lowcountry dog magazine feb/march 2011
DESCRIPTION
Smartest Dog in the World, Lowcountry Boykin Takes Best in Breed at Eukanuba, Chinese Herbals for Pets, Reactive Dogs, and much more!!TRANSCRIPT
magazinefebruary/march 2011
volume 7, issue 2TM
understandingreactive dogs
chinese herbalsfor pets
local boykin takes best in breed
SMARTCOOKIE
world’s smartest dog is a South Carolinian
(we’re not surprised!)
contentsPublisher
Leah England
(843) 478-0266
Intern
Gillian Nicol, Communications
Guest Photographer
Carroll Foster
www.HotEyePhoto.com
Accounting
Carrie Clark Financial Services
(843) 367-9969
For Ad Rates Call
(843) 478-0266
Lowcountry Dog Magazine
PO Box 22
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465
www.lowcountrydog.com
Web: lowcountrydog.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/leahengland
Facebook: facebook.com/lowcountrydog
february/march 2011
fido’s friends 4Acclaimed Wedding Photog Leigh Webber
top stories on lowcountrydog.com 8
top dog takes honors 11
smart cookie 14
calendar of events 21
health and wellness 22
Chinese Herbals
training 24
Understanding Reactive Dogs
adoption 26
Schnauzer Rescue of the Carolinas
144 12
Lowcountry Dog’s mission is to be the leading local resource for dog owners regarding regional events, health and wellness information, trends, style and lifestyle choices. We also strive to be a mouthpiece to the public for various dog related non-profits and promote pet adoption and other responsible pet care practices.
Dog lovers can pick up the bi-monthly magazine for free at most area veterinarians and pet stores throughout the lowcountry, as well as numerous restaurants, coffee bars and retailers. A full distribution list is posted to the magazine’s web site, lowcountrydog.com. Subscriptions are also available. Please call 843-478-0266 for more information.
The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted by Lowcountry Dog Magazine with all rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher.
Lowcountry Dog Magazine does not endorse or guarantee any product, service, or vendor mentioned or pictured in this magazine in editorial or advertising space. Views expressed by authors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher.
This magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper. Continue the green process by recycling this copy.
Cover photo and middle table of contents photo by Carroll Foster,
HotEyePhoto.com. First photo in table of contents taken by Leigh Webber.
Lowcountrydog 3
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1. What’s the best thing about owning a dog? I’d have to say it’s a toss up between coming home to a big
fanfare every single time and snuggling up on the couch
with them for a nap.
2. What do you f ind the most frustrating about your dog, or struggle with as a dog owne r ? Discipline! It’s tough training three dogs.
3. All time favorite memory of your dog? It would have to be the day that I took Bella to the Hampton Park
dog park and met Rover and his owner Bryan, who is now my
significant other!
4. Favorite place to hang out with your dog in Charleston?We all love the beaches at Sullivans Island.
5. With what aspect of your dog’s personality do you most identify?Bella and I are pretty much attached at the hip and I like to think I glean some of her
optimism. She is always smiling.
6. In your opinion, what’s the one item all dog owners must have?I like any kind of indestructible dog toy, and Harry Barker makes stylish dog beds.
7. If your dog were some other sort of animal, what would he/she be?Bella, the vizsla, reminds me of a deer. She’s super fast and can leap incredibly high. Diego, the Chihuahua, would be a pit viper, not
to be trusted. And Rover, the Catahoula, would be an elephant, as he is big and gentle.
8. How does your dog inspire you? Or what has your dog taught you about life and work?I’ve had dogs my entire life and there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with having a dog.
However, I think that made the transition into parenthood a little bit smoother for me.
9. How do you KNOW you and your dog are best friends?I miss them like crazy when we are on vacation and they are at the dog kennel. The house is
empty with out them!
10 .What’s your favorite thing about Lowcountry Dog Magazine?I love the page where readers submit their own dog photos. Some of those are hilarious and I like
seeing all the different breeds.
4 Lowcountrydog
F ido’s FriendsLEIGH WEBBER
Occupation: PHOTOGRAPHER, SPECIALIZING IN WEDDINGS
Dogs in Household: THREE
Named: BELLA(vizsla), DIEGO (chihuahua) & ROVER(catahoula)
Lives: DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON
all p
hoto
s by
Lei
gh W
ebbe
r
Lowcountrydog 5
Collars, Beds, Bowls, Food, Treats &Toys (softest to toughest)We have everything for the big or little fur kid in your life!
Mount Pleasant Towne Centrefacebook.com/hairywinston 843.881.0800 hairywinston.com
HAIRY WINSTONPet Boutique & Grocery
6 Lowcountrydog
In light of hearing that Michael Vick
“misses having a dog” I thought I would
share some recent real life, local abuse
and neglect cases faced by Animal Rescue
& Relief. These cases are happening in
our own back yard; true local heros are
stepping up and reporting abuse to ARR
which is quick to intervene to ensure the
safety of the animals, and that the owners
are held accountable.
It was not long ago when Michelle from
ARR told me about a dog left in a back
yard by a family when the owner passed
away. The dog was chained up without
food or water, was crawling with fleas
and his collar was too small. Neighbors
were concerned about the situation but
were also nervous about their identities
being revealed. Animal Rescue & Relief
worked with local law enforcement who
had already left a number of notices on
the door of the home with no response.
Finally, after living in this condition for
too long, the dog was legally seized by law
enforcement. There are many dramatic
and disturbing details that ARR cannot
disclose at this time but the dog, Obie, was
put into protective custody. His owners
were located, charged and found guilty -
after lots of diligent work by ARR.
Obie is about 2 years old, tested high
heartworm positive (which he is being
treated for), and has been treated for
a flea infestation, intestinal parasites
and an upper
r e s p i r a t o r y
infection. His
overall health
has improved
greatly since
the day he was
removed. Obie is
still in a foster
home with ARR
and is looking
for a family who
will love him
forever!
Sadly, Obie’s
case is not all
that unusual.
Shadow is
a dog who
was recently
reported to
Animal Rescue
& Relief as being abused and neglected.
