Modern Dog Spring 2020

Healthy Pup: Solutions for everything from difficult-to-clip nails to smelly breath and sore joints!

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions

10

S P RI NG 2020

HOW TO:

Socialize Your Puppy

Things You Can Do to Improve Your Dog’s Life

E WE'R I T G GIVIN Y! A WA og ol D Win Coff p24 Stu

p36

Who, what, where & when

Work That Brain!

Enrichment Ideas For The Senior Dog

moderndogmagazine.com DISPLAY UNTIL JUNE ‘20

$6.95

p28

Nature vs Nurture

CBD & Your Dog Dog Gear Guide Stars & Their Dogs

p34

Resource Guarding

Add these superfoods to your dog's dinner!

Know Your Breeds: The Cairn Terrier, Norwich Terrier, and Flat-Coated Retriever inside!

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P H OTO R I G H T P E T E T H O R N E

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36 FEATURES 28

How Much of Your Dog’s Behaviour is Genetic?

Data shows that canine behaviour, as well as intelligence, aggression, and fearfulness are, to a significant degree, inherited. BY STANLEY COREN

34

People Foods For Dogs: the Superfood Edition Boost your dog's health with these superfoods!

36

How To Socialize Your New Puppy From who to introduce your dog to, to when, here’s how to get your pup off on the right paw. BY NICOLE WILDE

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52

The Top 10 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Dog’s Life Certified trainer and behaviour consultant Mikkel Becker shares her top tips for boosting your dog’s happiness.

Final Moments, Spent At Home It’s heartbreaking to say goodbye. At home euthanasia makes it easier. A growing trend, at home-euthanasias are a blessing for pets and the people who love them.

BY DARCY MATHESON

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88

92

96

74 THE GOODS 32

The Dog Gear Look Book Your at-a-glance guide to the best dog stuff!

50

Barkin’ Great!

MD staff obsessions that will thrill you and your dog.

READ YOUR BREED 26

The Cairn vs The Norwich Terrier Get to know these commonly confused breeds.

98

Athletic, Joyful, Loving—Meet the Flat-Coated Retriever Lab and Golden lovers, prepare to fall in love—this rare retriever might be the best kept secret in the dog world.

Is CBD Right for your Dog? For a host of dog lovers, CBD has proved a miracle cure, helping dogs with everything from arthritis and seizures to pain and anxiety. BY TRACEY TONG What Your Dog Can Tell By Smell Mood, illness, where you’ve been—your dog’s nose can determine a whole lot about you. BY JANE MUNDY

BY KELLY CALDWELL

BODY & SOUL 58

Enrichment for Senior Dogs How to keep your senior dog happy and engaged despite advancing years and physical limitations. BY ZAZIE TODD

Allergic to Dogs? Your Pup’s Gender May Be to Blame

60

Mine! How to Deal With a Dog That Guards What you should do if your dog guards his food and toys: a step by step guide to solving resource guarding.

Healthy Pup Solutions for everything from difficult-to-clip nails to smelly ears and sore joints.

62

Veterinary Detective Weight gain, hair loss, “slowing down”—what’s wrong with this dog? BY DR. SARAH MYERS

BY TEOTI ANDERSON

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102 One Human Year Equals Seven Dog Years?

Think Again.

66

Freedom Ride These dog collars buy a last-chance shelter dog transport to a new life.

42 46

Dogs Give New Leash on Life to Abandoned Cemetery Dogwalkers transform neglected cemetery into a beloved community space. BY TRACEY TONG

68

Man's Best Friend Moving new memoir provides a lesson in living, loving, and letting go.

74

The Making of Viral Pet Photos From senior dogs to fat cats, photographer Pete Thorne captures the magic the Internet goes wild for.

DOG LIFE 24

We’re Giving It Away!

Win it! We’ve got months of cool dog stuff we’re giving away, from yummy dog macarons to super supplements, and winners every week! See what’s up for grabs on page 24.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY PETE THORNE

REGULAR FEATURES 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Contributors 10 Stuff We Love 12 The Scoop 22 Smile! Photo Contest 109 Marketplace

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92

ON THE COVER Bernese Mountain Dog Hefner photographed by Pete Thorne.

Follow Pete on Instagram at @petethepetphotographer or book a shoot by sending him an email at pete@petethornephoto.com!

Bulldog puppy inset photo photographed by Sarah Daloise.

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5 Amazing Charities Helping Dogs and People These five charities are transforming the lives of dogs and the people who love (and need) them. BY VIVIEN FELLEGI

102 Dying Bulldog Pulls Through, Wins Photo Contest A five-day-old, failing-to-thrive rescue puppy pulls through, wins hearts, a home—and our Star Dog photo contest! PHOTOGRAPHED BY VANESSA BRACK 106 Connie’s Book Club Curl up with a good dog and a good book! Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson’s spring round-up of must-read dog books.

112 Stars, They’re Just Like Us! Candid captures of celebs out and about with their pups.

In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 19, Issue 1. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 061114003. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices.

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

P H OTO L E FT VA N ESSA B R ACK

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EDITOR'S LETTER

Social icon

Circle Only use blue and/or white.

For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

this!

“I decided I would do some light reading of @moderndogmag before I went to bed.”—@fluffdogcrew

I

s there anything more spirit-lifting than an early spring walk with your dog when it feels like the whole world is reawakening? Their enthusiasm is nothing short of contagious.

What a gift it is to see the world through the eyes of our dogs!

This issue is devoted to helping you do your best by your dog— because they deserve it. Whether you have a puppy (turn to page 36 for "How to Socialize Your Puppy") or a senior ("Enrichment Ideas For Senior Dogs", page 92), we have you covered, all while lifting your spirits. The story of cross-eyed rescue Husky, Jubilee, who finally found her forever home will put a smile on your face, guaranteed.

We also share the most heartwarming stories, like Ben Moon’s cancer journey with his dog Denali, paired with staff tested and approved dog gear and expert advice from vets, trainers, behaviourists, and psychologists. Hot wellness topics are explored. Is CBD right for your dog? Turn to page 70 to find out! We also have fun candid snaps of celebs out and about with their pups, adoptable dogs featured on beer cans, how to deal with guarding issues, and cute dog photos galore. So dive on in! We hope you enjoy the issue as much as we loved putting it together.

“People always comment that she’s so photogenic and always posing. I think it comes down to two things. 1. She thinks she’s a person. 2. She’ll do anything for a treat.”—@tiffanyascensio

Thank you for being a part of our amazing community of dog lovers!

With gratitude,

Connie Wilson, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

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“I’m off work today! Gonna have a Modern Dog Monday!”

—@dulce.de.leche.princess.poodle

CO N N I E W I L S O N W I T H P E N N Y, P H OTO K H A R E N H I L L

OUR READERS WRITE

C O NTRIBUTOR S SPRING 2020

Illustrator Diana Bolton lives in Hamilton, Ontario with her husband, two parrotlets, and a Miniature Poodle named Smokey.

Diana's favourite thing is when Smokey sleeps by her feet while she draws. Diana and Smokey also participate in dog obedience together and Smokey teaches her lots of tricks. She says who trains who is in question but she wouldn't trade him for a million dollars. Turn to page 52 to see Diana's moving illustration for this issue's article on at-home euthanasia.

•

VOL 19

NO 1

Publisher

Modern Dog Inc. Editor-in-Chief

Connie Wilson Editor & Creative Director

Jennifer Nosek Design & Production

Hayley Schmidt Affiliate Development & Digital Marketing Manager

Nicole Ephgrave Sales & Marketing

Linda Helme, Milena Braga Comptroller

Cecilia de Roca Chan, CPA, CGA Accounting Services & Subscription Services

Vicki Szivos Sales & Marketing Assistant

Georgia Riddle-Olsen Audience Development Coordinator

Yaunna Sommersby

Vanessa Brack is a fine art lifestyle photographer living in the gorgeous desert of Yuma, Arizona with her love and three kids. Photography has been a lifelong passion for Vanessa. Drawn to the beautiful grittiness of human emotion and connection, she photographs families, newborns, children, couples, and seniors. Her style is artistic, natural, and filled with love, all things you’ll see in her photos of our Star Dog photo contest winner Spanky, a rescue Bulldog, and his mama, Nita Pickering. Turn to page 102 for the story and find Vanessa at vanessabrack.com.

Subscriptions Assistant

Leanne Browne GET YOURSELF A SUBSCRIPTION! Give us a call at 1-800-417-6289 or subscribe online at moderndogmagazine.com/subscribe Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 19, 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 19, 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.

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

FAX

Zazie Todd is the author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She's also the creator of the popular blog Companion Animal Psychology and writes a Psychology Today blog, Fellow Creatures. She has a PhD in Psychology, is an honours graduate of the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers, and has a Certificate in Feline Behaviour from International Cat Care. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC, and you can find her at companionanimalpsychology.com.

In this issue, Zazie authors “Work That Brain! Enrichment Ideas For the Senior Dog” (p 92) filled with ideas for improving the mental health and happiness of our golden oldies.

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

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

Copyright 2020 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. Modern Dog is published four times a year. One-year subscription prices: Canada $16CAD, U.S.A. $16USD, foreign $45USD. Subscription orders and customer service inquiries should be sent to Modern Dog Subscription Services, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4

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Z A Z I E TO D D P H OTO B A D M O N K E Y P H OTO G R A P H Y

PHONE

Food Intolerance Test

Stuff We Love

Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter!

1 Do you suspect your dog may have food allergies? If so, you need 5Strands Affordable Testing’s intolerance test. It couldn’t be easier—simply send in a few hairs and they send back a report detailing your dog’s allergies and intolerances so you can adjust his diet as needed.—Hayley (From $88, 5strands.com) 2 If you've never given your dog a bully stick chew before, get ready for them to be SO INTO IT. Made of only bull pizzle, dogs go crazy for these single ingredient chews!—Vicki (From $26, lennoxpets.com) 3 There’s nothing worse than having to weigh needed veterinary care against cost. Nationwide Pet Insurance makes sure this doesn’t happen with coverage that fits your dog’s needs. Just visit your vet, send them your claim, and they’ll send you a cheque! Peace of mind that’s worth every penny.—Nicole (Plans starting at $35 a month, petinsurance.com) 4 Feeding my dog a quality food she loves is very important to me. Chicken Soup For The Soul Classic Wet Food fits the bill with no by-product meals, wheat, corn or soy. Real chicken and turkey are the first two ingredients and are blended with duck and salmon for a taste my dog adores!—Yaunna ($2 per can, chickensouppets.com) 5 I’ve found the ideal pet waste station for your home or pet-friendly business! PawPail dispenses pet waste bags and then temporarily stores pet waste while controlling odours. It can also be wall-mounted wherever is convenient, making clean up a breeze!—Linda (From $180, pawpail.com) 6 I love Petcurean’s Grain Free Duck Pate. Made from the best possible ingredients like cagefree duck, plus pumpkin, you can feel great about giving your dog the quality food they’ll devour.

—Charlie the Chocolate Lab (From $4, petcurean.com) 7 I love using SeaDog Treats when practicing tricks with my food-driven dog! He loves these nutritious treats and they keep him focused when training. Best of all, they’re made from fresh USA-sourced beef and chicken, nutritional powerhouse organic Norwegian kelp, apples, carrots, and long-grain brown rice, so you can feel great about giving them to your dog!—Georgia ($20, seadogtreatsllc.com) 8 Make mealtime mess a thing of the past! If your dog gets food everywhere or has long ears that are always getting into his dinner, you need the Troff Bowl from TidyDog. The elliptical shape lets long ears fall outside of the bowl and the contoured corner-less sides guide food to the center of the bowl rather than all over the floor. Genius!—Milena (From $18, tidydog.com) 9 Elevate your dog's health with Primal Elixirs, aromatic whole food toppers you add to your dog's dinner.

Choose from immunity boosting Healthy Green Smoothie, joint-health promoting Omega Mussel Melange or digestion helper Winter Squash Puree. Each flavour includes specialized, functional ingredients to support healthy digestive tracts, immune systems, and joints.—Connie (From $10, primalpetfoods.com) 10 Help your dog battle cancer with I’m-Yunity, a medicinal mushroom extract made from the Coriolus Versicolor (Zhi) mushroom. This clinically proven mushroom supplement supports immune health and helps stabilize white blood cell counts while enhancing energy and appetite. It’s also been found to slow the growth of cancerous hemangiosarcoma tumors and in some cases reduce their size.—Jennifer (From $95, imyunityfordogs.com) 11 Making sure my dog’s dental health is taken care of between vet visits is made easy with the vetapproved Pet Dental Water Additive from OxyFresh. It safely and effortlessly helps keep my dog’s breath fresh and teeth clean.—Georgia ($15, shop.oxyfresh.com) 12 My pup and her fur-ends looked so cute celebrating her adoption day in the Dog Birthday Hats from Misfit Manor! An adorable accessory pawfect for a fun celebration and photos. Best of all, they're made by a full-time dog mom who adopts senior and handicap pups. "Every day with my dogs matters," says maker Nancy Halverson. "We have a lot of dog parties here because we love to celebrate the joy and love that dogs bring into our lives." Full dog party kits also available.—Cecilia ($11, misfitmanordogs.com)

Dog Takes DNA Test. Turns Out He’s Actually a Rare and Endangered Dingo.

DNA test results confirm a stray pup named Wandi is in fact a 100 percent endangered Australian alpine dingo.

I

magine awakening to whimpering cries and venturing into your backyard to find a scared, abandoned puppy—or is it a fox kit?—all alone. A resident of Wandiligong, a rural town in the Australian state of Victoria experienced just that. Things only got more interesting when she took the “adorable” animal to her local veterinarian, who suspected the stray pup to actually be a young dingo, a wild dog native to Australia.

While awaiting DNA test results, the pup named Wandi (short for Wandiligong) was moved to the Australian Dingo Foundation. When the results were returned, the staff at the foundation were shocked—Wandi was indeed a purebred alpine dingo, a rare and endangered breed of Australian dingo.

It was a welcome surprise.

Of the three breeds of dingoes, alpine dingoes are the only ones currently in danger of extinction, due to inbreeding (Australian Geographic notes most dingoes are dog-dingo hybrids), hunting, and government eradication program.

“For us he is going to be a very valuable little thing,” says Lyn Watson, director of the Australian Dingo Foundation.

Receiving a purebred as a pup is very rare. Not only will staff at the foundation be able to observe his behaviour but Wandi will provide a new, wild-born genetic line, which is very important for the sanctuary’s breeding program, and a position that could

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help save his species from extinction.

Wandi has even received visitors who have come from overseas just to meet him.

“Wandi's addition to the sanctuary is invaluable,” says sanctuary volunteer Kevin Newman. “Not only has he attracted worldwide interest to the plight of dingoes, but his status as Instagram's favourite dingo (over 40,000 followers) means we have more reach to promote dingoes to the world.”

But how exactly did a purebred alpine dingo pup end up all alone in a backyard? Based on the claw marks found on his back, it is believed the tiny dingo was snatched from his pack by a bird of prey who eventually dropped him. Lost and confused, the young dingo likely wandered until he was found in a backyard. Now in the care of the Dingo Discovery sanctuary, Wandi is being trained by his handlers who are preparing him to become a dingo ambassador. To keep him safe, Wandi will most likely spend the rest of his life in a sanctuary unless alpine dingo populations increase to a point of no longer being endangered or the laws and policies on hunting and killing these rare canines is changed.

Get a daily dose of cuteness of Wandi’s cuteness and learn more about dingo conservation by following @wandi_dingo on Instagram.—Alice Sewell

P H OTO AU ST R A L I A N D I N G O F O U N DAT I O N

THE SCOOP

P H OTO SA R A H DA LO I SE

THE SCOOP

Spotify Will Generate a Playlist For Your Dog! Tell Spotify about your dog’s personality, and the music streaming service will create an algorithmically generated playlist for your pup!

D

o you play music for your dog? The music streaming service Spotify just released a way to create an algorithmically generated playlist to enjoy with your dog—or cat, iguana, hamster or bird.

Spotify conducted a survey of 5000 users worldwide who also have pets. 71 percent said they play music for their pets, and 8 out of 10 believe their pets like music.

Interestingly, only around half said they think their pet likes the same type of music that they do. The survey also found almost one in five pet owners named their pet after a music artist or group.

Here's how to use Spotify's new tool to create a personalized playlist for your pet.

1. Go to Spotify.com/pets.

2. Select your pet. Pick from a dog,

cat, iguana, hamster or bird.

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6 9%

of owne rs sin their pe g to t

57%

of owne rs dan their pe ce with t

3. Choose the trait that best

describes your pet's personality, such as relaxed, friendly, energetic or shy. Spotify will sync those choices with your own taste in music to create the playlist vibe.

4. Add your pet's name and a photo

for the playlist cover. You’ll also receive a personalized share card.

5. Listen with your pup. You can

share and compare your pet’s playlist using #SpotifyPets.

Genres that pets seem to prefer: Classical and soft rock.

The Top 5 ArtistInfluenced Pet Names: Bob Marley Elvis Freddie Mercury Bowie Ozzy

THE SCOOP

Cross-eyed Husky Finds Her Happy Ending "Doesn't anyone want a funny-looking Husky?"

Cross-eyed pup finds forever home after two-year wait.

W

e love to hear of heartbreaking stories that turn into happy endings! Jubilee the Siberian Husky, surrendered by her breeder for her "weird" looks, has finally found her forever home. The four-year-old dog was awaiting a family to call her own for two years at the Husky House rescue in New Jersey. This sweet girl was surrendered back in May 2018 by her breeder who said she was too odd looking to be saleable.

