The Greatest of These is Love--Merry Christmas

The Greatest of These is Love—Merry Christmas
Author, Jan Casey

Christmas is such a busy time. People are on the run, attending parties to share love with friends and family, shopping to buy all the right gifts, decorating their homes, and
attempting to finish the end-of-the-year reports for the boss. The weather is
marginal, snow is in the forecast and colder days are guaranteed. Even in a
small town like Cookeville (Tennessee), stress overtakes many as they
attempt to do it all. I hope, as you sit and read the paper, you’ll take a
moment to reflect on the joys that are also a part of this season, particularly
the joys brought to you by the family pet(s).

I recently saw the
history of the Christmas carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The song was
written during a time of religious persecution, when Roman Catholics were not
permitted to openly practice their faith in England. Each of the gifts was a
code for a religious symbol: the partridge in the pear tree is Jesus, the two
turtle doves are the Old and New Testament, and so on. When I reached the nine
ladies dancing, I read they represent the nine fruits of the Spirit: Love
(charity), Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Humility, and
Self control. It strikes me that these virtues are the same things required of
us as we train and live with our furry companions.

Self Control: For the
human part of the team, self control is vital when training. Yes, we get angry
when our animals do something wrong or do not perform as we wish. Loss of self
control, becoming angry with the dog when he fails to meet our expectations,
leads to yelling (or worse) and weakens the bond you have with your pet. Better
to put him in a kennel with a good chew toy until you calm down. Dogs, too,
need to learn self control. They need to be taught to wait for a release cue to
get their dinner, to lie down and stay on a mat when asked, to “leave it”
whatever the “it” may be, to come when called. In other words, to follow the
cues you give, knowing that something wonderful will follow if they do.

Humility: This one just
comes with training a dog. There is nothing more humbling than to teach a dog
something new only to have her act as if she has never heard the cue before
when she is asked to perform. The standard cry heard in class? “But she does it
at home!” Don’t worry, with more practice in more locations, she will learn
what you want and her performance will make you proud.

Faith: Having faith in
one’s dog is not always easy. It may take years to build the trust, the
camaraderie necessary for you to trust your dog. I think service dogs are the
prime example owners placing their faith in their dogs. They trust the dog will
help them accomplish simple tasks: to cross a busy street, to alert them to a
phone ring or a baby’s cry, to help them lie down safely just before a seizure
strikes, to help them cope with a world that causes them anxiety.

Goodness: This is
definitely a two way street. Dogs will be good if people are good to them. They
are living beings who think, have emotions, and need the companionship of man.
It’s a partnership.

Gentleness: This is what
positive, reward-based training is all about. You can train your dog to a high
level by using gentleness. The Original Dog Whisperer, Paul Owens, is an
excellent example. There are so many others – Chris Bach, Pat Miller, Patricia
McConnell. Don’t buy into “You have to show them who is boss.” You’ll only set
up a relationship that is adversarial. Is that really why you got a dog?

Patience: Dogs are not
people. Though the laws of learning are the same for people and animals, we
still learn at different rates and through different reinforcements. Your dog
may learn some things incredibly fast and other things very slowly. Have
patience, seek suggestions for help on those things your dog is not doing well.

Peace: It’s not all work
all the time. Take time to sit with your pet and enjoy just being in her
company. Accept her for the being she is and make peace with the fact that
there may be some things you would like from her that she will never be able to
do. Accept this and be thankful for the miracle of her companionship.

Joy: People who love
their pets find joy in sharing their lives with these gifts from Above. Walking
together, playing together, cuddling on the couch, just being with your pet can
bring harmony and joy to your life. It is widely accepted that pet owners are
happier and healthier than non-pet owners. Need some joy? Get a pet.

Love: A verse in the
Bible states “The greatest of these is love.” You need not be rich or have much
to give to your pet, but if you love him, he will be the luckiest pet on earth.
It does not matter if he gets the best food, the newest toys, or top of the
line training. Love is the greatest gift you can give your pet.

Wishing you and your
pets the very best Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Jan Casey is a
reward-based trainer in Florida
at Courteous Canine, Inc. www.courteouscanine.com
and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services
www.smilesandwags.com. Mrs.
Casey is a member of the Association of Animal
Behavior Professionals. Mrs.

