Modern Dog Spring 2011

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions

Bad Dog

SPRING 2011

What’s Your Dog’s

Are you rewarding misbehaviour?

Brain Age?

Think Like a Dog

Table Scraps The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

Bring out your inner pooch

What Is It About Pit Bulls?

FREE STUFF! page 37

Crime + Punishment Does punishment have a role in modern dog training?

SPR

moderndogmagazine.com DISPLAY UNTIL JUNE 11 CDN$5.95 US$4.95

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MEET THE CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL STYLE AT HOME: FAB FINDS EMBARRASSING MOMENTS GREAT TOYS, TEES & MORE! SIMPLE TREAT RECIPES

Maggie Q

The Nikita star kicks butt for animals

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From all natural foods and baked treats to dog gear, Bark & Fitz has scoured the globe for what we believe are the most durable, entertaining, stylish and nutritious products you will find for you and your dog.

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SPRING 2011

VOL 10

NO 1

30

117

PHOTO SHOW DOGS BY KATE LACEY

FEATURES 30

Think Like Your Dog How to bring out the pooch in you.

42

When the Clock Strikes Twelve Petfinder.com’s Betsy Saul on a New Year’s resolution that changed the world.

ILLUSTRATION MARIAH BURTON

BY STEVE DUNO

BY MARY-JO DIONNE

98 Mine Detections Dogs

Dog handlers and the mine detection dogs they work

with are making the world safer, one square meter at a time.

BY COREY VAN’T HAAF

48 The Savage American Legion Wiener Dog Nationals 108

A day at the races: a photostory.

BY MAX HAYNES

52 Protect Your Dog’s Mind From the Effects

of Aging

How to offset mental decline in your dog.

BY STANLEY COREN 41 58 In Service

Meet six amazing assistance dogs.

83

PHOTOGRAPHED BY TANYA KING

78 Canine Cancer Detectives

Researchers have uncovered a surprising new tool 136

in the fight against cancer: dogs.

BY SARA LIMA

84 Meet Maggie Q

The Nikita star kicks butt, both on screen and for animal adoption.

BY KARIN MAXEY

Dogs of India Vets Without Borders assists in the efforts to eradicate rabies and help local dogs in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

THE GOODS

92

What Is It About Pit Bulls Cast as meanies, these misunderstood dogs face a harsh reality, both on the streets and in shelters.

BY ROSE FROSEK

2 moderndog

SPRING 2011

Barking Good Buys Fab finds under $30.

Style at Home Dog is in the details. Essentials for the well appointed canine-inclusive home.

Spring Fever From cool tees to a German Shepherd-styled outdoor speaker, we’ve rounded up products to help you make the most of the season.

BREED PROFILE 26

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel From court to couch.

BY MARIAN BUECHERT

LIVING

48

PHOTO MAX HAYNES

BODY AND SOUL 64 An Easier Way to Diagnose Allergies

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s...Thundershirt!

Pet Proof Your Yard

66 Health Checks for UK Show Dogs

No-touch Temperature Taking

Virtual Vets

12

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

37 We’re Giving it Away

Three months worth of fantastic giveaways are up for grabs.

38 Rewarding Bad Habits

Are you inadvertently encouraging your dog’s bad behaviour? BY COLLEEN SAFFORD 46

DIY Eat Have a treat hound on your hands? Whip up these simple—and simply delicious—canine-approved snacks requiring just four ingredients or less!

90

Training and Punishment Does punishment have a place in training your dog?

BY JENNIFER MESSER

68

Bark! For Life!

Fresh, Regional Dog Food Joint Pain? Try Stem Cell Therapy

96

DIY Craft Make your own patchwork Scottie Dog pillow.

70

Ask a Vet Vitamin C and hip dysplasia, plus that “guilty” look.

72

The Do’s and Don’t of Sharing Food with Your Dog Sharing food from the table can be great for your dog’s health. BY ELIZABETH PASK AND LAURA SCOTT

102

Art Attack With heavy strokes and a lot of colour, Dyanna Bruno gives the pooches she paints a Pop Art treatment.

104

Dogs of Glee

Glee stars love their dogs!

107

Pup Profiles Meet this issue’s selection of super, smiling dogs.

111

Your Dog Did What?

Readers share their most embarassing moments.

112

Housetraining How-To Reforming the bathroom habits of an adult dog.

112

Help for the Fearful Dog Tips for helping a scared dog to relax.

114

Tackling Separation Anxiety Diagnosing and dealing with separation anxiety.

117

Connie’s Book Club Curl up with a good dog and a good book. Great reads chosen by Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson.

121

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

83 REGULAR FEATURES 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Contributors 10 Our Readers Write 14 The Scoop 22 Calendar of Events 24 Smile! Photo Contest 127 Marketplace

COVER LOOK

Maggie Q, star of the CW series Nikita, with her rescued Shepherd cross, Lady Bird.

Photographed by Michael Brian.

Hair by Richard Marin for Cloutier Remix. Makeup by Kara Bua.

4 moderndog

SPRING 2011

BY DENYSE SCHMIDT

BY MARNI WEDIN

BY INGER MARTINS

BY NICOLE WILDE

BY TEOTI ANDERSON

BY MONICA COLLINS

In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 10, Issue 1. 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.

H

ave you ever noticed that once you have an earnest desire to accomplish a goal, unexpected opportunities cross your path, helping you make it happen? Well, recently, that very thing happened to me. Upon consciously realizing just how much I missed the daily walks I used to take with my Kaya girl who passed on a little over a year ago now, I knew in my heart that it was time to get another dog.

I started my search on Petfinder.com, narrowing my search to dogs available in just my area, but bouncing between large and small breeds, unable to decide on even the important starting point of size. I’ve always been a big-dog person, drawn to hound-type dogs like pointers and spaniels, but with my busy lifestyle, I was, for the first time in my life, entertaining the idea of a smaller dog. I was sure of one thing, though; big or small, my new dog would be a rescue.

I went to see Daisy, an adoptable Bassett Hound with personality plus, but her health issues coupled with separation anxiety and barking were more than I felt I could handle. Next was Bubbles, a Wirehaired German Pointer, whose over-abundant energy helped me realize that a smaller, less rambunctious dog would definitely be a better fit. Harvey, a darling Beagle boy, neither too big nor too small and still puppy-like at 10 months, could have been a good candidate, but prior to meeting him, I heard the news that would lead me to my new dog: the Victoria SPCA had just brought in a number of Wirehaired Dachshunds belonging to a breeder who had simply disappeared, leaving her dogs behind.

Receiving this call was, I believe, destiny stepping in to orches-

6 moderndog

SPRING 2011

trate the choice I should make. These dogs, all six to ten years of age and all, as I was soon to learn, scruffily adorable, were going up for adoption the very next day. Word of my dog-quest had filtered on down through the rescue grapevine, resulting in the fortuitous call. Further facilitating this out-of-town adoption was dogfriendly Harbour Air that could fly us over to Victoria the very next morning. It seemed meant to be.

The following day found me in the Victoria SPCA’s gym surrounded by eight unbelievably cute Wirehaired Dachshunds. Now came the difficult decision: how on earth would I choose just one?

We were there for nearly four hours hanging out and playing with the dogs. They were all so sweet, but I finally decided on a snuggler with beseeching eyes, an affectionate and playful disposition, and an appearance somewhat like a mini-Cocker Spaniel, what with her shaved coat and lion’s tail. I named her Penny after the shelter’s wonderful manager.

With my decision made, it was a mad dash to complete the paperwork and rush back to the harbour to catch our flight home.

In just six hours, I had finally taken the leap and committed to a new dog, allowing myself to put the sorrow of losing Kaya behind me and let my heart awaken to the love of a new companion.

I suppose that’s what life is all about, endings and beginnings, and nothing better symbolizes this than the unfurling of spring and our delight in seeing nature awaken from her winter slumber. Duly inspired by the season, the spring issue of Modern Dog is brimming with life, too. For starters, we’ve got another three months of fantastic giveaways (p 37). After entering, turn to page 30 to embrace your inner pooch with the help of Steve Duno’s advice on how to think like your dog. Plus, there’s hilarious reader-submitted embarrassing moments (p 111), a look at table scraps (the good, the bad, and the ugly), fab finds for the home, an exploration of whether punishment has a role in Modern Dog training (p 91), an exclusive interview and photo shoot with the amazing actress and devoted animal welfare campaigner, Maggie Q, and so much more! Armed with such inspiration, we hope you’ll get out there with your dog and make the very most of the season.

Constance Wilson Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Everything natural—every flower, tree, and animal—has important lessons to teach us if we would only stop, look, and listen.

—From Guardians of Being by Eckhart Tolle and Patrick McDonnell

PHOTO LINDSEY DONOVAN

PHOTO TANYA KING

E D ITO R ’S LE T T E R

C O N TRIBUT OR S SPRING 2011

•

VOL 10

NO 1

Publisher

Modern Dog Inc.

Bethany Obrecht makes her Modern Dog debut in this issue, photographing the dogs in “What Is It About Pit Bulls?” (page 92).

Bethany attended the Rhode Island School of Design for photography, then became involved in fostering dogs for Posh Pets Rescue in New York City, bringing shelter dogs into her apartment and helping them find forever homes. Through seeing all the dogs in cages at the shelters, she was inspired to photograph the dogs to help raise awareness and save lives. Bethany is also the owner of Found My Animal (foundmyanimal. com), a company that makes accessories for adopted animals and their people. They donate 25 percent of their proceeds to rescue.

Editor-in-Chief

Connie Wilson Editor

Jennifer Nosek Contributing Editor

Marian Buechert Creative Director

Jennifer Nosek

Circulation Manager

Jessica Nosek

Publication Clerks Supervisor

Omar Duran Rojas

Design & Production

Maxine Matishak

Design & Production Assistant

Vanessa Dong

Sales & Marketing

Annica Tong, Sara Lima Editorial Assistant

Karin Maxey

Accounting and Subscription Services Assistant

Celine Benipayo Controller

Cecilia de Roca Chan

Ask author and photographer Max Haynes and he’ll tell you he has the perfect job—he works for dogs.

His website, TinyDogTales.com, chronicles the adventures of his two Dachshunds, Sparky and Luna, as well as the not-so-secret lives of other dogs. Max is also the creator of PoochEcards.com, an e-card site where you can upload your own pooch into any card. His mission is to increase awareness of organizations that improve the lives of dogs.

In this issue, Max’s dog’s-eye-view photo-story of a National Wiener Dog Championship race (page 48) is the very epitome of low-flying fun.

Web Consultant

Dave Egan

Tech Consultant

Mario Rea

Donations Program Liaison

Jessica Nosek

Okanagan Representative

Jytte Wilson

Subscription inquiries call (800) 417-6289 Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 10, Issue 1.

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 10, Issue 1. 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.

PHONE

(604) 734-3131 OR TOLL FREE (866) 734-3131 (604) 734-3031 OR TOLL FREE (866) 734-3031

FAX

With this issue, artist Mariah Burton makes her debut in Modern Dog. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Illustration from Sheridan College and also studied Visual Art at the University of Victoria. In addition to illustrating for magazines, she is the illustrator of two published children’s books, Somewhere Where Nobody Knows and Folk Tales from Near and Afar. She lives in Guelph, Ontario near some lovely parks and trails. Although she doesn’t own a dog, she can certainly relate to them because she really likes to frolic. See Mariah’s work on page 30.

8 moderndog

SPRING 2011

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 2011 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 (CPF) for our publishing activities.

Cert no. SW-COC-000952

Bark Back! OUR

R E ADE R S W RI T E

@abbie_jas Going to cuddle up in bed and reread the latest issue. @Teresa_M Just received the newest issue in the mail but have to take my dogs for a walk before I can read it. Walk quickly puppies! @OntarioSPCA a fun read that will better connect you and your pet! @FrankieHotDogs reading @ModernDogMag—cute Pom and 3 cute Chihuahuas on the cover and great info about Staffies. @MichelleCliffe I just received the winter issue of @moderndogmag and am SO excited to see @wspacanada’s Really Wild Gifts in it! Thanks guys, we heart you! @theglobeandbark Just picked up my copy of @ModernDogMag from the mailbox. You should pick it up too!

YOU’VE GOT MAIL

By Email…

Firstly, I just wanted to say that I love Modern Dog and am incredibly proud that it is created here in Vancouver. As the owner of a (rescue) Doberman, I just wanted to say that a Breed Profile of this incredible pooch is warranted. As you will hear from all Dobe families, the intense gaze and alert, stately appearance mask a goofy, enormous heart and a clever, engaging personality. Their commitment to their family coupled with their breeders efforts’ to improve the qualities of these majestic critters make the Doberman a wonderful candidate for your terrific magazine. I look forward to the coming issues and hope to see the Dobe included In the future.

EJ, Vancouver, BC

SWEET TWEETS From Twitter… @vonMeow Is it weird that I just bought a @GoodNewsVan deal (1 yr subscription to @ModernDogMag) even though I don’t have a dog? I like the pictures! @youryoko New issue just came in the mail and I’m already in tears after the second article.

10 moderndog

SPRING 2011

FANS ON FACEBOOK From Facebook…

Michaela Tribble: The best magazine, full of great info, cool items, and great stories about dog and their owners. I look forward to the spring issue coming out.

Kaila Baloun: This is my first year getting Modern dog, and I just got the first one. All I have to say is I love it!! Filled with lots of information and pictures.

Deborah Ann Houde: Love getting my Modern Dog magazine in the mail. It is a great source of what’s hot and new and where the hip dog places are. LOVE the rescue pages.

Corey Drew: If there was ever a GQ of dog magazines, it would be Modern Dog. Kelly G. Harry: I finally went and bought my issue. I love it!

Especially the recipes. I love everything about the magazine.

*

Become a fan/follow Modern Dog! Go to facebook. com/moderndogmagazine & twitter.com/moderndogmag and win awesome stuff! Besides behind-the-scenes peeks at what we’re up to in the MD offices, the latest breaking stories, contest announcements, and fun updates on the coolest events, we do Facebook- and Twitter-exclusive giveaways.

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GsT/HsT/PsT (where applicable) are included in the face value of this coupon.

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STUFF WE LOVE Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter

BP

1 As Neo loves to look elegant, follow trends, and be a modern dog at all times, this stunning,

%

limited edition, leather collar from My Mascot was a must-have addition to his collection. Check out the horseshoe buckle!—Omar ($44, mymascot.com)

2 There’s just something about denim. You love it and now so can your pets! P.L.A.Y.’s Urban

Denim pet beds are made of a soft yet durable denim material. Unique and original, denim’s never been so stylin’!—Annica ($129, petplay.com)

3 My new Fab Dog raincoat keeps me dry and stylish. Featuring a nylon shell, mesh lining, and

Velcro closure, it’s super easy to put on. And when I’m not wearing it, it folds up into its own convenient, built-in pocket!—Wirehaired Dachshund Penny ($32, fabdog.com)

BO

4 Just when I thought I couldn’t love Ellen DeGeneres more, she goes ahead and designs a shirt

in support of animal rescue. Partial proceeds from the sale of this tee are donated to the HSUS; time to laugh, dance, rescue!—Celine ($20, ellenshop.com)

5 The comfy Dog Gone Smart pet throw protects my car seats from the dirt and dampness

my intrepid canine, Penny, brings in after a romp at the beach. Its nanotechnology repels liquids, dirt, and coat oils, keeping my new car looking and smelling new.—Connie ($99, doggonesmartbed.com)

^

6 On her Fleabag bed is where you’ll find my puppy lounging. Their beds are handmade in

California and each has a reversible, removable, and washable fabric cover. Tons of awesome patterns to choose from!—Vanessa ($108, fleabagbed.com)

7 Sleepy Pod has designed the most comfy and efficient carrier for your dog. Bring your little furry friend with you, from the car to the plane and anywhere in between, while keeping your companion safe and relaxed.—Neo the four-legged traveler ($160, sleepypod.com/air)

8 With spring here, thoughts turn to activities like biking. How do you manage to keep both hands on the handlebars and control your dog at the same time? The Springer allows you to clip your dog to the bike in a way that won’t disrupt your balance. She can run freely and safely beside the bike and you can steer.—Marian ($89, springeramerica.com)

9 Found My Animal’s new jump rope with wooden handles has the same classic good looks as their rope leashes for dogs and, like their dog gear, 25 percent of profit goes to support animal rescue efforts.—Jennifer ($33, foundmyanimal.com)

BN

10 I heart Oscar Newman products for pint-sized pups. Their latest, the Birthday Surprise Cake

toy is a plush cake container that holds four tiny toys that squeak and crinkle. Five toys in one!

That’s the birthday present that keeps on giving.—Karin ($55, oscarnewman.com)

&

11 When things get stinky (as life with dogs inevitably does), Sniff pet candles save the day.

BM

Created to promote your dog’s well being, they have the added benefit of lending a lovely fragrance to your home. Take “Fart & Away,” a mix of ylang ylang, tuberose, white tea, myrtle, and fennel developed “not only to deodorize, but to actually ease the cause of your dog’s unpleasant condition.” —Miniature Dachshund Esther ($28, sniffpetcandles.com)

12 Sian Keegan’s whimsical 3D Pet Portraits are custom made to encapsulate each one-of-

a-kind characteristic you love about your pet. Using only recycled “found” fabrics, this earthfriendly miniature version of my beloved Roxy has me asking, “which Roxy is which?”

—Sara (From $100, siankeegan.com)

13 I’m high in the sky with this whimsical art tile from animal artist Jay Schmetz. Made with

BL

high heat, pressure, and dye sublimation ink, the tile can be framed, displayed or used as a coaster. Up, up and away!—Maxine “Hot Air” Matishak ($13, schmetzpetz.net)

14 New year, new dog. No more dull lifeless locks! The wooden pins in this brush provide gentle detangling for knotty dogs and utilize natural oils to polish the fur. Hello, Rapunzel!

—Jessica (from $25, chrissystems.com)

( *

CANINE NEWS AND REVIEWS

Growls Don’t Lie “When growling, dogs don’t lie about their size,” states Péter Pongrácz, an ethologist at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary. In a recently completed study in a controlled setting, dogs were shown projected images of two different-sized canines while a centrallyplaced speaker emitted a

Portland, Oregon, Named #1 Pet-friendly City Boulder and Colorado Springs, get ready to duke it out. Livability.com has released their run down of top 10 pet-friendly cities. Not only did those making the list have dog-friendly parks and trails, quality veterinary care, and active animal welfare groups, as well as an abundance of pet boutiques and retail shops, they also had to offer great quality of life for pet guardians as well. The following cities made their cut of the best places to work, live, play, and own a pet in the USA.

1. Portland, OR 2. Colorado Springs, CO

growl that corresponded with one of the two projected images. The watching canines were filmed to see which way they looked, and for how long. 20 out of the 24 test subjects matched the sound to the correct projection, meaning that dogs are able to judge another dog’s size by his growl alone and listen to growls to determine their fight or flight reaction.

Pongrácz’s original study, undertaken with colleagues, proved that dogs use a specific growl when guarding a bone; this knowledge is now furthered by the understanding that other dogs, with only the information provided by a growl, can not only tell whether the growling canine is guarding food, but can also ascertain the size of the foodguarding canine.

3. Rocky Mount, NC 5. Santa Cruz, CA 6. Eugene, OR 7. Asheville, NC 8. Albuquerque, NM 9. Nashville, TN

Modern Dog Poll Results 48% of readers judge others based on the breed of their dog

Modern Dog Poll Do you make assumptions about others based on the size of their dogs?

Go to moderndogmagazine.com to vote.

14 moderndog

SPRING 2011

Further Proof: Dogs are Smarter Than Cats Scientists at Oxford University have completed a study to prove what dog-lovers have known all along: that dogs are smarter. Okay, that may not be the precise wording of the conclusion, but according to the study, dogs have developed larger brains than cats out of necessity—it takes a bigger brain to be a social species as opposed to a solitary one. The study focused on a variety of mammal species, comparing data gathered from fossilized remains to assessments of their living counterparts. The mammals whose brains have grown the most are monkeys, horses, dolphins, camels, and our constant companions, dogs.

ILLUSTRATION RACHEL GORDON

4. Boulder, CO

THE SCOOP Poo. It’s the scourge of dog owners and less than vigilant pedestrians everywhere. Or is it? From fertilizer to fuel, the stuff proves fodder for imagination, inspiring entrepreneurs and, in some cases (see #4), vigilantes/bad neighbours to create novel things to do with all that poop. Here are just seven of them.

