Modern Dog Winter 2015

The Most Important Thing You Can Teach Your Dog (Hint: it's not what you think!) p112

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions W IN T ER 2015/16

HOW NOT TO TRAIN YOUR PUPPY

Gift Ideas Galore!

14 Common Mistakes p28

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

A D N FI BEST NEWIEND FR p38

p68

Big Big Dogs Dogs & & their their Puppy Counterparts

“Why is My Dog Staring At Me?” Find out! p24

moderndogmagazine.com DISPLAY UNTIL MAR ‘16

$5.95

p80

Winter Survival Tips

I 'm Adoptable!

DIY CHALKBOARD DOG DISH TIPS TO HELP BLIND DOGS CAPTURED! CELEBRITIES & THEIR DOGS MAKE IT! MINTY DOG TREAT RECIPE WHY YOU SHOULD GET A DOG FOR AN AGING PARENT

p44

Great Gear!

find your breed match: The Pug, Papillon, Samoyed, Corgi, Saint Bernard, Great Dane & more!

VOL 14

NO 4

PHOTO SARAH DALOISE

WINTER 2015/16

84 FEATURES 24

Why Is My Dog Staring at Me? No doubt about it, our dogs are keeping a close eye on us. Here are five reasons your dog is staring at you.

28

How NOT to Train Your Puppy 14 common puppy rearing mistakes and how to avoid them. BY STEVE DUNO

38

Find A New Best Friend Adorable adoptables—all the dogs on these pages are in search of their forever homes!

40

Lassie, Sit! How To Get Your Dog to Do As You Ask How you phrase a command has a direct result on the reliability of your dog’s response. Turn to page 40 to find out if how you are issuing commands is hindering your dog’s performance! BY STANLEY COREN

48

These Puppies Could Be Yours!

Meet our adoptable cover pups!

50

Leading the Blind Tips for living with a visually impaired dog.

56

Call of the Wild Wolfdog sanctuaries provide much needed rescue and safe space for these magnificent and misunderstood animals.

68

Big & Little These puppy and adult pairings (with breed info!) are pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Test this asser tion by turning to page 68. PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH DALOISE

92

Stars & Their Pets Michelle Beadle—sports reporter, ESPN host, and major dog lover—talks rescue, being a woman in a notorious boy’s club, and why Pugs are the best. BY ROSE FROSEK

102

Sometimes Failure Can Be A Good Thing There is one serious side effect to consider when acting as a foster parent to a rescue dog awaiting a forever home —you may just fall in love. BY POOJA MENON

BY TEOTI ANDERSON

PHOTOGRAPHED BY TANYA KING

BY SELVA FREIGEDO

BY LESLIE JOHNSON

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68 112

The Most Important Thing You Can Teach Your Dog Hint: the answer may surprise you. BY NICOLE

WILDE

BREED PROFILE 26

Find Your Perfect Match Could the Pug or the Papillon be your ideal breed match?

Turn to page 26 to find out!

108

The Samoyed: More Than Just a Pretty Face This energetic, beautiful, eager-to-please breed is a real charmer. BY KELLY CALDWELL

126

Meet The Newbies Get to know these four breeds, newly recognized by the AKC, that will be competing at Westminster for the first time!

BODY & SOUL 74

Canine Personality Study Do you have the same personality as your dog?

A recent study says you probably do!

76

Does Your Dog Really Need to be Vaccinated?; The Find

78

Go With Your Gut: a Probiotics Primer

PHOTO SARAH DALOISE

PHOTO SARAH DICKERSON/CHIC SPRINKLES

90 68

THE GOODS 44

Gift Guide From must-have essentials to the fun and fantastic, we've rounded up all our favourite things guaranteed to delight dog lovers!

Drool-worthy Collars We've curated a selection of seriously awesome collars!

80

Baby It's Cold Outside: Winter Survival Tips

82

Can I Crash On Your Couch a While?

A Diamond is Forever; Quotable

94

84

Inspiration Cards Spirit elevating pocket-sized cards to stick on your fridge or use as a bookmark.

LIVING

86

The Best Kind of Medicine: Canine Companionship for Seniors Wondering if you should get a dog for an elderly family member? This article may very well convince you to!

96

Back From the Brink How one organization is saving the lives of war veterans and shelter dogs, pulling dogs from euthanasia lists and pairing them with former warriors. It’s not only a match made in heaven, it’s a recipe for success. BY NOA NICHOL

94

12

Dogs Who LOVE Snow

22

We're Giving it Away!

We've got three months of fantastic giveaways, from dog beds to books to getaways, and winners every week!

34

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

54

One to Follow Instagram's Gracie the Labrador.

64

DIY Craft: Chalkboard Dog Bowl Make these cool chalkboard dog dishes for less than $20!

90

DIY Eat: Puppermint Dog Treats Let your pup get in the spirit with these healthy, pepperminty treats just for dogs! BY SARAH DICKERSON

115

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

118

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

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REGULAR FEATURES

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

110 ON THE COVER

Photographed by Tanya King. This issue we have not just one but TWO covers, each featuring an adorable, ADOPTABLE rescue puppy! If you're a subscriber you'll receive the pink cover and if you picked up the issue on newsstand you'll get the teal one. For more info on these cuties, turn to page 48!

Our cover puppies are adorably accessorized. Both wear collars from Hot Dogs All Dressed (from $19, hotdogsalldressed.com).

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In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 14, Issue 4. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 061114003. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.

PHOTO

Cute

@GRACIETHELABRADO

BY DARCY MATHESON

EDITOR'S LETTER

I

’d like to start off this note with a big THANK YOU. I have so much gratitude for our wonderful readers—you are an inspiration to me in countless ways. Should I ever get downhearted about the direction the world is headed, I simply need to look to our readers for reassurance that the world is filled with inherently kind and caring people. Your love for your dogs and animals in general gives me hope that together we'll counter all the negatives and make the world a better place for all.

As you flip through the pages of the Winter issue, you’ll see compelling proof of such goodness and caring. We’ve highlighted some darn amazing dog people making a huge difference in the lives of both animals and people. Take, for instance, Shari Duval. When her son returned from combat with debilitating PTSD, she was determined to help him. Driven by desperation, she turned to his love for dogs, which resulted in her founding an amazing non-profit, K9s for Warriors. Duval’s organization is devoted to saving the lives of war veterans diagnosed with PTSD by pairing them with shelter dogs pulled from euthanasia lists. These dogs, themselves the recipient of a second chance, have an incredible impact on the lives of the veterans they’re paired with, as illustrated by the stories of the three returning warriors we profile on page 96.

Then there are terrific organizations such as Senior Dogs 4 Seniors that match golden-aged animals with golden-aged pet parents (p 86). Remarkable “state-of-mind” improvements are noted, with seniors reporting feeling less lonely and depressed. As one such senior puts it, she’s become a social butterfly and has now

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met everyone in the neighbourhood!

And that’s not all. We also take an inspiring look at dog fostering. For the unfamiliar, fostering is when you provide a temporary home to a shelter dog while she awaits a forever home. This not only helps the adoptable dog by letting her decompress in a safe, home environment (shelters are stressful!), but it also frees up shelter space to help other homeless dogs (p 82). By fostering you’re saving not one but two lives!

As the folks we profile on page 102 attest, fostering is an incredible experience that sometimes results in failure—failure to relinquish your foster dog, that is! There’s the very real risk of falling in love, and really, what could be better than that?

In summary: To foster is defined as “to encourage or promote the development of.” It is my wish that the winter issue of Modern Dog does just that, providing the inspiration to pay forward the many blessings we are recipient of. As I hope this issue illustrates, the rewards—love, connectivity, canine companionship, and the list goes on—are great!

Wishing you a most wonderful winter season and a healthy, prosperous 2016!

Connie Wilson, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

PERRA SUBMITTED BY JENSYN

—Deepak Chopra, Creating Affluence

PHOTO KHAREN HILL

The universe is the harmonious interaction of all the elements and forces that create balance and harmony.

The word universe literally means “one song” (uni: one; verse: song). In this song, in this harmony, there is peace, laughter, joy, and bliss.

C ON TRIBUT OR S WINTER 2015/16

•

VOL 14

NO 4

Publisher

Modern Dog Inc.

Kailey Lang grew up on the side of a mountain in British Columbia, and travelled to Ontario to attend college and pursue her dreams. She is now an illustrator living in a small apartment in Hamilton, Ontario, with her scrappy little Whippet/Poodle, Lucy. When Kailey isn’t tripping over dog toys and being harassed for scratches, she is painting the things in nature she loves and creating products for her Etsy shop, etsy.com/shop/KLangIllustration.

Turn to page 41 to see Kailey’s wonderful illustration for “How to Get Your Dog to Do As You Ask.”

Editor-in-Chief

Connie Wilson Editor & Creative Director

Jennifer Nosek Audience Development & Digital Marketing Director

Lauren Cheal Social Media & Events Coordinator

Taryn Cheal Design & Production

Natalie Gagnon Sales & Marketing

Julia Klymenko, Jacqueline Lowndes Accounting and Subscription Services

Celine Benipayo Sales & Subscription Services Assistant

Nav Nagra Web Writer

Rebekah Chotem Controller

Melbourne, Australia-based freelance writer Selva Freigedo is a dog lover (of course!) and an avid traveler who has lived in the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and Australia and has explored numerous cities around the world. She enjoys reading, writing, and going on hikes with her husband and her two dogs, Duna and Marley. Selva’s dog Duna was diagnosed with Progressive Retinal Atrophy at just two years of age, making Selva the ideal person to author this issue’s article on how to help a blind dog adapt. Check it out on page 50.

Cecilia de Roca Chan Honourary Editor-at-Large

Jytte Wilson 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 14, Issue 4.

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 14, Issue 4. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003.

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

PHONE

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

FAX

For this issue Calgary, AB-based dog photographer Sarah Daloise turned her lens on adult dogs and their puppy counterparts. The result is our toocute-for-words “Big and Little” photoeditorial (the smiling Samoyed—heart melting!) on page 68. Sarah used to be a registered nurse but following the loss of her Shar-Pei, Kirby, she was inspired to create lasting memories for others through photography. Her success has led to other creative business ventures including a pet greeting card line.

Sarah also has a growing BodyTalk practice for creatures of the two-legged variety. For more of Sarah’s work visit sarahanndogphotography.com.

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

Copyright 2015/16 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 1 The soft and luxurious velvet top of Pet P.L.A.Y’s designer “chill pad” makes napping simply irresistible. Don't say I didn't warn you—you’ll likely find your dog cozily snoozing for hours, not requiring your attention! Vibrant designs and easy cleaning make it a hit in any home or office.—Miniature Dachshund Esther ($30, petplay.com)

$

2 When I’m out on the town I like to get noticed—noticed and patted that is! Increase your chances of getting human attention by wearing the gorgeous handcrafted “Oscar” leather collar with brass detailing from Collier Leeds. With it any dog can own the dogwalk (or sidewalk)! I know I do.—Lexi the Rat Terrier ($90, collierleeds.com)

BN

3 Texas-based artist Natalie Zimmerman captures the true essence of each of her canine subjects in her Scratchboard Pet Portraits. Every portrait is engraved by hand on Ampersand scratchboards, highlighting the beautiful, fine details of your dog’s adorable face!—Jacqueline (From $20, nataliezimmermanart.com)

BM

4 Give your dog superior joint support with the Orthopedic Doggy Mat. Made to last with a five-year Anti-Sag guarantee, luxurious memory foam, and an easy to clean, high quality synthetic leather cover that lets no moisture through (think no odours!), it will help you and your dog sleep easy.—Natalie (From $125, doggy-beds.net)

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5 Give your pup a nutritious snack that he will gobble up! Dogs Love Kale treats are 100% sourced from the USA with no animal by-products and are jam-packed with the goodness of kale. Available in a variety of flavours your dog will love!—Cecilia (From $8, dogslovekale.com) 6 Never get tangled in a cord while vacuuming up pet hair again! The delightfully cordless Dyson V6 Absolute features a Hepa filter, separate specially engineered cleaner heads for carpets and hard floors, patented 2 Tier Radial cyclonic suction, and a mini motorized tool perfect for upholstery and small spaces. A Godsend!—Connie ($600, dyson.com) 7 If you’re like me the number of digital photos you intend to print are piling up. With Polaroid Z2300, I can finally print my dog Nathan’s photos on the spot! The camera even lets me crop, filter, and upload the picture to his Facebook page right from the camera.

Oh, and it also takes videos! Absolutely love this!—Celine ($179, polaroid.com)

BL

8 Between groomer trips, dogs can get a little shaggy. The Wahl U Clip is great for little touch ups when it’s not time for the full groomer visit!—Taryn (From $35, wahl.com) 9 Pee happens! (And I should know.) Don’t let puppy pads stink up your home. Rather than have them sitting in your garbage, toss them in the convenient Puppy Pad Wizard, an odour-free, sanitary, and cute solution to smelly pee pad disposal. Great for disposing of belly bands and doggie diapers too. It’s like a Diaper Genie, but for dogs!—Miniature Dachshund Rose ($80, puppypadwizard.com)

^

10 Interior designer Jo Alcorn's style is now available to pet owners! This dog bed would beautify any home, plus it’s super comfy, fully washable, and hypoallergenic.

Even the pickiest pup will be all snug and cozy. Both my son and my Pug Genji love it!—Julia (From $99, whitewashco.ca) 11 A recent car accident got me worried about my safety. But what can I use if I hate harnesses and am terrified of confining seats? K9 CarFenceTLC-2X of course! It's super easy to install, adjustable, and is a perfect fit for 99% of cars. It keeps the car hair and dirt free, too!—Genji the Pug ($195, k9carfence.com) 12 Make your training session extra pawsitive with Finest Fetch’s all-natural, wheatfree Grilled Cheeseburger Training Treats. Baked with 100% premium human-grade ingredients from the USA and zero preservatives, they’ll help make your dog a genius in no time!—Lauren ($16, finestfetch.com)

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DOGS WHO LOVE SNOW ! w w w A

Henderson Loli

Saphira loves digging in the snow.

—Wendy Wolcott Xxxx

Loli LOVES the snow! (And catching snowballs!)

Snowflake Catcher!

—Kelsey Tipton

Wally

Peanut

Max

Peanut the Mastiff as a 12-week-old puppy—loving playing in the huge drifts after a snowstorm.

—Tammy Trame Kinkade

Sabrina

Wally loves loves loves snow. Doesn't that face say it all?—Jennifer Martin

Jasper

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

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CAST YOUR VOTE AT MODERNDOGMAGAZINE.COM

54.4 million US households have a dog.

Cats are in second place with 42.9 million US households counting a cat among its members.

Number of Pets Owned in the US: 85.8 million cats, 77.8 million dogs *Cat lovers are more likely to have more than one cat.

Change an Animal’s Life this Holiday Season Contrary to old school thinking, the holiday season is the perfect time to introduce a new furry member into your family. Each year from November 1 to December 31, the Ontario SPCA and participating societies across Canada runs their iAdopt for the Holidays campaign (iadopt.ca) with the goal of getting as many animals into new homes over the holiday season as possible. Regardless of where you live, with people having time off from work and being home together as a family, the holidays are a great time to welcome a new furry companion into your home. Visit your local shelter to take part and change an animal’s life!

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KIWI SUBMITTED BY AMANDA CARR

According to the 2015-2016 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 65% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 79.7 million homes. In 1988, the first year the survey was conducted, just 56% of U.S. households owned a pet. The pet industry in the US alone is expected to exceed $60.59 billion— yes, billion, dollars this year.

Family Matters

MD ResuPoll lts

92%

of Modern Dog readers refer to themselves as a Dog Mom or Dad

LOLA SUBMITTED BY VICTORIA

By the Numbers

Do you give your dog supplements?

CAT INSET: ELLIOT SUBMITTED BY KATIE; DOG: KHAN SUBMITTED BY NATASHA, SCOTT & SOPHIE HEWITT

MODERN DOG POLL QUESTION

SONY, STELLA, TUCKER, & GRAHAM SUBMITTED BY LAUREN BRUNO

HUGO SUBMITTED BY KATRINA BOWDEN

CANINE NEWS AND REVIEWS

THE SCOOP Powerful new search tool lets you find veterinary specialists in your area T

here’s an awesome new tool at your disposal where the health of your dog is concerned. Whether your dog is facing surgery, battling a neurological issue, or you’re reeling from your dog’s cancer diagnosis and trying to formulate a treatment plan, the newly launched site vetspecialists.com can help! This comprehensive, searchable database of board-certified veterinary specialists, launched by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (i.e. people who know their stuff!), enables you to find local specialists so that you can provide the best care possible for your animals.

In addition to a comprehensive directory of board-certified veterinary specialists, the site offers useful tools such as a library of articles on medical conditions, treatments, and procedures, authored by board-certified veterinary specialists, as well as a list of questions regarding your dog’s symptoms that you can consider for discussion with your primary care veterinarian.

“Sometimes our patients need specialist care for further diagnostics and treatment options that we simply cannot offer in a general practice,” notes Andrea Putt, DVM and owner of Commerce Village Veterinary Hospital in Commerce Township, Michigan.

“Working together as a team will ensure that pets are getting the highest quality of veterinary care for the highest quality of life.”

SUPER STAT

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A study conducted by psychiatrists at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that seniors with pets were 36% less likely to report loneliness than those without a pet in their lives.

MAXWELL SUBMITTED BY LASONNA R

To find a local, board-certified medical specialist, whether in surgery, cardiology, oncology, neurology or internal medicine, check out vetspecialists.com.

THE SCOOP Powerful new search tool lets you find veterinary A toy-size dog with a life-size heart specialists in your area SPECIAL PROMOTION

Blue Marble

By Leslie Johnson

T

I

goats, was accustomed to barn cats not pet dogs.

Adopting a puppy? The time never seemed right.InNevertheless, Marianne, Kamilla kept pestering her father and she ‘finally wore addition to a says comprehensive directory of board-certified veterinary specialists, the him down.’ Having achieved the difficult but necessary step of getting her father’s permission, Kamilla started surfing the Internet, clicking site offers useful tools such as a library of articles on medical conditions, treatments, through page after page of lovable puppies. She came the Havapoo: a small, sturdy dog with a playful, affectionate and across procedures, authored by board-certified veterinary specialists, as temperament. well as a list ofLike its parents, a Havanese and a Toy Poodle, the Havapoo is highly intelligent and easy to train. questions regarding your dog’s symptoms that you can consider for discussion with Kamilla and Marianne found themselves drawn your to a particularly appealing website. “It was Easter, and there were photos of six adorable primary care veterinarian. puppies nestled in between pink and blue eggs,” explains Marianne. One puppy in particular caught their attention. “I phoned the breeder and “Sometimes our patients asked her if she would hold that puppy for us,” says Marianne. “But she saidneed ‘no.’”specialist care for further diagnostics and treatment options that we simply cannot offer a general practice,” notes Andrea Putt, home DVM in Undaunted, Marianne, Kamilla and Ed jumped into the family car and drove south forinfour hours—travelling 400 km from their and owner of Commerce Village Veterinary Hospital in Commerce Township, Michigan.

Sudbury, Ontario to Oakville, Ontario where the breeder lived—not knowing if the puppy would still be available when they arrived. a team will ensure that pets the highest quality of After arriving in Oakville, they discovered to their“Working relief thattogether all six ofasthe endearing, eight-week old are fluffgetting balls were still there.

