Dogs In The Heat

Of The Summer

We are moving into the fun and sun of the summer. The fourth of July lead us over the bridge to the deep summer. The temperatures have been excessively high throughout the country. While we hit the beach, swim in our pools, and sit in our air conditioned homes, our thoughts must turn to our best friends in the world, our beloved dogs. Consider how heat affects our furry kids.

The heat can and will be as dangerous, if not more, for our pets. They do not have the ability as do we, in deciding how to stay cool. Always remember, it is the human’s responsibility to create a comfortable and refuge from the sun and heat. At the very least sufficient shade needs to be available throughout the day. That means to check where the shade moves throughout the day, don’t assume that being in the shade one part of the day is enough. Of course, we all should know that tying or chaining a dog outside is inhumane and frequently breaking the law, but even in a fenced yard, the issue of shade still prevails. Easy availability of cool water is also a must. There are many types of waterer’s to keep water fresh without increasing your water bill. A tongue activated water spout can be attached directly to an outside water tap,  bowls that refill as the water level lowers, and constantly flowing and filtered water is dispensed in a recirculating waterfall. In many cases, indoors in the air conditioning is the best situation if possible. If your dog has been properly crate trained [ see my article two weeks previous], inside your home is a perfect place to be in intensive heat.

Swimming pools are a wonderful way for us to cool off, but can be a death trap for dogs. Never leave your dog alone in the pool area unattended.  A horrifying number of dogs lose their lives in pools. This can not be stressed enough. Yes most dogs can swim, but for how long, have you taught him how to get out of the pool? Would you leave your child alone in the pool area? The same mindset should be used for your dog.

Some dogs have severe difficulty in the heat more than others. Dogs with short muzzles, such as most breeds of Bulldogs, Pekingese,  Pug, Japanese Chin, Shih Tzu, Bullmastiff, Brussels Griffon, all have no easy way to cool with such a short passage to the lungs. These breeds deserve to remain inside in a cool, air conditioned area.

Humans have an outdated belief that long coated dogs should get a short, summer cut to keep cool. The dog’s coat actually acts as insulation FROM the heat as does your home insulation. Keep them clean and unmatted, and they will handle the heat much better.

Insect invasions increase greatly in the summer. Fleas have free reign in the heat. Ants, Fire Ants, bees, hornets, and our best friends, the mosquito attack at free will. Tons of pesticides, internal and external treatments are available on the market as well as green or natural products. Talk to your vet or alternative medicine veterinarian and find the best treatment for your situation. Do use a heart-worm preventative year round. Heart-worms are deadly, and the cure is very dangerous also. Prevent any infestation, keep your pet pest free.

 Dogs In The Heat Of The Summer

Keep your dog’s activity level lower during the heat of the day, and more activity early morning and late in the day. Black absorbs heat, so keep in mind ,darker coats will get hotter than light. Light colored dogs in particular can become sunburned. Using a sunblock made for babies works well for dogs. Eyes may be sensitive as well, there are many doggy shades available in the market. The question often arises as to why we need to shelter your dog from the sun, since they would have no such luxuries in the wild. This is true, however we do not afford them the natural behavior they would have had in the wild. Instinctual a dog would rest in the shade during the heat of the day, moving and hunting after the air cooled. They wouldn’t travel too far from a stream, nature takes care of itself when man does not interfere.

Our dogs love us with unconditional love, they would do anything for you, please be a responsible pet parent and respect those that love you.

Dogs In The Heat Of The Summer Written by: Carol Pentz
35 years of animal care and training
HeartAndSol American Bulldogs
www.heartandsolab.com

The Friday night began as any other summer Friday night does except Dad had taken Mom to the airport so she could catch a flight for a business trip.   I waited patiently for his return- at least I held hope he was returning.    He did.

We had dinner together and went out to the backyard to do some gardening projects. Dad’s labor, I’m management works well! The weather was like hot, really hot, extremely hot, breaking heat records for the date and the month of June.  I am learning that my human is part crazy because he loves the hot weather and stays out in it for the longest time.  I wanted to take off my fur and lay out in the backyard while he worked but he said it could get is in trouble.    The great thing though is he knows I like to be where he is, but I can’t quite take the hot sun beating down on my beautiful shiny black coat for very long.  So he lets me back in the house when it looks like I need a break or have had enough heat.  I cool off inside while he heads back out- told you he was nuts.