Upon investigation, ARR found the dog
had far from appropriate living conditions
where he was tied up on such a short lead
that he could not even lie down. He was
also not given any food or water. The
abuse that this dog endured is unthinkable
and would make you cringe. ARR took
Shadow into custody and the owners were
located, charged, and found guilty on all
counts. Shadow now has a wonderful new
home where he is very loved and is finally
getting the care he deserves!
Oftentimes the abusers of these
defenseless animals are let off the hook
when a concerned citizen or rescue
organization comes in and removes the
animal. The animal is then safe (most
important!) but the people who inflicted
the pain are not brought to justice. Animal
Rescue & Relief works tirelessly to make
sure that the people who are responsible
for hurting animals are charged. Even if
they are only fined, their record shows
animal neglect or abuse and they will
hopefully think twice about getting
another animal. ARR regularly checks on
homes of previous cases to ensure they do
not have new animals. We take this work
very seriously!
Currently Animal Rescue & Relief is
working on a number of cases similar
to these. The cases involve abuse and
neglect of pets who should be able to
enjoy their lives, not suffer at the hands
of irresponsible and insensitive humans.
These cases cost ARR significant amount of
time, money and resources. The animals
taken from these situations need vet
care which can be very expensive. The
resources put forth on rescue missions
like the ones described here include (but
are by no means limited to) gas, cell phone
minutes, office supplies, professional
photo printing and enlargements of
evidence photos, countless hours of
hard work, vaccinations, medications,
surgeries, housing of the animals; the list
goes on and on!
Animal Rescue & Relief relies on
donations to keep up the good and
important work. We are passionate about
investigating neglect and abuse and doing
something about it! Please consider
making a donation to ARR for all the Obies
and Shadows out there whose voices must
be heard!
Ways you can help:
1. REPORT abuse and neglect when you see
it ([email protected])
2. DONATE Monetary donations are always
needed. We also appreciate donations of
supplies including dog food and treats
(corn, wheat, soy free), toys, coats and
sweaters, blankets, towels, crates, bowls,
harnesses, collars, leashes, beds, gas cards,
horse hay, horse feed such as Seminole
Wellness Perform Safe Feed or Nutrena
Senior, large (50lb) bags of Alfalfa Pellets.
3. FOSTER Whenever we respond to cases
like these, we have to have somewhere to
put the animal once he or she is seized.
Loving foster homes are always needed!
4. ADOPT We have wonderful animals up
for adoption (including Obie) so consider
making a rescued animal part of your
family.
5. CONTRIBUTING CREATIVELY Are you a
photographer, pilot, or have tech abilities?
No matter what your profession, there’s a
good chance we could use your help!
Ways to contact ARR:
Visit ARR’s website at http://members.
petfinder.com/~SC67/ call 843.817.2367, or
stop into Lucia’s Premium Pet on Daniel
Island to drop off donations.
Defending the Defenselessby Katherine Matthews
Photo by Amazon CARES, Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education and Safety in Peru.
Lowcountrydog 7
Doggie Destruction
Lena: A True Story of Survival
Tail -Tell Signs
@
8 Lowcountrydog
lowcountrydog.comweb exclusive stories you shouldn’t miss
pho
to b
y k
ayin
tvee
n, F
lickr
Cre
ativ
e Co
mm
ons
Rotate Your Tires and Your Pet’s Food
New Feature: Reviews
Help! My Dog is Afraid of Walks!
Upcoming Guests to Look Forward to:
A clear, how-to training guide on licking your dog’s destructive habits. No more gnawed molding, chewed seat belts, or partially ingested “Jimmy Chews. ”Click to http://bit.ly/eUIKJKFiled under: Training
Purely Positive Trainer Susan Marett helps a desperate local dog owner with a pooch petrified of leaving the front yard. Click to http://bit.ly/hFwhZkFiled under: Training
We’ll have great guest posts from Nigel Buggers of the popular blog, Life with Dogs; Stephanie Coffin from Charleston based, Oooh Baby, Baby; local crafters with fun do-it-make-it-yourself toys, collars and accessories, and many more!
Wonder what your dog is thinking? Watch their body language, paying close attention to the tail. Learn more about canine body communication by clicking to http://bit.ly/9r2C0aFiled Under: Health & Wellness
Read about this amazing dog who survived a fractured and displaced spine, and was fostered by Pet Helpers founder Carol Linville before being adopted into her forever family. Click tohttp://bit.ly/gqavj9Filed under: Local News
Dolittle’s owner Ric Sommons breaks down his theory on why some pets do best on a rotating palette. Click to http://bit.ly/dZiiteFiled under: Health & Wellness
We have 6 new taste testers and product reviewers letting you know if the latest thing is worth woofing about. Most reviews have a giveaway too!Click to http://bit.ly/cwR7iRFiled Under: Reviews
A Favorite Reader CommentWhat a great story and inspiration! There always seems to be room for one more and thanks to Maureen and Hank’s inspiration we have two precious labs from Low Country Lab Rescue. ~Helen P., in response to Meet a Lowcountry Dog: Hank
Lowcountrydog 9
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Lowcountrydog 11
TOP DOGTAKES HONORS
pushes the reach of South Carolina’s state dogtext by Stratton Lawrence
Boykin Spaniels: The little brown dog that doesn’t rock the boat
Necessity is the mother of the Boykin Spaniel. A century ago, waterfowl
hunters in South Carolina were finding themselves in precarious danger
of soaking their guns, provisions, and themselves when their heavy
retrievers would shift unexpectedly in their small boats. If only a smaller
dog could serve the same purpose, tromping through the swamp to
bring back felled turkeys and ducks.
Around 1910, a friend of Camden, S.C. sportsman Whit Boykin sent
him a small dog he’d found on the streets of Spartanburg. Named
‘Dumpy,’ the little brown dog demonstrated skill at retrieving. Boykin
honed Dumpy’s talent and then used him as the foundation stock for
a new breed, said to have incorporated Chesapeake Bay retriever,
springer spaniel, cocker spaniel, and American water spaniel.
The resulting dog was the perfect animal for solo outings into the
wetlands. It was intelligent, eager to please, an accurate retriever, and
small enough that the boat remained steady.
