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Friday, May 28, 2010

All Things Dog Blog

How Old is Your Dog?

Posted: 28 May 2010 12:00 PM PDT

by Carrie Boyko

(c) Carrie Boyko

Xena, at Age 13 1/3

Still Playful After all These Years

The tired old estimate of 7 years for every human year is a tough way to think of our dog's ages, yet its general accuracy seems to hold up with most vets I have asked. The other main factor in life expectancy is the size and breed of your dog.

If you're really curious, you can use a couple of online tools to estimate your canine companion's true age. My advice? Take it in the spirit in which it is offered--an estimate.

The quick and easy method is located at Pedigree's website. This estimator only requires a breed and age in years. If you have a mixed breed dog, it allows for this entry and his size right at the top of the list. You'll have your answer in just 3 clicks.

For those of you who would like a bit more of a crystal ball, the additional accuracy can be had for about 10 minutes of your time. DogAge offers a thorough evaluation of your dog's lifestyle, living environment, physical health, diet, exercise and many other unique factors, to calculate a 'real age' for your dog. They even asked if my dog lives in a smoking household; how about that for some thorough health testing for a pup!!

I took this test for Xena when she was 12 and learned that her body was a mere 54, even though the 7 year rule would have put her at 84. I thought that sounded a little far-fetched at first. Now, at 13 1/2, I'm beginning to believe that DogAge was right on the money. My old girl still has some pep in her step, despite the cone she's wearing to keep her off a 'boo-boo'. You go Xena!

Hint: DogAge has a test for us too. RealAge will give you an estimate of your body's actual, physical state in years. I took it; it wasn't all that scary, and I do think the results were arguably accurate. Don't take it too seriously, though. Remember, it's only a calculated estimate. It's not reality. If you're interested in reading up on more you can do to really have an impact on your overall health, visit Organic-Journey-Online, where I share my organic journey back from cancer, M.S. and more.

Here's Dog Age's book, dirt cheap. It's actually not a bad read, especially for under 10 cents!

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The new issue of the HOTdog Magazine №2.2010

Posted: 28 May 2010 04:13 AM PDT

On the cover:
Sh Ch Aust Ch Hungargunn Bear It’n Mind / Hungarian Vizsla /, 22.12.2002, male. Call Name – Yogi. DFS-Crufts 2010 BIS. Bred by – Mrs Naomi Cragg. Owned by – Mrs K Armstrong & Mrs N Cragg. Handled by – Mr Moray Armstrong & Mr John Thirlwell. Photo by HOTdog.

In this issue:
Main theme -
Crufts 2010 Birmingham (UK) c detailed survey of all groups.
Eurasia 2010 Moscow (Russia). Eurasia I-II “- impressions and comments.

Events -
Westminster 134. New York (USA). / Maria Evteeva /
Europasieger 2010. Dortmund (Germany). / Valeria Chernova, Tomasz Barkovskii /
Luxembourg spring ‘10. Luxembourg (Belgium) / Carl Dawnview, Gabor Zalanski /
more information about HOTdog please visit HOTdog web page

Founder, Editor in Chief: Mr Oleg Bochkov’s

Advertising Sales Director: Ms Natalia Feofanova
Photo by Olga Seliverstova

Thursday, May 27, 2010

All Things Dog Blog

Preparing Your Puppy for a Life of Happy Vet Visits

Posted: 27 May 2010 12:54 PM PDT

by Carrie Boyko

While at the vet with my pack recently, one of the pet nurses commented on how amiable all three of my dogs are when they come in for their regular exams and vaccinations. She went on to explain that many of the dogs who visit them are fearful, aggressive or anxious during their visits, which seems to result in a higher-maintenance visit for the vet and nurses.

Thinking back on my puppy raising days, I remembered that these problems are the reason for many of the daily handling activities that owners are encouraged to do with their pups.

