Urban Paws Magazine

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Publisher Jennifer Kitchens-Street (281) 384.5431

Contents

jennifer@urbanpawsmagazine.com

MARCH 2016

Advertising (281) 384.5431

THE SCOOP 7

sales@urbanpawsmagazine.com

Contributing Writers Chantal den Broeder Bark Busters Staff Photographer Jamie Fincher Urban Paws Magazine PO Box 1556 Spring, TX 77383

www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Š Copyright 2016. 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.

Issue 2: Volume 10 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Canine News and Happenings

COMMUNITY 10

A Not So Ruff Life After All

HEALTH 12

An Uncommon Disease: Erythema Multiforme

BODY & SOUL 18

A Guide to Owning a New Puppy

TRAINING & BEHAVIOR 22 Can You Speak Dog?

Ruff Life

Find us online! Website: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com Printed in the U.S.A.

4 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Photo by Paw Prints Photography by Jamie Fincher



The Scoop March 2016

For the most up-to-date information, news and events, visit: www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

MARCH 12-13

Texas Paw Party

Bring the 2 and 4 legged kids to the biggest party of the year in Old Town Spring.

Adoptable pets, informational seminars, tal-

ent contest, blessing of the animals, vendors, food, and more. 10 am -5 pm. www.texaspawparty.com MARCH 19

Pints and Pals

Hang out at the Specials Pals tent for a day of family-friendly fun. Meet a few of their

adoptable dogs and check out the silent auction. No Label Brewing Co. 5351 1st Street in Old Town Katy. 12 -3 pm. $10 admission for brewery tour and tastings. www.specialpalsshelter.org MARCH 19

Adoption Event at Blo Blow Dry Bar

Hosted by Texas Animal Society. Blo Blow Dry Bar, 25 Waterway Ave. in The Woodlands. 11 am - 4 pm.

facebook.com/TexasAnimalSociety

MARCH 23

National Puppy Day

A special day to celebrate the magic and

unconditional love that puppies bring to our

lives. But more importantly, it's a day to help save orphaned puppies across the globe and educate the public about the horrors of

puppy mills. www.nationalpuppyday.com MARCH 23

ABC 13 Pet Adoption with Houston SPCA

To celebrate National Puppy Day, watch the ABC 13 and Houston SPCA’s televised citywide pet adoption drive. Find a dog, cat,

bunny or other furry creature to add to your family. Watch the event on Ch. 13 or visit

either facility to join in the fun. Even if you

can’t adopt a pet at this moment, donations are greatly appreciated. For more information, visit www.houstonspca.org or

www.abc13.com beginning March 9 for all of the details. MARCH 25

Montgomery County Pet Pals Bake Sale

Pick up some tasty baked goods and help the animals of Montgomery County Animal

Shelter, 8535 Hwy 242 in Conroe. 10 am - 3 pm. www.mcaspets.org 6 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com


Doggie Pictures With the Easter Bunny Raises Funds for HoustonArea Rescue Group

props such as bunny ears and tutus, and some used the opportunity to get a complete family portrait made. It was a wonderful sight, and a great time was had by all!

For just a $20 donation, pet-owners received a

photo session and portrait of their pet with the

Easter Bunny in a festive "springtime" setting.

Pet owners got to keep the hi-resolution digital

files of all the photos, including the "outtakes" which are often the favorites. They also received a print of their best photo. Rover Oaks pro-

duced Easter portraits for over 85 dogs, raising

over $1,800 for Shaggy Dog Rescue. These funds will help provide much-needed medical care, food, and other supplies that the rescue group desperately needs for the dogs in their care.

“We have a blast putting on this event, and our

Easter came early this year for the dogs at Rover

clients love taking home the adorable and often

Rover Oaks hosted their fifth annual "Doggie

Bunny,” said Steve Smith, owner of Rover Oaks

Oaks Pet Resort! The animal-loving staff at Pictures with the Easter Bunny" event on

Saturday, March 5th. All of Rover Oaks' clients, friends and pet owners in the community were invited to bring their dogs to pose for a picture

with the Easter Bunny! All proceeds from the

hilarious photos of their pet with the Easter Houston. “It is so rewarding to be able to offer

our clients with this special keepsake, while using the proceeds to help our friends at Shaggy Dog Rescue.”

