Modern Dog Summer 2019

Do you and your dog have the same personality? Science says you likely do. p32

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions

5 S U MMER 2019

Is Your Dog in Charge?

Fun Dog Activities

THE AR GE D G DO NEE !) yys y YOU y y yy (To

p48

Publications Agreement Number 40743013 Return Mail Dept, 202–343 Railway St., Vancouver, BC V6A 1A4

HOW TO

p102

Is the Akita For You?

WORK WITH PUPS!

p30

Water Dogs!

Careers/Side Hustles For Dog Lovers moderndogmagazine.com DISPLAY UNTIL SEPT ‘19

$6.95

GIVEAWAYS GALORE! LESSONS FROM A DOG TRAINER SENIOR DOG RESCUE

p68

CBD & Your Dog

Super-Fun Photo Ideas, Dogs in Weddings, Best Breeds for Allergy Sufferers Plus more!

30 FEATURES 28

Is the dog in charge?

Maybe, but that doesn’t mean there’s a dominance issue.

BY TEOTI ANDERSON

32

Like Owner, Like Dog? Does your personality influence your dog's? Does a dog's personality change over time? A new study digs deep to answer these questions.

26 88

BY STANLEY COREN

38

Tales From A Dog Trainer Dog trainer Tom Shelby shares a lifetime of lessons and stories, from P.I.-inspired sleuthing to quick fixes for common problem behaviours.

Muttville How a senior dog rescue is changing the lives of senior dogs.

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CBD & Your Dog All you need to know about how CBD (aka cannabidiol, a safe, non-toxic compound found in cannabis) can help your dog.

82

Interested? Em ail: info@carldog s.org

Work With Dogs Considering a career change or looking to make some extra scratch? These four jobs allow you to turn your love of dogs into a livelihood or a side hustle.

The Terrible Teens: Behaviour Changes in Adolescent Dogs Why your eight-month-old dog is suddenly being a brat.

96

Bow Vows: Dogs in Weddings Considering including your dog in your wedding? These couples prove it’s a winning—and darn cute!—idea.

THE GOODS 42

Home is Where The Dog Is Refresh your living space with these terrific dog-inspired finds for the home.

48

Toyyyyyyyyys!

The best toys to exercise your dog’s body and brain.

BY TRACEY TONG

86

Lesson in Love A Spanish speaking, four-footed therapist brings joy to children in desperate situations.

Must-Have Dog Gear Essential summer gear for dogs and their people.

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Look What We Found We tried it! The Modern Dog team’s current faves, finds, and obsessions.

BY PETER NOLAN-SMITH

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Adopt me!

BY NICOLE WILDE

BY DARCY MATHESON

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NO 2

BY JANE MUNDY

BY ROSE FROSEK

50

VOL 18

5 Fun Sports For Dogs Get fit, have fun with your dog, make new friends—these five popular dog activities may just prove to be your undiscovered passion. Just ask these participants.

BY VIVIEN FELLEGI

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SUMMER 2019

PHOTS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT HANS SIPMA; KIMBERLY CONLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

SUMMER 2019

PHOTO MANUEL CRISPIN - PHOTO PALMA

102 READ YOUR BREED 102 The Akita Get to know Japan’s national treasure, the dignified, imposing, and loyal Akita.

BY KELLY CALDWELL

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BODY & SOUL 60

How to Reduce Your Dog's Anxiety

62

Women in Power: Debbie Pelczynski Tells All

65

Foxtrot the Humanitarian Pup

DOG LIFE 22

We’re Giving It Away!

We’ve got loads of cool dog stuff we’re giving away, and winners every week! Turn to page 22 to see what’s up for grabs.

24

The Follow In our feed: Instagram account ‘Dogs in Food’ is every bit as delightfully weird as it sounds.

26

Smiles Guaranteed Next level dog photo ideas for memories that will last a lifetime.

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Splash! 9 Dogs That LOVE Water The best breeds for water sports.

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Stars, They’re Just Like Us! Candid snaps of celebs out and about with their pups.

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Allergic to Dogs? 10 Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds For People With Allergies Love dogs but have allergies? We ask Gina DiNardo, American Kennel Club Executive Secretary and expert on all things breed related, for her definitive list of the best breeds for allergy sufferers.

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The Disrupters After rethinking their own dog’s diet, a group of dog owners launch a made-fresh-to-order dog food company.

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DIY: No Bake Dog Treats Super-simple homemade dog treats—no oven required!

REGULAR FEATURES 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Contributors 10 Stuff We Love 12 The Scoop 20 Smile! Photo Contest 109 Marketplace

20

ON THE COVER This is the feeling we want to channel this summer! Mae, a Havanesse/Shih Tzu cross, embodies joy as she races across the beach.

Photographed by Vancouver, BC-based pet photographer Angie Wojciechowska of Off Leash Photography (off-leash.ca).

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SUMMER 2019

107 Connie’s Book Club Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson’s round-up of this season’s must-read dog books.

112 Last Lick Water Dogs! Look to these dogs for your summer season inspiration.

In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 18, Issue 2. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 061114003. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices.

POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.

EDITOR'S LETTER

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For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

CONNIE WILSON WITH PENNY, PHOTO KHAREN HILL

OUR READERS WRITE

T

he aptly named “dog days” of summer are almost upon us, and we couldn’t be more excited to dive into all the season has to offer. Summer must have been created with dogs in mind—all the sunbathing, barbeques, water sports, and time outside (or time inside in the AC, depending on where you live) make summer a paradise for pups and their people. To help you both, we’ve put together the ultimate beach read, an issue that will inspire, educate, and entertain while helping you better understand your dog. So, let’s jump right in! Here’s what you can expect to find…

Feelin' the Love

“Gotta keep up with the modern world!”—@thatgoldengirl_sadie “Love the magazine. I have read some really great books from your book club.”—Pauline from Massachusetts

In “Is the Dog in Charge?” (p 28), behaviourist Teoti Anderson debunks dominance theory, we further explore how CBD, a non-psychoactive component of hemp, can help dogs with everything from pain to anxiety to seizures, and a dog trainer shares lessons and stories from his years of experience helping Manhattan’s elite with their pups. We’ve also rounded up the best toys, summer gear, and dog-friendly finds for the home. We’ve got fun photo ideas (flower crowns! Kissing booths!) to take adorable next-level snaps of your pup. And for those who have always wanted to work with dogs, we’ve got the intel: whether you’re considering a career change or a side hustle to make some extra scratch, we’ve got the info you need, from experience needed to expected salary, for six different dog jobs. And that’s not all. We’ve got giveaways galore (p 22), a hilarious must-follow Instagram account, inspiring ideas for including your dog in your wedding, breed profiles, and so much more.

Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful summer season.

“Oh, hey! You caught me catching up on my reading with the spring issue of Modern Dog Magazine—especially all of the incredible treat selections that I’ve been missing out on! Mommmm!

You have some shopping to do!”

—@robbin_the_pom

Much Love,

Connie Wilson, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

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“The only magazine I care to read!!”—Kelley from Iowa City

C ON T R IBUT OR S SUMMER 2019

Trisha Krauss is an American illustrator living in London. Her love for Weimaraners began while working for William Wegman in New York City. Her first dog, Hector Berlioz, was a gift from Wegman that changed her life. Her current dog, Esther The Glorious, believes herself to be a distant relative of Marlene Dietrich and is an absolute natural in front of a camera and in the field. Trisha illustrates a regular column in the New York Times. Her latest illustrated book is Midnight at Moonstone. Flip to page 32 to see Trisha’s illustration for this issue’s article on canine personality, “Like Owner, Like Dog.” Find more on Trisha at trishakrauss.com.

•

VOL 18

NO 2

Publisher

Modern Dog Inc. Editor-in-Chief

Connie Wilson Editor & Creative Director

Jennifer Nosek Design & Production

Hayley Schmidt Social Media Strategist

Alice Sewell Affiliate Development & Marketing Strategist

Laura Sluggett Sales & Marketing

Alice Sewell, Linda Helme, Milena Braga Audience Development & Digital Marketing Specialist

Jessica Linnay Accounting Services & Subscription Services

Vicki Szivos Copywriter & Subscription Coordinator

Kyrsten Downton Controller

Cecilia de Roca Chan, CPA, CGA Sales & Marketing Assistant

Georgia Riddle-Olsen Editorial Intern

Pure joy! This issue’s cover, shot by New Westminster, BC-based pet photographer Angie Wojciechowska, perfectly captures the spirit of summer. Angie has been photographing dogs for over a decade. She specializes in capturing her canine clients in their favourite environment, whether racing across the beach or sprawled on the sofa.

She loves her job and it shows!

Find more of Angie’s work at off-leash.ca.

GET YOURSELF A SUBSCRIPTION! Give us a call at 1-800-417-6289 or subscribe online at moderndogmagazine.com/subscribe Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 18, Issue 2.

Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4 In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 18, Issue 2. Published quarterly by Modern Dog Inc. at 142 Churchill Drive, Newington, CT 06111-4003.

Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and additional offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Modern Dog, PO Box 310402, Newington, CT 06131-0402.

PHONE

(604) 734-3131 OR TOLL FREE (866) 734-3131 (604) 734-3031 OR TOLL FREE (866) 734-3031

FAX

Vivien Fellegi is a former family physician turned freelance journalist who writes about mental health, the brain, and social issues.

She loves stories about people overcoming challenges—physical, psychological, or immigration.

She’s written for Readers Digest, Chatelaine, Canadian Living, and other magazines, and contributes regularly to Whole Note and Canadian Immigrant. She adores animals, especially her cat Lilly, who greets her at the door when she comes home and purrs on her chest at night.

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The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, images, photographs or other materials. By accepting and publishing advertising the publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses the quality of services or products within those advertisements.

Copyright 2019 by Modern Dog Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic or mechanical, including the Internet or photocopying without the written permission of the Publisher. Modern Dog and its logotype are the trademarks of Modern Dog Inc. Modern Dog is published four times a year. One-year subscription prices: Canada $16CAD, U.S.A. $16USD, foreign $45USD. Subscription orders and customer service inquiries should be sent to Modern Dog Subscription Services, Suite 202–343 Railway St, Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1A4

PRINTED IN CANADA

www.moderndogmagazine.com Publications Mail Agreement Number 40743013 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

ANGIE WOJCIECHOWSKA PHOTO DANTE OWENS

Ashley Lee

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STUFF WE LOVE Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter

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1 Dogs deserve no less than the best, which is why FishSkinBites only uses sushi-grade fish for their salmon skin treats. My Charlie Brown would eat a whole bag if I let him!

—Linda ($10, fishskinbites.dog) 2 Ocu-GLO is great at maintaining eye health. It delays impaired vision from depleting further and ensures healthy eyes remain that way. Safe, natural, and easy to administer.

—Milena ($30, ocuglo.com) 3 Perfect for those hot summer days, there is now an ice cream that’s safe for dogs! Puppy Cake’s Maple Bacon Puppy Scoops Ice Cream Mix is a huge hit around the office. It helps dogs stay cool and gives your best friend a unique new treat!—Alice ($7, puppycake.com)

BO

4 Merrick’s Backcountry Hero’s Banquet celebrates their partnership with K9s For Warriors, which pairs rescue dogs with soldiers suffering from PTSD. Merrick provides these dogs with meals and treats while they train. All recipes are packed with protein!—Ashley (From $24, merrickpetcare.com) 5 Filled with all kinds of wholesome goodness, these Salmon Superfood Nuggets contain fair-trade and organic coconut, wild salmon, and nutritious pumpkin, kale, and blueberries—making them super healthy and delicious!—Kyrsten ($8, booboosbest.com)

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6 Sometimes our dogs get bumps and bruises, which is why it’s important to keep a pet first aid kit on hand. Equimedic’s Basic Companion Animal First Aid Kit has everything you need for basic care, from bandages, to cleansers, to syringes.—Vicki ($75, equimedic.com) 7 This Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil keeps your dog’s coat healthy and shiny! The Omega fatty acids help maintain a strong immune system which aids in preventing common ailments and diseases.—Jessica ($32, myhealthypet.ca) 8 Available in 4 flavours—beef, chicken, pork, and turkey—this wholesome bone broth adds beneficial nutrients to your dog’s diet, as well as some delicious flavour!

—Jennifer ($10, primalpetfoods.com) 9 This padded leash and collar set is made for comfort and durability. Made with real leather and featuring a pop of colour for extra flare!—Yvonne (From $76, centralkentuckytackandleather.com) 10 This dental spray keeps your dog's mouth fresh and clean without a fight. Used by vets since 1994, this spray can save you the headache of a huge dental bill from your vet.

—Nicole ($67, lebalab.com)

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11 Great to have on hand in the event you run into an aggressive dog, Defense Aerosols dog repellent is non-toxic and non-lethal. Now you and your pet can be safe in any situation.

—Hayley ($14, defenseaerosols.com) 12 Support your dog’s digestion with NaturPet’s Intesti Care. This herbal, non-toxic solution doesn’t have a bitter taste, making it super enjoyable for your pup too.—Cecilia ($30, naturpet.com)

BM

13 These light, crispy, crunchy protein puffs are fantastic! They’re easy to crumble and put on top of kibbles when my dog won’t eat. He licks the bowl clean and asks for more!

—Georgia ($6, redbarninc.com) 14 ThunderEase works wonders! The pheromones keep any pet calm during stressful times. It’s drug-free, vet recommended, and prevents separation anxiety, excessive barking, and destructive chewing.—Connie ($45, thundershirt.com)

BL

(

*

Slow roasted cuts of real meat - for your dog·! A treat so fresh, the local butcher is jealous.

• Single Protein Treat • Grain-Free • Made in USA

Learn More at www.redbarn.com

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PET PRODUCTS fi:..Mil� Ow"luA $i"U!, 1'f'f b

THE SCOOP

BEST IN SHOW Museum of the Dog Opens in New York The American Kennel Club’s gorgeous, experiential Museum of the Dog is a must-visit

But that’s not all. Opened by the American Kennel Club, the largest purebred registry in the world and the overseeing body for a vast array of dog sporting events, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the museum’s aim is both educational and experiential. Along with traditional museum pieces like dog paintings and sculptures, the Museum of the Dog has integrated modern, interactive features. Throughout the Museum, visitors will experience exhibits that combine physical and digital elements, breathing new life into the collection.

Spanning two floors with a double height atrium space at the stair, the gallery includes exhibits such as interactive “Meet the Breeds” touchscreen tables and “Find Your Match” kiosks where visitors can have their picture taken and matched with

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a dog breed. (Are you an adaptable, playful, and smart French bulldog? Or maybe a friendly, bright, and amusing Boston Terrier? You’ll have to visit to find out.)

Unfortunately, pet dogs aren’t allowed in the museum (service animals are welcome, or course) but visitors who need a bit of canine love can teach the digital service dog, Molly, to respond to voice commands and hand signals. Or download the museum’s app, equipped with augmented reality experiences, and let Arty the virtual dog lead you on a museum tour. Have kids with you? They’ll love the app’s scavenger hunt.

Whether guided by Arty or not, you’ll come away with a deepened sense of the significance of the bond between dogs and people. One of the displays is dedicated to a Yorkie named Smoky who was rescued from a World War II foxhole by a soldier. Smoky not only boosted morale but saved the lives of 250 men by crawling through a pipe with a telephone line to establish communication between soldiers.

Add to this guest lectures, movie nights, talks by authors in the library, and kids’ events like Dog Safety Workshops or earn a Guide Dog Patch, and you have a new NYC must-visit museum to add to your list. You can even pick up some awesome dog merch at the gift shop.

PHOTOS © AKC

D

ogs finally get the treatment they deserve in the recently opened American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog in New York City—the Big Apple’s only museum devoted to dogs. The two-story, Gensler-designed museum is just steps away from Grand Central Station and houses one of the world’s largest repositories of canine fine art, with works from famous dog artists like Sir Edwin Landseer and Maud Earl on display. The new building affords space for a rotating selection from the museum’s collection of 1,700 works of dog art, while the upper level houses a 4,000-plus volume library and an arts and crafts station for families.

THE SCOOP

Mailman Fulfills Dog’s Dying Wish After Chris Cimino’s dog Gretchen died, he wrote a note to the adored mailman who visited Gretchen every day, asking him to deliver dog treats on her behalf

W

hen Gretchen the German Shepherd was rescued by the Cimino family in 2013, they were worried about her wariness of anyone who wasn’t part of the family. But that all changed when postal worker Fernando Barboza started taking the time to make Gretchen feel comfortable.

An animal lover through and through, Fernando carries treats in his truck and feels it’s only right to deliver treats to the neighbourhood dogs when he does his rounds. “If I’m bringing something for the owner, I might as well bring something to the dogs, too, since they’re part of the family,” he told The Dodo.

186,000 retweets, and many heartfelt sentiments for both the Cimino family and their dog-loving mailman. Fernando managed to fulfill Gretchen’s wish by sharing her treats with her canine friends in the neighbourhood and told The Dodo he always makes sure they know who the treats are from, saying “This is from Gretchen.”

Fernando saw Gretchen’s anxiety and made an extra effort to let her know she was safe. He would bring her treats and call her name, and while it was slow going in the beginning, Gretchen came to look forward to the mailman’s visits. She even became jealous if she saw him delivering mail to the neighbours.

“He would call her name and she started looking forward to it,” Chris Cimino told GMA. “Even when he didn’t have any packages to deliver to the door he would drive by and say, ‘Hey Gretchen.'”

Early in April, Fernando reached into the Cimino family’s mailbox, expecting to find their outgoing mail, but instead discovered a bag of treats attached to a note addressed to him.

“Gretchen passed away yesterday,” the note read. “She asked me to ask you if you would share her treats that she never got to finish with the other dogs on your route. She always enjoyed seeing you come to the door and was always happy to get a snack from you.”

The Cimino family explained that they were just too heartbroken to tell their mailman in person and thought a note would be the best way to break the news. Fernando’s daughter shared a photo of the note on Twitter, and the internet responded with an outpouring of love from all over the globe. The post received more that 873,000 likes,

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Social icon

eyelean

Circle Only use blue and/or white.

