Chase the border collie

Over the course of three years, psychologists Alliston Reid and John Pilley of Wofford College in South Carolina, introduced a toy with a name and got Chaser to fetch it when asked.

The testers chose groups of twenty Chaser-known toys. These toys were put into a room. In a separate adjacent room (so the handler could not inadvertently cue the dog) Chaser was asked to fetch, by name, one of the toys. Chaser would leave, enter the other room with the toys, choose the appropriately named toy, and bring it back to the handler in the other room.

According to Reid, Chaser completed 838 of these tests over 3 years and never got less than 18 out of 20 right.

So many toys!

Chaser was also taught to categorize the named objects, complete tasks such as touching the toy with her nose or paw, and she could infer the name of a new object from a set of familiar objects.

Here is a link that shows Chaser in action.

Dog with the biggest vocabulary

I would bet that many of you have trained your dog to fetch up named objects. If you tell your dog “Get your ball!” does he? Still others train their dog to fetch a beer out of the fridge, fetch the remote control, car keys, slippers, newspapers, and glasses.

How many names of items does your dog know? Can your dog learn more? Can your dog break Chase’s record? How did you train your dog? Do you have videos?

Semper Fido,

Marilyn

Would you let him near your dog?

For crying out loud! Do people really believe this guy?

The Eagles quarterback said in a video interview this week that he genuinely cares for animals and one day hopes to have a dog as a household pet. Vick says it would a “big step” in his rehabilitation process.

Vick served 18 months in prison after being convicted in 2007. The federal judge overseeing the case also prohibited him from ever owning another dog.

If you believe that 18 months in prison entitles Vick to have a dog, I would like you to read these court documents that were just released to WSBTV.

WARNING…the contents of this document are graphic in nature.

http://www.wsbtv.com/download/2010/0108/22184919.pdf

Heard enough?

Here’s a piece I wrote last year.

http://blog.caninekingdom.com/?p=5

Semper Fido,

Marilyn

What is your dog's temperature?

I too have visited the vet’s office with my dogs with no other health symptoms than ADR or Ain’t Doin’ Right malady. I know my dogs and so does Lucy’s owner. Something wasn’t right.

“What’s going on?” I asked Barbara, Lucy’s owner.

“She’s just lying around and didn’t eat her breakfast this morning,” Barbara explained.

“Does she have a fever?” I inquired.

“I don’t know. Her nose is wet,” Barbara said.

“Take her temperature,” I advised, “and get back to me.”

“How do I do that?” Barbara wanted to know.

“With a thermometer,” I responded.

“What kind? How do I do that? I have a people one that you put under your tongue,” a frustrated Barbara asked.

Barbara is not alone. Most pet parents have never taken their dog’s temperature, would not have a clue as to properly do so, and do not own a safe rectal thermometer. Yes, I said rectal. For the squeamish there are digital dog ear thermometers available.

A digital dog ear thermometer

I happen to have a glass non-mercury traditional looking thermometer for my dogs. But for the novice I really recommend a rectal or ear digital device.

Everyone who has pets should have a thermometer. And, you should go out and purchase one and learn to use it before there is a need. It’s good to know what your dog’s ‘normal’ temperature is. A dog’s normal body temperature ranges between 100.5 Fahrenheit (38.1°C) and 102.5 Fahrenheit (39.2°C). Learn what your dog’s temperature is when your dog is healthy. Take the dog’s resting temperature a few times during the day so you can get some samples. Don’t take a dog’s temperature after exercise, when it is 95 degrees outside or after the UPS man has been knocking on the door. When you have established what your dog’s ‘normal’ temperature is write it done in your dog’s health records. Don’t have a little notebook to record vitals? Get one because my next few blogs will explain the collection of other vitals like the pulse rate and capillary refill time.

Let’s go over how to take a dog’s temperature…rectally that is. I believe the ear thermometer is fairly easy for dogs who are not ear sensitive. One of my dogs had severe ear infections when she was younger and now really does not like her ears fussed with though her ear condition has been resolved. So we do the rectal route.

