save your car and your carpets—dry off with the

bamboo and cotton Dog-Cozy. It zips around your dog enclosing even his feet, keeping in body heat as well as all debris and wet dog-ness for an easy clean post swim, bath, or muddy walk. –Kaya ($60, dogcozy.com)

7 If, like mine, your man leaves you in the lurch when it comes to household chores, you’ll come to depend

on your more reliable (and possibly more fun) Dyson vacuum. It’s not afraid to flex its muscle when it comes to cleaning up the dirt, debris, and pet hair our canine pals leave in their wake. I didn’t think it was possible to improve upon perfection (think patented suction power), but Dyson’s new and improved DC28 Animal with AirMuscle technology won’t disappoint. It gets even the messiest animal house clean to the core (Tried and tested with immense satisfaction at Modern Dog’s multi-dog office!). –Connie ($600, dyson.com)

8 I’m feeling seriously spooky with Up Country’s matching Halloween collar and lead. Boo! –Arial ($19 collar/$19 lead, upcountryinc.com)

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9 The pack will stand at attention when I don Zoe & Co.’s brushed twill “Berlin” coat with gold military-

^

inspired detailing (hopefully not thereby revealing a Napoleon complex but at least I’ll look stylish).

–Miniature Dachshund Esther ($47, zoeandco.com)

10 With an adjustable, padded, removable shoulder strap and polished nickel hardware, this beautiful, functional duffle bag is perfect for a weekend getaway! Its fold-end design allows for extra room and extra packaging space for all your pup’s essentials. –Lillian ($249, cryptonfabric.com) 11 Need to send a formal invite for a play date with one of Rex’s furry pals? Or thank your pet sitter for a job

well done? Maybe one of your friends is celebrating the arrival of a new puppy? A dog-themed greeting card featuring one of Suzy Everson’s colourful and appealing pooch personalities will carry your message in style.

—Marian ($4, suzyeverson.com)

12 Made from All Natural Soy Wax, these Aroma Paws breed candles are sure to please! With the strike of a match, my doggie and I are on a tropical isle.—Maxine ($12, aromapaws.com) 13 Toru offers an awesome clothing line for dogs and their people that supports a good cause: 15 percent of their Rescue Wear line goes to Paws 4 you Rescue. And as a new puppy-owner, I’m very happy to match with my doggie. –Omar ($32, torudog.com)

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14 Keep those talons in check with Bamboo’s small-dog 3-in-1 pedicure set. It’s stainless steel blades clip dog-nails easily, plus there’s a styptic dispenser should you nick the quick, as well as a file to remove any burrs. ($15, bamboopet.com) –Jennifer

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CANINE NEWS AND REVIEWS

Fido in the Sky with Diamonds

Good news for the pet set: with the launch of Pet Airways, the first pets-only airline, no longer will canines be relegated to cargo. They’ll be flying first class. The new airline carries only animal passengers (or “pawsengers,” if you will) and serves New york, Washington, DC, Chicago, Denver and los Angeles from the major airports, with plans to expand. Each of their turbo-prop airplanes offers vet-approved climate conditions, trained pet attendants that check on their furry charges every 15 minutes during the flight, regular potty breaks, and online tracking of your furbaby en route. Whether it’s a move or a dog-inclusive holiday, Pet Airways aims to make transporting dogs of all sizes stress-free for both pet parent and pup, from drop-off at the designated Pet lounge to pick-up at the destination. Introductory one-way fares start at $149. for details and prices, visit petairways.com.—Karin Sinkevicius

illusT raTion jess golD en

first-class service for four-legged travelers

Guerilla Dog Art Bizarre art project inspires popular imagination

Do you have a deep-rooted desire to create? Love dogs? Have a hammer? Like to creep around after dark, quietly erecting dog-themed public art displays without so much as a signature? You’re not alone.

about in Linkoping, Sweden. Her work? A concrete dog. Not long after its installation, though, the hapless hound was vandalized to the point of total destruction and later removed.

But under the cover of night, an anonymous member of the public filled the void with a replacement roundabout dog, this one made out of wood. Shortly thereafter, mysterious homemade dog art started popping up in roundabouts all over Sweden. Constructed out of readily found materials such as wood or plastic, these roundabout dogs (or rondellhund in Swedish) have since been making appearances in several countries, including Spain and England (in London’s Piccadilly Circus, no less). Inspired, a group called the HoundAbout Project began last May to assist the roundabout dog in taking over Hertfordshire, UK, with even Brownies getting in on the act by dressing their dog structure in the familiar brown uniform.

In a roundabout way, these dogs are getting around. houndabout.co.uk—Jessica Nosek

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Like to creep around after dark, quietly erecting dog-themed public art displays without so much as a signature? You’re not alone.

ronD ellhunD i v allaronD ellen i linköping 20 0 6-1 1 -09 . phoTo skvaTTr aM

In 2006, artist Stina Opitz was commissioned for a piece of public art to be displayed in a traffic round-

THE SCOOP Get Your Computerized Walk On (and Your Dog’s, too) In the world of gaming, personal fitness seems to be getting more and more attention. Nintendo DS has joined the fray with Personal Trainer: Walking, one in a series of self-guided fitness games for the Nintendo user. With Walking you can create a Mii avatar (or import yours from your Wii system) and associate it with one of up to four activity meters.

Here’s where puppy comes in—the activity meter can be worn on a belt loop, in a bag or attached to a collar to measure both you and your pooch’s level of activity. DS then collects and interprets the data, allowing you and your furry companion to set fitness goals, challenge family members or other DS users, and analyze your “life meter” to see how your daily routines affect you and your dog’s health and well-being. Strap on the activity meter before a walk, a trip to the dog park or a play date to see who’s on the better end of the leash!

We gave Personal Trainer: Walking a try and it’s definitely enlightening. When the DS analyzes your day’s activity, you may find you took far fewer steps than you imagined. It may also raise some interesting questions. Modern Dog’s editor, Jennifer, and her dog, Esther, each strapped on an activity

Set fitness goals and challenge family members, Fido included.

meter and went about their daily activities with some interesting results. Jennifer walked to a friend’s house and back, while Esther stayed home. Upon her return, she compared the number of steps they’d taken, only to find that Esther had somehow out-stepped her. Does Modern Dog’s best sleeper take to running hallway laps when left unattended?

In the next installment of this column we may have to try out an at-home camera system just to see what Esther gets up to when left to her own devices. In the interim, we’ll be improving our fitness level thanks to this nudge in the right direction from our fun new trainer. —Kaitlin Fontana

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Canine, Heal Thyself Regenerating Rover Fat: a cure for common canine aches and pains? Vets are using fat—yes, fat—to combat certain types of injuries and disease. Dogs who suffer from traumatic or degenerative symptoms such as lameness, arthritic pain, or joint and tendon injuries may find relief in new treatments based on stem cell therapy, according to the San Diegobased company Vet-Stem, which recently published its second study on regenerative medicine for veterinary use.

While human stem cell therapy has been big news over the last few years, due in part to the controversy surrounding the idea of using human embryos to create stem cells, the use of fat-derived stem cell therapy for dogs is relatively new, dating from early 2008.

The practice has roots in equine care, with a history of over 4,000 animals treated in all, and over

The cells are not manipulated or engineered, so the dog is essentially healing himself.

1,000 dogs have benefited from the therapy thus far, says Vet-Stem. The therapy involves collecting fat from the injured animal under anesthesia, then shipping it to the lab where technicians isolate the regenerative stem cells from the sample and send them back for injection into the dog’s injured area. The cells are not manipulated or engineered, so the dog is essentially healing himself. With one in four dogs developing painful chronic arthritis, this approach is a welcome alternative to surgery and pharmaceuticals, and may even save lives. vet-stem.com —Karin Sinkevicius

Ga-Ga, Woof Woof A new study in the journal Developmental Psychology has found that babies understand dogs from a very young age. Researchers observed that babies as young as six months could match the sound of a calm or aggressive dog to a corresponding picture of the dog’s expression. The infants in question successfully identified the correct image with a look or a point (and for younger babies, by staring). Now if only they could each tell us what the other one wants…—Kaitlin Fontana

Surf

Top Dog Sites

By Kaitlin Fontana

YouTube for you and your pooch www.woof.magnify.net

THE SCOOP Road Sense Mutts in Maine are getting a new kind of love after the governor signed into law an act to create a vehicle registration plate in support of animal welfare. Maine drivers will be able to purchase the new “respect. love. adopt” license plates October 1, a move likely lauded by the Animal League Defense

If you want to find cute and informative dog videos without scanning YouTube, this is the place—Woof!TV is all dog vids, all time. And just like YouTube, you can post your own hilarious dog videos with ease.

A craft fair for the dogs www.etsy.com Etsy is quickly becoming the online destination for homemade crafts of all kinds.

Search to find dog art, accessories, and more, including personalized items made especially for you and your pet upon request!

Fund, who has ranked the progressive state among the top five for animal protection laws several years in a row. Created by the Maine Adoption Leaders Team in conjunction with the Planet Dog Foundation, the philanthropic extension of dog product developer Planet Dog, the plate will

Respect. Love. Adopt.

Dating, with dogs www.datemypet.com

benefit the State of Maine Animal Welfare Program, with

Singles with dogs know that they and their pet come as a package deal. This site makes it easy to connect with other pet owners, so you know you’ll find someone who gets (and wants) you and your best friend.

elty and the other half going towards the Help Fix Me spay/

Feel better about your clutzy pooch www.faildogs.com We all know our dogs make mistakes.

Rejoice in your pet’s foibles by watching other dogs slip, fall and eat things they shouldn’t. Don’t worry, though—no one (canines included) gets hurt!

Kittehs and Puppehs and Cuteness Galore It’s hard to get through the day without some cute sometimes. Knowing this, Meg Frost, a wise soul with a gift for creative captioning created cuteoverload.com, a ridiculously popular weblog dedicated to observing, reporting, and disseminating (often hilariously) the poses and actions of our cutest friends and neighbours. Not just for dogs and cats, the cuteness encompasses rodents, pandas, bears— just about anything that can make you go “aww.” (or in cuteoverload-speak “anh!”). Head there before your next stressful meeting and never again be caught without knowledge of breaking updates such as “THIS JUST IN: Maru Wearing a Crab Shell Hat.” See also “Nobody

half the proceeds funding investigations into animal cruneuter program for low-income citizens.—Karin Sinkevicius

AKC Opens Doors to Mixed-breeds Dog lovers have always known that our mixed-breed chums are just as talented and fun as pedigreed pooches and now the American Kennel Club (AKC), oft seen as the last bastion of purebred snobbery, will finally welcome crossbred canines at some of its most popular events. As of October, mixed-breeds can receive an AKC ID number allowing them to compete in special classes at certain agility, obedience, and rally competitions beginning in April, 2010. The new AKC program is welcomed by experts such as Dr. Stanley Coren, author of numerous bestselling dog books. “Those of us who teach dog obedience have found it frustrating that we could not encourage people who have bright trainable dogs to continue on beyond basic training,” Coren says. “By making competitions available to mixed breeds we can offer higher goals to people, with competitions and titles that may be earned. The training needed to compete in these sports strengthens the bond between humans and dogs—which is a good thing for everybody who cares about dogs.”—Marian Buechert

Understands Emo Bun” for a pick-me-up should meeting not go as expected.—Kaitlin Fontana

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THE SCOOP Calling All Bulldogs and their Gin Tippling Guardians: Do We Have a Contest For You! If your dog dreams of being “discovered,” well, read on, cocktail lover.

When I think of gin, and I do—often—the first thing that comes to mind is an olive, or perhaps a Ricky. Others likely conjure up images of the sultriest of gin cocktails, the Negroni, or an icy, limey, fizzling G&T. My dog? Mention the word gin and he immediately perks up, stars filling his eyes at the mere thought of finally getting discovered for what he truly is, a ridiculously jowly

WATCH

In the Womb: Cats and Dogs, from the acclaimed National Geographic series documenting reproduction and gestation across various species. This feline and canine specific rerelease gives great insight into how our pets’ in utero development progresses, using the newest technology to reveal real-time ultrasound images of cats and dogs, as well as computer graphics and visual effects. This alone is fascinating, but the doc also links our at-home friends to their wilder relatives in the evolutionary chain: lions and wolves. Did you know wolves (and stressed out dogs) can reabsorb puppies in order to increase survival rates of the rest of their brood?

Incredible. You’ll never look at your pooch the same way again. DVD available at nationalgeographic.com.

R E A D Stop and Smell

dog with what he claims

the Roses: A Mutts Treasury

is a killer profile shot. His

by Patrick McDonnell (Andrews

interest is piqued with good reason.

Bulldog Gin has announced their search for the face behind the brand. While I realize that not all dogs are like Brian from The Family Guy with his taste for the sauce (a good thing because alcohol is not good for dogs), I do think it’s about time that there was a contest that benefits both dogs and humans.

And, lo, here it is.

Between July 1 and November 1, 2009, submit photos and a sentence or two (max three photos, 200 words) about why your dog best represents the Bulldog brand (Jonesy just looooooves a dry martini after a “ruff” day at the office). The winning poochies—one

Bulldog Gin has announced their search for the face behind their brand.

French and one English bulldog— will be announced November 30, not incidentally the birthday of Winston Churchill, or “the Bulldog,” if you will. Prizes include a case of Bulldog Gin (!) and a photo shoot with renowned

McMeel Publishing; 2009). The beloved syndicated strip about Earl the dog and Mooch the cat is collected here in celebration of the sweet, odd-couple friendship of these two very different (yet very similar) house pets.

D O Download the Dog

Whistler, an application for the iPhone or iPod Touch that has been ranked among the top 10 free iPhone apps. Use the touch-activated sliding whistle graphic to adjust the frequency to get your pup’s attention. From there, train pooch to sit, stay and, with the sound inaudible to human-types, look like a wonderdog. Theoretically, that is. Different dogs respond to different frequencies, and some don’t respond at all regardless of the setting, but with a price like this, why not have some fun trying it out? mobeezio.com/dogwhistler

Modern Dog Poll Results 96% believe dogs experience emotions similar to those humans feel, such as grief, guilt, anxiety, and love.

pet photographer Brooke Jacobs, subscriptions to Modern Dog and more. I’ll drink to that. bulldoggin. com or facebook.com/BulldogGin—Jessica Nosek

Modern Dog Poll If money were no object, would you clone your dog before the end of his/her life?

Go to moderndogmagazine.com to vote.

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BI

©2009 Blue Buffalo Co., Ltd.

Ss EW er N Lov G Dog

r fo

Your dog will love new BLUE Longevity.

And you’ll love helping him enjoy a longer, healthier life.

TM

Modern longevity diets are all about living a longer, healthier life, and now BLUE has developed one for our furry family members.

Delicious Ingredients With Low Caloric Density BLUE LongevityTM is a blend of healthy, natural ingredients with low caloric density. This means that your dog can enjoy a delicious and fully satisfying meal without loading up on calories that contribute to obesity.

A Balanced Diet With Anti-Aging Nutrients Healthy deboned Whitefish is the first ingredient in BLUE Longevity. This tasty source of lean protein and Omega-3 fatty acids is complemented by healthy whole grains, garden veggies and fruit. These ingredients have been selected by our animal nutritionists because they contain a wide variety of nutrients that have been shown to fight the development of age-related diseases.

Increasing Your Dog’s Lifespan The anti-aging nutrients in our wholesome ingredients, including Vitamins C, E and B Complex, Beta Carotene, Selenium and Zinc, along with those in our exclusive LifeSource® Bits, have been scientifically shown to increase the lifespan of dogs.* A Longer, Healthier Life for Your Dog We all want our dogs to live longer, healthier lives and now the nutrients in new BLUE Longevity can help make that wish a reality.

A lifelong feeding system, BLUE Longevity is available in Puppy, Adult and Mature Formulas.

Blue-Longevity-for-Dogs.com You’ll find BLUE Longevity at leading pet specialty stores. *JAVMA, Vol. 220, No. 9, May 1, 2002, p.1316

Pup Profiles

“I’m a modern dog!”

Toby

Jood

Age: 2 Breed: yorkshire Terrier Nicknames: Joodster; Piglet Likes: Motorcycling; long walks Dislikes: Vacuums; small children; being alone; car rides Favourite pastime: Playing with Buddy and lilly Favourite foods: Whatever Mum and Dad eat; Nona’s mortadella

Maddie Mae

Age: 1 Breed: Pug Hometown: Arlington, VA Nicknames: Mads; Maddie girl; little Mama Likes: Coach collars; swimming in the bathtub; playing hide and seek Dislikes: Being on a leash; things that go bump in the night Favourite pastimes: Chasing tail; car rides; eating feet; racing daddy; napping on mommy’s lap Favourite foods: Pig ears; bully sticks; turkey; inanimate objects

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Breed: Jack Russell Hometown: Vancouver, BC Nicknames: Toaster; Nugget; Pooperscooper Likes: Squeaky balls; sunshine; squirrels; licking my face in the morning; nighttime walks (the raccoons are out!) Dislikes: Wind; alarms; not being allowed on the couch Favourite pastimes: Taking long walks in Stanley Park with Grandma Favourite foods: Raw meat; real meat treats

Princeton

Age: 2 Breed: Morkie Hometown: Dallas, TX Nicknames: P-ton; Mi’jo; Sweetie; Monkey Likes: flossies; my play dates in Victory Park; small squeaky tennis balls; my favorite old golf ball; getting dirty after a good groom Dislikes: Other dogs that cross my mommy or try to get her attention; Scottish Terriers; hoodies Favourite pastimes: Going to Grandma’s; going with my mommy everywhere Favourite foods: Bacon; turkey; flour tortillas.

Oliver

Age: 10 months Breed: Maltese / Shih Tzu Hometown: Watchung, NJ Nickname: Olie; Olsie; little Boy Blue Likes: Paper towel; food shopping; sleeping on beds Dislikes: Any person wearing a white jacket or coat Favourite pastimes: Belly rubs; chasing whiffle balls Favourite foods: Chicken dinners; eggs; Milk-Bones

Negev

Age: 4 Breed: Boxer Hometown: Haifa, Israel Nicknames: Negevon; NegeBootz; Sheygetz Likes: Getting into trouble Dislikes: Staying at home alone Favourite pastime: Reducing plastic products to minimal size Favourite foods: Avocado; bananas; blue cheese

THE SCOOP Calling all witty writers or writers at heart create a caption for this cartoon and submit your entry at moderndogmagazine.com/cartooncaption.

carToo n © 2009 By Da viD ja co Bs o n

The top four most comic captions will be published in the next issue and will each win a one-year subscription to Modern Dog!

W E N

And the winner

c ar Toon © 2009 By DaviD jacoBson

from the Summer issue is:

I tried to keep him under the seat, but he wouldn’t have it. Tell you what...leave me three gin and tonics and very soon I’ll be under the seat. Then everybody will be happy.

Now your pet can have it’s own breed-specific collar Identification Tag with your pet’s name and contact phone number laser engraved on the back for easy identification.

Over 90 breeds, sculpted in high quality Antique Pewter, for the security of your pet. A Great Gift item. Made in the U.S.A. Visit our website for our complete line of Pins, Keychains, ID Tags and much more.

wildlifepins.com • 800-580-6516

Submitted by leslie Haddad

Runner-up Captions: He’ll have a toilet water, no ice, and a snack from the galley’s trash.

Submitted by Kathy Kanter

I usually like to drink when I travel, but I think I’ve had too many. I SWEAR there’s a dog sitting beside me.

Hand Painted, Pewter, Copper, Bronze Lapel Pins, Keychains and ID Collar Tags.

Submitted by Steve Evenden

There was a mix up. My husband’s in a cage in the baggage compartment.

Submitted by Michael Wishner

© 2009 CREATIVE CASTINGS, INC.

Client: Product:

moderndogmagazine.com

Creative Castings Dog Identification Tags

21

barkandfitz.com

healthy the most important meal of the day!

At Bark & Fitz we appreciate and celebrate the difference natural and organic pet food and treats can make in the quality and longevity of our dogs’ lives. We stand by this fitzosophy by only selling healthy pet foods that contain no wheat, no corn, no soy, and no by-products.

Visit a store near you today to learn more about Healthy Pet Foods.

For a store location nearest you, please visit barkandfitz.com If you are interested in franchise opportunities in Canada and the United States, please email us at: franchise@barkandfitz.com

calendar

Fun in the Fall

By Karin Sinkevicious

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

13

3

23-25

Join the discussion at the No More Homeless Pets Conference, presented by the Best Friends Animal Society. This year’s all-community animal welfare conference is at the Rio in Las Vegas, Nevada. nomorehomelesspetsconference.com

Hollywood glamour meets pet hair at the 16th annual Lint Roller Party in Los Angeles, where celebs and commoners mingle through live entertainment, veg food, and auctions in benefit of the Best Friends Animal Society. lintrollerparty.org

Put those pads to the pavement at the annual Paws for a Cause walk and help the Vancouver BCSPCA achieve their goal of raising a whopping $950,000 for animals in need, all while enjoying an afternoon of furry fun: food vendors, giveaways, pet photography, and demonstrations. Visit spca. bc.ca/walk/ for more info as well as other walk locations around BC.