Marianne veterinary care for the highest quality of life.” wanted to see how they would interact with her daughter. “All of the puppies came over, said ‘hello,’ and left,” explains Marianne. Except for one—the puppy who had caught their attention earlier, the one they had driven over 400 km to see. “She came and sat beside my daughter,” To find a local, board-certified medical specialist, whether in surgery, cardiology, says Marianne, adding excitedly, “She was the one!” oncology, neurology or internal medicine, check out vetspecialists.com.

They made the decision in an instant: Marianne and Kamilla were taking the puppy home.

Kamilla named her ‘Blue’ after her distinctive coloring: the puppy was a patchwork of blues, greys and black. Since the puppy was unique—a Blue Merle—Kamilla thought she should have a middle name and added ‘Marble.’ “She does have quite a few names,” admits Marianne. “I call her Blueberry, and when she gets into trouble, I use the middle name.”

Blue Marble had effortlessly won the hearts of Marianne and Kamilla the second they saw her ever-so-cute photograph on the Havapoo website. “But the big surprise was that my husband went from not wanting a dog to feeling the complete opposite,” Marianne laughs. “We have a large fenced yard and they play for hours.”

Blue’s goofy, playful antics were no surprise to Marianne since the Havapoo is known for its pleasant disposition. In fact, the diminutive dog is often called an entertainer, a natural clown. However, she was pleasantly surprised to discover the blue ball of fluff had another side.

A kind and caring spirit, Blue seems to tune into the feelings of those around her. “She is so empathetic,” exclaims Marianne describing a telling incident that occurred when her husband, Ed, recently took the puppy for a walk in the park. For no apparent reason, in the middle of the walk, the puppy suddenly decided to sit down. Moreover, she stayed there. “This was so unusual for her,” says Marianne, adding, “she was always eager to go, go, go.” Then the puppy, still firmly parked with her butt on the ground, looked behind her. A woman was walking alone in the park. She approached the unmoving pup and started to pet her. Then the lady opened her heart to Ed and Blue, confiding sadly that she had just lost her own beloved pet dog the week before. “Blue seemed to sense her loss and wanted to give her comfort,” affirms Marianne.

Blue is only 10 months old. She only weighs a paltry 16 pounds but she plays a hefty role in the lives of her family and those she meets.

To them, she is not a Havanoodle, a Havapoodle, or a Havapoo. She is, quite simply, Blue Marble.

SUPER STAT

A study conducted by psychiatrists at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that seniors with pets were 36% less likely to report loneliness than those without a pet in their lives.

MAXWELL SUBMITTED BY LASONNA R

here’s an awesome new tool at your disposal where the health of your dog is concerned. Whether your dog is facing surgery, battling a neurological issue, or s she a Havanoodle or a Havapoodle? A Havapoo or a Poovanese? Clearly, she is not a mutt, a mix of uncertain ancestry. She is a cross you’re reeling from your dog’s cancer diagnosis and trying to formulate a treatment between two purebred breeds, a Havanese and a Toy Poodle. To her family, though, her moniker and ancestry do not matter. She is simply plan, the newly launched site vetspecialists.com can help! This comprehensive, Blue Marble: an adorable puppy that, in a few short months, has captivated their hearts. searchable database of board-certified veterinary specialists, launched by the American It all started with Marianne’s 17-year old daughter, Kamilla, who doggedly pursued her parents, insisting she needed a puppy. Marianne’s College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary 20-year old son, Brandyn, was indifferent: he was more interested in hockey than hounds. However, Kamilla was adamant: she wanted a dog.

Surgeons (i.e. people who know their stuff!), enables you to find local specialists so Marianne and Ed were hesitant; after all, Ed had never had a pet of any kind growing up, and Marianne, raised on a farm with chickens and that you can provide the best care possible for your animals.

SPECIAL PROMOTION

Winner of the Royal Canin Tell your ‘Tail’ Contest

THE SCOOP CAPTION THIS!

How cool is this? Innovative new company Bug Bites is making delicious, dog-approved treats (the Modern Dog testers gave them a very enthusiastic two paws up!) from a very nontraditional protein source: crickets! As it turns out, there are some very good reasons to consider this alternative to your usual beef, lamb or chicken. A tasty and excellent protein source, crickets just so happen to be extremely eco-friendly—their farming uses far less water and produces fewer emissions than animals raised for meat, all while producing a higher yield.

Oh, and they’re low in fat too. Talk about a win-win situation, something your dog will happily corroborate as he scarfs down these healthy, sustainable, environmentally sound treats!

Check them out at hexafoods.com.

A Great Gift That Makes a Difference!

Don’t know what to get Auntie Joan? We have the perfect gift idea!

A $32 gift donation to World Animal Protection provides 25 needy dogs around the world with a rabies vaccine. Along with your life-saving donation, you or the person you’re donating on behalf of will receive a World Animal Protection dog tag that shows your support. We can think of no better gift. $32, worldanimalprotection.org

AND THE WINNING CAPTION FROM THE FALL ISSUE IS…

"Are you sure you're able to work? By my calculations you're about 217 years old!"

SUBMITTED BY ROGER FINK

RUNNER-UP CAPTIONS "Roofrences available upon request?

Is that some kinda joke?"

SUBMITTED BY ROB HOOSEIN

"Says here you can sit, beg, and roll over.

Is there anything you can't do?"

SUBMITTED BY LEEANNE SCHILTZ

"HR has received some complaints that you are actually going to the bathroom IN the building."

SUBMITTED BY ADAM BRODY

"Frankly, Larry, I think we should change the "dog eat dog" comment to 'competitive,' don't you?"

SUBMITTED BY LYNN LORENTZ

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C A R T O O N S © 2015/16 B Y D A V I D J A C O B S O N

A Delicious New Dog Treat...

Made of Cricket Flour?

Yes Indeed!

PHOTO SACHA BOURQUE

PHOTO ALEX GODBOUT-SIMARD

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.

!

E L I M S Docke & Chloe Golden Retrievers

Modern Dog’s Photo Contest Winners!

Peyton Chloe

Miniature Dachshund

French Bulldog

Xxx Xxx

Peyton

Louie

Maltese

Timmy

Marvelous mutt

Ella

Rat Terrier

Sadie Grace

Walker Coonhound & Siberian Husky Mix 20 moderndog

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Cooper & Quincy

Cowboy Corgi

Reuben QT Mathers

Stella

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Rosie Chicka Mathers Oliver Chihuahua

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Think your dog ought to be in Modern Dog?

Havanese

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Pembroke Welsh Corgi moderndogmagazine.com

21

ENTER TO WIN

INSET PHOTO: WHINCHESTER SUBMITTED BY MADISON MORTON

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

We’re giving it away! Enter to win fabulous giveaways each and every week in December, January, and February.

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

december

1st-7th

Win 1 of 7 copies of Beloved Dog, the charming new book by renowned artist and author Maira Kalman, from Penguin Press.

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-31st

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-31st

Win 1 of 12 colourful, customized steel pet ID tags from Dog Tag Art! Choose from hundreds of designs or upload your own photos. Guaranteed for life.

Win 1 of 3 gift packs filled with Zuke’s all natural dog treats, like Genuine Jerky Steaks and Skinny Bakes! Made in the USA and New Zealand since 1995.

Win a two-night stay at the Inn By The Sea Resort in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, including gourmet dog meal and 30-minute doggie massage, courtesy of Global Pet Plus!

january

1st-7th

Win 1 of 4 three month subscriptions to BugBites dog treats, a tasty snack made with nutritious cricket flour! Subscription includes two 4oz bags per month.

february

1st-7th

Win 1 of 2 six-month supplies of Glyco Flex Plus joint supplements for dogs! Provides clinically proven nutritional joint support for working, competitive, and senior dogs.

Win 1 Puppy McQueen Collection including Deodorizing Body Spray, Waterless Shampoo, Rinse-Off Oil, and a full set of non-toxic, water-based, transfer-proof pet hair colours!

8th-14th

Win 1 of 11 copies of A Dog Named Jimmy from Avery Books! This heartwarming and hilarious photo book will delight animal lovers everywhere.

Win 1 of 50 bottles of all natural Bacon Flavored Spray, made in the USA with flax and chia seed oil. Adds essential Omega-3’s to every meal!

15th-21st

Win 1 of 4 one-month subscriptions from Daisy-Care! Spoil your dog with the surprise contents of this care package subscription, which includes paw-picked treats and toys!

Win 1 of 4 QuietTime Defender Bolstered Orthopedic Sofas from Midwest Homes for Pets! Featuring Teflon fabric protector, these cushioned, therapeutic beds repel pet stains, oils, liquids, and dirt!

22nd-29th

Win 1 of 3 Pods, the small, real-time GPS tracker that attaches to any size collar, letting you locate your pet, monitor activity, and record adventures on a smart phone or computer.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Beginning December 1, 2015 at 12:01 AM (PST) through February 29, 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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Why is My Dog Why is Staring My Dog At Me? Staring At Me?

MAPLE SUBMITTED BY CASSIE

No doubt about it, our dogs are keeping a close eye on us. Here are 5 reasons your dog is staring at you

By Teoti Anderson

Y

ou’re going about your evening when you sense it. The unmistakable feeling you’re being watched. You slowly turn your head, searching for the source. And then you find it—canine eyes, peering at you. Why is your dog staring at you? Is he plotting world domination? Is he worried about you? Is he hungry? Do you have something between your teeth?!

Staring is a behaviour that puzzles and sometimes worries many pet parents. There are many good reasons why your dog is staring at you.

#1

HE IS SHOWING AFFECTION Just as you gaze lovingly into your partner’s eyes, dogs look into our eyes to indicate they like us. You’ll see your dog has a soft expression, maybe with slightly squinty eyes.

Please note this gaze should be a voluntary behaviour. You should never hold a dog’s head still and stare into his eyes hoping for a mutual loving gaze. This can be a common mistake made by young children who often like to hold dogs still so they can look at them more closely. Your dog could take this action as a threat and may not react affectionately at all. But if your dog is staring at you all gooey-eyed, this is usually just what it looks like—a sign that he loves you!

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#2

HE’S LOOKING FOR CLUES While you may sometimes feel your dog rules the roost, you are actually the one in charge. You decide what he eats and when he eats. You decide when he goes outside. You decide when to have playtime, when to take him for medical care, and where he sleeps. You choose his human and canine friends, and when he gets to interact with them. You’re calling the shots! So your dog is quite invested in figuring out what you’re up to as it directly affects his life.

Dogs are much better at reading our body language than we are at reading theirs. Their sense of smell and hearing are more acute than ours, and it also benefits them as a species to be superobservant. They can figure out when you’re about to leave for work—you may get your coat, pick up your keys or pick up a purse or a briefcase. They know when you pull out a suitcase you may be leaving them behind. They can often tell when you’re not feeling well, when you’ve had a cranky day or when you’re sad.

When your dog stares at you he’s oftentimes monitoring your behaviour to find out what’s going on and how it will impact him.

Makes you a little self-conscious now, doesn’t it?

#3

HE NEEDS SOMETHING Maybe he really needs to go outside to potty. Maybe he’s starving because you’re five minutes late feeding him dinner. Maybe he

DARCY MAEBELL SUBMITTED BY DILLON GRIFFIN

just lost his ball under the couch and you’re the only one who can save it. Dogs can’t talk to us to tell us what they want, but many dogs have wonderfully expressive eyes and use them to try and communicate with us. So your dog could be staring at you because he needs you to help him with something or he wants you to do something.

#4

YOU’RE EATING SOMETHING Just because your dog has never had a potato chip in his life doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be game to help you eat that bag of chips right now. Some pet parents worry that their dog is trying to dominate them if their dog stares at them while they are eating, but this could not be farther from the truth. You don’t have to eat something before your dog eats to prove you’re a leader. The answer is much simpler– your dog isn’t trying to elevate his position; your dog just wants you to share! Those chips look and smell delicious.

If you ever fed your dog while you were eating you taught him to stare at you; he now expects you to do it again. So you may have created a habit you now find annoying. Whether or not you taught the behaviour, if it bothers you, you can train

your dog to settle on his bed with a food-stuffed toy while you eat or simply put him in another room.

#5

HE IS EXHIBITING AGGRESSION This is not as common, but it does happen. If a dog gives you a hard stare, eyes unblinking, and has a stiff posture, this is aggression. You may see it if you reach for food or a toy that the dog is guarding, or if you approach a dog that doesn’t want you to come closer. If you ever encounter this, do not stare directly back into the dog’s eyes. Move slowly away from the dog. If it is your dog, then please seek professional help from a modern, positive dog trainer.

When your dog stares at you, there can be many things behind those eyes, but most often it is love or the desire to communicate a desire or a need. After all, when you return the gaze, you’re looking into the eyes of a sensitive (and frequently hungry) friend. 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.

moderndogmagazine.com

25

DARCY MAEBELL SUBMITTED BY DILLON GRIFFIN

just lost his ball under the couch and you’re the only one who can save it. Dogs can’t talk to us to tell us what they want, but many dogs have wonderfully expressive eyes and use them to try and communicate with us. So your dog could be staring at you because he needs you to help him with something or he wants you to do something.

#4

YOU’RE EATING SOMETHING Just because your dog has never had a potato chip in his life doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be game to help you eat that bag of chips right now. Some pet parents worry that their dog is trying to dominate them if their dog stares at them while they are eating, but this could not be farther from the truth. You don’t have to eat something before your dog eats to prove you’re a leader. The answer is much simpler– your dog isn’t trying to elevate his position; your dog just wants you to share! Those chips look and smell delicious.

If you ever fed your dog while you were eating you taught him to stare at you; he now expects you to do it again. So you may have created a habit you now find annoying. Whether or not you taught the behaviour, if it bothers you, you can train

your dog to settle on his bed with a food-stuffed toy while you eat or simply put him in another room.

#5

HE IS EXHIBITING AGGRESSION This is not as common, but it does happen. If a dog gives you a hard stare, eyes unblinking, and has a stiff posture, this is aggression. You may see it if you reach for food or a toy that the dog is guarding, or if you approach a dog that doesn’t want you to come closer. If you ever encounter this, do not stare directly back into the dog’s eyes. Move slowly away from the dog. If it is your dog, then please seek professional help from a modern, positive dog trainer.

When your dog stares at you, there can be many things behind those eyes, but most often it is love or the desire to communicate a desire or a need. After all, when you return the gaze, you’re looking into the eyes of a sensitive (and frequently hungry) friend. 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.

moderndogmagazine.com

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YOUR PERFECT MATCH

Are Either of These Breeds Right For You? The Papillon

Social Butterfly

The elegant and extroverted Papillon could not have a more fitting name. The name “Papillon,” French for butterfly, is actually a reference to the breed’s distinctive widespread, wing-like ears, but it could equally well refer to the breed’s gregarious personality.

The Pug

V.I.P.

The Pug’s “I’m-the-centre-of-the-universe-and-it’s-a-great-place-tobe” outlook on life is one of the keys to this breed’s enduring popularity. This largest member of the Toy Group is currently ranked 32nd in popularity by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Though the breed’s forehead wrinkles are meant to resemble the Chinese character for “prince,” its comportment is not always royal—this is a dog that has snored, snuffled, wheezed, and farted his way into the heart of many a modern dog owner.

Despite this, the breed makes for a charming companion. Some Pugs are placid and dignified and others are excitable extroverts, but all are “people” dogs that want to spend as much time with their owners as possible. At 14 to 18 pounds ideal weight (often exceeded by indulged individuals), the Pug is a sturdy but still lap-sized model. The phrase “multum in parvo,” used in the AKC breed standard, means “much in little” and can be interpreted to refer to both the Pug’s compact but solidly muscled physical form and a personality much bigger than its stature would suggest.

The distinguishing physical feature of the breed is its unmistakable face. Large, wide set, round eyes; small ears; a pushed-in nose; and a wide mouth—all set amongst large, deep wrinkles—create the unique and sweet expression beloved by besotted Pug enthusiasts. (Like all short-faced breeds, the Pug can experience health problems related to restricted breathing; their protuberant eyes are susceptible to disease and injury.)

The Pug-immune may wonder what all the fuss is about, but the legion Pug fans know that VIP ought to stand for Virtually Irresistible Pug.

Could the Pug be the breed for you? Read more at moderndogmagazine.com/breeds/pug.

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This combination of butterfly-like beauty and breezy sociability has made the Papillon a favourite companion for at least 600 years; the breed is documented in paintings dating back as far as the 14th century by such famous artists as Titian, Rubens, Fragonard, and Goya.

King Henri III of France loved his Paps so much he brought them to council meetings in small baskets carried around his neck. Marie Antoinette also owned the diminutive dogs, and after her death by guillotine, several were cared for in her home in Paris, a house subsequently known as “The House of Papillons.”

Described as “fine-boned” in the breed standard, the Papillon is a dainty dog of eight to 11 inches and from three to six pounds in weight, with a silky, flowing coat of any colour paired with white.

Papillons do not have an undercoat, so shedding is minimal.

Despite his petite stature, the Pap is a keen and versatile participant in many activities, being the top-ranked toy breed in several canine sports and standing 8th in intelligence among all breeds, according to Stanley Coren, author of The Intelligence of Dogs.

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

Could the Papillon be the breed for you? Read more at moderndogmagazine.com/breeds/papillon.

TRAINING

HOW NOT TO TRAIN YOUR PUPPY Are you guilty of these puppy training mistakes?

Read on to find out…

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SAY ?

AT H W

14 of the most common puppy training mistakes and how to avoid them

By Steve Duno Photographed by Tanya King

T

he arrival of a new puppy can be an exciting, happy time. But without a basic understanding of the do’s and don’ts of puppy raising, things can go sour fast. Housetraining woes, destructive chewing, barking, and other unsettling behaviours can quickly turn those good feelings into frustration and even regret.

But by avoiding the most common errors, you can increase the odds of enjoying the experience, and mentoring that puppy into adulthood.

Here are 14 of the most common puppy blunders to avoid:

1 Taking Your Puppy Home Too Soon

This one is HUGE. During the first eight weeks of a puppy’s life, she receives precious nurturing from her mother and learns invaluable social skills from her littermates.

Unfortunately, some breeders and shelters allow puppies to leave the litter too soon; this short-circuits the social imprinting process and can lead to ingrained problems.

Puppies who leave too soon (before eight weeks of age) often struggle to learn proper bite inhibition and do not learn to interact normally with dogs or people. They can become skittish toward strangers and fearful toward other dogs. Avoid lifelong issues by simply choosing a puppy that has been with its mother and littermates for at least eight weeks—or, better yet, 12 weeks.

2 Not Starting Basic Training Immediately

An eight-week-old puppy is completely capable of learning basic obedience commands the moment she walks into your home. Oddly, many people fail to recognize this, thinking that the only training that should occur is housebreaking. Not true! By beginning simple obedience skills such as sit, down, stay, and come, you’ll give her a heads up and create a sense of focus and enthusiasm crucial to a well-mannered pet.

Start training right away, day one!

