|
|
|||
Welcome!My name is Jenna Gates and my cute black and tan canine companion is Snickers, a purebred Shiba Inu. I believe that animals are sentient beings who should be treated with dignity and respect. My companions are not toys or livestock, nor are they human; They are dogs, they are family, and they add to my life. Snickers and I enjoy working to educate others about the benefits of companion animals. Please explore the site to learn more about me, about Snickers and about our mission. WSBTV in Atlanta aired the following expose’ regarding the Humane Society of the United States. Apparently, they’ve removed it from their website after pressure from HSUS and they’ve posted a clarification. Note the clarification only addresses one small piece of the story. Apparently, the rest of the story stands. I wrote my first blog entry on August 11, 2004, so I have been blogging for almost five years now. Much of that history – including some favorite old posts – are on my other site. Today, I thought it would be fun to link back to some of the dog-related posts I still enjoy reading from that site, some more for the comments left than for the actual post itself. I hope you’ll read and enjoy at least a few of them.
About a week ago, Snick posted about how he spends his days and of course he included how much he loves to go to daycare to play. That led to a discussion a couple days later about the pros and cons of doggy daycare. To round out the topic, today we’re interviewing dog trainer, Colleen Safford, of New York Walk & Train.  Jenna: Colleen, you have extensive experience with dogs, including in daycare/boarding environments. Do you feel doggy daycare is recommended for all dogs?
Colleen: While it’s lovely to see more options available for “spoiling” our pups, a responsible owner will take time to consider whether daycare is a healthy and safe option for their dog. Unfortunately, this decision is often made based on a guilty conscience. Often owners feel guilty for leaving their pups home during the work day. Ignoring your pup’s personality however is unfair to both your pup and other guests of the daycare. Dogs are equipped with a full range of personalities, and not all personalities are suitable for daycare. Shy and fearful dogs may be overwhelmed when left for numerous hours in a stimulating facility. Over excitable and easily agitated dogs may also find this environment hard to settle into without incident. There is a lot of coming and going in daycare facilities and this tends to keep canine adrenaline running high. As a general rule, if you feel like you are working overtime emotionally or physically each time your dog interacts with other dogs on the street or in the dog run, you should probably think twice. As much as we love our dogs (quirks and all), if your dog exhibits excessive humping, barking, rough play or extreme shyness it is a bad idea to send him/her off to daycare. The ideal daycare candidate is a dog who socializes well with dogs of all sizes, breeds and temperaments. This dog can “speak Dog” effectively and without incident. He understands when another dog wants to play and also knows when to back off. In the reverse he is capble of communicating his desire to play and to rest calmly. Jenna The ideal daycare candidate is one who socializes well… Would you suggest sending a puppy to daycare as a socialization tool? What about a shy or aggressive puppy? Colleen: There is no doubt that early socialization is crucial to a developing a healthy pup. That being said, a responsible puppy parent will want to play a key role in the socialization process. It is up to the owner to expose a puppy to new settings and dogs. A full day at daycare is likely TOO much. Puppies need exercise, but also have high sleep needs (something not easily done in most daycares). In the younger months, gaining socialization through training classes and play dates is the more advisable route. Most daycares will not except pups under 5.5 months of age. When getting started with daycare, drop your pup off for only 1-3 hrs. Jenna: What tips do you have for doggy parent’s trying to find the right daycare for Fluffy or Fido? Colleen:
Jenna: What do you see as the top three benefits of sending a dog to daycare? Colleen:
Jenna: I really like how you think – exercise and socialization first, the owner’s convenience after. (LOL) So, what are some possible drawbacks to daycare? Colleen:
Jenna: Colleen, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview! Do you have anything else you would like to add? Colleen: If you decide to send your pup to daycare, I advise a rotational schedule. Two to three days at daycare and two to three at home resting. If you feel the need to send your pup to daycare daily, I would suggest asking the daycare to give your pup a period or two each day of rest. This will allow your dog to restore for the next big play session. About Colleen Safford Colleen was certified by the Delta Society as a Pet Partners Team Evaluator and Instructor. In addition, she has served as the Chairperson of the Sponsorship Committee for the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). Colleen teaches puppy classes, private lessons & therapy dog class with Andrea Arden Dog Training. She is committed to raising awareness about animal shelter over population, and is a volunteer with the Animal Haven Adoption Center. Colleen is proudly owned by Luna, a rescued boxer! Having grown up in the rural south, the first time one of my New Yorker friends mentioned doggy daycare to me, I was astounded. Why would you pay for such a thing??? Heh. Little did I know that in a few short years I would be doing exactly the same thing! (See Snick’s recent post about how he spends his days for more info on that.)
