September 2017 Downeast Dog News by Jennifer Rich / Wendi Smith

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Volume 12 • Issue 9 • September 2017

Dogs & Discs: For the Park & Beyond By Susan Spisak

isc dogs, Frisbee dogs, flying dogs. Whatever you want to call ‘em - it’s a fun sport for canines. The dog runs, leaps, some!mes adds a spin or twist and grabs - mid-air - a disc or Frisbee that’s thrown to him and returns it for another round. It is notches above the standard fetch. To learn more, I called Mike Piazza, a mul!ple world finalist and world record holder in canine Frisbee and the current number one professional canine Frisbee performer in the world (Piazza prefers to call the sport “canine Frisbee,” but many call it “disc dog” because “Frisbee” is a trademark name). Piazza, a Massachuse"s na!ve, has 25 years of experience and performs through his entertainment venture, The Flying High Dogs. This cool sport hasn’t exploded in Maine yet (the closest club is

See DISCS on page 5

INSIDE 2 6 Hot Dog News

Basic Training Tips

Flying High Dog, Bullet

8&9

Maine Dog Books

12 & 13

Dogs for Adoption

DOWNEASTDOGNEWS.COM

Calendar of Events

Hot Dog News No Bowl Empty Pet Food Pantry to Re-open As some of you may know No Bowl Empty Pet Food Pantry closed back in Feb so Nadine could con nue her cancer treatments. She has since then moved to Hollis Center and is working on bringing the pantry back. She is nearing her goal to re-open, which will probably happen in mid-October, but can certainly use more dona ons to ﬁll the shelves and keep the pantry running. No Bowl Empty serves residents of Cumberland, York and Androscoggin Coun es. If you would like to contribute you may go online to PayPal.Me/nobowlempty or checks may be sent to Nadine Malloy, 200 Cape Rd., Hollis Center, ME 04042. She is also looking for retail loca ons that will allow her to setup a table once a week to help raise awareness and gain support for No Bowl Empty. FMI follow her on Facebook: www.facebook. com/nobowlemptypetpantry/

Whisker Walk Harbor Park in Rockland J

oin dog lovers from all over Mid Coast Maine as they walk to support the Pope Memorial Humane Society on Saturday September 16th, 10am-2pm. You do not need a dog to participate because this family event has something for everyone (two-legged and four-legged): an agility course to try out, food to eat, music to enjoy, a doggy day spa to pamper, awesome pet vendors to browse, and children’s activities. The main event is the largest dog walk in town. Grab your dogs, family, friends, and co-workers to form a pack. Stretch your support even further by collecting pledges to help provide food, shelter, and medical supplies to the homeless animals in PMHSKC’s care who so desperately need it. Then stroll the beautiful mile long walk along the Rockland Harbor Boardwalk. Can’t walk or attend the event but still want to fundraise for the cause? Register as a Catnapper and help raise donations! You will receive a FREE event shirt for your help! Registration begins at 9am, and the walk starts at 10am. Festivities will go on until 2pm. Be sure to bring water bottles, appropriate footwear, and a smile! humanesocietyofknoxcounty.org/whisker-walk/

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Downeast Dog News PUBLISHER Jenn Rich COPY EDITOR Belinda Carter CONTRIBUTORS Susan Spisak Diana Logan Sara Moore Judith Herman Carolyn Fuhrer Don Hanson Nancy Holmes GRAPHIC DESIGN Courier Publications, LLC ADVERTISING Jenn Rich 207-230-0260 ext. 6 jenn@downeastdognews.com

PRESIDENT Wendi Smith

From the Publisher Dear Dog News Readers, August was a bit more turbulent than July. If you read last month’s le er, I was excited about the purchase of my home. Of course, one of my fears was that as soon as it became mine, it would start to fall apart and cost me money. So far (knock on wood) the house is ﬁne, but it is Miss Pepper who is having trouble. You wouldn’t know it to look at her most of the me. She is s ll as full of energy as ever, but she was taking a long me to get her breathing back to normal a er running and playing, so I took her to the vet for a closer look. Now mind you, my previous lab Reilly died at the age of seven of liver failure, so when I found out Pepper’s liver levels were elevated, I began to panic. She is only three years old! I will spare you the really long story and just say that it has been several weeks, many tests, and a good amount of money trying to ﬁgure out what is wrong with the li le bugger, and the results of our most recent test just came back normal. So we s ll have no idea. The next thing to test will be her heart which s ll wouldn’t answer what is wrong with her liver. This is extremely frustra ng to say the least. If that wasn’t draining enough, we also lost my grandmother this month nearly one year a er my grandfather. While sad for us, she was 92 and really ready to move on to her next journey. She will certainly be missed, but the memories are plen ful. I can’t believe how quickly summer has gone by. We did get out to camp again this month, and despite whatever is going on with Pepper, she had the me of her life swimming up a storm. For some reason, swimming doesn’t leave her with the same breathing issue as running. Next on the agenda is going to the Union fair to see the Flying High Dogs, then to the Save a Stray Fes val at LL Bean; both will have passed by the me this paper is printed and then Wienerfest on Sept. 10th! Busy, busy, busy. Perhaps in October, I’ll get some rest! Happy soon to be Fall!

