The
Whines, Wines and Canines
The dog owner's official pastime coupled with the dog owner's official pastime
ProgressiveMagazine Pet Because there is a BETTER way...
Dying for a Piece of Meat?
The truth about the meat we feed our pets and how it can affect them
For the Love of Satos
Giving stray dogs in Puerto Rico a second chance
Featured Breeder Lynn Caswell
Get a unique glimpse on Staffords
Free Issue
Aug - Sept 2014 - Volume 1- Issue 2 www.controversialcanine.com
Herb of the Month: Licorice Root
2 | The Progressive Pet - August-September 2014 - Volume 1 - Issue 2
Would you like to make a difference? We do... The People for the Alternative Care of K-9s (THE PACK) is a non-profit organization that consists of a large community of concerned dog owners and cat owners. The society will help underprivileged families care for their animals during times of financial hardship. This assistance is will also be available to rescue groups and other animal focused organizations. That’s only one of our mandates, we will also advocate and help raise funds for all things pet related such as: ӹӹ Fighting BSL ӹӹ Housing ӹӹ Improving our right to affordable animal health care ӹӹ Holistic alternatives
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August-September 2014 - Volume 1- Issue 2 - The Progressive Pet | 3
The
Progressive Pet
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Erika Pardy Editor-in-Chief
Alisha Morrisey Assistant Editor
Karen Monterroza Copy Editor
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The information offered in The Progressive Pet Magazine is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace veterinary advice
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Advertising We invite you to e-mail us at sales@ controversialcanine.com for information on advertisement rates, deadlines and requirements. The Progressive Pet Magazine reserves the right to reject any advertisement submitted. Submissions The Progressive Pet Magazine is always looking to provide opportunities for submissions, artwork or photography. By submitting these, The Progressive Pet Magazine is granted permission to use the submitted material, in whole or in part, at its sole discretion, without compensation to the submitter. Please e-mail us at submissions@controversialcanine.com for information on format and requirements Permissions This publication is copyrighted. No contents of The Progressive Pet Magazine may be reproduced or reprinted in whole or in part without the prior written consent.
Visit our website at www.controversialcanine.com
4 | The Progressive Pet - August-September 2014 - Volume 1 - Issue 2
One Man's Trash Is Another Woman's Best Friend Page 12 Dying for a Piece of Meat? Page 8
Page 18
Whines, Wines and Canines Page 32
August-September 2014 - Volume 1- Issue 2 - The Progressive Pet | 5
The
Progressive Pet
Magazine
8 Dying for a Piece of Meat?
We are what we eat. Raw feeding dog owners take this simple statement very seriously and eschew kibble for its dubious origins and questionable ingredients.
12 One Man's Trash is Another Woman's Best Friend? My dog is 11 years old. We became friends when she was 10. Besie-Mae, a tri-coloured, cranky old lady of a beagle, is a great dog, who does really bad things.
Featured Breeder: Lynn Caswell
Page 22
18 For the Love of Satos
Imagine moving somewhere that is called "La Isla del Encanto" ("The Isle of Enchantment" in Spanish).
22 Featured Breeder: Lynn Caswell 30 Herb of the Month: Licorice Root 32 Whines, Wines and Canines
I sometimes worry that passing aliens or Google earth, will fly over and wonder if I belong to some cult that worships poop.
Page 30 Take Me With You Page 34
34 Take Me With You
Tips for traveling with your pet.
36 Duck, Duck,...Dead Duck?
Not too long ago, we went to our third-ever ASCA trial and apparently third time is charm - at least for making REALLY BIZARRE things happen in the duck ring! Are you an aspiring writer? Do you have a good story to tell? Would you like to see your name on the pages of a renowned magazine? The Progressive Pet Magazine is always looking for submissions. Be it a personal story or you want to showcase your dog breed, or know of a great business that can use the publicity - we would like to read it!
Duck, Duck,‌. Dead duck?? Page 36
Of course, bear in mind we need to read the work and if we determine it to fit our theme for the magazine, it has a good chance of being used. Please refer to page 3 for further details.
On the Cover: IGOR VON TEUFELHUND bred by Joanne Fleming Plumb owner Erika Pardy 1998
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Notes from the Editor
ERIKA PARDY Well there has been a significant whirlwind of emotions these past couple of months associated with the production of this magazine. Moving here temporarily and getting this project off the ground, finding a great team to work with, putting the project on Kickstarter with the hopes to get the funding we need to get this baby into print, (which, we now know, we were not successful in securing the funding we had hoped for but that is only a temporary hindrance and we will be launching again in October) trying to find suitable employment while getting it off the ground has proven fruitless and I've had to come up with alternative ways of survival and I must admit that despite it all we have survived! Thanks in large part to the great circle of friends that I have around me. As you noticed in my last editorial I mentioned some key people and this issue is no different, my goal is to always give personal thanks to people that have shown kindness in some way throughout the months. This time I would like to say thank you to Tony Roberts for his fantastic support, Lucinda Schultz for her dogged determination, my landlord - Dan Laliberte and his fiancée Terri for their patience and love of animals because Dog only knows how many have come and gone in these short months, Stephan, the mechanic at the corner garage, for giving me a break, to Laura Shaughnessy for dropping everything and driving an hour and a half when a dog needed her help and finally to Tina Barker for being our first official advertiser and sponsor! I am also happy… No… ecstatic to report that I will be traveling back to my home Island of Newfoundland just after the release of this second issue. From this edition onward this will be a proud product of Newfoundland and Labrador! Now without further ado… the summer is in full swing and so far it’s been a pretty wet one, I don't mind really as it cuts down the need for air conditioning and since I have one not in my vehicle nor in my house I am eternally grateful. My apologies to you sun
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worshippers but let’s face it; despite the need for Vitamin D too much sun is bad for you. ;) The dogs are enjoying it too. They get to come with me a tiny bit more when it’s not so brutally hot. However just a reminder to anyone travelling with their animals, NEVER leave them in the car unattended, even on days when it’s overcast, the inside of a vehicle can reach deadly temperatures in a matter of minutes. Alice, my feline companion doesn't seem to care either way what the temperatures are. Rain, shine, hot or cold she is insistent on patrolling the grounds. Oh I have tried to keep her inside but she is not having any of it. If I refuse to let her outside for at least a short period of time, she will wait until I have drifted off into a sweet slumber and then hurl herself at my door in an apparent zombie attack. I have tried to ignore her but after the fourth and fifth full body attack; it is simply much easier for me to let her outside than it is to find a suitable new home at that hour of the night. Besides, is it right to keep her confined to the indoors if I have a ‘safe’ property for her to explore? What do you think… staunch captors or liberalists? I would love to hear your thoughts. If anyone has any tips on traveling 3000 miles with a cat, that would also be greatly appreciated! ( I’ve got my 3 dogs covered but the cat, well that’s another story) We have some fantastic articles for you in this issue and we do hope you enjoy each and every one of them. If you do have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to head on over to the forum on our web-site www.controversialcanine.com or our Facebook page and get something started. Sincerely,
Erika Pardy
The
Progressive Pet
Magazine
8 | The Progressive Pet - August-September 2014 - Volume 1 - Issue 2
Dying for a Piece of Meat? By Erika Pardy
We are what we eat. Raw feeding dog owners take this simple statement very seriously and eschew kibble for its dubious origins and questionable ingredients. We rightly feel more comfortable feeding foods to our dogs with known origins: we like to know not only what foods are going into our dogs but where they came from. Unfortunately, we might not know as much about the origin of feed animals as we should. The Times they are A-Changing ~Bob Dylan For generations our food has been raised on soils rich in nutrients. Cows ate grass, sheep ate grass. Chickens free ranged and ate worms and frogs and other meaty morsels rich with protein necessary to produce wonderfully nutritious eggs. Pigs received 80% of their nutritional requirements from rich and living soil. Life was simpler and there was life in our nutrient-dense food. Sadly, this does not ring true today: cows are now grain fed with many of them never seeing a blade of grass, chickens are grain fed and factory raised without sunshine and never seeing a bug or a worm, pigs are raised in concrete buildings and sheep are normally pastured but too expensive to eat.