3 Failing to Crate Train

Dogs are denning animals and prefer snug spots in which to eat or rest. A crate takes advantage of the dog’s innate desire not to soil its sleeping or eating area. The crate is in fact a great place to feed a puppy; she will be able to eat in peace, away from other pets, children, or other distractions. Choose a plastic crate, which gives a more moderndogmagazine.com

29

Too Much Independence Too Soon Puppies have an unquenchable curiosity about their environment. But if you allow yours to wander your home unsupervised, she will inevitably get into some sort of puppy trouble. Improper elimination, destroyed clothing or shoes, chewed wiring, or even escape can end up ruining your day and perhaps even hurting her. Every “accident” in the house due to lack of supervision sets your housetraining efforts back.

Prevent this by ensuring that your new pup is either with you, in her crate, or within a fenced enclosure. While indoors, try tethering her to your belt loop with a light, six-foot lead; she will accompany you all about the home, yet never be more than six feet away. Only when her housetraining is reliable should you begin to slowly increase her indoor independence.

5Feeding Free Leaving food down all day for your puppy to munch on is a mistake.

By allowing her to snack all day, you’ll reduce the chances of creating a predictable elimination schedule; if she always has food in

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her system, she will need to go more often. By feeding at specific times, you’ll “synchronize” her system, and make housetraining easier. Also, feeding at precise times creates a stronger food drive in your puppy. Predicting when she is hungry is a training tool; twenty minutes before mealtime, she’ll do just about anything for that cookie! Finally, feeding at precise times allows you to know exactly how much food she is eating, so you can keep her trim. Those who free feed puppies never really know how much food gets eaten, because they keep adding to the dish throughout the day.

6 Pushing a Puppy’s Face in Her Mess

A ten-week-old puppy has no idea what you are teaching her when you shove its nose into stool, other than you seem to get mad whenever that mess appears. This will only teach your pup to fear the presence of the mess, causing her to eliminate in hidden spots, such as a closet. Instead, crate train her properly to avoid the issue. If you catch her in the act, simply clap a few times while saying “AAH-AHH!!” then get her out quickly to the appropriate spot. (Don’t forget to treat the area with an odour eliminator.)

7 Repeating Commands

Once a puppy knows a behaviour, don’t repeat the command over and over. By doing so, you are actually training her to sit-sit-sit-sit-sit and not sit. She will literally wait for you to say it five times instead of once. Say it just once then wait a second or two. If she does not sit, you have either not taught the behaviour well enough or she is just ignoring you. Gently tell her “no,” walk her to a different spot, and ask her again, verbally and with an upward hand sign while holding a treat in your gesturing fingers. When she sits the first time, hand it over!

8 Scolding After the Fact

You find a mess in the hallway, and have no idea when it happened. Your puppy comes over wagging her tail, and you yell at her for making the mess. What’s wrong with this picture?

Plenty. Dogs (especially puppies) have a poor sense of time and

PHOTOS TANYA KING

secure, snug sense than does a wire crate. It should be tall enough for the puppy to stand in, and just long enough to allow her to turn around. Too large, and the puppy might eliminate in the back and lie down in the front. Feed in the crate, and have her sleep in it as well. When you cannot be with her, she should be with someone else, or in the crate.

Though she can sleep the night in the crate, it’s best not to leave her in it any longer than six hours overnight, or more than four hours straight during the day.

will not understand being punished for something that happened an hour ago. All you do is to make her think that you get angry whenever there is waste present. This will make her secretive about eliminating, and throw off her housetraining.

Instead, say nothing to your dog—an accident discovered after the fact is an accident discovered too late. Instead, reduce her independence, use the crate, and thoroughly clean up the mess until she is reliably eliminating outdoors.

9 Failing to Establish a Routine

Dogs love routine. Knowing when they will eat, play, walk, and sleep creates a confidence in them that minimizes stress and builds a healthy anticipation. For puppies, it is especially important to establish a reliable schedule for feeding, walking, eliminating, and playing. If this framework of routine gets thrown off, it leads to confusion for the puppy and the ensuing “accidents” and behavioural mishaps can stress everyone out. Especially for the first six months, commit to a solid schedule for your puppy that includes predictable chances to eliminate, eat, nap, play, and train. Whatever schedule you set, sticking to it will inspire confidence in your puppy and make her transition into adulthood easy.

10 Failing to Socialize

The first eight weeks of your puppy’s social life are covered by her littermates, After you take your pup home, however, it’s up to you. Socialization to people and other dogs, particularly within the key eight week to 16 week socialization window, is paramount to raising a happy, well adjusted dog—and, this is key—one that plays well with others. Unfortunately, once puppies come home, they often only see other dogs on walks, or out a car window. This leads to an antisocial mindset and possible dog aggression. The same goes for exposure to people; puppies often only see their immediate family and rarely interact with other humans. To maintain a happy go lucky puppy, invite friends over regularly.

Let them play with and train your puppy. Even let her do an overnighter at a trusted friend’s home to build confidence. For puppies under four months (the age when most are fully vaccinated), you can socialize with other healthy puppies on the same vaccination schedule, provided it is in a spotless venue.

A puppy class with similarly vaccinated puppies and hygienic conditions will work too. Avoid dog parks until six months, as well as any areas where unruly dogs, loud noises, or dangerous conditions abound.

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Dogs who overreact whenever people come or go from the home often learn this behaviour from family members who stage elaborate emotional scenes whenever they depart or arrive. Eventually the dog becomes agitated and vocal whenever the door is used.

Instead, whenever you leave your puppy, just leave without fanfare. The same goes for arriving; say nothing for a minute, until the puppy calms a bit.

Then greet, focus her with a treat, and praise.

12 Consoling

Dogs do not understand human abstractions such as empathy or consolation. Instead, they understand simple action and reaction. If, for instance, your puppy gets scared by a big white dog, she may continue to associate white dogs with danger. Consolation after a scary experience can have the same negatively reinforcing affect on a puppy; if she gets scared, and you pick her up and soothe her, she can literally learn that being scared or nervous gets your emotional and physical praise. This can make for a nervous yet manipulative dog later in life. Instead, when your dog has a scary experience, ensure her immediate safety then redirect her anxiety by giving her a sit command then rewarding her with praise or a treat. Redirecting her away from the frightened mindset instead of consoling her will teach confidence and minimize the chances of the anxious behaviour becoming engrained.

13 Failing to Puppy Proof the Home

Shoes, socks, underwear, children’s toys—you name it, a puppy on a mission may shred it. Worse yet, exposed wiring, toxic cleaners or solvents, poisonous houseplants, or even human medications can injure or kill a puppy. Many of us forget how inquisitive and scent-driven puppies are and how while teething they need to chew. Puppy proof your home by removing clothes, human toys, TV remotes, and loose objects from puppy’s reach. Replace these things with toys and chews designed for pups. Hiding wiring under carpets and placing plants above the puppy’s reach is also a good idea.

1

Hitting

Hit your puppy, and you will create a fearful adult dog who knows nothing of trust.

We are smart humans who can find a hundred ways besides hitting to modify bad behaviours. Agreed?

By avoiding these classic blunders and by being a caring, reliable mentor to your new puppy, you’ll get through that challenging first year and dramatically increase the odds of creating a calm, confident, happy adult dog. In the meantime, remember to enjoy the puppy experience! n

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PHOTO TANYA KING

Greetings 11 Exaggerating and Departures

Dogs who overreact whenever people come or go from the home often learn this behaviour from family members who stage elaborate emotional scenes whenever they depart or arrive. Eventually the dog becomes agitated and vocal whenever the door is used.

Instead, whenever you leave your puppy, just leave without fanfare. The same goes for arriving; say nothing for a minute, until the puppy calms a bit.

Then greet, focus her with a treat, and praise.

12 Consoling

Dogs do not understand human abstractions such as empathy or consolation. Instead, they understand simple action and reaction. If, for instance, your puppy gets scared by a big white dog, she may continue to associate white dogs with danger. Consolation after a scary experience can have the same negatively reinforcing affect on a puppy; if she gets scared, and you pick her up and soothe her, she can literally learn that being scared or nervous gets your emotional and physical praise. This can make for a nervous yet manipulative dog later in life. Instead, when your dog has a scary experience, ensure her immediate safety then redirect her anxiety by giving her a sit command then rewarding her with praise or a treat. Redirecting her away from the frightened mindset instead of consoling her will teach confidence and minimize the chances of the anxious behaviour becoming engrained.

13 Failing to Puppy Proof the Home

Shoes, socks, underwear, children’s toys—you name it, a puppy on a mission may shred it. Worse yet, exposed wiring, toxic cleaners or solvents, poisonous houseplants, or even human medications can injure or kill a puppy. Many of us forget how inquisitive and scent-driven puppies are and how while teething they need to chew. Puppy proof your home by removing clothes, human toys, TV remotes, and loose objects from puppy’s reach. Replace these things with toys and chews designed for pups. Hiding wiring under carpets and placing plants above the puppy’s reach is also a good idea.

1

Hitting

Hit your puppy, and you will create a fearful adult dog who knows nothing of trust.

We are smart humans who can find a hundred ways besides hitting to modify bad behaviours. Agreed?

By avoiding these classic blunders and by being a caring, reliable mentor to your new puppy, you’ll get through that challenging first year and dramatically increase the odds of creating a calm, confident, happy adult dog. In the meantime, remember to enjoy the puppy experience! n

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PHOTO TANYA KING

Greetings 11 Exaggerating and Departures

Kelly Osbourne with her dog Poly O backstage at New York Fashion Week.

The recently split Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner take their children for a walk with their adorable new puppy!

They pose with their bestie They make time for family outings xxxx

Amanda Seyfried and her dog Finn at Beachwood Cafe in Los Angeles.

They bring along their best bud Chrissy Teigen arrives to a photo shoot in Los Angeles with her Bulldog Puddy in Los Angeles.

righ t, ! that'se adorable r ' e w

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PACIFIC COAST NEWS; BRUJA, © PACIFICCOASTNEWS; © PACIFICCOASTNEWS

They us! like

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: © DARLA KHAZEI, PACIFICCOASTNEWS; THIBAULT MONNIER/RGK, ©

They sit a bit

! s r a St ’re just

They give their friends a lift

They ride in style

36 moderndog

Setya’rresj!ust

Th Gina Rodriguez cycles around with her dog Casper in New Orleans.

WI NTER 2015/ 16

They love Pugs!

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: © GZR, PACIFICCOASTNEWS; © BRABUS,

Kristin Chenoweth seen wearing a neck brace and walking her dog Maddie without a leash outside her Manhattan residence.

! like us

They stop for pats

Katherine Heigl stops to give some love at the Saved In America screening and Q&A session at the Regency Agoura Hills Stadium 8 Theaters.

PACIFICCOASTNEWS; © PACIFICCOASTNEWS; © JOE SUTTER, PACIFICCOASTNEWS

Gerard Butler takes his Pug Lolita for a walk in West Hollywood.

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37

FIND A NEW BEST FRIEND

Meet Whitney!

All the dogs on these pages are in search of their forever home.

Might it be with you?

Age: 2 years old Gender: Female Breed: Mastiff mix Weight: 63 pounds Activity level: Medium Personality: Social Butterfly

Age: 3 years old Weight: 37 pounds Gender: Female Activity level: High Breed: Australian Cattle Dog mix Personality: Jock Whitney is a sweet, speckled gal looking for a place to call home. Is this place with you? Do you live outside the city?

She sure hopes so! She is still young and will need lots of daily mental and physical exercise to keep her slim. Whitney would love to learn new tricks with reward-based training classes with her human friends too! Could that friend be you?

Katara is a nice pooch that came a long way to get to the SPCA—all the way from Korea, to be exact! She is quite new to Western life but seems to be embracing it with an open mind and heart. Katara will do well with caring adopters that can give her daily exercise, some training, and help her build more confidence in a world with which she is currently unfamiliar.

Katara

Age: 5 years old Gender: Female Breed: Pembroke Welsh Corgi/ Australian Cattle Dog mix

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Weight: 28 pounds Activity level: Medium Personality: Social Butterfly

You will only have eyes for Miss Bright Eyes! This cute and well-sized girl will warm your heart and soul! She is a little timid around new people and situations, but once she realizes you are her person she will never leave your side! She needs lots of daily mental and physical exercise to keep her mind and body sharp. Come meet this beautiful girl today!

Age: 3 years old Gender: Female Breed: Chihuahua mix Weight: 11 pounds Activity level: Low Personality: Delicate Flower

Lana

Nike Age: 5 years old Gender: Female Breed: Shepherd mix

Gentle Lana is looking for a quiet peaceful place with a doggie sibling to call her own. She may be a bit timid at first, but once she gets to know you she will be your BFF! Lana enjoys going on lots of walks and playing with other similar sized dogs. Lana would benefit from reward-based training and some confidence building. Come meet this delicate flower today!

Weight: 59 pounds Activity level: Medium Personality: Social Butterfly

Sweet Nike is as nice as can be and ready to go home with active, caring adopters that can offer plenty of affection, daily exercise, training, and care. She will benefit from frequent chances to mingle with other dogs her size so she can have fun playing and maintain a healthy sociability with her fellow canines. Need more pup-andpeople socializing in your life? Nike could be your girl!

Is it a Love match?

All of the dogs featured on this page are available through the San Fransisco SPCA. Interested in adopting one of these cuties? Email adopt@sfspca.org or call 415-522-3500 for more information! For more adoptable dogs check out sfspca.org/adoptions.

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Lassie, SIT. How to Get Your Dog to Do As You Ask

By Stanley Coren Illustration by Kailey Lang

S

o your dog is not obeying your instructions. She has clearly learned the basic commands of “sit,” “down,” and “come,” but sometimes when you issue those instructions she obeys and sometimes she acts completely clueless and does not respond.

This problem is not unique to you and your dog—it is even a concern for expert dog trainers who compete at the highest levels of obedience competition. Fortunately science has an answer that might help you to get your dog to more reliably react to your commands.

I was recently at a dog-training seminar. During one of the breaks, a small group of highly respected dog trainers and dog obedience competitors had gathered together, cardboard coffee cups in hand. They were doing what dog handlers often do when they get together, namely discussing how best to get dogs to do what you want them to do. It was a rather vigorous debate, and this time the issue in dispute was whether or not to use your dog's name as part of the command. The group was all in agreement that it was critical that the dog must be paying attention to the handler in order to get a reliable response, but whether the dog's name was needed to capture that attention was up for debate.

One highly successful dog obedience competitor insisted that if the dog is already paying attention to its handler then using his name as part of the command is not only unneeded, but might actually be a distraction. He argued that the using the dog’s name merely provides the dog with a sound that conveys no additional information in this situation. In fact, this dog trainer suggested that giving the dog's name simply delayed the processing of the actual command and might be a meaningless distraction.

A second member of the group pointed out that dogs live in a sea of human verbal sounds and the dog's name serves to alert the dog to the fact that the next set of sounds coming from the handler's mouth is directed at them, rather than being part of a conversation that you might be having with another human being. She suggested, “If I say ‘Come here!’ how does the dog know who I am talking to? It could be that I was speaking to the person next to me, or perhaps to someone across the room, or if I am in the show ring I could be talking to the judge rather than specifically issuing an instruction to my dog. However, if I say ‘Lassie come here!’ there is no ambiguity and the dog immediately knows that the command was directed at her.”

The third trainer insisted that using the dog’s name was an opportunity to capture the dog’s attention before issuing the obedience command. She said that, especially in compemoderndogmagazine.com

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name followed immediately by the command; the dog's name followed by a pause of two seconds before issuing the command; or having a meaningless word sound (here they used “Banane”) preceding the command.

The comparison between giving the obedience command alone (e.g. “Down!”), versus the dog's name directly preceding it (e.g. “Lassie, down!”), showed absolutely no difference. In other words, saying the dog's name did not provide an additional advantage in reliability and the researchers concluded that dogs tend to view these two ways of phrasing an instruction as simply being alternate forms of the same communication.

What about saying things other than the dogs name? The data show that giving irrelevant word sounds before the command causes the dog's performance to deteriorate for both well-known and newly learned commands; however the effects are considerably greater for recently learned instructions. The researchers suggest that any additional verbal information before the command will reduce the accuracy of the dog's performance, so one should avoid things like “Ready, down!”

Finally, the data indicated that if you are going to use the dog's name as part of your obedience commands then you should do so without any gap or break. If the dog's name was given and then there was a two second pause before giving the command, the dog’s performance was significantly less dependable when dealing with newly learned commands (such pauses seem to have considerably less effect on well-known, familiar commands).

The take-away message? If your dog is paying attention, using or not using her name when issuing an obedience command makes no difference. However, meaningless (to your dog) preamble or additional instructions proceeding the issuing of a command results in poorer performance reliability, especially when you’re dealing with commands your dog has just recently learned.

In other words, science is telling us we should cut out any polite but extraneous conversation when giving instructions to our dogs and simply, without pauses or breaks, tell the dog what you want him to do. Which, come to think of it, just might be effective (if not overly sociable) communication advice overall. n

Saying anything to a dog before issuing a command—even if it is an attempt to get your dog’s attention—is not helpful.

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ILLUSTRATIONI BY KAILEY LANG

tition, she always gives the dog’s name and then pauses for a second to be sure that the name had captured the dog’s attention and her pet had focused on her, before delivering the actual obedience command.

The debate was lively and after a while one of the trainers turned to me and asked if there was any actual scientific data on this matter. I vaguely recalled that some research had been done on this issue but my age-addled memory could not retrieve it at the moment. However, at the end of the day upon returning home, I found that my data filing system was better organized than my brain; there in fact had been a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science that directly addressed this question of how to issue an instruction to your dog and whether using his or her name really mattered.

The research had been done by Maya Braem and Daniel Mills of the Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group at the University of Lincoln in the UK. There were two parts to the investigation. In the first, 56 dog handlers were videotaped giving their dogs a “sit” command during dog obedience classes. The idea was to look at a well-learned obedience command in order to see how reliably the dogs responded and to determine which aspects of the delivery of the command influenced the dog's performance.

Analysis of the tapes showed that two factors were very important. Just as the dog handlers had presumed, the data showed that it was important that the dogs be paying attention (looking at the handler) for them to respond reliably. The data also showed that saying anything to the dog before issuing the command—even if it is an attempt to get the dog’s attention—is not helpful. For example, if instead of simply saying “Lassie, sit!” you instead say “Look at me. Lassie sit!” this will actually decrease the likelihood that your dog will respond consistently.

Based on these results, a second, more controlled study was run with 12 dogs. The idea was to see how well dogs responded to a well-known and familiar command like “sit” or “down,” as well as to a recently learned command (in this case “uff” which meant to jump onto a raised surface). Once the dogs were trained to a predetermined criterion, they were tested to see how dependably they responded to four ways of delivering the obedience command. These were: the verbal command alone; the dog's

Gift Guide Let your pup lounge in luxury with this gorgeous pillow bed from Peach Pet Provisions. Not only will it look good in your living room, it’s made and sourced in the US, machine washable, and stuffed with cozy, eco-friendly RPET fiberfill. $75–$260, peachpetprovisions.com

Irresistible finds for all the dogs & dog lovers on your list {Total Steal} Use this stylish little storage bag to stash your dog’s toys!

We’re deeply in favour of anything that looks this good and helps us tidy in a hurry. Love it! $20, beonebreed.com

Give your snuggle-loving pup a cozy Dog Gone Smart donut bed to curl up in! This super comfy, machine washable bed has RepelzIt Nanoprotection to keep stains, dirt, and smells at bay (yes!).