All the best, Jenn & Pepper

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reen Acres Kennel Shop has been voted the Bangor Regions Best Kennel for the sixteenth consecu ve year in a survey conducted by Market Surveys of America and the GKM Independent Survey Company. Green Acres was also voted the Bangor Regions Best Pet Store for the eleventh year in a row, the Best Dog Trainer for the sixth consecu ve year, and the Best Pet Groomer for the fi h year in a row. When asked about Green Acres con nued recogni on as being the best of the best in four categories, co-owner Don Hanson stated: “Since Paula and I became the owners of Green Acres in 1995, it has been our mission to provide petfriendly services and products while helping to educate pet lovers in the greater Bangor area. Our success is due to two things. First, our many wonderful clients who choose to use Photo by: Debra Bell our services and purchase our products. I wish I could name them all here because I want them to know we appreciate their confidence and trust. Secondly, Paula and I recognize that we would not be successful without our incredibly dedicated, compassionate, pet loving staff. Thank you; Kate, Brenda, Michelle, Peggy, Cris na, Ashley, Lois, Nicole, Lauren, Chelsi, Nina, Amya, Sarah, and Lindsay.” Market Surveys of America is a survey company independent of any newspaper or magazine publica on. Their “Best of the Best” winners are determined by tallied public ballots taken throughout each specific region, and by their website (h p://www.bestofsurveys.com).

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September 2017

Table of Contents Hot Dog News ...................... 2 Furry Words ......................... 4 Ask the Vet ............................ 4 Basic Training Tips ................ 6 Ask Bammy ............................ 7 Maine Dog Books ................. 8,9 Performance Dog Training ....10 Words, Woofs & Meows ..... 11 Rescue of the Month ............12 Dogs for Adoption ............... 13 Calendar of Events .............. 14 Business Directory .............. 15

I have started asking people what they’d like me to write about, and I love all of the topics that have been suggested. The two most common ones are dogs and processing the grief of losing them and if dogs see spirits or feel energy. I talk a lot about death because I think so many people have regrets or fears about it, and the dogs are really always all right with “going home.” As we head into Autumn, I’m going to share some stories about dogs that do see spirits or react to people because of the energy that’s surrounding them. If this stuff isn’t for you, that’s totally fine. I’m not here to convince or convert anyone, but I do hope you take a moment to see what the dogs have to say about it! The other day I read a dog who was a rescue from Puerto Rico. He was a total love bug, but sometimes he seemed anxious, and twice he had nipped at people for no apparent reason. When I asked him how he was feeling, he didn’t say anxious, but he did feel a little uncomfortable in his skin. He described the owner as always standing in her power. She knew what she was capable of, and he totally respected her for it. The problem was he was coming from a place of always needing someone to protect him, and they didn’t have the same energy. Let me back up. We’re all made of energy, so we all sort of vibrate. When we vibrate at the

Rabies Q.

Reading about all these a acks by rabid animals scares me. Should I be vaccina ng my dog more that every 3 years?

Last dog in Maine with rabies was in 2012 and before that 2003. There were 2 cats with rabies in 2016. Over the years, cats have many more numbers than dogs. Rabies in humans in the United States is rare. There are different strains of rabies around the world. Here in Maine we have bat, fox, and raccoon rabies. In other parts of the world, there are more virulent strains of rabies which are a major concern for pets and people. Your pet would acquire rabies if it were bitten, saliva entering wounds, or if the rabid animal is eaten. Conventionally, there is no treatment for rabies. Because of the lack of treatment for rabies, prevention is the best medicine. In the 1960’s, there was an epidemic

Furry Words by Sara Moore www.enlightenedhorizons.com

same frequency as people around us, we feel fabulous! When we’re not in sync, it can feel really uncomfortable and sometimes downright irritating. The dog was here to remind the woman that she had spent her entire life somewhat isolated from people because she felt more at peace in her own little bubble. With all that is going on in the world today, people like her are being asked to light up and share that energy with the people around them. As soon as he told her this, she said it made total sense, and I could feel his body relaxing. This dog that she rescued was moving

Ask the Vet… by Dr. Judith Herman

of rabies around the country. To stop this epidemic laws were written requiring all dogs to be vaccinated and licensed. It is mandated that all cats must be vaccinated too. After 2 doses of rabies vaccine, most dogs are protected. The manufacturers have tested their vaccines out to 3 years and have

her along in her own journey, and they both felt grateful for the new awareness. The second issue was that he had been nipping, and she couldn’t figure out a reason for it. He told me that he hated being around people who were energetically cluttered. Think of Peanuts and the character of Pigpen. He always has a cloud of gray dust around him, right? Now imagine that every negative thought you have, every worry, every concern floats out of your head and gunks up the space around you. This dog could actually FEEL and SEE that energy, and it drove him nuts! He also was protecting his owner from having to deal with these people, and his logic was by nipping at them (he swore it was more directed at the air around them than an effort to really bite) they would choose to go away. The challenge was that her lesson was to share the feeling of peace, light, and love and those people that he was scaring away might need it the most. I told her how to make an energetic bubble of light around both her and the dog so that when he encountered the Pigpens, their energy couldn’t affect them. She agreed to give it a shot, and I have a feeling there will be a lot more peace in their lives now. I do want to quickly address the question whether dogs see spirits. Just like people, some are

more open to it than others. If you had a dog or cat that passed, and your current dog comes around the corner, hits the breaks and slowly backs up to leave the room, there’s a good chance your old pet has come around to say hello. If your dog suddenly stops using its favorite bed, a spirit animal could be hanging out and taking up the space. I haven’t seen any pets from the other side be malicious. People can be obnoxious and disruptive, but pets seem to always be at peace with the other side and know they’ll see you again when it’s your time. Not all pets choose to come back to visit us in that way either. The next time your dog looks at you and then stares off at nothing, ask it who it is looking at! I smile as I write this because, to me, this is totally normal, and I get a thought or image of someone who has crossed over. That’s how I know who it is. You may also just feel that love in your heart that you felt when it was around. When this happens I hope you take joy in knowing that you have been blessed with a visit from heaven!

