lowcountry dog magazine feb/march 2013
DESCRIPTION
Size Matters, Local Artist Paints Dog-Centric Mural, Frazzled Fido, the Issue with Strays, Setting Your Dog up for Success, Genetic Behavior TendenciesTRANSCRIPT
matters
magazinefebruary/march 2013
volume 9, issue 2
TM
frazzled fido
addressing the issue of strays
diversity in pet behavior
SIZEmattersSIZE
contentsPublisher
Leah England
(843) 478-0266
Advertising Information
(843) 284-3094
Communications
Gillian Nicol
Contributing Writers
Sarah Kalnajs
Kelly Rae Smith
Staff Photographers
Laura Olsen
www.lauraolsen.com
Dana Cubbage
www.danacubbagephotography.com
Guest Photographer
Leigh Webber
www.leighwebber.com
Accounting
Carrie Clark Financial Services
(843) 367-9969
Lowcountry Dog Magazine
PO Box 22
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465
Web: lowcountrydog.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/leahengland
Facebook: facebook.com/lowcountrydog
february/march 2013
fido’s friends 4Tyler Heffernan
love resides here 6
frazzled fido 8
canine mural unleashes community creativity 10
size matters 14
calendar of events 21
training 22
Set Your Dog Up for Success
health & wellness 24
Diversity in Pet Behavior
paws & think: addressing the issue of strays 26
144
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 bimonthly 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.
6
With a 227.5 weight difference between these two, Nigel the English
Mastiff and Rigby the Chihuahua make an remarkable paring.
This magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper.
Continue the green process by recycling this copy.
Lowcountrydog 3
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1. What’s the best thing about owning a dog? You have constant companionship. If I’m going to get the mail, he
wants to come. If I’m debating on a restaurant to go to, he wants
there to be outdoor seating so he can tag along. Even if I’m doing
push-ups inside, he climbs on my back.
2. What do you f ind the most frustrating about your dog, or struggle with as a dog owner ? Charlie is a puppy, so he’s constantly testing his boundaries.
3. All time favorite memory of your dog?
For a funny photo at a
restaurant, I held him up in
my lap with his mouth right over my straw. Next
thing I know, Charlie grabbed the straw and starting slurping water through it.
4. Favorite place to hang out with your dog in Charleston?
I’d say walking around downtown, but I’m sure he’d say our Monday walks to Moe’s
Southwest Grille, because he usually finds a way to steal a chip or two.
5. With what aspect of your dog’s personality do you most identify? We feel strongly that food and naps are fantastic.
6. In your opinion, what’s the one item all dog owners must have? Don’t throw away drink bottles. Charlie’s best friends are empty 2-liters that he chases
around and tries to unscrew the caps.
7. If your dog were some other sort of animal, what would he be? You mean Charlie isn’t human?
8. How does your dog inspire you? Or what has your dog taught you about life and work?He has taught me to slow down and enjoy the present moment.
9. How do you KNOW you and your dog are best friends?I’m always thinking about the lil’ guy. Sometimes if I should run an errand or two
after work, I’ll skip them, just to have those extra minutes with him.
10. What’s your favorite thing about Lowcountry Dog Magazine?
All the tips and advice.
4 Lowcountrydog photos by Laura Olsen Imagery
F ido’s FriendsTyler Heffernan
Occupation: Reporter for Moultrie News
Dogs in Household: One Named: Charlie
Lives: North Charleston
Lowcountrydog 5
843.881.0800 Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre hairywinston.com
HAIRY WINSTONPet Boutique & Grocery
The words “animal shelter” often conjure up images of dilapidated understaffed facilities that act as warehouses for unwanted animals drifting toward a macabre ending. What we societally imagine is sad, what we remember is visceral, and the result can be the desire never to return. We have compassion for the animals in that situation, but can’t take the heartbreak.
That is an entirely understandable reaction – but the reality in Charleston is far different. Our community is fortunate to have nationally recognized animal welfare organizations and facilities that are up to the task of keeping animals healthy and making adopters comfortable. Visit your local animal welfare organizations and experience the reality for yourself. They are bright, vibrant places with the space and staff to care for the animals and create an environment where you can take the time to meet and fall in love with the perfect pet for your family.
The impressive facilities are just the beginning of what has been made possible in Charleston through the generosity of local individuals and businesses. “Shelters” not only provide a place to come adopt a family member in need of a new beginning but also provide you with superior service and expertise. Animals adopted from reputable animal welfare organizations are provided with spay/neuter operations, necessary (and legally required) vaccines, microchips, veterinary care, perhaps even personality and behavior assessments, and so much more. At Pet Helpers all dogs that enter the system are assessed to determine if any behavior issues exist and are treated by an expert veterinary staff with more than 30 years of experience. Their personalities are gauged using the Meet Your Match Program, and they are then provided with whatever training is deemed necessary by the full-time Manager of Animal Health and Humane Programming.
Yet, the attention to animal well-being does not end there. Pet Helpers staff and volunteers provide an enriching and engaging environment for those animals that join the Pet Helpers Family, before they join yours. Enrichment ranges from auditory stimulation, olfactory engagement, tactile and toy diversity, visual stimulation, auditory enrichment, extensive human/dog time, recorded and monitored yard and walking time and so much more.
In short, great pains are taken to keep dogs in the system happy,
healthy and ready to go home as soon as possible. Adopters are encouraged to come in, keep an open mind, discover what personality fit makes the most sense for your family, and adopt. Staff and volunteers are matchmakers, not just “shelter staff.” They offer much more than a backyard breeder or roadside stand ever could.
As you can see, there is much more to animal care facilities than meets the eye. The professionals that work in these life-saving facilities strive every day to save more animals, increase adoptions, advocate for spay and neuter operations, and prepare the animals for adoption.
By using the Meet Your Match program you can find the perfect animal for your family based upon personality and temperament. The best adoptions are often those who come in search of a lifelong family member rather than a specific breed. After all, though the staff strives to best identify dog breeds in the shelter, it is a nearly impossible task. They most often rely on visual breed identification, so for most of the dogs, it is really guessing at predominant breed or breed mix. A new companion is best selected by considering each dog as individual and by its personality profile.
