Modern Dog Summer 2016

Life Unleashed: 4 Dog Lovers Take a Path Less Travelled + Change Your Dog’s Diet, Cure Cancer?

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions S U MM ER 2016

D E U C S E R I BEST MY ND FRIE

FIND YOUR BREED MATCH

p86

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

Best Summer Ever!

p88

Dog Park Alternatives

Activities, toys & treats to delight your dog

How to Calm a CRAZY Dog

Instagram star Rocco!

p30

Stars & Their Dogs!

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moderndogmagazine.com DISPLAY UNTIL SEPT ‘16

$5.95

Yum! “ICE CREAM”

RECIPE FOR DOGS GIVEAWAYS GALORE! POT FOR PETS

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Super Summer Must Haves

read your breed: The Italian Greyhound, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel & more!

PHOTO @ALISONTRAVELS ON INSTRAGRAM

SUMMER 2016

VOL 15

NO 2

28

Does Your Dog Need A Behavioural Chill Pill?

How to calm an overly exuberant dog. BY NICOLE WILDE

34

The Fluffy Stuff The key to Instagram success? A fluffy butt!

BY ROSE FROSEK

38

Love Dogs, Will Travel Stay in amazing locales around the world for free, simply by looking after someone’s pet. BY NOA NICHOL

42

Life Unleashed Four talented dog lovers carve out a creative, unconventional life path with the help of their most inspiring, stalwart companions—their dogs.

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Top Five Summer Grooming Tips for Dogs Summer ‘dos for your dog. BY KENDRA OTTO These Entrepreneurs Turned Their Love of Dogs Into Careers They Adore

BY POOJA MENON

106

50

Free Days With George How I entered the unfamiliar world of dog adoption —and how it saved my life. BY COLIN CAMPBELL

114

How to Make Moving Easier on Your Dog A change of address can be upsetting. Here’s how to help your dog survive a move.

BY TEOTI ANDERSON

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Pot For Pets CBD, one of the main ingredients in cannabis, shows tremendous promise as a natural pain relief remedy for dogs. Cue the controversy. BY YVONNE ZACHARIAS

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Surviving Summer Summer pet dangers—the ones you'd least expect are the most dangerous! Plus: They're baaaack! Summer allergies—how to deal with the itch factor.

BY DR. HEATHER LOENSER

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When Should You Bring Your New Puppy Home?

There's an ideal window of time to bring your new pup home. Find out when and why. BY STANLEY COREN

66

Could a Change in Diet Cure Your Dog’s Cancer?

KetoPet Sanctuary thinks so.

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Dog Days of Summer Finds and DIYs to get you and your dog ready for fun in the summer sun!

BY JENNIFER NOSEK

90

What Your Vet Wishes You Knew

BY KELLY CALDWELL

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SUMMER 2016

BY J. LESLIE JOHNSON

BREED PROFILE 24

Find Your Breed Match Find out if the Staffordshire Bull Terrier or the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the dog for you.

102

The Italian Greyhound That’s amoré! This playful, alert and affectionate breed may steal your heart. BY KELLY CALDWELL

BODY & SOUL 74

5 Signs Your Dog's Vision is Worsening

76

Show Us Those Pearly Whites!; The Find; Modern Dog Poll

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You See A Dog Left Alone In A Car On A Hot Summer Day—What Do You Do?

80

Happy Tummy Treats; Here's Your Chance to Take Your Dog to Work!; Make It! D.I.Y. Pet Projects

82

Revolutionary New Treatment for Canine Arthritis

PHOTO ERIN EINBENDER,

FEATURES

@ROCCO_RONI ON ON INSTAGRAM

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WALTER SUBMITTED BY WARREN

88 THE GOODS 26

Have A Blast!

Summer toys & gear to help you make the most of the season.

48

Gear For the Great Outdoors All you need for an active summer spent outside.

56

Look What We Found!

Cool finds for dogs and the people who love them.

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Just Chillin’ Gear to keep your dog cool in the summer sun.

LIVING 12

Gimme That Cookie Face These dogs ask, “Did Someone Say Cookie?”

REGULAR FEATURES 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Contributors 10 Stuff We Love 14 The Scoop 20 Smile! Photo Contest 125 Marketplace

26

ON THE COVER Fluffy stuff! Old English Sheepdog Rocco, the

fluffy star of the Instagram account @rocco_roni is all about summer fun, man buns, and hanging with his person Erin Einbender.

Photographed by Erin Einbender.

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SUMMER 2016

We’re Giving it Away!

We’ve got three months of awesome giveaways, from a beautiful designer pet gate to the tastiest dog treats, and winners every week!

30

Stars, They’re Just Like Us! Candid snaps of celebrities out and about with their pups.

36 DIY Eat: Dreamsicle Frozen Dog Treat Recipe

Yum! This healthy, sweet treat is perfect for the dog days of summer.

BY SERENA FABER NELSON & SARAH DICKERSON 64

Choose Your Own Adventure Whether by car, foot, or bicycle, we've got gear to get you where you're going.

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DIY Craft: Rescue Proud Spruce up your spring style with a DIY “Rescue” tee & bandana combo! BY REBEKAH CHOTEM

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Dog Park Alternatives Nine alternative, healthy ways of exercising your dog safely while having tons of fun. BY DR. PETER DOBIAS

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The Secret Life of Pets This summer's must-watch movie for the whole family.

117

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

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

128

Last Lick The Oprah quote we love.

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Cute

20 In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 15, Issue 2. 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.

PENNY SUBMITTED BY MARY

96

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EDITOR'S LETTER

There is no such thing as the perfect time to do what you love.

Figure out what that is and do it now. Life waits for no one.

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SUMMER 2016

With love and affection,

Connie Wilson, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

LADDIE SUBMITTED BY TORI

I

n 2001, I found myself at a crossroads in my life. My children had flown the proverbial nest, and I was finally in a position to start that long-awaited business I had always dreamed of running.

Having been a single mom, I hadn’t up until that point felt myself able to risk a steady pay cheque in the launching of my own company. At long last the timing was right! But, finding myself facing the unknown, I was suddenly afraid to take that first step. I knew that if I didn’t test my mettle, give it a try, and see what I could build, I’d be sorely disappointed in myself, always wondering “what if?”

I had a few great business ideas and, being from a family of entrepreneurs, I had some awesome role models. So it was surprising that, in the end, it was my dog Kaya, a spirited Weimeraner/Pointer cross, who provided the inspiration to take the leap of faith.

Kaya and I had just moved back to the city and my worries around bringing my country dog to the city dissolved as we found our place within a community of like-minded dog people. The new friends I made through my dog Kaya helped us both feel at home—and sparked an idea for expanding this community through a business called Modern Dog, a lifestyle magazine and website that would be a resource for folks who loved their dogs as much as I did mine.

Fast forward 14 years and here we are! Growing a new

business certainly presented its fair share of challenges and more than a few super-stressful moments, but the personal growth it’s brought me, along with the opportunity to meet so many amazing fellow dog people, many of whom I now count as close friends, makes me feel eternally grateful for the success we’ve built together. Thank you for being a part of our amazing community! To our readers and advertisers, fellow animal lovers and entrepreneurs, you amaze me on a daily basis. Your wonderful spirits and commitment to animal welfare are my ongoing inspiration.

So it brings me great pleasure to profile a bunch of super-cool individuals in this issue, from the kick-ass entrepreneurs we’ve profiled—entrepreneurs who have built their success on the same common denominator: their love of dogs—to the photographers and artists who have put themselves out there and gained devoted social followings one smile-inducing dog post at a time.

Rounding out the issue are behaviourfocused articles to help you improve your relationship with your dog, tons of cool finds, gear to encourage you to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors, breed profiles, fun DIYS, and of course, tons of adorable dog photos! Here’s to the best summer yet, one with lots of “dog days” spent with friends, family, and, of course, our most faithful companions, our dogs.

PHOTO KHAREN HILL

—Alison Turner (p34)

C ON TRIBUT OR S SUMMER 2016

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VOL 15

NO 2

Publisher

Modern Dog Inc. Editor-in-Chief

Connie Wilson Editor & Creative Director

Jennifer Nosek Audience Development & Digital Marketing Director

Lauren Cheal Social Media & Events Coordinator, Subscription Services

Taryn Cheal Assistant Art Director A UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA PHOTO

Modern Dog regular contributor Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychologist with a bevy of bestselling dog books to his name, is our go-to expert for anything dog and psychology related.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “Hey, I recognize that guy!” it's for good reason: Stan is a media favourite (think The Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America for starters.)

In this issue Stan delves into the debate as to what is the best age to bring a puppy home (page 62).

Natalie Gagnon Sales & Marketing

Jacqueline Lowndes, Nav Nagra Junior Accountant

Celine Benipayo Sales & Subscription Services

Nav Nagra Copywriter & Administrative Assistant

Rebekah Chotem Controller

Cecilia de Roca Chan, CPA, CGA Honourary Editor-at-Large

Jytte Wilson

We’re thrilled to have Dr. Heather Loenser contribute to this issue!

For almost a decade, Heather has helped pets in their time of crisis as an emergency veterinarian. She’s also the staff Veterinary Advisor in Professional and Public Affairs for American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).

A sought-after guest on TV and radio, she frequently shares her expertise on the Today Show, Fox News, Dr. Oz, and local New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. area television. Her best buddy is her rescue dog, Calvin. In this issue, Heather shares hidden summer dog-dangers (Corncobs? Who knew?) and how to avoid them on page 58.

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 15, Issue 2.

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 15, Issue 2. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003.

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

PHONE

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.

In this issue, J. Leslie Johnson, a lover of dogs, the outdoors, and people who are passionate about animals, profiles three amazing pet entrepreneurs who combined their love of dogs with their talents to create their dream jobs. Leslie knows all about following one’s passion— she is also the author of Bike With Your Dog, a how-to book that shows complete beginners how to exercise their high-energy dogs safely. Check it out at bikewithyourdogbook.com and flip to page 106 for her inspiring entrepreneur profiles in this issue!

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SUMMER 2016

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

FAX

Copyright 2016 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

PRINTED IN CANADA

www.moderndogmagazine.com Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743013 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

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STUFF WE LOVE Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter BN

1 Wildebeest’s All Weather Jacket makes looking pawsitively fabulous effortless. With perfect fit, up-to-date styling, and a water and wind resistant shell, it’s activewear ready for anything—whether jogging in the rain or a chic urban stroll.—Lexi the Rat Terrier (From $45, wildebeest.com)

$

2 Those dog biscuits are not gonna make themselves! Bake your dog some treats (and make yourself something while you’re at it) without burning your hands with the help of this adorable Pug oven glove! With a pattern hand-sketched by Fenella Smith, it will delightfully Pug-ify your kitchen.—Celine ($35, barkshop.com) 3 Keep your small dog (up to 45 pounds) safe on road trips with the PupSaver! This easy to install car seat has been successfully crash-tested (undergoing similar testing to that the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requires for child safety seats) to ensure the highest levels of safety for your precious cargo!—Jennifer (From $140, pupsaver.com) 4 This shirt has my person's likes down to a T: naps, saving animals, and wine! Plus, a portion of every sale goes towards animal rescues and shelters.—Minuit the Shih Tzu mix ($25, loveanimalapparel.com)

BM

5 When outdoor play leads to unexpected injuries—like lacerations, cuts, and skin abrasions—I use Cure-A-Pet’s wound treatment. It kills bacteria to promote rapid healing, but this non-toxic formula is also safe when licked or ingested!—Lauren ($13, cureapet.com) 6 Did someone say cookie? I’m always hungry when Lucky Dog’s Fruit & Veggie dog treats come out. Packed with sweet potato, pumpkin, apples, carrots, and more, they're impossible to resist!—Penny the Wirehaired Dachshund ($9, luckypetbrands.com) 7 When heading outside with my active dog, I love having Ray-Pet’s Travel Kit with me.

The kit includes their small and large WetPet Towels made from soft, durable material to keep my dog dry after rainy days or swims, and their collapsible bowl is perfect for on-thego feeding and drinking. This convenient pack is just what you and your canine travel companion need!—Jacqueline ($6, raypet.net)

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8 Take your dog with you anywhere—on or off the beaten path—with the G7 Jogger Pet Stroller from Gen7Pets. Able to hold pets up to 75 pounds in deluxe comfort, this ultra versatile stroller lets you and your dog travel with ease regardless of the terrain.

—Natalie ($230, gen7pets.com) 9 The Bike Tow Leash makes cycling with your pup safe, fun, and easy. With its innovative design there’s reduced risk of tangling and tipping, and you can even ride with two dogs at the same time or use it with wheelchairs!—Leslie ($146, biketowleash.com) 10 Hydration (especially when it’s hot out) is so important for our pets, and a good fountain is the ideal way to keep your pup happy and hydrated! The Raindrop fountain from Pioneer Pet is awesome. The 60 oz. capacity and the fact that it is dishwasher safe make it perfect for me and my dog!—Taryn ($60, pioneerpet.com) 11 Oscar Newman’s Camouflage Bellyband is your stylish solution to intractable boydog housetraining woes and marking issues. Made from plush, machine-washable, super-soft fabric (which won’t irritate your pup’s skin or fur), it wraps snuggly around your dog’s tummy to prevent unwanted "accidents" and marking!—Connie ($22, shoposcarnewman.com)

BL

12 To maintain a lustrous summer coat I use Surfin’ Jack’s moisturizing coconut shampoo and conditioner. The natural coconut oil moisturizes and revitalizes, and the scent transports me to the beach, my favourite place! Best of all, it’s made in California with natural ingredients, contains no parabens, sulfates or harsh chemicals, and is 100% cruelty-free.—Esther the Dachshund ($15 shampoo, $13 conditioner, lucypetproducts.com)

^ * (

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&

Beau

Did someone say cookie?

Mina

GIMME THAT

COOKIE FACE

Lucy

Balto

Tank

Abby Margo Otis

Pudge 12 moderndog

SU MMER 2016

Xxxx

Xxxxx

Even though they are small, Gertie, Gracie Lou and Poppy have the hearts of dogs twice their size. It is devastating that so many Chihuahuas are abandoned to shelters and overlooked day after day simply because of their size and misconception of their breed.

”

PHOTO CHEYENNE ELLIS

THE“SCOOP

Small dog lover Katherine Heigl with her beloved family, including rescued Chihuahua Gracie Lou.

Katherine Heigl Loves Chihuahuas

MONSIEUR ALBERT SUBMITTED

BY MARIE-CHRISTINE MONETTE

A WORK OF ART How stunning are Debbie Kendall’s quirky hand-lettered Dog Tag prints?

These charming works of art feature tidbits of history and unique traits of the featured breed. Each is hand-printed, individually inked on a traditional etching press, and perfectly combines Kendall’s whimsical hand-rendered lettering with beautiful drawings to capture the essence of each breed and why we love them! $56 unframed, $112 framed, theenlightenedhound.com

The actress speaks out to promote adoption

OUR READERS WRITE

We love dogs of all breeds and sizes, but having fostered a series of Chihuahuas here at Modern Dog HQ, we admittedly have a soft spot for the saucy Chi's. Do you know that Chihuahuas are one of the breeds most commonly found at shelters, after Pitbulls and American Staffordshire Terriers? In California and Arizona alone, shelters are overflowing with them. But the issue doesn’t know geographic boundaries—it runs coast to coast.

"Maisy loves Modern Dog Mag!"

These pint-sized cuties are often overlooked for adoption because of some common breed misconceptions, but in reality no two Chihuahuas are alike. These sassy charmers could be just the match you're looking for.

In an effort to help these little guys find homes Katherine Heigl (actress, co-founder of the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, and “mom” to three rescued Chihuahuas, Gertie, Gracie, Lou, and Poppy) has teamed up with the Helen Woodward Animal Center to launch a social media campaign dedicated to finding forever homes for these little furballs.

Get involved using the hashtag #MySmallDogIs to show off your amazing small wonder and spread the word on how small breed adoption leads to big love.

Learn more at animalcenter.org.

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— Iga Bar

THE SCOOP

Your Border Collie’s Dream Vacation This sheep dog trial is the stuff herding dogs’ dreams are made of

T

his August 5–7th, 80 handlers from all over North America and their Border Collies will flock to Kingston, Ontario for the 29th annual Kingston Sheep Dog Trials Festival. The competition, Canada's biggest sheep dog trial (and the third largest on the eastern seaboard!), takes place on the banks of the St. Lawrence River and involves 680 sheep and four days of qualifying trials, leading to the final 17 competitors.

Here’s how the competition shakes down: each handler and dog goes to the post for their nine minutes of glory. Dogs are sent to the left or right and pick up their four sheep 250 yards away before bringing them to their handler’s feet. The sheep are driven around a course of gates before they are penned and finally brought in to a circular shedding area and divided in two.

(These are some smart dogs!) The smoothest, most efficient, most workmanlike run wins. The top dogs moving on from this round will be required to gather

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two groups of 10 sheep, one to the left and another to the right, before joining the groups and driving them around a course of obstacles. Once back into the shedding ring, the dog and handler will separate the 15 sheep not wearing collars and pen the five wearing collars. The best job wins the trial!

Aside from the main event, daily side attractions abound, including Rideau River Dock Dogs, Kingston Police K-9 demonstrations, Jungle Cat World shows, Sheep Shearing, Canadian Canine Lure Course, a Nutram Doggie Play Zone, craft vendors and market place, and food trucks, because this much family fun works up an appetite! Tickets are just $10 in advance online (kids 12 and under are free!), and there’s a free shuttle bus from various points in Kingston proper as well as free car parking. Find out more at KingstonSheepDogTrials.com!

THE SCOOP

Your Border Collie’s Dream Vacation This sheep dog trial is the stuff herding dogs’ dreams are made of

T

his August 5–7th, 80 handlers from all over North America and their Border Collies will flock to Kingston, Ontario for the 29th annual Kingston Sheep Dog Trials Festival. The competition, Canada's biggest sheep dog trial (and the third largest on the eastern seaboard!), takes place on the banks of the St. Lawrence River and involves 680 sheep and four days of qualifying trials, leading to the final 17 competitors.

Here’s how the competition shakes down: each handler and dog goes to the post for their nine minutes of glory. Dogs are sent to the left or right and pick up their four sheep 250 yards away before bringing them to their handler’s feet. The sheep are driven around a course of gates before they are penned and finally brought in to a circular shedding area and divided in two.

(These are some smart dogs!) The smoothest, most efficient, most workmanlike run wins. The top dogs moving on from this round will be required to gather

16 moderndog

SU MMER 2016

two groups of 10 sheep, one to the left and another to the right, before joining the groups and driving them around a course of obstacles. Once back into the shedding ring, the dog and handler will separate the 15 sheep not wearing collars and pen the five wearing collars. The best job wins the trial!

Aside from the main event, daily side attractions abound, including Rideau River Dock Dogs, Kingston Police K-9 demonstrations, Jungle Cat World shows, Sheep Shearing, Canadian Canine Lure Course, a Nutram Doggie Play Zone, craft vendors and market place, and food trucks, because this much family fun works up an appetite! Tickets are just $10 in advance online (kids 12 and under are free!), and there’s a free shuttle bus from various points in Kingston proper as well as free car parking. Find out more at KingstonSheepDogTrials.com!

THE SCOOP CAPTION THIS!

Making a Difference

A Maui-based dog lover starts a national initiative to reduce the number of adopted pups being returned to shelters for lack of training Maui-based dog lover Michelle Steigmeyer was a frequent volunteer and foster for her local shelter when she noticed a troubling recurring trend: dogs would get adopted but then just as quickly be returned to the shelter because of misbehaviour in their new homes. Michelle knew that if she could take these revolving-door “unadoptable” dogs and address their behaviour issues through training, she could greatly reduce the number of dogs being returned to the shelter. So she set about making it happen!