met the standard of protection acceptable by the FDA and the CDC. Because we don’t have data stating the vaccine lasts longer than 3 years, it is required by law for dogs to be vaccinated every 3 years after the initial 2 vaccines. So your dog does not need to be vaccinated more frequently than every 3 years for rabies unless he has been exposed to a rabid or suspected rabid animal. With new research published in January 2015, the Maine Rabies Management Guidelines (4th edition, 2017) have changed from the previous guidelines. The important changes are if a dog has been suspected or confirmed of exposure to rabies and has a current rabies vaccine, or if there is documentation of one or more rabies vaccines, these dogs are given a rabies vaccine and quarantined for 45 days in the owner’s home. When the exposed dog is unvaccinated or does not have a record of being vaccinated, these dogs are considered unvaccinated and are isolated for 4 months in a designated facility or euthanized.

For a guardian who thinks the dog was vaccinated but there isn’t any documentation, a rabies titer can be given and sent out before being vaccinated. If the titer comes back positive, then the dog can be quarantined in the owner’s home for 45 days, but a negative titer would indicate the dog has never been vaccinated and is treated as such. If you want to read the entire document, you can google Maine Rabies Management Guidelines. Research is continuing on the duration of rabies vaccines and the anti-viral level of protective antibodies for these vaccines. Once this information is published, we may see another change in our rabies guidelines. If you wish to support this research, contact the Rabies Challenge to make a donation. Their website is www. rabieschallengefund.org.

Sara Moore is a psychic for people and pets, has an office in North Conway, NH but is also available for phone readings and private events. FMI go to enlightenedhorizons.com, email enlightenedhorizons@gmail.com, or call (603)662-2046.

Judith K. Herman DVM, CVH Animal Wellness Center Augusta, ME www.mainehomeopathicvet.com

Downeast Dog News

DISCS from page 1 the Granite State Disc Dog in New Hampshire), but here’s hoping area trainers will be inspired to oﬀer disc dog classes here. Un l then, if you have a healthy dog who can easily run and jump, you can try this with him, providing an exci ng ac vity for both of you.

Frisbee Sports Training You don’t have to get involved in this sport with the intent of compe ng - try it for fun. All you need is a large grassy area and a few discs. It’s a great way to exercise your pooch, and it’s not the same old game. However, some park players find they enjoy it so much that it leads them to clubs and compe ons. While Piazza prefers Border Collies, he said rescue dogs and mixes may be fine as well. An World Record Holder, Mike Piazza and Bullet athle c or high energy dog, a herding dog, a Retriever, Poodle, or Collie to name a few, could be over the field. For eight minutes, stunned fans - and the the right “team member,” but small breeds and very television audience -watched the dog run 35 mph and large dogs are not well-suited for disc sports. jump up nine feet high to snag discs, while legendary TV I asked Piazza what is the best training approach. announcer Joe Garagiola narrated the field ac on (they “You have to find each dog’s strengths and weaknesses, halted the game temporarily). and you go from there…You find what they’re good at That na onal exposure fueled interest in the sport. and build on that.” He added short training sessions The next year Stein helped organize the first Frisbee Dog are best. Because this is an off-leash sport, excellent World Championship. In the early 1980s, the name was obedience skills are necessary. changed to the Ashley Whippet Invita onal (AWI). The Start by rolling the disc to your dog un l he sport has grown exponen ally and today there are disc understands to snag it with his mouth and bring it back dog training classes, clubs, and compe ons worldwide. (you can employ the “trade” using a treat if necessary). Disc dog trainers offer classes to those interested in Advance to throwing the disc straight at him, at a learning the sport from a professional. The classes are short distance. Once he catches, you can throw the also great for people needing an addi onal outlet for disc longer, then higher, forcing him to run, jump, and their high energy dog. (hopefully) catch it. You’ll have to coordinate the disc Disc dog clubs have been established both toss to accommodate his speed. This takes prac ce, na onally and interna onally for enthusiasts to share pa ence, treats, and praise. this sport, work on the skills together, and ensure their You can always start with a tennis ball – many dogs are performing maneuvers safely. Many clubs dogs understand this concept – but follow the disc host training clinics, seminars, leagues, and sanc oned process (throw at a short distance, then longer and canine disc compe ons. higher). Graduate to a so tennis-ball-like disc, then to There are several organiza ons that run the a regular disc. Choose the right size and weight of disc sanc oned Canine Disc Compe ons. There’s the to accommodate your dog. (Don’t use the hard plas c well-known Skyhoundz Classic World Canine Disc ones found at pet stores. The official type of disc used Championship Series, US Disc Dog Na onals, and AWI, is a so er plas c. Look for types such as Wham-O as well as others. While their qualifiers, compe ons, Fastback or Hyperflite K10.) point rankings, rules, and divisions vary, there are a few common events. Background, Disc Clubs & Compe ons • Toss and Fetch. The handler has one minute In 1974, Ohio college student Alex Stein snuck his to make as many throws as possible at increasingly dog named “Ashley Whippet” (and she was a Whippet) longer distances to his teammate. Only one disc is used, into an LA Dodgers na onally broadcast baseball game. so the handler and dog must work quickly. Scoring is Stein’s intent was to show off his dog’s Frisbee skills, based on number of catches, distance ran, and the jump so between innings, they hopped the fence and took and landings.

