Modern Dog Fall 2012

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions FFAALLLL 22001 122

WHAT YOUR DOG REALLY WANTS

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ISSUE!

Vintage Dog Posters

MODERN DESIGN AT HOME

Publications Agreement Number 40743013 Return Mail Dept, 202–343 Railway St., Vancouver, BC V6A 1A4

Our

Favourite Things p 38

Why Does My Dog Do That?

UNDERDOG CLUB Hard-to-Place Shelter Dogs Get a Marketing Makeover FALL 12

moderndogmagazine.com DISPLAY UNTIL DEC 12 CDN$5.95 US$4.95

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Canine Mysteries Explained

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MEET THE FOX TERRIER FOOD ALLERGIES CANINE CONFESSIONS DOG BLOGGING 101 DOGS OF BALI

Modern Dog’s Founder, Publisher & Editor-inChief Connie Wilson

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Win! We’re giving away 3 more months’ worth of great stuff! page 28

VOL 11

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127 FEATURES 30

What Your Dog Really Wants Dogs are problem-solving team players who need more than cookies and affection to prosper. Follow these eight steps to make sure your dog is happy, secure, and fulfilled. BY STEVE DUNO

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Our Favourite Things Modern Dog staffers’ share their must-haves.

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Dogs + Wine The perfect pairing.

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11 Ways to Improve Your Bond How to be your dog’s best friend. BY ESTHER LOU

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The Dogs of Bali A tail of transformation. BY JENNIFER MESSER

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Dog Blogging 101 Have a dog? Love to write? Niche internet fame could be yours! BY JESSICA NOSEK

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A Rare Vintage Our new obsession? Vintage dog posters. BY ROSE FROSEK

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Speaking Dog What’s in a yawn? BY STANLEY COREN

THE GOODS 86

Bargain Buys Maximum flash, minimum cash.

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Style: Home Décor The design files.

BODY AND SOUL

Superfluff 70 We train a lens on maximum furry, fluffy cuteness. The result? Predictably adorable.

The Doctor’s In The truth about food allergies, plus help for the vomiting hound.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY HANS SIPMA

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72 Behind the Scenes: “Superfluff” Photo Shoot 74 Meet the dogs and take a look at what goes on behind the camera.

78 10 Years in 10 Questions An interview with Modern Dog Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson. BY MARY-JO DIONNE The Underdog Club A group of everyday heroes gives hard-to-place shelter dogs—the “old, ugly, and unpopular”—a marketing makeover and a shot at a forever home.

BY ROSE FROSEK

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PA I N T I N G J E A N G L A SE R ; P H OTO F R E N CH D O G S © 2 01 2 S T E W A RT, TA B O R I & CH A N G E

FALL 2012

Colour Us Green Dog TV; Zest for Life; Rosemary: Herb for Health Spice Up Your Dog’s Life Good health, naturally. BY ELIZABETH PASK AND LAURA SCOTT

BREED PROFILE 24

The Fox Terrier Is this feisty terrier one of the dog world’s best-kept secrets? BY KELLY CALDWELL

LIVING 20

Survey Says How do we love our dogs? Let us count the ways…

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We’re Giving It Away!

We’ve got three months of groovy giveaways, from treats to prize packs, and winners every week!

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Mister Pazu A little slobber is a small price to pay.

COMICS BY DIANA THUNG

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Tiny Confessions Deepest thoughts and secret admissions revealed.

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DIY Craft Make it! Super-cute chalkboard dog-treat jar.

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DIY Eat Prepare these Sweet Potato Dog Chews in five minutes flat.

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Why Do Dogs Do That?

We get to the bottom of perplexing canine behaviour.

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P H OTO L E FT U N D E R W AT E R D O G S © 2 01 2 , H ATCH E TT E B O O K G R O U P ; P H OTO R I G H T H A N S S I P M A

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A Love to Last a Lifetime Remembering a “heart” dog. BY CONNIE WILSON

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Roller Skates and Moonshine Is Michelle Cruey Craven your quintessential Southern girl? Not so much. BY ROSE FROSEK

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DIY Train Dog trick: Hoop Jump. BY NICOLE PERRY

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Crazy For Baby A game plan for calming a baby-obsessed Dachshund.

BY COLLEEN SAFFORD

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Doberman Driving Drama Dealing with a crazed car companion. BY INGER MARTENS

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Scared of Strangers How to help your nervous Nellie make friends.

REGULAR FEATURES

BY TEOTI ANDERSON

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6 8 10 12 14 22 137

Editor’s Letter Contributors Our Readers Write Stuff We Love The Scoop Smile! Photo Contest Marketplace

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BY NICOLE WILDE

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Art Attack Jean Glasser’s impressionistic acrylic portraits hit the mark. BY LORI-LEE EMSHEY

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Connie’s Book Club Curl up with a good dog and good book. Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson’s selection of this fall’s must-read titles.

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Ask Dog Lady Bothered and bewildered? Crazed and confused? Dog Lady delves into your most dogged dilemmas.

COVER LOOK We’re celebrating 10 years! Modern Dog’s founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief with Penny, her rescued Wirehaired Dachshund.

Photographed by Kharen Hill. Hair and Makeup by Ellen Pratt; Styling by Jessica Nosek.

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Cranky Cocker Dog-dog aggression problems: is gender the issue here?

BY MONICA COLLINS

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Last Lick: How I Met My Dog Georgie Girl. BY INGRID MAITLAND

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et’s celebrate! This fall issue marks Modern Dog’s tenth birthday! When I think back to the launch of our first issue in 2002 published out of a tiny office in the loft of my house, it seems almost unbelievable that we’ve come so far.

Those first few years of publishing were the most overwhelming I’ve ever experienced—it felt like the first day on the job for at least two years! Sometimes, though, what you don’t know can help you; with no prior publishing experience, we simply forged ahead, creating our own path to success with no “rules” to trip us up along the way. And now, here we are, a decade later, celebrating Modern Dog’s tenth birthday and the successes and milestone moments that brought us here (turn to p. 88 for “Ten Questions for Ten Years”). I feel so privileged to have arrived at this point.

Very few independent magazines make it past their first year or two, let alone reach a ten-year anniversary. THANK YOU to all our loyal readers. You are amazing and we couldn’t have done it without you. Of everything, the thing I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built, a terrific, empowered network of dog lovers, sharing advice, knowledge, and advocating for the underdog (page 94). Together we’re a powerful, interconnected community

6 moderndog F AL L 2012

that can use our combined voices to influence positive change and make the world a better place for dogs and people alike.

And that’s not all we’re celebrating. This fall also marks the release of Modern Dog’s sister publication, Modern Cat. We are absolutely thrilled and super-excited about the launch. We’ve been working on the unfolding of Modern Cat since 2004 (we filed a trademark and have had moderncat.com and moderncatmagazine. com since 2004/05!), so you know it’s a labour of love. Modern Cat actually began life as a section within Modern Dog, debuting in the Fall 04 issue with Regis and Kelly on the cover (Regis is a devoted cat lover). With 37 percent of we dog people also sharing our homes with cats, Modern Cat is such a natural. Be sure to check it out at moderncat.com!

In keeping with our celebratory theme, the fall issue is just jampacked with all sorts of goodness. We check out some award-winning dog-dedicated wineries, explore what your dog really wants (page 30) and how to be your dog’s best friend, and get you started blogging (page 58). Brace yourself for extreme cuteness— this issue’s photo-editorial is all über-adorable fluffballs (page 62).

Then turn to page 102 for Dr. Stanley Coren’s look at the significance of a dog’s yawn (dogs, they’re just like us!). We’ve also rounded up our favourite things, fun bargain buys, and cool things for the home. And that’s just the beginning. We’ve got must-read books, vintage dog posters, DIYs you’re going to want to get right into, and so much more! Thank you for being part of the Modern Dog family. Here’s to you!

Connie Wilson, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

You are what your deep, driving desire is.

As your desire is, so is your will.

As your will is, so is your deed.

As your deed is, so is your destiny.

—Brihadaranyaka Upanishad IV.4.5

PHOTO KHAREN HILL

E D ITO R ’S LE T T E R

C ON TRIBU TOR S FALL 2012

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VOL 11

NO 3

Publisher

Modern Dog Inc.

Jess Golden (seen here with a pygmy goat) illustrates from her humble abode just outside Boston, Massachusetts, where she has lived since graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2003. A strong connection to her canine companions over the years has provided Jess with endless inspiration for her art. Known as an animal lover and dog fanatic, Jess and her husband, Jordan, patiently await the day they can adopt their very own. Flip to pages 46 and 106 to see her lovely work for this issue. To see more of Jess’s work, stop by her website, jessgolden.com or her blog thegoldenbriard.blogspot.com.

Editor-in-Chief

Connie Wilson Editor & Creative Director

Jennifer Nosek Contributing Editor

Marian Buechert Circulation Manager & Marketing Director

Jessica Nosek Circulation Supervisor

Jane Hope Design & Production

Maxine Matishak Design & Production Assistant

Vanessa Dong Sales & Marketing

Sara Lima, Mary Liu Editorial Assistant

Olivia Fellows Editorial Interns

Lori-Lee Emshey, Sarah Iannone, Nastasha Sartore Accounting and Subscription Services Assistant

Celine Benipayo

Dr. Stanley Coren is a psychologist best known to the public for his popular books on dogs and on general human psychology. His engaging writing style and broad knowledge of the behaviour of both dogs and people have made bestsellers of his books The Intelligence of Dogs, Why We Love the Dogs We Do, The Pawprints of History and How Dogs Think. His latest is Do Dogs Dream? Stanley also hosts the Life Network’s TV series Good Dog! and is a frequent guest with the broadcast media. He has appeared on numerous TV programs, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, Dateline, 20/20, Good Morning America and The Today Show. In this issue of Modern Dog (page 102) he looks at what’s in a yawn in “Speaking Dog.”

Kelly Caldwell is a writer and photographer who can’t imagine life without dogs. A Guelph, Ontario native, Kelly has shared more than a third of her life with her Basenji, Jazz and most recently welcomed a Boston Terrier named Dottie into the fold. Kelly’s words and images have been featured in a number of publications and she has been honoured with a Maxwell Award from the Dog Writers Association of America in recognition of her dog photography. Get to know the charming Fox Terrier (both Smooth and Wired) in Kelly’s Modern Dog debut piece on page 24.

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Controller

Cecilia de Roca Chan Donations Program Liaison

Jessica Nosek Honourary Editor-at-Large

Jytte Wilson Subscription inquiries call (800) 417-6289 Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 11, 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 11, 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.

604) 734-3131 OR TOLL FREE (866) 734-3131

PHONE (

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

The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, images, photographs or other materials. By accepting and publishing advertising the publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses the quality of services or products within those advertisements.

Copyright 2012 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. One-year subscription prices: Canada $18CAD, U.S.A. $15USD, foreign $45USD. Subscription orders and customer service inquiries should be sent to Modern Dog Subscription Services, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4

PRINTED IN CANADA

www.moderndogmagazine.com Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743013 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Bark Back! OUR R EA D ER S W R I T E Another wonderful issue!

You always inspire me.

—Linda Palcit FACEBOOK FR IEN D S I got the new issue a couple of days ago. I’m behaving myself and taking it slowly rather than devouring the entire thing in one day like I normally do... I keep telling myself I need as much self-control as my dog has when I tell him to “leave it.”

LOL.—Annie Colson I perused your magazine while at my vet’s office. I carried it from the waiting room to the exam room and back to the waiting room and still could not put it down. One article on musthaves for a dog park visit was awesome. I will be subscribing ASAP!—Debby Walker Barrs Absolutely loved your “10 People Foods for Dogs” article. So informative and comforting to know.—Heather Mysteriouss I am new to Modern Dog mag and really like what I have seen and read so far. I adopted a rescue nine weeks ago and he has had some mild issues but is adjusting well. The advice in Spring issue helped me understand what my little rescue guy is feeling and thinking. —Margaret Erwin Glad I subscribed, worthwhile articles and emails with new ideas for healthy treats to make dogs.—Chris Wellsandt Edward the Bull Terrier approves the “Tuna Fudge” recipe in the Summer issue. (Though, I switched the whole wheat flour for a wheat-free option.) I gave him some and then began to cut it into squares. A couple pieces wouldn’t fit in the storage container I was Another recipe from the Summer issue “pawproved” by Edward the Bull using, so I dropped them Terrier on top of his dinner he was working on. He ate them and started sniffing around for crumbs and left the rest of his dinner to the cat!

—Courtenay Morgan

I just love reading your magazine! Thanks for producing such a fun, informative, personal, and trustworthy publication. I can’t wait for the next issue and I am also looking forward to getting the first issue of Modern Cat!—Laura Taylor Someone brought this magazine to work; love it!!!

—Marie Laure Car

Y O U’ V E GO T M A I L We have already received the collar from Glass Slippers we won in your Facebook Friday Freebies and I just wanted to share Sophie’s picture with you. She’ll wear it weekly to her Pet Therapy sessions and I know all of the patients will be delighted to see her all blinged out! Thanks again, Barbara Novo

REALLY SWEET TWEETS @darthclaudiaa Your magazine this month is wonderful!

Taking it slow to enjoy every article. @presleyfoskett I’m loving your articles! @melissamcd A BIG THANKS for a great review of Pit Bulls & Pit Bull Type Dogs in their Summer issue & their ongoing support of bullies! @BarkingHound Thanks for the doggie ice cream recipe.

For a behind-the-scenes look at what we’re up to in the MD offices, the latest breaking stories and videos, cool contests, events, and exclusive giveaways, become a fan of Modern Dog on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Pinterest. Go to facebook.com/moderndogmagazine, twitter.com/moderndogmag & http://pinterest.com/moderndogmag.

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STUFF WE LOVE Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter 1 There’s nothing worse than getting your paws wet, amiright? I’m angling for this Pop

Art Poodle-silhouette walking-stick/umbrella. (Available in other breeds, too.) Now I just need to convince someone to follow me around holding it over me. —Dachshund Queen E ($30, calendars.com)

2 My dog is sweet, loving—and will chew anything that crosses his path. Luckily, Fluff

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and Tuff’s Wally the Duck survives the most tenacious chewing with his feathers unruffled thanks to the super-soft outer fabric and tough mesh lining. Finally, my shoes are safe!

—Jane (from $13, fluffandtuff.com)

3 Following a surgical procedure, I was happy as a clam wearing my BooBooLoon

inflatable post-surgery collar, saving me from two weeks in a hard plastic cone. Thanks BooBooLoon! (Available in sizes to suit all dogs.)—Miniature Dachshund Rose (from $19, boobooloon.com)

4 If my Roxy were human, she would totally rely on natural remedies to treat her

glaucoma. But alas, she’s a dog, so she’ll have to express her leaf love with this rain jacket from Fab Dog.—Sara ($32, fabdog.com)

BM BL

5 Mom’s amazed at how quickly I’m learning new tricks, but when the reward is a

tasty treat from Whole Life Pet, training is fun! They’re made from just one super-fresh US-sourced human-grade ingredient that’s freeze-dried to perfection. My favourite is the chicken, but I also like the beef, turkey, and lamb, to name a few. Roll over? Of course!

—Wirehaired Dachshund Penny (From $6, wholelifepet.com)

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6 My family dog, Hendrix, transforms into his ultra-classy self in his Thwap vintage tie. I’m sure he doesn’t mind the heaps of compliments from strangers.—Celine ($28, thwapthwap.com)

7 Forget fearing for your carpets. With high temperature steam to clean, sanitize, and

deodorize without dangerous and toxic chemicals, the Vapamore MR-100 Primo easily cleans all kinds of pet stains and household mess.—Mary ($300, vapamore.com)

8 Thanks to his new comfy Evelyn Grace dog bed, Mr. Nigel now has a super-cozy place

to rest after running around the beautiful mountain trails of Revelstoke, BC. The cotton “Madison Dot” print matched his spunky Goldendoodle attitude, but there are all sorts of designer patterns for more outdoorsy types.—Olivia ($180, evelyngracepetgoods.com)

9 Sleepypod’s Sidekick is not only well made and stylish, it makes cycling to work with

^

my dog, Penny, safe and fun. Rather than attaching to the handlebars where the added weight could create instability, the frontloading bike-rack design uses the center of gravity right above the front tire for maximum stability and control. Brilliant idea, brilliant colours, brilliant way to cycle with your dog!—Connie ($125, sleepypod.com)

10 Red, red wine, stay close to me! Powerful, rich and spicy aromas of plums, cherries,

and blueberries makes this outgoing blend of Shiraz and Viognier from See Ya Later Ranch my favourite wine for fall.—Maxine “Happy Hour” Matishak ($23, sylranch.com)

11 With my Esther’s Mast Cell disease diagnosis, making sure she gets adequate Omegas

is super important. Iceland Pure’s 100% pure natural fish oils from the cold waters of Iceland and Norway are pharmaceutical human-grade and come in a brushed aluminum epoxy-coated bottle (not plastic!). Just what the doctor ordered! —Jennifer (From $23, icelandpure.com)

12 Go big or go home is what I always say. These larger than life t’s allow me to express

my love of dogs in a big, almost comin’-at-you sort of way. Available in a bounty of breeds and sizes.—Jessica ($20,shop.themountain.me)

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CANINE NEWS AND REVIEWS

SURF

Law of the Paw LawofthePaw.org is an inspiring initiative to raise awareness about the importance of adopting, spaying/ neutering, and tagging pets. Help them reach their one-million-signature goal by signing their pledge to adopt these three behaviours.

Together we can work toward a nokill nation!

EYE LOVE

Amy Sacks Eyewear is all about looking good and helping dogs. What could be better?

Amy Sacks Eyewear is based on the principle that glasses should “look good, feel good, and do good.” The doing good part comes from the fact that all corporate profits from the sale of their glasses go to the animal rescue efforts of the Pixie Project, a nonprofit named after one of company president Ann Sacks’ rescue dogs. Run by Sacks’ daughter and company namesake, Amy, the Pixie Project aims to provide medical attention, food, and a loving home to animals in need. As for the looking good/feeling good part, that’s easy with Amy Sacks Eyewear’s super-stylish frames. Made from cellulose acetate, metal, or bamboo, not only are the glasses fashionable, but also durable, resilient, and sustainable. Right on.

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Four and Sons If you’re a dog-lover with a soft spot for art, creativity, and design (check, check, check, and check!), meet your new Internet obsession.

FourandSons.com delivers on its promise of delivering “dog-centric” content, and does so sublimely. Want to know which Johnny Cash album cover featured a dog, which fashion designer is head over heels over her Boston Terrier, and set your eyes on a terrific photo of Brigitte Bardot cuddling a dog? Well look no further. Just prepare yourself to lose hours to the site’s endlessly compelling content from its cool contributing artists, photographers, and writers. Dogcentric diversion at its finest.

THE SCOOP There’s a New Cat in Town

There’s a reason “cool” and “cat” go together

At Alpine Canine, For Adventurous Dogs the Good Times Roll Forget about dropping your dog off at daycare and wondering if they’re snoozing in the corner. When you sign up Fido for a day at Missoula, Montana’s Alpine Canine, he’s in for a ride. Literally. Two times a day, seven days a week, Alpine Canine’s Buddy Bus, a revamped school bus, picks up dogs for a day of hiking and exploration. Hikes have been crafted so that dogs of all

Modern Dog’s sister, Modern Cat, is finally here!

Follow Modern Cat on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. We’ll be posting tons of cool cat-related stories, videos, tips, finds, giveaways, inspiring DIY’s and much more! From fab finds to fun contests, Modern Cat brings you the best, latest, and most interesting of what’s happening in the cat world. Let Modern Cat be your guide to a happier, healthier cat! moderncat.com facebook.com/moderncatmagazine

different personalities and walks of life can enjoy the experience. Depending

twitter.com/moderncatmag

on your dog’s level of fitness and age, you can choose to sign them up for the

pinterest.com/moderncatmag

hour and a half Seniors and Squirts walk or the more strenuous three-hour Adventure Walk. In both cases, hike facilitators, all experienced dog walkers, are equipped with an emergency first aid kit, emergency contact info, and requisite snacks. Let the good times roll.—OF

Rescue Tee Designed by “Big Bang Theory”

actress Kaley Cuoco in collaboration with stylish organic cotton t-shirt line Revenge Is, this supercute graphic tee promotes animal rescue. Cuoco’s design features images of her two rescue dogs, Norman and Shirley, and a percentage of net sales will be donated to the Friends of Animals Foundation in Los Angeles. Get one for $38 at revengeis.com.

“All of my rescue pups have truly rescued me.”

—Kaley Cuoco

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POLL RESULT 48% of readers

think people should be allowed to tie their dogs up outside establishments while they quickly run in.

THE SCOOP

A CUT ABOVE

Julene Harrison’s paper-cut art delights In her mastery of the rather unusual medium of paper-cut art, Julene Harrison has us utterly charmed.

Harrison fell into the craft after creating a couple pieces as wedding gifts for friends and family. Their reaction convinced her to post some images of her work on her blog and people—unsurprisingly—fell in love.

Today, Harrison receives commissions from all over the world, crafting not only delicately carved dog portraits, but also wedding invitations (“falling in love is hard on the knees”), gifts, and pieces for other special occasions. Check out more of her work at madebyjulene. com.—OF

The Sweetest Thing

Rescue Chocolate is raising money for rescue while satisfying those (humans) with a discerning sweet tooth Having eaten her breakfast chocolate bar, Sarah Gross was on a December morning walk with her recently adopted rescue, a Pit Bull named Mocha, when inspiration struck: what if she could combine her two loves—dogs and chocolate—into a philanthropic venture to benefit dogs in need?

A month later Gross founded Rescue Chocolate, a handcrafted chocolate company that raises funds for rescue pets through the sale of fair trade, kosher, vegan dark chocolate. Powered by her love of animals and in-depth knowledge of chocolate—at the time Gross was working at a raw chocolate company in Queens, NY— Rescue Chocolate is making a difference one sweet, satisfying bite at a time.

Not only do 100 per cent of the net profits from each chocolate purchased go to animal rescue organizations, but Gross uses the chocolate bars to raise awareness about animal issues. Peanut Butter Pit Bull is a vegan chocolate and peanut butter combo that opposes the negative perceptions of Pit Bull-type dogs, while coffee and chocolate flavoured Forever Mocha emphasizes the importance of lifetime commitments or “forever home”’ for pets.

