Delmarva Unleashed Winter 2016

Vol. 8 Issue 1 - January 2016

Unleashed Delmarva

Complimentary

BARK

of the Town Canine Communication

Competitive Weight Pulling Preventing Dental Disease

Cover Dog “Colby” 1

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contents Vol. 8 Issue 1 Winter 2016

Delmarva Unleashed Publisher Sandy Phillips

6 8 12 16 20 22

Bark of the Town Canine Communication Preventing Dental Disease Competitive Weight Pulling The Poo Primer Prevent Heartworms in Pets Year Round 26 Official State Dogs 36 Doggie Socials

Editor Grammerly Creative Farin Phillips creative@grandlivingmag.com Contributing Writers Polly Elliott Brandon Phillips John Maniatty, V.M.D. Jaclyn Wolinski, D.M.V.

Advertising Info: (410)726-7334

On the Cover:

“Colby” proudly owned by Libby Leigh of Westover, MD. Delmarva Unleashed is published six times a year; Winter, Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Fall, and Holiday. It is circulated throughout Maryland’s Lower Shore, Mid Shore and onto Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The magazine can also be found throughout Delaware and is published by Grand Living Magazine, LLC. Delmarva Unleashed is protected under trademark registration. No portion in whole or part may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Copyright 2016©, Grand Living Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. Content in Delmarva Unleashed is intended to provide information only and is in no way meant to treat or diagnose. Always consult with a specialty professional to address your own personal needs. The company makes every effort to ensure that all information presented is correct, however, we do not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy of the information, and reliance on information provided, is solely at your own risk.

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Bark of the Town Signs of Canine Stroke A stroke in a canine is just as serious as it is for a human and immediate treatment can offer better outcomes, just as it can for a human.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) there are no warnings signs of an impending stroke but often there are tell-tail signs that one has occurred. If you suspect your dog may have endured a stroke, immediate veterinary attention is required. In our opinion it’s better to err on the side of caution if you see any of the following symptoms as outlined by the AAHA: Walking in circles or turning the wrong way when called Head tilted to one side Difficulty with balance and standing Extreme lethargy Loss of control over bladder and bowels or vomiting Worsening symptoms can include loss of eyesight, heart arrhythmia, and the dog could also collapse.

According to the Morris Animal Foundation, 600,000 of the 80 million dogs in the U.S. are Golden Retrievers.

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The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center says that approximately 25% of the phone calls they receive involve pets ingesting medications intended for their humans. Don’t let your dog become a statistic!

Who’s Top Dog?

THE MOST POPULAR DOG NAMES OF 2015

Top Male Dog Names

from Rover.com

This year’s top 10 said “so long” to Jake and “hello” to Duke 1. Max

2. Charlie

3. Buddy

4. Cooper

5. Jack

6. Rocky

7. Toby

8. Duke

9. Bear

10. Tucker

Top Female Dog Names Sadie climbed and Sophie fell on this year’s top 10.

1. Bella

2. Lucy

3. Daisy

4. Molly

5. Lola

6. Sadie

7. Maggie

8. Sophie

9. Chloe

10. Bailey

Other Interesting Name Trends in 2015 As technology changes our lives more each year, our dogs also become a bit more techy. One in 20 family dogs now have social media accounts and names like Chewbacca, Yoshi and Gizmo are up 10% from last year.

Dogs with names that are alcohol related are up 6% and include Guinness, Brandy, Porter, Whiskey and Kahlua.

Names related to marijuana, like Mary Jane and Bud are up 2% unless you live in a state where weed is legal.

Go figure.

While names associated with the Twilight series stayed about the same, there are now fewer dogs with names from the Walking Dead and Game of Thrones series.

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Canine Communication

by Polly Elliott

O

ur dogs communicate with us in many ways. There are many more clues to their current emotional state than just wagging tails and barking.

They communicate with us via gestures and body postures.

They use their ears, paws, and body stance. The following are very basic examples of canine communication. To better understand your dog and dogs you meet out and about, learning to read canine body language is a precious skill.

