Winter 2017

Vol. 9 Issue 1 - Winter 2017

Complimentary

“Luka”

Snow Day With Your Dog

About That New Dog...

From Feral to Family Dog

Unleashed Delmarva

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Winter 2017

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contents Vol. 9 Issue 1 Winter 2017

6 Bark of the Town 10 Ginger From Feral to Family Dog 16 About that New Dog...

18 Zen this Year?

20 Seven New Year’s Resolutions 26 Snow Day with Your Dog 30 The Paw in Your Hands 36 Doggie Socials

Delmarva Unleashed Publisher Sandy Phillips Associate Publisher Farin Phillips Sales Norm Herdigan Edited by Grammerly Contributing Writers Amanda Abresch, B.S., ABCDT, APDT, CPDT-KA Polly Elliott John Maniatty, V.M.D. Brandon Phillips Jaclyn Wolinski, D.M.V.

Office (410)726-7334 On the Cover:

“Luka” proudly owned by Josh Holland of Pocomoke City, 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 of this publication, in whole or part, may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Copyright 2017©, 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

Chilly Dog? Hypothermia can spoil outdoor fun quickly. Symptoms vary with the level of severity. According to PetMD, Mild hypothermia is evident through weakness, shivering, and lack of mental alertness. Moderate hypothermia reveals characteristics such as muscle stiffness, low blood pressure, a stupor-like state, and shallow, slow breathing.

Contrary to popular belief, even large dogs might need a little extra protection when temperatures plummet. Paws of all size of dogs can become injured on ice or become chapped and crack during harsh winter weather. While boots can be practical, they can slow things down on those quick potty trips and are not for every 6

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dog or dog owner. Keep a watchful eye on the pads and if your dog comes in contact with salt or other ice melts be sure to rinse their paws at the door.

Not only can ingestion, from paw licking be toxic, but the chemicals themselves are damaging to the paws.

If your dog has no undercoat, then coats are imperative as the cold sets in. Nature just doesn't offer enough protection for these dogs who are physically better suited for warmer climates. Cold dogs tend to tuck their tail between their legs, shiver or appear fearful of going outside, simply because it's cold. Older dogs also struggle in the cold, damp weather, just like humans, as older joints respond to changes in pressure. For them, even a sweater offers a level of warmth, particularly if the house is drafty and they will appreciate donning coats in a crisp winter day.

Even so-called "outdoor" dogs can benefit from coming in during very cold weather. Montgomery county set a new standard earlier this year by instituting a law that will fine you $500 for leaving a dog out in cold weather.

Something we hope will follow suit through the state and across the nation in general.

And You Thought They Would Forget According the MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group in Budapest, Hungary, dogs exhibit episodic memory. Meaning they can repeat things that we do.

Over a period of time, dogs were shown an activity, like jumping in the air and then asked to perform the very same activity with the command, “do it!” While you may consider this training, the sessions were next followed by the presentation of the very same human activities, again like jumping and the next time, the dogs were asked to lie down after viewing each activity. After one hour, the dogs viewed the activities again and responded on cue with the previous command “do it!”

This not only indicates their ability to recognize human commands, but the

ability to remember the differences in similar activities "From a broad evolutionary perspective, this implies that episodic-like memory is not unique and did not evolve only in primates but is a more widespread skill in the animal kingdom," says Dr. Fugazza, Program Director. "We suggest that dogs may provide a good model to study the complexity of episodic-like memory in a natural setting, especially because the species has the evolutionary and developmental advantage to live in human social groups."

For us dog owner, quite simply put, your dogs are paying attention and they'll remember what you did. Now if they just had opposable thumbs.

WTOP/FM Washington, DC reported that the incidence of diabetes in dogs in the US has crept up in the past decade, with an 80% jump in dogs. Veterinarian Katy Nelson, says the increase is linked to pets' expanding waistlines. Pets with diabetes drink more water and need to urinate more often, and those are commonly the first signs of diabetes.