1. Compost it! Reduce waste a

pet-waste-compatible composter. NatureMill’s indoor/outdoor computerized Compost Bins are completely sealed for an odour-free two-week composting process that automatically breaks down kitchen waste, including meat scraps, as well as pet waste, kitty litter, and even natural bedding from pet cages. naturemill.com

2. Bury it! Send dog poop into your septic or the sewer system

ILLUSTRATION VANESSA DONG

Poo, Glorious Poo

PHOTO KIMBERLEY FRENCH

The 25 Most Popular Dog Names of 2010

for processing? What an oddly novel idea. Simply screw the Doggie Doo Drain into your existing sewer line (To do this, locate your sewer or septic clean-out and unscrew the cap. Clean-outs are usually located within three feet of a home’s perimeter), then scoop poop from your yard directly into the Doggie Doo Drain, rinse down with water, and replace the lid. Your pet’s waste will go where your flushables go: to the water treatment plant! doggiedoodrain.com

We amassed the thousands upon thousands of dog

3. Convert it! Power a lamppost á la artist Matthew Mazzotta

Rain, and a unique take on the number one name, Bella

and his dog-poo powered lighting system. With his Park Spark Project, Mazzotta aimed to generate public interest in where energy is coming from and the potential of what’s wasted. Utilizing a grant from his alma mater, MIT, and support from the Cambridge Arts Council, he built the world’s first public methane-digester run on dog poop and with it powered a lamppost in the Pacific Street dog park in Cambridgeport, MA. parksparkproject.com

names entered in our photo contest on moderndogmagazine.com to bring you this list of the most popular dogs names of 2010, with the Twilight-inspired Bella leading that pack. Notably absent are the popular dog names of yesteryear, Spot et al. As for the more unusual names?

Pawpcorn, Winnie Cooper, Boss Man, Shakira, Tequila Zombie, were just some of the unduplicated monikers.

1. BELLA

4. Torch it! Put it in a paper bag, place bag on surly neighbour’s doorstep, then light on fire (kidding!).

5. Carry it! You’ve heard of Swiffer. Well, now you can

Swoofer. Flashlight, retractable leash, and poop picker-upper in one, the Swoofer packs biodegradable bags that it deploys to automatically cover, scoop, and carry your dog’s doodoo so that you don’t have to. swoofer.com

6. Pawn it! Let your dog carry his own darn waste with a handy dandy vest equipped with pockets, appropriately named the Doodie Pack. This ingenious pack is sturdy, comfortable, and well cut, and has pockets for other items your dog may need to carry.

Best of all, it means you won’t be walking with a latté in one hand and poo in the other. doodiepack.com

7. Disguise it! With its cute little doggie face and embed-

ded flashlight, no one will guess you’re packing poop. Pawsby PooPatroller’s attached hemp leash and collar mean you have a free hand to pick up poop—at a remove—with the Pawsby provided scoop and return it to the designated receptacle within the Pawsby for discrete, out-of-public-view transport of waste. pawsby.com

16 moderndog

SPRING 2011

2. MAX

10. MAGGIE

18. SOPHIE

3. BAILEY

11. MOLLY

19. TUCKER

4. LOLA

12. SADIE

20. ABBY

5. BUDDY

13. RILEY

21. OLIVER

6. CHARLIE

14. COOPER

22. MIA

7. JACK

15. DAISY

23. DUKE

8. LUCY

16. HARLEY

24. ROCKY

9 CHLOE

17. ROXY

25. JAKE

THE SCOOP Calling all witty writers or writers at heart

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

C A R T O O N © 2011 B Y D A V I D J A C O B S O N

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

Betty for Buddies

Betty White is definitely getting her groove on. From the

And the winner

silver screen to SNL, the 88-year-old keeps on reinvent-

from the Winter issue is:

ing herself. Among her latest projects is the endorsement of a line of tees and hoodies complete with “HoodieBuddie” technology—like machine washable earbuds built in to the hood—in benefit of the Morris Animal Foundation, an organization that promotes health and C A R T O O N © 2011 B Y D A V I D J A C O B S O N

welfare for animals worldwide. Rock on, Betty.

“I need you to pick up my poo at Bathurst and Bloor immediately.”

SUBMITTED BY FRANCES LEE

Runner-up Captions: “Explain to me how this happened. Are you on catnip?

SUBMITTED BY JOHN SQUIRES

FOOD ON THE

FLY

Get through the checkout line that much faster by adding dog food to your online shopping list. Launched with the busy pet parent in mind, Petflow.com offers almost one hundred brands of dog and cat food

“It was black. It was on the sidewalk. I ate it. I don’t understand what’s the big deal!”

available with just a click of the mouse. Choose to shop

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moderndogmagazine.com

17

THE SCOOP Pets Eat the Strangest Things 2010’s 60 most unusual ingested objects

Veterinary Pet Insurance reviewed a year of foreign-body ingestion claims and compile a list of the oddest items ingested, those beyond the everyday socks, hand towels, sticks, and rocks, that is. Bon appetit!

1

BOX OF PENCILS

20 CHERRY PITS

jellyfish glue estrogen patch/make-up brush tube of denture adhesive dead, poisoned vole ink pen plastic nose from teddy

bear magnetic purse clasps baseball glass Christmas ornament hearing aid bed sheet popsicle stick

6 445 1

STEEL WOOL PADS

avocado pit dental floss coffee filter/coffee grounds fishhook pain relief tablet/B.B.

pellet/ high lighter tent door toy squeaker watch pseudoephedrine/sponge/ snail poison/tampon light bulb barbecue brush Frisbee jumper cables

GRAMS OF RICE

razor blades wallpaper paste squirrel balloon ribbons bird (whole) butter/sand deer antler (partial) extension cord 10 quarters/1 penny/1 Canadian coin/3 arcade tokens leash/3 sticks of butter pin cushion portion of wool rug tobacco

No Dogs for Sale?

Cities ban pet stores from selling pooches Richmond, BC, has become the latest in a list of cities that have instituted a by-law prohibiting pet stores from selling dogs, a move the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies hopes the rest of Canada will soon follow. Several US cities, including West Hollywood, California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and South Lake Tahoe, California are already operating under this by-law. The impetus behind the by-law is reduce the demand for puppies from puppy mills, squalid, horrifying places where dogs are bred in deplorable conditions. “Every time we do a pet store investigation [after a complaint], we find that puppy mills are the suppliers,” said Stephanie Shain, senior director of the Humane Society of the United States’ puppy mills campaign. By preventing the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, the impulse-purchase mentality is discouraged, putting a serious damper on the puppy and kitten mill industry. And there’s another upside. Without the option of procuring a pup through a pet store, more people interested in becoming pet parents are encouraged to go through channels of adoption and provide homes to the many shelter animals in need of homes.

The city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has seen a 23 percent increase in adoptions, and euthanasia at the city’s shelters has decreased by 35 percent since the ban was instituted in 2006. Other cities in Ontario, Florida, New Mexico, Missouri, Texas, and elsewhere are considering similar bans on the sale of dogs and cats.

18 moderndog

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BIKINI

TV remote control foot-long sandwich fire log wooden toy train pine cone round chew bone (whole) caulk eye glasses money (paper) oil-soaked dirt sand 25 to 30 soiled diapers bath bubble mix bathtub cleaner/outdoor plants

THE SCOOP that’s why they call it

Puppy Love

Cute Canine Takes Facebook

by Storm

We asked what your favourite thing about your dog is. A sampling of the many wonderful responses: The sheer joy they feel just running across an open field on a cold morning. It makes me feel joyful.—Ursula Delaney

When she sees me and her tail wags so fast I think it is going to fly off.—Donna Black

Meet a dog that likely has way more

That he makes little grunty noises in his sleep.

people have friended Boo on the social

—Deborah Ann Houde

What do I love most? Their unfiltered joy for the moment they are living RIGHT NOW! They remind me everyday to go back to the basics and that keeping it simple is the key to happiness.—Sam Basler How when he stretches he just happens to face his bottom in my direction.

—Ashley McCollins

friends than anyone you know. Facebook friends, that is. Over 800,000 networking site, proving that a cute face can trump personal connection after all. What we know about Boo: he loves Oprah; favourite foods include cheese and flowers; favourite colour is pink; and favourite games include running outside and squeaking toys.

She is a bitch, just like me. I taught her well.—Rebecca Wainright

Boo’s outrageous number of friends

She’s just what a loner like me needs. If I don’t want to talk, neither does she, if I do, she has stories...such stories! When we go out to look at the birds which are now migrating and stop here for a good feed of minnows, she’s willing to plant her little Spaniel bum in the ice and snow (brrr!) so that we don’t scare them away while we watch. She has sense, love to spare, and an enthusiastic welcomes for anyone. She gets me up in the morning and I get her to bed at night...good teamwork! —Paula Bain

Facebook page (facebook.com/Boo)

Floppy ears that feel like velvet.

—Kellie Tartaglia

even led to a recent feature on CNN. See what all the fuss is about on Boo’s where one can take in pictures, videos, and random reflections from a very popular dog.

The Find Scrapbooking for the busy

That he brings my shoes, gloves, hats or other accessible items of our clothing up to the bed to nap with while we are at work—silly and endearing at the same time. —Lisa Marie Pasquale

Create a

His overbite.—David Avila

album for

Her acceptance of my many crazy (well, to a dog anyway) requests. Peanut, jump over this hurdle. Peanut, run through this tunnel, poop on command, don’t chase the cat, wait for your dinner, give me your paw, sit, stand, down, twirl, jump, back, over, under, through, give, get, drop, wait, heal, here, left, right, away, come, around, catch, release, ball, toy, treat, bed, mat, all the way, stop right there!—Rupunzel Book

one-of-a-kind scrapbook yourself or a friend, minus the papercuts. Just supply Scrapbook Junkee with photos— prints or digital—and any memorabilia you’d like included and sit back and await the results.

From $100, scrapbookjunkee.com

20 moderndog

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CALENDAR

Spring into Spring!

Get out your date book! Spring events not to be missed

MARCH 5 Referred to as “the last great race on earth,” the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race is a race like no other, a journey of 1,150 miles through some of the world’s most extreme and beautiful terrain.

Follow mushers and their teams (62 at press time) via live stream as they vie to finish first in the 39th Iditarod. iditarod.com

PHOTO DONALD LYNN WHITE

MARCH 5 Help puppies grow up to be guide dogs. Join thousands in raising thousands of dollars for the endeavour by participating in the annual walkathon in Palmetto, FL, the Southeastern Guide Dog’s most important fundraiser of the year. guidedogs.org/walkathon

The month of May means free eye exams for service dogs. The American College of Veterinary Ophthal mologists (ACVO) is inviting all qualified service dogs in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico to receive complimentary eye exams by participating ophthalmologists throughout the month.

Registration begins in April.

ACVOeyeexam.org

22 moderndog

MARCH 7-8 Support Best Friends Animal Society and their noble mission of No More Homeless Pets at their sure-to-be super-fun Super Adoption event in Los Angeles. One of the largest adoption events in the US, the extravaganza features two days of adoptable dogs (and cats! And bunnies!), demonstrations, expert information, and, of course, celebrity participation—it is LA, after all. Who knows, you may just come away with a new best friend and a celeb sighting or two. superadoption.org

PHOTO GENESIS AWARDS

SPRING 2011

PHOTO JEN WOODARD

MARCH 6 – 12 Tell your pet sitter you love him/her. March 6th to 12th has been named National Professional Pet Sitters Week in recognition of those professionals to whom you entrust your poochie’s life. Without them, there’d be a whole lot less vacation.

MARCH 19 The 25th Genesis Awards celebrates its milestone anniversary at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California.

Our favourite star-studded gala of the season, the Genesis Awards recognizes the important role that media can and should play in raising public awareness of animal rights.

Individuals and organizations that have stood out in this mission will be recognized at this glamourous event featuring lights, celebrities, and, of course, vegan dishes. Save the date! Tickets can be purchased at humanesociety.org.

! e l i m S

MODERN DOG’S PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS! Supernova

Stanley

Vail Maximus

Bailey Fudge

Tiki

Pompom

Noah

Jess

Tyler

Cliff Soxy

Franklin

Houser

Chewy

Colonel Rosie Max

Think your dog ought to grace the pages of Modern Dog? Send us photos of your picture-perfect pooch! The winning entries will be published in the Summer 11 issue. Send photos to: Modern Dog Photo Contest, Suite 202, 343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4. Submitted photographs are property of Modern Dog and will not be returned.

Please include your name, dog’s name and breed, address and contact info, including telephone number. Enter online at moderndogmagazine.com or send 4 x 6 print photographs. Assignment of rights applies; see full details at moderndog magazine.com/photosubmission.

Gibson

moderndogmagazine.com

25

E BREED MEET TH

s e l r a h C g n i K r e i l a v a C

l e i Span uch

By Marian Buechert Photographs by Deborah Samuel

C H A R L I E 8 ©2011/ D E B O R A H S A M U E L

co From court to

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T

here is nothing stuck-up about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Despite being named after a king and boasting one of the most unquestionably uppercrust pedigrees of any breed, the Cavalier is far too full of affection for everyone to stand on formality. Indeed, should you attempt to follow courtly protocol and sweep one a deep and respectful bow, you would swiftly find yourself with a faceful of friendly spaniel licking your cheek and begging for a undignified romp on the floor.

Perhaps this is the secret behind the long love affair between the Cavalier and the British monarchs. Surrounded by propriety and stiff etiquette, sycophants and servants, the royals must have delighted in the unassuming and unrehearsed antics of their little spaniels. Who could doubt the honesty of a gaily wagging plumed tail or glance of pure love from those soulful Cavalier eyes? The many celebrities of today who cherish their Cavaliers may feel the same way. Certainly, the list of the breed’s adherents is impressive: Mickey Rooney, Frank Sinatra, Princess Margaret, Diane Sawyer, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Amanda Bynes, Liv Tyler, and Courtney Cox all had or have one, and the TV blockbuster Sex and the City featured a Cavalier named Elizabeth Taylor as the canine sidekick of character Charlotte York.

The Cavalier is a charming and mostly low-maintenance pet.

Small companion spaniels closely resembling the Cavalier appear in artworks dating back hundreds of years. Titian featured them in several of his works, including Venus of Urbino (1538) and Clarice Strozzi (1542). In England, they modeled for Landseer, Reynolds, Gainsborough, and Van Dyck, appearing in many portraits of the wealthy and blue-blooded. At least three Stuart kings owned the breed, most notably Charles II, who was almost never seen without one or more of them at his side.

The long-nosed spaniels fell out of favour under William and Mary, when flat-faced breeds resembling the rulers’ Pug dogs were fashionable, and breeders began producing toy spaniels with flat faces. Confusingly, these were called King Charles Spaniels, a breed that still exists today in Britain (in the US, they are called English Toy Spaniels).

In the 19th century, however, Queen Victoria’s favourite pet during the early part of her reign was a small, long-faced spaniel named Dash. The young queen loved to bathe and dress up her adored Dash, and upon his death, she wrote the following epitaph for him:

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27

Here lies Dash, the Favourite Spaniel of Queen Victoria His attachment was without selfishness, His playfulness without malice, His fidelity without deceit.

Reader, if you would live beloved and die regretted, profit by the example of Dash.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel AKC Ranking: #23 in popularity Size: Small—12 to 13 inches Grooming: High Activity level: Low Heritage: Companion Rescue: Cavalierhealth.org/rescue.htm includes both national and regional rescue groups for the USA and Canada.

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P H O T O S T O P T O B O T T O M : C H A R L I E 3© 2011/ D E B O R A H S A M U E L ; C H A R L I E 3©2011/ D E B O R A H S A M U E L

Profile:

Perhaps because of Victoria’s patronage, spaniels like Dash survived the much higher popularity of their dome-headed, shortfaced cousins and finally achieved British Kennel Club recognition in the 1940’s, when they were christened Cavalier King Charles Spaniels to distinguish them from the Most Popular previously recognized King Charles Dogs in the U.S. Spaniel. The breed now ranks 23th According to AKC 2010 in popularity in the US and will likely registration statistics keep climbing as the demand for [1] Labrador Retriever compact, friendly, adaptable dogs [2] German Shepherd Dog continues to grow.

[3] Yorkshire Terrier Undoubtedly, the Cavalier excels [4] Beagle on all these accounts. At 12 to 13 [5] Golden Retriever inches in height, she can be tucked [6] Bulldog into a carrier or under an arm, yet she [7] Boxer is not fragile or dainty. Whether greet[8] Dachshund ing family or a stranger, the essence [9] Poodle of her personality is “Hello! I love [10] Shih Tzu you!” and as long as she is near peo[23] Cavalier King Charles ple, she is a happy soul. In her book, Spaniel Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (Kennel Club Books; 2004), Juliette Cunliffe writes: “The amenable Cavalier…will adapt readily to a regular short walk around the block, a longer walk with a free romp in the park, or merely a good energetic game with a ball in your backyard. At other times of day, the Cavalier will be quite content to join his owner watching the TV, curled up on the sofa.”

The breed sports a silky, medium-length coat in either black and tan, “ruby” (a solid, rich red), tricolour (black and white with tan markings), or red and white. This last pattern is called “Blenheim” after the ancestral home of the dukes of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace, where the red and white Cavalier was particularly prized.

While the Cavalier is a charming and mostly low-maintenance pet, the breed has its share of health challenges, including high incidences of heart and hip problems. Syringomyelia, a painful neurological disorder, is common in Cavaliers, as is “flycatcher’s syndrome,” which leads to obsessive/compulsive behaviours such as snapping at imaginary flies or tail-chasing.

The website cavalierhealth.org provides extensive information on these and other health issues; anyone planning to buy a Cavalier should browse the site and question prospective breeders about their health policies and breeding practices.

Today, the Cavalier may find repose upon a cozy couch rather than on the silken cushions of her courtly past. But one thing has not changed. As Queen Victoria wrote of her own darling Dash, these sweet-natured spaniels still “live beloved,” reigning supreme over the hearts of everyone from seniors to “sex and the city” girls. n

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30 moderndog

SPRING 2011

Think Like Your Dog How to bring out the pooch in you

By Steve Duno Illustration Mariah Burton

O

ne stormy night, your six-year-old daughter awakens to the sound of thunder. She runs to you, scared, shaking.

You comfort her and tell her that it’s just giants bowling, up in the sky. She smiles, calms down, and crawls into bed with you. You read her a story, then, as she nods off, you carry her back to her bed, tuck her in, and hope that the weather cooperates. This is what parents do; this is good.

On the same night, in the home next door, a six-month-old German Shepherd awakens to the same thunder and runs about, whining, whimpering. Doris, a grandmother of four, says: “It’s okay, Missy. Don’t worry, I’m here,” stroking the dog as thunder rattles the windows and Missy shivers and whines.

The Pitfalls of Humanizing Your reaction to your daughter’s fear was natural and appropriate. You helped get her through the fear and even put a funny face on the event. But what of Doris and Missy? Ah, Doris. A kinder soul there has never been. But as far as Missy’s wellbeing was concerned, she couldn’t have done a worse job. Doris thought like a human instead of like a dog and, in

the process, convinced Missy that thunder was a thing of the underworld, and that shaking, peeing, whimpering, and hiding were the appropriate responses to it.

Doris, by stroking and consoling Missy through the event, inadvertently praised the frightened dog for her fear, and her reactions to it. In Missy’s canine mind, if showing fear gets rewarded, then doing so every time will elicit the same response. Missy got attention for being scared.

We can’t help humanizing our dogs. I’ve been guilty of it myself, especially with my old superdog, Lou, who was as close to human as a dog could get. They comfort us and, over time, we almost forget that they are dogs. But things are more concrete with canines; if showing fear gets rewarded, that dog will keep shivering and shaking every time the windows rattle.

What Dogs Want Dogs were once our utilitarian partners, bred to work and to share the duties of life. Herders, hunters, protectors—dogs earned their keep and, with it, our thanks. As a reward for their diligence, we gave them shelter, companionship, and love; at

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31

when we fail to recognize the species-specific differences between dogs and us, problems start.

the end of a day, we both came home and appreciated each other. But today, most dogs don’t do much save keep us company. Their jobs are to be companions, period. What they used to get for a job well done has become their sole raison d’être; they exist now only to please us, to serve as petting posts. You know what? They liked the old model better.

In their bones, dogs are workers, and engines of purpose.

They strive to do; that’s how they think. They live in the moment, and communicate with looks, postures, vocalizations, and behaviours, and learn through smells, sounds, and interactions. Dogs are reliable, predictable, trustworthy, and thoroughly pragmatic. Abstractions don’t register with dogs.

Humans, on the other hand, are complex, and introspective. We understand metaphor and satire and can read between the lines.

We are also vengeful, spiteful, and irrational, especially in the eyes of dogs, who never hold grudges, and can forgive the worst ruffian his sins. We need validation, and strive for equality and justice.

Admirable things, all. But when we fail to recognize the species-specific differences between dogs and us, problems start.

