Modern Dog Spring 2015 by Modern Dog Magazine

Are You Making These Mistakes? 12 Things Humans Do That Annoy Dogs (p24)

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions S P RI NG 2015

How to Stop

Make Your Dog Happy!

Problem Barking BRING YOUR DOG TO WORK!

Oh Joy!

p70

Separation Anxiety?

p112

Get Inspired!

p91

WINDOG L COO UFF! ST 3

Get to Know the Whippet & the Pug p30 SPR 15

moderndogmagazine.com DISPLAY UNTIL JUNE â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;15

$5.95

25274 56842

LOOK WHAT WE FOUND! p98 TURN YOUR LOVE OF DOGS INTO A CAREER THE DOGS OF INSTAGRAM

Stars and Their Dogs (p36) + Fun Ways to Spice Up Your Dog Walks (p40) + This Cool DIY (p106)

SPRING 2015

VOL 14

NO 1

70 FEATURES 24

12 Things Humans Do That Annoy Dogs Are you inadvertently annoying your dog by breeching canine custom? These 12 faux pas can be irritating or even detrimental to your pup.

How to Spice Up Your Dog Walks Mix it up! Keep your dog walks exciting with these tips.

How to Turn Your Love of Dogs into a Career Ever flirted with the idea of working with animals full time? These six professions allow you to do just that!

Do Dogs Grieve Over a Lost Loved One? You bet they do.

How to Make Your Dog Happy Seven ways to make your dog smile.

Send Your Dog a Mental Postcard How to soothe separation anxiety with positive energy and visualization techniques.

Dogs & Bubbles! Come on, get happy. The world is full of wonderful things… like bubbles! And dogs! And, for that matter, dogs who love bubbles! Let us put a smile on your face; turn to page 76.

Love & Rescue When two dog-lovers met their match in each other, the stars aligned, not just for them, but for all the dogs they would go on to save.

100

Work With a Dog More and more businesses are going pet-friendly—and there are plenty of doggone good reasons why.

BY STEVE DUNO

BY DARCY WINTONYK

BY STANLEY COREN

BY CINDY BRODY

THE GOODS 44

It’s Springtime! Fun dog stuff to make the most of the season.

Bargain Buys Steal these deals for fantastic dog stuff that won’t break the bank!

Look What We Found! Cool finds for dogs and the people who love them.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY TANYA KING

BY JEN REEDER

BY NOA NICHOL

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BREED PROFILE 30

Read Your Breed Could either the Pug or the Whippet be the breed for you? Turn to page 30 to find out!

108 The Old English Sheepdog Get to know this big, shaggy dog with the clown-like personality.

BY KELLY CALDWELL

BODY AND SOUL

36 5 Steps to Speedy Recall Even at a Distance; Modern Dog Poll; Quotable 42 How to Grow a Herb Garden for Your Dog

BY DR. LORIDAWN GORDON

54 Four Ways to Stop a Flea Infestation Before It Starts; The Sweet Smell of Something Other Than Wet Dog; A Custom Diet for Your Dog 62 Why We're Fans of Pet Insurance; At-home Solution to Arthritis Joint Pain, Wound Healing and More

86 88

Get to the Bottom of All That Scratching

LIVING 33

We're Giving It Away! We've got three months of fantastic giveaways, from prize packs of toys to leashes, gift certificates, pet cameras, toy boxes, and more. Winners every week!

DIY Eat: Bentley’s Blend Get cookin’ with Haylie Duff! The actress, singer, and host of Real Girl’s Kitchen shares ones of her favourite recipes for dogs, tested and enthusiastically approved by her dog, Chicken.

REGULAR FEATURES 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Contributors 12 Stuff We Love 14 The Scoop 20 Smile! Photo Contest 123 Marketplace

ON THE COVER

It's Josh, winner of our Cover Dog Contest!, with his mom and rescuer, Tina Lythgoe! We couldn't be more thrilled to feature this inspiring duo! Turn to page 62 to read their heartwarming story. Photographed by Christina Gandolfo.

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Stars, They’re Just Like Us! Candid snaps of some of our favourite celebrities out and about with their pups! How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Barking? Here’s how to address all that noise. BY TEOTI ANDERSON

The Dogs of Instagram Is your Instagram feed in need of a doggie fix? Here are nine adorable dogs you should be following. BY LILY NGUYEN

Meet Josh, our Cover Dog Contest Winner! Prepare for this little guy and his amazing people to steal your heart. Plus, meet our top 10 runner-up dogs!

PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRISTINA GANDOLFO

Get Inspired with Our Inspiration Cards! Pocket-sized cards featuring canine wisdom to stick on your fridge or use as a bookmark.

8 Reasons You Should Get Your Dog’s Teeth Cleaned We get it, brushing your dog’s teeth is an undertaking. But here’s why you should make the effort.

BY DR. ROB SPOONER

106

DIY Craft: Branch Leash Holder Add a dash of whimsy to your hallway with this easy to make branch leash holder.

112

5 Ways to Help Shy, Fearful or Anxious Dogs Here’s how to help your dog feel relaxed and comfortable.

BY NICOLE WILDE

115

Connie’s Book Club Curl up with a good dog and a good book. Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson's selection of spring must-reads for dog lovers.

118

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

BY MONICA COLLINS

128

Last Lick: How I Met My Dog The joy of second chance dogs.

BY CAROL CARLSON

BY MAXINE MATISHAK

In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 14, Issue 1. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.

PHOTO HANNAH WEIGER

115

E D ITO R ’S LE T T E R

Bow on the Fall 2004 cover of Modern Dog.

hroughout my years publishing Modern Dog, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some absolutely wonderful people, many of whom have become dear friends. Needless to say, they’ve all got dogs I’ve also come to know and love. What I find interesting is the way these dogs—across the board—have positively influenced my friends’ lives. So often I hear of dogs being catalysts and connectors, helping their owners choose more positive or meaningful life paths, connecting them to a community of like-minded dog lovers in which they feel loved and understood, and demonstrating on a daily basis the importance of love, loyalty, trust, and belonging. My friend Roxanne’s Dachshund, Buddy, was such a dog. He was the reason she started her company Buddy Belts, which has become an incredibly successful business with a worldwide reach. (They make one of the best fitting and most stylish harnesses out there!) Dave and Georgine Forgatch’s rescue dog, Bow, was another canine beacon. I met the Forgatch’s on the Regis & Kelly show when Bow competed and ultimately won the “Mutt America” title (and the coveted Fall ’04 cover of Modern Dog!) for his ability to sing along to Dean Martin’s “Everybody Loves Somebody.” Bow expanded the Forgatch’s lives in immeasurable ways—and the lives of a lot of others, too. This rescue dog’s celebrity helped remind viewers of the “unfound talent” waiting in their local shelter. Who knows how many were inspired to rescue a Bow of their own? To say Buddy and Bow, both now passed on, are missed is a tremendous understatement. A dog’s love and presence so effectively weaves its way into our hearts and lives that when they pass it leaves a gaping hole. I know firsthand that the sorrow can feel insurmountable. When my own dog Kaya passed away a few years ago I felt buried in grief. I have never cried so hard in my life. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that many of those who haven’t experienced a deep bond with a dog simply can’t comprehend the depths of the loss. We want everyone out there who is trying to come to terms with the

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Connie & Kaya

loss of a best friend to know that you’re not alone. We’ve created a memorial page on Modern Dog’s website (moderndogmagazine. com/memorials) so that you can post a tribute to a canine loved one, as well as share and connect with others experiencing the same thing. It’s helpful and healing to know you’re not alone in your grief. We’ve also posted resources to help you commemorate and honour your best friend’s life. Let me know what you think—I welcome your suggestions on how we can make it even better. With spring now here, it’s hard not to be reminded that life does indeed go on. This time of regeneration and renewal brings a feeling of happy anticipation and eagerness to get outside and be more active. To usher in the season, we’ve endeavored to put together our best issue yet, one that will inspire you, make you smile, and help you to live your best life with your dog. Let’s kick off 2015 right! For fun ideas on how to spice up your daily dog walks, turn to page 40. Contemplating a career change? Turn to page 46 for ideas on how to turn your love of dogs into a career. Want to bring your dog to the office with you? Turn to page 100. And, of course, we’re always trying to make sure our dogs are happy. For a list of ways to delight your dog, flip to page 70. Or if you’re simply in need of a smile, these dogs that love bubbles (p.76) will put a grin on your face and remind you to take pleasure in the little things. I think this is one of the chief blessings our dogs bestow—a reminder that it’s about the grace of the day-to-day. Like our dogs, we should greet every morning with unbridled excitement, be unsparing in our affections, eat with great gusto, and spend some time outdoors every day. Lessons to live by. Have a wonderful spring season. Let’s make the most of every moment! With love,

Connie Wilson, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

PHOTO KHAREN HILL

Buddy of Buddy Belts

C ON TRIBUT OR S SPRING 2015

•

VOL 14

NO 1

Publisher

Modern Dog Inc.

Whether she’s shooting people or pets, LA-based freelance photographer Christina Gandolfo gravitates toward offbeat narratives that celebrate long shots and underdogs. “Perfection has never been of interest to me,” says Gandolfo. This issue Gandolfo turns her camera on our adorable cover dog, Josh, who boasts tens of thousands of internet fans despite nearly being euthanized due to facial deformity (p.62). Gandolfo’s work has been seen in publications like The New York Times Magazine, People, Cosmopolitan, and Los Angeles Magazine. When not shooting on assignment, she trains her camera on her dog, 15-year-old Benek (pictured), and her two awesomely idiosyncratic cats, Lucy and Doo.

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, Kara Gerlach, Kai Jacobson Sales & Marketing Intern

Momoko Hirano Accounting and Subscription Services

Celine Benipayo Subscription Services Assistant

Lily Nguyen Controller

Cecilia de Roca Chan Honourary Editor-at-Large

P H OTO SE B A ST I A N A B B O U D

Jytte Wilson

Our very own Subscription Services Assistant Lily Nguyen is a Vancouver fashion blogger, lifelong dog lover, and social media aficionado. When she’s not working at Modern Dog or blogging, she enjoys reading, hiking, and of course, spending time with her beautiful and brilliant stud of a dog, Maximus (p.81). In this issue, Lily shares her top 10 dogs that you need to follow on Instagram now (p.54). You can also follow Lily on Instagram @lilyannenguyen.

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Modern Dog’s former head of Production and Graphic Design, Maxine “Modern Dog Forever” Matishak, set sail a little further west and is currently enjoying life on Vancouver Island. She now spends her time designing, DIYing, and walking in the woods. To get crafty with Maxine, check out her natureinspired leash hook project on page 106. For more of Maxine’s work, visit maxinematishak.com or thecraft.co, the online craft collective where Maxine contributes how-to’s for a variety of awesome DIY endeavours. We miss you Maxine!

Subscription inquiries call (800) 417-6289 Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 14, Issue 1. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 14, Issue 1. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402. PHONE

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

FAX

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

The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, images, photographs or other materials. By accepting and publishing advertising the publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses the quality of services or products within those advertisements. Copyright 2015 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.

Mortimer

We Asked...

What's the strangest place or position you've found your dog sleeping in?

Frequently, we find this one sleeping like this, with all fours up. I like to sing, ‘raise your paws in the air like you just don't care.’— Kwi Hee Oh

Buddah

Letty, 3 months old, after her first day at Doggie Daycare. She is on the entertainment center under the TV.— Dorey Brown Mellios

Letty Gideon

Lucy

My Alice napping in the cats bed!! — Dolores Walmsley

Charlie

Alice

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

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# ! $ @

STUFF WE LOVE Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter 1 My dog walks just got fancier with this elegant leather collar and lead set from Hartman &

Rose. Handcrafted in Canada, it comes in different colours and a variety of sizes. Marshall the black Lab has never looked so dashing!—Celine ($120 for the set, hartmanandrose.com)

2 Sure, I’ll eat just about anything but One Dog Organic’s Ginger Snaps are one of my very favourite treats! They’re nutritious and made with natural, healthy ingredients.—French Bulldog Hank (From $7, onedogorganic.com)

3 What better way to honour your best friend than inscribing his image on a pendant that you

can wear close to your heart? Send Photoscribe an image of your dog and they’ll laser your pet’s image and a message on the surface of a pendant to create a customized heirloom you’ll treasure forever.—Connie (From $80, photoscribe.com)

4 Any girl would look super fabulous in this soft thermal hoodie from Puppy Luv Glam! Not only is it adorable, but Puppy Luv Glam also donates $2 to the ASPCA for every garment sold because “every shelter dog deserves a spoiled and fabulous life!” What better way to show off your personal style and help out dogs in need?—Kara ($28, puppyluvglam.com)

5 I love dogs, but I don’t particularly love dog hair being everywhere. Luckily, the Dyson DC51 Animal vacuum makes cleaning up a breeze. You would hardly know there was a dog in my home! If you’re in the market for a powerful vacuum in a compact upright package, this is the vacuum for you!—Taryn ($550, dysoncanada.ca) 6 For years I've had a dirty little secret—sometimes my rear smells a little. Even with regular vet visits to express my anal glands I still had this problem. But thanks to the oral supplement Glandex, created to support healthy anal glands, I smell great again!—Lexi the Rat Terrier ($18, glandex.com)

7 Keeping a fresh supply of water around for my guys is essential, and I love the sleek look

of the Raindrop Ceramic Drinking Fountain from Pioneer Pet. It's super easy to clean and I’m reassured that my pets are staying hydrated!—Lauren ($60, pioneerpet.com)

8 The Orvis Deluxe Microfiber Car Hammock Seat Protector is the best dog hammock there is! My dog and I go hiking every weekend, and he just loves to get dirty and leave a mess in our car. This hammock not only protects our backseat, it also converts the area into a secure and comfortable place for him to sit and lie in. Highly recommended!–Lily (From $129, orvis.com)

9 Is your dog a bouncy car-passenger who jumps from seat to seat in a never-ending quest for the best view? Sleepypod's Clickit Sport harness keeps pesky passengers like my Rat Terrier, Lexi, securely buckled to your car's seat belt system while still letting them sit and lay down comfortably. Professionally crash-tested and award winning, it makes car rides a little less bonkers and a lot more safe.—Natalie (From $70, sleepypod.com/clickit-sport)

10 With my sensitive skin and tendency to sneeze at the powerful fragrances in many dog

shampoos, I never liked baths. But thanks to Rockin' Paws So Fresh n’ So Clean Gentle Coat Cleansing Shampoo, I'm now a soft and sweet-smelling bath convert. Call me “dirtball” no more!—Wirehaired Dachshund Penny ($16, rockinpaws.com)

11 These delicious and nutritious energy bars from Yaff are made for humans and dogs to share, though they may just prove too tasty to do so—I somehow managed to eat a whole bar before realizing I hadn’t shared a single bite with my dogs.—Jennifer (6 bars for $18, muddandwyeth.com)

(

12 I've found the perfect pup parent’s keepsake: PetPrints 3D custom canine miniatures! Using a 3D printer, they duplicated my dog Hank, right down to his big ears! Ordering is super easy; just upload photos!—Kai (From $200, petprints3d.com)

12 moderndog SPRING

2015

Animals Are Not Things Manifesto

LOOK ALIKE ENTRY PAULA AND MOOSE

PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY LUCY AND KARMA SUBMITTED BY KEN AND ERIKA GREEN

CANINE NEWS AND REVIEWS

MODERN DOG POLL

Do you think you and your dog look alike? CAST YOUR VOTE AT MODERNDOGMAGAZINE.COM

Over 50,000 Quebec citizens demand a revision of the legal status of animals

In early 2014, the Montreal SPCA, in collaboration with food ethics author and blogger Élise Desaulniers and moral philosophy researcher Martin Gibert, launched the Animals Are Not Things manifesto. The manifesto calls for a reform of the legal status of animals in the Civil Code of Quebec. Currently, the Civil Code there, as in many provinces and states, considers animals to be moveable property, no different from a toaster or a chair. (I know—crazy, right?) The manifesto demands that animals be granted a legal status distinct from that of inanimate objects, one that takes into account their capacity to feel pleasure and pain—to grant them, in short, the status of sentient beings. To date, over 50,000 individuals have signed the manifesto. In response to such overwhelming public support, Minister of Agriculture Pierre Paradis recently announced that a bill that would redefine animals in the Civil Code of Quebec and grant animals the status of sentient beings is ready to be made public, pending approval by the Minister of Justice. He also indicated that the bill would include significant improvements to the Animal Health Protection Act, Quebec’s provincial animal welfare legislation. As Sophie Gaillard, Lawyer and Campaigns Manager for the Montreal SPCA Animal Advocacy Department, said, “This bill represents a unique opportunity to effect real change for all animals in this province and for Quebec to become a leader in animal welfare instead of continuing to lag behind.” Way to go, animal lovers of Quebec! We all at times doubt the difference we can make, so it’s a wonderful thing to be reminded that, united, we're a powerful force. Why not start such a movement in your own area and stand up to be counted on the side of animals?