Big Boy!

New Name, Same Great Care!

Like so many people that vacation here at the beach, Brenda and John Maniatty, V.M.D. fell in love with the area and knew they needed to call it home. Seven years after veterinary school when John heard that the Ocean City Animal Hospital was for sale, he and Brenda took the leap to business owners.

From the beginning it was all about "quality care with a caring heart" and that philosophy has help In 2011, they expanded service into lower Delaware when they acquired the Ocean View Animal Hospital.

Some of the staff from the Ocean City location moved to that practice to maintain the Maniatty standard of care and that business too began to grow.

Now the Maniatty's are merging the names, Ocean City Animal Hospital and Ocean View Animal Hospital into one brand, their brand, Precious Paws Animal Hospital. Same superior service the practice is built on, same staff and quality of care.

We wish them many continued years of success!

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On December 18, 2016 the Guinness World Records announced the worlds largest dog, Freddy. The Great Dane stands 7 foot 6 inches on his hind legs and weights in a little over 200 pounds.

Twenty-three sofas later, Freddy discovered they were more pleasant to sit on than chew, or maybe that was just maturity. He takes walks in the wee hours of the morning with his very large sibling Fleur, also a Dane. Owner Clair Stoneman, from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, UK., says she would prefer to walk him when most dogs are sleeping as she could never hold him if there was an unpleasant confrontation. She also says that most dogs they would meet on a daily walk are intimidated by his size and she doesn’t feel that good for his self-confidence.

Tailwaggers According to Planet Dog: A Doglopedia, in 2003, Dr. Roger Mugford invented the “wagometer,” a device that claims to interpret a dog’s exact mood by measuring the wag of its tail.

Let’s Hope This Catches On Across the Entire State!

From the Montgomery County Government Office Due to the very cold temperatures and windy conditions predicted for December 14 through Friday, December 15, the Montgomery County Animal Services Division is announcing enforcement of Executive Regulation 10-10AM, Anti-Cruelty Conditions for Dogs.

Section II-C of the regulation states that “a person must not tether a dog under circumstances that endanger its health, safety, or well-being including: unattended tethering of the dog during a weather emergency.” The enforcement of this regulation is put into effect during conditions of unusual cold, wind, or heavy snow and during periods of high heat and humidity which can all be damaging to dogs and other animals. The penalty for this violation is a $500 fine.

Montgomery County Police Animal Services officers want to remind citizens to be particularly careful with all pets during every period of cold weather. The best advice during periods of extreme weather conditions is to bring pets indoors. Even animals that are accustomed to living outdoors can be susceptible to the dangers of cold weather.

Livestock animals should have a place to get out of the wind and dry bedding should be provided to protect them from frostbite.

ASD Officers will be on-call, patrolling neighborhoods and responding to any animal-related emergencies. If you see an animal left outside that appears to be in danger, please call 301-279-8000.

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Ginger—

From Feral to

Family Dog from Sgt. Peppers Friends - Aruba

W

hile I’m writing this, Ginger is laying on my bed playing with one of her dog toys. She’s the perfect example of a satisfied, loving and healthy looking dog. Ginger owns happiness, it’s flowing all around her, she breathes joy, genuine love, content and true happiness. It’s hard to believe this story begins with a dog so different from the one I’m looking at now.

On June 1st of 2015, I received a phone call from Rachel. She found a dead puppy, laying on the side of the road. Several more puppies were running in the bushes, just inches away from cars passing by. I stepped into my car and after five hours of laying in bushes surrounded by the nastiest thorns, digging holes and working very hard with a team of six people, we were able to rescue the two remaining puppies: Poppy and Lily.

There was a pack of dogs living in this area; four females and one male dog. We decided they needed our help.