The ramifications of industrialized farming have very real health implications for us and for our dogs. The cow is nothing but a machine which makes grass fit for us human beings to eat. ~John McNulty Cows are ruminants, and ruminants are designed by nature to digest grass and only grass. They digest it first by eating it raw and then by regurgitating it and eating it again in a partially digested form known as cud. As ruminants, cows have four chambers in their stomachs, and as a cow digests, the food moves slowly from one chamber to the next. Raising cattle on pasture not only
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makes sense for their digestive systems, but makes sense for humans too, by turning something we can’t eat (grass) into something we can (meat) and dairy products. Cattle raised on grass provide meat that is leaner and lower in calories, and higher in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. Grass-fed dairy products also have five times the levels of conjugated linoleum acid (CLA) than their grain fed counterparts. Grass fed cows also convert Chlorophyll that they get from grass into Vitamin D that they get from the sun which in turn produces vitamin A found in the liver and other organs. Without grass a Cow is not worth eating! On factory beef farms the staple of the cow’s diet is corn and soy which are not digested well by cows. In fact, cattle can develop severe health problems from grains, some of which include liver abscesses and sudden death syndrome. For filler, factory farms will also add animal by-products to industrial cattle feed, and these additions can transmit diseases like mad cow to both animals and humans. Grains ferment in the stomach and create serious bacteria overloads including salmonella and e-coli. In large production facilities where the animals stand and sleep in their feces, the bacterium is spread throughout the herd and when the time comes for slaughter the feces/bacteria often remain in the meat unless bleached. On top of that, run-off from factory farms and feedlots can contaminate surrounding crops with salmonella and e-coli and this has resulted in numerous illnesses and recalls. Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. ~Frank Lloyd Wright Factory farmed chickens fare no better than cows. Millions of tons of meat and bone meal from post-slaughter animal waste are recycled back into animal feed each year, and poultry and hog producers are the main purchasers of these products. On industrial poultry farms, a range of antibiotics and additives are also added to the birds’ feed and water and are necessary to combat the ill effects of poor quality feed and lack of sunshine and fresh air. Factory farmed chickens are regularly fed arsenic (and sometimes turkeys and pigs) to encourage weight gain and create the appearance of healthy color in the meat. If the chicken is eating arsenic, your dog is eating arsenic and the insidious effect of this low level exposure mimics many chronic diseases. Arsenic exposure leads to cancer, nerve damage, diabetes and cognitive dysfunction. Like e-coli, arsenic is not only found in the meat but in the feces which eventually pollute surrounding water supplies. The Dark Side of the Other White Meat According to the Sustainable table, “In some states, garbage can legally be fed to pigs, and if this garbage includes rotten meat, pigs are at risk for diseases such
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as hog cholera, Foot and Mouth Disease, African swine fever, and swine vesicular disease. Other pathogens of concern are Salmonella, Campylobacter, Trichinella, and Toxoplasma. These diseases may be spread to other livestock or humans if hogs eat contaminated meat in improperly treated food waste. Pigs have a completely different digestive system than cows and unlike cows, can digest soil and dirt. As a matter of fact most pigs can get 80% of their daily food ration from soil alone. They eat grasses, legumes, ground cover, standing plants and are about the easiest animal to raise on pasture without the worry of supplementation. Unfortunately, this is not the practice that is employed by large pig operations. What does this all mean for us and our pets? Without the nutrients that are normally found in healthy soil and in turn the plants that soils contain, our companion animals are at critical risk for disease and deficiencies. If you knew how meat was made, you’d probably lose your lunch. ~k.d. lang As much as possible, ensure that your meat comes from local farmers who raise their animals as naturally as possible. If you are forced to use grain-fed animals, then you might want to supplement a prey-model diet to replace the nutrients erased by factory farming and to boost your dog‘s immune system to fight the ill effects from additives such as hormones, antibiotics and arsenic. Although the full extent of the dog’s ability to digest plant matter is largely unknown, all of the deficiencies in vitamins and minerals are readily available in herbs. Unless you are able to feed exclusively organic, grass-fed animals, the benefits of feeding plant matter to dogs likely outweighs the risks of feeding deficient meats which have joined the alarmingly large and growing list of products contaminated by increasingly powerful industries. “The ten billion animals that are killed every year for meat and the virulent consequences of contemporary animal agricultural practices remain conspicuously absent from public discourse. How often have you seen media exposés on the violent treatment of farm animals and the corrupt practices of carnistic industry? Compare this with the amount of coverage afforded fluctuating gas prices or Hollywood fashion blunders. Most of us are more outraged over having to pay five cents more for a gallon of gas than over the fact that billions of animals, millions of humans, and the entire ecosystem are systematically exploited by an industry that profits from such gratuitous violence. And most of us know more about what the stars wore to the Oscars than we do about the animals we eat.”