Casey is a columnist for the Cookeville,
Tennessee Herald-Citizen Pet
Pages and Kid's Korner . This column was originally written for the Herald-Citizen www.herald-citizen.com.

Christmas Gifts for Pets

Christmas Gifts for Pets
Author, Jan Casey

Christmas is two days
away. While… you may still be looking for that “special something” for Chanel
or Slider or Bugsey. Buzz recommends the following for your furry, four-legged
friends.

Dogs love to chew. Thus,
we seek toys that are (almost) indestructible. Orbee makes a line called Tuff
Cosmos Balls in a variety of colors including Luna, which glows in the dark.
These balls will also hold a treat to entice your dog to play just a little
longer (www.muttropolis.com). Dog slobber limiting your desire to play ball
with your dog? Try a Chuck-It! The long handled ball launcher doubles as a pick
up tool, keeping your hands dry and slime free (www.chuckit.com).

If a ball is just too
boring for Max, try the Tug-a-Jug (www.petexpertise.com). Another toy designed
to stand up to tough dog teeth, this puzzle is made of material similar to that
used in making bullet-proof glass. Treats are placed inside the transparent jug
and the dog must work to get them out. At Bark in the Park’s Splash Paws
Park, many dogs enjoyed
not only a dip in one of the bone shaped pools, but also had a chance to chase
chicken-flavored bubbles. Check out the wide variety of bubble machines
available at Activedogtoys.com (they have lots of other neat toys, too!).

What’s that? You don’t
have a furry tornado that needs exercise 28 hours a day? Well, how about a new,
personalized collar and leash set for the Princess? Besty Collars (http://bestydogcollars.com/)
has a wide variety of styles from pink ribbons and paws to skull and
crossbones. They’ll even take custom orders. And while you are looking for ways
to help Princess look her best, forget about sweaters and coats – they are so yesterday.
Look at the newest joggers, overalls, and formal wear for dogs. Locally,
Elizabeth of Pal World can dress your pup (On The Square in Livingston, TN).
Of course, if you’d like to think ahead for next year’s Bark in the Park Doggie
Bathing Suit Contest, check out the latest in bikinis and board shorts for your
pup at Cozy Pet Clothes (http://www.cozypetclothes.com/beach_and_swimwear).
New collar, new outfit, now add a collar charm (www.petedge.com) and Sophie is
ready for a night on the town with her best friend – you!

So maybe you just want
some quality time with Lexi. Did you know that BringFido.com lists forty-six
Bed and Breakfasts in the U.S.
that welcome dogs? These aren’t small town destinations like Spud, FL, but
places you might actually enjoy such as Asheville,
NC, Savannah, GA, and Kennebunk,
ME. Though most require a pet
fee, you’d be paying for Spike’s care if you left him home, so why not let him
enjoy some time away in an exotic locale with you?

If you decide to travel
by car, Trudy may enjoy a new seat. Check the luxury look-out seats by
snoozer-dog-beds (www.snoozer-dog-beds.com)
or just invest a few dollars in a seat saver sling from Duluth Trading (www.duluthtrading.com). To help your
dog stay calm, you might try Animals’ Apawthecary Ginger-Mint Dog Car Sickness
Supplement (if it doesn’t work, at least your dog’s breath will be fresher) and
Through a Dog’s Ear - Driving Edition (http://www.throughadogsear.com).

Of course, we must not
forget the cats in the house at Christmas time (not that they would let us
forget them). There is a wide variety of gifts appropriate for that finicky
feline who loves you and allows you to enjoy her presence. Catnip mice – bah,
humbug! How about an interactive Mouse in the House automatic cat toy? Designed
to interact with your cat while you are away, it plugs into the wall and emits
small animal noises before sending a mouse running around a track. That should
catch Patches interest! Also from Cattoys.com, a wide selection of interactive
and motorized toys is available as are DVDs to keep Laz busy while you have
other things to do. For those who would like to control their cats, check out
Thinkgeek.com. Their Control-A-Cat Remote Control uses no batteries or power,
just wishful thinking on your part.

