Showing posts with label walking. Show all posts

Here's a great article that demonstrates the fact that there's almost always hope! –Kim

Deformed Puppy, Rescued from Trash, Learns to Walk

Sometimes, the only humane thing to do is to put a dog to sleep. Just three weeks ago, Erica Daniel steeled herself to take that difficult step with Harper, a small puppy in her care.
Daniel, 26, fosters dogs that need serious help, and Harper had come to her in the most desperate of circumstances. On Aug. 31, a woman in Sanford, Fla., first encountered the little dog when she spotted a squirming garbage bag.
"There was a man outside the Save-A-Lot selling pit-bull puppies for $50 a pop," Daniel explained. "This woman approached him and noticed a noise coming from a garbage bag he was holding. She asked him, 'What's in the bag?' and he said, 'Don't worry about it.'"
The woman pressed the issue and the man opened – and gave her – the contents of the bag. Inside was a puppy so deformed that it couldn't walk or hold up its head. Shelter workers and veterinarians grimaced when they saw the dog and came to the same conclusion: It really should be euthanized.
That's when Daniel, a regular at the local animal shelter, stepped in. She decided to take the puppy home for one full and final day of unabashed affection. "I had to show her what it was like to be loved," Daniel said. "I'd planned on taking her home that night, letting her sleep in bed with us, and having her humanely euthanized in the morning."
What a difference a day can make. Today, Harper is not only alive – she's thriving. The frisky gray puppy is gaining more and more mobility each day, to the astonishment of onlookers and medical professionals.
Harper's rapid recovery began on that initial day with Daniel. The puppy had been born with a condition commonly dubbed "swimmer puppy disorder," and most dogs afflicted with it don't survive. The formal name of Harper's disorder, pectus excavatum, causes puppies to lie flat on their chests with their legs perpetually splayed out, as if they were humans – or perhaps frogs – swimming through water.
"The longer she was like that, the more she stayed in that position," Daniel said. "It felt like rigor mortis – like her legs might break."

Despite that, Daniel kept massaging Harper's tight muscles, hoping to alleviate at least some of her stiffness and pain. Within just a few hours, Harper started lifting her head and looking around. Her front legs became more limber as well, so much so that she tried using them to walk and pull herself around.
Daniel's reaction: "WHOA."
Convinced that this determined little dog needed a second opinion, she canceled the following morning's appointment and made a new, hopeful one with a veterinarian at the University of Florida. At first, the vet described the reasons Harper probably would need to be put to sleep. The list included the likelihood of degenerative bone disease, brain abnormalities and a severe heart murmur.
They decided to do a few tests just to be sure. And, as it turned out, the rumors of Harper's demise were greatly exaggerated. Her organs were functioning just fine, and she had no heart murmur or serious brain abnormalities. The medical conditions she did have required treatment – but nothing that warranted putting her to sleep.

Some nice people at Hip Dog Canine Hydrotherapy & Fitness in Winter Park, Fla., heard about Harper and donated free hydrotherapy and massage therapy to the puppy. Harper responded remarkably well, and before long, she actually started walking.
"She started out on grass, then carpet, then concrete," Daniel said. "She still can't walk on tile or hardwood floors, but she's getting there."
Bev McCartt, a Hip Dog therapist, explained that swimming has helped teach Harper what her natural gait should be.
"Her brain kicked in and by the end of her first session, she was like, 'Oh, I can do this,'" McCartt said. "She's a walking miracle. She's a real testament to a dog's determination to get up and just go."
Today, Harper is about 11 weeks old, and she's holding her own playing with the seven other dogs at Daniel's home. Daniel estimates that Harper should be ready to be adopted in about a month – that is, if she can handle parting with her.
"Right now we're saying that eventually she'll be available for adoption because we haven't made any decisions," Daniel said. "If I give her up, that will make it possible for me to foster another dog. But she's like a baby to me. I just don't know!"

This is not the first time Daniel has taken on an impossibly sad case and witnessed an incredible transformation. In April of last year, she began fostering Dolly, a pit bull that had been used as a bait dog in a dog-fighting ring. Dolly's injuries were severe; her mouth was so swollen that she couldn't eat. With careful attention and lots of love, Dolly recovered.
Today she's a happy girl and an American Kennel Club-certified "Canine Good Citizen."
Dolly's saga prompted Daniel to establish Dolly's Foundation on Jan. 1 of this year. The organization rescues and rehabilitates homeless, neglected and abused American Pit Bull Terriers and other bully breed dogs, and it has plenty of puppies and dogs available for adoption.
"They're just dogs," Daniel said of pit bulls, noting the breed's negative image. "Dogs need love, and they need homes."
That's certainly proven true in Harper's case.
"The whole world was against her, but she's such a fighter," Daniel said. "She's a blessing. She's awesome."
  