We finished our project soon after the sun went down.  My human was tired so he sat out on the deck awhile listening to birds chirping.   His favorite thing is to relax outside in the warm weather and soak it all in.  We stayed outside for awhile. 

When it was time for bed, we headed upstairs.  As he climbed into bed, I did too- I figured since Mom isn’t here, I can use her bed, she won’t care at all.   So I curled up next to Dad and went to sleep.

Then, it hit. Thunder. Lightning. Winds. Rain.  My human is still sound asleep so there mustn’t be much for me to worry about.   The wind blows the rain so hard against the house that I begin to wonder if it’s not going to come inside or through the roof.  My human wakes up at a big flash of lightning and the sounds of thunder.  Then, he drifts off back to sleep.  Not much he or I can do about it, so I do the same thing. WHOOOAAA!!!!! That last lightning strike near blew my fur off, my human jumps.  Again, we drift off to sleep.

It’s 3:30 a.m. and my human gets up.  After all the sound effects during the night, his and the storms, I am curious what we’ll find.   The electricity is out- so we can’t do much- heading back to bed is an opportunity well worth taking.

We get up later to find the power is still out- unusual according to Dad.  We look out the window to discover the backyard is a mess- deck furniture everywhere, the neighbor’s 4 doors down trampoline ended up in our next door neighbors yard, the tree across the street completely snapped in two, and trees or tree branches down everywhere.  WOW!! What a storm.  Dad takes me on a walk around the neighborhood- prefers to have me with him and not home alone after an event like this.  After our survey, he decides to place the emergency plan into action that he and Mom worked on but haven’t had to use.

Dad calls grandpa to see if he is alright and discovers he has electricity.  Dad packs up a few things (water and treats) and we head to grandpa’s with a stop at our church to make sure the grounds are alright.  We find everything fine there and head to grandpa’s.

While at Grandpa’s arrangements are made for us to stay there tonight if the power does not come back on.  This is good, it’s 100+ degrees outside!!  And Dad will not let me take my fur off!!!

We head back home and note a few essential items to take to grandpa’s tonight.  We find the house is still a bit cool so Dad decides to get some rest since he really didn’t sleep well last night.  I join him but soon awaken to the sounds of the electricity coming back on.

The beauty of this day and the lesson as well is to be prepared for an emergency and include your pet in your plans.  This storm was unexpected but my humans had plans in place for me since we can’t just take me anywhere.

Allen Pearson, Dog Photographer and Blogger

www.allenpearsonsphotos.com, blog.allenpearsonsphotos.com

Noah Pearson, Pawthor of dullesdog.blogspot.com

Breed Specific Legislation Leads to Passionate Debates about Pit Bulls

Recently I was involved in a discussion gone wrong on LinkedIn where someone shared an article about Breed Specific Legislation (BSL).  The group member who shared the link is passionate about protecting the American Pit Bull Terrier Breed.  Another group member shared her thoughts on the breed.  Is the breed’s aggression nature or nurture?

This sparked a heated debate that went back and forth for weeks and was reduced to libelous accusations and attacks.  The discussion was deleted, which is a shame, because the fight against Breed Specific Legislation is an admirable cause.  The current focus on the American Pit Bull Terrier Breed is frightening to me for three reasons.

1.  The breed is being judged as aggressive when I believe that judgment should be based on a case by case evaluation.  The idea of putting down good, well behaved, and loved dogs is heart breaking.  I do understand that my “case by case” suggestion threatens to bog down the court system with dog bite cases, but is the answer really to euthanize a dog based on an accusation?

2.  I question the court’s ability to determine if a dog belongs to the APBT breed.  Personally, I confuse these dogs with other breeds all the time.  Check out This Online Test to see if you can identify the APBT.  If the courts make a mistake, then more dog owners risk losing a beloved family member due to ignorance.

3.  How long before this expands to your dog’s breed?  I will burn down a court house before I let them take my babies and I know that there are many dog owners who feel the same.  But feeling that way will not protect us from losing a battle to save our dogs’ lives if they’re placed on the list.

The law makers have stepped in to legislate 0ur ownership of “inherently aggressive breeds” and I question their ability to manage this legislation in a way that protects people and dogs.  Instead of penalizing good dog owners, we should be advocating education, dog training, and tolerance.  Dog owners found to be neglecting, abusing, or fighting their dogs should be subject to more than fines.  If insurance companies are going to require additional policies from families who provide these dogs with a home, then a discount should also be offered to responsible families.