Whatever type of thermometer you go with the first thing you should do is label it – with big letters somewhere K9 Thermometer. The reason for this advice should be obvious, especially if there are other people in your household.

Read the instructions on your thermometer. Save the instructions. Sometimes you may not find a reason to use it for a long time.

Always have on hand rubbing alcohol and cotton balls to keep the thermometer clean. And, if you are using a rectal thermometer, you will need petroleum jelly…known to most by the brand named product Vaseline.

There are a few techniques when it comes to taking a dog’s temperature rectally. If you have never done this before or your dog is snappy or skittish about being handled, you may want to have your vet show you how. It helps to have assistance if your dog is not used to the procedure. Choose an assistant who already knows your dog or an experienced dog handler. The assistant handles the front end of the dog and may be armed with some yummy treats to keep the dog’s attention on the taste buds instead of the back end. With the dog standing or lying down, lift the tail and insert the thermometer. Do this in a well lit area. I often use a headlamp so I have use of both my hands and a well lit backend.

Here is your procedure:

• Clean the thermometer with alcohol. Wipe off excess with a cotton ball.
• Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to the head or bulb of a rectal thermometer. Just enough to lubricate the tip.
• Slowly slide the thermometer into the dog’s rectum about 1 inch deep.
• Wait 2 minutes for a gradient thermometer or until the digital thermometer beeps.

Remove slowly and read the thermometer. Shake down the thermometer (or shut off a digital) and clean it with alcohol after every use.

If the temperature is 103º (39.4º C) or over, call your veterinarian as your dog could be beginning to have a serious problem.

A dog’s temperature below 99º Fahrenheit (37.2°C) and temperatures above 104º Fahrenheit (40°C) are considered extremely serious and your dog should be brought to a veterinarian immediately.

Barbara’s Bichon? Turns out she discovered that the kids gave Lucy an over abundance of forbidden treats the night before. As always I told her to call her vet for advice. Lucy was back to herself today after a fast.

Semper Fido,

Marilyn

Tutu for a dog?

I do love dog gear though and have a closet full of it – all different kinds of collars, leads and harnesses – in different materials, patterns, colors and styles. It may not make much of a difference to my dogs but they sure do like my attention when I fit them up with a new spiffy collar or harness. I just don’t like those dresses that mimic childrens clothes. Ok, I have German shepherd dogs and they would look silly in a skirt. I doubt though that little dogs relish being costumed as human infants or toddlers. Little dogs have big dog attitudes and I think they deserve dignity. They too are descended from wolves.

But I am a pragmatist. In certain situations Doggles can actually protect a dog’s eyes.

Recently I wrote about dog boots. They protect dog feet from salt, chemicals, burning hot sidewalks and can provide traction. (Remember the 9-11 K9s? Some of them wore boots to protect their paws from injuries.) My dogs wear life jackets while on the water. And some dogs need to be kept warm and dry.

Many breeds of dogs are very thin coated or naturally lean and need coats in cold or wet climates. I think of greyhounds and their smaller versions – whippets and Italian greyhounds; Weimaraners; Vizslas; Chinese Cresteds and other hairless breeds; many shorthaired toy breeds and my Annie.

Nice hound coat at the Canine Kingdom

Most dog folks would not think that a German shepherd dog would need a warm coat but my particular shepherd does. She is a long-haired, coated version of a German shepherd dog and lacks a wooly undercoat that serves to insulate the dog’s skin. Annie is also afflicted with Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency. Though stabilized, she is thin and lacks that layer of fat that insulates many dog breeds.

Annie is vulnerable to extreme cold. She also needs protection on those snowy, sleety, windy days that hover around freezing. Without an undercoat, her skin quickly gets wet and cold – and she could be in danger of hypothermia. On certain days, Annie needs a coat – one that provides some warmth and most importantly, one that blocks the wind and keeps her dry.

Warm, waterproofed Annie

Fit is important too. Being a shepherd, Annie is longer than tall. Many dog jackets fail to cover her loin area. I like the jacket to reach just past the beginning of her tail.

