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1-888-450-8276 Call 7 days a week 8am - 11pm EST Promo Code: MB0611 Digital Home Advantage plan requires 24-month agreement and credit qualification. Cancellation fee of $17.50/month remaining applies if service is terminated before end of agreement. After 12 months of programming credits, then-current price will apply. $10/mo HD add-on fee waived for life of current account; requires 24-month agreement, continuous enrollment in AutoPay with Paperless Billing. Premium Movie Package offer requires AutoPay with Paperless Billing; after 3 months then-current price applies unless you downgrade. DISH Platinum offer requires qualifying HD programming, AutoPay with Paperless Billing; after 3 months you must opt to continue subscription. Free Standard Professional Installation only. All equipment is leased and must be returned to DISH Network upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Limit 6 leased tuners per account; upfront and monthly fees may apply based on type and number of receivers. HD programming requires HD television. Prices, packages and programming subject to change without notice. Offer available for new and qualified former customers, and subject to terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer agreements. Additional restrictions may apply. Offer ends 1/31/12. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. Starz® and related channels and service marks are the property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. All new customers are subject to a one time non-refundable processing fee.
Editorial t’s official. Summer is here and so is the heat. With temperatures soaring, it’s so important to keep your pets cool to avoid hyperthermia, otherwise known as heat stroke. To read more about hyperthermia, turn to Dr. Amyx’s article on page 10.
I
Also in this issue, we feature an article on the Principles of Positive Training. Chrissie from Paw it Forward Training offers some great tips on how to understand and communicate more effectively with your dog. If you or someone you know is looking to add a new furry member to the family, be sure to check out the adoptable dogs from South Texas Aussie Rescue on page 20.
Issue 6: Volume 5 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
And, if you’ve been following our monthly agility series with Lesley Young, this month’s topic is Preparing for Jumping. We’d love to see photos of your dog in action! This issue marks the fifth year anniversary of Urban Paws magazine. We’ve seen so many cool pet products, read inspiring stories and met the most wonderful and giving people in our community over the years. Many thanks to those who share their expertise and passion to help us publish this magazine.
Jennifer Kitchens
On the Cover
Lacey Ann, photographed by Ashlee Newman Photography. URBAN PAWS MAGAZINE P.O. Box 1556 Spring, Texas 77383 www.UrbanPawsMagazine.com Design and layout by: ZOECO CREATIVE © Copyright 2011. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without the publisher’s written permission. Urban Paws magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, feature and idea submissions, or photographs, and such material will not be returned. Urban Paws magazine assumes no liability for the contents herein and has the right to refuse advertising for any reason. Urban Paws magazine does not endorse any specific product or service contained herein; we do encourage you to support our advertisers whenever possible.
Please tell our advertisers you heard about them in Urban Paws!
Calendar July 2011 Events JULY 1-3 DockDogs DockDogs returns to Discovery Green for its fourth year. This national tour dog jumping competition features four-legged athletes from across Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana in diverse jumping competitions. The DockDogs competition is free and open to the public. Visit the DockDogs website at www.dockdogs.com for details on how to register for the Houston competition. JULY 2 Adopt a Rescued Friend Adoption Event Meet the adoptable dogs from Adopt a Rescued Friend at the Petco at I-45 and Cypresswood. 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.adoptarescuedfriend.com. JULY 9 Smart Rescue Adoption Event Meet the adoptable dogs from Smart Rescue at the PetSmart at 1-45 and 1960 every Saturday from noon - 4:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.smartpetz.com. JULY 11-15 Companion Camp for Kids and Teens This is an opportunity for children ages 7-13 to work hands-on with the animals cared for by the Houston Humane Society. Campers can register online at www.houstonhumane.org.
For a full listing of events, visit: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com/events
JULY 13 Bowling for Beagles Come out and help the hounds with bowling and fun at Palace Lanes. Noon - 3:00 pm. Three hours includes: Unlimited bowling, pizza, soda, t-shirt, contests and prizes. Slots are limited. $50 per person. To reserve yours, email Elizabeth at bevyofbeagles@yahoo.com. JULY 16 Project Derek Dog Benefiting Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP) 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. Hotel Derek, 2525 West Loop South. One winner will be chosen from Large and Small Dog categories, plus an all around best winner! Tickets are $75. Dogs are complimentary. Ticket includes: Entry fee, lunch, wine, entertainment, silent auction and raffle entry for door prize. For pre-registration tickets: call 281-497-9055 or e-mail hersheycap@aol.com. JULY 20-24 Reliant Park World Series of Dog Shows www.reliantdogshows.com. JULY 30 Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue Meet & Greet Natural Pawz in Vintage Park. 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. For more information, visit www.gbgrr.org.
