Sun Prairie Star 9/6/13

Page 1

The

LIFESTYLE, 10A

BUSINESS, 2A

Downtown Art Fest scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 7

Zimbrick announces Stark Chevrolet purchase

SPORTS, 1B

SPORTS, 3B

Cardinals spike Regents following sluggish start

Daum double midget feature winner in two day event

SERVING THE SUN PRAIRIE AREA SINCE 1877

WEEKEND EDITION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

136TH YEAR - NO. 48 • $1

CITY OF SUN PRAIRIE

WHEN GOOD DOGS

Alders interview finalists

GO BAD ing boredom, exploring their environment and soothing sore gums. Hometown News Group correspondent Voiles said owners need to channel their dog’s behavior to chewing dog is a man’s best friend on a toy instead. Prevention is the and it’s up to us to keep key. them happy, healthy and “I’m going to set things up so the safe. There are many ways to prevent them from chewing and dog gets it right from the start. They jumping and helping them through get a reward, praise and petting,” she said. “Dogs love rewards. We all anxiety issues. need our behavior Mittsy Voiles, to be reinbehavioral specialSome of the main forced. ist, said dogs chew reasons older dogs Reinforced on items like couches because chew on ‘inappropriate’ behavior is the driving their brains are items are relieving force in everywired to check boredom, exploring thing.” things out with Jumping is their mouths. their environment and another behavPuppies espesoothing sore gums. ior that pet owncially like to chew ers want to help or explore with deter them from doing. Usually their mouths. They’re seeing if something is edible, if it’s okay and dogs jump on people for attention and they like to be close to owners’ if it tastes good. When they get to the teething stage it’s important to faces, Voiles said. She suggests teachhelp puppies sooth their pain. Owners can purchase suitable toys ing dogs how to sit and then to freeze that are safe like a Kong toy. The classic Kong looks like three balls pushed together and comes in a variety of sizes. They are made of rubber, are hollow in the middle and treats can be pushed in or frozen for their enjoyment. “You can do a lot with those. You get the best benefit of the toy if you put food in them. It’s like a project for them,” Voiles said, adding different kinds of foods to put in a Kong include yogurt, peanut butter and mashed potatoes. Starting out with small amounts of food is better so the dog can get it out easier and helps them learn how to get food out of trickier toys. Another good example of a chew toy is a Nylabone. As puppies grow into adulthood some will continue the chewing habit on items that they aren’t supposed to and owners need to discourage this behavior. “As dogs age they continue to chew. It’s a way to channel their emotions. It’s a way to help them calm themselves down. It’s a soothing, repetitive behavior,” Voiles said. Some of the main reasons older dogs chew on ‘inappropriate’ items are relievBY BECKY THIELKE

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reward them. Owners should cross their arms over their chests, look away and upward and not to talk to their pets. By doing this it doesn’t reinforce the negative behavior of jumping. For dogs that have had this behavior for a long time, Voiles suggests teaching them how to sit as well as standing on their leash so they can’t successfully jump. The owner shouldn’t have such a tight hold

SUNPRAIRIESTAR.COM

on the leash where it’s going to choke their dog and they shouldn’t have such a lose hold where the dog will jump. The resource sheet that would be helpful to owners whose dogs jump is “Teach polite behavior.” Another behavior seen in dogs is anxiety but it’s such a broad category, Voiles said. Types of anxiety include being separated from their owner, noise phobia (fireworks or storms) and stranger danger (having had a bad experience with humans). Others things that might help dogs with anxiety include supplements and veterinary prescribed medicine like Xanax. These are medications that given at the right dosage can help dogs. Dosages for pets are completely different than in humans. Having a new pet in the home is a wonderful time for the entire family but the first few days are an adjustment for the dog. The pet needs to figure out when it gets fed, when it goes out and when their owners come and go.

BY JAKE KURTZ Reporter, The Star he Sun Prairie Committee of the Whole met in closed session Tuesday to interview two city Director of Administrative Services candidates. The position has been vacant since Natalie Feggestad left in July to take a finance position with the University of Wisconsin's School of Human Ecology. City officials said that 20 applications were received for the opening and telephone and inperson interviews were conducted by City Administrator, who narrowed the list to two. Oppenheimer and Mayor John Murray will reportedly complete background checks on each finalist before a hire is made. John Kiefer most recently worked for Fox Valley Technical College as procurement and contract coordinator. Kiefer has ten years of finance management experience with the University of Wisconsin, and one year with the technical school. Kiefer received a Master’s degree in public

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See FINANCE, page 3A

CITY OF SUN PRAIRIE

Council OK’s budget amendment BY CHRIS MERTES Managing Editor

uring a meeting that lasted nine minutes for its public portion, the Sun Prairie City Council on Sept. 3 gave final approval to a budget amendment for a roughly $12,000 fence for Stoneridge Estates Park. The park, located off Stonehaven Drive on the city’s north side, has experienced problems with geese and other waterfowl from the adjacent pond. City parks staff have tried coyote cutouts and other efforts to control the waterfowl migration on to park lands without success, and recommended construction of the fence as a way to keep the fowl feces from filling the fields in the park, such as the soccer field. In making the report to the council, District 4

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See CITY COUNCIL, page 6A

INSERTS

LIFESTYLE, 11A

LIFESTYLE, 9A

SPORTS, 1B

Ashley Furniture, Copps; Farm & Fleet; JC Penney; Relish and Sun Prairie Blues Fest (inside the paper).

Obituary: Anna Freidel

Madison East Kiwanis donate iPad to Creekside Elementary School student

Cards, Kaminski hope to continue control over Beloit

INDEX

CHURCH 11A • CLASSIFIEDS 9B • LIFESTYLE 8A • OPINION 4A • NEWS 2A • SPORTS 1B • WINNOWINGS 12A

804 Liberty Blvd, Ste 209 • P.O. Box 645 • Sun Prairie, WI 53590 • 608-837-2521 • Fax: 608-825-4460 • spedit@hngnews.com • SUBSCRIPTIONS: 608-837-2521 •

facebook.com/SunPrairieStar •

@SunPrairieStar

The Star, Sun Prairie • Friday, September 6, 2013


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