A Word From The Publisher

With the passing of Windsor, editor and main contributor to this blog, the existence and the purpose of the blog have been called into question. The blog was Windsor's brain child. He wrote most of the articles and contributed materials and suggestions to many others.

He also had a dream: To establish his blog as a foundation on which to build a small not for profit organization that would take in a few old, unwanted dogs, care for them and give them a safe home in which to live out their lives in safety and comfort. Much like a mini 'Dog Town'. All he needed, Windsor said many times, was a kind soul to let him use an unused place to establish his version of a home for a few old dogs.

It was not meant to be.

Windsor's voice has fallen silent.

His passing left a huge empty space in my life and in the life of his surviving companion. With it, Windsor's blog not only lost the main contributor but also some purpose. While he was alive I could clearly hear Windsor's voice. No more, though the surviving Lord Protector claims that “the voice from the box” talks to him and gives him directions.

Judging by the clear and distinct change in attitude and the mischievous stuff the Lord Protector is suddenly doing I am inclined to think that there is something to his claim.

Be that as it may, I have thought long and hard about the future of the blog. I am very busy with another blog about a different subject. The Lord Protector, try as he might, will never be able to express his thoughts in writing. There is no one willing to carry on Windsor's work.

To honor Windsor and his selfless service to his fellow dogs, I am working to celebrate the life and times of my noble companion with a pictorial of highlights of his times with me.

Thereafter, I will suspend at least temporarily Lucys Dog Rescue Blog until it has found a new voice or I have enough time to dedicate to it. The blog will remain on the Net. I will drop in at occasion, maybe even contribute a little.

If anyone feels inclined to contribute or has a dog that has something meaningful to say and in addition wants to contribute regularly to the blog, drop me an e-mail please. We can talk about it.

Until then, thank you for your interest in the welfare of companion animals. Thank you for stopping by to learn from Windsor.

Penelope - A rescue miracle

A video of a rescued blue Mastiff.

Last week I went to a local animal shelter to evaluate more than half a dozen dogs that were on the dreaded termination list.

The first one I saw was a blue Mastiff girl. She was scared out of her mind. Did not want to walk, kept herself close to the floor, cowered in corners with her tail between her legs.

There was no way to evaluate her properly. It all came down to taking a more or less educated guess.

I did and with the approval of the rescue group for which I evaluated her. We pulled her out of the shelter. It took two women to carry her to the car. She refused to walk or go anywhere. As soon as she was put into the car, she cowered in the far corner of the cargo space seeking refuge and a hiding place.

She did not even notice my own dog who was sitting on the front seat. As soon as the engine started, she got up and looked around. Then she saw my dog. She sat down facing him and stared at him for a while. Then she looked out of the back of the car watching the world go by.

My dog, who is a rescued dog himself and still far from perfect and balanced, had an exceptionally good day. He had not run away or come out of the car earlier despite the fact that the back hatch was wide open and his leash had slipped and was no longer attached to the car. He patiently waited while I had a conversation with a female shelter visitor who was looking for a Boxer. In fact, he was so good that she felt moved to comment on his balanced energy and personality. If she only knew . . .

My remaining Boxer swears that the “voice from the box” keeps on nagging him and telling him what to do and what not to do. I am almost inclined to believe that he is speaking the truth. For those who do not know, the departed editor of this blog now resides in a box on my computer desk!

To make a long story short, when we arrived at the vet's office, the Mastiff girl greeted me with a thumping tail and then hopped out of the car under her own power. She then went inside with the vet tech. The last I saw of her were some prancing feet and a seductively wiggling tail end.

That is until today. I received an e-mail from the rescue group with a video of the blue Mastiff girl in her new foster home.

Those of us who have seen this dog scared out of her mind, beaten down and hiding from everything and everyone, are elated about her miraculous turn-around.

All others, please let this video show you what beautiful dogs get dumped at animal shelters only to be euthanized shortly thereafter.

True, not all dogs (and cats for that purpose) deserve rescue. Some are just beyond help. But there are so many that suffer the ultimate penalty for no fault of their own.

Please keep that in mind when you watch this video . Let it speak to your heart, please.

There are many like dogs like Penelope in animal shelters everywhere.

She is safe now in her foster home. But she is of course looking for a permanent home with her very own family.

I bet she will not have to wait for long.

Seniors for Seniors - Senior dogs can be a match made in Heaven

Windsor, my companion and friend for many years, always made it his mission in life to assist senior dogs to find new homes. He rehabilitated a dozen or more older dogs with issues and assisted in finding a great home for each of them.

One of the last things he did was to find the following reasons why senior dogs make especially good pets for Seniors. He never managed to write about it and to publish his opinion. He told me that this poster transcends the usual reasons given for adopting an old dog, such as being housebroken, not eating Gucci handbags and shoes, etc.

As one of the many memorials Windsor deserves, I am publishing here without further comment the text of a poster he found in an animal shelter of the City of Los Angeles.

According to the City of Los Angeles, Animal Services, these are ten reasons senior dogs make the best pets for Senior humans.

"10 Health Reasons Why Pets Are Great For Seniors

1. Pets Lower Blood Pressure. A study of health patients showed that people over 40 who own pets had lower blood pressure than people who did not have pets. Another study showed that talking to pets decreases blood pressure.

2. Fewer Trips to the Doctor. Seniors who own dogs go to the doctor less than those who do not. In a study of 1,000 Medicare patients, even the most highly stressed dog owner/guardians in the study had 21 percent fewer physician's contacts than non-dog owner/guardians.

3. Less Depression. Studies show that seniors with pets do not become depressed as often as those without pets.

4. Easier to Make Friends. Seniors with pets meet more people and like to talk about their pets.

5. Seniors Become More Active. Seniors with pets go for more walks and are generally more active than those without pets.

6. Pets are Friends. Most everyone, but especially seniors, will say that pets are their friends.

7. Pets Ease Loss. Older people who suffer the loss of a spouse and own a pet are less likely to experience deterioration in health following that stressful event.

8. Pets Fight Loneliness. You are less likely to be lonely with a canine or feline friend around.

9. Taking Better Care of Themselves. Seniors take good care of their pets and better care of themselves when they own a pet.

10. Sense of Security. Pets help seniors to feel that someone they trust is always around."

City of Los Angeles, Animal Services, unknown author.

Bless the heart and soul of anyone who gives a senior dog the dignity of a warm and secure home in old age.

Rattlesnake Avoidance Training Can Save your Dog

And spare you a fortune.

In summertime rattlesnakes are almost everywhere. Close to suburbs, in backyards and, of course, on off leash trails in the mountains around Los Angeles. Dogs get bitten by rattlesnakes quite often. Some are bitten more than once in a season.

This inevitably means huge vet bills.

Rattlesnake avoidance training can save your dog and a lot of your money.

During hot days rattlers stay in the shade. They come out to hunt in the cooler afternoon hours and at night. On cool days they warm up on rocks, in and under wood piles, anywhere they can hide and stay warm.

Dogs are curious about those strange critters, attracted to and fascinated by the weird noise and the strange smell. They will curiously, carelessly and quickly approach the rattler to sniff it out. Then they get bitten in the face.

The strike of a rattler is not immediately painful to the dog. Therefore, she will not refrain at once from sniffing or even snapping at the snake. Multiple strikes are a common result.

A visit to the vet is mandatory if you do not want to risk loosing your dog. Office fees are the inexpensive part. A vial of anti-venom serum will cost you between $ 600.00 and way over $ 800.00. Your dog may need more than one vial.

All in all a snake bite can cost you at least $ 2500.00. But it also can cost much, much more. I have heard of total costs of over $ 16,000.00!