Follow us on FACEBOOK & TWITTER for the most up-to-date information, news and events! 6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
The Scoop News & Happenings in the Houston Area NEW NEUROLOGY AND NEUROSURGERY PRACTICE OPENS IN HOUSTON
MISTER CAR WASH TEAMS UP WITH THE HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY FOR PAWS-A-THON Purchase a paw through the month of July for $1, $5, or $10 to help the animals of the Houston Humane Society. On average, it costs $12 per day for cats and $20 a day for dogs to be housed at a shelter while waiting to be adopted. Visit www.mrcarwash.com for locations and offers. NEW FELINE NUTRITION PRODUCTS APPEAL TO FURRY FRIENDS WITH FINICKY PALATES Royal Cannin’s new SELECTIVE feline nutrition formulas seek to satisfy the needs of even the fussiest appetites, by appealing to a cat’s individual preferences. According to the research and development experts at Royal Canin, most cats decide which food they prefer based on one of three factors: Aroma, texture or shape, and how the food makes them feel afterward. While each animal is different, most cats generally gravitate toward one or more of these preferences, motivating them to eat a full meal every day – essential to their overall health and wellness. To ensure that even picky eaters get their daily serving of required nutrients, Royal Canin developed three distinctly different formulas that appeal to finicky feline appetites. To learn more, visit www.royalcanin.us.
Gulf Coast Veterinary Surgery, Orthopedics and Neurology recently opened a new specialty hospital dedicated to neurology and neurosurgery practice – Gulf Coast Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery. The hospital is located at 3800 Southwest Freeway, Suite 136. GCVNN is an expansion of Gulf Coast Veterinary Surgery, Orthopedics and Neurology at 1111 West Loop South. The referral hospital is home to the only three board-certified veterinary neurologists in Houston, out of a total of six in Texas and 144 in the nation. Additionally, the GCVNN hospital uses state-of-the-art equipment, including Houston’s most powerful MRI dedicated only to veterinary patients with neurological and musculoskeletal injuries. Visit www.gcvnn.com for more information. TEXAS HOUSE BILL 1451 PASSES HOUSE, ON WAY TO GOVERNOR HB 1451, a bill relating to the licensing and regulation of certain dog and cat breeders, was recently passed by the Texas House of Representatives. This legislation will now proceed to Governor Rick Perry for signature or veto. If passed, the bill promises to ensure the humane care and treatment of dogs and cats in the custody of large scale commercial breeders. Opponents of the bill say that it is not in the interest of responsible breeders, pet owners or citizens of Texas. To learn more about the bill, visit www.house.state.tx.us and search by the HB number. Urban Paws Magazine 7
DOGGY
DEVOTION
If you share your life with a dog, you have a special connection that people without pets may not fully comprehend. Our doggy devotion seems absolutely normal to other dog owners, which could explain why we relate to each other when we meet for the first time.
We’d like to hear from you! What are the signs that you live with a dog? Is it slobber on the car windows, an endless trail of toys throughout your house? Share your insider knowledge with us and we’ll publish your answers in the August issue of Urban Paws.
Email your submissions to: info@urbanpawsmagazine.com. The deadline for submissions is July 14, 2011. 12www.urbanpawsmagazine.com 8 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
Bow Wow Books Dog Sense - How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet By John Bradshaw Hardcover: 352 pages Publisher: Basic Books ISBN-10: 0465019447
Dogs have been mankind's faithful companions for tens of thousands of years, yet today they are regularly treated as either packfollowing wolves or furry humans. The truth is, dogs are neither-and our misunderstanding has put them in serious crisis. What dogs really need is a spokesperson, someone who will assert their specific needs. Renowned anthrozoologist Dr. John Bradshaw has made a career of studying human-animal interactions, and in Dog Sense he uses the latest scientific research to show how humans can live in harmony with--not just dominion over-- their four-legged friends. From explaining why positive reinforcement is a more effective (and less damaging) way to control dogs' behavior than punishment to demonstrating the importance of weighing a dog's unique personality against stereotypes about its breed, Bradshaw offers extraordinary insight into the question of how we really ought to treat our dogs. A Dog’s Purpose By John Bradshaw Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC ISBN: 0765330342
This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog’s search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, A Dog’s Purpose touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here? Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny, A Dog's Purpose is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's-eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This moving and beautifully crafted story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose. Urban Paws Magazine 9
Healthy Tails
Protect Your Pet from Summer’s Heat
By Dr. Jim Amyx Four Seasons Veterinary Hospital
ho would have dreamed June could
from Stanford University Medical Center
Summer has not even officially arrived and tem-
may increase by an average of 40 degrees
W
be so hot in Houston this year?
peratures are soaring above 100 degrees. We are hot and our pets are definitely hot! So be careful with them, hyperthermia can sneak up on
found that the temperature within a vehicle Fahrenheit within one hour, regardless of the outside temperatures.
them, on you!’
