Animal wellness
august/september 2010
Animalwellness For a long, healthy life!
Natural eye care
Holistic support keeps him seeing
Best bounce for your buck
Living pawsitive!
Rescue Ink Featured on Ellen and Dr.Phil, these bikers look tough, but they have a soft spot for animals
animal Wellness Magazine
8
exercises for your dog
help for
heatstroke Cool her off with acupressure
From kelp to kombu Edible seaweeds are good for him too
harness Happiness Tips on buying the right harness for your dog
VOLUME 12 ISSUE 4
august/september Display until Sept. 14, 2010
$5.95 USA/Canada
VOLUME 12 ISSUE 4
Keep the beat Focus on heart health the ultimate reward Find out why a positive approach is so much better than dominance training
Breathing easy Getting to the root of respiratory congestion
AnimalWellnessMagazine.com
Contents August/September 2010
74
70
features 20 Cool him off
Heat stroke can strike your dog quickly, especially on humid summer days. Learn how acupressure can help stabilize him.
24 The best reward
Does your dog have behavior problems? Find out why dominance training doesn’t work, and why a positive approach is so much better.
28 Natural eye care
Your dog’s vision is important to his happiness and well being. Learn how to keep him seeing well using holistic and nutritional support.
36 Harnessed to safety
Does your dog pull on the leash no matter what you do? Consider getting him a harness. It’s safer for him, and easier on your arm. Here’s what to look for.
42 Food from the sea
From kelp to kombu, edible seaweeds are versatile “veggies” full of nutrition and flavor. They’re good for your animal companion too.
4
animal wellness
46 Win-win situation
74 Riding to the rescue
54 At your service
78 Breathing easy
Offenders train shelter dogs for adoption thanks to successful prison programs that give both inmates and animals a second chance in life.
If you or someone you know is disabled and wants a dog, how do you choose the right one?
58 Have a ball!
What dog doesn’t love playing with balls? Find out how to choose the safest and most durable products for your canine companion.
66 David Levy
Championing the benefits of quality all-natural pet foods.
70 Keep the beat Heart health is an important part of your dog or cat’s well being. Here’s what you need to know.
73 The best medicine
These preventive solutions to common health problems use oligotherapy and homeopathy as their cornerstones for healing.
They look tough, but they have soft hearts when it comes to animals. Meet Rescue Ink, a group of bikers with a mission to save animals in danger.
Respiratory congestion has numerous causes, but whatever the reason, it can make your dog or cat very uncomfortable. Getting to the root of the problem is the first step to alleviating his symptoms.
80 A home for homeopathy
Now in its second year, this Canadian college is dedicated to teaching animal homeopathy and getting vets and homeopaths working together for the well being of dogs and cats.
83 Taking pride
When it comes to oral health for dogs and cats, this company puts its money where its mouth is.
84 8 ways to fitness
Try these fun exercise ideas for a healthy, happy and well trained dog.
20 Columns 14
Yakkity yak
32 Warm & fuzzy 62 Dr. Martin Goldstein
42
86 Passages 88 Book reviews
Departments
98 Tail end
8 Editorial 12 Mail bag
58
50 Animal Wellness resource guide
57 Product picks 68 The scoop 90 Ad spots 95 Classifieds 97 Events calendar animal wellness
5
The best
reward Does your dog have behavior problems? Find out why dominance training doesn’t work, and why a positive approach is so much better. by Alana Stevenson
Y
ou’ve heard the term “positive training”. But what exactly does it mean? Positive trainers are opposed to the dominance/submission approach still used by many trainers. They often work with fearful and reactive dogs, and implement behavior modification to help people humanely and successfully resolve their dogs’ behavioral problems.
a massage or a kiss are all examples of rewards. When you reward your dog for performing a behavior, he will want to repeat that behavior. By repeating it, he will get very good at practicing it. He will then exhibit that behavior regularly without you having to reinforce it so often.
As a positive trainer myself, I am frequently asked how to establish a “boss” or “alpha” role over a dog. Instead of teaching people to “dominate” their dogs, however, I teach them to understand how dogs learn, and how to reinforce and reward wanted behaviors.
Rewards take priority
Positive training is very different from the dominance/ submission approach. When people try to dominate their dogs, they often employ harmful techniques that can be quite confrontational. People often try to be the “boss” by yanking and jerking the dog. Prong, choke, and shock collars, as well as pulling on a dog’s leash, are all standard methods used by those following a dominance approach.
Positive training means rewarding your dog for performing a behavior you desire. When your dog exhibits a behavior you like, you show him you appreciate that behavior by rewarding him. A reward is anything your dog enjoys. Food, praise, throwing a ball, playing tug or running, or giving him
• Choke collars, as their name implies, “choke” the animal. They can damage the trachea and spine, and constrict a dog’s air passages. The choke collar teaches nothing. It simply punishes.
24
animal wellness
The problem with dominance
animal wellness
25
Harnessed to safety Does your dog pull on the leash no matter what you do? Consider getting him a harness. It’s safer for him, and easier on your arm. Here’s what to look for. by Julie Dunford
K
elly’s dog is nearly seven years old, and has pulled on the leash since puppyhood. “I’ve tried everything to get him to heel, but nothing seems to work,” she says. “I figure he’ll be a puller all his life, so I guess I’m just going to have to put up with it.”
36
animal wellness
Dogs pull on their leashes for many reasons. The main one is that tugging, towing, hauling and pulling – while we hang on for dear life – gets them where they want to go. Despite our best efforts, many dogs are stronger than our efforts to restrain them, which means pulling usually works for them
no matter what we try. But dogs are supposed to be “man’s best friend”, not “man’s road to shoulder pain”. So what’s the solution? First, realize that following your dog as he heads to the nearest hydrant or bush actually rewards him for dragging you to the source of his desire. The problem is that most people worry about their dogs choking themselves if they refuse to comply with the pulling. Their concern is justified, considering the pressure such pulling puts on the dog’s airway. The canine trachea and esophagus aren’t meant to endure that kind of stress. Not that the danger will stop the dog from doing it anyway, of course! With patience and time, many dogs can be trained not to pull. But others, like Kelly’s, seem to forget all their training once they’re out on the leash and distracted by all the sights, sounds and smells of the great outdoors. If your dog is one of these,
consider purchasing him a harness. The idea is to restrain him safely, but in a way that doesn’t harm his neck and throat. Before heading to the nearest pet supply store, read the following list of pointers.
Shopping tips • Keep in mind that not all harnesses are made the same and therefore don’t serve the same purpose. The primary use of any harness must be taken into consideration when choosing a product. Some are created for training purposes only, while others are for walking. • Either measure your dog or take him shopping with you. The right fit is essential to the overall function of the harness, as well as your dog’s’comfort. • Buy a high quality product made from durable materials. It’ll cost more, but it’s well worth the investment.
Woven from recycled plastics, this harness is eco-friendly as well as practical (Trixie & Peanut).
This harness from Organic Pet Boutique is soft, breathable and adjustable at the chest. animal wellness
37