But when Husky House posted about Jubilee on their Facebook page this past January, the Internet fell in love. “My name is Jubilee. I’m a four year-old female Husky who has been with Husky House for a long time. I came from a ‘breeder’ who couldn’t sell me because he said I was ‘weird’ looking. Huskies are majestic looking dogs and I don’t know why I don’t look like them,” the post read. “I wish I was beautiful so someone would want me to be their dog.”

To the rescue group's surprise, the post went viral, receiving more than 47,000 shares and 23,000 comments. Still, the rescue received few applications. “We haven’t received many applications, even though all these comments say they want [her],” Husky House wrote in a Facebook Update following the initial post.

Jubilee's adorably unique crossed eyes are due to a congenital issue that impacts the shape of her eyelids.

Husky House made sure she was treated and examined by Dr. Doug Colter of the South Brunswick Animal Hospital in New Jersey and this condition does not impact her overall health. She was also pampered at a local groomer before a meet and greet event to help find her a family.

After a two-year wait, Jubilee finally got her happy ending. A couple who have adopted through Husky House before opened their hearts and home to

the deserving dog. Her new fur parents are experienced with this intelligent, high-energy breed, and Jubilee now has fur-siblings to explore and learn with.

“One of Jubilee's favourite things to do when she was here at the rescue was to hang out and play with the other dogs, especially her two best buds, Rosie and Rocky,” said a representative from Husky House.

Jubilee has proven a terrific ambassador for the rescue group and will continue to raise awareness through her story and a Team Jubilee fundraising t-shirt Husky House has created. So far Jubilee has helped raise over $2,000 for Husky House.

“Since her original Facebook post had gone viral, we’ve received an overwhelming amount of love, support, and inquiries,” says a Husky House representative. “We are so happy to see that everyone feels she is as wonderful as we always knew she was.”

—Yaunna Sommersby Husky House is “hoping the increased attention extends to our other adoptables waiting for their loving, forever homes.” Find them on Facebook at facebook.com/HuskyHouseNJ.

Is the Siberian Husky right for you? Read all about the breed at moderndogmagazine.com/husky

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P H OTOS H U SKY H O U SE R ES CU E

Jubilee and vet Dr. Doug

P H OTO M OTO R WO R KS B R E W I N G

THE SCOOP

Motorworks Brewing beer cans featuring adoptable dogs, including Hazel, also known as Day Day, in blue bandana at right.

TO THAT! Brewery puts adoptable dogs on beers cans, reunites owner with lost dog after three years.

Seven Stills brewery releases beer cans featuring senior rescue dogs from Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.

A Minnesotan woman spots her long-lost dog on a viral Florida beer can featuring adoptable dogs.

"I was looking at the dogs and I was like oh my gosh, that's Hazel," Monica told Bay News 9.

F

“I think this is my dog,” she cried to her husband. "I was a little hysterical because I was scared someone was going to adopt her at that point or something," she told WWSB News. "I was scared I was gonna lose her again."

rom California to Florida, special-edition beer releases have dog lovers raising a glass to animal adoption. Two breweries putting shelter pups on beer cans are helping dogs in need find forever homes—and in one case reuniting a lost dog with her owner after three years separation.

In late January, Motorworks Brewing in Bradenton, Florida, released a four-pack featuring four different adoptable dogs in search of their forever homes. The release was met with immediate popularity and the story was quickly picked up nationwide, including stories on CNN and The New York Post and a segment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Two of four dogs, King and Morton, found homes right away, but the other two were still waiting for a change in fortune when there was a surprise twist— one of the dogs was destined for a reunion.

Monica Mathis was scrolling through Facebook when one of the stories in her Facebook newsfeed stopped her in her tracks.

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Monica had long given up hope when she spotted her long-lost best friend. Hazel, leashed in the yard, had escaped her home in 2017. After fruitless searching, the family had moved from Iowa to Minnesota a month after Hazel went missing. Monica had assumed she’d never see her dog again.

No one knows how Hazel travelled the more than 1000 miles to Manatee County, FL. When she arrived at the shelter in March 2019, shelter staff tried to contact her owners but her microchip info was out of date. Monica had changed her name after a divorce and hadn’t updated her phone number after the family’s move.

Hazel, renamed Day Day at the shelter, was a last-minute addition to the lineup of dogs showcased on the brewery's beer cans. She had been at the shelter 10 months.

I N SE T P H OTO J E N N I F E R CO U D RO N , M U TTV I L L E SE N I O R D O G R ES CU E

CHEERS

THE SCOOP

P H OTO J E N N I F E R CO U D RO N , M U TTV I L L E S E N I O R D O G R E S CU E

Senior rescue dogs on Seven Stills Brewery special release.

The Manatee County Animal Services told Fox it received a call from Monica, who had proof “Day Day” was her beloved dog, missed by her and her eight children.

Hazel is now finally on her way back home.

Thanks to Friends of Manatee County Animal Services, Hazel is being reunited with Monica, with the organization covering the transportation costs.

For their part, Motorworks Brewing is already working on a follow-up release that will feature new adoptable dogs on the cans and will be distributed throughout Florida to continue raising awareness.

“It’s just been an incredible ride,” says Barry Elwonger, director of sales and marketing. “It’s been overwhelming.

We’ve had people reaching out across the country to see how they can get involved.”

After hearing about Muttville, the brewers discovered the rescue organization was actually right down the street from them. They reached out and began working to support the rescue with various events. “The public reception has been great,” says Tim, who says the brewery plans to celebrate the release with an Adopt-a-Can party.

Muttville Senior Dog Rescue founder Sherri Franklin says the Muttville team is anticipating the new beer cans will bring new exposure to Muttville and their adoptable senior dogs. “All of us at Muttville are so excited about these adorable cans!” she says.

P H OTO M A N AT E E CO U N TY A N I M A L SE R V I CE S

Meanwhile in San Francisco, beer lovers are toasting senior dog adoption. The city’s Seven Stills Brewery and Distillery are set to release a limited-edition beer featuring photos of 12 different senior dogs from Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.

The Extra Special Bitter—or "Extra special whoooz a good boy!" as the can is also labelled—is set to be a hit.

“We wanted to do our best to raise awareness to the senior animal population who typically faces a much harder time finding a new home,” says Tim Obert, CEO and Co-Founder of Seven Stills Brewery and Distillery.

Hazel ready to go home to her mom.

moderndogmagazine.com

19

THE SCOOP CAPTION THIS!

Poop Bags You Can Feel Good About!

C A RTO O N BY J O H N K LO SS N E R ; J K LO SS N E R . CO M

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

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

AND THE WINNING CAPTION FROM THE WINTER ISSUE IS…

Not all poop bags are created equal...

Worse yet, “green washing,” the practice by misleading labelling suggesting a product is more environmentally friendly than it actually is, means we may think we are choosing an ecofriendly product when in fact we’re not. Many poop bags on the market labelled as biodegradable in fact contain elements made from petroleum—i.e. plastic.

Fortunately, Lucky Dog has formulated new poop bags that are all natural and chemical free, decomposing completely and leaving no harmful residue. Certified ASTM D6400, they meet the environmental gold standard and are made of only organic, non-GMO plant-based material with no oils or starches, so they’re 100 percent compostable. For bonus points, they contain no dyes or internal cardboard roll—and they’re easy to open too. Finally, poop bags you can feel good about!

Get a box of 32 rolls for $42 at LuckydogPoopBags.com and feel good about eliminating some single use plastic bags from the earth. Use code MDog2020 and you’ll get a 20% discount!

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SPRING 2020

C A RTO O N © 2020 BY DAV I D J ACO B S O N

We all know it’s important to pick up after our dogs. Un-scooped dog poop has been found to have a major impact on water contamination and the spread of bacteria into ground water supplies. Yuck, right? But what you use to pick up your dog’s poop is almost as important as scooping in the first place. If you use a regular plastic bag, that bag will outlive you. Singleuse plastics last forever, only breaking down into smaller and smaller macro and microplastics, which are incredibly harmful to the environment, people, and animals, especially sea life that mistake the plastic particles for food. (Sailors report that the most common man-made item they see are plastic bags.)

"So you're telling me you can hold it until March?"

Submitted by Charles Vaughan RUNNER-UP CAPTIONS "Oh so now all of a sudden you want to visit my parents in Florida."

Submitted by Joseph A. Dewan

"Well Max, looks like it's time to learn to use the toilet."

Submitted by Alistair Serra

"The treadmill it is..."

Submitted by Julie Miller

!

E L I SM Riley

Dachshund

Modern Dog’s Photo Contest Winners!

Archie

Daisy

Labrador Retriever

Beau

Weimaraner

Retriever/Beagle Mix

Harley Mix

Luna

Bulldog

Roxy

Chihuahua/Terrier Mix

Lennie

Minature Dachshund

Pancake Beagle

Ace

Long-Haired Chihuahua

Ben

Pomeranian

Maddie

Golden Retriever

Loki

Japanese Akita

Chilli

Aura

White Shepherd

Pomeranian

Koji

Boo

Shiba Inu

Cockapoo

Bruno

English Bulldog

Atticus

Shetland Sheepdog

Chance

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Lady

French Bulldog

Kodi Mix

Cash

Australian Cattle Dog

Lola

Great Pyrenees/Lab Mix

Think your dog ought to be in Modern Dog?

Max

Springer Spaniel

Dexter

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Zeus Boxer

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March

1st-7th

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Win 1 of 3 $300 gift cards from Beast & Buckle! Choose from a selection of fun harnesses, leashes, collars, and more.

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April

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Win 1 of 3 poop bag prize packs from Lucky Dog! These non-GMO, plasticfree bags are stronger than traditional poop bags and better for the environment.

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No purchase necessary to enter or win. Beginning March 1, 2020 at 12:01 AM (PST) through May 31, 2020 at 11:59 PM (PST), enter each day at moderndogmagazine.com/giveaways. Each week’s giveaway ends at 11:59 PM (PST). Each week, the specified number of winners for that week’s giveaway will win the prize featured in the giveaway calendar (ARV: $200). Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Contest is open to legal Canadian and US residents 18 and older as of date of entry. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. Giveaway subject to complete official rules available at moderndogmagazine.com/giveaways.

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SPRING 2020

INSET PHOTO: POCKETS SUBMITTED BY VANESSA LI

s y a w a e v i G t a Gre

Commonly Confused Breeds

The Cairn vs The Norwich Terrier The Cairn Terrier Agreeable, friendly, loyal, and very smart, Cairn Terriers may be the perfect package. At just ten inches at the shoulder and weighing 13 to 14 pounds, the hardy Cairn is small enough to be a lap dog, but possesses a sturdy physique and a willing, up-for-anything attitude. Agility? Bring it! Couch time?

Yes please!

NT, LLIGE INTE VE, ACTI D -LIVE LONG

This happy, busy dog was originally bred to root out foxes and other prey, hence their short legged-ness. With their curious nature and independent streak, Cairns like to dig and explore, and have a propensity to chase squirrels and other small prey.

Because they were originally kept to hunt in packs, Cairns are not scrappy towards other dogs, and they enjoy children. Their exercise needs are moderate and their shaggy double coat is low maintenance. The bright-eyed Cairn is known for its “foxy” appearance. As the AKC notes, for “those who cherish the terrier qualities of gameness, independent thinking, and trueblue loyalty, no other breed will do.”

The Norwich Terrier Affectionate, energetic, curious Though the Norwich Terrier is among the smallest working terriers, he certainly doesn’t know it! Don’t be fooled by the small package—though the Norwich Terrier weighs in at around 12 pounds and stands just 10 inches at the shoulder, these small but stocky dogs were bred to be tenacious ratters and are oblivious to their shorter stature.

This happy, affectionate breed loves lap time but definitely needs plenty of exercise. Originally bred to hunt, the energetic, fearless Norwich Terrier is prone to chase prey, so a leash or a securely fenced area is required. Epic fetch sessions will be rewarded with lots of love from this fun, inquisitive, clever, and very cute breed.

Spirited and eager to please, the Norwich Terrier responds well to training, which is a good thing as this clever breed can sometimes be stubborn or even bossy. A hallmark of the breed is its harsh, nearly waterproof double coat, which needs regular grooming to keep up its appearance.

READ YOUR BREED

For more breed profiles, go to moderndogmagazine.com/breeds

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PLU CK HAP Y, P YGO-L U FEAR CK Y, LESS

I N SE T P H OTOS © A KC

Alert, cheerful, busy

Data shows that behaviour, as well as intelligence, aggression, and fearfulness are, to a significant degree, inherited

By Stanley Coren

T

here was a note of puzzlement and concern in the voice of a woman who lives in my neighborhood when she told me, "I was out for a leisurely stroll with my Poodle, Maxime, when a gray squirrel ran across a nearby lawn. Without any warning, Maxime dashed after it, hitting the end of the leash with such force that he nearly knocked me over. Then he dragged me after the squirrel until it escaped up a tree. I don't understand what triggered that behaviour in him. I don't believe he has ever seen a squirrel before, yet suddenly, out of the blue, there is this out-of-control chasing behaviour. My friends tell me that some dogs are genetically programmed to do this kind of thing but I am skeptical. It's hard to believe that

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the DNA in my dog has a picture of a squirrel attached to a command which says, 'When you see this thing you must chase it!'"

In an informal way, my neighbour was posing a question which is of great interest to researchers concerned with canine behaviour. Scientists who study how dogs think would really like to know just how much of a dog's behaviour is coded in their DNA. According to the recent findings of a research team headed by Evan McLean of the University of Arizona, it seems that the answer is quite a lot.

People have been tinkering with the genetics of dogs for close to 300 years, which was when we first began to see the emergence of defined dog breeds. A dog breed is a particular strain or canine type that was purposefully bred by humans in order to create or enhance certain traits. Although nowadays many people only think of dog breeds as separating dogs on the basis of their looks, the sort of thing that is judged in conformation shows like the Westminster Kennel Club's annual dog show in New York or at Crufts in the UK, the original goals behind creating dog breeds had to do with canine behaviour. The idea was to generate lines of dogs which would excel in the performance of specific tasks, such as herding, hunting,

How Much of Your Dog’s Behaviour Is Genetic? and guarding. It is a lot easier to have a dog that is already neurologically wired to perform certain useful tasks from puppyhood, rather than having to start to train the dog from ground zero. According to the American Kennel Club, the rule of thumb is that any given breed of dog “always breeds true.” That means to say that all members of a given breed will share a defined set of physical and behavioural traits.

I am continually astonished when I see the emergence of inherited behaviours in dogs. I have seen an eight-week-old Border Collie pup demonstrating herding behaviour around sheep. Similarly, I have seen a five-week-old German Shorthaired Pointer puppy displaying a perfect point at a bunch of feathers dangled in front of him, a six-week-old Golden Retriever retrieving a duck-shaped toy, and a nine-week-old Cairn Terrier pup pouncing on a mouse and snapping its neck in classic Terrier fashion. But though dog experts usually agree that these breed specific behaviours are inherited patterns of specific skills, they are often more hesitant to conclude that basic psychological characteristics, such as intelligence, aggression or fearfulness, are also inherited.

I remember the skepticism that was met with from a number of scientists when I published my book The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks dog breeds in terms of their intelligence (one aspect of which was trainability). The idea that intelligence and trainability could be an inherited breed-related characteristic seemed to be farfetched to them. Yet every year, if you look at the top ten dog obedience competitors listed by the American Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club, and British Kennel Club, you will see that my conclusions are replicated  moderndogmagazine.com

29

by the overwhelming preponderance of Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, Poodles, and Labrador Retrievers heading the lists of best performing dogs in both standard obedience competitions and rally obedience competitions.

All of these breeds were at the top of my intelligence rankings. On the flip side, you will never see an English Bulldog or an Afghan Hound (both ranked low in working and obedience intelligence) placing in the highest echelon of dog obedience competitors.

This newest research from Arizona took advantage of three large, specialized, databases. Two of these map the genetic codes of dogs, while the third contains information about behaviour propensities in a large sample of dogs. All of these databases also contain information which allows the researchers to identify the purebred dogs in the sample by breed.

The information about dog behaviour came from the C-BARQ database, which includes information from over 14,000 dogs. C-BARQ is a 100-item questionnaire in which dog owners describe typical behaviours that they observe in their dogs. It has been validated as a good predictor of canine behaviour and for that reason it is often used to predict the success of service dogs, such as guide dogs for the blind. The results of this test break down to 14 different behaviour dimensions, which include trainability, several varieties of aggression, several types of fearfulness, attachment (actually attention seeking and affection seeking), energy, and chasing behaviours. From this data collection a score could be computed for each of the 101 dog breeds in the database in each of the 14 C-BARQ behaviour dimensions. With this in hand, the researchers then searched the genotype databases for overall similarities in the DNA for breeds that had comparable behaviour scores. Despite thousands of genetic variants, 131 stuck out as significantly associated with breed behaviour. Not surprisingly, most of these were associated with brain function and development.

The results indicate that, for some behaviour traits, genes seem to account for an amazing 60 to 70 percent of the behavioural variation among breeds. Included in these highly heritable behaviour dimensions was trainability, where Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, and Poodles were found to excel while Basset Hounds and Beagles seem to be genetically programmed to be less trainable.

Another highly heritable trait was aggression towards strangers, where German Shepherds and Chow Chows were genetically disposed toward high levels of aggression, while Greyhounds and Labrador Retrievers appear to inherit a much more placid temperament.