31

10

Amuse the neighbours, deter trick-ortreaters, or maybe both: dress up the dog for some campy fun. Happy Halloween!

(See moderndogmagazine.com for our top canine costume picks for the spookiest day of the year.)

Bark for Baltimore’s Dogfest 2009, which features interspecies fun for dogs, cats, and horses alike with games, exhibitions, contests, and the Paws On Parade Pledge Walk that benefits the Humane Society. dogfest2009.org

19+20

Indulge your love of wine, art, and animals at the Art Bark Fest in beautiful Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, NV, where you’ll sip wine and view animal-themed fine art at this benefit for the Humane Society of Truckee–Tahoe and Squaw Rescue Dogs. thebarkfestival.com

11

phoTo paTrice M alloy

phoTo k eoki Flagg

Enter the Owner-Dog-Look-A-Like contest, among other fun competitions, before catching some canine waves to benefit charity at Surf City Surf Dog in Southern California’s Huntington Dog Beach. surfcitysurfdog.com

phoTo nBc phoTo

ph oTo guill phoTo

NOvEMBER

26

After the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade but before football and turkey, make sure you squeeze in time to watch The National Dog Show Presented by Purina (NBC), hosted by Seinfeld alum John O’Hurley and showcasing 2,000 of the nation’s top dogs. nationaldogshow.com

moderndogmagazine.com

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moderndog photo contest wÄąnners!

smile!

Jetski

Tara

Pico

Caleb

Ami & Tai

Lucy

Mack Sassy Shavis

Maddy 24 moderndog

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Butters

Sesi Nitara

Sparky

Sammy Kooter Sarah & Bono Macy Zelda

Jasmine

George Michael & Autumn

Gracie Think your dog ought to grace the pages of Modern Dog? Send us photos of your picture-per-

Nash Rip

fect pooch! The winning entries will be published in the Winter 09/10 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.

Assignment of rights applies; see full details

at moderndogmagazine.com/photosubmission.

moderndogmagazine.com

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f d pro e e r b

ile

n o l l i p The Pa

by Marian buechert photographs by deborah Samuel

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rfly e t t u B l Socia

DOG & CAT

foundational essentials

A

vern,WinneF reD & hoM er 1 ©2 0 01/ DeBorah saMuel

Papillon, little different in appearance (other than colour) from the 1999 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show winner, Ch. Loteki Supernatural Being.

King Henri III of France loved his Paps so much, he brought them to council meetings in small baskets carried around his neck. One story tells that when Henry received a visiting monk, the king’s Papillon, Lilene, reacted so ferociously that she had to be taken from the room. A short time later, the “monk” stabbed Henry to death. As he died, the legend reports, he cried out, “If only I had heeded Lilene’s warning!”

The tragic queen Marie Antoinette also owned the diminutive dogs, and after her death by guillotine, several of her pets were cared for in her home in Paris, a house subsequently known as “The House of Papillons.”

The breed currently ranks 37th in popularity according to the American Kennel Club (AKC) and has moved effortlessly into

K

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This combination of butterfly-like beauty and breezy sociability has made the Papillon a favourite companion for at least six hundred years.

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moderndogmagazine.com

27

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s the butterfly flits from one flower to another, sipping nectar here and carrying pollen there, always lovely, always graceful, so does the social butterfly move with beauty and ease from one social situation to another, enjoying the company of all, and adding charm to any soirée.

Truly, a more perfect description of the elegant and extroverted Papillon could not be found. In fact, although the name papillon, French for butterfly, is actually linked to the breed’s distinctive wide-spreading and wing-like ears, it could equally well refer to the Pap’s gregarious personality.

“Most Papillons will welcome new acquaintances as if they had been friends for decades,” writes F. Michael Truex in his book Papillon (Kennel Club: 2005).

This combination of butterfly-like beauty and breezy sociability has made the Papillon a favourite companion for at least six hundred years and the breed is well-documented in paintings dating back as far as the 14th century by such famous artists as Van Dyck, Rubens, Fragonard, and Goya. The little dog shown in the painting The Venus of Urbino by Titian (1538) is clearly a

hoMer 2 1© 2009/De B o ra h s a Mu e l

Papillon AKC Ranking: #37 in popularity Size: Toy — 8 to 11 inches Grooming: Moderate Activity level: Moderate Heritage: Companion US Rescue: Papillon Club of America pcarescuetrust.org/ Canadian Rescue: Papillon Canada Rescue papilloncanada.org/rescue

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MaTTie rose 2©2 009 /D eBorah saMuel

Profile:

the social milieu of the 21st century, appearing, for example, in a photo spread in Hello! magazine with pop idol Christina Aguilera, whose two beloved Paps answer to the anythingbut-elegant names of Chewy and Stinky.

The original Papillons had larger and lower ears than their modern counterparts, harkening back to their probable ancestor, the Toy Spaniel. As the erect-eared look became increasingly popular, the droop-eared variety of the breed was given the name Phalene (moth). Both ear types are accepted by the AKC today, and both may occur in the same litter.

Described as “fine-boned” in the breed standard, the Papillon is a dainty dog of 8 to 11 inches and from 3 to 6 pounds in weight, with a silky, flowing coat of any colour paired with white. Both ears and the coat around each eye must be coloured, not white, as white in these areas is linked to deafness. A white blaze down the face, white muzzle, and symmetrical markings on the head are preferred.

Hair fringing the ears is long and profuse, adding to the butterfly-wing look. Papillons do not have an undercoat, so shedding is minimal, and grooming consists of once- or twiceweekly brushings with care taken that mats do not form in the ear fringes or in the “culottes”—the hair on the backs of the thighs.

This social butterfly has little time to waste being ill—she would hate to miss out on anything!—and the breed has few health problems. Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of place, is sometimes a problem, and the breed is sensitive to anesthetics, so the Pap owner must be sure to discuss this issue with her veterinarian before allowing her Papillon to undergo surgery. Owners of this breed must also be constantly aware of their dogs’ diminutive size, both because tiny adventurers can slip through almost unnoticeable gaps in fences and because the spunky Papillon may try to play with any dog he encounters, no matter the size.

Despite his petite stature, however, the Pap is a keen and versatile participant in many activities, being the top-ranked toy breed in several canine sports and standing 8th in intelligence among all breeds, according to Stanley Coren, author of The Intelligence of Dogs (Bantam; 1994). Whether navigating the weave poles at an agility trial, putting nose to ground to track down that elusive glove, or strutting along at heel position during an obedience exercise, the Papillon is a ready competitor. The clever and cuddly Pap also makes an excellent hearing assistance or therapy dog, being always alert and quick to sense the mood of his companion.

With so much personality and adaptability wrapped in such a portable package, the Papillon is a go-anywhere, do-anything bon vivant, happy to share his joie de vivre with all. n

only use ONE Wild Pacific We o We on n y us u se ON O N ingredient, ngr gred d ent nt, t, W ild P acific ffish h and absolutely nothing else so turn over the packaging, make the comparisons and get the FULL nutritional benefits off W Wild F ULL n utritional b enefits o ild ffish ish.

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Flea-BeGone Treats Here’s a tasty recipe you can use to treat your dog and help make him less attractive to fleas at the same time! Cut the treats into fancy shapes to make them more appealing.

FACTS VET’S VIEW: Brewer’s yeast may help to repel fleas. However, it’s not a substitute for good flea control, especially for dogs allergic to flea bites.

PORTION SIZE: for small dogs, 1 treat; for medium dogs, 2 treats; for large dogs, 4 treats.

Nutritional Information Per Treat: Calories 35 Protein 1.7g Carbohydrates 5.2g Dietary Fibre 1.3g Fat 0.9g

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Make quick & healthy fall snacks your dog will adore.

Scrumptious Delight Recipe Preparation Time: 15 minutes Makes: about 24 treats 1 cup (4 1/2 oz/125 g) whole wheat flour cup (2 oz/55 g) rolled oats 1/2 cup (4 tbsp) brewer’s yeast 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1/2 cup (4 fl oz/125 ml) beef stock 1/2

1 Preheat oven to 375°f/190°C. 2 Mix the dry ingredients together and set aside.

3 Mix the vegetable oil and beef stock together, then slowly add to the dry ingredients and mix well.

4 Roll dough to 1/4-inch (5-mm) thick and cut into desired shapes.

5 Bake for 15-20 minutes or until firm and crisp.

Note: The treats will keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container.

The addition of peaches gives the sweetness dogs enjoy, and nongluten products are used to help with allergies.

FACTS VET’S VIEW: Dogs prone to diarrhea may have a gluten intolerance, so try this gluten-free recipe to see if it helps.

PORTION SIZE: for small dogs, 5/8 cup; medium dogs, 1 1/4 cups; large dogs, 2 1/2 cups. feed twice a day.

CALCIUM: Add 400 mg calcium per 1-cup serving (600 mg if using bone meal).

Nutritional Information Per 1-Cup Serving: Calories 446 Protein 35g Carbohydrates 12g Dietary Fibre 0.8g Fat 28g

Recipe LONDON TOKYO PARIS SYDNEY TORONTO NEW YORK H Preparation Time: 10 minutes, Makes: 7 1-cup servings ANGELES VANCOUVER LONDON TOKYO PARIS SYDNEY 3 lb/1.3 kg ground lamb or in chunks YORK 3 eggs HONG KONG LOS ANGELES VANCOUVER LONDO / cup (2 oz/55 g) fresh peas, shelled SYDNEY TORONTO NEW YORK HONG KONG LOS ANGEL 1 cup (6 oz/175 g) brown rice 1 cup (about 8 oz/225 g) canned LONDON TOKYO PARIS SYDNEY TORONTO NEW YORK H peach slices in natural juice ANGELES LONDON TOKYO PARIS SYDNEY 1 Sauté the meat VANCOUVER in a lightly sprayed pan over medium heat for about 15 YORKminutesHONG KONG LOS ANGELES VANCOUVER LONDO until no longer pink and the meat juices run clear. let cool.

2 Meanwhile, TORONTO cook the rice according SYDNEY NEW YORK HONG KONG LOS ANGEL to package instructions.

3 Cook the eggsTOKYO in a sauté pan over PARIS SYDNEY LONDON YDNEY T TORONTO ORONTO NEW YORK H medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring gently until the eggs are ANGELES VANCOUVER LONDON NDON TOKYO PARI PARIS P S SYDNEY firm.

4 Mix the lamb with the scrambled YORK HONG KONG LOS OS ANGELE A ELE VAN ANGELES VANCOUVER V COUVER LONDO eggs and let cool.

5 Mix togetherTORONTO the peas, rice and SYDNEY NEW YO YORK ORK HONG KONG K LOS OS A ANGEL peaches, then stir in the meat and egg mixture.

LONDON TOKYO PARIS SYDNEY YDNEY T TORONTO ORONT NT NEW Y NTO YORK H ANGELES VANCOUVER LOND LONDON L NDO ON TOKYO O P PARIS PARI S SYDNEY YDNEY YORK HONG KONG LOS OS ANGELE ANGELES A ELES VAN ELE VANCOUVER V ANCOU COUVER VER LONDO L SYDNEY TORONTO NEW YORK ORK RK HONG KO KONG NG LOS ANGEL LONDON NDON TOKYO PARI PARIS P ARIS SYDNEY TO FRee STuFF ANGELES ELES S VAN VANCOUVER V COUVER VER LONDON LOND TO Chien Chic YORK RK HONG HO ONG KONG L LOS A ANGELES SYDNEY YDNEY T TORONTO ORONTO NEW YO YORK O HON LONDON NDON TOKYO PARI PARIS P S SYDNEY YDNEY TO ANGELES GELES VAN VANCOUVER V COUVER LONDON LOND ND TO YORK RK HONG KONG LOS A ANGELES Snack Attack Luggage Tags $9.99 SYDNEY TORONTO NEW YORK HON Contact us for a retailer near you LONDON TOKYO PARIS SYDNEY TO ANGELES VANCOUVER LONDON TO Tel: (416) 628-1916 YORK HONG KONG LOS ANGELES E-Mail: foufou@foufoudog.com SYDNEY TORONTO NEW YORK HON moderndogmagazine.com 31 LONDON TOKYO PARIS SYDNEY TO 12

from the book The Healthy Dog Cookbook: 50 Nutritious and Delicious Recipes Your Dog

Will Love. Published by TfH

Publications, Inc. 2008 © Ivy

Press ltd. Used by permission.

*

Make a style statement. One chic chien will be the lucky recipient of a luxe silk velvet and crystal collar from Chien Vivant Couture than can double as a belt. Six styles to choose from. Flip to page 141 for contest details.

For more product info, chienvivant couture.com.

Want a healthier snack choice for picky pets?

Snack 21’s line of 100-percent natural Wild Pacific salmon snacks are additive-free and a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Two lucky readers will each score an assortment. For contest details, see page 141. For more information, visit snack21treats.com.

dogsport

Geocaching:

The 21st century hunt for treasure

By Patricia Komar

Photographed by Edward Komar

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Every pet Needs a Hugx

W

e’re surrounded by stumps. Stumps of old dead cedar trees. Dark hollow eyes—cuts that at one time held springboards for loggers of long ago— watch me. Witch’s beard hangs from tree branches. A raven caws as if to frighten me away. No, I’m not scared. Not this time. I have Bruno and Tabu at my side and we’re determined.

An odour warns me of a bear fresh out of hibernation or skunk cabbage cooking in a swampy pond. If it’s a bear, I could make noise and scare it away, but that might attract the curious. I must hunt with extreme stealth. Bruno and Tabu can keep a lookout while I search for the hidden treasure.

It’s my third attempt at finding the cache near Eagle Mountain in British Columbia. I check my GPS. Close. I walk just a little to the north. The readout changes. Longitude: check! Latitude is off. Have to go east. Sooo close. My heart beats faster. I feel the rush, the thrill of the hunt. I’m near—within ten feet.

I look around trying to spot just that little something that might be out of place—not put there by Mother Nature. A tug from Bruno’s leash. Has he found it? I look down.

Bruno, my Labrador/Border Collie is gnawing on a tasty maple branch and trying to manoeuvre it between two rocks. Tabu in her Cairn Terrier earthdog way has dug a six-inch hole in her hunt for buried decayed (or alive) things. “Bruno, Tabu! Extreme Stealth!” I remind them.

Over 800,000 active I’m one of nearly two million geocachers caches are hidden in who participate in this rapidly growing sport in nearly two hundred which over 800,000 active caches are hidden in countries. nearly two hundred countries. In a week’s time, there can be 600,000 new logs written by 80,000 geocachers.

Equipped with a handheld GPSr, (Global Positioning System Receiver), coordinates of longitude and latitude, trail descriptions, and cryptic clues posted on a website, we’re ready to search for geocache treasure (geo meaning “earth” and cache from a French word invented in 1797 meaning “a hiding place to temporarily store items”).

Geocaching started in April, 2000, when Dave Ulmer, a computer consultant, filled a container with software, money, a video, a book, a recorder, a can of black-eyed peas (in geocache jargon, OCB = original can of beans), a slingshot handle, and a logbook with the notation “GPS Stash #1.” He hid it in the Oregon woods, made note of the coordinates using his GPS, posted it on a website and called it “The Great American GPS Stash Hunt.” His only rule: “Take something, leave something.”

The idea took off like wildfire. Computer techies pushed away from computers and trekked into the wilds. The word stash changed to cache and a website, geocaching.com, was born.

As I continue to search in the forest under a canopy of trees, my mind wanders to the story about a businessman who, in the mid-1800s, while travelling in the English countryside, left his calling card hidden in a jar with instructions that whoever found the jar should add to it his own card. Soon after that, people began “planting” boxes

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I’ve often seen the bum of a black bear running into the bush. with self-addressed letters or postcards as their calling cards.

The next traveller who came along and found the box would take the letter, mail it, and leave a letter in its place. Sounds to me like, “Who’s got mail?” So-called “letterboxing” is still popular today, with an estimated 20,000 letterboxes hidden in North America alone (letterboxing.org). Maybe I’ll come across one in these woods.

Bruno and Tabu look thirsty. Time for a break. This morning, I packed water and goodies along with other supplies, including a journal, flashlight, extra batteries for my GPS, doggie bags, and medium plastic bags to take out any garbage I find. I have taken note of Cache In, Trash Out (CITO), an environmental initiative supported by the geocaching community and I feel I must do my part.

I hear fellow hikers approaching with their dogs. Muggles! (meaning “nongeocachers”). Mustn’t give away hiding spots:

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don’t look suspicious! Use stealth while hunting. This is also coyote, cougar, and bear territory. I have to be out before dark.

Safety of my dogs is imperative. I can scare away a couple of coyotes with aggressive gestures and I’ve often seen the bum of a black bear running into the bush, but cougars lounge on branches. Okay, I’m just scaring myself to bits. Focus, focus on the cache!

I reach into my pocket for my printed instructions. I did everything right this time: step one, log onto the geocaching website. Step two, type in the location of the area I want to search (postal code or zip code) and sort through the many hits of hidden caches. Caches can be hidden anywhere from wilderness areas to inner city parks. There are theme caches, benchmark caches, and virtual caches designating a special point of interest: no container (like an ammo box) but instead, a dazzling sunset, grove of trees, or scenic panoramic view.

Caches can be hidden anywhere from wilderness areas to inner city parks.

The cache listing that caught my eye told me to “Cache In” at this park. It also displayed the “dog friendly” icon. The level of difficulty was listed as one-and-a-half stars, the terrain, two stars (one is easiest, five is hardest). I considered Bruno’s age and wanted an easy-to-moderate hike.

The narrative told me the cache is located just off the main trail. “Many of the trails are old logging roadbeds from the early 1900s. Old campsite artefacts can be seen.” I decoded the cryptic clue. “In the roots of a tree.” I packed my supplies, loaded the dogs in the car, and drove to the area near the coordinates. Upon arrival, I set my first waypoint marker as “car” (just in case I can’t find my way out).

It’s now getting late in the old forest. Bruno is getting antsy, Tabu, nasty. The late afternoon sun casts its light on exposed roots of an old cedar. There in plain view—something out of place. A stumpy log stuffed into exposed roots. I point the dogs in that direction and off we go. I drop to the ground. Drag the log away and there it is—the cache!

We’ve found it.

Bruno and Tabu get a good sniff of something interesting. I pull the top off. A tennis ball and a small squishy ball. A dog brush. And something else: so-called “travel bug”—a metal dog tag with a unique tracking number stamped below the picture of a bug. The number can be tracked on the geocache site. A travel bug travels from cache to cache.

While most treasures can be kept, travel bugs have to keep going, so I’ll leave it at my next find.

Following the geocacher’s prime directive of “If you take an item, leave an item of equal or greater value,” I take a ball and leave a couple of dog toys in the cache that I ever-so-carefully return to its hiding place deep within the roots of the old cedar tree.

It’s getting dark—time to go. I look around, listening. It’s here where the gang of frogs ribbit in the wetlands, the raven squawks, witch’s beard hangs, skunk cabbage reeks, and the dark eyes of burnt out stumps watch every step I make. I realize I‘ve found not only a geocache treasure but also—with Bruno and Tabu—I’ve discovered “YAPIDKA,” yet another park I didn’t know about. n

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New Hope in Nepal

Curing canines in Kathmandu Story and photographs by Matthew Kruchak

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I

(above) A Boudhanath area shopkeeper sweeps the dusty sidewalk, as a street dog stands nearby. (facing page) A pair of street dogs lounge in the shade under a table on a restaurant’s patio.

t’s midday and the sun shines hot over Kathmandu. There’s no movement in the trash-filled lot that separates a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and the back end of a Nepalese restaurant. You can’t see them, but the stray dogs are out there, lumps of filthy fur lying in the beating sun or hiding in slivers of shade. Andrea Bringmann is about to wake them.

Bringmann is the founder of Street Dogs Care Camp, a non-profit organization based in Boudhanath, a Tibetan community resting on the rough edge of Kathmandu. With a team of volunteers and a pair of veterinarians, Bringmann has been caring for the area’s suffering street dogs since February of 2008.

Normally, the Care Camp team sets up a field clinic every Saturday to treat sick and injured canines at Boudha Stupa, a large bell-shaped Buddhist shrine that’s circumambulated by practitioners. Since they began their rescue and rehabilitation efforts, Bringmann and her colleagues have, on average, treated 15 dogs every Saturday and have intensively cared for almost 50 so far.