Dogs Are Unique There is no democracy in the canine world. Breeds are inherently unique and, as such, meant to be profiled, and treated differently. Train a Rottweiler like a Toy Spaniel and, well, you’d end up with a really big, troublesome Toy Spaniel. But many owners today try to do just that; they ignore the needs of the species and breed, and instead humanize, homogenize, and democratize their dogs, to the pet’s disadvantage.

Over and again, well-meaning owners try to turn their dogs into proxy people. By doing so, they teach their dogs that they have parity with everyone in their homes, giving them license to contend, disobey, or even discipline—all normal behaviours

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for a dog who thinks it is equal in stature to a human. It’s unfair to the dog and disrespectful to the species; would you want to be treated as anything other than a human?

Effective Canine Empathy Instead of trying to turn your dog into a proxy person, why not turn yourself into a proxy dog, and try to see things from a dog’s-eye view? It’s easier for us to embrace their mindset, than for them to embrace ours. I call it effective canine empathy, a system whereby you emulate the way your dog processes information and interacts with her world. Here’s how to become more attuned to your dog’s perspective: Live in the canine moment. Your dog lives from moment to moment, processing information and acting upon it. She does not daydream about coming summer vacations; she thinks about the smell of a barbeque a mile off, or the sound of a Poodle barking down the block. To better understand your dog, try to emulate this. Become intimately aware of your surroundings; really listen, smell, touch, and see everything as it happens. Be the dog. What is the neighbour cooking? Why is that crow circling? What dug the burrows in your yard?

Understand posture. Dogs communicate with their bodies.

You should understand and emulate this. When a dog jumps on someone, it’s not because she’s happy; it’s because she wants to control the greeting and set the tone of the relationship.

When a dog won’t make eye contact with you, it means she feels intimidated. When a dog bumps another dog at the park, it’s not play; it’s control. A good owner knows what his or her dog is thinking from what the dog does with her body. Master this and you’ll be better able to predict her behaviour.

Use your body as a dog would; if you want to turn left while

walking your dog, do so, even if it entails using your body to your dog up onto the bed, the next you yell at her for the same cut off your dog’s forward motion. Don’t let your dog jump on action. Try to be more like a dog in your predictability. Set rules you, and, with an assertive dog, avoid roughhousing games and routines, and stick to them! which might teach her that she can vie with you physically.

No grudges. Dogs don’t understand grudges. You should Be an elder. Dogs are tribal, with loyalty to their family be that way too; if your dog gets out of line, deal with it, then packs and an inherent sense of social position. If you let them move on. It’s the doggish thing to do. take over, you risk disobedience, and sometimes even aggresDogs have rights and responsibilities. Your dog is not a sion. This kind of dog will often trust-fund baby, but a trusted memdisobey commands if she thinks ber of your pack. She has the right Be the dog. something else is more worthy of her to your attention and a responsibilWhat is the attention. In my mind, a well-trained ity to behave. Bad behaviour from dog is one who wants to do “A” but your dog isn’t always your fault; as neighbour does “B” because she knows you beings with free will, dogs somecooking? Why want her to. That’s leadership and times make the wrong choices, so trust. A truly good owner becomes it’s your job to deal with that. But is that crow a sage elder to his or her dog; like a always remember that you and she circling? third-grade school teacher, you love, belong to the same clan; she rates but also direct and teach. You do not your deference.

What dug the make excuses for an unruly student.

Be confident, and curious. All burrows in your great dogs have an air of confidence Dominant dogs understand this; you should too. about them that is infectious. To be yard?

Practice calm indifference. Watch a great owner, emulate this. Also, a dominant dog interact with subordibe curious in front of your dog; nates; what do you see? The head dog rarely fawns all over the when she sees you investigating new things, she’ll be more others; rather, the subordinates pay more attention to the head likely to emulate you. honcho, who stays calm and casual. That’s how you should act with your dog. Stay thoughtful yet calm to prevent your dog Pretending that your dog is a child sounds fun, but it will from overreacting. only serve to confuse and disrespect her. Instead, be more like Be predictable. Dogs are creatures of ritual. Yet some ownyour dog. She sees you as a big, lovable, elder pooch; is there ers can be unreliable in how they interact; one moment you let any reason to act otherwise? n

34 moderndog

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ASK AN EXPERT

Rewarding Bad Habits

Ask Colleen Safford

Q:

My husband always pets our Lab/ Catahoula Leopard Dog cross, Jakey, when she bumps his knee or leans against him, and he riles her up to chase squirrels when we’re out for a walk, even though I’m trying to dissuade her from chasing cats. I’ve tried telling him he’s inadvertently encouraging behaviour we don’t want, but he doesn’t think indulging her makes any difference. Am I right? —Stricter in Strathcona

A:

One of the most fascinating and funny parts of my job as a dog trainer is wearing the hat of couple’s referee and counsellor. Inevitably, when two adults are rearing a fur kid, debates on what training methods to use and how to interact with the furry bundle of joy can cause rifts within a relationship. Sit down on the therapy couch and we’ll get this dog training couple counseling session started!

Wife, you are soooo right (of course!). We need to train your hubby to train Jakey. Hubby, you have to stop teaching Jakey to seek and gain attention by physically prompting you; unless, of course, you are okay with her knocking over a child, unsuspecting adult, or elderly person. Oops, see: I am useless as an unbiased counsellor. So, let’s talk dog, sans any temperamental couple’s issues in the mix.

There is a saying in the dog training world, “watch what you train.” This refers to actions of owners (and others) that inadvertently encourage and reinforce undesired behaviours; turning them into bad habits.

In the case of Jakey, if you pet her after she leans against you or nudges you, you are teaching her that is a strong and useful tool for communicating her desires. While you may be strong enough to withstand this form of communication, a child may be flattened by Jakey’s boisterous gestures.

With regards to chasing squirrels, unless you are a dog-dork like myself who will teach Jakey to discriminate stimuli, it is better to teach her to remain calm when confronted with squirrels (as well as cats, birds, and other furry things). It’s unfair to expect Jakey to understand that sometimes she can go crazy at sight of a squirrel and other times must remain calm when presented with fleeting furry things, as when your wife is walking her. Both of these issues fall under the broad umbrella of teaching Jakey impulse control. No matter how excited, Jakey should offer calm and controlled behaviour. Mannerly behaviour ensures safety for her and others.

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With regards to attention seeking, you must tell Jakey what you expect of her. If she wants to be petted, she must sit. When Jakey is approaching, tell her to SIT before petting her (and before she has an opportunity to nudge you). If you are not paying attention and she catches you off guard with a nudge, simply ignore the action. Do not look at her or say anything. Instead, wait for her to sit. THEN say, “Good!” and begin giving her attention. During this new learning process, Jakey should be on leash when you have company. This way, you can ask her to sit, so that others are not inadvertently training Jakey to lean and nudge. Some greeters and visitors will respond to her nudging with, “it’s ok, I love dogs!” Be consistent, though, for Jakey’s sake.

In the case of squirrels (and cats), teach Jakey to “leave it” and encourage her to look at you while remaining calm on leash in the presence of squirrels. Bring along a favourite squeaky toy. As you are entering squirrel territory, pop out the toy and encourage Jakey to carry that along. Alternatively, ask Jakey to give you eye contact, “Jakey watch me!” Give her yummy treats as reinforcement for ignoring the squirrels and paying attention to you.

Practicing impulse control is easy and there are many opportunities to do so daily. Simply ask Jakey to sit before you throw her favourite toy, fill her food and water dish, or allow her to go outdoors to play. Soon Jakey will start asking you for these things by sitting nicely (without being prompted), replacing the lean, nudge, and other frenzied behaviour!

While we’re on the topic of training dogs and men, who will train men to close the toilet seat after using it—making it a lessaccessible water dish for dogs? n As host of The Family Pet on Pet Life Radio, dog trainer Colleen Safford raises awareness on pet-child safety, appropriate pet selection, 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 and offer quality, life-enriching services to Manhattan’s pooch population. Colleen receives daily training from her toddler children and is proudly owned by her rescued Boxer(ish).

Nelsons-RR-Pet-6.75”x4.625”.pdf

10/16/08

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$26

Hot diggity! Fred Flare’s Hot Dog tote is perfect for running to pick up milk or returning overdue library books. fredflare.com

$20

Moleskine, the iconic journals and diaries used by authors and artists from Hemingway to Van Gogh, has introduced a dog journal embossed with breed silhouettes and offering schedules, checklists, and a downloadable training log. The journal also includes blank space for you to fill with sketches, photos, and other doggie-themed musings and memorabilia. amazon.com

$12

It’s a bird! It’s a plane!

It’s, um, Sooper Ham and his good buddy, Wonder Wiener.

These charming superhero toys boast bright, cartoon features, tough, durable fabrics, and sling-shot style action. fatcatinc.com

Barking Good Buys

$11

Now your dog can relive the legend with a squeaky plush version of Shari Lewis’ beloved Lamb Chop. multipet.com

Fab finds under $30

$17

If you and your dog vowed to drink more water in 2011, the Pup Cup is essential. The stainless steel water bottle is outfitted with a lid designed to double as a dish for your dog to drink from, and the bottle is finished in an environmentally friendly paint finish. h2o4k9.com

$15

Leave an impression— that of the paw print embossed on the bottom of the sole—with Teddy the Dog’s charm-adorned Peace Dog flip-flops. teddythedog.com

$10

A repurposing your dog can get behind. Recycle plastic water bottles by placing them inside this plush groundhog for a crinkle no dog can resist. Attack and conquer! wetnoseboutique.com

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ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

PENDING

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

ADOPTED

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When the Clock Strikes Twelve

PetFinder.com’s Betsy Saul on a New Year’s resolution that changed the world

By Mary-Jo Dionne

F

ifteen New Year’s Eves ago, while Dick Clark hosted a crowd of streamer-throwing yahoos in Times Square, I was buzzed on a cheap combination of Bartles and James wine coolers and Kwong’s Chinese food. (The only thing worse than a Bartles and James hangover is a Kwong’s hangover.) As 1996 crept towards the 23-year-old me through a haze of overconsumption, I blathered on about a lengthy list of life-altering resolutions. You know—the ones that would make the world a better place, or failing that, grant me admission into size 6 jeans.

Endlessly battling my own ridiculous, distorted sense of self, that New Year’s Eve was eerily similar to many previous. Yes, I lied to myself, this would be the year I finally ditched that obnoxious 10 pounds psychologically plaguing me since my high school prom, when I danced a robotic number called the gut-suck-in. Blissfully oblivious to my narcissism, it would be a decade-and-a-half before my chat with a woman who—the polar opposite of my younger, superficial self—was making a slightly more admirable resolution that night.

On a drive to a holiday dinner party, Betsy Saul found herself in a lighthearted back-and-forth with her then-husband about the potential that existed in this relatively new phenomenon called the World Wide Web. “We were playing a really geeky game, trying to determine what would make the perfect website,” she explains to me over the phone from her North Carolina acreage, where pets like a dog, two cows, two goats, two horses, five chickens, one sheep, two turtles, and two cats make it something of an ark. “At the

time, many people weren’t using the Internet to its fullest potential. You really couldn’t sort through information in a relevant way.”

As the admittedly geeky conversation progressed, the couple continued to banter about the kind of organization that would most benefit from a fully optimized online presence. Suddenly, in a moment that would require special effects like lightening bolts and booms of thunder were it a Hollywood production, there came a flash of inspiration.

“We were both like: ‘Oh my gosh, animal shelters!’ We actually got goosebumps!” she conveys excitedly.

And so it was that the concept of PetFinder.com beamed down on Betsy from the ether, transforming her from a simple animal lover to a virtual visionary. Knowing that approximately 20,000,000 animals were euthanized annually, Betsy’s hoped-for measure of success was to facilitate one adoption each month, thereby doing her part to at least marginally reduce the number of needless deaths.

“The funniest part of all? At the time, I was planting trees for urban forestry services so it’s not like I had any business creating a website!”

While a self-professed animal nut, she admits that neither she nor her husband knew where their local shelter was.

“Shelters back then were typically out of sight, hidden behind the water treatment plant, like the red-headed stepchild. The idea that we could get these pets in the forefront of the public’s attention felt like an ethical imperative.”

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Betsy Saul with her parents’ dog, Tucker

A volunteer through much of her teen years, Betsy had seen the weary plight of rescue crusaders firsthand and felt optimistic her little idea might be able to help.

Fifteen years later, at the risk of sounding dramatic, it could be said her one-animal-rescued-per-month prediction may be the single biggest understatement in the history of animal welfare.

With nearly two billion page views in 2009 alone, Betsy’s venture has enjoyed dizzying success. PetFinder.com boasts approximately five million visitors monthly, earning it a coveted place on Forbes’ list of the 300 best websites. Most crucially, given its role in facilitating the rehoming of well over 17,000,000 pets since its inception, PetFinder.com hasn’t just surpassed Betsy’s initial goal, it has blown the socks off of it. With the site updated daily, approximately 13,500 welfare groups across the United States, Canada, and Mexico upload their pets’ relevant information resulting in the approximately 350,000 available animals at any given time.

Yet Betsy is quick to recall her humble start.

“In the beginning, people in the rescue community would send me faxes, and I would post the pets myself when I got

home from my day job. I remember laughing with my mom, saying wouldn’t it be great if one day I could actually do all this PetFinder.com work officially, as a part-time job?!”

Devoid of a crystal ball, that version of Betsy had no way of knowing her brainchild would be acquired by Discovery Communications in 2006, for a sum rumoured to have included an awful lot of zeroes and a couple of commas.

Accolades and cash value aside, for Betsy, it’s always been about one thing: lives saved. While it’s indisputable that PetFinder.com is what one would refer to as a handsdown (or paws-down) success story, it’s not all high-fives and cartwheels.

With so many animals in need of homes, Betsy recognizes there is work to be done.

“Sure, we’re down to euthanization rates of about four million annually, but that’s still four million too many.”

In fact, the calculator on my iPhone confirms that a staggering 11,000 animals a day are dying due to homelessness. In more shocking terms, 457 will lose their life in this hour alone.

In its ongoing battle to lower this statistic, PetFinder.com continues to redefine the ease, efficiency, and effectiveness of the rescue process, while evolving in other ways. Today it includes a more holistic approach to our relationships with pets, includ-

“The idea that we could get these pets in the forefront of the public’s attention felt like an ethical imperative.”

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“If we can’t convince more people to adopt pets, then we need to convince the people who are already adopting them to adopt more.” ing information about pet care, pet health, and training, which, as Betsy explains, are all features designed to help establish a closer connection with our animals, so that fewer end up in the shelter system. The site’s Fur Keeps initiative aims to promote deeper bonds between pets and owners by advocating, for example, pet health insurance and microchipping.

Although, overall, Betsy acknowledges that she sees great strides in the dog community, she admits cats have yet to be quite so fortunate.

“My challenge is for people who already have a dog. I urge them to consider adding a cat to the family. My belief is that every dog needs a cat. We need to become more, as I call it, bi-petual.”

With an estimated 65 percent of US households owning a pet, Betsy surmises that if one in every eight of these would adopt one more animal, her country would be in the blessed position of not having to euthanize a single homeless animal this year.

“If we can’t convince more people to adopt pets, then we need to convince the people who are already adopting them to adopt more.”

It’s paradigm-questioning like this that confirms Betsy’s status as entrepreneurial visionary. Rightfully named by Woman’s Day magazine as one of the 50 women changing the world, Betsy laughs that what she is most proud of is that her initial concept has become, as far as she’s concerned, “the biggest collaborative project on the planet.”

“A programmer can make a small tweak and it can literally change the way someone sees an animal. The fact that there are so many people living this fantasy of being able to do their part to help rescue 2.3 million animals this year alone is everything to me.”

Fifteen years ago, while Betsy invited the world to join her as she changed the face of rescue, I was busy inviting the world to join me as I ate another egg roll. You can deduce which of us ultimately contributed more positively to the planet. (Hint: It was the one who didn’t have a Kwong’s hangover in the morning.)

Thankfully, however, as the wise words on a narrow slip of paper from my long-ago fortune cookie still remind me: It is never too late to be who you might have been. In 2011, I take tremendous comfort in this. And it has nothing to do with losing that obnoxious 10 pounds. n

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nutrition

eat D.I.Y.

Have a treat hound on your hands? Whip up these simple— and simply delicious—canine-approved snacks requiring four ingredients or less!

Hard Work Rewards INGREDIENTS

2 2/3 cups rice flour Approx. 1/4 pound chicken breast 1 teaspoon chopped parsley Approx. 1 cup water

Frittata INGREDIENTS 3 eggs 1/2 cup milk 1 tsp sunflower oil

UTENSILS Cooking pot Immersion blender

UTENSILS

1. Preheat oven to 320°F and cover the baking pan with parchment paper.

Cooking pot Hand mixer

2. Measure the rice flour.

3. Cook the chicken in water and let cool.

4. Using an immersion blender, puree with 1 cup of broth.

1. Crack the eggs into the small bowl, add milk, and beat with a fork.

2. Heat the sunflower oil in the pan.

3. Pour the mixture into the pan and cook approximately 2 minutes on each side.

5. Mix all of the ingredients together with a hand mixer or a stand mixer to form a smooth dough.

6. Form small nuggets and place on the baking pan.

7. Bake a 320°F for approximately 20 minutes.

4. Take out of the pan and let cool.

Tips Let the biscuits dry overnight on the pan. They Tips Prepare a frittata for yourself, too. You can season yours with salt and pepper, then dine with your four-legged friend.

will be good for at least 3 weeks

Parsley is a diuretic and can have a laxative effect. It also gets rid of bad breath.

Add some cooked potato to the fritatta for your dog’s main meal of the day.

Reprinted with permission from Cooking For Dogs: New Recipes From Dog’s Deli by Friederike Friedel (2010, Schiffer Publishing) schifferbooks.com

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Photostory by Max Haynes

T

he American Legion Wiener Dog Nationals held in Savage, Minnesota are fast becoming some of the city’s most anticipated events.

Digger, a.k.a. Tom Anderson, is the ringleader behind the races and master of ceremonies as well. As Event Coordinator at the Dan Patch American Legion Post 643 and proud guardian of two Dachshunds, he thought the races would be a fun event for their veteran members, while raising some money for a worthy cause—Dachshund rescue. Their first race, held in October, 2008, was attended by 25 wieners and 50 spectators. They now have races and hurdles both spring and fall, and last year found racers travelling from as far as Wisconsin and Iowa. On Sunday May 22, 2011, the Dan Patch American Legion Post 643 will host the 2011 Savage American Legion Wiener Dog Spring Nationals. They are planning for 75 wieners and 300 spectators, and will be serving hot dogs and bratwurst trackside. The track is surrounded by straw bales donated by a local nursery, Cal’s Market, and enclosed with fencing to keep the wieners in check. With any luck, this year’s participants will be as raucous as last year’s racers, whose rowdiness is evidenced by the following photos.

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Protect Your Dog’s Mind from the effects of aging

By Stanley Coren Illustration by Laura Bifano

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W

izard, my 12-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, was showing behaviour changes. Sometimes he seemed to forget what he was supposed to do when given familiar commands. There was an occasional “accident” in the house and, other times, when let out into the yard to relieve himself, he seemed to forget what he was there for and he would stand at the top of the stairs looking puzzled. Once he found himself in a corner between two pieces of furniture and seemed unable to figure out how to back himself out. In general, he seemed to respond more slowly and hesitantly to everything. Like many older dogs, Wizard’s problem was that he was showing the effects of an aging brain.

No one knows exactly why dogs or humans decline in their mental abilities when they age. One theory suggests that as the genetic material (DNA) reproduces itself in each new cell, the successive transcriptions become less accurate, sort of like making copies of copies of copies on a photocopier, where each one gets progressively grainier and harder to read.

Damage to the DNA can also come about due to natural radiation from cosmic rays and from more terrestrial sources, such as breathing in air pollutants or fumes from certain solvents. Other theories of aging blame simple wear and tear, suggesting that various physical and neural systems break down from frequent use and may break down even faster if they are put under stress.

Regardless of the source of aging effects, the brain and nervous system of dogs (and people) change markedly as they age. Old dogs have smaller, lighter brains than young dogs. The change is quite significant and the older brain might be up to 25 percent lighter. It is important to note that this change is not necessarily due to brain cells dying off. Actually, we mostly lose parts of the nerve cells, the

branches (dendrites and axon filaments) that connect with other nerve cells. These connections to other cells start to break down with age. If we think of the brain as a complexly wired computer, it would be as if various circuits in the central processor simply stopped functioning because connections were broken. For the most part, it is the loss of these connections that reduces the size and the weight of the brain.