Today is illustrative of the type of day when Annie needs to get dressed up. Before we set off on our long walk, Annie was fitted up with her boots, her elegant rain/sleet/snow coat and her reflective, Premier front attachment harness and lead.

http://www.caninekingdom.com/collars-leads-tags/gentle-leader-easy-walk-harness.php

The collar folds down...nice fleece lining throughout

Annie has dog aggression issues. While she is manageable for me, she can never be considered “safe and reliable” around strange dogs. I like the Premier front attached harness. It allows me to re-direct Annie’s attention when something – like a dog – enters her ‘comfort zone.’ I put the harness on right over her coat…it is reflective; a nice feature on cold dark days or nights, and it keeps the coat nicely in place.

Check out all of the stunning, pragmatic dog wear at the Canine Kingdom.

http://www.caninekingdom.com/dog-apparel.php?vmcchk=1

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Semper Fido,

Marilyn

Our back yard

It snowed some yesterday, about 5 inches, just a preview of things to come. The dogs, Tsunami and Annie were ecstatic. They love to play in the snow like otter dogs, leaping, sliding, rolling and nipping at snow balls.

Soon though, depending upon the temperatures and the type of snow, Annie develops huge ice balls on the bottom of her paws and between her toes. She’s then forced to lie down and try to lick and bite the ice balls from her feet. It’s a painful situation. I have seen dogs with bloody feet due to ice ball paws.

Annie bothered by ice balls in her paws

Both dogs are German shepherds, but Annie is a long haired or coated version of the breed. It is considered a show fault though not uncommon in the breed and shows up periodically in many lines. I don’t much care about confirmation shows but I can see why a coated shepherd is undesirable. Though beautiful, the long coat is subject to tangles and burrs. In many cases, like Annie, the coated dogs lack a dense undercoat which protects them from the elements. The German shepherd dog was bred primarily in the early days as a sheep herding dog – a dog that had to endure the elements everyday of the year regardless of the weather. Tsunami has a traditional coat. One good shake and she is rid of rain, sleet or snow – a wash and wear dog who can hike all day in any weather.

Coated shepherds are not the only dogs to suffer from paw ice balls. Just about any dog with whispy fur between the toes or under the feet has the same problem.

There are some things to do that will help:

1)      clip the fur between the toes and between the pads of the feet

2)      spray the foot with vegetable oil spray

3)      put boots on the dog

Ice buildup on Annie's feet

I used to clip Annie’s fuzzy feet. She hated the process. And we kinda like the look of her fluff feet.

I have tried the vegetable oil. It doesn’t last that long and needs to be re-applied, especially if you have a dog with a palate for vegetable spray. Annie would just lick it all off.

So, we boot up. We got a real nice, sturdy, comfortable set of boots from the Canine Kingdom http://www.caninekingdom.com/travel-outdoors/barkn-boots-grip-trex.php

Annie agreed to show off her boots

They’re well made, are designed to fit properly and have a nice treaded sole. Most importantly, Annie is not offended by them. She readily hops on the couch to allow me to slip them on and strap them up. That may not sound like a lot – but you don’t know my Annie. If she doesn’t like something…case closed. There are no negotiations or re-visiting the subject.

There are some other good reasons for a good set of dog boots. Every year I read of dog electrocutions in cities. I don’t know the science behind it but the combination of water and salt and deteriorated infrastructures have led people and pets to get electrical shocks when they step on metal sidewalk grids. The thick lugged soles of these boots may help a bit in those situations. On Thanksgiving Day, while on a daily walk in Seattle with his owner, a dog was killed by an electric shock he received when he stepped on a metal plate around a lamp post.    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013551882_dog30.html  Please keep your dogs away from any metal on sidewalks – especially during the cold months when salt is used to melt ice. Boots that are wet and have salt or mud on them may not provide much insulation properties – no matter how thick the soles are. And dogs are likely to sniff metal lamp posts and other metal structures.

Most municipalities use salt on roads and sidewalks. This stuff is dangerous if a dog ingests it. What dog does not lick its wet paws when they come back in the house? Better they wear boots which protect the feet from toxins.