The recipient of the monies raised changes regularly; every few months Rescue Chocolate chooses a different animal rescue organization to benefit from chocolate bar sales.

Find Rescue chocolate bars at select stores in New York, San Diego, and Chicago or online at rescuechocolate.com.—LE

FOR HUMANS ONLY!

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Chocolate is poisonous to dogs.

THE SCOOP

CARTOON © 2012 BY DAVID JACOBSON

Caption This!

Exercise your funny bone. Create a caption for this cartoon and submit your entry at moderndogmagazine.com/cartooncaption.

The most comic captions will be published in the next issue.

Vayda and her Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Smitty, submitted by Leah Holden.

Dogs and Babies

C A R T O O N © 2012 B Y D A V I D J A C O B S O N

We’re in search of the cutest dog-andbaby snaps for publishing in Modern Dog magazine! Send your photos to babypics@ moderndogmagazine.com for a chance to appear in an upcoming issue!

POP QUIZ I hear he pooped in the pool during the last race to throw off his competition.

SUBMITTED BY ELISE M. SMITH

RUNNER-UP CAPTIONS The only way we are going to beat that Water Spaniel is if we were swimming in beef stew.

SUBMITTED BY CAROL CARLSON

I hear he only knows one stroke.

SUBMITTED BY MAUREEN

I guess that explains who has been lobbying for the inclusion of the “doggy paddle” in the next summer Olympics.

SUBMITTED BY LIANNE SAUTER

Man, they just let anyone enter these days!

SUBMITTED BY LISA GOMEZ

ILLUSTRATION CHRIS ROZZI

AND THE WINNER FROM THE SUMMER ISSUE IS...

Just why is my dog looking at me that way?

A. Undying love and affection.

B. Gas. C. He’s not. He’s looking through you at that squirrel he can feel is about to pop his head over the fence.

D. He’s not. He’s contemplating the ramifications of the discovery of a Higgs boson or “God particle” and whether it might be more aptly called the “Dog Particle.”

E. All of the above.

Find the answer on page 54.

Are you seeing what I’m seeing? I mean, what referee wears a bowtie?!

SUBMITTED BY JOSEPH JOHN BRUNETTI

moderndogmagazine.com

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SURVEY SAYS

How do we love our dogs? Let us count the ways...

92% would accept a job with

lesser pay to bring their dog to work

Even if no one’s watching, 85% still pick up after their dogs

97% celebrate their dog’s birthday

71% think ear-cropping and tail-docking

If possible, 54% would alter their dog’s DNA so he could talk

48% judge others based on the breed of their

If money were no object, 38% would clone their dog before the end of his/her life

78% of dogs sleep in their owner’s bed

96% think dogs experience emotions similar

to those humans feel, such as grief, guilt, anxiety, and love

92% think the formal standards for purebred

dogs should be changed to focus on health rather than appearance

81% would boycott an airline with a no-pets

policy

should be illegal in North America dog

88% would dump their

significant other if he/she didn’t like their dog 74% don’t think little dogs should be cut some

slack in the training department due to their size

48% make assumptions about others based

on the size of their dogs

74% think dogs should be allowed in restaurants

84% think their dog is a better housemate

than their partner

Source: Modern Dog reader surveys & polls

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Modern Dog’s Photo Contest Winners!

Shon

Blue

Otis

Sei Sei & Friend

Walter

Ace

Oscar Sidekick

Holly 22 moderndog F ALL 2012

Dixie

Thor

Bolosuu

Minnow

Einstein Tator

Charlie

Riley

Kaya Teegan Sheridan Boys

Toto

Lush

Think your dog ought to grace the pages of Modern Dog?

Mickey Banks Penny

Send us photos of your picture-perfect pooch! The winning entries will be published in Modern Dog magazine. 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

23

BREED PROFILE

The Fox Terrier

Is this feisty terrier one of the dog world’s best-kept secrets?

MARY BLOOM © AKC

PHOTO MARY BLOOM © AKC

By Kelly Caldwell

“F

ox-terriers are born with about four times as much original sin in them as other dogs are…” wrote English writer and humourist Jerome K. Jerome. In his novel Three Men in a Boat, Jerome’s character Montmorency is a Fox Terrier whose devilish nature and ability to cause trouble are simply part of his charm. Fox Terrier devotees understand; their breed is all terrier, through and through—headstrong, fearless, energetic, determined, and ready for action. Fans of Foxies, as they’re affectionately called, wouldn’t have it any other way.

Over the ages, Fox Terriers have been companions for noblemen, muses for artists, television stars, and dog show record-setters. Still, this breed remains an uncommon choice for pet owners. In terms of popularity, Fox Terriers are by no means leading the pack. American Kennel Club (AKC) registrations rank the Wire Fox Terrier 100th in breed popularity and the Smooth Fox Terrier at 113th. Is this feisty terrier one of the dog world’s best-kept secrets?

It would seem so, for when it comes to winning at America’s premier dog show, the Westminster Kennel Club Show, Fox Terriers are unrivalled. The Wire Fox Terrier has won more Best In Show Awards than any other breed. In 1909, Ch. Warren Remedy, a Smooth, became the first dog to win three consecutive Best In Show awards, a record that still stands. This versatile breed also excels in activities including obedience, agility, and earthdog.

To trace the origins of Fox Terriers, one must look back to 17th century England when farmers sought to develop tough working dogs with strong prey instincts. Fox Terriers were bred for a purpose: going to ground to pursue foxes and vermin. During a fox hunt, these tough little terriers remained on horseback with riders until the hounds chased the fox to its den. Terriers were then released to pursue their quarry underground to chase the fox out so the hunt could recommence. In the case of rats, the chase was around the homestead; short, considerably less ceremonious, and typically ending quite poorly for the rodents.

Experts believe the Smooth Fox Terrier’s origins trace back to the smooth-coated black and tan terriers of Wales, Derbyshire, and Durham, which were bred with other breeds, including the Bull Terrier, Greyhound, and Beagle, to create the Smooth Fox Terrier we know today. In the case of Wire Fox Terriers, breed historians point to the rough-coated black and tan terrier as the breed’s foundation. The two varieties were interbred for centuries, and as such, the Wire and Smooth possess differing coats but similar personality traits.

Fox Terriers first appeared in the U.S. in the late 1800s and the American Fox Terrier Club (AFTC) notes that theirs was the first specialty club to become a member of the AKC. Smooths and Wires were considered two varieties of one breed for many years, but in 1985 the AKC recognized them as two distinct breeds. The two breed standards are very similar. Both have an average weight of approximately 18 pounds and coat moderndogmagazine.com

25

PHOTO MARY BLOOM © AKC

colour that is predominantly white with either black or tan markings.

So is a Fox Terrier a fit for you? The answer depends largely upon your tolerance for typically-terrier behaviour. Can you dig it? Because they sure can! Without proper training and supervision, this breed could wreak havoc on your hostas and punish your petunias. You may not be using your Fox Terrier to go to ground, but his instinct to do so is still strong and, yes, that means he’ll like to dig. Then there’s the barking. Again, this is a terrier; barking comes naturally. The upside to this is that Fox Terriers will keep a watchful eye on the home front and let you know when visitors arrive.

Training is important for this headstrong breed. Behaviours like digging Most Popular and barking may not be completely Dogs in the U.S. eliminated—after all, those are the very According to AKC 2011 characteristics that shaped the develop- registration statistics [1] Labrador Retriever ment of this breed. But if you’re com[2] German Shepherd Dog mitted to ongoing training, these typical terrier behaviours need not become [3] Beagle [4] Golden Retriever a problem. Consider a bit of barking [5] Yorkshire Terrier and the occasional dog-landscaping small tradeoffs that come with the fun- [6] Bulldog [7] Boxer loving Foxy.

This is a hearty breed with relatively [8] Poodle few health concerns. With proper nutri- [9] Dachshund [10] Rottweiler tion, lots of exercise, and appropriate preventive healthcare, Fox Terriers can [100] Wire Fox Terrier live well into their teens. As for coat [113] Smooth Fox Terrier considerations, Fox Terrier devotees have the best of both worlds. The smooth-coated variety is easy to maintain and offers a sleek, refined look. The wiredhaired coat does require more maintenance but the look is handsome and shedding is minimal.

If you’re looking for a dog that’s laid back and predictable, move along. But if you want to share your life with a dog that lives for the moment, a bouncy, fun-loving, conversation-inthe-dog-park-starter, you may just meet your match with a Foxy. n

The Fox Terrier AKC Ranking: #100 in popularity Size: Small—approximately 18 pounds and 15 1/2 inches at the shoulder Grooming: Smooths—Low Wire Fox Terriers — High For Wires, regular brushing is essential and weekly hand stripping or regular clipping will maintain the look optimally.

If you like the Fox Terriers, check out: PHOTO MARY BLOOM © AKC

Profile:

Activity level: High This ready-for-action breed requires daily exercise and will be a natural in sports like earthdog and agility.

Heritage: Hunting US and Canadian Rescue: foxterrierrescue.net

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Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier

Parson Russell Terrier

Irish Terrier

s y a w a e v i G Great

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Fifteen readers will win a copy of Goodbye, Friend, a beautiful, comforting book for anyone grieving the loss of a beloved animal. Filled with guidance and heartwarming stories to help you heal.

Win one of four Popware for Pets prize packs, including an elevated, collapsible feeder bowl, matching Grippmat, travel cup, and two suction lids for food cans.

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Allows your pet to move freely post surgery!

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30 moderndog F ALL 2012

WHAT YOUR DOG REALLY WANTS

By Steve Duno

Illustration by Kim Smith

W

e love our dogs. To show it, we write magazines and books about them, buy them designer collars and clothes, and feed them diets more nutritious than what we ourselves ate in college. Our dogs go on vacation with us, visit doggie daycares, get massages, go on dates. They get birthday presents, and haircuts more expensive than our own. Some even get their own trust funds. Yes, we definitely love them.

But what do they really want?

Besides steak and bottomless cookie jars and slow cats and bellies full of grass, they probably have a much more doggish list of things that truly make them happy, secure, and fulfilled. But what exactly would those be?

They can’t actually make a list, so we’ll need to do it for them as best we can. It’s a wish list based not upon what makes us happy, but upon what they need as canines living in a human world. Let’s take them one at a time:

Good Health This one’s a no-brainer; every dog deserves to be kept in top physical condition. You can start by feeding her the best quality food you can, in the right amounts, with special focus on her age, energy levels, and potential allergic reactions. Deciding on the right food can be made easier by the second key factor in maintaining your dog’s health—namely, your veterinarian. In addition to giving vaccinations, your veterinarian will keep tabs on your pet’s overall health, recommend food options, and diagnose potential issues such as allergies, joint problems, disease, and even behavioural problems. Accordingly, be sure to take your dog into the vet at least once a year.

The other key ingredient in maintaining your dog’s good health is exercise. Sedentary dogs gain weight, which in turn affects joint health, and can incite early-onset diabetes. A lack of exercise also creates boredom and pent-up stress, leading to a host of behaviour issues. Avoid this by walking your dog, playing fetch with her, taking her to the dog park—whatever the two of you enjoy doing together.

Guidance With the minds of two-year-old humans and the physical prowess of Olympic athletes, dogs need direction from us, their elders, to learn focus, control, and etiquette. Without it, they can become insecure holy terrors, without muse or cause. Whether you call it leadership, mentoring, management, or guidance, it’s essential to Fido’s happiness.

A dog who knows the rules will be more at ease than one forced to run the show for lack of human guidance. Truth is, though

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DOGS NEED TO FEEL PART OF A COHESIVE, FUNCTIONAL TEAM, ONE WITH A TERRITORY, A MISSION, A CHARACTER.

The Right Kind of Socialization Dogs need to interact to feel fulfilled, and to learn basic social mores. But their sociability is not unlimited; in fact, most dogs are somewhat tribal in nature, preferring to mingle with those they know, or with those who pose no discernible threat. It’s why so many reasonably social dogs don’t fare well in big doggie daycares, or at busy dog parks. Dropped into a seemingly chaotic situation filled with strange dogs and people, many dogs can short circuit, stress out, or even act aggressively.

Isolating a dog is just as detrimental. Keeping Molly at home 24/7, without exposure to other persons or pets, can create an antisocial misfit who, when confronted by a visitor to the home or a strange dog on the street, might erupt in fearful fury. This scenario occurs often; we lead busy lives, and sometimes fall into routines that don’t allow for getting the dog out often enough. And when a dog begins to become antisocial, her owner often tends to cloister her away even more, in an attempt to avoid the conflict. This compounds the problem.

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Try to get your dog out on a regular basis. Take her for a daily walk, and a weekly trip in the car. Visit the dog park on days that aren’t too chaotic. Trade dogs with a good friend once a week. Don’t force your dog to socialize, but allow her a significant amount of contact with friendly, focused dogs, and with people who understand how to interact calmly and confidently. Always praise and reward for civil interaction. Avoid subjecting your dog to frenetic children, or to unpredictable, chaotic environments. Take into consideration your dog’s personality, too; if she is a gregarious, happy girl capable of mixing it up, then have at it.

But if she is a worry wart, consider limiting social time to those few friends she feels comfortable with.

Enrichment Dogs need to problem solve, investigate and evaluate, and apply their senses, brains, and muscles to some end, to feel that they have purpose. Without these things, they overflow with energy and desire, and eventually burst like a bubble, in the form of misbehaviour.

To avoid this, enrich Fido’s life by providing him with stimulating toys, environments, events, and conditions. When he’s left alone, supply him with safe chew toys, and perhaps a treat-stuffed rubber ball.

Hide small treats about the home for him to find. Leave the radio on a talk radio station.

To test your dog’s problem solving

skills, place an uncooked chicken egg in his dish and watch what happens (limit this to a cleanable area). Leave a scent trail for him to follow by sprinkling a tiny line of allspice or bouillon powder, leading to a hidden treat or toy. Or, simply leave a few pigeon feathers about. Whatever might get your dog jazzed.

While with your dog, enrich his day by trick training or vocabulary building. Teach him to retrieve specific objects, or play flyball. Attend an agility class. Any experience that inspires him to think, act, and focus will enrich his life, and make for a smarter, better-behaved pet.

Solidarity Dogs need to feel part of a cohesive, functional team, one with a territory, a mission, a character. Whatever you call it—pack, family, team, or gang—it’s a part of their mindset, and you need to honour it.

As team manager, you should evoke a sense of solidarity, or team spirit. Do so the way a dog would: protect and care for her, participate in group activities with her and other dogs, exude confidence and control, and be a good muse. Dogs who see their owners happily interacting with others will model that behaviour and attitude. If you have multiple dogs, take them all (and other humans, too) out for a group walk of the neighbourhood, to induce that sense of tribal pride. Or, just get down on the floor with them and have a frolicking romp of it.

ILLUSTRATIONS KIM SMITH

they aren’t capable of running things in our world, we often put dogs in that position by forgetting that, like kids, they crave boundaries. To that end, be sure to train Fido from day one. Teach rules, manners, and consequences; be consistent, build routine, and praise to the hilt when he minds. The reward will be a sentient, well-behaved, cheerful pet with calm focus, instead of an unreliable and reactive pain in the neck.

IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE DOGS, TAKE THEM ALL (AND OTHER HUMANS, TOO) OUT FOR A GROUP WALK OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, TO INDUCE THAT SENSE OF TRIBAL PRIDE.

Earned Praise If you praise a dog for a behaviour, he will logically repeat the behaviour. But if you randomly give gratis praise, the dog ends up training you instead. For instance, if your dog shoves his head into your lap and you pet him, he’s basically training you to pet him. This role reversal can become problematic, and contribute to increasingly pushy behaviour.

Instead, give your dog what his pragmatic mind prefers: the opportunity to earn praise. Make him sit for a treat instead of just giving it to him. Have him come to you for a pet on the head. This quid pro quo attitude will condition him to respond faster and with more zeal.

Also, avoid consoling your dog during times of fear, as consolation is interpreted by the dog as praise. If he gets scared of thunder and you comfort him, he will interpret this as reward for the behaviour, reinforcing the fearful conduct. That’s how dogs think.

Calmness and Consistency Your dog doesn’t want you to be an emotional roller coaster. If you are enervated and joyous one day and morose and grumpy the next, you’ll confuse and worry her.

She would rather you be a master of calm, as this projects normalcy and safety. So, avoid both ends of the emotional spectrum; no over-the-top, frenetic, schmaltzy outbursts, or gloomy, oppressive, threatening attitudes. Be what your dog needs, a calm, cool inspiration. Also, try to be consistent regarding not only attitude, but consequence; if one day you yell at her for jumping up, but the next praise her for it, you’ll drive her batty. Sticking to the rules and being consistent is what she wants.

Challenge Every dog, no matter the size, breed, or age, needs to feel challenged every now and then. It’s part of being a dog; they are all equal parts hero, security guard, daredevil, and athlete, and as such, need that side of them challenged sometimes. Of course, what challenges a 14-year-old Chihuahua might differ from what tests a two-year-old Weimaraner, so when deciding on a challenge, tailor it accordingly. Your gentle Lab mix might benefit from working as a therapy dog, while your muscle-bound Rottweiler could profit from finally learning how to swim (in a safe, monitored environment).

Teach your Saluki to fetch, your French Bulldog to track, your Papillon to herd rabbits—whatever seems demanding for your particular dog. In the process, he will build confidence, and you will learn just how versatile dogs really can be.

By all means, give your dogs gobs of love and attention. But remember that they are problem-solving team players who need more than affection and cookies to prosper.

By mentoring them and attending to their doggish wants, you’ll get a happier, better behaved dog in return. And you’ll learn a thing or two in the process. n

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LAUGH

Mister Pazu

A little slobber is a small price to pay. Comics by Diana Thung

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THESE ARE A FEW OF OUR...

THINGS!

SARA, Sales & Marketing Ruggedly beautiful, totally customizable, and guaranteed for life. Every dog deserves at least one Paco Collar, but if you’re my dog, you get several. From $80, pacocollars.com

My eco-friendly outdoor bed from Kiss My Mutt blends in perfectly with my backyard’s fête-ready decor. Spill- and fade-proof, it stands up to the elements and the occasional spilt merlot. From $84, kissmymutt.com

Artist Sian Keegan perfectly captured Roxy’s likeness while highlighting the charm and wit that is my dog.

I will treasure my mini Roxy forever. From $100, siankeegan.com

CELINE, Accounting & Subscription Services Not only does Toru’s Rainbow Love hoodie promote love, the proceeds from this super sweet design go to charity. Double awesome. $32, torudog.com

I’m not sure who’s more entertained when the dogs play with the awesome Kong Wobbler treat-dispensing toy— them or me—or why I’m super-proud when they figure out how to get it to release their treats. Love it! $20 at Petco, kongcompany.com

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Who doesn’t love Paul Frank? And the filling for this bed is made with what used to be plastic bottles—stylish and eco-friendly! $90, 26barsandaband.com

MAXINE, Design & Production An understated take on the nautical trend, this Rescue leash from Found My Animal is made from hand-spliced, marine grade rope that’s soft yet strong, just like the deserving rescue pups this company strives to support. $50, foundmyanimal.com

Beyond the old timey aesthetic appeal that this recycled vintage dog bed lends, the fact that it was repurposed from a vintage soda crate featuring the iconic Pepsi logo makes it an eco-conscious designer’s dream. $200, etsy.com/shop/ CharlieHeartsDiesel

Once made famous by train robbing bandits across the wild west, modern day bandanas are today’s must-have accessory for demure big dogs looking to make a low-key style statement. My pick?

Wildebeest’s bandana collar is which is reversible and washable, making it a versatile and convenient choice. $20, wildebeest.co

JESSICA, Circulation Manager & Marketing Director

We all have our good days (getting a raise!) and bad days (losing your keys!@#*). The same goes for our faithful pups (hello, fireworks). Bach Rescue Remedy is an all natural floral essences product that reliably gets us both through the rough patches, whether it be stress, anxiety, or even a bad case of the whatsits. Available in both people and pooch formulas.

From $14, rescueremedy.com/pets

The soft leather of PetEgo’s tubular leash and Looper Scooper bag dispenser is a pleasure to hold and has certainly stood the test of time. In four years of daily use, I haven’t been without a bag and the leash looks as good as it did on day one! Leash: $53; Looper Scooper: $36, petego.com

Any toy that acts as a brain stimulant for my dog while allowing me a little peace and quiet has my vote. Planet Dog’s stuff-able Produce toy line will keep your pup busy for ages while he tries to remove whatever goodie you’ve hidden inside. And it’s super cute and eco-friendly too! $7 - $15, planetdog.com

JANE, Circulation Supervisor

I confess—I am totally addicted to coffee. This beautiful, handmade mug from desertNova holds 20 oz. of piping hot joy served alongside an adorable, Scottie doginspired design. Each mug is dishwasher and microwave safe, making it easy to whip up a nighttime hot chocolate as well as my morning joe. $20, desertnova.net

Our Lab was a rescue and he came with damaged, frostbitten paws. We still have to take care of his pads, and Pampered Paw Balm from Doggy Delights soothes and heals any scratches and cuts he acquires on his daily adventures. A bonus—it’s great for accident-prone humans, as well. $5, doggydelights.ca

Solvit’s Pet Vehicle Safety Harness is a key part of our family’s road trip kit.

Everyone feels happier when we know that in the event of a sudden stop, every family member is buckled in. from $40, solvitproducts.com

JENNIFER, Editor & Creative Director

My dogs choose West Paw Bumper Beds over their many other resting spots (spoiled creatures!), nestling into the soft twill-covered cushioning and resting their heads on the bolsters. Even better, the beds retain their low key good looks and are made in Montana with eco-friendly practices—the high-loft filling is 100% recycled! From $66, westpawdesign.com

Is your dog constantly monkeying around?

This squeaky, lanky limbed, plush Monkey dog toy with Velcro arms is just the thing to entertain you both. $12, muttropolis.com

Everything See Scout Sleep does is all kinds of amazing, from their lovely hand-screened hemp and buckwheat hull beds to their geometric, minimalist collars. The entire line is designed, printed, and sewn in Louisiana and 10% of proceeds go to the Gulf Coast Fund to rehabilitate the shoreline! Collars from $24; beds from $130, seescoutsleep.com

MARY, Sales & Marketing This little bag dispenser from PoopBags is perfect for all dog walks! It comes with a roll of good-sized biodegradable scented bags, plus the carabiner clip attaches to your belt loop or leash for easy access. $2, earthrated.com

Furminator’s deShedding Tool helps keep the fluff away! The stainless steel edge gently removes undercoat and loose hair to keep you, your couch, and hallways free of drifts of fur. $64, furminator.com From toy breeds to Pitties, Island Top Designs’ ID tags have you covered with styles to suit any dog’s personality. Cut from silver, yellow brass, and copper, each tag is hand-stamped with pertinent contact details. $28, islandtopdesigns.com

VANESSA, Design & Production Assistant

Bring the spirit of the circus home with you with a balloon dog that will never deflate!

