2021 December Downeast Dog News by Jennifer Rich / Wendi Smith

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Volume 16 • Issue 12 • DECEMBER 2021

Holiday Movies Have Gone to the Dogs By Susan Spisak

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is the season! Get into the spirit by watching holiday movies with your buds like we do. We light the ﬁre, pop popcorn, and turn on our favorites guaranteed to make us smile. Teddy and Banx snuggle with us and are especially delighted if they hear barking or see fourleggeds prancing across the screen. Here are some movies we like – you may enjoy them, too. The zany Christmas Vacation starts our seasonal binge-watching. Clark Griswold wants things perfect for his family and visiting relatives. Everything goes wrong, especially when his uninvited Cousin Eddie shows up with his wife, kids, and Rott weiler, Snot. The Rottie creates havoc by drinking the Christmas tree water, and the pine eventually goes up in smoke. Snot gets into the trash and hacks up a bone. He

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INSIDE 6 2 Hot Dog News

Basic Training Tips

PIPER (PHOTO COURTESY OF HEIDI NEAL, LOYAL BISCUIT CO.)

8 &9

Happy Pawlidays!

12-13 Dogs for Adoption

DOWNEASTDOGNEWS.COM

Calendar of Events

Hot Dog News R

Western Maine Great Pyrenees Rescue

obin Wilkey of North New Portland, Maine has started a new rescue for Great Pyrenees. Western Maine Great Pyrenees Rescue is a new foster-based rescue formed with the intention of finding quality homes for this wonderful breed. WMGPR will rehome Pyrs in need from anywhere but will focus on bringing dogs north from Mississippi. WMGPR is licensed by the State of Maine and will adopt to approved homes in Maine and NH. They plan to remain small in the numbers of dogs they have at any one time. This will allow each Pyr to have individual attention in a home/farm ARTEMIS, FIRST DOG TO BE setting with the time and effort REHOMED BY WMGPR put into them to develop the skills the dog needs to have a successful adoption, and hopefully, a forever home. Robin has been rehoming ex racehorses for years, her first Pyrenees was from MS. She has fostered dogs, and some were Pyrenees. She loves the independent nature of the breed. Since 2016 she was a parttime employee of a shelter and was most recently a transport person, picking up dogs when they arrive in Maine. To learn more or to view dogs available for adoption you may go to the Western Maine Great Pyrenees Rescue Facebook page. If you are interested in adopting, you will be required to complete an application.

Animal Refuge League Shelter Sleep-In T

he ARLGP held its third annual Shelter SleepIn on Friday, November 12th. This unique event features 21 “contestants” who attempt to outfundraise each other. To celebrate their hard work, the event concludes with a night sleeping at the shelter. Each contestant bunks with an adoptable cat, dog or critter. They also decorate their space with a theme! This year’s theme winner was Colleen Young from The Fish & Bone pet supply store with her space travel theme. This year’s event broke ARLGP’s fundraising records, raising over $150K to support their mission. arlgp.org

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Downeast Dog News

Downeast Dog News PUBLISHER Jenn Rich COPY EDITOR Belinda Carter CONTRIBUTORS Susan Spisak Diana Logan Sara Moore Judith Herman Carolyn Fuhrer Don Hanson Gail Mason GRAPHIC DESIGN NVDesigns • Nicole Vanorse ADVERTISING Jenn Rich 207-706-6765 jenn@downeastdognews.com

PRESIDENT Wendi Smith PARENT & PUBLISHING COMPANY Maine Pet News LLC

From the Publisher Dear Dog News Readers, It’s still the middle of November as I am writing this and so far, I can look out my window and see green grass. I still have ﬂowers that haven’t given up outside and last weekend I picked one last piece of broccoli from the garden and fed it to Pepper. It’s crazy! Personally, I am not upset to postpone the snow, but it always makes you wonder what is in store for this winter season. This past weekend we went for a couple of walks in Camden. The weather on Saturday was so nice! We have a 3-mile loop that we like to do in the shoulder seasons. As I have mentioned, Pepper is fearful of other dogs and is reactive towards them when walking on her leash. We have started some counter conditioning. I received instructions from Sara Sokol of Mr. Dog Training. I bring a bag of sliced up hotdogs with us and when we see dogs, I start feeding them to her before she reacts. She could care less about the dogs. She thinks beef hotdogs are fabulous! She doesn’t get anything like this normally. I highly recommend getting some advice from a trainer if you also struggle with your dog on walks. There are more details involved than what I am mentioning here. When you try it and it works, it relieves so much anxiety! I am sad to report that our family recently had a loss of one of our fur babies. My brother and his girlfriend had adopted an older lab named Cooper and it was time for him to join our other pets at the Rainbow Bridge. Cooper was a sweet a boy and they gave him the best life for his remaining years. We are all very sad but were blessed for our time with him. We love you Mr. Cooper! "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." (From a headstone in Ireland – Source: https://www.mygriefassist.com.au/) We wish you a December full of doggie cuddles and happy holiday season! All the best, Jenn and Pepper