Working with six trainers, Michelle has, in a mere four months, successfully trained and re-homed 17 challenging dogs, and is now taking her initiative national. She’s bought a training facility in Indiana and is working with 10 trainers (who volunteer their services or offer them at significantly discounted prices) in states across the U.S. to train these so-called “unadoptable” rescue dogs before homing them so that they keep their new families once adopted. Charitable status is pending and an adoption website, adoptatraineddog.com, featuring videos showcasing the adoptable dogs’ now-golden behaviour is soon to launch, the idea being that if prospective pet parents can see videos it will help create a match that sticks.

Michelle hopes to expand her network of trainers, shelters, and rescues to continue her efforts of saving dogs and helping them find—and keep—their forever homes. If you’re a trainer that wants to get involved, head to adoptatraineddog.com to get in touch!

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PHOTOS MICHELLE STEIGMEYER

Michelle Steigmeyer with her rescue dog Carly.

AND THE WINNING CAPTION FROM THE SPRING ISSUE IS…

"So this male fly lands on some poop right next to a female fly and says, 'Excuse me, is this stool taken?'" SUBMITTED BY DJ WOODS RUNNER-UP CAPTIONS "I went to the bar last night and ordered a drink.

After I got the drink, the bartender looked at me and said: 'You don't really see dogs getting drinks very often.' And I replied, 'At these prices, I am not surprised.'" SUBMITTED BY MADISON WALLACE "...and then I said, "There will be poop on the floor later.'" SUBMITTED BY DEBBIE HEITMAN "Stop me if you've heard this one before. A dog walks into a bar looking for the man who shot his paw…" SUBMITTED BY NANCY ADLER "Ok. A Corgi, a Poodle, and a Boxer walk into a bathroom to get drinks…" SUBMITTED BY THYE SCHUYLER "So… my owner is a philosopher, insomniac and agnostic as well as dyslexic. He often lies awake at night wondering if there really is a Dog." SUBMITTED BY LINK WACHLER

C A R T O O N S © 2016 B Y D A V I D J A C O B S O N

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.

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Modern Dog’s Photo Contest Winners!

Oakley & Bentley Boris

Sachsen & Friend

Golden Retrievers

German Shorthaired Pointers

Bullmastiff

Xxx Xxx

Gino Nappi

Yorkshire Terrier

Ernie

Dachshund

Ellie

Mini Goldendoodle

Boomer Cavachon

Ian

Labrador 20 moderndog

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Sadie

Labrador

Cider Montana

Goldendoodle

Cocker Spaniel

Memphis

Golden Retriever

Buddha Wilfred

Mixed Breed

Hector

Pug

Cricket

Shiba Inu

Toy Australian Shepherd

Rozay

German Shepherd & Husky Mix

Charlie B

Old English Sheepdog

Layla Henry

Shetland Sheepdog

Pomeranian

Millie

Golden Retriever Mix

Remi

Jack Russell & Dachshund MIx

Ziggy Abby English Springer

Indiana Jones

Pitbull

Australian Shepherd

Lexi

Spaniel

Think your dog ought to be in Modern Dog?

Cockapoo

Juke

Chocolate Lab & Pitbull Mix

Upload your dog’s photo at moderndogmagazine.com/ photocontest. Not only will he or she be entered to be our Dog of the Week, but a selection of the photos entered will appear on these pages! moderndogmagazine.com

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ENTER TO WIN

We’re giving it away! Enter to win fabulous giveaways each and every week in June, July, and August.

Go to moderndogmagazine.com/giveaways to enter! Lucky readers will win every week.

june

1st-7th

Win 1 of 10 SqueakNSnaps! Plug it into your smartphone and when you squeak it, it snaps a picture, capturing a perfect photo of your dog every time!

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-30th

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-31st

Win a beautiful designer pet gate from Fusion Gates, the only gate featuring an interchangeable art screen system, available with your choice of one of 12 original screens!

Win 1 of 10 sets of Cedarcide Original, the leading natural flea and tick solution using cedar oil! It’s been used for 20 years to safely repel pests! Safe for pets and kids.

Win 1 of 10 bags (12 oz) of Stewart Raw Naturals Freeze Dried Dog Food.

It’s a convenient, easy-to-feed raw diet without the freezer! Made in USA.

july

1st-7th

Win 1 of 2 Dog Seat Covers from 4Knines! Keep your back seat clean and free from fur and claw marks when taking your pup out for summer adventures!

august

1st-7th

Win 1 of 20 Tropical Delight treats from Dogs Love Kale. These grain free snacks are made with limited humangrade ingredients your dog will love!

Win 1 of 4 Wagdrobe Pet Fashion Boxes, curated and personally styled just for your dog based on size, breed, and style preference! Sizes available to fit dogs up to 12 pounds.

8th-14th

Win 1 of 4 Julius-K9 IDC Powerharnesses from Europe's number one dog equipment manufacturer. The original from the inventor—high end quality and comfortable wear, since 1997.

Win 1 of 12 bottles of Cetyl M Regular Strength Joint Action Formula for Dogs! Supports healthy joints and helps maintain optimal health.

15th-21st

Win 1 of 8 copies of Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley, a charming, must-read novel about a special little Dachshund.

Win 1 of 25 delicious cheeseflavoured sprays for dry dog food, made in the USA with all natural ingredients! Easy, convenient to use, and dogs love it!

22nd-31st

Win 1 of 4 bags from TravelWags!

Choose either their fantastic shoulder bag for dog walking or the stylish weekend tote.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Beginning June 1, 2016 at 12:01 AM (PST) through August 31, 2016 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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SU MMER 2016

INSET PHOTO: TALULLA SUBMITTED BY JILLIAN

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

best friends forever?

smart, swee tenaciotu, s

Find Your Breed Match

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Brave, playful, and clever

Is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier right for you? Find out more at: moderndogmagazine.com/breeds/ staffordshire-bull-terrier

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a family dog through and through. Silly, friendly, and smart, they make loyal companions devoted to their families. With a wide, smiling mouth, broad chest, and compact, solidly muscled body, the Staffordshire is a sweetheart—official breed standards mandates the Stafford must be affectionate with children—but also a powerhouse.

As the AKC notes, “While [the Stafford] is a sweet-tempered, affectionate dog, his strength and determination require an experienced owner who can work with him in a firm, but gentle way.” This dog is gentle, playful, and clever, but also brave, tenacious, and slightly stubborn.

This is also a breed that doesn’t always socialize easily with other dogs or animals.

Dayna Lemke, the author of A New Owner’s Guide to Staffordshire Bull Terriers says: “It’s better to go into the Stafford experience expecting to have a dog who isn’t canine social than the other way around.” Early and extensive socialization with other dogs and animals is recommended for all Staffords.

If you’re looking for a loyal, lovey dog devoted to its family, one who perhaps prefers human friendship over canine buddies, the silly, smiling Stafford might be the dog for you.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Affectionate, graceful, and gentle

Despite being named after a king and boasting one of the most unquestionably upper crust pedigrees of any breed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is too full of affection to stand on formality. Perhaps this is the secret behind the long love affair between the Cavalier and the British monarchs—surrounded by propriety and stiff etiquette, the royals must have delighted in the unassuming and unrehearsed antics of their little spaniels.

At least three Stuart kings owned the breed, as well as Queen Victoria, whose favourite pet during the early part of her reign was a Cavalier named Dash. The young queen even wrote an epitaph for Dash upon his death.

Confusingly, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a cousin with a similar name —the dome-headed, short-faced King Charles Spaniel. The Cavalier is primarily distinguished by his longer muzzle and flatter head.

The Cavalier currently ranks 19th in popularity in the US, thanks to the compact, friendly, and adaptable nature of this breed. At 12 to 13 inches in height, the Cavalier is small and portable yet is not fragile or dainty. The essence of the Cavalier’s personality is “Hello! I love you!” The breed sports a silky, medium-length coat in black and tan, ruby, tricolour, or red and white.

Today, the Cavalier may find repose upon a cozy couch rather than on the silken cushions of her courtly past, but one thing has not changed—as Queen Victoria wrote of her own darling Dash, these sweet-natured spaniels still “live beloved.”

Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel right for you?

Find out more at: moderndogmagazine.com/breeds/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel

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, activlee, gent ful grace

Fearless fetching fun!

Unlike a plastic Frisbee that can hurt your dog’s mouth when she catches it, the Floppy Disc is made of soft materials for a safer playtime. Flexible, durable, waterproof, and it floats—this soft flying disc is perfect for endless outdoor fun! $14, softbitefloppydisc.com

A E V A H !

T S A BL

Get ready for endless fun with Be One Breed’s line of ultra-sturdy toys—like the Pear rope toy ($15) and rubber Bottle toy ($12)—made from durable materials to stand up to persistent play! beonebreed.com

you gear to help & s y to r e Summ eason ost of the s make the m

This year-round paw moisturizer is a must have come summer! The all natural, non-toxic wax—made from bees wax and lanolin—creates a waterproof barrier that protects your pup from pesticides, hot pavement and sand. $12 for 60g container, pawzdogboots.com

This isn’t your typical tug toy! Keep your dog udderly entertained with a MooTug toy from Finest Fetch. Using upcycled rubber milking tubes from Minnesota dairy farms, this extra durable toy retains a unique cow scent that dogs love (but won’t offend humans)! $15, finestfetch.com

Keep your energetic dog amused without exhausting yourself! The GoDogGo Automatic Ball Launcher allows you to set the ball to launch at varying speeds and distances.

It allows for interactive, independent or owner-controlled play, making it perfect for dogs who never tire and owners who do! $150, godoggoinc.com

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Designed for games of catch or tug-a-war, the perfectly minimal, eco-friendly Knot Ball rope toy from Forever Mootsy is made of 100% natural cotton rope that floats for water play. In other words, it’s perfect summertime fun! $15, forevermootsy.com

Perfect for water dogs!

Nothing says summer like a vibrantly bright collar. And better still is when that collar is totally waterproof and stink-proof! The Hydro Collar from Hot Dogs All Dressed—which can be customized with different decorations and is available in an array of colours—lets your dog make the most of the season.

From $15, hotdogsalldressed.com

TRAINING

DEMON SUBMITTED BY TIFFANY AND SHAWN

DOES YOUR DOG NEED A BEHAVIOURAL CHILL PILL? How to Calm an Overly Exuberant Dog

By Nicole Wilde

Is your dog overly exuberant during play?

Does he turn into a non-stop jumping bean when you come home? Could you sometimes swear that he’s learned to levitate? If so, your dog may be suffering from ODS: Over-exuberant Dog Syndrome. Okay, I’m kidding about it being an actual syndrome but for owners it certainly can seem like a serious affliction.

Let’s talk about what might cause this all-too-common condition and what you can do to get a handle on it.

T

he whole issue of over-exuberance boils down to energy that needs to be expended. If your dog is an active breed (a Labrador Retriever, Dalmatian, or Jack Russell Terrier, for example), an adolescent, prone to spontaneous bursts of energy, or a combination of these things, there is a seemingly endless well of energy that needs to be channeled into acceptable outlets.

Providing daily exercise that is appropriate for your dog’s age, breed, and physical condition is a must. And don’t underestimate the power of giving your dog ample exercise before a training session—it can make all the difference in your dog’s ability to focus and learn. In addition, encouraging mental stimulation in the form of treat toys to roll or excavate, puzzle toys, and training will go a long way toward wearing out your overly perky pup.

In specific situations where an overabundance of energy can be problematic, such as jumping up when grandma comes to visit, it helps to install an “off” switch. Believe it or not, you can

actually teach your dog to go from crazed to calm with a simple training exercise. First, grab a tug toy and begin to play with your dog in a fairly calm manner. You are setting him up to succeed by not being too wild too soon. After a few seconds of mild tugging, freeze in place, making sure not to move your hands at all. Keeping your hands together at abdominal level will help. Now the hard part—just wait. Don’t say a word. Look down at the floor and stay perfectly still. Your dog might sit, especially if that is one of his default behaviours. If not, that’s okay too. What you’re waiting for is him to have all four paws on the floor and not be lunging for the toy. Once he’s sitting or standing calmly, say, “Good! Take it” and continue the game. His reward for being calm and backing off is the resumption of the game. After a number of repetitions, when you’re sure you can predict the calm response, it’s time to attach a verbal cue. This time, stop tugging, assume your still stance and calmly say, “Chill.” This cue is a bit different than “Leave it” as it will be generalized to other situations, whereas “Leave It” normally means you want your dog to back away from a specific object. As your dog gets the hang of this game, increase the difficulty level by making the tug game faster and more exciting.

Once your dog understands the concept of “Chill,” apply it to other situations. When you come home and your dog not only wants to greet you but is just over the top and unrelenting in his enthusiasm, stand still and calmly say, “Chill.” Wait for him to calm down before rewarding him with your attention. By meeting your dog’s physical and mental needs, and also practicing this training exercise, your crazed canine will soon become a manageable champion of chill. n

Nicole Wilde is an award-winning author of ten books on canine behaviour. Her books, seminar DVDs, and Wilde About Dog blog can be found at nicolewilde.com.

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Lisa Vanderpump seen with her dog while shopping in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.

They only bring the essentials when shopping

Amanda Seyfried spotted taking her dog Finn for a walk then relaxing with a friend at Palihotel on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.

They look both ways at crosswalks

! s r a St ’re just

They us! like

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Drew Barrymore poses with rescue dog friend at the ASPCA Bergh Ball in NYC, celebrating the ASPCA’S 150th anniversary. Drew was this year’s recipient of the ASPCA Compassion Award, presented to her

by Martha Stewart.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: BLW © PACIFICCOASTNEWS; MIGUEL AGUILAR

They love rescue dogs!

They know their priorities–phone and poop bags

© PACIFICCOASTNEWS; GETTY IMAGES; © PACIFICCOASTNEWS.

Vanessa Hudgens seen wearing Marilyn Monroe t-shirt while she walks her dog Darla in NYC.

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This adorable handsmocked cotton dress will surely be treasured! Featuring hand-sewn pearls, scalloped waist, and flirty polka-dot tulle trim on a pink ruffle hem-line, it’s summertime perfection! Sizes XXS, XS, S, M, L. OscarNewman.com

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Must be held to be believed! Easy to clean, non-odour absorbing, and designer wowfactor included!

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They catch some rays

Jennifer Lawrence carries her adorable dog Pippi while walking in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood, NYC.

Former Bachelorette Andi Dorfman (left) and former Bachelor contestant Kelly Travis spend some time on the beach with a Chihuahua in Miami.

Th

! like us

Kate Upton and her Boxer Harley spotted arriving at LAX.

They love the end of a long flight

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Ivana Trump walks her dog after having lunch at Amaranth restaurant with a female pal on Primary Election Day in NYC.

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They dress to impress

MONNIER, © PACIFIC COAST NEWS.; © PACIFICCOASTNEWS; © PACIFICCOASTNEWS

Setya’rresj!ust

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: © LGJR-RG, PACIFICCOASTNEWS; FLORIDA BRETT KAFFEE/THIBAULT

They vent to their dogs

COVER DOG

“

The man bun is his signature look. I put Rocco’s hair in a man bun every morning so he can see; luckily they’re in style right now.

”

Erin & Rocco

The Fluffy Stuff The key to Instagram success? A fluffy butt!

By Rose Frosek Photos by Erin Einbender

29-year-old Chicago-based art school student Erin Einbender and her Old English Sheepdog Rocco are winning hearts on Instagram one super-fluffy photo at a time!

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PHOTOS @ROCCO_RONI ON INSTAGRAM

I

n 2014, Erin Einbender got an eight-week-old Old English Sheepdog.

Enamoured of her new best friend—“He looked like a stuffed animal,” she jokes—Erin took a lot of photos. One Instagram account, @rocco_roni and 16 months later, and the duo have amassed 25,000 followers and counting.

“People are starting to recognize him on the street. I have strangers come up to me and say, “Is this Rocco? I follow him on Instagram!”

Their most popular posts are “usually slow motion videos of his fluff in the wind, videos of Rocco getting stuck on chairs, puppy pictures, and photos of his fluffy butt,” with Erin adding, “You can’t help but smile when you look at him. He will trample everyone’s picnic in the park and sit on people’s laps, but no one cares because he’s so fluffy! He is such a clown and makes me laugh all of the time.”

If you love your dog, photography, and social networking, Erin suggests you create an Instagram account: “Go for it! It’s really fun. I’ve made a lot of new friends—humans and dogs—and I’ve received free pet products. I like interacting with my followers.

After all, we have at least one thing in common: loving Rocco.

I can’t imagine life without him.” n

Is the Old English Sheepdog Right For You? Erin gives us the low-down on this loveable breed Q: Describe the Old English Sheepdog in three words.

Goofy, playful, loyal.

Q: What makes the breed unique?

One of the most obvious unique traits of the breed is their fur.

When kept at full fluff, the breed looks like a panda/polar bear.

They are comedians and have a playful, puppy-like personality for most of their life. Although Rocco doesn’t always act like it, they are actually an intelligent breed and are very quick learners. Like their name suggests, Old English Sheepdogs were originally bred to herd sheep. I’m planning to take Rocco to a farm for a herding instinct test this summer to see if his instinct kicks in.

Q: Who would this breed be a good fit for?

Old English Sheepdogs are amazing dogs, but they are not for everyone. They are extremely high maintenance in the grooming department, especially if you want to keep them in full coat.

Rocco collects sticks, leaves, sometimes a bug or two, every time we go on a walk. Old English Sheepdog’s have a double coat that mats really easily so you have to brush them on a regular basis.

If Rocco plays in the mud or swims in the lake, it’s hours and hours of bathing, drying, and brushing afterwards. I cringe when he runs into an unexpected mud puddle, but then I just laugh because he is a dog after all and I want him to be able to do dog things, even if it takes half a day to clean him. Brushing Rocco has now become a bonding experience for us. I started doing it when he was really young so he would get used to it. I have a glass of wine or three, watch a movie, and brush my dog.

When looking for a puppy/dog from a breeder make sure they do the necessary testing. Old English sheepdogs are prone to hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and progressive retinal atrophy. If you decide that the OES is the right breed for you don’t forget, you can always rescue! There are so many amazing Old English sheepdog rescue groups out there including Midwest Old English Sheepdog rescue, Chicagoland OES, and Texas Old English Sheepdog Rescue Inc.! moderndogmagazine.com

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INSET PHOTO: BUTTERBALL BEAN SUBMITTED BY SAMANTHA COLLIER

eat D.I.Y.

Dreamsicle!

Frozen Dog Treat Recipe Yum! This healthy, sweet treat is perfect for the dog days of summer

By Serena Faber Nelson and Sarah Dickerson

WHAT YOU'LL NEED • 1 Small Cantaloupe Packed with Vitamin A and beta carotene, the antioxidants in cantaloupe help prevent cell damage in dogs and fights premature aging and inflammation.

• ¼ Cup Coconut Milk (100% Organic) Makes 20 Treat Cubes or use it to stuff your dog’s Kong before freezing!

HANDY HINT

To add even more flavour, add in some diced strawberries to your mixture. (Another handy hint—make two batches, sweetening one with agave or honey before freezing in a popsicle mold to make a frozen treat for yourself while you’re at it! Sweet one for you, unsweetened for your dog!—Ed.)

HOW-TO For more delicious, frozen dog treat recipes, check out Frozen: Fresh & Fruity Dog Treats—30 Fresh & Fruity Dog Treat Recipes Your Pup Will Love! Download the ebook ($15) filled with easy-to-follow recipes and beautiful photos at prettyfluffy.com/shop. We guarantee you’re going to want to make everything!

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1.

Wash cantaloupe under cold running water. Cut the cantaloupe in half then use a large spoon to scoop out and discard all the seeds. Place melon halves onto a chopping board flat half down and cut into small slices ensuring all the skin is removed.

2. Add cantaloupe and coconut milk to blender and puree until smooth.

3. Pour mixture into ice cube trays and freeze for a minimum of 4 hours or until frozen through.

4. When frozen, remove from ice cube trays and store in labeled Ziploc bags in freezer. n

TRAVEL

PHOTO ©TRUSTEDHOUSESITTERS

Love Dogs, Will Travel

Rachel Martin and Andy Peck co-founded TrustedHousesitters.com in 2010 when they realized there was no service to link pet owners with sitters they could trust—people who love animals and would love the opportunity to care for them in exchange for a place to stay.