Made of resin, these bookends will definitely be a unique addition to any bookcase. $45 each, imm-living.com

A must-have for all adventure enthusiasts! The graphics of this awesome longboard capture the spirit of Eastside Longboard’s beloved Catahoula Leopard Dog, Otis, who has been trained to pull a longboard way faster than you can push! Check out the photos and videos of Otis pulling the board on their site. $99, eastsidelongboards.com

CONNIE, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief The clean, strong lines of the WETNoZ Big Scoop dog bowl make it a musthave for the modern kitchen. This “scoop and serve” luxury dog dish pairs highly polished stainless steel with nonskid rubber accents.

Combine with the Raised Dog Bowl Booster for elegant, effortless dining. $100, wetnoz.com

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I love my Let’s Go Design hooded dog-walking jacket. Reflective piping keeps me visible at night, the removable fleece jacket can be zipped out, and it becomes a vest when you unzip the sleeves. Plus, there are loads of extra features. A dog-walker’s dream come true! $250, letsgodesign.net

Dyson DC41 Animal’s amazing suction picks up dust, dirt, and the peskiest of pet hair. It rides on a ball rather than fixed wheels, pivoting on the spot to reach those corners where Fluffy’s hair always seems to gather. With its washable filters (no costly vacuum bags to replace!), it’s environmentally friendly, too. $600, dyson.com

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Dogs & Wine The perfect pairing Weimeraner Hiro romps through the See Ya Later Ranch Vineyard.

Dogs and wine might be the perfect pairing. Just ask these vintners whose dog-inspired wineries have, quite literally, gone to the dogs. They’re drawing rave reviews, not only for their award-winning sippers and dogs-welcome wine tours, but for their charitable endeavours, as well—many are committed to not only the perfection of their craft but to giving back to dog-related organizations in a way that is making a real difference.

We’ll drink to that.

See Ya Later Ranch Okanagan Falls, BC Located in British Columbia’s Okanagan Falls, in the heart of the Okanagan Valley region known as wine country, See Ya Later Ranch sits at the highest elevation of any vineyard in the area. Founded by Major Hugh Fraser in 1919, the ranch was named after the threeword parting note left by his wife when her London upbringing disagreed with their rural lifestyle. Despite his wife’s departure, Major Fraser, a dog-loving eccentric, was not alone, having many canines to keep him company. He ran the ranch for over forty years, and upon his death was buried at his behest in the dog cemetery he had created for his loyal companions.

In homage to the Major and his love of dogs, a pup with angel wings graces the label of every bottle of See Ya Later Ranch. See Ya Later is now home to three dogs: Hiro, Goku, and Pinot, who can be seen wandering the vineyards, greeting visitors, and playing with empty wine boxes.

Today the ranch produces three award-winning reds, two of which are named after the Major’s dogs, as is their rosé, “Nelly.” Also in the offering are acclaimed whites ranging from riesling to chardonnay and a delightful sparkling brut.

50 cents from every bottle sold is donated to the BC SPCA and the vineyard participates in the annual local Dog Days of Summer charity pet fashion show. The ranch welcomes dogs at its events as well as tastings and tours, offering watering-stations for canine

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PHOTOS RIGHT © ANITA NOWACKA

Visitors can tour the ranch with their dogs, taking in breathtaking views of the Okanagan Valley and Skaha Lake.

guests who have worked up a thirst wandering the property.

Visitors can the tour the ranch with their dogs, taking in breathtaking views of the Okanagan Valley and Skaha Lake, before stopping for lunch at the Patio Restaurant with its lake breezes and vineyard vistas. We can see why the Major stuck it out.

—LE

Mutt Lynch Winery Healdsburg, CA

At Mutt Lynch Winery in Healdsburg, CA, owners Brenda and Chris Porter and their winery dog Patch, an ex-racing Greyhound rescue from New Zealand, dream of creating a leash-free world. Their dedication to dogs and rescue efforts in particular runs deep. Mutt Lynch combines the Porter’s love of all things dog with their passion for creating new and innovative “doggone good” wine, all while helping dogs in need.

Dog friendly, of course, Mutt Lynch Winery is a place where visitors can bring their canines to share with them a personal wine-touring experience. The Porter’s enjoy getting to know their visitors’ dogs while guests get to know the Mutt Lynch wines. The winery is open for individual visits by appointment, as well as for an array of special events throughout the year.

Aside from constantly elevating their craft and creating awardwinning wines, Mutt Lynch Winery is always on the lookout for ways to promote animal rescue and pet adoption through their business. The winery supports local animal rescue organizations in different communities and partners up with wine shops and restaurants all over the country to fundraise, promote rescue, and publicize the ongoing struggle to save stray, surrendered, and abandoned pets’ lives.

In 2009 alone, Mutt Lynch supported over 50 nonprofit animal organizations and attended over 30 fundraising events, resulting in $30,000 in donations. Mutt Lynch also hosts an annual dog art label contest in partner with DogArtToday.com in which artists from all over submit works and the most popular appears on a Mutt Lynch label. Recognizing the popularity the contest drew in during it’s first few years, this year the Porters donated 10 percent of all of the proceeds from the sales of the

Top: Mutt Lynch’s dog art labels; above: a Mutt Lynch tasting.

exclusive wine to the San Francisco SPCA. And that’s not all.

Mutt Lynch supports adoption efforts on a national level too, donating $10,000 to the pet adoption website Adoptapet.com in 2010. How cool is that?—SI

DogRidge

McLauren Flat, Australia DogRidge is a family-run vineyard and winery on the McLauren Flat in South Australia. Dave and Jen Wright bought property in 1992 and in doing so inherited several vine plantings from the 1940s, making theirs some of the oldest vines in South Australia.

The vineyard is named after Dog Ridge, a type of rootstock used in grape growing, which happened to fit with the Wright’s love of Curly Coated Retrievers, as well as their location at the top of a sandy ridge. The 140 acre vineyard produces a variety of wines including sauvignon blancs, chardonnays, grenaches, merlots, petit verdos, and award-winning shiraz’s. moderndogmagazine.com

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Frenchie Winery Napa, CA

Above: The DogRidge team.

The winery and vineyard is home to two Curly Coated Retrievers, Nelly and Goose, a mother-daughter team, as well as the occasional kangaroo and rabbit. During vintage season, which runs February to April in South Australia, Nelly and Goose like to nip at the ripe grapes, letting winemaker Fred Howard know it’s time to start the harvest.

At wine tastings, available by appointment, Nelly and Goose make an unofficial welcoming party, greeting visitors with wagging tails.

Tours of the property are offered for those who wish to stretch their legs and take in the view, and while canine tourists are uncommon at the vineyard, they’re free to join the tour and (paws crossed) even chase a rabbit or ‘roo or two, should one happen by.

At the end of a tour or tasting, a stop at the on-premises art gallery featuring works by resident vitner/artist Jen Wright is a must.—LE

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Jean-Charlet Boisset opened Napa Valley’s first dog-helmed winery located at Raymond Vineyards in May 2012 with the belief that no four-legged pal should be left to languish in the car while her people sipped good wine.

When Boisset entered the fast-paced wine business and traveling became a frequent part of his job, he got Frenchie, a French Bulldog, to keep his wife company while he was on the road. Who was to foresee that Frenchie would become such a beloved part of the family that he would inspire Boisset to start a winery named for him? With Frenchie as the figurehead of the winery, visitors are encouraged to bring their dogs along. Innovative and extremely dog friendly, the winery provides outdoor dog suites where guests’ canines can relax or nod off in their own wine-barrel beds. When the tour heads indoors, guests can watch their companion’s outdoor experience by means of the “Frenchie Cam,” a camera set up to monitor dogs visiting the winery.

Among Frenchie’s current releases are a 2009 Napoleon Red Wine blend and a 2008 Louis XIV Cabernet Sauvignon, each $30. Labels feature artist Carol Lew’s depictions of Frenchie as different historical figures. For every bottle of wine sold, Frenchie Winery donates one dollar to the ASPCA. In addition to its regular Mondaythrough-Sunday tastings and tours, Frenchie Winery also hosts dog-friendly events, such as their first annual “BarkB-Que,” which took place this past July and included food, music, wine, and an on-site mobile pet groomer. Sounds like a good time to us.—SI

Nelly and Goose make an unofficial welcoming party, greeting visitors with wagging tails.

Dog Point Vineyard Marlborough, New Zealand

Dog Point Vineyard is located in the major grape growing region of New Zealand, Marloborough’s Wairau Valley, an area situated at the northern tip of the South Island that sees lots of sunshine, allowing for the slow evolution of the vibrant fruit flavours found in Dog Point’s wines. It is the history of this geographical area that gave the vineyard its name. When the Europeans began to settle in Marlborough, they introduced sheep into the district.

The shepherds’ dogs often wandered off and eventually made a home of the hill where today’s vineyard now stands. As a result, the early settlers named the spot “Dog Point.” The vineyard’s owners, Ivan and Margaret Sutherland and James and Wendy Healy, have honoured this history by keeping the name and producing delicious, highly acclaimed wines, including a sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and pinot noir, distinct to the region.

Dog Point has received the most praise for its Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc, called “one of the finest examples of this variety made in New Zealand (and hence in the world).”—NS

Punk Dog Wines Napa, CA

Punk Dog Wines believes that “everyone needs to take their fun seriously.” Inspired by their energetic and strong-willed Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Sophie, Lisa and Eric Gordon created the Punk Dog label in 2001 with the mission to create new and unconventional blends meant to be enjoyed right after purchase.

According to the Gordons, Sophie, now Punk Dog’s “mischievous mascot,” represents all that Punk Dog wines strive to be: bold and adventurous, with a whole lot of character.

The Gordons call their Napa Valley situated Punk Dog vineyard “absolutely Californian,” and given the reputation of California as the natural home of free thinkers, that seems apt.

Punk Dog has developed a distinct philosophy focused on quality, originality, and, most importantly, the sheer enjoyment of winemaking. The wines themselves attest to the label’s commitment to all that is unconventional. They blend mostly red wines, which often change on an annual basis depending on the quality of grapes available. These blends are not limited to grapes from the same region, or even of the same ripeness level.

Punk Dog’s Corgi mascot, Sophie, poses with two of the winery’s super sippers.

And because Sophie has played such an important role in the founding of Punk Dog, her name has naturally crept into both the wine names and label design. Case in point: the winery focuses on two wines each year, Sophie’s Riddle and Sophie’s Romp.

Sophie’s Riddle is a lighter blend that changes from year to year, while Sophie’s Romp is a bold, Cabernet-based blend.

Punk Dog is also planning to release two vintage 2009 wines later on this year: Sophie’s Zin, a Zinfandel, and Sophie’s Zen, a desert wine.—NS

Cru Vin Denver, CO

Combining artistic talent, a passion for wine, love for canines, and social conscience, Denver, Colorado-based Cru Vin Dogs Wine Group unearths fantastic vineyards and small lots of wine throughout the world to craft exceptional blends at an approachable price point. Each blend honours a real dog with a special story and features a label with an original, limited-edition illustration by artist Jay P. Snellgrove, one of the Cru Vin partners.

Once a particular vintage is sold out, the label is put to rest and never used again. Best of all, a portion of the proceeds from every bottle is donated to specific canine-related causes, such as service organizations, animal shelters, and rescue groups.

The winery has four different artistic series. Loyal Companion Wine is made by eco-friendly wine maker Tony Wasowicz and supports local animal shelters and rescue groups through the donation of a portion of the wine sales and the creation of Loyal Companion dog tags. The Puppy series and Portrait series both feature drawings of dogs that were once a part of the Cru Vin Dogs Wine Group team. And finally, the exclusive Best in Show series is made in limited quantities, paying tribute to prestigious winners from international dog shows such as the Westminster Kennel Club and Crufts. All not only have a charitable aim but also strive to draw attention to the causes they support. Now that’s doggone delicious.—SI n

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11 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR BOND

By Rose Frosek

ILLUSTRATION JESS GOLDEN

How To Be Your Dog’s Best Friend

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via @karlalzner

D

ogs are social creatures. They not only crave but need companionship, and are, for the most part, eager to please if you provide them with the right tools to do so. And they are smart. Dogs possess intelligence akin to that of a two-year-child—and most of us are familiar with how much trouble a toddler can get up to if left to his own devices.

For many dogs it’s the same; if you fail to engage them, they will entertain themselves, more likely than not in a way you’d rather they wouldn’t: barking at all passersby, stripping the laundry room walls of their baseboards, freeing you from the tyranny of heels by destroying one shoe of every pair…really, for a smart, bored dog, the sky is the limit where mischief is concerned. (See exhibit A: the photo NHL hockey player Karl Alzner of the Washington Capitals tweeted of what his dogs got up to when his return home was delayed by a Stanley Cup Playoff game that went into tripleovertime.)

Luckily, there are ways to ensure you have a fulfilled dog on your hands, one that is engaged, mentally stimulated, and absolutely adores your company. This magical key to a happy dog and harmonious household? Simply give your dog focused attention and an appropriate outlet for her energy.

It’s that easy. Here are 11 ways to be your dog’s best friend.

1

GIVE YOUR DOG A JOB TO DO. Very few of us enjoy a free ride. It feels much more satisfying to have earned praise or reward, be it accolades or a bonus. For dogs this holds true as well. Before tossing a treat in your dog’s direction, ask her to do something for you, like stay put while you remove yourself to another room, reinforcing training, or sit before you give her a treat or dinner. It takes just a second, but the pay off can be huge.

3

COMMIT TO A WALKING SCHEDULE. Dogs like schedules, and no matter how old or young, slow or feisty they are, they all love getting out to sniff around and socialize a bit. It

will do wonders for your mood, health, and physique, too. Numerous studies have shown a correlation between weight loss/healthier body weight and dog ownership—but you have to get out there with your dog to reap the benefits!

4

REPLACE THAT ABSENT-MINDED PAT WITH A MASSAGE. Canine massage is a great way to keep

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARGO MCKNIGHT

2

INCREASE YOUR DOG’S CHANCES OF SUCCESS. This means giving her the tools to behave as you wish her to. Ask her to do things you know she’s capable of and build your way up to greater skills, so as not to create a culture of failure. For ingrained bad behaviours that try your patience and sully your relationship, enroll in a class to tackle the problem or enlist professional help—it is money and time well spent and will pay untold dividends as far as your enjoyment of your time together goes. Find a positive approach, reward-based APDT certified trainer near you at apdt.com or, in Canada, at cpdt.com.

tabs on your dog’s physical health while supplying comfort and affection. And by giving regular massages, you’ll notice any changes in your dog, like lumps, bumps, or sore spots, and can have them checked out by your vet, heading off any problems. For canine massage how-to, go to: >> moderndogmagazine.com/dog-massage

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9

KEEP BUSY. No one likes to be bored, dogs included. If your dog is going to be left for an extended period of time, make sure she has something to keep her busy, like a stuffed Kong or something similar to work at.

5

PROVIDE FOCUSED ATTENTION. Even if our dogs are not alone—i.e. we are physically present—sometimes not much of that “together” time is spent actually with them. If you and your dog are sharing the living room but you are absorbed in Angry Birds or the latest Mad Men episode, that doesn’t exactly count as quality time.

Your dog doesn’t care what’s going to happen in Don Draper’s marriage or if you beat your high score. Instead, take a time out from the TV and the tablet and give your dog a double whammy of goodness by combining focused attention with food, glorious food. Hand-feed your dog her dinner bit by bit as she does as you’ve asked her to (wait, come, lie down, stay). This is an excellent way to reinforce your bond—you are the person that makes excellent things like dinner happen!—as well as basic training. Don’t we all respond well to reward? I know I do.

6

MAKE HER THINK. Play brainboosting games. Dogs like to think and most enjoy a challenge. Many thinking games, like Hide and Seek the Treats (sprinkle little treats throughout the house, then let your dog loose to find them) or stuffing a Kong with food, take mere minutes out of your day to set up and are uber-rewarding for our dogs.

For a list of smart toys that engage your dog’s brain, go to: >> moderndogmagazine.com/brainboostinggames >> moderndogmagazine.com/boredombusters

7

PROVIDE HER WITH A PLACE TO CALL HER OWN. Make sure your dog has a couple comfy places to comfortably lie down, one somewhere private and quieter, as well as a bed more in the center of things, so she can choose whether to be near her people or retreat a bit if she feels she needs her own space. This

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is particularly important if there are kids around and/or if your dog is older.

8

SUPPLY APPROPRIATE OUTLETS FOR INNATE BEHAVIOUR. Give her a chance to do what she was bred to do. Take your water dog down to the water. Enroll your exercise junky in Agility. Try out Disc Dogs with your retriever. Or Lure Coursing with your sight hounds. Or Treiball for herding breeds… the list goes on. There are loads of breed/personality appropriate activities to indulge dogs of all stripe and preference—and you never know, you just might make some new friends in the process, something that gets harder to do as we get older. Ditch the games of fetch and branch out a bit! Check out: >> moderndogmagazine.com/activity

10

ENSURE ADEQUATE COMPANY. Dogs are pack animals. You are their leader/teammate/ cheerleader/parent/friend, all rolled into one. Make sure you deserve those joyous greetings you are the recipient of.

Make sure your dog isn’t left alone for the majority of the day and the night.

If extended absences are impossible to avoid, employ a neighbourhood retiree or responsible teen to take your dog out for a walkabout during the day. Or maybe there’s an elderly person in your area that would benefit from a couchmate during the day (see page 132). It’s worth looking into.

11

LEARN A PARTY TRICK. Tricks are fun for dogs. A cute one is to teach your dog to sneeze.

Simply wait for sneezes to occur naturally and then immediately say, “Sneeze!” in a bright and cheery voice and give your dog a treat. Do this each and every time your dog sneezes.

Jennifer Nosek, Modern Dog’s Editor & Creative Director, taught her Dachshund, Esther, this trick in two days flat. Esther now sits under the lunch table sneezing unbidden in the hopes of getting a tasty bit of someone’s repast. Dogs are smart. (Be forewarned.) n

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A Tail of Transformation

By Jennifer Messer

A

nimal sacrifices (yadnya) are a part of some religious ceremonies in Bali. Brown dogs and puppies with a black muzzle (bangbungkem), are especially sought after for yadnya because they are believed to have special medicinal and spiritual powers, curing asthma and protecting temples and graveyards from evil forces. When there is a tragedy or misfortune, animals are sacrificed to appease demons, cleanse nature, and restore the balance of positive and negative forces. To the Balinese, these sacrifices are not cruel; they make offerings and recite mantras in the hope that the animal will acquire enough karma for reincarnation at a higher status in their next life.

“We have to be vigilant to make sure our dogs are leaving these doors as pets, with a chance to safely live out this life,” Kim McCreanor, an animal welfare volunteer explains. “We will only adopt brown dogs with black muzzles to very carefully screened Balinese or to foreigners. It can be a matter of life and death.”

Beyond the Guidebook Ending their lives as animal sacrifices is only one of the sad fates that await many Balinese dogs. This beautiful island is no paradise for canines, as I discovered when I came to Bali with my boyfriend, Tim, and our four-month-old son. We were drawn to the island for its highly developed arts, fascinating religion—a unique form of Hinduism with Buddhist influence—and child-friendly culture. Bali is the oddball province, being over 90 percent Hindu in an otherwise Islamic Indonesia. Deeply interwoven with art and ritual, Balinese Hinduism is a composite belief system in which gods are worshipped together with Buddhist heroes and the spirits of ancestors and sacred places.

For six weeks, we reveled in the ancient temples, mysterious ceremonies, and traditional dance that are an integral part of everyday Balinese life. In fact, the Balinese are so deeply committed to religion that most of them use up all of their vacation days to fulfill ceremonial obligations, often travelling across the country when religious duty necessitates prayer at an ancestral temple.

The Balinese are soft-spoken, humble, and warm. From a young age, they are taught to tame their “animal instincts,” and any display of anger or impatience is seen as a sign of weakness and immaturity. Self-control is such a fundamental part of Balinese Hinduism that they are famed for their exceptionally graceful and decorous behaviour. So, despite the language barrier and our frequent cultural faux pas like accidentally stepping on freshly laid offerings, our genuine interest in Balinese culture was met with nothing short of

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PHOTO HOLLY HOLLISTER

The Dogs of Bali

We were committed to living Bali beyond the guide book.

delight. We were welcomed as family into the tiny rural village of Bingin Banjah that we quickly came to call home.

It’s easy and quite natural for visitors to romanticize about an exotic culture, seeing only the ways in which the refreshing newness is superior to the old and familiar of our homelands. Maybe this is the difference between vacation and travel: vacation is like dating the country and seeing the best it has to offer, and travel is more like moving in together, where you uncover some of the shortcomings. We dated Bali for the first few days, intoxicated with intrigue, and then looked for a deeper and more meaningful relationship. We were committed to living Bali beyond the tour book, and in doing so learned of the complex plight of the Bali dog.

The Plight of the Bali Dog Travel through any part of the island and you will see lots of thin, half-bald street dogs that look something akin to the Australian dingo. Most are severely undernourished and itchy with mites, some also nursing injuries. Many Balinese households keep dogs as pets, but the concept of ownership is quite different from ours. A pet dog in Bali mainly serves a guarding function, and is generally not fed or provided with any medical care. Most pet dogs are expected to forage for scraps and fend for themselves, a reflection both of cultural norms and the harsh constraints of poverty.

Poverty also makes dogs a potential source of food, despite the fact that Hindu law prohibits the eating of dog meat. It is more common among young teens who, unfortunately, associate the consumption of dog meat with virility. To other Balinese Hindus, dogs represent the dark side and are believed to be the reincarnation of thieves and criminals, frowned upon for lives poorly lived.

It is no wonder that so many dogs are living miserable lives of suffering, and are sacrificed, eaten, abandoned, and sometimes even used as target practice by cars and scooters. In fact, the future of the Bali dogs might be quite bleak if it weren’t for the growing success of a remarkable volunteer organization we discovered: the Bali Animal Welfare Association (BAWA).