But today is the Buddha’s 2,553rd birthday and thousands of followers have flooded the area. Instead of bringing the dogs to the stupa, Bringmann decides to visit them on their turf.

Bringmann leads the way through the Nepalese restaurant and out onto the patio, calling for Mummy, a blind dog the colour of the golden monk shirts that hang in the sun to dry, but not nearly as clean. Following closely behind her is Franziska Oertle, a Swiss volunteer, and the pair of Nepalese veterinarians, Susmitha Gautan and Suraj Dhakal. From a spot in the shade, Mummy follows Bringmann’s German accent into her outstretched arms.

“You’re very lucky,” Bringmann says. Mummy growls.

According to the Kathmandu Animal Treatment (KAT) Centre, there are over 35,000 street dogs in the Kathmandu Valley and Mummy is definitely one of the lucky ones. She had a softball-sized growth on her back caused by a canine transmissible venereal tumour, a sexually transmitted disease that affects the reproductive tract. With the help of Street Dogs Care Camp, Mummy’s tumour was removed. But the majority of stray dogs in the area still suffer from abuse, malnutrition, and disease.

“They suffer so much and I suffer with them,” Bringmann says. “If there’s a possibility to help them, then why not do it?”

And she does.

Born in Germany, Bringmann worked for 10 years in Italy’s advertising industry. She had a steady income and nice home, but wasn’t satisfied with her career. She felt she was lying

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“Dogs and people are just the same, That’s why I feed them. Religious practice is not just being a monk.” to the people she was pitching products to and it wasn’t worth the stress. So a year ago, Bringmann packed her bags and headed around the world, making stops in Europe, North America, South America, and South Asia before landing in Kathmandu. She planned to move on to Australia, but never left Nepal.

“I cancelled my flight because of the dogs,” she says, with a wide grin.

Every day, Bringmann saw distressed dogs on the streets of Kathmandu— skinny, forlorn and infected with mange, a skin disease caused by parasitic mites that produces hair loss and the formation of scabs and lesions. And every day, she felt the need to help.

Bringmann began by feeding the dogs rice and meat. Friends visiting from Germany saw the work she was doing and wanted to help. They donated money for dog food but Bringmann thought the cash could be put to better use, so she developed the idea of a weekly clinic to treat the sick and injured dogs.

The first canine clinic at Boudha Stupa drew a large crowd of curious observers. With prayer beads (clockwise from top left) A crowd gathers as clenched in their hands, Buddhists broke from circling Andrea Bringmann, the stupa to watch Bringmann’s team soap up the Suraj Dhakal, Susmitha Gautan, and franziska street dogs. The locals had never before seen strays Oertle examine ticks in being washed and given vaccinations. The resident little Wamo’s ears. reactions were mostly positive but some thought Chiny relaxes at the Bringmann and her team were crazy. Many still think side of a dusty street in Boudhanath. they are.

Andrea Bringmann There’s a fear of street dogs in Nepal, Bringmann comforts Pasang as says.

They’re seen as dirty and diseased. According to veterinarian Susmitha Gautan holds the dog’s the KAT Centre, about 200 people die every year in front left leg while colNepal after being bitten by rabid dogs. league Suraj Dhakal sutures the wound.

People step around stray dogs on the street. They step over them, too. And if dogs get in the way, A mangy street dog in Bhaktapur, Nepal. they’re kicked. But never loved.

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The team of canine caregivers round a dusty street corner and spot Pasang, a black and white dog, the white now the colour of the concrete he lays on.

Less than a week earlier, Pasang was scavenging for food in a garbage dump.

Defending his territory, Pasang growled and barked at trash collectors. They kicked Pasang and slashed the underside of his left front leg. Monks found the suffering dog and notified Bringmann.

Pasang was brought to the vet, stitched up, and pumped full of antibiotics.

Dhakal notices that the stitches came out and that the three-inch wound is now open. The vets go to work. They muzzle Pasang’s mouth. Gautan holds the dog’s right front leg as Bringmann comforts the dog with pats on the head.

It’s easy to stitch up a dog on the street, Dhakel says, but there are many difficulties in providing health care for homeless dogs. The risk of infection is high when suturing on the street. With ownerless dogs, there’s no medical history, so vets don’t know how long a dog has been suffering with a certain symptom or what ailments it had in the past. Another problem is that the vets can only diagnose what they see, because lab tests are unavailable. They do the best they can, Dhakal says.

Wearing Tibetan clothing and a string of Buddhist prayer beads around her neck, Tsering Chosang watches the streetside stitching. She knows the dog well.

She feeds Pasang and several other street dogs regularly and makes sure they have plenty of water.

“Dogs and people are just the same,” Chosang says as Oertle hands her some medicine for Pasang. “That’s why I feed them. Religious practice is not just being a monk. It’s not necessary to wear a red robe.”

Chosang’s attitude is rare, Bringmann says, and one of her goals is to involve and educate the community. When they examine a dog or need help catching one, they ask the locals for help. Already, the team has a pair of monks cooking rice and meat for dozens of dogs every day and locals like Oertle administering medications. But before locals can touch them, the dogs must be vaccinated against rabies. The vets have yet to see any cases

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(clockwise from top left) Members of the Armed Police force walk past sleeping street dogs at the front gates of the former royal palace, which is now a museum.

Veterinarian Susmitha Gautan holds Oro in place as her colleague Suraj Dhakal examines the cast they put on the puppy’s broken leg a couple weeks earlier.

Andrea Bringmann shakes Strubel’s paw at Boudha Stupa.

“They suffer so much and I suffer with them.

If there’s a possibility to help them, then why not do it?”

in Boudhanath so it’s just a precaution, Bringmann says.

She’s developing a street dog education program to take around to local schools and hands out informational brochures on Saturdays. The Care Camp doesn’t focus only on street dog care, however. They’re also educating people on how to keep canines as pets. Street dogs often live better lives than canines kept by Tibetan and Nepalese families, Bringmann says. They tend to keep house dogs on metre-long leashes or locked up in small cages.

One palm-sized black and white puppy (this time the white is actually white), luckier than many pet dogs, is held in loving hands as he waits for treatment. A Tibetan family rescued the sick puppy from the nearby stupa. This puppy is last on the list for treatment today and for an unfortunate reason. The pup has canine distemper virus, a highly contagious disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system.

Bringmann stays on the ground floor as the team heads upstairs

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to examine the dog; she has a puppy of her own and doesn’t want to pass the disease on to her dog.

The vets examine the dog and give the caregivers some medicine. The team bids the puppy farewell. They will see it again.

Without the Care Camp the dog would surely die.

After just a few months, it’s exciting to see how much healthier and happier the street dogs are, Bringmann says; it’s the people who will be tougher to train.

“I would like to teach people that if they respect the animals and give love, they will also get love from the animals,” Bringmann says.

This can be seen when the group walks down the street.

Normally, stray dogs won’t approach people like a loving house pet, but this is the reaction the group has been receiving from the street dogs they’ve met today. They’ve shown the dogs some love and it’s returned with licks and paw shakes. n

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2. Cut the dog silhouette from the card stock.

3. Choose a fun, graphic, patterned fabric for the dog appliqué.

Larger, busier patterns work best on simple silhouettes. More detailed dog silhouettes look better in smaller patterns, so the details of the dog’s shape are not lost in the fabric.

4. Prewash the fabric for your appliqué to reduce shrinkage.

5. Cut a square or rectangular piece from the fabric approximately 7 inches square.

6. Cut a piece of Trans-Web slightly smaller than your fabric square.

7. Using an iron on the wool setting, iron the Trans-Web onto the back of the fabric; the rough side of the Trans-Web should be facing the wrong side of the fabric. Allow the paper-backed fabric to cool.

8. Using a black marker, trace the dog silhouette onto the Trans-Web paper backing.

9. Cut out the dog silhouette from the paper-backed fabric.

Tools and Materials French Bulldog Template or photo of a dog in profile Iron Sewing machine Scissors Damp, clean cloth Card stock Patterned fabric Trans-Web or other fusible webbing on release paper Black marker Blank baby romper (or blank t-shirt for yourself!)

Machine-sewing thread in a coordinating color for decorative topstitch Hand-sewing needle Button in coordinating color (optional)

10. Peel the paper backing from the appliqué to expose the iron-on webbing.

11. Position the appliqué, fabric side up, onto the blank onesie. Make sure the appliqué is positioned above the waistline, so the full silhouette will be visible if the baby is wearing pants.

12. Lay a damp cloth over the appliqué and iron with steam for 10 seconds.

13. Once the appliqué is fused to the onesie, use coordinating thread and a simple zigzag stitch on your machine to sew around the edge of the appliqué.

14. Once you’ve sewn around the entire silhouette, tuck the thread tail back under the stitches by hand with a needle to ensure threads are secure. Optional: Sew a button on the appliqué for the eye.

Tips: This process is not restricted to baby baby romper; you can use silhouettes to personalize a variety of clothing and household items!

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Resources: Trans-Web fusible web on release paper can be found at reprodepot.com.

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Project and dog-silh ouette rom Pers by christy hodgson of bellablu designs: bellabludesigns.com

1. Download and print the template for the French bulldog silhouette (marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/2008Q1/ tvs_3122_022608_dog_onesies.pdf) on card stock, or create a dog silhouette of your own by tracing a photograph. If you make the silhouette yourself, shrink or enlarge it to make sure that it is about six inches wide.

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Dogs and Blogs (and Twitter and Facebook‌)

By Sandy Robins Illustration by Jess Golden

Making your mark (and maybe some $$) from your muse.

F

ade in….

A local dog park somewhere in Southern California. Dogs are running around, barking and chasing a ball. A large mutt comes out of nowhere and, with the expertise of David Beckham, takes charge of the ball and rushes away from the pack, nosing the ball, finally picking it up and dropping it in his pet parent’s purse.

Game over.

The rest of the pack looks around in confusion.

Beckham’s mom picks up her Blackberry and “tweets” about this dog park coup on Twitter, and less than thirty seconds later, dog owners sitting in other dog parks on the West Coast along with dog lovers in England, Australia, and South Africa, are learning about Pooch Beckham’s dog park achievement and sharing their own stories via their Blackberries and computers.

But wait…

Ma Beckham just happened to have her Flip video camera with her and filmed the entire event. So twenty minutes later, when she’s back home with her pooped pup, who is now snoring in his bed dreaming of rabbits, she’s uploading the video onto YouTube and Pooch Beckham’s Dogster.com and Dogbook pages, and has commented about it on her own Facebook page, too. After a cup of coffee, she will sit down and post something about it on her dog blog. And, as all her posts and pictures take off into cyberspace, there’s no real way of knowing how quickly the number of people learning and viewing Pooch Beckham’s canine soccer tactics will spread virally from his immediate family and friends to hundreds and then thousands and, eventually, even to millions of dog lovers around the world.

Fade out.

Witness the power of social networking, a phenomenon that has literally taken over the way the world communicates. It’s a way of talking to people you know and with those that you don’t know—yet. It’s about making new friends with people with mutual interests and gleaning interesting information about products, places, and events. It’s about banding together to become an international community—in this case, a community based around dogs. Instant, easy, and addictive, the electronic social network specifically for “dog people” is already huge and growing by the day.

According to the 2008 Cone Business in Social Media Study, 60 percent of Americans are using social media, and of those, 59 percent also interact with companies relevant to their particular community on social media websites to get information.

In the dog world, this information extends beyond Pooch Beckham’s dog park exploits to information about the latest shedding tools on the market, dog treats, shampoos, hotels that have comfortable dog beds, and great places to hang with your dog. You name it, it’s out there. And, if it isn’t, simply pose the question and someone will answer you—instantly.

Agatha Thaller is an account executive with a public relations company that handles Furminator, a range of pet shedding tools and accessories. She and her team spend hours every day on different social networking sites reading about what people in the dog community are interested in. They also manage a variety of social networking sites for their client so that they are on hand to answer any dog-related questions and comments with good solid information.

“The information highway used to be a one-way street with only the professional media putting stuff out there. Readers, listeners, and viewers would take what they wanted from it,” explains Thaller. “Now, people want to have a conversation about everything. And dog people according to blogs.com, this is the list who treat their dogs as of top dog blogs to follow: family members make celebrity dog Watcher up a very passionate and celebritydogwatcher.com involved community.”

Example: When new dog bliss mydogbliss.com treats come on the market, where do dog lovers now dog blog learn about them first? You funstufffordogs.wordpress.com guessed it—on sites such dog cars as Dogster and Twitter. dogcars.com And if you want free dogster’s for the love of dog blog samples, it’s merely a matdogblog.dogster.com ter of entering the compefunny dog blog titions companies hold on thefunnydogs.com social networking sites. All it’s the dog’s life you have to do is tweet itsthedogslife.com to win.

“It’s a great way of Pop dog blog popdogblog.blogspot.com spreading the word,”

Top Ten Dog Blogs

explains Julie Robbins Pup life dog blog a spokesperson for No puplifedogblog.com Grainers Dog Biscuits and raise a green dog Treats. ”We have a wonblog.raiseagreendog.com derful response whenever we hold a competition.”

Citing the Cone Survey, Robbins says that six out of ten people use social media websites to pass along information to others in their particular community and that nearly 75 percent of the information passed along is positive. And dog people do love to share their dog’s likes and dislikes with others.

Recently a blogger on the popular website Examiner.com interviewed a dog that Twitters under the name TheDudeDog. His profile reveals that he “loves meat, baked goods, and cheese.” He told his interviewer that he “Twitters to connect with other animals, woo his girlfriend, and to stay abreast of

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How To Join

if everyone you know and his dog now has a blog and a webpage and is sending tweets on twitter all day and filming fun dog stuff, as well as reading other people’s blogs and tweets and visiting their webpages and viewing their videos (whew!) and you’re not, it’s rather like being at a the prom without a date and everyone is dancing except you. but the big plus about social networking is that you don’t have to feel left out; it’s easy to join and a very welcoming world once you’re involved. social networking sites that focus on a dog fanbase such as dogster, dogbook (the canine equivalent of facebook, twitter, and Zootoo all offer easy step-by-step instructions on how to sign up and create a profile. if you’re confused, it’s simply a matter of googling “how-to” sites such as e-how.com and about.com. they will guide you through the process. still confused? ask any teenager to help! they are all “pre-programmed” and know exactly what to do to get you going.

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Charities aren’t the only ones benefiting late-breaking news in the human world.” from the economic potential of these sites.

He also Twitters with his pet food comIf you launch your own blog and get a pany to be in the know about the latest lot of followers and finally get some adverflavours, and his brush company to learn tising on the site, you are instantly making about shedding. money. In some cases, websites encourA Sheltie named Dusty who lives in age bloggers to sign on and payment to Chicago has more than 2,500 followers the site owner depends on the number on Twitter. He has his own website and a of “hits” they receive. Post the question page on Dogster.com He even has his own “How much can you earn on a social netbook called Dogged Pursuit, an amusing working site?” on one of those sites and tale about his life in the agility ring writthe helpful answers will come back with a ten by his pet parent, Robert Rodi. Dusty range from $25 a month is using the social media to to $400 a month. interact with his ever-growA Sheltie The majority of dog ing fanbase and making lots named Dusty networkers, however, are of friends along the way. has more not interested in makHe and TheDudeDog than 2,500 ing money from their have something in common: followers. involvement. They want they both love cheese. Dusty to enjoy themselves, Twitters about his favourite share information, and just connect with type of cheese and where his pet parents like-minded people. In fact, the best part buy cheese. His other pet parent, Jeffrey about these dog social networking sites is Smith, handles his social media messagthat you can start your own group based ing. on anything. Dogs that love ice cream, “I try and capture Dusty’s personality in for example. Or in the case of Dusty and his messages,” says Smith. “Dusty was a TheDudeDog, pooches that drool for rescue, so he is passionate about rescuing cheese. You can form a social group in other dogs and dog adoption. He interacts your own area and actually hold real dogwith dogs, cats, and even guinea pigs.” gie picnics in the local dog park. That way Recently Dusty “attended” a “pawyour dog gets real new friends, apart from Pawty” that ran for 24 hours, hosted by his ever-growing list of cyber pals. And, of a feisty terrier that Twitters under the course, you can film the event, blog and name FrugalDougal and lives in England. tweet about it, and post it out there, thus The event was to raise money for animal creating a never-ending cycle of fun and charities and dogs from around the world social interactions for you and your furry joined in the interactive games and quizfriends. n zes. Such is the power of the cyber paw.

We dig the simple but Amazing Treat Machine, which has Rover dropping a tennis ball in the top to retrieve the treats and ball that come out the bottom. amazingtreatmachine.com Feed your greedy Fido with the TreatStik, a kibble or treat dispenser that provides food and fun. Watch your dog work for her dinner, rolling the TreatStik along to dispense the grub. treatstik.com

Smart Toys Interactive toys to challenge the canine mind

Slow speedy eating while stimulating you mutt’s mind with the AiKiou Interactive Bowl. Place your dog’s dinner or treats beneath the sliding doors and within the turning carousel and watch him puzzle it out. aikiou.com

Your high-IQ hound will appreciate the multifunctional Mike: it floats, plays fetch, and inspires foraging instincts in your dog, enticing her to work to get at the kibble you’ve contained within. Also available in mini size. caninegenius.com

The same people that provided acclaimed baby sign language instruction with Mimic Baby are now helping dog guardians communicate with their similarly pre-verbal charges. Help your dog learn over 50 American Sign Language signs with the step-by-step Mimic Mutt DVD. mimicmutt.com

Spend some fun quality time with your dog while testing and improving his training. Roll the die in Do You Mind and keep track of how many activities your dog can complete. darfinc.com

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Challenge your dog with one of Nina Ottosson’s great new puzzles, like the DogTrubble maze. Hide treats beneath the wooden pieces that must be pushed to one end of the snacking track before they can be picked up or knocked over to release the snack inside. nina-ottosson.com

Distribution Opportunity exclusive territories available

Hamish McBeth is an Australian manufacturer of quality, high end pet products known to most good pet stores around the world.

This opportunity has opened up due to retailers constantly asking to purchase locally from American distributors.

Due to our growing range of larger products and client demands we will be appointing exclusive distributors in various states.

The organisation or people we need must: • be brand conscious • understand pet trends and fashion • be able to warehouse • be able to finance stock holding • be able to demonstrate sales ability

www.hamishmcbeth.com contact joe@hamishmcbeth.com

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Dog Photography 101 How to get great pictures of your dog Story and Photographs

by Shaina Fishman

What angle is best for getting a great pic of my pup?

How can I get better photos of my all-black dog?

What’s the #1 thing I should do to improve my pictures?

Is there a trick to getting a great shot of a group of dogs?

My photos are so average! What can I change so that my pictures will capture my dog’s specialness?

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Taking great pictures of your furry friends can be challenging.

Even with the most cooperative subject, you must take other elements into consideration to turn an average snapshot into a captivating photo. As a professional pet photographer, I’m frequently asked for tips on how the amateur can get better photographs of his or her menagerie. If you keep in mind the rules listed below, you’ll avoid common mistakes, see a vast improvement in your output, and be on your way to capturing great images of your pup.

Business Bags for picking up after your dog attaches to any leash!

You light up my life Location, location, location? It’s really more about lighting.

Photography isn’t about location, expensive equipment or perfect poses. It is really all about lighting. Beautiful photographs of your dog can be created anywhere, indoors or out. Because the most important element in either setting is finding the right light.

When photographing your dog inside, open all blinds and curtains so natural light will filter into your home. This way, you can avoid using the flash on your camera.

A flash creates a harsh light that won’t look as nice as natural light. If you must use the camera’s flash, affix a piece of wax paper over it to soften the hard shadows it creates.

Perhaps your dog doesn’t like spending time in the most naturally-lit room? Put her favourite bed or blanket in the desired spot to help her feel more comfortable. You may have to wait a few days until she has settled into the new location.

Overcast days are the best for photographing your pet outside. The light on these days is even, creating soft shadows. This light is particularly ideal for photographing dogs with very dark coats, which are typically difficult to photograph because dark fur doesn’t reflect the light well. Bright, sunny days create harsh shadows and will cast unflattering light on your pet. The exception to this is shooting early in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is low and casts a beautiful warm light. If you are taking pictures on a sunny day, find a shaded area with no direct sunlight to position your dog for photographs.

One more time, with attitude The key to success? Repetition and bribery.

Getting your dog to do what you want and cooperate is not always easy and can be extremely frustrating. When setting out to photograph your pet, don’t think of the process as something that will be a hassle. Instead, think of it as bonding time coupled with an intense training session.

