Activities for Dogs Issue Aug/Sept 2014

your free guide to all things dog!

Breed Features:

Dalmatian&

Chihuahua

FlyballFun!

PLUS:•Vaccinatingyourdog•Agility•Whichdogsuitsyou?•ShampooReviews

FREE!

Surfs upDogs!

Dr Max Stoker is a caring and compassionate Vet with 30+ years experience in small animal

practice.

He sold his very successful practice – the Great Western Animal Hospital - in Sydney in 2004

and he and his lovely wife, Ineke, settled on the Central Coast and created the Bamboo Buddha Cafe, Gallery, Gardens & Nursery at Holgate.

After 30 years of veterinary practice, this was a real sea change.

However, when Pet Stock opened their large pet store at Erina in 2008 and were advertising for

a Pet Vet to operate as a Vet Consultant in their store, Max decided to take up this opportunity

to keep practicing in the profession he loves but without all the stress and frustrations of running a

busy hospital.

Pet Stock Erina, 312 The Entrance Rd, Erina PH: 4367 4066

0416 147 775

bamboobuddha.com.au

Dog Friendly Cafe

• Vegetarian• Organic Coffee• Relaxing Sanctuary

BAMBOO B U D D H A

Ph 4365 5810 221 Wattle Tree Road

Holgate

August/September 2014contents

Regulars4 From the Pack Leader5 Training Tips9 On the Net...10 A Day In The Life Of...NEW!16 Product Review - Dog Shampoos23 Doggy Recipe - Homemade Mince24-25 Kids Corner27-28 Business Directory

Articles & Features6-7 Vaccinatingyourdog8 Flyball 11 Choosing the right dog 17 SurfingDogs20 Quiz21 Funactivitiestodo!22 Agility30 Helping Homeless Pets

Breed Features18 Dalmatian19 Chihuahuaha

And more!3

Dear Dog Lovers,

The weather’s warming up and there’s no excuse not to get out and about with yourdogs,soakingupthesunandenjoyingsomeactivitiestogether!

Wehavesomegreatinformationinthisissuefortheveryactivepoochwhowould love to try their paw at the ever popular Flyball or Aligility.

Readaboutdogswhosurf,checkoutthewinnerofourdrawadogcompetitionandtryouttheeasy,tastyandhealthyrecipeideaonpage24!

GetactiveandenjoytheActivitiesforDogsIssue!

OliviaIMPORTANT CHANGES TO WOOF MAG: from the next issue, Woof Mag will be an Online Magazine, available to read at

woofmag.com.au. You can also Subscribe to receive a copy via post for $30 for a 1 year subscription. Order at woofmag.com.au!

woofmag.com.au woofmag woofmagaus @woofmagaus

From the Pack Leader

4

Wait for food training:

Teaching your dog to WAIT for their food is very important as it teaches them impulse control or in other words, polite manners. Neither moving to the dining area and preparing food for your dog should be a cue for him or her to start barking and jumping up and down with excitement nor placingabowloffoodonthefloorshouldbeasignal for your dog to ‘dive’ into the bowl and starteating.

So how do we learn this behaviour?Ask your dog to sit.Tell him or her to WAIT.Slowly lower the bowl to the ground while yourdogissitting.If your dog gets up (and it is likely that he or she will), you may use your ‘no reward’ marker suchasOoops!orAh!Ah!andraisethebowl.Ask your dog to sit again and repeat the procedure.

Don’t put the bowl down unless your dog sits andwaitsquietlyandpatiently.If he or she does - use your release command OK!orEAT!soyourdogknowsitisoktomoveandstarteating.

Remember every dog learns at his or her own pacebutifyouareconsistentandpatientyourdog will quickly learn that their dinner will be served without delay if they wait for it.

Training Tip

5

6

Vaccinating Your DogOver the past 40-50 years, Veterinarians

haverecommendedannualvaccinationsof dogs. This has been associated with a dramaticreductionintheprevalenceofinfectiousdiseasessuchasDistemperandParvo Virus.

ParvoViruscausesgastroenteritiswhichishighly contagious, spreading through infected faecal material of dogs. It can survive for long periods in the environment including garden soil, contaminated cages or shoes with faecal material. The clinical signs include depression,lossofappetite,severevomiting& diarrhoea containing blood. Death can occur rapidly (within 24hrs of clinical signs being apparent) and treatmentisoftenineffective.Puppiesare especially prone to this disease whichismoreoftenthan not, fatal.