With age, there are also chemical changes occurring in the brain that affect behaviour, memory, and learning. In dogs and humans, the mitochondria, little strand-like structures in the nucleus of cells that are responsible for converting nutrients into energy, begin to release “free radicals,” chemicals that oxidize compounds essential for normal cell function. The loss of these compounds places the cell at risk. As the tissues degenerate, protein deposits called amyloids accumulate in the brain. High levels of amyloids, especially when associated with clusters of dead and dying nerve cells, are taken as part of the evidence that an individual is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Physical evidence, found only in autopsies, reveals similar degenerative brain lesions in aging dogs and aging humans. Studies conducted at the University of Toronto by a team of researchers including psychologist, Norton Milgram, have shown that dogs with high levels of amyloids in their brains have poorer memories and difficulty learning new material, especially if it involves more complex thinking and problem solving. This equivalent to Alzheimer’s disease in dogs is called Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.

If your dog has this problem, you might notice that he is showing behavioural changes much like those I saw in Wizard. These typically include forgetfulness, disorientation, not recognizing family members, sleep disruption, and other lapses in normal mental behaviour.

An individual’s lifestyle may be an important factor determining whether the mental declines associated with age appear.

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25 percent of dogs older than 10 years of age show at least one of the major symptoms associated with brain aging.

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is remarkably common and based upon the available data, it appears that 25 percent of dogs older than 10 years of age show at least one of the major symptoms associated with brain aging. In dogs 15 years of age, more than 60 percent are affected to some extent.

Recent research has shown that one of the most significant factors in avoiding a decline in thinking ability involves keeping mentally active. People who engage in challenging mental activities, such as solving crossword puzzles, playing games, engaging in new activities, taking courses, traveling, reading, or engaging in social activities with many different people, are more likely to avoid an age-related decline in mental ability. Milgram’s University of Toronto research group has demonstrated that by keeping aging dogs mentally active, the mental deterioration observed in learning and problem-solving can be greatly slowed or even reversed.

For someone living with a pet dog, setting up new problems and experiences to keep your dog’s aging brain from deteriorating can be a bit challenging, although it can be done. However, if we consider how and why evolution developed brains in the first place, a simpler alternative solution suggests itself.

If we could jump back into the dim past, say half a billion years ago, we would see the first nervous systems starting to appear.

The original purpose for a nervous system was to coordinate movement, so an animal could go find food instead of waiting for the food to come to it. Jellyfish and sea anemones are similar to the first animals that created connected patterns of nerve cells to communicate to their musculature. This gave them a tremendous advantage over animals like sponges that waited brainlessly for

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dinner to arrive. It can be shown that animals that move quickly and frequently tend to have larger and more complex brains than similar classes of animals that are not as active.

After millions of years of evolutionary experiment, nervous systems evolved some complex ways of going out to eat. However, the goal of the brain remains the same: to coordinate movements.

It is interesting to note that a diminished ability to move is a good indication of the effects of aging. You might say that inflexibility heralds the approach of death, while a flexible body which is capable of making fluid movements that must be synchronized by an agile active brain, is a hallmark of youth.

If this line of reasoning is correct, then perhaps increasing physical activity may help to strengthen the brain and offset the effects of aging in the same way that increasing mental activity does.

Scientists already know from laboratory experiments that rats that spend a lot of time running in exercise wheels have better brains than their layabout lab mates. Their brains do not show as much shrinkage with age as their inactive comrades, and the effects are most marked on those areas of the brain that are often associated with memory functions and reasoning, such as the hippocampus and areas of the frontal and parietal lobes.

Exercise has been shown to affect human brains in the same way. Studies of senior citizens who walk regularly showed significant improvement in memory skills compared to sedentary elderly people. Walking also improved the learning ability, concentration, and abstract reasoning in people who walked as little as 20 minutes a day. Furthermore, research from the Salk Institute demonstrates that physical exercise has a protective effect on the brain

and its mental processes, and may even help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Their data was based on exercise and health data from nearly 5,000 men and women over 65 years of age which showed that those who exercised were less likely to lose their mental abilities or develop dementia, including Alzheimer’s.

Walking seems to be especially good for your brain because it increases blood circulation and the oxygen and glucose that reach your brain. Walking is not strenuous, so your leg muscles don’t take up extra oxygen and glucose like they do during other forms of exercise. As you walk, you effectively oxygenate your brain.

(Maybe this is why walking can “clear your head” and helps you to think better.)

As in all kinds of movement and exercise, walking increases breathing and heart rate so that more blood flows to the brain, enhancing energy production and waste removal. Studies show that in response to exercise, cerebral blood vessels can grow, even in middle-aged sedentary animals.

A five-year study at the Laval University in Sainte-Foy, Quebec, suggests that the more a person exercises, the greater the protective benefits for the brain. Inactive individuals were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s, compared to those with the highest levels of activity (exercised vigorously at least three times a week). But even light or moderate exercisers (a minimum of a 30-minute walk at least three times a week) reduced their risk significantly for Alzheimer’s and mental decline.

It is almost as if the brain has a built-in pedometer and a mechanism where the more steps that you take, the higher the protective benefits to your brain, and the lower your risk is for mental decline with age.

While the vast majority of the research has been done on rats and, more recently, on humans, the University of Toronto’s research team has replicated many of these findings with dogs. There is certainly no reason to expect that the nervous system of dogs would respond differently than those of the other mammals that have been tested so far.

So the implications appear to be quite clear. If you have an aging dog and you want to offset the kind of mental declines that we normally expect in older canines, or even if you have a senior dog who was beginning to show signs of memory loss or other symptoms of canine cognitive dysfunction, a simple way to slow the deterioration of his mind, and perhaps offset the effects of aging, involves simply clipping a

leash onto your dog’s collar and taking a walk. The more frequently you walk and the longer the walks, the slower the mental decline with age. Of course, the research suggests that your brain will reap the same benefits and the same protection from aging that your pet dog gets while you are walking him. n

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

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Fashion Finds Introducing the Hartman & Rose 2011 collection of luxury collars and leads, available in all sizes. Take the lead and walk in style. From $69, hartmanandrose.com

Personalized t-shirts, bandannas, and totes! TShirts-Today for People and Pets is a fun new line featuring over 40 original designs from $11 - $19.

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Treat yourself to a “Vest in Show.” Available in three colours, aqua or butter with bone quilting or bright red with paw-print quilting, exclusively at Dancing Dog Design. Sizes S-XXL. $85, dancingdogdesign.com

Perfect for April showers and May flowers, Robin Meyer NYC’s waterproof slicker reverses to a dark indigo denim with Velcro closure for ease of dressing. Also available in red, royal blue, pink, and orange.

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Milk & Pepper offers the finest in French fashion for your beloved friend, from fur coats to luxe blankets in two yearly collections. Box bag with pillowtop starting at $95, MilkandPepper@me.com

Lollypups’ unique sweaters and fabric harnesses provide your pet with chic looks for all seasons.

The Misty Heart sweater is hand crocheted in an eclectic blend of colors, yarns, and stitches. From $39, lollypupspetwear.com Collier Leeds handcrafted collars, leads, and charms are made of bridle leather, brass, and semi-precious stones.

The historic Leeds Castle dog-collar museum inspired the antique design of these sophisticated yet functional accessories. collierleeds.com

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

BUB Dog’s hi-tech, waterproof, breathable raincoat has full belly panel for optimum coverage. No Velcro means no bulk. 3M Scotchlite provides night safety. Great for hard to fit dogs! $40, bubdog.com

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Create a gorgeous, custom look for your dog with Gem Tags! Their handmade sterling silver gemstone tags and velvet collars are offered in an array of sizes and delectable colors.

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The high-tech 1Z Coat with built-in harness for dogs has it all—it’s waterproof, windproof, washable, warm, and has a built-in, secure harness. Fits dogs from 10" long to 18" long.

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Wag the flag in 100% pima cotton polo shirts with original, internationally themed embroideries from Global Dog Designs.

Choice of five different designs, all with ribbed-knit collar/cuffs and contrasting colored buttons. $40, GlobalDogDesigns.com

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Available in pink and brown, bowls included. $49, petjetsetter.com

“Eau la la!” This little black purse unzips into a nifty water bowl. Walk, drink, and be happy with the Wristlet Water Bowl for four-legged fashionistas. $24, bowhausnyc.com

In Service Meet six amazing assistance dogs Photographed by Tanya King

THE NURSE MATE Q is a four-year-old Pug. She volunteers with her person, Yuki Cripps, as a St. John’s Ambulance-certified therapy dog with the BC Cancer Agency, visiting patients while they are receiving treatment and offering much-needed cheer and levity during a stressful and scary period.

Why she is good at her job: “She is calm and cute. Everyone thinks she is a puppy, and who doesn’t love a puppy?”

What led you to get Q certified? “I always wanted to do it. My dad was a cancer patient and loved dogs and I saw how relaxed he was when around them.”

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THE HEART Poppy is a three-year-old female Golden Retriever trained by PADS to be a therapeutic companion and friend to the children and families at Canuck Place, a hospice for terminally ill children. As a member of the care team at Canuck Place, Poppy attends counseling sessions to help foster a greater social and emotional connection with children and families.

Poppy is a hardworking friend to the children, siblings, and parents at Canuck Place, accompanying them in the garden and on outings or spending quality oneon-one time with them when they need it.

Poppy’s presence helps foster social support, control, comfort, nurturing, and helps negate the isolation that can often occur in the course of a child’s illness. Poppy provides a special kind of magic.

Why she’s good at her job: “Poppy is extremely intuitive, sensitive, and caring. She has an innate sense of people’s emotions, and will often go to those who are quite sad and tearful. Poppy has a beautiful balance, though. As much as she provides comfort and calm, she can then bounce, play, and be silly in just the right moments.

She is an important part of the care team at Canuck Place.”

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THE TRAINEE Black Lab Rory is currently halfway through the five-month advanced training program with BC Guide Dogs in order to work with someone who is blind or visually impaired.

Her duty will be to walk straight ahead and maintain orientation, respond to her handler when she is told to stop and/or change direction, avoid obstacles, and keep her handler safe. She will be expected to stop at every intersection, safely cross streets, and handle obstacles such as doors, stairs, escalators, elevators, counters, and posts.

She will be a constant companion, a social “ice breaker,” and an invaluable assistant to her eventual owner.

Special skills: “Rory is particularly good at maneuvering through complex and busy environments because of her cautious and deliberate approach. She also responds carefully to surface changes, which could make her well suited to a handler with balance problems in addition to a visual impairment.”

Her personality type: “Rory is the kind of dog who is quietly courageous. She is very well behaved and somewhat unassuming, but when the pressure is on, she will always give her best. When she is at work, she takes her role seriously. When she is at play, she is a rough and tumble kind of girl. She loves to have a good time! She has a very healthy work-life balance.”

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THE LAW Five-year-old German Shepherd Dog Racer is an RCMP police dog. His training began at eight weeks of age. When he was one year old, Racer was tested and, passing all the initial selection criteria, was teamed up with his future dog handler, Constable Claudio Maurizio. They began rigorous, full-time training together, Monday to Friday, up to 12 hours a day.

Racer is now a general duty police service dog. His duties include tracking, criminal apprehension, person searching, evidence searching, and firearms searching. Racer is also cross-trained in explosive detection.

Personality type: “Racer is a very highenergy, happy-go-lucky dog. He is very mischievous and when not kept busy, he will take it upon himself, usually with interesting results, to say the least. But when the call of duty comes, Racer gives 110 percent effort to get the job done. He has apprehended countless persons who have tried to run from their crimes, from car thieves to an individual who was suspected of committing a murder and who shot a firearm at police officers while fleeing on foot.”

Typical workday: “One particular day included Racer sliding open his dog kennel door and sneaking into the driver’s seat of the police truck while I was speaking to the driver of the vehicle I had pulled over.

While in the driver’s seat, Racer accidentally stepped on the door lock button and locked Dad out of the truck, maybe by accident, or maybe on purpose.”

Their bond: “Having spent this much time at work and home together, Racer and I have formed an incredible bond. We depend on each other at work, not only to get our job done, but also to keep each other safe.

This trust, respect, and dependence on one another cannot be explained in words.

Racer’s favourite pastime: “Without a doubt, catching bad guys!”

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THE BRAINS Otto is a 10-year-old chocolate Lab assistance dog trained by PADS. He knows over 100 commands and can retrieve dropped items, bring the phone or remote control, get water from the fridge, turn lights on and off, and open and close doors. He even carries notes from his mom, Karen Hazelrigg, to other members of the family if they are in another part of the house.

Most impressive skill: “Bringing his mom her meds at specific times each day without being asked—even when she has inadvertently misplaced them.”

Their bond (as related by Otto): “I’m very close to mom since I spend 24 hours a day with her. I don’t let her out of my sight, which she found out the first time we had guests over and I let myself into the bathroom with her—and left the door open behind me!”

A day in the life: “Otto opens doors, both figuratively and literally. People notice him, not my disability. Because of Otto’s help, my ‘quality time’ is extended about two hours each day.”

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THE KID Yellow Lab Bellatrix is an assistance dog-tobe. She was born on September 2, 2010, and is being raised by her volunteer puppy raiser, Gina Rowan. Bella will spend approximately one year with Gina, from eight weeks of age until just after her first birthday. During this time, Bella will be socialized and taught basic commands, and will receive plenty of love and attention.

Why did you decide to become a puppy raiser? “I decided to raise a puppy for PADS [Pacific Assistance Dogs] because I love animals and have always wanted a dog, but was afraid of the time commitment. I decided to stop thinking about it and just do it. I went to the PADS website and got the necessary paperwork, attended an orientation, and could not wait to get started. Bella is with me 24/7; she comes to work with me, goes out to restaurants, out to movies and accompanies me with all my daily activities.

Raising Bella is one of the hardest and most rewarding things I have ever done. She is a delightful puppy who is full of personality.

She learns very quickly and is very affectionate. I will always have a special place in my heart for Bella, the first of many puppies I plan to raise for PADS.�

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body &soul Pet Proof Your Yard

Hazards to your dog’s health that could be present in your own backyard

Cocoa mulch

A by-product of chocolate production, cocoa mulch contains theobromine and caffeine, chemicals that can cause vomiting, muscle tremors, hyperactivity, and diarrhea.

An Easier Way to Diagnose Allergies A veterinary allergy testing laboratory in the US is employing serology, a new and groundbreaking practice for identifying allergens. Traditionally, allergies in pets have been tested intradurally, which necessitates sedation and shaving a patch in the fur in order to administer injections of various allergens. Serology avoids the need for sedation; your vet simply takes a blood sample, then sends it to Spectrum Lab where it is tested for sensitivity to allergens (up to 135 is one panel) specific to your area such as trees, grasses, weeds and shrubs, fungi, dust and mites, as well as for a number of ingredients used in dog and cat foods. The results are then submitted back in an easy-to-read report. Veterinarians serviced by Spectrum Labs are located worldwide.

It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane!

It’s... Thundershirt!

Alleviate anxiety with a snug shirt Thundershirt has become one of the most readerrecommended methods of helping dogs deal with noise, separation, crating, and travel anxiety, and all without medicine or extended training methods. Developed from years of touch-based therapies, the shirt exerts a gentle, constant pressure that has an amazing calming effect on most dogs. It’s easy to use, boasts an 85 percent success rate, and is becoming increasingly popular with veterinarians, dog trainers, and in private homes. Our Facebook fans definitely agree, dogs rest easier with Thundershirt.

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Blood meal Though organic, it can cause

vomiting and diarrhea if ingested, and could possibly result in severe pancreatitis.

Bone meal If consumed in large amounts,

bone meal forms a large cement-like bowling ball in the stomach of a dog, which can cause an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract.

Rose and plant fertilizers Some

contain disulfoton; one teaspoon of one percent disulfoton can kill a 55 pound dog. Worse yet, these fertilizers are often mixed with blood or bone meal, making them even more appealing to dogs and thus more poisonous.

Pesticides/Insecticides Most cause

only mild gastrointestinal upset or irritation when ingested, but concentrated products pose a greater risk. Pet bladder cancer has also been linked to lawn pesticide applications.

Iron Commonly added to fertilizer, it can result in severe poisoning from iron toxicity.

Fertilizer Most fertilizers that are applied

directly to the lawn are generally safe when applied appropriately, but do make sure to keep your pet off the grass until the product has dried completely. They carry a low level of toxicity, but can still cause mild gastrointestinal upset when large amounts of grass are ingested or when the fertilizer is ingested directly from the container. This can result in vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and potential cardiac and liver effects.

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body &soul ”

He’s a Schnauzer/ Dandie Dinmont Terrier/Maltese /Poodle/Shepherd cross.

Stop the guess work and get all CSI on your mixed-breed bestie. A quick cheek swab and $60 will identify 63 validated breeds, which represents 92% of the mixed breed US dog population. biopetvetlab.com

Health Checks for UK Show Dogs to be Implemented In a move to address the concern that show dogs are bred for appearance over health, the Kennel Club has announced that Crufts 2012 Best of Breed winners belonging to 15 high-profile breeds will need to be given a clean bill of health by the show veterinary surgeon before their awards are confirmed. The move came on the advice of the Kennel Club Dog Health Group in order to ensure that a winning dog does not suffer from health issues that attract criticism and bring the whole hobby of dog showing into disrepute.

Said Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, “There are 195 breeds whose participation in the hobby of dog showing is overshadowed by the small minority of people within some high profile breeds who seem to continue to breed, and occasionally reward, unhealthy dogs and who, by so doing, are bringing down the reputation of the hobby and the rest of the dog showing fraternity.” Breeds to be tested include Basset Hound, Bloodhound, Chinese Crested, Chow, Clumber Spaniel, Dogue de Bordeaux, French Bulldog, German, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Pekingese, Pug, Shar Pei, and St. Bernard.

No-Touch Temperature Taking Thermomedics, makers of the pediatric talking thermometer, are bringing their “no-touch” solution for temperature-taking to the pet world. You can now accurately ascertain whether your dog has a fever without accessing their mouths, or (yikes) their bottom, with ThermoPet, a non-contact thermometer for dogs that provides a quick, reliable reading without the hassle of restraining your pet.

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Virtual Vets

Round the Clock Vet Advice Over the Internet In the age of of instant information, Drs. Jed and Laci Schaible have launched an ingenious sure-hit service with vetlive. com, a site providing pet parents with 24-hour-a-day access to accredited veterinarians in the form of live chat, email, and text message. Looking for a second opinion or need an immediate answer to an emergency question, such as whether Rexy needs medecine following consuming something fishy?

Upload photos and medical documents for immediate review by a real veterinarian, foregoing appointment wait-times, the stress of a vet visit, and associated costs. Simply go to vetlive.com to ask a question, register a pet, upload photos or medical documents, chat live with a licensed veterinarian, receive a second opinion, obtain nutritional counseling, secure speedy and accurate toxin ingestion reports, and more. Prices range from $12.95 to ask a question to $34.95 for second opinion, their most comprehensive and therefore most expensive service.

The Everyday Walk, Reinvented Dogs like to walk, but they LOVE to run. Get your dogs the exercise they crave with the Springer bicycle attachment. Simple to use. Safe for you and your dog. Works with most bikes, most dogs. Use code MODERN for 10% discount at checkout at SpringerAmerica.com.

See our new video!

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body &soul Bark! For Life!

This spring, join dog lovers in cities across the USA as they put on their sneakers for the fight against cancer. The cancer walks, averaging in length from one lap to 1 mile, are open to everyone and their dogs and are followed by fun contests and activities.

So get involved! Not only does this amazing event raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer, but it also recognizes the therapeutic role dogs play as caregivers. Walks take place throughout April and May with the flagship event taking place in New York City on May 1st. To find dates and locations of walks in your area, visit relayforlife.org/nycbark.

Fresh, Regional Dog Food Locavores take heart. Pet food company Orijen uses only fresh, never frozen, regional ingredients that are sustainably farmed, fished, or ranched locally and delivered daily to their plant in Alberta, Canada. Their new grain-free dry food, comprised of 80 percent meat content and 20 percent fruits, vegetables, and botanicals, is certified by the Glycemic Research Institute as low-glycemic and is the winner of their Pet Food of the Year 2010 award.

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Joint Pain? Try Stem Cell Therapy Substantial joint damage and degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis once meant constant pain and a slow decline for afflicted dogs and cats, but a new treatment is now improving patients’ quality of life by reducing pain and inflammation and actually rebuilding healthy tissues.

Regenerative stem cell therapy involves extracting and isolating the regenerative stem cells— cells that activate in case of injury and produce the type of cell required to repair the damage—from the animal’s own fat tissue and injecting them directly into the diseased or damaged joints.

Last October, Dr. Joe Whalen, DVM, of the Chicago-based LePar Animal Hospital, became the first veterinarian in Illinois to successfully treat three of his canine patients with in-house stem cell therapy. Dr. Whalen extracted a sample of each dog’s fat tissue and processed it to isolate highly potent regenerative stem cells. The cells were then injected intravenously into the canine’s diseased and damaged joints. The process took about 90 minutes and cost approximately $2000 per dog, which covered injections into multiple joints.