Dogs that stand with ears directly upward or forward are dominant. Their mouths will be entirely closed, eyes are open wide, the body stands rigid and tall with the tail held away from the body; it may be rigid or plumped. Dominant dogs tend to send a very clear message about their attitude.

It’s never a good idea to challenge a strange dog presenting this body posture, particularly if they offer growls or very deep-throated barks. If this dog moves it’s ears closer to the head, lowers its head and begins to show teeth, we very wary.

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By contrast, friendly dogs will have perky ears, open eyes, and the giveaway is often the frantically wagging tail. The overall body posture here is clearly much more relaxed. These dogs often offer play signals, like bowing or bending their front ends toward the ground, offering for you or another dog to come closer. These dogs will often dance or twirl around in excitement. The vocal sounds of a very fun loving dog are often friendly sounding yips of excitement.

The submissive dog often appears meek. Ears are held close to the head, eyes very soft and they may roll onto their backs or offer a paw. If your dog is not often in a passive state, perhaps they are a high energy breed, be mindful of new submissiveness. It may signal they don’t feel well and are trying to communicate the fact to you.

A dog in a challenging situation may show signs of fear. From thunderstorms to the fear of confinement, many body signs can signal the emotion. Cowering is a very clear sign of fear, yet by contrast, dogs can become vocal and nippy when in a fearful situation and wrongly dubbed, aggressive. Fear can explain why and otherwise good natured dog, will nip strangers that come to their home.

This response again is often incorrectly described as protective. It’s important to determine the difference here so you can assist the dog in overcoming the fear, or if you are truly dealing with aggression; different corrections will offer a more productive outcome.

The fearful or stressed dog will often show physical signs that include droopy ears, open mouth with lips drawn back. The tail is often between the legs, and the attitude is nervous

perhaps even with physical trembling.

The more time we spend with our dogs, the better we can read their body signals and communicate with them on a day to day basis. Many of us with years of dog experience can communicate well with our dogs, but never underestimate the dog’s ability to through you a curve ball in communication. Like all creatures they grow, develop and adapt. The saying, “you can’t teach an old dog a new trick” is so very wrong. Dogs of all ages become wise with experience and often surprise us with new behaviors and gestures. Keep an open mind towards canine communication and learn with your dog. The average dog is said to have a vocabulary of approximately 200 human words. Ongoing research suggests that number may be even higher. Remember dogs don’t use human speech to communicate with each other so it’s valuable to us to learn their language.

You can find numerous images on the Internet of very young children with dogs that non-canine speaking humans dub “adorable.” Often in these pictures, the dogs are visually sending out signals that they don’t like the child in their face and are threatening to bite. These situations can be very dangerous and yet completely avoidable with proper personal education in the canine language.

The above are only a very few of the examples of canine speak. It’s worth your time to pick up a few books on the subject or talk to a professional trainer who will work with you and your dog in the exchange of communication techniques.

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by John Maniatty V.M.D.

Preventing Dental Disease P

et dental problems can manifest themselves in many forms. Some are sudden, such as swelling on the side of the face, tenderness when the face is touched, or your dog stops eating.

While others are more gradual such as the decline in chewing of bones or eating hard kibble, shying away from cold water, or progressive worsening of bad breath. Some dogs with poor teeth show such subtle signs that people don't notice and the nerves go dead. In those cases, the pet will stop showing signs and the entire process goes unnoticed. When we find this during a routine physical exam without clinical symptoms, clients are shocked.

Infection occurs when a pellicle forms on the outside of the enamel that is connected to the tooth by salivary proteins. The pellicle is removed mechanically with brushing, scaling, 12

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or chewing dental treats; but it reforms in minutes after these activities.

Bacteria bind to the pellicle and multiply creating a biofilm. This eventually works itself down by the gingiva and causes inflammation and gum recession or gingivitis. The Gum recession exposes the periodontal ligaments and bone. They then become infected and start to deteriorate; this is referred to as periodontitis. It can lead to the tooth becoming loose and possibly falling out. Infection can also occur if the tooth becomes fractured or if a cavity(caries) occurs and the pulp is exposed. Infection travels down the pulp cavity causing the tooth to die and possibly infecting the bone. Both causes of oral infection can present as facial swelling, foul breath, the decrease in eating or food falling out of the mouth, due to pain. Some dogs and cats are born with soft teeth

that are prone to caries, fractures or wear. These teeth are more at risk for infection. Infection in the teeth can become systemic and affect the liver, kidney and heart; a situation that can be exceptionally painful and very devastating to the overall health of your pet. Steps should always be taken for prevention.