From $89, dgspetproducts.com

Keep your pup smelling sweet with Pepper & Tanky’s canine eau de parfum. Banish "eau de dog" with this light, dog-safe, made-in-France scent blending bergamot, neroli, lavender, and musk. $24, pepperandtanky.com

HOME

As far as we're concerned, home is where the dog is.

Bowsers’ Urban Lounger bed has it all—modern, clean lines, ultra comfy-ness, and orthopedic support. Plus, it’s unique one-piece design—the bottom cushion is zippered into the bottom of the bed—makes it a great choice for dogs that love to dismantle beds by digging. $40–$129, bowsers.com

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Relieve the discomfort caused by dry, flaky skin with Greenfields Care Birch Tar Shampoo! Made with oil derived from the Betula Alba, the white birch tree, this special formulation solves skin problems while leaving your dog's fur clean and conditioned! $15, unipetsupply.com

Anything Dogs’ handmade brass mailbox delivers a subtle touch of dog-inspired design, perfect for any dog lover’s home (gift idea alert!). Show to the world that your home is one where dogs are loved and welcome—and maybe warn the mailman! $240, anythingdogs.com

{Editor’s Choice} Show your breed love! Silhoupette’s lovely pendants, available in 30 different breeds, are a perfect, versatile way (they look good with everything!) to show off just how much you love your pup. Available in sterling silver and 10k or 14k white or yellow gold. $49–$289, silhoupette.com

Gift Guide

dog lovers

Score "most thoughtful present" props with these sure-hit gifts for the dog lovers in your life

Show off your love of dogs with a little sparkle.

This cute rhinestone Heart Paw tank top from 3 Dawg adds fun to any dog lover’s wardrobe. $25, heartpaw.com

Great gift idea Get out the milk and cookies—this classic reprint will bring back the Christmas tradition of gathering round with family and enjoying a holiday story. Mr. Dog’s Christmas at the Hollow Tree endures with endless charm and a healthy dose of the best kind of nostalgia via Adam McCauley’s wonderful illustrations. $27, mrdogschristmas.com

Just because you’re at work doesn’t mean you can’t treat your dog to a little snack! The Petzi Treat Cam lets you check in on your dog from your tablet or smart phone and dispense a treat for being such a good boy. It even lets you talk and take photos! $170, petzi.com

{Editor’s Choice} Award-winning Chateau La Paws vineyard has released four new delicious Sonoma, CA varietals as part of their ongoing partnership with North Shore Animal League America to help shelter dogs find a chateau of their own. While you enjoy a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sweet Red Blend or Sauvignon Blanc (a rotating cast of shelter dogs are featured on the labels!), you can feel great knowing that proceeds go to supporting no kill organizations. It’s a wine win!

(P.S. Try the merlot!) From $13, chateaulapaws.com

This instant holiday classic is sure to become a new family favourite! Shelby: A Magical Holiday Tail is a heartwarming movie about the newfound friendship between Shelby, a stray dog, and Jake, a 10-year-old aspiring magician. Filled with action, magic, and adventure, it revolves around Jake and his visiting grandpa (played by Chevy Chase!) who fight all odds to ensure their new pup stays a part of the family.

Perfect for family movie night, this crowd pleaser will entertain dog lovers of all ages! Pick up the DVD ($20) or watch On Demand or via digital download.

Celebrate the love and companionship that your dog brings you with a handmade bracelet from the Hand and Paw project. Not only are these beautiful pieces all lovingly handcrafted by the artist, but a portion of proceeds from each sale go to help shelters and rescues around the world.

A lovely gift for the dog lover in your life. From $44, handandpawproject.com

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Gift Guide

Does your dog make a mess eating and drinking? Postmealtime cleanup is a breeze with Messy Mutt’s food-grade, BPA-free, dishwasher safe silicon double feeder. The non-slip base prevents damage to your floors and the lip catches any spilled food and water!

From $25, messymutts.ca

Outwear doesn’t get more stylish. The Avery Houndstooth coat from Canine Kids Outfitters will keep your pup warm and looking dapper winter through. Bonus: a portion of all proceeds go to canine cancer research! $89, caninekidsoutfitters.com

gear

Calling all adventurous dogs! The Loft Dog Jacket from Adventure Beasts is made for dogs who love winter! This warm and water repellent quilted dog jacket combines excellent fit and functionality with great style. And, how cool is this? Pair it with their Tru Fit Smart Harness with Camera Mount ($35) that allows you to mount a camera to your dog’s harness and record your adventures! $30, adventurebeasts.com

Nifty gear and essentials for dogs and their people

Forget harsh chemicals.

Dr. Dobias, a holistic vet, has formulated an effective, all-natural solution to rid your dog of fleas. His guaranteed-to-work, certified organic FleaHex flea control system for dogs includes a shampoo and home-andbedding spray that let’s you say bye-bye to fleas without toxins! $90 for the kit, fleahex.com

For a one-of-akind collar of incomparable workmanship, Oli Collars is your go to! They specialize in gorgeous entirely handmade leather dog collars with a focus on Mastiffs and other big dogs. From $145, olicollars.com

Keep your pup cozy with a sweater from Equafleece. These incredibly comfortable sweaters are waterrepellent, warm, wicking, and fully washable. Lovingly made in Britain, these tops will keep your dogs warm despite the wintery weather. From $39, equafleece.com

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Be prepared for whatever may happen on your canine adventures! The K-Rosco Dog Walking Utility Jacket from Let’s Go Design has a poop bag dispenser, an extra leash, lots of pockets, and a removable fleece liner to keep you warm, dry, and dog-walk-ready year round! This one is a Modern Dog Editorin-Chief essential! $290, letsgodesign.net

Going on an adventure?

Bring Fido with you! Give your dog a waterproof, cozy place to hang out on the go with this portable, tent-style crate from MidWest Homes for Pets. Comfy, collapsible, and sporty, and set-up is a breeze, too! $83 - $170, midwesthomes4pets.com

Gift Guide Keep your teething pup busy chewing on something other than your shoes! These delish, all-natural Puppy Love dental chews, formulated especially for a pup’s special needs, are enriched with whey powder to be sensitive of little tummies and teeth. $10, 26barsandaband.com

play

People with rough and tumble, toy-wrecking pups on their hands rejoice! Rascals Rugged Ringer Mesh Dog Toy from Coastal Pet Products is designed to withstand your dog’s tough tugging and playing! $13, coastalpet.com

These fun finds will delight the dogs in your life

Get that rabbit! Rutabaga the Rabbit from Dog Tuff is an awesomely tough toy that will stand up to all sorts of wrestling and tugging.

Plus it’s soft on gums and perfect for indoor play during those too cold winter months. $25, dogtuff.com

Get fetching with DOOG USA’s adorable Stick Family toys!

Your dog will love chasing down this funny family of toys made from recycled rubber. They even glow in the dark, perfect for those dark winter days.

From $15, doogusa.com

These tasty, multi-functional treats are formulated to keep your dog moving! Bioactive joint care treats from Fruitables are soft, savoury, and packed with salmon oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin to support joint health. $8, fruitablespetfood.com

Have a Tug-of-War fanatic in your home? Jolly Pets’ Jolly Tug is soft to the touch but super durable for those epic games of tug. Plus it squeaks for added fun!

From $10, jollypets.com

Make playtime even more fun with Dawg Grillz! These hilarious (and super tough) toys will make both you and your dog smile.

Made of BPA-free rubber, these balls float, squeak, bounce, and have an enticing peanut butter smell! $8, dawggrillz.com

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THESE PUPPIES COULD BE YOURS! Our cover pups are rescues in search of their forever homes Photographed by Tanya King

T

his issue we decided to do something extra special—for the first time ever we produced not one but two different covers, each featuring an adorable, adoptable rescue pup! (Yes, this is the best job ever.) If you’re a subscriber, you’ll be receiving the pink cover, and if you picked the magazine up on newsstand you’ll have the teal one. See both covers on page 4—we still can’t decide which cover we like best!

Our cover pups are Shepherd/Retriever/Husky mixes, ten weeks old at the time of the photo shoot, and siblings—a boy and a girl. (The little black and tan pup is a girl and the black and white cutie is her brother.) It doesn’t get much cuter, that’s for sure! Beautiful Ivy, the pup in the middle, is also up for adoption through Cross Our Paws. She is 12 weeks old, a mix of German Shepherd and Collie (she should tip the scale at 65 to 70 pounds all grown up!) and she loves life to the fullest!

Our two cover pups were rescued from a remote Northern community by Cross Our Paws Rescue, a BC-based, 100 percent volunteer run group founded in 2006. To date they’ve rescued 450 to 500 animals with the help of over a dozen active volunteer foster homes that have opened their hearts and homes to help homeless dogs. Cross Our Paws does not have a shelter facility so their fosters are absolutely essential to their rescue efforts.

The group focuses on local rescue efforts, with most of their dogs coming from BC, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. Bonnie Graham, the organization’s co-founder and adoption coordinator (both volunteer positions), notes the dogs that come into their care “vary from a German Shepherd to a French Bull Dog”—i.e. there’s dog to suit your fancy no matter your preference!

Want to help?

Bonnie shares three ways you can get involved #1 ADOPTION: “There is a huge over-population problem globally. Adopting a homeless dog saves a life.” #2 FOSTERING: “Fostering a dog can be one of the most rewarding volunteer jobs on the planet. It provides the dog with some stability and basic training and helps get them ready for their new journey in life. Many times foster homes fall in love with their foster dog and have first option to adopt permanently.” #3 ESCORTING: If you travel a lot, you can escort a rescued dog by being his travel companion! If you fly frequently (Cross Our Paw’s rescues are mostly traveling from Northern BC, Alberta, or the Northwest Territories to Vancouver, though other rescues focus on other areas) you could escort a dog.

This mostly consists of checking the dog in when you check in, picking him upon arrival at your destination, and then passing him off to the rescue. Talk about an easy way to make a difference!

These pups are adorably accessorized! The white leather collar with sparkly heart decorations and the yellow waterproof Hydro collar with daisy decorations are both from Hot Dogs All Dressed ($24 and $19, hotdogsalldressed.com). The azure vegan collar (amazing, right? It seriously looks like leather!) with inset "gems" is from Ella's Lead (From $55, ellaslead.com).

If you’re interested in adopting one of our cover pups, fostering, or escorting a rescue, contact crossourpawsrescue@gmail.com!

Check out all of the dogs currently up for adoption through Cross Our Paws at crossourpawsrescue.com

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TRAINING

“My name is Ray Charles and I'm a blind Golden Retriever puppy... but that doesn't stop me from enjoying life! I love chewing on sticks too!”

—As reported by Ray's owner, Andrew

It

was a beautiful day in coastal Oregon when fourteenyear-old Lisa and her brother Joe decided to go for a swim in the ocean. The tide changed suddenly, turning their lively voices into terrified screams as brother and sister realized they were being pulled into deep water. Joe managed to swim back to shore, but could only watch as his sister was pulled farther away from him.

Alerted by Lisa´s screams, a yellow Lab unexpectedly jumped into the water and started paddling strongly towards her. “Call my dog! His name is Norman. Call his name,” the Labrador´s owner yelled to Lisa from the shore. Guided by Lisa´s voice, Norman valiantly reached her and towed the exhausted teenager back into safety.

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This real life story becomes even more miraculous when you learn that Norman was completely blind.

Finding out your dog is going blind can be devastating but, as with Norman in Oregon, most dogs can get along well—and even thrive—without being able to see. The fact is eyesight is not a primary dog sense. By making a few minor changes to the way we interact with them, a visually impaired dog can adjust quite well to a household’s lifestyle.

“A person with a blind dog needs to adapt their own life in many ways to the dog’s disability, yet these things are neither hard nor challenging—in fact, they are easy and even fun for the owner,” says Gayle M. Irwin, a speaker, rescue pet advocate, and author of four books about blind dogs.

Leading the Blind Tips for living with a visually impaired dog

By Selva Freigedo

Here are six tips from experts on how to make a few changes to enhance your vision-challenged dog’s life and help him lead a normal life:

Blind Dog-Proof Your House. Once your dog loses his eyesight, he will at first feel extremely confused about his surroundings. Award-winning dog trainer and author Caroline D. Levin, (who also, incidentally, worked as part of the veterinarian team who attempted to restore Norman’s eyesight—Lisa´s parents were so grateful for Norman’s lifesaving heroics that they provided Norman with a visit to a veterinarian eye doctor to see if his vision could be restored; unfortunately it could not be.), suggests spending some time guiding your dog around the house and fencing off any possible hazards, like a pool and stairs. “Just make sure that dangers are lessened in the beginning because after a while, a blind dog develops a mental map,” she says. Miki Saito, a certified dog trainer specializing in blind dogs, recommends removing or covering any dangers with cushion material until your dog learns the layout of the house. “See from your dog’s eye height to check if there are any sharp objects or corners that would injure his eye, face or body,” she says. And don´t neglect the yard. Make sure that it’s fenced off. Check for holes in the ground and keep plants trimmed, as they could cause further damage to your dog´s eyes.

Don’t Rearrange Your Furniture. Dogs have an incredible ability to map their environment as long as it’s kept constant. Overtime, a dog will memorize a house’s layout and the location of the furniture, getting a picture of the familiar places in his head and making him less likely to bump into things. “The dog will learn how to get around the house so don’t move your furniture; leave it as it is so that they are comfortable, so that their knowledge of their house stays the same and they don’t have to try to figure things out when things get changed,” says Irwin.

Change the Way You Communicate. Saito stresses the importance of understanding that communication with a dog changes once they go blind—it becomes more vocal. “While a dog is losing his eyesight, he is more likely to become highly sensitive to sounds and being touched, and become very fearful or reactive,” she says. New behaviours are taught mainly by using sounds and touches as prompts or cues. Making your dog feel safe and positive reinforcement are both key when adapting your dog to their new situation. “I use some sounds and words as guidance for my blind dog in order to let her know where she should go or what is going to happen to her, and help her move or do things with ease,” Saito says.

Tune In To Their Other Senses. Using smell and texture can also be a quick way to orient your dog. Levin recommends choosing three different scents and spraying them in the three most common areas the dog uses. These could be where his food and water are, the back garden where he relieves himself, and a resting place, like moderndogmagazine.com

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his bed or a crate. Then, physically guide your dog to these places, so that he becomes familiar with the scents and what they mean. Smells are also a great way to indicate danger. “It could be a simple thing, such as when your dog smells a certain scent, like perfume or vanilla extract, it means slow down because the stairs are right there,” she says. Using different textures can also help your dog navigate more easily inside and outside the house.

Set throw rugs near pieces of furniture, wood chips near and around bushes and trees and rough carpet in front of the back door to indicate the way to go out to the yard.

Re-Train Your Dog. It’s essential for the dog owner to spend some time training the dog after they lose their sight.

Teaching the pet to “Stop” or “Stay” on command is an important safety measure since it can prevent them from advancing into a dangerous situation. Using the commands “Step Up” and “Step Down” can be useful not only to help them navigate the stairs in your house, but for getting up and down a curb in the street. Another important skill to practice is to re-train your dog to come when called. “When they are blind and can´t see you, you just have to do things a little bit differently. Mainly, that means that you have to call them with a sound that is continuous. You have to say something for a long time so that they can hone in on where you are,” says Levin.

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Play Games. When a dog loses her eyesight there is a risk that she can become withdrawn. Using toys is a great way to keep your dog entertained and engaged with her surroundings.

“Often times, when they are not visual, dogs will stop interacting with their environment just because it’s easier. Make sure that you pay special attention to check that they are interacting with you, with another pet, or with their home environment and that they have access to toys,” says Dr. Caryn Plummer, veterinary ophthalmologist. Dog owners should experiment with different types of toys to identify which one best engages their dog’s other senses—hearing, touch, and smell. Plummer recommends toys that make sound, such as squeaky toys, or toys that engage a dog’s sense of smell, like a food-stuffable toy or a puzzle toy you put little treats in, as ideal choices for vision-impaired dogs.

Keeping your dog active and continuing to take her on daily walks is extremely important too, as this will improve her other senses, as well as her health, wellbeing, and happiness.

Overall, simply have patience and remember to constantly give positive reinforcement. This will help your dog adjust to her new situation. Dogs are exceptional creatures that can quickly adapt to new conditions as long as they are given enough time, love, and attention. As Irwin notes, “Dogs teach us lessons in courage, perseverance, loyalty, compassion, kindness, and joy—and they don't have to have all of their senses or limbs to do so.” n

One to Follow

Chelsea Tyrer with Gracie & Monty

Instagram’s @graciethelabrador

Want more cute dogs in your Instagram feed?

Always! Follow @graciethelabrador for sunny, funny, beautiful shots of lovable Lab Gracie along with her Golden Retriever cohort, Monty, out and about and just generally loving life.

C

“I didn't start gaining followers until I started posting high quality images, which got me featured by big pages and then the followers just kept coming!” Chelsea shares. Her lovely dog photos now brighten the days of more than 66,000 people.

Seeing as we love dogs (you knew that, right?) and spend more time than we care to admit scrolling through our Instagram feed (read: obsessed), we decided to ask Chelsea a few questions about her dogs, her account, and why she thinks you might want to start sharing photos of your own dogs through the platform. At the very least, we think you’ll definitely want to follow @graciethelabrador for photos of Gracie, Chelsea’s four-year-old Labrador Retriever (“she's extremely loving, loyal, and smart”) and Monty, her sevenmonth-old Golden Retriever, who's “full of spunk, extremely goofy and so eager to learn.”

Q: What is that you think people love about your account?

A: Seeing the love I have for my animals and being able to follow their adventures!

Q: What kind of photos are the most popular?

A: Anything outdoor with pretty light or anything goofy.

Q: What inspires you?

A: I'm always browsing through the galleries of professional dog photographers for inspiration, but I find most of my inspiration comes from being outdoors exploring.

Q: Describe your aesthetic in three words.

A: Natural, light, beautiful Q: Any advice for people wanting to start their own Instagram account starring their dogs?

A: Just do it! You never know what could come of it. Whether you’re posting photos of your furry family for people to enjoy or you use your account to help others, it's a great community where you can make so many friends!

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PHOTOS @GRACIETHELABRADOR

helsea Tyrer, an Ontario-based photographer, started posting photos to Instagram in summer 2013 with the intention of simply sharing photos of her dogs just “being themselves.” But once she started giving some love and attention to what she was posting, the number of "likes" and followers took off.

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CALL of the WILD Nova, a high-content wolfdog, at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary.

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PHOTO GEORGINA DE CAIGNY

Georgina De Caigny, co-founder of Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, with Kuna, the wolfdog she rescued as a pup.

Wolfdog sanctuaries provide much needed rescue, safe space, and education for these magnificent and misunderstood animals

By Leslie Johnson

W

olves have a special place in our imagination: mysterious, charismatic, and highly intelligent, they represent all that is beautiful about the wild. It is easy to understand why people are enchanted with wolves and how this could carry over to the desire to own a wolfdog, the hybrid result of the mating of a wolf and a dog. It is a chance to connect with what is wild in nature, and for some, a chance to connect with their own inner wolf. However, many people, lacking an understanding of the special needs of these magnificent animals, find themselves unable to handle them; the unfortunate result is that wolfdogs often end up abandoned and abused. “Sadly, the majority of them are euthanized by the ages of two or three, when they reach sexual maturity,” says Wolf Haven International, a wolf sanctuary based in the U.S. In Canada, Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary (YWS) rescues displaced wolfdogs, providing a permanent sanctuary for some and finding homes for others. Located on 160 acres of land in a quiet, rural setting about half an hour west of Calgary, AB, the sanctuary is the permanent home of several resident wolfdogs, as well as a number of adoptable ones.