The passionate LinkedIn discussion and the news of laws being created around the country have inspired this dog lover to speak out.  I’m starting by learning more about Breed Specific Legislation and contacting my City and State politicians.  I don’t have an answer, but I think together, the dog lover community can develop an answer.  What do you have to offer?

We all have a special “super power” we’re born with. It’s something that comes naturally, that we don’t have to work at. It’s often the aspect of our personalities that people remember most about us; if we’re lucky, it’s a positive (ok, so some of you fall on the other side of that equation) quality. Even my furkids have them. That’s right. I said it. My furkids have super powers.

You ain’t ready….

It took me a while to see Owen’s super power, because he had to grow into it, I think. Owen is a rescue, although I use the term loosely. It’s more like he’s the rescuer. We’re very grateful to Kelly Morrison, and Kim Kleeman, who brought him to us to foster and allowed us to formally adopt him.

I don’t think Owen was ever abused; he just hadn’t ever been anyone’s companion. He was a throw away. That experience goes a long way towards the forging of a canine’s character. He was

shy, until he got to know us, and you could tell he was uncertain of his place in our “pack”- or if he was even welcome to be a part of it.

Mr. Owen had spent the majority of his life being a square bully peg trying to fit in with round bully pegs…and we all know how that story ends. He just needed to find his “fit”. I think it’s safe to say that he found it, with the Wilson/Aaron clan…and all our extended family.

Owen is like a teenage boy, that’s why he loves our guys so much. He’s got knobby knees. He’s clumsy. He likes girls. He’s sorta sloppy. He’s a wee bit A.D.D., (ohlookabutterfly!) O.C.D. and he eats A LOT. And will eat ANYTHING. Nothing is safe. Not Nerf darts. Not flip flops. Not even a leaf that blew in through the front door. Meat, bread, cheese, cookies, pretzels, pineapple, banana, broccoli and cauliflower, raw or cooked makes no difference, just about any fruit or veggie, really. You’ll frequently hear “hey- what’s he GOT?” as we chase him through the house…He’ll worm his way under our covers and commence to snoring so loudly that on several occasions I have had to turn the T.V. up to hear it because he’s snuggled up under my arm and right in my ear. He’sincredibly athletic. His feelings are easily hurt, and all it takes is a “Mom is REALLY upset with you” look andthe lesson is pretty much burned into his brain.Well, except for the cat lesson. The cats are still working on that one but he is making progress; Rome wasn’t built in a day and he is, after all, a D.O.G…they make certain allowances for that fact because they tell me he shows promise.

What’s fascinating to me is that Owen’s super power is…drum roll please…

(Ta-Da!)

He’s a clown.

That may not sound like a super power, but trust me- if you haven’t seen him in action then you can’t imagine what life with him and Rae is like. We’ve discovered in the last year that Rae laughs, and

actually has a pretty healthy sense of humor. She laughs at us, at the boys, her kitties, Owen, and most of all, at herself. Rae and Owen are just like a big sister and a little brother…he’s always following her around and she manipulates him right into trouble but comes out smelling like a rose herself, and laughs about it- unabashedly.

But Owen? Owen can make you laugh so hard you cry.

And he does it without even trying…It’s what comes naturally, and the thing that defines him and sets him apart. He’s so much personality crammed into that little bully body! Unbelievable that someone didn’t realize the treasure they had in him. He’s unique in the way that natural comedians are, and even when he’s not trying to “clown” around, he still is. The happier he gets, the more clownish he becomes. His happiness grows every day. Having found his niche in our pack, (andour bed) he’s safe and secure. His confidence has been bolstered by all the new people and experiences we’ve introduced him to, and his exuberance is contagious.

I even know his secret now.

Owen’s a “giant”. Mr. Wilson told me the other day that “giants” used to roam the earth, but their bodies got smaller…and their spirits got larger; that’s how you recognize one. I see him for what he is, on the inside. He’s such a quick learner it’s amazing…and what I find so interesting about his learning process is that the more you laugh, the quicker he gets it. The bigger a fool you play, the faster he learns. Owen isn’t motivated by food, although don’t ever forget that he LOVES his cauliflower.

* I mean, seriosly; isn’t that a face that says “I’m a dude who’s serious about his veggies!?”*

His true motivation? Simple. Your joy.