Attachment and attention seeking also appear encoded in canine DNA with breeds like the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat Coated Retriever being extremely affectionate, while Great Pyrenees and Akitas inherit a much more aloof and antisocial propensity.

Chasing behaviours (like that which my neighbour saw in her Poodle) also are strongly inherited, with Siberian Huskies and Airedales having the highest likelihood to show these behaviours while Newfoundlands and

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Chihuahuas are the least likely to.

Looking at the remaining ten behaviour dimensions (including energy level and various forms of fearfulness), the researchers found that the genetic contribution hovered around 50 percent. While some scientists will be quick to point out that this means that differences in environment, individual history, and training are equally as important as the genetic contribution in shaping these behaviours, having 50 percent of a behaviour coming from a dog's DNA will provide a significant aid or detriment in our ability to control any specific behaviour. Fighting an inherited impediment is difficult, while taking advantage of an inherited predisposition can make life easy.

To give an example of genetics affecting trainability, my Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Ranger, was able to earn four obedience degrees by the time he was 18 months of age while my beloved Beagle, Darby, was four years old before he earned his first obedience title. Both were trained similarly, by me, however in one case I was dealing with a genetic disposition toward high trainability while in the other the DNA was not so cooperative.

Backed by this new data set, we can conclude that the original goal behind the creation of genetically selected dog breeds—producing lines of dogs with particular inherited skills and psychological characteristics—has been highly successful. When it comes to behaviours, all individuals within a breed tend to be highly similar to one another because they share a similar genetic heritage. Thus, if you want an affectionate dog, for example, look to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, all of whom are likely to be kissy-faced, while almost all Border Collies are likely to be easy to train. 

THE DOG GEAR LOOKBOOK

Your at-a-glance guide to the best stuff for your dog

HARNESSES, LEASHES + COLLARS

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

People Foods For Dogs:

Super Food Edition 2. Flax Seed/Flax Seed Oil Boos t Yo Dog's He ur al with thes th Superfood e s!

1. Coconut

Flax seed (ground or oil) is a source of omega-3 fatty acids, making it great for improving your dog’s skin and coat condition.

It also has anti-inflammatory effects, supporting the joints, a healthy immune system, and healthy kidneys, and may help dogs with adrenal problems.

Flax seed hulls, loaded with fiber and containing an immunesystem-bolstering antioxidant called SDG lignan at levels that are 20 times higher than the rest of the flaxseed, can also be added to your dog's diet as a source of dietary fibre, soaking up toxins and helping with both constipation and loose bowels.

Whole flax seeds are best if ground right before feeding as this type of fat can go rancid quickly. (Unground they won’t harm your dog but will pass right through without your dog seeing benefits.) Refrigerate flax seed oil to prevent it from going rancid. We like Sammy's Shiny Coat, 100 percent virgin, cold-pressed flax seed oil for pets (no filler!) from family owned Stengel Oils. (From $5, stengeloils.com)

Not only is coconut a naturally sweet treat, the good fats in coconut oil have a host of health benefits, from improved digestion and immunity to providing a sleek and glossy coat.

Plus, coconut oil’s medium-chain fatty acids have been shown to improve brain function and decrease the amyloid protein buildup that negatively affects brain health in older dogs. The coconut meat is also chock full of dietary fiber and dogs go crazy for the fresh nutty taste! Try the Coconut Lovers Health Pack from CocoTherapy ($35, CocoTherapy.com). It includes a 16-oz. jar of Organic Virgin Coconut Oil and a 6-oz. pack of Organic Coconut Chips.

Ground Flax Seed Dosage (serve half with breakfast and half with dinner):

Coconut oil dosage: start by giving 1/8 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight daily.

¬ Large dogs: 2 1/2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon per day

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¬ Toy-sized dogs: start with 1/8 to 1/4 of a teaspoon per day ¬ Small dogs: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per day ¬ Medium-sized dogs: 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons per day

3. Chia An excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids (it contains three times the amount found in salmon!), chia supports healthy development, joints, immune function, skin and coat, and more. A great source of fiber, it also helps prevent constipation. And it’s a stable energy source, helps dogs feel full, and offers diabetes support (soaked chia turns gelatinous and slows the conversion of carbohydrates into sugars, supporting healthy insulin function). Chia also contains more iron than raw spinach, more calcium than whole milk, and more magnesium than broccoli. To feed, either soak the seeds in a bit of water first or choose ground chia. Sprinkle on top or mix into your dog’s food. With no taste or scent, even picky dogs will happily/unwittingly eat chia. And unlike flax seed, chia stores well.

Dosage: 1 teaspoon for small dogs or 2 teaspoons for large, or 1/4 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of your dog’s body weight.

5. Hemp Seed Oil Hemp seed oil contains the perfect ratio of Omega-6 (linoleic acid) to Omega-3 (alpha linolenic acid) fatty acids. Your dog can’t produce these essential fatty acids and a good balance is crucial to overall good health and development. Hemp seeds are also high in an essential Omega-6 fatty acid called gamma linolenic acid (GLA), helpful in fighting cancer, reducing joint pain, and addressing skin and coat issues, like dry fur, dandruff, or atopic dermatitis.

Serving: if you cook your dog’s food, add it after cooking as hemp seed oil is a polyunsaturated fat and therefore unstable and you don’t want it to turn rancid. Also, if your dog is eating a chicken-based diet, flax seed oil is perhaps a better supplement choice as chicken, like hemp seed, is already quite high in polyunsaturated fats and linoleic acid.

6. Goat Milk

4. Honey Raw local honey, used for centuries as a versatile remedy, has many applications for our dogs. Upset stomach, diarrhea, minor stomach ulcers—feeding raw honey can help by soothing and coating the GI tract while honey’s natural antibacterial properties can help destroy harmful bacteria.

And feeding raw honey to dogs with kennel cough can help soothe a sore throat and ease coughs. If your dog has seasonal allergies, try feeding raw honey. Raw local honey contains trace amounts of the pollens in the area, helping your dog adjust to the allergens gradually.

Honey can also be used topically too. Naturally antibacterial, honey can be used as a dressing for minor topical wounds by keeping the area moist and clean, promoting healing. Just spread a thick layer, lightly bandage, and use an Elizabethan collar to keep your dog from licking it off. Manuka honey, hailing from New Zealand, is even FDA approved for use on human burn patients!

Goat milk, one of the most widely consumed milks in the world, has a host of nutritional benefits for your dog. Rich in omegas and medium chain triglycerides, it provides fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. It’s also packed with protein and amino acids with high levels of digestible taurine. Plus, goat milk is easier to digest than cow milk thanks to its smaller fat globules and lower lactose levels. And it adds much needed moisture to a kibble diet and encourages picky eaters!!

In its raw form, goat milk has natural anti-inflammatory properties and the probiotics can improve digestion and help fight the yeast that can grow in and around your dog’s ears and paws.

Try Primal Pet Foods’ raw goat milk for dogs, enriched with superfood supplements turmeric (antiinflammatory properties), cinnamon (antioxidants), and ginger (antinausea). (From $7, primalpetfoods.com) moderndogmagazine.com

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TRAINING

How to Socialize Your New Puppy!

From who to introduce your dog to, to when, here’s how to get your pup off on the right paw.

By Nicole Wilde

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Optimum socialization window in puppies is between the ages of four and 12 weeks.

S

o, you’ve got a new puppy and you want to do everything right. You choose a high quality food, provide your pup with safe and stimulating toys, potty train him, and begin to teach house manners. Being a savvy owner, you’re also already thinking about how to prevent future problems. One of the biggest issues faced by dog owners is when adolescent and adult dogs don’t get along with unfamiliar dogs or people. Lucikly, there are things you can do now to help ensure your dog will be social with strangers—both canine and human—and won’t become fearful of unfamiliar things or places. Here’s how to get him off on the right paw.

The generally accepted window of optimum socialization in puppies is between the ages of four and 12 weeks. During that time, if a puppy is exposed to unfamiliar people, dogs, places, types of flooring, sounds, and more, he is less likely to be afraid of—and in the case of unfamiliar dogs and people, reactive toward—those things later in life. That does not mean socialization cannot occur after this early period, but that the later socialization happens, the more challenging it can be. Veterinarians traditionally advise that puppies not be allowed around other dogs or places sick dogs might have been until the age of 16 weeks, when vaccinations are complete. But while there is a real risk of diseases like parvo and distemper that are easily spread and can be fatal, and caution is necessary, you don’t want to avoid all other dogs. The trick is to socialize selectively. (By the way, the place you’re most likely to find sick dogs is at the vet’s office, so bring your pup in a crate or carrier or, at the least, keep him off the waiting room floor.)

If you know someone who has an adult dog who is good with puppies, ask if you can get the dogs together at your home or theirs.

A healthy, well-adjusted adult female dog who is good with pups is the gold standard for socializing puppies. The pup will paw, mouth, and display other puppyobnoxious behaviours which the adult female will allow...up to a point. She will then put the youngster in his place. That’s the best thing that could happen to a puppy!

The pup then learns to knock it off and respect the boundaries of other dogs. This is important because as pups grow into adolescents and then young adults, their puppy license expires and other dogs are less likely to dismiss obnoxious behaviour. This can result in fights if your now-adolescent dog hasn’t learned to heed the warnings of other dogs.  moderndogmagazine.com

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B U L L D O G I N S E T P H OT O SA R A H D A LO I S E

A healthy, well-adjusted adult female dog who is good with pups is the gold standard for socializing puppies.

If you’re unable to set up this type of meet and greet, look for a puppy socialization class. Many modern trainers will allow puppies who have had a minimum number of vaccinations—normally two or three rounds—into class, as they understand the importance of early socialization.

Look for an organized, well-run class that is small enough so that each student can receive personal attention.

If the pups are allowed to interact and play with each other, be sure it’s not a free-for-all, but consists of careful pairings and attention paid to body language and comfort levels.

It must be mentioned that one place you should not take your pup is to the dog park! Not only is there a chance of your puppy contracting a disease either from other dogs or from the drinking water, but most dog parks are completely unsupervised and open to all. Untested dogs of all temperaments are running wild. What could go wrong?

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Plenty! Along with fearful dogs and friendly dogs, you’ll encounter dogs who will bully other dogs or worse. All it takes is one bad experience early on for a dog to develop a lifelong reactivity issue toward other dogs. Socialize your pup with other dogs—just do it safely.

You’ll also want to introduce your pup to new people. It’s tempting when bringing home an adorable ball of fur to want to show him off to all of your friends and take him everywhere. While it is good for him to meet new people, don’t overwhelm him. One or two people at a time is fine. Allow children who are calm around dogs to meet your pup, but explain first what to do and not to do, including how to approach and pet so as not to scare him. Kids should let your puppy come to them instead of approaching him, and then hold a fist down toward his chest to let him sniff their hand. If your pup seems like he wants to interact, they can pet him gently, starting on the chest. Things to teach kids and adults to avoid include approaching palm-down over the pup’s head to pet, pulling at any part of the puppy, or hugging him. Introduce your pup to a variety of kids and adults. He should meet males and females, tall and large people as well as smaller ones, people of different colours, men with facial hair, people who walk with a limp or a cane, people wearing uniforms...you get the idea. Also include people who are wearing hats and/ or sunglasses. It’s not uncommon for either of those things to scare dogs, especially if they haven’t seen them before. A hat changes a person’s silhouette, and sunglasses make us look like we have five-inch pupils!

Get your puppy out and about avoiding places that are heavily trafficked by other dogs. Pups should get accustomed to bicycles, cars, trucks, planes flying overhead, and whatever else they might encounter in your area. For a city dog, that might include skateboards, scooters, statues and other structures, walking over metal grates, the sound of the garbage truck, and more. A country dog might need to get accustomed to being around chickens, cows, or horses, and the sounds of weed whackers and other equipment such as tractors. Also, in addition to walking on tile or carpeting indoors, get your puppy used to walking on different substrates outdoors such as grass, asphalt, and gravel.

There is so much more that should be done with young puppies, such as handling exercises, those to prevent him resource guarding issues. Stay tuned for articles on those subjects, but in the meantime, make socialization a priority. 

moderndogmagazine.com

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Coordinated fashion for you and your pet with Walker & Woof! Featuring original art, these t-shirt and bandana ensembles celebrate that very special bond. A great gift for yourself or a dogadoring friend. walkerandwoof.com

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The All-Mountain Leash from Rocky Mountain Dog is all you need this spring. The hands-free leash and zero-shock absorber is perfect for hikes or walks around town. rockymountaindog.ca

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Keep your pup engaged and playing for hours with the new EPEC Dart Disc Launcher! It features a 6” diameter disc so it’s great for small dogs and tighter spaces. Made in the USA. epecdisc.com

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Organic kelp and wholesome ingredients combine for a powerhouse of nutrition and taste your dog needs and craves.

Give your special pup true love with these hand-crafted, heartshaped SeaDog Treats! seadogtreatsllc.com

moderndogmagazine.com

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The Top 10 Things

a do g Trainer Must- 's Do's

You Can Do To Improve Your Dog’s Life!

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W

e asked Mikkel Becker, a certified trainer and behaviour consultant and head trainer for Fear Free Pets (fearfreepets.com and fearfreehappyhomes.com) for her top 10 things you can do in your home to improve your dog’s life and general happiness. She obliged with this hit list. Mikkel uses positive reinforcement and non-force based training strategies rooted in scientific learning theory to help pets and their people live better lives together through kind training and bond building. Read on for her top tips.

Feed from food puzzles and offer productive chews to keep your dog’s mind, teeth and body occupied and happy.

Have predictable routines your dog can rely upon. While the exact times can flex, having some routine to your dog’s day is important for giving your dog some form of control and predictability for what they can expect, such as twice a day feeding from food puzzles, twice daily walks, playtime in the evening, and so on.

Offer your dog time to play and explore freely off leash in safely fenced areas or via the safety of a longline. While the dog park isn’t the right fit for all dogs, and while fenced areas are scarce to come by for some dogs, you can offer your dog some freedom to move and freely explore at the end of a harness and longline (longlines come in different lengths, including 15, 30 or 50 feet).

Rotate your dog’s toys and chews. Dogs are fans of novelty. Rotating toys keeps them fresh, interesting, and engaging.

Consider ways that you can reward more of the behaviours you like (such as polite waiting at the door instead of dashing through, eye contact instead of darting ahead on leash, sitting instead of jumping up, laying down by the couch instead of chewing it, quiet and closed mouth instead of barking, and so on). Too often we overlook or ignore the good behaviour we want and only pay attention to the dog when they’re ‘bad.’ We can encourage and build our dog’s desire to do more of the good we want by noting and reinforcing the positive behavior we may be overlooking. The more we reinforce the good behaviour using things our dog enjoys (treats, play or petting for the especially affectionate dog), the more likely we’ll be able to enjoy peace and quiet with our pooches.

It’s important to respect your dog for the dog that they are. True, we may have gotten a Golden Retriever with the desire to have a dog who was calm, faithful, and obediently responsive. But the Golden we ended up with is far more frenetic, frantic, and overly excited, rarely being still for more than a millisecond before flying through the air in excited enthusiasm over the next  moderndogmagazine.com

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Dogs are fans of novelty.

Rotating toys keeps them fresh, interesting, and engaging.

squirrel, person, dog or other exciting situation. Every dog is different. And even within breeds or litters of pups for that matter, there’s likely to be massive differences in personality and energy level. By recognizing and accepting our dogs for the unique individuals they are, rather than trying to conform them into the dogs we want them to be, we’re much likelier to end up happier in the long run. And that frenetic Golden Retriever likely has some very special talents that you might not even realize.

Those hyperactive retrievers and shepherds actually make incredible working dogs. Many times, in fact, the dogs recruited for the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation were hyper, toy-focused rescue dogs. The way these dogs are wired makes them extremely good workers because their excitability can be channeled into intense concentration, focus, dedication, and courage once they’re trained to put those powers toward a force for good.

Think searching for victims in rubble, all for the end goal of toy play, the reward for their heroic efforts. While you don’t have to actually train your dog for specific work, you can consider ways to channel their energies into ‘work’ that they’ll find enjoyable, an outlet for their natural talents and desire. For instance, you can teach your dog to work for their meals out in the yard by searching out scattered kibble. Or you

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can hide specific toys, chews or food puzzles inside the house or lawn for them to search out and find. Providing outlets for a dog’s natural behaviours and specific individual needs allows for the dog to expend their innate needs and desires into outlets we find acceptable rather than them acting out in less desirable ways, like chewing on shoes, patrolling the house to bark at passersby, and so on.

Consider walking your dog on a front-clip or multi-attachment harness (one with options to clip on either the chest and back or both) in place of a normal collar. Not only is it more likely to be comfortable and to place less stress on the dog’s neck and airway, but it’s likely to increase directional control over where the dog moves and to naturally deter pulling, benefitting both dogs and their people.

Create a Fear Free fortress in your home. This is a Zen-like space that’s filled with calming elements to help your dog to relax, such as comfortable bedding, toys, chews, and food puzzles, as well as relaxing essentials, like diluted lavender or chamomile scents along with calming music (like reggae, classical music, species-specific music, and soft rock).

This may be a specific room in the home, a gated space, or an open area of the

home—just place it in an area that your dog already likes hanging out in. You may also consider placing a den-like space in this area, like a crate with the door left open and covered with a blanket to make a cozy hideaway for the dog that wants to burrow or just have some alone-time. The Fear Free fortress area can become your dog’s safe space, somewhere to go during times of stress or simply when wanting a little R&R, such as when company is over or during fireworks or thunderstorms.

