K9 Chronicles

SO THEN, HOW CAN WE AS LOVING PET OWNERS HELP PREVENT THIS?…

To give your dog’s ears a complete cleaning, moisten a cotton ball with mineral oil, olive oil, or witch hazel, and gently wipe the inside of the ears. Don’t use a cotton swab; it’s easy to accidentally damage the delicate mechanisms of the inner ear. Certain breeds have hair growing inside the ear that must be plucked to prevent wax and dirt from collecting. Ask a groomer or breeder to show you how to pluck the hair. The tips of your dog’s ears are like a “Zen” place. In times of stress rub the tips of the ear and you will have a calm relaxed pup.

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This information has been provided by Susan Hartlzer of AlphaDogPR. They are based in Los Angeles and a chosen resource for editors, producers, writers and reporters. Alpha Dog PR is dedicated to providing the media with the most up-to-the-minute information about the rapidly growing pet industry. For more information, please visit www.alphadogpr.com or call (818) 998-6299.

Tags: dog ear, dog health, ear health, ear infection, ears, hot ear, mites, odor, rubbing, scratching, swelling
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Grooming Your Cat

August 27th, 2009

Vaccuming, combs and those little sticky things on rolls, infomercial products, lots of laundry… sound familiar? The work seems to never end when it comes to grooming a cat. Some cats’ fur is worse than others, though. Just leave a t-shirt on the floor and have a look at it the next day, you’ll see just how much maintenance your cat’s really gonna need!

Last Sunday, we posted some advice from Dave Ely, from Northern California’s Aussie Pet Mobile. Today another Aussie Pet Mobile owner provides us with some tips for keeping that fur under control!

Summertime grooming tips for your kitty!

With cats spending time outside, soaking up the sun, it’s important to keep in mind these tips to keep them safe.

Not all cats need to be shaved in the summer time. Cats should be shaved no more than every 2-3 months. For summer, a simple grooming to pull excess fur out will keep them cooler in the warm summer months.
Outdoor cats should be treated with a flea and tick preventative. This should be done once every month to ensure cat flea control maintenance. Treatment can be done by a local groomer or by purchasing cat flea & tick control medicine at pet or grocery stores. There are also preventive measures available to keep fleas & ticks away from a pet owner’s home or yard. If your cat happens to get fleas or ticks, you can purchase cat flea & tick control medicines at a pet or grocery store and use it in conjunction with a flea comb, or you can simply call your local mobile groomer to come visit, treat your cat, and give tips on how to prevent your cat from getting fleas or ticks again in the near future.
Outdoor cats need more vaccines than indoor cats because they are exposed to more viruses when they interact with other animals. Be sure to keep up with your cat’s vaccines; vaccinations cats should get to battle the most common disease include: panleukopenia (distemper), feline calicvirus (FCV), feline herpes virus (rhinotracheitis), and rabies.
Cats that have been skunked can be treated at home with a baking peroxide and dish soap bath. Let the baking peroxide and dish soap sit on the spot that was sprayed, and then wash it off. If weary about treating your cat yourself, take your feline to your local vet or call a mobile groomer to come visit and treat your cat quickly and conveniently without having to place them in your car.
Sometimes cat’s hair can get matted. When this happens, don’t try to cut it out with scissors because a cat’s skin is very thin and easy to tear. Instead, the best way to get rid of the mat is to shave it off.
Check regularly for “kitty acne.” That’s right – like humans – cats can get acne too. Kitty acne first appears as small, oily black spots on the chin, which may progress to red, itchy bumps that can become infected. The culprit…kitty acne is most commonly found on cats that use plastic food dishes. These dishes are a magnet for bacteria and dirt that work their way into scratches and nicks, infecting your cat; stress may also be a reason. For treatment, daily cleaning with an antibiotic soap, followed by a topical ointment is recommended by most veterinarians, who can also prescribe oral antibiotics as well as a scrub with hydrogen peroxide.