Stem cells processed on site are more likely to have a clinical benefit and, as Dr. Whalen notes, the cost of the therapy is lower than when an off-site lab is used to isolate the stem cells, making the procedure possible for a greater number of patients.

If your vet doesn’t offer this service in-house, you can still utilize the therapy by going through Vet-Stem, a San Diegobased company specializing in fat-derived stem cell therapy for veterinary medicine. Using an off-site lab such as Vet-Stem is currently the most common practice. It requires a sample be taken and shipped to them to be processed before being shipped back, a procedure that takes about 48 hours and requires two separate vet visits.

If stem cell therapy is something you’re interested in considering, speak to your vet about your options. For some prospective patients, such as those with cancer or severe degenerative joint disease, the procedure might be too risky.

For others, like Gabby, the 11-year-old Rottweiler who regained a remarkable degree of mobility a week after a stem-cell procedure for her arthritic knees, it can make a real difference.

Sashas Blend brings back a dog’s old tricks...

And helps create new ones!

It’s never too early or too late to protect your dog’s joints.

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

Vitamin C and Hip Dysplasia “I recently heard that hip dysplasia can be prevented by—or maybe it was treated with— vitamin C and baby aspirin. Is this true?”

People have given vitamin C to puppies in the hope of preventing hip dysplasia and to adult dogs in the hope of slowing the development of arthritis secondary to hip dysplasia. The theory is that vitamin C’s antioxidant properties will lesson the damage to cartilage in the hip joints. I have not seen any controlled studies that show that vitamin C is effective in preventing or treating hip dysplasia or other forms of arthritis. That said, C is a relatively safe vitamin, so there is little harm in trying it if you’re so inclined. Doses range from 250 to 1000 mg per day, depending on the size of the dog or puppy, divided and given with meals. The most common side effect, if any, is loose stools; if this happens, reduce the dose or stop giving the vitamin.

If vitamin C plus baby aspirin seems to help a dog with arthritis, it’s the aspirin that’s producing the effect. Buffered or entericcoated aspirin is often used as an anti-inflammatory to reduce the pain of arthritis in dogs. You should always consult your vet, however, for an appropriate dose before starting a dog on aspirin, and it should not be given to a dog who is already on another pain reliever, such as Rimadyl or EtoGesic. Aspirin will not “prevent” hip dysplasia or arthritis in young dogs and should not be given for that purpose, because it can cause bleeding in the stomach or intestines.

The Doctor

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That “Guilty Look” Two of the most common negative assumptions people make about dog behaviour are that (1) dogs know when they’ve done something wrong, and (2) dogs sometimes do bad things on purpose to get back at their owner. In fact, the human emotions guilt and spite are not part of the canine repertoire. Understanding what your dog is really telling you with that “guilty look” or misbehaviour will defuse your anger and help you deal with the situation more appropriately.

Say you come home from the movies to discover that your dog has strewn the contents of the kitchen garbage can all over the floor. Your dog greets you at the door with his head down, his ears back, and his tail low and wagging slowly. He’s telling you he feels guilty, because he knows he shouldn’t have gotten into the garbage, right?

Wrong. What his posture is really saying is he’s happy to see you, but he knows you’re angry at him—from your tense, jerky body movements, explosive sigh, or tone of voice, or because you’ve been mad at him before when you first got home. He doesn’t know why you’re angry with him this time, nor does he understand and remember everything you don’t want him to do.

Can you explain the problem to him by pointing angrily at the mess and saying “Bad dog!”? Nope. “The evidence” and the behaviour that put it there aren’t connected in a dog’s brain.

That’s why it’s pointless to punish a dog for a misdeed after the fact. He won’t make the connection.

So what should you do when you come home to find garbage on the floor? Remember that your dog doesn’t know what he did wrong, greet him neutrally, clean up the mess, and resolve to lock up the kitchen garbage can more securely the next time you go out.

Then there’s the “spite” scenario. You return to your apartment after a rare evening out, greet your Yorkshire Terrier with a cuddle and a dog biscuit, and climb into bed—only to sit squarely on the wet spot where your Yorkie has urinated while you were out.

The dog urinated on your bed. Clearly she’s getting back at your for leaving her home alone, right? Wrong again. She may dislike being left alone, it’s true, but she did not consciously choose a medium (urine) and a location (your side of the bed) to get her point across. A more likely interpretation is that she got on your bed because it’s comfortable and comforting, and she urinated out of separation anxiety, not spite.

What should you do about a dog who urinates, defecates, or is destructive when left alone? Remember that the dog is not doing it to get back at you. Remember that punishing her for something she did as little as five minutes ago is pointless. n

*

Did you know?

Drinking and urinating more than usual, often with urinary accidents in the house, is the first symptom many dog owners notice when their dogs develop diabetes mellitus.

Excerpted from Hound Health Handbook © 2004, 2009 by Urbanhound, LLC Used by permission of Workman Publishing Co., Inc. New York All Rights Reserved.

Available wherever books are sold.

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The Do’s and Dont’s

of Sharing Food with your Dog

BY ELIZABETH PASK AND LAURA SCOTT / ILLUSTRATION JESS GOLDEN

FOODS TO AVOID Caffeine. Caffeine can be

M

ost of us have heard that giving “people food” or table scraps to dogs is not a good thing. While sharing food directly from your plate probably isn’t the best idea, there are lots of table scraps that are safe and healthy to share with your canine companion. Just because it comes from the table or counter doesn’t mean that it’s bad for your dog. Many people make their own dog food, and their dogs eat “people foods” without a problem.

Moderation is the Key A common concern with feeding table scraps is that it causes obesity. While this is certainly a concern, it does not need to be the case. Any time you give your dog extra food, you are adding extra calories, so if the food you choose to share with your dog is high in fats, sugars, and calories, then there is a real risk of your dog becoming obese. This risk is higher for small dogs, as it takes very few extra calories to cause weight gain. However, sharing healthy foods in small amounts or reducing your dog’s regular food by an equal amount will help to prevent your pooch from packing on the pounds.

Foods which are high in fat can also contribute to pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas with symptoms that range from mild discomfort to a blood infection (sepsis) and internal bleeding. High-fat foods to avoid include bacon, paté, sausage, gravycovered meat, beef trimmings, and poultry skin. A little piece (not more than 1 cm x 1 cm per 20 lbs of dog body weight per day) of any of these items is unlikely to cause a problem as long as your dog does not have an underlying health issue.

Carbohydrates can be an excellent source of highly digestible energy. For this reason we need to be careful in the amounts that we feed dogs. Dogs that have diabetes should absolutely avoid table scraps that have high amounts of carbohydrates, such as pasta and rice. Table 1 (see next page) gives a basic guideline for the maximum amount of extra food that your dog should be consuming a day per pound of body weight. Letting your dog have the last bite of toast or some plain spaghetti is a fine way to share these types of foods; giving him a plate of pancakes complete with syrup is not a healthy choice.

In human nutrition, high salt intake has received a lot of press lately. Consuming a high salt intake may put you at risk for heath problems; however, this is not true for healthy dogs. The only exceptions to this are dogs with chronic kidney problems, since research has shown that high-sodium diets can exacerbate kidney

fatal for dogs. The lethal dose is 150 mg/kg of body weight. Instant coffee contains about 60 mg of caffeine per teaspoon, so for a small dog, it would only take a few teaspoons to be lethal.

Grapes. There is anecdotal evidence that grapes can be toxic to dogs. As there is no conclusive information to confirm that grapes are safe, they should be avoided.

Xylitol. Although not a food, this is a common non-sugar (nonnutritive) sweetener used in mints, sugar-free gum, and some baking.

Xylitol causes a rapid and dangerous drop in blood sugar in dogs, and also may cause liver failure.

Raw yeast dough.

Raw dough that contains yeast, like bread dough, can be deadly for your dog. The yeast will continue to grow in the dog’s stomach causing bloat and, potentially, death.

Raw salmon. Salmon can contain a micro-organism that causes “salmon poisoning.” Only dogs are affected by this, and cooking the salmon kills the parasite.

In addition, raw fish contains a protein that binds up one of the B vitamins (thiamine) making it unavailable to the body. So feeding large amounts of raw fish can result in a vitamin deficiency over time.

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High-fat foods to avoid include bacon, paté, sausage, gravy-covered meat, beef trimmings, and poultry skin. failure. So, dogs with kidney problems should avoid excess sodium intake. Remember also that salty foods are often high in calories and fat, so should be limited for that reason.

What Can You Feed Fido?

Healthy foods are the same for us as they are for dogs. Fresh fruits and veggies are the best treats for your dog. Fresh fruit is high in water and a good source of fibre, so you don’t want to share large amounts as it can result in gastrointestinal upset. In addition, dried fruit can be a good treat, but it tends to be sweeter than fresh fruit because the sugar is more concentrated. It is very easy for dogs to binge on dried fruit and end up with severe diarrhea. A shared piece of watermelon on a warm day is a great treat for your dog.

For dogs that are picky drinkers, including fruit in their diet can be a good way of increasing water intake.

Lean meat is an excellent treat for your four-legged friend. Lean chicken, turkey, fish, or beef are great sources of protein. Highquality sources of protein (without visible fat) will have approximately 3.5 kcal/gram of meat. So, as with the added carbohydrates, follow the guidelines listed in Table 1. Saving a few small pieces of leftover meat without sauce to share with your dog after dinner or to add to his breakfast the next morning is a good way to share these healthy foods with your dog.

Many herbs and spices are recognized as having health benefits, and research is being done to determine exactly what they do and how they can benefit both humans and animals. While there is limited information available on this subject, cinnamon has been suggested to have anti-cancer and anti-bacterial benefits. Adding a small amount (a half teaspoon or less for large dogs) to your dog’s regular meal may have beneficial effects.

There is also room in your dog’s diet for those special, once-in-awhile treats. Marshmallows are loved by many dogs and are safe to share occasionally. For a little dog, make sure that you are using small-dog portions (i.e., mini marshmallows). Vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt make great special treats. As for people, these should not be part of your dog’s everyday diet, but saved to celebrate birthdays or special occasions such as passing puppy school.

How to Share People Food Dumping all the leftover food from your plate and feeding it to your dog is not the healthiest way to feed table scraps. While this may have been a common practice in the past, dogs today eat a properly balanced diet and adding large amounts of table scraps will upset that balance and can lead to problems.

If your dog is used to a kibble diet, he may get an upset stomach if you suddenly introduce a number of new foods. Start with foods

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that are similar to what is in his kibble (i.e., chicken or plain pasta noodles) and branch out from there.

Feed small amounts and be aware of exactly what you are giving your dog: is it meat, fat, carbohydrates, fibre? Noting the specifics will help you balance extras from meal to meal and understand what is happening if Fido experiences digestive troubles. A safe rule of thumb is to introduce one new food every couple of days.

Following this rule will also help you keep track of any food item that causes gastrointestinal upset.

Feeding your dog directly from the table can result in bad manners

10 of caloric requirement for a helathy adult dog

Dogs Weight

Amount of extra lean meat and carbohydrates/day

kcal

lb lb

kcal

lb lb

kcal kcal

lb

kcal

lb

kcal

lb

kcal TABLE 1

and begging. If you wish to avoid this, share people food like you would any other treat: away from the table and not at meal times.

You may want to ask your dog to do his favourite trick before you give him a treat or even just place the treat in his bowl. If your dog tends to be a finicky eater, make sure he has eaten his regular food before you share any extras.

While viewing Fido as a walking garburator will definitely lead to problems, sharing a few bites of healthy foods with him can be a safe and nutritious way to supplement his regular balanced diet and build that extra special bond between you. n

1 0 Human Foods to Share

Pomegranate. High in antioxidants and vitamin C, pomegranate can be fed as a juice or as the whole fruit.

Herring. Cooked herring is a wonderful source of essential fatty acids (EFA). EFAs can be beneficial in skin and coat condition and they are thought to be beneficial for arthritic pets.

Pasta. Plain, cooked noodles like penne or tortellini make a great treat.

Cook a bit extra next time you’re making pasta for yourself and freeze it. Your dog will probably love it straight from the freezer. If your dog does not have a wheat allergy, pasta can be a great special treat.

Cheese.

Chicken broth. Low-sodium, home-made chicken broth can be a great treat to add to your dog’s regular meal, or can be mixed with kibble and frozen in a Kong to provide a long-lasting treat.

Cinnamon.

Initial studies have indicated that cinnamon may have anti-cancer and anti-bacterial benefits. Cinnamon can be included in dog cookies.

A favourite of most dogs, cheese is an excellent source of calcium and protein.

Tuna. Next time you make a tuna sandwich, save a little for your dog, add the water (not oil) to his regular meal, or add the tuna juice to your next batch of dog cookies and make tuna snaps.

Spaghetti squash. Cooked or raw, spaghetti squash is a fun vegetable that is very high in beta carotene, which is beneficial for eyesight.

Barley grass. Barley grass is high Peppermint. Peppermint extract or plant leaves can be included in dog cookies. It is a strong-smelling herb so a little bit can go a long way. Peppermint has long been thought to be beneficial in treating stomach problems.

in antioxidants and can be a treat for dogs when lawns are covered by snow. Barley grass is marketed as “cat grass” in many pet stores.

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Safe, effective, natural bug spray and shampoo with neem oil by DuSenza are natural options for your pets!

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Canine Cancer Detectives Researchers have uncovered a surprising new diagnostic tool in the fight against cancer: dogs

By Sara Lima

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W

hen Steve Werner began to experience a ringing in his ears and general malaise, he attributed it to nothing more than grief. Camden, one of his two beloved dogs, had just passed away and he believed that his condition was simply a side effect of the anguish he and his surviving Golden Retriever, Wrigley, shared. For weeks, Werner and Wrigley spent most of their days curled up together, bonded in their sadness and heartache at the loss of a friend.

As Werner’s symptoms persisted, he decided to visit his doctor to try and pinpoint the cause of his malady. All the tests came back negative and his doctors were left dumbfounded as to the possible reason for his discomfort. Without a diagnosis or any evident cause for concern, Werner returned home but was left with the uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right. Then Wrigley’s behaviour abruptly changed. Instead of lying calmly next to Werner, she began to obsessively sniff at his right ear. At first Werner thought Wrigley’s inquisitiveness was a gesture of companionship, but once she focused her fixation on the opening of his ear canal, he began to worry that maybe she was trying to tell him something. His anxieties reached a pinnacle after watching a segment on 60 Minutes about dogs who were trained to detect impending epileptic seizures, identify tuberculosis, and detect cancer. Werner began to suspect that Wrigley had discovered something that his doctors had missed.

He decided to revisit his doctor and insist upon further testing. After undergoing an MRI, it was revealed that Werner had a tumour the size of a ping-pong ball surrounding his auditory and vestibular nerves on the right side of his head—the same side Wrigley had been focused on.

His particular tumour was benign, but could still have resulted in facial paralysis, hearing loss, and stroke.

Werner underwent surgery to have the tumor removed, suffering some temporary facial paralysis from the procedure, but eventually made a full recovery. Suffice it to say upon his return home he was happy to find that Wrigley had no interest in the right side of his head.

Wrigley is not alone in her ability to miraculously identify an otherwise undiagnosed disease. In fact, recent studies have confirmed that dogs have the ability to detect cancer and other diseases in humans using only their sense of smell.

Scientists believe that this results from their ability to recognize the different chemical signature that tumourous cells emit when compared to healthy cells. Thanks to the unique biological design of your dog’s nose, his sense of smell is anywhere between 10,000 and 100,000 times more powerful than a human’s (so think twice the next time you leave those dirty socks lying around!). While it is still unclear what makes a dog’s olfactory capabilities so extraordinary, it is evident that much more of a dog’s brain is devoted to this particular sense. Dogs also have a much greater convergence of specialized neurons responsible for smell, from the nose to the olfactory bulb in the brain, and much larger olfactory receptors, scent membranes located within the nose. The receptors found in a human tend to be the size of a postage

Werner began to suspect that Wrigley had discovered something that his doctors had missed.

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(above & right) Cocker Spaniel Tangle at work on the original study conducted by Carolyn Willis at the Amersham Hospital.

stamp, while those found in dogs can be as large as a handkerchief.

Due to the influx of patients claiming to have been diagnosed by their dogs, doctors and researchers began to plan the next step in investigating these claims. In 2004, Carolyn Willis of the Amersham Hospital in the UK teamed up with the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People organization and trainer Andy Cook to prove that dogs can diagnose bladder cancer using their heightened olfactory sense. Six dogs of varying breeds lacking any previous scent detection experience were selected and trained to discriminate between urine from patients with cancer and urine from patients who were cancer-free. Each dog was given the opportunity to “sniff test” each of the six samples and then present their diagnosis by sitting down in front of the cancerous sample.

After conducting the controlled test numerous times, researchers began to express their doubts about the dogs’ accuracy because each of the six canines gave a false positive diagnosis to a “cancer-free” sample. The trainers’ attempts to direct the dogs past this particular sample failed, leaving them disheartened and doubtful of the dogs’ previous success. The medical staff, however, had witnessed firsthand the dogs’ ability to precisely locate a cancerous urine sample and believed that something must be throwing them off. They opted to have the urine re-examined by a specialist to confirm that it came from a non-cancerous patient.

Further testing led to the discovery that the person providing the sample actually had a kidney tumor and undiagnosed bladder cancer.

Needless to say, the results of this study were promising—the overall average success rate of the dogs was found to be greater than that of state-of-the-art x-ray or CAT scan machines. This revelation silenced many skeptics and disbelievers and gave hope to researchers that these canine specialists could be used in their fight against cancer.

In the hopes of continuing these types of studies, organizations such as the UK-based Cancer and Bio-Detection Dogs (CBDD) are training canines in scent detection for use in the research phase. Like several other types of service animals, the dogs selected show specific attributes that make them viable prospects for detection, such as a high scent drive and being self-rewarded by the activity itself. Dogs that are overly eager to please are not ideal candidates as they often falsely identify in the hope of receiving praise. According to Claire Guest, CEO of CBDD, theoretically, any dog can be trained in detection; however, working gundog breeds such as Labs and spaniels seem to excel as a result of their keen sense of smell and concentration.

This isn’t to say that a dog has to be trained in the art of smelling to succeed in detection. Just ask Gillian Lacey, whose Dalmatian, Trudi, diagnosed her with life-threatening skin cancer

The overall average success rate of the dogs was found to be greater than that of state-of-the-art x-ray or CAT scan machines.

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when Lacey was just 19. Lacey became suspicious when she noticed that Trudi was sniffing attentively at her owner’s leg. Her first thought was that she must have spilt something on herself to have merited this level of scrutiny. Upon closer inspection though, Lacey realized Trudi was concentrating on a small mole on her leg. The dog became obsessed with Lacey’s mole and would sniff, lick, and paw at it, seeming to have developed a genuine dislike for the area.

Acting upon the counsel of her persistent DP (dog practitioner), Lacey finally decided to consult her family doctor, although she did wonder whether he would think Trudi’s attentions were a foolish impetus for a visit. Though her doctor did not think she was crazy, he assured Lacey that it was likely nothing. He did, however, agree to remove the mole just in case. Much to the doctor’s surprise, a biopsy revealed that the mole was malignant and required a more invasive operation to remove the cancerous tissues, which, mercifully, had not metastasized.

Despite her doctor’s assertions that all of the cancer had been removed, Lacey was terrified at the prospect of being diagnosed with life-threatening cancer, especially at such a young age. She opted to seek out a second opinion—Trudi. Once her Dalmatian’s behaviour returned to normal, she finally felt confident that the cancer was gone. Although Trudi has long since passed on, Lacey still attributes her own survival to her spotted saviour.

So will annual physical exams now be conducted by Dr. Dog? Probably not. While the idea of having a dog employed in each hospital and diagnostic center seems like an economical solution to costly machines and long waiting lists, the reality is that this would not be an ideal environment for a dog and this work is still very much in the beginning stages. Instead, these findings are being used to develop a “mechanical nose” that doctors and specialists will employ to identify, locate, and eradicate cancerous tissue before, during, and after surgery. Although to some this concept might seem futuristic, Guest says we may be closer to using this technology than one might think. In fact, the ability to detect bladder cancer using these methods may just be a few years away. In the meantime, should researchers find themselves working alongside Rover, MD, we hope they embrace their fellow cancer-cure crusaders with due enthusiasm. n

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Get your art on with the Dog Manikin, a whimsical wooden replica that can be used for figure sketching or to add a dose of dog to any décor. $11, dickblick.com

This ceramic Biscuits Savoreux jar lends a touch of vintage Parisian charm to any kitchen. $18, oreoriginals.com

Good taste meets good posture in Baro Woodworks handcrafted, elevated, hardwood pet feeders. From $175, barowoodworks.com

Get the conversation started with a Bulldog lamp from Atelier Abigail Ahern, one of the UK’s hottest interior designers. $470, atelierabigailahern.com

Bring back your best childhood memories with Thomas Paul’s decorative, antique toy-inspired pillows. $24, thomaspaul.com

Style

at Home Dog is in the details

Famed shoe designer Donald J Pliner’s hand-beaded loafer features the designer’s Maltese, Baby Doll, and benefits the 4 Paws for Ability, a foundation that provides service dogs to children with disabilities. $325, donaldjpliner.com

Unique, individual, one of kind—just like you!

