Modern Dog Winter 2016

Is Your Dog Tuning You Out? Why You Should NOT Talk To Your Dog Today p106

The lifestyle magazine for modern dogs and their companions W IN T ER 2016/17

Your Dog Is

PS E T 11 S THE TO ECT F PER PY PUP p56

Watching

You

Find out why p30

A Dog's Purpose?

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

Unconditional Love!

THE BEST DOG STUFF IS IN HERE

p34

Pit Bull Flower Power!

Meet the stars of 2017's must-watch movie!

p22

Smiles Galore!

moderndogmagazine.com DISPLAY UNTIL MAR ‘17

$5.95

GREAT GIFT IDEAS! STARS & THEIR DOGS WIN IT! GIVEAWAYS DIABETIC ALERT DOGS

p42

Make This Cute Dog Scarf!

plus Training Tips, DIYs & more! find your breed match: The Brittany, French Bulldog, Schnauzer

34

VOL 15

NO 4

PHOTO SOPHIE GAMAND

WINTER 2016/17

FEATURES 30

Mini Me Watch yourself—your dog is copying your emotional reaction to people and things!

40

Why Puppies and Dog Parks Don’t Mix What’s imprinted upon your puppy during the critical socialization window is of paramount importance.

Here’s why a dog park is not a good idea during this period.

46

Rescue Caravan The devotion, the kindred spirits, the Southern hospitality, the PUPPIES! Looking for an experience of a lifetime? Join Animal Aid USA’s mission to help Georgian rescue dogs.

56

11 Steps to Raising the Perfect Puppy

60

Never Give Up Lessons from a young girl and a Pug in a lifejacket.

64

Lifesaving Dogs For Diabetics Diabetic alert dogs are dramatically changing—and saving—lives.

82

BY STANLEY COREN

BY TEOTI ANDERSON

106

Does Your Dog Pay Attention When You Speak?

Here’s why you should not talk to your dog on your next walk. BY NICOLE WILDE

BODY & SOUL 72

New Treatment For Canine Arthritis

74

Pots For Pets Hemp/CBD products are helping dogs with all manner of ailments. Here’s how it works and why you may want to give it a try.

76

Say Goodbye to That Slimy Layer in Your Dog’s Water Bowl; We Found The Perfect, Guilt-free Training Reward; Win Awesome Free Dog Stuff

BY NOA NICHOL

78

Here’s Why You Should Give Your Dog Kelp; The Best Gift Going!

A Love Letter or, My Dog's Journey To Become A Diamond

80

DNA Test Reveals Breed Mix; Modern Dog Poll

BY JENNIFER NOSEK

BY ROSE FROSEK

BY ELIZABETH TERRY

BY JENNIFER NOSEK

92 True Love Never Dies

Get out the tissues—the upcoming Hollywood adaptation of A Dog’s Purpose is set to be every bit as moving as the

bestselling novel.

BY DARCY MATHESON 96

88

Going To The Dogs: What It’s Like To Be a Hollywood Dog Trainer

BY DARCY MATHESON

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BREED PROFILE 26

Find Your Perfect Breed Match Is the Schnauzer or the French Bulldog your canine soul mate?

98

The Brittany High energy, fun loving, and medium-sized, the Brittany packs a lot of personality. Find out if this is the breed for you on page 98. BY KELLY CALDWELL

THE GOODS 44

Baby, It’s Cold Outside Brave the elements with this top-notch outdoor dog gear designed to make the most of the season!

52

The Ultimate Gift Guide Irresistible finds for all the dogs and dog lovers on your list.

88

Doggy Décor Our current obsessions and must-haves.

104

Look What We Found!

Cool finds for dogs and the people who love them.

LIVING 12

8 Dogs That Have This Whole Napping Thing Down!

24

We’re Giving It Away We’ve got three months of awesome giveaways, from Eureka vacuums to adorable holiday dog sweaters to delish, functional dog treats, and winners every week! See what’s up for grabs on page 24!

REGULAR FEATURES 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Contributors 10 Stuff We Love 14 The Scoop 22 Smile! Photo Contest 117 Marketplace

46

ON THE COVER Golden Retriever Trip, star of the upcoming film A Dog’s Purpose, is this issue’s cover dog!

Trip wears a handcrafted “Catalina” English bridle leather collar from Beverly Hills Collars’ ready-to-wear collection. Durable and beautiful, this collar features hand-dyed leather, brass hardware, gold-domed rivets, and emerald green Swarovski crystals. This may just be the perfect holiday collar! ($85, beverlyhillscollars.com).

Photographed by Grace Chon.

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PHOTO THE PIT BULL LIFE

PHOTO GRACE CHON

1 1 0 92 36

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

34

Pit Bull Flower Power A new calendar calls into question stereotypes and aims to find homes for the down-on-their-luck bully breeds featured in its pages.

42

DIY Dog Scarf It doesn’t get cuter—or easier—than this folks!

Make your dog an adorably cozy scarf and turn heads on walks.

62

The Single Thing That's Ruining Most of Your Dog Photos Plus four other tips for Instagram-worthy shots!

90

DIY Craft: Gift Tags Elevate your present wrapping with these super-cute printable tags!

102

DIY Eat: Delish Dog Treats You Can Make At Home Yummers! Whip up these tasty, healthy winter treats for your deserving dog.

109

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

Editor-in-Chief Connie Wilson’s selection of this winter’s must-reads.

112

Blind Dog Knows Where To Go Thanks To His Best Friend Together there’s nothing this fluffy duo can’t do!

120

Last Lick When death comes as a surprise.

BY ROSE FROSEK

BY ROSE FROSEK

BY CLARA TO

BY REBEKAH CHOTEM

BY CINDY BRODY

In USA: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 15, Issue 4. 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.

Much Love,

GEORGE SUBMITTED BY BIANCA FABIAN

OUR R E ADE R S WR IT E

ROMAN SUBMITTED BY BINA CANDITO

T

his is one of my very favourite times of the year: festive family gatherings, crisp walks, delicious food—all of which are things my dog Penny deeply loves too! With this in mind, we put together an issue designed to help you and your dog make the very most of the season, from must-have winter gear so you can get outside and enjoy the great outdoors (p 44), to the best books to curl up with indoors (p 109). Rounding it out are inspiring stories (our Jennifer goes on a rescue caravan!), gorgeous dog photos, things to make you smile, fun DIYs (make your dog an adorable scarf in five minutes flat!), training advice, terrific gift suggestions, and so much more!

Plus, meet the adorable canine casts of spring’s must-watch movie, A Dog’s Purpose.

Our photo shoot with these incredible dogs yielded some super sweet photos; the film’s star is on the front cover! And that’s not all: we share a must-make dog treat recipe, downloadable gift tags, candid snaps of stars and their dogs, breed profiles, awesome finds for your home, and tons more! Here’s to a terrific winter season spent with those you love!

CONNIE WILSON WITH PENNY, PHOTO KHAREN HILL

EDITOR'S LETTER

Look who got his copy of the fall issue of Modern Dog!

Connie Wilson, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

"one regret that i am determined not to have is that i did not kiss you enough."

—Daniel Ladinsky, from Darling, I Love You (p 110) 6 moderndog

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Behind the scenes: Our Editor & Creative Director Jennifer Nosek at our cover shoot with the canine cast of A Dog's Purpose!

"Big German Shepherds refuse to eat until we do, lol. Spoiled pups."

—Lucie Blondin Pecor

Have a problem like Lucie?

Try perking up your dog's dinner with these tasty toppers found in your kitchen! >> moderndogmagazine.com/tasty-toppers

National bestseller!

Get your copy of WAYNE PACELLE'S

NEW BOOK TOD�Y!

The Humane Economy: How Innovators and Enlightened Consumers Are Transforming the Lives of Animals, now a New York Times and Washington Post bestseller, describes a revolution in American business and public policy that is changing forever how we treat animals and conduct commerce. Wayne Pacelle tells the story from the frontlines, in a book that speaks to both mind and heart.

" In his latest book, The Humane Economy, Wayne reveals how public awareness to the plight of animals that serve our economy is driving unprecedented change."

-Oprah Winfrey, Super Soul Sunday

"The Humane Economy is a compelling book with a special message for corporate leaders.

- F red B arnes, Th e wa II street Journa I II

"The Humane Economy is a brilliant book that celebrates the truth: our economic well-being is inextricably linked to the well-U.S. Senator Cory Booker being of animals.

II

"This is a humane revolution, and Wayne Pacelle, president of The Humane Society of the United States, has been at the forefront of it."

-Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times

"A critically important read for anyone who cares about business success or animals­ or, like so many of us, both."

-Jack Welch, former CEO of GE

"A fascinating, highly readable, and remarkably comprehensive book."

-Jane Goodall, anthropologist/primatologist

To learn more, visit humaneeconomy.org. Follow @WaynePacelle and join the #humaneeconomy conversation on Twitter!

THE HUMANE SOCIETY Of THE UNITED STAID

C ON TRIBUT OR S WINTER 2016/17

We tapped the lovely and talented Grace Chon to shoot the canine stars of A Dog’s Purpose for this issue’s cover story and it was a blast! (If there’s anything more fun than photographing professionally trained, super-cute dogs, we don’t know about it!) Grace is a commercial photographer specializing in animals, lifestyle images, and celebrities with their pets, and her work can be seen in advertising campaigns, magazines, greeting cards, calendars, and more. Grace likes to spend time with her dogs, meditate, and grow organic heirloom tomatoes. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and their beloved rescue dogs. See her photos in this issue on page 92 and more of her photography at gracechon.com!

•

VOL 15

NO 4

Publisher

Modern Dog Inc. Editor-in-Chief

Connie Wilson Editor & Creative Director

Jennifer Nosek Audience Development & Digital Marketing Director

Lauren Cheal Social Media & Events Coordinator, Subscription Services

Nav Nagra Design & Production

Clara To Sales & Marketing

Julia Pineda, Teri Richardson Junior Accountant

Celine Benipayo Copywriter & Administrative Assistant

Elisabeth Fillmore Controller

Cecilia de Roca Chan, CPA, CGA Honourary Editor-at-Large

Jytte Wilson GET YOURSELF A SUBSCRIPTION! Give us a call at 1-800-417-6289 or subscribe online at moderndogmagazine.com/subscribe

Elizabeth Terry’s debut Modern Dog piece will simultaneously break your heart and remind you of all the beauty and goodness to be found in the world. Elizabeth, who lives with her husband David and daughter Spencer in St. Louis, Missouri, is a historian and author with a Masters in public history. She manages a diverse range of projects through her historical research company, directs an archives for a St. Louis church, and has authored two books: Oysters to Angus: Three Generations of the St. Louis Faust Family and Ethnic St. Louis. Turn to page 61 to read her wonderful story in this issue.

Advertising inquiries call (866) 734-3131 In Canada: MODERN DOG (ISSN 1703-812X) Volume 15, Issue 4.

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 15, Issue 4. 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

WI NTER 2016/ 17

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

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.

Modern Dog regular contributor Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychologist with a bevy of bestselling dog books to his name, is our go-to expert for anything dog and psychology related. If you’re thinking to yourself, “Hey, I recognize that guy!” it's for good reason: Stan is a media favourite (think The Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America for starters.) In this issue Stan explores the “Mini Me” phenomenon (hint: your dog is watching you.)

Flip to page 30 to read it!

8 moderndog

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

FAX

Copyright 2016/17 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.

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STUFF WE LOVE Modern Dog staffers’ picks of the litter 1 Animal Blueprint Company lets me show off my favourite dog breed in style! Their unique blueprint-design museum-quality art prints are available in a TON of different breeds, all featuring the vintage, industrial design style I love! A super-cool addition to any dog-loving home.—Nav ($110, animalblueprintcompany.com).

BM

$

2 Walladoodle’s custom collars make looking stylish an easy feat. With perfect fit, high quality leather, smart designs, and thousands of options to help prompt your own creativity, these collars make me look stunning every single day of the week.—Callisto the Border Collie mix ($28, walladoodle.com) 3 I go crazy for Dogs Love Kale treats and my mom can feel good about feeding them to me! With a ton of delicious flavours and soft or crunchy varieties, there’s a yummy treat for every day of the week. All come packed with the goodness of kale, a super-green with a host of health benefits, from good digestion to healthy skin and hair. Two very enthusiastic paws up!—Wirehaired Dachshund Penny ($9, dogslovekale.com) 4 If your dog has a discerning (read: picky) palate, trying to keep her meals interesting can be a challenge. Thanks to Crumps awesome new 100% beef liver sprinkles (no colour, additives or preservatives), I now gobble down my food! Just a small sprinkle can really change a dog's attitude about dinner.—Miniature Dachshund Esther ($9, crumps.ca) 5 Poop bags, check! Water bottle, check! Dog treats, check! Human treats, double check!

Never again go on your dog walks without the essentials. My Jasper Swag bag makes it easier to walk the office dogs. It even has a pocket for my phone for those Instagram moments.—Celine ($34, jasperswag.com)

BL

%

6 If you have a picky eater like I do, these delicious, all natural Flavored Sprays will certainly do the trick! Add a spray to your dog’s dinner and not only will your pup clean his bowl, but he’ll get his daily dose of Omega 3’s and Vitamin E to support healthy skin and coat too!—Julia ($6, flavoredsprays.com).

7 Soft to the touch but hardcore in the squeaky department, Jolly Pet’s adorable Tug-a-Mals come shaped like one of nine different animals. The toy’s easy-to-grip handles give you an edge during playtime while the squeaker delights dogs with its thrilling element of realism. A playtime win!—Teri (From $9, jollypets.com) 8 If your dog, like mine, is always on the hunt (be it for a cast-off French fry or a taunting squirrel), you’ll love this collar from Auburn Direct. A center “O” ring is designed to roll and give dogs a better chance to escape if the collar were to become tangled in brush or fence, and the added d-ring makes it easy to attach tags and a leash. Soft, flexible, and strong, this durable, easy to clean collar will not absorb odours and comes in a highly visible safety orange!—Connie (From $29, auburndirect.com) 9 To say I love Black Sheep Organics’ gentle, healthy, organic dog grooming products is a huge understatement. Created from natural, biodegradable all-good ingredients, these earth-friendly products smell simply heavenly. If you’re like me you’re going to want the whole darn line!—Jennifer (From $12, blacksheeporganics.com)

^

10 Is your dog stressed out by vet visits, moving, storms—or is just plain nervy? Let peace prevail with Bach's Rescue Remedy for pets! Just add a couple drops of this natural stress reliever to your dog's drinking water to ease fear and anxiety. Bach Flower Remedies have been used on humans and animals for more than 80 years!—Clara ($21, rescueremedy. com/pets)

(

11 Take your dog everywhere! K9 Sport Sack’s dog backpack carrier is safe, comfortable, and FUN because you can now comfortably take your dog along! Bike rides, motorcycle riding, shopping, hiking—this carrier lets you go out adventuring together!—Lauren ($50, k9sportsack.com)

&

10 moderndog

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*

! l o L

Erine

Sage

take a cue from your dog & explore the power of a good nap!

INSPIRED SLEEPERS These dogs have napping down.

Princess Rosie Mae

Twister

Alfie

Sonny Jasper

12 moderndog

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THE SCOOP

Stars Turn Out to Support Animal Causes This year’s Best Friends Animal Society's annual Strut Your Mutt fundraiser was the place to be! This walk for a cause is all about saving lives—every day more than 9,000 dogs and cats are killed in shelters simply because they don’t have a place to call home.

Thanks to walk participants, this year’s Strut Your Mutt events raised a whopping $2,335,194 to help shelter animals, with the donations going to community and nationwide programs to help countless pets find their forever homes.

The stars were out in full force at the L.A. event, with Amanda Seyfried and her beloved rescue mutt Finn leading the charge.

Also there with their adorable adopted dogs were actresses Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica!) and Natalie Morales (The Grinder), taking advantage of some super-cute photo ops.

Not to be outdone, Modern Family's Sarah Hyland was recently honoured by the ASPCA, receiving their Voice for Animals Award in recognition of her work inspiring action on behalf of animals in crisis, star power, indeed.

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PHOTO GETTY IMAGES

PHOTOS BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY

Modern Family's Sarah Hyland received the ASPCA Voice for Animals Award recognizing her work in inspiring action on behalf of animals in crisis.

Amanda Seyfried and her beloved rescue mutt Finn at Best Friends Animal Society's annual Strut Your Mutt fundraiser in L.A.

Actress Katee Sackhoff and her rescue dogs.

Actress Natalie Morales poses with her adopted dog.