When a pet is experiencing hyperthermia, initial-
Your pet's body temperature can be elevated
ly, and become restless. As the hyperthermia
because of a hot and/or humid condition out-
side. An increased body temperature caused by environmental conditions is commonly referred
to as hyperthermia, heatstroke and heat prostra-
tion. Hyperthermia may be a life-threatening
condition, and does require immediate medical treatment.
A dog's normal body temperature is 101.5
degrees Fahrenheit, plus or minus 1 degree.
Any time a dog's body temperature is higher
than 105 degrees Fahrenheit, a true emergency exists. Heatstroke generally occurs in hot summer weather where dogs are left with inadequate ventilation in hot vehicles. However, heatstroke may also occur in other situations including: • When a pet is left outdoors in hot/humid conditions without adequate shade.
• When a pet is exercised in hot/humid weather. • When a pet is left in a car on a relatively cool day (70 degrees Fahrenheit). A recent study
10 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
ly the pet appears distressed, will pant excessive-
progresses, the pet may drool large amounts of
saliva from the nose and/or mouth. The pet may become unsteady on his feet and you may notice the gums turning blue/purple or bright red in color, which is due to inadequate oxygen.
WHAT TO DO Cooling the pet is extremely important. While
ice or cold water may seem logical, its use is
NOT advised. Cooling the innermost structures of the body will actually be delayed because the
ice or cold water will cause superficial blood vessels to shrink, effectively forming an insulating
layer of tissue to hold the heat inside. Tap water is more suitable for effective cooling.
Severe hyperthermia is a disease that affects nearly every system in the body. Simply lowering the body temperature fails to address the potentially catastrophic events that often
accompany this disorder. A pet suffering from hyperthermia should be seen by your veterinarian as soon as possible.
In many cases, pets need to be hospitalized until
• Remove your pet from the environment where the hyperthermia occcured. • Move your pet to a shaded and cool environment, and direct a fan on it.
• If possible, determine rectal temperature and record it. • Begin to cool your pet's body by placing cool, wet towels over the back of the neck, in the armpits, and in the groin region. You may also wet the ear flaps and paws with cool water. • Directing a fan on these wetted areas will help to speed evaporative cooling.
• Transport your pet to your veterinarian immediately!
their temperature is stabilized, and may even
need intensive care for several days if organ failure has occurred. Be aware of the clinical signs of heat stroke so you may respond quickly to an episode.
Know how to cool your pet properly and call your veterinarian if you have any concerns that
your pet may be suffering from any of the before mentioned symptoms.
WHAT NOT TO DO • Do not use cold water or ice for cooling your pet. • Do not overcool your pet.
• A reasonable goal of cooling is to reduce your pet's body temperature to 102.5 - 103 degrees F while transporting your pet to your veterinarian. • Do not attempt to force water into your pet's mouth. Simply have fresh water available should your pet show an interest in drinking.
It’s Getting Hot in Here!
Do you know how hot it can get in a car on a summer day? The answer is: Much hotter than it is outside. Cars trap the sun’s heat. A little heat outside of a car can quickly heat up the inside. On a summer's day at only 85Âş degrees, even keeping the windows slightly open won't stop the inside temperature from climbing to 102Âş degrees in 10 minutes, and to 120Âş degrees in 20 minutes. A dog whose body temperature rises to 107-108Âş degrees will, within a very short, time suffer irreparable brain damage — or even death. During the hot summer months here in Houston, it is recommended that you leave your dog at home, even if you just run a quick errand. Leaving your dog in the car for “just a minuteâ€? can have very serious consequences. If you see a dog in distress, call out for the owner of the car or, visit the closest business and ask if they can make an announcement over the loudspeaker. Mydogiscool.com is a website dedicated to educating people about the dangers hot weather poses to dogs. It offers these cool, free downloadable flyers that you can print and leave on people’s windshields or at area businesses. These tools can mean the difference between life and death for a dog left unattended in a sweltering hot car, so help spread the word.
