First class passengers would have participated in an informal dog show on RMS Titanic on 12th April 1915 if the ship had not gone down. Quite a number of dogs were on board and a few survived.
Since the first lifeboats to be launched were not full, no one objected to dogs being carried in them. It is recorded that a Pomeranian belonging to Elizabeth Barrett Rothschild, 54, wife of leather magnate Martin Rothschild was lucky. Martin went down with the ship but Elizabeth and her pet survived. They were on the lifeboat 6.
Margaret Hays, 24, travelling alone, managed to carry her Pomeranian to Lifeboat 7.
Henry Sleeper Harper of the publishing company, 48, and his Pekinese went to the Lifeboat 3 and managed to escape unharmed.
As for the other dogs they drowned like their owners even though someone took pity on the dogs and let them out of their kennels, unable to bear the thought of them drowning while being trapped in there.
A canary, it would seem, also survived to the sinking!
Ann Isham, 50, refused to enter in the lifeboat without her large Great Dane. She was found in the water two days after the sinking of the ship embracing her dog.
One dog however was a real hero! The first officers large black Newfoundland, Rigel, stayed behind with the ship. He treaded the icy waters after the sinking, desperate to find his master. At the same time, the SS Carpathia was speeding to the scene to search for survivors. In the darkness, no one saw that a lifeboat was in its path and the passengers were too weak to shout or signal their presence. Reports say Rigel swam between the lifeboat and the SS Carpathia, barking continuously. Finally, the Captain heard Rigel and ordered to stop all engines. The dog swam in front of the lifeboat and guided it to safety. Once on board, Rigel seemed physically unaffected by his ordeal. He stood with paws on the rail barking in futility for his lost master until he was taken below for food and medical attention. Jonas Brigg, one of the Carpathia’s sailors adopted Rigel.

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A dogs genetics help to determine the strength of their teeth and bones. Some dogs have naturally strong teeth, while others have chalky, softer teeth. While all dogs require sufficient oral health-supporting vitamins and minerals in their daily diet - some dogs may require more than the average quantity to ensure good oral health is maintained.  

Although commercial dog kibble does have added vitamins and minerals, the amount provided kibble product varies by manufacturer, brand and type.  Kibble alone may not provide enough of the right vitamins and minerals /to meet your dog’s daily quota for achieving good oral health. You can augment your dog’s daily intake of critical vitamins and minerals by providing them with:

• A supplement designed specifically for canines, and/or;
• Supplement your dog’s daily diet with fresh, whole foods (including some dairy, fruit and vegetables) that are good for your dog and are rich in oral health and immune system supporting vitamins and minerals. 

If you are thinking that feeding your dog fruits and veggies will cause diarrhea you should read this article. 
 

An added bonus - whole, fresh crunchy food such as whole carrots, parsnips and sliced pieces of apple help scrub your dog’s teeth clean!

Calcium (mineral)
 

A dog’s teeth and jaws are comprised primarily of calcium. When there is not enough calcium in a dog’s diet the risk of developing periodontitis increases. Calcium is best when combined with phosphorus and Vitamin D (see Phosphorus and Vitamin D rich foods below).

• Cheese - Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, Provolone;
• Dark green leafy vegetables, collard greens, spinach, ⁶broccoli;
• Kelp (also has many other health benefits);
• Yogurt (plain, unsweetened).

Iron (mineral)

Not enough iron can cause inflammation of the tongue and the formation of sores in the mouth. Tip - vitamin C helps the body better absorb iron.

Dark green leafy vegetables, collard greens, spinach, broccoli (broccoli should not exceed more than 1/10^th of the dog’s daily food intake);

• ³Eggs;
• ⁴Liver;
• Red Meat;
• Turkey or Chicken giblets; 

 

Phosphorus

Calcium requires phosphorus to maximize calcium’s’ bone strengthening benefits. The following foods are high in phosphorus. Combine some high calcium and high phosphorus as a little meal on its own or mixed in with your dog’s kibble.