Melanie Joy, Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism: The Belief System That Enables Us to Eat Some Animals and Not Others
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ONE MAN'S TRASH IS ANOTH
ally bad e r . 0 s 1 e o s a d o ew dog, wh when sh t a s e d r n g ers. She’s e i n a r f n s a i e , m m e l a o n ag ec y of a be bsolutely old. We b a d s a s r l a a h e d l y d o 1 n y a s1 a puppy, ed, crank r My dog i e u k i o l l y o c g r i ene ae, a tr nt. she’s got , h t l vironme Bessie M a n e e h r d e o h o f yo he’s in g ut mostl b , s e things. S y , g in t of breed c u d o r p a
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B S ' E N S A T M O FRIEND W R E H
Her gen es make her stub By Alisha Morrisey lows he born an r nose, j d clever, j ust like sites say ust as a every ot . breeder her Bea s guide gle. She But Bes told me ’s small sie Mae she wou a n d ’s f e a nvironm st, just l ld be. Sh mare of i ent has ke all th e fola pet at m e books a ade her times. nd weba timid, garbage -scaven ging, ho use-trai ning nig ht-
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In Newfoundland and Labrador, like many places across Canada, beagles are used as hunting dogs. They aren’t pets, they’re tools. They’re often left outdoors all year round, chained to a post or housed in a metal cage raised off the ground so their excrement doesn’t have to be cleaned. These dogs are often fed scraps. They are effectively neglected until needed for rabbit, bird, or duck hunting. When my beagle Bessie came to me, I noticed within a few days several scars under her fur, especially around her legs. She had skin tags around her neck, chest and forward body, which concerned me. She was a rescued hunting dog, that I knew, but it wasn’t until one evening when she got a hind leg caught in my laptop cord that I realized what her life was like before sleeping on couches and in beds. Much like a snare, the laptop cord got progressively tighter around her hind leg as she tried instinctively to pull herself free. Beagles are known for their distinctive howl,
but I’d never heard her make a noise in my first months of having her. The cries and mewls coming from her while her leg was wrapped in that power cord shocked me into action. While I attempted to free her, she snapped at me with an aggression she’d never shown before. She didn’t bite me, but could have easily hurt me badly. She spent the rest of the night cowering in her kennel and wouldn’t come out for any amount of love or treats. This poor little creature is still afraid of the broom and mop, but that doesn’t bother her much since I’m not the greatest housekeeper. She gets in bed each night as a person would – head on the pillows and body under the sheets and blankets. A bed is a foreign concept so it’s monkey see, monkey do. I took my cranky old southern belle to the vet to get looked over. They told me her skin tags and scars were nothing to worry about; it’s common with dogs who have lived at the end of a chain and had them twist and
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matted in their skin. Her scars were probably war wounds from hunting in dense brush – probably the only excitement in her first years of life. The vet informed me that Bessie Mae had been spayed late in life after having several litters. Due to the late age she had her surgery, she’d suffered from some complications including excessive bleeding, and she has a lengthy scar running down her belly. Bessie needs constant, and I do mean constant, attention. She regularly crawls into my lap while working, scratches the back of my hair while I’m sleeping, and sits as close to me as possible, just aching for a pat on the head or a little rub down her back. When you stop, she paws at you for more. An entire basket of dog toys goes unused in the corner of the living room. Bessie Mae has never played. If you throw a ball she will chase it, but she’ll never retrieve it to be thrown again. It’s sad to think, my dog has never experienced play. I can’t wrestle with her, because she sees it as aggression and will likely hurt me. I don’t know the extent of the abuse this little snuggly scruffball suffered, but I can tell you that retirement has been good for this old girl. A neighbour remarked on how old she was when we were out for a walk in her early days with me. Everyone thought she wasn’t long for this world because she was so skinny and tired looking.
A couple weeks ago that neighbour asked me if she was the same dog. He said I’d taken a decade off her life. Friends and family have made the same remarks. Apparently a balanced diet, regular walks, and a comfy couch to nap on, is all an abused dog needs to be reborn. A year in, and we’re still working on basic manners, her tendencies to eat garbage, and house training. When it’s raining or snowing hard, she refuses to go outside to do her business. She looks at me, not with sad eyes when I open the door in a downpour, but with an expression of, “You’re kidding, right? I’m not going out in that.” It’s progress. It’s slow going. But the joy and excitement in Bessie Mae’s face when she sees me coming, her loyalty, and her willingness to trust me – regardless of her past abuse – proves to me that any dog can be rescued. Bessie instills in me a belief that all we need – people or dogs – is a nap on a soft couch, a full belly and a scratch behind the ears to learn to trust again.
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Rescued by Lucinda Schultz
You were not what I would have chosen, Had I been looking. No flowing, showy coat No pedigree of merit. But there was space in my home And heart. And for you, for whom all choice has ever been denied Since lupine ancestors first cast their lot with man, Entered my life cautiously, unaware of other fates. I cured the mats and dirt, You fought the brush and leash, And slowly we learned each other’s courtesies. Time slipped by, and you became my best dog My old friend My cherished memory My home was again empty, at my front door Waves of silence washed over me. Through the waters of my grief a line was cast. From under tangled locks reproachful eyes gaze at me. I smile as I grip the brush with practiced patience. Grateful for the Rescue.
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By Andrea Vee
Imagine moving somewhere that is called “La Isla del Encanto” (“The Isle of Enchantment” in Spanish). What kind of images does that bring to mind, an island paradise with beautiful, swaying palm trees? Or maybe a Beautiful beach with warm, tropical weather? Puerto Rico has all of those things and it is truly a beautiful place but Puerto Rico also has a tragic secret that they don’t advertise: The plight of the “satos” (slang for Puerto Rican street dogs). Estimates vary, but there are somewhere between 100,000 and 500,000 stray, homeless dogs roaming about on the island. Some have been turned out into the streets when they were no longer wanted by their “families”, some have been left in abandoned houses when their “families” moved out and some are born on the street. Virtually none are spayed or neutered, thus propagating this heartbreaking problem. As you are reading this magazine, I am sure you are also a dog lover. For people like us, this is like a sad movie you cannot believe you are having to watch.