• Freestyle. This is a popular and ar s c event. The team has two minutes to perform tricks like superfast mul ple throws and catches, and the dog adds drama with ﬂips and vaults. Judging categories include athle cism, degree of diﬃculty, and showmanship. • Long Distance. This pits teams against other teams. The team scoring the least points is eliminated in each round, and so on, un l there is one winning team of a handler and his dog.

The Flying High Dogs Piazza became involved in this sport accidentally. He had just graduated from college and was rooming with three guys. His dog, a Lab-Whippet mix named Taylor, was “gated” in the kitchen via a five . tall box. When anyone came through the front door, she would jump ver cally to see who was home. One roommate said her leap skills were a fit for disc sports. So Piazza and Taylor prac ced un l they “got good.” He entered the Skyhoundz Compe ve Canine Disc Sports compe on (this was the predecessor of the Skyhoundz Classic World Canine Disc Championship Series) and made it to the finals. He said “back then” only twelve dogs made it to the finals - and they achieved the highest score in the compe on. Once compe ons and their categories grew, he decided to shi his focus to entertaining. He and his Flying High Dogs, all Border Collies, perform 150 shows annually. He chose Border Collies because they’re athle c, intelligent, and have a long nose, which makes catching a disc easier. They’re also a working breed with a strong toy drive. He now has five Border Collies: re red Sea Biscuit, puppy Mojo, and the show stars are Maui, Bullet, and Chaos. Piazza and his pack have performed at NFL, NBA, and Major and Minor League Baseball games and college spor ng events. He’s been on TV shows and performs at pet expos, kids’ camps, corporate events, and fairs. He entertains with skits and compe ons, u lizing audience members to get them involved in the show. He rotates his dogs, and they perform disc stunts and tricks. He said his dogs love it, “It’s more fun for them than it is for me, believe it or not…they go crazy for the Frisbee.” So if you want to see your canine “flying high,” Google “Disc Dog Training.” You’ll find advice and video demonstra ons, so you can get out to the park and have fun, too.

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September 2017

Does your dog think you're cool? "Relevance" is my favorite word “Relevance: per nence, connec on, importance, signiﬁcance, usefulness.” This single word, "relevance," plays a huge role in our daily lives. If something isn’t relevant, why would it ma er to us? “…dogs are always in search of meaning and relevance and clues to what is cool and what is not cool.” (Suzanne Clothier) Many moons ago, I was a 20-something tourist riding a public bus in Vienna, Austria. Among some people we picked up along the way was a brusque American woman who stepped up to the fare box, stopped, and awkwardly dropped some coins in the slot. The coins were rejected. She tried again with the same results, then spoke to the driver in English with increasing consterna on and volume. He was apologe c – in broken English but said he couldn’t help her and politely instructed her to get oﬀ the bus. She was livid. The problem? She was trying to pay for the fare with US currency. I could hear her say, “Damn it, this is good American money! What’s wrong with you?!” The driver said he only took

Basic Training Tips by Diana Logan

schillings, the Austrian currency at the me. She was dumbfounded

that the money so valuable to her was not valuable to him. It was clear she was incapable of understanding how unreasonable she was being. I grimaced and hid my head, embarrassed for represen ng the same country as she. We frequently run into a similar conundrum with our dogs, expec ng them to respond to cues that are irrelevant to them, offering them things they don’t value, currency they don’t recognize or expec ng them to like things they don’t find “cool”. Years ago, I was working with a horse doing some clicker training in his stall. It was summer me and hot and a bit buggy, but I planned to keep the lesson short. I wanted Charlie to li his leg so that I could clean out his hoof more easily – it was really just a fun, simple training exercise more than anything else. I would click when I got a li le bit of effort, then feed him a treat to pay him for this effort. It was going okay, but there was a problem: the treats were not sufficiently relevant to Charlie for him to make much of an effort. He was bored. I asked myself, "What would Charlie like most, right now?" Instead of

feeding Charlie a er the click, I gave him a few seconds of curry comb scratching in his favorite place. WOW, did Charlie perk up! Once I changed the currency to one which he valued, he was IN the game, and within a few minutes, he was enthusias cally li ing his hoof with just a small touch on his shoulder. If we aren’t successful during training, we need to ask the very important ques on, “Is it relevant to my dog?” If we want our dogs to come when called, we need to make sure the dogs find it very relevant. If we want a dog who enjoys being handled, we need to add relevance to the process. It doesn’t ma er what we ourselves might find relevant; relevance is determined by the dog. We can choose to be like the American woman in Vienna, or we can dive deep and figure out what drives our dogs, what they see as cool. Be crea ve in searching for your individual dog’s mo vators and use them strategically. With knowledge and skill, we can even expand what a dog finds mo va ng by adding value to it. Once we understand the dog’s currency and are willing to pay him accordingly, the training process becomes a fabulous journey we can share together, full of “wow moments.”