Several generations of humans later, the Boykin Spaniel is the South
Carolina state dog. The Camden-based Boykin Spaniel Society (BSS) has
registered over 26,000 dogs around the country. In the last decade, the
American and United Kennel Clubs (AKC and UKC) recognized Boykins
as a unique breed, and in 2010, they competed for the first time at
the Eukanuba National Championship dog show. Fittingly, a S.C.-bred
Boykin took the ‘Best of Breed’ title.
South Carolina’s Best Kept Secret Gets OutLeslie Kern stumbled into the world of dog shows. Six years ago,
she was field training Brittany Spaniels when a friend asked her to take
home a puppy for a few weeks and ‘socialize’ it around people.
“She was small enough to sit in my hand,” recalls Kern, who brought
home little Bella to a house that already included a chocolate lab, a
Cocker-Springer mix, a Brittany, and an English Setter.
Top: Belle and Jessie strike a pose on the dock of their
marsh front home. Below: Leslie sports her
Eukanuba jacket and cuddles with her champions.
Bella stayed. When she
was six months old, a friend
mentioned entering the pretty
little pup in a dog show. Kern
thought it would be fun, so she
drove to Charlotte for a UKC event. Out of about a dozen dogs,
Bella was the youngest. With Kern as a rookie handler, the pair
took ‘Best of Breed.’ The next day, Bella won her group in the
sporting competition.
“I was absolutely speechless,” recalls Kern. “It was such a thrill;
such a joy. I remember picking her up and walking outside and
bursting into tears.”
After an extensive search for an appropriate sire, Kern decided to
breed Bella. The labor was difficult, requiring an early morning rush to
the ER for a C-section. Bella made it through the ordeal, and Kern had
a litter of eight healthy Boykins on her hands. She kept a brother and
sister pair, Jake and Jesse, and officially established Thornhill Kennel.
‘Carolina Scribe Jake’ and ‘Ring That Jezebelle’ (the dogs’ formal
names) have proved quite the champions. Jesse became perhaps the
country’s most famous Boykin in December, taking ‘Best of Breed’ at the
AKC Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, California.
“Jesse certainly made breed history,” says Kern, who has befriended
many of the other owners on the budding Boykin circle. “It’s all about
being a good sport, and when it comes back to you, you feel like things
are right.”
This February, Kern and Jesse depart for the grand-daddy of dog
shows, the famous Westminster competition in England. Jake, who has
his own trainers since Kern is only allowed one dog, will compete as
well. Since it’s the Boykin Spaniel breed’s first time at the show, she’s
not overly confident about placing against other breeds, but is grateful
for the experience.
“Boykins are the new kids on the block,” she says. “They have to put
their time in. Boykins are going to be around a long time, and I’m going
to be around a long time, and Thornhill Kennels is just getting started.”
But Jesse could take best in breed, and certainly has a good shot after
winning Eukanuba. After the contest, it’ll be time to breed the almost-
three-year-old dog herself.
Kern recently moved from Mt.
Pleasant to Beaufort, where she’ll have
more acreage to establish a kennel
with plenty of running room.
“My hope is that I can continue to
breed to the original standards,” says
Kern, referring to BSS specifications
about weight, stature, and leg length.
Males are typically about 40 pounds,
and females 30 pounds. Kern prefers to
breed a wavy coat rather than the tight
curls some show.
Since winning Eukanuba, calls for puppies have increased from all
over the country, but Kern says it’ll be awhile before she’s ready.
Meanwhile, BSS officials aren’t as thrilled with Jesse’s success.
The organization discourages registering with the AKC or UKC and
participation in contests outside of their own.
“Our goal is for the dog to remain pure and natural,” says Jane
Sexton, Executive Secretary to the BSS National Registry. “It’s a South
Carolina resource and that’s what it was created for; that is, flushing and
retrieving birds.”
Sexton fears that breeding for the show ring will decrease the dogs’
natural hunting instincts. She adds that certifications outside of BSS will
diminish the purity of the breed and make it harder to know if you’re
getting the real thing.
“If a building is pink and brown, you don’t necessarily know that you’re
getting the real Dunkin’ Donuts,” explains Sexton. Still, she says that the
group holds no hard feelings and doesn’t prohibit their members from
registering elsewhere as well.
Kern’s clearly as picky as anyone about her Boykins, but even
national champion Jesse isn’t BSS certified, since Bella wasn’t bred with
a registered dog.
“Many people refer to the Boykin Spaniel as the South’s best kept
secret,” says Kern. “My intention is really just to tell a few more people
about this little brown dog, and see if we can share its goodness with
the rest of the folks in the dog community and the world.”
After Westminster, Kern plans to start Jesse in hunt training. Bella
12 Lowcountrydog
Jesse in the field and as a pup. Right, Leslie in her proudest moment, when Jesse won the Eukanuba Best in Breed.
Photos provided by Leslie Kern.
Lowcountrydog 13
excels in the field, and Kern sees her as a
model Boykin who can have it all; the shows,
the hunts, and be a breeding mother.
While she talks, Jesse and Bella sit patiently
in her lap. When she opens the door, they
run excitedly through the yard, exploring the
marsh. Kern implores them not to jump in
the water, and they comply. They’re rich with
energy though, and it’s surely a sight when
overnight lows dip enough that Kern invites
the eight dogs she currently cares for into the
house simultaneously.
“It’s a very exciting time for the breed,”
says Kern, sporting her pink Eukanuba
championship vest. “These little brown dogs
are my heart. Their imprint will be on me
forever.”
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The 135th Annual Westminster Kennel
Club All Breed Dog Show will be held on
February 14-15, 2011 at Madison Square
Garden.
Nationwide, the competition finale on
Tuesday will be viewed on the USA
Network in its entirety, beginning at 8PM
on February 15, 2011.
Join Lowcountry Dog in wishing Jesse
Good Luck!
To learn more about Boykin Spaniels
visit:
www.boykinspaniel.org
www.boykinspanielclub.org
Love LCD?Love on our advertisers.
This magazine wouldn’t existwithout their
generous support!