These boots are comfortable. They could easily be used indoors to provide traction if you have non-carpeted flooring. Lots of uses…a good product…and a nice gift for the pooch.

Best dressed dog in town

Like her hand beaded collar and lead? Check out the Kenyan Collection at the Canine Kingdom.

Semper Fido,

Marilyn

Bed Bugs Crawling on a Mattress

The bed bugs have invaded. Once the plague of slum neighborhoods the bed bugs have moved uptown – wealth and riches mean nothing to these biting pests.

For the past few months the bed bugs have made headlines. We know what they look like, what they can do, how resilient they are and what they like to eat …blood!

Man’s best friend – the dog – is ready and willing to help us detect their presence and let us know when it is safe to curl up in bed for a night’s snooze.

The nose knows. Dogs have proven to be effective in detecting so many distinctive scents when properly trained. Who can forget the images of those brave search and rescue dogs sniffing through the remains of the World Trade Center, wading through the flooded houses in New Orleans, searching through the rubble of homes in Haiti? The SAR dogs always come to mind when we think of detection dogs who are trained to find live people and human remains.

My Tsunami - a SAR K9

But dogs have been trained to detect many other signature scents. Many people who have flown into California are familiar with the Beagle Brigade. Long eared Snoopy dogs sniff out illegal food. Each time they find a piece of fruit or a summer sausage they are rewarded with a morsel of dog food for a job well done.

Cops use trailing dogs to pick up the scent of bad guys. Law enforcement dogs fearlessly enter buildings and sniff out the perpetrator. Law enforcement agencies and our military use dogs to detect narcotics and explosives.

Checking for Explosives in Iraq

It has been noted that some dogs have a propensity for detecting illnesses – diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, anxiety. It is not totally clear how they are doing it but laboratory studies prove that they are.

Environmental specialists have enlisted dogs to help them detect the presence of rare and threatened species of wild animals and plants. For centuries dogs have been used to find truffles, the elusive and expensive culinary delight.

Recognizing their abilities, exterminators have utilized dogs to detect termite infestations. And now bed bugs.

I spoke with my friend Andy Hanellin the other day. Andy is a dog trainer from North Carolina who produces many types of detection dogs – law enforcement K9s for narcotics, man trailing, and explosives, SAR dogs, service dogs and now, due to the demand, bed bug detection dogs.

A Bed Bug Dog at Work

It takes about four months of intense work to train a dog to passively (a sit and stare at the source) indicate the presence of live bed bugs. Pretty tricky stuff. The dog must ignore the presence of dead bed bugs, any of their sheddings or feces. Andy’s advice – “Detection dogs of any type are only as good as their trainer and handler…carefully choose a reputable company.”

Dogs rock!

Semper Fido,

Marilyn

Tsunami & Annie

I am always intrigued about how dogs get their names. Let me tell you about our girls.

A little black German shepherd ball of fluff joined our household in the spring of 2000. We had recently lost our 16-year old Jilly girl and our home was so sad…we needed another dog in our lives.

My husband Hal and I really wanted to work with a search and rescue dog and decided to begin looking for an appropriate pup to train. We found a breeder of working line shepherds. She had two litters available. We sat on the ground and held and played with a blur of cuddly puppies. So hard to choose. Which one would grow up to have what it takes to become a SAR dog? Even the most experienced dog trainers can pick a puppy that grows up only to wash out from a working program.

Who to Choose?

We had a few favorites. June, the breeder invited us into her home to discuss purchase details. We sat down at the dining room table to look over pedigrees. Under the table was a pup – older than the others we looked at – about 3 months old. I sat on the floor and called the pup over. She obliged and curled up in my lap.

“What’s the deal with this pup June?” I asked.

“Oh, she’s not for sale. She’s the last pup from another litter,” she explained.

“Why isn’t she for sale?” I inquired.

“I don’t know,” June replied. “There’s just something about her. Something special.”

After a lot of haggling we came home with that very special pup.

We named her Tsunami because she came into our hearts like a big wave. She went on to dramatically change our lives. She continues to inspire me every day.