Below are a few of the tips that will help you prepare your pup for a less-anxious, more enjoyable experience at the veterinarian. The logic behind most of these tasks is to acclimate your puppy to the types of handling and activities that will occur at the vet. If your puppy is used to being handled in the same ways that the nurses and doctors do, they will be much less likely to be frightened. Daily practice, starting today, will help your furry friend be a much happier patient, and that is good for both of you.

Begin human socialization immediately upon taking your puppy home; take him out to meet others and encourage everyone who visits to play with and handle him.

Emphasize a variety of different looking people in your socialization exercises: wheelchairs, canes, blacks, whites, beards, curly hair, you get the picture. Your pup needs to see it all during these formative first few months. Be sure to include folks in various types of uniforms as well. Fearful dogs have often been known to target uniformed people like mail carriers, police and even veterinarians.

Demonstrate leadership when socializing your pup by always showing your complete and total confidence in the presence of different looking people and places. You will be setting the example for your pup's lack of nervous energy at the vet, if you greet the vet warmly and show Rover how enjoyable it is to be there.

Expose your puppy to noises of all kinds as well--printers, phones, meowing cats, barking dogs, and yes, even bigger groups of them, when she is ready.

Handle your puppy daily in many of the ways your vet will do this, checking ears, eyes, teeth, abdomen, tail, backside and pads of the feet.

For many pups the toes may be a sensitive area. If so, choose a soothing foot-pad massage instead, gradually getting deeper between the toes as your puppy begins to grow larger and accept this manipulation.

Praise the puppy lavishly each time she allows you to examine an area that you need to get good visibility in. Trust me, one day when you need to pull a tick from between her toes, you'll need her to cooperate. Now is the time to prepare her for this eventuality.

You can even mimic an eye check. First allow your pup to sniff and examine the flashlight. Then use it to dart the light quickly past her eyes, praising her when she handles this with moderate ease.

Include gentle snout massages in your routine to prepare the puppy for a nose exam. Treat her when she willingly allows you to massage or stroke her snout, as this is another extremely sensitive area on most dogs.

If you get your puppy used to being held, handled, checked and socialized with people, she will show you quite quickly that she can be a terrific patient. It just takes some diligence to practice these moves daily.

One final tip…most vets use a large scale to weigh your pup on. You can use a dark floor mat or other low, stable item to practice weighing. Teaching your puppy to sit on the scale will assist with getting an accurate weight. Most puppies can learn the sit command within a couple of days of starting to practice. Check back for my post of teaching sit, coming soon here at All Things Dog Blog.

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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

All Things Dog Blog

Stop Dog Jumping Now: A Short Video from the ASPCA

Posted: 26 May 2010 01:00 PM PDT

by Carrie Boyko

Try this simple, yet effective method with your jumper. Your homework--report back. Did it work?

(c) ASPCA

I have employed this method with Tanner, who still has the occasional jumpy greeting. It has significantly reduced his jumping; now this behavior is 75% improved. The key, I have found, is in repetition and consistency. Ask family members and regular visitors to give the dog their back, as well. You'll get results much faster if the dog is not rewarded for jumping--EVER!

Let me know how you are doing with this. I can offer other options as well, or you can write to Judy, our ASK THE DOG TRAINER Columnist, for her suggestions. She's a great problem solver. Good luck.

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DogQuality: Canada’s Coolest Dog Stroller for Older Dogs

Canada’s Coolest Dog Stroller for Older Dogs

Posted: 26 May 2010 06:20 AM PDT

After 2 years of customer feedback, design, testing, and re-design, we are finally ready to introduce our new dog stroller / jogger called the Dogger™. This dog stroller can be a huge help for older dogs that have trouble walking. It means that owners no longer need to leave their senior dogs behind – you can take them anywhere. Older dogs can use this dog stroller to stay active; walking when able and resting when needed.They still need to get out on those walks that they love so much, but they need to be able to stay active at their own pace.

I hope you will be as excited as I am when you see what the Dogger has to offer in our video below. Also feel free to sign up for our waiting list to be notified as soon as it is available for sale. Each waiting list registrant will also receive a 10% discount once the Dogger is available for purchase.