THE SCOOP

The Countdown to Westminster 2017 Is On! This year will mark the 141st annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which has been held since 1877.

Only the Kentucky Derby has been staged longer—but by just one year. The 2017 show takes place Monday, February 13th and Tuesday February 14th, with Best in Show going down on the Tuesday evening.

What To Watch For Three newly recognized breeds will be competing for the first time during the 2017 show: the Sloughi, an athletic, noble, and reserved sighthound, the American Hairless Terrier, an energetic, curious, and intelligent terrier, and the Pumi, a smart, energetic, alert, and agile member of the herding group. Fun fact: the Pumi’s coat is a combination of wavy and curly hair that forms corkscrew curls all over the body.

Pro tips Attending the event? For behind-the-scenes action, hit up two hot spots: the benching area and Hotel Penn, the preferred

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hotel for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Westminster's benching area is where the dogs are prepped for their turn in the ring. Amazingly, this area open to the public and our very favourite part of the whole show is wandering through taking photos, watching the elaborate grooming processes, and saying hi to and petting the dogs. Photo ops galore!

For a chance to meet the dogs when they’re off-duty, stay at the inviting, dog-friendly Hotel Penn. Situated directly across the street from Madison Square Garden, where Best in Breed and Best in Show take place, this historic hotel is host to many of the competing dogs. Expect to bump into many a pedigreed competitor in the immense lobby as well as out front of the hotel. All sizes of dogs are welcome, the pet fee is just $25 per stay, and pets may be left in the room (say if you’re going out for dinner) provided they are in their travelling kennels. As for location, it’s right in the heart of the dog-show action—you couldn’t ask for a more convenient home base!

Agility fans attending the show won’t want to miss the Masters Agility Championship—open to purebred dogs and mixes alike!

This, along with the super-fun AKC Meet The Breeds takes place down at the Piers on Saturday, February 11th. See you there!

PHOTOS JENNIFER NOSEK

The TV event of the year is practically upon us. Here’s what you need to know for this year’s must-watch broadcast

THE SCOOP

A TRUE HERO

Zach Skow of California-based Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue was alerted to Hooch’s predicament by a shelter in Bakersfield, CA. The poor dog would neither eat nor drink, instead aggressively thrashing his food and water bowls around. By the time he was pulled from the shelter, he was starving, dehydrated, and severely malnourished.

Never suspecting a missing tongue, the underweight Mastiff was brought in for surgery, his behaviour thought to perhaps be the result of a broken jaw. That’s when the gruesome discovery was made—his tongue had been removed at the base, likely in an attempt to prime him for a bait-dog role in a dog-fighting ring.

Hooch & Zach

But this tenacious dog doesn’t let adversity stand in his way—no ma’am. After Hooch would repeatedly rip out his feeding tube, it was discovered he could easily be hand-fed. He tips his head back, Zach places a handful of food in the back of Hooch’s throat, and gravity does the rest! Now this survivor helps others in need, working in Marley’s Mutts "Miracle Mutts" division as a therapy dog, helping autistic, abused, and special needs children. We can think of a dog no more deserving of this year’s American Humane Hero Dog Award.

With his bravery, perseverance, patience, and kindness, Hooch has all the markers of a true hero.

PHOTOS ©COURTESY OF CHRIS WEEKS FOR AMERICAN HUMANE / GETTY IMAGES

At first blush, Hooch, a French Mastiff with badly cropped ears, a broken tail, and, shockingly, no tongue, might not seem the usual Hero Dog Award winner, but he’s the brightest dog-spirit you’ll ever encounter.

February is Pet Dental Health Month!

Did you know periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition even though it's completely preventable? Taking care of your dog’s teeth is a huge part in ensuring overall good health. Dental disease can not only damage your dog’s teeth and gums, but his internal organs as well.

Think everything looks ok? Most dental disease occurs below the gum line where you can’t see it.

Bacteria that you can't see can damage the tissues connecting the teeth and jaw. Brushing your dog’s 18 moderndog

teeth is the single most important thing you can do between professional cleanings.

Bad breath is just one of the signs of underlying dental disease. ALL of the following are warning signs of possible dental disease in dogs* • Redness of the gums • Bad breath • Loose teeth • Discolored teeth • Broken teeth • Tenderness around the mouth and/or teeth • Drooling or dropping food • Bleeding from the mouth • Loss of appetite/poor appetite • Weight loss *souce: AVMA

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BAGGINS SUBMITTED BY KATHRYN AND CANDICE

Scary stat: 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease by the age of three

THE SCOOP CAPTION THIS!

True Love

MEET ONE TERRIFIC DOG

PHOTOS MICHELLE STEIGMEYER

Xxxxxx

AND THE WINNING CAPTION FROM THE FALL ISSUE IS…

Indiana, a German Shepherd Dog named for Indiana Jones, is Modern Dog reader Linda Tretow's best friend.

Together they managed to get over 22,000 votes in our last Star Dog contest and came in second place. Despite not taking first in the contest, they won a spot in our hearts. Quite simply, we fell for these two and decided to feature them anyways.

"Indiana is my friend and companion, my life and my love," Linda shares.

"We go on daily walks together, play ball, and run. He loves all his toys and knows them by name. He loves to chase birds, chipmunks, and butterflies. He gives me daily bear hugs. He is amazing and we are like two peas in a pod!"

It's partnerships like this that we're all about here at Modern Dog—terrific dogs and terrific people building an interspecies bond based on love, respect, and understanding. It's the coolest, isn't it?

20 moderndog

"My secret is I never use ordinary tap water."

SUBMITTED BY: JEFF MOORE

RUNNER-UP CAPTIONS "Be careful. The last time I commented on Hilda's coffee, she had my testicles removed!"

SUBMITTED BY: NANCY BOLLIG

""I need another cup of coffee to wash down all that homework I had for breakfast."

SUBMITTED BY: CAROL CARLSON

"I don't know why you're here so early but my wife is busy feeding our 8 new children."

SUBMITTED BY: FREDDIE MCCANN

"Are you going out marking your territory too?"

SUBMITTED BY BRUCE NICHOLSON

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C A R T O O N S © 2016/17 B Y D A V I D J A C O B S O N

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.

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E L I SM

Modern Dog’s Photo Contest Winners!

Maggie

Kaia Benjamin

Bernese Mountain Dog & Golden Retriever Mix

Golden Retriever

Dachshund

Xxx Xxx

Maia Mix

Archibald Barkevious Twilley

Golden Retriver

Naria Blue Shiba Inu

Red

Dusty

Missy

Chiweenie 22 moderndog

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Desmond Arrow Bichon Frise

Golden Retriever

Zeus

Siberian Husky

Bella Chase Pug

Blue Heeler/Boarder Collie

Izzy

Scooter

Brussels Griffon Mix

Anatolian Shepherd

Titus

Labrador Mix

Locket

Smudge

Germen Shpherd

Cheddar

Pomeranian

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Cheyenne

Shep Nubbins

Beagle

Marvelous Mutt

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Think your dog ought to be in Modern Dog?

Spirit

Yellow Labrador

Manu Tiberius

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!

Blue Heeler

moderndogmagazine.com

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ENTER TO WIN

We’re giving it away! Enter to win fabulous giveaways each and every week in December, January, and February.

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

december

1st-7th

Win one of two Eureka Ultimate Clean Pet vacuums – the “pawfectly” powerful, high-performance solution that makes hair and fur cleanup quick and easy for pet owners.

8th-14th

15th-21st

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-31st

8th-14th

15th-21st

22nd-28th

Win 1 of 15 Fur-Zoff, the new and better way to remove pet hair from your home and vehicles. Made in USA of 90% recycled material, it’s 100% durable!

january

1st-7th

Win 1 of 2 Cover Me By Tui pet onesies, the e-collar alternative for dogs 3 – 120 pounds! Use post-surgery or with hot spots/allergies for comfort and faster healing. No more cone of shame!

Win 1 of 5 framed photos of your dog from Fidophile, personalized with your dog’s name and the story of the breed as told by your dog!

february

1st-7th

Win 1 of 5 three-month subscriptions to Loot Pets by Loot Crate! Loot Pets delivers a mystery subscription box full of geeky, pup-culture inspired toys, treats, and accessories to your door each month!

Win 1 of 10 Dexas MudBusters and quickly defeat muddy feet! Just add water, insert muddy paws, and let the gentle, thick silicone bristles do all the work!

Win 1 of 30 cozy holiday sweaters by Daisy Boutique! Choose from festive, fun, and fancy patterns (snowflakes, reindeer, Christmas trees…) and great colour combos for small to mediumsized dogs 8" - 20" in length!

Win a one-year supply of The Missing Link Pet Kelp organic pet supplements, made with one of the most powerful superfoods on the planet for radiant canine health!

Win a 1-year supply of Petcurean’s SPIKE Grain-Free Jerky Treats for dogs, made with premium quality meat proteins, micronutrients, anti-oxidants and “superfoods!” Who wants a treat?

22nd-31th

Win 1 of 9 Puppy Bumper pillow collars and keep your dog from getting out of the fence! These padded collars make your dog too fat to fit between the rails!

Win 1 of 25 delicious Roasted Chicken Flavored OMEGA 3 Sprays for dry dog food, made in the USA with all natural ingredients! Easy, convenient to use, and dogs love it!

Win 1 of 4 True Hemp Chews for Dogs Variety Packs from True Leaf Pet! Return the love with 3 varieties: HIP+JOINT, CALMING, and HEALTH.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Beginning December 1, 2016 at 12:01 AM (PST) through February 28, 2017 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: LEXI SUBMITTED BY JESSICA

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

Find Your Perfect Breed match

Is the Schnauzer right for you?

Intelligent, loyal, and active, all three Schnauzers are attention getters

T

he intelligent and personable Schnauzer comes in three sizes—Miniature, Standard, and Giant—each with its own personality. There’s a Schnauzer for everyone: courageous, strong, and protective…you must be a Giant Schnauzer; loyal, very clever, and reliable, too…you belong in the Standard House; and you, my tenacious yet companionable little fellow, definitely a Miniature.

I'm fearless smart & , Spirited !

Standard

Miniature

Giant

Is the Schnauzer right for you? Find out more at: moderndogmagazine.com/breeds/schnauzer

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Breed experts agree that one characteristic shared by all Schnauzers is self-confidence. Although they should not seek out a quarrel, these dogs don’t back down from a confrontation.

Related to this, perhaps, is a bit of a stubborn streak; they know best and aren’t about to do something your way just because you say so. Combine this personality with the size of the Giant Schnauzer and you can see why Giants are recommended for experienced dog people.

Despite the vast size difference (the Miniature weighs 10 – 18 pounds, the Giant, 65 – 90+), all three varieties share a distinct look. The German word schnauze means “muzzle,” a reference to the facial furnishings that distinguish this breed. The proper coat is harsh and wiry and must be tediously “hand-stripped” rather than machine clipped if it is to remain that way. Most owners opt for the easier care and accept that their dogs’ coats will become gradually softer over time. With trips to the groomer every six weeks or so and constant washing, combing, and trimming of the facial hair to avoid the dreaded “food face,” the Schnauzer is not a low-maintenance breed. But the charms, aficionados of the breed are quick to point out, are multifold: beautiful, intelligent, devoted, and spirited, this companionable breed is an attention getter.

friendly, smart, obedient

smart, fearless, spirited

Find Your Perfect Breed match

Is the French Bulldog for you?

Playful, smart, adaptable— and completely irresistible

I'm l! playfu

T

he sweet, petite French—that stocky, charming dog with the distinctive bat ears—has worked its way into the hearts of so many that it is currently ranked #6 in popularity, according to AKC registration statistics. One look at the Frenchie’s adorable mug and wide, smiling mouth and one can easily see why. With round, intelligent eyes, large, erect ears set off the extremely short nose, and a fun disposition, the French Bulldog packs a lot of personality into a small package (Frenchies should not be more than 28 pounds— although they would happily convince their people otherwise.)

The only function of today's French Bulldog is that of love sponge and constant companion and, as such, they should be as the AKC standard describes: “well behaved, adaptable... active, alert, and playful, but not unduly boistrous.”

Generally very social with both human and canine friends, they sometimes play the clown and glory in being the centre of attention.

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Their unique build does cause some challenges. Because they have big heads, wide shoulders, and narrow pelvises, Frenchies can rarely give birth naturally; caesarean births are the norm. And like all short-faced dogs, Frenchies are particularly sensitive to heat and cold and must not be expected to exercise strenuously under those conditions.

Snorting, wheezing, flatulence, and other natural noises are also a part of the breed's normal physiology, but the true French Bulldog lover will not be put off by any of this.

Snoring? Just add to the list of this sweet breed’s many charms.

Is the Frenchie right for you?

Find out more at: moderndogmagazine.com/breeds/french-bulldog

BEHAVIOUR

I'm g in h c t a w u... yo

Watch yourself—your dog is copying your emotional responses to people and things

By Stanley Coren

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M

odern research has shown that dogs, like children, watch what their caretakers do and take their cues from it. I’m sure most of us realize this, but did you know that your behaviour also influences your dog’s emotional response? A recent study shows that your dog’s behaviour is not only guided by what he sees you do, but also by your reactions to people and things. How you react shapes your dog’s emotional response to people and even to inanimate objects. That neighbour you don’t like? Turns out you’re the reason your dog doesn’t like him either!

How universal this effect might be became clear to me a short time ago when I paused to watch a number of primary school students rally to begin a soccer game. Some of the players wore light green t-shirts and the others wore dark plum, the colours identifying the teams. A number of school-aged spectators also gathered to observe the competition. Many of these observers also wore plum or green coloured shirts. One of the plum-shirted observers had a small Pomeranian dog with her who happily ran out to the end of her leash in order to greet each person that came near. As the girl moved around the edge of the field she encountered a girl wearing a green shirt. I don't know what the situation was but the girl with the dog made what appeared to be a series of angry comments pointing at the other girl who stoically held her ground and did not seem to respond in turn. As the plum-shirted girl with the dog began to move away, the dog now made a wide circle to

That neighbour you don’t like? Turns out you’re the reason your dog doesn’t like him either!

avoid the green clad girl who had been the target of her mistress's anger. Then somebody from behind called and the girl with the dog reversed her course, once more passing the girl wearing green. Again the dog swung widely away to avoid drawing near that individual. At that moment the part of my brain that deals with behavioural observation and analysis clicked in. It seemed clear the dog had associated the negative emotional outburst of her mistress with that particular girl in green and she was now avoiding the person who was the target of her owner's negative feelings.

In human infants the ability to recognize emotions and to understand that they may be associated with a particular person or object has been verified in toddlers aged as young as 14 to 18 months. A paper published in the journal Developmental Psychology a few years back describes a study by psychologist Betty Repacholi, who was then working at the University of California at Berkeley. In her study she used a small room that only contained two medium-sized boxes. Next she had the child's parent look in each box while the toddler watched. When looking in one box the parent expressed a very positive and happy emotion, however while looking in the other box the parent expressed disgust. When the child was later allowed to explore the room, the vast majority of the children went to the box that had been attached to the happy expression and avoided the box associated with the emotion of disgust.

This same general research method was recently used to test dogs by Isabella Merola, Emanuela Prato-Previde, M. Lazzaroni, and Sarah Marshall-Pescini at the University of Milan and their results were published in the journal Animal Cognition. They added a few additional twists so they could not only see whether dogs recognized a human's emotional expression and might attach it to particular objects, but also to see whether the expressions of the dog's owner were more likely to be recognized and acted on than those of a stranger. There were a number of different conditions and analyses but let's stick to the ones which are most important for this discussion.

The experimental setup also involved two boxes as in the study done on children, and each box contained a toy.

In this part of the study 55 dogs were tested. Basically the dogs watched their owners (or a stranger) act out a pair of short scenarios involving two different emotional response conditions. In the first the dog's owner looked into one box moderndogmagazine.com

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and simulated a happy expression sounding very enthusiastic and interested and saying (in Italian of course) things like “Oh nice! Really nice!” using tones that were high pitched, musical, and positive.

In the second condition when the owners looked at the other box they were told to sound as if they were viewing something disturbing or they had witnessed something shocking and fear provoking.

This resulted in something like an exclamation of “Oh! How ugly!” spoken in as tense a tone of voice as the dog's owners could manage to simulate. In addition to the verbal responses in the two conditions, the owners were told to act out the appropriate emotions using body language—such as crouching closer to the box when the positive emotional expression was being made and jumping back from the box when expressing the negative emotion.