When my family and I first moved to Puerto Rico in 2012 and we drove along the road, I had no idea why I was seeing so many dogs wandering about. I started Googling and learned about the sad plight of these unfortunate creatures. I desperately wanted to help beyond giving food and water to the dogs I happened to see, but I had no idea how to get involved. It was then that I met my rescue partner, Myrna. There are a group of dogs that live in a little wood beside the road that I live on that I would feed when I could. I was out and about one day and I noticed a vehicle pulled over feeding the same group of dogs! I stopped to talk to her and we chatted for about a half an hour. She told me that she fed that group of dogs regularly, along with a few other groups. Honestly, people who regularly feed are the only way that many of these dogs survive the harsh conditions of street life. She also told me that if I wanted to help, I could take over feeding those dogs on the weekends. I was thrilled to be doing more! I did that for a while, but my heart was leading me to do more. I told Myrna that I would like to be a foster for a dog in need of a home. I fostered a dog named Sadie that Myrna picked up from a local dump. She
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looked just like the TV star Benji. Sadie suffered from malnutrition and was slightly protective of her food, as she had to defend it from other dogs at the dump. I fostered Sadie for a few months, but was unable to find her a home in Puerto Rico (which is another common challenge faced by rescuers on the island, which is why many dogs are sent to the U.S.), so Myrna and I decided that it would be a good idea for me to take her to the U.S. on my next trip home. The kind lady from the airline that unloaded Sadie from the plane fell in love with her on the spot and wanted to adopt her! I took Sadie home that night and got her cleaned up and bathed. I took her back to the woman’s house the next day. It was a lovely home and it was clear that Sadie fit in very well with the other dog that was there. It was love at first sight for them all. My heart was so full of happiness. To think how my rescue partner and I had changed this precious dog’s life was overwhelming. I knew that I was going to be rescuing more dogs from that point on. There was a chocolate lab named Taina that had been dropped at the spot where my rescue partner and I fed and she was very pregnant. She had her puppies about a week after she was dumped there. Sadly, I do not believe her puppies survived, as she was in pretty bad shape herself. I tried desperately to find a foster for her so that I could pull her from the street, but I was unable to. I tried for a few weeks with no success, but one day when Myrna was feeding the dogs, I stopped by and we saw that Taina was being bitten mercilessly by ants. I couldn’t take it any
longer. I begged Myrna to help me pull her from the street that day because my heart was telling me that I needed to foster her. Myrna gave her a good bath and brought her over later that day. She had the sweetest disposition and the kindest eyes. I have no idea how anyone could have abandoned her to fend for herself. After several weeks of fostering her, Taina came to the states and found a home very quickly! About 2 weeks before I came to the States this last time, I stopped at a popular restaurant to feed a shaggy looking dog that I spotted from the road. He was a black and tan schnauzer mix presumably and looked just like Sadie! He took a little food and water, but what he really wanted was affection and I gave him love and snuggles but when I was turning around to leave, he jumped in my car! I could not believe it. He obviously knew that I could get him out of there! I made a quick call to the airline company and on discovering that I had room for another dog under the plane, it was set, he was going to the states with me as the 4th dog to be adopted! Many of these dogs are still very much attached to people and want human affection. I (and many others I know) carry food, water and bowls in our cars at all times so that we can pull over to feed and water any dogs we may see along the road. I cannot tell you how many times these dogs have asked for some love. As a rescuer, I do my best to help every dog that I meet. Some will simply not allow me near them because they are afraid of
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people for the horrible treatment they have received in the past or simply by virtue of the fact that they were born on the street and have never known human contact. These Satos have such short, tragic lives if they are left to live on the street. They face so many dangers on a daily basis. Many are hit by cars as they travel to try to find food and water (some die instantly and others are left injured to die a slow painful death). They suffer from malnutrition, starvation and dehydration. Many have horrible skin conditions and eye infections that can leave
them blind, further reducing their chances of survival in their environment. Sadly, the list of health problems goes on and on. There are so many stories like mine. There are many people and organizations across the island who are working to better the life of these sweet souls. They deserve so much more than the hand that they have been dealt. Sometimes, it gets so frustrating because we feel like we will never be able to cover the damage caused by those people who contribute to the problem. To stay sane
"These Satos have such short, tragic lives if they are left to live on the street. They face so many dangers on a daily basis."
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as a rescuer, we have to tell ourselves that we are making a difference in the life of these dogs and that we will keep moving forward to be able to help as many as we can. There have been many dogs that I have been unable to help for one reason or another and I have cried many tears for those innocent souls. The problem of the street dogs of Puerto Rico is one of those issues that gets under your skin the more you know about it. I urge and beg you to get involved somehow, in some way to help the people who help these
defenseless creatures however you can. There is a documentary that a fellow rescue organization made called “Spirit of the Sato” that is an amazing production. I urge you to look it up so that you can see some images of what rescuers here see on a daily basis. Bio Andrea Vee lives on the island of Puerto Rico with her husband and daughter. You can visit her FB page “For the Love of Satos” and if you would like to donate to help further her rescue efforts, contact us here www.controversialcanine.com
God Constantly sends angels He gives them Tails.
he runs out of wings for them
to be in our lives... When
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The Progressive Pet Magazine Featured Breeder
Lynn Caswell
In this issue, we are pleased to bring to you an interview with another great breeder. She is Lynn Caswell. Along with her husband they run Wavemaker Staffords (www.wavemakerstaffords.com) where they promote the health, exercise and breed standard with focus on the total dog, temperament, structure, movement and type. They also naturally rear and raw feed their Staffordshire Bull Terriers, but ultimate goal is to just love their pets! We are grateful for Lynn's insight into her breed and passion - check out their website and engage them in conversation about this fascinating and exciting breed.