That said, if you are heart-set on a specific breed, don’t fret; Charleston’s shelters can still find you a perfect match. If you are in search of a particular animal, maybe you’re a beagle guy or pitt bull gal, have no fear, shelters and rescue groups can help. Animal welfare groups offer a great variety of dogs ranging from the lovable all-American mutt to pure-bred, well…pure bred anything. In fact 25% of all animals in American shelters are pure-bred animals.
There is a perfect match for you waiting in an area shelter. In this issue of Lowcountry Dog, you’ll see photo evidence of the myriad of shapes and sizes of dogs in our community. At Pet Helpers, a 165 pound Perro de Presa Canario was adopted the very same week as an 11 pound Pekinese (as well as 35 other mixes of all varieties).
No matter what type of dog you looking for, start with your local animal rescue organizations. You won’t just be adding to your family, you will be saving a life and making room for another in need of a second chance.
By visiting your local animal welfare organizations, you can not only find the perfect companion but also take that pet home knowing far more about your new friend than in almost any other circumstance. You can be confident that it has received sterling health care and an abundance of behavioral care. Local animal organizations, including Pet Helpers, are spending more than ever to ensure that your new family member is healthy, happy and ready to go home with you today.
Our community is saving more lives than ever and they need your help. Adopt. Donate your time and resources. The progress made is a reflection of the community, a reflection of you. Sustaining this progress becomes ever more difficult and these groups need your help more than ever.
Adoption is a strange blessing – it is selfish as you will take home a pet that will forever enrich your life and enhance your family, and it is infinitely selfless as you are saving a life in need. How many decisions in this life are this easy? Don’t shop, adopt.
6 Lowcountrydog
Kevin Ryan Executive Director of Pet Helpers
Love ResidesHere:Inside your
Local Animal Shelter
Lowcountrydog 7
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If you are old enough to read this,
chances are you’ve experienced stress at
some point in your life. The longer we
live the more likely – and more often – we
experience stress. It’s part of life and it
isn’t always a bad thing.
Everyday, normal stress is often referred
to as eustress - a “good” type of stress that
gives you a feeling of fulfillment and does
not drag you down. This type of stress
helps focus your attention so that you can
meet whatever challenge is facing you,
whether playing tennis with a friend or
completing a magazine article before the
publisher’s deadline. There is, however, a
darker side to stress. When stress becomes
more intense than the everyday variety
and affects your wellbeing in a negative
way it is referred to as distress. This kind
of stress often persists for a longer period
of time. Examples include the stress
caused by a tax audit, a divorce, or long-
term illness of a loved one. The worst form
of stress occurs when multiple stressors
pile up one after the other, giving your
mind and body no time to recover.
Have you ever stopped to think about
your dog’s life and the stress he may be
experiencing? What about the role of
stress on your dog’s health or behavioral
problems? Do dogs have the same link
between stress and physical and mental
health that we do?
Absolutely!
Stress affects our dogs in all of the
ways it affects us. It can be situational
or chronic, mild or severe, and plays a
role in the development of both health
and behavior problems. The good news is
that once identified, stress is much easier
to manage in dogs than it generally is in
people. Dogs live in the present and don’t
worry (as far as we know) about aging,
divorce, taxes, and the like. It is important
to note that this does not mean they
cannot experience chronic stress - only
that their issues are generally of a simpler
nature than ours and are often easier
to fix. Many behavior problems such as
destructiveness, nuisance barking,
and digging have at their core a
stressed dog who is engaging in these
behaviors as a way to occupy himself
and relieve some of the stress.
There are two important things
you can do to keep stress from
becoming a problem for your dog.
First, learn to recognize the common
sources of stress in dogs. And second,
learn the body language they
exhibit when stressed. These two
skills will help you keep your dog’s
stress level low, and as a result, prevent
serious problems like separation anxiety
or obsessive-compulsive behaviors such as
constant spinning, or chewing, or licking
his own tail, legs, or feet.
If your dog is experiencing stress he
may often seem agitated - easily startled
and unable to calm down even in favorite
sleeping spots. On leash your dog may
frantically pull as if he was being chased
by something even though you do not
see any obvious sign of threat nearby.
Dogs experiencing stress may also pace
relentlessly and tend to defecate or
urinate at unusual times or places due to
activation of their sympathetic nervous
system. Other, more subtle signs of stress
include lip licking, yawning, sniffing,
excessive shedding, increased respiration
rate, blinking, tension in the body and
face (including a tightly closed mouth),
sweaty paws, and teeth chattering.
It is important to understand your dog’s
threshold of response. This threshold is
the lowest level trigger that reliably elicits
his lowest level of reactive behavior. For
example, this might be the presence of
another dog fifty yards away - far enough
that your dog notices him but is still calm
and completely attentive to you. Keeping
your dog under this threshold is important
in a variety of situations. When you are
doing any sort of behavior modification
work with him his ability to learn shuts
down completely the second he goes “over-
threshold,” and when you are in a new or
unfamiliar situation keeping him under
this threshold will insure that his stress
level also remains low.
There are several particularly effective
ways to determine if your dog is under his
threshold of response (“under-threshold”).
These indicators are also very useful for
checking your dog’s internal emotional
state in new or unfamiliar situations that
may be causing him stress. They can tell
you whether he is relaxed (and under
threshold) or stressed (and perhaps over
threshold). These are the two indicators:
1. Is your dog eating? It is always a
good idea to have a few treats with you so
that you can “take your dog’s emotional
temperature” whenever needed. Use a
treat that your dog really likes at home
when he is comfortable (for most dogs this
will be something tastier than an ordinary,
bland dog biscuit). When he is in a new
situation such as in a crowd of people, or
on a busy street, or near a strange dog, or
in the vet’s waiting room, give him one of
these high-value treats. If he refuses to
eat it, or spits it out, or chews it slowly,
this is a clear sign that he is not feeling
comfortable, or is becoming over-aroused,
or is already over-threshold.
2. Will your dog respond to a simple, well-
known cue such as “Sit” or “Shake”? For
this test to be meaningful, it needs to be
a cue that your dog knows extremely well
and that he responds to with almost 100%
reliability under normal circumstances.