Handling, grooming and health care doesn’t need to be stressful or anxiety provoking for dogs or their people. You can invest in your dog’s physical and emotional wellbeing by finding a Fear Free certified veterinary practice, groomer, and trainer for a more emotionally protective, happy experience for your pet.

Fearfreehappyhomes.com has a wealth of veterinary-approved resources to help animal guardians offer their pets the happiest, healthiest, most stress-free life possible. This help varies from ways to positively impact your pet’s home life, get a calmer response from your dog in times of high excitement or stress, have a calmer vet or groomer visit, nix the bad behaviour, keep your dog healthier through easy routine modifications, and more. 

P H OTO H I S TO R I C CO N G R E SS I O N A L C E M E T E R Y

Dogs Give New Leash on Life To Abandoned Cemetery Dogwalkers transform neglected cemetery into a beloved community space.

By Tracey Tong

I

t’s a place where the living mingle with the dead, and dog owners and their pups are vying to get in. This remarkable spot is Washington D.C.’s Historic Congressional Cemetery (HCC), and it’s anything but frightening.

In fact, the cemetery—the final resting place of many noteworthy Washingtonians, from congressmen to lauded LGBTQ soldiers and veterans— is arguably one of the country’s liveliest and most famous cemeteries.

The cornerstone of its successful transformation? Its members-only dog walking program, bringing life, community, and volunteerism to this extraordinary burial ground.

Whoever said cemeteries are for the dead never met the members of the K9 Corps, the cemetery’s private dog walking program. (Dog walking at the cemetery is permitted by membership only.) “A huge part of my social circle here on the (Capitol) Hill is through my dog walking friends at the cemetery,” says Eric Dewaardt, who walks at the cemetery twice a day with Timmy, an 11-year-old English Shepherd, and Ellie Mae, a twoyear-old terrier/black Lab mix.

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A member of the K9 Corps since he moved to D.C. in 2003, Eric loves the cemetery because it is “beautiful, peaceful, historic, and has a vibrant social community.” While walking, Eric enjoys the sights—the gravestones of famous Washingtonians—and the quiet.

Eric’s involvement with the cemetery doesn’t stop there. In addition to belonging to the K9 Corps, Eric, a violist with the National Symphony Orchestra, runs Notes from the Crypt, a music series at the HCC’s chapel. The group puts on six concerts per year. The programs are just two of many held on the grounds of the HCC, aptly dubbed “America’s Hippest Cemetery.” There is also Day of the Dog, which features a full day of activities for dog lovers and their pets, as well as Cinemetery, a monthly movie series, a book club, a 5K race, docent-led historic walking tours, and Soul Strolls: Twilight Tours, which brings the stories of the cemetery to life with the help of costumed interpreters, says Sarah Kirspel, the HCC’s program director.

“People are able to…enjoy the grounds as a community space, which is in keeping with the spirit of the original

purpose of the cemetery—bringing people together to celebrate loved ones,” says Sarah.

The HCC’s story is one of the things that makes the cemetery so special, says HCC president Paul Williams. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was abandoned, “with homeless, prostitutes, drug dealers, and weeds up to your neck,” he says. “It’s the dogwalkers that began to self-tax themselves to be able to hire someone to mow a path to a burial site in 1989 that began the entire program.”

Christine and Victor Romero, who have been walking their dogs at the HCC since 1988, were part of this group. “Back in those days, there was a lot of unsavory activity happening in the cemetery. With the presence of the dog walkers, that began to abate,” says Christine. The group helped the cemetery by raising funds, volunteering their time “and even mowing areas when a funeral was going to happen. Those with media, fundraising, accounting, and legal skills offered their services.” The K9 Corps was formalized in 1989.

“People relate to a disgraced cemetery and to before and after 

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P H OTO TO P J O H N SH O R E , H I S TO R I C CO N G R E SS I O N A L CE M E T E R Y

P H OTOS L E FT J ESSI C A H A G E R M A N , H I S TO R I C CO N G R E SS I O N A L C E M E T E R Y

pictures to see just how far we have come,” says Paul.

“Historic cemeteries have to get creative with revenue because in many cases they eventually fill up and site sales are no longer an option. We have about 5,000 sites left, which will take decades, but we want to create a long-term plan now for income for when that happens.”

That long-term plan includes the K9 Corps, which raises just over 20 percent (or $245,000) of the cemetery’s $1.2 million annual budget. An annual membership is $235, which is tax deductible, plus a $50 fee per dog to a maximum of three dogs.

“It was the dogwalkers that took your relative’s gravesite from an abandoned mess to the bucolic green space it is today,” says Paul. “Dogs also keep the wild animals at bay, and he calls the K9 community the cemetery’s “built-in security.

We don’t have to worry about vandalism, kids drinking in the cemetery, (and) theft of artifacts that happen at almost every other cemetery.”

While dogs can run off-leash within the fenced-in grounds, the HCC is not a dog park, but a functioning cemetery first.

With its first burial in 1807, the HCC is the final resting place of more than 65,000 people, and due to its proximity to Capitol Hill, many are historical figures. The first director of the FBI J. Edgar Hoover, composer and conductor of the U.S. Marine Band John Philip Sousa, silent film actress Mary Fuller, civil war photographer Mathew Brady, and Native American (Choctaw) Chief Push-Ma-Ta-Ha are all buried here. The cemetery’s public vault served as the temporary resting places of presidents John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, and Zachary Taylor, as well as former first lady Dolley Madison.

“We’re also continuing to discover interesting ‘permanent residents’ when we dive into names and obits of those interred here,” says Paul. “For example, we recently found a young fellow that had been killed by a tiger in 1899 as part of a traveling circus, who was buried and left with no headstone— the show must go on—and when we brought that to light, the community raised $5,000 for a really nifty headstone, complete with the circus logo.”

You don’t have to have been famous to be buried at the HCC. Anyone can call the cemetery their final home, including animal family members. Last year, the HCC opened the Kingdom of Animals, which is a section just for pets. Christine and Victor plan to buy bricks to honour their past and present dogs, rescue Weimaraners Ludwig, KiMo, Roscoe, and Finn.

For the living, dog-walking privileges are limited to members of the K9 Corps during posted hours. There’s a schedule, making the park less convenient than taking dogs

People are able to…enjoy the grounds as a community space, which is in keeping with the spirit of the original purpose of the cemetery— bringing people together to celebrate loved ones.

to the park or for a walk around the block, and a laundry list of rules, which include the display of membership tags, keeping dogs under control at all times, a limit of three K9 Corps dog members per human member, mandatory spaying, neutering, and up-to-date vaccination, and observing closure times to dogs (several hours on Saturdays and some holidays, as well as during burials and services). Dogs must be kept away from visitors, services, ceremonies, group tours, and grounds maintenance crew, leashed for entry and exit, and all users must respect cemetery monuments and grave markers.

Dog toys are not allowed. Violation of any rules result in the revocation of membership, and in severe cases, permanent ban from the cemetery.

Despite the rules, the program is so popular that there are more than 400 people who paid a non-refundable fee to get on a waiting list for one of the 770 membership spots—“just the right number to avoid overcrowding,” says Paul. “It takes about four years to become a full member—depending on the election cycle here in DC as well. Lots of turnover after a presidential election if the party changes.”

Those who just want to access the cemetery for a day can get a one-day pass for $10 from the cemetery’s main office. Gate checkers may also have passes available on the weekend. “People appreciate the ability to walk their dogs in the cemetery and give them a chance to run around in a safe environment or give it a try before committing to the membership,” says Sarah.

Paul attributes the popularity of the program to several factors. “People on the Hill tend to have smallish homes with small backyards, and we offer a full, lush 35 acres to run and play,” he says. “It’s also a very social scene for the human owners—lots of friends made, socializing, and group visits.”

“It is a great outdoor space to relieve the stress of the workday world,” agrees Christine. “History is written on the stones. Every day—even 30 years later—I see something new. Dogs appreciate the opportunity to socialize with each other and their human friends. Some of our members enjoy walking in silent meditation with their pups on these sacred grounds. We have a chance to meet newcomers to the neighborhood. Congressional Cemetery may be the final resting place for D.C. residents, but it is also a thriving community of neighbours.”  moderndogmagazine.com

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I L LU ST R AT I O N D I A N A B O LTO N

DOG LIFE

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Final Moments, Spent At Home It’s heartbreaking to say goodbye. At-home euthanasia makes it easier. A growing trend, at-home euthanasias are a blessing for pets and the people who love them.

By Darcy Matheson | Illustration by Diana Bolton

R

osie was the “friendliest, goofiest” German Shepherd Lisa Walsh ever met in 17 years of running a dog walking business in San Francisco.

The dog was already at least ten years old when Lisa formally adopted her from Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, a group dedicated to giving senior pups a second chance.

The bond was instant, and intense.

Lisa’s “big girl” slept in her bed every night, bonded with her other two dogs, and went out with her dog walking groups every day.

But at about 12 years old, Rosie’s health sharply declined. Walking became increasingly difficult, needing a harness to keep her hind legs standing. She became incontinent both from her bladder and bowels, and wasn’t able to go outside except for quick bathroom breaks.

The deterioration wasn’t just physical. Rosie was no longer the happy go lucky dog she was before. “Her disposition changed and she seemed quite sad,” Lisa says.

“I had to help her move on.”

Because Rosie, like so many other dogs, wasn’t crazy about going to the vet, Lisa wanted her to be home for her transition. She had Sherri Franklin, Muttville’s founder, and another friend come over while the vet performed the euthanization.

Lisa calls the experience heartbreaking but also a tribute to a dog she loved very much. They were by her side as the vet sedated Rosie, and once she was asleep, administered the lethal injection that stopped her heart.

“The vet was kind and it took quite a bit longer than it does in a hospital but that was okay, we wanted Rosie to soak up the love we had for her,” says Lisa.

“It's always devastating to see the life go out of your beloved’s eyes but she knew we were there for her. There is no joy but there was a lot of love and tenderness.”

Growing Trend At-home euthanizations are a relatively new area of veterinary medicine, but it’s quickly growing, as is end of life compassionate and palliative care.

The International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, established ten years ago, sees at-home euthanization as a compassionate approach or philosophy of care when the goal of pet care shifts from cure to comfort.

Diseases or conditions that would most frequently warrant the end-of-life approach include cancer, organ failure, osteoarthritis, cognitive dysfunction, or dementia or senior pets approaching the end of life. It also includes “failure to thrive,” which is described as any life-limiting condition that is contributing to an excessive burden of caregiving for a family, or treatments/interventions that are unacceptable to the pet.

The Benefits Dr. Laura Chenault of Stepping Stone Veterinary Care, in San Antonio, Texas, started her practice four years ago after working in emergency medicine for decades.

Watching many pet parents struggle in a clinical setting with difficult end of life decisions for their beloved companions, she kept hearing a frequent narrative from pet owners: that they wished their pet could put down at home instead of the office. And many times she wished for that as well.

It’s what spurred her into creating a practice centred around compassionate in-home euthanizations and hospice care. In some ways, she sees it as a return to the roots of  moderndogmagazine.com

53

Wonderful Ways to Commemorate a Beloved Dog animal care, when veterinarians routinely made house calls to their patients.

Dr. Jeff Berkshire, one of only three vets specializing in at-home euthanizations in Vancouver, Canada, says he is so busy he can’t keep up with client demand. He was the first vet in Vancouver to offer the service. Cost wise, the service is more expensive than going into a clinic or hospital, but his at-home appointments regularly run an hour or more—far longer than a regular vet visit.

“More and more people are waking up to the fact that this is a service that we can do,” he says.

“It’s a very intimate, personal and emotional time and now we can facilitate this in a home setting where you can select who is there. Hospitals do their best but there are so many people and animals coming and going.”

So why are pet parents gravitating towards the in-home approach for end of life care? Medical and mobility issues, especially for pups in their senior years, for starters.

Some senior dogs are not willing or able to get into the car. Others have conditions like dementia and are less able to tolerate change. Some older dogs who used to love going for car rides may now really dislike it and “could panic in the car and almost feel like they’re going to have a stroke or heart attack,” says Dr. Chenault, adding that extra anxiety is just not what pets need in their final days.

“Let’s face it: 98 percent of animals out there don’t like going to the vet,” she says. “You turn into the parking lot and they go, oh gosh we’re there, and it’s not good. Dogs start shaking.”

And that anxiety and fear only escalates for many animals—and owners—when they are scheduled for a euthanization inside a busy veterinary hospital or clinic. Especially when you are walking through a waiting room full of other patients.

“You’re upset and other people have their new puppy and are there having a good time. It’s jarring,” says Dr. Chenault.

At-home euthanization eliminates many of the typically negative experiences for both pet and pet guardian. Dogs can be in the comfort of their own home, in their own bed, with none of the disruptions of being carried onto a vet’s table, feeling fear in their last moments.

The dogs are first given a sedative injection under the skin, which Dr. Chenault says many dogs don’t even notice if they’re being fed

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treats. Then a final injection is administered to put the dog “to sleep.” All while surrounded by family, sometimes being held in someone’s arms.

“They don’t know anything other than laying in their bed around the people they love— maybe having a McDonald’s meal as their final meal. Nothing is upsetting to them, which makes everyone feel better,” she says.

She frequently hears from clients who say they didn’t know the service existed, and wished they knew about it for their last baby. She’s hoping as more people learn about in-home euthanizations they will opt for it as well. And more practitioners will offer it.

“It doesn’t have to be this scary, clinical experience,” she says.

A Compassionate Option After her dog’s health took a “major downturn,” Marie Macaspac opted to have her vet come to her home to euthanize her rescue Pekingese, Amber, who was blind, 12 years old, and suffering from renal disease.

In addition to eliminating the stress and anxiety of going to the vet, being at home allowed Marie to conduct some special rituals with her beloved pet that wouldn’t necessarily be appropriate for a clinical setting, like spending more time together and having other pets present.

“We took time to express our love and give her peace before we started the process,” she says.

When they were ready, Amber was sedated so she was asleep in her owner’s arms. After she passed, “the other dogs approached and smelled her so they could process and understand what happened.”

Marie firmly believes that being at home made it easier. Because she was in a familiar, comfortable, and loving place without any anxiety or stress, Amber had that feeling in the final moments of her life. She recommends it to all dog guardians.

“If they are able to have them pass in a familiar place or a place of love, that would be ideal. It can simply [be] in a favourite blanket or bed or wrapped in your sweater that makes them feel safe,” she says.

The Emotional Toll There is no doubt that it takes a special kind of person— and personality—to be a vet whose primary practice is coaching pet parents about euthanizations. And then being the person to help that animal cross painlessly over the rainbow bridge, while the owner looks on.

Dr. Chenault estimates she’s done close to 800 at-home euthanizations but says even though she spent decades of her early practice euthanizing animals in a clinical setting— which she describes as “not nice”—the vet says she could not have done in-home care when she was starting out.

The average age of the vets she sees doing similar athome care practices are “significantly older” than vets in clinics, with many well into their 40s and 50s. 

What vets want you to know about at-home euthanasia Dr. Laura Chenault has performed approximately 800 at-home pet euthanizations through her private practice in Texas. Here’s what she would like pet owners to know about having a vet come into your home for your pet’s final moments.

DO NOT: Clean your house Dr. Chenault says many clients feel they need to clean before she comes over, but the last thing a vet cares about is whether the house is tidy. She is there as a collaborator, a helper, an assistant—not a guest. “I don’t care if their house is clean,” she says.

DO: Have special treats Does your dog love beef jerky? Cheeseburgers?

Now is the time for special treats, or a final meal that they love. The only physical discomfort the dog will feel in the entire process is the sedative shot administered under the skin, and Dr. Chenault says many dogs can be distracted through food so they don’t even notice it.

DO: Use familiar and comfortable items Does your dog have a special blanket or bed they like to lie on? A stuffed animal they like snuggling with? This is a logical spot for the process where they will be the most comfortable.

DO: Have a support system Having family members, or other friends who loved the dog in the home, can make the process easier.

Dr. Chenault says sometimes whole families will be present, including kids, who get to express their grief in a more natural and healthy way.

DO: Show emotion One of the biggest advantages of being in your own home is that pet parents can be more open with their emotions. Dr. Chenault wants people to know: It’s okay to cry. Don’t apologize and don’t try to hide it. “This is your baby. It’s good to cry. If this was my baby I would cry,” she says.

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At-home euthanization eliminates many of the typically negative experiences for both pet and pet guardian. Dogs can be in the comfort of their own home, in their own bed, with none of the disruptions of being carried onto a vet’s table, feeling fear in their last moments.

“I think you have to have a certain amount of life experience and have to talk about death and you have to be able to deal with it and not have it impact you on a daily basis,” she says.

She admits there is an emotional and psychological toll, although it is outweighed by the good she feels she is doing.

“There are many times when I am euthanizing a pet with tears in my eyes, but I know I am providing a valuable service, and I am making this a much nicer experience for the pets and their owners,” she says.

Dr. Berkshire agrees, saying the response from pet families about his end-of-life home visits have been the most rewarding of his career.

“It means so much to those people. They thank you for taking the extra time, for making things peaceful for them and their pet. And although they had a lot of fear it was much easier than they anticipated it being.”

After saying goodbye to Rosie, being there for her in the comfort of her own home, Lisa Walsh said she would “absolutely” recommend it to others. She can’t imagine the idea of taking an animal to a clinic, or worse, “letting them go alone.” She wants her pets to know in their final minutes, as it was during their whole lives, she will be with them all the way.