For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

@amorningsting

My dad is a mailman and he likes to give dogs on his route treats. Today he told us one of the dogs on his route passed away and his owners gave him this bag of treats with this note.

THE SCOOP Cuween Hill

4,500-year-old Neolithic Dog Head Recreated—and it looks like a European Grey Wolf!

T

he reconstruction, commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and based on a dog skull discovered in Scotland’s Orkney Islands, has revealed the face of a Neolithic dog for the first time in over 4,000 years. The size of a large Collie, it has features reminiscent of a European grey wolf.

The resulting model gives us a fascinating glimpse at this ancient animal.

The excitement around the project is palpable. The project “enables people to encounter a Neolithic dog ‘in the flesh,’” enthuses Dr. Alison Sheridan, Principal Archaeological Research Curator in the Department of Scottish History and Archaeology at National Museums Scotland, where the original skull is held.

“Just as they’re treasured pets today, dogs clearly had an important place in Neolithic Orkney,” says Steve Farrar, Interpretation Manager at HES. “They were kept and trained as pets and guards and perhaps used by farmers to help tend sheep.”

“The Cuween dog has much to tell us, not only about ceremonial practices and the symbolic significance of the dog in Late Neolithic Orkney but also about the appearance of domestic dogs in the third millennium BC.” The canine skull, found in Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn on Orkney and now in the collection of National Museums Scotland, was CT-scanned by Diagnostic Imaging Service at Edinburgh University’s Royal School of Veterinary Studies before HES’s Digital Documentation team made a 3D print.

Using the print as a base, forensic artist Amy Thornton created a realistic model of the dog’s head, building up muscle, skin, and hair in the same way she would approach a human head. The completed sculpture was then cast in silicone and finished with the fur coat resembling a European grey wolf, as advised by experts.

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Radiocarbon dating of the dog bones unearthed at Cuween Hill has shown that the dogs were placed in the chamber more than 500 years after the passage tomb was built, suggesting that they were ritually buried.

In all, 24 skulls were discovered when the site was excavated in 1901. The number of canine-remains discovered at Cuween Hill suggests that dogs had a particularly special significance for the farmers who lived around the area and used the tomb, says Farrar. “Maybe dogs were their symbol or totem, perhaps they thought of themselves as the ‘dog people’.”

“Looking at this dog helps us better relate to the people who cared for and venerated these animals, people whose ingenuity and sophistication made Orkney such an important place in the Neolithic and who have left us with such a rich legacy of monuments today,” he continues.

Though forensic artists have reconstructed the faces of many Neolithic humans, this is a fascinating first for dogs of the period.

The reconstruction will be on display in Orkney later this year.

PHOTOS © HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND

Researchers have recreated the face of an ancient dog and, incidentally, it’s darn cute.

THE SCOOP

DOGGONE FUNNY

CAPTION THIS! Exercise your funny bone. Create a caption for this cartoon and submit your entry at moderndogmagazine.com/cartooncaption.

The most comic captions will be published in the next issue.

AND THE WINNING CAPTION FROM THE SPRING ISSUE IS…

Fast and the Furriest!

SUBMITTED BY: ALEX ZYCH

RUNNER-UP CAPTIONS "Did you see John's face when we took off without him? Lol." SUBMITTED BY: KAREN NORMAN

"Pick a gas station with a nice clean lawn."

SUBMITTED BY: MICHAEL RIDDLE

"So Roscoe, are you sure that when Dad said, “do you want to go for a drive” this is what he meant?"

SUBMITTED BY: JIM MARTIN

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C A R T O O N S © 2018/19 B Y D A V I D J A C O B S O N

Comic relief courtesy of dogs!

!

E L I SM Elvis

Modern Dog’s Photo Contest Winners!

Jessie

Italian Greyhound

Siberian Husky

Badugi

Exotic American Bully

Coop

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Pippa Bailey Rocker

Golden Retriever

Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier

Milo

Labrador Beagle

Stanley

Chinese Shar-Pei

Dottie English Bulldog

Kapone Pitbull

Toot Australian Shepherd/ Labrador Mix

Rye

Tj

Australian Shepherd Mix

Felix

Formosan Mountain Mix

Morkie

Kiya

Great Pyrnees

Bodie Trout Reiswig Benny Shitzu

Misty

Jack-A-Bee

Lana

Basset Hound

Stafford Terrier

Maverick

German Shorthair Pointer

Faith Mixed

Zenith

Golden Retriever

Juno

Siberian Husky

Think your dog ought to be in Modern Dog?

Remai

Cane Corso Mix

Charlie Beagle

Upload your dog’s photo at moderndogmagazine.com/ photocontest. Not only will he or she be entered to be our Dog of the Week, but a selection of the photos entered will appear on these pages!

ENTER TO WIN

We’re giving it away! Enter to win fabulous giveaways each and every week in June, July, and August.

Go to moderndogmagazine.com/giveaways to enter! Lucky readers will win every week.

June

1st-7th

Win 1 of 5 one-year subscriptions to Modern Dog magazine, chock full of helpful articles, heartwarming stories, and so many cute dog photos!

July

1st-7th

Win 1 of 4 $50 shopping credits from Woof Out West! Choose from an array of clothing, bow ties, collars, and more.

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-30th

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-31st

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-31st

Win 1 of 8 prize packs from Chicken Soup for the Soul!

Includes one bag of Adult Dry Dog food and a copy of the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog.

Win 1 of 2 Air Plus bags from K9 Sport Sack! It’s great for hikes, bike rides, and long walks.

Win 1 of 5 prize packs from Petology!

Each pack has $45 worth of Oatmeal Honey Shampoo, Conditioner and Daily Leave-In Conditioning Refreshing Spray.

Win 1 of 3 CBD tincture sets from Medterra! Includes one chicken, one beef, and one unflavoured to suit every dog’s taste.

August

1st-7th

Win 1 of 12 Furzoff, the new and better way to remove pet hair from your home and vehicles. Made in the USA of 90% recycled material, it's 100% durable!

Win a variety pack of Canine FreezeDried formulas from Primal Pet Foods! Includes 6 bags with flavours like quail, pork, and chicken.

Win 1 of 5 HandsOn Gloves—the massage your dog will beg for!

These gloves provide a more thorough shedding, bathing, and grooming experience for you and your pup—now in purple!

Win 1 of 2 book prize packs from Firefly Books! Includes four dog titles.

Perfect for the dog-loving bookworm!

Win 1 of 3 baskets of all natural dog supplements from Animal Necessity! Includes their Ocu-GLO vision supplement for optimum vision health!

Win 1 of 2 test kits from 5Strands Affordable Pet Testing! Create a healthier lifestyle for your pets by discovering and managing their food intolerances and environmental allergens.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Beginning June 1, 2019 at 12:01 AM (PST) through August 31, 2019 at 11:59 PM (PST), enter each day at moderndogmagazine.com/giveaways. Each week’s giveaway ends at 11:59 PM (PST). Each week, the specified number of winners for that week’s giveaway will win the prize featured in the giveaway calendar (ARV: $200). Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. Contest is open to legal Canadian and US residents 18 and older as of date of entry. Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. Giveaway subject to complete official rules available at moderndogmagazine.com/giveaways.

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INSET PHOTO: KYLIE SUBMITTED BY LINDSAY

s y a w a e v i G t a Gre

The Follow:

‘Dogs In Food’ is an Instagram stand out featuring pups Photoshopped into all your favourite foods, from donut holes to lattes

75,177 likes dogs_infood Did you know there are 10 grams of fiber in one medium sized puppycado? @bertiebertthepom

58,724 likes dogs_infood This puppuccino is extra #frothy

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PHOTOS @DOGS_INFOOD

Hilarious Instagram Account Combines Dogs & Food

90,637 likes dogs_infood Saturday activity: baking #pugcookies @livforcake @pugloulou

‘Dogs In Food’ is the gloriously weird Instagram account that is the obsession of foodies and dog lovers alike. Combining pretty much everyone’s two favourite things, dogs and food, the account has quickly amassed over 700,000 followers who delight in the digitally edited photos that merge, say, a Pomeranian and a corndog, or a Shar Pei and a dumpling. It’s every bit as great/weird/funny/cute as it sounds. But don’t just take our word for it. Follow along at @dogs_infood.

27,597 likes dogs_infood Cinnamon sugar donut pup holes

79,344 likes dogs_infood This rice turned out extra grumpy @owenthegriff

Smiles

Adopt me!

GUARANTEED! Next-level dog-photo ideas for memories that will last a lifetime

Free kisses!

The wonderful Ventura County, California-based rescue group C.A.R.L (Canine Adoption and Rescue League) created this kissing booth for their “Adopt Your Love-a-Bull Valentine” event. The resulting photos? Ridiculously cute! Steal this idea for adorable pictures of your own pup or approach your local rescue group with the idea. Not too handy with the power tools? For a real DIY effort, all you need is a large cardboard box, an X-Acto knife, and some paint! P.S. the dogs in these photos, Ranger, and Braveheart, are adoptable. Call (805) 644-7387 or email info@carldogs.org for more info or check out carldogs.org for more on this terrific organization.

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Dapper Dogs Make any photo special by simply accessorizing. Affix a dapper bow tie to your dog’s collar for a debonair look that will deliver smiles. Paws N Claws Couture (pawsnclawscouture.com) makes beautiful handmade dog bow ties that easily attach to your dog’s collar via Velcro. And they are a steal starting at just $5. At this price, your dog has no excuse for not dressing up.

DAPPER DOGS PHOTO GOOD BEASLEY PAWS N CLAWS COUTURE

FREE KISSES PHOTO KIMBERLY CONLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Tanner has been waiting for a forever home since 2011.

Let’s find him a home!

Interested in adopting?

Email info@carldogs.org.

Next Stop, Coachella

CHALK BOARD PHOTOS TANYA KING

FLOWER CROWN PHOTOS SARA WENOKUR

What could be sweeter than a dog wearing a flower crown? This DIY photo prop delivers in a big way.

Find the simple how-to for making your dog a flower crown—there are just four easy steps!—on our website at: ›› moderndogmagazine.com/flowercrown.

It’s a Sign This positive spin on the hilarious “dog shaming” photos that took the internet by storm uses a chalkboard sign to share a sweet statement about your dog. Or keep it even simpler—a handlettered piece of paper or cardboard sign is still super cute!

(Haven’t seen dogshaming.com? Think photos of guilty canine parties snapped wearing signs that share their transgressions, such as,“I ate a whole lasagna when no one was looking and then took a nap in the clean laundry.”)

Special Delivery!

Math we can all agree upon: dog + helium balloon = superadorable. It doesn’t get easier than this, folks. Simply buy a helium balloon, tie it to your dog’s collar, and snap away! Bonus points if the balloon carries a message for its intended recipient, like happy anniversary, happy birthday, or marry me! Either way, definitely take some bonus video footage!

moderndogmagazine.com

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IS THE DOG IN CHARGE? Maybe, but that doesn’t mean you have a dominance issue

By Teoti Anderson

A

re you beginning to think your relationship is one-sided?

Sure, you tend to spoil your dog. But perhaps lately you’re starting to feel like your dog wears the pants in your partnership. Do you need to worry that your dog is trying to be “alpha”?

There are a lot of myths out there about dogs being dominant.

Unfortunately, television programs and trainers without backgrounds in science and modern canine behaviour have fed this fallacy so much that people worry about normal canine behaviours.

Dog looks you in the eye? Dogs look us in the eye all the time.

That doesn’t mean they want to rule our lives. Dog likes to go out the door before you do? No problem—he has four legs and you have two, so he’s faster. Plus, he loves it outside so he just wants to get there quickly. You feed your dog before you eat? That may be to your convenience, but it’s not dominance.

Does he pull on leash? He’s not telling you he’s the boss, he’s just in a hurry (and needs training). Does he jump on you?

He’s being affectionate (and needs more training). He’s not trying to dominate you. Puppy pee on your bed? That’s not dominance. You’ve left your puppy unattended before he’s earned the right to wander free, and before you’ve trained him to hold his bladder unsupervised.

Dogs don’t spend their lives plotting to take over ours.

They’re very honest creatures. If a dog loves you, he loves you. If he’s scared of you or doesn’t like you, he won’t fake it. A dog doesn’t greet you with a wiggly butt and kisses one minute, then as soon as you leave, criticize you behind your back. That’s one of the reasons we love dogs so much—unlike humans, their feelings are broadcast for all to see.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) states, “Dominance is defined as a relationship between individual animals that is established by force/aggression and submission, to determine who has priority access to multiple resources such as food, preferred resting spots, and mates. Most undesirable behaviours in our pets are not related to priority access to resources; rather, they are due to accidental rewarding of the undesirable behaviour.”

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For example, if your dog grabs your slice of pizza and runs under the bed, and you reach under there and try to grab it and he growls at you, that is your dog establishing priority access to a resource: pizza. This is dominance. [If your dog does grab something he shouldn’t and growls at you when you try to take it back, your dog definitely needs training.

Trade for a treat if you have to, to avoid being bitten, but get qualified, professional help and teach your dog to bring you items instead of hoarding them.]

Not dominance? If you always give your dog attention when he jumps on you—even if it’s yelling at him—you’re paying him for jumping on you, so he will always do it until you finally stop rewarding him.

In either case it may very well be that your dog is in charge of your relationship, but instead of worrying about dominance, a better question is, who is training whom? Where have you set the bar for training? If you ask your dog to sit and he lies down, do you give him a treat anyway? If you call him to come to you and he looks you straight in the eye before walking in the opposite direction, do you chase him? If you wish he would stop barking while you fix his dinner, but feed him to shut him up, who is training whom?

Dogs are not diabolical, but they are opportunists. If your dog barks at you and you give him things, you’re teaching him that barking works. If you’re watching TV and he keeps dropping the ball in your lap until you finally throw it, you’re teaching him that pestering you works.

Make sure you are only rewarding behaviour you like.

Set rules and stick to them. You can be a leader without being a jerk. If your dog has behaviours you don’t like, get professional help, avoiding trainers who prattle on about dominance and alpha-ness. Go ahead, spoil your dog. Just don’t spoil him so rotten that he makes all the rules!

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Splash!

9 Dogs That LOVE Water Looking for an enthusiastic Dock Dog partner or a pup that would like nothing more than to join you at the dog beach? Gina DiNardo, American Kennel Club Executive Secretary and expert on all things breed related, gives us her shortlist of the dogs that just can’t get enough of the water!

Photo by Hans Sipma

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Chesapeake Bay Retriever “Chessies”, as they’re affectionately called, are the toughest of the water retrievers. They actually swim and dive into ice cold water. Their waterproof coat consists of a dense undercoat and a rough, wind-resistant outer coat.

Portuguese Water Dog The PWD was used mainly to herd fish into nets and retrieve lost fishing equipment. Their webbed feet make them stellar swimmers, even if they just swim recreationally nowadays.

Irish Water Spaniel One of the oldest spaniel breeds around today, the Irish Water Spaniel was originally bred as a sporting dog and water retriever.

The tallest of the spaniels, these active and energetic dogs are one of the most clever and intelligent breeds around.

Their coat is naturally water-repellent.

English Setter Originally bred as a bird dog to point and retrieve game in English moors, the English Setter’s happy place is in the water. This breed needs plenty of exercise, and of the breed’s most recommended activities, swimming is one of its favourites.

Poodle Poodles were originally bred as water dogs and excelled as a waterfowl retriever. The name Poodle was derived from German word “Pudelin,” which means “to splash.”

Labrador Retriever Although the Labrador Retriever's forefathers were used to haul ropes through water, tow boats, and retrieve fish and nets from the chilly waters of the North Atlantic, most water-work performed today leans more towards retrieving waterfowl for hunters.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever was bred to toll, lure, and retrieve waterfowl by playing on the shore. Their water-repellant double-coat makes this breed a natural for cold water swimming.

Spanish Water Dog The Spanish Water Dog was always a dual-purpose breed, utilized as both a waterfowl retriever and a sheepherder. Their love of the ocean can be best shown through their participation in water sports.

Newfoundland Despite their size, Newfoundlands were born to swim, thanks to their heavily webbed toes and thick coat designed to keep them warm against chilly waters. Originally bred to help fishermen haul their nets, this 100plus pound breed is now primarily used for water rescues. moderndogmagazine.com

31

Like Owner,

Like Dog?

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Does your personality influence your dog's?

Does a dog's personality change over time?

A new study digs deep to answer these questions

By Stanley Coren | Illustration by Trisha Krauss

I

was at a reception following a Psychology Department lecture from a visiting scholar when I was approached by one of my colleagues. She was excited because she had just read a scientific report by a team of researchers headed

by Rodica Damian at the University of Houston. They had collected data on the personalities of a large group of people at age 16, and then tracked them down 50 years later, when they were aged 66. Their goal was to test the personalities of these individuals again to see if there were any changes. What they found was that human personality does change with age, and it often changes in ways that are easy to predict. According to their data, you can reasonably presume that a 66-year-old will be more conscientious, more agreeable, and more emotionally stable than they were when they were adolescents. My colleague owns a dog, whom she is very fond of, and she wanted to know whether there were similar studies that looked at age-related changes in a dog's personality.

The systematic investigation of the personality of dogs is relatively recent and there are not all that many studies that have been published. At one point I had collected a large amount of personality data on more than 1,000 dogs and that formed the basis of my book, Why Does My Dog Act That Way. However, even though I looked at a lot of different variables, I did not collect data on how the canine personality changes with age. So, I promised her that I would see if I could find any recent studies that might answer her question.

I did find a few published articles which suggested that a dog's life history and his owner's personality might influence a dog's personality, which, of course would lead to the conclusion that there should be age-related changes in personality, but most of the scientific literature mentioned personality changes over the dog's lifespan only in brief comments. I was just about to give up when I came across an article which was published in the Journal of Research in Personality. It is by William Chopik and Jonathan Weaver, who are in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University in East Lansing.