Tsunami this Summer

On September 11, 2001 terrorists attacked our country. Hal and Tsunami responded to the World Trade Center to search for the lost. Our world had changed.

On July 4, 2002 we received a call from Tsunami’s breeder. A puppy she had sold was no longer welcomed by its owners. The dog had to go. Allergies were cited – sure – on the Fourth of July! June did not have room in her kennels as it was a busy holiday. The dog was going immediately to a gas station to work as a guard dog. Could we take her in?

We’d taken in dogs before and found lovely homes for them. Sure, we said. Bring her over.

She was named Cheyenne. She was skinny, shy, and smelled like a thousand ash trays. Allergies indeed. She tolerated Tsunami, who was very gracious to our guest, barely looked at me and immediately latched onto Hal.

Arfin' Annie & Hal

We thought Cheyenne did not suit her but were reluctant to stray too far from that name…it was the only thing that was still familiar to her. Hal renamed her Orphan Annie – or Annie for short.

Annie is still with us. Wise dog that Annie. She cleaved to Hal, stole his heart. He renamed her again – Arfin’ Annie.

So, what’s in a name? I’d love to hear your stories.

Semper Fido,

Marilyn

Feedlot cattle fattening up on corn

I suppose I have received good advice from nutritionists as now the major kibble manufacturers taut the addition of Omega 3. Well that is nice to see but I can’t find that it is effective and it may even be harmful to your dog. Kibble is made through an extrusion process and the ingredients are subjected to very high heat. Fish oil, an excellent source of Omega 3, is extremely fragile. It could never withstand the kibble manufacturing process so the Omega 3 source is sprayed onto the kibble after the heat process. Then it is packaged and may sit on the shelf or in the warehouse for a year or so before you pour it into your dog’s bowl. It is doubtful that the fragile oils could withstand that and fish oils can go rancid and cause serious harm.

Bags of kibble sit in a warehouse

My nutritionists have advised me to add fish or krill oil to supplement Omega 3: Buy the best you can afford and be careful how you store it – out of sunlight, in a cool spot and refrigerated in some cases.

For many years I have also been a fan of extra virgin olive oil (EVO). Recently I read some interesting information on Dr. Joseph Mercola’s site  www.mercola.com concerning the safe way to use and store EVO. Extra virgin olive oil is also fragile – as much so as the fish oils.

According to Dr. Mercola:

Extra-virgin olive oil is a good monounsaturated fat that is also well-known for its health benefits. It’s a staple in healthful diets such as Mediterranean-style diets.

However, it’s important to realize it is NOT good for cooking. It should really only be used cold, typically drizzled on salads and other food.

Due to its chemical structure and a large amount of unsaturated fats, cooking makes extra-virgin olive oil very susceptible to oxidative damage. However, during this interview (with Dr. Rudi Moerck – noted oil expert) I learned that extra-virgin olive oil has a significant draw-back even when used cold – it’s still extremely perishable!

As it turns out, extra-virgin olive oil contains chlorophyll that accelerates decomposition and makes the oil go rancid rather quickly.

In fact, Dr. Moerck actually prefers using almost tasteless, semi-refined olive oil rather than extra-virgin olive oil for this reason.

If you’re like most people, you’re probably leaving your bottle of olive oil right on the counter, opening and closing it multiple times a week. Remember, any time the oil is exposed to air and/or light, it oxidizes, and as it turns out, the chlorophyll in extra virgin olive oil accelerates the oxidation of the unsaturated fats.

Clearly, consuming spoiled oil (of any kind) will likely do more harm than good.

To protect the oil, Dr. Moerck recommends treating it with the same care as you would other sensitive omega-3 oils:

• Keep in a cool, dark place
• Purchase smaller bottles rather than larger to ensure freshness
• Immediately replace the cap after each pour

To help protect extra virgin olive oil from oxidation, Dr. Moerck suggests putting one drop of astaxanthin into the bottle. You can purchase astaxanthin, which is an extremely potent antioxidant, in soft gel capsules. Just prick it with a pin and squeeze the capsule into the oil.