There are several ways an owner at home can help protect against dental disease. The gold standard is brushing the teeth. When brushing, teeth make small circles on the outside surface of the teeth. You do not have to brush the inside of the teeth because the tongue cleans the inside and in most pets it is too stressful to clean there. The bulk of cleaning is based on the mechanical action of the toothbrush more than the cleaning power of the paste. When using toothpaste, a pet toothpaste is preferred to a human toothpaste because it is intended to be swallowed and does not have the foaming action that can be annoying to a dog or cat. If brushing is not an option, then dental chews and water additives are recommended. When choosing a product, look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of approval. Products must undergo clinical trials and meet established guidelines before being awarded the Seal. Clinical trials are based on scientific data, not testimonials, which may or may not be true. Visit their website, www.vohc.org, to see a list of products that have achieved their seal of approval.

Sometimes brushing, chewing, and water additives are not enough.

During your pets, yearly physcal exam your veterinarian should

examine the mouth to determine if they need to have a thorough dental exam or complete oral health assessment and treatment (COHAT). This procedure entails anesthesia, dental radiographs and probing of the teeth, to assess pocket depth, and check for caries.

The mention of anesthesia is worrisome to many people, and I would be lying if I said there is no risk involved, because any time an animal or human undergo anesthesia, there is a "risk." However, in today's world with the pre-dental bloodwork, monitoring during the procedure, and adjusting the anesthetic protocol to your individual pet, we have minimized the risk. Dental radiographs cannot be done without anesthesia.

Dental radiographs help us assess a tooth below the gum line and the pulp cavity of the tooth. Looking at the dog’s tooth anatomy (see diagram) you can see about 50% of the tooth lies below the gum line. In clinical studies conducted at the University of California-Davis, teeth with no apparent clinical lesion seen were found to have lesions on dental radiograph 27.8% of the time in dogs (1).

In Cats, the number rose to 41.7%(2).

These are large numbers in pets, in which we would not have had any idea that damage was occurring below the gum line. Other than looking at the teeth, it allows us to analyze the bone these teeth sit in for fractures or possible cancer. By looking at the radiographs, we can determine if we can remove the bad teeth or referral is necessary to a board-certified veterinary dentist.

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Probing allows the veterinarian to inspect the teeth for pockets and chart their depth. Probing areas where caries can illicit jaw tremors, even under anesthesia. When this occurs the pulp has been infiltrated, and the nerve is exposed. Extractions or referral to a board certified veterinary dentist for further treatment, i.e. root canal or filling placement, will help rectify the problem and ease the pain from a bad tooth. For those teeth that do not have clinical lesions, a thorough

cleaning will help protect them for the future, also providing a base to start the at home prophylactic treatment.

We cannot underestimate the social and health aspect of proper dental care. From being able to hold them in our lap without foul breath to the prolonging of life because bacteria have not damaged vital organs, preventative dental care is a necessity for us as much as it is for our treasured pets.

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by Brandon Phillips

Competitive Weight Pulling Dogs have been pulling sleds for man in many cultures around the

world for thousands of years. Many of those men would frequent corner watering holes boasting about their dogs ability to pull large loads. Perhaps those bragging sessions are what has given rise to the sport of Competitive Canine Weight Pulling. It's been quite popular in the UK and throughout Europe for some time, and now has found it's way to the US. While this is a sport that can be enjoyed by most any breed. Often competitors are of the bully breeds like Pitbulls, Bulldogs, Mastiffs, etc. as it's a sport that demonstrates strength and stamina.