• Cheese - Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, Provolone;
• Chicken
• ¹Garlic
• Flax Seeds (ground not whole)
• Meat
  Turkey
• ²Salmon, halibut, herring
• Wheat Germ

 Vitamin B Complex
 

(B1 thiamine + B2 riboflavin + B3 niacin + B5 pantothenic acid +B6 pyridoxine + biotin + folic acid + B12 cobalamins)

B complex vitamins are essential for oral health. A deficiency of these vitamins can cause a variety of oral health problems, including bleeding gums and inflammation. The following foods are high in B complex vitamins:

• Cheese;
• Chicken;
• Dark leafy greens (kale, spinach);
• ³Eggs;
• ²Fish;
• ⁴Liver;
• Peanuts, peanut butter (use only human grade, as non-human grade can have aflitoxins which are carcinogenic)
• Yogurt

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is required for the development of collagen - a substance that gives cell tissue strength and elasticity - both attributes are very important for healthy gums. The following foods are high in vitamin C:

• ⁵Bell Pepper - all colours
• ⁶Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Clementines
• Dark leafy greens (kale, mustard greens, garden cress)
• Kiwi
• Oranges
• Papaya
• Parsley
• Strawberries
• Tangerines

Vitamin D

Vitamin D regulates the body’s balance of calcium and phosphorus; helps with the absorption of calcium; helps protect against inflammation; protects and lubricates bones and teeth. The following foods are high in vitamin D:

• Beef;
• ³Eggs;
• ²Herring;
• ⁴Liver;
• ²Mackerel;
• ²Salmon;
• ²Sardines;
• ²Tuna (don’t use albacore tuna - as it is high in mercury);
• Swiss Cheese.

Five to seven million companion animals arrive at animal shelters in the US each year, and about half of these are animals being surrendered by their owners. Why do people surrender their pets? To find out, a new study by Jennifer Kwan and Melissa Bain compared dogs being relinquished at three Sacramento animal shelters to those dogs that were there simply to receive their vaccinations.

The experimenter spent time at the shelters during the hours when relinquishments could take place, and when vaccination clinics were available. She approached people to ask them to complete the questionnaires, which were available in English or Spanish. A total of 129 people took part; 80 relinquishing owners, and 49 continuing owners. 

Some people were not approached to take part because their dogs seemed to be aggressive, and the experimenter would have had to hold them while the owner completed the questionnaire. In addition, if relinquishing owners seemed particularly upset or arrived requesting euthanasia of the dog, they were not asked to take part, so as not to exacerbate their distress. It is possible this had an effect on the results.

The questionnaire asked about demographic information, attachment to the pet, behavioural problems, and, in the case of relinquished dogs, the reasons why. Participants could rate potential reasons for relinquishment as ‘not a reason’, ‘somewhat of a reason’ and ‘strong reason’, so it was possible for multiple reasons to be given. The results from the three shelters were combined for analysis. 

Relinquished dogs and ‘continuing’ dogs were equally likely to have attended training classes. The relinquished dogs were significantly more likely to live as outside dogs all of the time, and were significantly older; amongst the male dogs, they were significantly more likely to be intact.

Relinquishing and continuing owners were equally likely to have used punishment-based techniques in training their dogs. There was a correlation between the use of prong and choke collars and problems in loose-leash walking. However, it is not possible to know if these were only employed because of difficulties training loose-leash walking, or if they contributed to the problems, for example by misuse or by owners assuming they didn’t need to train if using them.

Dogs in the relinquished group were significantly more likely to have problem behaviours than those that were being kept. Sixty-five per cent of relinquishing owners said that a behavioural problem was a contributing factor, and about half said it was a relatively strong influence. Aggression was the most common behavioural problem given as a strong reason for relinquishment.

Attachment to pets is a construct that includes knowledge about the pet’s needs, feelings of closeness to the pet, and time spent with them. Attachment scores were significantly lower for relinquishing owners compared to continuing owners. Although not surprising, this is the first time it has been shown using a standard measure of attachment. It would be interesting to know how attachment changes and develops over the duration of an owner’s relationship with their pet. 