Their large study gathered data on 1,681 dogs and included over 50 different breeds. Dog owners were asked to fill out a questionnaire to describe the personality of their pets. The questionnaire was designed to measure five dimensions of dog personality: fearfulness, aggression toward people, aggression toward animals, activity or excitability, and responsiveness to training. In addition, the dog owners also completed a second questionnaire measuring their own personality. This gave data on the five major factors in human personality. ď‚„ moderndogmagazine.com

33

Psychology students are taught how to remember these five factors through the use of the acronym OCEAN—the letters of the word stand for Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

with the activity and excitability levels in the dogs. As you might expect, younger dogs were more active and excitable than older dogs and the decrease in activity level occurred as a slow, steady, but consistent trend over the lifespan.

This particular study was one of those pieces of research where the authors wanted to answer several complex questions, so they looked at a host of different variables.

As is typical when an investigation casts a very large net, the investigators are forced to use some highly complicated statistical analysis procedures which makes it difficult for the average reader, at least those who might lack any statistical training, to understand. However, embedded in their often-confusing tables of results was the information my colleague was looking for—along with a few other interesting findings.

The two measures of aggression, namely aggression toward people and aggression toward other animals, both rose and fell in an age-related manner. For these aspects of canine personality, the trend lines indicated that there was a peak in aggression in dogs six to eight years old. Younger and older dogs showed lower levels of aggression both to people and other animals.

One surprise in the data was the personalities of the dogs showed intriguing parallels to the personalities of their owners in four out of the five dimensions. Extraversion refers to the personality characteristic of being energetic, sociable, outgoing, and active. Conscientiousness refers to a predisposition to be organized and dependable, to show self-discipline and to complete tasks that you are assigned.

Agreeableness is marked by friendliness and cooperation as opposed to being suspicious and antagonistic. Neuroticism is associated with the tendency to be prone to psychological stress and to often experience unpleasant psychological emotions, such as fear and anxiety. The researchers, comparing the personalities of dogs to the personalities of their owners, reported:

“Some of the most intriguing results found were instances of personality ‘compatibility’ between owners and their dogs. For example, extraverts rated their dogs as more active/excitable; conscientious owners rated their dogs as more responsive to training; agreeable owners rated their dogs as less aggressive; neurotic owners rated their dogs as more fearful.”

It is possible that the similarities between dogs and owners come about over time simply because the canine and human live in the same environment and have shared experiences. Alternatively, it may just be that people select dogs that have personality characteristics which parallel their own.

Returning to the question that my colleague asked, this study shows that there definitely are systematic changes in the dog's personality over time, much as there are in humans. Perhaps the most predictable outcome has to do

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One of the findings I found to be most surprising had to do with responsiveness to training. I think that most people who work with dogs feel that dogs are most trainable when they are young and that trainability decreases in older dogs; however, these new results suggest that a dog's responsiveness to training rises steadily from puppyhood and reaches a peak between six and eight years before beginning to decline. The rise in trainability seems to have to do with the fact that young dogs are more excitable and distractible which gets in the way of their training. Beyond this optimal age, the decline in the older years is no sharper than the rise in trainability, which was observed from puppyhood to middle age. In other words, you can, in fact, teach an old dog can new tricks, and he will learn at the same rate as he did when he was a puppy.

Additionally, several of the findings in the research indicated that dog obedience training has a favourable effect on the personality of dogs. If a canine receives obedience training and the owner is happy during those sessions, the dogs are more likely to have positive personality traits. For example, obedience-trained dogs show less aggressiveness toward people or other animals. But perhaps the most striking result has to do with fearfulness (the canine equivalent of human neuroticism). Generally speaking, the tendency to show fear and anxiety is the one trait that rarely changes with age in dogs. However, there is an exception, and that is found in those dogs who received dog obedience training—obedience trained dogs showed a marked reduction in their overall fearfulness.

William Chopik summarized their search findings saying, “We expected the dogs' personalities to be fairly stable because they don't have wild lifestyle changes humans do, but they actually change a lot.” Knowing how the canine personality changes over their lifespan can help us with our relationships with our dogs. Understanding that our wildly excitable and difficult to train two-year-old dog will begin to calm down and will become more trainable over the next few years can be a great comfort and a stress reducer for dog owners. And advancing age definitely shouldn’t be used as an excuse for a lack of training! 

Doggy Daddy

'Jessica Jones' Actress, Peta supporter, and mom-to-be Krysten Ritter takes a walk in Studio City, CA with her adopted pup, Mikey Mohawk.

! s r a t S y’re just

The us! like Holy Dog!

Kate Middleton's brother James Middleton has his hands full walking five dogs along King's Road in Chelsea, west London.

Actor Jeremy Piven ('Entourage'), a selfprofessed "daddy" to his French Bulldog, Bubba, shows his pup some love as he spends the day out and about in West Hollywood.

Family Outing Reese Witherspoon hits a Pacific Palisades hiking trail with her son Tennessee and two of her three pups, Labrador Hank and French Bulldog Pepper.

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37

Tales From a

Dog Trainer Tom Shelby's Dog Training Diaries

The magnetic Tom Shelby is not only a lifelong dog trainer (and former Westminster Dog Show handler) with a specialty in Search and Rescue dogs, but a master storyteller too.

“I have the best job in the world. I love what I do…

I’ve had the best time,” laughs Tom, regaling us with P.I.-worthy dog stories that involve tape recorders and court dates. His terrific, recently published book, The Dog Training Diaries, is not only filled with problemfocused advice honed from decades of experience working with dogs, but is compulsively readable, filled with stories of the toughest cases his New York elite clientele could throw at him. We asked him to share his top tips (think putting a stop to inadvertently rewarding bad behaviour. Guilty!) and some quick fixes/preventatives for common issues. Read on…

If readers were to do just one thing differently with their dogs, what would you reccommend it would be?

Stop (inadvertently) rewarding bad behaviour! Training is letting the dog know you like or don't like the behaviour as it’s happening based on timing, body language, and voice intonation. No animal reads us better than the dog.

None. A thousand times, I’ve arrived at a client’s home and when the door opens, Cujo wants to eat my kneecap and is being held back by the owner. And what's the owner doing?

He's trying to tamp down the aggression, calm him if you will, by petting Cujo while telling him, “It's OK.” That’s like

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Mom telling her four-year-old son “good job!” when he’s pinching Grandma. Lovingly stroking Cujo in this situation will only encourage the aggression. The body language (petting Cujo) = rewarding. The intonation (loving voice) = rewarding. The timing (stroking and speaking lovingly AS the unwanted behaviour is happening) = inadvertently rewarding. Pet Cujo with a loving smile on your face only when Cujo’s behaviour is what you want and making you happy.

Do people need to be more aware of the energy they transmit to their dogs?

You bet! Feisty thinks it's his job to exert his supremacy with every dog he sees. You’re relieved because it's bad weather today—best time to take Feisty to the park because there'll be fewer people out with their dogs. So, you're hanging out in the park, facing the entrance. Feisty is nice and relaxed, facing the opposite direction. Then you see someone entering with their German Shepard. Without thinking, you immediately tighten the leash, saying, "Feisty!!"

Feisty was just fine until the sudden strong pressure on his neck and the tension in your voice startled and freaked him out. What's he going to relate all this anxiety to? Of course, the other dog he now sees. The timing of the energy you transmitted to Feisty exacerbated his relationship difficulties.

One of the many things I do with a dog like Feisty is con him with love and praise just before he sees another dog, thus changing the initial association when seeing another dog.

Why would a middle aged dog suddenly be exhibiting problem behaviour?

I lost count of all the times a dog owner said, "My dog is doing "whatever" for no reason at all. Well, there's always a reason! Like the time the terrier owner said, "Gouger keeps scratching at this piece of wall—for no reason at all!!" That was an easy one. I told her to call an exterminator because there were bugs or mice behind that section of wall. Your dog is cognizant and sensitive to the vibes in the house, and will often react to your mood change, from the joy of winning the lottery to the depression of a cancer diagnosis, job loss, or nasty arguments leading to a divorce. So, when I'm told an 

older dog is suddenly presenting aberrant behaviour, I ask a lot of questions to see if something might have changed the vibe in the house. One time, a couple called me to help with their six-year-old mini Schnauzer, Smokey, who was all of a sudden urinating in the apartment and acting very scared and sketchy “for no reason at all.” After a vet visit to rule out anything physical and an hour of questioning, I came up with nothing, so I told them to leave a voice activated tape recorder in the living room. (I've used tape recorders as proof in court to discern the truth of how long a dog really barked when a tenant complained. Never lost a case—plaintiffs always vastly inflate barking time). Did I mention the couple also had an African Grey Parrot named Bandit? The day after the tape recorder was set up, I got the call. “That stinker Bandit is imitating the sound of the doorbell and then screaming at Smokey when he barks at the door, calling him a bad boy, and some other things. Bandit is having a great time making poor Smokey nuts!" With a little confidence building for Smokey and Bandit moved to another room, problem solved. There's always a reason.

Why is a dog's den instinct an important concept to harness?

For we two-leggeds, our den is our house—the safe harbour where we're most comfortable and relaxed, where we always want to return. I actually think of the house in terms of two dens. The house is our den, but the bedroom is our inner den, the bed being the innermost retreat when we feel terrible. And so it is with our four-legged family members. Enhancing the den instinct is critical to housebreaking your dog. If you fail to help the dog understand that your house is also his den, you’ll be using lots of cleaning detergent and odour neutralizers.

Even if your dog, Dribble, does your kid's homework and takes out the garbage, if he poops or pees in the house, it's no good! The good news is, dogs prefer to keep their dens clean (den instinct). Start by teaching Dribble to love

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his crate and make it his den by feeding him in there, and using lots of treats and praise when he's in it, and never using it as a punishment. He will prefer "holding" rather than soiling his den. As Dribble gets integrated into the whole house, the crate will be his inner den, and your house, your den, expands into his den. Eddie Murphy once asked me why his dogs always peed on the expensive carpet in the formal dining room. When asked, he told me they were never in there for meals, maybe once last Thanksgiving. Since Eddie’s dogs hardly ever went in that part of the house, that area was never part of the den and became "fair game."

How do you deal with unruly behaviour at the door and incessant barking at visitors?

A dog's "territoriality" is one of the key reasons for the creation of the social contract between man and dog.

Their territorial instinct causes them to serve as protective alarm systems. Between their superior hearing and incredible nose, it's almost impossible for an animal or person to sneak into your house without the dog alerting you. Sometimes a dog’s territorial response gets a little unhinged, as was the case with Liam Martin's dog, a Chihuahua who would bark at a visitor continually for 15 minutes, even after the guest was in the house. Liam is one of the anchors on CBS News in Boston, and, while interviewing me about my book, he asked me how to deal with this annoying behaviour. Having only a few minutes, I gave him a quick fix. "Does Lilly bark at people when you meet them outside?" I asked. "No, she's fine when we meet people outside," he answered. "Great," I said. "From now on, you and Lilly will meet your guest outside of the house, reducing some of her territoriality. Slip the visitor a treat while asking them to tell Lilly to sit, and give her the treat when she does. Then walk into the house together with the guest entering first, sitting, and calling Lilly to come and sit for another treat.” Barking problem solved. By the way, because chaos at the door is very common, my training sessions almost always include a "door turmoil routine.” 

moderndogmagazine.com

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ALLERGIC TO DOGS? 10 hypoallergenic dog breeds for people with allergies Love dogs but have allergies? We ask Gina DiNardo, American Kennel Club Executive Secretary and expert on all things breed related, for her definitive list of the best breeds for allergy sufferers.

1

PERUVIAN INCA ORCHID

The Peruvian Inca Orchid can be hairless or coated— the hairless variety is a good choice for allergy sufferers. They also come in three different sizes: small, medium, and large. Peruvian Inca Orchids possess typical sighthound temperament; they are affectionate and playful with family members and sociable toward other dogs.

2

POODLE

A Poodle’s coat is shiny, harshtextured, uniformly curly, and dense throughout. Poodles don’t shed, but they must be brushed daily to keep their coats free of mats. Beneath the curly, hypoallergenic coat is an elegant athlete and companion for all reasons and seasons.

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3

PORTUGUESE WATER DOG

The Portuguese Water Dogʼs coat is profuse, non-allergenic, nonshedding, and waterproof. The coat ranges in appearance from tight and curly to loose and wavy. An athletic breed, the Portuguese Water Dog needs vigorous daily exercise and would do best with a very active family.

4

XOLOITZCUINTLI

The Xoloitzcuintli comes in two varieties—hairless and coated. The hairless has a smooth, tough, protective skin, while the coated has a short, flat coat. The Xolo has the typical temperament traits of a primitive breed—strong natural instincts, wariness, and extreme devotion to its owner.

5

BICHON FRISE

The Bichon Frise is a naturally gentle, happy, and playful companion. The Bichon breed sheds very little but must be brushed out twice a week to prevent mats from forming.

6

AFGHAN HOUND

Afghan Hounds are known for being aloof and dignified. Once they pass the puppy coat stage (when daily brushing is needed), the adult AfghanĘźs long, silky, hypoallergenic coat should be bathed once a week or brushed twice a week and given regular grooming. Several hours of brushing over the week are needed to keep the hair free of tangles and mats, as well as to remove any debris.

8

MALTESE

The Maltese has a long, silky, single coat that hangs flat against the body and may reach floor length. The Maltese coat is not weather protective, so they should not be left outdoors in hot or cold weather. They must be brushed regularly to prevent matting. Maltese are low-shedding, long-lived, and happy to make new friends of all ages.

7

BEDLINGTON TERRIER

Bedlington Terriers are known for their people-loving, intelligent, and cheerful disposition. The crisp, curly coat of the Bedlington Terrier is a mix of soft and harsh, but not wiry, hair, almost resembling a lamb. While fastidious owners will be happy to learn that it virtually does not shed at all, it grows very quickly and needs to be clipped every two months and brushed regularly.

9

CHINESE CRESTED

The Chinese Crested is an alert, playful dog that thrives on human companionship. They are small and do well in families with gentle children. You might think that this breed would require almost no grooming, however, because the skin is exposed, the hairless Crested’s skin must be monitored for dryness and sunburn and the feathering on the hairless variety must be brushed at least once a week.

10

AMERICAN HAIRLESS TERRIER

The American Hairless Terrier is a lively, friendly, and intelligent companion. The breed is a great family dog and perfect for city dwellers who have time for regular walks.

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The

A husband and wife duo, a brother-in-law, and a friend take aim at traditional pet foods with their fresh, made to order meal delivery for dogs

Disruptors

By Alice Sewell

W

hen Alex Jarrell’s Australian Shepherd Harlee became ill with a weakened immune system, Alex tried just about every kind of traditional medical treatment to make her beloved pup well again, with little success. Finally, her veterinarian suggested trying a fresh food diet, balanced by a veterinary nutritionist.

Alex was astounded when she saw Harlee’s condition drastically improve.

It was an epiphany moment. Alex figured there must be many other pups out there whose health could be dramatically improved by a fresh food diet, but whose owners didn’t possess the time or expertise to cook for their pets themselves. So Alex, along with her husband Zach Phillips, brother in law Nate Phillips, and friend Wenzhe Gao decided to quit their jobs and venture into the world of pet food, founding NomNomNow, a fresh pet food delivery service.

“As soon as we saw how completely Harlee’s symptoms had cleared up as a result of eating a fresh diet, we couldn’t quit our jobs fast enough to focus on making fresh food available to more pet parents,” says Alex.

They teamed up with Dr. Justin Shmalberg, DVM, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to formulate recipes and set out to provide properly balanced food made from fresh, whole, and unprocessed ingredients aimed at improving and even prolonging the lives of millions of pets.

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“From the beginning, we knew that we wanted to be a pet health company rather than just a pet food company,” says Alex. To achieve this, they first identified harmful ingredients found in many dog foods and set to eliminate those. “We didn’t want ingredients that we couldn’t pronounce!” Alex says. “It was very important to us and to Dr. Shmalberg that each ingredient be visibly recognizable, and one that we’d eat too. Meat by-products and meals were out of the question, as were synthetic preservatives.”

We couldn’t quit our jobs fast enough.

They were clearly on to something.

NomNomNow grew exponentially due to demand for convenient, fresh dog food. The team went from preparing meals in their kitchen, packaging them, and hand delivering across San Francisco themselves to having two production facilities, one in the San Francisco Bay area and one in Nashville, Tennessee, and shipping partners that deliver their fresh meals across the US. So why are these meals so popular?

“When pet parents make the switch to feeding NomNomNow, they’ll open each meal to find fresh, identifiable ingredients and a perfect balance of nutrients designed for a species

appropriate diet. They’ll also enjoy increased convenience as a result of our pre-portioned, single-serve meals, and our easy-to-use recurring deliveries,” says Alex. On top of ease and quality ingredients, customers keep coming back for more due to the range of health benefits seen with the switch in diet, including brighter eyes, a shinier coat, more energy, more excitement at meal time, relief from allergy symptoms, and improved digestion.

Making fresh meals isn’t without its challenges, however. Due to not carrying any frozen inventory, Alex admits that “creating fresh, made to order pet food is difficult.” But despite the many hurdles, the NomNomNow team always goes above and beyond to make sure all customers receive their fresh, perfectly portioned meals exactly when they need them.

In keeping with their mission to be a pet health company, NomNomNow has also recently launched a line of probiotic supplements, aimed at boosting healthy bacteria levels that help maintain proper digestive and immune functions, and a range of single ingredient jerky treats to complement meals.

The Details: Meals start at $20 per week depending on pet age, weight, activity level, and health goals.

Customize a meal plan for your pup at nomnomnow.com.

Your Dog Wants These Toys!

Up the playtime ante with these toys to suit every style of play

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$

Variety is the spice of life, so spice up your dog’s life with Pet P.L.A.Y.’s International Plush Food collection featuring sushi, a taco, and a pretzel! These toys are double-stitched and have a double layer exterior for those extra enthusiastic chewers! petplay.com

10

$

12

$

The BUSTER Food Cube is an ingenious toy, recommended by many animal behaviourists. Simply fill up the Cube with food or treats to stimulate your dog both mentally and physically. Two sizes and four colours available. kruuse247.com

7

$

Share your avocado obsession! This NomNomz soft, squeaky toy is just as described—avoc-DORABLE! Give your dog a reason to express their inner foodie! zippypaws.com 

Give your dog all the exercise they need with Hagen’s Nerf Deluxe Air Strike Thrower! No longer will you have to touch the ball during play and get slobber all over your hands. hagen.com

180

$

10

$

Have a cuddler, not a chewer?