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The competition involves a single dog, equipped with a specially designed weight pulling or freighting harness, who pulls a load a specified distance, (16 feet) within a specified amount of time (60 seconds). If the dog is not able to complete the pull, it is considered a "no-pull" and that dog is eliminated from the day's competition. However, the self-esteem of the dog is crucial to future success, and the dog needs to find a level of achievement. To maintain that confidence, if the dog is unable to move the load, sled handlers will push the load from behind, thus letting the dog think they moved the load.

There has been controversy involving the sport, mostly due to

misinformation. Assuming the athlete is wearing a proper weight pulling harness that is designed specifically for the sport, is trained and conditioned, weight pulling becomes no more than a serious workout and will not harm the participants. Like everything else technique, training, and a thorough understanding of the sport and it's "limits" are necessary to prevent injury.

In the novice class, the handler is permitted to use a leash to coax the dog to pull. However, they are not allowed to pull the load with the leash by pulling on the dog. According to the rule book, the handler is also allowed to cross the handler line to approach his/her dog to offer encouragement, as long as the handler does not touch the dog. Only dogs in Novice competition are allowed two "no-pulls" before elimination.

Some of the heaviest pulls we have found on the record include 3300 lbs. by an Alaskan Malamute and 2850 lbs. by an Irish Wolfhound. The base pull or minimum weight initially pulled in competition is 350 lbs, and that weight is comprised of a sled particularly suited to the challenge.

It is said that weight pulling dogs can be stubborn, that if they do not want to pull the load, they won't, period. In these cases, there is nothing a handler can do but accept the attempt as a "no-pull," and try again another day. Perhaps the dogs know their limits? According to the International Weight Pulling Association, there are several weight categories, all with limits established for the dogs safety.

For more on the topic visit their website at IWPA.net.

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by Jaclyn Wolinski, D.V.M.

A New Year’s Resolution to Share

I

f I asked you to name three common New Year’s resolutions, you might say lose weight, exercise, or get fit. Those are exactly the three resolutions I would ask you to share with your pets!

Over 52% of dogs and 57% of cats in the United States are overweight or obese, compared to over 68% of people. This well-known human health epidemic is slightly less recognized in pets but is still just as serious. Obesity leads to similar medical concerns in animals as humans, such as diabetes, arthritis, and respiratory difficulty and snoring.

How do you know if your pet needs to lose weight? Body shape can vary greatly based on breed, but in general, you should be able to easily feel your pet’s ribs without seeing them. You should also be able to feel, or palpate your pet’s hip bones, but they should not protrude greatly. If there is a thick 18

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layer of fat padding the ribs or hip bones, then your pet likely needs to lose weight. You should also be able to see a nice tuck to their waist from above and from the side. If you’re unsure, ask your veterinarian if your pet is overweight, obese or at an ideal body weight. They should also be able to give you a target body weight for your pet to strive for if weight loss is needed.

What is the best way for your pet to lose weight, diet, exercise or both?

Just like people, pets gain weight when they take in more calories than they expend in a day. To get healthier and expedite weight loss, your pet’s eating habits should be evaluated, and exercise should be increased. Sometimes it’s easy enough to decrease the amount of food or treats your pet gets on a daily basis, but adequate nutrition needs to be considered. There are many, many pet food options

out there, so it may be possible to find a high-quality food that has fewer calories per cup than what your pet is eating now.

That way, your pet might still be able to eat a similar amount of food, but will get fewer calories per bite.

Also, consider treat size, quantity and quality. Carrots and green beans are healthy, low-calorie options for dogs. You can also break treats into smaller pieces to make one treat last throughout the day.

Leanlix is a new brand of diet-friendly treat that your dog can lick as a reward or motivational tool and will only receive one calorie per 40 licks. Many cat treats are labeled as “two calories or less”, so quantity is the most important variable to monitor.

Exercise programs will vary widely between animals. Cats may like to chase a laser pointer, a feather wand toy, crinkle or jingle balls or treats rolled down a hallway or tossed across a room.

Long, daily walks are a staple for canine exercise. Build up your dog’s stamina by gradually increasing the distance walked.

If your pet is active, jogging, swimming or chasing a ball or frisbee are fun choices. If your pet is older, debilitated or has mobility issues, then activity has to be controlled and monitored closely. You may want to consider a veterinarian supervised exercise program, including an underwater treadmill to facilitate your pet’s weight loss while supporting their mobility. PetObesityPrevention.org is a wonderful resource for calorie counts and exercise recommendations.