"We're so grateful that Rover Oaks donates all

event were donated to local rescue group

the proceeds from this event to our rescue," said

The event started on Saturday morning; and,

Rescue. "Every dollar counts and every dona-

with excited pet owners and adorable pups who

high-kill Houston animal shelter. These dona-

Shaggy Dog Rescue.

by the afternoon, Rover Oaks' lobby was packed were ready to meet the Easter Bunny and have their portraits made. Attendees were encour-

aged to dress up their pet with holiday-themed

Kathy Wetmore, founder of Shaggy Dog

tion brings us closer to saving a dog from a tions really can mean the difference between life and death for these dogs."

Rover Oaks Pet Resort hosts Doggie Pictures Urban Paws Magazine 7


The Scoop with the Easter Bunny every Spring and Doggie

built in 1986 and was designed to house about

money for Shaggy Dog Rescue.

about 25,000 animals in 2014.

Pictures with Santa every Fall to help raise

Harris County Animal Shelter To Open New Transfer Center

12,000 animals annually. The shelter took in The transfer center is a big step toward saving

more animals, but there are still hundreds of pets who are looking for a home now.

For more information on adoption informa-

tion, visit www.hcphes.org.

City of Houston’s BARC Now Open 7 Days a Week The City of Houston’s Animal Shelter and

Adoption Facility, BARC, is now open seven days a week for pet adoptions.

The shelter, which is located at 3200 Carr

A large donation from the Petco Foundation

Street in Houston, will now be open on

new transfer center. Projected to be up and run-

adoptions and wellness services only. The shel-

will allow the county’s animal shelter to build a

ning by Fall of 2016, the center will give Harris County Animal Shelter the ability to save an extra 3,100 animals per year.

The Petco Foundation Transfer Center will

make it easier for Harris County to partner with

other pet rescues, and help get these animals get

to places where people are ready and waiting for a new furry friend.

The passing of Proposition 3 last November

will boost funding for HCAS and allow for three new buildings: shelter holding center, new adop-

tion center and an isolation and quarantine building for sick animals.

Although early in the planning stages, the

upgrades will take place on property already

owned by the county. The existing shelter was 8 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Mondays and Thursdays to the public for

ter will be open at its normal time from noon5:30 pm during these days.

For more information, visit

www.houstontx.gov/barc.



A Not So Ruff Life After All


By Jennifer Kitchens-Street Photos by Paw Prints Photography by Jamie Fincher

L

ocal singer and songwriter, Arthur Yoria,

was filming a music video for his song,

“Ruff Life” in one of the nation’s most danger-

ous neighborhoods in America last summer.

Sunnyside, located right here in Houston, was the scene for his video which sheds light on the

city’s homeless dog problem. A cute, flea-ridden puppy wandered onto the set and the two have now become inseparable.

We recently sat down with Arthur to learn how

this pup would bring such a big change to his life and others.

Q How did you get involved with Operation Houston?

A The World Animal Awareness Society and

WA2S Films (http://www.wa2s.org) had used some music from my catalog for their previous documentary,

An

American

Opera

(http://www.imdb.com/title/tt/) which was about the humongous pet rescue that took place

after Katrina in LA. Last year, they approached

me about writing a couple of songs for Operation Houston (American Strays - A Tale of Animal Welfare).

Q It has been said that Sunnyside is the 2nd

most dangerous neighborhood in America.

Were you apprehensive about shooting the video there and was the problem with stray ani-

mals more prevalent than in other parts of the

city?

A Apparently Sunnyside is an area with one of

the worst stray animal problems in the city. We

shot around 8am which is ridiculously early for me so I was in too much of a stupor to really consider any risks, honestly.

Q You met Rita while filming the video for "Ruff Life," correct? Did you immediately know

that she would become such a big part of your life?

A Yes, she saw the cameras & crew and decid-

ed to hang I suppose; she's a smart k-9. Kidding aside, I knew something was up right away when despite being probably the least spontaneous person that you'll ever meet, I decided that I was

going to take her home. I had no idea how tight

we would become nor did I anticipate the kind of attention that the video would garner.