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known. This alone keeps us from breeding often. I can't imagine having to keep up with so many dogs and people, and I doubt those who breed often can or do. It would be full time work and to me breeding isn’t a job, it’s a hobby and one we take seriously. Not to When did you decide to become a breeder? condemn those who do breed more often, I owned Staffords for six + years before I decided to breed a litter and it was something as there clearly is a need for pets who are we researched, studied and took very serious- healthy, pure bred and well reared, but it just won't be from us. ly before coming to that decision. We spoke to dozens of breeders, visited other breeders When we do whelp a litter – not only has a homes, asked millions of questions, made sure we did all appropriate health testing and lot of time, money, thought and health testing gone into this decision, and of course a lot of most importantly understood that we didn’t time was taken interviewing potential new just breed the bitch we owned but with the owners, but also we take the raising of the lithelp of friends found one we felt more suitable for breeding. We were also very prepared ter quite seriously as well. When did you first become involved in dogs? I’ve enjoyed purebred dogs my entire life and attended dog shows as a child but I didn’t show my own dogs until about ten years ago.
to not breed her if we thought as an adult she was less than quality. We did not breed from our first two Staffords.
We set up cameras and a Facebook page for the new owners and friends and family to keep up with the puppies. We do all Did you struggle with the decision? Have there sorts of temperament testing, early developbeen times where you thought you shouldn't ment exercises, exposing pups to all sorts be breeding? of sounds, textures, smells – we wean them Yes, as I said above, we took this decision when the dam is ready not at any certain quite seriously and had the support of many age and we wean them to a raw diet. We try more experienced people to rely on. I don’t to do as much as possible in a natural way, think breeding is for everyone and its not avoiding chemicals and man made nutrients. something we wish to do often because of We match each pup with each owner based many reasons – but mostly as it then puts you upon personalities in order that they will be in the position of responsibility for all the a good fit for one another. There is a lot more lives you create for their entire lives. to whelping a litter at our home than putting dogs together and selling puppies. We do a lot of Stafford rescue. When we first got a Stafford we looked for a rescue and was Why did you choose Staffordshire Bull Terriunable to locate one. Now, unfortunately, ers? they have become so popular that we get They suite our lives perfectly and we cannot rescues in almost daily across the country. imagine our lives with out them. Certainly It was far better when they were not as well not the breed for everyone, but for us there
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seems to be no other. Do you breed any other dogs? No. It took years to understand what we should look for in this breed and we don’t really wish to invest that much time into learning another at this time.
oughly screened new homes. Most that buy pups from us become friends, like family. We do home checks, long conversations, receive photos, videos, references, have them visit our home and meet us and our dogs – we do as much as we can to make certain that we are a good fit before we commit to selling a puppy to them. We meet all members of the family
What dog sports are you involved in? Our breed standard states that the Stafford is ‘foremost an all purpose dog’ so we take that to mean they should be ‘active & agile’ in both mind and body. Therefore we challenge them in many dog sports including, but not limited to dock diving, barn hunt, rally, obedience, lure coursing and probably anything else we are able to do. What is your 'return' policy? Have any dogs you've bred ever ended up in a shelter? We insist in our contracts that at any time an owner has to re-home their Stafford from us, including rescues we have placed with them, that we get them back. None of ours have ended up in a shelter – so far – we microchip, activate and register each chip with our information as first contact prior to any dog leaving our home. The new owner is then put down as 2nd contact. We require all owners to check in with us often and anytime a change has been made so we can update the chip information.
if possible as well. Our application is lengthy and thorough and our contracts were written by a canine attorney and are also quite detailed. We want to make sure that both parties understand the lifelong commitment and that What are your requirements when finding we have mutual respect for one another. This homes? How much time do you invest in findis not just a puppy after all – it’s a life and it reing the right homes? quires care, love and understanding for many This is the most time consuming process years. We want to be sure that these Staffords when we have decided to breed a litter. We don’t do a mating unless we have already thor- will be well cared for their entire lives. We understand that sometimes life gets in the way
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so we want people to feel comfortable asking us to take back a dog if need be. No questions asked. At our expense. And we are also willing to babysit, mentor, answer questions – whatever it takes.
a great home we are happy. We didn’t decide to become Stafford breeders to populate the world with Staffords but we did promise to try to breed healthy and well adjusted Staffords. We do all breed appropriate health testing and then some. We study pedigrees What are some of the biggest obstacles/chal- and visit other breeders in this country and lenges you have encountered as a breeder? overseas to see as many Staffords as we posChallenges - Trusting. Not judging. Doing the sibly can. It is important to see what is out best that we can and not worrying about what there and what others are doing. We also atothers are doing. tend as many specialty shows as we can to see Obstacles – dealing with dishonesty and lack what is going on in other parts of the country, of integrity. talk with other breeders and get our hands on other dogs. Where would you like to see yourself as a breeder in the future? I have been completely involved in the breed We don’t plan to breed too many litters so as since day one almost 11 years ago by raising long as any dog we have bred lives its life in awareness and funding to fight Breed Spe-
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cific Legislation, promote health testing and providing education materials for the breed. I run several online shops which donate all proceeds to rescue and we started a non profit 501(c )3 online publication about 5 years ago (The Stafford Knot, Inc.) which is dedicated to the promotion of health testing, education and supporting Stafford rescues worldwide. To date we have raised and donated more than $15,000. The Stafford Knot, Inc. recently published an educational Illustrated Breed Standard and Seminar which was contributed to by dozens of people from around the world. So far it has been well received.
behavioral issues. This project is extremely complicated and we have been working on it for a long time. We hope to launch in the next six months. It will be linked from the TSK, Inc. website.
I am also assisting in the creation of a worldwide online health database for the breed which will be very detailed. Not only will it list diseases and other health issues but also
What can you tell us about your breed? They love their humans – all humans, especially children. They have huge smiles and hearts of gold. The do everything full on.
What kinds of homes do your dogs need? Loving, committed and understanding homes are needed for Staffords. They can be a handful – loaded with energy but also they have an off switch. They do require daily exercise and entertainment and in exchange they will follow you around like Velcro attached to you every second of every day.
They love their humans – all humans, especially children. They have huge smiles and hearts of gold.
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Nothing half heartedly. They can be obsessive and can easily learn new things. They make me smile daily and often laugh. You will become Stafford furniture. No item in your home is sacred as they seem to have no boundaries or respect for your personal space. And because of all of these things – I adore them. Some of them, however, upon maturity, do not care for other animals. A Stafford owner needs to understand and respect this about the breed. Sadly, some breeders fail to educate new owners about this aspect and that is one reason they end up in shelters. Also, they do require obedience training or they will train you. They are highly intelligent animals,
clean in nature and normally easy keepers. This doesn’t mean they are a breed for everyone. They are soft and need an easy hand when training. Harsh training methods will not get you far with Staffords. What would you like people to know about you? Honestly, I think once they meet me in person they will know all there is to know about me. I don’t hide much. My love and commitment to this breed shows in all that I do and have done. And I have done my best. I am a bit like them I suppose, tenacious, quick to spark up, but happy, like to have fun and make people laugh.