14 Lowcountrydog
photography by Carroll Foster, HotEyePhoto.com
SMART COOKIE
world’s smartest dogis a South Carolinian
Have you seen the bumper stickers that smugly profess, “My dog is
smarter than your honor roll student”? Well, in the case of Dr. John
Pilley’s dog Chaser, that sentiment just might be true.
Recently dubbed the world’s smartest dog, Chaser, a five-year-old
Border Collie, learned 1,022 common and proper nouns over an intense
three-year training program. She also has a tested ability to distinguish
between those nouns and verb commands such as take, paw, and
nose, and understands categories of nouns such as balls vs. frisbees. Her most recently mastered skill is learning new words by exclusion,
thereby showing the amazing depth of a dog’s capacity to reason and
make decisions. Smart Cookie!
Dr. John Pilley and his research partner Dr. Alliston Reid, both
psychology professors at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., were
intrigued by the study of Rico, a dog who knew 200 words and was
the previous holder of the prized Smartest Dog world title. Pilley and
Reid decided to repeat and extend the experiment, being careful to
develop techniques and set up training to prove their dog would truly
learn the names of objects, and not just the command associated with
that object.
Asked why he chose a Border Collie for his study, Pilley says he
has always associated with farmers, and has heard years’ worth of
“bragging contests about border collies’ accomplishments on the
field, particularly their ability to keep their eyes on the sheep while
listening for audible cues from the master shepherd.” This type
of inborn skill was exactly what Pilley and Reid needed. A Border
Collie, bred to give special attention to the human language, was
the perfect pupil.
At the tender age of five months, Chaser began learning one or
two new proper nouns every day during a four to five hour training
session. Pilley, Reid and a handful of other trainers held and pointed
to the object to be associated with the name and always said, “Chaser,
this is {name of toy}. Pop (Pilley’s name for himself) hide. Chaser find
{name of toy}.” No other objects were available on the floor for retrieval,
so errors were unlikely. Rather than using food as a reward, Pilley and
the other trainers used play and praise. During trials and play rehearsal
periods, Chaser’s trainers verbalized the name of the object 20–40
times each session in order to facilitate the association of the name
and object. Later on, this new toy would be placed in a working group
of 50 or more toys to which Chaser already knew the names, and she
would be repeatedly asked to pair the name with the object. When
Chaser failed to retrieve an object upon command, trainers removed the
other objects and gave Chaser additional training trials on that proper
name until she demonstrated a mastery of that name/object pairing.
“At some point,” says Pilley, “Chaser had an Aha! Moment. She figured
out what we were asking her to do when we showed her a new toy in this
way. She understood the abstract concept of learning new names. And
thus, her learning built upon the knowledge she already had, and she
started learning new names at an ever increasing rate.”
The Rico research was criticized for not being able to prove the dog
could separate the command to fetch the object from the name of the
object. Did Rico understand the word sock meant the object sock? Or did
his brain just understand, fetch sock. Pilley and Reid believed the only
way to avoid this pitfall would be to teach Chaser three verbs and then to
p r o d u c e
those verbs in combination with the proper nouns.
If Chaser could separate that action (or verb) from the proper noun, then
she had truly learned the name for that object.
Chaser was taught paw, nose and take and then to apply those verbs
to a series of toys. Trial tested before a group of psychology students at
Wofford, the students placed random toys on the floor and then gave
an equally random list of those three verbs and the toy names to Pilley.
When asked, Chaser nosed the lamb toy, took the lips toy, and pawed
the ABC toy and so on, with 92% accuracy.
Pilley and Reid pushed their research further teaching Chaser
categories of like objects. She learned ball, toy, and frisbee, gathering all
Lowcountrydog 15
SMART COOKIE
world’s smartest dogis a South Carolinian
In addition to her training in language, Chaser is also trained in agility and herding. The black and white photo is courtesy of Robin Pilley, John
Pilley’s daughter, who assisted greatly in Chaser’s training.
16 Lowcountrydog
the toys into a Tupperware
bin that were similar and could be considered of the same type.
She’s also learning new words by exclusion. In a group of known toys, if
asked to find the new object, Chaser will deduct the novel object is what
you’re requesting because you are not using the names of the toys in
the group she knows.
When questioned about the long term goals of his research, Pilley
simply states that the aim of his research with Reid is to learn how to
teach. “If we discover how to teach a dog, then the dog will be successful.
This corresponds with how we teach children, not only language, but in
general. Solid, good teaching results in intelligent, successful children.”
Pilley went to on explain that instead of teaching rote behaviors, we can
teach dogs how to think, teach them abstract thought and concepts.
“Ultimately, the more we can enhance communication, the stronger the
bond, and the closer and more meaningful the relationship.”
It took four to five hours every day for three years to teach Chaser
her jaw-dropping mastery of language, but Pilley is confident his
training techniques can be used by anyone interested in deepening
their relationship with their dog. “Talk to your dog a lot,” explains Pilley.
“Pick out words you want to have special meaning and use them over
and over again. Some of this happens naturally like walk or let’s go or
treat.” Pilley recommends that you ask your dog to watch and listen
to you, while using lots of praise and reward when they demonstrate
an understanding of what you’re saying. Pilley claims that most dogs
are capable of much more than we assume; it just takes a lot of time
and effort on our part to establish the modes of communication that
a dog can understand. “Even Chaser’s breeder is not surprised by her
capabilities,” says Pilley. “He’s more surprised by the amount of time
that I was willing to put into her.”
Is there higher learning in store for Chaser? Yes, Syntax. Pilley plans
to test the order of words and nouns with Chaser such as Take Bear to Santa Claus vs Take Santa Claus to Bear. This future research will
determine if a dog can be taught that the order of words have a distinct
meaning. So in a way, Pilley plans to teach his dog elementary grammar.
Watch out, the Grammar Police just might have a new watch dog.
Opposite: Clockwise, Dr. John Pilley (L) and Dr. Alliston Reid (R) pose with their perfect pupil. Chaser in a pile of her toys. John jokingly
shows Chaser the Latin term for “dog.” This Page: Rather than being rewarded with food, Chaser is rewarded with play. She is especially
fond of retrieving rubber bounce balls.