Now the question here is whether having the dogs observe the emotional responses of their owners toward these two objects will have any effect on the dogs' behaviours. To determine this, the dogs were released and allowed to explore the room. Sure enough, 81 percent of the dogs went to the box associated with the happy expression, which shows that the dogs not only recognize their owner's emotional expressions but attach those emotions to whatever object their owner was looking at or addressing at the time.

However this reaction was specific to the responses that the dogs observed in their owners. When the same emotions were expressed by a stranger, the dogs did not seem to give them enough credence to guide their behaviours—after observing the scenarios performed by a stranger, the dogs reacted virtually at chance levels with only 46 percent going

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to the box that elicited a happy response from the stranger.

In this way dogs act much like young children. Both dogs and children watch their caretakers and family members, read their emotions, and attach those emotions to the things that the person is looking at. In the same way that kids do, your dog thus learns what you like and who or what you approve of. The important thing is that they then use that information to guide their later behaviour. So suppose you are visited by a large, heavy, woman with a wrinkled face that makes her look like she is scowling, and whose expression might be frightening to young children or dogs. That is the time that you should smile, happily greet, and embrace the woman so that your dogs (and of course your kids) will learn that your Aunt Katie is not a threat, but rather a good person to interact with. Remember, your dog is watching you. n

You need this magazine

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Beauregard

Photographer Sophie Gamond & two adorable, adoptable Pit Bull pups.

H

ere at Modern Dog, we’re BIG fans of the bully breeds. Unfortunately, these dogs still suffer a major public image problem, the sad result being they are the most frequently euthanized dogs in American shelters—between 800,000 and 1 million Pit Bulls are euthanized every year in the U.S.

Angel

Aden is still up for adoption in Alabama (Anniston) at the Calhoun County Humane Society (calhouncountyhs.blogspot.com).

New York City-residing French artist Sophie Gamand decided to call attention to the terrible gap between our professed love for pets and the shocking number that are euthanized in shelters annually. The result was her acclaimed photographic series Flower Power, Pit Bulls of the Revolution. Adorned with custom-made flower crowns, her Pit Bull subjects politely ask viewers to question their assumptions about the breed.

states still awaiting their forever homes. Collectively, they’ve been waiting over 15 years for an adoptive family to choose them. The calendar is already a success, with opinions changed and forever homes found for some (but not yet all) of the long timers featured in its pages. You can check out these up-for-adoption cuties—Aden, for example, was abandoned outside the Calhoun County Humane Society shelter and has been waiting two years for a family to call his own—at sophiegamand.com, where you can also purchase a calendar ($30). It’s a super gift idea for a bully-breed-loving friend. And let’s find these dogs a home already! Perhaps your new best friend is featured on the pages of this calendar.

Sophie’s newest effort is her just released 2017 Flower Power calendar that supports animal rescue and solely features Pit Bulls from shelters and rescues across the

Want more Pit Bulls?

Check out The Pit Bull Life on 110, one of our winter must-read book picks!

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PHOTOS SOPHIE GAMAND

Flower Power

! s r a t Sey’re just

Alessandra Ambrosio carries pooch Lola as she walks to a friends' house in LA.

They give their tired pups a lift

Th ! s u e k li Adele spent her day off from four concerts in Toronto, ON by going to High Park and the High Park Zoo with her beloved Dachshund Louie (and impressive security detail!).

cute!

They travel with their dogs.

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They don't miss an opportunity for a dog walk!

Claire Danes walks her dog while out and about in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ©PACIFICCOASTNEWS; ©JP, PACIFICCOASTNEWS;

They bring their dogs to their friends' houses.

© LGJR-RG, PACIFICCOASTNEWS; ©PACIFICCOASTNEWS

Naomi Watts pictured at the 'Gypsy' set in Downtown Brooklyn.

She later changed her outfit and took her little pooch for a walk.

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TRAINING

WHY PUPPIES AND DOG PARKS DON’T MIX

By Teoti Anderson

Y

ou have a new puppy—congratulations! There are so many things you need to do. You need to feed him healthy meals and treats. You need to get him proper veterinary care. You need to socialize him. You need lots of patience—and paper towels. There are lots of things a new puppy needs to grow up into a healthy, confident adult dog. A visit to the dog park is NOT one of them.

What’s that? You thought a dog park would be a great way to introduce your dog to a bunch of other dogs so he learns to make friends? This is a common misconception. The problem with dog parks is your puppy could be imprinted with the idea that other dogs are not so friendly. In fact, an early, traumatic experience at a dog park could influence your puppy poorly for years to come.

Puppies experience a critical socialization period from birth until about 12 to 16 weeks of age. During this time, they learn about the world around them and take those lessons into adulthood. Once you get your puppy home, the clock is ticking. You need to introduce him to many different kinds of people, environments, sounds, animals and more—and each experience needs to be a positive one, so your puppy associates the experience with good things. For example, the first time he hears thunder, treats should rain from the sky while you clap and cheer, “Yay! Thunder is awesome!” When he meets people of different ethnicities and ages, he should get treats so he learns that people are friendly and not scary. It is of paramount importance that you carefully control your puppy’s interactions to ensure happy experiences, thereby creating a foundation of trust and confidence.

At a dog park, there is very little you can control. While many dog park patrons are responsible pet parents, it only takes a handful of insensitive people who don’t follow the rules to make a trip to the park a miserable experience for your impressionable puppy. Some will be glued to their cell phones, oblivious to the fact that their dogs are causing trouble (or even crazier, that their

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own dog is the victim of a canine bully!). Others will be flirting or chatting with other people, again, clueless as to what their dogs are doing, whether it’s over-rambunctious behaviour, refusing to leave another dog alone, unwanted “play” or worse. Some dogs who have aggression issues have no business being in a dog park at all, but their owners insist on bringing them anyway.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s crucial your puppy meet other dogs during his socialization period—you just want to manage which ones. He won’t have all his shots until the period is over, but you don’t want to wait. It’s easy to think the best place to find other dogs is at a dog park. But if your puppy is rushed by a group of dogs, this can be scary. If a dog starts bullying him, this can be frightening. If he learns that it’s fun to bully other dogs, this is also a problem. Instead of hoping responsible people and appropriate dogs show up at your park outing, stack the deck in your favor. Arrange for your puppy to meet safe, friendly dogs at your home or a friend’s house. You’ll be matchmaking for a positive playdate! You can also attend a puppy kindergarten class, which should have supervised socialization opportunities under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

If you take the time to properly socialize your puppy during this critical period, he is more likely to have better coping skills if you decide to try a dog park visit later. Wait until he reaches adolescence, about six months of age. Look for a dog park managed and attended by responsible pet parents, who monitor their dogs and follow the rules for the benefit of everyone. Your teenage dog could very well have fun, safe visits, but for puppies?

No dog parking! n

Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, is a professional dog trainer and author of The Dog Behavior Problem Solver, Ultimate Guide to Dog Training, Puppy Care and Training, and more. She hosts the Get Pawsitive Results radio show on Pet Life Radio and educates pet parents and other trainers on canine behaviour through popular webinars and workshops.

PET PROJECT

craft D.I.Y.

5-Minute Project

HOME MADE GIFT IDEA!

Make Your Dog An Adorable Fleece Scarf Is there much cuter than a dog in a scarf?

This super-easy craft is quick and simple, yielding stylish results that far outstrip the effort involved. Your dog and his new scarf will definitely put a smile on the faces of those you pass on your dog walks. It’s a fun project for kids to help with, too!

By Rose Frosek

What You'll Need

How-to

• Fleece • Scissors • Measuring Tape

It’s doesn’t get simpler or cuter, folks! All you need for this project is some fleece (the amount needed depends on the size of your dog) and a pair of scissors!

Step 1: Choose a fleece to your liking. We went with a selection of two-colour patterns but solids are nice too.

PUPS ERN DOG OFFICE THE CREW: MOD PENNY & DUKE , CALLISTO, ESTHER

Step 2: Cut out your scarf. Our scarves for Callisto and Duke (the big dogs pictured) measure 60" in length by 9" wide. For Esther and Penny (the little dogs pictured), our scarves measure 32" in length by 3.5" wide). Adjust dimensions according to your dog’s size.

Step 3: Cut fringed tassels in each end of your scarf (optional).

Cute Idea: Make yourself a matching scarf while you’re at it!

Project Forever Home

While you’re at it, whip up a few extra scarves and drop them by your local animal shelter. A cute accessory helps shelter dogs stand out to potential adopters so they can find the forever homes they so deserve!

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A dog hoodie? Yes please! Help your pup rock his best style with this cozy Bones Dog Hoodie from Pethaus.

Ultra-comfy, this hoodie comes in sizes to fit Chihuahuas all the way up to smaller Huskies and looks pawsome when strutting down the street. $30, pethaus.com.au

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

{Modern Dog’s Penny The Wirehaired Dachshund loves this coat!} Chilly Dog’s awesomely versatile Trail Blazer coat can be worn from early fall right straight through winter (depending on your climate and your dog's needs). With great style and fit, this coat stays on and repels wind and rain to keep your dog warm, dry, and cozy. From $46, chillydogs.ca

Make the most of the season with this must-have winter gear for the great outdoors!

Nippy weather calls for a little extra protection!

Hurtta’s Slush Combat Suit is made of a breathable, waterproof fabric with a Houndtex membrane that keeps sleet, mud, and rain off of your pup. And its adjustable fit means your dog can frolic freely all winter long. $88-98, hurtta.com

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Soft on paws yet tough on terrain, Muttluk’s Snow Musher dog boots use barefoot technology for super comfort.

They’re easy to put on (and they stay on!), are fleece lined for warmth, and offer awesome traction. A cold weather must! $44, muttluks.ca

INSPIRE Animal Aid's Lorenzo Borghese with an armful of adorable rescue pups!

Rescue Caravan

By Jennifer Nosek

The devotion, the kindred spirits, the Southern hospitality, the PUPPIES! Looking for an experience of a lifetime? Join Animal Aid USA’s mission to help Georgian rescue dogs

A

Modern Dog's Jennifer Nosek

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s I pass through the fiercely air-conned interior of the Holiday Inn I have spent the night in, I have a momentary pang of nerves: just what am I getting myself into? I take a deep breath and stifle the unwelcome thought, push the door open, and walk into a wave of Georgian heat, my feet marching me across the already sun-baked pavement. Awaiting me is a white, windowless utility van, the door of which slides open to reveal a seat-less, mattress-clad cargo hold—and a host of smiling faces. A cheerful volley of greetings issue from the van’s inhabitants, all strangers who are set to become fast friends over the next two long, very emotional days. Fears are instantly dispelled.

I’m in Georgia to participate in a rescue caravan, the mobilization of a cadre of volunteers, vans, pilots, and planes that, in an epic feat of coordination, have come together to rescue 400-plus Georgian dogs and transport them back to other states where foster homes and adopters await. (In areas of Georgia, spay and neuter are not frequently implemented and laws protecting animals are rarely enforced.)

It is to be, hands down, one of the most inspiring trips of my life.

Emotions will run the gamut—there will be tears, elation, heartbreak, and

over-exhaustion, coupled with a frightening amount of gas station food and a seeming million hours spent in the back of a van—and yet it is somehow spirit restorative. The dogs saved—all ages and sizes but so many hounds and so many puppies—are high on the list of best trip memories, but even more so, it is the incredible people, now friends, that made this a truly incredible experience. Here is a group of people, bound by their love of animals and their desire to DO SOMETHING, who, once a month, undertake a 15+ hour overnight drive from New Jersey to rural southern Georgia.

There they pack up a whole host of dogs at risk of being euthanized and pretty much immediately turn around to undertake the same epic drive in reverse—this time loaded up with pooping, howling precious cargo. It is a grueling 1600-mile roundtrip journey undertaken in just three days but the sense of community and mission participation on display are nothing short of a tonic for the world weary spirit.

At the helm of this operation are Karen Talbot and Lorenzo Borghese, co-founders of non-profit Animal Aid USA. The entire team is 100 percent volunteer and they’ve managed to save over 14,000 dogs and cats in just four years. Karen is hands-down amazing and Lorenzo likely needs no introduction—he’s a real-life prince after all, and starred in season nine of The Bachelor. Together they’re on a mission to help make the U.S. a no-kill nation.

The itinerary of their monthly Georgian rescue mission goes like this: early on a Thursday evening, four vans, one truck, and their main transport rig convene in New Jersey where they are packed with volunteers, many repeat, and the kind of supplies necessary for a mass rescue operation (lots of

cleaning supplies, for one).

Once loaded, the caravan sets out and drives straight through the night, headed for Georgia.

It is on the Friday morning of their August caravan trip that I am picked up en route, having flown in from the west coast to take part. By midday we’ve arrived at our destination— Nancy and Rick Allmon’s Blackshear, Georgia property—and despite the long hours logged thus far, the work is just beginning. Supplies need to be unpacked, arriving dogs dealt with, and the tremendous amount of organizational paperwork for tomorrow’s transport undertaken—this allimportant task overseen by Karen, the mastermind of the operation. It is something to witness, this mobilization of transport vans, volunteers, and local fosters, all convening around pens and runs filled with the hundreds of dogs and puppies who are scheduled for this month’s rescue mission.

The dogs come from kill shelters, are found on the side of the road or are callously dropped off or dumped in various locales. A local woman found one tiny puppy, less than eight weeks old, when she went to check her mail one

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Animal Aid's Karen Talbot

HI!

Rick Allmon organizes volunteers on the airstrip.

morning. Instead of the usual bills and letters, she found someone had placed the tiny pup in her metal mailbox.

Had she not happened to check her mail before work, the puppy would have roasted to death in the heat of the day.

Nancy and Rick, hosts to the staging of every monthly rescue mission, are as welcoming and down-home as they come. Inveterate dog lovers, they have opened their sprawling 20-acre property to the operation and are a cornerstone of its success. Their place is the organizational focal point of the transport and temporary home for many of the dogs destined for foster or rescue in other states. Old trucks, dog runs, and their countless own pups crowd the acreage, which is traversed on golf cart. Everyone is involved in some task or other, but it is impossible for newbies (read: me) not to beeline over to the pens of puppies for some cuddle time.

By the time the afternoon’s work is finished and we finally check into our hotel, the New Jersey contingency has been up a good 36 hours straight. Everyone quickly showers

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and changes and then we’re off to a family-style Southern dinner cooked by local volunteers. Squash casserole, soft rolls, pulled pork, barbeque chicken, salads of all stripe, gallons of sweet tea… it is a true feast, not only delicious but charming for one unused to the kind of community involvement on display here. It’s like I can actually feel my heart expanding in the presence of so much good.

It is over dinner that the plans for the non-profit’s next phase are revealed and they’re decidedly cool: they plan to expand their existing sanctuary at Rick and Nancy’s so they can double the number of rescued dogs and cats they can house. They can currently hold about 95 dogs and cats but the new facility will allow them to help over 200 with upgraded kennels and on-site medical services. The second phase will see the creation of a cabin-themed village where visiting volunteers can stay. They envision this being a place where virtually any animal lover can stay and volunteer, as well as a healing place for veterans suffering from PTSD

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When our caravan finally pulls up at our New Jersey destination late morning, there is a veritable parade of cheering people awaiting us, heralding our arrival with waved welcome signs and applause. and parents traveling with bullied or abused children. They are currently fundraising to make this a reality. (If you’d like to contribute go to gofundme. com/AnimalAidusa.) There is palpable excitement around these plans and they look forward to expanding their operation into Miami, Florida as well.

Exhausted after dinner, everyone calls it an early night. We will all be meeting bright and early in the lobby—earlier than usual even, for this is an extra special transport. Joining the usual caravan is a fleet of Pilots N Paws volunteers, a group of pilots who fly their own private aircraft to transport dogs to awaiting homes and rescues.

The next day dawns bright and hot. We head out for the airstrip pre-8 a.m., vans full of dogs in tow. On the tarmac is a formation of small planes and the volunteer pilots who have flown in from neighbouring states in order to assist in this super-sized rescue. Pilots are matched with their precious cargo and the dogs are then loaded into carriers and secured in the small aircraft. It is a sight to behold as one by one the planes take flight, bearing their four-legged passengers to their new lives.

By the time everyone is airborne, it feels like a whole day’s work has been accomplished but it’s barely mid-morning and time to head back to Nancy and Rick’s where all the transport vans set to hit the highway have yet to be loaded with dogs. Somewhere mixed in there is a lunch and a pray circle blessing, and then, finally, we’re off—kind of. There’s one more stop en route to pick up yet more dogs and then it’s just the long road ahead of us. We’ll pass through South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia, until finally we cross into New Jersey. Late night pauses at rest stops lit up in blinking neon allow for stretched legs, fast food sustenance, and bathroom breaks.