Georgina De Caigny, a civil engineer, and Andi Scheibenstock, a physician, founded the sanctuary in 2011. De Caigny, a passionate animal lover, was introduced to wolfdogs when she worked for a sled dog company based in Canmore, AB. Initially, she was captivated by their beauty then by their intelligence. De Caigny eventually adopted an 11-week-old wolfdog puppy, Kuna, after her original owners found her too much to handle.

“While domestic dogs are programmed to please people, Kuna was different,” says De Caigny. “She was smart, stubborn, and incredibly independent, and she had no need for someone else to provide her with leadership.” De Caigny describes their relationship as a journey the two of them took together, learning about the other species. “In the end, Kuna made a choice. She chose to love me, and she chose to be with me, and that is why I love her so much.”

Scheibenstock went on a similar journey of discovery when De Caigny introduced her to Artimus, a part wolf, part Malamute dog, who had spent her life on the end of a large, heavy chain. “I adopted her and love her to pieces,” explains Scheibenstock.

Aside from providing a refuge for displaced wolfdogs and findmoderndogmagazine.com

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LEFT PHOTO: GEORGINA DE CAIGNY

Georgina De Caigny at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary with her own wolfdog Kuna and wolfdog pup Kaya.

ing homes for those suitable for adoption, YWS gives visitors a chance to meet wolfdogs up-close and learn more about these fascinating animals, who are often misrepresented and misunderstood. “I wanted to stand up for wolfdogs and dispel the many myths about them,” emphasizes De Caigny. Scheibenstock, who is presently working as a physician in Cranbrook, BC, is in touch with the sanctuary on a regular basis. She looks forward to the day when she can be there permanently. “When I retire—hopefully sooner than later—I hope to use all my energy to rescue many more wolfdogs and be there full time,” Scheibenstock explains.

Although many scientists believe all dogs originally descended from wolves over hundreds of generations, wolfdogs have wolf closer in their genetic makeup. Most wolfdogs today are not created at random by a pure wolf in the wild mating with a domestic dog; rather, they are the result of breeding by people.

What they are like depends largely on the amount of wolf in them. The more generations they are away from the original wolf parent, the further they are from having wolf characteristics. At YWS, Nova, a beautiful white wolfdog born in a breeding facility in the United States, is an example of a wolfdog with substantial wolf in his makeup.

Since a wolfdog is part dog, its character also depends on the breed of dog in the mix. Most often, wolfdogs are bred with northern breeds such as the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute, which already have a “wolfy” look. However, there can be tremendous variation in any litter of wolfdogs, with some having more wolf characteristics and others having more dog traits. Genes are selected from both parents but this occurs randomly; which genes will be selected cannot be predicted.

Zeus, a magnificent black wolfdog.

Temperament also depends on their upbringing and individual personalities. Pointing to Zeus, a magnificent black wolfdog, De Caigny notes he has a strong aversion to entering small spaces.

Even with food as enticement, Zeus cannot be persuaded to enter.

Kaida, on the other hand, is more motivated by food than a fear of restricted areas and will enter a small place when delectable delights are put there as encouragement.

Since dogs likely descended from wolves, and some dogs such as the northern breeds look very wolf- like, how can you tell if a certain animal is just a dog or actually a wolfdog? Moreover, if it is a wolfdog, how much wolf is in it? Since there aren’t any genetic tests that reliably prove how much wolf is in an animal, experts use a process called phenotyping, which is a means of arriving at an educated guess about an animal’s heritage based on appearance and behaviour. In general, wolfdogs are classified into three categories: high-content, midcontent, and low-content.

A high-content wolfdog acts more like a wolf than a dog; it is often described as curious, cautious, highly intelligent, and aloof.

Although some believe wolves are aggressive and confrontational, that is not true: like wolves, a high-content wolfdog will normally be shy and retreat from humans. People who acquire a highcontent wolfdog thinking it will make a good guard dog are bound for disappointment. Instead of challenging a stranger, it will more likely cower and back away.

Similar to a wolf who roams over large distances in search of food and shelter, a high-content wolfdog will more likely wander than settle. Providing adequate containment for one of these animals entails having a large enclosure with an eight to ten

Since wolfdogs are part dog, their character also depends on the breed of dog in the mix.

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A high-content wolfdog acts more like a wolf than a dog; they are often described as curious, cautious, highly intelligent, and aloof. foot fence as well as dig guards and an overhang. Experts recommend using a heavy, nine-gauge chain link since wolfdogs have been known to chew through seven-gauge. In addition, they need plenty of exercise: a daily walk on leash, which is sufficient for many domestic dogs, is vastly inadequate for a wolfdog.

A wolf in the wild is often thought of as being solitary, hence the expression “lone wolf.” This is another misconception. Wolves are highly social; they live in a pack and thrive on the strong bonds created with their pack members. This means a high-content wolfdog should not be left alone; wolfdogs need at least one other canine companion.

“A high-content wolfdog is not like a typical pet,” explains De Caigny. “It exhibits far more pure wolf characteristics and does not belong in a private home.” She adds that Nova, Zeus, and Kuna are all high- content wolfdogs and so “they have a permanent home at this sanctuary; they will never be adopted out.”

As the name implies, a mid-content wolfdog has characteristics that are about half wolf and half dog, while a low-content wolfdog generally exhibits more dog traits than wolf.

Being more like a domestic dog, low-content wolfdogs are more willing to please, are generally easier to train, and are the ones most suitable for adoption in private homes.

Even so, a potential owner must be an experienced dog handler as well as knowledgeable about the special challenges of raising wolfdogs. “I want people to have the right expectations and know what they are getting into,” explains De Caigny.

She recommends that potential owners learn about wolfdogs by volunteering at a rescue centre or by fostering an animal. While YWS is the only refuge in Canada, there are several rescue organizations in the U.S. including the Florida Lupine Association, Howling Woods Farm, and W.O.L.F. (Wolves Offered Life and Friendship). These organizations provide extensive information about what is involved in wolfdog ownership. In addition, there are several books available such as Living with Wolfdogs: An Everyday Guide to a Lifetime Companionship, and Hit by a Flying Wolf: True Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation and Real Life with Dogs and Wolves written by Nicole Wilde, a nationally recognized dog trainer, wolfdog expert, and Modern Dog regular contributor.

These books provide practical information about how to raise a wolfdog. Wilde, who promotes responsible wolfdog ownership through education, provides this advice for potential owners:

◊ Before you even consider a wolfdog, find out what the legalities are in your area. ◊ Consider whether you can provide the proper containment; a 6 foot high fence is

no challenge for these escape artists.

◊ Although wolfdogs can be sweet and affectionate, they are a lot of “dog.”

Experience a Siberian Husky first to see whether that personality type (and then some!) is what you really want.

◊ Do plenty of research before jumping in, because wolfdog rescues are perpetually

full and unwanted wolfdogs often end up euthanized by shelters.”

As Wilde notes above, laws regarding wolfdog ownership vary throughout North America. In Canada, it is currently legal in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan but illegal in Manitoba and Eastern Canada. In the United States, wolfdog ownership is legal in about a dozen states although some places require special permits or enclosures.

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Why are wolfdogs legal in some areas and not in others?

Advocates use adjectives such as intelligent, playful, curious, and independent to describe them. They say these beautiful animals are exceptionally loving and loyal to their family pack and owners can form a much deeper bond with wolfdogs than with domestic dogs. Opponents say wolfdogs are unpredictable.

While domestic dogs have been bred over generations to produce dependable behaviour traits such as those found in herding, guardian or companion dogs, opponents posit that wolfdogs are mutts and their behaviour is inconsistent. They argue wolves are wild animals and therefore wolfdogs are not appropriate as pets, further arguing that breeding a wolfdog is a disservice to both wild wolves and domestic dogs. And wolf rescue organizations fear that bad press about wolfdogs will taint the public’s perception of wolves in the wild.

Some animal professionals say wolfdog ownership should be banned while others argue that laws should target the breeders. Monty Sloan, a wolf expert and educator with Wolf Park, a wildlife research and education facility in the U.S., says, “Regulation should not focus on the banning of ownership of these animals but should direct its power to the underlying problem of the breeding and sales by individuals who produce far more pups than could ever be placed in ‘good’ homes.”

Although ethical wolfdog breeders can be found throughout the U.S. and Canada, there are plenty of unethical ones who capitalize on the public’s fascination with the animals. For

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example, in Alberta, Canada, YWS rescued several wolfdogs from a breeder who kept them in a small area between his house and garage and accessed the area by using a ladder to climb over a fence panel. “This clearly showed us these animals never got to come out of the enclosure and were rarely handled,” explains De Caigny. One of the animals, a beautiful white wolfdog named Seiko, had a noticeable eye infection.

When she took him to the vet for treatment, De Caigny learned the infection could have been treated in its early days by using an inexpensive ointment. Since the breeder had failed to give Seiko proper veterinary care, the infection had gotten worse, and the vet had to remove the eye.

YWS notes that this breeder, while selling the wolfdogs for over $1000 each, misrepresented them as high-content wolfdogs when they were actually low-content, and failed to educate potential buyers about the challenges of wolfdog ownership.

Sadly, stories like this are played out daily across North America. Even worse, many of these unethical breeders are still in business due to ineffective laws governing the proper care of animals. They continue to produce litter after litter of poorly treated wolfdogs, many of whom end up neglected or abused.

These beautiful animals—mysterious, misrepresented, and often misunderstood—clearly need someone to stand up for them. With the dedication of organizations like YWS—helmed by people who are passionate about wolfdogs—we’ve at least made a start. n

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craft

PET PROJECT

D.I.Y.

Chalkboard Dog Bowl This super cute project just so happens to be super easy. With just a few items—a ceramic bowl, chalkboard finish spray paint, and painter’s tape—you can whip up a cool new bowl for your dog and then personalize it with cute sayings! Why not make a few extra as gifts while you’re at it?

This DIY costs less than $20 start to finish!

By Rose Frosek

Here's what you'll need:

How-to:

white ceramic bowl. A sixÆÆAinch cereal bowl is a solid choice. We picked up two different styles of bowls at HomeSense, each under $5!

finish spray ÆÆChalkboard paint, available at your

local hardware store for less than $10

KES MA EAT R A G T! GIF

ÆÆFrog tape/painter’s tape ÆÆChalk

Now let’s get started! Using the tape, cover all areas of the bowl you do not want to cover with the chalkboard paint. The only area left exposed should be that which you wish to spray paint. We tried three different designs—a banner, an oval, and the whole bottom of the bowl—all to great success.

Now take the taped off bowl outside or into a well ventilated workspace and spray the unmasked area with the spray paint. Once the paint is dry, peel off the tape, and voilà—you’re ready to take your chalk and write your dog’s name or a statement on his cute new dish!

Pro tip: make sure to firmly adhere the edges of the tape so that the spray paint cannot seep beneath! If you peel off the tape (once the paint has dried!) and find the edges of your painted area aren’t as crisp as you’d like, refine the line by using a dry paper towel wrapped over your fingernail to scrape away the part that’s not smooth.

Cleaning the bowl: be sure not to use anything abrasive when cleaning the outside of the finished bowl. The chalkboard paint can be scraped away if you use a scouring pad.

MORE

GREAT DIYs… moderndogmagazine.com/pawprintart

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moderndogmagazine.com/treatjar

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Big& Little When I grow up...

Photographs by Sarah Daloise

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a smart, alert, and affectionate dog. Sturdy, intelligent, and fun loving, this low-slung breed is athletic and loves having a job to do. They are bold, friendly, and love their families.

The outgoing, patient, and friendly St. Bernard is known as a “nanny dog” due to its reputation for being great with kids. This large, laidback breed is lower on the energy scale—the AKC notes that the mature Saint will be content with long walks and a romp on the lawn.

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Gentle, adaptable, and friendly, the Samoyed is the most nearly akin to the primitive dog of all the modern breeds; no admixture of wolf or dog runs in the Samoyed strain. This intelligent, loyal, charming breed enjoys being with their families.

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The friendly, patient, and dependable

Great Dane

combines dignity, strength, and elegance with great size and power. This regal, spirited, courageous dog has a laidback personality that belies his majestic appearance. Contrary to what many people think, Great Danes do not need a lot of exercise.

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is an independent, proud, and smart breed. The Dandie is affectionate toward his family but bold and tenacious in the field. Of small size and medium energy (not a frantic terrier), this dog’s hallmark is a low-slung body, silken pouf topknot, and large round eyes with a soft expression.

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BODY & SOUL

CANINE PERSONALITY STUDY Do You Have the Same Personality as Your Dog?

We've all heard the old cliché that people look like their dogs. Turns out we act like them too! A new study shows that people and their dogs tend to socialize, eat, and learn new skills in very similar ways.

According to the Natural Balance Canine Personality Study, a survey of over 1000 American dog parents conducted by Natural Balance Pet Foods in conjunction with Learndipity Data Insights, we love dogs who are, more often than not, just like us.

STUDY FINDINGS SHOW THAT:

1 People Choose Dogs Who Act Just Like Them

›› 66% of extroverted people have extroverted dogs—and there's a 65% chance that an

A w w w w!

introverted dog will have an introverted human parent.

›› If you're a choosy eater, your dog is 3 times more likely to be one as well.

›› If you identify as a lifelong learner, there's a 72% chance your dog will be good at learning new tricks.

2 Dogs Display Complex

Emotions Just Like We Do ›› Dogs' personalities are highly nuanced and they experience many emotions that are all too familiar to us humans.

›› If you're hurt or late coming home, 90% of dog parents believe your dog is worried about you.

›› 79% of respondents said dogs can feel embarrassment, while

3 Dogs Strongly Influence the

Emotions of their Human Parents ›› According to 79% of dog parents surveyed, their dogs consciously and actively attempt to comfort them.

›› 55% reported that their dog looks at them with loving eyes that communicate deep emotion.

›› 52% said their dog is able to accurately sense when they are sad.

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PHOTO YVETTE SCHMITTER

93% are certain they've seen their dog smile.

BODY & SOUL

Does Your Dog Really Need To Be Vaccinated?

Use Titer Testing to find out!

Have you ever wondered if your dog really needs a recommended vaccine booster shot? With Titer Testing you can find out!

Here’s how it works: After vaccination, dogs often maintain protective antibody to core diseases (like Canine Hepatitis Parvovirus and Distemper) for three or more years— which is a longer period of time than the err-on-the-side-of-caution revaccination schedule dictates. Enter Titer Testing, a blood test that allows your vet to test the antibody levels of your dog to determine the duration of immunity—in other words, whether your dog needs to be re-vaccinated or is still protected.

If the test results indicate antibody is present, you can wait to revaccinate your dog for the specific disease being tested.

If antibody titer is absent, your dog should be revaccinated (unless there is a medical reason for not so doing).

THE FIND The problem: Your dog bounces about in the car, hanging out the window and distracting the driver. And in the event of a sudden stop or accident, there’s nothing to prevent your dog from being tossed and seriously injured.

The solution: The Sleepypod Clickit Sport aka the Cadillac of dog seat belts.

It’s super easy to use and the energy absorbing padded vest distributes any pressure caused by a sudden stop or impact, keeping your dog safe in your vehicle. It also prevents your dog from roaming around the car, jumping from the backseat to the front and then back again. This thoroughly tested harness is the ultimate in pet safety—it’s the only car harness to earn a five star rating from the Center for Pet Safety! $70, sleepypod.com

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BODY & SOUL

GO WITH YOUR GUT

G HEA UT L OPT TH = I M WE LLN AL ESS !

Upset tummy?

Give your dog probiotics!

By Jan Suchodolski, DVM, Texas A&M University

I

MISIEK SUBMITTED BY KINGA PRYBYLSKA

ntestinal microbiota, or what used to be called gut flora, plays an important and largely unsung role in your dog’s gastrointestinal and overall health. A balanced intestinal ecosystem provides nutritional benefits (healthy digestion means better absorption of nutrients), primes the immune system, and protects against pathogens. On the other hand, upsets to the bacterial ecosystem, such as that caused by indiscriminate antibiotic use, contribute to gastrointestinal disease. You can help keep your dog’s intestinal ecosystem on track (happy guts!) by giving your dog beneficial bacteria, aka probiotics.

You may be asking: Just what are probiotics?

And what about prebiotics? What the heck are those?

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit.

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients like fructooligosaccharides that are added to diets to stimulate the growth of native probiotic bacteria in the intestine.

Synbiotics are a combination of probiotics and prebiotics.

Uses for probiotics include preventing and treating acute or stress-related diarrhea (think boarding or travelling). In fact, the most commonly observed benefit is reducing the duration of a bout of diarrhea. For best results in shortening the duration of stress-related GI upset, administer the probiotics a couple of days ahead of the potentially stressful event.

There are different strains of probiotic, each with a unique mechanism of action, so specific strains of probiotics may be needed to target a specific condition. Studies have found that in dogs with chronic GI inflammation (IBD), a product containing probiotic VSL#3 strains improved the clinical signs. Dogs

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responded within 10 days of administration and showed no relapse while continuing to take the probiotics. It is likely that these probiotic products may be useful as an adjunct to standard therapy until remission of the disease is seen and may beneficially influence the immune system.

Aside from gastrointestinal applications, several studies have evaluated the effects of probiotics for things such as improving vaccine responses and increase of immunoglobulin production in young animals, as well as for the prevention of atopic dermatitis. While the results are promising, more studies are needed to evaluate which probiotic strains are most useful and the required dosage for benefits to be seen. Stay tuned!

A note to consider: Many commercially available probiotic products lack proper quality so it is crucial to select a product from a reputable manufacturer that has extensive data to show the product contains a sufficient amount of viable organisms (from shipping and storage through to the end of the recommended shelf life).

Baby, It's Cold Outside WINTER SURVIVAL TIPS FOR DOG PEOPLE 4 ways to help your furry friend soldier through winter weather

OLAF SUBMITTED BY MICHELLE PATTERSON

BODY & SOUL

The pet welfare experts at the Ontario SPCA share their top four tips for winter pet safety!

1 Keep your dogs warm

#

3 Beware the H2O

#

It may seem like common sense, but if you feel it’s too cold for you, chances are it’s too cold for your dog! Although some breeds can withstand colder temperatures (think Northern breeds), most dogs are accustomed to indoor temperatures and don’t want to be outside for long periods of time. Dogs with less furry coats, smaller dogs, and those closer to the ground could benefit from a winter jacket.

When your dogs are inside, give them a comfy place to sleep that’s elevated and away from any drafts. This is especially important if your dogs are really young, really old (super seniors!) or unwell. Many dogs love to burrow, making the addition of a cozy blanket much appreciated.

Puddles pose a danger to dogs because they may contain ethylene glycol, found in antifreeze, which can be fatal if ingested. So no drinking from winter puddles! Larger bodies of water are also good to steer clear of. Melting or thin ice, as well as rising water levels can create a dangerous environment for your dog.