The alternatives?

There are two I know of. One is an expensive rattlesnake vaccine. It is applied as a precaution to immunize the dog before he encounters a snake. But it does not keep the dog from being bitten and therefore does not eliminate the exorbitant vet costs.

The other is rattlesnake avoidance training. At $50.00 a session per dog it is actually a bargain. It also saves your dog a lot of pain and you much heartache.

How does it work?

A dog is trained to recognize and to avoid rattlesnakes by smell, sight and sound. During the training she is wearing an electro collar that is set to administer a small shock when the dog approaches a rattlesnake. The snakes are secured in double walled, snake proof cages. They will strike at the dog but can only hit the inner wall. The dog is safely out of reach but close enough to realize that something bad is going on. That's reinforced by the small shock from the collar.

Several passes may be required before the dog learns to stay away from the snake. When he does he can rest for a while. During the second part of the avoidance training the dog walks with his owner past the snake cage. He receives a small shock whenever he attempts to rush the snake. This is repeated until he stays clear of the snake. Upon successful completion of this part of the exercise, your dog can retire and rest shortly before the conclusion of the rattlesnake avoidance training.

The final exercise and test is for the owner to walk the dog on his leash towards the snake. If he refuses to approach the caged snake, he has successfully completed his avoidance training. If not, he will need to practice a little more till he gets it.

The rattlesnake avoidance clinic will keep your dog safe for several months or longer. However, repeat training is strongly suggested.

Rattlesnake avoidance training is frequently organized by organizations that promote outdoor activities or hunting. You can check with local clubs in your area for the availability of training classes. If you live in Southern California, go to http://www.ladyhunter.com/fourwinds/aboutsnakeclinic.htm for more detailed information. Google for rattlesnake avoidance classes or something like that and you will get many more trainers who offer avoidance training.

Here is another one link: http://www.patrickcallaghan.com/. Also for Southern California: http://www.kindredspiritsk9.com/snakes.html.

Any dog owner, especially those who live in the outskirts of cities or in the countryside, should expose their dog(s) at least once to a rattlesnake avoidance class.

Adopting A Shelter Dog(3) – The biggest mistake people make.

Dogs, cats, birds and a host of other animals of all kinds land in shelters for a myriad of reasons. The most common are abandonment, getting lost, owners move (out of State and cannot take dog with them), abuse and animal cruelty cases. There are many more reasons, most of them not as good as people would like to make them appear.

Though most sheltered dogs and cats get there without fault of their own, we must face the fact that there are also dogs and cats with a flawed character and/or wicked personality.

If you read my previous articles about how to select a good shelter dog and followed my advice, you should not have one of them. If not, read the articles before you pick a dog or a cat. If you already pulled the wrong dog, there is even more reason for you to avoid the next most important mistake adoptive dog parents can make.

They rescued a dog from being mistreated, abused, tortured cruelly. They saved his life. Now they want nothing more than to give her the best life possible with endless unconditional love.

What's wrong with that?

Doesn't love transcend cruelty and transform suffering?

Well, not quite with a dog. Dogs are pack animals. The pack gives them strength, protection, a home and order within a strict pack hierarchy. Everyone knows his or her place and abides by it. There is no love in our human sense in a pack – just order. A strong sense of belonging and security derives from this orderly structure.

Dogs live in the moment within their pack. What was yesterday does not count; it is today that matters.

Humans hold grudges and suffer from the pains of the past. But dogs are not little humans in furry suits. They are dogs. They behave like dogs. And they have the instincts of pack animals.

What is your biggest mistake on this first all important day? And on following days?

You picked the dog because of her cute face, his sad eyes and his injuries. You just want to love him, love her, love her to death to make up for all the pain she suffered.

Wrong.

When you bring a new dog into your pack (family or even your own single household), your new friend needs guidance. He has to learn what his proper place is in the pack order.

If you just shower him with treats, affection and pets as soon as he passes the threshold of your house and then, oh horror, even let him have free run of the house, you just made him pack leader. Now you adopted a problem! And time will not heal. It will only get worse.

Here is the correct way of bringing your new family member to the house. Here is how you introduce him to the other pack members.

Before taking her home, go for a long controlled walk. Don't let the dog run ahead of you wherever she wants to go. Don't let him pull you through the neighborhood.

Walk him under your control for at least 30 minutes or more. He should be pleasantly tired before you bring her into her new house. The dog needs this because she has been cooped up in a small kennel run for a long time without a chance of working off excess energy. Let him do that outside before you go home.

Once you get to your house do not bring him inside and let him off the leash. He will have to stay on the leash at all times for several weeks until he has learned where to stay, where not to go and when to do it.

This also makes it easier to prevent accidents. Kennel dogs may have forgotten what it means to be house broken!

On the leash you can show him the house. Lead him to his sleeping place and bed.

Do this all in a calm and self-confident manner. No excitement. No raised high pitched baby voices. The last thing you want is an excited dog with no manners.

And, please, please, do not give him treats just for being in your house. Treats must be earned – always. No exceptions. Just being there is not 'earning' something. Positive action, response to commands, calm demeanor are.

Do not let your new friend jump on furniture without being invited. Never ever and especially not when she just came into the house. Pack leaders sit on furniture – not screeching little cute dogs.

Apropos noise. Do not allow the newcomer to be a noise machine.

A knock on the door is not a good reason for a fit of hysterical barking and uncontrollable excitement.

You must, repeat must, exercise your dominant position at all times by strictly controlling your dogs environment and his behavior. Yes, it is a chore and tiring. But without it, your dog will sense your weakness and appoint himself pack leader. Then your problems really start!

If this all sounds too involved and too demanding for you, if you do not believe in strict control over your animal but would rather kiss his cute face all day long, if you feel sorry for her past sufferings and have the ardent desire to shower your dog with unconditional affection, if you believe that treats will make up for past injustice, then maybe you should consider not having a dog.

Because otherwise you will get what you asked for: A problem dog or, at best, a nuisance dog. And fewer friends.

Let's recall the first important steps in bringing a new dog to your home:

1. Take him for a long walk before you bring him to the house. Don't let him take you for a walk.

2. Keep her on a leash while introducing her to the new environment and other family members.

3. Keep her on a leash inside at all times for at least the first four weeks. Even longer depending on behavior.

4. Strictly control his life and environment from bedding over food to when and how to interact with other family members. You tell him when, where, how and what to do at all times. He follows your lead.

5. Make her always work first for treats and affection. They are a reward for good behavior that must be earned. No free rides. Ever.
   

6. Demonstrate and exercise your control and dominance at all times in a calm and controlled manner. Do your best not to get frustrated and angry. It will defeat your purpose.

7. Always go first through doors or other narrow passages. Keep your dog on your side, not on a flex leash running ahead of you and getting into everyone's way.

Most importantly, always remember the three most important actions in controlling a dog and making him a good canine citizen. In the (almost immortal) words of the Dog Whisperer:

Exercise

Discipline

Affection.

In that order, none other. It works.

I discovered it myself while rehabilitating old, aggressive longterm occupants of a rescue kennel without even knowing of the Dog Whisperer.

They represent true and proven principles.

They will also work for you.

PJJ

More to follow.

Gabe's Plea – Waiting For The One To Love

My name is Gabe. I am a young, dashing Mastiff bulldog with a tragic story of physical injury and emotional abandonment. Maybe you read my story below. If not, click here and find out everything about the bad cards life dealt me.

May I please share an excerpt from my medical notes with you? I love to read medical notes. They make me feel important.