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he IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics recently released a report that included the top five human prescription (Rx) drugs dispensed in the United States. “Nearly half of the calls we receive are for pets that have accidentally ingested human medications,” said Dr. Justine Lee, DVM, DACVECC and the associate director of Veterinary Services at Pet Poison Helpline. “Recognizing the most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S. and how they affect pets can help pet owners be more cognizant of potential dangers associated with these drugs.” According to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics report, which was released in April 2011, the top five human drugs dispensed in the U.S. are Lipitor®, Nexium®, Plavix®, Advair Diskus® and Abilify®. Because Pet Poison Helpline’s call volume is high for dogs and cats that have ingested human medications harmful to pets, the veterinarians are sharing how these drugs typically affect pets that ingest them. As explained below, some drugs cause only minor
T
14 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
symptoms and some can be potentially life threatening. Awareness of these drugs and how they affect pets can save lives. Likewise, in cases where a pet has ingested a non-life threatening drug, awareness can save the pet owner a great deal of heartache. #1 – Lipitor® (atorvastatin) Used to reduce cholesterol levels, U.S. citizens spent $7.2 billion on Lipitor in 2010, making it the top selling drug in the country. Generally when pets get into Lipitor, only mild side effects are seen, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, Lipitor is not considered to have high toxicity levels for pets. While some human drugs are utilized in veterinary medicine, Lipitor is not. #2 – Nexium® (esomeprazole) During 2010, Americans spent $6.3 billion on Nexium. It is an anti-ulcer medication and proton-pump inhibitor that results in decreased gastric acid secretion. While it is utilized in veterinary medicine for some pets, mild side effects
can include vomiting and diarrhea. Pet owners of dogs or cats that get into this drug should watch their pet closely, but not be alarmed since symptoms will generally subside on their own. #3 – Plavix® (clopidogrel) In third place is Plavix, which is a drug that affects platelets in humans, inhibiting clot formation and reducing the risk of stroke. Rarely used in veterinary medicine, $6.1 billion was spent on this drug for humans last year. When pets get into Plavix, it has a wide margin of safety and generally is not considered to be acutely toxic. Only mild vomiting or diarrhea may be seen. #4 – Advair Diskus® (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol) Often used for treating asthma and administered through an inhaler, Advair Diskus contains beta-agonist drugs that expand the lungs and steroids that decrease inflammation in the lungs. Americans spent $4.7 billion on Advair Diskus in 2010, making it fourth top selling drug. Because inhalers contain many doses, dogs that chew into them are exposed to massive amounts of the drug all at once. This often results in heart arrhythmias, an elevated heart rate, agitation, vomiting and even acute collapse. Severe electrolyte abnormalities such as very low potassium levels are likely and can be life-threatening without immediate veterinary treatment. #5 – Abilify® (aripiprazole) The fifth top-selling drug is Abilify. It contains aripiprazole, an atypical antipsychotic agent that is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and clinical depression. It is important to keep this drug out of the reach of pets, as ingestion can result in profound lethargy, vomiting, hyperthermia, significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure, and seizures. If a pet ingests this drug, immediate veterinary attention is needed.
In order to keep pets safe from ingesting these and other dangerous human medications, the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline offer these recommendations: • Keep human medications stored in a different location from pet medications. Pet Poison Helpline often takes calls from pet owners who accidentally give their human medications to pets. • Weekly pill holders are irresistible to some dogs, as they resemble chew toys and rattle. The danger is that a dog could ingest a full seven days’ worth of medications, significantly increasing the risk for poisoning. ·• Avoid putting medications into plastic storage baggies before traveling – these are not pet proof (or child-proof), and can easily be chewed into by dogs. • Hang your purse out of the reach of your pets. Inhalers, medications, sugar-free gum, and other items that are dangerous to pets can be easily snatched out of a purse by a curious dog or cat. Pet Poison Helpline recently produced a video titled “Handbag Hazards” available here http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/Ask-theVet-Videos. Remember that what is safe for humans isn’t always safe for pets. If you think your pet has ingested something poisonous, it is always better (and less expensive) to get help immediately. Contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison helpline at 1-800-213-6680 for life-saving help. Pet Poison Helpline is the most cost-effective animal poison control center in North America charging only $35 per call, including unlimited follow-up consultations.