4 Be Prepared for Extreme Winter Weather and Super Storms

2 Pet Grooming

#

Wipe your dog’s paws—both the underside and between the pads—after they’ve been outside. This is important because salt and chemical ice melters can irritate and burn your dog’s paws. These substances can also be fatal if ingested! But don’t think paw cleaning means more baths. Too much bathing, especially during the dry, cold winter season, can dry out your dog’s skin and create irritation and itchiness.

Climate change has resulted in extreme and unpredictable weather conditions. You never know when a storm might hit and keep you from leaving your house. An emergency pet survival kit can save your pet’s life in these circumstances. Find tips on creating one at ontariospca.ca/ep.

Pro Tip: Protect animals in your area by using saltfree, non-toxic, environmentally friendly de-icers like Safe Paw Ice Melter (safepaw.com). And make sure you have no dangerous-to-pets antifreeze leaks or spills!

HAPPY FEET! Does your senior or special needs dog have trouble with hard floor surfaces, let alone icy streets and steps? Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips are a unique traction solution that really works, as Modern Dog’s Miniature Dachshund Rose, a “Super Senior” can happily attest! These nonslip nail grips are guaranteed to provide instant traction using a dog’s toenails. The restoration of mobility is truly amazing. $30, toegrips.com

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Opie & Dixie's Healing Paw Balm is the answer to your dog's dry, cracked paws! This organic, all-natural treatment for sore paw pads works wonders during harsh winter weather. $15, opieanddixie.com

BELLA SUBMITTED BY JANNACONLAN

#

From $39.99.

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BODY & SOUL

CAN I CRASH ON YOUR COUCH A WHILE?

W

hen adult dogs land at a shelter, it is more often than not downright terrifying for them; the vast majority have been, up until very recently, someone's pet. The reasons for surrender are usually pedestrian: a move; a change in lifestyle; a new relationship. Providing a temporary foster home for a shelter dog awaiting his forever home helps untold amounts, allowing the dog to decompress in a calm, loving home environment and to show off his true personality away from the stress of

the shelter. It also frees up more space, allowing the shelter to help more homeless dogs.

Almost all shelters and rescue groups have a foster program in place.

Why not consider sharing your home for a spell? Contact your local rescue group or humane society and volunteer your services. We’ll bet you’ll be glad you did. Not only will you help dogs, but it’s a great way to connect with fellow dog lovers. For more info, flip to page 106!

A DIAMOND IS FOREVER This lovely wearable tribute keeps your dog with you forever. Heart In Diamond specializes in lab-grown memorial diamonds created from hair or cremation ashes. These certified man-made diamonds are identical to mined diamonds, only instead of being created by nature's carbon, your unique memorial diamond is created from your beloved dog's personal carbon to create a gorgeous stone that will forever remind you of your best friend. From $750 at heart-in-diamonds.com.

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“I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren’t certain we knew better.”—George Bird Evans

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Choose from Edibites or Hemp oil tinctures, infused with organic CBD from the hemp plant. petreleaf.com

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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!

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!

G e t In sp i r e d

INSPIRATION CARDS Pocket-sized cards to stick on your fridge or use as a bookmark

Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.

—Dean Koontz

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The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.

—M.K. Clinton

When the Man waked up he said, ‘What is Wild Dog doing here?’ And the Woman said, ‘His name is not Wild Dog any more, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always.’—Rudyard Kipling

CLOCKWSIE FROM TOP LEFT: JEB SUBMITTED BY JACOB, POTCHIE SUBMITTED BY SHARMAINE G, ZOE SUBMITTED BY SEANN & ELLIE BATES, FENRIR SUBMITTED BY MEGAN M

When an eighty-five pound mammal licks your tears away, then tries to sit on your lap, it’s hard to feel sad.

—Kristan Higgins

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The Best Kind of Medicine Canine Companionship for Seniors Wondering if you should get a dog for an aging family member?

This article may very well convince you to

By Darcy Matheson Illustration by Taryn Gee

C

onfined to a wheelchair after a leg amputation and with no immediate family nearby, life in St. Louis, Missouri, was a lonely one for Marilyn Johnson.

Days could pass without the 77-year-old speaking to a single person. But that all changed when she adopted Diva, a sweet Cocker Spaniel given up by a breeder because of her “unusual blue eyes.”

Johnson says now with the “sassy spaniel” by her side she’s become a social butterfly and has met everyone in her neighbourhood.

“They’ll come out to the street to meet her and pet her and we’ll start talking. The socializing is good for her—and me,” she said.

“I don’t get so lonely anymore, or depressed. She’s been a wonderful help with that.”

Marilyn adopted Diva through Senior Dogs 4 Seniors, a service that matches golden-aged animals with golden-aged pet parents.

It’s placed more than 1,500 dogs since launching seven years ago.

Husband and wife team Diane and David Pierce started the adoption service after seeing the positive and life-affirming effects their service dogs had on seniors during visits to nursing homes, hospices, and senior’s centers.

“You see the remarkable difference in their state of mind. Their faces would just light up,” Diane said, recalling grieving seniors and older people with chronic health problems who would come out of their shell and “transform” when the dogs entered the room. “We knew it was difficult to find an adopter for an older dog and we were also aware of the magic they do for older people’s moods.”

The Pierces say senior pets make perfect companions for senior people because the majority are already housebroken, are trained to walk on a leash, and are much calmer than their puppy counterparts. While the older dogs still love getting regular walks,

they’re just as happy to curl up on a lap while their owner watches TV or reads—an ideal situation for someone less active.

Knowing that some seniors have mobility issues, Senior Dogs 4 Seniors offers adopters a range of support services, including taking the dog to vet and grooming appointments and administering annual vaccinations and flea treatments. Its $30 monthly “Complete Care” package includes regular home visits to drop off food and medication, trim the dog’s nails—even clean up poop in the yard.

Staff will even watch the dog should the owner go on vacation or end up in hospital, which is exactly what happened to Marilyn Johnson.

“I broke my arm and I was in hospital for five months and they kept Diva until I came home,” she said. “I pay them a minimal amount each month and they take care of everything. I mean everything. It's a blessing.”

The agency even works with the senior's lawyer to create a dog trust to provide ongoing physical, emotional, and financial care and support for the dog in the event the owner passes away.

Having a support system is key for senior adopters, says Sherri Franklin, Executive Director of the San Francisco-based group Muttville, which waives adoption fees for people older than 62 who want to adopt a companion animal from the shelter system.

If the match doesn't work or the owner faces unexpected health challenges that make it impossible to care for the animal, Muttville “will happily reassume care.”

With many of the animals Muttville takes in coming from seniors that have either passed away or entered a care home, she says the new matches with other seniors are a win-win, and have a transformative effect on elderly owners, especially those going through the loss of a partner or loved one.

“It gives a person a reason to get up for a walk. Animals fill the moderndogmagazine.com

87

empty space,” Franklin said.

“It gives one a way to meet people and be a part of the community again.”

That was true for Irene Griswold, a retired university professor in New Westminster, B.C., who lost her son and broke her hip in the same year.

“It's amazing. You're hurting inside but that little dog has to go out, so it motivates you to go out,” she says, adding that her dog Hope, a puppy mill survivor who passed away two years ago at age 13, seemed to instinctually know she was grieving.

“She’d know if I was going to cry. She knew when I needed comfort and would come curl up beside me. She was a good girl.”

Now Irene shares her home with Spyke, a Pomeranian cross that ended up in a rescue after his elderly owners passed away.

“He’s like my little shadow,” Irene says, adding that the spunky dog gives her a reason to get outside every day. “Our house just doesn’t feel like a home unless it has dogs in it.”

PHYSICAL BENEFITS Studies show that in addition to providing friendship, security, and companionship to seniors living on their own, having a companion animal can actually improve a person’s mental and physical health in a plethora of ways.

A recent study from the European Journal of Medical Research found that elderly dog owners get much more exercise than their animal-less counterparts, suffer less loneliness, and are given a

Checklist

sense of purpose.

Study authors found that taking short, frequent walks with a dog can lessen depression, anxiety, and stress, and that physical activity doesn’t need to be overly intense: Just by letting the dog outside, feeding him on a schedule, and playing fetch was found to have positive effects on people’s physical health.

The extra exercise also translates to fewer trips to the doctor, according to a recent study of 1000 U.S. Medicare patients, which found that senior dog guardians had 21 percent fewer physician visits than non-dog owners.

Ditto for petting that dog: it can decrease blood pressure and even your resting heart rate.

That relaxation works both ways. Petting an animal helps your body release a relaxation hormone while cutting down levels of stress hormones, and it soothes your pet at the same time, says Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University.

Marilyn Johnson, for one, says her health has improved with Diva in her life.

“My blood pressure has gone down because my dog calms me down,” she said. “It’s calming. She relaxes me. Just petting her is incredibly therapeutic.”

WHAT MAKES A GOOD MATCH While there isn't one specific breed of dog that makes a perfect match for an older adopter, shelters and rescue organizations

◊ Living situation: Does the home ◊ Are there any physical or

SHOULD AN ELDERLY PERSON ADOPT A DOG?

have a fenced yard? Does the condo strata allow pets?

◊ Does the dog have a tem

perament that matches the seniors' lifestyle? If there are grandkids, you'll want a dog that's good with children.

Here are some key things to consider before a senior brings home a companion animal.

◊ Can the senior walk the dog,

or is there someone to help?

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mental limitations that would make ownership difficult?

◊ Does the dog's energy

level match the senior's?

◊ Can the senior afford veterinary

care in case the dog falls ill?

◊ Are arrangements made in

case the senior is unable to care for the animal?

After hundreds of matches, Cherry believes the lives of seniors can be immeasurably improved by the addition of a companion animal in the home.

alike agree having realistic expectations and a support system in place increases the chances of the match being successful.

A senior should be able to provide exercise for their new pet, whether that means walking the dog themselves or getting a neighbour, family member or service provider to help.

Seniors Dogs 4 Seniors also considers if the adopter has a fenced yard, because it's easier for the owner to let the dog outside for pee breaks, and it's also safer for the animal.

A very large or active animal may be a poor match for a senior with limited strength or mobility, and could be a tripping hazard, warns Diane Pierce.

“In the beginning we took in all dog breeds but now mostly take in smaller lap dogs, as that's what older people want,” she adds, saying Shih Tzus, Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, and toy or miniature terriers are their most popular breeds.

That said, at the Dogway Dog Rescue Society in BC, which places older dogs into the homes of older people, breeds are a secondary consideration to the senior's lifestyle, history, and activity level.

“There are many seniors that are more physically fit than people half their age, and many seniors have only had one breed of dog their entire life. However, common sense must prevail and we match energy levels. Many seniors with a fenced yard want an old Lab or Shepherd and condo dwellers want small dogs,” says society director Cherry Latour.

If you're considering getting a pet for an elderly parent or grandparent, or if you’re a senior considering fostering or adopting, being open and honest about capacity of care is critical.

At Dogway, seniors and their extended family meet to discuss the reality of that individual's situation, including physical impairments, mental capacity, and living environment. The wellbeing of the dog is first and foremost, says Latour.

After hundreds of matches, she believes the lives of seniors can be immeasurably improved by the addition of a companion animal in the home.

“Both the dogs and the seniors get to live out their days experiencing the unconditional love they both deserve,” Latour said.

“It’s a beautiful thing.” n moderndogmagazine.com

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eat

Puppermint Dog Treats Let your pup get in the spirit with these grain-free, pepperminty treats loved by dogs (Bonus: fresh breath!)

By Sarah Dickerson of the awesome prettyfluffy.com

INGREDIENTS •

2 cups Almond Flour

•

4 Tbsp Coconut Flour

RECIPE

•

1 Tbsp Coconut Oil

1.

•

3/4 cup Water

•

4 Tbsp Finely Chopped Fresh Mint

Want more like this? The girls behind prettyfluffy.com have created 52 Weeks of Treats, a downloadable recipe handbook packed with endless inspiration for dog treats. Delish (and healthy!) dogapproved recipes for every season are outlined in step-by-step instructions and matched with beautiful photos, ensuring you’re never without the perfect, superyummy treat recipe to thrill your dog! Find it at prettyfluffy.com/shop/ebooks/52weeks-treats

Preheat oven to 350˚F.

2. Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix together until you form a ball.

If mixture is too wet, add more coconut flour. If too dry add a little more water.

3. Roll out your dough and cut the treats using bite sized cookie cutters.

Sprinkle with a little coconut flour to prevent from sticking.

4. Place your treats on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes then flip and bake for another 15 minutes.

Turn off and let set in the oven until crisp.

Makes approximately 20 treats (depending on size of cutter).

Let cool before giving to your pooch. Enjoy!

MORE

GREAT DIYs… moderndogmagazine.com/beefmeatballs

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moderndogmagazine.com/chickennuggets

moderndogmagazine.com/ricechristmas

PHOTOS SARAH DICKERSON/CHIC SPRINKLES

D.I.Y.

Stars & Their Pets

By Rose Frosek

Michelle Beadle—sports reporter, ESPN host, and major dog lover—talks rescue, being a woman in a notorious boy’s club, and why Pugs are the best

M

Q:

First things first: tell us about your dogs.

A: We have four dogs: Leroy the Pug, Violet, a Plott

PHOTOS BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY/LORI FUSARO

ichelle Beadle, sports reporter and co-host of ESPN’s SportsNation, is a powerful female voice in the maledominated world of sports reportage. This alone would endear her to us, but factor in that she’s the adoptive mom to three rescue dogs and is about to be the new face of one of our favourite non-profits, Best Friends Animal Society, and we’re smitten. Then consider her very funny, totally unfiltered Twitter feed (Michelle has over 1.1 million Twitter followers for a reason) and you have us wishing she was our new BFF. We asked the very cool Michelle a few questions.

Check out her answers below—we’re pretty darn certain you’re going to love her.

Michelle and her boyfriend, actor Steve Kazee with their four dogs

Hound mix, Henry, who appears to be a Springer sprinkled with who knows, and Stella, the baby, who may have a little Jack Russell in her.

Violet came with my boyfriend, Steve; she was adopted in New York State about three years ago. Henry was a Petco adoption event pick up because it’s impossible to go to a Petco on a Saturday, walk by all those little faces, and not stop. Henry was the one we picked up and couldn’t put back down. And Stella we call the little ‘con artist.’ Our dog walker was followed home by this sweet, deceiving princess. When I got home from work, there she was, in the living room, chilling. No chip. Not spayed. I wasn’t taking her to a shelter, and here we are. And confession: I got Leroy in a pet store eight years ago in Manhattan. While he’s the greatest little man ever, the pet store option died for me a long time ago. No regrets, and he’s getting to exert his “big brother” status over an entire pack.

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Q: Were you always a dog person?

A: I’ve been a dog person for as long as I can remember. I remember being 12-13 years old, walking through a mall with my family when we passed a pet store. I went in and sat in front of a cage housing a tiny Pug. And I sat. And I sat. Until my parents realized I wasn’t with them anymore. When they walked up, I was crying about this little creature who just stared back at me.

Complete destruction… If given the option to hang with dogs over people, I choose pups every time. And when you encounter another dog person, it’s an immediate comfort zone. We ‘get’ each other.

Q: Why is rescuing dogs something you feel passionate about?

A: Rescuing dogs has become such an important part of me feeling like I can help even a little. I’m the person who can’t walk

spare time perusing “IthenowPugspend rescues, always on the lookout for puppy number five. ” by an adoption without immediately getting teary eyed, and until I buy a ton of land and open up a refuge, adopting the little monkeys is my best option.

I’ve learned so much about pet adoption over the years. For so long, I assumed, like many, that if you want a pure breed, you have to buy. I now spend spare time perusing the Pug rescues, always on the lookout for puppy number five. I’ve stressed to anyone who will listen, adopt!

You can find the perfect addition to your family, no matter how obscure your taste, waiting at a shelter somewhere out there.

Get on the Internet, and do the work.

themselves” first and foremost. It may be tough initially, but I promise it ends up being so much more gratifying, and honestly, easier. Stick to your guns. Ask a lot of questions. And decide what’s important early on.

Q: If there were one thing you’d want

you be and why?

A: I would be a Pug! Obviously. I am them; they are me. But seriously, I have always felt an affinity for the little squishy-faced balls of fur. I think we’re both cute on some days, terrifyingly un-cute on others. We pride ourselves on personality and think we’re pretty funny.

We’re stubborn. Love to sleep. Love to eat even more. Sometimes we feel social, but mostly prefer a little one on one time. We’re not ever sure whether you’re laughing at us or with us, and that’s ok.

all your fans and followers out there to get on board with/one message you’d like to impart, what would it be?

A: Adopt!!!!! You want a Labradoodle?

I promise one is out there. You want the perfect buddy to share a home with and love completely? That puppy is out there.

You feel like giving a couple of older dogs a wonderful final few years/months/days?

Do it!! On my worst day, these dogs are the perfect reminder of what’s important.

That combined with plenty of stinky kisses is perfection.

Q: What’s the best thing about being a female sports personality? The worst?

A: The best and worst thing about being a female sports broadcaster is probably pretty close to being the same thing. I don’t always remember that I’m a “female” broadcaster. But someone always wants to remind me. Being a woman in this field now is refreshing because there are so many of us doing so much more than ever. I have a voice. And for good and bad, I treasure that role.

Q: What advice do you have for girls wanting to follow a similar career path?

A: I tell all girls who ask me to “be

Q: What three personality traits would you say have most greatly contributed to your success?

A: The three personality traits that I think—keyword: think—have helped me along the way: stubborn, thick-skinned, and balanced.

Q: If you were a dog, what breed would

Q: What advice do you have for our readers who, like you, would like to make a difference for homeless dogs?

A: My biggest advice is to do anything.

Even the seemingly smallest act will have positive effects. Donate a few dollars, some dog food. Drop off blankets and beds to an animal shelter. Foster if you have the time and space. Volunteer at your local shelter. Sometimes we get discouraged because we feel like we can’t possibly be making a difference.

But we are.

For an endlessly entertaining mix of sports, unfiltered musings, and dog photos, follow @MichelleDBeadle on Twitter

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INSPIRE

I'm ready for my mission ... to love you

BACK FROM THE BRINK

How one organization is saving the lives of war veterans and shelter dogs, pulling dogs from euthanasia lists and pairing them with former warriors.

It’s not only a match made in heaven; it’s a recipe for success.

By Noa Nichol

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A

fter her son returned from his second tour in Iraq, Shari Duval of Ponte Vedra, Florida came face-to-face with the devastating reality of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“My son, who is a veteran K9 police officer, worked as a bomb-dog handler for the U.S. army and returned with severe PTSD,” she says. “He looked the same, he’d lost some weight—but it was like the lights were on with nobody home. He was just a shell inside; he had lost all emotion, he was quiet … and then he began isolating. We couldn’t get him out of the house. He started drinking—and this was a kid who never drank. I honestly didn’t know what to do for him.”

Seeking a way to alleviate some of her son’s suffering by drawing on his love for and background working with dogs, Duval embarked on two years of research into canine assistance for PTSD, eventually concluding that the best way to help her son—and others like him—was to start a non-profit organization that would train and give service canines to warriors in order to help them return to civilian life with dignity and independence.

2010 saw Duval’s dream come to fruition with the birth of K9s For Warriors. Within the year, her organization had achieved non-profit status.