18 Lowcountrydog
Clockwise: Reid reinforces the name of a toy. A detail of the
many toys, nearly all of them thrift store purchases. In a true
laugh out loud moment, Chaser makes faces at her teacher
while his back his turned! Chaser retrieves “Tiger.”
Make sure to tune into the NOVA documentary featuring Chaser. The special is set to air Feb. 9th on PBS television. The documentary shows how our view of canine intelligence is changing as we learn dogs’ brains are more like ours than we ever imagined.
To view additional photos of Chaser and read the full research paper by Dr. Pilley and Dr. Reid, visit www.lowcountrydog.com We’ll post videos of Chaser demonstrating her understanding of language too. Just go to “Sections” and click on “Chaser” for all the additional materials.
To learn more about working Border Collies who do everything from herd sheep and cows, to keep airport fly space free of dangerous birds, visit:
www.americanbordercollie.orgwww.bordercolliesociety.comwww.bordercollie.org
And consider fostering or adopting a Border Collie in need from the Charleston based Phoenix Rising Border Collie Rescue. Learn more at www.prbcr.org
The black and white photo below is Chaser as an adorable, precocious pup. The shot was graciously provided to us by John Pilley’s daughter, Robin Pilley.
Lowcountrydog 19
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Bring in any dog adopted from a shelter or rescue organization within 2
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Small dogs wait in a 4x4 run and large dogs wait in a 3x6 run with comfortable beds.
20 Lowcountrydog
cody
juno
hugo
tawney
diablo hurley
brooklyn
yoda
gracie
kally giacomo
millie &henry
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upcoming eventssecond saturday of every month. 11:00am-2:00pm frances r. willis spca adopt-a-thon. All is Well, 440A
Trolley Road, Summerville. Call 871-3820.
every thursday. 4:00pm-7:00pm o’brion’s yappy hours! O’Brion’s Irish
Pub and Grille is located next to Publix on
the corner of Folly and Harborview Roads,
in the Merchant Village Shopping Center.
first saturday of every month. 2:00pm pet helpers junior volunteer support team. Contact espillars@pethelpers.
org or call (843) 795-1110 ext. 25.
every saturday, sunday & monday. 5:00pm-11:00pm pet helpers bingo! Galley Hall (200 Eagle Drive) in Goose
Creek. Call (843)569-0252 for details!
february 5th 6:00pm-10:00pm 11th annual downs byrd oyster roast and silent auction. Miler
Country Club in Summerville. Enjoy
single select oysters, pizza, music, cash
bar and bid on silent auction items.
Tickets are $25 now, $30 at the door.
For more information call 843-871-3820.
february 5th 10:00am-6:00pm cas bow wow meow bowl. We’ll be lining
up our super star pooches available for
recruitment! Our MVP’s will be warming
up for the big game at 10:00 a.m. and
playing until 6:00 p.m. Stop by for fun,
prizes, puppy scrimmages, and find the
newest All-Star to add to your team! More
info at www.charlestonanimalsociety.org
february 11th-13th 10:00am petsmart national adopt-a-thon. Contact your nearest
PetSmart for more information on
participating rescues and shelters.
february 18th-20th 10:00am-6:00pm southeastern wildlife expo. Retriever demos, dock dogs, area
rescue and shelter booths. www.sewe.
com for more info and ticket prices.
february 26th 9:00am doggie day at the rec at isle of palms. The dog
show begins at 10 a.m. Categories include
Best Rescue Male & Female, Cutest Puppy,
Most Attractive, Mystery Mutt Small,
Mystery Mutt Large, Most Ear’Resistable,
Best Dressed, Best Eyes, Best Smile,
Most Creative Name and Most Unusual
Name. The winner of each category
will compete in Best in Show round.
Participants should register by Feb. 25.
february 26th 9:00am-5:00pm charleston veterinary referral center open house. To help meet
the specialty, emergency and critical
care veterinary needs of area pet owners,
Charleston Veterinary Referral Center
(CVRC), located at 3484 Shelby Ray Court in
Charleston, is opening on February 28th.
Visit the center for a special presentation
and ribbon cutting at 10:00 a.m during their
Open House on the 26th . Tour the state of
the art veterinary hospital and talk with
the specialists! For more information, visit
the website at www.CharlestonVRC.com.
february 27th 1:00pm-5:00pm lowcountry animal rescue dogmore stew. Magnolia Plantation
and Gardens. Adults $17 ($20 at the
door) $10 children 12-6, $5 5-3, under
3 free, well behaved, leashed pets are
free. Tickets include admission to the
plantation, a lowcountry feast of hors
d oeuvres, Frogmore Stew, and desserts.
Enjoy a Silent Auction, Raffle Prizes, Pet
Fashion Show, Pet Vendors, Demos and
more. Call 343-8063 for more information.
march 12th 3:00pm-6:00pm paws and claws on ice. Carolina Ice Place.
World Class skaters performing, free
skating for the whole family, live local
entertainment, plus meet and greet with
pets from the Francis R Willis SPCA! www.
summervillespca.com for more info.
march 19th time tba wild heir lab rescue st. labby day celebration. Art’s Bar and
Grill on Coleman Blvd. visit www.
wildheirlabradorrescueorg for more info.
march 19th and 20th 8:30am-4:00pm a way to play dog agility event. A Dog’s Way Inn 761 Pendergrass
Avenue, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576. Competing
canines and their human handlers race
through obstacle courses with hurdles,
weave poles, chutes, tunnels. Visit
www.AWayToPlayDogAgilityClub.com
march 26th time tba 10th annual pet helpers oyster roast. Charleston Visitors Center
Bus Shed. All you can eat oysters,
lowcountry boil, veggie dogs, hot dogs,
and chilli. Keep up to date on ticket
prices, times, etc. at www.pethelpers.org
april 1st-3rd 9:00am-5:00pm summerville flowertown festival. Azalea Park. 200 jury-selected
artists, various rescues and shelter booths,
delicious foods, free admission and parking!