Diana Logan, CPDT-KA Cer ﬁed Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge-Assessed Pet Connec on Dog Training, North Yarmouth, Maine | www.dianalogan.com | 207-252-9352

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Downeast Dog News

I am a Carolina Dog, a breed that long ago owned Na ve American people. We were designed by natural selec on to be so intelligent and physically superior that we survived without human help. My great-grandfather was caught from the wild. I can oﬀer advice based on the natural ins ncts and a ributes of wild dogs. In addi on, my adop ve person and I have had lots of training classes and other experiences. Some humans call themselves Mom or Dad of their dog, but I refer to my human, tongue in cheek, as Boss. Much as I love her, I admit she has many of the same odd no ons as most humans, so I can relate to other pet dogs with problem humans. If I can’t help, at least I can oﬀer sympathy, and we can have some fun talking about our amazing humans. Please send your ques ons! Bammy, 280 Pond Rd. Newcastle, ME 04553, or email: askbammy@ dewater.net Dear Bammy, I thought my Dad and I had a pre y good thing going, but I guess he didn’t think so because he takes me to what he calls “go-to-school.” There are other dogs and humans there and a woman who talks a lot. My Dad seems to be interested in her, but I want to meet the other dogs. Anyway, my problem is that

Ask Bammy An Advice Column for Dogs by a Dog

the teacher wants Dad and me to do everything diﬀerently that we did before. Dad used to say, “Roxysit-Roxy-sit-Roxy-sit.” That makes sense to me. I have me to ﬁnish whatever I’m thinking about before I sit, but the teacher had him just say, “Roxy-sit” instead. Roxy-sit doesn’t mean anything special, so I just watch the other dogs. The teacher told him to sweep his hand up in front of my nose. A er he did that a few mes, I got bored with watching his hand go up and

down, so I sat down to be more comfortable. He said, “Good dog,” and gave me a li le piece of cheese! We moved on to “Roxycome-Roxy-come-Roxy-come.” Same thing. “Roxy-come,” just doesn’t get my a en on. I go on sniffing around wai ng for him to say something important. I’m so confused! I love it when Dad praises me, but I just can’t figure this out! Roxy Boxer Dear Roxy, I hear your confusion! You and your human had a perfectly good communica on system, but now it’s not working – for either of you! I think that might be called throwing the puppy out with the poop. When Boss really needs me to do something quickly, I know by her voice that I’d be er do it. But most of the me why can’t we just allow each other some flexibility? I wait while she finishes whatever she’s doing at the stove before she lets me out, and she could allow me to sniff out all the news on a hydrant before I come to her. Of course, I keep my eyes on her, so she knows I’m wai ng, and on a walk she watches me, so I know she’s wai ng. However, there are differences in what is urgent for each of us. I bet if you are

getting ready to jump up on a lady in a white dress, your dad would say “Roxy-sit” in a different voice than he does at go-to-school. You would know you’d better sit, or at least not jump on her, even if it’s not the right word and he doesn’t have any cheese. Likewise, when I give my sharp alarm bark and then run to Boss looking excited, she quickly obeys my command to go to the door. On the other paw, she doesn’t put her book down and run to the kitchen when I drop my empty dish on her toe! So what to do about it? I’m afraid this comes back to the ancient history of dog and human. When our ancestors, those Asian desert wolves (Carolina Dogs look somewhat like them, but Boxers?!)… When our ancestors lay down by the campfire, they had to give up some of their rights. If they didn’t cooperate, they were the first into the soup pot in mes of famine. You’re not going into the soup pot, Roxy. I bet you can get away with some dawdling. Happy sniffing, Bammy The Ask Bammy column is intended for humor and entertainment. If your dog has behavioral issues please contact a veterinarian or professional trainer.

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September 2017

Maine Dog Books! I

n the spirit of Back to School we decided to hit the books and promote reading not only for the kids but for everyone with a feature on Maine dog books and authors. The cooler temps are on their way, and as we begin to spend a bit more me indoors, why not curl up with a good book? It is also a good me to start thinking ahead for Christmas gi s!

CARYL MCINTIRE EDWARDS lives in Western Maine with her husband, Perry, and host of rescued animals, including Rosebud. She lived the experience about which she writes here and does not harbor any ill feelings towards coyotes and does not wish any harm to come to them as a result of her book. Caryl grew up on a farm in York, Maine where she learned to care about all animals. A er college she went to Connec cut to teach. She remained there twenty years ge ng her Master’s Degree in special educa on. She later moved back to Maine where she completed her teaching career.

A Princess …Finally!

To purchase a copy of Rosebud online or ﬁnd a bookstore near you go to maineauthorspublishing.com. Also available on Amazon.

This is the story of three black Labrador retrievers who helped shape and deﬁne my family’s very identity over the course of three decades. Included are pictures, stories and anecdotes—some amusing, others sad—chronicling the lives of these three exceptional pets as recalled from my memory and past personal experiences.