Embrace your (and your dog’s) individual style with an eco-cool elevated feeder made from repurposed vintage wooden crates. $80, handmadegreen.com

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Meet Maggie Q

Kicking butt—both onscreen and for animal adoption

By Karin Maxey

Photographed by Michael Brian Hair by Richard Marin for Cloutier Remix Makeup by Kara Bua

There are some hiccups getting connected with Maggie Q, television’s latest incarnation of the beautiful rogue assassin, Nikita, but when we finally do, I forget the animated voice at the other end of the phone line has shared the screen with the likes of Hollywood powerhouses Tom Cruise in MI:III, Bruce Willis in the last Die Hard installment, and Paul Bettany and Karl Urban in the thriller Priest (due out this May). Instead, I’m swept away by Maggie’s obvious passion for animal rescue: this girl isn’t just hardcore on screen, she’s got some serious spirit that defies anyone not to take an interest in the issue.

Coming from an animal-loving family, Maggie has a canine connection that is practically inherent. It started with doing odd jobs around the neighbourhood to get one of the neighbour’s new puppies. Six-year-old Maggie then told her parents she’d found the pup on the street and that the flea-and tick-infested animal had no where to go, so they’d have to keep it.

“I would do things like that, anything to get an animal; any dog off the street and cat that got hit by a car. I would bring them home, that was me,” she says.

When we talk, Maggie is on a break from filming in Toronto and has just returned to her Los Angeles home from her daily hike with the family: Cesar, Ladybird, and Pedro.

MD: We’ll start with what’s number one on our minds: tell us about your dogs.

MQ: The three that I have now are from Asia and two are from different rescue groups that I worked with.

At one point my count was up to eight rescue dogs. They were like Russian dolls, 90 pounds all the way down to the Chihuahua, who is 3½ pounds. Four of them were best friends and the other four were best friends.

When my ex-boyfriend and I broke up, we basically split them down the middle. We’re still friends and when he’s traveling, I still look after the dogs.

MD: What do you love best about your brood?

MQ: Most people love that their dogs are really loyal, really loving; what I love about my dogs is they all have attitude. It sets them apart. You can have a Lab who’s always really happy, always gets the tennis ball.

My dogs all have attitude problems and it just makes me laugh.

MD: If you were a dog, which breed would you be?

MQ: I’d probably be a cross between my two favourites; a Pit and a German Shepherd.

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MD: I’d say that fierce combination suits your choice in character roles as well.

MQ: It totally does. There are two power breeds that I love. I love all breeds, but German Shepherds and Pit Bulls are two of my favourite dogs of all time. I grew up with Pit Bulls and despite what they go through, and what their reputations are, and what we as people have turned them into, they are the greatest family dogs. They’re so good with kids, so loving, so loyal, and they’re so strong.

MD: Are there any characteristics that you share with your dogs?

MQ: My dogs are very specific about whom they like. They know whom they like and they know whom they don’t like, and that’s totally momma. I have the same instincts.

MD: If they were movie stars, who would they be?

MQ: I think Cesar, my son—he’s the Shepherd-looking one—he would be Humphrey Bogart; so perfect and handsome.

Or even Brando; I don’t think there’s anyone more beautiful than a young Marlon Brando. My white Shepherd is definitely Grace Kelly, and Pedro, my Chihuahua, I don’t know…George Lopez?

[Laughing] Do you know why?

George is a really good friend of mine.

MD: How did you become involved with animal charity?

MQ: I started in animal charity, fundraising, and rescue in 1997 when I moved to Asia. I worked with Hong Kong Dog Rescue, which I got two of my dogs from, and PETA Asia Pacific. After that, I started working with Animals Asia Foundation, which is probably one of the greatest groups in the world. They do dog and cat rescue and they rescue the Moon Bears of China. We opened a rescue center for these bears in Vietnam and one in China. I also work on a government level with them in China on getting dogs and cats out of meat markets, which is one of the most horrifying things you’ve ever seen in your life. I still have nightmares.

MD: It takes a special kind of person to take a stand when the rest of us aren’t strong enough to stomach it.

MQ: It’s hard to be. It’s funny; when you’re an animal lover and get involved in animal rights, it’s a whole different deal, impossible almost. Sometimes, I don’t want to know any more, but it’s one of my life’s missions. Animal cruelty is absolutely unnecessary in the world that we live in. I’m going to do everything that I can in my lifetime.

When I moved to LA from Asia, I wanted to get involved and

I love all “ breeds, but

German Shepherds and Pit Bulls are two of my favourite dogs of all time.

”

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my publicist said ‘I’ve got the group for you.’ I don’t think I’ve ever been more touched in my life by a story than by the story of Best Friends: how they came to be and what they’ve done for animals.

The two founders have become two of my closest friends. I go up to [the sanctuary in] Utah every year for a week to ten days and volunteer at the shelter. It’s my sanctuary, it’s where I go to find peace and recharge and see the work that people are doing for animals.

MD: What’s your favourite thing to do with your dogs?

MQ: My favourite thing to do is our hikes. Nothing makes me happier than to see my dogs running, running at full speed in the mountains, up the trails and through the trees.I think dogs that are doing things that are really wild and really natural are what’s most beautiful.

MD: Tell me about your perfect day.

MQ: I think my perfect day is usually when I’m up at Best Friends. I go to volunteer and I usually rent a little house.

The whole day spent in service to animals, that’s my perfect day.

MD: So when you’re on set in Toronto and your dogs are at home in LA, what do you miss about them most?

MQ: They make me laugh. Not on purpose obviously, but they’re just so comical and they have so much attitude. When they’re around, there’s so much joy and when they’re not, it’s harder to find that joy.

MD: What’s the most important lesson they’ve taught you?

MQ: All my dogs came from bad backgrounds and were all at one point really out of control. Now, I take them to movie sets. They’re so grateful and so happy with the simplest thing—their walk, their family time on the sofa—and I think that we, as people, get so jaded. The minute that we forget that the simplest things should make us happy, that’s when we become unhappy.

It’s one of my life’s missions. “ Animal cruelty is absolutely unnecessary in the world that we

live in. I’m going to do everything that I can in my lifetime.

”

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day spent in service to animals, “The wholethat’s my perfect day. ” MD: You’re a big advocate of training. Is there a particular method you adhere to?

MQ: I think that’s one thing that people don’t realize; it’s not just about rescue, it’s about rehab, too. I wouldn’t be the responsible owner that I am, the parent that I could be, without Tyson Kilmer. He’s the new face of where we need to go in terms of rescue and rehab.

MD: Whom do you admire?

MQ: Jeffrey Masson Moussaieff is a wonderful author who basically writes from the emotional point of view of animals. Jane Goodall is one of my ultimate heroes, always. The founders of Best Friends. And those people who have the small little rescue groups, the grassroots people, the people who use their own money everyday to take one, two, three dogs off the street and find them homes, those people honestly are my ultimate heroes.

The people that do the everyday stuff—I look at them with a lot

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of awe and admiration, it takes a lot of selflessness.

MD: And what inspires you?

MQ: I make decisions with my heart. It moves me forward towards the projects I should be doing and the organizations I should be working with. I feel that if you know what you love, you’ll always be okay.

MD: Is there a message from your heart you’d like to leave with our readers?

MQ: I’m excited about things in my career always, but the thing that excites me most is the idea that my voice could be louder one day and that people will take the time to be the compassionate beings that we are evolved enough to be. We’re the only animals on the planet that evolved in this way, who can make informed decisions and understand what compassion really is. We’ve been given that gift, why aren’t we using it? It’s our responsibility. n

ASK AN EXPERT

Training and Punishment

Ask Jennifer Messer

Q:

I’m really confused about the use of punishment in dog training. Each source I turn to contradicts the other—some say punishment is essential and others say it is cruel—and I just don’t know who to listen to anymore. Is punishment necessary in order to raise a well-behaved dog? I’m getting a puppy in a few months and want to start him off right. —Perplexed in Port Moody

A:

Tune in to any episode of Supernanny and you will see punishment being doled out quite liberally. Not the spanking or yelling variety that might come to mind and which was widely advocated only a few decades ago, but the well-timed removal of valued items and activities. An ardent opponent of spanking, Supernanny shows parents how to punish without pain or fear by using time-outs, confiscation of favourite toys, and loss of hard-earned reward tokens to help turn around some pretty problematic behaviours.

These safe punishers, known as “negative punishers” because they work by subtracting something valuable, have replaced the use of intimidation in progressive child-rearing. “Subtraction” punishers are unpleasant—no child wants to lose movie night—but not frightening or painful. They help decrease the problem behaviour without eroding trust between parent and child.

Think dog training and we have tons of negative punishment options: marching Fido home from the park right after bullying another dog, putting the Frisbee away after an uninvited grab, and a swift time out in the utility room for underwear-snatching.

Negative punishers are especially effective when we take away the very thing the dog was trying to score while being naughty: see how many times your dog jumps up for a cookie if it goes straight back in the jar as a result. It doesn’t take a doggie Einstein to learn to keep four on the floor; most are reformed in under five tries.

The beauty of using them with dogs is that they don’t lead to fearful associations with people; there’s no chance of creating a fear biter. This is especially important when there is even the slightest possibility that the naughty behaviour was actually motivated by anxiety in the first place. A time-out for growling at a tail-tugging toddler won’t worsen their relationship, whereas ripping a strip off the dog just might. Negative punishers don’t

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leave children OR dogs wincing at a fast-approaching hand the way spankings or scruff-grabs can. As a kindergarten child once advised me: hands are for hugging, holding, and helping.

Combining this type of punishment with the mainstay of effective training—doling out the good stuff like walks, treats, games, and praise for desirable behaviours—these are the only type of deterrents you really need to let your dog know when he’s out of line. Verbal reprimands are fine, too, provided he isn’t so sensitive that this sends him cowering or urinating, but aren’t a necessary ingredient to get the message across loud and clear!

Jennifer Messer is a veterinarian working in Ottawa, Ontario. She has an honours BA in psychology from McGill University and a DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College, and is author of The Kinder Puppy Course available at pavski.ca. She is owned by her Pit Bull, Charlotte, and her Beagle, Mr. F. Bender.

Did you know?

Veterinary medicine as a profession was born 250 years ago with the founding of the first school of veterinary medicine in Lyon, France.

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What is it About PitBulls?

By Rose Frosek

Photographed by Bethany Obrecht

Pit Bull. Two simple words, but so very charged, the reaction to which varies wildly. There are their fearful detractors, those who would have them demonized, having fallen prey to the dogs’ misrepresentation in the media. And then there are their champions, who are struggling to change the tide of public opinion.

“Pit Bull” is, in fact, a loose term for many distinct “bully” breed dogs, such as the American Staffordshire Terrier, the American Pit Bull Terrier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. There is a general misunderstanding of the nature of dogs that fall into the Pit Bull camp, one that can be blamed largely on the sad fact that any aggressive attack is often inaccurately blamed on the scapegoated Pit Bull with little concern as to the offender’s actual breed. According to testing by The National Canine Temperament Testing Association, the Golden Retriever, Poodle, Border Collie, English Setter, and numerous other breeds are considered more likely to become aggressive than the breeds commonly referred to as Pit Bulls. While the average score of the 231 breeds tested was a mere 82.4 percent, Pit Bulls scored a 86.5 percent (the higher the score the better).

In truth, bully breeds are goofy, loyal, lovey dogs, by and large fantastic with children. In the UK, they were known as “nanny”

dogs, and many Victorian illustrations of family life portray a sweet Pit Bull-type dog overseeing his chubby, beribboned charges.

Yes, this personable package comes wrapped in a powerhouse of a body, one that historically was bred for the cruel blood sport of dog fighting, but these dogs are anything but mean by nature.

Sure, some, if left unchecked, have more of a tendency toward dog-aggression than, say, the average affable Labrador Retriever does, but if ever there was a testament to the underlying sweet nature of these dogs, it is seen in the rehabilitation stories of the Pit Bulls seized from Bad Newz Kennels, the Virginia dogfighting ring that was run by NFL quarterback Michael Vick.

Subject to some of the worst humanity has to offer, these were dogs that were caged or chained alone in the woods, tortured, and forced to fight, the torn-apart losers of the battles callously dumped in mass graves, the females tethered to rape tables. And yet, thanks to public outcry and an unprecedented ruling by the judge overseeing the Vick case, nearly $1 million was put aside for the rescue and rehabilitation of these dogs. With the help of a great many caring individuals and organizations who were unwilling to see them put down after having suffered

In truth, bully breeds are goofy, loyal, lovey dogs.

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Famous Pit Bull Lovers

Jessica Biel has a Pit Bull named Tina.

Mary Tyler Moore, who suffers from Type 1 Diabetes, told People magazine that her Pit Bull, Spanky, lets her know when her blood sugar gets too low.

Jessica Alba has a Pit Bull named Bowie, after musician David Bowie.

President Theodore Roosevelt had a politically incorrect Pit Bull named Pete, who started a near international incident when he tore out the seat of the visiting French ambassador’s trousers.

Rachael Ray’s love of bully breed dogs is well known. Her Pit Bull, Isaboo, appeared with her on the cover of the winter 2008/09 issue of Modern Dog. Rachel Bilson’s Pit Bull, Penny Lane, was a gift from her then-boyfriend also of OC fame, Adam Brody.

Other famous Pittie lovers include, Brad Pitt, Ann Bancroft, President Woodrow Wilson, Humphrey Bogart, Bernadette Peters, Usher, Pink, Jamie Foxx, Fred Astaire, and Helen Keller.

“Generalizations and preconceptions are as unhelpful and counterproductive for Pit Bulls as they are for people.”

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only abuse at the hands of humans, these former dog-ring fighters have now been adopted into homes with other dogs, and are volunteering in elder-care facilities and schools to help children learn to read.

Hector, one of the Bad Newz victims, bears deep scars on his chest. He was adopted by Roo Yori, best known as the guardian of Wallace the Pit Bill, a national flying-disc champ (see the Summer 2010 issue of Modern Dog for photos of Wallace and his high-flying Frisbee grabs). Hector is now ensconced in the Yori household, where he happily shares a home with Yori, his wife, Clara, and Wallace, as well as a Rat Terrier named Scooby, Angus, a black Lab mix, and Mindy Lou, a toy Australian Shepherd. What better testament to the forgiving nature of these animals? As Jim Gorant, author of The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick’s Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption (Gotham, 2010) has noted, “Generalizations and preconceptions are as unhelpful and counterproductive for Pit Bulls as they are for people.”

There is much work to do, though, to change public opinion. Many, many dogs falling into the Pit Bull camp, lumped together under this one inaccurate label, are crowding shelters, their numbers vast, the available homes few. Moved by the plight of these dogs, Brooklyn-based photographer Bethany Obrecht turned her lens to some of these animals, who hopefully faced her camera.

Sadly, most of the dogs seen on the previous pages didn’t make it, victims of an overburdened shelter system and an uninformed public. We’re hoping we can change that with a positive public relations campaign taking aim at their misrepresentation and drawing attention to the plight of legion Pit Bull-type dogs in desperate need of a home. Adopt a sweet, goofy, grinning Pit Bull today. We’re willing to bet you won’t regret it. n

PHOTO WENN.COM

Alicia Silverstone has a rescued Pit Bull named Samson.

PHOTO PNP/WENN.COM

Jon Stewart has two Pit Bills named Shamsky and Monkey.

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petproject

craft

D.I.Y.

How to Sew a Scottie Dog

By Denyse Schmidt

Denyse Schmidt of Denise Schmidt Quilts saw her first Scottie Dog at the Elephant’s Trunk flea market in New Milford, Connecticut many years ago and fell in love. She’s been collecting vintage patchwork Scottie Dogs (and photographing them when her bed got too full) ever since. Just like old patchwork quilts, no two Scottie Dogs are alike—but they all have personality. We’re not sure where the pattern originated, but, due to the proliferation of patchwork Scotties out there, it probably appeared in a very popular women’s magazine in the 1940’s. And now, you can make your own!

2. Design the Dog Arrange the squares on a table in the shape of the Scottie Dog Front and Dog Back. Be sure to make them mirror images of each other (see Diagram A).

3. Sew the Dog * *All seam allowances are 1/4″

1. Cut the Fabric Cut a total of fifty-four 2-1/4″ squares of fabric – that’s 27 squares each for the Dog Front and Dog Back. Make sure to cut on the straight grain of the fabric. We used a variety of colorful wools and cottons, vintage and new, and tried not to repeat any fabric (except on the other side of the dog). Cut the Side Strip of the dog, 55″ x 2-1/4″. If you need to piece the Strip, make sure the seam is perpendicular to the sides. The finished Scottie Dog is approximately 11″ wide x 12″ tall. If you want a smaller or larger dog, change the size of your squares accordingly.

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With fabric right sides together, sew the squares together in vertical rows. Press the seam allowances either up or down, alternating the direction for each row (up on first row, down on second, etc).

When all the vertical rows are assembled, stitch them together in order to make the Dog Front. Repeat for the Dog Back.

4. Attach the Side Strip

DIAGRAM A

Before you attach the Side Strip, stay-stitch 4″ along the tail end of the Dog Back, and 3″ along one long side of each end of the Side Strip (Diagram B). This will serve as a guide for handsewing the opening closed later.

With fabric right sides together, and leaving 1″ of the end free, sew Side Strip to Dog Front beginning below the tail end. Sew the non-stay-stitched side to the Dog Front. Take care when stitching the corners to make sure they stay square. At outside corners, stop stitching, pivot with needle down, and begin stitching again.

Clip the corner of the side strip.

At the inside corners, stop at the seam, back tack, take needle out and begin sewing again at the seam line on the next square. Be careful not to catch the seam allowances with your needle when stitching inside corners.

When you are DIAGRAM B near the end, stop and sew together the ends of the Side Strip, trimming any excess fabric. Stitch the remainder of the Side Strip to the Dog Front. Repeat, and sew Side Strip to Dog Back, leaving a 3 square opening at the tail end to stuff the Dog. Back-tack at the start and end of the opening.

5. Stuff the Dog

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Stuff the dog with the stuffing of your choice. Turn under opening at the stay-stitching and hand-stitch closed.

6. Attach the Eyes and Decorate This is the fun part—bring your Scottie to life and bestow a unique personality with treasures from your stash of trimmings and do-dads! Button eyes are fun, or use felt if giving the Scottie to a small child. Ribbons and trim make great collars or scarves.

Arf arf!

U S E D W I T H P E R M I S S I O N O F D E N Y S E S C H M I D T Q U I L T S ( D S Q U I L T S . C O M ) © 2011 D E N Y S E SCHMIDT DESIGNS, LLC

Get your copy at Barnes and Noble, Borders or order online at officiallibrarian.com moderndogmagazine.com

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Mine Detection Dogs

I

f his dog had been a bit more courageous, Stefan Karrman may have found himself working in Sweden doing K-9 search and rescue. As fate would have it, during training, his German Shepherd suddenly became afraid of everything, leaving Karrman to pursue a decidedly more global calling.

“I was wondering what I should do now,” Karrman says. There was never any doubt in his mind that he should be working with dogs in some capacity. “The Swedish Army—the mine action centre—was asking for dog handlers, so I applied and went for a two-day information session. They said: ‘If you’re still interested, give us a sign and choose one of five dates to go to Stockholm to do a test.’ They were looking for people who were calm and didn’t get stressed easily.”

After being accepted as a dog handler for mine detection dogs (MDDs), Karrman spent eight weeks in training and was then assigned a dog, a three-year-old German Shepherd named Jackie.

“I took the dog home and trained a lot,” he says. “I spent more time with her than with my wife.”

Karrman and Jackie did a six-month tour in Bosnia and three months in Lebanon, returning to Sweden between assignments.

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Then, an opportunity arose for a dog supervisor in the Congo.

Karrman landed the job without Jackie, left her and his wife, and went to supervise eight dogs and handlers for six months.

“It was a tough time because of the problems with water out in the bush,” he says of the difficulties the dogs encountered. “It was also tough for the people.”

At the end of the six months, he had to make a decision: stay in the Congo or take a post in Sudan as a registered MDD quality assurance officer with the United Nations Mine Action Service, an agency created in 1997 to serve as a focal point for global mine action work.

Karrman chose Sudan and has never looked back. He’s been there continuously since October, 2008, with very occasional short trips home to see his wife.