Urban Paws Magazine 15
– “Macbeth” Shakespeare
Are You Feeding FRANKENFISH to Your Dogs? If you read the last three ads written about Solid Gold dry dog food, then you realize that your dog’s life depends upon what you feed them. The articles were: 1) Does GMO Mean God Move Over? , 2)Chicken and the Egg and Salmonella Poisoning, and 3) Sundancer – Our New Dog Food with Curcumin. Solid Gold has been the leader in natural d the HundNnatural dog and cat food since since 1975. 1975. We introduce introduced Hund-N.TWKSMV VI\]ZIT LWO NWWL _Q\P TIUJ IVL Å[P 0]VL UMIV[ LWO .TWKSMV UMIV[ ÆISM[ QV /MZUIV <PM .,) [IQL \PI\ \PMZM _I[ VW []KP \PQVO I[ I VI\]ZIT LWO food. We told them that Hund-N-Flocken had been a top seller in Germany for 20 years. They said, “Oh!” If you import a dog from Germany, frequently the export papers say that if you don’t feed the Solid Gold Hund -N-Flocken , and the Solid Gold Sea Meal powder, they will not guarantee the health of the dog. )JW]\ [Q` aMIZ[ IOW ;WTQL /WTL QV\ZWL]KML I JQ[WV IVL )TI[SIV _QTL caught salmon in our “Just a Wee Bit”, for the small dog. For the large and giant breed, we introduced Wolf Cub and Wolf King. The owner of Solid Gold had ÆW_V \W )TI[SI \W QV\MZ^QM_ \PM Å[PMZUIV <_W _MZM KPW[MV <PMa _MZM \PM WVTa PWWS IVL TQVM Å[PMZUMV ;W QN \PMa KI]OP\ I [UITT Å[P Q\ _I[ \PZW_V JIKS Soon, as usual, other dog food companies copied us. But they used big VM\[ ?Q\PQV NW]Z aMIZ[ \PM _QTL )TI[SIV [ITUWV _I[ Å[PML W]\ 7VTa .):5-, salmon was available. Farmed salmon is fed GMO corn. The corn is sterile and cannot reproduce. The salmon are sterile and cannot reproduce. Guess what happens to the people and dogs that are fed this salmon? Solid Gold no longer uses salmon. They are concerned that the GMO salmon may cause cancer. GMO UMIV[ /MVM\QKITTa 5W\QÅML 7ZOIVQ[U Our Holistique Blendz dog food was introduced in 1985. Holistic does VW\ UMIV VI\]ZIT WZ WZOIVQK 1\ Q[ Å[P JI[ML IVL TW_ XZW\MQV M[XMKQITTa NWZ the older dog to spare the liver and the kidneys. It is also for white dogs that are TQOP\ [MV[Q\Q^M XPW\W IOQVO )\ I ZMKMV\ LWO [PW_ I LWO NWWL ^MVLWZ _I[ VM`\ to the Solid Gold booth. The salesman told us that his company also now had holistic dog food. We asked him what holistic meant. He said they put apples in it. Oh well!
1V )XZQT \PM VM_[ [IQL \PI\ QV 6M_ 2MZ[Ma Q\ Q[ ]VTI_N]T NWZ XMWXTM to plant tomato seeds. You now have to buy GMO tomato plants from the same company that developed GMO soybean and corn. The chemical company said they are doing this to protect the public. Seems that bugs will get on the tomato plants. For 20 years, I just washed off the bugs from my father’s tomato plants. These GMO plants were found to cause two harmful strains of bacteria that damage the intestinal tract and cause leaky gut syndrome. Dogs were developing leaky gut syndrome and infected anal glands. We use non-GMO tomatoes in our dog food. They are high in lycoXMVM _PQKP Q[ OWWL NWZ \PM PMIZ\ IVL KQZK]TI\QWV )Va NZ]Q\ WZ ^MOM\IJTM \PI\ is red supports the circulatory system, hormone system and thyroid system. In the recent radiation Japanese disaster, the red sea algae was rushed to Japan to build up the immune and hormone systems. Our Sea Meal contains 19 types of [MI_MML QVKT]LQVO ZML [MI ITOIM )T_Ia[ ][M W]Z ;MI 5MIT XW_LMZ _Q\P W]Z LWO food. It keeps the dogs from chewing at the root of the tail and licking their feet. Our new Solid Gold dog food is Sundancer, which contains K]ZK]UQV <W ÅVL W]\ PW_ K]ZK]UQV _WZS[ _Q\P KIVKMZ [MM P\\X" ___ ]UU ML] IT\UML IZ\QKTM[ \]ZUMZQK P\U In 1958 the US Congress wanted to fund a study for the use of curcumin and cancer. The big pharmaceutical companies objected and said it would interfere with revenues from their cancer drugs. The New World Order says that if you control the food proL]K\QWV aW] KIV KWV\ZWT \PM XMWXTM IVL LWO[ :MIL LWO NWWL TIJMT[ LWV¼\ NMML .ZIVSMVÅ[P IVL W\PMZ /57 XZWL]K\[ \W aW]Z LWO[ IVL KI\[ AW] KIV LMXMVL ]XWV ;WTQL /WTL \W XZWL]KM \PM ÅVM[\ IVL PMIT\PQM[\ XM\ NWWL[
To obtain a free catalogue or to find a store near you call: (619) 258-7356 (M-F 10-5 PST) or E-mail us at sarah@solidgoldholistic.com or www.solidgoldhealth.com
Solid Gold Holistic Animal Nutrition Center 1331 N. Cuyamaca El Cajon, CA 92020
Solid Gold is a member of the National Nutritional Foods Association, The Organic Trade Association and the Health Freedom Association.
Breed Profile
The Weimaraner
By Jennifer Kitchens
he Weimaraner breed is several centuries old. They derived from the same selective stock as other German hunting breeds and are a descendant of the Bloodhound. The Weimaraner is a good allaround hunting dog and an excellent pointer. Originally used as big game hunters such as bear, deer and wolves, the Weimaraner is used more today as a bird dog and even a water retriever.