“There is always guilt with euthanasia: what more could I have done, etc.,” she says.

“Consider yourself and how you would want to go. Do you want to go alone with strangers or do you want those that love you there?”

Although some may consider it morbid, it’s something that Dr. Chenault thinks about often, not just for her canine clientele—who “just get to fall asleep eating treats”—but also how she envisions the ideal end to her own life.

“I’ve told my children I want to go to sleep eating chocolate in my own bed,” she says.

“Who wouldn’t want to go like that, surrounded by loved ones?” 

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Dogs Look For Their People In Their Last Moments This was shared on Facebook by Hillcrest Veterinary Hospital and received over 130,000 shares “When you are a pet owner, it is inevitable, the majority of the time, that your pet will die before you do. So if and when you have to take your pet to the vet’s office for a humane pain-free ending, I want you all to know something. You have been the center of their world for THEIR ENTIRE LIVES!!!! They may just be a part of yours but all they know is you as their family. It is a crappy decision/day/time/event every time, there is no argument against that, and it is devastating for us as humans to lose them. But I beg you DO NOT LEAVE THEM. Do not make them transition from life to death in a room full of strangers in a place they don’t like. The thing you need to know that most of you don’t is THEY SEARCH FOR YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE THEM BEHIND!!!!

They search every face in the room for their loved person.

They don’t understand why you left them when they are sick, scared, old or dying from cancer, and they need your comfort. Don’t be a coward because you think it is just too hard for YOU; imagine what they feel as you leave them in their most vulnerable time and people like me are left to try our best every time to comfort them, make them less scared, and try to explain why you just couldn’t stay.”

—From a tired, broken-hearted vet

Grieving?

We know how devastating it is to lose a cherished canine friend so we created a space for posting memorial tributes (free of course) in remembrance of dogs who have crossed the rainbow bridge. You'll also find resources to help you cope with your loss. Remember that life is a circle and true love forever.

"All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."—Helen Keller Post a memorial and find grief resources at moderndogmagazine.com/dog-memorials.

d no neee to b ! s dogles

ALLERGIC TO DOGS?

The Dog’s Gender May Be To Blame Up to 30% of people are allergic to only a specific protein in the male dog. A female or neutered dog may solve the problem!

Love dogs but are plagued by allergies?

You may be allergic to just the males.

Scientists have, to date, identified six specific dog allergens. You can be allergic to one or some of the dog allergens, but not others. One of these allergens is found only in male dogs.

"Up to 30 percent of people who are allergic to dogs are actually allergic to one specific protein that's made in the prostate of a dog," said Dr. Lakiea Wright, an allergist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

If you’re one of these people, you may finally be able to enjoy canine company—provided the dog is female or neutered, says Dr. Wright.

How do you know if you fall into this camp? A blood test for the allergen, approved by the FDA last May, can tell you.

When a dog-allergy is suspected, allergists test for that whole allergen, Dr. Wright explains. But then they drill down further to look at the specific proteins that comprise the allergy.

One of these proteins is Can f 5, made in the prostate of male dogs. When the dog urinates, the lightweight protein, easily dispersed in the air, can spread to the dog’s skin and hair, as well as furniture and clothes, causing allergies in those allergic to that specific protein.

How do you know if the test is for you?

Start paying attention—have you ever found yourself sneezing only—or more—around male dogs? Explain your symptoms to your allergy doctor. If your history indicates, doctors can test for a reaction to Can f 5.

Though many people are allergic to animals with fur, it's not actually the hair of the animal that triggers the allergic reaction. Rather, proteins in the urine, saliva, and dander of the dog or cat trigger sensitive immune systems to react.

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Only one dose a day is needed and it’s antibiotic free! zymox.com moderndogmagazine.com

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BODY & SOUL

VETERINARY DETECTIVE Weight Gain, Hair Loss, “Slowing Down”….What’s Wrong With This Dog?

By Dr. Sarah Myers

History:

Walter’s Check Up:

Walter, a neutered eight-year-old male Golden Retriever, had been slowing down. His family had noticed he seemed a bit low in energy and had gained some weight, but they attributed this to Walter “getting older.” Walter also had some hair loss on his sides which didn’t improve even after they bathed him, tried a flea preventative, and changed his food. His family had resigned themselves to the new Walter until they took him for his senior wellness vet check-up…

At the time of Walter’s check-up, the clinic scale confirmed what his family had suspected. Walter had gained seven pounds (three kilograms) in the last six months. His veterinarian noticed his hair loss but told the family it did not appear to be due to parasites or bacterial infection. Walter’s mobility and joint range of motion seemed unchanged from previous visits, so osteoarthritis was not at the top of the list for reasons he might be slowing down. The vet

recommended senior-dog lab work consisting of blood and urine samples.

This lab work also allowed for a general health screen, including Walter’s kidney and liver values, blood sugar, red and white blood cells, platelets, and blood proteins. Suspecting Walter might have a thyroid issue, the vet asked the lab to add on two extra thyroid parameters. When the results came back, the lab work along with the reported clinical signs confirmed Walter was indeed hypothyroid.

Breeds Most Commonly Affected:

Golden Retrievers

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Labradors SPRING 2020

Doberman Pinschers

Boxers

Spaniels

Commonly recommended diagnostic tests: ➜ CBC ➜ Serum Biochemistry ➜ Total T4, Free T4, TSH ➜ Urinalysis

Hypothyroidism is a fairly common condition in dogs, and is generally straight forward to treat. Breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, Labrador Retrievers, and Boxers are predisposed, but this condition can occur in any breed. The average age at diagnosis is seven years, but this can vary. As in Walter’s case, common clinical signs are weight gain, lethargy, exercise intolerance, and changes to the fur and skin. These dogs commonly display hair loss, which is usually either symmetrical on either side of the thorax and abdomen, or on the tail. They are also predisposed to bacterial skin infections called pyoderma, and might experience slow growth after their fur has been trimmed. The fur may also appear duller, missing its previous shine. Less commonly, dogs can experience neurological signs or changes to the eyes.

The thyroid gland is located within the neck and is responsible for many different functions within the body. This is why so many different clinical signs can occur from a decrease in thyroid hormone production. Thyroid hormones exist in different forms within the body, which is why your veterinarian may recommend adding an additional thyroid test to the more common blood panels to assess thyroid function more thoroughly. The most common reason that the thyroid stops producing the normal amount of thyroid hormones is because the dog’s own immune system destroys the thyroid gland. This is usually for unknown reasons, which is referred to as being ‘idiopathic,’ but could also be linked to low iodine in the diet or a problem that the dog is born with.

Walter’s Update: Walter was started on a medication called levothyroxine sodium, which is a tablet he will now take twice a day for the rest of his life. Within the first couple of weeks, his family noticed that his energy seemed to perk up and he was more excited to go for walks. By the end of the first month, when Walter went in for his follow up lab work, he had lost two pounds (one kilogram). Walter’s lab work showed that the medication was working and his thyroid values were now within normal range. By the third month, Walter’s coat had grown in, and everyone noticed he was looking shinier than he had in a while. Walter’s family is looking forward to many more years with him. moderndogmagazine.com

63

BODY & SOUL

1 Human Year Equals Seven Dog Years?

Think Again.

How old is your dog really in human years?

New research says this 6-year-old French Bulldog is actually 59 years old in human years, not 42 as previously estimated.

M

ost dog people are familiar with the stock-standard formula ‘one dog year equals seven human years.’ The problem is this equation was never based on strong scientific research. It most likely resulted from a comparison of the average lifespan of a dog (around ten years) and the average lifespan of a human (around 70 years) and fails take into account differences in the maturation arc.

Dog Years

Equivalent in Human Years

1

=

31

In a study undertaken by Trey Ideker and colleagues of the University of California, San Diego, new in-depth research debunks the ‘one dog year equals seven human years’ equation, concluding that dog and human aging is significantly different and that the relationship between human and dog age is nonlinear.

2

=

42

3

=

48

4

=

53

The researchers show that dogs develop rapidly in their youth but that the aging process slows significantly as they age. The data suggests a one-year-old dog is actually equivalent to a 31-year-old—not a seven-year-old—human, while a two-yearold dog is equivalent to a 42-year-old human and a three-year-old dog is equivalent to a 48-year-old human, with the researchers seeing a smaller and smaller increase in the human-age equivalency of the dogs as the dogs age.

5

=

56

6

=

59

7

=

62

8

=

64

Using DNA collected from 104 Labrador Retrievers up to the age of 16, researchers compared changes in the dogs’ DNA to the DNA of 320 humans, aged 1 to 103. By looking at similarities, they found that dog and human DNA profiles could be matched at certain ages. For example, they found similarities between a two-year-old dog’s DNA and a 40-year-old human’s DNA, suggesting an age equivalency. These matches became the basis for their new formula to equate dog years to human years.

9

=

66

10

=

68

11

=

69

12

=

71

13

=

72

14

=

73

15

=

74

16

=

75

To calculate your own dog’s age in human years, simply insert this formula into a scientific calculator or online logarithm calculator: 16 ln (dog's age)

31

dog's age in human years

It turns out that your three year old pup, who you’d thought was similar to a youthful 20 year old, could actually be pushing 50!

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BODY & SOUL Team Plover founder Christian Marcello with his best friend, his rescue dog Rocky.

Freedom Ride These dog collars buy a last-chance shelter dog transport to a new life

I

n 2018 Christian Marcello graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto, only to realize he had “zero passion” for Chemical Engineering. “It was as exciting as it sounds,” he says.

Instead of jumping straight into a career in his field, he decided he’d take a bit of time, follow his heart, and try different things—things he was actually interested in.

In the pursuit of exploring his passions, he joined a network of volunteer rescue-animal transporters.

Using his mom’s minivan, he helped drive pets from high-kill shelters in Montreal to rescues in Ontario, volunteering his time and gas.

He loved how rescue transportation was able to take a pet stuck in an awful situation and open up a world of possibilities for that pet. The challenge was that rescue transportation proved an expensive way to volunteer, not to mention the miles on his mom’s minivan.

In order to help a lot more pets, there would need to be a way to sustain filling up the gas tank.

“My idea was to sell pet products that give back in the form of rescue transportation, something that was super effective at helping pets in immediate need of help,’ he says.

He decided on collars, the sale of which would allow for the transport of one pet on one leg of their journey to a new life. And everyone who bought a collar would receive a video of the pet they helped transport. Team Plover, so named for the team effort it takes to transport rescue animals, was born.

Christian first sold his collars—or rather, the idea of them—at a pop-up market. Technically he didn't have any collars yet. “On market day, I set up a booth with two pieces of fabric on the table that I got from a local fabric store, and I told people about my idea,” he says. “I told them that if they pre-ordered a collar I'd transport one pet in need on one leg of their freedom ride and provide them with a short video of the pet they helped through their purchase.”

He walked away with a handful of pre-orders and the validation he needed that the idea could work. “I ended up

Team Plover collar purchases funded Pitbull puppy Piper's entire transport from an overcrowded shelter near Fresno, CA, to Collar of Hope Rescue in Tacoma, WA, where she was quickly adopted. Each collar purchased funds 25 miles (40 km) of a needy pet's journey.

following through on my decision to ‘throw my degree away’ and follow my heart,” he says.

Team Plover has already expanded to include a new initiative around spay and neuter, tackling overpopulation at its source. “If we focus on spay and neuter as well, eventually we can change the landscape,” he notes. Further goals include building his own fleet to cover areas where there currently are not any rescue transport groups, but his ultimate goal is far loftier: “My ultimate goal for Team Plover is become to obsolete. I love Team Plover, and what we do but I wish there wasn't a need for our mission.”

To purchase a collar and help transport a desperate dog on a leg of their journey, go to teamplover.com and teamplover.ca. Collars are $44.

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P H OTO S CO U RT E S Y O F P E N G U I N B O O KS

INSPIRE

Man’s Best Friend Moving new memoir provides a lesson in living, loving, and letting go

I

n 2015, adventure photographer and filmmaker Ben Moon produced a short film in tribute to his dog Denali, a beloved Pit Bull mix. It captured hearts around the world. Detailing not only Ben’s battle with cancer, but Denali’s as well, the video resonated with dog lovers and quickly went viral, being shared on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday and The Today Show. It has since been viewed by more than 18 million people across the globe.

From this film comes Ben’s heartwarming and tear-jerking new memoir, DENALI: A Man, A Dog, and the Friendship of a Lifetime. At once

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brave and vulnerable, heartwarming and heartbreaking, Ben’s story of illness, recovery, and the dog who remained by his side through it all doesn’t fail to move.

“Denali was one of those special creatures who seemed to know me better than I know myself,” Ben writes.

“He was a magical soul, and it’s no exaggeration to say that he helped me to show up in the world, wearing my scars and weaknesses without shame so that I might help others through their own battles in this journey of life.”

By any count, Ben’s was an incredibly difficult journey, colostomy bag

included. With frankness and heartstring-tugging affection, the memoir takes an unflinchingly honest look at the trials Ben faced—and there were many—along with the immeasurably important role Denali played in Ben’s survival and recovery.

Once Ben recovers, it is his turn to help his beloved dog, who provided comfort and support in his darkest hours, through his own cancer journey.

A celebration of our most stalwart supporters and cheerleaders—our dogs—Denali offers an inspiring blueprint for how to live (even when the chips are down), how to love, and, ultimately, how to say goodbye.

WELLNESS

IS CBD RIGHT FOR

YOUR DOG?

K

imberley Pike couldn’t believe her eyes. In the span of just a few hours, Zoey, her German Shepherd—who has mobility issues and possible arthritis—had gone from moving slowly and painfully, to playing with Kimberley’s three other German Shepherd Dogs.

“At first, Zoey was given Metacam to help ease her pain, but I wasn't happy with the results,” says Kimberley, who lives in Spaniard’s Bay, NL. “It did ease her pain but she seemed sleepy all the time. I did some research on medications, but all had side effects that I wasn't comfortable with.”

When Kimberley’s dog groomer told her about the benefits of CBD oil, she began her research, administering Zoey’s first dose in October 2018.

“Within a couple of hours, I could see a change in Zoey,” says Kimberley. Zoey, now seven years old, started behaving like a puppy again. “She looked so happy. No whining or moaning or struggling to get up. Within a couple of days, she was up and down our stairs with ease.”

The cloudiness in Zoey’s eyes also cleared up, something Kimberley also attributed to CBD. Kimberley is just one of many pet owners turning to

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For a host of dog lovers, CBD has proved a miracle cure, helping dogs with everything from arthritis and seizures to pain and anxiety | By Tracey Tong

cannabidiol—more commonly known as CBD—to treat their dogs’ ailments.

CBD products for pets have become increasingly popular, confirms Dr. Katherine Kramer, medical director for VCA-Canada Vancouver Animal Wellness Hospital, a small animal integrative hospital in Vancouver, B.C. And for good reason. Dogs are highly sensitive to THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol—which is the principal psychoactive component of marijuana—but CBD is derived from hemp and is non-psychoactive.

“There is increasing evidence that CBD can be helpful for pets with arthritis or chronic pain, cancer, seizures, and some behavioural issues, such as anxiety, cognitive impairment,” says Dr. Kramer, who is also a director of the Canadian Association of Veterinary Cannabinoid Medicine. “There are many companion animal research projects currently looking into the benefits of cannabis. As we learn more about how these products interact with the endocannabinoid system, we should find even more indications for their use.” As with any treatment, the decision as to why and when to use a product should be discussed with your vet, says Dr. Kramer. “Your veterinarian should always be your first resource for any health question that involves your pet,” she says. 

“CBD (as well as other supplements) can potentially interact with many medications, so your veterinarian needs to know.”

Over the years, Dr. Kramer has had numerous patients on various cannabis products. “The majority of dogs (and cats) have amazing responses,” she says. “Many pet parents turned to CBD when conventional medicine was not providing relief. Many of my clients have told me that 'CBD gave us our dog back'.”

A New Leash on Life 12-year-old Shih Tzu-Maltese mix Frankie William is one of these dogs. Frankie has a twisted spine and bad hip and knee, as well as anxiety. When his owner, Toronto, ON resident Laura Lockhart, administered CBD oil she noticed a difference immediately. "It was like his energy calmed and he was back to his old self. He's doing ‘zoomies’ again, playing with his toys and going up and down his ramp (to the bed). It's like he's young again. I love it.” She has since been giving him two to three drops a day, as per the vet’s directions.

Vet guidance is important, emphasizes Dr. Kramer.

“Working with cannabis products has given me another option for therapy, to treat pain and discomfort, to provide palliative care. I can't imagine practising without it.”

Despite being hemp-derived, CBD is legal throughout Canada and in all US states. As CBD becomes more widely accepted, more people are looking to try it for their pets.

Before using it on her dog, Lynne Kaska described herself as “anti-CBD.” Her love for her service dog,

a Catahoula mix named Reese, convinced the Dallas, TXarea resident to give it a try.

Reese suffered from irritable bowel syndrome, atypical Addison’s disease, and patella luxation (for which he has had surgery). After two years of battling lack of appetite, vomiting, nausea, lethargy, and diarrhea, and trying countless remedies (including trying B12 injections to stimulate his appetite and energy) with no real success, Lynne contemplated retiring him. Then she tried CBD oil. The oil in addition to the prednisone he was taking improved Reese’s symptoms immensely.