I feel like going to dog runs and to doggy daycare was an important part of Snick’s socialization and part of why he’s so good at handling different situations. On the other hand, I realize what I first thought about “they’re pack animals, they should play in groups” doesn’t necessarily fly. Throwing a bunch of random dogs together in an enclosed space (run or playroom) is about as non-pack-like as you can get. A pack is like a family with a cohesive structure, rules and hierarchy. A playgroup may work out some quick and dirty rules, but nothing long term. I wonder if everyone other than the extremly self-confident dogs must feel very overwhelmed in situations like that. I’m not really sure and it makes me wonder if daycare may be right for a much smaller percentage of dogs than I originally thought. (Case in point: Secret is uneasy at the dog run and would most likely HATE doggy daycare.) So, what do you guys think about doggy daycare?
Do tell! hi peeples, snickers here! it has been awhile since i dictated a post for the blog (although i am always talking away over on twitter). i asked my tweeps recently what i should blog about and friend-to-all-nyc-shibas, @roxyturtle, asked "what do you do while Mom is gone for the day? Does your Mom do anything to give you activities while you’re a latchkey dog?" i can say that in my five short years i have spent my days in many many ways! here is the bulleted version (because i dont really dictate in full sentences anyway, much less paragraphs).
so, what you think? i think girl needs to come home from summer fun soon so me and sis have more company and get our afternoon walkies back! i have mostly been good but friday i did something funny to make mom laugh and show her i dont just lie around all day. i buried my toy duck in her bed. i used to do stuff like that a lot when i was younger. funny, right? so, mostly i play with toys, nap, shed on the couch, chew the bones that mom leaves for me, and play with my sister when i am home alone. that is how i spend my day @roxyturtle! mom wants me to add from her the following:
Sometimes a topic for a blog post has to jump up and down in front of me waving its metaphorical arms, before I realize I need to write it. This was apparently one of those times. First, someone on Twitter asked Snickers (@snick_the_dog) about puppy nipping and teething, which we did cover in Dealing with Puppy Biting and Chewing. Then someone on Yahoo Answers, asked How to teach a Shiba Inu Bite Inhibition? Lastly, it came up briefly on my favorite breed-specific mailing list, Shiba-L. What Exactly Is Bite Inhibition?Pups usually learn bite inhibition – as it pertains to other dogs – from playing with their litter mates and their mother. They learn from their interactions how much force is too much and they learn to make a conscious decision to limit the force of their bite. They have to learn to translate that desire not to injure others to humans as well. Bite inhibition in companion dogs is much too important to leave to chance. I am fairly convinced though that many dog owners do exactly that. Of course, they are surprised when the dog eventually bites someone and then it is the dog who pays the price for their negligence. Too many people don’t respect how much damage a dog can do. Even a small dog! If our companions are not raised to have a STRONG inhibition to bite humans, they can inflict serious pain while reacting instinctively. Two Examples of Inadequate Bite InhibitionI evaluated a Shiba for rescue last summer who was being given up AFTER SIX YEARS because she bit her owner in the face. The problem was, it was the owner’s fault. The dog was a great dog with a nice temperament and even came from a good background. The owners, however, had not socialized her with other dogs and treated her like a human, not a dog. Consequently they didn’t know anything about dog body language. The owner startled the dog and then leaned over her in a threatening manner. The dog reacted by biting and then looking horrified that she had bitten her beloved owner. The damage was done though – the owner was never comfortable around the dog again and gave her away. A less drastic, but still frustrating, example of poor bite inhibition happened to me a few days ago. I was at the local dog run near my new apartment. There was a super overweight lab there who kept jumping up on my daughter and me. When I put my arm out to try to block the dog, he grabbed onto my wrist and hand with his mouth. He only barely scratched my skin, but his intention was clearly to hold onto me with his mouth. So COMPLETELY unacceptable. His owner was unfortunately clueless about how bad his dog’s behavior was. An Example of Excellent Bite InhibitionEven when Snick is snuggling with me, I’m careful not to startle him awake. I was incredibly grateful for his bite inhibition a couple weeks when he was surprised in his sleep. I walked into my bedroom and he was curled up sleeping on my bed. I bent over to give him a kiss. At exactly the same moment, Secret launched herself onto the bed and LANDED ON HIS TAIL. He jolted awake all fangs and fury only centimeters from my face. Yikes! Luckily, his reaction to seeing me so close to his teeth was as immediate as his displeasure at being stepped on and he stopped himself before accidentally biting me. Nasty facial scar avoided. Tips on Teaching Bite Inhibition