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or many travelers, staying in a decked-out New York penthouse, a luxurious chateau in southern France, a rustic Italian villa, or a bona fide British castle (featured on Game of Thrones, no less), is prohibitively expensive. But if you happen to be an animal lover with a case of wanderlust, the price for such unique and high-end accommodations can be free—you need only take good, loving care of a pet or two.

This is thanks in part to Andy Peck, 45, an animal lover with the travel bug. In 2010, he looked after three dogs and two cats in a villa, complete with vineyard and pool, in Galacia, Spain, and an “aha” moment was born. Peck realized there was no service to link pet owners with sitters they could trust—people who love animals and would love the opportunity to care for them in exchange for a place to stay, either in their own neck of the woods or while exploring the world—and set about to remedy this. He spent the next two years with his fiancée, Rachel Martin, backpacking around the world, testing and promoting the concept, and together ultimately co-founding the

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website TrustedHousesitters.com.

It is now a network of more than 50,000 members, with housesitters and homeowners in 150 countries, including the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

“There are millions upon millions of pet-owning households around the world for whom the worry of leaving a beloved animal at home alone or in boarding impacts how long, how far, and how often they travel,” says Martin.

One of the best, most unique features of the online service is that it’s a “sharing economy,” meaning that no money changes hands between subscribed pet owners and sitters. Rather, “soft” assets are exchanged—things like time, care, a love of animals, a comfortable home and, often, a desire to see far-off lands.

“It’s a win-win solution—homeowners can travel with complete peace of mind that their home and pets are being cared for, while sitters can road-test different areas and save money on accommodation costs,” Peck says, adding that sits can last anywhere from “a few days to more than a year, with house

Stay in amazing locales around the world for free, simply by looking after someone’s pets!

By Noa Nichol

sitters being able try out living in different styles of properties, from city-center apartments to country cottage retreats.”

The pets in question range widely as well, from standard-issue dogs and cats to rabbits, horses, chickens—even alpacas.

“To date we’ve facilitated more than a million nights of pet sitting in more than 150 countries—meaning happy pets of all shapes and sizes staying at home in their own beds while their owners are given the freedom to travel,” Peck says.

Martin adds, “Vet experts generally agree that animals are happier, more comfortable, and less stressed in their own, familiar space, even when their owners are not present and there is someone else caring for them. Not to mention the fact that owners will likely feel less stressed, too, knowing their pet is happy,

comfortable, and safe no matter where in the world they happen to be.”

Here’s how it works: for $99, homeowners can create an unlimited number of secure listings (for different properties or different time periods) on TrustedHousesitters.com, detailing their house- and pet-sitting requirements. The listings are then sent by email to registered sitters who have indicated they are looking for those particulars—say, certain types of pets at a certain time and in a particular region. Homeowners can then shortlist the sitters that respond to their listing by experience, references, background checks, and other comprehensive information.

In this way, a sitter’s profile is key.

“It really starts with your profile and making sure it

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5

Reasons Housesitting is the Perfect Way to Travel

Though many people—animal lovers included—dream of seeing the world, the high cost of travel may stop them before they get to the boarding gate.

Here’s how housesitting helps you flex your passport while keeping your travel expenses in check:

1

SAVE ON ACCOMMODATION

The most obvious benefit of housesitting is the money you’ll save on hotels and holiday rentals.

2

STRETCH YOUR BUDGET

Many owners of architect-designed homes, beachfront properties, and city penthouse apartments register their homes on TrustedHousesitters.com every day. Sitters stay for free in these highend properties and enjoy a standard of accommodation that would normally be beyond the average traveler’s budget (that Game of Thrones castle, for one!)

3

demonstrates and reflects your quality and trustworthiness as a sitter,” Martin emphasizes. “It’s important to spend some time creating your profile, adding any previous experience you may have with pet sitting, references, photos, and even videos—as much detail as possible that will make a pet owner feel good about letting you into their home and into the life of their pet.”

Once sitters start to gain experience through the site, they receive reviews from pet owners they’ve sat for, much like the rating systems on Uber and Airbnb. This helps sitters build up a favorable reputation on the site and expand their opportunity to sit for more owners.

“The site really regulates itself, though we have put a lot of time and effort into ensuring it’s a positive experience for everyone,” Martin says.

Far from being removed from the process, she and Peck have continued to pet sit since founding TrustedHousesitters, applying for sitting opportunities through the website just like everyone else.

“For example, we’re off to Colorado in 10 days to look after a dog named Hamish,” she says, adding that, besides her love of discovering new parts of the world, a strict no-pets policy in her current apartment building adds extra motivation to the mix.

“I love dogs—I grew up with Boxers—and I’m gutted we can’t have them in our flat,” she says. “Not only is this really a brilliant way to travel, it’s also a wonderful way to enjoy the company of pets.” n

Animals are generally happier, more comfortable and less stressed in their own, familiar space, even when their owners are not present and there is someone else caring for them.

DISCOVER NEW PLACES

By being flexible about where you housesit, you can discover amazing locales you may not have thought of visiting otherwise.

4

MAKE NEW FRIENDS PHOTO ©TRUSTEDHOUSESITTERS

Many house sitters make lifelong friends, not only with the homeowners they sit for but with friends and neighbours, too.

5

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL

Housesitting lets you experience an area in a way you wouldn’t staying in a hotel.

Walking the dog to the neighbourhood park is a great way to meet local people!

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pack your bags (& dog treats too!) for these fabulous locales //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// LANVOLLON, FRANCE Visit Lanvollon, France where you’ll be staying in this limestone oasis with two charming dogs. Once an old presbytery, the house is surrounded by a large walled garden and is just a short drive from the beautiful Goelo Coast.

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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA A stay in this architecturally modern home comes with two gorgeous Border Collies, a trampoline, and, the piece de resistance, a stunning pool! If you prefer open water, a short road trip will land you and your new canine friends on the aptly named Sunshine Coast.

PHOTO ©TRUSTEDHOUSESITTERS

HOW TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL SITTER

While your future plans may include traveling abroad, think about starting local (as in close to your home) first, especially as a beginner sitter. This way, owners may meet with you first, in person, putting your application above the rest.

Go above and beyond what is asked and expected of you. A home-cooked meal or fresh-cut flowers upon the owners’ return are thoughtful ways to show off the great job you’ve done.

Write a great profile, highlighting why and how you are the perfect person to mind an owner’s home and pets.

If you can offer references from past sitting experiences, great. If you’re a first-timer, don’t fret. TrustedHousesitters allows character references from people who know you well and can vouch for you.

Treat their home as you would treat your own, keeping the pets well cared for, the property clean and tidy, the plants watered, etc. Do your duty—and do it well.

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MARKETHILL, UNITED KINGDOM Dreams become reality when staying in this historic converted castle, nestled snuggly in 600 acres of your very own (for the duration of your stay) forest. Look familiar?

This fairy tale castle was used in Game of Thrones, but for your stay the reigning monarchs will be an adorable dog and two regal cats.

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INSPIRE

Life Unleashed Four talented dog lovers carve out a creative, unconventional life path with the help of their most inspiring, stalwart companions—their dogs

By Pooja Menon

B

orn and raised in Southern California, native west coaster ALISON TURNER has spent most of the last eight years on the road, accompanied by her adventurous four-legged sidekick named Max, her ever-present camera, and a pop-up camper. Alison and Max seldom stop in one place for too long, and their destination is decided on the morning they’re set to travel. For them, sleeping under the stars, running barefoot in the sand, and witnessing azure sunsets are everyday treats.

Before experiencing this kind of freedom and personal

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fulfillment, Alison, aged 45, spent 15 years working in advertising, jogging the corporate treadmill. Eventually, she felt as though she was losing her creative soul. So, in a decisive stroke, she quit her job and took to the road, searching for what was missing.

Along the way, she found herself again through her love for photography and the open road.

Always along for the ride is Alison’s co-pilot Max, a BrusselsGriffin-possible-Affenpinscher mix, who breaks the solitude of an otherwise solo journey and makes things fun.

PHOTOS ALISONTURNERPHOTO.COM, @ALISONTRAVELS ON INSTAGRAM

“There is no such thing as the perfect time to do what you love. Figure out what that is and do it now. Life waits for no one.”—Alison Turner

“He makes me smile everyday. I can’t imagine traveling the U.S. without him. Many of my destinations are chosen because I know Max will enjoy the area,” she says, referring with affection to her scrappy 14-pounder.

Max’s fondness for certain locales—sand dunes, beaches, and places where he can run free are chief among them—have taken them camping at White Sands National Monument, and running on the shores of the Pacific Coast, Cape Cod, and Padre Island, Texas.

Max and Alison have now been on the road for seven years, off and on. (Allison’s journey began a year before Max.) Alison supports their ongoing series of traveling adventures through her savings from her years in the corporate world, wise investments, and freelance photography gigs she undertakes along the way.

Since finding her calling, Alison’s work has appeared in many notable publications including Lenscratch, National Geographic, Salon.com, and Slate Magazine. She and Max have covered 48

states within the U.S. thus far, with Alison photographing the interesting people and places they encounter along the way.

The meeting of these two perfect travel companions was timely, to say the least. What started out as a trip to a Long Beach, CA-area farmer’s market to pick up strawberries ended with Alison bringing Max home from an adoption event held there that day. The rescue told her that they’d managed to save him from a high kill shelter just hours before he was to be put to sleep.

When asked if Alison ever felt the need to give up her freewheeling lifestyle and settle in one place, she shrugs. “We have no end date in mind. We travel when we feel the urge to go exploring. Max loves traveling. The joy on his face when he’s happy is contagious. He reminds me to calm down and play.”

Follow Alison and Max’s many adventures on Instagram (@alisontravels) as well as on her blog at alisonslife.com and alisonturnerphoto.com.

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PHOTOS @RAFAELMANTESSO ON INSTAGRAM

“My wife left me with nothing but our dog, so I started taking fun photos of him. The photos I took of him changed my life forever.”—Rafael Mantesso

R

AFAEL MANTESSO and his Bull Terrier Jimmy Choo became social media sensations almost overnight when Rafael’s cheeky illustrations of the two of them broke the Internet last year, charming the paws off dog lovers all over the globe. Rafael had casually posted his illustrations to his Instagram account and from there, thanks to the mysterious alchemy of the Internet, they went viral. They were picked up by seemingly everyone, including media bigwigs like USA Today, BuzzFeed, and Huffington Post, but perhaps the biggest surprise came when Sandra Choi, director of Jimmy Choo, the luxury shoe brand for which Rafael’s Bull Terrier was named, reached out to them personally, expressing an interest to collaborate on a limited edition 2015 capsule collection. The duo’s stardom was now official.

The circumstances leading up to the Rafael’s success were less than ideal. On his 30th birthday, Rafael’s wife called it quits on their marriage and left him and their Bull Terrier with an empty, white-walled apartment devoid of furniture, photographs, or decorations. With only Jimmy for company, Rafael sought and found inspiration in the blank walls of his apartment. He began snapping photos of his dog gamboling around the empty flat and drawing him in different scenarios. With each image, Rafael found his thirst for art and life re-awakening.

Today, the pair continues to dominate social media with more than 540,000 Instagram followers. Rafael is also the proud author of a newly published book, A Dog Named Jimmy, boasting 120 illustrations of his canine muse, Jimmy Choo (100 of the illustrations are brand new). The book, Rafael says, is his declaration of love to his four-legged mate. With it he hopes to change public perception surrounding bully breeds and unveil the true nature of the breed, the love and their loyalty to their humans.

“When people didn’t know Jimmy, they were afraid of him on the streets. They would cross the street so they would not have to pass him. Now people cross the street to touch him and play with him. He loves it,” Rafael says.

Rafael is currently involved with building a foundation to help shelter dogs, and finding Jimmy his next gig, which could be as the star of his own cartoon show. While Rafael is still in the planning stages of this new project, we think Jimmy Choo could give Scooby Doo a run for his money!

Follow Rafael and Jimmy Choo on Instagram (@rafaelmantesso) and buy their new book at jimmythebull.com/book.

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A

MANDA TROMP’s photographs have the power to awaken a craving for wild places in even the most non-outdoorsy people.

The 22-year-old’s chief inspirations are Mother Nature and her muse and companion, Kyro, a wolf-like Husky with cerulean blue eyes, who features frequently in her work.

In addition to their creative partnership, this duo shares a unique survival story. Amanda, once a victim of domestic abuse, has since become an anti-domestic-abuse spokesperson. She shares her story in the hopes that it might inspire others to leave similar situations and find their safe harbour.

For Amanda, her safe place began with Kyro, and from there grew her love for photography and travel.

When she was still with her violent ex, she “found Kyro through a Craigslist ad,” Amanda recounts. “The ad was asking for help with raising a litter of Husky puppies. Their mother was too young to properly care for them, so I volunteered to help bottle feed and rehome the pups. In the process, I fell in love with Kyro. His dark blue eyes looked right through me and I knew I needed him in my life.”

Part of her reasoning for taking Kyro in, Amanda admits, was because she was scared and lonely. Caring for the litter of pups gave her such comfort and joy, and reminded her of that part

“With Kyro by my side I’ve learned to be brave and try things I would have never considered before.”

PHOTOS @GOLDILOCKSANDTHEWOLF ON INSTAGRAM

—Amanda Tromp

of herself that she’d closed off because of the violence she was experiencing in her life.

Kyro proved to be her saving grace, giving her the strength to face each day, as well as the urgently needed catalyst for change.

When Kyro became the object of her now-ex’s rage for the first time, taking a hit in the eye, Amanda knew she had no choice but to escape. That very night, once her ex had gone to bed, Amanda grabbed Kyro and fled, leaving behind all of her belongings.

That nightmare is now the distant past. Today, their life is a whole lot different, full of two-am sunrises at Snow Lake, beachside explorations along the coast of the Orcas Island,

and sunsets at the Deception Pass Bridge, just some of their explorations of nature’s many jewels in their home state of Washington.

“My life today is filled with adventures and endless happiness,” Amanda beams. “The future burns bright with possibilities and joy.

Kyro showed me my talent and I’ve run with it. Having him and photography in my life has given me new perspective. Which is why I now aspire to help others find happiness in their lives.”

Follow Amanda and Kyro’s adventures on Instagram (@goldilocksandthewolf) or at facebook.com/ goldilocksandthewolfphotography.

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PHOTOS @MORGANLEEALAIN ON INSTAGRAM

M

ORGAN LEE ALAIN’s skills as a photographer makes you want to strap on your hiking boots and get lost in the wilderness. Or better yet, pick up a new skill like diving so you can experience the same spectacular underwater views as those captured in her photographs.

Morgan, now in her late 20s, credits her love for nature to her upbringing in the vast and unruly terrain of British Columbia, which she explored minutely as a child. Today, this very love is responsible for her path as a photographer, an explorer, and an environmentalist. She enjoys the thrill of daring escapades, and can often be found trekking through mountains or the woods with her beautiful co-pilot, a Husky named Luna, beside her.

As a solo female photographer, Morgan often finds comfort in Luna’s presence when they’re out photographing in the wild. Luna’s alertness provides Morgan with a heightened feeling of safety.

“Luna normally goes in front of me, wanting to know what’s ahead,” Morgan says. While Luna is independent, a common trait of Huskies, she also always ensures that Morgan remains in her line of sight at all times.

Luna’s stamina and fearlessness are constant sources of inspiration to Morgan. “Luna and I have trekked the Canadian Rockies many times. One particular hike, we were tested by the elements for four days, and our challenges involved extreme cold and steep rugged climbing. Luna overcame all the obstacles with determination and courage.”

While this Husky warrior is a force to be reckoned with out in the wild, on the home front Luna is just like any other pup, with a fondness for swimming, playing tug of war, chasing wild things, going on long walks, and eating bugs.

“She is every child’s teddy bear come to life.”

Morgan smiles. “It’s hard to describe how much joy she brings to my heart.”

Follow Morgan and Luna’s wild explorations on Instagram (@morganleealain) or morganleealain.com. n

“Being a free spirit, finding Luna has enriched my adventures greatly. Where you invest your love, you invest your life.”—Morgan Lee Alain

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{Editor’s Pick} The Trail Pack from Hurtta is the perfect summer companion (after your dog, of course). This separate backpack and harness combo remains in position when your dog moves. Adjustable to fit your dog comfortably, the pack lets your pup carry her own gear— perfect for hiking, running, camping—and features a handle on the back that offers extra control when needed! $100, hurtta.com

GEAR FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS All you need for an active summer spent outside

Keep your outdoor spaces pristine with Skout's Honor's pet-friendly, eco-friendly Patio Cleaner and Deodorizer. Not only does it remove pet stains on outdoor flooring (like unsealed concrete, stone, and artificial turf), it also eliminates nasty odours! But what really sets this spray apart from the rest is Skout's Honor's dedication to both the environment (its both eco-friendly and biodegradable) and animal welfare—they provide a day’s worth of food to an animal in need with every purchase! $15, skoutshonor.com

MUD? NO !

PROBLEM

There should be nothing holding your dog back from enjoying all the glorious summertime play, least of all a little mud or rough terrain!

Muttluks' Mud Monsters dog boots offer rugged yet breathable and comfortable boots to keep your dog's paws—and your car—clean, while also protecting against hot pavement, sand, and burrs. Set of four $80, muttluks.com

Never lose your dog!

Pod is the smallest and lightest real-time GPS pet tracker in the world. Attaching to even the smallest dog’s (or cat’s) collar, it lets you locate your pet on demand, monitor his daily activity, and even record his personal adventures so you can see what they’re up to while you’re at work!

Fun AND peace of mind! $200, podtrackers.com

Summer evenings should be spent walking your dog— safely of course! With Kruuse’s Reflective Vest your dog is visible to passing cars, ensuring you get the most of those long summer nights while staying safe! $10, kruuse247.com

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Adventure ready! Always be prepared with this nifty cuff and collar set. The matching cuff for you comes equipped with whistle, compass, and firestarter flint so you can confidently venture off the beaten track, prepared for the unexpected! $35, furheroes.com

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INSPIRE

Free Days With George How I entered the unfamiliar world of dog adoption —and how it saved my life

By Colin Campbell

E

ntering middle age, I was fortunate and happy that my life, by most people’s account, seemed “normal.” I was healthy, worked hard to build a good career, had a nice circle of friends and, most of all, was in love with my “best friend” who was also my wife. I really couldn’t ask for more. So when I came home from a business trip to find out my wife had left, I was shocked and devastated. I felt hopeless and abandoned and had no idea that my way back to happiness was going to be shared and accelerated by another living soul in the same predicament. In my case, this being was a homeless 140 pound Newfoundland who named himself George.

After a few difficult months struggling to adjust to living alone in my house, I quietly slipped into an emotional fog of depression. One day at work I had lunch with my friend, Matt, who recently graduated from college and had started his first job with us. He had noticed how sad and withdrawn I had become and kindly offered some lighthearted, unsolicited advice.

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“I have an idea for you,” nodding his head towards me as I sat quietly eating my lunch across the table.

“I’m not interested, thanks,” as I kept my focus on my plate in front of me.

“You know what you should do?” Matt said, ignoring me and waiting a beat for effect. “You should get a dog.” He was grinning as though he’d just solved global hunger.

“Excuse me, that’s it? That’s your big idea?”

“That’s it,” he answered with total sincerity. He took a huge bite of his sandwich. “Think about it: dogs are loyal; they aren’t going to pack their stuff up and leave for no reason. I always had dogs as a kid. They’re great! You’ll get out and walk around a lot, meet people…maybe meet a nice girl. It’ll be amazing. It will change your life.”

“It will change my life,” I said, imitating him.

“It will. And you have a big empty house right across from a park.”

We finished eating and walked back to work without any more dog talk, but over the next few weeks, once a day or so when we passed in the office, he’d ask me, “So, you get that dog yet?”