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The Poo Primer A reference tool.

Healthy Poo

If your dog’s poo is anything other than brown or chocolate in color, you may need to visit with your veterinarian for a closer evaluation. Keep in mind that if your dog shared something with a high level of added food coloring with the kids, that might come through in the poo, and those colors are not concerning.

The shape of the poo is also another indicator of your dog’s health; the stool should be formed and in a log shape. When you pick it up, healthy poo should have a pliable consistency much like Play-doh. Little round balls may indicate dehydration and, of course, diarrhea can signal digestive upset.

Green may just be an overly zealous nosh of grass or it could be related to a gall bladder concern.

Orangish in color could signal a liver concern.

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Red streaks can be indicative of blood in the stool. You will want to see if you can find any cuts or abrasions on your dogs anus. If not, make an appointment with your vet to determine the source. It may signal a serious concern.

Black & Tarry stools can indicate bleeding in the upper GI tract, something that should be addressed by your vet as soon as possible.

Grey with a greasy consistency may indicate a problem with the pancreas or gallbladder.

White flecks, that look like grains of rice, may be a sign of worms. Worms come in a variety of sizes and shapes and healthy poo is always free of parasites.

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Prevent Heartworms In Pets Year Round I

from the FDA

f you’ve been to a veterinarian’s office, chances are you’ve seen the photos on the wall of worms growing from the heart of a dog or cat. Although these images may be unsettling, the message is clear: Heartworm disease is fatal to pets. The good news: You can protect your pet from this disease. “It’s a preventable disease, which is why it’s so frustrating as a practitioner when you see a case.

Heartworm disease is very serious and the treatment is not very easy on infected animals,” says Melanie McLean, D.V.M., a veterinarian at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “It’s much easier and healthier for the pet to prevent the disease in the first place.”

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Heartworms are carried by infected mosquitoes that transmit parasitic worms that grow in the arteries of the lungs and heart of dogs, cats, and other species of mammals. The heartworm larvae enter the bite wound and move through the pet's body and can grow up to 12 inches long.

The disease is not contagious from one pet to another and heartworms in humans are very rare.

Putting Pets at Risk Veterinarians often prescribe heartworm prevention medicine for pets to take year round. Due to the link to mosquitoes, some owners opt out of treating their pets during the winter months, but veterinarians see this as an unnecessary risk to the pet’s health. “You never know when the first mosquito is going to come out, or when the last mosquito is going to die.

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dogs in all 50 states and just because you live in a colder climate state doesn’t mean that your dog is safe,” McLean warns.

Animal owners who stop giving heartworm prevention medication during the winter run the risk of their dog or cat contracting heartworms.

If the animal becomes infected and the heartworm preventative is later resumed without testing, the owner may be putting the pet in danger. The preventive medicine can kill so many microfilariae (the offspring of adult, female heartworms) at once that it could shock the animal’s system, with potentially fatal results. Also, preventatives will not kill adult heartworms and they will continue to reproduce.

For this reason, testing your dog or cat prior to starting a heartworm preventive medication is essential, especially since pets that have heartworms may not show symptoms right away.

If your pet tests positive for heartworms, it’s crucial to the success of treatment to follow the veterinarian’s directions. Only one FDA-approved drug, Immiticide (melarsomine hydrochloride), is marketed in the U.S. to kill adult heartworms in dogs.

Immiticide, which contains arsenic, is given by deep injection into the dog’s back muscles. And only one drug, Advantage Multi for Dogs (imidacloprid and moxidectin), is FDA-approved to get rid of microfilariae in the dog’s bloodstream. It’s applied topically to the dog’s skin.

Angela Clarke, D.V.M., team leader in FDA’s Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation, also emphasizes the importance of yearly testing for heartworms—even if you’ve kept your pet 24

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on a steady regimen of preventatives.

Dogs are tested for heartworms using a simple blood test.

“We recommend yearly checks because no drug is 100 percent effective and we want to make sure the drugs work,” McLean adds. Also, owners often forget to give the preventative for a month or longer.