I have photographed all types of dogs and cats, from highly trained to ones with no training whatsoever. Some were so rambunctious, I wondered if I would be able to get a single shot that wasn’t blurry. Nonetheless, I’ve never met an animal that I wasn’t able to photograph. The key is repetition. Use whatever motivates your dog to sit, lay, roll over, or bark. There is nothing wrong with using a bribe of toys or treats to get your four-legged friend to behave. Be persistent and don’t give up; your dog will eventually understand what you are asking him to do and cooperate.

Tie handle bags on a roll!

Doggie Walk Bags is proud to introduce its newest product in the dogbag line: Business Bags: the Newport Collection.

A limited run of designer purses, fitted with the exclusive new product, dogbags tie handle bags on a roll.

For over 20 years, our company has been proud to produce the highest quality bags, while also being 100% degradable and earth friendly. The easy tie handles and multiple scents and colors make picking up after your pet easier, and more stylish, then ever before!

Walking your dog has never looked so good!

Doggie Walk Bags, Inc. 877-DOG-BAGS (949) 200-1148 dogbag.com moderndogmagazine.com

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What’s your angle?

1

Photographing your dog is not only an exercise in training, but also good exercise for you. Move around to find the best angle for the photograph. Don’t just stand above your dog: get down to her eye level by sitting, kneeling, or lying on the floor. It is also important when finding the best angle for your dog to take the background into consideration. Eliminating distractions in the background can help turn a snapshot into a beautiful photograph, so pay attention to what is behind your pet to avoid ugly or distracting elements ruining the shot.

Many problems in the background can be eliminated by adjusting the camera’s angle or using a longer lens.

Get down low to use the sky as a background or shoot down for an even background with the floor or grass.

Using a longer lens means zooming into the subject, filling the frame with your pet and reducing the area around her, thus leaving less room for distraction.

Additionally, be aware of colors that clash and lines of objects that dissect your subject. (See photo 1)

It’s all in the details Don’t forget to capture the individual parts of your dog that you love. Search for interesting angles of your dog’s details. Zoom in to capture just his wet nose, curly tail, or expressive eyes. Check your camera to see if there is a macro/micro setting that will allow your camera to focus when shooting this close to your dog.

If your camera will not focus in as tight as you’d like, back up, get the shot, and crop the final image. (See photo 2)

2

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The more, the merrier If you thought photographing one dog was hard, try a whole group of them. When facing this kind of challenge, enlist a team to help you corral the dogs. Give each person specific directions on how to handle the dog for which they are responsible. Be prepared to take a lot of pictures and bring an extra memory card or multiple rolls of film. You may need to reposition the dogs many times as they get bored, lie down, wander off, or try to play with each other. Stay calm and patient to get a great group shot.

Capturing the right moment also relies on timing: pushing that camera button at the right second. If your camera has a long delay, this can be a problem. You may be pressing the shutter at the right second, but the image captured will be after that perfect moment.

Check your camera’s manual to see if the shutter speed can be set independently. If so, set it to the speed of 125th of a second or higher. Otherwise, set your camera to shoot in the sports mode, perfect for fast-moving objects (like your dog!). (See photo 3)

4 5 Bid camera-shy goodbye Is your dog afraid of the camera? Does he look away every time you put it in front of him? Many dogs will look away the moment you bring the camera in front of your face.

Trick your pup into believing you are not taking pictures of him. Begin by taking pictures with your camera at waist level and not looking in his direction. Once he stops turning away from the camera at this level, raise the camera, in increments, closer to your eye level. This process could take days or even weeks. You’ll probably end up with many bad pictures but the exercise will lead to a dog that is no longer camera-shy. (See photo 5)

Getting the perfect shot: 10 Quick Tips 1 Take the time to accustom your dog to having his photo taken.

2 Use natural light when possible, avoiding midday sunlight.

3 Get down to your dog’s level.

4 Keep treats and toys on hand to inspire the behaviour you’re trying to capture.

5 Set your camera on a fast shutter speed by using the sports setting.

6

6 Keep the background in mind— eliminate distracting elements.

7 Don’t forget to capture details and close-ups.

8 Call on friends for help in wrangling the subjects for a group shot.

9 If all else fails, try converting your photo to black and white.

bl Have fun! If you approach a photo session as bonding time, your dog will be more relaxed and responsive (that pocket full of treats doesn’t hurt either!)

When opportunity knocks Does your dog freeze every time you put a sweater on her? Does she play dead when you start the water for her bath? Don’t be afraid to use these situations to your advantage. If you have a rowdy pup that won’t be still for half a second, these tricks work wonderfully. You’ll find that you can capture humorous photographs in these circumstances. My dog doesn’t move once he is lathered up with shampoo in the bathtub. I have captured many funny pictures of him in this situation.

(See photo 4)

Admitting that you have a problem When photographing spontaneous moments, you can’t always take these rules into consideration. It is better to capture the moment and have a distracting background rather than miss the moment and not have a photo at all. When you have captured a great moment of your pet but there are elements making it a bad image, try converting the image to black and white. A distracting background, competing and clashing colors in the picture, and red-eye can often be muted with this conversion. Black and white can give your photos a timeless feel that stands out. (See photo 6)

The most important advice Always have fun! If you’re having a good time, your dog will, too, and your pictures will capture that happiness. n

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A

LEXANDER THE GREAT -

OR

ALEXANDER THE SO SO -

In the spring of 2008, Sissy, the owner of Solid Gold Dog Food, went to India to study ayurvedic herbs. It was there that she found that her Cinna-Bone biscuits, which she had been making for four years, repelled fleas.

Cinnamon contains sulfur, the eighth most prevalent mineral in a human and dogs body. Insects cannot reproduce in the presence of sulfur. So, it is a natural flea repellent. Cinnamon is helpful for diabetes, epilepsy, cancer and heart disease.

In the spring of 2009, Sissy went to Egypt to study ancient medicines and ancient alchemy. Alchemy is much more than turning base metal into gold. It is the study of metals/minerals and how their frequency (now called electro-magnetism) heals the body.

Around 1470 B.C., Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt sent her ships up the Mississippi River towards the Detroit area to get tin and copper to make bronze. Bronze was used for farming implements, swords and shields.

People even today wear copper bracelets and drink colloidal silver for healing. Colloidal silver was the natural antibiotic before the development of penicillin.

People used to wear gemstones for their healing frequencies.

Solid Gold Sea Meal includes 60 trace minerals. Dogs and people are 11% trace minerals and 4% vitamins. If you don’t give dogs trace minerals, the vitamins don’t work. Sea Meal boosts up the thymus and thyroid glands which control the immune, hormone and enzyme systems. Sea Meal grows coat, intensifies coat color, increases fertility, encourages brain function, etc. It is always fed with our Solid Gold dog food.

The Oriental, arctic dogs and dogs from England, Scotland, Ireland and all water dogs were fed sea vegetation and fish for hundreds of years. All Solid Gold foods are fish based. If you don’t feed fish and sea vegetation, you are not supporting the DNA in the dog’s body. They will chew at the root of the tail and lick their feet.

People ask us why we don’t include Sea Meal in with our food. Sea Meal also contains probiotics and digestive enzymes from the Prozyme Inc. Probiotics and digestive enzymes are destroyed at 120° and dry food is cooked at 350°. So all these dog food companies that list probiotics and enzymes with their ingredients, didn’t do their homework. You are paying for something you are not getting.

Order the SeaMeal in one pound containers or five pound containers if you have big dogs, a kennel or horses. If your horse has cracked hooves, navicular or founder, Sea Meal will help.

The Egyptians grew barley and flax which we put into our dog food. Barley is anti-aging and used for transmigration of the soul. It is also for diabetes and epilepsy.

Now, for Alexander.

At Alexandria, in Egypt is the story of Alexander’s first battle against King Darius of Persia who had 3,000 men and a pack of elephants. Alexander had 300 men – but he also had a pack of war dogs – Neapolitan Mastiffs – called mastinos.

Darius was astride his bull elephants approaching Alexander. At the last minute, Alexander let loose Peritas, his personal mastino. Peritas raced towards the bull elephant and attacked the swinging trunk. The startled elephant reared up and Darius fell off. Then, Alexander let loose the rest of the barking mastinos. They attacked the elephant’s legs and trunks. The surprised elephants turned around and ran into the other coming elephants and troops. The Persians were in chaos and scattered.

Alexander and his mastinos had won the day. That’s how he began to be “The Great”.

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

Trees for Pets

Honor a special companion in your life with the gift of trees.

By planting Trees in Celebration or Trees in Memory of your pet, you honor your loved one with a lasting, living symbol of your devotion. Your gift of trees is also a meaningful gift to our nation’s forests to help replace grand trees lost to disease and fire.

Celebrate a new adoption. Honor the memory of a beloved companion.

For every dollar given through Trees for Pets, a commemorative tree is planted in our nation’s forests by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation.

Honor the special pet in your life at arborday.org/moderndog

*Visit arborday.org/animalprofessionals to learn more about our specially designed program for animal professionals.

Keep your dog’s memory close to your heart with a

Created by a Tibetan Buddhist father and daughter team, Little Lotus Hearts offers people the opportunity to pay tribute to the special animals in their lives through Buddhist carvings, prayer and offerings, and charitable works for other animals, like houses for endangered bats and sponsorships of abandoned dogs abroad. littlelotushearts.com

Celebrative Arts’ exquisite ceramic urns are handmade, ensuring that no two are alike, a fitting tribute for a one-of-akind family member. Or choose blown-glass keepsakes, fine jewelry, and prayer wheels. celebrativeart.com

custom-designed, hand-crafted memorial locket by Lisa Havelin.

These beautiful gold or sterling silver Pet Reliquaries can contain ashes, whiskers, or a picture. petreliquaries.com

Gift a grieving dog parent with a garden caststone creation from Carruth Studios. Their weatherproof memorial plaques can be custom engraved with a name, date, and special saying. carruthstudio.com

The Soft-Hearted memorial pillow, created by pet owner Pati Moore, is a comforting alternative to a regular urn. The pillow allows you to conceal the ashes in a discreet interior pouch so you can hold them close.

Custom embroidery and colour options are available. soft-hearted.com

My Dog, My Heart, My Soul

11 WONDERFUl WAYS TO COMMEMORATE A PET LuxePets’ “In Loving Memory” aromatherapy candles soothe the senses with essential oils of lavender and tangerine, while the thoughtful message and blessing offer a bit of comfort. luxepets.com

Create a reflective spot in the garden in honour of your companion with a customengraved, weatherproof cast-stone Garden Memorial Bench from Eternal Paw Prints. eternalpawprints.net

Frame a photo in a classic, handfinished wood frame by AB Designs.

Choose from a variety of finishes and accents like a Dupioni silk ribbon with crystal bone charm for a beautiful tribute or gift for a friend who has recently lost a beloved dog. abdesigns.com

Honour your dog’s memory and her love of nature: plant a tree on her behalf with the Arbor Day foundation. arborday.org/treesforpets

Through interviews and images, the Echo Memoirs team writes and constructs a professional and meaningful memoir

to commemorate your pet’s exceptional life.

echomemoirs.com

Choose between Heaven to Home’s “Healing Rain” and “Lavender & Sage” memorial soy candles, both silk screened with: “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” Partial proceeds benefit community programs. heaventohome.net

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The amazing life of Cloris Leachman

By Mary-Jo Dionne Illustration by Maxine Matishak

T

he weekend before I am set to meet Cloris leachman at her home in los Angeles, I do what any self-respecting person in my position would: I invite a gaggle of girls over and host my very own Cloris leachman Film Festival. I drive around, scooping up copies of all things Cloris, managing to amass a pile that includes Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Last Picture Show, Young Frankenstein, and Spanglish. And while the ever-growing heap weighs me down, it is admittedly only the tip of the sixty-movies-in-seven-decades iceberg. There is, however, one title decidedly absent from my line-up, and after hopping from one video store to the next, it becomes apparent that every DVD set of The Mary Tyler Moore Show is sold out. Thirty-plus years after playing Mary’s nosy neighbour, Phyllis lindstrom, Cloris and the show’s appeal are as relevant today as ever, and it hits me that in mere days, I am meeting someone who truly embodies “timeless.”

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“I’ve lived my life; I haven’t trotted alongside it. I’ve opened the doors of opportunity whenever I’ve seen them.”

Over the years, the multifaceted Cloris leachman persona etched in the psyche of American pop culture has managed— intentionally or not—to transcend generation while simultaneously never being pigeon-holed. As she explains in her recently released autobiography Cloris: “I’ve lived my life; I haven’t trotted alongside it. I’ve opened the doors of opportunity whenever I’ve seen them.”

All said, hers is a legacy that cannot be summed up by any one contribution.

Up-to-date on my Cloris factoids, I am nonetheless nervous as I knock on her door for our 4 pm chat. Not because I worry she will be an aloof diva, but rather because this is, well, Cloris. The woman who, with nine wins to her credit, has more Emmy awards than any other actor. The woman who appears on screen with Brad Pitt in Quentin Tarantino’s recent Inglourious Basterds. The woman who has made out with hotties like Paul Newman, John Stamos, and, most recently, Jack Black on the post-Superbowl episode of The Office.

When she yells “Come in!” and I open the door of her elegant apartment, she is sitting at her dining room table having the last of her highlights meticulously applied by Troy, her instantly likable hair guy. Dressed in casual cords, a hairstylist’s cape, and fuzzy slippers, Cloris doesn’t have to say a word for me to know the intimidation factor is nil. I feel more like a familiar neighbour borrowing an egg than an awe-struck admirer. When Troy packs up his beakers and tubes—assured that Cloris is more than amply satisfied—the conversation is quick and easy. She bemoans her current weight and I assure her it’s less than what I weighed at birth. I bemoan my currently-overgrown-and-in-need-of-Troy-love roots and she assures me I’ve got a “Kim Basinger” thing happening. In short, we quickly form a mutual admiration society. And before I know it, we’re in bed together.

Okay, well not quite. Make that on bed together. Where we sit, propped up against oversized cushions that exude the welcoming generosity of Cloris. Me, peppering her with an endless stream of questions. She, graciously answering one after the other. She laughs as she recounts the joy of working with the likes of Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, and Adam Sandler. She wipes away tears as she remembers the roles she simply couldn’t shake. She tells stories about the greats, from her experience meeting Charlie Chaplin to her time working with Kate Hepburn on Broadway.

She shares the passion she has for animals and I hear about dogs like Joe, Bill, and Ted—each one intimately familiar with the inner workings of a set, frequently escorting their mom to work.

She shares the fierce pride she has in her family. (“Family is everything,” she confides. “Everything.”) In fact, the only beaming that occurs comes not when I receive the tour of the room which houses her various statuettes, but rather when she talks about her chil-

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Cloris’ “Let Vegetarianism Grow on You” ad campaign for PETA. Photo Robert Sebree

dren, her children’s children, and her children’s children’s children. (Yes, this Dancing with the Stars bombshell is a great-grandmother.)

As I hold the (awfully heavy) man called Oscar and do my best impression of her 1972 “I’m having an amazing life so far—and it’s not over yet!” acceptance speech, I am hit with the question: How can so much “amazing” be squished into one tiny person? And while I can’t put my finger on it, there is a word that fails me as I try to describe this sentiment to Cloris. While a wordsmith by trade, I spew strands of lackluster buzzwords that leave me frustrated.

What is the word? I think of the way the French so charmingly utter: “How do you say…?” when at a loss, and know I am anything but charming in this moment. How do you say…comedienne?

Actress? Dancer? Musician? Activist? How do you say…all of these things at once?

Although she is one of the most decorated thespians in history, there is more to her “amazing life” than that which occurs on screen. A quick click on cloris.com reveals a lengthy list of Cloris-endorsed causes, like the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Animal legal Defense Fund, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, for example. A long-time supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), in spring, 2009, Cloris appeared in their much-anticipated “let Vegetarianism Grow on You” campaign, wearing what any long-time vegetarian would: a dress made entirely out of lettuce and cabbage. As PETA spokes-

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person Michael McGraw said when referencing her decades-long commitment to a meat-free diet, “Who better to promote the health benefits of vegetarianism than Cloris? The stamina and energy she showed on Dancing with the Stars is a testament to her healthy eating habits.” When I ask Cloris herself what one message she would like to impart with regards to animals, she doesn’t hesitate: “If people could only see the way an animal is treated and killed before it ends up on their plates…” her voice trails off.

When I get back to my hotel, it is midnight. The latest night I’ve had in months is from trying to keep up with the energy of a woman who, at 83, is four and a half decades my senior. As I replay the night’s highlights, I am wowed by the expansive glimpse I was granted, but still vexed by my inability to materialize the word that continues to elude me. The word that sums up Cloris.

And then it happens. like so many answers to life’s toughest questions, it comes to me by way of my make-up bag. While reaching for the toothpaste, there peering up at me like a gift from the Perfect Word Gods, stares the base of my lipstick—the blackink underbelly of my MAC tube. In a way that only MAC can, the name of my lipstick shade says it all: Icon.

That is how you sum up Cloris: the one-woman-singing-anddancing-animal-loving-dramatic-and-comedic-film-and-televisonand-stage icon. The icon who’s having an amazing life—and it’s not over yet. n

Meet Your

dogof theweek winners Skooter

Napoleon

Aeva

Odin

By Stef Shaffer Seattle,WA • 1024 votes

By franceS Ung San Bruno, CA • 1300 votes

By Keith StoecKeler, Minneapolis, MN • 1271 votes

By tawmiS & amiee San Diego, CA • 2700 votes

Badger

Beau

MooseRita

Tanner

By liberty London, UK • 1401 votes

By aaron jr.

Niagara Falls, ON • 1511 votes

By jade zaworSKi Victoria, BC • 1516 votes

By mariSa henry Anahuac,TX • 1069 votes

Austin

Mouse

Riddle

Lily

By annette & jim Baton Rouge, LA • 904 votes

By liberty London, UK • 1044 votes

By Sally hUl Winnipeg, MB • 3097 votes

By Valerie & PaUl McKinney,TX • 1138 votes

Could your dog be “Dog of the Week?” Upload your dog’s photo at moderndogmagazine.com/photocontest. On a weekly basis, the dog with the most reader votes will be featured on the moderndogmagazine.com homepage and will have a chance to be featured in the magazine. For full details, see moderndogmagazine.com/photocontest/rules.

moderndogmagazine.com

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Mutt’s Love Got to Do With It?

Everything photographed by tanya king

A widely held misconception is that shelters house only incorrigible, old, unruly, or unhealthy “mutts.” Not so, as you’ll see from the love bugs on these pages. The majority of dogs in most shelters are healthy, between six months and two years old, and include purebreds as well as sweet-as-pie mixed breeds. And, yes, you can teach an old(er) dog—mixed breed or otherwise— new tricks! There are only good reasons for adopting a shelter dog. You’ll give a down-on-her luck dog a second chance for a happy life in a forever home.

And in return, you’ll be blessed with a loyal friend to make you smile, remind you to take pleasure in the little things, and even help you get more exercise.

The adoptable darlings in this feature are from the Vancouver Animal Shelter (VAS), listed on Petfinder under Vancouver Animal Control Shelter & Services, but petfinder.com is a comprehensive resource for locating shelters no matter where you live. We’re sure that adopting from a shelter will change lives for the better—yours and your adoring new best friend’s.

Dakota Breed: Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler/Sheltie mix Gender: Female/Spayed Age: approx. 6 years old Arrived at VAS: June 6, 2009 Not too big and not too small, sweet Dakota is just about perfect in every way. She is very obedient, already knows several commands (“sit,” “down,” etc.) and she likes other dogs. Dakota is also a dream to walk on leash.

She’s happy, healthy, and overall just a neat little dog looking for a home to call her own.

Dakota wears a beaded, green leather Dosha Dog collar (doshadog.com).

Dixie (facing page) Breed: Terrier mix Gender: Female/Spayed Age: 3 - 5 years old Arrived at VAS: June 17, 2009 Here’s our Dixie Chick with her “Flying Nun” ears! This cutie pie would be a welcome new family member in almost any home.

Dixie is easy to handle, responds to basic commands, and likes car rides. And she’s good with other dogs…of the smallish variety.

Happy and perky, Dixie needs moderate daily exercise.

Dixie wears a tattoo-print, nylon-web collar from Walk-eWoo’s Tattoo-Z collection (walkewoo.com).

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A lot of shelter dogs are “mutts like me.”

–Barack Obama on adopting a shelter dog

Candy Breed: Pit Bull Terrier/American Staffordshire Terrier mix Gender: Female/Spayed Age: 2 - 3 years old Arrived at VAS: May 12, 2009 If you like really cuddly—and loyal—dogs, look no further. Candy deserves lots of TLC as someone’s special “sweetie.” She loves lap time, but walks are great fun, too, and Candy is pretty easy on a leash. She enjoys “fetch” or playing with boy dogs, and she would thrive in a home with children.