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The Weimaraner is a moderately large, athletic working dog. Their medium sized heads, which have often been called â&#x20AC;&#x153;artistocratic,â&#x20AC;? have strong muzzles and long, pendant ears. They have gray noses and intelligent, wide-set eyes that come in shades of light amber, gray or bluegray. Weimaraners normally have long necks that lead down to long, muscular legs with webbed, compact feet, and their moderately long backs lead to docked tails. Their short, smooth coat is tight to the body and comes in shades of mouse-gray to silver-gray. Overall, the Weimaraner look combines grace, balance and quickness. Weimaraners are devoted and loving members of the family. But they are not the type of dog to follow rote commands or have predictable habits. Though smart, these dogs can be selective about when and how they use their intelligence. Without the proper exercise, Weimaraners can be very rambunctious and difficult to control. They learn quickly but will get bored if the 18 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
training is the same thing over and over again. This breed needs firm, experienced training starting at puppyhood, with an owner who understands how to be a dog's pack leader, or they can become stubborn and willful. Very gentle and kind, Weimaraners are great with children, but can inadvertently knock things (and people) over. For this reason, they are probably not the best apartment dwellers. They need plenty of exercise and (if possible) a large yard to play in. A healthy Weimaranerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life span can be from 10 to 12 years. Common health problems include hip dysplasia, tumors and hypertrophic osteodystrophy (excessive rapid growth). They are also prone to bloat. It is better to feed them two or three small meals a day rather than one large meal.
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Gimme Shelter
Join us in helping our four-legged friends find loving homes. Adopt a dog today!
South Texas Aussie Rescue www.southtexasaussierescue.org
South Texas Aussie Rescue, Inc. (STAR), located in Houston, TX, is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) adoption and referral service dedicated to placing homeless or abandoned Australian Shepherds in loving, permanent homes. All representatives and foster homes are volunteers - they receive no compensation and do it only for the love of the breed. All Aussies available for adoption have been temperament and health checked, spayed/neutered, heartworm checked and put on preventative (and treated if positive), and are current on their vaccinations. If a suitable dog is found for you to adopt, we do ask for a small adoption fee to help us cover any medical work we've done and to help us continue helping other Aussies in need.
Our cover dog, Lacey Ann!
Lacey Ann is just as feminine as her name implies. This 18 month old blue merle girl was found at a local shelter and we see no reason for the owner not to come and get her. She is sweet and affectionate and very badly wants to please. Lacey has already learned to sit, is housebroken and will need to go out on a schedule. She runs into her crate for a treat and will stay quietly. We are working on her manners. She will still jump up occasionally or put her feet on the counter to see what you are doing. Lacey loves playing with her foster brothers and sisters. If they don't want to play, she will entertain herself with the entire toy basket. Lacey needs some leash work, but she is good in the car. Cats are an unknown and children over the age of eight should be fine. For more information and photos of Lacey, contact Patti aussiesntx@yahoo.com.
Please note that these dogs may have been adopted by the time you visit them; however, there are many more wonderful dogs in need of forever homes. 20 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
BELLE
Belle is a small, red tri-colored girl around 34 lbs. Originally from a Lufkin shelter, she first went to Pup Squad with her puppies. After her puppies died of distemper, she ended up at STAR. Belle became very sick with what is believed to have been distemper. After several difficult months, she has finally recovered enough to be spayed and get her vaccinations. She will still have to go through Heartworm treatment shortly.
COBY
MAVERICK
BOONE
MAE
BIG BEN
Meet Boone, who should have been named Gentle Ben! This four-year-old black, tri-colored male came to STAR from a home where he committed an egregious crime against a freshly baked pie. This 70 lb. boy is what is known of as a just add water and stir type of Aussie. He is housebroken, crate trained, loves his toys, interacts well with his companion Aussies, walks well on a leash, loves to go in the car and loves to be brushed. Boone is not a barker or a resource guarder. He shares his toys and loves his people. Boone is the typical Velcro Aussie who loves to be with his people. While it is not known how he is with cats, he loves children and would probably be happiest with a medium sized or larger dog companion.
Meet Coby, a two-year-old, blue merle male found at a San Antonio shelter. Coby looks very serious, yet that is the last word to describe his personality. This happy boy will need a new owner that can spend time training and exercising him. He's smart and eager to please but will happily run the house if not told otherwise. Coby is very social and loves to play with his foster siblings. Cats and children are an unknown. Coby is housebroken, improving on the leash and learning basic commands very quickly.
Meet five-year-old Mae from a Bastrop Shelter. She was taken to the vet and spayed and is now current on her vaccinations. Unfortunately, Mae had heartworms. Her treatment is now complete and she has done great. She is exactly as advertised - a sweet, settled girl who just wants someone to love her and to take her on long walks. She will need the long walks as Mae is slightly chunky at 60 lbs.. She could probably lose about 10 lbs. and feel better. Mae is housebroken and has a cute funny easy personality. Who wouldn't love those baby blue eyes? Mae lives with cats and would prefer to have her new owner all to herself as she can be a dog that loves too much.