Distemper is caused by another virus and is a highly contagious disease which can cause conjunctivitis,nasaldischarge,convulsions(seizures) and spinal cord damage. If dogs do survivetheacutestagesofinfectiontheyareoftenleftwithpermanentbraindamage.

CIRD(canineinfectiousrespiratorydisease)more commonly known as Canine Cough is anotherhighlyinfectiousdiseasecausingtracheobronchitisandoccursmainlyindogskeptincloseconfinementwithotherdogs – in kennels, doggy day-care centres and veterinary hospitals. While not usually fatal, the harsh, hacking cough can persist for weeks, even months and can lead to further health problems especially in puppies and

senior pets. When pups are born, they usually have some naturalprotectionfrommaternalantibodiesvia their mother’s milk. However some puppies don’t get much or any milk and somemothersdon’thavealotofantibodiesin their milk – as they may not have been vaccinated. That is why it is important to givepuppiestheir1stVaccinationat6to8weeks.Ifthemotherhasmaternalantibodiesto help protect her pups, usually by 10 to 12 weeks these have mostly gone – so it is recommended that puppies are given their 2ndVaccinationatthisage.However,some

mothersstillhavehighlevels of maternal antibodiesintheirmilkuntillaterandtheseantibodiescouldpreventfullprotectiondeveloping. This is why bestpracticeisthatpupshavea3rdVaccinationat14 to 16 weeks.

Once a puppy is vaccinated against these infectiousdiseases,thereis some argument within

scientificcirclesastohowlongthisprotectionor immunity from disease will last.

A period of 3 years has been claimed and seems to be accepted by many veterinarians for Parvo virus and Distemper. However, the scientificrationalebehindthissuggestionisbased on a small number of studies and there seems to be a strong argument to go back to annualvaccinations.

You only have to go to diseasewatchdog.org to see how many recent outbreaks of Parvo virus there has been around Australia.

cont’d pg 7

7

There has also been a recent outbreak of Distemper – a disease not seen for a long time.Ithasbeensuggestedthatthiscouldbeduetothe3YearVaccinationProtocoladapted by many vets – as this could create less of a herd immunity.

Dogs should be vaccinated against Canine Cough/Kennel Cough every year as mucosal immunityisshortandre-exposuretoantigeninthevaccineisnecessarytocontinuetoactivateeffectorcells(theimmunecellsthatworkfightingpathogens).

Dogs kept in a single-pet household, that don’t socialise (or only socialise at the park with the same other dogs in the neighbourhood) are not likely to be regularly exposed to pathogens and immunity may wane,puttingthemmoreatrisk–iftheywere to come in contact with the virus from an infected dog. These dogs may require annualvaccinationsinordertobesureofprotection.

Thequestioningastovaccinessafetyandsuggestionofhumanvaccinescausingautismhasperhapscontributedtoquestioningthe safety of companion animal vaccines. However,therehasbeennocausativelink shown between diseases in dogs and vaccinationofdogs.

Some dogs, especially puppies, do have reactionstovaccinations.Thisusuallymeansthattheybecomelethargic,offtheirfoodandverysensitivetotouch–buttheyreturnto normal within 24 hours. This is a seldom occurrence and even more rarely, dogs canhaveanallergicreactiontoavaccine,whereby their lips & face may swell and they might develop whorls on their skin. They respondveryquicklytoanantihistamineinjectionandsoonreturntonormal.

Words by Dr Max StokerPet Stock, Erina

8

Flyball is a dog sport in which teams of dogs race against each other from a start/

finishline,overalineofhurdles,toaboxthatreleases a tennis ball to be caught when the dog presses the spring-loaded pad, then back to their handlers while carrying the ball.

Flyball is run in teams of four dogs, as a relay. The course consists of four hurdles placed 3 metres apart from each other. The hurdle height is determined by the shoulder height of thesmallestdogintheteam.Eachdogmustreturn its ball all the way across the start line before the next dog crosses. Ideal running is nose-to-noseatthestartline.Thefirstteamtohaveallfourdogscrossthefinishlineerrorfreewinstheheat.Penaltiesareappliedtoteams if the ball is dropped or if the next relay dog is released early.

Flyball started as a dog sport in the late 1960s and early 1970s, in Southern California. Some dog trainers combined scent hurdle racing with the dogs bringing back a tennis balltothefinishline.Thenatennisball-launchingapparatuswasaddedandthefirstflyballboxwasborn.