Did you know we have
some seriously good pet artists in our area (of Tennessee)? For paintings and drawings,
check out Adrienne Stone (http://www.adriennestone.com)
or Kim Kuykendall (KimsArtLife@Gmail.com)
just to name two. For photography, I have recently seen some beautiful work by
Amy Callahan (amycallahan.com). Take a look at the work of some of our local
artists as you won’t find better than we have in this area. A photograph or
portrait is a gift that will last long after all the toys have been shredded.

If you no longer have a
pet, could you help another animal? The Cookeville/Putnam County Animal Shelter
Angel Tree at Food Lion (or an Angel Tree near you) has ornaments listing their
needs by the north exit door. Food, bleach, blankets, stamps, money, and detergent
are just a few items that could help. Other rescues in our area can use help as
well. Just email or call them and ask how you can help at this time of the
year. Perhaps your neighbor or a friend could use your help caring for her pet.
It doesn’t have to be money or things, it can be a little of your time. It is
the season of giving, after all. Giving a gift of your time and your care is
priceless.

Jan Casey is a
reward-based trainer in Florida
at Courteous Canine, Inc. www.courteouscanine.com
and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services
www.smilesandwags.com. Mrs.
Casey is a member of the Association of Animal
Behavior Professionals. Mrs.
Casey is a columnist for the Cookeville,
Tennessee Herald-Citizen Pet
Pages and Kid's Korner . This column was originally written for the Herald-Citizen www.herald-citizen.com.

Holiday Stress

Holiday Stress

Author, Jan Casey

Well, here it is again - "that" time of the year. For our dogs, there are some significant
changes which affect them: the weather, the number of hours we engage them in
outside activities, their feeding schedules, their sleeping schedules, our energy
and tolerance levels, perhaps even our demeanor toward them.

With the holidays looming, there may even be more changes for our dogs to
contend with - the invasion of strangers into "their" homes, foods
prepared that they may not share, normally quiet times shattered by raucous
cheers from fans gathered around the television as the favorite teams play
football. Our homes may be invaded by
small aliens - children. From a dog's point of view, we humans start to behave
in a way that can only be described as full-blown insanity.

While we can poke fun at our dogs' bewilderment of our changes in daily
life, what isn't so funny is the fact that the number of dog bites increases at
this time of the year. The stresses we
feel may transfer directly to our dogs.
Routines are interrupted, our dogs are treated differently, and we may
entertain people who are not dog-savvy.
If children are invited to a normally childless household, the
ingredients for disaster have been gathered.

To prevent the occurrence of an incident which will ruin the holidays and
could potentially cause a life to be lost, it's important to know the signs of
stress in your dog. Far too many people seem completely oblivious to the
signals their dogs are sending out fast and furiously. Panting when it is not hot and whining are two obvious signals of distress. Lip licking (also called tongue flicks) and
whale eye (whites of the dog's eye showing as a half moon) while little Johnny
gives McKinley a hug is the way a dog screams he is uncomfortable. The vast majority of dogs do not like to be hugged nor ridden like a horse, especially not by the small intruders. Unless you have spent many hours socializing your dog with children and know, without a doubt, that your dog is child-friendly, there is a risk when they are
together. If you think your dog will be just fine with the kids, please Google "child killed by family dog." The number of times parents report "the dog seemed friendly," or "the dog never showed aggression before" may astound you.
I can guarantee the dogs had been sending out stress signals for a long
time, but they went unheeded. Supervision and separation will be the keys to
safety.

The tail - a wag is not necessarily a sign of happiness. Wags convey many messages: large, circular wags or slow, sweeping wags may indicate happiness and comfort with a
situation; stiff, upright, tight wags may indicate discomfort with a situation,
a discomfort that can lead to a bite; fast, small wags at a very low elevation
or between the legs may indicate fear, another signal that a bite may be
imminent.

Dogs are such unique individuals, it's important that you learn to read
your dog and know the signals she sends when she is stressed. Look for wrinkly foreheads, the corners of her mouth pulled back tight, listen for growls (growling dogs mean business), ears plastered flat against the back of the neck, raised lips, yawning,
"shaking it off," scratching, sniffing, pilo-erection (hackles up),
and turning away. While any of these could be normal daily behaviors, when put in the context of stressful situations, recognition of these stress signs can prevent a bite.