The owner of the dogs told us that he was feeding them, but that only one of the dogs was his. Another one was 10

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very skinny and limping badly. He said that the dog sneaks into his house to steal food from the counter. He wasn’t very fond of her. He gave us permission to catch the dogs to have them spayed, and he would keep feeding them after they were returned. We agreed, but the catching part wasn’t as easy as it sounds.

It took us a full three weeks before we were able to catch the puppies mom, Polly. Polly was fostered by Rachel, but she didn’t enjoy life inside. She tore up the whole house and after a week managed to escape.

She was so happy being back with her girl gang that we decided to let her be.

Poppy apparently wasn’t meant to be an inside dog! This is a decision we regret to this day because a few weeks later she was hit by a car. Her injuries were very severe, and we had to let the vet put her to sleep.

On August 3rd we managed to catch two more females: Silver and Gold.

Gold had an owner and was very sweet; we were waiting for permission to have her operated too. Silver was more difficult, and we had to use tranquilizers, and even then it was quite the effort.

Some time later the owner decided to give up Gold after all. They’d broken into his house, and Gold hadn’t prevented it (sadly this is the mentality of some people; dogs are only kept around for “security”). We found Gold a great home, and she’s currently living the life with a beautiful family in California!

We caught the dogs one by one over the course of a few months, and every time we went there we saw an orange, extremely skinny dog who couldn’t walk properly. She refused to come closer and as soon as we even looked in her direction, she took off. Her limping became worse as the weeks went by, her back was arched, her hind legs were not functioning well, and she was keeping one of her front legs in the air too. We thought she was hit by a car and were afraid she’d

sustained some horrible injuries.

After feeding her on a regular basis she stayed a little closer, but approaching her was still not an option. This poor little girl was the most terrified dog we had ever met!

After showing a video of her to our vet, he told us it looked liked she had a fractured spine. This made it very clear that we had to keep trying to catch her. This dog wouldn’t be able to survive much longer on her own. The most difficult mission of Sgt Pepper’s Friends had officially begun: we simply had to catch this dog before it was too late!

Catching her with a trap proved impossible – she was too smart and too scared even to approach it. We tried giving her tranquilizers through food, but this feisty and feral dog managed to run away even then. We increased the dose and even though she was dizzy from exhaustion she still got up and took when we approached her. A team of eight people spent weeks trying to catch her on a regular basis with no luck. It was starting to feel like an impossible feat.

On August 6th of 2015, we doubled the tranquilizer dose – with approval from the vet of course. I waited almost two hours by the side of the road for the medication to take effect. She was sleeping and seemed unresponsive. I slowly approached her, she opened her eyes and ran away immediately… I was about to burst into tears but still waited for her to lay down again for a second attempt. However, she

disappeared into the bushes, and I had to give up and go home eventually.

An hour later my phone rang. Philip from Philips Animal Garden saw her – he knew we were working on catching her and had helped during several attempts – laying next to the road, sleeping soundly, and he caught her!

We were very happy, but also sad since she was in such a bad shape. We were frightened for the outcome and with a heavy heart we took her to the vet. Her x-rays showed… no abnormalities!!! We were wonder-struck.

She was admitted in boarding. She had a severe case of heartworm and was very anemic. We named her Ginger.

Three days later we received a phone call from our vet. Ginger had bitten one of the staff members severely.

She had been trying to bathe her, and Ginger got scared. Not being used to people and expecting the worst when 12

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being around them, plus the traumatizing days she had, caused this response.

The vet told us she was so scared that we only had two options: 1. Find her a foster home. 2. Euthanize. Keeping her in boarding would have only made things worse and seeing as she was so terrified the recommended option number 2.

That same day I went to the vet to pick her up. The crate I had didn’t fit in my car, so they put her in the back of my car. On our way home, she became so frightened that she peed and pooped herself. It wasn’t a very pleasant ride… Back home we managed to get her into my backyard. I could just hope she’d be cat-friendly since two of my cats are allowed to go outside as well. Ginger crawled into the bushes of my backyard and disappeared. I introduced my two dogs, Nina and Milo, one by one. They could sense her fear and stayed away from her, both of them only smelled the trail where Ginger had walked.