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Boz on his Aww! Shags dog bed

Here's what you should be doing Fridays... Entering our Friday Freebies! From a Friday Freebie winner...

“Boz the beagle and I would like to thank you so much! The doggie bed arrived and he climbed right on it. I adopted Boz a year ago from Muttville Senior Dog rescue. This was the perfect bed for him! I was so happy I almost started crying. —Kathleen & Boz

”

THE SCOOP

Beautiful brindle Dora gets along with just about everyone she meets! Dora will greet you with a wiggly body, wagging tail and will even roll over for belly rubs, a most endearing trait. Dora does great with other large dogs in play groups and absolutely adores people! She walks well on a leash and has a nice, even temperament, so Dora will make a well-mannered member of a family. Whoever adopts this sweet senior girl will have a wonderful, loyal companion for life.

I'M TADOP ! ABLE

Dora is available at Best Friends Pet Adoption & Spay/Neuter Center in Mission Hills, CA. For more info, visit la.bestfriends.org.

5 Reasons Why Senior Dogs Make Great Pets don't need to suffer through housetraining. For those who have forgotten, 1) You puppies are a lot of work. Most senior dogs (dogs are generally considered seniors once they’re over seven years old) aren’t strays; they have been members of someone’s family and, as such, are housetrained and know basic commands. You have an instant friend minus months of training, one who already knows how to walk on lead and won’t chew your shoes. pretty nice to be the recipient of wide-eyed gratitude. A senior dog knows 2) It’s what it’s like to have a family and wants nothing more than to again be loved.

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THE SCOOP

exercise demands. Senior dogs have lesser exercise demands 3) soFewer if you’re not inclined to run off the energy of a young, exuberant dog, a senior who’s content to curl up on the couch with you while you watch The Good Wife could be your perfect match. good dogs. Many people think older dogs at a shelter are 4) They’re “problem dogs” but, in fact, dogs are surrendered for a whole host of reasons—lifestyle changes like a new baby or job, allergies, death of a guardian, financial troubles—which means that shelters are full of active, healthy, well behaved older dogs just waiting for someone to look past their greying muzzle to the heart of gold within. feels great. Open your heart and home to a senior and you will know 5) Itwhat it’s like to give a dog who’s fallen on hard times a second chance. The feel-good rewards for the doer of a good deed are long lasting. And we like to think we’re all deserving of second chances.

And a bonus reason: You’ll likely be saving a life. Puppies and younger dogs in the shelter system have a much easier time finding homes. A shelter can be a particularly bewildering place for a dog surrendered after years as a family pet. Confused and depressed, it can be hard for them to stand out and get adopted, but the older guys have a lot of love to give if just given a chance!

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THE SCOOP CAPTION THIS!

Orvis catalogue cover dogs Thatcher and Winston

These Cuties Helped Raise a Million Dollars! To dog-lovers, dogs aren’t just pets, they’re family. So when canine cancer claims a victim, a whole family suffers. One in four dogs will battle this disease in their lifetime, with half of them dying long before their time—if that’s not a daunting and depressing statistic, we don’t know what is. But the Orvis Company, a family-owned retail and mail-order business specializing in high-end outdoor goods, was spurred to action.

AND THE WINNING CAPTION FROM THE WINTER ISSUE IS...

For the past five years, the company has been inviting its customers to submit pictures of the family pooch to be considered for inclusion on the cover of the Orvis catalog. Customers can then vote on the picture they believe should be on the cover; every vote costs a dollar and every penny goes to Morris Animal Foundation. Those pennies? They add up. The Orvis Company recently announced that their customers have raised over a million dollars for canine cancer research through the Orvis Cover Dog Photo Contest. All funds raised have benefited Morris Animal Foundation’s efforts to prevent, treat and cure the disease. “I love the fact that this somewhat random idea of a photo contest led to a flood of submissions. In my wildest dreams I had no idea so many customers would send in so many amazing photographs of all types of dogs,” said Perk Perkins, CEO of the Orvis Company. ”It’s been a fun job and it’s been a big job. We’ve had over 100,000 submissions and 50 winners to date, and an untold number of donations that resulted in over a million dollars going to canine cancer research... We’re making a difference." The impact of the contest is substantial. Eleven major colleges of veterinary medicine are conducting canine cancer studies funded by Morris Animal Foundation. “Not only has the contest raised vital funds, but we have also gained thousands of new supporters,” said Roxanne Davis, Director of Organizational Giving at Morris Animal Foundation. “Thank you to Orvis and to Orvis customers for showing your love of dogs in such a meaningful and impactful way.” You can watch “Million Dollar Dogs: The Inspiring Story Behind The Orvis Cover Dog Contest” at orvis.com/dogpix.

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“You won't be able to bury THIS in the sand!” SUBMITTED BY BARBARA MADDOX

RUNNER-UP CAPTIONS “Mr. Fluffy, can you please point to the individual who let you out of the bag?” SUBMITTED BY ANGIE MAHER “You ‘cat’ handle the truth!” SUBMITTED BY BRIDGET FULLERTON

“The court was barely in session when a motion was filed on judicial prejudice.” SUBMITTED BY BEN LE “And I'll remind the witness that the stand does not double as a litter box.” SUBMITTED BY STACY COX

PHOTO WILLIAM HASTINGS

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.

THE SCOOP CAPTION THIS!

Orvis catalogue cover dogs Thatcher and Winston

AND THE WINNING CAPTION FROM THE WINTER ISSUE IS...

“You won't be able to bury THIS is in sand!” SUBMITTED BY BARBARA MADDOX

RUNNER-UP CAPTIONS “Mr. Fluffy, can you please point to the individual who let you out of the bag?” SUBMITTED BY ANGIE MAHER “You ‘cat’ handle the truth!” SUBMITTED BY BRIDGET FULLERTON

PHOTO WILLIAM HASTINGS

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

Modern Dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Photo Contest Winners! Hodor

Blaze

Koda

Great Dane

Papillon/Pomeranian mix

St. Bernard

Tia

Poodle/Pomeranian mix

Raegan

Zeus

Riley

Labrador Retriever

Great Pyrenees

Shiba Inu

Xxx

Rylee Charlie

Xxx

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Peggy Sue

Charlie

Beagle

Sir Chewington Von Bacca Diesel 20 moderndog

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Winston Rookie

Golden Doodle

Dachshund

Australian Cattle Dog

Golden Retriever

Chihuahua mix

Jack Russell

Lucy Ginger

Gunny

Poppy

Maltese/Shih Tzu mix

Rottweiler

Rhodesian Ridgeback mix

Harley

Gunner

Labradoodle

Marvelous mutt

Rook

Golden Retriever & Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Luna

Siberian Husky

Think your dog ought to be in Modern Dog?

Australian Shepherd

Lilly & Koda

Great Dane

Bronson

Bernese Mountain Dog

Maddie

Upload your dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photo at moderndogmagazine.com/ photocontest. Not only will he or she be entered to be our Dog of the Week, but a selection of the photos entered will appear on these pages!

Pomeranian moderndogmagazine.com

What I Learned From a Middle of the Night Visit to Animal Emergency When you don’t have pet insurance, having to weigh your dog’s life against impossible-to-ignore financial considerations makes the unimaginably horrible even worse By Susan Kauffmann

t was 3 A.M., the emergency vet staff were trying desperately to save my beautiful Malamute, Kodi, and the last thing I wanted to be thinking about was how I would possibly pay for it all. Still, when they told me that to call in a surgeon, perform an operation, and cover post-operative procedures would likely cost upward of $4,000, the money became a very real and distressing issue. An hour before, Kodi had suddenly gone into shock—the very night before he was scheduled for exploratory surgery to try to identify the source of a mysterious illness that was clearly killing him. Cancer was suspected, but so far tests had proved inconclusive. My regular vet said that if we did the exploratory we might find something we could fix—or we might find something terminal, but at least we would know. Having no insurance for Kodi, I had already spent close to $3,000 on a dizzying array of tests: ultrasounds, blood work, X-rays, and so on. That was far more than I could afford, but Kodi was one of those once-in-a-lifetime dogs and I was determined to save him if possible. However, the sudden prospect of a $4,000 emergency bill was making one of the most frightening and painful experiences of my life even worse, as I quite simply didn’t have the money. The vet in the ER tried gently to steer me toward putting Kodi down that night: the dog was undoubtedly near death, and the woman recognized that $4,000 is a lot of money for anyone to drop. I looked over at Kodi, my loyal friend and protector of 11 years, and it was clear to me that he was still fighting to live. How could I give up on him? What if I found out afterward that we could have saved him? It was an agonizing decision. When I talked with my regular vet, we decided to see if Kodi could make it through the night with just supportive care. If he did, we would transfer him to her surgery in the morning and do the exploratory as planned. Kodi did make it through the night, but unfortunately, the exploratory revealed a terminal cancerous condition and he was euthanized on the table.

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I was absolutely devastated, and there was nothing that could take that pain away. Still, I was forced to realize that if I had bought medical insurance for Kodi, at least the financial stress would have been alleviated. Even without the surgery, the one night at the emergency clinic had cost $1,100 (for one unit of blood, one unit of IV fluid, and observation), and with the exploratory the next day, the total bill for Kodi’s illness was about $5,500. As a former veterinary assistant I should have known how important insurance was. I knew perfectly well that vet bills of several thousand dollars or more were quite routine. Car injuries, puppies with toys (or worse) in their stomachs, cancer, and hereditary disorders like hip dysplasia are daily occurrences in veterinary practice. Sadly, I had seen many animals abandoned or destroyed due to the owners’ inability to pay for care. My own roommate (who had mistakenly believed that his dog would be ineligible for insurance) had spent over $11,000 on three surgeries for his dog. If anyone should have been aware of the need for pet insurance, it was me. The truth is, I had never really looked into it. I assumed that pet insurance would be expensive and likely wouldn’t cover anything I would actually need it for. In fact, as I later discovered, that is not at all the case. When I eventually got a new dog and looked into insuring him, I found that pet insurance companies offer a wide range of plans, many which are extremely reasonable. Basic insurance plans offer surprisingly good coverage for many common veterinary problems such as accidents or illness. More comprehensive plans can cover an astonishing array of additional pet care expenses, ranging from preventative dental work and vaccinations to costs for advertising if a pet is lost. Having now done the research—and having learned my lesson the hard way—I will never let a dog of mine go uninsured again. I feel a great sense of ease knowing that if something does happen to my pet, I won’t have to complicate an already agonizing situation because of financial considerations. That peace of mind alone is well worth the price. n

12 Things Humans Do That Annoy Dogs

By Steve Duno Illustration by Kim Smith

espite our love of dogs, we humans sometimes do things that annoy the heck out of them. Though almost always unintentional, these things can nevertheless be irritating or even detrimental. Just as many dogs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t initially grasp that certain canine behaviours might annoy usâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;sniffing a person in a private spot or jumping up on strangers come to mindâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we too make gaffes that can worry, annoy or even anger our dogs. The following 12 annoying human habits are common breeches of canine custom. Might you be guilty of a few? Read on to see if your rapport with dogs could use some improvement.

moderndogmagazine.com

1 Staring!

2 Hugs

3 Yelling

4 Teasing

To a dog, stares often translate to challenge. Just watch your dog when he spots a squirrel—her level of fixation isn’t friendly interest. The last thing you should do is stare too long at a dog. Though you’ll probably have no problem with your own dog (note they still likely won’t love it), with others it might be interpreted as a challenge. Instead, ask people to look into your dog’s eyes for only a few seconds then break off. And never stare into the eyes of a dog who seems worried, edgy or aggressive!

Yelling is interpreted by your dog as angry barking, which to her means trouble. As a training technique, it works poorly to shut down bad behaviours and only serves to scare, confuse or agitate. Instead of yelling, stay calm and think tone. A deep tone to your voice means, “Hey, I’d like your attention,” while a lighthearted tone means “Good job!” or “Let’s play.” By adjusting vocal tone instead of volume, you’ll get your dog’s attention without annoying or scaring her.

Your dog probably won’t mind regular hugs from you. But many dogs get annoyed at tight hugging, especially from strangers or children. Unlike primates, canines have no history of grasping each other to show affection. In fact, when a dog puts its paws or body onto another dog, it is usually an attempt at domination or control. So unless your dog eagerly enjoys being hugged, tell friends and family to opt for gentle petting instead.

Children can be especially guilty of teasing a dog. Barking back at them behind a fence, pulling on tails or ears, or even chasing after or wrestling with an unwilling dog are certainly annoying and can make dogs shy, insecure or even aggressive. Moving a dog’s dish while he eats, playing keep-away without ever letting the dog have the toy, or even endless laser pointer sessions can drive a dog bonkers, so lay off the teasing and be sure to reward your dog quickly after he performs a behaviour correctly. moderndogmagazine.com

Dogs are social animals and you and your family members comprise your dog’s pack. Dogs left alone in a home or yard for ten or more hours each day can develop a myriad of behavioural and psychological issues, including separation anxiety, excessive barking or digging, destructive behaviour, or escaping. They can even lose housetraining skills and in the process trash your home. Your dog is a member of your family and, as such, needs to spend time with you. If you work during the day and no one else can be home, ask a friend or neighbour to stop by once each day to take her for a walk. If that’s not possible, be sure to spend quality time with her when you return. A walk, a round of fetch— whatever makes her happy. When you are home, let your dog be around you. Interaction with others is critical to your dog’s wellbeing, so, however you do it, get her some company.