The beautiful thing about using astaxanthin instead of another antioxidant such as vitamin E, is that it is naturally red, whereas vitamin E is colorless, so you can tell the oil still has astaxanthin in it by its color.

As the olive oil starts to pale in color, you know it’s time to throw it away.

You can also use one drop of lutein in your olive oil. Lutein imparts an orange color and will also protect against oxidation. Again, once the orange color fades, your oil is no longer protected against rancidity and should be tossed.

This method is yet another reason for buying SMALL bottles. If you have a large bottle, you may be tempted to keep it even though it has begun to oxidize.

Thank you Dr. Mercola. I have always made a habit of buying gallon tins of Extra Virgin Olive Oil when it is on sale. I would then de-cant a manageable amount into a decorative glass pourer that has a rather un-air tight top. Also, with all of the to-do about toxins in plastic containers these days – I will only buy my oils packaged in small glass dark colored bottles – even certain cans are lined with plastics.

Semper Fido,

Marilyn

Palin and dead bear

Let’s go back in time to the last presidential campaign when the world was introduced to the GOP vice presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palin. I soon learned that the attractive hockey mom espoused and even encouraged shooting wolves from airplanes. Wow! That just didn’t sound fair. What sort of people would enjoy doing that?

Then we were treated with the anthem “Drill Baby Drill!” referring to off shore oil drilling.

How’s that drilling working out for you Sarah?

Then, last February, Texas Governor Rick Perry, while out jogging with his daughter’s Labrador retriever in Austin, shot and killed a coyote because it was staring at the Governor. The media was all over it. A press conference was called and the pistol toting gov proclaimed war on menacing coyotes. The headlines screamed: “Wily Coyote Bites the Dust” “Texas Gov: ‘Don’t Mess With My Dog!” “Sharp Shooter Gov Guns Down Coyote”

Perry was out alone when this happened – it was he who released the news to the media. He was proud of his actions and it was an election year. Evidently he liked the image of a tough, no-nonsense, shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later Texan.

Pistol Totin Gov

Perry said he carries a .380 Ruger — loaded with hollow-point bullets — when jogging on trails because he is afraid of snakes. He’d also seen coyotes in the undeveloped area.

“I knew there were a lot of predators out there. You’ll hear a pack of coyotes. People are losing small cats and dogs all the time out there in that community,” Perry said.

“They’re very wily creatures,” Perry said of coyotes.

“Don’t attack my dog or you might get shot … if you’re a coyote,” he said at a press conference.

Perry said the laser-pointer helped make a quick, clean kill.

“It was not in a lot of pain,” he said. “It pretty much went down at that particular juncture.”

The governor left the coyote where it fell.

“He became mulch,” Perry said.

The makers of the .380 cal pistol, Sturm, Ruger & Co. is paying tribute to Perry with a Coyote Special edition of the handgun the governor used to kill the coyote. “For Sale to Texans Only” the packaging proclaims – The base price is $340 and if you want the added laser scope like the governor had on his pistol add about $180. Perfect for pinpointing a coyote.

Coyote Special

Coyote spotting is becoming more and more common as we infringe upon their habitat. There is no doubt that a coyote, like most all wild animals, can be dangerous.

I live within a six million acre park in northern New York. In the evening I can hear coyotes singing and celebrating. I have encountered them in the forests. Fortunately none have tried to attack me. One day, while laying a scent trail for a student handler and his newbie search and rescue dog, I heard a rustling sound. I turned and saw two coyotes, their yellow eyes staring into mine. I was several miles away from my vehicle and I doubted that my radio or cell phone would work. What to do? They were not moving but they weren’t retreating. Just staring. Just like the governor described.

I had a walking stick and I began waving and hitting the ground with it while I yelled in a deep voice. Those coyotes skeedaddled. Just the way most wild animals will.

Any wild animal does have the potential to attack, especially if they are ill, starving, with young, or are threatened. Given that I am often hiking alone in the woods training dogs I now carry a weapon. It’s a just in case weapon – one I would use to fire off a warning shot first. After all Governor Perry, it does carry more rounds. Ample time to kill if my life or the life of my dog were really threatened.