For most dogs, “Sit” fits the bill. If your
dog suddenly seems to forget what “Sit”
Frazzled Fidoby Sarah Kalnajs B.A., CDBC, CPDT-KA
continued on page 19
8 Lowcountrydog
Lowcountrydog 9
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“I don't want to say that he's famous, but he's famous,”
Tim Edgar, a local illustrator and musician, says with
clarity of his dog, Don. Don, of a mysterious breed, is a
handsome little fella who has made a lot of enamored
friends in his trots about Charleston, particularly in West
Ashley. A favorite at dog-friendly places like the Tin Roof,
this furry gent’s face has also become a welcome addition
as a mural Edgar painted in Avondale’s chART Initiative
and Outdoor Gallery, a public community art space that
supports contemporary artists working in the visual arts.
“Our mission is to foster creativity and art excellence,”
Geoff Richardson, owner of Avondale’s Lava Salon and
curator of the Gallery, says. “We provide exhibition space
to new and established artists as well as programs and
activities that encourage public awareness, participation,
and appreciation of the visual arts. It’s a catalyst for public
revitalization of Charleston via the aesthetics of art.”
Ed Hose, an illustration artist from Georgia, erected the
first public art piece in Avondale after winning a mural
design contest conceived by the neighborhood’s businesses.
Then in 2010, Richardson’s mind was blown with what he
discovered during a Barcelona vacation, and he returned to
Charleston with a new purpose. “I saw and was inspired by
the incredible proliferation of street and outdoor art,” he
says. “When I came back, I took one look at the service alley
behind our shops and thought, ‘Hmmm, I wonder if I could
get something started here…’”
After some agreements with the (unofficial) Avondale
Business Association and the City of Charleston, this dream
of his, and so many others, was put into motion.
And it’s still going. A short stroll around West Ashley’s
Avondale or North Charleston’s Park Circle and you’ll
get a free glance of over 50 walls that have been superbly
illustrated by almost as many artists with everything from
an exquisitely detailed Charles Darwin (by Sean Williams)
to a beautifully vibrant peacock (by Susan McKellar), to
Edgar’s adorable gray and white, and now-famous, dog.
“In the beginning, they came fast and furious,”
Richardson says. “For better or for worse, I didn't care. If
you had paint, I had a wall. My only job was to make sure
it didn't offend or include anything obscene. As the walls
started filling up, I began to understand what my job was
as the curator: to guide the artists to the wall that spoke
to them. And through discussion of ideas, themes, and,
in some cases, input from building tenants, we worked to
conceive something that made sense, was appropriate for
the space, and, for the more advanced artists, maybe felt a
bit provocative on a certain level. My job is to bring us all
together and to make the Gallery feel like it's a communal
effort.”
After working with local artists like Ishmael and Patch
Whisky, Richardson was introduced to Edgar, who would
soon bring the neighborhood Don, his picture of a perfect
companion.
“I was recommended to Geoff by a mutual friend,” Edgar
10 Lowcountrydog
Canine Mural Unleashes
Community Creativityby Kelly Rae Smith
photos by Dana Cubbage Photography
Lowcountrydog 11
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12 Lowcountrydog
says. “The first thing I could think of, as far as subject matter,
was my dog—who had been living back in Wisconsin with my
parents for the past 9 or so months while I traveled a lot to
play music. I didn't really consider any other subjects. When
it was suggested that I do a mural, it was almost instantly
decided. I missed my dog, so it had to be Don.”
After two days of admitted nervousness of painting his
largest piece yet, Edgar finally immortalized Don down the
alleyway between West Ashley’s Voodoo Lounge and Mellow
Mushroom. “The spot is perfect because it is a low half-wall,
and it kinda brings home the point that he's a little guy who is
always hanging around.”
Since its creation, the mural has brought many smiles to
passersby, especially children who have been
known to stop by for a photo and a kiss. Don’s
friendly nature moves beyond the paint and
encourages Richardson’s hope that everyone,
even pets, feel connected to the neighborhood.
“One of the things I so much enjoy about
outdoor art is that it's made for the community
to enjoy. It connects us all through a shared
experience. For some, that experience is
enhanced by stumbling onto our little secret
garden of art. I like the one of Tim's dog for
so many different reasons. He captures the
spirit of his dog. I like that he is right at the
beginning (or end of the alley), so he's always
greeting you, like an alleyway ambassador, no
matter if you're coming or going.”
So what ever happened with the real Don?
Not to worry, Don came back and made his
mark in more ways than one.
Last November, not only did Don return to
Charleston for good, he was also introduced
to his own likeness upon that alley wall. “My
parents came to visit me from Wisconsin on
Thanksgiving and brought my dog back to me.
We took him out for a family photo shoot next
to the mural, and the first thing he did was lift
his leg on it. I took it as his way of signing it.”
When Don’s not signing autographs, he loves to
chase squirrels, kiss his feline roommate, Grapefruit,
snack on pupcakes from the Lucky Puppy Truck, and
watch nature shows. Go give Don’s white mohawk a
scratch, and view other incredible pieces, some of
which are works in progress, at the chART Outdoor
Initiative and Gallery in Avondale and Park Circle,
Charleston.
who: Don, breed unknown, but “he’s something,” Edgar says.
nickname: “Bacon-face”
origin: Wisconsin
famous for: His white mohawk, expressive eyes, and of
course, his Avondale mural.
loves: Long walks, kisses, and ice cream cones.
hates: Vacuum cleaners, drums, and anything that beeps.
Lowcountrydog 13
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Jill Lundgrin, trainer843-607-7193 www.CoastalCanineAcademy.com
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mattersSIZEmattersSIZE
On these pages you'll meet Charleston's largest and smallest dogs. Nigel the English Mastiff is an impressive 230 pounds, and his neck size? There's not a collar on the market that fits. Moose the rescued Great Dane is 205 pounds, towers over many at over 6 feet tall when standing on his hind quarters, and became quite the celebrity when his size earned him a spot on the Today show. In the case of Nigel and Moose, Bigger is Better.