Mine read: “. . . 5 year old neutered, abandoned by owner at emergency clinic. He was hit by car. Very active and can walk but is weak in the hind legs has a pelvic fractures that will heal well with strict cage rest . . .”

Well, luckily I am beyond cage rest. In fact, I am doing quite well. I love to run, to explore, to go on walks, to play in the cool green grass. But most of all I love to be with people. The more the merrier, the closer the better.

My hobbies?

To cuddle with people.

I love to sit in people's lap to give them slobbery kisses. Sometimes it is difficult to sit there because they have small laps and I am a big dog. But we always manage a few hugs and kisses before I fall off. If all else fails, I lean gently but firmly against them to feel their body and collect hugs and pets.

Back in my kennel on death row, coming back from brief outings, I used to sit and reminisce about the good, pleasant, warm and cozy feeling of being close to someone.

Oh, how I long to be close. How I crave the warmth and security of a family. My heart aches for a chance to be with people and to share my life with them. On earth I have lots to give: Dedication, affection, loyalty, protection and a never ending stream of big slobbery Mastiff bulldog kisses. Beyond the Rainbow Bridge I will faithfully be waiting for you ready to be a witness to your goodness.

Right now I am moving from kennels to temporary foster homes. I admit, it is better than sitting on death row in an animal shelter, but I really desire my own family and a permanent home. Believe me, I need very little: A warm place, a simple but nice bed, some good food, time with my people and lots and lots of affection.

Therefore, if you have an empty spot in your house and heart and crave to fill it with warm affection and a cuddly body, I just have the goods for you.

So, jump into your cars and hurry over here to bring me to your home. I will reward you with undying loyalty, limitless love and everything else only a big heart can provide – a big grateful heart.

People say the only thing bigger than Gabe's head is his heart.

It is boundless!

Backyard Breeders Versus 'Spay And Neuter'

By PJJ

It is raining Boxers and other popular breeds. The shelters are full of relatively young dogs and puppies. It almost does not matter what shelter you go to -urban, suburban or rural. They all have plenty of young dogs. What is the reason for this flood of young dogs, I asked myself.

A chance conversation with shelter staff gave me a possible answer. When asked about the many young Boxers in his shelter, he said that this influx of puppies and very young animals happens regularly at least once a year. It is timed to the mating season in spring and fall.

The culprits are backyard breeders. They own a male or a female, sometimes both, find a suitable partner and mate the dogs. When the litter arrives, they wait till the puppies are big enough to evaluate their personalities and looks. Then they take the pick of the litter for themselves either to breed them later or to sell them.

Any dog that does not make the cut is given away, often to people who do not have honorable motives. That is how many of the 'bait dogs', used to train fighting dogs, come to dog fighters. If a dog is lucky, he is just given away to a friend. Let us hope that she ends up in a good home.

If not, she will eventually land either on the streets as a stray or have a short stint as 'bait'. In any case, the end is almost always either death or the local shelter.

Some of the less desirable puppies go directly to the shelter. Those are the lucky ones. At least they are spared life on the streets, disease and torture. They have a chance of finding a good home. And if they don't? Then they will die in the shelter.
You may not want to hear it because it is unsettling, but you must face the truth. Only when enough people get upset with this sorry state of affairs and push for change will backyard breeding eventually stop.

The best and most effective solution in my opinion is to make 'spay and neuter' a law and to enforce it vigorously. Legitimate breeders can of course continue to breed provided they register their operation, get licensed and are subject to vigorous quality control. No more mating dogs because two unaltered animals happen to be around.

Spay and neuter is the only method to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats. If we do not have the courage to commit to this program, enforce it and reduce, if not eliminate, uncontrolled breeding in backyards, our animal shelters will continue to be overcrowded. Countless dogs and cats will die in shelters every day.
Not because shelter staff is blood thirsty, but because irresponsible humans put their ego and greed before animal welfare.

If your heart bleeds when you see a suffering dog or cat at a shelter, quit 'begging on your knees' for her rescue but instead get involved in promoting spay and neuter programs. That is the only reasonable solution to end the suffering of countless animals. Saving one by pushing, shoving and begging, will not have a long lasting effect. You save one and three more take his place.

So, do the reasonable thing: Promote and enforce spay and neuter programs!

The Biters Are Small - And Bark A Lot

The Journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science recently published the results of a study on aggressive dog breeds. Who made the list of most aggressive, based on the number of bites on humans and dogs – Pit bull, Rottweiler, Doberman, German Shepherd, Akita, Chow Chow or even Dogo Argentino?

No!

Small Dogs!

Of course.

Most aggressive:

Dachshund

Chihuahua

Jack Russel

Any owner of a medium to large sized breed could have told you so. Just walk one of those larger dogs through an urban neighborhood at dog walking time. You and your dog will have to put up with these noise machines and their aggressive behavior every other step of the way. They rage from behind closed windows, yap wildly from the safety of the other side of a fence, and screech from balconies, throw tantrums in cars, smearing saliva all over windows and seats. They even snarl at your poor dog from the shoulder bag of young ladies.

Guess who gets disciplined. Not the small dog!

But seriously, many breeds of small dogs are scaled down versions of larger dogs. Made small to serve specific purposes, such as chasing foxes and badgers out of their burrows, hunting and killing rodents or pursuing game during hunts. There are most likely as many reasons for going small as there are breeds of small dogs.

Furthermore, small dogs designed to perform the tasks of hunting specialists, also had to be bred to act and think independently and without cues from their owners. Just imagine a badger dog in a life and death fight with a badger in his burrow two feet underground waiting for instructions and support from the hunter!

The Dachshund is a very typical example for this type of dog. And, tada, Dachshunds are the most aggressive biting breed of all dogs.

It is not surprising to me. We had a miniature Dachshund for many years. He was the Dr. Jekyll of the dog world. Nice and placid one moment and a raging pair of vicious teeth the next.

He was smart, independent and very, very stubborn. He also ate half the skin of my sister's guinea pig. He stole, killed and proudly brought home countless chickens from the chicken coop of the local nunnery. He kept our neighborhood clear of other dogs and bicyclists. And my father paid a fortune to his female patients for torn nylons.

The dog would sit on the steps leading to the entrance of my father's medical practice, happily greeting all ladies – until their legs just had passed him. Then he would whirl around and bite the ankle! Never failed.

He finally went to live with a hunter as a very successful and happy hunting dog.

Chihuahuas are the second most aggressive.

But you most likely knew that already. These little monsters with a Napoleon Complex greater than the original are the bane of many neighborhoods in Southern California and the tyrants of many a family.

“But he is so cute . . .”

Jack Russel, number three, were meant to chase and kill rodents. They are born killers, high strung, independent and accustomed to doing things their way. Could you ask your human for instructions when you are wedged between haystacks and facing a big cornered, angry rat?

Looking at the list of 'biting breeds', it is obvious that they were intended to do specific jobs; guarding house and flock, herding, hunting small pests and big game.

None were meant to spend a lifetime in some shoulder bag or in a small urban apartment. They are active dogs, independent, with lots of energy and smarts. They are not celebrity toys and couch potatoes. They too deserve a decent life.

Free of frustration and fear.

Fear is a major contributor to aggressive biting. How would you feel if your eye level suddenly were shrunk to 6 inches when everyone around you is at a 6 foot level? With huge feet that could trample on you at any given moment?

It would be scary, wouldn't it?

Is that an excuse for aggressive biting? No, it is not.

Pet owner are responsible for socializing and training dogs properly. We need to train our pets to be good canine citizens, give them sufficient physical exercise to keep them tired, healthy and happy. And we must provide daily mental stimulation to keep their minds occupied in positive ways.