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Tips provided by Jeff Boehmer, owner of Aussie Pet Mobile of King of Prussia/Langhorne, serving pets and their owners in Montgomery and Bucks County. Noted as the world’s largest mobile pet grooming concept in the world, Aussie Pet Mobile serves more than 250 cities in 24 states nationwide and 16 international countries with their exclusive 15-step pet spa treatment.

Tags: cat, cat grooming, feline, flea comb, fleas, Grooming, kitten, outdoor cat, shaving cats, ticks, vaccine
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In-Depth Interview with Nancy A. Kaiser

August 25th, 2009

K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into communicating with pets?

Nancy: My family always had dogs, and my folks bought my first horse when I was 13 years old. In 77, I left the practice of pharmacy to marry a horse vet in central NJ. For the next 27 years, I managed our breeding farm, equine hospital and vet office. In the early 90s, I discovered my skills as an animal communicator through one of my husband’s patients, a Quarter Horse filly foal, named Because of Love. While watching an animal communicator teach a workshop, I got hit in the psyche with the proverbial cosmic 2 x 4. I experienced the strongest knowing I’d ever had telling me that this was what I was supposed to be doing.

So, I spent the next year traveling into New York City to work with a clairvoyant counselor who, along with lots of support from the Universe, helped me reawaken this lost talent. Animals just kept showing up that needed my help. I believe I’d been communicating with animals from an early age, but it wasn’t until I met Love that I became aware of it and made a conscious effort to develop it.

K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?

Nancy: When I’m communicating with an animal, I hear and feel. My feeling gift allows me to sense their personality, emotions they’re expressing and many times physical issues they are experiencing. Being an empath allows me to act much like a medical intuitive, which often helps their veterinarian in the diagnosis of troubling and confusing symptoms. Although my expertise begins with telepathic communication, over the years, thanks to the animals’ needs, I’ve been introduced to several healing modalities that I now specialize in.

Using these modalities, I am able to offer my clients solutions to the issues, problems and challenges they face with their animal companions. I began using Spiritual Response Therapy (SRT) to help animals who were suffering from the negative influences from past lives. This process is especially effective for animals with thunderstorm and fireworks fears and phobias, as well as many other “bad behavior” issues that can’t be corrected with typical training techniques. The negative emotional influences from past lives are so powerful that the conscious mind cannot override them.

SRT is an incredibly powerful process that heals at a soul level to remove the negativity that is controlling the animal or person. The healing resulting from a SRT clearing is complete healing. I know animals that I worked with years ago that are still free of their fears and phobias and bad behavior. It’s not just a short-term fix.

I use SRT along with vibrational remedies that I prepare for the individual animal and its specific need. Flower essences and gem elixirs are very effective for many emotional, as well as physical, issues. I also have the ability to obtain healing from shamanic journeys if the animal requires a more unique approach. If I don’t feel I have enough understanding of the animal’s situation after talking with him/her, I will access further insights and guidance from spiritual beings that assist me. This information is channeled through automatic writing.

Being a left-brained pharmacist I needed lots of physical proof in the beginning. And, I got plenty. The animals taught better than university professors. After 16 years, I don’t need proof although I see and hear it from my clients constantly.

K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?

Nancy: Two words – unconditional love. Dogs are master teachers, and I believe their greatest lesson to humans is that of loving unconditionally. And I’m sorry to say we’re still not getting it; myself included. Years ago when I was channeling insights, I was “told” that companion animals came into being to answers our souls’ cries for help, because Earth is a very difficult plane to live on. I’ve spent my life taking care of animals; cats, dogs and horses. I’ve spent the past 16 years communicating with all species of animals, domestic and wild.

I can’t really imagine my life without a horse in it, but I know as I get older that day will come. Just not too soon I hope. As for dogs, I won’t live a life without dogs. I just can’t. I lost my best friend when my husband left me five years ago. I thought I’d never survive that loss. With the help of my old Labs that left in 06 and my two new Labs, I am happy again and living a fulfilling life. I can honestly say that I can live happily without a man, but without a dog(s) – NEVER! Just couldn’t do it.