Rigby the 2.5 lb. Chihuahua might be dramatically smaller in stature than our two big fellas, but his large and in charge personality belies his size. He was right at home posing for the cover alongside Nigel, who outweighed him by a whopping 227.5 pounds! Our belle of the ball is Ginger Rose, a 3lbs 1oz Yorkie who perches perfectly on laps and prettily poses amongst delicate china. These two prove Winnie the Pooh correct, "Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
Photography by Leigh Webber
Lowcountrydog 15
matters
16 Lowcountrydog
Robin models LCDM's "Charleston Dogs" tee-shirt. Partial proceeds benefit the rescue and shelter of the buyers choice! Get yours at www.lowcountrydog.com/sections/shop
Special thanks to our "human scale" model Robin Maggy. As the owner of Bark Avenue Pet Resort, she knows her way around dogs of all shapes and sizes.
18 Lowcountrydog
Lowcountrydog 19
means or acts like he can’t hear you, it
is quite possible that he is experiencing
significant stress.
A practical example of this would be as
follows. You are having a dinner party and
it’s the first time your dog has experienced
a group of strangers in his home. You begin
to rearrange the furniture for the party
and notice that your dog is beginning to
pace a little, lick his lips, scratch, and
sneeze a few times, but he still happily
responds to “Sit” when asked and takes
his treat for a job well done. Your dog
is stressed at this point, but not over-
threshold. This doesn’t mean you should
ignore the stress, but for the purpose of
this example let’s keep going and see what
happens next.
As guests begin to arrive you notice
that your dog begins to show more signs of
stress and cannot seem to get comfortable,
moves from place to place, and shifts from
lying to sitting to standing repeatedly.
Now when you ask him to sit, he does so
but quite slowly and a bit stiffly. When
offered the treat, he takes it but then drops
it and backs away. Your dog’s stress level
has increased and the situation needs to
be addressed, but for the purpose of this
example let’s push him further.
The guests are all in the house, having
drinks, eating hors d’oeuvres, and
wandering through the house, mingling.
Every time someone sees your dog they
pat him on the head, oblivious that he is
dipping his head to avoid them. His stress
level has been increasing for several hours
now. He’s had no quiet, safe place to go,
away from the guests. Guests ask him to
sit but he doesn’t, and when you offer him
a special treat, his favorite, he turns his
nose up at it. A moment later a young child
comes up and puts her arms around your
dog (which is not a good idea even if the
dog is relaxed), and in one split second he
growls, turns, and snaps at her face.
Unfortunately, this is a story that I
hear over and over again in my practice
and the culprit in many situations is
a chronically stressed dog, and lack of
human intervention and situational
management.
So what are some of the common causes
of canine stress and what simple strategies
can be used to avoid them?
• Expectations anxiety: This is the stress
that results when a dog does not know
what is expected of them or cannot assess
the situation. An example would be a
person repeatedly saying “Off ” to a dog
who has never been taught what “Off ”
means. Some dog owners seem to think
that dogs come pre-programed with a
series of commands that they somehow
“just know.” Remember, if you haven’t
taught the dog what “Off ” means, using
methods he can understand, then from
his perspective you are just speaking
gibberish and his anxiety goes up because
he has no idea what you want! To reduce
stress, you must know precisely what you
expect when you give him a particular cue,
the cue must always mean the exact same
thing every time you use it, and you must
have taught him the meaning of this cue.
If you don’t know exactly what you expect
when you give your dog a cue, then how
is your dog supposed to know what you
want?
• Unpredictable humans: A common
stressor for dogs is unpredictable human
behavior. Dogs don’t cope well if we are
inconsistent and change our minds, or
send out different signals depending
on our mood. A good example is being
allowed on the couch one day but not
being allowed on it the next day. Dogs do
not have the capability to understand that
being on this couch is OK today but not
tomorrow, and become extremely stressed
when your behavior appears to tell them
two contradictory things. This category
includes rules that change over time, such
as one set of rules for when he was a puppy
and another set of rules when he became
a full-grown adult. Also in this category
are rules that change throughout a day,
such as stricter rules for when his paws
are muddy or there are guests over. You
must be consistent otherwise your dog will
never know what the rules are and will
experience anxiety and stress as a result.
Low stress strategy? Pick a rule and stick
to it!
• Physical punishers: Harsh physical
training or correction methods that may
seriously frighten or hurt a dog are a
huge source of stress. Training tools such
as choke, pinch, and shock collars do not
train a dog what behavior to do; instead,
they teach that the possibility for pain
exists whenever the collar is on. The dog
often learns to fear his owner, damaging
the bond between owner and dog,
sometimes irreparably. This is not to say
that there should never be consequences
for a dog’s actions. In the words of dog
trainer Susan Garrett, “Positive does not
mean permissive!” So how to reduce the
impact? Correction and training methods
should be understandable to your dog and
should teach them what you want them to
do instead of making them afraid to try
anything new lest they do the wrong thing
and receive a painful punisher. Great
resources for teaching these methods
include books written by Pat Miller,
Patricia McConnell, Mary Burch, Jon
Bailey, and Dr. Sophia Yin.
• Lack of mental stimulation: Too little
mental stimulation is one of the largest
causes of stress that I see in my practice.
Many dog owners seem to think that a
walk or two per day (for the lucky dog) is
all a dog needs. In some instances, such as
dogs that are fearful of other dogs, walks
can do more harm than good! Mentally
stimulating activities, on the other hand,
are always a good idea. Think about human
solitary confinement. A prisoner could
do jumping jacks, run in place, squats,
or a dozen other solitary activities all
day long but solitary confinement is still
punishment. The reason for that is the
isolation and lack of mental stimulation.
Going for a walk can be invigorating, but
sitting through a long meeting at work is
mentally exhausting! This type of mental
workout is what our dogs need on a daily
basis.
Strategies that reduce stress include
a few short training sessions throughout
the day, especially those that use shaping
techniques (reward your dog for taking
small steps towards the behavior you want,
setting the bar higher as he masters each
step until he eventually learns the entire
behavior), and also providing learning
puzzles for him to solve.