Unfortunately, most people become dog owners by accident. Either they are given a puppy, find a sad looking dog in a shelter and feel compelled to rescue it or through some other coincidence. The majority of these new dog guardians, I daresay, do not know much about the breed they just acquired or about dog training in general.

In many cases the end result is an aggressive dog. Since small dogs are 'cute', they get away with much more than a larger dog. Thus, they are also more prone to join the ranks of aggressive dogs. Because in the absence of clear and determined leadership, the family dog will usurp that role. And defend it viciously and vigorously against all comers, including their own human.

Yes, small dogs too.

Especially small dogs!

You can find the most detailed discussion of the research report here: http://petloverstips.com/ForTheLoveoftheDog/news-updates/the-most-aggressive-dog-breeds-dachshund-1

A more general discussion of 'aggressive dog breeds' is found at this site:

http://dogobedienceadvice.com/which_dog_breeds_are_most_aggressive.php

Both web sites give great insight into dog aggression in general, what causes it, how to deal with it and how to avoid it as much as possible.

PJJ

Adopting A Shelter Dog(1) – Informed Adoption Is Better Adoption

by PJJ

Adopting a dog or cat from an animal shelter is giving the gift of new life to an animal in his darkest hours.

Every year in the City of Los Angeles alone tens of thousands of dogs and cats land in shelters. Less than half of them will find a new home and a new life. The remaining animals are humanely euthanized. In the last six months of 2006 the City of Los Angeles took in approximately 25,000 dogs. Over 11,000 of them did not find a new home.

Contrary to popular belief, animal care and control services are not big killing machines run by heartless workers who love to send animals away for good. I have visited many shelters where sick animals or well behaved long term residents are mingling in back offices with their caretakers away from public scrutiny. True, it is not the norm but it happens more often than expected.

In addition to regular shelter employees all shelters have numerous volunteers who walk dogs, give them attention and affection, even train them. Shelter technicians and volunteers are very likely to have one or more favorite dogs. They spend as much time as possible with them. They even accompany them to public adoption events.

They are more than willing to talk to you about their charges. They know the good and the bad about their favorites. Of course, you will have to nudge them on a little if you want to hear about the downside of their favorite dog. But most will tell you when asked about it.

Dogs and cats are all listed in huge databases. They hold detailed information about the individual animal, breed, age, health status, lost or found, owner surrender, legal status and more. Most important to a potential adopter are notes added to the system by animal technicians. These notes reflect observations regarding the animal's temperament, behavior and idiosyncrasies.

Dogs surrendered by their owners come with a 'surrender report'. The owner of the dog is asked to describe his animal's character, demeanor and list specific cautions. The notes are your most valuable tools for selecting the right dog or cat for you.

The 'official' databases of dogs in public animal shelters are also fed to private animal rescue organizations. Rescue groups concentrate on making adoptable shelter animals available to the public on the Internet in large searchable web sites.

Petfinder.com is best known. Many animal shelters feed their information directly to them. But there are many similar sites. All show pictures of pets, list the animals in searchable categories and publish a brief description of the dog or cat.

After deciding with your family at home what kind of animal to get and defining what you expect from your prospective companion animal, you should go to some of these rescue websites and look at cats and dogs that meet your criteria.

An addition, visit the website of your local animal shelter directly. They list all of their dogs and cats and not just a selection. You can search their data by category, such as age, sex, breed and so on.

Time spent in front of a computer is time well spent and money saved. A well defined search will result in a small list of adoptable dogs that meet your criteria in your local area . Now you are ready to visit shelters and check out the dogs.

But wait, before you do so consider one more search option: Private dog rescue groups! They also maintain up to date websites with their adoptable dogs.

Private animal rescue groups offer advantages not found at animal shelters and pet finder Internet sites.

Private, non - profit animal rescue groups carefully test and select shelter dogs before rescuing them. Some of the larger groups have volunteer trainers who work with the animals to give them a head start at becoming good canine citizens. They also provide routine and specific veterinary care to their rescued animals. Sometimes at great cost to the rescue. In fact, veterinary care is one of the top five budget items for most rescue groups.

Many private rescue groups are breed specific. They are a good source for very adoptable pedigreed dogs and cats.

None of the rescue groups I know will take in aggressive animals.

Animal rescue groups work with volunteers and cover their expenses by adoption fees and donations. These range from $ 150.00 to close to $ 300.00 depending on the rescue group.

Public shelters provide basic veterinary care only. That includes vaccinations, treatment of minor ailments and frequently even spay and neuter. Their adoption fees vary between about $ 40.00 and over $ 100.00. Some public shelters in more remote locations may charge a little more.

While public animal shelters are open six days a week for six to eight hours, private animal rescue groups show their animals on weekends only. These adoption fairs are frequently located at pet food stores or similar businesses.

Armed with your short list of adoptable dogs, you can now go to the shelters or rescue groups and meet the candidates for adoption. In doing so, please do not make a rash decision based on some impulse. Rather keep in mind and apply the hints on selecting a shelter dog I previously explained.

Public shelters do not normally show you the notes on a specific animal or the owner's surrender report. Ask to see them!

It can be enlightening and save you from adopting the wrong dog and returning him to the shelter again!

My next article will explain the steps you need to follow before you actually adopt a dog.

Boxers – The New Pit Bulls?

Animal control officers notice an increase in the number of abandoned or surrendered Boxers. Many of them show clear signs of having been used as bait to train fighting dogs.

During my own frequent visits to animal shelters to evaluate dogs for possible rehabilitation, I also notice more and more Boxers in shelters. Some shelters have more Boxers than others. It is quite apparent that the number of Boxers in shelters is somehow related to either an irresponsible backyard breeder in the area or to criminal activities of cowardly dog fighters.

Pit bulls and other bull breeds still are the most common dogs in shelters. Scars indicate that the dogs were used for fighting. It appears that the proliferation of pit bulls is cutting into the money one can make by either fighting or breeding them. At the height of the pit bull craze, a puppy from “champion parents” could bring $ 1,000 and more. I guess such prices are harder to achieve nowadays. Pit bull fatigue is taking hold.

In addition, numerous communities have tightened laws regarding dangerous and vicious dogs. Many do no longer allow pit bulls.

Boxers always ranked among the most popular breeds in the US. They appear to be rebounding after almost dropping off the list of ten most popular. With this increase in popularity and a reduced interest in pit bulls comes, of course, increased abuse of these fine dogs. Consequently, they end up in shelters in greater numbers than before.

That is bad for the breed and even worse for the individual dog caught up in the vicious cycle of abuse, abandonment and death in a shelter. Because of their stellar reputation as excellent family dogs, most Boxers get adopted from shelters or are rescued by rescue groups. This may very well change.

As more and more Boxers are used for fighting, more of them will turn vicious. More complaints about aggressive Boxers already prompted some insurance companies to put Boxers on the list of biters. They will not insure Boxers any longer. In the past it was easy to get insurance for your Boxer. That is beginning to change. Not because the breed is changing, but because of the actions of irresponsible dog owners.

Careless breeders and dastardly dog fighters are not the only ones to blame for the Boxer's increasing troubles. Well-meaning dog rescue groups, I hate to say, carry a big, if not the biggest, responsibility for giving Boxers a bad rap.

Bull breeds are hard to place. But Boxers almost place themselves. Thus more and more dog rescue organizations call 'Boxer Mix' any brown dog with a relatively short nose. I have seen 'Boxers Mixes' that had absolutely no resemblance to a Boxer – none whatsoever. Boxers do not have medium long coats and bushy tails! Only a misguided, irresponsible and sentimental dog rescuer can dupe the unsuspecting public into seeing a Boxer in such an animal.