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COOPER

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Cooper was the bestest boy. He was a very happy dog who at 12 years old still had the face and energy of a puppy. He loved to go on walks and sniff all around, especially at the park. He enjoyed going to camp and taking a dip in the lake. He loved to snuggle, give kisses, and play with toys, especially his Fluff-N’-Tuff caterpillar that would make his doggie brother Dexter very jealous. Meal time was his favorite time of the day, especially when he would get his favorite treats. Cooper especially loved his No-Hides and bully sticks that he would get from Loyal Biscuit Co. in Bath. He loved to visit his Grandma, Auntie Jenn and Mandi, and doggie cousins Pepper and Phoebe. This special boy crossed the rainbow bridge on November 2nd of this year. We will forever cherish the time we had with this sweet boy. Thank you Mr. Cooper for letting us be your humans.

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DECEMBER 2021

Table of Contents Hot Dog News ...................... 2 Furry Words ......................... 4 Ask the Vet ............................ 4 Basic Training Tips ................ 6 Vestibular Disease in Dogs ..... 7 Happy Pawlidays ................. 8, 9 Performance Dog Training ... 10 Words, Woofs & Meows ...... 11 Dogs for Adoption ...........12-13 Calendar .............................. 14 Business Directory .............. 15

Is it really December? We’re really

about to close out another year? I will say I’m ready to say goodbye to 2021 and am looking forward to playing in the snow with my dog Syd and snuggling by the woodstove as we enter the colder winter months. This year has had so many twists and turns that I admit I’m still spinning. That being said, I find such joy in helping you communicate with your dogs that ending the year with you isn’t so bad. I put out the call for questions and in minutes I was overwhelmed. Here are the lucky ones who were quick to respond. Just a reminder, psychic readings are not a replacement for licensed medical care. Please work with your veterinarian or trainer and use the psychic insights as a complementary perspective. Kristi M. asked about Cooper, her beagle who is in heaven. She wanted to know if he’s ok and if he knows how much they miss him. Oh my goodness, I love this dog! He was in this life to have his own needs met, and he put himself first. It feels like that was a lesson you also needed to learn, so when he’d demand to eat and your stomach was growling, you’d joke that it would be nice to be him. Well, he’s asking you to step up and ASK for your needs are being met! He’s kind of laughing as he says it, too! He knows how much you missed him because you were able to talk to him out loud instead of the person you may have wanted to say something to. He’s totally fine with that, but your voice works, he says, and he thinks you should use it. Wow- he’s a little pushy, but I have a feeling it’s a message you’re ready to hear! Shannon C. asked about her mixed breed named Rocky. “We’d love to hear anything he has to say!” I can tell you he has A LOT to say! He is really,

Holiday Stress. Oh My! Q. This is the ﬁrst holiday

season with friends and family. Our Covid puppy, who is now a teenager, hasn’t been around crowds. What can I do to make this a good experience?

Furry Words by Sara Moore www.enlightenedhorizons.com

really silly and overly dramatic. If he overhears you talking about how much you loved someone’s lipstick, he’s going to assume you’re talking about his luscious lips and try to get some red on them somehow, then prance around trying to be unpretentious just so you can ohhh and ahhhh over him! I’m laughing so hard trying to type this! If you say you loved his bed-head hair, he’ll groom it before walking by, so you can see JUST how spectacular it is. He is a diva. Not a Mariah Carey diva, but a RuPaul kind of diva. He’s FANCY. I’m sorry I keep typing in capital letters, but that’s how he talks! You’re exceptionally good owners for him because you like having lazy mornings on your days oﬀ and he needs his beauty rest. I hope I get to meet Rocky in person some day because he’s a hoot! Shayne G. asked about a dog named Blaire that she adopted a month after losing her dog Luke. She

Ask the Vet… by Dr. Judith Herman

Not only are the pet parents going through the stress of entertaining and family gatherings so are our dogs. Doesn’t matter if Buster is a new member of the family or has been there for a few years. Gatherings, when not part of a pet's lifestyle, can be a stressful time. The ﬁrst thing you want to do is assess how your pup handles a change in routine. Another is to know what behavior skills he has or doesn’t have. If he is rusty or just clueless because he was never taught these skills, it is important to know. How does he react to diﬀerent stressors, such as crowds and novel environments? The third is to set up rules for the guests as well as for the dog before any event happens. Look at your best friend and write down what makes him happy, fearful, concerned, and so on. Rate the level from 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. If he has been exposed to crowds like

at a baseball game, how does he act? Happy, worried, doesn’t care? How is he with running children from toddlers on up? Does he act diﬀerently out and about versus at home? Is he okay in a boisterous, chaotic environment, or does he prefer quiet times at home? Now look at the holiday events you are planning this season. Will it be low stress of close friends and family? Or is this the big blow out you have been dying to have? Who is going to be there, and how do they normally act? Let’s put the two together. Buster is great with crowds, noise, and chaos.