Q

How long have you been a musician and

how do you think this experience will carry into future endeavors?

A I picked up a guitar for the first time in '93

and started writing songs immediately. At 23, I was a late starter but I was very focused. I had no intentions of becoming a great guitarist; I

was only interested in becoming a good

singer/songwriter.

I've only recently come to terms with the fact Urban Paws Magazine 11


that what I do is sometimes just entertainment or a brief form of distraction. Therapeutic,

cathartic, validating and all encompassing as it maybe for me, it's really just an excuse for some-

one to tap their toes for 3 and a half minutes in a lot of cases. Positive nevertheless but also very humbling for someone as passionate as I am about this stuff.

Rita and the World Animal Awareness Society

has opened the door to an entirely new world

for me which is making music that is attached to

a cause. The idea that my music can bring attention to an issue or a cause that needs to be dealt

with has given me a new sense of purpose with-

out a doubt. The rumors are true as it turns out: it feels really good to help those in need.

Q Do you think that crossing paths with Rita was merely coincidental, or do you think it was fate?

A Luck. The quality of life has improved for all parties.

Q Do you have any special nicknames for Rita?

A

"The Puppy" "The Puppy Poo" "The

Pooper" My folks call her, "Dharma" because apparently, my grandfather on my dad's side had a dog named Dharma.

Q

I read that Rita has been a positive influ-

ence on your mother, who has dementia. Can

you elaborate on how Rita has done that? Could

dogs like Rita help others suffering from her disease?

A Rita's very playful and affectionate. I think

the energy that she brings has generally been

uplifting for all of us. Also, it's a simpler but very profound communication that occurs between humans and animals. Yes, it's no secret that this kind of interaction can be very revi-

talizing to a person suffering from any

number of ailments from mild depression to alzheimer's or any kind of

terminal disease. I think animals are much more effective than clowns anyhow.

12 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com


March2016.qxp_Jan/Feb 3/9/16 5:32 PM Page 13

DOWNLOAD THE SINGLE Arthur’s single “Ruff Life” is available for download on iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rufflife-single/id1086249004

WATCH THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_EHZR mbMyw

WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY

Operation Houston, now called

“American Strays - A Tale of Animal Welfare” will premier on PBS in March 201

CHECK OUT MORE OF ARTHUR YORIA’S WORK www.arthuryoria.com

Arthur is about to begin working on a fulllength record for Splice Records. www.splicerecordstx.com


Mutt Mugs “Happiness is a warm puppy.” - Charles M. Schulz

14 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com



Health An Uncommon Disease

Erythema Multiforme ur beloved dog Lucy passed away from

ed in dogs secondary to administration of

Multiforme (EM) this past December. She was

matitis, parvovirus), neoplasia, dietary com-

O

complications

due

to

Erythema

just shy of her 10th birthday. Lucy was a very healthy dog for the entirety of her life, until she developed EM in 2015. My husband and I had never heard of the illness before. Following per-

sonal research into the disease and a near yearlong process of trying to help our Lucy battle it

- including visits to eight different veterinarians

(dermatologists, internal medical doctor, regular

specific drugs, infection (Staphylococcus der-

ponents and idiopathic causes” (Kersey et al.

2013: E1). A 2011 article similarly states, “the pathogenesis of EM is multi-factorial and not

fully understood, but it is generally thought to be a host-specific cell (T-lymphocyte) mediat-

ed hypersensitivity reaction to various antigens” (Kang and Park 2011: 568).

EM is a disease that manifests itself via

veterinarians, holistic veterinarians) and various

acute inflammation of the skin as well as pos-

realized that it is an uncommon illness and pro-

mild (erythema multiforme minor) to severe

tests over that time period - my husband and I

fessional medical experience on how to effectively treat it may also, unfortunately, be difficult to find. I hope this article increases awareness

about the disease, especially for families with

pets going through what Lucy had, and it not being recognized as possible EM. Basic awareness of the disease by pet owners is the first, vital step in the battle against it.