“It’s amazing the work we do with dogs here that we can’t do in Sweden,” he says, adding, “There are no mines in Sweden.”

Karrman says the dogs, mostly German Shepherds and Malinois, with one particularly determined Australian Shepherd, love the work.

“You can see how happy they are when they’re working and how

PHOTOS UNMAS/UNMAO

Making the world safer, one square metre at a time

By Corey Van’t Haaff

Mines are often buried but can be also be found on the surface, disguised as candy, tempting children to pick them up.

frustrated they get if they don’t get out to work,” he says of the 18 dogs in his program. “The German Shepherds are easy to train and have a good nose for this work. The Malinois we compare to a working machine as they never stop; you have to stop them.

It’s crazy; they like it so much they never stop. It’s funny to see the one Australian Shepherd. It’s really unusual because if you take 20 to 30 Australian Shepherds and test them for this work, maybe you find only one or two you can use.”

Typically, mine detection dogs become operational at about 18 months to two years of age. Puppies are watched during play with balls and if they love to push the balls around with their noses, they are then tested in different environments. Successful dogs also need a strong search drive, and must not be afraid of noise or new environments. Within three months, most potential MDDs are identified and begin training.

Explosives have a definite odour that trained dogs can detect. In fact, says Karrman, the dogs are so aware of the scent of explosives, they can detect it even when it is masked in other smells, hidden in liquid, or covered with gasoline.

“They can find it there. People can hide it anywhere and the dogs will find it; it’s really marvelous,” he explains.

In Sudan, the day starts early. The dogs generally work from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m., when they must stop due to the excessive heat. Dogs work six days a week, and when not working, can go for walks, do some obedience or remedial training, or even play in their sheltered kennels. Special, high-quality food is flown in from South Africa, but only for the dogs; handlers, who sleep in huts, are expected to eat local food.

Karrman says the dogs are treated better than people and says losing a dog to a landmine has never happened; they are too light to detonate an anti-tank mine, and too sensitive to the smell of an anti-personnel mine to get close enough to set it off.

Before any dog begins his daily work, he does a test box to make sure he is interested in working that day. The dog sniffs a 10 x 10 metre box containing an explosive and if he detects it, he sits,

Stefan Karrman at work

indicating to his handler that explosives are present, exactly as when the two are working in the field.

Generally, MDDs are used as an area reduction tool, working in low-threat areas. They smell the explosives before getting close enough to detonate the landmines, and sit down in safety before being removed to allow the manual de-miner to do his work. The dogs are not used in high-threat areas with many mines present because they become confused when there are odours from too many explosive items.

In addition to the dog’s incredible sense of smell, speed is a huge factor in the success of MDD programs. On average, a manual deminer can clear an area of 10 square metres a day, whereas a dog can do 1,200 to 1,500 square metres a day.

David McMahon, portfolio manager at the United Nations North America Regional Office Mine Action Cluster, says most of the dogs used for mine detection are trained in South Africa and then flown into Sudan. Each dog carries his own passport for identification purposes. After a working life of six years, the dogs are repatriated, retired, and adopted by families.

The dogs are an amazing tool used to reduce the threat of mines including anti-personnel mines, designed to be triggered by the presence of people; anti-tank mines; and unexploded ordnances, which are bombs, rockets, grenades, or shells that are still ‘live.’

Mines are often buried but can be also be found on the sur-

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face, disguised as candy, tempting children to pick them up. In 2008, landmines, improvised explosive devices, and “explosive remnants of war” were responsible for 5,197 casualties in 75 countries, including 1,266 deaths. Civilians accounted for nearly two-thirds of recorded casualties and, of those civilians, 41 percent were children who encountered mines during daily activities such as school or play.

In Sudan, 42,000 kilometres of roadways have been verified, assessed, and cleared in the past five years, which means people can return to their homes, work, fields, or schools. It also means humanitarian aid can be delivered more economically by road instead of by air. Much of that clearing has been done by dogs, either working in the field sniffing out explosives or through a lesser-known method called remote area sensing.

“With armoured vehicles, we drive down dangerous roads and use a vacuum pump to suck air through a filtration system into containment sample cylinders,” says McMahon. A GPS coordinate is attached to samples, which are then sent to South Africa.

“A number of dogs check each sample and note positive or negative [for the presence of explosives]. Then we go back and demine those [positive] areas.”

The United Nations (UN) also uses mine detection dogs in Afghanistan. Despite making good progress in clearing dozens of communities, as of September, 2010, there were still hazards remaining affecting 651 square kilometers and 2,120 communi-

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ties throughout the country.

Anwaruddin Tokhy works with the UN as an operations officer at the Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan, overseeing the testing of mine detection dogs. He says there are more than 200 MDDs in Afghanistan, and although they arrive trained, they cannot begin work immediately.

“We train them again, as the soil is different here. As well, it takes 15 days for the dogs to acclimatize. We assess how well the dog was trained…and then do our own internal testing after acclimatization,” says Tokhy. Dogs and handlers are matched according to training and the abilities of the handler.

“If it’s a weaker handler, he can’t control a strong dog. This is noted beforehand,” says Tokhy.

Being a MDD is not a way of life for most dogs, nor is being an MDD worker a choice for most people, but for a select few, it is a calling more than a job. Karrman says that it may just be his intense desire to work with dogs that drives him to do this type of work. But that, too, may be coming to an end.

He will soon return to Sweden after the completion of his contract. Once back home, he will work with machines. “There are not so many places you can go and work with dogs. It’s a small [industry] to work in and not easy to find work. I’d like to see my wife and then, if a job [working with dogs] pops up in the world, I would go.” n

PHOTOS UNMAS/UNMAO

Special, high-quality food is flown in from South Africa, but only for the dogs; handlers, who sleep in huts, are expected to eat local food.

Actor Jeremy Renner (left), star of the 2009 Academy Awardwinning film The Hurt Locker in Afghanistan to raise awareness for UNMAS.

UNITED NATIONS MINE ACTION SERVICE The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) coordinates the efforts of 14 UN departments, agencies, programs, and funds, including the United Nations Children's Fund, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United Nations Development Programme, to provide various mine action services that have assisted in over 50 countries and territories.

In complex emergencies and peacekeeping situations, UNMAS establishes and manages mine action coordination centres, and oversees landmine clearance and survey operations, mine risk education, public information, and victim assistance in countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, and Sudan.

UNMAS recently teamed up with Jeremy Renner, star of the 2009 Academy Award-winning film The Hurt Locker. Renner travelled to Afghanistan to tour the oldest and largest mine action program in the world, and to raise awareness about the continuing threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war. To learn more, please visit mineaction.org or join UNMAS on Facebook or Twitter.

“I don’t think there are many guys in my position— I’m just a silly actor—that get an opportunity to come out to Afghanistan at a time of war and get to experience this.” -Jeremy Renner moderndogmagazine.com

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art attack

by Marni Wedin

Dyanna Bruno

“Lively, reverent, and emotive” just begins to describe the dog portraits of Texas-based artist Dyanna Bruno. Through Pop Art tenets and bold colours, Bruno captures the intangible, exuberant adoration we have for our dogs.

Bruno works from photographs to reflect the energy within each picture. “Everyone has a favourite photo,” she says. “I try to figure out exactly what it is my clients love about that photo and emulate that on the canvas.” Bruno finds that people love their dogs, sometimes more than anything else, and that love as evidenced in photographs can be translated to canvas.

What makes Bruno’s process so unique is that, unlike many artists who work standing up using an easel, Bruno prefers to work from the ground. She’ll sit on the floor with her work set out flat on a table in front of her. From that vantage point, using just two brushes and acrylics on canvas, she brings her subjects to life. She finds herself drawn to huge pots of primary and complementary colours and describes her work as “Warhol-esque.” She chooses the colours in her paintings based on her own intuition.

Together, her Pop Art sensibility and use of color magically reflect each subject’s spirit.

As a child, Bruno was always creative and, in high school, she was fascinated with drawing frogs. She holds an art degree from the University of Florida and a graphic design degree from Florida Atlantic University.

Before realizing her affinity for dog portraiture, Bruno expressed her creativity while working at a bakery as a cake decorator. She began painting almost accidentally when she came across a photo of her dog taken during Fourth of July celebrations.

“The energy was so palpable in that photo, I had to paint it,” she recalls. The rest is history; she had found her calling. Since then, she has painted countless portraits.

Also a proud dog-mom to Ruccus, a Pit Bull rescue, Bruno is a huge supporter of animal charities and pet rescue organizations. Being a Pit Bull owner, she aims to break down the stereotypes that Pit Bulls are mean-spirited and wants to create awareness that it is the owners who need to take responsibility for enabling aggressive behaviour in their dogs.

For Bruno, owners have the choice to either nurture the innate love in animals or enable fear.

Commissions begin at $140. To see a gallery of her work, visit mypawportrait.com. n

Bruno captures the intangible, exuberant adoration we have for our dogs.

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dogs of

Charlotte Ross with her rescue dog, Tyler.

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lee star Charlotte Ross, who plays Judy Fabray, the uptight mother of Quinn on the show, is a lifelong animal lover and the spokesperson for the L.A.based organization Blankets of Love.

“They are kind of like the Red Cross for homeless animals, giving towels, blankets, toys, and transport to animals in our local county and city shelters and rescues,” says Ross.

“People don’t realize how something so seemingly small can make such a profound difference. These locations don’t have any funding to publicize and few people come to their local shelters to adopt, so when a potential adopter walks by, it may be an animal’s only shot at being rescued. If they are warm and maybe even playful with a toy, their chances rise dramatically. These animals have everything working against them, so we try and give them as much of a shot at survival as possible.” For more information go to operationsblanketsoflove.org.

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PHOTO CHRIS AMERUOSO

“These animals have everything working against them, so we try and give them as much of a shot at survival as possible.”

Nudity or Fur? “I loved being a part of PETA’s I’d Rather be Naked than Wear Fur campaign.

Shooting that campaign was a blast. I was nervous about the nudity at the time, but, now, in hindsight, it seems tame. I have a feature film coming out in February opposite Nick Cage called Drive Angry where I play a Southern woman covered in tattoos who becomes his girlfriend. I did full frontal nudity for the first time in my life. And...it’s 3D! AND, I’m not young anymore. It was a challenge and I had so much fun. I’m not sure if I have the guts to watch myself on screen, though!”

One thing you’d love for people to know?

“That our local city and county shelters are in desperate need of help. Please bring a blanket, towel, or toy and make the day of an animal and maybe even raise their chances of survival.”

PHOTO PETA

Lea Michele, who stars in Glee as sweet-voiced keener Rachel Berry, is putting her pipes to good use, raising her voice—for animals. As a vegetarian who has rescued dogs and cats she found on Glee’s Hollywood set, she’s committed to animal welfare. And she’s calling on all “Gleeks” to rid their closets of fur. In a new public service announcement for PETA, “If You Wouldn’t Wear Your Dog, Please Don’t Wear Any Fur,” Michele urges her fans to leave fur where it belongs—on animals.

P H O T O X 17

Hi there! Glee star Jane Lynch, who plays the sharp-tongued cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester, on the series, strolls in sunny L.A. with her wife, Lara Embry, and 10-year-old Lhasa Apso, Olivia, named for Olivia Newton-John. The Glee actress recently took time out of her busy schedule to appear in a new PETA ad to talk about a topic close to her heart: spaying and neutering pets. In the video, Lynch quips: “The good folks at PETA asked me to say a few words about the importance of good posture and personal hygiene—but I don’t want to talk about that. I want to talk about the 4 million dogs and cats who are euthanized every year because there aren’t enough homes for all of them.”

ADRIANA M. BARRAZA / WENN.COM

Mark Salling, aka Glee’s heartthrob “Puck,” not only

Collar designed by Mark Salling

has a Blue Heeler named Hank, but also helps promote spay and neuter efforts. In December, he participated in Collars for a Cause, an event in support of the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program of Texas, by designing a collar for the event’s auction. Seems the Glee set is a haven for animal lovers. “A lot of the cast [members] bring their dogs, which is hysterical,” Heather Morris, who plays cheerleader Brittany on the show, told People. “They’re just running around!”

dogs of

else she’s mixed with, I have no idea, but I think she’s a cross between a little bit of cute and a whole lot of trouble.

Your ideal day spent with them?

It sounds corny but every day I spend with them is ideal. I love hanging with my dogs. There are days when I’ll just throw them in the car and do errands. It’s not exciting but it makes going to the market and dry cleaners a lot more fun.

PHOTO MARACASEYSHOOTS.COM

Characteristics you share with your dogs?

Purdy loves the morning. She pops up and she is ready to go, go, go. Unfortunately for my husband, I’m the same way. I would also say that Purdy and I both have very curious and mischievous natures.

G

lee star Romy Rosemont plays Carole Hudson, Finn’s widowed mother and girlfriend to Kurt’s wellmeaning dad, Burt. We asked her a few questions about her real-life best buds, Purdy and Bazooka Joe. How did you find your dogs?

Both my dogs are rescues. I was searching for a dog on PetFinder. com when I saw Bazooka Joe’s picture. He was perfect. He hadn’t quite grown in to his head and it was huge and one ear flopped over and the other stood straight up. He looked like a cartoon dog.

I fell in love. My friend showed me a picture of Purdy and told me she needed to be adopted ASAP. She’d been in the pound in South Central Los Angeles for six weeks so it was a 911 situation. I was told she would have been put down within a week if we hadn’t have rescued her. Personally, I think she was waiting for us.

What breed/cross are they?

The rescue where I got Bazooka Joe told me he was a Lab/Golden Retriever/Beagle mix, although I think he has Shepherd and Pit Bull as well. In my eyes he’s a California mutt and he’s 100 percent handsome. A friend of mine calls him the Steve McQueen of dogs. To the best of my knowledge, Purdy is a Basenji mix. What

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What I love best about my dogs is...

The smile on their faces when I walk in the door. Their whole bodies shake and they howl as if announcing to the neighbourhood, “SHE’S HOME, SHE’S HOME, EVERYONE, SHE’S HOME.” I love their enthusiasm, their curiousity, and their patience when I tell them we’re going for a walk but we don’t actually leave the house for an hour. I have cool dogs and I’d rather hang with them than just about anyone else, except maybe my husband. My husband is welcome to join me and the dogs any time he wants.

If you were a dog, what breed would you be? Why? That’s a really hard question. There’s a hybrid breed called a Whoodle, which is a cross between a Wheaten Terrier and a Poodle. The name just makes me laugh. I have the energy of a Wheaten and the hair of a Poodle. These dogs are known to be energetic and playful, they’re people oriented, and very eager to please. They have a strong work drive but tend to get bored easily and are really good at finding trouble. Did someone just describe me?

If your Glee character were a dog, what breed would she be?

Cocker Spaniel—cheerful, gentle, sweet, devoted.

If Glee character Sue Sylvester were a dog, what breed would she be?

A Rhodesian Ridgeback. These dogs are regal and amazing.

They’re intelligent, strong-willed, and loyal. They also like to raise a little hell.

Lessons learned from your dogs?

I’m always learning from my dogs. They’ve taught me patience and unconditional love. They have taught me to relax. I’m still not that great at it but I try every day. They’ve taught me to enjoy the simple things in life, a good meal, a good long walk, and an afternoon siesta. When I grow up I definitely want to be more like my dogs. n

Ciara Ciara is a Newfoundland dog that loves the lawnmower. She likes to follow behind eating the clippings—no need to rake when she’s around! She also loves the water and will soak in her pool all day. The next best thing to water is children.

Elvis New Yorker Elvis is an 8-year-old Portuguese Water Dog who is just a big hunk of burnin’ love! He likes food, but holds motorcycles and skateboards in disregard. Favourite pastimes? Playing ball and following mommy to the kitchen.

Lady Mae English Bulldog Lady Mae’s favourite things are rolling in the sand volleyball court and eating hooves, pastimes much preferred over encounters with large inanimate objects, lightning, funny noises, and baths.

Waylon 7-month-old Shiloh Shepherd Waylon likes kids, chilling on the couch, cheese, and his buddy, Stroker. He avoids baths in favour of napping, romping, and tail wagging.

Porthos Porthos the Super Beagle hails from England. He loves long walks, cuddles, sunshine, and food, especially cheese and chicken. His best friend is Barney the Beagle; together they are the two cutest devils around.

Yogi Shih-Tzu Yogi likes his toy monkey, getting into the waste basket, long walks, sleeping, sight seeing, and snuggling. He dislikes showers, UPS trucks, getting groomed, and fireworks. His favourite foods include peanut butter and toothpaste/gum.

Stella & Harry Maltese Stella is a devil-may-care, fun-loving sweetheart from California. Harry is a real English gentleman who has won many admirers with his patient and dignified approach to Rally Obedience and Agility. They both like noisy toys and beef chews.

Nicki 13-year-old Nicki-Nicole-Princess-Lovemuffin is extremely popular in her West Hollywood, California, neighbourhood. Her favourite things are butt scratches, car rides, red meat, bacon, broccoli, and chasing squirrels.

Shaymus Happy puppy Sir Shaymus Laughs Alot lives in Tempe, Arizona where he likes going to his grandma’s house to play with her fur-babies.

He dislikes parting with sticks but definitely enjoys carrots and sleeping in front of the fan.

Is your dog modern? Want to see your pup profiled in the pages of Modern Dog? Enter online at moderndogmagazine.com/photocontest or email us at doggieprofile@ moderndogmagazine.com with a high-resolution photo and your doggie data for a shot at stardom! Featured dogs will be chosen by the Modern Dog editorial staff.

Assignment of rights applies; see full details at moderndogmagazine.com/photosubmission.

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Dogs of India I

n much of the developing world, rabies is a serious public health concern. India is certainly no different. An estimated 20,000 people in India die every year from the disease, accounting for nearly 36 percent of all rabies fatalities worldwide. The majority of the victims are children under the age of 15, with those living in rural villages most at risk. Free-roaming dogs, of which there are many, are more often than not the carriers of this terrible disease.

Since 2004, Marwar Trust, an Indian non-governmental organization operating in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, has been working hard to

control the stray dog population, eradicate rabies from the region, and improve animal welfare. Employing animal birth control, a rabies vaccination program, and education, they are making a real difference. Marwar Trust sends out teams of catchers to capture street dogs (in 2005, the stray dog population of the region was estimated at 43,000) and bring them to their shelter. Here the dogs are spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies, and given a distinctive notch in the left ear. After a few days of recovery from surgery, they are released in the location where they were originally captured. Alongside this program, the Trust organizes dogbite prevention and rabies awareness lessons in the local schools. For children that do not go to school, the information is provided on the streets through traditional puppet shows.

(top) A pair of street dogs tries to escape the heat of midday in Jodhpur. The indigo wash of the buildings helps the concrete to stay cool. The dog in the front has a notched ear, indicating he has been neutered and vaccinated by the Marwar vets.

Cows and dogs wandering the back alleys of Jodhpur are a common sight.

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To date, over 48,000 dogs have passed through the Marwar Trust shelter. Research projects are tracking the successfulness of this program and are helping to increase understanding of the dog population and rabies issue in Jodhpur. Together with the Alliance for Rabies Control, Canada’s Veterinarians without Borders/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (VWB/VSF) is helping to support this incredible program. This past summer, VWB/ VSF sent two veterinary students to work at Marwar Trust where they participated in a number of projects, including dog behavioural and ecology surveys, and laboratory studies. These photos are of their time spent in Jodhpur.

PHOTOS DR. ALEX WANDELER. FACING PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: DR. ALEX WANDELER, AMY LOWE, DR. ALEX WANDELER, DR. ALEX WANDELER, AMY LOWE

Vets Without Borders assist in the effort to eradicate rabies and help local dogs in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

A young girl and a street dog search through some garbage in the street, one to find food, the other to find recyclables to sell for money.

PHOTO TANYA KING

Local vet Dr. Kalpat and Carson Grant of University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine performing an ovariohysterectomy or spay in the operating room.

The air conditioner seen behind Carson is the only thing keeping the room at a relatively cool 35 to 40 degrees Celsius.

(above) Local veterinarians Dr. Ishrat Ansari and Dr. Kalpat Malviya with Amy Lowe of the Atlantic Veterinary College and Melissa Bravo of the University of Montreals’s Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire outside of the Marwar shelter after the day’s surgeries and post-operative chai drinking are complete. (left) A pet dog—ownership is indicated by the red paint he’s adorned with—napping atop a shrine to Hanuman, beside a banyan tree.

A Jodhpur resident feeds the street dogs.

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Embarrassing Moments Your dog did what?