ThefirstFlyballtournamentwasheldin1983in the USA. Flyball has now expanded into many countries including Australia, Canada andSouthAfrica,andinEuropeancountriessuch as Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria andtheUnitedKingdomhaveNationalflyballtournaments and also hold joint annual Europeanchampionships.

Flyballprovidesanentertainingandactiveway to interact with your dog and other dog enthusiasts in an environment that is fun while allowing the dogs exercise and enjoyment.Itisanespeciallyeffectivewaytoburnofftheenergyofdogswithahighdrive to work, such as Border Collies and StaffordshireBullTerriers.

The popularity of Flyball stems from the fact thatitisoneofthecompetitionactivitiesavailable to mixed-breed dogs, allowing rescuedmuttsandnon-pedigreedogstoshinealongside their purebred canine counterparts. Flyball is not limited to the size of the breed, as smaller dogs such as Jack Russell Terriers, Whippetsandevenminiaturepoodles,oftencompete with great success in mixed-breed

teams.

Many casual pet owners use their flyballtimemoreasa way to relax and socialize with other dog owners than as acompetition,andmanychampionflyballdogsareessentiallypet dogs with a hobby,

ratherthandedicatedsportingorworkingdogs. Flyball can be a real sport for dedicated performersandahobbyforall!

Find out more information about Flyball in your area on the internet.

9

On the Net...

10

Hi everyone my name is Carlos

Aspitia,owner-operatorof Pamper Dog wash.

My love for animals is what made me establish the business in 2005.I love what I do because I never know what each day will bring.EspeciallyasImeetnewclientseveryweek.

I don’t believe in arriving and stickingthedogin the bath.

This is sometimesmore stressful for nervous and timiddogsasthey need more timetorelaxbeforehand.

Because of this and becauseItakemytimewith them all, I become their friend and earn their trust and respect.

Ownersoftenaskmefortipsandadviceondogbehaviour and I really love being able to help with this. I love the challenge.

I have made many friends in my clients.

TherearetimeswhenIam a few blocks away and owners realize I am about to arrive as the dogs get excited.

And some, won’t let me leave when I am done if we don’t have a few minutes play time.

HaveIevergotbitten?Ofcourse!!!It’spartofthejob,but3timesin9yearsisnotsobad,right?

“ Your dogs are my clients, and they are my priority.”

Words by Carlos AspitiaPamper Dog Wash0410 033 896

A day in the life of...a Dog Groomer

11

Which dog suits you?So you have decided to get a dog.

Wonderful!Addinganewfamilymembertothehouseholdisabeautifulbutbigdecision so please make sure you are ready to take a new pet into your home. Careful researchandplanningisessential.Beingaresponsible pet owner means more than just providing food, water and shelter.There are a few crucial points that need to be considered:

Remember animals are for life.Potentialdogownersneedtorememberthatanimalsareacommitmentforthelifetimeofthe pet and should not be discarded “once thenoveltywearsoff’.

Review your budget. There are many costs involved with pet ownership.Potentialdogownersneedtobeprepared to pay for ongoing costs associated withfood,vaccinations,annualhealthchecks,vet bills, training, boarding, toys and bedding as well as unexpected emergency veterinary care.

Choose the right pet for you. Sadly many people get a dog for the wrong reasons or do not properly research the type that will suit their lifestyle. Youneedtoconsideralistofcharacteristicsofthedoginquestionthatwillfitintoyourfamily and lifestyle including the right age,

size, breed, temperament, energy levels, exerciserequirements,affectionlevel,easeof training and grooming requirements. Your lifestyle and household circumstances also need to be taken into account and factors suchassuitableandsafeaccommodation,residencerestrictions,workinghours,busysocial life, children and other animals in the household, etc.

Consult all family members before getting a pet.Theremightbetimeswhenadoptingadogisnot recommended. Purchasing a pet should never be an impulsive decision or in a hurry. Sadly there are some people who get a dog withoutconsultingothermembersoftheirhousehold, assuming ‘once they see him/her, they’ll love him/her.’ Unfortunately, in some instances, the animal ends up in the shelter, so all members of the family need to be awareofresponsibilities.