Another good way to give your dog a
mental workout is to engage his amazing
sense of smell in an intense game of “Find
the Cookie.” We have nine dogs in our
home and we hide 100 pea-sized pieces of
liver treat all over the house - but (and
continued from page 8
continued on page 27
20 Lowcountrydog
hap
py
ho
un
ds
Upload photos of your happy hound at www.lowcountrydog.com/share/photo All breeds and mixed breeds accepted.
cooper
winston
stuie
janey
lil jon
fable
amelie
max
lucille
libby
clover & bella
louiemr lenix
moushe
duke & jasper
acemollie
benniesadie
upcoming eventsevery saturday & sunday pet helpers adoptions at petco, west ashley. www.pethelpers.org
every saturday cas adopt-a-thon at petsmart mt pleasant. www.charlestonanimalsociety.org
every sunday in march and april 4:00pm pet safety sundays. Enjoy
this FREE monthly lecture series provided
by Dr. Carrie Davis, ER veterinarian. Topics
include "When To Go To The Animal ER"
"Toxins in and Around the Home" "Basic
First Aid and CPR" "Dog Bite Prevention"
Veterinary Specialty Care 985 Johnnie
Dodds Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. RSVP
to Donna @ 843-216-7554
february 7th - 9th 2nd annual pet helpers spay-ghetti/neuteroni event. 12 Local Restaurants Feature
Special Entrées to Raise Funds for Pet
Helpers Spay/Neuter Efforts. Visit any of
the following restaurants to help spread
awareness of the benefits of spay/neuter
and raise funds for Pet Helpers! Each
restaurant’s chef has created a Spay-ghetti
or Neuteroni special entrée, of which a
percentage of the proceeds will benefit
Pet Helpers. Bacco Italian Restaurant,
Bluerose Café, Café Fork, Cesca Ristorante
Trattoria, Graze, J. Paulz James Island, J.
Paulz Mt. Pleasant, La Fontana W. Ashley,
La Fontana N. Charleston, Mondo’s Italian
Restaurant, Parson Jack’s Café, Three
Little Birds Café. www.pethelpers.org
february 10th 1:00pm-5:00pm lowcountry animal rescue dogmore stew festival at magnolia plantation. Tickets
include admission to the plantation &
its gardens, a lowcountry feast of hors d
oeuvres, Frogmore Stew, and delicious
desserts. Day long events include Silent
Auction, Raffle Prizes, Dog Agility Course,
Dog Training Demos & much more. ADULTS
$20 ($25 at the door) $10 children 12-6/ $5
5-3 / under 3 free / well behaved, leashed
pets are free. Call or text 843-343-8063 for
more information or tickets. Tickets are
available at all four All is Well locations.
Tickets will also be available at Magnolia
Gardens the day of the event. Magnolia
Plantation & Gardens, 3550 Ashley River
RD, Charleston, SC
february 16th 12:00pm doga fund-raising event. Come have fun, stretch
and bond with your furry baby! One dog
per person. Fund-raiser for animals in
need, $25 Minimum Donation. To sign
up call 557-3453. Serenity Now Yoga 419
Hibben St. Mt. Pleasant.
february 16th 12:00pm-3:00pm frwspca adoptathon pet lovers warehouse. Foster Pets & Shelter Pets
are welcome. 620 Bacons Bridge Road
Summerville. Call 843-873-5918 for more
info.
february 22nd-24th frwspca at petsmart national adoption weekend. The Frances R. Willis SPCA
will be attending the PetSmart National
Adoption Weekend which will take
place Feb. 22-24, 2013 at the PetSmart in
Summerville at 470 Azalea Square from
11:00am-4:00pm. For more information
please call 843-873-5918. Foster Pets &
Shelter Pets are welcome.
february 23rd 9:00am doggie day at the rec in the "Bark Park" located
behind the Recreation Center on 29th
Avenue. Please bring a copy of your Rabies
vaccination to obtain City dog license.
Vaccination clinic ($10) and annual IOP
dog license ($5), pet photos, local rescues,
and dog show. Categories include: Cutest
Puppy (1 yr and under), Best Eyes, Most
Attractive (1 yr and older), Best Smile,
Mystery Mutt (small breed - under 40lbs),
Best Dressed (costume), Mystery Mutt
(large breed - 40lbs and over), Best Female
Rescue, Most Creative Name, Best Male
Rescue, Most Ear' Resistible Ears, Most
Unusual Breed. Register by calling 843 886-
8294 or email Will McElheny at willm@
iop.net
february 24th 1:30-3:30pm paws go red. James Island County Park. Pet
Helpers, the American Heart Association’s
Go Red for Women Campaign and MUSC
Heath & Vascular Center team up at the
for Human & Canine Health featuring:
Heart screenings for dogs and owners, the
Go Red Dog Walk, pet and owner photos by
Laura Olsen Imagery, prizes for the best
costumes. $1 entry into the park. www.
pethelpers.org for more info
march 16th 7:00pm-11:00pm 12th annual pet helpers oyster roast. Visitor Center Bus Shed, Charleston. All-
you-can-eat local oysters cooked just for
you by Lowcountry Fatboy's Cooking. Pet-
friendly! Bring the entire family, dogs
included! Please stay-tuned for ticket
purchasing details. Silent Auction. Click to
www.pethelpers.org 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.
louie
april 20th-21st 9:00am to 5:00pm daily lcdm hosts deciphering the canine code with sarah kalnajs. Sarah Kalnajs, internationally
renowned certified canine
behaviorist and dog trainer,
comes to Charleston to help us
Break the Canine Code. This
seminar will offer insight into
dog-to-dog, dog-to-human, and
human-to-dog communication.
Trident Technical College
Click to www.lowcountrydog.
ticketbud.com/caninecode for
tickets.
*IAABC CEU credits: 6 per day, 12 total
**CCPDT CEU Credits: 7 per day, 14
credits total.
I’m sure all of you have heard the
phrase, “Practice makes Perfect.”
Trainers often use this philosophy in dog
training. The more a dog rehearses, or
practices a behavior, the better they get at
it. It’s easy to relate this philosophy to
teaching your dog basic commands such
as Sit, Stay, and Down. However, many dog
parents don’t correlate “Practice makes
Perfect” to undesired behaviors. These
behaviors include barking or reactivity
to other animals and people, eliminating
in undesired locations, destruction of
inappropriate items, and jumping on
people. The best solution to extinguish an
undesired behavior is to teach an alternate
behavior, but it is just as important to
limit how much the undesired behavior
happens in the first place.
Many clients come to me baffled,
w o n d e r i n g
why their dog
is still reactive
after several
months of
“ w o r k i n g ”
with them.