K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?

Nancy: The best part of what I do is hearing back from a client that their animal friend has overcome whatever problem or issue they had come to me for in the first place. When I hear that someone feels a closer relationship with their companion since our communication, I just smile. I counsel many animals prior to surgeries, vacations, groomers, etc. When people call and tell me how well their friend handled a very difficult situation, I know I’ve done my job well.

A large part of my communication consults deal with euthanasia. I am honored to help an animal at its time of transition. I feel it’s probably the most important thing I do. I can sense the person’s relief to know that their friend is more than ready to go and has actually been waiting. Animals have taught me about reincarnation. They understand that it occurs and actually look forward to returning to spirit. They feel it is the beginning of a new cycle. They get very confused by their people’s grief and inability to let them go. To know I’ve helped make an extremely emotional situation easier for both parties is tremendously gratifying.

I developed a SRT clearing that eases an individual’s journey back to spirit. I have a picture of a dog that I did the special SRT clearing for, which was taken the night before he was euthanized. There is a shaft of white light that extends from the dog’s head up into the sky. His people sent it to me as a thank you. The universe sent it as more of that physical proof I was in need of then. It’s a profound reminder of the power of the work I am humbled do.

I am always pleased when a person recognizes the improvement in their animal companion and asks if I can help them deal with their own challenges. Many times, it’s really the person who needs the healing rather than their animal friend. It’s their love for their animal that beings the healing to them that they so desperately need. I’m here to help all species and that includes the human species.

K9 Cuisine: Where do you see the pet communication industry going?

Nancy: I think animal communication will continue to move toward main stream society. The animals have so much they’ve come to teach, and we animal communicators are their voices. Humanity needs to realize that the animals are here to take care of us rather than the other way around. Until this changes, we’re missing out on so much that they have to offer us.

K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?

Nancy: I plan on doing whatever I can to help repair the rift that has developed between animals and humans. My hope is that through improved communication and better understanding, we can live happier lives together. I’ve been truly blessed to spend my days doing what I love to do. I am here in service to whoever needs me whether animal or human. I will continue working with my skills and investigate any new ones the universe wants me to learn in order to offer compete healing for my clients. Total healing only occurs when we heal mind, body and spirit. Mere communication alone isn’t always enough, but it’s the place to start. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just waiting for those I can help to find their way to me, and eventually they do.

K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your organization?

Nancy: My website has everything you could possibly want to know about me. It tells about my life and how I communicate. It explains about each of the services I offer along with costs. You can contact me through it to set up a consultation session. I have numerous testimonials from clients including two small animal vets in NJ, who I’ve helped with their own animals as well as many of their clients’ animals.

I have an “appearances” page that will tell you when I’m being interviewed or where I might be signing books. You can find out more about my book Letting Go, read the first chapter, order personalized print copies and find out how to order it as an ebook. You can also read my blog.

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Nancy Kaiser, based out of North Carolina, is the author of Letting Go: An Ordinary Woman’s Extraordinary Journey of Healing & Transformation. She has developed her own animal communication business called “Just Ask” Communication. Visit her website.

Tags: animal communicator, communicating with animals, dogs, speaking to dogs
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What To Do If Your Dog Encounters Poison Oak

August 23rd, 2009

It’s around this time of year that your pup will encounter the most “wee beasties” of all kinds. But pests aren’t the only threat folks…

This time of year, our dogs face a variety of outdoor nasties (ticks, fleas, skunks, bees, etc.) that challenge the well-being of both the animal and human companion. One such adversary is poison oak, and in beautiful Northern California we love our outdoor hikes, but we hate Western Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum). Poison oak has a surface oil on its leaves and twigs called urushiol that often causes an allergic reaction.

