http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H_xEn2NK6c&feature=player_embedded
What a dog does when it’s cold
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Dr. Ian Dunbar seminar in Toronto
André Hurtubise, Dr. Ian Dunbar & Chantal Mills
André and I recently attended a three day seminar all about puppies, given by Dr. Ian Dunbar.. What an experience! Dr. Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviourist and dog trainer. He is also a really funny, interesting and fascinating man who has a lot of great information to share.
André and I learned a lot during this conference and have already started making changes in our Puppy Kindergarten curriculum. The biggest change is that we will be offering a Puppy I class, for dogs 15 weeks old and under, and a Puppy II class, for dogs that are between 15 and 20 weeks old.
Our puppy classes will still be ongoing, which means that you can start any time. There is currently a Tuesday evening class, a Saturday morning class and a Sunday afternoon class. Those will all be Puppy II classes. We will be adding a Puppy I class Mondays and possibly Saturday afternoons. Keep your eye on the website, as changes will be coming soon!
Relinquishment
Animal shelters are filled with dogs that are waiting for new homes. Many of those adoptables have been surrendered by their owners. I’ve always been interested in the factors that contribute to relinquishment. What makes someone decide that they just can’t keep their dog?
According to a study by Patronek et al, the main factor is “not participating in dog obedience classes after acquisition”. That makes a lot of sense to me, but I’m a dog trainer! Of course I believe in training! There must be other factors, since I know many adopted dogs that have obviously had training.
The study indicates that relinquishment is caused by a combination of factors, predominantly behavioral and physical. (Kidd, Kidd, & George, 1992; Miller, Staats, Partlo, & Rada, 1996;Patronek, Glickman, Beck, McCabe, & Ecker, 1996a, 1996b; Salman et al.,1998). Dogs that require a lot of care, and dogs that do not get enough veterinary care are at risk. I have heard many chilling stories of sick dogs being abandoned. The story that now comes to mind is one of an owner who was at the end of his rope with a very sick dog. He opened his front door to let the dog out, closed it, and never looked back. The dog was later found, near death. The dog’s owner could not be found, and in the end, this dog was adopted and now leads a happy, healthy life thanks not only to loving owners, but frequent trips to the vet and proper care.
Other factors linked to owners surrendering their dogs are:
- owning a sexually intact dog
- inappropriate care expectations
- dogs having daily or weekly inappropriate elimination
Relinquishment is not associated with the degree of planning done prior to getting the dog. Whether you have done hours of research or decide to get a dog on a whim, your dog is not at greater or lesser risk of being “returned”.
Basic training is important, good veterinary care is crucial and appropriate expectations are key. Taking your dog to a Basic Obedience class (at the Ottawa Canine School!) can make your life with your dog much more pleasant.
I learned recently at a conference that most dogs are relinquished when they are between 6 and 10 months old. I know this is a challenging time as a pet owner as I hear my clients tell me all about it. I also know that patience and training pay off, and that if you can make it through the “doggy teenage months’, then you are going to reap the rewards
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Traumeel
I’ve recently discovered Traumeel and if you haven’t heard of it, then let me share the discovery (and hope you never have to use it…)
What is it? It’s a natural anti-inflammatory analgesic that can be used on dogs as well as people.
Where do you get it? I found some at the pharmacy and have been told that you can get it in the “natural” section in some grocery stores.
What does it look like? It comes in a gel, a cream and in pill form. I’ve tried both the gel and the cream on my dog, and prefer the gel because it’s clear and seems to be easier to apply.
Why would you need it? It can help with sprains, injuries, bruises or can be used to ease post-surgery pain.
Unfortunately, I was introduced to Traumeel after my sweet Great Dane was kicked repeatedly by a big burly man who was afraid of him. Thankfully, Hemi has almost fully recovered, thanks to some good massage therapy and frequent applications of Traumeel. It really helped.
My husband, who has been rebuilding our fence ALL SUMMER also used Traumeel and confirms that it eases the pain.
Nosey Dog Workshop
At the CAPPDT conference in May, I had the opportunity to learn more about scent work and see John Wade’s Nosey Dog Workshop. It was definitely a highlight of the conference. I knew that this was something I was going to do once back in Ottawa. And sure enough, we are now offering the Nosey Dog Scent Class. One class starts tonight, and another on Sunday.
Below is a picture taken at the conference. That’s me in black, sitting on the floor in the very front row. Keener 
URBAN AGILITY is BAAAACK!!
Our outdoor Urban Agility is back!!
Classes start this weekend.
We meet at the Ottawa Canine School 425 St. Laurent, then head outside to the park nearby.
Urban Agility incorporates traditional agility equipment like the tunnel and jumps, but also takes advantage of what the parks have to offer: benches, trees to weave through, large rocks, etc.
You can sign up online on the website: www.ottawak9school.com under Lessons & Classes, Urban Agility
OR you can sign up in person before the classes begin.
You will need comfortable shoes, water for you and your dog, a regular leash and collar (no retractable leads). Be prepared to have a lot of outdoor fun!
COCOA MULCH ALERT
This article is from Dogs in Canada http://www.dogsincanada.com/cocoa-mulch
Cocoa mulch
June 14, 2011, By Jeff Grognet, D.V.M., ARTICLE, HEALTH
At least one anecdotal report of a young Labrador Retriever that vomited after he ate cocoa mulch has been circulating on the Internet. The next day, he had a seizure and died. The story can’t be verified, but it has drawn questions about the toxicity of this material.
Cocoa mulch is used as a decorative topping in gardens. It is preferred over other types of mulch because it lasts longer, gets darker with age and provides nutrients to plants. It also reportedly retains moisture better then regular mulch, and is an excellent insulator for root systems in both winter and summer. In addition, if it is sprayed after application, the shells curl and interlock, preventing the mulch from being blown away.
To put it in perspective, the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center reported 16 calls about single exposures to cocoa mulch in 2004 and 2005. None resulted in death.
The problem with cocoa beans is that they can contain methylxanthines such as theobromine and caffeine. Old data suggests that processed cocoa bean shell mulch can contain 0.19- to 2.98-per-cent theobromine. Current processing technology now results in lower chemical residues. Unfortunately, the actual amount that’s needed to cause toxicity is not known.
A dog that consumes cocoa bean shell mulch can develop signs similar to chocolate poisoning. This can mean vomiting and muscle tremors. If larger amounts are ingested, anecdotal evidence suggests that you may see tachycardia (a high heart rate), hyperactivity and diarrhea.
The Internet story suggests that the dog, ‘Calypso,’ vomited after ingesting the mulch. Yet, the dog recovered, was normal overnight and went for a morning walk, where it died after a seizure. The vomiting is consistent with poisoning, but to have no clinical signs until the next day, then die after a single seizure, is suspicious.
If a dog is poisoned with methylxanthines, we would expect a progression of signs. After vomiting, the dog would start trembling, the heart rate would rise, and this could progress to seizures only if the dose were very high. Death would be very uncommon. Calypso likely had an underlying condition that caused death (and likely the seizure as well).
A second concern not often brought up is that cocoa bean hulls may contain pesticides. These organochlorines and organophosphates are not licensed in Canada, but can be found in Central and South America where the cocoa beans are grown. If the mulch is composted before application, the pesticide denatures, reducing this hazard.
A multi-published writer, Jeff Grognet, D.V.M., B.Sc.(Agr.), runs a veterinary practice in Qualicum Beach, B.C., along with his wife, Louise Janes, D.V.M.