Words by Kasia Motte

When you think about the word socialisation,whatcomestomind?The

termsocialisationisbasedontheinteractionbetween species, such as human to human, humantoanimalandanimaltoanimal.Aftervigorous studies credited mainly by Dr. John PaulScott,weasdogowners,carersandtrainersbenefitfromtheknowledgeofearlysocialisationpracticestoteachpuppieshowto cope with elements of stress that life or even habitats creates.

With proper and controlled exposure to these degrees of stress, our puppies learn to happilyadjustwhichessentiallyallowsthemtodevelopintobetteradjusted,happierandhealthier adult dogs. At Pet Resorts Australia, we have a lot of guests coming to stay with us throughout the year and we all know that one of the main things that will help dogs enjoy their stay isbeingsocialwiththestaffandtheotherdogs.Wehavearangeofactivitiesinwhichallourcanineguestswillbenefitfromsuchas, Doggy Day-care, swimming in the pool,

walking around the lagoon, running in the yard, grooming and training and the best thing is, it’s all in a controlled Pet Friendly environment.

Find out more by visiting:www.petresortsaustralia.com

Words by Glenn CookePet Resorts Australia

12

Be Social

14

Candida is yeast. So let’s talk about yeast infectionsandwhythesignsofcandidais

so ripe within our pets.

Candidiasisorthrushisafungalinfection(mycosis) of any species from the genus Candida. Also commonly referred to as a yeastinfection.Bothpeopleanddogshavea normal amount of healthy levels of yeast that occur naturally on the body. The typical normal,healthyfloraofdogsisanaturallyoccurring staph, as well as a light layer of naturally occurring yeast. These healthy levels offloraarepossiblethankstoabalancedimmune system.

Like a pair of scales, the harmony is achieved when they are both equal and evenly balanced and that’s what you want your dog’s immune functiontobe…balanced!

Anunderactiveimmunesystemcanleadtoyeast overgrowth, because it can’t control the balance. The other end of the spectrum is an overactiveimmuneresponsewhereallergiespresent themselves. This can also lead to problems with yeast spreading Candida throughout the bodies systems and organs renderingthemdysfunctional.Typicallysteroidtherapyisprescribedtoshutofftheimmune response and suppress the need to itch. As this treatment improves symptoms itdoesnotfixtheunderlyingcauseoftheallergies. The steroid therapy also shuts down otherfunctionsoftheimmunesystemwhichis needed to aid in recovering a balance with

in the body to protect and heal. When your dog’simmunesystemisturnedoffwithdrugs,itcan’tdoitsjobofregulatingandbalancingnormalfloralevels,soyourpetendsupwithincreased yeast growths - Candida. So once the steroid treatment period has expired the candida will rise again with vengeance. Although temporarily you have stopped the dog from itching, you have just allowed it tomultiplewithinthebodyandpotentiallyspread.

When a dog has allergies and possibly secondaryskininfections,oftenantibioticsareprescribed.Antibioticsarewell-known

to destroy all good bacteria along with the bad, wiping out healthy yeast levels in the process, so thesedrugsoftenmakeabadsituationworse. Another reason an allergic dog, in particular,canendupwith a lot of candida is he can actually develop

an allergy to yeast. Meaning that a dog is having an allergic response to its own natural flora.Thissituationcanbeveryproblematicbecause the dog’s allergic response can affecthiswholebody.Thesedogsareoftenredfromthetiptotail,theirentirebodiesareflamingredandirritated.Sodogswithanunderactiveimmunesystemorthatareimmuno-suppressed can end up with candida (yeastinfection),aswellasdogsthathaveoveractiveimmunesystems,orallergies.

Candida can present itself in many ways. Youcansometimessmelladogwithayeastinfectionasitsnotanormaldoggieodour.So

Fungal Infection

15

ifyourdoghasstinkypawsormusty-smellingears, chances are they’re dealing with a yeast overgrowth. Another sign your dog is yeasty, is scratching. Yeast overgrowth is tremendously itchy. If it’s a problem with the paws, they won’t be able to leave them alone. Thesamegoesfortheirears.Alotofbuttscootingcanalsobeaclue.Yeastoverloadis an advanced stage of an unbalance of Candida with in the bodies systems and organs.Ifyourdogisspendingalotoftimedigging at them self to relieve intense itching, take heed. Whether it’s a bacterial or yeast infection,they’llneedyourhelptosolvetheproblem.