An Indoor Issue as Well Another major hurdle that veterinarians face is convincing owners of pets that rarely or never go outside to put those pets on a heartworm preventative.

“When I was in practice, I had owners who balked at heartworm preventative for their cats because they were indoor cats,” says Clarke. The team leader adds that mosquitoes that transmit heartworms can easily access the indoor environment and pets through open doors and windows.

Although cats are considered a resistant host to heartworms because the worms do not survive as well as in a dog’s body, they are still at risk for heartworm disease. McLean said diagnosing heartworms in cats is not as easy, and testing is not as simple, or accurate. In addition to blood work, testing on cats can include X-rays and ultrasounds.

Unlike for heartworm disease in dogs, there is no FDA-approved treatment for killing adult heartworms in cats. It’s best to place both indoor and outdoor cats on a year-round FDA-approved heartworm preventative. continued on pg. 34

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by Brandon Phillips

Official State Dogs O

ut of the 50 states in the U.S. did you know that there are only 11 that have official state dogs? While other states have proposed state dogs to their legislation, in this article we will be covering those that have breeds with official titles.

Alaska: Alaskan Malamute Malamutes, like other Northern and sled dog breeds, can have a high prey drive, from their origins and breeding.

This may mean they will chase smaller animals, including other canines, as well as rabbits, squirrels, and cats; however, this has been difficult to document in detail, beyond anecdotal and observational data. While Malamutes are, as a general rule, very amicable around people and can be taught to tolerate smaller pets, it is necessary to be mindful of them around smaller animals and children.

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Louisiana: Catahoula Leopard Catahoulas are highly intelligent and energetic. They are assertive but not aggressive by nature. Catahoulas, in general, are very even tempered. Males tend to be more obnoxious than females, but working Catahoula's are very serious about their jobs. They make a good family dog but will not tolerate being isolated, so interaction with the dog is a daily requirement. When a Catahoula is raised with children, the dog believes that it is his or her responsibility to look after and protect those children. Many owners will say that the Catahoula owns them, and they can be insistent when it's time to eat or do other regular activities. Catahoulas are protective and a natural alarm dog. They will alert one to anything out of the ordinary. They are used primarily for herding cattle, and pigs by a method of antagonizing and intimidation of herd animals; as opposed to the method of all day boundary patrol and restricting the animals being herded from entering or leaving a designated area. Herding instincts and trainability can be measured at noncompetitive herding tests.

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Maryland: Chesapeake Bay Retriever The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a versatile breed competing in field trials, hunt tests, conformation, obedience, agility, and tracking, yet they remain true to its roots as a hunting dog of great stamina and ability. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is an intelligent breed and learns at a brisk rate. Historically considered stubborn and difficult to train, many trainers thought this breed required more physical discipline than other retriever breeds. Some trainers now recommend that the Chesapeake Bay Retriever owner use consistent, daily obedience training with play time before and after to keep the dog wanting to work with little or no physical discipline required.

Massachusetts: Boston Terrier The Boston Terrier is a gentle breed that typically has a strong, happy-go-lucky, and friendly personality. Bostons are eager to please their owner and can be easily trained. They can be very protective of their owners, which may result in aggressive and territorial behavior toward other pets and strangers. The breed requires only a minimum amount of grooming. While originally bred for fighting as well as hunting rats in garment factories, they were later down bred for companionship. They

are not considered terriers by the American Kennel Club, however, but are part of the non-sporting group. Both females and males are quiet and bark only when necessary though early training in this regard is essential. Their usually sensible attitude towards barking makes them excellent choices for apartment dwellers. They enjoy being around people, get along well with children, the elderly, other canines, and non-canine pets if properly socialized.

image from petguide.com

New Hampshire: Chinook The Chinook is a rare breed of sled dog and is the official state dog of New Hampshire. Chinooks are an affectionate and playful family companion with a special devotion toward children. It is a willing worker who is eager to please and enthusiastic to learn. The Chinook is highly trainable, adaptable, and versatile in his abilities. Gregarious with other dogs, the Chinook works well in teams and within family packs. The Chinook is a dignified dog; some may be reserved with strangers but should rarely appear shy or aggressive.