asked what she loves most about her life with them and did she ever have a family. No, I don’t think she ever had a family. She feels like the kind of dog that is quiet enough in a pet store to not attract any attention, cute enough to bring people in but not special enough for them to adopt her. She was kind of the set stage in a play, but she knew she was always going to be a bridesmaid and never a bride. You can just have actors on stage, but without the decorations, it doesn’t draw you in. When I ask her what she loves the most, it’s the gentleness you both show her. You didn’t care who she was before you or what you were told. You trusted your heart, and it paid oﬀ for all of you and everyone who has met her through you. Blaire represents all of us who don’t take the time to get to know someone, either because we’re busy, distracted, hurt, broken, or simply overwhelmed. If we did, we would know that each of us has a beautiful soul that is worthy of being loved. And when you adopted her, you knew that you would love her, and even if she only showed you a fraction of that love in return, it was still worth the investment. She is eternally grateful to you and Jon. Full disclosure: I knew that they adopted Blaire after reading on Facebook how she had been in a shelter for one year, and she started deteriorating before being in foster care for an additional four years. They were told she could have some aggression, but the minute they got her in the truck, she melted and has been the sweetest, most grateful and gentle girl ever. Maybe if we could apply the same approach to people, we could make this world a friendlier place. Megan M. asked if I got anything about her Golden Retriever Duke who is on the other side. Oh my goodness,

he is such a gentle man! He is so sorry he had to leave you, and he knew this would be the greatest pain you’ve endured yet, but it’s also tempered by a giant amount of love, and he hopes that eases some of the pain. He also said, “Time heals all wounds” which is true but still hard for those of us who remain here after they cross. He said that he can still hear you and watches you sleep, just like you did for him towards the end. You are very loved. Karen C. asked about Ayla, a Yorkshire Terrier, who passed in 2020. She is open to whatever she has to say. The minute I read this question my lower abdomen has some funky feeling, kind of crampy, and I’m praying it doesn’t get worse. I think Ayla’s digestion time was directly connected to her mood and nerves, and you could look at her and know exactly how she was really feeling. Even if she pretended she was great, her face told the entire truth. That being said, you were so gentle with her and she loved it! She could be vulnerable, and it was all right. She could pretend to be fierce, and you encouraged her. She kind of got to try on all ways of approaching life, and you allowed her to do that safely and confidently. She also wants to say you went over the top (in a good way) in how you’ve honored her. She says thank you for that. It’s so fascinating to me that today’s readings have much deeper messages for the owners than other editions! Our animals come here to support us and teach us powerful life lessons, so please be open to what they have to say. I am available for phone readings and will be offering workshops soon! FMI, go to www. enlightenedhorizons.com and follow us on Facebook at Sara Moore Enlightened Horizons.

He is bomb proof. Here you have more ﬂexibility on how to help him. Even the most solid dogs need a safety net in social events. Be sure to give him a place to relax. If you notice he is getting revved up or starting to be a little naughty, it is time to give him a break. The place should be away from the action. If he loves his crate, leave the door open, so he can go in. If he is too involved in the festivities, you may need to help him into the crate for a time out with the door closed. Give him a tasty frozen Kong or another long-lasting treat. If he doesn’t have a crate but has a bed, do the same as if it were a crate: a quiet place and a long favorite treat to keep him happy. No one is to go near him while he is taking a break. What to do with the pup who with the ﬁrst guest is submissively peeing, cowering, barking, or just moving around with his ears back and a worried look in his eyes. Start with him in his crate or on his bed when people arrive. If that isn’t a skill he has, ask your guests not to look at him or approach him, no matter how much “dogs love them”. If that isn’t working, put him on a leash away from the door and have someone not greeting guests interact with him. You can have the designated person take him out of the room and play with him somewhere else, so he doesn’t

see what is upsetting to him. Once everyone is in and settled, try to let Buster interact on his terms with the guests. Remember the rules; he gets to approach them not the other way around. If this is still too much, set him up in a spare room with food, water, favorite toys, and a frozen Kong or other special treat until the guests are gone. If your pup just can’t handle social interaction, schedule to board him at a local kennel, but make reservations soon because they book up fast. Hopefully, you have spent time training your dog to be a good citizen by learning simple tricks like sit, down, stay, and go to your mat. If you haven’t, you can make it a game and start now. Dogs learn fast, but don’t expect the same response when alone with you in the kitchen versus a social event. That is too much of a leap. These skills are important to give Buster conﬁdence in what to do in a stressful situation. He looks to you for guidance. Left to his own devices, he may make bad choices. Wishing you and our pup a safe and happy holiday season. Judith K. Herman, DVM, CVH Animal Wellness Center Augusta, Maine www.mainehomeopahticvet.com