A 2013 article on EM defines the disease as

“an uncommon, acute, inflammatory condition of the skin and/or mucous membranes that can cause significant morbidity. The pathogenesis

has not been fully elucidated but is proposed to

be a host-specific, cell mediated hypersensitivity reaction to various antigens. It has been report16 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

sibly mucous membranes. It can range from (erythema multiforme major). In both cases epidermal detachment is characteristic of the

disease. Lesions vary in appearance and the most commonly affected parts of the body

are the ventrum, mucous junctions, oral cavi-

ty, ears, and footpads. In the case of our Lucy, she developed red bumps by her ventrum – like an allergic reaction - after having received an antibiotic for a red rash along her belly.

Even after discontinuing the antibiotic, the bumps remained and developed into lesions. When the EM was at its worst, she had the

red bumps by her ventrum, hair loss, skin lesions (with a white center), which were fol-

lowed by epidermal detachment, and an


By Chantal den Broeder

increase of callouses by her footpads.

In the case of our Lucy, she suffered severe

The cause for EM is still unknown - an adverse

side effects from cyclosporine, including skin

tion, or a combination of factors, are just a few

Ultimately, an intestinal infection and inflamed

reaction to a drug, diet, an already present infec-

of the possibilities for its origin – and so, effective treatment can be difficult. It is estimated

that EM accounts for less than 1% of all canine dermatological

conditions

(Scott

2010).

Research into animal EM is limited. A 2014 arti-

cle notes “a multicenter study to develop a consensus set of clinical criteria for EM is overdue

and no adjunctive therapies, including intra-

venous immunoglobulin and cyclosporine have

boils, ear infections, and a loss of appetite.

gums in her mouth (likely due to EM) sadly made it too hard for her to fight the disease any

longer. EM made Lucy ill, but the side-effects from cyclosporine, were also very tough on her.

As for the origin of EM in Lucy, we were never able to isolate it, despite changes in diet, dog

shampoo / conditioner, household cleaning products, laundry detergent, and surroundings.

EM is a rare disease, and so pet owners need

met with evidence-based standards” (Yates

to take heed, as it can be quite easily misdiag-

underlying cause, if it can be isolated and is still

ed and should a lesion or hotspot be noted, then

2014: 406). The best treatment is removal of the present. In some cases, the effects on the skin

may be so severe that extra care is needed in the

form of antibiotics, intravenous fluid therapy,

analgesia, nutritional support, and wound management

(Kersey

et

al.

2013).

Immunosuppressive drugs (such as glucocorti-

coids or cyclosporine) may be used in idiopathic cases, however, as they inhibit the immune

system, they can put the patient at risk of other

infections and even further complications.

Human immunoglobulin has been proven successful in treating cutaneous drug reactions such as EM, but it is not common practice.1 In

patients with a relapsing case of EM, the EM tends to come back even stronger, affecting

more areas of the skin, mucous junctions, the mouth, and lowering the chance of survival.

nosed. A pet’s skin needs to be regularly inspectit must be brought to the attention of a veteri-

narian. Should a diagnosis of EM be made (a skin biopsy is essential), then it is critical for the pet’s health to make sure that the veterinarian

knows how to effectively treat and manage the disease. I would encourage owners to thorough-

ly discuss the disease with their veterinarians,

ask many questions including the veterinarian’s past experience in treating EM, short and longterm prognosis, all possible treatment options,

potential side effects from immunosuppressive

drugs, and not to dismiss obtaining a second opinion. Awareness of the disease by pet owners, early and correct identification of the dis-

ease, and open, thorough communication with

veterinarians are essential steps in the battle against it.

Urban Paws Magazine 17


A Guide to Owning a New Puppy

18 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com


F

ew days are as exciting as the day you

bring your new puppy home. But, before

with your new friend.

Remember, your pup is a learning sponge dur-

you do, here are a few things you should con-

ing that first year. She will be learning with every

For the scope of this article, we’ll assume

to teach her the behaviors you want, she will

sider.

you’ve already researched at length which breeds

or mixed breeds will be compatible with your

lifestyle, what makes a reputable, knowledgeable

interaction you have. If you don’t take the time

quickly learn things you are not terribly impressed with.