Unfortunately, no spectator dogs are
allowed. Click to www.summervilleymca.
org/flowertown/index.html for more info.
april 9th & 10th 10:00am-4:00pm, 12:00pm-4:00pm lcd model contest and pet fest 2011. Do you dream of
your dog on the cover of Lowcountry Dog
Magazine? Now’s your chance! Your dog
will meet publisher Leah England and
his or her doggie headshot will be taken.
Last year 600 dogs vied for the prize! Mark
your calendars now for this fun event
filled with vendors, rescues and shelters,
a charity walk, a microchip clinic, frisbee
demonstrations, entertainment, food
tents and much more. Entry into the
event is $5 per person. Palmetto Islands
County Park in Mt. Pleasant. www.ccprc.
com or (843) 795-4386 for more info.
Questions? Comments?Call 843-478-0266. Want to submit event information?Visit www.lowcountrydog.com and click on Add an Event. We will do our best to include your event as space allows. Our online calendar lists all events in full.
Lowcountrydog 21
“I knew something was terribly
wrong when Libby screamed in pain as I
lifted her to go downstairs,” said Kathy
Kennedy a volunteer with beagle rescue in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Fourteen-year-old
Libby had come to Kennedy’s home with
arthritis, not uncommon for older dogs, but
today Libby’s behavior indicated out of the
ordinary pain. Reluctant to stress the dog’s
liver with heavy painkillers, Kennedy took
Libby to Dr. Chris Bessent, a holistic vet
and herbsmith in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
who determined that Libby suffered from
complications of her arthritis. To relieve
the little dog’s pain, Dr. Bessent utilized
one of her Chinese herbal formulas and
Libby hasn’t screamed since. “She’s
now walking about fine,” says Kennedy.
“I can’t say enough about the herbs.”
For thousands of years an entire region
of the world has thrived on Chinese
herbs and documented their results.
Dr. Bessent started treating animals
with Chinese herbs three years into her
twenty-two year veterinary practice.
“I wanted to give the best care to every
patient that came my way, and in order
to do that I needed a lot of tools.” Dr.
Bessent’s goal led her to chiropractic,
acupuncture, and Chinese herbology.
“For myself, I’ve always gravitated
toward natural health care with less toxic
effects, and that of course directed me
with animals as well,” she explains. As
dog lovers, our understanding of Chinese
herbs and how they work will enhance
our ability to create and maintain good
health for our beloved companions.
From the Chinese perspective, there are
two types of trauma, immediate or acute
trauma and long term or chronic trauma.
For example, when a dog injures himself
colliding with another dog on the trail
or slamming his shoulder into the coffee
table at home, he suffers immediate tissue
damage at the point of his injury. This
bruising of tissue or blood stasis (blockage)
occurs because the damaged arterials and
veins leak blood into that injured tissue.
“You now have this blood-filled sponge
that is swollen, and the swelling causes
pain,” says Dr. Bessent. “The body now
has to try to absorb that blood back into
the vessels and back into circulation.”
This is an acute trauma. The dog
will limp and guard the area, and an
immediate response might be to treat
the dog’s swelling and pain with anti-
inflammatories and pain killers so that
everyone can feel better. Having done that
however, all would not necessarily be well.
When we use only strong pharmaceuticals,
we suppress the dog’s ability to feel pain,
his natural protective mechanism, and
without that protective pain signal, he
will resume normal activity on his injured
shoulder. The dog now needs us to assume
full responsibility for keeping him still
to prevent further injury. In addition,
the anti-inflammatories hinder the
healing process by suppressing the dog’s
inflammation response. Inflammation
performs the important work of cleaning
up an injury—it removes damaged tissue
along with any stagnant blood and then
brings healthy blood cells back to the area.
In other words, when we treat only
the pain and swelling symptoms of
acute trauma, we not only hinder the
dog’s natural healing process, we also
fail to treat any underlying symptoms
of the trauma in its acute stage. We may
discover six months, or even years later
that damaged shoulder never completely
healed, and by then we’re dealing with
a chronic trauma. Chronic traumas can
manifest in a number of ways including
arthritis, bursitis, or tendonitis.
How exactly does an acute trauma
develop into a chronic trauma? According
to Chinese Medicine, complete health
is achieved when there is a balanced
and even movement of Qi (pronounced
“chee”) throughout the body on a 24-
hour cycle. Qi is the body’s life force, the
vital energy or life spark that represents
the difference between dead and alive.
This life force circulates throughout
the body on pathways called meridians.
Wherever a trauma occurs in the body,
Qi cannot move through that area as
well as it should, and this obstruction in
the flow of the body’s life force is called
Qi stasis or stagnation. When we attend
to a trauma’s blood stasis as described
above, we also need to treat the Qi stasis.
Left untreated, that life force stagnation
22 Lowcountrydog
Complete Healingwith Chinese Herbs
Camry the beagle photographed by Flickr user, laRuth
Lowcountrydog 23
can cause long-term pain, an aching,
painful area. This is a chronic trauma.
Now, with our understanding of blood
and Qi stasis, let’s explore what might
have happened to Libby, Kennedy’s
rescued beagle. When Libby came to live
with Kennedy, the dog’s age was best
guessed at fourteen years old. Arthritis
was diagnosed, but because she was a
rescue, her health and injury history was
unknown. When a dog reaches Libby’s age,
we can safely assume that she has suffered
one or more acute trauma injuries in her
life. If her acute trauma symptoms, pain
and swelling, were treated only with pain
killers and anti-inflammatories, thereby
leaving her deeper tissue damage problems
untreated, Libby’s trauma at that time
might not have healed completely and since
then could have developed into arthritis.
Again, we don’t know for sure what
happened to Libby before she came to
Kennedy, but her diagnosed arthritis, her
severe pain the morning she screamed,
and most telling, her positive response
to Dr. Bessent’s Chinese herbal formula
all point to a case of untreated tissue
damage, or chronic trauma, as described
above. “What I will see is the history
of the dog’s injury some time ago,
and he’s never been right since,” says
Dr. Bessent. “The joints are fine, the
vertebrae are fine and the nerves appear
to be fine. But there’s still sensitivity
and pain to pressure in that area.”