Interrupted 7 Sleep

I was dreaming, dude! Even the nicest dogs hate to be awakened suddenly. Older dogs especially, who tend to sleep more deeply, and those whose impaired hearing might not allow them to hear someone’s approach can get scared by the sudden presence of a person touching them. Let your dog wake up naturally, without touching them or sneaking up. Children especially should be taught not to disturb a dog while he sleeps. You wouldn’t like being shocked out of a good dream. Why would your dog? If you do need to wake your dog, do so slowly, quietly, and gently.

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6 Crowded Dog Parks

Strange 8 Dogs

Many dogs get annoyed or defensive when thrown into a park filled with too many strange dogs. Think about suddenly being thrown into an elevator with twenty clowns and you’ll get the idea. The same goes for doggie daycares. If your dog is sociable, she should get along with six or seven other dogs provided the space is large enough and the dogs well mannered. But increase the numbers or reduce the space and you’ll almost certainly see stress like pinned back ears, low tail carriage, yawning, avoidance, and even the occasional fight. Is your dog sociable and physically capable of dealing with roughhousing? If so, try a park or daycare with a reasonable number of dogs (about one dog per 150 square feet). If she’s shy, opt instead for socializing her with a few dogs she knows or dogs who are gentle and laidback. Avoid parks or daycare with high densities of frenzied dogs.

Your dog will be wary of new animals entering your home. It’s a result of his natural, normal instinct to protect his home turf. But some people, thinking that all dogs instinctively love other dogs, let friends bring their dogs over for impromptu visits. This can annoy even the most congenial dog and might incite a skirmish. Instead, first introduce any strange dog while on a walk. Then bring the new dog into your home on leash and have them both perform down/ stays for a few minutes. Reward with treats then let them calmly interact. Pick up toys and chews beforehand to minimize arguments. If you have a fenced yard, let them then go out and burn off some social steam.

Changes to 9 Routine

Stick to the script. Dogs depend on routine. Feeding and elimination schedules, walks, playtime—your dog engrains these into her brain and expects them to happen each day without much variation. If you randomly change her dinner time, take her out later than usual, or even leave or arrive unpredictably, it can stress your dog and result in behavioural problems. As best as you can, stick to the same times, the same diet, the same ritual play activity—whatever is working. On days off, try not to sleep in too late. And, even if you’re tired, take her for that walk each morning before you go to work.

ILLUSTRATION KIM SMITH

5 Too Much Alone Time

10 Tight Leash

One aim of every dog trainer is a loose-leash walk, which shows that the dog is paying attention and focused. But most dogs today seem to drag their people down the street, the leash stretched tight behind them. This means that not only is the dog not paying attention, but also has constant tension on his collar or harness, which can lead to health problems. Though the dog technically creates the tension, it nevertheless annoys her. Teach loose leash walking by changing the direction and speed of your training walks often and unpredictably. As soon as your dog seems to lose focus, do an about-face and walk the other way, keeping the leash as loose as possible. Slow to a crawl, speed up, circle left or right— whatever she isn’t expecting. When she responds to these position and speed changes, reward her with a tidbit that can be eaten on the move, with her beside you. You’ll soon have a focused, happy dog at the end of a loose leash.

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11 Inconsistency

Make up your mind already. You often invite your Golden Retriever to jump up on you when you get home from work. But when your mother comes over to visit, you chastise the dog for doing the exact same thing to her. This discrepancy confuses dogs, who can’t figure out what you want them to do. To avoid this, decide exactly on what you do and don’t want your dog to do, then stick to it. If jumping is not allowed, then the behaviour should never be tolerated. If begging is undesirable, never offer food from your plate. Be as consistent as possible with the rules.

Inadvertently 12Aggressive Greetings

Are you greeting or attacking? Most people do not know how to properly greet a dog. They crouch, stare, stretch their hand out, and talk in bizarre baby talk. This is a threatening way to greet a dog. First, the person’s crouch mimics a predator’s pre-attack posture. The stare is the second threat, only to be topped by the outstretched hand reaching into their space, begging for a nip. Not only is this an annoying way to greet a dog, it’s possibly dangerous. The best way to greet a strange dog is not at all. Instead, greet the person with the dog. While doing so, the dog will sniff you and interpret that his person seems to be at ease with you. If the dog seems at ease and his person says it’s okay, you can then casually reach down and give the dog a quick pet on the head. That’s it. n

>> Have dog training or behaviour questions? Go to moderndogmagazine.com/ dogtraining for helping with everything from barking to separation anxiety.

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READ YOUR BREED Wondering which breed might be your perfect match? Read on to see if the Pug or the Whippet fit the bill.

The Pug

VIP (Very Important Pug) As the Pug’s many fans will attest, this breed makes 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 gluttonous individuals indulged by doting owners), the Pug, the largest member of the Toy group, is a sturdy but still laptop-size model. The phrase “multum in parvo,” used in the AKC breed standard, means “much in little” and can be interpreted in the case of the Pug to refer to both its compact but solidly muscled physical form and a personality much bigger than its stature would suggest.

The Whippet

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 guardians, including many royals, from Empress Josephine Bonaparte to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The Pug’s “I’m-the-centre-of-theuniverse-and-it’s-a-great-place-so-why-not-join-me?” outlook on life is one of the keys to this breed’s enduring and popularity.

Is the Pug right for you? Find out at moderndogmagazine.com/pug.

Winner Takes All

In the race for first place in the human heart, the Whippet is an odds-on favourite. Neat, sweet, and fleet, these smaller cousins of the ancient Greyhound are tough to beat. Of course, the Whippet was bred to run, so this sleek-coated sighthound already has an unfair head start in the speed department. Even-tempered and possessing a strikingly slim physique, the Whippet makes a wonderful, self-contained companion, happy to curl up on the couch—though don’t let that fool you into thinking these laid back indoor-qualities transfer over to the dog park. The AKC standard reads: “Temperament: Amiable, friendly, gentle, but capable of great intensity during sporting pursuits.” In other words, though calm and well behaved the majority of the time, the Whippet will chase anything that moves and while “on the lure” becomes deaf to owners’ pleas to return. Whippet owners are cautioned to never let their dogs off leash in an unsafe area and to build high fences, but their many fans count this small consideration for the pleasure of this breed’s company.

Is the Whippet right for you? Find out at moderndogmagazine.com/whippet. n

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

ENTER TO WIN

We’re giving it away! Enter to win fabulous giveaways each and every week in March, April, and May. Go to moderndogmagazine.com/giveaways to enter! Lucky readers will win every week.

march

1st-7th

Win 1 of 4 prize packs of USA-made toys and treats from BartleysForDogs.com, where every time you shop, you help a rescue dog in need!

8th-14th

15th-21st

Win one of 10 Aromatic Cedar Toy Boxes by Woodlore, made in the USA. (Toys not included; 11.125”L x 6.5”H x 11.875”W).

Win 1 of 5 Perpetua Life Jewels. Your special dog’s DNA is colour-enhanced (you choose the jewel-tone colour) and handcrafted into unique, personalized jewelry.

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-30th

Win 1 of 8 K-9 Kannons, a blast of fetching fun for every dog! Just load the ball, aim, and shoot! Hands-free ball pick up and extra ball storage.

22nd-31st

april

1st-7th

Win 1 of 5 dynamic and revolutionary leashes from WACKYwalk’r, available in 9 cool colours and 3 simple sizes. Trains dogs not to pull!

may

1st-7th

Win 1 of 5 prize packs from Stella & Chewy’s featuring Meal Mixers—an easy way to add raw food nutrition and taste into any diet.

Win 1 of 3 Pet-Peeps PetCams and stay connected with your pets! See, hear, and talk to your pets as well as remotely control all PetCam movements via the free app!

8th-14th

Win 1 of 5 One Dog Organic's American-made 100% human-grade, organic, GMO-free Variety packs. Wheat, corn, soy, chemical, by-product, and gluten-free. “Healthy Treat, Healthy Life.”

Win a $250 Gift Card to AmatoPet.com! Shop from a variety of modern and fine design pet products to keep your furry friend looking stylish!

15th-21st

Win 1 of 10 Wag Tags from WagTags.ca. Available for collar widths 3/8" to 1". Guaranteed for life of pet against loss and wearing out.

Win 1 of 2 PersonalizedPooch.com gift packs containing a cosmetic bag, oven mitt, and note pad, all customized with your dog’s photo! Personalized Pooch specializes in custom gifts for pet lovers!

22nd-31st

Win one of 15 Fur-Zoff, the new and better way to remove pet hair from your home and vehicles. Made in USA of 90% recycled material, it’s 100% durable!

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Beginning March 1, 2015 at 12:01 AM (PST) through May 31, 2015 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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eat Bentley's Blend Haylie Duff’s little dog Chicken is a big fan of Haylie’s cooking and so are we! Turns out the actress and singer is also darn talented in the kitchen, whipping up delish recipes for people and dogs alike. Bentley’s Blend, one of Haylie’s recipes for dogs, is a big hit with her four-legged friends. She sweetly shared the recipe with us so you can delight your pack with it, too!

PHOTO HAYLIE DUFF

D.I.Y.

I adopted Chicken a year ago and I love to spoil her rotten. If you giggled at her name, let me explain. I had just ended a long relationship and vowed to stay single for a year, no matter who came along. Of course, the universe decided to set a great guy right in my lap. I met him around the same time I adopted Chicken. When he met her, he suggested naming her Chicken Burrito because she did in fact look like PHOTO YONI GOLDBERG

a chicken burrito. I thought, “no way am I letting some guy name my dog. If we don’t work out I’ll be reminded of him every day.” I really liked him but decided it was best for me to stick to my original single gal plan. Shortly after, the guy and I went our separate ways. I named her Kenzie and that was that. Well, the universe has a funny sense of humour because a year later I’m in the happiest relationship with the previously mentioned guy. I no longer refer to him as some guy…and as for Kenzie, she has gone back to her original name too. Chicken.

INGREDIENTS

HOW TO

•

1 - 2 cups no-sodium brown rice

•

1 pound chicken breast

2. Boil the chicken and set aside to cool.

•

1 pound bag no-sodium frozen carrots

•

1 pound bag of no-sodium frozen peas

3. Drop the peas and carrots into the hot water and remove from heat once they are no longer frozen.

•

1 Tbsp flax seeds

4. Chop chicken into small cubes.

•

1 Tbsp omega oil for dogs

Cook the brown rice (don’t add salt!).

Toss in veggies, flax seeds & omega oil.

6. Serve & watch your dog lick his chops!

Haylie Duff is host of Real Girl’s Kitchen. Season two returns to Cooking Channel on Saturday, May 2. For more recipes at your fingertips, check out her wonderful cookbook of the same name.

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They rescue! Olivia Munn seen cradling her beloved rescue dog after making an appearance on the Today show in New York City.

Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, and their French Bulldog Pippa during a photoshoot in Manhattan.

! s r a St ’re just

They us! like

Zac Efron with his newly adopted rescue pup.

They hit the beach, dogs and kids in tow Gisele Bundchen walks the beach with her son Benjamin and dog Lua while on vacation in Costa Rica.

They take their coffee–and their dogs–to go 36 moderndog SPRING

WO O

2015

ALL IMAGES © PACIFICCOASTNEWS

They power shop

Katherine Heigl and her Chihuahua Gertie arrive at JFK airport in New York City.

Shetyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;rresj!ust

They travel with their dogs!

! like us

Miley Cyrus takes her dog Mary Jane for a walk then a hike in the hills of Los Angeles.

They walk their dogs!

e tongu ! t ou

They let their dogs sit on their laps Lady Gaga seen wearing matching pearls with her French Bulldog Asia in New York City.

They hit the gym, then walk the dog Hugh Jackman seen walking with his dog after a workout session at the gym in New York City.

Awww

ALL IMAGES ÂŠ PACIFICCOASTNEWS

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! p u t i Mix

How to Spice Up Your Dog Walks Keep your dog walks exciting with these tips Dogs, like people, can get bored by the same old round‑the‑block routine. Keep your walk-time fresh and interesting by mixing it up a bit. Think new sights, new smells, new friends. Here are some fresh takes on the walk to keep it exciting.

Socialize Stop and talk to strangers who are also walking their dogs and ask if your dogs can socialize a bit. If their dogs (and yours) are friendly, this is a great socialization opportunity.

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Make a pit stop en route Combine activities: make your destination a friend’s house, the pet store (your dog will love stopping for a little treat!) or a dog-friendly patio. If you can accomplish an errand (the post office, perhaps?), even better!

Walk with friends Sure your dog is great company (the best), but it can be nice to catch up with friends while out walking your dog. Bringing along to-go coffees can seal the deal.

Take a new route

Bring another dog

This is good for both you and your dog. We’re all creatures of habit and can find ourselves treading the same route without giving it much thought. Why not reverse your routine by starting off in the direction you normally finish, push on one block further, or explore a brand new neighbourhood? New scenery keeps it interesting for you both. Predictable, when it comes to walks, is boring.

Offer to pick up a friend or family member’s dog and take him along too. This good deed may be reciprocated when you need it and your dog, if social, will relish the canine company.

Bring along a shelter dog Some shelters will let you “borrow” an adoptable dog to bring along on a walk or hike. Hawaii, Utah, Colorado, Maryland, and Northern Virginia are among the states that have programs that let visitors take shelter dogs out hiking. The dogs get some much-needed exercise and affection, space to show their true colours outside the stressful shelter environments, and an opportunity to mix with the general public, hopefully meeting a would-be adopter. What better use could you and your dog possibly put a weekend walk to?

Stop at an off-leash neighbourhood park for a romp Let off some steam before continuing on your way. No off-leash park in your area? Pause for a tug session. Playtime is fun time!

Take the time to train Dog walks are a great time to brush up on some basic training and improve your bond with your dog. Ask for and reward desired behaviours—stop, sit, look at me, wait—during your walk. Learning plus treats equals a good—and productive—time. n moderndogmagazine.com

ASK A TRAINER

How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Barking? By Teoti Anderson

Do you sometimes think your dog just likes the sound of his own voice? While some breeds are naturally prone to barking (the Cairn Terrier and the Chihuahua are two examples), there is often a reason why your dog is being so noisy. 42 moderndog

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Does your dog want something? Dogs can bark because it’s rewarding. You could be paying your dog for barking and not realize it. If your dog barks to go outside and you let him out, you’ve just paid him for barking. If he barks while you fix his dinner and you give him his food, you just paid him for barking. Be sure you are not accidentally paying your dog for behaviour you don’t want.

Is he frightened? Keep in mind that most aggression (which can manifest in barking, among other behaviours) is actually based in fear. A dog that is frightened of other dogs may lunge towards the other dog, the fur may rise up on his neck, and he may bark and growl. Dogs who are frightened of people, kids on skateboards and other things can show the same behaviour. The dog is barking to try and scare “the monster” away. Other dogs spook at noises or things that suddenly appear in their environments, like thunder or a person coming into your home.

Is he being territorial? Does your dog bark at people who pass by your house or car? If so, your dog is barking to protect and proclaim what he sees as his domain.

Dogs can also bark in greeting because they are frustrated when they hear other dogs bark, and more. Your first step is to try and figure out why your dog is barking. Once you do, then you can tackle the noise.