**The NUMBER ONE reason relationships

dog breeder (and it’s not just the breeder telling

between pets and people fail is due to lack of

lot about how to choose a mentally and physi-

human element within the relationship. If some-

you they’re reputable!) and that you have read a cally healthy puppy. You already know that the

pet store is the worst possible place to buy a puppy and that pet rescues can be the greatest resources for locating your new best friend.

You’ve also discussed your research with a high-

quality veterinarian who can let you know whether you’re on the right track.

Now, on to the fun part. Things you need

(preferably) before you bring home that little

1

bundle of fuzz.

Knowledge Base

initiative and knowledge on the part of the thing‘s not working, it‘s up to you to seek

knowledgeable, positive reinforcement-based help. Keep seeking help until something does

work. If a training method doesn‘t seem to make sense or focuses on punishing negative behavior and not shaping positive behavior, seek a new method.**

Keep learning. One dog training class just

doesn’t cut it. The only way your dog is going to

get trained and stay trained is if you keep learning and keep training.

The best source of information is your veteri-

Understand that you are bringing

narian. Choosing a veterinary professional can

who speaks a completely different language and

wouldn’t choose a human physician based on

another living being into your home

has a different set of instincts than you do. This

little “alien” will quickly progress from toddler to teenager in the span of one year. It’s up to

you as the “smarter” one in the relationship to

learn all you can from books, videos, dog behaviorists and your veterinarian about how to communicate appropriately

be tricky, though. Just as most of us likely “who’s cheapest”, neither should you choose a

doctor of veterinary medicine in this fashion.

You want a doctor who is able to spend time with you and your pet and who takes time to

pursue continuing education. Ask your friends and family what veterinarian they go to and

what things they like and dislike about that vetUrban Paws Magazine 19


erinary hospital. Look online. Most veterinary hospitals now have websites where you can take

a virtual tour and get to know the staff before

your visit. Talk to a staff member on the phone. Before making an appointment, take a tour of

the facility. Is it clean and up to date? Do you

feel your pet will receive the highest quality medical care available in a friendly, family oriented environment? What is the doctor’s background? Will they be able to help you with more

than just medical issues? How much continuing education do the doctors and staff pursue? There is, unfortunately, a large amount of varia-

tion in the quality of veterinary medical facili-

ties. Most poor quality facilities can be avoided

2

by just using common sense.

Crate

In order to quickly teach your puppy the fine art of being house trained and

to save your sofa from being shredded during teething you will need a crate. Initially, your pup

should only have enough room to stand up, turn around and stretch out comfortably. After your

pup becomes house broken, you can increase the amount of crate space available. Most dogs can be weaned from crates after they are suc-

cessfully house trained, have learned some basic obedience and have finished teething. Obtain

information about crate training from your veterinarian.

3

Puppy Proofing

As little carnivores,

young pups will put absolutely everything (including shoes, elec-

trical cords, throw pil-

lows, garbage, toys, hair

ties, etc., etc.) into their

mouths. While your pup is young, make

sure you pick everything up. Help your pup learn what is his by

only providing 2-3 toys

at a time and diverting

him to his own toys


when he tries to pick up something of yours.

Toys that can be chewed apart and possibly

It” using positive reinforcement methods. If

Keep 2-3 toys out at a time. More than that can

Learn how to train the words “Out” and “Leave your pup does destroy something, admit to

yourself that you messed up by leaving it out and then not watching the pup closely enough. Don’t worry, you’ll do better next time.

swallowed should only be used with supervision. confuse a pup as they learn what they are or

aren’t allowed to chew on. You may rotate those toys every 3-4 weeks with other toys.

Food or treat puzzles like the “Buster Cube”

Never, ever, ever punish a pet “after the fact”.

are wonderful for slowing down eating and

for (despite that “guilty” look - which, by the

small amount of peanut butter on the inside can

They do not know what they are being punished

keeping your pet occupied. A Kong toy with a

the boss. Please don’t hurt me”). If you catch

5

ing “NO” in a deep, growling tone, then divert

different nutrient profile. I also occasionally

way, isn’t guilt at all, just submission - I.e. the head lowered, avoiding eye contact, ears back

expression that looks like they “know they did something wrong” - well, that’s your pup’s way

of saying “I know you’re angry. I know you’re your pet in the act, you can distract them by say-

them to one of their own toys and praise them for chewing on the proper object.