How do the Chinese herbs work to
heal acute and chronic traumas? “The
herbs are both pain-removing and anti-
inflammatory by moving both blood and
Qi.,” says Dr. Bessent. “Moreover, herbs
don’t have any of the negative side effects
of strong pharmaceuticals, such as loss
of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea.” She
also prefers using Chinese herbs over non-
steroidal anti-inflammatories because the
NSAI’s can have negative gastrointestinal,
kidney, and especially liver effects.
“There are times when you want to
use those strong anti-inflammatories. If
the dog is really lame and experiencing
extreme pain, then you might want to
use them for a short time along with
the herbs and continue the herbs long
term for complete resolution.” She also
recommends this formula following
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continued on page 27
For anyone who has ever watched
a beloved pet reacting badly to an
approaching dog, the scenario is full
of frustration and embarrassment. We
feel betrayed by and responsible for our
dog’s reactions. An enjoyable walk can
be turned into an ordeal by a barking,
lunging, or snapping dog. Frequently,
these dogs are placed in a kind of solitary
confinement, never walked because it is
too stressful. On the rare occasion when
they are walked, the problem is worse
due to lack of exposure. Being the owner
of a well loved but extremely reactive
dog, puts me in the unique position
of being a trainer and my own client.
There are several reasons that a dog
could be barking or lunging: Fear of the
approaching dog, frustration that he can’t
get to the other dog to play, or warning
the other dog to stay away. Regardless
of the reason, a dog that is extremely
aroused is more likely to get into an
altercation which can result in injuries.
Prevention:
It is always better to prevent a problem
rather than try to fix it. Early socialization
is key: Puppies need ample opportunity
to meet and play off leash with others.
These encounters should be positive,
varied and frequent. Social skills and
confidence are developed through play.
Teach your dog how to walk on a loose
leash; the key word is loose. This involves
not only learning to walk politely, but
greeting other dogs appropriately -- from
the rear or side. The greeting should be
short, with no lingering, preventing
the dogs from becoming aroused.
When walking, do not allow your dog
to pull towards another dog. Teach him
that a tight leash or the appearance of
another dog is a CUE to pay attention to
you and “good things will happen”; a
kong filled with liverwurst, for example.
Foundation skills:
These skills are necessary for all dogs to
learn, not just reactive dogs. However, they
are of great importance and must be solidly
in place before you attempt to desensitize
an aggressive dog. They provide a level
of trust that both you and the dog need.
1)Sit When sitting he is attending to
you, not the environment.
2)Watch Having your dog give you
direct eye contact allows another dog to
pass without incident.
3)Touch Teaching your dog to touch
your hand on cue will give him a task to
perform while the other dog passes.
4)Heel A predictable task, he walks
beside you, paying attention to your
movements.
5)Emergency U-turn Teach your dog to
turn and walk rapidly away with you.
Setup for success:
Your goal is to help the dog be
more confident, relaxed, and able to
successfully navigate in a world filled
with other dogs. Your first task is to
relax. Your dog knows when you are
tense; the leash acts like a telegraph wire.
It is vital to set your dog up to succeed.
1) Choose the right training tools. A
head or chest harness is best, no prong or
choke collars.
2) Work at the dog’s pace. Keep the
distance great enough so that your dog
stays well under threshold.
3) Implement a learn to earn program.
Nothing in life is free, and you control
the dog’s resources.
4) Look at the process of training as a
way to build a positive bond between you
and your dog. Have fun working with
him, and in the end you will both benefit.
There are many good techniques for
24 Lowcountrydog
ReactiveDogsby Cindy Carter
It doesn’t have to be “dog eat dog.”
Lowcountrydog 25
working with a reactive dog. The one
you use depends on your dog’s needs.
The easiest to implement utilizes
classical conditioning, which changes the
way your dog feels about the approaching
dog. It links the appearance of another dog
with something wonderful, like tasty treats.
Another technique teaches the reactive
dog to calmly look at another dog, then
refocus on his owner for a reward. It creates
a predictable pattern of behavior, allowing
him to feel comfortable with an approaching
dog. This is a cued response such as Leslie
McDevitt’s Control Unleashed® “Look at
That”, which I use with my own dog, Jude.
As with all training methods, proceed
in small increments so the dog has a
chance to process the situation. Set up
wins where he is gradually exposed to an
increased level of intensity, ie: distance
or movement of another dog. If your dog
becomes overly aroused or stressed, end the
session. If the problem continues or gets
worse, contact a trainer who uses positive
techniques and can create a program
specifically to address your dog’s issues.
Management plays a huge part in the
lives of owners of reactive dogs, and it is
a big commitment of time and energy. A
walk is always a training session involving
treats, toys, and learning to watch the
environment for potential triggers.
But at the end of the day, we all want our
companions to be happy in our world. It is
well worth the effort to see your dog go from
out of control to calmly walking by other
dogs. All the frustration and fear become
distant memories when your dog is able to
participate with you in your daily activities.
Cindy Carter, CPDT-KA is the owner
of Mindful Manners Dog Training in
Charleston, SC. She shares her life with, and
learns much from, her reactive Aussie, Jude.
Resources:Leslie McDevitt, MLA, CDBC, CPDT, author of Control Unleashed, Creating a Focused and Confident Dog; Meredith Minkin, CPDT-KA, owner of Canine PhD in Atlanta, GA.
thelearningcanine
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Bridget and Heidi are approxi-mately 10 years old and are sweet southern ladies. They have lived their entire lives together and will only be adopted together. They have manners and grace and are very politely behaved. They are spry little ladies who still enjoy a walk around the block and are happy to warm your lap.
Trixie is a 3 year old Miniature fe-male who just loves life. She has discovered the joys of riding in the car and can’t wait to explore the rest of the world. Trixie may be small, but her personality is as big as her ears! Trixie is crate-trained and gets along with other dogs.
Gypsy is a 7 year old Miniature female who is trying to shed the “puppy pounds” and get back to her girlish figure. She is doing well on her new exercise plan (aka leash training) and would love to have a walking companion. Gypsy gets along with dogs of all sizes and is crate-trained.
Kipper is a 4 year old Miniature who is a true “ladies man.” He absolutely adores women, es-pecially those who melt with one glance of his soulful eyes. Kipper has come a long way since enter-ing rescue and is house trained, crate trained, and walks well on a leash.