Here are some ways you can teach your dog to be more quiet:

1 Ignore the barking. This can be hard! It’s especially effective, however, if your dog is barking to get attention or because he wants something. Only pay your dog when he’s quiet. Keep in mind, if you’ve been rewarding your dog for barking for some time, the barking will get worse before it gets better. Persevere! If you waffle back and forth, the barking will only continue and likely worsen. 2 Remove the motivation. If your dog is being territorial, block his view of the things that trigger his barking. If he’s barking at things he sees out a window, close the curtains or blinds, or confine your dog to another area of the house where he can’t see his triggers. You can also find peel-and-stick window film in home supply stores that can prevent your dog from seeing through the window. 3

Help your dog be less frightened. To do this, work at a distance from whatever it is that scares your dog; you need to get far enough away that your dog

doesn’t bark. When he sees his trigger, give him some delicious treats before he can bark. As long as he does well at this distance, move slightly closer and repeat. Gradually work closer and closer to the triggers until your dog begins to feel more comfortable near them because he anticipates treats. This may take many sessions, depending on how fearful your dog is. If your dog reacts and begins barking, you went too far.

4 Teach “Hush.” When your dog is barking, get some treats. When he’s quiet, mark the behaviour with a clicker or a verbal “yes,” and immediately give him the treat. Repeat. When he is reliably getting quiet faster, put in on cue, “Hush.” 5

Teach him to do something else. Some dogs find it hard to bark when lying down. Some won’t bark if they have a ball in their mouth. Find a behaviour you prefer and teach your dog to do that instead of making noise. n

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

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it 's

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Keep your dog dry and looking stylish in a FabDog raincoat, available in sizes to fit dogs 3–50 pounds. Velcro closure, mesh lining, and a 100% nylon shell with a hole for a harness makes this coat a winner. And the whole thing folds up into a cute little pocket for easy travel! $28, fabdog.com

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to w o h

Turn Your Love of Dogs Into A Career By Darcy Wintonyk

We all love dogs, but have you ever flirted with the idea of working with animals full‑time? From dog walkers to pet photographers and veterinary technicians, thousands of animal lovers have translated their passion for pets into a successful profession. And while these jobs are wildly different, there are some common traits needed in each pet‑focused career: Caring, kindness, discipline and—above all else— patience. Sort of sounds like raising a puppy doesn't it? 46 moderndog

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Dog Groomer When May Pilan was asked to cut and dye the coats of Standard Poodles to match the Dog Groomer May models walking the runway for Isaac Mizrahi's Pilan of Salty Paw fall 2011 New York Fashion Week show, she didn't blink an eye. Pilan and her team at The Salty Paw in New York City trimmed stylish bows into the furry sides of the canines and tinted their fur a bright pink with non-toxic dye to match the clothing creations. As one of the city's leading dog groomers, Pilan is often tasked with transforming her canine clients based on their owners’ creative visions. She's created chic panda and lion cuts and is known for her funky and unique “full body Mohawk” styles, much like Ryan Gosling’s dog, George, has sported (though Pilan was not responsible for George’s particular ‘do). “The industry is always evolving and it's important to stay current,” says Pilan. “A good groomer never stops learning the tricks of the trade.” It’s worth noting, though, that the majority of grooming jobs aren’t glamorous fashion cuts. Much like a human hairstylist, being a dog groomer is a lot of bang trims and regular maintenance cuts. Pilan and her team also help out local foster groups by offering makeovers to shelter pups. Becoming a groomer requires a lot of hands-on-training, beginning with taking a grooming course to learn the basics: how to use the tools and the different cuts for the hundreds of dog breeds you'll be working with. If you're committed to being top in your field, Pilan says finding a mentor is key. “Find a reputable groomer to work with to continue learning about different cuts, how to deal with customers and their wants versus what actually needs to be done,” she says. Groomers can make anywhere from $100 to $500 per day, depending on your experience level and how many hours you put in. As for what makes a great groomer, Pilan says it comes down to the two Cs: creativity and caring. “This job is not only about that you love dogs but you must be patient and caring since you'll be working on live animals. It's a rewarding job but it's a demanding one as well.”

Registered Veterinary Technician There is no “average” day working as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT). In Kirsti Clarida's 15 years of working in Canadian veterinary clinics, she's worked with birds, including chickens and parrots, as well as hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, snakes, ferrets and turtles. Oh, and thousands of dogs and cats too. Clarida says anyone getting into the field should be prepared to multi-task. It's true— you'll be busy. On a given day a RVT can handle dozens of patients, manage the front desk, run lab tests, take and process x-rays, feed and treat animals, take blood work and induce and monitor anesthetic for animals going through surgery. “You will need to be good at juggling priorities,” she says.

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The longtime animal lover believes that there Veterinary Technician are two demands in Kirsti Clarida the job that are universal. The first is the physical demands. “Lifting large patients, bites, scratches, and bending over microscopes for long periods of time are all examples of daily activities that can cause injury so you have to be careful with yourself,” Clarida says. The second is the emotional intensity. Techs are often the first point of contact between the clinic and a family with a sick, injured or dying four-legged loved one. The RVT becomes a makeshift grief counselor as families struggle to understand what's happening. “There is almost a daily loss of life in veterinary medicine. It is difficult and painful but it is part of the job,” she says. On the flip side, she cites the best part of her job as being on a team that heals animals every day. “There's nothing better than that,” she says. Becoming a vet tech requires completing a two to three year veterinary technology program and passing a standard North American exam. Then you should become a member of the professional association in your region. Salary varies greatly based on geography, the number of techs in one given region, the sector you work in and the skill set you bring to the team. Many positions are paid hourly.

emergency. Neske says being a dog walker affords a great deal of autonomy and flexibility, but it's no cakewalk. Generally, Dog walker Steve there are no benefits and Neske of Puppy Pronto no paid sick days. “If you can't make a walk then that dog doesn't get a walk that day, which is no good,” he says. Ditto on holidays. Some of Pronto Puppy's busiest days are holidays and long weekends. Your earnings as a dog walker depend on where you live, how much you want to work, and how many dogs you're willing (and able) to walk. Some companies pride themselves on walking one pooch at a time, while others specialize in pack walks or group hikes. For Neske, success has come through being able to take on more business by hiring more and more walkers. “The sky is the limit,” he says. He says to rethink your career path if you believe that walking dogs is going to be an easy cash grab, or something you do casually. “It's more than meets the eye. But if you put in the work, it's a wonderful way to spend time with dogs while making money.”

Dog Walker

With dog trainers charging up to $125 an hour in New York City, certified professional dog trainer Renee Payne says many people get into the industry thinking they’re going to get rich quickly, but that’s not the case. After subtracting travel time, research and paper work, the veteran canine therapist and trainer says most people can expect to make $20 an hour or so to start. Rates also vary on whether you can sell group training packages or offer private lessons and puppy school. To satisfy long-distance clients, Payne, who owns Brooklyn-based positive-rewardbased training company Walk This Way, offers private sessions by phone or Skype in addition to private and group classes. And don’t underestimate the amount of people skills you’ll need for the dog-focused career. As important as the training itself is making the owners feel relaxed and comfortable, and

Being a dog walker is about much more than just walking dogs, says Steve Neske, who opened the dog walking and pet services company Pronto Puppy in Los Angeles with his wife two years ago. To get started, it's about putting boots on the ground and connecting with dog owners in a bid to win their trust and business. And that means getting out there with flyers, business cards, and a smile. You also need a trusted web presence. “A website and a listing on Yelp are virtually must-haves in this day and age, and it doesn't hurt to run some Google ads,” says Neske. Walkers should also be bonded and insured in case of an

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Dog Trainer

confident in your abilities. “The dogs aren’t paying you, the people are,” notes Payne. She says the highlight of her Dog Trainer Renee Payne job is seeing her canine clients and of Walk This Way owners learn together—and seeing their bond strengthen. Payne admits most clients don’t practice their training as much as they should, “but that’s okay,” though she does get frustrated when they don’t take her training advice and blame her for the problems they have with their dog. “It’s hard when they say they ‘can't’ do anything I suggest, and proceed to tell me why it won't work without even trying it,” she says. “Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of my clients are wonderful and also want to see results and they do the work to get there with my help.” There are lots of seminars and online courses to attend if you’re interested in becoming a trainer, but the best way to educate yourself is spending time with a trusted trainer. Some professionals offer programs and internships where, for a fee, you can shadow them for a number of months. “You get to see real clients and all of the various problems and personalities you might encounter,” says Payne. You’ll also need to take a certification test through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.

Professional Show Dog Handler With over 300 Best in Show wins under his belt, professional dog handler Michael Canalizo holds the title of top winning hound of all time with one of his prized Afghan Hounds, the impressively named Ch. Tryst of Grandeur. Coming from a long line of dog sport enthusiasts—his parents were dog breeders and show judges—Canalizo, now a director at the American Kennel Club, admits not everyone was “born” into the sport the way he was. He recommends shadowing a veteran handler or finding a mentor if you want to jump into this hands-on career. “You can start out working for an established handler and ‘break out’ on your own after a solid background working with a professional,” the second-generation Afghan breeder says. Becoming a dog handler starts with a “passion for dogs at every level,” he says, but it’s much more than that. Handlers are given a great responsibility to care for and condition an animal that is 100 per cent dependent on them. “Being up to care for your clients’ dogs every day in the wee hours without exception makes a lazy day in bed few and far between,” he says. There are also substantial travel demands. In addition to the long days and hours of preparing dogs for the show circuit, it’s completely realistic to attend about 100 shows

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her employees when their owners a year—even 150. go out of town. “My biggest year, I attended 151 “The dogs get to sleep on our shows and got in the Best In Show couches, in front of our fireplaces. ring 115 times,” says Canalizo. They’re not locked in a kennel,” she But the job rewards are obvious: seesays. ing a young pup progress into a show Dog handler, Loving dogs is a must—you'll be with them Michael Canalizo winner is a great boon, not to mention the 12 hours a day, minimum—but good people skills strong bond you develop with your charges. are also key. You have to relate to dog owners and, more “Having those special dogs that connect with you resoimportantly, gain their trust and loyalty. You also need to get pet nates to stellar performances that both the novice spectator or first aid certification. the veteran exhibitor can see,” he says. Marketing also plays a role in having a successful daycare. Canalizo says top handlers can make $100,000 or more annuSonja built her business by visiting dog parks and walking ally, but novice handlers shouldn’t expect a huge payday early around neighbourhoods after-hours and on weekends to introon. Earnings depend on years of hard work and, hopefully, winduce herself to pet owners and hand out business cards. She also ning shows. logs several hours each day posting photos and updates on her There’s also room in the profession to branch out into other areas. After decades of dedication and experience, Canalizo website, Facebook page, and Twitter. moved into show judging, carefully examining purebreds “It's important that owners can see their pets in the on the standards of excellence he strove for in his daycare setting and know they’re safe and having own career. fun,” she says. Zoning regulations and bylaws factor into where you can open a dog daycare, and rules vary by city. The daycare should have lots of small furniture, cushions and blanSonja Banman decided to open her own small dog daycare after being unhappy kets for the small-breeds to cuddle with, with the options available for her nineBanman says, and be close to green spaces pound pup, Charlie Girl. and parks for the pooches to enjoy on their “Most of the facilities had larger dogs walks. The dogs will need to go out a miniand I was looking for a daycare for small mum of three times a day. Dog daycare owner Sonja dogs only,” says the owner of Pipsqueak Pups. At her facility the dogs also have constant Banman of Pipsqueak Pups Her facility in Vancouver, BC stands out by only access to a large outdoor space and can come and accepting dogs under 35 pounds, something her clients go as they please. greatly appreciate. Pet lovers considering opening their own dog daycare should While you might think owning a daycare is mostly just playprepare themselves for hard work and lean times while you're building the business. She says the best thing about working in ing with dogs, that's not the case. Banman recommends working daycare is getting to know all of the wonderful dogs, and underin a facility to understand what's involved in running a daycare standing their unique personalities. before investing your time and money into opening your own. “They become like your own pets after a while. I am truly “It's also about having the necessary management skills, industry expertise, technical skills, passion for dogs, finance and, lucky to watch them grow and become more socialized, and it's of course, a long-term vision to grow and succeed.” especially heartwarming to see the shy rescues make a complete For daycare owners like Sonja, it’s also a 24-hour job. She turnaround,” she says. n offers home boarding, where her canine clients stay with her or

Dog Daycare Owner

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GET SOCIAL!

DOGS YOU NEED TO FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM By Lily Nguyen

mag rndog e d o m @

Instagram is the perfect (or would that be pawfect?) place to go to get your daily dose of doggie goodness. From big dogs to small, here are our favourites that you need to follow right now and why.

Kokoro & Chibi

@emwng 85.3K

followers

Emily

“Kokoro” in Japanese translates to “soul,” and I really feel that she has a lot of it that shows through her photos. When Chibi came along, she brought an entirely different personality of silliness to our family and to my Instagram feed. I try my best to capture the personalities of both my dogs and show the bond that we have, but I also use these photographs as an outlet for creativity and hope to encourage others to think outside the box.

human's name

Whiskey

@whiskey_theaussie 11.5K

followers

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Bethany

human's name SPR ING 2015

I think there's something inherently sweet about the positivity dogs bring to our lives every single day, and Whiskey is no exception. When I started Instagram, I did so with the intention of sharing his zest for life with others, and people have really responded to his joyful adventures with kindness and empathy. That never-ending happy attitude is certainly attractive and definitely infectious!

FOLLOW MODERN DOG ON INSTAGRAM TOO!

@ps.ny 56.6K

followers

Olia & Lara

humans' names

I think a lot of it has to do with his personality, which is quite apparent. Cookie (the real name of Pumpkin on Instagram) is extremely expressive and he actually enjoys being photographed. People are amazed when they see him posing during an outdoor shoot! Cookie just loves people as well, and it shows. I think our followers are interested in seeing what he's up to or which new outfit he's wearing and then they share it with their friends and so on.

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Barkley

Chango

We think people love following Barkley because he has a distinct look. He's small but chunky with a big head and big googly eyes and somehow that all fits well with his goofy personality.

@barkleysircharles 299K

followers

@changothehandsomepittie

Melissa & Paul

22.5K

humans' names

followers

Evelyn

human's name

Tazz

@tazzydw2 12.8K

followers

Hannah

human's name

Although Tazz has his good looks and charming smile, it's his personality that draws people in. Because he is so expressive, I feel like people really get to know him through my photos. Plus he has the bonus effect of having a cuddle-filled relationship with my cats so his account brings in dog and cat lovers alike.

Simon

@simonthejackchi 55.9K

followers

@toby_littledude 35.2K

followers

Joyce

human's name

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I think people follow Simon because his face is so expressive and those expressions match up perfectly with the theme behind each photo. He has a huge personality and I love to showcase that in each photo.

Christina

human's name

Toby

I think Toby's followers enjoy his photos as well as his sense of humour. Toby's photos are often captioned from his perspective, letting his quirky and “tell it like it is” personality shine through. His followers also love seeing Toby in his glasses, which has now become his signature look.

His charisma and uniqueness; his ability to make anyone smile. If someone is having a bad day and they come across a photo of Chango they are sure to smile or giggle at least for that moment.