A Different Kind of Tour Just outside Ubud, the cultural center of Bali renowned for woodcarving, metalwork, stonework, and the infamous daily barong dance performances, lies BAWA’s free veterinary clinic, open 24/7 for animals in need. The founder and director, successful US jewelry designer Janice Girardi, came to Bali in 1973 to start a jewelry company and ended up fostering strays instead,

A street dog gets vaccinated.

eventually establishing BAWA in 2007.

As veterinarians, Tim and I are hoping we can volunteer with them; I’m a spay-neuter surgeon and Tim is a medicine man, so we think between the two of us we would be able to make a useful contribution. However, the minimum volunteer period is two weeks, a bit too long with our son in tow, so we settle for a tour instead.

When we pull up to the clinic on our trusty scooter on a sunny Bali morning, we are greeted by the wagging tails of eager dogs hoping for homes, and by McCreanor, equally eager to show us around.

“The entrance area is primarily a triage space where animals are housed directly from the ambulance whilst awaiting assessment and treatment by the vet,” McCreanor explains. We are impressed to learn that BAWA is a no-kill shelter, and only animals who are either paralyzed or have a highly infectious disease that could wipe out the entire shelter can be euthanized without consulting the director.

We step into the main building and walk through the intensive care unit, where patients on IV drips, those awaiting or recovering from surgery, newborns, and other animals needing close supervision and intense care are kept. Two recent patients at the ICU were a pair of littermates found by Sam, a tourist on Seseh beach.

“When they arrived at our clinic they were so very weak they could barely move,” a volunteer explained to me. Born on a nearby cremation site and relocated by unknown people to the beach without their mother, the young puppies were in distress and Sam could tell that they would die a terrible death without help. He called BAWA, who dispatched an ambulance to bring

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adoption. We were initially surprised at the number of adult dogs housed together without incident—unheard of at shelters back home—but then recalled that Bali street dogs are used to living peaceably together and are exceptionally well socialized to each other. Humans are another story, and most adult dogs have learned to be quite wary of us.

the puppies to the clinic for treatment. BAWA’s two ambulances respond to about 25 calls a day island-wide.

“Despite our best efforts and love, we sadly lost one of the puppies,” the volunteer explained. “The good news is that the remaining puppy, who has been named Fighter, is now being fostered by Sam, who is staying in Bali for a while.”

Around the corner from the ICU is the surgical suite, where we watch Dr. Saka Wiryana perform a dog neuter. We are impressed with the sterile technique and excellent pain control— not to be taken for granted in a third-world country. It is only 11 am, yet the heat of the tropics is already setting in, and we see beads of sweat forming above the doctor’s mask as he places each suture meticulously.

“Our vets are extremely dedicated,” McCreanor explains. “The pay here is low, and the hours long… they can get much better jobs with the government, but they are deeply committed and determined to help these animals.”

Next we visit the runs, where litters of pups are kept together in simple but clean kennels while they are in various stages of quarantine and recover from minor health issues. Apart from a few runny eyes and the occasional skin problem, the puppies look to be in generally good health and spirits. Some are a bit timid, but most run to the kennel door and give our fingers energetic nibbles as we crouch down to say hello.

Across from them is a courtyard filled with adults ready for adoption. Some volunteers are milling around petting them, hand feeding the shyer ones and socializing them for ease of

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Efforts such as BAWA’s require the participation of many to effect change. One of BAWA’s partner organizations is the Australia-based registered charity The Bali Street Dog Fund, which was formed after Natasha Burton, visiting Bali from Sydney, found a very unwell puppy and took him to a newly formed animal welfare organization called Foundation Yudisthria for treatment. Natasha came home to Australia determined to do something to try to stop the suffering of Balinese street dogs and, together with her friend Paula Hodgson, co-founded The Bali Street Dog Fund. Everyone involved with the Fund is an unpaid volunteer. They pay for their own airfares and expenses for any work they undertake for the charity so that all donated funds go directly to the animals.

Over the last nine years, The Bali Street Dog Fund has donated $168,000 in medication and equipment. The money they’ve raised in Australia has fully funded the mobile spay/neuter program that BAWA undertakes, including purchase of a spay/neuter van, and provided funding for animal welfare education classes in local schools, as well as for two 24-hour animal ambulances. The moral of the story?

Never imagine that you can’t make a difference.

The 70 Percent Solution The relationship between the Bali dogs and people has long been tenuous, but only four years ago, an island-wide rabies epidemic threatened its very existence. In 2008, just one year after formally establishing BAWA, Girardi unwittingly found herself at the frontline of the island’s first encounter in centuries with this deadly disease—one it was completely unprepared for. Bali had no vaccines, funding, or emergency plan. With people dying horrifying deaths, the country went into a panic.

Local media initially pointed the finger at western expats importing purebreds from neighbouring Java, but as the death toll mounted and with the Bali bombings in recent memory, there was even suspicion of Islamic bioterrorism. The truth was much more mundane. A 32-year-old taxi driver had moved to

PHOTO PATRIA JANNIDES

It Takes An (International) Village

“We will only adopt brown dogs with black muzzles to very carefully screened Balinese or to foreigners. It can be a matter of life and death.”

Bali from the Indonesian island of Flores in search of work.

Unaware that his dog was infected with the rabies virus, he had brought the dog with him. A few months later, the dog attacked him, his friend, and a three-year-old boy, whose father’s frantic calls to hospitals for life-saving treatment fell on disbelieving ears. Early human cases went undiagnosed until it was too late, and hundreds more died from lack of post-exposure vaccination, or money to pay for it. The $500 treatment is out of reach for most, in a country where people live on less than three dollars a day.

What Bali needed was a massive dog vaccination campaign.

Instead, they embarked on a massacre. The Indonesian government, grossly misinformed, commanded a mass poisoning of dogs. By November, 2009, almost 40,000 dogs had been indiscriminately killed. Tourists complained of piles of dead dogs, owners hid their pets from cull teams, and yet the human death toll was doubling every six months.

Exasperated, Girardi invited an international delegation of rabies experts to Bali to convince local officials that the cure is not to kill, it is to vaccinate. Killing healthy dogs just increases the number of feral dogs the habitat can support, and those dogs are even more likely to bite people. What works is a dog vaccination program that creates a core of healthy animals.

Once 70 percent of dogs are vaccinated, the healthy dog population will drive out the infected animals, who usually die far from the human population without transmitting the disease.

After pleading with officials for over a year, BAWA finally got the green light to vaccinate.

BAWA vaccinated 48,000 dogs during the initial six-month pilot. It was such a great success that they were then granted funding by the government to up their rabies staff ten-fold and expand the program island-wide. The staff were true heroes, working in the hot sun and pouring rain, vaccinating over 200,000 dogs on a mission to save lives, human and canine alike. When they reached the magic 70 percent target, the human rabies death toll plummeted.

Finally, in May of last year, BAWA successfully handed over the rabies program to the United Nations and the Balinese provincial government. Now BAWA can once again focus on its core activities: medical care, spay and neuter services, and public education.

Hope for the Future McCreanor leads us upstairs where we enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the shelter, which is built with an open top center that encourages airflow and sunshine.

“This is where we house the kennel cough kids and anyone with ring worm, so that they are well away from the runs and don’t infect the healthy animals,” she tells us.

From this high viewpoint, we look out on the rice fields below, and I ask McCreanor what she thinks the future of the Bali dog will be. She pauses for a few moments and then answers thoughtfully.

“Education is the key to long-term change. Discussions with village elders, seminars, and working closely with schoolchildren is bringing about transformation.”

It is clear that BAWA’s education outreach is being well received. In 2009, their “Red Collar” campaign promoting vaccination and collaring of dogs instead of mass culling was a hit.

With the slogan “Spend a dollar, buy a collar, save a dog,” who could resist? (Well, the dogs do, I’m told, as catching them the second time for vaccine boosters has reportedly been a bit of a challenge!) BAWA has even helped recruit Hindu religious leaders to speak out against culling dogs, and address the welfare concerns of animal sacrificing.

The Bali Dog Idol Adoption Competition this year was also a resounding success, for the fourth year in a row. In this fun and educational event, students and local residents compete for prizes in animal welfare skills and knowledge, and schools enter artwork about loving and caring for animals, vying for prizes such as computers and white boards.

It’s a long road ahead for the dogs of Bali and for their champions at BAWA, but I can see that transformation is indeed taking place. In fact, Tim and I hope to be a bigger part of it on our next visit when we return as volunteers. BAWA relies heavily on donations from tourists, expats, and concerned dog lovers like you who live overseas. If you can’t fly across the world to help the dogs of Bali, perhaps you can send them a little financial support—no donation is too small. Just visit bawabali.com. And if you can hop on a plane, well, perhaps we’ll see you there! n

Go! Voluntourism A life-changing experience, no special skills required BAWA welcomes volunteers (vets, vet nurses, and non-veterinary trained people alike). Volunteers must be fully vaccinated against rabies and have an up to date tetanus vaccination. The minimum time period for volunteering is two weeks and volunteers must arrange their own accommodations. Direct volunteer enquires to Kim McCreanor (kim@bawabali.com) at BAWA.

LAUGH

Tiny Confessions

Deepest thoughts and secret admissions revealed!

H

ave you ever been bewildered by your pup’s actions, be he a connoisseur of dirty socks or budding lepidopterist, and questioned just what is going on in that head of his? Lucky for you, New York City-based comedian and artist Christopher Rozzi is here to give us the inside track. In his spot-on illustrations revealing the inner musings and reflections of our canine pals, Rozzi offers a very funny proposal of what’s going on behind that inscrutable, fuzzy visage—and in the process captures something very true and revealing of our relationships with our dogs.

Rozzi’s terrific prints are developed from his one-of-akind paintings, a collection of which will be available in his forthcoming book, Tiny Confessions. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until next June for the book’s release, but in the interim, you can get your hands on one of his prints through Etsy or send him a picture of your dog to be matched with her own confession. We confess: we’re charmed.—RF

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

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Available in a variety of finishes fitting your style. Crate door option available. kooldog.ca

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DOG BLOGGING

101

By Jessica Nosek

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Have a dog? Love to write? Niche internet fame could be yours!

I

’d been toying with the idea of starting a blog for a number of years. After numerous failed attempts, a theme that switched almost daily, and more talk than action, I was exactly where I started: a WordPress site with no entries. Oh yeah, and a Tumblr site with no entries too. Quite clearly, I needed help. Enter Denise Quashi, social media consultant and founder of BarkWorld, a two day networking symposium specific to the pet world. We asked Denise for her advice on how to turn a desire to enter the blogosphere into a reality—and maybe a little cash on the side, too.

Q: What is the best and easiest way for a would-be blogger to get started?

A: It’s so important to first listen to gain an understanding of what the particular community you’re targeting is looking for and possibly challenged with and then interjecting your own personal stories and recommendations. I’d also suggest being active and contributing on other blogger profiles. This is a great way to build awareness of your blog and to also build online relationships with established bloggers.

Q: WordPress, Blogspot, Tumblr... how to decide which platform to go with?

A: I absolutely love WordPress because it’s limitless. You can trick your blog out with so many features and gadgets. However, it’s really a level up from a user standpoint. Some HTML and coding knowledge might be helpful to really be able to manage the blog on your own. Many bloggers start out with Blogspot and then once they’ve “graduated,” move up to something more professional looking with WordPress. I also love Tumblr for photo blogging and quick blogging. If you’re a micro blogger [you post short snippets as opposed to rambling essays] this would be my suggestion.

Q: No one except for my mom follows me. How can I develop an audience?

A: What would we do without our moms?

Being active on blogs and Twitter certainly helps. Many blogs allow you to comment through your Twitter ID. This adds a trackback to your Twitter page, which, if your comment is a great one, showcases your knowledge and gains the interest of the blogger and their readers. One tip for commenting: always, always include your Twitter ID as your sign off.

Another way is to participate in pet-related chats. Weekly there’s a #petchat on Twitter and this is another great way to meet online networkers.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you to participate in events like BarkWorld Expo. By attending a social media conference [you meet] online networkers that can help you navigate and grow your online presence. You’ll also learn new marketing tips and ways to build a brand surrounding your blog and pet.

Easy Money (really!)

Automated programs like Linkshare (linkshare.com) generate micropayments for every ad click, allowing you to monetize your site and start earning commissions without having to court advertisers yourself.

You can also become an affiliate and earn commission on sales. For example, Modern Dog’s Affiliate Program (moderndogmagazine.com/affiliate) earns you 50% commission for every subscription sale originating from your blog or site! moderndogmagazine.com

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“Always, always include your Twitter ID as your sign off.”

Q: Is it crazy to think I could live off money earned through my blog?

A: Not at all. There are many established voices in pet blogging that do charge brands for advertising and postsubmissions. You may not retire tomorrow, but if you set up your blog and build a strong online readership, many companies would be interested in working with you.

For my dog’s blog, any additional revenue we make goes in a savings account so when he wants to go to Doggy Playcare or the Dog Spa, money comes from his savings. Vet visits and

Tip: Positive content gets shared more than negative or neutral content. chew toys can get pricy so pet blogging can be great way to help offset your pet’s daily costs.

Q: What are the most important things to consider when writing a blog post?

A: Think about the reader first. Yes, blogs are personal stories and opin-

ions, but to build a “conversation” you should always add value and a call to action in your blog to gain readers interest and desire to comment and share with their friends/readers.

Good blogs keep their posts fresh and up-to-date. You’ll want to create a production schedule and be consistent. If you plan to post twice a day, make that commitment—even if it’s just a repost from another blog (be sure to always add the credits if you repost a blog).

Top 5 tips for a successful post?

e Think about the purpose of your post. Some bloggers write just because they haven’t added a post in a while, but the successful ones write because they have something of value to share or contribute.

r Be creative. Adding photos and videos is a great way to demonstrate the post. Providing not just the content but also some great visuals always draws the reader in more.

t Definitely be sure your post includes share tools so readers can easily share your post with their friends on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, their blog, and Pinterest.

u Add a call to action. Encourage Looking for blog fodder? We’re sharing breaking stories, cool finds, DIYs and more! Connect with us on Facebook.com/ ModernDogMag, Twitter. com/ModernDogMag, and Pinterest.com/ModernDogMag.

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your readers to comment. If your post is about a new tool, toy, book, etc. ask them to go try it out and comment back on your blog. If the post is more opinionated, ask them their thoughts on the matter and encourage them to question your voice of authority. Some of the best blog posts I’ve read were open conversations and allowed for readers to

Go to wefollow.com and enter a keyword (dog, for instance); Wefollow.com will generate a list of the most influential and most followed Twitter accounts associated with that keyword.

provide their thoughts and beliefs.

i Mind your disclosures. If you’re blogging about a product/service that was given to you for free to try out, be sure to add a disclosure at the bottom.

If it’s something you purchased on your own and you’re adding your personal thoughts, then add that disclosure too.

Many bloggers are being paid for their reviews on products and it’s just good blogging to let your readers know in advance.

Q: Why consider a pet-focus?

A: By pet blogging, you connect with an audience of extremely passionate people. You can gain so much insider knowledge. The best value to me is being able to speak “dog” to other pet social networkers and they just get it.

My friends without pets don’t understand the relationship I have with my dog and pet blogging allows me to connect with like-minded individuals and share funny stories and pictures. There are only so many photos I can share with non-pet owners of my dog before they think I’m a little nutty.

This year’s BarkWorld conference takes place October 25-27, 2012 in Atlanta, Ga. The lineup of speakers includes keynote presenters from Twitter.com, Meetup.com, and the ASPCA. n

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super

SASHA, a Samoyed

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fluff!

Photographed by Hans Sipma

RUBY, a Pomeranian

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RAJAH, a Collie

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MURPHY, a Coton de Tulear

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CLARK, a Mini Goldendoodle 66 moderndog F ALL 2012

CHLOE, an Old English Sheepdog moderndogmagazine.com

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Behind-the-Scenes:

Superfluff

In throwing around ideas for the fall issue’s photo-spread during one of our editorial pizza-lunch meetings, we hit upon a clear winner, one instantly capturing the fancy of the Modern Dog team: Fluffballs aka fluffy dogs. (Yes, this is the best job ever.) We put a call out on Facebook and Twitter for Vancouver, BC-based dogs of the super puffy, fluffy variety, all breeds and mixes to be considered so long as they possessed the requisite furriness. Interest from would-be models poured in and we settled on a line-up and a date. Hans Sipma, photographer of our “Wet Dogs!” spread from the summer issue (if you missed these delightful images, do yourself a favour and check them out: moderndogmagazine.com/gallery/wet-dogs) agreed to lend his genius to the project and we were off!

Meet the cuties from our “Superfluff” shoot…

Our first dog of the day, Clark (page 66), an adorable and undeniably super-fluffy Mini Goldendoodle (a Golden Retriever/ Poodle cross), charmed us with his sunny disposition and serious modeling skills.

Encouraged by his guardian, Paul McMillan, Clark was all smiles (bottom teeth showing) and inquisitively tipped head. It was tough to decide just which of Clark’s funny and very cute shots should make it into the magazine. We swear this dog poses.

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Next up was rescued Collie Rajah (page 64). Beautiful Rajah was adopted through Cross Our Paws Rescue (crossourpawsrescue. com) by his new dog-mom, Breanna Carey, just a week before our shoot.

He was sweet, laid-back, affectionate, well trained—in short, the perfect gentleman and a poster-dog for rescue. It’s true: whatever breed or mix you’re looking for, puppy or senior, you can find it in a rescue.

Coton de Tulear Murphy’s (page 65) adorable white ‘do made him an instant “yes” when choosing the dogs to be included. Encouraged by his guardian Stephanie Lampman, he posed his way through his session like a professional model, offering smiles, head tilts, and a variety of moods and attitudes. Someone notify Top Model, this one’s got tons of personality and style!

Samoyeds Sasha and Blaize are an irresistible pair of snowball-white cuties.

Sasha and Blaize’s “mom” Carrie Corbett runs Carried Through Animal Rescue (carriedthrough.com). We were surprised to learn that Sasha (page 62)was a Taiwanese street dog in her former life. Through TUAPA, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping homeless animals, Sasha was rescued from the streets of Taiwan—hard to imagine this Northern breed as a stray in Asia—and sent to her awaiting home in Canada with Carrie.

We would be remiss were we not to include the fluffiest of toy breeds, the Pomeranian, in the shoot. Rescued Pom Ruby brought her all, looking like a little lion with her golden mane. The smile you see in her photo (page 63) was induced by her dog-mom, Tannis Kokotilo, producing a tiny morsel of hamburger. And that’s how it’s done, folks.

We desperately wanted an Old English Sheepdog represented but, rather surprisingly, we were having some difficulty locating one available to take part in the shoot. But thanks to our awesome Facebook following (Rupunzel Book, you rock!), we found our dog. Old English Sheepdog extraordinaire Chloe (page 67) arrived, a perfect cloud of fluff, escorted by her comb-wielding guardian, Christina Zander, and proceeded to knock it out of the park.

Furry Siberian Husky Isabelle (page 4) is part of our very own Nicole Perry’s pack. Nicole is a trainer and writes our Dog Trick column (page 117) so, as you can likely imagine, Isabelle knows all the cues, even, impressively, “back up.”

Smiling center stage in just the right position, the beautiful Isabelle breezed through her shoot.

Longhaired Miniature Dachshund Rose has been part of the Modern Dog team for four years. A rescue from Washington State, Rose is spending her golden years in Canada (a reverse Snow Bird!), residing with Modern Dog’s Editor and Creative Director Jennifer Nosek. Thus she was brought along to the shoot, ostensibly as a lighting standin. (C’mon, she’s furry and super-cute and who wouldn’t try and finagle their dog into the proceedings?!) n

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The Doctor is

Dr. Betsy Brevitz tackles common veterinary vexations

THE TRUTH ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES Bichon Frisé rubs her face and licks her paws constantly. The groomer said she Q My probably has a food allergy and I should switch her to an organic diet. What do you think?

A: Your dog may have a food allergy, but switching her to an organic diet won’t help you find out. If she is allergic, it’s almost certainly to a natural component of the food itself and not to hormones, pesticides, or preservatives used growing or preparing it.

Food allergies are widely misunderstood. People think they are common in dogs, but allergies to inhaled substances are actually far more common. People think vomiting, diarrhea, or other digestive problems are the main symptoms of canine food allergies, but the most common symptoms are actually non-seasonal itchiness (manifested by paw-licking, face-rubbing, and scratching) and recurrent ear infections. People think dogs are born with a particular food allergy and it never changes. In fact, an allergy to a particular food develops only after a dog has eaten it one or more times, and a food allergy can develop at any point, even if the dog has eaten the food without any problem for years.

Diagnosing food allergies is equally complicated. The blood or skin tests that are used to diagnose allergies to inhaled substances are not accurate for food allergies. Sometimes such tests will state that a dog is allergic to beef even though she shows no symptoms when she eats beef, or the tests may detect no allergy to eggs even though eating eggs clearly makes her itchy. What’s known as a novel food trial produces much more meaningful results and is therefore the best way to diagnose food allergies.

Avoiding the problem food or foods is the only effective treatment for food allergies.

In a novel food trial, a dog is placed on a special diet that contains a “novel” protein and carbohydrate—in other words, ones she has never eaten before. It’s those main ingredients, and not the brand, type, or variety of food, that must be entirely new to your dog. Organic dog food, a homemade diet, and lamband-rice foods do not qualify as novel if your dog has eaten the same ingredients before.

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A novel food trial lasts a long time—6 to 12 weeks. During that time, a dog must not eat any other food—no dog biscuits, rawhide, or other treats. If the dog’s allergy symptoms clear up significantly in those 6 to 12 weeks, then it’s likely that she does have a food allergy.

Precisely what food your dog is allergic to won’t be revealed by the novel food trial, but you may be able to narrow the possibilities by reading the label of the food your dog was eating when she developed symptoms. The most common documented food allergies are to beef, dairy, or wheat, but allergies to egg, chicken, lamb, soy, and other ingredients have also been reported.

Avoiding the problem food or foods is the only effective treatment for food allergies. Antihistamines and allergy shots do not help.

Over time, a dog can become allergic to what was once novel, so she may have to be switched at some point from, say, Royal Canin Potato & Duck Formula to Iams Response KO (kangaroo and oats). There are also hypoallergenic prescription foods whose ingredients have been digested into molecules too small to trigger an allergic reaction, such as Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d Ultra, Purina CNM HA, and Royal Canin HP, but they are relatively expensive and don’t work well for all dogs.