Schnauzer Rescue of the Carolinas
Schnauzer Rescue of the Carolinas is a 501(c)(3) non-
profit organization -- all of our adoption donations go
back into helping care for other rescues.
We are a group of volunteers within North Carolina,
South Carolina, Southern Virginia, Eastern Tennessee,
and Northern Georgia whose sole purpose is to rescue
and secure loving, permanent homes for displaced
Miniature, Standard and Giant Schnauzers.
We foster our rescues in a loving family environment
and spend many personal hours working with them
to ensure that they are ready (both physically and
emotionally) to move into their new forever homes.
If you are interested in adopting one of our dogs or
would like to help Schnauzers find a new home, please
visit our website schnauzerrescueofthecarolinas.com.
26 Lowcountrydog
adoption
Katy is a 12 year old Giant look-ing for a retirement home. She is a true gentle giant and an intel-ligent girl. Katy is deaf, but she is able to sense vibrations and movement and interact with her world. She is house trained, crate trained, and lives happily with other dogs both large and small.
Riley is a 3 year old Miniature male who weighs about 15 pounds. He is a shy at first, like many rescues, but he has the po-tential to become your best friend for life. He loves to snuggle in bed and has discovered how to play fetch. Riley can’t be placed in a home with cats, but he does well with other dogs.
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surgery, especially orthopedic surgery.
“They cut tissue to do surgery. This
causes trauma to the tissue and blood
and Qi stasis to the area. Specific Chinese
herbs used a day or two after surgery
gets blood and Qi moving to that area
again and allows the dog to heal faster.”
Dr. Bessent reports impressive
improvement in her patients after their
herbal treatments. “As dramatic an
improvement as pharmaceuticals? No,”
says Dr. Bessent. “But the day after giving
the herbs the dog’s pain would be down
50 percent; the day after that 70 percent,
and the third day he’d be almost back to
normal. And when the dog feels better,
it’s because his tissue is actually healed.”
Today Libby enjoys life in her new
home. “She still has arthritis, but since
taking the herbs she never gives me any
sign that she’s hurting,” says Kennedy.
“As long as she’s pain free, we’ll give
her a home for as long as she needs it.”
Herbsmith Comfort Aches is Dr. Bessent’s
proprietary combination of Chinese herbs,
which include: notoginseng root, angelica dang
gui, frankincense, myrrh, carphamus, and
achyrasphes. Administered in powder or pill
form, these herbs work synergistically to treat all
aspects of trauma. In other words, no one herb
is as good as the combination, and together they
effectively stop bleeding, relieve pain, tonify the
blood, move Qi, and reduce swelling. In addition,
they produce a downward movement of the blood
to help blood stasis in the dog’s limbs where
most injuries are sustained. Instead of masking
the pain and ignoring the healing, Chinese
herbs relieve the pain by speeding the healing—
the beauty of Chinese Medicine. Herbsmith
Comfort Aches is available locally in Dolittle’s
stores. Learn more at www.herbsmithinc.com.
continued from page 23
Lowcountrydog 27
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FREE Shipping & Engraving!
Daniel Island Animal Hospital
Lynne M. Flood, DVM Bridget E. Luke, DVM Allison Chappell, DVM
Katherine Rainwater, DVM
February is Dental Month! $40 off Dental Cleanings with Radiographs
Daniel Island Animal Hospital 291 Seven Farms Drive Ste 103
Daniel Island, SC 29492
(843) 881.7228 • www.danielislandvet.com
30 Lowcountrydog
one-of-a-kind memorial glass art
Create a unique keepsake with the ashes of your cherished
pet or loved one.
crafted by local artisan, Bradley Tubbs
Contact Molly: 843-709-8998closetoyourheart@comcast.netwww.closetoyourheart.wordpress.com
Close to Your Heart
Dr. Danielle Cain, DVMDr. Jacqui Brewer & Dr. Kelly Kohler
OPEN Weekends!
8389 Dorchester Road • Charleston, SC 29418843.552.8278 • theanimalhospital.net
Dorchester Rd.
Ashley
Phosp
hate R
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Video Memorial Tributes
Tell the life story of your best friend, or capture moments with your aging
pet at his favorite places with his favorite people.
For Information843.871.0565Watch samples at www.hallmanii.com “Become A Pack Leader”
Donna Murray ~ Head Trainer•Group Classes •Private Lessons
•Dog Walking •Dog Sitting
843-509-2728 www.donnamurray.thedogtrainer.org
One hour of training time
donated to local shelters
with each new client!
•Private Training •Day Training•Group Classes • Behavior Modification
Cindy Carter, CPDT-KA843-906-9997 • mindfulmanners.net
Really. Smart. Dogs.
Follow us for daily training tips!
Danielle KaneCertifiedTrainer and Behavior Consultant
Custom programs to fit your pet, your goals, your schedule, your budget!
843-321-9660www.petspotential.com
Taylor Made and Callaway
Pet Cremations and Memorials
Helping you honor your pet’s memory through cremation.
Available 24/7(843) 719-7770(843) 826-7770
www.eol-pet.com
trai
ner
s
Happy Hour! 50¢ Off All Domestic Beer and Cocktails
Yappy Hour.Perfect for you & yourpooch! The 2nd Wed.of Every Month!
A Local Favorite!Voted Best Waterfront Bar 2004 - 2010 andBest Mt. Pleasant Bar 2007 - 2010
Nightly Features!Crab Legs, Local Shrimp, Oyster Roasts & More!
2 Red,s Are Better Than 1!
Live MusicThroughout
the Week!
Mt. PleasantLocated On
Historic Shem CreekEst. 2 0 0 4
SeabrookBohicket MarinaOpening Spring
2 0 1 0
Diverse menu featuring fresh, local seafood and plenty of delicious land lover options.
Come for the View. Stay for the Food!
Mt. Pleasant • On Historic Shem Creek • 98 Church St. • 843.388.0003 ◆ www. reds i c ehouse . comSeabrook • Bohicket Marina • 1882 Andell Bluff Blvd. • 843.518.5515 ◆ As Local As You Can Get.