All the vehicles drive nose to tail and the interminable miles are punctuated with hilarious late-night conversations with new best friends (hi, Roe!). We are definitely a sight as we pull into gas stations and everyone spills out.

My driving shift is at the loopy hour of 4 a.m. I have been up for over 22 hours and yet am wide awake, singing along with the radio as the miles whizz by and we hightail it to what is perhaps the best part of the whole mission: the arrival. When our caravan finally pulls up at our New Jersey destination late morning, there is a veritable parade of cheering people awaiting us, heralding our arrival with waved welcome signs and applause. There are the foster recipients, as well as the rescues that are accepting dogs, and, cutest of all, Girl Guides who help unload the puppies.

There are hugs, tears, baby wipes to clean poop off of hands, and avowals from many of the caravan’s participants to “see you next month,” for 30 days later the whole shebang will unfold again. It truly takes a village and this one is filled with some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. n

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Searching for that special treat this holiday season? Lucky has created the ultimate gift box—just in time! Available in “Paw Decorated” or “Natural”, these Organic Artisan Baked Goods For Dogs will be your pup’s favourite gift! luckydogsbakery.com

Flavorit nylon bones have tiny cells molded into both sides that you can fill with spreadable treats (peanut butter! cream cheese!). Massages gums, good for aggressive chewers, and available in 7 delicious flavours!

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This all-in-one Pet Training Package includes a Personalized Rapid Rewards, Treat n Tug Frisbee Flyer, three styles of clickers and wrist coils, and more! Comes hand-wrapped or with a drawstring backpack.

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Hot Paws is the original do-it yourself kit for making a beautiful and unique glass copy of your furry friend’s paw, right in the comfort of your own home! www.hotsandap.com/get-hot-paws

Mister Migs is dog gear for good! The "Parker" City Slicker has a detachable leather backpack and tiedyed denim harness that snaps over a stretch lace tee.

Handcrafted from re-purposed materials and supports autistic and marginalized youth! mistermigs.com

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Gift Guide

Stop the endless sweeping and vacuuming! Introducing the Shed Defender, a onesie that contains dog hair.

The lightweight, breathable, stretchy fabric is safe and comfortable. Use in the car or house, replace the medical cone, or keep your dog warm! $50, shed-defender.com

For dogs who dig style! The SpaceBed will whizz your little pup to sleep in comfort and style. Complete the custom-made clear polycarbonate bed with a faux fur SpaceCloud cushion (available in several luxurious fabrics and colours). spacebed.ca

Pawsitively Safe, the lost pet finder, is the perfect stocking stuffer! Each secure tag provides vital information so pet finders can contact you immediately by email, text or phone, getting your pet home safe and found. $12.99, free shipping! pawsitivelysafe.com

One of a kind, handcrafted, high quality leather collars, customized for your dog! Limitless possibilities for building a collar to match your dog’s personality. Matching leashes available. Get yours at oldcountryleather.com.

Santa’s Little Squeakers Toys are inspired by everything P.L.A.Y. loves about Christmas…snowflakes, fir trees, and ugly holiday sweaters.

Featuring fun ornament shapes, these toys double as festive décor for your tree. PetPLAY.com

Snappy Snoozers Pet Beds are ideal for dogs! Inflatable PVC makes them extremely comfortable and the waterproof beds are designed with a snapable quilt that is easily detached and machine washable. Use indoors or outdoors! snappysnoozers.com

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

Gift Guide

PetGiftBox is the perfect gift for your furry friend this holiday season. Jam-packed with only the best quality toys, treats, and other goodies, your pup will be begging for more!

Get 50% off your first box! petgiftbox.com/moderndog

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Bring out your dog’s inner party animal with rock and metal raglan dog tees, the perfect gift to help your dogs express their wild side! Prints include Muttallica, Rolling Bones, Bark At The Moon, and Muttley Crew. $26, pethaus.com.au

Dog Obsessed is the

only resource passionate dog owners will ever need—featuring over

50 easy-to-prepare recipes, advice on how to manage your dog’s unique personality quirks, and more!

These super-comfortable waterproof shoes by Sloggers are perfect for walking the dog! They can handle any kind of mess—just hose off or wipe clean and they’re ready for your next adventure! So comfortable you’ll wear them all day! $30, sloggers.com

thehonestkitchen.com/ dog-obsessed

The Original SturdiBag Pet Carrier is a light, durable, flexible-height carrier designed to “flex” without collapsing, allowing it to conform to the under seat height of all airline seats. Available in multiple sizes. sturdiproducts.com

Handmade in Barcelona, this The Bark Co. collar and leash features a Lisbon tile motif. Using 100% cotton and very secure old gold trimmings, they’re both cool and safe. Gorgeous selection of unique urban designs available! From $32, thebarkco.com

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

Gift Guide

The Pawdentify Pet ID System makes a great stocking stuffer!

Tags are easier to read, easier to attach, and more durable than metal ID. Made with Kevlar and a patented lock, Links-It keeps tags securely attached. Made in USA. pawdentify.com

Wrapsit is an accessory for folding quad chairs that slides onto your chair to create a dry, mesh-sided safe haven for small pets. Anytime, anywhere...simply open your chair! $60, wrapsit.com (Free shipping through Christmas!)

Keep your dog close to your heart now and forever.

A unique nose print pendant from Robin’s Loving Touch is like wearing an emotion.

Wet noses, warm heart, unconditional love. robinslovingtouch.com Bohemian, hippy, colourful—that’s what Dutch brand Dog With A Mission is all about! Their 100% handmade, high quality collars, leashes, harnesses, and more support animal welfare and speak to their motto: “Let’s spoil every dog!” dogwithamission.com Pet parents are loving this eye-catching DIY Succulent Dog Bowl. The fun kit includes everything you need. It’s a fantastic addition to any home, a perfect gift, or a beautiful way to honour the life of a furry friend. modernmeetvintage.com

The ultimate winter coat.

ChillyDogs’ easy on, easy off Great White North coat provides maximum warmth and durability!

100% waterproof, it features a polyurethane-coated outershell, breathable, non-pilling fleece, and multiple colour combos.

Made in Canada in sizes to fit all dogs! From $75, ChillyDogs.ca

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TRAINING

11 STEPS TO RAISING THE PERFECT PUPPY

By Rose Frosek

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1

Get on top of house training so you don’t have an intractable problem on your hands. (This is especially important with little dogs who can be harder to train, in part because their owners give them a pass.) Housetraining is all about being vigilant— by preventing opportunities for “accidents” your new pup will get the hang of appropriate elimination far more quickly.

Yes, mistakes are inevitable, but minimizing these means less confusion as to where is an appropriate place to go potty. The key to success is a schedule; by maintaining a schedule you can predict when your puppy will have to “go.” For instance: Your puppy wakes up? Take her immediately outside to do her business. She’s just eaten? Ditto. Your puppy should never be wandering around unsupervised. Put in the initial time and effort and your pup will be housetraining right quick!

2

Reward behaviour you like—and be aware if you’re inadvertently rewarding behaviour you don’t. Even negative attention is attention and can therefore enforce actions you don’t like. If your dog jumps up, try just ignoring her and then redirecting her rather than engaging with her. If she’s seeking attention by jumping up and you respond by saying her name and pushing her down, she just got what she was looking for!

Build confidence. A confident, well-adjusted dog is a relaxed happy dog. Many “bad” behaviours have their roots in fear, not aggression. Remember that your dog is constantly reading you (see page 30) and mimicking your emotional response, so if you want your dog to be more comfortable with big dogs, for example, mentor that. If you’re tense, your dog will be too.

INSET: PHOTO BY TANYA KING

3 4

Get out there! A puppy’s key socialization window takes place from birth until around 12 to 16 weeks of age. This means from the moment you bring your new puppy home (usually 8 – 12 weeks of age; earlier is not better as there are lessons your pup needs to learn from her mom and littermates), it’s absolutely crucial that you expose your dog to positive experiences with other dogs, different people, places, and sounds.

5

Get your dog used to her a travel crate so if you need to use one in the future (vacation, a trip to the vet), she will happily settle down in there, making both of your lives much less stressful. When Modern Dog’s Esther, a Miniature Dachshund, sees a carrier come out, she scratches at it until someone lets her get inside because she was taught to love carriers as a pup. (Treats and blankets are never a bad idea.)

6

Lay the groundwork. It’s essential your dog knows—and knows well—basic commands. Having a solid “come” command in place can prove a life saver in an emergency. And everyday manners, the kind that make living together pleasant, are just as important. A dog that’s sitting, for example, can’t jump up. Practice everyday. A five minute practice session every single day (with treats!) not only keeps skills fresh in your dog’s mind, but is a great bonding opportunity.

7

Timing is everything. You have to offer a reward the instant your pup does something good so that she draws an association between the ask (“sit”) and the treat. Likewise, it does zero good to chastise your dog for a puddle you discover on the floor. Unless you catch her in the act, she will have zero idea why you’re angry.

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8

Spend as much time with your new pup as possible. Dogs are social animals and, as such, need to be around their people. You want to build the foundation for a solid, lifelong bond. Teach your pup what you like and make it fun! (Think lots of tiny tasty treats.)

9

Consistency, consistency, consistency.

Set consistent rules so your dog knows what to expect. Don’t want your dog on the couch?

Then never let her up on the couch! Sounds basic but many people make exceptions to rules, leaving their dogs confused.

10

Don’t allow resource guarding to start.

Put your dog’s dish down, let her eat a bit, then take it away. Put a little extra tidbit of something tasty in then give it back to her. Repeat. Work on being able to handle what your dog values without her guarding it.

11

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Remember that your dog inherently wants to please you. Give her the tools to do so. And have fun together! n

PHOTO BY TANYA KING

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INSPIRE

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Never Give Up Lessons from a young girl and a Pug in a lifejacket

By Elizabeth Terry; Illustration by Michelle Simpson

This was a bad one. Spencer’s back One of my favourite activities happens arched and her eyes rolled back and once a year, on the day after Labor her arms stretched above her head.

Day. The local pool opens up to local She’s a big girl now, and my arms, dogs before it closes for the season. strengthened with the hardships I love it because she loves it. of our life, held her firmly but She’s my daughter, Spencer. awkwardly as her body shook and Which does she love more? The seized. The usual state of mind leaning over and splashing her took over: I was immersed in the hands in the water, or the dogs? This moment, instructing my neighbours year, I took her home to rest a little who ran over to help, protecting after school. We ate a bite then headed Spencer and her favourite therapy dog, Pepsi. He visits her middle her precious 11-year-old head from for the pool. Spencer’s absolute joy gave school through the St. Louis banging on the cement, trying but failing me absolute joy as we entered the pool chapter of Love on a Leash.. to shield her body with my body because her area, her funny gait skipping forward excitedly. dignity demanded it. In that moment I was the We sat with our backs to the hot evening sun, a sun experienced seizure mom, capable of anything and hardened that heats the earth as it does only in early September. There by our reality. was something delicious about our feet in the water, our shorts And yet I felt. I knew we were a spectacle. My heart softly soaked as we sat on the edge, and the smell of wet dog. reminded my head that those eyes, watching us from all around She loves dogs! She’s one of those kids who doesn’t need to the pool, were loving, and they didn’t see us as the freaks that I speak—which she can’t—to communicate. She doesn’t know felt we were. much sign language, but she has long mastered the sign for When it was finally over and she was home in bed for a “dog” and she pats the side of her leg with gusto. She loves 12 hour recovery sleep, my mind was chaos. I first thought dogs so much that she signs “dog” when she’s happy, dog or no about the Pug in the life jacket. Is that why he chose us? Then dog in sight.

I thought about the way I looked at Spencer’s feet during her Who wouldn’t love this event? The dogs run with pure joy, seizure. They were still in the water. I felt anger, even disgust, at many off of their leashes, thrilled with this annual taste of the world. Those sweet middle-school toes were unfairly taken freedom. It’s a feast for the eyes: curly haired blonde dogs, from relishing the end-of-the summer pool water, surrounded prancing long-legged Poodles, hyper-active Labs, and little bitty by her beloved dogs. Instead, she had been abducted and held yip yips, all as diverse as their owners. It seemed like we were captive by another damn seizure. targets for the long-hairs, who felt the need to be near us as they We’ll have to wait another year to go back to the dogs in the shook off the water before diving in for more. pool, but we’ll go. Spencer’s memory of this year’s event was One little Pug, hilariously enveloped in a dog life jacket with most certainly wiped away by the seizure, but we’ll go back for a handle on the back, kept making his way over to us. Of all of another try. I won’t ever stop feeling angrily heartbroken that the people throwing balls, chasing dragging leashes, standing the greatest things in her life get ruined by seizures, just as I and chatting with other dog parents, or sitting leisurely like us, won’t ever stop trying to give those things to her. I’m inspired why was he drawn to us? I happily praised him for his bravery by my amazing daughter: she goes through life trying again and in conquering the four inch depth of water in the shallow end, again. Just like the Pug, I guess. n while scratching his wrinkled forehead and fending off Spencer’s eager hands for his tail. He came over again and again, seemingly proud of his huge accomplishments. Why us?

Elizabeth Terry is mom to Spencer, who has Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome His owner picked him up by his handle for another gentle (LGS). LGS is a rare and severe form of epilepsy. See lgsfoundation.org for more information. placement in the abyss when it happened. Damn those seizures. moderndogmagazine.com

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INSPIRE

THE SINGLE THING THAT’S RUINING MOST OF YOUR DOG PHOTOS

xxx

IPS K T LL C I QU T WI Y THA TICALL R S OU DRA OVE Y S! R TO IMPG PHO DO

Plus 4 other tips for Instagram-worthy shots!

By Rose Frosek

Get ready to wow your friends and family with super-cute dog pics!

We up your photo taking game with five easy ways to greatly improve your photos

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1 # BANISH BAD LIGHTING & GLOWING EYES

Dog’s eyes often glow blue in a flash situation, making it look like a demon has taken over your dog. Avoid the flash. Natural/ outdoor lighting is your best friend, next to your dog.

#2

CUTE PROPS! Up the cute factor. What about a sign worn around your dog’s neck? Or an adorable fleece scarf tied jauntily around your dog’s neck? (See page 34 for easy DIY how-to!). Or a floral headdress? (page 42) A well-chosen prop elevates your photo to the next level.

#5

#3

INSET IMAGES: BIZKIT AND CHAI SUBMITTED BY SHEELA & NAYAN

BRIGHTEN & CROP Dark images and extraneous stuff in your shot. Brighten and crop your photos. Doing the tiniest bit of tweaking can make a HUGE difference. Crop out the extraneous and brighten your photo (minor edits can be done from your phone in mere seconds) and see what an enormous difference it makes. We brighten 99.9 percent of the images we run in this magazine!

#4

MISSED MOMENTS How many times has this happened? You miss the cute expression, instead capturing the side of your dog’s head just as she turns away. Well no more! The ingenious SqueakNSnap addresses this issue, allowing you to easily and reliably capture the exact moment of head-tilted doggone adorableness. This nifty little device—it looks like a cute teddy—plugs into your smart phone. Squeaking the stuffy triggers your phone to take a photo at the exact moment your dog’s interest is piqued and voilà, perfect photos every time! ($15, squeaknsnap.com)

CLUTTER This is it folks, the one thing that’s ruining most of your photos.

Your dog is super adorable, that’s a given. All that clutter-y junk in the background? Not so much. Take a look at your subject’s surroundings: what can you quickly move out of frame that doesn’t need to be there? If you quickly consider your background and sweep any disruptive stuff out of the shot, you will have pretty much instantaneously improved your shot by a factor of 1000 percent.

Before

After

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INSPIRE

XXXX SUBMITTED BY XXX

Rue has been an amazing blessing in my life, not only medically, but emotionally, as well. Her ability to smell my blood sugar and alert to dangerous highs and lows is absolutely incredible. Rue has given me the freedom to live a full, healthy life and the confidence to educate people about both Type 1 Diabetes and Service Dogs.

She's truly a life saver!

—Katie Krampitz, age 17, diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 3. Katie’s dog Rue is a SDWR diabetic alert dog.

Lifesaving Dogs For Diabetics Diabetic alert dogs are dramatically changing —and saving—lives

By Noa Nichol

A

flight from Pittsburgh back to her desert home near Bakersfield, California, could have turned deadly for type 1 diabetic Patti Kasper had she not had her trusty service dog, Tzaylie, by her side.