Maverick is a big, fluffy, three-year-old red merle Aussie. He is a very confident boy that weighs around 65 lbs. and is very pretty with his one stunning partial blue eye. He is housebroken and crate trained. Maverick will need work on his leash manners and his greeting. He is good with older children and all adults. He is okay with cats, but not if they run. His ideal adopter would be comfortable around a large dog and look forward to training and smoothing out his rough spots and discovering his really great wonderful traits.
Big Ben is only a year old and already weighs 63 lbs. This black, tri-colored male was found in Huntsville and described as what might be an Aussie/Rottie mix. Instead, he is simply a big Aussie with a big black head! Ben is still a puppy but will be simple to train. This is a very solid dog that meets people and other dogs easily. As of now, he is known to be great with cats and other dogs and loves people. He might be too big or rambunctious for very small children but he has a sweet nature and is good with kids over the age of eight. He is housebroken and good in his crate. Ben is neutered, micro-chipped and current on his vaccinations. He is also on a program of flea and heartworm meds. Urban Paws Magazine 21
AGILITY FOUNDATION WORK Preparing for Jumping By Lesley Young, Dog Angels U.S.
A
top Agility Instructor once asked me,
I tend to teach that the hand closest to the dog
the competition ring?”. Of course, there are
Driving hand. After-all, it’s the hand the dog can
as a new handler, “Where is it all won or lost in
many answers, but his might surprise you. “In
the spaces” he said. Beginning agility is exciting and rewarding as dogs make tremendous early
progress learning the equipment – which, he
emphasized, is ‘their job’. “Your job” he said “is to manage the spaces” in other words, the steering – directing your dog positively to take the
most advantageous path through the course. Establishing this togetherness is a vital compo-
nent of agility teamwork, but often gets overlooked.
22 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
(the side they are on) is your Working, or see most of the time and from which they take their cues. It helps to keep your hand flat and
vertical, more or less steady around waist height. (If your dog is looking ahead, they won’t see your hand if it is up in the air, and you cannot
run so well if you bend down). Your dog needs to learn to drive forward with your momentum
and to slow down when you do, unless you are
sending your dog ahead. In addition to your hand, your dog will learn to take many cues,
including the position of your legs and shoul-
ders – sometimes when you inadvertently cue the wrong obstacle! It really is a double act.
The hand furthest from your dog is
your ‘checking’ hand – when this comes into play it means “come
towards me”. That can be really beneficial, adjusting your dog’s path
or ‘line’ through a course. I recom-
mend a short positive verbal cue such as “In”.
The more in-tune your dog is with your body language, the more confident and responsive they will be. All
this can be built away from the Agility area.
Exercise 1 – “In”
During heel work, bring your ‘Checking Hand’
in towards your dog with a verbal “In” cue. Reward your dog with a tuggy game or treat from your “Checking Hand”.
Exercise 2 – “Acceleration/Deceleration”
Practise heel work (on leash initially), changing pace – sometimes running, sometimes slowing
right down and rewarding your dog regularly,
from your “Driving Hand” for staying with you. Keep practices short to maintain your dog’s focus and enthusiasm. In a secured location, practice this off leash too.
Remember, that with all training, it entails building gradually and generalizing or “proofing” in
new locations once your dog is proficient in one location. Practice all these exercises starting your
dog on both the left and on the right. Review your hand positions and ensure you are giving your dog clear messages. Have fun!
Lesley Young (MA Hons), has 17 years experi-
ence of Dog Training - relocating to The Woodlands, Texas in 2009. Lesley runs Pet Dog, Puppy and Agility classes and is an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. www.dogangels.us.
With special thanks to Abby, and her owner Dick for demonstrating.
The Principles of Positive Training By Chrissie DeCesare Paw it Foward Training
T
raining should be an enjoyable expe-
Positive reinforcement reward options. Treats
The more you understand about how your dog
Forward Training clients are taught “Treat,
rience for both you and your dog.
thinks and learns, the more effectively you can
communicate. Clear communication means successful training and good behavior—with no need for coercion or physical corrections.
are not the only positive reward available. Paw It Touch and Talk.” When your dog performs a
desired behavior, offer two out of the three positive reinforcement methods. For example, give the dog a treat and say, “Good boy!” Another example is to give your dog a good ear rub and
Behavior that is rewarded is more likely to reoc-
say, “Very good stay!” The sky’s the limit.
them. If your dog was given praise and a treat
ing, and use them. After all, do you plan on
cur. In other words, dogs do what works for the last time he sat, he is more likely to sit again the next time you ask. If he knows that jumping
up on you will earn your attention, he’ll keep
Consider which things your dog finds rewardalways having a treat handy?