It is much easier to mistake a pit bull with a relatively short nose for a Boxer Mix. The two share at least similar body types. It is also easy and common to mistake an American Bulldog for a white Boxer. Those are honest mistakes. But declaring herding breeds Boxer Mixes is pushing it too far.And it is the trademark of many a rescue group!

As a Boxer lover, I am concerned about the future of the Boxer. Though descendants of a tough little dog that was meant to assist hunters to bay wild European buffalo, Boxer have evolved into kind, friendly family oriented dogs and guardians of children and couches.

Let's leave it that way. We do not need to ruin another breed because of greed and pure cruelty.

It is a most unpopular suggestion but I believe that communities and cities should require licenses for any dog breeder – pedigree kennel or backyard.

More throw-away dogs are the last thing we need.

Gabe

by PJJ

Nature was cruel to Gabe. It dealt him a bad hand.

Gabe was born an American Staffordshire Terrier. He has a red nose. He looks like a pit bull. If you put him in a Santa Claus suit with a big white beard and a Santa Claus cap, he would still look like a pit bull. Like a pit bull in a Santa suit.

That's a bad hand!

But wait! It gets worse.

Gabe came to some people who did not care to take time to train him properly to cope with life in a city. Boundless energy of youth, unbridled by proper training, made Gabe bound happily into traffic. He was run over by a car. He survived – with an injury to his spine.

Under the capable care of good veterinarians Gabe recuperated from his bout with disaster in an emergency hospital. He was not paralyzed, he could move freely, he could jump and run. Only on smooth surfaces his hind legs slip occasionally. Then he falls.

This time Gabe was lucky.

His lucky streak did not last long.

Gabe sat in his cage at the emergency hospital and waited, waited, waited for his family to come and take him home. They never came.

So, Gabe had to move to an animal shelter to wait a little more. He cheerfully did, making friends with kennel attendants along the way. They like him because of his pleasant, friendly nature. And he likes them because some of them let him climb in their lap. He doesn't know that he is a big boy. He doesn't know that people get scared when they see him. He doesn't know that people think he will eat their little Froufrou for breakfast.

He is a big, happy go lucky boy.

He even had his two minutes of fame on TV where he waited around peacefully together with a bunch of other shelter dogs. None turned up missing! Many found a new home. Gabe was not so lucky. After all he looks like a dangerous pit bull and even has a red nose. What about Rudolph? He also has a red nose. Is he dangerous?

And so Gabe went back to sitting in his cage a little longer, waiting for time to run out.

Gabe, the happy, friendly boy who never even harmed a lowly fly, may once again sit in vain.

He doesn't know life dealt him a losing hand.

Life just is not fair!

The King Is Dead – Long Live The King!

Windsor King MacArthur, editor and main contributor to this blog, unexpectedly crossed the Rainbow Bridge on June 18, 2008. He was at least 14 years old.

He succumbed to degenerative myelopathy, an insidious disorder of the spinal cord and nervous system for which there is no known cure.

His passing is not only a blow to his blog but also a great personal loss for me.

After eluding death in a shelter eight years ago, he spent the second half of his life as my faithful, ever present companion. Gentle, considerate, self-disciplined, with great love for people, a loyal paladin in good times and bad, my truly unique, irreplaceable best friend dedicated many of his later years to the rehabilitation of old, disadvantaged, aggressive dogs. His selfless service touched the lives of countless dogs changing the course of their life forever . The need for a wheelchair did not stop him. He passed away returning from rescue duty.

Windsor was a veritable service dog.

But most of all, Windsor will be remembered for his love of women. He spent his last truly happy lucid moments petted and caressed by a young woman. He gave her his last broad, happy smile and his final joyous Boxer noises.

His euphoric smile and his jubilant noises shall stand as his memorial in my heart.

And the changed lives of dogs he touched bear witness to his greatness.

PJJ

A Reminder - Hot Cars Kill Dogs

The recent heat wave in California and other parts of the country gives cause to remind all dog owners to take special care of their dogs. Now more than ever, they need plenty of water and a shady place to rest.

Dogs can dissipate excess heat only through their mouth and tongue by panting and to a much lesser degree through sweat on their feet. They need copious amounts of water to keep their 'cooling fan' going.

A car parked in the sun heats up very, very quickly - even with open windows. Temperatures inside can easily rise to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and much more.

In hot weather a car is not a good place to keep a dog. He is much better off at home where he can stay cool and access water whenever needed. This is true even when she is accustomed to ride around with you when you do errands or work.

Please exercise your dog early in the morning and in the evening when temperatures are down. Let him snooze away the hot hours of the day inside the house or in another sheltered space. He does not mind. Dogs are not very active during hot weather.

Let him them have their 'lazy dog days of summer'.

Adopting A Shelter Dog - Introduction To Selecting the Right Match.

By PJJ


This article is the first in a series of articles about adopting shelter dogs or rescued dogs from a dog rescue group. Future articles will deal with adopting from an animal rescue group, 'easy dogs' and 'difficult dog breeds, male versus female and other rescue and dog adoption related topics.


So you decided to bring a dog into your family. Better yet, you resolved to rescue a dog instead of getting one from a breeder. That's easy, you tell yourself. An animal shelter is close by and there are many more in my County. Moreover, humane societies and animal rescue groups all have highly adoptable dogs to choose from.

This is true. But it would be unwise to walk into an animal shelter and select a dog because of his looks, sad eyes or pleasant demeanor.

As a professional dog evaluator for dog rescue groups, I have learned that shelter dogs must be very carefully observed, checked out and evaluated before considering adoption. However, the most reliable way to evaluate sheltered dogs is to do the evaluation away from the shelter environment. Unfortunately, that is not possible. Thus much of the 'evaluation' is based on the evaluator's experience, intuition and good hand with all kinds of dogs.

Dog evaluation is not dog training. We are not testing here whether the dog responds to commands or stays or any of the other dog training stuff. Some measure of that is attempted and sometime achieved during 'temperament testing' of the dog by shelter personnel. Therefore dog trainers are not necessarily good dog evaluators.

Dogs end up in shelters because of some traumatic event in their life. Diagnosis of an expensive illness, abandonment by its owner, running away and getting lost, abuse and cruelty are only a few. As a result, all shelter dogs are scared stiff, confused, traumatized, depressed, unstable. This frequently leads to personality changes and neurotic behavior.

The longer a dog is confined in a small run at a rescue shelter, sometimes with kennel mates, the worse the situation gets. Life in a rescue shelter is unpleasant despite the best intentions of kennel attendants.

Shelter dogs become 'institutionalized' because of a lack of exercise, the deafening noise and the absence of positive interaction with humans and dogs.

The wiggly, happy puppy in the animal shelter could morph into a nasty nippy critter once he settles into your home. Yet, the barking, bouncing monster might surprise you with a calm demeanor once she gets to your home and starts feeling safe.

For most of us getting a dog from an animal shelter is an emotional process. Go to a shelter, look at the dogs in their cages, find a cute dog with sad eyes, begging for your attention by wagging her tail enthusiastically, take her home.

You just picked a dog because of it's looks and superficial first impressions. Not a good foundation for a lasting relationship. Chances are this dog will be back in the shelter.

So, how do you find the best dog for you among all the dogs in the rescue shelter?

By starting at your home!

Sit down with your family and list what you expect the dog to be: Breed, size, age, puppy or mature dog, male or female, small or large, active or sedate, fetcher or runner and so on. If you get a dog for the “kids”, keep in mind that an adult will most likely end up caring for her. Once all agree on the 'ideal' dog, you are ready to go to the animal shelter and look at adoptable dogs.