I think Owen and I are going to work towards his Canine Good Citizen this year, and perhaps some agility. He loves to run and play, and he’s a fetching MONSTER. With his stunning good looks (yes that was a joke) he’s quite the head turner…

Of course, when I look at him all I see is our bully boy who clowned his way into our laps and lives, and made himself a home within the shelter of our hearts.

Tracy Wilson | Pooler GA
Full Bowls, Inc. | http://www.fullbowls.org

Friday was the last day of school!  Though I am home-schooled, do not attend public school, I keep up with the local school calendar and the holidays since I have to make sure my home-school gives me the same day(s) off.  The humans are pretty good about it- most of the time I can tell because my Dad doesn’t go into the office.

Today is different.  My first clue was when the weather began getting warmer a few months ago, I knew the day wouldn’t be far behind.   As my human walks me through the neighborhood this morning, I noticed the school bus drivers beaming with bright smiles as they head down the main road.  Then, I notice the kids walking briskly and trotting to the bus stop have a smile on their face  instead of the usual, “I dread this day” look and slow walk, common among children getting ready for school or heading to school.  One kid was galloping, with an odd grin on his face, to the bus stop like he was headed to camp or something really fun- hope he’s not up to something mean.

Here comes the school bus –never seen that driver smiling so much!  She even greets each child like they are her own.   Probably does that more than I notice, but today it’s a production and drama!  The Special Education school bus stops down the street to pick up our friend for school too.  One after the other, each child and school bus driver all seem to be so full of joy.

I wonder what it’s like at the school.  I want to take a walk over to the elementary school since nearby and see what else is going on but I have chores to do around the house so I better get them done.  I finish my chores, security detail around the house and property- do some yard work, early and head to the school.

Oh my!  This is hilarious! I can’t believe what I am seeing.   Kids running to the school buses!  The buses leaving and all the adults are jumping up and down….. really weird to see an older person doing summersaults around the parking lot but this one lady had it down to perfection!   As the buses are pulling away, you can see the anticipation of summer on their faces!!!

Once I am back home I go inside to wait for my humans to come home and wonder if my friend who just finished second grade will be over to play more often since he doesn’t have school….. I am so proud of him…. he’s graduated to the third grade!  Oops!! There’s the doorbell and YAY!! The familiar voice “Can Noah come out and play?”   Oh summer- I love it.

Allen Pearson, www.allenpearsonsphotos.com
Noah Pearson, Pawthor of dullesdog.blogspot.com “from the Dog’s Paw” A Bloggery of Dogs and Cats

I recently watched the first episode of the new television program Dogs in the City and I loved it.  I’m a sucker for dogs and I got a kick out of this soft show depicting “dog trainer” Justin Silver going from home to home to office helping dog families deal with training dilemmas.

I didn’t see much training.  Justin lay on the floor to watch a dog owner try and manage her aggressive dog as visitors walked into her office.  He accompanied a father and daughter with their dog to the vet to discuss proper diet.  And he helped a girlfriend bond with her husband’s dog.

As a lover of reality television, I take these shows with a grain of salt.  They’re “for entertainment purposes only.”  But I can see why some people would turn to these shows for guidance, thinking that the attractive dog trainer must know what they’re talking about or else they wouldn’t be on television.

Recently, a professional dog trainer shared with me that these shows are offensive to professional dog trainers and my first thought was – no they’re not – then I reminded myself that I’m not a professional dog trainer.  I did a little research and found that there are mixed feelings about these programs.

Let’s start with the positives of TV dog trainers.

It’s not just me!  Have you experienced this moment?  The moment when you realize that you’re not on an island with your problem.  Rachel Sentes, a publicist with a back ground in dog training and agility training, brought up the solid point that these a show like Dogs in the City or Dog Whisperer “unites dog owners and gives them a feeling that they aren’t the only ones who have issues with their dogs.”

One of the reasons I go to the dog park is to compare notes and pick up tips.  But it’s important for us to know which tips to follow.  I’ve mentioned on a previous post that I don’t believe in rolling our dogs* – when a fellow dog owner suggested that I do this to Rodrigo to improve his behavior, I disregarded the advice, because (1) the dog owner didn’t know how to roll a dog and was constantly hurting his dog in the process and (2) Rodrigo’s behavior was resolved with patience and consistency.