While most of us will not change our plans for the holidays just to avoid
stressing our dogs, we can take steps to help the dogs cope with our madness.
Dogs should be given their own places to feel safe, away from all
visitors. A quiet room with a little soft music to dampen the other noises will help. Add a frozen stuffed Kong to the picture and perhaps spray the area with Comfort Zone (DAP). If there is any chance your guests may intrude on the dog's space
accidentally (or on purpose if you are lucky enough to have one of
"those" relatives or friends), then be sure your dog is safely locked
in a crate.

Try to make extra time available to exercise your dog thoroughly on the day
of the festivities. Feed him on schedule, if at all possible, and take him out for a good bathroom break before guests arrive. Ever suffered from a dry mouth during a stressful
situation? Consider your dog may also get dry mouth and leave a bowl of water within easy access as dogs may drink more when stressed as well.

If your dog is highly fearful and/or reactive, you may wish to talk with
your vet about medications to help calm her anxiety during the holidays. While some dogs may do fine with the changes you make to accommodate them, there are some who will be so seriously stressed, they may need extra help from a prescription drug.

Do your best to keep to a routine during the coming holiday months. Daily exercise, staying on a schedule, and sticking to a healthy diet will benefit the dog - and you!

Jan Casey is a reward-based trainer in Florida at Courteous Canine, Inc. www.courteouscanine.com and owner of Smiles and Wags Pet Services www.smilesandwags.com. Mrs. Casey is a member of the Association of Animal
Behavior Professionals. Mrs. Casey is a columnist for the Cookeville,
Tennessee Herald-Citizen Pet Pages and Kid's Korner . This column was originally written for the Herald-Citizen www.herald-citizen.com.

It's a "Loaner Kitty Christmas"

Author, Bob McMillan

This
time of year, people who know I run a private petting zoo in my home ask me,
“So, how’s the holidays with your kids home and ... all those dogs and cats?”

Festive.
Verrrrrry festive, I reply, hoping they don’t see the crazy in my eyes. Knowing
we have three dogs and two cats in our small home, they already look at me with
amusement and horror like I’m a reformed headhunter. They never know if I’m
about to break into native song or whip out that blade. Why go into details
about spending Christmas snowed in with our offspring and furpals? They’re
already thinking “Donner Party.”

When
the kids grew up and left, we filled the void with hounds. We like our hounds. They
love us. Our hounds have worked the rules out among themselves and our two
cats. We get a tiny corner of the couch. We get the beds for
sleep. Otherwise, the place is theirs. Think shag carpet, only the fur’s
constantly on the go. Kind of like a bed of eels.

It’s
a small house, just big enough for my wife and I and our pack. Our daughter
(who insists I don’t use her name, so let’s call her Tilda Mae) lives in Nashville and comes home
often to see Sully, the beagle mix she rescued and lets us raise for her. We
squeeze her in. Last week, our son in Kansas
suddenly decided to fly home for Christmas, too. Ben’s a giant. More squeezing.
We worked out sleeping arrangements. The kids got their old rooms back. I got
my bed half the night. The wolfhound and deerhound wrestled for it the second
half. I groggily refereed.

With
a blizzard approaching, we went into the submariner mode. Space is critical on
a submarine. Every nook, every cranny, every corridor has a specific function.
You don’t leave your tennis shoes or cola cans lying around, for example. We
similarly choreographed use of the family room so everything and everyone would
have a place by the tree and the television. It’d be cozy but somewhat
survivable.

Which
is when Tilda Mae showed up with Loaner Kitty.

She’d
agreed to catsit for a friend. Why not kill two parents with one cat and do the
sitting at home, Casa del Houndo, where training and primal hunting instincts
are always teetering in the balance?

Naturally,
we worried our dogs might eat Loaner Kitty. Sully’s an agreeable little beagle
mix who occasionally lapses into werewolfery when the hunt drive kicks in.
Gracie’s a sighthound bred to bring down stags. Anything moving quickly or
erratically can set her off like a furry bolt of lightning with big teeth.
Finn, the wolfhound, is reasonably nimble for a dog the size of a pony. He’s
loving but sometimes steps on little things. Like Godzilla steps on Tokyo.