“We’re dedicated to providing service canines to our warriors suffering from PTSD and/or traumatic brain injury … as a result of military service post 9/11,” Duval explains.

“Our goal is to give ‘a new leash on life’ to rescue dogs and military heroes.”

The “rescue dog” aspect is an important one—at first, Duval believed she’d need to raise and train purebred dogs in order to do this important work. But she soon came to the conclusion that there were “too many excellent, beautiful dogs in shelters that need good homes” and that, with help from a team of trainers and evaluators, “we could save some of these dogs’ lives while simultaneously tackling the issue of PTSD.” Today, K9s For Warriors’ roster of dogs is gleaned almost exclusively from shelters across the U.S. Most of the animals, says Duval, are Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever mixes—unfortunately, the organization’s insurance coverage prohibits it from including “bully breed” dogs.

Beyond breed, Duval says, “Not all dogs are capable of working. They need to have the right personality and temperament—we’re looking for smart, even-keeled animals who are relatively low maintenance and eager to learn.”

Size, too, matters, and retrievers are ideal in that many of the warriors in the program have mobility issues and wouldn’t do well with a smaller dog.

“We only accept dogs under two years of age and, once they’re pulled or donated, we have them medically checked by our own vet for any potential issues like hip dysplasia,” Duval explains. “The last thing we want is to give a veteran a dog and have it come down with a problem that would prohibit it from working.”

The dogs are then kept under evaluation for 30 days to “see how they get along with other dogs, people, children, noises, cars, public places … the entire process lasts between 30 and 40 days before a dog is accepted into the program.”

And what becomes of an animal that falls short? Happily, K9s For Warriors has never been forced to return an animal to a shelter. Rather, dogs deemed “not fit” to be service animals are placed as pets with loving families.

“It’s about a 10 percent wash-out rate,” says Duval. “But we’re really proud of the fact that, of [the near] 200 dogs we’ve matched with warriors to date, we’ve only made two mistakes where the pair just didn’t bond.”

That’s because, as thorough as K9s is about choosing the right animals to enter its program, the application process for people is just as thorough, to ensure the wellbeing and success of everyone involved.

“We conduct many, many conversations with them—we even go so far as to have them submit pictures and videos of their home environment, so that we can take into moderndogmagazine.com

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account whether they live in an apartment or house, have a yard, have children or other pets,” she says. “We determine how mobile each warrior is, as well as what they like to do. If a veteran likes to go kayaking or hiking, we want to make sure we pair him with a dog that can do these activities.”

Duval stresses the fact, however, that “these are service dogs trained with specific skills—they’re not therapy or companion dogs. Some are taught to pick things up, others learn retrieval or how to open and close doors. A common issue associated with veterans with PTSD is a strong dislike of being approached from the front or back; it really puts them on guard. Our dogs are taught to cover in the back and block in front, to alleviate this.”

One inherent skill that, she says, a large portion of dogs in the program seem to instinctively possess (that is, it’s not a taught behaviour), is “waking their warriors up from horrific nightmares and flashbacks. The dogs will lick their faces or pull on them to bring them back to reality—that just comes from the bond of being with them.”

Considering the commonly cited statistic that 22 veterans a day are lost to suicide, Duval says the biggest overall benefit of the K9s For Warriors program is, “We’re saving their lives. These dogs are saving lives. The dogs take the place of medication, and give veterans a reason to stop isolating themselves, to get out there and to live.”

Following are the stories of three real-life K9s For Warriors “graduates” and their incredible dogs:

apply to the program. Several weeks later he received his letter of acceptance from Duval and her team.

“I can’t stand taking meds and I was definitely looking for a way to mitigate the amount I needed to take,” he says. “The possibility of being able to do that through this program, I have to admit, was pretty attractive.”

Greg’s “training” proceeded like all other participants in the K9s program.

“I went down to the facility in April, to start my stay,” he says.

“I was in a group with five other guys. We came in on a Sunday, had orientation, and the next day was ‘dog day,’ when we all got to meet our dogs.”

When Greg was introduced to Jackson, it was “nearly” love at first sight.

“They brought this big Lab-Mastiff mix out and my immediate thought was, ‘I asked for a dog, not a horse!’ But then I learned more about him—he was a rescue out of North Carolina—and I knew they’d made a good match.”

After completing three weeks of training, including basic commands and working with the dog in public, Greg and Jackson headed home.

“Jackson has been a godsend,” he says. “Things are different now—I can get out of the house, I can be more open, I don’t have to worry about whether or not someone has my back.

Jackson’s whole job is to make me happy. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Greg & Jackson Following his eighth involvement with an IED (improvised explosive device), Greg returned home to Missouri in 2012.

“I came back to the U.S. a veteran with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury,” he says. “I started medical treatment immediately.”

His friends and family, however, felt something else could be done to help Greg rehabilitate. After spotting K9s For Warriors on social media, his wife, along with a close friend, suggested he

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Erick & Gumbo A war veteran living in southwest Louisiana and suffering from PTSD, Erick was on a daily regime of various powerful medications when his doctor asked him if he’d ever considered

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getting a service dog.

“He actually wrote me a prescription for it,” Erick says, adding that he’s always had a love for dogs and had worked with them in the military.

An Internet search, however, yielded a dizzying number of results, and saw Erick contact “at least 20 different orgs, searching for a dog.” Finally, he connected with K9s For Warriors—and knew he’d found the right place.

“They seemed very down to earth, knowledgeable,” he recalls.

“I asked about certifications; everything checked out. I liked the fact that there was a training period and process, where the dog was with you 24-7, and trainers and staff would be there, too.”

When Erick arrived at the K9s facility in Florida, he was nervous—going to new places and meeting new people wasn’t easy for him. The staff and volunteers, however, put him at ease, and he looked forward to the next day, when he would meet his dog.

“I had no expectations about breed or anything like that, I was just thrilled about everything they were doing for me,” he says, adding that his wife and daughters did, however, tease him about the possibility of getting paired with a “purse dog.”

Fortunately, his canine match turned out to be a black Lab, Gumbo, who’d been sponsored and named by New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton. (All dogs are entirely free to veterans, but supporters are encouraged to sponsor a dog for a warrior.)

“Sean Payton donated the money for K9s to be able to provide someone with a service dog, and for that contribution he got to give Gumbo his name,” Erick says. “He actually followed right through with the Louisiana theme and specifically wanted Gumbo to go to a Louisiana veteran. That lucky person was me, and I got to meet Sean and go to some Saints games.”

As for Gumbo, who was rescued from a shelter in North Carolina, Erick says that, even after training was over and he and his dog went home, the rapport between them continued to build.

“The friendship—that bond—it gets stronger every day,” he says. “There are so many positives to me having this dog. I suffer from short-term memory loss, and Gumbo, not purposely, but in general, tends to remind me of things. He takes my mind off some of my anxieties, makes me feel more comfortable going into stores. He just alleviates me worrying about the ‘real world;’ I’m more worried about him.”

It may not sound like a lot but, in Erick’s own words, “It’s a huge help.”

“You have to put a lot of work into having a service dog like Gumbo, but the payoff is huge,” he says. “And K9s For Warriors— they’re doing a double good deed, far as I’m concerned, by saving these shelter dogs’ lives and helping out veterans like me impacted by PTSD. It’s giving everyone a second chance.”

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Jason & Axel When he returned to Fredericksburg, Virginia, after three tours of duty in Afghanistan, Jason was in a “really dark place.”

“I hadn’t been diagnosed with PTSD yet, but I did suffer from a traumatic brain injury,” says the veteran, admitting that, despite trying “every medical treatment you can think of,” he felt completely shut off from family and friends.

“I tried dozens of types of meds, talk therapy, acupuncture, you name it,” he says. “Eventually I was diagnosed with PTSD.” After his wife issued him an ultimatum, Jason searched the Internet for service dogs, which he’d heard could help veterans with his condition. While other organizations had long waiting lists, K9s For Warriors promised him a dog within seven or eight months—and kept in close touch during that time.

“I could see a light at the end of the tunnel,” he says. “Help was on the way.”

Traveling to K9s’ headquarters in Florida with “an open mind,” Jason met his sable-coloured German Shepherd, Axel, on a Sunday—and this year celebrated his third anniversary with his dog.

“Very soon after getting Axel, I knew everything was going to be OK,” he says, adding that his dog, who was pulled from a high-kill shelter just two days before he was set to be euthanized, helps manage his nightmares and memory loss. Best of all, Axel was nominated for this year’s American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Award—an honour Jason says provides a platform for reaching other veterans suffering from PTSD. “I’ll keep telling mine and Axel’s story until I’m blue in the face,” he says. “This program, this dog—they’ve saved my life.” n

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PHOTO JENNIFER COUDRON

Why “foster failing” was the best thing to happen to these folks

Sometimes Failure Can Be a Good Thing There is one serious side effect to consider when acting as a foster parent to a rescue dog awaiting a forever home—you may just fall in love.

By Pooja Menon

T

he following folks found a common solution to this quandary, one that not only saves lives but oftentimes delivers a lifetime of happiness, too: they decided to adopt their foster dogs and became what rescue workers lovingly call foster failures. Read their stories at your own peril—there’s a very real risk you’ll find yourself signing up to foster dogs in your own community!

(The rewards couldn’t be greater.)

PHOTO ROBERT SCHROEDER

Maria Kelly never planned on having dogs.

She was a cat lover, a mother, and a full-time animal welfare professional, and her life was bursting at the seams already. Though she would have said a dog was nowhere in the cards, fate had other plans for her. Maria was volunteering with her co-workers at a municipal shelter two hours away from San Francisco when she met Edie for the first time.

“We were hauling old furniture and cleaning weeds off the shelter grounds,” recalls Maria. “Just before we were ready to load out, a staff member on the premise asked my colleague, a vet tech, if she could take a look at a stray that was brought in. The dog had been hit by a car.”

Maria took one look at the dog’s scruffy face and wagging tail and knew she’d fallen hook, line, and sinker. The team decided to take Edie back to the city where she could be treated for her injuries, which unfortunately were serious: a broken femur and a broken pelvis, along with very matted fur. Edie vomited in the car on the drive back to the city and was admitted for treatment as soon

as they arrived. Maria returned to work and her regular life. Yet, she couldn’t get Edie’s face out of her mind.

When Edie’s recovery required some foster time, Maria stepped up to the plate knowing that Edie might not remain a foster dog for long.

“In the back of my mind the whole time I was thinking she would be a foster fail,” Maria smiles. “Knowing that I had a part in taking care of her while she was hurt, and knowing that back at the shelter she would likely have been euthanized…watching her evolve from a scared dog into a goofball—it’s a very rewarding experience.”

Now that Maria’s daughter has moved out, leaving behind an extra room, Maria plans to continue fostering and hopes to provide a safe haven for hospice animals in the near future.

Lisa Bassi is a four-time foster fail and

proud of the title. “All of my foster failures have heartbreaking stories,” she says. “But they are the most loving creatures. Even on my worst days, I think of what they have gone through, how far they’ve come, and their fun and carefree approach to life after just a little bit of love.”

Lisa’s first foster dog Juniper was a shy senior dog with a heart defect and an estimated few months to live. Juniper needed a quiet neighbourhood, a yard, and a patient, loving caregiver if she was to stand a chance. Lisa, with her natural gravitation toward shy dogs, was the obvious choice. She agreed to a two-week foster trial, but a week into the arrangement, moderndogmagazine.com

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she knew she would adopt Juniper. Thanks to fundraising efforts, Juniper’s heart was treated and she lived for three healthy, happy years.

Lisa’s next two foster failures arrived together. Kaliska—a frightened, feral pup with neurological issues—and Fiona, a bereaved mama who’d lost all her pups to parvo. Both dogs were considered difficult to place, so were paired together and sent to Lisa’s “home retreat” for healing.

Lisa had lost Juniper two months prior and felt she was not ready to adopt, but she knew that without help, these two dogs wouldn’t make it so she agreed to simply foster.

“On the day I had to take them back, Kalisa bounded over to me and covered my face with kisses. This was a dog that was terrified of people.” Lisa didn’t need a clearer sign to tell her that Kaliska and Fiona were meant for her.

Lisa’s most recent foster failure, Clarabelle, was one among 58 dogs that were rescued by the Humane Society International from a South Korean dog meat farm earlier this year. Despite attempts to rehabilitate her, Clarabelle remained terrified and huddled in her kennel, refusing to eat, walk, or solicit affection. As a favour, Lisa agreed to foster Clarabelle through her heartworm treatment.

Several weeks in, a miracle happened. “One day, Fiona was standing in front of Clarabelle’s kennel and play-bowing to her, and it was like a light switched on. Clarabelle inched out of her kennel and started wagging her tail,” says Lisa. Clarabelle’s shyness around Lisa soon disappeared too and she became inseparable from Lisa’s other dogs. The band of misfits, as Lisa lovingly puts it, couldn’t be separated, so she adopted Clarabelle as well.

Lisa believes that dogs and people belong together. “Foster parents have a huge impact in dogs’ lives, and I encourage everyone to foster.”

Kiersten Anderson (inset photo) spent 22 months

as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent, working with abused street dogs through the Vincentian SPCA. While the Island is beautiful, with equatorial temperatures and

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balmy evenings, the reality for street dogs is less picturesque. Treated like vermin, many are poisoned or drowned. One of these street dogs was about to change Kiersten’s life.

On a Sunday morning, Kiersten received a phone call from a panicked Japanese expat by the name of Yukiko.

Yukiko lived on Bequia, an island off the mainland, and was horrified to see her neighbours were about to drown their dog and her puppies. Yukiko’s attempts to dissuade them had failed, and she needed someone to intervene quickly.

Bequia was a ferry ride away from the mainland and ferries didn’t run on Sundays. Kiersten begged Yukiko to convince the owners to hold off until she got there early the next day. The owners grudgingly agreed. When Kiersten arrived at their house the next morning, a malnourished dog greeted her from the yard.

The dog was tied to a two-foot metal tether chain, with only a sliver of cement porch for shade and dirt for bedding. Kiersten watched the pups rooting through the filth in search of warmth.

Ignoring the owners’ warnings about the dog’s “viciousness,” she approached her with a bowl of water and some kibble. Both disappeared in seconds. It was obvious she had been starved of food and deprived of fresh water for a long time. Suffice to say, the dog and her pups returned with Kiersten to the mainland. The pups were soon re-homed, but what of the mama dog?

“If I’d learned one thing since working with abused street animals, it was that animals have a sense about them,” she says.

“They know when you’re there to help them, to save them, and to make them better.”

Kiersten named the dog Yuki after the Good Samaritan who interrupted her drowning and when Kiersten’s time on the Island ended, she decided to take Yuki with her back to America. Yuki now leads a charmed life with Kiersten, Kiersten’s boyfriend, and their four other dogs—three of which are also foster failures.

“It’s not easy, even today, having Yuki as a doggie daughter,” Kiersten says. “But she was meant to be our dog, and I was meant to be her person.” Yuki’s fear aggression is challenging at the best of times, but Kiersten views this “fail” to be just another opportunity to reconfirm her purpose in life—to love, be loved, and to do good things for all creatures great and small. n

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HOW TO SIGN UP TO FOSTER & BE A HERO TO A DOG WHO REALLY NEEDS YOU! Are you a dog lover with a burning desire to make a difference in the lives of shelter dogs? Or perhaps you’re a dog lover who’s not ready for the full-time responsibility of having your own dog at present but you’d love some canine companionship? Either way, fostering is the perfect solution! By Pooja Menon By signing up to foster rescue dogs, you can save many lives and get a taste of the joys of having a dog around, without the worries of long-term dog parenthood!

The need for fosters is great. According to Petfinder.com, approximately eight to twelve million companion animals enter shelters in the U.S. alone every year and, of those, five to nine million are euthanized due to shortage of space and resources.

Sixty percent of the euthanized animals are dogs. These are overwhelming numbers, but you can help change them.

By fostering, you’ll free up space at your local shelter or rescue organization so that more dogs’ lives can be saved.

Think of all that doggie karma you’ll rack up—along with sweet, slobbery kisses, snuggles, and an endless supply of love!

While there are different kinds of fostering—from puppies to seniors or special needs dogs—the process is straightforward.

The good folks from the San Francisco SPCA have provided some easy tips below to set you up for a fun, successful road ahead.

Locate a shelter/rescue in your area. You’ll need to work with a group close by so that you can take your foster dog for vet checkups and to adoption events.

Visit your local shelter and fill out an application form.

Someone from the shelter will then reach out to discuss next steps. Shelters are notoriously understaffed and you might not hear back immediately but know that your help is desperately needed.

Most rescues are foster based and their application forms can be downloaded via their websites. Once you’ve sent in your application, you should be contacted for an interview. Each

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rescue’s requirements to get started are different, so make sure to explore their websites.

Track social media pages of rescues/shelters for updates on upcoming foster information sessions, so you can attend and sign up right away!

Once your application has gone through, the shelter/ rescue will pair you with a foster dog that is compatible with your availability and limitations. For example, if you have a resident dog, you’ll most likely be given a foster dog that does well with other dogs or could benefit from the extra socialization.

Foster care can be short term, ranging from a few days to a week, or long-term, up to a month or more. This is determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the rescue dogs’ needs.

These needs will be matched against your application to ensure a successful experience for both you and the dog you end up fostering.

If you have busy work life, this too will be factored into the pairing process. Most rescue dogs tend to be between six months to two years of age and have not been trained. They will therefore need more structure, stability, and patience to get acclimatized to their surroundings. If you’re interested in fostering, consider realistically how much time, exercise, and socialization you can provide, and be upfront so that shelter/rescue workers can help you find the right kind of foster situation. If a younger dog might be a handful for your current situation, there are plenty of older or senior dogs that could benefit from a warm, safe place to rest, and you’d still be saving lives!

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KENNY SUBMITTED BY BOB'S HOUSE FOR DOGS

INSPIRE

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BREED PROFILE

The Samoyed More than just a pretty face

By Kelly Caldwell

UL, F I T BEAU RTY, HEA NG LOVI

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This energetic, beautiful, eager-to-please breed is a real charmer.

“W

hat a pretty dog!” It’s the kind of comment you very well might make upon seeing a Samoyed.

To be sure, this is a beautiful dog—but he’s so much more.

He’s a purpose-built machine whose history, function, capabilities, and immense charm put him in a class all of his own.

The Samoyed is one of the oldest breeds of dogs, developed many centuries ago by the nomadic Samoyed tribes of north-central Siberia. The tribe traveled from Iran up to the northernmost reaches of the tundra, using dogs to pull sledges and herd and guard reindeer.

Interestingly, these nomads also chose to live closely with their dogs, sharing their homes with them and even sleeping together, the latter occurring likely for both companionship and additional warmth.

Life in these regions was harsh, so the Samoyed people had to breed dogs that could work in some of the most frigid temperatures and roughest terrain in the world. Being situated so remotely served to protect the breed—it was spared from outside influences—and ensured that the Samoyed developed as intended.

Left to their own devices, the Samoyed people were able to breed a dog that fit their lifestyle perfectly.