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North Carolina: Plott Hound The Plott Hound is a large scent hound, originally bred for hunting boar. The ancestors of today’s Plott Hounds were used for boar hunting in Germany many years ago. Originally from Germany, in 1750 Johannes “George” Plott emigrated to the English colony of North Carolina.

He brought a few wild boar hounds with him. These dogs had been bred for generations for their stamina and gameness. The breed is active, has a superb treeing instinct, takes readily to water and is quick to learn. It is often indifferent to other dogs but seeks the attention of humans.

image - statesymbolusa.org

Pennsylvania: Great Dane The Great Dane's large and imposing appearance belies its friendly nature. They are known for seeking physical affection with their owners, and the breed is often referred to as a gentle giant. Great Danes are typically well disposed toward other dogs, other non-canine pets, and familiar humans.

They do not exhibit extreme aggressiveness or a high prey drive. If not properly socialized then a Great Dane may become fearful or aggressive towards new stimuli, such as strangers and new environments. Great Danes are a breed recommended for families provided that they are trained early rules enforced. They are often referred to as "the world's biggest lapdog.”

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South Carolina: Boykin Spaniel The Boykin Spaniel is a friendly, social dog that is considered a good family pet. Originally bred for turkey hunting, they are easily trained and eager to work. It is good with, and extremely stable around, children and other dogs. They can sometimes be described as energetic with great endurance. Boykins are extremely adaptable to different environments as long as they are given ample opportunity for social interaction and plenty of time to burn off excess energy reserves. They are not easily angered and tend to be eager to please and friendly, and they love attention.

Texas: Blue Lacey The Lacy Dog or Blue Lacy Dog is a breed of working dog that originated in Texas in the mid-19th century. The Lacy was first recognized in 2001 by the Texas Senate. As expected, the vast majority of Lacy dogs are found in Texas. However, as the breed becomes better known, there are breeding populations being established across the United States, Canada, and most recently in Europe. Blue Lacy Dogs, in general, are intelligent, intense, active, and alert. Developed to be both hunting and herding dogs, they display great drive and determination to work with the big game and control loose livestock. Young dogs may have too much energy and drive for small children. They are easy to train, learning new skills quickly.

image - truebluelacey.org

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Virginia: American Foxhound The American Foxhound has a very docile and sweet demeanor. A typical dog is gentle, easygoing, and gets along with children and other animals. However, they may act shy and reserved when around strangers.

The American Foxhound is taller and rangier than its cousin, the English Foxhound. Also, this breed is known to have a musical bark when it is hunting that can be heard for miles.

If competing in a dog show, some physical characteristics that judges would look for would be a slightly domed skull, long, large ears, large eyes, straight muzzle, well laid-back shoulders, a moderately long back, fox like feet, and a slightly curved tail. Though they are traditionally tri-colored (black, white and tan), they can be any color. They are one of the rarest breeds in the American Kennel Club.

Delmarva Unleashed

image - my doggie.rocks

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image - picpicx.com

Wisconsin: American Water Spaniel In the field, the AWS is less exuberant than the English Springer Spaniel, but it is as skilled in retrieval as Labrador or Golden Retriever. It is versatile regardless of the type of terrain, and in the water, it is not the fastest swimmer but has a high level of endurance. The breed is also good at agility and flyball, with the first of the breed receiving a flyball championship title in 1993. Members of the breed enjoy being the center of attention, and can be quite vocal at times.

It enjoys being the only dog in the family, and will often bond with one particular individual. For many years, the breed was "pack-bred," where they were allowed to live in a group.

Since these times, breeders have been working to breed even tempered dogs that are suitable for both hunting and family life.

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Heartworm Preventative from pg. 24 FDA-Approved Heartworm Preventatives for Dogs and Cats A variety of products are available by prescription only: oral pill or tablet: ivermectin, milbemycin oxime topical liquid that the owner squeezes from a tube onto the pet's back: selamectin, moxidectin injectable (for dogs only): moxidectin Clarke says owners need to have a conversation with their veterinarian about which type of heartworm prevention is best for their pet. For example, pet owners with children should pay particular attention when using topical treatments and follow 34

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the directions carefully to minimize the child’s exposure. Heartworm preventatives are by prescription only— so beware of an internet site or store that will dispense medicine without a prescription, says Clarke.