“There we were, mid-air in flyover country, and Tzaylie, which actually translates to ‘my shadow’ in Hebrew, starts to alert me like crazy,” Patti says, explaining that, as a diabetic alert dog, her beloved four-and-a-half-year-old black

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Labrador Retriever is trained to give a paw when she senses her master’s blood sugar levels are about to go or are going out of range. A second paw means high or going high while a nudge of the nose means low or going low—both dangerous situations that could result in seizures, comas, and even death. Tzaylie is also trained to retrieve third-party support, get food and medication—such as glucose tabs, insulin, juice, and meters—and even dial 911 on a special device.

Patti Kasper & her diabetic alert dog Tzaylie.

“It took an entire bag of dried pineapple and four glasses of orange juice to get me back to normal, and I wouldn’t even have known it if it hadn’t been for her,” Patti continues.

“She really saved my life that day—and saved hundreds of other passengers the inconvenience of having to make an emergency landing to get me to a hospital!”

Tzaylie, she adds, “is absolutely amazing. She keeps me safe when I don’t have physical symptoms to clue me in or when I am, for example, fast asleep and unaware of what’s happening within my body. She’s even alerted my husband when she’s separated from me by distance that something is happening to my levels. She has saved my life dozens of times since I’ve had her. After 51 years of living with the disease, I can say without hesitation that this dog is the single greatest tool I’ve ever had in my tool kit, bar none.”

Patti obtained Tzaylie in October 2012 from Service Dogs By Warren Retrievers (SDWR), a nonprofit organization in Madison, Virginia, that trains and places dogs with individuals who are living not only with type 1 and type 2 diabetes but also autism, PTSD, and seizure disorders. SDWR was founded by Dan Warren, himself a diabetic, to “help people with invisible diseases and disabilities better manage their health.”

It is, he says, “all about the nose.

Our dogs are trained to recognize changes in blood sugar. A diabetic who is very high, believe it or not, smells sweet. That scent is quite different when he or she goes low. We teach our diabetic alert dogs to recognize the scent and, once they do, we teach them to alert on that scent as it’s fluctuating. And they won’t stop alerting until something is done to fix the problem.”

The dogs—all Labs, thanks to their highly trainable and

eager-to-please nature and their status as a “heritage breed” with a reliable history of good health and temperament—are acquired by SDWR through its own breeder host program, where a specially bred litter of puppies can be raised with their mother for seven weeks or so in a warm and loving home environment until they are ready to begin their training.

From there, puppies are placed with volunteer puppy raisers and fosters who work alongside SDWR training staff with an aim to teach each dog a grand total of 60 commands by 12 months of age—everything from sit and wait to get dressed and retrieve.

Finally, at 18 months, the dogs are returned to SDWR for more formalized training and to round off any rough edges before being placed with a recipient family.

“When we place a dog it’s not, ‘Here’s your dog, see you later, good luck,’” emphasizes Dan. “We travel directly to each family for four or five days for acclimation and, really, to train the humans as equally as we’ve trained the dog. We then do an 18-month [long] follow-up program where we return to the family every three to four months for two to four days to reboot the humans, refine the skill set, tweak the dynamics, and ensure things become very fluid. During that time, we train the dog to detect moderndogmagazine.com

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the high and low blood sugar and to perform those tasks that can literally mean life or death for a diabetic.”

In terms of the benefits SDWR’s diabetic alert dogs provide, those range from the most practical and obvious—like alerting impending fluctuations in blood sugar levels and, as a result, yielding a more accurate and better-controlled A1C level with better glucose—right down to what Dan describes as the “emotional piece of the puzzle.”

“Diabetes is a very lonely disease,” he says. “It can be ravaging; you can feel that you’re going through life alone with this and, I’ll tell you, these dogs can help tremendously in that respect.”

Patti agrees. “They could not have picked Tzaylie more perfectly for me,” she says, smiling. “I had my heart set on a fox red [Lab] and what I got was a little black female.

They knew from the questionnaires I filled out and from interviewing me what my energy levels were, what my daily routine was, about my other pets, and that I work in an office.

They knew it all, and they picked probably the mellowest pup out of the litter—my perfect match.”

It’s worth noting that it’s not for everyone, however. Of the 45 to 60 dogs SWDR places annually—and it has placed more than 500 dogs since 2008—Dan estimates five percent don’t work out, and there are no refunds. “If someone tells you they have a 100 percent success rate, run for the hills,” he notes. The reasons for an unsuccessful match differ depending on which side you talk to. A quick Google search yields disgruntled alert dog recipients who claim their dog didn’t alert, while the organization maintains some recipients won’t make themselves available for the acclimation and check-ins necessary once they’ve been matched with a dog. For his

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part, Dan stresses that he and his team exhaust all avenues to ensure a successful match.

For those it does work for, however, it’s nothing short of a godsend. Patti was so delighted with the SDWR process—from the fact that she wasn’t required to give up her other three dogs to the convenience of not having to travel back and forth for training—that she’s stayed on with the organization as a volunteer chapter manager for central California, where she helps others acquire their own diabetic alert dog.

One of those individuals is 13-year-old Emma Goldberg, from Thousand Oaks, California. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age six, Emma and her mother, Kristina have been working diligently to raise the $25,000 required by SDWR—a pledge that, Dan says, helps to cover the costs of breeding, raising, and training the animals and helps keep the nonprofit going. (According to other service providers we spoke to, including Becky Causey, owner of Causey Labradors and Training and president of the Diabetes Alert Dog Alliance, the price is “all over the board” and can range from as little as $500 to $30,000 or more, though on average, according to Diabetic Forecast magazine, a fully trained alert dog costs in the $20,000s.)

For their part, Emma and her mom Kristina are eagerly awaiting their dog.

“Last January we heard that one of the boys in my son’s band who had gone to his first year in college had died in his sleep from his type 1 diabetes, and I thought, wow, if he had had one of those dogs, he’d still be with us today,” says Emma’s mother, Kristina. “The dog would have gotten help or alerted someone. It’s really tragic that we lost such an amazing, talented kid when all he needed was a cup of juice

to save his life.”

Kristina decided she could not imagine a future where her own daughter felt limited in doing something as common as attending university because of her diabetes. She decided to apply with SDWR—and hasn’t looked back since.

“As it is now, I pretty much sleep with Emma every night.

I test her at two or three o’clock every morning to make sure she’s in a safe zone. The dog would alert her if she was going high or low—and everyone would sleep better,” she says. “SDWR has been amazing and very supportive about the fundraising portion, helping with printing posters and thinking of different fundraising ideas for us to try. It’s nice to know that we’re all working hard to make this happen.”

Thus far, the Goldbergs have hosted a garage sale, a makeover night, and a golf tournament to raise funds.

Besides money, says Emma, “I also get to raise awareness about diabetic alert dogs and about type 1 diabetes. It feels pretty good to help more people know about it and understand what it is.”

“Diabetes is a day-to-day, 24-7 job—it does not ever let go,” adds her mom. “Having this dog is going to make everything easier for Emma, from testing [blood sugar levels] to going to school to sleeping, and it will make both her and I feel safer. If she needs something to eat the dog can go get it. If she wants to be home alone and I’m at work, she can be alone with her dog and know she’s safe. She’s going to be able to go on and live her life with a lot more confidence with this dog, and not have the day-to-day fears or concern that she has to watch herself constantly. Best of all, she’ll be able to lead this healthy, happy life with a true best friend and companion—her dog.” moderndogmagazine.com

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Getting a Diabetic Alert Dog

By Noa Nichol

B

esides SDWR, there are a number of diabetic alert dog organizations for people to choose from in the U.S. and Canada. Jennifer Cattet, owner of Medical Mutts in Indianapolis, says that with a rise in popularity of the dogs and, as such, a rise in the number of trainers, it’s crucial to do your homework before selecting a provider.

“Without standards in the service dog industry there can be big differences from one organization to the other,” Jennifer says, adding that she has heard cases of some trainers having no previous experience working with service dogs. “It’s always a good idea to do some research online. Look for reviews or complaints about the organization and/or the owner of the organization and ask for references. Make sure to ask about training style [and] make sure you agree with their methods before committing to working with them.”

Staying away from programs that charge full price for a puppy you will have to train yourself—even with their guidance—is also important, as is understanding what will happen if the dog does not work out. Does the organization provide another dog? Do they help you until things work out? Is it all your responsibility when you get the dog?

Building on this advice, Becky Causey, owner of Causey Labradors and Training and president of the Diabetes Alert Dog Alliance, says meeting with the trainer on more than one occasion and taking your time when asking questions is also key. “Ask for references and check them thoroughly, and ask to see a diabetic alert dog the trainer has trained in action, either

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in person or by video. Also, get a contract in writing and review it with an attorney prior to signing a contract—if you’re unable to hire an attorney…have at least three trusted friends or family members read it, too, to look for questionable content.”

That contract, Becky adds, should be specific about “what the dog will do, what guarantees are included for its performance, and what the consumer is required to do to maintain the dog’s training, as well as what the company is providing for support and what the costs are.” Do not, she warns, “sign a contract that says the dog might not work, or will need additional training by you…before it will work as a diabetic alert dog.”

As for success rates among diabetic alert dogs, while no official study has been done to yield hard numbers, Jennifer says it has a lot to do with human compliance—in other words, following the training instructions—and making the right match between person and dog. However, for her organization, the goal is for all placed dogs to alert at least 80 percent of the time and, she says, “We’ll keep working with our clients to reach that goal.”

Beverly Swartz, director of All Purpose Canines, echoes these sentiments. “In addition to the obvious, which is the training of the dog, there are a couple of things that greatly contribute to a successful diabetic alert dog. First, the family or individual must know what to do when the dog alerts, when it gives a false alert or if it fails to alert. I also believe that, once the dog is placed, follow-up communication is crucial to the success of the team.

Initially the dogs are a lot of work, but the reward is so worth it.” n

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

Great gifts!

These specially selected advertisers have great gifts for all the dogs & dog people on your list

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Does your dog have early onset osteoarthritis? Or tissuerelated injuries like corneal ulcers, tendon and ligament injuries, joint issues, or superficial wounds? If so, there’s a very cool new regenerative treatment that can help!

Biotech company AniCell, which spent years working on stem cell research with horses, has now launched a product for dogs. CanisCell uses stem cell components to stimulate the body’s own restoration capabilities to regrow healthy tissue and bone. The amniotic material in their products is collected non-invasively during the births of happy, healthy puppies. When administered to damaged areas like joints, these regenerative, biologic treatments accelerate the healing of connective tissue and bone.

“Veterinarians need treatments that can be used on challenging cases that are both chronic and acute in nature, not products that just treat symptoms,” says AniCell’s bioprocess engineer and research veterinarian, 72 moderndog

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Dr. Moises Barcelo. “Our lines are regenerating tissue systemically at the scaffold level and doing it in superficial lacerations, ligament lesions, tendon injuries, and ocular ulcers through a single use application.”

Dr. Jeffery Richman, DVM of the Richman Animal Clinic in Richmond Heights, Ohio, has seen the results first hand.

“After the intravenous CanisCell (for spondylosis) which took less than an hour in an IV infusion, Coop [his canine patient] has significant improvement. He can go for walks, is less painful and most of all seems happier.”

Interested in trying it? The cost is approximately $300 for eye injuries, $1000 for joint treatments, $1500 for tendon and ligament treatments, and $200-500 for superficial wounds. Talk to your vet if you think this could be a fit for your dog. Find out more at anicellbiotech.com.

PHOTO LEFT: MILO SUBMITTED BY MO; INSET IMAGE MOCHI SUBMITTED BY EMILY DRAKE

New Treatment For Canine Arthritis

BODY & SOUL

Pot For Pets

Hemp/CBD products are helping dogs

with all manner of ailments.

Here’s how it works and why you may want to give it a try

J

ust like people, dogs are living increasingly longer lives thanks to better nutrition and health care. The downside is that both dogs and people can face a host of degenerative health issues as they approach their middle and senior years. As devoted pet parents, we’re always searching for products that will help us give our canine kids the very best quality of life so at Modern Dog we’re naturally very interested in all the buzz around hemp/ CBD (Cannabidiol) products for dogs. Here’s the low down on this natural approach to pain relief and better health. First let’s clear up any misconceptions about CBD’s. They are derived from hemp, a type of marijuana that can be legally grown as it contains less than 0.3% THC; they won't get your pet high, but the benefits are many.

Although Cannabis has a 5000-year history as a food and therapeutic product, it's only in recent years that there’s been an understanding of how it actually works. Turns out, what it does is affect the body’s endocannibinoid system, a group of specialized receptors in the brain and peripheral nervous system that affects how almost every other bodily system works. CBD's act on these receptors much like a key fitting into a lock, turning on or off certain functions within those cells.

Dr. Caroline Coile, Ph.D. and author of the book Cannabis and CBD Science for Dogs explains it this way: It turns out that just as we naturally produce our own endorphins, we also naturally produce our own endogenous cannabinoids called endocannabinoids or what some have dubbed our “inner cannabis.” Scientists named the first endocannabinoid they discovered “anandamine,” from the Sanskrit word “ananda,” meaning bliss. The plant chemicals or phytochemicals found in cannabis closely mimic the body’s endogenous cannabinoids. Thus when cannabinoids from cannabis interact with cannabinoid receptors, they elicit the same response as would the body’s endogenous cannabinoids. No wonder cannabis can impact so many body systems!

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An extensive review in 2011 looked for any evidence that CBD could have harmful effects. CBD was found to be non-toxic, with very few, if any, side effects.

The list of conditions CBD seems to help is continually expanding says Dr. Coile, and the discovery of the cannabinoid receptor system has opened up entirely new areas of research and potential health benefits. She cites the following list of conditions that have been positively impacted by CBD’s: Anxiety; Aging and Mental Function; Arthritis; Autoimmune Disorders; Bone Health; Cancer; Colitis; Degenerative Myelopathy; Diabetes; Free Radicals; Glaucoma; Infections; Inflammation; Obesity; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Seizures; Skin Conditions; Spinal Injury and Vomiting.

As this list shows, cannabinoids are increasingly being used as vital tools in the fight against disease—but Dr. Coile maintains that even more important is their value in maintaining health. This is especially true for middle-aged or senior pets. Cannabinoids prevent and combat common complaints of aging, including the diminution of mental capacities, anxiety, lack of appetite, and inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. But beyond that, cannabinoids may simply make pets feel better, improving their comfort, mood, activity, and appetite, so they feel and act like a younger version of themselves. When your dog is more active, has better mental clarity, better muscle tone, better appetite and thus nutrition, and maintains a proper weight, these factors contribute to better health, better quality of life and longer life. And who wouldn’t be for that!

If you’re interested in learning more on this fascinating subject, we highly recommend Dr. Coile’s book, Cannabis and CBD Science for Dogs: Natural Supplements to Support Healthy Living and Graceful Aging.

WE FOUND THE PERFECT, GUILT-FREE TRAINING REWARD!

Hate scrubbing away that bacteria-ridden layer of slime that forms in the bottom of your dog’s water dish? We’ve found the solution: CuBowl, a new company founded by a former microbiology grad student makes naturally antimicrobial copper-plated pet bowls!

Dave Nogas and his partner Kristin Smart came up with the idea after a conversation about the annoyance of having to constantly be cleaning the slimy layer in their dog Xavi's water bowl. Pairing science and style, CuBowl’s copper water bowls employ the oligodynamic property of cooper to naturally prevent the sliminess we all know and hate, helping to ensure that the water your dog is drinking is of optimal quality. Add to this CuBowl’s lovely copper colour and we think we may have found both you and your dog’s new favourite water bowl! $17, cubowl.com

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HONEYBEE SUBMITTED BY DERRICKS

SAY GOODBYE TO THAT SLIMY LAYER IN YOUR DOG’S WATER BOWL!

At just three calories, Charlee Bear treats are guilt-free, perfect for training, and adored by dogs of all shapes and sizes! Reward your dog anytime with these delicious bites your dog will love. $6, charleebear.com

PHOTO KIEFER IRVINE @ KIEFER JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY

BODY & SOUL

Want To Win Awesome Free Dog Stuff?

Follow us on Facebook! Every Friday we give away all sort of nifty stuff for dogs and the people who love them. You can win simply by commenting and telling us why you want it! >> facebook.com/moderndogmagazine

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This marine-derived superfood has tons of canine health benefits!

Generations have recognized kelp for its human and canine health benefits. For over 400 years, fishermen and farmers along the rugged Nova Scotia coast have fed their pets hand-harvested kelp from the cold Northern sea waters, crediting their dog’s good health to the nutrients found in the kelp.

From iodine to iron and amino acids, kelp, rich in natural salts and minerals, has 70 of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients dogs need.