Introduce your pup to Lazy Susan or Slumber Jack!

These silky faux fur toys are extra soft to provide your dog all the comfort they need while sleeping. doogusa.com

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Teach your dog to play fetch with themselves! The GoDogGo Automatic Ball Launcher lets you time ball launches to your dogs retrieval rate.

The safety features ensure your dog won’t be hit with the ball. godoggoinc.com

Can dogs eat avocado? According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, “Avocado ingestion can cause stomach upset in some dogs. The pit is the biggest worry, if ingested it can cause an obstruction.”

PHOTOS MUTTVILLE SENIOR DOG RESCUE

THE

MAGIC OF MUTTVILLE

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How a senior dog rescue is changing the lives of senior dogs

By Darcy Matheson

I

t wasn’t Eileen Cremata’s first rodeo when she took in Pepe, the longhaired Chihuahua from Muttville Senior Dog Rescue six years ago. For the two previous decades, the Californian fostered about 150 dogs for a local rescue, specializing in litters of puppies.

Now a serial foster mom and adopter with Muttville, you could say she’s really gone to the other—much older—end of the spectrum.

“The first one we took in was totally blind. Most are hard of hearing,” Eileen says. “Buttercup had one eye missing. I’d not only have to get in front of her to get her attention because she wouldn't see or hear me—but I’d have to get in front of the side where she had an eye.”

Eileen is now on her 11th pooch. After Pepe came Buttercup the terrier, Caroline the Miniature Schnauzer, Angie the Aussie Shepherd, Miss Abbie the longhaired Chihuahua, Figgy the 18-year-old miniature Poodle, Sweet Girl the Labrador cross, Maddie the Poodle, and Spritz and Marbles, both Chihuahuas.

Their personalities are as varied as their histories. Some were surrendered when their owners passed away, or simply didn’t want them anymore (Figgy was called “stupid” on his shelter intake form). Others, like three-and-a-half pound Marbles, was picked up as a stray.

Repeat fosters and adopters like Eileen are a huge blessing to the San Francisco-based rescue, who take in unwanted animals at risk of euthanization in busy shelters. As its dogs are fostered and adopted, the extra space is used to take in more pups.

“Fostering a dog can absolutely save another life,” says founder Sherri Franklin. “We’re foster based and we couldn’t save so many dogs if we didn’t have foster families and repeat adopters.”

The operation has grown in leaps and bounds since she started Muttville in her home in 2007. That year she rescued 27 dogs. In 2019, Muttville is on track to hit a whopping 1,000 adoptions—nearly three dogs a day. And in total, they’re close to 6,800. While most of the dogs used to be pulled from San Francisco-area shelters, the group now takes in aging and unwanted oldies from different parts of the state, as well as emergency evacuations regions during the recent Northern California wildfires and Hurricane Harvey.

Changing the conversation about senior dogs A lot has changed since the operation began. When Franklin started rescuing animals 12 years ago, she says many shelters weren’t even trying to adopt out dogs over the age of seven, instead opting to euthanize them because they believed there would be no interest.

When Muttville set up shop in the Bay Area, there were only three or so US rescues focused on senior dogs—now there are dozens.  moderndogmagazine.com

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“They see the success. They see that it’s possible and people want these dogs. Now I see shelters that never even used to put them on the adoption floor getting them adopted,” she says.

“It’s catching on and it’s wonderful.”

Muttville has done a lot to change the dialogue when it comes to the way people think about older dogs. Part of that is the brilliant way they market the pups. It may not seem revolutionary now, but Muttville was one of the first groups that really shone the spotlight on the positive attributes of what made senior dogs special—basically, that age really is nothing but a number. And quirkiness is good.

Social media has been a powerful tool. They have a loyal and large Instagram and Facebook following, where they post daily videos and pictures showing off what’s to love about their menagerie. They also host adoption events and meet and greets every weekend at their downtown headquarters, and outreach events in the community.

Its next step is finding a permanent home, maybe buying a building to renovate, where people can come interact with the dogs. They believe in a cage-free shelter that is a less scary place for dogs, and a more welcoming experience for would-be adopters and staff.

Like a comfortable pair of slippers Franklin sees senior dogs as “like putting on a comfortable pair of slippers.” They just fit into your life, are a lot less work than a puppy, and are an instant best friend.

These dogs have already gone through their crazy puppy years, when your shoes aren’t safe. They need less exercise, which makes them perfect companions for people and families with busy lives who don’t necessarily want—or have—several hours a day to take Fido out for marathon walks and hikes.

“The last thing a busy mom with a kid or two needs is a puppy to train too,” she laughs. “We can help them find a dog that has experience with kids.”

Most of its dogs already know basic commands and are housetrained, making the transition to home life much easier. 

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By Angela Dimartino, Muttville’s Seniors for Seniors Coordinator Muttville Senior Dog Rescue’s mission is to change the way the world thinks about and treats older dogs, and part of this is matching senior dogs with senior people. Senior dogs make perfect companions for older adults and Muttville has created several programs dedicated to supporting this bond, including the Seniors for Seniors adoption program and the very popular Cuddle Club.

The Seniors for Seniors adoption process is all about making senior dog adoption welcoming and accessible for adults over age 62. The process starts with a specialized questionnaire, one that asks targeted questions to understand the lifestyle of the adopter. Dedicated adoption counselors review the applications and suggest perfect dog matches. Adopters receive a “Welcome Kit,” including a harness, leash, bed, bowls, medicine, food, and equipment such as ramps, stairs or gates, to make the home the perfect fit for the dog.

Muttville guarantees to always take the dog back if the adoption doesn’t work out, or if the adopter becomes unable to care for the dog, providing adopters with comfort that their adopted animal family-members will always be taken care of, no matter what.

And then there’s Cuddle Club, created in 2013 as a way to welcome older adults to Muttville to spend time with the dogs awaiting adoption. For seniors who would like to spend time with dogs but are unable to adopt (reasons include ability, housing restrictions, physical disability, and many others), this program is nothing short of wonderful. Organizations bring their older adult clients to Muttville’s Community Cuddle Room (accessible for people with disabilities) for cuddle parties, which benefit not just the humans, but also the dogs, who relish the loving attention. Many clients return year after year for Cuddle Club, developing friendships with their peers and Muttville’s dedicated volunteers.

Happily, at least three Cuddle Club attendees have ended up adopting dogs they met at Cuddle Club!

PHOTOS MUTTVILLE SENIOR DOG RESCUE

Senior For Seniors & Cuddle Club

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moderndogmagazine.com

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“It’s really trendy now to adopt a senior dog and I hope that trend grows and grows.”

Life with a senior So what is the reality of living with a senior dog? Or in the case of most serial Muttville adopters, several senior dogs?

In many ways, Franklin and her army of volunteers are master matchmakers, and it’s something she prides herself on. She will tell you there is a senior dog for everyone.

Between their various ailments and medicines, Eileen Cremata admits sharing her home with multiple golden oldies can be a challenge, but it’s actually less time consuming than if they were puppies.

Muttville sees a lot of folks coming in with their mom or dad or grandparent looking for a dog that can be a quiet companion to keep them company—but not require a lot of work. Many times these would-be adopters have mobility issues.

“These old ones bring so much love and joy. In some respects it’s easier. I take Holly for a short walk but I don’t have to because of her age. Sweet Girl just likes wandering around the yard a few times a day,” she says.

“These are people who shouldn’t have a puppy that’s going to pull them down, or need a lot more than they can physically give,” she says.

One of their biggest successes is their seniors for seniors program that matches folks over 62 with older dogs and waives the $200 adoption fee. It now represents almost a third of all its adoptions.

The benefits for both animal and adopter are huge, including improved happiness and mental health. Many adopters report increased social interactions with people in their community because of having the dog with them.

Because, let’s be honest, what is a better ice breaker than an adorable dog by your side?

One recent group of adopters that Franklin is seeing a rise in is one you may not expect would want an aging animal: Millennials. With busy schedules and social calendars, Franklin says the younger generation doesn’t want the 15 to 20 year commitment to a puppy. Her dogs are great for taking to work, and cuddling on the couch on the weekends to watch Netflix. And typically, they sleep a lot.

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Working from home is also a plus. On most days the menagerie can be found snoozing under her desk, or on a pillow in the sun.

You’ll hear about snoozing a lot when you talk to Muttville adopters. Most senior dogs take a lot of naps.

Serial adopter Carin Cartt, who has taken in eight dogs, currently shares her bed with four seniors—Peluchin, Tumbleweed, Edamame, and Dasher—and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s so cute because they all want to get in. I pick them up one by one saying ‘one potato, two potato, three potato, four’ and they have to get used to it if there’s a new guy,’” she laughs.

Carin credits her fantastic experience adopting Junior the part Cattle Dog “who was just so calm and quiet” as the reason she’s come back to adopt so many more.

“He would just lie in bed with me and you just feel like you’re doing something good for this world. You know, a lot of people can donate money and do that but the thing is these poor dogs need a home,” she says. 

PHOTOS MUTTVILLE SENIOR DOG RESCUE

“Millenials don’t know what their life is going to be like in a decade, but they know what it’s going to be like for the next few years,” she says. “And they’re working all the time so they want a dog that’s pretty easy to take care of.”

SPECIAL PROMOTION

One of the greatest injustices in life is that a dog’s life is so much shorter than our own, and having to think about death and mortality is something that has to be considered when you’re adopting a senior.

When dogs come to Muttville with an untreatable illness they are put into its hospice program, where dogs are placed into a loving home until it is time for euthanasia, and the rescue covers costs and provides guidance.

Eileen Cremata has taken in nine dogs through the hospice program, and says the gratification far outweighs the sadness. One of the dogs was with her for a month before its kidneys failed, another was in her home well over a year.

“If I can have them for six months, it’s a great six months,” she says. “I shed tears every time though.”

Being sad is a natural part of the process, the longtime adopter says, because you just “love them so much” and get attached to each so quickly. But it’s that bond and love that keeps her coming back for more.

“I keep reminding myself that they are going to pass in my arms. They will not be alone. No one deserves to die in a shelter.”

Sherri Franklin agrees. It’s the reason she’s made adopting senior dogs her life’s work. She knows there is inevitable sadness in what she does, but it’s not a reason to miss out on the tremendous joy of having a senior pet in your life, even if it’s for a shorter amount of time.

“You go in with your eyes open. If the dog is seven you know you have a long time but if they’re 12 you know that the time is limited and every minute matters,” she says.

In her experience, the act of taking in a senior animal is a form of altruism, and will make you feel so good about yourself.

“It’s so rewarding. You know that you’re going to give that dog a second chance, this animal that would very possibly end up dead in a shelter. You give them a happy ending in their life. Dignity. Love.” 

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Muttville’s Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Senior Dog

         

Sherri Franklin,

Muttville Founder

Senior dogs make instant companions.

Senior dogs fit like an old comfy pair of slippers.

Senior dogs can learn—you can teach an old dog new tricks!

Senior dogs teach you how to live in the moment and slow down.

Senior dogs already know what “no” means.

Senior dogs won’t chew your shoes.

Senior dogs show love easily and are grateful as they grow older.

Senior dogs can focus well because they’ve mellowed.

Senior dogs usually have some training and already understand some basic commands.

Adopting a senior dog saves lives!

PHOTOS MUTTVILLE SENIOR DOG RESCUE

Death and dying: The elephant in the room

Give your senior a helping hand with these wellness products

Muttville’s Top 10 Tips for Living with a Senior Dog

1

Your senior needs a balanced diet and to stay hydrated.

Try adding bone broth to food for a little extra hydration and supplements to help with joints, digestion, and other senior health conditions. Consult your vet for advice on the best food for your dog.

2

If your senior dog slides around a little bit, lay some yoga mats on the floor. They offer great traction. You can also use toe pads—they’re like little rubber nubs for each toe—to give your dog traction on slippery surfaces. If your dog simply can’t walk very well, a dog stroller can get both of you out for some fresh air and a change of scenery!

3

If your dog becomes incontinent, don’t despair!

Belly bands and tinkle trousers are lifesavers. But don't let them sit in a wet pad too long. Dogs get diaper rash too.

4 5

A memory foam dog bed can ease pressure on joints. It’s just as comfortable for them as it is for you!

Strengthen your dog’s bones and muscles while reducing pain and inflammation with Purica’s Recovery chews.

Made with simple ingredients for a long and healthy life.

From $28, purica.com

Support your dog with the Walkabout Harness. This innovative product lets your injured or senior dog continue to enjoy life to the fullest. From $35, walkaboutharness.com

Support your dog’s joint health with BioStar’s Canine Mobility, Energy, and Immune Support. It maintains circulation for a better quality of life. $20/60 servings, biostarus.com

Is your dog’s appetite waning? Offer some strong and smelly food like cheese, baby food, or tripe to stimulate their appetite. Good pet food stores also sell freeze-dried meat, which you can sprinkle on top to add an extra treat.

6 7

Know your dog’s physical limits. Exercise is good, but don’t overdo it!

Does your dog have trouble getting up? Help-me-up harnesses—like a suitcase handle for your dog—are great for giving your dog a little assistance getting out of bed or walking up stairs.

8 9

Getting on and off furniture can be difficult as pets get older, but Hampton Bay Pet Steps ensure your dog can still enjoy their favourite spot. From $165, hamptonbaypetsteps.com

It might be difficult for your dog to bend down to eat or drink. Elevated food and water bowls can help.

If there’s a little chill in the air, your dog may like a sweater. And try tucking them into a blanket at night to make sure your dog is warm and snuggly.

10

Dental care. Dental Care. Dental Care. If you remember only one tip, remember this: your dog’s mouth is key to good health. Bad teeth are not only painful but can breed infection that results in liver or kidney disease. If you can do it, a professional dental cleaning can be a literal lifesaver. 

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This all-natural Goodwinol ointment is made with the same great formula they used 80 years ago. It’s great for healing minor wounds and maintaining healthy skin. $11, goodwinol.com

PHOTO LEFT MUTTVILLE SENIOR DOG RESCUE

Golden Oldies

moderndogmagazine.com

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Thunderstorm Phobia?

Fireworks Fear?

How To Reduce Your Dog’s Anxiety

Summer’s festive fireworks and fearsome thunderstorms can freak out even normally relaxed dogs. For dogs with anxiety or a nervy disposition, these events can seem like World War 3. Unfortunately, dogs running off and getting hurt during these events is all too common—vets and animal shelters report their busiest time of the year is July 4th. Help your dog stay secure and relaxed during storms and fireworks with these seven ways to calm an anxious dog and keep them safe.

1

Make sure your dog has some form of ID on them. Whether this is a tag, tattoo, or microchip—or better yet, all three—identification can help get your lost dog returned to you faster.

If you are travelling, make sure your dog has a temporary vacation ID tag with your updated contact information.

Make your own DIY Vacation Dog Tag with our easy to customize, free template at moderndogmagazine.com/vacationdogtag.

2

Keep a pheromone spray or diffuser on hand. Safe to use at any age, pheromone diffusers mimic the pheromones produced by mother dogs, sending calming messages to your pup and reducing stress-related behaviours. We like ThunderEase calming pheremones.

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3

Prepare a tempting distraction. Chewing and licking have been shown to have a calming effect on dogs.

If you know there are going to be fireworks or other anxiety-inducing events, make sure your dog has a safe space to be. Try providing a high value distraction, such as a stuffed Kong, a special chew, or a puzzle toy with hidden, extra-tasty treats. Note that dogs with severe anxiety likely won’t partake.

4 5

Close the blinds or curtains. Visual stimulation can make your dog’s anxiety worse. The flash of fireworks or lightening can be just as terrifying as the noises they make. Close the curtains and block the view.

Chill out with CBD. CBD or cannabidiol, a nonpsychoactive component of hemp, has been shown to safely help dogs with anxiety. Tinctures and CBDinfused treats make it easy to administer. Turn to page 68 for details on how this natural remedy can help your dog.

6

Give your dog plenty of food, water, and exercise earlier in the day. Your dog probably won’t eat when anxious, so make sure they’ve had a good meal beforehand. Always keep fresh water available to your dog but encourage hydration before the triggering activities start as they may not want to drink either. Exercise will help your dog release any excess energy that can later turn into anxiety.

7

Reduce stress with gentle compression. Like swaddling an infant, the Thundershirt anxiety jacket (from $40, thunderworks.com) applies gentle, constant pressure to calm all types of anxiety, fear, and over-excitement issues.—Ashley Lee

moderndogmagazine.com

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This woman-run natural pet food company is changing how people think about pet food

C

an you eat it yourself? That’s what Debbie Pelczynski asked herself when she started My Healthy Pet, the Canadian, family-owned natural pet food company she founded in 1993. Her not-so-small goal? To change the pet food industry.

“Growing up, dogs were my best friends,” she laughs. “I scrapbooked everything about dogs—if I could cut it out and paste it, I had it.”

She began her career as a pet food retailer and pet food distributor representative, but found she wasn’t happy about what she was distributing. It was this dissatisfaction that led her to start My Healthy Pet, the first holistic pet food company to manufacture in Canada. Today, Debbie’s products are available worldwide. All ingredients are of Canadian, USA, or New Zealand origin, and her products are distributed fresh. In addition to food, they offer a variety of holistic supplements that are carefully formulated to target common pet conditions.

“If we can’t eat it, why should our pets?”

“Through determination, education, research, and hard work, I was able to create a brand that allowed me to sleep at night,” she says, adding, “If we can’t eat it, why should our pets?”

If people only knew what was in many commercial dog foods…

All commercial and premium pet foods only have to meet the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Debbie explains. What people don’t know is that these so-called standards permit animal by-products and slaughterhouse refuse and may contain unacceptable levels of chemicals like mercury and lead.

Enter pet food that exceeds human grade standards.