When an eager and inquisitive dog explores its surroundings and encounters poison oak, the urushiol rubs off onto the dog’s coat or, worse, the dog’s face. While the urushiol on the dog’s coat does not in and of itself cause problems, the urushiol can get onto a human who may the pet the dog’s coat or onto carpet, furniture, or other surfaces that may be touched by a human or another pet.

Urushiol on a dog’s nose, snout, and eyes, however, provides the greatest opportunity for allergic reaction on your pet due to the exposed and sensitive skin. This results in inflammation, itching, and oozing (weeping blisters). It normally takes about a day for the rash to appear; for those with severe reactions it’ll worsen during the next few days. Depending on how it is treated and dealt with, the rash persists typically one to two weeks, sometimes longer – ugh! The resulting dog’s scratching of the affected area often compounds the affliction.

Our mobile pet grooming business recently received a call from one of our clients requesting our services to resolve a poison oak encounter by their two golden retrievers. “We just cleared out a portion of our backyard, including a huge growth of poison oak, and the dogs got into the stuff. Help!” Note: freshly-cut leaves and branches of poison oak expose more urushiol toxin thereby exacerbating any direct contact – yikes, a recipe for disaster! One of the humans had indeed gotten the toxin on her arms and hands by touching the affected coat of one of the dogs.

The primary remedy that we used in treating the dogs was a fabulous product called Tecnu, which removes the harmful oils. The product can be applied before a rash has started (as a preventive measure for when one first becomes aware of the poison oak encounter) or as soon as the rash appears. According to the directions, you saturate a cloth with Tecnu and wipe down the pet’s coat, then follow with a pet shampoo. We followed this procedure on both dogs, thoroughly wiping down each dog’s entire coat with Tecnu, then a thorough shampoo and rinse. Both dogs also had several small oozing sores on their snouts from the poison oak, so we avoided wiping down the affected areas on the snouts (per Tecnu’s instructions). If either dog had a severe rash on the face or snout or a rash in or around the eyes, I would have recommended the owner take the dog to the veterinarian. For severe reactions a prednisone prescription is necessary to stop skin damage, especially if the eyes are involved. Now, since the Tecnu only removes the oil, it won’t immediately resolve the rash or eliminate the acute itching.

The client has reported no more subsequent poison oak problems with these dogs and we have since returned to groom both retrievers and found no lingering evidence of the poison oak affliction. Yay!

In the end, the best a dog owner could do is to recognize the possibility of a poison oak (or poison ivy) encounter early and take preventive measures per the Tecnu regimen to avoid any rash outbreak. Of course, please take early and immediate steps to identify and carefully remove any and all poison oak or poison ivy from your yard or common areas frequented by your dog. Doing your best to reducing exposure to this toxin is good for your dog and good for you.

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This information was provided to K9 Cuisine, courtesy of Dave Ely of Aussie Pet Mobile. They provide mobile luxury grooming services to cats & dogs all over Northern California. Their grooming products are ensured to be eco-friendly and biodegradable, lessening your pooch’s carbon footprint as well as your own.

Tags: dog, dogs, pet care, pet health, poison oak, Tecnu
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Evaluating Your Dog’s Health – Eyes

August 20th, 2009

Since our animals cannot speak to us in words, this is part three of our series on items you need to check each month to keep your pet healthy.

These steps will help you to know when your ailing dog needs to be taken to the vet and when you can take care of him at home.

This week we are focusing on eye health.

They say that dogs’ eyes are the windows to their soul. If you know your dog you can tell by looking into their eyes how they are feeling. The eyes should be bright and clear, with no swelling, redness, heavy tearing or runny discharge.

An unusual amount of discharge in the corners of the eyes or a reddish or “meaty” appearance of the conjunctiva are signs of conjunctivitis (inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelid, the conjunctiva).