FLINT K-9 SEARCH AND RESCUE Haunting Maine mysteries for dog lovers from USA Today-bestselling author Jen Blood.

Available online, or order today at your favorite bookstore.

www.jenblood.com

JEN BLOOD is a freelance writer, regular blogger for Maine Crime Writers, and the USA Today-bestselling author of the Erin Solomon Mysteries, the Flint K-9 Search and Rescue Mysteries, and the rescue-friendly children's book Maya Picks a Puppy, illustrated by Thomas Block. Jen grew up in Midcoast Maine, and currently lives in Phippsburg with a mischievous cat named Magnus and a lovely bearded man named Ben. You can visit her website at www.jenblood.com to learn more.

Maggie Goes To Maine named best children’s book of 2014 by the Dog Writers Association of America. A beautifully illustrated story written in verse about Maggie’s adventures when she ﬁrst visits the family cottage in Maine. To purchase a copy online or ﬁnd a bookstore near you, go to Maggie’s web site: maggiegoestomaine.com.

A harrowing story of how an unloved, unwanted dog goes from nearly becoming a coyote meal to living in a home where she is adored.

The Boston Terrier Who Thought He Was A Loon is a wonderful Maine story about a silly puppy who befriends the loons who live with him on Thomas Pond in Raymond Maine.

CHRISTOPHER W. MORIN was born, raised, and currently resides in Portland, Maine. He received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Maine at Orono. He is a history enthusiast and has enjoyed crea ve wri ng since penning his ﬁrst short story back in second grade. “Three Labs a Life me” is appropriate for all ages and was wri en expressly for my mother. There are few things in life as special or as meaningful as dog ownership. They’re with us for such a short period of me, but what they give us in return is immeasurable—and meless—and is never forgo en.

The book can be purchased online at www.christophermorinauthor. com or on Amazon. It is also carried in several independent bookstores and gift shops throughout midcoast and southern Maine. The complete list of stores is also shown on www.christophermorinauthor.com.

The book can be purchased at a number of Maine book stores including LL Bean and at my website: www.michellepatch.com

Illustrator Thomas Block

Facebook link: www.facebook.com/ MichellePatch.author/

MICHELLE PATCH is a mom, wife and school counselor. She was born in Maine and spent summers on Thomas Pond. There she learned the importance of family, friends, music, the magic of loons and the pond itself. Michelle currently lives on Thomas Pond with her husband Tim, son Cameron, daughter Nicole and Rollie’s li le brother and Boston Terrier Gus.

BETSEY ANDERSON of Dixﬁeld, Maine, a Dana Hall School graduate, a ended Bradford Junior College and Wheelock College. She and her husband John Anderson recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary and live in Chapel Hill when they are not in Weld, Maine at the family summer co age. She was inspired to write the story for her grandchildren a er observing Maggie having many adventures with her new found freedom to explore.

Downeast Dog News

any of the books featured in this section were illustrated by Thomas Block who passed away on June 23rd so we wanted to share a little about the man who brought these stories to life. Thomas Block was an ar st, author, musician, educator and illustrator. In July of this year he was named the Mid Coast Maine Ar st of the Year. He was a man who did not just love the arts but lived them. He taught art for over 37 years inspiring students to look for art in all that they see around them, teaching about local Maine ar sts such as Andrew Wyeth and Neil Welliver.

September 2017

As an illustrator, Thomas Block would research each book and take his me understanding the characters, especially his animals. He would sculpt with his paint brush or his charcoal pen each muscle, the size of the eyes; to the correct shape of the nose for each breed of dog to be sure they would be exact. The poster painted by Thomas Block for the 2017 Books in Boothbay: Maine’s Summer Book Fair, held on Saturday, July 8th, at the Boothbay Railway Village, was his last work and was painted while he was very ill. He was a huge fan of Books in Boothbay and was an integral part of the

event for the last several years. His pain ng was unsigned, but anyone who is a fan of Thomas’s work will recognize his unique style. The proceeds of the sale of the prints will be split between the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library and the Boothbay Railway Village. For informa on regarding the purchase of addi onal prints, or prints on watercolor paper, contact slpulkkinen@aol.com. By: Kelly Brooks-Bay Maine Authors Publishing & Author of: The Rainbow Pants Sea Glass and the Lighthouse

Training Your Performance Dog Agility, Obedience, Tracking by Carolyn Fuhrer

Focus, A en on, Engagement, Coopera on Focus. A en on. Engagement. Coopera on. We hear these words all the me, but what does it all mean? How do we obtain it and how do we keep it? In the beginning stages of training, we use food or toys ﬁrst as lures and eventually as rewards to pay our dogs for performing certain tasks. This approach works very well with most dogs. Problems arise if you want to progress beyond the venues where you can use food as a lure or carry food with you and reward with it. If your performance is based upon your dog believing

that food is present and will be forthcoming for certain behaviors, you will be limited as to how much you can achieve. Dogs must choose and want to give us a en on and focus and be willing to join us and cooperate with us because it is a good deal and an enjoyable experience. Focus and attention to you can be enhanced in every

day life with your dog. Every time your dog looks at you or chooses to engage with you, acknowledge his attention and enjoy him. Work on building your relationship with your dog wanting to give you attention, not your pursuing the dog to get his attention. Consider whether your dog is stressed, anxious, or fearful of the environment or is the stress coming from you? Or perhaps some of each. Is the environment overwhelming to your dog because your dog is extremely curious and has not developed the ability to concentrate on a single task but just flits from one environmental distraction to another. Your dog’s breed and temperament will influence whether he is stressed or wary of the environment or wants to engage with every smell, sight, or noise he encounters. Some dogs are more introverts where others are extroverts. You need to understand and work with the dog you have. Some dogs need quite a bit of emotional support, whereas others are quite independent. You need to understand your dog’s emotional make up when you plan a training session.