“Within two weeks, people were telling me what a huge difference they saw in him,” says Lynne. “I slowly started reintegrating him into public settings. He doesn’t tuck his tail as much as he used to and his shaking when he’s nervous has dramatically improved. He gained 40 pounds in six months and nearly doubled in size in what Lynne calls a “miraculous” recovery.

Ryker, a three-and-a-half-year-old silver Labrador Retriever, takes CBD for epilepsy, which he developed at seven months. At 14 months old, Ryker’s owner, Kim Stover-Dowidait, changed his diet and started him on CBD oil as an alternative to some of the seizure medications on the market that have some side effects. “His seizures diminished from weekly to having one a month,” says Kim. “At one time he went seizure free for eight months. It was a lifesaver for us. He has so far stayed off all meds, just relying on a good third-party-tested oil.”

CBD also helps inflammation. Two-year-old Labrador Retriever mix Leeloo was on Prednisone for three months, only to have the inflammation return a few months later.

OILS

Interested in giving CBD a try?

We’ve rounded up a selection of providers offering CBD treats and oils formulated especially for dogs.

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Green Roads’ CBD Drops blend hemp-derived cannabinoid extracts with MCT oil to help promote calmness and decrease anxiety from stressful situations like vet visits, and thunderstorms. (From $20, greenroadsworld.com)

Extra Strength Health Drops from Healthier Pet combine 99.2% pure CBD isolate with organic hemp oil and fish oil for an added health boost. Designed to work quickly, they help treat an array of aliments. (From $53, healthierpet.org)

Iceland Pure’s Next Level Premier CBD Fish Oil’s unique formula combines CBD oil with fish oils for a high absorption rate, relieving anxiety, lubricating joints, bolstering immunity, and helping battle cancer. (From $82, icelandpure.com) Blue Ridge Botanicals’ Doggie Drops & Kitties Too offers broad spectrum CBD derived from organic hemp with MCT oil, delivering the strong anti-inflammatory properties, pain relief, and seizure control associated with cannabinoids. (From $15, blueridgebotanicalsco.com)

P H OTO K I M STOV E R

Her owner, Malena Sweeney, didn't want to put her back on steroids due to the side effects, and so she decided to give CBD oil a try. “Within a week her eyes were back to normal, and it hasn't been back since.”

Owner Jenn Grenier also saw fast results for her dog Sprocket, a nine-year-old female Boxer/Pit mix diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease, arthritis, and bilateral elbow disease. She was on NSAIDs, nerve medication, and narcotics which helped with the pain, but can also be damaging to the kidneys and liver and would alter Sprocket’s personality. Jenn, an Upton, MA resident, began looking at alternative medicine and learned about CannaPet, a company making CBD products for pets. She “initially thought it was too good to be true. How can one product help so many ailments?”

After only a week, Sprocket was well enough that Jenn felt confident enough to bag up the heavy-duty medications and put them away. “Going on three years of taking it, my senior dog is happy, healthy, and pain free,” says Jenn.

All of these dogs have something in common—their lives have been changed by CBD oil.

“This oil has changed our girl's life and ours too,” says Kimberley of Zoey. “She is a totally different dog since this oil—whining has stopped, moaning has stopped. She moves with ease around our home. She's back to being active, swimming and hiking.” The only issue now, she says, is to keep Zoey from running and jumping too much. “Because of her arthritis, I wouldn't want her to hurt herself,” Kimberley says. “But she definitely feels like she can do it. My Zoey is not in pain anymore and she's happy. That makes me happy too.” 

cbd changed this dog' s life!

Ryker the Labrador Retriever

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Suzie’s CBD pet treats are full spectrum, human-grade, and organic—the hemp is grown on their own USDA organic farm—providing the benefits of CBD in a treat form that dogs can’t resist. ($20, suziespettreats.com)

All-natural Balancing Bites from Pawse are made with premium broad-spectrum CBD hemp extract, fish oil, plant-derived terpenes, and real chicken, making overall wellness easy for dogs of all sizes. ($39, pawse.pet)

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Photographer Pete Thorne with his rescue dog Gertie

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The Making of Viral Pet Photos From senior dogs to fat cats, photographer Pete Thorne captures the magic the Internet goes wild for!

Photographs by Pete Thorne

P

ete Thorne sort of fell into photographing pets.

“I’ve always loved dogs and really wanted one of my own one day,” he recollects. “But I was living in a small apartment and had roommates, so the time wasn’t right.”

What he did have was a small studio. He needed small subjects.

“After a visit to my Grandmother’s for her 100th birthday, I started to notice how seniors were underrepresented in popular culture,” he says. It occurred to him this included senior dogs, and that his small studio was just the right size for photographing animals. The more he thought on it, the more he fell in love with the idea.

“I wanted to photograph them in such a way that is normally used on models," Pete says. "I wanted to show that aging dogs are just as loveable as puppies.”

Pete had never before photographed an animal but as a portrait photographer, he had a keen sense of the exact moment when the expression and pose is just right.

Of course, there were some key differences between photographing pets and people. For one, “pets work for food,” Pete laughs.

As he went about his search for senior dogs, he began to receive a lot of emails from people wanting to participate. In order to convince him to  moderndogmagazine.com

75

Gertie

Burger

Chopper

Ruckus

Colonel Sanders

“I wanted to show that aging dogs are just as loveable as puppies.” photograph their dogs, they were sharing very personal stories of their relationship. “At that moment I knew I had something bigger than just a series of photos,” Pete says.

Instagram account and media kit prepared, as success these days is often based on how many likes and followers you have, so I missed a big opportunity to build a fan base.”

Old Faithful: Dogs of a Certain Age was born.

Overnight, Pete’s documentary project about the lives of these senior dogs and their relationships with their owners was to be a sensation.

Lucky for Pete, Old Faithful was not his only kick at the can. Fat Cats, his photo series of “large and in charge” cats, was also a viral sensation, picked up by media outlets around the world.

Pete sent a simple email detailing the project to one of his favourite photo websites, Petapixel, and by the next morning Old Faithful had gone viral with almost a million views on the Bored Panda site alone. Within days Pete had an agent and a book deal.

Pete’s ability to capture the kinds of moments that resonate with the public has led to shooting campaigns like the Pool Party photos he did as a promotion for Dog Tales Rescue and Sanctuary. It involved organizing a shoot with a large number of dogs on floaties and lounging by the pool while a documentary crew was on hand for a reality TV series about the rescue organization.

The success caught Pete off guard. “I was unprepared for the viral sensation of Old Faithful.

I didn’t have an Instagram account for it or a Twitter account,” he says. “It was all pretty wild and if I could do it all over again I would have had a legit

Despite the chaos such an undertaking might involve, there are definite perks to the job. “I get all the cuddles,” Pete says. 

Follow @petethepetphotographer on Instagram for more great photos of pets. Pete lives and works in Toronto, ON. Book a shoot by sending him an email at pete@petethornephoto.com

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P H OTO S P E T E T H O R N E

Phantoma

The Barbet

The New Kids on the Block:

Meet Two Newly Recognized Breeds Say bonjour to the Barbet and hola to the Dogo Argentino!

These two breeds are the newest to be recognized by the American Kennel Club, gaining full recognition and competition eligibility as of January 1, 2020.

The Barbet (pronounced Bar-bay) is a French water dog with a rich breed history going back to 16th century France. Originally bred for hunting waterfowl, the Barbet is a true Sporting breed and thrives on regular exercise and training routines. These medium-sized dogs are family-friendly, loyal, spirited, and love working with their humans! Barbet have dense, curly, waterproof coats designed to protect them from cold water and harsh conditions they may encounter when retrieving waterfowl. Their coat comes in a variety of black, grey, brown, and fawn colours with the potential for white markings.

The Dogo Argentino is a large hunting breed from Argentina with roots going back to 1928. While the Dogo Argentino is not a breed for inexperienced dog owners, they are a loyal, strong, courageous, and protective Working breed. Dogo owners need to be prepared to establish a respectful, controlled relationship through regular training and obedience practices so the dog can learn boundaries from the beginning. They are highly trainable, but stubborn. The breed was developed from the Great Pyrenees, Pointer, Great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux, Boxer, Spanish Mastiff, Bull Terrier, and the extinct Dog of Cordoba. The Dogo Argentino have short white coats and are known for their striking athletic build.—Yaunna Sommersby

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The Dogo Argentino

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79

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Amanda and Chesdin, K9s for Warriors

4 Amazing Charities Helping Dogs and People These five charities are transforming the lives of dogs and the people who love (and need) them.

By Vivien Fellegi

1. Grey Muzzle:

Second chances for senior dogs dumped at shelters When Kathleen McGovern first met the sick, scared foster dog carried by a volunteer from Chicago’s Second City Canine Rescue, she didn’t think the poor dog would last for long. Susie Q’s fur was overgrown and matted, her bones jutted out, and a partially severed, infected leg dangled from her body. Inert and withdrawn, the recently surrendered Miniature Schnauzer, thought to be 14 years old, seemed resigned to a lifetime of suffering.

Kathleen’s reaction was visceral.

“Oh heck, yeah, you’re coming home with me,” she determined.

The small Schnauzer lay low for a few days after her leg amputation. Kathleen and her husband settled her in a warm,

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private room filled with comfortable blankets. The dog curled up in the smallest, snuggest bed and quietly observed the household from behind the safety of the baby gate.

Three days later, the listless little dog did something unexpected: She howled for a treat. With each passing day the invalid filled out, gained strength, and became more vibrant.

Before long she was running wild in the yard on her three remaining legs.

Kathleen was astonished at the dog’s transformation from silent to “spitfire.” “She learned...things were good…and her true personality [emerged],” says the animal advocate.

Having nursed Susie Q back to health, the couple couldn’t bear to part with the dog and adopted her last year.

Susie Q owes her rebirth to the non-profit Grey Muzzle, which gave a grant to Second City Canine Rescue, the organization that paired Susie

with Kathleen. Grey Muzzle finances animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries, and other agencies serving at-risk senior dogs, funding their medical needs, dental care, and hospice programs, says the agency’s Executive Director, Lisa Lunghofer. The non-profit also helps innovative initiatives like swimming therapy for arthritic dogs,

Susie Q

professional photos showcasing senior dogs in need of a home, and more.

Grey Muzzle fills a huge need. “Old dogs are in a particularly precarious position,” says Lisa. They’re given up by owners who either can’t pay for their health care, or simply don’t value aging animals. Senior dogs also tend to be overlooked by potential adopters looking for puppies.

But there are many benefits to older pets, says Lisa. Since their personalities are fully formed, you know what you’re getting. As well, most have spent their lives in homes and are already housebroken. Older pets with lower energy levels are especially suited to seniors who might be isolated, motivating them to go for walks and spurring chats with passersby.

Kathleen feels blessed to have Susie Q in her life. The Schnauzer is “unstoppable”—she chases anything you throw and tires out the other pets. She’s also the most affectionate dog her owner has ever known. “She’s so plugged in, she interacts almost in a human way.”

The animal Kathleen once thought was doomed has inspired a new outlook. “She has taught us…to always be open to the possibility that something good is going to come,” she says.

2. Pet Access League Society: Trained dogs bring comfort and companionship to those in hospitals, nursing homes, forensic units, and juvenile detention centers.

The first time Arlene Padnivelan met the teen at the Calgary Young Offenders Centre, the girl was guarded. She stood outside Sooty her door alone, observing the other residents romping with the therapy dogs. Arlene invited her to meet her canine counterpart, Sooty, and the girl agreed. As the teen began petting Sooty, the two chatted about the friendly but introverted black Lab. “What’s she like when she’s excited?” the resident asked the volunteer.

“She’s pretty mellow until we take out the bike helmet and bike shorts—and then she’s crazy,” said Arlene. “She loves it when we go for a rip.” The girl laughed.

After that meeting, the resident joined her peers on pet nights, hanging out in the common room where they joked about the “comedy troupe” of dogs cavorting, performing tricks, and crawling into their laps.

Arlene wasn’t surprised by the teen’s turnaround. Animals can be great icebreakers, facilitating light-hearted topics of conversation. And these can foster engagement with the humans in the room, lessening the loneliness of their confinement.

Arlene and Sooty are part of Calgary, Alberta’s non-profit organization Pet Access League Society (PALS), dedicated to bringing pets to people who can’t get to their animals or don’t have any of their own. PALS volunteers visit hospitals, nursing homes, forensic units, and a juvenile detention center. Pets provide an important connection, says the organization’s Executive Director, Diana Segboer. They seem to know when we’re struggling and how to help. “Pets have an amazing…ability…to provide us with comfort,” she says.

The canines’ ability to draw people out of their shells is especially handy at the juvenile detention center, where trust is a rare commodity. “The dog’s never done  moderndogmagazine.com

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You give these humans a puppy, whatever beefs they have, they forget.

anything, it’s totally non-judgemental,” says Diana. Some kids who are uncomfortable expressing themselves may confide their problems to the pets. This “dry run” can lead to closer relationships with the humans in their lives. Pet night has become such a huge draw card, staff at the detention centre even use it as an incentive for the residents to make positive changes.

“What I’ve seen with most kids, (when we’re) bringing the dogs in there, mental health just skyrockets,” says Diana.

Arlene has seen many such shifts generated by the soothing presence of the dogs. “It’s a total peaceful vibe…I haven’t seen an angry kid there,” she says. The animals also provide a welcome distraction from the teens’ troubles. “You give these humans a puppy, whatever beefs they have, they forget,” says Arlene.

Arlene is stoked to play a role in these transformations. “Give these kids a dog and they’re what they’re meant to be…young humans that are gentle (and) loving,” says the handler. “That’s what I love to see.”

3. Animal Assisted Crisis Response:

Handlers and their dogs comfort communities in the aftermath of tragedies Connie Priesz was particularly proud of her dog the day she comforted a young man heading to a friend’s funeral.

The deceased, a victim of a car crash, had been a classmate of the teenager.

Connie noticed the distraught high school student sitting alone in a corner of the bereaved family’s living room.

He kept stealing furtive glances at the friendly rusty-gold Vizsla but didn’t

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Connie Priesz and Molly the Vizsla

approach the therapy team. Connie asked if he wanted company and he nodded assent.

The mourner started petting the dog, who wagged her tail and looked into his eyes. Molly was signalling that she was there for him, says Connie.

After a few minutes he broke into a wan smile. “She’s beautiful—thank you for being here,” he said.

As he walked away, Connie noticed that his breathing had slowed and his step was lighter. The handler attributed the client’s calming to his connection with the empathic four-footed therapist.

“I could see how much the dog…assisted with this emotional crisis,” she says.

Connie and Molly know what they’re doing. The experienced duo belongs to Pet Partners’ Animal Assisted Crisis Response (AACR) initiative, which sends handlers and animals to comfort communities in the aftermath of tornadoes, wildfires, mass shootings, and other tragedies. The program launched in October of last year, says Mary Margaret Callahan, who

oversees the organization’s animal therapy projects. Though most of the participants are canines, rabbits, miniature horses, and other mammals also provide stress relief and snuggles.

Volunteers are selected from Pet Partners’ existing therapy teams, who are trained in mental health first aid.

The course prioritizes the animals’ welfare, pointing out signs of canine stress such as licking lips or yawning.

“All animals need to be willing to do the work…we don’t think about them as tools,” says Mary.

The training also teaches handlers how to comfort victims through active listening. As well, volunteers learn what not to say, including chatting about their own lives or minimizing clients’ feelings.

Sometimes clients avoid conversations, preferring to just pet the dogs or watch them from a distance. “(This) can help ground a person…so they’re not spiralling around in their own thoughts,” says Mary. Once their animals have established the clients’ trust, the handlers can direct the grievers to appropriate resources, such as psychotherapists or physicians.

Connie, who lives close to Minneapolis, Minnesota, has witnessed the soothing effects of the humananimal bond during her work with AACR clients, including 911 dispatchers and classmates of a suicide victim. Dogs can alter our very physiology, triggering the release of the bonding hormone oxytocin, which promotes relaxation.

The dogs’ uncanny intuition is another component of these mini “miracles.” Molly seems to know instinctively what is needed: jumping into a wheelchair, lying in a lap, or performing tricks for a child. In every situation, she provides safety and a momentary sanctuary from suffering. “You forget what has made you feel so bad,” says Connie. “My dog is amazing.” 

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Amanda Peterson and her service dog Chesdin.

4. K9s For Warriors:

This non-profit turns shelter dogs into service dogs, transforming the lives of veterans living with crippling PTSD Veteran Amanda Peterson had goosebumps the moment she met her service dog, Chesdin, at the Ponte Vedra, Florida training facility. As the outgoing Basenji/Lab mix approached her, wagging his tail and licking her face, Amanda felt like she was meeting a long-lost friend. In the dog’s comforting presence, an unfamiliar feeling of peace washed over the military veteran, who struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder. “I felt like I was home,” she says.

Amanda and her four-footed therapist belong to K9s for Warriors, a non-profit which supplies service dogs for American veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other combat-related conditions. The organization was founded in 2011 by Brett Simon and his mother, Shari Duval. Brett had recently served in Iraq as a bomb dog trainer and returned home with crippling PTSD. He withdrew from friends and family, locked himself in his house with the blinds closed and the television on most of the time, and began drinking. Duval noticed that her son seemed most like himself in the company of canines, and she thought founding the non-profit with Brett could help heal both her son and other struggling veterans.

Amanda has battled the same enemy. Before acquiring Chesdin, she was easily upset and angry. Worse, she was constantly on guard for threats—she couldn’t shop anywhere unless she knew the complete layout of the store, including the location of every exit. Her hypervigilance was so extreme that she became a virtual recluse, holing up at home with her children. “I knew (this) was not a good thing for our bond,” she says. Amanda was at her wits’ end by the time she applied to K9s for Warriors.