If you notice constant rubbing or pawing at the eye area, something is there
Wipe away dried matter from the corners of your dog’s eyes using a moistened cotton ball… no soap!
Redness, Tearing or Discharge can be caused by something in the environment, it is especially common in dogs that ride with their heads stuck out of car windows or spend a lot of time outdoors in windy, dusty weather. This can also be a sign of Allergy.
Eye problems that don’t clear up within 24 hours should be treated by a veterinarian
Excessive tearing (usually caused by allergies, infections, injuries, or irritation)
Tear stains beneath the eyes may indicate a problem.

If you see your dog continually pawing at his eyes or squinting, they may have a foreign body in the eye. Examine the eyes in a well-lit room. To get a good look, pull down on the lower lid and up on the upper lid. If only one eye appears to be affected, compare it to the other eye to see how they differ. If you can’t find anything or if you can’t remove the object, take your dog to the vet for treatment. You can also keep “Natural Tears” around the house for those red eye days or to flush the eye.

* H I N T * To help keep stains under control, wash the area under the eyes frequently using warm water and a cotton ball. Do not use soap near a dog’s eyes. Soap in the eye can cause a corneal ulcer.

Utilize this advice and have a healthier, happier dog! We will continue this series for many more weeks so stay tuned in!

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This information has been provided by Susan Hartlzer of AlphaDogPR. They are based in Los Angeles and a chosen resource for editors, producers, writers and reporters. Alpha Dog PR is dedicated to providing the media with the most up-to-the-minute information about the rapidly growing pet industry. For more information, please visit www.alphadogpr.com or call (818) 998-6299.

Tags: allergies, dog, dog health, eyes
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Press Release: K9 Cuisine Now Offers Horizon Premium

August 19th, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: SUSAN RISDON
214-226-6741
SUSAN@REDMEDIAGROUP.COM

K9CUISINE.COM NOW OFFERS HORIZON PREMIUM, ALL NATURAL PET FOOD

Paris, Illinois- K9Cuisine.com, one of the web’s fastest growing online pet food stores, is thrilled to add Horizon Pet Nutrition to it’s inventory of healthy, premium pet foods. “The Horizon product line is high-quality Canadian made pet food that provides optimum nutrition for dogs and cats of all ages,” said Anthony Holloway, owner of K9Cuisine.com. “Horizon gives our loyal customers one more healthy selection that meets our high standards of fresh foods with no gluten, soy, corn or wheat.”

K9Cuisine.com now carries Horizon Pet Nutrition-Legacy Adult Dog Food, Horizon Pet Nutrition-Legacy Puppy Dog Food and Horizon Pet Nutrition-Legacy Adult Cat Food and shipping is free for orders of $50.00 or more. Horizon Legacy is a grain-free pet food that applies the same nutritional philosophies of a raw diet but in a convenient super-premium kibble. Horizon Pet Nutrition uses wholesome ingredients like fresh meats, beneficial whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables for the best overall health of your pet. Horizon sources local ingredients directly from farmers and producers near the company-owned manufacturing facility in Saskatchewan.

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At K9 Cuisine, we know how you feel about your pet. We understand that you want to provide your canine companion with the healthiest food for a long, happy life. So we offer only the highest quality dog supplies. When you order from K9 Cuisine, you can be assured you’ll receive not only quick, courteous service, but also healthy, high-quality food and treats. We do not sell products that contain additives or preservatives, or ingredients that may otherwise be harmful to your dog. Many of the brands we carry use human-grade ingredients.

www.k9cuisine.com/

Tags: all natural pet food, cat food, dog food, horizon premium, optimum nutrition, pet food, press release
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Interview with Susan Ridge

August 17th, 2009

"Susan & Kitty"

K9 Cuisine: What is your story-how did you get into pet rescue?

Susan: I returned to Washington, DC from NYC with my first ever pets, who rescued me more than I really rescued them! The first was a laid-back Maine Coon kitty named Macaroon, who convinced me that cats were so cool I also adopted Ray. Originally Sugar Ray because he was such a fighter having survived surgery to remove his eye since he was born with herpes, he is a chandelier-hanging black cat who is Mr. Personality. A former colleague saw their pictures in my office and asked me to do a fundraiser for the Washington Animal Rescue League. I was so impressed with what they were doing, I started volunteering and soon after joined the Board of Directors.

