20 www.northislandgazette.com
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
ATHLETE Dog whisperer wows Port Alice Athlete of of the
Week
the week NIGEL WALKUS ad#7374725 2x6
Nigel Walkus makes an incredible ‘fingertips’ save in an U18 League game between Port Hardy and Port McNeill on Sunday, April 24 at the North Island Secondary School soccer pitch in Port McNeill.
®
2014 Doctors Associates Inc. SUBWAY® is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc. Printed in Canada. Canadian Version
Proudly sponsored by your Port Hardy and Port McNeill SUBWAY® locations.
If you know someone who should be the Athlete of the Week, phone the Gazette at 250-949-6225
Story idea? Call 250-949-6225
find us online at www@northislandgazette.com
By Trish Weatherall For the Gazette There is a dog whisperer on Vancouver Island North, as a dozen dogs and their humans discovered during a dog behaviour seminar at the Doug Bondue Arena on April 16 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Resident Lynda Banting coordinated the event to bring the experts to Port Alice after working with some of them with her own rescue dog. For $40 per household the session featured an introduction to training information, demonstrations, the local rescue society, and a dog groomer. First, Alex Shore of 4 Paws Rescue Society in Port Hardy, told the group its mission is to offer services such as spaying, flea treatments, re-homing, veterinary bill assistance, and food to households in need. The non-profit society is volunteer operated and raises funds mainly through deposit returns, with a goal to prevent overpopulation, have healthy pets, and a humane community in the TriPort area. “If you can’t afford your vet bill, please call us at 250-2307297,” said Shore. Then certified pet trainers Nicole Mackay and Laura McAlduff
Smile house smile
3x4 of the week. ad#7532672 Brian Masterman, a member of the Coast Guard, jumped into the ocean to show the Eagle View and Fort Rupert Elementary School students how to survive in the water if they fall out of a Dragon boat.
of Talk Dog Talk! discussed thresholds and reactivity in dogs. “90 per cent of lunging and barking is motivated by fear,” said Mackay. “Dogs read body language, with both people and other dogs.” Tips included meeting or greeting a dog from the side at their level, knowing what makes your dog nervous and positioning yourself between the dog and the ‘issue’, and letting other Trish Weatherall Photo people know if your dog needs Spencer Mousek (left) walks Monty by her side after a quick training session with dog behaviourist and rehabilitationist Ken Griffiths at the dog behaviour space. Tracy Roper clinic in Port Alice April 16. of Critter Clips leash. She watched while on leash walk- perer Caesar Milan, Pet Grooming in Port as within minutes, ing next to him off and his business card Alice also provided Griffiths had the dog leash within minutes. reads “Let me help a display of the tools walking calmly beside “The key to walking bring peace to your of her trade and was him, on and off leash. a dog is that you are home.” He talked available for ques- “This totally blows my the pack leader, and about how dogs read tions. mind. I thought I had the dog must follow your energy, and as the During the next tried everything, but you,” said Griffiths. pack leader you must hour and a half, dog it’s nice to know there “Your energy is impor- remain calm so the behaviourist and is hope.” tant. A tight leash dog can relax at times rehabilitationist Ken Griffiths repeated puts tension into the of excitement, like a Griffiths, BScH, who the feat with 1.5 year- dog which makes the knock at the door or can often be seen in old pit bull Sky, whom behaviour worse. It thunder. Port McNeill walk- he called an ambassa- is vital to release the “The top three ing up to 10 dogs, dor for the breed with tension on the leash things needed for a impressed the crowd her good behaviour after a correction is happy, well-behaved with a live training and quick learning. made and the dog is dog are exercise, disdemonstration with Owner Jodie Belliveau beside you in a calm cipline, and love,” he four of his dogs, and said of the session, “I state of mind. If you explained. with a few of the thought it was really want a dog to be calm, “In that order. attending pets. good and I was proud you yourself must be Exercise is para“I’m speechless,” of Sky. Now I want to calm.” mount.” The takesaid Spencer Mousek, use these techniques He demonstrated away message from whose three-year- for jumping up and how to use a leash Griffiths is that all old pit bull Monty barking at the door.” to form a letter P to unwanted behaviour has always pulled Ken had Sky and three facilitate sideways cor- in all dogs can be corher while walking on other dogs that pulled rection that emulates rected, no matter how how a mother dog or long the dog has been pack leader would acting that way or how correct a dog, with a old the dog is. In most quick touch to the side cases the behaviour of the neck, making a can be corrected in sharp ‘Tssst’ sound. minutes. “The number one Following the sesmistake owners make sion, Griffiths and a is treating dogs like few attendees took children, and using their canine friends By Tyson Whitney words to correct for a walk along Reporter them,” said Griffiths. the Port Alice Sea The North Island Loggers Golf Tournament “They are dogs, and Walk. Griffiths can be is being held on Saturday, June 18 and Sunday, need to be corrected reached at 250-465June 19 at the Seven Hills Golf Course. by the pack leader with 1090. It is a best ball open tournament for men and touch and sound.” “Everyone was women, and it costs $70 to register. After June Without a leash, a very impressed,” said 3, late registration will cost $80. person can use their organizer Banting. “A “Everybody gets prizes, a good supper, and hand with a fingertip group from Port Alice it’s 18 holes of fun,” said Bill Gray, one of touch to the side of have asked Ken to the organizers of the tournament, adding that the neck “quick like a come back for a small “all the money raised goes back into the comsnake”, he explained. group session. Nicole munity.” Griffiths’ said his and Ken are remarkTo register to play, please contact Bill Gray philosophies are simi- able people with great at 250-949-7623, or 250-230-0711. lar to famed dog whis- gifts to share.”
Loggers golf tourney set for June