Downeast Dog News

HOLIDAY

from page 1

chases a squirrel who, of course, has gotten into the Griswold house, leaving it in shambles. There’s much more comical drama but by story’send everyone’s festive, and Clark basks in the moonlight with Snot. The 2005 remake of The 12 Dogs of Christmas was shot mostly in Bethel and Portland, Maine and Conway, New Hampshire. (Tidbit: Filmed in May, snow was trucked in for authenticity.) The Depressionera story is about 12-year-old Emma O’Connor who lives with her aunt in a small town. She ﬁnds herself embroiled in a battle with the mayor and dog catcher who’ve banned dogs. Attempting to overturn the no-dog law, she garners the help of an area sanctuary owner. Then she brings together classmates, adults, and countless canines for a holiday pageant. It’s cute, heartwarming, and as the tagline says, “You’ll cheer for the underdog.” A Christmas Story, set in circa 1940’s in the Midwest, is another fav. Young Ralphie Parker is the star of this movie – he dreams of receiving a Red Ryder BB gun. Part of the fun involves his neighbors’ Hounds who terrorize the boy’s “Old Man.” Mr. Parker hates them so much (it’s believed there’s 785 of them), declaring them “smelly buggers.” So many great scenes, especially when the Hounds sneak into their house while the turkey is resting (unattended) in the kitchen. The “Turkey Thieves” eat the bird, but Ralphie’s crusty dad comes through. “Let’s get our coats. We are going out to eat.” They end up in a Chinese restaurant and have a hilarious time. Rom-com You’ve Got Mail is not a typical seasonal movie. That said, it’s based on The Shop Around the Corner which has a Christmas backdrop, so this remake includes a smattering of holiday settings. Book superstore entrepreneur, Joe Fox, meets independent, small bookshop owner, Kathleen Kelly, via the Internet. Joe’s Golden Retriever, Brinkley, is his partner in crime, especially while he’s email “wooing.” He’s often lying nearby or is “paws up” on Joe’s desk, as if prooﬁng his written words. Joe and Kathleen eventually meet in person, and their dilemma unfolds as his superstore is winning over her

customers. A Christmas Wedding Tail is a chick ﬂick, a canine tale, a family story. It’s set in the picturesque California wine country. The movie opens as a couple, with young children and a dog by each of their sides, are ready to wed. “This wasn’t just any Christmas,” narrates Golden Retriever, Rusty. To tell their story properly, he must go back to the beginning, to an afternoon in a dog park with his owner, Susan. She meets Jake there (apparently there are no last names in this movie), a local vintner who has a Standard Poodle named Cheri. The pooches grow close and are eager for their families to merge. Things unfold as expected. Yes, this is a sappy movie, but it’s easy viewing and family- and dog-friendly. The 1965 animated TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas is as classic as it gets. It was the ﬁrst of many specials based on the cartoon strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. It’s great for the family with messages on baby Jesus, angels, peace, and goodwill. A depressed Charlie Brown, disappointed with holiday commercialism, visits Lucy’s psychiatric stand for advice. She suggests he direct the school play to brighten his outlook, and he takes it on. For the stage centerpiece, he decides on a sparse, tiny tree and is mocked by his peers for it. As he trudges home, he’s disgusted to see his own Beagle, Snoopy, has joined in on the glitz by decorating and lighting up his doghouse. Eventually, the gang realizes they were tough on Charlie, and with the gift of Linus’ blanket for love, they rally to make the little tree a decorated treasure. Heidi Vanorse Neal, co-owner of the award-winning pet supply boutiques, the Loyal Biscuit Co. with her husband Joel Neal, said they like How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The animated TV version, based on Dr. Seuss’ book of the same name, came out in 1966. It’s about a green Grinch who lives in a lair above Whoville with his dog, Max. Grouchy and small-hearted Grinch tries to ruin the Whos of Whoville’s Christmas. The adorable little Cindy-Lou Who takes it upon herself to teach the meanspirited Grinch what the holiday’s all

KEVIN (PHOTO COURTESY OF HEIDI NEAL, LOYAL BISCUIT CO.)

about. In 2000, a live action adaption was released with Jim Carrey as the diabolical Grinch, and the role of Max was shared by six mixed-breed rescues. (The Neal’s also recommend the Disney film The Search for Santa Paws.) Heidi said treats that your pupper will beg for during the movies are these homemade Gingerbread Biscuits. The dog-friendly recipe will be included in Loyal Biscuit’s soonto-be-published cookbook. (Watch for it at loyalbiscuit.com/.) • 4 cups all-purpose flour and 2 cups whole wheat flour • 3 tsp. ground ginger, 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ground cloves

Mix dry ingredients, set aside. Then in another bowl, mix wet ingredients, below. • 3/4 cup molasses, 1 cup + 2 tbsp. water, 1/2 cup coconut oil (softened) Combine wet with dry, expect dough to be stiﬀ. On a lightly ﬂoured surface, roll out to 1/4" thickness. Cut with cookie cutter and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in pre-heated 325* oven for 25-30 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Store in airtight container. Notes: Use any leftover scraps of dough to make free-form bite-size biscuits. Use plain yogurt or cream cheese to frost and decorate.

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DECEMBER 2021

What's in Your Wallet?