Kelp’s benefits include: • Improved thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary gland health • Weight control • Skin allergy relief • Digestive system cleansing • Improved cardiac health • Longevity The Missing Link’s new Pet Kelp supplements make it easy to provide your dog with the benefits of this superfood! Their organic, limited-ingredient supplements pack kelp’s unique mix of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients into each teaspoon, along with non-GMO wellness ingredients like flaxseed, pumpkin, and glucosamine for radiant good health. Four easy-to-feed powder formulas, including canine Joint & Bone, Skin & Coat, Probiotics and Well-being, make it easy to fill the nutritional void that can be created by some commercial dog foods. Kelp to the rescue!

THE BEST GIFT GOING! Give a memorable gift and protect animals around the world this holiday season! World Animal Protection’s World Animal Gifts work to end the needless suffering of animals around the world, from dogs in developing communities to elephants in Africa. Choose the type of gift you’d like—you can provide necessary medicine and vaccinations for street dogs, for example, or feed hungry bears—then personalize an e-card announcing your gift, and you’re done! Perfect for the animal lover in your life, these donation gifts not only go a long way in helping our furry friends, they also show that special person in your life that you care. Gifts start at $21. Check out all the wonderful options at gifts.worldanimalprotection.ca.

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ARGOS SUBMITTED BY MICAH AND ARIC

Here’s Why You Should Give Your Dog Kelp

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PHOTO CARLOS CHIOSSONE

BODY & SOUL

MODERN DOG POLL QUESTION

DNA TEST REVEALS BREED MIX

And the results are in!

How many dogs would you ideally have?

CAST YOUR VOTE AT MODERNDOGMAGAZINE.COM

Cass, the marvellous mutt pictured above, and her person, Gabrielle KhanChiossone, were the winners of an Embark DNA testing kit (our Facebook Friday Freebies are AWESOME). Gabrielle provided a cheek swab from her dog Cass and we all sat back and eagerly awaited the results. Not only does the Embark DNA test indicate any genetic predispositions to certain diseases, letting you know if your dog is at risk, a carrier or clear, but it reveals the breeds that make up your dog's unique mix! Without further ado, Cass is….

39.0%

Miniature Pinscher

37.7%

Miniature Schnauzer

23.3%

Supermutt

Miniature Schnauzer we can totally see but Pinscher—what an interesting surprise!

And what is "Supermutt," you ask? Some dogs descend from other dogs that were themselves mixed breed. These other dogs can give small contributions to the ancestry of your dog, so small that they are no longer recognizable as any one particular breed. Embark calls this portion “Supermutt." We like to think it confers super powers. Interested in getting your dog tested? It costs $199 at embarkvet.com.

Find Out More With a single cheek swab, Embark DNA testing kits: • Provide advanced and accurate breed, disease, trait, and ancestry information • Test for over 160 canine genetic diseases including MDR1, degenerative myelopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, PRA blindness, and exercise-induced collapse • Are certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and partnered with Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine

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Too Cute!

MD ResuPoll lts

65%

of Modern Dog readers' dogs love presents!

SPECIAL PROMOTION

NATURAL DOG

Products to enhance a healthy canine lifestyle

WHIMZEES Natural Dental Chews for Dogs are gluten-free, vegetarian, and highly digestible, made with human-grade, limited natural ingredients. With sizes from XXS to XL, there’s a WHIMZEES for every dog! Their fun, knobby shapes—Hedgehogs, Alligators, Toothbrushes, Veggie Sausages—serve a purpose, promoting dental and oral health and removing dangerous plaque and tartar! Whimzees.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!

All Natural Goodwinol Shampoo is gentle enough for even six-week-old puppies and kittens! This safe and natural shampoo is made in the USA, contains a natural insecticide, and has a clean bright scent! goodwinol.com

Boot the Scoot! Leave your dog’s anal gland problems behind with Glandex. This all-natural supplement is recommended by thousands of vets, and works from the inside out to keep your pet’s anal glands healthy. Made in the USA with fiber, digestive enzymes, probiotics and more. Visit glandex.com and use promo code “moderndog” to save 10%!

Suitical's Dry Cooling vest protects your dog from overheating thanks to its patented design that will never become damp or wet! Fill the vest with water and it will immediately start cooling and stay cool for up to three days. For dogs who overheat this is a perfect year-round solution! suitical.com

Grain-Free Bear Crunch from Charlee Bear Products comes in three great flavours.

Made from simple, healthy ingredients and less than 3 calories per treat with irresistible taste and delightful crunch! charleebear.com

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A Love Letter or, My Dog's Journey to Become a Diamond

By Jennifer Nosek

I

can hardly write this without my eyes brimming. My little dog Rose. Where to begin? Her journey through this life was marred by unspeakable cruelty but we did our best to make up for her rough beginnings, that dark period before she came to us.

It was on Petfinder.com, the rescue-pet adoption site, that I first encountered my little angel. She wasn’t particularly dog-like, but rather more like a dazed teddy bear hamster masquerading as a Miniature Dachshund. Really, any and all descriptors other than “dog” might have been more accurate

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for my Rose. She was truly one of a kind.

I was distinctly not in the market for a second dog, but rather doing some self-directed searching on my mom’s behalf. She had just said goodbye to her heart-dog, Kaya, and I was determined to help her fill the void. (If there’s anything in this world harder than having to make the decision to let a loved one go with grace, I certainly don’t know what it is.)

It was during this online search that I saw Rose, captured in three unintentionally comic photos: one taken straight on, the other two identical profile shots, one of each side. With her

large, round eyes, undershot jaw, and rosebud tongue peaking out, she looked like a cartoon of a dog.

And then I read her story and knew I had to go get her.

Her history, pieced together by recountings relayed by rescue volunteers, went as so: a small-town rescue group received a call to come fetch a little dog that was being surrendered. When the dispatched volunteer arrived, the woman giving up the dog carried her out in a box from the back of the house. It was in this box that my poor little dog was constantly confined, secluded and caked in her own excrement, a mean cut on her delicate nose—this despite the presence of a perfectly well taken care of larger dog, which somehow makes it seem all the crueler; a Cinderella situation. The rescuer reported that the sorry little thing smelled so awful she could hardly bear their car ride back together.

My boyfriend at the time, a musician, was on tour, the last show of which was in Seattle, so I met him there and we journeyed to Yakima, Washington, where Rose was being fostered. There, sight unseen, we accepted this oddball little parcel of fur and headed for home. About 10 minutes in I thought to myself: what have I done? Cute as anything yes, but she was near completely unresponsive and a terrible smell issued from her mouth. (First order of business: a dental.)

If you set her down, she would simply walk without any discernible destination or motivation, like a wind up toy set in motion. Sure enough, this dog would prove an unanticipated challenge of unsuspected proportions. But what I didn’t know was how much I would come to love my entirely dependent little dog. I could never figure out if it was a combination

of neglect and isolation or a brain trauma caused by abuse suffered earlier in her life, but Rose was not like other dogs.

She had her pleasures though. She loved to be cuddled and dinnertime was when she really came alive. She looked to my dog Esther for cues and in our first years together, when she was more able-bodied, she’d follow me, albeit slowly—if I was to get up to get a coffee at the office, say, I’d encounter her half way to the kitchen upon my return. The thought makes me smile. She was the prettiest, purest of spirit being I have yet to encounter and it was my great fortune to get to witness and nurture my sweet and selfless little friend. Yes, my patience was tried a million times over—housetraining was really just an attempt to train myself—and she mostly needed to be carried, walking as she did at a literal snail’s pace.

And forget calling her—we were remarkably slow to realize she didn’t hear well at all—or was she just not processing the information correctly?

Still so many questions. But when I looked at her little trusting face in repose, my heart would melt. It’s been five months since her passing and I still have not brought myself to put away her dog bed. I wonder if I ever will.

The end was so very hard. Did I make her stay too long?

She was a senior when I first adopted her many, many moons ago, so at the end of her time here I sometimes felt she was as old as the universe itself. For certain, she was elderly, infirm, and so very tired, but in possession of that wonderful canine trait of just soldiering on. I hope I didn’t make her stay past when she wanted, though in hindsight I suspect I did.

And then I pause and think, I did the best I could; I wasn’t able to let her go one minute sooner. Though it’s nice to sleep

I imagine her flying around, freed from the tyrannies of her failing body, awaiting our next adventure.

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through the night now—so many, many nights up with my dog—I miss all the moments, even those. The weight of her wasted body as I carted her to work with me, her aimless wanders in the park, how she’d look to my other dog, Esther, for instruction, or the jaunty silk bandanna tied round her pretty neck, her body curled gratefully into her Westpaw bed.

All of it, I miss all of it. I know deep in my heart it was her time and then some, but that doesn’t really make it easier. It’s funny how you think you’re okay and then you go to pick up your dog’s ashes at the vet’s where you’ve left them sitting for months and promptly burst into tears.

We have many important relationships, of course, but the one you share with your dog goes deep… all those morning rambles, evenings curled on the couch. Few others do you spend that much time with. And so I thought deeply about how I’d like to remember my small friend, she who left such

a large hole in my heart. I considered many lovely options but it wasn’t until I came across Heart in Diamond, a company that makes memorial diamonds, that I knew I’d found exactly the right thing. You know when something just rings true for you? It seemed to capture the purity and brilliance of Rose’s spirit. And so I undertook the process to have her ashes and fur made into a diamond, a single small yellow one to wear in my left ear in a plain gold stud. I think Rose would be pleased. Now as before, I take her with me everywhere.

Though she’s not curled on her dog bed as I type this, she’s still one of the bright stars in my galaxy. I imagine her flying around, freed from the tyrannies of her failing body, awaiting our next adventure. Until we meet again my little friend, you are so deeply missed. n

Laptop & Rose

BECOMING A DIAMOND Heart In Diamond’s memorial diamonds are made from a deceased loved one’s hair or ashes. These lab-grown diamonds are guaranteed to be physically, chemically, and optically identical to earth-mined diamonds and come with a certificate of authenticity. Like other diamonds, they are also graded by the 4C’s (color, clarity, cut and carat). Colours range from white to orange, yellow-green, red, and blue. The

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intensity of the final colour (for example, a very pale yelloworange or a deep orange) will depend on the individual’s carbon chemical composition. The diamonds are grown through a process that combines extreme pressure (up to 60,000 atmospheres) and very high temperature (up to 2,500°C), which are the natural conditions for diamond formation. Depending on the ordered colour, the duration

From $39.99.

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/////////////

of the formation phase varies. Orange diamonds grow most quickly with this stage taking 13 days; white diamonds take the longest to grow, requiring about 46 days.

Once you’ve decided on size, cut, and colour, you send in your dog’s ashes or hair, and the process begins. You are updated by email throughout so you know exactly what step is being undertaken. To say my experience was lovely and a great comfort would be an understatement.

There happened to be another little dog named Laptop whose ashes were being turned into a diamond at around the same time as Rose. Heart in Diamond’s Claire McHan thought that, were it her, she’d like for her dog to go on this next adventure with a friend, so she emailed me to ask if I would like for Rose to have a companion in the process. With my assent, she contacted Laptop’s person, Kristi Hameedi, to see if she’d be willing to wait for Rose’s ashes to arrive so that the two dogs could undertake this next journey together.

Their ashes would remain separate but they’d go through

the formation process at the same time. Kristi readily agree, which made me teary eyed. I love thinking of Rose and Laptop on a journey together.

Like me, Kristi found a memorial diamond to be a perfect testament to the time she and her dog shared together.

“I wanted a piece of Laptop to remain with me,” Kristi shares. “She taught me so much, and was my heart. I wanted to honour her and the stoic journey she took out of this world. The number of times she rallied to spend one more day with me meant so much. Something shiny, bright, and built from her seemed the perfect tribute.” n Heart In Diamond memorial diamonds start at $750.

They offer a 0% interest plan allowing families to spread the cost over 6, 12 or 24 months. They also offer a bundle deal in case you want more than one diamond made. For example, if you order 4 of the smallest size diamond (all made from the same ashes), then the price is $295 per diamond. Find out more at heart-in-diamonds.com.

in rememberance Lovely ways to remember a best friend /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

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These ethereal memorial Ash Beads, with their planetlike colouration, seem both infinite and heavenly—a perfect tribute to a beloved dog. Each hand-made bead is created one at a time from the ashes of a loved one and special coloured silvered glass. An absolutely lovely wearable tribute that will keep your dog close to your heart.

From $117, ashbeads.com

Crystal Remembrance will create an absolutely lovely crystal tribute to your heart dog. Handcrafted from the finest tempered crystal, these commemorative pieces combine cremains with a swirl of your chosen colour to form a one of a kind work of glass art specifically in remembrance of your loved one. A beautiful alternative to a traditional urn. crystalremembrance.com

Eldoop Pet Urns are the perfect, personal tribute to a beloved dog. Using your photos and stories as inspiration, Eldoop creates custom, handmade urns specifically designed to reflect your love for your furry family member. eldoop.com

These one of a kind pendants from Robin’s Loving Touch featuring your dog’s unique nose print are a beautiful way to remember a cherished dog. Available in 14-karat gold, white gold, sterling silver or solid chrome, they’re personalized with the name and message of your choosing. robinslovingtouch.com

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Sleepypod is three-in-one perfection: it’s an everyday pet bed, a sleek and stylish carrier, and a safety-tested car seat. Ideal for dogs 15 pounds or less, the super-comfy interior offers the cozy retreat and personal security your pup deserves whether at home or travelling. $190, sleepypod.com

The Modern Dog office dogs love this bed! P.L.A.Y’s super-comfy Bamboo Lounge Bed is a chic addition to any dog-loving home. With artwork created exclusively for P.L.A.Y by San Francisco artist Alicia Pompel, this ultra-soft, cozy, and eco-friendly bed is perfect for the stylish dog who likes to curl up in a perfectly designed bed with elevated sides. (You can also get matching cushions in the same fabric for your couch!) $108, petplay.com

The perfect addition to your Christmas tree comes in the form of a Bulldog wearing a Nordic sweater. Handmade and hand-painted in Europe, this glass ornament will become a Christmas family favourite!

Loads of other breeds available too! $45, anythingdogs.com

Doggy Décor Current obsessions & must-haves

{Editor’s Choice} These heavenly 100% cotton round towels are designed to share! Snuggle up, use as a beach towel or picnic throw, protect your furniture—the uses of the “roundie” are endless! $100, growltowels.com {Editor’s Pick} Love your dog AND your couch?

SureFit’s beautiful furniture covers keep your couch damage and stain-free so you can enjoy worry-free couch cuddles! Made from soft and cozy poly-filled fabric, they’re designed to stay put on all upholstery materials—perfect for all couches and available in a range of colours!

From $95, surefit.com

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The Richell Freestanding Pet Gate gives you the freedom to place this dog gate anywhere you need to keep your pup out of—like the foot of the stairs, doorway to any room, or to block outside access. Beautiful hardwood construction makes it a welcome addition wherever it ends up! $210, richellusa.com

craft Gift Tags PET PROJECT

D.I.Y.

Just print and cut out!

Elevate your present wrapping with these supercute gift tags available in a whole ton of breed silhouettes! Half the fun of presents is the anticipation that beautiful presentation creates.

Make the gifts you give extra special this year with these cute tags!

TO:

To:

FROM:

From:

By Clara To

What you need: • a printer • 8.5" x 11" sheets of white paper or sticky label sheet • Scissors • Hole punch

We were feeling crafty over here and we LOVE presents (both the giving and receiving), so we created a whole bunch of super-cute breed-silhouette gift tags. We’ve got breeds galore represented (Seriously. Bedlington Terrier, anyone?). Just download your chosen templates, print them out on paper (or on a sticky label sheet if you prefer sticker tags), and then cut them out! Gifts, elevated!

Find them here:

moderndogmagazine.com/gift-tags

Make It! More Great D.I.Y.s

DOG BREED PRINTED TEA TOWEL

PUPPERMINT DOG TREATS

PAW PRINT ORNAMENT

Get the how-to: moderndogmagazine.com/

Find the recipe: moderndogmagazine.com/

Make this craft: moderndogmagazine.com/

breedteatowel

puppermint-treats

paw-print-ornaments

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PHOTO JOE LEDERER

Dennis Quaid bonds with Buddy.

N e e v v e o r L D e ies u r T Get out the tissues—the upcoming Hollywood adaptation of A Dog’s Purpose is set to be every bit as moving as the bestselling novel

By Darcy Matheson

I

magine, if you will, watching your beloved dog pass away (I know, bear with me), only to see her be reincarnated many times over as a new puppy, helping people along their life’s journey—until, finally, she finds her way back to you. Is there a more heart-string-tugging premise? We certainly don’t think so, and neither do dog-loving Hollywood heavyweights Dennis Quaid and Lasse Hallström. Mark your calendars; you’re not going to want to miss this movie...