If your pet is dealing with yeast overgrowth, there are a couple of things you’ll need to do.Firststep,youmustaddresstheirdiet!It’s the source at where most of what is going wrong with the dog has stemmed from. Diet isthefoundationofhealth.Thewayyounourish your dog is either going to help his immune system manage Candida, or it’s going tofeedapotentialorexistingovergrowthsituation.Yeastneedssugarasasourceofenergy. Carbohydrates break down into sugar and candida thrives on sugars so remove the sugars out of their diets.

Dog owners really need to start learning how to read and understand a dog food label.Oftenownersarepoisoningpetsona daily basis without realising it. Most all commercial dry dog foods are extremely poor in nutrients and made up of high loadedcarbohydratefillersandsyntheticsupplements some of these should never be fedtoadog.However,withclevermarketingand celebrity endorsements owners naively buy these brands and feed it to their beloved pets not realising the high risks associated with weakening their pet’s immune system allowing sickness and disease to engage.Sowefind90%ofyourpet’soverallhealth

comesfromtheinsideand10%istopical.Soplease learn how to read a dog food label.

You won’t only save valuable money on routinevetappointmentsforunnecessarypharmaceuticaltreatments,yourpetwillshare a much happier and healthier life with you. So cleaning up the Candida on the inside of the body will make the topical itching,scratching,gnawing,biting,licking,break outs (hot spots) and other rashes and inflammationsdisappear.

‘FAITH’…putsthebalancebackinthescalesto keep the pets body in harmony – it’s worth every cent.

For more info contact us here at: CANINE HOLISTIC WELLNESS CENTRE95 Showground Rd, Narara 02 4324-9992

Words by Sharlene Goodworth

16

Organic Oscar 2 in 1$14.36

thewoofshop.com.auDo you have an impatient pup that HATES baths and just wants to play? Try Organic

Oscar, the specially formulated 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner. Soap-free &

enriched with organic orange peel oil to deodorise, degrease and deep clean!

Rogue Royalty Smooth & Soothefrom $12.00dirtymutz.com

With the natural amazing properties of coconut, pure lavender and tamanu nut oils, this blend

provides a gentle yet deep cleansing wash. Lather up your pooch to help calm nerves and

soothe that itchy, irritated skin!

Advertise YourBusiness Here!

Call 0429 966 301

17

VetshopAustralia.com.au, the world-renowned on-line retailer of pet

supplies,sponsoredthepopularSurfingDogsSpectacular for the third year running at the 2014CricksNoosaFestivalofSurfing.Aninstant hit when it was introduced at the 2012 NoosaFestival,theSurfingDogsSpectacularhasbecomeoneofthefestival’smostpopularevents,attractingthousandsofnon-surferstoNoosa’s Main Beach and being seen around the world on social media.

FestivaldirectorPhilJarrattsaidhewasthrilled that VetshopAustralia.com.au had come back on board with a bigger two-day program of events for dog lovers and surfers who love dogs. “To be honest, when VetshopAustralia.com.au came to us with this idea, we didn’t know what to think. But it didn’t take us long to realise thattheSurfingDogshaveanirresistibleanduniversalappeal.Everyonelovestoseedogshavingfunonthebeach,butoursurfingdogshavedelightwrittenalloverthemeverywave they catch.” VetshopAustralia.com.au’s Director and head Veterinarian, Dr Mark Perissinotto,saidtheaward-winningon-lineretailerhadfoundagreatfitwiththeNoosaFestival,withcoverageoftheSurfingDogstaking their brand around the world.

VetshopAustralia.com.au’sSurfingDogSpectacular commenced on Saturday 8th March, hosted by world champion waterman anddogtrainerChrisDeAboitiz.

On Saturday morning,a beginners workshop was held, which encouraged the general public to bring their four legged companions alongforacrashcourseinsurfing,plusgeneraltipsondogwatersafetyandobedience.

OnSaturdayafternoonatthePJBurnsFestivalVillage,therewasaMasterClassforintermediatesurfingdogsandowners.Inthelead-uptotheFestival’straditionalHawaiian opening ceremony at sunset on Sunday 9th March, the VetshopAustralia.com.auSurfingDogSpectacularfeaturedthe

bestofAustralia’ssurfingdogsinanexhibitioncontest that delighted the capacity crowd.

In keeping with beachregulations,allparticipatingdogswere kept strictly in the control of their owners

throughout the event and were on leads when on the sand.

For more information please visit surfingdogspectacular.com.au

‘Everyone loves to see dogs having fun on the beach.’