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It was to be a transformative decision. A recent study by Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine showed K9s for Warriors participants to have lower levels of depression, less social isolation, and higher overall life satisfaction compared to veterans without the service dogs. Participants’ cortisol levels also returned to normal, signalling reduced stress. Suicide rates too have plummeted, says Brett.

The closeness between the pairs, who spend almost every waking moment together, partially explains these results, he says. Caring for their animals helps sidelined servicemen feel valued again. “Responsibility…takes the focus off themselves… onto the dogs,” he continues.

The dogs’ outgoing temperaments and intensive training also contribute to the program’s success. The dogs, all rescues taken from shelters, are screened for inquisitiveness and readiness to engage with humans. Over the next four to six months, dogs are trained to spot and abort PTSD symptoms, including nightmares and panic attacks.

Amanda’s service dog Chesdin knows exactly what to do when his owner is in a funk. He’s “just in tune with me,” says Amanda. One time the dog interrupted a massive panic attack by pawing at her hands and legs until the veteran felt grounded. Chesdin also interrupts her out of flashbacks and wakes her up from nightmares. “He’s combo best friend and psychiatrist,” she says.

He’s also helped Amanda lower her guard in public. When the veteran says “Look,” the animal stands in front of her and leans on her leg to tell her someone is approaching from behind. Knowing this warning system is in place has reduced the magnitude of Amanda’s startle reaction (a symptom of PTSD), and encouraged her to venture out to museums, aquariums, and other children’s activities.

Best of all, her service dog has helped Amanda shift her focus away from her triggering past and back to the present moment. “Instead of remembering things, I’m making memories with my kids,” she says. “That’s one of the biggest blessings.” 

WHAT YOUR DOG CAN TELL BY SMELL Mood, illness, where you’ve been—your dog’s nose can determine a whole lot about you.

By Jane Mundy

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as your dog ever given you a thorough once over after you’ve returned home smelling of another dog? Are you unwittingly wearing certain fragrances that repel dogs? (More about that later.)

Scientists say dogs can smell 10,000 to 100,000 times more acutely than us. Given this, they most certainly care what we smell like—and they can tell a whole lot by our scent.

James Walker, former director of the Sensory Research Institute at Florida State University, and colleagues came up with that mind-boggling estimate during a rigorous study of canine olfaction. "Let's suppose they're just 10,000 times better, he told PBS. “If you make the analogy to vision, what you and I can see at a third of a mile, a dog could see more than 3,000 miles away and still see as well," “Our dogs can smell us like a book,” says Alexandra Horowitz, founder of Barnard College’s Dog Cognition Lab, and author

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of Our Dogs, Ourselves. A research scientist in the field of dog cognition, she is also the author of two other books about dogs, including the bestseller Inside of a Dog. “When I brought dogs and people into my lab, I started to examine the relationship with dogs and humans,” Alexandra says. I am sure you could tell me about your dog’s personality, emotions, and desires, she says—and if your dog could talk, he could tell me about yours.

Researchers have shown that dogs can determine a person’s mood by smell alone (though they also get cues from our body language). And dogs definitely respond to the way people smell, especially those they care about, say experts such as human neuroscientist Gregory Berns.

“What the dog sees and knows comes through his nose, and the information that every dog—the tracking dog, of course,

but also the dog lying next to you, snoring, on the couch—has about the world based on smell is unthinkably rich. It is rich in a way we humans once knew about, once acted on, but have since neglected, Alexandra says. In Our Dogs, Ourselves, Alexandra says that each day dogs perform surprising and sometimes alarming feats of olfactory perception and they can teach us to relearn some of our long-lost olfactory skills.

For your dog’s sake, skip the perfumes and air fresheners

“Dogs notice a change in body chemistry when you are sick, but humans cannot isolate a particular odour—although science is trying to do so,” Alexandra continues. “Humans were more familiar with body chemistry before science got advanced and before dogs were used to detect illness. For instance, doctors said a person with TB smelled like brown bread.” (Dogs can identify smell molecules in the range of parts per trillion, right on the limits of what even modern science can detect even if we know what we are looking for.) “All sorts of diseases are detectable by smell but having a doctor smell you isn’t as popular as a dog, so we moved away from that diagnostic method,” says Alexandra, laughing. “I believe that dogs do care what you smell like.”

Smells most dogs don’t like include vinegar, citrus, rubbing alcohol, and mothballs. Some dogs turn their nose away from cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, and essential oils like lemon grass oil (not safe for dogs), citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil (not safe for dogs), and mustard oil.

“We can wash our bedding but I think our dogs prefer their bed or your bed unwashed—of course not to the point when it is growing spores. But what we think of as clean odour may not be desirable,” Alexandra continues. “My dog would sleep on my shoe, for example. People talk about their dogs chewing clothes—mine chewed underwear. They are not chewing new clothes: You have left your odour on them and that is desirable.” Although Alexandra isn’t suggesting that we curtail washing ourselves and our clothes, she does make a point—dogs prefer our familiar odours to sanitized ones.

Most dogs know (and abhor) that sterilized smell of the vet’s office. Mine can tell when someone has been to the hospital—I believe it reminds them of the veterinarian clinic—and it makes them really stressed out. 

Smells That Repel

As part of the meet and greet, your canine gives a new dog or person a good sniff. If all goes well, it could mean best friends for life. But if they get a whiff of something unpleasant, intimidating or confusing, they’ll follow their nose to a better aroma.

Reader’s Digest suggests mixing orange peel with used coffee grounds to both repel dogs from your garden and fertilize the plants. (If your dog will eat literally anything, don’t try this; ingestion of caffeine can be life threatening to dogs and cats.) If you want to train your dog to stay off a piece of furniture and you have a citronella product that sprays on fabric, squirt a small amount on your finger. If your dog backs away, that’s a sure sign that it might work as a repellent. If she licks your fingers, try another kind of citrus. After walkies (we do sniff and stroll) notice what your house smells like when you come home. If you use citrus air freshener, maybe your fur baby would likely be much happier without it, or, at the very least, another lighter scent. Imagine how overwhelming and obnoxious artificial fragrances (perfumes and air fresheners) would be if you could smell tens of thousands of times more acutely, as your dog can.

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Dogs Like Happy Humans Researchers have shown that dogs can determine a person’s mood by smell alone. Human emotions manifest physically in pheromones, or chemosignals, that are emitted by the body, and dogs can decipher those changes. This is thanks in part to an organ we don't possess: the vomeronasal organ, also known as Jacobson's organ. It’s located in the bottom of a dog's nasal passage and picks up pheromones.

Who hasn’t heard the expression, “dogs can smell fear?” When you’re anxious, you start to perspire. You and other people may not notice, but a dog will, because dogs can have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in its nose, whereas the average human only has about six million.

FIDO FACTS Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory cells and humans have six million cells—a colossal difference.

A dog could detect a drop of blood in a million gallons of water, or two Olympic-sized pools worth, like catching a whiff of one rotten apple in two million barrels.

The part of a dog's brain devoted to analyzing smells is, proportionally speaking, 40 times greater than ours.

When we inhale, we smell and breathe through the same airways within our nose.

When dogs inhale, a fold of tissue just inside their nostril helps to separate these two functions, allowing them to smell more or less continually.

It’s all about which way the wind blows.

When a dog breathes in he can tell which nostril an odour arrived in because each nostril's “aerodynamic reach” is so small. When a dog breathes out the expired air blows out the side slits in such a way as to augment the sampling of new odours. Follow that smell!

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MIT professor Andreas Mershin is an expert authority on artificial olfaction. He is working on developing an app that would create the ability for a smart phone to sniff out changes in a person’s health—“Your cell phone needs to have a nose to save your life,” says Andreas. But he admits that a dog’s sense of smell still outperforms any amount of programming code to date. “Dogs so far can detect any cancer [they have been asked to detect] that has been tried as well as malaria and Parkinson’s Disease,” he says.

“They smell a recipe of molecules while we are just learning how olfaction works.”

Take the case of George, a 43-pound Standard Schnauzer who was trained to detect melanoma. In one case, George indicated a mole that had previously been examined by three different doctors and biopsied twice. Doctors finally excised the mole and sent it to the pathology laboratory. A cell-by-cell analysis showed the patient had Stage II melanoma. George saved the patient’s life.

Andreas theorizes that affection plays a role in dogs caring what we smell like. “When dogs are trained to detect drugs, the training paradigm is the slave-master relationship: the dog is subservient; the motivation is to achieve love,” he says. “On the other hand, I work with Claire Guest, CEO of Medical Detection Dogs. She trains—not enslaves—dogs to detect cancer and part of the reason they do so well is because they are having fun and they care about you. Maybe you won’t be so much fun if you are sick, so they are doing it for themselves and for you.”

If you’ve ever thought your dog could tell when you were unwell, you weren’t wrong. “If a person is infected with a virus or bacteria, they will smell different,” says Alexandra. “Dogs are preternaturally sensitive to changes in their people.” 

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DOG LIFE

Enrichment For Senior Dogs

How to keep your senior dog happy and engaged despite advancing years and physical limitations | By Zazie Todd

Zazie Todd, PhD, is an adjunct professor of Psychology at Canisius College, where she teaches a graduate course on Communicating Anthrozoology to the Public. She is also a certified animal behaviour consultant, Psychology Today contributor, and author of the popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology. Her new book, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy is, quite simply, a must read if you're serious about your dog’s happiness. Here Zazie shares her top tips for keeping your senior dog engaged and involved despite advancing years.

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nrichment is especially important for senior dogs.

Now that my own dog, Bodger, is a senior, this subject is dear to my heart. Here are my top tips for your golden oldie.

Involvement in Family Life Even with the best of intentions, many people find that their senior dog is no longer as involved in family life as before. Perhaps the dog who once loved long hikes is no

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longer able to keep up, or health issues like incontinence or difficulty walking on slippery floors mean the dog is no longer spending as much time with their humans.

Sometimes a puppy is acquired with the hope of providing friendship and fun for the senior dog, but instead takes up all the time.

Involving senior dogs in regular activities that they enjoyed when younger is good for them because it provides sociable experiences and cognitive enrichment. According to research published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, senior and geriatric dogs that spend more time playing with their owner and engaged in activities with them are more responsive to training, suggesting that these activities are beneficial. While more research is needed, it seems that interventions to increase play, training, and activity are good for older dogs.

“Include them in outings and family activities as much as they are physically able,” says Sarah Pennington of Yaletown Dog Training in Vancouver, BC, who has a senior dog of her own—17-year-old Macy. “If off-leash hikes were part of their life, take them for shorter walks in the woods.

If they have lost their hearing or have cognitive decline, for safety consider using a harness and long leash (15-30 ft.) instead of letting them off leash”.

Sarah also has some tips for inside the house. “When Macy became incontinent,” she says, “we lined her bed with garbage bags and covered it in washable bedding. We bought disposable baby diapers in bulk. They worked well and come in many sizes. You just need to cut an x in them for the tail. Hardwood floors may need throw carpets to allow them to walk room to room without slipping.”

Be thoughtful in making changes to enable your senior dog to remain an active part of your family for as long as possible.

Play Play is one way to help to maintain the relationship between dog and person as the dog ages. A senior dog may not have the same energy levels as they used to but that doesn’t mean they can’t have fun. “Play modified versions of their favourite games if they still enjoy them and are physically able,” says Sarah, “for example a very short light game of tug or just a few throws of a tennis ball.”

It doesn’t matter if they can no longer play fetch for an hour at a time; stick within the limits of what they can do, and let them have a go. The aim is to keep them taking part in play activities that they have always enjoyed, but it’s not too late to try new games too. We adapted fetch for Bodger by teaching him the names of different toys, and having him get each one in the living room. The distance travelled per fetch is much smaller than it used to be, but there’s the cognitive effort of recognizing which toy he is supposed to get, and he loves it.  moderndogmagazine.com

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work that brain!

Trick Training for Senior Dogs Training helps prevent cognitive decline in senior dogs, according to research published in Behavioural Processes. Your senior dog probably doesn’t need obedience training but teaching tricks is a great way to let them enjoy the fun of positive reinforcement training. “For senior dogs, learning tricks offers the opportunity to keep their body active, but also—and I think most importantly—their mind active and engaged,” says Sassafras Lowrey, author of Tricks in the City: For Daring Dogs and the Humans that Love Them. “Too often older dogs get left out or left behind, but teaching your senior dog tricks is an opportunity to spend intentional time with your dog building new skills and deepening your relationship. Learning and practicing tricks also helps senior dogs to remain mentally sharp.”

How quickly senior dogs learn new tricks will depend on their previous experience. Sassafras says, “For example my 17-year-old retired service dog, who has his whole life worked or played with sport training, hikes,

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men ta stimulat l ion helps keep you senior dor g sharp!

swims, surfs etc., is going to have an easier time with a wider array of tricks because he already, even for his age, is active and knows a lot about learning. With a senior dog who might have spent the last decade sleeping on the couch you'll want to go a little slower. That said every dog can learn tricks; it's never too late!”

Make sure you have some of your dog’s favourite treats (or a selection of them) to use in training. Keep sessions short to keep your dog engaged and break down the trick into multiple stages so as to keep the training nice and easy. Sassafras recommends working within your dog’s comfort level and avoiding high impact tricks for senior dogs.

Hence, activities involving scent are suitable enrichment activities for most senior dogs.

This is easy to incorporate into everyday life. “Take them for shorter daily walks with a focus on plenty of sniff time,” says Sarah. As well, you can throw treats into the grass (in a safe location) or hide them around the house for your dog to find. Participation in scent work is good for dog’s welfare, according to research published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, and it seems likely that ad-hoc scent activities are also good for dogs.

Scent Activities

Food puzzle toys are great for dogs of any age and there are many different types to choose from. When introducing them, use high value treats (rather than kibble) to get your dog interested, and be sure to make them easy. As your dog learns how to manipulate them to get the food out, you can begin to add kibble as well as treats and gradually make them harder. You may even end up feeding all of your dog’s meals through food puzzle toys.

Senior dogs can have sensory decline, and the biggest changes are reported to occur as dogs become geriatric (over 12 for a Border Collie, earlier for larger breed dogs). Loss of vision and loss of hearing are common, and may not be noticed by the owner until they are quite advanced. Loss of the sense of smell, although possible, has not been documented to the same extent.

Food Puzzle Toys

Senior Picks!

Give your senior dog a leg up with these products that can transform an older dog's life.

Royal Ramps are a perfect solution to your dog’s decreased mobility. Available in stair or ramp styles, they are great for dogs who experience difficulty getting onto the couch or bed. (From $209, royalramps.com)

Hanging Out With Other Chill Dogs Older dogs may not have as much energy for full-on play and wrestling, but senior dogs can still enjoy playtime with other dogs, especially if they are well-matched for size and energy levels. Even if they don’t engage in as much play, don’t assume they don’t enjoy spending time with their canine friends. Dogs are social creatures, and if your dog has enjoyed hanging out with other dogs up until now, try to keep that going in the senior years. Even if they are just in the same space, sniffing the same patches of grass, that’s still a nice sociable time. It’s kind of like us, choosing to relax with an old friend over coffee rather than go on an energetic hike.

Improve your golden oldie’s bone, muscle, and connective tissue strength with Purica Pet Recovery Extra Strength Whole Body Health For Pets. Containing Nutricol, a proprietary bioflavonoid complex containing EGCG, theaflavin, proanthocyanidins and resveratrol from Vitis vinifera and Camellia sinensis, along with hyaluronic acid, it helps to prevent injury and reduces pain, inflammation, and spasms. (From $28, purica.com)

Special Consideration For Senior Dogs As senior dogs are more likely than younger dogs to be overweight, take any treats used in training or other activities out of their daily calorie allowance. And remember not to automatically put changes down to age.

If you have concerns, see your veterinarian. They will help you keep your senior dog healthy and active into old age.

Being considerate in choosing enrichment activities is part of the responsibility of being a senior dog owner.

Sassafras says, “I think it's heartbreaking when people give up on their older dogs. In reality, senior dogs are full of life and possibility.” Meanwhile, Sarah reminds us, “Give them lots of snuggle time and love.” In my own case, since a cancer diagnosis means Bodger will not have as long as we’d hoped, every day with him is one to be cherished.

Senior dogs deserve the best in their golden years, and enrichment will keep them golden for longer. 

Help your senior dog enjoy walks again with a Backend Harness from Walkabout Harnesses. It’s the perfect solution for dogs with stiff back leg joints and arthritis, allowing you to comfortably support their mobility.

(From $38, walkaboutharnesses.com) moderndogmagazine.com

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TRAINING

Mine !

How to Deal With a Dog That Guards What you should do if your dog guards his food and toys: A step by step guide to solving resource guarding.

By Teoti Anderson

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our precious angel just growled at you for the first time. He snagged a sock from your laundry pile and dashed under the bed. You reached under to get it and he growled. You reached again, and he snapped at you!

He didn’t bite, but it’s clear he thinks the sock is a prize worth holding onto.

Your dog is resource guarding.

Some dogs guard their food bowls. Some guard bones or toys. Some even guard crazy things, like rocks. On occasion, they will guard a person. Some dogs only get cranky with other dogs.