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What would you like people to take away from this interview? Please do not call them ‘Staffy’s. They are gladiators and out of respect they deserve to be referred to by their full name or at least in efforts to conserve time – ‘Stafford’. There is a huge need for foster homes and help with Stafford rescue in this (and other) country now. We need more people to say – How about adopting a re-homed or rescued Stafford. We are now getting oldies in shelters, discarded breeding dogs, intact Staffords
There is a huge need for foster homes and help with Stafford rescue in this (and other) country now.
running on the loose – this never happened before here and its happening more and more each week. If all Staffordshire Bull Terrier breeders would commit as much time to helping rescue, keeping up with the dogs they sell and fostering dogs as they do bragging on show wins and announcing new litters we would be in a much better place. Our breed deserves this. They would do anything they could for us and I feel strongly we should do the same for them.
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An erect hardy perennial, can reach 7 feet. Small leaflets with purple flowers that bloom at midsummer. Licorice has been used for thousands of years to treat coughs, colds, rashes, arthritis ulcers, hepatitis, cirrhosis and infections. An adrenal supporting herb, it works well on the mucus membranes to soothe irritation. It works particularly well on the gastrointestinal tract. The plant is an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiarthritic, tonic, and it enhances
the body’s ability to adapt. Liver; Chinese physicians have used licorice for centuries to treat conditions of the liver. Studies show that the herb helps control hepatitis and improve liver function in people with cirrhosis. Cancer; Immune stimulation may help explain licorice’s antitumor activity against cancerous melanomas in experimental animals. Arthritis; One of the plant’s major active ingredients is Glycyrrhizin. This ingredient has
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a structure similar to that of natural corticosteroids. Licorice stimulates the secretion of hormones by the adrenal glands. Being an anti-inflammatory it reduces joint swelling and eases some skin conditions. Digestive aid; Licorice raises prostaglandins in the digestive system, this promotes new cell growth and helps alleviate ulcers. Research has shown that licorice extract performs as well as Tagamet for duodenal ulcers. Licorice decreases the secretion of pepsin and prolongs stomach-cell life. It also soothes irritated membranes and reduces colic by increasing mucus secretion in the stomach.
Infection; An excellent herb to fight disease causing bacteria such as Staphylococci and Streptococci as well as candida albecans (yeast) the dried root can be used on an open wound to prevent infection. Precautions and potential side effects; Although considered safe by the FDA, Pregnant or nursing women or people with diabetes, heart disease, glaucoma, high blood pressure should not use licorice. Reported side effects include sodium retention and potassium loss – edema, hypertension, hypokalemia.
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Whines, Wines and Canines by Lucinda Shultz
I sometimes worry that passing aliens or Google earth, will fly over and wonder if I belong to some cult that worships poop. I can be found scooping at least twice a day. Fair weather or foul, healthy or sick I perform this ritual. In good weather or under the influence of wine I sing my personal hymns to poop. Think Phoebe on Friends and her ballad of Smelly Cat.
Icky Poo, sticky poo I found you with my favorite shoe. Was it you or you or you that left this icky poo? I feed you guys the very best, why don’t your bowels ever rest? Icky, sticky, yicky, pooooooooo.
If I am in good voice the beagles will join in.
I have entire outfits dedicated to this sport. A favorite ensemble includes faded pink jammy pants tucked into battered green wellies and an orange sweat shirt I have been banned from wearing in public. I adore the sweatshirt which features a sad looking hound hanging over a toilet and the banner of the Barfing Dogs. The shirt was a gift from my father and bears the logo of his flight club. Legend has that it was supposed to be The Barking Dogs so named for the pack of Shi Tzu’s that belong to the founder and owner of the micro airport. A misprint and the sense of humor of a group of cigar smoking, bourbon drinking, old vets meant the name stuck.
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My 86 year old father, thankfully, no longer pilots his own plane an ultralight but instead hangs out and swaps stories for rides from some of the younger guys. And sends me ridiculous sweatshirts. My hair is usually styled ala Phyllis Diller and if you are too young for that reference you may think retro 80’s. I don’t mind frightening the neighbors my mantra is The Poop Must Be Scooped! On rainy days like today, I suspect I stir more of it into the mud than I scoop. I slog along and hope I don’t slip in the muck. I face planted once and spent the day muttering to myself “mud, it was just mud on my teeth”, which got me a security escort at Target. As my husband pointed out “if you are going to talk crazy out loud go to Walmart”. One needs something sweet to remove the “eau de poo” from ones nose, so today I turn to a local winery’s finest Pops Reserve by Huber’s. It is a Concord grape wine that people either love or detest. I have heard it described as communion wine meets Boones Farm and YUCK. But I find its bouquet (look a grown up wine word!) reminds of my Michigan childhood and the heady sweet smell of the Concord grape vineyards and picking bushels of grapes for my mother to make gallons of the best grape jelly EVER! Wonderful on everything from waffles to hamburgers. So I raise my glass and toast to rainy days, muddy boots and a lapful of warm Dachshunds. Salute!
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Tips for travelling with your pet this summer: ӹӹ Your dog should have identification secured on its collar (this is the law in most states). This should include a phone number you can be reached on while away from home. Your home phone number won’t do any good on the ID tag if no one is there to answer the phone! ӹӹ QR code tags are another good option; they allow you to upload (and easily change) numerous phone numbers so you can leave a number of a trusted friend/family member at home as well as your cell phone, hotel number, etc. We would also advise getting Fido micro-chipped ӹӹ Traveling involves stress for humans, but also for dogs. It is a good idea to bring along familiar items from home, the dog’s bed, crate, toys, treats—anything that makes the experience seem more like being at home can reduce the level of anxiety for your dog. ӹӹ It’s easy to forget things during the rush to get ready to leave. Make a list of absolute necessities for your dog: their food, their food and water bowls, and any vitamins or medications they are supposed to have. Check the items off the list before you leave the house. ӹӹ Consider portioning out your dog’s food into plastic bags for each day, so you do not have to bring along a large bag of dog food. Be sure to bring a little more than you think you will need; if you are planning an active trip like hiking your dog will eat a bit more than his usual amount. Bringing his own food is important because an abrupt change in diet can cause stomach problems as well. ӹӹ Bring bottled water from home so you don’t have to rely on local tap water that may cause stomach upset. ӹӹ You need a secure way to carry your dog in the car: a secured pet carrier or a harness that fits into your seat belt are both great options. It is not safe to have your dog travel in your lap (no matter how cute and cuddly he may be).