In addition to self control, dogs need to learn self confidence. Many dogs bite to defend territory or because they are afraid. Raise a confident, well-socialized dog and he is a lot less likely to ever feel the need to bite. Bond with your dog. If your dog sees humans as his key pack members, he is more likely to understand that biting humans is undesirable. Don’t put your dog in any situation he can’t handle. Protect your dog from having to defend himself. If your dog is confident that you will take care of him, he won’t feel like he needs to protect himself and is less likely to bite out of fear. Don’t startle your dog – or let anyone else startle him – especially when he is sleeping. If he’s going blind or deaf, pay special attention to how you interact with him. Read your dog’s signals. Most dogs communicate multiple warnings before biting and will only bite as a last resort. Are you paying attention to what your dog is "saying" when he or she is stressed or in an unusual situation? Have you learned enough about canine communication to send your dog calming signals so he doesn’t worry as much? Be your dog’s defender, his teacher, his advocate and his friend. Today brings us to the third installment of the One Question Interview series. Today’s answer is from Aurora Piacentino, Director of Operations at Liberty Humane Society. Question: If you had the opportunity to communicate and teach one concept to all dog owners everywhere, what would it be and why?Answer from Aurora PiacentinoProbably something you would expect from the Director of an animal shelter – the importance of spay/neuter in pet quality companion animals. I think that by this point, most people have probably heard that they should spay or neuter their dog, but most don’t know why. They might have some vague idea of health benefits or pet overpopulation, but those are concepts that most people don’t apply to themselves, "My pet is healthy, why should I worry?" "Too many animals? That’s why they have animal shelters, they find good homes for them!" Pet owners should understand that keeping a dog intact, breeding dogs as well, comes with some very real health risks that can affect healthy adult dogs. With each heat cycle a female dog goes through her chances of developing mammary tumors and a horrific uterine infection, called Pyometra, increases. Pyometra often is diagnosed in later stages and most often requires expensive surgery, fluid therapy, antibiotics and other supportive care to treat. With pregnant dogs, there is always risk that complications could arise during birth – potentially risking both mother and puppies lives. Male dogs that are not neutered can also experience health issues directly related to remaining intact such as Prostate or Testicular Cancer. All of these conditions have the potential to not only significantly affect your pocketbook but to drastically reduce the quality and length of life of your companion. Pet owners also need to understand that each and every litter born has an effect on their pet community. It simply does not make sense to bring more dogs needing homes into a community where there are already homeless dogs looking for families to adopt them. We do have animal shelters for those unlucky animals that find themselves without a place to call their own, but the dog owners in the community can help the cause by choosing to spay and neuter and thereby reducing pressuring the system, so to speak. It’s up to the animal shelter to provide information on low cost options, but the dog owner must take that next step and do the responsible thing. They have to cast aside fears that simple surgery will change their dog’s personality or physique (both notions that are completely false) and make the decision that they will be a part of the solution. About Aurora Piacentino For more information on Liberty Humane Society and to see the many animals in need of adoption, please visit www.libertyhumane.org. Welcome to the second installment of the One Question Interview series. Today’s answer is from Dr. Harvey Cohen, nutritionist and dog lover. Question: If you had the opportunity to communicate and teach one concept to all dog owners everywhere, what would it be and why?Answer from Dr. Harvey CohenFeed fresh unadulterated food to your dog. Avoid preservatives, chemicals, dyes, coloring agents, salt and sugar. Keeping your dog away from chemical additives is the most important thing you can do to achieve optimal wellness. This nutritional choice, to eliminate chemicals from the diet, is so important that it is second only to love, when it comes to what your dog needs most for health, happiness and longevity. I believe if I could communicate to guardians everywhere the inherent dangers of the chemicals found in most commercial foods, we would see a tremendous decline in many degenerative diseases in our beloved companion dogs. About Dr. Harvey Since that time, Dr. Harvey has created foods, treats and supplements for dogs, cats, birds and horses, that use only healthy, chemical-free, all natural and organic ingredients. He has helped thousands of companion animals to regain their health and thousands more to maintain optimal wellness. For more about Dr. Harvey, visit drharveys.com. To kick off our new series of "One Question Interview" posts, today’s interview question is answered by Andrea Arden. Stay tuned over the next few days for more answers to the same question. Question: If you had the opportunity to communicate and teach one concept to all dog owners everywhere, what would it be and why?Answer from Andrea Arden, Dog Trainer and AuthorI would hope to help people understand that we