Maya

@maya_on_the_move 65K

followers

Tanta

human's name

I began taking photos of Maya as a distraction after a death in the family. Simply put, Maya makes everything better. She has the ability to add levity and humour to any situation and that joy somehow comes through in her photos. n

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Do Dogs Grieve Over A Lost Loved One? By Stanley Coren

recently attended a lecture given by an eminent art historian about how the emotions of animals and humans have been depicted in artworks over the centuries. At one point in his talk he showed a photo of Sir Edwin Landseer's 1837 painting, “The Old Shepherd's Chief Mourner.” The central figure in this painting is a dog who rests his head on the simple wooden coffin of his human companion, the old shepherd of the painting's title. This scholar's comment was that this was one of the most perfect representations of grief in a dog. He went on to say, “The fact that this dog refuses to leave this man's side, even after his death, highlights the close relationship that the dog and the man had. It also demonstrates the depth of the grief that the dog is feeling.” I have always been very fond of this painting, moved by the emotional bond they clearly shared and by the loyalty the dog has for his master. There is no doubt that a dog in this situation would feel sorrow, perhaps depression, and a deep sense of loss. But behavioural scientists often debate whether dogs actually feel grief when a loved one dies. Those that doubt it suggest that grief requires some concept of the nature and implications of death.

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This is beyond the mental ability of human children before the age of four or five years, and since evidence suggests that dogs are mentally and emotionally equivalent to humans aged two to three years of age, this would place the concept of death beyond both dogs and young children. To get an idea as to what may be going on in a dog's head when a loved one dies we can look at what goes on in the mind of a child in the two to five year age range. These children do not understand that death is irreversible. It is common for a young child to be told something like “Aunt Ida has died and won't be coming back,” only to have the child ask a few hours later “When will we get to see Aunt Ida again?” Children do not comprehend that the life functions of their loved one have been terminated and this is reflected in their questions as they try to understand the situation. They ask things like: “Do you think we should put a sandwich or an apple in Grandma's coffin in case she gets hungry?” “What if Daddy can't breathe under all that earth?” “Will Uncle Steve be hurt if they burn him?” “Won't Cousin Ellie be lonely in the ground by herself?” In the absence of an understand-

WELLCOME LIBRARY, LONDON. A BLOODHOUND WITH A HEAVY COLLAR IS SITTING NEXT TO A STAIRCASE. STEEL ENGRAVING BY C. G. LEWIS AFTER E. H. LANDSEER. BY: EDWIN HENRY LANDSEERAFTER: CHARLES GEORGE LEWIS

ing of death there can be pain and sorrow and depression, but the behavioral scientists suggest that this is different from the more adult feelings of grief which includes a recognition that the death of a treasured companion involves a loss that is permanent. In my own home, I saw the heartache and sorrow that the loss of a loved one could bring to a dog when my cherished Flat-Coated Retriever, Odin, died. My Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Dancer, had lived with Odin every day since Dancer was eight weeks of age. They would play together for hours and simply seemed to enjoy each other's company. With Odin now gone, Dancer systematically looked at each of the four locations where his friend would go to lie down. After doing this several times he wandered to center the of the room, looking around forlornly and whimpering. His anguish only gradually wound down and it was several weeks before he stopped checking all of the places that Odin should have been whenever he came home from a walk. Much like one might expect from a child who did not understand the concept of the permanence of death, Dancer never gave up on the idea that Odin might reappear. Up through the last year of his long life Dancer would still rush toward any long-haired black dog that he saw, with his tail batting and giving hopeful barks as if he expected that perhaps his friend had returned. This is what I think about when I see things like the photograph of Jon Tumilson's funeral. After the Navy SEAL was killed in Afghanistan in 2011, more than 1000 friends, family, and community members attended his funeral in Rockford, Iowa. The mourners included his “soul mate” Hawkeye, a black moderndogmagazine.com

EDWIN HENRY LANDSEER, THE OLD SHEPHERD'S CHIEF MOURNER, OIL ON CANVAS, 1837.

Sir Edwin Landseer's â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Old Shepherd's Chief Mourner"

Labrador Retriever. With a heavy sigh Hawkeye lay down in front Tumilson's flag-draped casket. There, the loyal dog stayed for the entire service. Was he grieving? No doubt he was feeling depressed, sad, and lonely, but also he might well have been waiting, hoping, that his master would return. Perhaps he might get out of the coffin and return to a life with his now lonely dog. This might well be the motivation behind the dogs who have waited for many years at the graves or other familiar sites associated with lost loved ones, such as Greyfriars Bobby, the Skye Terrier of 19th-century Edinburgh who is famous for supposedly spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died himself on

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January, 14, 1872. There is sorrow associated with this waiting, but perhaps something more positive than grief. Because dogs do not have the knowledge that death is forever, at least there is the option to hopeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a hope that a loved one might come back again. Dogs, in their ignorance of the true meaning of death, when driven by their unhappiness and motivated by their hope, may sometimes engage in desperate or irrational acts to deal with the sorrow caused by their separation from someone dear to them. Consider the case of Mickey and Percy. As in the case of Dancer and Odin we are again dealing with a dog who lost a housemate and a friend. Mickey was a Labrador Retriever owned by William

Harrison and Percy was a Chihuahua given to Harrisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter, Christine, when Mickey was already a young adult. Despite their size and age differences, the two dogs were good friends and playmates until one evening in 1983 when Percy ran out into the street and was hit by a car. While Christine stood by weeping, her father placed the dead Chihuahua in a crumpled sack and buried him in a shallow grave in the garden. The depression that fell on the family seemed to affect not only the humans, but also Mickey, who sat despondently staring at the grave while everyone else went to bed. A couple of hours later William was awakened by frantic whining and scuffling outside the house. When he investigated the noise, he saw to his horror that the sack in which he had buried Percy was now laying empty beside the opened grave. Next to it, he saw Mickey, who was in a state of great agitation, standing over Percy's body, frantically licking his friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face, nuzzling and poking at the limp form in what looked like a canine attempt to give the dead dog artificial respiration. Tears filled the man's eyes as he watched this futile expression of hope and love. He sadly walked over to move Mickey away when he saw what looked like a spasm or twitch. Then, Percy weakly lifted his head and whimpered. It would be nice to believe that it was some deep sense in Mickey that had recognized there was a faint spark of life in the little dog, however it is more likely that it was his lack of understanding of death that was behind his actions. Rather than being swamped by grief over the permanence of dying, Mickey was left with hope for the return of his well-loved little housemate. Hope seems to have motivated him to make one last try to save his tiny friendâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; and this time it worked! Percy made a full recovery thanks to his faithful friend and they spent further happy years together. Perhaps incomprehension of the permanence of death is something we should envy in our four-legged friends. n moderndogmagazine.com

COVER DOG WINNER

“

THEY ALSO C ALL ME MR PRESID . ENT

t e e M

! H S JO Photographed by Christina Gandolfo

”

Our Cover Dog Josh's beginnings were decidedly NOT the stuff dreams are made of. He was just 48 hours old when his breeder dropped him off at a shelter to be euthanized because he was born with a cleft palate. Lucky for Josh, an angel—in the form of one Tina Lythgoe—decided that was not to be. And the rest is history…

ou know that feeling when you meet someone for the first time and there’s a moment of recognition, like, these are my kind of people? That’s exactly the experience I had when I met Tina Lythgoe and her husband Lenny Leichtweisz, the couple behind Josh, this issue’s Cover Dog Contest winner. If you love animals, you’ll find in them kindred spirits and then some. In their Sun Valley, California community, Tina is the person to whom everyone brings the sick and wounded animals they don’t know what to do with—injured squirrels, a surrendered miniature pig, a kitten, found in box, so brand new its umbilical cord was still attached. Tina takes them all in, nursing them back to health. She does this outside of any official group or affiliation—just one woman making a difference by following the dictates of her heart. It’s to her that all the difficult cases seem to find their way, from the tortoise (yes, tortoise) that needed a home to the hospice requests. One little guy hobbling around her family-owned grooming shop is Hank, an elderly terrier mix— Tina estimates he’s around 16 years old. Tina took Hank in as a hospice case so he could live out his last few days in a loving environment; fast forward a year and a half and Hank is still hanging in there, pegging around. It’s amazing what love can do. Tina’s husband Lenny—tattooed, a roller pigeon enthusiast— works with the rescue group Leave No Paws Behind and pulls as many as four senior dogs a day from kill shelters around south-

ern California; they’re the dogs literally no one else will take. If such a thing doesn’t endear you to someone, I don’t know what will. Josh himself was such a hard luck case, though you wouldn’t know it to look at him now. Born with a cleft palate, his breeder had dropped him off at a shelter to be euthanized; he was just 48 hours old. Word of the little guy’s plight came to Tina and she rushed to pluck him from the shelter, bottlefeeding him through the dicey early days. The critters Tina takes in frequently need round the clock care so she was no stranger to the sleepless nights his care would at first engender. “I don’t give up,” Tina notes, “So I usually win.” What motivates her? “I have always felt the need to help everything, including what most people consider pests, like gophers, rats, rabbits, squirrels, opossums, pigeons," Tina says. "I believe everything deserves a chance—no matter what it is. I learned everything from my mom. I watched her do it when I was a kid and I learned it from her. The local animal shelter is always dropping off all different kinds of critters to me because I will never say no. I will take on anything, and I mean anything. Everybody just knows to bring any hurt, sick or motherless animals to me. And I will help them! I stay up hours on end breathing the life back into them.” Her journey with Josh, who now, at a year old, is the picture of health—no palate surgery required—inspired her to start a Facebook page, Josh and His Critters, and Josh immediately gained fans around the world inspired by his triumph over

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COVER DOG

the Top

10 1

Runner Up Dogs

Keller

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD, BALTIMORE, MD Keller is a double merle Australian Shepherd. She is deaf and vision impaired, but as her owner Amanda Fuller says, “she will steal your heart in a minute!” Keller’s disabilities are due to irresponsible breeding, so Amanda has set out to spread awareness (check out facebook.com/ kellerthedm). “She proves to me every day that life is worth living.”

WELSH PEMBROKE CORGI, GRAHAM, WA Logan has had epilepsy since he was one year old. But since neither Logan nor his person Linda Urbaniak is one to give up, he goes to hydrotherapy three times a week for weight loss (his medicine causes weight gain) and to build muscle. “He truly is a gift and loves everyone and everything he meets,” says Linda.

adversity and message that we’re all perfect in our imperfectness. “Birth defects don't need to be a death sentence,” Tina exclaims. “There is help out there!” adding, “They can contact me and I will help.” The most amazing part is that Tina is not an organization. “That’s why I’m always broke,” she laughs. “I do it out of love for the animals.” Though it was Josh alone that won the cover feature, we were moved to put Tina on the cover too. How could we not when this duo is such an inspiration? Here’s to Tina, Lenny, and all the rescuers out there. Thank you for championing the underdog. n

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Sam

Logan the Snugglebug

MINATURE DACHSHUND, COVENTRY, RI “Sam doesn't have a heartbreak story,” MiaRose Iannotti shares. “He isn't a rescue dog; he has never been abused; he has never been without shelter, food or water. But what Sam is, is an amazingly kindhearted, friendly, happy, well-rounded canine who makes a lot of people smile. He is helping raise money for rescue dogs (sosarl. org) because we believe that the fortunate should help the less fortunate.”

COVER DOG

the Top

Runner Up Dogs

Meet the cuties that got the most votes in our contest!

Joy

PAPILLON, NEWPORT, VT Blind from birth, Joy’s future was bleak—until Paphaven Rescue stepped in and provided Joy with lifechanging surgery that restored her vision. Then Becky Erdman adopted her and Joy’s life was officially transformed. Joy’s desire, reports Becky, is to become a “spokesdog” and educate people about the need to foster and adopt, as well close puppy mills and the dog auctions that feed them. Amen!

Starbuck the Tripawd

PIT BULL "PIBBLE PROUD!", NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL At three months of age, Starbuck was thrown out of a car and lost her leg. Luckily, she was rescued and nursed back to health. “When the rescue introduced us,” Allison Phillips says, “It was love at first sight! She's changed my outlook on life—and Pitties!—and now Starbuck is on a mission to raise awareness for disabled pets, abuse, and BSL.”

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Lucy

Rusty RuRu the Canadian Dachshund

Titan

AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG, SALINAS, CA Titan is an Australian Cattle Dog and “my joy and my world,” reports Amy Orozco. He loves to be sprayed by the hose, cuddle, and give big, wet smooches. His favourite pastime is smiling.

MINIATURE DACHSHUND, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX Priscilla Andrews entered her puppy, little Lucy Herrman, in her first wiener dog race when Lucy was just five months old; Lucy took first prize. Now all grown up, Lucy is currently in training to compete in a national race, as well as working hard to become a therapy dog. In her downtime, this cutie enjoys napping and chasing bugs.

Sam

JACK RUSSELL TERRIER, SILVER SPRINGS, FL Sam is a very talented Jack Russell Terrier. She loves performing tricks such as painting, balancing on top of a yoga ball, riding a suitcase, playing basketball, jump roping, and blowing bubbles underwater. With over 350 tricks and cues, Sam can do it all! “She enjoys making people smile with her cute little charm and funny antics,” says her devoted partner, Terri Brown.

DACHSHUND, OTTAWA, ON Rusty is a rescued Dachshund, saved from death row and now training to become a therapy dog. Together Rusty and Terry P. are advocates for helping Canadian Northern dogs. They also donate handmade coats Terry makes to rescues across Canada and the US. “I think it is important to give a voice to the voiceless,” Terry says. “Be kind to others and pay it forward.”

Teddy

CHIHUAHUA, BLACK FOREST, CO Teddy spent seven long years living in a cage in a puppy mill before he was adopted into a wonderful home. He is now a “spokesdog” against puppy mills and a big supporter of National Mill Dog Rescue. Alongside his person, Michele Burchfield, Teddy spends much of his time raising money to rescue, save, and care for mill dogs. Check out their efforts at milldogrescue.org.

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$25

Happiness is a long nap in this cozy, machine washable bed from Martha Stewart Pets. Bolstered sides, a low entry front, cushy support, and natty navy fabric finished with white piping make this bed a winner! petsmart.com

$45 How delightful are Woof Models’ quirkily chic art prints, like Blondie the Chihuahua (pictured) in her pom-pom hat, veil, and turtleneck? We want them all. (Ahem, great gift idea!) woofmodels.com

$20 How cute is this organic cotton baby onesie from Phebe-n-Me? It sports a too-cute BFF dog print and also come in pink, blue, yellow, and green. phebe-n-me.com

$18

Bargain buys Steal these deals for fantastic dog stuff that won’t break the bank!

$13 The weather is heating up but your pup doesn’t have to! The Cool Pet Pad is filled with an eco-friendly, non-toxic pressure-activated gel that cools your pooch as he lounges. thegreenpetshop.com

Kiss My Mutt's braided collars encompass everything we're looking for in a new spring dog collar: durable, water resistant, and lovely in their sorbet-reminiscent colours. kissmymutt.com

At just $13, these dog stud earrings from Peace.Love.Paws. are a definite must have! Plus, a portion of retail proceeds are used to support the efforts of numerous shelters located in the United States.Love it! peacelovepawsco.com

$25 $10

Treats you can feel good about! Zuke’s Genuine Jerky is made with 100% grass-fed New Zealand beef and will have your dog doing every trick in the book for a morsel! zukes.com

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PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY ZIVAH SUBMITTED BY RACHEL

How to Make Your Dog Happy Schedule time for play. Dogs adore playing. My dog Esther needs some coaxing to get into it, but will actually smile once she gets going. I know everyone is busy, but taking 10 minutes out of your day for an impromptu fetch session with a squeaky toy or to hide some treats around your living room is a very quick way to inject some fun into your dog’s day. The best part? Taking some time daily to play will definitely improve your bond.