There are
several reasons
for why a dog
might still
be reactive
d e s p i t e
t r a i n i n g ,
but for the
purpose of this
article’s topic,
I will address
one. If the
dog is given
free roam of
the house or
fenced yard
when the pet
parents are
not present,
the dog will
r e h e a r s e
barking at
anything in
their view and
will find great
enjoyment in
it, especially
if he feels he
did his job by
driving away the intruder. The ideal plan
would be to set the dog up for success by
managing their environment through
the use of crates or gates when no one
is present to supervise and train for the
desired behavior.
Crates, gates, closed doors and X-Pens
will set your dog up for success as discussed
above, but can and should also be used
while you are in the stages of teaching
them what items are suitable to chew on,
during potty-training and when learning
other boundaries. If they don’t have access
to the sofa, they can’t chew on it; if they
don’t have access to the nook behind the
chair, they can’t potty there. Don’t get
me wrong, you still have to teach your dog
the desired behavior, but by not allowing
him as much opportunity to rehearse the
undesired behavior, you will set him up
for success.
Another fantastic management tool is
your leash, and it’s not just for walks! Let
me give you an example of how to use the
leash as a versatile tool. A nice sit when
greeting visitors at the door is a preferred
alternate behavior to jumping, but can
take some time for an energetic, untrained
dog to master. As you are working on the
alternate behavior, set your dog up for
success by not giving him the opportunity
to jump. Put a leash on your dog and stand
on it before you open the door to prevent
him from jumping. By consistently
leashing him when guests arrive, you give
him more opportunities for the sit to stick
in his mind.
When you do take Fido for a walk, use a
training harness to keep him from pulling
you. Some of my favorite loose leash
walking tools are front clip harnesses such
as the Sense-Sation, Walk In Sync, and the
Freedom No Pull, or a head halter, such as
the Halti. Instead of letting your dog pull
then giving a collar correction, or a slap
on the rump, these leash tools don’t allow
him to pull in the first place. Instead, they
provide you with the chances to positively
reinforce his nice leash manners.
These are just a few examples of
management tools you should use while
working with a new puppy, an older dog
that you have inadvertently allowed to
learn undesired behaviors, or if you’ve just
recently rescued a dog that has had little
training. It’s much easier to prevent an
undesired behavior rather than to resolve
one; however, setting your dog up for
success via management is a fundamental
tool when doing either.
Depending on your dog, environment,
and/or situation, management can be long
or short term. In most cases, it’s a short
term solution while your dog is learning
correct responses and preferred behaviors.
Remember, "Practice makes Perfect", so
help your dog practice the behaviors you
deem desirable through training, and
prevent him from practicing undesired
behaviors through management.
Krisite Allen is the owner of The Learning
Canine. To learn more about her positive training
methods, click to www.thelearningcanine.com
22 Lowcountrydog
Set your Dog Upfor Success
by Kristie Allen
Lowcountrydog 23
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I love my father. He graduated from
Virginia Military Institute, fell in love
with a VA girl to whom he has been
married for over fifty years, lives on 200
plus acres of rolling, partially forested
pasture in the Shenandoah Valley, votes
Republican, conservative Christian, owns
a Labrador Retriever, feels passionately
and lives his beliefs without apology.
I also love his brother, my uncle, who
is a Citadel graduate, fell in love with
a Charleston girl to whom he has been
married for over forty years, lives in
West Ashley, is an active member of First
Scots Presbyterian, a bit more progressive
theologically and politically than my
father, yet every bit as passionate in his
belief system. He and his family have
owned a mixed, small-breed dog, a Shih
Tzu and cats; they are more accepting of
diversity.
I believe these personality differences
are the result (phenotype) of their
differing DNAs (genotypes) which shaped
their individual responses to a nearly
identical upbringing (my father is six
years older, but their parents remained
together for life.) They both lost a great
uncle to a tragic, accidental, young death,
their older sister to child-birth at a young
age; both attended military colleges, my
father chose to make a career out of the
U.S. Army, my uncle went on to law school
at USC, spent some time in the USAF, then
practiced family law in Summerville.
My own sons also are very different
people who grew up in the same
environment for nearly two decades. If
my husband and I had used the same
parenting style with them, we would have
failed to motivate the one and to encourage
the other; one needed constant prodding to
work at school, the other needed constant
reassuring that he was doing enough, that
perfection is impossibility.
Just as DNA affects personality in people,
the same occurs in our pets. For that
reason, I hope we continue to responsibly
breed purebred dogs which mankind
selectively produced over millennia – we
bred for certain characteristics in dogs to
meet a working need; the resultant breeds
have predictable response to stimuli,
making every breed safe when handled
correctly.
The dangers lie in improper handling
and uneducated ownership. Even the
fighting breeds need not be trained to
fight and become aggressive to other dogs.
They are almost never aggressive to small
children unless owners are irresponsible
about socializing them properly when
they are puppies – and/or they are placed
into anxiety-producing environments.
Other “aggressive” breeds which tend
toward protective behavior, when trained
and handled properly, are not dangerous.
Using the Wisdom Panel DNA test by
Mars Veterinary Company (a simple blood
test) (http://www.wisdompanel.com/) for
mixed breed dogs can give us powerful
information about our individual mixed
breed pets and how to manage their
behaviors. If we expect one training
method to work for all dogs, we are
distilling canine behavior into simplistic
terms and we will fail in many cases. We
must understand a bit about our pet before
we can modulate behavior effectively.
My own household consists of a
menagerie of dogs and cats, and I’d like to
use them to illustrate what I mean. I own
a 70+ lb neutered male greyhound, a 32 lb
spayed female herding-type, mixed breed
dog and two male neutered dachshunds,
one eleven years old and one four years
old. They all have come from my practice
over the years – they either had medical
problems for which their previous owners
could no longer manage the necessary care
or they lost their homes due to medical
or behavior issues they were suffering
at the time. My husband
and I have also owned
a Labrador retriever,
a Golden retriever, a
Bassett hound, a Cavalier
King Charles Spaniel and
other dachshunds over
our twenty-eight years of
marriage – I put up with
his military deployments
and moves – he puts up with my many
household pets. I name these dogs to say
that I have personal experience with many
different dog types.