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ӹӹ If you are flying, your carrier must be FAA approved. Every airline has different dimensions for on board carriers, so make sure you check with them before purchasing any carrier ӹӹ For your own safety and comfort, you should pack a first aid kit. Cuts, scrapes, a grass seed in the paw—all these things happen on trips. Tweezers, gauze bandages, hydrogen peroxide or antibiotic ointment, and saline solution are all good items to bring along. ӹӹ We also always pack charcoal capsules for the dogs in case they get an upset tummy. It is safe and natural. ӹӹ Towels and doggy shampoo are other good items to take, as well as the dog’s brush or comb. Part of the fun for our dogs is finding creative ways to get dirty!! Due to airline regulations, we avoid liquid shampoos and instead pack dog shampoo sponges. They also prevent leaking on our clothes (never fun) ӹӹ Since even on a well-planned trip, poop happens. Bring along plastic bags (we prefer biodegradable ones) to pick up waste. We always carry wet wipes for a long trip in case there is any runny mess to clean up! ӹӹ Having your dog vaccinated for rabies is of course a legal requirement in the USA but you should also inquire about what other vaccinations you may need. Ask your vet, the airline and research the requirements for the country you are visiting. This can also apply to trips across state lines. If Fido is following a holistic or alternative treatment course, make sure you have spoken to your alternative vet and your dog is up to date on all necessities. ӹӹ Find out what the local bugs are and be prepared. Make sure you are up to date with all flea, tick and heartworm preventatives (natural or vet prescribed). You don’t want Fido to be bitten or risk any serious illnesses- Heartworm, West Nile, Lyme Disease. Be prepared ӹӹ No matter where you are going, bring along a copy of your dog’s vaccination records, alternative treatments and records from check-ups at the vet that show any recent medical treatments, or medications he may be taking. We put ours in a “cloud” so we can access the docs from anywhere on our travels. It is also an easy way of sharing scans of vet records and vaccinations in case an out of hours visit is required ӹӹ Most importantly, have fun and savor the memories
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k?? c u d d a e D k,…. Duck, Duc ey agn by Diana C
Not too long ago, we went to our thirdever ASCA trial and apparently third time is a charm - at least for making REALLY BIZARRE things happen in the duck ring! I don’t know why there’s never a video camera around when you need one, because I’m sure we could have made money off the video of Red's adventure on Saturday. It was the talk of the weekend and I wouldn't be surprised if it stays in local herding lore for a while. It was just too bizarre. Here's what happened..... Red was in the Started Ducks class, needing leg #2 for his title. It was the A course, which requires that you start off by removing the livestock from the holding pen. So Red went in the pen and took the ducks out and then swung around and moved them towards the
first obstacle along the back fence of the course. In the ASCA course, there are two obstacles along the back fence and the dog has to take the stock behind both obstacles (in Started, the dog can do this by fetching or driving). Well, I was between obstacle 1 and obstacle 2, so he fetched them through obstacle 1 and was bringing them towards me, as I started moving towards obstacle 2. Next thing I knew, there was a dead duck at my feet. I was stunned. Red hadn't touched it. Red wasn't anywhere near it. And I was pretty darn sure that I hadn’t stepped on it. I know I’m a klutz, but surely (I thought) if I’d stepped on a duck and killed it, I would have felt the duck under my feet!! But there was this duck, flat out, on the ground. And it looked like a dead duck. I just froze and looked at it. The judge of course
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had come up out of his chair and was looking over at us with a rather concerned look on his face and asked "Is it dead?" I bent down and studied the duck really hard, looking for signs of life, and said "I don't think it’s dead, I really don't. But it definitely isn't going to play the game today." The judge said "It sure looks dead." I replied "Yeah, but I'm really pretty sure it's not." The judge said "Well, there's something wrong with it." I couldn’t take it anymore, I had to know. So I asked "I didn't step on it, did I?" He said "No” and then said “Try to pick it up and see what happens." So I lifted it up until it was standing and gently released it. The duck limply sank back to the ground. I did this about three times, watching its little neck and body drift back down, lifelessly to the ground. Finally the judge said "Well, you and the dog didn't do anything wrong. So get your dog and I'm going to have them come get that duck and give you another set and we'll start all over." So they let the other ducks back in the pen, and we began to leave the field. As we were leaving, the duck handler started to come get the duck and asked someone to hand her a rake!! I couldn’t believe it. She was going to RAKE the poor
duck up!! In a mild panic, I croaked out a dry-mouthed "You know, I really don't think its dead." She said "Yeah, but something's wrong with it, so I probably shouldn't touch it." Well, apparently she did decide to touch it after all, because she wound up carrying it back to the pen. I know this and remember it clearly, because when she leaned over to place the poor dead duck in the pen, the thing magically came back to life, whacked her in the face with a wing, leaped down among its buddies, and started walking around the pen, squawking, flapping, quacking, and waddling around the pen at 60 mph, apparently telling its friends about the traumatic experience it had just endured. We all stood there with our mouths hanging open until I said "You know, I think what we have here is a really good actor." The duck handler said something I didn't hear. Then the judge said "No, I think she's right, I think it was just acting. But let's go ahead and get her a new set." So, they put those ducks up and got out a new set of ducks. I saw this happen. It was definitely a new set of ducks that they put in the pen. It was even a different breed of ducks. My mind was still foggy, in an emotional haze from the stress of our first run.