“Still thinking about it.”

And a few hours later, he’d poke his head into my office. “So, you know who man’s best friend is?”

“Not Matt.” I replied.

It went on and on like this, day after day. I pretended I wasn’t listening, but in truth, I gave the idea of getting a dog some thought.

Then one day, I got an email from Matt. It went something like this:

Matt To: Colin Campbell Subject: Get that dog yet?

3:25pm

Hey Colin, No pressure, but I thought I’d send you this link for a great rescue website, Petfinder.com. It’s like a dating site, but instead of pretty girls who will probably see your picture and never write you back (haha), this one is full of dogs that don’t care what you look like but want to live in your house and go to the park across the street. Beats a cage any day.

Take a look. You can give a dog a good home and get some company in return. And I might stop nagging you. And you would be saving a life.

Let me know if you need any help.

Matt

Matt wasn’t too far off on his dating site comparison. Petfinder aggregates information about rescue animals available for adoption all over North America. There were thousands of lonely dogs looking for their “forever homes.” But as I scrolled down the pages, one of the pictures stopped me in my tracks.

This dog was a Landseer Newfoundland, unlike any dog I’d seen before. Striking, with the pitch-black head of a typical Newfoundland perched on top of a vast, white body. He had a long shaggy coat, floppy ears, and a soft muzzle with a dusting of white above his nose, but what leapt out at me most were his eyes. They were a dark brown that seemed light against the black sea of his face. Sparkling with intelligence, they also looked weighed down by experience, with lower lids that drooped to expose a pair of pink half moons. They were the eyes of an old soul. He was listed as being just over a year old.

Then reality set in. What in the world was I doing? The last thing I needed in my state was to adopt a dog that no doubt had his own problems. Did I not have enough of those myself? And yet looking into those eyes, I was compelled to do something.

How could anyone abandon such an incredibly beautiful dog?

Could I really handle a dog this big?

Over the next few days, I did some research into the Newfoundland breed. Despite being amongst the largest dogs, with some males tipping the scales at over 200 pounds, Newfoundlands are considered amongst the gentlest of all breeds and are revered for their nurturing and gentle nature with children. The dog Nana in Peter Pan was a Newfoundland.

They have webbed paws and are expert swimmers. They were specifically bred in Eastern Canada to haul nets and to save fisherman from drowning by towing them to safety. They are noted for both their bravery and loyalty. I needed some loyalty, I thought to myself.

I then researched shelter dogs and learned that in the United

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If you’re looking for a wonderful, uplifting book to read this summer, this is it! This article was adapted from Free Days With George: Learning Life's Little Lessons from One Very Big Dog by Colin Campbell, published by Doubleday Canada.

We’re pretty sure you’ll devour this heartwarming true story about how one very large rescue dog helped a man pick up the pieces of his life and rediscover happiness. Highly recommended!

BY DOUBLEDAY CANADA, A DIVISION OF PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE CANADA LIMITED. REPRODUCED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH THE PUBLISHER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

States alone, over 2.7 million abandoned dogs are put to death every year. That’s 6,267 a day. I also learned that younger, smaller dogs tend to get adopted sooner; older dogs and big dogs are not so lucky. Finally, I learned what a big, red “Urgent” banner means when it appears beside a dog’s profile. It means that animal is nearing its expiry date. At overcrowded municipal shelters, a dog is usually only kept for 72 hours, after which point, if the dog isn’t claimed or adopted, he or she will be euthanized. Then the dog’s profile is quietly removed from the website.

I looked at the big dog’s picture over and over. He had been abandoned. I felt I had to do something, for him as much as for myself. While I thought I was doing him a favour, little did I know he would change my life, and in fact, save it.

The next day, I reached out to the rescue group who were fostering him and within days he was home living with me, both

of us a bit scared and unsure of each other. Within a year, we were inseparable—as George came out of shell, his loving and gentle personality emerged and he made everyone he met smile, even me, and I had not smiled in over a year. I started to realize that he had rescued me even more than had I rescued him.

When I was at my worse, George was there to comfort me.

He taught me to how to walk and how to wait, how to sit and be patient, and how to accept and embrace change. He taught me the power of hugs, to whisper instead of yell, to listen more deeply to others around me, and to be sensitive to those in need.

He taught me to ride the waves of life instead of letting them wash over and drown me. He taught me you can swim out to sea too far, and he towed me back to the safety of shore more times than I can remember. Most of all, George gave me the knowledge and reassurance that even though you can be abandoned, you can still eventually find love and happiness again—dogs and people alike. n

ADAPTED FROM "FREE DAYS WITH GEORGE: LEARNING LIFE'S LITTLE LESSONS FROM ONE VERY BIG DOG" BY COLIN CAMPBELL. COPYRIGHT © 2015 COLIN CAMPBELL. PUBLISHED

PHOTO JULS MEGILL

Colin and his rescued Landseer Newfoundland, George.

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HEALTH

POT FOR PETS Rescue dog Dory eats a CBDinfused pumpkin-flavoured Treatible dog treat.

CBD, one of the main ingredients in cannabis, shows tremendous promise as a natural pain relief remedy for dogs. Cue the controversy.

By Yvonne Zacharias

D

on't be surprised if you notice a certain calm settling over the dog park on your next visits.

Suddenly, that holy terror terrier is feeling much better about himself. Fido has found his chill.

That could be because cannabis-based products are now flooding the canine market.

These canine products feature cannabidiol or CBD, one of the two main ingredients found in cannabis. The other main ingredient in cannabis, THC, the substance that makes human users high, is not included in these pet products. CBD is extracted from hemp rather than marijuana plants and has some of the same benefits, such as pain relief, without the psychotropic element.

Because of its medicinal value, Dr. Stephen Katz, a New York City veterinarian based in the Bronx, predicts CBD will become the new Aspirin of the 21st century.

Roughly three years ago, he introduced it in a line of pet products called Therabis.

Among its many benefits, Katz says CBD works as an effective anti-inflammatory. It also seems to relax dogs. “I'm not talking about knocking them out, but it does take away a certain edge especially when they are uncomfortable.”

Although there is anecdotal evidence that CBD helps to control ailments like epileptic seizures, Katz said, “We are currently at the embryonic stage of looking at the medicinal value of CBD.” He decries the reluctance of organizations like the American Animal Hospital Association to embrace CBD, which he says has

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such clear benefits for man and beast.

The association refused to allow him to set up a booth at its last national convention. “I was appalled,” he said.

Because of its murky status, Katz said there have been virtually no clinical trials to determine standardized doses for different conditions in dogs. He hopes that will change.

As Katz notes, this is largely because CBD, like most medicinal marijuana products, sits in a legal grey zone. “Don't think that I don't feel every day that I am dancing on the razor's edge.” Yet he predicts that once it becomes fully legal, “the demand for it is not going to be met by the supply for five years.”

CBD comes in a variety of forms. While Therabis comes in powder that is sprinkled on food, a U.S.-based outfit called The Green Pet Shop is selling a CBD gel pen that allows for absorption through the skin for $40. Treatibles CBD-infused dog treats deliver the benefits of CBD in two treat varieties, pumpkin, and blueberry. Pet Releaf, a Colorado-based company, offers two potencies of ingestible whole hemp plant oil retailing at $40–$80 as well as CBD dog treats.

Pet Releaf might never have been started except for a Collie mix named Mattie that won the hearts of Stephen Smith and his family.

As she aged, Mattie developed some heart-breaking problems.

She started limping. She could only walk on soft grass.

The family vet said the only treatment available was heavy opiates and steroid anti-inflammatories, which only masked the symptoms while destroying Mattie's liver.

“We just said there had to be a better way,” said Smith, the president and co-founder of Pet Releaf.

That's when the family decided to move from Florida to the Denver area to set up a line of CBD-based products.

Smith maintains the products are good for all dogs because CBD provides a massive boost to the immune system.

However, determining the right dose can involve trial and error.

So how do you know when your dog has had enough? “You have to be interacting and observing and watching,” said Smith.

A dog in pain will show symptoms like repeatedly licking an affected area, loss of appetite or being unwilling to walk.

When those symptoms disappear, you know the treatment is working.

CBD products can be sold in all states in the U.S. provided it is derived from imported industrial hemp which assures a THC content below the legally allowed level of .03 per cent.

In Canada, CBD falls under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and hence cannot be freely distributed, but that doesn't mean it isn't available. Smith and Katz have both filled orders from Canada through internet sales although Katz has not yet found a Canadian distributor.

Canadian companies like B.C.-based True Leaf Medicine International are ready to bolt out the gate when the new Trudeau government eases restrictions on marijuana use.

With former B.C. premier Mike Harcourt as the company’s chairman, True Leaf was one of the first to apply to the federal government for a medical marijuana license.

Still awaiting approval, the company decided last year to launch a line of hemp-based soft chew supplements for pets.

However, company CEO Darcy Bomford said they are not a CBD product, which he said would not be allowed.

Once the legal fog has cleared, the company’s ultimate goal is to develop products with CBD for dogs. “It has always been my goal to create a natural medicine for dogs and I actually believe that the answer lies in the cannabis plant,” said Bomford.

Alas, poor Mattie passed on to those greener pastures in the sky four years ago this summer. “It had to be the hardest four or five years of our lives,” said Smith.

Losing a pet is always hard. That's why the search for the best healing balm continues and why there’s such passion and excitement around CBD for dogs. n moderndogmagazine.com

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Add some attentiongetting fun to your dog's look! Snap-In's huge range of supercute, handmade dog bows and collar additions snap on, making them supereasy to attach and switch up. From $5, etsy.com/shop/ SnapInDogBows

It doesn’t get more adorable than this—a custom, 16×20-inch portrait of your dog by Joshua Hendry of Pets

By Josh. Colourfully painted with acrylic in a fun and expressive style, each work will perfectly capture your pup’s distinctive personality. $120, joshuahendry.com

Look

WHAT WE FOUND! Cool finds for dogs & the people who love them

Fusion Pet Gates offer an easy and elegant way to close off certain areas to your dog (the room with antique Turkish carpet, perhaps).

The vast array of stylish, interchangeable art screens are designed to allow light to pass through without hiding your pup from view. With no fuss installation and a design to suit every décor, this stylish solution is a winner! $300, fusiongates.com

PHOTO: KATE MELTZER

These irresistibly delicious Dogs Love Kale soft treats are made with Moringa, a green superfood packed with 92 nutrients, 46 antioxidants, and 36 anti-inflammatories!

Packed with health benefits like reduced pain, improved circulation, and strengthened bones, you won't mind when your dog eagerly devours them (she will). $8, dogslovekale.com

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This stunning leather collar from Ella’s Lead is handcrafted from latigo leather and embellished with cabochons and Swarovski crystals. We’re especially fond of this elegant combination of black leather and blue zircon, sure to turn heads at the dog park! $80, ellaslead.com

SU MMER 2016

Let your dog's accessories do the talking with this adorable (and probably true) "Spoiled to the Bone" bandanna from Heads Up for Tails that lets everyone know who runs the show in your household! $5, headsupfortails.com

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SURVIVING SUMMER In circle with above: Great breed for allergy sufferers!

By Dr. Heather Loenser

Summer Pet Dangers:

The ones you'd least expect are the most dangerous!

(The #1 thing Dr. Heather pulls out of dogs' stomachs in the summer? A corncob—closely followed by #2: peach pits!)

Plus: They're BAAAACK! Summer Allergies: How to deal with the itch factor Did you know allergies are the #1 reason people go to the vet in the summer? Here’s what works—and what doesn't— when battling the itch.

TIPS TOFE STAY SPA IT & KEE !

FUN

F

or most people, summer is the great unwind. It’s trips to the beach, backyard picnics, and enjoying outdoor time with friends, family, and our pets. But for emergency veterinarians like myself, there's little time to chill.

This is the season my furry friends need me most. On any given day, my waiting room is packed with dogs suffering from mostly preventable illnesses and injuries.

My job is twofold: to heal the pets and to educate their parents.

Here are tips to keep you and your dog out of the ER this summer!

Barbeques Are No Picnic For Your Pet (Indiscriminate Eater Alert!)

Picnics and barbeques are summer's greatest pleasures, but they can pose serious threats for your dog. Believe it or not, my number one summer surgery is removing corncobs from dogs’ intestines! Peach pits rank a close second.

What to do: The trick is to keep your dog entertained while you're eating. If he’s outside with you, stuff a toy with his favourite treats and set it away from the table. Or better yet, do what I do: keep your dog indoors until you’ve cleaned up. If you think he’s swallowed a pit or a corncob, induce vomiting with hydrogen peroxide as soon as possible. Call your vet for the proper dose. And finally, be sure your trashcans—indoors and out—are tightly secured. I use bungee cords on mine!

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I was having so much fun… ‘til the heat got the best of me.

Heat Stroke Isn’t Cool Your dog can't tell you when he's too hot, but if you see him panting heavily, drooling or unable to walk, he may very well be suffering from heat stroke.

Many senior dogs, large dogs, and flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds have compromised airways, making them prime candidates for heat stroke. People cool off by sweating. Dogs cool off by panting, and any deformity in the airway, such as the foreshortened muzzle or a weakening of the opening of the trachea (laryngeal paralysis) seen in many breeds, can hinder this process.

What to do: A common misconception is that you should drench the dog in cold water right away. This is exactly what NOT to do. A rapid decrease in body temperature can

potentially cause life-threatening shock. Instead, your mission is to mimic evaporative cooling or “sweating.” Using a towel soaked in warm water, douse your dog’s body parts that have the least amount of fur: the belly, the inside of the ear flaps, the paw pads and the “armpits.” Afterwards, you can place him in front of a fan. However, even if he seems to be bouncing back, head straight to the vet for a complete examination. He may have suffered internal damage, which can be fatal if not detected. (To find a veterinary hospital in the U.S. and Canada accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, use the AAHA Hospital Locator at aaha.org. Simply key in your zip or postal code and a list of accredited hospitals will pop up.)

To avoid heat stroke, exercise your dog in the cooler parts of the day and for short periods of time. And never leave your dog alone in a car. The temperature inside can be 40 degrees hotter than it is outside!

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Beware The Escape Artist Enticing summer scents can cause even the most well-behaved dog to go AWOL. The best way to avoid this is by keeping doors leading to your porch, deck or balcony closed at all times. Small dogs are at risk of wriggling through rail slats and suffering a fall.

“Highrise” syndrome is very real: I’ve treated many dogs who’ve fallen from outdoor structures. Dogs can also escape the yard if it’s not fenced in appropriately.

What to do: Worn around the neck, a Puppy Bumper

My itching and scratching is waking my parents at night!

This is ingenious! I can't slip through!

Your Dog Could Be Allergic To Summer Often I work the overnight shift. There’s no rest for the weary in the summer… neither for me nor for my pet parents. Many of them drag themselves in, half asleep, having been woken to the sound of their dog scratching like crazy.

Chances are this behaviour is caused by allergies to fleas or pollen from trees and grasses.

What to do: You need to determine the cause of the scratching and only your vet can tell you that. More times than not, it’s flea-related and pet owners are always surprised to learn that the bite of just ONE flea can cause an intense rash if your dog has a flea allergy. If your dog hasn’t been on a flea preventative for the past three to four weeks, your vet will recommend that you start your dog on one.

JEWELS SUBMITTED BY HEATH & COURTNEY

(puppybumpers.net) will prevent a small dog from slipping through slats that are wider than he is. If your dog has the potential to jump a fence, plant tall bushes right inside the fence line, making it impossible for him to jump over it. Take extra precaution by having your dog microchipped and invest in a GPS tracking system so you can locate him should he escape. If your dog has a microchip implanted, make sure the information is up to date. If found, a veterinarian or shelter can use AAHA’s Universal Pet Microchip Lookup (petmicrochiplookup.org) to reunite you.

You Are Your Dog’s Paramedic

What would I do without you?

Knowing how to care for your dog in the event of an emergency is the best gift you can ever give him.

It might even save his life. The American Red Cross Pet First Aid App, available for both Android and iPhone, is a handy reference for any emergency you might encounter. Download it today!

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CAYO SUBMITTED BY MARLÈNE ROUSSEAU

If the condition is not flea-related, your veterinarian may prescribe a medicated shampoo to soothe the skin and calm the itchiness. He may also recommend medications to decrease the allergic response from inside the dog’s body.

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By Stanley Coren

LUNA SUBMITTED BY RIE TAMAKI

WHEN SHOULD YOU BRING YOUR NEW PUPPY HOME? Xxxxxx Luna, a 4-month-old Cavalier

King Charles Spaniel

By Stan Coren

I

was speaking to a well-respected breeder of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and mentioned to her that I had picked up my new puppy from his breeder at the age of nine weeks.

She looked at me with some amazement and said, “Nine weeks?

That’s leaving the puppy in his litter for an awfully long time. I believe that the scientific data says that the optimal time to send a puppy to its new home is at seven weeks—49 days to be precise. I never let a puppy go much earlier than that, regardless of a buyer pressuring me to let a puppy go at age six weeks, but I do try to get the puppies adopted as close to seven weeks as possible. Socially speaking, the litter is a very competitive environment. I believe that if the puppies stay in the litter too long they start to develop a pecking order and a strong pattern of dominant or submissive behaviours around their littermates. I think that these carryover when they leave and can be a source of social and behavioural problems later on.”

The underlying psychological issue about what age to bring pups home involves socialization. You can think of socialization as a process where the dog learns how to deal with the living things in its environment—specifically dogs and people. The scientific foundation for our knowledge of socialization in dogs begins with the classic book Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog by John Paul Scott and John Fuller which was published in 1965. It summarized 13 years worth of research which was done at the Jackson Laboratories in Bar Harbor, Maine.

According to that research the “socialization period” starts at three weeks and extends to week 14. It is during this period that puppies learn to be dogs. As they play with their littermates they

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mimic fighting, hunting, catching, sexual activity, and guarding behaviours. It is in this way that the pups develop the skills they will need later in life. They learn the behaviours associated with dominance and submission, and also basic communication skills at the same time. If they are bred in an environment where they have frequent interactions with humans, they also learn to associate with and bond with people. The suggestion is that socialization of dogs with other dogs comes first (from three to six weeks), and socialization of the dogs with people comes next (from six to 14 weeks). If puppies do not have a chance to start socialization during these time periods then the chance that the dogs will ever be properly socialized becomes very small indeed. An unsocialized dog is apt to be more fearful and will have difficulty fitting in to the world of dogs or people, which means that it is not likely to succeed as either a pet or a working dog.

Scott and Fuller never explicitly say anything about seven weeks being an optimal time to take a dog out of its litter, although they do comment that it is inadvisable to take a dog away from its litter before seven weeks of age. The conclusion that seven weeks of age is an important marker seems to come from comments made by Clarence Pfaffenberger, the guiding force behind Guide Dogs for the Blind, who felt that before seven weeks dogs were not trainable. Pfaffenberger's conclusion was picked up by Richard Wolters, a very popular dog writer during the 1960s and 70s, who wrote that if you want to have an easily trained dog you should “buy your puppy and take him home at the exact age of 49 days.” Perhaps because of Wolter's popularity and Pfaffenberger's prestige, these comments were accepted as scientific gospel by dog breeders around the world.

BRETTONER; RIVER; SUSHI SUBMITTED BY ALLIE

FROM LEFT TO RGIHT: NELL SUBMITTED BY KYRON

Nell, a 15-week old Border Collie

Sushi, a 7-week-old American Pit Bull Terrier

There is good evidence that the age that a puppy is taken away from the litter and sent to its new home does make a difference.

An Italian veterinarian and two researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Milan recently published an article in the scientific journal Veterinary Record that looked at what happens to puppies who are separated from their litter at an early or a later age.

They tested 70 dogs who were separated from their litter and adopted between the age of 30 and 40 days (that is between the fifth and sixth week) and compared them to 70 puppies that were adopted at 60 days of age (which is between the eighth and ninth week).