K9 Cuisine: What is the secret to your success with the organization-how have you gotten to where you are today?

Susan: Our organization started back in 1914 as the first animal shelter in the city, primarily to rescue horses that were discarded after working as part of a horse and buggy team and later expanding to dogs and cats. What started as a grassroots organization is still very much the same way today, with hundreds of volunteers and a staff who do what they do because they care. And we grew as the animals’ needs grew.

For example, we recently expanded what started as a program around the holidays to provide food, bedding and toys for the pets of low-income residents. As the economic crisis worsened, we started seeing more and more pets abandoned because people couldn’t afford them, so we created a full-fledged food bank to help provide for those animals. Or goal is to set a new global standard for the humane care of homeless and abused animals and that’s what drives us today.

K9 Cuisine: What makes you different?

Susan: Our organization is unique, which is part of the reason why I got so involved. We have a full-service medical facility that is dedicated to serving the pets of our low-income community. This is a huge need as veterinary care goes up in price just as healthcare costs do. We also take care of the shelter animals in the clinic. But this means we can treat the doggies with heartworm, cure the kitties of upper respiratory infections and ringworm or worse, and take care of the puppies with parvo or offer surgery to those who need it. These animals don’t deserve to die from these treatable ailments, which is almost certainly their fate in other places.

We can give them another chance at life with a loving family.

A few years ago, we also renovated the shelter extensively. Every detail was designed from the animals’ point of view to promote healing and maximally enhance the animals’ physical and emotional wellbeing as they recover from past traumas and await adoption. Steel-bar and concrete cages were thrown out and replaced with glass enclosed dog dens, cat condos, and puppy pads-a more humane, efficient, and responsible way to shelter homeless animals and set them up for a successful transition into their new homes. We now comfortably house up to 350 animals and we’re one of the largest shelters on the East Coast. The renovation also expanded the capacity of the clinic to help us fulfill our mission.

As a result, we are a very happy place. People like to come and visit the animals. And we get visitors from around the world who want to study what we’ve done so that they can replicate it in their own community.

K9 Cuisine: What is it about dogs that you love?

Susan: I love dogs AND cats because of their ability to forgive and love again. Too many animals are abused, both physically and emotionally. Despite this, all they want is a loving touch, a kind voice and a lap to sit in once in awhile. They don’t care what you look like or what you do for a living. They just want to be with you.

K9 Cuisine: What is the neatest part about your work?

Susan: I think the neatest part of this work is the ability to give an animal a second chance. These animals come to us from a variety of situations, some of which are very sad. They don’t know what they did wrong, or why someone stopped loving them. But they are scared. And then we go to work, doing everything we can to find them that forever home they deserve. Fixing them up if they need medical attention or training. Every day is a success story at the League because every day those animals receive love.

K9 Cuisine: Where do you see pet rescue going?

Susan: I think the animal rescue field still faces many challenges, despite all the progress we’ve made. Too many people still don’t spay and neuter their pets, which contributes to the overpopulation crisis. Too many people still de-claw cats, a horrific surgery that removes the digits, not just the nails. Too many people still don’t understand the responsibilities that come with adopting a pet. Too many people would rather just kill off the feral cat colonies or cull the homeless dogs that roam the street rather than adopt a more humane and proven method such as trap, neuter and return, to reduce their numbers. It can be disheartening but also galvanizing, because there is still so much work to do.

K9 Cuisine: How do you fit into that-what are your future plans?

Susan: These are issues we think about every day and we’re developing programs using the latest research and techniques to help create a more humane society. For example, we have a terrific humane education program that goes into the schools to teach children how to respect all animals, but we want and need to do more. We offer spay and neuter clinics, microchipping clinics, behavioral training and other initiatives aimed at saving more animals. We also work with federal and state lawmakers to pass and strengthen laws to improve the animals’ lives. And the power of the press is important to help people understand what is going on around them.