Candy wears a graphic black and white cotton Bowchies collar (bowchies.com).

Fiddle Breed: Maltese/Poodle mix Gender: Male/Neutered Age: approx. 4 years old Arrived at VAS: June 15, 2009 Fiddle is just charming, and although initially shy, before long he’ll be in your lap. He is housebroken and learning about the big, wide world of walkies. Fiddle is ideal for an adult household, or for someone wanting the ultimate companion dog. Like many toy breeds, he needs regular grooming and occasional dental check-ups.

Fiddle wears a blue leather Pup Pup Designs collar with customizable letters (pup-pupdesigns.com).

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Sprite Breed: Rat Terrier/Jack Russell Terrier mix Gender: Female/Spayed Age: 8 - 10 months old Arrived at VAS: June 16, 2009 Sprite is everything good in a dog: people- and dog-friendly, super affectionate, biddable, smart, knows some basic commands, and is mostly housebroken. She’s a great package, all 20 pounds of her! Sprite would make a lovely family addition, or the perfect companion for someone who wants an athletic dog in a small size.

Sprite wears a white leather Hamish McBeth collar with cutouts, (hamishmcbeth.com).

Bella Breed: Chow Chow/Retriever mix Gender: Female Age: 8 weeks old Arrived at VAS: June 16, 2009 With her curls, button nose, and black signature Chow tongue, Bella is irresistible. This baby dog is feisty and full of personality; she’s playful and talkative, but cuddly, too. Adopting a pup is a big decision—housebreaking, chewing, and other puppy issues can be a challenge—so prospective adopters should consider carefully. Bella will be spayed when she’s old enough.

Bella wears a blue and yellow “flower power” nylon-webbingbacked PVC collar by New York Dog Design (newyorkdogdesign.com).

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body &soul Health Alert

Toxic Toys

Replace all vinyl (PVC) chew toys with non-vinyl counterparts.

Additives in soft vinyl, like phthalates, lead, and bisphenol-A, are suspected of causing myriad health problems in humans and animals alike.

How do I know if it’s vinyl? Use your nose. If it smells like “vinyl,” it probably is. Check the labels and packaging descriptions for “vinyl” or “PVC.” When in doubt, ask the retailer or manufacturer for more information or go with another, clearly-labeled option that’s not made of vinyl.

Do It’s Ruff Out There. Lend a (Digital) Hand to Dogs in Need “Save a Dog” Facebook Application Support the rescue effort. Choose a canine to sponsor virtually—no real money is involved— and for every 2,500 points you earn by simply using the app, DogTime will donate money to rescuegroups.org. Good fun for a great cause! apps.facebook.com/save-a-dog

Safe options: Toys made of felted wool (like a Cheerful Pets’ 100 percent natural felted wool toys), natural rubber (J.W. Pet’s Bad Cuz), organic cotton or hemp (Simply Fido), or simply those that contain neither vinyl nor phthalates (Planet Dog’s Orbee balls). For raw aficionados, bones are also a great option sure to thrill your dog.

Defining a senior dog How old is your dog in “people” years?

It depends on whether she is a small or a large breed.

Maria M. Glowaski, DVM, of the Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, states, “Veterinarians generally consider small dogs senior at about 12 years of age, while large dogs reach the senior stage at 6 to 8 years of age. This roughly corresponds to the 55-plus category in people.”

Good Buy With the friendship bracelet from Heart U Back, declare your everlasting love for both your furry friend and pooches everywhere. Hand-woven with gold-plated or rhodium-plated dog bones, the bracelet comes in multiple colours and has an adjustable cord. A percentage of the proceeds for each sold goes to the ASPCA, with Ontario and BC SPCA on deck for future donations. $39.99, heartuback.com

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Growling Matters Never disregard a dog’s growling. He is giving you valuable information. Keep in mind, dogs only have so many ways of communicating with us. He may be saying “Hey, that really hurts!” or “Back off. I mean it.” Heed the warning, and look into possible pain-based causes, especially if your dog is a senior. Ruling out the aforementioned, invest time in training with an accredited, reward-based trainer to overcome the fear or aggression behind the growl. Remember, your dog has teeth—he’s just choosing not to use them.

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D

o you worry about the quality of your beloved dog’s diet, but glaze over when you try to decipher the nutritional information on the packages? What do those multisyllabic words and confusing numbers actually mean?

Understanding dog food labels and using that information wisely can make the difference between choosing a good quality dog food or settling for a dud.

How to Really Read Dog Food Labels

based on weight, so items at the top of the list are the main ingredients.

A good-quality dog food will have meat listed within the first three ingredients. However, since ingredients are listed in order based on weight, having fresh chicken as your #1 ingredient does not necessarily mean that the product contains a lot of chicken, as fresh chicken contains a lot of water, which bumps up the weight of that ingredient.

On the other hand, if chicken meal is the first ingredient listed, you know that there is far more chicken in the food, because meal is light in weight. In order for light-weight chicken meal to be the #1 ingredient by weight, the food must contain a large quantity of it.

Another way that ingredient lists can be deceptive is through the practice of “splitting.” If an ingredient list read “Rice, meat, etc.” you would know immediately that there is more rice than meat in the food. However, if the rice content is split into several ingredients, the company can legitimately list meat as the top ingredient, thus: “Meat, ground rice, rice flour, rice bran, etc.” When added together, these grains may actually be present at levels that are higher than the meat.

Other items to note when reading the ingredient list: food dyes, flavourings, and preservatives.

Dog food packaging usually includes three sets of information: the front panel, the guaranteed analysis, and the list of ingredients. Each of these gives you important information to help you make an informed decision.

The first place to start is the front of the package. You want to select a food or treat that is suited to your dog. The front panel gives you information on the brand, the main ingredients, the life stage the food is made for, and if there are any breed-specific goals for the food (e.g., it is specifically intended for giant breeds or for Miniature Dachshunds).

A typical guaranteed analysis provides information about crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, and moisture. You will sometimes see guarantees for other nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, omega fatty acids, or glucosamine. Knowing these other nutrient guarantees can help you compare foods or find a food that meets your dog’s specific needs.

The guaranteed analysis, however, does not address the 1. Quality whole meat, fish, or poultry in top three quality or digestibility of the (or, better yet, top two!) ingredients. If you are ingredients. To get a sense of choosing a dry food with fresh meat as the first the quality of the food, you ingredient, pick one that has a meat meal as the need to look at the list of second or third ingredient. ingredients.

2. No “mystery” meat! The species of meat should In the United States the always be listed.

Association of American Feed 3. Nutrient levels appropriate to your dog’s age and Control Officials (AAFCO) lifestyle. establishes standards on which 4. Whole grains as opposed to ”parts” (e.g. rice as individual states base their opposed to rice flour) regulations. Canadian pet 5. No artificial colourings or flavourings: they are foods are usually packaged there to entice the consumer and do not indicate and labelled in accordance a good-quality dog food. with AAFCO guidelines and 6. AAFCO, HACCP, and/or ISO9000 certification.

Canadian federal regulaThese are measures of quality assurance. tions such as the Consumer 7. A toll-free number for you to call if you have Packaging and labelling Act questions. and the Health of Animals Bonus marks: Certified organic ingredients and Regulations. Under AAFCO, “best by” date listed. ingredients are listed in order

What to Look for When Choosing a Dog Food

Dog Food Dilemma: What to Choose Now that we understand the type of information to be found on a food label, let’s discuss how to use that information wisely to choose a good-quality dog food.

When comparing dog foods, you should consider the amount of moisture present in each food. The guaranteed analysis is listed on an “as-fed” basis (AFB) which is a term used in nutrition to indicate the percentage of moisture in the food has not been factored into the calculation of percentages of crude protein, crude fat, and crude fibre. If two foods have different moisture guarantees, you need to correct the values to a “dry-matter” basis (DMB).

To do this you’ll need a calculator and some simple math.

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Stay away from “mystery meat!” let’s look at the guaranteed analysis of two sample foods given on an as-fed basis:

Crude Protein Crude Fat Crude Fibre Moisture

Food A (Dry kibble) 26% 16% 3% 12%

Food B (Canned) 8% 3.4% 1% 82%

Based on this, you might think the dry food contains a greater percentage of all the listed nutrients. However, if we correct the values to DMB, a different picture emerges.

To do the calculation: 1. locate the percentage of the nutrient (e.g., protein).

For Food A, this would be 26%.

2. Determine the percentage of dry matter by subtracting the moisture percentage from 100 (100% – moisture content = dry matter) For food A, this would be 100% - 12% = 88% dry matter 3. Divide the percentage of the nutrient by the percentage of dry matter and multiply by 100.

For Food A, this would be 26% ÷ 88% x 100) = 29% protein The number that you get should be higher than the number reported on the label because you’ve removed the moisture.

Now compare the two foods again, this time on a DMB:

Crude Protein Crude Fat Crude Fibre Moisture

Food A (Dry kibble) 29% 18% 3.4% 0%

Food B (Canned) 44% 18.5% 3.5% 0%

At first glance, the dry food appeared to have higher guarantees, but when you correct for the moisture and convert to a DMB, the canned food is actually higher in protein.

Remember that higher levels of nutrients aren’t always better; there is an optimal percentage depending on your dog’s requirements and lifestage. Most dog foods

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What to Look for in a Label Good Choice Whole healthy meat and meal as #1 and #2 ingredients Whole, healthy fruits and vegetables high on the list Natural preservatives Chelated minerals—good bioavailability Natural preservatives

Look for a food with these qualities

Beef, Lamb Meal, Barley, Brown Rice, Potatoes, Sunflower Oil, Rice, Lamb, Buffalo, Venison, Beef Cartilage, Flaxseed, Natural Flavors, Apples, Carrots, Herring Oil, Pumpkin, Tomatoes, Potassium Chloride, Sea Salt, Cottage Cheese, Alfalfa Sprouts, Dried Chicory Root, Taurine, Direct-Fed Microbials, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Beta Carotene, Biotin, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, Choline Chloride, Cobalt

Pantothenate, dl-Methionine, Folic Acid, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Niacin, Potassium Chloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin C Supplement (Sodium Ascorbate), Vitamin

Bad Choice

Corn, soybean meal, beef and bone meal, ground wheat flour, animal fat (bha used as preservative), corn syrup, wheat middlings, (source of chicken flavor), propylene glycol, salt, hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, caramel color, sorbic acid (used as a preservative), sodium carbonate, minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin A supplement, niacin supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), calcium sulfate, titanium dioxide, yellow 5, yellow 6, red 40, BHA (used as a preservative), dl methionine.

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No dyes or synthetic preservatives

Stay away from foods with these attributes

water sufficient for processing, animal digest

Artificial colours/ lots of dye

Natural flavouring

Proteinate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Dicalcium

Tocopherol), Zinc Proteinate

Splitting ingredients

Source of Omega 3 and Omega 4 essential fatty acids

Carbonate, Cobalt Proteinate, Copper

D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement (Alpha

Grains, not whole meats, listed as first 2 ingredients

Grains are whole, not flours

F ALL 2009

Low quality meat source Synthetic preservatives “Animal Digest?”

Ack! Mystery meat.

are formulated to slightly exceed your dog’s nutrient requirements. When choosing an adult dog food, pick a food that has between 18-28 percent protein as listed on the label, unless your dog has other specific requirements, as discussed with your vet.

Both canned and dry dog foods are designed to provide a complete and balanced diet for your dog. One 421ml can (13 oz) of dog food has approximately the same caloric content as 1 cup of kibble. Canned dog food must contain about 80 percent water to allow for proper canning, so you will often find water or broth as the second or third ingredient on a can of food. The process of canning preserves the food, so there is no need to have preservatives in canned dog food. However, the high moisture content in canned food also means you are feeding (and paying for) a lot of water.

When choosing canned dog food, look for one that has a whole meat listed as its first ingredient (e.g. fresh beef). In a dry food, a meat meal (species should be identified, e.g., chicken meal) should be one of the top ingredients, to ensure adequate protein levels.

Stay away from “mystery” meat (e.g., unidentified-species meat and meal). An ingredient list should always state the species of meat (e.g., chicken, turkey, trout, etc.). If it doesn’t, it is using a mixed source of meat, which can be of questionable origin. Plus, the mixed source will not be consistent from batch to batch and this may upset your dog’s stomach.

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that consumption of food dye is harmful to your dog. However, your dog does not need or even enjoy food dye.

The colouring is there to make the product more marketable to you—the dog owner. Choose foods that do not have a lot of dye in them.

Dog foods, like people foods, will spoil over time. To prevent this, preservatives are added to kibble to allow for a longer shelf life. BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are synthetic preservatives and vitamin E (tocopherol), and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) are natural preserva-

tives. Multiple studies have shown that consumption of preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are not associated with cancer. In fact, some studies have indicated that they may, in fact, be protective against cancer. However, there has been concern that some dogs may develop allergies to synthetic preservatives. If you are concerned about your dog consuming synthetic preservatives, choose foods that have been preserved with vitamin E or C. Fresh vegetables are sometimes added to dog foods to help dogs that have grain sensitivities. If you are looking for a food that contains veggies, look for veggies to be listed high on the list of ingredients. Veggies are around 80 percent water, so if they are at the bottom of the ingredient list, you are just paying for expensive water.

Some food manufacturers are starting to include a range of nontraditional ingredients such as fruits and plant extracts and herbal supplements. In most cases, these have not been proven to be useful to dogs, and often there is little data to support the safety of

feeding these ingredients. While we may know that blueberries are full of antioxidants and are good for people to eat, there is nothing to show that there is any benefit to including these in a dry dog food. In addition, it’s important to remember that not everything that is safe for people is also safe for dogs. For the vast majority of herbal supplements, we have no idea what they do in a dog’s body, and there may be a synergistic action between herbal supplements during the cooking process that may be harmful to dogs or interact with medications that your dog may be on.

If you are choosing to feed a commercial dog food, one of the best ways to improve your dog’s health and well-being is to feed an appropriate amount of a good-quality dog food. With a good diet, your dog will live a longer, healthier life. When examining dog food labels, take your time to do the research needed. If you have questions, the best people to ask are the companies themselves, your vet, or a qualified canine nutritionist. n

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body &soul Healthy Hound

Brush-up on beauty basics

by Karin Sinkevicius

Promote a healthy, shiny coat and flake-free skin by adding Omega-3 oils to your dog’s

Go, Green Dog,Go Reduce n Buy long-lasting toys that won’t be landfill fodder after one good play session. n Buy in bulk to prevent extra pack-

aging from ending up in the landfill.

Bulk treats can often be purchased at natural pet food stores.

Reuse n Cover old beds with new slip covers

available from a variety of companies. We like mollymutt.com. n Make good use of your time in front

of the telly. Fix ravaged stuffed toys by stitching them up with dental floss—it’s stronger than thread. For favourites that long ago stopped squeaking, replacement squeakers can be found online for just $2.99 for a six-pack at dogtoys.com/ justsqueakers.html. Helpful hint for a longer life: place two or more squeakers into each toy.

Recycle n Donate gently used (or repaired!)

toys, collars, leashes, and blankets to your local animal shelter. The dogs and staff will greatly appreciate the donation.

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diet. Round out her regular meal with leftover bits of salmon, a great source of Omega3s, or pick up a dog-specific supplement. Try: BioFATS by BiologicVET or add a spoonful of Arctic Paws’ Wild Alaskan Salmon oil to your dog’s dish daily. (yummychummies.com; biologicvet.net) Also try: brushing once a day to improve circulation, remove excess fur (and prevent shedding!) and achieve full-bodied shine.

Curry brushes are the best choice for short-haired breeds; our long-haired friends should be combed with a slicker brush to ease out the mats and tangles they’re prone to (pay special attention to the longer leg hair and hair under the ears), while breeds with an undercoat that needs stripping, like German Shepherds, will benefit from the Furbuster by Bamboo, a device that quickly, easily, and rather amazingly removes excess hair. You may just draw a crowd. (bamboopet.com/furbuster)

Don’t neglect those not-so-pearly whites. If you don’t already brush your dog’s teeth, you really need to start. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs show signs of oral disease by age three. With a little practice, it’s not as difficult or time-consuming as it may seem. Ease into a regime that will ensure good dental health for the duration of your dog’s life. If you and your dog are new to dental care, start slowly—gradually introduce a daily brushing session with a focus on his canine teeth (the “fangs”) and slowly increase the number of teeth you tackle, cleaning both the inside and outside surfaces.

Remember, people toothpaste is not for dogs. Try: Oxyfresh’s Pet Gel. (oxyfresh.com)

80 percent of dogs show signs of oral disease by age three.

Feed your dog some dry kibble—the extra crunching action helps remove plaque. Dental hygiene can also be improved by certain chew toys designed to massage gums and clean teeth. Try: Dental Chew Rope. (petstages.com)

Prevent ear mites, waxy build-up, and infections—and hopefully make for better hearing when it comes to “stay” and “sit”—by gently removing any loose hair from the ear canal with your thumb and forefinger. When it comes to cleaning, never use a cottontipped swap (or any other hard object!) or drip water in the ear canal. Instead, use a cotton ball soaked in a tiny bit of ear cleaning solution. Try: Happy Tails two-step, all-natural Ear Aid, which includes both Ear Wipes and Ear Clear, a serum that discourages bacteria.

Keep feet happy. Monthly nail care is a must. Clip slowly, taking just a bit off the end to be sure to stay clear of the quick. The quick is difficult to identify on dark nails (in lighter nails, it’s the darker core within the nail); always keep styptic powder on hand should you accidentally cut too close. Try: Bamboo Pet’s 3-in-1 guillotine nail trimmer, styptic, and file. If nervous or in need of an in-person tutorial, leave it to the professionals. Groomers and vets often offer this à la carte option for around $10. n

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body &soul The Doctor’s In Dr. Betsy Brevitz tackles common veterinary vexations

Holistic Help for Mental Health Problems

Q:

Are there natural cures for anxiety, phobias, obsession, restlessness, and disorientation? comA: Maybe it’s because behavioural problems in dogs are so com ownmon and so distressing to their own ers, or because so many people have incorporated alternative medicine into their own health care regimens. Whatever the reason, more and more people are using alternative medicine to treat their dogs’ mental health or behavioural problems.

Bach’s Rescue Remedy, which is now sold in just about every pet supply store and catalogue, is perhaps the best example of this trend. One of 38 homeopathic flower-based remedies developed in the early 1900s by Dr. Edward Bach, Rescue Remedy is immensely popular as an antidote to both human and canine stress, anxiety, and emergencies of almost every description.

For all its popularity, however, the question remains: does Rescue Remedy really ease a dog’s anxiety? More broadly, is alternative medicine effective in treating canine mental-health problems? A body of anecdotal evidence from holistic veterinary practitioners and dog owners suggests that certain alternative remedies may work. What’s more, since the alternative-medicine treatments described here are generally safe and have few side effects, that to me places them in a “couldn’t hurt, might help” category for dog owners who are interested in exploring them.

Before you try these remedies, remember that you first need to accurately diagnose your dog’s behavioural problem, and you will also need to modify his behaviour through training. All medica-

The Doctor

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tions used for behavioural problems, whether alternative or traditional, are an adjunct to treatment, not a cure-all. If you’re unsure of what the essential problem is, consult with a behaviourist, veterinarian, or trainer.

Here is a guide to some of the more commonly recommended holistic remedies for various mental-health symptoms. Specific acupuncture points and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments are not included because their use relies on factors (such as pulse quality, energy, and dryness) separate from the symptoms listed below.

For Anxiety Herbs: Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), kava (Piper methysticum), oats (Avena sativa).

Don’ts: Kava can cause inflamed skin or liver damage so stop using it immediately and consult with a veterinarian if your dog’s skin becomes irritated or if he vomits, has diarrhea, or loses his appetite. Hops (Humulus lupulus) should not be given to dogs because it can cause fever and shock. Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and Saint-John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum) are not thought to be effective in dogs.

Dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) products: DAPs are the pheromones female dogs secrete after giving birth, which promote calmness and contentment in the mother and pups. Synthetic versions of DAPs are available as plug-in diffusers (akin to room fresheners), collars, and sprays. There are also feline pheromone diffusers (Feliway is one brand).

For Fears and Phobias Herbs: Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), kava (Piper methysticum). See potential adverse side effects of kava under “anxiety” above.

Supplements: Melatonin. Caveat: Melatonin can disrupt bloodsugar regulation and should be used with caution in diabetic dogs.

Bach flower remedies: Aspen (Populus tremula); mimbus (Mimulus guttatus); Rescue Remedy, which contains cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera), clematis (Clematis vitalba), impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera), rockrose (Helianthimum nummularium), and star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum).