Always use a happy, friendly voice when you call your dog. Do you feel particularly keen to approach someone using an angry tone of voice? Of course you don’t.

Be consistent. Imagine how confusing this scenario is: your dog whines or jumps up on you. In response, you ignore or even inadvertently reward the behaviour. But then your mom comes over, your dog jumps up on her, and you get mad. Confusing? You betcha. (It’s also extremely counter productive from a training perspective.) Our dogs want to please us. Help them to do so by being consistent with the rules. Keep a schedule. Dogs are creatures of habit. My dog Rose starts nosing around for dinner at around 4:45 pm. She’s a bit of a space cadet but she sure knows when to expect dinner! Her regular routine makes her happy, particularly where food is concerned. Furthermore, eating is undeniably one of our dogs’ greatest pleasures; make sure what you’re feeding your dog is the best you can afford.

Put down the phone. This is one many of us are guilty of: we’re in the company of our dogs, whether on a walk, in the living room, or at the dog park, but all of our

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attention is directed at our phones. I get it; they’re compelling and those alerts notifying you of a text message or Facebook comment are darn near impossible to resist. I’m not going to leave my phone at home, but what I started doing is turning my phone on silent for the duration of our outings so my dogs can benefit from the full focus of my attention. They’re why I’m out there to begin with, after all.

Make sure he gets enough exercise. Many behavioural problems are the result of boredom. Make sure your dog gets a chance to stretch his legs, run off some energy, and mix and mingle with the world a minimum of two times a day. You wouldn’t want to be cooped up in the house all day either.

Make sure he has several comfy places to relax, some where the family convenes and others tucked away should he want some quiet time. Dogs spend a lot of their day sleeping—up to 18 hours!—so make sure your dog has a comfortable place to catch some zz’s. This is of particular importance if your dog’s a senior. n

INSPIRE!

Tr y this if s a your dog h n separatio anxiety!

Send Your Dog a Mental Postcard How to soothe separation anxiety with positive energy and visualization techniques By Cindy Brody

ur relationships with our dogs run very deep. Our dogs are always watching us and are affected by our moods and fears, more than many of us realize. As an Animal Communicator, I help resolve all kinds of problems, but separation anxiety, particularly surrounding vacations, is one of my favourite subjects to talk about with dogs. When we leave them to go on vacation or away on business they truly miss us, as we do them, but they don’t need to suffer while we’re away. We can ease the separation by sending them something I call “mental post cards.” Mental postcards are simply a projection of positive energy that we can send to any living being, two legged or four. Many people tell me that they hide their suitcases until the morning of their trip and then produce them right before they leave. This can be very stressful for your dog. Nobody likes these kinds of surprises; there is no time for transition. You need to

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prepare your dogs for your departure. I have helped many people with all of their different species of family members to find peace when separate, whether it is simply going to work or taking a much needed vacation. It is easy. Once you deal with your own separation anxiety it’s easier to deal with your four-legged friend’s anxiety. Anxiety is contagious; if we are worried we pass it right back to our furry families. You can really help your dogs out by telling them a couple weeks before you leave on your trip. I travel a lot with my business. My suitcase comes out well before I start to pack. When Lilly, my sweet Pit Bull rescue, sees it, she knows that I will be leaving and she gets used to the idea. Every day before I leave, I tell her that I always come home. There are also lots of training techniques you can use to help with separation stress. If your dog has separation anxiety it would be great for him or her to learn basic obedience that will

Happiness is contagious; when we are happy so are our dogs! help your dog to become more self-assured. I would suggest working with a professional to help ease your pet’s suffering. I speak with animals all over the country and it is very gratifying to hear how well the dogs get along without us while we get the vacations we deserve. Being prepared takes the fear away from traveling. If you will be boarding your dog at a kennel for the first time, ask your friends for referrals then take your dog for a visit. If you get strong feelings that he or she doesn’t like a particular kennel, try a couple more and choose the one that gives you the best vibes. If the caregivers don’t express special interest in your dog, keep looking. If it is dirty or the dogs look miserable and stressed, keep

looking! Making your dog a part of the decision of where he will be staying will make him feel better and more comfortable. Trust your intuition! Everyone is an animal communicator if we slow down and listen. I can’t tell you how many times I hear, “I knew she was going to say that” when I share what a dog has told me. I have lots of clients whose dogs’ view a stay at a boarding facility like camp. The dogs know where they are going and their guardians have made sure that all their needs are taken care of before they leave. It is your job to make sure your precious dog is not going to Camp Run Amok. If your dog is a new rescue who would feel more secure at home, I suggest you find someone to stay at your house. The

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INSPIRE

Sending positive thoughts to your dog helps to soothe nervousness and fear. dog walking and home pet sitting business is becoming a big business and can be a great alternative to boarding. If this isn’t a possibility look for a kennel or boarding facility that has a homey feel. There are puppy palaces opening up all over North America and they offer bedrooms, some with televisions. They offer play groups and many levels of care. Make sure you bring a few of your dog’s favourite things that are replaceable. I also recommend a t-shirt that you have worn. It will have your scent and will help to calm your dog. [We like Geraldine the Giraffe Cozy Buddy from Oscar Newman (oscarnewman.com). You can stuff it with one of your worn t-shirts so it carries your scent !—Ed.] Once you find the perfect situation for your loved one and you’re ready to get on the plane, train or automobile, you can start sending Mental Postcards. They are easy to send and will keep you connected with your pets. Mental postcards are a projection of your positive thoughts. A postcard can also be in the form of a prayer, a meditation or just a kind thought. Studies performed in hospitals have shown that people who are prayed for heal more quickly and with fewer complications than those who are not. Imagery work is very powerful, and all you need is love. Here’s how to do it: I usually send Mental Postcards when I wake up in the morning. I often send them after meditation. My mind is able to focus and my connection is sharper after a short meditation. I suggest that you close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, then tune into your dog. Start out by thinking about what he might be doing. Is he outside? Is he eating? What is he

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thinking? Then, begin thinking about simply sending your love in the form of mental pictures. “Hey Rex I’m going to the beach and I’m having a really great time. I’ll be home in a couple days and I’m really happy.” Happiness is contagious; when we are happy so are our dogs! For another example, think of some experience that you have shared—it can be a memory of a tender moment with your dog, whether curled up on the couch, hiking up a mountain or playing ball. See her face and surround her with a glowing red heart. I often see a line that connects my heart with my sweet Lilly’s. It is always there keeping us connected, heart to heart. There is no right or wrong way to do this—just keep playing with images that connect you with your dogs, cats, and horses. We can connect anytime we travel away from them. Lilly gets excited 10 minutes before my husband comes home from work. She senses his imminent arrival regardless of his schedule. If I think about taking her for a walk, every time I go to the door she will run for her leash. Animals are much more intuitive than we are and they are teaching us how to listen with an open heart. Anyone can send Mental Postcards. Sending positive thoughts to your dog helps to soothe nervousness and fear about whether you’ll return. I have had so much success with this simple technique and I know that you will too! n For a guide to finding the right boarding facility go to: moderndogmagazine.com/boardingtips

moderndogmagazine.com

& Bubbles! Dogs

Photographed by Tanya King

Frenc

Hank weah Bulldog rs a c

amo from Izzie Bean. (izzie collar bean.c a)

"A clown in the cloak of a philosopher," the French Bulldog is affectionate, even tempered, active, and irresistibly cute.

Thompewfound son we land you ars can't se e it

a col for all hlar but is fur!

The very large Newfoundland is a workhorse with a sweet disposition. This breed makes a great family dog!

moderndogmagazine.com

Rat Terrier

Lexi wears a red bridle leather

Amelie collar, inset with small sparkling rhinestones, from Sebastian and Co. (sebastiancollarandsaddlery.com)

The elegant and athletic Rat Terrier makes a loyal, active, and playful companion.

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BlaycwkeaLrsaab Bets

purple whimsical Izzie collar from ean.ca) Bean. (izzieb

The gentle, intelligent, and family-friendly Labrador Retriever hails from Canada and continues to be the most popular breed in the United States, according to AKC registration statistics.

moderndogmagazine.com

American Bulldog

Daisy wears a hot

pink Hydro collar with squirrel charms from Hot Dogs All Dressed. (hotdogsalldressed.com)

The loyal American Bulldog is energetic, friendly, and confident. This athletic breed bonds strongly with its people.

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Chow Chow/ Australian Kelpie crgoresens Max wears a with

Hydro collar from squirrel charms ssed. Hot Dogs All Dre.com) ssed (hotdogsalldre

Mix breeds like Max are not only unique, but their breed blend lessens the odds of them suffering genetic health problems that some purebred dogs are prone to. We Ă? mutts and purebreds alike! #dogsrule

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BODY & SOUL

et Tr rea og t rea o D dy with the

Poll MDsults Re

5 Steps to Speedy Recall Even at a Distance! Giving new meaning to the term “whistle blower” STEP 1 Buy a whistle. Our choice? A dog whistle from Acme Whistle specialists, makers of whistles since 1870. A dog’s hearing range is far greater than ours and is far more sensitive to high frequency sounds. Acme dog whistles are designed to produce the greatest response from your dog, even over long distances, and they have an array available, from Shepherd's Mouth Whistles (produces a widely varying and easy controlled range of pitches popular at Sheep Dog trials) to whistles especially suited for Spaniels, close work, or dogs hard of hearing. Check them out at acmewhistles.ca.

means food!) STEP 4 A few days later, move on to this exercise: arm yourself with a treat and choose a time when meals/treats aren’t usually on order. Try blowing those same three blasts on the whistle. With any luck, she’ll drop whatever she’s doing and race over to you. It may not be dinner time, but she still knows that the whistle means food. Praise and treat. You can start moving this game outside in your yard. Chances are, she’ll start watching for the whistle and respond even before you make a noise. We like to have treats readily on hand with a Doog treat Pouch (doogusa.com).

STEP 2 Each time you feed your dog her meal, blow three short blasts on the whistle. STEP 5 Finally, take it to the dogpark, Very quickly, she will start to associate the where there are lots of distractions but a whistle with food. safe environment in case she doesn’t come STEP 3 After a few days, try blowing the running. whistle before you put the food down. Your Of course, this (and any other food-based dog will likely already be watching you training) works best if you aren’t already attentively as you put the whistle to your lips supplying treats on demand to your over(Come on, she’s no dummy—she knows it’s indulged pup!–MB dinner time and she knows that the whistle

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Meow!

76%

of Modern Dog readers also have a cat

“Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear.”—Dave Barry

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BODY & SOUL

How to Grow an Herb Garden for Your Dog 6 easy herbs to plant for your dog's health By Dr. Loridawn Gordon, DVM Animals will instinctually eat certain plants when they aren't feeling well. Accordingly, many veterinarians are increasingly taking an integrative approach to pet care by prescribing everything from homeopathic remedies to herbal medicines. But did you know that you can grow healing herbs to benefit your dog, right at home in your own garden? It’s quite easy and can be therapeutic for you too!

Plant These Herbs For Dogs 1

Burdock is one of the best herbs for skin problems. It can be given internally and externally as a wash for dry, irritated skin. Burdock is well known for its anti-cancer potential and its impact on the lymphatics, reducing heat and congestion in the body.

Milk Thistle Known for its healing benefits to the liver, milk thistle is a great choice for a pet herb garden. One of the lesser-known benefits is that it is very calming for your dog’s temper.

Lemon balm is a hardy perennial that prefers moist soil. It’s great for senior pets because it strengthens memory and vitality. Lemon Balm can also calm the nervous system and soothe the stomach ailments of highly anxious dogs.

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Peppermint is super-easy to grow. Like Burdock, it will flourish and take over if you give it the chance. While peppermint will help your dog with nausea and indigestion, it is also great for freshening your pooch’s breath, relieving toothaches, and soothing insect bites—not to mention it will give off a lovely fragrance!

Astragalus is a popular and highly versatile herb that can be used for a variety of conditions. It can promote healing, improve digestion, decrease blood sugar, and decrease blood pressure. It can be given as a dried herb in a decoction or as a tincture.

For dosage information as well as how to prepare tinctures and decoctions, go to moderndogmagazine.com/herbsfordogs

Get to the Bottom of All That Scratching! Step 1: Could it be flea-allergic dermatitis? Make sure your dog doesn’t have fleas. If she does, get rid of them! If the scratching stops, you had a flea problem.

Step 2: Ask yourself—is it seasonal? Spring and fall are the most allergic seasons for dogs. Like people, dogs suffer from inhalant allergies (all those spring blooms mean airborne pollen!), but instead of sneezing like humans do, dogs scratch. Bring your dog to your vet and they may very well note that you were in there around the same time last year with the same complaint. If so, the diagnosis is seasonal skin allergy.

Step 3: Could it be your dog’s dinner? Food allergies are less common than inhalant allergies but can cause serious, ongoing itching. If you’ve ruled out #1 and #2, try a limited-ingredient diet. This means novel ingredients your dog has hopefully never been exposed to (think new protein, new grain, and that’s it—no treats, no table scraps.) Do this for two or three months; if it’s a food allergy, the itching will stop once you’ve eliminated the culprit food(s). moderndogmagazine.com

BODY & SOUL THE SWEET SMELL OF SOMETHING OTHER THAN WET DOG

Prevention is the best medicine!

Regularly groom and bathe your dog with a natural shampoo formulated for dogs. We like Happy Tails all natural, ec0-friendly, cruelty-free Comfy Dog Oatmeal Shampoo perfect for dogs with dry, itchy skin and allergies.

Wash your dog's bedding in hot, soapy water once a week. If your dog spends time on a blanket on the sofa, wash that too.

Vacuum your home once a week (get into the corners too, and pay special attention to the areas around your dog's sleeping quarters.) Be sure to empty the canister and dispose of its contents. We like the amazing Dyson Dc51 Animal vacuum!

Frequently use a fine-toothed flea comb on your dog. To check if your dog has fleas, pluck some of the hair and debris the comb has captured and press it between a dampened tissue. If the debris leaves red or rust coloured spots on the tissue, that's flea dirt you have there which means your dog has fleas. If fleas are evident, check with your vet for the best flea solution for your dog.

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A Custom Diet For Your Dog How cool is this? You can now order up wholesome, fresh, natural, & organic dog food, customized to your dog's specific needs. New York-based Top Dog Dinners makes each of their clients a unique recipe based on 16 characteristics, including size, age, breed, health concerns, allergies, mood, coat condition, and energy levels. The food is prepared with 25 to 30 fresh, wholesome, human-grade, USA-sourced ingredients that contain no byproducts, “meals,” nor anything artificial, and is delivered to your home. Now I’m sure you’re asking: Sounds amazing, but how much does this cost? Here are some examples for recent custom orders placed: a week’s worth of food for a seven-pound Yorkie—$16; a 70-pound German Shepherd—$37 a week. Get started customizing a diet for your dog at topdogdinners.com.

PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY JET SUMBITTED BY LORINDA CIRCE

Four Ways to Stop a Flea Infestation Before it Starts

During a recent trip to Los Angeles to attend FOX’s Cause for Paws event, we stayed at the Sofitel Beverly Hills and every time we walked into the lobby, it smelled amazing. Finally, we asked the concierge, “What is that delightful scent?” The answer was an Air Aroma diffuser circulating a fig fragrance. We immediately decided we had to try it in Modern Dog’s dog-friendly office and can report it’s perfect for diffusing a light scent, whether at home or in an office (in the latter, a signature scent can be part of your branding!). Two delightful scents to try in a dog-friendly environment are the Bergamot Burst fragrance and the anti-bacterial Breathe Easy essential oil. Or go outdoorsy with Fresh Grass or Pure Peppermint! Have a nervy pup? Air Aroma’s Go Relax essential oil blend contains ylang ylang, which has been shown to have a relaxing effect on dogs. For those interested in replacing their current signature eau de dog scent with something a little fresher, check out air-aroma.com. (The model we use is the $300 Aromax.)

BODY & SOUL Why We’re Fans of Pet Insurance…

Pets Plus Us’ Top 5 Veterinary Insurance Claims of 2014 1

Crash, Chocolate Lab, one year old. Ingested a toy. claim amount : $13,065.59

Nala, American Pitbull Terrier, three years old. Suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament. claim amount : $7,382.68

Kona, Greyhound, five months old. Fractured her front leg at a doggy daycare. claim amount : $6,646.05

Larry, Shetland Sheepdog, one year old. Fractured the calcaneus

bone (a bone in the hick joint) while playing at the dog park. claim amount : $5,859.15

Opie, Neapolitan Mastiff, one year old. Had a cherry eye condition common in the breed. claim amount : $4,065.96

At-home Solution to Arthritis Joint Pain, Wound Healing, & More Veterinarians across North America use laser therapy daily to speed post-operative healing, reduce inflammation, and relieve arthritic joint pain without drugs. Imagine if you could take advantage of this powerful science in your own home to ease your dog's chronic pain and speed healing! Well, now you can. The medical laser experts at Multi Radiance Medical have introduced a new initiative, Rent My Pet Laser, which allows pet owners to rent their highly effective, safe, and pocket-sized TQ Solo lasers directly and affordably from a veterinarian. Dogs and cats experiencing painful conditions like osteoarthritis, wounds, and even infections can now benefit from laser therapy treatment in the comfort of their own home, eliminating the inconvenience and stress of multiple vet visits. Here’s how it works: your vet provides the TQ Solo Laser System and a custom treatment protocol, which you can then easily administer at home. This allows you to provide consistent treatment to relieve pain and speed healing at the cellular level. Many pet insurance companies cover laser treatments—check your plan. To find the veterinarian nearest you offering rentals, go to RentMyPetLaser.com. (Currently available in the US only.)

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

NATURAL DOG

Products to enhance a healthy canine lifestyle

Suitical Recovery Suit. Why struggle with homemade solutions or the “Cone of Shame”? Provide your dog with a friendly alternative: the Recovery Suit, a full-body, rearclosed protective suit suitable for hotspots, skin/wound management, incontinence, heat, and more. Reduces stress and discomfort for quicker recovery. Recommended and used by veterinarians worldwide. suitical.com

Pegetables unique shapes look like vegetables and help clean teeth and freshen breath. Made in the USA from wholesome veggies like sweet potatoes, peas, and carrots, these long-lasting chews are grain, gluten, wheat, and corn free! A meat-free treat option for your dog, they’re great for dogs with allergies! indigenouspet.com

I’M-YUNITY for Dogs. Improve your dogs’ immunity and quality of life, whether they are diagnosed with a serious disease like cancer or not. I’M-YUNITY is a proprietary medicinal mushroom extract that helps reduce pain and fatigue, improve energy levels, mobility, and appetite. Read the promising results from clinical trials and real life situations at ImYunityForDogs. com.

Opie & Dixie. Opie & Dixie Paw Balm saves paws. Year round, a dog’s paws are exposed to the elements. Cold, wintery weather and salt-covered paths or hot, scorching ground can do damage. 100% natural, organic, healing Paw Balm soothes dry, cracked, calloused, and sore paw pads with ingredients that hydrate, heal, protect, and restore. Also available in convenient Pawstik applicator. opieanddixie.com

As a small Wyoming start-up, Otter® strives to deliver the finest eco-friendly pet goods available. Otter® is proud to present their 100% Natural Hemp Rope Bones. Free of herbicides and pesticides, mold and mildew resistant, and handcrafted in the USA. Available in five sizes. Visit ottercompany.com

The patented design of Indigenous Dental Health Bones cleans teeth and freshens breath while fighting plaque and tartar build up! Safe and highly digestible for all dog breeds and sizes, they’re grainfree and gluten-free, made with the kelp ascophyllum nodosum harvested from the clean, cold seas of Norway and Iceland. indigenouspet.com

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

Be the person your dog thinks you are. •

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

—Unknown

—M.K. Clinton

Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell.

Why does watching a dog be a dog fill one with happiness?

•

—Emily Dickinson

•

—Jonathan Safran Foer moderndogmagazine.com

PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY: MAC SUBMITTED BY LEANNE MANNING

REASONS YOU SHOULD GET YOUR DOG'S TEETH CLEANED

Crunching on kibble and chewing on raw bones and dental treats will definitely help scrape calculus from teeth, but it’s nowhere near as effective as regular brushing and dental cleanings. Here are 8 reasons you need to do something about your dog’s dental health

1. 80% of dogs (cats too) have

some degree of periodontal disease by the age of two.

This is defined as inflammation affecting any of the structures supporting the teeth—the gums, the roots, the bone around the roots or the periodontal ligaments that anchor the roots to the jawbones.

2. The same biological AY P

processes that happen in our mouths happen in our dogs’ mouths. Namely, a bacte-

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rial biofilm coats the surface of the teeth. Left undisturbed for 72 hours this film will calcify, turning into a cement-hard—albeit microscopically thin—layer on the teeth. Over time,

hundreds of these layers accumulate atop of one another, resulting in the nasty yellow-brown gunk on our dogs’ teeth called plaque. When you see plaque, think hundreds of layers of bacterial concrete!

3. Regular brushing disrupts

this biofilm and can prevent or reduce the accumulation of calculus (a.k.a. plaque).

Keeping plaque under control means healthier teeth, long term.

4. Sedation-free teeth scaling, while effective at removing visible calculus in a cooperative dog, will not address calculus buildup

INSETS FROM TOP: PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY ABBY SUBMITTED BY KATHY MADDEN; PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY LIAM SUBMITTED BY TANYA ; COVER DOG CONTEST ENTRY MAYPLE SUBMITTED BY MICHAEL

By Dr. Rob Spooner, DVM

LLY

PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY: SALLY SUBMITTED BY MEGAN

under the gums where most periodontal disease occurs. If the teeth aren’t being polished after scaling, microscopic chips and scratches created by the scaling tools create “scaffolding” for calculus to resume accumulating even more quickly. Short-term gain can equal long-term pain!

5. Plaque is like cement full of bacteria.

These bacteria cause inflammation and infection of the gums, gum recession, and bone destruction around the roots on the teeth. Gingivitis and bone loss result in loose teeth. Loose teeth are painful. Period.

6. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream

through inflamed gums and cause damage elsewhere in the body. Think plaques on the valves of the heart as well as on the filtration system in the kidneys, amongst other places.

7. Our dogs are often very stoic and will

not let on that their teeth are causing them pain. They may, however, give us clues such

as not tugging as vigorously on their toys, turning their noses up at kibble, showing a preference for soft foods, or rubbing their faces to alleviate discomfort. If your dog has bad breath and brown teeth, get to your veterinarian for an oral health exam.

8. Many small-breed dogs have a

predisposition to periodontal disease.

Yorkies, Pomeranians, Dachshunds, Schnauzers, Chihuahuas, and others all have a tendency to develop significant periodontal disease at a young age. If you have one of these breeds and are not brushing her teeth daily, you should see your veterinarian at least twice a year for a dental checkup. n moderndogmagazine.com

INSPIRE! Melissa and Bo Hannon with Twinkle.

When two dog-lovers met their match in each other, the stars aligned, not just for them, but for all the dogs they would go on to save By Jen Reeder

t’s practically an urban legend to meet the girl or guy of your dreams in a bar, get married and live happily ever after. But Bo and Melissa Hannon, founders of Peace and Paws Dog Rescue in New Hampshire, are proof that it can happen. Melissa was teaching elementary school in Arizona when a group of teachers pressured her to go out with them one Friday night, and she relented. Bo was studying to become a motorcycle mechanic when he and a few biker buddies decided to go to the same bar. He spotted her across the room and sent her a drink. “It had been so long since I had actually been to a bar and been sent a drink that I didn’t know what to do,” Melissa said. “The teachers were like, ‘Thank him personally!’ So that’s kind of how it started.” Bo and Melissa went for a motorcycle ride the next day and

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dated for almost two years before moving together to New Hampshire, where they married in 2006. They had two dogs at the time; Sky, their Boxer mix, served as maid of honor, and Tucson, a Shepherd/American Stafford mix, was best man. When the newly married Hannons wanted to add to their family by adopting another dog, they were surprised that local New Hampshire shelters had some empty cages, and no puppies. “I’d never lived anywhere where you could walk into a shelter and they weren’t completely full,” Melissa said. “That is unheard of in the rest of the country.” A quick look on petfinder.com, a searchable database of adoptable pets in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, turned up many homeless dogs in the South, including a skinny white Shepherd mix named Giddy at a high-kill shelter in Alabama. Something

the two dogs,” Melissa said, adding about Giddy tugged at the Hannons’ that they’re actually pals. heartstrings and the next thing they Giddy and Twinkle’s popularity is knew, they were working with the certainly put to good use. They spread Alabama shelter to have Giddy, along adoption awareness and canine education with several other dogs, transported to Melissa with a pup through their photos, raise money for Peace New England. The experience would prove before adoption. and Paws with sales of their annual calendar, to be life changing, and not just for the dogs. and even helped fundraise to build an animal sancThe Hannons promptly fell in love with their newest family member. They also realized they wanted to start a tuary on the Hannon’s property called The Ruff House Retreat dog rescue organization to transport more homeless dogs from Adoption Center. For the latter, the dogs competed to see who the south and rehome them in New England. This was how, could raise more money on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo. in 2007, one year into their marriage, they came to found the com (Twinkle won, for the record). The effort saw supporters nonprofit Peace and Paws Dog Rescue. Their mission? “To donate over $100,000 and the structure was built in less than match the world’s best dogs with the world’s best people.” They a year. It opened in spring of 2014; Riley, the first dog rescued soon had a network of volunteer foster families and had added and housed there, was pregnant with puppies born in the Ruff “Rescue Riders Transport,” a custom van with 37 crates to transHouse’s whelping room. “I start to get emotional because we wouldn’t have done it port even more dogs. To say the couple has thrown themselves without all those people,” Melissa said through tears. “I really, into their new vocation would be an understatement; Peace and really genuinely know that everything that’s in there and every Paws has, to date, rescued more than 2,300 dogs that would dog that we save is because of [our supporters]. There’s no likely otherwise have been euthanized. way Bo and I could have done any of this on our own. To raise In each other they have definitely found a complementary that kind of money would have taken us years… It allows us match. Melissa says it’s good that she and Bo founded Peace and so much more flexibility in terms of the dogs that we can save, Paws together because rescue is so “constant,” noting resentincluding special needs dogs.” ment can start to build if only one half of the couple is involved The community of people who have adopted from Peace in rescue because of the time commitment. and Paws are grateful right back. Michelle Barry and her fam“We’re lucky that we’re in a situation that we’re both in it,” she said. “We both notice how busy the other one is and how ily have adopted two dogs from the rescue, Bowie and Zappa, hard the other one works.” both as puppies. Peace and Paws transported Zappa, an Not long after adopting Giddy from a shelter in Alabama, the Australian Shepherd/German Shepherd mix, from a foster family Hannons adopted Twinkle, a Lab/Pit Bull mix, from the same in the south to New Hampshire for adoption. Bowie, a female shelter. While Giddy is a mellow, sweet dog, Twinkle is a bit Australian Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix, had a particularly more “cat-like,” independent and almost resentful when asked rough start. Her mom was a pregnant family pet left behind to do something she doesn’t particularly want to do. This difwhen her family lost their home to foreclosure; she gave birth to her puppies in the house’s crawl space, where neighbours evenference in personality has created a huge online following for tually found them and called Animal Control. Through Peace and Giddy and Twinkle, with Melissa writing a “Tip of the Day” on Paws, one of the pups—Bowie—found her forever home with a sign that hangs from Giddy’s neck and Twinkle wearing a sign with a snarky retort (for example, mocking a hat Giddy is wearthe Barrys. Both dogs now hike with their new family and get to stay in hotels with them when they travel to dog-friendly cities ing). Over 300,000 Facebook fans follow the antics of Giddy and and beaches. Barry says they are bonded in a “profound” way. Twinkle (as well as guest appearances by their friend Nugget). “They love us—we’re their people,” Barry said. “They just “Their personalities in the ‘Tip of the Day’ are very much like keep giving back every day.” what their personalities are. Twinkle’s very snarky and kind of The Barrys now volunteer as a foster family for the organizaobnoxious—she’s a bit of a bully—and Giddy’s kind of mellow and chill and cool…People liked to see the ‘animosity’ between tion. They consider it a way for both the humans and the

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"Melissa's really humble. I don't think she or Bo have a clue about how deeply they impact people's lives, both in terms of the dogs that they adopt out but also just in the community they've created around Giddy and Twinkle."

Giddy, the white Shepherd mix in the above photos, is the dog that led the Hannons to start Peace and Paws Dog Rescue. Giddy, along with Twinkle and Nugget, have a big online following (300,000 fans on Facebook alone—check out @peaceandpawsdogrescue) that helped them raise over $100,000 to build an actual sanctuary, The Ruff House, on their property! How cool is that?

GO!

rescued dogs to show their gratitude for finding each other. “We pay it forward, and I like the concept of the dogs paying it forward too. They got their chance at a great life, and now they’re teaching these little puppies that come in how to behave in a house and how to get along with other dogs. Little things that only dogs can teach other dogs,” Barry said. “They’re getting really good at it now.” Josee Dupont, a New Hampshire resident originally from Quebec City, Canada, who has adopted two dogs from Peace and Paws, said Melissa Hannon almost has a “sixth sense” of knowing how to perfectly match a dog with a human. She couldn’t be happier to have adopted Amigo, a Chihuahua, and Anouk, a Border Collie/Flat Coated Retriever mix nicknamed “Miss Crumpet” from the Hannons. She encourages others to “adopt— don’t shop” no matter where they live. “Often people have this wrong idea that dogs end up in shelters because they have issues, but that’s not the case at all,” Dupont said. “If we all adopt instead of buying dogs we could have no more euthanasia in just a few years—that and spay and neuter.” Tara Mahady adopted a 10-week-old Catahoola mix on July 13, 2009, and named her Olive as a nod to Peace and Paws since an olive branch symbolizes peace. She credits Olive and Peace and Paws with changing her life. Before adopting Olive, Mahady had been a “Type A” marketing and fundraising workaholic. “I had always loved being outside but I wasn’t making time for that for myself at all—I wasn’t making time for anything. Olive got me outside again and reminded me that there’s life outside of work and computers,” Mahady said. “I lost a ton of weight, went back to yoga, became a yoga teacher, quit my job—I trace it all back to Olive coming into my life…I honestly don’t know where I’d be right now if it weren’t for her.” There’s no doubt about it: Peace and Paws is something special. “Melissa’s really humble. I don’t think she or Bo have a clue about how deeply they impact people’s lives, both in terms of the dogs that they adopt out but also just in the community they’ve created around Giddy and Twinkle and the Facebook page with all that education. It brings so much joy to people’s lives,” Mahady said. “She and Bo just have hearts that are so huge.” n

Check out peaceandpaws.org or facebook.com/peaceandpawsdogrescue

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Any cool pup needs an awesome studded collar and we love that this one is vegan. This vegan collar from Ella’s Lead is durable, crueltyfree, and super stylish! $25-$55, ellaslead.com

Look

Dazzle everyone by wearing 14K gold vermeil Beagle pendant with ball chain from Chester and Company. (Other breeds available). From $140, chesterandcompany.com

WHAT WE FOUND!