It Pays to be Generous

oes your dog training wallet contain the right kind of Canine Cash? Does it have sufficient purchase power to turn your dog's head? Does she light up with excitement when you invite her to join you for training games? Does she say, “wow!”? Appropriate Canine Cash can transform ho-hum training into joyful, highly efficient, effective, and engaging sessions. But what is “appropriate”? “Meh” vs. “Wow!” I was walking Skipper in Freeport the other day and a couple came along with their lovely young foster dog. The man asked if he could offer Skipper a treat and I said yes. He reached into his pocket and presented him with a teeny, tiny, pale, dry, milk bone - his treat of choice (“his” refers to the man). Skipper took it politely but only ate half of it; the other half was unceremoniously ejected onto the ground and no attempt was made to retrieve it. He effectively said, “meh” to the man’s "favorite" dog treats. The foster dog, meanwhile, was pulling on leash, focused on the activities around him despite the fact

Basic Training Tips by Diana Logan

that his human had a pocketful of the equivalent of unsalted Saltines. Slightly ﬂavored pieces of cardboard. Anemic dry nuggets of boringness. Would you go out to eat at a fancy restaurant and order a bowl of cereal? Get excited about playing

a game that bores you to tears? Probably not. Likewise, your dog won’t be excited about learning if the rewards don’t motivate her in the environment in which you are working. What we assume should be sufficient payment isn’t necessarily how the dog feels, and our dogs are unapologetically honest about their feelings. While boring nuggets of dry tasteless cardboard might excite your dog at home (are you sure about that?), they are unlikely to be valuable in other situations. I gave the man a small handful of treats I had in my treat bag and his dog instantly erupted into a jumping ball of enthusiasm. The difference could not have been more striking. The dog went from viewing his humans as annoying weights at the other end of his leash to being relevant creatures he wanted to interact with. “I want that! I want that!!” he clearly said. How will you know when your dog says, "wow?" If you are offering treats, she will quickly eat a treat and then immediately turn back to you as if to ask, "how can I get more of THAT?" If it’s a toy or a game, she will orient towards it, her ears will be perked, body activated, attention focused on what she wants. Perceptions The man liked the milk bones because he could put many of them

in his pocket. They were small, dry, easy to handle and to dispense, but he was effectively trying to pay for real services with Monopoly money. We Get what we Pay For A simple way to describe how we invest in behavior is that we grant the dog a reward for behaviors we want and we withhold payment for behaviors we don’t want. The more times we pay for specific behaviors, the more likely we will get them in the future. Does it always have to be Food? Heck, no! We can use anything our pup values as reward for a specific behavior as long as we control the timing of it. The reward must come within two seconds of the behavior to be effective. It can consist of initiating a game of tug, tossing a toy, attention, food... whatever your pup loves! But food.... our pups need food to survive so it tends to be a good way to get many repetitions in, and a pup needs lots of repetitions in order for a behavior to start to gel. It Pays to be Generous Now, check your wallets and make sure you have “Wow!” rewards. If you want ideas for treats, please visit my website and search for "treats and rewards." You'll find a list of recommended store-bought treats and even some recipes for making some at home. Happy Training and Bon Appetit!

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

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Downeast Dog News

VESTIBULAR DISEASE IN DOGS “DOC, WHY IS MY DOG SO DIZZY’?

Dr. Gail Mason, DVM, MA, DACVIM Staﬀ Internist, Portland Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Care

The vestibular system is comprised

of neurological components responsible for perceiving one’s body orientation relative to Earth. In simplest form, it is the electronic system which maintains balance, informs your brain, eyes, and extremities how they should move according to your position in space. The vestibular system has central components located within the brain, as well as peripheral components which are in the inner and middle ear canal. Vestibular disease is defined as sudden non-progressive disturbances of balance. It is most common in older dogs and more common in medium to large breeds. Most dogs present with sudden loss of balance, disorientation, head tilt, and irregular rapid eye movements called nystagmus. Many dogs will be reluctant or unable to stand (referred to as “ataxia”) and will lean or fall to a preferred side. Nausea, drooling, and vomiting are not uncommon. The symptoms are so dramatic and sudden that many owners believe that their pet has had a stroke. The term “stroke”, however, refers to a vascular accident, which is an extremely uncommon event in canines. What Causes Vestibular Disease? By far, the most common type of these symptoms in dogs is referred to as “old dog vestibular syndrome,” or ODVS when the exact cause is

OXFORD HILLS

idiopathic or “unknown”. It may result from abnormal flow of fluid within the semicircular canals of the inner ear. The symptoms can happen extremely rapidly, even over several minutes, and can cause severe incapacitation. However, this syndrome tends to be self-resolving with improvement beginning within 72 hours. Most affected dogs will be clinically normal within 1 to 2 weeks after onset. Occasionally, the head tilt will persist but does not negatively impact the animal. Inner & Middle Ear Inflammation or Infection As mentioned, the vestibular apparatus also involves structures within the middle and inner ear. Damage to these structures by inflammation, infection, or trauma can also cause signs of vestibular disease. Less commonly, certain systemic drugs or topically applied ear medications can cause these symptoms. In the latter case, the risk is higher in patients who have ruptured eardrums which allows easy access of medications to the middle and inner ear structures. Hypertension In general, hypertension as a primary disease would be a very uncommon cause of vestibular signs in dogs. There is a rare tumor of the adrenal gland, called a pheochromocytoma, which can produce extremely high systemic blood pressures to the point where a vascular accident occurs within the