But sadly, it’s not enough. We have to keep busting up the puppy mills and shut down the stores that sell them. We have to keep educating people about the importance of spaying and neutering and how it improves the animal’s health. The list goes on, but so will we.

K9 Cuisine: How can people find out more about you and the your organization?

Susan: That’s easy – you can visit us online at www.warl.org. Or, next time you’re in Washington, come visit us at 71 Oglethorpe Street, NW. We’re open every day but Monday.

K9 Cuisine: Tell us a little about you!

Susan: My friends are a bit surprised at how passionate I am about animal welfare issues because I did not grow up with animals. I didn’t even know anyone with cats, just dogs. And here I am a “mom” to six beautiful kitties! Not to mention that I am okay with the crazy cat lady title since I like to break silly stereotypes – I am married and have a successful career!

I also like to adopt animals that others tend to overlook, such as a kitty with one eye, or a heart murmur or neurological disorders. They include Ray, Ned, Ben, Sarah, Lucy and Norm. They are all beautiful creatures who are simply “perfect” to me. Every day they teach me how to love, and for that I will always be grateful.

Recently, after we received more than 100 dogs from a puppy mill bust in Pennsylvania, I grabbed two friends and we bathed the dogs because they were so smelly. Most of them had rarely, if ever, been touched by humans. The fact that they allowed us to bathe them was the first gift. The second - and most rewarding – was the look in their eyes. And that’s why I do what I do.

Tags: pet rescue, rescue, susan ridge, warl, washington animal rescue league
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Reward Based Training – Kathy Sdao

August 13th, 2009

Kathy Sdao is an amazing trainer. She’s not just a trainer, she’s an associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, meaning she’s the real deal in terms of animal behavior. What I love most about Kathy is how she has all of this great experience, 20+ years in marine mammals and dogs, and yet she breaks information down into digestible, enjoyable bits. I feel like I am pretty well educated, in terms of dogs, but I always walk away from her seminars with a new gem of information, either a concept that I didn’t fully get or a new way to explain something to my clients.

A few years ago, we got lucky and Kathy agreed to do private behavior consultations at Ahimsa. My clients rave about how well their dogs are doing now and how much they love Kathy. So here’s the story of how Kathy got into reward-based training, in her own words.

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My choice to train dogs with carrots, not sticks.

I’m embarrassed to write this. At first, I didn’t understand that leash corrections, reprimands, squirt bottles and all the other painful or annoying tools traditionally used to train dogs were unnecessary. This was despite the fact that, at the time, I’d already spent more than 10 years successfully training complex behaviors to dolphins, whales, walruses, sea lions and polar bears without resorting to “sticks” (punishment). A veritable pack of professional dog trainers, some whom I knew well, told me that these force-free training methods (often called clicker- training) would never work on dogs. And, for a while, I believed them.

Then, in 1994, I attended a clicker-training workshop that Karen Pryor presented in Tukwila Washington. I’d met Karen once before and decided to attend mainly to say hello to her and to support her work. I wasn’t expecting to have my entire dog-training paradigm shifted! So I was stunned when her first comment was to request that none of the many attendees use any leash corrections on their dogs during the two days of the workshop. I couldn’t figure out why popping a dog’s collar – a standard training technique – would have any connection to using a clicker to mark instants of good dog behavior and using food-treats to pay the dog for these desirable behaviors. But Karen explained clearly how the frequent use of punishment, even mild stuff that’s more irritating than cruel, erodes the trust that is the foundation of all great training. (Check out Karen’s brand new book here “Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What it Teaches Us About All Animals.”