Additionally, FDA monitors all heartworm preventatives for problems that may occur with use, such as unexpected side effects. Pet owners are encouraged to report any side effects to their veterinarian, the drug company, and the FDA.

The PlaidDog.com This Winter 35

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Doggie Socials How to Make the DU Doggie Socials, and Other Features This Year

by Sandy Phillips

S

o many times we are asked how to get a dog in the Doggie Socials, the annual calendar and on the cover of Delmarva Unleashed. If you are interested in increasing your chances of having your dog in one of our features this year, following us on Facebook offers up to date information on what we are up to and what we are looking for when we issue a "call."

Doggie Socials are the easiest to be included in, and you don't have to wait for a photo shoot call or contest to increase your chances. You can do it as simply as posting your dogs images on our Facebook page. That's most often where we pick them up. You can email them to our design email at creative@grandlivingmag.com too.

Once you post or send us images you are giving us permission to use them in our publications. Keep in mind that not all images are usable, and it's more likely that your image quality is what makes your photo ineligible as opposed to your dog. Because we 36

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print full-color glossy, we must maintain image standards for a quality presentation. You will want to post sharp images that are at least 300 dpi.

If you don't know what that is, just use your camera or camera phone on the highest quality setting. If it's too large we can adjust it on this end, but too small or too low a resolution we cannot. We also tend to stay way from images with humans; you rarely see humans in DU and the professional session we did with the children this past fall is the exception to our rule.

We are Delmarva's DOG Magazine.

Regarding features shoots and the calendar, read our photoshoot call carefully. We make every effort to clearly let you know what we are looking for and yet in the past, we have called for one topic and actually shot for more than one within the same shoot. This would explain why you look at the dogs invited to a photo shoot and wonder "why did they choose that dog?" We always have a plan, trust us.

Wilson

Roxy Dolce

Orville The Doak Gang Delmarva Unleashed

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As for the coveted cover of Delmarva Unleashed, with only six issues a year, choosing what or who goes on the cover can be difficult. Our annual Delmarva Unleashed Cover Model Search, held at Pooch Palooza, is a must to increase your chances of garnering Cover Dog status for your pup. We get to see lots of dogs at these Cover Shoots, and we also can determine how photogenic your dog is as well as their ability to follow direction and/or sit for the photo. If your dog is exceptional, the photographer will often make notes on your sheet or mention it to me at a later time. If your pup is a bit too hyper, for the session, that note is made too. It doesn't knock your dog out; it just flags them for a less confining photo sessions.

Participating in Cover Model Search is just one step, and it too is not a guarantee. It does, however, let us know where to find specific breeds and colors of dogs and those that are very photogenic.

Keep your dog in front of us. The more we see your dog, the better we know what types of sessions work for them. Some dogs come across my desk so often; I can recognize them in the Home Depot without ever knowing what their humans look like!

We truly keep dogs in mind for other projects too; we do a lot of things in this office. Keeping your dog in front of us is key.

Our slogan, "Does Your Dog Have What It Takes?" is very true and DU Dog Marla is the perfect example.

Marla turned five, last month and will finally grace the cover of DU in 2016. My dog has attended many photo shoots, including private ones 38

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and it's taken us five years to get an image that was cover worthy. This clearly says that persistence can pay off, even for our dogs. Marla does not like having her photo taken; some dogs just don't. Others won't sit still or follow directions to get the shot we are looking for. If you don't at first succeed, try, try again!

We do all kinds of photo settings, perhaps your dog is better suited to a different event, but I have seen dogs not shine at one photo shoot and go on to be Cover Dogs at a different one.

It is also said that "every dog has it's day." We just need to photograph them on that day!

Sophie Zoe

Sara

Mason

Masssimo Madeleine

Everything You Need For The Winter Ahead

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Delmarva Unleashed Winter 2016 bryanandbrittingham.com