About a third of owners said they were ‘very satisfied’ with their dog’s behaviour. Those who were not so satisfied also had significantly lower scores for attachment, suggesting a link between behaviour and attachment to dogs.

Although moving house was a common reason for animal relinquishment, many people had other pets that weren’t being relinquished. This doesn’t mean they gave incorrect information; many rental properties have rules about the number, height or breed of pets. This is also a potential reason for the numbers of pit bulls in the relinquished group, because they are often listed as one of the restricted breeds. While it is surprising to learn that people might relinquish some pets and choose to keep others, it is useful to know as future studies can make a point of learning about kept animals as well as relinquished ones.

The most interesting finding of this study is the frequency of behavioural problems as a reason for relinquishment. This is not surprising, but it underlines the need to help owners find better ways of preventing problems in the first place and managing them if they arise. Surprisingly little is known about peoples information-seeking regarding behaviour and training issues, and unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation.

What are your favourite books or other resources for dog owners? (N.B. Please avoid posting active links because urls usually end up in the spam folder. Thank you!)

Reference

Kwan, J., & Bain, M. (2013). Owner Attachment and Problem Behaviors Related to Relinquishment and Training Techniques of Dogs Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 16 (2), 168-183 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2013.768923

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How owning a dog can improve your health

How many times have you heard someone complain that they can’t have a pet because of their allergies? This was the excuse my parents handed out every time I asked for a dog growing up -which was a lot. But although pet allergies are a very real thing (and in some cases are very serious) I now look back as an adult and realise that my dad would probably have put up with a few sniffles if he knew how life enhancing owning a pet really is.

And while many owners feels that the friendship of a dog makes them happy, there is some science to back up the smiles – with the production of serotonin said to be increased  and stress reduced after just half an hour with a pet. Blood pressure and cholesterol can be reduced too – with studies finding that those with pets tend to have lower blood pressure and are less likely to have high cholesterol. And this is before we even consider the health benefits associated with walking your dog every day! My dog makes great company on my evening jogs, and seeing him enjoy himself makes them seem much quicker and less tiring.

There are even now studies which suggest that the risk of childhood allergies can be reduced in households with pets.  Making way for the other benefits pets can provide children as they grow up – with young people who live with pets said to be more motivated than those without them.

Of course, a pet’s benefits can’t be purely one sided. A lot of time and money is involved in their care, but I think this only adds to the wellbeing of a pet owner. This is the unproven part of this article – but since pets often become part of the family, many people find it enjoyable to see their dog run free in the park, or watch them tuck in to a bowl of nutritionally balanced (even if not the cheapest) food. I don’t see looking after my two year old Dalmatian as a chore, instead as a rewarding part of my life that comes hand in hand with having a healthy, fun companion – who could just be improving my health by making me happier in the long-term.

Guest-Author Bio: Fiona Smith is an experienced blogger on the website We Heart Pets. As well fundraising for animal charities, she enjoys walking her 2 year old Dalmatian Mac and researching new posts – past articles have included everything from a review of rspca dog insurance, to pet nutrition tips. Other hobbies include running and travelling around the UK.....anywhere I can take my dog that is!

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Am I a softie after all

Grenier in his book The Difficulty of Being a Dog writes how Napoleon was once surveying a battlefield from which the dead had not yet been removed. He saw a dog beside the body of its master, howling, licking the dead man’s face. Napoleon wrote about this in his memoirs. “No incident, on any of my battlefields (note the use of mybattlefields!), ever produced so deep an impression on me.” declares Napoleon who was insistent that the death of millions meant nothing to him.
“ I had, without emotion, ordered battles which were to decide the fate of the army; I beheld, with a dry eye, the execution of those operations, by which numbers of my countrymen were sacrificed; and here I was upset, my feelings roused, by the mournful howling of a dog.”

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Soft Mouth Can you train it

"How do you train a soft mouth?" is the number one question that I hear from dog owners, especially from retriever owners. This is often rephrased in the question "How do you prevent a hard mouth?" Some folks believe that a dog is either born with a soft mouth, or not. Based upon what Ive seen in the whelping box, I just dont agree with that as a blanket statement.