Key features include:
• Innovative rear shock system and air-filled tires ensure a smooth ride on all terrain types
• Front tire can be set to swivel for maximum maneuverability or locked in place for movement across rougher surfaces
• Adjustable handlebar to accommodate people of different heights
• 5 year warranty on all frame related parts representing the best product protection in the market today.
• 60 pound weight capacity and enough interior space for two dogs.
• Lightweight, compact and foldable for easy transport
• Mesh windows at top, back and front for maximum visibility
• Rain cover
• Interior leashes that can be attached to a dog’s harness or collar to keep them secured inside basket
• Accessories include: headlights for safe nighttime walks and a drink holder

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The Dog Star Daily June Monthly Woof

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June 2010

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Focus On Our Co-Founder: Dr. Ian Dunbar

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The Man
Ian's early years.

Ian Circa 1972

Dr. Ian Dunbar grew up on a farm just north of London, in a little village called Cupid Green. He grew up with dogs, cows, and his imagination to keep him company. In his teens he traveled to Africa with friends for a bit of adventure. Upon his return he attended the Royal Veterinary College (London University), where he received his veterinary degree and a Special Honours degree in Physiology and Biochemistry. Ian later went back to Africa with the RVC to research the transmission of trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) by other (non TseTse) biting flies.

It was during his time in Uganda that Ian pondered what he wanted to do after vet school. He thought of his favorite things - dogs, cows, behavior, obstetrics and good weather and eventually came up with the plan to apply for doctoral work with the renowned Behaviorist, Dr. Frank Beach at the University of California, Berkeley to continue his academic path studying dog behavior. We're sure glad that he did!

While studying dog behavior at UCB, Ian encountered Sirius, a bellicose Beagle pup, that bullied all of the rest on a one-on-one basis, even pups from older litters were mincemeat when left alone with this bully Beagle. However, when Sirius was integrated into the entire pack, 12 adult dogs and 3 litters (of which his litter was the youngest) he turned into a different dog. Ian observed Sirius' transformation from a pushy pup into a mid-ranking, low-profile kind of guy. Ah, the power of the pack! Ian deduced that it is easy to bully on an individual basis, however, once in a group setting, obnoxious behavior simply would not be tolerated. This seemed to be how packs keep the peace, how young pups learn to behave in a socially acceptable manner, and why early temperament training is so important to developing well-rounded, social, adult dogs. This is how SIRIUS® Puppy Training was conceived.

Ian spent the next thirty years of his life devoted to teaching pups and telling the world about the importance of early socialization and training in puppies. Throughout his career he has accomplished much, too many things to list here. If you'd like to know more check out his full bio.

The Mission
Then & Now

Over the years Ian's mission has been the same at the core, but of course it's also evolved over time. Years ago, few considered the differences between dog-pros training a dog for obedience competition and other high-end dog sports, and the needs of a family - training a dog to have household manners and be as socially/physically bomb-proof as possible. To fill this void Ian developed both puppy training classes and the idea of pet dog training.

Today Ian's on a different mission. He wants to improve the off-leash reliability of pet dogs by teaching people how to cast away all crutches, i.e., to phase out the need of all tools in training while simultaneously improving the dog's performance. Without a doubt, his lure/reward training techniques are the quickest and easiest way to teach off-leash, distance verbal control without the continued need for food and toys, lures and rewards, clicks and treats, or collars and leashes.

The Method
Continuing Education & Fun

Education has always been one of Ian's passions as is obvious by his double doctoral degrees, the development of his SIRIUS® Puppy & Dog Training school, and his founding of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, now the largest educational organization for dog trainers worldwide. But his passion is talking to people directly. He's arranged a two-year, spring and fall seminar series, will be speaking at various events, and participates in a weekly podcast with his wife, Kelly Gorman Dunbar and his son Jamie.