During the night I woke up and went to the bathroom. I heard water running so I went outside and Ginger had pulled off the timer of my drip system from the faucet, so all the water was freely running into my yard! I closed the area off with pallet wood, but this smart girl was still able to get to the timer, and the same thing happened again. As you can imagine, I was eagerly waiting for my water bill that month.

It took a tremendous amount of patience and care, but over the next few months, she slowly started to come out of the bushes. It took weeks and weeks for her to come towards me, but when she did she was wagging her tail and looking pleased. I’d feed her twice a

day and while, in the beginning, she wouldn’t even approach her bowl until I was inside the house and the door was closed, in time she started to step out of the bushes for food when she heard me come outside. She didn’t want to come inside the house at all, and I still wasn’t able to approach her, not even after caring for her and feeding her for four months straight. It was time to get some expert advice. We brought Jade and Janice from United K9 Professionals to Aruba, hoping to make some progress with professional help. I’d already been in touch with them and gotten some good advice, but there was little progress made.

During the time they were in Aruba, we worked with Ginger for four afternoons. From getting her used to a leash around her neck; it’s a simple sentence, but it took days to get her used to it and several hours to get it on her the first day - to eventually petting her with the leash, to touching her – for the first time! It was like magic.

I will never forget these days, these moments, being able to touch her, to connect with her after living together for so many months without any real contact. It was an amazing and mind-blowing experience. Jade’s and Janice’s helpful techniques helped me show Ginger that she could trust me, and we started making some amazing progress. She had a piece of rope around her neck since being boarded at the vet and finally getting it off felt like a liberation, a new start, like cutting the ribbon to be able to enter a new stage in my life with Ginger. It was amazing!!!!!

So much changed with the help I received during these days, but not everything changed overnight. We

worked hard, and it took a lot of effort.

After the week with Janice and Jade, I had to continue on my own. The first few days were difficult. Ginger is a smart girl, and she knew I was alone now. She didn’t make it easy for me but every day went a little better.

On November 29th it was raining a lot, and my porch was soaked. I felt so bad for Ginger being out there alone, so I decided to take her inside. I put the leash on her and carefully led her inside. She wasn’t too pleased but settled in quickly. For me, this was the moment that Ginger ‘broke’, it only took a few more days before she was sleeping inside the house – and eventually on the bed with me, my dogs and my cats. A huge step!

A month later I took her on a walk for the first time. The car ride was the worst part for her – she peed herself right away – but the support of my dogs helped her a lot. She walked correctly on a leash immediately. I tied her to my other dog Nina the next day and Ginger loved it! It only took a few days before she was able to walk off leash and stopped peeing in my car.

From here Ginger made incredible progress. She went from a feral dog to a family dog! She is a part of our pack now, happily greets people as they approach her, she is friendly with other dogs, loves jumping on the bed and gives me kisses whenever she can.

But – she will always remain ‘special’. New situations are intimidating, doing things differently is scary, food remains an issue (she gets very unsure and runs away if you get near her while she’s eating or has a treat) and stress triggers the destroyer in her.

Ginger loves meeting new people (in a familiar place). She adores cats (and Delmarva Unleashed

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their toys), is social with other dogs, she walks great off and on the leash, gives lots and lots of affection, is incredibly gentle and loving, she’ll make sure you get up in the morning after your alarm clock rings. She talks (she chatters her teeth, barks and makes super cute sounds when she’s happy) and going on walks is her favorite thing!

She’s been on a heartworm program for 34 weeks but unfortunately didn’t test negative yet. She’ll need to be on monthly preventative heart guard for six months after which she can be retested.

She has been spayed, fully vaccinated and “ready to go home.” I wish I would be able to keep her; she’s been with me for almost a year, and she’s part of my family. Two dogs and five cats are enough for me, though, and I want to continue fostering dogs and saving lives. I know that the right family is out there somewhere, and I’m

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determined to find them for her!!