Some mes your dog’s inability to focus has nothing to do with the dog or environment. It has to do with poor training. Poor training and lack of clarity in training will cause a dog to be confused, anxious, frustrated, or just shut down or leave. Training when done correctly should strengthen your rela onship, and training should be an enjoyable, rewarding session for both dog and handler. The dog understands you will be fair and clear in your teaching, and therefore will be willing to try and solve problems and enjoy pu ng forth effort. The handler in turn will be pa ent, fair, and suppor ve of the dog’s efforts. The more you build your rela onship, the more your dog will focus on the tasks and engage with you because work is fun for both of you! Remember, every me you set up a training session, go to a class, a show, or a trial, you set an emo onal tone for the event. If these experiences are not pleasant and confidence-building for your dog and enhancing to your overall rela onship, you will be undermining the founda on of trust you need to have with your dog. No amount of food can subs tute for poor training.

Carolyn Fuhrer has earned over 90 AKC tles with her Golden Retrievers, including 2 Champion Tracker tles. Carolyn is the owner of North Star Dog Training School in Somerville, Maine. She has been teaching people to understand their dogs for over 25 years. You can contact her with ques ons, sugges ons and ideas for her column by e-mailing carolyn@dogsatnorthstar.com.

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Downeast Dog News

Does My Dog's Breed Ma er? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Part 3 The Working Group and Mixed Breed Dogs WORDS, WOOFS & MEOWS

Tparthisseries is part three of a threeon the importance of

understanding your dog's breed, and what the dog was bred to do before selec ng a dog. That understanding is cri cal to making sure you get the perfect dog that we all seek. In July, I discussed AKC Herding and Hound groups, and in August, l looked at the NonSpor ng, Spor ng, Terrier, and Toy groups. This month I will address the AKC Working Group and Mixed Breed dogs. Working Group â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dogs of the Working Group were bred to perform such jobs as guarding property, pulling sleds and performing water rescues. They have been invaluable assets to man throughout the ages. â&#x20AC;ŚTheir considerable dimensions and strength alone, however, make many working dogs unsuitable as pets for average families. And again, by virtue of their size alone, these dogs must be properly trained. 1â&#x20AC;? FMI - h p://bit.ly/ ChoosingADogTrainer

If you look at the top 10 list for dogs in the U.S., you will ďŹ nd these breeds from the Working group; Ro weiler (#8) and Boxer (#10). Other popular breeds in this group include the Siberian Husky (#12), Great Dane (#14), Doberman Pinscher (#15), Bernese Mountain Dog (#27),Newfoundland (#35), and others2. Like the Non-Sporting group, the breeds in the Working group are so diverse that discussing them as a group is not helpful. For that reason, I recommend that anyone considering a dog from this group talk to breeders as well as veterinarians, trainers, kennel and daycare owners about the particular breeds that interest you. Always make sure you seek advice from those with no financial gain in the breed that you choose. FMI â&#x20AC;&#x201C; http://bit.ly/ FindingTheRightDogForYou

by Don Hanson ACCBC, BFRAP, CDBC, CPDT-KA

an excellent choice if your lifestyle is compa ble with what they need to thrive. If you have other dogs in your life, you need to consider the diďŹ&#x20AC;erence in size between the dogs. The play between a large dog from the Working group and a toy breed will need to be carefully supervised. FMI - h p://bit.ly/ ChoosingADogTrainer

The dogs in the Working group were bred for a wide variety of purposes. The livestock guarding dogs were historically bred in the ďŹ elds with the animals that they are supposed to protect. They are independent and naturally suspicious of all but the ďŹ&#x201A;ock they guard and a few people. The Northern breeds in this group, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and Samoyed love the cold and snow and ďŹ nd the heat uncomfortable. Other factors to consider with the breeds in the Working group are their size and strength. Can you safely handle a dog this big? Are you physically able or do you have a plan to li them and carry them should the need arise? Are you commi ed to training the dog? A dog from the working group can be