Most accidents (both chewing and elimination

related) are due to us giving the pup too much

freedom way too quickly. Keep the pup in whatever room you happen to be in using either a leash, a crate or a baby gate until training is pro-

gressing nicely. If you start giving some freedom

and you backslide, remove the freedom again

for a while. This isn’t a sprint, it’s a short

4

marathon. The work you do now will pay off tremendously in the future.

Toys:

Most pets love toys as much as kids do.

also keep Fido occupied for a bit.

Food

A good, high-quality diet is essential. You often get what you pay for when it

comes to pet food. I like to rotate the brand and type of food my pet is eating as each food has a


supplement with cooked whole meats, whole

with no leadership status. It is important to set

Please be aware that while the internet can

ence train, feed and care for the dog. No biting

grains, and vegetables.

sometimes be a source of valuable information, now there is a tremendous amount of misinfor-

mation about nutrition (and, unfortunately, most other topics) for pets written by very mis-

guided people. Your best source of information for pet foods is a veterinarian or a veterinary

nutritionist. Also be cautious about receiving

nutritional information from a pet store

some ground rules. Children should help obediof the children is allowed (even in play). Children should only pet the pup when it has

“Four on the Floor” - never when jumping up. Have the children take part in obedience classes

so they can learn how to communicate with the new pup. Watch their interactions closely and intervene when needed.

Cats need to be introduced more slowly.

employee as this often akin to taking human

Positively reinforce your cat by giving her a treat

Mart.

the room. The pup should be kept on a leash

6

nutritional advice from the shelf stocker at Wal-

and talking softly to her when she comes into initially and rewarded for exhibiting positive

Introductions

behavior around the cat. Do not allow the pup

quite well from day one. A couple of

the two are playing and the pup is getting out of

Kids and puppies typically get along

reminders. You are the adult. Your children will

help take care of the pet, but it should never be

to chase the cat. Step in and remove the pup if hand.

Older dogs are wonderful teachers. Allow

their primary responsibility. They are children.

them to let the pup know when to back off. As

work. Don’t make the pet suffer because your

pup, they’re just letting the little whippersnapper

They quickly lose interest in doing the dirty child made promises they didn’t keep.

Puppies often look at children as litter mates

22 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

long as they don’t physically have a hold of the

know he’s out of control. If the old guy is getting really crabby, remove the pup. Your more


mature friend will know you’ve got his back and he won’t have to escalate things. Give your first

“baby” lots of extra love, some alone time with you and a little treat a few times a day when he

7

sees the puppy. Make the association as positive as possible.

Traveling

If you are going to be traveling before your pet is fully house trained, make

certain to find someone who will take the pup

9

walking as long as your pup is trained not to pull.

Food Dishes

Stainless Steel or ceramic are best.

10

fresh.

Keep the bowls clean. Keep the water

Indoor or Outdoor

Dogs are social animals who crave attention and companion-

and continue the house training in your absence.

ship from their families. No dog should ever

trained can set the process back a bit.

sentence of virtual solitary confinement.

8

Kenneling a puppy that is not fully house

have to live outside in what amounts to a life

Collar and Leash

Decide early on, as a family, what kind of rela-

should be tight enough that it will not

pup is a clean slate now. It’s up to you to teach

A flat, nylon or leather collar is best. It

slip over the head, but loose enough that you can put two fingers between the collar and the neck without them feeling pinched. Remember,

tionship you want to have with your pet. Your her the rules of the household in a humane and knowledgeable way.

You have just assumed the responsibility of

pups grow at a rapid rate, so remember to check

caring for a thinking, feeling, living toddler of

Training leashes should be flat

tle effort on your part, you will have a friend

the collar weekly and readjust as necessary. nylon or leather and no

longer than six feet. Chain leashes are murder on

another species. Congratulations! With just a lit-

who will love you unconditionally for all of his or her days.

the hands and retractable

leashes are useless for training though they can be nice for

Urban Paws Magazine 23


Training Can You Speak Dog?