Cringe-worthy canine escapades

had a bunch of his friends over for a football game when all the attention was drawn to my two Miniature Pinschers, Tiny and Misty. They were having a noisy game of tug-of-war when I laughingly looked down and saw they had grabbed my bra out of the laundry basket! I screamed and joined the tug-of-war to retrieve it. After a few moments I won and slunk upstairs to assess the damage and hide it. My husband thought it was very funny; I just thought it was embarrassing. I find it funny now that when he’s not home they do it with his underwear! —Eileen Giangregorio n When

W

hoever said dogs can do no wrong obviously never had her pooch decide to do his business in the ATM room of the bank (on security camera!) or bring home a pile of “racy” magazines (actually happened!) from the neighbour’s trash. Well, sharing is therapeutic, so we asked readers to send in their most embarrassing moments, and boy, did we receive some doozies. Herewith, some of the funniest, most mortifying stories of the bunch. Enjoy! nI

was walking my Dalmatian, Parker, down the sidewalk of a posh shopping area in Portland, Oregon, filled with lots of people out for a day of shopping. Parker was always looking for something to grab off the ground and once he had it, there was no letting go. On this day, he found a very anatomically correct, um, adult toy. I looked down and he had it by the balls. There I was on the sidewalk trying to wrestle this thing away from him and his clenched jaws as he growled and curious onlookers observed in horror—“Drop it!!” “Leave it!” “Oh my God!” Once I finally did get it out of his mouth, I couldn’t exactly carry it around until I found a trash can, so I threw it into a parking lot and we hurried away in shame. Puppy kisses were never the same after that.

—Jason Petre n It

was a snowy weekend and the dogs were restless because they had not been able to go out and play in a few days. My husband

my Boston Terrier, Stella, was a puppy, she was so gassy she could clear out a room. My friends were starting to get used to her silent stink bombs and, when the familiar smell hit like a ton of bricks, everyone would wipe the tears from their eyes and simultaneously groan “Stel-lahhhh.” I was hosting a wine and cheese get-together—as close as I get to a posh affair—when a repugnant stench filled the room. “Stel-lahhh!!!” Only this time, Stella did not ignore our groans whilst trying to pass off her innocence. Instead, her little ears perked up as she started sniffing the air. I watched in horror as Stella excitedly sniffed out the true source of the odour—one of my guests! She was so little, but that did not stop her from struggling up onto the sofa and shoving her nose right into my guest’s butt. Proud of herself, she let out a couple of barks. Of course with the exception of the hostess and offending guest, the entire room was also barking—with laughter.

—Name withheld by request n My

little dog, Buddy, a gentle Pomeranian whom I unfortunately lost last month, was in the basement with me while a man was repairing my dryer. There were half-dry clothes hanging all around from when my dryer quit. Buddy limped over to see what the man was doing and the repairman said, “What have you got on your paw there, little Buddy?” I looked down and noticed that stuck to Buddy’s paw was a pantyliner that must have made its way through the wash. To make matters worse, Buddy chose that moment to use his “wave” trick at the repairman. I snatched the pad off his paw quickly, said “Hmm, I don’t know what that is,” then went upstairs with Buddy to avoid my embarrassment.

—Kerry Craven nI

took my dogs to the dog park and a dog pulled my pants down.

Luckily I had on underwear and not a thong.... —Wendy-Lynn

Submit your embarrassing moment (maximum 150 words) to embarrassingmoments@moderndogmagazine.com. Entries chosen to appear in Modern Dog will receive a one-year subscription.

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ASK AN EXPERT

Houstraining + Helping a Fearful Dog

Ask Inger Martins

Ask Nicole Wilde

Q:

Q:

I just adopted a sweet five-year-old Basset Hound named Trixie from my local shelter. She’s a great dog but not housetrained. How should I approach this task with an adult dog? I’d like to get this situation under control as quickly as possible. —Puddles in Pennsylvania

A:

This is a very common issue; I am so glad you asked. Many new dog owners wing it, mime it, or assume their dog will somehow transcend the language barrier and understand the words “go to the bathroom outside!”

Dogs are den animals and they derive their sense of security from small spaces and a routine.

Often shelter dogs have had no choice but to go the bathroom in the same area where they sleep. So to solve this confusion as to where to go potty, we have to bring Trixie back into her puppyhood, briefly. Trixie needs to learn how to flow within your lifestyle and daily life and you can easily show her how. I call this process “Feng Shui with Fido,” my method that teaches dogs and owners how to flow together in daily life.

Create a space in a central part of your home like a kitchen or even a hallway by using a baby gate, rather than by shutting a door. Put a dog bed, chew bones, and water in that area. Think of this area as her Four Seasons.

Getting Trixie to flow with a structure within your daily routine is key. Begin gating her for an hour or two when you are home.

Play music to help any separation anxiety calm down. When you take her from this comfy area, always put her on a leash and say “outside” or the words “go potty” and take her there. Slowly increase the time that she is gated and build a routine around potty-breaks, walks, love, and hang-out time with you, loose in house, for one month. Free time should be based on potty success.

Taking her to a potty spot on a leash is your ticket to speedy success. Doing so shows her where to isolate the act of piddling from playing.

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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I recently adopted a two-year-old Bichon Frise from my neighbour, who was moving and couldn’t (or wouldn’t) take her dog along with her. Miley is a lovely little dog but is quite nervous, even fearful. Do you have some suggestions to help her become more confident?—Seeking Confidence in Calgary

A:

How wonderful that you were able to give Miley a home!

Whether her anxiety is due to being rehomed, a lack of socialization, genetic predisposition, or another reason, there are things you can do to make her feel more secure.

Establishing rules and routines will help Miley to acclimate.

Understanding when to expect meals, when you normally come and go, and where and when to potty will make her feel at ease.

Patiently teach house rules and boundaries, such as whether Miley is allowed on the furniture and how to behave when visitors arrive. Ask her to sit, lie, or perform another skill she knows to earn valuable things like food, treats, the door opening for a walk, and other rewards. Be sure there is consistency among family members.

Teach obedience exercises and fun tricks, as training builds confidence. Clicker training can be especially useful in this regard, as it teaches dogs to think for themselves and to offer behaviours.

Feed a quality food and provide adequate exercise, as diet and physical exertion help to keep dogs calm. Provide mental stimulation with interactive food toys such as Kongs.

Introduce Miley to new environments and unfamiliar dogs and people in a gradual fashion. Teach visitors how to approach her so she feels comfortable, and don’t overwhelm her with too many people or new stimuli at once.

You didn’t mention whether Miley has specific fears or is nervous in general, but my book Help for Your Fearful Dog (www. phantompub.com) covers shyness, anxiety, and specific fears, and contains extensive information and protocols. Just remember to work at Miley’s pace; allowing her to get comfortable with new things, rather than forcing her to confront her fears, is the key.

With love and patience, over time, Miley should come to trust you and begin to feel more confident and secure in her new environment.

Nicole Wilde is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer who teaches seminars worldwide on canine behaviour topics. She is on the faculty and advisory board of the Companion Animal Sciences Institute, and is the author of eight canine-related books, including Help for Your Fearful Dog and So You Want to be a Dog Trainer (phantompub.com).

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ASK AN EXPERT

Soothing separation anxiety

Ask Teoti Anderson

Q:

My Collie, Sampson, suffers from separation anxiety. Do you have some quick tips to help me get this under control?

—Anxious in Anaheim

A:

If you think Sampson has separation anxiety, it’s important to get an official diagnosis from a veterinarian. There is a difference between a dog that experiences stress when his family leaves the house and a dog with true separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety symptoms include: • drooling—you may find puddles of drool on the floor when you return • anorexia—dogs will not eat when you leave, even if you grab your wallet or purse, put on a coat, etc. leave them a food-stuffed toy One exercise that can be helpful is for you to do • self-injury—dogs will hurt themselves trying Most dogs who those things throughout the day and not go anyto get out of confined areas are overexuberant where, so that Sampson learns those actions are • destructive behaviour—you will find the dog are not getting the not always related to you leaving. has especially chewed or scratched around doorways or windows. amount of exercise You’ll also work with the trainer to teach Sampson it’s ok to be left alone, starting with A veterinarian needs to make the diagnosis they need. brief moments and gradually working up to and determine if Sampson needs medication to longer times. Separation anxiety is hard on dogs and hard on their help with his stress. The medication itself won’t solve the probparents! With professional help it’s definitely treatable, so both you lem—it needs to be combined with behavioural modification. and Sampson can feel better about being apart. n Unfortunately, separation anxiety isn’t easily solved with quick tips. You really need a professional, reward-based trainer to help Teoti Anderson, CPDT, owns Pawsitive Results, LLC (getpawsitiveresults.com), you. The trainer will help you work on reducing Sampson’s stress and is the past president of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She is the triggers. For example, when you leave the house there are things author of Your Outta Control Puppy, Super Simple Guide to Housetraining, Quick you usually do to prepare to leave, such as pick up your keys, and Easy Crate Training, and Puppy Care and Training.

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Above and above left: from Show Dogs: A Photographic Breed Guide © 2010, Evil Twin Publications

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

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CONNIE WILSON’S SELECTION OF FANTASTIC SPRING READS.

Show Dogs: A Photographic Breed Guide (Evil Twin Publications; 2010)

By Kate Lacey Dog lovers of all stripes, both show-dog aficionados and regular “dog people” alike, will love Kate Lacey’s book of colourfully elegant portraits representing over 160 breeds.

Inspired by an assignment she received from Life magazine to photograph dogs at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Lacey decided to publish a photographic breed guide, a project that took well over a year. She travelled to shows in numerous states to acquire photos of all the dogs necessary to accomplish her goal, and the results are striking. Rather than portray the dogs as achievers in the ring, she’s instead photographed them “off duty,” capturing each breed’s unique characteristics and quirky dog-ness. Each photo is accompanied by the dog’s nickname rather than his/her official championship name, further contributing to the sense of candidness. You can also check out the iPad edition of the book for a behind-the-scenes peek at the book’s creation and to hear Lacey’s own account of her project.

Dog Walks Man: A Six-Legged Odyssey (Lyons; 2010)

By John Zeaman If you’ve ever felt that the simple pleasure of walking a dog elevates an outing in nature to the sublime, you’ll have plenty to relate to in Zeaman’s funny and joyful memoir of his years as the family dog-walker. An entertaining, thought-provoking narrative about the search for wholeness in an increasingly artificial world, dog lovers will relate to Zeaman’s observations on how this simple task can open up unexpected worlds.

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You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness (Riverhead; 2010)

By Julie Klam Thirty, single, and feeling like she’s still waiting for her life to begin, author Julie Klam is looking for…something. So when she dreams of a dog, she takes it as a sign. She promptly finds and adopts a young googly-eyed Boston Terrier in need of a home and her life is transformed.

The sincere and oftentimes hilarious story that unfolds as Klam opens her heart and home to a dog speaks to the importance of sacrifice and compromise in creating harmonious relationships— interspecies ones and otherwise. With these important life lessons learned, the stage is set, and both Mr. Right and a baby follow in due course, while Klam continues to rescue, foster, and adopt dogs, many of which have their own special needs. Dog lovers will enjoy and relate to this delightful and poignant story about the journey of self-discovery and the important lessons dogs teach us.

Don’t Leave Me! Step-by-Step Help for Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety (Phantom Publishing; 2010)

By Nicole Wilde If your dog destroys things, barks, howls, or behaves wildly when left alone, this book may be your godsend.

In her interactive workbook, Don’t Leave Me!, Nicole Wilde, a certified professional dog trainer and regular contributor to this magazine, explains what separation anxiety is, its causes, and how to overcome it. Lower your and your dog’s stress levels by employing her easy-to-follow steps, resources, and alternative therapies to help your dog feel comfortable being left alone. The inclusion of real-life stories outlining strategies used by experts to help dogs with extreme separation issues offers further encouragement to try out these techniques for yourself or share them with others whose dogs suffer from this traumatic and oftentimes destructive behaviour.

Born To Bark: My Adventures with an Irrepressible and Unforgettable Dog (Free Press; 2010)

By Stanley Coren With Born to Bark, Stanley Coren, accomplished author, internationally recognized expert on dogs, and regular contributor to this magazine, adds another published title to his already extensive list of accomplishments. But Born to Bark differs from all his other books in that it

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is a memoir and therefore a very personal—and personable—look at his life with dogs. At the center of this story is Flint, one very special, willful, and irrepressible Cairn Terrier, who profoundly affects Coren’s life, causing him to look at canine behaviour and our relationships with dogs in a new and enlightened way. Dog lovers will doubtless enjoy this funny, poignant, and entertaining book and come away with a better understanding of how dogs think and, therefore, how to better connect with them.

30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog: The Loved Dog Method (Gallery; 2010)

By Tamar Geller (with Jonathan Grotenstein) Sadly, many people have been led to believe that training dogs is one and the same as dominating them by use of “alpha” techniques, such as physical corrections and harsh words, and that the only measure of successful training is whether you are able to get your dog to do what you want.

Unfortunately, issues of fear and insecurity are often by-products of such methods. If, however, you’d prefer to become your dog’s leader, compassionately coaching good manners while building a relationship of trust and love, then this book is for you. Outlining a day-by-day guide, Geller will show you how any dog, young or old, can become housebroken, happy, and well-mannered in just one month. A New York Times best-selling author and dog-coach to stars (Oprah Winfrey, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson), as well as advisor to the Humane Society of the US and founder of the nonprofit program Operation Heroes & Hounds, Geller speaks to us from a position of both knowledge and experience, with a commitment to better our relationships with our canine friends.

Dog, Inc.: The Uncanny Inside Story of Cloning Man’s Best Friend (Avery; 2010)

By John Woestendiek Pulitzer-Prize-winning investigative reporter Woestendiek brings us a fascinating, thoroughly-researched book that provides a close look at the controversial subject of cloning dogs, beginning with the first “misfires” through to later success stories, including a litter of five cloned, at the behest of the dog’s guardian, from a rescued Pit Bull who saved his owner’s life. Most of us can tell of a life being touched by a special dog, one so unique we know it unlikely we will ever encounter such a dog again. But is science preying upon our vulnerability in offering us a chance to recreate him? And would that dog, especially when deprived of the same experiences as the original, still be virtually the same? The author covers such speculation and provokes further thought. As Woestendiek questions: “Are we crossing the boundary of controlling science in the name of science, in the name of love, in the name of merchandising—or a blend of all three?”

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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 were married last summer and we lived together for two years before that. As you can imagine, our mothers were relieved when we finally made it legal. Now, the questions have begun about when the baby is due. We’re happy living in our new condo with our Labrador Retriever, Squiggle. She’s all the kid we need. But people in our lives ignore Squig. A friend knew it was our dog’s birthday and didn’t even bring a present when she came for dinner. —Karen Ay, yi, yi, please do not expect friends or family members to bring birthday presents for your dog. You’re the only one who will mark this celebration. Also, please don’t expect anyone else to give a twig about Squig. Not everyone who comes into your home will care about your dog—or any dog. Some guests might fear your dog will jump on them.

Others won’t even want a Lab breathing on them. So you must be sensitive to the

A

concerns of visitors. Also, now is that tender time when many people will be staring at your stomach imagining they see a baby bump. Dog Lady leaves it to you to handle these rubberneckers. You and your new husband are the only ones who know what’s going on and why. Remember,

Please do not expect friends or family members to bring birthday presents for your dog. there is no harm in loving all creatures great and small. If your hearts are tied up in a Lab named Squiggle right now, it’s perfectly okay.

Dear Dog Lady, It really wasn’t my fault when I had to give up my dog. The recession hit me badly and I had to work harder than ever before. I took a second job. I had no extra money for any luxuries and could barely afford my own food, much less buy for the dog. I asked around and finally

found friends of friends who were looking for a dog. I surrendered my Cockapoo to them. They renamed her Angel and, from what I hear, they adore her. I really miss the dog.

Do you think I can call them and ask to visit? (They live on the other side of my city.) —Deb Be on the side of the angels. Resist the temptation to request a visitation with Angel. She’s not your piece of heaven anymore. You gave up the dog and you must accept the finality of the arrangement and all those consequences. Break with the past; better for every person and pet involved.

By the way, surrendering your dog to a no-kill shelter or rescue organization is a wiser course than personal adoption (or private re-homing, as it is known in the dog world). An individual deal such as the one you made keeps you inevitably connected, even if you decide you don’t care to be. Through your friends, you will continue to hear about Angel. A shelter, on the other hand, maintains the confidentiality about the conditions of the transfer of animals. Use the time you might have

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ask dog lady spent going across town to see Angel to volunteer at an animal shelter. The folks who care for homeless dogs can always use the help. Right now, there’s a glut owing to the same financial conditions that forced you to give up your dog.

Dear Dog Lady, I understand that I shouldn’t leave my dog in the house when prospective buyers are coming through. What about a cat? We have a cat and neither the listing agent nor the house stager told us to remove it when showing our house. Of course, the litter box is in the corner of the basement and doesn’t smell due to an electronic air cleaner, but we do try to take the cat out of the house if we possibly can. Any comments on leaving a cat in the house during a showing? —Jim When a house is for sale and strangers are tramping through to kick the tires, it’s really a risky idea to leave an animal on premises, whether dog, cat, bird, or iguana.

If neither your real estate agent nor the stager has said anything to you about the cat and the cat box, they are obviously not concerned it will harm the sale—or they don’t smell very well. But it would it would

be wise to try to keep the cat out of harm’s way.

Dear Dog Lady, I enjoy your insightful column very much. I have a big problem. My two Chihuahuas, nine and ten years old, initially belonged to my daughter.

She bought them together after leaving the navy. She had them for several months before she came home to live with me. She has now moved on and the dogs have been mine for the last few years. No matter how many times I let them out, they still wet and poop in my house.

They have ruined countless rugs, wall-to-wall carpeting, and now my wood floors. I work full time and I keep them in my sun room with all their toys, food etc. They can use my laundry room if they have to relieve themselves as the floor is vinyl and can easily be cleaned up.

At night, I have taken to having them stay in my bedroom with the door closed so they won’t pee and poop in the rest of the house. I am at my wits end! My daughter didn’t train them as puppies and the behaviour is ingrained in them now. —Barb

Consider the old expression: “How do you keep them down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?” This applies to dogs allowed to relieve themselves in the house.

Once they squat or lift their legs in the living room, it’s hard to go back. You can train them to go outside but you have to work at it. No more opening the door and letting them out. You must supervise. You also should keep them contained in crates so they don’t have the run of the house. Take them outside on leashes to walk. Reward them with small treats when they perform outdoors so they grasp the notion. Can you do this? It’s going to be loads of work but the exercises will yield excellent rewards.

When dogs doo (sic) right, you feel better about life in general because you’re not living in a vast wasteland.

Dear Dog Lady, I paid a pet sitting service to come in once a day while I was at work and walk my Boxer, Hugo. I thought it was working well until I discovered some gold jewelry missing. When I asked the owner of the service, he questioned the walker assigned my house. The kid admitted taking the rings and chains and selling them to a gold broker. The owner of the service and the police tried getting the

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ask dog lady gold back from the broker but the jewelry had already been melted down. I asked for restitution from the dog walking service and they gave me money for a new lock on my front door instead of paying me for the stolen gold. Is this right? —Helena The new lock will work to keep the bad guys out. You can now sue the company and the walker for the lost property and mental distress. When a company betrays you like this, headaches ensue. The dog walking service has your word and, presumably, the gold broker’s about the items and worth of the jewelry stolen.

Your word may also be golden but the sad affair is legally messy.

For example, the police need an inventory of your jewelry with price appraisals. If you don’t have this paperwork, a new lock is a much more solid option.

These are the times that try men’s (women’s and dogs’) souls.

Dog walkers are usually trustworthy and don’t rifle through clients’ things when they come to pick up the dog. You won’t trust for a while so make sure you get personal referrals and see insurance certificates when hiring the next caretaker for Hugo.

People whose dogs soil other peoples’ property should be reprimanded.

Dear Dog Lady, I live in the city and am pretty happy here except for dogs peeing on the granite cornerstone of my town house.

When I see somebody allowing their dog to lift a leg and piss all over my property, I always say something and, usually, the person moves on sheepishly. But I’ve seen a few of them return. Why don’t you dog people respect other peoples’ property and how do I get rid of the pee stain and smell? —Vicki

People whose dogs soil other peoples’ property should be reprimanded, even served with a ticket for disturbing the peace of good neighbourliness. For Dog Lady, any random act of disregard is very annoying. Whenever someone with a dog acts disrespectfully, everybody with a dog is tarred by the same brush. If a dog owner allows her dog to pee on your granite cornerstone, all leash holders are suspect. Some people may say, “Oh heck, it’s only a piece of rock. What does it matter?” It matters because the piece of rock belongs to another person.

You can purge the stain and smell by washing the granite with a four-to-one mix of vinegar and water. This solution is non-toxic and anecdotal evidence suggests it works well to cleanse canine indiscretions involving granite cornerstones. n

Ask Dog Lady has a fan page on Facebook.Write a question or comment on the Wall. Or email askdoglady@gmail.com.

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