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vestibular system. How is Vestibular Syndrome Diagnosed? The first step in making an accurate diagnosis of ODVS is to give your veterinarian an accurate medical history, including past and present health issues. Typical history will include a sudden onset of imbalance, disorientation, a head tilt, and irregular eye movements. Many patients are unable to stand and will fall to one side. While this is alarming to watch, remember that in most cases it is benign and reversible. The next step in the process is a thorough physical examination. The veterinarian will attempt to determine if there has been any trauma or any history of ear infections (especially those that have been chronic). The exam will often include a thorough inspection of the ear canals. Lastly, a neurologic examination helps determine the cause of the vestibular signs. The veterinarian assesses the overall mental status of the patient, the direction of the rapid eye movements (usually horizontal or rotary, with the fast movement away from the most affected side), the direction of the head tilt (usually towards the more severely affected side), and whether there appears to be deficits of any other neurologic functions. In most cases, the cause can be sourced to either “central” (within the brain) or “peripheral” (nerves near the inner/middle ear apparatus). At this point, a preliminary diagnosis of ODVS may be given at this point. If this diagnosis is correct, then the patient

should be given “tincture of time” to recover. If your veterinarian has concerns that the cause may be central in origin or from a more concerning cause, then additional diagnostics may be requested. A database consisting of a CBC or blood count, plus a chemistry panel to determine organ function can be helpful in eliminating other serious illnesses. In certain patients, blood pressure measurements and/ or radiographs may be indicated. If the dog’s symptoms do not improve, and / or worsen, or become recurrent, then more sophisticated diagnostic Imaging such as a CT scan or MRI would be appropriate. Treatment For dogs that have vestibular symptoms secondary to disease of the ear canal, the recommended approach may include examination of the ear canal under anesthesia, X-rays of the skull and ear (bulla), as well as culture and biopsy of the affected area. Deep infections of the inner ear can be difficult to eradicate and may require a surgical procedure called a bulla osteotomy for drainage. For dogs that are severely affected or that may have additional health issues, temporary hospitalization and supportive care may be helpful. This would generally be in the form of fluid therapy to maintain hydration and anti-nausea drugs to reduce vomiting and dizziness. Fortunately for you and your best canine friend, most vestibular patients will recover fully on their own.

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Happy Pawlidays! Happy Pawlidays from Downeast Dog News! Do you have pets or pet owners on your holiday shopping list? Looking to getaway with the family including the dog? This section has all that and more. Be sure and check the rest of the paper as well and please consider our advertisers when making your holiday plans. See page 15 for donation ideas for local rescues.

Gift ideas: • Fun leashes, collars & harnesses • Treats & chew toys • Grooming tools • Bandanas, bowties, accessories • Health & wellness gifts • Books • Toys • Portraits or gift certificates for portrait sessions • Gift certificates for services – training, grooming, daycare • Gift certificate to a local pet store

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DECEMBER 2021

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

How Good a Trainer Are You?

ometimes it is good to take a step back and look at our role in the training process. It is important to remember that when you are training your dog in a performance sport, your dog is totally dependent, your dog doesn't know what you are trying to teach. The dog has no idea of the rules or how any

of the necessary skills need to be performed. Your dog is a reﬂection of you and your training. In the beginning of teaching a skill, your dog should be open and trusting and wanting to engage with you. If not, you need to abandon

your training plans and go back and work on creating a dog that wants to engage in learning. A defensive dog is not open to learning. To start, you must have a dog who wants to engage and who is not afraid to try a behavior to see if it works. Your dog should be confident that the right behavior will be praised and rewarded and the wrong behavior will either not be rewarded (try again) or guided into what is acceptable and then released. Your dog should understand that effort in the right direction will be supported and may be rewarded. This encourages a dog to work and try to solve problems. Handlers who insist on the finished product without rewarding effort will soon lose the dog’s trust. You, as a trainer, need to have a clear idea of what you are trying to teach and what are the progressive steps leading up to the skill you wish the dog to learn. As soon as you see confusion, you must be careful not to put too much pressure on the dog. When confused, some dogs will act out and bark, get the zoomies, or offer other known behaviors. Others

will shut down and do nothing and others will try to leave. A good trainer should recognize confusion and help the dog be right, then praise and release, reward and play. Rethink what you were asking for and make the problem a little easier so the dog can be successful. When successful, praise, reward, release, and play and end on this success. The dog always needs to feel that it can trust you to make the outcome positive. All training sessions should begin and end with play, and you should intersperse play throughout the session. Work should be fun, and problems should be fun to solve. If you don’t have a dog who willingly wants to play with you, it is time you spend some time enhancing that part of your relationship. Play should be fun for both of you and something the dog wants to initiate. Play is a great reward for work. Learning how to successfully play with your dog will teach you a great deal about your dog and yourself. A good trainer can always keep the dog’s interest without food. Try playing – it works!