To my sweet girl Ginger: I will never forget you. You gave me so much to remember. The frightened look in your eyes when I met you and the poor condition you were in, the first time I touched you. The first time you slept in my bed, the first time we went on a walk, your everyday smile, your happy dances, our walks, our mornings cuddling in bed, your teeth chattering, your love. Only thinking about you leaving makes me cry. You will leave my life one day soon, but you will never leave my heart. My dog, my foster, my friend, my Ginger.

We have been updated that Ginger now has a furever home, where she is enjoying lots of sofa time and a warm loving family.

To adopt or support the Aruba street dogs, visit sgtpeppersfriends.com for more information.

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About That New Dog...

by Polly Elliott

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e become so very attached to our dogs. Because their lifespan varies greatly from ours, real dog lovers experience loss over and over, or do we?

There many books written about canine reincarnation. The new movie, A Dog's Purpose, based on a book by W. Bruce Cameron, speaks on the subject. Another book by Gail Graham, Ph.D., Will Your Dog Reincarnate?, details her “experience” with reincarnation. It also talks about the feelings associated with grief, including that ever present question, will you see them again? The book explores the unusual feelings surrounding the introduction of a new dog into your life or as it may be, according to the book, the re-introduction to your "old" dog.

Psychologist William James describes mystical experiences as being ineffable, noetic, and transient.

According to a National Opinion Research Center survey, several years ago in Chicago, : 43 percent of all 16

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Americans say they’ve had a mystical experience. Have you?

Have you experienced that sixth sense when picking out a new dog that you have known them before? Is that how you know, as you browse the dogs in a shelter or a litter of puppies, that one particular dog is the one you've been looking for?

Animal communicator's often talk of that overwhelming sense of connection to a new animal. They say that when people utilize their services to question if a new to them dog, is their old dog reincarnated, that people are often correct. Somehow we seem to know instinctively; that in some way the universe just takes us along the correct path to a new beginning with our old dogs.

Does this happen in every instance?

According to my research, many animal communicators say that it's not a given. That there truly has to be a very special bond for a dog to come

back to us. They also say that it may not be your very next dog because there is an element of timing. However, if the bond was strong enough, it could happen, and animal communicator’s say it happens more that you think.

Edgar Cayce often called the "father of holistic medicine," was also called a "mystic." He frequently spoke of reincarnation in humans saying, “Each soul or entity will and does return, or cycle, as does nature in its manifestations; thus leaving, making or presenting, as it were, those infallible, indelible truths that is – life is continuous.”

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There has been an ongoing study at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, since 1961, on reincarnation.

Research staff at the Division of Perceptual Studies observes children all over the world, mostly under the age of 7, who speak of incidents that are not relative in any way to their current family life, but directly connected to relatives that have passed on. University studies, tend to provide us with “real evidence,” particularly since today's society sees that research as validated. Can we apply those studies to canines?

I know your looking and your dog and wondering. I have wondered many times too. There are countless accounts of reincarnation, both human and canine; many with what seems to be real evidence that dogs travel with us throughout our lives.

Could it be?

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Zen this year?

H

by Sandy Phillips 18

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ave you ever given thought to how valuable your sense of smell is?

You know how that distinct scent of pine makes you think of the holidays? How just smelling the pine in the warmer months can make you feel that holiday warmth inside? What about the wafting smells from the kitchen; how those warm cookies and turkey in the oven take you right back to holiday memories in an instant?

Dogs have 50 times more olfactory receptors than humans. If our sense of smell can transport us to memories, then dogs have to experience a very heightened response to smells and are very responsive to those odors. Did you know that we can use those smells to communicate with our dogs and with much success?