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But I managed to send Red into the holding pen for our re-run. He brought the ducks out, he took them down the field to obstacle 1, through obstacle 1, across to obstacle 2, through obstacle 2. I was so relieved. All we had left was heading to the re-pen. Then I looked down and about 2 feet in front of obstacle 2 was a dead duck. One of them just dropped dead right there after it came out of obstacle 2. Again, Red didn't do a thing, didn't touch it, hadn't harassed them, nothing. I turned around and looked at the judge and said "You have got to be kidding me." He looked just as stunned as I know I must have looked. Of course, the duck field had grown a bit of a crowd from the earlier incident, and everybody was stunned. This
could not happen twice - two runs in a row, to the same dog.... What were the odds?? And seriously the dog was NOT overworking the ducks or harassing them. He really wasn't. I looked at the duck and decided "screw it." I was just going to re-pen the other four and let them come get that one afterwards. So I called Red away from it and started walking off. Then I heard someone from the crowd say "He's up, he's fine, he's up." Red and I turned back around and saw that the duck was still lying down, but in a different spot and a different position. So I turned around and looked at the spectator area and people (don't know who, but several) said "really, he was up and moving." So I called Red over and told him to move the duck. Red got
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behind the duck. No movement. I told Red "goose, goose." He looked at me like "really? can I?" I said "Yes, goose, goose." It's a weird command, I know, but Red knows what it means. So he stuck his nose up under the duck's butt and bounced/nudged it a few times. Still no movement. I told Red "get it Red." He looked at me like "okay Mom, if you insist." So he reached down and gently picked the duck's neck up and eased it off the ground slightly and then let it back down. Then he looked at me like "Mom, this duck ain't movin'." (Turns out that the goosing and neck-lifting earned some "Wow, good dog" comments in the judges area and sidelines - I heard about that later from the scribe - I guess Red will have to include those in his book on Duck Resuscitation 101). So, anyway, I called Red off of the duck and we headed off again to re-pen the other four. As we walked away, again I heard "he's up." We turned back around and the duck was still down. I swear, I thought the spectators were playing with us – messing with my mind (as if the ducks weren’t doing that enough by themselves). But it turns out that every time the dog would look away (which also, of course, matched when I was looking away), the duck would raise its head up and look and/or move some. Then, every time the dog turned back to look, the duck would lay its head back down and play dead again. Anyway, we penned our other four ducks and left the field and the duck handler headed out to pick up our "dead duck." About the time she reached down to pick him up, he leaped to his feet and RAN across the field straight to the re-pen gate. They let Lazarus
in the pen as we all stood there laughing. The judge was shaking his head, filling out his score sheet. The crowd was buzzing. I was just still stunned. Then I finally recovered enough that I looked over at the judge and said "Betcha didn't know about the magical effect cattle dogs have on ducks, did ya?" He said "No, I sure didn't, I'm impressed." To add to the amazement, Red wound up with a 3rd place in a pretty large Started Ducks class. So, as I said, he wasn't harassing or overworking the ducks. They just kept dropping dead in front of him!! We came up with this theory that maybe there's some genetic wiring in the tiny little pea brain of ducks that makes them look at this big red cattle dog with lots of eye and makes them think "Oh my God, this is the biggest fox that has ever existed." Who knows... But the whole unlikely thing certainly made for lots of storytelling all weekend. Seems like every time I turned around, I was walking up on a group of people laughing about that duck-killing cattle dog. Fainting Sheep? Ducks aren’t the only livestock with acting ability. At one point we had a few sheep that were visiting us (on loan from a friend) and one of them was great at playing dead... ...our story continues in our next issue. Be sure to come back and read the conclusion in part II...
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What is the Controversial Canine? Let Erika Pardy explain it, in her own words....
"Well it is, as the name implies, controversial. It probably sounds like a bit of an oxymoron to be positive trainers but yet still be considered controversial. Our goal is to expose controversy so that we may help bring about change. Since the inception of this philosophy nearly 25 years ago I fought long and hard to make training a force free, intimidation free and a hands free learning environment for dogs. I banned choke chains from my classrooms and used clickers to teach the shaping of behaviours, being the first to offer group clicker classes when people were saying it couldn't be done. I was one of the first to title dogs in obedience, conformation, field, and agility using a clicker. Even now, so many years later we are still light years away from having the dog training world free from fear based and cruel training methods. Along with our progressive training methods we also offer something unique in our program and that is nutrition and holistic assessments and consultations. I have been treating behaviour and training issues with the help of proper nutrition, homeopathy and herbs in Canada, Europe and the United States for over 20 years." Visit our website to learn more and to get further information...
www.controversialcanine.com
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Thank you to our contributors The Progressive Pet Magazine is committed to brining you quality articles to provide you with insight, information and tools for you to enjoy your pet. We are so thankful to all our contributors and we hope to learn more from them. If you want to join us and become a contributor, contact us at www.controversialcanine.com. We would love to receive your story or article and share it with the world! Please read and support our contributors and provide us with feedback on all our content - after all, we are in a learning path together to progressively improve our pets and each other! Alisha Morrisey
Alisha Morrissey is a high-performing, web-savvy former journalist, news hound, and all around policy wonk. She's worked in newspapers for more than a decade, followed by a stint with a not-for-profit business organization. She now owns her own business, which caters to the promotional needs of small businesses. She resides in St. John's Newfoundland with her dog Bessie Mae and Ziggy Stardust, the wonder cat. Get in touch with Alisha at alisha.morrissey@gmail.com or check out her website writewordsnl. weebly.com Lucinda is 51 years young. She shares her slice of double-wide heaven in southern Indiana with her long suffering, hardworking husband Richard and far too many dogs. She has trained and competed in dog sports for close to 30 years. Lucinda teaches obedience, agility, tracking and earth dog classes and has somehow accumulated an appalling 400 titles on dogs. She tries not to think about all the wine and doublewides she could have bought with those dog show bucks. She has degrees in biology and anthropology and spent 25 years as an electron microscopist /medical research tech but left the torturing of small furry critters to pursue her greatest love….scooping poop
Lucinda Shultz Andrea Vee
Andrea Vee lives on the island of Puerto Rico with her husband and daughter. You can visit her FB page “For the Love of Satos” and if you would like to donate to help further her rescue efforts, contact us here www.controversialcanine.com. As seen in:
Kimberly Marie Freeman City Dog Expert
as well as: Controversial Canine, Chicago Tribune, Visit her site at www.citydogexpert.com The Pup Diary, NY Press, and more
Diana Cagney No bio provided for the release of this issue. However we thank her for the submission and will post a bio in a future issue.
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