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it interesting! –Kim

10 Suggestions for Keeping a Dog Healthy and Happy, and Strengthening the Bond

Janet Wendy Spiegel
December 28, 2010

Every year, between holiday festivities and Jan. 1, about 100 million Americans make resolutions for the new year. To help you make resolutions you can keep, here is a list of things you can do to build your relationship with your pet.

Happy New Year!

Source: http://encino.patch.com/articles/new-years-resolutions-for-you-and-your-dog
Copyright © 2010 Patch

Here's a helpful article that I thought I would pass on. –Kim

What to Know Before You Sign a Lease

Pet owners searching for an apartment know it can sometimes be difficult finding a landlord willing to rent to you and your dog or cat. But once you find the perfect place, there are certain precautions you should take before signing your name to a lease and moving in.

Landlords are not necessarily skeptical of people with dogs or cats. Responsible pet owners are usually responsible tenants, and landlords who permit pets know they have a larger pool of prospective tenants from which to draw – especially ones who are likely to stay longer if they feel their pets are welcomed.

But renters have their own burden. If a landlord is reluctant to rent for any reason, you may have to prove that you and your pet can live within set guidelines and be good tenants.

You should also read and understand the fine print regarding pets – size and weight restrictions, policies about barking, the number of dogs or cats you're permitted to own – plus security and cleaning deposits you'll have to pay. In recent years, some landlords have even begun charging pet rent; it's possible you may be charged $30 a month for your pet, in addition to deposits.

Your ability to prove that you care for your dog may be what gets you through the front door – and it could be what keeps you there.

First, read the lease thoroughly, especially the parts that relate to your pet. Make sure your dog or cat (or parakeet or snake, for that matter) fits within the limits established in the lease. If the apartment only allows small dogs and you own a Golden Retriever or a larger mixed breed, ask for an allowance – and then make sure it's written into the lease and initialed by you and the landlord.

But negotiating might not always work. For instance, if a landlord does not allow a specific breed of dog because it can be known to be dangerous, don't expect him to stretch the rules.

"If you set a policy, as a rental owner you have to apply that policy to everybody," says Eric Wiegers, deputy director of the California Apartment Association, a trade group that represents owners. "If you treat one applicant one way, you have to treat every applicant the same way."

Be sure that you understand any required deposits (Wiegers said it's unlawful to charge more than twice the monthly rent for an unfurnished apartment; check your state's regulations). Before moving in, do a walk-through with the landlord to identify existing marks on carpeting or walls. Take photos and attach those to the lease. When you leave, they may help you get back your deposit if you have kept your apartment clean.

The best way to convince your prospective landlord that you and your dog will make good tenants is to bring your dog for a visit when you find the right apartment. Bring along vet records showing that your pet has been spayed or neutered, is in good health, and is up to date on all vaccinations. Show proof that you apply flea medication on a monthly basis. Be willing to put in writing that you'll keep your dog on a leash when he's on property and that you'll pick up and dispose of his droppings; also, that you'll prevent him from relieving himself in flower beds.

Some of these suggestions come from a group that has had an open door program in place for several years promoting policies and agreements between landlords and tenants. Prospective renters are shown how to write a pet resume and show their dog in the best light. Apartment owners are provided sample pet policies and checklists for screening and recognizing responsible pet people.

"It benefits people who have pets because it means they don't have to give them up, which benefits shelters (and the pets, themselves), too," says a spokeswoman for the group.

Check with your local shelter to see if they have a similar program, including a list of pet-friendly apartments.

Source: http://dogtime.com/finding-pet-friendly-apartments.html
©2009 DogTime Inc.

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim

What Walking Means to Your Dog

Quite often, when I'm out walking the dogs, I see numerous other dog/handler teams out and about for a stroll in the neighborhood.

I see all kinds of things that I don't particularly like – dogs getting yanked around on leashes, yelled at, and constantly scolded. I can't recall a single time I've seen a dog in my neighborhood actually get a treat for doing the right thing when out on a walk.

But of all the things I see on walks, one of the most frustrating for me is seeing dogs being punished, incessantly, for being dogs.