Tested and approved by Modern Dog’s very own Miniature Dachshund Rose! The Cover Me by Tui onesie is an awesome alternative to “lampshade”style Elizabethan collars. This post-surgical pet garment keeps dogs comfortable while preventing licking or chewing at sutures or hot spots. Available in sizes for big and small dogs. From $11, tulanescloset.com

Cool finds for dogs & the people who love them

The day your dog joins your family is one you want to remember forever. My Happy Park creates beautiful custom birth or adoption certificate posters for your home so you can always remember one of the best days of your life—the day your family was truly complete. Love these! $29, myhappypark.com

Your next adventure awaits! Keep your pup hydrated with United by Blue’s reusable canvas dog bowl. This durable bowl will last for many years to come, and stores small, so you don’t have to worry about lugging it around! $24, unitedbyblue.com

Our dogs love their super-comfy West Paw Design bumper beds but Modern Dog's senior Dachshund Rose is starting to have some trouble climbing over the bolster. Enter West Paw’s “Tuckered Out” model, which combines a bolstered back edge for resting her head on or cuddling into with an easy front entry perfect for older dogs. Heaven! From $89, westpawdesign.com

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We love dogs and we don’t care who knows it! Wear your heart on your sleeve with this awesome “Crazy Dog Lady” tee. $19, sunfrogshirts.com

moderndogmagazine.com

Playful Boston TerrierPug Alfie reports for business at the Hootsuite office.

WORK LIKE WITH A DOG

More and more businesses are going pet-friendly—and there are plenty of doggone good reasons why By Noa Nichol

ottie, Sadie, Milo, Pierre: these are just a few of the friendly faces who will greet you at Etsy’s corporate headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. No, they’re not data analysts, digital marketing specialists, or support representatives; they’re valued members of what the e-commerce website—which helps 30 million users around the world buy and sell handmade and vintage wares online—calls its “canine operations team.” That’s right, they’re dogs. “The dog-friendly office policy has been in place since Etsy began operations in 2005. It’s one of the ways we strive to maintain a casual, creative, and inspiring work environment,” says Aleksa Brown, associate editor of the company’s blog. Etsy’s employee experience manager, Sarah Starpoi, confirms that her employer’s decision to allow staff members to bring their pets to work is in line with its policies on eating meals as a team, composting office waste, and encouraging employees to volunteer for worthy causes throughout the year. “Bringing our dogs to work helps keep spirits high and fosters a sense of community and connection that’s paramount to what Etsy’s all about,” Starpoi explains. “It’s funny because I notoriously dislike dogs, but I love having them here. They make people smile almost universally, and I think they allow anxiety to diffuse when they suddenly skitter by.” Etsy isn’t the only business that thinks it’s a good idea to open up the boardroom to dogs. In Vancouver, BC, international social media management system provider Hootsuite is dog friendly, too—and has been since the very start. “Our dogs are a big part of Hootsuite’s company culture,” confirms vice-president of talent Ambrosia Humphrey. “We believe that, in many ways, we can learn a lot from our four-legged friends.” With about 65 #HootDogs—the term the company’s coined for its furry officemates— currently clocking in each day, Humphrey counts inter-employee engagement among the top benefits of Hootsuite’s dog-friendly workplace. “Dogs are often a great conversation starter, especially in an office where there are an average of 10 new people being on-boarded every week,” she says. “It gives both new and existing employees a great excuse to meet… even more so when they’re in different departments.”

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“There are so many positives that can come out of allowing pet owners to bring their dogs to work, but I think the biggest thing of all is your dog naturally wants to be around you,” Silverman says. “They’d rather spend all day in their crate in your office than be loose in the house while you’re at work all day.” At the same time, because people love their animals so much, he says that employers are “better off knowing their employees are happy at work and not having to rush home to take care of their dog.” In fact, a recent survey of 50 pet-friendly Interested in a trial run? Take Your Dog to Work Day is an international event companies by the American Pet Products created by Pet Sitters International that occurs annually on the Friday following Association (APPA) not only revealed that Father’s Day. This year’s date is June 26. Modern Dog is a big supporter and the workers enjoyed less absenteeism than in petevent’s media sponsor. Get the lowdown at petsit.com/takeyourdog. free offices, but that productivity and employee morale got a boost when canine companions joined the workAnother big boon to having #HootDogs—like snuggly force, and that staff members were more willing to work overPomeranian-Chihuahua cross George, goofy Bluetick Coonhoundtime thanks to the addition of pets in the workplace. Bernese mix Oscar, and playful Boston Terrier-Pug Alfie—at “This survey indicates that more people are realizing the work is stress relief. importance of pets in the work“I think most people with dogs place,” says APPA president Bob can agree that having their trusted Vetere. “Pets are becoming more companion by their side, or havof a welcome addition and proving ing the opportunity to take a quick to be beneficial to employee wellwalk with their dog is a great being and office culture.” source of stress relief,” Humphrey Clearly, opening up the worksays. “Many employees also love place to dogs can be a very good petting dogs around the office.” thing. However, employers who It’s not just the stuff of casual are thinking of becoming pet-friendly must also be aware of observation or hearsay, either. Research is proving that the bensome of the challenges that may arise. efits of a dog-friendly workplace range from decreased stress levBeth Stultz is marketing and communications manager for els to increased productivity to improved employee relationships. Take Your Dog to Work Day (TYDTWDay)—an international A 2012 study out of Virginia Commonwealth University, for event created by Pet Sitters International in 1999 that occurs example, saw up to 30 dogs brought to work daily by employannually on the Friday following Father’s Day (this year’s date is ees of Replacements, Ltd., in Greensboro, North Carolina. June 26). In helping first-time participants organize an event at Researchers found that, after one week, reported stress levels fell their office, Stultz has come face-to-face with some of the shortan average of 11 percent among staff who did bring their poochand long-term issues around bringing dogs into the workplace. es to the office, as opposed to those who left their four-legged “Building codes are a big one—if you as a company don’t own friends at home. the building where you work, you likely need to seek special perAccording to celebrity dog trainer Joel Silverman, host of mission to allow dogs,” she says, listing employee allergies and former Animal Planet TV series “GOOD DOG U” and a big supphobias as other potential problems to keep in mind. porter of the movement to welcome pets into the workplace, this Another issue: how the dogs behave around other dogs and particular finding couldn’t make better sense.

After one week, reported stress levels fell an average of 11% among staff who brought their pooches to the office.

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GOING PET-FRIENDLY AT WORK Thinking of letting dogs in your office? Consider the following issues first: Building Codes

If your company owns the building where you work, seeking special permission to allow dogs is likely not needed (unless the workspace is in a shared business plaza, etc.). However, if the office space is rented or leased, management may need permission from the landlord. If permission is needed from a landlord, be sure to demonstrate that plans are in place to implement thorough guidelines around bringing dogs to work.

Liability Issues

As a matter of law, pet owners are legally responsible for any injury or damage caused by their pet/s. However, employers should check with their insurer to ensure their general liability policy covers certain issues that may be connected to having animals in the workplace and that specific guidelines are in place for employees who plan to bring dogs.

Allergies or Phobias

Allergies can be very serious. In most cases, people are not allergic to dog hair, but either to the dander or saliva of dogs. Owners should ensure their dog has been bathed to remove dander buildup, and dogs should not be in the immediate work area of an employee with allergies. Companies should designate specific, shared areas such as bathrooms and break rooms dog free, and make accommodations for any employee concerned about being near the dogs due to allergies or phobias.

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Snuggly Pomeranian/Chihuahua cross George is a regular fixture at the Hootsuite office.

around people, particularly strangers. “It is important that aggression of any kind in a participating dog not be tolerated,” cautions Stultz. “Dogs showing aggressive behaviour should be asked to leave the office right away.” “The office is an office, not a play area for dogs,” Silverman adds. “My personal feeling is that dogs should not have contact with other dogs in the workplace; they should be separated in different offices or various areas of the building until it’s break time, and then they can go outside to play and interact, if desired.” The truth, he continues, is that “specific rules need to be laid out, and all of those rules need to come from the owner of the facility. Employees who would like to bring their dogs to work should always remember that it’s a privilege to bring your animal to the office—it’s not something to take for granted.” At Hootsuite, rules around the pet-friendly work environment are—and always will be—paramount. “As we entered into a time of hyper-growth, the increased number of employees [at our company] also meant an increased number of dogs, so we had to start being more aware of factors like people with allergies, puppies who had accidents often, or dogs who didn’t get along,” says Humphrey. “We started asking employees to register their dogs and also implemented a Hootsuite Dog Policy, which included leashes at all times and employees to not bring in dogs younger than six months old or those that have not been vaccinated and potty trained.” She strongly recommends that companies that are considering going dog friendly “set up some ground rules from the beginning to establish expectations for owners. With the guidelines in place, employees will have a good idea of whether their dog will be a happy dog without disrupting other humans or dogs.” Silverman agrees. “Bottom line, when you’re in the office, you need to be focusing on work, not on your dog,” he says. “It’s an absolute privilege to bring your dog to work, so stay low key, don’t make it a big issue. You want to make it work out in the best way possible.” n

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Earth’s Balance Tick Releaser Spray uses natural oils to help release ticks and comes with a test kit so you can submit the tick to be tested for disease. earthsbalance.com

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Emerald Pets’ all natural, long lasting dog chews can be fed indoors with no staining! Grain-free Smart n’ Tasty Twizzies (Piggy, Turducky, or Chicky) available in 6”, 9”, and 12” lengths. Made in USA. emeraldpet.com

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Rascals mesh dog toys are new from Coastal Pet Products! These Quality Guaranteed Friendly Flappers, Rowdy Ringers, and Mighty Mates will provide hours of chomping fun for all dogs. coastalpet.com

The ultimate pet parent’s keepsake. PetPrints 3D uses a 3D printer to create a custom model of your pet, right down to his lopsided ear. Easy online ordering—just upload photos! PetPrints3D.com

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PET PROJECT

craft D.I.Y.

Twig Leash Holder

Fetch! Good boy!

This easy (and inexpensive to make!) branch leash holder keeps your dog’s leashes and collars organized while adding a dash of rustic whimsy to your hallway By Maxine Matishak

What You'll Need:

ÆÆ1 sturdy branch (Ensure that you are not clipping or foraging from

The author is a member of thecraft.co, a super-cool collective sharing how-to’s for all manner of nifty DIY endeavours

an environmentally protected area—or your neighbour’s yard.)

ÆÆ1 pack of “S” hooks, available at most hardware stores. (Bring your branch with you to pick the correct size—you’re looking for the size that fits as snugly as possible on to your branch.)

ÆÆAcrylic paint in your choice of colour ÆÆGold metallic spray paint ÆÆPolyurethane glass varnish ÆÆMasking tape How-to:

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Wrap a line of masking tape around your branch two to three inches from the branch’s end in order to make a neat demarcation for where the painted portion will end. Paint up to this line with acrylic paint.

Once acrylic paint has dried, remove masking tape and coat entire branch with clear varnish.

In a well-ventilated area, spray paint the S hooks—I chose gold but spray paint yours any colour you fancy—and let dry. (If you want to leave your “S” hooks silver you can skip this step.)

Once the varnish on your branch has dried, attach the S hooks. Depending on how tightly the “S” hooks fit on your branch, you may need to affix the hooks with glue to keep them in place.

To mount your finished leash holder, hammer two nails directly through the branch and into the wall or space nails beneath to support the branch. Now step back and admire your handy work!

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BREED PROFILE

The Old English Sheepdog Get to know this big, shaggy dog with the clown-like personality By Kelly Caldwell

Before you start to think this is a slow and lumbering animal, think again. This dog is athletic by nature.

e’ve all come across a unique-looking dog at some point and wondered what is that? Some breeds are a little hard to pinpoint or distinguish from one another—but not this one. There’s just no mistaking the Old English Sheepdog. The hallmarks of this breed—wonderful woolly coat, bear-like gait, and clownlike personality—make him a standout. So where did this big, shaggy dog come from? As with so many older breeds, records of exact origins don’t exist, but evidence suggests the breed originated in the early nineteenth century, primarily in the southwestern counties of England. Most fanciers point to the role the Scottish Bearded Collie played in shaping the breed’s development; others are convinced that the Russian Owtchar, a sizable and hard-working sheepdog with similar proportions to the modern Old English, was a primary influence. Both may be right. Regardless, by the beginning of the 18th century, the breed was emerging and was known as a “drover’s According to the most recent AKC registration statistics dog.” What’s a drover, you ask? Drovers took large [1] Labrador Retriever herds of animals to market, in return for a delivery [2] German Shepherd Dog fee. Their job was an extremely difficult one—driving cattle, sheep, and other animals in the hundreds or even [3] Golden Retriever [4] Beagle thousands over rough terrain and down the path to the [5] Bulldog market. The drover’s canine companion needed to be [6] Yorkshire Terrier intelligent, agile, fierce when required, and certainly in [7] Boxer possession of great stamina. The Old English Sheepdog [8] Poodle fit the bill, and his weatherproof coat offered further practical advantage. [9] Rottweiler By the late 1800s, Old English Sheepdogs had caught [10] Dachshund the eye of fanciers and were being imported into the [78] Old English Sheepdog United States. Some of America’s wealthiest early settlers were admirers of the breed; the Morgans, Vanderbilts, Goulds, Harrisons, and Guggenheims were reportedly all fanciers. The Old English Sheepdog Club of America (OESCA) was founded in 1904 and the breed received American Kennel Club (AKC) recognition the following year. Today, while some farmers still use the breed for herding purposes (and swear there is no better choice for the job!), the Old English primarily serves as family pet. In 2013, the breed was the 78th most commonly-registered AKC breed—not exactly rare, but still by no means a dog you’ll see on a daily basis. Is the Old English the breed for you? There are a few traits for which the Old English Sheepdog is most recognizable. One is its rather unique gait, which is like the shuffle of a bear. With his size and coat, you might almost wonder if you’ve seen a panda passing by, but no—just an Old English on the move. But before you start to think this is a slow and lumbering animal, think again. This dog is athletic by nature. The Old English will thrive in an environment where exercise and daily play time are