* When I mentioned to rolling your dog above, I’m referring to the practice of forcing your dog onto the ground, rolling him onto his side, pinning his neck down and forcing him to submit.  I’m aware that there are professional dog trainers who use an “alpha roll” and it’s not as I describe here.  My description is based on what I see dog owners doing, which I believe is dangerous for both the dog and the owner.

These TV dog trainer programs also show that dog training is important.  When we adopted our dogs, my boyfriend wasn’t convinced that we would need a trainer and after a few weeks of watching these shows (before the dogs came home) he was sold on the process.

“The popular TV trainers do bring some positive to the dog community in that it does encourage families to seek help and support with their companion dogs.” ~ Jennifer Shryock, Founder of Family Paws Parent Education.

Why the backlash against TV dog trainers?

Not all viewers see these shows as “for entertainment purposes only.”  And not all behavioral issues can be resolved in the span of a television show.  So what’s left on the cutting room floor?

“Some of the methods I’ve seen used [on shows about dog training] are wonderful – they are simple, easy to replicate, and do not risk harming the dog. On the flip-side, some of the methods I’ve seen I would consider to be aversive to the dogs, and possibly difficult for the dog parents to replicate. Using punishment training methods can result in behaviors getting worse – because improper timing can actually reward the behavior – or they can create additional problems such as fear and aggression”. ~ Joan Hunt, Inquisitive Canine

Lori Cooper, Owner of Call-Away Canine Control shared an interesting point.  ”You cannot get proper information about this subject in an hour show, especially with severe behavior issues.”

That being said…

Amy Robinson, DroolSchool.com Dog Training, believes that “dog owners can benefit from the broad concepts presented by TV trainers, like the need for human leadership in the canine/human relationship. The bond is greater once the owner embraces his or her role as instructor and guide. Dogs thrive on a sense of accomplishment, and owners feel good once they can enjoy time with their dog. Another benefit is the trainer showing people that they can get out in the world and open social doors accompanied by their well-behaved dog.”

The important point that many of the dog trainers I spoke with want to get across is that dealing with behavioral issues takes time, patience and consistency.  Although these programs can be entertaining, it’s important for dog owners to seek out a professional dog trainer who can give them the foundation they’ll need to raise happy, healthy dogs.  Speak with your veterinarian, your rescue group or dog breeder, or speak with other people in the pet industry to get recommendations for quality dog trainers.

So share! What do you think about Dogs in the City and the other TV dog trainer programs?  Do you have a favorite?

Kimberly Gauthier, a perpetually happy person, lives with her amazing guy, their spoiled dogs and cats, and loves dog rescue, photography, reading, and laughing.  She’s the author of Keep the Tail Wagging where she shares tips on raising happy, healthy dogs and promotes dog rescue and reputable breeding.  You can also find her at Girl Power Hour as The Fur Mom

A constant supply of fresh water is essential to your dog’s good health and comfort.  Water is very important, representing and estimated 70 percent of the dog’s weight.  Like man, a dog can go without food for a surprisingly long time, but if he is deprived of water, he can’t survive for more than a few days, or even hours, in a hot, dry environment.

A dog’s water consumption varies according to the climate to his activity, and to the composition of his meals.  Heat and exercise dehydrate him quickly.  He gets very thirsty in cars or any confined space.  However, excessive thirst for not good reason should be reported to your vet, because it may be an early symptom of diabetes or kidney trouble.

At home he should have a clean, full water bowl next to his food dish, another in his play area, and possibly a third one that is accessible at night.  Away from home the problem is more difficult.  A thirsty dog is attracted to water in the gutter, in stagnant pools and rain puddles.  Clean rain water is fine, but hard to find.

Caustic chemicals used to melt snow on streets and sidewalks, weed-killers and insecticides on lawns and golf courses contaminate most standing water and should be avoided.  Try to train your dog to drink only from his own bowl or what you offer him.  Try to keep a water-filled plastic container with you or in your car, especially if you plan on a lot of walking or running during hot weather.

Milk is the only liquid, aside from water, that appeals to dogs and still agrees with them, (although it may cause loose stools).  They are seldom tempted by other drinks and particularly dislike carbonated drinks.  Milk is always another good source of protein but should not be used as a substitute for meat.  Most any flavored drink should be avoided, as it only tends to irritate the kidneys, causing frequent urination and dehydration.