Of course, also there is a wealth of video, articles, blogs, and our very own Dog Star Daily Training Textbook too. All these wonderful ways to share information because Ian's ultimate mission is to educate people about the prevention of behavior, temperament and training problems and to teach people how to teach their dogs the basic manners they'll need to remain happily in their homes and out of shelters.

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

All Things Dog Blog

Why You Shouldn't WALK Your Dog Every Day

Posted: 25 May 2010 01:00 PM PDT

by Carrie Boyko

Biking Your Dog

A Completely Different Sensory Experience

Did I get your attention? That was a pretty radical title, designed to get you dog exercise enthusiasts all riled up. I hope it worked, because now I'd like to show you why your dog needs more than a daily walk. Come along for a little ride with me:

Have you ever biked with your dog? Perhaps this is not a possibility for you. Neopolitan Mastiffs need not apply; Teacup Yorkies might not be able to keep up. It's okay. However, as the owner of a toy breed, Papillon, and a 70 lb. Golden Retriever, among my pack, I can tell you that biking is a very different type of stimulation for your dog. It reaches down to their DNA and reminds them of their ancestors chasing their dinner, herding the farm stock, or pulling a sled. You might find it hard to believe your toy breed could be motivated to pull a sled, yet my Pap would most certainly surprise you; he is a better sled dog than my Golden. Surprised? I was too.

All this said, the message is that walking is, at the very least, just a mild form of exercise. After a 3 mile walk, your dog's heartrate may be elevated, and he probably met a few pups along the way and enjoyed some pleasant, enticing smells. But this will never match the excitement of an invigorating run.

Runners can tell you about the 'runner's high' they get when the endorphins are released and they feel like they can run forever. I have not found this to be the case with my dogs, and yet they never sit and say "I'm done."

No, I'm not recommending that you run or bike with your dog every day. Their joints and ours need rest and down time. What I am suggesting is a variety of types of exercise, to heighten all of your dog's senses, giving him a well-rounded endurance experience.

A visit to an off-leash dog park is on a whole different level. While each dog's energy and activity is different, you can encourage exercise in a lazier pup with a ball-chucker, Frisbee or other favorite toy. Just be aware that it may not come home with you. Occasionally another dog will take ownership of your toy and not give it up. Good luck with that! You can minimize the damage to your wallet by sticking to FETCH with a tennis ball.

I've left the best part of dog park visits out. While your dog is exercising off-leash, he is getting a sense of what it is like to not be contained--no yard, house, car, small fenced yard or crate to keep him from getting to the dogs and humans he wants to meet.

My pack seems to enjoy the social atmosphere at the dog park just as much as the physical freedom. They may dream of a leash-free world, but remember that in that fantasy world there are many humans, as well as dogs, for them to befriend. This is a healthy socialization experience that you cannot get on a leash. The dynamic of a restrained dog greeting is different for most dogs. Any canine behavior expert will tell you, most dogs have some form of barrier excitement--the extreme need to run up to a passerby--dog or human--and greet them.

Am I telling you not to practice socialization skills on a leash? Absolutely not! That's where it should begin. But where? The answer is anywhere, or perhaps everywhere--everywhere that dogs and owners walk together.

As soon as you begin leash training with your new boarder, it is time to start your regular visits to places like Petsmart, Petco, walking trails, and dog-friendly areas of all types. Save the first dog park experience for when your pup is fully innoculated, well-socialized with people and dogs on a leash, and confident in his greeting behavior. A well-mannered dog knows that giving and accepting a canine greeting sniff at the back-end is the only acceptable hand-shake in the dog world.

I'll be back another day to discuss more exercise options, not to leave out swimming, of course. For now, get out and give your dog some variety. His behavior will change markedly as a result, and you will be pleased. I guarantee it!

Related Reading:

Backpacks aren't Just for Students and Hikers
Biking with Your Dog: Fun and Fitness for Both of You
Swimming isn't Just for Lab Lovers
Teaching Your Dog to Fetch

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