Sometimes it seems as though owners take their dogs on a walk and forget what a walk is all about for their dog. For dogs, a walk is about sights, sounds, experiences. It's about checking "p-mail," sniffing hydrants and trees to find out where the neighbor's dog or cat last peed. It's about shoving their faces down the hole of a groundhog and sniffing until they finally pull their faces out, dirty, blissful, nostrils full of the smell of wild animals. It's about munching a particularly tender blade of grass, saying "hello" to a friendly stranger they'd like to greet, lifting a leg on every fire hydrant, sign, or tree you pass, splashing in a puddle or creek, or chewing a stick for a brief moment.

This is what walks mean to dogs. It's a chance to investigate and interact with their environment. It's mental and physical stimulation.

Many owners approach a walk with the mentality that, "We're going to walk x route in y amount of minutes whatever that takes. It will be your exercise for the day and you'd better well like it." It's a "let's just get this over with" mentality, a "you're an imposition to me and I'm doing this because I have to, not because I like to," mentality. For these people and their dogs, walking is a chore. For me, Cuba, and Mokie, more often than not, it's a game.

Let's face facts. For many, many dogs, a half hour leash walk every day barely scratches the surface of their true exercise needs. Mokie, my Chow mix, is a very active dog and for her, a walk is certainly more about mental stimulation than it is about physical stimulation. A 30-minute walk is a drop in the bucket for her. If I want to really tire her out, we need to go hiking, backpacking, swimming, or have a long and adventurous romp with some of her favorite doggy pals.

When we go on a walk, I'm walking for my dogs. It's their chance to just get out there and be dogs, to sniff and explore. If I want to go on a brisk, no-nonsense, let's-not-stop-for-anything-power walk (which happens rarely, I just can't see the point in walking without at least one dog and would feel utterly naked), I would go without the dogs.

Despite the fact that I'm a trainer, I also don't insist on perfect obedience from my dogs when we walk. A colleague once said, "well, my dogs would NEVER pull on the leash, because I'm a dog trainer." Well, la-dee-dah. Dogs are dogs. They move faster than we do and think poop is more interesting than we do. I'm not saying I let my dogs pull me around, but sometimes the leash does go tight. So what? I just stop, wait for the tension to come off the leash, and we start walking again. Easy-peasy. No mess, no fuss.

I do use equipment as a cue for the type of walk we're having. If I'm going on a training walk, where we're going to work on heeling or obedience, my dogs can wear their collars and six foot leashes. If we're going on fun, "for the dogs" walk, they get to wear front-clip harnesses and a long-line or flexi leash. (For dogs — and owners of dogs – that are not already trained to walk politely on a regular leash, a flexi leash can actually be both a safety risk and inhibit the learning of appropriate leash manners.) When they have those "clothes" on, they know they're off the hook. It's dog time – do whatever you want. Sure, I'll still call them back and reinforce them for coming, ask for a few steps in heel and reward with a chance to shove their face in a hole dug by a woodchuck, or ask for a few hand targets and reward with a stick tossed into the creek for retrieving.

But my dogs aren't always "on." They're not always performing, I'm not always rigid. I don't spend every second we're together thinking of criteria, reinforcement schedules, etc. I think of behaviors I like, and try to find ways to make it fun for them to offer those behaviors by giving them the things they want and need. Yes, dogs do NEED to sniff things and interact with their environment.

Sometimes, I'm not even a dog trainer, I'm just She Who Likes to Have Fun with Dogs.

I don't want robots, I want canines. Yes, I find their good behavior rewarding and fulfilling. It makes me proud to know how wonderful my dogs are. But at the same time, I want them to have plenty of opportunities to just do the things that they like to do, even if means that they're sniffing for 30 minutes our of a 45 minute walk and we only make it around four or five blocks instead of walking a few miles. Sometimes, I let the dogs pick the route we take on our walk. Something smells good on Fairview Avenue? Let's go that way instead of taking Riverside today!

Next time you leash your dog up for a walk, ask yourself, "whose walk is it anyway?"

Source: http://blogs.dogster.com/dog-training/whos-walk-is-it-anyway/2010/08/
Copyright 2010 Dogster, Inc.

Iran Bans Pet Ads and Describes Dogs as "Unclean Animals"
Aug. 27, 2010

Iranian authorities have banned all advertisements for pets, pet food and other pet products, The Telegraph reported.