With the constant stress we all endure in today's world, from simple street noises to electronic gadgets that sound at all times of the day and night, we can easily get a sensory overload and so can our dogs. That doesn't even include individual canine stressors, like the vacuum or the UPS man. Today's modern dog can be as stressed as their humans. In fact, many will mirror our stress levels as they read it in us, simply out of concern. Aside from doggie Prozac, which is available to them, what can you do to make their lives a bit less stressful?

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parsellpet.com 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE There are many things we can do, from keeping up with anticipated routines to a healthy living environment and proper nutrition that allows the bodies natural stress responses to function properly. There are also all natural flower essences. They are diluted tinctures made from flowers.

Essences have been in use for decades and are gaining popularity for use in pets.

In the 1920's and '30s, Dr. Edward Bach discovered the natural healing power of flower essences. He stated that the essences would "gently restore the balance between mind and body by casting out negative emotions such as fear, worry, hatred and indecision, which interfere with the equilibrium of the being as a whole."

While flower essences can be taken internally, many play off the sense of

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smell. It is well known that the scent of Lavender alone can calm nervous dogs and humans alike, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. I have personally used flower essences on nervous horses before competition and dogs for several behaviors, such as separation anxiety and stress with great success.

It sounds very simple just to have your dog smell something and viola; problem solved, yes? No, it's not that simple. Flower essences are considered herbal medicines and their use are best guided, particularly in the beginning, by a veterinary professional or holistic practitioner.

They work on the mental, and emotional level and animals seem to be very responsive to their proper use. They also come in a wide variety of grades, so be sure to purchase a Continued pg 27

Seven New Year's Resolutions for Your Dog 1. More Walks - Statistics show that dogs that get regular exercise benefit both mentally and physically. These dogs are happier and are more likely to maintain a healthy weight. You know how you feel during the long cold winter months when cabin fever sets in; our dogs feel it too. Make a plan this year for regular exercise. If you can't get out because of foul weather, plan some indoor fun like rolling a ball down the hall or make a maze for your dog with the dining room chairs and teach them to find their way out.

Hide and Seek can provide great mental stimulation too. Your dog doesn't have to have a gym membership to maintain fitness; they just need a little more time up and about with you.

2. Improved Diet - Make the commitment this year to feed your dog better.

Poor quality kibbles will just cost you more in health problems down the road. You are what you eat, and your dogs are too. Reduce table scraps and opt for a quality diet that is the best your budget will allow.

3. I Will Brush My Dogs Teeth There are a variety of toothbrushes on the market, some that look like human brushes and others that slip on the end of your finger. They are very inexpensive, so you might pick up one of each and see which your dog prefers.

Be sure to use a doggie toothpaste and start slowly, so your dog learns to understand both the sensation of the brushing and having something in his mouth you are manipulating. Patience is key.

If you just don't want to pick up that brush, consider chews that can reduce tartar build up. Don't be lured in my those "dental chews" that are full of junk. Read the labels carefully and make an informed choice for your dog. Cod Skins are an excellent way to keep tartar down and are an all natural source of vitamins for an added bonus.

4. Breaking Bad Habits - This year should be the year you pick up the phone and call the trainer. That annoying habit your dog still has is

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something you probably don't have to live with. Perhaps you just need a little professional direction or at the very least have a professional observe where you are making your communication mistake. In most cases you don't have to commit to a 12-week course for your dog, perhaps just a few lessons are in order. Choose a reputable trainer with credentials for the best success rate.

5. Plan for your dogs future this year Look into pet health insurance for those unforeseen health problems. Or simply start a pet health fund, where you tuck away a little each week or month, just in case. Even with the best home care, dogs can get hurt or have an underlying condition that just pops up unexpectedly. Your dog will have more options for recovery if there are enough funds for care.

6. Make sure your dog has adequate ID. - More than 90% of lost dogs reunited with their families were wearing a dog tag. Dogs that manage to get too far from home can find their way back via microchip. They are inexpensive and can be placed right at your vet.