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TheDalmatianisabreedofdogwhoserootstracebacktoCroatiaandits

historicalregionofDalmatia.TheDalmatianisnotedforitsuniqueblackorliverspottedcoat and was mainly used as a carriage dog in its early days. Today, this dog remains a well-loved family pet.When full grown, its weight normally ranges between16and32kg.Eyecolorvariesbetween brown, amber, or blue, with some dogs having one blue eye and one brown eye, orothercombinations.Lifeexpectancyofthesespottydogsisaround13years.Dalmatianpuppiesareborn with plain white coatsandtheirfirstspots usually appear within three weeks afterbirth.Afterabouta month, they have most of their spots.Dalmatiansarearelativelyhealthyandeasy to keep breed. Likeotherbreeds,Dalmatiansdisplayapropensity towards certain health problems specifictotheirbreed,suchasdeafness,allergies and urinary stones.The roles of this ancient breed are as varied as their reputed ancestors. They were used as dogs of war, guarding the borders of Dalmatia.Tothisday,thebreedretainsahighguardinginstinct;althoughfriendlyandloyal to those the dog knows and trusts, it is oftenaloofwithstrangersandunknowndogs.Dalmatianshaveastronghuntinginstinctand are an excellent exterminator of rats and vermin.Dalmatiansareperhapsbestknownfortheirroleasfire-fightingapparatusescortsandfirehousemascots.SinceDalmatiansandhorsesareverycompatible,thedogswereeasily trained to run in front of the carriages

to help clear a path and quickly guide the horsesandfirefighterstothefires.Dalmatiansareoftenconsideredtomakegood watchdogs, and they may have been

usefultofirebrigades as guard dogs to protect

afirehouseanditsequipment.Fireenginesused to be drawn by fast and powerful horses, atemptingtargetforthieves,soDalmatianswerekeptinthefirehouseasdeterrencetotheft.Theyarepowerful,activeandboisterousdogs

that do need discipline. You can expect young pups to dig holes in the yard and chewupyourplantstoo!In the mid 1990s, increased popularity due to high public exposure fromfilmssuchas101Dalmatiansledtoover-breeding by some unscrupulousprofit

seekers.Littleregardwasmadeforthehealth and mental well-being of the breed, leadingtoissuesrelatingtopoorhealthanddubious temperament. Not all breeders were so careless, and it is important to purchase puppies from reputable breeders.Dalmatianshaveastable,outgoingnaturewhichsuitsanactivefamily.Words by Olivia Cavanagh

‘powerful, active and boisterous’

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ChihuahuaBelieved to have originated in Mexico,

Chihuahuas are very small dogs, and are the smallest breed recognized by some kennelclubs.Therearetwomainvarietiesrecognized by kennel clubs, the short-haired and the long-haired.

Generally, the height ranges between 15 and 23 cm, weighing in at between 1.5 and 3kg and average lifespan is around 12-15 years.The temperament of its human guardian canmakeadifferenceinthetemperamentof the pup. Tempered Chihuahuas can be easilyprovokedtoattack,andarethereforegenerally unsuitable for homes with small children.Thebreedtendstobefiercelyloyaltooneparticularguardianandinsomecasesmaybecomeoverprotectiveoftheperson,especially around other people or animals. They do not always get along with other breeds, and tend to have a “clannish” nature, oftenpreferringthecompanionshipofotherChihuahuas or Chihuahua mixes over other dogs. These traits generally make them unsuitable for households with children that arenotpatientandcalm.Chihuahuaslovetheirdensandwilloftenburrowthemselvesin pillows, clothes hampers, and blankets. Theyareoftenfoundunderthecoversoratthebottomofthebed,deepinthedarkandsafety of what they believe is their den.This breed requires expert veterinary attentioninareassuchasbirthinganddentalcare. Chihuahuas are also prone to some geneticanomalies,oftenneurologicalones, such as epilepsy and seizure disorders.

Chihuahuas, and other toy breeds, are prone to the

sometimespainfuldiseasehydrocephalus.Itisoftendiagnosedbythepuppyhavinganabnormallylargeheadduringthefirstseveralmonths of life, but other symptoms are more noticeablesince“alargehead”issuchabroaddescription.

Overfeeding a Chihuahua can be a great danger to the dog’s health, shortening its life and leading to diabetes.ManyChihuahuashavemolleras,orasoftspot in their skulls, and they are the only breed of dog to be born with an incomplete skull.This is not a defect, it is a normal adaptationfacilitatingthepassagethroughthe birth canal and growth and development of the domed-type of forehead.