Training retrievers initially involves
treat rewards as they are very food-
motivated, and then quickly and simply,
the reward of pleasing the owner is enough
motivation. Labs and Golden retrievers
live to make their people happy. I often
joke that dachshunds, on the other hand,
allow me to live in their home with them
because I’ve agreed to feed them.
Hounds are food motivated, thank
goodness, because they are stubborn and
not nearly as inclined to please an owner.
Hounds need food treats as rewards –
always – pleasing the owner will never
replace the food as motivation for them.
We bred hounds to follow a scent and that
is what they do best, put their nose to the
ground and go. No matter how loudly we
call, they are focused on the scent and
motivated to find its source. We bred
them for that behavior, and we shouldn’t
begrudge them the very characteristic
we needed when we needed their help
hunting food prey.
When my dachshund slips out the
door and is headed toward the busy
traffic of Seven Farms Drive, I forget to
acknowledge that fact in my concern for
his safety. Sometimes even shaking the
food treat can and shouting his name is
not enough to distract him. One thing
about a dachshund – they have good focus
ability and very little fear. Dachshunds
were bred in Germany to go down the
hole into the den after a badger – they are
tough little dogs!
Another note about hounds – they
cannot – I repeat cannot – be overweight
because we need them to be always ready
for that food treat. Otherwise, we have
no effective means for motivating them.
24 Lowcountrydog
Diversity in Pet Behavior
by Lynn Flood , DVM
Lowcountrydog 25
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While rescuing a homeless dog or puppy is a noble aspiration, many people are not fully informed about the situation regarding homeless and feral dogs. Numerous areas of the Lowcountry are problematic for strays, and, while it might tug at your heart to think of canines that lack the cozy, loving environment your own dog enjoys, an abundance of strays often points to a larger problem.
Areas on James Island have become known for animals “at large,” the term used by Charleston Animal Control for dogs that roam without regular human supervision.
“Over the last three years, we have received calls about approximately 300 puppies from one particular area,” explained Kristin Kifer, director of operations at Pet Helpers.
“The dogs end up on a neighbor’s property, which faces the woods. This neighbor often calls our facility to come collect any puppies who are at least 3 weeks old; this past summer, for example, we pulled 18 and found caretakers for them,” she said.
As it turns out, the adult dogs are hanging around as well – they just aren’t getting as much attention as the puppies.
“The adult dogs pretty much run away from us or from anyone they don’t recognize,” said Kifer. “The neighbors who live in the area leave food out, but these animals are still considered strays. They roam freely and are not socialized.”
Kifer recently adopted a puppy of her own
from the problematic area and said the dog has adapted to life at her house on Johns Island.
“Darla lived outside for the first winter,” she said. “It broke my heart, the way she wouldn’t come in. But now she sleeps inside the house every night and gets along with my other pets. She just needed time.”
Although pups like Darla are frequently rescued from the area, dog-lovers around the Lowcountry are concerned about the overall issue of overpopulation.
“The question that needs to be begged is, what about the adult dogs?” asked Joe Elmore, executive director at the Charleston Animal Society. “My opinion is that community members should avoid letting dogs roam, even spayed or neutered, because of the potential danger. Saving a puppy or two out of a situation where dogs are running at large still means what it means. No matter how we slant it, it’s a serious issue that deserves attention and needs to be solved.”
Courtney Gruber, a cyclist who enjoys the beautiful routes on James Island, admits that roaming dogs can pose an obstacle.
“I have never encountered an aggressive dog,” Gruber said, “but, in May 2011, we had a feral dog chase our bicycle group, run into my front wheel and cause me to crash and fracture my elbow.”
Though Gruber and her friends may not be the first to encounter dogs on a trail, the number is slowly decreasing over time.
“The 'at large' population of dogs has
greatly diminished on James Island,” Kifer commented. “It went from about 40 dogs a few years ago to about 10 dogs currently. Natural selection – such as illness – and vehicles can take a toll.”
Kifer noted that many Lowcountry dog-lovers are aware of the situation and have become avid volunteers, choosing to foster and adopt only dogs from that problem areas.
“We also offer a program where puppies can be spayed or neutered free of charge if they were rescued,” she said.
Unfortunately, not everyone feels that spaying and neutering adult dogs and letting them roam where they may is a wise choice. Furthermore, people who adopt a young dog from the area need to be aware of the pup’s background.
“I'm not against the pups getting adopted by willing families, but you have to be careful identifying whether these dogs are feral or socialized,” said Elmore.
Elmore admitted that he, like many of us, grew up in a neighborhood where dogs roamed without leashes. But, he said, that is not the optimal situation for the community.
“How much socialization can dogs get if they are running around like that?” he asked. “Yard dogs who have been spayed or neutered and receive vaccinations can live out of doors with proper fencing – but it’s not the same for dogs who don’t have that kind of care,” he added.
But a glimmer of hope shines for the future of dogs in the Lowcountry. More people than ever are realizing that spaying and neutering is the best way to prevent an overpopulation of animals, whether the pet lives indoors or out.
“We are better off than we were 10 years ago because spaying and neutering has become more of a societal expectation,” remarked Kevin Ryan, executive director of Pet Helpers. “That doesn’t mean that everyone believes in it yet, but more do. We need to keep beating the drum on this; spaying and neutering needs to become the norm and not the exception.”
Ryan commented that the old concern of endangering a pet by spaying and neutering is largely outdated, given the above-average facilities in the Lowcountry.
“We are fortunate in this community to have so many excellent and low-cost clinics.
Paws and Think: Addressing the Issue with Strays
By Denise K. James
26 Lowcountrydog
Food is the best leverage we have for
hounds and for terriers. A fit dog of any
type is healthier, happier and easier to
train, but for these two types of strong-
minded dogs lean is essential to a happy
dog/owner relationship.
Terriers are another type of dog we bred
for a specific use (rodent hunting) which
did not involve pleasing us. In order to
train them, we need them to be ever-ready
to accept a food treat. Overfed hounds and
terriers are guaranteed to have behavior
problems. Until an owner is willing to get
the extra weight off one of these types of
dogs, there is little that can be done to
modulate behavior issues.