There are always many adoptable dogs in an animal shelter. Most are not very desirable because of looks and behavior, some more appealing and only a few that potentially meet your expectations.

Now it is time to find a kennel attendant and ask for the dog to be taken to a socialization area.

Please refrain at this time from interacting with the dog.

No look. No talk. No touch.

You do not want to excite the dog in any way. Instead watch!

Watch carefully when the attendant approaches the kennel run and how he deals with the dog. Also watch the dog's body language when approached in the run and on his way out.

Does the dog charge other dogs in their runs?

Is he afraid? Of dogs? Of anything else?

Position of his tail? Up, down, between the legs or straight back?

Pulling hard on the leash?

Does she listen to the handler?

Does she know commands (which?) and does she obey them?

The kennel attendant's body language can also tell you a lot. Chances are she knows more about the dog than she wants to tell you. Is he overly cautious? Or does he physically interact with the dog in a positive way?

How does the dog react to it?

Does she offer treats to the dog? How does the dog take the treat? Snap and swallow (including the hand that holds the treat)?

Does he become aggressive when the treat/food is tampered with?

Does the dog give up his ball or toy when asked to?

I generally ignore the dog and wait till he has relieved himself. It may take a while. But it also can give you a hint as to whether the dog is house broken or not. Most dogs avoid soiling their living quarters. Therefore, chances are that she is when she has a very, very urgent need to go in the outdoor area.

This quiet observation period is most important. It will give you very good insights into personality and demeanor of the dog. Wait for the dog to approach you on his own. Let him sniff you out. When she has initiated contact, you can freely begin to interact with her.

Play a little, check whether he is willing to accept your discipline, throw things to fetch, carefully give treats (protecting your fingers!). A good dog will approach you, gently sniff and touch you to initiate affection.

You do not want a dog that is racing around in the outdoor pen like a maniac, barking as if noise was going out of style, trampling on your feet, jumping up and putting his soiled paws on your white blouse and attempt to bowl over you or your child.

That dog does not necessarily make a good companion for young children or mature people. The incessant noise will wear you out quickly – and make your neighbors angry.

The most important and final test is also the most difficult: The test for dog aggression.

Animal shelters and rescue shelters generally do not allow dogs to be tested for aggression one on one. Yet that is the only way to determine with certainty whether a dog is dog aggressive or not.

Fortunately, shelters do temperament testing. Part of it is testing for dog aggression. However, since it is not always done, you still have to come to your own conclusion. I parade the dog up and down kennel rows and past as many different dogs as possible. It's not foolproof because dogs act not normal in a kennel environment.

Find the kennel attendant who is most familiar with the dog of your interest. Talk to her. They can tell you a lot. Most attendants have a favorite dog. They will be most accommodating when you are interested in 'their' dog.

Follow these procedures with every dog on your list. Carefully observe and compare all of them before you make a decision. Then sleep on it at least once.

Adopting a shelter dog is a lifetime decision. It is cruel to pull the dog from a shelter only to return her a few weeks or months later because 'it didn't work out'.

Haste makes waste! In this case it wastes a life.

Barking small dogs drive me nuts!

By Windsor, King

Boxers are medium sized dogs. I am a medium sized dog. My Lord Protector is a medium sized dog. We do not bark, at least not without a very good reason.

Very good reasons are quite rare. How often does a person have to fend of a home invasion? Or a prowler in the bushes? Or a purse snatcher?

A cat on the fence is not a very good reason.

Yet, my protector and I cannot go for a leisurely walk without a small, ratty, fluffy little thing barking madly at us, snarling, screeching, hissing and howling. It never fails. We know it: Whenever there is a little dog around noise envelops him or her. Little dogs are walking noise generators! They live in a bubble of noise.

Another thing: Why are small dogs invariably on one of those long Flex-Leashes? Leash fully extended and the noise maker criss-crossing in front of his human. They take up an entire sidewalk, ensnaring pedestrians and animals alike. They are walking trip hazards.

Why?

Is it because humans consider minute noise makers cute? What is cute about a noise machine?
Or is it simply because little dogs are afraid of everything – anything? Moving or not.
Maybe their egos are grotesquely inflated and they perceive themselves as super dogs - huge monstrous, dangerous.

Whatever motivates them, to us large dogs little dogs are a nuisance. Because of them we often get treated unfairly when we encounter one of these undisciplined, untrained yappy things. We get punished when we want to touch someone – the source of the annoying noise.

They in turn get scooped up by their owner and cradled. It is not fair.

If the small excessive barkers have the right to bark at all dogs and most anything else, then we large dog must be allowed to lay a paw on them. Mind you, not bite, but just lay a paw on the little noise machine. To teach them the manners their guardians neglected to teach them.

Before the firestorm fanned by enraged owners of cute little barkers completely engulfs me, let me share with you a few explanation for the incessant yapping of small dogs. I found them in the Guardian Weekly. Jake Sigg compiled this list of opinions.

“Loud things can come in very small packages

Why do small dogs bark so much?

Most small dogs have a nervous disposition and are fearful of things going wrong. Remember Bush's poodle? Ceaseless yapping. Despite changing kennels, he's still at it. Still scratching at the White House door.
John Bridglan, Adelaide, South Australia

Because their bark is bigger than their bite.
Les Dreyer, New York City, US

They are tired of being stepped on all the time.
Jack Sullivan, Claremont, California, US

The frustration of being miniature in a world that is too big for its own shoes.
Maya Bachmann, Auckland, New Zealand”

Well said.

But even this will not stop the endless noise emanating from small dogs.

If you know better, please tell me.

Food Banks for Pets - A new development

Rising prices for gasoline and food are putting the big squeeze on people. The mortgage crisis is taking the homes of more and more families and putting more people on the streets. And a deteriorating economy is fueling the fire.

Many of our pets are suffering in the process as well. Where do the pets go when their family loses the home to foreclosure? Foreclosures are at their highest in 25 years! How do pets get fed when food is scarce even for humans? How well do pets fare when the choice is gasoline to go to work or food for the dog or cat?

Common sense says that in many cases pets are the big losers. Before one takes food out of the mouth of a child, food is taken from the dish of the family pet. The cat is asked to hunt for her food and the dog kicked out to scrounge up some morsels of food from garbage cans.

Indeed, animal shelters especially in urban areas are braising for an influx of displaced pets. Many of them are 'donated' to the streets, left behind tied up in a backyard or turned into a shelter as a stray. Right now it is still a trickle, but if the economic downturn continues it could swell to a stream of displaced animals into our shelters.

Food banks are already experiencing increased demands. They also see a new class of customers more often: Middle class families. Traditionally the poor, disabled, people on disability or on fixed income used the services of food banks. Nowadays they are joined by people able to work but without a job.

Many of them are taking food off their plates to feed the family pet.

Consequently, an increasing number of food banks is now also offering pet food. They hope to stem the expected tide of abandoned pets.

Some of these food banks have seen the number of customers seeking pet food increase between twenty and fifty percent. They could contribute even more but many of them face more demand than they can satisfy.

Discount veterinary clinics also are experiencing an increase in middle class clients. Traditional vets are confronted with pet owners who are much more reluctant authorizing tests and treatment than in the past. Preventative care for the family pet is the first thing to go.

Where will all of this lead? I do not know.

But you can easy the pain of having to choose between resources you require to make money, food for the children and food for pets by finding a food bank in your area that dispenses pet food. More and more of them do.

Just google for 'food bank for pets', 'pet food banks' or similar key words and you will find plenty of links. Many lead you to food banks for families. But you can call them and ask whether they also hand out pet food.