THE VOMITING HOUND

Q “My dog vomited three times today. Should I take her to the vet or wait it out?”

A: Like diarrhea, vomiting can be caused by serious problems (including pancreatitis, kidney disease, and liver disease) or not-so-serious problems (such as eating too fast or eating grass). Here are some questions to help you assess how urgent the problem is: • Is your dog less than six months old? A puppy can quickly develop dangerously low blood sugar and dehydration, plus she is more likely to have intestinal parasites, parvo, a birth defect, or something blocking the stomach or intestines. Call your vet right away.

•

•

Did your dog recently chew up or swallow a dog toy, cloth, rocks, or some other inedible object? Call your vet right away.

•

Is there blood or digested blood (this looks like coffee grounds) in the vomit? Call your vet right away.

•

Could your dog have eaten something toxic? Call your vet right away.

•

Is your dog very uncomfortable, retching and heaving as if she wants to vomit, and swollen in the sides or belly? Call your vet or an emergency vet clinic immediately—she might have bloat, a life-threatening emergency.

Are there worms, plastic, cloth, or other non-food material in the vomit? Call your vet right away.

If your dog does not display any of the red flags described above, try this home treatment.

Home Care For Vomiting

If your dog has vomited once or twice today, is older than six month, and does not show any of the above warning signs of serious illness, it’s generally safe to try home treatment for one to two days, using the following plan.

•

Does she have other health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease? If your dog has other health issues or is taking any medication other than monthly heartworm prevention, it’s best to call the vet about vomiting.

•

Has your dog had pancreatitis in the past? This can be a recurring problem, so call your vet right away.

•

Is she weak or lethargic, or does she just seem very sick? Call your vet right away.

•

Has she been vomiting repeatedly for more than four hours even though she hasn’t had any food, water, or medication during that time? Call your vet.

Wait one hour, and if she hasn’t vomited, offer her a small amount— about 2 tablespoons for a small dog, ¼ cup for a medium dog, and ½ cup for a large dog—of the following bland diet: three parts cooked rice mixed with one part boiled chicken (no skin, no fat, no bones, no spices), lightly salted.

If she does not vomit after that, continue to offer her that small amount of bland diet along with a small amount of water every few hours or so.

First, and most important, give your dog absolutely nothing to eat or drink – no rice, no water, no ice cubes, no heartworm pill, no chicken broth, nothing—for 12 to 24 hours after she has vomited. For the vomiting to stop the digestive tract has to rest completely. If your dog is older than six months and is healthy otherwise, she will not become severely dehydrated from a 12 to 24-hour fast. If she continues to vomit repeatedly or hasn’t stopped vomiting by four hours into the fast, call your vet.

If at any point she begins to vomit again, call your vet. Otherwise, the following day you can double the amount of the bland diet fed each meal and decrease the number of meals to three, plus give her unlimited water.

Then, 12 to 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting, give your dog a small amount of water: about two tablespoons for a dog that weighs less than 20 pounds, about ¼ cup for a dog that weighs 20 to 50 pounds, and about ½ cup for a dog that weighs more than 50 pounds.

There are no over-the-counter medicines for vomiting in dogs. A prescription drug such as Cerenia, Reglan (metoclopramide), or chlorpromazine can be used to stop vomiting, but they are dangerous if a dog has eaten something blocking the stomach or intestines or other health problems, so your vet will need to examine your dog before administering it.

Wait 30 minutes, and if she hasn’t vomited, give her twice that amount of water.

After three days on the bland diet, start mixing the increasing amounts of her regular food into the rice-and-chicken mixture over another three or four days until she’s eating just her regular food.

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body &soul COLOUR US GREEN 5 great ways to get down with Mother Nature

Modern Dog hearts the forest. We print on an FSCcertified stock from responsibly managed forest that contains 30 percent recycled content and use vegetable-based inks. We feel pretty darn great about that, so we thought we’d come up with six more ways to celebrate the planet and the special connection to nature us dog people experience and keep the goodness flowing.

1

dog is high-fiving us right

3

now.)

earthpawz.com fresh smelling, earth

Leave the car and take an extra long dog-walk. (Your

Choose cleaning products that are safe for the environment, and also for our dogs, kids, cats, ourselves.

Non-toxic = happy and healthy. We love friendly products.

2

4

Make a donation of lightly pre-loved items like toys, beds, blankets or collars at your local rescue or humane society. Your gift will

keep products out of the landfill, provide comfort

animals stand out and get adopted.

Just call your local shelter or humane organization. Almost all are delighted to take donations.

area, you’re not just reducing

you’re also boosting local industry. Win-

adoption animals find homes; the toy has been shown to help shelter

products that are made in your

your (and your dog’s) eco footprint,

to shelter animals, and even help up-forpresence of a cute blanket, collar, or

Shop and eat local. By buying

win!

5

Get down the second “R”– reuse a dog. Find a new best bud at your local shelter

or through adoptapet.com or petfinder.com.

MODERN DOG POLL When you call home while away, do you ask to speak to your dog?

CAST YOUR VOTE AT MODERNDOGMAGAZINE.COM 72 moderndog F ALL 2012

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body &soul ROSEMARY

HERB FOR HEALTH Not just a spice rack staple, this powerful herb contains a number of antioxidants. Try sprinkling a small amount on your dog’s dinner or using it to season the next batch of treats you bake.

Caution: Do not use rosemary oil as this has been anecdotally linked to increasing seizures in dogs that are prone to seizures.

DOG TV

Cable goes to the dogs

A group of scientists and dog experts have developed a cable TV channel specifically for your dog. DOGTV is the first cable network of its kind, delivering a variety of short, dog-friendly programs designed to relax, stimulate, or desensitize your four-legged pal in your absence. The stimulation programs incorporate moving objects and real world sounds to keep dogs interested and engaged when alone, while the relaxation programs integrate calming sounds and music to help soothe the anxious pup. The exposure programs are meant to habituate canine viewers to stimulating sounds that they encounter on a daily basis, like doorbells. In all programming, the audio and visual has been adjusted for dogs’ specific hearing and seeing sensibilities.

Designed with the “stay-at-home dog” in mind, DOGTV works to prevent mental fatigue, boredom, and even depression. (Note: TV for dogs is not a replacement for company and exercise!)

DOGTV is currently only available on cable in San Diego, but is aiming to launch nationwide by the end of the year. In the meantime, for $9.99 per month, you can stream DOGTV online. Check out preview for all three types of programming at dogtv.com/Page/watchdogtv.

—NS

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ZEST FOR LIFE Grapefruit, oranges, and other citrus fruit family members are best known for their high vitamin C content but they also contain folate, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Not all dogs enjoy citrus, but next time you’re having an orange, try sharing it—just make sure you’ve removed the peel.—EP & LS

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body &soul Mission: Possible If you’re serious about rolling up your sleeves and doing some on-the-ground rescue work, book your flight to Vegas for Best Friends Animal Society’s No More Homeless Pets Conference, held at the Rio, for the latest ideas and practices in saving animals. This annual conference aims to educate and support those involved in animal rescue, focusing on topics such as building no kill communities, keeping pets out of shelters, adoption and fostering, funding, care, and behaviour. From October 25 - 28 meet with like-minded individuals all focused on the common goal: no more homeless pets. bestfriends.org

Indoor Exercise Idea With winter weather on its way, those of us who live in colder climes with dogs that need their exercise (this includes exercise junkies and candidates for Biggest Canine Loser) may find a treadmill for dogs (yes, you heard that right) a godsend. Designed by exercise industry experts who for years have designed tread mills for people, DogTread treadmills allow dogs to get their exercise regardless of sleet, snow or rain, incorporating pet industry firsts like a natural running platform, treat holders, and expert educational programming. Treading can be great for physical rehab too. dogtread.com

THE FIND

“No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich.”

—Louis Sabin 76 moderndog F ALL 2012

Ease achy joints and sore hips with Wellytails’ highly concentrated Cartilage, Hip and Joint supplement. This potent mix of Chondroitin, Glucosamine, Omega3s and tart red cherry powder helped our big dogs suffering from chronic joint pain and reduced mobility. Bonus: the powder mix was pleasing to even the pickiest palette and only a small amount is needed (only 2.5 scoops for a 100 pound dog!). wellytails.com—SL

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By Elizabeth Pask and Laura Scott

A

recent conversation after training class prompted a lively discussion from my classmates on adding supplements to dogs’ food to help boost their nutrient intake. “I worry that Buddy isn’t getting enough vitamins and minerals!” “I want Brandy’s coat to look better” “How can I keep Molly’s immune system healthy?” were typical of their comments.

There is no replacement for a well-balanced diet, whether you buy it in a bag or can or prepare it at home, but adding a supplement or two, such as the ones discussed below, may give your dog a bit of a nutritional boost and help to optimize his health.

As always, make sure your vet is aware of any supplements that you give—or plan to give—your dog. While the supplement itself may be safe, it may interact with a medication that your dog is taking or it may be a factor in diagnosing a particular issue that your dog is having. Keep a list of what you are using and how much you are feeding, and make sure to take that information along with you to vet appointments.

It is also important not to over-supplement. Vitamins and minerals can be toxic at high doses causing your dog to become very sick. Check the label for any supplement you use and make sure you adjust your dog’s diet accordingly.

Note that all serving suggestions are for a medium-sized dog (30 to 50 lbs; 14 to 23 kg). If your dog is larger or smaller, please adjust accordingly. The suggestions are also intended for normal, healthy dogs. A dog with a chronic disease or which is undergoing treatment for a particular disease may have vastly different nutritional requirements.

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Chia may be a true super seed.

NUTRITIONAL (ENGEVITA) YEAST Nutritional or engevita yeast is yeast (usually Saccharomyces cerevisiea) that has been grown under controlled conditions and then treated with heat so that it is no longer active. Often used by people who are vegetarians, this yeast has a slightly nutty or cheesy flavour. People use it as a flavour enhancer for foods, including as a topping for popcorn.

It is very rich in B-vitamins, which play a role in the metabolism of fat, carbohydrate, and proteins and are critical for your dog’s health. Dogs do not require large amounts of B vitamins and many are actually made by the bacteria in the dog’s large intestine, so it is rare for a dog to be deficient in B vitamins. Try sprinkling a small amount (less than a teaspoon) on your dog’s dinner to improve palatability, or next time you make popcorn, use nutritional yeast instead of salt and share a light, healthy snack with your pup.

BREWER’S YEAST Brewer’s yeast (also Saccharomyces cerevisiea) is a by-product of beer production. This yeast is inactivated. It has a bitter taste and a different nutrient profile than engevita yeast. It is also a very good source of the B vitamins, as well as containing iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and copper. Deficiencies of these nutrients can cause problems with growth, weight maintenance, skin, and coat condition. Try mixing a tablespoon of brewer’s yeast with plain yogurt and sharing it as an afternoon snack.

Note: NEVER feed live baking yeast or raw yeast dough. The live yeast will continue to expand in your dog’s stomach and can make her very ill.

SEEDS There are a number of plant seeds that are gaining in popularity as super seeds. These can be excellent sources of nutrients,

especially fatty acids, but there is very little scientific research on feeding these to dogs. Although they have a history of safe use and appear to be non-toxic, you may want to limit your use of these super seeds. The calorie-laden fats in these seeds are another reason to keep consumption low.

Hemp products, from oil to seeds to fibre, are growing in popularity. A trip to your local pet store may even turn up hemp-based dog toys. But the real goodness of hemp is found in the seeds.

These seeds are rich in fatty acids, providing a good balance between omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, and are a good source of protein, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Fatty acids promote healthy skin and coat condition.

Try adding 6 g (1 1/2 teaspoon) to your dog’s morning meal, or mixing with a bit of canned food and

stuffing a Kong with the mixture.

With a reputation in the human health realm as providing sustained energy for runners and being great for hair and nails, chia may be a true super seed. These little seeds have an incredible capacity for absorbing water and are best soaked before consuming. This property along with their high fat and fibre content probably contribute greatly to a slow absorption rate, resulting in sustained energy release.

As a great source of fibre, chia may be a good supplement to add for dogs on a weight-loss regimen, but watch those calories: since chia is rich in fatty acids, a small amount is often enough.

Chia seeds are much higher in omega-3 fatty acids than omega-6 and may not be a balanced fatty acid supplement.

Make sure your dog’s overall diet has another source of omega-6 fatty acids before adding chia seeds. The fatty acids in chia will contribute to a healthy coat and may be a good alternative source for dogs that are sensitive to fish and fish

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Turmeric is one of the most promising cancer prevention foods and can be found in your spice rack. oil. Chia seeds are also a source of minerals such as manganese, copper, and zinc.

Try adding a teaspoon directly on your dog’s dinner if he eats a moist food, or soak a teaspoon in water or low sodium broth and mix with a dry food. Always make sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water. Since chia is both fibre- and fatrich, be careful to start with a small amount and test your dog’s tolerance, as some dogs don’t process this well.

TURMERIC Turmeric is one of the most promising cancer prevention foods and can be found in your spice rack. The active compound in turmeric is curcumin, which has been shown to prevent the growth or spread of cancer cells in many types of cancer. It does this by acting as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and by encouraging cell death. Although there are no studies in dogs that prove a clear cancer preventive function, there are many studies done in other species and with cells that clearly demonstrate curcumin’s efficacy against cancer cells. For example, a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight was effective in preventing induced cancer in guinea pigs. While this may not be directly relatable to dogs, it does show that only a small amount should be required. Next time you make a batch of dog treats, add a couple of teaspoons of turmeric to the recipe. You’ll add a new flavour for your dog to try and will boost her intake of antioxidants.

VITAMIN C Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is frequently used by manufacturers as a natural preservative in packaged food. The body requires vitamin C to make collagen, an important component of skin, tendon, and ligaments. In addition, vitamin C plays a role in antioxidant protection in the body. Since a dog’s system can make vitamin C, young and healthy dogs have no

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real need for supplements; however, dogs with chronic kidney disease or geriatric dogs may need extra vitamin C. Note that if you are feeding a special diet formulated for a dog with kidney disease or a geriatric dog, there is usually additional vitamin C already added to this diet.

Recently, there has been a lot of press on the beneficial effects of antioxidants in slowing the progression of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), the canine form of Alzheimer’s disease. CCD starts in late middle age and can manifest as forgetfulness, panic, not recognising owners, and disruption in sleep/wake patterns.

Research at the University of Toronto found that a diet very high in antioxidants resulted in slowing the progression of CCD. The ingredients used in this diet were high in vitamin C and vitamin E. If you are concerned that your dog may have CCD, talk to your veterinarian about treatment options, which may include feeding a special “brain diet.”

In the 1970s, some believed that adding vitamin C to a large-breed puppy’s diet would help prevent hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia. Unfortunately, studies were never able to prove that vitamin C was of any benefit in preventing developmental bone diseases in growing puppies. In fact, a more recent study found that supplementing 16-week-old Labrador puppies with 500 mg of ascorbic acid increased the level of calcium in blood, which may actually cause bone problems.

In humans, vitamin C has been thought to prevent bladder infections by making urine more acidic, and thus preventing bacteria from growing. In dogs, excess vitamin C is

Spirulina supports heart health by lowering the amount of fat in the blood as well as lowering inflammation. excreted in the urine as oxalate, the main component of calcium oxalate bladder stones, so if your dog is prone to developing bladder stones, consult your veterinarian before supplementing with vitamin C. If you want to add some vitamin C to your dog’s diet, try feeding a bit of fruit such as apples and citrus fruits two or three times per week. The small amount of vitamin C in fruit is unlikely to cause any harm.

SPIRULINA Spirulina is a type of cyanobacteria found in tropical and subtropical areas.

High in protein, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids, it makes an ideal addition to a healthy diet. However, spirulina also has some added health benefits above and beyond basic nutrition. In many experiments based both on animals and humans, it was found that spirulina supported heart health by lowering the amount of fat in the blood, as well as lowering inflammation.

The maximum dose should be 1 to 2 tablespoons for a 45 lb (20 kg) dog. As with all supplements and new foods, introduce it to your dog slowly over time.

LECITHIN Lecithin, which is found naturally in many plant oils such as soybean oil, is a phospholipid, a type of fat that the body uses to make cell membranes.

There are billions of cell membranes in your body which makes phospholipid

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a very important molecule. Animals deficient in phospholipids may have delayed cognitive function, impaired wound repair, and skin break down.

Modified lecithin (Phosphatidylserine or PS) may be helpful in improving brain function. In recent rat research, it was found that daily doses of PS given to geriatric rats greatly improved the rats’ performance in a maze. Human patients with senile dementia also had improved memory when they received daily doses of PS, and studies also show promising results in older dogs suffering with CCD. Several products with PS are available for dogs suffering from CCD contain PS; ask your veterinarian for more information. In addition, anxious dogs may benefit from supplements, since PS is thought to increase the level of serotonin in the brain.

NORI Nori is a type of seaweed found in Japanese cuisine that is readily available in many grocery stores or specialty stores. Human consumption of nori is increasing, and it is only natural that people might wonder whether their canine friends might also benefit from a

little crunchy seaweed. Nori is high in protein and low in fat which makes it a nice treat choice for the diet-conscious dog. The little fat it contains is mostly omega-3 fat which makes nori and other seaweeds a good choice for omega-3 fat supplementation. Fish, flax, and vegetable oils are still the best source for omega-3, but nori deserves an honourable mention. Nori has high levels of vitamins and minerals, but they are not readily available to the body.

While there is no research investigating the health benefits of nori for dogs, studies found that rats fed a diet high in cholesterol and nori had a significantly lower degree of fat deposits in their livers than rats fed the high-cholesterol diet without nori.

Unfortunately, nori can have high levels of heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic because of seawater pollution, so it is best to limit the amount of nori you feed to your dog. For a medium-size dog, limit the amount of nori you feed to 50 g per week; most sheets of nori are only five grams so a medium-sized dog could have up to ten of these sheets a week

Apple cider vinegar may provide some health benefits, especially for dogs attempting to lose weight.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR Apple cider vinegar (ACV), made from double fermenting fall and winter apples to produce acetic acid (vinegar), is often touted as a cure-all for many things including treatment of allergies and preventing diabetes. There are many recipes online for those who are interested in making their own ACV and it is also readily available from health food stores and most drug stores.

In recent research, diabetic rats fed ACV had a significantly reduced level of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and a significant increase in HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol).

When managing diabetic dogs, it is important to follow your veterinarian’s advice to prevent serious treatment complications, so if you would like to incorporate ACV into your diabetic dog’s treatment plan, talk to your vet. For non-diabetic dogs, ACV may provide some health benefits, especially for dogs attempting to lose weight. The dose of ACV should be 1000 mg per day for a medium-sized dog.

MODIFIED CITRUS PECTIN (CHEN PI) There are few words that terrify us more than the word cancer. It terrifies us because we feel so powerless to do anything about it. Well, there are some things that we can do. We can try to keep our dogs as healthy as possible using safe and natural supplements such as modified citrus pectin (MCP). In multiple studies, MCP has been found to reduce cancer cells’ ability to invade healthy tissue. This is a fairly new nutritional support for cancer, so exact dosing for dogs is still not known. It is best to work with your vet to determine the right dose for your dog. n

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Ten Years in 10 Questions A ten-year retrospective with Modern Dog Founder and Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson

By Mary-Jo Dionne; Photographed by Kharen Hill; Hair & Makeup by Ellen Pratt

I

remember the first time I saw Modern Dog magazine on the shelves of a Vancouver book retailer. It may sound hokey, but I knew in an instant it would somehow have a profound impact on my life, not only as a reader and a dog-lover, but as a writer too. At the time—now a decade ago—I was an advertising copywriter, convincing unsuspecting audiences to “Act now!”. Via my writing, I peddled everything from fast food burgers to fizzy sugar-drinks, and to say I was feeling emotionally and professionally hollow might be something of an understatement.

I knew I was a passionate person—an animal rescue advocate, a runner, a traveler, a scuba diver, a vegetarian (see above irony re: fast food burgers)—but I’d yet to figure out how to marry my love for writing with my love for what truly mattered to me. To that end, the first time I saw Modern Dog magazine on the shelves of a Vancouver book retailer, I knew I had found my people. And their dogs.

In the last several years, I have had the extreme good fortune to call Connie Wilson, the visionary behind the world’s preeminent magazine for canines and their companions, not only a mentor (this woman knows business as well as compassion, a combination that makes her a shoe-in for the success she has so rightfully earned), but a friend as well. Two years ago, when my then-boyfriend and I eloped in New York City, it was Connie and Modern Dog’s Editor and Creative Director, Jennifer Nosek, who spontaneously agreed to be our witnesses when we exchanged vows at Central Park’s Strawberry Fields memorial.

While initially produced through long hours spent working out of Connie’s home, today each issue of the glossy page-turner

comes to life through long hours spent working out of her team’s offices in a hip Vancouver neighbourhood-in-transition. But their location isn’t the only thing that’s in transition. In the years since Modern Dog magazine’s 2002 debut, the quarterly has made a puppy-to-a-dog transformation of its own, as it has grown, matured, and developed its own strength. In the years I’ve spent collaborating with the good people of Modern Dog magazine, I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Oscar winners, talk show hosts, and an internationally revered home-making maven, but no interview had me chomping at the proverbial bit more than this one.

Trailblazer, animal advocate, and entrepreneur, this is the one and only Connie Wilson.

MD: What were the circumstances in your life 10 years ago that ultimately led you down the path to first envisioning and then creating Modern Dog? CW:I was at a crossroads in my life. After raising my children, and seeing them safely off on their own adventures, I returned to my hometown of Vancouver. It was going to be a new beginning of sorts. I had been a single mom for years and had always yearned to start my own business, but, knowing that start-ups are financially risky and take enormous time and effort, I had waited.

Starting a new life in Vancouver and also getting started on that long-held dream of being a business owner and my own boss was daunting. I felt somewhat lost having left my work, friends, and extended family behind. The only constant at the time was my canine sidekick, Kaya, one crazy dog—a hyperactive, flatulent, barking Weimeraner/Pointer-cross with a severe case of separa-

10 YEAR TIMELINE SEPT 2002

Modern Dog is launched in Vancouver, BC. Vancouver mayorto-be Larry Campbell walks in the runway show at the Modern Dog launch party in promotion of dog rescue.