The Iranian authorities made such a decision after powerful cleric Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi had issued the fatwa and stressed that, in line with the Islamic tradition, dogs are unclean animals.

The ban on pet ads and products appears to have come as to own pets became popular among Iranian people. However, Ayatollah couldn't accept and come to terms with this love for "unclean animals."

Ayatollah Shirazi declared in June that dog owners are "blindly imitating the West" and that their devotion to the animals would result in "evil outcomes."

Source: http://www.aysor.am/en/news/2010/08/27/iran-petban/
© 2010 Aysor.am

A 70-year-old Iranian man was arrested and sentenced to four months in jail and 30 lashes for walking his dog, Adnkronos.com reported Tuesday. Police caught the man on the street with his dog in Shahr Rey, a suburb of Tehran.

Owners of domestic animals are forbidden from taking them on the streets of the city because Islam considers dogs to be impure. An Islamic judge later charged the man for "disturbing the public order," Adnkronos.com reported.

Despite repeated warnings by the police, dog owners continue to defy authorities by taking their dogs outside their homes. Typical punishment for people caught with dogs outside is a fine or the "detention" of their animals in a pound, Adnkronos.com reported.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recently provoked debate in Iran about dog ownership when he took possession of four guard dogs, bought in Germany for approximately $161,040 each.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331528,00.html
© 2008 FOX News Network

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim
7 Ways to Improve Walking Your Dog on Leash
by Eric Goebelbecker
April 27, 2010

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Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim

How to Get Started

Have you ever wondered how you could turn your love of dogs into a career? It's common for dog lovers to want to spend as much time as possible with their furry friends in a work (or work-like) situation. Fortunately, there are many opportunities for doing this.

A few things to consider: are you looking for a true career, a full-time job, a part-time job, or will a volunteer situation fulfill your desire to work with dogs? It's important to remember the distinction as you read this list of dog-centric "jobs."

Veterinarian: Imagine caring for dogs and other pets all day long, helping them heal and lead happy, healthy lives. It's a dog lovers dream job—if you have the time, the financial means, and the aptitude to be a doctor. To become a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) you need to complete an additional four years of veterinarian training after a four-year undergraduate program.

Veterinary Technician/Veterinary Assistant: These positions are just under DVM in the totem pole. To qualify as a licensed Veterinary technician, you will likely need to complete a two- to four-year program. Veterinary assistants perform many duties in a DVM's office, but don't require the multi-year school commitment of a Veterinary technician. A quick search on the Internet will reveal a list of schools that help people train as Veterinary assistants. Before enrolling, investigate their curricula, history, placement services, and business practices. Your Vet may be a good source of information if you want to pursue a career as either a technician or an assistant.

Dog trainer: There are many kinds of professional dog trainers, from behavior experts who help dog owners correct their pet's behavior problems to "celebrity" trainers who work with dogs that appear in movies, TV shows, and live performances. All successful and respected dog trainers have an acute understanding of how dogs learn and understand the world around them. It's important to remember that there's a big difference between training your own dog and being able to mold the behavior of other people's dogs. If you feel you have the aptitude and patience to become a dog trainer, you can start by reaching out to professional dog trainers in your area for guidance and, perhaps, a chance to learn from them as an apprentice.

Dog groomer: Top dog groomers develop a loyal following because they are equally good with dogs and their owners. Groomers are creative professionals who have the skill to transform a muddy mop of a dog into a stunning showstopper. For many wannabe dog groomers, the first step is to assist a professional in their local community. That's a great way to see if you have the talent to groom and, naturally, to learn from an expert.

All the dog-related careers listed above require a heavy commitment of time to learn a complex and demanding profession. So what happens if you want to work with dogs but can't spare the time? Fortunately, there are still many other jobs that you can consider with learning curves that aren't quite as steep. These include, but are not limited to:

• Volunteering or working in a shelter
• Working in a pet shop
• Animal control officer
• Pet sitting/walking
• Performing clerical work in a Veterinarian's office
• Volunteering to help a service dog association
• Professional dog handler/assistant dog handler

The importance of volunteering simply can't be overstated. Shelters and breed rescues in just about every community need dedicated dog-loving volunteers to help with a wide range of chores. Ready to get involved? Look for volunteer opportunities near you at http://www.volunteermatch.org.

Source: http://www.pedigree.com/02All-Things-Dog/Article-Library/fetch.aspx?artId=771&catId=3&sCatId=13&catName=Adult&sCatName=Training
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