My
wife and I fixed grins on our faces when Tilda Mae showed us Loaner Kitty. We
chimed, “Isn’t he cuuuute?” The hounds were more honest. They recoiled
in horror and disgust. Another cat? Here? On Christmas Eve?
It’s a world gone maaaaaaad ...

And
we all settled in and waited for Santa as the snowflakes fell and Loaner Kitty
swung from the curtains and scampered across the ceiling. The dogs looked like
spectators at a tennis match. Their eyes ticked left. Their eyes ticked right.
The crazy little guy had to come down sometime. Not really. He
discovered the Christmas tree.

We
had to have a tree. The kids were coming home, after all. But it had to
be a high tree and a little one since Finn regularly cruises the
countertops and top of the refrigerator for anything interesting. Like shiny
glass balls and heirloom ceramic angels. We mounted the tree on a sturdy stack
of boxes, tossed a festive drape over the base and braced the holiday tower
safely against the front window.

Around
midnight, I figure Santa was busy slinging gifts in our neighborhood but Donner
and Blitzen would have seen a strange sight standing in the drifts looking in
our front window. The McMillan’s Christmas tree was possessed. It shimmied
left. It swayed right. Then it nosedived off the pedestal and onto the sleeping
hounds below. Loaner Kitty slinked from the green and twinkling mess, wide-eyed
and happy. The hounds were just wide-eyed.

Obviously
the hounds weren’t going to hurt the cat. Loaner Kitty made the dogs nervous. They
followed the rules: Stay off the countertops. Eat from your bowl, not the
refrigerator. Walk on the floor, not on the furniture or us. Loaner Kitty was
like a sack of bottle rockets. You never knew which way he’d blast off next.

The
thing is, Loaner Kitty was cute. Grey and white. All of a year old. He
had no bones. He just flowed like quicksilver. Huge innocent eyes. Affectionate
and bouncy. He was like one of those dolls that comes to life in horror films.
Something in your gut screamed that if you turned your back on that adorable
face, Loaner Kitty would getcha.

The
hounds knew this and the other cats did, too. Ancient Polly sprawled all
weekend in my wife’s lap giving everyone the stink eye and muttered murderously.
Ridalin, our hulking indoor-outdoor tomcat (he’s not actually ours. He
mooches off the whole neighborhood. He just bunks at our place) usually puts
other cats on short notice. But Ridalin gave Loaner Kitty one quick glance and
... shot to the rear of the house.

He
holed up in my room. I only heard from him at 4 a.m. each day. That’s when I
normally get up to go to work. I figured over the holidays, I’d sleep ‘til at
least six, but Ridalin doesn’t observe holidays. He wanted out and yowled at the
closed bedroom door. Then strolled across my face to be sure I was listening.
He’d rather face the blizzard than Loaner Kitty.

The
hounds gave the evil kitten a wide berth. Keeping track of Loaner Kitty was
easy. Just look for the hounds leaping straight up. Finn spent the weekend in
my lap. Which made me nervous because the slab of fur and ribs kept me from
seeing Loaner Kitty. All I could move were my fingertips. Which the cat kept
batting as he swept crazily through the house.

He
snatched down the Christmas wreath. He flipped the pecan pie off the shelf. He
left tracks on the ceiling and along the walls. The hounds lingered longer and
longer in the backyard for “playtime.” We finally had to make them come inside
before they stuck to the ice. Then they huddled by the door looking longingly
and desperately out at the sheet ice.

The
holiday finally ended. The Kitten from Hell went away and I gained a new
training tool. If a hound gets out of line, I invoke two magic words that
guarantee quick and slavering obedience: “Looooannner Kitttttyyyy....”

Bob McMillan is an editor and columnist with the
Cookeville
Herald-Citizen

newspaper and lives on a mountain with several giant hounds and wary cats.

This column was originally printed in the Herald-Citizen

in Cookeville, Tennessee.

Please visit http://www.herald-citizen.com/ for more information on the

newspaper. We thank the Herald-Citizen
staff for allowing FFBF

to re-print this piece.