Due to cross-border demand, Modern Dog expands into the US with its third issue. In just three issues Modern Dog has developed North America-wide distribution.

MAR 2003 DEC 2002 Modern Dog’s distribution goes Canada-wide with the second issue.

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“Kaya was my rock, giving my life purpose and direction and, ultimately, was the inspiration for Modern Dog magazine.” tion anxiety—that I loved dearly. I worried about how my problematic country dog would acclimatize to our new city life, but it was actually a breeze. She loved the off-leash doggie-beaches and parks, romping and racing with other dogs and, unexpectedly, she became my ticket to a whole new social circle, one comprised of other dog parents who doted on their dogs as I did.

Together, Kaya and I managed to start over. She was my rock, giving my life purpose and direction and, ultimately, was the inspiration for Modern Dog magazine, helping me fulfill my longheld dream of having my own business.

MD: Was there one person whose wisdom in particular influenced you in those days? How so?

CW: Actually, there are a few. First of all, my parents. You couldn’t ask for better role models. They taught me the importance of family, following my dreams, believing in myself, working hard, and living my life ethically and honestly. Others whose wisdom played significant roles in my life are authors Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now), Deepak Chopra (Seven Spiritual Laws of Success), Gary Zukav (Seat of the Soul) and Louise Hayes (You Can Heal Your Life).

MD: And years later, you had a full-circle moment when you actually had a chance to interview Eckhart Tolle whose philosophy helped inspire you. What was that moment like for you?

CW: It proved to me just how powerful the philosophies I had learned about in my readings were when regularly practiced; how the power of deliberate intention will allow you to manifest in your life those dreams or desires you’ve regularly and consciously put forth. Louise Hayes affirmations helped me stay the course. And Chopra’s belief that living within our true nature and being in harmony with natural law will assist in bringing success in all areas of life helped me trust in myself

Zeroing in on the zeitgeist, Modern Dog features polarizing, Chihuahua-toting tabloid staple Paris Hilton on the cover.

Modern Dog joins forces with the Regis and Kelly show to promote marvellous mutts through the Mutt America contest. Mutts rule!

SEPT 2004 SEPT 2004

JUN 2004

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Modern Cat makes its debut as a section in Modern Dog magazine.

It is the first step in its trademarking and the roll out of Modern Cat magazine.

Modern Dog’s Connie Wilson with (left to right) American Bulldog/Boxer Cash, Dachshund-cross Neo, Dachshund Esther, Longhaired Dachshund Rose, Wirehaired Dachshund Penny, and Giant Schnauzer Carrie.

ELLEN PHOTO ANDREW ECCLES

and follow my heart. Eckhart Tolle’s message was particularly powerful, especially in the early days when I felt totally overwhelmed worrying about all the aspects of starting a new business. Believe me, it can be torturous; your mind taking over and filling every waking moment with scary “what if’s.” Eckhart expounds the “grace, ease, and lightness” that come when we simply quiet our thoughts and see the world before us in the present moment, for it’s in the present moment that we have the power to affect change. That’s why I think dogs—or pets for that matter—play such an important role in our lives, especially with life just getting busier and our technological devices only adding to the overload. Dogs live in the moment, providing a constant reminder to be present. Just watching a dog can cause a shift in perception, bringing you into present awareness.

MD: What is it about dogs that has made you so incredibly

Modern Dog launches its donation program to help rescue groups raise money through the sale of Modern Dog subscriptions in conjunction with PetFinder.com.

JAN 2005

dedicated to celebrating them in the way only Modern Dog magazine can?

CW: Dogs give us so, so much—they provide daily lessons in love, loyalty, devotion, joy. As Eckhart Tolle says, “For some people, it’s the only relationship where there’s no fear. And where they realize they are being accepted and not judged.”

Our dogs make us better people and enrich our lives in countless ways. What would we do without them? Modern Dog magazine is a way to give back to our dogs and also to the people who love and care for them. We share ideas, offer advice, and provide information that will help us live our best possible lives with dogs. I love being a part of this community.

MD: When you look back on the last decade and all you have accomplished, what are you most proud of?

CW: I’m really proud of what the magazine stands for, the

MAR 2008

A huge highlight—Ellen Degeneres is on the cover of Modern Dog. We do the photo shoot at her house in the Hollywood Hills. Portia de Rossi and Ellen’s mom are both present. Check out this video of Ellen showing off her Modern Dog cover on the Ellen DeGeneres show at moderndogmagazine.com/ellen!

Modern Dog’s muse and mascot, Kaya, a feisty Weimeraner/Pointer cross and the inspiration behind Modern Dog magazine, passes away at 16 years of age. It is very, very sad and quiet around the Modern Dog offices.

NOV 2009

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“Not knowing any of the rules, we just made up our own way of doing things as we went along.”

CW: First of all, you have to be passionate about your idea because it takes countless hours of dedication and focus to make it happen and if you’re wishy-washy about the idea to begin with, you won’t have the staying power to actualize it. Secondly, there has been many a good idea that fizzled out due to cash flow problems or the inability to generate revenue from it, so it’s extremely important to formulate a course of action that blueprints how you’re going to start and develop your business and how you’ll generate revenue from it. Also, you can’t just sit back and think you’ve done it all.

There’s always room for improvement and if you don’t take the time to do it, someone else will.

MD: What is it that makes the team at Modern Dog magazine so special and such an important part of your success?

CW: We’re like a family and we care about each other. Actually, part of the team is family—my two daughters work with me. Jennifer is the Editor and Creative Director and Jessica is the Circulation Manager and Marketing Director. I guess that makes it a true family business. Modern Dog wouldn’t be where it is today without them.

I love my team. Each person here is special with incredible abilities and energy. Everyone pulls together, working towards a common goal—to make

NOV 2010

One year after Kaya’s passing, Connie rescues Penny, a mop-ish Wirehaired Dachshund who landed at the Victoria SPCA along with a passel of other Dachshunds. Penny busily attempts to fill Kaya’s very large paw print with her hijinks.

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Modern Dog the very best it can be. We all pitch ideas, from editorial to circulation-building strategies, many of which are utilized and implemented immediately. It keeps all the positions here stimulating: You’re never compartmentalized so your job never gets boring.

And it’s that team effort that keeps the magazine fresh and exciting. Publishing can be a stressful, deadline-driven environment, but we have lots of laughs here, and our office dogs get us out for walks and remind us of what’s truly important and why we’re doing it.

MD: What do the next ten years look like, not only for Modern Dog magazine, but for Connie Wilson?

CW: This fall sees the launch of the premiere edition of Modern Cat, which has been in the works since 2004, so it’s really rewarding to see it come to fruition. And Modern Horse is to follow.

I secured the domain ModernPets.com back in 2002 with the plan to unroll multiple titles, so that goes to prove the power of intent right there. You visualize and plan for it and eventually it manifests. I’m really excited about their launch!

MD: What qualities do you believe you’ve had to unearth in yourself in order to dig deep when times were tough in order for you to carry on?

CW: Intuition. Optimism. Tenacity.

Trust. And faith. n

Modern Dog celebrates 10 years, an eternity in independent publishing, with Modern Dog Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson on the cover of the 10th anniversary issue! AND the premier issue of Modern Cat is released! Here’s the team that makes it all happen.

SEPT 2012

PHOTO KHAREN HILL

promotion of reward-based training rather than the out-dated fear-based alpha model, and particularly our mandate to support the underdog. We’re bringing to attention the millions of unwanted dogs waiting to be adopted, as well as breeds that have come to be misunderstood and maligned, like the Bully breeds. We promote rescue as the first choice when people are looking for a dog and I think we’ve really helped promote the rescue movement. Today, people are proud to say, “My dog is a rescue.” We also help publicize and support the organizations that work so hard to help dogs in need, shining a deserved spotlight on their efforts.

MD: Along the way, how were you able to turn mistakes in process or judgment into business lessons?

CW: It’s funny to look back at now, but when we started Modern Dog we didn’t know anything about publishing and the supposed “do’s” or “don’ts” of putting together a magazine. Not knowing any of the rules, we just made up our own way of doing things as we went along. This approach actually ended up working out really well for us, allowing us freedom to do whatever we thought would work or be fun and interesting.

MD: What advice would you have for any person who has an idea they dream of actualizing?

The Underdog Club

A group of everyday heroes gives hard-to-place shelter dogs—the “old, ugly, and unpopular”—a marketing makeover and a shot at a forever home

By Rose Frosek

T

he Underdog Club recently came to our attention and we quite simply fell in love with this band of creative individuals and their mandate of marketing the “ugly, old, and unpopular” dogs out there in need of homes.

The club, begun in April, 2007, bills itself as the first-ever dog marketing agency, an apt description if ever there was one. A non-profit, volunteer-run organization, it helps “client” rescue organizations and shelters in Montreal, Quebec, promote their hardest-toplace dogs—in short, “the old, the ugly and the unpopular,” as the club calls them, though Kristin McNeill, the club’s Director, is quick to assure us, “We lovingly, and with humour and compassion, place dogs into these categories!”

Currently comprised of a small and dedicated group of about a dozen people who use their specific skills to get these underdogs some notoriety and keep the organization running, it is a lean team of dedicated dog lovers using their disparate talents to help the most unfortunate dogs out there get a second chance. They’re a bit like Cinderella’s fairy godmother, really. By day, they are writers, editors, photographers, graphic designers, artistic directors, accountants, web masters, fundraisers, and translators. By night? An inspiration.

Employing newspaper columns, the web, events, and a hefty dose of copy writing and design savvy, they get the word out; to date, they have helped over 250 hard-to-place dogs find forever homes. This is a feat in and of itself, of course, but takes only adoptions into account; there’s also the club’s contribution to education, rescue dog visibility, and fundraising for operations and behaviour modification. Pretty darn cool if you ask us.

We asked McNeill a few questions about the Underdog Club.

What inspired the creation of the Underdog Club?

A compassionate and supercreative woman named Fern Breslaw started the club. She was working in one of Canada’s top ad agencies and knew that so much of our ability to love something is about how it’s packaged and presented. Her idea was simply to package and present “undesirable” homeless dogs in a way that made them look special. It was really an exercise in applying to these sad cases the same marketing that works for any product.

How do you choose the dogs you feature?

While certainly not a science, we remain committed to sticking to those dogs whose appeal is more hidden. We promote those who fall

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“Well, these dogs are like us: heck, we can’t all be fancy purebreds or fuzzy little puppies.”

into the old category, those in their last years of life. We once featured a dog who only had a few weeks to live. Someone read his story and gave him a loving place in which to lie by the fire and live out his final days.

We also concentrate on the unpopular, those dogs who suffer from stigma associated with a specific breed, like the Pit Bulls, Bull Terriers, Rotties. We believe there is almost always a good dog underneath the behaviour (and yes, we feature the biters!) and we’re into promoting the idea that people can work to correct the dog’s behaviour versus euthanizing. We also see many sad cases of dogs with disease or physical deformities.

And last, the “ugly.” A take-off on the Clint Eastwood film [The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly], this is a category in which we use much leeway, because we don’t really believe any dog is ugly!

We’ve helped promote hugely obese dogs. We’ve featured dogs with crooked legs, hump backs, dogs with allergies that leave their skin red and raw…

Why should someone adopt a dog? And why should they specifically consider an ugly, unpopular, or old dog?

We fully believe there is an abandoned dog who will fit nicely into any home. Walk into any big shelter or peruse any good rescue website, and you can pretty much find the dog you are looking for—there are that many abandoned or puppy millcreated dogs out there. Have allergies? Don’t like big dogs? Love black, short-haired dogs? Looking for a canine companion that fits in a purse? You can find them all in a shelter or rescue.

Why consider an old, ugly or unpopular dog? So that they can have a shot at a better life. Look, we’re all going to be old one day, some of us may be ugly, and we’ve all been unpopular at one time or another, but that doesn’t make us any less worthy of love. Well, these dogs are like us: heck, we can’t all be fancy purebreds or fuzzy little puppies. These dogs are often forgotten or ignored in rescues and shelters with little hope. We think that just ain’t right! n

Meet the Underdogs Marlon Marlon is a snorter and a lonely one at that. This four-yearold Shih Tzu used to live with a little old lady but they parted ways. So this fellow is looking for another person to spoil and lavish attention on him.

In return, Marlon will give as good as he gets. If you like the clingy type, Marlon is right up your alley.

Fado Fado is old and fat.

But despite these characteristics, he’s very good natured.

Maybe he’s no longer the cute Golden Retriever pup he once was, but he still has personality in spades. He was surrendered by an older person who could no longer care for him when he moved to a geriatric home. Fado may be fat at 76 pounds, but there’s just more of him to love.

Tyson This three-yearold Pit Bull/ American Bulldog mix had bitten another dog and was saved from a euthanasia order. But all 60 pounds of him have great people skills—just no social skills with others of the canine variety. He’s had his heart broken several times. First, when they took him away from his mother too young and then when a girlfriend told Tyson’s owner he couldn’t keep him. He suffers a bad rap for his breed mix. This gorgeous guy can’t keep having his heart broken, what with a second leash on life. Tyson is still looking for a home.

>> Check out the Underdog Club at underdogclub.org. moderndogmagazine.com

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PET PROJECT

craft D.I.Y.

Chalkboard Dog-treat Jar

By Naomi Davis I bought some chalkboard paint months ago wanting to chalkboardpaint everything but just never got around to it. Then I realized that my dog Rufio needed a new dog-treat jar. The boring old plastic Tupperware housing his cookies was definitely not stylish nor worth displaying on my kitchen counter. What better way to use the chalkboard paint than to create a stylish dog treat jar? Here’s the howto for this fun, simple, and rewarding project:

MATERIALS • Glass jar • Chalkboard paint (available at

most hardware and paint stores)

• Paint brush • Printer

• Paper • Scissors • Masking tape • Newspaper to protect the table surface

DIRECTIONS STEP 1 The first thing to do is to prepare the stencil. Just print your stencil out on paper and then cut out the center of the image. (Download this bone stencil and other cool designs at www.moderndogmagazine.com/stencils) STEP 2 Once you have the stencil ready, stick it to your jar by applying masking tape to the outside edge.

STEP 3 Apply the paint carefully within the open area; about three layers of the paint should suffice. After the paint dries, carefully take the stencil off. If there are some imperfections in the shape, don’t worry; it can be easily scratched off. Or leave the edges a little rough for a more rustic look.

STEP 4 Then label the jar with chalk, fill with delicious organic dog biscuits, and proudly set it out on your kitchen counter!

DIY by Naomi Davis of Treats à la Bark, an Australian organic dog biscuit company making handmade, human grade, certified organic treats made with a low allergy-risk formula (no dairy, no wheat, no preservatives, no chemicals, no soy, nothing artificial, no nasties!). And they support and champion rescue! Check out how cute Naomi and her Pug are.

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NUTRITION

eat D.I.Y.

Sweet Potato Chews

Prepare these single ingredient fiber- and vitamin-rich treats for your dog in 5 minutes flat!

All you need is five minutes prep time and a single raw yam or sweet potato. Pure, easy, and unadulterated, dog treats don’t get any healthier, easier or less expensive than this.

DIRECTIONS •

Preheat oven to 250° F.

•

Scrub the sweet potato or yam. No need to peel.

•

Cut it into thin slices (the thinner the slice the shorter the cooking time) and place on a cookie sheet in a single layer.

•

Bake in oven at 250° F for about 3 hours for slightly chewy treats or bake slightly longer to get them crunchy. Note: timing will vary according to the thickness of your slices; just keep an eye on them. Or, better yet, if you have a dehydrator, pop them in there instead of the oven.

Sweet potatoes are a source of dietary fiber and contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, beta carotene, and manganese. Most dogs love the chewy sweetness of a delish dehydrated sweet potato treat. And you can rest easy knowing there’s no additives, preservatives or anything extraneous added.

Find more great dog-approved recipes from Beef Meatballs to Puppy Pesto to Kale Chips at moderndogmagazine.com/nutrition.

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A RARE VINTAGE Vintage Dog Posters By Rose Frosek

O

ur new obsession? Vintage dog posters. While in New York for this year’s Westminster dog show, we happened upon La Belle Époque, a magical little shop in Greenwich Village, and proceeded to while away hours digging through a veritable treasure trove of art from the Golden Age of advertising. The posters carried at La Belle Époque, all originals, date from the mid 1800s through the 1990s, with the bulk of the inventory from the 1890s through the 1960s.

Owners Elie Saporta and Linda Tarasuk, along with their shop dogs, long-coated Chihuahuas Honey and Lulu (or the “Mexican-American princesses”) are welcoming and a font of knowledge, willing to unearth posters according to your preference, be it food, drink, bicycles, travel, or, in our case, dogs. Elie also makes the best cappuccino going.

We asked them if they would share some of their favourite posters featuring dogs and they dug up these beautiful examples.

Interested in getting a vintage poster to grace your wall? Check out la-belleepoque.com. Poster prices start as low as $75.

Clinique Cheron

Artist: Auguste Roubille (1872-1955) Approx. Size: 116 cm x 156 cm Circa: 1909 Origin: France

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Spratt’s Patent Ltd.

Artist: Theophile Alexandre Steinlen (1859-1923) Approx. Size: 137 cm x 193 cm Circa: 1905 Origin: France

Waxine Theelicht

Artist: Kramer Approx. Size: 43cm x 74cm Circa: 1910’s Origin: Holland

Q+A with La Belle Époque Where are most of your posters from?

In the beginning, France was the largest producer of advertising art. Although the bulk of the surviving original advertising posters are from France, we have posters from Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States, and more.

How were the posters made?

In the second half of the 19th century, the modern advertising posters were lithographs using limestone as the printing plates. As advertising moved into the 20th century, limestone was replaced with zinc plates to accommodate larger advertising campaigns. As some campaigns required a very large quantity of advertising posters, like the USA WW1 patriotic posters, they used offset printing.

The value of the original vintage posters is dependent on rarity, condition, and importance and not on the printing method.

What do you love about vintage posters and how did you get started collecting and selling them?

The beauty, the size, the history, the collectability, the fact that they are documents of another era. Imagine being able to own, enjoy, and afford art that is museum worthy and documented.

Most major museums have permanent collections of vintage advertising posters. These posters work well with all kinds of décor and are especially fabulous for warming up a room that is contemporary and lacking colour. In 1985, with over 160 posters between us, we decided to go into a partnership and open a gallery. We needed to sell some posters so that we could purchase more for our personal collections! n moderndogmagazine.com

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Speaking “Dog”

WHAT’S IN A YAWN?

By Stanley Coren

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ou are standing at the corner of a busy intersection, waiting for the light to change, with your dog, Buddy, sitting beside you. People are chattering loudly nearby and pressing close. Suddenly Buddy gives a large, dramatic yawn. Since yawning is such a common behaviour in people and dogs, it might go unnoticed here. Perhaps Buddy is just tired or bored. Yet that doesn’t seem to be very likely, since just a few minutes earlier, he was excited and jumping around when it became clear that you were taking him out on this walk. In fact, when you went out the door, he nearly pulled your arm off tugging at the leash with eagerness. So why is he yawning now?

We know a lot about the functions of many common behaviours—for example, scratching relieves an itch and sneezing helps to clear out your nose—however, the function of a yawn is still far from clear. Yawning is actually a carefully orchestrated and complicated action. It starts with the mouth opening, then the tongue presses down and muscles in the face, mouth, and diaphragm engage as the head tilts back and air streams in. When the yawn reaches its peak, the airflow stops briefly, eyes close, and muscles go rigid as they stretch. Then there is a long, slow exhalation that allows the muscles to return to their normal positions. The whole sequence takes about six seconds. Because this is such an extended and complex series of movements, many researchers are convinced that it must somehow cause an effect on the body.

The fact that yawning involves a gulp of air led many scientists to think that its function was to replenish oxygen in the brain, but to date, researchers haven’t found evidence supporting this idea. Furthermore, yawning does not seem to be of any help in waking up a groggy body or brain, which might be another logical guess, since yawns occur most frequently when a person is tired. Recent research suggests that yawning may help to cool an overheated brain, which is consistent with the fact that yawning is more likely in a warm room. However, this cooling effect is really rather slight.

Without any hard evidence that yawning is serving some physical and physiological function, one must consider the possibility that the behaviour itself has some psychological significance. Since the yawn is such an obvious and extended pattern of actions, perhaps its function is to serve as some kind of signal to those who observe it. The clue that indicates yawning may have communication value is that yawns are so “contagious.” When one person in a room yawns, this is apt to trigger yawning in others who observe the behaviour. When several people are present, we are more apt to “catch a yawn” if the person who is yawning is familiar to us. It may take some learning for humans to engage in this behaviour, since infants and preschoolers don’t catch yawns, not even when the yawns come from their own mothers. A recent study by Karine Silva and her associates from Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute in Porto, Portugal, confirms earlier observations that dogs, like people, also catch yawns, not only from

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Dogs under stress are more likely to yawn. Dogs also read yawning signals in humans.

other dogs but also from humans—especially humans who are familiar to them.

If a yawning dog is trying to communicate something, then what is it trying to say? Direct observations of canine behaviour have shown that dogs under stress are more likely to yawn. In dog obedience classes, for example, I have often seen a dog yawn immediately after its master scolded it for something, or gave it a very harsh correction. When training their dogs to “stay,” people are often unsure whether their dogs will remain in place or will break and run toward them (or toward the other dogs) when they move away. For this reason, novice instructors often use very harsh and threatening tones, instructing their dogs to “Staaaaaaaay!” using their best imitation of the Voice of Doom. Such a tone of voice implicitly suggests that the dog just might die if it moves from its place. For this reason, in a beginner’s class, you will see a number of dogs left in a sit-stay position, yawning, while their masters stand across the room staring at them. When the owner is taught to use a more friendly tone of voice for commands, the yawning behaviour usually disappears. In this sense, yawning might best be interpreted as “I’m tense, anxious, or edgy right now.”

One of the most interesting canine uses of yawning, however, is to send a pacifying message. The Latin roots of the word pacifying give us a good indication of the meaning of the word, since it comes from pax, meaning “peace,” and facere, meaning “to make.” The yawn contains no elements of dominance or aggression. It is the exact opposite of a threat. When a dog is being menaced by another dog’s aggressive signals, the target of this display may simply respond with a yawn. While the dog’s human companion may view this as a sign of nonchalance or bored confidence, it is, in reality, sending a pacifying message. At the same time, yawning is not a sign of submission. A threatening dog will often break off its aggressive display immediately upon seeing its target yawn. It may even act a bit uncertain or unsure about what to do next, and then may begin to initiate tentative greeting and approach behaviours.