Questionnaires were sent to the owners of all of the 140 dogs when the dogs were adults between the age of 18 months and seven years. Very specifically, the questionnaires asked about behavioural problems in the dogs. Their results were unambiguous —the dogs separated from their litter at an early age did not fare as well. The researchers summarize their results saying, “The odds of displaying destructiveness, excessive barking, fearfulness on walks, reactivity to noises, toy possessiveness, food possessiveness, and attention-seeking were significantly greater for the dogs that had been removed from the litter earlier during the socialization period.” Furthermore, the effects were much greater in dogs purchased from pet stores who most likely had less opportunity to interact with people and other dogs on a regular basis.

This research report clearly shows that early separation from the litter is bad for puppies and results in a higher incidence of problems when the dogs are adults, in all probability because it interrupts their behavioural development by taking them away from needed social interactions before they are fully socialized.

Nonetheless I was intrigued by this apparently well accepted notion that 49 days or seven weeks of age is the optimal time for a puppy to go to its new home. So I started an extensive literature search that extended all the way back to the 1940s, and continued up to the present and covered all of the veterinary and behavioural literature that I could access. I came up with not one

River, a 10-week-old Australian Shepherd

single study suggesting that there is something special or valuable about choosing seven weeks as the time to send a puppy to its new home. I mentioned this to a friend of mine who is an established dog trainer and she laughed and suggested, “Well seven is a lucky number, and 7×7 gives you 49. So maybe this 49 day rule was chosen by breeders in the hope that it would give the puppy some good luck in his future life.” I suppose that in the absence of scientific data her explanation makes as much sense as any other. However, in England the politicians are apparently not as superstitious and they have recently passed a law specifying that puppies sold in pet stores may not be younger than eight weeks of age.

While it is certain that it is harmful to remove puppies from their litter at too young an age (prior to seven weeks), there is still a debate as to just how long a breeder should keep puppies before giving them up to their new owners. There is some consensus among breeders that smaller dogs are a bit more fragile and some breeders will not let them go until they are 10 or even 12 weeks of age. But much longer than that is not advisable; the data from Scott and Fuller suggest that the dogs should be in their new home earlier than 14 weeks of age in order to bond with their new owners.

There do appear to be pitfalls associated with keeping puppies in their litter for too long a time. Not too long ago I sat in the living room of a woman who is a respected breeder of white standard Poodles. The room had six such adult dogs sprawled on dog beds and blankets. When I asked her why she had so many dogs she sighed and pointed at one of them and said, “When Lucy, that's her over there, had a litter of four pups, I decided to keep them until they were 12 weeks of age in order to make sure that they were fully socialized and psychologically ready for their new homes. The problem was that after the puppies were with me for 12 weeks I felt that they were mine—part of my family—and who could let a family member be sold? So since then I have instituted a policy that all puppies must be on their way to their new homes by the age of nine to 10 weeks!” n

It is inadvisable to take a dog away from his or her litter before seven weeks of age.

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CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

BY CAR

Road Trip! Transform your backseat in no time flat to create a comfortable, safe space for your dog! PetDek installs in one minute to provide eight square feet of flat, level, carpeted, and comfortable space in your vehicle’s backseat so your dog can lay down and look out the window while traveling with you. $135, petdek.com

Prioritize safety on your canine roadtrips! With its energy absorbing padded vest, Sleepypod’s Clickit Sport, which easily fastens into your car’s seat belt, keeps your dog, big or small, secure in case of a sudden stop. Rigorously tested (having undergone similar crash testing to that of child safety restraints), Clickit has earned safety certification and a five star rating from the Center for Pet Safety—perfect for protecting your precious cargo! $70, sleepypod.com

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BY FOOT

How perfect is the dog walking bag from Travel Wags? Tastefully stylish in its minimal design, the bag comes with every dog walking convenience you could ask for. Equipped with a flat water bottle, collapsible bowl, poop bags at the ready, and pockets for all of your necessities (phone, keys, dog treats), this handy bag is a dog walker’s dream! $95, travelwags.com

Style meets function in the CLIC leash from High5dogs! Featuring elegant hardware and leather trimmings, this luxury rope leash will be the envy of all dogs and their humans too—the design let’s you tether with ease, shorten the leash, and switch up the lead system as desired. $63, high5dogs.com

BY BICYCLE

Nip around town with Fido safely by your side!

The Springer Dog Exerciser easily attaches to your bike and is equipped with a heavy-duty spring that absorbs up to 90% of the force of a dog’s unexpected tugs. The arm’s length position keeps your precious sidekick safe from traffic, pedals, and wheels, and a safety release allows you to quickly get out of any sticky situations!

Awesome for hard-to-tire dogs that need a lot of exercise! $129, springeramerica.com

Bring your dog along! Bike to the beach or the dog park. The Solvit HoundAbout Classic Pet Bicycle Trailer let’s you maintain an active lifestyle with your dog. Perfect for older dogs or those with joint problems, this smooth, stable trailer has an easy access rear entry. The roomy sunroof means your dog can stick her head out and enjoy the breeze! (Get the stroller conversion and it will also convert to a stroller!) Suitable for dogs up to 110 pounds. From $225, solvitproducts.com

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WELLNESS

COULD A CHANGE IN DIET CURE YOUR DOG’S CANCER? KetoPet Sanctuary thinks so

By Jennifer Nosek

I

n an unassuming gated compound in Georgetown, Texas, something amazing is taking place. KetoPet Sanctuary is taking in shelter dogs with incurable, terminal cancer—dogs with no other options who would otherwise be euthanized—and giving them a second chance, providing them with state of the art cancer treatment to miraculous result.

Upon pulling up at the sanctuary, located along a rural road 45 minutes outside of Austin, Texas, pretty much the first thing one notes is the enthusiasm of all present. The team’s passion and excitement is contagious. Also visiting are representatives from two local shelters, both of which have sent their dogs with cancer to the sanctuary for treatment. They sing glowing praises

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of the efforts of the KetoPet team. Together we wander the idyllic 53-acre facility, currently housing 26 dogs undergoing cancer treatment, including Pit Bull-mix Bill Murray and white-muzzled Dachshund cross Martha, petting dogs and getting the low-down on the ground-breaking work being done here.

The foundation of the KetoPet Sanctuary’s cancer-fighting approach is the ketogenic diet, which is designed to slow or halt tumor growth. The diet looks like this: 80 to 90% fat (oil such as coconut, olive or MCT), 5 to 15% protein (beef) and 5% carbohydrates (vegetables). Yes, the diet is extreme, but with reason. It’s predicated on the Warburg theory, put forth by Otto Warburg in 1924. Warburg hypothesized that cancer feeds on

The Keto crew.

Two of the sanctuary dogs receive Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

sugar (which is what carbohydrates break down to) but that it doesn’t process fats well.

The takeaway: cut out the sugars/carbs and you’ll slow or stop the cancer.

All the dogs have weekly blood work done to monitor and evaluate the metabolic impact of the diet. CT and PET scans, conducted every 60 days, evaluate their cancers and the results being seen—results that have some prominent cancer researchers, even ones who were initially skeptical, excited.

The folks behind this remarkable initiative are the founders of Quest Nutrition, aka the makers of Quest Protein Bars. In 2014, Quest was the second fastest growing company in the US. With a stunning half a billion dollars in current annual sales, they’ve decided to put their deep pockets behind one of the most flummoxing problems humans have ever encountered: curing cancer. Despite the tremendous money and thought that has thus far been devoted to cancer’s defeat (approximately $30 billion has been devoted to cancer research funding since 2011), frustrating little headway has been made. Undeterred by the daunting nature of the task before them, the Quest founders decided to throw themselves into the fray.

Fortunately, the Quest team isn’t easily dissuaded. Co-founder Shannan Penna created the first 15 varieties of Quest Bars flavours by herself in her kitchen six years ago. Near everyone advised not to enter the glutted energy bar market but Shannan and her husband Ron saw an opening and went for it, proving the naysayers spectacularly wrong.

Rather than rest on Quest’s staggering success, they’ve now created the Epigenix Foundation to fund research on how to reverse metabolic disease, asking questions—and finding answers—about the profound effect diet has in our lives. They are also dog lovers to the core. Many of the L.A.-based team meets in Santa Monica every Sunday morning with their dogs for a Bulletproof coffee—that would be coffee with butter or high-fat cream in it, a keto diet (for people) specialty—and to recap the week. Shannan had long wanted to open an animal sanctuary, and they began to see that combining the two projects could be a natural fit. From this the KetoPet Sanctuary was born.

One of the really cool things about their efforts at the KetoPet Sanctuary is that they’re not dependent on grant money and there is no lucrative drug patent at the end of the rainbow. They simply have the will and the finances to devote themselves to this problem.

“It's a diet that is halting and reversing cancer,” says Ron, “because only nutrition works on the many, many levels required to make the reversals to metabolism required to create an environment where cancer can't take hold. We don't use nutrition as our main tool against cancer because we have some sort of ideological leaning towards food as medicine but rather because the nutritional protocol we use is more powerful than any drug currently available. And since there's no drug at the end of this rainbow, no one has been putting any money into researching this approach—until now.”

Not ones to do things in a small way, they built out a beautiful facility. The 50-plus acre complex boasts a water park for the dogs and the interior is outfitted with beds, moderndogmagazine.com

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sofas, blankets, toys, and One of their most impressive lots of love from the staff. success stories to date is that But the really mind-blowing of Cali, a six-year-old Vizsla features are the human-grade who underwent treatment diagnostics they have at their at the KetoPet Sanctuary disposal. for hemangiosarcoma and, Outfitted with state of through the protocol, reversed the art (and very expensive) six tumors and is now cancer equipment like the PET/ free. Following her successful CT scan (a nuclear medicine treatment, Cali was officially imaging test that uses a form adopted by Shannan and of radioactive sugar to create Ron and was entered in this images of body function and year’s American Humane metabolism and can be used to Association Hero Dog Awards evaluate normal and abnormal in the Emerging Hero Dog biological function of cells category. The nomination was and organs), they’re devoting in recognition of Cali’s part themselves to answer some in the research on nutritional Cali, a six-year-old Vizsla, underwent very interesting cancer questions intervention in the fight against treatment at the KetoPet Sanctuary by assessing the ketogenic diet’s cancer, the findings from which and, through the protocol, reversed effects. have promising applications for They also have two hyperbaric both people and dogs. six tumors and is now cancer free. oxygen chambers they employ A Los Angeles counterpart to as a complementary therapy and the Georgetown Sanctuary all of the dogs take part in metabolic conditioning or MetCon, as is in the works, eventually, a keto diet for pets you can they call it. MetCon is another key tenant of their cancer-fighting purchase. The KetoPet team readily acknowledges that it’s approach, involving strenuous physical activity comprised of hard for owners to manage this diet on their own and aims a very high work rate, using exercises designed to burn more to make it more accessible. Until then, if you know of a dog calories during the workout and maximize calories burned after that needs help or would be a good fit for the program, email the workout. This type of physical activity provides a host of help@ketopetsanctuary.com. And if you’d like to donate to their benefits for both humans as well as dogs, including increased efforts (the non-profit sanctuary is 501-C status pending) or want heart rate (leading to greater heart health and conditioning), to get involved with their groundbreaking research, they would increased mitochondrial function and efficiency, and better love to have your assistance. Visit ketopetsanctuary.com to learn nutrient partitioning abilities. more about their mission and help spread the word. n

What Is A Ketogenic Diet?

A ketogenic diet is typically defined as a highfat, moderate protein, and low-carb diet, but it goes beyond that. The true meaning of the ketogenic diet is any nutritional approach that encourages the body to produce ketones.

What are ketones? Ketones are simply short-chain fats that are produced in your liver to be used for energy.

These guys are ready for their ! ketogenic meals 68 moderndog

Eating ketogenically and using ketones for fuel has been shown to provide a host of overall health benefits, including increased cognitive function, improved insulin sensitivity, and enhanced performance.

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S Y A D G O D R E M M U S F O the summer sun!

Don’t forget a tasty, low calorie summer treat! Fruitables Mini Watermelon Chews have a soft, chewy texture, are the perfect size for training or small dogs, and are are 100% natural. And with only two glutenfree calories per treat you can keep the treats coming! $4.50, fruitablespetfood.com

Stay hydrated no matter where your adventures take you! This handy water dish collapses to a mere half-inch thick. Use the attached carabiner to easily clip it onto leashes, backpacks, or belt loops so your dog never has to go thirsty! $8, store.dexas.com

LEVI SUBMITTED BY NICHOLE

et you g o t s Y I Finds & D

y for fun in d a e r g r do & you

DIY Vacation Dog Tags Whether your dog is heading to the summer cabin with you or is camping out with friends for a few weeks while you’re on vacation, he needs temporary tags noting his new contact details!

Use this Vacation Tag template to create temporary ID for your dog. Just personalize, print, stick together, and sandwich in clear shelf liner or packing tape. Then add to your dog’s collar so if she gets lost, she’ll be returned! ➳➳ Make it! Create temporary ID for your dog: 1. Download template. Find it at moderndogmagazine.com/diyvacaytags

MALU, MAYA, & LUCKY SUBMITTED BY MYRIAM

2. Open the template in Adobe Reader and type your vacation contact info into the template for the back side of the tag, print out both the front and back side of the tag on card stock, and cut each out with scissors.

3. Next cut out two pieces of clear, selfadhesive shelf liner and sandwich your new cardstock tag between them. (In a pinch, packing tape or even Scotch tape will do the trick.)

4. Punch a hole for a key ring and attach to your dog’s collar. Happy vacationing!

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COOPER SUBMITTED BY SAMANTHA

Got a water-loving dog? Keep her entertained with Jolly Pets floatable toys.

Choose from the durable Football toy that retains its shape even when punctured, or the oval shaped Jolly Egg with its constant, erratic motion—both sure to keep Fido entertained until the sun goes down! From $12 each, jollypets.com

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Get Wet! Julius K9’s waterproof toys are a great way to get your pup in the water! We love both the tossable, waterproof treat pouch (with watertight design to keep treats dry) and their floating, soccer ball-like Show Training ball with handy handle. Entice your dog to paddle out and retrieve them!

From $11, julius-k9.com

Pumpkin Ice Cream Recipe for Dogs!

All-time classic summer treat goes to the dogs To help your dog keep cool this summer, try this “ice cream” recipe for dogs! Note: this is a treat best served outdoors, as it can be kind of messy if your dog noses it across the floor while licking away! It’s also a great treat for stuffing in a Kong before freezing. For older dogs with sensitive mouths, allow the frozen cubes to thaw for a few minutes before feeding.

INGREDIENTS

➳➳ ➳➳ ➳➳ ➳➳

1 cup of water 2 chicken livers 1 c plain low-fat yogurt 1 c solid-pack pumpkin puree (note: not pie filling)

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring the water and the chicken livers to boil in a small sauce pan. Decrease the heat and simmer for 8 minutes.

2. Drain the livers, reserving the stock for pouring over food or making dog cookies.

Allow the livers to cool, then chop finely.

3. Combine the livers, yogurt, and pumpkin in a medium bowl and stir until smooth.

4. Spoon the mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze for 4 to 6 hours.

PHOTOS TANYA KING

Yield: 12 “ice-cream” cubes, ¾ cup stock This recipe is from Feed Your Best Friend Better: Easy, Nutritional Meals and Treats for Dogs by Rick Woodford, aka “the dog food dude.” We highly recommend checking it out for its inspiring, easy, super-healthy, vet-approved recipes your dog will adore.

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BODY & SOUL Signs 5 Your Dog's

Vision is Worsening

By Carmen Colitz, Terri McCalla & Johanna Mejia-Fava

There are many signs of vision loss in dogs. Before we list five of the most common signs of vision loss, there are some things you need to know: Dogs won't let us know when they START to lose vision. They let us know when they have lost enough vision to make big visual mistakes. Dogs that have lost up to about 80 percent of their vision easily fool their owners into assuming they can still see just fine. It is when that last 20 percent of vision begins to go in both eyes that owners typically realize their dog is losing vision. By that time, the vision loss is severe and a veterinary ophthalmologist should examine the dog. Another confusing factor is loss of hearing. A visually impaired dog who can hear frequently fools his or her owner into thinking he can see better than he is actually able, but once the hearing begins to go, the dog appears much more blind. This phenomenon can also easily occur if your dog is in pain. Chronic joint or back pain can distract dogs from using their vision, causing them to make more visual mistakes. Also keep in mind that we see with our brains and not with our eyes. The eyes collect the visual information but it is “decoded” and interpreted in the brain. Thus, elderly dogs with low vision cannot use their vision as well if they also have cognitive deficits due to dementia.

If your dog is completely blind in one eye but completely visual in the other eye, it can be very hard to determine if your dog has a vision problem because the seeing eye compensates so well. Many owners are shocked to find out that their dog is blind in one eye—and in many cases the eye has been blind for a long time.

Blind or low-vision dogs can easily fool you into thinking they can see, especially if they are losing vision slowly. They can easily memorize the furniture in your house and know exactly where objects are and avoid them.

Also, if you have two dogs, one of which is blind or has low vision, the seeing dog often acts as a “guide dog” for the blind/low vision dog. This can deceive you into thinking your dog can see better than he is actually able when really he is following cues from your seeing dog.

If your dog is diabetic, the risk is very high that your dog will develop blinding diabetic cataracts in both eyes at the same time and lose vision very quickly (literally overnight in many cases!). This typically occurs within the first nine months of being diabetic—and often much sooner. If your diabetic dog can still see, it is important to begin giving her a canine vision supplement such as OcuGLO as soon as possible. This will help to prevent diabetic cataracts from forming. It is also important to monitor your diabetic dog closely for signs of vision loss.

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Signs of Progressive Vision Loss in Your Dog: 1 When you toss a treat or a toy for your dog, she does not see it. Test peripheral vision too—toss the treat or the toy to the far right and to the far left and observe how well she notices it is there.

2 Your dog is increasingly hesitant to jump off or on the bed. Your dog is hesitant (especially in dim light) to go down or up stairs or is reluctant to go outside at night unless a light is on. Note all old dogs will develop night blindness (senile retinal degeneration) from age-related death of rod photoreceptor cells in the retina, resulting in poor vision in dim light. A canine vision supplement like OcuGLO helps support rod photoreceptor cell health.

3 Your dog bumps into out-of-place furniture, such as a chair pulled out from the table, or seems hesitant/bumps into objects when in an unfamiliar room or house.

4 Your dog hesitates or refuses to jump into or out of your car (note joint disease can also play a role in this).

5 Your dog seems stunned in the sunlight. If your dog has severe cataracts, her vision is often worse in very bright light like sunlight because when the pupil constricts in very bright light, the light passes through the densest, cloudiest part of the cataractous lens.

SUBMITTED BY JESS DORO

OZZY SUBMITTED BY CHARLOTTE

BODY & SOUL

SHOW US THOSE PEARLY WHITES! Bad breath getting in the way of doggy cuddles? You want to spend quality time with your pup, not receive an aromatic reminder of what she had for dinner!

MODERN DOG POLL QUESTION Does your dog like swimming?

We know that brushing your dog’s teeth doesn’t always happen as often as it should, even though it’s really important. If tartar build-up is left untreated it can result in bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay, and premature tooth loss. Tartar that is allowed to remain for too long can also cause infections that can spread throughout the body and damage the heart, lung, liver, and negatively affect kidney functions.

CAST YOUR VOTE AT MODERNDOGMAGAZINE.COM

Help along your dog’s oral care regimen with PlaqueOff’s Dental Bites (From $10, plaqueoff.com). These tasty, chewy treats prevent dental plaque from sticking to the teeth and soften already existing tartar deposits. Free of gluten, sugar, and artificial preservatives, they’re healthy, taste good, and help keep your dog’s mouth healthy and breath fresh!

Get your dog back to peak health faster with Heiro for Dogs. This veterinarian-developed, 100% all natural supplement is a blend of herbs designed to help safely and naturally restore your dog to best health.