Carolyn Fuhrer has earned over 125 AKC titles with her Golden Retrievers, including 2 Champion Tracker titles. She has recently become an AKC Tracking Judge. Carolyn is the owner of North Star Dog Training School in Somerville, Maine. She has been teaching people to understand their dogs for over 30 years. You can contact her with questions, suggestions and ideas for her column by e-mailing carolyn@dogsatnorthstar.com.

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Downeast Dog News

Knowledge to Enrich the Life of You and Your Dog The Best Dog Books of 2021 It's the holiday season and a

time when we often think about giving gifts to others. The greatest gift my parents gave me was a love of reading and a thirst for knowledge. It was a gift given out of love, knowing that it had the potential to beneﬁt not only me but those around me. I believe it was the greatest gift I have ever received. It has nurtured my lifelong love of learning, a character trait essential for any professional. What we have learned about dogs and cats in the last 30 years is amazing, and if you haven't been keeping up, you are out of date as much of what we thought we knew has been proven incomplete or wrong. As you may know, I often write about my favorite dog book of the year in December. This year I am highlighting two books whose content can help enrich the lives of you and your dog. Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It by Marge Rogers and Eileen Anderson contains knowledge essential to anyone who works with puppies, has a puppy, or is Publisher: Bright Friends contemplating Productions 6/2/21) getting a puppy. It is available as a paperback or in multiple e-book formats. The concept of puppy socialization was extensively researched at Maine's own Jackson Laboratory for 20 years,

WORDS, WOOFS & MEOWS by Don Hanson

ACCBC, BFRAP, CDBC, CPDT-KA

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culminating in the publication of Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog by Scott and Fuller in 1965. Yet, 56 years later, too many in the dog world still do not understand the essential basics of puppy socialization. For example, it has a speciﬁc endpoint (12 to 16 weeks of age), it is as important as vaccinations, it doesn't happen by accident but requires careful planning; it involves meeting more than the neighbors and their dog. It means creating a positive association with new things; it requires you to advocate for what is best for your puppy and is essential for normal social

development. As a canine behavior consultant, I assist people with dogs with deep-seated anxiety and often anti-social behavior that is likely the result of inappropriate or inadequate socialization during the critical period. This debilitating mental illness might have been prevented had the person caring for the dog understood puppy socialization. Reading and following the precepts in Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It might prevent you from ever needing the services of a canine behavior consultant or veterinary behaviorist. Rogers and Anderson's book will teach those who read it what they need to know to socialize their puppy, thus helping them have a great life together. In addition to the easy-to-read text and beautiful photographs, the book includes links to over 50 online videos. Note, it is easiest to access those videos and other online resources from one of the e-book editions. I am so impressed by Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It that I am: 1) making it required reading for all Green Acres Kennel Shop staﬀ, 2) incorporating it into the curriculum for my ForceFreePets.com online Puppy Headstart class, 3) will be including copies for all students in that class starting January 1st, and 4) will be gifting the book to several veterinary colleagues so that they may share it with their staﬀ after reading it themselves. Feeding Dogs. Dry or Raw? The Science Behind The Debate by Conor Brady, PhD. will hopefully end the debate over how to feed our dogs for optimum health. Dr. Brady spent 10 years examining

what the scientific literature tells us about canine nutrition answering such questions as: is the dog a carnivore or omnivore, what are the Publisher: Dogs First Ltd. problems 12/22/2020 with feeding kibble, why are so many people pro-kibble and anti-fresh food despite evidence to the contrary, and how to feed a dog a species-appropriate diet for optimal health. In addition, you will find a comprehensive reference list to the peer-reviewed scientific research supporting the author's conclusions at the end of each section. Available as a hardcover book or four e-books, Brady's Feeding Dogs is worth every penny for those who understand that proper nutrition is the foundation of physical, mental, and emotional health. In my opinion, Feeding Dogs should be required reading for every student of veterinary medicine and recommended to every pet parent interested in optimal nutrition. If you want to learn more about Feeding Dogs and Dr. Brady before reading the book, I encourage you to listen to this 40-minute interview at https://bit. ly/IntvwDrConorBradyFeedingDogs No matter which winter holidays you celebrate, I wish you and your pet happy holidays and a great 2022.

Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (greenacreskennel.com) in Bangor where he has been helping people with their pets since 1995. He also produces and co- hosts The Woof Meow Show heard on AM620 -WZON every Saturday at 9 AM. Podcasts of the show are available at www.woofmeowshow.com. Don also writes about pets at his blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com. He is committed to pet care and pet training that is free of pain, force, and fear. The opinions in this column are those of Don Hanson.