Protect your pets with the humane Coyote Roller – check it out in the Canine Kingdom on-line store.

We are all connected – man and beast.

Semper Fido,

Marilyn

Dog bite issues could still be addressed as well as responsible ownership, positive training, teaching children about dogs, fun with dogs and so many other topics that sorely need attention.

But nothing grabs the media and public attention like negative or sensational headlines – biting dogs get them.

Tsunami and I have been to numerous events giving talks about search and rescue and dog behavior and training. It still astounds me that there are so many kids out there that have never been taught proper behavior in the presence of a strange/unknown dog.

Once we were asked to give a speech at a veterinary conference being held at a large hotel. Prior to our seminar, I took Tsunami out for a long walk and play session so she would calmly tolerate sitting on stage while I gave my talk and entertained questions from the audience. Despite it being a vet conference, Tsunami was the only animal around that weekend so her presence generated a lot of interest in and around the hotel, especially with the kids.

As I entered the huge lobby I looked around to survey the area. A sensitive handler should always be vigilant and anticipate potentially dangerous situations.  Tsunami is a very stable dog. Not overly friendly with strangers she will however give a little wag and once in a while a lick. I would call her aloof which is a typical trait of a German shepherd dog. She is watchful of our home and vehicle and lets strangers know that by barking – loudly.  Only a fool would ignore her warnings. But on lead or off while being handled she is polite and has never shown any signs of aggression.

Tsunami

The lobby was empty so we crossed over toward the bank of elevators. Out of nowhere it seemed, a lovely little girl, all dressed up in a pretty party dress – ran toward us shrieking in utter delight “Doggie! Doggie!” Before I knew it she had Tsunami in a full headlock and was planting little child kisses all over Tsu’s snout. Tsunami was mortified. With the white of her eyes showing she looked up at me pleading for help and an escape from this child who was firmly attached to her neck. I grabbed onto Tsu’s snout and collar and held her next to my leg as the child’s mother ran to us. She quickly disencumbered the three-year-old from my dog and looked at me with embarrassment… “I know,” she said as she sheepishly led the now crying child away. She did know, but she could have been too late and her child could have been severely bitten about the face – even by a real nice dog like Tsunami.

It is a sad statistic – most dog bites occur to children. To a dog’s eye and brain, children mimic prey – rabbits, squirrels, cats. Kids move quickly, erratically and make squeaky sounds. Dogs like to chase things – like birds, rodents, and unfortunately children. A dog can get caught up in the joy of the chase – become emotionally aroused – and bite their prey – even nice dogs can do this.

When kids ask if Tsunami bites I say yes. All dogs have teeth and all dogs ‘can’ bite given the right circumstance. Even Tsunami. As dog caretakers we must ensure that our dogs don’t get in trouble and hurt someone. They should never run free, be tethered or be around unsupervised children. And socialization never stops.

“Teach Your Children Well,” Crosby, Stills and Nash advised. Children should never approach a dog they do not know. Even if they know the dog they should ask the permission of the dog’s caretaker first before touching the dog. It may very well be that the dog is not feeling well, could have an ear infection, or is achy from arthritis. Ask first. Teach your child how to properly approach a dog. So many people go up to dogs and reach toward them to pat them on top of the head. Dogs really hate this. It is a threatening gesture to a dog. Better to let the dog approach your outstretched hand. Let the dog determine that you are a friend. If allowed by the handler, an offered treat on a flat hand is a good way to make forever friends with a dog.

Teach your children what to do if there is a loose dog approaching that may be acting aggressively or may even appear friendly.

1)    Stop! Do not run! Do not move!

2)    Fold your arms about your torso.

3)    Close your eyes or look down and away from the dog. Do not look at the dog.

4)    Do not say a word – particularly do not cry, whimper or scream.

5)    Try to put something between you and the dog – like a bicycle or backpack.

6)    Try to position yourself against a solid object like a tree, wall or vehicle.

7)    If the dog attacks, curl into a ball. protect your head and neck with your arms and try to stay quiet and still.

Semper Fido,

Marilyn