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In contrast, all My Healthy Pet products are formulated to exceed FDA guidelines for human consumption. They use only top-quality, natural ingredients and absolutely no chemicals, animal by-products, added salt, added sugar, artificial colourings or flavours, fillers, or binders. They use only non-allergenic ingredients because many pets are allergic to ingredients commonly found in commercial foods.

“I wanted companion animals to live longer, healthier lives,” Debbie says plainly. “You are what you eat...and the same applies to your pets!”

Biggest challenge?

Staying independent; not working with investors or partners. And continually breaking through the glass ceiling!

Best part of your job?

Bringing my dogs to work!

What is your #1 bestseller?

Holistic Blend Seagreens powder, which helps to boost activity of thyroid gland, promotes hair growth and colour pigmentation, and minimizes shedding, biting, and scratching by addressing a lack of minerals and vitamins which are not found in most commercial pet foods.

What is the number one most important thing pet parents can do for their dog’s health?

Be aware. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and trust your instincts!

PHOTO WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

BODY & SOUL

Foxtrot the Humanitarian Pup This abandoned pup helps feed hundreds of thousands of refugees!

The UN’s World Food Programme is the world’s largest agency working to end hunger around the world. They feed 90 million people every year.

Working alongside the programme’s incredible team is an unexpected member, a rescue dog who has come to be known as Foxtrot the Humanitarian Pup. Foxtrot was an abandoned puppy who found a new home with the World Food Programme’s (WFP) team in Bangladesh.

“He works day-in-and-day-out to help the team provide food security to almost 900,000 Rohingya refugees living in the Cox’s Bazar region,” says Gemma Snowdon. “Every day is a new adventure for Foxtrot as he helps the team with their work in the refugee camps.”

That work includes, school feeding, food distributions, nutrition, livelihoods, and engineering projects.

Since his rescue, Foxtrot has helped to shed light on the situation on the ground through his own Instagram channel, @humanitarian_pup.

Follow him for feel-good stories on the tremendous work being done to feed the hungry and a welcome reminder that we all—rescue dogs included—have a role to play and can make the world a better place. moderndogmagazine.com

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

NATURAL DOG Products to enhance a healthy canine lifestyle

Is your pet constantly scratching, licking, or pawbiting? Does your pet suffer from skin, breathing, or digestive issues? 5Strands Affordable Pet Test uses simple hair analysis to test for over 300 potential intolerances caused by food or environment. Get the answers you need so you can help your pet! AffordableAllergyTest.com

Give your pampered pooch some well-deserved TLC with the best all-natural balms designed to heal and protect dry, rough, chapped, cracked paws and snouts. Just in time for Summer, SnoutScreen provides natural protection from the sun and acts as a natural bug repellant.

HandyHound.com

I’M-YUNITY for Dogs. Improve your dog’s immunity and quality of life with I’m-Yunity. It’s the only clinically proven medicinal mushroom extracts of Coriolus versicolor. I’m-Yunity contains proprietary and standardized extracts to help to reduce pain and fatigue while improving energy levels, mobility, and appetite.

Learn about clinical results at ImYunityForDogs.com and use code “moderndog” for a 5% discount!

Feeding our dogs a healthy and balanced diet is highly important but busy schedules can prevent us from making them meals ourselves.

NomNomNow is the perfect solution! They deliver fresh, pre-portioned, and nutritious meals straight to your door and each delivery is customized to your dog’s dietary needs. Get 30% off your first order!

NomNomNow.com/moderndog

From $39.99.

All Natural Goodwinol Shampoo is gentle enough for kittens and puppies when they are six weeks old. It contains a natural insecticide and a clean, bright scent that lasts. Made in the USA. Goodwinol.com

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Does your dog suffer from pain and discomfort due to arthritis? Have your pup’s eyes and coat lost their sparkle and sheen? Try HYALcare from Herbs for Horses, an invaluable tool in joint care and overall health! Simply add HYALcare to your dog’s bowl and see energy and vitality return!

HorseHerbs.com

SPECIAL PROMOTION

Buck Bone Organics hand crafts eco-friendly, Premium Wild Elk and Deer antler treats that your dog will love.

Naturally shed antler is rich in protein, calcium, and magnesium, perfect for a tasty and healthy dog chew, dog biscuit, or food topper.

They are nature's gift to your dog!

BuckBoneOganics.com Sammy’s Shiny Coat from Stengel Oils contains Omega-3s, the good fats responsible for the basic cellular health of all body tissues in humans and their furry friends. This 100% virgin, cold-pressed flax oil contains no fillers and helps to improve the shine of your dog’s coat as well as improve skin conditions.

StengelOils.com Charlee Bear's new Grain Free Meaty Bites are raw, freeze-dried meat treats comprised of only two wholesome ingredients: a protein and a fruit or vegetable, plus added probiotics! Made in the USA by a familyowned company, these natural treats do not contain any soy, grains, artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

CharleeBear.com

Gaines Family Farmstead creates all-natural sweet potato dog treats your dog is sure to love! Made without the use of artificial flavours, sweeteners, or preservatives, these 100% American made treats are a healthy but tasty treat for Fido. They are also high in vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber! Use code MODERNDOG for 15% off. GainesFamilyFarmstead.com

The first and only DIY dog toothbrush.

Made with natural rubber, flavoured with beef, and designed with dogs’ anatomy in mind, the Bristly’s side nudges and bristles brush away plaque and tartar while “em-paw-er-ing” pups to brush their own teeth. Bristly.com

Calm My Dog from Blue Ridge Botanicals is a blend of 100% pure essential oils to relieve your dog’s anxiety during thunderstorms, fireworks, or any time anxiety is high. This calming formula with chamomile, lavender, and marjoram also soothes hyperactivity, and smells great too!

BlueRidgeBotanicalsCo.com

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WELLNESS

CBD & Your Dog All you need to know about how CBD (aka cannabidiol, a safe, non-toxic compound found in cannabis) can help your dog

By Peter Nolan-Smith

L

ulu the Chihuahua was struggling with major skin and joint issues. Most problematically, the then six-year-old dog was suffering from knee dysplasia, severely limiting her movement around the house. Her owner, Sian Thomas, consulted a vet but Lulu wasn’t a candidate for surgery, and Sian was concerned about Lulu’s pain level.

“She was torn up, a mess and a half, the tiny little thing,” Sian said.

On the advice of the staff at the animal rescue where she adopted Lulu, she began administering CBD oil, a cannabis extract, into her dog's mouth each day with a dropper. In less than a month, Lulu was back up and running.

For the unfamiliar, CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabis compound derived from hemp. Unlike THC, it’s nonpsychoactive, meaning it won’t get you or your dog high. What it does seem to do is help with all manner of ailments, from pain to anxiety to seizures.

On her CBD regimen, Lulu was so energized that she started running around with Sian's other dog, a fivemonth-old puppy.

“He had full puppy energy and she kept up with him,” Sian marveled, adding that the CBD oil cleared up the tiny dog's skin issues as well.

“It made her skin wonderful. It turned me into a believer,” said Sian, who was never one to partake in marijuana. “You know I was like, ‘this isn’t real, it can’t be happening.’”

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The ABC’s of CBD CBD is something that’s popping up more and more on shelves. From the beauty aisle to the pet store, the hyped compound is being seen in everything from craft cocktails to medicinal body oils. And now, there is space opening up for CBD to help dogs across North America. Both recreational and medicinal use of marijuana and marijuana-derived products are legal in Canada, and, as of December 2018, with the passing of the Farm Bill, it is federally legal both to possess and use hemp and its derivatives (including CBD) in the United States as well.

What the heck is CBD? CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of hundreds of phytocannabinoids found inside cannabis sativa. Historically it is a lot less famous than its wild cousin, THC, the chemical in the plant that causes the high feeling. THC has been hogging the attention so much that illegal growers have been breeding CBD out of cannabis for generations. This is because not only is CBD non-psychoactive, it can also have a calming effect—bad news for those seeking a “high”, but ideal for tackling anxiety and pain without any psychotropic effect.

CBD has also shown promise in treating epilepsy, arthritis, and reducing inflammation—a condition that’s being linked to numerous ailments in humans and dogs alike.

The current research suggests that there is a real future in developing treatment in canines and many practitioners are already seeing results in their clinics.

Her positive experience with her dog led her to suggest CBD therapy for a family member as well.

“Now, we’ve even given it to my granddad who has a failed knee replacement to help him heal too.”

Lulu and her human companion aren’t the only ones seeing first-hand results when it comes to treating certain chronic conditions in canines with CBD. Chris Arzberger started to consider taking CBD for his own anxiety, and while doing research found numerous products and testimonials from people having success using CBD on their animals. It couldn’t have come soon enough as his Pug, Oscar, and Boston Terrier, Felix, were dealing with serious health problems.

At 13, Oscar was having issues moving around the house and would remain immobile for most of the day until begrudgingly and painfully getting up when prompted to do so. Meanwhile, Felix suffered from canine intestinal lymphangiectasia, a disease that prevents him from processing fat and results in gastrointestinal distress.

It was the promise of a potential treatment for Oscar’s arthritis that persuaded Chris to try CBD on his dogs.

“He would walk with a heavy limp and refused to go on walks,” Chris said of his dog Oscar. “If he did get the motivation to go on a walk, he wouldn't last long and we would have to tuck him into the compartment underneath our daughter's stroller."

In a matter of mere days after the first treatment, Oscar’s limp had gotten better and within a few weeks, he started running around the house again.

Even the patio stairs, a long-standing source of trouble for the dog, were no longer an obstacle.

“When I would come home from work or if it was time for dinner he would start jumping around like a puppy. It was quite remarkable,” said Chris.

While CBD has completely replaced Oscar’s glucosamine tablets, Chris is hoping CBD can assist Felix as well. The Boston Terrier’s prescription medications help but come with some serious side effects.

“He is losing muscle mass, has the need for frequent urination, and occasionally gets the shakes,” Chris reports. After introducing CBD, he says he has “slowly started to lower his medications and he hasn't had a relapse. We plan on continuing to lower his prescription medication."

Nugget was another dog with a chronic illness. Suffering from liposarcoma of the leg, the nine-year-old Chihuahua could hardly walk. His owner Marni Eton could not afford the chemo or radiation therapy that could have potentially prolonged her companion’s life. 

Want to give it a try?

CBD-infused oils make delivery a breeze!

Medix CBD’s Oil for Dogs is infused with a smoky bacon flavour your dog will love. Great for anxiety, insomnia, and pain relief. $50/ 500mg, medixcbd.com

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Made specifically for the smaller, more sensitive breeds, Suzie’s Toy Breed CBD Oil supports health, relieves anxiety, and aids in the treatment of chronic issues. $30/125mg, suziespettreats.com

Pharmaceutical grade and 100% THC free, Tuscan Natural’s CBD Coconut Oil helps keep your pup’s coat healthy and shiny. It’s made without pesticides, solvents, or GMO’s to ensure there are no dangerous side effects. From $26, shoptuscannatural.com

CBD FAQ's Does CBD help dogs with pain?

There is currently little evidence in the research that CBD has a direct impact on pain, however, there are many dog owners reporting success in using it to treat chronic pain conditions in their dogs.

Does CBD help dogs with anxiety?

This is another one that the data just isn’t in yet from clinical trials, though many dog owners, including some of those interviewed for this article, report success using it for that purpose.

How can CBD help dogs with cancer?

CBD is regularly being used in hospice care for dogs. While not shown to be an effective treatment for curing forms of cancer in clinical studies, clinicians and frontline workers are finding success in using it to manage the symptoms and increase quality of life in terminal dogs.

How is CBD best administered?

A simple eye dropper seems to be the simplest method. It can also be added to food. Some companies sell THCinfused dog cookies or treats.

Dr. Stephanie McGrath, a veterinarian at Colorado State University conducting clinical research into CBD, told Modern Dog she had tried a solution that was applied through the skin, though it was not particularly effective.

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CBD is not a cure for cancer, but Marni says it was able to provide her dog comfort near the end of his life.

“It was the first time in a long time to see some of that pain ease,” she said of the treatment. “It sure made a difference in his pain level.”

There is an absence of long term data on CBD use in dogs, but owners are reporting more and more success with CBD in tackling a variety of ailments.

We spoke with veterinarians, vet techs, and owners to cut through the hype and find out what’s actually known about the compound.

Can CBD be used instead of prescription drugs?

CBD is primarily an alternative to other anti-inflammatories on the market.

While non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like Metacam are typically cheaper than CBD products, they come with a long list of side effects.

Some owners have transitioned their dogs off of anti-inflammatories completely while using CBD. Veterinary technician Keli Omalley-Izumine, also the co-founder of the LA-based Rock and Roll Rescue dog shelter, specializes in providing care to abandoned and terminally ill canines. She says that CBD has increased the quality of life for her dogs.

“It was something I’d been hearing over the years in veterinary medicine,” she said. "There was a hype but honestly, I never really believed in it.”

That was until a rescue of hers, Stevie, developed a serious form of cancer.

Although an operation removed much of it, the cancer quickly grew back.

Keli credits CBD with not only improving Stevie's health, but allowing her to outlive her six-month survival window by two years and counting.

Remember though, removing your pet from any medication should not be taken lightly and should be done only under the advice of a veterinarian.

What are the risks?

CBD appears to have no reported side-effects on dogs. In humans, the World Health Organization (WHO) has found there are no adverse side effects from the use of CBD. Too much CBD will eventually reach a toxic level in dogs, however, according to Dr. McGrath, though unlike THC, dogs appear to have a very high tolerance.

She reports using 300 mg daily in her research on a variety of sizes of dogs (“Chihuahuas to Saint Bernards”), the dosage she says, in hindsight, was fairly low. Keli, at Rock and roll Rescue said they give their cancer patients up to 1,400 mg with no visible negative effects. (Dosage is of course dependent on the size of the dog.)

Watch for symptoms of toxicity like vomiting, shaking, listfulness, and a distant look in their eyes.

Who should consider giving CBD to their dogs?

One of the areas where the drug has proven truly effective has been in the treatment of epilepsy in dogs and people alike. Research out of the Colorado State University is showing positive results when it comes to the treatment of conditions like arthritis, but most notably in epilepsy, though this data has yet to be peer-reviewed. 

This USA grown and non-GMO peanut butter flavored CBD oil from Paw CBD promotes health optimization without the high. Available in five concentrations for dogs of all sizes. $60/750mg, cbdmd.com

Soothe your dog’s aches and pains with Odessa’s Essentials’ CBD Recovery Bar. Scored into six easy-to-break pieces, this CBD bar allows your dog to relax and recover in comfort. $8, essentialodessa.com

Specially formulated to work quickly, Healthier Pet’s CBD Fish Oil Health Drops have all the added benefits of fish oils and is easy to digest. $45/250mg, healthierpet.org

Honest Paws’ Creamy CBD infused Peanut Butter is sure to be a big hit with your dog. Made with premium ingredients, your dog will get the taste they love alongside the many health benefits. $37/453g, honestpaws.com

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Blue Ridge Botanicals’ CBD Hemp Oil Doggie Drops have been shown to slow the spread of cancer and reduce the size of tumors. $17/150mg, blueridgebotanicalsco.com

A combination of pharmaceutical humangrade sardine anchovy oil and USA grown hemp, Iceland Pure’s CBD Tincture is formulated specifically for pets for high quality results. $105/1000mg, icelandpure.com

Prevent and treat external inflammation, itching, and dryness with Dope Dog’s Soothing Suds CBD Shampoo. Great for hot spots, eczema, and much more.

Made only with dog-friendly ingredients! $35/100mg, dope.dog

If your dog’s not a fan of taking medication try Canis World’s Bacon Flavoured Dog Hemp Oil Tincture.

Made from American CBD isolate, it’s sure to entyce even the pickiest pooch. $88/100mg, canisworld.com

These CBD filled Meaty Steak Treats from Medipets CBD are a simple and delicious solution to anxiety caused by summer fireworks and thunderstorms. $40, medipetscbd.com

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5

FUN SPORTS FOR DOGS

Get fit, have fun, keep your dog mentally and physically engaged, make new friends—these five popular dog activities may just prove to be your undiscovered passion. Just ask these participants…

By Tracey Tong Lure Coursing

Just like back in high school, the sport has also allowed her to make friends with people on teams all over the country.

She’s so committed to the sport, she’s started not one, but two teams. It all began 20 years ago in Maryland, where she took a flyball and agility course with her Jack Russell Terrier and fell in love with the sport. There wasn’t a flyball team in her part of Northern Virginia, so she started her own team and worked with the local recreational centre to offer flyball classes. She eventually had enough people to compete.

Flyball What it is: Flyball is a type of relay race

that involves teams of four dogs. Each dog from a team runs, in relay fashion, down a course, jumping hurdles as they race towards the flyball box. The flyball box, once triggered by the dog, releases a tennis ball that the dog must retrieve before returning over the jumps back to her handler. Once a dog has completed the course, the next dog is released from the starting line.

Who they are: Terri Botsford, Sherlock, and Miranda If you were on a high school sports team, you likely have fond memories of travelling with your team, bonding over sport, and the thrill of competition. Terri Botsford does, and in a way, is living it all over again—but this time, with her dog.

“I love that flyball is a team sport between me and my dog, as well as team sport of other dogs and handlers, much like the basketball and softball teams I used to be on in school,” says the captain of Syracuse Flyball in Syracuse, New York.

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Flyball is for team players, and for dogs that have no dog or people aggression, says Terri. After that, you’re golden.

Although the majority of dogs that play flyball are mediumsized dogs, Terri believes that as long as they’re in good physical shape, “just about any dog can be trained to play, even if the dog has no ball drive. Some take longer than others to learn. I’ve seen dogs from Chihuahuas to Great Danes run,” says Terri, who competes with Sherlock, her three-year-old Australian Labradoodle and Miranda, her two-year-old rescue Border Collie/Australian Cattle Dog mix.

About three years ago, Terri moved back to Chittenango, New York, and started teaching flyball with the Syracuse Obedience Training Club, where she sits on the board of directors.

“Within a year, we had enough dogs ready to compete,” she says. The group hosts two flyball tournaments a year, but there are tournaments in the United States every weekend for those willing to travel.