There is another situation where yawning can occur, but in this case it is a pacifying gesture given by a dominant dog.

Suppose that a dominant animal is approaching a submissive dog who may be fearfully protecting something like food. In these

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circumstances, the dominant dog may yawn, perhaps as a sign of friendly unconcern. This does seem to have a relaxing and calming effect on the fearful dog.

Dogs also read yawning signals in humans. I was once called upon to be a guest on a television show where we were to discuss the personalities of people who pick specific breeds of dogs.

Several people had been asked to bring their dogs so that they could be interviewed about their relationships with their pets and why they chose them. When I was ushered onto the set, three sets of dogs and owners were already seated there. As is typical of such situations, the dogs were a bit fidgety with all the lights, movement and strange people around them. My place on the set was next to the host of the show. On my other side was a woman with a large Rottweiler. As I sat down, the Rottweiler began to give a low throaty growl and curled his lips to show his teeth while staring directly at me. Apparently, he was already uncomfortable in this strange situation, and having a stranger blithely sit so close to him was the last straw. He was now indicating that he wanted me to back away and give him some space. Unfortunately, I could not do that. Even worse, there was only a minute or two before we were supposed to go on air, so there was no time to go through the usual greeting ritual that I use when meeting an unfamiliar dog. Since there were few other alternatives, I simply looked off to the side, breaking eye contact with the dog, and gave a large and exaggerated yawn. The dog looked at me and began to blink. I blinked back, and the dog settled quietly down to the floor with its head on my shoe. The threat had been defused.

Since that time, I have sometimes used yawning, and occasionally suggested it to others, when faced with potentially aggressive situations. Generally speaking, a yawn, followed by some other nonthreatening greeting response, such as breaking off eye contact, has caused the threatening dog to either cease or tone down its aggressive display.

Thus, while yawning in public may be viewed as a relatively meaningless (or even an impolite) behaviour among humans, it is conversation and conciliation when used by dogs—or those who “speak dog.” n

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WHY DO DOGS DO THAT? If you’re like us, you find yourself wondering, “Why on Earth does my dog do that?” multiple times a day. So we set out to shed some light on these mysteries, turning to dog-behaviour expert Dr. Ian Dunbar to explain just what motivates our canine friends to perform some of their more perplexing actions.

Illustrations by Jess Golden

Why do dogs shake themselves when they are not wet?

I would imagine it’s because of some kind of skin irritation. What can they do? It’s not like they can go in for a massage or tell their owner, “Scratch this spot here.” A lot of dogs will also shake when they wake up. They yawn, they stretch, and then, often, they shake. I think it’s just getting the body moving again. But with all of these “Why do dogs?” questions, we never actually know why they’re doing what they do and it would crack me up if, when we go to that place in the sky afterwards and I meet my dogs, they say, “You were so wrong. We shake because we were dreaming that we were underwater and retrieving ducks.

I woke up and I had to shake the water off!” We can give an educated opinion, but we never know for sure.

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Why does my dog rub herself all over the carpet?

Two reasons, either to relieve an itch or to mark with scent. For a dog, a great analogy is that they want their place to smell like home, which means it smells like them.

[Figures we’re at opposites on this one. Here we are trying to rid our homes of any doggie smell and they’re doing their best to stink the place up!—Ed.] And when they encounter a weird smell, usually, they would like to pee on it, but they’ve been told not to do that inside, so they roll, marking the spot using the scent glands based on their tails instead.

Why does my dog like to rub himself on anything stinky he encounters?

When dogs were hunting, they probably found they got off better if their prey couldn’t smell them. What better disguise than, say, to rub in the feces of what you’re hunting?

Why does my dog bury treats and sometimes even her toys?

In the wild, it’s kind of like their fridge. If they have a surplus of food or food that takes a longer time to eat, like bones, then they want to hide it so that another dog can’t run up and grab it. Burying it keeps it safe. If you look at the dog in the domestic setting, they don’t want for anything. They have a food bowl filled up every day and toys all over the place, so they probably think, “Well this is extra. I don’t need it now, but I’d like to save it for the future.”

Why does my dog scratch the ground after going to the bathroom?

There are actually a number of animals that do that. Bears will scratch the tree trunks with their claws to leave a visual and olfactory marker that they peed or pooped. I was actually watching my dog, Dune, do this yesterday. He left six-footlong scratches on the ground probably 8 feet into the street. What they’re leaving is a very long visual marker, plus an olfactory one. Scratching leaves the scent from their paws and by scratching the dirt, it leaves a very fresh odour and a line, kind of like an arrow: follow this line of scratched dirt and at the end of it, yes, urine.

Why does my dog turn around three times before lying down?

I’ve pondered this one for years and years and years. It could be to flatten the grass, or it could be [determining] the correct direction to face in terms of comfort, and safety, and view. It could be the dog’s having a good look around him before he decides to lie down because he will be vulnerable if he falls asleep, and… I really haven’t got a clue! It’s certainly fun to watch them do it. You just think, “Oh they’re getting much more comfortable now.”

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A Love to Last a Lifetime Remembering a “heart” dog

By Connie Wilson

Kaya resting in the daisies during her last summer with us.

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“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.”

–Agnes Sligh Turnbull

T

welve to thirteen years. That’s what you get on average, a number many times over too short. Somehow, mercifully, though we are aware of the terrible discrepancy between our dogs’ lifespan and ours, we manage to cast aside this fact; that is, of course, until we’re facing the end.

Maybe, though, it’s divine grace; if the grief we experience at the passing of a dear canine friend after just a decade together is almost unbearable, perhaps the sorrow would be insurmountable had the relationship been longer.

These are the sorts of things I’ve contemplated since the passing of my Kaya girl. It’s now been over two years since she passed on and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her. Thankfully, that deep, grief-filled void that consumed me in the months immediately following her passing, months in which I’d find myself in tears without having recognized I was crying, has gradually faded. Time has a way of healing even the deepest hurt and I’m now able to remember the best parts of my life with Kaya without sadness. I’ll never forget the feelings of warmth and happiness that would wash over me when stroking her soft-as-velvet ears and how that simple act would somehow center me, giving me a feeling of calm and peacefulness. I still shake my head and smile when recalling her crazy exasperating antics.

I’ve given a lot of thought to what makes a fitting tribute to such a dog. There are many ways of commemorating and honouring a dog’s life, so I’ve put together a few things I’ve done to keep my Kaya girl’s memory alive, things that helped me find solace and even joy—as well as a few things I wish I’d done. Some of these ideas are for the here and now, too, though they make wonderful keepsakes. If you’ve lost a dog, I hope that something here resonates with you and that your memories bring you happiness as mine have.

In my opinion, there’s no better way to commemorate your dog than commissioning a portrait. There are artists to fit every style, from modern to traditional, at just about every price point. I had artist Lisa Graziotto paint a portrait of Kaya in the woods. It hangs in my office so my dog can watch over me. thehowlingcanvas.com

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“DNA2Diamonds takes ashes and turns them into a sparkling man-made diamond.”

Foundation is a non-profit foundation to which dog owners can donate a tree in celebration or memory of their companion. By donating a minimum of $10, Arbor Day will plant a tree in a forest in need in honour of your best pal and send you a lovely certificate. arborday.org

Get your dog a pet driver’s license (yes, you read that correctly) from Chloe Cards. I still keep the one I got for Kaya years ago in my wallet and it always brings a smile to my face when I happen upon it. It even got me off a speeding ticket once when I mistakenly presented Kaya’s license instead of my own—thanks Kaya! chloecards.com Pacific Urns creates and designs sterling silver and jewelry pet urns. Each pendent holds a pencil eraser-sized amount of cremations and can be engraved with a personalized message. Jewelry urns can be selected from the catalogue, or customers can work with Pacific Urns to custom design an entire pendent. pacificurns.com Robin’s Loving Touch creates sterling silver, chrome and 14 carat gold pendants from your dog’s nose print.

Like a human fingerprint, the pattern of ridges and channels on the soft pad of every dog’s nose is unique.

Robin’s jewelry can be inscribed and used as dog tags or worn on a chain as a necklace. robinslovingtouch.com A Bombay Memory Box, a beautiful, hinged mahogany box with an inscribable brass plaque on the front, is large enough to hold mementos like a favourite leash, collar, tags, small toy, photos, and certificates. bombaycompany.com Luke Thornton’s custom wood urns are a thing of beauty, combining function, decoration, and art. Each handmade, oneof-a-kind urn is custom designed and made from naturally felled trees such as myrtle and maple to create a resting place worthy of a great dog. custom-wood-urns.com Plant a tree in your dog’s memory. For a dog who loved the outdoors, I can think of no more fitting tribute. Arbor Day

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DNA2Diamonds takes ashes and turns them into a sparkling manmade diamond in memory of your dog. Your new heirloom can be white, blue, red, yellow or cognac and cut to fit any setting.

Start saving those pennies though—a one carat gem starts at $9,000. dna2diamonds.com Keep your dog’s image near and dear by personalizing your iPhone case with a photo of you and your pup. The one-piece Uncommon iPhone Deflector Case, available for iPhone 4 and 4S, allows you to upload an image for a completely custom, one-of-a-kind protective cover. getuncommon.com

Remember your beloved pup with a beautiful dog pendant from Smiling Blue Skies Jewelry. Each piece is crafted from sterling silver and embellished with your choice of semi-precious stone. You can customize your pendant with your dog’s name and a personal message, and wear it however you like—as a pendant, on a key fob, as a charm. Best of all, proceeds from the sales of special Smiling Blue Skies collections benefit the Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund created in memory of Blues, a Golden who lost his battle to lymphoma. Every pendant is thoughtfully made by hand so each piece is truly one-of-a-kind, making it the perfect way to remember a special dog. smilingblueskies.com n

Avid readers/Dachshundlovers, prepare to swoon.

Knob Creek Metal Arts’ sturdy steel “Wienerdog” bookends are just the thing your book shelves are crying (whining?) for. $48, etsy.com/shop/ KnobCreekMetalArts

Each of Erin Flett’s Bruiser the Pup pillows are hand-screened so each is unique. Available in an assortment of colours and made from your choice of bark cloth or oatmeal recycled poly twill, Bruiser makes the perfect artsy accent. $40, erinflett.com

If Fido refuses to fetch you the morning paper, London-based designer Gavin Coyle’s minimal, modern Companion magazine rack will certainly hold it for you--no cookies required. $117, gavincoyle.co.uk.

In their Le Creuset-like colours (Lobster! Turquoise! Chartreuse!

Bauer yellow!), these Bauer Pottery dog bowls are guaranteed to look good in your kitchen. From $24, bauerpottery.com

Wind down with your pooch with Gerrard Larriett’s heavenly Wildwood de-stressing and deodourizing candle. This luxurious, hand-poured soy candle in an apothecary-inspired glass jar will make any den zen. $28, gerrardlarriett.com

Unleashed Life’s Origami dog bed is a super-comfy place for larger dogs to catch up on their beauty rest. It’s cozy and soft with a machine washable cover and the cool print means it can hold pride of place when company comes over. From $155, unleashedlife.com

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Big Top style. Stash your puppy’s stuff in style with Jonathan Adler’s highfired stoneware Puppy Uppers treat canister. $138, jonathanadler.com

Doing double duty in your modern home is this sleekly minimal dog house from Kool Dog. With it’s laminate wood finish and a soft cushion to keep your dog comfy, it’s the perfect little den for dogs up to 40 pounds. $200, kooldog.ca

PHOTO PHOTOSMITH

Roller Skates & Moonshine

By Rose Frosek

With tattoos covering her arms and back and an alter ego that goes by the name Smashin’ Punk’n, Michelle Cruey Cravens is not exactly your typical junior high teacher. Aside from educating eighth graders in Language Arts at a rural Kentucky school, she works part time at Kenton County Animal Shelter—she met her husband when he came in one day to adopt a dog he named Opie—and kicks butt as a four-year veteran jammer for the Black-n-Bluegrass Roller Girls of Northern Kentucky. Oh, and she’s also “mother” to three dogs, five pigs, a goat, and a horse, too. Pretty cool if you ask us.

Michelle on Derby….

“Roller Derby was brought to my attention through a co-worker’s sister. She was always talking about how great it was and it seemed like it was right up my alley. While it had been over a decade since I had skated, I laced up and, after I passed try-outs, became part of something truly unique. Even though every member is a work of art all their own, [and we represent] every walk of life and age group, we are one great big Derby Family.

Roller Derby is a way for me to get out many frustrations that build up because of work and life. There isn’t much better therapy than skating in to someone full speed and either sending her flying or bouncing right off onto your own butt. The longer I’ve skated, the more I have improved, and the more pride I feel every time I lace up my skates. These girls, my team-

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PHOTOS JUSTIN CARIDI PHOTOGRAPHY

Get Rollin’ September 22nd is a double header at the Bank of Kentucky Center at NKU doors open at 6pm, happy hour till 7pm. Action starts at 7pm!

October 20th is an all day, all Kentucky team tournament also at Bank of Kentucky Center. Go to nkyrollerderby.com for more info on tickets and times.

mates, are some of the toughest, most hard-working, big-hearted women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Needless to say, when I couldn’t pick which of my Roller Girls to come to my wedding last summer and decided to invite the whole ‘family,’ it was very… shall we say colourful?”

On Tattoos…

“Of my tattoos, the one that means the most to me is rarely seen. It covers the top of my back and was the one requiring the least amount of thought.

It is a dog, curled up and sleeping in God’s hands. On either side are two scripture references: Psalm 145:8-9 and Ecclesiastes 4:1-3. Part of who I am stems from the animal shelter and unfortunately involves euthanasia. I justify euthanasia by simply thinking about how horrible the lives of many of these animals have been, could be, and will be no more. After seeing so many animals in the most indescribable, horrific conditions, it is the most compassionate thing I can do as a human being to give an animal a full belly, wrap my arms and a blanket around it, and hold it as it falls asleep and wakes up hopefully in a much more beautiful world where these evils do not exist. I feel that I have laid it gently in God’s hands.”

Top: Michelle Cruey Cravens with her Pit Bull, Moonshine. Above: The Black-n-Bluegrass Roller Girls on the track.

On “Moonshine”…

“One of my dogs is named Moonshine after the country-bumpkin party I met her at. There was a lady passing out puppies that she was toting around in a plastic Sterilite container.

No blankets or towels, just tiny pups eaten up with fleas on cold plastic. I was watching this woman all night, seething as I saw that she couldn’t have cared less about who was taking these babies or the fact that the puppies were all freezing and miserable. As I walked past her towards the end of the evening, there was one pup left. Nothing but

scabs around her neck and on her ears but when she looked up at me from the cold plastic that was that. Moonshine Marybell Cruey Cravens has been the ultimate sidekick. She has been my undisputed best friend. She has shown loyalty like no other creature I have ever known.”

Personal Motto… “‘The darker the night the brighter the stars’ is my favourite quote, reminding me that whatever nonsense life throws my way there is beauty at the other end.” n

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GOOD DOG

D.I.Y.

train

DOG TRICK: Hoop Jump

By Niki Perry

Getting Started You’ll need some treats and a hula hoop for this trick. Make each training session short and sweet to keep it fun for you and your dog.

1

Getting Used to the Hoop. Start with your dog on

your left side. Hold the hoop in your left hand and have a treat ready in your right. Keep the bottom of the hoop touching the floor between your dog and your treat hand. Lure your dog toward the hoop with your right hand and give the treat when he comes near it. You don’t need him to go through it yet, just have him approach it and see that there is nothing scary about the new object.

Repeat this at least 10 times.

2

Lure Through the Hoop. Begin this step just

like Step One with the hoop in your hand closest to your dog and a treat in the other hand. This time, lure him through by moving the treat away from the hoop as he approaches it. Go slowly as this is all new to him. Keep track of your success by counting how many times your dog goes through the hoop without backing up or balking. If your success rate is 80 to 90 percent, move on to Step Three. If it’s 60 to 70 percent, repeat this step.

If your pup seems pretty nervous or confused, go back to Step One until he is more comfortable.

3

Raise the Hoop. As your

dog gets the idea of going through the hoop, gradually begin to raise it off the floor.

Start by raising it only a few centimeters to teach your dog how to pick up his back feet. Once he gets the

hang of it, you can raise it more. If your dog becomes tangled, just lower the hoop to help out and then try again.

Move on to Step Four when your dog is stepping through the raised hoop easily 8 or 9 times out of 10.

4

Add a Jump. Always keep

your expectations within your dog’s physical ability when you are teaching jumps. Have your dog sit and stay, and then move about three steps away.

Raise the hoop high enough that he will have to jump to go through it. Call your dog to you and lure him through with the treat in your hand, but instead of rewarding him with a handheld treat, toss it in front of him so he doesn’t have to return to you for his goodie.

This will reduce the risk of injury that could result from turning in midair in anticipation of a reward in your hand.

5

Add a Cue. Now that your

dog is jumping through the hoop easily, add a verbal cue such as “Hup.” Repeat Step Four, but this time when you call your dog to the hoop, say your verbal cue, “Hup” in a really happy and excited voice. Repeat this step at least 10 times to pair the verbal cue with the action of jumping through the hoop.

When your dog is performing the hoop jump happily and consistently, have fun decorating the hoop and holding it in creative positions to enhance your trick.

Remember to always keep training positive and enjoyable for both of you. n

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ASK AN EXPERT // Trainer Colleen Safford Crazy for Baby My eight-year-old Dachshund, Tootie, is obsessed with babies and toddlers. She gets super keyed up, which makes me worried. She’ll be right there, sniffing, darting forward, and trying to lick their faces. If I hold her back, she’ll whine like crazy and try to get away. If I hold a friend’s baby, she’ll whine and stand up on my leg trying to get to the baby. She is normally very calm and relaxed. What’s going on and how can I ensure safe interactions? I’ve never seen any other dog behave this way.

—Baby-shield in Biloxi Tootie goes ga-ga for things that go goo-goo! It’s hard to jump into Tootie’s little brain to say exactly what she is thinking, but it’s likely that because she is not exposed to them very often, babies and toddlers simply bring out enormous curiousity in her. Her doggie senses are set into overdrive in the presence of these new and fascinating creatures.

Most humans acknowledge their delight when smelling a new baby. Whether it’s that fresh milky smell, or their lotion, babies have a distinct odour that sets them apart from older humans. Likewise, babies and toddlers are vastly different from adults and older children in the sounds they omit. Cooing, babbling, and high-pitched, barely recognizable words all come with these little packages. Oh, and the squealing and crying!

Very young babies’ bodies are squirmy and writhing, while toddlers are gleefully erratic in their gait. All and all they are different. They smell, look and move quite differently, and your Lady Gaga is quite fascinated.

The response you are seeing is likely just the result of heldback excitement. Imagine giving her a big sniff of bacon and then placing it just out of her reach. As you hold her and she continues to become curious, she defaults to whining in frustration. “Let me at it! I just wanna get a good whiff! Let me lick that thing!” She can’t give that baby a good nose poke, paw bop or licky facial and it’s got her worked up.

Have you ever seen a dog react to a new puppy? If he is not used to being around puppies, the response is almost like he’s been presented with an alien. He cautiously steps forward and then bounces back. There may be some poking the puppy with his nose or getting right up in there to get a great whiff. I’ve seen adult dogs bop a puppy straight on the head with a paw, almost like he would a toy. This is how dogs explore new curiosities—but you don’t dare let Lady Gaga explore a baby like she would a new plush toy or puppy.

The most important thing is to remain calm and positive with

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Tootie. She is only curious and you want to be sure you don’t scold her for her excitement. This would set up a nervous or negative association around babies: “Mommy gets mad at me when she’s holding those squishy, yummy-smelling bundles.”

Talk to her in vocabulary she knows and be specific in what you would like her to do. “Tootie, sit! Stay! Good girl.” If she is completely having an out-of-body moment and simply can’t contain herself enough to perform her regular manners, don’t fret. You can use a leash to keep her near you and ensure she does not gain too much access to baby. This will also prevent you from having to continually grab her or push her away, which can amp her up and confuse her even more.

If Tootie shows any signs of calm, praise her and give her a treat. If she flukes it and sits or finally just lies down, or stops whining, give her feedback that you like what you see and a bit of yummy payment (a treat!) for calming down.

Lastly, a study a few years ago showed that men preferred the smell of bacon over babies. I am betting that Lady Gaga is the same! If you want to relax and mingle with your friends and their baby or children without worrying about managing Tootie, bring along a food-stuffed toy. You can give it to her to happily pass her time in a positive and constructive way (practicing calm behaviour!) while you give that baby a great snuggling. n As host of The Family Pet on Pet Life Radio, dog trainer Colleen Safford raises awareness on pet-child safety, and understanding dog body language.

Colleen’s companies, NY Walk & Train and Far Fetched Acres, have been voted “Best of NY” by New York magazine. Colleen receives daily training from her toddler children and is proudly owned by her rescued Boxer(ish).

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ASK AN EXPERT // Trainer Inger Martens Doberman Driving Drama How do I train my three-year-old Doberman, Tenny, to calm down in the car? Between whining, panting, trying to stuff herself under the seat, and ducking when she sees oncoming cars, I’ve got my hands full!

—Distracted Driver in Durham Some dogs are sensitive to motion and the behaviours you’re describing generally stem from a lack of socialization. Ducking, panting, and trying to stuff herself under the seat of a car are reactions typical of how a stressed-out dog would behave.

The movement of oncoming cars, loud noises, and traffic in general are areas where you want to slowly socialize Tenny with training commands. Try a few commands in and around your house, on a leash. Using a leash when training is the key element that creates consistency and trust. You need both elements when socializing your dog to unknown fears.

Start with heel and sit. Begin to walk and say “heel” or “let’s go” in a happy voice. When you stop, say “sit” and gently lift up on the leash. Take a few steps and have your dog sit again. This process helps to take Tenny’s focus off the distraction and onto the positive obedience command. Creating eye contact with your dog through the training process creates trust. Trust helps relax your dog in the presence of the unknown. Then try walking and using training commands on leash near a busy street to get Tenny socialized to the movement of cars.

Another socialization technique you can do is to slowly (over a few weeks) get Tenny to love the crate. Dogs are den animals and love covers over their heads. Get a crate of the appropriate

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size (Tenny should be able to stand comfortably inside), make it really comfy, and leave it in a central part of your house, with the crate door open. Dogs derive a sense of security from their den; nervous dogs in particular love dens and a crate is the perfect way to teach them how to self-soothe.