Kimberly Gauthier Photography – Rodrigo when we were teaching him fetch.

His past week someone shared a link to an article from the site of celebrity dog trainer Cesar Milan.  The article was about walking several dogs and now that we have three, I excitedly clicked over to read the tips.  Others commented on the link, sharing their dislike of Cesar and once again I heard about the video of him kicking the dog.  The person who originally posted the article shared that she regretted posting the link, because she knows that people have a negative reaction to Cesar Milan.

My experience with Dog Trainer Cesar Milan

Do I know him?  Nope.  Have I met him?  Nope.  My experience is based on a book that someone recommended and a few episodes of his television show that I’ve seen.  I haven’t seen anything that shocks me.  I took from his book what I felt comfortable applying to the training of our dogs.  I haven’t put much energy beyond this into Cesar Milan.

The drama surrounding Cesar Milan is fascinating.  I’ve heard of the video of him kicking a dog, but I haven’t seen it.  I’ve heard that people on his show have to relinquish rights to seek damages should any harm come to their dog, but I haven’t seen a contract.  I spent an hour searching online about Cesar Milan and found people who love his work and his methods and people who do not.

What I learned from Dog Trainer Cesar Milan

Given the fact that I haven’t put that much time into learning about Cesar Milan, you won’t be surprised that the only things that I’ve learned from Cesar Milan is that I need to be confident around my dogs and work to be the leader of the pack.

I’m not going to get into the debate of whether dogs act like packs in our family except to say that we do have a pecking order in our home.  My boyfriend – Me – Rodrigo – Sydney – Blue.  It’s been interesting watching Blue learn his place as the dogs gently train him on what’s appropriate and what isn’t appropriate.

Our dogs look to us for leadership and care and when I’ve been unsure and insecure, Rodrigo stepped up and it was awful; requiring a dog trainer to get us back on track, which we did inside of days.  Confidence is what keeps our house of 3 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 humans running smoothly.

Positive / Rewards Based Training

When we were researching adopting a dog, we read about several different schools of thought on dog training and settled on positive rewards based training.  We wanted our dogs to love us, to respect us, and not to fear us.  We thought this path was the best way for us to reach this goal.  It wasn’t as easy as I thought.  I envisioned handing out treats every time they did something.  Learning to use the clicker at the optimal time, always making sure to have treats on hand, and treating every experience as a training experience is both draining for the dogs and the humans, but it was worth every moment.

A woman recommended that we roll our dogs and stare at them in the eyes while we gripped their neck to gain control.  She did this with her dog, who always ran away from her.  Her ex-husband never rolled the dog (same dog), he was just confident, and the dog could walk with him off leash and he’d never leave his side.  This was interesting and showed me that we made the right choice with our training.

Cesar Milan or Victoria Stilwell

I’ve stopped watching the dog training shows, but I’m still curious to learn which camp people fall into.  Although there are many dog trainers out there, I use Cesar Milan and Victoria Stilwell, because they have television shows.  At first I was a fan of Cesar Milan until I started listening to the critics.  Then I was a fan of Victoria Stilwell until many of her methods didn’t work with our dogs.

Today, I’m a fan of a couple of dog trainers who I know.  I’ve learned that being a dog trainer is more than just knowing how to get dogs to behave.  Our trainers took the time to get to know us, to get to know the dogs, and to ask questions about our life.  They then tailored a training regime that worked for us.

Choosing a Dog Trainer

If you’re looking for a dog trainer, I would recommend that you talk to your veterinarian and friends to find out who they used.  We met Sydney and Rodrigo’s trainer based on many recommendations.  Blue gets to attend puppy school and we met his trainer when we adopted Sydney and Rodrigo.

Our requirements for a trainer were that they utilized a positive based system.  Sydney and Rodrigo required a private trainer, because puppy class was too distracting for litter mates who just wanted to play all the time.  Shannon Finch had them (and us) trained on many things in under 2 hours.  She’s amazing.

Blue gets the special treat of being socialized in puppy class. The trainer we’ll be working with is a Petco employee who loves dogs.  If we didn’t know her outside of Petco, we probably wouldn’t consider going their for puppy class, but she’s an amazing individual and we can’t wait to work with her.

Decide what training method works for you (ask questions / do some research)

Ask for recommendations from your veterinarian and your friends

Be prepared to work, because you will have homework assignments and just because the class ends, doesn’t mean dog training ends

Do you know a great dog trainer who deserves a shout out?  Share their name and website in the comments below!