In terms of getting started, the team needs a flyball box ($500 to $2,000), wooden jumps (which you can make yourself), and a lot of tennis balls. “We used to go to local tennis clubs and put a box up asking for their old/used ones,” Terri says.

As for the dogs, “I think they love the running free and having a job to do,” says Terri. “I think they also love doing this with their handler. It certainly builds a bond.”

PHOTOS LURE COURSING EDDIE KOMINEK HERDING TRIALS KATHY WALKER RALLY OBEDIENCE TANIA CALVERLEY

“Flyball people may be competitive, but everyone loves helping and meeting other teams,” she says. “It’s a very close-knit community.”

Herding Trials What it is: This sport that

allows herding dogs to engage in an instinctual behaviour. Herding dogs help farmers and ranchers manage their livestock by gathering and sorting animals.

Herding trials mimic the work herding dogs would do on a farm or ranch. During training and trials, the handlers give commands and allow dogs to herd cattle, sheep, and ducks, as well as goats, geese, and turkeys.

obedience, dogs of all breeds and their handlers complete a course made up of signs describing specific obedience exercises to perform while judges observe.

Who they are: Kathy Walker, Hoss, Nelly, Jigs, and Possum

Who they are: Tania Calverley and Babette

Twenty years ago, Kathy Walker acquired a puppy from a working bloodline. Lucy was a herding bred dog, and needed some sort of job, says Kathy. She was a talented herding dog and taught Kathy quite a bit about herding.

Babette is a special dog.

Fast forward to present, and Kathy now has three Australian Cattle Dogs, Hoss, Nelly, and Possum, as well as Jigs, a Working Kelpie. And she rarely spends time without her dogs.

Rally obedience What it is: In rally

Born missing a foot on one of her hind legs, Babette, a Flat-Coat Retriever/Border Collie mix, had a full amputation at four months; with no pad or paw on the leg, she had begun to get ulcerations, necessitating the surgery.

It didn’t slow her down one bit—her nickname at the dog park is The Bullet, says owner Tania Calverley.

Kathy and her dogs train at Alan and Maureen Aulson’s Black Prong Equestrian Center, an internationally recognized facility in the Goethe State Forest in Bronson, Florida that hosts horse and dog events, including two American Herding Breed Association (AHBA) trials annually, as well as herding clinics.

The AHBA trials include ranch, arena, and open field courses.

They tried agility, but the energy and the sounds were too much for Babette. That’s when Tania thought she might be better suited to rally.

Herding requires a larger investment than most of the sports profiled here. Aside from the time investment, participants need a herding dog, livestock to work in a suitable location, and a trainer.

In Canada, there are two streams for competitive rally obedience—the Canadian Kennel Club, which does not allow lame dogs, and Canadian Association of Rally Obedience (CARO), which is open to dogs of all abilities.

And then there’s the matter of weather. Unlike most other dog sports, there is usually no option to work indoors, so practitioners in most areas of the U.S. need to work around weather. In Florida, there are herding trials in September through May, with a break in the summer to avoid the hot weather. Kathy keeps active year-round, frequently travelling to herding trials with her dogs.

“Since agility wasn’t for her, I figured rally would be a better fit—still physical, still very mental, but lower key and a quieter environment,” says Tania, who says she knows of other threelegged dogs, as well as blind and deaf dogs that compete.

“I was right. She flourishes in the ring, eager to please and quite happy with herself when she does a good job.”

Many dogs, including Kathy’s, are both working animals and do herding as a sport. It gives them a purpose. “Dogs that have a strong genetic instinct to herd enjoy this type of sport and would rather work livestock than just about anything else,” Kathy says.

“It’s just a quieter sport. For us, it has helped Babette focus on me and learn how to be around big groups and keep it together,” she says.

“Rally has given Babette and I time to bond closer to each other,” Tania says. “It’s also upped her confidence and reduced her anxiety levels. I would definitely recommend rally to anyone who wants to increase the bond with their dog, improve their obedience but work in a calmer, less high-strung environment.”  moderndogmagazine.com

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“It's an exceptionally challenging role, taking years of practice before someone is allowed to operate for a trial with multiple hounds,” he says. “It's also super fulfilling when beautifully run courses are run and you had a hand in that.”

But the best part of the sport? Seeing the hounds enjoy doing what comes instinctually. “They come off the field satisfied, pleasantly tired and are always willing to do it again once that lure is fired up,” he says.

Lure Coursing What it is: Lure coursing is a

fast-paced chase sport that was developed as an alternative to hare coursing. Rather than chasing a live animal, dogs chase an artificial lure across a field to compete for the best time. Sometimes, obstacles are involved in the race. This is an ideal activity to allow your dog to act upon his chase instinct in a safe, humane way. Lure coursing has both trials and tests. Trials are for sighthounds; dogs run head to head and are categorically evaluated against one another. Tests, like CATs and FastCATs, are for all breeds.

Both trials and tests are popular in the U.S., but all-breed lure coursing groups are becoming more common.

Who they are: Eddie and Selma Kominek and Narcissa, Ingvar, Lena, Brienne, Cersei, and Soleil It was at an American Kennel Club show in Georgia, 2004, that Eddie Kominek and his wife Selma first stumbled across lure coursing. There, they had their first lure coursing tests with their Afghan Hounds, Joey and Phoebe.

“I found the sport more engaging than dog shows, showing off the abilities of our sighthounds,” says Eddie.

It wasn't until a few years later, when they had an Afghan Hound, Reza, who really loved lure coursing, that they started routinely going to lure coursing trials.

For beginners, there is very little equipment necessary. Dogs need to be in good running shape before starting. Handlers need a slip-lead—a special lead used to release a coursing hound quickly—and a set of coloured blankets or jackets which allows them to tell the dogs apart at a distance.

In 2009, the Komineks began open field coursing with their Afghans. After 12 years in the sport, Eddie and Selma bought 102 acres in Limestone, Tennessee for lure coursing. Kominek Farms plays host to about 15 to 20 lure coursing trials a year and in 2017, the American Kennel Club National Lure Coursing Championship was held there. Their six Afghan hounds: Narcissa, 19 months; Ingvar, 2.5 years; Lena, 3; Brienne, 5; Cersei, 7; and Soleil, 10, are all participants in sighthound lure coursing in either Open or Field Champion stakes.

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Tracking What it is: A dog’s nose knows—smell

is a dog’s strongest sense. Humans have taken those natural instincts and have trained working dogs to track things besides prey, like lost people, belongings, and drugs and explosives. Tracking trials mimic searchand-rescue missions, assessing the dog's natural ability and willingness to follow a trail left by human footsteps.

Who they are: Gina Snow and Moby Gina Snow had always been active with her dogs.

The owner of five Jack Russell terriers, Gina’s dogs compete in agility, dock diving, racing, lure coursing, rally, and earth dog events. But one day, she saw her male Jack Russell Terrier, Moby, sniffing around the yard.

“He had a natural tendency to follow scent trails,” she says. “I saw him doing this consistently after I had walked in certain areas in my yard and let him out after.”

PHOTO LURE COURSING EDDIE KOMINEK

Well-known in the American lure coursing community, Eddie and Selma are both lure coursing judges and field trial secretaries. Eddie also manages equipment and lure operate—he pushes the button that makes the “bunny” run—his favourite job on the field.

Turns out Gina’s instinct for her dog’s talents were right. Ten years later, Gina and Moby, now 13, have found great success in the field. Participants in the Dog Tracking Club of Maine in Portland, Maine, they’ve earned the American Kennel Club’s Tracking Dog Urban title once and the Tracking Dog title twice.

What may surprise some people is that all dog breeds can get involved.

“Some breeds and individuals are more natural than others, but every dog has a nose,” Gina says. “Tracking tests take place in all types of weather and terrain so that will play into the dog's desire for the sport too.”

In the beginner levels of tracking, the surfaces are not as varied and the tracks are shorter. In the higher levels, the tracks can be quite long and the surface very tricky at times (over logs, high grass, through standing water).

Tracks can be run in any type of weather so being able to withstand severe heat or cold may be a component too.

“Short, successful repetitions are key,” says Gina.

“When training, I often tracked about three times per week.” She recommends short and simple tracks to start and increasing difficulty by adding older tracks, turns, different surface types and distractions.

Any dog over six months of age can compete in AKC tracking, says Gina. As for how old they can be and still compete, it depends on the individual dog. The sport is unique in that it is exhausting for the dog without being especially hard on the physical body.

I think they love the running free and having a job to do...It certainly builds a bond.

To get started, handlers will need a free-moving harness that allows full extension of the neck and shoulders and some long lines for their dogs, and waterproof footwear for themselves. She adds that blind tracks (tracks set by someone other than yourself) are key for advanced training.

Tracking is the most difficult sport Gina has ever trained for. “It requires a lot of patience and astute observation skills on the handler’s behalf… they must be in tune to the dog's body language,” she says.

“I love how this sport allows a dog to use its natural abilities, sniffing,” says Gina. “It amazes me that a track through a field by a stranger, dropping articles along the way can be followed by my dog three hours later. It shows the capability and strength of the canine nose.” 

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eat

PET PROJECT

No-Bake DogTreats Super-simple homemade dog treats—no oven required!

W Coconut Bombs

Coconut Bombs

e’re quite simply obsessed with Serena NelsonFaber’s brand-new book, Healthy Homemade Dog Treats. Featuring beautiful photography, millennial pink pages, and more than 70 simple, delicious recipes for dogs—including a whole no-bake section—it’s endlessly inspiring.

The only trouble is deciding what to make first! If you’ve never thought to make homemade dog treats before, let this be the book to get you into the kitchen. Here, Serena shares a couple favourites perfect for the summer season.

Handy Hint: If the mixture is too dry or wet, simply add extra oats or coconut oil to correct.

Edible Kong Handy Hint: You can choose any type of apple for your Edible Kong; however, Granny Smith varieties have the lowest amount of natural sugar.

Makes 16 Treat Balls These treats are so yummy that they often go missing from the fridge in our house—the tasty flavour combination is a crowd favourite! Like most of our no-bake treats, these Coconut Bombs take mere minutes to make and only 30 more to set. »» »» »» »»

1/3 cup coconut oil 2–3 tablespoons organic peanut butter 2 cups rolled oats 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1. Add coconut oil, peanut butter, and rolled oats to food processor and mix until well combined.

2. Scoop out bite-sized pieces with a spoon and roll into little balls.

3. Toss each ball gently in the finely shredded coconut until well coated.

4. Place on a flat tray lined with baking paper, refrigerate for 30 minutes, and serve.

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Makes 1 Edible Kong Now, even though this technically could be called “instructions” more than a recipe, it’s too ingenious not to include. With just two ingredients and two steps, it’s possibly the easiest dog treat recipe known to man. Oh—and it will keep your dog entertained for ages. »» 1 small organic Granny Smith apple »» Organic peanut butter for the filling 1. Wash, core, and remove any stickers from your apple. It’s important to ensure the apple is fully cored as apple seeds contain cyanide and should not be consumed by dogs.

2. Stuff the core with your desired filling and serve.

COCONUT BALLS SERENA FABER-NELSON APPLE KONG SARAH DICKERSON SERENA & SODA PETAL PHOTOGRAPHY

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A Spanish speaking, four-footed therapist brings joy to children in desperate situations

By Vivien Fellegi

A

four-footed, furry therapist is giving lessons in love at Covenant House, one of New York’s shelters for homeless youth. Clients are vying for her attention, throwing her a deflated football, taking pictures, or just stroking her soft fur. Everyone wants to know more about the chocolate Lab. Except the skinny young man slouched over his cellphone, face almost obscured by a baseball cap. The dog’s owner, June Bleich, comes over to greet him. He inclines his head to acknowledge her presence but says nothing. Then the dog’s handler, Guillermo Roa, whom pretty much everyone calls Memo, takes a stab.

“Hey buddy, you want to say hello to Molly?”

He scowls.

Molly isn’t fazed. She tries to lick his face, but Memo reins the dog in. “No, be gentle,” he tells her in Spanish. The dog moves away.

The boy’s head jerks up and his eyes widen with wonder.

“Does the dog speak Spanish?” he asks.

“Si,” says Memo.

The morose youth suddenly explodes with questions.

“What’s her name?” “How did you teach her to understand Spanish?” “Why is she so nice?” He caresses her luxurious coat and she wags her tail furiously.

The session ends just as they’re becoming acquainted. The young man folds the dog in his arms and kisses her goodbye.

These kinds of “mini breakthroughs” happen regularly

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during the therapy dog’s visits, says Tom Manning, one of the shelter’s staff. Clients at Covenant House have little reason to trust humans—they’ve been trafficked, abused, or aged out of foster care. “None of the reasons are good— no one wants to be here,” says Tom. On top of everything, society often blames the kids for finding themselves in these desperate circumstances.

But animals don’t judge. “Molly comes for only one reason—to make their lives better,” says Tom. The youngsters enjoy watching her react to commands in two tongues. “It’s a very cool ice breaker.”

As the kids warm up to her, Molly welcomes petting, then rolls over for a belly rub. Her antics and her affection can penetrate the toughest of exteriors. “It’s amazing what can happen,” he says. “Molly is a gift.”

The youth of Covenant House aren’t the only ones touched

by Molly’s magnetism. By the time the therapy dog arrived at the shelter, she had already turned around the lives of her owner and her handler.

Den mother: Molly’s owner June Bleich Molly Jo (known as Molly), was a godsend for her owner, June Bleich, who adopted her in 2016. June’s children had left home years earlier, and she missed having someone to nurture. And while the mother of two had found new purpose volunteering with the American Cancer Society,

INSET MARISSA YATES

PHOTO MICHAEL GRAZIOSE / GRAYSTUDIOS.COM

LESSON IN LOVE

the high death toll amongst its clients was draining her drive. After losing her beloved dog Hayley, she plunged into a grief so profound that it took her half a year to recover.

When she was ready for a new pet, June called her vet to help her find a chocolate Lab from a noble lineage. Soon she was inspecting a litter of squirming, fuzzy brown puppies. The dog with the cowlick on her nose stood out even then. Though all the other pups peed on shavings, Molly opted for the blanket. June admired her originality. “This dog was special,” she says.

The pair bonded immediately. “I could see from the way she was looking deep into my eyes that she had a talent for communication,” says June. Molly’s ability to engage made her an empathetic companion during bad times. “She senses if something is up—she snuggles so close to me she almost gets under my skin,” says June. The volunteer had always wanted a therapy dog to accompany her on hospital visits, and she quickly realized that Molly was the perfect candidate for the job.

She didn’t need to look for the perfect trainer to mould Molly into a certified therapy animal. Guillermo Roa had been waiting for just such an opportunity.

Dogged determination: Trainer Guillermo “Memo” Roa The Colombian native was born with an affinity for animals. He could teach tricks to any of the neighbourhood dogs and was able to calm even the most aggressive animals. When their owners plied him for his formula, he didn’t know how to answer. “Animals connect with me—it’s magic,” he says.

As he grew up, Memo yearned to become a vet, but his father steered him to study the more lucrative field of business administration. After joining his relatives’ roofing company, he got married and started a family.

But turf wars of rival drug gangs threatened their security in Colombia. As car bombs shattered the peace, Memo would race to the phone to check up on loved ones. “It was too hard—I didn’t want to live that way,” he says.

After the Roa family immigrated to the US in l999, the 36-year-old father had to reinvent himself. Since he didn’t speak a word of English, he was lucky to be hired as a server. He sweated every time a customer demanded a utensil—if he brought a knife instead of a spoon, they yelled at him. Gradually, he mastered the language and was promoted to work as a butcher.

That’s how he met June Bleich. As he served her steaks, the bubbly blonde native New Yorker and the earnest, upbeat newcomer traded anecdotes about animals. Memo confided his true calling to work with dogs.

With encouragement from his wife, he began an online course to become a certified dog trainer in 2014. After ten-to-twelve hour shifts at the deli, he would come home, gobble up his dinner, and hunker down with a computer and an English-Spanish dictionary.

He had completed the course and opened his own dog training business by the time June arrived with a puppy nestled in her arms.

Memo fell in love with the puppy instantly. “It was like seeing a beautiful girl whom you want to marry,” he says. Picking up the dog, he covered her in kisses. On the spot, June invited him to become Molly’s trainer. From then on, the three would form an inseparable dog therapy team. (Though just Molly and Memo are certified, June attends every one of their sessions.)

Assembling the pack With Memo as Molly’s teacher, some canine problems like separation anxiety and persistent barking were resolved. His gentle approach, emphasizing communication over castigation, was proving to be effective.

Memo applied the same principles in courting Molly’s friendship. “I don’t want to train a robot—I want a dog to trust me,” he says. On their first day he  moderndogmagazine.com

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PHOTO MARISSA YATES

sat on the floor at her eye level and allowed her to sniff him before he touched her. He offered her a treat, she scarfed it down, and then he took her outside to play tag. By the end of the hourlong lesson they were buddies.

Basic obedience was next. Alone with Molly, the trainer flipped back into his native Spanish as he told her to sit and lie down. “I can express myself easier in my first language,” says Memo. He also taught her the English equivalents.

And though it hadn’t been planned, June was thrilled when she found out from her housekeeper that Molly understood Spanish. Many of her clients at the American Cancer Society were unilingual Hispanic and would appreciate a handler and dog who understood them.

Memo and his canine charge developed an effortless chemistry. Once, during lunch, Molly put her paw on Memo’s leg and begged for a morsel. Memo looked at her and whispered, “Excuse me.” Molly backed down. She never interrupted a meal again. (At least not in the trainer’s presence.)

After Memo completed Molly’s basic education, he determined her suitability for service. He took her on a trial run to the nursing home where his wife was working. Molly was a hit. “She was so nice, so calm—everyone loved her,” says Memo.

They started therapy dog training. He exposed her to increasingly scary situations, from roads with rattling bicycles and honking cars, to hospitals with bumpy elevators and zig-zagging wheelchairs. Molly didn’t bat an eye.

Molly reaped an unexpected benefit from this work. Dog owners seeing the duo in action hired Memo to train their own pets as therapy animals. As his reputation spread through word of mouth, his business took off. “Molly helped me reach my dream,” he says.