Homeopathics: Aconite or monkshood (Aconitum napellus), phosphorus, belladonna (Atropa belladonna), gelsemium (Gelsemium sempervirens), Natrum Muriaticum.

DAP products: See above.

For Sleeplessness, Restlessness at Night, or House Soiling at Night Herbs: Valerian (Valeriana officinalis).

Supplements: Melatonin. Caveat: Melatonin can disrupt bloodsugar regulation should be used with caution in diabetic dogs.

DAP products: See above.

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD) Herbs: Gingko (Gingko biloba), qian ceng ta (Huperzia serrata), curcumin (Curcuma longa). Don’ts: Gingko should not be used in dogs that are taking Anipryl (Selegiline/deprenyl) for CCD or phenylpropanolamine for urinary incontinence because the combination can cause extreme restlessness or agitation; and gingko should be stopped two weeks before surgery because it interferes with blood clotting.

Supplements: Acetyl-l-Carnitine; melatonin; vitamins C and E. See potential adverse side effects of melatonin under “Sleeplessness,” above.

For Obsessive Licking (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) Homeopathics: Belladonna (Atropa belladonna), hyoscyamus (Hyoscyamus niger).

Supplements: Melatonin. See potential adverse side effects of melatonin under “Sleeplessness,” above.

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

Available wherever books are sold.

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Chronic Pain and Your Aging Dog some reflections on pain in geriatrics and the ethics of intervention

By Jennifer Messer Illustration by Rachel Gordon

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I

will never forget my very first patient as a new graduate: Maggie, a sweet, grey-faced, 12-year-old yellow labrador who walked slowly into the exam room. Her head carriage was just a tad low, her gait a bit rigid, and there was a very subtle wince in her eyes. Maggie was in for her annual checkup. Her mom expressed concern that she had slowed down a lot in the past year, seemed stiff, and just didn’t have that same old sparkle in her eyes.

Worse yet, she recently growled when one of the grandkids hugged her—entirely out of character, and quite worrying.

Given her age, arthritis was high on my list of suspects, and I was feeling quite confident that her mom wanted my help in pinpointing the cause of her discomfort so that we could pursue treatment options. But, in fact, what she wanted from me was much more challenging than basic diagnostics: “I wondered if Maggie could be sore from arthritis,” she said, “but I’ve read that dogs don’t feel pain like we do, right? They are made to survive tough conditions in the wild. And even if arthritis is slowing her down a bit, maybe mother nature knows best… maybe the aches and pains of old age serve a purpose—like protecting her from overdoing it?”

I reflected for a moment, and realized that what Maggie’s mom was seeking was not diagnostic options, such as radiographs or bloodwork, so that we could pinpoint the problem. She was asking me for some guidance with a moral dilemma: whether or not it is ethical to seek medical intervention for changes that are a natural part of ageing. What a worthwhile question for both animal guardians and veterinarians alike to reflect upon! let’s take a look at some of the issues that Maggie’s mom raised about how dogs perceive pain, what function it may serve, and the ethics of guardianship as they relate to interfering with the natural consequences of aging.

Do dogs feel pain like we do?

Maggie’s mom was not alone in mistakenly thinking that dogs do not feel pain like we do. Many animals, including dogs, hide their pain as a natural survival mechanism. Mother Nature is unforgiving—a wolf with a limp is an easy target, and can even be cast out or killed by his own pack mates to benefit the group.

Sadly, dogs’ tendency to mask discomfort has contributed to the historical belief that they don’t feel pain in the same way as people, and a long period where pain was terribly under-recognized by many of us, including the veterinary community.

Thankfully, we now know better. Given that human and dog pain pathways seem to be “built” identically, and that dogs will try to escape from even the lowest level of pain stimulus that causes human discomfort, there is every reason to believe that dogs experience pain just as we do—even if they are more inclined to try to hide it.

Does pain serve a natural purpose?

The immediate pain of injury, like stepping on hot pavement or breaking a toe, certainly does. It triggers an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and a slew of biochemical changes, gearing all systems toward immediate self-protection.

Acute pain helps prevent damaging movements, and teaches the animal to avoid similar harm in the future. This is quite different from chronic pain, which often has no clear purpose. Pain that lingers long after a broken toe has healed does an animal no good at all. Similarly, the pain from dental disease, cancer and arthritis—all quite common in older dogs—has no recognized benefits. In fact, the same physiological effects of pain that protect a dog in the short term can be harmful to the heart and immune system over the long term.

Signs of pain The most common sign of pain is a change in behaviour. Recognizing behav-

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Some Common Signs of Pain Changes in the 3 As Activity: Decreased activity level and enthusiasm, restlessness, or adopting odd body postures Appetite: Eating less or becoming much more picky Attitude: Uncharacteristically cranky, unhappy, vocal, clingy, or worried

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iour changes resulting from chronic pain in seniors like Maggie can sometimes be a real challenge; the changes can be gradual and subtle, and are often mistaken for general signs of old age. No one knows a pet better than her human family, so guardians are often in the best position to take notice—more so than even the most astute health care professionals.

The classic behavioural signs of chronic pain are changes in “the 3 As:” activity, appetite and attitude. Slowing down, restlessness, adopting odd body positions, becoming more or less vocal, seeming irritable or worried, and demonstrating a changed attitude about life in general—and being handled in particular—are all red flags for discomfort.

Welfare implications A dog in pain is a double welfare concern: both the dog’s quality of life and the safety of those around her are at stake. Dogs can only say “Ouch!” in so many ways, and aggression is one of them. When a dog is uncharacteristically grumpy, we must consider pain and illness as possible causes before we chock it up to behaviour alone. This is especially important in older dogs, as the likelihood of a medical problem underlying behaviour changes increases tremendously with age. We wouldn’t want to give an old dog a hard time for saying, “Hey, that hurts!”

This hit home with me a year ago when Charlotte, my nine-year-old Pit Bull, became unwilling to hop out of the car after outings.

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Many of the chronic painful conditions our animal companions suffer from in their senior years would simply not exist in “the wild,” where animals don’t generally live to a ripe old age.

At first I thought she was trying to con me into extended field trips, so I would get annoyed with her and hustle her to comply. Then, when she became hesitant to hop out during outings, it dawned on me that the unusual change in behaviour may be due to pain— especially given her age. Radiographs confirmed arthritis of her right elbow, which left me feeling pretty guilty for having harassed her, and for doubting her motives.

and Maggie from the consequences of unwelcome handling.

Dogs in their sunset years benefit tremendously when their guardians stay on the lookout for any behavioural changes that could be a sign of pain or illness, and adjust their environment according to ever-changing needs. Once pain is identi-

fied and addressed, the visible improvement in quality of life is often quite remarkable. Maggie responded very well to a combination of interventions, developed a renewed interest in swimming, as well as in chasing off Fred, the cheeky household cat, and lived to the ripe old age of 16. n

The ethics of guardianship Painful diseases do not usually persist in nature. life spans are much shorter, and animals in chronic pain are severely disadvantaged. Many of the chronic painful conditions our animal companions suffer from in their senior years would simply not exist in “the wild,” where animals don’t generally live to a ripe old age. Chronic pain in animals is, to a great extent, a product of domestication, so it seems only fair that since we have interfered with nature by supporting our pet dogs with companionship, food, and shelter, that we continue to intervene when, as geriatrics, they become afflicted with painful conditions.

Maggie Kudos to Maggie’s family for recognizing that her physical and behavioural changes could be pain-related. In contemplating medication, her mom was obviously trying her best to make the right choice for both her and the rest of the family. A basic workup confirmed that Maggie did indeed have arthritis, and that there were no other obvious conditions to account for the observed changes. We explored a host of therapeutic options including medication, physiotherapy, nutritional supplements, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes, to name just a few. We also implemented some “senior dog rules” for the grandkids, such as no hugging, to protect both the children

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Maria Menounos On taking action, rescuing dogs, and relaxing at the dentist

By Mary-Jo Dionne Photographed by Bleacher + everard Hair, tommy Cyr of Yuki Sharoni salon Beverly Hills Makeup, Bret Boreman Styling, Lindsay Albanese

I

consider myself to be a busy person. A juggler. A multitasker. Or, at least, I did. That all changed when my phone rang and it was Maria Menounos on the other end. Special Correspondent with Access Hollywood, contributor to The Today Show, correspondent for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, host of Hollywood Green, film producer, entrepreneur, author, humanitarian, and passionate animal issues advocate, Maria taught me a lot in a single hour. like, for a truly busy person, there’s nothing more relaxing than a trip to the dentist.

MD: So, you’re a bit of an underachiever.

Don’t you ever get the urge to actually do something with your life?

MM: I know!

MD: You’re originally from Greece?

MM: My parents are. I was born just outside of Boston.

MD: Is it true you didn’t speak English until the third grade?

MM: Well, it was probably more like the first grade when I really started getting a grasp of it. My parents didn’t speak any English. I taught them.

MD: I understand you worked as a janitor in nightclubs? Do you think that explains your work ethic?

MM: Yeah, definitely. We did that as a family. My parents couldn’t afford babysitters so they brought us with them to the

nightclubs. It was just out of necessity. From the time I was old enough to hold a broom, that’s what I did. But I made it fun. I would have little competitions to see how fast I could put the trash bags in the trash barrels. I would bring my roller skates and listen to Material Girl. I learned how to work hard from a young age.

MD: What is it about a hectic schedule you gravitate towards today?

MM: I’ve always found I’m happiest when I’m red-lining. Even though in the moment you’re freaking out, you’re so excited about the accomplishments. And for me, right now [in addition to on-air work], I’m producing a feature film, writing a book, and I just launched an eco-clothing line called lIV GRN. Every minute of my day is jam packed until midnight. I am so blessed to be able to do all this—to be healthy enough to do all of this—and to have the opportunities. I don’t know how long all of this will last, so I might as well cram it all in and get the most out of it. You never know what tomorrow brings. So if I want to pull my hair out once every month or two, so be it.

MD: You sound pretty convivial for someone who’s redlining.

MM: I had a dentist appointment before this and it was like a vacation. I got to sit in the dentist chair and watch TV.

“Dogs bring us so much joy every single day.”

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I was like, this is amazing! I never get to sit down for two hours and watch TV. MD: Ahh, the dentist. It’s like a facial for your teeth.

MM: Exactly!

MD: You remain the only journalist to conduct an interview with the entire Obama family. What did that interview mean for you?

MM: It rounded off six months of interviews with candidates and their kids. When I finished the Obama interview, I remember going to the airport, and my eyes were welling up because they were really genuine people. They were genuinely warm.

And the kids were absolutely darling. I loved them. For me, it was just a really nice end to months of these interviews.

MD: At 22, you were one of the youngest people to host Entertainment Tonight.

What advice can you offer when it comes to achieving dreams?

MM: My dad always used to say that you could do whatever you put your mind to. And growing up cleaning nightclubs, I had nowhere to look but up. So I believed him. If you put your mind to it, and stick with it, and know that it’s not always going

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to be easy…you’ll get there.

MD: Can you tell us about Take Action Hollywood?

MM: My motivation to start Take Action Hollywood was a trip to South Africa. I did a three-part series on the AIDS epidemic.

It was an emotional trip. I came back and realized there was something bigger I could do. So I co-founded Take Action Hollywood with my business partner. Our mission is to raise social awareness through the entertainment industry—a pooling together of the resources of Hollywood. To get people talking and to contribute. I wanted it to be an umbrella for many social causes. I didn’t feel comfortable with it being about one thing when I’m passionate about so much.

MD: What animal issues are closest to your heart?

MM: All of them! But pet adoption is the biggest. I really try to encourage people to rescue rather than purchase dogs. When I first came to lA, I didn’t know there was this huge pet overpopulation problem, but I started volunteering at the Humane Society, got a posse of dogs, and have been spreading the word ever since. Dogs bring us so much joy every single day. They deserve to

be treated well. Right now, with the economy, there are so many beautiful dogs being turned in [to shelters] because families are struggling.

MD: How many dogs do you have in your posse?

MM: I used to have five. I only have four now, unfortunately. I lost my baby Noelle in January. She was a quadriplegic apricot Miniature Poodle. She was like my infant. It was horrible, I’d never lost a dog.

Right now, the four I have at home are Baby and Benjamin—they’re Bichons. I have Athena, a Poodle. And Apollo is a white German Shepherd; he was thrown out of a moving car in front of the shelter.

It was tragic.

Athena’s is the real story though. I was doing a segment about puppy mills for the Today Show. As we pulled up to this shelter that had rescued dogs from a local puppy mill, I looked at my producer and made a pact with him that I would not take a dog home. So we decided we would do all the interviews outside. And who walks by me for her walk, but Athena! She was in rough shape. She was at the puppy mill for five years. She was a breeding female stuck

“I started volunteering at the Humane Society, got a posse of dogs, and have been spreading the word ever since.” in an over-crowded kennel. She just came over and collapsed in my arms and… she was my dog. I flew her from Pennsylvania to California. She’s an incredible girl.

MD: In the movie of your dogs’ lives, who would you cast to play each of them?

MM: Apollo is brave and courageous— he has rescued my Bichons out of the pool.

So we’d need an action hero who is always happy. Gerard Butler! He is gorgeous and you can tell he’d be there in a moment to save you.

Benjamin just wants to be on someone’s lap. He’s very loyal and he doesn’t leave my side. Maybe Seth Rogen.

Baby is… well, I guess I would play Baby. She’s an independent tomboy, but she also likes being in a princess dress.

And Athena is soulful and delicate and has had so much pain in her life. Charlize Theron would be Athena; she has the depth.

MD: What do you tell people who might otherwise not consider rescue?

MM: I always tell them the myths are false. There are dogs out there that have been dumped because of horrible circumstances… people going into old age homes, or having to downsize… these perfectly wonderful animals that lived on a velvet pillow are now in the big house. I have beautiful babies that are rescues. Each of my dogs is amazing. I have a special bond with them all. n

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inspiration

Round Two: Ditiching the Rat Race for the Dog Run

HeavyforMetal Hungry Hounds Designing dog feeders led Frank Mansfield to a lifestyle overhaul and some major media recognition

By Corey Van’t Haaff

O

, my goodness!

When Frank Mansfield received a call recently from Oprah’s signature magazine, O, for samples of his dog feeding trays to be featured in an issue as part of “The O list for Pets,” he and his wife, Stefaney, were understandably delighted.

“We had actually made a Cocker Spaniel feeder to give to Oprah but were waiting to find a contact name at the company before we sent it, so we were terribly excited when they called and had us overnight a bunch of products to their photographer,” says Mansfield, who owns These Creatures, a metal fabrication/design business that makes wall-mounted sturdy and ergonomic feeders that come in a variety of sizes, designs, and colours.

“Sales have increased, but mostly the amount of interest, blog postings, and people signing up for the mailing list has been phenomenal. It feels great to see there are so many people who like our designs.”

Being spotlighted in such a popular lifestyle magazine is one more step for Mansfield in the pursuit of his dream: to combine his great love for dogs with

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a business idea that would, in turn, give back to the dog population.

Mansfield’s life had been dominated by his love of dogs and he was drawn to creative work.

“I briefly attended art school. I wanted to be a fine artist and painter; I gave that up immediately after starting art school. But I was always artsy and always built things.”

After meeting his wife, Stefaney, and co-mingling his dogs with hers, Mansfield got involved with Pit Bull rescue, his wife’s favourite cause.

“She was doing volunteer work…and we sort of got obsessed. We bought a piece of property with room to start fostering dogs.”

His passion became all-encompassing and he wound up with five dogs in the family.

“It’s an obsession. It’s easy to get carried away with this.”

Just a couple of years ago, however, he was away from his dogs for more than 40 hours every week working as a builder and general contractor; a job he says he always wanted out of. So when opportunity knocked, he answered.

“My goal for a career has always been to work for myself,” he says.

Friends had encouraged him to pursue his talent in art and his love of metal design on a grander scale. He wanted to find a product that would appeal to people like him and his friends: people who loved their dogs, took care of their homes, and wanted beautiful things that could spoil their dogs a little bit.

With metal as his medium and dogs as his obsession, he found inspiration and, in 2008, founded These Creatures.

“The first line was breed-specific hanging feeders. The designs are representative of a lot of different breeds. The purebred people appreciate them.” These Creatures now has more than 40 breed styles available and gets requests daily for other breeds.

For those who do not have purebred pups and for cat-lovers, the company also makes feeders with designs such as squirrels, birds, and flowers.

His creative process always starts with a photo, which he pares down to the breed’s essential elements. He considers which lines are important to represent the breed, then discards the rest. Once the design is finished, he uses a computer numeric control machine that cuts metal.

“I learned a lot of computer programming,” he says. “I didn’t think that was my medium as an artist but it has become so.”

The success of These Creatures has given Mansfield more than just a business and an income.

“I wanted a business that could support my life, my love of rescue, and my desire to take care of animals, and donate to causes that were important to me,” he explains. “It’s great to have a website that gets lots of hits (thesecreatures.com), but I’m hopeful that people will click on the Giving Back section and learn of the importance of rescue, and of spaying and neutering. I want to inspire people.”

“More than anything, if I can be at the shop and have my dogs go to work with me, I can be with my dogs and take care of other dogs and use it as a bit of a platform to preach my love of rescue and animal welfare. These Creatures is the perfect opportunity to fulfill all those. I hope one day it will support its own foundation.” n

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Dogs and your Health:

The China Experiment

By Stanley Coren

I

n recent years, a lot of scientific evidence has been collected which says that dog ownership is good for your health. The findings cover a broad range of different effects, from the psychological benefits of petting a dog—shown to reduce heart rate, make breathing more regular, relax muscles, and reduce the number of stressrelated hormones in the blood—up to the more spectacular physiological finding that men who have had their first heart attack are more likely to still be alive a year later if they own a dog.

Every now and then, events that occur in the natural course of history provide conditions which allow scientists to collect data they could never hope to get using experimental procedures. Over the past decade and a half, a natural experiment on the effects that pet dogs have on human health has been taking place in China. A “natural experiment” occurs when events conspire to test a scientific hypothesis in the real world without the intervention of scientists or experimental manipulations.

The conditions that started this experiment began horrifically. In 1966, Mao Zedong began the so-called “Cultural Revolution.” Anything associated with privilege, rank, or status was attacked by militant hordes of civilians, mostly students and young people, who used violence and mob justice to enforce their views. Because the ownership of pet dogs was so common among the aristocrats associated with the imperial court, dogs were reviled as class symbols and the Red Guards killed them by the tens of thousands.

Pet dogs were seized and often beaten to death in front of their owners.

An official ban on pet dog ownership remained in effect for around 25 years and was finally lifted for an odd reason. When, as a means of population control, the Chinese government instituted a “one child per family” rule, there was a large public outcry.

Somewhere along the line, the government recognized that most humans have a need to nurture and many people, after their child was mature and had left home, felt a psychological emptiness. Government officials discovered that this need to nurture could be reasonably met through caring for, and association with, companion animals. For this reason, in 1992, the population was once again allowed to keep small pet dogs. Since then, dog ownership has increased in the larger cities and now around 10 percent of households have a pet dog. Bruce Headey of the University of Melbourne recognized that this rapid change in lifestyle provided a unique research opportunity to assess the impact of pet dogs on owners’ health and enlisted the assistance of Fu Na and Richard Zheng at Beijing Normal University to initiate a research project.

The researchers reasoned that the situation in China formed an important new type of evidence. An experiment requires a clean break with the past. Potential participants in a research study who have been previously exposed to the conditions being tested are normally rejected from the experiment because of the possible contaminating effects of their earlier exposure. Following this analogy, pet owners who have a family history of pet ownership or who benefitted from exposure to the pets of friends or relatives throughout their lives, are not ideal participants for assessing potential health benefits.

In China, the fact that pets were effectively banned in cities before the early 1990s means that new owners are “almost ideal” participants. In fact, the guess might be that the benefits of pets in that country might be measurably larger than in the West, where

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An official ban on pet dog ownership remained in effect for around 25 years and was finally lifted for an odd reason.

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most owners probably have a family history and childhood full of exposure to pet dogs.

The researchers decided to focus their study on younger women (aged 25 to 40) living in large cities (Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou) because this group forms the largest subset of dog owners. These women are also particularly attached to their pets, are in family settings, and are usually the primary caretakers for the dogs. In total, the researchers contacted 1516 dog owners and 1515 non-owners who were otherwise similar in their characteristics.

The first thing that the researchers found was that when asked to rate their overall health and fitness, the women who owned dogs rated themselves healthier and fitter than those who did not.

Such self-ratings are not very reliable, since they are often contaminated by the respondents’ psychological state. People who are happy tend to feel more fit while unhappy people focus on their health problems and often feel less well. Since dogs are known to improve psychological mood, this might account for the results.