The proprietary blend includes ocean kelp, fenugreek, blue-green spirulina algae, cinnamon, and ginger, as well as adaptogens reishi and eleuthero, plus vitamin E concentrate and magnesium oxide mineral to help dogs suffering from sore joints, poor coat health, low energy, chronic ear infections, and other ailments get back to their usual selves sooner! $27, dogheiro.com

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BAILEY SUBMITTED BY JESSI

THE FIND

Healthy pups!

MD ResuPoll lts

62% of Modern Dog readers clip their dog's nails themselves.

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BODY & SOUL

You See A Dog Left Alone In a Car on a Hot Summer Day­ —What Do You Do? Ontario SPCA Inspector Scott Silvia definitively answers this question

Q:

“Come summer, I dread seeing a dog left alone in a car while the owner goes off to shop—or, worse, hearing a story on the news about a dog dying of the heat inside a locked car at the mall. What should I do if I see a dog, currently in no distress, but left in a car on a hot day? Maybe the owner will be right back, but then again, maybe not. Do I wait and see? If so, how long do I wait? Or do I immediately call the authorities? And which authority would I call?”

A:

“We do get this one often from both concerned citizens and police alike. No one wants to see an animal left inside a hot car and we all wonder what to do when it does happen. The first action for someone seeing a dog left alone in a car on a hot day is to contact their local SPCA or call police. We recommend calling right away even if the dog does not yet seem to be in distress. Parked cars can quickly reach deadly temperatures, even on relatively mild days with the car parked in the shade and the windows slightly open.

A dog has a normal body temperature of about 39°C (102°F). Unlike people, a dog has a limited ability to sweat to cool off. Even a brief time in a hot environment can be life threatening.

After reaching a body temperature of 41°C (106°F), it doesn’t take long for a pet to begin suffering irreparable brain damage or death.

If you think the dog needs immediate help, remember it is illegal to break the window; it is still property damage and anyone can be held liable for damages. Also, though you may be acting in good faith with the welfare of the animal in mind, police and SPCA investigators are trained to know when to break the window to remove the animal. They have the skills and tools to do this safely, to protect themselves, the animal, and the public.

If a private citizen chooses to break a window to remove an animal, they must be prepared to show that it was a last resort and that all other options were exhausted and/or unavailable. The animal must then be turned over to animal services or taken to a vet (if the person takes the animal to the vet, they may be responsible for the cost). n HOT CARS CAN KILL. ACT FAST. SAVE A LIFE. Learn more and take the pledge at nohotpets.ca

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If you see a dog unattended in a car during the summer months, immediately call your local police or SPCA (310-SPCA in Ontario only) to report it.

“I left the window down for him.”

“I wasn’t going to be gone long.”

We’ve heard it all! As you know, the issue of owners leaving their pets in their vehicles during the hot summer months, putting animals’ safety at risk and even causing death, is an ongoing problem. There is no excuse for leaving a pet unattended in a vehicle this summer.

If you know you are going to be making a stop or a series of stops, bring another person with you that can stay in the car with the animal or leave the animal at home.

Signs of heatstroke include excessive panting and drooling, listlessness or unconsciousness.

From $39.99.

PHOTOS @CELINNIEEE ON INSTAGRAM

BODY & SOUL

Happy Tummy Treats Improve your dog's digestive health with these delicious, probiotic-packed treats!

YUM!

Digestive discomfort is a bummer.

Help maintain proper gut flora and keep your dog smiling with Pettura’s Digestive Health Chews. These delicious duckflavoured chews combine digestive enzymes and probiotics to improve your dog’s digestive health, leaving you to focus on your pup’s tummy in a way he can truly appreciate: belly rubs! $25, pettura.com

Here’s Your Chance to Take Your Dog to Work!

Mark your calendars—the 18th annual Take Your Dog to Work Day event takes place Friday, June 24th! Giving new meaning to the phrase “working like a dog,” this event encourages employers to experience the joys of pets in the workplace for one day to support their local pet community.

Created by Pet Sitters International, the event celebrates the great companions dogs make and promotes dog adoptions by allowing people without pets to witness the special bond their coworkers have with their dogs firsthand.

Make It! D.I.Y. Pet Projects

moderndogmagazine.com/diycollar

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Scenes from the Modern Dog office, where everyday is Take Your Dog to Work Day!

SU MMER 2016

moderndogmagazine.com/firstaidkit

For more info, including participation tool kits and tips for successfully integrating your dog into office life, head to TakeYourDog.com.

SPECIAL PROMOTION

NATURAL DOG

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John Paul Pet Tea Tree Shampoo is an environmentally friendly and effective treatment to reduce your dog’s skin irritation. Australian Tea Tree Oil, eucalyptus, almond oil, and chamomile combine to cleanse, moisturize, and soothe. Join the Tea Tree #GreenTakeover and help John Paul Pet plant 500,000 trees through 2016 at PaulMitchell.com/reforestAction

The most important supplement you’ve never heard of! Technyflex Canine Premium Joint Supplement is packed with the antiinflammatory power of the New Zealand Greenlipped Mussel.

Naturally high in Omega-3’s, glucosamine, and chondroitin, 100% pure and natural Technyflex can provide your dog with much needed relief from the painful symptoms of arthritis. newzealandsbest.com

Cure A Pet is a 100% non-toxic, natural wound and skin care product that is safe to use on all parts of your animals. It will kill bacteria, prevent infection, and help promote faster healing of skin problems and post surgical sites. Before you call the vet, try Cure A Pet. cureapet.com

Zak George is a new type of dog trainer. A dynamic YouTube star and Animal Planet personality with a fresh approach, Zak helps you tailor training to your dog’s unique traits and energy level. His comprehensive training guide leads to quicker results and a much happier pet!

Solve your dog’s skin problems.

Goodwinol Ointment has been around for a very long time. As a matter of fact, Goodwinol Products founder Ben Baron formulated it over 70 years ago! At Goodwinol they are dog lovers and it makes them happy that they can still offer an all-natural product that both veterinarians and owners alike use to keep their dog’s skin in optimum health. goodwinol.com

I’M-YUNITY for Dogs.

Improve your dog’s immunity and quality of life with I’m-Yunity and I’m-Yunity Too. Each contains proprietary medicinal mushroom extracts of Coriolus versicolor and/or Reishi mushroom to reduce pain and fatigue while improving energy levels, mobility, and appetite. Learn about clinical results at ImYunityForDogs.com and use code “moderndog” for a 5% discount! moderndogmagazine.com

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ELLIE SUBMITTED BY NICOLE AND ANDREW

BODY & SOUL

GET THEM ACTIVE AGAIN!

Revolutionary New Treatment for Canine Arthritis Osteoarthritis affects up to 1 in 5 dogs.

The good news is there's something you can do about it.

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the progressive and permanent long-term deterioration of the cartilage surrounding the joints. It causes chronic joint inflammation and is the most common cause of lameness in dogs. Thought to affect up to one in five dogs, with older dogs being at the highest risk, it is a painful and progressive disease resulting in cartilage destruction and bone changes that can drastically affect a dog’s quality of life. A veterinary examination can determine if your dog has this disease.

Until now the primary ways of treating osteoarthritis were through weight management, controlled exercise, and drugs for pain relief, but pain-relief drugs can often cause their own set of problems, such as stomach upset, kidney or liver problems. So when we heard of the commercial availability of two brand-new, drug-free therapies derived from a dog’s own cells that could not only treat osteoarthritis in dogs but slow the progression or even potentially reverse its damaging effects, we knew we had to get the low-down for you! VetCell Therapeutics, the innovative company behind these therapies, explains how it works…

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Q: Can you tell us about these exciting new therapies that are offering relief to dogs suffering from osteoarthritis?

Yes! ReGen OA is a new, drug-free, autologous (this means involving one individual as both donor and recipient) stem cell treatment for treating canine osteoarthritis (OA) that effectively provides relief from the symptoms of the disease and has the potential to repair damaged tissues.

EvoluGen OA is a drug-free alternative therapy for treating the symptoms of canine OA based on platelet rich plasma derived from blood. EvoluGen OA treats pain and inflammation and can slow further progression of joint degeneration.

Q: Are they safe?

Yes, both therapies are safe, being drug-free alternatives derived from a dog’s own cells.

Q: Where do you get them?

The therapies are available to vets across the US.

BODY & SOUL Q: How does the ReGen OA treatment work?

With ReGen OA, autologous SVF stem cell therapies, a veterinarian surgically removes a few grams of adipose (fat) tissue from the pet patient (this is a fairly minor outpatient surgery and does not traumatize the pet), then packages it in our temperature controlled validated shipping container and ships to VetCell Therapeutics’ production facility in Southern California. We receive the tissue next day and begin processing it to become ReGen OA. The tissue is processed at VetCell Therapeutics and returned to the vet/animal hospital within 24-48 hours in a temperature controlled shipping container. Administering the therapy is relatively simple. The doctor would use an intra-articular injection needle to remove synovial fluid from the damaged joint, and then replace the same volume of synovial fluid that was removed with ReGen OA. The therapy interacts with the joint cells and signals a healing response within the joint. Within a few days, the pain and swelling symptoms of OA should begin to subside and the pet should be feeling relief.

In many cases, just one injection is needed, but cases do vary and sometimes, additional treatments may be necessary. Over time, ReGen OA has the potential to restore damaged tissue and rebuild cartilage.

Q: How does EvoluGen OA work?

EvoluGen OA is not a stem cell therapy, but is a drug-free alternative cell therapy based on Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). The therapy only requires a vet to extract a vial of blood from the patient. That blood is then shipped to VetCell Therapeutics for processing into a platelet rich plasma. The therapy is administered the same way as ReGen OA. EvoluGen OA triggers a healing response within the joint, reduces pain and swelling, and slows the progression of joint degeneration.

Q: How do you decide which treatment is right for your dog?

EvoluGen OA triggers a natural healing response within the joint, reducing pain and swelling, and can slow the progression of joint degeneration, but not reverse it. ReGen OA offers the same natural healing response and pain and swelling reduction but, additionally, has been shown effective in restoring damaged joint tissues. Choosing between the two comes down to budget and stage of OA the dog is experiencing.

Q: How much does it cost?

The cost to patient is determined by the vet/animal hospital. Each case varies, but a ReGen OA treatment runs between $2500–$3500 and Evolugen OA is about $1000 for an initial application. n

1 Decreased activity

6 Lagging behind on walks

2 Reluctance to walk, run, climb

7 Soreness when touched

stairs, jump or play

3 Stiffness (worse after rest) 4 Limping 5 Difficulty rising from a

resting position

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8 Yelping or whimpering in pain

SOURCE: ZOETIS.COM

It is not uncommon for owners to misinterpret signs of osteoarthritis as a slowing down due to inevitable old age. It is important to observe dogs closely for the signs of osteoarthritis, including:

9 Acting aggressively or withdrawn 10 Exhibiting other character changes

Kids Book Pick!

Follow Cooper the rescue pup on his quest for a forever home!

Cooper: A Rescue Dog’s Tale, by James S. Martinez and Timothy T. Civick, is not just a heartwarming story but also a colouring book filled with fun, educational activities, making it the perfect take-along for road trips and visiting. Based on a true story, the book aims to help educate and inspire all who read it—both children and adults alike —to get involved and start helping animals in need. Even sweeter, a percentage of all book sales is donated to charity.

Find it on Amazon!

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Modern Dog's Jacqueline Lowndes and Penny.

Rescue Proud

Modern Dog's very own Penny the Wir ehaired Dachshund

Spruce up your summer style with a DIY “Rescue” tee & bandana combo!

By Rebekah Chotem

Did you rescue your dog—or did she rescue you? Show your rescue pride with a DIY t-shirt for you and matching bandana for your pup! We’ve created some adorable dogfriendly templates—just download and iron onto a bandana or t-shirt for a super cute (and super easy!) pet project.

Pro Tip: we used plain napkins, available at most home stores, rather than bandanas, turning this into a multifunctional design. Create chic napkins, perfect for your next dinner party or picnic, or a rescue-proud doggie bandana—either way these designs are sure to turn heads!

Have a foster dog? We’ve also created an “I’m adoptable” template! Find it here: moderndogmagazine.com/rescueproudDIY

WHAT YOU'LL NEED • 100% cotton t-shirt or bandana (we recommend a lighter colour so that your transfer stands out!)

• Iron-on transfers (available through most craft stores or office supplies stores for around $10) • An iron • And that’s it! Totally easy.

HOW-TO: 1.

2. Insert Iron-on paper into your printer, making sure it’s inserted the right way up.

3. Print the template onto the iron-on transfer sheet and allow to dry for a full five minutes before handling (though we know you’ll be itching to get your paws on it!)

4. Cut out your design leaving a narrow margin around the edge, but don't cut too close or it will be harder to peel away, and jeopardize the crisp edges of your design.

Make It!

5.

D.I.Y. Pet Project

Set your iron to the highest cotton setting, and prepare a hard surface (not an ironing board as it’s too soft).

6. Position your design face down and apply firm pressure with the iron, while smoothly ironing over the template. This requires some arm muscle, so be prepared! And make sure to carefully follow the iron-on instructions. Be sure not to iron too long or you'll discolour the edges of the transfer!

7.

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Download templates here: moderndogmagazine.com/rescueproudDIY

SU MMER 2016

Peel away the template sheet and voilà! a stylish design for you or your deserving pup. n

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If you love to go to the park, hide toys for your dog and ask her to look for them.

Dog parks hold the potential for rowdy dogs, injury, and repetitious play that can lead to chronic mobility problems. Exercise and bond with your dog without the risks that a dog park visit can engender. Here are nine alternate, healthy ways of exercising your dog safely while still having tons of fun‌

By Dr. Peter Dobias

6

Teach your dog to walk on logs, go through tunnels, and weave through your legs.

7 Leave your ball chucker at home and hike, walk, and move with your dog as much as you can!

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8 Play hide and seek and chase your dog. Dogs love to be chased, especially when carrying a safe toy.

4 If your dog loves other dogs, let him play and interact. However, beware of the rowdy and rough dogs that may overwhelm a shy, injured or weaker dog.

5

Moving on rocks and terrain and obstacles is an important way to maintain strength and balance.

ROCKY & CHARLLIE SUBMITTED BY JULIE PAYNE

Dog Park Alternatives

Hiking and walking on trails is the best form of activity for your dog because it is similar to what they would do in nature. n

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RIGHT: WALTER SUBMITTED BY WARREN

3

WESTON SUBMITTED BY KELSIE

Even senior dogs should walk uphill to keep strong.

LEFT: THE WOOG SUBMITTED BY NOWELLE SPENCER;

2

LEAD PHOTO: CHAMP SUBMITTED BY

Do your best to get your dog out twice a day. Take your dog out rain or shine to ensure regular exercise.

CATHY VERRILL; INSET: SUNNY

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ACE SUBMITTED BY COURTNEY JONES & RYAN LAZO

What Your Vet Wishes You Knew

By Kelly Caldwell

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our other family doctor—your veterinarian. The relationship you form with your vet can be complicated, to be sure. Really, it stands to reason; our beloved dogs, often our most constant companions, can’t tell us what’s wrong yet rely on us to be their advocates. It can be stressful and heartbreaking dealing with their health issues. We may at times experience feelings of disappointment, frustration, even anger at the person whose job it is to help us care for our pets.

But what do veterinarians think of us? If we were willing to listen, what would they want us to know about the work they do?

Curious to find out, I scheduled an interview with Dr. Ilana Smolkin—a partner at Guelph Animal Hospital, a full-service, integrated hospital in southwestern Ontario, Canada.

I arrive and wait at the front desk. Next to me, a man is making a loud series of statements about the very unfortunate timing of his dog’s illness, how he really didn’t “need” a bill like this, and so forth. I find myself feeling sorry for the front desk staff bearing the brunt of his frustrations.

When the interview begins, I tell Dr. Smolkin about my lobby

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experience. She shrugs, and says, “I’m not surprised.” This leads to our first point of discussion.

“I wish that more people understood that this is a business,” she says. “We have to charge for the services we provide, just like every other business.”

Smolkin’s business partner, Dr. Renee Fleming, agrees. “It’s hard sometimes for people to comprehend that I pay my bills and feed my children being a veterinarian. I love what I do, but I need to be compensated for it.”

They aren’t offering the cheapest services in town; they don’t want to. It’s a business decision the partners stand behind—a commitment to providing an extremely high standard of care.

When I ask about common expenses, I’m shocked to hear that some of the tools required to do a proper work up, such as x-ray and ultrasound equipment, cost as much as $100,000.

Nearly 1,500 miles away, Dr. Jeremy Orr’s comments are similar. Orr specializes in small animal cardiology with Rocky Mountain Veterinary Cardiology in Denver, CO. “Equipment costs are staggering,” he agrees. He also highlights staffing as an

expense that many might not appreciate. “We want to bring on experienced technicians, but they understandably come with a higher cost.”

Perhaps because the service involves compassion and caring, we customers sometimes forget a basic truth: this is a business, and these hard-working experts deserve to make a good living.

“Twenty years ago,” says Smolkin, “it seemed like vets could do no wrong. Now, there’s a perception that we’re in it for just a buck. We hear it all the time.”

“I don’t look at pets that walk in the door and see income,” says Fleming. “I see an opportunity to bond with them and help their people provide them with a lifetime of good health.”

Orr also hears regularly that vets are just out to make tons of money. “It’s frustrating to hear, partly because there are so many more lucrative career choices out there, but also because we are a sensitive group by nature.

We want to help animals and their people, so when there is an outpouring of anger directed at us, trust me, we take that home with us.”

Just how often are vets confronted with anger and unpleasant behaviour? All three tell me the same thing: far too often.

From Dr. Fleming’s experience, anger has most commonly come in the emergency setting, where emotions are running high and bills are also typically rising due to the seriousness of the injury or illness.

“You try to remember that anger is often the first reaction to grief,” she says, “but I won’t lie. If someone accuses me of lacking compassion or being money-hungry, it’s very hurtful.”

All three share similar stories of hours spent losing sleep while waiting on test results, reaching out by phone to colleagues near and far to seek help on tough cases, and the roller-coaster of emotions when outcomes aren’t good.

I talk to each vet about how they handle tough cases. What’s it like to keep a brave face all day, going from client to client looking focused and professional, when you’ve got a case that’s proving difficult or an animal that’s failing despite your best efforts?

“In those cases emotions can run very high, especially when it’s taking time to get to the root of the pet’s problem,” says Dr. Fleming.

“One thing I wish people understood,” says Dr. Smolkin, “is that medicine is not an exact science. “Every patient is different and presents differently. We try to get to the right answer as quickly as possible—and we’re just as frustrated as our clients when we’re struggling to find that answer.”

“I always tell people that it’s not the science of medicine, it’s the art of practicing medicine,” adds Dr. Orr. “If a dog could simply say, ‘my abdomen hurts,’ that would make a case workup very simple.”

Veterinarians are animal advocates. They must speak for the patient, but in many cases the message is incredibly difficult for people to hear. All three vets admit this can be a struggle.

“Denial is a powerful stage of grief,” says Smolkin. “It takes a lot of introspection for a pet owner to acknowledge that they’re not thinking objectively.” Dr. Fleming adds, “we have to be the

Just how often are vets confronted with anger and unpleasant behaviour? All three tell me the same thing: far too often.

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SCOOBY SUBMITTED BY STEPHANIE

voice for animals, because pets are so good at hiding signs of illness.”

It happens routinely that someone brings in their pet for something that seems minor, only to learn that it’s actually very serious and will require testing and treatment. “The fees, then, are also something they weren’t expecting,” says Fleming, “so we can be met with accusations that we’re just trying to drive up our fees. But we only recommend what we believe is best for the animal.”

“Anger can be a common response when the news isn’t promising,” notes Orr. Like his colleagues, he considers it a part of the grieving process and tries not to take it personally.

It’s not always easy, though. “I don’t think people realize how hard it is for us to deliver sad news. We feel badly every time an outcome isn’t positive.”