Molly was ready in just one year to undergo the certification exam with Memo as her designated handler.

Over three gruelling days, the duo had to demonstrate

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control as they faced barking dogs, tempting treats, and noisy hospital hallways. They aced the tests and got the stamp of approval from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. The newly minted Certified Therapy Dog Team was now eligible for liability insurance, a prerequisite to volunteer at any legitimate organization.

Though June had originally intended to train Molly for the cancer ward, she “had an epiphany” the day she passed a truck bearing the name of the homeless shelter. “Oh my God, why didn’t I think of Covenant House?” she asked herself. Its many Hispanic clients would welcome the bilingual dog and her handler, and she could switch her focus from sick seniors to vital youngsters. “It would be a rebirth.”

Pulling together: the dream team Molly, Memo, and June have found their place since they began volunteering at Covenant House in 2017.

Molly is gaining recognition—she’s currently a finalist amongst the American Humane Hero Dog Award nominees, in the Therapy Dog Category. (You can vote for Molly here herodogawards.org/dog/molly-jo) The bilingual dog puts everyone at ease, especially the Hispanic youth, says Memo. The handler has had firsthand experience of the ridicule many endure when struggling to speak English in public. Seeing the dog respond to their mother tongue is restorative. “It opens their hearts,” he says.

Once they’ve established a rapport, Memo starts the party—playing catch with Molly and the kids, demonstrating dog training techniques, and answering a litany of questions about the dog. “Memo is so good with the kids—he gets them laughing,” says Tom. For his part, Memo gets back as much as he gives. “I’m pleased with myself because I made these people feel safe,” he says.

Her antics and her affection can penetrate the toughest of exteriors. “It’s amazing what can happen. Molly is a gift.”

June too feels fulfilled at Covenant House. Youth gravitate towards her maternal aura and open up to her readily, says Tom. On one occasion, June coaxed a shy young man to perform a piece he had taught himself to play on a violin donated by the shelter. It wasn’t a brand new, expensive violin like the ones privileged Long Island children practise on—it had clearly been through the mill, says June. But from the delicate way he handled the instrument, it was obvious that he prized the beaten-up violin. As the notes of Amazing Grace tumbled from his bow, Molly listened at his feet, June began crying, and the other kids fell silent.

The budding musician hadn’t expected such a warm reception. “He was just so proud,” she recollects .

June lives for moments like these. “Volunteering at Covenant House is the greatest gift I’ve ever imagined,” she says. “Let this be the legacy my children will remember.”

Hope in a dog-eat-dog world Back at Covenant House, two weeks after meeting Molly, the skinny youth has returned to see her. He shakes hands with June and Memo, then launches himself at the dog.

The two roll around the floor together. Memo asks if he’d like to try giving Molly some commands in Spanish, and the young man is game. “Sit.” “Lie down.” “Roll over,” he prompts in Spanish. Molly obeys each directive.

“You’re a natural,” praises Memo.

The youth presses his nose against the dog’s snout and grins as her tongue grazes his lips.

Manning is struck by the youth’s newfound confidence, generated by the dog’s goodwill. Of course, he can’t predict if the transformation will stick. Most kids need more than a couple of dog therapy visits to resolve a lifetime of trauma.

“It takes a whole community to wrap its arms around those who’ve been robbed of their childhood,” says Tom. This process seems to have already started for the skinny young man. The shelter’s clients, already primed by Molly, are a bit more receptive to the adult members of the therapy dog team, who trek an hour and a half from Long Island to Manhattan and back just to give them joy, says Tom. For kids like the young man who bonded with Molly, unaccustomed to caring adults, this kind of nurturing fosters something new, says Tom. “It gives them hope.”  If you would like to become involved with Molly and her team, please visit mollyandmemo.com. moderndogmagazine.com

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Find youron! passi

Steve Lee

WORK...WITH DOGS! Considering a career change? These four jobs allow you to turn your love of dogs into a livelihood.

By Jane Mundy

A

s a dog lover, chances are you wanted to be a veterinarian when you grew up, but it’s a big commitment and life can get in the way. If you still dream of working with dogs, there are many opportunities to follow your passion in canine professions, whether you’re fresh out of college or thinking of a mid-life career change.

Here are some people who have done just that. They share with us how to get started, what it takes, the pros and cons, and how much you can get paid. Perhaps you too have a future working with dogs! (Next issue we profile a dog trainer, animal behaviorist, dog massage specialist, and two pet shop owners.)

1 DOG CAREGIVER AT AN ANIMAL SHELTER Shelter work is far from glamorous. It involves cleaning and feeding, medicating and walking, and more chores behind-thescenes. But the feel-good reward of helping animals? Priceless.

Steve Lee, age 52. Best Friends Animal Shelter, Kanab, Utah “Watching the National Geographic Channel TV series DogTown (DogTown is the dog area at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary) about a decade ago, I never dreamed that I'd one day be working here—I wanted to

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work with animals but I only knew about my own pets.

After working in IT for 20 years I decided the corporate world wasn’t for me, so in 2013 I quit my job and volunteered at Dogtown.

I was nervous and a bit intimidated. These people had worked in animal welfare for years, but they knew how much I wanted to make dogs’ lives better. By the third week, I applied for a permanent position as dog caregiver and the coordinator sent me all over Dogtown—I was being tested to work with all kinds of dogs. For instance, Indie was so shy she often feigned sleep. I read to her in a monotone voice and she was comfy with me. I was over the moon when Best Friends hired me. I moved here in my 16-foot trailer (now upgraded to 20-foot with a big bed) with my Beagle, and I’ve been at the “Peaches and Daisy” buildings—two of several buildings that house various groups of dogs in Dogtown—ever since.

It was a difficult learning curve and I made mistakes, but I soon learned how to focus on dog body language and the importance of reading their moods. And I garnered medical knowledge by default. It’s my job to make sure all my ‘kids’ get along with group living. For the first seven days, we put a dog in a run with another dog and if it doesn’t work we try another match. Sometimes a week or two later things deteriorate so I’m always observing their behaviour.”

2 DOG WALKER AND SITTER Dog Caregiver: The Rundown Pros: I love working with a creative group that always thinks outside the box. I love the breakthroughs with difficult dogs—when it works out, these kids give you everything in return. There’s always a new challenge where you have to change gears and look at things in another light. So rewarding.

Cons: Dog bites happen, but I’ve only had one bad bite from Dwayne. Some of my kids have terminal health issues. Bo had a big cancerous lump and we knew his time was limited. Little Jersey, a Katrina survivor, made it to 12 years old and she died in my arms. I have an emotional investment with all my kids so I’ve dealt with disappointments.

The saddest thing is when a dog is adopted, but it doesn’t work out and they come back, but we just keep working to find them a home that will be a better fit.

Helpful traits: Because of

my technology background I enjoy problem solving. You need patience and compassion for the job. You will get in good shape, walking and standing all day. As well, we work in snow and heat—I’m happy in any kind of weather.

Estimated Salary: HR said this is confidential information.

Dog walkers and sitters are increasingly in demand. Conscientious owners want their fur babies walked when they’re at work and not everyone can travel with their pets.

Amanda Negri, age 32. Must Love Dogs Daycare, Vancouver, BC. (mustlovedogsdogcare.ca) “Last May I posted my profile on Rover.com, an app that makes it easy to advertise although they take a cut in exchange. At first it was a way to make extra income so I didn’t put in much effort: walking maybe two dogs a day wasn’t going to pay the rent. Two weeks into it, I realized this could be a part-time job so I uploaded some testimonials and more dog-walking photos. I also took a canine first-aid course, which gives owners more peace of mind. And another expense is liability insurance with Profur. That’s about it!

Amanda Negri

Combined with word-of-mouth, repeat customers, and requests pouring in from Rover.com, dogs are my full-time job. Now I walk about six hours a day with eight to ten dogs and usually housesit a dog every few weeks, which can be anywhere from two days to two weeks. I never considered making much money dogsitting (staying at their home as I am not allowed pets in my condo) but it’s really working out.

I’ve never been happier in my work life—and never thought I could make a living hanging with dogs all day.”

Dog Walker: The Rundown Pros: So much joy seeing my regulars—we usually bond after a few walks. I love being active and getting involved with the dog community. I’m my own boss and can choose my hours to some extent, although most people want their dogs walked mid-day.

Many walkers take several dogs at a time but I prefer one-on-one care.

Cons: Not having a steady income. I lost a few clients because people move and

it’s not viable to drive far away for a walk. However, there’s no shortage of new clients and I have to turn away some people, so it can be a stressful schedule, especially when I am maxed out. As well, I rely on public transit and traffic can be an issue. And I think about what happens if an animal gets sick on my watch.

Helpful traits: You need patience, especially with puppies. Resilience and

confidence. You need to be in good shape and love the outdoors. I appreciate all weather and don’t even mind when it pours, which happens often in Vancouver.

Estimated Salary: Anywhere from $500 to $1,000 per week, working full-time.

Interested in Becoming a Pet Sitter?

Beth Stultz-Hairston with Pet Sitters International (PSI) advises to do plenty of research first. »»

Depending upon where you live, a business license might be required and be aware of any special regulations such as inspections if boarding in your home.

»»

Insurance is vital to protect both your clients and your business.

»»

Take an inventory of your current pet-care knowledge and experience. While loving animals is a pre-requisite,

other skills are needed. Like Amanda, consider a canine first-aid course. »»

Training workshops, online classes, and even volunteer opportunities (such as at your local animal shelter) provide hands-on training in specific pet-care areas.

Organizations such as Pet Sitters International can also provide access to training resources.

»»

Be prepared to take care of the business aspects— insurance, accounting, legal fees when applicable, customer service, etc.

According to PSI, a pet sitter’s average gross revenue in 2017 was $75,658 US and $61,208.51 CAN.  moderndogmagazine.com

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4 DOG GROOMER Dog groomers have the option of joining an existing company, somewhat like a hairstylist rents a chair, or starting their own business. Either way, you get to be a hairstylist for dogs!

Shelly Liboiron, age 45. Shelly's Little Dog Grooming, Regina, SK “I worked in a warehouse for many years and that ended with knee surgery. I was able to get financial help through a workers’ program that helps find another career and when a dog grooming course was offered, I signed up. But not before I talked to other groomers to be certain this was the right choice.

The four-month course costs about $7,000 at a huge grooming salon. I liked it right away and worked there for a year but it was too fast-paced for me so I decided to open a home grooming salon and specialize in the little ones.

Business was very slow at first and I was worried. An initial layout of more than $5,000 covered my business license, liability insurance, equipment, and knife sharpening. On top of that I bought a grooming table and bathtub, and I want to renovate another room.

Cassie Zydek

3 VETERINARIAN TECHNICIAN Vet techs assist vets in diagnosing and treating animals in private clinics, animal hospitals, and more. They are often on the front line, evaluating an animal's condition, dressing wounds, checking vital statistics, and administering medication. Depending on the facility, they may supervise veterinary assistants.

Cassie Zydek, age 24. Companion Animal Specialty & Animal Hospital, Genoa City, Wisconsin “Growing up I wanted to be a veterinarian but like so many animal lovers with that dream, it was too expensive and too competitive. I went to university for two years unsure of what I wanted to do, except I knew I wanted to work with animals. A nearby community college started a vet tech program and I was the last person to be accepted—my lucky break. But you must really want this career in order to be successful: the next two-and-a-half years were challenging.

It requires a lot of studying, similar to nursing except that nurses learn about one species whereas we have to be familiar with a lot of species, from horses to hamsters. But dogs have always been my passion. With the exception of surgery, diagnosis, and prescribing medications, we do just about everything a veterinarian does.

Getting a job after graduating was easy. I first interned at four different vet hospitals, one of which hired me and I’ve been there ever since. It’s an emergency and specialty clinic and I work in ER, the first line of defense. Besides the obvious position at a clinic or hospital, many people don’t realize that there are so many other options. You can work at a zoo or aquarium, a state park or wildlife rehab, in a lab setting, or the Humane Society.”

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I couldn’t put a sign outside my door to advertise but did some social media and lots of legwork. Walking my little Yorkie (she was also my calling card), I handed out business cards to anyone with a little dog. I dropped off my cards at vet clinics and pet stores and slowly built up my clientele, but it took at least 18 months. Sometimes I only had a few grooms a week, but I persevered. Now I groom three clients per day and I don’t want to do more. In the salon I felt rushed; here I get to know my clients and their people.”

Vet Tech: The Rundown Pros: You get to be with animals and everyone I work with shares the same passion. It’s rewarding to see animals healed under our watch. And I have a secure job.

Cons: I’m not in it for the money and

human nurses make lots more than vet techs. It’s hard work and often exhausting. Compassion fatigue happens and we can get burned out fast when dealing with sad situations. Some dog owners get mad at us; sometimes they can’t afford treatment; sometimes we have to tell them bad news.

Helpful traits: Being a team member, a people-person, and willing to try new things. Being compassionate is key, as well as outgoing and tough—you must be able to roll with the punches.

Estimated salary: Because there are so many opportunities in this field, that’s hard to nail down, but $40K average.

Dog Groomer: The Rundown Pros: I get to work with animals all day at home and have personal contact with my clients. It is satisfying to own my own business with little overhead working at home.

Cons: It’s frustrating when a client is late or a no-show. Some clients are severely matted so I put them on a program but some owners don’t follow up. I see that as abuse. I’ve been peed and pooed on and bitten a few times. Even though I have a regular clientele, it doesn’t guarantee financial security. And there’s a lot of dog hair in the house.

Helpful traits: Being patient and calm.

Dogs sense stress.

Estimated salary: $28K, but lots of opportunity to make more. 

Shelly Liboiron

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BEHAVIOUR

TERRIBLE TEENS?

Canine Behavioural Changes During Adolescence

By Nicole Wilde

Husky (8 months)

Q:

I have two Labrador Retrievers puppies that are eight-month-old siblings. They’re wonderful and we love them very much, but in the last few months they seem to have gone from being well trained family members to being out of control wild dogs! What are we doing wrong? Is this normal?—Love Our Labs

A:

Actually, you’ve just described fairly normal behaviour for eight-month-old Labradors, and many other breeds as well! At eight months of age, your dogs are passing out of their puppy phase and entering the dreaded time known as adolescence. Or, as I sometimes think of it, “bratolesence.” This is the time when, just like human teenagers, dogs often develop selective hearing and begin to push their boundaries. Even if your dogs were well trained previously, they may now seem to have forgotten everything you’ve taught them, and may stop responding reliably to your requests. On top of that, if you have a very energetic breed like a Lab, naughty behaviours such as jumping up, pulling on lead, and running off are performed with extra vigor, resulting in, as you described it, out of control wild dogs!

So what are you to do? For starters, realize that this is normal behaviour and there is nothing wrong with your

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dogs. Chances are you haven’t done anything wrong, either. However, it is important now to double down on their training. If necessary, go back to basics. For example, start the recall in the house when there are no distractions, moving on to adding small distractions and eventually larger ones. An example of a small distraction would be calling a dog while he’s sniffing the ground in the living room. A medium distraction might be a family member (who has been in the house all along) walking into the room.

A high-level distraction might be a child running through the room, or your dog being indoors but noticing something exciting in your back yard. Once your dogs are successful indoors, practice outdoors, building from no distractions to large ones as you did indoors. Practice in short sessions a few times daily. Also, during the training stage, don’t call your dogs using that special recall word unless you’re sure they’ll come; otherwise you’re just undoing all that good work. If you need them to come, until they’re fully trained, use another word or phrase, or just go get them.

Adolescents are not known for their frustration tolerance or self-control, so this is also the time to help them relearn it or, if starting from scratch, to master these skills. One easy way to do so is to ask your dogs to earn things in daily life.

For example, before you put their food bowls down, ask

At eight months of age, your dogs are passing out of their puppy phase and entering the dreaded time known as adolescence.

them to sit. As long as they remain seated, the bowl should continue to move toward the floor. If they stand or move toward the bowl, whoops! You stand back up. Believe me, they’ll learn very quickly to control themselves to get what they want. You can also employ the sit-to-get-what-youwant strategy when it comes to things like the front door opening for a walk, or whatever your dogs find valuable.

If they know other skills like lying down on cue, you can incorporate those as well.

Another way to train self-control is through play. For this exercise, your dog must understand the “Leave it” cue.

Assuming your dogs enjoy play tug, try this: Hold both ends of the tug rope so that your dog grabs it in the middle.

Begin playing, but don’t get too carried away. Then, freeze in place so that the tug rope is absolutely immobile. Your dog will probably keep trying to tug; that’s okay. Say, “Leave it.” Wait. Most dogs, if they have been taught Leave It, will move away from the rope and many will even seat themselves. Even if they’ve not completely mastered the skill, you will have become such a boring play partner that chances are they will stop anyway. Great! Wait a moment more and then say, “Take it!” and present your dog with the toy. The game is back on! Your dog has complied with your request, and has been rewarded with the continuation of the game.

I realize this is a challenging time, especially when you have two teenagers to contend with; but hang in there.

It does get easier, especially if you are diligent about reinforcing training and self-control. Soon you will have young adult dogs and then full adults who once again respond well to your requests and behave less like wild dogs and more like the family members you remember so well.

Nicole Wilde is the award-winning author of 11 books on canine behaviour. You can find her books, seminar DVDs and blog, as well as sign up for free Training Tip Tuesdays, at nicolewilde.com. moderndogmagazine.com

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Look

WHAT WE FOUND! The Modern Dog team's current faves, finds & obessions

Make sure your dog is always covered with Embrace Pet Insurance. Receive up to 90% back on all vet bills so your dog never has to go without care. From $35/month, embracepetinsurance.com

Keep your dog warm with this fleece Chilly Sweater from Chilly Dogs. It’s great for camping, hiking, or nights around the bonfire. The simple design allows it to be easily put on or taken off. chillydogs.ca

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Treat your dog to a luau with these tasty treats from Einstein Pets. Made with pork and pineapple for a festive, summery taste your pup is sure to love! einsteinpets.com

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Try these Alligator Exotic Blend treats from Jones Natural Chews! They’re delicious and help support your dog’s health. jonesnaturalchews.com

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This simple gadget holds your dog’s bully stick in place while they chew. No more gagging and no more mess. holdmybully.com

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INSPIRE!