Starting as pups, dogs learn to communicate using their mouths. The Mama dog "speaks" to her pups by licking them, nuzzling them, and occasionally, when they ask for a correction, by nipping them. It is a natural part of rearing her pups.

When watching pups in a litter grow, they all mouth and bite each other as a part of learning communication skills, and more importantly, good manners. If you observe the litter, planning to pick the puppy with the "soft mouth", youll probably be frustrated because all the pups mouth and nip in play.

From a retriever perspective, there isnt a separate protocol for training a soft mouth. Youll deal with that as a function of teaching your pup to take an object, hold the object properly and give it to you on command. If your pup doesnt have solid performance in all three of these actions, DO NOT continue. This (moving on too soon) is where the dog learns that he has your permission to chomp it or keep it. Get your solid foundation before you try to build on it. And dont worry if everyone else keeps going, they are working with different dogs. The only dog you need to worry about is the one you are training. There is no room for one-upmanship while training your dog.

The Golden Rule for training a soft mouth is "Start it, stick with it, and be consistent". Well actually, that is the Golden Rule for all training.

It would be a disservice for me to try to tell you in a paragraph "how to" teach your dog what most authors devote an entire chapter to. So, I recommend reading a few good texts before you start training. Read books that help you understand dog behavior (for novices, Mother Knows Best and Know Your Dog , among others, are in my lending library), then read about training in the venue you want to learn. As you tackle each step, go back and re-read the relevant chapter. Youll be surprised how much more it says than it did the first time you read it. If you read enough, youll see very different philosophies emerge. Youll need to develop your own philosophy and stick with it to avoid confusing your dog.

Ultimately, results with your first dog will be your best teacher. If you have no experience training a dog, I highly recommend enrolling in an obedience class - youll learn your dog, which is the only dog youll be training. Dont worry if it doesnt focus on the venue you want to train. The most important function of the class is to teach you what a dog is from the dogs perspective. Building your dog/handler team is the second most important function of the class. Teamwork spreads over all you and your dog do and makes each venue better. Read all you can, talk to many people as you can, work through obedience classes at least twice - once to learn and again to fine tune with lots of distractions - and train, remembering that several short sessions are better than one long session when teaching a pup new things.

And heres a few other things that people forget to tell you. 1. If you have a bad attitude today, dont train today. It will affect your long term results. 2. Positive reinforcement is best, especially for teaching new things. 3. Your dog wants to please you. 4. You will be very good at confusing your dog. 5. Several 10 minute sessions are better than one long session for teaching something new. 6. And to quote a world renowned, professional retriever trainer: "Even bad trainers can get good results if they stick with it long enough".

Ultimately, remember that you are the Alpha in your pack and it is your job to take care of your dog. Never let yourself be coerced into any training tactic that goes against your comfort level. You must learn how to filter through information. Take all you are given, then use what you need. Dont worry about saying "No". Ive heard too many folks lament "ruining" their dogs with bad advice. I recall following bad advice once when I could tell instantly that I shouldnt have. The results were long term and I spent hours trying to undo the damage because I didnt think it through first. Now I have no trouble saying "No" when necessary. Im sure Ive done plenty more things wrong, but those had more subtle results.

For Deacons soft mouth tale, see "A Soft Mouth" on this blog dated May 8, 2008.


Q & A for the day

Is there a good reason for pups to stay in the litter longer?

YES, My pups never leave before they are 8 weeks old and I prefer to keep them a week or two longer. The pups learn most of their good manners from their mom and littermates. If you take them out too early, they miss a critical part of their education. Even though Ive trained my own dogs for years, I dont speak "Dog" as well as the dogs do, so Id rather let the dogs teach the major lessons. It just makes life easier.

I havent seen statistics, but I would be willing to bet that a good number of dogs who have major "soft mouth" issues, are dogs that left the litter earlier than 8 weeks. (But this is just my guess with no statistics to back it up).