Here are a few leads to get you started in your search:

1. The Pet Food Bank collects and distributes pet food for distribution to animal rescue group all over the United States.

2. In Los Angeles you can contact the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank for information on pet food banks.

3. The California Food and Justice Coalition could also give you additional information on pet food banks.

4. The Petco Foundation, though not primarily engaged in food assistance to needy families, makes grants to animal shelters and other organizations and helps families that are in danger of losing their home to keep their pet by giving food assistance.

5. Contact your local SPCA and asks them for referrals to pet food banks. Maybe you can even get some from your local SPCA. If not, they can refer you to the Santa Cruz, CA SPCA. They distribute pet food and certainly can give you some good leads.

6. The Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge, Ill., distributes large quantities of pet food to needy pet owners.

7. Do not forget to contact some of the local rescue groups in your area. They can help you out with food or send you in the right direction.

8. Vancouver, Canada, SPCA has a mobile pet food program.

If all else fails and you are a good organizer and promoter, you could also form your very own not -for profit pet food bank that collects and distributes free pet food to the needy.

Whatever you decide to do, before you turn your pet over to an animal shelter or just abandon him somewhere on the streets, do a little research to locate a source of free pet food. There is no shame in asking for help in sustaining the life of a dear family member.

PJJ

Hyperactive Shelter Dogs - Can they be rehabilitated?

By Windsor, King.

A few days ago we went to an animal shelter to evaluate some dogs for possible rescue. I helped my human evaluate dogs for several years now. My human trusts my judgment a lot. I show him the bad boys by nipping at them.

Too bad that most animal shelters will not let me in – for my own safety, they say. But “we have our ways”. Sometimes we can park right next to a perimeter fence, at other times I take a comfort break in my chariot by walking along the fence. Often that is not necessary because volunteers walk shelter dogs outside the compound. Guess what. They help us on occasion by walking the dog we are coming to see right under our noses. My nose, that is.

At the shelter we met two hyperactive Bulldogs. A young male labeled 'hyperactive' but treatable went first. Let me tell you, I was no saint when I was young. But this guy beats me and most every other dog hands down. He was running like mad in his enclosure, plaid with three balls at the same time, jumped incessantly, rolled around on the ground, wrestled with himself, only to go back to chasing his balls. He was in perpetual motion, pacing back and forth and jumping, jumping, jumping. He greeted humans joining him in the cage with limitless exuberance and even wilder jumping.

Then they brought his companion, a young female. She is smaller, much smaller, but matches him in her hyperactive ways ball by ball and bounce by bounce. In fact, while the boy became tired rather quickly and started to slow done, even lie down on the ground, the girl appeared to become more active the more she played.
I have seen many overly active, nay, hyperactive dogs in my time. But none could compare to these two.

Why are dogs hyperactive? How do they get that way? Are they born hyperactive, you ask.

My human says it is always a good idea to have a vet check out the dog to make sure that there is no physical cause of the hyperactivity. It could be, he says, a thyroid problem among others.

Truly hyperactive dogs are quite rare. In most cases the 'hyperactive dog' just does not get enough workout. Dogs are meant to travel distances and to run a lot. Can you blame us for becoming overly active when we have to sit in a small cage in an animal shelter for many months?

Certain breeds are by nature more active and therefore need to workout more often and longer. Humans call them working dogs and herders. I call them nuisance dogs because they always make trouble in dog parks.
Puppies, are also much more active. They have to be that way, it is normal for them. Keep in mind that some of us stay 'puppies' for a long time. That can mean up to two years in certain breeds.

All of us, big or small, need regular daily walks. Thirty minutes per day is the absolute minimum. I know you may have a hard time fitting it into your schedule. But should you then have a dog, I ask?

When I say 'walk' I mean a brisk walk not a leisurely stroll grandpa style. Take a ball or other toy with you and let us chase it in a dog park or a large enclosed property – with the owner's permission of course. That will speed up the process. Playing fetch is another good idea. It spends a lot of pent up energy. Maybe we can even find a place to swim.

Are you into bike riding or even mountain bike riding? We would love to be with you out there. We can keep up with you. It is a great physical exercise and a bonding experience.

Some of us even enjoy agility training. It is physically demanding and provides at the same time much needed basic obedience training.

Which conveniently brings me to my next thoughts.
Many an overly active dog is in dire need of basic training. We may be hyperactive, undisciplined, respectless and overbearing just because we do not know better. Puppies don't train themselves to be good canine citizens. The pack trains them. Teenage dogs don't train themselves either. They need guidance and training.

Therefore, enroll your active dog in a class for basic obedience. Or, if you do not have the time and patience, let a dog trainer do the work.
Your bouncy canine friend needs to master at least the four basic building blocks of good dog behavior: Sit, down, sit stay and down stay. He also has to learn to 'come' on command, at once and under all circumstances. Mastering this command can be a great challenge.
Even I have to admit that I develop selective hearing at times. You know, it's hard to hear 'come' when lots of exiting things are happening all around you.

Ah, I almost forgot to mention another reason for hyperactivity: Attention getting. Some of us want attention all the time. And lots of it. They will do anything that will get them attention whether it is good or bad attention. If you have one of those guys, remember never to give them any kind of attention when they display undesirable behavior. When he barks, do not tell him to shut up. When she whines and cries, do not tell her to stop it.
If you do, you reward the offender with attention.
Instead, reward only good behavior. He will repeat the behavior that brought him the rewards.

Reward desirable behavior, ignore bad! And be consistent at all times.

Shelter dogs are quite often overactive and even hyperactive. No wonder. They experience the trauma of abandonment. They get caught on the streets. They sit in small cages or small runs, often together with other animals, for extended periods of time. At best they get a daily walk that lasts for a few precious minutes. But it is never long enough to spend all the energy these dogs have.

No wonder they act crazy when brought to a fenced area outside the kennels to meet people or to play. It is almost natural for a shelter dog to be extremely active, to say the least, when she comes into a new home. All that pent up energy has to be released somehow.

Can hyperactive dogs be rehabilitated? A truly hyperactive dog may need medication to correct the condition. But true hyperactivity is quite rare.
Overactive dogs, such as kennel dogs that were caged for a long period of time, can be rehabilitated. Treatment is as easy as regular walks and challenging physical exercises.

To rehabilitate your overactive dog follow a few simple steps:

1.Have your dog checked out thoroughly by a veterinarian for any physical problems that could be the cause of hyperactivity.
2.Walk you dog daily twice for at least 30 minutes or expose him to other vigorous physical exercises. If you have a treadmill at home, have your dog run on the treadmill. Some active breeds will need more than the standard 30 to 60 minute walks.
3.Take your dog to obedience class. Even better, take your dog to an agility course and let him work out there. This exercise provides not only physical challenges but also provides compelling lessons in obedience.
4.Take your herder to a place where she can learn to herd sheep. It works miracles.

And always remember: The walk is the basis of all dog rehabilitation.

Wheelchairs for dogs – A new lease on life!

By Windsor King MacArthur

People in wheelchairs are everywhere, on sidewalks, crossing streets, entering and leaving buildings, at parties, in churches, on the beach, climbing mountains, living, having fun. Happy and enjoying their new lease on life.

Why shouldn't they? They overcame great physical challenges against all odds, often defying conventional wisdom and professional predictions about what just cannot be done. Their determination and will to live overcame all obstacles. A wheelchair gave many of them the means to achieve it.

So, I wondered: Why are there no wheelchairs for dogs? Or are there? And if yes, why do so many dog owners not know about that?