So, to be sure, more concrete measures of health status were also taken.

The researchers considered the number of days that the women missed work because of sickness and found that the dog owners missed work due to poor health less than half as many days as the non dog owners. Next, they looked at sleep quality: those women who do not own pet dogs reported 46 percent more nights of poor sleep per month than did their pet-dog-owning compatriots.

Perhaps more interesting data came from looking at the number of visits to the doctor for each of the groups. One might not expect very much to come from this measure, since women in this age group are relatively healthy and do not require direct medical assistance very frequently. Nonetheless, there was a large effect of pet ownership on this measure.

Women who do not own pet dogs visit

the doctor more than six times per year while women who own pet dogs visit their doctors half as much—less than three times per year.

In order to track down a possible source of the health benefits of dog ownership, the researchers also measured how much these women exercised each week. Those women who owned dogs spent 36 percent more time exercising than did the women who did not own dogs. Some of this exercise clearly derives simply from the need to walk or otherwise exercise their dog. Obviously, physical exercise is an important factor in maintaining health in people, so could this increased exercise be the mechanism that improves the health of dog owners?

There was one additional measure which suggested that increased exercise in dog owners is not whole answer.

The researchers took a measure of how closely attached these women were to their dogs using a measurement scale that ran from 0 (not fond of or attached to the dog) up to 10 (very fond of and deeply attached to the dog). At first glance, it appeared that would turn out to be a useless measure since only 7 percent of the dog owners gave a rating of 5 or less (it appears that virtually every one of these women like their dogs). Despite that fact, the women who were most strongly attached to their dogs had better sleep, felt healthier and fitter, and had even fewer visits to the doctor, suggesting that something about the emotional and social bond that we have with dogs is part of the mechanism by which our pet dogs promote our health.

So, now in China, as in the West, we might expect that some day, doctors who are trying to improve our health through lifestyle changes will go beyond the “big three” recommendations of lose weight, stop smoking, and drink less alcohol. Perhaps one day, they will also “prescribe” a health-promoting puppy, as well. n

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the modern dog’s guide to

w a s h i n g to n >where to shop, eat, stay, and play.

By Karin Sinkevicius

•

Illustration by Tia Miller

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

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

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The Westin Washington DC City Center Hotel 1400 M St. NW (202) 429-1700 At the Westin Washington DC City Center Hotel comfort awaits you and your furry family members under 40 pounds. Settle into their signature Heavenly Bed while Poochie enjoys a celestial experience of his own with a Heavenly Dog Bed. Other amenities include a welcome kit, “dog in room” sign, and food dishes thoughtfully provided for your canine companion.

Sign the welcome waiver and pay no fees unless your mutt makes a mistake. starwoodhotels.com/westin/ washingtondccitycenter

come refreshments and toys, complimentary dog walking while you’re out on the town, a day at the Doggie Style spa, and an invitation to the wine reception that takes place every weekday, among other perks. hotelgeorge.com

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The Ritz Carlton

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1150 22nd St. NW (202) 835-0500 The recently renovated Ritz Carlton resides in the heart of DC and has much to recommend it. For you, it’s central to historic landmarks, entertainment, and shopping; for your dog of any size, it offers a fee-free stay and Ritz Carlton collar tag, bed, and bowls. But, best of all, you can feel good about your stay. The Ritz regularly partners with the Washington Animal Rescue League to raise money for less fortunate Fidos through fundraisers (example: their auctioning of the Skip Sroka-designed White House doghouse designed in honour of the new First Dog, Bo.) ritzcarlton.com/en/properties/ washingtondc

Washington Marriott Wardman Park

The Hotel George 15 E St. NW (202) 347-4200 Hip Hotel George, a Kimpton property, offers boutique benefits in the center of Capitol Hill culture. Built in 1929, George is a stylish and super-modern hotel with history, the perfect base from which to explore its historic hometown. Pup will get the presidential treatment with wel-

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2660 Woodley Rd. NW (202) 328-2000 Literally located in the middle of a manicured park, the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel offers modern convenience in a historic setting; the hotel has hosted US presidents and other important personages over the years. The Wardman offers your VIPs (that would be Very Important Pooches—up to two per room) a stay in its luxury surroundings for a non-refundable fee of $50. We’re guessing your dogs will love the location. marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasdtwashington-marriott-wardman-park

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>eat Hotel Monaco Alexandria 480 King St. Alexandria, VA (703) 549-6080 Twenty minutes from downtown is the suburb of Alexandria, VA, the heart of the old DC. There you’ll find the very dog-friendly Hotel Monaco Alexandria, which hosts a Doggie Happy Hour every Tuesday and Thursday, from 5 to 8 p.m., April through October. Refreshments for dogs and humans alike make it the ultimutt social mixer. See the hotel’s website for rules for Rover’s happy-hour etiquette. monaco-alexandria.com

Doggie Style Bakery, Boutique & Spa 1825 18th St. NW (202) 667-0595 Get pupcakes, canine cookies, and “candies” or even Mutt Licks ice cream, if it’s an especially warm fall afternoon, at Doggie Style Bakery. They offer a variety of tasty treats, and toys too, a welcome pick-me-up for weary canine tourists or to bring home as a pawfect souvenir. doggiestylebakery.com

Chateau Animaux 524 Eighth St. SE (800) 354-8710 Located on Historic Barracks Row, this chateau has gone to more than just the dogs. A full-service pet supply store, Chateau Animaux has a self-service dog wash, professional grooming, companion animal adoptions in conjunction with local rescue societies, and a range of high-end accessories and toys to choose from, should you need a little something to remember your trip. chateau-animaux.com

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Café Milano

and the Lincoln Memorial, provided refreshment in hand, taking in the sights with your best canine bud in tow at no extra charge. Celebrating something special? Charters are available. capitolrivercruises.com

National Arboretum

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3501 New York Ave. NE (202) 245-2726 With Fido, tour the National Herb Garden and its surrounding flora, from bonsai to flowering trees and traditional flowers, in the nation’s botanical research center.

Bring lunch and have a peaceful picnic in the National Grove of State Trees, but keep Rover leashed at all times for an incident-free visit. usna.usda.gov

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3251 Prospect St. NW (202) 333-6183 Take a power lunch with your pooch on the patio at Café Milano, the place to hob-nob with Washington’s elite and partake of Italian cuisine. The wine list alone is impressive, as is the star-quality service. cafemilano.net

>shop Georgetown Pet Boutique 2910 M St. NW (866) 434-8609 Shop for stylish gear, organic food, and top-quality pet toys at the Georgetown Pet Boutique, and feel good that you’re purchasing from a place that supports the Police Rescue Dogs Association and Homeless Society in Washington.

Recently renovated, Georgetown also offers grooming services for a last-minute, presidential-pup-worthy primp. georgetownpetboutique.com

> pl a y Capitol River Cruises 31st & K St. NW Washington Harbour, Georgetown (800) 405-5511 Discover the nation’s capitol without walking your paws off. Cruise past historic monuments such as Kennedy Center

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Lincoln Memorial and National Mall

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The National Mall stretches from the foot of the US Capitol past the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial and over to the Jefferson Memorial. Each year, an estimated 25 million people (and dogs!) walk the Mall, taking in its monuments, memorials, and expansive green lawns. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are allowed from the Capitol right up to the Lincoln Memorial (though not under the dome), providing Fido with a fantastic overview of the nation’s history. nps.gov/linc n

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But to be aware of little, quiet things, you need to be quiet inside.

A high degree of alertness is required.

Be still. Look. Listen.

Be present.

Praise for MUTTS:

“One of the best comic strips of all time.”

— Charles Schulz, Peanuts creator

www.newworldlibrary.com

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Praise for ECKHART TOLLE:

“He is a prophet for our time.”

— O, The Oprah Magazine

art attack

by Marni Wedin

Frédéric Richard

French luxury pet-furniture designer Frédéric Richard’s love of ani-

re-builds the piece using wood.

Richard has always loved crafting mals definitely shows in his luxurious with his hands and used to blow glass, French pet furniture line. An avid pet restore antique furniture, and paint lover and antique collector, Richard antique patina on fine furniture. Driven drew from his love for his Labrador by his imagination, curiousity, and creRetriever, George, and his Corgi, ative desire, he honed his craft on his Felix, and on his passion for collectown, just taking a course or two when ing antiques to develop his furniture he needed it. Before starting his busidesigns. Inspired by the stools and ness, he designed furniture for humans sofas the French royal courts commisas a hobby, giving the pieces as gifts on sioned for their pets, he recreates the special occasions. majestic looks of Renaissance, Louis The idea to create a line of XVI, Directoire, and pet luxury furniture was The furniture feels Empire furniture. sparked when Richard, who like it stepped Just like in old France, hails from France, met his straight out of an each piece is handaristocratic French soul mate. When he realcrafted by hammering parlour. ized that she was based in and punching the wood California, he thought he into shape. To achieve would start a business there, to justify the perfect colour and texture, the wood his overseas trips. They now split their is treated with natural pigments and time between France and California. wax. For the gilded details, Richard Richard says his business wouldn’t be uses whiting, red clay, glue, and gold as successful without her. leaf. The furniture feels like it stepped “When I show a new sample to her, straight out of an aristocratic French and see this discreet smile on her face, parlour.

I know she likes it,” he explains, “and Richard begins working on a piece by if she likes it, I know the line will be a visualizing the final design in his mind success!” and drawing it. He then builds a replica To commission or purchase a piece, using high-density foam to ensure his contact Frédéric at info@une-vie-dedesign will work both aesthetically and chateau.com.

Prices start at $240. n functionally. At that point, if Richard is happy with the foam sample, he then moderndogmagazine.com

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green dog earth-friendly options to diminish your pup’s eco footprint

Simply Fido’s line of dog toys, including stuffies and rings, are 100 percent

internationally certified organic, from the growth of the cotton and hemp to the hand-dyeing and stiching of the toys. Even the box they come in is recycled and handmade! simplyfido.com

Choose toys that have a life past playtime.

The Bumi is not only a flexible doggie toy that floats and flies for hours of fetch fun, it’s also 100% recyclable. westpawdesign.com

Give new life to an old bed with a Doggy Duvet, available in six different sizes and a variety of colour and fabric options to suit any décor. bigboneddogs.com

reuse

reduce

Add Fizzion tablets to warm water for an

eco-friendly stain remover that packs a punch. The non-toxic and biodegradable formula eliminates odours and dries completely, leaving no residue behind. fizzionclean.com

Reduce waste—of the plastic and the poo kind— with 100% biodegradable and compostable NaturBag pet waste bags. natur-tec.com

The iPICK UP by 4u2reuse is a doggie bag dispenser of a different colour—literally. Each pouch is made from a unique piece of recycled kite sail, so no two are alike.

Velcros to your dog’s leash for easy access and comes with a roll of biodegradable bags. 4u2reuse.com

Ditch the plastic wrap and tin foil and instead cover open cans of wet food with reusable, dishwasher-safe Fur My Pet’s “Paw” can covers that fit three can sizes. furmypet.com

recycle

Ecollargy collars by Itzadog might just make your pooch feel like a walking advertisement for awesome dogs. It’s not just ego—these cool collars are made from recycled billboard ads that were destined for the landfill before being repurposed. itzadog.com

Repurpose. Reclaimed people polos were used in the making of the Benny Polo for one-of-a-kind ecocanine-couture. ecopupdogclothing.com

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From Guardians of Being, MUTTS © 2009 Patrick McDonnell

Connie’s Book Club Curl up with a good dog and a good book

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CONNIE WILSON’S MUST-READ BOOK PICKS

Guardians of Being (New World Library; 2009) Words by Eckhart Tolle and art by Patrick McDonnell Eckhart Tolle and Patrick McDonnell fans will rejoice over Guardians of Being, the combined effort of these bestselling authors. This beautiful, thought-provoking, and enlightening book pairs Tolle’s “Power of Now” mindfulness with McDonnell’s beloved Mutts characters, showing how we can find “true happiness in simple, seemingly unremarkable things” by simply being present, a state that our dogs naturally occupy. The skillful use of the Mutts animals to illustrate Tolle’s theme renders his philosophy into easily grasped concepts. This thoroughly charming book deserves a place on your coffee table. While you’re at it, why not pick up a copy for your best friend, too?

Heroic Measures (Pantheon Books; 2009)

By Jill Ciment This touching, unexpectedly gripping story unfolds over the course of a weekend and revolves around Ruth and Alex Cohen, an elderly, childless couple, and their 12-year-old Dachshund, Dorothy, a little dog who not only holds the center of their lives, but brings it meaning. With the five flights of stairs up to their apartment becoming too much of a challenge for all of them, the Cohens have just put their home on the market in hope of getting top dollar so they can afford an apartment with an elevator. Fate intervenes when several disasters, both public and personal, arise. As a gas tanker truck gets stuck in the Midtown tunnel and the city, in the hold of post-911 jitters, fearing it to be another terrorist attack, shuts down, dead-locking traffic, Dorothy’s back legs suddenly become paralyzed. Ruth and Alex struggle to get her to the vet and deliberate on subjecting their dog to a “no-guarantees” surgery, while coping with people traipsing through their home as news reports and polls speculate on the trucker’s motives and psychological state, causing the real estate market to yo-yo in response. As you follow events through Ruth’s, Alex’s, and Dorothy’s shifting points of views, you’re caught up and held in suspense right to the conclusion of this heartrending tale of urban drama.

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World Atlas of Dog Breeds (T.F.H. Publications; 2009)

By Dominique De Vito (with Heather Russell-Revesz and Stephanie Fornino) With close to a thousand pages covering over 450 breeds, the World Atlas of Dog Breeds provides a complete and excellent resource. Part I outlines the history and development of domestic dogs, breed types, and backgrounds, and Part II covers care and training. Part III alphabetically lists profiles on over 420 internationally recognized breeds and varieties, while Part IV contains glossaries on terminology, disorders and diseases, and resources. The well-planned format includes colour-coded headers identifying the breed by type, full-colour photographs, and at-a-glance breed and fast facts (including compatibility with children and other pets, energy level, and exercise requirements), making it a user-friendly and valuable book for reference, research, or for anyone who simply enjoys reading about dogs.

The Complete Single’s Guide to Being a Dog Owner (Adams Media; 2009)

By Betsy Rosenfeld Single and considering getting a dog?

If so, this is the book for you. Betsy Rosenfeld’s The Complete Single’s Guide to Being a Dog Owner will help ensure you’re getting a dog for the right reasons and prepare you for the time commitment and adjustment to your lifestyle. With lists of must-knows about canine guardianship and rules to living and dating as a single-with-dog, this should prove an indispensible read for those attempting to determine if they’re ready to take the leap and make the commitment to a canine friend.

Knowledgably written in a humourous and sassy style, The Complete Single’s Guide to Being a Dog Owner not only provides sensible answers to practical questions, but also delves into the importance of not letting your dog stand in the ways of your romantic life, addressing important questions such as: What should I do if my significant other and dog are jealous of each other? What if my boyfriend won’t share my bed with my dog? and: Bedroom door…open or closed?

As Rosenfeld points out, we all want the benefits of having a dog—the companionship, unconditional love—we just need to remember there’s plenty of responsibility that accompanies the many joys. It takes commitment and a willingness to make adjustments to your lifestyle and schedule so that your dog is happy and well-adjusted. If more people would seriously consider the implications of taking on a dog, there would be far fewer poor souls dropped off at shelters. Two thumbs up for Rosenfeld!

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Rescue Matters! How to Find, Foster, and Re-home Companion Animals (Alpine Publications; 2009)

By Sheila Webster Boneham Having grown up in a home that regularly took in strays they would care for and re-home or keep, Boneham’s interest and knowledge on the subject of rescue comes from lifelong experience. Her book, Rescue Matters! offers helpful advice for anyone who has thought about starting a rescue, whether one has a limited amount of time or can dedicate multiple hours per week, and provides the expertise, insight, and tools needed to get off on the right track. Included are useful templates for forms such as adoption applications and foster caretaker applications, along with rescuer resources and contact info. Potential adopters considering a rescued animal will also find useful information on what to look for in choosing a legitimate, ethical, and well-run rescue organization. As Boneham says, “More people than ever before are making well-considered choices and getting their pets from responsible sources… Great changes in societies start small, and while the rescue road is long and often dark and bumpy, we have covered considerable ground.” Rescue Matters! is a great resource and inspiration for those wanting to make a difference and get involved in the fight.

K-9 Nation Biscuit Book: Baking for your Best Friend (Minnesota Historical Society Press; 2009)

By Klecko Even with nearly 30 years of experience baking bread for some of the best restaurants, casinos, and hotels in the Twin Cities to his credit, Klecko, a life-long dog lover, tells us that he actually prefers baking for pets. In his K-9 Nation Biscuit Book, he has applied his master baking skills to the creation of three dozen unique biscuit recipes to tantalize your dog’s taste buds. Presented in an easy-to-follow manner, the healthy recipes emphasize high-quality ingredients and each comes with its own story about a dog and his/her owner who inspired or helped create the biscuit, along with handy tips from Klecko that will assist even the most novice baker. From Calm Down Biscuits to Tender-Tummy Biscuits and Sausage-y Beagle Biscuits to Honey’s No-Honey Miso Biscuits, these tasty treats will have Widget begging for more. 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, I recently became the stepmother to a tweenager, a 12-year-old who thinks she knows everything. My husband is a great guy, but he has spoiled this girl because he feels guilty about divorcing her mother. He doesn’t discipline her. When she visits our house every weekend, she stays up all night watching TV or talking on the phone and sleeps all day.

Ever since I moved into my husband’s house after our marriage a couple of months ago, his daughter has been pestering him to let her have a dog. She wants the dog to stay with us because her mother won’t allow a dog in that house.

She will call the dog Miley, after her idol Miley Cyrus.

Even though I work from home, I have no desire to take care of a dog during the week. My husband thinks the dog is a wonderful idea and has already contacted breeders looking for a female Bichon or Shih Tzu. I have suggested he try shelters but he wants nothing less than a perfect dog for his perfect (not) daughter.

How can I stop this dog thing? I really don’t want to be responsible for a dog I don’t want and will probably dislike.

—Carma, New York, NY

A

Carma, this is between a guilty father and his wounded daughter. You and the dog are mere supporting players in other people’s drama. The most important job of caring for the new dog will probably fall to you since you’re the only one home all day. Admittedly, right now, you cannot be expected to care for a dog you don’t know. If you really want to shrug the responsibility, find a way to occupy yourself away from the home.

You and the dog are mere supporting players in other people’s drama.

Dog Lady is big on sharing honestly, which is the best way to communicate your petulance about a new pet. Start talking, girl. You need to convey to your new hubby that you don’t have a dog in this fight—so to speak. You cannot be expected to take care of this dog when he and his daughter are not at home. He will buy the dog and, as such, he will be the owner of the dog. He has to figure out the rest.

Usually, chaotic canine relationships start off badly but ease up over time. As life goes on, people must make room in their lives to care for the new pet and they usually do. There is always one person who bonds best with the dog. In this case, it probably won’t be the tweenager.

Dog Lady hazards a guess and predicts it will be you—just because you’re on a new life adventure and in a prime position for developing a soft spot for a new friend.

Dear Dog Lady, I have a pair of problems with Lucy, my Dachshund, that I’m not sure how to correct and I’m not sure if they’re related. When Lucy and I go to play with other dogs at play group, she spends the whole time barking at and following the dogs that are playing around. The woman who hosts these gatherings (a professional trainer and active member of a dog rescue in town) told me Lucy is playing “referee,” wanting everyone else to do things her way. It bugs me and makes her look like a bad dog, not to mention annoying. How can I get her to relax and just play with other dogs?

My second thing is when we meet other dogs on a trail she will give me moderndogmagazine.com

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ask dog lady a series of woofs each quieter than the first. Sometimes, I can see it being triggered by the other dogs’ exuberance in coming to say “hi,” but sometimes there seems to be no reason. She doesn’t do this with people without dogs. Is she on the road to being dog-aggressive? I can easily get her to come into a heel and have her sit and stay while I talk to the other dog owner, but she may still continue her woofing. The thing that bothers me most is that these behaviours didn’t start until we had our other dog put down and that dog was put down due to aggression. I’m terribly afraid that I have something to worry about.

Other than this, we have no problems with Lucy. She’s very well-mannered and trained. —Peggy, Kalamazoo, MI Peggy, you have something to worry about if you imagine you have something to worry about. Already, you have put one dog to sleep because of aggressive behavior. You now seem to hover over Lucy fearing the same. Dog Lady would listen to the professional trainer who hosts the dog gatherings. Lucy referees, perhaps. She also seeks new followers. She must miss the dog that’s gone.