Dogs in Bow Vows

JESSICA COLLINS PHOTOGRAPHY

Weddings

Raytna Pitter & Anthony Garcia with Sookie & Roxy, Duncans Mill, CA "They both got so excited when we were pronounced husband and wife.

It was as if they knew something special had just happened."

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For many dog lovers, their big day wouldn’t be complete without their dog as a member of the wedding party. Though including your dog in your wedding definitely introduces a ‘wild card’ element—dogs, like little children, are apt to go off script—these couples wouldn’t have had it any other way. Flip through the following pages for serious doginclusive wedding inspiration, from photo ops you’ll want to copy to adorable canine attire. Plus, we talk to a woman who has made it her business to address the logistical challenges of including your dog in your wedding and she shares the nuts and bolts considerations to make it all go off without a glitch!

(Hint: you’ll need help.)

Vancouver, BC-based Wedding Photographer Aileen Choi's Top 5 Favourite Ways to Incorporate Your Dog into Wedding Photos:



Choose a venue that is dog-inclusive so



Get ready with your dog present in the same room/area. Dogs really add so much

that your four-legged family member can run free and be happy. Outdoor venues, such as a forest or open field, are typically the best options. That way, they can be along with you all day and be in more photos!

more and create sweet moments as you're getting ready to walk down the aisle.



Have your dog join you in walking down the aisle or stand with you at the ceremony. These are two of the most popular ways to include dogs in your photos!



Dress them up, but just a little bit—a special



I think this is the most important tip: have

collar, flower collar, bow tie, etc.—something that isn't going to make them uncomfortable, but will make them stand out in your photos.

PHOTO AILEEN CHOI

someone in charge of taking care of your dog for the day so that you don't have to worry about him when you're not taking photos with your dog.

Mona, Rylan, and Indie.

Jacqui Price, Bloomington, IL

PHOTO MANUEL CRISPIN - PHOTO PALMA

My number one piece of advice for people including dogs in their wedding is: Have someone walk your dogs before you first see them or get pictures with them. Our pups were extra hyper and distracted because of all the new people, so I think it would have helped to have them a little tired out beforehand.

It's all in the details.

Even though the dogs could only physically be there for part of the day, they were there in lots of other ways too. My favourites were their custom silhouettes included on our guestbook and cake topper. We even had small white paw prints all over our cake—my husband’s idea! 

It was so important to me to have the dogs in our wedding photos—they’re a big part of our family! The best part was having Molly, my Bernese Mountain Dog, there with me the whole day. She’s my best friend and it meant everything to have her by my side, supporting me like she always does.

A bohemian flower wreath on Molly the Bernese Mountain Dog strikes just the right note.

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PHOTO MEGHAN THOMAS

Guinness, “best man”of Amanda Lynn Jessie Best Part About the Day: "Being able to share our day with our furchild. We do not have kids and we were able to include him as the ring bearer."

Advice for having a dog in a wedding: "Make sure you have arrangements for after the part they are involved in. We had family friends pick up Guinness after the wedding and take him to our house and feed him dinner."

Jo-Anne Christine Pfoh & Pepper, Sarnia, ON Best Part About the Day: "Being able to share my special day with my best friend."

Advice for having a dog in a wedding: "Be patient and make sure to have lots of treats!"

Favourite memory from the day: "Watching Pepper steal a piece of wedding cake." 

Brooke & Andrew Harsh, Evansville, IN Advice for having a dog in a wedding: "Have them be a part of it in a small way, even just for pictures!"

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PHOTO LEFT SHARIN SHANK PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTO RIGHT PATRICIA QUILLMAN

Fave memory from the day: "Having Guinness involved in our first look."

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The Pet Wedding Planner If your wedding wouldn’t be complete without your dog, this is the service for you

Recognizing that other couples must be experiencing the same difficulties and dilemmas, Veronica decided to offer the service she wished had existed during her own wedding. Her gamble paid off. Pawfect For You, a service providing custom planning, chauffeur service, and specialized pet care for your big day met with immediate interest; she was clearly on to something.

Filling a needed niche intersecting weddings and pet care, Veronica eliminates the logistical difficulties that prevent many couples from including their pup in their wedding.

Her clients offer rave reviews. “Honestly, all of our feedback is amazing,” Veronica says. “I love seeing a new review online and getting thank you cards in the mail. I love it when couples comment on how attentive and caring we are, and that we had covered all the details to make sure their day went off without a hitch.”

Specialties include pet transportation, dedicated on-site care, photo assistance (such as making sure your dog is looking at the camera), ceremony coordination, dressing the dogs in their wedding attire, and more. They hold a final coordination call two to three weeks before the event, so they know exactly what they need to do, where they need to be, and when.

To date, Pawfect For You has worked on approximately 115 weddings and is “looking forward to doubling and hopefully tripling that number by 2020,” Veronica says.

They have already expanded to cover the northeast from Boston to DC, with plans to further expand to Virginia and North Carolina this year.

Their minimum package is $499, which includes three hours of their time. They also have a five-hour package and seven-hour package with the option to add on more time as needed. For pet parents, the cost is well worth the peace of mind and the memories (and photos) are priceless.

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While Veronica loves all aspects of her job, the best part is “being a part of something so special as a wedding…I still tear up during vows, especially if their pet is mentioned!”

Including Your Dog in Your Wedding?

Here are Veronica’s Top 3 Tips



Assess Your Pet’s Personality. “You know your pets best! Think about how they will do in large crowds. How will they do away from home? Do they tire easily? These questions will help you decide which parts of the event your pet should be a part of.”



Provide Your Dog's FAVOURITE Treat or Toy. “Couples often forget this part but it’s very important. I always use the example that if I give my dog a biscuit, he'll take it, but very hesitantly. However, I know he loves chicken and cheese so if I want him to listen to his commands and sit still for a picture, I have to pull out the best stuff! You'd be surprised how many weddings we've done with chicken in our pockets.”



Don't forget the leash! “Couples often will go out and buy a cute little tux or tutu for their pet, but they forget the leash and then end up with their old ratty looking leash for pictures on the day of, or they have that ugly leash retractor in pictures. When you shop for an outfit make sure to get a leash that matches and will look nice in pictures.”

The Check List When it comes to planning an event like a wedding, coordinating pet care is often daunting. Ask yourself: Who's going to hold your dog and make sure he doesn’t run off?

Who's going to bring him back after the ceremony is over? Who's going to make sure that the dog walks down the aisle and knows where to go after? The last thing you want is to have to worry whether your dog is okay. 

PHOTO KRISTINA STAAL PHOTOGRAPHY

V

eronica Silva of Malverne, New York was planning her own wedding when she realized just how difficult it was to orchestrate the involvement of her beloved dog, JakeBear. “Anyone that the pet owner knows and trusts is already involved in the event with their own specific duties,” Veronica explains. And you don’t want your guests to have to miss any of the festivities.

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BREED PROFILE

The

Japan’s national treasure

By Kelly Caldwell

A

D, E I F I N DIG SING, IMPO AL LOY

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lthough widely known in Japan, the Akita isn’t a breed you see on a daily basis in North America. Of course, when you do see an Akita, he’s bound to stop you in your tracks. This is a dog of substance, in every sense of the word.

Akitas are an ancient breed whose precise origins are unknown, but we do know that the breed was developed in the northernmost region of Japan, in the prefecture of Akita.

An ancient breed, he was one of a handful of Japanese dogs used for hunting and guarding.

The goal for farmers was to breed for type, emphasising strength, loyalty, courage, and ability to withstand harsh climates. The larger dogs, like the Akita, hunted deer, elk, boar, and small bears.

Japan’s history and culture is complex and rich, and the Akita has developed along with it. His role as a homestead guardian fully 

emerged in the late 1700s, when famine led to increased crime. The Akita was often the first line of defense for homeowners against thieves. During this time, the breed grew in size, because a large and imposing appearance is effective in guarding work. A variety of breeds were introduced into the Akita’s lines, including Japanese Tosas, Mastiffs, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, and more.

During the 17th century, these dogs became a symbol of wealth, and ownership was limited to the Japanese aristocracy. Fifth shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, known for his love for dogs, took an interest in the Akita. He enacted laws preventing mistreatment of dogs, and took steps to ensure that the Akita was a dog only the most prestigious members of society could own. Once a common household pet and guardian, the Akita became a dog for samurai and other noblemen. This trend continued until the 19th century, when Emperor Taisho changed the law, permitting any citizen to own an Akita.

Over the years, the Akita has been on the verge of extinction several times. Dog-fighting, unfortunately, put the Akita at risk of injury and death, but thankfully was prohibited in the early 1900s in the Akita prefecture. This gave the breed time to flourish, but that safety was short lived, because soon after a widespread outbreak of rabies threatened dogs in the region. Countless Akitas were lost—some due to illness but many at the hands of humans who killed canines indiscriminately in an effort to end the outbreak.

Again, the Akita endured. By the 1930s, his numbers were again looking good, and it was at this time that Japan designated the breed a national treasure. The Japanese view the Akita as a symbol of health, happiness, and longevity. It’s customary to present a loved one with a small Akita statue to mark the birth of a child, and these statues are also given to those who have been ill or otherwise need good wishes.

No history of the Akita could be complete without mention of Hachiko, the world’s most famous Akita. At the end of each work day, Hachiko would wait for his owner at the Shibua station platform, and they would walk home together.

In 1925, Hachiko’s owner passed away at his office, and for ten years, Hachiko continued to wait at the platform for

his guardian to arrive and take him home. Japan’s hearts and minds were captivated by this dog’s display of love and loyalty. After Hachiko passed in 1935, a bronze statue in his likeness was erected at the Shibuya station, and a museum was created to celebrate him and the breed.

Within a decade, World War II was underway and its effect on Japanese dogs was devastating. Akita owners were under rations and struggled to feed and care for their families, let alone their dogs. The Germans removed any dog that wasn’t deemed German in origin, and the confiscated dogs were taken and killed for their meat and fur. Thanks to a dedicated group of devoted Akita owners, the breed survived. They hid as many dogs as they could, and reportedly even gave their dogs German-sounding names.

It was an elaborate, clandestine effort to try to preserve this national treasure.

While Akita numbers Most Popular Dogs were desperately low at in the U.S. the end of the war, again breeders got to work According to the most recent AKC registration statistics and spent the following decades working to solidify [1] Labrador Retriever the Akita’s status and [2] German Shepherd Dog to create standards for [3] Golden Retriever temperament and type.

[4] French Bulldog The breed was [5] Bulldog introduced to North [6] Beagle America in the late 1930s when Helen Keller was [7] Poodle honoured by Japan with [8] Rottweiler the gift of an Akita.

[9] Yorkshire Terrier Speaking of her first Akita, [10] Pointers she noted, “If ever there [46] Akita was an angel in fur, it was Kamikaze.” Her love of the breed helped raise its profile. Her first Akita died of distemper before his first birthday, but she was gifted a second dog from the same litter, and he became one of her most beloved canine companions.

The breed gained popularity in the United States and the Akita Club of America was founded in 1956. moderndogmagazine.com

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Profile: The Akita Size: Large!

Male Akitas can weigh as much as 130 pounds! The AKC standard allows for males from 26 to 28 inches at the withers; females 24 to 26 inches.

Activity level: Although he can and will partake in rigorous exercise and activities, on a regular basis the Akita will be content with a brisk walk or two a day.

Grooming: Regular brushing, nail trims—just the basics required for this breed’s thick double coat. He keeps himself very clean.

Heritage: Hunting and Guarding Bred in the rugged and mountainous northern region of Japan, he was built to be strong, brave, resilient, and loyal.

Life Expectancy: 10-13 Years For more information on The Akita rescue in the U.S., visit malinoisrescue.org. In Canada, visit rescue.bsdcc.org.

If you like The Akita, you might also consider the:

The Shiba Inu

Shikoku

READ YOUR BREED

The Chow Chow

For more breed profiles, go to moderndogmagazine.com/breeds

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The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the breed in the Miscellaneous Class in 1955 and as part of the Working Group in 1973.

Today’s Akita is a large, heavily-boned breed with a distinct head, and a large tail that curves over his back. He stands from 24 to 28 inches at the shoulder and his body is meant to be longer than it is high. Owing to his origins in the northernmost region of Japan, the Akita has a very thick, warm double-coat which the AKC accepts in various colours and markings.

Although strong and athletic, the Akita is not an overly active breed. A walk or two a day will be enough to keep him content. For those who want to be more active, both physical and mental exertion will be well received by the Akita.

The Akita has done well in activities such as obedience and agility. He’s also gaining popularity as a therapy dog.

One can only imagine the delight of those in nursing homes when they encounter an imposing dog with such intense eyes… only to realize they are in the presence of a tenderhearted and loyal friend.

Akitas are independent by nature and there are certainly more biddable and easily-trained breeds out there. Akitas do have a complicated history that involves hunting and guarding and even fighting. And, by their size alone, Akitas are not the dog for everyone. Having a guardian who is assertive, experienced with dogs, and very committed to positive training and socializing is important. The Akita needs someone who is just like him: dominant, but kindhearted.

Socialization from an early age is critically important with this breed, and anyone considering an Akita must be prepared to put in the time to train him early and often. Like some of the other ‘aloof’ breeds, when properly socialized he will most likely be, at best, a well-mannered bystander to dog-group shenanigans. He doesn’t need to join in the fun with other dogs, but he must be shown from an early age that getting along with others is important.

Some breeds seem to only thrive in pairs or packs, but the Akita can be quite content as an only dog. Akitas tend to bond more closely with their people than they do with other animals. They’re known for being cautious and aloof with strangers. A territorial nature is ingrained into the Akita, and while they tend to be quiet in the home, they will bark to announce strangers.

Can Akitas co-exist with cats? Well, maybe. Odds are better for an Akita to do well with cats if they are raised alongside of them. But, prey drive is strong in the breed and there have been incidents of aggression against cats (and other dogs). Again, early socialization with different animals and people, and regular training are key pieces to the puzzle.

Health-wise, this is a hearty breed. Like all dogs, the Akita can be prone to some conditions, including bloat as well as genetic disorders to eyes, thyroid, and hips.

As you can see, there’s a lot of dog in the Akita. He’s not for just anyone, but not just anyone is worthy of a dog this brave, loving, and loyal. “Heart dog” to the incomparable Helen Keller, a designated national treasure in Japan… it takes a special kind of dog to be worthy of these kinds of distinctions. It takes an Akita. 

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Connie’s Book Club Curl up with a good dog and a good book

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CONNIE WILSON’S SELECTION OF THIS SUMMER'S MUST-READS.

The Accidental Veterinarian: Tales from a Pet Practice

By Philipp Schott This wonderful memoir recounts tales from Dr. Phillip Schott and his unlikely path to becoming a small-animal clinic veterinarian. Filled with hilarious, heartwarming, and occasionally heartbreaking stories, The Accidental Veterinarian shares wisdom and expertise (think how to prevent a very dexterous dog from opening the fridge and the best way to give your cat a pill) while illustrating that veterinary medicine is every bit as much about the people as it is about the animals.

Bite Club

By Laurien Berenson Suburban sleuth Melanie Travis is back on the case in this 23rd installment of The Melanie Travis Canine Mysteries series. This time, when homicide hits her hometown, Melanie has her ‘Bite Club’ book club friends, as well as her pedigree dog show pals to help her track down the murderer. The only problem? Melanie herself is being accused of the crime and must uncover family secrets to save herself. Filled with more dogs, more fun, and more mystery, this Kensington Cozy is the perfect summer read.

Needled to Death

By Annelise Ryan Needled to Death is the riveting first book of a new mystery series that combines crime, humour, and a Golden Retriever. Working at a hospital, Hildy Schneider has seen her fair share of unsolved murder cases but has never gotten involved—until now.

When one of her clients confesses secrets about her son’s murder, Hildy finds the details hit a little too close to home and her own troubled past. With the help of her Golden Retriever, Roscoe, Hildy finds herself diving head first into the case. Can she solve the crime or is she in over her head?

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog

By Amy Newmark Prepare to laugh and cry—this canine-focused Chicken Soup for the Soul installment will have you smiling, tearing up, and nodding in recognition. Life Lessons From The Dog features 101 deeply relatable, heartstring-tugging stories from dog lovers in a compulsively readable compendium that takes you through the heartwarming highs and poignant, always worth-it lows of having a dog.

Find the Poo

By Joe Shyllit Sometimes, inspiration is found in the most unlikely of places. Joe Shyllit’s Cockapoo, Farfel, would “do his business,” but on occasion Joe wasn’t paying attention and couldn’t find the poop to scoop. The solution? Train your eye. Joe took photographs of 22 nature scenes with a piece of dog poo hidden in each and published them for the world to enjoy!

This hilarious (and surprisingly challenging!) search-and-find book is the perfect, odourless way to train your eyes to detect poo. But don’t worry if you can’t find them all. Unlike in real life, the answers are included in the back.

Tippy Finds a Home

By Mary Beth Stevens This heartwarming story is not just for kids—you'll cheer for Tippy in his search for love and belonging. In this touching children's book, Tippy the shelter dog is on the hunt for his forever home. He finds respite with a foster family but can't help but long for someone to call his own.

Fair warning: You may find yourself compelled to take a trip to your nearest shelter! moderndogmagazine.com

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Must-haves for you & your dog

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Must-haves for you & your dog “Kindred Spirits� HOPE Candle

100% of proceeds goes to The Smiling Blue Skies Fund for Innovative Cancer Research

The Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund is 18 years old and thanks to you, we have raised $1.8 million!!!

www.smilingblueskies.com

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LAST LICK

Piper King JB

TCH A C A T T GO !

'EM ALL

THE DOGS OF SUMMER

Mojo

Weegee

BEST TIME EVER:

Take your summer inspiration from these dogs

OM

JB

G!

Beasley

Shea

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Circle Only use blue and/or white.

For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

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Mya

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SUMMER 2019