7. Give to dogs in need - Many pets in a shelter would love a warm sweater this winter. If Santa brought your pup new sweaters this year, consider sending their old ones to a local shelter. Maybe it's time to move some unfavored toys along too.

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Snow Days With Your Dog

by Amanda Abresch, B.S., ABCDT, APDT, CPDT-KA

I

'm sure you've noticed by now but just in case- it's winter, and it's cold out there. To tell you the truth, I become a lazy dog owner in the winter. I don’t want to go out to exercise my dog, and she isn’t too thrilled about winter either, being from Hawaii. Here's the thing, though- she still needs to get her exercise, and I need to keep taking the time to teach her new things and build on existing skills.

In addition to playing fetch and tug (two of her favorite pastimes), I love using "free-shaping" to teach her new skills. Shaping is 26

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Winter 2017

defined as "building new behavior by selectively reinforcing variations in existing behavior, during the behavior rather than after, to increase or strengthen the behavior in a specific manner or direction."

What this means is letting a dog offer behaviors on their own until they offer the behavior you want (or a portion of it), then shaping and refining the behavior to get the complete behavior you want. The thing that separates shaping from other types of training is that there is no direction whatsoever from the person training- no lure, verbal

From pg 19 Zen This Year? reputable brand. With so many essence combinations available guidance is key. Success with essences and dogs depends on a well-informed human.

The administration of essences is simple. With my horses, I dabbed it on the end of their noses. For essences taken internally, it's as simple as placing a few drops on a soft treat and offering it to your dog. Some work well when placed in room diffusers, particularly if you are trying to relieve anxiety or depression in animals. For others, placement on pads or simply rubbing essences through your dog's coat are very beneficial. Paws are very absorptive. Be sure you have the proper ratios, if dilution is required or that you don't overdo. Like any medica-

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tions, their benefit comes from proper dosing. Be sure to check with your vet if your pet is on regular medications to avoid any negative side effects or interactions. Again, this is where guidance is advantageous.

Also give them time to work, although my horses responded within minutes to the reassuring smell of lavender, some animals need a few doses or dosages have to be adjusted for body size before the maximum effect is seen.

Flower essences are just another tool for us to offer our modern dogs as they become even more ingrained in the human life, that can allow us both to live in harmony.

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indications, or environmental manipulation. Free-shaping is just a way of saying 'shaping' that reminds us to let the dog do it freely without instruction, only feedback.

The game 101 Things To Do With A Box, is a form of shaping- though it could be argued that the addition of a new item (box) to the environment is setting up the dog to explore it. I use shaping for lots of behaviors, especially "go to your place" and targeting. When it's too cold to play outside, I just sit with Roxie and wait for her to offer any behavior at all. She lifts a back leg, I click and treat. I continue to click and treat this behavior and refine itmaybe get her to stretch out a back leg and kick a ball or touch the coffee table with her leg. When I play this game, I let her be my guide and work out my final goal as I go. That last part isn't actually true- my only training goal is for both of us to have fun. That's it. She will get some mental exercise, which she needs when there is less outside time, and I get practice refining my

timing with the clicker (which any clicker trainer will tell you is imperative).

Another great indoor game that we play is the ‘find it’ hunt. When Roxie is being taken outside, the kids and I will hide treats and new toys all around the houseunder furniture, under bowls, behind the couch, between shoes, etc. As soon as she comes in, we say “Find It, Roxie!”, and I swear her eyes twinkle. She looks up at me once to be sure she heard me right; I nod my head, and she takes off running with her nose to the floor. The kids are entertained for a good 20 minutes while she hunts, to see if they fooled her and she gets to have a great time using the tools and skills she was born with, and I get to stay warm.

So, since it's cold stay inside and play with your dog! You will have lots of fun, and your dog will get exercise and mental stimulation so that you can both enjoy this winter no matter how much you get stuck inside!

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The Paw In Your Hands

by Brandon Phillips

U

nfortunately, dogs’ paws are an often overlooked in general health care. In actuality, their continued care is vital to the overall health of the dog.