We care for many dogs in the Working Group, primarily Boxers, Great Danes, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Mas ďŹ&#x20AC;s. They all do well, and we enjoy seeing them; however, they each have very individual personali es, so it is important that we take the me to get to know them well. The most important considera on when ge ng a dog is temperament and personality. While both vary in any breed, when choosing a pure-bred puppy or dog, you can look to the breed for a highly probable predictor of what you will get. The same cannot be said of mixed breeds. Mixed Breeds Fi y-percent of the dogs in the US are mixed breeds. I know from personal experience, with my own mixed breeds as well as the many that we care for at Green Acres, that mixed breeds can be marvelous companions. However, when ge ng a mixed breed, it can be problema c because you do not always know what you are ge ng. Knowing what breeds make up your mixed breed is diďŹ&#x192;cult at best

unless you make use of a reliable DNA test. Unless your mixed breed is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;designer breedâ&#x20AC;? like one of the many varie es of Doodles, there was probably no witness to the breeding. That means that your mixed breed was labeled as being a â&#x20AC;&#x153;something/somethingâ&#x20AC;? by a person, based solely on their appearance or physical traits. Unfortunately, that is not a very accurate way to determine a mix of breeds. In 2012, a study3, 4 was ini ated to â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śdetermine the accuracy of visual breed iden ďŹ ca on compared to DNA breed proďŹ les.â&#x20AC;? The study looked at 100 shelter dogs. Photos of the dogs were reviewed by â&#x20AC;&#x153;Self-iden ďŹ ed â&#x20AC;&#x153;dogexperts,â&#x20AC;? including breeders, exhibitors, trainers, groomers, behaviorists, rescuers, shelter staďŹ&#x20AC;, veterinarians, and veterinary techniciansâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;? Their iden ďŹ ca on of the breed mix of each dog in the photo was compared to a DNA test of that dog. The results indicated â&#x20AC;&#x153;Respondents correctly iden ďŹ ed a prominent breed an average of 27% of the me. Each of the dogs had an average of 53 diďŹ&#x20AC;erent predominant breeds selected. No one correctly iden ďŹ ed a breed for 6% of the dogs, and 22% of the dogs had the correct breed chosen less than 1% of the me. Only 15% of the dogs were correctly iden ďŹ ed more than 70% of the me. These results indicate

See HANSON on page 12

Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (greenacreskennel.com) in Bangor. He is a Bach Founda on Registered Animal Prac oner (BFRAP), Cer ďŹ ed Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Associate Cer ďŹ ed Cat Behavior Consultant (ACCBC) and a Cer ďŹ ed Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). He produces and co- hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show heard on The Pulse AM620 WZON and streamed at h p://www.wzonradio.com/ every Saturday at 9 AM. A list of upcoming shows and podcasts of past shows can be found at www.woofmeowshow.com. Don also writes about pets at his blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com.

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September 2017

Rescue

of the

Month

LITTLE PAWS BIG HEARTS PEKINGESE RESCUE Saving "Pekes" from High-Kill Shelters By Susan Spisak

Li le Paws Big Hearts Pekingese Rescue was born out of two women’s affec on for Pekes—as well as their grief and devasta on a er they each lost one of their own. Friends Susan Gayle of Portland, Maine and Chris e Gourdoux of Vansant, Virginia met on a breed website--they were sharing not only their heartache but their love of this regal breed. In 2011, they decided to band together and embark on this rescue journey. Susan, a vet tech and the non-profit’s Northeast Coordinator, admi ed that they didn’t know what they were doing ini ally, yet they bolstered each other with this thought: “We can do this.” Their goal was, and s ll is, to make a difference by saving Pekingese dogs from high kill shelters around the country. The dogs are fostered near the shelter they’re pulled from, and they a empt to find an adop ve home in that area, if possible. They rely on their network of na onal fosters, volunteer transporters, local volunteers, and rescue friends. “We’re willing to do everything and anything to help these animals out,” said Susan. Since the onset, they’ve rescued 130 Pekes, including mixes thereof and a few random breeds (Susan said they won’t turn a needy dog away). At least half of those dogs are in new homes in the Maine area, and Susan and Chris e (who is the Southeast Coordinator) worked relessly to find wonderful adopters around the country for the rest.

FENWAY Senior, Schnauzer She is good with respec ul kids. She is good with other dogs but can be a li le shy and nervous with big dogs---but she does well with slow introduc on. This super sweet girl loves to go for walks. She wears a so harness to protect her trachea. Enjoys going for car rides. Fenway knows basic obedience training and is fully housetraining. Her foster mom says that she is prac cally a perfect li le lady! Please email LPBHPR@aol.com for an adop on applica on--and check our website regularly for other rescued dogs.

Susan’s favorite rescue story is one of their first. There was a Peke in dire need of their help in an Illinois shelter—he had a ruptured eye among other issues. One of her local volunteers pulled the dog they named Frankie and had him ve ed (which included his eye removal). Once he was healthy enough to travel, Susan and her husband put some mileage on her li le yellow VW Beetle to meet the transporter, who also brought along an owner relinquished dog named Mushu. While she found a home for Mushu, she eventually decided to keep Frankie (she fell for him hook, line and sinker). When glaucoma stole the sight in his other eye, the smart guy adapted and figured out how to navigate. He passed away in 2016, and she said her heart broke. “I will never forget this brave boy who taught me so much about love, faith, bravery, and dignity.” This rescue relies on dona ons as well as the profits from Susan’s handmade dog bandanas that are available in a variety of sizes and pa erns. To see them, visit h p://gladwags.wixsite.com/ bandanas/shop. And if you are interested in fostering for or adop ng from this rescue, visit h p://li lepawsbigheartspekerescue.webs.com/ for details. Not sure what a Peke is like? They’re affec onate and loyal to their master. As far as exercise, only a short walk or two a day with addi onal indoor play me is needed. They’re small—the average weight is 14 lbs. and their life expectancy is 14 to 16 years of age. They’re not recommended for a family with young children.