Growing up in the suburbs of Houston, Texas, Dennis Quaid had a constant companion by his side: Gertrude, a Basset Hound his father brought home when the pup was two years old.

“She just became my shadow,” said the iconic actor, known for his roles in Wyatt Earp, The Big Easy, The Rookie, and the remake of The Parent Trap.

But the short-legged hound took on an even greater meaning in Quaid’s life after his parents divorced and he moved to a new neighbourhood.

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“Before I had friends on the block it was just me and Gertrude. She went everywhere with me,” he said, adding that once he was old enough to drive, the devoted pup would even listen for his Ford Fairlane to know when he was returning from high school.

“She could hear me from four blocks away and would go to the gate and wait. We went through a lot together,” he said.

Quaid is getting to relive that unconditional bond in his new film, A Dog’s Purpose.

Based on the 2010 New York Times bestselling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, the film follows a devoted dog as it is reincarnated many times as a new puppy. Along the way, the dog learns the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the many people he teaches to laugh and love.

In the multi-generational film, Quaid plays Ethan, the grown-up version of the boy who was absolutely inseparable from his red retriever, Bailey. In his case, the reincarnated dog finds his way back to him at a time when he is needed most.

PHOTOS RIGHT GRACE CHON

The canine stars of A Dog's Purpose

German Shepherd Shadow wears a handcrafted oiltanned leather dog collar from Ruff Puppies. This gorgeous southwestern style collar features turquoise and copper spots and chrome buckles! $110 (for size pictured), ruffpuppiescollars.com Golden Retriever Trip wears a handcrafted “Catalina” leather collar from Beverly Hills Collars’ featuring hand-dyed leather, brass hardware, gold-domed rivets, and emerald green Swarovski crystals! $85, beverlyhillscollars.com

Just as Quaid’s childhood Basset Hound eased the pain of his parents’ divorce, his character in the film finds comfort, companionship, and meaning through the pup that wanders onto his farm.

It’s a relationship Quaid believes every dog owner can relate to.

“They give us something to take care of when you get up in the morning. You protect them and they protect you.

You become very in touch with them,” he said. “It’s a twoway street.”

The film also follows Hannah, played by Britt Robertson— the teen who is enamoured with young Ethan.

Robertson, who recently starred alongside George Clooney in Tomorrowland and the Nicholas Sparks' adaptation The Longest Ride, said working with dogs comes naturally.

The North Carolinan grew up with "all kinds" of pets, including dogs, cats, hamsters, and even rats.

She says her own two rescue pups, Buddy and Clyde, helped her gain an even deeper connection with animals, and actually inspired her to sign onto the film.

"I have always loved animals but I have a bigger appreciation for their place on earth now. I really respect

animals and when I work with them I have a better understanding of their needs," she said.

"I loved being on the set with so many dogs. It kept the set and crew so light and fun."

Quaid agrees, saying having dogs on set improves the mood of a production, adding that working with dogs can sometimes be easier than working with humans.

“They’re always real,” he said. “There is no bad acting with a dog because they’re just being themselves. The dogs that we had were really great at that.”

Though the roles the dogs play in the film are vastly different—a street mutt, police sniffer dog, farm pup, and purebred—there is a common thread: Each one lives in the moment, and lives life to the fullest.

It’s a lesson that A Dog’s Purpose author W. Bruce Cameron, who co-wrote the film screenplay with his wife Cathryn Michon, hopes everyone takes away from watching the family-friendly story.

“A dog will have boundless joy and energy around everything you’re doing and is never concerned about just how short their lifespan is. We need to learn from that and live the way our dogs do. And just be happy,” he said. moderndogmagazine.com

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The film was shot last summer in Winnipeg, Canada, the set packed with dog lovers—and dogs. More than 70 were used in the film, including Quaid’s own French Bulldogs, Batman and Gidget, who were featured in a shelter scene with dozens of other animals.

The actor said watching his own pups put to work was an educational, if not highly entertaining, on-set experience.

“Batman likes to work. He really wants to have a purpose, but Gidget just likes to lay around and be adored,” he said, laughing.

Animal trainer Mark Forbes (see following page: What It’s Like to be a Hollywood Dog Trainer) moved to Winnipeg months before shooting to set up kennels and start training the dogs that would be used in the film.

The longtime Hollywood animal trainer credits the flexibility of the actors for helping the months of shooting go smoothly.

“If the actors needed to work with the dog before a certain sequence they were all on board with having the dogs tell the story,” said Forbes, who says one of his all-time favourite animal films to work on was Marley & Me. Indeed, the production team for A Dog’s Purpose was very careful with casting, to ensure everyone involved loved dogs and was comfortable working with them.

One of the biggest animal lovers on set was the film’s director, the Oscar-nominated Lasse Hallström, whose film credits include The Cider House Rules, Chocolat, The 100-Foot Journey, and Hachi: A Dog's Tale.

Hallström said the longer the actors and crew worked with the dogs on set, something unusual started happening: everyone got “sucked into” thinking about life from a dog’s perspective, and the film’s premise spilled out into real life.

“I can’t see a dog in the street now without thinking ‘what is he thinking?’” he remarks.

“I’m even more affectionate with stranger’s dogs—I’ve started thinking about their inner voices.”

The main narrative that runs through A Dog’s Purpose is the idea that the dogs we rescue can also rescue us. It speaks to the fact that the animals in our lives have a purpose much larger than just being our pet. Cameron says anyone who has had the joy of having a dog will understand.

“It has themes we all know are true: that true love never dies, and that our best friends are always there for us, if we just know where to look,” he said.

And if the book is any indication, you may want to bring some tissue to the theatre. It’s also a tearjerker.

“I bawled,” Quaid said of reading the novel.

“Even beyond dogs—it’s a story about unconditional love.

And there’s something very beautiful about that. n

A DOG'S PURPOSE will be released on January 27, 2017.

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Britt Robertson and K.J. Apa bike alongside Bailey.

Director Lasse Halstrom and canine star Trip on the set of A Dog's Purpose.

PHOTO JOE LEDERER; PHOTO © 2017 STORYTELLER DISTRIBUTION CO., LLC AND WALDEN MEDIA, LLC; Y

Juliet Rylance and Bryce Gheisar play with Bailey.

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Corgi Milo wears a beautiful and extremely durable vegan collar (particularly awesome for water dogs!) from Ella’s Lead. The vegan option is just one option—they make totally amazing, handmade and embellished custom leather dog collars too. ellaslead.com

I

f you think training your own dog is difficult, think about how hard it would be to train dozens of pooches at the same time.

That’s the daily reality for Mark Forbes, one of Hollywood’s most respected animal trainers, and the man responsible for the canine actors in A Dog’s Purpose.

Besides the four main dogs showcased in the film, there were three other “supporting canines,” and also puppy versions of each character.

“We used 28 or 29 dogs to play those characters, and then we had 50 to 70 background dogs. It was quite a menagerie,” Forbes said, laughing.

While the task of handling that many dogs would be daunting to most trainers, Forbes didn’t blink an eye. The head trainer for Birds & Animals Unlimited has worked on almost every major Hollywood animal movie in recent history, including Marley & Me, We Bought a Zoo, Eight Below, 101 Dalmatians, Hotel for Dogs, Dr. Dolittle, and Evan Almighty, which featured more than 150 species of animals in Steve Carrell’s ark.

Forbes worked primarily with the four animal characters in A Dog’s Purpose: Bailey, a red retriever, Ellie, a German Shepherd, Tino the Corgi, and Buddy, a Saint Bernard/Aussie Shepherd mix.

And out of those very different breeds, you may be surprised to hear which one caused him the most grief.

“The Corgis were actually great. We really had more problems

By Darcy Matheson Photographed by Grace Chon

with the Shepherds than anything else—and you would think it would be the opposite,” he said.

Part of that stems from the very different on-set challenges the dogs were tasked with, ranging from simply standing and wagging their tail to fetching a deflated football to saving people from highly explosive situations.

“We had a big sequence at a dam with vehicles going over us and raging water underneath and dogs working on steel platforms where they can see the water—so that workload is much more challenging,” he said.

A big part of Forbes job on the set of A Dog’s Purpose was “going with the flow” when director Lasse Hallström wanted to change direction on the fly. It can literally mean teaching an old dog new tricks, and being able to have the animal ready to be on camera straightaway.

“You have the script months in advance so it becomes a challenge when you’re suddenly asking the dog to do something he’s not prepared for,” said Forbes.

But Halstrom said Forbes rose to the occasion in a film where there were a lot of last-minute decisions and improvising.

“If it wasn’t scripted, it took him about five minutes to train the dogs. It was incredible to watch,” Halstrom said.

Actress Britt Robertson said unlike many trainers, Forbes would allow the actors and crew to spend time with the pooches between takes. She called the experience "amazing."

Pooches for A Dog’s Purpose were plucked from shelters, rescues, and breeders across North America.

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PHOTO GRACE CHON

Going To The Dogs: What It’s Like To Be A Hollywood Dog Trainer

"The dogs worked a lot so whenever we would all have downtime then I would just hangout with them, cuddle, and help keep them relaxed," she says. "I was spoiling them in the best way."

Not only does Forbes train the dogs that will appear on camera, he also finds them. Pooches for A Dog’s Purpose were plucked from shelters, rescues, and breeders across North America, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the Midwest. With the exception of the character Buddy, the Australian Shepherd/Saint Bernard, all the dogs in A Dog’s Purpose were acquired and trained from scratch.

He estimates 70 to 75 percent of the dogs and cats he uses in films come from shelters and pounds.

Next up for Forbes is a remake of Benji, the beloved 1974 film classic about a scrappy and fearless stray dog that springs into action to save kidnapped children.

And just as the original Benji was a terrier-cross with mixed ancestry, the new Benji will also be a lovable mutt—Forbes found his star in a local shelter in Virginia, “brought in as a stray that was found in the parking lot of a grocery store,” he proudly notes, adding that through his work he has become a huge advocate for animal rescue.

“In my experience shelter dogs are easier to train—and I think a lot of them appreciate being rescued,” he said. “It’s a win-win.” n

Hollywood dog trainer Mark Forbes on set with St. Bernard Bolt.

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BREED PROFILE

The Brittany

A member of the sporting group, the Brittany is high energy, medium sized, and fun loving!

PHOTO ©AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB

By Kelly Caldwell

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G, SPORATRINT, SM NG LOVI

W

ith his bold and striking coat, soft eyes, and muscular leggy form, the Brittany isn’t exactly your average spaniel. He’s a sight to behold and a joy to live with. Where did this elegant dog come from?

In paintings and tapestries dating as far back as the 17th century, we can see liver and white coloured pointing dogs that resemble today’s Brittany. Certainly, the breed’s most notable stage of development occurred in the 1800s, when English nobles travelled to the Brittany region of France (hence the breed’s name) to hunt woodcock. Naturally, they brought their hunting dogs, a variety of pointers and setters, and at the end of hunting season many of these dogs were left with local families. Matings between these various sporting breeds were key to the breed’s development and laid the foundation for today’s Brittany, which many consider to be the most gifted gundog of them all. Obviously, the designation is subject of fierce debate!

In 1934, the American Kennel Club (AKC) adopted a standard for the Brittany Spaniel, but later dropped the “spaniel” part of the name, which may lead you to ask, “Wait… isn’t he a spaniel?” Most countries have dropped the reference because this breed does not flush, but rather points to its game. As a result, the Brittany doesn’t compete against spaniels in field trials or other shows that are limited to spaniels.

As for looks, the AKC accepts the breed in orange and white or liver and white coat colours, and with either clear or roan (an even mixture of white and pigmented hairs) patterns. Some ticking (flecks or spots of colour on white

areas) is desirable, and washed-out colours are discouraged.

Ranging from 30 to 40 pounds, the Brittany may be the perfect size for the person who wants a hard-working field dog, but in a smaller package than a pointer or retriever.

The AKC standard emphasizes proportions and height, noting that the Brittany is so leggy that his height at shoulder-level is equal to the length of his body. He’s According to the most recent considerably smaller than AKC registration statistics setters and pointers, but [1] Labrador Retriever leggier than other spaniels.

[2] German Shepherd Dog All in all, the look is unique, [3] Golden Retriever and very striking and [4] Bulldog elegant.

[5] Beagle He’s not just a pretty [6] French Bulldog face, though. The Brittany [7] Yorkshire Terrier is absolutely packed with [8] Poodle personality. “Soft” is a word [9] Rottweiler that tends to come up over [10] Boxer and over when talking about [26] Brittany this breed. He’s a sensitive dog by nature, and harsh looks or raised voices will have a strong, negative impact on him. He wants to be with his family, so leaving a Brittany alone for extended periods of time won’t end well. Doing so may lead to separation anxiety or destructive behaviour—or both. He’s tough in the field, but gentle and doting in the home. Notoriously patient with other pets and children, the

Most Popular Dogs in the U.S.

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Ranging from 30 to 40 pounds, the Brittany may be perfect for the person who wants a hard-working field dog, but in a smaller package than a pointer or retriever.

Size: Medium According to the AKC standard, the Brittany should weigh between 30 and 40 pounds, and measure between 17.5 and 20.5 inches at the highest point of the shoulders.

Activity level: Simple walks around the block or a quick game of Fetch aren’t enough. The Brittany is a high-energy, task-oriented dog. If you’re an athlete, you may have found the right dog.

Grooming: That beautiful, wavy short coat isn’t hard to keep looking terrific.

Regular brushing will keep out mats and reduce shedding.

Heritage: Hunting Dog Developed in France to serve as a medium-sized gundog who could also wear the hat of family companion.

If you like the Brittany, you might also give some consideration to the:

For info on Brittany rescue in the U.S. and Canada, visit nbran.org.

READ YOUR BREED

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

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Welsh Springer Spaniel

English Springer Spaniel

Irish Red-andWhite Setter

INSET IMAGES ©AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB

Profile: The Brittany

Brittany, simply put, has a lot of love to give.

That sensitive temperament also speaks to the need for early socialization with other pets and people. This will help the Brittany overcome any shyness. Puppy kindergarten and early training classes are a must, but they’ll be a joy because—guess what—this dog is smart. Very smart.

Heightened intelligence in dogs is wonderful, but it does mean that training is a must. With his soft temperament, the Brittany will thrive only with positive-oriented training. Firm and consistent guidelines are critical—but harshness is an absolute no-no.

That training will pay off, and not just with basic good manners around the home. Want do you want to do with your dog? Name it, the Brittany—bright, fun loving, enthusiastic— is an up-for-anything breed and can likely tag along and partake in whatever it is you’re up to because these dogs love to be busy. Smart, sporting—they love to run and need daily mental and physical exertion to thrive. Yes, the Brittany needs a job. What job? Choose one. Though this breed’s heritage is hunting, take your pick of other activities. Obedience, agility, flyball… you name it, the Brittany can do it all, and this versatile dog will have a blast doing it.

Caring for a Brittany isn’t overly complex. With his short, dense, coat, weekly brushing will suffice, and he’s considered a healthy and hearty breed.

Alert, intelligent, and loving, the Brittany has conquered the field, but rest assured he’ll also rule the hearts in his family home. n

PET PROJECT

eat D.I.Y.

Delish Dog Treats You Can Make at Home!

Yummers! Whip up these tasty, healthy winter treats for your deserving dog

By Lucy Postins, founder of The Honest Kitchen pet food company & author of the awesome new book Dog Obsessed*

These treats are quick and easy to make and are a great choice if your pup has sensitivities to gluten and common grains. Quinoa is technically a seed, not a true grain, and it’s not used in most pet foods. Makes 12 to 18 burgers.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

•

2 cups uncooked instant quinoa

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a baking sheet.

•

1⁄2 cup canned (unsweetened) or fresh cooked

2. In a medium bowl, combine the quinoa and pumpkin.

Add the beef, parsley, and egg. Mix until well blended.

pumpkin •

3⁄4 cup ground beef

•

2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

•

1 free-range egg

The Dog Obsessed Aren’t Surprised to Hear That…

As if we needed further proof that our dogs love to be with us at all times, a recent neuroimaging study conducted by scientists at Emory University showed that, when presented with a variety of smells, a dog favours his owner’s scent above all others. And not only that, but his brain lights up, with neurons firing like lights on a pinball machine, when he smells it. What does that tell you? If you want a happy dog, take him everywhere!