Dogs with paw pain or irritation may not be inclined to exercise as much, leading to joint issues, obesity, excess nervous energy, and other concerns.

Nail care is essential. Your dog’s nails should sit just above the ground when your dog is standing on all fours.

If you hear a clicking sound when your dog walks on hard surfaces, the nails are too long. Nails that are long can cause undue stress on the tiny paw joints and over time can lead to joint damage. As the nail grows, so does the blood supply to the toes and nail called the"quick." You want to be very careful not to cut the quick when trimming your dog’s nails, to avoid 30

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pain and bleeding. The quick is easily seen, within the nail, if your dog has white nails, and it appears as a thin pink line. However, it can be tough to determine the location of in dark nails.

Trimming your dog’s nails regularly will cause the quick to recede into the nail so you can cut them shorter each time. Maintenance here is key.

For many dogs, nail trimming is a multi-person job. Grooming professionals often offer "walk-in" nail trimming for your convenience, and they have all kinds of tricks to make trimming a simple experience for your dog.

Paw licking can be referred to as a “self-propagating cycle”. If your dog licks his paws because of an allergy or irritation, and that licking causes

It's most likely you wear shoes when walking your dog, which may mean you are not mindful of the terrain. Hot pavement can burn your dog’s paws, if you can't walk on it barefoot neither can they. Sharp rocks, sea shells, bush spurs, or broken glass are all hazards to your dogs paws. Beware of what they are walking on and if you're often on rocky terrain, consider boots for your dog.

While you may think they look silly, they are a functional tool to protect paws, particularly if your dog is your hiking partner. Quality boots are not a frivolous purchase, and they are also not cheap. However, they are very cost effective compared to an injury.

Boots often work well for small dogs that are quickly chilled by cold pavements, allowing your walks to last longer in the winter months. After, and periodically during long walks, check your dog’s paws for potential irritants or foreign objects.

Handle your dogs paws often, particularly during puppy-hood. If they are comfortable with the concept, nail care and addressing any paw issues that may arise, will be much easier.

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further irritation, which causes more licking...can lead to infected paws.

While it's best to determine the source of the irritation, it can often be a difficult task. While you work on the issue, it's important to protect the paws from further damage. Children's socks are often an excellent idea and if your dog is a whiz at removing them, adding a layer of vet-wrap (available at your pet store) will often create too much of a challenge for your dog to remove them. Socks also offer the opportunity to apply an oil or paw balm to the pads to help ease any irritation and aid in healing. The socks will help keep your dog from slipping and allow the dogs body heat to facilitate absorption. If you still cannot keep your dog from licking their paws, an e-collar is another option. Remember infected paws will require a trip to your vet.

There are other sources of paw irritation including, walking on hot pavement or being exposed to salt or chemical deicers. These irritants can cause your dog’s paws to become raw, chapped, and cracked. If your dog is exposed to these or similar irritants, you will want to wash and dry their paws when they return to the house or use a paw wax to offer a layer of protection for the pads. While you may opt for pet-friendly deicers, never assume that your neighbor does. Paw waxes also wear off depending on the length of your walk and can track dirt back into the house, so we recommend paw washing over-all. Some dogs suffer from seasonal allergies, and all the paw washing and balms in the world won't stop the paw licking. In these cases, your veterinarian can help you sort out the best options for your dog.

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Luna - Bishopville, MD

s l a i c o S e i Dogg

Tux- Salisbury, MD

Bogey- Ocean City, MD

Deezal- Snowhill, MD

Ella - Chincoteague, VA

Lily Orleans, MD

Roman Hancock, MD

Willow Pittsville, MD

Dexter - Snowhill, MD

Armani - Powellville, MD

Feebie Seaford, DE

Lefty - Laurel, DE

Diesel - Parsonsburg, MD

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Zoe - Ellendale, DE

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