Chihuahuas have a tendency to tremble or shiver when stressed, excited or cold. Chihuahuas, especially the short-coat variety, are less tolerant of cold than larger breeds, and may require a sweater or boots in cold weather. They will seek warmth in sunshine, under blankets, or on furniture, human laps orevenonthebackofalargerdog!Althoughitistemptingtocarrythesedaintycreaturesabout,theseareactivelittledogsthat need a daily walk. The Chihuahua is a

good companion dog. Courageous, extremely lively, proud and adventurous, and theyloveaffection!

Words by Olivia Cavanagh

‘Courageous, lively and proud!’

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Dog Trivia QuizAs a regular Woof Mag reader, by now you should be a walking dog

encyclopedia! See if you really are dog’s best friend and take our quiz!1. Normal adult dogs have how many teeth?

A) 24B) 38C) 42D) 32

2. Through what part of the body do dogs sweat?

A) MouthB) EarsC) NoseD) Paws

3. True or False: Dogs can only see in black and white.

4. What is the most common training command taught to dogs?

A) StayB) BegC) SitD) Dance

5. What is a dog’s most highly developed sense?

A) TasteB) SmellC) SightD) Touch

6. Puppies are delivered how many weeks after conception?

A) 36B) 22C) 9D) 16

7. What is the favorite dog breed of the Queen of England?

A) CorgiB) BasenjiC) PoodleD) Pomeranian

8. Which TV series had a dog named K9 who was also a robot?

A) Full HouseB) Star TrekC) Doctor WhoD) Law & Order

9. Which dog breed is the smallest of them all?

A) DachshundB) Shih tzuC) PomeranianD) Chihuahua

10. Which dog breed has a black tongue?

A) HuskyB) LabradorC) WeimaranerD) Chow chow

11. The first dogs registered in the American Kennel Club belonged to what group?

A) HerdingB) SportingC) WorkingD) Hound

12. Which dog yodels instead of barks?

A) KomondorB) OtterhoundC) BasenjiD) Basset hound

13. True or False: Dalmatians are born with spots.

14. What is the name of the labrador dog who starred in Neighbours?

A) JackB) BouncerC) BingoD) Fido

15. Who appeared on the cover of the first issue of Woof Mag?

A) Elle MacphersonB) Sheridyn FisherC) Julia GillardD) Paris Hilton

Check your answers on page 30

21

Fun Activities To Do With Your Dog

Tiredoftug-o-warandfetch?Trythesefunandstimulatinggameswith your pooch:

Makeshift indoor agility course Firstly clear enough space in the lounge room so that your dog doesn’t get hurt and can run around freely. Using a couple of rolled up old blankets and other everyday items create your own obstacle course.Firstlywalkyourdogaroundthecourseafewtimessotheyget used to it. Then while you wait at one end, call them from the other end of the room and watch as he/she jumps over the blankets and other obstacles.

Hide and SeekKongsandothertoysthatcanbefilledwithtreats are great for this game. Ask your dog to sit and stay while you hide in another room. Once you’ve found a good hiding place,callyourdogandaskthemtofindyou. Once they have, reward them with treats and plenty of pats and praise.

Treasure HuntDogs love this game because they have a greatsenseofsmell!Simplyhidesomeofyour dogs favorite treats around the home orbackyard.Alternativelyyoucanuseafew

treat holding toys. Make sure your pooch doesn’t see where you’re hiding their treats. Onceyou’vefinishedhidingthetreatsinviteyourdogtobegintheirtreasurehunt!

Words and Images by Katie Preston ToepferAuthor, Wedding Dogs

AgilityDog agility is a dog sport in which a

handler directs a dog through an obstacle courseinaraceforbothtimeandaccuracy.Dogsrunoffleashwithnofoodortoysasincentives,andthehandlercantouchneitherdog nor obstacles. Consequently the handler’s controls are limited to voice, movement, and variousbodysignals,requiringexceptionaltrainingoftheanimalandcoordinationofthehandler.

In its simplest form, an agility course consists of a set of standard obstacles laid out by a judge in a design of his or her own choosing in an area ofaspecifiedsize.The surface may be of grass, dirt, rubber, orspecialmatting.Depending on the typeofcompetition,the obstacles may be marked with numbers indicatingtheorderinwhichtheymustbecompleted.