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3. Use your hands or two spoons to shape the mixture into balls of a size appropriate for your dog. Place each on the baking sheet and gently flatten into “burgers.”

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until slightly golden on the outside, but soft in the middle. Cool before serving.

These treats can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week.

For tons more easy recipes your dog will LOVE plus helpful and fun tips on everything from how to manage your dog’s personality quirks to vet-approved health tips, check out Lucy’s new book Dog Obsessed, the perfect resource for those of us who adore our dogs.

DUDLEY SUBMITTED BY ANNEKA WINDSOR

Beef, Pumpkin & Quinoa Burgers

yum! dogs love these!

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Keep your dog’s long ears out of his food with a Buster IncrediBowl! This innovatively designed food dish has a narrower opening that allows your dog’s snout to enter, but keeps his ears comfortably out of the bowl. The genius result? A tidier dinnertime and a dog that doesn't smell like his dinner! $15, kruuse247.com

Look

The X-Tire Balls from Pet Qwerks are rugged toys molded from a pair of interlocked small tires—easy to roll and retrieve—with endless fun to be had thanks to the enclosed jingle bells, flashing lights, or animal sounds (elephant, rooster, goat, and more)—choose the option that stokes your dog for super-durable play! From $8, petqwerks.com

WHAT WE FOUND! Nifty finds for dogs & the people who love them

This awesome all-in-one clicker-training package from Dog Gone Good Clicker Company includes a Treat n Tug Frisbee Flyer, three styles of clickers and wrist coils, and all kinds of convenience to make your dog-training regimen a success! You can even personalize them with your dog’s name! $50, doggonegoodclickercompany.com

Love this! The Fluff & Tuff Edsel Elephant toy is durable, ultra-plush, and crazy cute! Double stitched seams, thick mesh inner lining and a squeaker (which conveniently does not sound like an elephant’s trumpet) make it a playtime favourite! $25, petstuff.com

How cute is this is this handcrafted vest featuring a denim backpack designed?

This Mister Migs design allows your pup to carry his own treats or toys and look good doing it! $65, mistermigs.com

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Now for ALL ball-crazy dogs! The GoDogGo fetch machine now comes in a Junior model for smaller breeds! With remote or dog-controlled play and adjustable launch distance, you can use this automatic ball launcher indoors or out for nonstop fun! $140, godoggoinc.com

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TRAINING

DOES YOUR DOG PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOU SPEAK?

By Nicole Wilde

I

Here’s why you should not talk to your dog on your next walk

want you to imagine two friends. Let’s call the first one Cathy. You like Cathy well enough, but whenever you’re together, Cathy likes to talk. And talk. And talk.

Sometimes you wonder if you even need to participate in the conversation at all. Then there’s Fran. When Fran speaks, she has something to say. Her words may not be plentiful, but they’re thoughtful. Between Cathy and Fran, whom do you pay more attention to? Chances are, Cathy’s constant stream of consciousness begins to flow past as you pick out words and ideas here and there, while Fran’s more meaningful utterances take solid root in your mind.

When it comes to speaking to your dog, are you a Chatty Cathy or a Focused Fran? As a professional trainer, I have seen way too many people chatter on and on to their dogs, sometimes almost incessantly. As for the dogs’ understanding any of it, it makes me think of that old Peanuts cartoon where Charlie Brown hears the teacher’s voice only as “Wah-wahWAH-wah.” Our poor dogs! We teach them the meaning of words like, “Sit,” “Stay,” “Wait” and so on, and then we drown those cues in a sea of meaningless words that makes picking out the salient one almost impossible. And then we get frustrated when our dogs don’t listen.

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Cathy and Fran are at opposite ends of the spectrum; most people fall somewhere in between in how they relate to their dogs. What about you? The next time you take a walk with your dogs, try this: Talk to your dogs only when giving them directions. Your speech need not be limited to traditional obedience cues such as those mentioned above. For example, if, when you plan to go left you normally use a phrase such as, “This way,” that’s fine. What you shouldn’t do is inquire, “Did you find something good to sniff?” or opine, “Oh, look how cute you are!” (Okay, that last one can be difficult, I know!) If you’ve never tried this type of challenge, you might be surprised at how difficult it can be. But it’s worthwhile; being sparing with your words will result in a dog who is much more tuned in to you when you do speak.

A while back, I did an experiment with my own dogs, Sierra and Bodhi. I’d previously taught them a number of tricks using verbal cues paired with hand signals. (I could have taught them to respond to one or the other separately but frankly, it wasn’t that important to me.) I asked each dog for “Spin,” “Bow,” “Head down” and “Go to your mark.” I first requested the behaviour by using words only, being careful not to give away any clues with my body, face or eyes. Next, I tried cueing only

Our poor dogs! We teach them the meaning of words like, “Sit,” “Stay,” “Wait” and so on, and then we drown those cues in a sea of meaningless words that makes picking out the salient one almost impossible.

with the hand signal. My results? Neither dog responded to the verbal cues alone. In fact, Bodhi looked at me as though I’d sprouted antlers. With the hand signals, both dogs performed much better. The findings in my own little experiment are consistent with what I already knew: dogs are much more keyed in to our body language than they are to our words.

Dogs observe our body language so much more than we realize. They seem to know before we even tell them which direction we’re planning to walk. They notice what we’re looking at by following our gaze. They can read our smallest gestures. It’s not that dogs don’t respond to our words. Of course they do. But taking a break from rambling chatter makes you realize two things: one, just how useful body language cues can be in instructing your dog and, two, it is much, much easier for a dog to focus on a verbal cue such as “Come!” when it’s not floating amid a sea of other words, as in, “I need you to come right now!” or, worse, when our desire is expressed as a phrase that doesn’t even contain the conditioned word, as in, “Get over here right now!”

I challenge you to try the Focused Walk experiment.

Remember, no talking to your dogs except when using instructive cues they already know, and when you do use them, say only those words without burying them in surrounding chatter. You might be surprised at how much more focused on you your dogs will be when you do speak. Maybe you’ll even be inspired to incorporate this newfound focus into your everyday life with your dog.

Nicole Wilde is an award-winning author of ten books on canine behaviour. Her books, seminar DVDs, and Wilde About Dog blog can be found at nicolewilde.com.

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Connie’s Book Club Left to right, from Unconditional: Older Dogs, Deeper Love; Neville Jacobs: I'm Marc's Dog

Curl up with a good dog and a good book

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

Unconditional: Older Dogs, Deeper Love

By Jane Sobel Klonsky If, like us, you have a serious soft spot for old dogs, you’re going to love this book. Jane Sobel Klonsky travelled the U.S. on a singular mission: to document the love between people and their aging dogs. She hands-down succeeds in beautifully capturing the deep bond between beloved dogs in their twilight years and the people who love them. This heartwarming book will definitely leave a smile on your face and make you want to go hug your golden oldie.

Sashi and the Puppy Mill Girl

By Linda Greiner; Illustrated by Morgan Spicer Children will love this tale of overcoming odds. Sashi and the Puppy Mill Girl is a beautifully illustrated children’s book with a sweet story at its center: Cinnamon, a rescued Sheltie who spent her entire life in a cage, has to learn the ropes of being a dog—from how to socialize with dogs to learning to trust humans again. Luckily, her two foster siblings are there to teach her all the best aspects of dog life, namely tasty hot dogs, cuddles, and chasing squirrels. A must read for kids that imparts a great lesson!

Dog Training The American Male

By L.A. Knight Ventriloquism, love gurus, and dog ownership—we're guessing these are three things you probably didn’t realize went hand in hand. Neither did Nancy and Jacob, the couple at the center of the hilarious Dog Training The American Male, until their lives intersected. When the honeymoon stage of their relationship abruptly ends, Jacob buys a dog to mend things. Does it work? No. But Nancy soon realizes that the dog-training techniques are just as applicable on Jacob. You’ll fly through this book, laughing and very likely nodding in assent!

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Dog Obsessed

By Lucy Postins Do you buy your dog Christmas presents? Is your phone filled with photos of your dog? If you’re like us, the answer is yes, in which case, we have the book for you! In Dog Obsessed, Lucy Postins, founder of The Honest Kitchen pet food company, shares her secrets for taking the very best care of your dog. Packed with humourous and helpful advice, it features 50 easy-to-prepare recipes for treats, plus feel-good photos, stories, and illustrations, and a foreword by actress and comedienne Jane Lynch. With vet-approved health tips designed to troubleshoot common issues, advice on how to manage your dog’s unique personality quirks, and make-at-home dog games, this book is set to become your new best friend—next to your dog, of course! Turn to page 102 for one of Lucy’s recipes featured in this issue.

From Neville Jacobs: I'm Marc's Dog

I'm Marc's Dog

By Neville Jacobs If you love dogs and fashion, I’m Marc’s Dog is the book for you! In a series of super-fun candid photos, it chronicles Bull Terrier Neville Jacobs’ life as designer Marc Jacob’s dog. We get to follow Neville from his days as a pup learning the ropes in the fashion world through to his status as a bonafide canine star, making new (and famous) friends (Kendall Jenner!

Karlie Kloss!), starring in his own photo shoot, and taking time outs with his French Bulldog BFF. Packed with intimate shots of Neville’s journey as he becomes a beloved dog in the fashion world, cavorting with stars and models, I’m Marc’s Dog is an entertaining behind-thescenes peek in the fashion world via this terrier cutie. What fun!

Love, Laugh, Woof

By Lynn Stacy-Smith Part memoir, part guide to being a compassionate dog owner, Live, Laugh, Woof offers a look into what makes a good dog owner and how to become one. Author Lynn Stacy-Smith’s shares her lifelong love of dogs, relating moving tributes and adventures that beautifully illustrate the impact each dog has had on her life. Through anecdotes and instruction, Smith demonstrates her own philosophy in dog care, combining memory and technique to wonderfully bring together what it means to build a bond with the dog you love.

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The Pit Bull Life: A Dog Lover’s Companion

By Deirdre Franklin and Linda Lombardi With BSL (breed specific legislation) in the news lately due to the awful and illconsidered Montreal Pit Bull ban, this wonderful book could not be better timed. The Pit Bull Life is a comprehensive resource that breaks down the stigmas and misinformation surrounding Pit Bulls and brings light to the incredible dogs they are. A perfect guide for bully breed lovers or those looking to adopt a sweet Pit into their life, it combines education and advice for an all-encompassing look at these often misunderstood dogs. Paired with adorable images, this mustread gives Pitties the voice they need and the understanding they deserve. If you love Pit Bulls, you need this book!

Darling, I Love You: Poems from the Hearts of Our Glorious Mutts

By Daniel Ladinsky; Illustrated by Patrick McDonnell This lovely, moving book is simply a delight, paring internationally acclaimed poet Daniel Ladinsky’s short verse with Patrick McDonnell’s inspired illustrations. Patrick’s line drawings of the Mutts characters we know and love, coupled with Daniel’s haiku (“your heart and my heart are very, very old friends”), inspire wonder and make you want to slow down and go pat your dog. This sweet and beautiful book would make an absolutely wonderful gift for yourself or a loved one.

P H O T O P A U L I N E P E R E Z @THE. F L U F F Y . D U O

SPIRIT LIFTER

Blind Dog Knows Where To Go Thanks To His Best Friend Together there’s nothing this fluffy duo can’t do!

By Rebekah Chotem

Y

ou’re no doubt familiar with guide dogs for visually impaired people, but have you ever met a guide dog for a visually impaired dog? Well you’re about to! Meet Zen and Hoshi, a fluffy duo who are totally inseparable—and impossibly cute.

At the age of eleven, Hoshi, an American Eskimo, had to have both eyes removed due to glaucoma. Adjusting to his new life without sight was very difficult for him, as was dealing with the pain. Hoshi was understandably unhappy; there were times when his family thought he just wouldn’t make it.

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Luckily, just six months before, Hoshi’s owners—Pauline Perez and her boyfriend, Dennis Nel—had adopted Zen, a special needs Pomerian who turned out to be just what Hoshi needed. Zen, too, had faced hardships in life. The tiny dog had been found dirty and matted, wandering the streets of Spokane, Washington. He had a litany of serious health complaints, from pulmonary edema to a mouthful of really bad teeth, but that didn’t stop Pauline from falling in love.

Pauline was instantly smitten with the all-smiles Pomeranian but was worried about how Hoshi would react when he was already going through so much. Turns out, the two were

P H O T O P A U L I N E P E R E Z @THE. F L U F F Y . D U O

Best Freinds Forever:

Zen and Hoshi are inseparable

just what each other needed!

Hoshi quickly made Zen feel at home, and Zen became Hoshi’s very own guide dog post surgery. Zen just seems to know Hoshi needs his help and is always by his side—the two are inseparable. When they’re out for walks, Pauline tethers the two dogs together and Zen leads the way, ensuring Hoshi stays in the middle of the path for safety—but even if not leashed together, Zen walks by Hoshi’s side. Truly, “Zen has enabled Hoshi to experience life,” says Pauline. Now, the two can be found palling around the dog park, posing beside waterfalls, braving the seas in kayaks, and generating awwws across the Internet, because together there’s nothing these two can’t do! Follow these break-yourheart-cute pooches on Instagram (@the.fluffy.duo) or on Facebook.

Trust us, you’ll be glad you did. n

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Must-haves for you & your dog

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LAST LICK

When Death Comes as a Surprise Making sense of unexpected loss is hard for us all— but for an animal communicator, it’s even harder

By Cindy Brody

A

s an animal communicator, I often work with animals that are sick and sometimes dying. It is an aspect of my work that I love.

Oftentimes a dog that is getting ready to die will have so much to say to his people. He will give last minute advice on what his beloved two-legged mom and dad need to work on—mom needs to start painting again, dad needs to make more time for exercise, don’t worry so much about the kids—these are things I hear so often from dogs that are leaving us.

But other times it seems like death comes without a warning and these are the passings that are so hard for us to except. Last spring I had a dog come to my office with his family. He was suffering from severe back pain and was under the care of a wonderful veterinarian. His mom brought him to me to see if I could help. He was a funny little guy even though he was in pain.

He spoke about his family and it was clear how much he cared for them and how much they loved him. He was a part of the heartbeat of the family. He was very attached to his mom, as she was to him.

I worked very gently with him and taught his family what they could do to help him. They were great students and I could see they would bring comfort to their boy. It was a lovely session. I asked them to bring him back in a week for a follow up.

The next week came and when they brought their sweet little guy to me he was feeling so much better. He walked around with a bright eye. I loved this little dog with his big dog attitude. He spoke of his family and was, as always, very much in tune with them. I breathed a sigh of relief that it looked like he had a good life ahead of him.

I gave his mom more instruction on how to help him with his back and hoped someday she would come and study with me.

He never once said to me he felt like he was dying, but he was to leave us shortly.

When I found out about his passing I wondered how I could have missed it. I replay the sessions in my mind and I see a little dog feeling better on his second visit. So I sat back and meditated on this story and I think I have some peace of mind

120 moderndog

WINTER 2016/ 17

about it now.

Dogs live in the moment and when they are feeling good they don’t worry about tomorrow, unlike us humans. Maybe he didn’t want to burden his family.

As I reflect back, he really did have messages for everyone in his family, just as other dogs do in their final days—he just didn’t appear to be as sick or in as much pain as most dogs who are getting ready to pass over the Rainbow Bridge.

My job is to help ease suffering and I think we were successful with easing this dog’s pain and making his last days a little better. As I send energy through a client’s body it is always for the greater good.

And sometimes that greater good is the ending of suffering and the great release into the heavens.

I do believe our animals are angels sent to help us navigate through this beautiful but sometimes brutal world. I give thanks every day for the love that they bring to their families and to me.

Sometimes, though not very often, I’ll lose a client and it is a surprise, but it’s best to trust in the law of nature and God’s will.

When it is our time to go, it may come without warning.

I recently spoke with an animal that crossed over and she said it was brilliant! She said she was twirling through the air with her sister who had left a couple of months earlier. The vision was so beautiful and it was so much like my own near death experience. It was like wisps of fog swirling together, or snow whirling with the wind through an open field.

We fear death, our own and our loved ones’, more than anything. But because I’m very good at talking with those who have crossed over, it’s clear to me that thoughts are energy and energy never dies. Death is a great release for a soul, but painful for those of us left behind. I feel very certain that we will all be joined again in energy and thought forms with our loved ones, whether you call it heaven or another realm.

I believe our energy lives on and that our angels watch over us as we walk this earth. If we are lucky enough, our heart dogs will be returned to us in this life—yes, I believe in dog reincarnation—but if not in this lifetime then certainly in the great beyond. n