Dogs learn by association. When training, it is
jumping, as your attention (such as touching
important that the reward closely follow the
principle is a key component of reward-based
your dog to sit, the praise and treat should be
him with your hands) is a reward. This powerful training.
24 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
desired behavior. For example, when teaching
given when his rear touches the floor, not after
he’s stood up again. On the other side of the
insert your money, press the button, and wait.
may have done hours, or even minutes ago (for
forcefully, and try a few others as well. Again,
coin, reprimanding your dog for something he example, you come home to find a potty accident) is pointless. Your dog won’t associate your
yelling with what he’s done, and if it happens often enough, he may begin to fear your arrival
home, as you’re always angry for a reason he cannot understand.
Reward behaviors you want, rather than punishing behaviors you don’t want. Most of us are
so accustomed to noticing
“mistakes” our dogs make that it seems strange to notice and
reward “good” behaviors. For example, your dog barks, so you yell at him to be quiet. Sure, a
barking dog is hard to ignore.
Nothing happens. You press the button more nothing. You jangle the change lever. No soda,
no change. You might even become so angry that you shake or kick the machine. All that
effort and still no soda! Grumbling to yourself, you give up and leave. In this example, the sodaseeking behavior extinguished because there was
“Your dog’s name should always have a positive association.”
What about when he’s calmly lying down? Most
of us never consider rewarding calm behavior, so the dog only gets rewarded with our attention
no payoff, no reward. Kicking or shaking the machine is an exam-
ple of an extinction burst. What
that means for your dog is that if
you ignore an unwanted behavior such as jumping or barking, before your dog gives up, the behavior may actually escalate.
The important thing is to wait it out rather than giving in. It will
eventually stop, and will stop
even sooner the next time around. Patience is a key element here!
(even yelling is attention) when he is doing
Find an alternate behavior. When you want your
doing those things! If, on the other hand, he gets
thing else to do instead—that is, something that
something we don’t like. Naturally, he keeps
attention for being calm, he will be calm more
often. Make it a point to catch and reward your dog for doing something right. If your dog is engaged in a behavior that cannot be ignored
(such as chewing the table leg), interrupt with a
sharp verbal, “Ah-ah!.” Lead him away from the area, ask him to sit, and give him a chew toy or other activity to keep him busy.
Extinction. If a behavior is ignored, it will eventually extinguish on its own. Imagine you are trying to buy a soda from a vending machine. You
dog to stop doing something, give him some-
is incompatible with the behavior you don’t want. For example, if your dog jumps up on
you, have him sit instead. After all, he can’t sit and jump at the same time. Paw It Forward Training clients are taught to have their dogs sit for everything (treats, attention, food, opening
doors, etc.)! Does he chew on furniture? Give him an appropriate chew toy instead because he
can’t chew on both items at once. Try this: Take a piece of paper, and draw a line vertically down the center. On the left side, list all the things
your dog does that you’d like him to stop doing. Urban Paws Magazine 25
On the right, next to each behavior, write down
behavior continues.
about things in this way, you’ll be surprised at
Training should be fun! Keep training sessions
an alternate behavior. Once you start thinking the creative solutions you come up with!
Raise criteria gradually. In small increments, build upon each success. Simply put, that means
don’t expect too much too soon. Build small
steps to get from Point A to Point B. Any time your dog does not perform an exercise correctly, ask yourself if you have raised the criteria too
quickly. Go back to the point at which your dog was last successful, then build gradually. Raising
criteria gradually eliminates the need for correction by setting your dog up to succeed, and diminishes your frustration.
Use your dog’s name with respect. In short, your dog’s name does not mean “no” or that they are doing something bad. Your dog’s name should
always have a positive association. Use your
dog’s name to gain their attention, followed by what you are asking/telling. We do not want your dog to fear his name. Also try to remember
if your dog is not looking at you they are probably not listening to you!
If trained correctly, behavior is not contingent
on food being present. Remember “Treat, Touch and Talk” mentioned above? If you
phase treats out gradually and begin to substitute real-life rewards (like petting and verbal praise), your dog will perform the desired
behaviors even when you don’t have food available. We use plenty of treats at first to teach and
practice new behaviors. Eventually, a schedule of random (unpredictable) reinforcement, along
with real-life rewards, will ensure that the good 26 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com
short; three to five sessions of three to five
minutes a day is fine. Focus on one new behavior per session. Keep an upbeat attitude when
training. Don’t train when you’re cranky! End each training session on a successful note. Did
your dog just perform ten good sits, with the last one really great? End the session there. As
each behavior is learned, incorporate it into your daily routine as often as possible.
Chrissie DeCesare is the owner of Paw it Forward Training, located in The Woodlands. Private training and group classes are both available, as well as CGC prep classes and certification. To schedule a consultation, visit www.pawitforwardtraining.com.
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