How does this apply to the car? Well, sometimes already-nervous, hyperactive dogs get even more hyper in the car. Training and socializing her to a crate will give both Tenny and you a reference point. It will give her the ability to self-soothe. Because it’s a confined space with four walls and a roof, the car is similar to a crate and Tenny can transfer her positive feelings of safety and calm to the car to help her cope.

Lastly, there’s a product called the Thundershirt for dogs that you might want to consider. It’s a vest-like shirt that wraps and hugs your dog into a secure feeling. n Inger Martens is a celebrity dog trainer and behavioral expert. An author, television and radio personality, she has been dubbed “Best Dog Trainer in LA” by Los Angeles magazine. She is currently excited to announce her new online resource for dog owners, pawsforaminute.com.

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ASK AN EXPERT // Teoti Anderson + Nicole Wilde

Scared of Strangers Our middle dog, China, (who turns three tomorrow) is scared of strangers. Never used to be, then out of the blue, she began to run and hide behind us, peering out like a little kid hanging onto mom’s legs. She was socialized very well since a puppy. She is a spayed, 65-lb Pit Bull. How do we help her get over this and be social again?

She would be a great therapy dog.—Tired of Being China’s Great Wall in Warren Without a detailed history, it’s hard to know if there were earlier signs China was becoming fearful. I would want to know exactly how she interacted with people before, so I could compare it to what she does now. For example, did she approach them eagerly? Did she try to get people to pet her? If they petted her and stopped, did she try to get them to pet her more? Did she ever hesitate to approach someone? What was her body posture? If you hire a professional trainer to help you, he or she should ask a lot of questions to get a thorough history.

If there were no signs of problems and she suddenly changed, then my recommendation would be to get a veterinarian to examine China thoroughly. Sudden changes in behaviour can often be caused by physical problems. For example, if her hearing is failing, she could startle more easily and become more hesitant about approaching new people. If she is experiencing some allergies or orthopedic problems, they could make her less tolerant of being petted. It’s always a good idea to get a veterinary opinion to rule out anything physical you may

need to address before treating the behaviour issue.

There are things you can do to help her learn that people are not so scary. Never force her to approach someone when she is frightened—you will make the situation worse. When people approach, you can feed her delicious treats she finds irresistible.

China will learn to associate their approach with better things.

People can also drop treats and then retreat so she feels brave enough to approach and eat the treats. If she cowers behind your legs and woofs, that means it is too much for her. Your goal will be for her to get comfortable at her own pace. I do recommend you get help from a reward-based trainer who can observe China’s behaviour in person.

Please know that, as someone who evaluates therapy dogs, I have had to turn away many shy dogs from the program.

Therapy dogs must be completely social with strangers at first sight and love to be petted by them. Otherwise, the dog is stressed. Stressed dogs are like teapots…the stressful steam will build and build until it blows, sometimes in a bite.

It may be that your dog will overcome her shyness enough to become a therapy dog, but you are absolutely right to address this issue now. Even if this is not her calling, it’s obvious she’s with a loving, compassionate family who wants the best for her!

Teoti Anderson, CPDT, owns Pawsitive Results (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.

Sudden changes in behaviour can often be caused by physical problems.

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Cranky Cocker I rescued a sweet female Cocker Spaniel mix. She is a great companion and is wonderful with children and adults. The problem is that she is dog aggres-

sive. She lunges, barks, and snaps at other dogs. She bit my son’s dog, a Yorkie/Maltese mix, also female. I have two very small female dogs and my home has become a maze of gates and locked doors to keep the rescue from my other dogs. Is there any hope of training her to get along with other dogs?

I am so concerned I will have to send her to a shelter.—Dog Aggression Dilemma in Delaware

It’s always sad when a well-meaning adoption turns into a difficult situation. When a dog enters a new home, it can take some time for her to settle in and find her place in the existing canine pack, but what you describe goes beyond acclimation issues. The Cocker mix, while sweet with humans, has already demonstrated a willingness to bite other dogs. While aggression toward other dogs is certainly a behaviour that can be modified, you do have other dogs whose safety must be your first priority. Another thing to consider is that the incidence and severity of aggression issues is highest between females, and you have not two, but four females involved.

Training could help, but when you’re up against aggression amongst four female dogs and there’s already been a bite, the prognosis is not good.

Giving this dog up to a shelter is not your only choice, though. It seems whether she would get along with a male dog is unknown. Many trainers use their own dogs to work with clients’ dogs, and employing one would allow you to check whether she might get along with a male. If so, and if you’re willing to foster her temporarily, you could try to find her a home with a male dog. If not, keep looking for a home without other dogs, or a rescue group for Cocker Spaniels (some will take mixes) that will work through her behaviour issues. I’d also suggest that if you do decide to rescue another dog once this one has been placed, that you adopt from a rescue or other group that will allow all the dogs to meet first—and that you choose a male. n

You’re up against aggression amongst four female dogs.

Nicole Wilde is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer who lectures worldwide on canine behaviour. She is the author of nine books, including Help for Your Fearful Dog and Don’t Leave Me! (phantompub.com). She can be found at facebook.com/NicoleWildeAuthor, twitter.com/NicoleWilde, and on her Wilde About Dogs blog, wildewmn.wordpress.com.

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art attack

by Lori-Lee Emshey

Jean Glaser

I

f asked the connection between clay, pastries, and painting, one might be momentarily stumped, the most obvious of answers often evading us. To artist Jean Glaser, though, the answer is immediately clear: they all involve working with your hands.

After graduating from Arizona State University with a BFA in ceramics, working at an Art Gallery in Scottsdale, and owning a café and bakery in Park City, Utah, Glaser took a painting class that introduced her to portrait painting. And that was all it took. Motivated by her passion for animals, Glaser now works out of her Park City home studio full-time painting acrylic pet portraits. The portraits are more impressionistic than photographic, but Glaser manages to pack a lot of defining character and personality onto each canvas.

Of the mediums she worked with throughout her career, Glaser prefers paint.

“Paintings,” says Glaser, “have a depth.” Acrylics are particularly appealing to Glaser, because they immediately take to the canvas, unlike oils and watercolour, which take time to set and dry.

Glaser says her commissions are often gifts or memorial pieces. Her goal with each painting is to make the owners happy by giving them a connection with their animals that they can keep

forever. “I call it ‘art for the heart,’” she explains.

Glaser paints exclusively from photographs, which can prove challenging. For this reason, she has a detailed description of the type of photograph she needs. Through an alternating process of painting and reflecting, Glaser transforms a four by five photograph into a nine by twelve portrait.

But it wasn’t always this easy. After being away from painting since college, Glaser needed a push to spark her creativity and quell her fear. Luckily for Glaser, her friends and very understanding husband helped her get back into painting and over her trepidation that her artistic work wouldn’t be appreciated.

Glaser’s own pets, Zephyr, an Australian Shepherd and two cats, Zoei and Charming, help by keeping Glaser company while she works in her studio.

Over the past three years Glaser has completed over 50 commissioned pieces. For most artists seeing a person cry when they receive their portrait would be a bad sign, but for Glaser tears of surprise means she’s captured exactly what was hoped for, and in the case of memorial commissions, it’s often overwhelming.

“About 75 percent of people cry when they see their pet’s portrait,” said Glaser. “I wish they’d laugh, but I understand the tears.” Commissions from $200; visit www.craigandjean.com/ jeanglaseranimalportraits n

“About 75 percent of people cry when they see their pet’s portrait.”

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From: Underwater Dogs © 2012, Hachette Book Group

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CONNIE WILSON’S SELECTION OF FALL MUST-READS.

The French Dog

By Rachel Hale (Stewart, Tabori & Change, 2012) For dog lovers dreaming of their own year in Provence, photographer Rachel Hale’s new book, The French Dog, is guaranteed to seduce. Chronicling dogs of all kinds in gorgeous French rural towns, villages, and metropolitan cities, Hale captures our four-legged friends’ French counterparts in their natural surroundings and lets the beauty of their form and the setting shine through. Hale’s stunning photos are paired with a recounting of and reflections on her personal encounters living in France, along with historical facts, quotes, and artwork from famous French dog lovers, artists, and intellects. Hale manages to take simple acts—an elderly French man walking his three canine companions down a cobblestone-lined street; lovers on a park bench, accompanied by their dog—and elevate them, capturing the beauty and romance of the moment. It’s the next best thing to a trip to France with your dog in tow.—SI

Underwater Dogs

By Seth Casteel (Little, Brown and Company, 2012) The underwater dog portraits captured by photographer Seth Casteel became an overnight Internet sensation—and with good reason (for once). There’s something magical and otherworldly and just plain joyous about the photos. It’s like looking at your best friend through entirely new eyes. 80 of these images, some never before seen, are presented in Casteel’s first book, Underwater Dogs, to be released this October. Breeds from Labs to Spaniels to Bulldogs are shown from an underwater perspective, diving headlong into pools after tennis balls and neon toys with teeth bared and eyes wide, fixated on their purpose (or, in the case, of the Bulldog, just standing there submerged). The moderndogmagazine.com

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“Read this book. I loved it.”

Days will have you laughing and cringing as Jessica struggles to learn to live as a dog and Zoe revels in all of the fun one can have in human form. Not only is Jessica struggling to save her café—while in the form of a dog, no less—but she has to sit back and watch as her secret love interest, town veterinarian Max, carries on with his life, all the while fearful that he will find out about her deep, dark, dog-hating past.

The novel’s many ironies kick the story to a new level of funny, making each new twist and turn all that more engrossing.—SI

Unsaid

By Neil Abramson (Center Street, 2012)

From: French Dogs © 2012, Stewart Tabori & Change

watery milieu allows Casteel to capture an aspect of our domesticated companions rarely seen in photography, and in doing so allows us to appreciate the otherness of our companions. Fun and intriguing, Underwater Dogs is sure to make a splash in any household or office.—LL & SI

Dog Days

By Elsa Watson (Tor Publishing, 2012) Ever wondered what your dog would say or do could he walk or talk as we do? Or the inverse—what it would be like to race over the grass on four fleet feet with nothing foremost to the pursuit of Squirrel on your mind? Elsa Watson’s Dog Days is just the book to let you explore these fantasies. In this hilarious reincarnation of Freaky Friday, Zoe, a German Shepherd, and Jessica, a small café owner notorious for being a dog-hater miraculously switch bodies and minds, and all the attendant mishaps, misunderstandings, and comedy ensue. Dog

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Captivating and suspenseful, Neil Abramson’s moving debut novel, Unsaid, is a hard one to put down. When Helena, an animal-loving veterinarian passes on, leaving behind her grief-stricken husband, David, and their family of dogs, cats, and other animals on their small hobby farm, she is possessed with frightening doubts and serious misgivings about how she conducted her life and veterinary practice, afraid that it was “meaningless, error ridden, and forgettable.” As a result, her spirit lingers and she becomes the silent observer to a gripping drama, one in which David, an attorney, is faced with a life-changing decision—whether or not to take on an animal rights case outside his usual area of legal practice. The case involves Cindy, a chimpanzee to whom his late wife taught sign language, enabling Cindy to communicate with humans. With Cindy scheduled for another research project, one that would surely take her life, David must call on his legal expertise and everything he learned from Helena in order to save her. In so doing, he uncovers facts about Helena previously unbeknownst to him and which he—and Helena—must come to terms with in the ensuing courtroom battle.

With its profound and moving message of just how little we know and understand about our animal brethren until we learn how to truly listen, this novel brings to light the “beauty and redemptive power of the human-animal relationship and the true meaning of communication in all of its diverse forms.” Read this book. I loved it.—CW

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

ask dog lady

by Monica Collins

Q

Dear Dog Lady,

My husband and I just returned from a vacation in the Galapagos Islands. We had a wonderful time in this Darwinian land where the blue-footed booby (a large sea bird) is the dog of the realm. The booby wanders around freely and crosses your path when you least expect. We left our own dog with a dependable sitter and returned to find him eager to get back to the dog park to see his pals. I, too, was more excited to see the dogs than the people, whose names I haven’t learned and whose conversation can bore me.

Is this odd to care about the dogs more than the people?—Shelley, Seattle, WA

A

The priority of learning dog names before people names is not odd at a dog park, a preserve unlike any other. Dog parks have different rules and regulations. In this special place, it doesn’t matter at all if the two-legged people have a lower status.

Oh, you must be polite but all that matters, really, is for dogs to behave—and for people to pick up after them, which is how canines have evolved more than the blue-footed booby.

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Dear Dog Lady, I live with my daughter. We just put down her Golden Retriever and are devastated. How do I get over the grief? I am 81 and he was my daytime buddy. I feel my purpose in life is gone and my other children and families live out of state, so there are no hugs available. My daughter is not a hugger and has chosen to isolate herself when home. Non-dog lovers cannot understand the grief we feel. I’ve lost my best friend. Help!—Sue, Garden City, NY

You could convince your husband with womanly wiles but why bother?

It’s really your decision.

You get over the grief by looking for new opportunities to hug. Because you have a hole in your heart, Dog Lady suggests a way to fill the gap: become a daytime dogsitter for a single older dog. After all, you need a new daytime buddy to watch over while his or her owners are away at work. And devoted dogkeepers are always

on the lookout for a sensible daycare solution. Nothing makes more sense than a seasoned minder watching out for a grown-up, well-behaved dog. You could advertise through the local pet shop, veterinarian, or ask your daughter to help you make a connection through neighborhood contacts. Certainly, she will see the wisdom in your spreading the love.

Dear Dog Lady, My dog, Issy, loves to nibble on labels, gloves, corners of pillows etc. However, she does not destroy any item, she just bites down on them. What can be her problem?—Neecy, Canal Fulton, OH Her problem is one of daintiness. She merely wants a taste, not a gulp. These items have your smell, your essence, your aura. Her nibbling is probably a comfort thing akin to a baby mouthing a pacifier. Keep the soft snackables out of her range. Or substitute appropriate dog items, such as chewies or a toy, when she gums down.

Dear Dog Lady, Our dog, a wonderful Golden Retriever, died of old age a few months ago. I

ask dog lady know our friends are being supportive but too many of them said how relieved we must be with Gertie gone. They say we can finally be empty-nesters. My husband may be relieved, because he doesn’t want us to get another dog. But I am bereft. I miss a dog in the house the same way I miss kids in the house. Unlike kids, however, I can easily find another dog to bring home and I want to do that. How do I convince my husband? (I don’t care what my friends say.)—Bette, Chestnut Hill, MA You could convince your husband with womanly wiles but why bother? It’s really your decision. As long as you have made a commitment to care totally for the dog, you can bring your husband around. You promise his freedom won’t be compromised in any way since you will be doing all the work. Right?

Remember, dogs are “restrictive.” Oops, Dog Lady doesn’t want to join the pack of nay-saying friends. Follow your heart on this one.

Dear Dog Lady, Our 10-year-old Beagle, Snoopy, has started urinating in the house when she’s home alone. After it happened a few times, we started putting her in the sun room. She also urinated in there. After she destroyed things in the room, we decided to bring out her old cage we used when she was a puppy. We left the door open, fed her in there and gave her treats when it was time to go in. Shockingly enough, she also wet in there. We’re afraid to lock her in there. We’re also worried because we don’t want her to hurt herself or have a heart attack or anything, so we’ve stopped using the cage. However, we also don’t want her ruining our carpeting. We’re at our wits’ end and don’t know what to do. By the way, when she was younger, she had a problem with submissive urination whenever anyone would come over or she’d get excited. We were so relieved when this problem ended and don’t want to go through it again.—Lori, Winesburg, OH Potty problems in pets are yucky but your deal with your dog means you must cope. Here’s a strategy: this could be impending old age urination as opposed to youthful submissive urination. Your dog is 10 years old, which isn’t completely elderly but getting there. Her bladder might be stretching to hold urine and not springing back into shape so there is spillage she can’t control. Don’t hold it against her (or Dog Lady who is not a vet and doesn’t play one on the pages of this magazine). But take her to a veterinarian for a checkup. Vets are now able to prescribe a mild drug for bladder control in elder dogs. Usually, when a dog’s bathroom habits abruptly change, a medical cause is to blame. We must be patient with our seniors. You can also help dear Snoopy by taking her out more and for longer periods so she completely empties out.

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ask dog lady Dear Dog Lady, My mom’s friend has a Doberman Pinscher named Drummer.

He sleeps in the living room usually. When my mom was there visiting, Drummer slept outside her room every night and even followed her if she went to the bathroom. He was very loving and friendly. Both my mom and her gentleman friend are elderly.

My mom wonders if you think Drummer was protecting her or if he was protecting the owner from my mom. My mom is 88 and reads your column faithfully. This is driving her crazy. If you could shed some light we all would be grateful.—Paula, Charlevoix, MI The doting Doberman Pinscher chaperones both parties, with a particular allegiance to your mom’s gentleman friend. How thoughtful for Drummer to escort your mother to the bathroom in the middle of the night. But let’s not kid ourselves: he also stands sentry on the home front lest your mom make any quick or tricky moves.

Dogs pick up cues and signals in amazingly short order. In this case, Drummer has a clear indication from his human (the gentleman friend) that your mom is welcome. However, the dog knows his duties and has sharp instincts to guard and protect.

The dear beast can’t help himself but keep a watchful eye on the proceedings. Mom has every right to feel protected—and warned not to try any funny business.

Dear Dog Lady, I don’t have a dog, myself, but I often buy presents for the many deserving dogs I know. So I’ve noticed the catalogues always display a variety of furry chew-toys for dogs to shake, toss, etc.

Is this a good idea? Every time I hear of a small dog being bitten or mauled by a larger dog, I wonder if the bigger dog even realized that his plaything was another dog and not a rag doll.

Why hasn’t anyone called for a ban on toys that look like other animals?

I can see where they’d be useful for training hunting dogs, but if Fido only goes outdoors to the neighbourhood park, why should he learn to bully smaller beasts? Am I correct to worry about this practice? Can you tell me why it continues?—Mary, via email You are correct to worry. You are also correct to worry about an asteroid hitting the earth. Furry chew toys do imitate critters in the wild, with one exception: they are utterly passive. A dog can have his or her way with them. This activity satisfies the dog’s instinct to chew and shake the life out of something and, yes, it’s all in good fun—like a toddler dragging a rubber baby doll by the hair. Even for real, it’s all in good fun. Puppies shake it up in the natal den with their siblings. And growing dogs do it when they socialize with other dogs.

Ask Dog Lady is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/askdoglady.

Write a question or make a comment.

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Last Lick

HOW I MET MY DOG

Georgie Girl

By Ingrid Maitland

S

he was possibly one of the least attractive looking dogs I had ever seen. Shorthaired bristly black, medium height, with a long, thin tail (balding), and one ear that perked upward, the other bent in half. A sad looking mutt, I thought, with few obvious redeeming features.

medium-sized, all black mutts. It must have been a rare lucky day

I noticed her while walking through the foyer of the shelter in

Her tail curled tight between her legs, she shook and shivered with

Connecticut where I volunteered a few hours each week. She was

fright. Indoors, released at long last from the restriction of a leash

being brought in from the car park, urged gently toward the door

and metal bars, she went crazy. She leapt up at the windows, paw-

of the dog section, from which the thunderous noise of barking and

ing to escape, terror in her sad brown eyes. The only way I could

whimpering issued. In my time at the shelter I had tried to stay well clear of the dog kennels because the collective, desperate clamoring for attention broke my heart.

for Georgie Girl when she was selected to come to Connecticut.

In a matter of hours, the shelter released Georgie Girl into my care. I signed the papers, paid the money, and we went home. She was weary and dispirited; it seemed she was absolutely broken.

calm her was to put her back into my minivan. There, in the back section of the Odyssey, surrounded by quilts and cushions, food and water, she spent her first night.

Something about this dog, however,

Georgie Girl spent a full three weeks

made me reconsider. My cat duties com-

living in my Honda minivan. Each day,

pleted, I took a deep breath and stepped

she grew a little less afraid of the big

into the pandemonium of the kennels.

world outdoors. We ventured out—

Busy volunteers hurried about; it was

on a leash—into the yard for brief

feeding and fresh water time, and some

walks, but she always tugged me back

dogs were coming in from a final evening

towards her place of safety, the car, her

walk. I walked slowly up and down the

replacement kennel.

rows of kennels, looking for the mutt. Tails

One day, just after the first snow

waved and wagged; the little ones leapt in

had carpeted the ground and flakes were

the air, trying to be noticed; others yapped and twirled about. The bigger dogs stood on their hind legs, some holding their kennel toys in their mouths. “Look at me!” they all seemed to be saying. “Pick me!”

But there she was—curled into the farthest corner of her kennel, quivering from the tip of her long nose to the end of that ridiculous tail. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her lashes trembling. My heart

spinning in the air, I slipped the leash from Georgie’s collar. She stood looking at me, her tail, as usual, tight between her legs. She looked slowly around the garden and lifted her nose to the air, then met my eyes once again, fear written all over her. It was now or never, I thought.

“Go on,” I told her. “You’re quite safe now. Live a little!”

Snow had begun to settle on her black coat. Suddenly, her funny

somersaulted in my chest with pity. I put out a hand, stretching

looking tail shot up into the air and she began to run. She ran in

through the bars to try and tempt her forward, but she wouldn’t

circles, twirling around and around until I thought she must surely

move. I had never seen a dog look more desperate.

fall over with dizziness. She tore around, weaving in and out, leap-

Abruptly, I turned and went to find a volunteer. Did she know

ing and jumping for joy. I burst into tears of relief.

anything about the dog? Not very much, she told me. It was the

Georgie Girl lived in our house for eight years. She never fully

policy of the shelter to keep their kennels filled. Whenever there

recovered her sense of trust in human beings, but she was a loving,

was an empty space they would visit other shelters and offer to take

happy dog who brought us much happiness. Every day, we went

any single dog they were having real difficulty in finding a home

on long walks to remote places where she could wander off-leash to

for. This mutt, named Georgie Girl, had spent the past six years

her heart’s content, making up for the many years of enforced incar-

in Yonkers in a no-kill facility, sharing a kennel with seven other

ceration in a place where dogs, for the most part, are forgotten. n

Email submissions for Last Lick to lastlick@moderndogmagazine.com. Because of the volume of email, the magazine cannot respond to every submission. Share comments on this essay at moderndogmagazine.com/lastlick.

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