During the latter part of the 19th century, the Samoyed people made contact with polar explorers who were attempting to chart the Arctic regions. These men needed dogs to pull their sleds and some bought dogs from the Samoyed people. The explorers praised the Samoyed dogs for their hard-working yet friendly temperament. True, the Samoyed couldn’t compete with the Siberian Husky when it came to speed and didn’t possess the power of the Alaskan Malamute, but the breed nonetheless had its place as a sled dog—including a superior ability to navigate over the difficult terrain that often slowed down other breeds.

For this reason, many explorers felt they were a sound choice.

Nansen, Jackson, Borchgrevink, Shackleton—all the pioneers of polar exploration used Samoyeds to some degree. In 1911, it was a

Samoyed who led Roald Amundsen’s team and was the first dog to reach the South Pole.

Sadly, only a small percentage of dogs used on the polar expeditions survived. Of the handful that did, some were later displayed in zoos, while others were brought to England where enthusiasts further developed the breed. The first breed standard was created in England in 1909 and the Samoyed Club of America was founded in 1923.

Today’s Samoyed looks much the same as he would have way back when. He’s a medium-sized dog that the American Kennel Club (AKC) accepts in biscuit, cream, white, and white and biscuit coat colours. The Samoyed, then as now, is purpose-built from stem to stern. His thick, luxurious coat has a practical purpose: it protects the Samoyed from cold and wind. Even his trademark smile—one of his most enchanting features—serves a practical purpose. The upturned corners of the mouth prevent the Samoyed from drooling, so According to the most recent AKC registration statistics icicles don’t form on his face.

[1] Labrador Retriever If you’re looking for a guard [2] German Shepherd Dog dog, the Sammy won’t fit the bill. Devoted though he is to [3] Golden Retriever his guardians, he’s a trusting [4] Bulldog dog by nature and will almost [5] Beagle certainly greet an intruder with [6] Yorkshire Terrier a tail wag and a smile. He will, [7] Poodle however, serve as a watch dog [8] Boxer of sorts, likely barking when [9] French Bulldog any stranger approaches with a [10] Rottweiler loud voice that may deter some [66] Samoyed unwanted guests.

With his ancient origins as a companion animal, the Samoyed is well suited for the role of family pet. Samoyed fanciers point to the breed’s easygoing disposition, loyal temperament, and sense of his humour. However, it’s important to note that this is

Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

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Size: Medium The AKC accepts males in height ranging from 21 to 23 inches at the withers, and females from 19 to 21. Although weight is not addressed in the standard, the Sammy is considered a heavilyboned breed.

Activity level: This athletic breed needs lots of exercise and a job. Daily walks are a must, but to thrive the Samoyed should participate in an activity or two for physical and mental stimulation.

Grooming: Regular brushing will keep the Samoyed’s dense double coat free of mats. During shedding season, once or twice a year, expect to brush him daily and vacuum your home as often.

Heritage: This ancient breed was developed by the nomadic Samoyed tribes in northeast Siberia to herd and protect reindeer and provide family companionship.

For info on Samoyed rescue in Canada and the U.S., visit samoyed.org/samrescue.html.

If you like the Samoyed, you might also give some consideration to the Siberian Husky, Keeshond, or American Eskimo Dog

Siberian Husky

Keeshond

READ YOUR BREED

American Eskimo Dog

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

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PHOTO © AKC INSET IMAGES © AKC

Profile: The Samoyed

a working breed, with instincts that remain strong. He’ll likely chase other animals and, given his nomadic roots, it’s no surprise that these dogs will run for miles on end if given the chance.

For these reasons, a fenced-in yard is a must and the Samoyed should always be walked on-leash. Can this breed work for those in apartments or urban environments? Yes, but only if his family is truly committed to getting him the kind of exercise and stimulation that he needs on a daily basis.

That brings us to the subject of energy level. This breed needs to have a job of some sort. Choosing outlets for the Samoyed’s energy won’t be hard, because he’s remarkably versatile. A natural athlete who also possesses an easygoing personality, the Samoyed will likely enjoy just about any activity. Herding, carting, skijoring, agility, obedience, therapy visits… the Sammy truly is a breed that can do it all—and look great doing it!

Basic obedience training for the Samoyed is a must. It’s important to harness all of that energy in a positive way. Part of the Samoyed’s fun personality is exuberance that, left unchecked, will lead to a dog that’s likely to jump up on people, bark excessively, and so forth. But, while he has ample energy and a mind of his own, the Samoyed is eager to please. Independentminded yet loyal to his family, the well-mannered (read: tended to and trained) Samoyed is an absolute dream.

Thus it goes without saying that the Samoyed will not thrive in an environment with extended periods of isolation. Although his coat certainly makes him a fit for an outdoor lifestyle, his temperament doesn’t—he’s a family dog by nature and will only thrive if he’s an integral part of a family unit. It’s also important to note that, like most Nordic breeds, the Samoyed is quite a talker. Some are noisier than others and some have a higherpitched range but none are silent.

As for that glorious coat, you may rightly wonder just how much effort is involved in keeping it looking fabulous. Regular brushing and combing are absolute musts to prevent mats. And this breed sheds—a lot. Hair and fur on your clothing, your furniture, and likely in places you’d never imagined you’d find drifts of hair are all par for the course when you live with a Sammy. On the upside, the Samoyed is rather unique in that he possesses very little odour—even when wet! Fans will say the shedding is a very small price to pay for the companionship of the fun and charming breed.

The tribal Samoyed people accomplished something quite extraordinary. They developed a beautiful, hearty breed that could work for them and live with them in absolute harmony. The Sammy’s got too many talents to mention, but his greatest gift is the love he’ll lavish upon you in his service as your loyal friend. n

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TRAINING

DRACO SUBMITTED BY KRISTINA MCKENZIE

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN TEACH YOUR DOG (The answer may surprise you)

By Nicole Wilde

W

hen you read this article’s title, what came to mind? Was it “Don’t bite people,” or perhaps “Get along with other dogs,” or even “Don’t potty in the house?” True, those are all incredibly important things to teach any dog. But on a less dramatic note, for day-to-day living the most important thing you can teach your dog is how to ask politely for what he wants.

If you have kids, you’re already familiar with this concept. A fouryear-old should not be smacking a parent when he wants a bite of pizza, and a ten-year-old shouldn’t be grabbing things off store shelves and demanding they be purchased. It’s Manners 101 for kids to say “Please” and “May I”…and yet many people never bother to apply those same concepts to their dogs.

As a trainer, I see the results of failing to train proper manners.

Dogs bark at their owners for attention, paw at them for treats, and use their body and vocalizations in all sorts of inappropriate ways to get what they want. There is only one reason dogs continue to do these things: it works.

Since dogs can’t say, “Most wonderful owner, I would like very much to partake of that tasty treat,” how can they ask politely? It all starts with training. Your dog should have a repertoire of skills and behaviours that can be used as currency to earn rewards.

Don’t worry, complicated behaviours or fancy tricks are unnecessary. Simple obedience skills will do.

Assuming your dog knows how to sit, he’s already got something you can use. At mealtimes, instead of plopping the dish down in front of him, hold on to it and ask for a sit. When his rear hits the floor, praise then put the food bowl down and let him eat. To take things up a notch, if your dog knows “wait” or “leave it,” ask for the sit then add the cue to wait or leave it. After a few seconds, give the release word to allow him to eat. If you use this approach, vary the time your dog must wait. Otherwise,

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he’ll learn that after, say, five seconds he eats, and anticipation can lead to breaking the wait too soon.

Sit can also be used for going out for a walk. Place a rug near the front door, and ask your dog to sit on it. If he knows “stay,” ask for that too. Begin to open the door. If he gets up, simply close the door and ask again for the sit. You may have to repeat this a few times, but most dogs learn quickly that getting up causes the door to close, while sitting makes it open. Magic!

Many dogs jump on people for attention, and sit can be used as an alternate behaviour. After all, a dog can’t be jumping and sitting at the same time. Other rewards for sitting can include receiving a treat, entering an off-leash area or being petted.

Sit is not the only thing your dog can do to earn rewards. Lying down is also useful and can be used interchangeably for most things. In fact, it’s best to vary the things you ask your dog to do.

If, for example, you always ask for a sit at mealtime, your dog will soon offer sits in exchange for meals. That’s fine, but at that point you’re not really asking him to do anything. If you rotate between asking for a sit, a sit-stay, a down, and a paw shake, you are always requiring something in order to earn something valuable.

Teaching your dog to ask politely for what he wants reinforces your leadership and will make life with your dog all the more pleasant for the whole family. 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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Connie’s Book Club Above and left from Beloved Dog

Curl up with a good dog and a good book

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

Beloved Dog

By Maira Kalman To say we loved renowned artist and author Maira Kalman’s charming, disarming, whimsical, and just plain lovely new book, Beloved Dog, would be an understatement. To spend some time flipping through this gorgeously illustrated tribute to the relationships we share with our best canine pals is transporting and spirit lifting. Buy a copy for yourself and your best friend while you’re at it—a copy of Beloved Dog would make a wonderful gift for any fellow dog lover.

Dropped-Off Dog: A Mostly True “Tail”

By Catherine Lagorio; Illustrated by Robert Kelley This wonderful, riveting children’s book tells the tale of a once beloved, Tigerstriped dog who gets left behind. The moving story that unfolds encourages children to empathize with the plight of abandoned and stray animals, while the charming illustrations and happy ending position this picture book to become a new bedtime favourite. This one delighted the adults just as much as the children it was read to—loved it!

Harlow & Indiana (and Reese): A True Story About Best Friends… And Siblings Too!

By Brittni and Jeff Vega Adorable doggie duo Harlow and Indiana are back, and they have a new sibling, Reese! Brittni and Jeff Vega’s charming, photo-packed book follows Harlow and Indiana as they show Reese the ropes (prepare yourself for extreme puppy cuteness!). In this new adventure, Harlow takes on the role of teacher and Reese learns all there is to know about being a tiny pup in a big home! moderndogmagazine.com

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A Dog Named Jimmy

By Rafael Mantesso

From Dropped Off Dog: A Mostly-True “Tail”

Heartwarming and hilarious, A Dog Named Jimmy will delight animal lovers everywhere. Bull Terrier Jimmy found fame when his person, Rafael, starting chronicling their adventures via Instagram. Now, through 100 new images of Jimmy, Rafael tells the story of how Jimmy not only helped him through a difficult divorce, but inspired a long dormant talent for drawing, art, and life. At heart this is a story of how one man’s best friend—his dog—also became his greatest collaborator.

Some Dogs Talk

By Constance Messmer Tony isn’t totally sure what is happening—is he sharing his dog’s mind or losing his? Author and medium Constance Messmer takes us on a journey of understanding how dogs think and learning how to communicate with them. This fascinating story not only entertains but teaches animal communication to those of us prepared to listen.

Sit! Stay! Speak!

Wet Dog

By Sophie Gamand Every dog owner knows too well the fun and misery of bath time: the mad attempts to wriggle away, the poignant looks, the inadvertent splashing. In Wet Dog, awardwinning photographer and animal advocate Sophie Gamand captures all the ridiculously cute postures, wet hairdos, and indignant expressions in 120 expressive art photos that ultimately reveal much about our relationships with our dogs and the ways in which they mirror our emotions. An excellent gift idea. (Give one to your groomer!)

By Annie England Noblin Who says nothing happens in small towns? When Addie Andrews, reeling from personal tragedy, flees Chicago for Eunice, Arkansas in order to put her late aunt’s effects in order in, she’s in for a whole lot more than she expected. Kooky neighbours, new friends, swoonworthy romance, a brand new rescue dog, and the dark, dangerous underbelly of a tiny town all have a place in this charming novel that tells the story of a young outsider looking for a place she belongs and the bedraggled rescue pup who helps her face her past and step into her future.

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Xelie’s Gift

By Michele McGuire This moving, true tale of love and loss shares the inspirational account of how a Picardy Shepherd named Xelie utterly transforms author Michele McGuire’s life.

McGuire shares their relatable story and the impact Xelie continues to have even after her passing. This lovely story will make you want to go hug your dog. 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, I lost my sweet Lucy almost two years ago and am now ready to add another wonderful dog to my life. I have two concerns/ questions on his/her well-being: 1) I have kept Lucy’s dog bed (in very good condition) and wondered if it would be confusing to my new dog since it would have Lucy’s scent on it. Should I get a new bed? 2) I am retired and am home most of the time, but I will soon be starting a temporary job that will last eight to 10 weeks. Since I do not yet have my new companion, should I wait until I finish my work assignment before bringing him/ her into my home? I would have about two-and-a-half weeks to spend with my new friend before I start working. I want to do whatever is best for my pet.

—Laura, Salem, MA

A

Your new dog should be fine with Lucy’s bed. Dogs are all about the smell, as you must know by watching how canines greet each other with sniffs at the backside.

Dog Lady takes a leap of faith and assumes your new dog will feel right at home with a comfy, nicely worn nest redolent of a sweet predecessor. You sound like a caring and considerate keeper who will devote your

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attention to your new pet. For your peace of mind as well as your new darling’s, why not wait until after you finish your temporary job to bring the new dog into your life.

Less stress all the way around.

Dear Dog Lady, I work at a small software company where dogs are allowed. I only bring my Sheltie Liza when thunderstorms are predicted (because she goes nuts and chews things if left home alone) but some people bring their dogs every day.

Having dogs around in the office makes for a nice atmosphere except when they steal food.

My boss’ Vizsla, Bongo, is the chief bandit. If I put any food on my desk, Bongo appears out of nowhere and grabs the bran muffin, sandwich, and my favourite chocolate yogurt. Even if the food is wrapped, he breaks into any bag, tears off the packaging, and consumes anything before I have time to stop him.

We work in an open space so I can’t close a door and I don’t want to cause a commotion by yelling, “No!” or “Stop.”

How can I discuss Bongo’s behaviour with the boss?—Mary, Los Angeles, CA A: Be direct with your boss. For your courage, you may end up as the office heroine

because Bongo’s banditry probably impacts everyone. Tell your boss Bongo swipes any food not nailed down to your desk.

(Actually, Bongo sounds like the type to gobble the nails too). Also, express concern for Bongo’s health because bran muffins studded with raisins and chocolate yogurt are not the best diet for a dog—both raisins and chocolate are toxic for canines. Most likely your boss is aware of the situation but hasn’t wanted to confront Bongo’s bad manners. Leave it up to her how to resolve the problem.

Allowing dogs in the office is a tremendous perk. Your boss, if she’s any sort of an enlightened manager, should realize that putting strain on the bowser benefit by inattention/lack of training is not in anyone’s best interest.

Dear Dog Lady, My dog is a Newfoundland. She often experiences a skin infection in the form of angry red rings and flaky skin in the affected areas. I have been to the veterinarian’s office multiple times. They have given her antibiotics. This is very expensive because she has outbreaks multiple times a year. We don’t know what causes the outbreaks. I wonder if you know of any creams or remedies that could help with her symptoms. I don’t know what

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ask dog lady

to put on her and I don’t know what ingredients I should stay away from. Please help. She gets very itchy and I have shaved the surrounding areas of her stomach to stop the sticky matted hair. I am really stuck on what to do and what will help.— Leslie, Chicago, IL A: Your dear itchy pet needs a helper, an advocate who can do research and figure out what’s going on. A food allergy could trigger the angry rings. Or there could be environmental factors.

Instead of complaining about the costs of the antibiotics at the vet’s, you should buy the helpful medication and follow the prescription. Ask your doctor questions. Dog Lady is not a doctor nor does she play one on the Internet. You have to be stand up for your suffering dog and rattle the rafters for answers to your questions. You have a living, breathing creature dependent on your care. You can’t have a dog on the cheap.

Dear Dog Lady, At a recent family barbeque, after my terrier Boopsy sent my sister-in-law’s cat Marcus flying up a tree, I called for my husband to bring the camera and take a picture. The scene was just too cute of Marcus up the tree and our Boopsy at the bottom barking. My husband took pictures and then put on the leash to lead Boopsy away and allow Marcus to climb down.

I thought the whole thing was over until we were leaving and my sister-in-law made a sarcastic comment about how I thought it was funny when my dog treed her cat. “You didn’t care about Marcus’ feelings,” she said. She was laughing, but I could tell there was a barb. She spoke the truth. I don’t much care for Marcus’ feelings. But should I write a note of apology?—Betsy, Burrillville, RI A: You might not care a rat’s rump about the cat, but you do care about your sister-in-law’s feelings. She must have been hurt when you called in the camera and reacted so festively to your dog sending her cat up a tree. Marcus could be as precious to her as Boopsy is to you; her pet could have been injured or otherwise traumatized by the incident.

In the scheme of life, this was a small insult. Still, you should be sensitive to how others’ view their pets. You didn’t recognize the importance of this. If a larger predator, say a coyote, sent your dog scurrying for cover, you would be all shook up.

Write to your sister-in-law, primarily thanking her for the hospitality. Make sure you include a light soothing line about the Boopsy/Marcus dustup. n

Go to askdoglady.com to read “The Book of Shorty” on 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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PHOTO NATIONAL DOG SHOW PRESENTED BY PURINA

BREEDS

For dog people, the televised event of the year, aka the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, is mustview TV. Many of us gather with our families every year to cheer on our favourites and listen to the fascinating breed facts intoned

by David Frei, the iconic voice of Westminster. In advance of the 140th annual show, taking place February 15–16, get to know four breeds, newly recognized by the AKC, that will be competing for the first time. *Read Your Breed For more profiles,

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sheepdog with a strong work ethic, the Bergamasco’s most unique characteristic is its coat, which contains “dog hair,” “goat hair,” and “wool” that combine to form black or gray felt-like mats. The mats grow over the course of the dog’s life, reaching the ground at approximately six years of age. (The coat can actually smell like a sweater when it is wet!) Despite its formidable appearance, the Bergamasco is really a trim, athletic sheepdog underneath all those dreadlocks.

The Boerboel is a large dog that is strong, confident, and muscular with a distinctive, blocky head. Despite its size, it is the most agile of the mastiff-type breeds. Boerboel mean “farm dog” and the breed serves as a capable working dog as well as a loyal companion in its home country of South Africa. The skin of a Boerboel should be dark on the stomach and under the fur, as well as the roof of the mouth, which protects against heat and sun. The coat is a short and dense and can be brindle, brown, cream, reddish brown or tawny.

PHOTO ©AKC

Meet the Newbies

A

The Spanish Water Dog is upbeat and playful but also work-oriented.

A very active, mediumsized breed, it is faithful, hardworking, and lively.

Affectionate with family yet a vigilant watchdog, this herding group breed does best with lots of playtime and a job to do!

The Cirneco dell’Etna has been present in Sicily for over 2500 years and shares a common origin with the Pharaoh Hound and other breeds throughout the Mediterranean basin. As a hunter of small mammals and fowl, the Cirneco is a hardy, compact dog that was successful in hunting under adverse conditions—think high heat, on rugged terrain formed by volcanic lava, and with little food or water over extended periods of time. The affix “dell’Etna” is derived from Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe.

Lucky enough to attend the show?

Check into the venerable Hotel Pennsylvania, aka the heart of the action. Located directly across the street from Madison Square Garden where Best in Group and Best in Show take place, this hotel is the temporary home to a lot of the competitors, meaning you can say hello to many of the top dogs and their owners and handlers, up close and personal. Simply strolling the lobby and viewing the dogs is half the fun!

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WINTER 2015/ 16

DOG PHOTOS NATIONAL DOG SHOW PRESENTED BY PURINA

Meet the Newbies