The history of dog agility can be traced to ademonstrationattheCruftsDogShowinthe late 1970s in the United Kingdom. Dogs were run around a course designed similar to horse jumping courses during intermission as a way to entertain the audience. It has since spread rapidly around the world, with major competitionsheldworldwide.

Courses are complicated enough that a dog could not complete them correctly without humandirection.Incompetition,thehandler must assess

the course, decide on handling strategies, and direct the dog through the course, with precision and speed equally important. Many strategies exist to compensate for the inherentdifferenceinhumananddogspeedsand the strengths and weaknesses of the various dogs and handlers.

Eachdogandhandlerteamgetsoneopportunitytogethertoattempttocompletethe course successfully. The dog begins behindastartinglineand,wheninstructedby his handler, proceeds around the course.

The handler typically runs nearthedog,directingthe dog with spoken commands and with body language(thepositionof arms, shoulders, and feet).

Because speed counts as much as accuracy, especially at higher levels ofcompetition,thisall

takes place at a full-out run on the dog’s part and, in places, on the handler’s part as well. Amoderatetohighleveloffitnessisrequiredfrom the handler.

Scoring of runs is based on how many faults areincurred.Penaltiescanincludenotonlycourse faults, such as knocking down a bar inajump,butalsotimefaults,whicharethe number of seconds over the calculated standardcoursetime,whichinturnisdeterminedbasedonthecompetitionlevel,the complexity of the course, and other factors.

Find out about Agility training for your dog by contacting a local dog trainer.

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23

Doggy Recipe

Homemade MinceIngredients • 450g minced beef• 200g minced chicken• 200g minced turkey• 450g baby carrots• 2 small baking potatoes• 3 cups brown rice• 3 eggs, slightly beaten• 3 cups chicken stock• 2 cups water

Method

1. Cook all 3 minced meats in a large saucepan

2. Add rice, chicken stock and water. Cook on medium heat for 30 minutes.

3. Add potatoes and carrots, and slightly beaten eggs. Cook for an additional20-30minutes.

4. Aftercooking,putmixtureinto storage containers. Freeze portionsanddefrostasneeded.

Email your recipe to sales@woofmag.com.au

24

kids corner

What happened when the dog

went to the flea circus?

He stole the show!

Why did the dog cross the road?

To get to the “barking” lot!

Thank you for all the great drawings of dogs! We coud only choose 1 winner to publish, congratulations to Natalie Adby!

Fun Fact: Dogs are immune to funnel web spider venom

25

more for the kids!

26

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Email sales@woofmag.com.au today!All articles in Woof Mag are for editorial purposes and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.Woof Mag does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of an of the information, content, oradvertisements contained on, distributed through, or linked, downloaded, or accessed through this magazineor the corresponding website or Facebook page, nor the quality of any products, information or othermaterials displayed, purchased, or obtained by you as a result of an advertisement or any other information.

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The “Bonnie homeless not ownerless Project” began in May 2014 on the

Central Coast of NSW.

Having been involved in rescue for a number of years Colleen, founder of Puppy Love Rescue, recognized a need to assist people with keeping their pets rather than having to surrenderthemduetofinancialconstraints.

Many of these people have pets as their sole companionandoftengowithoutthemselvesto make sure their animals are fed and cared for.

Inthe3monthsofoperationwehavemicrochipped, vaccinated, desexed and vet checked numerous cats and dogs. These veterinaryexpensesaredifficulttomeetformany.

Inadditioneachdogisfittedwithawinterjacket, new lead, harness and collar as well as supplied with toys,food and bedding.

Monthlyfleatreatmentisdoneasisregularworming.

Ourclientsoftenspendthedayallowingtheirpets to be spoilt whilst they have a chat and a cuppa with like minded animal loving people.This project has no funding and is run with thegeneroussupportofdonations.

If you would like to contribute please LIKE us on Facebook.

Words by Kattrina Schyndel

Helping out Homeless PetsQuiz Answers:1. C) 42 2. D) Paws 3. False. Dogs can see multiple colors. 4. C) Sit 5. B) Smell 6. C) 9 weeks 7. A) Corgi8. C) Doctor Who 9. D) Chihuahua 10. D) Chow chow11. B) Sporting Group 12. C) Basenji 13. False. Dalmatian puppies are born white; their spots come in later. 14. B) Bouncer 15. B) Sheridyn Fisher

31

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