Resource guarding in dogs is not uncommon. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t address it. Left alone, it could get worse. Here are some common myths about resource guarding: “It’s funny.” People post videos on social media all the time with their dogs growling over everything from bones to beer bottles. They think it’s a hoot. It’s not. The dogs are clearly upset, and it’s only a matter of time before they bite someone. Then who will get the blame?

Not the person posting the video, but the dog.

“My dog would never bite.” Any dog is capable of biting. When a dog growls over an object, he’s telling you to back

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off. He’s concerned that you will take his prize away. A growl is a warning. If you don’t listen to the warning, your dog may feel he needs to be clearer, and snap or bite. This doesn’t mean you should punish your dog for growling.

If you do, you’re just treating the symptom, not the problem. The problem is that your dog has an object and doesn’t want you to take it from him.

If you punish him for growling, he still wants the object. So he may skip the growl and go straight to biting you.

Growling is an obvious sign your dog has an issue. There are other signs a problem is brewing that are more subtle. If you approach your dog while he’s eating out of his bowl and he deliberately lowers his head, trying to cover the entire bowl, this is guarding.

If he eats faster when you approach, trying to get all the food down his hatch before you take it from him, this is guarding. If you see these signs, it’s time to train your dog.

What Not To Do Do not stick your hands in your dog’s food while he’s eating. This would annoy anyone and can increase the chances your dog becomes food possessive. Do not pet him while he’s eating. This is also annoying. Don’t take his food away

repeatedly during his meal. Your goal is not to annoy him, but to teach him that your approach is something he should look forward to.

Teach Your Dog You Bring the Good Stuff If your dog has already bitten you or snapped at you while guarding an object, please get help from a professional, reward-based trainer.

Make sure the trainer isn’t going to use harsh methods, as this will likely make the problem worse, not better. If your dog has exhibited early symptoms of guarding and you believe it’s safe to address it, then here’s how to start.

If your dog guards his food bowl, start with an empty bowl. Put a handful of his food in the bowl and move away a few steps.

When he’s done eating, approach and put another handful of food in the bowl, then move away. Repeat for the entire meal and subsequent meals for at least two weeks.

Your dog should start looking forward to you approaching his bowl.

If your dog guards an object, put it away for now. Start with an object he doesn’t guard. For example, put the coveted sock away and take out a tennis ball. Get treats. Offer your dog the tennis ball. Encourage him to bring it to you, and when he does, give him a treat in exchange. When he is good at this game, try another object that he is not likely to guard. When he has a dozen objects under his collar, then try the sock again. Be sure your treat also has a higher value. Continue to practice with the sock and other objects until your dog successfully brings you a variety of objects, rather than running away from you with them.

If your dog only guards from other dogs, there are a couple things you can do. You can manage the issue. If they argue over their meals, you can feed them in separate rooms or in their crates. If they argue over specific toys, don’t let them have access to them. If you want to fix the problem, then you need to teach your dog that the presence of other dogs is a good thing.

Cue your dogs to sit, with enough distance from each other so your guarding dog doesn’t get upset. Give the other dog a treat, then give your guarding dog a treat. Repeat. Gradually work the dogs closer together. Only progress as far as your dogs are comfortable. You’re teaching your dog that he gets good things when the other dog is near.

Resource guarding can be scary, but you can treat it. Teach your dog that he doesn’t have to worry about people or dogs taking his precious stuff away. Instead, their presence means good things happen! moderndogmagazine.com

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BREED PROFILE

Meet the

Flatat-C Coat oate ed Retrriever Ret

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Lab and Golden lovers, prepare to fall in love—this rare retriever might be the best kept secret in the dog world.

By Kelly Caldwell

W

hen you first glance at a Flat-coated Retriever, you might think you’ve spotted yourself a black or brown Golden Retriever. To be sure, his similarities to other Retrievers are obvious; however, make no mistake about it: the Flat-coat is his own, unique breed.

At the time the Flat-coat was developed, a “Retriever” referenced a particular function—that of flushing and retrieving birds—not specific breeds. Gun dogs, as they were called, included any number of setters, spaniels, mixes, and what today we call Labrador Retrievers.

Today’s Flat-coated Retrievers were developed in Britain primarily by members of the upper class. Exact records don’t exist to detail the variety of breeds that were used to create the Flat-coat, but Collies, Newfoundland Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, and various setters and spaniels all seem to have been a part of the mix in the early years. By the middle of the 19th century, distinct types of Retrievers were established.

Fanciers were striving to breed to type, which by then included a Wavy-coated Retriever who would ultimately become today’s Flat-coat.

The Wavy-coats were bred for intelligence, scenting ability, a soft mouth, obedience, bravery, and a gentle spirit with a desire to please. For practical reasons, size was factored in, as it was clear to many that the larger Newfoundland-type dogs were more difficult to transport and required considerably more food.

The early Wavy-coated Retrievers were bred with black Retrievers in an effort to flatten out the coat and soften it from its original, more wiry texture. There was some resistance to this. Hunters argued that while the soft, flowing coat looked pretty in the show ring, the wavy, coarse coats were actually more resistant to water and brush. There was a strong desire, from these early days, to ensure that the function of this hunting dog didn’t get sacrificed to the whims of those whose focus was more on creating a pretty dog. They succeeded, however, in managing both, creating over time a working breed that can transition from the show ring to the field in no time flat. This is an important and proud aspect of the breed’s early and continued development.

That soft, luxurious coat was a show-stopper—and for whatever reason in those early days, it was the black variety Wavy-coats that caught the eyes of dog show judges. As a result, the black-and-tan or more golden versions of the breed were bred out over time. Black and liver-coloured Flat-coats are all that remain today.

So, with its beauty, winning personality, and ability in the fields, why isn’t the Flat-coat more common? The answer is multi-fold. Along came the Labrador Retriever, which was

recognized by The Kennel Club (TKC) in 1903 and by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1915. The Labrador Retriever’s popularity soared, along with the Golden Retriever, and eclipsed the Flat-coats to a considerable degree. On top of this loss of public interest, both World Wars had a devastating impact. As with so many breeds, the Flat-coated Retriever emerged from World War II close to extinct, and it came down to the concerted efforts of a handful of dedicated fanciers who worked diligently to preserve and advance the breed.

Breed Hallmarks The AKC accepts the Flat-coated Retriever Most Popular in either solid black or Dogs in the U.S. liver coloured coats.

According to the most recent Size ranges from 23 AKC registration statistics to 24 ½ at the withers for males and 22 to [1] Labrador Retriever 23 ½ for females. In [2] German Shepherd Dog conformation, excess [3] Golden Retriever weight is a no-no. These [4] French Bulldog dogs should weigh 55 [5] Bulldog to 8o pounds, with the males on the higher end [6] Beagle of the scale. This is a [7] Poodle dog that should be able [8] Rottweiler to leave the show ring [9] Yorkshire Terrier and head straight to the [10] Pointers fields—and he does.

[91] Flat Coated Retriever The head of this breed is distinctive.

Described by the AKC as a “one-piece head,” it has minimal stop, meaning the bridge of the nose (the indent between nose and forehead) is almost non-existent. The overall effect is that the Flat-coat’s skull looks seamless as it transitions from the muzzle to the back of the skull. There is nothing unnatural or exaggerated in his head, which is set back into a relatively long neck. All in all, it’s just another thing that sets him apart from the Retriever crowd.

Having spent a lot of time with a lot of puppies, I must admit a bias. I think the Flat-coated Retriever puppies may be among the cutest, if not *the* cutest, in dogdom. I have gotten lost in those soft, soulful eyes a few times. And temperament?

A dream. Yes, of course there is a lot of ‘dog’ in this Retriever.

He’s an athlete, a hunter, a tough dog through and through.

But outshining all of those traits is this: his sweetness. These dogs are smart and obedient, loyal and brave—but they are sensitive and loving, too.  moderndogmagazine.com

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Size: Large.

Male height ranges from 23 to 24 ½ at the wither; 22 to 23 ½ for females. Weight range is from 55 to 80 pounds.

Activity level: He’s a working dog and needs a walk, run, or swim every day, along with play time and hopefully a sporting activity. That said, he can turn off that energy and play the couch potato at home as well.

Grooming: That glorious coat doesn’t require a vast amount of work. The occasional bath and regular brushing will keep him looking dapper.

Heritage: He’s a dual-purpose hunting dog, created by the British gentry in the 1900s, and used to retrieve game both on land and in water.

For more information on Flat-coat rescue in the U.S. and Canada, visit facebook.com/FCRSARescue.

If you like the Flat-coated Retriever, you might also consider the:

 Golden Retriever

Curly-coated Retriever

READ YOUR BREED

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

For more breed profiles, go to moderndogmagazine.com/breeds

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Smitten with the Flat-Coated Retriever? Show your breed love with this beautiful solid gold pendant necklace from Siberian Art Jewelry. Tons of breeds are available—Pumi, Tibetan Terrier…you name it, chances are they’ve got it—in an array of gorgeous styles.

I N SE T P H OTOS © A KC

Profile: The Flat-Coated Retriever

Classic people-pleasers, they thrive on praise, positive reinforcement, and affection. They crave time with their people.

There is more than a little bit of the goofball in every Flat-coat—a sense of puppy-like wonder and joy to be found in, well, pretty much everything. From my experience, this seems to last with them through the years. Flat-coated Retrievers are a truly forever-young breed, which explains why countless sources refer to this as the “Peter Pan” of dogs.

What’s he like to live with? Let’s start with his versatility.

Yes, he’s a pretty dog, but he’s a hard worker by nature. The Flat-coat is an up-for-anything breed, game to try new things.

With his smarts and obedient nature, he can master any number of activities that you throw at him.

Speaking of which, basic obedience training is advised for this and every other dog. The good news is that this is a smart breed, very keen to “get it right” and please his people.

As far as activity level goes, he needs long, brisk daily walks at a minimum. Any sporting activities are worth a look, because he’s got game and he’ll be so happy to spend time with you and seek your approval that he’s bound to excel in just about anything you throw at him. Play-time with this fun-loving breed is also important. And water? Well, if you give him a chance to swim, he’ll dazzle you with his skills and most likely will thank you forever. Hearty and athletic though he may be, bear in mind this is a family dog. He’ll always love the outdoors, but he’s meant to live indoors.

When he’s not working, swimming, running, or just goofing around to burn off steam, he’ll shift to his secondary role: couch potato. The Flat-coat is fairly quiet in the home, and quite content to just “be” with the person he loves. Yes, he’s a wonderful family companion, especially if you’ve got a good sense of humour. The breed is slow to mature, and his puppy-like exuberance and general goofballery never entirely go away.

Health-wise, the Flat-coated Retriever is a hearty breed, but as with all purebreds some inherited genetic conditions could crop up. As with any breed, if you’re getting a puppy from a breeder, it’s important to work with someone who is committed to the wellness and longevity of the breed, and who tests their foundation stock for diseases.

Technically, this is a rather rare breed. In 2018, the Flatcoated Retriever ranked 91 out of 192 registered breeds. His cousin, the Labrador Retriever? Number one!

So, there you have it. He’s one of the best-kept secrets of the entire Retriever family—a fact that fanciers are fine with, by the way. He’s too special, really, to be higher up on that list.

While he may be most well known for that glorious, silky coat, and his rather distinctive head shape, in reality it’s his heart that sets him apart. Sensitive and loving, this one is a bit of a Velcro dog—wherever you go, there he is. And lucky you are to be in the company of this sweet soul. 

moderndogmagazine.com

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STAR DOG

Dying Bulldog Pulls Through, Wins Photo Contest A five-day-old, failing-to-thrive rescue puppy pulls through, wins hearts, a home—and our Star Dog photo contest!

Photographed by Vanessa Brack

W

hen Nita Pickering received a photo of an ailing Bulldog puppy, she was all in. “It was love at first sight,” recalls the Yuma, Arizona resident.

There was just one problem.

Spanky had fading puppy syndrome. With this condition, neonatal pups fail to thrive within the first two weeks of life, often resulting in death.

Contributing factors include lack of mothering, inadequate nursing or milk consumption, congenital defects which may not be immediately apparent, low birth weight, and infectious causes, says VCA Hospital.

At just five days old, it wasn’t looking good for Spanky. His littermates hadn’t survived, and he had been surrendered by his owners to the rescue group Josh and his Critters. Still, rescue founder Tina Lythgoe held out hope for the little pup they called Spanky. She sent a photo to Nita, saying she had the “perfect puppy” for her.

Tina is known for taking on the most challenging cases, accepting last-leg dogs from individuals who are unable 

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Star D og og's

Winn ne r

Spanky and Nita Pickering

(or sometimes unwilling) to help their dogs, or plucking the dogs no one else will take from shelters. She’s not one to go down without a fight.

Spanky required tube feedings every two hours around the clock. Under Tina’s watch, he also received veterinary care, including an injection of plasma along with subcutaneous fluids, says Nita. An incubator, antibiotics, and prayers were also employed.

It worked. By eight weeks of age, the failing pup was healthy and ready to go to his new home.

“When we went to pick up Spanky, I was over the top with excitement,” says Nita. “Getting a rescue from Josh and His Critters was the best thing ever! Knowing the hard work Tina put into Spanky to save his life—I am forever grateful for her.”

Spanky is now the picture of health and doesn’t require any special care aside from the consideration all Bulldogs need. As Nita notes, the breed is not for everyone.

“Adopting a Bulldog does take special care,” says Nita. “Their skin can be sensitive. They can also have allergies—every Bulldog is different. After bathing you need to dry their folds in their face and tail pocket. I also apply ‘wrinkle’ cream to his nose folds. Some Bulldogs can develop ‘cherry eye’ and require surgery.”

For his part, Spanky developed entropion (when the lower lashes roll into the eye and cause irritation) and had to have eye surgery. To Nita, it was a small price to pay.

“Bulldogs are an expensive breed to own but so worth every penny!”

A rescue advocate, she definitely thinks you should take a chance on a second-hand dog too. “All dogs need to know love even if they are not ‘perfect’,” she says.

“They give you back more love as they know you gave them a second chance in life!” 

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P H OTOS VA N E SS A B R AC K

All dogs need to know love even if they are not ‘perfect’, they give you back more love as they know you gave them a second chance in life!

Connie’s Book Club

Curl up with a good dog and a good book Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CONNIE WILSON’S SELECTION OF THIS SPRING'S MUST-READS.

By Zazie Todd Zazie Todd, PhD, an anthrozoologist, respected dog trainer, and awardwinning blogger, interweaves the latest science, her own experiences, and expert interviews with vets, psychologists, and more, to create this must-have guide to improving your dog’s life. You’ll find enrichment exercises, how to properly socialize your puppy, tips for reducing fear and anxiety, check lists for a happy dog, and more.

Do yourself and your dog a favour and get your paws on a copy of this very enjoyable read filled with actionable advice to improve your relationship with your dog.

DAWGS: A True Story of Lost Animals and the Kids Who Rescued Them

By Diane Trull We can all make a difference. With its moving message, this deeply inspiring story of second chances had us teary eyed from the get-go.

Elementary-school teacher Diane Trull’s fourth-grade class saw a photo of a cardboard box overflowing with homeless puppies, and Diana couldn’t bear to tell them that these pups, and many other healthy dogs like them, faced euthanasia.

Her young students desperately wanted to save the pups, and in that defining moment, the Dalhart Animal Wellness Group and Sanctuary—or DAWGS for short—was begun.

Marrying determination with compassion and a hopeful heart, this galvanizing story shares how Diana and her fourth graders started their very own animal shelter. We’re with New York Times bestselling author Susan Wilson (One Good Dog) when she says, “I'm blown away. I hope this story reaches thousands of readers.”

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The Celebrated Pet: How Americans Memorialize Their Animal Friends

By Gay Balliet-Perkins You’ll fall in love with the quirky, wonderful animals memorialized in this book. As so many of us know, a beloved pet’s passing is devastating. For some of us, it’s as sad as the passing of a human family member; not many occupy a more privileged and intimate role in our lives. Gay Balliet-Perkins brilliantly illustrates the deep bond between the pets and their people and the different ways of remembering a pet to bring comfort and closure.

Murder Can Confuse Your Chihuahua

By Rose Pressey This delightful mystery, filled with intriguing twists and quirky charm, is the second installment in bestselling author Rose Pressey’s Haunted Craft Fair Mystery series. Artist Celeste Cabot has a talent not only for painting but for the paranormal as well.

When Celeste arrives at a big craft fair in North Carolina—only to get her 1947-vinatge pink Ford F-100 truck stuck in the mud—her tiny white rescue Chihuahua Vincent van Gogh leads her to the unexpected: a body on the riverbank. With the help of her opinionated pup and a handsome fellow artist, Celeste must navigate a suspected love triangle, unearth an accident from the past, and consult with a medium and a spirit to try and paint the killer into a corner. Great fun.

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LAST LICK

They take their dogs to the pet store.

Twilight star Ashley Greene takes her rescue dog Rosie to Healthy Spot pet store in Studio City, CA.

They make time for doggie dates.

Selena Gomez has a matcha date with her adorable dog Winnie in Los Angeles.

those paws!

! s r a St ’re just

P H OTOS B AC KG R I D

They us! like

too real!

They go for walks with the whole fam!

Reese Witherspoon strolls through Brentwood Country Market in Los Angeles with her sevenyear-old son Tennesee and Bulldog Pepper.

They don’t want to go anywhere without their dogs!

“If I Can't Bring My Dog Then I'm Not Going!” Model Kate Upton’s shirt says it all as she leaves Bruno's gym in Beverly Hills, CA, with her Boxer Harley. Harley often accompanies the model to the gym and relaxes on a mat while she works out.