R

ecently I was speaking at an event and I

asked the audience if they could tell me

might bark or growl to express his discomfort.

how dogs communicate. As I listened, it became

Which is the more important aspect of his com-

of "canine speak"-- body language and vocaliza-

Body language is your dog's primary way of

clear to them that there are two basic methods tions.

Body language includes: jumping, nipping, licking, tail wagging, biting, use of the head including, ears, eyes and mouth and various other posturing during which your dog uses his entire body.

Vocalization includes: barking, growling,

whining, howling and other miscellaneous

sounds.

Know that each posture means

something. When your dog wants

to play, he'll get into a play stance,

which I'm sure you have seen. His front

end is low, rear end is up and wiggling and

his tail is wagging. If he is approached by another dog, that dog will recognize the stance immediately and if he's feeling playful too he might mirror the stance and the games begin.

Each vocalization means some-

thing also. Your dog, when startled, 24 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

munication? Body language is, without a doubt. communicating with you and other dogs. Even

if he's vocalizing, he's backing up the message with his body language. If he doesn't want to play with the other dog, he will stand as tall and

stiff as he can get, and his tail may slowly be waving like a warning flag. Hopefully the other dog recognizes the signals and decides that it may not be a good time to play.


By Bark Busters Home Dog Training

When we work with our clients, we spend part of the time educating them about canine communication and what some of it means. Why? In

your dog will have a better chance at understanding what you want.

order to communicate clearly and easily with

When you learn to communicate clearly, in a

don't speak English, French or any other human

understanding your message. When he under-

anyone you have to know the language. Dogs language -- they speak dog. They can learn to

associate words with actions such as come, sit,

stay, down, etc. but if we use our body language, in a canine way, to match our message the process is sped up.

Let me give you an example. Let's say my dog

canine way, your dog has a better chance of

stands, he'll be more likely to respond correctly. When he responds correctly he'll get praised.

When he gets praised he gets happy. We know the rest of the story -- happy dogs = happy families!

and I visit a dog park (which sometimes can be dangerous). I walked into the middle of the park and just lowered my height and excitedly tapped

my leg. Five dogs immediately started to come

towards me. I stood up straight and stiffened my posture, almost at attention, and every one of

the dogs stopped. I lowered my height again and they came. I didn't utter a word. I only used my

body language and they understood. Try it with your dog and see what happens.

It's human nature that most people call their

dogs while standing straight and tall. If your dog doesn't come, you call louder and sterner. Your body language and vocal tones aren't matching your message from a canine perspective. By low-

ering your height, you are more closely matching the inviting play posture.

Add a happy, excited "come" and your vocal

COMING IN APRIL:

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

COMING IN MAY: Pet Safety

Contact us for special advertising opportunities at 281.384.5431

message will match your body language and Urban Paws Magazine 25


Tail End Global Pet Accessories Market Expected to Exceed $19 Billion by 2019 ccording to a market research study

“There is a rising popularity of natural and

accessories market is expected to exceed $19 bil-

safer option for pets,” said Brijesh Kumar

A

released by Technavio, the global pet

lion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of over five percent during the forecast period.

organic pet toys as they are considered to be a

Choubey, a lead research analyst at Technavio for pet supplies.

This research report, titled “Global Pet

The global pet housing, bedding, and food mar-

depth analysis of the market in terms of rev-

ing it the second most prominent segment in the

Accessories Market 2015-2019,” provides an inenue and emerging market trends. It also includes an up to date analysis and forecast for various market segments and all geographical regions.

ket is expected to reach $5 billion by 2019, makglobal pet accessories market. The global pet collars, leashes, and utility market is expected to exceed $3 billion by 2019.

According to the report, the global pet toys market is expected to reach $10 billion by 2019. The market for pet toys has

garnered

immense popularity

among

developed as well

as developing coun-

tries, and eco-friendly

pet toys have helped to drive this growth.

26 www.urbanpawsmagazine.com

Source: PetAge.com




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