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Arthur the stray who captured the world

Team Peak Performance were sitting down for a meal before a 20 mile trek in Ecuador when they saw a stray dog.

The Swedish group were taking part in the Adventure Racing World Championship through the Amazon rain forest.

Mikael Lindnord fed the animal a meatball before the team carried on - but the scruffy creature followed them.

They tried to get rid of him, primarily for his own safety, but he refused to go so he became a fifth team member.

The group of four decided to name him Arthur and have now adopted him and flown him back to Sweden.

Lindord said: I came to Ecuador to win the World Championship. Instead, I got a new friend.

See link for amazing pictures:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-30194531

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Happy Christmas

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas

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Aloe Vera Juice Herbs for Dogs and Cats

 Safe to use as a short-term or long-term daily dietary supplement,
alternative medicine for most dogs and cats.

In this article - Aloe Vera Juice 

1. Health Benefits
2. Dosage
3. Cautions
4. Side Effects
5. Drug Interactions
6. Daily Dietary Dosage

1. Benefits – a partial list…

• Digestive Health
• Aloe Vera contains nutrient compounds that help in the healing and soothing of:
• The digestive tract...
• Helps enable healing and repair of ulcers in both the stomach and the intestines;
• Decreases inflammation resulting from:
• Asthma;
• Arthritis;
• Colitis;
• Diabetes;
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and;
• Other inflammatory GI tract conditions;
• Treating side effects of some radiation treatments.
• Immune System Health
• Aloe vera has properties that are:
• Antibacterial;
• Antifungal;
• Antiviral.
• Detoxer
• Aloe vera is a natural detox aid that helps the body to eliminate toxins and foreign pathogens.
• Heart Benefits
• Improves blood circulation throughout the body;
• Can help to reduce fat in cases of bad high levels of bad cholesterol – reducing fatty deposits and blood clots, found to have the most efficacy  in cases with diabetes;

2. Dosage…

For daily use as a supplement with food:

• Add to food once a day;
• Small size dogs and cats  - 1 tbs;
• Medium size dogs - 1/8 cup
• Large size dogs - 1/4 cup
• X-Large dogs - 1/3 to 1/2 cup

3. Cautions...

• Use only 100% pure food grade Aloe Vera Juice intended for internal consumption by humans;
• Do not give to pregnant or lactating dog or cats;
• Do not give to puppies 6 months of age or younger;
• Do not use aloe latex as an ingested treatment for dogs or cats.

4. Side effects…

• In rare cases a dog or cat may heightened sensitivity to aloe, in which case aloe vera juice can cause diarrhea – stop use if your dog or cat gets diarrhea from ingesting aloe vera juice.
• Remove aloe vera juice from the diet two weeks prior to a scheduled surgery as its presence could interfere with blood sugar control during surgery.

5. Drug Interactions…

• May increase blood sugar lowering effects of some diabetes medications – extra monitoring of blood sugar levels should be undertaken and adjustment of medications may be required;
• May cause potassium loss if taken with diuretics for heart conditions;
• Aloe interacts with:
• Anti-diabetic drugs;
• Blood thinners;
• Diuretics;
• Some stimulant laxatives (i.e. digoxin).

6.0 Holistic Support

Additional Assistance - Holistic Health and Wellness Service

If you require additional support, and guidance - contact me to discuss your requirements. I will determine the appropriate course of action for your situation and I will let you know the applicable fees. I offer consultative services to clients around the world...
Diet, Nutrition Wellness Services

• Unbiased Diet, Nutrition, Product Advice - information and payment here >>. 
• Holistic Diet, Nutrition Wellness Plans - information and payment here >>.

Dog Obedience Training and Behavior Modification Services

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On Puppies Pet Stores and Behaviour Problems

If you buy a puppy from a pet store, could you be getting more than you bargained for? It has long been thought that puppies from pet shops might have behavioural problems. A new study by Franklin D. McMillan et al investigates this by comparing puppies from pet stores to those from non-commercial breeders.

?