Your last sentence says it all. You admit your dog is good. Be good to her back. Don’t imagine problems where there aren’t any. Our dogs can feel our tension around other dogs, so do your best to be warm and welcoming with unknown canines. Dog Lady’s dog can sometimes grow churlish with critters he doesn’t know. Hackles lower when Dog Lady squeals an over-the-top greeting of “Hi, Honey!”. Her dog immediately calms down and greets the other dog with full butt-sniffing interest.

Cower less and lead Lucy more. Don’t analyze every little “woof.” She’s a dog and she will never be perfect. What you want is for Lucy to be the perfect dog for you. Dog Lady hopes you lighten up and get pleasure from her doggish ways.

You admit your dog is good. Be good to her back.

Dear Dog Lady, Which do you think is more important, a dog, or a child? I ask because in Modern Dog magazine, you wrote that a custody arrangement must be spelled out contractually, the same as for a child. Sounds like you, or the courts, think dogs are equal to children. This is about as dysfunctional a belief as I can imagine, and yet another sign that our society has lost its way.

—Clyde, Los Angeles, CA Clyde, you read correctly that in formalizing a dog custody situation, the arrangement must be put into a contract, the same as you would do for a child. Many people treat their dogs as children but dogs are not children. And we all know the reasons why.

Dog Lady is sorry you do not agree with her but she suggests society loses its way when animal indifference is accepted.

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ask dog lady Mahatma Gandhi, the nonviolent Indian leader, once said: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Gandhi knew all about karma.

The mystic would have agreed that when you love a dog, all that kindness comes back to you.

Dear Dog Lady, My husband and I are moving from a small two-bedroom condo to a big house in the suburbs with our Boston Terrier, Stella. We’re all looking forward to the move—especially Stel, who will finally have her very own fenced-in yard in which to run and play.

I am concerned, however, about the transition. We took her over to the house once to let her sniff around and get to know the place a little. She whined the whole time. She gets very nervous in unfamiliar surroundings, and I’m afraid the move might majorly stress her out. What’s the best way to ensure a smooth transition for my girl? —Erika, Chicago, IL Erika, in life, you must assume the position—even if you’re nervous, skittery, or scared about change. As you introduce Stella to her new digs, you should lead her confidently. Your no-big-deal attitude will make it easier for her to know she’s in a safe place.

Let her sniff everywhere. Keep Dog Lady is sorry an eye on her and don’t allow you do not agree a drop of pee-possession. From the get-go, Stella should not soil with her but her nest. suggests society Also, immediately move in a loses its way when Stella bed (and something tells animal indifference Dog Lady you have more than is accepted. one bed for your dog). Once she has a lounge from the condo with her smell all over it, Stella will really relax. Because you care about her adjustment, your dog will inevitably settle down in fine fettle.

Dear Dog Lady, I have a Cocker Spaniel that sleeps at the bottom of the bed quite nicely every night. Yesterday, we adopted a wonderful sweet Rottweiler, and I bought a mammoth bed and placed it beside our bed for her sleeping. The big Rott is on the floor and the Spaniel is on the corner of the bed. Will this cause a problem? They are getting along well. One is a male and one is a female.

—Cindee, Vancouver, BC Dear Cindee, you handled this well and it all sounds quite cozy.

Don’t anticipate problems. We would be tied up in knots of indecision if we worried about what’s going to happen down the line.

You want your dogs in the bedroom and you’ve worked out a comfortable arrangement. Now, follow the wisdom of the age-old idiom and let sleeping dogs lie. n

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

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Specializing in jobs law enforcement agencies are unable to do, private security man Hank and his drug detection dog, Peter Pan, start working for a small international airline ensuring illegal narcotics are not hidden on the planes. Run of the mill stuff, until Peter finds $11 million of Cartel cocaine being smuggled onto an airplane at a

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The perfect pad.

Cinched as a nest or laid flat as a mat, this plush bed from Le Pet Petite Boutique comes in three sizes to ensure, ahem, ultimutt comfort for all sizes. lepetpetite.com

Do both Rover and Mother Earth a solid with a smartly designed, 100 percent recycled fibers Cloudburst rain jacket (that is also rerecyclable!) from West Paw Design, available in teacup to XL sizes in two-colour combos. westpawdesign.com

Fido will catch some sweet zzz’s wrapped in Sherpa’s suede and faux fur Dream On blanket. dreamonblankets.com

Classic canine. ModDog’s classic plaid coat is made from a vintage wool camp coat and lined with cozy red micro-fleece. moddog.ca

fabfinds for fall

THE COzIEST SWEATERS AND JACKETS, SUPER COMFY BEDS AND BLANKETS

The Puffy Coat by Scooter’s Friends is lined with Polartec and WindBloc fleece— perfect for walks or hikes on cool fall days. reddoghouse.com

Your pooch can be cool and warm at the same time, especially if he’s sporting this denim jacket from Rock Star Puppy. Pop the collar and strut. rockstar-puppy.com

The super comfy Stream Dog Bed by Animal Haus is made from Crypton Super Fabric, so your dog can sleep pretty with no risk of enduring slobber stains, bacteria or odours. animalhauschicago.com

Joy Pet Product’s redesigned water-resistant

goose-down coat Come Here Goodboy’s

handmade cable knit sweater is just the thing to keep Pups cozy on a blustery day. comeheregoodboy.com

boasts 550 fill and features a removable hood, reflective piping and harness opening, outfitting bigger dogs in cool colours and providing serious climate control. joypetproducts.com

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Training Trials?

Ask an Expert

Our Fab Five answer your most pressing training

questions

Ask Ian Dunbar

Q:

I’ve rescued a dog that has no recall skills. I’ve tried bringing tasty treats to the park to lure her into coming when she’s called, but the minute she’s out in the great outdoors, she’s oblivious to food rewards and just sniffs around totally heedless to my commands. Any suggestions?

—Ignored in Ithaca

A:

Far too many owners effectively teach their dogs NOT to come when called in just a couple of outings to the dog park. The typical owner—let’s call him Joe—lets King off leash at the park to sniff and play. Then Joe proceeds to ignore King rather than being a part of King’s good times and integrating many each area. Then phase out the use of food as a reward. Check out short training interludes into the play. Thus, King learns that play the text and videos at dogstardaily.com/training/quantum-leaps. and training are mutually exclusive. Play is fun and training is The only way to teach your dog a reliable recall in heavy disnot. But it gets worse. tractions is to use the distractions as a reward for coming when When Joe eventually calls King, he puts him on leash (ending called. Integrate the dog’s lengthy good times (walking, sniffing, the good times) and goes home. And so King learns that followand playing) with numerous, very short training interludes. You ing Joe’s instructions causes play to end. But then it gets even may need to go back to less distracting settings, worse. so that the dog gets the idea. Every two to three Next time, King is understandably reticent to King has minutes, ask your dog to come and sit, when come when called. Joe gets increasingly frustratlearned that play she does, say, “Good Dog!” grab her collar and ed and begins to shout and then scream, “King, and training then immediately say, “Go play” and let her Kiiiiiiinnng, KING, COME HERE you miserable are mutually resume her activities. After just a half a dozen cur!!!” And of course, King reflects, “I don’t exclusive. trials, she will learn that coming when called think so. You’re shouting and so I know you’re does not mean the end of her play session (a not in a good mood and so it would be really HUGE punishment for coming) but instead signals the time for a silly for me to approach you right now.” short time-out for praise and refreshment, after which she may Trying to lure a dog to come when called in a distracting dog resume playing once more. The beauty of this exercise is that park setting just isn’t going to work. Luring dogs to come when you make yourself a part of your dog’s activities, so that now she called will only work for a few dozen repetitions and only in nondoes not have to choose between fun times playing with other distracting settings. You need to use the lure to teach the dog to dogs and boring times listening to you. And, the more you intercome and sit when called in small, contained areas and then to rupt the play session, the more times you may reinforce her recall gradually and progressively increase the size of the practice area and sit by letting her go play again. n and the level of distractions.

First, practice in your bathroom, then kitchen, then the whole Dr. Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviourist, dog trainer, and author house, then your yard, then a friend’s yard, then another friend’s of several books and DVDs. He is the Founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers yard but with another dog present, then another friend’s yard (apdt.com) and co-creator of dogSTARdaily.com—a daily magazine for dog owners. with two other dogs present, and so on. Make sure that you To submit a training question, email training@moderndogmagazine.com. phase out the use of food as a lure after 6 to 12 repetitions in

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Ask an Expert Ask Delores Wall

Q:

My Shepherd-cross, Charlie, is a dream when I leave, but as soon as she senses my return, a tirade of crying and barking ensues from the second my car pulls in the driveway until I enter the house. Even then, she jumps and whines circles around me. How can I prevent the over exuberant/verging-onpsychotic greeting? —Frustrated by Freak-out in Fresno

A:

Ask Teoti Anderson

Q:

My Miniature Dachshund, Candy Lu, occasionally charges and barks at other dogs on the sidewalk. Often, these dogs are much larger than she is. Why on earth is she doing this? Prior to the charge attack the other dog was paying her no mind at all. How can I get her to stop this embarrassing and potentially dangerous behaviour? —Pacifist in Petaluma

A:

Your question brought to mind a song by the Pointer Sisters “I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it, I’m about to lose control and I think I like it…” but Charlie sounds a bit too excited to join the singing Pointer Sisters.

So, how do we help stop the over-exuberance of Charlie? Did we unintentionally create this problem with hugs, kisses, and excitable chatter upon our arrivals, which can cause a dog to become greatly expectant waiting our arrival, and become even more stimulated as barking continues?

To help Charlie learn to chill, begin leaving and entering the house for a few seconds and minutes at a time and build the time spent outside before entering again. Each time you come into the house, initially ignore her, walk to the kitchen, and make a cup of tea, then quietly ask for a sit and say “Hi, Charlie.” Direct her to get her toy.

The next step is to leave again, open and close the car door.

Walk back into the house and repeat above. If all is going well, go back out to the car, get in and start the engine, turn it off, and enter the house.

Gradually, add more steps to your routine, backing the car out and in, then going into the house. Each time, ignore Charlie when entering the house. Your homecoming should not be a big deal or instant party time.

Have her settle by running through a few of her manners such as sits and downs, and attention exercises, play ball, and then have her settle down for a while. Of course, she is going to need lots of walk time, especially if you are out for long periods of time, but again, have her follow a manners routine before heading out. n

Dogs do this when they are afraid of other dogs, or have not had much socialization with other dogs to understand they are not potential enemies.

You’re probably thinking, “Candy Lu is starting it! How can that mean she’s afraid?” Most aggressive behaviour, however, is based in fear. Some dogs will cower at things they fear, but many will go on the offensive, figuring it’s better to attack first than be attacked.

Size doesn’t matter. Candy Lu will think nothing of challenging a dog ten times her size, but what if another dog accepts? You are right to be concerned.

When dealing with aggressive behaviour, it’s always best to get professional help from a reward-based trainer who specializes in aggression. The trainer will take a complete history, then give you exercises to help Candy Lu deal with her stress in a productive way, rather than charging other dogs. Be sure to use positive techniques. If you punish Candy Lu for her behaviour, she could start associating the punishment with the sight of other dogs. Then she’ll be convinced they are evil! We want her to learn how to cope with her discomfort in the presence of other dogs, and learn that they are not so bad after all.

You mentioned this is an occasional problem. When Candy Lu does successfully pass another dog without issues, give her treats and praise her! Reward her for the behaviour you want. When you see another dog approach, try not to tense up on the leash or you could be triggering her fear. Instead, take positive action. Call, “Candy Lu, come!” and run backwards to encourage her to come to you. Ask for some puppy push-ups or other tricks. Give her something to do that’s a better choice than going after her canine neighbours. n

Delores Wall, CPDT, behaviour specialist, trainer, mentor, founder of DogSmart Training Inc. and Trainer Apprenticeship Programs (www.dogsmart. ca), Vancouver, Canada, is a devoted advocate of training through positive methods for reliable results.

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.

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Ask an Expert Ask Nicole Wilde

Q:

My Yorkie, Angel, is a tiny terror. From the time he was a baby, he’d growl if we picked him up from out of his bed. This behaviour has escalated into growling and the occasional nip should anyone try to touch him while he’s in his bed. I’ve been through two trainers who have labeled him a “resource guarder” but no tips have straightened him out. Please help! — Anxious About Angel in Arlington

A:

Since the behaviour is triggered when Angel is on his bed, begin the following touch and handling exercises when he is in a non-reactive location.

What does he absolutely love? A particular treat?

Playing with a special throw toy? We want to associate this reward with his being approached and, eventually, being picked up. We’re also going to pair a phrase with the action.

Approach Angel while he’s lying on the carpet. In a happy voice say, “Party time!” and immediately present the reward (the treat or chew toy). Gradually work into using the phrase, touching him, and then rewarding. Eventually, the touch will turn into picking him up, putting him down, then rewarding. Even if he shows no negative reaction, keep it up—the idea is to get a look of happy anticipation when you say, “Party time!”

The next step is to move to his bed but, for now, substitute a new bed for the one he guards. Start with the phrase, approach, and reward. Always work under his threshold. If you see growling or other signs of reactivity or discomfort, you’ve pushed too far too fast. Go back to where you had success and start from there. Over time, you should be able to approach and pick Angel up when he’s on the bed, with him being happy about it. Just be sure the consequence is always something wonderful.

Now use his original bed but place it in a different location; once that situation is successful, do the routine with him on the original bed in the original location. Eventually, the happy phrase can be faded out, as he will have come to associate your approach and being picked up with wonderful things.

Reactive behaviour is best treated with professional supervision, so I suggest you find another trainer to help implement this program. 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 eight canine-related books, including Help for Your Fearful Dog and So You Want to be a Dog Trainer (phantompub.com).

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Ask an Expert Ask Jennifer Messer

Q:

Like any “expectant mom” I tried to read up on puppy training so I would do things right. But the more I read, the more confused I got. The books all seem to contradict each other! Now I don’t even know where to start to teach Lucy something as basic as “sit.” Do I push her bottom down? Use a clicker? Use treats? Please help.

—Completely Confused in Calgary

A:

I hear you, C.C.—dog training literature is a maze. The good news is that what looks like an endless array of methods for introducing basic commands actually boils down to a few simple techniques.

The most common formula for teaching a new obedience behaviour is asking the dog to do something, helping her do it, then rewarding her. Think of it as ABC: Ask, Behave, Congratulate. Traditional training used chokers, shoves, and intimidation for compliance, but gentler ways, such as using a food lure at the dog’s nose to get her to sit work just great. The use the command “wait” or catch her heading into her crate and hand motion above her head quickly becomes a command signal use the command “inside.” for “sit,” and then food is no longer needed.

For new behaviours that the dog never does on her own, we There are also ways of encouraging desired behaviour using sometimes use a method called shaping, where we shape a new your voice. After Asking your dog to “come,” you can help her behaviour from an old one. To shape, you initially lower your Behave with sweet-talk and hand clapping, and then Congratulate standards, rewarding behaviour that barely resembles the final her upon arrival with praise, a treat, or a toy. If you have already product, then you crank up your standards rewarding only that taught her that a click means she did something right, then you which is closer and closer to what you want. As soon as her can use your clicker to say congratulations, followed by a treat or behaviour is near what you had in mind, you can start using a toy. You see, it doesn’t really matter how command to ask for it, and soon enough, you help her do what you’ve asked, so long It doesn’t really matter you have the final product. Pam Reid, a as you avoid anything frightening or painwell-known behaviourist, used capturing how you help her do ful. And it doesn’t really matter how you AND shaping to teach her dog Eejit a Kung what you’ve asked, so congratulate her, so long as it is something Fu kick. She first congratulated him for long as you avoid she likes. just tiny back leg movements then graduA less common formula for teaching a ally required more and more “kick.” When anything frightening new command is waiting for the behaviour kicks became predictable she started saying or painful. to happen, and then congratulating the dog.

“Kung Fu” just before, and only congratulatThis is called capturing—because you just catch her doing it: no ed him for the better ones. Now he can put Bruce Lee to shame! asking, and no helping. This may sound nuts but it’s actually a You can use any and all of these techniques. The ABC formula terrific way to put on command any behaviour that she already will work to introduce most of the basics, but don’t hesitate to does, especially if you can’t really “help her do it” easily. This is play around with a clicker for better timed congratulations, catch how we teach a silly trick like yawning. The reward makes the behaviours you can’t help her do easily, or shape some cool ones dog do it more often, and soon the trainer can predict when the that you only dream of. n dog is about to yawn and says “sleepy?” just in time. Eventually Jennifer Messer is a veterinarian working in Ottawa, Ontario. She has an honours BA in the dog only gets rewarded for yawning when asked if she’s psychology from McGill University and a DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College, and sleepy, so she doesn’t go around like a bed-head all day. You can is author of The Kinder Puppy Course available at pavski.ca. She is owned by her Pit “catch” Lucy not rushing through the front door and eventually Bull, Charlotte, and her Beagle, Mr. F. Bender.

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Is Your Dog a Genius?

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To Lost Friends and Fallen Comrades

By Rose Frosek . Illustration by Yuta Onoda

I

totality of the loss; how, following the departure of a beloved dog, t is a sad reality that sharing a life with dogs almost invariably everything falls…flat. That may be the best word for it, entailing means grieving for them, these best-est of friends, our fallen no poetics nor histrionics, just blank space occupied by a heavy comrades. We are always aware, of course, of their comparasadness, like one of those weighty gases that creep along the floortively truncated life spans and the rapid passing of time, yet, so boards. Their absence is felt keenly, like a lost limb, in more ways wholly unimaginable is their disappearance from our lives that than one would think possible. You ask yourself: how did I not we suspend thoughts of their passing. We push this knowledge realize that my dog’s schedule was so intertwined with my own as aside and revel in puppy-sharp teeth, the terrible twos, and even to be inseparable? And: how does one get out of bed canine acne; we try to ignore the poignancy of without the drill-sergeant punctuality of an enthusisweetly graying muzzles, slowed gaits, weakened Their absence is felt astic dog with a schedule to keep? But life proves to bladders. Our forgetfulness is a blessing. Like our keenly, like a lost have its own demands and you find yourself blinkdogs, we should try to inhabit each moment, looklimb, in more ways ing in the daylight, and it’s there you encounter the ing neither forward nor back, and rejoice with them than one would network established of your time spent together. Our in the beauty and possibility of life, for there will think possible. dogs, by and large, are goodwill ambassadors on almost certainly come a day when we will have to four legs, forcing even the most misanthropic among shepherd them from this world to the next. And we us to lend a friendly nod to cooing passersby, to forge a connection will be—temporarily, at least—lost. Left unmoored without the of shared experience with fellow dog-park patrons. It is the latter structure of thrice daily walks and deliriously anticipated mealwho will weep for you when the world at large can’t yet fathom times. Bereft, solo on the couch, lap un-encroached upon, feet unthe grey grief dragging at your ankles. They will understand that, warmed and reminded of this Missing by a million markers: empty despite all this sadness, it was worth it—all of it, even the heartdog beds, chewed-up toys, unheralded door bells, and, worst of breaking final moments. Joy, love, and devotion are in short supall, by far, a firmly established walk habit now undertaken alone. ply in this world and our dogs are an unrivaled reminder of these The completeness of this sadness will go largely unrecognized. qualities, even in memory. n Non-dog people, the unenlightened, will never understand the

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with the ergonomic Clicker Leash, a positive reinforcement tool for on-the-go dogs. clickerleash.com

Puppy will get a P+ for

Nurture a new attitude. Calm anxious canines with the D.A.P. electric diffuser. It plugs in to release dog-appeasing pheromones similar to those generated by new moms, creating a sense of well-being and reassurance. petcomfortzone.com

144 moderndog

Get an A+ at training class. Practice everywhere

fall 2009

using the Pup-Head portable dog potty, a sleek system for housetraining even when you can’t get outdoors. pupgear corporation.com

www.cesar.com ®/TM Trademarks ©Mars, Incorporated 2009. Westie & tray shape are trademarks US Des Pat No D551,908.

introducing cesar bistro. tempting new entrées in flavors like steak florentine, for a true dining experience. cesar.® love them back.

TM

TM

MEAN

Fizzion is tough on Pet Stains and Odors. Our patented formula breaks down bacteria, lifts and removes stain particles, and dries quickly.

GREEN

Fizzion is eco-friendly, uses minimal packaging ging and a reusable spray bottle. Fizzion is safe for the environment and is non-toxic.

LEAN

Fizzion is a less expensive approach to pet stain ain and odor removal. Buy the reusable bottle once, then purchase the inexpensive refill tablets.

Follow our simple steps Fill the bottle with warm water Drop in Fizzion tablets – wait 30 sec Replace spray top on bottle Clean away Pet Stains and Odors

www.fizzionclean.com om

863-734-0200