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DECEMBER 2021

Rescue

of the

Month

RESCUE OF THE MONTH: HARVEST HILLS ANIMAL SHELTER Protecting Stray and Abandoned Pets By Susan Spisak “I feel like this shelter is stuck between being called a shelter and a rescue,” said Joan McBurnie, Executive Director and Manager for the almost 30-year-old Harvest Hills Animal Shelter in Fryeburg. “We run applications, we run vet checks, we don’t import [pets]. Not everyone else does,” she said. “And we continue to be diﬀerent, and I think that is a good thing. But I love working with everyone,” meaning the shelters and rescues who collaborate with them. One creative distinction is their Nine Lives Thrift Shop. Housed next door to the shelter, it supports the nonproﬁt year-round. Shoppers look forward to browsing through their donated home goods, furniture, current magazines, jewelry, games, toys, and more. There are vintage and

antique items in the “Cat’s Meow” area, too. (Refer to their website link below for store hours, donation drop oﬀ hours, and desired in-good-shape items. Masks required.) She believes the medical care their animals receive is extraordinary. All their dogs are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, are microchipped, and have had preventatives. They take in hundreds of dogs annually (and scads of cats); many from their 20 contracted towns as local pets are their emphasis. As far as owner relinquishments, Harvest Hills accepts animals from the western Maine region and nearby New Hampshire. McBurnie admitted their intake guidelines are not set in-stone. For example, many out-ofstaters have second homes in their area. If they need to relinquish their pet, they’ll accommodate them.

Another difference that she’s proud of and wears on her sleeve: “We are blessed with cats and dogs that might not be perfect, but we think they’re perfect. We know it takes a little longer to get those guys adopted out; they’re quirky, and we’re okay with that.” Case in point is relinquished boy Kane who has two strikes against him. He’s black, a fur color that may be considered ordinary by adopters, and a new tripod. “He’s a cutie patootie,” McBurnie shared affectionately. An online application must be filled out for all adoptions. Once approved, an appointment is scheduled. Some applicants are specific on the dog they want to meet, but staffers may redirect them based on information gleaned during the preapproval process. “They might have seen Fido, but [we may think], geesh, Shadow is going to be better.” That

CALI & MILO, 7 YEARS, SHAR-PEI MIX

said, McBurnie said it’s their hour, so potential adopters can choose what pets they want to meet. She added some folks look at dogs and cats, too. Harvest Hills had been very active in the community with events and rabies clinics, but the pandemic changed many. One event they’re hoping to bring back is Freezing for a Reason, their annual polar dip at Highland Lake in Bridgton. McBurnie said the board has approved the 2022 event, but that could ﬂuctuate with CDC guidelines. If it’s a go, they’ll eliminate the hot tubs and changing area. Check website for updates and details. For information on Harvest Hills Animal Shelter, including available animals, application, and adoption rates, visit harvesthills.org/about-theshelter/

JAKE, 7 YEARS, MASTIFF MIX

This sweet brother and sister duo thrive together! They’re about 7 years old and were surrendered after a move. Friendly, personable, playful, and so darn cute! These two have been together their whole lives and absolutely love each other. After all the recent turmoil, we believe the least we can do is insure they stay together! These Shar-Pei mixes would be best-suited with older, dog savvy children, and no other dogs. They have not yet been cat tested, but we are told they will chase them. .

Pictures do not do this beefy handsome boy justice! This 7 y/o Mastiﬀ mix was surrendered due to a housing issue. Jake is as lovable and cuddly as they come, though at 86lbs he is a much hunkier lapdog than he realizes! This lovable boy is super food motivated and absolutely loves people. He could use some work on his leash manners, but is crate trained and knows some basic commands. Jake does well with female dogs, cats, and children, though we would recommend 8+. This charismatic teddy bear may sound tough, but he is such a softie!

For more and to ﬁll out an application, harvesthills.org/dogs/.

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Downeast Dog News

Dogs for Adoption View more available dogs on our website, downeastdognews.com. Many rescues are showing dogs by appointment only right now. Some rescues do not oﬀer phone numbers and require you apply online. Please see the contact info. highlighted in yellow below each dog. BAILEY

ROUX

RORY

8 years old, Lab Mix

2 years, Catahoula Leopard Dog

7 years old, Mixed Breed

Call: (207) 626-3491, Kennebec Valley Humane Society

Email: Catahoula Rescue, sln2310@yahoo.com

FMI: FMI: luckypuprescue.org

A sweet older lady. Would beneﬁt from some extra walks as she is currently overweight. Ideal home would have no children under 12. She gets over stimulated and had a history of being nippy with them in her previous home. Needs to be the only animal.

Roux is a one-person dog; she will devote all her love and energy to this person. With the right situation, she may transition to a family, though she will need work and adjustment. Best without children. Loves a good snuggle.

2021 December Downeast Dog News

Articles inside

Vestibular Disease in Dogs

Words, Woofs & Meows

Calendar

Basic Training Tips