The answer is that we are dogs not people. People count, dogs are counted out.

That's the brutal truth, my friends.

Unless you are fortunate enough to be a cherished member of a family that cares for you. Then you might get a second chance.

As you know I am presently experiencing an annoying predicament: My hind legs, the 'footsies' as my human calls them, suddenly have developed a mind of their own. They do no longer want to work for me. I fought them long and hard; they still refuse to work.

So we solicited the assistance of diverse slings to hold up my hindquarters. It gave me some limited mobility – very limited. First of all, I needed a human to strap me in, pick me up and walk me to wherever I wanted to go. It is better than nothing but by no means as good as free will – uh, mobility.

I was depressed, I was frustrated. I did not want to live this way. I did not want to live any longer. I stopped eating. I lay down on my bed to die.

My human promised to get me 'wheels” if I just decided to hang in there for a short while and fight for my life. A few days later we went to a shelter for abandoned and unwanted dogs to evaluate some of them for rescue. When he came out of the place, he had this strange contraption with him. A woman came with him.

Now, in my book women are always good and a good sign for good things to come. I was interested.

The two fussed around with the contraption for a while, then grabbed me, put something around my hind legs and under my belly. Then they strapped me into the contraption and said: “ Now, Windsor, you have legs again. You can walk on your own.”

With that they gently pushed me forward.

It felt strange at first. I was not really sure how to move but after a few awkward, disorganized steps the contraption started to move into the direction of the woman. Hey, that thing moved easily!

I could turn to wherever I wanted to go. No need for my human to help me or even to go with me.

After a few days of practice I will be able to control the wheelchair fully, I thought.

This was almost one year ago. Today everything is a well rehearsed routine. Slip into the sling, stand still and straight until the sling is strapped to the wheelchair and then go wherever the heart desires. It may sound pathetic to you but this wheelchair has given me an entirely new lease on life.

And do I have to add that my chariot is also a great attention getter. Wherever I go, people stop to gawk, cars linger at intersections to get a better view of the chair in action. Kids, women, men and even dogs
stop and stare at me in disbelief.

Actually, dogs sort of run away. They mistake me for a robotic dog with super powers. For example, this huge Irish Wolfhound was looking for a fight with my Lord Protector. I rode in on my chariot, attacked the big dog, nipped at his neck and, when he fled, I pursued him vigorously.
The Lord Protector stared in disbelief!
And so did the humans!

Then there is the case of the Rhodesian Ridgeback. When we first saw him, he was staggering around like a drunken sailor. His humans made a video of me in my wheelchair frolicking in the park. Then they went out and got him his very own wheelchair.

My Lord Protector runs and plays sometimes with a pit bull girl. She chases a tennis ball, he chases her and in my wheelchair I run both of them down.

Oh, you do not know what a Lord Protector is? First of all, he is a self-appointed Lord Protector. Then, if you want to see him on duty, you can go here. His job is to look dangerous and forbidding. He is my bodyguard.

We also know a pit bull girl that is paralyzed from a car accident. She has been living in a wheelchair for many years. She can outrun me any day. There is also another wheelchair Boxer not too far from us. And I am certain that many more fortunate dogs live in wheelchairs and enjoy life.

Seriously, if you know of a poor dog that has a hard time walking and getting around, tell his humans about wheelchairs for dogs. There are companies that make the chairs if your human cannot produce one himself. Google for 'dogs in wheelchair' or 'wheelchair for dogs' or 'wheels for dogs' and you will find them.

Right now I, Windsor King MacArthur, am pondering whether I should take the initiative and form a social group for dogs in wheelchairs. After all, humans play tennis in wheelchairs, basketball, baseball, softball, run the Marathon in a wheelchair, drive cars and do many, many other activities in wheelchairs.

Why should dogs not organize dog fun in wheelchairs? Chase tennis balls in a wheelchair. Catch frisbies in a wheelchair. You name it, we do it in wheelchairs.

What do you say?

Degenerative Myelopathy Gene Identified - My final thoughts and opinion.

Lucy's voice is a blog by dogs for dogs, written by dogs.

I actually have not much business here hogging the blog with my opinion. I only intended to explain to you the nature of Windsor's illness because he does not mention it.

Then the stunning and exciting news hit: Researchers identified the gene responsible for degenerative myelopathy in dogs. The work was/is sponsored financially by AKC Canine Health Foundation and others.

I read the available facts, followed links and did my best to assess the consequences for our companion pets. Here are my final thoughts, at least for now:

Let us all rejoice in this significant discovery. Let us also thank those who contributed financially to this effort. Those of us who can afford it should contribute to this noble cause in order to assure that the research efforts continue to full fruition.

The good news is that pet veterinarians and pet guardians now have a tool that allows to test dogs for the presence of the gene. Identifying dogs at risk early allows for early counter measures, which could reduce the risk of acute illness considerably. In the future it might even prevent the onset of an acute outbreak in some cases. Since DM symptoms can be mimicked by other problems with a dog's musculoskeletal system, only an sinfully expensive MRI could give an reasonably accurate diagnosis in the past. A simple 60.00 dollar test now can do better!

At the same time, it poses a challenge to breeders everywhere. Any responsible breeder, especially those that raise dog breeds known for their propensity to this disease, should make it a mandate to test both parent dogs for the gene before entering them into the breeding pool. This is just common sense and not an anti-breeder action. However, I fully understand that breeders will be less than enthusiastic to support this course of action. The strongest opposition will naturally come from 'backyard breeders'. Their only agenda is money anyway.

Now to the bad news: Finding the gene responsible for degenerative myelopathy in dogs is not a cure for the disease. At this time it is only a diagnostic tool. Future generations of dogs will benefit from it. Those living now are not affected; their guardians will have to hope for equally good news from ongoing stem cell research.

If your companion suffers already from DM, the discovery will not save him or her. In due time and after much more research and experimentation, veterinary science will certainly develop a way to splice the malicious gene out of existence or replace it with one that does not mutate. But, I guess, we are talking years here and, not to forget, lots of money.

Right now, I encourage you to have your dog tested for the gene as soon as the tests are available to the general public. At least it will give you peace of mind (in case of a negative test) or alert you to required changes in the lifestyle and diet for your dog. The test is inexpensive; it is even free for dogs over 8 years old.

Additionally, use any of the many methods that claim to slow down progression of the disease, if not to cure it, to maintain a good quality of life for your companion for as long as possible. I have mentioned some of them in my first article about the subject. Who knows, your companion pet might just hang in there long enough to be saved by the bell.

Sometimes miracles happen and research progresses faster than expected to a successful treatment!

In this context we should not forget the work done at UC Davis. The School of Veterinary Medicine is engaged in important research right now with the goal to use the dog's own stem cells from bone marrow to repair damaged spinal cords and nerves. They had significant success in mice. Now it is time to apply the lessons learned to dogs. The AKC Canine Health Foundation is financially supporting this research effort as well.

I am confident that the concerted efforts of the two research facilities will find ways to control incidents of DM in dogs and to heal afflicted animals. Modern gene technology will in time most likely eliminate the mutating gene from the canine gene pool.

As promising, exciting and great as these news are, I regret from the bottom of my heart that my loyal companion, Windsor King MacArthur, will not be able to share in the fruits of this research. The destruction of his nerves and spinal cord is steadily making it's way towards the upper body.

Though he is almost exactly one year into his DM, he is still strong enough to prance his wheel chair up to every woman in sight to extort shamelessly pets and kudos. “Hi, my name is Windsor. Have you ever petted a Boxer in a wheelchair? You may pet me!”

You have not heard his last word yet!

PJJ
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