The puppies that are for sale in pet shops originate from commercial breeding establishments, also known as puppy mills or puppy farms. These are large establishments that breed puppies for profit. The ASPCA saysthey “usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. Puppy mill dogs do not get to experience treats, toys, exercise or basic grooming. To minimize waste cleanup, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs—and it is not unusual for cages to be stacked up in columns.”

 

A large number of dogs took part in this study: 413 dogs that were bought as puppies from pet stores, and 5,657 that were obtained from breeders. Although predominantly in the US, some were in other countries. Dogs from breeders were likely to have been obtained at around the same age as dogs from pet stores, and also to be purebred dogs, so they are a good comparison group to the pet store dogs.

Participants answered an online questionnaire that included the C-BARQ (Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire). This is a standardized questionnaire that assesses 14 behavioural factors as well as a number of miscellaneous items. 

The pet store dogs were significantly worse than breeder-obtained dogs on twelve of the fourteen scales (on the other two scales, they were about the same). The biggest differences were in terms of aggression. Looking only at entire/intact dogs, those obtained from pet stores were three times more likely to display aggression directed at their owner, and almost twice as likely to show aggression to other dogs they did not know, compared to dogs obtained from a breeder. This is terrible, because aggression can have serious consequences for both dog and owner. 

Other problems that were found significantly more often in dogs from pet stores are aggression to strangers, aggression to other dogs in the household, fear of dogs, separation problems, and touch sensitivity.  They were also more likely to have miscellaneous problems such as soiling in the house and mounting. They were more excitable, energetic, attention-seeking and, if they were not working dogs, they were also rated as less trainable.

The authors suggest several reasons for these findings. They say “the formative stages of the puppy’s life in the CBE [commercial breeding establishment] are periods where stress may exert an impact on brain development.” The puppies are likely stressed by their environment both prenatally and during the first eight weeks of their life. They may experience stress during transit when they are shipped to the pet stores. They also miss out on important early socialization experiences because they are not able to get used to a normal household environment during this time.

It is possible that other factors play a role, since people who get puppies from pet shops may be different from those who go to breeders; for example, they might be less knowledgeable about puppies and the importance of early socialization, or tend to use different training techniques. These were not assessed in the current study. 

This is not the first research to find problems with dogs from puppy farms. An earlier study of dogs that were used as breeding stock at CBEs and then re-homed found they had significantly more health and behavioural problems than a sample of non-puppy mill dogs that were matched for age, breed and gender.  And a study by Carri Westgarth last year showed that it’s best to see both parents before purchasing a puppy; if neither parent was seen, puppies were 3.8 times more likely to have a behavioural problem than if both parents were seen. 

 

Some places have banned the sale of puppies in stores. You can help by not purchasing anything from pet stores that sell puppies.  It’s also important to know that puppies from puppy farms are not just sold in pet stores; they are widely available via free ads and the internet, sometimes with semi-convincing cover stories about new pups that suddenly need to be re-homed. Warning signs include wanting to meet at a neutral location (instead of where the pup was raised); the same puppy photo appearing in different adverts; and the same phone number appearing in adverts for many different puppies.

If you want to know more about puppy mills, you can read the ASPCA’s FAQ, information from the BC SPCA, or join the Dogs Trust battery farmed dogs campaign. And please share the results of this research, so that people understand buying puppies from pet shops has risks of behavioural as well as health problems.

Are puppies for sale in pet stores near you?

Reference

McMillan, F., Serpell, J., Duffy, D., Masaoud, E., & Dohoo, I. (2013). Differences in behavioral characteristics between dogs obtained as puppies from pet stores and those obtained from noncommercial breeders Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 242 (10), 1359-1363 DOI: 10.2460/javma.242.10.1359 
McMillan, F., Duffy, D., & Serpell, J. (2011). Mental health of dogs formerly used as ‘breeding stock’ in commercial breeding establishments Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 135 (1-2), 86-94 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2011.09.006 
Westgarth, C., Reevell, K., & Barclay, R. (2012). Association between prospective owner viewing of the parents of a puppy and later referral for behavioural problems Veterinary Record, 170 (20), 517-517 DOI: 10.1136/vr.100138

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