Eating is the best motivation we have
for adjusting behaviors to create a happy
home environment. I encourage owners
to think not in terms of diets, restrictions
and “being mean,” but in terms of the
ultimate relationship they want to have
with their dog – when they can dole out
praise and food rewards rather than resent
or fear the problem behavior(s) which we
are working to change.
Sight hounds and the working and
herding types are the most sensitive and
perhaps the most intelligent breeds – but
that makes them the most challenging to
train. They are all high-energy dogs and
require a lot of exercise every day or they
will find destructive ways to use their
energy.
Wisdom DNA testing of mixed breed
dogs is very helpful in my practice; it
enables me to inform an owner about a
dog’s daily need for exercise and mental
stimulation. The test results give, by
percentage, the dog’s genetic breed
makeup back two generations. Armed
with that information, an owner can
plan accordingly to use daily jogs, dog
park visits, dog walkers, doggy day care,
or whatever means necessary to prevent
destructive behavior and anxiety-
produced health issues throughout the
dog’s life.
If we attempt to use canine behavior
techniques with our feline pets, we are
doomed to fail from the beginning. In
an online follow-up article, I will discuss
feline behavior and some tips, techniques
and training aids to help in that pet
species.
Looking for a new best friend?
Pet Helpers Adoption Events Every Weekend at
from 12pm - 4pm975 Savannah Highway, Charleston (843) 852-4563 wwww.petco.com
To fi nd out more about Pet Helpers and the animals available for adoption go to www.pethelpers.org
Lowcountrydog 27
continued from page 24
You can go to these facilities and know your pet is in capable hands. A lot of the people who are opposed to spaying and neutering feel the way they do because they want to avoid putting the pet ‘under the knife,’ but we’ve made the surgery less invasive than before,” he said.
Ryan, Kifer and Elmore all agreed that taking responsibility for animals is the key to solving the problem with strays, not just through spaying and neutering, but also by finding a safe place for a pet you are no longer able to keep.
“A number of these strays are dogs that might have been tamed previously but got dumped off or ran away and reverted back to a wild state,” said Elmore. “They can come into contact with rabid foxes, squirrels and other animals that carry rabies.”
“We are all committed to saving lives, but we need the community to partner with us... with donations, adoptions and getting your pet to a facility,” Ryan said. “The good news, regarding areas with strays, is that the people want progress on this issue. We’re lucky that Charleston is a humane place, where folks are passionate and committed to the welfare of animals.”
The dogs are lucky, too.
** NOTE: LCDM refrained from specifically naming any of these problematic areas to avoid publicizing places where dogs are readily abandoned. If you are interested in volunteering to help, please contact your nearest shelter.
here’s the part that will really give them a
workout) we put them off the floor! They
are used to finding treats on the floor, so
we make things harder by balancing treats
on the rails between chair legs, on bases
of lamps, on lower shelves of bookcases, in
the dog toy bin, under dog toys that have
been scattered across the floor, on stair
treads, and in dozens of other out-of-the-
ordinary places. The challenge of finding
the treats is like “doggie calculus” to
them ... so mentally exhausting that they
usually take a nice long nap afterwards!
Anything you can do to get your dog’s nose
“working” will be worth its weight in gold
in terms of a happy, low stress dog.
• Insufficient rest: Were you aware that
dogs require (on average) 17 hours of rest
per day? If they don’t get enough rest
they experience stress. They also require
time to recover after out-of-the-ordinary
outings. Are you taking your dog for a
morning run, having a dog-walker come
mid-day, going to agility class after work,
and then visiting the dog park? If so, then
he is definitely not getting the downtime
he needs to keep his stress level low.
So how can you lower your dog’s stress
level? Limit your activities to one outside
activity (besides daily walks) per day while
incorporating training and mentally
stimulating activities at home.
• Nowhere to call “home:” Just because you
enjoy having company over doesn’t mean
your dog wants to be in the middle of this
social activity. In fact, most dogs would
much rather have a place of their own, in
a quiet area, to get away from the hubbub.
The more sensitive the dog, the more likely
they are to be stressed by visiting children,
holiday activities, dinner parties, and the
like. Low-stress strategy? Provide your
dog with a Safety Zone. This could be a
bedroom, a hallway, or a laundry area
that has been outfitted with a comfy bed
and some toys. It should be a social area
of the home - not in an area isolated from
the family and not in an outdoor garage
or kennel. The Safety Zone should never
be used for punishment! Remember, its
purpose is to lower stress, not increase
it. Get your dog used to the Safety Zone
by giving him great toys, treats, and lots
of attention when he is in it. It’s better
to close off the Safety Zone with a baby
gate that he can’t see through instead of
one that is visually open since dogs tend
to be stimulated by anything they can
see. When your house is going to get busy,
put your dog in his Safety Zone with a
stuffed Kong or favorite chew toy. To mask
environmental noise that may disturb his
rest, use a white noise machine or play one
of the excellent Through a Dog’s Ear CDs. We
all need somewhere to unwind and so do
our dogs.
Dogs experience stress much the same
way we do, and chronic stress can create
health and behavioral problems in them
just as it can in us. If you see that your
dog is under stress, even if it’s mild, take a
moment to figure out what the cause is and
how you can manage the environment to
make your dog feel more comfortable. The
more training your dog has had, the easier
that management will be. They need our
help to reduce their stress levels so that
risks of secondary problems are reduced.
Faced with a perceived threat (such as
another dog or an approaching person),
your dog will become alert to the threat
and will begin to show signs of stress
that, if left un-managed, will grow until
the dog crosses the behavioral threshold
into arousal and possibly aggression. The
longer a dog has been experiencing daily
stress, the quicker he will move from calm
to highly aroused, from safe to unsafe.
It is critical that you learn to
understand how your dog thinks and
learns, as well as how he uses body
language to communicate. Learning your
dog’s body language will help you create
a relationship with him you may have
not thought possible and will enable you
to help him manage daily stress. There
are a number of excellent resources
available to help you learn how your dog
communicates, including my upcoming
Deciphering the Canine Code Seminar hosted
by Lowcountry Dog Magazine April 20th
and 21st at Trident Technical College. I
hope to see you there.
Click to www.lowcountrydog.ticketbud.com/
caninecode for tickets. Learn more about Sarah at
www.bluedogtraining.com
continued from page 19
28 Lowcountrydog
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