It can be no surprise, then, that end-of-life decisions are particularly difficult. How do vets cope with this aspect of their day to day roles?

“When we know the time has come to let someone’s pet go,” says Dr. Smolkin, “we need to work with the family and help them make that choice. It’s very emotionally draining.”

“For sure, dealing with pet loss really is the hardest part of the job, says Dr. Fleming, “but it’s not the worst part. On some level, it’s beautiful to be able to help families offer their pet a peaceful end to its suffering. I look at it as a gift.”

As a specialist, by the time Dr. Orr sees his patients, the family vet has been through the paces and ultimately provided a referral to a cardiologist, so they know they’re dealing with a serious health issue. “But,” he says, “sometimes it is out of my hands as well, and I have to deliver the news that the best option is a euthanasia.” Most of the time, his clients trust in his judgment. “They need to hear from me that we’ve reached that point.” It’s still hard, though. No matter how prepared someone may be to hear bad news, for this vet delivering it never gets any easier.

Is veterinary medicine glamorous? I sure don’t think so. The more I learn about this career, the more respect I have for those who have chosen to dedicate their lives to helping animals.

It’s a difficult job, and a draining one, but most vets, I think, can’t imagine doing anything else. When I ask these three, they admit they’ve had moments where they’ve questioned their choice, but they all come back to the same answer: they wouldn’t want to do anything else. Theirs is a calling and they’ve answered it.

And maybe that’s what vets really want you to know—that your pets are in good hands because they are dedicated professionals in it for all the right reasons. n

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

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Meet Slumber Jack and Lazy Susan—super soft, snuggly, and very lazy. They love cuddling up with your doggie at bedtime. doogusa.com

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Whether competing, hiking a trail or playing, Coolaid provides easy to use icing and cooling products for all animal athletes. Let Coolaid’s chemical-free technology be your number one choice for your canine athlete! coolaid.com

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The Survival Leash is a patent pending, life saving dog leash.

Constructed out of strong paracord, it has an integrated monkey fist, emergency pouch, compass, carabiner, whistle, and D ring. furheroes.com

Safe and stylish, Pawdentify Tags come in two sizes and 100+ colorful designs with readable text that won’t fade! Includes LinksIt to make it easy to attach tags and change collars without breaking your fingernails.

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Give your dog the best in orthopedic, therapeutic comfort with vet recommended Wellness PetMats. Calming relief for your pet, convenience for you. Resists odours, stains, liquids, and more.

USA-made, 20-year warranty! wellnesspetmats.com

Turn outdoor adventures with your dog into a breeze with P.L.A.Y.’s stylish Outdoor Dog Tent. Built to travel, it’s perfectly suited for weekend trips or backyard fun!

Available at PetPLAY.com.

True Leaf Pet’s amazing True Hemp functional chews for dogs come in three varieties: Hip & Joint, Calming, and Health Support. Ingredients include hemp, green lipped mussel, turmeric, calming herbs, and more! Use code GIVEME25 for 25% off at trueleaf.com.

Earth Rated Stain & Odor Neutralizer is a multi-surface formula, carpets included. The bio-enzymatic formula removes stains and naturally eliminates urine bacteria to prevent repeat accidents. Goodbye urine, vomit, poop, grass, dirt!

Safe for pets and people! earthrated.com

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Just Chillin'

c Give your dog her

very own secluded haven in the shade with a Dog Teepee from Pipolli! These totally gorgeous teepees come with a matching cushion, and tuck away into a carry bag for transport. Solid wood and cotton canvas make it sturdy, while its monochromatic design make it the perfect addition to any room! $85, pipolli.com

Cooling gear to keep your dog chill in the summer rays

v For dogs bothered

by the summer heat, the Canine Cooling Vest offers a simple solution!

Just wet the comfortably fitting vest, wring out the excess water, then dress your dog in it for a lasting cooling effect during the hot summer months. Its Coolcore technology lowers surface temperature by 30%, provides wicking, and regulates evaporation for a constant cooling!

From $37, coolaid.com

v Worry-free water play.

The Watercollar life preserver attaches to your dog’s collar, elevating her head above the water at all times, even if she becomes unconscious!

Because this collar fits comfortably around your dog’s neck and isn’t bulky, it can be used as a precautionary measure whenever your dog is swimming or simply hanging out by the water!

From $39, hedzuppets.com

Chillspot The Chillspot provides your hot dog with up to eight hours of cooling relief.

It’s simple: freeze the cooling platform’s removable ice pack overnight and then reinsert—that’s it! For dogs who overheat in the summer it's a welcome retreat from the heat! $200, chillspot.com x

Hot summer days call for a different kind of toy—a frozen one! Fill this cute, popsicle-shaped Ice Toy with water, pop in the freezer then let your dog play with this cool toy. Also great for teething pups! $12, gofreshpet.com k

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LUNA SUBMITTED BY ANGELA

Summer Do’s For Your Dog We asked Kendra Otto, master groomer and educator for Andis grooming company (they’ve been making quality grooming tools for over 90 years!), for the low-down on how to prep our dogs for beach season. Here are her top 5 tips…

#1 Clean your dog’s ears (especially if your dog loves swimming!)

Your dog loves swimming in ponds, lakes, and rivers. Unfortunately, the bacteria found in those natural water resources love your dog right back. Make sure to rinse off your dog after swimming and clean his ears to prevent bacterial infections. To properly clean your dog’s ears, you should buy a quality dog-ear cleaner. [We like the Canine Ear Blend from Endless Mt. Oil. Its proprietary blend of aloe, coconut, peppermint, and lavender oils cleans and promotes healing, gets rid of waxy buildup, stops itching, and acts as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. ($30, essentialoils4pets.com)—Ed.] Make sure to use a large amount, as dog’s ear canals are quite long. Hold the flap of the ear upright and point the tube downward to fill the ear with the cleaner. Massage the cleaner into the base of your dog’s ear for approximately 20 seconds then let your dog shake it out.

If your dog is swimming in chlorinated water, it’s a good idea to add coconut oil (we like Cocotherapy, cocotherapy.com) or fish oil into their food as a supplement that will replenish the moisture that is stripped away from their skin Canine Ear Blend by the chlorine. from Endless Mt. Oil

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PHOTO ANDIS COMPANY

TOP 5 SUMMER GROOMING TIPS FOR DOGS #2 Keep pad hair short No matter the age of your dogs, they need their hair between the pads of their feet kept short. Keeping their pad hair short will keep them from bringing an outside mess into the house and, most importantly, keep them from falling and injuring themselves on slippery floors.

#3 Don't shave double-coated breeds Some dog breeds, such as Retrievers and Pomeranians, have a double coat (a soft undercoat and a coarser topcoat), which greatly increases shedding as the warmer months approach. You might be tempted to shave your dog, but this beautiful, warm-looking double coat counter-intuitively allows your dog to regulate her body temperature—so don’t shave it!

Instead, give your dog a haircut using a longer comb attachment with your clipper or thin your dog’s coat using a de-shedding tool like the Andis Deshedder.

Pro tip: use a slicker brush and metal comb before and after the haircut to ensure your dog’s coat grows back healthy.

#4 Keep toenails short Your dogs should be walking on their paw pads and not their toenails! When your dog walks on long toenails, it increases the possibility of a nail breaking off or catching on something and getting pulled out. Toenails should be clipped or filed every one to three weeks to prevent premature arthritis in your dog’s joints.

#5 Maintain your dog’s coat (brush that hair!)

Maintaining your dog’s coat is a vital part of keeping your dog’s skin and coat healthy. The key to keeping your dog free from skin problems caused or exacerbated by knots and tangles is to brush, de-shed, rake, and comb your dog regularly. It is especially important to make sure you are brushing your dog on a regular basis if he is being bathed frequently or loves swimming. If you find yourself and/or your furniture covered in dog hair postgrooming-session, a quick swipe of the amazing Lilly Brush, an easy to use fur-removing brush designed to seamlessly clean fabrics, will make sure you're not wearing your dog (from $13, lillybrush.com). n moderndogmagazine.com

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THIS SUMMER'S MOVIE EVENT!

Ever Wonder What Your Pets Get Up To When They’re Home Alone?

This summer's must-watch movie for the whole family!

T

and Kevin Hart co-starring with Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Jenny Slate, Bobby Moynihan, and Albert Brooks, this feature has talent galore, bringing attitude and personality to the cast of pets along with lots of laughs. Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri teamed up with his longtime collaborator Janet Healy to produce the film, while Chris Renaud of Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 fame directed. We think they have a hit on their hands.

The Secret Life of Pets is in theatres July 8th. n PHOTOS ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT & UNIVERSAL PICTURES

hink your dog naps on the couch all day awaiting your return from work? The Secret Life Of Pets will have you think again! This eagerly anticipated animated feature film imagines the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day, creating a hilariously particular possĂŠ of pets possessing their own endearingly quirky personalities. When one of their own goes missing in the Big Apple, the pets band to together to rescue their friend. Needless to say, madcap antics ensue.

With a comedy superstar cast of Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet,

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BREED PROFILE

That’s amoré: this playful, alert and affectionate breed may steal your heart

By Kelly Caldwell

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FLASH SUBMITTED BY AUSTIN ARRIOLA

The Italian Greyhound

CUDDLES PLEASE!

RUE SUBMITTED BY TERRI

The Italian Greyhound is your classic “Velcro” dog, so closely bonded with his guardians he's practically attached at the hip.

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iminutive and delicate, the Italian Greyhound is an ancient breed. So ancient, in fact, that we lack records to reveal the exact details of the I.G.’s origins—the how, when, and why of the Italian Greyhound’s early development are shrouded in mystery.

Skeletal remains from archeological digs in the regions of Turkey and Greece suggest that the breed is at least 2,000 years old and, well, not Italian! Artwork, too, sheds some light on the story: the breed has been a favourite of many talented artists and is seen in portraits dating back to the Middle Ages. Drawings on Egyptian tomb walls also bear a striking resemblance to the breed, leading some to speculate on even more ancient origins.

The Italian Greyhound’s original purpose is also the subject of some debate. What we have with the I.G. is essentially a finerboned, miniature version of the Greyhound, achieved through selective breeding. Was he bred to hunt for small game as well as for companionship? There’s no way of knowing, but it’s likely that the Italian Greyhound was bred for both purposes.

The breed gained popularity as a lapdog for royals and members of society’s upper crust in a number of countries, but most notably in Italy during the Renaissance; so prized and beloved was the tiny hound there that he earned his moniker and was from then on known as the Italian Greyhound.

The breed made its way to England in the early 1600s and quickly gave other Toy dogs, like the King Charles Spaniel and the

Maltese, a run for the money as the most sought-after dog of the nobility.

Officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1886, the Italian Greyhound made its first appearance at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show the following year. The breed has yet to earn the coveted Best in Show award, despite recordbreaking cheers from crowds who are always delighted to watch the I.G.’s high-stepping prance.

Today’s Italian Greyhound is a member of the Toy Group.

The AKC standard notes ideal height for the breed is 13 to According to the most recent 15 inches at the withers (the AKC registration statistics I.G. weighs around eight to [1] Labrador Retriever fifteen pounds), and all colours [2] German Shepherd Dog and markings are accepted, [3] Golden Retriever with the notable exceptions of [4] Bulldog brindle or black-and-tan.

[5] Beagle So what’s this little dog [6] Yorkshire Terrier actually like to live with? In [7] Poodle canine-speak, he’s the classic [8] Boxer Velcro dog—so closely bonded [9] French Bulldog with his guardians that it [10] Rottweiler feels like he’s attached at the [71] Italian Greyhound hip. The I.G. is an incredibly

Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

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ADULT PHOTO ©AKC

AFFECTIONAT E, PLAYFUL & SHY

Italian Greyhound puppy

Profile: The Italian Greyhound Size: Small The Italian Greyhound’s ideal height is between 13 to 15 inches at the wither. Weight isn’t addressed in the AKC standard, but they typically range from eight to 15 pounds.

Activity level: A natural-born athlete, the Italian Greyhound loves to run and play, and has done well in agility, lure coursing, and other canine sports. He’s also happy to serve as a couch potato, though!

Grooming: As easy as it gets! That short coat is silky smooth to the touch and virtually odourless. Teeth, ears, and toenails require basic maintenance.

Heritage: Hunting and Companion Animal The I.G. was definitely created as a companion animal, but given his sighthound roots it’s likely he was also initially developed to chase small prey.

For info on Italian Greyhound rescue in the U.S., visit italiangreyhound.org/IGCA-Rescue. In Canada, visit www.helpitaliangreyhounds.com.

If you like the Italian Greyhound, you might also give some consideration to the Manchester Terrier, Saluki, and Whippet.

Manchester Terrier

Saluki

READ YOUR BREED

Whippet

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

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affectionate and loving dog, but known for being shy around strangers. He’s famously playful— delighting his people with hilarious antics well past the puppy stage.

Because of his shy nature, early socialization is important with this breed. Getting your I.G. out to meet new people and pets, and to experience a variety of surroundings will help him come out of his shell and build confidence. Basic good manners can be taught with obedience training, and these dogs are fast learners. One caveat: extra patience will likely be needed when it comes to potty training. Like many of the Toy breeds, the Italian Greyhound may take a while to get the hang of going potty outdoors—and he’ll need plenty of breaks throughout the day.

Positive reinforcement methods only, please! The I.G.’s sweet and sensitive nature is a mismatch for harsh words or actions. Love him, be patient, and you’ll reap rewards for many years to come.

By nature the Italian Greyhound is athletic and agile, but he’s also fine boned. Keeping nails trimmed is important to avoid slips and spills—broken bones are a concern for this breed. In puppyhood, safety precautions should be taken to ensure that the I.G. can’t jump on or off high surfaces.

His sighthound genetic make-up means that the I.G. has an innate instinct to chase moving objects. For this reason, these dogs should be on-leash when out of doors or else kept in a properly-fenced yard. Watching these tiny performance athletes in their double-suspension gallop is a sight to behold—the Italian Greyhound loves to run! On the other hand, with his size he’s well-suited for apartment life. Daily walks are an absolute minimum, as are play sessions and, of course, cuddles—lots and lots of cuddles for these doting dogs.

Speaking of cuddles, I.G.’s are heat-seekers. You’re far more likely to find one on your lap than at your feet. They’re not built to withstand cold climates, so a stockpile of sweaters and coats for inclement weather is a must.

Elegant and graceful, playful and loving, the Italian Greyhound packs a tremendous amount of personality in such a tiny package. The dogs that once belonged only to the nobility are now available to the masses—but rest assured your I.G. will still worship you like a king or queen. n

INSET IMAGES ©AKC

Italian Greyhound adult

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INSPIRE

Bryan & Jess Hargett

these Entrepreneurs Turned Their Love of Dogs Into Careers they adore

By J. Leslie Johnson

The Craft Ruff Puppies collars exhibit a very of-the-moment, handcrafted aesthetic that speaks to the co-founders’ passion and commitment to their craft, responsible business practices, and community.

C

hatting with Bryan Hargett, co-founder of Ruff Puppies collar company, it’s easy to see why this small company’s custom collars and leads are infused with the handcrafted ethos of their maker, and why his particular speciality is gorgeous western styles. After all, this small company is located in southwestern Colorado near the Animas River Valley, surrounded by the San Juan Mountains. The stark beauty of the place seems to flow through co-owner Bryan's hands and into the collars and leashes Bryan makes with such care.

Bryan, along with his wife, Jess, are the two-person team behind Ruff Puppies. They started slow and small, with talent and craftsmanship leading them to start their own business. First came the workspace: Bryan built a small, 400-square-foot shop

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on their rural property about 15 miles from Durango, Colorado, near the New Mexico border. Nestled at the foot of a small shrub-covered hill, surrounded by sagebrush, the shop has plenty of natural light. Nearby sandstone cliffs rose up to the sky, and the Florida river (pronounced Flor-read-a), flows through their property. Inspiration followed.

One of Bryan’s first projects in his new workshop was a collar for Jess’ dog, Molly. “Molly was my wife’s soulmate so I knew I had to make the collar super special,” he explains. Bryan chose black leather with fuchsia-colored Swarovski crystals. Molly seemed to sparkle when she wore it. Friends and neighbours really liked it and Bryan was soon fashioning more one-of-a-kind collars and leashes. Sarah Guinther, the buyer for Pet Haus, the local pet store in Durango, took note and asked for a selection.

Pet stores in nearby areas followed suit and Ruff Puppies’ products are now widely available throughout the U.S. Bryan is quick to acknowledge that Jess played a large role in Ruff Puppies’ expansion. While he fashions the leather, Jess

The stark beauty of the place seems to flow through co-owner Bryan Hargett’s hands and into the collars and leashes he makes with such care.

handles the day-to-day aspects of building the business, building relationships with customers through phenomenal customer serivce and helping design the collars. Together, the two handle every aspect of every product that leaves their shop.

The process begins with the leather, which they buy from Wickett & Craig, one of the few companies in the U.S. that still tan leather. Unlike other companies that use chemicals such as chromium, Wickett & Craig uses earth-friendly vegetable dyes from oak tannins. The company even has its own water treatment system, though doing this adds extra expense. Finally, the company follows American regulations, which Bryan says is much better for the planet than the practices of unregulated companies.

Once the leather arrives at his shop, Bryan begins by cutting it into strips using hand tools. “We chose not to go with power machines, and we only have a couple of tools that plug in,” he explains, adding, “it’s better for the leather to spend more time in my hands.”

Bryan is staunch in his adherence to old-world practices. “I don’t use glue on my products—I don’t want to expose myself, my customers, or the environment to the glue.

And we don’t glue layers together. They would just fall apart and we are building our collars to last. I give a lifetime guarantee on my products and what I mean by that is my lifetime. If something goes wrong with a collar, and I’m alive, I’ll fix it.”

Ruff Puppies buys its materials from local sources in the States wherever possible, and have named some of their collections after western cities such as San Antonio and Denver. “Cities have a personality, a flavour,” Hargett notes.

However, the business is about more than the beauty of the Western landscape or the durability of its products. Says Bryan: “What we wish we could show everyone is the day-to-day decisions we make that take the focus off profits and put it on things like responsible purchasing, fellow small businesses, and our community—all the those things you can't see when you hold a product… you know, the really important things.” moderndogmagazine.com

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Just some of the high quality ingredients in Primal Pet Foods human-grade raw food for dogs.

Matt Koss with his beloved and affectionately remembered dog, Bayou.

The Food Maker Working from the gut, entrepreneur Matt Koss’ journey to save his dog Luna led him to start his own pet food company, one predicated on raw, human-grade foods for dogs, promoting health and vitality

"Q

uestion what people are telling you,” pet food maker Matt Koss asserts. “If your gut tells you something is not right, keep going until you find the information you need.”

That is exactly what Matt did when veterinarians kept giving his dog, Luna, who had early signs of renal failure, a bleak prognosis. Since the kidney regulates blood pressure and produces red blood cells, it was a serious concern. The vets kept telling Matt there was not much they could do to reverse or cure the disease, but Matt’s gut told him a different story. He thought there must be some way he could help Luna and, tenacious by nature, he sought an approach to put into action. His quest eventually led him to create his own company, Primal Pet Foods, maker of organic, high quality, human-grade raw food for dogs and cats.

Matt’s journey started when a holistic veterinarian introduced him to the work of Dr. Ian Billinghurst, an Australian veterinarian who believed commercial, supermarket-style pet food was making companion animals sick. Instead of the kibble and corn found on supermarket shelves, Billinghurst recommended a diet comprised of the specific foods that these species ate as they evolved over millions of years. Since dogs in the wild are both hunters and scavengers, the Aussie vet recommended a regimen containing

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a wide range of both animal protein and whole plant foods. He called this a “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food” diet or BARF, for short.

A chef by trade, schooled in human nutrition, Matt decided to experiment with Luna’s diet. He tossed the kibble and got to work creating a delicious diet of human-grade raw meat and bones as well as a variety of high quality, whole plant foods.