Since then, I’ve spent 15 years learning everything I could about the amazing power of reward-based dog training. And I’ve never looked back. Once you experience the incredible “shivers down your spine” level of two-way communication you can develop with your dog (or cat or colt or kid) using positive reinforcement (e.g., food, toys, play, praise, butt-scritches, etc), you lose the excuses you had for “needing” to use punishment. And you discover potential in your trainee that you never imagined. Clicker-training is an infinitely creative process, in the truest sense of the word. It creates behavior – useful moves like coming when called, settling on a dog bed, and sitting at doorways or silly tricks like spinning, sneezing or waving. Punishment, which suppresses behavior, is a destructive process. Not much fun, for the animal or the trainer. Thank goodness all of us who train pet dogs, service and guide dogs, competition dogs, search & rescues dogs – all dogs – can choose a better way.

Next to my desk, I’ve hung a scrap of paper, on which is written this quote from the life-changing book Coercion & its Fallout by Dr. Murray Sidman (2001; available here): “An overworked and incorrect bit of folk wisdom pronounces the carrot to be of no avail unless backed up by the stick. But the carrot can do the job all by itself.”

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Find out more about Kathy Sdao on her website. You can also get videos of Kathy’s excellent seminars from Tawzer Dog Videos.

This was provided by Grisha Stewart of Ahisma Dog Training.

Tags: dog, dog training, dogs, reward based training, reward-based dog training
Posted in K9 Stories, K9 Training | No Comments »

Evaluating Your Dog’s Health – Fleas

August 12th, 2009

Since our animals cannot speak to us in words, this is part two of our series on items you need to check each month to keep your pet healthy.

These steps will help you to know when your ailing dog needs to be taken to the vet and when you can take care of him at home.

This week we are focusing on fleas.

A flea problem can be an indicator of your pet’s health. Start by looking for fleas, and flea dirt. To check for fleas, look thru the coat. If nothing is visible then look for flea dirt. To do this, brush your dog’s coat over a white piece of paper or light-colored towel. If you see any little black specks, moisten them with a drop of water or smear them with a damp cotton ball. They’ll turn red if they’re flea dirt. If you find signs of any of these problems, its time to take action:

If you notice constant scratching, biting, or sores, it could be due to an allergy to fleas.

When it comes to flea problems, like anything you have choices. In today’s world you probably have more choices than you would like to think about.

All the information is at your fingertips.

Be aware that the flea products that are being given to your pet can be toxic to them. Do your homework. Get on the internet and research the pharmaceutical flea options. Read the Pro’s and Con’s before you apply this medication to your dog.
Do not just accept anything recommended, always know and understand what you are applying, injecting or ingesting.
Your other option is to get on the computer, type in “natural flea remedies for dogs“, and a lot of options will appear. There are many natural remedies for flea control too.

When treating an animal for fleas, you must also treat the whole environment to actually stop the recurrence. If you don’t do this, you will not have long term success.

You have many choices to attack this problem:

The old “bug bomb” to set off in the house
The chemicals to treat the yard, concrete and patio areas
Hire a bug man to come in and spray

If you choose to try some natural remedies, here are some simple solutions:

Vacuum at least twice a week (get rid of the bag they live there too).
Wash all mats, rugs and toys in hot water, anything that can be washed and that is fabric.
Buy some diatomaceous earth and boric acid mix it and sprinkle it throughout the house.
Buy Nematode (for all the yards) you can get this from your nursery.
Use only natural ingredients in your flea shampoos.
Do not use flea collars.
Be cautious with chemical flea products, they are toxic.
Get a flea comb and a bowl of hot water and dish soap.

This should lead to a happy, healthy and flea-free pet! Stay tuned for more tips on evaluating your dog’s health next week!

This information has been provided by Susan Hartlzer of AlphaDogPR. They are based in Los Angeles and a chosen resource for editors, producers, writers and reporters. Alpha Dog PR is dedicated to providing the media with the most up-to-the-minute information about the rapidly growing pet industry. For more information, please visit www.alphadogpr.com or call (818) 998-6299.

Tags: chemicals, dog, dog health, flea, fleas, health, organic
Posted in K9 Care, K9 Health | 3 Comments »

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