often do a great disservice to our canine companions by "killing with kindness." That is, inadvertently allowing dogs to indulge in behaviors that are ultimately to their long term detriment. Some examples are: over feeding, over coddling (resulting in a dog with fear and/or separation issues), not using tools wisely and kindly (such as a crate and a feeding and watering schedule) to help our dogs become fully housetrained, and allowing a dog to greet them frantically when they return home (and then reprimanding the dog for jumping on visitors). From my experience, most people feel uncomfortable setting clear rules and boundaries for their dogs because they feel some underlying guilt for an almost endless list of reasons (i.e. Having to leave their dog when they go to work or school, not finding the time to take their dog for as many fun outings as they might like, not having a big enough apartment, etc.). One of the kindest things you can do for your dog, other than providing them with adequate mental and physical stimulation, great nutrition and veterinary care, and of course much love, is to be a great teacher to them in regards to all they need to know to be able to enjoy their life to the fullest. Teachers of all sorts have to set boundaries to help their students. In the case of our dogs, start with a list of all the ways you imagine your dog might best enjoy his or her life. For example, getting to go for lots of walks, getting to play with visitors in your home, getting to go with you on trips and stay in other people’s homes, getting to play with other animals. Then make a list of how a dog would need to behave in each of these scenarios (for example being housetrained in your home and all other indoor environments, being well socialized with all sorts of people and animals, walking nicely on leash, greeting people by sitting, being calm when left alone, etc.). Then teach him or her everything he or she needs to know to have the best life possible! In this way you are truly being a kind and loving pet parent. About Andrea Andrea has written four books including Dog Friendly Dog Training (IDG, 1999), Train Your Dog the Lazy Way (Macmillan, 1998), The Little Book of Dog Tricks (Howell, 2002) and On the Road With Your Pet (Fodor’s, 1998). She is the behavior columnist for The New York Dog magazine, has been the behavior columnist for Dog Fancy magazine and is a contributing writer for numerous other dog magazines. For more about Andrea, visit andreaarden.com. Earlier today, someone cleverly named "Anon" left the following comment on my recent post Things I’d Love to See in My Lifetime. Because of their brief lifespans, too much emphasis on companion animals isn’t good for a society or an individual. If Snickers is already five, he’ll be dead in about seven years anyway. My first thought was "that was mean" but, then of course, that may have been the point. Luckily, I can’t be baited quite that easily. My second thought was "oh my god, the last five years of my life have been so great because of Snickers. If that continues for another 5, 7, 10 or 12 years, I will be so grateful!!!!" I was recently drafting an entry about HSUS and PETA and their drive to wipe out companion animals altogether, but when I read this comment I decided to have a discussion about the benefits of companion animals first. I’m sure there is a ton of research that I could look up, quote and link to about therapy dogs, animal assisted activities, search and rescue dogs, bomb and drug sniffing dogs, cancer sniffing dogs, service dogs for the blind and disabled, police dogs, etc. I may create a page on the site for that later, but for now, let’s talk about the benefits to ourselves, our families and society that we have personally experienced from having our pets in our lives. I’ll start.
So, who wants to go next? |
 Sites We Like |
||
|
Copyright © 2008-2009 Jenna & Snickers |
|||
Shibas being Shibas, I’ve met a lot of people over the last few years who were surprised Snick goes to daycare, but HE LOVES IT! His daycare in Chelsea called him "a party animal" because he would come in the door non-stop energy and keep it up till I showed up to get him 11+ hours later. He had just as much fun at his daycare in Indiana too. I was worried the first day I took him… he’d grown up at the daycare in Chelsea, but I wasn’t 100% sure how he would react to a room for of new dogs in a new place. I shouldn’t have worried. Snickers = PARTY ANIMAL at daycare apparently. I went out of my way to take him to daycare occasionally there, even though I was home all day. He enjoys it!
but, wouldnt you know it, now girl is gone for the summer! mom and girl were really looking out for me and sis though. normally sis goes everywhere with girl, but this year sis stayed here with me and mom. mom is gone to work 10 hours per day but i have sis here and we keep each other company
One of the best pieces of advice anyone gave me when Snick was a puppy was regarding how to teach him not to bite and play so rough with my daughter. He thought of her as a litter mate – an equal instead of a superior – so we used that to teach him. Whenever he played too rough and bit her too hard, she would YELP like a hurt puppy and then turn her back on him and ignore him for about 10 seconds. It worked like a charm. His puppy brain completely understood and he totally stopped biting her in about a week. What I didn’t know at the time was that this great advice was based on the excellent training method of Dr. Ian Dunbar. 