Then he watched and waited, wondering if such a radical change in diet could bring about an equally radical change in health. As she gobbled down the highly nutritious, custom-made meals created with great love and attention, Luna’s health took a turn for the better. Matt saw an increase in energy, an increase in appetite, and an overall sense of improved wellness. This time Matt’s gut told him he was on the right track.

Matt continued to refine his recipes, striving to create a wholesome diet that would help pets not just survive, but thrive.

As he improved his formulations and expanded his offerings, Matt found his workspace—his kitchen—was getting a bit small.

He bought some new equipment and moved to a larger space: his garage.

At the time, Matt was still working his day job as a chef for a family in the San Francisco Bay area. At night, however, he would stay up until the early hours, formulating nutritious canine meals. Matt talked to a retailer around the corner, asking him, “If I make it, would you sell it?” The retailer said yes, and Matt’s wholesome raw food diet took off from there.

Matt continued to work hard, expanding his menu of meals for dogs. However, the working day and night routine got to be a

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Peter & Lori Nebel

The Shopkeepers When husband and wife Peter and Lori Nebel both found themselves jobless, victims of the recession, they took their savings and started a new chapter, reinventing themselves as first-time entrepreneurs and proud owners of a pet store franchise

I

t was 2008. The housing bubble in the United States had burst, causing housing prices to fall drastically. Governmentsponsored enterprises such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which had invested heavily in subprime mortgages, started to report record-breaking losses. In a plummeting financial market, U.S. corporations made drastic cuts to the workforce in an attempt to stay solvent.

At the Fortune 500 Company where husband and wife Peter and Lori Nebel worked, the first wave of layoffs rolled through and Peter found himself out of a job. “It was heartbreaking to see the layoffs happen,” explains Lori. “There were a lot of good people who were let go.” Then the second wave rolled through and Lori was out of a job too. Peter and Lori found themselves in the same unfortunate situation as hundreds of thousands of other responsible, hardworking Americans: out of work with little chance of finding employment in a bleak job market.

It was at this low point when Peter, searching the Internet for business opportunities, came across a pet retail chain called Pet Supplies Plus, which offered franchise opportunities. It seemed like a good match for the Nebels, who were lifelong animal lovers and had two rescue dogs, Roady and Sawyer.

Peter contacted Pet Supplies Plus to get more in-depth financial information about the company and liked what he saw. “We did our research and the company looked solid to us,” explains Lori. Pet Supplies Plus had extensive financial information

PHOTO SOUTHERN VINTAGE DESIGN

bit too much. “There comes a point when you have to make a leap,” he explains.

Despite the uncertainties of launching a new raw food diet for dogs and cats, Matt took the leap, though readily admits, “It was a scary point in time, a day that I still remember.”

His customers started telling him about how good his food made their pets feel, noting improvements in their dogs’ and cats’ coats and teeth, along with brighter eyes and even positive changes in personality. They reported their pets seemed happier, attributing it to their improved diet.

“Hearing about what our foods were doing for their pets was fuel for me,” explains Matt. “It kept pumping my engine, and I didn’t look back.”

Today, Primal has a full product line of complete meals and supplemental treats for both dogs and cats. The poultry, beef, and game in the company’s meals are 100 percent humangrade as well as antibiotic and steroid free. Primal sources its ingredients from producers in the U.S. and New Zealand and creates its meals in facilities certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Harking back to the days when the ancestors of domestic dogs hunted and foraged in the wild, the products contain fruits and vegetables but no processed grains such as wheat and rice. Primal’s extensive line includes specific canine and feline formulations available in raw frozen and freeze-dried formulas as well as treats containing no preservatives, grains or gluten. The products are available in independent pet retail stores across the U.S. and Canada rather than in big box stores because these smaller distributors educate consumers about the benefits of feeding high-quality, nutritious food.

For those who are new to the concept of feeding their pets using the BARF approach, Primal’s website includes extensive information about the benefits of an organic, raw foods diet as well as the wide-ranging measures the company has taken to assure its products are safe for pets to consume. “Most animals go berserk over feeding raw,” affirms Matt. “When they hear the fridge open, they do twists and turns, and you can see how happy they are.”

Matt has come a long way since he first cooked up a meaty, wholesome meal for Luna. Now hundreds of thousands of pets like Luna are eating Primal foods and Matt’s dream has come to fruition. While the operation has grown, the core values and mission has remained exactly the same: simply to produce delicious and nutritious, biologically appropriate meals for our animal companions so they can remain healthy and happy.

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on its website including the initial franchise fee (which varies depending on location), royalty fees, and average annual earnings. Equally appealing was that prospective operators did not need retail experience because the company provides training on all aspects of running a store, from ordering stock to training employees.

The Nebels also learned the company offers franchisees a “protected territory” to ensure there is only one Pet Supplies Plus store in a given trade area.

Moreover, the pet industry in the United States has remained profitable despite the recession. When the company suggested an opening in South Carolina, the couple flew from their home in Boston, Massachusetts to the Charleston area to take a closer look.

Pet Supplies Plus provided the Nebels with detailed information about the local population, detailing age, average income, and the number of pets per household. They also suggested Peter and Lori Nebel and their two rescue dogs, Roady, a Treeing Walker a possible location in the town of Coonhound, and Sawyer, likely a Jack Russell/Beagle blend.

Summerville, about a half hour drive from Charleston. ““It was perfect because we were (“Put to Sleep”) list so Lori decided to foster Iris at the store. For miles away from other large competitors,” explains Lori, noting near nine months she lived at Pet Supplies Plus recovering her that the proposed spot also “had a steady flow of traffic from health and becoming accustomed to other people and animals, some nearby high-end grocery stores.” The Nebels decided to go before Lori found her a home of her own: “an awesome family ahead and sign a lease with Pet Supplies Plus for the proposed with two kids and another dog.” location.

There are definite perks to being your own boss. For one, you Like all stores in the franchise, the Nebel’s store is built on can think outside the box. The Nebels embraced an unusual the supermarket model, with wide aisles, a handy parking lot, business venture when they allowed an eight-year-old girl, and convenient hours. They also offer a full range of services, Rachel Mennet, to operate a lemonade stand in their store. The including a self-service pet wash, full service grooming, and enterprising young girl had heard about Nick Bailey, a veteran preventative veterinary services such as microchipping, low cost who served two tours in Iraq, and wanted to help. A mortar had vaccines, and heartworm testing. struck Bailey on his last tour and he suffered from mobility issues Operating the store has also given the Nebels a greater and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He wanted to have Abel, his platform to pursue their passion for animal welfare. They hold German Shepherd dog, trained as a service animal but found the regular adoption events at the store and support local rescue cost prohibitive. One glass of lemonade at a time, Mennet raised initiatives. Lori also helps individual animals in need such as Iris, over $6,000 for the grateful veteran. a hound who was picked up by animal control staff and brought Although she describes her business as being “24/7,” Lori to a local shelter. “She was emaciated, heartworm positive, and remains passionate about her work. She says pet lovers who a hound (of which there are an overabundance in Southern dream of owning their own pet store should look at the shelters), so she had three strikes against her,” explains Lori. opportunity not as an investment but as a livelihood. “Live it, “The shelter was overcrowded and she was placed on the PTS work it, believe in it,” she emphasizes. n

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TRAINING

HOW TO MAKE MOVING EASIER ON YOUR DOG A change of address can be upsetting. Here’s how to help your dog survive a move

By Teoti Anderson

Y

ou've been packing boxes all day and you still have rooms to go.

You had the tape just a minute ago but now can't find it anywhere.

You suspect you may have packed your keys in a box because you can't find them either. And you just discovered your friend completely forgot to label three boxes she just sealed, so you have no idea what's in them.

Welcome to the wonderful adventure of moving!

Moving can be exceedingly stressful. Between coordinating leases or mortgages, packing, movers, utilities, and the many other demands on your time, it's definitely enough to make you wish you could just go to bed and wake up when it's all done. Your dog may not have to worry about making down payments or packing the fine china but moving is super stressful for dogs too.

Dogs are very much creatures of routine. Familiarity offers them security.

When that routine gets completely disrupted due to a move, it can be very stressful for your canine friend. As a result, you may start to see behaviour issues. For example, some dogs chew when they are stressed. Just like you may reach for a soothing martini (if you haven't already packed your shaker), your dog may gnaw on things to help relieve his stress. The item gnawed on could just as likely be his favourite chew bone—or your couch.

Another issue can be housetraining. A dog that hasn't had an accident in years may suddenly start peeing on your carpet or belongings.

If the move is causing you hassle, this in itself can affect your dog. Dogs are very in tune to our emotions; if we’re upset, they are often upset—they just show it differently than we do! Other stress signs you may see include panting, clinginess, excessive whining, pacing, barking, yawning, and lip licking. It's important to understand that sudden behavioural changes like these are not due to spite. Your dog isn't angry with you; he's stressed!

So whatever you do don't get angry at your dog for exhibiting stress as it certainly won't help the situation.

Now that you know how much a move can upset your dog, what do you do about it?

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Here are five ways to help your dog survive a change in address: Keep to his routine as much as possible.

Try to feed him at his regular mealtimes and keep to his regular potty and exercise schedules. It's the change in routine that is upsetting him, so the closer you can stick to what your dog is used to, the more comfortable he will be with the chaos of packing and the new locale.

During the actual move, keep him out of the picture.

During the actual move, keep him out of the picture.

A stressed dog can be a clingy dog, and you don't want him getting underfoot while you're moving heavy items or transporting fragile objects. While you're busy coordinating the actual move, it can also be easy for your dog to slip out a door unnoticed, which is a panic you don't need! It's a good idea to board your dog until you're in your new place, preferably at a facility where he's already been and is comfortable. (Don't add a new boarding experience to his stress if you can avoid it.) Better yet, maybe a good friend will be happy to take your dog for an overnight stay. If you don't have to worry about your dog in the thick of a move, it will be less stressful for you too.

Keep his belongings nearby.

Keep his bed or crate and favourite toys accessible so you can easily and immediately set them up in your new place. These familiar items will help him feel more relaxed.

They signal “home� as they carry his scent and the scent from his previous home.

Be patient.

Know that behavioural issues may not be limited to the actual move, but can extend into the early weeks in your new place when your dog is acclimating to your new location. This is normal. It can especially be an issue if you've had a

significant change in environment, such as moving from the suburbs to a city. If you have concerns that your canine buddy is not adjusting well, please consult a reward-based professional dog trainer.

Don't forget to take care of yourself!

When it comes to your dog adjusting, you are going to be his best remedy. Make sure you are keeping healthy habits, getting sleep, and eating healthy so you can stay strong and positive for your canine friend. This way you'll both be better prepared for new adventures in your new home. Then, you'll just have to worry about unpacking! n

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

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Connie’s Book Club From Dog Love

Curl up with a good dog and a good book

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

Dog Love

By Ann DeVito Mastiffs to Chihuahuas and every dog in between are represented in this beautifully illustrated collection exploring the diversity of dogs. Each dog breed is accompanied by a brief bio describing their unique personalities, an apropos quote from the likes of Johnny Depp, Pablo Picasso, and Marilyn Monroe, and a stunning illustration by DeVito. The images embody the quintessential features of each dog breed, bringing them to life as you flip the pages of this thoroughly sweet read!

Just Life

By Neil Abramson Neil Abramson, author of the acclaimed Unsaid and award recipient for his legal work on behalf of animals, returns with his latest novel exploring the interconnectedness of humans and animals. When an unidentified virus spreads across the New York City neighbourhood of Riverside, animals receive the blame: first birds, then dogs, leading to an enforced quarantine of all dogs in the area. Samantha Lewis, a local vet and owner of a no-kill shelter, finds herself at the heart of this ordeal, taking in more dogs than she can manage. With the help of an unlikely crew (a parish priest, a troubled foster child, and a former psychologist, to name a few) Samantha copes with the situation, battling her own demons along the way. The riveting story rolls to an intense and unforgettable climax—you’ve got to read it!

Lily & the Octopus

By Steven Rowley With emotional depth and a magical spirit, this heartbreakingly lovely novel will definitely cue the tears, in the best way possible. Steven Rowley’s debut novel is about that special someone in your life, the one you trust and can’t live without; for his protagonist, Ted Flask, that someone just so happens to be a loveable Dachshund named Lily.

Rowley’s refreshing wit is moving combined with sharp insight to produce a deeply relatable, endearingly real portrayal of grief, personal struggle, and the powerful relationships we form with our four-legged loved ones. This is a book you’ll want to share. moderndogmagazine.com

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Dog Medicine: How My Dog Saved Me From Myself

By Julie Barton In this refreshingly honest memoir, Julie Barton shares the story of her battle with depression and the rescue dog that got her through it. With her lyrical prose Barton reveals the wonderful ways animals can heal even the most broken of hearts and minds. Highly recommended!

From Dog Love

Black Empress: Rescuing a Puppy From Iran

By Bobbi Phelps Wolverton

Dog Training Revolution: The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet With Love

By Zak George This next-generation guide to positive training covers play biting, potty training, leash pulling, unwanted barking and jumping, and more, with a focus on raising, feeding, and caring for your pup with compassion. Zak George's positive approach to dog training— one without punishment or stress—teaches dog guardians to “read” their dog, allowing them to identify and treat the cause of bad behaviours rather than punishing the symptoms!

Jonathan Unleashed

Medical Marijuana & Your Pet: The Definitive Guide

By Meg Rosoff

By Robert J. Silver DVM, MS

When Jonathan Trefoil is left to take care of his brother's dogs, Dante and Sissy, he has no idea how they will impact his life. In this romantic comedy written by National Book Award finalist Meg Rosoff, Jonathan navigates his upended life in New York with his new canine friends, who he suspects are trying to take over. A delightful read for dogs lovers and anyone who has ever been confounded by life's upheavals!

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In this travel memoir, Bobbi Phelps Wolverton chronicles her time spent working as a secretary for the Iran Safaris Company in early 1970s Tehran. It was a succession of firsts—navigating the colour and tumult of the teeming city streets crowded with cars and oxen alike, adjusting to a foreign place and different faiths, and even surviving a death-defying river crossing and terrifying police interrogation. But among these adventures and trials, one moment came to define Wolverton's time there—her saving of a black Labrador puppy who was to be drowned. This is an inspiring true tale of harrowing challenges surmounted thanks to the love and affection of a dog.

SUMMER 2016

Medical marijuana is known to help ease the suffering of humans dealing with illness, but can it have the same beneficial effects on our dogs? In this informative guide, Dr. Robert J Silver, a nationally renowned holistic veterinarian, answers this and many more questions surrounding medical marijuana and your dog.

Issues addressed include medical benefits, how to safely use cannabis for your pet, and the legalities around its adminstration. A thoroughly in-depth look at an emerging field of pet wellness. n

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

ask dog lady

by Monica Collins

Q

Dear Dog Lady, My Yorkshire Terrier Riblet is a dog of open adoption. This means my neighbour across the street who gave us Riblet a year ago when she couldn’t handle him believes it’s perfectly acceptable to come over and collect him for overnight stays. I really don’t mind all that much but she’s starting to come later and later in the evenings. This does bother me.

Riblet always comes back to us a little crazier than when he left, which makes me worry whether this back-and-forth situation is good for him. He recently bit the man who installed our kitchen tile and he’s growling more than usual.

What can I do to help the situation?

—Laura

A

Stop the spur-of-the-moment overnight visits. Riblet needs the security of one home. Your neighbour gave him up. This means she abandoned responsibility. Now you’re the owner and set the visiting rules.

Overnight stays should be limited to once a month if at all. Make sure you tell her Riblet chomped the tile installer. Fear is frequently behind aggressive behaviour such as biting. Little Riblet is wary and weary.

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Also, a small dog’s cuteness doesn’t mean he should be coddled or indulged.

Do whatever you can to not pick up Riblet and carry him like a toy. He’s not.

Dear Dog Lady, Dog walkers talking on cell phones drive me nutty. These yakkers ignore their dogs, other people, and even traffic lights. The other day a woman talking on her cell phone remained oblivious as her dog slipped out of his collar and nearly ran out into a busy street. If a posse of pedestrians, including myself, hadn’t grabbed the dog by the scruff of its neck and hauled it back from the brink the poor animal might have been killed. Even then, the woman kept talking on her phone until I yelled, “Get off the damned phone, lady!” She put the collar back on her dog and scurried off.

I’ve also seen people on phones ignore their dogs when the animals deposit waste on the sidewalks. Can you please advise all dog walkers not to talk on cell phones? There should be a law.

—Stephen A: Distracted people on cell phones are indeed a menace—in cars or with canines.

Taking the dog for a walk is no excuse to

talk or text. Such multi-tasking is grossly unfair to the dog but obviously cell addicts don’t get it. Dog Lady has seen cell-talkers commit any number of offenses, from leaving poop behind to ignoring dogs tangled in leashes. Dog Lady wishes she could wave a wand and make people stop. Alas, they will have to figure it out on their own.

Dear Dog Lady, On a dating website I had been writing back and forth with a man who described himself as a 57-year-old lawyer. In his photo, he had a nice smile.

In his emails, he mentioned grown children, an ex-wife, but no pets. I finally asked him if he had any animals at home and he wrote me back a startling reply: “No, I don’t have pets and I don’t want to date a woman with a dog. I can barely stand cats. I have no allergies, except to women with dogs. Hope you don’t have one.”

I do have a dog I love very much so I didn’t write this guy back. But I wonder about someone who has an aggressive dislike of women with dogs. Do you think this sort of thing will be a problem as I start dating? (I’m a divorced 54-yearold woman who hasn’t dated for 30 years.)—Ellen

ask dog lady

A: You have to meet in person to determine if there’s any chemistry. When a man really likes you and desires to know you better, he won’t care if you harbor a dog, a zebra, or an aardvark.

However, the lawyer sounds like a man with rigid standards.

Maybe he’s been burned by an ex with a Rex. Or maybe he believes a single woman with a dog will give him less attention.

You don’t need such selfish thinking in your life. You were right to write him off without an argument. In the digital meet market, nothing is real until you actually meet face-to-face.

Dear Dog Lady, I have been trying to sell my home for quite a while now and am looking at apartments to rent. However, the term "Pet Friendly" is not what it appears to be, much to my disappointment.

I have always had "very large" dogs. I lost my Anatolian Shepherd last February. I have my other girl who is a half Boxer/half Airedale mix. She weighs in around 70 pounds.

I have yet to find an apartment that will allow a dog over a weight limitation, normally “under 20 pounds, or small enough to be able to pick up.”

I do not understand the logic behind this anti-large dog premise. Do you have any suggestions or comments in regard to this?—Lee A: The theory: Small dogs can cause less damage than large dogs.

However, it all comes down to the owner.

If you find a “pet friendly” apartment you like, you are wise to present yourself as the finest tenant any landlord could hope to house. Dress nicely. Instead of complaining about the weight limitation and bad mouthing smaller dogs, be upbeat and promise the landlord your dog is under your control and will behave suitably in the community. Meet every “no” with a polite “what if.”

Propose a codicil in the lease so your landlord retains the right to inspect the apartment on a monthly basis and you will pay immediately for any dog damage. Or offer to pay a higher security deposit. Introduce your pet to the proprietor. And present a couple of references from people who know your dog, attesting to her disposition and training.

In essence, do not be passive or defensive in your search. Be proactive and positive. Rentals banning pets and those that restrict weights are irksome but not insurmountable roadblocks. n Go to askdoglady.com to read the new blog.

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Must-haves for you & your dog

moderndog marketplace

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Must-haves for you & your dog

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moderndog marketplace

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LAST LICK

Dogs are my favourite role models.

I want to work like a dog, doing what I was born to do with joy and purpose. I want to play like a dog, with total, jolly abandon. I want to love like a dog, with unabashed devotion and complete lack of concern about what people do for a living, how much money they have, or how much they weigh. The fact that we still live with dogs, even when we don't have to herd or hunt our dinner, gives me hope for humans and canines alike.

—Oprah Winfrey Photographed by Sarah Daloise

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