Kimberly Gauthier, a perpetually happy person, lives with her amazing guy, their spoiled dogs and cats, and loves dog rescue, photography, reading, and laughing. She’s the author of Keep the Tail Wagging, where she shares tips on raising happy, healthy dogs and promotes dog rescue and reputable breeding. You can also find her at Girl Power Hour as The Fur Mom.

The positive effects owning a dog can have on children can be astonishing. Children can learn many valuable life skills from owning a dog. Owning a dog helps children learn responsibility, and the value of respect among other things.  To facilitate learning of responsibility children should be encouraged to take part in caring for the dog; even with small children, any small contribution to the dog’s care counts. With older children, more dog care responsibilities should be assigned, and it should be made clear that the child is the sole owner of the dog, as this will make them feel more responsible for the dog’s care and wellbeing.

Owning a dog can also boost your child’s self esteem because dogs provide unconditional love. Children find comfort and encouragement when they are greeted by the wagging tail of a dog that’s excited to see them return home from school. This keeps them motivated and makes them feel good about themselves.  Dogs can also help decrease loneliness in children, especially in children that do not have siblings, as they will always have someone to talk to and play with.  Furthermore, dogs help children feel secured and can help reduce anxiety.

Patience, empathy, kindness, and compassion are other qualities that children can develop from owning a dog, as these are qualities one must have when caring for a dog.  Interaction with a dog can even help your child learn non-verbal communication, as they learn to understand their dog’s body language.

The benefits of children owning pets are endless, these are just a few to consider in case you are a parent who is deciding if buying a dog for your child is the right choice.

When I started writing Keep the Tail Wagging I wanted to approach dog rescue from a positive point of view.  I laugh now, but I was sincere then.  I was tired of the negative stories.  I was tired of the sad pictures.  I was tired of the horrifying stories.  I wanted to share the happy endings.  And then we were introduced to a puppy that we named Riley and less than two weeks later she was gone.  And then I was introduced to a puppy named Edgar Frog who was born in a puppy mill and terrified of humans at 5 months old.

Now I’m looking at dog rescue in an entirely new light.  I’m not longer resentful of the ASPCA commercials; now I appreciate them, because an ASPCA veterinarian took the time to talk to me about canine parvovirus.  But I’m not ready to put on a cape and boots and bust up a puppy mill.  So what can I do?

There are many roles in dog rescue…

Foster a dog - Our family tried fostering and I got attached to the first dog and we kept the second dog (Riley).  My conclusion was that we couldn’t foster a dog, because we’d end up with 10 dogs.  Now I think I’m mistaken.  We now have three dogs and two cats.  We can’t take on any more permanent pets without sacrificing the care and love of our current fur kids, which probably makes a great home for a temporary foster.  Although I’ve heard of families hosting a foster for 6 months or more, many rescue groups try and keep the foster period short (hopefully about a week, two at the most).  And if the foster family does it’s part in promoting the dogs, then the foster period will be brief.

With our first foster, Morgan, I took pictures and video.  10 families showed up at the adoption event (a week later) to meet him.  He’s in an amazing home.

Sponsor a dog - For those of you who still aren’t convinced that you can foster a dog.  Try fostering a dog.  I’ve reached out to my favorite, local dog rescue group to sponsor a dog with a $10, $20, $50 contribution.  The dollar amount really doesn’t matter, because every dollar works.  If every person  who has liked the Keep the Tail Wagging Facebook page contributed $1, I could forward over $4,500 to a rescue group.  Imagine what that would do for their cause!  When you contribute, imagine 100 other people matching those funds.

Even better! Some companies will match employee contributions, so check with your manager or Human Resources department to see if your contribution qualifies.

Rescue groups also need food,  blankets, food dishes, beds, kennels/carriers, leashes/collars, and other supplies.  Check their site for a list or contact them directly to find out what they need.  It’s amazing what you can pick up around the house or at Goodwill that will be more than enough for the rescue group.

Kimberly Gauthier, a perpetually happy person, lives with her amazing guy, their spoiled dogs and cats, and loves dog rescue, photography, reading, and laughing. She’s the author of Keep the Tail Wagging, where she shares tips on raising happy, healthy dogs and promotes dog rescue and reputable breeding. You can also find her at Girl Power Hour as The Fur Mom.